Sounds intimidating, right? It may not be for some test-takers, but for others who feel unprepared, it is. The College Board consistently voices its efforts to skillfully tailor the Digital SAT to embody the same rigor as the previous paper SAT. However, with the rise of the March 9 Digital SAT, this statement seemed deceptive to many overwhelmed students.
The Module 2 Math section has grown to become infamous among test-takers. Many claim this section serves as the “highlight” of the exam, with some claiming it to be one of the most challenging math sections in the SAT’s history. However, those who didn’t take the March 9th SAT could only imagine what it was like, causing growing concern among students already weary of the SAT’s new adaptive feature.
The debate around the SAT’s new changes has raised questions about whether they pose pros or cons for current and future students.
Trisha Patel, a Junior at Fremd who took the March 9th SAT, stated, “I think the reading was easier because it was much shorter, and I didn’t feel as rushed as I did on the previous SAT.”
She added, “Math was super challenging because I felt that there was an unusually small amount of simple Algebra!”
While Trisha supports the exam’s improved pacing, she also mentions the Digital SAT’s flawed representation of a student’s math, reading, writing, and logical skills. She firmly believes the test should access everyday applicable concepts, such as Geometry, Algebra, and textual evidence and analysis, instead of using high-level, rare vocabulary or solving multivariable problems.
With the unpredictability of the exam set by the first administered Digital SAT, some believe this may even accentuate the growing difficulty of college admissions. News reports have rapidly released updates on the return of test requirements. Several top-tier schools, such as Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, MIT, Georgetown, Purdue, and UT Austin, have decided to require students to either submit SAT or ACT scores starting the Fall of 2025 admissions cycle.
Most of these test requirement changes resulted from numerous studies that discovered that SAT or ACT scores were better predictors of college success than a student’s cumulative GPA. For instance, according to the New York Times, UT Austin reported that students who submitted their test scores were 55% less likely to have a first-semester GPA below 2.0. Like many other students, these findings hit me like a truck. How can one exam weigh more than a student’s dedication throughout their entire high school career?
Despite these reports, some students are concerned that college admissions will never be the same due to the reported difficulty of the Digital SAT and the returning test requirements at many of their dream schools. Many believe the new situation discourages those hoping to apply to their dream schools post-COVID because of the open barriers to test-optional policies placed on college admissions.
However, students may also experience unexpected advantages. Considering the recent striking drop in acceptance rates due to a higher number of applicants for test-optional universities, reawakening test requirements may raise these rates again. Since the effects of these changes still need to be determined, students can take advantage of the shorter SAT sections to hone in on analyzing short passages and experimenting with new ways to approach math problems.
For example, the shorter reading comprehension sections can improve one’s ability to retain limited information. Familiarizing oneself with the format using free, accessible tests on BlueBook and solidifying skills using official SAT resources, such as Khan Academy, may decrease students’ stress. However, whether the Digital SAT is deemed a success in terms of college applications will only be clear years into the future.
]]>The Favorites
Coming off a fresh victory in last year’s tournament, UConn’s core is centered around a balanced attack—and it’s paying off. The Huskies offense under Dan Hurley has dominated the college basketball scene, ranking 1st in adjusted offense and 11th in adjusted defense in KenPom Rankings. As the overall number 1 seed in the tournament, UConn should be one of—if not the—safest pick when you fill out your bracket.
Led by senior guards LJ Cryer and Jamal Shead, Houston is one of four teams with multiple players named to the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Team. Cryer is one of the most efficient shooters in the country (15 points on 38% 3pt splits), and his do-it-all backcourt counterpart leads the team in both assists and steals. But what’s led the Cougars to the top is certainly not their 74.2 ppg offense – it’s their lockdown defense. Ranking first in ppg (points per game) allowed, Houston hopes to continue shutting down opponents in the big dance.
Heading into the Big Ten, Purdue hopes to rewrite their legacy as one of the esteemed chokers in March. The Boilermakers will face an uphill climb in the eyes of the fans, becoming a part of one of the most exclusive clubs in sports (1 seed that has lost to a 16 seed) after last season’s loss to Fairleigh Dickinson. 7 ‘4 center Zach Edey is likely to win his second NCAA Player of the Year award, but even he can attest that inside forces don’t tend to fare well in March. Even with one of the easiest paths to the Sweet 16, there’s always the question of whether or not Purdue can play when it counts.
Sneaking into the last 1 seed is a North Carolina team coming off a brutal loss in the ACC championship to in-state rival NC State. The Tar Heels haven’t won the whole thing since head coach Roy Williams retired, with their highest finish being runners-up to Kansas two years ago. Locker room tension last year forced backcourt duo Caleb Love and RJ Davis to split up, with Love transferring to Arizona in the offseason. Davis took over the reins and never looked back, breaking the 20 ppg and 40 % 3pt% marks for the first time in his career. Still, UNC might struggle against a team that can match their offensive firepower if Davis isn’t producing.
Cinderella Watch
Every year, at least one team flies under the radar to build a deep run in the tournament. What is the key to these underdogs somehow sprouting wins against the best teams in the NCAA? – Shooting, defense, and experience. Whether you look at Davidson in 2008, Loyola in 2018, or St Peters in 2022, Cinderella teams snuck into the Sweet 16 and on by quickly catching fire with trusted players. This year, all signs point to Oregon, McNeese St, and Samford as teams that can defy the odds in the big dance.
One of the keys to a team making a deep run in the tournament is hitting stride at the perfect times – and Oregon is doing just that. Winning their last 4 games, including a win against 2nd seed Arizona and the PAC-12 Championship, the Ducks are hoping to keep their momentum going. They’re one of the more balanced teams in the nation, with 9 players averaging over 7.5 points per game. Senior N’Faly Dante has shut down the paint in several key wins for the Ducks, whose mission in March is to hound more skilled and top-heavy teams. Don’t be surprised when Oregon makes noise in their last season in the PAC-12.
McNeese has one of the best records in the NCAA at 30-3 and hasn’t lost a single game since November. Head Coach Will Wade has brought this basketball program back to life after being fired from LSU in the offseason, leading them to consecutive 20-point blowouts en route to a Southland Conference Championship.
Senior guard Shahada Wells has completely turned his career around after transferring from TCU in the offseason, becoming one of the more underrated players in the tournament. The 6 ‘0 magician can score at all 3 levels and annoy opposing guards on both ends of the floor, averaging 3 steals and shooting at a 40% clip from 3 a game.
The rest of the Cowboys aren’t far behind at almost 39%, which is good enough for the 8th most efficient team from deep in the nation. McNeese also ranks 4th in opposing PPG and steals per game, making them an elite force on the defensive end. Drawing a long time contender in Gonzaga in the first round isn’t easy for any team, but don’t count out the Cowboys.
A matchup McNeese could face in the 2nd round is a 13-seeded Samford team that completely fits the mold of a Cinderella. The Bulldogs can compete with anyone offensively, ranking in the top 10 in efg%, fast break points, and 3pt%. With no big name players on their roster, they’ll have to lean on a balanced attack from the perimeter in close matchups. Having no clear player to look to in the clutch can make or break Stamford’s chance at advancing against an injury-riddled Kansas team, but their shooting will always keep them in the rearview mirror of their opponents.
]]>I have seen many students ready to sit down, relax, and begin scrolling through social media, no matter how much teachers emphasize not to. It’s common for students to be critical of the assignments teachers assign during the days they attend Writers Week, and I have sometimes felt this way. However, are these assignments indeed a burden, or could they teach us things that we’ve always been searching for but never got an answer to? When pondering this, a statement from musician Nathan Graham as he discussed his ups and downs in music during the last five minutes of this year’s Writers Week stood out.
“Not everyone will like or understand what you do. You have to find your audience like how they find you,” he said. Little did I know that this statement would summarize the meaning of the week: to find oneself by mustering the courage needed for expression.
Many don’t realize how every minute they spend in the auditorium is another’s first baby steps in expressing something they’ve kept close to their heart. I finally understood this amid the various intricate yet bold topics that touched me in each presentation I saw–friendship, love, social and gender norms, and identity–making it my greatest experience at Writers Week. Even if it may not be your first time opening up, everyone starts from somewhere, and Writers Week is a fantastic opportunity for self-growth that many fail to take advantage of.
A common theme mentioned in most presentations at Writers Week is the impact it has made on them. From Nabeela Syed’s discussion of it leading her to her lifelong soulmate to alumni and current students returning to express the change they’ve undergone from such an experience, Writers Week has something in store for everyone. Whether you’re in the audience or on stage, there is always something to learn about from your peers and the thoughts that cross your mind as you absorb new perspectives on essential concepts.
However, presenters who accept the opportunity to go on stage too late almost always mention how much they regret not doing it sooner, urging audience members to take the risk. Therefore, you can learn only so much from simply listening to peers. Instead, you must take action. Taking action consists of applying the ideas one has been exposed to and expanding on them to learn more about oneself and how one can improve.
Many students lose the chance to present at Writers Week because they lack knowledge of how much it can help them overcome the diverse fears, struggles, and drawbacks they experience as youth. In fact, a study conducted by psychologist James Pennebaker in June 2019 revealed that talking or even writing about one’s problems has the profound potential to heal and reduce physical and emotional distress.
As I glanced over my completed Writers Week note sheet, I completely forgot it was meant to be a class assignment. The more my class attended the presentations, the more I noticed they taught us new things about ourselves and the world as we filled our sheets with ideas that resonated with us. Eventually, that sheet got lost in our folders without another glance.
In the end, maybe Writers Week assignments are not a burden but helpful. As the 2015 Fremd graduate Megan Spletzer stated, “Being fearless is not about not eliminating fear. It’s about having fears, yet standing planted in your tracks.” Only you can stop your obstacles from limiting you to take action. Take action to see a change in your perspective of the world. Take action to be who you dream to be. Take action to inspire.
]]>Generally, people buy cards, chocolates, and roses for their significant other on Valentine’s Day. Making homemade cards is a way to save money, which some may argue is even more romantic than store-bought cards. Moreover, instead of going out to eat at a fancy restaurant, you could make their partner’s favorite dish, and the two could spend quality time together at home instead of going through the trouble of booking a reservation, driving through traffic, and then waiting a while for the dishes to come.
If someone chooses to celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s essential to tell their significant other how much they mean to each other, not just by buying goodies and calling it a day. One can spend quality time together by watching TV, going on a walk, or just hanging out on the sofa and talking about how much they appreciate each other.
At schools, clubs such as the Student Council could organize an event for couples to spend Valentine’s Day together. For example, William Fremd High School hosted their Winter Dance the week of Valentine’s Day, giving couples a chance to dance with each other and spend fun time together. Student Council and similar clubs could hold games for couples such as “How well you know each other” or “20 questions”, etc.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just a day for couples and romance. Even if you aren’t in any romantic relationship, you could still spend quality time with loved ones in various ways. This romantic DDay doesn’t have to be expensive and luxurious like traditional Valentine’s Day. There are many alternatives for costly items, and the most important takeaway from this DDay is having fun with family and friends instead of stressing over expensive gifts.
]]>English teachers Russell Anderson and Gina Enk invited Fremd alumni from across the country to perform their works as a way of bringing the event full circle.
“This year we had graduates come back because student periods are always the most popular periods of Writers Week,” Enk said. “We reached out to a whole bunch of grads. They flew in and drove in from all over the country, from New York, L.A., Ohio, and Chicago.”
The organization of Writers Week takes a lot of work, with English teachers being dedicated throughout the year to find suitable writers to invite.
“Any book that we come across, any poem we see, I think in the back of our minds, it’s always, ‘Is this going to be a good fit for our students from high school?’” Anderson said.
This year’s program featured a diverse array of student pieces including a heartfelt dedication to a grandparent, a eulogy to a recently-closed 7-11, and a story about an Ecuadorian mother’s journey to find her father in America. In many ways, Writers Week creates a nonjudgmental space for students to engage with the world outside the confines of the classroom. Student stories can be comedic or tragic, entertaining or thought-provoking.
For students, having a platform to tell their stories can be cathartic and freeing. Junior Keerthi Krishna discusses how presenting her piece “Thank You Lane Kim” enabled her to share her experiences with racial isolation.
“I wrote about a character from ‘Gilmore Girls’ named Lane Kim and how I relate to her and how I really saw myself in her character especially as she was a token person of color in ‘Gilmore Girls,’” Krishna said. “I felt like that represented my childhood because I grew up in [a] predominantly white town and there were literally two Indians in my elementary school.”
Community lies at the core of Writers Week. There’s a certain unspoken relationship between the performer and the audience, a kind of mutual understanding. Senior Savannah Korte, a first-time student presenter at Writers Week describes how the stage allowed her to relate to her audience, and for them to relate to her.
“I was so terrified,” Korte said. “But it’s so fun it’s just having the audience react to you. It’s connection. I feel like sometimes the world can be so lonely, and you feel like your experiences are very isolating.”
For over thirty years, Writers Week fostered a sense of community, passion, creativity and an appreciation of the arts at Fremd. Every year, students are reminded of the power that writing allows, through sharing their experiences and living in others’. Writers Week, more than being a writing festival, is a celebration of life.
For any students on the fence about presenting at Writers Week:
“I think everyone should try it at least once in their life,” Korte said.
In order to participate in the blood drive, students had to be sixteen years or older, and fill out a parental consent form. These students also had to meet the weight and corresponding height requirements, and sign up for the event through links provided on Schoology and/or the blood drive presentation. Teachers were also able to donate blood, and came down during their free periods.
Student Council sponsor Kenneth Goettsche explains the impact of the blood drive.
“Blood drive banks in the area come to schools and get as many students as possible to make donations, and they obviously need as many donations as possible,” Goettsche said. “It’s basically a give-give situation. Students give blood and it’s given back to the area, which is nice because the units of blood that are donated are donated back to local hospitals.”
High school students make up a large percentage of all blood donors – around twenty-five percent, according to the National Institute of Health. By donating their blood, students are giving back to hospitals and emergency centers near Fremd, and are directly helping their community. In a simple ten-minute procedure, up to three human lives can be saved for each blood donation.
Fremd junior Ashwin Mahidhara shares his view on the blood drive.
“I thought it was nice how, since I’m afraid of blood, there wasn’t that much blood involved,” Mahidhara said. “I thought it was overall pretty cool, and was a really great experience.”
Although some students might be scared of blood, the overall procedure doesn’t involve a ton of blood and injections. Typically, there’s an initial prick, in order to make sure the student has healthy blood. If the student has healthy blood, there will be one more injection, where the blood is extracted from the students.
Goettsche says what he loves seeing in first-time donors.
“I love seeing first-time donors and the excitement on their faces,” Goettsche said. “I think a lot of people think it’s a big scary procedure, and not to say that it’s not, you know, if you don’t like needles it can be scary. But if you can get past that, knowing that their [students] effort helps other people, that’s an amazing thing to see on their faces.”
The blood drive will return in March, as the second of the two hosted blood drives at Fremd. If students missed out on the opportunity recently, they’ll have another chance to volunteer and donate their blood later in the year. Students can expect the March blood drive to be similar to the recent event, with much of the same characteristics. Regardless of the date, donating blood is a special event for all involved, as everyone unites for a common goal – to save the lives of others.
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This past Nov. 9, however, Fremd was able to hold its first full-school Veterans Day recognition assembly since the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Hosted by the Fremd Social Studies Club, the assembly featured several student speakers, guest speakers, and each of the top sections of the Fremd Music Association.
Teacher and sponsor of Social Studies Club Courtney Billittier recounts a personal highlight from the experience.
“I’m always struck by how wonderful the music department and all of the different musical groups are,” Billittier said. “I’ve seen the assembly multiple times now and each time it feels just as powerful as the first because they’re students and their faculty directors are so talented.”
Fremd Choir, Fremd Orchestra, and Fremd Band conducted their respective groups through several fitting patriotic tunes, including “America the Beautiful” and “Taps”, then all came together to perform a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner”.
Senior Avya Saxena of the Social Studies Club introduced the guest veterans as the band then performed the official songs of each branch of the military.
The final guest speaker was former Navy member Nico Genet, Sr., who was introduced by his son and Sea Cadet Nico Genet, Jr. In closing, Genet, Sr. spoke about the acts of gratitude from citizens in everyday life that really make a difference to veterans all around the world.
Billittier reflects on her reaction to the message from the speech.
“His message is similar to ones that veterans have shared in previous years, that are: Acts of gratitude and thanks and appreciation to veterans don’t have to be very grand.” Billitier said.“It’s just thanking them for their contributions to our country. It’s a simple message, but I think that makes it more powerful.”
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Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs came into the season as one of the primary Super Bowl contenders, but an unusually average season for Andy Reid’s offense led them to an 11-6 record, lowest in the Mahomes – Kelce era. Questions arose heading into the playoffs on whether they could continue their AFC dominance. In typical – Chiefs fashion, they pieced it together at the right time.
The Chiefs started their playoff run with a blowout win against the Dolphins, with the help of the -4 degrees Kansas City weather. In the divisional round against the Bills, Mahomes reclaimed bragging rights against Josh Allen in a classic shootout between two of the league’s best quarterbacks. All roads led to Baltimore in The AFC championship, and Marquez Valdez Scantling sealed the game with a 32 yard catch on 3rd and 9.
When you think of Kansas City, their fast-paced west coast offense comes to mind. But this year, their defense has been the unit keeping them in games. After sitting out of training camp and their week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions, all-pro defensive tackle Chris Jones signed an extension and never looked back. Jones went on to have 2nd highest pff grade amongst interior d-lineman, and the defense as a whole finished as top 2 in ypg allowed.
The Chiefs offensive weapons have shown flashes of ones that could compete in a Super Bowl (under the best quarterback in the league), but their performance is the biggest question mark heading into Sunday. Will they be able to bring it at the sport’s biggest stage – or will the Chiefs skill positions crumble under the spotlight?
San Francisco 49ers
For the Niners, it was clear from the jump that this team would be contending for a ring. They cruised through their division, finishing with a record of 12 – 5 and the number 1 seed in the NFC.
They scraped together a victory against the Packers in the divisional, the 49ers faced another NFC north opponent in the Lions in the conference championship. After going down 24 – 7 at halftime thanks to allowing 158 yards on the ground, something clicked for San Francisco, shutting out Detroit in the 3rd and finishing it off with an Elijah Mitchell touchdown in the 4th.
On paper, the Niners easily have the most talented rosters in the league. Whether it’s their offensive firepower of Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk or their defense stacked with career all pros and a former DPOY, no one can compete. But what’s most special about the NFC champions is the mastermind behind their greatness – Kyle Shanahan.
It doesn’t hurt that his offensive weapons seem to be able to play almost any skill position on the field, but it’s the way Shanahan uses them that separates him from the rest of the coaches in the league. He can attack you with 2 running back sets, putting Deebo in the backfield with McCaffrey out wide, and destroys opposing defenses with play action calls. This has allowed the front office to place any quarterback and still find success, now making a trip to the Super Bowl with their 2nd QB in 5 seasons. The 49ers offensive system is a well-oiled machine – and it translates onto the field.
The receiving trio of Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle combined for 3,000 + yards and 20 touchdowns in the regular season, and Mccaffrey’s record breaking campaign in the red zone led him to the offensive player of the year.
The biggest question mark for San Fran lies in the 24 year old QB Brock Purdy, who has significantly less playoff experience than his Kansas City counterpart after injuries in last year’s playoffs sent him off the field – and the 49ers home. Purdy has also seen some struggles with decision making against high level defenses, throwing 4 interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens towards the end of the regular season. Can Purdy play his role well enough to defeat the best playoff quarterback since Tom Brady?
49ers 34 Chiefs 31
MVP: Christian McCaffrey
It’s hard to doubt Patrick Mahomes, but I don’t see a world where a fully healthy 49ers squad doesn’t pull it out. Its time for a new team to take the throne, and that team plays in San Francisco. The 49ers will win their 6th Super Bowl ring this Sunday.
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Another year, another disappointing all star roster: it seems like the league couldn’t decide whether to actually choose the bestplayers or base it completely off name value.
In a season anything but successful for Damian Lillard (24 ppg – lowest since 2014-15), he still found himself slithering into the starting lineup ahead of multiple backcourt MVP candidates. The same can be said for Lebron James out west, making it over his LA counterparts Paul George and Kawhi Lenoard despite “leading” his team to only the 9th seed. The NBA was picking and choosing when to consider team success in their choices, benching Steph Curry for the first time in 10 seasons after being the only player on his team remotely living up to his expectations.
Luckily, the ASG reputation was somewhat redeemed after being bailed out by injuries that slotted deserving players into reserve spots. After both Julius Randle and Joel Embiid went down after lineups were announced, Scottie Barnes and Trae Young took their place.
Midway through his 3rd season, Barnes is seeing career highs in points, assists, rebounds, fg %, 3pt %, steals, and blocks as the Raptors #1 option. And Young, consistently putting up 27 and 10 seasons, can never seem to get recognized at the break (unless there’s no other options, apparently).
And when it comes to the Dunk Contest, the rosters are even less put together. When people think of the contest, legendary battles featuring Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, and Vince Carter – an illustrious showcase of the leaping ability of some of the best players in the world – come to mind. The NBA would try to encapsulate this magic every season, right? Not really.
For an association hungry for and dependent on viewership counts, they seem to make little effort to headline its events with players that fans actually want to watch. And even though this years’ dunk contest lineup of Jaylen Brown, Jaime Jacquez Jr, Mac Mcclung, and Obi Toppin’s brother is trending in the right direction, it can be a lot more enticing.
New Arrivals in the West
For the first time since the Warriors dynasty rose in the early 2010’s, the Western Conference is led by new blood – The Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Minnesota faced scrutiny after packaging almost half their team for Rudy Gobert last offseason, but their new lineup is paying off. Anthony Edwards has jolted himself into the elite tier of shooting guards, averaging career highs in ppg and apg and earning his 2nd all star appearance. The Timberwolves former franchise player Karl Anthony Towns is again the best shooting big man in the league, allowing them to find success even with Gobert being an offensive liability outside the paint. Their 2nd unit headlined by spark plug Naz Reid and sharpshooting wing Nickeil Alexander Walker is also a key part in the team’s newfound success, as they rank top 10 in bench net rating.
While Minnesota sits atop the west with their combination of young stars and veterans, the Thunder have fully leaned into their young core – and they’re not far behind. 6 ‘5 guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to find his spots inside the arc has made him one of the most versatile scoring threats the league has to offer, and he has 30+ points per game to show for it. Besides SGA, 2nd year stars Chet Holmgren (technically) and Jalen Williams have put this team over the edge, with Williams rising to a 20 ppg 3 level scorer and Chet as an underrated DPOY candidate.
Cleveland’s Win Streak
After losing both Evan Mobley and Darius Garland for 4+ weeks, the Cleveland Cavaliers were written off as contenders. But the losses of two of their best players seemed to ignite a fire under the organization, as they became the best team in the league in the new year with a record of 18-3. On the back of Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs have surged into the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference – slowly proving that they can still see success without Lebron James.
Revival in the Garden
For years, New York Knicks fans have suffered under a slew of underperforming players and incompetent coaching and front office moves. But this year, hope surges through the basketball mecca as they pave their path to title contention.
After the Mavericks fell flat in the playoffs in 2022, Jalen Brunson jumped ship to the big apple and never looked back. He seemed to learn a lot under Luka Doncic as a Mav, with his slow and methodical playstyle cutting up opposing defenses and bolstering him to an MVP candidate. The Knicks front office finally went all in at the trade deadline, acquiring a premier 3 & D threat in OG Anunoby and 40% 3pt shooting specialists Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic. With one of the deepest teams in the league, the Knicks are striving to restore the glory in Madison Square Garden
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March For Our Lives is a youth-led coalition that aspires to eradicate gun violence. The group formed in 2018 after a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida took the lives of fourteen students and three faculty members. Since then, it has coordinated countless protests and rallies for gun control legislation across the United States, gaining recognition from March For Our Lives National, the Oregonian, and NPR radio. Most recently, its efforts have resulted in the passage of over 300 anti-gun violence laws, including the Biden-Harris administration’s National Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act. The bill, among other things, established the first federal gun violence prevention office.
“We [refuse] to accept a world where guns kill more kids and young people in the United States than anything else,” March For Our Lives declared in its mission statement. “We aim to create safe and healthy communities and livelihoods where gun violence is obsolete.”
Aside from organizing nationwide demonstrations, the group also promotes safety and security in the community.
Junya Liu, a sophomore at Fremd High School and the co-leader of Palatine’s March For Our Lives chapter, details the group’s previous undertakings.
“Locally, we have led rallies in 2021 and 2022 centered around the mental health crises in District 211,” Liu said. “Furthermore, we have engaged with local organizations such as the Kenneth Youth Center and WINGS to create a tangible change in our local community for those most affected by systemic oppression.”
However, the organization wanted to do more before additional lives were lost.
Liu credits this desire as the inspiration behind its recent op-ed, written entirely by youth activists.
“With this op-ed, we were focused on proactivity rather than reactivity; we needed to draw attention to gun violence prevention without a shooting having to occur,” Liu said. “Standing shoulder-to-shoulder as a student coalition 144 strong, we published an op-ed in 60 student newspapers nationwide—for the first time in history.”
The piece, aptly titled “We will not wait for the next school shooting,” is an empowering call for action—one made by a coalition that is both bloodied and exhausted yet willing to fight for a brighter future.
“We believe that our country has the capacity to love us back. There are bullet shaped holes in our hearts, but our spirits are unbreakable… So as students and young people alike, we should know our words don’t end on this page—we will channel them into change,” March For Our Lives said.
The group has more events planned in the upcoming months, including hosting a WINGS drive to combat domestic violence and a voter registration drive.
]]>English teacher Christina O’Donnell describes Nonavinakere as someone who always takes the initiative to express her passion for English.
“You know that kid who is always nodding and waiting at the edge of their seat to raise their hand?” O’Donnell said. “This is the same kid who stays after class every day to talk after the bell… You only know this kid if you know Shreya Nonvinakere.”
Nonavinakere reflects on the experiences that have inspired her love of writing.
“English class has always been so special to me because I get to understand the different perspectives of my peers,” Nonavinakere said. “Being able to accept differences of opinion is a very valuable skill, and I’m so glad I got to experience that,”
]]>English teacher Nicole La Beau believes Zanardo is a positive role model who never fails to contribute to class discussions or take his work to the next level.
“Ricky Z—ALWAYS prepared; ALWAYS engaged; ALWAYS excelling,” La Beau said. “But more, he thoughtfully reacts to characters and concepts in the literature while also reflecting on why he believes what he does and reflects on how his writing choices impact the reader. Then he shares his processing with the class, which only improves the class.”
Zanardo finds this process the best way to gain a deeper understanding of the world around him.
“The journey is more fulfilling than the destination,” Zanardo said.
]]>One Acts is a yearly event in which students work together to create their own directed plays. Applied Tech teacher Michael Karasch sponsors One Acts and helps organize the event.
“One Acts is student-directed and designed plays, a series of plays for a festival,” Karasch said. “The kids can choose to write the plays, or they can choose a published play. We have five that were written and one that was a published play, and they do all the work from casting to directing to designing”.
With so much support and care from the Fremd Theater community and its sponsors, these six outstanding performances were indeed a sight to behold.
Fremd Junior Anysa Burgos, created the play Glossolalia. Glossolalia tells the story of two young teenagers who, through unexpected odds, became lovers in high school and continued their relationship till marriage. Not many know the meaning of the word glossolalia, which is what Anysa answered through her play.
“My inspiration actually came from this word I saw in my English sophomore year called glossolalia, which is the phenomenon of suddenly speaking in a language that wasn’t previously known to you,” Burgos said. “…it made me think of what’s a language that we all can speak, and I think that love, although not like a traditional language, is a language that we are all capable of speaking…and I just thought that that would be a great idea for the play”.
Fremd Senior Noah Gable, created the play Suburbia. It takes place in a dystopian world where Suburbia’s inhabitants must wear masks that alter their perception of a dark and bleak world. Families don’t have true bonds, and people don’t feel their true feelings. Those who remove their masks would be terminated, as well as their families. This Orwellian concept for a play came to Noah in an unexpected way.
“Well, I had a dream once,” Gable said. “And I was like, oh, that’d be an awesome play. So then I just wrote about it”.
One Acts hosted plays from various genres. Whether people are into Western themes, dystopian worlds, or love stories, Fremd’s talented play directors provided their viewers with something that everyone enjoyed.
]]>During the Oct. 7 attack, Hamas militants attacked Israel by crossing the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing over 1200 Israeli civilians, soldiers, and foreigners, including 32 Americans. Additionally, more than 240 civilians were taken hostage, including citizens from many different countries. Hamas used boats to invade Israel’s coast, while planes bombed large gatherings of civilians and fired missiles at critical targets. This is Israel’s worst crisis in decades, and in response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swore to destroy Hamas, initiating a bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip.
After the war’s first week, Israel issued a statement warning Palestinian civilians to evacuate the Gaza Strip in advance of a ground invasion. While Israel’s bomb strikes have killed many Hamas fighters and targets, they have also killed thousands of Palestinian civilians. During the first month of fighting, the death toll rose to 15,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis. However, on Nov. 21, Israel and Hamas agreed on a temporary ceasefire deal to exchange hostages. The deal was proposed by Hamas leadership, negotiated by Qatar, and accepted by the Israeli Prime Minister along with its government.
The hostage exchange and ceasefire lasted for over five days after an extension to the initial agreement, as 105 hostages taken by Hamas were released in exchange for 210 Palestinians arrested by Israel. Nearly all of the hostages released were women and children, but a significant number of foreign citizenship holders were among them, including Americans. Although these hostages were released and are now safe, about 137 people are still being held by Hamas. Israel also allowed humanitarian aid and supplies to reach Gaza as part of the truce.
Fighting resumed on Dec. 1, with accusations on the Israeli side that Hamas violated the cease-fire agreement by firing rockets. Hamas claims that the rocket incident was accidental and that Israel voluntarily resumed the war. Israel’s forces have expanded their offensive as they advance into the southern part of the Gaza Strip. When asked about the possibility of restarting the truce, both sides have stated that they currently have no interest in resuming negotiations.
While there appears to be no clear end to the war in the near future, some hope for a long-term resolution could be coming together. The United States and its partners, including within the region, have begun discussing the future of both Israel and Palestine, which includes a temporary Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) led government in Gaza after the war concludes and a long sought-after two-state solution. These resolutions could lead to lasting peace, but the battle is expected to continue for the present moment.
]]>Sophomore Anushka Siram revealed how the constant fire alarms, although still surprising, get quite annoying.
“At first, I’m still startled, even if it happens many times for the first few seconds. However after a bit, it gets annoying because it keeps happening and is disrupting classes. But if it happens in a class, I don’t
like, I’m fine with it,” Anushka said.
Assistant Principal Michael Smith stated that the school is working hard to solve this issue and ensure that students and staff are safe.
“We’ve been working closely with the district to problem solve and avoid future fire alarms being engaged that could’ve been avoided,” Smith said.
Smith also explained how the school is doing everything possible to solve the issue, even meeting with the Palatine police department. Although there is no clear answer, Smith tells the school to respond to these fire alarms like how one usually would react to a real fire.
“We don’t want people to become numb to fire alarms being engaged. We never know, as a building, what the immediate cause is, and the last thing we want is for anyone to be injured. ”
The constant fire alarms interfere with the classes’ duration and divert students’ focus, making it difficult for students to focus on the content they are learning during class.
It’s also important to note that more than the fire alarms may instill fear in some students. During these sudden fire alarms, students may be unsupervised or in spaces other than a classroom, causing a sense of panic.
As a school community, students should know their peers’ emotions during uncertain times, such as when they hear fire alarms. Just because one person may think these alarms are an entertaining way to get out of class, others may get frustrated at the constant ringing or even experience fear because of them. The next time a fire alarm rings, consider its implications for students around you.
]]>The main reason White Lung Syndrome is raising concerns is that the overall situation draws parallels to the onset of COVID-19 a few years ago, albeit on a significantly smaller scale. COVID-19 was first heard to have emerged in China sometime in late 2019 and ultimately took hold in America in early 2020. After a few months, a pandemic took hold of the country, and a nationwide shutdown was set in place.
In a Capitol Hill press conference, CDC Director Mandy Cohen sheds light on the disease’s severity level.
“As of today [Friday], we are not seeing anything that is atypical in terms of pneumonia-related emergency department visits,” Cohen said. “These reported increases do not appear to be due to a new virus or other pathogen but to several viral or bacterial causes that we expect to see during the respiratory illness season.”
White Lung Syndrome is not a novel disease, meaning that it’s been seen before and is, in fact, likely due to a combination of bacterial, environmental, and viral factors. One such bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is believed to be the primary cause of the outbreak in Warren County. This bacteria can cause White Lung Syndrome by creating a lung infection. Flu-like viruses and inhaling pollutants can also cause the development of White Lung Syndrome due to lung damage or irritation.
Professor of Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Paul Offit explains that White Lung Syndrome is nothing to really worry about in an interview with the Washington Post.
“The bacteria [Mycoplasma pneumoniae] is fairly common, and when it causes pneumonia, it’s not as severe as other types of bacterial pneumonias,” Offit said. “I’ve never heard the term ‘white lung’ in reference to this disease before, but it usually resolves on its own, although physicians often treat the disease with antibiotics.”
The disease is nothing to be too concerned about yet, as it appears to be just a result of the typical wintry season. But nowadays, any disease with the potential to cause an outbreak is enough to make national headlines, largely due to the far-reaching effects of COVID-19.
]]>The incident began when the USS Carney detected and successfully intercepted three drone attacks. The Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group in Yemen, claimed responsibility for two attacks against the commercial ships but had no comment on the Navy ship.
Meanwhile, the three commercial ships weren’t so fortunate. A ballistic missile targeting a Bahamas flagged bulk carrier narrowly missed its mark, exploding nearby. Two Panamanian flagged bulk carrier tankers were also struck by rockets, causing minor damage but raising concerns about the safety and security of vital shipping routes in the Red Sea.
These attacks mark a significant development in the ongoing conflict in the region, particularly between the U.S. and Iran. The Red Sea serves as a critical artery for global trade, and trade disruptions caused by such attacks could have far-reaching economic consequences.
In response, the U.S. has condemned the attacks and vowed to take all necessary measures to protect its regional interests and allies. The international community, including France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, have also expressed strong disapproval and want to eliminate this threat in order for free navigation to continue in the Red Sea.
The U.S. has created the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) unit, which has over 39 nations in it. Its goal is stated to “promote security, stability, and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.” These waters include the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Persian Gulf, all of which encompass the entrance into the Mediterranean.
Although the USS Carney remains operational and investigations into the attacks continue, the situation remains volatile. The recent flare-up in Gaza with the Israeli invasion further adds to the region’s instability, leaving the future of the Red Sea and the larger Middle East shrouded in uncertainty.
The coming weeks will determine whether the international community can successfully mediate a solution and prevent further escalation. Only time will tell what the long-term consequences of this incident will be, but one thing is certain: the Red Sea has become a new flashpoint in an already unstable region.
]]>The changes on the PSAT 8/9 this year have involved raising the maximum score from 1440 to a new maximum of 1520, altering the meaning of the scores on that exam. However, no such score changes will be made to the SAT. The College Board says that any score received on the digital SAT will be equivalent to the same score on the paper SAT, and the maximum score remains at 1600.
On the SAT, there will now be only two sections for math and reading and will last for 2 hours. The SAT will be held on the College Board’s Bluebook App. Each section of the SAT will be split into two modules or tests. The first module is at a set difficulty, while the second will change its difficulty based on the user’s performance on the first. There will still be a notable difference between reading and writing questions. Instead of having a few long passages with multiple questions per passage, this new section will have various short texts with one question each and increased questions about vocabulary. The math section will remain mostly unchanged except for more trigonometry questions, and a calculator will be allowed throughout the entire math section.
As a result of the SAT becoming digitized, students will be able to receive their results sooner, having a maximum of a 2-3 week wait. The College Board stated the changes were made because of the pandemic and to adapt “to meet the needs of students and educators.” The College Board believes the digital SAT is more accessible and flexible for students. Recently, a survey among international SAT test-takers in November 2021 found that more than 80% of students felt the digital version was less stressful than the paper version.
Theresa Koller, a Fremd English teacher who helps prepare students for the SAT Reading and English section, believes that most students would benefit from the digital SAT changes.
“I think it’s going to be very beneficial to students who do not like reading long passages. That was hard for kids to do on the old SAT paper,” Koller said.
Koller also believes that the changes would substantially increase SAT scores overall and recommends the after-school SAT program for preparation.
“We have two semesters of SAT prep. We started in August, and it is a 12 week program that meets every week for two hours. We go over tips on how to tackle the reading and English type questions on SAT,” Koller said.
Students can register for the January course on Infinite Campus and also email her or Mr. Grattoni, who helps with the math section, at tkoller@d211.org and cgrattoni@d211.org.
In addition, the changes have rendered traditional SAT prep books ineffective, and the College Board has recommended some different resources. These resources include the Bluebook testing app and the digital SAT Khan Academy course (linked here). For more information, you can visit https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital/faq
]]>Played by Tom Blythe, President Snow is the cold, ruthless dictator of the original Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. He is malicious and murderous, maintaining a cunning and powerful aura. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes dives deep into the villain’s roots to when he was an eighteen year old boy.
The movie’s beginning portrays Snow not as an icy killer but instead as a bright, ambitious student living in the Capitol. Throughout the nearly two-hour and forty-minute film, Snow’s character is developed tremendously in a seamless way.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is the intricacy of Snow’s character and the way he visibly changes and evolves throughout the film. The development of his character is not sudden, but relatively slow and steady, climatically building and leading the movie to be more meaningful and exciting.
In the movie, Coriolanus is Lucy Gray’s mentor during the tenth annual Hunger Games. During the Hunger Games, twenty-four “tributes” are selected by raffle, two from each of the twelve districts. The twenty-four tributes, all children or teenagers, fight each other to the death in an arena, further strengthening the control of the Capitol over the twelve districts. Lucy Gray is a tribute from the poverty-filled, coal-mining district of District 12. Snow has to find a way to get Lucy Gray, played by Rachel Zegler, to beat the other tributes in a violent fight to the death. However, Lucy Gray is an eccentric and musical performer who is not meant to be a killer or fighter. Snow must be cunning and work around Lucy Gray’s values and characteristics if she is to win, something Snow’s entire future could be resting on.
Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler are both very talented actors who bring their roles to life, and the conflicting personalities of the two characters shine through clearly throughout the movie.
The talented cast further develops the film into a compelling and riveting story. Famous names are scattered across the cast, with Peter Dinklage, the Emmy-winning actor from Game of Thrones, and Viola Davis, the winner of the rare EGOT award, playing significant roles.
The cinematic elements of the movie, such as the lighting, camera angles, and music, further heightened the quality of the film and increased the viewer’s immersion. When the camera would set up for an epic shot of Snow walking through the Capital, or when the music filled the theater with a dramatic theme song, I felt truly immersed in the story. All the cinematic elements came together cleanly to form a strong new addition of a movie to the highly praised Hunger Games series.
Something else that stood out was how much more violent this movie was than the original Hunger Games movies. As the film features the tenth Hunger Games, one of the earlier ones, it is clear how much more unrefined and messy this version of the games is than that in the original series. Every aspect of the tenth annual Hunger Games is a stark reminder of the brutality and cruelty of the games, something that is covered up better in later games.
The movie was long, something I enjoyed greatly, yet some important moments from the book were cut. It is understandable, as the film would have stood well over three hours if everything had been included from the book. However, the movie could have benefitted slightly from adding a few more key moments from the novel. One of these moments is the final battle between Reaper, one of the tributes, and Lucy Gray. However, the way the scene was portrayed in the movie achieved a more emotional mood that wasn’t accomplished as much in the book.
In general, this movie was executed very well in terms of pacing, being divided into three “chapters.” I appreciated the addition of the “chapters” as they helped divide and mark the different parts of this phase of Snow’s life.
In terms of the box office, this movie has performed exceptionally well. Having made over $200 million worldwide at the box office in a little over two weeks, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has a good chance of being placed in the Top 20 movies of the year.
Overall, this movie was probably my favorite film in the Hunger Games series. The characters, plot, visuals, cinematic effects, and music were all executed marvelously. This movie is well worth all of the hype it has received, and I will definitely be re-watching this outstanding film as soon as possible.
]]>Each exam has two tests, the A exam and the B exam. They are entirely different problem sets with traditionally other topic distributions. These exams are taken by tens of thousands of high school students each year. These exams have national awards for exceptionally high scoring students, and some top U.S. universities even allow students to state their exam scores on the application.
In 2023, the AMC 12A was marred by a significant leak of confidential exam materials. The leak occurred just days before the exam was scheduled to be administered, and it allowed some students to see the exam questions and practice them in advance.
The leak was met with widespread condemnation from the mathematics community. Many students and educators expressed concerns about the fairness of the competition and the potential impact on students’ scores. Some students accessing the leaked materials could score significantly higher than had they not. This gave them an unfair advantage over other students who didn’t have access to the leaked materials.
The leak also tarnished the reputation of the AMC and cast doubt on the integrity of the competition. It could have a long term impact on the AMC, as it may discourage some students from joining the competition. Additionally, students who meet a top 5% cutoff for the AMC 12 would be able to take the AIME or American Invitational Mathematics Exam. The leaks may significantly affect who gets into the exam and may give some spots to undeserving students.
The MAA took several steps to address the leak. The MAA launched an investigation into the leak to determine how it occurred and discover the perpetrators of the leak. The MAA also took steps to mitigate the leak’s impact on the 2023 AMC 12A. This included invalidating the scores of students who were suspected of cheating.
The MAA also announced that it would strengthen its security protocols to prevent future leaks, including reviewing exam preparation and administration procedures. In the near future, they will make the entire exam taking process take place digitally and release the exam to proctors on the contest day. Their hope is these actions will help eradicate cheating in these competitions.
The AMC is known for being a valuable competition that can help students develop their mathematical skills and prepare for college and careers in STEM fields. The MAA stated they are committed to ensuring that the AMC remains a fair and equitable competition for all students.
]]>The first few weeks of the 2023-24 NBA season are in the books, and a blockbuster trade has already been made. On Oct. 30, NBA fans across the globe woke up to a notification that might reshape the state of the western conference and the league as a whole: James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers.
After many seasons of disappointment for the Clippers, it was clear that picking up a dominant playmaker was a move they needed to make. In exchange for Harden and Tucker, L.A. shipped off a package including Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, Marcus Morris, and multiple future first round picks.
Harden, who recently made his 3rd trade request in three seasons, sat out of the Philadelphia 76ers first few games of the season. The 34-year-old former MVP had trouble finding a landing spot, as it turns out many NBA teams are hesitant at acquiring a player who seems to be unhappy with whatever team he’s on. Still, he will be a big piece for a Clippers team that has been in desperate need of a star to place alongside Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. If the Clippers can somehow manage to stay healthy as the season continues, their new starting lineup can easily lead them to the top of the western conference.
For the 76ers, this trade was merely to gain expiring contracts and future picks to package together for a different star; and it was likely the only move they could make. After yet another 2nd round exit in the playoffs last year, tensions were high between Harden and GM Daryl Morey. This sixers team would not be able to compete with the juggernauts of the eastern conference in Boston and Milwaukee, even with the reigning MVP; or so we thought.
13 games into the season, the 76ers are game away from the best record in the Eastern conference at 10-3. Shipping Harden off to LA has given Tyrese Maxey complete control over this Philadelphia backcourt, and he has proven to be more than enough to fill both the scoring and playmaking void left by the trade.
Also, the addition of Kelly Oubre Jr. and his improved efficiency has been a big reason why the Maxey-Embiid pick and roll attack has been so dominant. Teams’ may be regretting not picking up the 27 year old wing, who is playing like one of the more underrated pickups of the offseason.
In-Season Tournament
This year, the NBA season became the first in history to have the new in-season tournament, where teams compete in division matches and eventually a bracket that still counts towards their record. Fans were skeptical about the execution of the tournament, but it has so far proven to be a much needed spark in an increasingly less important regular season.
The bracket part of the tournament will be the deciding factor in the success of the newly implemented format. At its best, teams will use it as an opportunity to see how they matchup against their competitors. At its worst, the players will view it as normal games, where load management will prevail.
Eastern Conference Powerhouses
The two biggest trades in the offseason both ended up in star players heading to new heights out East: Damian Lillard to the Bucks, and Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics. As it stands, these two teams should be fighting for the top spot in the conference throughout the season.
Dame dropped 39 points in his debut with the bucks, and has been inconsistent through the team’s fourteen games. Still, his presence opens up the paint for Giannis Antetokounmpo to finish at an elite level. The Bucks now have another player to trust in the playoffs, allowing them to look to a perimeter scorer in the clutch instead of Antetokounmpo.
Even with Milwaukee’s superstar acquisition, the Celtics are playing like the team to beat in the East, with Porzingis and Holiday proving to be two key moves in the franchise’s quest to their 18th banner.
Boston let go of Marcus Smart in the offseason, whose defensive toughness and leadership was the team’s identity. Jrue Holiday is the perfect replacement, as he brings high level playmaking and scoring along with all around defensive dominance.
Along with Holiday in the Celtics offseason acquisition was the 7 ‘2 Porzingis, who has been one of the most important pieces in their1start. You can’t shoot over him, but he can shoot over you. His 2 blocks per game has shut down the paint at TD Garden, and his efficiency from the mid range and on is refreshing to see from a big man.
Though it’s still early in the season, there seems to be a consensus top 3 teams in the Eastern Conference.
]]>On the night of Nov. 3, the western area of Jajarkot was struck by a powerful earthquake, collapsing houses and buildings. The recent quake left about 150 people dead and 375 people injured as of Nov. 4. Security forces were deployed to aid the rescue efforts in the affected area of Nepal. The hospital in Jajarkot was filled with wounded, and some people were airlifted to Kathmandu to get help. Houses and buildings were reduced to rubble, with people seen digging to find the survivors.
Geethakumari Bista, a survivor trapped in rubble with her family, spoke with the BBC about her experience during this earthquake.
Geethakumari Bista, a survivor trapped in rubble with her family, spoke with the BBC about her experience during this earthquake.
“We three were in the same room on the top floor. Everything happened so suddenly. We couldn’t understand what was happening. People shouted around. The armed police came and I shouted: ‘I am alive, too’… First, they rescued my elder daughter by carrying her out and taking her downstairs. Unfortunately, they couldn’t save my younger one. She was 14 years old,” Bista said.
Officials estimated that at least 5,000 homes had been damaged or destroyed. Many residents of Jajarkot and Rukum West were forced to sleep outside due to their homes being obliterated.
Residents in these villages claimed that they were not receiving help quickly. Many affected areas are challenging to reach, and Nepal has claimed that aid organizations and the government coordinate their efforts in advance to prevent any additional delay. A major obstacle was these villages were only accessible by foot. In addition, roads were blocked by landslides due to the earthquake.
After the earthquake, scientists warned that the Himalayan nation must do more to survive these disasters and prepare for the risk of a bigger quake, especially since the country is on top of the fault lines of two major tectonic plates. After the 2015 earthquake, Nepal instructed local and provincial governments to enforce building codes and prepare action plans. This code was enforced in some new buildings, but the existing mud and stone houses were not dealt with. According to Madhav Katwal, an engineer at the government’s Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, most local governments have had not enforced the building codes.
Amod Mani Dixit, director of the National Society for Earthquake Technology in Kathmandu, expressed how Nepal could improve building conditions to reduce risks.
“You cannot move the population; the entire country is seismic, the entire Nepal is seismic. But can we improve the building stock? The answer is yes, we can, and we have demonstrated in many parts of the world, including in Nepal, that we can,” Dixit said.
]]>Having taken the practice digital SAT administered by Fremd High School, junior Shivani Subash said that she preferred the paper test over the digital version.
“[The digital test] changes based on how well you do on the first module, and if you do bad on the first module, it gets easier which gives you a false sense of confidence,” Subash said.
Junior Ashwin Mahidhara shared a similar viewpoint.
“The math section on the paper [test] is a lot easier… there are less weird problems,” Mahidhara said.
Although it tests similar concepts that the paper SAT tests, the digital SAT will vary in its organization, with one English and one Math section. Each section will be split into two modules. Based on how one does on the first module of a section, the second module’s difficulty will be tailored accordingly.
Mahidhara stated that since the questions differ from person to person, the scoring of the test seems unfair.
“A standardized test should be fully standardized… The same set of questions should be given to everyone…It’s strange if my standardized test has different questions than those on other people’s tests,” Mahidhara said.
Subash claimed that the new version seems unfair because the difficulty of the questions you get in the second module depends on one’s performance on the first. For example, if one doesn’t do well on the first module of a section, the questions in the second section will be easier. In contrast, if you do well on the first module, the questions in the second module will be more difficult.
This idea contradicts the point of standardized testing. Standardized tests are methods of assessment where all test takers have to answer the same questions with all the answers being graded the same way. The SAT is supposed to be a standardized test. If the questions on the new version of the SAT are different for each person, then the SAT would no longer be standardized.
Given this lack of standardization, would the digital SAT be a good replacement for the paper SAT? It depends on the person taking it. Though it may be easier for some people because of the shorter sections, it could be harder for others based on the test structure they are used to and the new organization. Additionally, the idea that the second module adapts to the person taking it doesn’t stay true to the idea that the SAT is a standardized test. Nevertheless, the person taking the test will need to decide upon which version is better.
In general, Mahidhara enjoyed the paper test.
“I liked some of the features,” Mahidhara said. “It seemed easier for me but we will definitely have to see how it goes.”
As of right now, this change in the SAT format is permanent. However, it may serve as an obstacle for students since it takes away the sole purpose of standardized tests, which is to give every student an equal set of questions to measure their academic skills. Though the digital SAT often causes clashes of opinions, it’s time to embrace this change because this new test will become the norm for measuring college readiness in future generations of students.
]]>Actors first joined the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike on July 14, and the unions lead a collective effort to advocate for better wages, protection against AI writing, and revenue from streaming. This marked a historic event of the 118 day long strike, which was the longest for SAG-AFTRA’s history.
Following the WGA’s successful deal, the SAG-AFTRA’s deal is valued at more than $1 billion for the approximately 160,000 members of the union.
SAG-AFTRA’s deal was negotiated with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP), with the end of the strike bringing a win for SAG-AFTRA. Other major entertainment companies, such as Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Universal played a hand in these negotiations.
The new actors’ contract supports many of their key struggles. Basic minimum increases in wage, with 7% in the first year, breaking the record of the writers’ deal which negotiated 5% of wage increases. Hair and makeup professionals will also be required to be present on sets.
Performers are also protected, as studios must provide consent from the actors about descriptions or replicas of any actor as a major response to the use of AI technology that has especially expanded. The struggle in negotiations for protection against the growing AI technology used to replicate performances was a large factor in these deals, to ensure these protections would continue into the future.
Performers will gain a greater share of the streaming service revenue. Streaming services will also give bonuses to shows that amass a standard of success, with estimates reporting it could be $40 million per year.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the major negotiator for the deal and the executive director of SAG-AFTRA, sees this new deal as a victory. \
“It’s an agreement that our members can be proud of,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “We said we would only accept a fair, equitable and respectful deal, and that’s precisely what this deal is. So I think our members, as we are able to release more of the details of it, will look at them and say, now this is something that was worth being on strike for.”
]]>English teacher Theresa Christensen describes Mitali as an inspiration to those around her in the classroom.
“Mitali enthusiastically engages in our class each day, offering her thoughts on our reading while not being afraid to offer perspectives from a different angle,” Christensen said, “She places great effort in her writing and reflects thoughtfully on her strengths and weaknesses. Mitali is a leader in her dedicated writing group, and her positivity is contagious.”
]]>“Writing and composition are a representation of our souls and our inner drives. It is how we express ourselves and create our futures,” Johnson said.
English teacher Angenette Fudala explains that Kyler’s talent and passion for writing are shown through the way he immerses himself in English-related activities.
“Kyler is a standout student in AP Literature. Beyond this, though, Kyler is also taking two English electives this year to help him pursue his future writing goals—to write and produce films,” Fudala said, “Last year, he was a Writers Week presenter with his original screenplay, and this year he hopes to have a film he can show to student audiences.”
]]>India
With a perfect record so far, undefeated India stands as the favorite for the 2023 World Cup champion. Winning almost every game by huge margins, the World Cup hosts are the team to beat this year. Three out of the ten highest scorers of the tournament are on their team and India is having a great World Cup run this season.
Team captain Rohit Sharma has been a force to be reckoned with in the tournament thus far. Sharma, who has already broken two world records this championship alone, also holds the record for most centuries in the World Cup. During the win against the Netherlands, he shattered the record for most sixes in a year of international cricket with 60 and most sixes by a captain in a single World Cup with 24.
Virat Kohli, another record setter on the Indian team, equaled the previous record for one day international centuries of 49 set by his former teammate, Sachin Tendulkar. He achieved this during India’s 243 run win over South Africa, handing them their only loss of the tournament. He now has the most runs in the tournament, a stunning 594.
New Zealand
It’s been a rocky road on the way to the semifinals for New Zealand. They started off strong by securing four victories in a row, but their luck soon took a turn for the worse. After being defeated by India, the team followed with losses against Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan. They almost missed the cutoff for the semis, but a five wicket win against Sri Lanka secured their place in the match against India.
23-year old Rachin Ravindra is making history during his first ever World Cup. He broke the record set by Sachin Tendulkar for most runs by a player under 25 with 565, including 3 centuries. The World Cup rookie is now third for most runs scored this tournament, on par with some of the greats of his time.
Australia
Australia lost its first two games against the best two teams in the tournament: India and South Africa. They quickly bounced back, however, winning their next seven and ending with a record of 7-2. Australia finished third landing them a spot in the semifinals against second place, South Africa.
Glenn Maxwell saved the Australian team in their game against Afghanistan with an unfathomable 201 runs. Down 7 wickets and 201 points, Maxwell was at bat toward the end of the inning. He already had 22 runs and hoped to just lessen the point difference, but ended up scoring 100 more. By this time, with 120 runs, Maxwell began cramping up and eventually collapsed, unable to run. But instead of leaving the game, the medics got him to his feet, he waved off his substitute, and scored a stunning 201 runs while barely moving.
South Africa
Finishing second with an almost perfect record, South Africa only lost against first place India and the Netherlands. This secured them a spot in the semifinals against Australia. Although they’ve already won against Australia earlier in the tournament, this semifinal brings back bad memories, as South Africa has been known to choke in big moments like this.
South African batter Quinton de Kock has the second most runs in the tournament with 591, only 3 behind Indian star Virat Kohli. He has scored four centuries in this World Cup alone, becoming the first South African batter to hit 500 runs in a single edition of the cup.
Quinton de Kock is also joined by fellow teammate Rassie van der Dussen in the top ten scorers of the championship. 34 year old Dussen is currently sixth with 442 runs. His 76 runs against Afghanistan helped the team secure their second place position last Friday.
Predictions
India vs New Zealand:
In Wankhede Stadium, India should be handily winning this one as they’ve already beaten New Zealand by 4 wickets. Undefeated so far this tournament, India is definitely the favorite to win this match and probably even the finals.
South Africa vs Australia:
Although Australia has a chance at victory, South Africa is the favorite to win this match in Kolkata. Hopefully South Africa can break their choking streak and not have a repeat of years past when they lost key matches towards the end of the World Cup, making this their first time reaching the finals. Winning against Australia by 134 runs in October, they should be able to do it again.
Finals:
India should bring home the trophy this year on their home turf while playing at Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad. They’ve already emerged victorious against all the other teams by huge margins this World Cup. The so far unbeatable team includes many of the best players in the league, shaping an exceptional crew.
]]>Some of the terms of the WGA’s 2023 contract with the AMPTP has led to increases in minimum wages and residuals (royalties paid for creative involvement), more transparency from streaming platforms, and set a requirement for at least three writers in a writing room, and most importantly, set the precedent for protections against AI.
One of the major concerns of the WGA strikes was the lack of wage compensation for writers. The new contract addressed those issues by creating a new streaming bonus based on the amount of viewership a show received that raised minimums by 5%. With these new bonuses, streaming services are also required to share viewership data with the WGA. This level of transparency for WGA members means that streaming services cannot falsify low viewership numbers as a reason to cancel their shows.
Development rooms, another prominent concern of writers, now require a minimum of three writers. Previously, mini-rooms were the norm, where entry-level writers were required to draft a plot for the entire series in a few weeks before being dissolved. Writers on the development team must be guaranteed a duration of 20 weeks or through the post-greenlight room.
Of the most notable gains from the contract are the written protections against AI, that set a blueprint for labor unions on AI regulations for SAG-AFTRA and in other industries. Since the widespread use of programs like ChatGPT, Hollywood writers feared AI replacement.
As a result, the 2023 WGA contract explicitly states that, “AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.”
The WGA creates a textual affirmation of the rights of writers over their work that safeguards against AI in their industry. The creation of new material thus can only be made by writers, must be credited to them, and bans the use of AI to replace writers.
Despite the new AI regulations, there are still shortcomings within the contract. The WGA’s previous hardline stance against AI usage in any capacity was modified to allow writers to use AI programs in their work. But this ignores the way AI programs like ChatGPT have used writers’ works as data without their prior consent, such as Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin.
Meanwhile, although talks between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP have begun once again on Oct. 24, a deal has not yet been finalized. Talks initially fell apart on Oct. 12 due to large disagreements over the contract. Their respective organization websites have made conflicting statements over the offers made in negotiations, especially with reference to shares of revenue and AI protections.
The AMPTP claimed, “SAG-AFTRA’s current offer included what it characterized as a viewership bonus that… would cost more than $800 million per year—which would create an untenable economic burden.”
In response, SAG-AFTRA claimed that the AMPTP “intentionally misrepresented to the press the cost of the [viewership bonus] proposal—overstating it by 60%.”
Additionally, according to SAG-AFTRA, their offer for revenue sharing would have cost Hollywood companies “less than 57¢ per subscriber each year.”
On the concern of AI protections, the AMPTP’s offer prohibited the use of AI replicas without the performer’s written consent, and restricted how the replicas may be used. SAG-AFTRA countered, claiming that the AMPTP “demand[s] ‘consent’ on the first day of employment for use of a performer’s digital replica for an entire cinematic universe (or ant franchise project).”
Such disparities between the two sides over a bargain will continue to devastate California’s economy, especially as Hollywood production cannot resume without actors. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike has already cost a hefty $5 billion and cost thousands of workers their jobs. Surmounting pressure is placed on Hollywood executives and producers to come to a deal, while the SAG-AFTRA persists to more than 100 days of striking. Although historic gains have been made with the WGA deal, such victories are yet to be seen with SAG-AFTRA.
Editor’s Note: On November 10th, the SAG-AFTRA reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP.
]]>The third Republican presidential debate of the 2024 election will be on Nov 8, 2023, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami, Florida. NBC News will host the debate in partnership with Salem Radio Network and the Republican Jewish Coalition. NBC will air it on their TV station along with their streaming and digital stations. It will also air on the Salem Radio Network and stream on Rumble.
The previous Republican debate was plagued with interruptions as moderators struggled to gain control over the candidates. It will likely happen again as the environment of this debate will be very politically charged.
Lester Holt and Kristen Welker of NBC News and conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt will moderate this debate. The moderators have said that they plan to focus on a wide range of topics. One key issue that is likely to be debated is foreign policy. The United States faces several challenges in the world today, including the wars in Ukraine and Israel, rising tensions with China, and climate change. The candidates will be asked about their plans to address these challenges.
To qualify for the debate, a candidate must hit specific criteria in a few categories, including being over 4% nationally in multiple polls, having over 70,000 unique donors from at least 20 states, and signing a pledge to support the Republican candidate for president next year regardless of who it is.
The following candidates have qualified for the third debate:
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley
Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum are still looking to meet all the criteria, while former President Donald Trump said he would not participate in any primary debate and has yet to give any indication that will change as he refuses to sign the Republican National Committee pledge.
However, the third Republican primary debate is one of the last opportunities for candidates to make their case to voters before the early voting states begin casting their ballots next January.
]]>Taylor Swift is a singer and songwriter who has hundreds of millions of fans from around the globe. She has over 275 million followers on Instagram alone. The world famous artist has released a total of 10 original studio albums. However, she has re-recorded 4 of those albums due to the conflict over the rights to the music.
Some of her hit songs include “Cruel Summer” and “Bad Blood,” and Swift has broken several streaming records on multiple different platforms. In early March, she began her world famous “Eras Tour,” which will continue into late 2024 as she travels around the world, visiting big cities across the globe.
While watching Taylor Swift sing and dance on the big screen is a big part of going to the movie, the outfits, friendship bracelets, popcorn buckets, and singing are also a huge part of the memorable experience. In the movie’s announcement, Swift herself said: “Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing and dancing encouraged.”
When attending the Eras Tour concert, fans bring friendship bracelets and trade them with fellow concert-goers. This trend has been carried on into the cinemas as fans either buy or create friendship bracelets to trade with other “Swifties” in their movie theater.
Also, outfits inspired by different Taylor Swift songs, albums, and lyrics have become the common dress code for attending the movie, another trend carried on from the Eras Tour concert. Popcorn buckets and drink cups featuring a Taylor Swift themed graphic have also become popular souvenirs for moviegoers to buy when seeing the movie.
However, the singing and dancing of the fans have also created a wave of controversy. Across social media, videos and photos are being shared showing fans up close to the screen, on their feet, dancing and singing along to the movie. While many think that this is an amazing feature of the movie watching experience, others disagree.
Claiming that the people singing and dancing “ruin the experience” and make it so they can’t even hear Taylor Swift singing, some fans are raising heated arguments over the proper movie etiquette. AMC has even released a statement saying: “We encourage dancing and singing throughout this concert film event, but please do not dance on our seats or block other guests from viewing, safely walking or exiting the auditorium.”
The movie has a runtime of around two hours and forty-five minutes, about thirty minutes shorter than the concert itself. To shorten the movie, Swift cut out a couple of songs, including “The Archer,” “Wildest Dreams,” and “Cardigan”.
The movie was filmed over a few nights while Swift performed in Los Angeles, California, and was directed by Sam Wrench. Wrench has previously worked on projects such as the filming of concert movies for Billie Eilish and Lizzo. The movie has been well-received by critics, having a high rotten-tomatoes rating of 99%.
Taylor Swift has been named “the Queen of the Music Industry” and is the idol of people all around the globe. Her name brings to mind the record-breaking tour she is currently having, the countless songs she has released, and now, a new movie that has greatly impacted the cinemas and lives of her fans. While some may dislike Swift or criticize her, it is clear that she has made a significant impact on pop culture today.
During pre-production, Scorsese traveled to Pawhuska, Oklahoma to meet with Osage Nation’s Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear to discuss how to best incorporate Osage Nation into the film. He had Osage language coaches on set, teaching actors how to accurately portray their characters, going as far as coaching them on the specific walks their real-life counterparts might’ve had. The dedication in making the film and depicting its Osage characters as accurately as possible is commendable, and a huge factor in making the film feel as real as it does. The energetic, bluesy soundtrack composed by Robbie Robertson sets the perfect scene for the crime drama. Scorsese handles his source material deliberately and considers Flower Moon one of his best projects, which may not be true, but it certainly is his most thought-out and could soon become his most significant.
No amount of research can compensate for the authenticity an Osage director could’ve provided to the film. Inarguably, an Osage director would’ve come from a different perspective, and, as a result, made a completely different film. Scorsese doesn’t try to replicate the emotions a descendant of the tragedy would’ve felt, and, in fact, replaces it with his sense of guilt. The white villains of the film have more screen time, more dialogue, and overall more attention given to them. This does not mean they’re glorified, or even mildly sympathetic, since they’re either cartoonishly evil (Robert DeNiro as William Hale) or just plain stupid (DiCaprio as Ernest). Scorsese rightfully sticks to what he knows — exploring the evil of his people rather than the anger of other communities — and any attempt to do otherwise would’ve felt insincere. The film ends with a cameo by Scorsese himself, reading Mollie Burkhart’s eulogy, almost apologizing for having to be the one to tell the story we just watched.
Although Scorsese distances himself from the Osage characters in the film, the best part of Flower Moon, unquestionably, was getting to witness Lily Gladstone as Mollie. Despite sharing the screen with big names like DiCaprio and DeNiro, it’s her presence that really makes the film. Gladstone, and many other lesser known actors, steal the show (like Cara Jade Myers as Anna, who doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page), and hopefully this film leads them to more roles and bigger opportunities.
The film falls just short of three-and-a-half-hours, and as attention spans shorten, that’s more than enough to get a film ignored until it comes to streaming and people can watch it 15-minutes at a time. Scorsese, with his sixth film crossing the three-hour mark, reminds you that even a slowburn can howl with energy. It’s hard to deserve a runtime that long, and yet, as the film ends and all wolves are forced out of hiding, you’re left wishing Scorsese kept it going just a little longer.
]]>Halloween originally began as a festival that was the end of the harvest season and began a new year. It was a Celtic celebration named Samhain. During the celebration, people believed that the border between the living and the dead would be diminished enough for people to communicate between the two worlds for them to communicate with their passed loved ones.
The tradition of dressing up in costumes during Halloween came from villagers wearing animal heads or skins while they attended the celebration. It eventually morphed into children wearing sheets and pretending to be ghosts, creating the idea of wearing a costume during Halloween, which quickly became popular.
October 31st became All Hallows Eve after Halloween reached its final evolution, as it came prior to the Christian religious day of All Saints’ Day, in which people celebrate and remember the dead.
People began to put out food during the day, as a way to appease the spirits of the dead among them, causing people to dress in scary costumes for them to receive some of the treats in England and Ireland, where trick-or-treating was born. “Trick” was a more popular option leading up to the 1930s in the US, where many got to play pranks and trick the unaware.
These days, Americans spend over 10 billion dollars on Halloween, ranging from pounds of candy to creepy decorations. Halloween has become a beloved holiday of many people, with many teenagers and kids going trick-or-treating, dressing up in costumes, or going to a party.
]]>The third Republican presidential debate of the 2024 election will be held Nov. 8 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami, Florida. NBC News will host the debate in partnership with Salem Radio Network and the Republican Jewish Coalition.
The previous Republican debate was plagued with interruptions as moderators struggled to gain control. This could likely happen again as the environment of this debate will be very politically charged.
This debate will be moderated by Lester Holt and Kristen Welker of NBC News and conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt. The moderators have said that they plan to focus on a wide range of topics. One key issue that is likely to be debated is foreign policy. The United States faces several challenges in the world today, including the war in Ukraine, the recent war in Israel, the rise of China, and climate change. The candidates will be asked about their plans to address these challenges.
The following candidates have qualified for the third debate:
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley
Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
It is not yet clear if all of the qualifying candidates will show up on stage next month. Former President Donald Trump has said that he will not participate in the primary debates.
However, the third Republican primary debate is one of the last opportunities for candidates to make their case to voters before the early voting states begin casting their ballots in January 2024.
]]>Students read their various poems and flash fiction stories, and a group of judges were ready to write down their ratings with whiteboards and markers in hand.
A few students from each English class volunteered to share their own pieces of writing in front of all the students present. The judges’ ratings offered an interactive aspect to the poetry slam and drew out both cheers and boos from the audience.
The poems ranged from heart-wrenching to amusing anecdotes.
English teacher Gina Enk, one of the organizers of the poetry slam, described the variety of different writing and the appeal to the audience.
“Every period had some standout students, which is always super fun to see what kids will come up with, as some poems were very serious and emotionally touching, and other poems were hilarious, and the crowd responded really well to both types,” Enk said.
Enk continued how seeing the student audience response was impressive. With students having no idea what would happen during the poetry slam, everyone was still ready for a good time and very respectful of all the presenters.
This was the first poetry slam held in Fremd for nearly 20 years, as the first one held at Fremd dates back to the early 1990s. There have been many English teachers over the years who were dedicated to organizing and hosting these poetry slams, as well as Writers Weeks.
Sharing writing pieces has always been an integral part of Fremd through supporting students with poetry slams and Writers Week, offering them the opportunity to showcase their writing.
English teacher Russell Anderson, who also helped organize the poetry slam, shared the importance of students sharing their writing.
“We want to continually show students that writing is important, and it can take up space in our lives in both fun and introspective ways. It gives an additional space to celebrate writing beyond Writers Week,” Anderson said.
Anderson explained how sharing writing helps create community, and brings all the freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors together to celebrate each other and their writing.
“The audience celebrating the judges or celebrating the pieces made it a fun day, but when the period ends, and the students come up on stage and they say to somebody they’ve never met before that theirs was a really cool poem, those moments are always really nice,” Anderson said.
]]>This year, Fremd High School celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in various ways.
To kick off the month, the Spanish club announced why Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated and Spanish club member Martha Sanchez recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish. Additionally, the Spanish club partnered with Latinos Unidos to decorate the world language hallways with flowers and flags of Hispanic countries.
This celebration originated almost one hundred years ago.
In June 1968, Congressman George E. Brown first introduced the event as a week-long observance. In 1987, Representative Esteban E. Torres from California proposed expanding Hispanic Heritage Week into a 31 day period. Following Torres, Senator Paul Simon proposed a similar bill in 1988. Eventually, Simon’s bill was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.
The following year, President George H.W. Bush became the first president to announce the period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Heritage Month contains the independence days of several Latin American countries. Sept. 15 is significant because it marks the day Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua became self-governed nations. Mexico celebrates its independence on Sept. 16, and Chile does so on Sept. 18.
Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of those with Spanish ancestry.
Spanish teacher and Spanish club sponsor Nicole Clement talks about the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“I think we all need to be made aware of the achievements and advancements that are a part of this nation and society and recognize that we are surrounded by a variety of cultures and heritages,” Clement said. “This month-long celebration shines a light on what Hispanics have done to make this country and society what it is today.”
Today, the Hispanic population in the United States is over 60 million, which comprises 18.9% of the total population. This makes Hispanics the second largest racial or ethnic group in the U.S. after non-Hispanic whites. Hispanic people continue to grow our economy and enrich the United States as athletes, artists, entertainers, and more.
]]>On Sept. 24 in Berlin, Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa ran 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds, smashing the women’s world record by over two minutes. The previous record set by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei in 2019 stood at 2:14:04.
Assefa started off as a short distance runner, representing Ethiopia in the 2016 Olympics for the 800m, but was unable to secure a medal. She then switched to longer road races as an Achilles tendon injury prevented her from running in spikes. Her marathon debut featured a relatively modest time of 2 hours and 34 minutes, in which she placed just seventh overall due to an injury. She then came out of nowhere in her second race to win one of the fastest in the world, the 2022 Berlin Marathon. Finally late last month, she broke the world record in just her third marathon ever.
In Chicago, on Oct. 8, the men’s world record was broken by Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum with a time of 2 hours and 35 seconds, bringing the world closer to breaking the 2-hour barrier.
Kiptum has run only three career marathons so far, all in just ten months, and finished with some of history’s fastest times: 2:01:53 in Valencia and 2:01:25 in London. His third marathon broke the world record by 34 seconds, previously held by Eliud Kipchoge.
Kipchoge had been known as the world’s best marathon runner for much of the last decade and won two Olympic gold medals for the race. He is also the only person to have run a marathon in under two hours when he finished in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 40.2 seconds in Vienna, Austria. However, that time was ineligible for the world record as he ran with pacers who deflected air resistance and saved him an estimated three and a half minutes.
For now, the two hour marathon is still out of reach, but Kelvin Kiptum’s new record is a step in the right direction to finally achieving it.
]]>The pair initially worked together at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1990s, where they studied vitro synthetic mRNA technology. A few years later, in 2005, the pair published a paper that detailed how modified mRNA could be transferred into the body and produce an immune response, similar to a traditional vaccine. Eventually, their work led to the creation of the vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 or the Coronavirus.
During the Nobel Prize announcement, 2023 Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine member Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam explained why Karikó and Weissman received the prize.
“What’s important here I think is that vaccines could be developed so fast,” Hedestam said. “This was largely due to improvements in the technology and this basic discovery.”
As soon as the Coronavirus emerged, mRNA vaccine technology was quickly utilized to develop vaccines. Because of Karikó and Weissman’s initial research on the subject, vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer to combat the Coronavirus were already authorized in late 2020, less than a year into the pandemic. The speed of development was only possible due to the pair’s prior work on the field, as without their expertise, the vaccines may have taken several years to create.
Further, were it not for the pair’s original discovery of the mRNA’s usage in vaccines, vaccines combating the Coronavirus may have taken several years to complete. In addition, because mRNA can be modified, it is relatively easy for companies to modify the vaccine to fight against variants of the Coronavirus.
Speaking on the importance of the prize, Vaccinology professor and director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Kathleen Neuzil provides her own opinion on what the award represents.
“The award, to me, is really a victory for vaccines,” Neuzil said. “The award also represents the potential for vaccines to advance health and improve equity.”
]]>MaiaLearning has, in part, been introduced as a replacement for prior apps such as Xello and the Student Readiness Plan. Because of this, it contains features that are helpful to all four grades of students rather than just seniors. For example, freshmen or sophomores can use the site to organize their four-year plans, while juniors can access career tests and databases of college statistics.
One of the main focuses of the app is the college recommendation feature. This allows students to continuously update a “brag sheet” – a list of their achievements – that helps teachers and counselors get a better understanding of their high school career. Furthermore, students may add their counselors’ or teachers’ accounts, allowing them to message each other directly and collaborate as the recommendation process continues.
Fremd Counselor Tony Tosh is one of many staff members throughout the district who are affected by the shift to MaiaLearning. Though Tosh is as new to the platform as any other educator, his vital role in the application process has offered him much experience with the app. Tosh recounts how the change has been going from the staff’s perspective.
“So far, it’s been good, and they do a ton of ongoing training, and I have a feeling there’s a ton of features, and we’re just learning them as we need them,” Tosh said. “And particularly college application features. It’s definitely new, but it seems to be working just great.”
Previously, college applications were almost entirely handled on CommonApp. As part of the transition, though, students must now link CommonApp to their MaiaLearning accounts.
Tosh recounts the different yet cooperative relationship the two sites will have with each other going forward.
“CommonApp is where they’re going to do 99% of the work, applying to colleges and all that – Maia [MaiaLearning] is where we as counselors take care of the transcripts, the score reports, other reports, letters of rec.” Tosh said. “So it’s like two features that communicate to each other.”
Applications cannot be directly submitted through either MaiaLearning or CommonApp to colleges that have unique application processes. Some notable examples of these colleges are MIT, Loyola, and Georgetown University. However, the university database still contains the same amount of details on these colleges as it does for any other. These include grades of admittees, population size, financial aid programs, and their separate admissions requirements.
Although the site already has teachers within the district available for recommendations, the process is slightly different for teachers who are no longer teaching or recommenders who are not teachers. For teachers that have retired or moved schools, the district can still contact the teacher for their information to be added into the system, after which students may request a recommendation from them as normal. If the recommender is not a teacher, though, students cannot use Maia and must instead request a recommendation through the “Other Recommender” option in CommonApp.
For more information, students may reach out to their counselors or view one of the introductory videos on the D211 YouTube Channel.
]]>This initiative, which was initially set up as a pilot program, started immediately after spring break last school year and was mainly limited to the English Learner, Family & Consumer Science, World Language, and Special Education departments. Department teachers were only required to execute the guidelines in one of their classes.
After a few months following the implementation, there are clearly mixed reviews among Fremd students. Sahana Srinivasan, a current Fremd senior, reveals her personal opinions on the effectiveness of the newly introduced policy.
“I feel like even if you take the phone away, kids are always gonna find another way to be distracted, like being on their iPad to play games or doing other homework from a different class or something,” Srinivasan said. “But taking the phone away isn’t gonna help them become more focused in that class.”
The mandated personal technology policy guidelines involve a green and red sign, where the teacher will alternate between the two accordingly. When the red sign is up, no personal technology is allowed to be out, while when the green sign is up, the time is permissible for using phones and earbuds. In addition to the sign, teachers will give verbal instructions when flipping signs so that students know this change.
Assistant Principal Michael Smith explains the reasoning behind this decision to allow the teachers to switch between these two signs manually.
“We wanted teachers to have the autonomy to go back and forth versus just mandating teachers the entire time to say, ‘You’re only red,'” Smith said. “So, in working with staff, you know, they liked the idea of going back and forth.”
Smith emphasizes that it is up to the teachers to determine how strict the policy is within each of their unique classroom environments. Different teachers have varying and unique preferences for when they want such regulation to be imposed on their students regarding their distraction due to personal technology.
When a student does not cooperate with these teacher-mandated guidelines the first time, teachers will reach out to the intervention office, who will then meet with students to discuss consequences, which include lunch detentions and a phone call home.
The second time a student ignores these guidelines, their phone will be confiscated for the rest of the school day, as well as a parent conference. The third offense would be the confiscation of personal technology for five consecutive days, where the student would have to turn in their phone at the beginning of the day and then pick it up at the end of the school day.
Science teacher and solutions committee member Matt Zimolzak highlights the idea that the policy will apply differently depending on the class and teacher.
“Personally, I teach classes where I don’t ever have that issue,” Zimolzak said. “So there are classes where they are having all kinds of problems during the day, and then there are classes where they don’t have any issues whatsoever. But, you know, it’s a problem for those classes that do have those issues, for sure.”
Smith concludes with the idea that this initiative was fueled by the ultimate motive to support students on their academic journey to optimize their classroom learning.
“You have every right to have your personal technology in this building, as long as it’s not preventing you from learning or distracting others,” Smith said. “So outside of the classroom, in the hallways, cafeteria, commons, do your thing, enjoy your personal technology. And when it’s time to learn, when you’re in class, and especially when your teacher wants you to be fully engaged, be fully engaged.”
]]>Founded by Fremd senior Aditya Gupta, ChessPupils is a non-profit foundation focused on helping young minds feel empowered through chess and is recognized by the US Chess Federation. Providing free instruction to kids everywhere, ChessPupils aims to include all who want to understand chess.
According to Gupta, chess is more than just a competition. It is an experience that has powerful impacts, and ChessPupils intends to provide such impacts.
“The organization is steadfast in its belief that chess is not just a game, but a powerful education tool that can provide numerous benefits to young minds,” Gupta said. “The benefits that students gain from participating in ChessPupils programs go far beyond the chessboard, positively impacting their academic performance, emotional resilience, and social interactions.”
ChessPupils is a volunteer-based organization. In the over 50 programs ChessPupils offers, volunteers have spread their knowledge of chess to promote its impact further.
Being a student run organization, several have offered to volunteer. According to Gupta, anyone can volunteer with the right requirements.
“Anybody that understands the rules of chess and has a passion for chess is allowed to volunteer. We currently have more than 2 dozen volunteers from high schools in Illinois,” Gupta said.
Anyone interested in volunteering or joining the program can visit the ChessPupils website https://chess.thepuzzlr.com and fill out the form.
]]>The holiday began in the late 19th century when President Harrison commemorated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s landing. Since then, it developed into a day for marginalized Italian immigrants to celebrate their heritage.
But Columbus wasn’t the first to discover the Americas.
Long before his arrival, millions of indigenous peoples occupied the continent. For them, celebrating Columbus Day glorifies the devastation and loss of life upon European contact. As a result, many cities and states have taken to observing the day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Jonathan Nez, president of the native reservation Navajo Nation, believes this is a step in the right direction.
“Transforming Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day will encourage young Navajos to have pride in the place and people they come from and the beauty they hold within,” Nez said in a 2021 letter to Congress.
For thousands of years, native tribes led diverse lifestyles with different cultures, traditions, and religions. But that all changed once the Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and English set foot on American soil. Natives were subjected to the horrors of European imperialism. Colonists enslaved them in systems of coerced labor where they toiled away on plantations and mines. Settlements encroached on indigenous lands, forcing them out of their homes and onto unfamiliar terrain. Intense warfare and massacres took place between Europeans and Native Americans. Epidemics of smallpox and measles spread across the continent with deadly repercussions. During this period, the Americas lost about 90 percent of their native population.
Even in the following centuries, natives continued to be oppressed. As settlers expanded farther west, Native Americans were brutally pushed off their ancestral lands. By 1860, the Bureau of Indian Affairs established boarding schools that stole native children away from their families and tortured them for speaking their own languages. Through this systematic cultural genocide, the government attempted to completely erase native identity.
“For generations, Indigenous communities throughout the Americas have fought to survive colonization, assimilation, disease, and genocide,” Nez stated. “Many of these same atrocities continue today, but the Native peoples of this land continue to be resilient, strong, and prosperous.”
Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first introduced at a 1977 United Nations conference discussing discrimination against natives. South Dakota became the first state to acknowledge it in 1990, and since then, more than a dozen other states have followed its lead. It is not yet a federal holiday, though Congress has introduced a bill proposing to make it one.
President Joe Biden, the first U.S. president to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, publicly addressed the event on Oct. 6, 2023.
“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to our world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination,” Biden said.
Today, Native Americans make up 2% of the population of the United States. They have begun the process of restoring what has been taken away from them. Indigenous Peoples’ Day serves as a celebration of these native tribes and a recognition of their rich cultures and ways of life.
]]>On Friday, Oct. 13, Fremd Theater presented its annual play, “Peter and the Star Catcher,” in the Kolze Auditorium. There were three showing times, one on Friday and two on Saturday.
“Peter and the Star Catcher,” originally produced on Broadway, tells the story of a nameless orphan who becomes Peter Pan. The orphan and his two companions board the Neverland, a ship inbound for England. Little do they know, the ferocious pirate, Black Stache, has intercepted the ship.
For the past several weeks, Fremd Theatre students practiced their roles and worked on the scenes and costumes. Production director Robin Marrano talked about a special part of the production process that created a stunning scene.
“A highlight from the production process was working with the costume crew on creating the mermaid tails,” Marrano said. “We have a very low budget, and because we want to save money, obviously, so we took old dresses that we used in our musical Footloose last year, and we cut them up, and we transformed them into mermaid tails to save money, and that took several weeks, but it turned out amazingly.”
Sophomore Emerson Carter played the role of Boy. This role portrayed an orphaned young boy who was left to fend for himself against the Neverland crew. He credited his co-actors when asked about his favorite part in the production process.
“It was so much fun,” Carter said. “It’s been such a great experience over the past two months, you get to work with this great group, just like top of the line this is amazing. I love it”.
Playing the role of Molly Aster, sophomore Madeline Ranieri felt that her role was one she’ll never forget.
“I’ve never loved a role more,” Ranieri said. “I was cast as it, and I was like, ‘It’s gonna be a big challenge,’ but I think I’ve learned a lot from her, and as a person, I think I’ve grown with her.”
The villain of this story, Black Stache, made it his mission to steal the queen’s treasure.
Senior Noah Gable played the role of Black Stache. When asked what it was like playing the villain, Gable thought very highly of his role.
“Honestly, it was probably my favorite role so far,” Gable said. “I’ve always wanted to be Captain Hook.”
Even though this production is done, there is a lot to look forward to from the Fremd Theatre department.
“Our next auditions are Nov. 3, and those are going to be student-directed scenes,” Marrano said. “And then in the Spring, we’re doing Chicago the musical, the school edition, of course, because it’s a little risqué, and that’s going to be a sold out show, I’m sure of it. And next year, I know Miss Adams, the director of the play, is planning to do something with a little simpler set because this one was wild”.
]]>The 2023-24 NFL season is underway, and it is shaping up to be one of the most competitive years in recent memory. Only two weeks into the season, new contenders hoping to make a jump and major injuries to key players have drastically shifted the dynamics of the league.
What happened to the Bengals?
After dropping two games to divisional opponents in arguably the hardest division in the league, it’s hard not to doubt the Cincinnati Bengals’ chances going forward, especially with Joe Burrow reaggravating his calf injury that was brushed off by both the team and the media during the preseason.
The Bengals were one game away from the Super Bowl last season despite starting off 0-2 as well, but it might not be that easy going forward for the NFL’s 2nd-highest paid player in an increasingly competitive AFC.
The Chiefs are here to stay
The Kansas City Chiefs were embarrassed (in their terms) by the Lions in the NFL’s season opener in the absence of Travis Kelce and Chris Jones. Their offense wasn’t the same without their superstar tight end, whose dominance in the middle of the field leaves gaps behind the defense for their subpar receiving core to gain extra yards.
Without the extra attention demanded by Kelce, Mahomes’s ability to move the ball downfield was restricted, showing that even the most talented player in the league needs help, too.
On the defensive side, it was clear that Jones’s Week 1 holdout had a large impact on winning as well. After signing a new contract and rejoining the team following their Thursday night loss, Jones tallied 1.5 sacks and the Chiefs defense held Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars to just 9 points. It’s safe to say that the Chiefs aren’t regressing anytime soon.
The Cowboys are contenders
Year after year, NFL fans across the country hear the same phrase chanted by Cowboys’ fans before the start of the season: “This is our year.” For the first time in a while, the Cowboys are trending towards becoming serious contenders for a Super Bowl appearance.
After consecutive blowout wins in which they held their opponents to a combined 10 points to start the season, the Cowboys defense is proving to have one of the strongest front sevens in football, led by the current DPOY favorite Micah Parsons.
However, only time will tell whether Dak Prescott and the offense will be able to stay strong in tougher matchups where the opposing team isn’t held to 10 points or less. In order for the Cowboys to escape their inevitable postseason crumble, their offense will have to become more battle tested during the course of the year.
Injuries end the Jets’ season
It’s a hard knock life for the New York Jets. The biggest headline of the off-season was the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers to a Jets offense ranking bottom 5 in yds/g. Throughout the preseason, the Jets were ready to rewrite the legacy of their franchise with a future hall-of-famer leading the team both on and off the field.
Rodgers and the Jets walked into their Monday night matchup against the Buffalo Bills with high hopes to begin their quest towards ending their 12 year long playoff drought. That is, until Rodgers exited the game with a season-ending Achilles injury in just his fourth play in a Jets uniform.
The team immediately stood behind their once again starting quarterback Wilson, but support was not enough. Although the Jets put together an electric win against the Bills off of a punt return taken for a touchdown in overtime, they fell to the Cowboys 30-10 this past Sunday night.
Rodgers is now hinting at a potential playoff return, but making it to the playoffs is unlikely for an offense putting up 12 first downs in Week 2.
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An increase in possible rains from Lee affects Maine with six inches, and could possibly affect other states in Northeastern US as well. Eastern New England, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick are also facing a possible one to four inches of precipitation from post tropical cyclone Lee.
Warnings about possible floods in southwestern of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were issued by the Nova Scotia RCMP. As well as in the coast between north of Long Island to Maine, allowing for one to three feet above the ground level if the high waves meet Lee’s storm surge.
Residents from the New England coast have experienced power outages. Over 200,000 of these residents had power outages. 161,700 homes in Nova Scotia do not have power due to Lee, along with the 435,600 customers in New Brunswick.
Active responses are currently being conducted in order to restore utility lines and other possible damages to revive the power lost from the power outages caused by the storm within safe areas.
Winds have sustained to 70 mph throughout the New England coast, and Lee is maintaining hurricane-strength winds, causing wave levels to rise, increase in heavy rains, and power outages.
President Biden has approved Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) to aid state disaster relief measures for Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Warnings have gone out, urging people to avoid driving near the shore and staying home to wait out the storm.
Jamie Rhome, the deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, stated the risk along the coast that came from the rising waves.
“The waves from this big hurricane produce a current that goes out to sea and will pull you out,” Rhome said on Friday.
Within Canada, similar warnings have been issued, stating for people to stay within their homes and to stay away from the coastline. The main affected areas include New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, both of which have reported similar rises in wave levels.
AP Environmental Science teacher Kristen Newby said that with the rise of climate change, it is likely that we are going to see a mix of frequent or stronger storms or a combination of both. Especially this past summer and going into the fall, record high temperatures of ocean waters are seen in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Newby explained the connection between climate change and rising temperatures.
“What you’re going to see with storms like Hurricane Lee is that their formation is likely very connected to climate change and increasing temperatures in our ocean waters,” Newby said. “There is also some linking between those particular temperatures and the path that the storm may have taken.”
]]>Having grown up in Palatine, Constantino is a Fremd alum who graduated in 2017 and pursued a degree in education at Miami University. Before returning to Fremd, he taught math at Woodstock High School for two years. Constantino has always enjoyed playing and coaching sports, participating in football, basketball, and track during high school. Constantino now teaches Advanced Trig/Pre-Calc and Algebra 2 and is a part of the varsity football staff.
Herrera was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia and attended college there. After studying literature and Modern Languages, she worked as an English teacher for adults before moving to France and starting her master’s degree. Once COVID hit, Herrera moved to America with her husband. Since joining Fremd last December, Hererra has helped sponsor Model UN and the foreign exchange club. This year, she teaches ESL 3, ESL 4, and Spanish for Heritage Learners.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Constantino: I would definitely say the first time that I went to Six Flags. I had never been on a roller coaster in my life and then, all of a sudden, the last ride I go on is the American Eagle. I was so nervous to get on—my aunt had to drag me there—but then all I wanted was to go on it five more times.
Herrera: It might be a little cliche, but mine would be the first time I went to Disney. I was four and I vividly remember seeing Mickey Mouse and the princesses. I was with my cousins—they’re the same age as I am—and it was just very wholesome. It’s my first memory from my childhood.
What inspired you to become a teacher? Was it always something that you wanted to do?
C: When I walked into high school, I didn’t think I would be a math teacher. But I had always enjoyed math. I found myself helping a lot of my friends with math, and then I found myself looking up to four different math teachers. During my senior year, I interned with Mr. Goettsche and worked with Mr. Grattoni on resumes and college apps. Having role models I could look up to for help definitely set me on this path.
H: I didn’t want to be a teacher when I started college—I wanted to be a writer. I was 18 when I had to do a teaching practice, and I loved it. It wasn’t what I was expecting—it was really rewarding. Once I started working as a teacher, I couldn’t see myself having an office job or doing something else. I do have other interests I would like to pursue in the future, but I love teaching. It’s fun. Even when it’s stressful, it’s really fun.
How has your experience with Fremd been so far? What has been challenging and what has gone well?
C: It’s definitely been less of a transition for me, but it’s always difficult when you have to go behind the scenes and figure out the ins and outs of it all. But Fremd students are motivated and ask good questions, so they make the teaching even easier than it can be. And being able to work with the same people that originally inspired me to be a math teacher—it’s kind of like a dream come true.
H: Since I didn’t go to high school in the United States, it’s really interesting to see how things are different here. The roles are different and the way kids are taught is different. When I was in high school, we didn’t have dances like prom or homecoming, and we never changed classrooms—it was the teachers who would change classrooms. Getting used to everything is, I think, the most challenging part. As for something that has gone well, I know the administration supports me. I know that if I need something, they’ll help me out.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
C: I think it’s the interaction with students every day. Math may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but you get the chance to interact with over a hundred high schoolers every day. You have no idea what they’re going to say, but at one point they’re just going to put a smile on your face and you hope that you can also put a smile on their face.
H: My students. We get to talk every day and share our experiences. Teaching languages allows me to explore different things. They all come from different places. We’re all immigrants—we all have shared experiences and we all come from different cultures. So I really liked that. And I just feel like I have great classes this year.
What kind of person would you like your students to see you as?
C: I think the number one word I would say is approachable. Teachers are in a wonderful spot to impact students and be someone for students to talk to. Students go through eight hours a day, five days a week here, so they all need someone to talk to at some point.
H: I would like them to see me as their safe person. They can go to me to talk to me about anything they need, whether they’re struggling or having a nice day. I want them to trust me. I’ve always wanted them to see me as the “fun” teacher—I’m not putting up like an act. It’s just myself, so I want them to trust me and to be able to come to me with everything they need.
]]>The roots of homecoming were not meant for high schoolers, but instead for college students in the early 1900’s. The purpose of the event was to invite alumni back to their college for a homecoming football game to increase school morale and spirit.
Although there is still a debate on which school truly created homecoming, many game shows, such as Jeopardy! and Trivial Pursuit, gave credit to Chester Brewer, Mizzou University’s former football coach in 1911.
The plan was for alumni to “come home” for the massive rival game, Missouri-Kansas, to generate income and publicity. Contributing to the dispute over credit, the famously recognized Harvard-Yale football game occurred in 1875 for the same reasons of inviting alumni back to their alma mater. Since then, many universities, including Northwestern University, Baylor University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have held homecoming games, continuing to fight for that recognition.
Of course, one of the main characteristics the Homecoming atmosphere is known for is the football game, home turf, before the added-on expansion of a dance. The idea of the school community coming together for one night spread across to the high school level after colleges soon had too many students to accommodate into one area.
Despite the changes in trends, the typical dress code has always been described under one word as “formal.” From the style of gloves complimenting the gown, to polka dots and puffy sleeves, and now, short-style, colorful, fun dresses.
Fremd’s Homecoming game is on Sept. 29 against Palatine, followed by the dance on Sept. 30. Student Council has announced the theme as Tiki Oasis.
Tickets are available for purchase on MySchoolBucks for $25 up until Sept. 23, and if purchased at the door the night of the dance, $30.
]]>Thursday
Vikings 28, Eagles 34
Thursday night showcased a stunning Eagles offense securing a 34-28 victory over the Vikings. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ran for two touchdowns and threw a 63 yard pass to DeVonta Smith for another. Star running back D’Andre Smith finished the game with a touchdown and a career high 175 rushing yards on 28 carries. On the other hand, the Vikings were sloppy on offense, with three fumbles in the first half alone, one of them being Justin Jefferson’s 30-yard catch, which rolled into the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback. This means trouble for the Vikings as their record slides to 0-2, severely hurting their chances at the playoffs.
Sunday
Ravens 27, Bengals 24
Sunday started off with the Baltimore Ravens winning 27-24 against AFC North division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. Recently, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow became the NFL’s highest paid player, yet so far this season, he has failed to live up to it. Although this week’s performance was significantly better than last week’s, Burrow still ended with a mere 5.4 yards per attempt average, much less than Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s 7.2. Jackson also ran for over forty yards, threw two touchdown passes, and went 24 for 33 on pass completion. The game also featured devastating injuries for both teams as Burrow aggravated his calf injury from earlier this year and Ravens receiver Odell Beckham Jr. exited the game with an ankle injury, adding to the already long list of injured Baltimore starters.
Seahawks 37, Lions 31
After a remarkable overtime performance, the Seattle Seahawks emerged victorious against the Detroit Lions with a score of 37-31, pushing both teams’ record to 1-1. The Lions began the season last week with a massive upset against last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. But this week’s loss took some of the excitement out of their big season opening win. The score was relatively close for most of the game, with both teams trading leads every so often. Finally, midway through the fourth quarter, the Seahawks secured a ten-point lead, bringing the score to 31-21. However, the Lions came back from the ten point deficit in the last three minutes, causing the game to go into overtime. The Seahawks won the coin toss and quarterback Geno Smith advanced the team 75 yards in 9 plays, throwing a six yard pass to Tyler Lockett for the game-winning touchdown.
Colts 31, Texans 20
In Houston, the Indianapolis Colts came away with a big AFC South division win against the Texans, 31-20. The game wasn’t very competitive as Indianapolis was ahead the entire time, stretching their lead to 21 points at one point. Both teams started rookie quarterbacks, who broke records within their first two games. Colts’ Anthony Richardson became the youngest quarterback to score two rushing touchdowns in a game, which he did in just one quarter as he left the field after a concussion. Although Texans’ CJ Stroud was sacked six times, his 384 passing yards are the second most by a player 21 or younger, trailing only Matthew Stafford’s 422 in 2009.
Bears 17, Buccaneers 27
Following the Chicago Bears’ humiliating defeat against the Packers last week, this week was unfortunately no better, resulting in a 27-17 loss in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers. Tampa handed Chicago their 12th consecutive loss, a franchise record. The Bucs’ offense, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has had a turnover free season so far, and wide receiver Mike Evans, who caught six balls for 171 yards and scored a touchdown, are proving to be a force to be reckoned with. The Bears’ offense, however, is not. Although Chicago quarterback Justin Fields scored a rushing touchdown in the first quarter, he was sacked six times and threw two interceptions, largely a continuation of last week’s offensive struggle.
Chiefs 17, Jaguars 9
The defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, are back after last week’s loss against the Lions with a 17-9 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes, including one to star tight end Travis Kelce, who made his season debut on Sunday. For much of the Mahomes Era, the Chiefs have relied heavily on their offense, but this week, they were forced to depend on their defense to cover up several offensive blunders. While their offense showcased two fumbles and an interception, their defense held the Jaguars to only nine points. Jacksonville had plenty of chances to win, but their offensive line struggled to protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was 0 for 7 in passing in the red zone, and the Jaguars had to settle for a field goal in the fourth quarter after a first and goal at the one yard line.
Packers 24, Falcons 25
The Atlanta Falcons pulled away with a 25-24 victory against the Green Bay Packers after a stunning comeback in the fourth quarter. Heading into the fourth quarter, Green Bay was up 24-12. However, this lead was short-lived. After a touchdown by Desmond Ridder and two field goals by Younghoe Koo, the Falcons obtained the lead. Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson had a great game, rushing 124 yards on 19 carries and adding another 48 yards on 4 catches. Jordan Love, the Packers’ replacement for Aaron Rodgers, played well with three more touchdown passes this week but was unable to secure a last minute drive that could have won his team the game.
Raiders 10, Bills 38
Following the Buffalo Bills’ four turnover game against the Jets last week, they are back with a 38-10 win against the Las Vegas Raiders. Bills quarterback Josh Allen, fueled by last week’s failure, finished 31 for 37 in pass completion with 274 yards and three touchdowns. Buffalo running back James Cook led the Bills with a career high 123 rushing yards. The Raiders were simply outmatched. Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who led the league in rushing yards last year, ended with a career worst of -2 yards. Their only points were from Devonta Adams’ touchdown three minutes into the game and a field goal in the second quarter.
Chargers 24, Titans 27
A Tennessee Titans overtime victory of 27-24 against the LA Chargers finally broke their eight game losing streak since November of last year. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, bounced back from one of the worst games of his career last week, throwing 246 yards and running for a touchdown. The score was relatively close for most of the game and the Chargers tied it at the end of the fourth quarter with a field goal, leading to an overtime. LA won the coin toss, but threw three straight incompletions, resulting in a Titans possession and Nick Folk’s 41 yard field goal that won the game.
49ers 30, Rams 23
The San Francisco 49ers beat their NFC West division rivals, the LA Rams, with a final score of 30-23 for their ninth consecutive regular season victory. The 49ers winning offense featured quarterback Brock Purdy, who passed for 206 yards and scored a rushing touchdown, and running back Christian McCaffrey who rushed 116 yards and also scored a touchdown. While the 49ers defense had two interceptions, they struggled to stop Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua. Nacua broke the NFL’s single game record for receptions by a rookie with fifteen for a total of 147 yards. Although the game was tied at the end of the first half, the 49ers quickly racked up points in the second through Deebo Samuel’s touchdown and two field goals, leading to a San Francisco victory.
Giants 31, Cardinals 28
Bouncing back from their embarrassing loss last week, the New York Giants won against the Arizona Cardinals, 31-28. The first half of the game featured the same terrible Giants offense from last week, with a Cardinals lead of 20-0 at halftime. New York continued to trail 28-7 for most of the third quarter. However, the Giants made a stunning comeback in the end, scoring three touchdowns to tie the game and a field goal in the last 19 seconds to win it. This 21 point comeback helped them rebound from their 40-0 loss against the Cowboys last week and pushed their record to 1-1.
Jets 10, Cowboys 30
In Dallas, the Cowboys won against the New York Jets, 30-10. Earlier this year, the Jets acquired former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They were counting on him to finally push their team to a strong playoff run, but their luck ran out when Rodgers injured his Achilles tendon during the first four plays of week one, potentially ending his season. Jets’ backup quarterback, Zach Wilson, struggled against the Cowboys, throwing three interceptions and getting sacked three times. New York had some hope when Wilson threw a 68 yard touchdown pass and ran 36 yards to secure a field goal in the second half, lowering the point deficit to eight by halftime. However, this small victory was quickly lost, with four second half turnovers and no more points scored. The Cowboys came off a 40-0 win last week, and this game was just as easy. They had the ball for over 42 minutes and ran almost twice as many plays as their opponents.
Commanders 35, Broncos 33
The Washington Commanders were victorious against the Denver Broncos with a final score of 35-33. Denver picked up an early lead halfway through the second quarter, 21-3, but Washington quickly made up part of the deficit, trailing by only seven at halftime. The second half featured a strong Washington offense with three touchdowns and a field goal, putting them on top. The Broncos just couldn’t keep up and a completed Hail Mary 50 yard pass at the end of the fourth from quarterback Russel Wilson still only brought them to 33 points as they failed to score their two point conversion attempt.
Sunday Night
Dolphins 24, Patriots 17
Sunday Night Football featured the Miami Dolphins traveling to Gillette Stadium to face off against the New England Patriots, where they won 24-17. Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert ran for two touchdowns and quarterback Tua Togovailoa threw a pass to Tyreek Hill for another. Late in the fourth quarter and trailing 24-17, the Patriots appeared to have a chance to score by almost converting an astonishing fourth down play. Quarterback Mac Jones threw a pass to Mike Gesicki just short of the first down, but the tight end tossed the ball back to left guard Cole Strange, who lunged forward. The play was originally called as a first down, but after further review, the ball was turned over to the Dolphins, who ran out the clock and crushed any hope for a Patriots comeback.
Monday
Saints 20, Panthers 17
Monday Night Football showcased the New Orleans Saints visiting one of their NFC South division rivals, the Carolina Panthers, for a 20-17 victory. Saints backup running back Tony Jones Jr. made the most of his playing time after replacing Jamaal Williams late in the first half, rushing 34 yards and scoring two touchdowns. The New Orleans defense did the rest, limiting the Panthers to 239 yards and sacking rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the top overall draft pick, four times. Another Saints player who needs some attention is wide receiver Chris Olave, who made the play of the game when he managed a diving one handed catch for a 42 yard gain. He ended the match with six catches for 86 yards and set up both of Jones’ touchdowns. Even though the first half was full of offensive blunders by quarterback Derek Carr, who threw an interception into triple coverage and missed several open targets, the Saints stepped up their game in the second, ending the match with a victory.
Browns 22, Steelers 26
The other Monday Night game featured the Pittsburgh Steelers defense carrying them to a 26-22 victory against their AFC North division rivals, the Cleveland Browns. The Browns had a lead for part of the game, but a knee injury to their star running back, Nick Chubb, quickly depleted much hope for success. The Steelers’ rushing game struggled, with just one yard in the first half and only 55 in the whole game. Their passing also could have been better as quarterback Kenny Pickett completed only 15 of 30 passes and threw an interception in the first drive of the game. On the other hand, their defense played excellently with a 30 yard pick six in the first nine seconds and another fumble recovery in the fourth quarter, scoring the game-winning touchdown.
]]>The impact of the dual strike is felt across the industry—production for several films and shows were halted, entertainment workers are at risk of losing their jobs, and according to an analysis by California State Northridge professor Todd Holmes, California’s economy has already lost $3 billion. Yet, little headway has been made for a labor deal between the opposing sides.
What’s up with Hollywood?
The emergence of streaming platforms like Netflix, Max, and Disney Plus has significantly altered the landscape of the entertainment industry. The experiences of Hollywood workers on streaming platforms include shorter seasons, mini-writer rooms, and small residual checks (long-term payments for film and television credits) compared to those working on cable TV. While accounting for inflation, writer-producers median salary over the past nine years has decreased by 23%.
The issue of shorter season length in modern shows might not mean much to viewers, but this means writers earn fewer residuals per season because of these shorter work periods, an issue that’s magnified by the frequent cancellation of shows after their first season.
Another problem Hollywood writers are encountering is the proliferation of mini-rooms, comprised of two to three writers and a showrunner, instead of a fully staffed production during a season. In these rooms, writers are forced to formulate an outline for an entire season in a few weeks and are not fully compensated for their labor.
Actors are experiencing similar issues as writers. It’s not uncommon for actors to post their residuals on social media, often amounting to less than a few dollars. For example, Kamil McFadden, who starred in the Disney show KC Undercover as Ernie Cooper received $2.77 for its three seasons. Jana Schiemding, Bev in Reservation Dogs, earned 3¢ per quarter of it being streamed on Hulu. And Aaron Paul might be the most extreme case. He played Jesse Pinkman on the hit AMC show Breaking Bad, which is now streaming on Netflix. According to Paul, he makes $0 from the streaming service in residuals.
Such a discrepancy between the financial success of big streaming platforms and the poor compensation of Hollywood workers is no more apparent than when comparing the salaries of executives and actors. The average pay for top Hollywood executives is $28 million, but the median salary for actors is about $47,000 (a number that celebrity actors with high salaries may skew). It is no wonder then that Hollywood workers are agitating for better contracts, one that’s updated to the current situation of the landscape.
New advancements in generative AI technology have also caused concerns for Hollywood writers and actors alike. One of the primary reasons why the guilds are striking is to demand increased protection against AI. For writers, technologies like ChatGPT could render screenwriters obsolete.
For actors, the prospect of replacement by AI is already becoming a reality. Instances of AI deep fakes that imitate an actor’s likeness are a cause for concern, as they are often created without consent.
The AMPTP claims they made an “AI proposal [that] protects performers’ digital likenesses, including a requirement for performers’ consent to create and use digital replicas…”
However, SAG-AFTRA leader Duncan Crabtree-Ireland is not satisfied with this offer, arguing, “They proposed that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one day’s pay, and their companies should own that scan and should be able to use it for the rest of eternity in any project they want.”
Concerns over the use of AI in Hollywood will likely continue as machine learning technology evolves and develops.
For all of the understandable problems that WGA and SAG-AFTRA have over the future of Hollywood, the strike is not sustainable. According to Todd Holmes, if the strike continues, the economic cost to California could reach up to $5 billion. And the devastation on the whole entertainment industry could be even more significant. Distrust and accusations between the striking guilds and the AMPTP are also a cause for concern, as a compromise seems increasingly unlikely.
With talks resuming this week and the AMPTP agitating for an end to the strike, it’s possible that an agreement will be reached. Whether or not the strike continues, a light of labor strife has been sparked in Hollywood. VFX workers who worked on Marvel productions have unionized into the IATSE, SAG-AFTRA is encouraging voice actors to unionize, and it’s likely that many more sectors of the industry will also form labor organizations.
All that remains is how Hollywood executives will respond.
Note: At the time of print, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA were still striking against the AMPTP. As of Sept. 22, a deal between writers and the Hollywood studios is set to be finalized within the week.
]]>After releasing his first full-length project in 2018, Badkid, Bakar found himself in contact with Virgil Abloh, who was the creative director for Louis Vuitton at the time.
The two ended up collaborating on multiple endeavors, with Bakar walking the runway for Abloh’s debut Louis Vuitton show, and Virgil designing DVD cases for Bakar’s 2022 album, Nobody’s Home.
“Hell N Back,” the lead single for his 2019 EP Will You Be My Yellow, became a sleeper hit in the United States, sitting at #1 on the Billboard Triple A chart for 27 weeks. The track also became a popular background audio on TikTok, expanding the breadth of his artistic reach.
Bakar’s rise has sparked opportunities for new and exciting adventures such as his performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and his clothing collaboration with the California-based fashion house Stüssy.
His most recent activity has been in regards to a new full-length project. On September 6, Bakar dropped “I’m Done,” the last track in a three-part series preceding the release of his new album, Halo, expected to come out September 22.
The song is a clear demonstration of Bakar’s musical personality, featuring raw, beautiful vocals over guitar and drum heavy instrumentation inspired by a mix of hip-hop and punk rock. Yet with this mix there is still a softness to it that appears in much of Bakar’s work, making it a song fit for passionate times as well as relaxed enjoyment.
The lyrical structure and theme echoes the artist’s past projects, with youthful lamentations of love and a repetitive hook blessed by his uniquely engaging voice. Bakar’s writing pattern is easily observable in the segment below, taken from the lyrics of “I’m Done.”
“No communication, we should solve that / A thousand conversations should’ve been had / A thousand thoughts are racin’, and I might as well erase them / And I’m done waitin’ for your love to come home / Don’t come home, no / And I’m done waitin’ for your love to come home / Don’t come home.”
Even with straightforward rhyme schemes and repetitive structure, Bakar manages to add depth and make the listener feel through his voice and unique blend of genres. Bakar’s music strongly suits the image of adventurous teenage angst, and is a good listen for those who feel or want to feel young. The genuine fun and involvement he experiences in the act of making music carries through in his songs, acting as a reminder of the pains and joys and fun of living in juvenile romanticism.
You can listen to two of Bakar’s latest singles from the upcoming album, Halo, linked below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFz-v0FEMQM
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Freshman Mishka Ravula mentioned that high school is challenging because students are taught differently than in junior high, and high school is much more demanding.
“It’s definitely a new experience because the amount of homework differs, and so does the teaching style and freedom…I like it a lot more than middle school, although it can be stressful at times,” Ravula said.
Ravula described how high school offers a more “real-world” experience for students, as they will learn how college and work life can be. An example is the AP classes offered at high schools, which better prepare the students with a more rigid curriculum, strict grading, and a path to how self-paced learning operates.
High school can be an exhausting experience for many freshmen, as keeping up with the rigor of the classes can be tough at times. Moreover, those who participate in after-school activities such as clubs and sports must stay up late to complete their homework since they come home late from school.
Through her first two months of high school, Ravula learned the importance of time management between activities, completing homework, and studying for exams.
“As long as you don’t procrastinate, you should be fine,” Ravula said.
Senior Ava Richinger offers a contrasting view of high school. As a freshman, she had the opposite attitude towards high school compared to now.
“I was more nervous and scared as a freshman,” Richinger said.
However, she became confident and optimistic by being more involved in her school community through activities such as Operation Snowball and becoming a class intern.
“I grew to love the community, the teachers, and participating in school activities…I don’t want to leave,” Richinger said.
Richinger’s story emphasizes that high school can alter one’s studying habits and completely change one’s perspective of school as a community.
She ended the interview with a strong message stressing the importance of having a positive outlook on life.
“If you look for the negatives, you will have a negative experience, but if you look for the positives, you will have a positive experience.”
]]>Prior to the start of the fires, high winds were recorded on Aug. 7, causing a warning to be issued. The high winds likely aided the rapid spread of the fires. On the night of Aug. 8, the brush fires were first reported. Fires spread through the historic town of Lahaina, located in Maui, and Kualono Place, located in Kula. The Lahaina fire was soon claimed to be “contained,” but it flared up again afterwards. Over 25,000 acres of land in Maui were burned.
Due to the swift spread of the fires, warnings about the severity of the situation couldn’t be issued immediately. Citizens were unaware of the increasing concern and damage done until after the fires started spreading. As firefighters worked to contain the fires, search and rescue efforts were underway. The death count was slowly rising, and many citizens were missing. The process of identifying the remains is slow, as many are unrecognizable and officials must resort to DNA testing. As of Sep. 16, 97 people have been killed and 31 are still missing.
Maximus Yarawamai, a 63-year old resident of Hawaii who traveled to Lahaina to offer help to the community, spoke with TIME about his thoughts on the wildfires.
“I don’t think we were ready for it. I think we never thought that this would happen in Hawaii. We’ve had fires but not this magnitude,” Yarawamai said.
While the cause behind these devastating wildfires is not fully known, experts say that extreme weather conditions, such as the high winds and drought environment, contributed to the start of the fires. The experts warn that due to climate change, extreme weather disasters will happen more frequently.
Maui county officials are suing Hawaiian Electric, the state’s biggest utility company, for not having efficient equipment to combat the fires. The officials have claimed that the electric company’s “intentional and malicious” mishandling of power lines let the flames spark.
Mikal Watts, lead attorney on the case, voiced his views on the controversy in an interview with NBC News.
“Hawaiian Electric is not just responsible and they weren’t just negligent. They were grossly negligent by making conscious decisions to delay grid modernization projects that would have prevented this very tragedy,” Watts said.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited Maui in late August to meet with the residents impacted by the wildfires. The president toured through Lahaina and walked by the charred remains of trees. They also participated in a blessing ceremony with Lahaina elders and took part in an event raising community spirits. President Biden signed a major disaster declaration for Hawaii in August that made federal aid funding available for Maui county residents to rebuild.
Standing in front of a revered landmark in Lahaina, President Biden gave residents of Maui promising words about the rebuilding process.
“We will be respectful of the sacred grounds and the traditions and rebuild the way the people of Maui want to build, not the way others want to build,” Biden said.
A month after the incident, Maui has slowly started rebuilding. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that it has cleared around 350 sites of toxic materials, but there is still a long way to go. It is estimated to take over $5 billion to complete the rebuilding process from Lahaina’s fire and about $435 million to rebuild from the Kula fire, according to a Maui county release. Damage needs and estimates released by the PDC and its partners at the Maui Emergency Management Agency and the County of Maui Enterprise GIS Section are put into place to assist with planning, coordination, and a swift response between their partners on ground.
]]>If you’ve ever seen anything set in an American high school before, you can probably guess what each character in Bottoms is like. The cheerleaders are unapproachable. Their football player boyfriends treat them horribly. And our main characters, the flannel-wearing underdogs, know they’d treat the tortured heroines better. To a point, parodying these well-known and tired tropes makes way for some good punchlines, but eventually Seligman’s desire to mock every archetype starts feeling like a tedious checklist. In fact, the best parts of the film come from when it’s doing its own thing, whether it be quirky one-liners or a perfectly placed Avril Lavigne needle drop.
Ayo Edebiri as Josie (hilariously pathetic) and Rachel Sennott as PJ (just pathetic) make everything funnier by their awkward auras alone, and much of the film’s appeal can be credited to a consistently entertaining cast. Despite this, no one involved is at their best, and all Seligman does is get the bare minimum out of an otherwise talented set of actors.
Bottoms tries to keep real-life issues – like hypermasculinity, misogyny, and violence – on the back burner throughout its absurd premise. Seligman isn’t afraid to acknowledge these problems, but winds up pulling some punches when she feels her film turning too meaningful or too funny. This unwillingness to go all out in either direction results in a tonally confusing, underwhelming film.
A prominent example of this is when an almost-sincere moment of female solidarity is halted by PJ and Josie’s compulsive urges to lie. It’s not unheard of for unlikeable anti-heroes to lead a comedy, but when their terribleness just becomes a crutch to interrupt anything from getting anywhere, most scenes feel pointless.
At its best Bottoms brings an enjoyable twist to the otherwise overdone genre of coming-of-age films. At its worst, it feels like a weird Frankenstein-ed version of a bunch of other, better, funnier stories. Despite occasional laughs, Bottoms just feels like the first draft of something that could’ve been better with a clearer focus.
]]>After the final bell rang on Thursday, April 6, a large group of students crowded onto the Viking rug for William Fremd High School’s first-ever multicultural fair.
Once school ended, many of Fremd’s cultural clubs came together to set up booths throughout the main hallway, each filled with various food, activities, and performances. The event attracted many spectators and showcased students’ diverse backgrounds.
Clubs like the Asian American Club, South Asian Student Association, Greek Club, Japanese Club, Muslim Student Association, Latinos Unidos, BLAC Leaders Achievers, Girl Up, PRISM, and American Sign Language Club participated in the multicultural fair. Students from Bulgaria also shared about their culture.
Each club had a trifold board filled with information and photos. After reading the boards, students could enjoy food and drinks, including Thai tea, dalgona candy, biryani, bread with lutenitsa, baked macaroni and cheese, and many other delicacies. The wide assortment of food presented allowed attendees to have many ethnic dishes at once—they could try biscuits from Latinos Unidos and then head over to SASA for some black coffee.
Some stations had a few activities planned out to exhibit their cultural traditions. At SASA’s booth, students could try out mehndi, a paste commonly used to decorate the body for weddings or religious occasions. The AAC set out some brushes and ink for those who wanted to attempt calligraphy—a practice historically used as a form of penmanship and art. The Muslim Student Association let participants try on traditional clothing like hijabs. Some clubs also set up games, such as Mancala and Carrom.
AAC President Alexandra Lu found the multicultural fair to be a rewarding experience.
“AAC is excited to have participated in such a successful event celebrating Fremd’s diverse range of cultures,” Lu said. “We were particularly happy with the large turnout at the AAC tables.”
The Multicultural Expo not only allowed students to learn more about different cultures but about their community as well. The American Sign Language Club taught spectators how to spell out simple words and phrases in sign language. PRISM took the fair as an opportunity to spread gender awareness by asking trivia like, “What is the difference between gender identity and gender expression?” If one answered the question right, they could then spin a wheel for candy. Furthermore, Girl Up’s station had a board where students could write down the name of a woman who inspires them.
In addition to the festivities, students could get a small slip of paper or a “passport” at the front desk. If they visited each station and filled their passports with stamps, they could be entered into a raffle to win a grand prize.
Afterward, there were a few performances by some of Fremd’s own students. Two members of AAC took to the stage to demonstrate a part of Tae Kwon Do known as form. Next, BLAC Leaders Achievers performed a partner dance. AAC also had a separate set of performers dance to “Tell Me” by New Jeans. Finally, the Greek Club went around in circles while grooving to music. By the end of the show, students—including those who were not a part of any clubs—joined the group on stage.
BLAC Leaders Achievers President Kyler Johnson recounted how he felt as he watched peers discover each other’s cultural backgrounds.
“There is a very strong connection among students and this event allowed a multitude of them to explore the rich diversity that makes the nation of the school,” Johnson said.
Thanks to the strong turnout and feedback for this year’s Multicultural Fair, Student Equity Team Co-President Munya Noman looks ahead to next year.
“We are planning to have a bigger celebration—hopefully during school hours with more performances!” Noman said.
]]>The dresses, which were all varying styles and colors, exemplified the taste of each student. Students from scenes three to five designed and fitted their own dresses, while students in scenes one and two modeled dresses by David’s Bridal. In addition to dresses, applications for tuxedo models were sent out mid-March for all who wanted to be a part of the show, even if they weren’t fashion students.
In preparation for the show, students had a semester’s worth of planning to do. Assistant director Kathyrn Johnson explains the process behind designing the show.
“The students enrolled in Fashion Construction 1, Fashion Construction 2, and Independent Study fashion classes start working on their dresses at the start of the spring semester,” Johnson said. “They each select their own pattern, fabrics, and embellishments with the assistance of Mrs. Young, the design pathway teacher.”
Before the actual showcase, the fashion students collaborated with the tech crew to design their scenes. Kathryn Johnson clarifies when and how this occurs.
“Once the dresses are completed (the dresses are finished prior to spring break), the real work begins. During the month of April the students work in teams to create their scene (selecting music and choreographing what they want it to look like),” Johnson said.
In the background of the show stood the set for Fremd’s upcoming musical, Footloose. With the addition of this year’s theme, “Masquerade Ball,” the set created an opportunity for innovation among Fremd fashion students. Almost all scenes utilized the set for an interesting backdrop.
On the day of the show, the fashion students geared up for their final performance. Emotions ran high as they reflected back to the semester and recalled their favorite moments. This closing performance would be the chance to showcase all of their hard work.
Sophomore Daniella Desario is an active participant in her Fashion Construction class. When it comes to her favorite part of the performance, Desario credited her group mates.
“I love the people and the students and everything,” Desario said.
This annual performance was the end result of the hard work and dedication among Fremd’s fashion students. It marks the start of the 2023 Prom season and the beginning of a long farewell to all those graduating this year.
]]>There is no scientific evidence that women are worse at STEM subjects, but the generational ideologies passed down can be difficult to change. One factor is parents’ expectations for their children and how they encourage girls to pursue traditionally female-dominated fields, like the humanities, while boys are often encouraged to seek STEM fields. The Institution of Engineering and Technology, a professional British society, found that only seven percent of parents said they would encourage their daughters to pursue engineering careers. These expectations for girls can discourage them from going into these fields purely because it was never in their minds from a young age to even consider going into STEM.
Similar trends occur in the learning environment. At school, teachers may unintentionally reinforce these gender stereotypes by either not providing equal opportunities for females in STEM or by communicating that STEM subjects aren’t suitable for them. Teachers may also discourage females from going into STEM by providing them with alternative fields to go into, further stereotyping them, which will cause them to doubt their abilities and reinforce stereotypes that females are less capable in STEM than males. It will also compel females to question why they would major in something inappropriate for them.
Furthermore, workplaces often don’t provide the flexibility and support needed for women to balance their work and family life, such as policies like paid parental leave and flexible working hours. Zippia informs that in 2023 only around 40% of employers offer paid maternity leave. This can be detrimental as STEM careers often require long work hours, which can be challenging for women who feel they can’t keep up with their family responsibilities, ultimately making them opt for more flexible careers that offer more of a work-life balance.
With these factors deterring females from going into the STEM field, there need to be more female role models, which would lead to more women pursuing STEM careers. Girls are generally more likely to go into a particular career path if there are role models who look like them and have similar backgrounds. However, if the trends of women in these fields don’t increase, it will create a never-ending cycle of fewer women in STEM. The lack of female representation can cause young girls to see STEM careers as unattainable, and this underrepresentation can reinforce harmful gender stereotypes.
Regardless, there are many ways we can build confidence in girls going into STEM, and one way is by starting early. When children start their first counting lessons, more attention should be given to girls to ensure they don’t fail just because they believe they aren’t good at math. Therefore, girls need to be aware that girls and boys are equally capable of succeeding in these subjects. Once females do well in math and science, they will be more willing to explore STEM topics in their future education. Moreover, by providing girls with the opportunities to explore STEM subjects in supportive environments, such as encouraging them to participate in STEM-related extracurriculars like Math Team and Science Club, providing access to role models, and more, they can develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed in these fields.
Addressing the gender gap in STEM requires breaking down gender stereotypes and inspiring everyone to reach their full potential regardless of their gender. By dealing with stereotypes at an early stage of education, through encouragement towards girls to explore STEM subjects from parents and teachers, we will see more women thrive in STEM and increase diversity in the workforce.
]]>The raffles were a big fundraiser at this event. There were a variety of themed raffle baskets, each containing several items to fit that theme. Prizes included Cubs tickets, restaurant gift cards, music store gift cards, flowers, chocolate, purses, and more. However, the highlight of the raffles was the 50/50 raffle pot—half of the money added went towards the band program, and the other half went to an audience member. At the night’s end, the raffle pot contained over $2500.
At both concerts, the dinner was catered by Tre Amici Pizza and involved a wide variety of food for the audience to enjoy. There were two different types of pasta, Italian beef sandwiches, pizza, and salad. Drinks and desserts were also served, including brownies and slices of cake. The dinner tickets were one of the main ways this fundraiser was a success; there were over 450 dinner orders and 90 dessert-only orders.
Matthew Moore, director of the Concert Band and Wind Symphony, discusses the importance of the Band Benefit Concert for the band program.
“The Band Benefit dinner, raffle, and gift baskets have existed for the past twenty years as a way to financially assist the Band program,” Moore said. “The Fremd Bands and Music Department are very well funded by District 211, but each year the program needs additional funds.”
The band program uses this money for guest conductors, clinicians, new music, instrument repairs, competitions, and extracurricular ensembles like the Viking Marching Band. The money that is gathered from the fundraiser will be used throughout the following year.
Apart from raising money, the Band Benefit Concert also showcased the talent and hard work of the four bands. The first concert featured the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, and the two bands kicked off the night by playing pieces like “Kalos Eidos” by Carol Brittin Chambers and “Urban Dances” by Erik Morales. The concert was about 90 minutes long, and the bands played in a cafeteria packed with fellow students, family, and community members.
The second concert featured the Symphonic Winds and Wind Symphony. These two bands closed off the event and added to the wide variety of songs performed during the event, performing both fast-paced, exciting pieces and slower, lyrical compositions.
Moore reflects on how much the students have grown as musicians since August.
“We were very proud of their growth on the various concert selections from January through early March. It’s wonderful to see the students’ progress of individual and ensemble skills seen throughout the school year,” Moore said.
Overall, the Band Benefit Concert was not only a successful fundraiser for the band program, but also a fun night for the musicians and the audience.
]]>Beginning on Feb. 20, a slow-moving winter storm formed on the West Coast area, passing through the Midwest and New England as it drifted eastward. In its wake, the storm left behind a trail of destruction, bringing tumultuous weather and affecting the lives of millions. This devastating storm may have been caused by a polar vortex distortion, which forces Arctic winds to turn south and create severe weather conditions.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, University of Albany researcher Andrea Lang, describes the phenomenon and notes an additional trait of this distortion.
“Polar vortex disruptions have been known to result in a 50% increase in cold air outbreaks in the northern hemisphere and a shift in the storm tracks,” Lang said. “What is interesting about this event is that we are not looking at a short-lived reversal of the stratosphere’s high-latitude circulation. This event is forecast to persist for at least a week to 10 days.”
Typically, the longer a polar vortex disruption lasts, the more weather conditions can be affected, due to an influx of foreign winds. Since this phenomenon lasted an extended length of time, while most disruptions only last one to two days, many scientists believe that this storm may have been a result of this event.
In regard to the effects of the storm, areas on the West Coast were hit hard by the storm. Traditionally unused to snowy weather, states like California received abnormal amounts of snow and ice, with some cities in the area receiving up to 11 inches of snow. This marks the first time since 1989 that California has had snow, a testament to the unlikelihood of this situation.
The Midwest, on the other hand, received the full brunt of the storm. According to poweroutage.us, over 600,000 were without power in Michigan, and some cities like Portland received record-breaking amounts of snow, totaling upwards of a foot on some occasions. Over 300 flights were canceled due to heavy snowfall nationwide, and some highways like the I-80 were forced to close due to excessive amounts of ice. Furthermore, tornadoes were spotted in Illinois, likely caused by the turbulent storm winds, destroying homes and the environment in their path.
Ever since this year’s winter began, the New England area has only received less than an inch of snow. When the storm crossed the area, however, New England cities received three to ten inches of snow on average, the largest of this year’s winter. Temperatures dropped twenty to thirty degrees in cities like Pittsburgh and Washington D.C., but temperatures quickly recovered as the storm finally passed over America on March 1.
While the winter storm may have been devastating, the worst is now over. With a positive weather forecast for the rest of the year, Americans can look forward to improving weather conditions, with spring incoming and summer right around the corner.
]]>As a weekly volunteer at a hospital, I often notice a pattern in which patients tend to be viewed as “less than” by visitors because of their circumstances. When I delivered flowers to a patient’s room a month ago, I initiated a conversation with her and complimented her gorgeous blue eyes. That day, I learned how a few seconds of kindness could impact someone. Seeing patients as people may have a larger correlation with the patient’s health status than we believe.
According to Northwestern University, the leading cause of patient dehumanization is deindividuation. Patients are seen as a part of a larger, blended group rather than individuals with different needs. By doing so, patients don’t receive the care they need to trust their physicians, making it more challenging to improve their health. If each patient is recognized, hospitals can offer the best treatment to all patients, without sacrificing the patient’s necessities to develop stronger doctor-patient relationships.
The famous phrase of “treat the patient, not the disease” describes why personal patient care must involve connecting with the patient and getting to know their needs and desires. There are always ongoing medical discoveries and scientific research to improve health care, but what about improving our connections with patients for better patient care?
Adam Waytz, an assistant professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School of Management, and Omar Sultan Haque, a psychologist and physician at Harvard University, inform how physicians can decrease the dehumanization of patients. For example, casually talking to a patient about information already on their charts could emphasize a patient’s humanity. Additionally, doctors can ask more questions about a patient’s feelings rather than jumping into external treatment plans.
Seeing patients as people works both ways – patients can connect with their physicians and nurses as well to promote a safe, healthy, and uplifting environment that will benefit their overall well-being.
For the rest of us, educating ourselves and our communities on how we show empathy towards hospital patients is a valuable skill to decrease patient dehumanization and promote one-on-one personal connections. As a hospital visitor, volunteer, or physician, we may not think our words impact patient care as much as medical procedures do. However, treating patients as people first is necessary to improve their health. Every time I encounter a patient in a hospital, I take the opportunity to compliment them, ask about their hobbies, and get to know who they are. The next time you see a hospital patient, consider getting to know them for who they are because your small act of kindness is a stepping stone into a future of improved patient care.
]]>The Expo will primarily be run by some of Fremd’s many cultural clubs, including American Sign Language Club, Asian American Club, BLAC Leaders Achievers, Girl Up, Greek Club, Japanese Club, PRISM, Latinos Unidos, Muslim Student Association, South Asian American Club, as well as several Bulgarian students. These clubs will represent their ethnicities with food, dance, music, and other methods of cultural expression.
At tables set up by the Asian American Club, students can participate in calligraphy, mehndi, and congklak, a traditional game known by numerous names worldwide, including wari, adi, and mancala, while learning about South, East, and Southeast Asian culture.
The Muslim Student Association is also planning to provide participants with the chance to become familiarized with traditional clothing like salwaar, thobes, and abaya and try on hijabs of different styles. At the same time, Sign Language Club will educate students on how to sign the alphabet and simple questions and answers like “what is your name?” and “how are you?”
Girl Up will also participate in the activities, allowing people to share about the women who have inspired them, and Greek Club will display their favorite traditional recipes for participants to try. There will also be chances to win prizes from ASL Club, Girl Up, and Greek Club for demonstrating knowledge of their individual identities.
The Expo will also serve as an educational tool, providing attendees with valuable knowledge about their community. For example, PRISM will share information about LGBTQ concepts, Girl Up will introduce participants to women worldwide, and ASL Club will teach about deaf culture and etiquette.
In addition, the Viking rug will be transformed by a number of cultural dances and performances by students from Asian American Club and BLAC Leaders Achievers Club, as well as music from Greek Club. From viewing tables set up by the various clubs and cultures, participants will get to taste food from BLAC Leaders Achievers Club, Asian American Club, Greek Club, and the MSA.
Among this cultural expression comes opportunities for members of the Fremd community to be educated on the diversity around them. The Student Equity Team, which is running the Expo, hopes that this educational experience will also lead to greater understanding and acceptance among students of different backgrounds.
“As an equity team, we believe that spreading knowledge about the diverse culture would ensure equity amongst students,” said the co-president of the team, junior Munya Noman.
]]>Jaren, a boy on the mainland, moves to a small village in the area and finds out about the legends of the magic island, which he chalks up to be nothing more than fear-mongering. Through a turn of events, Jaren ends up on the island by accident and has to contend with magic and the politics that have sprung together to make a deadly trap. Taking a leap of faith Leelo goes against the beliefs that she’s been taught and attempts to keep him alive and then has to deal with the consequences of her actions.
Rutherford’s strength is worldbuilding and being able to tie that into the idea of cultural development and the values a group holds. This can be seen in the twisted sense of humanity and justice that Endlans have. They are willing to let children have a chance of survival in the outside world who don’t possess magic, but treat individuals who have violated the rules and outsiders with cruelty. Having this idea in the book gave the societal structure more depth and originally connected me to the Endlans as the reader until Leelo realized that not everything is as it seems.
A large part of the plot revolves around naivety and deception by the people in control. Leelo, the main character, has recently started her year as a Watcher giving her an opportunity to protect her community from the outsiders on the mainland and furthering her place in the community. She, unlike many of the others, has no interest in the violence that the forest demands of them during hunts and if they come across an outsider on the island. This was a nice twist to the typical coming-of-age tropes in fantasy, where the characters developed based on their surroundings and outside forces instead of them changing to move the plot.
Leelo has a clear character arc throughout the story, starting from someone who just went along with the traditions that they had in order to survive, but then, in the end, broke free of them to stand up for what she knew was right. While some of her actions and words felt a little unnatural at times – like Anakin Skywalker in Attack of The Clones – she still had me rooting for her throughout the book.
A common criticism that this book avoided was the idea that all authority is bad and the young adult must know best. Rutherford portrayed all of her characters in a way where they could see why their elders believed what they did and could reflect on parts of their experiences to resolve some of the problems in their community. Breaking free of fear and the past to demonstrate the core values of family and honesty in a new way helped make both Leelo and Jaren more relatable and realistic.
The Poison Season kept me engaged and the creative approach to a dystopian-like world with magic paired with a unique world was refreshing in terms of a standard YA fantasy book. The Poison Season is a great read for readers who are dipping their toes into fantasy or are looking for a quick read.
]]>This inquiry was filed after a Chicago Tribune and ProPublica investigation titled “The Price Kids Pay” displayed racial disparities in student ticketing across Illinois. According to the database published as a part of this investigation, Black and Latino D211 students received police referrals more often than white students. Typically these referrals result in student ticketing and a monetary fine.
According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, “Black and Latino students together received about 65% of the roughly 470 tickets police have issued to high school students since the start of the 2018-19 school year.”
A ProPublica District Composition database that collected information from years prior to the 2018-2019 school year found similarly striking disparities. The analysis found that Black students were 5.4 times as likely to be suspended as White students in District 211, and when only looking at Fremd, this ratio increased to 9.8 times.
The investigation results have yet to be released, and further action from the Illinois Attorney General has yet to be taken. However, Fremd Principal Mark Langer explains that the district’s approach to discipline has undergone notable changes within recent years to recognize the need to support students of all backgrounds.
“You’ll hear a lot of times the phrase ‘restorative justice,’ in terms of how do we build, keep our relationships, and build stronger relationships with our students?” Langer said. “I’ve seen a positive impact on how our students interact through that process.”
Superintendent Dr. Lisa Small echoed the idea of emphasizing individual student needs as an integral part of the discipline process.
“It’s very rare that something brings [a] student to the intervention office on an incident, [and] that it’s just a solo little box around that incident,” Small said. “There’s usually a whole series of events or experiences that the student has had, that the box isn’t really the hall pass violation. There’s a whole big box behind it.”
To reduce bias, the D211 Equity Team was created in the 2020-2021 school year to design the D211 Equity Plan. In response to parent and student feedback, this agenda sets standards for equity within the district and has outlined steps to involve students and staff in the efforts for improvement.
In addition to forming student and staff equity committees, D211 Board Member Tim McGowan explains that Panorama Surveys have also provided crucial data on student wellness and opinions on equity in the district.
“Students now have a direct outlet to approach and kind of voice their concerns,” McGowan said. “And because they’re able to do that, the district is able to kind of tackle these things relatively quickly and even efficiently at this point.”
Other D211 School Board members were contacted but did not respond to a request for comment.
As the district continues to navigate equity and inclusion, open discussion between students and staff continues to provide insight into the educational climate and mitigate unfair treatment.
Fremd senior Jair Herrera highlighted the goal of persistent growth in the school environment and procedures.
“To improve equity and discipline is just communication with students,” Herrera said. “There’s always prejudice present, but acknowledging it and building skills and assets amongst employees and other workers at the school to recognize prejudice and to work against it will help us build a stronger community.”
]]>In May 2022, The Chicago Tribune reported on a civil rights investigation that the Illinois Attorney General’s office had opened. This investigation considers the idea that teachers and hall monitors in District 211 are unfairly disciplining students of color more than white students.
The office has not provided a timeline for this investigation, with the chief of the attorney general’s civil rights bureau, Amy Meek, estimating that it could take more than a year.
While we wait for official details, our community cannot sit idle.
A ProPublica review of tickets issued to students between 2019-2021 found that while 44% of students enrolled in D211 schools are white, 23% of tickets are issued to white students. In comparison, 26% of enrolled students are Latino, yet receive a staggering 51% of tickets.
Preliminary evidence available to the public shows that there is likely a basis behind the Tribune’s claims; anecdotal evidence further solidifies this idea.
Senior Grace Broski has seen this prejudice firsthand.
“I walked past a hall monitor with my group of friends and [the hall monitors] ignored us and turned to a group of people of color and asked them why they were in the hallway,” Broski said.
There are many stories like Grace’s, and the prejudice students of color have potentially experienced at the hands of adults responsible for their wellbeing in schools is not going unnoticed.
When asked about the district’s approach to racial equity, Superintendent Dr. Lisa Small described that administrators choose to view each student individually, attempting to gain insight into the circumstances that are shaping their behavior.
Compassionate, intervention-based discipline is certainly beneficial to resolving persistent student misbehavior, but racial inequity starts much before administration even looks into a student’s case file.
It starts when a hall monitor stops a Latino student to ask for their pass, but lets a white student pass by quietly. It starts when a white student crying in the bathroom is extended compassion, but a Black student waiting inside a stall for too long is questioned. When discrimination seeps into bathrooms, cafeterias, and hallways, it is difficult to root out without questioning how much of it is ingrained in our very mindsets.
D211 Board member Tim McGowan acknowledged that some of the points in the Chicago Tribune report were not unfounded, mentioning that he has experienced racially biased discipline himself as an alumni of Fremd. Conceding that “[racially disparate] assumptions or conclusions could have been made,” McGowan highlights that D211’s willingness to bring about change is light years ahead of other districts in the state.
All other Board Members did not respond to a request for a comment or interview.
What we should recognize, however, is that the attorney general’s office’s investigation won’t be an answer but rather a data point in a much larger conversation. We don’t have to wait for the investigation to finish to acknowledge that racial disparities in discipline are a serious issue within our buildings, and we have to continue expanding current procedures to remedy them. Racial inequity shadows every disciplinary action taken within District 211, whether it benefits or harms the student, and our job as a community is to choose leadership this April that is cognizant of that.
]]>Fast forward to February 4th, 2018. KSI vs. Joe Weller. Following this event, the attention in the fight scene increased. More Youtubers volunteered to step in the ring, taking their fans – an entirely new demographic, and introducing them to the sport. This boom saw popular names such as Jake Paul and Bryce Hall step inside the ring, and slowly the niche subgenre of “influencer boxing” began to make headlines.
Mainstream media was beginning to take notice. Fights were being featured on ESPN, articles were being written on Bleacher Report, and the money and names attached to these events began to skyrocket. One of the catalysts to the current size of this industry was when Floyd “Money” Mayweather, 50 wins – 0 losses, 1996 Olympic Bronze medalist, and “Fighter of the Decade” agreed to fight Logan Paul, a Youtuber with 0 wins and 1 loss, whose sports background only consisted of high school wrestling. While Mayweather clearly won the fight, the event marked a turning point in the sport.
Since then there have been many other cards featuring a slew of celebrities, Youtubers, streamers, etc. all trying their hand in the ring. The names range from rapper, Blueface, to chess grandmaster, Dina Belenkaya. Currently, this subgenre is only getting bigger, securing the attention of industry greats such as Eddie Hearn and Dana White. However, many boxing purists believe its rise is tainting the sanctity of the sport.
Many of the individuals who take part in these events are amateur boxers, who have only boxed for two to three months. These influencers get into boxing with their mind set on the check and the notoriety that comes with participation. They don’t fully understand the risks and don’t have the training to properly defend themselves during these matches. Another point that is brought up consistently is the discrepancy in quality and pay. These influencers skip the amateur circuit and launch themselves onto the mainstage without going through what is considered the “proper” track. Harcore boxing fans often complain about the opportunities being given to them over boxers who have been training for years, waiting for their turn.
On the flip side, the influencer boxing scene provides a new audience for boxing. While most don’t understand the nuances of counterpunching, the advantages and disadvantages of being a southpaw, and the strategy behind each boxer, many tune in to see a slugfest. Similar to the attraction of the WWE or a high school brawl, fans tune in for the almost comical actions, and to enjoy the story behind the madness.
The fact of the matter is that influencer boxing is for the fans. With many influencers becoming viable marketing outlets for agents and promoters, it has slowly begun to take over as the mainstream fighting outlet. Although professional boxing will always be more technically sound, watching two individuals run at each other for half an hour is equally as enjoyable.
]]>Earlier this month, Rodgers went on a four-day darkness retreat to contemplate the future of his career. During this time, he sat in complete darkness with no people, no phones, no T.V.’s, and no distractions. The goal was to spend four days determining whether he wanted to continue with the Packers, switch teams, or, of course, retire. However, that didn’t exactly happen as he ended the retreat and still didn’t have an answer for over two weeks. So much for the darkness therapy.
Going into the retreat, Rodgers stated on the McAfee Show that he was 90 percent sure he’d be retiring this season. But in the end, his decision was to play for the Jets. Last season, Rodgers was openly anti-vax and one of the biggest critics of the pharmaceutical industry. But, when he finally came out of the darkness, he realized he wanted to work for the billionaire heirs to Johnson & Johnson (one of the few companies that developed a COVID vaccine.)
Rodgers wants to play for the Jets, the Jets want him to play for them, and the Packers are willing to trade him. So, what’s the big delay?
There are many factors that go into this trade. With Rodgers being an all-time great, but also one of the highest-paid players in the league, this is already a difficult decision for the Jets. Add in the fact that he’s already 39 and has stated his desire to retire multiple times in the last couple of months, and it doesn’t make anything easier. Keeping this in mind, the Jets don’t want to surrender their first-round draft pick and the Packers won’t accept anything less.
This is a pretty tough deal, so will either team really go through with it? The answer is yes. The Jets don’t really have another option for a new quarterback and the Packers seem to want to start their younger quarterback, Jordan Love, meaning both teams are relying on this arrangement for the coming season.
This transaction is already hard enough, but to make matters worse, Rodgers comes with a whole list of requests. Although he claims that these aren’t actual demands, and more of preferences, the Jets appear to be taking them pretty seriously. Not only is Rodgers switching to the Jets, but he seems to want about half his team to come with him. Included on his wish list of players are Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Marcedes Lewis from the Packers, and surprisingly Odell Beckham Jr., who is currently a free agent. The Jets have already signed Lazard and seem to be interested in Cobb and Lewis. As for OBJ, who sat out for most of last season due to a major knee injury, the Jets have reached out along with some 10 other teams.
All in all, the trade for Rodgers probably won’t be finalized for a while, with all the surrounding discrepancies. However, once it does he’ll finally be out of Green Bay, opening up the possibility for the Bears to ultimately win against them.
]]>The Crew Dragon, the vehicle carrying the astronauts, is expected to spend about one day maneuvering through space, before meeting up with the space station. The flight itself, however, is planned to last approximately six months. Once they arrive at the space station, they will work to take over operations from the SpaceX Crew-5 astronauts who arrived at the space station in Oct. 2022. There, they will oversee more than 200 labs, including researching how substances burn in the microgravity environment.
During this launch the astronauts on Crew-6 host two key missions on behalf of NASA while on the space station. The Boeing Crew Flight Test will mark the first astronaut mission under a Boeing-NASA partnership. The test will be the last phase of testing Boeing needs to certify its Starliner spacecraft for routine astronaut missions. The crew is planned to host the second mission in May, when they arrive on Axiom Mission, a privately funded space flight to the space station. There, Crew-6 will deploy a separate SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, carrying out the second key mission on behalf of NASA.
Unlike the rest of the members, Fedyaev joined the Crew-6 team as part of a ride-sharing agreement. Due to rising tensions between Russia and the United States over matters regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, this agreement states that any hostilities on the ground between these two countries have no effect on the countries’ ongoing cooperation in space.
In a previous interaction questioning whether NASA and Russia relations will be affected by Ukraine, Josh Finch, a spokesperson for NASA explains that they will continue to cooperate with Russia on the International Space Station.
“NASA continues working with the State Space Corporation Roscosmos (Roscosmos) and our other international partners in Canada, Europe, and Japan to maintain safe and continuous International Space Station operations,” Finch said.
Adjacent to this agreement, if the SpaceX Crew Dragon or Russian Soyuz spacecrafts experience any difficulties, its counterpart can transport astronauts from both countries.
The flight marks the final of the original six NASA missions. The mission was originally scheduled to launch early on Feb, 27. However, the initial attempt was unsuccessful due to clogged filters.
CNN explains the technical problems which had caused the first attempt of the final mission to be unsuccessful.
“The engineers said they detected an issue with a substance called triethylaluminum triethylboron, or TEA-TEB, a highly combustible fluid that is used to ignite the Falcon 9 rocket’s engines at liftoff”, Wattles said.
With less than three minutes left, the engineers called off the initial flight, due to problems with the TEA-TEB fluid. Although engineers did have to troubleshoot at least one irregularity after takeoff, the Crew’s second flight was able to takeoff with no problems in the TEA-TEB system.
]]>The film’s source material is penned by a veteran of the war it covers, but Gerber makes no effort to stay loyal to it. A vital change from paper to screen is the inclusion of French and German diplomats negotiating an armistice — which is basically just old men bickering about the war as young men die in it. Adding a subplot entirely detached from German soldiers lulls the story as it is nowhere near as interesting as the gruesome battles going on in the western trenches.
Amidst all the unnecessary changes, Gerber reaches the same ending as the novel, but the build-up to it is weaker due to the liberties he takes. His attention to detail with the scenery is not met with the same effort writing-wise, which is why each detour from the Remarque’s work feels like a surrender to formulaic writing.
Contrary to the film’s stunning visuals, its Oscar-winning score is nothing special. A signature three-note segment repeats itself tirelessly and adds nothing but annoyance to vital moments. A weak score doesn’t ruin a movie… but it certainly doesn’t make one better.
As we follow Paul during his year-long involvement in the military, we know nothing about him aside from his once-optimistic look at war. The novel thoroughly explores elements like his changing personality and family-life, but for some reason Gerber is not interested in creating a fleshed-out character. With war movies, a character doesn’t have to have the most heartfelt backstory for one to feel bad for them because their dire circumstances are in the focus, but ignoring it entirely makes the movie feel like a compilation of stereotypical war tropes at times.
All Quiet on the Western Front is captivating to look at but woefully mediocre in every other aspect, especially its score and writing. Gerber’s rendition of Remarque’s novel triumphs in depicting the depravity of German soldiers, but there’s only so much filmmakers can say about the brutality of war before the concept loses all appeal.
]]>The Chamber Night has been a long standing tradition of the Fremd Music Association, spanning decades of its history.
The performance is an opportunity for the two orchestras to showcase the culmination of their efforts over the course of several weeks. As part of the in-class chamber unit, students split into several smaller ensembles or chamber groups. Typically, these groups will be trios or quartets with only one student for each part and instrument. This part of the chamber unit makes it unique from regular orchestra practice. It challenges students who are used to performing with several peers to build up an individual part by themselves.
Marla Caballero, the Fremd Orchestra Director and organizer of the chamber program, describes the experience from the student’s perspective.
“It’s really new for a lot of the students, especially the freshmen who’ve never experienced playing in a small chamber ensemble before. There’s definitely a vulnerability that happens, but with that comes a great deal of responsibility and I’ve seen students really step it up,” Caballero said.
And while the students do rehearse among themselves, they are still provided direction. Each year, with the help of the Fremd Music Association, coaches are assigned to guide the groups
This year, the coaches included several professional musicians, including members of the local Elgin, Lyric Opera, and Chicago symphonies.
The actual performance took place simultaneously between two rooms. In each, judges provided feedback, worked with the groups, and gave them valuable advice for the future.
Caballero ends off by fondly describing her favorite part of the unit.
“The highlight is seeing how they started, and students being nervous and not having a whole lot of confidence – but then also at the end gaining confidence and working together and encouraging one another. That’s such a great thing,” Caballero said.
]]>“In my opinion, hearing others’ points of view, especially when they’re from people whose views or experiences are different from your own is one of the most beneficial things anyone can do,” Emily said.
English teacher Christina O’Donnell explains that Emily demonstrates passion and strong work ethic throughout her involvement in several English-related opportunities.
“She has participated in Writers Week every year, even the Zoom year when they sent in videos!” O’Donnell said. “She has taken Creative Comp and E419 AND is a student intern. She is truly an amazing human being and “English” student.”
]]>The premise is not only one that asks you to suspend your disbelief too far, but also isn’t enough to stretch out into a full feature film. By the conclusion of the first 45 minutes or so, the premise has run its course – Dafoe has found a way to survive, settled into a routine, and is making steady work on an escape route.
With few directions for the story to go, writer Ben Hopkins tries to re-engage the audience by throwing everything at the wall – and nothing seems to stick. Dafoe finds a secret chamber in the back of the penthouse, reminisces of his past with the house’s owner, and even starts having strange visions of the characters in his past. While each of these new story branches does its job in reinvigorating the plot, each one gets about five minutes of attention before being completely forgotten about, never to come up again for the rest of the film.
Writing aside, the rest of the film is just barely enough to keep the whole thing afloat. The production design is easily one of the film’s best aspects, and director Vasilis Katsoupis uses the vague layout of the penthouse to his advantage. Despite its wide open spaces, long walls and high ceiling, Dafoe still seems to be constantly trapped in corners or shadows, adding to the claustrophobic atmosphere that slowly degrades Dafoe’s character over time.
Dafoe himself stands out as easily the best part of Inside. He brings a rampant, almost animalistic sense of desperation to each scene, and Katsoupis’s shots play directly into that. In his hungriest, most desperate moments, he’s forced close to the camera, sparing not a single detail for the audience in an intimately disconcerting experience.
It feels as though what Hopkins is trying to ask with Inside is “what makes art… art?” If it ever attempted to answer that already convoluted question, however, I have no idea. The final act seems to make just about every statement on art it can, both poking fun at the emptiness of modern art for the wealthy, and yet still demanding that this art is the product of unequivocal sacrifice. All Inside does is present the audience with a broad, open-ended question, then fails to string together any coherent message to answer it.
]]>Best Actor: Austin Butler, Elvis
Brendan Fraser’s much awaited comeback in The Whale gave him an opportunity to flaunt his talents in a dramatic role, but the film remains a polarizing and audacious piece of work. This turns the tides in favor of safer nominees like Colin Farrell (Banshees of Inisherin) or Austin Butler (Elvis). The Academy has a history of favoring biopics over fictional performances, making Butler the obvious lead in the best actor category. Many other awards shows, like the Golden Globes and BAFTAS, endorse his portrayal of Elvis, building up great momentum for his final win at the Oscars.
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, TÁR
The best actress category seems to be a neck-and-neck battle between first-time nominee Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) and two-time winner Cate Blanchett (TÁR). Blanchett’s domineering performance as the titular conductor Lydia Tár could be the best of her career, while Yeoh is less impactful. With a gratifying first-time recognition on one hand, and, simply put, the better performance on the other, the latter is easier to root for.
Best Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Ke Hey Quan undeniably leads the best supporting actor category this year, with his stellar performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once. At the start of the awards season, Quan winning may have seemed unlikely due to there being more well known nominees in this category (especially Judd Hirsch from The Fabelmans), but after a streak of deserved recognition at other award ceremonies, he has come up as the clear frontrunner. Similar to Yeoh, an Oscar for Quan would be gratifying as he deserves to be recognized for his work after previous mistreatment and neglect by the acting industry.
Best Supporting Actress: Stephanie Hsu (fingers crossed), Everything Everywhere All at Once
In what’s arguably the most talented group of nominees this year, one breakout star stands out among the rest. Stephanie Hsu’s moving performance in a dual role as both Joy Wang as well as intimidating interdimensional villain Jobu Topaki took audiences through a whirlwind of emotions in Everything Everywhere All at Once. However, there’s a decent chance she might get overlooked in the same way she has been at previous awards ceremonies. Instead, co-star Jamie Lee Curtis has been receiving greater acclaim for a much less inspiring and involved showing, along with Angela Bassett for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Best Original Screenplay: Banshees of Inisherin
2022 releases were a breath of fresh air considering the uniqueness of each film nominated for original screenplay. Ranging from a multidimensional battle for family (Everything Everywhere) to a more simplistic tale of a quarrel between two friends (Banshees) to a dry, slow-paced character study (TÁR), there is no clear “best” in this highly competitive category. While TÁR is more of a critic’s favorite, Everything Everywhere and Banshees come backed-up with more mainstream support and recognition at other award ceremonies, potentially making them the two main choices. Considering both film’s nominations in other categories, Everything Everywhere gets many other chances to shine while this may be Banshees’ only opportunity for a win, making it our first choice for original screenplay.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Women Talking
On quite the opposite note, this year’s nominees for adapted screenplay fail to make any huge marks in terms of their writing. While films like Top Gun: Maverick and Glass Onion became familiar favorites, no one really watched them for their riveting scripts. Women Talking, as its name suggests, is a movie that is essentially all dialogue — so if it were to win for anything, it would have to be for its screenplay.
Best Original Score: Babylon
Out of all the nominations for best original score, Babylon was the only case where the soundtrack itself felt like a character in the film. Justin Hurwtiz’s energetic and bombastic score is easily the strongest component of the otherwise underwhelming film, and was even used in promotional material for the Oscars itself. Considering how overlooked Babylon was in other categories, it would be upsetting if the film ended up leaving the Oscars empty-handed.
Best Director: Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans
Despite the indisputable talents of each of the nominees for Best Director (except maybe you, Ruben Östlund), it’ll be hard for any of them to beat one of the best directors of our age – Steven Spielberg. His recent offering, the coming-of-age and semi-autobiographical The Fabelmans, is likely to go down as one of the best in his recent filmography. It’s a film that, like many of his best works, comes from a very deep and personal place, and this one has already garnered him an award for directing at Golden Globes.
Best Picture: The Fabelmans (but hopefully TÁR)
Though The Fabelmans is certainly one of the favorites to win, the Oscars has a history of giving the best picture and director awards to different films. But when it comes right down to it, TÁR is a phenomenal film, and one that was certainly one of the favorites of critics (though there often is a gap between their opinions and Oscar winners). In a year full of fantastic movies, these two will likely be the foremost frontrunners for Best Picture – and if The Fabelmans doesn’t win, the award should certainly go to TÁR instead.
]]>Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan aimed to provide targeted debt relief, with borrowers receiving up to $10,000 as a non-Pell grant recipient (grants given to financially insecure undergraduate students) and $20,000 as a recipient.
The two cases the Supreme Court heard last Tuesday were Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown. Biden v. Nebraska consisted of six Republican states who filed a lawsuit against the forgiveness plan claiming that the states would undergo financial harm and the loss of profits from companies like Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, the new public loan servicer. Department of Education v. Brown considers the plight of two borrowers, Myra Brown and Alexander Taylor, who could not receive the entire $20,000 and argued that the relief plan neglected their procedural rights.
Several arguments were made against the plan and especially criticized the debt relief part of borrowers receiving $10,000-$20,000 in student loan forgiveness. Public loan servicers such as Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority also say they would lose money with smaller repayment plans.
Many student loan borrowers and current college students have their own opinions about what’s happening at the Supreme Court. Hundreds of student activists rallied in front of the Supreme Court when the case was being heard, advocating for increased alleviation and racial justice for Black borrowers who often face worse circumstances.
One of many is Ashleigh Mosely, a student at Albany State who traveled to Washington D.C., to stand in front of the Supreme Court to rally for more debt cancellation.
“We are young women and men in college trying to figure out a way, and we just keep getting hit and knocked down,” Mosely said.
One of the biggest concerns is what will happen if the forgiveness policy fails. Borrowers who can’t afford their repayment plans could default on their student loans. Another cause for concern is the shaky legal grounds that the Biden v. Nebraska argument stands on, as theories have circulated about how the 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court will rule the decision. One popular theory by analysts is due to the conservative majority, Justice Amy Barrett could be the deciding factor.
Borrowers also worry about the possible zero alleviation of their student loan debt. Without the relief plan, many people who are drowning in student debt will not get the opportunity to relieve some of their burdens. Almost 43 million borrowers will be eligible for various amounts of debt relief if the plan continues.
Many students waited for hours to get a spot for oral arguments inside the courtroom, including Lydia Zajichek, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison whose parents have over $100,000 in student debt.
“We came out here, we sat in the rain all night and waited until we could get the SCOTUS tickets to listen to the hearing because it’s just that important to us,” Zajichek said.
Despite the clash, both sides agree that the existing college systems and affordability problems need reforms for the future to rebuild a sustainable system.
Student loan repayments will begin 60 days after the Court’s speculated decision date marking the end of June or 60 days after June 30.
Jason Lowe, a senior at Albany State, expresses his anxiety about the ongoing issue.
“I go in to sign the terms and conditions at the beginning of every semester, look at the number and it just keeps going. I’m like, it’s already past what I can afford,” Lowe said.
]]>There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s. However, there is still available medicine to help reduce symptoms, such as Lecanemab, which the U.S Food and Drug Administration accelerated approval for on Jan. 6. It is the second of the new category for Alzheimer’s which slows cognitive and functional decline in the early stages of the disease.
Christopher van Dyck, MD, director of Yale University’s Alzheimer’s disease research unit, discussed the effect Lecanemab had on medical history.
“It’s very exciting because this is the first treatment in our history that shows an unequivocal slowing of decline in Alzheimer’s disease,” says Dr. van Dyck.
Lecanemab removes a sticky protein built up in the brain which is believed to cause the advancement of Alzheimer’s. The treatment itself contains antibodies that bind to the protein, Amyloid. The specific antibodies used to fight the protein are created in a lab that replaces the ones our body naturally creates.
In a trial consisting of 1,795 participants with early-stage, symptomatic Alzheimers, Lecanemab had slowed clinical decline by 27 percent after 18 months of treatment compared to those who received a placebo. Participants of the Lecanemab treatment showed a 26 percent slowing of decline in use of cognitive functions and a 37 percent decline in daily living. Lecanemab is still a testing treatment that includes side effects. For example, the most common side effects of this treatment were flushing, chills, fever, rash, and body aches. Roughly 75 percent of the reactions happened after the first dose. Another potential side effect is fluid formation on the brain which occurred in 12.6 percent of trial participants compared to 1.7 percent in the placebo group. Studies show that Lecanemab proves lower rates of the side effect than other published trials of similar drugs. The progression can be seen on MRI scans and dosing is often continuous unless symptoms are detected. If symptoms are noticed, the dosing of the drug is stopped.
The price tag for Lecanemab treatment is set at $26,500 a year, making it unaffordable for many people.
“I don’t know if we could afford it, but we’re going to cross that bridge when we come to it,” says Ann Domeck, who’s husband is enrolled in a phase 3 clinical trial of testing Lecanemab.
Medicare will not cover the cost because it has grouped Lecanemab into a class of drugs requiring additional evidence of progress to qualify for coverage.
Lecanemab displays promises for the future of Alzheimer’s research and for people with mild Alzheimers.
“I’m extremely hopeful that the FDA will approve Lecanemab,” says Micheal Zuendel, 68, who has been taking medications ever since he was diagnosed with an early stage of Alzheimer’s. This treatment may be on track to be available to patients aged 65 years and older in the U.S as soon as this year.
]]>At William Fremd High School, such an opportunity has emerged. Beginning in mid-February, students will be able to learn about AI and ML every Wednesday morning.
According to junior Aditya Gupta, one of the project’s leaders, the club provides first hand experiences in this ever expanding branch of technology.
“Machine learning and artificial intelligence represent the future. By creating a Machine Learning Club at Fremd, we not only hope to provide kids a look into the technology that awaits them not just in the future but also now,” Gupta said.
Participants of this club not only learn about what artificial intelligence and machine learning is, but also have the chance to experiment with it. From the basics to the nitty-gritty details, the club provides all the necessary tools for students to use AI and ML independently.
While the club only supplies the fundamentals, it provides a gateway into future creations and inspires innovation. The club leaders encourage students to utilize these tools outside the classroom for their own creative purposes.
“In this club, we are trying our best to provide students with a complete framework for building, testing, analyzing, and interpreting their own machine learning models. We start our lessons from barebone essentials and build up from there, hopefully providing students with a deep understanding of the tech and programs they are building,” Gupta said.
The club meets every Wednesday from 7 am to 7:25 am, in room 221. To join the club, students must sign up on Infinite Campus under “Girl Who Code,” while the Schoology group code can be found on the Fremd Events Schoology page.
For more information, students can contact the teacher sponsor, Shannon Denna, or one of the three student leaders, who can be found on the club’s Schoology group.
]]>While what we have doesn’t even come close to that level of grand power, the potential of the ever-growing technology is finally starting to make itself known. In particular, two such applications of AI have recently found themselves in the spotlight of this attention: AI art and ChatGPT.
AI art refers to any piece of digital artwork produced by a program. These programs work by converting words from the prompt into elements which are then formatted in the final image.
While this sounds simple, AI technology can only achieve this through a complex bottom-up system, which is a type of machine learning that involves giving an AI a huge amount of data to take in and learn from. It’s meant to emulate the human brain’s learning process — gradually making connections while increasing intelligence, efficiency, and performance.
Unfortunately, the large amount of data required in the case of AI art comes in the form of taking pre-existing art to give to the AI. This has angered countless online artists whose art has been used for this AI technology to grow.
The objection from these artists is understandable. Not only are copies of their art taken by an AI without their explicit consent, but this AI is also turning around and creating competition for their livelihoods. After all, getting a desired image by entering a prompt into a website for free basically eliminates the need to commission anything from digital artists.
In recent times, “artificial” art has become so detailed it’s often difficult to distinguish whether an AI truly makes any given piece.
For example, in 2022, Jason Allen of Colorado won a state art fair competition and brought home a blue ribbon with a $300 cash prize. However, other contestants, spectators, and online commentators raised a sizable outcry at the news of his victory.
The reason? The piece Allen submitted was neither hand drawn nor photoshopped. Instead, it was produced through a program he had personally designed.
As the program’s creator, does Allen deserve the award because what he made created an original piece? Or does he not deserve the award because he never physically sat and worked with a drawing tablet or canvas?
More and more situations like this one blur the lines between what we consider original and what we don’t.
The other leading cause of attention and controversy is ChatGPT. This AI can understand a prompt or question, then provide a fitting response. It includes writing song lyrics, code, and much, much more.
The issue that arrived along with ChatGPT’s popularity was many students’ misuse of its capabilities. These include rampant cheating on school assignments or writing essays in seconds. Furthermore, AI’s unique responses make it extremely difficult for teachers to pinpoint whether anything has been plagiarized from ChatGPT. Even text analyzers built by the same company that produced ChatGPT reported a low success rate in identifying whether given answers were from an AI.
As word of ChatGPT spread, troubles within schools only seemed to worsen. To counteract this, the entire New York School Board voted to ban ChatGPT from their schools completely. These measures, though, have yet to do anything to slow the popularity of AI.
Going forward, AI has infinite routes it could travel down. Even as countermeasures are invented, newer and more elusive innovations will inevitably become available alongside them. Though what we can do with AI now is primarily manageable in and of itself, it may only foreshadow more complex and increasingly dangerous uses in the future. Without limitations or proper regulation, similar breaches of people’s online rights might become more and more commonplace. Thus, we must tread cautiously and take preemptive action before any such misuse gets out of hand.
]]>
Unlike solar calendars, however, lunar calendars are based on moon cycles, so their dates can shift from Jan. 21 to Feb. 20, according to the Gregorian Calendar.
This year, Lunar New Year began on Sunday, Jan. 22, and ended on Sunday, Feb. 5, marking a new year of the Chinese Zodiac, the year of the Water Rabbit. According to ancient Chinese folklore, twelve zodiac signs are associated with the new year, consisting of animals like the rabbit, dragon, pig, dog, and others.
Furthermore, each zodiac is given a specific element from the main five: wood, water, metal, earth, and fire. They combine the element and zodiac cycle to form a sixty-year cycle, with the next year of the Water Rabbit beginning in 2083. While the Chinese zodiac may be the most well known, other Asian countries tend to have slight differences, swapping out animals and elements.
When it comes to celebrating Lunar New Year, cultures and traditions differ starkly. In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Jenny Leung, executive director of the San Francisco Chinese Culture Center, shared some important cultural differences.
“Many cultures hold ancestor worship ceremonies, with different rituals such as visiting and sweeping ancestors’ graves and preparing food for them,” Leung said. “Folk arts and performances like dragon and lion dances, Chinese opera, and martial arts are commonly seen during Lunar New Year.”
However, one similarity is that many Asian cultures celebrate with monetary gifts handed out in red envelopes, as red symbolizes a lucky color and good fortune during the New Year.
While Lunar New Year is a staple in several Asian cultures, it has also become widely celebrated in Asian-American culture. It is recognized by many as a time for reunions and family gatherings. Because of this, millions of relatives and families are moving in and out of Asia and America, either visiting friends or loved ones in different parts of the world.
CNN Beijing reports upwards of thirty million tourist trips in and out of China since the beginning of the celebrations, in what is known as the “Lunar New Year Rush” or 春运 (spring movement), and the numbers only increase when incorporating other countries as well. With several COVID restrictions lifted, numbers have surged in transit; however, not as much as before the pandemic, as the total trips are only around fifty percent of pre-pandemic travel numbers.
As the celebrations and festivities draw to a close, it is important to look back to how the celebration brought people together.
We “welcome the New Year and invite visitors from all over the world to participate with the Chinese New Year Parade, Flower Fair, public art, exhibitions, tours, and various activities,” Leung said.
This is due to many Asian Americans intermingling with other cultures and putting their own spin on the tradition while spreading the joy and wonder their ancestors once felt. Ultimately, Lunar New Year may seem startlingly different from the Gregorian New Year. Still, they both bring people together and celebrate a new beginning, ending an old year, and starting anew.
]]>Although the two Nordic countries have fully-fledged policies of formal military non-alignment, the invasion of Ukraine prompted both to join the military alliance to ensure their security against Russia. Many countries have supported the ratification of Sweden and Finland to join NATO, as geographically, it will help secure another frontline in Europe against Russia due to Finland’s 1,300 km border with the nation.
However, Sweden and Finland are currently facing obstacles concerning their ratification, as Turkey continues to oppose both applications, especially Sweden’s, due to accusations of providing refuge and harboring militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which is deemed as a terrorist organization in Sweden, Turkey, and the European Union.
Sweden is also known for taking in many Kurdish refugees, which Turkey continues to disapprove of due to the numerous conflicts against the Kurdistan region.
For a country to join NATO, all countries currently in the military alliance must approve of its application. So far, only 28 of the 30 countries have approved Sweden and Finland’s application, leaving only Hungary and Turkey abstaining.
Hungary’s response remains rather stagnant as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán believes that he has to “take Turkey’s sensitivities into account,” according to an article by Atlantic Council. However, Turkey’s approval seems rather unlikely due to further tensions in a recent protest in Stockholm.
Earlier this year, on January 21, protests about Turkey’s opposition to Sweden’s application near the Turkish embassy escalated and led to the burning of the Qur’an, the central religious text of Islam. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan quickly responded to the incident.
“Those who allow such blasphemy in front of our embassy can no longer expect our support for their NATO membership,” Erdoğan said. “If you love members of terrorist organizations and enemies of Islam so much and protect them, then we advise you to seek their support for your countries’ security.”
Sweden denies giving any prior notice to burning the Qur’an; however, the protests in front of the Turkish embassy were approved by Swedish officials.
Far-right politician Ramsus Paludan, a Danish-Swedish national, was the one that burned the Qur’an in the protests, yet he did not face any repercussions from the Swedish government. Sweden’s foreign minister Tobias Billström responded to the controversy by addressing Sweden’s freedom of speech and expression laws.
“Sweden has a far-reaching freedom of expression,” Billström said. “But it does not imply that the Swedish government, or myself, support the opinions expressed.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed similar views. He mentioned that although it is legal within Sweden’s laws concerning freedom of expression, the burning of the Qur’an was not appropriate and disrespectful to those it may offend.
As Sweden’s relations with Turkey continue to sour, their hopes of joining NATO and Finland remain unclear. For now, the ratification process is expected to continue to show little progress as elections in Turkey happen in May of this year.
]]>This year, three players were the biggest snubs for this All-Star Game when considering a player’s overall impact on the game throughout the first half of the season.
The biggest snub from the All Star game this year was Jimmy Butler. Over the past eight years, Butler has made six All Star teams, and 4 All NBA teams, and despite his failing to make it this year, he is arguably having the best year of his career. He is averaging 22 points and 5 assists this year on a career high 62% true shooting. True shooting is a statistic where a player’s efficiency is adjusted to a two-point shot. Essentially it combines two pointers, 3 pointers, and free throws to find a player’s efficiency relative to a two point shot. These strong averages, along with his superb leadership and intangibles, make him one of the better offensive players in basketball.
However, Butler separates himself from other all star candidates with his defense. He has always been a strong defender, having made five All Defensive teams. He uses his strength, quickness, and anticipation to guard players well in isolation and create havoc in passing lanes. Butler is currently leading the league with 2.1 steals a game this year.
Jimmy’s combination of offense and defense makes him a clear top 20 player in the NBA and a no-brainer as an All Star. The stat EPM or estimated plus-minus can be used to examine these players objectively. EPM looks at how much a team is better or worse when a specific player is on and off the court and then adjusts that data to make it more accurate and filter out possible confounding variables, such as your teammates or opponents. Jimmy Butler ranks 11th in this stat, making it abundantly clear that he should have been an All Star.
Anthony Davis is the second player who was a serious snub for the all-star game. When he’s played this year, he’s been a legit candidate for the MVP. He uses his athleticism, size, quickness, skill, and footwork to score at the rim at will. This year he’s averaging 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on an impressive 62% true shooting percentage.
Davis combines his elite offense with top tier defense on the other end of the floor. He has elite length and timing to protect the rim exceptionally well, averaging 2 blocks per game this year. Although Davis protects the rim at a great rate, he isn’t a player that lacks the mobility to play on the outside like some slower centers in the league like Rudy Gobert. He can cover ground well and can switch onto perimeter players effectively. In addition, he is good at getting his hands in passing lanes and forcing steals, averaging 1.2 per game. These factors make him one of the best defenders in the NBA.
Impact metrics agree with the fact that Anthony Davis is a clear all star. EPM ranks him 12th in the NBA, even though he has played much of the season while injured. The only major criticism of Davis this year is his availability, as Davis has only played in 35 games this season. However, that is still well over half of the available games so far, and if someone is a true top 10 or 15 player in the league, missing a few games should not impact his all star case.
The final all star snub for me is James Harden. Throughout his career, Harden has been historically one of the best players in basketball. In the last 10 years before this season, he made 10 All-Star Games, 7 All-NBA teams, and won 1 MVP. Although Harden is getting older, he is still a deadly isolation scorer. Harden uses stepback threes, and foul drawing tricks to maintain his scoring level into his 30s. He is averaging 21.5 points this year on 62% shooting, a very strong mark. In addition, Harden is one of the best playmakers in the world. He primarily operates out of pick and roll, throwing skip passes or pocket passes to create shots for his teammates. This year, he is averaging a league leading 11 assists per game on under 3.5 turnovers, a testament to his playmaking prominence.
Even though he isn’t a great defender, his still great offense makes him an obvious addition to the all star team. And although EPM isn’t as high as Butler or Davis, ranking him 19th, it still makes him look like a clear All Star. If we factor in his track record and current production, leaving him out of this game seems almost disrespectful.
This year, the All-Star Game had a record low TV Rating, and it is becoming evident changes need to be made. One obvious solution is that the NBA should prioritize that the best players actually play in the game. Having Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, and James Harden in the All-Star game this year due to their performance could have been one way to make the game more interesting for fans and give them the recognition they deserve.
]]>The use of the found family trope helped a strong dimension to the book. Lina feels alone in Italy and at the beginning longs to go back to live with her friend in the US because it’s familiar. Towards the end of the book, she realizes that shared blood doesn’t necessarily make a family, but rather the people you love and care about.
Another way that Welch differs from other popular authors is she does a fairly good job of making sure that the readers don’t have white room syndrome as they travel around the country. Specific sites and areas are described and connected to the plot, giving you a sense that it’s taking place in Italy for a reason – not just to sell books. For example, when they visited Piazza del Mercato Nuovo in Florence, I didn’t need to look it up to understand the area it was in. This familiarity connected fiction to reality.
For all the good things that this book brings to the table, a shortcoming is Lina’s character arc which was mediocre at best. There was a disconnect between the plot and the character, as things changed about her to advance the plot rather than the plot spurring Lina to experience character development. She didn’t want to originally read her mom’s journal, but once she did, the adventures that were connected to it all happened because she changed her mind, not the adversity she faced.
Love and Gelato is simple and cute, and kept me engaged throughout the whole time I read it. The plot was very predictable with the typical tropes, but it surprisingly didn’t feel repetitive or super basic either. I was able to connect to the characters and find myself in their shoes too which was great. If you’re looking for a book that will make you want gelato and keep you smiling, pick this one up!
]]>Junior and Student Council Vice President Trisha Krishnan believes that the Winter Gala can boost school spirit among the Fremd community.
“Stuco wants to create a fun Disney-themed environment and boost school spirit by getting as many students to attend as possible,” Krishnan said.
Student Council sponsor Mr. Hopkins explains that Student Council hopes that increasing student involvement at the Winter Gala will also improve overall student motivation during the winter months of the school year.
“Stuco’s goal is to basically increase student engagement and spirit by creating an uplifting environment. We also want to get it on the level of energy as homecoming, especially as a way to energize students during the winter,” Hopkins added.
The Student Council has been encouraging students to participate in the upcoming spirit days through their Instagram page. To reach out to more students, Student Council has created a TikTok account to advertise details for the dance.
A new DJ has also been brought in for the event, Chris Siegal. Unlike past dances, the Winter Gala will not have an mc host at the dance. However, Siegal will be taking song requests at the dance. A form was also sent out earlier for students to request songs to be played at the dance. In addition, there will be themed backdrops and props for students to take photos.
During the week leading up to the dance, Student Council has arranged spirit days associated with the Disney theme. The Spirit days include Sleeping Beauty Day, Monsters University Day, Tweedledee and Tweedledum Day, and Lilo & Stitch Day. For Sleeping Beauty Day, students can dress in their favorite PJs. For Monsters University, students can wear college apparel. For Tweedledee and Tweedledum Day, students can match with their friends. And for Lilo & Stitch Day, they can wear Hawaiian shirts. Both students and staff are being encouraged to participate in spirit days to boost school spirit.
Pre-sale tickets are being sold via MySchoolBucks and the cashier’s office thru Thursday, Feb 23. The cashier’s office sale ends at noon, while the MySchoolBucks sale concludes at 11:59 pm. Tickets will also be sold at the door the night of the dance for $20 but only to Fremd students. All guests must be approved beforehand, and a signed waiver is needed to roller skate.
]]>Brandon Cronenberg’s newest film tackles similar themes — with expected elements of intense, grim horror. Unfortunately, Cronenberg brings nothing new to the subgenre targeting the wealthy, as he prematurely halts the plot before one can decipher any real meaning behind the madness.
The film follows James Foster (Alexander Skarsgård), a failing writer who crosses paths with an enigmatic woman named Gabi (Mia Goth) while on vacation. The island they’re staying on has a corrupt judicial system, which allows an alternative to the death penalty for anyone rich enough to afford it. The easy way out involves cloning, an execution, and no other repercussions once the clone dies.
Skarsgård’s performance demands a sense of mutability for Goth’s more domineering personality to have its full impact, which is why he never gets the chance to get past mediocrity. Although Goth recently gained popularity for her vibrant character acting in Pearl and X, her repeating quirks feel more annoying than anything in Infinity Pool.
Combining physical torture with mental torment is an appealing concept that Brandon Cronenberg’s father, David Cronenberg, is well-known for exploring across his filmography. Factors like body mutilation and grotesque horror add an unpredictable twist to an otherwise imitative premise but are almost expected when watching a film created by a Cronenberg.
Uneasy segments in the film (most notable ones being the cloning scenes) stay in the back of one’s mind even weeks after viewing — and are often the most successful parts of it. Ranging from distressing, captivating montages of depravity to a constant feeling of impending doom, the film knows how to set up just the right atmosphere.
However, after pulling off a good introduction to an intriguing narrative, Infinity Pool ends up going nowhere with it. Once the excitement of the initial exposure to this world wears off, the increasingly repetitive nature of the previously mentioned strengths is not enough to maintain any interest in the film. It felt like the movie couldn’t keep up with its own audacious premise. After countless tedious clone deaths, the film’s purpose started to die out too.
An unexciting cast combined with a half-baked concept ultimately makes for a forgettable watch, despite all of its wild depravity. Infinity Pool sets the stage for something great, but being able to introduce a concept is not the same as being able to make a point with it, which is why Cronenberg’s social commentary comes up shallow.
]]>What many people did not know about The Last of Us is that it is based on a video game of the same name, originally released on June 14, 2013. Almost ten years ago, also to financial and critical acclaim, as it has been ported and remade to modern video game consoles. It is recognized almost universally as one of the best video games of all time, and I couldn’t agree more.
The show differs from the video game quite a bit. Most of the small differences revolve around the characters we see. Whether it be deaths of certain characters, more backstory added to characters overlooked within the game, or the origins of the virus, they are welcomed additions.
One major change is the addition of the character “Kathleen” in episode four and five, who is the main villain of these episodes. She is the leader of a resistance in Kansas City, who revolted against the government that were treating them horribly. She has her own reasons for hunting down our main duo, and is a very real human threat – a good break from the threat of the zombies.
With the most notable change being in episode three of the show. In the show we are introduced to Bill and Frank, a survivalist and a wandering artist who fall in love in the apocalypse. They live in a fortified secluded town, and have been on their own for about 20 years. The entire 75 minute episode is dedicated to learning about these characters, and their journey together. In the game, there is only Bill, no Frank. Bill still lives in a town that he has fortified, living by himself, content with his life. He helps you, the player, fight through the streets to find a car battery so your journey can continue. This portion of the game is much more action-oriented when compared to how the show portrays it. Does this inherently make the game adaptation worse than the shows? No, I don’t think so. I believe this is better for it being a game, and I believe how the series did it is better for it being a show. In the game, character development and touching stories are always welcome, but first and foremost it is a game, and players expect to play the game and not just watch cutscenes.
Overall, after experiencing the show up until episode six of the show, (which is all that is currently out) and playing through the game I can confidently say that the parts the show has changed are welcome additions to the world of The Last of Us. Though it is not completely faithful to the game, that is not inherently a bad thing. Like I said before, the parts they changed make the show more enjoyable and I believe the show creators should not be ostracized for making these changes. Overall if I had to choose one, and this is partly biased because of how much it influenced me, I would have to choose the game over the show. But the show has yet to finish, and very well may take that top spot.
]]>The Quantum Realm is a rather hard place to grasp on paper (and visually too, apparently). It’s a vast, endless, “subatomic” universe in which Ant-Man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and his family have found themselves stranded after his daughter’s experiment goes awry. If this concept seems vague and undeveloped, that’s because it absolutely is. The entire script and its many issues revolve around the heavy usage of purposefully incomprehensible sci-fi nonsense.
A lot of the concepts needed to understand what exactly is going on are either really weak and unexplained, or just ripped straight from some other science fiction property. The constant appearance of Star Wars adjacent references – like Kang the Conqueror being comparable to the Emperor and the Stormtrooper-eque faceless foot soldiers go beyond homages and into rip-off territory.
Quantumania carries a sense of filmmakers phoning it in, and nowhere can that be seen more than in the visuals. The film relies heavily on CGI to create the quantum realm, to absolutely horrid results. It seems as though any scene that takes place there was filmed with nearly zero practical effects, just actors traipsing around in front of green screens. The world is sludgy and never quite in focus, and the characters never interact with their environment because, well, it simply isn’t there. As a result, the quantum realm doesn’t feel tangible in the slightest – it’s just a background slapped into each shot haphazardly, and therefore doesn’t evoke any sort of emotion in the slightest. It’s just there, being an eyesore at every moment.
Ant-Man is a character who has largely shown up in the Marvel franchise as a source of comic relief, and his personality is what frequently gets in the way of this movie. It feels like every other line is some cheap one-liner, and the tone shifts from scene to scene are frequently jarring and feel inappropriate. Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror is just about the only bright spot in this movie, and even then he struggles around his character’s constant sinister cookie-cutter dialogue. The audience barely takes away any information about Kang by the end of it, because most of the time he’s on screen is spent trying to convince them that he’s really bad, but the movie doesn’t seem to know why.
It seems like Marvel thinks that by using recognizable characters or making constant references and pulls from other sci-fi material, they can evoke some sort of emotion from their audience, but by doing so they ignore the places where it really counts. By keeping the tone appropriately serious, making the stakes feel real, giving us a movie we want to look AT instead of away from, Marvel could succeed in getting people to care. Instead, every movie seems like just another set up for the next one. At this pace, just using their characters to fill theaters isn’t going to keep working for much longer.
]]>Fremd’s Wind Symphony has been selected as one of the five high school bands to perform at the Illinois Music Education Conference (IMEC), an annual event held by the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA), the largest Fine Arts education organization in Illinois. At three days long, IMEC features more than 150 different clinics and concerts.
Wind Symphony director Matthew Moore explains how the band was invited to play at the conference.
“The application process first consisted of a February recording session of some very challenging band music,” Moore said. “That recording, along with letters of recommendation from a couple of band director colleagues, as well as concert programs from last year, were all included in the application.”
Wind Symphony’s performance marks the first time Fremd has attended the prestigious conference since the Jazz Ensemble in 2017 and the Wind Symphony in 2009.
On Jan. 23, Wind Symphony held a preview concert at Fremd to showcase their IMEC performance. Moore wanted to show this concert with a variation of music to the Fremd Band program and families of Wind Symphony that were unable to attend the conference. Additionally, the concert allowed Wind Symphony to run through the music before their performance in Peoria.
The repertoire consisted of five distinct pieces. The show began with Moore conducting “Firefly” by Ryan George, a piece that Moore calls “magical.”
“Firefly” was followed by “The Gallant Seventh,” a march composed by John Philip Sousa and conducted by music department chair John Teichert. The next two pieces, conducted by Moore, were more lyrical. “The Grace in Being” by Julie Giroux and “Spangled Heavens, Mvt. III Sweet Canaan” by Donald Grantham blended different instruments into expressive compositions, with the finale being Kevin Day’s “Dancing Fire.”
“The pieces were selected based on the instrument section strengths, student appeal, difficulty level, length, and appropriateness in relation to the other planned pieces,” Moore said.
In total, about 25 different pieces were considered for the conference. Out of those, five were selected to perform. The program was then ordered based on the styles of music while also considering the ensemble’s endurance.
The following Friday, Wind Symphony traveled to the Peoria Civic Center for the 2023 IMEC concert. Apart from their performance, the band participated in various activities together during their two-day trip.
Senior bassoon player Sreya Chamakura found seeing other performances to be an added benefit.
“I enjoyed being able to see another band perform at IMEC and the exhibition hall we went to,” Chamakura said. “The concert hall was amazing to see.”
Wind Symphony members describe how the whole experience at IMEC was rewarding.
Junior flutist Tabitha Mo found a sense of unity.
“I felt like the band was able to bond and get a lot closer since we were able to perform something that we’ve worked really hard on. We felt super accomplished in the end,” Mo said.
Senior flutist Sophia Katsma recounts how she felt as the band finished their performance.
“Our last note of ‘Dancing Fire’ resonating through the hall invoked roaring applause from the audience. Getting to stand there under the lights with my friends was my favorite part,” Katsma said.
]]>Each show was around 90 minutes long and consisted of about twenty different dances. Each dance had its own theme, song, set of dancers, and costumes. Popular songs by Billie Eillish, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, and Ava Max were performed. However, there was a range of music, with lesser known songs that were slower and more emotional, along with fast-paced dance music. This range of music also impacted the range of dance styles. There was a fast-paced, hip-hop dance to the song “Edamame” by bbno$ and Rich Brian and a slower, contemporary dance to the song “Control” by Zoe Wees. Other featured styles included tap, jazz, and lyrical.
Something that made each dance unique and new was the range of costumes. There was quite the arrangement of outfits, from sparkly gold dresses to business attires. There were also various dresses, streetwear, dance clothes, and the team’s signature outfit with a black jacket and shiny gold shorts. The costumes fit into the themes of the songs they were worn with, making the dances much more lively and entertaining.
A special feature of Fremd’s Orchesis team is that the dancers themselves get to choreograph their own dances. The girls would choreograph each routine and pick their costumes and music. This allowed the dancers to design and make their shows how they wanted to while showing off their creativity and talent.
This performance also left meaningful impressions on the members of the team. Freshman Gabi Zaremba, who joined the orchesis team this year, remarked on the performances and team.
“We got to choose what we wanted to express on that stage in front of the whole crowd; I’ll forever be grateful to be able to perform that,” Zaremba said.
For most of the show, only a few girls would perform at a time. However, there were a few songs where the whole team danced together. The entire team performed both the opener and closer, as well as a dance to a mash-up of a few different songs near the show’s beginning. The smaller groups of dancers did a great job of showcasing the individual talent of the dancers. For example, when a contemporary dance by Hannah O’Keefe and Daphne Lathrop was performed, the audience got to see the skill of the two performers. However, the three songs with the whole team performing were also excellent, as the team showed off their synchronization and dancing with a large group of people.
For seniors Ashley Corey, Mila Brandson, Mariah Goluch, and Katie Koufis, this was their last show with the Fremd Orchesis team. The group of seniors had their own special senior dance to the song “Ribs” by Lorde, in which they performed. The senior dance was right before the closing of the show. In addition, Bonnie Lindholm School of the Dance, Dance For Me Performing Arts Center Dance Company, and Fremd’s Dance Cub also performed throughout the two shows to a few songs.
]]>
Denise Arenz, the program director for Young Hearts 4 Life, explains the organization’s hope for the impact they want on the Fremd community.
“The impact YH4L wants to have on Fremd is to screen as many students as possible so that the maximum number of students can benefit from this free screening that can potentially save lives,” she said.
Since 2006, they have provided over 285,000 free EKGs and helped diagnose over 3,100 young adults with unknown heart conditions with their resources. The program also helps educate community members and has trained over 19,000 volunteers to help with screenings.
Jodi Roos, a former Fremd parent sponsor of the program, explains how frequently these schools offer the EKGs through this program. Fremd has partnered with Young Hearts 4 Life in both 2016 and 2019.
“I know from my previous screening that YH4L representatives and Mr. Dick (former Fremd Activities Director) shared that District 211 has partnered with them so that all of the district high schools get this screening, and the district rotates it so that each high school can offer the screening every 2-3 years,” Roos said.
The free EKGs, also known as electrocardiograms, effectively help determine many different types of cardiac disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, an electrocardiogram is a painless way to diagnose heart problems.
The simple tool can determine 70 percent of the cardiac conditions associated with Sudden Cardiac Death and is more effective than a prior physical.
Young Hearts 4 Life has partnered with many memorial funds that have been established by families who have lost loved ones to Sudden Cardiac Death. These funds go directly towards the organization and are used for funding their important mission.
A participant of the process in the Young Hearts 4 Life information video recounted his experience after the screening.
“It’s a very simple, very easy process to get done. It took me ten minutes,” he said.
The procedure is quick, as electrodes are attached to the student, and then a machine prints out information about the heart’s rate and rhythm based on the heart’s electrical activity. Afterward, the information is presented to trained cardiac professionals who interpret the results.
Over 60 young adults can die from Sudden Cardiac Death in the United States in just one week. Sudden Cardiac Death happens even when one is perceived to be healthy, and there are almost no warning signs. By catching undiagnosed heart conditions early, many young adults will have the chance to take preventative measures.
The organization has also hosted events in nearby high schools, such as at Hinsdale Central, as they were able to identify 10 students who had heart conditions. This information allowed the students the opportunity to take precautions after their screening.
For more information about Young Hearts 4 Life, you can visit this link:
]]>Eastern Powerhouses
Through 52 games, the Boston Celtics are again on top of the East, with early MVP candidate Jayson Tatum and two-way guard Jaylen Brown remaining one of the league’s best duos.The attention they require on the offensive end has opened up space for players like Malcolm Brogdon, whose efficiency is the highest it’s been in years.
The return of defensive anchor Robert Williams III will bolster an already elite defense ranking 7th in points allowed per game. As one of the most well rounded teams in the league, the Celtics are likely in for another title push.
However, star studded rosters throughout the top 5 seeds have been making pushes to keep the east from bleeding green.
Philadelphia is home to the most unstoppable pick-and-roll duo in the league, with James Harden’s new playmaking centric role making MVP candidate (but non-all-star starter?) Joel Embiid looks even better than he already is.
The Bucks continue to be a top contender, with Brook Lopez’s resurgence as a top big-man defender pairing with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo as a frontcourt duo that shuts down the paint like no other.
The Cavaliers are a dark horse to come out of the East, as they have the most dangerous offensive backcourt in the league in Donovan Mitchell (27 ppg and 5 apg) and Darius Garland (18 ppg and 7 apg). Questions arose in the off-season regarding whether or not the Cavs’ perimeter defense was good enough to contend, but their would-be struggles have been hidden by the elite defensive trio of Isaac Okoro and seven-footers Jarret Allen and Evan Mobley, who is drawing comparisons to Kevin Garnett.
Western Competitors
In the West, however, one clear front runner has left the rest of the seeds unclear, as the difference in wins between the 3rd and the 13th seed is only one and a half games larger than the difference in wins between the 1st and 2nd seeds.
The Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets sit at the top, with the Joker averaging a triple double and continuing his dominance as the best playmaking big we’ve ever seen. He’s also putting up 25 a game, so teams are often forced to double him when he gets in the paint.
Jokic being double-teamed has been a problem for the Nuggets in the past, but their pickup of Kentavious Caldwell Pope (shooting 46% from 3) has punished opposing defenses this season for putting too much attention on the Serbian superstar.
If it’s not them, the Grizzlies, Clippers, and Mavericks have a strong case for defeating a Nuggets team that has struggled with injuries and closing playoff games in past seasons.
The Kyrie Trade
Despite being one of the top contenders in the Eastern conference, the Brooklyn Nets became the newest victim of Kyrie Irving’s unloyalty. After abruptly requesting a trade last Friday and threatening to sit out if a deal wasn’t made, Irving was shipped to the Dallas Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and a haul of draft picks.
The Dallas backcourt will likely become the most dangerous one in the league, with Irving already experienced in playing off all next to a ball-dominant superstar during his stint with the Cavs. Although Luka Doncic is 2nd in usage rate and has been in desperate need of help, the acquisition of Irving also leaves many unanswered questions.
Without Finney-Smith, the Mavs don’t have a defensive identity on the perimeter. The trade proves that they are all in on contending this year, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they are not done making a deal for more defensive help before the deadline hits.
For the Nets, Irving’s low trade value gave them no other option than to make a deal centered on depth and picks. Now having one of the deepest rosters in the East, Brooklyn will still be looking to uphold their spot as a top 5 team in the conference.
However, It’s possible that Kevin Durant is shipped away as well before the trade deadline, with teams like the Celtics and Suns expressing interest in the Nets last remaining superstar. If a deal is not made, the season will lie in the hands of Durant, who will have to prove that he can be the frontman of a championship team.
Chasing Kareem
LeBron James has shown unmatched offensive longevity through his still-going 20-year career, being one of the best scorers in the league for almost two decades. Still, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38-year-long record for the most points of all time seemed out of reach for him until this year. On Tuesday night, the King was crowned as the highest scorer ever in Jabbar’s former home of LA, solidifying himself as one of the most illustrious scorers in NBA history.
One of the first obnoxious things about this book is that the pacing makes no sense. The book starts by introducing you to Wes (the neighbor) and Liz’s feud over a parking spot before shifting to her spreading rumors about herself to make her seem not like other girls. I picked this book up because I was told it was very well written, yet nothing interesting happens until several chapters in. It felt like Painter was writing the story from bullet points where the scenes were choppy or if there was a plot hole she just wrote some nonsense about a rom-com that is vaguely comparable.
The second is that a large part of this book was romance tied to self-discovery, yet I feel like the author glorified Liz’s flaws rather than showing actual consequences and growth. For example, she constantly lied to anyone and about anything to make herself seem cooler for the boy who just moved back into town. (This is the same boy she’s been entranced with since like fourth grade too…)
Towards the end, it was supposed to show her realizing that she’s wrong and extremely selfish, but the wrap up didn’t make it seem that way. It’s unrealistic for everyone who she’s affected by her actions to immediately forget what damage she’s done to their relationships. Going into the book it was clear that there was going to be a happy ending that mirrors so many awful chick flicks, but it would’ve been more interesting if there wasn’t.
When an author writes a book that is very clearly a romance book and it’s marketed to younger YA readers, it should show positive role models. It irked me that there were parts of the book that glorified miscommunication and that if a boy is being mean to you that means he likes you. There were also undertones that suggested an ideal relationship solely focuses on you, your feelings, and everything about you rather than a mutual sense of respect and care for the other person.
I’d give it a solid star and a half because it had potential and some good moments, but was overshadowed by the glaring issues above. I would rather read all five books of Twilight again and deal with Bella Swan than read 20 more pages with Liz Buxbaum.
]]>Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles finished the regular season atop the NFC with a 14-3 record and have carried their dominance into the postseason thus far. Following two blow-out playoff wins, 38-7 over the Giants in the divisional round and 31-7 over the 49ers in the NFC Championship, it’s safe to say that the Eagles aren’t messing around.
Throughout the season, Philadelphia has dominated teams all season with its multifaceted ground game. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is one of the best rushers at his position, if you combine that with a talented running back room headlined by Miles Sanders and put them all behind the best offensive line in football, good things will happen.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles’ pass rush is their biggest strength. Their defense overall has been great this season but when you’re the first team in NFL history to have four players record double digit sack counts in a season, that deserves to get mentioned off the bat.
Kansas City Chiefs
This may sound familiar, as the Chiefs finished the regular season atop the AFC with a 14-3 record. However, their postseason story has been a bit different from Philly’s. During their divisional match-up against the Jaguars, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain and had to exit the game momentarily. While the Chiefs were able to pick up the win and later beat the Bengals in the AFC Championship game, the QB’s injury status has been a concern.
The 2022-2023 Chiefs have excelled at doing the thing they’ve done best in years past, scoring points. Kansas City’s offense averaged the most points and yards per regular season game, with a lot of damage coming from star tight end Travis Kelce. At the helm of it all has been Mahomes, who just won the 2023 NFL MVP award and is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL.
Defensively, the Chiefs tend to get more hate than they deserve. While their defense isn’t amazing, they’re starting to turn it around at the right time with two strong performances this postseason. Veteran defensive tackle Chris Jones is a game-breaker amidst a group full of young talent.
Predictions
I’m expecting a very back-and-forth game, with a good amount of scoring. At least that’s what I hope to see as a fan.
It’ll be key for the Chiefs to get out to an early lead if they want to win this game because if they don’t, the Eagles’ run game will run down the clock.
In order for Philly to win, Hurts needs to be able to exploit a Chiefs secondary that runs a lot of man coverage. Look for the Eagles’ pass-catching duo Devonta Smith and AJ Brown to haul in deep passes downfield.
Ultimately while the Eagles have the more complete team, I think Patrick Mahomes will be a hero in this game (as long as he can stay healthy) and lead the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl victory in the past four years. I hope head coach Andy Reid enjoys his blue Gatorade shower.
Chiefs 27, Eagles 24.
]]>This year’s flu season started earlier than expected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there would be 9 million cases of influenza, but that number could quickly be surpassed. Since Oct. 1, there have already been 8.7 million cases. The number of flu deaths has already approached last year’s total of 5,000. As cases increase, hospital beds fill up quickly, and many hospitals reach their maximum capacity.
In a positive trend, RSV has reached its peak levels in the South, while in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and New England, they are plateauing. However, COVID-19 cases have sharply increased since Thanksgiving, while flu infections are also a decade high and will likely rise during the upcoming holiday season.
At the beginning of October, the Children’s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics asked the Biden administration to declare a public health emergency. However, this has not been addressed since public health emergencies are only called when a situation has the “potential to overwhelm routine community capabilities.” As of now, a precaution you could take is getting a vaccine, including flu shots and the COVID booster. Though no RSV vaccine is currently available, Pfizer has begun developing one for senior citizens, hoping it will gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2023.
Although influenza, COVID-19, and RSV are all highly contagious viruses with overlapping symptoms, there are still differences between the three. COVID-19 and the flu can cause fevers, chills, headaches, vomiting, or muscle soreness. On the other hand, RSV comes with symptoms associated with the common cold; this includes a runny nose, fever, congestion, headache, and muscle soreness. Another way to identify illnesses is by determining how quickly symptoms appear. For example, COVID-19 symptoms take longer to show, and the virus remains infectious for longer. The flu, meanwhile, only takes about a day. Regarding recovery, COVID and RSV take around a week or two, while the flu typically lasts four to seven days. Of course, the only way to accurately diagnose your illness is by visiting a doctor or taking an at-home test, which can test for all three of the viruses at the same time.
If you do catch RSV, consult with a doctor, but in the meantime, one method to recover faster is to create a moist atmosphere for breathing, such as turning on a humidifier or vaporizer nearby, which can help with a stuffy nose. Consuming many fluids while ill will also help wash out your system, progressing toward a speedy recovery. Another approach is using saline nasal drops and over-the-counter painkillers. The nasal drops can help clear congestion, while the painkillers can alleviate a sore throat. Also, avoid any smoke—direct or secondhand—as this can aggravate symptoms. And if you have severe symptoms, call 911 and get help immediately.
During the upcoming holiday season, numbers will likely surge again as we meet with relatives and friends. However, the CDC believes we can prevent them from rising by taking necessary precautions. They are once again recommending wearing masks indoors. Even simple acts like washing your hands frequently and getting vaccinated can reduce the chances of infection. And as always, stay safe!
]]>The tournament, considered as one of the most prestigious in the nation, is broken down into three stages: preliminaries, semi-finals, and finals.
Ten students on the debate team competed in the well-renowned tournament, where a total of six Fremd students qualified for the tournament’s semifinals, including sophomores Ashish Kashyap, Jason Li, and Kay Shidle, and juniors Adarsh Prathap, Ishaan Srivastava, and Prithika Devajaran. They broke the previous record of two and joined the top 60 debaters of the country to semifinals.
Devarajan was the first Fremd student to make it to finals at the national tournament, finishing tenth in the entire nation. Devarajan recounts the moment she realized what just occurred.
“I was in shock, and my coach, Ms. K [Rachael Kruelwich], was like, ‘Prithika, breaking news, you just made history’ and I was like so surprised and couldn’t believe it.”
Devarajan goes on to speak about her experience during the finals stage.
“It was really intense,” Devajaran said. “Like a week before, we were reviewing and listening to all of these top debaters, and I had the ability to debate with these debaters. They were all really cool and I learned so much.”
Krulewich, the head coach of Fremd Congressional Debate, started mentoring seven years ago. She recounts the previous difficult phase that now evolved to a recent steady stream of victories, owing much credit to the past head coaches, Martin Zacharia and Michael Bruce.
“We were much much smaller and almost never won sweepstakes trophies,” Krulewich mentions. “Now we are pretty much always in the mix and have come in either first or second place in the large school varsity division at every tournament over the past four years.”
Fremd’s Congressional Debate team is one of the three debate teams that exist in the school, along with the Lincoln-Douglas team (LD) and the Public Forum team (PF). While LD is one against one and PF is two against two, Congress is a mock legislative assembly where students debate against an entire room of others and discuss bills ranging from domestic to foreign policy.
The Congressional debate team typically participates in the monthly Illinois Congressional Debate Association tournaments (ICDA) throughout its competitive season. Later in March, the team competes in the Illinois Debate Community (IDC) Tournament and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Debate State Tournament.
Just this year alone, the Congressional debate team’s track record consists of two first place finishes and two second place finishes, due to their recent Second Place Large Team Sweepstakes Award win at last week’s ICDA 4. At ICDA 4, Fremd senior Pranaav Prasad was awarded with the title of Third Place Quality Speaker, placing among the top ranked debaters at the tournament.
The Lincoln-Douglas team as well as the Public Forum team has also made huge gains this year, including their two recent tournaments at Palatine High School and Belvidere North. At the Walk the Plank Debate Tournament at Palatine High School, Samarth Chitgopekar and Adithya Vaidyanathan won first place for the varsity PF team, as well as Kevin Zhou and Vibhav Prabhakar winning first and fourth place respectively for the varsity LD team.
At the Belvidere North Thunder Invitational Debate Tournament, Selina Jiang and Sophia Zhao secured a second place win, as well as Theofanis Yianas and Arushi Bhatia finishing fourth as representatives for the varsity PF team. Kevin Zhou placed first along with Sanjana Kashyap placing fourth for the varsity LD team.
The Congressional Debate team underwent several challenges this past month, due to the quick turnarounds. Two weeks after ICDA 2 was ICDA 3, and a week after came the Glenbrooks tournament. On top of that, the ICDA tournaments require every student to prepare for nine bills, while Glenbrooks provides over 15 bills to research for.
Krulewich goes on to reference the motto for all debate teams: “Growth and Honor.”
“For growth, it’s not all about winning at all costs. Yes, winning is great, but truthfully I care that as a team, we are making strides to grow and that individuals are growing. What I want to see is the students putting in the work and pushing themselves to take risks.” Krulewich said. “For honor, it’s about being respectful and being a good representative of Fremd, but it’s also about contributing to research. Not just used by you, but by the entire team.”
Krulewich ends off with a message for anyone interested in becoming a part of the Fremd debate community.
“Debate is a lot of fun. I think it’s one of those activities where the idea behind it is to help find your own voice, and learn how to advocate for yourself and to know what your beliefs are, but also to listen to other people’s beliefs with an open mind.”
]]>To many observers’ surprise, the massive changes that Musk promised included significant cuts to the workforce behind Twitter within the first week of his ownership.
The workforce cuts proved devastating to countless employees, who received short notice regarding their termination. Furthermore, entire teams of Twitter were dissolved, including the curation and human rights teams. Despite being smaller departments, the teams had critical roles within the organization. For example, the human rights team worked to protect activists, journalists, and victims of tragedies such as the war in Ukraine from harassment online.
Around the same time as these announcements, Musk also dissolved the board of directors, cementing himself as the company’s sole leader.
In response to online outcries of mismanagement, Musk later replied through a tweet of his own, stating, “Regarding Twitter’s reduction in force, unfortunately, there is no choice when the company is losing over $4M/day.”
He revealed that all the laid-off employees would receive three months’ severance pay, which is one and a half times the legal minimum. Still, a New York Times article this week stated Musk reportedly is looking at ways not to pay the severance packages to save money. However, Twitter’s former board of directors has already received an enormous payout, valued at tens of millions each.
Despite the promise of a generous severance package, this move raised legal concerns about how quickly these workers were cut off, especially in countries outside the US. The processes in other nations for how employers may fire employees, especially those backed by unions, are complicated and differ significantly from the US. Thus, Musk letting them all go so unexpectedly and without any indication beforehand has prompted outside legal bodies from the EU to begin investigating the matter. However, any definitive action has yet to take place.
As Musk kept attempting changes to try and increase Twitter’s profitability, another potentially colossal misstep occurred. Twitter Blue was going to be a new paid subscription that would allow members early access to certain features, additional services, and the bonus of a blue checkmark next to their username and profile.
The problem was that while blue checkmarks had previously been a privately-handled verification to identify well-known figures such as political leaders and celebrities, the only requirement barring users from the new Twitter Blue checkmark was an $8 monthly subscription.
This issue promptly grew into a trend of impersonation among online public figures by countless users willing to pay the cost for a quick prank. As long as they changed their username and profile picture while they had the blue checkmark, they were practically indistinguishable from whomever they chose. Such willing users, as it turned out, were countless. McDonald’s, Nintendo of America, and even Elon Musk himself were not spared from online impersonators posting explicit jokes under their names.
These pranks appeared harmless at first, but the severe implications of the security threat quickly became apparent. Another anonymous user following this trend soon took the internet by storm, proclaiming, “insulin is free now!” under the guise of international pharmaceutical company and insulin producer Eli Lilly. Between the tweet’s posting and the official statement calling out the impostor from the real Eli Lilly account, the company’s shares dropped an astonishing 6%, reportedly costing them billions within days.
Consequently, the Twitter Blue program was withdrawn just days after its implementation, exacerbating accusations of Twitter’s mismanagement and showing neglect in properly handling misinformation. The program has slowly been reintroduced over the last week.
These rapid reforms, including unlocking controversial accounts like former President Donald Trump and, most recently, suspending accounts of several critical reporters, have hurt Twitter in more ways than one, aside from the online controversy and outraged users or employees. According to a recent media survey cited by the AP, Twitter has lost half of its top 100 advertisers, while seven more companies have all but cut their ads from Twitter completely. Major players like Apple, Volkswagen, and General Mills were among the companies that ceased advertisements after Elon Musk’s takeover.
All this has put Twitter under fire repeatedly since the transfer, with any changes causing controversy in their community as well as uncertain advertisers leaving Twitter with a budget that may not be able to sustain its employees.
The fact that these issues were caused immediately following the transfer to Musk’s ownership, paired with quotes from Musk himself on the topic of potential bankruptcy, has caused some to wonder whether or not he is genuinely attempting to save the company. To that end, Musk does stand to gain some benefits in that situation. If Twitter were to declare bankruptcy, it might give him a chance to restructure some of his debts and have a chance at refinancing some parts of the company, effectively reducing his overall losses.
Regardless, Musk is sure to act soon. Whether he chooses to try to truly salvage the company or continue to make decision after decision that harms Twitter’s foundation and pushes it toward bankruptcy remains to be seen.
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The worldbuilding combined the idea of a standard divide between two courts – one mirrors light and good and the other dark, perceived as evil in the eyes of onlookers. Very little detail was added and leaving readers with a splash of white room syndrome – the general feeling of being unable to imagine the setting due to a lack of detail or only the use of vague descriptors. To be honest, for all I know this happened in Candyland with a couple of mountains and a magic portal to the underworld.
Anyway, back to the idea of it literally being the same work thing as ACOTAR minus names of characters and places. While writing, Ryan didn’t try to fix the nonexistent personality that SJM’s main character had in the original books. To explain Abriella or Brie’s personality throughout the storyline imagine someone stole Bella Swan’s moodiness during New Moon and Katniss’s drive to save Peeta before mashing it together to create something that even a dry cracker would be insulted to be compared to. Publishing houses really need to stop letting anyone who walks through the door with the same bland and basic female protagonist get published.
Another place where her writing mirrors Sarah J. Maas’s is through the use of the blond and dark-haired boy trope used almost identically. Brie thought she was in love with the charming goodie two shoes at first but finds out that he deceived her which leads to her falling in love with his brooding rival. In typical YA fashion, lies and betrayal drive the overused tropes to the point of no return.
The only light at the end of the tunnel was that the writing was a step above amateurish. This isn’t saying much overall because while reading I had a limited number of thoughts and it was a step above pure boredom.
While I read just about nine hundred pages of misery it really just made me question humanity, because the main plot points were separated by several chapters of stuff. Things happened, but did they really add anything? Save yourself time and skip over this one if you’re looking for originality since you won’t miss much.
]]>After being expelled from her high school, Wednesday begins attending Nevermore Academy, a school of outcasts. With a school filled with monsters such as werewolves, vampires, and gargoyles, Wednesday finally has a place to fit in. However, a series of violent murders caused Wednesday to become obsessed and enveloped in a dark mystery. With a unique set of characters, a suspenseful mystery, and several other positive and negative characteristics, this show is definitely worth the watch.
One of the best parts of Wednesday was, in fact, Wednesday. Jenna Ortega fit the role of Wednesday Addams perfectly while still adding her own twist. In this show, Wednesday has a dark, deadpan sense of humor that makes the episodes much more entertaining. At first, Wednesday came off as a bit annoying, and she was trying way too hard to be scary and unapproachable. However, she quickly became much more likable as she started to show more of her personality. Throughout the entire series, Wednesday grew as a character while still having the characteristics that make her Wednesday Addams, giving her much more depth.
As for the other characters, they were a mixture between good and simply ok. Enid, Wednesday’s roommate, was a good addition, as she was so sunny and cheerful in contrast to the dark and stormy cloud that’s Wednesday Addams. However, some of Enid’s comments were awkward and considered cringeworthy. The worst of these moments was when Enid would start talking about the number of followers someone had on Instagram or about some other social media like Snapchat. It just doesn’t fit the story’s vibe and feels out of place. Also, Tyler and Xavier (one a teen from the local town, the other one of Wednesday’s classmates) were bland at first but, over time, became more interesting.
The mystery itself was mainly unpredictable and suspenseful. The show’s writers set up certain scenes and bits of dialogue to get the viewer to suspect many characters of being the murderer. Every episode ended on a suspenseful note and kept me interested and wanting to watch more. Near the end, I began to suspect the murderer, but another plot twist I did not see coming made the show even more compelling.
The big scenes and moments in this show also were good. One of these moments was Wednesday’s internet-famous dance at the Rave’N Ball. The dance, created by Jenna Ortega herself, has gone viral on the internet for a good reason. It is very in-character but lets Jenna Ortega add her unique touch to the show. I also loved the episode where Uncle Fester visited Wednesday. It was the funniest episode, and the dynamic between Uncle Fester and Wednesday was unique and interesting. Also, the music helped give suspense and mood to the show. Elegant and dark at times, loud and action-packed at others – the music was another highlight.
Wednesday is well worth the watch. This show deserves a rating of eight out of ten stars for its suspenseful mystery, witty humor, and remarkable characters. The only downsides were the, at times, cringe dialogue and the occasional predictability of the show. However, the pros far outweigh the cons, and this eight-episode series is worth watching.
I look forward to season two as I cannot wait to see where the series goes, and I highly recommend watching it if you haven’t already.
]]>An exchange of rockets occurred over Ukrainian skies on Nov. 15 when Russia led 100 missile strikes toward military targets and civilian areas in Western Ukraine. In response, Ukraine used its air defense missiles, resulting in around 70 of the Russian missiles being shot down and one Ukrainian woman being killed due to a missile landing in a residential area.
One of those rockets left their sight and landed in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) territory. The missile crashed just inside the Poland border in a rural village called Przewodow, just a few miles from the western border of Ukraine and killed two Polish citizens.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainian news outlets that Ukraine would participate in this investigation.
“I want us to be fair, and if it was the use of our air defense, then I want that evidence,” Zelenskyy said.
After further investigations by NATO, many factors indicate that it was a missile used by Ukraine’s anti-missile defense. On the following day of the occurrence, both the United States and Polish leaders indicated that the missile was not likely to have been fired by Russia. President Biden joined in with the other Western leaders and said that it could instead have been the result of an attempted interception of a Russian attack. Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, agreed with the indication but that “Russia bears responsibility for what happened in Poland yesterday,” since it was a direct result of an attack on Ukraine.
Most southern Ukrainian cities are left without any electrical power due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure facilities. The biggest wave of missiles yet seen ever since Nov. 23 was on Dec. 5. Russia’s forces have been targeting Ukraine’s energy and its nation’s infrastructure, leaving nearly half of its energy grid in shambles. As a cold and long winter settles in, Russia casts Ukrainian cities into the dark. Ukrainian power engineers work for days in the freezing weather in an attempt to restore power.
The European Council had agreed on financial assistance designated to help Ukraine through 2023. This package was proposed on Dec. 10 and aims to enable the European Union to financially support Ukraine. This agreement provides a structural solution for Ukraine in 2023, consisting of 18 billion euros with a 10-year grace period. This targets short-term financial relief, financing Ukraine’s immediate needs, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and support for post-war reconstruction.
]]>Everyone puts things off sometimes, and many of us even deliberately look for distractions. An article published by Psychology Today in 2009 informs that for chronic procrastinators, who represent approximately 20 percent of the population, “I don’t feel like it” often takes precedence over their goals and can influence a downward spiral of continuing to put a responsibility off.
Those who procrastinate are generally aware of their actions and the consequences, but changing their habits requires more time and hard work than engaging in a more pleasurable activity. For myself, it’s much easier to watch an episode of Gilmore Girls than spend an hour studying for my math test the following day. Even though I know that studying is the best use of my time, it can take a lot of work to avoid procrastination.
“Procrastination is an emotion regulation problem, not a time management problem,” said Dr. Tim Pychyl, professor of psychology and member of the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University in Ottawa. Many procrastinate because they want to immediately manage that negative mood or stress they feel about completing that task. These negative feelings might involve something unpleasant about the task—cleaning your bedroom or writing a long research paper.But it might also affect deeper feelings related to the task, like self-doubt, low self-esteem, anxiety, or insecurity. In this case, it’s important to seek professional help, such as counseling to find the root of your mental health struggles and improve them before these emotions become more prevalent in your daily lifestyle.
Procrastinating doesn’t necessarily cause drastic changes to one’s life. If you put off completing a school project until the due date, the worst that will happen is that you will receive a poor grade. However, procrastination can also lead to long-term negative health effects. For example, suppose you put off exercise, doctor appointments and commit to healthy eating. In that case, these forms of procrastination can lead to a higher risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. It’s crucial to create healthy habits, such as setting aside time to exercise daily or creating a balanced food plan to avoid such risks.
Additionally, teens, more so than adults, tend to overestimate their ability to work under pressure, leading to procrastination. By continuing to avoid completing a task, it makes it easier to repeat the cycle. If the cycle continues, it becomes harder to avoid procrastination, especially in regards to strict deadlines and due dates. Procrastination affects students’ performance, grades, and even their overall health. Students who procrastinate experience higher levels of negative emotions such as frustration, guilt, stress, and anxiety. If these emotions are addressed, they could potentially lead to more serious issues like depression and other mental health disorders.
Identifying your emotion is the first step to managing these feelings that lead to procrastination. After doing so, plan how you can make your temptations more inconvenient. For example, if you notice that you use your phone for hours on end everyday after school, try keeping your phone in a different location for a certain time period, so you can stay focused on getting whatever you need done. If you are unmotivated, try to identify your short-term and long-term goals. You can motivate yourself to get homework done by breaking up tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, so you feel less overwhelmed. Rewarding yourself once in a while and taking short breaks when completing a task, like homework, can keep you focused.
Although dealing with procrastination can be challenging, it’s important to reflect on your behaviors and find your own solutions to avoid these temptations. Instead of spending your entire evening watching TV on your couch with a bowl of popcorn, you can now use that time to read a book. Create that passion project that you’ve been thinking about starting for months. Improve your health and well-being. Take advantage of creative opportunities. Maybe, you even set a world record. Now that procrastination isn’t holding you back, the limits to your productivity and newfound potential are endless.
]]>There are many benefits of getting a part-time job for students. Oftentimes, students may want to work a part-time job that will be connected or similar to your preferred career in the future. By doing this, you will be able to start networking with those that are in your targeted field. Furthermore, you can have some sort of work experience and help enhance your resume.
Fremd Career Advisor Services leader Emily Nelson reflects on the ways students can benefit from having a part-time job.
“Part-time jobs will look great on resumes and can be something you list as one of your activities on college applications,” Nelson said. “A part-time job can also help you build connections in the community that may become beneficial in the future when networking.”
Having a part-time job on your resume or college application can appear beneficial, but it shouldn’t be the only reason you wish to have one.
Having a part-time job can use up more of your free time while you have to make sure to keep up with possibly rigorous courses and heavy amounts of schoolwork. The time involved with working a part-time job can make it difficult to manage your time properly, especially if you work hours during school nights.
Juggling so many tasks with such little time can inevitably lead to improving your time management skills to make sure you are still doing everything to the best of your ability while still fitting everything into your schedule. It can also help you determine what your priorities are and allow you to learn how to focus on what is important.
Sophomore Samantha Ye agrees that she has enhanced her time management skills by working part-time at Kumon, a tutoring program.
“I have improved my work ethic because I learned how to deal with extra work outside of schoolwork,” Ye said.
If you are interested in looking into a part-time job, including their benefits, Nelson recommends her Schoology page.
“There is a job bank on my Schoology page that lists over 100 companies that hire high school aged students,” Nelson said. “If anyone ever needs help with their job search, that would be a great place to start.”
]]>Two teams in particular have caught my eye as premium championship contenders that might not be getting talked about as much as they should be. The San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals should be consensus top tier teams. At this point in the season, they’re my prediction for conference champions.
The San Francisco 49ers
The biggest story surrounding the 49ers right now is quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending injury, and it has a lot of people freaking out. With the Niners now being down to their third string option in a QB dominated league, it’s certainly cause for concern. People may believe that this totally eliminates them from being contenders, but I disagree.
Garoppolo’s replacement Brock Purdy, last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, came in midway through the game and to put it lightly, balled out. Purdy threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns while leading the Niners to a win over the Miami Dolphins, another very talented team. The following week, Purdy led his team to a blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This isn’t to say that Purdy is a great quarterback, but I do think he’s serviceable. His accuracy and pocket presence are both good, and more importantly he won’t lose games with costly mistakes. Having weapons like Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle also doesn’t hurt. If Deebo Samuel is able to recover from his injury in time for the playoffs, that would also be huge. While Purdy may not be able to scramble around and make dynamic plays to win his team games, these playmakers around him can.
What really sets this team apart is its defense. Arguably the best defensive unit in the league, the 49ers have been causing havoc on opposing offenses all season. Pro Bowl players like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are key reasons for that, and I think they’ll show up and shut other teams down come playoff time.
The Cincinnati Bengals
Coming in as the reigning AFC Champions, the Bengals have had an interesting season so far. As a team that many expected to pick up right where they left off, the Bengals started out flat with a record of 2-3. Flash forward to today, and they’re on an impressive five game win streak and sitting at 9-4.
What makes this Bengals team so dangerous is their high-powered offense full of elite weapons. When you combine Joe Burrow with the best wide receiver core in the league and a top tier running back, good things are sure to follow. Scoring tons of points by feeding guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon has been Cincy’s recipe for success (when they’re healthy that is) and not many defenses are capable of slowing them down.
While a lot of the focus tends to go to Bengal skill position players, Burrow himself has been having an MVP caliber season. The third year QB has thrown for 3,685 yards and 27 touchdowns on the season, both good for second best in the league, while maintaining an impressive 68.1% completion percentage. Not to mention, these numbers have come in a season that’s been impacted by injuries, as Chase and Mixon have missed a combined six games thus far. Burrow has also had a bottom tier offensive line blocking for him all season, which makes his numbers that much more impressive.
Everyone knows a great offense isn’t enough to carry your team to a Super Bowl- you need to have the defense to back it up. While Cincinnati may not have a game-breaking defensive unit, it’s one that may be slept on. In their most recent game, they held elite Browns running-back Nick Chubb to only 34 rushing yards. They have a really solid pass-rush and the dynamic safety duo of Jessie Bates and Von Bell is certainly something to note.
Summing it up
These two teams may not be getting the attention that teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have been getting, but they deserve it. The Niners and Bengals may not be perfectly polished or flawless, but they have the pieces that it takes to hoist the Lombardi come February.
Around 76 percent of U.S. adults shop online. It’s much easier to browse online, adding things to your cart on Black Friday that you would have never wanted to purchase otherwise.
However, it can be difficult to decrease unnecessary shopping if one is unaware about how buying presents online and the coinciding shipping will affect the planet. According to a 2020 article published by the University of Colorado Boulder, their Climate Lab found that any two-day shipping, like the automatic one Amazon Prime offers, leaves a larger carbon footprint than slower shipping alternatives. Faster shipping requires more diesel trucks and less efficient shipping systems.
Black Friday’s environmental impact doesn’t stop the moment the products land on our doorsteps. Every year, Black Friday continues to promote overconsumption, telling shoppers that they need more unnecessary items made from unsustainable materials for the sake of a marked-down price.
Thankfully, there are several steps we can take to help avoid these detrimental environmental impacts. In early 2022, the University of Edinburgh announced an innovative idea to help bring an end to the discount culture that drives overproduction: “MAKE SOMETHING” Week. This initiative starts on Black Friday and aims to disrupt overconsumption and its impact on the climate by motivating people to mend or upcycle what they already own. Another method involves buying consciously and creating a plan before you shop in order to reduce the risk of impulsively purchasing something you don’t really need, or won’t use, which will reduce the risk of waste. Research local and ethical businesses that consciously don’t advocate for overproduction and shop from them to practice conservation ideals.
There are also several holiday gift approaches you can use to help limit your waste and reduce your carbon footprint this holiday season. Theresa Greinig, an environmental educator in the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, shared unique and creative ideas for a sustainable holiday season. One easy way to reduce the amount of wrapping paper, cardboard, plastic wrap, and other packaging materials is to initiate a gift scavenger hunt where kids can search around the house for their Christmas gifts, for example, rather than opening packaging under the tree. Another step you can take next Thanksgiving to reduce paper and plastic waste is to have a family member or friend bring dishes and utensils from home for a gathering, so you can limit the waste of paper and plastic cups, plates, bowls, spoons, forks, etc. Furthermore, practice using a reusable grocery bag to minimize the mountain of plastic bags that accumulates every time you shop.
There are endless creative possibilities to help you practice sustainability this winter and sharing your tips with others can influence more people to become environmentally-educated individuals, which over time, will slowly start to reduce our overall holiday waste as a community. By reducing waste, we will be able to conserve a clean environment, energy, and natural resources for future generations. The next time you find yourself filling up your shopping cart with countless items, recognize what items you don’t need, put an item back on the shelf, and implement changes to reduce your carbon footprint and spread the word about sustainability this holiday season.
]]>Offering a refreshing new look at the otherwise stagnant and imitative genre of “multiverse” stories, Everything Everywhere All at Once was quick to become one of the most praised works of the year. With Michelle Yeoh leading as the multifaceted Evelyn Wang, the film owes its admiration to its talented ensemble of amusing characters and mostly enjoyable humor. It intertwines an intergalactic battle with a contrastingly simple story of a family overcoming their adversities, but its uneven pacing limits the strengths of its otherwise appealing premise. Dragging out some uninteresting segments while frantically rushing past others, the already convoluted story gains another layer of confusion. Despite outshining most of the releases this year, Everything Everywhere All at Once‘s taxing complications put it behind some more notable works.
Featuring possibly the most entertaining yet appalling protagonist of the year, Todd Field’s TÁR is an ironic, precisely conducted hate letter to modern culture. At the epicenter of the slow-paced drama lies the renowned maestra Lydia Tár (played by Cate Blanchett), whose satisfying fall from grace makes for a cruelly compelling watch. In his first film in 16 years, Field orchestrates an immersive look into the world through the guilty eyes of a celebrity facing public scrutiny. However, the film’s appeal might not last once the contemporary subject matter it tackles eventually loses relevance, as some of its segments already feel outdated and inaccurate. The occasionally awkward writing proves that within TÁR lies a better, more focused film that conveys Field’s vision more potently and spares itself the unintentional humor.
Jordan Peele’s third film hovers between the lines of sci-fi and horror, pairing a thrilling UFO hunt with a layered commentary on the exploitative nature of our society. Despite feeling a little scattered because of its disconnected stories at first, nearly every scene in the film has a deeper meaning seeping beneath its surface, and satisfyingly intertwines to form an eventually cohesive message. Each personality in the diverse ensemble of characters is a well-acted, entertaining addition to the story— with Keke Palmer as Emerald standing out the most. Compared to TÁR, which also attempts to tackle similar social commentary, this film succeeds in conveying its message in a much more engaging way. Backed by a rich soundtrack and captivating scene designs, Nope floats its way up to be the best release of 2022.
THE BAD:
The release of Don’t Worry Darling was largely surrounded by gossip and drama behind the scenes, and that’s rather fitting for the film itself. Olivia Wilde’s direction isn’t terrible, and the more seasoned actors such as Florence Pugh are decent, but for the most part they get overtaken by how much of it just falls short. It spends every single second overcompensating for itself, trying to convince you that it’s actually really thoughtful and says a lot about society. But in reality, its vapid social commentary falls so much shorter than most of the other movies released this year.
This action flick is the epitome of lazy, forgettable filmmaking in pretty much every single way you can imagine. Name a part of a movie, and Moonfall fell short. But in many respects, that might be what saves this from being placed as the worst film of the year. At least you can tell that nobody put any effort into it, and that’s better than having a bad movie that clearly was the product of a lot of time and money. The biggest shame is that the premise really isn’t that bad, and had there been more of an attempt made, it probably could’ve been a fun and lighthearted viewing. Sadly, rather than being so bad it’s good, it’s just, well, bad.
This movie was so bad that we needed multiple paragraphs to prove it. For a story that’s been successfully adapted three times before, you’d think that one more go at it would be a pretty simple recipe for success. That wasn’t the case for the most recent version of Agatha Christie’s timeless 1937 mystery classic, whose atrocious changes from its source material turned into what might possibly be the single worst movie of 2022.
It takes it upon itself to improve upon the original, which wouldn’t exactly be an issue if they didn’t try to do it in the most nonsensical ways – including, no joke, a backstory on Hercule Poirot’s mustache. Every actor from this mess of a cast is at their absolute worst, the sets and effects are lazy and cheap, Kenneth Branagh’s direction is sloppy and trivial, and the story is horrifically paced, with the titular death occurring over halfway through the film’s bloated 127 minute runtime. The entire thing cost 90 million dollars to make, and one could only guess where it all went. To scenes of Armie Hammer and Gal Godot awkwardly grinding on each other atop shoddy renders of ancient Egyptian temples? Was it for all the extra champagne they needed to fill the Nile?
You can tell that under this monstrosity of film, there’s a real gem -that’s what makes it such an abysmal disappointment. This is a story that should’ve been put in the hands of people who really cared about it, then maybe it could’ve been worthwhile. Since this comes as the second subpar Agatha Christie adaptation (2017’s Murder on the Orient Express was also met with room-temp reviews), let’s hope that this being the worst film of 2022 makes it the last.
THE UNRELEASED:
Though we only have but a few more weeks until the new year, there’s still a pretty long list of films yet to be released to wide audiences. Among the most awaited include Damien Chazelle’s sprawling Hollywood epic Babylon, featuring a star-studded cast including Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt. Brendan Fraser is expected to make a comeback in his starring role in A24’s The Whale, from acclaimed thriller/horror director Darren Aronofsky. And after a 13 year wait, James Cameron is returning to theaters with the long-delayed sequel to his record-breaking sci-fi blockbuster, Avatar 2: The Way of Water, expected to be even bigger and bolder than the 2009 original. With so much to look forward to in the remainder of 2022, it’s safe to say that theaters are the place to be for the next few weeks.
]]>With 47 out of 50 states having been affected by H5N1, the virus is spreading, and spreading fast. Richard Webby, Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals, attributes the large growth to wild birds.
“It does seem just to be able to grow and transmit better in wild birds.” Webby said in an interview with NPR. “Wild birds are the perfect mechanism to spread a virus because they fly everywhere.” As a result, the high spread combined with a 60-100% fatality rate within two days of infection has led to the ongoing staggering fatalities.
Although the infection rate is exceedingly high amongst poultry and birds, humans rarely contract bird flu. Bird flu is extremely rare, with less than 1,000 U.S. cases per year, treatable by medical professionals. Although rare, the virus can be fatal. To avoid contracting the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend personal protective equipment (PPE) after contact with infected or dead poultry. Examples of said equipment range from disposable gloves, face masks, boots, and some form of eye protection, like goggles.
Regarding consumption of poultry and eggs, consumers shouldn’t be too concerned. According to the CDC, “It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. ” The guidelines note that an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit in eggs and poultry would kill bacteria and viruses, including the ongoing avian flu.
The current flu is mainly fatal to animals like turkeys and hens. When turkey flocks were infected this year, the price shot up to a staggering $1.99 a pound for frozen turkeys; almost double 2021’s turkey prices. However, the final price was only around $0.95, a 6 percent increase from 2021, due to supermarkets slashing prices. While the price remained mostly unchanged, the flu did lead to undersized turkeys this year.
“Turkeys being raised now for Thanksgiving may not have the full amount of time to get to 20 pounds,” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said in a press conference. “It’s going to be there, maybe smaller, but it’ll be there.”
While the flu may be prevalent right now, vaccines are being developed to combat the virus. However, vaccinations amongst birds are harder to do than for humans. Usually, vaccines need to be used twice on birds, with a waiting time in between. However, some birds can have quick feeding seasons, making it hard to vaccinate when they’re laying eggs and during the normal vaccination schedule.
As the bird flu spreads, the U.S. will continue to work on vaccinations. Currently, the CDC has a solid stockpile of vaccines to combat the A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) bird virus strains and is aiming to roll out the vaccines in case of an emergency. The aim is to ultimately contain the flu by the regulation of wild birds and through vaccinations to protect further poultry from infection.
]]>Mistborn has a historical setting, but on a planet very different to Earth. In this book there are no forms of advanced technology similar to Earth’s in the Medieval era, but the setting is a continent that holds many mysteries. Our story follows Vin, who is 16 years old and living on the streets. Vin awakens her powers as a Mistborn, those who are mistborn have the ability to use unique powers that are derived from each metal that she eats.
A variety of characters throughout the story have a variety of abilities granted to them. If they were to consume copper they have the ability to burn it internally and access great strength. Although, only Mistborn have the power to utilize multiple metals for their powers, while most nobles or those with noble blood only have one ability.
Vin later meets Kelsier, another fellow mistborn who has the same abilities as her. Vin doesn’t know what she wants for herself and whether she wants to even use these powers. She decides to take a chance on Kelsier and help him to overthrow the Lord Ruler, an immortal tyrant who reigns supreme over the entire kingdom. Vin and Kelsier embark together on their journey and Vin also uses this time to learn more about these gifts she has.
The story’s progression is driven by Vin’s desire to learn more about her powers and as a result she follows Kelsier to learn more. Kelsier has the more noble goal to end the Lord Ruler who has dominated his people with an iron fist.
This book has characters that have all suffered, yet maintain their own sense of morality through it all. Sanderson’s plot is simple yet highlighted the challenges that each character overcame in an interesting way. This novel has high paced action with fight scenes that describe the way the hero’s justice clashes against a tyrant’s overwhelming power. The power within them bend their perceptions of reality and offers them a world that only those who are strong can see.
Mistborn is a great story for readers who want to foray into the fantasy genre while being a great story yet keeping all the fantasy elements that the reader seeks. Once you start reading this book I’m confident that you won’t stop until it’s done.
]]>New Leader
The main part of the Lakers’ newfound success has been the resurgence of Anthony Davis as one of the best players in the league. He’s shown dominance that we haven’t seen since his New Orleans days, averaging 27.7 ppg and 12.4 rpg while playing 23 out of the team’s 26 games. His return has also allowed LeBron James to take a backseat in scoring and focus on a more playmaking-centric role, similar to the one that led the Lakers in 2020. Barring no major injuries that have been haunting him for the past few years, AD should find himself in the MVP conversation while also leading the Lakers deep into the playoffs.
New Lineup
After last season, it was clear that the Lakers cannot produce a winning team with their big three on the court at the same time. With Russell Westbrook and James’ reliance on having the ball in their hands and inability to create space off the ball, whoever was not bringing the ball up would be a liability for the Lakers’ half court offense.
After starting the year 0-3, coach Darvin Ham finally separated his two point guards by moving Westbrook to the bench, allowing him and LeBron to both lead whatever unit they are in. This significantly improved the Lakers offense and Westbrook’s numbers, who’s averaging 10.3 ppg and 4.3 apg as a starter and 14.5 ppg and 7.9 apg off the bench.
New Trade Targets
Although the recent Lakers have shown flashes of a team that could contend for a championship, just contending will not be enough. With LeBron steadily exiting out of his prime, their window to win another championship is closing; and a trade has to be made.
Ranking dead last in 3pt% this year, the Lakers do not have the shooting that it takes to win a championship in the modern era. After trading away almost their entire young core for Anthony Davis, it became clear that they are all in on winning a ring right now. With multiple first round picks still in their inventory, a trade for an elite wing shooter is very possible.
Trade talks have been made with the Indiana Pacers in which the Lakers would acquire Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, but the front office is firm right now on keeping the two future firsts that would have to be sent in the deal. We’ve seen how a shooting big like Turner excels in a LeBron-led offense, and the addition of sharpshooting guard Hield makes the trade all worth it.
If the Lakers are still unwilling to deal both of their future firsts, a trade should be made for the Pistons’ Bojan Bogdanovic, who is having the best season of his career so far. Averaging 43% from 3, a shooter like Bogdanovic is the final piece the Lakers need to contend. He also matched up against Luka Doncic in the playoffs last year, adding the toughness needed to boost a Lakers defense that is giving up the 5th most points to opposing teams.
The Future
With over half the season left to go, the Lakers still have time to return to greatness. If their superstar players continue to stay healthy and the necessary moves are made before the trade deadline, their 18th banner could very well be hung up at the end of the season.
The root of the current protests dates back to the 1979 Iranian revolution, where an authoritarian monarchy was overthrown by a mix of constitutional liberals, Marxists, and mullahs. While the revolution had popular support and many envisioned a democratic government being created, a totalitarian and theocratic system was installed instead by Islamist hardliners.
The new government was reported to be just as oppressive as the one before, with multiple harsh laws targeting women. Some of these included lowering the age of marriage for girls to nine (In 2002 it was raised to 13), allowing the husband to stop his wife from taking certain jobs, and the law that is most relevant today, forcing women to cover their hair for “morality.”
While there have been many smaller protests against these restrictions, the current series of demonstrations were set off by the death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini, who was apprehended by the morality police and reportedly beaten to death. The police claimed that Mahsa had died from a heart attack, backing themselves up with footage of her collapsing in the prison. The outrage was immediate, as protests sprung up demanding justice for Mahsa, as well as change in the misogynistic system of Iran. Women took off their headscarves and cut their hair in public as acts of defiance to the government, and huge numbers of men are also acting in support of the movement. In response to people taking to the streets, the security forces are reportedly using force, and videos show them firing live ammunition.
The Iranian government blames the protests on Western influence and puppeteering, and many Iranian lawmakers believe the police’s response to be just, writing in a letter that the punishments of protesters should “show no leniency to anybody in this regard.”
On the other hand, thousands of people worldwide have expressed solidarity with the protesters, with thousands of people protesting against the Iranian government in major cities such as London, New York, and Paris. Western governments also appear to share this sentiment, as President Biden stated in an address that the Iranian government’s actions were too extreme and took away the people’s rights.
“I remain gravely concerned about reports of the intensifying violent crackdown on peaceful protestors in Iran, including students and women, who are demanding their equal rights and basic human dignity” President Biden said.
The West and Iran are already at heads over several issues, such as Iran not honoring its nuclear deal, and their recent sale of kamikaze drones to Russia.
While the Iranian government believes the protests to be a result of foreign interference, the activists hope that their actions will bring change to the abusive, 41 year-old system.
“The atmosphere is quite tense and yet it is exciting. People are hopeful this time and we hope that a real change is just around the corner. I don’t think people are willing to give up this time.” an Iranian protester said.
]]>Tables labeled with “As seen on Booktok” or “Bookstagram favs: Enemies to lovers” tables are popping up throughout bookstores and on display at libraries with the well-known books of the moment. They have helped stores know which books to order and market to go with the trends.
For example, Adam Silvera, the author of They Both Die at the End, describes the sudden bump in sales years after publication to NBC News’s Connor Murray in the article “TikTok is taking the book industry by storm, and retailers are taking notice.”
“I kept commenting to my readers, ‘Hey, don’t know what’s happening, but there’s been a surge in sales lately, so grateful that everybody’s finding the story years later … then that’s when a reader was like, ‘I’m seeing it on BookTok’” Silvera said.
Currently, it’s the number one book on The New York Times Young Adult Paperback bestsellers list, but this isn’t unusual for books that have gone viral.
Getting a book published is like winning a lottery – one that many hopefully writers wish to achieve and something Chloe Gong was able to do. Gong is a New York Times Bestseller author and her debut novel These Violent Delights is a YA retelling of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet. The novel is set in Shanghai in the 1920s with Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai being the children of rival gangs battling for control of the city.
Gong joined TikTok to connect to the Gen Z community since they were her primary audience as her publication date neared, the New York Post shares in an article. The book has been credited as one of the best books from 2020 by Barnes and Noble.
Not all authors receive immediate praise for their work on these platforms, some find their flaws on public display instead. YA and middle-grade author Alex Aster is currently facing criticism for her newest novel Lightlark after her concept pitch went viral on TikTok in 2020.
Throughout her journey of writing, she shared small segments of it in her videos, mentioning tropes and quotes that will be used, but when ARC readers received their copies some felt disappointed. They pointed out that many of the key aspects that drew them in through these sneak peeks got cut. Others voiced concern once news of her movie deal with Universal got out, questioning if she is an industry plant. Through all of the criticism, Lightlark currently has ~3.4 stars from almost 9,000 ratings on Goodreads.
While Booktok is marketing to Gen Z, many of the YA readers on these platforms aren’t the target audience the book was written for. Of course, non-teens can read YA, but to be upset when the books lack mature scenes and request more seems silly. NA (New Adult) is a genre that emerged around the same time that YA became popular offering books written in similar styles along with plot points/tropes with more mature content that YA can’t include.
Sarah J. Maas is a prime example with her series A Court of Thorns and Roses. The first book is a YA retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but once book two was released in the series it became clear that the series has changed to NA. To this day A Court of Silver Flames, the newest release, is still marketed as YA in stores like Barnes and Noble, even though Maas herself has said it’s not and the content isn’t appropriate for younger readers.
While these changes can’t be attributed entirely to just TikTok and Instagram, there is a portion of truth in the idea that these platforms have contributed to the shift in the market. Social media is neither good nor bad (just like the hashtag platforms found within them) as long as the user is choosing to abide by the rules of the spaces. In the future, as our society becomes more influenced by social media it will be interesting to see how Gen Z and #Booktok and #Bookstagram continue to redefine reading and success in the literary world.
]]>After the release of “The Last Jedi,” the second film in the sequel trilogy, Star Wars fans have been polarized over Disney’s rendition of their franchise, with some claiming that “The Last Jedi” ruined the franchise while other fans loved it. Comparatively, “The Force Awakens,” the first sequel trilogy film, was more universally liked.
Subsequently, Star Wars films produced by Disney have remained under the shadow of “The Last Jedi.” Take “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” released only four months after “The Last Jedi.” It performed meagerly at the box office, only grossing about $393 million worldwide despite a budget of around $300 million. Plans to follow the Marvel Cinematic Universe and have a yearly Star Wars film released in the theaters were scrapped.
Additionally, recent shows like “The Book of Boba Fett” or “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” with mediocre Rotten Tomatoes audience ratings of 55% and 63%, did not unite Star Wars fans, especially those disappointed by the treatment of some of their favorite old-time characters. Clearly, many fans wanted something different from Star Wars.
Enter “Andor,” the show that is everything Disney needs to revive the franchise as it’s a prequel show to the 2016 film “Rogue One.” It stars Diego Luna as he returns to play the title character, Cassian Andor, as the show focuses on his journey in becoming a Rebel spy along with the formation of the Rebel Alliance itself against the Galactic Empire.
Despite the absence of Jedi and fan-favorite characters, “Andor” surpasses several other Disney-era films and TV shows, especially the controversial sequel trilogy. Star Wars under Disney has seemed to be in a creative rut for several years, and “Andor” seems to break that mold.
In fact, what gives Andor its perhaps biggest strength is the departure from famous Star Wars characters like Luke Skywalker, Boba Fett, or Obi-Wan Kenobi. Having an original story detached from established canon, “Andor” can explore new themes and storylines without upsetting fans.
The emphasis on the story of ordinary heroes struggling against the Empire portrays the titular Star Wars in a more tangible and grounded way than the original trilogy films where Jedi used the magical Force to help defeat the Empire.
Having the perspective of regular people, not Jedi or Sith, adds new dimensions to a galaxy as big as Star Wars. We get to explore new planets, learn about their culture, their history, and learn of the ways the Empire has oppressed them. We see the fight against the Empire not from the viewpoint of Force wielding individuals but from powerless people who have lost everything they loved. The Empire has never felt more alive, and so is the world of Star Wars.
But despite having a strong response from both critics and fans, “Andor” has not gotten the viewership that Disney hoped so far.
“I thought… we would have this gigantic, instantaneous audience that would just be everywhere… The opposite happened,” Showrunner Tony Gilroy said in an interview.
Disney recently announced plans to release the first two episodes of “Andor” on ABC, FX, Freeform, and Hulu in the hopes of garnering more attention. The show is slated for only two seasons, with the final one beginning production later this month. Therefore there’s still time to catch up on the first season before it ends, and hopefully, “Andor” will reach the success it deserves.
]]>The Eras will be a journey through Taylor Swift’s musical career, with old and new songs. While the official setlist has not been released yet, fans are hoping for songs like “Blank Space,” “Willow,” and “End Game,” as well as tracks from her last four albums, which have never been performed live. Swift has already confirmed one song: “Delicate” from her 2017 hit Reputation. The concert will also feature a strong list of opening acts, including popular artists like Paramore, Girl in Red, and Beabadoobee.
Tickets went on sale via Ticketmaster on November 15. Before it opened to the general public, three different batches of tickets were available, starting with verified fans and Capital One cardholders. The starting price for a ticket is around $49, while VIP packages may cost up to $899. However, tickets are now being resold for up to $24,000.
Taylor Swift is one of the most popular artists of our era. The singer has released countless hits, including songs like “Shake It Off,” “Lover,” “Bad Blood,” and “Love Story.” She has also won 11 Grammys and 25 Billboard Music awards. It’s no surprise that Swift has amassed an enormous fan base of Swifties, with 231 million followers on Instagram and sold-out dates for nearly all stops of her Reputation tour.
Even though she hasn’t been on tour recently, Swift has been busy in other ways. Her newest album, Midnights, dropped on Oct. 21, 2022. With a tracklist of 13 songs, it marks her first release since Evermore in December 2020, excluding her rerecorded work. Midnights has already become the best-selling album of 2022, surpassing Swift’s own record in the few weeks since it was released. Since then, she has gone on to break countless streaming records and occupy all of the top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100—the first artist in history to achieve such a feat.
Since this Swift’s first tour in almost half a decade, the ticket demand has been higher than ever, with the Ticketmaster website crashing a few hours after the presale began. Ticketmaster released a statement on Twitter in response to their website crashing, stating, “There has been historically unprecedented demand with millions showing up to buy tickets for TaylorSwiftTix Presale.” Fans were also disappointed and upset when Ticketmaster canceled the general sale of tickets that was planned for November 18. Ticketmaster addressed the cancellation in another tweet, saying, “Due to extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet that demand, tomorrow’s public on-sale for Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour has been canceled.” But for those lucky enough to have purchased tickets for The Eras, one thing is sure; Taylor Swift won’t disappoint.
]]>Throughout the school day, students can volunteer to donate blood, provided they are over 16 years old and meet the weight/height requirements, along with a parental consent form. The signup process is fairly simple, with students able to volunteer through various QR codes posted in the school cafeteria and the Fremd TVs. In Wellness classes this week, the blood drive will also be promoted in detail with signup sheets. Teachers can also contribute to donating blood, using their free periods to come down.
Student Council sponsor Mr. Hopkins explains the Fremd partnership with blood bank, Versiti.
“Versiti is a blood bank that comes in and looks for donations every year, providing for Northwestern medical centers,” Hopkins said. “They also host a competition between [Fremd] and Palatine, acknowledging the cross-town rivalry, and providing trophies to the winner.”
Last year, Fremd brought home the trophy both times against Palatine and wants to add another to its collection. Along with Versiti, Fremd also provides incentives for donating as donors are eligible for a raffle, where various prizes are given out.
Hopkins also details the difference between various blood types and their effect on transfusions.
“They’re accepting donations for every blood type, but there are certain blood types in higher demand,” Hopkins said. “We like O negative because it’s the universal donor, along with A negative and B negative, but they still encourage everyone to come out.”
With the universal donor being prioritized and available to everyone in transfusions with no adverse reactions, O-negative blood has a similarly large demand. While blood type may contribute to blood accessibility, Versiti will always find a way to incorporate blood, no matter how common or rare.
No matter the circumstance, the action of saving lives brings people together. Small in size, a blood donation may seem minuscule, but the saved lives will be permanent. While students may never know where their blood goes or if their blood gets put to use, the value of a life saved is priceless.
Hopkins summarizes the event as essential and relevant for the high school demographic, encouraging students to contribute.
“As a community, one of the biggest [donors] are high school students, being young and healthy,” Hopkins said. “These [students] can help many people and save so many lives in need.”
For more information, please visit the Fremd Student Council Blood Drive link tree:
]]>Despite the students’ passion and commitment to the group, some of the All Women’s Choir students may have felt disconnected due to not self-identifying with the ensemble’s branding. To support inclusivity for these students, choir director Mrs. Christina Collins felt the need for a new change to better describe the ensemble.
After getting the idea, Collins wanted the students to have a say in the decision. She then surveyed the group, letting the students decide what they would like to change the name. She received overwhelmingly positive feedback and decided on the name “Bella Voce,” meaning Beautiful Voice in Italian.
Although there was support from the Fremd administration, the official change had to be put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. The difficulty in communication in a strictly digital environment slowed these changes.
Now that the name change has been officially made, Collins and her students are proud of the small but impactful rebranding.
“The big thing that we’re trying to promote is that choir is for everyone. Your voice is such a personal instrument, and we wanted all kids to feel confident and comfortable in the class and feel welcome,” Collins said.
Further movements of inclusivity and support for the students have also branched out to other music departments. Fremd’s band, for example, recently changed its concert attire from a concert dress for female-identifying students to a concert-black attire.
“We want students to be wearing what they are most comfortable with onstage so they can feel confident while they are playing,” Collins explained. “It’s a really important and positive change for all ensembles in the music department to support and to help create a more positive community within.”
While discussing these similarities among ideals among the different branches of the Fremd Music Association, Collins noted the importance of making students feel included.
“I think that’s what I want choir to feel more like, that these ensembles are based on our instrumentation — which is voice parts, and not based on anything that is going to have genders,” Collins said.
Mrs. Collins has a message for anyone interested in choir:
“All are welcome in the choir; there is a spot for everyone! It’s a great way to meet people, learn diverse music, and have time to relieve stress in your day.”
Ms. Collins also noted that no experience is necessary to register for C135. You can contact your counselor or Mrs. Collins at ccollins@d211.org for more information. #findyourvoice
]]>According to a study by the American Heart Association, losing an hour of sleep when we “spring forward” in March can negatively impact your heart and brain. It was found that in the first week, when Americans are getting used to the shift, hospital admissions for atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat, rose to approximately 3.13 admissions a day compared to the yearly average of 2.56.
Similarly, a study constructed by the University of Michigan found correlations in an increase of daily heart attacks by 24% from the springtime change; however, a decrease by over 21% after the “fall back” in November when gaining an extra hour of sleep.
This correlation was the common theme for people’s concerns regarding the issue with daylight savings time and the “spring forward” that happens in March. U.S. Representative Frank Pallone expressed similar views when the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing this year.
“The loss of that one hour of sleep seems to impact us for days afterwards,” Pallone said. “It also can cause havoc on the sleeping patterns of our kids and pets.”
An article from Reuters stated that Pallone cited a 2019 poll where 71% of Americans preferred to no longer switch their clocks twice a year. However, Pallone did not state whether to support daylight savings time or standard time.
On each side, there are many nuanced arguments. A study made by Current Biology suggests that staying in year-round daylight savings would reduce deer-vehicle collisions. It was found that collisions with deer are 14 times more likely following the “fall back” when we change our clocks back an hour.
On the opposing side, sleep medicine specialist Kin Yuen expressed concerns about daylight savings. She mentioned that when people wake up when it is still dark out, hormones like cortisol may not be awake, making them feel drowsy and tired.
This was another common debate about whether to advocate for permanently staying in daylight savings time or standard time. Standard time makes sunrises and sunsets appear earlier, making our mornings brighter and our evenings darker. Daylight savings time does the opposite, making our mornings darker and our evenings brighter. Despite all these debates, people will still have to wait for a decision to be made as the House of Representatives continues to put off the situation.
The Sunshine Protection Act, although first introduced in March 2021, has been put on hold for over two years in the House despite the Senate’s unanimous approval.
Pallone goes on to explain the situation regarding the Sunshine Protection Act.
“I can’t say it’s a priority,” Pallone said. “We have so many other priorities, but it doesn’t mean because it’s not a priority that we’re not trying to work on it. We are.”
The setbacks in Congress mean that we will have to wait another year concerning the future of daylight savings time.
]]>Although Blanchett’s exuberant monologues uphold the film’s intensity, its most commendable facet is its restraint. Its rare and limited soundtrack emphasizes Tár’s orchestra, and its slow but suitable pace unveils her ironic fate well, despite the occasional lulls nearly inevitable in a 158-minute drama.
Tár’s subdued wife, Sharon Goodnow (skillfully played by Nina Hoss), is an underappreciated contributor to the film’s strained ambiance. Blanchett’s coerciveness as the imperious conductor would not have been as impactful had it not been supported by Hoss as her abiding victim.
Considering the film was mostly written during the lockdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, today’s exhaustive internet culture seeps into the script, making it topical but challenging its durability. Field attempts to tackle a contentious subject matter– portraying the head-to-head battle between a scrutinized predator and the unforgiving, progressive society around her. Through repeated instances of questionable writing, he shows himself to be skeptical of an ideology he might not entirely understand.
Field conducts Lydia Tár’s character with precision and intent, but he does not seem to care for accuracy when portraying who she’s up against. Her challengers are cartoonish, strawman versions of what exists in real life. When pitted against hyperbolic naysayers, Tár’s deliberate personality leaves the film with an aura of unintentional humor (a prominent example being the infamous Juilliard scene), which is a shame considering how potent and well-made every other aspect of it is.
At its best, TÁR explores the ramifications that follow an artist when put under public scrutiny with its aspirational script bolstered by well-acted, alluring characters. At its worst, it feels like a world built by someone who spent too much time hate-reading Twitter threads. If Field remained fixated on Tár and her guilt longer, rather than attempting to portray current, short-lived trends, not only would the film be more timeless, it would’ve also achieved its purpose without feeling out of touch.
]]>Crowdsurges are when a crowd is incredibly dense to the point where you can’t move, and people die because their bodies can get crushed and they can’t breathe. This is what occurred, as a crowd of 100,000 people tried to move down a narrow alleyway. During the event, the partygoers were packed so tightly, they were unable to move, which led to people pushing and shoving. This eventually caused a panic, and the range of costumes that people wore only worsened the confusion.
Among the people who passed away, there were several people from other countries, including two from the US. In total, there were 26 foreign nationals.
Eyewitnesses state that people had CPR performed on them. There were rows of dead bodies with tarps covering them. In the end, the total death toll divided by gender was 56 men and 97 women. The minimal crowd control had turned deadly, and visuals that were posted on social media show how close the people were crammed together.
Firefighters were mobilized and 142 ambulances were placed into action. Rescue workers were conducting CPR on the several patients who were experiencing cardiac arrest at the time.
Experts predict that the reason why the crowd became deadly was due to poor event planning and organization, something that the South Korean government has been working on since the event. This included coming up with crowd control systems in order to prevent crowdsurges from happening and to create a safe environment where people can have fun. As soon as the tragedy happened, many people called for more regulations to be placed on crowd control, and one example was Japan, who took extra precautionary measures in order to ensure the safety of their civilians during Halloween events.
Ken Fallas, a 32-year-old, who witnessed the disaster in Seoul, shared his personal experience of what the people who were present saw during the catastrophe.
“We were unable to move back. The music was loud. Nobody knew what was happening. People were still partying with the emergency happening right in front of us. What’s going on from here, where can we go? There was no exit,” Fallas said.
The people present at the disaster described it as confusing and loud, as everyone was in a panic, concerned for their lives and their safety.
The South Korean government expressed their apologies and instated a mourning period for those who have died during this catastrophe. They stated that three military personnel were killed, along with six students who were in school, and three teachers.
The government established memorial services in various cities for people to commemorate the people who had died during the tragedy. Over tens of thousands of people had shown up to sites and placed flowers, snacks, and candles, as well as condolence messages to the families who had lost their loved ones.
]]>According to CBS Sports, Caesars Sportsbook had the Lakers as the ninth most likely team to win the title this season with odds of 18-1. In addition, going into the 2021-2022 season with largely the same team, they were nearly the title favorite. According to Fox Sports, they had the second best odds in the NBA to win the title going into the 2021-2022 NBA season with odds of 5-1. Many people saw their star-studded team with all time great LeBron James, former 1st team All-NBA big Anthony Davis, and former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, and immediately thought of them as an obvious title contender. However, through 13 games they are tied for the worst record in the NBA. So, what factors have led to this disastrous start for a team that seemed poised for greatness?
The first factor that leads to this disastrous start is their lack of any sort of shooting. The ability to shoot has become a necessity in the NBA and is something that is needed to be a competent team. Being able to shoot not only helps a team’s offense by putting points on the scoreboard, but it also spaces out the court allowing others to drive into the paint much easier. However, throughout the season, the Lakers have looked like the worst shooting team in the NBA.
So far this season, the Lakers have shot a putrid 30 percent beyond the arc compared to the 35.5 percent league average. This may not seem like a big difference, but that is worth about three points per game or the difference between the 10th and 18th best offense in the NBA. That, combined with the lack of spacing that comes with this awful shooting, has resulted in the Lakers having the worst offense in the NBA this season.
The second factor that leads to this drastic underperformance by the Lakers to start the season is the regression of their star players. One metric to determine a player’s performance on the court is their player efficiency rating (PER). PER adds up all of the information from a player’s box score in order to determine a rating for that player, with an average rating being a 15.
All three of the Lakers stars have seen a notable decline in this metric compared to the rest of their careers. James has averaged a 27.3 PER throughout the course of his career, but that has cratered all the way down to 20.2 this season. Davis and Westbrook have seen similar declines with Anthony Davis falling from a 26.8 career PER down to 24.8 this year, and Russell Westbrook going from a 22.5 PER all the way down to 16.4 this year.
The main reason why many people thought that the Lakers could win a title this year was because they believed in their stars, but so far they have all fallen far short of the lofty expectations that many people attributed them. Any team having three future first ballot Hall of Famers should be competing for championships, not struggling to make the Play-In.
The third and final factor that has led to the Lakers disappointing start this season is their lack of talent around their three stars. Their next six players according to minutes played, including players such as an ancient Patrick Beverley and a sophomore Austin Reaves are not giving the Lakers stars the help that they desperately need. These players are averaging a PER of 9.4. This disastrous number is well below the league average PER of 15 and indicative of the total lack of talent from the role players on this team.
In summation, the Lakers slow start to this season has been caused by a variety of factors. The most prominent among them being their lack of shooting, regression of their stars, and subpar supporting players. If things don’t change soon, they will have to climb uphill to even make the Playoffs.
]]>Kawhi has a history of injuries dating back to his stint with the San Antonio Spurs from 2011-2017. During the 2017 Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, Kawhi injured his ankle, ending the series for him and the Spurs. At first, what seemed like a minor injury began to cause headlines when Leonard flat-out refused to play during the following season.
His ankle healed quickly, but Leonard had a lingering quad injury known as quadriceps tendinopathy, which at the time hadn’t been revealed yet. Quadriceps tendinopathy is a lingering injury that causes knee pain, swelling, and stiffness, and is aggravated with continued jumping, and running. The Spurs left rehab of this injury to Kawhi’s management, whose opinions often conflicted with the team. The rift between the Spurs execs and Leonard’s management eventually led to a trade sending him to the Raptors, where his name became infamously synonymous with the term load management.
In an attempt to mitigate this aggravation, the Raptors coaching staff minimized Leonard’s time on the court in the regular season. Leonard, starting from this point, would never be seen on the tailend of back-to-back games. His appearances remained inconsistent throughout the season, leading to him playing only 60 out of the 82 regular season games. Despite this, his “load management” plan led to a championship win for the Raptors, silencing critics of his participation.
Leonard, now with the Clippers, has continued his streak of truancy, playing 57 games in 2019, and 52 in 2020. The amount of games he has played has been on a consistent decline, yet the Clippers lack the results to justify his absences. Though they have been championship contenders in the two years Kawhi has played for them, they have never been able to attain the ever elusive championship. Now at the end of 2022, Leonard has since rehabbed from his ACL tear, yet remains away from action.
Leonard is proving to be a difficult player to handle lately. His lack of communication and his inconsistent appearances have often created controversy throughout his playing years. With Leonard skipping out on team trips and reports of his frustration starting to arise, the question remains – when will Leonard next suit up for the Clippers?
]]>The one question soccer fans worldwide are dying to know: Who will come out on top? With new up-and-coming players and many familiar faces, the tournament will prove to be one of the most competitive ones to date.
European powerhouses
The two teams to beat this year are Belgium and France, sitting at number two and four on the FIFA World Rankings. With talent at each level of the field at the helm, it’s going to be hard for the other teams to match their starpower.
On the French side, the reigning title holders are looking to make their mark by becoming the first team to win back to back since the Netherlands squad in 1978. They face a big question mark with the loss of key midfielders N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba from injury, but their danger in the attacking third should make up for the losses. With Ballon d’Or winning striker Karim Benzema and young wingers Kyllian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembele leading the attack, France is poised for at least another deep run in the tournament.
Belgium, on the other hand, has always seemed to come up short in the late rounds. It’s no question that the Belgium squad has both the experience and the talent, but while consistently being one of the best teams on paper, the last time they won an international trophy was the 1972 European Nations Cup. With a starting 11 featuring goalkeeper Thibaut Cortois, forward Eden Hazard, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, and the elite international goal-scoring ability of Romelu Lukaku up top, this year should be different for the Red Devils.
Dark horse competitor
Every four years, there is a squad that defies all odds and defeats some of the best teams in the world. One team that could easily surprise people this year by holding its own with the favorites is Uruguay, which is flying under the radar despite a star-studded and versatile lineup.
This includes underrated center back Diego Godin, whose intelligence and defensive positioning provides the team with a solid central defense. Forwards Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani also share many years of international experience, combining for 126 goals in their time playing together. However, 23-year-old striker Darwin Núñez’s emergence at Liverpool will force one member of the coveted duo to take a backseat this year and let the young star shine. Another player making up Uruguay’s strong young core is midfielder Federico Valverde, who made an immediate impact when placed in the starting 11 during their World Cup qualifying matches. If they can stay in great form and their more seasoned players use experience to their advantage, this year’s Uruguayan squad can compete with the best of them.
Last dance
This Cup’s high anticipation is matched by unique tension, as this year marks the end of an era, with three of soccer’s biggest names leaving the World Cup scene at the end of it: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar Jr. Ballon D’ors, Champions League trophies, and La Liga titles all lay in the resume of the aging superstars. The one missing piece is the most sought-after trophy in all of sports, which is looking to be won by one of them in their final year under the world’s spotlight.
The tradition of Thanksgiving began around November of 1621, when a Pilgrim named William Bradford organized a feast for the pioneers and a group of Native Americans to celebrate a successful corn harvest.
But the harvest wouldn’t have been as successful if it weren’t for the Native Americans’ help, especially Squanto’s.
Squanto was a member of the Patuxet tribe who taught the malnourished, sickly Pilgrims how to grow corn, catch fish, and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the Pilgrims ally with a local Native American tribe, the Wampanoag. The chief of the Wampanoag tribe, Massasoit, hoped that the alliance with the Pilgrims would help him regain his former power and prestige. The Pilgrims wanted to establish peace and engage in trade.
While there is no record of what exactly was eaten on the first Thanksgiving, the writing by a Pilgrim chronicler named Edward Winslow provides most of the information about the first Thanksgiving, including the preparation of the foods eaten at the feast.
Today, the Thanksgiving staple, the turkey, which is so ubiquitous that it has become all but synonymous with the holiday, may or may not have been offered during the feast the Pilgrims hosted in 1621. However, nearly 90% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Other traditional foods that are eaten include stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
In 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation and called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the victory of the country’s war for independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Washington’s predecessors also designated days for gratitude during their presidencies.
An author named Sarah Josepha Hale began a campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1827. She sent letters to politicians, including the president, for 36 years. Abraham Lincoln finally took her request and declared Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday of every November.
On Thanksgiving, volunteering and attending parades are common activities. Communities often hold food drives and host free Thanksgiving dinners for the less fortunate. Parades have become an integral part of Thanksgiving celebrations in cities and towns across the country.
Schools celebrate Thanksgiving by teaching students about the history of Thanksgiving, hosting Thanksgiving food drives, and donating to local food banks. Students do projects to express their appreciation and gratitude. This year, the Fremd Band community will be hosting a food drive and will be donating the food to a local food drive at Palatine Township.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that reminds Americans to be thankful for the things that they may take for granted. It also is a holiday with a lot of important history behind it. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?
]]>Making it to the pinnacle of competition for high school sports and activities in Illinois is always going to be an impressive feat, however for Cunningham and Gaan their individual circumstances make the accomplishment even more special.
At surface level, Cunningham making his way back to Peoria may not be all that surprising. Qualifying for state in both cross country and track last year, it’s safe to say the senior leader is an elite athlete. This season, though, has had its hardships.
What started as a nagging pain in his hip later developed into a major injury, resulting in Cunningham being sidelined for seven weeks worth of training throughout the season. When asked about the recovery process, the runner gave a lot of credit to the mental game.
“It was really hard,” Cunningham said. “But I stayed positive, focused on getting better, and just easing back into things.”
Coming back from an injury is one thing, but being able to return to peak performance is another. After not running for nearly the entire month of September, Cunningham battled his way back up to the top. Naturally, this is something he’s proud of, even if there was a little bit of doubt along the way.
“Going into regionals I was thinking, I don’t know if this is going to happen, but I’m happy it did,” Cunningham said with a smile.
As for Gaan, what sets him apart is his age. With a breakout sophomore season, the young runner was able to show what he can do. He has joined the exclusive club of being one of only eight sophomores to individually qualify for the State Finals this year.
According to head boys cross country coach Matthew Zaluckyj, Gaan doesn’t let his youth get in the way of anything.
“He’s not afraid to compete in the front of the pack, and he’s not satisfied with any of his races,” Zaluckyj said. “He wants to be better and I know he wants to be up in the front with those big names.”
Going along with that fierce competitive spirit, Gaan has a strong sense of confidence in his abilities as a runner. He’s certainly proven he can do it at a high level, but this is only the beginning in his eyes.
“It’s really exciting, because I have two more years to go,” Gaan said. “So you know, it’s only going to get better after this year.”
The journey involved a lot of hard work and resiliency for both Cunningham and Gaan, but now all roads point towards Peoria.
“We can realistically walk away with two all-state runners with these guys,” Zaluckyj said. “And if we don’t, I know they put in a great effort to do that.”
]]>NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) defense system has proved to be an effective technique for protecting Earth from an Earth-bound asteroid or comet if there was ever any threat from one. DART uses a method known as kinetic impact. The kinetic method intentionally deflects the asteroid after an impact. The 1,260-pound (570 kilograms) spacecraft was launched on Nov. 24, 2021, and had a successful launch. It reached its asteroid target, Dimorphos, on Sept. 26 of this year. Dimorphos is a small asteroid about 530 feet (160 meters) in diameter, and it orbits a larger asteroid, Didymos, which is 2,560 feet (780 meters) in diameter.
DART was originally designed to evaluate how much a spacecraft’s impact can deflect an asteroid. The evaluation was done through a transfer of momentum, as the spacecraft hit the asteroid head-on, which helped slow it down. This planetary defense system has shown that NASA can successfully navigate a spacecraft to intentionally impact with an asteroid, causing it to deflect and slow down.
The investigation team is now observing Dimorphos to confirm that DART has altered its orbit around Didymos. With worldwide cooperation, a globally located team uses dozens of telescopes to analyze the asteroid system and the test’s results. Throughout the upcoming weeks, they will investigate precise measurements of Dimorphos’s orbital change to determine how effectively the world’s first planetary defense system deflected the asteroid. The outcome of that research can help improve computer models, predict the effectiveness of this technique, and prove if this test can be reliable in the future. NASA would have to alter the spacecraft’s speed to make a more significant difference in the path an asteroid follows. The European Space Agency (ESA) has planned to conduct detailed surveys for both asteroids roughly four years from now, and they will specifically focus on the crater left by DART’s impact.
On October 11 of this year, NASA declared this launch a success and confirmed that it had shortened Dimorphos’s orbital period by about 32 minutes. Currently, Dimorphos is about 7 million miles from Earth and does not show any threat to Earth. Planetary defense systems are globally unified endeavors that affect Earth and everyone living on it. As NASA continues studying the cosmos and Earth, it continually works to protect our home planet from danger. The redirection test has demonstrated we are not powerless to prevent this natural disaster from happening.
]]>Throughout the whole match, the enthusiastic fans of both teams were calling the opposing side names and occasionally even picked a few small fights, according to local police that were inside the stadium at the time.
However, it wasn’t until the match ended when the world’s second most deadliest stadium disaster unraveled. Fans rushed the fields, and as a result of the unrest, the police fired tear gas which caused further panic. The situation escalated when the panic led to fans rushing out to the exits, causing a deadly stampede, where many suffocated.
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, the football world’s governing body, noted the extent of the tragedy, with 125 people dead, 33 of them being minors. When compared to the world’s deadliest stadium disaster which happened in 1964 in Lima, the death toll doesn’t seem too high, but when looked at from a non-numerical standpoint, it is evident that both situations were horrifying beyond comparison.
It was “a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond comparison,” Infantino said.
It is still not clear as to who is more responsible for the casualties, as both the police and eyewitnesses have differing perspectives.
In an interview with BBC, police chief Nico Afinta spoke on the police’s perspective on the situation. “It had gotten anarchic. They started attacking officers, they damaged cars,” Afinta said.
On the other hand, Muhamad Dipo Maulana, a 21 year old eyewitness, told BBC Indonesia that the fans that went out to the fields “were immediately intercepted by police and beaten.”
According to him, as a result of the police hostility, more fans started to protest, causing the situation to become more intense, with police officers in armor and dogs coming forward. The conundrum lied with the fact that though the fans did exhibit inappropriate behavior, the police as a result were forced to take action, and released tear gas in a place filled with spectators.
However, this case of violence is nothing new to the world of Indonesian soccer matches. In 1938, Indonesia became the first Asian country to participate in the World Cup, but has been unable to return to the stage ever since due to violence and mismanagement. Excluding this recent disaster, 78 people have died in game-related incidents, according to Save our Soccer, Indonesia’s soccer watchdog.
Three days after the tragedy, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo called for all matches in Indonesia’s top league to be halted until a thorough investigation was conducted. Additionally, Widodo visited the stadium as the police were being pressured by the fans and the general public to quit their jobs. Following his visit, according to the local police force, the police chief was fired along with nine officers that were suspended and 19 others that were placed under investigation.
Moving forward, President Widodo noted it is imperative that the management system of stadiums in Indonesia need to be reworked in order to prevent future tragedy.
“We need…improvements in the whole management, management of stadium spectators, time, security. We agreed that this tragedy is a very important lesson for Indonesian football and also for the world,” Widodo said.
]]>And then nothing—for five years. Finally, during the Xbox “E3 2018” conference, CD Projekt Red showed off a brand new trailer for the game. The prospect of exploring a higher advanced society, where “Cyber-enhancements”and modified humans was the norm created new buzz for the game. Even though five years had passed since its initial announcement, no set release date was shown, which led some fans to wonder if the game would ever truly come out.
Yet another year passed without news. At “E3 2019” CD Projekt Red debuted another trailer for the game. This one was triple the length of all the other trailers. It showed off characters, the Night City setting, and saved one big reveal for the end – Keanu Reeves would be voicing and lending his face to a major character in the game. The crowd went even more wild when Keanu came up on the stage, leading to the famous “No, you’re breathtaking!” clip. And finally, they announced an April 16th, 2020 release date.
Then came the delays. First, until September of 2020. Then November of the same year. Fans weren’t happy, but figured all that extra time was going into the making of a masterpiece. Finally, after seven years, CD Projekt Red released the new game on December 10.
It was a disaster of global proportions. Cyberpunk 2077’s release was an event that went down in infamy in the gaming community. It was littered with bugs that made the game unplayable, and it even made someone’s computer literally explode (luckily, no one was harmed). There was no warning for the game’s excessive use of flashing lights. And it was unplayable on the PS4 and Xbox One, so players on these consoles essentially wasted $60 on a game they could not play until they got next generation consoles. Many PC gamers, myself included, immediately returned the game. After its abysmal launch, CD Projekt Red made statements about their commitment to quality, and promised to fix its many problems in the future. And that’s where a lot of people left Cyberpunk: on the sidelines as a game they might never touch again.
And then, a plot twist: A year and a half later CD Projekt Red released an anime titled “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” to massive critical acclaim, some even saying that despite it only being ten episodes, it was a nominee for anime of the year. Lifted by its outstanding animation, compelling story, and lovable characters, it was a redemption arc that no one saw coming.
This brought many old and new fans back into the game. It had little to no bugs, and people were not having trouble running it. The game even added references to the anime, even though they weren’t massive additions to the experience, it brought even more fans of the anime to play the game. Word continued to spread about the game, and its player base kept growing. The game even hit its peak for most concurrent players on PC – that being a whopping 830,000 players. Finally, after all this time, CD Projekt Red created the game it had promised nearly a decade earlier.
]]>Langer was previously assistant principal of Conant High School, and just last year replaced former Fremd principal Kurt Tenopir. Since then, he has guided Fremd through the post-peak pandemic school year, as well as initiated clubs such as Latinos Unidos, a Black Leader Achievers Group, and the RISE group.
What was a rewarding moment from your time here at Fremd as principal?
Oh, it’s tough to pick out one. I think just being able to kind of work through some of the challenges of last year in particular. Together with students [and] staff, and to be able to kind of pull off a successful year as a whole was very rewarding and I think what’s been great is this year, to be able to just kind of shift the focus a little bit and make Fremd the place we know it all can and should be, and continue to move forward.
What was a challenging moment or issue you needed to handle as principal?
I think just all the changing landscapes of last year was a difficult thing to navigate and you know, again, just having everybody together was, you know, we were all able to make it successful together.
What is your future plan or vision for Fremd?
I’m lucky. We have unbelievable staff. We have unbelievable students. We have a great community, so I walked into a great position, a great school. What I would like to be able to do is just continue to make Fremd a more inviting place where everybody feels valued, seen, heard. I think we do a lot of great things with a lot of students, and I just want to make those opportunities available for everybody.
After being the principal for Fremd for a year, do you recognize any future areas of focus? If so, what measures are going to be taken?
The other day I had my first meeting of my principal’s advisory board, and one of the things that definitely came out of it loud and clear is that students want to talk more about how to get better school spirit in our building, how to make the building even safer for students in terms of both physical safety and social-emotional well being. And then the third one was better communication. So some of those are easier said than done than others, but I think working, again, collaboratively with our staff, our students to make those things happen is important. I think school spirit is definitely something that I want to continue to push for.
And lastly, do you have anything you’d like to share with the Fremd community?
Just thank you for welcoming me in. It’s been a wonderful year, better than I could ever have expected and I just look forward to just, you know, continuing to help to grow as a person, as a principal, but also to help Fremd overall.
]]>The book tells of a girl who is locked inside an asylum because of a “gift” she can’t control as The Reestablishment (a totalitarian government) that takes over the world in an effort to restore the world to what it once was. One individual’s decision to bring her into the folds of the organization starts a chain reaction of events set to reimagine the world.
In general, the book was a shorter read that was enjoyable. The reader is able to connect to Juilette through a first person omniscient point of view that allows the reader to see all of her thoughts. Over time, the shift from a scared girl who hasn’t spoken in almost a year due to being plagued with regret to working through her fears and trying to reconnect with herself. While the plot dealt with some heavier themes like war and the world might be ending, the way they were presented allowed for the ability of a quicker read that stayed relevant without weighing down the story. Heavier scenes like the battles were followed by lighter scenes that moved the character development along effectively.
The book’s dystopian roots seem very reminiscent of many household names of the genre without feeling overly repetitive. As the joke always seems to go, YA dystopian books always have a main character who is orphaned or cut off from their parents and that reigns true in this series. It doesn’t feel as token as others, but do expect many common tropes and themes throughout.
This book was a little rough to read, not because of the content or the plot – both were engaging. Instead, it was the creative ways Mafi conveyed Juliette’s struggles that made it difficult. In moments when Juliette is thinking, thoughts she doesn’t want to are slashed through on the page. Another aspect of differing fonts was when writing happened it appeared italicized contrasting the standard font. Both of these creative approaches made it somewhat hard to read.
Overall it’s a 3.5/5 stars since it wasn’t super challenging and stayed engaging enough to read the next two novellas and full-length novels. It’s worth checking out for fans of dystopian novels, superheroes, and YA books.
]]>Like most hurricanes, Hurricane Ian started off as a small tropical storm but quickly spiraled into a Category 4 hurricane. It first struck the Caribbean, where it was still classified as a Category 3 hurricane, but quickly transitioned once it moved through Cuba. It destroyed entire towns, roadways, homes, and caused a total of 200 million in damages in Cuba alone.
Before the storm hit the Caribbean, counties had to prepare for the worst. Starting in mid-September, an alert of a major tropical storm was issued to millions. Soon after, shelters were set up to help those especially vulnerable to the storm and food had to be stored somewhere the storm couldn’t reach. Most people either had to find a way to protect themselves, or had to evacuate and leave everything behind. Unfortunately, many were left stranded due to roadways getting blocked and airports being shut down.
On Sept. 28, Hurricane Ian caused a major power outage in Cuba. For two days, millions of Cubans had no electricity at all. People didn’t have access to the Internet and light and were unable to perform daily tasks, causing an outrage. Protests started forming, and within a few days, electricity was finally restored.
Before the power outage in Cuba, Florida was in a state of emergency. Several shelters were formed and several millions were ordered to evacuate. While some were able to escape the storm, others hoarded the necessary supplies to survive. Schools were closed and many airports were forced to stop operations for the duration of the storm.
Early in October, a total of 126 people died in the storm. The places that were hit by the storm took devastating damage, causing many to be stranded or missing. Sources say that Hurricane Ian was one of the most fatal hurricanes to ever hit Florida.
During this time, many relief efforts started. Donations of food, clothes, money, toiletries, helped those in need and volunteers helped at shelters for victims of the storm and provided support. These efforts proved to be effective as many people are starting to transition back, although there is still a long way until things can go back to normal.
]]>Smith explains that he actually never intended to become an administrator.
“I knew in high school that I wanted to become a high school English teacher,” Smith said.
As someone who loved reading, writing, and debating, he wanted to pursue a career involving those skills. However, his plans did not work out as he expected. One day, he was eating dinner with his in-laws when, out of curiosity, his mother-in-law asked if he was interested in becoming an administrator. In the spur of the moment, he quickly agreed.
“I’m grateful for her planting that seed because then I really got reflecting, like, would I be interested in going down that path?” Smith recounted.
Prior to joining the staff at William Fremd High School, Smith worked as an educator in District 86 for fifteen years. He was an English teacher at Hinsdale Central High School for ten years, and after that, he became the English assistant department chair at Hinsdale South. Soon, he was appointed Dean of Students, preparing him for his future role as assistant principal.
Outside of school hours, Smith enjoys several leisure activities, including reading, writing, watching soccer, and— a new hobby— mental cycling. He defines this as “sustainability of exercise long term,” which allows him to decompress and reflect on life. He also loves long bike rides and being outdoors. Nonetheless, his top priority is spending time with his wife and three children, which he often sets aside time to appreciate.
When asked about his time at Fremd, Smith replied, “Everyone’s been very welcoming.”
During the first few weeks, he met countless new people, including students and staff members. On top of that, he frequently lost his way around the school. However, the students were always willing to point him in the right direction. The Fremd community has been very patient and hospitable; he has never felt like an outsider.
“There’s a friendliness that I feel,” Smith said.
On the first day of school, Smith held the door open for students leaving the building, and as one of the students walked through, he thanked Smith. It was the first time someone had caught him off guard. What were they thanking him for? Was it for simply doing his job? At Fremd, he found himself comfortable and in a judgment-free space.
“I feel like I’ve been welcomed and now I feel a part of that sense of community,” Smith said.
During the next couple of years, Smith hopes to add value to the school by advocating for equity and inclusivity. He also plans to increase student engagement in the classroom by collaborating with teachers. One method they would be implementing is the adaptation of instructional practices. He feels it is critical to developing students in academics and their overall character. Most importantly, he wants to create a positive and productive atmosphere, helping each individual achieve and reach their full potential.
Smith envisions himself as “someone who can be a resource.” He adds, “Someone who will use my position of power and authority as an administrator to open doors for others to support others’ hopes and dreams.”
He is willing to listen to each student’s thoughts and feelings but will enforce consequences if necessary. That does not mean that he will be a harsh hammer, judging what’s right and wrong. Every tough decision he makes comes from a position of mindfulness, and the last thing he wants is to be feared. His primary role is to support and help students unlock their potential for success.
“I’m not big, bad, and scary. I promise,” he laughs.
Smith hopes to help all students become comfortable, included, and successful during their time at Fremd. Let us welcome him to the Fremd community!
]]>The student debt relief plan will provide targeted debt relief, helping make a more manageable student loan system, and protect people who cannot complete repayment. Many borrowers have struggled with the cumulative impact of high-interest rates. The repayment plan pause was extended until December 31, 2022. Borrowers will pay 5% of their discretionary monthly income on student loans, a difference from the previous 10%, and borrowers making minimum wage will be protected from repayment and monthly interest.
Furthermore, borrowers with an annual income of $125,000 for individuals, and $250,000 for spouses or heads of households, will be eligible to receive up to $20,000 in debt cancellation for Pell Grant recipients. Non-Pell Grant recipients who fall within the same income range will be able to receive up to $10,000 in debt cancellation. These debt cancellations would not apply to privately held college loans or borrowers with FFEL or Perkins loans not held by the Department of Education by Sept. 29 of this year.
As President Biden noted in his speech to reporters, the cost of college has increased to a great extent, and federal student aid has not been able to keep up with the increase.
“The cost of education beyond high school has gone up significantly. The total cost to attend a public 4-year university has tripled – nearly tripled in 40 years – tripled,” Biden said.
The repercussions of attending college, with the addition of possibly dropping out due to the cost of attendance, are a significant burden on many students. For instance, according to an analysis by the Department of Education of a recent cohort of undergraduates, nearly one-third of borrowers have debt but no degree. With the different programs put in place by the new student relief plan, the administration plans to provide borrowers of all backgrounds with the help they need to finish repayment of their student loans.
As President Biden noted, the student debt relief plan addresses an increasingly significant problem for millions of American households.
“I believe my plan is responsible and fair. It focuses on the benefit of the middle-class and working families, it helps both current and future borrowers, and it will fix a badly broken system,” Biden said.
Although the administration has argued that there are many advantages to the new student debt relief plan, it has received blowback from critics arguing that it does not address some significant issues.
One major issue is the increased rate of tuition. Many critics argue that although the plan will address parts of the current debt crisis, it will not fix the tuition cost of post-secondary education, which has seen significant increases in tuition over the past few decades. Critics also claim that this new plan could add to the tuition cost of colleges and universities.
Additionally, several critics have argued that fairness is a significant issue in the student debt relief plan. There is room for borrowers with the potential for high-earning jobs to get debt relief when it is not necessarily needed as much as for other borrowers. Critics also argue that this is unfair to people who paid significantly less tuition for college (like at an in-state university or community college) or did not attend college.
Criticism against the plan has resulted in a lawsuit from several GOP lead states regarding the student loan forgiveness plan. A conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, claimed they would also file a lawsuit against the policy because it was unfair to Americans who never attended college or had already paid off their student loans. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a large advocate for the lawsuit, commented on how “slackers” could quickly obtain $10,000-$20,000.
“If you are that slacker barista who wasted seven years in college studying completely useless things, now has loans, and can’t get a job, Joe Biden just gave you 20 grand,” Cruz said during an interview.
These remarks received much attention and blowback, especially from current borrowers. One of the more notable responses came from Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT).
“Senator Cruz, let me introduce to you a group of nurses and working-class Americans who, in many cases, are working two jobs and over 40 hours a week just to pay off their student debt and pay for the basic necessities of life,” Sanders said, in response to the comments made by Ted Cruz.
Although many borrowers recognize that the student debt relief plan doesn’t have a substantial long-term impact, it somewhat alleviates the current problems.
“The freeze on payments that came with Covid-19 was instrumental in me being able to actually build both a solid ‘rainy day’ and general savings balance, but the complete cancellation of debt would have made a far greater impact,” Morgan Schafer said, a 31-year-old, who has paid off $38,000 of her student loans.
]]>The show’s initial moments have been almost identical to the source material. With expertly crafted scenes and an energetic soundtrack, the intense action sequences rise to a new level of ferocity. Animation as a medium allows for more opportunities to dive into the more horrific aspects of the story (like Denji’s body mutilation), which though still prevalent in the manga, might not have been as hard-hitting unless brought to motion.
So far, the series’ loyalty to the manga creates anticipation for just how berserk a previously seen fight scene can get. But for those unfamiliar with the source, the potential for unknown violent spectacles is equally compelling.
The show’s main appeal is an eccentric plot bolstered by its absurdity. Weirdness isn’t something it scares away from (considering our protagonist now has a chainsaw sticking out of his neck), but an unapologetic embrace of these quirks helps it stand out.
Unfortunately, starting this ecstatic also sets them up for some potential disappointment. An enjoyable introduction demands future episodes to maintain, if not improve, the already established standard of entertainment. Hopefully, the show is holding off on unleashing its true potential and will use the premier as a mere jumping-off point into future episodes.
The premiere skillfully captures the ambiance of the manga in a way that makes it engaging for new audience members while also delivering on the expectations of the more seasoned viewers. It’ll be challenging for them to amp it up going forward, but it’s hard to determine the fate of an entire series just by its first episode. A gripping introduction with plenty left to explain initiates some much-deserved excitement for what’s to come.
]]>Each application includes various factors like transcripts, essays, and recommendation letters. Because there are so many more factors to consider when questioning whether to admit a student or not, it has been even more challenging to guarantee that one will be accepted, contributing to the immense stress on students.
For many students, getting into a good college paves the way for working a better job in the future. The prestige of colleges truly matters today, while in the past, they didn’t matter as much because there weren’t that many college choices, and state colleges felt like the only option. Students feel anxiety when completing college applications, rewriting essays dozens of times, and double-checking that everything is as perfect as possible.
The pressure and anxiety associated with applying to colleges have inevitably altered the purpose of school and learning in general. Peer pressure in schools has caused students to pile on as many AP classes as their friends or classmates are while suffering from the extreme workload that comes with many of them and staying up late at night. In schools like Fremd, it’s easy to be sucked into this cycle of schoolwork. With college applications, students are pressured to apply to more and more colleges because of extremely low acceptance rates, filling up their time with their applications and writing essays.
After all, students who are still teenagers will be in the process of finding their interests. They should certainly be allocated the time to be free and explore different career paths. However, this can be tough when also being hit with homework assignments and studying for tests to keep their grades high enough.
It can be challenging to find an escape from the workload of school on top of the time commitment for college applications. In order for colleges to allow students to focus on themselves, they can focus on changing application processes to make them less complicated and stressful for students. Even after the Covid-19 pandemic, some schools, including Ivy-leagues, have continued to stay test-optional. Colleges should look to compare students in different ways, like based on their interests and what they prioritize, instead of requiring certain GPAs.
Originally created in 2006, the Spanish exchange program kicked off when Spanish exchange students flew in for the first time since 2019. Ever since COVID-19, the Spanish exchange program was put on a temporary halt, but now, the students are back and ready to experience the USA.
However, there is a noticeable age difference between the Spanish exchange students and the students here at Fremd. This is because in Spain, mandatory education ends at 16, whereas in the United States, high school continues until 18. As a result, the students abroad tend to be from the ages of 12-16.
Fremd junior and student host Kayla Ollie describes her experience with the exchange program.
¨I was really nervous at first, and worried about the language barrier/ communication gap. It was also hard to get to know the student at first, because they were only 13,” Ollie said. “But after we got to know each other, it was really fun talking about how different our culture was, and how Americans eat really unhealthily, which I thought was pretty funny.”
While the original arrival of the exchange student into an unfamiliar environment may be uncomfortable for both sides, bonds quickly form, leading to long lasting relationships. These relationships transcend boundaries and lead many students, including Ollie to form deep friendships and share special memories with their new friends from across the world.
Spanish exchange coordinator Lissette Parreno details her favorite parts of the program, from both sides – in Spain, and in America.
“I really enjoy seeing the places we learn about and read about, and showing it to my students in Spain. It’s very surreal and a totally different experience to see it live and in person.” Parreno said. “Back at home, although it takes a lot of time to set up the program, it’s very satisfying and rewarding to see the results pay off.”
Parreno also mentions a few hardships associated with the program, and explains the intricacies of them.
“While I’ve been working for the exchange with the same teacher for a while, it’s very hard to find people willing to host,” Parreno said. “Logistics are the hardest part. Matching up kids based on likes, dislikes, and allergies, and making sure they form a connection is always extremely difficult.”
Difficulties aside, the Spanish Exchange Program bridges Fremd students with others around the world.
]]>English teacher Eric Schaefer explains that Myers displays enthusiasm in the classroom and consistently makes thoughtful contributions to class discussions.
“Jacob Myers absolutely illustrates the comment, ‘Pleasure to have in class,’” Schaefer said. “He is usually one of the first in class to offer positive feedback to his peers.”
Myers explains that he enjoys the lively conversations in his English class, and sees them as a tool to develop skills for success.
“I’ve learned to become more confident in sharing my voice and more skilled in conveying my interpretations of a subject respectfully,” Myers said. “English class will assist me in any future collaborative occupations or activities I take up, as well in the giving of day-to-day motivational reminders.”
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Teeming with mystery and interpersonal conflicts, Paper Girls was the kind of show that needed multiple seasons to tell its full story, but the expectation that shows must perform exceedingly well during its first season hurts creators’ abilities to tell stories they want. More than being able to see Paper Girls fully realized was its significance to the communities they represented. It’s so rare to see teenagers cast by actual teenagers, and much less ones portrayed by people of color and other minorities. Being able to have a show like Paper Girls is so meaningful, especially to see a Chinese teenager having a prominent role in the story.
There are a number of reasons why Paper Girls may not have done as successfully as it could have. For one, the show aired on July 29, weeks after the fourth season of Netflix’s Stranger Things was released, with a view count reaching over 1.4 billion hours. Despite having the potential to rival Stranger Things in terms of a dark sci-fi story centered around teenagers, fans reeling from the show’s aftermath continued to rewatch episodes even after the season was finished. The lack of promotional material leading up to its release also could have damaged its success. Compared to another show on the platform, LOTR: Rings of Power, which received a more robust marketing campaign, may have overshadowed the release of Paper Girls.
These reasons could have been handled differently with more support from Amazon Prime. For example, the release of Paper Girls could have been pushed back, or the show could have received more marketing and advertising. All to say that another reason why Paper Girls might not have succeeded was Amazon Prime’s lack of faith in the show.
For fans of Paper Girls, there is still hope that the show may continue on, with Legendary TV potentially picking up the series instead. But other shows with diverse representation haven’t been as fortunate in finding an alternative streaming platform. Shows such as I Am Not Okay With This, Gentleman Jack, and Julie and the Phantoms have all been canceled after a single season for low viewership, despite having a passionate fan base online.
Felicia D. Henderson, showrunner of First Kill, points to poor marketing for the show’s performance, “The art for the initial marketing was beautiful. I think I expected that to be the beginning and that the other equally compelling and important elements of the show — monsters vs. monster hunters, the battle between two powerful matriarchs, etc. — would eventually be promoted, and that didn’t happen.”
This trend of series with diverse casts and storylines being canceled prematurely due to low viewership is worrying, especially as many of these shows were not properly advertised by the services. This limits the amount of positive representation for marginalized communities, and also sends the message that future attempts at diverse storylines will not be successful in the long-term. How can smaller shows gain a larger following if streaming platforms aren’t offering the support needed for their success?
The frequency to which cancellations occur make it difficult to invest in a new show for fear of a premature ending by a streaming service. It makes it especially difficult to trust streaming services known for canceling new shows. And frankly, shows with diverse perspectives made by marginalized creators deserve to have their stories told in its full form, not cut short because of being a potential loss for a streaming service.
The need for media representation to reflect the world’s diversity is becoming more important than ever before, and now marginalized creators have more opportunities to tell perspectives that haven’t been shown on screen before. If streaming platforms want to truly celebrate diversity, they have to do more than having a section dedicated to the current heritage month; they need to provide more support to marginalized creators so that their shows can succeed.
]]>Two Perennial Title Favorites
To no one’s surprise, the Golden State Warriors are poised to make another deep play-off run this year. Despite losing some key role players during the off-season, I honestly think the Warriors are going to be even better than they were a year ago. Not only is big man James Wiseman returning from injury, but young players Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are only going to get better and better. Combine that with the fire power of Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole and the defensive IQ of Draymond Green, and that rounds out to a pretty stacked roster for the defending champs. Oh yeah, and that Stephen Curry guy is pretty good too.
From the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks are the juggernaut to look out for. The main reason for this is pretty simple, and that’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Arguably the most dominant player in the NBA, Antetokounmpo impacts every single play in which he’s out on the court. As good as the Greek Freak is, the Bucks aren’t a one man show. All-Star Khris Middleton and defensive maestro Jrue Holiday make up the rest of Milwaukee’s big three and both of them play a huge part in winning games. Centers Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez and guards Grayson Allen and Wesley Matthews will all find ways to step up this season. Barring any major injuries, the Milwaukee Bucks are in a good position to capture some of that same magic from two years back.
One Darkhorse Title Contender
One team that I think is flying under everyone’s radar coming into this season is the New Orleans Pelicans. At the start of last year, people were assuming the absolute worst for the Pelicans once word of Zion Williamson’s injury situation got out. However, with some major help from the late-season acquisition of C.J. McCollum, the boys down in NOLA were able to sneak into the playoffs and even give the first-seeded Phoenix Suns a run for their money. With the return of a fully healthy Williamson, who could easily cement himself as a top ten player this season, the sky’s the limit for this team. Star forward Brandon Ingram is the third of New Orlean’s fearsome trio alongside Williamson and McCollum, with Herb Jones and Jonas Valanciunas completing the projected starting five. Combine that with a deep bench headlined by Devonte’ Graham and Jose Alvarado, and they’re looking pretty dangerous. At the end of the day the Pelicans have the star power, defense, rebounding, and scrappiness it takes to compete with the top dogs of the NBA. I’m saying it now, a lot of people are going to be surprised with where they end up.
A Stacked MVP Race
All the usual suspects appear at the top of the list when it comes to projections for the 2022-2023 MVP Award. Will Nikola Jokic win his third straight? Will Giannis Antetokounmpo win the third of his career? Will Joel Embiid finally get his shot after falling just short all these years? While I could see all of these outcomes happening, my pick for this year’s MVP is Luka Dončić, point guard for the Dallas Mavericks. Following last season’s Western Conference Finals finish for the Mavs, Dončić proved to everyone that he was enough to push a team through a play-off run, no matter the supporting cast. Despite a disappointing off-season overall, acquisitions of Christian Wood and JaVale McGee will help strengthen the Dallas frontcourt. The departure of Jalen Brunson via free agency may hurt the team as a whole, but it frees up a lot of touches for Dončić, who already gets more than his fair share. Honestly a 30 point, 10 rebound, 9 assist type of statline wouldn’t surprise me at all coming from the 23 year old superstar. Not only will he have the stats and team record needed in order to be awarded the MVP, Dončić won’t have any form of voter fatigue dragging him down. However if it isn’t Luka, or any of the names listed above, look for players like Zion Williamson and Kawhi Leonard to toss their hats into the ring.
Author Yoshihiro Togashi has been writing and drawing the “Hunter x Hunter” series since March of 1998, but over the years it has taken a toll on him. It isn’t uncommon for other manga series to take a break or hiatus for a month or two, whether that be for health related issues or simply needing a break. However, since 2006 Togashi has taken many lengthy breaks, with the most recent one being the longest.
The current arc, “The Succession War,” started as of chapter 349. This particular arc follows one of the series’ four protagonists, Kurapika. Aboard a submarine with its destination set for “The Dark Continent,” the submarine is also the home of the war between the 14 princes of the Kakin Empire, where only one prince will leave the vessel alive. The last 40 chapters have been packed full of action and suspense, only for the suspense to be amplified with Togashi’s hiatus.
Togashi announced that he would be taking an “indefinite hiatus” in Chapter 390, which came out on Nov. 26, 2018. Though the reasoning was not initially stated, it did not take long for the news and the fans to find out Togashi was suffering from severe back pain, which inhibited him from working on the manga series. Since then, rumors have been flying around, some despairing that “Hunter x Hunter” would never return. Some others say his wife, Naoko Takeuchi, who is the author of the also very popular manga and anime series “Sailor Moon,” would take over the manga. Finally, on May 24 of this year, there was an update.
Togashi, who has been mostly radio silent since the start of the hiatus, made a Twitter account. His first tweet is as shown:
The caption roughly translates to “4 more episodes for now.” Fans have taken this to mean that he has finished six new chapters for the manga, and plans to finish four more. For a total of ten new chapters for its return.
He has posted several more tweets with updates on how he is feeling, and updates on the state of “Hunter x Hunter”. And as of Sept. 19, he officially said in a tweet that the manga will be returning on Nov. 4. So for the patient fans of the series who have waited four years, just two short months to go.
]]>The first step is to recognize the choices you make each day and how some may negatively impact you. Dr. Stephanie Collier, instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, states that we are motivated by negative habits because they encourage the brain to release dopamine, pushing us to stay positive. We get the satisfaction of being temporarily rewarded by dopamine, influencing us to revert to that bad habit. It’s crucial to understand why we trap ourselves in the cycle of bad habits, so we can start implementing exemplary practices in our lives.
During the summer, my screen time drastically increased, quickly consuming all of my free time. With the start of school, I acknowledged this harmful habit and brainstormed solutions to replace it with a healthier routine. For example, I decided to add a screen limit for commonly used apps on my phone, such as TikTok. This restriction helped me limit my screen time and use my time after school more productively.
The trick to creating new, healthy habits is to follow The Habit Loop, discussed in The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, in identifying a cue, a routine, and a reward for your habit.
A cue is likely either a location, a time of day, a person, an emotion, or a preceding action. The signal for my habit of constantly using my phone was an emotional state. At any time of the day when I was feeling bored, I would open my phone and scroll on TikTok. Unfortunately, that one minute of boredom often leads to hours of mindless scrolling. You must establish a new approach to your cue and change your habits. Instead of engaging in that harmful habit, discover another action you can participate in to satisfy that cue.
A routine is made up of several habits that you are accustomed to. I was accustomed to scrolling through TikTok on my phone every day because I always had easy access to my phone regardless of where I was.
A reward is an immediate source of comfort or joy through engaging in that habit. The prize of scrolling on TikTok for me was temporarily curing my feeling of boredom.
How can you apply The Habit Loop to your success in school? School has many different habits that can help, including organization, balance, study methods, socialization, etc.
Time management is essential to get tasks done promptly. These tasks might include homework, chores, extracurricular activities, work, sports, etc. Budgeting time is a healthy habit that can be enforced into your daily routine by using The Habit Loop.
A critical study habit is creating flashcards to memorize vocabulary words and phrases. I kept flashcards by my bed to remind myself to look through them. The cue is the accessible location of the flashcards and my desire to learn these words. The routine was studying the flashcards almost every night, leading up to an exam. The reward was remembering all the vocabulary words and doing well on that test.
Creating healthy habits this school year can help you reach your goals and improve yourself by increasing your self-confidence as you keep up with these habits. These good habits will grow stronger over time and become automatic responses, allowing you to better yourself every day without giving them a second thought.
]]>Shruti:
Where were you on Aug 26, 2022, when Fremd went into a false lockdown? Were you sitting in class, staring at the clock? Were you walking back from getting Tre Amici’s to celebrate it being Friday? Were you in the bathroom, trying to find your hall pass so a monitor wouldn’t assume you were a threat to school safety?
Fremd is notorious for our weekly check of the Palatine Fire Department’s response time. Each time the beeping starts, the student body strolls leisurely out of the building, groaning, “Not again!”
We typically plan and notify students ahead of time for a lockdown drill, but the initial, unsaid assumption in every student’s mind that day was that a gunman had entered the school.
The fear that gnawed at us for the entire lockdown is familiar in parts. It’s a sibling of the pain that we felt after hearing of the Highland Park shooting, or a distant aunt of the shock we felt as we found out about Parkland.
After years of watching news reporters stand outside hollowed-out concert arenas, high schools, and public places, capitalizing on the pain of others, what are we doing?
How close does it need to get? For us to vote? For us to report our peers that say unforgettable things? For us to start putting a child’s life above the gun lobby?
We don’t need to be proud that we can quickly fall in place after hearing the lockdown alarm ring. This generation has been practicing that for years while watching the news and identifying the exits out of school auditoriums. This accidental lockdown alarm should be our final sign – it’s time to progress from response to prevention.
Siya:
As I sat huddled in a corner, I heard different responses from classmates.
“Must be another student starting something.”
“I just texted my mom.”
Sitting in the middle, I was having trouble with what to believe. The entirety of less than five minutes felt like an eternity while I tried to find the perfect thought to have at the moment. I didn’t want to be too relaxed in fear that an actual intruder entered Fremd, but I also didn’t want to be scared only to face the embarrassment of “falling for it.”
Drills and accidents prepare us alike. While the accidental alarm on Aug 26 was nothing short of traumatic for some students, it may have been the most effective way to test our response to worse situations.
When drills are planned, and teachers are alerted, they prepare with an escape route. Aug 26 tested teachers’ true ability to get their students to safety while panicking. On the other hand, students had no previous exposure to information about the alarm so their reaction was genuine as well.
While accidental alarms are terrifying and should never occur again in the best interests of students and faculty, drills are essential. When implemented correctly, drills help us prepare for a day when it wasn’t set off by accident.
]]>The most noticeable change is the ability to express yourself more through customization. At the beginning of the game, you get the chance to start off as an octoling, different to “Splatoon 2” where you only had the choice to be an inkling. There are new, more aesthetically pleasing hairstyles and eye colors.
A completely new addition to customization is your locker in the game lobby. You can earn stickers, statues and many more little trinkets to add into your locker through the campaign or through the catalog, which is similar to a battle pass that is given to you by one of the NPC characters. It’s viewable by all players and it’s entertaining to see what players can come up with when given free will customization.
Concerning in-game customization, there are so many new things that you are able to do. You can earn emotes through the catalog which are equipable for a flashy move after winning a game. The most noticeable in-game customization is your gamer tag and the power to change it to however you’re feeling at the moment. You can completely change the name you’re being viewed as, and your title. For example, you can customize your title to be “Comfy-Cozy Torpedo User” or “Rookie Plumber.” These updates make your character more personal to you than in the last game.
As soon as you finish customizing your character, you get launched into Splatsville, which in “Splatoon 2” was a simple town design but now is an extravagant city. The world building is incredible – it leaves out no details and walking around in it is delightful. You get to see other players you’ve played with standing or sitting around, as you used to in “Splatoon 2,” but now the idle stances are more pleasing to look at.
It can get a little confusing to navigate when you first start the game, but it gets easy to maneuver. Although, if you don’t feel like walking around to get to an area, there’s a map you can access that will easily teleport you to your desired location.
The actual gameplay is very similar to “Splatoon 2” with little additions. Queuing up for games is more enjoyable in comparison to the screen in the last game that just displayed “Waiting for players.” Now while you are waiting for a match to start, you can practice your shooting in the training area and even view the players you’re in the match with do the same.
“Splatoon 3” brings you twelve maps, seven ones from the previous game, and five new ones. It keeps nostalgia while still keeping players engaged with the new environment. To go hand in hand with the new maps, a handful of new weapons and ultimates are added to spice things up. The most notable weapon is the tri-stinger, a crossbow/bow and arrow mash up which is a totally new concept to the game.
An essential part of the game is Salmon Run that was brought over from “Splatoon 2”. It wouldn’t be a “Splatoon” game without it. Five new salmonoid bosses have been added to the game mode, the most significant and unique one being the Cohozuna. It comes up as a random extra wave at the end of completing the usual three waves of bosses, and has a special way of defeating it. Instead of using the gold eggs that you usually collect for points, you throw them at the Cohozuna to defeat him. This makes the repetitive game more interesting and unpredictable.
Lastly, and the most different incorporation to the game is a new mini game called Table Turf. The best way to explain it is if Tetris and Filler had a baby. You fill out a game board with certain shapes that come from cards you can earn in many ways. You can customize your own deck to fit how you play the game. It comes as an extra way to earn more equipable items. It’s similar to the Dance Dance Revolution mini game in Splatoon but with customization and rewards.
“Splatoon 3” is perfect for old and new “Splatoon” players, as it still holds the familiarity of the old game while still keeping players engaged by fun additions.
]]>Tana Bach lives in a world where the threat of vampires and the Cold virus (the vampirism causing sickness) are very real. Individuals who fall into these categories are sent to Coldtowns, walled cities that keep vampires in and humans outside safe. After a sundown party goes wrong she finds all of her peers to be victims of vampires except for her ex Aiden and a mysterious vampire named Gavriel. The novel follows the loyal teen as she attempts to come to terms with the new reality she’s in and rectify past decisions.
One of the ways she does this is by raising the stakes and making the threat of death imminent. In Tana’s case, things she believes are essential to survive inside the brutal walls of the Coldtown are consistently stripped away. Once an individual enters the gates of a Coldtown it’s nearly impossible to leave unless a special marker is obtained. These are retrieved either by personally turning in a vampire or purchasing one from an accredited bounty hunter for a high price.
Tana lacks the resources for the second option and decides to turn over her new found ally for a way out. Once inside, betrayal runs rampant as news of an infamous vampire and his henchman set their sights on several elite inside the walls. By doing this the risks felt real and that if plans A, B, and C didn’t work out there was nothing. Another thing that occurs throughout the story is that the idea of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer sticks out here, as Tana never knows who is going to betray her next and who will become an unlikely ally for a moment when startling new information is revealed at the climax.
Black’s worldbuilding for this novel revolves around a dystopian reality, where society functions only during the day because monsters crawl around in the dark looking for their next victim. The story starts out in a smaller town scene that seems typical of a rural area where everyone knows each other. Later on the story shifts to a larger more post-apocalyptic city, where the elite throw everlasting parties in their palaces and a few streets down many adventure seekers find themselves living on the fringes of society.
There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this novel. Here and there a couple scenes felt rushed or unnecessary. For example, many of the beginning scenes with their journey to the Coldtown could’ve been summed up into one longer more consistent scene than constantly flipping settings. Other moments seemed a little rushed when new characters were introduced only for them to become irrelevant a few pages later. The ending was good in a frustrating way because it leaves you wanting more.
Overall, I’d give it a four out of five stars because it was entertaining, the world building was intriguing, and was different from other vampire books without losing the Holly Black style of writing. If you’re looking for a book and are already a Holly Black fan, enjoy paranormal fantasy, or a quick read I think this would be worth a try.
]]>With a returning roster of veteran swimmers who know what it takes to compete at the state level, Fremd boys swimming looks to continue upon their previous success in the 2022-23 season.
During last year’s MSL Championship, Fremd capped off a successful season with a 3rd place finish, earning 172 points. This tournament saw them cruise past many notable teams such as Buffalo Grove and Rolling Meadows, who had given Fremd trouble in prior seasons.
These points came off of many successful swims from the entirety of the team rather than efforts from one singular swimmer. Senior Kurt Pennel attributes the team’s success to their overall cohesiveness.
“It was a team effort, it was really fun to see all of us step up and race fast especially at such a high pressure meet,” Pennel said.
With this result, Fremd headed into the sectional tournament with high expectations, seeking a state qualification. They walked out of this tournament with five swimmers qualifying for state, and looked to make a name for themselves at the state competition. Many swimmers made improvements in races such as the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.
In the upcoming season, Fremd looks to build upon their previous success, returning with strong depth. When asked about intangibles that set their team apart, Pennel discussed their off seasons spent improving together.
“A large number of us work year round on the same team, or are at least competing. We all have big goals and our chemistry pushes us together,“ Pennel said.
Team chemistry in any sport is an integral part of success. Pennel mentioned that the Fremd boys swimming team’s chemistry and similar mindset can prove to be their edge. They work together to achieve the same goal, which is to collectively improve their times and ultimately see greater results.
With many underclassman sprinters and distance swimmers on the rise with consistently improving times, Fremd is poised to make a splash this winter.
]]>This extreme heat results from a “heat dome,” an abnormally concentrated area of high pressure Essentially, the heat dries the soil, eradicating moisture and allowing the sun to more efficiently heat the surface of Earth. Though not too detrimental on its own, the heat dome, combined with the rapid declination of Earth’s health, will be lethal to humans.
In addition to posing serious health risks such as heat stroke and rashes, the heat wave will also increase the chance of wildfires that will worsen California’s ongoing drought crisis, according to the National Weather Service.
Furthermore, as retired climatologist Bill Patzert noted in an interview with Los Angeles Times, another factor that makes this heat wave deadly is the fact that the temperatures drop at night, thus allowing no natural cooling down of the body.
“We’ve always had these systems, but not as frequently, not as intense and not as long-lasting,” Patzert said.
Though the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning only for the week of Labor Day, according to UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain, the heat is expected to be “a long-term event.”
“That’s sort of characteristic of heat domes…Once they develop and become particularly extreme, they kind of become hard to dislodge,” Swain said.
To prepare California for future record-breaking heat waves, on September 9, Governor Gavin Newsom announced his signing of legislation r to protect Californians from the heat waves. This new law reinforces California’s Extreme Heat Action Plan. It was released earlier this year to strengthen the state’s durability and reduce the heat’s negative economic, environmental, and health impacts.
As part of the new legislation, California state representative Luz Rivas will sponsor bill AB 2238, and establish the country’s first extreme heat advance warning system to help Californians better prepare for future heat waves.
Further climate-preparedness efforts proposed by Newsom include an allocation of $864 million to address extreme heat and the implementation of a law that requires counties to allow the community to use the resilience centers to reduce the health impacts during extreme heat events other similar dire conditions.
Though efforts to address global warming are being implemented in California and worldwide, Governor Newsom noted that warmer temperatures are starting to reveal themselves earlier than average.
“California is taking aggressive action to combat the climate crisis and build resilience in our most vulnerable communities, including a comprehensive strategy to protect Californians from extreme heat,” Newsom said. “With lives and livelihoods on the line, we cannot afford to delay.”
]]>Every discovery awaits scientific peer review, which the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) describes on their website as a long quality-control system, allowing experts to peruse the findings before releasing them to the public. However, due to the way that the scientific publication landscape has changed over the past decade, they publish draft articles and images called preprints, which, in short, is a preview stage before the detailed examination. Outside science communities may include discussions about the provided articles that allow experts to use this feedback for written improvements. Starting on Sept. 19, NASA plans to reveal a new Webb image or spectra at least every other week.
On Sept. 6, JWST had caught the largest and brightest star-forming region in the Local Group located only 161,000 light-years away, nicknamed the Tarantula Nebula. A nebula is an enormous cloud of gas and dust that becomes a star-forming region. What is intriguing to astronomers is that this nebula contains a comparable chemical composition to the vast star-forming regions studied at the universe’s ‘cosmic noon’. A cosmic noon is when galaxies suddenly start to form stars faster than usual. In other words, it’s an astronomical star growth spurt. Also, star-forming regions in our Milky Way galaxy are not producing stars at the same intense rate as the Tarantula nebula, and they both contain different chemical compositions.
This makes the Tarantula Nebula the closest example of what is happening in the universe. The official NASA site announced that Webb would continue to provide astronomers opportunities to compare and contrast the star formations in this nebula with Webb’s observations of distant galaxies. Despite all this new information about star formations, the process still contains many mysteries. Most of them are due to the inability to get clear images of the process behind the scenes. JWST is only the first step into rewriting the stellar formation story and revealing a universe never seen before.
On July 12, JWST showed its ability to analyze an exoplanet’s atmosphere more than 1,000 light years away, nicknamed WASP-96 b. WASP-96 b is a hot, puffy, gas giant planet orbiting a Sun-like star, and it is one of more than 5,000 confirmed exoplanets in the Milky Way, located roughly 1,150 light-years away. WASP-96 b orbits extremely close to its sun, completing one orbit every 3 ½ Earth days. These factors, from the short orbital period to the lack of contaminating light from objects nearby in the sky, make WASP-96 b the perfect target for atmospheric observations.
It’s said that Webb, using its enormous 270-square-foot mirror, sensitive detectors, and precise spectrographs, has revealed evidence for clouds, signatures of water, and haze indications on WASP-96 b, all in one single observation. These JWST specs and measurements can be found on the NASA Webb vs. Hubble Telescope comparison webpage. Compared to Hubble through previous observations, these features were believed not to exist until Webb provided a glimpse of the future of exoplanet research using its intense specs and functions. This illustrates how Webb can construct the most detailed (to date) observations of atmospheres hundreds of light-years away.
While the Hubble analyzed numerous exoplanet atmospheres over the past two decades with the first detection of water in 2013, Webb’s clear and immediate observations make a giant leap to characterizing potentially habitable planets beyond Earth. On June 21, Webb measured light from WASP-96 b for 6.4 hours as this exoplanet moved across the star. The outcome is a dimming light curve that contains features we already knew existed from previous observations, like the size and orbit. It did not show hidden details like signatures of water, haze indications, and cloud evidence.
JWST’s extremely detailed abilities provide hints of what the universe has in store for us. Webb will solve mysteries in our solar system, look far beyond distant worlds, and probe the mysterious origins and structures of the universe, all with our place in it.
]]>While some travelers might be picky eaters, most of the time, they simply do not have the curiosity or do not want to take the risk. In the same Jetcost study, the top two reasons why people tended not to try the local cuisine were because they disliked its look or smell or wanted to stick to what they knew. Like the saying, “never judge a book by its cover,” the way to judge food isn’t only by its appearance. Take a durian from Thailand, for example. Its spiky skin can seem menacing and inedible, but the creamy, sweet interior contrasts sharply.
Food is an excellent way to explore the local culture, and it can also have many different roots. An example is macaroni salad. While it is known for being from Hawaii, the origins are Italian, from the pasta, French, from mayonnaise, and possibly German, with the inspiration from potato salad. Trying local foods can allow you to embark on a multi-cuisine journey and explore beyond the cuisines you are comfortable with.
Cuisines can be influenced by cultures and sharply contrast from those in their native locations. We are familiar with sushi rolls when considering Japanese cuisine, but foods like California rolls tend to be adapted to California customers and are generally impossible to find in Japan.
By trying new cuisines and experiences whenever possible, you will never have to regret not doing something or missing out. Trying new things can allow us to expand our minds and learn more about exciting things. Who knows, you might even find yourself trying your new favorite food.
The book fair aims to appeal to as many students as possible by having the books required for certain English classes for all grades and many best-selling books available. All the money from the event goes to Writer’s Week, a celebration of writing that happens in the late winter months that allows students and teachers to share their own stories, as well as bringing writers, artists, and all kinds of influencers to Fremd.
Fremd English teacher and organizer of the book fair for around a decade, Cristina Williamson, expresses the many joys and the connections she makes that come out of the whole event.
“The thing I really like are the interactions I get with parents and students,” Williamson says. “We have volunteers that help run it, and being able to connect and interact with them and helping others is really fun throughout the week”.
Additionally, Williamson addresses the transition coming from the pandemic. She mentions the many setbacks from previous years dealing with supply and demand issues in response to COVID.
“Last year, we had an in-person fair, and we weren’t able to have as many of the high-interest books as we usually get in previous years due to the supply issues,” Williamson said. However, this year, we were able to get the number that we usually get of those best-selling books that are often big-sellers at the book fair”.
Williamson finishes by further reflecting on the effects of the pandemic and the greater appreciation of books that students and faculty have.
“There’s definitely a greater appreciation among teachers and students after remote learning and coming back in-person,” Williamson states. “Being able to go back to the traditions of the book fair is really nice and familiar for us, and many students, teachers, and parents appreciate having those experiences again”.
]]>“We were in the middle of singing a song,” said a Fremd choir student, Nayana, who described sitting with her friends in a small music library, whispering and sharing their fears. “We were nervous,” she said, describing her discussions with people from various classrooms, and how they even listened for gunshots in the now silent school.
Principal Mark Langer mentions that the fear of the situation was increased by the memory of the shooting incidents in Uvalde and Highland Park during the past year.
“I think those two events, not only in closeness in time but the Highland Park event and its closeness to our community just brought it to kind of another level,” Langer said.
A few minutes after the alarm had sounded, Principal Langer announced that the police officers confirmed it was a false alarm. Classes continued as scheduled once administrators notified each classroom.
Science teacher Matthew Hopkins recalls the relief of hearing that the lockdown was an accident.
“It was serious, but it wasn’t actually caused by something malicious or something like an actual school intruder,” he said. “I think the students felt a similar way.”
While many Vikings shared the relief of knowing that there was no real threat, they still struggled to grasp the idea of what could have happened.
“I didn’t really process it until I got home,” said one student, who claimed that the events of the sixth period made it more difficult for her to take a test the next period and that the rest of her day was ruined.
While Principal Langer offered support in both his follow-up announcement and the email he sent to the students and their families, many teens continued discussing the alarm and the panic it caused, reliving their fears and doubts, and often finding that others felt the same.
But despite all of the negative events of this experience, Hopkins believes the lockdown improved the Vikings’ ability to follow lockdown protocols under stress.
“It kind of put our drills to the test that we did the previous week,” Hopkins said. “So I guess it’s a good refresher if anything.”
Throughout the school, students were following directions and teachers were ready to do anything to protect their students.
“I needed to put myself between the door and them,” English teacher Patricia Weidig said
Principal Langer recalls walking through the hall and seeing the lockdown procedures put into action.
“Students were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing,” he said. “Teachers were sweeping the hallway, yelling lockdown, getting anybody who they could into their rooms and then closing their doors, shutting all the lights, and going into a lockdown.”
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DRAMA
“Stranger Things” is something of a fan favorite to win Outstanding Drama, and its cultural impact is certainly impossible to ignore, but the show’s fourth season just wound up feeling very much like everything that came before it. At the same time, Netflix’s “Squid Game,” shocked audiences as the newest international breakout hit. The South Korean survival show received somewhat high ratings, but its status as a five-time Emmy nominee is unwarranted. When it’s being put up against other outstanding shows, it seems out of place.
On the other hand, the landmark final season of “Better Call Saul” has some considering the show better than its predecessor “Breaking Bad,” which is no small feat, and the compliments are undoubtedly deserved. Much of the show’s success can be attributed to Bob Odenkirk, who’s competing in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama category for his layered and heart-wrenching portrayal of the familiar lawyer’s fall from grace.
Zendaya is certainly everyone’s favorite to win Lead Actress here for her performance as a student struggling with addiction in “Euphoria.” In fact, she became the youngest person to ever win an Emmy in this category last year for the same role, and has outdone herself in the show’s second season. That being said, it’s hard to overlook Laura Linney’s stunning, dramatic performance in the final season of Netflix’s “Ozark,” in which she took the already complicated character of Wendy Byrde to new heights.
Syndey Sweeney as the disastrous Cassie Howard has been one of the most talked about spectacles this year. However, her ability to be melodramatic isn’t enough to justify a win as Supporting Actress. On the other hand, Sarah Snook, having already won this year’s Golden Globes and Critic’s Choice awards for her nuanced portrayal of Shiv Roy, presents herself as one of the main contenders for this category. In a similar vein is Snook’s co-star and Supporting Actor nominee, Kieran Culkin, who displayed a surprisingly subdued new dimension of his typically boisterous character in the third season of “Succession.”
COMEDY
“Ted Lasso” may have won Outstanding Comedy at the 2021 Emmys, but NBC’s breakout hit “Abbott Elementary” is a formidable opponent, as well as our favorite to win. “Abbott” is viewed as something of a successor to “The Office,” sharing its mockumentary format, and has proved itself to be one of the more contemporary breakout sitcoms around, and also won multiple achievements for the Creative Arts Emmys, which occurred on Sept. 4.
Jason Sudeikis is undoubtedly a favorite to win Lead Actor for his role as a rustic football coach out of his element after winning in the same role in 2021. However, this year he finds himself up against Bill Hader, whose performance as the titular assassin-turned-actor in “Barry” has scored him a win for every season of the show. While both shows don’t seem to be slowing down any time soon, it’s looking like Hader may narrowly pull out a win.
Out of the many actors nominated for Supporting Actor, two seem to be very obvious standouts – Anthony Carrigan of “Barry” and Tyler James Williams of “Abbott Elementary,” two actors who have found themselves on opposite sides of the acting spectrum. While Carrigan is much more animated in his role as the iconic NoHo Hank (for which he scored a nomination in 2019), newcomer Williams has brought a charming deadpan personality to “Abbott.” With “Barry” being such a favorite in many of its nominated categories, it seems to be the comedy to watch out for this year.
LIMITED SERIES
2022 has proven itself to be a big year for biographies, as four of the five nominated limited series are based on real-life stories. However, when it comes to the overall best, the biggest standout has to be the standalone fiction – HBO Max’s “The White Lotus.” Notable for its ostentatious ensemble of characters, “Lotus” dominated almost every category it was eligible for. While the show’s supporting cast, Murray Bartlet (Supporting Actor) and Jennifer Coolidge (Supporting Actress) show promise to win in their respective categories.
While the dark comedy is almost everyone’s top choice for Outstanding Limited Series, Hulu’s “Dopesick,” an addictive historical fiction series on the opioid epidemic, received praise for performances by Lead Actor nominee Michael Keaton.
Although there’s a slight preference for past winner Sarah Paulson from “American Crime Story,” first-time nominee Amanda Seyfried may be the frontrunner for Lead Actress, as her convincing portrayal of fraudulent CEO Elizabeth Holmes in “The Dropout,” was just as impressive as it was unsettling.
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Had there been a launch, it would’ve marked the beginning of the Artemis Space program’s missions, a plan with about 10 total expected missions to travel to space over the coming years. The Artemis Program has ambitions to place humans on the moon for a prolonged period of time — a feat left untouched for almost 50 years. Additionally, part of the program’s plans is to venture farther across the moon than humans have ever traveled before, with the end goal of eventually using the knowledge from these combined missions to send humans to Mars. It was all planned out. So, why didn’t it take off?
The first launch meant for Aug. 29 met a whole host of issues, starting with multiple weather concerns and eventually getting scrubbed with the discovery of a hydrogen leak in the engine due to a faulty sensor, all of which were eventually resolved. The next open launch window for Friday, September 3rd was also scrubbed, as another leak pushed back on the schedule with troubleshooting and other fixes.
The next launch window also won’t be for another few weeks at the very least — with mid to late October being some of the predicted open times, especially if the main rocket (the SLS) requires repairs. It takes days just to transport the rocket back and forth between facilities, not to mention how long it would take to repair the rocket itself, which can provide even more timing issues. Overall, any minor issue can cause further damage and push the launch back a lot, which we saw firsthand with this hydrogen leak issue.
NASA will continue to push for as safe of a launch as possible within a reasonable time constraint, but each move they make takes time and considerable risk calculations. Regardless, more information will come out closer to the date of the next launch, so what else they have in store remains to be seen.
]]>Twenty-four hours before the release of “Pink Venom,” BLACKPINK attended a press conference to stop any speculations and explain the song’s meaning.
“Since our album’s title is BORN PINK, we wanted to relay our identity in the song as much as we could,” Jennie, the lead rapper, said. “Since ‘pink’ and ‘venom’ have contradicting images, we thought they were kind of reminiscent of us since we are named BLACKPINK, and contradiction is our charm. We wanted to show that it’s pink venom, a lovely poison, words that most express us.”
Jennie was right on point; the song was BLACKPINK, their true selves. The song is filled with direct references to the members’ growing status as international icons. In the press conference, Lisa mentioned, “All our songs are really good, but we wanted to show this [song] first to BLINKs to show our true selves.”
Shadowing that message, the lyrics of “Pink Venom” gives Blinks the taste of genuinity and success. At the beginning of the rap verse, Lisa references her global ambassadorship with Celine’s fashion house. “This is the life of a vandal/ masked up, and I’m still in Celine/ Designer crimes, or it wouldn’t be me.” Jennie takes a similar road with her self-written lyrics pointing to her own sealed partnership with Coco Chanel. Rosè includes a line of hers showing her true passion for rock and roll and holding her favorite guitar during the music video. And Jisoo, glowing in the music video intro, and playing a traditional Korean instrument (geomungo), shows her passion for Korean traditions.
“Pink Venom” isn’t particularly a new boundary-breaking release for the group since BLACKPINK had better successes; yet, the song is doing exactly what the lyrics intend: reminding the world who’s in charge and giving Blinks what they want, an honest image of the singers.
]]>Animation creators were unaware that their work was removed from the platform until after it happened.
“I found out through my writer friend… He was the head writer on my show, and he texted me the morning of the announcement asking, ‘Hey, did you know about this?’ … They definitely didn’t let me know beforehand,” Diego Molana, creator of “Victor and Valentino”, said in an interview with Cartoon Brew.
Ordered by Discovery+, suspected reasons for the decision include cost elimination, tax benefits, and to reflect a new strategy to cater to adult content. Another reason, CNBC claims, was that many of these shows were “infrequently watched”; however, demand for Infinity Train, which is 14.4 times higher compared to other TV shows, proves this reason contrary. Information regarding the decision is vague, particularly as many HBO Max workers got laid off in the merger.
The announcement leaves a bad impression on those working in the animation industry. Removing animated shows from HBO Max reduces their accessibility to audiences, hurting the revenue of actors and artists. Though artists receive an initial payment, residuals— compensation after initial payment—are what make the difference for them. Owen Dennis, creator of Infinity Train, wrote in his newsletter that HBO Max reportedly pulled the shows before paying artists their residuals.
Additionally, shows that are exclusively streamed on HBO Max usually don’t have physical copies and don’t air on other platforms, making it difficult for artists to access their own work for a portfolio. This limits the ability of artists to find new jobs in the industry, much of which relies on portfolios and connections. And in an age where streaming platforms owned by large corporations control access to digital media, it’s increasingly difficult to preserve media.
“It’s gone. They’re all gone. Like, yeah. I can go on a pirate streaming web site to watch episodes, but my kids can’t. I made this for them,” Levon Jihanian, art director for “Tig ‘N Seek”, tweeted in response to the news.
While the decision may reduce costs for Discovery+ in the short-term, distrust towards HBO Max will hurt its future with animation in the long term, and its reputation will be a warning to showrunners to avoid signing with HBO Max.
As of now, the full ramifications of this decision are uncertain. But what is known is that the horizon of animation doesn’t look bright.
]]>First and foremost, let’s determine if you can register. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois compiles the necessary qualifications:
TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS YOU NEED TO:
That’s it! You can vote in Illinois regardless of previous criminal history, or if you’re lacking certain identification, like a driver’s license.
Even if you don’t qualify to vote, you play an essential part in these (and all other) elections. Urge those who do qualify to get out and vote this Tuesday. Remind them that it’s important to participate in the democratic process. If you are eligible to vote in the primaries, let’s walk through the nitty-gritty details of participating.
According to Fremd junior Maya Longo, mental health days can be an essential step in reducing student stress when feeling overwhelmed by academics or one’s social life.
“It gives you a break from the stresses of school since our teachers pile on a lot of assignments and really insane due dates that we have to follow up with,” Longo said.
On top of coursework, Longo adds that changing friendships can also strain students’ well-being.
As of Mar. 10, 553 Fremd students have taken at least one mental health day. Seniors have used them the most so far, with over 240 Seniors having used at least one mental health day this semester.
With the increasing number of students taking advantage of mental health day accommodations, the Fremd faculty seems to express a similarly positive view for the increased awareness and accommodating students’ mental health.
Dean of Students and world language teacher Scott Newmark expresses his enthusiasm toward the new bill. Because many Fremd students take advantage of the Harper Promise scholarship, which includes an absence limit for each school year, mental health days do not adversely impact student eligibility. Similarly, Fremd seniors who complete the criteria used to excuse them from second-semester finals can use mental health days without being unfavorably impacted.
“I think it’s a fantastic way for students to feel like there’s a way that you don’t have to call in sick,” Newmark said. “There’s something built-in for you that you know you can use.”
After taking their second mental health day of the year, students will be contacted by a Fremd counselor to assure that they are receiving adequate care. In addition to the students’ mental health support, teachers can also serve as confidants on top of academic guidance.
AP Psychology teacher Heather Schroeder encourages students to seek out their teachers, who can provide students helpful resources to catch up on schoolwork.
“If you need time to regroup throughout your time at school, go for it,” Schroeder said. “If it impedes a couple of days, make sure you’re getting the help you need.”
Although some see the days as a way to relax, some students expect to gain more stress due to missed class time. When a student takes a mental health day, expectations are teachers will allow students to make up missing work. Yet, this can still result in more assignments students must complete on their own time.
Freshman Mithali Athwale explains that she has not experienced the need to use a mental health day, but would prefer to avoid added stress.
“I think I’d be losing a lot of material that I need to learn in school,” Athwale said.
Similarly, Longo explained the challenge of returning to a stressful environment after a needed break.
“I think the worst part about returning to school is knowing that I got a break from everything, but it never went away,” Longo said.
Getting back into the swing of things at school is a challenge that some students have experienced after taking a mental health day. Therefore, working and openly communicating with teachers to catch up is vital for students to get back on track.
Fremd Student Services Department Chair and counselor Antonnette Minniti emphasizes that being transparent with teachers is integral to avoiding miscommunication about classwork.
“Some may feel more comfortable than others talking to their teachers, saying, ‘This is why I took the day,'” Minniti said. “But I’m sure we’re going to have more discussions around that now.”
Mental health days are anticipated to continue serving as an aspect of future Fremd Vikings academic lives. There are various methods for students to get help for mental health, from talking to a professional to participating in physical exercise, which can be utilized during a student’s day off. Continued implementation of mental health days is predicted to encourage greater awareness about student mental health.
Seeing how Fremd students have benefited from taking mental health days, Minniti remains optimistic about the future usage of the legislation.
“There are so many elements to [mental health], and I feel like it’s brought it to the forefront,” Minniti said. “I think mental health days will just keep increasing that awareness and remove the stigma a little bit. That’s my hope.”
]]>Specifically, the U.S. has completely banned Russian oil, Britain has unveiled sanctions on Russian aviation products, and NATO has ramped up defenses for allies near the affected countries. Companies have also independently taken action against Russia for their actions against Ukraine. For example, McDonald’s has announced that it will shut down all locations within Russia, but stated that it will continue to pay the wages of its employees within the country.
Russia has made use of several devastating weapons from their arsenal during the ongoing invasion, disregarding civilian casualties. A particularly drastic measure that has been taken thus far is aircraft bombing. Just last week, a maternity ward was attacked, leaving almost twenty injured and three confirmed dead. Among the injured were doctors, pregnant women, and children. The bombing took place in the city of Mariupol, currently under siege by Russian forces. Survivors of the aforementioned bombings have been left with little resources as talks for a ceasefire to allow for citizens to escape have not ended in agreement.
These attacks were met with widespread outrage, further reinforcing Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s pleas for the establishment of a no-fly zone within the region. However, the idea has been largely dismissed, as reinforcing such a policy would require other nuclear powers pitting their forces against Russia’s, which could result in more international war. Since the request for a no-fly zone was rejected by NATO, Zelenskyy has instead asked for more jets, continued military aid, and further sanctions on Russia. Some of the requests such as the sanctions and continued military aid have been granted, but others are still in the process of being passed.
Another concern is the number of refugees escaping their homes in Ukraine. Close to two million citizens have been displaced, and millions more are fleeing, most commonly to nearby areas. Currently, the country containing the most refugees is Poland. Several systems have begun to be created in other countries, though. The UK first attempted to implement a visa system to help the refugees escape, but it didn’t succeed as much as had been hoped. This was due to reported “complex application” processes and sheer numbers of applicants overwhelming the system itself. Fewer than 500 refugees had actually been granted their visas within a week of the implementation.
However, a second plan then arose, called Homes for Ukraine, which primarily increases the number of refugees that are allowed to live with host families in the UK. Furthermore, they’ve pledged £350 a month to each host family, free public services to refugees, and schooling for children.
More than 1,000 civilians have been killed since the day of the invasion, which Russian officials continue to dismiss as a “special operation.” While Ukraine fights tooth and nail to repel Russia from its remaining territories, Russia continues to push forward. One reason Russia gave for the operation was that in order to prosper in peace, Ukraine must be “Denazified”. As it stands, a different motive is that Russia has claimed Ukraine as their territory, since Ukraine was technically part of the same nation before gaining its independence in 1991.
]]>With over 2% of Ukraine’s population leaving the country, the handling of refugees is of extreme importance. The EU has implemented the Temporary Protection Directive to allow Ukrainian refugees the right to move freely within the EU. Yet, non-Ukrainian citizens face the issue of the EU’s reluctance to accept non-Europeans into their borders. After a record number of 1.3 million asylum-seekers entered Europe in 2015 alone, the EU has been substantially more strict on border policies. Since then, refugees of color have been faced with significant hostility in their entering of EU borders.
Discrimination against refugees isn’t new, especially in Europe. During the Syrian Refugee Crisis, hundreds of thousands of people left their countries in search of asylum. Those who requested asylum were mostly Syrian, but also included Afghans, Nigerians, Pakistanis, Iraqis, and Eritreans. The flow of refugees was caused by several conflicts in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The entrance of people from different countries was seen as an “invasion” of different cultures. Numerous anti-migrant policies and xenophobic rage sprung up throughout Europe. For example, the Hotspot System was implemented by the EU in 2015, and filtered and labeled refugees who arrived in the EU by sea as “asylum-seekers” and “economic migrants.” Southeastern and central European countries, that allowed passage to Central Europe from the Aegean Sea, reacted to the crisis by shutting down their borders to neighboring countries.
UN Special Rapporteur, Tendayi Achuime, expresses her concerns about the treatment people of color are facing while fleeing Ukraine.
“The reality is that non-white migrants and refugees face deadly discrimination all over the world as they attempt to cross international borders.The images and testimonies from non-white people attempting to flee Ukraine attest to this fact, and they should motivate immediate action to ensure that racist and xenophobic treatment — whether official or unofficial — is brought to an end,” Achuime said.
Reporters like Achuime reflecting on the voices of refugees of color are essential for change in the EU policies.
Fleeing to Lviv on Feb. 27, Grace Kass, a 24-year-old makeup artist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, told TIME that she and other African women were forced to board the trains only after white women and children, while waiting in the snow. Unfortunately, Kass was one of many people that reported similar situations of inequality. Many other people of color on the border of Poland were interviewed, and described discrimination by Ukraine, a country that once welcomed them with benevolence.
Africans make up more than 20% of Ukraine’s international students, studying in various parts of the country. Students, especially from Africa and South Asia, have reported being treated unfairly at borders.
Nigerian medical student Freedom Chidera told NPR about the harsh treatment she received.
“I’ve been through a lot in Polish border,” Chidera said. “I mean, that’s the worst experience in my life. I called my mother. I was crying.”
In the future, Ukrainian refugees are expected to end up as permanent residents of their host countries. Neighboring countries of Ukraine that are in the EU are allowing refugees of color, but with unwillingness. The EU’s hesitance is likely to create increased tension within host countries.
]]>His announcement also took the offseason scene by storm, as many had already written his team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, out of contention for the next season.
Brady, recently broke many records in his 22nd season. Namely, surpassing Drew Brees for total career completions as well as career wins. Evidently with a player of his caliber on the brink of retirement, there are bound to be massive changes to the scenery in the league.
With the return of Brady however, the Buccaneers are once again contenders. This is due to the magnitude of the impact he has on the franchise, as well as the league.
The Buccaneers also retained many pieces, such as star TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Mike Evans.
As a result many teams will now scramble to assemble the right pieces in order to have their own run at a possible Super Bowl championship.
The NFL has seen, and will continue to see a major shakeup as a result of Brady’s return. Already, many such as the Packers and Chargers have made offseason signings in order to have a shot at the Buccaneers.
Most importantly these teams signed valued wide receivers. Namely Davante Adams and Mike Williams respectively. This will give these teams much needed depth in their rosters, as they will stack up better against Brady and the Buccaneers.
Based on trends from previous seasons, this signing spree will likely continue to happen, in order to breathe new life into these teams. This should make for an exciting upcoming season.
Coming into the 2022-23 season, Brady and the Buccaneers have one goal, which is to secure the Super Bowl title. This will mark a true legendary end to a legendary career of one of the most captivating athletes that we have ever seen.
]]>Scott Reef is home to diverse marine life, housing hundreds of coral, fish, turtles, whales, and sharks. One of the biggest concerns regarding the Scarborough project, hundreds of thousands of marine animals will suffer its impact. Humpback whales and giant Green Turtles housed in Scott Reef are already considered endangered, and this won’t help the already dwindling species. Scarborough gas is only one part of a larger Woodside project, Burrup Hub. It outlines another giant gas field to be constructed in Browse, an Australian offshore basin, doubling the pollution to be brought onto Australia’s coastal life.
People, not just marine life, will be harmed by the construction of Scarborough. Just the Scott Reef construction alone can bring intense physical harm to the communities living around its construction sites. Many of the proposed LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) plans have been proven to be very harmful air polluters (volatile organic compound pollutants). These have been linked to side effects such as fatigue, nausea, skin irritation, shortness of breath, and dizziness, along with severe conditions such as heart disease and lung, liver, kidney cancer, even at low levels of exposure. The construction of Woodside’s projects will put its community at unnecessary risk and kill a dangerous amount of its ecosystem.
Woodside doesn’t have a trustworthy record either. They claim to be “part of a better future,” stating, “A better tomorrow needs action today, so we’re delivering energy that’s cleaner, cheaper and reliable”, but their track record says something entirely different. According to Say No To Scarborough Gas, Woodside hid a large oil spill for months, tried abandoning 400 tons of plastic on the seafloor, and called it an ‘artificial reef’. The Australian government even paid them $200 million to clean up their operations. Woodside counters that Scarborough will bring opportunity to its community because it creates many new jobs for Australians, from construction to oil operation.
However, their past treatment of workers shows that Woodside’s employee treatment is questionable. In March of 2020, they stood down 900 employees without pay and fired hundreds in the following months while Woodside’s CEO pocketed $2.2 million. They seem to have little regard for the environment, but they seem to have little concern for their workers. Their claims and actions don’t add up, making Woodside far too untrustworthy for a project as polluting and environmentally draining as Scarborough.
Since the proposal, many environmental activists and organizations have come together to prevent the implementation of Scarborough gas. Organizations such as CleanState and Greenpeace have gathered thousands of signatures and sent emails to numerous members of the Australian parliament. As the months progressed, more activists tried to end Woodside’s dangerously costly project. Although this has sparked outrage globally, Woodside has won much-needed court support. The CCWA (Conservation Council of Western Australia), a collection of organizations tackling critically harmful environmental challenges, lost a case where they challenged Pluto LNG facilities, one of the facilities included in Woodside’s Scarborough project, for their harmful pollutants. Another environmental body lost its case to overturn government approval for the Burrup Hub. Woodside now has the full “green light” to bring billions of tons of carbon pollution into the environment.
How can we help? Linked below are petitions, articles and donation sites. Although there isn’t much we can actively do from across the world, Woodside won’t profit if they don’t have active investors and guaranteed buyers. According to the World Resource Institute, 75% of the world’s reefs are in danger. Scott Reef and the Scarborough project are only a few of the many yet to come. As climate change continues to worsen, the damages will be irreversible if we don’t take action and tackle these harmful environmental factors.
Donate to the CCWA-
https://www.ccwa.org.au/no-scarborough
Petitions-
https://saynotoscarborough.com.au/petition/
https://www.greenpeace.org.au/act/woodside
Learn more-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtFYI7SRfR4
https://www.cleanstate.org.au/10_reasons_to_reject_burrup_hub
]]>The seeds of insurrection, however, were planted long before the 2020 presidential election. From the 2015 Republican presidential candidate debates through an unlikely election win and tumultuous presidential term, Donald Trump garnered a cult of personality with his distinct brand of outrageous, outlandish and sometimes plainly fallacious comments, usually posted at any and all hours of the day on his now-suspended Twitter account. While the actual achievements of his presidency are contentious, Trump succeeded in one crucial way no other president has been able to. Trump has effectively expanded the Trump brand into an entirely new branch of politics colloquially known as “Trumpism” with a loyal voter base. Armed with the now infamous red hat and blue flag, the followers of Trump take his word as the absolute truth.
The insurrection embodied the overtaking of the Republican party by new-age right wing extremists fronted by Trumpism as the crowds that were assembled on the Capitol grounds were not there to be Republicans, but rather Trump supporters ready to fight tooth and nail for him. This shift left old-school economy-focused conservative lawmakers scrambling to either concede or fight within their own party and risk reelection. No longer did Mitch McConnel, Mike Pence, Mitt Romney and various other career Republicans represent the wills of the Republican party, but half-naked QAnon shamans and supplement-pushing screaming internet personalities did. In fact, many insurrectionists were perfectly willing to “punish” these Republicans on Jan. 6 as they were seen as traitors to the Trump cause. Political newcomers such as Majorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn and Josh Hawley who all would have otherwise been political outsiders were able to fast track their political path in Washington straight into the House and Senate due to this shift in Republican party politics. These politicians were only able to gain power by commandeering the Trump supporter base by fully supporting the insurrection after the fact.
The effects of Jan. 6 and Trumpism are not contained in the parameters of politics. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages into its third year, anti-vax and anti-mask sentiments are at an all-time high. Conspiracy theories about government trackers, bioweapons, and genetic engineering in vaccines previously confined in the most fringe and niche corners of the internet have now migrated onto mainstream platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Distrust in the government and authority seen in the opposition to the results of the 2020 presidential election and resistance to mask mandates and the COVID-19 vaccine runs rampant largely in part due to the seeds of doubt planted during the Trump era by the former president himself. This distrust invited extremism and conspiracy theory as people looked towards alternate avenues of information to trust instead.
Trumpism has long outgrown Trump himself. Even as Trump left office a year ago, America is not Trump-less. As the effects of Jan. 6th and Trumpism still permeate throughout America today, we as a nation must work together to combat extremism and misinformation by being more critical of the media we consume.
]]>Why do resolutions tend to fail at the start of the new year? Quite often people pressure themselves to reach extreme, unattainable goals. Others set resolutions when they are planning their future goals but aren’t necessarily ready to dive in. Starting a journey toward reaching a new goal shouldn’t be determined on a calendar date but rather at a time that’s the best fit for the individual’s circumstance. In addition, resolutions should be approached more slowly to avoid lack of motivation and burnout.
How can you keep yourself accountable this year? The first step is to start your resolution when you are ready. Psychology Today informs us to set up for success by preparing before taking action. Depending on your goal, this might involve organizing, researching, planning, etc. After you have prepped , it’s time to start taking action towards your goal.
The trick to achieving your long-term resolutions is to start with small, realistic goals. If your resolution is to eat healthier, try replacing one soda with a glass of water every day. Then add in fruit for a snack the following week, and continue to build up on your goal. Doing so decreases the amount of pressure you put on yourself, allowing yourself to focus on sustaining your goal for a more extended time period. A great way to keep yourself motivated and accountable is by revisiting your plan daily, repeating small actions to reach your goal. When completing an effort frequently, it’s easier and more practical to continue developing motivation.
Finding the motivation to complete a task can be challenging, as teens often procrastinate to avoid jobs that don’t provide instant gratification. One may struggle with staying consistent because they avoid challenges within reaching their goal rather than overcoming them by being persistent. Another valuable way to gain motivation is approaching discomfort with an open outlook and growth mindset. By doing so, one can familiarize themselves with overcoming commonly experienced obstacles within the goal-setting process.
If you are still struggling with keeping yourself accountable, try using a habit tracker. A habit tracker is a creative way to log your progress towards your resolution by making an effort to achieve a small goal or completing a small task daily. For example, one may log their physical activity on a habit tracker, and a good habit to track may be to go on a 20-minute walk daily. With a habit tracker, you can challenge yourself to keep up with your habits to reach your long-term resolutions this year.
Writing a SMART goal is a solid resource to help you create achievable goals. According to the University of California, this acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This acronym serves as a template to create a clearly developed goal. This acronym serves as a template to create a developed goal. Ensuring your specific purpose contains data, sustainability, importance, and a reasonable time frame makes it easier to efficiently and effectively notice and make progress towards reaching your goal.
Another good way to strive for accountability is by telling someone what your goal is for that day. Many students find that it helps increase motivation, knowing that it’s not as easy to give up on that goal now that someone else is aware. This person can also help encourage you to complete a task as a stepping stone to your plan.
Personally, following the SMART acronym works best for me in regards to making attainable goals and keeping track of my goal-setting progress. The SMART acronym helps structure your goals specifically in order to reach your resolutions more effectively. However, the more important part of following your goal is to keep yourself accountable, and telling someone or using a habit tracker helps to do so.
Although January is coming to an end, it’s never too late to start a new resolution or set a new goal for yourself. By preparing for your plan, setting smaller goals initially, creating SMART goals, using a habit tracker, and telling someone your goal, it will be easier to regain motivation and accountability to achieve your goals in 2022 successfully. Keeping your resolutions will lead to an increase in self-confidence, allowing you to reach your fullest potential.
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The Academy made the move in order to fit the broadcast into a three-hour long broadcast and guarantee to not run over, as it usually does. However, the change could result in more alienation from their potential audience than a gain in views. Viewership for the Oscars has been overall on the decline since 2014. Most notably, viewership dropped a full 56% for its 2021 broadcast from the previous year. Cutting categories from the broadcast isn’t going to fix the issue at all – in fact, it may hurt it.
A potential reason why viewership went down so much in 2021 may be the COVID-19 epidemic. After many theaters were closed down, films that could’ve done very well were forced to be delayed until later in the year or were released on streaming services for a much smaller audience. A full year later, however, this has certainly changed, as most theaters are back open.
The Academy believes, however, that the drop in viewership came from the ceremony being too long. The runtime in 2021 was three hours and 19 minutes long, down a full 17 minutes from that of the 2020 ceremony. 2019 was the first year since 2012 that the ceremony was under three and half hours; coincidentally, that was also the year the current viewership slump began. In fact, the most recent year to display an actual increase in viewers, 2018, consisted of the longest ceremony at three hours and 53 minutes. So, evidently, the length of the broadcast isn’t an issue – at least, not the primary one.
The decision to cut out categories has a huge effect on filmmakers themselves – especially those who may win a category that isn’t presented. The people who do the hard work involved with these tasks absolutely deserve to be recognized for their achievements, and by taking away the stage for them to accept the awards, the Academy instead takes away a massive opportunity to honor those who do all the work behind the camera. This also includes winners and nominees of short film categories, many of whom are aspiring filmmakers and are just getting their start in the industry and could certainly use the recognition. The decision reeks of a gross disrespect from the Academy towards the people who ensure their existence.
Since the announcement, a movement has begun labeled “Present All 23,” a call for the Academy to present the winners of all 23 Oscar categories. While keeping every aspect of the Oscars in a live broadcast would most certainly make it run over four hours, it would be absolutely worth it in order for filmmakers to get the recognition they deserve for their hard work.
]]>To welcome 2022, JYP Entertainment began sending out sneak peeks of their new girl group, NMIXX. After capturing a wide range of curiosity, NMIXX debuted on Feb. 22 with a head-spinning music video for their title track “O.O”.
While the seven girls’ exponential talent and high-budget music video attracted attention, the music and lyrics were bewildering. “O.O” has frequently changing beats and tones, along with confusing verses. “Baby, you are ma superhero/ Try before it’s too late/ And finally we’ll win/ Watch out baila/ Watch it/ how nice”
“O.O” has a disjointed nature since the song tries to push for an edgy, creative, provocative image. However, the song is difficult to follow, understand, or even vibe to since it lacks basic musical structure. It’s hard to focus on the song when multiple beats are being played as if multiple songs were merged into one. “O.O”, with a little more explanation, can be described as a concept rather than a tune.
NMIXX, though, did follow the magic formula necessary to become the next big star. The seven girls have amazing visuals and vocals that will help them with future opportunities; however, “O.O” stole the spotlight by its ambiguous lyrics and how the overall message of the song is still unknown.
Although “O.O” made many K-pop fans go against JYP for producing a bizarre song, the creativity presented in the music video for “O.O” sparks curious imagery. The depiction of the enormous galleon in the sky and sea creatures in the air lays the ground for NMIXX’s mysterious concept since this is just their beginning.
“O.O” is not necessarily a bad song for a group’s debut. With so many new K-pop groups debuting every month, it’s hard to be creative and especially hard to be memorable. Maybe, JYP wants NMIXX to be different and wants their debut to be remembered as strange.
“O.O” may not have met people’s expectations for a JYP debut song, but NMIXX still has a chance to flip the public response regarding them. If they come back with a catchy, meaningful song, they will definitely be competing with their senior girl group, ITZY.
The good thing about “O.O” not fitting the K-pop criteria, is that it reminded listeners that music stands above everything else. Music isn’t about how beautiful visuals can get or how performance-heavy the group needs to be. Music is to connect with the world through beats and lyrics. To form a bond with millions of people requires being vulnerable and active through the lyrics and not the visuals. If NMIXX does that, then it will be difficult to forget them.
]]>“The Batman” stars Robert Pattinson as Batman, Paul Dano as Riddler and Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman. Reeves uses this movie to depict a younger Bruce Wayne who is getting accustomed to his alter ego who fights crime in Gotham while the citizens of Gotham have to learn to live with their new protector.
Concerns that Pattinson wouldn’t be a good fit for the role of The Batman surrounded the film. He’s greatly known for his work in the “Twilight” series, and he’s recently been casted in roles that have matured his acting. This film was going to present a challenge for Pattison to correctly capture the role of Batman and make it his own as well.
Pattinson does an excellent job at making Batman feel more like a human than an emotionless crime fighter as he’s still learning the ropes. This is all done through his dip into a darker and edgier side of the vigilante while still keeping heart tugging moments that refresh the audience. The audience is also reminded of the lack of experience that Bruce Wayne has as a protector of Gotham. This noteworthy performance of Batman brings him into a different light that hasn’t been elaborated on in different films.
As seen in the trailers, the Riddler is the main antagonist of the story, where he wreaks havoc against people of importance. Gratefully the Riddler keeps his iconic riddle at the crime scene signature, but many aspects of the way he is depicted don’t stay true to the original character. The most noticeable flaw is his new outfit, a stark and bland contrast to his exuberant look in the comics.
Not only is the look of the Riddler modified, but they also twisted his backstory, making it untrue to the comics. Although this helps the story fit together to foster the hate he has for Bruce Wayne, it feels as though the Riddler has started to become someone else. These changes to the Riddler make him feel like a common criminal than the super villain that most are familiar with. While Reeves may want to go this direction with the oncoming trilogy, it could prove to become unpopular with comic fans.
Concerning this film’s camera work, it does an adequate job of keeping a grim and mysterious tone of the movie consistent. Like all action movies, fight scenes are crucial for the success of the film. The most notable fight scene is where Batman fights in a pitch black hallway, the only light coming from the tiny explosions the firearms make. The unique part of this scene is that it was all real, with no embellishing special effects.
The film also has many artistic shots of Batman that help reveal his developing character. It uses parallel shots to convey the character change Bruce Wayne experiences throughout the film. Other than some of the fighting scenes, there isn’t much special about the cinematography of this movie.
Although there were differences in the movie that comic fanatics would be upset about, this movie does an excellent job at unveiling a different look at this admired vigilante. Pattinson and the other supporting actors took their roles and brought life into the characters, making them feel real. For anyone looking to watch a unique Batman movie, Reeve’s adaptation is worth the money.
]]>Technology has invaded our lives, and we are one of the first generations to have such intimate access to it. From house security cameras to social media, we are always near our devices, recording the smallest details of our lives. The old parenting blogs our parents read, arriving through the mail or through the dial-up internet, have turned into real-time vlogging on Youtube and TikTok. While we have long consumed reality TV featuring families and movies featuring child stars, new media places the lives of famous children under a microscope. Along with this newest development comes the age-old question parents never seem to ask: How much privacy do our kids deserve, especially if they don’t have a say?
Family vlog channels on Youtube first emerged between 2011-2012, according to an article by The New Yorker. Known for detailed videos about their family routine, these channels featured their young children playing and interacting with their family. Creators quickly monetized their content, earning up to 55% of the profit made by allowing advertising during their videos. These earnings did not fall within the domain of the Coogan Law, which requires that managers and employers of child performers set aside 15% of their earnings into a trust. Restricted to theatre, television, and film performers, lawmakers had little understanding of how social media platforms would emerge as one of today’s prime forms of entertainment.
Initially, these channels faced little criticism. Viewers appreciated the in-depth reality TV-esque look into another family’s dynamics. And of course, the kids were pretty cute. Audiences were unfamiliar with what happened to these kids behind the scenes: whether they were being forced into participating, whether their parents were actually abusive or unkind, and whether they had agreed to participate in parading their personal lives to the internet. Additionally, as the internet grew, family vloggers put their kids at increased risk of this footage being used in terrifying ways. Before these children even had phones, they had a massive digital footprint that would follow them forever.
As social media began to expand, we, as an audience, began to ask the right questions. Were we infringing on kids’ privacy by watching these videos? When brands feature people in their for-profit ad campaigns, they are required to have people sign photo release forms, since the digital media in question will be used for commercial purposes. With the parents in charge of a child’s consent filming these very videos of them, a clear conflict of interest was beginning to form. In Hollywood, there were hundreds of middlemen before a child’s performance reached the audience, not to mention intense child labor laws. In the grey world of social media, parents could post videos of their children within hours.
Enter TikTok. The hours-long time frame of YouTube became the seconds-long time frame of the wondrous, 15-second video app that circulated videos globally within minutes. Children like Scout and Violet, Franklin, Wren Eleanor, Jonah, and Lena became overnight sensations if their parents posted one small video of them for their social circles. The viral nature of TikTok propelled numerous families to overnight fame, without a spare second for parents to consider what would be best for their children.
We have welcomed a future of family vlogging by watching, sharing, and promoting these videos. But we fail to consider the longstanding impacts of public life on unaware children who can’t consent to their entire lives being shared with a hungry public. Years down the line, these kids could be victims of playground harassment for no fault of their own. Decades down the line, these five minutes of fame and piles of money in their parents’ bank accounts will haunt their adult life.
As an audience, we need to show the awareness the parents of internet-famous children should and stop supporting their content. As voters, we need to push for legislation to require more transparency and accountability from parents all-too-willing to monetize their child’s cuteness for a little bit of attention and spare cash. No matter how much internet fame they provide, those kids will grow up to thank us.
]]>We see processed foods advertised as delicious and appealing. For example, Mcdonald’s ads, crispy, mouthwatering McChickens are associated with their logo, “I’m Lovin’ It.” Because of this, we associate catchy, positive slogans with tasty foods without understanding the extensive negatives of consuming high quantities of processed foods or how prevalent they are in our daily lifestyles.
Personally, I enjoy devouring vending machine snacks at school, and many of us consume items like PopTarts, Lays Chips, or Coke almost daily. Processed foods are becoming increasingly widespread in high schools with vending machine additions and unhealthy school lunch options. However, a diet composed of these foods can lead to significant health risks later on in life, such as obesity and high blood pressure.
According to Live Hard, unhealthy school lunches contribute to obesity in children across the nation. A child who eats too much fat, sugar, sodium or processed snacks and meals will also have too few vitamins and minerals. Because of this, they increase their risk of chronic health problems like diabetes, kidney stones, bone loss, cancer, and heart disease. A 2012 article written by registered dietitian Timi Gustafson states that consuming less essential nutrients from these meals can lower kids’ IQ scores, memory capability, motor skills, social development, and language skills into adulthood.
To promote healthier eating, Congress in 2010 passed the Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). It requires school meals (breakfast and lunch) to include 51 percent whole grains, increases the number of fruits and vegetables offered to students, restricts saturated fats to less than 10 percent of meal calories, and only allows skim or 1 percent milk to be served. Many high schools try to follow these regulations, but processed foods are still easily accessible and appealing to myself and other high school students.
Although processed food consumption causes significant health risks, eating junk food you enjoy once in a while won’t necessarily be harmful. I have learned that eating my favorite treats in moderation can help me stick to healthier eating long-term. I enjoy consuming sugary desserts and snacks on holidays and special occasions. Most days, I try to consume healthier alternatives to unhealthy cravings. For example, if you are looking for a side to your school lunch, pick up an apple instead of a PopTart. Additionally, try changing your diet to include various dairy, fruits, and vegetables for healthy snacking.
There are many ways to avoid the risks of consuming too many processed foods. To start, carefully read the nutrition labels of any processed food you are eating. Chances are, the percentages of saturated fats, sugar, and sodium will surprise you. When grocery shopping, look for healthier alternatives to processed snacks you love, ones that include whole grains and essential vitamins.
If you are looking to reduce the amount of junk food you consume daily, you can plan your snacks and drinks, base meals around protein, eat a balanced breakfast, and keep less unhealthy food options in your house.
You can plan your snacks by thinking before you eat or drink. Find foods that will benefit your body rather than harm it. As for drinks, I like to carry a water bottle around so you can avoid unnecessarily consuming soda or energy drinks whenever you are thirsty. Additionally, including protein in all your meals (such as chicken, legumes, eggs, etc.) will help you feel full for longer, allowing you to resist unhealthy cravings. Another great tactic to limit processed food cravings involved eating a nutritious breakfast such as eggs, a smoothie, oatmeal or whole-grain toast. If nothing else seems to work for you and your lifestyle, my favorite way to avoid processed food is by buying less of it from the store. Instead, look for healthier alternatives. This way, you won’t be tempted to consume processed foods. Because of this, you will likely consume much more nutritious food options.
By avoiding eating processed foods, you can reduce chronic diseases and health risks to allow your body to function properly and actively. For high school students, implementing healthier eating habits will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to keep you strong and energized, allowing you to live a longer, healthier life and make the most out of each day.
]]>One flaw of “being yourself” is that it puts thoughts in your mind that your personality is already solidified and won’t change. As a high schooler, you are still in the process of deciding what you like and who you want to be. You are constantly changing and evolving to your environment, with expectations. Just being yourself can do more harm than good when you have a fixed mindset about who you are because you will not try to change for the better. What you actually need is encouragement for improving yourself.
Sometimes, you will feel that your negative qualities are just “yourself,” causing you to make it an excuse not to grow. Instead of accepting who you are and striving to improve yourself continuously, you can trick yourself into not putting in the work and believing those aspects are just a part of you. If shy and quiet students are not encouraged to open up and express themselves in public, they will be overlooked and not shine to their full potential.
Furthermore, you can miss out on opportunities that could have been reached if you had tried to better yourself. Suppose you want to go to a certain college or start a career you always wanted to pursue. By seeing what that college or career requires, you can improve yourself to fit into those standards while still maintaining your own personality.
An alternative to the advice “be yourself” is that you can internalize phrases like “be your best self.” By being the best you can be, you can make your life reach its full potential, even if it takes a considerable amount of effort and a lifetime of learning and improving. As a teenager with so many possibilities and potential for your future, you shouldn’t be limited to only being yourself. By coming out of your comfort zone and being the best version of yourself, you can use the advice to “be yourself” as a way to grow and improve, allowing you to grab onto opportunities and achieve your goals.
]]>More than 50 high school jazz bands in the area competed at the event. The students competed and performed for a panel of judges, which consisted of former educators and current jazz musicians.
Due to the competitive atmosphere, students performing receive helpful feedback in order to further improve their playing. Even if the students lose to other schools, the experience gleaned from the festivals serve only to benefit participants.
Fremd band director and music department chair John Teichert speaks on how these jazz festivals can significantly impact students, regardless of rankings and awards.
“We enjoy our kids getting a chance to perform for other students. No matter how the kids are placed, we’re still very proud of them,” Teichert said. “I think it’s a good experience anytime you get out of the Fremd walls.”
Jazz in the Meadows provides an opportunity for Fremd jazz musicians to expand their horizons, and play outside of their comfort zone. While building up a suitable environment is beneficial for playing, adaptability is just as important – being a versatile musical skill useful for both casual and professional levels of playing. Furthermore, playing in front of audiences and judges can work wonders for confidence, training students to play loud and proud in front of strangers.
Jazz band member James Yu mentions his take on the festival.
“It really gave me a sense of unity, as it felt like we were really connected throughout the event,” Yu said. “I really liked the opportunity to come out and play at a festival, and I thought it was an enjoyable experience.”
Teichert reflects on what he thinks is the most important takeaway from the festival.
“The fact that they’re preparing music from professional level bands, music that I played when I was a working musician, shows the ability for the kids to put in a lot of time and effort in order to make great music,” Teichert said. “That’s probably the best part of the festival – a celebration of our work in rehearsals.”
]]>The second semester started exactly where the first ended in many regards. Classes resumed with the same rush, the weather remained painfully cold, and masks continued to be a daily reality… for some. Still, along with the new grading period, the administration introduced a variety of new restrictions and regulations on the student body – and boy, are we upset.
The administration insists that these new rules are for greater efficiency and to streamline many of the initial COVID-19 related practices. Time will tell whether they live up to these standards, but for now, students have plenty of views on them.
Isabella Chen – Option/Non-Option Hallways
When the second semester started in January, students were reminded that there were option and non-option hallways. During class time, we are not allowed to go in non-option hallways unless we have a pass. As a freshman, I find it quite confusing seeing whether a hallway is an option or non-option, and a digital map or list would be helpful. It can also be inconvenient for some students. However, it can ensure students are in their classrooms during class time and not wandering the halls, disturbing other students trying to learn. With some learning and self-discipline, I believe non-option and option hallways will be effective.
Anna Ooka – What’s Up With the New Lunch Schedule?
From the beginning of the second semester, the freshmen and sophomores of Fremd have been liberated from their lunchtime VAMP and Advisory. Because of this, there is no need to split the cafeteria into two slots. With the number of students in each grade in mind, the freshmen were given the cafeteria and the sophomores were given the West Shelf to enjoy their lunch. The students who are not comfortable with taking off their masks due to family health reasons are properly given a larger space along with the long tables of the cafeteria and the tables in between the stairs next to the shelves. The changes to the seating are difficult to ignore because of the long lines to buy lunch at the beginning of periods, especially the concession stand. Because the juniors, seniors, and now sophomores who buy Fremd’s lunch get them from the concession stand, it takes quite a while until one can sit down and finally take a bite. It is also disheartening to see friends splitting up to meet the restrictions on how many people can sit at each table. However, the majority of students are enjoying the fact that they are able to spend the full hour stuffing their faces with food while spending time with their friends. Not to mention the liberating feeling of being free from the 20 extra minutes sitting in a quiet lecture hall with a lack of bathroom passes. The student supervisors are also preferring the changes to lunchtimes because of the efficiency of tracking the students who go in and out of the lunchrooms in an uncertain period of COVID cases at Fremd. Overall, the students have to get used to waiting a little longer to munch away at their food and hope that COVID seating restrictions ease off because the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
Siya Aparanji – Scanning IDs
The dawn of a new semester brought with it a list of new rules and regulations enforced by the administration. One of these previously unheard guidelines is the mandatory scan-in procedure to go to places like the media center or the cafeteria. The premise of this addition is to avoid an influx of students ditching class to hang out in these social spots. While it is important to encourage students to regularly attend class, the administration is creating unnecessary obstacles for the rest of the student body. For students with shortened lunch periods, it’s a (small, but still) time hassle to endure the scan-in routine. To make matters worse, this new rule creates large amounts of traffic which consumes time, something high school students run short on. In addition, staff members must go through the procedure of utilizing previously untested software and unstable service – which have been inefficient in the past – on a regular schedule. Although the rule was created with good intentions, it is an unnecessary obstacle for students and staff alike. Besides, isn’t it time for students to take responsibility for their own education?
Siya Aparanji – Ten minute freeze
Do you need to use the bathroom – the place to relieve yourself of biological burdens? Well, you can’t. Unfortunately, your bodily functions weren’t timely aligned with Fremd’s bell schedule. The new implementation of the ten minute freeze is to avoid the overcrowding of the hallways before class lets out. One of the main reasons behind its consistent spot among teachers’ rejections of bathroom requests is that this ten minute period allows extra time for students who need it to get to class. Another common reason is that it stops students from leaving class early. However, is it really efficient? A couple of students using a bathroom don’t hinder students on crutches. In addition, if a student is adamant on ditching class, what’s stopping them from leaving eleven minutes before the bell? Once again, the ten minute freeze is an example of the slew of good natured rules with adverse effects.
Kishan Teeka – Quarantine and School Rules
As I walked through the hallways of Fremd before the lawsuits and lifting of restrictions, my gaze was directed to the numbers of students wearing a mask below their nose as well as on their chin. The only change in these behaviors was when a teacher or hall monitor told them to put their mask up, which was then rendered obsolete as the teacher or hall monitor was out of the students’ sight. If I were to ask these students why they did what they did, I assume their answers would’ve been that they were vaccinated and therefore can’t get or spread COVID-19.
Along with changes to COVID-19 safety, there was new insight into the quarantine rules for teachers and students who get COVID-19. I understand that the school doesn’t want COVID to impede on students’ education. I still think that 5 days is not enough since there are people who can still carry COVID-19 germs after those five days and pass it to others when they don’t wear the masks correctly and are breathing in front of others.
Even if the other person is wearing their mask correctly, this policy only works when both individuals are wearing their masks correctly. I have gotten both of my vaccine doses and my booster shot, and I wear my mask correctly, but I still have a chance of getting COVID-19. Personally, I would try to quarantine for at least 10 days because I am worried about spreading COVID-19 to others even if I am asymptomatic. I’m scared that a small cough could possibly affect those around me who I care about.
I think that the school is doing the most that they can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but in the end, COVID is still there and there are ignorant people who refuse to consider the effects on others. This has changed drastically because of the new developments with Illinois policies for masks in school, which has led District 211 to completely remove the mask mandate in school. I don’t feel safe anymore in a school, where people aren’t giving any regard to others and are happy to not wear a mask in an already congested area like the hallways of our school. If you have been in contact with someone I think you should be required to wear a mask, but no, Illinois is not requiring anything until all lawsuits are resolved. Overall, I don’t feel safe and secure in a place where they preach this idea of safety and belonging, which has led me to think that maybe I don’t belong here. Maybe this school isn’t enforcing a positive and healthy environment for us students. Maybe I don’t want to belong in a school that doesn’t place importance on the wellness of the students.
]]>In the second century, Greco-Roman physicians were treating lethargy with sunlight. In 1894, explorer Frederick Cook linked seasonal sunlight loss to a mood disorder. More recently, characteristics of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) have been dated back to 1984. This method would not work for the modern teenager, as we experience more significant mood changes that cannot be treated only with access to sunlight.
John Hopkins Medicine informs that although there is no direct cause of SAD, it was determined that shorter days and less daylight can trigger chemical changes in the brain leading to mood changes during season changes. Additionally, melatonin, a sleep-related hormone, also is researched to be linked to SAD.
The National Institute of Mental Health informs that serotonin and melatonin maintain a daily rhythm that is tied to the seasonal changes. Changes in serotonin and melatonin levels negatively impact normal daily rhythm. Because of this, the length of days change sleep patterns, mood, and behavior. Deficits in vitamin D also can cause seasonal mood changes. With less daylight in the winter, people with SAD sometimes consume less vitamin D. For me, less vitamin D consumption impacts and even lowers my serotonin levels.
Many common symptoms of SAD today involve feeling down as seasons change, having less energy than usual, feeling less productive, or mood swings. Common abnormal sleep patterns involve excess sleepiness, insomnia, or sleep deprivation. Other bodily changes include change of appetite, fatigue, or weight gain.
On the other hand, there are many easy home remedies and lifestyle alterations to significantly reduce “winter blues,” before experiencing significant seasonal mood and behavioral changes. Spending time outside, even on cold or cloudy days, is a great way to keep your mood stable. Eating a well-balanced diet and connecting socially with friends will tremendously benefit your mood. For me, exercising regularly also has significantly decreased seasonal mood changes by lifting my mood and reducing stress and anxiety.
Great ways for me to keep my mood stable include making my environment brighter by opening blinds or windows. I like taking a walk outside, soaking up the sun when it’s shining, and enjoying the outdoor environment. Finally, normalizing my sleep patterns by creating a strong sleep schedule helped me reduce sleep deprivation and oversleeping.
Seasonal changes in mood can be tough, and it’s crucial to learn how recognizing symptoms of SAD and using remedies to keep your mood and mental health stable can help you avoid frequent mood changes.
By learning how to stabilize your mood and behavior patterns as seasons change, you will be able to understand what methods work for you in order to keep your head up and continue living your best life, regardless of the weather.
]]>In life, humans tend to default to searching for additive transformations, overlooking subtractive ones, while solving problems. The idea that our lives might benefit more from subtracting than adding is not a natural inclination we usually have, but it is often accurate. In an experiment conducted by the journal Nature, around 90% of respondents chose solutions that required addition, even though subtraction would have been more straightforward and efficient.
Subtraction can be the solution to the problem of students with information-overloaded minds and packed schedules. Try subtracting when you find things in your life aren’t adding up by editing out complications and removing obstacles and barriers.
When much is going on and too much on our plates, we tend to be less creative and reactive. Stanford’s Emma Seppala writes, “The idea is to balance linear thinking-which requires intense focus-with creative thinking, which is born out of idleness.” Fitting less and not more into each day can give you more idle time for creative thinking.
Furthermore, the state of having too much is not necessarily fulfilling or emotionally satisfying. Research shows the fear of missing out increases anxiety and takes a toll on your health in the long run. Adding too much to our lives can take time away from what we want to do, enjoy, and what matters to us.
While it is harder to give up things you have been doing for a long time, sometimes it may be necessary. When we learned addition and subtraction as children, subtraction often felt more complex, involving more rules and taking longer to understand. Like navigating high school, performing subtraction is challenging but beneficial for you. This lesson is one for math class but also applied to your decision-making. Set your priorities, focus on what you care the most about, and work to excel. Less is more.
]]>Every year since, a major case or spur of cases occurs. Such as an incident in 2020, a year marked by large amounts of attacks on Asian elders.
Although 2021 carried many smaller incidents as well, such as the Atlanta shootings, which was a largely discussed case. On April 15 at around 4:50 pm, Robert Aaron Long would shoot up the first of three salons in Atlanta, Georgia. He fled the scene for another, followed by another. During this afternoon, a total of eight people were murdered and one wounded. Out of the eight victims, six of them were of Asian descent. Major outrage sparked from the shooting; hundreds of news reports flooded national headlines, and people poured their hearts into donations and relief efforts. Randy Park, son of a shooting victim, even raised nearly $3 million.
Even less than two months into 2022, many different hate incidents have already been reported and a particular case has received much attention by the public eye. On Jan. 15, 40-year-old Michelle Go was pushed to her death in front of an oncoming train. According to police, Go was waiting for her train when 61-year-old Martial Simon shoved her from behind. Although Go was a person of Asian descent, it is arguable whether her attack was racially biased or not. Some believe Simon was just a violent person, while others, such as the New York City Police Department, believe it was a hate crime.
According to an interviewer from the New York Times, the NYPD stated “there was no indication that she had been targeted because of her ethnicity”. Nevertheless, countless other cases and incidents followed into the new year.
These listed examples are only a few out of hundreds and thousands of other incidents. Organizations such as Stop Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate have helped counteract anti-Asian sentiments through methods such as donation relief funds and educational articles. A report from Stop AAPI Hate, who acted in collaboration with the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), detailed that women and girls experienced 2.2 times as many hate incidents as Asian men.
Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director for NAPAWF states, “I think it has to do with some of the stereotypes that exist about Asian American women. That we won’t fight back, that we are quiet and submissive, docile types. So that goes into the calculation of people who instigate these instances to pick on women, because the chances of us fighting back – in their head – is much less, that we are more vulnerable.”
Other authors of the Stop AAPI Hate study believe social media was the culprit for much of the publicity around these attacks. Numerous other factors contribute to anti-Asian sentiment, such as the usage of terms such as “Kung Flu” and “Chinese virus”.
The AAPI community has not been the only minority group to experience racially biased attacks due to fear and blame for disease. Angela Gover, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Colorado in Denver led a study showing that this theme of using immigrant minorities as scapegoats is just a repeat from previous years. Examples include cholera, where Irish people were discriminated against, polio, with the blame on Italian immigrants, and tuberculosis, where Jewish people were a target for hate.
These resurgences have been a part of history for decades. Current Asian-American hate crimes and incidents are only continuing to spread, especially in cities such as San Francisco and New York as they house many AAPI people, Asian American people make up 35% of San Francisco residents alone. Organizations continue to conduct studies, and protesters continue to combat race-based violence.
]]>Suspicions of another intense match escalated when satellite imagery showed the mobilization of about 100,000 soldiers around the border between Russia and Ukraine. Of course, Team U.S was the first to back up its supposed buddy, Ukraine, with a warning from President Biden to President Putin about consequential economic sanctions if Russia were to invade. The heat between the Cold War opponents truly reemerged when Russia presented their security pact demands of making the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) cease their military activity around Eastern Europe and demanding that NATO stay out of relations with Ukraine and former Soviet Union members.
NATO members were cheering Team U.S on by repeatedly warning against Russia’s military enforcement around Ukraine and warned Russia of the devastating consequences that might occur to global security by going up against them and the U.S. Putin replied that they have no intention of invading its neighbor, but will not back down its arms until NATO formally addresses their demands. As their team philosophy, NATO will not close the door for Ukraine to join its organization to respect the sovereignty of an independent nation and still demands Russia to calm its forces. However, Putin will not back down because NATO will not address his demands.
Due to Russia’s past “victory” of taking home Crimea, there is a genuine fear of another win by Russia that will result in a military conflict in Eastern Europe. But because Putin also has a genuine fear that a valuable ally and buffer between Russia and Europe will join NATO, invading a relatively Russia positive portion of Ukraine will allow him to have more influence on them before they become more Westernized. The continuous military buildup is supposedly not for silly fun by Putin as well; unless, behind the often serious facade, Putin secretly had a dark sense of humor. There is also speculation by the U.S that Russia is provoking them in order to create an excuse for a larger goal of gaining more former members of the Soviet Union. This way team Russia ensures land, wealth, and glory.
There is still hope for team U.S, however, if Russia had any intention of taking home Donbas, it would have done so before any sanctions and preparation could have occurred. Another factor to consider is that Putin would have propagandized the situation between Ukraine and warned nearby civilians if he had any intentions to fire, just like he did in the headlines before Crimea. Even so, the news in Russia has been seemingly mediocre when it comes to the anxiety-stricken conflict for the world.
This earnestly unproductive back and forth between the US, their buddies, and Russia may irritate both sides enough to start an actual conflict when it did not have to be. It is clear that both sides have terrible skills of diplomacy and do not know how to gain a middle ground. It has been this way since the start of time. That’s why we, the terrified spectators, have been hooked by their complicated rivalry for so long. Perhaps the Winter Olympics should simply include ping pong as their main event from now on because it seems like the US and Russia put up a good fight around this time. Will this terrifying ping pong match end with a winner? As of late, the audience will be completely satisfied with a tie and both players just hugging it out. Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to end it in a way that both teams use their diplomatic skills.
]]>Rafael Nadal is a Spanish professional tennis player, currently ranked No. 5 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), and he has managed to be No. 1 for a total of 209 weeks. Nadal has also broken several records, as he has the most men’s singles Grand Slam titles, surpassing Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic’s 20 Grand Slam titles with his 21 titles. Plus, he holds the record for the longest passage of time between a player’s first and second titles at the same tournament, as he won his last Australian Open in 2009. Nadal is also known for “having two personalities,” as he rallies on the court with extreme intensity, utilizing an unconventional and effective forehand. But off the court, Nadal is described to be friendly and a “normal guy.”
Despite his many achievements at the Australian Open, what is just as important are the hardships and obstacles Nadal has had to overcome to reach this level. One that almost kept him off the court was his Mueller-Weiss Syndrome, an untreatable and rare disease that deforms bones in the foot. Even worse, it targets the bone that is essential for making the foot pivot and bend, something that a tennis player needs. Nadal made it clear that he may not have gone to the Australian Open but decided to go while simply dealing with the pain. What may be more surprising is that Nadal has been having this condition since 2009, which means that he was winning Grand Slam titles despite his injury for over 10 years.
To add to his medical troubles, skilled players like No.1 Novak Djokovic, the only player to beat Nadal in all four Grand Slam tournaments to date, would become another issue in the tournament. However, Djokovic would be deported from Australia due to him refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine and thus unable to play in the Australian Open.
When asked about Federer’s deportation, Nadal told BBC Sport that he thought the situation was terrible, but stated that Federer knew the consequences of not being vaccinated.
“Of course, I don’t like the situation that is happening. In some way, I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions a lot of months ago, so he made his own decision.” Nadal said.
Nadal would then proceed to defeat his first 6 opponents, with some difficulty against Shapovalov and Berrettini. But the real challenge lay just ahead in the finals against Daniil Medvedev, who ranked 3 places higher than Nadal in the ATP. Medvedev found early success beating Nadal 6-2 in the first set, and winning a 6-point tiebreaker in the second set. If Nadal lost another set, Medvedev would win the entire match. But Nadal was determined to stop his opponent, and completely wiped Medvedev on the final games of the third and fourth sets, making the match 2-2. The final game would decide who would be taking home a Grand Slam title. While it was a close match, Nadal would win 7-5 with powerful shots, defense, and serves. On Jan. 30, Nadal stood tall as the champion of the Australian Open.
“It was one of the most emotional matches in my tennis career… For me, it’s just amazing,” Nadal said to the tournament audience. “…one month and a half ago, I did not know if I would be able to be back on the tour and play tennis again…you don’t really know how much I fought to be here.”
]]>With raw physical and mental violence, this TV show is a beautiful and tough exploration of the vulgarity hidden in humans when decisions are based on the choice to be made between life and death. The show takes place at Hyosan High School, when a girl is bitten by a rat infected with a deadly virus. This virus transforms humans into horrifying human-eating machines.
After the girl gets bitten, she is then held captive in the school science lab by the science teacher who’s behind the creation of this virus. As the entire school and the whole city starts turning into a zombie land, the students are put in a position to try to survive this zombie outbreak.
Although the drama has elements of zombie horror, there is a devastating story behind all of the violence that touches on personal loss and death. The choice of life and death is often left to a humanity system built on rules and procedures. Throughout time, humans have been placing each other in little categories to see how each fits in their favored hierarchy and then treat them accordingly. High school students tend to stereotype each individual based on their academic and social abilities.
Labeling people and prioritizing them can be seen in multiple episodes throughout the drama. The smart girl was saved by the handsome guy, but the teacher was neglected by the students. These examples show how humans, usually unconsciously, treat others based on their category.
This show parallels actual events happening in real life. The virus portrayed in the series is actually there to tackle a systemic problem that we face as a society: bullying. The virus spreads throughout the school as bullying spreads throughout our society with no mercy. This goes on showing that a small spark can ignite a large fraction of fire that ruins us as humans. And, by working together, we can put this fire out just as the characters in the drama are trying to achieve.
All of Us are Dead presents devastated characters in the middle of a crisis working together to go back to a normal life. Combined with the horrifying graphics of zombies, this drama employs the setting of a zombie apocalypse to create a sympathetic folklore of loss and grief. With that, the storyline is layered with jealousy, romance, suffering, hostility, and lastly a wave of drama engineered around to achieve quick bursts of comic relief. To simply state it, life isn’t complete nor perfect but gradually gets better with humans standing together. This show truly makes us realize that at the end, life for just a moment is actually very sweet.
]]>Tesfaye’s new release consists of 80’s new wave, city-pop, funk, and dance-pop beats. He samples various 1980’s songs like “Midnight Pretenders” by Tomoko Aran and “I Want to Thank You” by Alicia Myers. The album also features vocals from Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne. Tesfaye’s previous album, “After Hours,” had such a contrasting tone to “Dawn FM,” and included major hits like “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights.” After attracting such a large audience with his previous album and 2021 Halftime Show Performance, Dawn FM may not be the music his newer fans are expecting to hear.
Despite such a significant name in the music and pop culture industry releasing a new album on Jan. 7, there was barely any notice, new singles, or rollout for the album. This may be due to the fact that although Dawn FM truly encapsulated the creativity and talent of The Weeknd, the album tends to get repetitive and inconsistent at certain points. The album cover, being himself as an elderly man, portrays the wisdom and experience Tesfaye has gained over the two years of quarantine.
Through Carrey’s unsettling invitation, listeners are transported from the repetitive reality of life in the pandemic to the funky, fast-paced era of the 1980s. Carrey’s unsettling narration in between songs has caused a stir throughout Tesfaye’s audience. For example, in the “Phantom Regret by Jim,” he recites an original poem: “You’re tuned to Dawn FM/The middle of nowhere on your dial/So sit back and unpack/You may be here a while.” The eerie undertones that Carrey’s voice gives off in his prevalent monologues throughout the album throw the listener off, creating an offbeat, abnormal mood. Some critics say that although Carrey’s voice is a distinct addition to the album, the actual meaning to his words are more monotonous than meaningful. But, Carrey’s words add a personal touch that would leave “Dawn FM” lacking if removed.
The album’s hit single “Take My Breath” has been met with widespread praise as it debuted number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song is heavily influenced by 80’s beats and synthesizers, taking listeners back in time. In fact, Jon Parales of the New York Times compares the song’s disco thump, electric piano, and call-and-response vocals to the Bee Gees. The single is also reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s vocals. Tesfaye intentionally includes elements of various 80’s artists to pull the listener back in time.
“Out of Time,” “Here We Go…Again?” and “Less Than Zero” are considerably the most profound songs in the entire album. “Out of Time,” one of the more slow-paced songs of the album and a well-known fan favorite, impresses with its beautiful vocal harmonizations. But, in general, it wouldn’t be incorrect to state that each song is richly infused with unique instrumentals that truly enhance the album as a whole.
While some may view “Dawn FM” as a disappointment in comparison to The Weeknd’s previous album, Tesfaye’s newest album is truly his most ambitious one yet. He has brought a new dimension to the music he writes, and has taken risks to make this original conceptual album. Hopefully, we will see more of Tesfaye’s attempts to diversify in his music in the near future.
]]>When asked about their anticipations for state, head coach Jerry Moon was confident.
“When it comes to state, I think we match up well against other teams,” Moon said.
Fremd went into round one with this mentality and took the match against Huntley in dominant fashion, 61-7.
Round 2 saw Fremd facing off against a crosstown rival in Palatine High School. This match heavily favored Fremd, and the results followed as Fremd was off to a 2-0 start. As the next few rounds of the tournament progressed, although Fremd was victorious, their margin of victory was progressively decreasing.
This pattern boiled over to round 5, where Fremd took their first loss, against Neuqua Valley, in a 42.5-25.5 defeat. Junior captain Rohan Rao spoke on this defeat, referencing the other teams’ preparedness.
“We were caught off guard by a few schools, namely Neuqua Valley, they performed better than we thought they would, which ultimately led to a loss,” Rao said.
Although this was a setback, their tournament was certainly not over. The next round was a major bounce back for Fremd, as they exhibited a resurgence, toppling Aurora Math and Science Academy 50-18.
At the end of the seventh and final round, there was an astounding seven-team tie for 2nd place, with Fremd in the mix. After a crushing tiebreaker, Fremd was propelled back into 7th place. The tournament favorite Stevenson took home 1st place with 8th seeded Barrington following behind, proving that the tiebreaker led to a massive shake up on the leaderboard.
As a whole, Fremd performed exceptionally well, landing at a final spot of 7th out of 128 participating teams. Although they hoped to place better, their season was nonetheless a success. With this season behind them, the Vikings are one step closer to achieving the highly coveted state title in the following years to come.
]]>Recently dubbed the “World’s largest humanitarian crisis” by the United Nations World Food Programme, many Afghans are on the brink of extinction because of the lack of necessities. As the Taliban took over the nation on Aug. 15, 2021, the government of Afghanistan collapsed, leaving more than half a million without jobs and salaries. It left only 17 percent of the country’s more than 2,300 health clinics functional, causing further chaos and reducing vital medicine. Because Afghanistan never got the chance to function independently in the last two decades, the government remains heavily aid-dependent. Progress in other areas such as health care and education, especially for women, has also regressed. According to the United Nations Development Programme, Afghanistan could face universal poverty by the middle of this year, “with 97 percent of Afghans living below the World Bank-designated international poverty line of $1.90 a day.”
In early January, the U.S. announced that it was giving an additional $308 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, meaning the amount of money given since October of 2021 is now roughly $780 million. In an attempt to further alleviate the crisis, American and European diplomats traveled to Oslo on Jan. 23 to discuss a plan with the Taliban to hopefully reduce tensions and better living conditions for the citizens of Afghanistan. Before the conferences started, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, tweeted out how he hoped the trip “Would be good with many achievements accomplished.” Though the details of the Oslo summit were held behind closed doors, thus making the information not available to the public media, Muttaqi said the talks with the Westerners were “promising,” according to Al Jazeera, a Qatari media company.
Fast forward to Jan. 31, when NBC News reported a story of a single mother who is desperately struggling to feed her five heavily malnourished children. For over a month, Sakina, the mother, and her children were on a diet of rice, beans, and crusts of dry bread. Later, she was rushed through the freezing mountains to reach one of the few hospitals that were still functioning to try and save Nisar Ahmed, her 2-year-old son with an irregular heartbeat.
“He’s been sick for like two months and not recovering,” said Sakina in an interview with NBC News London Supervising Producer Yuka Tachibana.
Unable to be adequately fed, the boy weighed 17 pounds, severely underweight for his age. In addition, he required oxygen through a mask every two hours because of his irregular heartbeat. As the family has not seen meat in over a month, a lack of protein is evident, as Sakina’s other children are in conditions only slightly better than Nisar.
But of course, Sakina is just one of the many cases of near-starvation and death. Millions sprawled across the country face similar conditions, unable to provide for themselves and their families.
Delivering humanitarian aid as quickly as possible is “Our first and most urgent priority in Afghanistan,” an anonymous United States State Department spokesperson said.
Currently, food is being distributed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in multiple different centers across Afghanistan. In addition, the U.N. is providing monetary funding to the best of their ability, as they pledged to give around $4.4 billion over the course of this year.
But for the time being, until further aid starts to flow in and Afghanistan’s economy is back on its feet, millions of people like Sakina will be forced to endure the rest of the harsh winter, where some will inevitably perish.
As Sakina mentioned, “What can we do? We have to accept it the way it is.”
]]>As a result of a preliminary decision on a lawsuit in which District 211 and 140 other school districts were named defendants, Governor Pritzker’s Executive Orders mandating face masks and exclusion of close contacts were temporarily overturned. On Monday, Feb. 7, Fremd students returned from a weekend to a mask-optional policy in school. Although the governor is currently challenging the circuit court’s preliminary decision, tension has rippled through Fremd in the weeks after the change.
People on both sides have protested and even threatened violence in response to the new policy in many Illinois schools. Following the updated regulations on Monday, a Fremd senior was allegedly threatened with a knife.
In an interview with Fox & Friends, the student, who went by Grace, reported that the confrontation occurred during a passing period in a classroom.
“A student said, ‘no one better get near me,'” Grace said. “He points a knife out, and he lunges at me, and I start freaking out, and I am shaking, and I’m screaming.”
Despite the conflict, the classroom teacher and administration reportedly responded quickly and effectively.
“The school was very helpful with my safety after the event,” Grace said.
According to The Daily Herald, the student who allegedly pulled out the knife has been arrested by the Palatine Police and will face charges.
Other Illinois schools have experienced similar conflicts. After the court decision, a large protest broke out in St. Viator High School as maskless students and parents disobeyed the school’s mandated mask policy.
As a part of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the school did not need to alter its Covid-19 precautions in response to the circuit court decision. However, the school completed two days of remote classes on Feb. 8 and 9 before returning to in-person learning with a mask-optional policy. In their most recent update, Chicago Archdiocese Superintendent Greg Richmond explained their plan to mirror the precautions enforced within each school’s area.
“In schools where masks will be optional, all our other COVID protocols will continue in place just as they are now,” Richmond said.
Despite the recent conflict in the community, the Fremd and District 211 administration has emphasized the need for mutual kindness and respect for others’ choices. In a written statement released to the press, District 211 Director of Communications Erin Holmes expressed this viewpoint.
“We are grateful for the thousands of students and staff who respected each other’s masking decision and are engaging in a successful and productive school day. We are reiterating the importance of mutual respect as we continue to navigate changing directives,” Holmes said.
In an announcement on Feb. 7, Fremd Principal Mark Langer echoed Holmes and addressed schoolwide expectations for maintaining good character as the community continues to face varying regulations.
“Showing respect is a core value for Vikings,” Langer said. “With this change in the masking requirement, we ask everyone to please demonstrate personal respect for everyone’s individual decision regarding their masking preference, whether it is to wear or not wear a mask.”
]]>An unfortunate event shocked the Arabic entertainment industry, the deaths of the respected duo, Samir Ghanem and Dalal Abdel Aziz. This news was hard to handle since many loved and respected the pair. The JOY awards presented them to society one last time in tribute to them.
However, the event’s highlight is when Adviser Turki Al Alshaikh awarded the deceased Ghanem and Aziz, presenting them as a salute to Egypt’s best onscreen couple witnessed by millions.
In a five-minute video, JOY awards presented the careers and lives of Samir and Dalal, showcasing their work that spread joy across many Arab countries. The married couple died three months apart in 2021 due to COVID, Ghanem died May 20, and Aziz died August 7. Accepting the tribute were their two children, Donia and Amy Ghanem.
Mr. Alalshikh praised Samir and Dalal for their work on the Arabic screen. He commented on Dalal’s love for Samir by stating, “She could not let herself abandon her beloved, and she decided to follow him to heaven.” After saying those words, Donia and Amy lowered their heads to cover their teary faces. While accepting the award, Amy, battling tears, said, “I had a speech prepared, but once I saw the video [of my parents], and the support I got from fans and fellow actresses and actors, my mouth can’t speak…This the first time I really went outside since their passing, and I thank you for remembering them and their work.”
Ghanem and Aziz’s love for themselves and their fans has been passed down to their daughters. The work they’ve done to spread happiness across the Arab nation will forever be remembered, with their daughters now their messengers. Thanks to JOY awards, they were presented to the world for one last time to draw smiles on people’s faces.
]]>While the shorter test may be a welcome addition to students preparing to take the SAT, a new question arises. How would students prepare for the virtual test? With many students used to taking the paper SAT for years on end, transitioning may be quite difficult for many.
SAT tutor and specialist Suzanne Butler addresses the potential positive effects of the new SAT format.
“With the online test I think it will be good, as it’s probably more user-friendly than paper and pencil,” Butler said.
With the shorter duration, the SAT may seem to be easier with its change to the new format. However, with the virtual format, concerns may arise since students must answer questions consecutively, and are unable to skip questions, unlike in the paper format. Currently, no indication has been shown from the college board that this format will change.
Many of the reading passages on the SAT are shifting content, analyzing social studies, literature, and writing across the ages. Due to this, students will need to change their preparations they have been doing so far, and this may elicit opinions among the student population that differ from that of teachers and tutors, who may have to do a lot more research, with the shift in topics and content. Additionally, students can utilize the College Board’s SAT prep and Khan Academy which serve as useful tools to help students with standardized tests like the SAT and the ACT.
Senior Josiah-Virgil Turner speaks about his thoughts on the new format.
“The virtual transition honestly doesn’t change my opinion of the SAT, as it’s still a standardized test,” Turner said. “I don’t really like the SAT anyways, as I feel it’s not the best measure of estimating academic potential.”
From a senior’s perspective, the SAT change may not matter to them, as some may not need to prepare or take it anymore. Freshmen, on the other hand, may have stronger opinions on the change, since it will directly affect them when they take the SAT.
Fremd freshman Dev Sharma believes the new SAT style will be less taxing.
“I think it’s cool, with the SAT switching to virtual and everything,” Sharma said. “I really like how it’s shorter now, making it less stressful and easier in a sense.”
The new format could indeed be easier with shorter hours and less restrictions, considering the math portion will no longer be split into two parts: calculator and non-calculator. Instead, students will be able to use their calculator for the entirety of the math section. Additionally, test-takers will not have to bring a No. 2 pencil, which many students may not have in their possession.
Butler mentions that the virtual SAT is not a bad thing and represents the times to come.
“The SAT is catching up with what is already happening, switching to a virtual format in order to modernize,” Butler said. “Students taking the SAT are used to doing everything online, so it’s probably very user-friendly.”
]]>The tension between the nations has flared up frequently ever since their alliance ended during the fall of the Soviet Union. However, the current situation is preceded by another event in 2014, where Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula. This was met with much opposition from other major powers, including NATO, who ceased “practical and military cooperation”, as said in their statement released the following April. This drastic response was due to Crimea being internationally recognized as a part of Ukraine even though Russia still continues to occupy the territory. Additionally, it led to armed warfare with Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine, causing thousands of casualties. The War in Donbas, as it’s called, is still ongoing.
This incident has again garnered international attention towards Russia, and with the threat of combat looming, numerous countries have sent out warnings to their citizens to evacuate the surrounding nations. The US has also put out warnings on the travel section of the Department of State website, listing Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus as “Level 4 – Do Not Travel” zones. Ukraine has since received various forms of aid from other allies. President Biden also sent troops to Poland but has forbidden them from entering Ukraine itself, for fear of international war truly breaking out. On Feb. 10, he expressed these worries in an interview with NBC News, saying that Americans and Russians directly fighting is what makes a world war.
The potential for war not only affects Americans but also European citizens. Further armed conflict could lead to civilian deaths, even greater than those of the War in Donbas. It could also lead to a flood of refugees moving to other countries to escape, which might provide said countries troubles of their own if they’re not prepared to take them in. As of Feb. 15, things have begun moving in a more peaceful direction as Moscow has allowed diplomatic talks to resume after stating that they would deescalate a portion of the forces present, but no withdrawal has been identified by American intelligence just yet.
]]>As for the game’s outcome, it’s tough to pick. There’s a lot of things the Bengals do well. Their offense is absolutely electric. They have a lethal wide receiver trio in Chase, Tyler Boyd, and Tee Higgins who are always there to make play happen. Running back Joe Mixon is a threat both on the ground and as a pass catcher, and we all know Burrow can ball. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Trey Hendrickson and the rest of the Bengals defensive line is going to do everything they can to put pressure on Stafford. Hopefully in doing so, they’ll force the Rams quarterback to make some rushed decisions and maybe even force a couple of turnovers. My heart wants Joe Burrow to bring a trophy back to his home state of Ohio. It really does.
But my brain tells me there’s no way the Rams can lose. I just don’t think an incredibly mediocre Bengals offensive line can possibly stop the L.A. pass rush, and that’s a large enough edge in this game. Aaron Donald, Rams defensive tackle and arguably the most dominant player in the NFL, is going to go for an absurd amount of sacks. Rams head coach Sean McVay is going to do everything in his power to get the ball in his playmakers hands, expect Kupp and Beckham to line up all over the place and be huge focal points of the offense. Ramsey and the rest of the secondary should look to take away the deep ball and stick close to Ja’Marr Chase’s side. The only way I could really see a Bengals win is if they force a key turnover, or someone like receiver Tyler Boyd comes up big.
Most of all I’m rooting for a close game that’s high scoring and entertaining, and maybe a couple good commercials. Final prediction, Rams 28 Bengals 20 and for the Gatorade poured over the winning coach to be Lemon-Lime.
60 Fremd students were polled and interviewed about their current relationship status and whether or not they believe the pandemic has had an impact on that. Of the 60 students, 10 students said that they are currently in a relationship, while 50 reported that they are single.
Most of the students in a relationship said it is harder to spend time and connect with their significant other because of the pandemic. Due to social distancing and other restrictions, it has become harder to find places to hang out. As a result, dating amongst teenagers, an experience often characterized as rather impulsive, has become less spontaneous. Although this presents a chance for students to be creative because in a time defined by physical isolation, many have still maintained their relationships.
While the pandemic has presented numerous challenges to the couples of Fremd, it has also remained an isolating time for many single students. The viewpoint held amongst a majority of Fremd singles is that meeting new people and connecting with them has become harder as a result of the physical barriers presented by masks and social distancing. The pandemic presents an unaffectionate time as romantic behaviors such as kissing someone on the cheek have become impossible. Additionally, while restrictions make it difficult for couples to meet up, they also make it hard for single teens to meet new people. Many students have expressed feeling isolated as a result of this lack of connection.
In an attempt to connect throughout these past few years, online dating has taken over. As society has turned to the internet, a natural distance between those hoping to connect online has remained. A majority of single students polled expressed their dislike of online dating platforms as well as their desire to return to a time before connecting with others primarily via the internet.
Besides the previously mentioned social barriers, a physical barrier has also been introduced by the pandemic. An unforeseen effect of the popularization of face masks has created the phenomenon of “mask fishing.” Mask fishing, derived from the popular phrase “catfishing,” refers to when someone is perceived as more attractive wearing a mask than without a mask. In these unprecedented times, when it is entirely possible to meet someone and develop feelings all without seeing the bottom half of their face, many are calling into the weight of appearances when it comes to forming new relationships. However, as many fear accidentally presenting a more attractive version of themselves with masks than being maskfished by others, many argue that the problem is not mask fishing but rather personal insecurities.
Amidst challenges, the most romantic holiday of the year is less than a week away. Admittedly, Valentine’s Day is known for being a day disliked by many single people. However, hopefully Fremd students are able to overcome the physical and emotional distance and enjoy this holiday.
]]>The lawsuit claims that the colleges agreed on a single strategy for determining the costs of financial aid, with the capacity for the student’s family to pay off the costs a large factor. Inadvertently, this has caused colleges to favor the wealthy, as they have an increased ability to pay it off.
All universities are members of the 568 Presidents Group, an assembly that originally was organized because of the federal exemption law stating that colleges and universities are no longer required to adhere to antitrust laws if they are considered “need-blind,” otherwise known as the disregard for a student’s socioeconomic status when deciding whether or not the student is to be admitted.
Therefore, it seems as if the suit believes the listed colleges have violated this law, as “the applicant’s assessed ability to pay therefore is a key determinant in the net price of attendance,” further explaining that “under a true need-blind admissions system, all students would be admitted without regard to the financial circumstances of the student or student’s family.”
Additionally, these colleges have been claimed to have taken advantage of certain “loopholes” that make them infringe their title of being “need-blind.” First, they have preferred the families of students that have donated large sums of money to their institution. Of course, this breaches the idea of being “need-blind,” as the college is favoring those that are wealthy and able to donate.
Second, it is claimed colleges such as Penn and Vanderbilt have looked at a student’s capacity to pay for college, at least in regards to admitting waitlisted students.
Columbia’s School of General Studies, which houses non-traditional students that are either part-time or have just departed from military service, has been listed on their official website as only “need-aware,” not “need-blind.”
The lawsuit also claims that the colleges have participated in the use of enrollment management, which means that they have ultimately utilized factors such as your address, school, etc. in order to configure a certain idea about a student’s financial situation.
As of the moment, many of the colleges seem to believe that the lawsuit has “no merit,” continuing to defend their administration’s policies.
]]>Compared to other sports where athletes are given periods of rest with game time (via timeouts, transitions between quarters/periods, etc/) competitive cheerleading provides no such thing. All cheerleaders must work together to perform at their highest ability for two minutes and thirty seconds. In those two minutes and thirty seconds athletes tumble, stunt, jump, and hit their motions with execution. There’s no room for error. In addition, athletes are unaware of how their competitors before them performed, making it even harder for competitive cheerleaders to create a moment to regroup as they perform.
Senior Captain Nyla Jones described how competing at home was beneficial.
“There was a strong sense of pride walking onto that mat. It felt like a performance and less like a competition,” Jones said.
This feeling of their routine being a performance, rather than a competition, was said to be a key contributor to them hitting zero deductions.
“There were so many people there for just us and I felt like if we let them down we’d be doing them a disservice,” Senior captain Matthiew Beebe said. “However, I feel like these people amped me up the second I got on the floor. My nerves turned into excitement… and the people…are ultimately what kept filling my bucket throughout the routine.”
This win was just in time for their sectional competition which happened on Jan. Twenty ninth at Belvidere High School. These vikings placed third in their division, allowing them a spot at the IHSA state cheerleading competition.
When asked about what aspects of the routine should be kept and changed for this competition, head coach Dana Musinski highlighted the need to execute and to gain tenths in all aspects of the routine.
“One of the many things I love about this team is that they are hungry to continue to grow and improve each and every day,” Musinski said. “We will keep looking for ways to earn tenths every day at practice, focus on executing with the right technique as consistently as possible and just continue to enjoy every day we are together.”
These Vikings have made history with their first at home victory, and look to continue their success as they take on state in the coed division this Friday and Saturday.
]]>Weighing at around seven tons, the James Webb Space Telescope is the successor to the Hubble Telescope, with many improvements in virtually every aspect. Along with a much bigger mirror than the Hubble that enables it to peer further back in time, the JWST also travels much deeper into space . To clarify, we can see back in time every time we look out at space because of how light travels. On Earth, we know that light travels 186,000 miles per second. But in space, there is a noticeable difference in the speed of light as planets, and other objects are immense distances away from each other. So to put it into perspective, when we gaze up at the Moon which is 239,000 miles away from Earth, light takes approximately 1.3 seconds to travel to Earth, ultimately resulting in us seeing the Moon as it was 1.3 seconds earlier. In addition, while Hubble is rotating around in the orbit of Earth, the JWST will be 930,000 miles away from Earth, according to the live feed of the telescope traveling to its location provided by NASA, allowing it to be closer to the points of interest.
Currently, the JWST is slated to reach its destination, L2, on January 24. L2, otherwise known as Lagrange point 2, is a point in space opposite the sun. JWST’s final destination is L2 because this point is an ideal location for an infrared system. Infrared observations are vital to astronomy because stars and planets are forming, which often lies hidden behind dust masses that can absorb visible light. And by utilizing infrared light emitted by these masses, the telescope can reveal what’s inside.
According to NASA, the JWST has three main goals: look at the assemblies of early galaxies in our universe, the birth of stars, and alien planets, along with the origins of life.
The JWST will observe early galaxies because doing so gives us hints about how the universe evolved, and moreover, JWST’s infrared “eyes”, will look at heat sources, such as the dust masses that can hide stars that were recently born. Additionally, with the wide variety of exoplanets we have uncovered over the past decade or so, the JWST’s robust sensors will be able to inspect these exoplanets in more depth and, in some cases, even document their respective atmospheres. Of course, everything in the universe is finite, just like our home planet, so hunting for habitable planets is everlasting.
Overall, the JWST seems to be a promising new project that, for the next 10-15 years, will roam the universe in search of the answers to humanity’s questions. It also marks the beginning of a new era, as within its lifetime of 10 or more years, several other life-changing events such as Elon Musk’s pledge to make a thriving Mars colony will also probably happen. However, unforeseen debris like asteroids could hit the telescope and cause the expensive operation to fail.
But Gregory L. Robinson, Webb’s program director at NASA headquarters, said that “though Webb will have to execute the most intricate and ambitious process ever attempted in space, the astonishing images it will provide will be more than worth it”.
]]>Since then, fans got excited and started predicting the couple reveal for 2022, but all predictions were wrong compared to Dispatch’s new stars. On Jan. 3, Dispatch revealed the love story between former T-ara member Soyeon and Suwon midfielder Cho Yu Min. But the excitement doesn’t stop here; both couples announced their marriage shortly after turning their love scandal into a beautiful love story.
However, things were different between the fresh couple. Commenting on their relationship, Dispatch quoted, “They are in the early stages of their relationship. They have good feelings for each other.” And to Dispatch’s suspicions, Soyeon posted on her Instagram a post stating that she and Yu Min want to take the next step in their love story.
Although sometimes this news might sound good to fans, it can be a demise for the idols themselves. The companies aiding their actors/ actresses and idols sometimes pay Dispatch to keep away from them, but when that fails the companies either force the couples to break or force them to leave the company.
Soyeon and Cho Yu Min’s situation is different though than most Dispatch reveals. This is the second marriage announcement since 2013 Dispatch revealed K-pop singer, Rain, and actress Tae Hee relationship and both couples married shortly afterwards.
This is great news to kick off 2022 for both couples and their fans. Soyeon gained popularity after a long break from the media and fans are excited to hear about couples who won’t be breaking up but continuing their relationship. Dispatch is aiming to reveal only positive love stories that would benefit both sides. Now, fans are awaiting the answer to the question that strikes their curiosity and sparks tension: who is going to be the next Dispatch star?
]]>On Jan. 16, 2022, Novak Djokovic, a professional tennis player currently ranked No. 1 in the world, was deported from Australia due to a judicial court upholding Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa. Djokovic is unvaccinated against COVID-19, and Australia’s vaccine rules require that foreigners be vaccinated against it.
Australian judges and the immigration minister also looked into how Djokovic’s travel declaration was incorrect. It didn’t mention how he had been to several countries in the two weeks before arriving in Australia. The government was further worried that allowing Djokovic to stay without being vaccinated would bolster anti-vaccine sentiment. The lengthy episode that resulted from the initial cancellation of Djokovic’s visa at the airport on Jan. 5 finally culminated in his deportation and inability to play in the Australian Open.
The immigration minister said he “welcomed” the court’s resolution, allowing his decision to stand. The immigration minister also attempted to justify his decision by explaining that “Australia’s strong border protection policies have kept us safe during the pandemic, resulting in one of the lowest death rates, strongest economic recoveries, and highest vaccination rates in the world. Strong border protection policies are also fundamental to safeguarding Australia’s social cohesion, which continues to strengthen despite the pandemic.”
Djokovic had argued that the incorrect travel declaration was due to his agent making a mistake. Djokovic also reasoned that since he recently had COVID-19, he could have a medical exemption from taking the vaccine. His legal team further argued that canceling Djokovic’s visa could still stoke anti-vaccine beliefs.
After the court decided to deport him, Novak was “disappointed” but stated, “I respect the court’s ruling, and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country…I am uncomfortable that the focus of the past weeks has been on me, and I hope that we can all now focus on the game and tournament I love.”
Djokovic had many supporters that also argued against his visa cancellation, including tennis fans, players, and even the president of his home country Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, who called the Australian government’s decision “a farce” and that they had “humiliated” Djokovic. On the other hand, many Australians and some tennis organizations supported the court ruling. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) called the situation a “deeply regrettable series of events” while also saying that “decisions of legal authorities regarding matters of public health must be respected.”
This year, the Australian Open is one of the many events that will keep the debate of vaccination status running, with governments pitted against people and even other governments. The following tennis Grand Slam, The French Open, also requires players to be vaccinated following a vaccine mandate passed by the French government. However, those recently infected with Covid may be allowed to play. Nobody is sure how this will play out, but one thing is for sure: pro-vaccine governments are starting to take drastic measures to vaccinate and keep the unvaccinated out.
]]>Last school year, Writers Week was hosted virtually due to the pandemic. However, with Fremd students back in person this school year, Writers Week XXVIII will return back into the Kolze Auditorium. A variety of changes have been made to re-adapt to an in person Writers Week.
Writers Week organizer and English teacher Russell Anderson explains how the Writers Week format has changed for this school year.
“It will feel very similar to previous [in-person] Writers Weeks, but we are a bit limited in the amount of students that are allowed in the auditorium at any given time,” Anderson said. “We’re going to have a YouTube channel that’s going to archive all of [the video recordings] so teachers and students who are not in the auditorium can see the performances that way.”
In addition to adapting to COVID protocols, the YouTube channel is also useful by giving non-Fremd students access to Writers Week. While watching a video rather than seeing favorite authors in person can be a vastly different experience, utilizing the YouTube video option will create a much safer environment for both presenter and audience members.
In regard to speakers themselves, guests from all over the nation have been invited to visit Fremd and talk about what being an author is like, and the importance of the written word. Some Fremd students and staff will also be presenting during Writers Week, sharing their personal stories and explaining their significance. Some of the guests include Mark Oshiro, Kwama Mbalia, Joshua Nguyen, Sam Weller, and Hot Alice.
Finally, a teacher band called FANBOYS plays during Writers Week, illuminating the week with Fremd’s own musical twist. The band, consisting of Mr. Anderson, Mr. O’Donnell, Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Gerber, Mrs. Braverman, Mr. Hammond, and Mr. Dawson, puts a “Fremd spin” on popular song lyrics according to Anderson, which will round out the week.
FANBOYS has been a highlight at Fremd since Writers Week XIII, 15 years ago. It’s brought a lot of humor and fun to Writers Week as a whole and presents a concert that many students look forward to, seeing their teachers on stage and performing. FANBOYS contributes to the festive and relaxing Writers Week mood, even after winter break is over and classes are back in session.
The in-person return of Writers Week has been long awaited for by many teachers and students enthusiastic to welcome the event back to Fremd’s Kolze auditorium.
Anderson shares his thoughts on the return of Writers Week to an in-person setting.
“I am extremely excited for an in person Writers Week,” Anderson said. “We’re proud of what we were able to put together last year for the students, but there’s an energy in the auditorium that is hard to replicate anywhere else. I am really looking forward to that feeling again this year.”
]]>The tensions surrounding the trial were at an all-time high due to the tight-lipped witness list, but after the first few witnesses, it became evident that the case would become an emotional one for the accusers. The first witness under the pseudonym “Jane” talked about her experiences of being molested by Maxwell in her arts and music camp in Michigan, which Epstein was a donor of when she was as young as 14 years old. She also described the painful memories of her abuse by Epstein while Maxwell was in the room and how this continued until she was 16 years old. The conviction of this heart-breaking testimony was further assisted by the prosecutor’s alleged “victim shaming” when he grilled the witness about the accuracy of an experience 20 years ago and about how long it took for the witness to come forward.
Maxwell was in a challenging position in her trial. There was countless evidence of accusers coming out against both Epstein and Maxwell, including the high-profile accuser, Virginia Giuffre. Her story is well known for being flown out to different places across the world to have sex with politicians, billionaires, and royals, including the famous example of Prince Andrew, at the young age of 17 years.
Maxwell’s team was persistent in undermining the witnesses’ credibility because it is difficult to ignore a 20 year-gap memory’s accuracy. However, no expensive and well-built defense team can maneuver their way through several witnesses’ emotional memories at the end of the day. Maxwell was not a simple onlooker to the victims, and she was the obedient assistant who normalized the abuse and added a whole new layer of toxicity and manipulation.
As an extreme case of wealth and power used in a closed-off, secret society, the Epstein case was undoubtedly an intriguing shock to the world that kept people on the edge of their seats. Maxwell’s trial was no exception. Maxwell was found guilty and charged up to 65 years in prison, which is fundamentally life in jail for her age. Although their memories may fade in credibility over time, the victims’ emotional trauma will not, and hopefully, Maxwell’s verdict will be a step towards their closure. We can only hope that major cases such as these inspire a society that allows more people to come out and use the power of numbers to overcome the misuses of wealth.
]]>The second semi-formal dance of the 2021-22 school year is set to take place on Feb. 26 at 7 pm with the theme of “Winter Wonderland.” Tickets go on sale Feb. 14 for $15 apiece and can be purchased on MySchoolBucks. The Winter Gala is designed to boost student spirit in the middle of a long, cold, and difficult second semester.
As the Covid-19 pandemic remains prevalent, it is important to note what precautions are being put into place to keep all attendees safe.
While the dance is still a month away and a lot of the logistics remain unknown, science teacher and Student Council sponsor Karisa Andrianopoulos explains some of the measures the school is taking.
“You may only bring a guest from another D211 school, and masks must be worn with the noses covered at all times,” Andrianopoulos said.
In past years, the winter dance was previously known as “Turnabout,” where students are supposed to “turnabout” the norms of regular school dances by having girls ask boys to the dance. However, this year the Fremd Student Council is stepping away from that title, favoring “Winter Gala” as the name for the dance. There have been many misconceptions about the dance, among them the idea that girls can only go to the dance if they ask a boy. This year Student Council wishes to promote the Winter Gala as a dance for everyone. All Fremd students are welcome to attend regardless of whether they choose to go with their friends, the person they asked, or the person who asked them.
MC Nook EX of Bizar Entertainment is scheduled to DJ again at the Winter Gala. Nook, who has opened for artists like Ciara, Mike Posner, Bruno Mars, and Jason Derulo, was a big hit among the student body at Homecoming.
Fremd sophomore Saranya Rajan who attended Homecoming as her first high school dance back in October reflected about the MC.
“The songs the DJ played were all really trendy and upbeat and made the whole experience better,” Rajan said.
While some Fremd traditions are continued at this year’s Winter Gala, the dance is characterized by innovative ideas as a new era of school dances begins.
]]>“The Tragedy of Macbeth” is the newest iteration of the classic play, written and directed by Joel Coen, and starring Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, and Corey Hawkins. The faithful adaptation tells the story of the titular Scottish lord who becomes convinced by three witches that he will one day become king. However, Macbeth’s lack of forethought leads to a turbulent rise to power. It’s a strange departure for Coen, as this is the first film he’s made completely independently and without the help of his brother Ethan, with whom he’s written and directed over a dozen films.
The film lives in a strange purgatory between stage and screen, and in a strange way it isn’t really either. Every scene was filmed on a soundstage, including those that take place outdoors, making it feel as though you’re watching a stage production play out in front of you. It’s still filmed like a movie, but the sets involve some suspension of disbelief. This is even furthered by the fact that it was filmed in black-and-white, and in an aspect ratio of 1.19:1, meaning in a more square-shaped frame than the majority of modern movies. The combination of all of these elements makes it feel more like one is watching a film from the olden days of Hollywood.
The cinematography is highlighted by the film’s use of black and white. In many scenes, a contrast between the dark and the light is present, highlighting the character’s internal conflicts and feelings. It’s also a double-edged sword, as some scenes (especially those taking place outdoors) wind up feeling flat and two-dimensional, when they really shouldn’t.
Despite having a cast led by two seasoned actors, the film doesn’t have much to boast about in the way of acting. Its Shakespearean language gives some of the dialogue a halting quality, especially when it comes to those actors with American accents. The variety of accents present in the film doesn’t impede the quality of it, however, and it becomes pretty easy to ignore after a while. The performances as a whole are merely sufficient, but nothing more. Frances McDormand, winner of four academy awards, delivers the weakest out of the film as a more subdued Lady Macbeth than seen in the original play. Wife of writer and director Joel Coen, McDormand just doesn’t seem like the right person to play such a boldly conniving character. Denzel Washington and Harry Melling (known best for his roles in the Harry Potter franchise and “The Queen’s Gambit,”) delivered the most compelling performances in their respective roles.
By far the biggest issue with “The Tragedy of Macbeth” is that it is an almost completely direct adaptation of its source material. Making such close adaptations is a concept Joel Coen is no stranger to, as his 2007 crime thriller “No Country for Old Men” is also a nearly identical adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel of the same name. Many may find that viewing this film is much more difficult when one has to decipher what each character is saying. Luckily, the film is available on Apple TV, so when watching at home, subtitles are always an option (and certainly a great help). While the plot of the film isn’t lost because of this trait, a lot of the nuances in the dialogue are. It’s also somewhat evident when a line is included that wasn’t in the original play, as sometimes a line will seem too modern and out of place with the rest.
Because of the dialogue, a lot of enjoyment is taken out of the film. Without conversations most can understand, the film has less room to flourish and relies on the rest of its aspects to make up for it, though insufficient in many places. The film definitely appeals the most to fans of Shakespeare and his works, who would most likely be more familiar with the old language. However, “The Tragedy of Macbeth” doesn’t have much else going for it other than an interesting look and story.
]]>Most recently, Fremd proved its dominance by winning the MSL conference tournament, cruising through notable teams such as Barrington High School. Barrington, who finished 2nd in State last year, fell to the hands of Fremd 47.5 to 20.5.
With the sectional and state competition around the corner, Fremd looks like a serious contender to win it all. When asked about what sets them apart from other schools going into the state tournament, Jerry Moon was optimistic.
“The team’s work ethic sets them apart,” Moon said. “Kids come in very motivated to practice well, and to play well”.
Most of all, the Fremd chess team is characterized by its community feel and its players’ desire to help others better their games. Moon also talks about how the team’s successes are brought on by the upperclassmen’s initiatives.
“Upperclassmen post resources to help others, leaders set the overall tone, and people know what they must do to become the best”, Moon said.
Intangibles like these help propel Fremd past their competition, as they are willing to go the extra mile to help contribute to the team’s success.
Moon also attributed the team’s prosperity to their new underclassmen talent. Junior co-captain Rohan Rao speaks on the importance of these players, and admires their ability to best their older opponents.
“The people who came to our team happened to be great talents. Sophomore Aditya [Gupta] and Freshman Ryan [Barretto] have been spectacular additions to the team”.
Gupta, who is ranked second in the state, proves to be one of the most talented and beneficial pieces in a winning environment.
However, being three weeks out from state, the Vikings still have room for improvement. When asked about what challenges the team faces, Junior co-captain Adu Batta expressed an important perspective.
“The overall age of our team and experience is our biggest hurdle as of now. Most of our top guys such as Gupta, are underclassmen, and don’t have the kind of exposure like some of our opponents may have” said the captain.
With the proper practice and preparation, this obstacle can prove to be only a small hindrance in a destined path to greatness. Once their loose ends have been tied, the Fremd chess team can prove to be the most dominant team, not only in the MSL, but in the state of Illinois.
]]>This cause of student tardies is a complex yet straightforward situation. If we genuinely want to stop the morning rush hour in the attendance office for grabbing first dibs on passes, we need to dig a little deeper. “Duh, just wake up early,” some might say, but waking up early in the morning is not an easy task. Some students have late-night study hours, some have genetically delayed circadian rhythms, and some have a severe case of a post-quarantine setback. Whatever the reason is, sleep is both a friend and a foe to many high school students.
Of course, COVID-19 was a setback to everyone and making that Starbucks stop is a true game-changer, but the consequences of our tardies are not going to be a simple glare from the teachers for long. According to a Fremd attendance official, tardiness used to have more substantial consequences. If you were tardy five times, one detention was issued, and if there were more than ten, there would be even more significant consequences. They strongly suggested that stricter school attendance procedures would start back up once COVID-19 has become old news.
Believe it or not, the school is not trying to scare us with these consequences. Fremd, like all high schools, is trying to prepare us for the future because punctuality is a crucial part of being a strong leader in society. Studies have shown that punctual people are more likely to be respected by their peers and promoted within their companies. And who doesn’t like that? Whether arriving on time for meetings or turning in applications on time, punctuality is apparent in everything. We cannot let potential opportunities fly by us.
It is almost impossible to be a brand new, punctuality-conscious school even with these future consequences. Yes, these consequences will start scaring us, but we need to do a lot more than set the alarm clock back an hour and hope for the best. We need to build habits. Habits can make or break our everyday schedules, and it is something that will stick with us for a very long time if we work on it long enough. On average, it takes 66 days to build a lasting habit. That is a good chunk of time, but not a lot of time in your whole life, especially if it’s about making a habit that might change your life for the better.
So, what are these life-changing habits? Do you have to start waking up at 4:00 AM and start chugging protein shakes every day? No! It is best, to begin with, subtle actions such as cutting technology out 10 minutes before shut-eye and pushing the time limit 5 minutes every day. Little steps like this will go a long way in the punctuality department. And this does not just apply to punctuality and can be used to other goals you want to achieve in the new year. School may seem pointless to students at times, but habits such as these stick with you. You can thank the school later when you get a raise in the future because of your excellent work and punctuality.
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“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” directed by Jon Watts, is an action-packed but heartfelt nostalgia trip that follows the evolution of Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, as he navigates the newfound struggles of his exposed identity while also trying to make his way to college. Following the events of “Spider-man: Far From Home” Parker is labeled a murderer and becomes a divisive figure within America’s society, despite his good intentions. As the movie kicks off, Parker begins to explore the consequences of his newfound status and delve deeper into the lore of “Spider-Man”.
Tom Holland plays the awkward yet justice-seeking Peter Parker to a T. His acting conveys the innocent, almost immature nature of Parker’s moral ventures as he navigates through the numerous roadblocks throughout the movie. As the film moves along, Holland humanizes his character, making the viewer realize the naivete of Parker and that behind the mask of Spider-Man lies a pure-hearted teenager who has just begun to wrap his mind around the concept of everyone knowing who Spider-Man is.
The cinematography of the movie was outstanding as well. The lighting and atmosphere of multiple scenes matched the mood and ambience of the plot. Along with this, the choreography of the fight scenes was very intricate, contributing to the energy of the fast-paced film. The movie also kept a very high level of attention to its detail. While COVID continuously delayed this movie’s filming, Watts and his team managed to maintain the continuity of each separate storyline the film was attempting to weave together, even including some clever easter eggs along the way.
While overall, this movie was well put together, certain flaws seemed to stand out. One of these is the reliance on nostalgia to drive the plot. While the callbacks to previous Spider-Man franchises were enjoyable, not all of them were necessarily relevant or understood. Considering the franchise started in 2002, the general viewer often missed the significance of certain moments. Another problem was within the plotline. Not much was explained about the movie’s resolution, and the conclusion to the villains’ arc of the story is unclear.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” manages to balance the fun and excitement of the previous Spider-Man installments while also maturing the character of Parker, not afraid to show dark, more serious moments throughout the film. While recent Marvel installments such as “The Eternals” and “Black Widow” have failed to live up to the success of their predecessor, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” matches and even exceeds its expectations, crushing pandemic box office records, capturing the attention of millions of fans globally.
]]>Psychologists define the practice of being kind to yourself as self-compassion, which is the ability to treat yourself with understanding, patience, kindness, and perseverance. Simply said, it is how kindly you view yourself and can be compared to being the foundation of who you are as a person. If that foundation is not stable, your life can feel shaky.
Research shows self-compassion is crucial to one’s mental health and contributes to one’s success. The New York Times reported that people who score high on tests of self-compassion are less at risk for developing depression and anxiety while also tending to be happier and more optimistic. They also found that students who place their self-worth on internal habits, such as moral values, are less stressed and perform better academically.
If you’re motivated by self-compassion, then your failures will seem like a learning opportunity rather than evoking feelings of becoming defeated. That push will likely improve your performance while improving your self-compassion at the same time. Optimistically viewing failure can allow you to become more productive, thus being more successful.
Another benefit is decreased stress. Self-compassion can help bring more powerful feelings of well-being, allowing you to be more confident in yourself and your abilities. Furthermore, self-compassion can lead to resilience, and facing unwanted results builds strength and, ultimately, happiness. It can be achieved through self-kindness, understanding yourself, and being mindful of your emotions while validating them.
Overall, being kind to yourself will have overwhelmingly positive outcomes and can be achieved by first accepting who you are, going easy on yourself, and not comparing yourself to others. Self-compassion has the power of acceptance and growth; how you treat yourself sets the tone for how others will treat you.
]]>December can be stressful for students at times, with finals coming around the corner and high academic pressures and tensions running rampant. However, one thing to relieve student’s stress is the annual Fremd Craft Fair, which takes place every year on the second Saturday of December. This year, the Craft Fair took place on Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Craft Fair has lots of crafts and items to offer, including toys, stuffed animals, shirts, and even volunteer hours for students.
Vendors have the opportunity to set up booths and sell their wares in a safe place with lots of customers.This year, more than 280 booths at Fremd filled the halls. Fairgoers were even treated to a concession stand where you could buy food if you were planning on being at the fair for a while.
Booth vendor Frank Moriarty speaks to his experience with booth applications, and what items he sells.
“There’s a form online that you can fill out, and if all goes well, you’ll get a booth number at the fair,” Moriarty said. “I sell gourmet honey, which you can put in stuff like tea, and spread on toast.”
The booth application process is quite simple, and can be accessed by everyone. However, you will only be notified of your booth location a few days before the event, meaning that some booths might be more accessible to fairgoers than others, due to their location in major hallways instead of less populated areas.
Booth vendors Julia and Connor touch on a few challenges with location, and selling items in general.
“Well, being on the second floor can be a bit challenging, as more people generally explore the first floor first,” Julia said. “However, you still get a lot of customers as people will want to explore the whole fair at some point.”
Booth location may present some challenges at the start of the day, but at the end of the day, even the booths in less frequented areas will still get some customers, and sell some of their wares. Additionally, having booths in less populated areas doesn’t mean that people won’t buy products; fairgoers will still purchase interesting and appealing items.
Customer and fairgoer Anne lists what she likes about the fair, and some aspects that could be improved.
“I think the maps were hard to find, especially since I didn’t know that they were online.” Anne said. “But I really enjoyed the creativity, especially with so many items that I thought wouldn’t be here!”
The Fremd Craft Fair blends together creativity and fluidity, creating a flexible “market” where everyone can have fun and raise funds. The Craft Fair is something all students can enjoy, letting them take a break from the looming finals.
]]>You might think this is a movie scene, like Spielberg’s Ready Player One, where the main character travels into a virtual reality universe, trying to find a unique object that will grant him a large fortune. However, it could very much happen to your life if the metaverse takes over the internet.
Recently, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the rebranding of Facebook into Meta. He unveiled plans to build a metaverse, essentially a virtual reality where people can play games, work, communicate, and even live using virtual reality headsets. He believes Meta’s technology and innovations will guide us into this online era.
A simple way to imagine the metaverse is to experience Ready Player One. Like a fictional universe, the metaverse is a three-dimensional digital place where players engage with others while sharing anything and everything. Some have even labeled Zuckerberg’s plans “dystopian,” comparable to Ready Player One, where their society lives in a virtual video game world. Meta could lead humanity to live in a virtual world and ignore reality.
Although the metaverse will undoubtedly be a good source of profit, help create jobs, and be an exciting meeting place for conferences, we need to be careful when introducing it into our lives. Meta can lead to excessive screen time, damage our mental health, increase cyberbullying, and security leaks that are already problems in our current internet space.
A few years ago, there was a push to decrease screen time for children and teenagers after research showed that it could cause numerous health and behavior issues. If there was any hope of getting them off screens, the pandemic dashed that idea. A German study found that the use of social media and video games was up by at least 60% in 2020 compared to 2019 among children between ages 12 and 17. The metaverse will make the new generation shop, hang out with friends, and eat at restaurants, all in virtual reality. However, it might not be advisable to add even more screen time to our lives since most things we do now are online even today.
Additionally, using the metaverse can damage people’s mental health. Louis Rosenberg, a Stanford graduate, states that “the metaverse is going to be a terrifying change that has the potential to distort reality and dramatically affect how users perceive things in their real lives.” If people cannot draw the line between real and virtual, it can become scary. They could try to do things possible in the metaverse but not attainable in real life.
People may also resort to the metaverse if they aren’t satisfied with their real lives or encounter a difficult situation. Meta might seem to be a simple escape but could turn into many people running away from their problems instead of dealing with them. A perfect avatar is easier to create than working on yourself. In turn, fake images and false perceptions can deceive us, leaving us even more dissatisfied.
The metaverse can be helpful to create a more interactive education or working environment. However, it leads to excessive screen time and can damage people’s mental health, causing unnecessary discontent about one’s self. There is a risk that people won’t draw the line between real and virtual life. We need to ring the alarm for the metaverse before it’s too late. We should keep our daily lives ingrained in reality to face social challenges head-on and improve the real you in the natural world. Christmas is a holiday for family gatherings, so leave the virtual reality headset aside and spend time with your loved ones in the real world. The dystopian world in Ready Player One should never come.
]]>Hailed as the future of digital art collection and a fundamental step towards the decentralization of the world’s data, NFTs have recently been all the rage among the tech community. But what even are NFTs? Non-fungible tokens, commonly referred to as NFTs, are defined as any unique piece of digital information that is linked to the Ethereum blockchain. Therefore, any NFT file can be copied and saved, but that copy, while appearing exactly the same, is not the original NFT as it is not linked to the Ethereum blockchain.
The environmental cost, however, is often overlooked. Ethereum, the cryptocurrency used to purchase NFTs, is mined. During crypto mining, computers are tasked with solving complex mathematical equations in order to uncover new blocks of crypto. The value of cryptocurrency such as Ethereum is tied to the difficulty of the math problem and ultimately the scarcity of the crypto itself. This standard or general consensus algorithm is called Proof of Work or POW for short.
To the sect of the population who already have access to such hardware and the tech know-how, cryptocurrency mining may appear highly appealing as it seems like a low cost and risk but high reward venture. However, crypto miners often do not account for the environmental impact of running tens of hundreds of computers 24/7. A single Ethereum transaction uses 209.7 kilo-watt hours of energy which is equivalent to almost 8 days of energy consumption by an average American household. That same transaction would also release around 100 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And it will only get worse.
As demand rises with increased interest in crypto, so does incentive for mining, leading to a rapid increase in mining. In order to maintain the value and scarcity of Ethereum in accordance with POW, the mathematical equations that mining computers must solve to unlock new crypto gets more difficult. The more difficult the problem, the longer it takes for the computer to solve which means more energy is required to power that computer. In 2021 alone, the Ethereum ecosystem consumed enough energy to power Kazakhstan and released the same amount of carbon dioxide as Hong Kong. Is placing excess strain on the Earth’s already fragile ozone layer really justifiable for such a pointless and trivial commodity? In an era where humanity’s days on Earth can be numbered, the further acceleration of our demise for the sake of profit is shameful. Computer generated pixel portraits are not worth thinning the ozone layer over.
With the horrible environmental cost compounded with the generally superficial nature of the product, NFT’s are, to plainly put it, stupid. Wealthy Europeans of the 18th century purchased ridiculously expensive pineapples to display in their homes to flaunt their wealth and connection to the exotic New World. Tech bros of the 21st century purchase ridiculously expensive PNG files to display on Twitter to flaunt their wealth and connection to the new mysterious Web 3.
At the end of the day, NFTs are a product of the free market. While naysayers may scoff at the ridiculous prices people are willing to pay for nine PNG images, the market still exists. When innovation for the sake of profit is prioritized, the end result always creates innovative new ways for the rich to flaunt their wealth in increasingly morally questionable avenues. However mind-boggling pointless, the NFT industry is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Yet, the freedom to exist does not and should not shield NFTs and the greater crypto ecosystem from well deserved criticism and mockery.
]]>Currently, thousands of migrants in Belarus have been trying to get into Poland and neighboring EU countries. The New York Times stated that these migrants were granted visas to Belarus with the government promising escape to several of the neighboring countries, raising suspicions of migrant facilitation from the EU. While this has been denied by their government, this development has continued to sour relations between Belarus and the EU.
The rumors put out by the press and the neighboring countries are not unfounded. Directly after the sanctions, Belarus tour prices in Iraq immediately decreased, and the planes being flown into Minsk, the capital of Belarus, have also increased. Along with this, Belarus recently introduced visa-free passage into their country.
These migrants are mainly of Iraqi and Kurdish descent and have looked upon entry to Belarus for asylum from countries within the European Union, of which Belarus does not partake in. Estimates as of November 2021 currently put the number of migrants in Belarus at 7,000. Many of them, though, are being pressured to undergo repatriation processes by their home country, according to the UN. As a result, many of these migrants will be returned to the conditions which they were trying to escape from.
Conditions at the border for these migrants were not that much better though, with dead migrants on both sides of the border. Several attempts were made at crossing the border en masse, which were stopped by the Polish police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crossings. Police justified their actions by stating that the migrants were throwing rocks and breaking down the border fences to cross over. Many have criticized Poland for these aggressive actions and for not granting many migrants asylum, as most are sent back to Belarus by the Polish authorities.
On the other hand, Belarus has stated that they are doing everything possible to clear the migrants. They claim much progress has been made in the past weeks with major migrant camps being dispersed.
“We have not seen any violations of the law by the migrants…As a hospitable country, we are always ready to welcome everyone,” said Ivan Kubrakov, Belarus’s Interior Minister.
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) blames both countries for worsening this crisis. Migrants reported being deliberately kept in a harsh environment without shelter and constantly pushed to attempt the crossing into Poland by Belarusian security. They also highlighted the aggression of the Polish border authorities, as they have forced migrants to stay in Belarus. One migrant described the situation to the HRW as “pure hell.” They suggested that Poland should obtain an open border policy and that Belarus should halt all abuse of the migrants. Currently, the EU is discussing mitigation methods to circumvent the current migrant crisis.
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Even to non-fans and casual observers, the reemergence of in-person concerts by artists such as BTS marks a return to the days before the COVID pandemic. After a nearly two year industry wide hiatus, many acts are making a return to in person concerts recently. Big artists such as Harry Styles and the Rolling Stones have concluded tours within the last quarter of 2021. Annual music festivals such as Rolling Loud and Lollapalooza have also returned to cities across the US. Both the girl group Twice and Olivia Rodrigo have now sold out nationwide tours slated for 2022. With states lifting mask mandates and vaccination rates increasing steadily, it may seem like the opportune time to bring back in-person concerts, but with lax security measures and the Omicron variant, in-person concerts should be put on hold for the time being.
While concerts return to being in person, the concert experience will not return to its pre-COVID form. As fans flood arenas, stadiums, and theaters to attend their favorite artists’ concerts, they will be met with a few new restrictions. Vaccination requirements, mask mandates, and socially distanced seating are now standard protocol at concert venues nationwide.
However, enforcement of such policies have been rather careless and lackluster. For example, multiple videos online show sections of fans without masks during Harry Styles’ concerts. During the previously mentioned BTS concert, fans reported that while vaccination cards were stated to be required to enter the stadium, there was no staff tasked with verifying that attendees had their vaccination cards.
While many music festivals have instead chosen to hold the events on outdoor venues to dodge indoor COVID restrictions, many still call into question the high risk of transmission amidst large, densely packed crowds outdoors. Unseated outdoor venues in conjunction with large dense crowds energized by seeing their favorite artist in person after two years also run the risk of mass crowd crush as bleakly demonstrated by the recent Astroworld tragedy. Overall, would-be concert goers are questioning whether venues and organizers of in person concerts are prioritizing the safety of attendees.
With the recent introduction of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, many are now questioning whether or not it is safe to continue with in person concerts again. The new variant has a higher transmission rate than the original virus that postponed concerts for two years. Although largely unstudied, recent cases have also shown the new variant to carry more severe symptoms than the original COVID-19 strain. Nevertheless, major artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Mitski, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, and Twice have now announced upcoming 2022 tour plans. Considering the risk of cancellation looming overhead with the spread of the omicron variant, in-person concerts should not return in 2022.
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How the Biden Administration is reacting to the Omicron Variant
Speaking from the White House, Biden explained, “Sooner or later we’re going to see cases of this new variant here in the United States. We’ll have to face this new threat just as we face those who have come before it,” Biden said, speaking from the White House.
Biden also encourages Americans to remain calm as scientists work to determine the strength and the transmissibility of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, saying the U.S. has the ability to deal with the new strain. Stricter requirements have also taken effect for inbound travelers to the US. The United States is now requiring international travelers to provide proof of a negative coronavirus test before their flight. The United States has barred travelers who have been in any of the eight southern African countries where they originated. The Biden Administration also urges citizens to get vaccinated and to take their booster shot to help their immunity against COVID.
How other countries are responding
As governments and people all over the world await more scientific data about the transmissibility and dangers of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, countries are quickly issuing travel restrictions – primarily restricting travel from southern Africa. The restrictions vary from full border closures to suspending flights, enforcing quarantines, restricting arrivals, and requiring testing.
While some nations like Japan have opted for more stringent measures, such as closing their borders to international travelers entirely, other countries have opted for targeted travel closures. Most of the bans restrict entry of individuals who have been in the subject countries within 14 days of travel. The countries subject to many of these bans are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. These countries, all in southern Africa, are condemning the restrictions, noting that Omicron has already been found in other countries, including Scotland and Canada. The new variant reportedly was found as early as November 19, 2021 and is currently in 20 countries, including those in Europe. Additionally, many countries in Europe have required out of country travelers to wear masks both indoors and outdoors.
]]>The Centers for Disease Control recommended people avoid travel to the best of their ability during last year’s holiday season. Since then, however, several airlines have decreased their flight restrictions, making it easier for us to see friends and family during this holiday season. According to The Economist, 115 destinations tracked by the UN World Tourism Organization lowered their restrictions for travel in September 2021.
It’s essential, however, to acknowledge that the pandemic is not over. Because of this, we all need to be safe while traveling and celebrating our holiday season with others. The CDC mentions several ways to celebrate with family and friends, regardless of vaccine status and age. Primarily, the CDC recommends wearing masks that cover your face adequately for all ages while following domestic and international travel guidelines that the CDC provides for those who are unvaccinated. In addition, Dr. Fauci recently stated that vaccinated Americans should be safe traveling this holiday season. Like the CDC mentions, we must take precautions seriously, especially for unvaccinated children traveling.
We expose ourselves to an environment full of people by traveling during the holidays, so taking these precautions this year’s travel is necessary. With cases spiking worldwide, you may want to consider other safeguards. These can include avoiding crowded or indoor areas to the best of your ability as well as taking COVID tests to ensure good health status for you and your traveling family members.
So yes, traveling has again become a way to see family and celebrate our favorite winter festivities. However, by following these guidelines and engaging in conscious traveling, we can all benefit from enjoying our holidays more commonly, without missing loved ones and participating in the glitchy FaceTime calls.
Regardless of whether you are traveling this holiday season or having a relaxing stay-cation at home, it is essential to cherish these moments with loved ones and take precautions so they can continue in the future.
]]>‘Tis the season to be jolly and along with it the return of finals after a long period of hibernation. Although this year’s class of seniors and juniors have faced them before, first year students and sophomores will take their first formal final exams. However, all students will have to jump back into the swing studying in order to perform their best on the upcoming tests. As each day passes, the exams steadily approach and students will have to work hard to assure they are adequately prepared. Both students and teachers count down the days as final exams steadily approach with an inevitable finale at the end of the semester.
Semester finals format may vary depending on the department or even teacher, and students should consult their teachers about the specific layout of the finals in their class. Generally, courses in the science and math departments tend to offer multiple-choice exams, while social studies finals can include multiple-choice questions along with possibly writing sections. Meanwhile, English assessments can vary from multiple choice to short answer or full essay to presentation formats, differing among teachers compared to the universal structure of listening, reading, speaking, and writing for world language exams.
Despite the vast range of assessment types, teachers across the departments agree that preparation is the key to performing well. Although the end of the semester tends to be stressful, the teachers added that student grades depend more on their effort from day one rather than the final for a course. The Viking Logue had the opportunity to speak to several teachers from each academic department to gain some last-minute advice on how students can do their best.
Science teacher Julie Zinger explains the benefits of maintaining a strong work ethic over time.
“If you do what you’re supposed to do along the way and for a longer period of time, then that one day and that one higher stakes assessment is not going to bring on as much anxiety and stress,” Zinger said.
While preparing for the final assessment, studying approaches may differ for each department. Ranging from Quizlet flashcards to semester packet questions, students may also have preferred review methods for themselves. But regardless of personal learning style, social studies teacher Adam Gilman believes that asking questions is an essential step in preparing for every student.
“I personally think the teacher is the best resource if you have questions or are confused, instead of trying to find things or trying to come up with answers on your own,” Gilman said.
Math teacher Ankeet Mantra adds that resources including Khan Academy and YouTube can also allow students to review concepts from earlier in the year.
“Whatever is done in class will be most similar to the type of assessments that your teacher is going to give you,” Mantra said. But you can also look up any topic in the math world [online] and find somebody who’s made a video on it.”
Adequate resources are integral to preparing for finals, but strategizing in tandem with the availability of reliable tools is essential to the process. The teachers agreed that a pivotal signal to start studying is when students receive their review materials. Teachers agreed that the moment a student’s teacher provides review materials is a good sign to start studying. Cramming within the last couple of evenings is heavily discouraged, mainly because teachers are more than well-accustomed to seeing students stressed from last-minute studying.
As for which topics to prioritize when studying for a particular class, Dean of Students and foreign language teacher Scott Newmark encourages self-reflection on past performance in class.
“Start with what was most difficult for you,” Newmark said.
Amidst the frenzy of studying, maintaining good physical health can also support students. Both Zinger and English teacher Russell Anderson advised that getting a good night of sleep and eating a healthy breakfast can improve the quality of student work and performance. Even though finals may have the last say in a grade, physical and mental wellbeing is critical to avoid falling prey to the pressure.
As every moment is a countdown to finals, Fremd teachers are there to help students prepare for and navigate through the last two school days of 2021. Although the semester may be drawing to a close, hard work, time management, and preparation can help students achieve their goals.
]]>Swift still included her past home run singles including “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “22.” In an interview on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Swift states that her new songs were ones she always wanted to release but just didn’t make it into the album at the end of the day. Swift was unfortunately forced to cut out lyrics of her songs to fit her original album. Popular new song editions to the album include “Message in a Bottle,” “I Bet You Think About Me” (featuring Chris Stapleton), and the new 10-minute version of “All Too Well.”
On the release date, Swift tweets, “This will be the first time you hear all 30 songs that were meant to go on Red.”
“I Bet You Think About Me” is a new edition that many fans love, in which Swift explains that she hopes that everything makes her ex boyfriend think of her and about her, even after she moved on. Fans are still unconfirmed and unsure about who this song is about, but the speculations continue.
In “Message in a Bottle,” Swift describes a long-distance love story and the commitment she is willing to show regardless of their distance. A message in a bottle was and sometimes still is commonly used to communicate between castaways to use as a direct method of rescue, inspiring Swift’s song. In addition, Swift may have mentioned the concept involved behind the lyrics expressed in “Message in a Bottle” earlier on in 2021.
One of the biggest hits from “Red” is the song, “All Too Well,” in which Swift wrote and sang about her past relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhall about her intense heartbreak that her fans deeply related to, making this song the standout track of the album.
Swift released a 10-Minute Version of “All Too Well”, with lyrics involving more heartbreak expressed than ever before. Swift mentions their age gap through the lines,“And I was never good at telling jokes, but the punch line goes/ I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age.” Swift also includes, “But you keep my old scarf from that very first week/ ‘Cause it reminds you of innocence…” Swift adheres to significant symbolism of the scarf in the song as well as in “All Too Well: The Short Film.”
Swift even wrote and directed the short film for “All Too Well” starring well-known actors Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien as the lead roles. The 15 minute short film is a romantic drama based off of Swift’s song, which is unique, entertaining, creative, and a thrilling roller coaster of emotions. This short film brings Swift’s “All Too Well” lyrics to life.
Regardless of whether you are a Swifty yourself or not, Swift’s “Red Taylor’s version” is far better than the original, considering Swift’s ownership, the new hit song editions with mind-blowing lyrics, and the amazing 10 minute version of “All Too Well” as well as All Too Well: The Short Film. Regardless, Swift continues to deliver and she really outdid herself with “Red: Taylor’s Version”.
]]>Just in time for the holiday season, on Dec. 2, the girl group released a stunning music video; “Doughnut.” Although it’s titled after one of the world’s favorite treats, the lyrics of “Doughnut” aren’t really related to food at all.
Starting off, “Doughnut” is a ballad with a creative music video that uses modern technology to make it more interesting. During the music video, the members have a tea party with several types of doughnuts decorating the table, each doughnut represents a lover. The allegory is represented by the lyrics implying that a doughnut-shaped space is reserved for the lover in the girl’s heart.
“A soft and sweet sensation/ So fluffy/ My heart has a hole in the shape of you/ Just like a doughnut I’ve wandered into a love loop/ No beginning or end/ I love you/ This may sound like a cliche/ but my heart has a hole in the shape of you,” the girls sing in the chorus.
This year, TWICE have released several successful retro pop songs that energizes the listener; however, “Doughnut” has a warm feeling to it, not energetic but smooth. Also, the Japanese lyrics with the retro piano and synths adds calm aesthetic vibes to the song making it more peaceful. This concept works really well, especially since it’s winter time and the stillness of the frozen air urges us to snuggle with heavy blankets and eat sweets. It was a great decision to create a ballad not a hip-hop style song. “Doughnut” is slower paced and has a magical concept.
TWICE are known for always presenting something for the holiday seasons and this time around they didn’t disappoint ONCE. “Doughnut” is melancholic, beautiful and a great way to welcome the chilly season.
]]>Ambient/Electronic- One way to make your next study session a little less stressful is with some calming and upbeat music playing in the background. In a survey about what kind of genre of music students at Fremd like to listen to while studying, 25% chose ambient and electronic music. Our recommendation from this genre is Alberto Balsalm – Aphex Twin.
Indie- It’s not a surprise that Indie is one of the most popular genres that Fremd students listen to while studying. 31.3% of students reported listening to Indie while studying and some recommendations we have for you are Echoes – Tennis, Time (You and I) – Khruangbin, Obsession – The Cairos, Red Eyes – The War On Drugs, and Campus- Vampire Weekend.
Rap- Our survey showed that 30% of students enjoy having rap or hip-hop in the background while cramming. While there are multiple subgenres of rap, many find comfort in songs with beats that are easy to get lost in. While many people gave suggestions from Kanye West, we suggest I Wonder – Kanye West.
Classical- 31.9% enjoy listening to classical music, here’s a link to three and half hours of peaceful melodies from our favorite classical artists. The Best of Classical Music Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Vivaldi Most Famous Classic Pieces.
Pop- Around 11.2% reported listening to pop in the background and our recommendations for this genre are In the Air Tonight- Phil Collins, Ribs – Lorde, Fine Line – Harry Styles.
Lo-Fi- Tied for our fifth most popular genre, 30% of students listed Lo-Fi as their preferred genre when studying. One great student suggestion is Superhero – Kiefer.
Rock- Jamming to rock and roll is a great way to study and 20.6% of our students agreed. A good reccomendationwe got is Crawl! – IDLES.
R&B/Soul- Well known for its calming yet engaging beats, R&B music is often a go-to for some students when they need to focus. One good recommendation from a student is Icarus – Fana Hues, and our recommendation is Strawberries and Cigarettes – Troye Sivan.
Instrumental- Sometimes lyrics can be distracting. What better way to stay focused than with some calming instrumental playing in the background? Two great recommendations are Haircuts for men ダウンタンブルと死にます (Down tumble and die) and Coffin Nails – MF DOOM.
Alternative- Alternative is a distinct middle ground between pop, rock, and indie combined, which some find provides a good environment for studying. Our recommendations for this genre are Sleep Paralysis – Bad Suns and Useless – Omar Apollo.
]]>Germany had the second-highest number of cases in the last four weeks, which amounted to around 1.3 million positive tests and 6,222 deaths. The secretary-general of Germany’s Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Lars Klingbeil, informed the German broadcast company ZDF about his viewpoint. He claimed that if these new restrictions won’t soon encourage all of the unvaccinated people in the country to get the shots, then politicians would have to take immediate action, considering a nationwide mandate for everyone. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor Olaf Scholz, two prominent supporters of the vaccine mandate, proposed legislation that would let lawmakers vote on the issue by February.
Several lawmakers already want to make the vaccine mandatory for all German citizens. Moreover, the people of Germany are leaning towards stricter vaccination laws. According to a survey conducted by Intrafest on November 4, 57% of all German citizens over 18 support it, while 39% are not. In addition, a similar survey that has been given out monthly since the implication of any COVID-19 measures and doesn’t represent the entire population of Germany conducted by the same company highlights how 75% of the respondents either think this ban is appropriate or it needs to go farther. In comparison, 23% of the respondents believe that the measures go too far, as many people rely upon quickly dining at a small restaurant during their work break or for breakfast.
Ralf Reinjtes, a professor of epidemiology at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, shared his thoughts about the ban with CNBC’s “Street Signs Europe.”
“I’m very glad that the first steps in the right direction have been taken. It’s more than urgent that new measures come and contact is reduced and people get vaccinated,” Reinjtes said.
However, Reinjtes and his colleagues are pondering whether the new restrictions on the unvaccinated people proposed during this recent surge of COVID-19 cases will be sufficient to lower the rate of infected individuals. “It would have been better to have measures like these earlier,” claims Reintjes.
Overall, given the seemingly eternal reign of COVID-19 and its devastating impact, public support for these new measures varies considerably, but it still leans toward a nationwide mandate. From Oct. 4 to Nov. 4, the number of people who thought the current steps were appropriate dropped by 14%, while the number of people who believed that the current measures needed to be reinforced further skyrocketed up by 16%. However, a puzzling question asked by Reinjtes remains at large: Will these new measures be effective in lowering the rates of COVID-19 cases? As of now, only time will tell.
]]>In the days leading up to the panel, students were able to view veterans who are a part of the Fremd community, either through staff members or other students. In addition, red, white and blue flags were sprinkled at the front of the school to recognize veterans and remind students of this day in our history. Another way the school recognized veterans was through the charitable act of duct-taping the students’ favorite teachers to a wall. With that, the organizers from Social Studies Club were able to collectively fundraise $2,500 towards the Folds of Honor Foundation: a foundation that provides scholarship opportunities for military personnel and their family members.
On Veterans Day in the auditorium, each class period had a number of veterans who were asked questions regarding their experiences during military service. Questions consisted of descriptions of their time in service, gratifying experiences, and other wholesome moments of a homecoming. Each veteran brought their own individuality and perspective to the panel, allowing students to further their understanding of the military and the different duties and experiences one can have while in service.
“I always look forward to our Veterans events, but this was especially true this year. I have been greatly missing collective experiences for the school community, and it was so fulfilling to bring back this tradition,” social studies teacher Courtney Billittier said.
Fremd High School’s representation of veterans allowed an understanding and feeling of gratitude towards these individuals, even under COVID circumstances, and allows for future traditions to be even more efficacious.
]]>Being that this event is one of the biggest gatherings of prospects in the area, it draws the attention of many college basketball programs and scouts.
The last time Fremd played host of the showcase, coaches or representatives from 29 different colleges all over the country were in attendance. Opportunities like this don’t come all that often, and now many athletes will be able to showcase their talents as they try to propel their teams to victory.
The Vikings have one Division-1 commit in senior forward Brianna Wooldridge, who recently signed to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
As for the rest of the roster, that’s full of talent with players ranging from freshmen to seniors, it will be an important experience and a way to get more exposure.
Not only does this serve as a way for already known players to boost college’s opinions on them, but it’s also just as much of a way for many to get their names out there for the very first time.
When it comes to the benefits of being a part of the showcase, sophomore forward Isabelle Zavilla references the past popularity of the event.
“I think it’s really something that I can use as an opportunity to show my skills,” Zavilla said. “Especially since the previous showcase that took place in 2019 had lots of colleges attend, it really showed me that I have a possibility of getting noticed.”
As for Fremd as a team, they’ve had a great deal of putting their name out there already. The Vikings have played six games so far on the season, including one huge win in which they took down the third ranked team in Indiana.
When asked about what sets this Fremd team apart, junior forward Maddy Fay pointed towards the roster.
“We have a really young team, and I think we’re going to keep improving throughout the season,” said Fay. “We have a bunch of athletic kids and lots of talent on the team.”
Fay, a member of the All-Tournament team in the York High School Thanksgiving tournament, alongside Woolridge and senior guards Jill Sheehan and Anna Schmitt all headline the team’s skilled group of upperclassmen.
This group coupled with their collection of talented underclassmen contributors like Zavilla, sophomore forward Brynn Eshoo, and freshman guard Ella Todd, Fremd leads a dangerous high-energy attack.
Coming off a winning stretch, Fremd moves on to their match-up with Lyons Township and the Chicagoland Invitational Showcase in excitement.
Many Viking players look to get noticed this coming weekend, as Fremd looks to be a powerful contender for the rest of the season.
]]>Due to such a substantial decline in students’ mental health, Governor J.B. Pritzker has legislated a new bill enacting Mental Health Days for all students in Illinois starting Jan. 1, 2022. The bill allows students struggling with their mental health to be excused from school for up to 5 days without being required to present a doctor’s note. After a student’s second mental health day, a counselor will reach out to their family and discuss means of help.
Fremd counselor Mike King foresees the new bill largely benefiting students’ mental health and in turn creating a better learning environment within schools.
“In theory, if you have more engaged, more enthusiastic, healthier, and balanced students, classrooms are probably going to run a little bit more smoothly with better energy,” King said. “Whereas if you have a bunch of stressed, anxious, tired, grumpy people in front of you or on your team it gets more challenging to function, especially in high capacity.”
While there are ways to get support within the school, King mentions that the environment, especially considering a place as competitive as Fremd, can be overwhelming in and of itself. Therefore, allowing breaks from the campus is necessary in some cases to let students take care of their mental health.
“[Mental Health Days] are recognizing that sometimes the whole environment itself could be stress inducing,” King said. “With a mental health day, you’re allowed to work at your own pace and [it] gives you a little bit more freedom and self-direction.”
The legislation isn’t only aiding students but also changing the way mental health is addressed. There can often be a feeling of discomfort when mental health becomes the topic of discussion, and the bill implementing Mental Health Days can help address that stigma.
Fremd counselor Tony Tosh says the new bill is liberating for both students and faculty by addressing that struggling with mental health is a real issue for everyone.
“Even adults say ‘I’m going to take a sick day’ and joke ‘Oh it’s a mental health day,’ which is fine, but we [shouldn’t] have to joke about it,” Tosh said. “So I think in terms of having this instead of saying ‘it’s a sick day’ is a nice piece of freedom.”
Many may feel reluctant in sharing when it comes to mental health as opening up can be difficult. Reaching out for help is hard when the attitude towards mental health isn’t as accepting as it could be. However, having a resource where students are given more agency and privacy when it comes to taking care of themselves may have more positive impacts.
Fremd Junior Anya Bhowmick admits students may use mental health days to skip a test and study more but sees the bill as being beneficial for students who really struggle with their mental health and also for students who just need a break.
“I know sometimes students will already skip a day to study more if they have a test,” Bhowmick said. “However, Mental Health days can allow students who need more help to get the break they need and help them take care of themselves.”
Despite returning to in-person learning, the struggles of living through a pandemic still linger upon students. Allowing students mental health days is helpful in alleviating some of the stress but there is still much more to be done.
Fremd Sophomore Salome Javakhishvilli points out parents’ opinions also play a role in the amount of students who take mental health days.
“To a certain extent that some kids may frequently use them, if they’re allowed to, but there are also kids who may need to take a day off but may not be allowed to because their parents or guardians may disregard their mental health,” Javakhishvilli said.
In response to how the school will handle mental health days, Tosh recognizes that there is still much that needs to be worked out as the bill is still in its “beginning stages,” and trusts that Fremd will make sure students are well-aware of this new resource.
Fremd counselor Jaclyn Han notes that the school needs to be cautious to present mental health days and their regulations in an acceptable manner to students.
“I think we have to find that fine line between offering support when [students] take those days and then making sure that they don’t feel like their mental health will be even more compromised by having to talk about all of the reasons they took it,” Han said.
The bill requires counselors to check in on students after their second mental health day. As always, students are given confidentiality when speaking to counselors unless they say something that poses a safety concern to themselves or to another person. With mental health days, students may find it easier to ask for help because they are the ones in charge of their mental health.
]]>At Fremd, there are various offices and academic departments all centered around various subjects. It is now the English department’s turn to receive a remodel. The remodel will begin during Thanksgiving break and last 6-10 weeks, from the 24th to the time students return from Winter break, if all goes according to plan.
English teachers have a lot on their plate, with many of their students’ documents and essays taking up a lot of space in cabinets, drawers, and shelves, waiting to be graded. The long list of hand-written essays and projects can be overwhelming for even the most experienced of English teachers.
With the remodel starting so soon, students will be able to look forward to a new and improved English department come next semester. The remodel will benefit both students and teachers, due to its contents and effects. A lot of the office is being refurbished, meaning that the office will be significantly changed and look different compared to before the remodel.
English teacher Russell Anderson says that many changes including new areas and furniture will be incorporated and added into the English department offices during the remodel.
“We’re getting new desks, cabinets, and shelves, and replacing older furniture with more modern furniture,” Anderson said. “There will also be a workspace where teachers can meet with students.”
The addition of new furniture and removal of old furniture will be a welcome alteration to the office, giving it a new look and modernizing it. The new workspace will help students and teachers arrange meetings, and facilitate easier communication between both sides. The old lighting will be updated to LED lights, improving brightness and light efficiency for teachers.
As for the current abundance of extension cords scattered on the ground, post-renovation desks will be arranged to minimize extension cords usage, and reduce tripping hazards. This will give teachers their own personal space to work, without having to hook up extension cords all the time.
Come early to the middle of 2022, students and teachers can expect and look forward to a new and revitalized English department experience.
]]>Lack of Representation
Lack of representation for the Asian race is one of the biggest issues regarding portrayal of the race in media. In the words of USA Today editor David Oliver, it had been found that in May of this year, only .009%, or forty-four, of American films featured an Asian American as the lead, with fourteen of these featuring the same actor: Dwayne Johnson. Oliver demonstrates that this lack of exposure to Asian actors extends to the overall film-making process as well when he states that less than 5% of the highest grossing films for over the last 10 years were credited to Asian American and Pacific Islander directors. And while some may believe that this lack of representation and objectively bad representation through stereotyping are mutually exclusive, more representation is the first step to not only giving these actors and directors the attention that they deserve, but to also open the path to the reduction of subpar representation as there becomes more diversity and accuracy in American portrayals.
Bad Representation and Stereotyping
Lack of representation is an issue that oftentimes creates the stereotypes associated with people of certain groups, including the Asian community. This is due to the mere exposure effect, which states that people will have more of a liking towards those that they have exposure to. The issue is that even this theory of exposing people to more Asian faces in media does not solve all the issues that we may have since most of this exposure is laced with stereotypes. For instance, not only do Asian women tend to get sexualized and/or objectified more, but the culture gets objectified as well through the lotus flower trope, which refers to East Asian women whose culture is incorporated inaccurately in order to simultaneously strip her of her individuality in order objectify her for the main character’s desires.
When it comes to men, western media constantly portrays both South and East Asian men as simple jokes to add them as a comedic last resort to the film rather than multifaceted individuals. For example, Ravi from the Disney show Jessie, Baljeet from Phineas and Ferb, and Ned from the newest Spider-Man series have stereotypical and unnecessary accents and/or minor roles that are paired and associated with nerdy traits in order to achieve comedic effect and push the model minority stereotype. This is a stereotype that generalizes Asians like these characters as intelligent people without showing other personality-related aspects that could indicate the race’s diversity.
Representation also becomes skewed when actors of certain nationalities play parts assigned specifically for cultures that do not pertain to said actor. For example, in even a more progressive attempt at including Southeast Asian culture through Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” the first actress that appears when looking up the cast is Awkwafina. While Awkwafina is of Korean and Chinese descent, the diaspora she represents (East Asian) is not reflective of the Southeast Asian culture presented in the movie. This is a form of stereotyping known as outgroup homogeneity, which by definition ignores the individual , even though every Asian diaspora is very different in their own ways. The same issue applies to West Asian representation when films like Aladdin loosely combine the diverse cultures of not only Middle Eastern countries in Asia, but other Asian countries as well. These cultures, according to editor Manal Khan of National Geographic, include Arabic, Turkish, and Persian Middle Eastern influences along with Indian East and South Asian ones despite the film being based on the story Arabian Nights.
Solutions
While all these issues of stereotyping still exist, good representation has been increasing recently, and at times the good has even outshined the bad in specific cases. One such case involves “Squid Game,” a South Korean tv series, which has been one of the top ten shows on Netflix for weeks. The show has given insight on capitalistic issues in its own nation while simultaneously incorporating culturally significant aspects. According to editor Minwoo Park of Reuters, dalgona, a popular street food featured in the show, has even allowed Korean street workers that make the same item to increase their revenue. For example, one such worker named Ah Yong-Hui has had an increased sale of fewer than 200 of these sweets to 500, as Park reports.
This increased reception of Asian media also has become clear when seeing that “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” box office revenue in its opening was three times higher than expected prior to the release. Award shows have also recognized more films recently that are dominated by East Asian directors, actors, and more. For example, the movie “Parasite” won an academy award in 2020 for best picture. It’s clear that recently, with not only the recognition of various actors, directors, and forms of media from outside of the U.S. but also within the American population, we have been making progress. It is just important now that we speed up this progress for all Asian diasporas as soon as possible.
]]>In spite of SOMI’s marvelous musical talent and two years of rigorous trainee work, SOMI’s title track doesn’t solidify her rising status. The song itself has well executed rap verses, a chorus that energizes with a wide audience, and a well-choreographed dance. However, it’s clear that YG Entertainment composer and the founder of BlackLabel, Teddy Park, has chosen to play it safe on ‘‘XOXO’’ by molding it into a comfort zone of boring pop anthems, making it repetitive and uninspired. The song’s music video is oddly familiar to “Lovesick Girls” by YG’s top girl group, BLACKPINK. The sequence in the music video for where SOMI smashes the car window with a hammer is strangely similar to the same scene in BLACKPINK’s “Lovesick Girls”. Besides the similar detail with the hammer, the car that SOMI drives is the same car that BLACKPINK drove in “Lovesick Girls,” but in different paint color.
On the other hand, the pop rock b-side track, ‘‘Anymore,” deserves to have a music video of its own. “Anymore” starts off with a melancholic guitar instrumental before erupting into a bellowing chorus: “You used to be something like a beautiful daisy / But now you’re like a rose with your thorns how you hurt me / Do I ever cross your mind anymore?” This song emphasizes SOMI’s raw vocals and the overall concept gives off Disney princess vibes since the melody has a magical tone. In an interview with Nylon, SOMI acknowledges the fans’ reaction to her song.
“I noticed how everyone was enjoying my song ‘Anymore’ because it was an all-English track, so that’s something I want to do more of. I will be working on more music and more content for you guys, and this is just the beginning.” With this song, SOMI is aiming to solidify herself as a pop princess.
It’s disappointing though to see that the space that could have been used to mold SOMI’s style, such as the “XOXO” music video, and sound has been underutilized by Park and his crew. However, SOMI has already proven that she has immense musical talent to back her up with her self-written song, “Anymore.”
]]>The Viking Logue has done a comprehensive analysis between the 1) state-wide Illinois report card, 2) District 211 report card, and 3) the local William Fremd High School report card to compare the educational effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in all three spectrums. All data was provided by the ISBE.
9th grade students on track
The trend in the number of “9th grade students on track” was one visible difference representing the overall trend of how Illinois, District 211, and Fremd educational conditions were affected by the pandemic. The criteria for being on track include having at least 5 full-year course credits and no more than one semester F in a core subject.
In Illinois, the percentage rose 2% from 2019 to 2020, but then dropped a drastic 7% from 2020 to 2021. District 211 was a more subtle decline of 3%, returning back to its percentage from 2018. On the other hand, Fremd only dropped 1%, holding a fairly consistent percentage. It appears that Fremd had nearly no negative impact from the pandemic, at least in regards to the number of freshmen students still on track.
Postsecondary Enrollment
Another category is “postsecondary enrollment,” which refers to the percentage of students who graduated from high school and are able to get into a two or four year U.S. college within 12 months.
For the state, there was a constant decrease from a range of 1-3% from 2019-2021. Interestingly, District 211 and Fremd have very similar trends, as both spectrums decreased by 2% from 2018-2019, increased by 3-4% from 2019-2020, and decreased 2% from 2020-2021. Again, the data seems to be potential evidence for the detrimental effect COVID-19 has on the state, and a lesser impact in the more local regions.
ISBE addresses this concern for the state’s educational situation by posing future solutions and efforts into aiding students that are not currently on track to succeeding in their high school career.
“ISBE encourages schools to watch this cohort closely and direct federal pandemic relief funds to research-based interventions for current 10th graders not on track for graduation. ISBE plans to launch a high-impact tutoring initiative in early 2022, supported by $37.5 million in federal pandemic relief funding, to provide direct interventions for students across the education continuum.”
Link to 2021 Illinois State Report Card
]]>Each table at the fest, sponsored by a club, activity, or sport, incorporated their group’s theme into their tables. Science club organized experiments, the lacrosse club implemented their sports, and the Green Team spread messages about the environment. All in all, there were 25 different clubs who set up a stand, each bringing a unique activity available for the local community to enjoy. There were about 2500 kids who attended the fest, with 400 Fremd students volunteering to help run this event.
According to Jillian Harvey, a Student Council member, the outcome of the event was better than expected.
“This is particularly impressive considering that the event was only an hour long and that it was the first time hosting the Halloween Fest outside, ” Harvey noted.
“I’m impressed. I can see all the effort put in to entertain kids this time. So I can really see that the community is really connected with the school, with what the school does, and with what students can do for the community,” said Ellen Mathew, a parent at Halloween fest.
The whole fest was organized by Student Council as a form of celebration to kick off the holiday season. Despite the COVID-19 related restrictions, Halloween Fest was a success in the eyes of the organizers.
Fremd student Ishaan Srivastava talked about how the fest allowed the opportunity for the community to come together.
“I liked how people from all different clubs and different groups are coming together to, you know, create this wonderful community event. “
]]>Milwaukee Bucks
Coming off of a championship season, the Milwaukee Bucks were not expected to get any better than they already were. However, with the addition of notable players such as Grayson Allen the team has astoundingly done so. As for their showing through the first few games, their ability to out-rebound and out-man their opponents has been the leading factor in their 3-1 start. Knocking off top teams such as the Nets truly shows their promise for seasons to come. Bucks fans have something to marvel about, that being Giannis’s newly-developed jumpshot, which will prove to be an important factor in making taking his game to the next level.
Chicago Bulls
Following a terrible string of seasons, the Chicago Bulls have finally put together a competent team. Acquiring veteran guard DeMar DeRozan and blossoming talent Lonzo Ball, paired with All-Star Zach LaVine has proven to be a viable trio when dealing with teams playing a traditional lineup. Although their 4-0 record might seem astounding, they will be put to the real test over the next month where they face multiple championship contenders, showing their true strength
Los Angeles Lakers
Coming into the 2021 season, the Lakers had formed a core of four stars combined with a deep bench. Expectations were set high in the team’s formation due to their talent and experience. Through the first week of the season, the Lakers look disappointing, as their new star point guard Russel Westbrook has failed to gel with the team and show up big when they needed him. Although they had a shaky start, the future is bright for the Lakers and they’re sure to meet expectations and succeed.
Fremd will be able to contribute to this demand with the annual blood drive set to take place on Tuesday, Nov. 23, in the South Gym. Interested students, aged 16 years and older, will need to register, meet certain height and weight requirements, and get parental permission slips signed in order to have their blood drawn. Students can sign up using the QR code Fremd’s Student Council (StuCo) has released on Schoology until Monday, Nov. 22.
The blood drive has been an annual tradition for Fremd for a number of years. The event is a great opportunity for Fremd juniors and seniors to come together and contribute to the wellbeing of their community while the freshmen and sophomores have an exciting event to look forward to later in their high school career. The executive board of Fremd’s StuCo has been tasked with organizing the event.
StuCo co-president, senior Sri Pothanker, recalls her past experiences to the Fremd blood drives when she was an underclassman.
“As a freshman, I feel like I always heard people, seniors and juniors, [that] they were all super excited to volunteer or to donate and now that I’m a senior, I think it’s really interesting to kind of see that tradition pick up,” Pothanker said.
Fremd has been in a long standing competition against Palatine High School with the blood drive to collect the most amount of blood. The grand trophy is currently being held by the Pirates.
Pothanker encourages eligible students to donate blood.
“We’re really hoping to ramp up how many people donate blood here so that we can beat the Pirates as well as save other people’s lives,” Pothanker said. “It’s just a win-win situation.”
With COVID-19 having affected the health of the community, this is the time that blood, support, and medical help is needed the most. But due to fear of safety and the risk of getting COVID, the public may be scared to donate blood even when it is a critical time to do so.
Pothanker describes the effects COVID-19 has had on the health community, and why it is even more important for the blood drive to occur successfully.
“[During] COVID-19 people were less willing to donate blood, and that definitely put a dent in our healthcare infrastructure because that was when people needed blood the most… it’s been a lot of sitting back and accepting what has happened to us, but [this event] is one of the first steps of reemerging, coming back into society, [and] giving back to your community,” Pothanker said.
The blood drive is not only an event of school spirit and competition but also likely to be a first experience for many high school students. The first time participating in a blood drive for donors tend to become unforgettable memories and key moments in their high school careers.
Not only Pothanker, but the entire StuCo encourages students to participate if they are capable.
“The blood drive in general has always been a huge tradition and [it] feels like a big part of who [Fremd is] because we have so many compassionate students who are willing to donate their blood to good use,” Pothanker said. “That, I think, is one of the things I know a lot of people look forward to.”
]]>Math Team is a year-round activity that focuses on honing members’ math skills in preparation for several big competitions coming up throughout the year. The club, which meets every Wednesday from 3-5 pm, focuses on a specific math discipline.
Math Team junior and AMC Co-Chair Thomas Lu delves deeper into the Math Team’s focus.
“As a group we do all kinds of math questions from algebra to geometry to some number theory stuff,” Lu said. “In individual grade levels, our freshmen do algebra 1 questions, our sophomores do geometry, our juniors do algebra 2, and our seniors do pre-calculus.”
However, the difficulty level is increased significantly from the typical curriculum, making basic concepts hard for even the best math students. Seemingly simple concepts, such as multiplying fractions, might become difficult when veiled in the complex wording of a Math Team competition question.
This year Fremd members are meeting in order to prepare for five important North Suburban Math League (NSML) competitions. Team members go to these meets representing Fremd and, under the pressure of time, answer a multitude of complex math questions in order to bring home the win. In 2019, Fremd brought home the 4th place finish in the team category at State, where they were subsequently recognized at the Board of Education meeting.
Being a part of this team requires rigor and perseverance. The constant commitment and practice put into a subject possibly considered “boring” by many people help strengthen the minds and persistence of Math Team members. Through the shared struggle of their practices, the Math team breeds a community in which learning is fostered and where it’s okay to not be able to solve a problem.
Math Team sophomore Aditya Gupta speaks of the Math Team’s togetherness.
“I think what makes the Math Team really fun is the community that we have,” Gupta said. “It’s quite great and all the coaches are really a part of the community and make sure that everyone succeeds”.
Math Team senior Ola Kaminska elaborates on the camaraderie that math team members feel when they are part of the club.
“I’d like to say that the Math Team builds a community of people that are willing to take on challenges and together we solve them,” Kaminska said.
Math Team is a haven for those that enjoy mathematics. Through the Math Team, learning new concepts and improving math knowledge becomes enjoyable. Solving math problems with a group relieves much of the pressure. It’s not just a team, it’s a community of mathematical thinkers.
]]>The return to a regular school schedule with activities and events in full swing became a release for everyone following a year and a half of disruption. Fremd’s Halloween Fest received a large crowd with fantastic costumes. Fall concerts and shows are at their best when there is a live audience. We can once again see friends during lunch and at extracurricular events.
“Human beings are an ultrasocial species — and our nervous systems expect to have others around us,” says Emiliana Simon-Thomas at The University of California, Berkeley. That means our bodies tend to work better when we aren’t alone.
According to the Center on Reinventing Public Education, thirty to forty percent of young people experienced negative impacts on their social-emotional health during the pandemic. Because of the isolation of quarantine, they tend to be more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and antisocial behaviors, so the return to in-person school has helped students have more interactions with their peers.
Through engaging in conversations and socializing in class, students participate in valuable social practices. The school day provides students with structure and routine while also allowing them to gain access to extracurricular activities, which can help them feel excited about school and gain valuable relationships. Because of this, students have stronger social connections, helping them create stronger relationships at school with teachers and classmates.
Covid-19 allows us to appreciate the previous sense of freedom we enjoyed as we often do not appreciate privileges until we lose them. Even though we have to wear masks and some are anxious about the unknown risks of being infected, we have to feel gratitude this Thanksgiving for our social life coming back towards normalcy during this school year. The definition of a normal life for every person has also changed, and there is no neat solution to finding out the norms of human connection again. Still, we can use the month of Thanksgiving to stay positive, express gratitude, and remember to acknowledge and appreciate what we have.
]]>Although many large companies and leaders claim to support climate action, they often wait for other corporations to lead. For example, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Pepsi have been named the world’s worst plastic polluters in 2020 for the third consecutive year. While these companies claim to support efforts toward real solutions, they continue to increase their waste production.
A recent analysis by the U.N. found that the sum of current national policies shows a 13.7% increase in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. However, climate scientists advocate for a 50% reduction in emissions by the same date in order to prevent temperatures from rising to irreversible levels. Although recognizing the danger of climate change is a step toward finding a solution, the visible impacts of climate are ongoing. Frequent extreme weather events, receding glaciers, and sea-level rise will only continue to worsen if inaction proceeds, placing the world at stake.
The United States and the world needs its leaders to gather the courage to radically change the traditional societal dependence on fossil fuels and environmental damage. Without role models willing to step outside the pressures of the economy and routine mindsets, it is impossible to garner enough support from other countries to effectively address climate change’s looming challenge. The U.S. needs to step away from its hypocritical urge for action and set the trend for lasting change.
The Viking Logue staff believes enacting the Green New Deal, a bill that would invest in emissions reductions and union employment, is critical in achieving global climate goals. To effectively tackle this widespread issue, we believe our world needs universal collaboration from every corner of the world, starting with our own.
]]>“I think it’s important to live life how you want and to not mind what others think,” Herrera said.
English teacher Eric Schaefer describes Jair as the perfect embodiment of a positively contributing Fremd student in the classroom.
“[Jair] is courageous, kind, thoughtful, and willing to do whatever is necessary to make the environment a more positive one,” Schaefer said. “He makes our classroom better, and he’s the epitome of a mighty, brave and bold influence on our school environment.”
]]>English teacher Christie O’Donnell believes Prashanth is a key asset inside and beyond the classroom environment, full of passion and motivation to achieve his goals.
“Prashanth Ramachandra is not only my student intern but he’s also my intellectual superior,” O’Donnell said. “I mean, many students are, but this kid is insane. He has probably done more in two years than I will do in my lifetime. Whether it was political activism work, volunteerism or superlative courses at UChicago, he’s just a force.”
]]>Her recent album “Sour”, contains 11 songs written from personal experiences that Rodrigo faced. The 11 songs contain different perspectives of a broken hearted teenager, complaining about a single storyline of a terribly failed romance. Rodrigo explicitly characterized the themes of insecurities, anger, and revenge using immensely specific lyrics showing her vulnerability. However, these themes seem to be exceedingly an exaggeration compared to the real life of teenagers. During her interview with Zach Sang on the Zach Sang Show, Rodrigo explained that her album explores her “perils and discoveries as a 17-year-old. Sour is referring to the sour emotions young people like me experience but are often criticized for, such as anger and unhappiness”. However, her songs have a wide gap that separates their message from reality.
The first song in the album is “brutal“, which Rodrigo described as angsty and uptempo. When listening to it for the first time, the song sounds enjoyable, with angrily insecure lyrics mixed with playful and easy pop-punk that attracts teenagers. However, this song is horribly toxic. The lyrics are overly dramatic, and don’t in any way relate to teenagers. The first verse starts with “I’m so insecure, I think/ That I’ll die before I drink” and goes to the chorus with “They say these are the golden years/ But I wish I could disappear/ Ego crush is so severe/ God, it’s brutal out here”. Since Rodrigo has a heavy influence on teenagers, lyrics like these bring them down mentally and they would start thinking negatively about everything. Then comes the concept of “ego crush”. Rodrigo expanded on this phrase on Zach Sang Show saying that an “ego crush is when you feel inadequate and inferior and get angry that your entire identity is gone. It’s something that I definitely felt and something that teenagers feel like I suppose as they’re growing up.” Although the feeling of inadequacy and inferiority is a problem that everyone faces, Rodrigo could’ve portrayed it in a different, non aggressive way. High school is stressful for many, so Rodrigo could’ve mentioned something about academic stress that teens face on a daily basis.
“Traitor” is the second song in the track. The song talks about a relationship gone downhill, a common theme present in most tracks on “Sour”. In “traitor” Rodrigo refers to her ex-partner as a traitor since he left her for another woman. Well, right off the bat, we can see where the exaggeration and the huge gap between reality comes; when did teenage love become a serious issue to the point where the label traitor is thrown? In the first verse, she sings “Brown guilty eyes and little white lies/ Yeah, I played dumb but I always knew/ That you’d talk to her, maybe did even worse/ I kept quiet so I could keep you.” Then in the chorus, devastated, Rodrigo sings that all the times she has been there for him did not matter in the end. Even if he didn’t cheat on her, Olivia says he is still a traitor. Rodrigo wrote this song as if she had practically gone through a divorce crying about “the bed (she) made” with her significant other and all. But again, the lyrics she wrote are not realistic to her age since the song treats high school romance as a serious issue when it’s really not. Her argument is invalid since high school romance isn’t serious. Yes, teenagers date and get their hearts torn, but not to the extremes of accusing someone of being a traitor. High school romance isn’t an important topic that an influencer should be focusing on, because high school has more problematic, serious issues. Now whether she’s speaking to a more mature, comprehensive reality than what she has personally experienced, is a different story.
Third on the track is “driver’s license”, Rodrigo’s top hit song. Many of her fans liked the song since it was imitating Taylor Swift’s album “Folklore”. However, “drivers license” isn’t a Swift imitation, it’s a Frankenstein version of the past decade in modern pop. The song is dark and gloomy, with Olivia Rodrigo symbolizing her driver’s license as a devastating, useless factor. That it has no meaning now since the guy she so badly wanted to be with isn’t with her any more. “I got my driver’s license last week/ Just like we always talked about/ ‘Cause you were so excited for me/ To finally drive up to your house/ But today I drove through the suburbs/ Crying ’cause you weren’t around”. The entire song lyrics are centered around a heartbroken teenage girl, trying to get over her ex-boyfriend who has moved on with a new person. Now, although this song may seem as if it resonates with every person of every age group who has dealt with heartbreak at some point in their lives or pined for someone they loved, it actually isn’t very relatable to reality in general and this song is different than the majority of the songs in the album. To simply phrase it, this song is whiny. It for sure shares the same dread, gloomy vibe; however, Rodrigo here sings about wishing that she was driving with her past loved one while the other songs are exaggerated. It seems like Rodrigo was lacking ideas for “driver’s license” because the song itself is repetitive with the impression that the poor girl is devastated because her ex isn’t next to her. Rodrigo could’ve made this song into an advertisement for teens to find happiness without relying on someone else, that happiness shouldn’t necessarily be connected to someone.
Sixth on the track is “good 4 u”, the song that went viral shortly after its release. In the music video, Olivia portrays a heartbroken, innocent cheerleader who tries to get revenge towards her unbothered former ex. This cheerleader transformed her appearance from innocent to monstrous as she appears to destroy his bedroom, and sets fire to her ex’s belongings to remove her stress that has ruined her life. The lyrics are full of sarcastic remarks, which is a different vibe compared to the entire album containing slower songs about heartbreak. sings sarcastically about being happy for an ex who has moved on from her in them. In the chorus she sings, “Well, good for you/ You look happy and healthy/ Not me, if you would have cared to ask/ Well, good for you/ You’re doing great out there without me/ Baby God I wish I could do that”. Other than the gloomy lyrics, the music video was dark and had ominous undertones. It’s very negative and conveys a spine-chilling, false image for teenagers. In the video, Rodrigo sets her ex’s belongings in order to relieve stress portraying false coping mechanisms. This may seem like a creative idea for a music video; however, it is so far away from reality. Getting revenge on someone by bringing their things isn’t really realistic and doesn’t usually occur. The image of revenge was poorly demonstrated here and could’ve been shown in a different picture. It would’ve been a great idea if the girl, in the music video, takes revenge on the guy by living her life to the fullest, getting better academically and socially.
Rodrigo is the first young artist in history to debut two #1 songs on Billboard’s Global 200. Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u,” debuted at number one after her other track, “driver’s license”. Mental health is an important topic that should be looked at seriously; however, it won’t improve in teenagers if influencers ruin the image of a healthy life. Olivia Rodrigo is no doubt a great singer with incredible capabilities, she is an influencer to many. And because of that, she should use her influence positively. Instead of writing songs that have terrible messages, why not write songs that actually relate to reality and will help teenagers, not break them? Although Rodrigo’s vocals are unique and well executed, the concept that she conveys isn’t as important as she makes it out to be.
]]>This year, Homecoming was the first large Fremd event, having been organized by the Fremd Student Council. Over 75% of the student body attended Homecoming. This year, Homecoming was themed “There’s No Place Like HOMEcoming” and took place Saturday, Oct. 2.
Like usual years, students needed to purchase a ticket, either before Homecoming or at the school doors. But this year, students first entered through Door 2 of Fremd, and proceeded down the hallway lined with a red carpet, eventually going back outside to the dance venue. Homecoming took place in the parking lot near the tennis courts, which provided a large open area, rather than the gym. Since the parking lot had a lot of space to offer, students were able to dance freely, while listening to the DJ play his songs.
Student Council sponsor Matthew Hopkins offers insight on the planning of this year’s Homecoming.
“Seeing all that hard work get put together on the night of the dance and seeing all the students enjoy Homecoming was super rewarding,” Hopkins said. “We had the whole week planned out including school decorum and the ‘Capture the Viking’ event.”
A pep assembly also preceded Homecoming, taking place at the end of the school day on Oct.1. The Viking Marching Band, Orchesis, Winter Guard, Dance Team, and Cheer Team all performed on the football field where the assembly was hosted due to COVID protocol. Fall sports teams and athletes were recognized for their achievements along with Homecoming Court nominees.
At the assembly, a few Fremd Teachers dressed up as masked singers, in reference to the “The Masked Singer,”. As revealed at the end of their performances of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and “Call Me Maybe,” English teacher Robin Quinn and Science teacher Vasilij Acic were the masked singers.
Even as these festivities were held and greatly enjoyed, Hopkins acknowledges a few obstacles leading up to Homecoming.
“Since Homecoming was held outside, we had a lot of issues with the weather,” Hopkins said. “It was a little bit rainy, and that made it challenging to plan the dance.”
Before the dance, students were notified of the possibility that Homecoming would be rescheduled to the following week due to the rainy weather. However, the student body lucked out, with the rain abating right before the dance. The mostly clear skies signaled that Homecoming was set to proceed on time, as it did.
Homecoming this year was a momentous occasion, being the first homecoming dance in two years, ever since COVID struck. For example, compared to 2019’s Homecoming, which featured a movie night and several food trucks during homecoming week, this year’s homecoming didn’t have a movie night or food trucks due to following COVID protocols. This year’s Homecoming showed that no matter what, the student body will remain united, even in the midst of a global pandemic.
]]>The District 15/211 Orchestra Festival will kick off a November that is packed with music-related events, including the Junior High Choir Festival, the Fall Orchestra Concert, and the D15/211 Band Festival. The Orchestra Festival is a program run by Fremd High School Orchestra Director Marla Caballero and Palatine High School Orchestra Director Dung Pham as it involves both District 211 schools and all four District 15 junior high schools. The festival had been held every year since 1982, but was canceled for the first time last year. This year, however, the event will be back in-person on Monday, Nov. 1st. Nearly three hundred students from District 15 (8th grade students) and District 211 (all grade levels) typically participate in the program.
Students have been practicing for the concert at their respective schools and homes shortly after the school year began. To further prepare for the concert, the junior high students will rehearse along with their peers and the high school orchestra students on the day of the concert.
Fremd High School Orchestra Director Marla Caballero, an organizer of the Orchestra Festival, shared some of the hopes she has about the event.
“The festival gives the junior high kids a snapshot of what high school orchestra is really like,” Caballero said. “At the junior high level, there’s only one 8th grade orchestra, regardless of level. At Fremd and Palatine, we place students into different groups based on ability level and interest, so there is a home for all of our students. That’s not something that a lot of junior high students might be aware of, so this festival gives them a little bit of exposure to our different orchestra groups”.
In addition, Caballero discussed how the social aspect of the Festival also allows the high school students to be able to form some relationships with the younger students, through impromptu mentoring and discussions about certain musical pieces.
“One of the things that I love about our festival is that we seat the high school students with an 8th grader,” Caballero said. “In fact, I asked some of my older students what they remembered from their experience during junior high and a lot of them said that they remembered their older partners helping them out during rehearsal and feeling a general sense of excitement to be part of our musical community”.
Caballero ended by saying that she was glad that the festival is back after being cancelled last year, since so many junior high students missed out on the opportunity to play in their first big music event during the orchestra season.
“Usually, the eighth graders are inspired in the end, since they get to hear the high school orchestras,” Caballero said. “And so, I hope that it gives them some excitement and motivation for their orchestra plans in the future”.
]]>“Dune” (originally titled “Dune: Part One”) tells the story of Paul Atreides, heir apparent to the fortune of House Atreides, including the newly acquired planet of Arrakis. This desert planet is abundant in “spice”- a valuable substance used in space travel. As Paul is prepared by his family to inherit the planet, they find themselves in the middle of a conflict between Arrakis’s natives (the Fremen), and Arrakis’s previous owners, the brutal House Harkonnen. Much like the novel, “Dune” is focused on its worldbuilding, but still provides exciting action. This film only covers the first half of the first book in the series, but a sequel has been announced for 2023.
The biggest weakness of this adaptation is its rushed exposition. The first half hour or so feels wildly rushed as Villenueve attempts to set the groundwork for multiple different characters and groups of people. Some of these opening scenes are filled with quick dialogue, starting and ending so abruptly that one has to pay especially close attention in order to understand everything that’s going on. However, this slowly subsides as the film begins its second act. Even still, a lot is left out from the original novel. Most of these are small details, but details important enough to leave the more thoughtful viewer with some questions. In the end, however, most of these don’t lead to plot holes or will most likely be resolved in the coming sequel. Another criticism of many general viewers is the film’s slower pace and anticlimactic ending. However, according to director Denis Villenueve, “For me, ‘Dune: Part One’ is like an appetizer and ‘Dune: Part Two’ is the main meal.” He describes the second installment as “an insane playground” promising more action now that he’s laid the groundwork.
“Dune” was largely advertised boasting its impressive ensemble cast, including (but not limited to) Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista, and Josh Brolin. However, “ensemble” isn’t the right term to describe this cast. Chalamet and Ferguson have the most screen time in the film, with most others being absent for at least half of it. All of the actors put forth solid performances, albeit not very notable ones. Arguably the best performance out of “Dune” came from Javier Bardem as Stilgar, one of the Fremen’s leaders. Although his role is small, he is able to communicate a lot about his character through his mannerisms and diction. However, his thick accent makes some of his dialogue hard to understand.
Although the film’s writing can feel rushed and sporadic, the real highlight of the film is its camerawork and cinematography. It feels reminiscent of Villenueve’s previous two films “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049,” which makes sense, as he teamed up with “Arrival” cinematographer and editor Greig Fraser and Joe Walker, respectively. In fact, the spacecraft we see in “Dune” is incredibly similar to that seen in “Arrival.” The vast desert expanses of Arrakis are emphasized by a booming score. Much like the book, Hans Zimmer’s score is heavily influenced by middle-eastern music and culture.
When Warner Bros. revealed that they would be releasing “Dune” on HBO Max as well as in theaters, Villenueve spoke out against the decision, saying, “Our movie’s image and sound were meticulously designed to be seen in theaters.” Whatever opinion you hold on the matter, it’s undeniable that seeing “Dune” in a theater is a wildly different experience than seeing it at home. From the cinematography to the score to the acting, “Dune” is a wholly immersive experience that defies most expectations, appealing to both longtime fans of the “Dune” series, as well as those just being introduced. Despite its early troubles, it culminates into an ending that is both satisfying and leaves you craving for more.
]]>Since it first opened on Sept. 9, 1971, the Woodfield Mall has drawn many visitors through its doors with a variety of retail and entertainment options. In 1975, the mall was considered the largest in the country and included an ice arena along with three separate movie theaters. The mall now stands as the sixteenth largest in the United States with over two million square feet of space and three hundred stores.
According to Schaumburg’s Director of Economic Development Matt Frank, at peak interest levels the mall would draw in customers from a variety of different states.
“Last time they counted pre-COVID, it was over 27 million people who visited annually” Frank said. “You’ve got a lot of different people, not just from the Northwest suburbs, but they come from all over the Midwest.”
Despite a decrease in interest following the March 2020 lockdowns and ensuing regulations, the back-to-school season has allowed the mall to support consumers at nearly pre-pandemic levels. Many stores have also attempted to adopt an omnipresent approach to provide products to more cautious consumers through in-store, online, and store pick-up purchase options.
As a major hub for local businesses, the mall provides many employment opportunities and generates a large portion of Schaumburg’s annual sales tax revenue.
“Woodfield is the main economic engine for the community,” Frank said. “They generate revenue to the village of $8.6 million.”
According to Frank, this $8.6 million is a significant segment of the village’s total revenue, which typically amounts to $3 billion annually. The mall also employs nearly 4,000 people, from teenagers to seniors.
As trends change over generations, the mall has also evolved in response to rising interests. The mall removed its ice arena in 1984 and twenty years later remodeled its fountains. In an effort to create unique experiences, Woodfield in recent years has added the Improv Comedy Club and the fourth worldwide location of Peppa Pig World of Play. Nevertheless, Woodfield now competes with the convenience of online shopping.
Fremd social studies teacher Jennifer Wrzala reminisces of shopping at the Woodfield Mall as a teenager.
“My most memorable experience was shopping the night after Thanksgiving during high school,” Wrzala said. “My friends and I would go right at midnight and stay out all night. It was one of the few nights my Mom would let me do that because she was out shopping too!”
Despite including brands that address popular trends, Wrzala has also noticed that many of her students have shown more interest in online shopping than in-person.
“Since the number of options and stores through the internet has increased, I have noticed that less students go to the mall regularly,” Wrzala said.
Fremd junior Jasmine Patel adds that the convenience of online shopping has also lessened student interest in attending the mall.
“It’s what a lot of us got used to during COVID, and now it seems like kind of a hassle to go all the way to the mall,” Patel said.
This potential decrease in teenage mall appeal creates a contrast between the significance of the mall in children and their parents’ generations. As portrayed in media, including popular films such as Clueless, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and the Netflix show Stranger Things, malls often served as a symbol for teen culture and social interaction during the 1980’s and 1990’s.
However, the lessened teen interest poses a question of whether Woodfield will stick around for another fifty years. It appears that the teenage demographic that once acted as a representation of mall culture may also shift as Woodfield continues to reinvent itself and in what forms it will take.
]]>Why is misinformation so devastating? Based on an MIT Sloan research study, false rumors spread quicker and more widely compared to truthful information. It is also 70 percent more likely to be retweeted on Twitter and reach 1,500 people six times quicker. Fake news is often more unusual and peculiar, which explains why people are drawn to it and will share it more often.
Furthermore, companies find it more profitable to post misinformation. They get more viewers, leading to more likes and comments and ultimately profit. It is the type of engagement social media platforms are looking for, so it is not in their interest for them to deter it. However, it is important for them to do so, in order for them to mitigate the spread of fake news throughout their platform and prevent effects on the public’s decisions that might be based on incorrect information.
Misinformation will almost always influence political events or affect the health of the public without people knowing. During the 2016 presidential election, a bipartisan Senate committee found that the Russian government used Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to spread false information and conspiracy theories. Misinformation during presidential elections deceives voters, which will have consequences on the final results.
Similarly, during the pandemic, posts have spread claiming that masks won’t prevent people from getting Covid-19. Rumors have also circulated about Covid-19 vaccines, the most ridiculous one being that they contain microchips and the government or global elites like Bill Gates would use them to track citizens. This misinformation can be destructive to the health of the public because it lowered vaccine acceptance and made the public hesitant to get the proper treatments.
If we can’t stop it, we’ll spot it. Detecting misinformation isn’t as hard as it seems. First, make sure you’re getting your news from a reputable source, like The New York Times, The Washington Post, or The Wall Street Journal. When you do come across sources that aren’t reputable, try to research more about the topic to see whether or not it really is true. A great website to use is the Washington Post Fact Checker, or any other fact checker can work. It can also help to find a credible source reporting the same information, allowing you to verify if it is misinformation or not.
If it is fake news, the most important thing is to not share it. Don’t let more people read about the supposedly real news, and help prevent more people from having to verify it themselves. If they think it is truthful, it will also help avoid it being spread to even more people.
With the increase in popularity of social media, using these platforms as a news source is inevitable and becoming increasingly more popular. By making sure the information we share is accurate before sending it, we can help fight and stop misinformation.
]]>Starting Jan. 1, 2022, all Illinois students will be able to take up to five mental health days off of school without needing a doctor’s note. These absences will be categorized as excused absences and teachers are required to give students additional time to finish missed assignments. After a student takes a second mental health day, their school counselor is required to follow up with the student to address their concerns and possibly refer them to a health professional.
State Senator Rob Martwick, co-sponsor of this bill, hopes that students understand “by removing that stigma that it was okay for them to address their mental health and seek the help that they need.” Martwick and his co-sponsors mean well as they respond to a 31% increase in mental health emergency hospital visits for teenagers. They, however, have failed in understanding what can truly reduce mental health stigma, endangering the prospects of this exciting new bill.
At high-pressure high schools across Illinois like Fremd, burnout is normalized. Struggling to cope with the demands of day-to-day life, teenagers often don’t have adults they can turn to share their concerns with. Counselors are hard to access via email and meetings and can often have an impersonal relationship with their students. High schoolers – worried about their future, sleep-deprived, and hormonal – may not have the hope that talking to their counselors or the administration can help solve their problems.
While allowing kids to have access to excused absences in order to manage their mental health is a great idea in theory, mental health days don’t touch the stigma around the topic. Teenagers, much like adults, do not spend their days studying the laws passed by their state legislatures. While lawmakers in Springfield can believe that the passage of this act shows kids that they can approach their school’s administration and ask for help, many kids probably don’t even know about this law. Those that do know about the law may be reluctant to use their excused absences in fear that a required referral to a mental health professional may lead to a diagnosis.
Students don’t need another way to take days off. They need to have access to a system they trust in a society they are comfortable in. We must all work toward having more conversations about mental health and normalizing getting help from a professional. By encouraging students, teachers, and parents to be more sensitive and kind when discussing mental health struggles, administrations can facilitate healthy discourse that enables students to feel comfortable using resources when they need them.
In addition to reduced stigma about mental health issues, schools need to restore confidence in their resources. Student-counselor relationships should be maintained throughout high school careers beyond course selection so that all students feel comfortable referring to their counselors in difficult times. Students should be informed of their options in seeking care so that the process of reaching out is demystified. While the heart of new legislation is in the right place, we should be striving to make existing systems adequate along with making provisions for excused absences.
The idea of excused absences for mental health struggles is great in theory and may succeed in practice. Still, it will not succeed if it is not built on a foundation of trust between students and their schools, and it will definitely not succeed without all of us showing more sensitivity and understanding towards kids and their struggles. As we all look to January to understand how this new law will play out, we must make sure we are also working to make students feel more comfortable approaching their schools for help.
]]>Eddie Brock is an entertaining character. The arguments between Eddie and Venom are comedic, and establish Eddie’s lack of confidence. However, as the movie moves along, we frustratingly never really see any major development in his character. In the end, Eddie circles back to the “loser” he was before, as dubbed by Venom, learning nothing from the battles he had been through throughout the movie.
One of the main antagonists, Shriek, played by Naomie Harris, seems to hold no importance in the movie, her inclusion feeling forced. A symbiote’s weaknesses revolve around sound and fire. Shriek’s superhuman abilities also revolve around sound, making her a natural counter to the symbiotic superpowers of Brock and Kennedy. While her inclusion in the film could have been more impactful, Shriek’s powers during the final battle are utilized as a gimmick, setting off periodically in order to enhance the action of the fight sequence. Without her, the battle towards the end would have remained the same.
For the most part, this movie fails to recreate the appeal of other Marvel movies. The action scenes, while well put together, lack impact and payoff, appealing only to the visual senses of the movie. Many of the plotlines in the movie are left unexplained, and at certain points the movie feels rushed, leaving viewers confused. Venom: Let There Be Carnage tries to mimic the charm and appeal of the first, but in doing so comes off as a cheap imitation.
Compared to the hype building up around this movie, the movie seems to fall flat. The film is an exciting action movie, but aside from the brief tie-in to the MCU during the post-credits scene, lacks direction and resolution.
]]>TWICE consists of nine members, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. Six years ago, JYP Entertainment founder Park Jinyoung announced TWICE as the new girl group for the entertainment company. He explained that TWICE’s name refers to the impact that the nine girls have on the audience: “once through the ears and once through the eyes.” And fair enough, TWICE gained popularity for their graceful voices and pleasant figures giving them the title “The Next Queens” after fellow girl group BLACKPINK.
TWICE is known for always trying new concepts. For this single they chose Prom as the song’s theme. While the music video is unique and creative, some of the sets and the clothing seem to be repetitive from TWICE’s old songs.
In the vibrant music video of‘‘The Feels,” the nine girls go back to their 2015- 2016 girl-crush concept in an endearing way. In the music video, TWICE get an invite to prom and they start getting ready for it in a high teen, super glammed-up pink dressing room. The high teen sets in “The Feels” are similar to the music video sets of “Cheer Up”, “Likey”, and “What is Love?” In “Cheer Up”, the nine girls dress up in yet another high school dressing room because they’re preparing for a school dance. In “Likey,” the girls dress up with high school fashion outfits and sing along with each other about their first date. Also, in the ball gown outfits that were used in “What is Love?” were recycled and reused in “The Feels” music video as pastel prom dresses.
Aside from the music video, the beat of the song is similar to other TWICE songs. “The Feels” is a retro pop song. Now, this isn’t very unique coming from TWICE. In fact, this concept is getting redundant and boring. TWICE first used the retro style concept in their second album, “Eyes Wide Open,” and used it again in their latest EP, “Taste of Love.” At first, it was very unusual of them to incorporate 90’s concept in “Eyes Wide Open” because it was a fresh change for their fans (ONCE) since TWICE were used to regulating “cute” concepts. By the time “Taste of Love” dropped, the retro concept started to get boring. Although the songs were joyful, the repetition of the beats made them sound somewhat similar. That’s why “The Feels” is bringing back memories from the past eras; the beat of the song sounds familiar since it has been heard in the past album and EP.
Another reason as to why “The Feels” brings ONCE way back is the message the song is advocating. Recently, TWICE released their second full Japanese album, “Perfect World”, and the b-side track, “Kura Kura”, was so similar in its lyrics and message to “The Feels.” The magic and supernatural part in both “Kura Kura” and “The Feels” conveys the idea that “The Feels” is actually a recycled song. Following are the lyrics of both songs where it’s evident that the structure and the message are the same.
“With unexplained emotions/ My head is filled 24 hours/… a world with just the two of us/… I got absorbed into an eternity/ It’s like magic baby/ Can not predict my trembling heart/ Sweet magic, isn’t it?” (Kura Kura)
“I can feel a real connection/ A supernatural attraction/ I got the feels for you/ You have stolen my heart oh yeah/ Never let it go oh oh” (The Feels)
Overall the music video was interesting to watch, especially at the end of the video, where the girls channel their inner cheerleader spirit in sparkly sporty outfits ending up on a poster as they announce their future projects in a creative style. The poster portrays that TWICE are planning on having a comeback with their third studio album in November since “The Feels” is only a pre-release single. Would TWICE take a chance and try a new approach? If they don’t, then their new album would be a disappointment to listen to since it’ll be the same as other albums.
]]>10/5 Bulls vs. Cavaliers
For their first game of the preseason, the Bulls went against the Cleveland Cavaliers and won by well over thirty points. Both the starters and the bench played well, which maintained a lead throughout the game. The new players acquired by the Bulls during the offseason also played wonderfully. Both Ball and Caruso led the game in assists, while DeRozan also played well with thirteen points, four assists and four rebounds.
10/8 Bulls vs. Pelicans
Game two of the preseason was against the Pelicans. Over the off-season the Pelicans acquired Jonas Valančiūnas from the Memphis Grizzlies, Devonte Graham from Charlotte and Tomáš Satoranský, Garrett Temple who were former Bulls. The Bulls managed to win against the Pelicans in about thirty points, while rotating from the bench and starters throughout the entire game. In this game, Zach LaVine scored twenty-one points while Vucevic, Ball, Caruso, and DeRozan each had double digits.
10/10 Bulls vs. Cavaliers
Game three against the Cavaliers was a nail-biter. The Bulls faced off against the Cavaliers for the second time, but it wasn’t as easy as the first. The lead switched between the Cavaliers and the Bulls for the majority of the game but the Bulls managed to win the game by one point. Ayo Dosunmu, a young rookie picked up by the Bulls in the NBA Draft 2021, scored the game-winner.
10/25 Bulls vs. Grizzlies
Going against the Grizzlies was a challenge. Since the Grizzlies were a playoffs team last season, they weren’t an easy opponent. The lead kept switching back and forth until the Bulls secured the win in the final quarter. LaVine scored thirty one points, while Vucevic and Ball lead the game in rebounds.
Overall, the Bulls preseason was a great success. They won all their games and showed extraordinary growth in ball-movement, team chemistry, and their overall game. Though the majority of the teams that the Bulls faced weren’t terrific, a win over the Grizzlies was a high note to end with. Based on the Bulls’ performance in the preseason, they even have the potential to become a play-off team in this upcoming season.
]]>With similar barbaric beliefs, Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples have been cheated and mistreated by European settlers and later the U.S. government. As they were slowly pushed off their ancestral lands and promised space elsewhere, that territory was again ripped from under their feet. Although the holiday was initially intended to recognize the contributions of Italian Americans due to anti-Italian sentiment during the late 19th century, it also honors a man who committed rape, pillage, and enslavement. It is unfair to celebrate Christopher Columbus, a man who disregarded the humanity of Indigenous peoples and believed that “with fifty men we could subjugate them all,” when they were already living on the continent he supposedly discovered.
The treatment of Indigenous peoples by settlers and the U.S. government has been built upon a foundation of broken promises and unacceptable treatment of individuals. The Viking Logue staff believes that the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day is crucial to establish respect for the resilience of Native Americans, but cannot forgive the horrific treatment they have faced. This does not diminish the impact and contributions of Italian Americans, but choosing not to recognize a man whose actions modeled offensive behavior. It is essential that the history of European interaction with Indigenous peoples is taught as a part of school curriculum, in order to instill a sense of humility as a nation for the wrongs they have endured. As we look to the future of the holiday, we must acknowledge the beauty of cultural diversity and long-lasting customs of Indigenous populations even in the face of adversity.
]]>Do you have any tips or advice on forming a balanced and fitting college list?
No, I don’t. Here’s a-start earlier, you know, start thinking about it sophomore year. Don’t wait until your first semester of your senior year to try and figure this out. And then, I think if you look at sophomore year, you create a big list and then you whittle it down as you visit schools, as you figure out, kind of, what you want to do and really what subjects you could you excel in, so that way you can whittle it down, and I think probably it’s reasonable to have around seven to 10 colleges, sometimes less, sometimes more. I think that’s pretty reasonable.
Due to the pandemic, many colleges are allowing the submission of college entrance exam scores to be optional. However, none of the Illinois SAT and ACT testing centers got closed this year, and many Illinois students have already taken these standardized tests. Is there a disadvantage for the Fremd seniors that have decided to not take it?
No, not at all. It’s really, you know, if you have a strong GPA, you really don’t need a test score. That’s the best indicator of college success: GPA. So it’s to no disadvantage.
Are there any trends or aspects in this year’s college admissions that are different from the past years you want Fremd seniors to know and keep in mind?
Just the fact that most colleges are test optional, and in-to talk to someone before they make that decision. What I mean is, I want to talk to a counselor- talk to their counselor-before they make that decision on whether or not they’re going to send a score, because, in some cases, if you send the score can be detrimental, in others, it can be beneficial.
Are there any resources that are available at Fremd in order to help seniors on anything related to college applications?
Yeah, go and see your counselor. I mean we have like-we meet with our seniors. Early on, I think it was the second week of August, with our seniors through the P- through PE, and most of my students have followed up with me because I said hey, you got to make an individual appointment, we need to talk about what’s going on if you need a recommendation, etc. Most of my students have, some haven’t. So that means I have to go chase them. And that’s, I don’t know, that’s really not fair, it’s their decision, it’s a pretty important decision. And that’s my advice-is to keep a cost of communication with the folks that are helping you so parents, counselors, if you ask a teacher for a recommendation, make sure it’s early, but yes, counselors are the best resources here.
Is there any other information or advice you would like to give to the Fremd seniors this year that we haven’t covered yet?
Yes, I think in making this decision, you have to consider factors that are outside of academics. I think those are the most, I think, probably equally as important. You need to have obviously the major study you want at your college, you know, I don’t care about rankings or anything like that. I think if they have your area of study and you’re motivated, you’ll do well. But what’s important is location, activities around activities within the college. You spend only about 15 hours in class in college, as opposed to what, like, 35 here? When you’re in high school with, you know, it’s kind of controlled, it’s a controlled atmosphere, it’s not as controlled in college. So you have-you have to feel secure there, and in order to feel secure, you have to be happy right, what makes you happy, doing the things that you love to do. So those things are equally as important, I think, when it comes to choosing a college.
]]>Delta variant
The Delta variant was first detected in India at the end of 2020. This Variant of Concern (VOC) variant is extremely transmissible, which has consequently caused many more sub-variants that were coined the name, “delta-plus”. Based on studies in Canada and Scotland, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that the Delta variant may be much more severe and harmful compared to the other variants. Healthline states there is a large range from 39 to 84 percent vaccine effectiveness against the Delta variant.
Mu variant
The Mu variant has been found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, the UK, France, Spain, and Florida. It is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Variant of Interest (VOI). Though there is not much research yet on this variant, a study in Rome concluded that the Pfizer vaccine can indeed still neutralize the Mu variant, according to the BBC Science Focus Magazine. However, there have been indications of lower protection from the vaccine against this strain. According to News Medical Life Sciences, a study in Yokohama City concluded that the Pfizer-BioNTech’s BNT162b2 vaccine has 76 percent vaccine effectiveness against the Mu variant.
Alpha variant
The Alpha variant was first tracked in the UK in 2020. It is currently being considered as a VOC, making it a carefully tracked and researched variant. . Fortunately, vaccines are still a strong shield against this variant, even with the much higher transmission rate than the original Wuhan virus. According to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, there is about 86 percent vaccine effectiveness with the Alpha variant.
Beta and Gamma variants
The Beta variant was first found in South Africa in 2020. Similar to the Alpha variant, it has a high transmission rate and is labeled as a VOC, but it also has a higher resistance to neutralizing antibodies. A consequence of this resilience may be increased reinfection and breakthrough infections, which are infections in fully-vaccinated people, even after vaccination and immunization. The Lancet Regional Health Europe study concluded 77 percent vaccine effectiveness with the Beta variant. However, there have not been many recorded cases of the Beta variant in the US.
The Gamma variant was first identified in Japan in 2020 but was then traced back to Brazil, which is predominantly where it is spreading. The Gamma variant is similar to the Beta variant and its properties of being able to better resist the antibodies.
As of now, the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants are all categorized as VOCs, making them a much more immediate danger, while one of the most potent VOIs is the Mu variant, though there are a handful more.
The CDC is continuing to strongly recommend the usage of masks and vaccination in order to combat the rising presence of more potentially dangerous variants.
There is a rising debate of what the pandemic might look like in the future. One possibility is that the world may continue to be plagued by endless, more fatal variants, while another is the belief that the pandemic will soon be over. Nevertheless, the future of the pandemic remains uncertain.
Interviewed by the Swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) Newspaper, Stéphane Bancel, the CEO of Moderna, believes that the pandemic will end in approximately a year. With the Delta variant remaining extremely contagious, the number of immunization and vaccination of more people increasing, and booster shots starting to become utilized, some believe that coronavirus may end up becoming a similar scenario to the flu.
“In this way, we will end up in a situation similar to that of the flu. You can either get vaccinated and have a good winter, or you don’t do it and risk getting sick and possibly even ending up in hospital, “ Bancel said.
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There are a number of new facilities added to the location. The study rooms were expanded and multiplied in both floors of the library. Different sizes are now offered, ranging from individual study rooms to eight-person meeting rooms. In total, there are about 40 study rooms available to the public.
The cafe was moved down to the first floor with two new vending machines, as well as a coffee counter and dining area where food is allowed. The carpeting, shelving, light fixtures, and furniture have all been updated to geometric patterns that were chosen to appeal to all age groups. On the first floor, the Maker’s Space was also expanded: sewing machines, embroidery machines, a laser cutter, 3D printers, and more are all accessible to the public.
Additionally, a new entrance was added to the library in the north side of the building where both above-ground parking lots can easily access the library. In order to allow easier handicap access, the entrance was proposed in construction plans to aid the community with mobility issues. Due to the goal of increasing accessibility, the library was able to receive a grant of $1.8 million from the Illinois State Library to fund the entrance renovations.
Moreover, the teen section has been developed and renovated, creating quite a few new changes. Now separated from the kids section, the teen area has an updated study area surrounded by glass walls instead of white walls to add a sense of openness but still maintain privacy. Furthermore, there is a casual area with a TV. Many of the renovation ideas for the teen section were proposed by the library’s Teen Advisory Board.
The entire project was estimated to last about 16 months from when it first started and is nearing its twelfth month. The original budget had been around $6 million, with about $250,000 for each branch, including the Rand Road location and Willow Creek location, and half a million dollars for the main location. However, due to the grant and efficient budgeting, there was still part of the allocation left that was used towards extra projects like adding the new entrance.
The general public have been satisfied with the results of the renovations.
Palatine Public Library Executive Director Jeannie Dilger elaborates on her personal favorite part of the new library experience.
“My favorite part of the renovation has been [how] people walk in and they’re just like, ‘Wow, it just looks so beautiful.”
A survey for the general community published by the Palatine Public Library regarding feedback on the designs also received lots of positive responses. One anonymous submission reads, “It looks great! The library continues to be a place at which I am amazed and it sounds like it will only get better.”
The renovations have not only given the Palatine Public Library a new interior, but also a wide array of opportunities for people of all ages in the community.
Fremd stepped onto the turf at Rolling Meadows High School staring a determined Mustangs team, a team ready to play as hard as they could to take them down, in the face.
After a gritty first half resulted in both teams putting up zero goals, everyone was heading into the break tied.
When asked about his team’s performance during the first portion of the game, Fremd head coach Steve Keller was critical.
“To be honest, we really struggled,” Keller said. “We talked about playing a little more direct up to Eli [Schoffstall], instead of trying to possess the ball as much.”
Coming out of the break the defensive battle continued between the two teams. Senior defenders Beck Smolak, Braden Roos, and Caden Statz shined for the Vikings, but as time slipped from the clock the offense began to turn it on.
Despite the increased Fremd attack, Rolling Meadows stayed strong for quite some time. On both sides of the field, however, the goalkeepers were holding it down.
Keller speaks on the impact his own keeper, junior Robby Remian, has on the team and its success.
“Robby has had a couple huge saves in our last two games to preserve the shutout for us, where we almost kind of deserved to get scored on,” Keller said. “He’s been big. He’s stepped up to the occasion.”
In a match characterized by tough defense and good goalie play, it was ultimately Fremd junior Will Mayer’s perseverance that proved to be the deciding factor.
A crafty midfielder with blazing speed, Mayer is able to change games for the Vikings with his knack for creating plays and scoring opportunities. He stressed the importance of patience when asked about his performance on the offensive end.
“The keeper on Rolling Meadows was a great keeper, he was very agile and was getting post to post,” Mayer said. “I was just waiting for my chance and there was one, and I had to take advantage of it.”
Following a defensive mix-up by the Mustangs he did just that, bagging a one-timer into the top right corner of the net off a beautiful cross from senior Dimitri Vlahos.
That goal proved to be enough to put the Vikings on top, adding yet another win to their 2021 season and keeping them atop Illinois state rankings, but the team still isn’t satisfied.
Fremd Soccer is a program with no lack of great teams in its history, but when asked what sets his current team apart, Keller was quick to respond.
“The first thing they were saying after the game last night was this kind of performance can’t happen again,” Keller said. “I think they set a goal of not losing a game, I think that’s their mindset.”
The Vikings close out their regular season with games against Hersey and Barrington, both of them at home. As for the state playoffs, this team will surely be doing everything in their power to prove to everyone that they’re the best team around.
]]>The theme relating to T.V. shows that have been enjoyed by the student body just like the evergreen show, There’s No Place Like Home. Coincidentally, it’s quite a throwback to all the shows many people likely binged on last quarantine.
Some discrepancies have arisen about the origin for the theme, There’s No Place Like HOMEcoming. After having spent an entire year away from school, students may have assumed that the theme was connecting back to the time lost during quarantine and is a “welcome back” to “home sweet home” in-person Fremd once again.
Fremd StuCo co-president Amelia Lin clarifies that StuCo had originally intended to make it TV-show inspired.
“’There’s No Place Like Homecoming’ is supposed to be all about TV Shows and Movies, which is what inspired our Spirit Day themes too,” Lin said. “My guess is that students heard the word ‘home’ and immediately remembered all the days at home they spent during quarantine.”
Due to COVID-19, homecoming will be looking slightly different this year — but not any less exciting. Fremd StuCo has worked hard in combating COVID restrictions to maintain the fun spirit of Homecoming.
Lin speaks of some COVID-related obstacles she and the Fremd StuCo have overcome to organize the event.
“The biggest challenge was figuring out the location of the dance,” Lin said. “We couldn’t start actually planning before we knew for sure where decorations, equipment, and students themselves were allowed to dance.”
StuCo eventually decided on conducting the dance outside in the back parking lot, with the pep rally being held in the football stadium. While there are many more variables to consider, like weather and dance floor safety, having the dance outside may have its benefits.
Lin elaborates on the advantages that come with the outdoor setting of the dance.
“The space is actually larger than most people would expect, and hopefully the temperature will be much more comfortable,” Lin said. “In past [homecoming dances], the main gym would get super hot super fast, and that was just something you had to deal with throughout the rest of the night.”
Even with the extra layer of restrictions thanks to COVID, Homecoming remains so much more than a football game and a dance. It’s a chance to interact with people students haven’t met before and make new memories too.
Lin expresses why she thinks Homecoming is important, reflecting on some of her personal memories.
“It’s just so fun,” Lin said. “Maybe it’s just because I’m a senior, but just seeing all the joyous faces of the people I’ve known throughout the years is an indescribable experience.”
]]>One factor stopping consumers from purchasing sustainable products may be the additional cost compared to traditional goods. According to Kearney, an American management consulting firm, green products are nearly 75 to 85 percent more expensive than conventional products. Some people cannot afford the extra cost of buying green.
To solve this, the government should intervene and subsidize sustainable products to encourage manufacturers to produce more. As a result, the price for customers will be lower. The government should also offer incentives such as rebates to help increase interest in sustainable products. A study conducted by RetailMeNot found that three in five consumers would be motivated to purchase a green product if cost savings were involved.
Another way to encourage consumers to choose sustainable products more often is to call out their benefits properly. While shopping, when consumers see the price tag on a sustainable product they instinctively think that it is simply more expensive than the normal product. By labeling sustainable products with their benefits clearly, consumers will understand the justification behind the higher price and the products will look more appealing.
One way to shop sustainably is going to a local farmer’s market instead of shopping at a larger grocery chain. Choosing reusable products instead of ones that are single-use can help eliminate extra waste. These steps would be more eco-friendly since they promote sustainability.
Our planet and its resources have become extremely stressed by our consumption patterns, and we need to pay attention as we only have one planet with finite resources. Although buying sustainably may seem like a small step, aiming to practice its values every time we find ourselves in a grocery store or online retailer can make a big difference.
]]>Windows, as a fluid and sleek operating system (OS), has been a core feature of Fremd computers. Windows 10 (the latest windows operating system) has been used at Fremd since 2015. Fremd is looking to give its computers a new look with Windows 11 after its release date on Oct. 5.
Most visually noticeable is the improved user interface (UI) that comes with Windows 11. There have been many changes to the UI, including rounded corners on tabs, windows, and various applications. Other features of the OS, including applications, notification center, and more have also been visually reworked. Along with the UI revamp, multi-tasking has been improved, with the new OS allowing users to customize tabs/applications when having multiple open at once.
Fremd technology coordinator Keith Sorensen says that the Windows 11 update will take some time and effort to come to Fremd.
“You can update iPads yourself, but it’s different with computers,” Sorensen said. “We reimage the computers over the summer and it’s going to take a lot of time and effort because we have lots of computers [at Fremd].”
While there are several features coming in the Windows 11 update, it will require a lot of work for the computers to adapt to the new OS. The transition to Windows 11 is a major update, taking up a lot of storage, and being a new aspect for the computers to adapt to. Updating time has also been lengthened due to the massive size of the OS, and the task bar is locked to the bottom of the screen.
Sorensen introduces a problem with the Windows 11 update: a possible incompatibility with older applications that Fremd computers still utilize.
“It’ll go through testing because we have some software that’s been around for a while and we have to make sure it’s going to be compatible,” Sorensen said. “If the software is incompatible, we have to look for alternatives.”
Nevertheless, the more compact UI that comes with Windows 11 will provide students with more space to complete tasks, including programming and writing. Students will also have access to new features in coming updates, more processing power, and more efficiency overall.
Sorensen anticipates Windows 11 testing at Fremd to begin around winter break. which will lead up to a testing period before reimaging in June.
“We don’t typically update mid-year unless it’s for something like security,” Sorensen said. “But it will be nice to get new features [from Windows 11].”
With a variety of new features coming in the Windows 11 update, students will be able to look forward to a new computer experience next school year.
]]>During the month of September, Township High School District 211 offered several college-related programs and seminars to inform and advise students along with their parents about the extensive college application process. One of the more unique events, the First Generation College Symposium, was hosted virtually on Sept. 16. The symposium, traditionally held in person at Palatine High School, was aimed to educate and inform families whose student(s) will be the first to attend college after high school. Speakers at the symposium included representatives from a number of two- and four-year colleges and universities, who discussed topics like the application process and financial aid.
Fremd High School Counselor Priscilla Torres, an organizer and speaker at the symposium, discussed some of the hopes the event organizers had regarding the event.
“We want to make sure that we can reach as many students as we can who fall into the first-generation community so that they can start to see college as an option for their future,” Torres said. “For a lot of these kids, it’s not just that their parents didn’t go to college, but they can’t afford to go to college, and so they close that idea off pretty quickly. That’s why financial aid is such a big part of our presentation, so that parents know that their student’s dream of going to college is possible.”
In addition, Torres mentioned how a virtual event this year and last may have benefited students and their families in some ways that an in-person symposium couldn’t.
“Both formats [in-person and virtual] have their pros and cons, but I think it was great that for the past two years, families have had access to presentation materials and recordings of the Q&A sessions that they wouldn’t have had before the pandemic,” Torres said.
In addition to the First Generation College Symposium, the district also held a Virtual College Finance Seminar (Sept. 14) as well as the Virtual Directions College and Career Fair (Sept. 28), an event designed to inform and support students with disabilities in planning for life after high school. The fair provided an opportunity for students and parents to explore post-secondary career training and college options.
As its final college-related event for the season, the district will host the College Night program at Palatine High School on Oct. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. During College Night, which will be held in person this year, more than 150 representatives from colleges and universities across the country will be available to talk with prospective students about their institutions. College Night is open to students of all backgrounds, including first-generation students. Representatives will discuss financial aid, curriculum, and campus information. College Night serves as a useful opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to discover more about a large number of colleges and universities without having to physically travel to schools, which may be especially helpful during the pandemic.
Torres noted that although the amount of information related to the college application process can be intimidating, merely attending the symposium and other college events has opened up opportunities that many students may not have realized they had access to.
“Even if they don’t retain all the information that we give them, just the students knowing that we put these resources together for them and that we just want to help them and support them is a big deal,” Torres said. “To me, the main takeaway is that our students know that we’re here to support them.”
]]>The Minnesota Vikings lost in overtime against the Cincinnati Bengals. During the first half of the game, Cincinnati led with a score of 14-7. Minnesota however, wasn’t backing down. By the end of the second quarter the game was tied with a successful field goal attempt made by Greg Joseph, making the score 24-24. In overtime though, Vikings running back Dalvin Cook fumbled the ball on a play which was recovered by the Bengals. This turned out to be the key turning point of the game as it gave Cincinnati possession of the ball, which then resulted in their game winning field goal. (Final Score: 27-24)
The Detroit Lions were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers after Detroit had made a major comeback late in the game. While an exciting game to say the least, Detroit’s defense couldn’t keep up with the 49ers dominant offense led by Jimmy Garoppolo. The Lion’s offense tried to keep fans on their toes, by consistently making attempts to gain yardage. However, after two failed attempts to gain yardage and a sack of Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, the 49ers were able to secure their first victory of the season. (Final Score: 41-33)
As the Rams had taken an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, the Bear’s had some catching up to do. The Bears offense, led by Andy Dalton and rookie quarterback Justin Fields, actually had more first downs and had more possession of the ball than the Rams. In addition to running a balanced offense, Fields scored his first career touchdown in the third quarter, but that wasn’t enough for these Bears to claim victory. (Final Score: 34-14)
The New Orleans Saints entered this season without their newly retired, star quarterback, Drew Brees. The Saints offense is now led by Brees’ replacement, Jameis Winston. Even with the change, the Saints absolutely dominated last year’s NFC North division champs, the Green Bay Packers. With Green Bay’s head quarterback Aaron Rodgers developing a potential habit of inconsistent play time in practice and the lack of third down conversions during this game, it is unsure whether or not the Cheese Heads will repeat that division championship title. (Final Score: 38-3)
After these unfortunate losses by the NFC North, this division is in dire need to use their new players to their advantage. If not, these losses will continue and end up leaving fans disappointed. Combining the old with the new will work in their favor and these huge overall losses hopefully won’t repeat themselves. Sometimes change is a good thing, and based off of these teams’ performance, they’re in need of some change.
]]>I’m all in on this one. Two NFL hypotheticals as old as time were joined together this offseason as everyone questioning, “Imagine if Matthew Stafford were on a better team” and “Imagine how explosive Sean McVay’s offense would be with a fully competent quarterback” will have to look no further. Immediately after the Rams united the two offensive masterminds, opinions and takes started flying around about them being title favorites. After winning 34-14 over the Bears on Sunday night, they took the first step towards proving all those people right. Stafford and McVay combined to pick apart the Chicago secondary. Couple that with the team’s hard-hitting and tenacious defense, and the Rams look dangerous.
Panic time for Bills and Packers.
Absolutely not, I’d sell this take immediately. I get it, losing to the Steelers after being up 10-0 at halftime isn’t great. Getting blown out by the Saints 38-3, even worse. Both these teams, however, were seen all offseason as title favorites and there’s good reason for that. Josh Allen of the Bills and Aaron Rodgers of the Packers both help quarterback what are known as two of the most explosive offenses in the league, and everyone has off days. It’s way easier for me to attribute one combined touchdown between the two teams to overall dismal play for one game, rather than an overall lack in talent and execution. Thus, it’s only going to be natural for bounce-back games to follow. Last year Buffalo put up a whopping 29.9 points a game, and surely they’ll be able to get more on that track as they host the Dolphins in Week 2. The reigning league MVP can do better than two interceptions and only 133 yards of total offense, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Rodgers and the Packers will tear apart the Lions on Monday Night.
Mac Jones is the best rookie QB.
This is a take that’s been floating around lately, and it’s way too early to say anything like this. Saying Mac Jones was the best rookie quarterback of Week One only, now that’s something more acceptable. To give a super official, final answer I’d say time will tell which one will be the best. However, Jones did certainly hold his own in his first start. 281 passing yards and a touchdown is certainly a solid stat-line, but what really set the Patriots QB apart was his pocket presence and release time. He was able to get the ball out and to his receivers quickly, even while facing the highest pressure he’s ever felt in his football career. It was, dare I say, very Tom Brady-esque? But he wasn’t the only rookie QB to make his debut. Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawrence made starts for their respective teams, the Jets and Jaguars. Throughout their games Wilson did a good job of extending plays with his legs, and Lawrence demonstrated the accuracy and decisiveness he’s been praised for. The two biggest names missing from the conversation both got in games but didn’t stay for long, even if they should’ve. Trey Lance and Justin Fields came out and ran a couple of play sets for their teams, but showed signs of success. It’s too early to tell which quarterback will end up being the best, but week one they all reminded us of their bright futures.
]]>On May 19, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed the Texas Heartbeat Act, a bill that prohibits abortions once the fetal heartbeat is detected; this usually happens during the sixth week of a women’s pregnancy. This act took effect on September 1, and before this, abortions in Texas were allowed up to 20 weeks post-fertilization. According to this bill, any physician that performs an abortion on women who are past six weeks of pregenancy can be sued, and there are no exceptions for rape victims. Today’s policy may seem abrupt, but it is a cumulative result of legal actions taken in the past.
In 1973, Jane Roe, a single pregnant woman, filed a lawsuit against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas County. Roe challenged the Texas law that outlawed abortions unless the woman’s life was in danger. Roe argued that this law went against her rights. As a result, the Supreme Court concluded that abortion was a protected right for women.
In the Planned Parenthood v. Casey court case of 1992, Planned Parenthood challenged a Pennsylvanian abortion control law that required a 24-hour waiting period to get consent for the operation from a parent or a spouse. The court ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood and restated from Roe v. Wade, “The constitutionally protected liberty of the woman to decide to have an abortion before the fetus attains viability and to obtain it without undo interference from the State”.
In other words, the Supreme Court ruled against the Pennsylvanian law because it went against the foundation set by Roe v. Wade. Due to the same reasoning, other laws that outlaw abortion before that gestation period should not go into effect.
Unlike most of these laws, however, the Texas law places the power to enforce its policies on civilians along with a ban on abortion once a heartbeat is detected. For example, Texans are now encouraged to report females that get abortions and sue anyone that assists the person getting an abortion.
But of course people wouldn’t turn in their family, friends, acquaintances, or even peers right? It’s simply a matter of respecting privacy, right? Wrong. In fact, the new law has offered a financial incentive of $10,000 for each person a civilian exposes for aiding the person getting the abortion, including their doctor.
In theory, the plaintiff can make several tens of thousands of dollars by simply revealing the patient’s doctor and even the patient’s Uber driver, since they helped the person recieving an abortion arrive at the clinic.
The other appalling aspect of SB8, also known as the heartbeat bill, is its restriction on abortion six weeks after conception. This brings up the age-old debate of female anatomy. In most cases, the thought of being pregnant doesn’t even cross a person’s mind until after six weeks due to simple female anatomical irregularities.
SB8 currently poses a major threat to biological females in Texas. Not only does it perpetuate blatant misogyny by restricting a person’s right over their own body, but it also creates hostility between civilians. By empowering Texas citizens to enforce the law, the Texan government has made the grave mistake of furthering the politicization of healthcare.
Regardless of conflicting opinions or restrictions on abortions, they will continue to happen. Legislators need to understand that the only way to reduce abortions is to improve sex education, not pass bills that unveil unethical, illegal, and most importantly, unsafe paths to abortion. When an issue affects a certain group of society, it is only logical to allow them a platform to advocate for themselves.
]]>Without a doubt, the Brooklyn Nets have been the championship favorites since they acquired Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Despite being riddled with injuries for the past two seasons, and having an aging core, the Nets have made it clear that they are in win now mode. By trading away a majority of their picks and young talent, they have made space for Paul Millsap who hopes to win his first championship. Millsap knows what it takes to win in the playoffs and has shown that he can turn it up a notch when it matters most. His contributions will prove to be the X factor in any series, and he will serve as a defensive juggernaut that the team lacks.
Carmelo Anthony’s illustrious career was seemingly cut short in 2018, following reports that surfaced regarding teams’ lack of interest in him. Since then, he has seen a resurgence on the Blazers. Anthony has since taken a backseat and shown why he is a 10x All-Star and regarded as a top-five scorer of all time. Critics, such as First Take’s Stephen A. Smith, believe that his bench scoring will prove to be an important factor between the Lakers winning and losing games. Anthony hopes to finally fill the championship void in his career, which can cement his legacy forever.
Defensive specialist Dwight Howard has proven to be a great pickup for any team, but what sticks out about him signing with the Lakers however, is the role that he can play for them. As of now, the Lakers have a core of players such as LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, who exhibit two-way talent. Although being offensively capable, Howard adds to the Lakers a much- needed paint presence. Howard gives the team a veteran outlook, having been to the finals twice along with other deep playoff runs, which will help him be a strong locker room presence.
Nine time All-Star. 2017 regular season MVP. 2017 All-Star game MVP. Russell Westbrook has received almost every accolade in the book. However, time and time again, the only knock on his game has been the lack of success his teams have seen. Putting Westbrook on a team with LeBron James can give him the self control to not try and single handedly win games and adapt to more of a team mindset. If Westbrook can control his offensive endeavors, the Lakers have a serious shot at the championship favorite Nets.
]]>In one day, her solo music video, “LALISA”, reached 95 million views; however, the album’s message wasn’t as powerful as the singer.
Lisa was the third member of BLACKPINK to make a solo debut. Earlier this year, BLACKPINK’s main vocalist, Rosè, released her first solo album, “R”, and in 2018 BLACKPINK’s main rapper, Jennie, released her first solo single, “SOLO”. However, the amount of creativity and individualism in Lisa’s music video makes her debut more personalized and different than the other members. “LALISA” is a self-referential track where Lisa comes out to the world not only as a BLACKPINK’s second rapper, main dancer, and maknae (youngest member of the group) but also as a powerful woman and soloist singer.
When asked about her decision of naming the album after herself in a VLIVE countdown prior to the album’s release, Lisa says, “I wanted to show my true self in the album. That’s why the album includes Thai instruments, outfits and props on the sets.”
Compared to the title track, “MONEY” is a disappointment. This bad girl persona that Lisa presents about herself in this song doesn’t match her real life characteristics, one of them being a humble kpop idol. This song is nowhere close to Lisa’s potential and exuberance that she showed BLINKS in the past five years. Since BLACKPINK’s debut, Lisa has been showing BLINKS her cute eccentric personality and with her stylist help, Lisa looked like an innocent member of the group. But with this song, Lisa shows an arrogant personality, one that BLINKS aren’t used to. She, no doubt, worked very hard on the song, and the beat was addictive; however, the lyrics were disappointing. It’s true that the whole idea of the album is veering towards self love; however, with lyrics like “Dolla bills Dolla bills/ Keep on fallin for me I love the way it feels/ I came here to Drop some money/ Dropping all my money” BLINKS can feel haughtiness, not self love. It would have been better if she just stuck with one song for her debut instead of two.
If we compare “LALISA” and “MONEY”, “LALISA” is more exciting, meaningful, and represents the true Lalisa Manobal. That being said, Lisa is from Thailand, not Korea, so it was very hard for her to be accepted in the K-pop world for a while due to her Thai features. Throughout her five year journey with BLACKPINK, Lisa’s Korean improved and she became more accepted in the kpop industry. By releasing “LALISA”, she’s basically showing the world what she’s capable of.
Overall, unlike “MONEY”, “LALISA”gained a lot of popularity and success. This is only the beginning for Lisa, and BLINKS can confidently support her throughout this journey.
]]>The film has an intriguing premise and a first half that engages the viewer and wraps them into the story. Unlike some horror movies, “The Night House” starts off quickly, leaving the bulk of the movie to show Beth unraveling the mysteries left behind by her husband, which could also reveal the reason behind his death. This mystery is presented through the lens of horror, however, as we see the young protagonist haunted by a mysterious presence in her house.
For the most part, the story is put together pretty well, and not much is left unexplained as it moves along. In contrast, however, the ending is somewhat anticlimactic, and leaves a lot of the pieces for the viewer to put together themselves. The audience isn’t stupid, of course, but at the same time, some of the explanations are left to blink-and-you-miss-it details that people could miss.
The real star of “The Night House” is Rebecca Hall. She’s clearly devoted to delivering a riveting performance as the haunted young widow. For the majority of the film, she’s on her own in scenes, carrying the movie and striking the extremes of terror and fear into her audience. Even when she’s surrounded by others, she still shines as the most outstanding performer in the film. Fellow cast members Vondie Curtis-Hall and Evan Jonigkeit also deliver notable performances as Beth’s neighbor and deceased husband, respectively.
Production-wise, nothing much stands out about “The Night House.” However, a combination of clever camerawork and sound design combine to make some of the scariest scenes that the film boasts. Another of the movie’s high points is the lighting, which unconventionally adds to the movie’s haunting atmosphere. While at first it highlights the loneliness Beth feels, it slowly shifts to show that she may not be alone in her community as she once thought. At some points, the lighting shifts to make it appear as though there is someone or something standing behind her, just peering over her shoulder. However, the lighting especially shines in the film’s last twenty or so minutes, as a brilliant, red full moon is used to signify Beth’s crossing between reality and an almost trance-like state.
There’s a lot more to “The Night House” than appears on the surface, but it isn’t really enough to set it apart from the other films being released right around this time. The film is worth a watch for anybody looking for a solid psychological horror. If that doesn’t sound like something for you, then it’s just not worth the money.
]]>Mother Nature has turned up the heat quite a bit recently, making it feel like summer instead of spring. This warm and humid trend is expected to continue, at least for a few days, before a brief period of cool and stormy weather arrives late in the week. Middle 80s and uncomfortable humidity is expected through Wednesday, along with the possibility for isolated showers or thunderstorms each day. Wednesday morning is likely to feature more widespread shower activity before the main rain event of the week arrives on Thursday as temperatures take a dive. Cloudy skies early on Thursday will lead to thunderstorms by evening, some of which could have the potential to lay down some desperately needed heavy rainfall in the area. Other than a few departing showers on Friday morning, expect dry and cool conditions for the rest of the day as clouds clear out. A warming trend will begin over the weekend, bringing temperatures back into the 70s and a lot of sunshine.
Northeast Illinois has been upgraded to a severe drought (Level 3 of 5 drought) as dry conditions over the entirety of spring along with no significant rainfall has led to a severe deficit in rainfall compared to average. During the entire month of May 2021 so far, Chicago O’Hare Int’l Airport has reported only 0.47” of rainfall, equating to only an average of 0.02” of rain a day. Should this dry pattern continue, northeast Illinois could soon be facing more substantial drought problems.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 5/24: Hot and humid conditions are expected with temperatures pushing 90 degrees. Generally partly cloudy skies for most of the day are expected, though a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms exists throughout the day. High temperature of 88° with a low temperature of 67°.
Tuesday 5/25: Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will lead to an increase in clouds for the afternoon. Cloudy skies will continue into the evening along with the possibility of isolated to scattered thunderstorms, mainly south. Gusty winds to 40 mph can be expected periodically during the day. High temperature of 84° with a low temperature of 65°.
Wednesday 5/26: A few showers are possible early, otherwise clouds will be decreasing through the morning. Mostly sunny skies are then expected for the remainder of the day before clouds begin to increase again overnight. High temperature of 83° with a low temperature of 51°.
Thursday 5/27: Much cooler temperatures expected with generally overcast skies throughout most of the day. Thunderstorms are likely to arrive by evening and could bring some locally heavy rainfall, though details are uncertain. Gusty winds will begin to ramp up Thursday PM to near 40 mph at times. High temperature of 65° with a low temperature of 49°.
Friday 5/28: A few residual AM showers are possible from Thursday’s rain before clouds disperse and partly cloudy skies emerge for the afternoon and evening. Clouds will continue to lessen as the day goes on, with mostly clear skies expected overnight. Gusty winds of 35 to 45 mph should subside by evening. High temperature of 63° with a low temperature of 49°.
Saturday 5/29: Beautiful conditions likely with comfortable temperatures, calm winds, low humidity, and mostly sunny skies. High temperature of 69° with a low temperature of 51°.
Sunday 5/30: A carbon copy of Saturday is likely as temperatures near average with relatively low humidity and calm winds. Mostly if not fully sunny skies are expected. High temperature of 74° with a low temperature of 57°.
National Weather Headlines:
Drought is the story across much of the United States this month, with only the Lower Mississippi river valley region not reporting any drought. 60% of the United States is currently experiencing some level of drought. 22% of the US, mainly in the western portion, are experiencing severe drought or higher. No end is in sight for much of the drought across the United States.
]]>After a cool and dry pattern for much of April and May, things will begin to shift this week into a rainy and substantially warmer week. On Monday, expect occasional showers with temperature staying slightly below average in the middle 60s. By Tuesday, more substantial rain is expected during the day with similar temperatures. Periods of showers will continue on Wednesday and Thursday as temperatures near 80 degrees both days. Humidity will also be on the increase as temperatures rise, with a muggy feeling arriving as early as Tuesday. On Friday morning some sunshine is probable, though that sun will quickly disappear as clouds enter for the afternoon. Temperatures on Friday may be near the middle 80s as rain begins during the afternoon. That rain should clear out in time for Saturday, leaving mostly cloudy skies and muggy conditions behind. On Sunday, humidity is likely to substantially increase, leading to oppressive conditions as temperatures soar into the upper 80s. Thunderstorms will be possible heading into Sunday night as temperatures start to cool off. After the dry conditions we have experienced this spring, all of the expected rain should be beneficial to outdoor plants and animals.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 5/17: Generally cloudy skies likely with the chance for occasional light rain showers throughout the day. High temperature of 66° with a low temperature of 55°.
Tuesday 5/18: Cloudy skies during the morning hours will lead to steady rain showers during the afternoon and evening hours. Rain should begin to clear out during the late evening. Wind gusts could approach 30 mph at times. High temperature of 66° with a low temperature of 60°.
Wednesday 5/19: Much warmer and humid with cloudy skies and occasional showers throughout the day. Any rain showers are most likely during the first half of the day. Gusty winds to 35 mph may occur at times. High temperature of 79° with a low temperature of 66°.
Thursday 5/20: Very similar to Wednesday with generally cloudy skies and some rain showers during the morning and evening hours. Humidity will likely be noticeable and uncomfortable at times as gusty winds to 40 mph from the south bring in substantially warmer air. High temperature of 81° with a low temperature of 66°.
Friday 5/21: A small amount of sunshine in the morning will quickly transition to mostly cloudy skies during the afternoon with some rain showers. Humidity will be uncomfortable at times. High temperature of 83° with a low temperature of 66°.
Saturday 5/22: Mostly cloudy skies expected with the possibility of a few showers early. Muggy conditions are likely. High temperature of 82° with a low temperature of 69°.
Sunday 5/23: Partly to mostly cloudy skies for a short time in the morning will lead to increasing clouds during the afternoon and thunderstorms by evening. Humidity is likely to be nearing the oppressive category. High temperature of 71° with a low temperature of 54°.
National Weather Headlines:
While much of the Southwest deals with extreme drought conditions and fire risk, much of the Gulf of Mexico coastline and southern United States is expected to experience multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms and flooding. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms are expected to continue late week and into the weekend.
]]>A gorgeous week is expected for the second full week in May as temperatures rise to near average and sunshine becomes more abundant. After a cloudy, cool, and mostly dry Mother’s Day weekend, we are expecting to continue the dry pattern this week with temperatures climbing and sunshine becoming more prominent, especially during the middle of the week. On Monday, we may start the day with a few showers early on before partly cloudy skies take hold for the rest of the day. For Tuesday and Wednesday, mostly sunny skies will be the norm with temperatures jumping back into the 60s. On Thursday and Friday, a few more clouds will enter the picture paving the way for partly cloudy skies and temperatures entering the upper 60s. Later on Friday, more clouds should enter the area leading to mostly cloudy skies on Saturday with rain later in the day. Rain will likely continue into Sunday as a storm system brings a trailing cold front of showers and a few thunderstorms through Chicagoland..
Daily Forecast:
Monday 5/10: A few showers in the morning along with cloudy skies will lead to partly cloudy skies during the afternoon. Periods of increased cloudiness possible during the PM hours. High temperature of 52° with a low temperature of 35°.
Tuesday 5/11: Abundant sunshine likely with a few afternoon clouds here and there. Temperatures will be slowly but surely on a warming trend. High temperature of 54° with a low temperature of 38°.
Wednesday 5/12: Plentiful sunshine expected with a jump in temperatures into the 60s. High temperature of 61° with a low temperature of 40°.
Thursday 5/13: Partly to mostly sunny skies during the first part of the day will lead to an increase in clouds, bringing in mostly cloudy conditions by evening. Temperatures will climb to slightly below average. High temperature of 65° with a low temperature of 44°.
Friday 5/14: A carbon copy of Thursday is expected as partly cloudy skies during the morning hours transition to mostly cloudy conditions later in the day. Temperatures will be in the upper 60s. High temperature of 67° with a low temperature of 51°.
Saturday 5/15: Mostly cloudy conditions early in the day will give way to cloudy skies in the afternoon and eventually some light rain late in the evening into the overnight hours. High temperature of 67° with a low temperature of 52°.
Sunday 5/16: Likely the warmest day of the week as temperatures near 70 degrees. Mainly overcast skies with a few peeks of sun early should lead to showers and perhaps a cluster of thunderstorms passing through later in the day. High temperature of 69° with a low temperature of 55°.
National Weather Headlines:
Much of the western half and northern half of the United States are experiencing at least minor drought conditions. The drought is the worst in the Southwest and northern Plains where extreme to exceptional drought conditions are being reported. Much of these drought conditions are expected to bring long-term effects to much of the country. In the Midwest, many areas have been classified into the moderate drought category, which is expected to have short and long term effects.
]]>After a simply gorgeous weekend for Chicago and much of the Midwest, temperatures will be on the downtrend early this week and stay there for the remainder of the week. The forecast includes some rain, most notably during the start of the week, and again in the form of a few showers later in the week. On Monday, expect showers and storms to be around, with the most numerous thunderstorms being present during the evening hours. A few storms may be strong to possibly severe as the NOAA Storm Prediction Center highlights the area under a Marginal risk for severe thunderstorms. Temperatures then drop into the 50s for Tuesday with rain showers before clearing out to a pleasant day on Wednesday. Showers may return on Thursday for a brief time throughout the day until sunshine can reappear on Friday. Partly cloudy skies can be expected for most of Friday and early Saturday, though there may be a few periods of increased cloudiness. More clouds are expected to bring overcast skies in for later in the day on Saturday which may lead to some rain showers by evening. Continued temperatures in the 50s and partly cloudy skies are then expected for late in the weekend, which could make for beautiful weather. One thing to watch for next weekend is the potential that temperatures could be warmer than forecast in advance of a new storm system. This scenario would be similar to this past weekend, when temperatures in the 60s were forecast early in the week but ultimately lead to summer-like temperatures in the 80s.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 5/3: Generally overcast skies throughout the day with showers and thunderstorms. Showers are possible during the morning hours with cloudy skies lingering into the afternoon. Later, thunderstorms are expected to develop during the evening and move into the area, bringing heavy rain and lightning. It is possible a couple storms could be strong to severe. Temperatures will be into the 70s but the humidity will make it feel slightly muggy. High temperature of 72° with a low temperature of 47°.
Tuesday 5/4: Colder temperatures expected with periods of showers, mainly during the morning and early afternoon. Otherwise, generally overcast conditions are expected. High temperature of 54° with a low temperature of 44°.
Wednesday 5/5: Partly to mostly cloudy skies with increasing cloud cover during the late evening and into the overnight hours. Slightly warmer temperatures will make this the best day of the week!. High temperature of 61° with a low temperature of 43°.
Thursday 5/6: Below normal temperatures with periods of showers, mainly during the afternoon. Cloudy skies will be around for most of the day, though may become partly cloudy for a time before the sun sets in the evening. High temperature of 55° with a low temperature of 40°.
Friday 5/7: Continued cool temperatures with partly cloudy skies. Periods of increased clouds at times may bring overcast conditions at times. High temperature of 56° with a low temperature of 39°.
Saturday 5/8: Partly to mostly cloudy skies in the morning will lead to increasing clouds and some rain showers during the afternoon and evening. Potentially well below normal temperatures are possible. High temperature of 54° with a low temperature of 40°.
Sunday 5/9: Temperatures will be on an upswing as any rain from Saturday departs early. Partly cloudy skies are expected during the day. Temperatures may end up being warmer than forecast. High temperature of 56° with a low temperature of 42°.
National Weather Headlines:
Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are lined up for this week across parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Southeast. Flooding as well as damage from severe thunderstorms will be possible for these areas, who have already experienced a lot this season thus far.
A late season heavy snow event is on tap for parts of the northern and central Rocky Mountains early this week. This snow may be enough to cause some problems there, but the system associated with it that will move into the central United States will likely produce more damaging weather.
]]>If you’ve been looking for weather more indicative of spring, then you’ll like what the upcoming week will bring. A warm and pleasant start to the week will give way to a stormy and slightly cooler middle of the week which should eventually balance out to multiple days with sunshine and temperatures in the 60s for the weekend. On Monday, expect temperatures pushing the upper 70s with periods of sunshine. The same goes for Tuesday, though we will likely be warming well into the 80s and perhaps setting our highest temperature so far this year! For Wednesday and Thursday, expect cooler conditions in the 60s with rain and perhaps a thunderstorm at times. Friday into the weekend should feature a lot of sunshine and temperatures in the 60s, though Sunday will be a day to watch as some of that sunshine may be cut short by an incoming storm system. Even though there are no hazards to watch out for this week, be mindful that some of the midweek rain could come down heavy for brief periods.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 4/26: Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours may lead to sunnier skies during the afternoon before a few more clouds come in for the evening. Warmer temperatures are likely along with some gusty winds from the south. This will probably be the best day of the week! High temperature of 77° with a low temperature of 62°.
Tuesday 4/27: Much warmer with temperatures into the 80s and more humid conditions likely. Partly to mostly sunny skies are expected throughout the day with an increase in cloud cover for the evening and overnight hours. Some gusty winds to 40 mph are possible. High temperature of 84° with a low temperature of 60°.
Wednesday 4/28: Generally overcast with showers and an occasional thunderstorm around. Thunderstorm chances are low, though the most likely time to experience thunder would be during the morning and evening hours. High temperature of 70° with a low temperature of 46°.
Thursday 4/29: Cooler temperatures with AM showers becoming less numerous by afternoon and tapering off for the evening. Clouds should begin clearing during the evening and give way to clear skies overnight. Some heavy rain could be possible early in the day before the rain clears out. High temperature of 61° with a low temperature of 44°.
Friday 4/30: Generally sunny skies and near average temperatures with a few clouds. Clouds are most likely during the morning hours. High temperature of 62° with a low temperature of 46°.
Saturday 5/1: Sunny skies likely with temperatures in the middle 60s and a few clouds from time to time. High temperature of 64° with a low temperature of 47°.
Sunday 5/2: Weather model solutions begin to diverge, though it is likely there will be at least some sunshine, most favored in the morning hours, Depending on the evolution of a storm system over the weekend, rain may become possible by nightfall. Temperatures are likely to be on the increase once again. High temperature of 68° with a low temperature of 55°.
National Weather Headlines:
An unseasonably warm airmass moving into the central United States early in the week will bring an increased risk for wildfires across the western Plains, as well as an increase in severe thunderstorm activity for much of the southern and central Plains, as well as the Midwest. Temperatures will fall back to averages for much of the northern and central United States late in the week before another warm-up enters the picture next week.
]]>A rollercoaster ride of a week is expected as we head into the third full week of April. Instead of warm and pleasant spring weather, this week is likely to feature a lot of clouds as well as below to significantly below average temperatures. Additionally, periods of rain and even snow can be expected throughout the week. On Monday, expect generally overcast skies with the potential for showers during the morning hours as a front swings through, bringing colder air into the area. By Tuesday, an approaching storm system in conjunction with the existing cold air in place will yield a period of snow for most of the day, and potentially enough to accumulate up to around an inch. Given the warm surface temperatures over the past week as well as high temperatures near 40 degrees on Tuesday, the snow is not likely to lead to any major problems, though travel may still be hazardous at times if visibility is temporarily reduced. Temperatures should be able to fall into the upper 20s by Wednesday morning, which could meet criteria for a hard freeze, harming or killing unprotected vegetation outdoors. For the late half of the work week, temperatures will be on the increase with periods of clouds and sun. It won’t be until Friday night that the next chance of precipitation enters the picture, this time in the form of rain. Showers and perhaps a steady rain at times may linger into Saturday afternoon before dry conditions take hold once again. Late weekend into next week appears likely to feature generally dry conditions as well as temperatures near or above average.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 4/19: Cloudy skies along with rain showers during the morning hours will lead to cooler but overcast conditions during the afternoon and evening. Temperatures may approach freezing into Tuesday morning, which could allow spotty frost. High temperature of 47° with a low temperature of 34°.
Tuesday 4/20: Cloudy skies early in the morning with light snow arriving by late in the morning. Snow should continue in light to moderate intensity throughout the afternoon before tapering off late in the evening. Total snowfall accumulations are likely to be less than 1 inch, though locally higher amounts could be realized in areas that see a longer duration of snowfall or increased rates. Clouds will begin to thin out overnight as a potential hard freeze hits northern Illinois early Wednesday morning due to temperatures dropping into the upper 20s. High temperature of 39° with a low temperature of 28°.
Wednesday 4/21: Continued chilly temperatures with partly cloudy skies during the morning hours and increased clouds during the afternoon and evening hours. Isolated snow or mixed precipitation showers are possible throughout the day. High temperature of 44° with a low temperature of 30°.
Thursday 4/22: Generally sunny skies throughout the day along with much warmer temperatures closer to average. A period of increased cloud cover is possible during the afternoon hours. High temperature of 55° with a low temperature of 40°.
Friday 4/23: Partly to mostly cloudy skies during the first part of the day should lead to overcast skies late in the day along with the potential for a few showers late in the evening into the overnight hours. High temperature of 55° with a low temperature of 43°.
Saturday 4/24: Mostly cloudy skies along with showers during the morning may lead to a period of steady rain for the afternoon before precipitation shuts off by evening. High temperature of 50° with a low temperature of 39°.
Sunday 4/25: Partly to mostly sunny skies likely with temperatures near average. Likely the best day of the week! High temperature of 56° with a low temperature of 42°.
National Weather Headlines:
Record breaking cold temperatures are expected across much of the central United States this week as a frigid spring airmass locks itself into place for much of the week. Additionally, accumulating snow is expected for many who live in the central and eastern United States. The good news, however, is that most if not all of the snow that falls throughout eastern half of the country this week should melt within a few days.
]]>Summary/Highlights:
If you’re looking for a quiet week of spring weather, let me introduce you to the second full week of April 2021. This week will not feature much sun, but will be mostly precipitation free and will have generally consistent temperatures. On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures should generally stay in the upper 50s to around 60 degrees with periods of mixed clouds and sun likely. Some stronger winds on the order of 30 to 35 mph will also be possible throughout both of those days. As we head into Wednesday, cooler temperatures and mostly cloudy skies come into the picture. These conditions should also last into Thursday before some more sunshine and warmer weather returns for Friday. Throughout the weekend, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies and occasional chances for rain showers, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. Thunderstorms are not expected with this shower activity.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 4/12: Increased cloud cover early in the day will lead to a mix of clouds and sun for the afternoon and evening hours. Some gusty winds to 35 mph are possible, though this will still likely be the keeper of the week. High temperature of 61° with a low temperature of 41°.
Tuesday 4/13: Partly cloudy skies throughout the day are likely, along with some isolated wind gusts to 35 mph. A period of increased cloudiness is possible during the evening hours. High temperature of 55° with a low temperature of 37°.
Wednesday 4/14: Generally mostly cloudy skies throughout the day with colder temperatures likely. A small window of increased sunshine is possible early in the morning. High temperature of 47° with a low temperature of 38°.
Thursday 4/15: Generally overcast with a few peeks of sun throughout the day. Temperatures will still be chilly but on a warming trend. High temperature of 51° with a low temperature of 38°.
Friday 4/16: Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will lead to cloudy skies by evening as clouds increase through the day. Slightly warmer temperatures are probable. High temperature of 55° with a low temperature of 40°.
Saturday 4/17: Mainly cloudy skies throughout the day with random peeks of sunshine. Some light rain showers may be present during the afternoon and evening hours, but the precipitation won’t add up to much of anything. High temperature of 54° with a low temperature of 40°.
Sunday 4/18: Partly to mostly cloudy skies with isolated to scattered shower activity. Milder temperatures are expected, but thunderstorms are not likely. High temperature of 60° with a low temperature of 43°.
National Weather Headlines:
Heavy rain and flooding is expected across portions of the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions of the United States this week as a large weather system is poised to produce hefty amounts of rainfall in those regions. Cumulative rainfall of 1 to 2 inches is a possibility.
A quiet week of severe weather is ahead for much of the United States. This is great news considering the large amount of severe weather events that have occurred over the southern part of the country over the past two months.
]]>The first full week in April will be very warm for many across the central United States. After what was a gorgeous weekend of temperatures in the 70s here in Chicagoland, the trend will continue, though noticeably wetter and more humid. Monday will feature warm temperatures and mainly dry conditions, though a chance exists for an early thunderstorm or two. Tuesday should be more of the same, with a chance for a few showers during the early morning hours and again late in the evening, By Wednesday, the air will start to become more humid as even warmer temperatures push into the area. I would not be surprised if most of Chicagoland sees 80 degree temperatures for the first time in 2021 on Wednesday, though it depends on a few factors. A cold front will pass through the area during Wednesday afternoon and evening, which will provide a chance for thunderstorms. It is unlikely that any of these thunderstorms will become severe, as that threat should remain well to our southwest. Thursday and Friday will both feature cooler temperatures, cloudy skies, and chances for occasional showers throughout the day. By the time we approach Saturday, we may be able to see some sun, however there is another possibility for some rain. Late in the weekend, expect temperatures to start climbing again along with much drier conditions.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 4/5: A morning thunderstorm or two, otherwise partly to mostly cloudy skies for most of the day. Mild temperatures expected, and humidity should be noticeable, though not too uncomfortable. High temperature of 74° with a low temperature of 55°.
Tuesday 4/6: Continued warm but slightly more humid conditions likely. Mostly cloudy skies will be likely with the chance for some light rain showers during both the morning and late evening hours. High temperature of 75° with a low temperature of 57°.
Wednesday 4/7: Very mild temperatures with increased humidity which may feel slightly uncomfortable at times, though nothing compared to humidity during the summer. Partly cloudy skies are likely in the morning until increasing clouds during the afternoon bring a chance for showers and thunderstorms by evening. The severe threat is very low with this activity. However, a strong storm cannot be ruled out. High temperature of 78° with a low temperature of 57°.
Thursday 4/8: A period of steady light rain is likely during the morning hours, with a spottier shower threat continuing into the afternoon and potentially evening. Temperatures will be cooler in the low to possibly middle 60s. High temperature of 64° with a low temperature of 49°.
Friday 4/9: Continued cloudy conditions likely with the chance for some scattered showers throughout the day. High temperature of 62° with a low temperature of 45°.
Saturday 4/10: Partly cloudy skies will be likely for at least part of the day, though weather models disagree on the timing of any precipitation during the day. With much cooler conditions expected, thunderstorm activity is unlikely. High temperature of 50° with a low temperature of 42°.
Sunday 4/11: Partly to mostly cloudy skies throughout the day are expected with temperatures rising above average once again. High temperature of 60° with a low temperature of 45°.
National Weather Headlines:
Several daily high temperature records are likely to or expected to be broken over the Northern Plains during the beginning part of the week as very warm temperatures overspread much of the Midwest and Plains states. Additionally, warm temperatures and dry conditions for some areas could lead to increased fire danger at times,
The Climate Prediction Center’s (CPC) new 8 to 14 day outlook is forecasting continued above normal temperatures for much of the United States over the coming week. Additionally, above normal precipitation is expected across much of the central and southern Plains, while a strong signal exists for drier than average conditions across most of the Midwest.
]]>A warm farewell to March and a chilly start to April is expected this week as temperatures take a rollercoaster ride throughout the week. Thankfully, no precipitation is likely throughout the week which should make the large spread in temperatures more manageable. Since a number of religious holidays take place this week and weekend, the dry weather is much appreciated and will allow outdoor gatherings. On Monday, expect clear skies and warm temperatures! Winds will begin to ramp up Monday night as a storm system approaches, bringing continued warm temperatures and some clouds for Tuesday. The storm system will shift north Tuesday, leaving us precipitation free as the cold front moves through Tuesday night. Cold temperatures then move in for Wednesday and Thursday, though sunshine continues for the most part. Friday will start the warming trend as warmer temperatures begin to move northward out of the Plains and lower Mississippi Valley, with an increase in wind gusts possible. The weekend will feature beautiful temperatures and conditions, with current forecasted temperatures possibly being too conservative. Only time will tell, however, if we can make it close to 70 degrees for the weekend!
Daily Forecast:
Monday 3/29: Mild temperatures and clear skies will make for a beautiful and sunny day! Winds will be on the increase into the nighttime, perhaps gusting to 40 mph at times. High temperature of 62° with a low temperature of 48°.
Tuesday 3/30: Partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures during the first part of the day will lead to increasing clouds and a drop in temperatures for the afternoon as the cold front moves through. During the evening, expect temperatures to continue falling and thinning clouds. Gusty winds to 35 mph will be possible for the first part of the day before the front comes through. High temperature of 61° with a low temperature of 33°.
Wednesday 3/31: Periods of clouds and sun along with much colder temperatures compared to Tuesday. High temperature of 42° with a low temperature of 24°.
Thursday 4/1: Sunny skies likely along with much below average temperatures. Cloudy conditions will be present over Lake Michigan throughout the day, and may drift in from time to time in the eastern sky. High temperature of 38° with a low temperature of 26°.
Friday 4/2: Much warmer temperatures closer to average along with mixed clouds and sunshine will be the story throughout the day, though periods of increased cloudiness are possible at times, most likely during the afternoon. High temperature of 50° with a low temperature of 41°.
Saturday 4/3: Partly cloudy skies and much warmer temperatures likely. Temperatures could be too conservative, so temperatures nearing 70 degrees could be possible depending on the evolution of a storm system near the Rockies over the weekend. High temperature of 63° with a low temperature of 43°.
Sunday 4/4: Continued mild temperatures along with partly cloudy skies are likely. The potential exists again for warmer temperatures than currently forecast, though that depends again on the evolution of a storm system over the weekend. High temperature of 64° with a low temperature of 47°.
National Weather Headlines:
A storm system coming out of the northern Rocky Mountains on Monday will pose a threat for fire danger across portions of the High Plains and Midwest Monday into Tuesday as wind gusts to 60 mph and low humidity create dangerous conditions for fire spread.
A low risk of severe thunderstorms will be possible on Tuesday across portions of the lower Mississippi Valley, otherwise a very quiet period for severe weather is likely throughout this week. This is relief to many, considering the past two weeks of widespread severe weather throughout the southern and eastern United States. Over an 8 day period, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center issued two “HIGH” risks for severe weather across the southern United States in any of the same areas. These “HIGH” risk levels are extremely rare, being level 5 out of 5 on the scale of likelihood for severe weather and tornadoes.
]]>This can first be explained through the evolution of meat-eating among humans themselves. The early humans long ago mainly had a plant-based diet, and the domestication of animals only started once the Agrarian era, otherwise known as The Agricultural Age, began. In other words, this means that we were not born to start eating meat; humans simply started evolving to eat them.
In addition, sources including PETA and Huffpost continue to state that humans still have not adapted to eating meat today. Illnesses like diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, salmonella, obesity, E. coli, high blood pressure, stroke, and many more have been recorded as potential side effects of eating meat. MillionDollarVegan stated, “A 2019 study of 500,000 adults found that for every 100 grams of red or processed meat that individuals consumed per day, their risk for heart disease increased by 19 percent.” Not only were humans mostly plant-eaters in the first place, but meat consumption also continues to plague people’s health and nutritional safety.
A comparison between the body systems of herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores once again suggests that humans were designed to abstain from eating meat. Vegetarian Guide references a study conducted by Milton Mills, M.D. who compares the three categories to a human’s based on eighteen points, which includes traits like stomach type, saliva, teeth type, etc. After observing the differences and similarities, it was then concluded that humans are the most biologically alike to herbivores.
Of course, there are exceptions to these arguments. Such as the Mills’s study, this would not apply to animals like pandas, who have sharp teeth, but consume bamboo and are herbivores. Nonetheless, the fact that humans have not always eaten meat, meat continues to be responsible for countless diseases, and that we are biologically closer to herbivores prove that it may be wise to start veering towards a plant-based diet, just like how we evolved from being plant to meat-eaters.
]]>BIOGRAPHY: Tell us about yourself. What qualities, experiences, and skills make you a good choice for the Board?
I am longtime D211 resident which helps me understand the issues facing our community and the importance of this Board seat. My entire family has graduated from D211 – I’m a 1991 graduate of Conant HS, my wife is a 1991 graduate of Schaumburg HS, and we have two adult sons (27 and 23) that graduated from District 211, where they were involved in wrestling, football and basketball. I strongly believe in the importance of contributing to my community, and have been a volunteer and mentor for most of my adulthood – contributing to organizations such as the WYMCA in Elgin, where I mentored immigrants in financial literacy, or coaching football for 11 years and being an active volunteer team parent. I am also the Vice President Bank Manager at BMO Harris and have received many “Top Performer” awards in Financial/Banking Management. This experience will help me bring fiscal responsibility to the Board, ensuring D211 remains strong financially and debt-free.
MOTIVATIONS: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education? What would be your top priorities if elected?
While serving on the Community Engagement Committee in 2016, I felt that we made a lot of progress with some of our initiatives as it related to the 5 year strategic plan for D211. I was also a member of School District 54’s Foundations Committee for a year. After years of deliberation, working, and living in the community, I decided it is time to get more involved. I’ve always had a passion for developing people, from coaching sports, coaching my employees, and mentoring student athletes. My top priorities are to ensure that constituents have a voice that will be listened to and respected, and I believe the district must elevate equity and work harder to assist struggling students.
How can the district support the mental health, physical well-being, and academic achievement of students during the pandemic? How should the district approach reopening?
The response to the pandemic by our district has been exceptional. Programs have been implemented, practically overnight, to address the needs of our students and families. These include assistance with meals, social-emotional support, community resources, and educational support, among many others. The School Board has been flexible and adaptable when making decisions to best serve our students and families, but I believe the Board needs to better address the needs of students that are struggling with the remote learning/hybrid model. The Board needs to acknowledge this issue and find solutions that are equitable.
I believe that students learn best in the classroom setting. This can be done safely and our District has implemented safety measures at each school. Guidelines established by the CDC and ISBE should be considered when making return to in-person learning decisions. The fall semester showed that while many students have adapted to this enormous change in education, many are struggling. I would like to see more flexibility on how to address the students that find remote learning difficult. We need more support for these students.
STUDENT CONCERNS OVER EQUITY: Over the past year, district students have addressed the Board over racial equity and sexual violence concerns. Please describe how you would approach these issues if elected.
Giving a voice to our constituents is one of the reasons I am running, and issues of racial equity and sexual violence must be dealt with by the Board. We must hold the District accountable to widening opportunity gaps in test scores and take a critical look at student student discipline practices that seem to disproportionately impact students of color. We also must take a hard look at policies aimed at safe and positive school cultures – ensuring all students feel a sense of belonging at school.
TRANSGENDER STUDENT LOCKER ROOM ACCESS: After five years of vocal community input from both sides of the issue, the district in January 2020 implemented a policy to allow transgender students unrestricted use of the locker room corresponding to their gender identity. What approach should the district take toward transgender student locker room access?
While assisting struggling students, I believe the District must evaluate equity. We must focus on the whole student and ensure that every student’s needs are being considered when making decisions on how to best serve that student. We all have individual needs that differ from others. I would like to see flexibility and innovative solutions based on the whole child, rather than addressing the students’ needs as a whole.
PROPERTY TAXES: Striking the right balance between minimizing the tax burden on district residents and ensuring the future financial security of the district is challenging, especially during these economically uncertain times. What is your stance on abating or rebating a portion of the district’s property tax levy?
First the school board should never be in a position where we need to borrow money. D211 is very strong financially right now, however this could change in a matter of 5 – 8 years. My priority on the board is to put the needs of the students first. If the tax levy is in line with their needs then that’s where I will be voting. Currently there isn’t a need to increase taxes for this reason.
EXPENDITURES: In which areas should the district focus its spending? Are there areas where spending should be cut?
Keeping th schools safe for in person learning. Equity training: Provide a new era of learning and teaching. Maintain the excellence of our academic programs. Support the work of the librarians, teachers, TA’s, and anyone who directly working in the high schools that help maintain a high level of safety for all students. Continue to support the work of the counselors, psych, nurses, and supporting staff, and families especially now, over the coming summer and into next school year.
Eliminating 3rd party provider for the BTW component of Driver Ed. At this time this is the only area I would review for cuts.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY: Recent months have shown increased community interest in Board proceedings. How should the district communicate with the community? How should the community be able to communicate with the district?
Constituents impacted by decisions of the Board should always have a voice and I see the increased community interest in Board proceedings as a positive development I hope continues. I would like to see the School Board more accessible by building a positive relationship with our community, keeping both formal and informal lines of communication open so that important concerns can be discussed and dealt with. Our District has successfully communicated information as it became available about the pandemic.
Information on Social Services was shared by email, tweets, Facebook, phone calls and on district websites. This information included resources for food, counseling, and suggestions for dealing with the pandemic available in our community.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: While the vast majority of Board resolutions are passed unanimously, many important votes have come down to a 5–2 split. Additionally, some have raised concerns over the introduction of divisive politics into local elections. Please comment on how you would work with other Board members if elected.
My role as a School Board member is to be knowledgeable, open-minded, and make decisions that are best for our community, no matter what. I will lead with respect and listen to others’ opinions – I have often found that I learn something new, even if I disagree. When working with others, I hope to bring the voice of my constituents into the debate, as well as my own expertise about issues facing our community. I will provide leadership, even if it’s unpopular, when necessary to ensure the best possible outcomes for D211 students.
OTHER ISSUES: You may feel strongly about an issue for which we did not ask a question. If this is the case, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts on that issue here.
I believe we need to provide pathways for high quality career and technical education (CTE) and early college coursework to all students, so all students are set up for success after leaving high school – whether that pathway leads to college or directly to the workforce. By preparing our students for life after graduation, we empower individual students while cultivating a stronger workforce which aids our local community.
A POSITIVE NOTE: It’s been a rough year, so let’s end this on a positive note. What is your favorite thing about District 211?
The face the my immediate family all graduated within this district. I can always go into Schaumburg, or Conant and see the history of my family on the walls. Also living in and working in this community it makes me proud as I drive past the buildings. Also my youngest is still playing collegiate football, and during various interviews he will always reference how the coaches from D211 HS (Conant) prepared him for whats next!
]]>BIOGRAPHY: Tell us about yourself. What qualities, experiences, and skills make you a good choice for the Board?
I am Jessica Hinkle, I was born and raised in Hanover Park, IL. I attended D54 schools then I Graduated from Hoffman Estates High School. I received my Bachelors of Science from Eastern Illinois University, majoring in Zoology and Minoring in Chemistry.
I met my husband while in high school. We were rivals as he Conant High School and I went to Hoffman.
We have been together for over 26 years and have been married for over 22 years.
We started a family and as our kids entered into school, we wanted our kids to have the same great experiences we had in school educationally, emotionally and athletically, so we wanted to be in D21.
We have a freshman at SHS and a 6th grader at Hoover Math and Science Academy. Both boys have been very active in many sports, but are now focused on wrestling and golf.
I have over 20 years of volunteer community involvement at various levels of various groups… from being a PTA member, a football team mom to running organizations and being an active member of various league boards.
Career wise, I am a business professional with 20+ year experience in quality control and quality assurance in the pharmaceutical and dietary supplement industries, with a focus on upholding regulatory systems and implementing operational compliance standards. In many of my roles I have also been responsible for hiring, training and mentoring employees as well as creating and managing multi-million dollar budgets. I believe the success I have had in my career is due to my education, upbringing, being a hard worker and an analytical and critical thinker.
MOTIVATIONS: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education? What would be your top priorities if elected?
I am seeking to serve our community because, while I do believe D211 has been of the best districts in Illinois, I think we need to do even more. We need to not be complacent and need push forward being focusing on the best student experience while being fiscally responsible. And just as importantly, we need to hear our students, parents and teachers voices and act on them.
How can the district support the mental health, physical well-being, and academic achievement of students during the pandemic? How should the district approach reopening?
It’s no secret that Covid-19 has changed our lives forever, but that doesn’t mean our kids have to suffer. We need to work harder, faster and more creatively at to get back to true/full in-person learning, activities and sports while maintaining a safe environment.
I think this past year’s educational experience has lacked focus on mental and emotional health, social development and interaction. Beside those concerns, the districts response has been very slow paced and is stifling the ability to deliver quality education.
This has no doubt been difficult on the students and teachers and I credit many of the teachers on really trying to make the best of the situation, but as a district, I think we needed and still need to think outside of the box to best support students an teacher.
We need used the localized Covid-19 data to determine how to initiate full in-person learning. We should look to and initiate conversations to our neighboring private schools and districts that have been in-person since the start to learn the do’s and don’t’s. Then To do this we need to set up the classrooms to accommodate for the most possible volume of students in a safe manner. This would include options like the use of Plexiglas (where needed) updating the HVAC units for better filtration, introducing air scrubber units and looking into the value of UV-C in HVAC systems.
We should revisit the original hybrid model presented. Allow for teachers to focus on one or the other platform, but not both at the same time. I think if we communicated this plan out to the parents and students we would see many more students in the classrooms (knowing they would be off of zoom). For those that health concerns that need to stay remote, give them the dedicated resources they need. And for those in school let the teachers speak directly to them, not through a zoom.
Lastly, we need to get students and teachers reengage in academic. In a recent FIOA request shared with me, it was asked how many teachers that have been permitted to work from home, but come onsite for extracurricular activities. I was shocked to see that there were any and all, let alone 10. I personally think that if a teacher can come into the school for extracurricular activities, they should be onsite for teaching too. By allowing this we are indirectly indicating student know that activities are more importance than academics.
STUDENT CONCERNS OVER EQUITY: Over the past year, district students have addressed the Board over racial equity and sexual violence concerns. Please describe how you would approach these issues if elected.
Equity in education requires putting systems in place to ensure that every child has an equal chance for success.
At the last board meeting , during the public comment section one person brought up the inequity of the . A recent FOIA request on SAT preparation offerings. The HS with the lowest number of students on free/discounted lunch offer 85 hours of SAT prep and the HS with the highest level of students on free/discounted lunch offers 5 hours.
Once the public comment portion of the meeting ended, the administration was asked about it.
The response from the administration was … Something along the lines of we offer based off of what they’ve used in the past and the staff available.
I was saddened that the administration is aware of it and hasn’t taken action on In intil the community pushed.
Why aren’t the 85 hours offered at all schools or why not combine the resources and have them float between schools.
Rather than putting our complete focus on cultural responsiveness training, we need to broaden the training and put focus on evaluating the offerings at each school and focus on making changes to our district to reduce the inequities,
If I were elected, I would like to be more poractive I would want to set up Teacher focus groups. Have teachers from the same department across the district come together and discuss how things are done at each school and develop plans to improve the worst situations to the same level as the best situations.
I’d also think that some of the capital projects and resources available at each school should be based on the school specific data
TRANSGENDER STUDENT LOCKER ROOM ACCESS: After five years of vocal community input from both sides of the issue, the district in January 2020 implemented a policy to allow transgender students unrestricted use of the locker room corresponding to their gender identity. What approach should the district take toward transgender student locker room access?
This topic is relatively a moot topic because actions have been taken and this has been closed out. However, I will say that when deciding to make a change to policies that impact the entire student body not and in the future, the safety and wellbeing of the entire student must be taken into consideration and the actions should result in the best outcome for all of the student.
PROPERTY TAXES: Striking the right balance between minimizing the tax burden on district residents and ensuring the future financial security of the district is challenging, especially during these economically uncertain times. What is your stance on abating or rebating a portion of the district’s property tax levy?
District 211 currently has a surplus of money, but continues to burden the tax payers.
While reserves are important, there is no better time than the present to apply the excess funds to improve and enhance conditions in this Covid-19 impacted environment. We are experiences extenuating circumstances in this is exactly the type of scenario that we provided reserves for.
Invariably, as stated earlier when the topic of tax levies comes up, the board’s response it to impulsively vote in favor of increasing the levy. A more thorough investigation of proposed levy increases is needed and our goal should be to:
• Scrutinize proposed increases and approve only the most appropriate and essential.
• Reduce the funding in other budget areas that are non-essential or seemingly frivolous inclusions.
• Insure budget is cleansed on a regular basis of funding allocated to potentially obsolescent items.
• Review and refine reserve funding requirements. Establish funding caps where none exist and/or adjust fund life expectation.
I am confident that we can provide the best experience for our students, while being respectful and accountable to the members of our community.
I am confident that we can provide the best experience for our students, while being respectful and accountable to the members of our community.
EXPENDITURES: In which areas should the district focus its spending? Are there areas where spending should be cut?
See response above.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY: Recent months have shown increased community interest in Board proceedings. How should the district communicate with the community? How should the community be able to communicate with the district?
I believe the main thing that needs to be improved on is better visibility and understanding of the current communication process (i.e. knowing where to find the BOE meeting agenda, minutes and videos and knowing the BOE emails).
To take it a step further, I would entertain the the idea of the board having a social media account managed by the board secretary.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: While the vast majority of Board resolutions are passed unanimously, many important votes have come down to a 5–2 split. Additionally, some have raised concerns over the introduction of divisive politics into local elections. Please comment on how you would work with other Board members if elected.
All board members and those running for a board position need to remember that the BOE is a non-partisan position and that it is the responsibility of the board to act in the best interest of the student body. Board members are not always going to agree so don’t expect all votes should be unanimous, but I would expect to be able to have good conversation to understand the differences in view of a topic.
OTHER ISSUES: You may feel strongly about an issue for which we did not ask a question. If this is the case, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts on that issue here.
I think we could do a better job of, not just preparing our students for college, but preparing them for vocational careers and careers in the trades. Not all students are cut out for college or have an interest for it. We need to improve on how we prepare those student for life after school just as much as the ones we are preparing to go to college. I also think we need to do a better job at preparing our students for the real world. How many students do you know understand how taxes work, how and/or when to invest, how 401Ks/pensions/IRAs work, how unions work, how loans work, etc. These are important things in life that we could do better at preparing you all for.
A POSITIVE NOTE: It’s been a rough year, so let’s end this on a positive note. What is your favorite thing about District 211?
As a product of D211 I know what we have to offer, know what we are capable of doing and know there is more that we can do to optimize the student experience.
]]>BIOGRAPHY: Tell us about yourself. What qualities, experiences, and skills make you a good choice for the Board?
I have served and advocated for our community’s educational needs as a District 211 teacher and a college professor. My three children are graduates from Schaumburg High School. I hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, an MBA from Webster University. I am pursuing my doctorate in Adult Education in which I should be complete in June 2021. I am a business college professor, National faculty member at DeVry University. I believe in education for all high school students after graduation, whether it’s college or vocational training.
MOTIVATIONS: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education? What would be your top priorities if elected?
I am running for a seat because I want to see D211 continue to be a standard of excellence in education. I want to see students continue to grow into contributing members of society, and I want to ensure that students are treated equally, fairly and their educational needs met.
My primary concern is the current board’s ability to work as a team after attending several school board meetings. I could see and feel the animosity between some of the members. The pandemic has put board members and Dr. Small in a position they haven’t experienced before, so now more than ever; the board members must work as a team and address the community with unity.
Another concern is ensuring all student’s educational needs are being met. Curriculum updates and new materials along with updated technology are needed to help D211 students succeed. I advocate for learning technology and professional development for teachers to learn the latest technology to be used in the classroom.
Lastly, the school district’s biggest challenge in the next year or two could be the possible gap in learning from the pandemic. Depending on the subject, students will need more help and support through tutors and small group learning.
How can the district support the mental health, physical well-being, and academic achievement of students during the pandemic? How should the district approach reopening?
At this time, the district is allowing students to come back to school, and now several sports are allowed to be played. I believe this is what D211 students need. Again, I believe the district’s biggest challenge will be closing the gap in learning from the pandemic. Depending on the subject, students will need more help and support through tutors and small group learning.
STUDENT CONCERNS OVER EQUITY: Over the past year, district students have addressed the Board over racial equity and sexual violence concerns. Please describe how you would approach these issues if elected.
Educational equity is providing educational tools for all student’s success. Equity and fairness must become the guiding foundation for all schools. Sexual violence is illegal and cannot be tolerated.
Teachers must provide lessons and assignments in which students work together in teams to understand cultural differences and the value of teamwork. Rubrics for all assignments must be created to limit grading subjectivity, and the curriculum must be updated to include other cultures especially black and women history. The Equity team presented the equity program at the December 2020 meeting, and I support this program. The program is needed, and it is timely. As an educator, we must ensure equity with our students, and this program brings students, staff, and parents together for continuous improvement.
TRANSGENDER STUDENT LOCKER ROOM ACCESS: After five years of vocal community input from both sides of the issue, the district in January 2020 implemented a policy to allow transgender students unrestricted use of the locker room corresponding to their gender identity. What approach should the district take toward transgender student locker room access?
The board adopted a policy of equality and fairness which covers all students, including transgender students. The policy is in place because it provides the guidance needed for all students. Due to the adopted policy, all students must be treated equally.
PROPERTY TAXES: Striking the right balance between minimizing the tax burden on district residents and ensuring the future financial security of the district is challenging, especially during these economically uncertain times. What is your stance on abating or rebating a portion of the district’s property tax levy?
I support the tax levy that was approved by the current board. In order for a school district to remain solvent, it needs money for the long term. Many new housing developments will bring additional tax revenue through property taxes to D211, D54, and D15. The board can make potential changes based on the increased tax amount from these new developments in the coming years.
The D211 business office has won awards for its due diligence in budgeting and finance, which means this office is doing its job well.
There are many examples of state school systems that have gone broke and laid off teachers and staff because the boards didn’t look into the future for their schools, and D211 currently has no debt, and it doesn’t make sense to go into debt. As a business college professor, I teach students how to forecast and budget. It makes sense to keep the district at its excellent level of teaching, and in order to do this, the district needs money.
EXPENDITURES: In which areas should the district focus its spending? Are there areas where spending should be cut?
All spending should be student-focused. A new and updated curriculum and technology need to be added that covers equity and fairness among other subjects.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY: Recent months have shown increased community interest in Board proceedings. How should the district communicate with the community? How should the community be able to communicate with the district?
I believe the primary goal of a school board member is to advocate and serve students. All stakeholders, parents, district personnel, and students must be partners in this endeavor if we are to be successful.
I believe that a school board member must be responsive, receptive, and encourage open dialogue with parents, staff, students, and the community. A Board member must be accessible and willing to collaborate with all stakeholders. A school board member must build public understanding, support, and participation.
A school board member must understand the district’s fiscal responsibility and balance the financials, so they do not jeopardize student learning.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: While the vast majority of Board resolutions are passed unanimously, many important votes have come down to a 5–2 split. Additionally, some have raised concerns over the introduction of divisive politics into local elections. Please comment on how you would work with other Board members if elected.
Having managerial experience, I would listen to others but remind them of the board’s purpose. I would foster open and honest communication. Those running for the board are running as independents, and the most qualified person should win—someone with a financial and educational background.
OTHER ISSUES: You may feel strongly about an issue for which we did not ask a question. If this is the case, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts on that issue here.
The candidate did not respond to this question.
A POSITIVE NOTE: It’s been a rough year, so let’s end this on a positive note. What is your favorite thing about District 211?
I have two favorite things about D211. The first is the teachers. You cannot find a more devoted group of educators! The second is sports and clubs. My three children all played in high school sports, and all three played at the college level. Also, I judged BPA (Business Professionals of American), and it was great to see students create and present their business ideas!
]]>BIOGRAPHY: Tell us about yourself. What qualities, experiences, and skills make you a good choice for the Board?
I’m a father, community activist, small business owner, and 2006 graduate of William Fremd High School. I’m running for the District 211 Board of Education because there are voices that need and deserve representation at the district level. From issues of racism and sexual violence to mental health and bullying, our students are struggling with issues that prevent them from achieving academic success. While I am thankful for my D211 education and grateful to my teachers, these are some of the same issues I heard about or directly experienced. To be frank, my time at Fremd wasn’t always comfortable. And when I had the opportunity to hear from students this summer, it became obvious that students are still experiencing these problems 15 years later. My personal experiences give me an important perspective on the issues that affect students in our community who are often overlooked.
MOTIVATIONS: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education? What would be your top priorities if elected?
This summer was pivotal for me. As social injustice was occurring all across our country, I met students and community members in this district who have recounted their own concerns about injustice within our school district. Schools should actively be working towards being a place students enjoy coming to, where they feel welcome and safe, but it was clear that was not the case in D211.
If elected, my top three priorities are accountability, community, and equity. Accountability means that the district will be more transparent in their decision-making process. We need to engage everyone from teachers to students to staff when making decisions that affect them. D211 also sets high standards for everyone, including students and the administration itself. As a member of the school board, it is necessary that I make sure we provide everyone the resources they need to meet these standards. The second pillar of my campaign is community. My entire campaign has been focused on listening to the community and that will continue to be the case if I am elected. The community needs to be more involved in a dialogue with the school board and our concerns need to be heard. By holding office hours in community spaces, like the public library, board members can increase the parents’ accessibility to the school board and create opportunities for open dialogue. Finally, equity. My approach to equity is two-fold. We have students in our community who are food insecure or housing insecure, issues that have only gotten worse due to the pandemic. Students can’t learn until their basic needs are met. The district needs to partner with nonprofits in the community to ensure that students and their families receive the assistance they need. The district can also host family events like resume workshops or job fairs and host community outreach events with nonprofits so that families are connected to resources available to them. After the community came together to demand a plan to address racial inequities, the district created an equity team, but we need to have some urgency around this. Black students only make 6% of the student population but are receiving 24% of the suspensions and 38% of the school related arrests. Latinx students make up 25% of the population but receive 39% of the suspensions and 35% of the school related arrests. We are contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline that sets our youth up for failure. We need to look at the ways that staff bias leads to these outcomes and how we can better support them in unlearning their biases.
How can the district support the mental health, physical well-being, and academic achievement of students during the pandemic? How should the district approach reopening?
The biggest challenge facing our district is the lack of mental health support for students. During this pandemic, students have felt the impacts of isolation from their classmates and teachers. But even before this pandemic, students did not have access to the mental health services that are necessary for them to be the best learners they can. As students get back on track with in-person learning, it’s important that we focus on well-being in addition to academic achievement. I will start by increasing district communications with parents about the resources available to them and their students. We also need to make sure that mental health is treated as a priority, not an afterthought. Students should have easy and regular access to mental health resources.
In regard to physical well-being, the district is providing the option to play certain sports and attend practices. I am a proponent of keeping these running as long as they adhere to COVID safety protocols. The district needs to be extremely careful when approaching reopening schools. Students under 16 cannot be vaccinated yet, and vaccinations are still rolling out for people above that age. Right now, the district is doing a good job of offering both hybrid and in-person learning options. Until it is safe, we cannot mandate all students return to in-person learning and must keep a virtual option open. We also should not question why people may want to stay home as the pandemic continues. It is an unprecedented time and the devastating nature of this pandemic needs to be taken into account before mandating a broad policy that could possibly harm students or their families.
STUDENT CONCERNS OVER EQUITY: Over the past year, district students have addressed the Board over racial equity and sexual violence concerns. Please describe how you would approach these issues if elected.
In regard to racial equity, I plan on introducing initiatives to enhance the curriculum. We need to diversify the curriculum to better represent and serve all students in the district. I also plan on encouraging diversity within the teaching staff for D211. Research shows that all students benefit from having diverse teachers. I am also a proponent of anti-bias training for all school staff; anyone who interacts with students should be required to complete this training.
In regard to sexual violence concerns, we need to act immediately. Students are demanding for more information to be released regarding these incidents. This data needs to be reported, tracked, and provided when requested. Teachers within schools should serve as a positive resource that students can turn to. To bridge existing information gaps, I plan to implement an education series of community workshops for parents, students, teachers, and other staff to increase awareness of the chain of command for reporting cases, the resources available at each school (i.e. Title IX coordinator), and strategies for prevention. Students deserve to feel safe and secure while in school.
TRANSGENDER STUDENT LOCKER ROOM ACCESS: After five years of vocal community input from both sides of the issue, the district in January 2020 implemented a policy to allow transgender students unrestricted use of the locker room corresponding to their gender identity. What approach should the district take toward transgender student locker room access?
For me, equity is one of the three pillars of my campaign. I am an ally to the transgender community, and I support ways to be as inclusive to students who identify as transgender as possible. I believe they should have access to the locker room that matches their gender identity, and we should also make sure to have policies that protect our transgender students from bullying and harassment.
Regarding the lawsuit, the district should have settled in their decision earlier. The decision to protect transgender students’ rights is not one that should have taken four years. I have had the chance to speak with community members who also believe that time and resources were drained during this process. Instead of the four years of fighting and the possibility of continuing to fight, the district’s focus should have been protecting the student’s civil rights, saving taxpayer money and resources, and setting an inclusive precedent from the beginning.
PROPERTY TAXES: Striking the right balance between minimizing the tax burden on district residents and ensuring the future financial security of the district is challenging, especially during these economically uncertain times. What is your stance on abating or rebating a portion of the district’s property tax levy?
It’s important to keep our future financial planning in mind when thinking about this decision. I would be in favor of property tax abatement in the coming years, especially as we recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. At the same time, we want to be able to have the money on hand instead of needing to borrow money in the future. At the end of the day, the taxes paid will benefit our students, who are our top priority, so no money is being wasted.
EXPENDITURES: In which areas should the district focus its spending? Are there areas where spending should be cut?
Thanks to the board, we are currently in a secure financial situation. I will not consider cutting programs that disproportionately impact students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. As an example, the district has discontinued its Driver’s Education services. While many students can afford to go to private services, low-income students no longer have access to the lower-rate Driver’s Ed programs through our schools. Students from low-income families are the ones who take up part-time jobs in our community to support their families, but without a driver’s license, that option is no longer available. These are the kinds of impacts we need to consider when making budget cuts. We should prioritize programs related to student mental health and other socio-emotional services.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY: Recent months have shown increased community interest in Board proceedings. How should the district communicate with the community? How should the community be able to communicate with the district?
While addressing the board during public comment is one way for the board to hear about public concerns, it does not offer the opportunity for dialogue. There should be more working groups and committees within the district that are available for the wider community to join and contribute to the work of improving the district. As board members, I plan to host office hours to hear from constituents about the challenges they are facing and how the district can support them. This will begin on Zoom, of course, but I hope to eventually host office hours at local libraries.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: While the vast majority of Board resolutions are passed unanimously, many important votes have come down to a 5–2 split. Additionally, some have raised concerns over the introduction of divisive politics into local elections. Please comment on how you would work with other Board members if elected.
Listening to others, especially those who disagree with me, is necessary to develop a full understanding of every problem. At the end of the day, board members are public servants and it is our job to meet the community’s needs. To do that, we have to listen to the community and prioritize community input at every step of the way. There will be times when I will not agree with all other board members and there will be times that I do. My top priority is to be a voice for students and represent your voices when they might be ignored. To me, that is more important than consensus.
OTHER ISSUES: You may feel strongly about an issue for which we did not ask a question. If this is the case, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts on that issue here.
Even a year ago, I would not have imagined myself running for public office. This past year made me realize that my voice is powerful, and it has also helped students across the district realize their power as well. We are already seeing incredible impacts that are resulting from student action. I hope that D211 students continue to advocate for their needs and come together to create change.
A POSITIVE NOTE: It’s been a rough year, so let’s end this on a positive note. What is your favorite thing about District 211?
The community’s pride in our district’s schools. Many students really do walk away with lots of love and admiration for our high schools, which not all districts can say. Our alumni go on to do incredible things like attending prestigious universities, playing professional sports, and even coming back home to the district to teach the next generation.
]]>BIOGRAPHY: Tell us about yourself. What qualities, experiences, and skills make you a good choice for the Board?
I am Kristen Steel. I am awesome. I hope to continue to be a role model for all young women seeking to be a strong voice in the community making a difference for others. Vote for me if you are of age, and tell your parents to vote for me to ensure the future of D211 is bright. We’re Stronger Together!!
MOTIVATIONS: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education? What would be your top priorities if elected?
The 2020/2021 school year has been a challenging one and community members have become more aware of what is happening in the district, and the shortfalls that are in front of the community. Township High School District 211 is much more than just curriculum, it is preparing students for life after high school, this is clearly stated in their mission. Many of the district students are struggling and face new challenges- both at home and at school- and it is the role of school, the district and the BoE to create a safe and fulfilling environment which will allow them to succeed. I will prioritize getting our students back to full- time in person learning, safely and effectively. The Board’s purpose is representing the community, while always keeping the students as top priority. In the aftermath of COVID and returning to school, investing in our youth now is more important than it has ever been. Township High School District 211 must have better communication with the community, a willingness to give the voice of residents’ equal weight as extended to the administration, and implement this into practice. This office is accountable to the public they serve. We must support the health and well-being of our students at every opportunity and do far more to measure and drive success.
How can the district support the mental health, physical well-being, and academic achievement of students during the pandemic? How should the district approach reopening?
We must focus on reconnecting our children to the routine of success. Social interaction plays a large role in mental health. Additionally, social interaction is vital to the development of soft skills employers will be seeking to identify once the pandemic ends. The district should approach re-opening as aggressively as laws and best practices safely allow. DO NOT be misled by fearful adults that would suggest you are at a higher risk than the data suggests. Be safe, but also be reasonable.
STUDENT CONCERNS OVER EQUITY: Over the past year, district students have addressed the Board over racial equity and sexual violence concerns. Please describe how you would approach these issues if elected.
IF ONLY the D211 BoE was held by an elected majority of women….. Our view and experiences on violence, intimidation, and harassment are starkly different than the views of white males. These issues need to be a priority, right after ensuring our students are receiving an equitable opportunity for academic success. What good is a safe school that does not prepare a young adult for the next phase of their life?
TRANSGENDER STUDENT LOCKER ROOM ACCESS: After five years of vocal community input from both sides of the issue, the district in January 2020 implemented a policy to allow transgender students unrestricted use of the locker room corresponding to their gender identity. What approach should the district take toward transgender student locker room access?
At this point there are no further steps to take towards access. The next debate will be the fairness of competition. Biology versus identity. This battle is on the horizon for the US Supreme Court to decide. The impact on young women will be profound. It is important that young women realize the choice being made on their behalf. The sacrifices that will be asked of them to support transgender individuals in the arena of athletics.
PROPERTY TAXES: Striking the right balance between minimizing the tax burden on district residents and ensuring the future financial security of the district is challenging, especially during these economically uncertain times. What is your stance on abating or rebating a portion of the district’s property tax levy?
The District is over-taxing the community to the point that the project costs can not keep up with the money being taken into the district. Fund Balances are growing at the expense of families being able to put food on the table. Significant numbers of our neighbors are accepting free and reduced lunches, yet we raise taxes to the point where they are house poor. D211 needs to raise property taxes based on budget needs, and not treat our money as an entitlement.
EXPENDITURES: In which areas should the district focus its spending? Are there areas where spending should be cut?
Is there anything that a student at a D211 could need that is not provided? Pools, football fields, 1:1 device (i-pads), hundreds of clubs, meals at low rates, quality teachers, new propane buses, remodeled locker rooms, remodeled toilets, updated parking lots, new baseball fields, updated kitchens, updated libraries (media centers).
The admin is planning to update auditoriums and art rooms next. All with about $10M a year left over.
Maybe we can keep doing these great things while taking a little less money from the community. Then the administration would not need to work so hard trying to find ways to spend it.
If we can just CUT the surplus down a little, that would be a win.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY: Recent months have shown increased community interest in Board proceedings. How should the district communicate with the community? How should the community be able to communicate with the district?
Board meetings are a bunch of blank stares. This is by design. Instead, there needs to be a dialogue. The BoE has the power to change the meeting to be more community friendly. If I am on the board, I will do that. Unfortunately, the old white guy running the meetings follows recommendations from the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) which discourages dialogue. This drives a wedge between the community and the board. It is replaced with a reliance on the administration and superintendent. This MUST change. Your voice is a direct reflection of the quality of services provided. WE must have an open discussion to identify our needs at each of the schools. The fact that you’re involved in this election indicates two things: First, you’re interested in change. Second, you’re learning about the potential for that change.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: While the vast majority of Board resolutions are passed unanimously, many important votes have come down to a 5–2 split. Additionally, some have raised concerns over the introduction of divisive politics into local elections. Please comment on how you would work with other Board members if elected.
I will work openly and honestly with other board members. I will avoid making promises and having discussions outside of the public body. You will know where I stand on votes and why I vote the way I do.
OTHER ISSUES: You may feel strongly about an issue for which we did not ask a question. If this is the case, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts on that issue here.
I AM KRISTEN STEEL. I AM AWESOME. I hope to continue to be a role model for all young women seeking to be a strong voice in the community making a difference for others. Tell your parents to vote for me to ensure the future of D211 is bright. We’re Stronger Together!!
A POSITIVE NOTE: It’s been a rough year, so let’s end this on a positive note. What is your favorite thing about District 211?
The other parents I met are honestly fighting for what is best for students. It might be difficult to see today, but our experience is being leveraged in a fight for your tomorrow!
]]>BIOGRAPHY: Tell us about yourself. What qualities, experiences, and skills make you a good choice for the Board?
I grew up in Hanover Park and I am a Hoffman Estates High School alumna. I hold a bachelor degree in Sociology and minor in Japanese from Illinois State University. After graduating college, I spent two years living and studying in Japan. I have resided in Schaumburg for the past 15 years along with my husband and three children who have gone through District 54 and D211. Two children are currently in D211.
Since 2013 I have worked as a Bilingual Recruiter at a Japanese staffing agency in Schaumburg.
My commitment to volunteering and fostering positive change has included being a commissioner of the Village of Schaumburg Sister Cities and being part of the Welcome Committee for diplomats and students from Japan and Germany. I also lead two trips to Japan with local students via my Non-For-Profit organization that I started back in 2008, Schaumburg Oyanokai. Schaumburg Oyanokai also sponsors an annual Japanese Culture Night at Dooley Elementary School in Schaumburg, home to the Japanese Dual Language Program. This largely attended community event allows for Japanese cultural learning beyond the classroom. This event has grown over the years and has included attendees like the Mayor of Schaumburg, the Japanese Consulate General, and D54 and D211 administration and board members.
I also worked successfully with D211 administration to offer Japanese language classes for students at all five high schools after seeing a need for students to have a continuum of their Japanese language studies in high school.
Some of my current volunteer commitments are Co-President of the Schaumburg HS Booster Club, Director of Schaumburg Oyanokai, and a Village of Schaumburg Sister City Commissioner.
These experiences have allowed me to gain valuable knowledge of the needs of the community.
MOTIVATIONS: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education? What would be your top priorities if elected?
I am running for the BOE to try to bring back a focus on academics and to reduce costs wherever possible. I have served as an advocate for students and families for years, and those in the community who have worked with me know this. The BOE position would allow me to continue what I have been doing all along.
Some of my accomplishments are:
*I worked succesfully with D211 administration to offer Japanese language classes for students at all five high schools after seeing a need for students to have a continuum of their Japanese language studies in high school.
*I am a strong advocate for academics and persuaded SHS to update their Academic Scholar Wall after 7 years of neglect.
*I persuaded SHS to offer a field trip for orchestra and choir students when only a band field trip existed.
*I persuaded SHS to get a certificated teacher to offer AP World History after noticing this course was offered at other D211 schools.
There is still work that needs to be done however, and I am hoping I am able to continue to advocate for students and families at the next level.
How can the district support the mental health, physical well-being, and academic achievement of students during the pandemic? How should the district approach reopening?
The timing of this question is a little late since we are already in mid-March.
I firmly believe we could have reopened the schools with full-day in-person learning awhile ago. There are several school districts like D304 that have been providing an in-person learning option for students from the beginning of the pandemic. Districts D214 and D220 will now be going back to in-person and full days after spring break. D304 has also provided two independent teaching staffs, one for remote learners and one for in-person students.
I feel the district could have looked at other school districts, both in-state and out-of-state as guidelines for reopening or explored additional options by thinking outside the box.
STUDENT CONCERNS OVER EQUITY: Over the past year, district students have addressed the Board over racial equity and sexual violence concerns. Please describe how you would approach these issues if elected.
The candidate did not respond to this question.
TRANSGENDER STUDENT LOCKER ROOM ACCESS: After five years of vocal community input from both sides of the issue, the district in January 2020 implemented a policy to allow transgender students unrestricted use of the locker room corresponding to their gender identity. What approach should the district take toward transgender student locker room access?
The candidate did not respond to this question.
PROPERTY TAXES: Striking the right balance between minimizing the tax burden on district residents and ensuring the future financial security of the district is challenging, especially during these economically uncertain times. What is your stance on abating or rebating a portion of the district’s property tax levy?
I feel with more than a $30 million dollar surplus that we have to look at abating or rebating as an option. Letting that money just sit just doesn’t seem to be in the best interest of the community or tax payers.
EXPENDITURES: In which areas should the district focus its spending? Are there areas where spending should be cut?
I think there is always room for improvement and we should always analyze where the district can be more cost effective. As a school district, we should be investing in academics as much as possible.
I don’t have an opinion at this time about where spending should be cut, but I do think we should invest more into our high academic achievers.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY: Recent months have shown increased community interest in Board proceedings. How should the district communicate with the community? How should the community be able to communicate with the district?
I think there should be a forum where the BOE could communicate with the community in a setting where a back-n-forth dialogue could ensue. Something like a “Coffee with the BOE”. Obviously, this would only occur while maintaining the Open Meetings Act guidelines.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: While the vast majority of Board resolutions are passed unanimously, many important votes have come down to a 5–2 split. Additionally, some have raised concerns over the introduction of divisive politics into local elections. Please comment on how you would work with other Board members if elected.
I have already been working with board members both past and present. I especially worked with board members when I was advocating for a Japanese class option at all five high schools. We may not always agree, but I am very open to respectful dialogue and listening to other’s points-of-view.
OTHER ISSUES: You may feel strongly about an issue for which we did not ask a question. If this is the case, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts on that issue here.
There are a few.
I don’t agree with this NON-PARTISAN Board Of Education election being treated as a partisan election with some candidates getting political endorsements. I also feel it’s a conflict of interest when candidates receive a Teacher’s Union endorsement.
There seems to be a huge inequity between all the schools regarding academics.
1) There are course offerings at some of the high schools and not others. When my oldest was a freshman at SHS, she wanted to take AP World History, but it wasn’t offered. However, it was offered at other D211 high schools like Fremd and Conant.
2) There is a huge emphasis on athletics over academics within the school district and academic achievements are not given their rightly deserved recognition. I had to pursuade SHS to update their Academic Scholar Wall after 7 years of neglect and Hoffman Estates doesn’t even have one.
A POSITIVE NOTE: It’s been a rough year, so let’s end this on a positive note. What is your favorite thing about District 211?
The amount of Honors or A/P course offerings. My daughter competed in a state-wide academic competition last year and there were a lot of contestants that went to schools where there wasn’t a single Honors or A/P course offering.
]]>BIOGRAPHY: Tell us about yourself. What qualities, experiences, and skills make you a good choice for the Board?
Denise Wilson was born and raised in Indianapolis Indiana and moved to Hoffman Estates in 1984, as part of AT&T’s expansion into the computer market, where she has built and managed organizations and developed budgets in numerous areas of the telecommunications business (software development, sales, network security, credit and collections) and worked with unions with AT&T, Ameritech, SBC and Lucent.
Denise is actively committed to the community, volunteering for the last 20 years with the Village of Hoffman Estates starting as a Commissioner on the Zone Board and currently is a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. For the last 2 years she has been a Community Representative on the Administration and Finance Committee for the Hoffman Estates Park District.
Denise currently holds the position of Vice President on the Lutheran Day Early Childhood Center board located in Chicago Illinois. And for many years she supported the Midwest Center Against Sexual Assault as an Illinois Rape Victim Advocate.
Through her volunteering, she demonstrates a strong commitment to the Community of Hoffman Estates and dedication to support others. These positions have given her the opportunity to hear people’s concerns and to facilitate change.
Denise is a professional artist who offers commissioned artwork to “capture a moment in time” in colored pencil, graphite or pastel. She has one daughter that attended both District 54 and District 211 continuing to become a Forensic Psychiatrist.
MOTIVATIONS: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education? What would be your top priorities if elected?
I am running for District 211 school board as I think we can do better than status-quo.
Per the National Education Association, for the years 2018-2019, Illinois taxes payers paid teachers the highest average salaries of Midwestern and Neighboring states. And District 211 schools are not even rated in the top 10 schools for Illinois.
US News, rated Fremd High School as number 19 with only 57.2% students leaving college ready. All other District 211 schools rated less than 50% college ready. Keep in mind this before the last year of remote learning. Which for most has not been successful. We can and must do better!
District 211 has a favorable budget varies of $12M and a land sell of $17M. Why are our taxes going up with this much in the budget? Our state has lost thousands of jobs, small businesses are struggling, the last thing we need is a tax increase.
How can the district support the mental health, physical well-being, and academic achievement of students during the pandemic? How should the district approach reopening?
The biggest challenge is the long term affects of students being out of school and elearning, not only the academic loss but the social and emotional affects. Data continues to support that the harm from not being in school is long term. And mental health-related issues are greater in children over the age of 11. The Board will need to look at assessments to identify learning gaps and devise strategic responses to support what the students know or don’t know, you can not go straight into grade-level curriculum.
STUDENT CONCERNS OVER EQUITY: Over the past year, district students have addressed the Board over racial equity and sexual violence concerns. Please describe how you would approach these issues if elected.
Based on information provided at the District 211 board meetings a committee/team has been directed to review/evaluate equity. Their findings will be provided to the Board, we should wait to hear their findings before making any statements.
TRANSGENDER STUDENT LOCKER ROOM ACCESS: After five years of vocal community input from both sides of the issue, the district in January 2020 implemented a policy to allow transgender students unrestricted use of the locker room corresponding to their gender identity. What approach should the district take toward transgender student locker room access?
The current Board addressed this policy and without knowing the details I can not comment.
PROPERTY TAXES: Striking the right balance between minimizing the tax burden on district residents and ensuring the future financial security of the district is challenging, especially during these economically uncertain times. What is your stance on abating or rebating a portion of the district’s property tax levy?
I do not agree with the tax increase for District 211. This is not the year to increase taxes, the Board should have considered the heavy financial affects of the pandemic on our community.
EXPENDITURES: In which areas should the district focus its spending? Are there areas where spending should be cut?
Increasing efficiency in school spending begins by identifying district goals and designing a budget that supports those goals. We would need to analyze the budget to identify whether the allocations support reaching those goals, then reallocate as needed.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY: Recent months have shown increased community interest in Board proceedings. How should the district communicate with the community? How should the community be able to communicate with the district?
The communication between the administration and the parents/students has been poor. There has been directional changes between remote, hybrid and in-person learning many times without any waring or providing justification. The Board should be included in making all directional education changes and then changes need to be communicated to the parents in a timely manner with detailed reasons.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: While the vast majority of Board resolutions are passed unanimously, many important votes have come down to a 5–2 split. Additionally, some have raised concerns over the introduction of divisive politics into local elections. Please comment on how you would work with other Board members if elected.
Effective school board members contribute their unique talents while collaboration and working as a team with other board members. Board members should focus on what is best for all students, adapt a fiscally sound budget and advocate for education without putting forth a political agenda with little relevance to student achievement. They are responsible not only for making decisions to improve schools but for incorporating the needs, priorities, and consensus of the community.
OTHER ISSUES: You may feel strongly about an issue for which we did not ask a question. If this is the case, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts on that issue here.
The health of a community depends on the health of its local high schools as high schools should prepare young people for the challenges of the future.
A POSITIVE NOTE: It’s been a rough year, so let’s end this on a positive note. What is your favorite thing about District 211?
The 211 students’ sprit and they deserve school board members that will be focused on moving the district forward and educating all students to meet high standards.
]]>Curtis Bradley: While serving on the Community Engagement Committee in 2016, I felt that we made a lot of progress with some of our initiatives as it related to the 5 year strategic plan for D211. I was also a member of School District 54’s Foundations Committee for a year. After years of deliberation, working, and living in the community, I decided it is time to get more involved. I’ve always had a passion for developing people, from coaching sports, coaching my employees, and mentoring student athletes. My top priorities are to ensure that constituents have a voice that will be listened to and respected, and I believe the district must elevate equity and work harder to assist struggling students.
Denise Wilson: I am running for District 211 school board as I think we can do better than status-quo.
Per the National Education Association, for the years 2018-2019, Illinois taxes payers paid teachers the highest average salaries of Midwestern and Neighboring states. And District 211 schools are not even rated in the top 10 schools for Illinois.
US News, rated Fremd High School as number 19 with only 57.2% students leaving college ready. All other District 211 schools rated less than 50% college ready. Keep in mind this before the last year of remote learning. Which for most has not been successful. We can and must do better!
District 211 has a favorable budget varies of $12M and a land sell of $17M. Why are our taxes going up with this much in the budget? Our state has lost thousands of jobs, small businesses are struggling, the last thing we need is a tax increase.
Robi Vollkommer: I am running for the BOE to try to bring back a focus on academics and to reduce costs wherever possible. I have served as an advocate for students and families for years, and those in the community who have worked with me know this. The BOE position would allow me to continue what I have been doing all along.
Some of my accomplishments are:
*I worked succesfully with D211 administration to offer Japanese language classes for students at all five high schools after seeing a need for students to have a continuum of their Japanese language studies in high school.
*I am a strong advocate for academics and persuaded SHS to update their Academic Scholar Wall after 7 years of neglect.
*I persuaded SHS to offer a field trip for orchestra and choir students when only a band field trip existed.
*I persuaded SHS to get a certificated teacher to offer AP World History after noticing this course was offered at other D211 schools.
There is still work that needs to be done however, and I am hoping I am able to continue to advocate for students and families at the next level.
Kristen Steel: The 2020/2021 school year has been a challenging one and community members have become more aware of what is happening in the district, and the shortfalls that are in front of the community. Township High School District 211 is much more than just curriculum, it is preparing students for life after high school, this is clearly stated in their mission. Many of the district students are struggling and face new challenges- both at home and at school- and it is the role of school, the district and the BoE to create a safe and fulfilling environment which will allow them to succeed. I will prioritize getting our students back to full- time in person learning, safely and effectively. The Board’s purpose is representing the community, while always keeping the students as top priority. In the aftermath of COVID and returning to school, investing in our youth now is more important than it has ever been. Township High School District 211 must have better communication with the community, a willingness to give the voice of residents’ equal weight as extended to the administration, and implement this into practice. This office is accountable to the public they serve. We must support the health and well-being of our students at every opportunity and do far more to measure and drive success.
Jessica Hinkle: I am seeking to serve our community because, while I do believe D211 has been of the best districts in Illinois, I think we need to do even more. We need to not be complacent and need push forward being focusing on the best student experience while being fiscally responsible. And just as importantly, we need to hear our students, parents and teachers voices and act on them.
Roxanne Wittkamp: I am running for a seat because I want to see D211 continue to be a standard of excellence in education. I want to see students continue to grow into contributing members of society, and I want to ensure that students are treated equally, fairly and their educational needs met. My primary concern is the current board’s ability to work as a team after attending several school board meetings. I could see and feel the animosity between some of the members. The pandemic has put board members and Dr. Small in a position they haven’t experienced before, so now more than ever; the board members must work as a team and address the community with unity. Another concern is ensuring all student’s educational needs are being met. Curriculum updates and new materials along with updated technology are needed to help D211 students succeed. I advocate for learning technology and professional development for teachers to learn the latest technology to be used in the classroom. Lastly, the school district’s biggest challenge in the next year or two could be the possible gap in learning from the pandemic. Depending on the subject, students will need more help and support through tutors and small group learning.
Anna Klimkowicz: My motivation to seek re-election is to safeguard our schools so our communities can continue to depend on them for excellence far beyond any single board or board member’s term. I’ll use my experience as a board member to make sure we provide opportunities and support to every family, especially because the need for both continues as a result of the pandemic. I listen to all points of view and fairly consider arguments or concerns on their merits, regardless of origin, because effective school board members balance everyone’s interests and show aptitude for teamwork.
I see four areas of need:
Tim Mc Gowan: This summer was pivotal for me. As social injustice was occurring all across our country, I met students and community members in this district who have recounted their own concerns about injustice within our school district. Schools should actively be working towards being a place students enjoy coming to, where they feel welcome and safe, but it was clear that was not the case in D211.
If elected, my top three priorities are accountability, community, and equity. Accountability means that the district will be more transparent in their decision-making process. We need to engage everyone from teachers to students to staff when making decisions that affect them. D211 also sets high standards for everyone, including students and the administration itself. As a member of the school board, it is necessary that I make sure we provide everyone the resources they need to meet these standards. The second pillar of my campaign is community. My entire campaign has been focused on listening to the community and that will continue to be the case if I am elected. The community needs to be more involved in a dialogue with the school board and our concerns need to be heard. By holding office hours in community spaces, like the public library, board members can increase the parents’ accessibility to the school board and create opportunities for open dialogue. Finally, equity. My approach to equity is two-fold. We have students in our community who are food insecure or housing insecure, issues that have only gotten worse due to the pandemic. Students can’t learn until their basic needs are met. The district needs to partner with nonprofits in the community to ensure that students and their families receive the assistance they need. The district can also host family events like resume workshops or job fairs and host community outreach events with nonprofits so that families are connected to resources available to them. After the community came together to demand a plan to address racial inequities, the district created an equity team, but we need to have some urgency around this. Black students only make 6% of the student population but are receiving 24% of the suspensions and 38% of the school related arrests. Latinx students make up 25% of the population but receive 39% of the suspensions and 35% of the school related arrests. We are contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline that sets our youth up for failure. We need to look at the ways that staff bias leads to these outcomes and how we can better support them in unlearning their biases.
]]>Curtis Bradley: The response to the pandemic by our district has been exceptional. Programs have been implemented, practically overnight, to address the needs of our students and families. These include assistance with meals, social-emotional support, community resources, and educational support, among many others. The School Board has been flexible and adaptable when making decisions to best serve our students and families, but I believe the Board needs to better address the needs of students that are struggling with the remote learning/hybrid model. The Board needs to acknowledge this issue and find solutions that are equitable.
I believe that students learn best in the classroom setting. This can be done safely and our District has implemented safety measures at each school. Guidelines established by the CDC and ISBE should be considered when making return to in-person learning decisions. The fall semester showed that while many students have adapted to this enormous change in education, many are struggling. I would like to see more flexibility on how to address the students that find remote learning difficult. We need more support for these students.
Denise Wilson: The biggest challenge is the long term affects of students being out of school and elearning, not only the academic loss but the social and emotional affects. Data continues to support that the harm from not being in school is long term. And mental health-related issues are greater in children over the age of 11. The Board will need to look at assessments to identify learning gaps and devise strategic responses to support what the students know or don’t know, you can not go straight into grade-level curriculum.
Robi Vollkommer: The timing of this question is a little late since we are already in mid-March.
I firmly believe we could have reopened the schools with full-day in-person learning awhile ago. There are several school districts like D304 that have been providing an in-person learning option for students from the beginning of the pandemic. Districts D214 and D220 will now be going back to in-person and full days after spring break. D304 has also provided two independent teaching staffs, one for remote learners and one for in-person students.
I feel the district could have looked at other school districts, both in-state and out-of-state as guidelines for reopening or explored additional options by thinking outside the box.
Kristen Steel: We must focus on reconnecting our children to the routine of success. Social interaction plays a large role in mental health. Additionally, social interaction is vital to the development of soft skills employers will be seeking to identify once the pandemic ends. The district should approach re-opening as aggressively as laws and best practices safely allow. DO NOT be misled by fearful adults that would suggest you are at a higher risk than the data suggests. Be safe, but also be reasonable.
Jessica Hinkle: It’s no secret that Covid-19 has changed our lives forever, but that doesn’t mean our kids have to suffer. We need to work harder, faster and more creatively at to get back to true/full in-person learning, activities and sports while maintaining a safe environment.
I think this past year’s educational experience has lacked focus on mental and emotional health, social development and interaction. Beside those concerns, the districts response has been very slow paced and is stifling the ability to deliver quality education.
This has no doubt been difficult on the students and teachers and I credit many of the teachers on really trying to make the best of the situation, but as a district, I think we needed and still need to think outside of the box to best support students an teacher.
We need used the localized Covid-19 data to determine how to initiate full in-person learning. We should look to and initiate conversations to our neighboring private schools and districts that have been in-person since the start to learn the do’s and don’t’s. Then To do this we need to set up the classrooms to accommodate for the most possible volume of students in a safe manner. This would include options like the use of Plexiglas (where needed) updating the HVAC units for better filtration, introducing air scrubber units and looking into the value of UV-C in HVAC systems.
We should revisit the original hybrid model presented. Allow for teachers to focus on one or the other platform, but not both at the same time. I think if we communicated this plan out to the parents and students we would see many more students in the classrooms (knowing they would be off of zoom). For those that health concerns that need to stay remote, give them the dedicated resources they need. And for those in school let the teachers speak directly to them, not through a zoom.
Lastly, we need to get students and teachers reengage in academic. In a recent FIOA request shared with me, it was asked how many teachers that have been permitted to work from home, but come onsite for extracurricular activities. I was shocked to see that there were any and all, let alone 10. I personally think that if a teacher can come into the school for extracurricular activities, they should be onsite for teaching too. By allowing this we are indirectly indicating student know that activities are more importance than academics.
Roxanne Wittkamp: At this time, the district is allowing students to come back to school, and now several sports are allowed to be played. I believe this is what D211 students need. Again, I believe the district’s biggest challenge will be closing the gap in learning from the pandemic. Depending on the subject, students will need more help and support through tutors and small group learning.
Anna Klimkowicz: COVID-19 is a traumatic event that has caused disruption in every aspect of our lives – education, finances, jobs, socializing travel and death of family members, friends and even strangers. Therapeutic support is a must; however, each person approaches it differently. As for our students, I support all opportunities for our students to be in the school building, be it in class, academic supports, activities and sports. The ability to socialize is important to all, especially teens.
As a district we upgraded our ventilation systems and increased sanitation. We aggressively purchased personal protective equipment well beyond the minimum requirements and used it to offer safe in person learning to our most vulnerable students in early fall. We expanded into opening for safe in person learning for all students soon afterward and made sure the 50% of our families who requested remote learning did so right alongside their in person peers.
We cannot say that all students learn the same, therefore our teachers provide differentiated teaching. It was important to have staff in the classroom to provide a stronger learning environment. Staff have seen students struggle and are working with them to address their needs. Many of the incompletes from the 1st semester have been addressed with additional support of mentoring, tutoring and attention of student needs. Those supports will continue. As for mental health support, that must continue and become more visible as more students return to the classroom and share their stories. Our school counselors are available, our staff is available and we have community partners for counseling services. There are numerous coping strategies that can be shared with students and staff and I would direct administration to explore these and others and see how they can be incorporated into the classes.
At this time, I believe we are planning on opening the fall of 2021 as a traditional school year.
Administration will look to the ISBE for updates and information.
Tim Mc Gowan: The biggest challenge facing our district is the lack of mental health support for students. During this pandemic, students have felt the impacts of isolation from their classmates and teachers. But even before this pandemic, students did not have access to the mental health services that are necessary for them to be the best learners they can. As students get back on track with in-person learning, it’s important that we focus on well-being in addition to academic achievement. I will start by increasing district communications with parents about the resources available to them and their students. We also need to make sure that mental health is treated as a priority, not an afterthought. Students should have easy and regular access to mental health resources.
In regard to physical well-being, the district is providing the option to play certain sports and attend practices. I am a proponent of keeping these running as long as they adhere to COVID safety protocols. The district needs to be extremely careful when approaching reopening schools. Students under 16 cannot be vaccinated yet, and vaccinations are still rolling out for people above that age. Right now, the district is doing a good job of offering both hybrid and in-person learning options. Until it is safe, we cannot mandate all students return to in-person learning and must keep a virtual option open. We also should not question why people may want to stay home as the pandemic continues. It is an unprecedented time and the devastating nature of this pandemic needs to be taken into account before mandating a broad policy that could possibly harm students or their families.
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Curtis Bradley: Giving a voice to our constituents is one of the reasons I am running, and issues of racial equity and sexual violence must be dealt with by the Board. We must hold the District accountable to widening opportunity gaps in test scores and take a critical look at student student discipline practices that seem to disproportionately impact students of color. We also must take a hard look at policies aimed at safe and positive school cultures – ensuring all students feel a sense of belonging at school.
Denise Wilson: Based on information provided at the District 211 board meetings a committee/team has been directed to review/evaluate equity. Their findings will be provided to the Board, we should wait to hear their findings before making any statements.
Robi Vollkommer: The candidate did not respond to this question.
Kristen Steel: IF ONLY the D211 BoE was held by an elected majority of women….. Our view and experiences on violence, intimidation, and harassment are starkly different than the views of white males. These issues need to be a priority, right after ensuring our students are receiving an equitable opportunity for academic success. What good is a safe school that does not prepare a young adult for the next phase of their life?
Jessica Hinkle: Equity in education requires putting systems in place to ensure that every child has an equal chance for success.
At the last board meeting , during the public comment section one person brought up the inequity of the . A recent FOIA request on SAT preparation offerings. The HS with the lowest number of students on free/discounted lunch offer 85 hours of SAT prep and the HS with the highest level of students on free/discounted lunch offers 5 hours.
Once the public comment portion of the meeting ended, the administration was asked about it.
The response from the administration was … Something along the lines of we offer based off of what they’ve used in the past and the staff available.
I was saddened that the administration is aware of it and hasn’t taken action on In intil the community pushed.
Why aren’t the 85 hours offered at all schools or why not combine the resources and have them float between schools.
Rather than putting our complete focus on cultural responsiveness training, we need to broaden the training and put focus on evaluating the offerings at each school and focus on making changes to our district to reduce the inequities,
If I were elected, I would like to be more poractive I would want to set up Teacher focus groups. Have teachers from the same department across the district come together and discuss how things are done at each school and develop plans to improve the worst situations to the same level as the best situations.
I’d also think that some of the capital projects and resources available at each school should be based on the school specific data
Roxanne Wittkamp: Educational equity is providing educational tools for all student’s success. Equity and fairness must become the guiding foundation for all schools. Sexual violence is illegal and cannot be tolerated. Teachers must provide lessons and assignments in which students work together in teams to understand cultural differences and the value of teamwork. Rubrics for all assignments must be created to limit grading subjectivity, and the curriculum must be updated to include other cultures especially black and women history. The Equity team presented the equity program at the December 2020 meeting, and I support this program. The program is needed, and it is timely. As an educator, we must ensure equity with our students, and this program brings students, staff, and parents together for continuous improvement.
Anna Klimkowicz: The issue of diversity has been raised and the board directed the administration to compile feedback from the community. Students and community member input is vital to addressing diversity and we are able to begin exploring this through the D211 Equity Teams, which started at the end of October and continue to meet and discuss areas that require focus. The committee I serve on is the Equitable Practices & Mindset Committee and our areas of focus include the following categories: school culture; behavior interventions and supports; employment matters. There are amazing students that are part of this committee who have shared their experiences, observations and recommendations for the betterment of their peers and to provide equity understanding for the adults.
Sexual violence is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. As a board we have requested a report from the administration as to how this topic is discussed in school, how issues are handled and how do we go forward.
It is possible we need to spend time discussing “Erin’s Law” more in depth in health classes. Continue to work with NWCASA and with WING’s for information, materials and supports. I expect more information at the March 18th board meeting as a presentation.
Tim Mc Gowan: In regard to racial equity, I plan on introducing initiatives to enhance the curriculum. We need to diversify the curriculum to better represent and serve all students in the district. I also plan on encouraging diversity within the teaching staff for D211. Research shows that all students benefit from having diverse teachers. I am also a proponent of anti-bias training for all school staff; anyone who interacts with students should be required to complete this training.
In regard to sexual violence concerns, we need to act immediately. Students are demanding for more information to be released regarding these incidents. This data needs to be reported, tracked, and provided when requested. Teachers within schools should serve as a positive resource that students can turn to. To bridge existing information gaps, I plan to implement an education series of community workshops for parents, students, teachers, and other staff to increase awareness of the chain of command for reporting cases, the resources available at each school (i.e. Title IX coordinator), and strategies for prevention. Students deserve to feel safe and secure while in school.
]]>Curtis Bradley: While assisting struggling students, I believe the District must evaluate equity. We must focus on the whole student and ensure that every student’s needs are being considered when making decisions on how to best serve that student. We all have individual needs that differ from others. I would like to see flexibility and innovative solutions based on the whole child, rather than addressing the students’ needs as a whole.
Denise Wilson: The current Board addressed this policy and without knowing the details I can not comment.
Robi Vollkommer: The candidate did not respond to this question.
Kristen Steel: At this point there are no further steps to take towards access. The next debate will be the fairness of competition. Biology versus identity. This battle is on the horizon for the US Supreme Court to decide. The impact on young women will be profound. It is important that young women realize the choice being made on their behalf. The sacrifices that will be asked of them to support transgender individuals in the arena of athletics.
Jessica Hinkle: This topic is relatively a moot topic because actions have been taken and this has been closed out. However, I will say that when deciding to make a change to policies that impact the entire student body not and in the future, the safety and wellbeing of the entire student must be taken into consideration and the actions should result in the best outcome for all of the student.
Roxanne Wittkamp: The board adopted a policy of equality and fairness which covers all students, including transgender students. The policy is in place because it provides the guidance needed for all students. Due to the adopted policy, all students must be treated equally.
Anna Klimkowicz: As a board member I support District 211’s commitment to providing and maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. The Board utilized all of its resources to provide that safe environment and will continue to do so. The district has developed a policy that was worded by the district and not the court or outside sources. The policy and the procedure provide the district with direction and oversite to maintain equal educational opportunities for all students.
Tim Mc Gowan: For me, equity is one of the three pillars of my campaign. I am an ally to the transgender community, and I support ways to be as inclusive to students who identify as transgender as possible. I believe they should have access to the locker room that matches their gender identity, and we should also make sure to have policies that protect our transgender students from bullying and harassment.
Regarding the lawsuit, the district should have settled in their decision earlier. The decision to protect transgender students’ rights is not one that should have taken four years. I have had the chance to speak with community members who also believe that time and resources were drained during this process. Instead of the four years of fighting and the possibility of continuing to fight, the district’s focus should have been protecting the student’s civil rights, saving taxpayer money and resources, and setting an inclusive precedent from the beginning.
]]>Curtis Bradley: First the school board should never be in a position where we need to borrow money. D211 is very strong financially right now, however this could change in a matter of 5 – 8 years. My priority on the board is to put the needs of the students first. If the tax levy is in line with their needs then that’s where I will be voting. Currently there isn’t a need to increase taxes for this reason.
Denise Wilson: I do not agree with the tax increase for District 211. This is not the year to increase taxes, the Board should have considered the heavy financial affects of the pandemic on our community.
Robi Vollkommer: I feel with more than a $30 million dollar surplus that we have to look at abating or rebating as an option. Letting that money just sit just doesn’t seem to be in the best interest of the community or tax payers.
Kristen Steel: The District is over-taxing the community to the point that the project costs can not keep up with the money being taken into the district. Fund Balances are growing at the expense of families being able to put food on the table. Significant numbers of our neighbors are accepting free and reduced lunches, yet we raise taxes to the point where they are house poor. D211 needs to raise property taxes based on budget needs, and not treat our money as an entitlement.
Jessica Hinkle: District 211 currently has a surplus of money, but continues to burden the tax payers.
While reserves are important, there is no better time than the present to apply the excess funds to improve and enhance conditions in this Covid-19 impacted environment. We are experiences extenuating circumstances in this is exactly the type of scenario that we provided reserves for.
Invariably, as stated earlier when the topic of tax levies comes up, the board’s response it to impulsively vote in favor of increasing the levy. A more thorough investigation of proposed levy increases is needed and our goal should be to:
• Scrutinize proposed increases and approve only the most appropriate and essential.
• Reduce the funding in other budget areas that are non-essential or seemingly frivolous inclusions.
• Insure budget is cleansed on a regular basis of funding allocated to potentially obsolescent items.
• Review and refine reserve funding requirements. Establish funding caps where none exist and/or adjust fund life expectation.
I am confident that we can provide the best experience for our students, while being respectful and accountable to the members of our community.
I am confident that we can provide the best experience for our students, while being respectful and accountable to the members of our community.
Roxanne Wittkamp:I support the tax levy that was approved by the current board. In order for a school district to remain solvent, it needs money for the long term. Many new housing developments will bring additional tax revenue through property taxes to D211, D54, and D15. The board can make potential changes based on the increased tax amount from these new developments in the coming years. The D211 business office has won awards for its due diligence in budgeting and finance, which means this office is doing its job well.
There are many examples of state school systems that have gone broke and laid off teachers and staff because the boards didn’t look into the future for their schools, and D211 currently has no debt, and it doesn’t make sense to go into debt. As a business college professor, I teach students how to forecast and budget. It makes sense to keep the district at its excellent level of teaching, and in order to do this, the district needs money.
Anna Klimkowicz: I believe that the next school year will come with many unknown expenses for we are still working to determine the needs of students and staff after a year of change and uncertainty. The CPI-U rate of 1.4% will be the limiting rate for the 2021 levy, which is lower than the current rate of 2.3%. This will have an impact on the amount of tax dollars the district receives. The Tax Cap laws restrict the district to increase the levy only by the increase of CPI plus and EAV of new construction. The recommended levy amounts are determined by the amount of funds needed to support general operating costs for educational purposes along with support for ongoing building and maintenance costs and transportation.
Over the last 10 years, we have abated over $30 million dollars which decreased the levy and saved the property taxpayer money. The district is debt free, which is why it is important that we maintain sufficient funds for repairs, technology, and modernization of student classrooms, additional learning spaces and improvement across all school auditoriums, along with general maintenance.
I am weighing all factors regarding an abatement, and at this time would support the abatement over a rebate. A rebate is a complicated matter and may not achieve the results some people want. The proceeds from the land sale should be used to benefit the students, for this is a one-time source of revenue and should be considered for expenses that are non-recurring in nature.
Tim Mc Gowan: It’s important to keep our future financial planning in mind when thinking about this decision. I would be in favor of property tax abatement in the coming years, especially as we recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. At the same time, we want to be able to have the money on hand instead of needing to borrow money in the future. At the end of the day, the taxes paid will benefit our students, who are our top priority, so no money is being wasted.
]]>Curtis Bradley: Keeping th schools safe for in person learning. Equity training: Provide a new era of learning and teaching. Maintain the excellence of our academic programs. Support the work of the librarians, teachers, TA’s, and anyone who directly working in the high schools that help maintain a high level of safety for all students. Continue to support the work of the counselors, psych, nurses, and supporting staff, and families especially now, over the coming summer and into next school year.
Eliminating 3rd party provider for the BTW component of Driver Ed. At this time this is the only area I would review for cuts.
Denise Wilson: Increasing efficiency in school spending begins by identifying district goals and designing a budget that supports those goals. We would need to analyze the budget to identify whether the allocations support reaching those goals, then reallocate as needed.
Robi Vollkommer: I think there is always room for improvement and we should always analyze where the district can be more cost effective. As a school district, we should be investing in academics as much as possible.
I don’t have an opinion at this time about where spending should be cut, but I do think we should invest more into our high academic achievers.
Kristen Steel: Is there anything that a student at a D211 could need that is not provided? Pools, football fields, 1:1 device (i-pads), hundreds of clubs, meals at low rates, quality teachers, new propane buses, remodeled locker rooms, remodeled toilets, updated parking lots, new baseball fields, updated kitchens, updated libraries (media centers).
The admin is planning to update auditoriums and art rooms next. All with about $10M a year left over.
Maybe we can keep doing these great things while taking a little less money from the community. Then the administration would not need to work so hard trying to find ways to spend it.
If we can just CUT the surplus down a little, that would be a win.
Jessica Hinkle: District 211 currently has a surplus of money, but continues to burden the tax payers.
While reserves are important, there is no better time than the present to apply the excess funds to improve and enhance conditions in this Covid-19 impacted environment. We are experiences extenuating circumstances in this is exactly the type of scenario that we provided reserves for.
Invariably, as stated earlier when the topic of tax levies comes up, the board’s response it to impulsively vote in favor of increasing the levy. A more thorough investigation of proposed levy increases is needed and our goal should be to:
• Scrutinize proposed increases and approve only the most appropriate and essential.
• Reduce the funding in other budget areas that are non-essential or seemingly frivolous inclusions.
• Insure budget is cleansed on a regular basis of funding allocated to potentially obsolescent items.
• Review and refine reserve funding requirements. Establish funding caps where none exist and/or adjust fund life expectation.
I am confident that we can provide the best experience for our students, while being respectful and accountable to the members of our community.
I am confident that we can provide the best experience for our students, while being respectful and accountable to the members of our community.
Roxanne Wittkamp: All spending should be student-focused. A new and updated curriculum and technology need to be added that covers equity and fairness among other subjects.
Anna Klimkowicz: The Board had a fiduciary responsibility to its community. Prior to the referendum in 2005 District 211 reviewed all of its expenditures and incomes to address what at that time was a decrease in fund balance, this resulted in a savings of about $ 5million dollars. The referendum passed and our finances have remained stable and the district has been able to provide well maintained buildings, technology, improved classrooms and expanded curriculums at our schools.
Yes, we can and should review all of our expenditures and make changes where we can.
Tim Mc Gowan: Thanks to the board, we are currently in a secure financial situation. I will not consider cutting programs that disproportionately impact students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. As an example, the district has discontinued its Driver’s Education services. While many students can afford to go to private services, low-income students no longer have access to the lower-rate Driver’s Ed programs through our schools. Students from low-income families are the ones who take up part-time jobs in our community to support their families, but without a driver’s license, that option is no longer available. These are the kinds of impacts we need to consider when making budget cuts. We should prioritize programs related to student mental health and other socio-emotional services.
]]>Curtis Bradley: Constituents impacted by decisions of the Board should always have a voice and I see the increased community interest in Board proceedings as a positive development I hope continues. I would like to see the School Board more accessible by building a positive relationship with our community, keeping both formal and informal lines of communication open so that important concerns can be discussed and dealt with. Our District has successfully communicated information as it became available about the pandemic.
Information on Social Services was shared by email, tweets, Facebook, phone calls and on district websites. This information included resources for food, counseling, and suggestions for dealing with the pandemic available in our community.
Denise Wilson: The communication between the administration and the parents/students has been poor. There has been directional changes between remote, hybrid and in-person learning many times without any waring or providing justification. The Board should be included in making all directional education changes and then changes need to be communicated to the parents in a timely manner with detailed reasons.
Robi Vollkommer: I think there should be a forum where the BOE could communicate with the community in a setting where a back-n-forth dialogue could ensue. Something like a “Coffee with the BOE”. Obviously, this would only occur while maintaining the Open Meetings Act guidelines.
Kristen Steel: Board meetings are a bunch of blank stares. This is by design. Instead, there needs to be a dialogue. The BoE has the power to change the meeting to be more community friendly. If I am on the board, I will do that. Unfortunately, the old white guy running the meetings follows recommendations from the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) which discourages dialogue. This drives a wedge between the community and the board. It is replaced with a reliance on the administration and superintendent. This MUST change. Your voice is a direct reflection of the quality of services provided. WE must have an open discussion to identify our needs at each of the schools. The fact that you’re involved in this election indicates two things: First, you’re interested in change. Second, you’re learning about the potential for that change.
Jessica Hinkle: I believe the main thing that needs to be improved on is better visibility and understanding of the current communication process (i.e. knowing where to find the BOE meeting agenda, minutes and videos and knowing the BOE emails).
To take it a step further, I would entertain the the idea of the board having a social media account managed by the board secretary.
Roxanne Wittkamp: I believe the primary goal of a school board member is to advocate and serve students. All stakeholders, parents, district personnel, and students must be partners in this endeavor if we are to be successful.
I believe that a school board member must be responsive, receptive, and encourage open dialogue with parents, staff, students, and the community. A Board member must be accessible and willing to collaborate with all stakeholders. A school board member must build public understanding, support, and participation.
A school board member must understand the district’s fiscal responsibility and balance the financials, so they do not jeopardize student learning.
Anna Klimkowicz: I strongly encourage community members to come to the board meetings, and address the board, for this is an opportunity for all board members to hear the statement. The board generally does not address the statement at the time and directs the superintendent to respond. This allows for a review of the statement or concern and the opportunity to research, evaluate or explore the statement and provide the speaker with the requested information.
An individual can always communicate with their school administration, district administration, or with the board through email or a call. However, if specific information is requested then it would be best to request a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in writing, directed to the superintendent. The board president of District 211 serves as the contact point for the board; however, communication is copied to the entire board.
There is a Code of Conduct for Members of the School Board that provides guidance so that board members continue to represent the public in education.
Tim Mc Gowan: While addressing the board during public comment is one way for the board to hear about public concerns, it does not offer the opportunity for dialogue. There should be more working groups and committees within the district that are available for the wider community to join and contribute to the work of improving the district. As board members, I plan to host office hours to hear from constituents about the challenges they are facing and how the district can support them. This will begin on Zoom, of course, but I hope to eventually host office hours at local libraries.
]]>Curtis Bradley: My role as a School Board member is to be knowledgeable, open-minded, and make decisions that are best for our community, no matter what. I will lead with respect and listen to others’ opinions – I have often found that I learn something new, even if I disagree. When working with others, I hope to bring the voice of my constituents into the debate, as well as my own expertise about issues facing our community. I will provide leadership, even if it’s unpopular, when necessary to ensure the best possible outcomes for D211 students.
Denise Wilson: Effective school board members contribute their unique talents while collaboration and working as a team with other board members. Board members should focus on what is best for all students, adapt a fiscally sound budget and advocate for education without putting forth a political agenda with little relevance to student achievement. They are responsible not only for making decisions to improve schools but for incorporating the needs, priorities, and consensus of the community.
Robi Vollkommer: I have already been working with board members both past and present. I especially worked with board members when I was advocating for a Japanese class option at all five high schools. We may not always agree, but I am very open to respectful dialogue and listening to other’s points-of-view.
Kristen Steel: I will work openly and honestly with other board members. I will avoid making promises and having discussions outside of the public body. You will know where I stand on votes and why I vote the way I do.
Jessica Hinkle: All board members and those running for a board position need to remember that the BOE is a non-partisan position and that it is the responsibility of the board to act in the best interest of the student body. Board members are not always going to agree so don’t expect all votes should be unanimous, but I would expect to be able to have good conversation to understand the differences in view of a topic.
Roxanne Wittkamp: Having managerial experience, I would listen to others but remind them of the board’s purpose. I would foster open and honest communication. Those running for the board are running as independents, and the most qualified person should win—someone with a financial and educational background.
Anna Klimkowicz: I do believe that the seven members who serve on the Board bring their strengths and talents so that students receive the best education and opportunities that the district can provide, while keeping in mind the needs of the community and financial responsibilities. An open discussion during a meeting of the Board of Education is vital as we move forward. The meeting is where discussion and then direction is given to the administration. The authority of the board is when we act as a group through votes taken at properly convened meeting.
An understanding of Board governance is vital, to the strength and direction that the District takes. The Board delegates authority to the Superintendent to manage the district and provide leadership to the staff. I support discussion, I listen to all points of view and fairly consider arguments or concerns on their merits, regardless of origin and I will continue to do so. Open communication is necessary and everyone needs to be heard.
School board elections are non-partisan elections; however, community members who support candidates may be of a particular party, which the candidate cannot control. School Board members must support the students of the entire community.
Tim Mc Gowan: Listening to others, especially those who disagree with me, is necessary to develop a full understanding of every problem. At the end of the day, board members are public servants and it is our job to meet the community’s needs. To do that, we have to listen to the community and prioritize community input at every step of the way. There will be times when I will not agree with all other board members and there will be times that I do. My top priority is to be a voice for students and represent your voices when they might be ignored. To me, that is more important than consensus.
]]>Curtis Bradley: I believe we need to provide pathways for high quality career and technical education (CTE) and early college coursework to all students, so all students are set up for success after leaving high school – whether that pathway leads to college or directly to the workforce. By preparing our students for life after graduation, we empower individual students while cultivating a stronger workforce which aids our local community.
Denise Wilson: The health of a community depends on the health of its local high schools as high schools should prepare young people for the challenges of the future.
Robi Vollkommer: There are a few.
I don’t agree with this NON-PARTISAN Board Of Education election being treated as a partisan election with some candidates getting political endorsements. I also feel it’s a conflict of interest when candidates receive a Teacher’s Union endorsement.
There seems to be a huge inequity between all the schools regarding academics.
1) There are course offerings at some of the high schools and not others. When my oldest was a freshman at SHS, she wanted to take AP World History, but it wasn’t offered. However, it was offered at other D211 high schools like Fremd and Conant.
2) There is a huge emphasis on athletics over academics within the school district and academic achievements are not given their rightly deserved recognition. I had to pursuade SHS to update their Academic Scholar Wall after 7 years of neglect and Hoffman Estates doesn’t even have one.
Kristen Steel: I AM KRISTEN STEEL. I AM AWESOME. I hope to continue to be a role model for all young women seeking to be a strong voice in the community making a difference for others. Tell your parents to vote for me to ensure the future of D211 is bright. We’re Stronger Together!!
Jessica Hinkle: I think we could do a better job of, not just preparing our students for college, but preparing them for vocational careers and careers in the trades. Not all students are cut out for college or have an interest for it. We need to improve on how we prepare those student for life after school just as much as the ones we are preparing to go to college. I also think we need to do a better job at preparing our students for the real world. How many students do you know understand how taxes work, how and/or when to invest, how 401Ks/pensions/IRAs work, how unions work, how loans work, etc. These are important things in life that we could do better at preparing you all for.
Roxanne Wittkamp: The candidate did not respond to this question.
Anna Klimkowicz: Development of a new strategic plan. Five years have now passed since the approval in August 2016 of the strategic plan. This plan identified four strategic areas: Life Readiness; Professional Responsiveness; Community Partnerships; Organizational Effectiveness and has served as the written directive over these five years. It will be time to review the key priorities and goals of each strategic area to determine the future direction and what areas need to be added, expanded or redirected and how best to envision “The 211 of Tomorrow.” The strategic plan provides the community with the opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns and suggestions to help prepare our youth for the future.
Tim Mc Gowan: Even a year ago, I would not have imagined myself running for public office. This past year made me realize that my voice is powerful, and it has also helped students across the district realize their power as well. We are already seeing incredible impacts that are resulting from student action. I hope that D211 students continue to advocate for their needs and come together to create change.
]]>Curtis Bradley: The face the my immediate family all graduated within this district. I can always go into Schaumburg, or Conant and see the history of my family on the walls. Also living in and working in this community it makes me proud as I drive past the buildings. Also my youngest is still playing collegiate football, and during various interviews he will always reference how the coaches from D211 HS (Conant) prepared him for whats next!
Denise Wilson: The 211 students’ sprit and they deserve school board members that will be focused on moving the district forward and educating all students to meet high standards.
Robi Vollkommer: The amount of Honors or A/P course offerings. My daughter competed in a state-wide academic competition last year and there were a lot of contestants that went to schools where there wasn’t a single Honors or A/P course offering.
Kristen Steel: The other parents I met are honestly fighting for what is best for students. It might be difficult to see today, but our experience is being leveraged in a fight for your tomorrow!
Jessica Hinkle: As a product of D211 I know what we have to offer, know what we are capable of doing and know there is more that we can do to optimize the student experience.
Roxanne Wittkamp: I have two favorite things about D211. The first is the teachers. You cannot find a more devoted group of educators! The second is sports and clubs. My three children all played in high school sports, and all three played at the college level. Also, I judged BPA (Business Professionals of American), and it was great to see students create and present their business ideas!
Anna Klimkowicz: I enjoy talking to students, it’s always a fresh perspective on life. I continue to be amazed at the talents of our students. The concerts, plays, sporting events, displays of artwork, writings, etc. all have been impressive. The best is watching how students interact with one another, there is joy and laughter. I have also seen students being supportive, which truly shows compassion. Students are resilient – thank you!
Tim Mc Gowan: The community’s pride in our district’s schools. Many students really do walk away with lots of love and admiration for our high schools, which not all districts can say. Our alumni go on to do incredible things like attending prestigious universities, playing professional sports, and even coming back home to the district to teach the next generation.
]]>BIOGRAPHY: Tell us about yourself. What qualities, experiences, and skills make you a good choice for the Board?
I have had the privilege to serve as Board Member for 23 years. It has been amazing to see how the district has grown and developed over these years. I strive to encourage the District to develop and learn so that we can provide a safe educational environment for students, our staff and the community.
My background is in the human services field. For the past 10 years I have worked at a non-profit serving as the Housing Program Manager assisting individuals facing housing insecurities, food insecurities and employment challenges. Prior to this I worked in the General Assistance Department at Schaumburg Township for 19 years. My passion in dealing with those in crisis lead me to getting my Master in Human Services and becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. I have gravitated to working part-time as a substance abuse and gambling counselor. Listening to people and helping them work towards their goals has been extremely rewarding and something I enjoy. Everyone needs to be heard.
The values that I bring are: integrity, commitment, knowledge and leadership.
My involvement in the community includes, PTA, Girl and Boy Scouts, Schaumburg Peer Jury, Volunteer at WING’s, Volunteer at CAC, Schaumburg Athletic Association, and Schaumburg High School VIP. And most recently, a member of the Governor’s Task Force for Social Emotional Learning.
I also serve on various Board committees and as the Governing Board Member to Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO) for our special needs students.
MOTIVATIONS: Why did you decide to run for the Board of Education? What would be your top priorities if elected?
My motivation to seek re-election is to safeguard our schools so our communities can continue to depend on them for excellence far beyond any single board or board member’s term. I’ll use my experience as a board member to make sure we provide opportunities and support to every family, especially because the need for both continues as a result of the pandemic. I listen to all points of view and fairly consider arguments or concerns on their merits, regardless of origin, because effective school board members balance everyone’s interests and show aptitude for teamwork.
I see four areas of need:
How can the district support the mental health, physical well-being, and academic achievement of students during the pandemic? How should the district approach reopening?
COVID-19 is a traumatic event that has caused disruption in every aspect of our lives – education, finances, jobs, socializing travel and death of family members, friends and even strangers. Therapeutic support is a must; however, each person approaches it differently. As for our students, I support all opportunities for our students to be in the school building, be it in class, academic supports, activities and sports. The ability to socialize is important to all, especially teens.
As a district we upgraded our ventilation systems and increased sanitation. We aggressively purchased personal protective equipment well beyond the minimum requirements and used it to offer safe in person learning to our most vulnerable students in early fall. We expanded into opening for safe in person learning for all students soon afterward and made sure the 50% of our families who requested remote learning did so right alongside their in person peers.
We cannot say that all students learn the same, therefore our teachers provide differentiated teaching. It was important to have staff in the classroom to provide a stronger learning environment. Staff have seen students struggle and are working with them to address their needs. Many of the incompletes from the 1st semester have been addressed with additional support of mentoring, tutoring and attention of student needs. Those supports will continue. As for mental health support, that must continue and become more visible as more students return to the classroom and share their stories. Our school counselors are available, our staff is available and we have community partners for counseling services. There are numerous coping strategies that can be shared with students and staff and I would direct administration to explore these and others and see how they can be incorporated into the classes.
At this time, I believe we are planning on opening the fall of 2021 as a traditional school year.
Administration will look to the ISBE for updates and information.
STUDENT CONCERNS OVER EQUITY: Over the past year, district students have addressed the Board over racial equity and sexual violence concerns. Please describe how you would approach these issues if elected.
The issue of diversity has been raised and the board directed the administration to compile feedback from the community. Students and community member input is vital to addressing diversity and we are able to begin exploring this through the D211 Equity Teams, which started at the end of October and continue to meet and discuss areas that require focus. The committee I serve on is the Equitable Practices & Mindset Committee and our areas of focus include the following categories: school culture; behavior interventions and supports; employment matters. There are amazing students that are part of this committee who have shared their experiences, observations and recommendations for the betterment of their peers and to provide equity understanding for the adults.
Sexual violence is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. As a board we have requested a report from the administration as to how this topic is discussed in school, how issues are handled and how do we go forward.
It is possible we need to spend time discussing “Erin’s Law” more in depth in health classes. Continue to work with NWCASA and with WING’s for information, materials and supports. I expect more information at the March 18th board meeting as a presentation.
TRANSGENDER STUDENT LOCKER ROOM ACCESS: After five years of vocal community input from both sides of the issue, the district in January 2020 implemented a policy to allow transgender students unrestricted use of the locker room corresponding to their gender identity. What approach should the district take toward transgender student locker room access?
As a board member I support District 211’s commitment to providing and maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. The Board utilized all of its resources to provide that safe environment and will continue to do so. The district has developed a policy that was worded by the district and not the court or outside sources. The policy and the procedure provide the district with direction and oversite to maintain equal educational opportunities for all students.
PROPERTY TAXES: Striking the right balance between minimizing the tax burden on district residents and ensuring the future financial security of the district is challenging, especially during these economically uncertain times. What is your stance on abating or rebating a portion of the district’s property tax levy?
I believe that the next school year will come with many unknown expenses for we are still working to determine the needs of students and staff after a year of change and uncertainty. The CPI-U rate of 1.4% will be the limiting rate for the 2021 levy, which is lower than the current rate of 2.3%. This will have an impact on the amount of tax dollars the district receives. The Tax Cap laws restrict the district to increase the levy only by the increase of CPI plus and EAV of new construction. The recommended levy amounts are determined by the amount of funds needed to support general operating costs for educational purposes along with support for ongoing building and maintenance costs and transportation.
Over the last 10 years, we have abated over $30 million dollars which decreased the levy and saved the property taxpayer money. The district is debt free, which is why it is important that we maintain sufficient funds for repairs, technology, and modernization of student classrooms, additional learning spaces and improvement across all school auditoriums, along with general maintenance.
I am weighing all factors regarding an abatement, and at this time would support the abatement over a rebate. A rebate is a complicated matter and may not achieve the results some people want. The proceeds from the land sale should be used to benefit the students, for this is a one-time source of revenue and should be considered for expenses that are non-recurring in nature.
EXPENDITURES: In which areas should the district focus its spending? Are there areas where spending should be cut?
The Board had a fiduciary responsibility to its community. Prior to the referendum in 2005 District 211 reviewed all of its expenditures and incomes to address what at that time was a decrease in fund balance, this resulted in a savings of about $ 5million dollars. The referendum passed and our finances have remained stable and the district has been able to provide well maintained buildings, technology, improved classrooms and expanded curriculums at our schools.
Yes, we can and should review all of our expenditures and make changes where we can.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMUNITY: Recent months have shown increased community interest in Board proceedings. How should the district communicate with the community? How should the community be able to communicate with the district?
I strongly encourage community members to come to the board meetings, and address the board, for this is an opportunity for all board members to hear the statement. The board generally does not address the statement at the time and directs the superintendent to respond. This allows for a review of the statement or concern and the opportunity to research, evaluate or explore the statement and provide the speaker with the requested information.
An individual can always communicate with their school administration, district administration, or with the board through email or a call. However, if specific information is requested then it would be best to request a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in writing, directed to the superintendent. The board president of District 211 serves as the contact point for the board; however, communication is copied to the entire board.
There is a Code of Conduct for Members of the School Board that provides guidance so that board members continue to represent the public in education.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: While the vast majority of Board resolutions are passed unanimously, many important votes have come down to a 5–2 split. Additionally, some have raised concerns over the introduction of divisive politics into local elections. Please comment on how you would work with other Board members if elected.
I do believe that the seven members who serve on the Board bring their strengths and talents so that students receive the best education and opportunities that the district can provide, while keeping in mind the needs of the community and financial responsibilities. An open discussion during a meeting of the Board of Education is vital as we move forward. The meeting is where discussion and then direction is given to the administration. The authority of the board is when we act as a group through votes taken at properly convened meeting.
An understanding of Board governance is vital, to the strength and direction that the District takes. The Board delegates authority to the Superintendent to manage the district and provide leadership to the staff. I support discussion, I listen to all points of view and fairly consider arguments or concerns on their merits, regardless of origin and I will continue to do so. Open communication is necessary and everyone needs to be heard.
School board elections are non-partisan elections; however, community members who support candidates may be of a particular party, which the candidate cannot control. School Board members must support the students of the entire community.
OTHER ISSUES: You may feel strongly about an issue for which we did not ask a question. If this is the case, please take the opportunity to share your thoughts on that issue here.
Development of a new strategic plan. Five years have now passed since the approval in August 2016 of the strategic plan. This plan identified four strategic areas: Life Readiness; Professional Responsiveness; Community Partnerships; Organizational Effectiveness and has served as the written directive over these five years. It will be time to review the key priorities and goals of each strategic area to determine the future direction and what areas need to be added, expanded or redirected and how best to envision “The 211 of Tomorrow.” The strategic plan provides the community with the opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns and suggestions to help prepare our youth for the future.
A POSITIVE NOTE: It’s been a rough year, so let’s end this on a positive note. What is your favorite thing about District 211?
I enjoy talking to students, it’s always a fresh perspective on life. I continue to be amazed at the talents of our students. The concerts, plays, sporting events, displays of artwork, writings, etc. all have been impressive. The best is watching how students interact with one another, there is joy and laughter. I have also seen students being supportive, which truly shows compassion. Students are resilient – thank you!
]]>The Viking Logue sent out a questionnaire to all eight candidates. Every candidate was aware of the questionnaire.
Responses by Candidate
Responses by Topic
BACKGROUND
COVID-19
EQUITY
FISCAL POLICY
ROLE OF THE BOARD
FINAL THOUGHTS
Also from The Logue
Seniors: Vote on April 6, 2021
Get informed
Check who’s on your ballot
The Daily Herald’s election coverage
Palatine Area League of Women Voters’ candidate forums
Registration information
Check your registration status
Register to Vote online (deadline: March 21)
Register to vote in person at your precinct when you vote in person.
The deadline to register by mail has passed.
Voting information
Determine your precinct for in-person voting
Vote in person from 6 AM to 7 PM on April 6
Vote early starting March 22
Vote by mail: Request a mail ballot at least five days before the election. (You must already be registered to vote to request a mail ballot.)
Last November’s presidential election was one to remember. With a record number of dollars spent courting a record number of voters for control over the House, Senate, and Presidency, it is hard to overstate the vastness—and dizzying effect—of national politics. But when red and blue signs leave their lawns, northwest suburban voters often overlook the equally consequential races that come just five months after every national campaign: the down-ballot contests of the local consolidated election.
From school board members to mayors, clerks to commissioners, Cook County voters will choose local officials with immense impact on their day-to-day lives this April 6. In District 211, nine candidates vie for three seats on the Board of Education: Curtis Bradley, Denise Wilson, Robi Vollkommer, Kristen Steel, Jessica Hinkle, Roxanne Wittkamp, Amy Nelson, Anna Klimkowicz, and Tim Mc Gowan. The candidates elected to the Board will decide how taxpayers’ money is handled, how students return to school, and how the district deals with equity issues. Their decisions will directly affect every student and family in the district. The consolidated election is when the people choose them.
Or is it?
Nowhere near all eligible voters in the community cast their ballots in the last Board of Education race; only 13% of those registered to vote made their voices heard. They were the ruling elite—the kingmakers who ultimately controlled how the district was run. The other 87%—a silent majority—had no say in who represented them.
Shifts on the national level give hope that this can change. Once apathetic or disillusioned voters are seeking representation in the government. Consequently, in the 2020 presidential election, two-thirds of eligible voters cast their ballots—America’s greatest turnout in over a century. So I have a challenge to all those eligible to vote: let’s make April 6, 2021 a record breaker too.
We can start here, in the schools. Fremd’s class of 2021 numbers around 600. Approximately half are eligible to vote on April 6. Across the district, it is safe to say that there are well over a thousand seniors who have the chance to shape the future of our schools. Those votes matter. In 2019, a shift of just 294 votes could have changed the outcome of the District 211 Board race. For the District 15 race, that number was four.
The old adage “every vote counts” is especially true when it comes to local politics. So make your voice heard. Vote on April 6.
Get informed
Check who’s on your ballot
District 211 Board candidates answer The Logue’s questions
The Daily Herald’s election coverage
Palatine Area League of Women Voters’ candidate forums
Registration information
Check your registration status
Register to Vote online (deadline: March 21)
Register to vote in person at your precinct when you vote in person.
The deadline to register by mail has passed.
Voting information
Determine your precinct for in-person voting
Vote in person from 6 AM to 7 PM on April 6
Vote early starting March 22
Vote by mail: Request a mail ballot at least five days before the election. (You must already be registered to vote to request a mail ballot.)
Please note that this interview has been lightly edited.
What skills would be most valuable for high schoolers to develop?
The most valuable skills are math, science, computer science and business. BUT, and this is important, not everyone is oriented towards those subjects. You can be just as successful by trying as many things as you can until you find something you love to do and are willing to spend time at.
But no kid in school should stress if they don’t know what they will be when they grow up. Even college grads usually don’t know. Now is the time to learn all you can about as many different things as you can.
What advice would you give your high school self?
Cut my hair. It was down to my shoulders and I would chew on it in class.
You often credit your success to your willingness to learn by reading. What is the last great book or article that you read?
I’m reading all these technical articles about blockchain and NFT on Medium.com. It’s a great resource.
As we near normality, what should the government do to foster economic growth?
I think the stimulus was the right approach, along with getting everyone vaccinated ASAP.
You have talked extensively about how we must overhaul the healthcare system. What do you hope healthcare in America will look like in the future, and why is Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs a viable step in that direction?
I hope that this country self-insures every American without insurance so no one has to worry about the cost of care or getting sick. I hope that healthcare companies become compassionate and realize that you can make money and still have reasonable prices. I hope shareholders of drug companies that rip off patients sell their stock and the price drops. There should a higher price for compassion.
What common qualities did entrepreneurs that succeeded in pivoting during the pandemic have, if any?
They are agile. They realize that change is constant and they have to always be learning and adapting.
What role do you expect humans will play alongside Artificial Intelligence in the future?
Side by side. Humans are the auditors and implementers of AI.
]]>The lack of vaccine infrastructure in order to efficiently vaccinate the general public, easy access to signing up for the vaccine (especially for senior citizens), and wide disparities in terms of the communities that are receiving the vaccine meant that the vaccine rollout was shaky at its start, though it has considerably improved over the past month.
Though President Biden has pledged to vaccinate 100 million Americans during the first 100 days of his presidency, federal officials believe that a million shots a day would not suffice to vaccinate the entire US population quickly enough, and have suggested two million would be the appropriate goal to aim for. The good news, however, is that the daily vaccination rate has surpassed two million shots during the past three weeks. In total, the US has distributed about 148 million vaccine doses and administered about 113 million of those doses (CDC COVID Data Tracker).
However, though experts have praised the uptick in vaccinations in recent weeks, they have also stated that vaccination capacity is not as high as it should be. Indeed, many have warned that being complacent now could mean widespread infections with the COVID variants, which are expected to peak during the spring, similar to the pandemic’s first wave during the spring of 2020. Administering the vaccine to as many people as possible in the next months will be critical in tamping down the spread of new strains of the virus, which have been found to be far more contagious than the original.
To make matters worse, Republican-led states have recently begun to quickly rescind important public health measures. In states like Florida and Texas, mask mandates at the county and state levels were lifted over the past month and people, leading to concerns about COVID cases rising in such states.
An executive order signed by Texas governor Greg Abbott stated that “no person may be required by any jurisdiction to wear or to mandate the wearing of a face covering”, but “businesses may require employees or customers to wear masks”. Governors like Abbott and Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis have cited a decline in the number of people testing positive for COVID, but many federal and local health officials have still urged people to keep wearing masks as more contagious variants of the virus surge.
In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, called Florida’s full reopening of bars and restaurants “very concerning,” fearing it will spark more coronavirus outbreaks.
In addition, the nature of the vaccine has served to cause delays in the vaccine rollout. The two vaccines currently being administered, Pfizer and Moderna, both require their vaccines to be stored at sub-zero temperatures (-20℃/-4℉) on average), and as such, need to be transported in massive refrigerators. Furthermore, the two-shot nature of the vaccines necessitates reserving large chunks of the vaccine supply for those who have received one dose of the vaccine, which has led to logistical problems for many hospitals, though systems have put in place after an initial confusion.
There may be some welcoming news to confront the vaccination challenge: the FDA recently announced that the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine has been approved to be used in hospitals around the country. The J&J vaccine will not need to be stored at frigid temperatures, reducing a demanding constraint on the other two vaccines, and will also be administered in one shot rather than two. Health officials have suggested that the J&J vaccine will be well-suited to deliver shots to American citizens in remote/rural areas.
The Biden administration has also sought to provide relief for hospitals by providing funding to expand vaccination centers to include stadiums, pharmacies, and mobile clinics. The president has also moved to use federal disaster relief funds (from agencies like FEMA) to help out states and local communities to handle vaccination costs. Biden has also invoked the Defense Production Act in order to ramp up production of necessary materials for vaccination, like syringes, needles, etc. The stimulus bill recently passed in Congress has allocated $350 billion in order to help hospitals and local governments, which have received deep budget cuts over the past few years, with vaccine distribution, coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and genomic sequencing.
However, health officials have said that the US is already close to peak manufacturing capacity and that the federal government has already locked in and purchased as many doses that can be reasonably manufactured in such a short timeframe. From late spring to summer, though, Pfizer has promised to increase their global production target for 2021 to two billion doses from 1.3 billion doses. Pfizer also recently reported that efficient syringes could be used to extract a sixth dose from its vials, which could greatly help boost the vaccination rate over the next few months. President Biden also stated recently in an Address to the Nation that there will be enough vaccine for every American adult by the beginning of May and that the general public can expect some degree of normalcy by July 4.
Northwest Community Hospital (NCH) directors of pharmacy, Mital Desai and Jason Alonzo, shared some hospital data as well as their thoughts on some of the vaccination challenges the US is experiencing as a whole in the context of our local communities.
Alonzo began by discussing some data of vaccinations administered by NCH.
“So far, we’ve given around 4,500 first doses. 2200 other people have received both doses, so about 6700 people in total have received at least one. We’re also feeling better because we received an unexpected boost with the extra Pfizer dose,” Alonzo said.
Alonzo also mentioned that healthcare workers at NCH, physicians, EMS workers (in the fire department), healthcare workers unaffiliated with the hospital, and local dentists/hospital administration staff at smaller practices have all begun to receive the vaccine.
Desi and Alonzo also discussed the COVID variants and their potential to affect the hospital’s operations.
“So we personally haven’t experienced the variants, but we just heard Northwestern did, so it is definitely circulating in our community,” Desai said. “We do anticipate that it’s already here. We aren’t actively running any assays in order to sequence the variant, which is usually a Northwestern task.”
“In all of the variants, the vaccine has produced some quality of response. During testing, we saw that the vaccine wasn’t as robust in treating the virus, but it still is effective,” Alonzo said.
Finally, the pharmacy managers addressed vaccine hesitancy, and while they are both hopeful in resolving this issue, it still remains a major obstacle in achieving herd immunity in the community as well as in the US overall.
“I’ve met with many people and talked with them about their fears. In general, there needs to be a lot of work done nationally and locally in addressing vaccine hesitancy. Even though I feel comfortable with the vaccine, not everybody gets their information about the vaccine from credible sources. So hopefully, we can get more and more people to talk to their physicians about any concerns they have about the vaccine,” Alonzo said.
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Yet the Grammy Award nominations, released last November, made no mention of the Weeknd or After Hours. It was surprising in itself that the Grammys omitted The Weeknd from its most prestigious categories (Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year). His absence in even its genre-specific fields made for one of the most egregious snubs in Recording Academy history.
The Weeknd, labeling the Grammys as “corrupt” in a tweet, told The New York Times that he plans to boycott the awards show in the future on account of the snub. The Weeknd is in good company in his recent repudiation of the Recording Academy. Artists like Drake, Kanye, and Teyana Taylor have also expressed their frustration with the award show’s opaque, unmeritocratic selection process.
Many criticisms of the Recording Academy derive from its use of a secret committee to whittle down nominations in prestigious and many genre-specific categories. The identities and qualifications of the committee members are unknown. We do not even know their standards for deciding who progresses to the voting stage. The committee may even make its decisions to bolster TV ratings rather than to honor quality work.
Somehow, these secret committees are not the most flawed aspect of the awards process. When the 10,000 Recording Academy members choose from the selected nominees, they must vote in a certain number of categories. Voting members must consequently cast their ballots outside of their areas of expertise. They may not have even heard all of the contenders before voting; they may vote arbitrarily or select a familiar name.
The Grammy Awards may be entertaining, but “Grammy-nominated” and “Grammy-winning” cannot continue to be the most coveted titles in the music industry. As long as the Recording Academy leaves so many deserving artists behind, we cannot continue to treat the Grammys as the ultimate measure of music quality.
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Despite an array of changes to learning during the pandemic, Fremd Food and Nutrition Services have worked continuously to assure students have the energy to learn.
Since March 13, 2020, Fremd has operated under emergency feeding measures and meal distribution. As a member of the National School Meal Program and the Summer Food Service Program, both funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Fremd has been able to offer free meals to all kids in the community under 18.
Fremd offers free lunches and breakfasts on weekdays to students participating in the hybrid scenario. On average, 50 breakfasts and 165 lunches are passed out each day.
District 211 also offers curbside meal pick-up to families with children. Every Thursday evening from 4-5 pm, families have the opportunity to pick up meals for the next week. Every bag includes seven breakfasts, seven lunches, and a gallon of milk. The number of bags that can be picked up is based on the number of kids in a family.
As Fremd Nutrition Services plans their menus, federal guidelines are followed to assure that protein, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains are a part of each meal. The faculty puts an emphasis on including fresh food that caters to the preferences of families and students. In order to encourage pick-up, the food staff also includes a treat such as a cookie, bag of chips, fruit snacks, or goldfish within lunches to add a comforting touch to each bag.
District 211 Director of Food and Nutrition Services Stacey L. Lenihan explains the impact of community feedback when working on the program.
“We tailored our menu to what our families responded to that they wanted,” Lenihan said. “That was really important to us, to serve our community and what their needs were.”
In total, 1.4 million meals have been distributed across the district since the start of the pandemic. At the height of distribution in April, 5000 meal bags were picked up in a single week.
Fremd Food Service Manager Debbie Schmidt explains the gratification felt from serving the community.
“It’s all the distribution, whether we’re handing out the lunches, or we’re handing out breakfast,” Schmidt said. “It’s just getting to see all the students back in the school and, you know, some sort of normalcy.’’
Over the thousands of meals passed out, the Fremd food staff has had the opportunity to bond with many students and families within the community.
Schmidt shares her experience and interaction with families while distributing meals during curbside pick-ups.
“We’ve gotten to know quite a few of the families as they’re coming through,” Schmidt said. “We kind of know as soon as they’re coming exactly what they’re going to take because we’re so used to seeing them.”
When the new protocol first began, the Fremd Meal Service department had a surge in food requests. At first, the staff had to predict how many meals would be needed without knowing the exact demand. However, by using data from pick-ups, they’re now able to accurately predict how many meals are needed. From similar research, microwave instructions were also developed to make reheating meals more accessible.
Program participation from students has also varied as the learning scenario at Fremd shifts.
“More students are coming on site and we see that there are more of our kids participating in our program too,” Lenihan said. “We’re trying to make sure that everybody is aware that anybody who comes on site, any student is able to take a breakfast and a lunch,” Lenihan said.
Due to the pandemic, District 211 had to work very closely with its suppliers in order to effectively source food. Food manufacturers and transportation companies were limited in employees, which also affected the process of obtaining products.
According to Schmidt, the Food Services department is a very team-based program, and the staff had to adjust to the new safety regulations after being used to working closely together to pack bags and make meals. The requirements to stay 6-feet apart at first caused inconvenience for the food faculty work using assembly lines. However, they were able to set up an entire different food service model in the matter of a week.
“I think, for our food service staff, all of our staff work in this industry because they love our customers. They love working with our students, and we miss not seeing them, especially when we’re all remote,” Lenihan added.
As of March 5, the current emergency waivers extended by the USDA are valid through June 30. Summer Food Service Program will end on June 30 until further notice for any extension or changes to the program. However, the food staff will continue to work to distribute meals whether students are on or off site.
“It’s nice to know that if someone needs it, that we’re actually able to provide it for them,” Schmidt said.
]]>Curtis Bradley: I am longtime D211 resident which helps me understand the issues facing our community and the importance of this Board seat. My entire family has graduated from D211 – I’m a 1991 graduate of Conant HS, my wife is a 1991 graduate of Schaumburg HS, and we have two adult sons (27 and 23) that graduated from District 211, where they were involved in wrestling, football and basketball. I strongly believe in the importance of contributing to my community, and have been a volunteer and mentor for most of my adulthood – contributing to organizations such as the WYMCA in Elgin, where I mentored immigrants in financial literacy, or coaching football for 11 years and being an active volunteer team parent. I am also the Vice President Bank Manager at BMO Harris and have received many “Top Performer” awards in Financial/Banking Management. This experience will help me bring fiscal responsibility to the Board, ensuring D211 remains strong financially and debt-free.
Denise Wilson: Denise Wilson was born and raised in Indianapolis Indiana and moved to Hoffman Estates in 1984, as part of AT&T’s expansion into the computer market, where she has built and managed organizations and developed budgets in numerous areas of the telecommunications business (software development, sales, network security, credit and collections) and worked with unions with AT&T, Ameritech, SBC and Lucent.
Denise is actively committed to the community, volunteering for the last 20 years with the Village of Hoffman Estates starting as a Commissioner on the Zone Board and currently is a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. For the last 2 years she has been a Community Representative on the Administration and Finance Committee for the Hoffman Estates Park District.
Denise currently holds the position of Vice President on the Lutheran Day Early Childhood Center board located in Chicago Illinois. And for many years she supported the Midwest Center Against Sexual Assault as an Illinois Rape Victim Advocate.
Through her volunteering, she demonstrates a strong commitment to the Community of Hoffman Estates and dedication to support others. These positions have given her the opportunity to hear people’s concerns and to facilitate change.
Denise is a professional artist who offers commissioned artwork to “capture a moment in time” in colored pencil, graphite or pastel. She has one daughter that attended both District 54 and District 211 continuing to become a Forensic Psychiatrist.
Robi Vollkommer: I grew up in Hanover Park and I am a Hoffman Estates High School alumna. I hold a bachelor degree in Sociology and minor in Japanese from Illinois State University. After graduating college, I spent two years living and studying in Japan. I have resided in Schaumburg for the past 15 years along with my husband and three children who have gone through District 54 and D211. Two children are currently in D211.
Since 2013 I have worked as a Bilingual Recruiter at a Japanese staffing agency in Schaumburg.
My commitment to volunteering and fostering positive change has included being a commissioner of the Village of Schaumburg Sister Cities and being part of the Welcome Committee for diplomats and students from Japan and Germany. I also lead two trips to Japan with local students via my Non-For-Profit organization that I started back in 2008, Schaumburg Oyanokai. Schaumburg Oyanokai also sponsors an annual Japanese Culture Night at Dooley Elementary School in Schaumburg, home to the Japanese Dual Language Program. This largely attended community event allows for Japanese cultural learning beyond the classroom. This event has grown over the years and has included attendees like the Mayor of Schaumburg, the Japanese Consulate General, and D54 and D211 administration and board members.
I also worked successfully with D211 administration to offer Japanese language classes for students at all five high schools after seeing a need for students to have a continuum of their Japanese language studies in high school.
Some of my current volunteer commitments are Co-President of the Schaumburg HS Booster Club, Director of Schaumburg Oyanokai, and a Village of Schaumburg Sister City Commissioner.
These experiences have allowed me to gain valuable knowledge of the needs of the community.
Kristen Steel: I am Kristen Steel. I am awesome. I hope to continue to be a role model for all young women seeking to be a strong voice in the community making a difference for others. Vote for me if you are of age, and tell your parents to vote for me to ensure the future of D211 is bright. We’re Stronger Together!!
Jessica Hinkle: I am Jessica Hinkle, I was born and raised in Hanover Park, IL. I attended D54 schools then I Graduated from Hoffman Estates High School. I received my Bachelors of Science from Eastern Illinois University, majoring in Zoology and Minoring in Chemistry.
I met my husband while in high school. We were rivals as he Conant High School and I went to Hoffman.
We have been together for over 26 years and have been married for over 22 years.
We started a family and as our kids entered into school, we wanted our kids to have the same great experiences we had in school educationally, emotionally and athletically, so we wanted to be in D21.
We have a freshman at SHS and a 6th grader at Hoover Math and Science Academy. Both boys have been very active in many sports, but are now focused on wrestling and golf.
I have over 20 years of volunteer community involvement at various levels of various groups… from being a PTA member, a football team mom to running organizations and being an active member of various league boards.
Career wise, I am a business professional with 20+ year experience in quality control and quality assurance in the pharmaceutical and dietary supplement industries, with a focus on upholding regulatory systems and implementing operational compliance standards. In many of my roles I have also been responsible for hiring, training and mentoring employees as well as creating and managing multi-million dollar budgets. I believe the success I have had in my career is due to my education, upbringing, being a hard worker and an analytical and critical thinker.
Roxanne Wittkamp: I have served and advocated for our community’s educational needs as a District 211 teacher and a college professor. My three children are graduates from Schaumburg High School. I hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, an MBA from Webster University. I am pursuing my doctorate in Adult Education in which I should be complete in June 2021. I am a business college professor, National faculty member at DeVry University. I believe in education for all high school students after graduation, whether it’s college or vocational training.
Anna Klimkowicz: I have had the privilege to serve as Board Member for 23 years. It has been amazing to see how the district has grown and developed over these years. I strive to encourage the District to develop and learn so that we can provide a safe educational environment for students, our staff and the community.
My background is in the human services field. For the past 10 years I have worked at a non-profit serving as the Housing Program Manager assisting individuals facing housing insecurities, food insecurities and employment challenges. Prior to this I worked in the General Assistance Department at Schaumburg Township for 19 years. My passion in dealing with those in crisis lead me to getting my Master in Human Services and becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. I have gravitated to working part-time as a substance abuse and gambling counselor. Listening to people and helping them work towards their goals has been extremely rewarding and something I enjoy. Everyone needs to be heard.
The values that I bring are: integrity, commitment, knowledge and leadership.
My involvement in the community includes, PTA, Girl and Boy Scouts, Schaumburg Peer Jury, Volunteer at WING’s, Volunteer at CAC, Schaumburg Athletic Association, and Schaumburg High School VIP. And most recently, a member of the Governor’s Task Force for Social Emotional Learning.
I also serve on various Board committees and as the Governing Board Member to Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO) for our special needs students.
Tim Mc Gowan: I’m a father, community activist, small business owner, and 2006 graduate of William Fremd High School. I’m running for the District 211 Board of Education because there are voices that need and deserve representation at the district level. From issues of racism and sexual violence to mental health and bullying, our students are struggling with issues that prevent them from achieving academic success. While I am thankful for my D211 education and grateful to my teachers, these are some of the same issues I heard about or directly experienced. To be frank, my time at Fremd wasn’t always comfortable. And when I had the opportunity to hear from students this summer, it became obvious that students are still experiencing these problems 15 years later. My personal experiences give me an important perspective on the issues that affect students in our community who are often overlooked.
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The third week in March will start off on a cold and slushy note before better weather arrives later in the week and just in time for the weekend. A storm system responsible for a lot of severe weather and snow already will bring a chance of heavy snowfall on Monday. While the snow will not accumulate much if any at all, it may still create travel problems and reduced visibility throughout the day on Monday. Cloudy skies will linger into Tuesday and eventually into Wednesday before another storm system passing to our south brings a chance of light rain Wednesday night into Thursday. Clouds will begin to break up by the time Friday comes around with periods of sun likely. Then temperatures start to rebound into the 50s Saturday with plentiful sunshine before temperatures climb into the 60s with continued sunshine on Sunday.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 3/15: Cold and overcast with snow, potentially heavy at times, throughout the daytime hours. Little to no accumulation is expected on paved surfaces, with 1 to 3 inches of slushy accumulation possible on grassy and elevated surfaces. Gusty easterly winds combined with heavy snow could result in travel problems. Snow should end by evening with overcast skies. High temperature of 34° with a low temperature of 32°.
Tuesday 3/16: Cloudy skies for the most part, with the potential for a few peeks of sun late in the day. Temperatures will be slightly warmer than Monday. High temperature of 42° with a low temperature of 29°.
Wednesday 3/17: Mainly cloudy skies throughout the day with near average temperatures and more subdued winds. A chance for rain exists during the evening and overnight hours. High temperature of 46° with a low temperature of 36°.
Thursday 3/18: Morning showers will end by early afternoon, leaving overcast and cooler conditions in place. Gusty winds from the northeast to 40 mph at times could make for a blustery day. High temperature of 44° with a low temperature of 31°.
Friday 3/19: Gusty winds continue for at least the first part of the day with increased sunshine. High temperature of 43° with a low temperature of 29°.
Saturday 3/20: Sunny skies and temperatures likely surpassing 50 degrees will make for a gorgeous day. High temperature of 50° with a low temperature of 32°.
Sunday 3/21: Much warmer with temperatures into the 60s and mostly sunny skies. This will definitely be the best day of the week. High temperature of 63° with a low temperature of 44°.
National Weather Headlines:
A storm system moving across the United States is producing widespread severe weather in the Southern Plains as well as heavy snow in many places from Wyoming and Colorado into Minnesota and portions of the Corn Belt. Multiple violin tornadoes have been reported thus far in Texas, as well as blizzard conditions in parts of Wyoming and Colorado.
]]>A roller coaster ride of a week in terms of weather is in store for the second full week of March as we sit about two weeks away from the start of the spring equinox. The week will start off with mostly sunny skies on Monday, followed by gradually increasing cloudiness into Tuesday and into Wednesday. By the middle of the week, expect temperatures climbing into the lower to middle 60’s before rain enters the picture. There is a concern for flooding on Thursday, as heavier rain and thunderstorms may move through over the already melted snowpack and areas that will receive light rain on Wednesday. Beyond Thursday, temperatures look to fall back towards daily averages before potentially below average temperatures come back for a visit late in the weekend. A storm system on Sunday and into early next week could bring a chance for mixed precipitation. Due to the overall nature of spring storms and their greater intensity due to battling air masses, it would not be a surprise to see some snow at times, potentially accumulating. Details on the weekend storm will become more available and clear throughout the week, so make sure to stay tuned to local media for more information.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 3/8: Mostly sunny skies likely with very mild temperatures. High temperature of 61° with a low temperature of 41°.
Tuesday 3/9: Even milder temperatures combined with winds gusting over 30 mph at times and periods of sunshine and clouds should make for a beautiful day. High temperature of 63° with a low temperature of 50°.
Wednesday 3/10: Another warm day with temperatures pushing the middle 60s is likely. A chance for light to moderate rain will exist throughout the day along with gusty winds over 40 mph at times. Rain could continue overnight. High temperature of 64° with a low temperature of 56°.
Thursday 3/11: Mild morning temperatures in the 50s will drop through the day as a cold front brings rain and thunderstorms. There is the possibility of heavy rain, which could lead to some flooding issues due to the high moisture content in the soil. Rain should clear out by late in the evening hours. High temperature of 58° with a low temperature of 30°.
Friday 3/12: Noticeably colder and quieter with mixed clouds and sunshine. High temperature of 44° with a low temperature of 33°.
Saturday 3/13: Slightly warmer temperatures with periods of partial cloudiness. High temperature of 47° with a low temperature of 27°.
Sunday 3/14: Much colder with rainy conditions as the next storm system approaches. There is the potential for a mix of rain and snow at times. While the chances of accumulating snowfall are low, spring storm systems can often be stronger than they seem. Therefore, this will be something to watch over the next week. High temperature of 34° with a low temperature of 26°.
National Weather Headlines:
Much of the United States will remain quiet in terms of weather over the next few days before rain barrels across much of the country late in the week. Warm to record warm temperatures have settled in across much of the central United States, with records likely being broken for parts of the northern Plains and upper Midwest.
High elevation snow continues for parts of the northwest United States and northern California, affecting these areas through at least early in the week.
]]>Senior guard Ryan Saxe, junior guards Chris Smyros and Eli Schoffstall, senior forward Chris Skaria, and senior forward Jack Walsh stepped onto the hardwood to start the game, looking to get it done.
The Vikings got off to a hot start, pushing the gas pedal to the floor from the very beginning. Likewise, Schoffstall was on point, as he put in eight of the teams’ first ten points.
When it comes to getting off to such a hot start, Schoffstall credits the mental game.
“It’s all about composure and confidence,” Schoffstall said. “If you come out ready to play, thinking that you’re gonna make the big shot then you’ll make the big shot.”
He did just that, being one of the Vikings’ most consistent scorers all night and pumping in 21 points.
Throughout the first and second quarters, Fremd held a consistent and solid lead over Conant with strong individual performances as well as overall good team defense. Players such as sophomore forward Ryan Sammons, who tended to be a player the Vikings looked to for last second shot opportunities, as well as junior forward Archie Cox and senior forward Alec Braun were able to get in and contribute.
At the start of the third quarter, Conant began to pick up some momentum. After several three-point attempts found the bottom of the net and some Fremd turnovers were made, the Fremd lead was cut down to only two points. At this point head coach Bob Widlowski decided to call his first timeout of the half, in order to get his guys to calm down and get back on track. Coming out of the timeout, Smyros was able to answer back for the Vikings and hit a three.
Widlowski emphasizes the importance of Fremd’s offense being able to get the momentum back on their side, as soon as possible.
“Execution at the offensive end was key,” Widlowski said.”Our offensive execution allowed us to get some baskets to maintain our lead.”
But the head coach also praised the team’s strong defensive efforts, and how that lead to easy scores in transition.
“[The guys] were stuck in the half court and they were very patient, [and] we got a couple stops and we were able to get up and down and get a couple baskets,” Widlowski said. Specifically, he mentioned a key Walsh lay-up that extended the lead to eight.
While Smyros and Schoffstall lead the team in scoring with 17 and 21 points, respectively, they wouldn’t have been able to do it without the teams’ leading rebounder Walsh. The senior forward helped the two of them spread the floor, and was able to create space for them to maneuver around the court.
Schoffstall himself was quick to credit Walsh when asked about his offensive game and successes.
“I used Walsh, the big man, a lot in the post and he was setting me ball screens so I would just go around that and use those and look for my teammates and find ways to score the basketball,” Schoffstall said.
As Fremd shots kept falling and the defense was making plays, the Vikings were able to keep the lead throughout the rest of the game and take down Conant by a score of 59-49.
The boys travel to Schaumburg to take on the Saxons on Friday, March 5 and look to rack up another tally in the win column.
]]>According to a study by Harvard researchers, fine particle air pollution, PM 2.5 caused primarily by burning fossil fuels, is related to higher COVID-19 deaths.
This puts many of the same communities most impacted by climate change at an increased risk for COVID-19, and causes homeless individuals as well as those lacking air filtration to be more vulnerable to both air pollution and disease transmission.
Similarly, extreme weather conditions caused by climate change have forced agriculture and food production to infringe on animal habitats. As a result, disease transmission has become more frequent as animals migrate and potentially contact other animals or people typically not a part of their natural environment.
In Brazil, deforestation used to clear land for cattle grazing poses dangerous risks not only to habitat-loss, but also to carbon emissions. In the midst of the pandemic, illegal deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest has soared.
An article from Columbia University’s State of the Planet mentions “Between January and April [2020], 464 square miles of the rainforest were razed, 55 percent more area than was destroyed in the same period in 2019.”
The Amazon rainforest absorbs an immense amount of carbon dioxide, nearly two billion tons from the atmosphere each year, making it vital to the health of the planet and absorbing emissions.
Although voluntary measures taken by various countries during last year’s lockdowns to reduce the spread of coronavirus decreased individual emissions, later findings showed a lack of impact produced to effectively combat climate change.
An article from the Huffington Post examined a recent study on carbon emissions, which says that “the pandemic-induced lockdowns at the start of this year reduced daily global CO2 emissions by up to 17% compared to the mean daily level in 2019…But the total worldwide reduction for the year is likely only between 4.2% and 7.5% compared to the previous year.”
The lockdowns also caused disposable products to become customary for many. Plastic from single-use gloves, masks, packaging, disposable shopping bags, take out containers, and online shopping has drastically increased, adding to the issue of pollution.
Due to the ineffectiveness of voluntary measures, many experts turn to government action as a necessity for reduction of emissions.
In January, the Biden administration rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, the European Commission has put forth a proposal for an $825 billion economic recovery plan with a goal to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Despite these steps toward greener governing, in many cases climate policy has been weakened due to the pandemic, including the rollback of U.S. environmental policy following last year’s lockdowns.
An executive order signed by former President Trump gave federal agencies the ability to waive environmental review of infrastructure policies. As a result, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), that allows communities to weigh in on the impacts of potential projects, was majorly weakened.
Comparatively, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is temporarily allowing companies to “monitor themselves” to determine if they are in violation of air and water quality regulations. Some experts are outraged by this action, saying that it essentially allows companies to pollute without restriction.
The pandemic has also caused many conferences with goals of furthering international climate action to be postponed to a later date. For instance, the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, initially planned for Nov. 2020, has been delayed for a year. The World Conservation Congress global evaluation and the Convention on Biological Diversity have also been rescheduled.
The delays have the potential to hinder the application of environmentally-friendly COVID-19 relief plans around the world, and separate concerns about health and the environment.
As the world moves forward from the pandemic, it is necessary to recognize the connections between the climate crisis and global health policy. In order to recover from the pandemic and decrease climate damage, solutions will have to address both issues.
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Based on the book of the same name by Jessica Bruder, “Nomadland” tells the fictional story of Fern, a woman who, after losing her house, husband, and pretty much everything else in her life, decides to try the life of a modern-day nomad, living out of her van and moving across the western United States in 2012. Along the way she meets a collection of individuals, mostly other fellow nomads, as she tries to find where she truly belongs in this world.
The film’s star, Frances McDormand, shines in her role as Fern. In fact, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role, and it was certainly well deserved. The majority of the rest of the characters are made up of nomads Fern meets along the way, and these roles are, interestingly, played by real-life nomads themselves, lending their names to their characters. These nomads portray their characters very well, despite not being professional actors. My personal favorite cast members were Linda May and Swankie, two fellow nomads that Fern meets. They’re arguably the most significant nomads Fern comes across as Linda introduces Fern to the nomadic lifestyles, and Swankie shows Fern the uglier side, as she struggles with an illness that will inevitably take her life. The combination of these real-life nomads as well as a very well written (and Golden Globe nominated) script by writer, director, and editor Chloe Zhao makes the dialogue feel incredibly natural. However, the character of Fern isn’t written in a way that truly shows McDormand’s full acting range, as Fern doesn’t let her internal conflict show to others. Along with that, the film can at some points start to drag on with a total run time of 110 minutes that isn’t entirely engaging.
Zhao was nominated for three Golden Globes total, and deservedly won for best Director and best Drama motion picture. The cinematography by Joshua James Richards was also astounding, as the movie transports you to incredible landscapes in the west, truly capturing the isolation Fern feels as well as the fleeting nature of her location and relationships. It’s rare that only a location can strike such emotion as the scenes that take place on the coast of the Pacific and in the Badlands. McDormand interacts with the land in a subtly beautiful way demonstrates her growing respect for it as well as the fear that comes with exploration. One thing about the film that I strangely enjoyed was the absence of more famous places in the west. Instead of Fern traveling to the Grand Canyon or other famous landmarks, she, for the most part, stays away from those places.
“Nomadland” shows that the life of a nomad isn’t supposed to be a road trip or vacation, but a lifestyle, and it takes the time to show how we can turn the hardship in our lives into appreciation for what we have. And while the film leaves us on an unexpected note that leaves Fern’s next step in life uncertain, the message definitely still resonates. All in all, “Nomadland” is a worthwhile watch filled with lessons to learn about those who don’t live by the typical rules of society. It is available to watch in select theaters and on Hulu.
]]>Numbers don’t lie, and Swift’s track record speaks for itself. Swift has sold over 170 million records worldwide. She has 10 Grammy wins and her albums Fearless and 1989 are the most awarded albums in history. She is the first artist since the Beatles to have four consecutive albums spend six or more weeks at the Billboard #1 spot. She is one of seven acts total, and the second woman after Whitney Houston, to have more than one album top the charts for more than ten weeks. Her fifth studio album and chartbusting pop extravaganza, 1989, is the only album in history to have five singles in the Billboard Top 100. Her Instagram followers and music video views creep up by the second, and every album that comes out dominates pop culture. It’s easy to look at her feel-good pop songs and high school dance music and bet that her fans are limited to a certain demographic, but Swift is truly loved by more than just the tween girls we all limit her to.
Swift has also faced numerous challenges with the media and her stardom on her path to pop industry domination. Many of her songs are about her past relationships with famous singers and actors, and she is frequently photographed with her significant others. The media frequently bases interview questions and articles on her personal life, and just as recently as Monday, Swift tweeted a criticism of the Netflix show Ginny and Georgia for saying a character “went through men faster than Taylor Swift.” The truth is that Swift receives an unparalleled, unprecedented amount of hate for her personal life; if she were a male pop star, she would have been left alone, or even lauded for her numerous relationships. Just take a look at how Harry Styles, Nick Jonas, and Justin Bieber, her pop counterparts, have been supported for their personal choices as Swift faces constant backlash.
She has also battled public criticism for how she handled her sexual harassment suit and her public issues with Kanye West, who mentioned her name in a song without permission. What we fail to realize is that Swift’s legal or personal business is not our business. As an audience, when we fault her for her relationships and personal matters, we send the message that we have double standards for female icons. As we focus on her feuds and relationships, we dilute the attention her musical and marketing genius deserves, setting her farther back on her path to era-defining success.
An NPR article from 2008 by Marc Hirsh, a writer with a specialty in TV show critiques, is titled, “Hey, Has Anybody Noticed That Taylor Swift Can’t Sing?” Hirsh says she “can’t carry a tune” and describes her as someone who is “sweetly, genuinely untalented” while snidely remarking that none of her numerous awards at the AMAs have the word “best” in them. Besides simplifying her marketability to teen girls as “sweetness” and discrediting her awards, Hirsh is in the wrong. Numerous vocal coaches and experts have described that the core of Swift’s talent is in her strong breath control and ability to create vocal variations that suit the genre she is in. Swift is also a skilled guitarist and writes all of her songs. Her success lies in her ability to write songs that are catchy, lovable, and oftentimes filled with deep, relatable meanings. Hirsh places too much importance on being able to flashily sing songs purchased from professional songwriters; Swift isn’t a Mariah Carey or Ariana Grande, and she is not trying to be. Critics like Hirsh choose to hate on Swift’s success because her brand of success doesn’t match their vision, but they fail to understand that a song is not made only by how advanced or unique the vocals are—musical success largely depends on marketability and attention-grabbing hooks.
Beyond being able to survive media controversy, showcase one’s talent, and generate sales, the highest league of musicians are best defined by their influence. Among young girls, Swift has popularized breathy pop songs and red lipstick, but she has also popularized biting back at interviewers that ask too many questions about her relationships and spread awareness about her fight against sexual harassment. She has pushed country music back into the spotlight, broken records set by previous musical greats, and inspired the likes of Oliva Rodrigo and Billie Eilish to embark on their own musical journeys. Her songs dominate the radio, Spotify playlists, and now, TikTok. Swift’s music is not necessarily everyone’s music, but each of her songs allow her to tell her own story and allow us to remember where we were when those songs were popular. She has a substantial impact on teenage girls and a pivotal, overlooked influence on music as a whole, and she has paved a path for storyteller turned musicians. Swift deserves better than we give her as listeners. We need to recognize her greatness.
]]>Hallways and classrooms soon became filled with the restless chatter of students making their way to and from class. Passing periods were changed to fifteen minutes instead of the usual five, allowing for teachers to spread out the amount of kids in the hallways. As successful as this plan was, many students and teachers alike became disheartened with the small number of students that were coming to in person class.
Fremd implemented a system so that only half of the students interested in coming to school each week were allowed back into the building. This made many classes near empty. For example, my own computer science class was barely filled every day, with me as the only student attending in person. So, near the beginning of second semester, Fremd decided to open their doors to anyone who wanted to attend school in person, any day they wanted. This plan allowed many more students to begin coming to school, a benefit for everyone attending.
As a student who strives when in social situations and when around the overall physical nature of a high school classroom, this was exciting news. I was finally allowed to leave my house and venture to a location that I hadn’t been to in months. Gone were the days when the only glimpse of my classmates that I saw were their ceiling fans or the top of their foreheads. I was finally able to interact with my classmates once more, and I could not have been more pleased.
Students were welcomed back into their high school and allowed to see their friends once again for the first time in months. For some students, this was the first time that they had been back to school and seen their classmates since school shut down in March of 2020. Students who attended school in person were finally able to meet their teachers for the first time. Additionally, being in person for class allowed easier communication between student and teacher, which was very beneficial when it came to asking for help.
The opening of Fremd also gave students the benefit of socializing with people their age. They finally got to leave their homes, where they were only among parents and family members, and able to communicate and bond with their fellow classmates. This helped make students feel better overall because they were finally leaving their houses and getting back to the real world.
It was also easier for many students to focus on their tests and classes better when they were in the building for learning. Being at home, among noisy family members and raucous pets, can make learning hard. The background noise takes their attention away from the teacher, which made many students begin to see a drop in their grades. The experience that in person learning provided grounded many, helping them see growth for the first time a while.
When in person for learning, students are also forced to pay attention. It can be so easy to turn one’s camera off and become distracted by TikTok or some kind of video game. Being in person removes this distraction and forces the students to give their entire attention to the teacher, without little things like barking dogs, noisy little siblings, or funny videos sent in group chats making them not pay attention.
Obviously, in person learning is not for everyone. There are still risks for those with health problems when coming into a school filled with people, and many fear risking their health. This is a valid concern, so no one should be made to come to school without their consent. However, if you were to ask a student in Fremd’s bustling hallway, you would find that many of them are content to be back at school. It allows them to feel “normal” for the first time in months, an experience that many hadn’t had for a while.
Although this type of learning isn’t ideal, it is something new and allows us to see progress. Our lives have changed entirely in the past eleven months, an experience that none of us thought we would ever live to see. I truly look forward to the day when I can once again be stuck with the challenge of maneuvering through the bustling hallways and walk to and from all eight of my classes with my friends, but for now, I am happy with the middle ground option that I have been presented with. Even if it does force us students to wear masks and walk on only the right side of the hallways all day.
]]>The Texas winter crisis affected around 4.5 million homes and businesses. Families in Texas experienced the harsh reality of living without heat, water, or electricity for days on end and some even weeks. While battling the freezing temperatures and fear of lacking clean water, residents also had to deal with unresponsive credit and debit card readers, making cash the only available currency.
As people were introduced to this new situation, inexperience led to some people making the mistake of keeping warm in a closed garage with their car on. These victims of inexperience tragically passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning. Many activists blamed the unprepared Texas gas-based powered infrastructure as the cause of these outages, claiming that the deaths from this storm were preventable.
As many grocery stores ran out of supplies, temperatures dropped below freezing in some homes. Schools in the middle of reopening were also forced to shut down, as online classes were impossible and there was no electricity in the schools. The daily lives of many Texas residents became chaotic.
Despite the desperate situation, many Texans huddled around their fireplaces and bundled themselves in blankets. Heat shelters provided warmth for those in need of shelter, and local organizations provided food and clean water.
People were outraged at the damage the storm caused. In the midst of the dire power outages, Texas Senator Ted Cruz left on a trip to Cancun, Mexico. On the way to his flight, he was seen sharing pictures and videos of his trip despite many Texans finding themselves lacking power back home He later stated that he was merely dropping off his kids and wife and returning straight back to Texas.
However, leaked texts from his wife’s group chat tell the opposite, showing that the trip to Cancun wasn’t so spur of the moment. In fact, on the 26th, during his CPAC speech, Cruz joked about his trip to Cancun.
“Orlando is awesome! It’s not as nice as Cancun, but it’s nice” said Cruz.
With much evidence, it’s clear that Ted Cruz packed up and flew to Cancún, Mexico.
Some Texans were infuriated witnessing their senator treating the ordeal lightly and covering his actions. One Twitter user commented on Ted Cruz’s actions.
“I live deep in the heart of Texas and this should piss everyone off. People are freezing, starving, worried about clean water and he leaves for a beach vacation?” said the user.
Senator Cruz later excused his actions in a tweet and stated that he and his team are using all their resources to keep Texans informed and safe.
Out of all the chaos and losses, questions about the cause of Texas’s failure to prevent the outages and deaths have arisen. As tensions rose, some pointed to Texas infrastructure as the cause of the outages and growing death toll.
Texas generates 60 percent of its electricity by burning natural gas. As a result of the storm, temperatures dropped causing the pipelines delivering natural gas to depressurize and freeze. The ERCOT was unprepared, since Texas generally receives little to no snow. As a result, the system lacked the power to heat all houses, so it failed.
During normal outages, the limited power supply is rotated, so that everyone receives electricity in even portions. In this outage, power supplies were not rotating like normal, since key facilities like hospitals needed power.
The Atlantic called the Texas infrastructure a multisystem failure. Pipes burst from the frigid weather, contaminating the water supply. Cell networks went down, preventing people from calling 911. Local governments, cities, and private electricity companies have all continuously diverted the blame, claiming that bad weather was unpredictable. However, in previous years experts and activists have all warned about the danger of this exact type of infrastructure collapse.
The system’s failure links back to the lack of planning and the reliance on immediate responsive logistics.
During the chaos, electricity prices rose. The fortunate Texan families that did not lose power received very hefty electricity bills as a result of the loss of clientele. In some cases, people were charged $6,000-$17,000 per month for electricity bills, in contrast to previous rates that were priced at $100-140 per month. Governor of Texas Greg Abbot, later proposed an investigation of the increased prices, and stated that the residents who were charged with these prices will not need to pay.
Officials like Abbot and Cruz also went on talk shows such as Sean Hannity and other news channels and explained the situation. Officials claimed that fossil fuels were more reliable and more necessary than renewable energy during this crisis.
A senior director at ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) replied, and stated that renewable energy lost the least amount of power during the Uri storm, contrary to the claims of Governor Abbot.
Power has since been restored to almost everyone in the state, though nearly 4000 people are still waiting for power as of Feb. 28, according to PowerOutage.us. The American economy and way of life has been disrupted and changed through this crisis. The crisis has affected Texan jobs, families, and lifestyles. The incident has caused loss for many, spotlighted multiple politicians, and raised questions on the natural gas based infrastructure. Despite these problems Texas is recovering and has begun its bounce back from this crisis. Plans have been announced and action has been taken to prevent such incidents from repeating.
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Having grown up in Wilmette, Langer attended New Trier High School before pursuing a food science and human nutrition degree at the University of Illinois. After his college career, Langer entered the workforce as production supervisor at Nabisco’s Chicago bakery for four years. While at Nabisco, Langer went back to school and earned his teaching degree at National Louis University then Northern Illinois University. Langer taught science at Palatine High School before entering administration as Palatine then Conant High School’s assistant principal. As of July 1, he will step into the role of principal, replacing Mr. Kurt Tenopir, who was Fremd’s principal for the past 7 years.
How were you drawn to the field of education?
I always had that pull towards education even from a young age, but both of my parents were blue-collar workers, so I always assumed I would enter the workforce right after college. But while at Nabisco, seeing how education made my wife smile piqued my interest a little bit more. Part of working at the factory was teaching people how to do quality control checks and teaching people how to work with the new machines, so it was the education part of the job that drove me. It was kind of a leap of faith at the time but it’s been an amazing journey – no regrets – and I love where I am right now.
What has your path into administration been like?
I thought I’d be a teacher for my entire career when I originally entered education. Then as the years progressed, I thought about becoming a department chair. My principal was very supportive of me at the time, and my chair was also saying [department chair] was something I should look into. Over time, we spoke about entering administration and I got to be dean for a couple of years. The unique part about being a dean is that I got to dip my toe into administration. I was still getting to teach classes but I was also seeing the administrative side of things. I went down that road and then onto having a larger impact on the school in administration.
How has your experience with quarantine been?
From a family lens, it’s been difficult at times. Being isolated from other family members, not being able to see the people we love, it’s been difficult at times. However, it’s been great finding new and creative ways to be connected with our loved ones and as things continue to open up. From a professional lens, what my role is hasn’t changed a whole lot. But how we did things and what we did had to change a ton. Before this even started, I had no idea what Zoom was, but now it’s a household word and it’s also a verb. I think what’s been hardest for me has definitely been the decrease in student connectivity at least from my lens. Teachers still get to see students at least on Zoom, but I don’t always get that interaction and I miss seeing them.
What is your defining characteristic as an administrator?
Working with people and really listening to them, hearing what they want, and working together to develop a vision and a goal that’s great for all stakeholders. That’s what drives me. In my current role, I’m activities director. I love working with students to develop new ways to get students involved and to get them engaged in school. So that is what I would say is definitely my biggest strength and my greatest passion.
Through your work as activities director, is there a specific activity you facilitated that is unforgettable?
In the last couple of years, we’ve started 3 clubs I’m most proud of: Latinos Unidos, a Black Leader Achievers Group, and a RISE group (a women’s group). Going back to when the clubs were introduced and proposed, the idea was to not be exclusive, which some people might’ve thought these clubs were. What these clubs have done is shed light on their communities and they’ve been very inclusive rather than exclusive. It was challenging and a little scary at first to make sure the clubs weren’t taken the wrong way, but they’ve turned out amazing and they’ve grown with success well beyond my dreams. We’ve been doing anything to make students feel like they really belong, and I look forward to doing the same at Fremd.
Could you provide a brief overview of your vision for Fremd as our next principal?
What I see is working together with the current faculty, administration, students, and parents to develop that vision together. It would be very foolish of me to think that I have all the answers. It’s the collaborative work – listening to what people want, listening to what’s currently working for them and what’s not working for them – that makes a vision work and makes it meaningful for everybody. Then I see using my expertise and my skills to make that vision a reality. I’ll be working with the amazing faculty and administration that’s already there, and working with the students to make Fremd an even better place.
If you had to choose, what do you think is the most important aspect of the student-principal relationship?
I think it’s knowing that the principal is there for them; my door is always open. If students have an issue I want them to know that their voice is heard. When I say “principal,” I mean the administration as a whole. Surrounding a student with a team of caring adults is going to make a difference in a student’s life. I’d hope that students feel comfortable coming to me, and if it isn’t me then that it’d be another trusted adult, so they’re able to get concerns and worries heard. [Another thing is] knowing that I’m there to support them. One of the things I love doing is going to events, whether it’s a sport, musical, play, debate meet, Model UN, or something else. It’s important that students know they’re valued and that we care.
Do you have anything you’d like to tell the Fremd community?
I just want everybody to know that I’m so excited to join the Fremd community. Being a Pirate for 10 years, I didn’t necessarily always have a love for Fremd, but I’m excited for the opportunity. And just know that I’m going to work as hard as I can for whatever is in the best interests of all students, whether that be in the classroom or outside. I look forward to making every student feel welcome and making students feel proud to say they go to Fremd High School.
]]>What a change a week can bring! The sun will be shining in Chicagoland everyday over the next week, bringing with it warmer temperatures and rapid snow melt. A cooler and partly cloudy start to the week will quickly turn warmer and sunnier into midweek and beyond. Each day beyond Monday will feature largely sunny skies, with daily chances for periods of partial cloudiness at times. Temperatures punching through the 40s and nearing 50 at times will pave way for rapid snow melt, a process that has already begun over this past weekend with mild temperatures. It is possible that a majority of the snowpack over northern Illinois could melt by late in the week. Because snowfall on the ground can greatly impact temperatures, the temperatures late in the week and into the weekend could end up being too conservative, with temperatures into the 50s not out of the question. Mother Nature looks to continue keeping the mild temperatures in place through the second week of March, along with increased chances of rain and perhaps thunderstorms as well. Enjoy this long stretch of sunny weather while it lasts, as it isn’t very often Chicagoland sees such long periods of sunshine during the springtime months.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 3/1: Partly to mostly sunny skies, with the majority of clouds present during the morning hours. Cooler than average temperatures will make for a chilly start to March. High temperature of 32° with a low temperature of 20°.
Tuesday 3/2: Sunny skies and a large jump in temperatures likely will create a gorgeous day. Winds could gust to 35 mph at times from the southwest. High temperature of 45° with a low temperature of 32°.
Wednesday 3/3: Slightly warmer temperatures coupled with mostly sunny skies will make for another beautiful day. High temperature of 47° with a low temperature of 29°.
Thursday 3/4: Slightly cooler, though mostly sunny skies continue. High temperature of 43° with a low temperature of 27°.
Friday 3/5: Plentiful sunshine and very mild temperatures make this the clear keeper of the week! High temperature of 50° with a low temperature of 29°.
Saturday 3/6: Temperatures in the upper 40s continue along with more sunshine. High temperature of 46° with a low temperature of 28°.
Sunday 3/7: Sunny skies during the morning hours may lead to a few clouds in the afternoon, and possibly more substantial cloud cover into the evening as a storm system moves into the Plains. Nevertheless, continued mild temperatures are likely. Winds may increase from the south late in the day. High temperature of 48° with a low temperature of 32°.
National Weather Headlines:
A long swath of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, some severe, has been and will continue to affect areas of the Ark-La-Tex region northeastward into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic through early week.
Warm temperatures are rapidly expanding over the United States this week. Rapid snow melt and river ice jams could lead to flooding in many places.
]]>On Jan. 6, a new group of radicals decided to protest the government, this time the American one. Many supporters of President Donald Trump were outraged at the results of the 2020 election, which Democratic candidate Joe Biden won, and believed that the election had been rigged against Trump. This opinion was formed by Trump himself when he publicly informed the world of his feelings toward his loss.
Trump constantly tweeted about the election being rigged because of the upsurge of votes that came in overnight for Joe Biden, despite the fact that this upsurge could be explained by the influx of mail-in votes that tended to lean Democratic. Trump’s consistent attempts to spread misinformation about the election eventually led to his platform on Twitter being deactivated. However, before he was deactivated, Trump began sharing word of the event for those who supported the idea that the election was unfair.
On Dec. 26, Trump tweeted, “The ‘Justice’ Department and the FBI have done nothing about the 2020 Presidential Election Voter Fraud, the biggest SCAM in our nation’s history, despite overwhelming evidence. They should be ashamed. History will remember. Never give up. See everyone in D.C. on January 6th.”
Because these radicals began their plan and riots on the basis of violence and overturning a patriotic decision, they were far less successful than they would have been if they had chosen a route of peace instead.
Jan. 6 was an important day in history, even before the riots truly began, especially in Georgia. On that day, Georgia elected Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossof to the Senate, causing the Senate to flip to a Democratic majority.
Later that day, Trump supporters met for a rally, during which Trump detailed why the election was rigged and why everyone should overturn the decision. Afterwards, the rioters began to surge the streets and marched towards the Capitol. The National Guard was eventually deployed to the Capitol, but their delay allowed the rioters to advance toward the building. Rioters quickly overcame the Capitol and began wrecking havoc.
For the first time in American history, Confederate flags were raised inside of the building, windows and doors were shattered, and property was stolen as the mob made their way towards the House chambers. The members of Congress who were inside of the chambers were forced to hide while security attempted to stop the rioters from advancing.
Trump used this rally to attempt to win back the Presidency, but instead ended up being the first President in American history to be impeached for a second time. So what failed? Why was this rally unsuccessful, despite the fact that many in the past had ended up with successful results?
One of the biggest things that the riots on Jan. 6 did wrong was be a riot. The group used so much violence and unnecessary destruction to prove a point that could have been made peacefully, with words or silence instead. Many protests in the past succeeded because of the peaceful tactics that they used when fighting for what they believed in.
For example, during Martin Luther King Jr.’s protests, he specifically instructed the use of peaceful protests instead of violence. This allowed his point to be taken more seriously and be considered in a better light.
By using violence, Trump proved that he couldn’t be trusted. The rioters wanted to be taken seriously, yet failed when they began destroying the Capitol, something viewed to be sacred and safe. Because of this, Joe Biden, not Donald Trump, was sworn in as president on Jan. 20. Trump eventually left the White House without attending Biden’s inauguration.
The riot that Trump created was not in fact the worst riot in American history, but it was an important one. It showed his cowardice and allowed many to see Trump’s true colors. No one knows how Trump will react next during Biden’s presidency, or whether or not he will attempt to be reelected in the 2024 election, but what is known is that Trump’s coup is not an event most Americans will easily forget, and will forever darken his reputation and legacy for the rest of his life.
]]>A noticeably milder and sunnier week is in store for the Chicagoland area and will be much appreciated considering the harsh winter weather that late January and early February has featured. A cloudy start to the week on Monday and Tuesday along with temperatures closer to average in the mid to upper 30s will lead to sunnier conditions by late week with continued milder temperatures. Colder nighttime low temperatures will be possible Wednesday and Thursday nights before milder temperatures quickly take hold again. The first half of the weekend will likely be gorgeous with high temperatures near to perhaps passing 40 degrees and sunny skies. Widespread precipitation chances won’t return until Sunday, when a storm system could bring a chance for a rain and snow mix during the evening and into Monday next week. Additional small precipitation chances are possible throughout the week, especially Friday night as a weak disturbance could bring a chance for some very light snowfall. Otherwise, the upcoming week should be fairly quiet in terms of overall weather, something that many people have been looking forward to.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 2/22: A snow shower or two is possible early before overcast skies take hold throughout the afternoon. A small chance of a snow shower or two also exists overnight. High temperature of 35° with a low temperature of 33°.
Tuesday 2/23: Partly cloudy skies early will give way to mostly cloudy skies with peeks of sunshine throughout the day. High temperature of 39° with a low temperature of 33°.
Wednesday 2/24: An even mix of sun and clouds will be present for most of the day, along with milder temperatures. High temperature of 37° with a low temperature of 20°.
Thursday 2/25: Partly to mostly sunny skies during the morning hours will lead to partly cloudy skies by afternoon with a slight chance of a snow shower late. High temperature of 35° with a low temperature of 18°.
Friday 2/26: Partly cloudy skies for the morning will lead to cloudy skies by evening as well as a chance for some light snow late. High temperature of 36° with a low temperature of 34°.
Saturday 2/27: Mainly sunny skies and temperatures near 40 degrees will make this the keeper of the week and a gorgeous day by February standards. High temperature of 39° with a low temperature of 30°.
Sunday 2/28: Partly to mostly cloudy skies in the morning may lead to increased clouds and the potential for a mix of rain and snow towards evening. This does not appear to be a major storm system. High temperature of 39° with a low temperature of 23°.
National Weather Headlines:
As parts of the South clean up from two disastrous winter storms, and the Central United States tries to unbury themselves from relentless winter weather, hope is finally in sight. Closer to average temperatures are on the horizon for many across the country as more Pacific originating air begins to enter the picture. Highs in the 40s, perhaps 50s for many, will be possible for much of the Plains and southern United States as winter appears to loosen its grip on the country. Be careful however, as there is a signal that Winter could in fact return in middle March on many of the long term weather and climate models.
]]>A frigid week is in store for Chicagoland as we head into the second full week of February. Multiple small disturbances in the atmosphere will keep clouds as well as snow chances locked in for all of the week, except for Tuesday. On Monday, clouds will be a common sight with the chance for some light snow in the morning, and more likely in the evening, with up to a couple inches of accumulation possible. Tuesday will easily be the best day of the week, with sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures. For late in the week, expect periodic snow chances as well as temperatures nearing 20 degrees at times, before temperatures plummet as another arctic blast enters just in time for the weekend. Dangerously low temperatures and wind chills will be possible, along with periodic chances for light snowfall. Keep in mind that while all snowfall in the coming week will be light in terms of accumulation, the numbers could add up to several inches in total as we head into next week. Another important note to stress is that while all of these small disturbances riding along the base of the arctic airmass currently in place look to be rather insignificant, it is possible for any of these storm systems to become a more significant one. With such a deep freeze and current high snow depth in place, along with the potential for additional snowfall accumulation, many climatologists are looking ahead to spring which could feature some flooding concerns. Below normal temperatures, perhaps significantly below normal at times, are forecast to remain in place next week and likely into the end of the month along with periodic chances for snow.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 2/8: Cloudy conditions with some light snow in the morning will lead to a more substantial snow towards evening. 1 to 2 inches of snowfall accumulation is likely. Snow and cold temperatures will likely create hazardous road conditions, as chemical road treatments don’t work as well in frigid temperatures. High temperature of 13° with a low temperature of 2°.
Tuesday 2/9: Slightly warmer, yet still cold, with plentiful sunshine will easily make this the keeper of the week. High temperature of 14° with a low temperature of 4°.
Wednesday 2/10: Cloudy conditions and warmer temperatures will lead to periods of snow by nightfall. High temperature of 19° with a low temperature of 9°.
Thursday 2/11: Continued warmer temperatures and clouds, eventually leading to periods of light snow at times. High temperature of 19° with a low temperature of 5°.
Friday 2/12: Still cloudy, though much colder, with a chance of light snow showers. Wind chills may approach dangerous levels. High temperature of 7° with a low temperature of -4°.
Saturday 2/13: Frigid temperatures and cloudy conditions may lead to some snow, more likely at night. Wind chills may approach dangerous levels. High temperature of 9° with a low temperature of -7°.
Sunday 2/14: Slightly milder, though still cold temperatures are likely with a chance for snow throughout the day. High temperature of 16° with a low temperature of -2°.
National Weather Headlines:
While parts of Alaska and the southwestern United States see above normal temperatures, the rest of the United States is likely to experience a strong arctic blast as the polar vortex makes a visit. Temperatures and wind chills may approach dangerous levels, especially in portions of the northern and High Plains where wind chills lower than -50° have already been experienced this past week.
Multiple snow chances will be possible for those on the outside of the arctic airmass, wherever it sets up. These small disturbances may lay down a quick 1 to 2 inches each, though there is an outside chance that any of these systems could become more significant and drop heavier snowfall amounts, especially given the fluffier nature of the expected snowfall.
]]>A milder week filled with more sunshine than we have seen over the last couple of weeks is on tap as drier weather moves in. After a winter storm that brought nearly half a foot of snow to the northern suburbs of Chicago, as well as upwards of a foot of snow in the city and lakefront, things will become a lot quieter. A more in depth discussion of the winter storm can be found later in this article. For the middle of the week, there will be intervals of clouds and sunshine, with temperatures climbing into a more manageable range. Thursday will bring cloudy skies and milder temperatures pushing the middle 20s along with a chance for some snow. Significant accumulations are not expected, but I cannot rule out an inch or two of snow falling on the high end. As we head into the weekend, expect mixed clouds and sunshine at times, with temperatures increasing into Sunday where a mix of rain and snow is possible as temperatures finally warm above freezing.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 2/15: Mainly cloudy skies likely with snowfall, heavy at times, by evening. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for all of Cook county, due to the potential of 4 to 8 inches of snow, and near 12 inches of snow for locales bordering the lake. Due to the highly variable nature of lake effect snowfall, it is hard to predict precise accumulations. The main message is to be prepared for heavy snow. Snow will continue overnight with frigid temperatures. High temperature of 8° with a low temperature of -1°.
Tuesday 2/16: Snow ends early, with the Winter Storm Warning expiring at 12 PM. Total snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches expected. Skies may temporarily clear during the day to give way to partly cloudy skies at times. High temperature of 19° with a low temperature of 0°.
Wednesday 2/17: Sunshine likely early before clouds increase into the afternoon and evening. There is a slight chance of a snow shower or two.. High temperature of 20° with a low temperature of 12°.
Thursday 2/18: Cloudy conditions with periodic chances for snow. Depending on the track of the system responsible, forecast snowfall totals are between 0 and 2 inches. High temperature of 24° with a low temperature of 9°.
Friday 2/19: Intervals of clouds and sunshine with manageable air temperatures. High temperature of 18° with a low temperature of -2°.
Saturday 2/20: Mainly sunny skies early will lead to widespread clouds by afternoon or evening. High temperature of 22° with a low temperature of 11°.
Sunday 2/21: Overcast skies likely with a chance for rain or snow, as well as a mix. High temperature of 33° with a low temperature of 24°.
National Weather Headlines:
A quiet and warmer week is in store for much of the United States as people from North Dakota to Texas and up through the Northeast look for relief from the “crazy” weather of the weekend and early week. Several inches of snow fell in Texas, along with ice and frigid temperatures elsewhere across the South. Widespread damage and pile-ups occurred through the South due to this extreme weather.
Winter Storm of 2/14 to 2/16/2021:
A large winter storm recently moved across the southern and central parts of the United States, bringing endless impacts and numerous problems. First let’s start locally in Chicagoland where this storm is certainly one for the record books. During the evening and overnight hours of February 14th, light snow overspread the Chicago area bringing a widespread 1 to 2 inches of snow, which wasn’t much compared to what this winter season has brought so far. The next day, February 15th, the second part of the snowstorm arrived, bringing fierce winds and moderate to heavy snow across the Chicago area. The heaviest of the snow was located in the far eastern sections of the area into the overnight and morning hours of February 16th. Lake effect was a huge component to the storm, as several heavy lake effect snowfall bands drifted on and off of the Chicago and Cook county shorelines, as well as other coastal areas in Illinois and Indiana. By the time all was said and done, a widespread 4 to 10 inches of snow had fallen across Cook county and northwest Indiana, with areas closer to the lakefront seeing snowfall totals in the 12 to 18 inch range. Residents of Chicago and other communities near the lakefront spent all morning shoveling and snow blowing their way out of what had fallen. An official snowfall of 7.5” was the grand total at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, with West Ridge and Oak Park the highest totals in the area at 18.6 inches of snow.
Elsewhere across the United States, southern states arguably got hit the hardest from this winter storm. In addition to crippling amounts of ice that left trees and power lines down across the deep south, up to a foot of snow was reported in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and areas points northeast into Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York. Due to winter weather this extreme not being very common in some of these southern areas, roads were extremely treacherous, and many were left without power, heat, or water for days. An additional 4 to 8 inches of snow and upwards of a half an inch of ice is expected to hit many of the same areas in the South affected by this previous damaging storm.
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Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs Offense
Dominant superstar, the face of the league. Super Bowl LIV MVP, and winner of the league MVP within his first four seasons in the league. The best quarterback in the league, in my opinion, Mahomes can get it done with both his rocket arm and buy time by scrambling with his legs. He’ll be a surefire nightmare for the Buccaneers defense come Sunday.
Mahomes balled out during the regular season but kicked off the playoffs with a subpar game against the Browns, in which he also suffered an injury, throwing for 255 yards and only one touchdown. He came back and bounced back in a big way against the Bills in the AFC Championship by throwing for 325 touchdowns and 3 touchdowns, looking awfully scary and fully healthy. While the Chiefs tend to pass the ball an awful lot, they still find ways to get players involved in the run game. A three-headed running back attack featuring Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Le’Veon Bell, and Darrel Williams is particularly able to thrive in the redzone and goal-to-go situations. Speedy wide receivers also get involved, as head coach Andy Reid loves to sprinkle in jet sweeps and end arounds when he can.
Kansas City D
The two most prominent stars on the defensive side of the ball for the Chiefs are defensive tackle Chris Jones and defensive back Tyrann Matheiu, and both could look to make big impacts on Sunday in different ways. Jones, along with the rest of the D-Line will look to slow down the Buccaneer run game involving Ronald Jones/Leonard Fournette and hopefully hit Brady in the backfield. Matheiu will likely be all over the field, doing anything he can to get tackles for loss or pass break-ups and ultimately picking off Brady (like in Week 12).
When playing each other early on in the season, Buccaneers pass catchers Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski had really good games but I don’t really think this changes the way the Chiefs defense chooses to match-up against them. Tampa Bay has quite possibly the most star-studded offense in all of football, so for the Chiefs it’s not really about focusing on one player as it changes nearly every week who could go off. However, whether Brady is throwing to Antonio Brown or Chris Godwin or anyone else, it’s absolutely essential for the Chiefs to get pressure upfront because once TB12 gets too much time, it’s over.
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers Offense
Most Super Bowl rings of all time, the GOAT. Four time Super Bowl MVP, and three time league MVP in 21 seasons. At 43 years old, Brady was still able to throw for over 4,600 yards and 40 touchdowns and put up MVP caliber numbers. After spending his whole career in New England, entering his first season with the Buccaneers people questioned if Brady would be able to win without Belichick. Here he is.
As I mentioned before, TB12 played very well throughout the regular season but he hasn’t looked that amazing thus far in the playoffs. Since his monster performance against the Football Team, Brady hasn’t cracked the 300 yard mark (only put up 199 against New Orleans) and is coming off a three interception game against the Packers. However, these numbers don’t scare me away from Brady entirely. I think it’s really hard to just toss out all the playoff and Super Bowl experience Tom has, and a few rough games don’t make him any less of a threat to the Chiefs.
Tampa Bay D
Lavonte David and Devin White anchor the middle of the Buccaneers defense, as they are one of the best pairs of linebackers in all of the NFL. While these two may not look to stick to Tyreek Hill, they’ll still have their hands full. Their two main priorities I’m sure will be attempting to suppress Travis Kelce, as well as making sure Mahomes stays in the pocket (two difficult tasks). David and White have some help up front however, as Tampa has a very talented defensive line led by big names like Jason Pierre-Paul and Vita Vea. These two along with the rest of the line, should look to capitalize on the Chiefs’ offensive line injuries and try to hit Mahomes and shut down the Chiefs before they get going.
Earlier in the regular season when these two teams matched up, the Tampa defense got torched for 462 yards and 3 touchdowns. In order for the Buccaneers to have a chance at winning this game, they need to double-team Tyreek Hill (who accounted for all three touchdowns the first time around) and focus on not getting burnt by him and the deep pass in general. The only issue with doing that is that it may mean more open looks for the Chiefs to get the ball to Kelce, their star tight end, or Mecole Hardman, their other speedster. That’s really the hard part of beating the Chiefs. They have so many weapons on the offense, it’s hard to put more focus on one without the others having too much wiggle room to make easy plays.
Predictions
Super Bowl LV will be a good game between two really good teams, but one of them has to win. It’s really, really hard to bet against Tom Brady in the Super Bowl but I just can’t see the Buccaneers, let alone any other team, being able to hang around with the Chiefs. Tampa would need to play its best football possible, at the same time of Kansas City playing subpar in order for them to have a chance. The Bucs have a better defense than the Chiefs, but Mahomes is just too good and he ends up winning another ring and SB MVP.
Chiefs 35, Buccaneers 24.
]]>After a very active weekend involving the major winter storm that slammed much of the Chicagoland area with 8 to 12 inches of snow, a quieter week is in store for us to start February. A more detailed discussion of the 1/30 to 1/31 winter storm is located towards the end of this article. The first half of the week should bring mild and pleasant conditions, with sunshine at times likely. By Thursday, temperatures should increase to nearly mid 30s before a weak storm system delivers a small round of light snowfall into Thursday night. Snow, perhaps mixing with rain at times, could accumulate with current indications suggesting 1 to 4 inches of snow likely. Tranquil weather will follow on Friday with any light snow ending early and temperatures plummeting. The weekend will feature yet another couple of chances for light snowfall before the bottom drops out on temperatures from Sunday into early next week. Current indications suggest that sub-zero temperatures are likely, with the potential for temperatures to reach well below zero at times. Dangerous wind chills will be common, with the current forecasted temperatures being on the conservative side. Looking into the long term forecast, colder than average temperatures look to prevail through mid-month.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 2/1: Clouds early will give way to periods of sunshine during the afternoon hours. High temperature of 30° with a low temperature of 17°.
Tuesday 2/2: Mixed clouds and sun likely with continued mild temperatures. High temperature of 30° with a low temperature of 13°.
Wednesday 2/3: Warmer temperatures and mainly sunny skies will make for a gorgeous day and the keeper of the week. High temperature of 32° with a low temperature of 25°.
Thursday 2/4:Clouds early will give way to light snow beginning midday. Some rain could mix in, especially during the daytime hours. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches are likely. High temperature of 34° with a low temperature of 15°.
Friday 2/5: Clouds and perhaps a few snow light snow showers early will lead to partly cloudy skies by the afternoon. Sharply colder temperatures are likely. High temperature of 17° with a low temperature of 6°.
Saturday 2/6: Very cold temperatures with the potential for some light snow showers during the day. High temperature of 15° with a low temperature of -4°.
Sunday 2/7: Coldest weather of the season likely beginning today through early in the week. Some snow is possible, with little to no accumulation expected. Wind chills could approach dangerous levels. High temperature of 1° with a low temperature of -10°.
National Weather Headlines:
The same storm system that brought up to a foot of snow across Chicagoland moves east early in the week, affecting areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States. Snowfall could be tallied in feet with 10 to 20+ inches of snow possible for areas under Winter Storm Warnings.
Very cold temperatures, perhaps to dangerously cold levels, are possible next weekend and beyond across much of the northern United States as polar air sinks southward across Canada. While this arctic event likely won’t live up to the standards of the January 2019 arctic event, it may still place much of the northern US at risk for dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills.
1/30 – 1/31 Winter Storm Discussion:
On the evening of Jan. 30, 2021, a powerful winter storm began to impact Chicagoland, bringing storm totals of 8 to 12+ inches of snow in many areas. This powerful storm created hazardous travel conditions due to fast rates of snow accumulation, with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour a common sight across northern IL on the evening of January 30th. The heaviest of the snow fell between roughly 7 PM and 12 AM that evening, with up to 6 inches of snow falling for many during just those 5 hours. Light snowfall continued throughout the overnight hours and well into January 31st, with lake effect snowfall increasing across Illinois lake-bordering counties. By late in the evening on January 31st, a majority of the storm had passed, leaving widespread snowfall of 8 to 12 inches, locally higher for some. Due to brisk winds at times, snowfall drifts of up to 2 feet were common.
The National Weather Service commented on the storm as it wrapped up on Jan. 31, detailing that 8.8” of snow had fallen at Chicago O’Hare International Airport as of 12 PM, making it the second snowfall event in a week that produced 6+ inches of snow. The last time that happened was in January of 2014, or 7 years ago! This number also made this snowfall the first time in over 5 years to have a 2-day snowfall total this high, with the last time being November 20th and 21st of 2015 which clocked in at 11.2” officially at O’Hare. Continued snowfall accumulation throughout the day likely added to the official storm total at O’Hare Airport, therefore making 8.8” the unofficial storm total until it is updated.
]]>Last November, The Viking Logue had the opportunity to interview Emmy Award-winning journalist Kate Snow. She is the anchor of NBC Nightly News Sunday and the Senior National Correspondent for The Nightly News, The Today Show, and Dateline. During her decades in broadcast journalism, she has covered many major stories including Hillary Clinton’s 2008 run for the White House, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the Sandy Hook school shooting. In our half-hour conversation, we covered the changing role of the media and her personal experiences as a journalist.
Please note that this interview has been edited and condensed.
]]>Though the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act—which mandates 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees—garnered bipartisan support when legislators signed it into law in December 2019, Congress has yet to ensure paid leave for the vast majority of parents. With both parents employed in nearly half of two-parent households, as the Pew Research center found, the federal government must take action to provide paid family leave for all Americans.
The United States’s current policies on parental leave disproportionately burden marginalized families. Many cannot afford the 12 weeks of unpaid leave guaranteed by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Not everyone benefits from these minimal protections; the FMLA only applies to employers with 50 or more employees, leaving small business employees behind. The FMLA also further perpetuates racial disparities; Black mothers in California took on average one week of maternity leave while white mothers took seven weeks off (Rossin-Slater et. al).
Paid parental time off shows promise in rectifying the issue. When California became the first among a handful of states to enact a paid parental time-off policy in 2002, both Black and white women were able to take an average of seven weeks off (Rossin-Slater et al.). In following California’s lead, the US can ensure that all parents—regardless of their socioeconomic status, employer, and race—can take care of their kids.
Paid parental leave can also have a lasting positive impact on families. According to a 2011 study of over 100 countries, paid parental leave was found to decrease infant mortality rates by 10% (Heymann et al.). Another study found paid maternity leave was linked to increased immunizations; the children of mothers given paid time off were 25.3% more likely to receive the measles vaccine (Berger et al.).
The benefits of paid parental leave extend even beyond children. Mothers who have access to more paid maternity leave have significantly better mental health. One 2015 study found that women who had better maternity leave policies were 18% less likely to be depressed 30 years later (Avendano et al.). And, according to the US Department of Labor, longer paternity leaves result in more bonding between the father and child.
The rest of the world has already recognized all these benefits of paid parental leave. The US is the only country out of the world’s 41 richest countries that does not mandate paid time off for new parents (UNICEF). We lag behind most of the world; out of all the United Nations member states, only the US, New Guinea, Suriname, and a few island countries in the South Pacific Ocean lack paid parental leave (NPR).
Canada, for example, guarantees new parents up to 15 weeks of paid leave. Either parent can earn 55% of their average weekly insurable wage (capped at a certain income) for 35 weeks after a child is born or adopted, and mothers can even take up to 63 weeks of unpaid leave.
Paid parental leave must be a right for all Americans. Parents should not have to leave their children just days after birth to go back to work; nobody should have to choose between a steady income and taking care of their child. Paid parental leave should be a right, not a luxury. Given all of its benefits for both parents and children, the government should prioritize mandating paid parental leave. In its current state, the United States is far from the “city upon a hill” that American exceptionalism would have us believe; it would do our legislators well to look around.
]]>What happened on that day was clear; a seemingly peaceful protest had turned violent. Surprisingly, the participants of the capital riots aren’t all Proud Boys and QAnon extremists. For example, participants spotted included the ex-Olympic swimmer Klete Keller; another was Aaron Mostofsky, the 34-year-old son of a Brooklyn judge; and Thomas Robertson, an off-duty police officer. By taking a closer look, it’s clear that most of the people participating in this incident were like you and me; law-abiding citizens.
This brings up some questions like, why would a protest evolve into a mob? Why did they suddenly turn violent? What was the purpose of storming the Capitol? And did everyone share a coherent purpose?
Even the New York Times questions the clear definition of this mob: “Was this an angry throng, a chaotic demonstration, a protest turned ugly or a deliberate insurrection — or some combination of them all?”
Each participant’s purpose in storming the capitol may remain a mystery, but one thing that can be uncovered is the science behind the formation of mobs, also referred to as mob mentality, the phenomenon where people profess their beliefs and act out in ways which they would have never considered independently.
According to Psychology Today, when like-minded people in a group reinforce one another’s viewpoints, it strengthens the opinions of each person in the group. In other words, within a mob, people who support other mob participant views will only make that participant more confident in supporting their own ideas.
This influence from other people can sometimes be so strong that it blurs the line of righteousness. This influence is observed in everyday life. For example, the purchase of a new video game by one person, might influence their friend to also buy the game. Or when one sibling gets a phone, the other sibling might also beg for a phone. In fact, this same principle applies to a mob, as when one person throws a rock, people who saw the throw would think it’s acceptable to throw rocks.
Psychologist Robert Cialdini writes in his book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, “Whether the question is what to do with an empty popcorn box in a movie theater, how fast to drive on a certain stretch of highway, or how to eat the chicken at a dinner party, the actions of those around us will be important in defining the answer.” In a way, the opinions of others shape the manner in which one acts.
Not only does mob mentality tamper with one’s morals, but it also tampers with one’s reason. A historical example of mob mentality was the Salem Witch Trials, where innocent women were killed without the physical evidence that they were actually possessed.
There are several theories formed regarding the potential causes of mob mentality.
Dr. Wendy James lists three: Contagion Theory, Convergence Theory, and Emergent-Norm Theory.
Contagion theory claims that “crowds exert a hypnotic influence on their members that results in irrational and emotionally charged behavior often referred to as crowd frenzy.” On the other hand, the Convergence theory says that violence within masses of people is the “result of like-minded individuals coming together.”
Lastly, the Emergent-Norm Theory states a mixture of the two previous theories is what leads to mob behavior. In essence, a riot can be caused by either conforming to the actions of the majority or the group is already made up of like-minded individuals. Perhaps one of these theories could have been the reason for the Capitol riot.
The idea that your opinions and actions are directly influenced by other people, both negatively and positively, is also supported by Henry David Thoreau.
Brain Word Magazine quotes the famous philosopher, who said “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation,” which “Henry David Thoreau wrote famously in 1847 before embarking on a trip to Walden Pond, where he lived largely in seclusion for two years. He hoped that somewhere deep in the New England wilderness he’d be able to find his true self.”
Though you don’t necessarily need to isolate yourself for years, it may be beneficial to discover and define your own beliefs and opinions before listening to people around you.
Another factor that contributes to the formation of mobs is the emotional side of mob mentality. As years of frustration, gouging hatred, and resentment propel people into action at a protest, the crowd would be engulfed with emotions. These emotions carried forth by everyone makes the protest prone to spark violence. Any incident, such as an innocent death or police attacking, might ignite the fuse to an explosive, violent mob, quickly transforming a protest into a riot.
According to Ken Eisold, when protests turn into mobs, “one is immersed, engulfed. And it can become an exuberant experience, a joyful release for long-suppressed emotions. It can also become manic, driven, a means of restlessly seeking new outlets.”
The emotionally unstable and driven mob also offers a sense of belonging. Similar to what is felt by audiences at rock concerts and sports games, in the heat of everything only emotion drives the crowd. The only difference is that mobs tend to easily get out of hand since they lack a coherent purpose. However, this does not justify the actions of mobs, rather the emotional aspect of mob mentality shows that anyone can get caught up in the energy.
Forbes proposes several solutions to the problems of mob mentality in the context of social media.
Issues like potential miscommunications and the desire to get more likes and approval from others can be lessened with methods like doing “your research before forming an opinion and being open to additional information that comes your way.”
Forbes also suggests being “comfortable with standing out, even if that means standing alone.” In other words, it is important to define your individuality before listening to claims without reason from others that unbalance your judgment in those situations.
During riots, it’s human nature to follow the majority and the beliefs of others. The common people have fueled these mobs, and it was the common people who fueled the assault on our capital. This will be a constant reminder of the polarization faced in our nation, and with President Biden’s inauguration, hopefully our nation’s democracy and unity can be restored.
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The first COVID related deaths were reported in early February 2020 and has had dramatic graph shifts ever since. At first, the graph demonstrated the trend of sharp peaks once a week, at an increasing rate as the month kept progressing.
The first massive peak of the year, also referred to as the first wave, took place in May of 2020. In Illinois specifically, the highest count was on May 13 with 193 deaths in one day. The graph then progressed to go on on a negative slope until June 8, with another steep peak at 203 deaths in one day. By the end of June, the death toll of Illinois had hit, according to the Chicago Tribune, over 5,900 confirmed deaths.
Simultaneously, America’s count had been growing overall. But the US and Illinois had slightly different patterns. A graph published by the New York Times says, the US as a whole, peaked in mid April, with 2,309 deaths reported on April 16, Contrastingly to Illinois, the overall average death rate dropped drastically in late May and early June, fueling the hopes of many Americans that life will soon go back to normal.
The death rate rapidly slowed down in mid 2020. From mid September to early November, the average death rate remained at about 800. There were no clear signs of a decrease nor was a second wave expected.
Starting in mid November to today, the death rates have risen rapidly at a very concerning rate. The New York Times says one of the days with the highest death count being over 3,000 confirmed deaths on Jan. 14, 2021.
The anniversary of one year of quarantine is nearing, but the rate of increase of COVID confirmed cases, as well as deaths, has been on a new rise.
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COVID-19:
As the biggest threat to the nation at the moment, President Biden has vowed to directly tackle COVID-19 and plans to introduce new policies and ideas to deal with this issue.
At one of his first press conferences dealing with COVID-19 as President, Biden announced that he intends on unrolling a mass vaccination plan, which is aimed at administering 150 million doses over his first 100 days in office.
“This will be one of the most challenging operational efforts we’ve ever undertaken as a nation,” Biden said.“We’ll have to move heaven and Earth to get more people vaccinated, to create more places for them to get vaccinated, to mobilize more medical teams to get shots in people’s arms.”
The administration also bought an additional 200 million doses of COVID vaccines, which should be capable of vaccinating 300 million people or nearly the entire population of the United States. In his announcement, President Biden hoped to get to a stage where anyone who wanted to get a vaccine would be able to by late spring or early summer.
Biden’s COVID agenda also works to further involve the federal government in matters of distribution, whereas the previous administration left it upon the states to distribute vaccines. Biden also plans on invoking the “Defense Authorization Act” to bolster the vaccination production rate and aims to halt the United States’ departure from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The President is also asking Congress for additional money to help in the distribution effort. Out of the $400 billion requested, $20 billion would be allocated to a mass vaccination program, $50 billion towards testing and contact tracing, and $30 billion for supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Economy:
Another major hurdle for the Biden administration is the aforementioned crumbling economy that goes hand in hand with the COVID crisis. As the pandemic rages on, it has brought unprecedented job loss and hurt small businesses, average Americans are struggling and these will all be on President Biden’s economic agenda.
The biggest part of this plan is to pass another COVID relief bill worth about $1 trillion which would provide direct financial support to Americans and emergency funds for small businesses. The “American Rescue Plan” constitutes $1400 direct payments to struggling Americans.
The additional $1400 has already sprouted some opposition to the proposal, Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia told the Washington Post “Absolutely no” to the notion of providing additional relief money to struggling Americans, after issuing $600 payments in early December.
This early opposition may be a hard fight for Biden should Manchin not vote in favor, prompting him to look for other Republican senators to vote in favor of his proposal. In other direct relief, Biden’s plan also includes expanding unemployment insurance by $100, and increasing the child tax credit.
The other major focus of the Biden economic plan is on small businesses, for which he hopes to provide $35 billion for small business financing programs, increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and $350 billion for the states for financial support. He hopes to introduce a $1.3 trillion infrastructure plan which would be implemented over a 10 year period.
Reversing Trump policies and first executive orders:
Even before he was elected, President Biden had made it clear that he would focus much of the beginning of his term reversing several Trump administration policies in an effort to be able to further push his agenda and set the groundwork to implement more policies. Starting on his first day, President Biden issued a flurry of executive orders reversing many of the Trump administration’s policies.
On matters of immigration, the President signed an order reversing the Trump-era travel ban on several Muslim majority and African countries that had sprouted controversy when it was implemented. He has additionally promised to reunite families separated at the U.S-Mexico border. The President has placed his own travel ban on the country of South Africa following the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant in that state, and plans to extend travel bans to European Union, the UK, Ireland, and Brazil.
Among the orders from his first day, the President issued a mask mandate on all federal land, property, buildings and some modes of interstate transportation.
In other parts of the economy, the President issued an executive order laying out the groundwork for a $15 minimum wage, and food assistance.
In other executive actions, the President has issued an order to accelerate the production and development of vaccines, testing, and PPE. He signed an executive order to halt the construction of the border wall from the Trump administration by terminating the national emergency which had been declared to construct it. He canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, and also reversed the ban from the Trump administration on transgender Americans from serving in the military.
On his seventh day in office, the President issued an executive order directing the incoming Attorney General not to renew contracts with private prisons, in a move to address his criminal justice reform agenda.
Environment and climate change:
The Trump administration had seen a long list of reversals from the Obama administration’s environmental policies. With President Biden in the White House now, he hopes to restore most of the major climate policies and further advance on it, a promise that was central to his campaign and important for many of his voters.
As said on the White House’s website, “President Biden will take swift action to tackle the climate emergency. The Biden Administration will ensure we meet the demands of science, while empowering American workers and businesses to lead a clean energy revolution.”
One of his more prominent foreign policy goals was to re-enter the Paris Climate agreement, which President Trump had exited during his administration citing that it “undermined” the economy and put the United States at a permanent disadvantage.
“I was elected to represent Pittsburgh not Paris,” Trump said.
On his first in the oval office as President, Biden reversed another Trump policy and rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, the United States will take 30 days to formally rejoin the Paris Agreement.
In another one of his executive orders, the President directed members of his administration to continue to reverse many of his predecessor’s climate reversals.
On his agenda, Biden also plans on using the Federal government’s purchasing power to increase the demand and purchase of climate friendly “green” products, which he would implement by requiring federal agencies to buy eco-friendly products for their respective uses.
Other things on the list:
In order to be able to pay for his policies, Biden plans on requesting Congress to repeal the 2017 tax cuts, yet another indication of a move away from the Trump administration. The President argues that the tax cuts mainly favored wealthy Americans.
On guns, the President wants to request Congress to re-examine loopholes in its background check system, and repeal liability protections for gun manufacturers, which would allow Americans to file lawsuits against manufacturers should one of their products be used in a crime. President Biden also said he would “restructure” federal agencies that overlook gun laws.
With the impeachment trial of his predecessor looming over his first 100 days, President Biden has come out in support of it, but believes that there will not be enough Republican senators to vote in favor of it.
Another hit from the COVID-19 crisis is the massive shutdown of schools across the country. With schools beginning to welcome back a select amount of students for in-person instruction, President Biden has indicated that he would like a majority of elementary and middle schools to reopen within the 100 day time period. However, this plan does have a few setbacks including several new and more contagious COVID variants as well as parents hesitant of sending their children back to school .
The first 100 days of any Presidency have been considered one of the most important periods of work and development for any new administration. They are a major indication of the new President’s governing style and what they consider important. For any President, pushing ahead on campaign promises is their biggest priority, however President Biden’s main aim will be to push down the COVID-19 pandemic, revitalize the economy, work on America’s foreign policy, and give a major focus on climate change, which will come to define his first 100 days in office.
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English teacher and Writers Week co-sponsor Gina Enk describes the adapted format for this year’s Writers Week.
“We chose sets of two authors who are friends with each other and fans of one another’s work and asked them to film themselves interviewing one another,” Enk said. “For student periods, it will be somewhat more traditional, in that students will still have five minutes for their presentations.”
Making such an adjustment and editing the numerous videos requires a greater amount of support from the Fremd English department, which significantly lessens the scramble to pull all aspects of Writers Week together. Meanwhile, the ever-changing situation has called for a lot of flexibility in the planning schedule.
Writers Week co-sponsor and English teacher Russell Anderson reflects back upon the past and ongoing planning process.
“Ever since Feb. 7, 2020, we’ve started thinking about the next Writers Week,” Anderson said. “We’ve had a lot of ideas rolling around, but we’ve almost had to push it to the last minute to see what we have to work with, so the timeline is much shorter than what we’re used to working with.”
Given the time crunch, teacher performances will unfortunately not be featured in this year’s Writers Week. Students often saw Writers Week performances with their classes, but students are getting less class time due to the current school format. Meanwhile, Anderson and Enk wanted teachers to have as much flexibility as possible to show as many episodes of Writers Week as they can.
Enk explains how she and Anderson came to the decision to keep to student episodes and guest speaker conversations.
“Even as it is, we already have more episodes planned than teachers will be able to show,” Enk said. “Students can obviously watch them on their own too, but we wanted to give a little more balance for teachers who wanted to create that Writers Week environment for their students.”
In spite of a few losses, an advantage of this year’s format is the greater availability of guest speakers. During a traditional year, time and geography can be hindrances to professional guests attending. For the virtual format, guests – most of them returning speakers of Writers Week – are filming from their houses and offices with less time restrictions.
Seeing more writers “in conversation” with one another is yet another perk that Anderson highlights as a rare occurrence if not for the current situation.
“We’ve had conversations before, but only once or twice,” Anderson said. “The conversation between Pulitzer Prize winner Tyehimba Jess and Pulitzer Prize finalist Patricia Smith is something we’d never see if it were not for this very unique situation, so that should be pretty interesting.”
Since Writers Week is a very community-based event, continuing the immediate feedback and support usually seen in the auditorium after student performances is crucial to keeping the Writers Week integrity alive. Especially due to the isolation, Anderson encourages students to keep reaching out to friends and classmates who choose to share their stories via Writers Week.
“I know how important that is to student presenters to feel validated or that the story was heard,” Anderson said. “Even though students listen at home or in the classroom, students should reach out in any way they can; I think that’s going to be an important part of building this year’s Writers Week.”
]]>The upcoming third full week in January will feature many days with sunshine as well as colder temperatures than we have been accustomed to so far this winter. Focusing on the beginning of the week, it is likely we will remain mostly cloudy with colder conditions and chances for flurries and light snow showers. For the middle of the week, expect the sun to return and continue to stay through late in the week, with some clouds beginning to mix in towards the weekend. Colder air should begin to enter our area by the weekend but will be partially halted by a storm system entering the picture late in the weekend and into early next week. This storm system should bring widespread overcast skies as well as a chance for snow. While the magnitude of the snowfall event next weekend is uncertain, there is a definite possibility that we could see some accumulating snow in or around the general area. Any accumulating snow will be welcome by snow lovers, considering how quiet the season has been thus far in terms of higher end snowfalls.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 1/18: MLK day! Temperatures will be on the chillier side with mainly cloudy skies and scattered snow flurries. High temperature of 29° with a low temperature of 15°.
Tuesday 1/19: Continued overcast conditions with light snow showers at times. High temperature of 23° with a low temperature of 10°.
Wednesday 1/20: Sunshine returns as temperatures warm up to near freezing. High temperature of 32° with a low temperature of 29°.
Thursday 1/21: Largely sunny skies and warmer temperatures makes this the keeper of the week. High temperature of 36° with a low temperature of 17°.
Friday 1/22: Mostly cloudy skies early should lead to periods of sun and clouds throughout the afternoon. A sharp drop in temperatures is likely, perhaps leading to single digit air temperatures by Saturday morning. High temperature of 23° with a low temperature of 8°.
Saturday 1/23: Mainly sunny skies early will lead to increasing clouds and eventually mostly cloudy skies by evening. High temperature of 21° with a low temperature of 16°.
Sunday 1/24: Overcast conditions likely with the potential for snow, possibly accumulating snow. High temperature of 29° with a low temperature of 24°.
National Weather Headlines:
A strong high pressure will drop south from Canada into the northern Plains and eventually the Midwest late this week, bringing cold air with it. Sub-freezing high temperatures will be possible in the far northern Plains with the potential for single digit high temperatures across much of the northern Plains and Midwest for one or two days.
A storm system will ride through the middle of the United States late this week, bringing accumulating snow to its north, and thunderstorms to its south. Much of the country has yet to see a major winter storm, but it appears that this storm will probably not be that impactful. Severe thunderstorms could be possible across portions of the Gulf of Mexico states with this storm system.
]]>These efforts have especially concentrated on understanding significant losses in the 2020 congressional and state legislature elections, and though it may take more time to study factors contributing to these losses, it has become clear that Republican lawmakers are responsible for several suppression tactics in the US.
For instance, in one of the tightest races in Georgia’s history, Republican nominee Brian Kemp narrowly defeated Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams by just 54,723 votes in the state’s gubernatorial election two years ago. There were, however, troubling signs of Republican interference in the election results. In a report by the Associated Press, Georgia’s Republican-controlled legislature has closed nearly 200 polling places in Democratic counties in recent years, made severe cuts in early voting, and purged nearly 10 percent of people from its voting lists (nearly 1.5 million in the past 6 years).
Yet these discriminatory tactics don’t just stop with the state legislature: during the actual election, an investigation revealed that Kemp, who was Georgia’s secretary of state at the time (he oversaw the election process, setting up a clear conflict of interest), had improperly removed nearly 340,000 voters from the state’s voter registration rolls. In addition, Kemp’s office blocked an additional 53,000 voters from voting because some voters misspelled their names, flagging their ballots as suspicious in Georgia’s “exact-match” system. These efforts have disproportionately affected black, Latino, and Asian-American voters, a group of voters that have, in general, tended to favor Democratic candidates.
Controversy over voter suppression isn’t limited to Georgia: in fact, in Florida, an important swing state whose results have major implications for both parties, Republican two-term former governor and current senator Rick Scott has actively enforced discriminatory voting rights laws. In Florida, a state that prevents ex-felons from voting, the state legislature will only restore an ex-felon’s voting rights after they wait 5-7 years and file an appeal.
In an interview with NPR, journalist Ari Berman, an expert on voter suppression in the US, discussed the extent of Florida’s disenfranchisement of its ex-felons in the 2018 midterm elections.
“One in 10 people in Florida — including one in five African-Americans in the state — can’t vote because they have a felony conviction. So 10 percent of people in the most important swing state in the country aren’t able to participate and aren’t able to vote in 2018,” Berman said.
In an increasingly more diverse America, a shrinking Republican Party has employed all kinds of tactics in efforts to maintain power in important states. These deliberate voter suppression tactics will weigh heavily in Democrats’ minds as the two runoff Senate elections occur in Georgia next month.
Abrams, who led a massive campaign to register 800,000 new voters, stated in an interview with CBS that she believed the election “was stolen from the voters” and that “it can’t happen again.” As Abrams aptly put it, efforts to fight voter suppression “not only changed the trajectory of Georgia, but also changed the trajectory of the nation.” Ultimately, she says, “our combined power shows that progress is not only possible, it is inevitable.”
]]>A very active weather week is on tap for the area as multiple storm systems bring both chances for snow and very cold air into the picture through the end of next weekend. The first storm system will be a potent storm, bringing widespread accumulating snowfall to the Chicagoland area during the first part of the week. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from Monday at 4 PM until Tuesday at 5 PM. Widespread snowfall amounts between 5” and 8” are currently forecasted, with isolated 10” snowfall totals possible. After this storm system departs, attention shifts towards a small disturbance passing through the area midday on Wednesday. While not a big storm, this disturbance could lay down a quick half inch of snow and bring in significantly colder air as it exits the region. Overnight low temperatures late in the week could fall well into the single digits, creating potentially hazardous wind chills below 0 degrees and general inconveniences. Temperatures should begin to moderate into the weekend with yet another storm system entering the Midwest. A mix of rain and snow is currently expected over the weekend with this storm system, though cannot rule out any accumulating snow completely.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 1/25: Cloudy conditions throughout the morning and afternoon hours will give way to snow by evening as a winter storm enters the area. A Winter Storm Warning goes into effect at 4 PM Monday evening. Heavy snow, combined with gusty winds at times, will create hazardous travel conditions and near blizzard conditions at times. Snow will continue overnight. High temperature of 32° with a low temperature of 28°.
Tuesday 1/26: Continued moderate to perhaps heavy snow at times during the morning hours. Light snow will continue through the evening. The Winter Storm Warning will expire at 5 PM. Lake enhancement to some of the snow could boost snow totals in portions of Cook County. Total snowfall accumulations of 5 to 8 inches expected with isolated higher amounts possible. High temperature of 31° with a low temperature of 24°.
Wednesday 1/27:Continued cloudiness with the potential for a round of some light snow in the afternoon hours. Total snow accumulations from this should be minimal and less than an inch. Cold temperatures settle in overnight. High temperature of 26° with a low temperature of 7°.
Thursday 1/28: Continued cold with mixed clouds and sun at times. High temperature of 21° with a low temperature of 4°.
Friday 1/29: Generally partly cloudy skies with cold temperatures are expected. High temperature of 26° with a low temperature of 20°.
Saturday 1/30: Increasing clouds throughout the morning hours will lead to snow and eventually a mix of rain and snow by evening. High temperature of 34° with a low temperature of 31°.
Sunday 1/31: Continued sloppy weather conditions likely with rain and snow throughout the day. High temperature of 36° with a low temperature of 25°.
National Weather Headlines:
A potent storm system will affect portions of the Midwest early this week with heavy snow. Southern portions of Nebraska and Iowa, along with northern portions of Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois will be affected with periods of heavy snow through Tuesday. Winter Storm Warnings have been posted for these areas, which could see up to a foot of snow.
Cold conditions are forecast to settle into the Midwest and northern Plains states as the aforementioned storm system departs the area. Sub-zero temperatures are possible in many areas as single digit low temperatures and lower affect most if not all of the Midwest.
]]>These are all valid reasons to not wear a mask when going out in public or meeting with others. Doctors and nurses are encouraged to wear them in the hospital because they face patients with diseases and illnesses, but not the general public. Yet, due to Covid-19 this year, that same advice has to be applied everywhere as the virus is not limited to only medical centers.
On July 4, the US exhibited its failure as a country to practice basic hygiene and care for others. While mathematics may have taught the probability of young people dying from Covid-19, the education system failed in teaching the younger generation how to practice empathy and intuition.
As a relatively young person like myself, the chance of me dying from Covid is lower compared to the elderly, newborns, and those with compromised immune systems. So what is the harm of going to the beach on a national holiday?
The younger generation having fun in the sun connotes a symbol of youthfulness and hope for the future. That is, in the case where doing just that will not result in the loss of thousands of lives. Not everyone is at a stage in life in which their immune systems will be able to fight off the virus.
In the quieter neighborhoods, where Covid has not reached as many, some begin to doubt the existence of the virus itself. Otherwise known as egocentric bias, one’s own opinions are placed higher than reality. While the nearest hospital may not have held any Covid cases recently, this does not detract from the millions of cases that have popped up in the other 57,308,738 square miles of Earth that exist. Instead of being thankful that their friends or family members are infected, people assume that it does not exist.
Beyond the neighborhood, the Internet itself holds much information that may be interpreted in the wrong way. Despite the millions of articles that state the efficacy of masks and decades of masks preventing diseases, there will be people who look at that blog post on the 7th page of Google search stating that masks are useless. Such is the case with confirmation bias, in which people only look for information that agrees with their own beliefs and ignore the ones that confirm the opposite.
So instead of wearing anything to prevent an airborne virus from reaching one’s lungs, people have approached the pandemic with a regressionist approach. Why wear a mask when one can wear nothing?
Being pessimistic is perfectly acceptable, but when that perspective on life leads to the endangerment of the lives of others, then it becomes a problem, especially when thousands of lives are lost each day due to this behavior.
The quotes, “I don’t wear a mask in public, and I’m still fine” or “It won’t happen to me” has become the two most dangerous things anyone can say during this pandemic. The optimism bias, where one believes that harm will not come their way, may work when the town is self-isolated and has a population of ten people, but such is not the case. People will get infected, and people will suffer from the consequences.
Throughout the pandemic, the idea of wearing a mask as a safety measure has become increasingly political. Some have compared the notion of wearing a mask akin to the government violating the rights of US citizens. Frankly, many are fighting to become more unhygienic and convey more toxic individualism, which is the exact opposite of what a society should strive for.
For any functioning person, the comparison between wearing a mask to the disruption of rights would seem too far-fetching. The real issue, in this case, is not because of the government’s increasing control, but because masks are uncomfortable to wear.
In the 1980s, people expressed similar sentiments towards seatbelts, also considering it an overextension of the governmental powers over the people. The US, as it seems, has had its fair share of disliking their safety. I, personally, would rather be stuck in the car than to fling 60 feet up into the air because I didn’t wear a polyester strap over my shoulder. On a similar note, I’d rather have my glasses fog up temporarily than to contact a viral disease that has single-handedly ruined millions of lives throughout this entire year.
Every country, every person, is facing hardships, grief, and the altercation of daily livelihood. It is no question that everyone wants life to become the way it was before the pandemic and lockdowns. Yet, there are people out there who prefer to care for themselves, and not for the benefit of society.
]]>Insulin is a hormone essential to sustain life. For people with diabetes, their body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. When the body doesn’t receive the required insulin, cells start malfunctioning which can lead to death. In fact, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death nationally and in Illinois.
The affordability of insulin is a problem. For two decades the price of insulin has skyrocketed. Now in 2020, due to the Coronavirus, affording insulin has become even more of a problem, as millions have lost their jobs and are experiencing financial burdens. In the US, 29.3 million patients are paying anywhere from $300 to over $800 a month for their necessary insulin. That’s a lot of money.
In fact, some insulin users have started rationing their insulin due to its cost, with one in four patients experiencing cost-related insulin underuse. Patients with lower incomes were more likely to report cost-related underuse. Last year alone, there have been at least four reported deaths due to insulin rationing. If insulin prices weren’t so high, these deaths could have most likely been prevented.
Insulin used to be cheaper. Back in 1996, when Eli Lilly’s insulin was first released, the price for a one month supply of insulin was $21. Now, in 2020, that same vial is said to be around $275, which is a 1200% increase on the original price. Originally, the inventor of insulin, Sir Frederick Banting sold the patent rights of insulin for $1, claiming that the discovery belonged to the world, not to him.
There are many reasons why insulin has become so expensive, however, as for now this is still a problem. Governors of some states have started acknowledging this problem, especially as more families experience economic pressure during the coronavirus pandemic.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA), has supported more affordable insulin through their work at the federal and state levels. They are urging governors across the country to institute a zero-dollar copayment for insulin during the COVID-19 emergency.
In Jan. 2020, Illinois passed a legislation that puts a $100 cap for a 30-day supply of insulin, meaning in Illinois the 1.3 million adults,12.5% of the population, who have diabetes will only need to pay $100 per month for insulin. This way insulin becomes much more accessible for the users who need insulin to sustain their life.
Illinois and Colorado were the first two states to pass an insulin cap bill. From March through April 2020, six other states have also passed laws that cap insulin copayments at or under $100 per month. In addition, five other states are waiting for a final verdict regarding insulin copay caps. These legislations have relieved the financial burden of many insulin users within their states, and hopefully more states will follow.
]]>A generally mild, though cloudy week is expected with a couple of chances for precipitation, mainly in the form of snow. After a week of little to no sun, many are getting excited ahead for any chance of more sun this week. Unfortunately, sunshine will be limited again this week, with the best chances of sunshine being confined to early in the week. Temperatures will continue to stay mild for January until a storm system on Friday brings in more seasonable temperatures. The storm system on Friday is likely to produce some snow across the area, though exact amounts and impacts are unclear. Stay tuned to local news and media for the latest information on that storm system. Clouds should continue into the weekend with colder air entering the region. It is possible that a few flurries or light snow showers could occur on Sunday. January is historically one of the cloudiest months in Chicagoland, so it is no surprise that the sun has been limited.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 1/11: Mixed clouds and sun throughout the day, with periods of increased clouds. High temperature of 30° with a low temperature of 26°.
Tuesday 1/12: Partly cloudy skies likely with the potential for periods of mostly sunny skies. This combined with warmer temperatures makes this the keeper of the week. High temperature of 34° with a low temperature of 29°.
Wednesday 1/13: Cloudy skies return with slightly warmer temperatures and a couple periods of mixed sunshine possible. High temperature of 35° with a low temperature of 30°.
Thursday 1/14: Overcast conditions likely throughout the day as the next storm system enters the Midwest. Warmer temperatures likely with a chance for some light rain or snow during the evening and overnight hours. High temperature of 37° with a low temperature of 30°.
Friday 1/15: Cloudy conditions with rain or snow, though more likely snow, will become possible on Friday as a potent storm system sweeps through our area or just to the north of our area. Snowfall accumulations will likely be on the lighter side with some minor travel impacts possible. Temperatures dropping throughout the day will make way for colder conditions over the weekend. High temperature of 31° with a low temperature of 20°.
Saturday 1/16: Cloudy, but cooler conditions expected with increased winds out of the northwest ushering in colder air. High temperature of 25° with a low temperature of 13°.
Sunday 1/17: Nearly a carbon copy of Saturday with cloudy skies and cold temperatures and a chance for flurries. Snowfall accumulations likely won’t amount to much. High temperature of 24° with a low temperature of 16°.
National Weather Headlines:
A zonal flow is likely over much of the United States for the upcoming week as Pacific air creates milder than average conditions and cloudy skies across much of the northern states. It won’t be until late week that this zonal flow begins to break down and allow for more intrusions of cold air. A storm system is likely to bring colder air to the northern states along with a chance of snow for some late in the week. While it does not look like a major storm system, portions of the Midwest can expect to see some minor impacts from snow. Otherwise, it will remain fairly quiet across much of the United States this week.
]]>As vaccines begin to be delivered to hospitals around the country, each state now faces the task of distributing them effectively and equitably. For Illinois, there are four main phases of vaccine distribution. Phase 1 is divided into 3 sub-categories. The Illinois Department of Public Health explains exactly what these phases are.
Phase 1a consists of health care personnel and long-term care facility residents. Phase 1b then has essential frontline workers. Phase 1c may have “adults with high risk medical conditions and those over 65 years of age”.
Phase 2 will occur once there are more vaccines available. People that are included are ones with “moderate comorbid conditions”.
Phase 3 will occur when more vaccines are widely available. They will include the “immunization of children” and “young adults (18-30)”.
Lastly, Phase 4 will occur once there are enough vaccines produced that the whole population can start receiving them. However, they will be sending vaccines to “the most vulnerable populations, such as homeless populations with limited access to care.” They are also planning on making the vaccines free for whoever needs or desires to take the vaccines. They will be distributing the vaccines through temporary health centers.
In order to know a more visual and more detailed description of exactly what place you are in line, The New York Times created a vaccine calculator, as they paired with the Surgo Foundation and the Ariadne Labs. All you have to do is insert your age, your county, your profession, and if you have covid-related health risks.
For me, I am “in line behind 185.6 million people across the United States”, “behind 7.2 million… in your state”, and “2.9 million others” in Cook County. This tool is extremely helpful to get a general idea of your stance when a vaccine will be available for distribution. The link is: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/03/opinion/covid-19-vaccine-timeline.html
When will the vaccines come out?
Many will already know that some vaccines have already come out. For example, Moderna came up with a vaccine that seems to be 94.5% effective. Even better, there did not seem to be any serious side effects besides light headaches and tiredness. However, you need to take the vaccine in two installments that are 4 weeks apart. There is alse the Pfizer & BioNTech vaccine, which is so far proven to be 90% effective. This vaccine also must be taken twice, but 21 days apart instead. According to BBC News, both vaccines are “injecting part of the virus’s genetic code in order to provoke an immune response”. One positive about Moderna’s vaccine is its ability to still be usable up to 6 months is a -20C environment, which is not the same for Pfizer’s vaccine, who needs a -75C environment. The Sputnik V vaccine has also been developed in Russia, which is 92% effective. In other words, there is much hope for usable and effective vaccines to come and become open to the public very soon.
However, with the release of these vaccines, the FBI warns of imposters selling fake COVID vaccines. As reported by ABC News, there was a happening in Mexico involving a fake flu vaccine, proven by European Police Office. It is important to remember that vaccines are usually without charge. Therefore, if someone makes you pay for COVID-19 vaccine, there is a possibility that it could be a scam.
What does Governor Pritzker say about vaccine distribution?
According to WTTW News, it is said that Pfizer vaccines will be distributed to “healthcare workers in Illinois and Chicago between Dec. 20 and Dec. 26. They are supposed to get 109,000 doses of it, with 23,000 doses of them going to Chicago. On the other hand, the Moderna vaccine may be “approved by federal officials on Dec. 17. Everything is still a bit blurry, but Illinois is quickly making progress to disperse the vaccines to the ones that need it the most in order to help others.
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A wild week in weather is shaping up as we close out 2020 and begin 2021. Two large and disrupting storm systems are forecast to affect the area with all four possible modes of precipitation being possible. After a somewhat tranquil start to the week on Monday, clouds will be on the increase throughout the day on Tuesday before a band of heavy snow develops Tuesday evening. That snow will eventually transition to freezing rain, better known as ice, as we approach Wednesday. Freezing rain is a mode of precipitation where it appears to be raining, but because surface temperatures are below freezing, the rain freezes on contact onto outside surfaces, including roads, trees, and power lines. There may be a brief changeover to all rain as temperatures near the freezing level before the storm ends on Wednesday afternoon. A winter weather advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Chicago for the combined storm impacts of snow accumulation and minor ice accretion. Thursday will feature quiet weather and some sun in the sky before another complex weather system enters the region on Friday, New Years Day. As of the writing on 12/28, it appears that the storm on Friday will again feature more snow, ice, and sleet, transitioning to rain before ending as snow. Due to continued minor changing in the forecast, accumulations of any frozen precipitation remain unclear. Saturday and Sunday will both be quiet with partly cloudy skies and manageable temperatures for early January.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 12/28: Clouds early will lead to plentiful sunshine by the afternoon. High temperature of 31° with a low temperature of 21°.
Tuesday 12/29: Increasing clouds throughout the day will give way to heavy snow during the evening hours. A transition to ice will likely occur overnight. Total ice accumulations of around 0.10” and total snow accumulations of 2” to 4” can be expected. A winter weather advisory has been issued by the NWS in Chicago for light ice and snow accumulations. High temperature of 31° with a low temperature of 28°.
Wednesday 12/30: Rain and snow mix will end by afternoon, leaving overcast skies for the rest of the day. High temperature of 38° with a low temperature of 15°.
Thursday 12/31: Mixed clouds and sun throughout the day with colder temperatures. High temperature of 28° with a low temperature of 24°.
Friday 1/1/2021: Snow very early in the morning will transition to freezing rain and likely rain eventually. Any snow/ice accumulations will likely melt with any rain, though it is important to specify that any changes in the forecast could impact local weather considerably. High temperature of 36° with a low temperature of 28°.
Saturday 1/2: Clouds early will lead to mostly sunny skies by afternoon. A few flurries or brief snow showers are possible at times. High temperature of 31° with a low temperature of 23°.
Sunday 1/3: Mixed clouds and sun are likely throughout the day with seasonal temperatures. High temperature of 32° with a low temperature of 25°.
National Weather Headlines:
Two weather systems are forecast to affect the entire United States this week with strong winds, heavy snow, and ice accretions. The first will occur early in the week with significant snow accumulations possible across parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and northwest Illinois. A zone of icing is also expected across portions of these areas. Significant travel delays and impacts are possible, with winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories already posted by the NWS. The second storm system is expected to affect much of the United States from Thursday into Saturday. Not only will New Years travel be interrupted, but significant winds and snow, as well as ice, are possible with this system across portions of the Midwest. It is still unclear how this system will affect certain areas, so stay posted to local news and media for the latest as winter begins to show its true power.
]]>A very cloudy yet mild week by January standards is on tap for this week as a weak storm system pivots around the area to our south, keeping precipitation chances at a minimum and clouds at a maximum. The only two chances for sunshine will come on Tuesday 1/5 before the storm system enters the Midwest, and Sunday 11/10 as that storm system finally exits. All other days of the week are expected to be overcast. As a result of all this cloud cover, temperatures will not vary day to day, staying primarily in the lower 30s and upper 20s. The little variance in temperatures comes from the ability of clouds to trap heat in at the surface layer of earth. Clouds during the daytime inhibit warming of temperatures, while clouds at night inhibit the ability of the heat to escape into higher portions of the atmosphere. The week ahead will feature little to no precipitation, with the only slight chance of precipitation on Monday 1/4 during the evening hours.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 1/4: Cloudy skies likely throughout the day with a slight chance of some light snow or rain towards evening. High temperature of 35° with a low temperature of 26°.
Tuesday 1/5: Some clouds early should lead to periods of sunshine by the afternoon. High temperature of 34° with a low temperature of 23°.
Wednesday 1/6: A return to cloudy skies is expected with temperatures nearly steady in the low 30s. High temperature of 35° with a low temperature of 31°.
Thursday 1/7: Continued cloudiness with temperatures still steady in the lower 30s. High temperature of 34° with a low temperature of 29°.
Friday 1/8: The overcast skies continue as the storm system responsible for them pivots around our area to the south. High temperature of 32° with a low temperature of 24°.
Saturday 1/9: Clouds likely for most of the day, finally beginning to clear out late at night. High temperature of 30° with a low temperature of 23°.
Sunday 1/10: Mixed clouds and sun are likely throughout the day with temperatures closer to average. High temperature of 29° with a low temperature of 23°.
National Weather Headlines:
One lone storm system will likely be responsible for most of the weather across the eastern half of the United States this week as it moves slowly across the region. Areas south of the low pressure track can expect to see rain and thunderstorms, mainly confined to the southeast United States. Some rain and snow will be possible across portions of the western Midwest, though it likely won’t add up to much. The rest of the northern United States is expected to remain rather dry and seasonable, with cloudy skies and temperatures perhaps above average in some areas. There are no significant weather concerns for the upcoming week across the contiguous United States.
]]>A weather rollercoaster ride of a week is expected with temperatures varying considerably at times throughout the forecast period along with a large spread in weather conditions expected. A fairly quiet start to the week will lead up to a mild day on Wednesday 12/23, followed by a strong push of cold air Wednesday evening, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures and the potential for a flash freeze. A flash freeze can be dangerous as rain from earlier in the day freezes where it lies as temperatures drop below freezing within hours, leading to icy streets, sidewalks, and outdoor objects. Cold conditions will continue following the flash freeze through Friday 12/25 before more milder temperatures enter the picture for the weekend. A white Christmas that so many have dreamed about for 2020 does not appear to be in Chicago’s card deck this year. The potential exists for a mix of rain and snow on Sunday 12/27, perhaps some accumulating snow, though uncertainty precludes any further explanation of details. The forecast extending beyond this week looks to favor temperatures near average and above average precipitation chances.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 12/21: Overcast at times with breezy conditions and the potential for a few sprinkles. High temperature of 42° with a low temperature of 30°.
Tuesday 12/22: Fair with mixed clouds and sun for most of the day. High temperature of 39° with a low temperature of 36°.
Wednesday 12/23: Mild temperatures to start the day with temperatures reaching near 50 before a strong cold front moves through, dropping temperatures by nearly 35 degrees over 12 hours. Rain is likely before the front passes through, leading to the potential for a flash freeze as temperatures quickly drop. High temperature of 50° with a low temperature of 17°.
Thursday 12/24: Cold temperatures and mainly cloudy conditions through the day are likely. High temperature of 17° with a low temperature of 8°.
Friday 12/25: Merry Christmas! Partial sunshine returns as temperatures warm slightly, though still cold. High temperature of 21° with a low temperature of 20°.
Saturday 12/26: Mostly sunny skies accompany much warmer temperatures. High temperature of 35° with a low temperature of 30°.
Sunday 12/27: Mostly cloudy conditions are likely with a chance for a mix of rain and snow. The potential exists for some accumulating snow as well. High temperature of 37° with a low temperature of 28°.
National Weather Headlines:
Winter Storm Watches have been issued for portions of New York, North Dakota, and Minnesota where snowfall accumulations in the coming day are likely to exceed winter storm criteria. These areas, as well as areas of the northeast that saw up to 4 feet of snow last week, are likely to see a White Christmas. For the rest of the country, however, it’s looking like the grass will remain green.
]]>It was a surprise to many NBA fans that an established veteran in Danilo Gallinari was traded for a 2025 draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks. In hindsight, it was a great choice from Thunder GM Sam Presti, who is looking to rebuild his team around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Galinarri does not play to his strengths being ball dominant. What makes the Thunder real winners is their acquisition of star veteran center Al Horford. Horford gives the Thunder the floor spacing that they severely lacked in the playoffs, along with good trade value which should only go up.
Heading into the offseason, the Houston Rockets knew they needed to get rid of Russell Westbrook’s massive contract. They did exactly that, but many questioned what they would get from John Wall in return for Westbrook who is back from an injury that sidelined him for almost 2 years. Assuming he returns healthy, Wall provides James Harden with the proper ball movement and offensive scheme that he has needed for years. With the pair of guards, the Rockets expect to go on a deep run into the 2021 playoffs.
Coming off a rather disappointing season, with stars Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry out for the season, the Golden State Warriors had tanked enough to be rewarded with the 2nd pick in the NBA draft. By selecting mesmerizing center James Wiseman and signing star talent Kelly Oubre, the Warriors are expected to make their redemption at NBA glory.
The Charlotte Hornets have been in the bottom of the league standings for most of their existence wasting many picks on poor talent. This offseason was different, however, as they used their pick on hyped prospect LaMelo Ball, who has been in the national spotlight since he was 13. The Hornets continued this hype, by trading future assets for all-star forward Gordon Hayward, who is expected to take on some offensive load from the team.
Coming off their NBA title, the Lakers were not expected to get any better than they already were. However, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was adamant to make their road to the finals easier by freeing cap space to sign Marc Gasol. After releasing Javale McGee, the Lakers were able to make enough room to sign two role players in Alfonzo McKie, and Jordan Bell. Going into the 2020-2021 NBA season the Lakers are given another great chance to win it all.
]]>A very “normal” week by December standards is shaping up as we enter into the second half of the month. Periods of sun throughout the week juxtaposed with overcast conditions at times, particularly during the middle of the week and for the first part of the weekend, should make for a fairly decent week. Chilly temperatures to start the week will moderate to near average during the middle of the week, and eventually to above average readings for the weekend. While precipitation chances this week are generally expected to be low, the potential exists for some afternoon showers on Saturday 12/19. Periods of a rain/snow mix will also be possible as temperatures remain in the 30s. The National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is forecasting continued above normal temperatures for next week as well as near normal precipitation chances. It is important to note that above average temperatures in December do not eliminate any snow potential, as snow starts becoming increasingly likely towards this time of the year.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 12/14: Chilly conditions likely with temperatures below average and clouds mixed with sun at times. High temperature of 28° with a low temperature of 22°.
Tuesday 12/15: Generally cloudy skies expected with the potential for a few peeks of sun and temperatures near average. High temperature of 32° with a low temperature of 28°.
Wednesday 12/16: Nearly a carbon copy of Tuesday with overcast conditions and temperatures near freezing. High temperature of 33° with a low temperature of 28°.
Thursday 12/17: Clouds early will lead to much more sun during the afternoon hours and slightly warmer conditions. High temperature of 35° with a low temperature of 27°.
Friday 12/18: Mixed clouds and sun at times, definitely the keeper of the week. High temperature of 39° with a low temperature of 33°.
Saturday 12/19: Increasing clouds with periods of rain showers possible throughout the afternoon and evening. The potential exists for a mix of rain and snow at times as temperatures remain in the 30s. High temperature of 38° with a low temperature of 27°.
Sunday 12/20: Decreasing clouds will give way to partly or mostly sunny skies by afternoon. High temperature of 37° with a low temperature of 33°.
National Weather Headlines:
Believe it or not, crippling California wildfires continue to burn across the state, creating hazardous air quality and threatening thousands of homes. These wildfires have already caused over 2 billion dollars in damage and have burned over 4 million acres of the state so far this year.
The northeast United States is likely to see two storm systems this week, the first occurring Monday into Tuesday, and the second occurring Wednesday into Thursday. A few inches of snow are likely in some areas from the first weather system, followed by potentially significant snow accumulations and strong winds from the second system. Current weather model estimates predict one to two feet of snow will be possible in some areas. However, it is important to note that weather models have been known to produce higher snowfall accumulations days before an event, and start backing off on those numbers closer to that event. This has especially been more of the case so far this winter season as weather model data has been negatively impacted by shutdowns from the Coronavirus, owing to overall less accurate model predictions.
]]>Many districts, including District 211, go on a week-by-week basis to decide whether their students are learning online, in person, or in a hybrid scenario and to evaluate the efficacy of their current scenario. While the precarious nature of the coronavirus requires this, these decisions are often taken without the input of the very student body it most affects. Teens are facing the impacts of online learning in the most difficult ways possible: as some students face plummeting mental health, they are unable to keep their grades or extracurriculars up. Students deserve to participate in how school will look.
Mental health has been a difficult journey for students, with up to 20% of all teens experiencing depression before adulthood, and the pandemic has only worsened it. In 2012, the APA estimated that around 35% of kids receive mental health support only from schools, and this number was higher in areas with lower income and higher proportions of students of color. With school being completely online, kids are now quickly losing support for their anxiety, depression, and various other mental health issues.
Many students also feel that online school limits their traditional learning style and face increased stress as they are pressured to maintain their grades for college and career goals despite the pandemic. Additionally, the consequences of economic issues and being isolated from loved ones has an indisputable impact on individuals of all ages, but especially teenagers that feel distant from their parents in an incredibly important developmental stage. Simply put, the cards are stacked against today’s teenagers as they battle mental health while balancing grades, economic troubles, and missing their classmates, extracurriculars, and jobs.
News so far has misled us to believe that schools being open could be a super-spreader event: the truth is, schools being open isn’t – a lack of government funding and support for opening them safely is the problem. European schools are safe because of their stringent requirements and public access to free (yes, free!) masks and sanitizing equipment. Additionally, some schools within the United States lack basic infrastructure to maintain safety: how are teachers supposed to keep kids distanced if they have small classrooms, no windows, and less desks and chairs than they need?
Teachers and districts are appropriately worried about school reopenings, but it’s not their fault – the fault lies in an ineffective, and frankly, careless public health system. Even as vaccine distribution begins in full, there’s a long wait until students can resume in-person school, and until then, teenage mental health will continue to suffer.
While the failure of the government in effectively handling coronavirus prevents students from returning in person soon, students currently have very limited say in how they think online school or hybrid models should function. High school students today are far more politically involved and have access to healthcare research, enabling them to participate in discussions on public policy. Schools give students the choice to pick whether they would like to continue in either hybrid or online situations, but students have very cloudy pictures of what school will actually look like. To some adults, this may seem a minor problem, but for high school students, this online year can predict their future.
Students need to be able to communicate with teachers on what is heightening their stressors in a tough environment, how they can learn better, and how they can work on balancing confusing schedules with online school. Small things like greater opportunities for extensions and extra credit, online mental health resources, and increased email communication with their teachers allow students to feel supported, despite a tendency to possibly try and stay true to the spirit of rigorous high school courses during the pandemic. Without true student-teacher communication, future online semesters will only continue to harm a tired, confused, and worried student body. Students deserve better.
]]>Coming off a losing season full of lots of hardships and struggles, one thing stood out for the Bulls, and that was their front office – but not in a good way. A drastic change was needed for the Bulls, which meant the firing of Gar Forman and John Paxson (the teams’ GM and VP of Basketball Operations). Forman and Paxson, known as GarPax for short, made many bad decisions that lead to distrust and uncertainty in the fanbase. This ended up leading to their ultimate firing and the hiring of Arturas Karnisovas as the new President of Basketball Operations. Karnisovas, along with Marc Eversly as the new GM, filled the roles of GarPax during the offseason and got off to a good start. Much to fans’ delight, the duo almost immediately fired coach Jim Boylen (who had a total record of 39 wins and 84 losses with the Bulls) and replaced him with Billy Donovan. The former Oklahoma City Thunder coach had been to the playoffs four out of the past five seasons, and was certainly an upgrade from Boylen.
After their changes in the front office, the Bulls got ready for the 2020 draft. Armed with the 4th and 44th overall picks, Chicago was ready to add more young players to their already young and promising core. Patrick Williams, a forward out of Florida State, and Marko Simonivic, a big man from Serbia ended up being their draft selections. The Bulls also picked up Devin Dotson, a guard from Kansas, as an undrafted free agent. After the offseason,Karnisovas, Eversly, and the rookies were ready for a season full of new beginnings.
As I mentioned before, the Bulls have a pretty young team with a lot of potential for the future. Their core is made up of shooting guard Zach LaVine, forward Lauri Markannen, center Wendell Carter Jr, and point guard Coby White who range from ages 20-25. Developing players is something that the Bulls weren’t very good at in the slightest under their previous executives and management, so there should be lots of new opportunities and room to improve for these players and the rest of the roster throughout the season. Don’t get me wrong, there will be improvements from last season, but the Bulls are still far from being serious contenders. LaVine needs to go out and cement himself as a number one option, because while he had a good season last year, many still doubt that he can be a team’s go to guy. If the other young pieces around him develop and LaVine works on his defense, he can be a premier player and the Bulls can emerge as contenders. Markannen is my personal favorite for Most Improved Player this season and that’s a really good sign for the Bulls, as he can be a really solid forward in this league with good coaching. My final projections for the Bulls this season are that they’re going to be a mid-tier team, maybe getting a lottery pick or somewhere in the middle of the pack. However, if a lot of things go right and the team plays at their absolute best the Bulls might be able to sneak into the playoffs.
Once again, the 2020 season isn’t going to be some historic title run for the Bulls, but it is going to be important in different ways. The Bulls will be coming into this season looking to improve and develop their players and, after adding a few more key pieces in the next couple drafts, they look to be a team on the rise in the near future.
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The United States has seen over 290,000 deaths and 6.6 million cases in the past year because of the Coronavirus. Each of these numbers represents a brother, sister, mother, father, friend, or acquaintance, and this holiday season will mark the first celebration without them for many families. Despite this, there are still many ways for Americans to celebrate the holiday season while following safe COVID requirements.
One way many Americans are celebrating the holidays this year is to travel to see their relatives earlier than the actual holiday to celebrate safely. This smart plan allows many families to reconnect with each other while simultaneously staying healthy. The CDC recently changed their guidelines to say that quarantine should only be 10-14 days, so if someone were to quarantine themselves for 10 days before seeing their family, then that would ensure safety during the celebration. Of course, there are still mishaps and flaws, so it is not guaranteed that the person won’t spread COVID-19, but it is a safer way to maintain a healthy distance from the virus.
Additionally, despite many misconceptions, traveling on a plane is not nearly as dangerous as one might think. Because people are facing forward and not towards each other, it is less likely for someone to spread their germs while flying. Also, according to MIT Medical, “ air quality on a commercial airliner is quite high, with the air volume in the cabin being completely refreshed every two to four minutes.”
This means that the airflow is constantly changing so the germs are almost immediately taken away from the atmosphere and the air is changed to cleaner air. Many airlines are also taking more precautions to allow their passengers to feel comfortable, like limiting the number of people occupying the plane and removing the middle seat to allow more space. Additionally, most passengers are forced to wear masks while at the airport and inside of the plan in order to keep others safe.
The surge of coronavirus cases has also caused many churches and temples to shut down. However, this holiday season, many churches are still showing online services so that people can still pray and hear a sermon if wanted. This allows the feeling of Christmas to remain for many, seeing as though going to church is a necessity for their holiday season. It also allows for social distancing and fewer safety concerns because of how easily churches can become breeding grounds for disease.
To allow their customers to purchase holiday presents, many stores are also providing more online shopping options. Malls are a large hotspot for the virus because of how many people can occupy them at once. Online shopping reduces the threat of germs being spread, while simultaneously buying gifts for the family.
The holiday season this year is occurring during an unprecedented time. The entire country has had to change its plans to remain safe and keep themselves healthy. Despite this, there are still many ways to celebrate the holiday season. They might not be traditional or what is expected, but the holidays will still go on no matter what.
]]>Recently orphaned, young Elizabeth “Beth” Harmon must adapt to new life in an orphanage. Here she befriends basement-dwelling janitor Mr. Shaibel, who begins to teach her how to play chess. At the same time, she is forced to take pills to “even out her disposition.” One of these, which she is recommended by a fellow orphan to take late at night, allows her to visualize entire games of chess, using her memory to become a chess prodigy of astounding talent. As she grows up and gets new opportunities in the chess world, she meets a series of other players who help her skyrocket to fame.
“The Queen’s Gambit” pulls no punches and takes a deep dive into the troubled character of Beth Harmon. We watch as she goes through puberty, experiences life as a young woman in the turbulent 1960s, and faces addiction. The show highlights Beth’s contrast between herself and typical girls her age. While girls her age experience teenage romance and are rushed into marriage, Beth stays on her own, making money through chess. Her isolation furthers her addiction to her pills and alcohol, and her spiral is on full display. The complexities of it all make the show an ever more interesting character study of sorts.
The series starts out a little rocky due to a mix of less-than-stellar scripting and acting. However, Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a fantastic performance as Harmon throughout the series, along with a strong supporting cast consisting of Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Harry Melling and a couple appearances from Isla Johnston as a young Beth. However, some of the characters seem miscast, such as Marielle Heller as Beth’s adoptive mother, Alma. While her acting isn’t necessarily bad, she seems to show more of her character’s nervous, shy side instead of her strong, confident side. However, the acting isn’t the best part of the show, as “The Queen’s Gambit” boasts pretty incredible cinematography by Steven Meizler and directing by Scott Frank. It is truly a series that gets better as it progresses, concluding with a fantastic final episode that combines elements from the whole of the show and leaves you with a smile on your face.
The popularity of “The Queen’s Gambit” has also led to a bit of a resurgence in chess, as viewers get a look at the glamorous chess world. This is quite surprising, as the show offers very little in terms of chess education, especially for those who have never played a game before. Nevertheless, the show doesn’t fail in making chess seem like a fun, if not incredibly complex, game to learn.
At a total of seven episodes and a run time of just under seven hours, “The Queen’s Gambit” is an interesting and quick watch that has its moments of brilliance. And because of its status as a limited series, no new episodes will not be released. I’d definitely recommend this show to everyone, and even if you start and don’t enjoy it, keep watching. You might enjoy it more than you’d think.
]]>This jersey making process had taken Adidas two years to finalize and release. These classic designs range from seasons starting as early as 1940 (Chicago Blackhawks) to 2004 (Tampa Bay Lightning). Some may wonder how the Las Vegas Golden Knights were able to pull off a retro jersey, while only being in the NHL for four years. Well, the design for the Golden Knights jersey dates back to 1995 when Manon Rheaume played in the NHL. Rheaume was the first woman to play in the NHL, and before making her big debut, she played for the Las Vegas Thunder in the IHL (International Hockey League). The stripes and patterns of the Thunder jerseys are what sparked the inspiration for a similar style in the “retro” Golden Knights jerseys we see today.
These alternate jerseys will be worn by teams throughout the regular season including rivalry games and are available for purchase online. With the holidays seeming to come faster and faster, these Reverse Retro jerseys are sure to bring a smile to any hockey fan in your life.
]]>Last season, there was little to no opportunity for the NHL to profit from ticket sales, concessions, or events due to the pandemic, which is problematic, as the NHL is one the very few organizations that still relies on ticket sales to keep their franchise running. Other leagues such as the NFL and MLB rely more on the money they get from television, compared to anything else. Not only was the NHL struggling with money from little ticket sales, they were also struggling to fund the season while it was still going on. During the playoffs, the remaining teams stayed in the Edmonton Ontario, Canada bubble. The cost per day to have all players and staff in that bubble was about $5 million per day. As one can imagine, the NHL is not in a good spot financially, so how will the pandemic have an affect on the upcoming season?
In the best case scenario, there will only be 56 games, a reduction from their usual 82 games which’ll leave both players and fans upset. There have also been rumors of new divisions and team realignment being put in place to limit the amount of traveling the teams will have to do, as a measure to keep teams safe. This will not only limit the risk of COVID-19, but unite some rivalries that have been put in place over the years. For example, the infamous Detroit / Chicago rivalry, which has since been tamed due to Detroit moving to the Eastern conference, may now be rekindled. An example of what divisions may look like is shown below.
East: Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals.
Central: Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
West: Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Las Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, and St. Louis Blues.
Canada: Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadians, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks.
There is still some conflict in regards to St. Louis and Minnesota placement in these divisions. Also, the negotiations between certain players and their realignment is still undecided. These placements are up to the players to choose if they’re wanting to leave or stay with their current team.
Along with the new divisions, the league has purchased 10,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine in preparation for this upcoming season. The vaccine will be distributed to all players, coaches, and staff. Unlike the NFL, NBA, and MLB, these doses will allow teams to play without the risk of pausing their season once again. The doses will also keep each member of NHL, and their families safe from the coronavirus.
This new season of hockey is definitely one to look forward to. Regardless of the number of games, coronavirus protocols, and possible player realignments, this season truly will be something to behold. In the end, players will still celebrate, fans will still feel that same nail-biting adrenaline, and a Stanley Cup will be hoisted in the end.
]]>A seasonable though chilly start to the week is forecast followed by increasing temperatures later in the week as a storm system brings 40s and perhaps 50s into the area from the south. The upcoming week will likely feature dry conditions through Friday before a cold front approaches the area, bringing a chance for a soaking rain to start the weekend. A sharp temperature drop will follow as the cold front moves through the area on Saturday, leading to decreasing temperatures throughout the day. Unseasonably cold air then looks to take residency in the region late in the weekend into next week, where temperatures will likely be 5 to 10 degrees below average. While snow potential throughout the week is expected to be generally low, there is the potential for a snowstorm somewhere in the region which must be watched carefully. Should the expected snowfall from this storm shift further south, Chicago may be in the path of a winter storm on Saturday or Sunday. However, since it is too early to tell, the main message is to be prepared for at least some snowfall over the weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) currently forecasts a return in above normal temperatures into the middle of the month.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 12/7: Clouds and sun mixed throughout the day, with seasonable temperatures. High temperature of 38° with a low temperature of 31°.
Tuesday 12/8: Partly cloudy skies likely for most of the day, though more sun than clouds are expected. High temperature of 39° with a low temperature of 32°.
Wednesday 12/9: Becoming warmer with abundant sunshine. High temperature of 47° with a low temperature of 34°.
Thursday 12/10: Sunshine and clouds mixed, still warmer. High temperature of 45° with a low temperature of 38°.
Friday 12/11: Clouds early, then becoming mild as south winds increase. Rain will become likely by late afternoon with occasional breezy conditions. High temperature of 50° with a low temperature of 48°.
Saturday 12/12: Rain early will likely transition to a mix of rain and snow or all snow by the afternoon as temperatures plummet throughout the day. Snowfall accumulations are uncertain at this distance, though should be watched. High temperature of 48° with a low temperature of 26°.
Sunday 12/13: Unseasonably cold temperatures with overcast conditions. High temperature of 27° with a low temperature of 20°.
National Weather Headlines:
A storm system will move across the United States late in the week, bringing adverse weather conditions to many as well as a brief increase in temperatures for some. A snowy side will be present to this storm, with snowfall accumulations possible in the northern Plains. As of 12/8, model projected snowfall accumulations have shifted further south. While nothing is for certain, many in the Midwest could see accumulating snow this weekend if this new trend should verify.
Multiple weather systems appear likely to affect a majority of the United States over the next 2 weeks. While it is unclear what impacts will be present, when they will occur, and who will be impacted, it does appear that snowfall accumulations, potentially significant, could impact the Plains and Midwest during this timeframe. Although there is nothing to worry about presently, these weather systems must be watched.
]]>Thursday Night:
Cardinals 21, Seahawks 28: Hawks Are Back
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks, as each team tries to step out in front of the other for the lead in the division. The past two weeks prior to this game looked rough for Russell Wilson as he and the Seahawks took back to back losses, but they got off to a quick start by scoring first in the game and taking a lead into halftime. The second half was pretty competitive as the Cardinals kept scoring and trying to take the lead, but the Seahawks kept coming right back and maintained their lead throughout. The Seahawks defense came up big on the Cardinals’ last two drives of the game, forcing a safety and a turnover on downs to ice it. Both quarterbacks looked good and were able to get it done on the ground and in the air, but this proved to be a good get-back game for Wilson and the Hawks.
Sunday Games:
Titans 30, Ravens 24: King Henry Brings It Home
Both Tennessee and Baltimore came into this game following a Week 10 loss, and both teams looked to snap these streaks. Obviously coming into this game everyone wants to look at and talk about Derrick Henry, the superstar Titan running back, and how he’d cook up this Baltimore defense. In regulation, the Ravens were actually able to hold him to under 100 yards rushing and no touchdowns, something not many teams are able to do. Overtime, however, was a different story. Henry went for 37 yards, including his 29 yard game-winning touchdown, all in one drive as the Titans were able to close out the game. Despite the loss, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense actually looked better this week than they have recently.
Eagles 17, Browns 22: Browns D Dominates
A game straight out of my worst nightmares, 60 minutes of Baker Mayfield against Carson Wentz as the Eagles go out to Cleveland and try to beat the Browns. As I talked about last week, both of these teams tend to win more games when they get the ball out of their QBs’ hands, and that’s not really a coincidence. Certainly not an offensive shoot-out here but the Browns defense looked amazing as they had a defensive touchdown, a safety, two picks, and a fumble recovery. Considering there was no offensive scoring in the first half at all, not the most exciting game to watch but it was able to get the Browns the second place spot in the AFC North. Despite losing and falling to 3-6-1, the Eagles retain their lead in the worst division in football.
Patriots 20, Texans 27: QB Duel
The Texans take on the Patriots in this game, as the two teams are in very different mindsets for the rest of the season. New England was heavily motivated coming into this game, as winning would keep their playoff hopes alive and losing would be detrimental to their chances. As for Houston, their season hasn’t really gone the way they’ve wanted it to and they may just be looking to move onto next year. During the actual game, both teams played with the same intensity and it was competitive all the way through. Despite a strong, 365 yard and 1 touchdown performance by Cam Newton the Pats came up short on a last second Hail Mary to win the game. Deshaun Watson balled out with 3 total touchdowns and over 300 yards passing.
Bengals 9, Football Team 20: Oh No, Burrow
Coming into this game as one point favorites, the Washington Football Team hosted the Cincinnati Bengals. The number one overall pick in the draft, quarterback Joe Burrow, went head to head with the number two pick, pass-rusher Chase Young for the first time in their young careers. Young definitely got the better of Burrow the one time they went head to head, as he forced the QB to fumble and turn the ball over deep in the red zone. Despite that turnover, Burrow and the Bengals held a lead over Washington in the third until disaster struck. On a third down pass play with 11 minutes left in the third quarter, Joe Burrow faced heavy pressure and got hit hard by several Washington players. The Rookie of The Year favorite left the game and didn’t return, and it was later revealed that he tore his ACL and was out for the year. Washington proceeded to score 13 points unanswered and took home the win.
Jets 28, Chargers 34: Huge Herbert Numbers
The LA Chargers host the win-less NY Jets in a game between two teams who are more so looking more towards a higher draft pick than the playoffs. Despite the losing record for the Chargers, one huge takeaway can be seen by all, Justin Herbert is going to be a star. Throughout the season Herbert has played very well, and he didn’t disappoint this week. The young QB torched the Jets defense all game long and put up 366 yards and 3 touchdowns, leading his team to the W. Chargers receiver Keenan Allen also played really well, and broke the Chargers single game reception records with 16 catches.
Steelers 27, Jaguars 3: 10 and Oh
An outcome not many were surprised by here, as the Jaguars hosted the Big Ben and the undefeated Steelers. The Jaguars, who haven’t won a game since Week 1, had Jake Luton under center once again backed by a strong rushing attack from James Robinson. It was a rough day for Luton as he threw four interceptions and only 151 yards, while Robinson played mediocrely and rushed for 73 yards. As for the Steelers the defense dominated giving up only 3 points, getting four picks, and forcing one fumble. The Steelers all around obviously look great, considering they’re 10-0, with a pass dominated offense and stellar defensive unit that’ll make them surefire contenders come playoff time.
Cowboys 31, Vikings 28: Clashing Offenses
Andy Dalton makes his return from the COVID-19 reserve list as the Cowboys travel to Minnesota to battle with Dalvin Cook and the Vikings. This game was a true offensive battle, with absolutely huge performances from many Vikings players and Zeke. The Vikings offense put on a show backed by strong performances by Kirk Cousins, Cook, and Adam Thielen, but their defense simply couldn’t stop Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys rushing attack. Zeke rushed for 103 yards and caught a touchdown pass, while Cowboys back-up running back Tony Pollard also had a touchdown and 60 yards. Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz caught the go-ahead touchdown pass from Dalton, with only 1:37 remaining to take down the red-hot Vikings. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys rookie receiver, also made one of the best catches I’ve seen all season for his 4th TD of the year.
Dolphins 13, Broncos 20: Tua? Fitzpatrick?
The struggling Denver Broncos played the Miami Dolphins, who are fighting for a Wild Card spot in the AFC, in Denver this weekend. This game was headlined by Denver’s rushing attack ripping through the Dolphins defense, Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay combined for over 160 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. Things got really interesting in the 4th Quarter as Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins rookie QB, got benched for veteran back-up Ryan Fitzpatrick. It’s unclear whether Tua sustained an injury during his time on the field or Dolphins management thought Fitzpatrick would give them a better shot of winning the game, but nevertheless, Fitz wasn’t able to get the job done and the Broncos took the upset W.
Falcons 9, Saints 24: Taysom Hill’s QB Debut
Taysom Hill filled in for the injured Drew Brees as the Saints hosted the Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome. In a move that baffled many and caused uproar among Saints personnel and players themselves, Taysom Hill was chosen to start at QB rather than Jameis Winston. Explained as a decision that had to do with knowledge of the playbook and offensive system, it turned out to be a good one as Hill passed for 233 yards, rushed for 51 and two touchdowns, and secured the win in his first game as a starter. As for the Falcons, their offense simply wasn’t able to get anything going all game and only mustered to score three field goals all game.
Packers 31, Colts 34: Rollercoaster W
Labelled America’s Game Of The Week by Fox, and rightfully so, the Packers travelled to Indianapolis to try and snap the Colts’ winning streak. Leading by 14 points at several times of the ball game, the Packers somehow managed to choke their lead away and ended up down by three points with 1:25 left in regulation. Sparked by a 47 yard catch by Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the Packers were able to drive down and kick the game-tying field goal as time expired. The Packers got the ball to start overtime, but the fourth quarter hero Valdes-Scantling fumbled the ball on only the second play of the drive, giving the Colts possession at the Packers 29 yard line. This set up Colts kicker, Rodrigo Blankenship, to quickly kick the game-winning field goal after only three offensive plays. Huge win for the Colts as they retain their number one spot in their division and a bad loss for the Packers as they fumble (hehe) their lead for the number one seed in the NFC.
Sunday Night:
Chiefs 35, Raiders 31: Mahomes Magic
After beating the Chiefs on the road in Week 5, the Raiders host the Chiefs in an attempt to get the season sweep over them. This was a pretty back and forth game as there were 10 lead changes throughout, and both teams were rolling. Derek Carr and the Raiders thought they were pulling ahead as they scored a go-ahead touchdown with 1:53 remaining in the 4th Quarter, putting them ahead 31-28. All the Chiefs needed to do was get down and kick a field goal to send the game into OT, but Patrick Mahomes wanted more. With only 34 seconds left on the clock, Mahomes delivered a strike on the game-winning 22 yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce to even the season series.
Monday Night:
Rams 27, Buccaneers 24: Brady’s Blunders
Jared Goff and the LA Rams travelled to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers and their star-studded team, in a battle dominated by offense. The Bucs have one of the most loaded offenses in the league with weapons such as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski, and more to help QB Tom Brady win games. However, all of these stars don’t really make a difference if you turn the ball over. Brady threw for two interceptions in this game, both of them not remotely close to targeted receivers, and the Tampa Bay offense just didn’t look very good. The Buccaneers even had a chance at the end of the game to go down and tie it up or win it, but that’s when one of Brady’s picks came in. As for the Rams, Jared Goff and his two best receivers in Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods played exceptionally well, hopefully you started them in fantasy.
]]>A cold and gloomy start to the week will lead to periods of sun and clouds through the weekend. Temperatures in the low 30s early in the week will jump to near average temperatures of around 40 degrees for the remainder of the week and the weekend. A storm system will track south of the area on Thursday bringing an increased chance for clouds if the track of the storm shifts north. No major storm systems are in the forecast, and no precipitation is expected over the next week.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 11/30: Overcast skies early may lead to some peeks of sunshine later in the day. High temperature of 32° with a low temperature of 25°.
Tuesday 12/1: Continued cold with mainly sunny skies. High temperature of 34° with a low temperature of 26°.
Wednesday 12/2: Plentiful sunshine with a few passing clouds. High temperature of 41° with a low temperature of 27°.
Thursday 12/3: Mixed clouds and sun throughout the day. High temperature of 40° with a low temperature of 28°.
Friday 12/4: Partly cloudy skies will make for a chilly, but beautiful day. High temperature of 39° with a low temperature of 29°.
Saturday 12/5: Warmer temperatures and sunny skies will create a gorgeous day. High temperature of 43° with a low temperature of 34°.
Sunday 12/6: Continued average temperatures with mixed clouds and sun at times. High temperature of 41° with a low temperature of 25°.
National Weather Headlines:
Monday marks the final day of hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, but tropical activity may not be entirely done. There is a chance for a storm to develop into a tropical system, but only time will tell if and when it may. The good news, however, is that there are no tropical threats to the United States.
A large storm system is expected to form early in the week and affect portions of the Ohio Valley, Northeast, and Michigan on Monday and Tuesday. While many of the details of this storm have yet to be worked out, there will likely be a snowy side to the storm with the potential for greater than six inches of snow in some areas. In addition, lake effect snow will be possible in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan where winds look to be favorable for snow showers. Lake effect snow can be highly unpredictable and vary drastically by location. Therefore, Winter Storm Watches have been issued for Monday and early Tuesday as snowfall amounts of greater than six inches and blowing snow are possible in these areas.
]]>An unsettled and cool week is expected as we head into the last full week of November with temperatures generally around average and multiple chances for precipitation. Some sun on Monday will be short-lived as a storm system approaches on Tuesday. Precipitation will likely fall in the form of snow, possibly including minor accumulations, early Tuesday before transitioning to rain as temperatures warm up during the day. Rain will continue on Wednesday with continued overcast conditions through Thursday. The sun will return for the first half of the weekend before yet another storm system affects the area late in the weekend and early next week, bringing another chance for rain and potentially some snow.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 11/23: Sun and clouds mixed throughout the day. High temperature of 40° with a low temperature of 33°.
Tuesday 11/24: Snow, potentially heavy at times, in the morning hours will transition to rain showers as temperatures warm into the 40s. Snow accumulations of up to 1 inch are possible before afternoon rain melts the snow. High temperature of 42° with a low temperature of 40°.
Wednesday 11/25: Continued rain showers are likely throughout the day as southerly winds warm temperatures above average. High temperature of 52° with a low temperature of 42°.
Thursday 11/26: Happy Thanksgiving! Overcast conditions linger with a slight chance of a rain shower early. High temperature of 48° with a low temperature of 37°.
Friday 11/27: Sun and clouds mixed throughout the day. Periods of increased cloudiness are possible. A slight chance of a rain shower cannot be ruled out. High temperature of 48° with a low temperature of 32°.
Saturday 11/28: Plentiful sunshine and near average temperatures will easily make this the best day of the week! High temperature of 45° with a low temperature of 32°.
Sunday 11/29: Mainly cloudy conditions earlier in the day will likely lead to rain showers by evening and a more persistent rainfall into Monday. Due to forecast temperatures in the 30s and the likely close proximity of the rain/snow line for this storm system, snow showers and even some light accumulating snowfall are possible. However, high uncertainty exists as to the occurrence of any snow around this timeframe. High temperature of 40° with a low temperature of 24°.
National Weather Headlines:
For the first time in what seems like a long time, there is no tropical activity to worry about in the Atlantic basin. In addition to this, no tropical activity is forecast within the next 7 days. This is great news considering the window is closing for any meaningful tropical activity.
Multiple storm systems are forecast to move across the United States in the next 10 days. Given the time of year, these storm systems are likely to have a messy side to them, with snow becoming more and more likely in the northern United States as we get closer to the winter season.
]]>Unfortunately, the rights of LGBTQ+ people have been politicized into a controversial topic. This makes it easier for people to discriminate against others on the basis of their “opinions”. This also makes it harder for members of the community to have the same access to opportunities that cis gendered and/or heterosexual people might have, including in politics. Representation of the LGBTQ+ community in politics is incredibly important because it symbolizes a step forward in our country where discrimination has run rampant for a long time.
In the past few years, American politics have seen an increase in the number of LGBTQ+ elected officials. In fact, there are more than 800 queer people serving in elected offices in 2020. This huge increase is referred to as the “rainbow wave,” a surge of LGBTQ+ wins between 2018 and 2019. However, the queer community remains severely underrepresented; they make up less than 0.2% of any political branch while 5% of American adults identifies themselves as part of the community.
That is why it’s important to recognize and celebrate political candidates that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Just recently, Sarah McBride won the election to be one of Delaware’s senators, making her the first transgender senator in all of American history. Her victory in achieving a position as the senator is an inspiration to all transgender people who may have faced obstacles in their lives due to their gender identity.
Although Sarah McBride broke age old barriers through her election, she’s not the first queer person to hold an office. Perhaps the next name that comes to mind when thinking of LGBTQ+ diversity in politics is Pete Buttigieg. Along with being one of the major candidates for the 2020 presidential election, he was the first openly gay candidate. Although he dropped out of the race, his position in the race was still a milestone for American history.
Mondaire Jones also represents another “first” in terms of breaking the traditional precedents that are present in our government. He is the first openly gay person to hold the office of a Representative elect for New York’s 17th congressional district. But why is any of this important?
Although America has been known as the land of the free since its independence, several minority groups have yet to experience unconditional freedom. Representation in American politics is very exclusive. Aside from Barack Obama, all of the other presidents have been white, cis-gendered males, yet America prides it self in being a melting pot. This trend has not been limited to only the president, but to all facets of the government. Similarly, “human rights” don’t always cover the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. This is quite evident through the numerous unfortunate hate crimes committed and unjust laws passed that make it acceptable to discriminate against someone on the basis of their sexual identity. Obstacles like these is why it’s important to recognize the representation of this community within fields such as politics. Of course, the American government is nowhere near perfect, but these baby steps deserve recognition and celebration.
]]>Compared to before remote learning, how productive are Fremd students while working on tasks at home? The majority of participants across all four high school grade levels believed their productivity levels have been relatively the same.
On the two ends of the spectrum, only 7.6% of participants believed that being at home caused them to be the most productive they’ve ever been, and 10.2% have found themselves being the least productive while in their home environments.
The level of distraction as surveyed exhibited a greater percentage difference between the grades, though over 50% of respondents collectively believed themselves to be very distracted.
High levels of distraction were mirrored in the junior and senior grade levels with 52.7% and 65.5%, respectively, stating that being at home was very distracting. On the other hand, less than 50% of freshmen and sophomores found themselves being very distracted.
The significant amount of respondents citing being at home as the source for their increased distractedness is understandable, considering the easy access to nonschool-related gadgets lying around their rooms. Nonetheless, acknowledging and combating the greater degrees of distraction can help increase productivity as Fremd students continue working hard and staying safe within the confines of their own homes.
]]>Season two premiere, “Chapter Nine: The Marshal,” brings the Mandalorian back to screens with a bang as the Mandalorian finds himself at Mos Pelgo on Tatooine in his continued search for more Mandalorians. There he comes across Cobb Vanth, the “Marshal” of Mos Pelgo, played by Timothy Olyphant. While he is not a Mandalorian, his armor reveals more about the fate of Boba Fett, whose status was unknown at the end of the original film trilogy. While he’s there, the Mandalorian learns of the Greater Krayt Dragon, who has been terrorizing the people of Mos Pelgo and, with the help of Cobb and some Tusken Raiders, sets out to kill it once and for all. “The Marshal” is the first episode of “The Mandalorian” directed by writer Jon Favreau, who was unable to direct any season one episodes due to his work on “The Lion King.” It contains a perfect balance of action and creative, plot-moving dialogue, keeping the audience engaged throughout.
The Mandalorian’s journey continues in “Chapter Ten: The Passenger.” Peli Motto, a mechanic from season one played by Amy Sedaris, gives him the potential location of more Mandalorians. However, if he wants to go there, he’ll also have to bring along a Frog Woman of indeterminate species, who needs to find her husband so she can save her kind. However, the Mandalorian’s ship, Razor Crest, gains the attraction of two X-Wing pilots. As he tries to escape, the Mandalorian crashes on a snowy planet and must fight off a large infestation of deadly spiders, while also keeping the Child, the frog woman, and his ship safe. This episode drags itself out for a bit but the fight between Razor Crest and the X-Wings is exciting and done with incredible animation, making it by far the best moment of the episode. This episode also gained some strange controversy after the Child shocked some people by getting himself into the frog woman’s eggs and eating some, despite him not knowing what they are.
The most recent episode of the series is “Chapter 11: The Heiress.” The Mandalorian crash lands at his destination, the moon of Trask. As the Frog Lady reunites with her husband, the Mandalorian finds a Quarren who offers to bring him to other Mandalorians. However, it’s a trap in order to get his Beskar suit. After falling victim to the trap, The Mandalorian is saved by three other Mandalorians, the leader of which is Bo-Katan Kryz (who also appeared in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars), accompanied by her teammates Koska Reeves and Axe Woves. In this episode we also learn that Din was raised by a group of “religious zealots” due to his refusal to remove his mask in front of others. The four Mandalorians then attempt to take over an Imperial cargo ship, as Bo-Katan is looking for a Darksaber that belongs to her but is instead in the hands of Moff Gideon, who we see in season one. The showdown with stormtroopers on the cargo ship are an exciting callback to the original trilogy films, with familiar sets and costumes now appearing in modern-day. This fast-paced episode is undoubtedly one of the best in the series, combining impressive directing from Bryce Dallas Howard, writing from Jon Favreau, and cinematography from Matthew Jensen, as well as some amazing graphics once again.
This beginning promises an impressive and outstanding season for “The Mandalorian,” which audiences have grown to love over the past year as a shining relic of the modern-day Star Wars franchise and will hopefully be releasing new episodes in the following few years.
]]>“[T]he World Food Programme analysis shows that, due to the Coronavirus, an additional 130 million people could be pushed to the brink of starvation by the end of 2020. That’s a total of 265 million people,” Beasley said.
However, what is the cause of this problem, and what is the solution? Oxfam International explains the disturbing cause of this widespread problem:
“These devastating hunger levels are a symptom of a broken food system that has allowed millions of people to go hungry on a planet that produces more than enough food for everyone.”
This pandemic has deepened those lines of inequality and division, as the availability of food has become even more scarce due to the overall economic downfall. Additionally, workers for food-producing establishments have contracted COVID-19 and are not able to work. With their original burden of poverty weighed down by constant violent strife in their hometown and even more with the worldwide pandemic, it is a trying time for many less-fortunate countries.
WFP is worried about a future famine that may occur in 2021. Money and funds have not been enough for them to be able to distribute the help each country desperately needs. For example, Latin America, Afghanistan, and other poor, even middle-class countries have millions of people battling starvation. However, this organization is doubling its efforts to impact more people than they ever have before.
Many people are unaware of the fact that there is a “hunger pandemic”; however, JAMA Network quotes Beasley and how he speaks on the future implications of this serious problem.
“Until the day we have a medical vaccine, food is the best vaccine against chaos. Without it, we could see increased social unrest and protests, a rise in migration, deepening conflict and widespread under-nutrition among populations that were previously immune from hunger.”
]]>As a whole, many students enjoyed the time off from their typical activities. Quarantine also gave some people the opportunity to catch up on sleep and work at their own pace due to the transition to eLearning. Although remote learning presented new challenges, the comfort of staying home brought perks to the new learning environment like an early end to the school day or a chance to grab a snack between periods. Another common benefit of the stay at home order was that respondents found themselves spending more time with their families or pets in addition to more frequently engaging in hobbies.
As for least favorite aspects of quarantine, the decreased interactions with friends and lack of contact with others were challenging adjustments. Nearly every response cited the difficulty of detachment from others. A sense of uncertainty and helplessness became familiar to many. As stated by sophomore Katie Koufis, “My least favorite part of quarantine was just being afraid…” Participants shared similar struggles maintaining communication with others and questioning the future.
Although the lockdown is over, students shared what advice they would have given themselves with the knowledge they have now. Whether it was wisdom to exercise more or savoring each minute of extra sleep, respondents often found that it was important to relax and stay optimistic. Additionally, a common theme throughout the responses involved letting go of conflicted feelings and going with the flow. “You can’t control it. Don’t stress,” junior Gina Dudley said.
Both the positive and negative sides of the COVID-19 quarantine provided takeaways and opportunities to learn. Students found that one of the most significant messages was to live in the moment and not take life for granted. At the drop of a hat, the daily life of all Fremd students drastically transitioned, showing many students that what they have is precious. The importance of maintaining contact with friends and having patience through confusion were additionally helpful to students as they navigated the changes.
The March quarantine brought highs, lows, new opportunities, fresh memories, and chances for students to learn and grow as people. Through baking and binge watching, students found that “…there is hope in bad times,” as senior Nitin Badey said. Despite the many challenges, optimism has guided many members of the Fremd community through the experience of the coronavirus pandemic.
]]>Recently, many television shows have gone back to filming even though Coronavirus cases are still growing and increasing in areas of filming. Going back to filming while cases are still growing is very dangerous and can cost lives. Making money should not be considered more important than a human life. Around 900 cases of COVID- 19 are being reported every day in LA County according to public health officials. While most places are slowly starting to open up, I would assume Los Angeles was more than hesitant to reopen due to the large population and atmosphere of the city which is very party and event-oriented. Local health officials have also addressed not having enough tests to accurately confirm the number of people with Coronavirus. And the average amount of tests per person in a week is upwards of three for members of production teams and actors for television. It seems like while LA is struggling to get tests, production teams seem to have unlimited amounts.
While the county has been struggling to get tests to the general public, many studios are giving three tests a week to the hundreds of set crews and actors still filming. We shouldn’t prioritize people in the entertainment business just because they have the money to do so. Over 300 tests are misused a week when there are people in desperate need of them. Famous people don’t deserve tests any more than the working class. The same working class that holds up our economy, the same working class that goes to work in high-risk places to put food on the table, and the same people who need the most help in this global pandemic.
The irresponsible use of tests and having large groups of people on sets are extremely harmful to the city of Los Angeles, which is still in the beginning stages of re-opening. Sets should be confined to the most important members. The people on set should also be expected to social distance and be safe. If people were safe then there would be no need for wasting a ridiculous amount of tests per show. Shows instead could’ve been delayed or done filming in places with fewer people to create a safer environment.
Consequently, the non-proper care of filming environments will cause more detrimental effects like causing more people to get Covid or even causing the city to go back onto lockdown. Filming crews should wait for safer numbers before producing content again and should be taking more precautions. Many things can be done better especially since people’s lives are put at risk for “ABC ‘s hit new show.” Our priorities should not be with a character on a tv show but rather the people and economy.
]]>While young people will likely survive COVID-19, there are concerning long term effects that we must be cautious of. Researchers have begun to discover neurological problems which have resulted due to COVID-19 that could severely impact people after they recover, and it is entirely possible that there are even worse long term effects that haven’t been discovered yet. According to The Lancet Neurology, COVID-19 has now been listed as a risk factor for stroke, and young people are seven times as likely to suffer a stroke due to COVID-19 as compared to the flu.
Many people with COVID also report losing their sense of taste and smell, some going on months without recovering these senses. Studies done by the Mayo Clinic have even found that COVID-19 patients are 27 times more likely to lose their sense of smell. Though this may seem like just a temporary loss, doctors don’t know if the virus causes any long term sensory loss. This could mean no longer smelling and tasting your favorite foods, impacting your quality of life. Taking action now to protect yourself and others around you is worth it.
Researchers from King’s College London have also made new discoveries concerning “long covid” by using data from the app COVID Symptom Study. “Long covid” is classified as the condition where recovered patients still suffer from symptoms such as chronic fatigue, breathlessness, or migraines, among other symptoms that affect different parts of the body such as the heart or brain. 10% of COVID patients who were 18-49 years old were found to suffer from “long covid,” and researchers warn that even those with mild cases may suffer from this.
Young people are also far more likely to be super spreaders, and we must act responsibly to protect the elderly and immunocompromised. According to a study from the journal Science, a research team from the US and India found that children and young adults are the most likely to be superspreaders. Additionally, a study from Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General Hospital for Children found concerningly high viral loads of coronavirus in children. Lael Yonker, the lead author of this study, compared infected adult ICU patients to infected children, stating that “the viral loads of these hospitalized patients are significantly lower than a ‘healthy child’ who is walking around with a high SARS-CoV-2 viral load.”
You may believe that going out to that party can’t possibly hurt you because you probably won’t die, but you risk endangering your own health and quality of life, and even worse-spreading it to someone else who won’t survive. Truth is, if we had been the most vulnerable and it was up to our grandparents to social distance and wear masks to protect us, they would do it in a heartbeat. We need to do the same for them.
]]>Thursday Night
Colts 34, Titans 17: AFC South Showdown
An inter-division game between a strong Colts defense and a Titans team led by Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill kicked off the week’s action. This Colts defense did not disappoint as they kept Derrick Henry out of the endzone all night, which is not an easy task, and the Titans offense wasn’t really able to get itself going after the 2nd Quarter. Nyheim Hines did it all for the Colts offense putting up 70 yards rushing, 45 yards receiving, and two touchdowns, and helped propel his team to a win and the division lead.
Sunday games
Buccaneers 46, Panthers 23: Brady Bounces Back
A Christian McCaffrey-less Panthers team took on the division rival Buccaneers led by Tom Brady and coach Bruce Arians. After pulling ahead to a 17-10 lead early in the second quarter, the Panthers weren’t able to hang with a star studded Buccaneers offense that scored 15 unanswered points and built on even more. Tom Brady tossed for 341 yards along with three touchdowns and a rushing touchdown, as teammate Ronald Jones had a career day rushing for 192 yards and a touchdown. This was an important “get-back” win for the Bucs here after getting embarrassed last week by the Saints.
Texans 7, Browns 10: Browns Backs Carve It Up
A Deshaun Watson versus Baker Mayfield match-up in this one as the Browns host the Texans. An extremely low-scoring affair between Cleveland and Houston, featuring a total of three points scored before the 4th and only 17 points total. Despite bleak games offensively for both teams, one thing that stood out was the rushing attack of the Browns, with both Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb rushing over 100 yards. As the recipe for easy success for the Browns this season has been, keep the ball on the ground (out of Baker’s hands) to win games. A little fantasy and betting turmoil was stirred up at the end of the game as Nick Chubb stepped out of bounds at the Texans’ 1 yard line with mere seconds to go, keeping the ball in the Browns’ possession to ice the game. Here’s hoping you didn’t need six more fantasy points from Chubb or bet on the Browns -3.5.
Football Team (formerly the Washington Redskins) 27, Lions 30: Prater’s Icy Veins
Alex Smith got his first start in 728 days following his gruesome injury in 2018 as he and the Football Team travelled to Detroit to battle Matthew Stafford and the Lions. It was a career day for Smith, who had 390 passing yards and drove his team down to kick a game-tying field goal with only 16 seconds left in regulation, all to no avail. The Lions were still able to get down and set up a 59 yard field goal for the win, which veteran kicker Matt Prater was able to knock down for his third game-winner this season. A surprisingly good game despite each teams’ losing record, this matchup featured good fantasy performances from Marvin Jones, Terry McLaurin, and Antonio Gibson.
Jaguars 20, Packers 24: A-Rod and the O
Jake Luton, the rookie QB from the Jaguars, got his second career start this week against the NFC North leading Packers. The ultra-explosive Packers offense didn’t disappoint as Aaron Rodgers went for his seventh game over 280 passing yards this season and Marquez Valdes-Scantling went bananas, but because of a weak Green Bay defense, this game was too close. Luton fell back down to Earth and cooled down coming off his astounding NFL debut and played pretty mediocrely, but was still able to keep the Jags in the game until the very end of the game. As a so-called Super Bowl front-runner you simply can’t afford to have a game come down to the last drive against a 1-7 team, so this Packers defense needs to step up if they want to make a playoff push as they won’t be able to handle the best of the best playing like this.
Eagles 17, Giants 27: The NFC East Dumpster Fire
A matchup between two teams in the worst division in all of football, Daniel Jones and the Giants took the home win against Carson Wentz and the Eagles. Calling Carson Wentz the leader of this team may not be just, as the Philly QB threw for zero touchdowns and fumbled the ball twice, but hey, he looked good handing the ball off to Boston Scott and Miles Sanders. Daniel Jones on the other hand looked good as he passed and ran the ball effectively and took his team to the win. Despite only having 3 wins, the Eagles retain their lead of the NFC East.
Bengals 10, Steelers 36: Big Ben Torches Bengals
The red-hot Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Cincinnati Bengals this week and it turned out pretty much like how everyone expected it would. I can’t really pin any blame anywhere on the Bengals despite them having a few turnovers, since they lost simply because the Steelers are a better team in virtually every aspect. A major takeaway from this game is the strong play of Steelers QB, Ben Roethlisberger. Despite a COVID scare earlier in the week, Ben was able to throw for 333 yards and four touchdowns and lead the Steelers to 9-0 on the season.
Bills 30, Cardinals 32: Deandre Hopkins. That’s It.
A heavily anticipated game going into this week between the Bills and the Cardinals, and rightfully so, as it was probably the best game all week. Kyler Murray and Josh Allen, two young quarterbacks who are blossoming into stars before our eyes, went head to head. Josh Allen and the Bills got off to a good start and held a 23-9 lead at one point in the game, but the Cardinals came roaring back and took a 26-23 lead and brought that deep into the 4th quarter. Stefon Diggs then caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Allen to take a 4 point lead with 39 seconds left in the game. All the Bills had to do was keep the Cardinals out of the endzone for 32 seconds and they’d win the game, but of course, they did quite the opposite. Kyler Murray was able to heave up a 43 yard Hail Mary on a prayer to Deandre Hopkins, who caught the ball despite being triple covered just as the clock hit 00:00. Cardinals. Win.
Broncos 12, Raiders 37: Roaring Raiders Take the Win
The only AFC West match-up during Week 10 was underway at 3:05 as the Las Vegas Raiders hosted the Denver Broncos. A game that started out close for Denver really went off the rails starting in the 3rd quarter as the Raiders scored 20 unanswered points, and even more later on to increase their lead. Similar to the Browns, the Raiders rode the coattails of their running backs, Josh Jacobs and Devontae Booker who had 80+ yards and two touchdowns apiece. Perhaps one of the biggest surprise teams of this year, the Raiders improve to 6-3.
Seahawks 16, Rams 23: Wilson Outplayed?
A game fought by two teams hailing from an extremely close division battle in the NFC West, the Rams took on the Seahawks. Russell Wilson, a man who has been one of the front-runners for MVP all year, looked human for once, in this game, as he turned the ball over three times and didn’t have any touchdowns. The Seattle offense as a whole underperformed, only mustering one touchdown, a season low. The Rams however, looked good offensively and defensively as they were able to capitalize on turnovers and good drives. Jared Goff bounced back and the Rams’ rushing attack put up three touchdowns en route to the Rams entrance to a three-way tie for their division.
49ers 13, Saints 27: The Alvin Kamara Show
A banged-up 49ers team entered New Orleans as 10 point underdogs, and came out losing by a little more. Despite only having 15 rushing yards, Alvin Kamara played phenomenally for the Saints as he scored all three of their touchdowns and led the team in receiving. The Saints defense also played very well, forcing four turnovers and ultimately being a deciding factor in the team’s success. Despite getting the win, the Saints lost Drew Brees as the QB left the game at half-time after suffering a rib injury and is currently awaiting an MRI.
Chargers 21, Dolphins 29: A Tale Of Two Rookie QBs
The number 5 pick in this year’s draft, Tua Tagovailoa, and the Dolphins faced the number 6 pick, Justin Herbert, and the Chargers. Despite the score always being relatively close all game, the Dolphins were in control the whole game as they were never trailing. As for stats, Herbert had two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown but threw one interception while Tua had two passing touchdowns and no turnovers. While both of these QBs have very promising futures in the NFL, they were slightly overshadowed by strong running back play from Kalen Ballage for the Chargers and Salvon Ahmed for the Dolphins.
Sunday Night:
Ravens 17, Patriots 23: Lamar v. Super Cam
Late Sunday night the reigning league MVP, Lamar Jackson, and the Ravens travelled to Foxborough to take on Cam Newton (another former MVP) and the Patriots. Coming into this game the Patriots were sitting on only three wins, on track for their worst season since 2000, and looked to Cam and the offense to take them to an upset victory. Powered by a three headed rushing attack from Damien Harris, Rex Burkhead, and Cam himself, the Patriots were able to take the lead. As for the Ravens, their offense simply couldn’t get it done, turning the ball over on downs for the last drive of the game and failing to score 20+ points for the first time in 32 games.
Monday Night:
Vikings 19, Bears 13: Atrocious Offense
An NFC North matchup between the red hot Vikings and Dalvin Cook coming off two straight wins and the struggling Bears coming off three straight losses. The game went as many Bears games have gone so far this season, a strong performance from the defense that proved to be for nothing. Though the Bears defense was able to hold Dalvin Cook, the Vikings MVP candidate running back, to one of his worst rushing performances all year and keep him out of the end zone all game, the Bears offense scored 0 points the whole second half. Despite the sub-par performance from Dalvin Cook; Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, and Justin Jefferson played well in this game and the Vikings are climbing the ranks in the NFC for a Wild Card spot.
]]>The presidential election of 2020 was different from previous years for multiple reasons. Many people decided to vote by mail instead of voting in person in order to stay safe from the Coronavirus. This caused the results to be delayed, which is why the winner was called four days after election night. This delay was primarily because multiple states did not count the mail in votes until after the election, causing a large surge of blue votes. By the end of the election, these votes were the main reason why multiple states turned blue. Before the election, Biden advised his supporters to vote by mail while President Donald Trump claimed that voting in person was the most secure way for them to vote. Ultimately, despite many Trump supporter’s beliefs, the end result of the 2020 election was due to the overwhelming surge of blue mail in votes in battleground states, not because of fraud like many claimed.
2020 was also a turning-point year because of the self-proclaimed “battleground states.” 2020 marked a year in which many states flipped their colors and were the primary reason for the end result of the election. For example, Arizona, a previously Republican state, flipped to the Democratic side this year. The state had not been called Democratic since the election of Bill Clinton in 1996, where Clinton took the state from Republican Bob Dole. The predicted reason for the state turning blue is because of how President Trump dealt with the Coronavirus, seeing as 1 in 5 residents of Arizona are over the age of 65, according to CBS News.
Another “battleground”, or flip-state, was Iowa. During the 2008 and 2012 elections, Iowa voted for former President Barack Obama, causing the state to go blue. However, the state ended up calling it as a win for President Trump because, as CBS News states, “Mr. Trump still has a large advantage among voters without a college degree and White evangelicals.” In the end, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ended up taking the victory because of three main states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These states took Biden’s small advantage on Trump to an enormous victory.
Wisconsin has a similar Republican voter-turnout to Arizona, of primarily white men. For many elections leading up to 2020, Wisconsin had turned blue and acted as a vote for the Democratic candidate. This changed in 2016, though, when the state ended up supporting Trump instead of Hilary Clinton, the Democratic candidate. This left 2020 voters in suspense of what could happen. In the end, though, the state acted as yet another win for Biden, helping him take the lead.
Michigan was in a very similar situation. The state had cast its electoral votes towards the Democratic candidates for many years, and then ended up switching for the Republicans in the 2016 election. Trump’s three percent lead on Hilary Clinton in 2016 gave him the upperhand, and resulted in him winning the election. Nevertheless, Michigan voters changed their opinions this year and gave Biden more votes, causing him to be 6 electoral votes away from victory.
Pennsylvania switched from red to blue last minute, causing many Americans to be on the edge of their seats. The state was projected to go red during the election, and after a few days, this seemed very likely. Most of Pennsylvania remained red, and still remains red, but because of the large cities inside of the state like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the Democrats reigned supreme and took over. This allowed Joe Biden to have a .6% lead on President Trump, winning him the state.
When the election was finally over, Trump repeatedly told the American people that fraud had occurred because of the large increase of blue votes. He insisted that a recount was necessary because many states had a narrow margin between red and blue. In fact, he has filed over twenty lawsuits, all claiming that the election was unfair and unconstitutional. At this point in time, all of them except for one have been dismissed, along with many lawyers withdrawing their claims.
President Trump was the first president since George H. W. Bush to not be elected for a second term. Why is that? Something to consider is how the two candidates reacted when the race was being finalized and the results were finally beginning to show. Although the two men were neck and neck for multiple days, Donald Trump reacted harshly to the idea that his position could be taken from him. Trump tweeted constantly that the election was corrupt and a recount was necessary. This behavior contrasted with Biden’s calm and collected tone, telling his supporters to not worry because a win was on the way.
In the end, this calm attitude worked for Joe Biden because he ended up winning the 2020 election, becoming the 46th president. 2020 is a year that will make history books for sure, mainly because of how suspenseful the election turned out to be. Americans can finally rest, though, and will no longer have to worry about the fate of the presidency. Who knows what will happen in 2024. Everything is up in the air, and maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
]]>Whether the weight of quarantine comes in the form of rolling out of bed at 7:29 AM and inhaling breakfast during the first Zoom class of the day or the feeling of everyday being repetitive, students are not the only ones feeling dragged down by the continuous days spent cooped up at home.
AP Psychology teacher Amanda Ganas has found quarantine weighing on her spirits as well and reflects on her own deviations in her mental state of mind during the past months of quarantine.
“I started having a lot more anxiety and I started turning more inwards,” Ganas said. “I also struggle with control, and in this situation I don’t think anyone’s ever felt so out of control.”
Being isolated from family and friends may spur on negative emotions that can cause many to tumble down a rabbit hole of upsetting thoughts. Working on turning that negative energy into something more positive and applying it to other aspects of life has served as an effective coping mechanism for Ganas.
“If I became really anxious, I would try to do something that I’d feel a sense of accomplishment [for] instead of just sitting in my own anxiety,” Ganas said. “Because I was sad and lonely, I was thinking of all the sad and lonely times in my life. It took me the ability to understand what I was doing and turn it around so I didn’t find myself going down the same negative rabbit hole day after day.”
Dealing with the potential mess of emotions upfront and finding a new norm can bring a sense of stability to one’s daily life as to avoid repetitive absorbance into the negatives. Ganas has worked on helping her daughter Layla adjust to the new view of the everyday by setting up a routine to maintain a sense of structure on a daily basis. Even writing down the most simplistic of things can help with preventing the loss of one’s routine.
Additionally, strategies to combat other mental obstacles may be less out-of-reach than expected. With the shorter days and colder temperatures, some may feel the onset of seasonal depression, and Ganas encourages students to still go outside and stay active even as the weather gets colder.
“You literally need that Vitamin D to keep you happy,” Ganas said. “If you think you’ve been feeling more blue than you before, or you can correlate it with the weather, make sure you do something about it so you don’t just wallow in the depressive state and stay active. It keeps your endorphins going and it keeps your serotonin high so you can combat it as best as possible.”
When thinking of what she wished students would always keep in mind, Ganas highlights how to remain more positive in the bleak days of quarantine.
“There are a lot of things that are out of our control, but you need to focus on what you can control – your physical [well-being], your emotions, and how you handle them,” Ganas said. “If you focus on those aspects of yourself and you try to be as good as you can be in those realms, with everything else you have to let the chips fall.”
]]>The global economy is not in shape to handle another restrictive lockdown like the one most states implemented in spring. The impacts of unemployment and folding small businesses have shaken the economy to its core. Many families still struggle with restarting their savings and maintaining their jobs among shaky corporate wellbeing, issues with childcare and housing troubles. However, the truth is that the first place a lockdown should start isn’t with businesses and jobs that cannot be done online, but with bars, restaurants, and shopping places, which account for only 4% of our GDP. States should be able to effectively limit interactions only to those fundamental to economic well being, but clearly, as cases show, they can’t.
On Nov. 12, there were 194,610 new cases in the United States, around 60,000 more than the seven-day average, showing a steep incline. States need to start enforcing efficient contact tracing when cases are found, and there needs to be a unified message on how to prevent coronavirus. Lost among political crises, Americans are finding it difficult to agree on aspects of the pandemic, and the intensely partisan atmosphere furthered by the election isn’t doing us any favors. This is the time when our politicians should be practicing bipartisanship and focusing on solutions. How are leaders going to get people to limit interactions to be within their social bubbles if they can’t convince their constituents to wear a mask? Scientists have long established that wearing a mask is the number one way to make a positive impact in your community, but even the prospect of saving other people’s lives seems to be valued less than what some consider freedom in a brazen, politically divided nation.
Lockdown orders are the answer – not the suffocating restrictions that may initially come to mind, but organized commands that actually prevent people from socializing in bars and restaurants and recommend against holding small gatherings in their home. The upcoming holiday season is only going to worsen numbers if leaders don’t act fast. The pandemic is not going to disappear for turkey, latkes, and laddoos.
So far, the reaction of state governments has been like driving a race car – speeding to open up and slamming down on the brakes when cases rise – but what we need is a comprehensive, federally mandated order that falls somewhere in between complete restrictions and opening up to a fully-functioning society. Information needs to be distributed on a federal basis from a relatively unified agreement, and ways to limit private interaction should be openly discussed and encouraged.
With this, we can efficiently manage the small gatherings and mask-less leisurely interactions that are responsible for the spread without sacrificing small businesses and the in-person education of young children. We have practiced enough disorder in a society that depends on order, and now it is time for some precedent in these unprecedented times.
]]>
The upcoming week will feature weather patterns similar to last week in terms of temperature changes and weekend rain as a variety of weather systems are poised to impact the area. On Tuesday 11/10, the region experienced some late-season severe weather which brought damaging winds to the area. Nothing like this is expected this week. However, large temperature swings will be likely at times this week as a few different frontal boundaries shift around the region. As temperatures start to moderate in the 50s over the weekend, rain will become likely at times before a final push of cold air enters the region into early next week.
Daily Forecast:
Tuesday 11/17: Unseasonably cold temperatures to start the week with plenty of sunshine throughout the day. High temperature of 39°, with a low of 27°.
Wednesday 11/18: Mainly sunny with a few clouds and temperatures closer to average. High of 47° and a low of 43°.
Thursday 11/19: Generally partly cloudy with more clouds in the evening and much warmer temperatures. Winds may be gusty at times. High temperature of 61° with a low temperature of 46°.
Friday 11/20: Pleasant with partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures. High of 55° cooling to a low of 44°.
Saturday 11/21: Moderating temperatures with rain showers in the morning evolving into a steadier rain towards evening. High of 53° falling to a low of 46°.
Sunday 11/22: Rain likely alongside a steep temperature drop, most likely occurring during the morning hours. High temperature of 52° with a low temperature of 35°.
Monday 11/23: Cloudy and cold early becoming partly cloudy later in the day, though still cold. High temperature of 43° with a low temperature of 30°.
National Weather Headlines:
Tropical Activity continues to make headlines as yet another storm forms in the Caribbean. Iota, the latest storm to be named, continues to move west and will likely impact Nicaragua and Honduras as a category 4 hurricane early Tuesday. Tropical activity in the Atlantic Basin is not uncommon in November, though it is the month where tropical activity tends to wind down for the season.
]]>An unseasonably warm and gorgeous week is expected this week as southerly winds and clear skies will support high temperatures in the 60s and lower 70s through Monday. Mid 70s are possible on Sunday, potentially breaking the daily record high temperature of 73° set in 1931 at Chicago O’Hare Airport. Election day on Tuesday 11/3 looks to be beautiful with sunny conditions and mild temperatures, a trend that will continue into the weekend. More unsettled weather is likely early next week as a storm system enters the region. This storm system will likely bring a sharp temperature drop on Tuesday with rain early next week. A colder, more unseasonable pattern looks to set up into next week, so enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.
Daily Forecast:
Tuesday 11/03: Election Day! Sunny skies and southerly winds will make for a beautiful day. High temperature of 65°, with a low of 46°.
Wednesday 11/04: Continued warmth with some passing clouds, though mainly sunny. High of 73° and a low of 51°.
Thursday 11/05: A mix of clouds and sun likely with unseasonably warm temperatures. High temperature of 69° with a low temperature of 48°.
Friday 11/06: Mainly sunny skies with much warmer temperatures compared to early in the week. High of 70° cooling to a low of 52°.
Saturday 11/07: A gorgeous day with plentiful sunshine. High of 71° falling to a low of 56°.
Sunday 11/08: Another keeper of a day with temperatures close to 20 degrees above average and mainly sunny with clouds increasing throughout the day. Record high temperatures possible. High temperature of 74° with a low temperature of 59°.
Monday 11/09: Warm and cloudy early leading to partly cloudy skies late. Another day of temperatures near 20 degrees above average. High temperature of 73° with a low temperature of 53°.
National Weather Headlines:
Tropical Storm Eta sets its gaze on northeastern Nicaragua Tuesday as a Category 5 hurricane. Eta marks the 28th tropical storm system in the Atlantic hurricane season, tying the previous record for the most named storms in a season, which occurred in 2005. This is the first time, however, that Eta has been used in the Greek Alphabet. Eta may eventually turn around and head for Florida or other northeastern Gulf of Mexico states next week.
Unseasonably warm temperatures are expected to spread into the western, central, and eventually eastern United States this week as a ridge of high pressure moves across the country. This warm-up comes just a week after an unseasonably cold end to October across parts of the northern United States.
]]>One of the first issues expected to plague these polling stations is a shortage of poll workers amidst a deadly pandemic. At a time when approximately 58% of the country’s poll workers are 60 or older, it remains a significant issue in finding younger people willing to work during Election Day. Indeed, as COVID-19 cases have spiked in the past few weeks, it remains very much uncertain as to the willingness of poll workers to come to a place that will take in an influx of people and germs. This is especially concerning in cities with large Black and Hispanic populations, which have routinely been understaffed and under equipped in previous elections. An outbreak among workers at small-town poll stations could cause mayhem, with no workers available to count those ballots.
Yet the worries about mail-in voting don’t stop with uncertain poll worker conditions: there are significant concerns that a large number of mail-in votes could be cancelled if they weren’t filled out correctly. In Michigan alone, there have already been more than 2,200 ballots that were rejected because they weren’t signed properly by the voter. Furthermore, legislation that only allows absentee ballots to be opened and counted on Election Day could put a tremendous amount of pressure on poll workers, who often work 18 hour shifts and could easily make mistakes.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Kim Meltzer, a Republican clerk in Michigan, stated that she was worried about the strain of the long hours on poll workers.
“It negatively impacts the quality of the work that any human being can do,” Meltzer said.
In battleground states, a few thousand votes miscounted or rejected count make a massive difference: President Trump only won the swing state of Pennsylvania by around 44,000 votes in 2016.
In addition, partisan politics have contributed to prevent reforming absentee voting laws: Republican-controlled legislatures have often chosen to vote against expanding the window of absentee voting, citing a greater opportunity for fraud. Yet despite Republican fears of widespread cheating, most election experts worry far less about fraud and instead about the possibility of a wide-scale rejection of ballots.
In an interview with CBS News, David Becker, executive director at the Center for Election Innovation and Research, doesn’t believe that there will be widespread voting fraud and instead thinks it is likely that there could be many rejected ballots.
“Hand-marked ballots have had higher rates of mismarks,” Becker said.
This could impact new or infrequent voters, who often don’t have the resources or time to understand the proper way in signing off the ballot.
Worries extend even beyond the execution of mail-in voting on Nov. 3rd: the president himself has openly questioned the reliability of the voting, despite using it himself, and has even threatened to denounce the election as fraudulent if Biden, the former vice-president, prevails over Trump. The president has used the post office to deliberately slow down the processing of mail-in ballots, the majority of which have been used by Democratic voters. Furthermore, because absentee ballots are counted after in-person votes, the election could span across several days. The possibility of the election slowly tilting to Biden as votes are counted could spark heated debate from Republicans as well as the incumbent president over the legitimacy of the election results. Democrats fear Trump could claim a premature victory on Nov. 3 in spite of the fact that it is extremely unlikely that votes will be counted that day.
An election too close to call could spark a Supreme Court debate, similar to the 2000 election results between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Although Democrats hope such a possibility would lead to a fair verdict, recently-appointed Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett could help sway the conservative-leaning court to grant Trump a victory.
]]>Joe Biden is an experienced politician, one who studied and practiced law, served as councilman in the 1970’s, served as the senator for Delaware for six terms, and as the vice president of the USA from 2008-2016.
Early Life:
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born on Nov. 20, 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Joseph Biden Sr. and Catherine Eugenia “Jean” Finnegan. Biden credits much of his success and has expressed his gratitude towards his parents’ upbringing on multiple occasions. Joe grew up with a stutter that affected him for years into his adult life as well. At the age of 13, Biden moved to Mayfield, Delaware where he began attending St. Helena school. Although he started there, he was later accepted into his dream academy, Archmere Academy, for the latter half of his schooling. He graduated from the Academy in 1961.
In 1962, Biden headed to the University of Delaware to study history and political science, alongside playing football. On a trip to the Bahamas during his junior year, he met Neilia Hunter who he later married in 1966. After finishing his studies in Delaware, he got accepted into Syracuse University Law School in 1965. As for his performance in school, Joe was a “mediocre” law student, in fact, he failed a class his first year for failing to cite a law review article. Biden claims that it was during his college years that his interest in politics began to take root. He has also said that the inauguration of John F. Kennedy was a huge driving source in his political beginnings as well. He graduated in 1968.
Personal Life:
After graduation, Biden moved to Wilmington, Delaware and began to practice law. He was successful and even started his own law firm in 1971. Around the same time, he became an active member of the Democratic party and was a councilman of New Castle County from 1970-1972. Biden was also encouraged to run for the Senate in 1972, at the young age of 29 years old.
In December of 1972, while Joe was setting up his office in D.C, his family went out to buy a Christmas tree and were met with an accident. Neilia and Naomi, his wife and infant daughter, both passed away and his two sons had to be treated for major injuries. Many did not expect him to win as he was only 29 and was running against a strong and experienced politician, but he won and became the fifth youngest senator of America. He was sworn in as a senator in 1973.
During his time as senator, in 1975, Joe met Jill Tracy Jacobs, the couple later got married on June 17, 1977. Jill has two masters of Reading and English, and a doctorate in education. She worked as an english teacher and professor and plans to actively pursue her career teaching alongside her duties as first lady if her husband wins the race.
Senate Career:
His senate career lasted from 1973-2009. After being re-elected six times, he became Delaware’s longest serving senator. Throughout his senate career he worked in multiple senate committees, but specialized in foreign policy and also became the chairman of the judiciary committee. Biden rose up the ranks to become chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and is respected throughout the country for being one of the most well-versed and seasoned senators in foreign policy.
During his career, he advocated for strategic arms limitation with Soviet Union, promoted peace and stability in the Balkans, supported expanding NATO, and even spoke out against George W. Bush and his dealing with the issues with the Iraq War. He has repeatedly expressed his approval of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and is a clear proponent of the organization. Biden also believes that the military should spend more time working on defense in space and cyber warfare. Biden was part of the Judiciary Committee early in his senate career, becoming a Ranking Member from 1981 to 1987, and serving as chairman from 1987 to 1995. As chairman, Biden voted on over a dozen Justice nominations and dealt with one of the most controversial hearings; the confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas. This hearing showcased many of Biden’s values in politics.
Early Presidential Campaigns:
In 1987, Biden sought out to run for the democratic presidential nomination. But while campaigning, reports of his speech being plagiarized surfaced. Due to high amounts of criticism and harsh backlash, Biden dropped out of the race. He ran again for democratic nominee in 2007, but Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had dominated the race and he dropped out after receiving very low numbers in support. Following his dropout, Obama selected him as his running mate in the 2007 presidential election. On Nov. 2, 2008, Obama and Biden defeated John McCain and Sarah Palin, and Biden secured the spot of vice president.
Vice Presidential Career:
Biden served alongside Obama for two terms, aiding him with his extensive knowledge on foreign affairs throughout the latter’s presidency. He has represented the U.S. in political affairs internationally to over 50 countries during his two terms. Alongside foreign affairs and coming from this part of America, Biden has repeatedly worked to improve conditions for the middle-class. He played a key role in restarting job creation and rebuilding the economy during the turmoil in his term. He worked to save the auto industry and kept over 1.5 million jobs in the industry. As he was finishing up his second term, he started to make plans for running for president in 2016, but never went through with them due to family tragedy; he lost his son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015.
Presidential Stances:
Joe Biden, if elected, will land a place in history; he will be the second president to practice Catholicism while serving and also picked the first black and South Asian American as Vice President. He announced Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate in August. Biden has several plans to move forward with if he becomes president. He has been campaigning on a wide variety of fronts including Healthcare, women’s rights, gun violence, COVID-19, and more. Biden has been constantly campaigning, while following safety measures, and his goals for his presidency are big. They will certainly affect social issues if implemented.
Biden plans to start a new national public health insurance program that builds upon Obamacare, similar to Medicare. He promises to keep private insurance, something many of the Republican Party have claimed he won’t hold up to, but members of his own party have criticized him for not going far enough. Biden also looks to extend coverage of healthcare to a wider range of citizens; the new plan will be open to more middle class families and lower-income-earning individuals.
Additionally, he plans to increase the value of tax-credits. He also claims that he is going to make efforts to regulate drug prices for drugs from exclusive brands, on top of placing tax penalties on companies increasing the prices over inflation rates. Within the current healthcare system, he wants to make an effort to expand healthcare equally to all citizens regardless of race, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation. It also has been reported that Biden supports ‘woman’s choice’ for abortions, will strive to keep them legal, and bring back Planned Parenthood; opposing Trump’s plans on the organization.
Considering gun violence, America has been debating the right path to take. Biden has stated on his campaign website that he plans to work on repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. He has made bold statements about wanting to completely ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons as a whole. And has mentioned that he wants to tighten regulations on firearm possession and even reinstate the Obama-Biden rule of background checks.
Plans on COVID-19:
Joe Biden has criticized the handling of COVID-19 by Trump. He has repeatedly said that the Trump administration has failed to carry out safe and precautionary measures in dealing with coronavirus.
Regarding testing, Biden wants to invest heavily in expanding testing to the American public. He wants to double the number of drive-in testing sights, expand free testing to more Americans, and wants to invest in in-home and instant tests. Biden has also mentioned he wants to reinforce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements throughout the country. His plans include investing in PPE manufacture – face masks, face shields, etc. – and regulating rules to mandate mask wearing. Considering small and or local businesses, Joe wants to invest in providing these businesses with “restart packages” that will assist and cover their costs of operating safely and the costs of additional resources, like plexiglass and PPE for workers.
Joe Biden has been a part of a vital section of American politics and has definitely made an impact with his beliefs and actions. Having been through tragedy and growth and through his various experiences in politics, Joe Biden believes he can guide America through tragedy and make it stronger while working closely with the citizens.
]]>Mike Pence is quite a personality with knowledge in various fields. From a conservative radio and talk show host, to a Republican chairman, Governor, and Vice President of on term, Pence has a wide range of experience in the political world.
Early Life:
Pence was born in Columbus, Indiana on June 7, 1959 into an Irish Catholic family and community. His parents, Edward, a US Army veteran, and Nancy Pence’s religious beliefs both politically and culturally influenced him throughout his life. Mike is one of six children. His interest in politics began in high school; when studying in Columbus North High School, he volunteered for the Bartholomew County Democratic Party.
Mike started his college life in Hanover College, where his interest and fascination with politics grew and flourished. Although he stated that he was extremely religiously influenced in his political beliefs, Pence claims that one of his main inspirations was Ronald Raegan and his speeches. He graduated from Hanover with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1981.
Pence later moved to Indianapolis in 1983, continued his studies in the Indiana University McKinney School of Law and graduated with a Judiciary degree in 1986. During these years, Pence met his wife, Karen, in 1985. Karen Pence was an elementary school teacher and was involved in multiple non-profit youth organizations. Pence continued to practice law after graduation for some time.
Early Political Career:
Pence first became the Precinct committeeman for Marion County, in Indiana, in the Republican Party soon after graduation. In 1988, Pence decided to run for the House of Representatives. Pence ran as a populist and social conservative. Populism is the ideology of letting the “general” public and people who’s words “aren’t heard” speak and play a bigger role. This way, the public will be heard against and over the “elite” group of society. Social conservatism is the view on multiple different social aspects of life including; marriage, life, sexuality, etc.. This campaign was not successful and he did not win the seat, since Pence had controversial views on these ideas and had created quite a stir.
Pence ran for House of Representatives once again in 1990. He launched his campaign with multiple negative and disrespectful ads, which led to more backlash rather than gain support like he’d expected. Mike was faced with an abundant amount of criticism and published the essay, “Confessions of a Negative Campaigner” to apologize for his campaigning methods.
Hosting Radio Shows:
After failing to win a seat, Mike was casted to host a radio-show in Indiana. According to various sources, Pence hosted two radio-talk shows and also was part of a Sunday morning local tv show. “The Mike Pence Show,” which was one radio show he hosted from 1992 to 1998. Pence discussed and commented on multiple political ideas and affairs, which caught the eyes and ears of politicians in the area. Although his other radio show wasn’t as popular, it was successful for a few years. Pence’s Sunday morning show was a weekly public affair show, which ran from 1995 to 1999.
Career as Congressman:
Pence ran for the House of Representatives once again in 2000, when he finally achieved success. He began his life as a congressman in the year 2001 and served for six full terms. Pence served as a republican Catholic, who had extreme beliefs in social conservatism. During his six terms, Pence had repeatedly opposed same sex marriage and also strongly opposed abortion; he has mentioned that he is pro-life in the vice presidential debate on Oct. 7, 2020. Alongside opposing abortion, Pence also pushed to defund Planned Parenthood on many instances. In 2003, Pence was reported to have voted against the expansion of Medicare, a national health insurance program, as well. With his strong conervative beliefs, he often opposed his own party’s ideas and beliefs too. His ability to stand on his heavily religiously influenced beliefs, caught the attention of the Tea Party Movement.
According to Britannica, the Tea Party Movement is a “conservative populist social and political movement that… [believes in] opposing excessive taxation and government intervention in the private sector…”
Governor of Indiana:
After serving as congressman for a while, Pence returned to his home state of Indiana. In 2012, Mike ran for governor of Indiana. His main focus, while campaigning, was on tax-cuts and improving the Indiana economy. Although the race was very close, Mike won and took office starting in 2013. His actions while serving as governor captured the attention of many around the country. Two years into his governorship, in early 2015, Pence made national headlines for passing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) in Indiana. The Act protected one’s rights to practice their religion safely and also reinforce it in their businesses. This sparked a huge outrage throughout America. The law was accused of being discriminatory against many of the LGBTQA+ community including, gay, lesbien, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Not only was the public outraged, but many big businesses, who were essential to the state economy, went into boycott to protest against the Act. Pence had defended the RFRA on multiple occasions when questioned about it by the media.
After wading in hot water for a while, he responded to the RFRA uproar with an additional piece of legislation called the RFRA Fix. Its purpose was to clear up the issues regarding the previously discriminated communities; it wasn’t intended to discriminate against anyone and does not allow any businesses to discriminate against an individual for their race, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Throughout his years as a congressman and governor, Pence repeatedly supported acts against abortion. In 2016, he made headlines once again for signing an extremely controversial bill for his state. The bill declared abortion of a fetus with a disability illegal. According to ABC News, Pence has signed almost every anti-abortion bill that came to his desk in as a congressman too. Pence has also spoken of being pro-life on several occassions.
Vice Presidential Career:
On July 5, 2016, Trump announced that Mike Pence, governor of Indiana would be his running mate for the 2016 presidential election. The duo won and Pence served as the vice president for one full term from 2017-2020. Pence has been selected once again to run alongside Trump in the upcoming 2020 election.
During his vice presidency, Pence worked as the head of the government’s task force of COVID-19. The coronavirus epidemic did drag the American economy into a downturn and he was criticized for downscaling the importance of the outbreak. Throughout his term, Pence has stuck up for Trump throughout the many allegations against the latter and has worked to aid Trump and his policies.
Mike Pence is a strong candidate for vice presidency with his degree in law, his experience as a radio show host, his work as a congressman, and his history in politics. He has made many bold moves throughout his political career and isn’t scared to stick to his conservative beliefs.
]]>Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York to real estate mogul Fred Trump and his wife Mary MacLeod Trump. Trump grew up in a large household with 3 siblings when he was born and one more a few years later. Trump fondly remembers growing up in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood and better remembers his father throughout his childhood. Trump’s father enrolled him in New York military academy when he was 13 where he had completed his schooling. At age 18, in 1964, he enrolled in Fordham but then transferred to Wharton school of the University of Pennsylvania two years later after which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in economics in 1968.
Pre-Political and Business Career:
After graduating, Trump decided to follow his father’s steps and enter the real estate business, joining his dad’s company. He became President of the company in 1971 and took quick action in changing big parts of the company, most notably renaming it “The Trump Organization,” which still bears the name to this day.
He married Czech model and fashion designer Ivana Trump in 1977 and had three kids with her, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump. In 1987, Trump published his now famous book, “The Art of the Deal”. Trump divorced his wife Ivana in 1992 and married actress Marla Maples the following year, with whom he had one daughter, Tiffany. Trump would eventually go on to divorce Maples in 1999. In 2004, after several business and real estate dealings, Trump decided to enter the world of reality television when he started “The Apprentice.” It was a wide success and garnered millions of viewers during its tenure with Trump as its host. In 2005, Trump married Slovenian model Melania Trump and had a son, Barron, with her in 2006.
Political Career:
Trump always flirted with the idea of a presidential run throughout the 80’s and 90’s and even unsuccessfully sought for the Reform party’s nomination for president in 2000 but dropped out. Trump was touted as a potential Republican nominee in 2012 after becoming increasingly more politically involved and criticizing President Obama during his tenure as President.
In 2015, after months and years of speculation, Donald Trump launched his campaign for the Republican nomination on June 15, 2015 at Trump tower and ran on the message of “Making America Great Again.” His campaign was initially seen as a joke, and many of his Republican competitors criticized him for his controversial remarks and views. Trump, however, was very successful through the primaries and every Republican vying for the nomination dropped out of the presidential race by May 3, 2016 including Senator Ted Cruz and Governor John Kasich, making Trump the presumptive nominee surprising much of the party.
Trump announced governor Mike Pence of Indiana as his running mate on July 5, 2016. Trump accepted the Republican nomination for President a couple of weeks later on July 21, 2016. Despite the circumstances, Donald Trump became President-Elect Trump on Nov. 8, 2016, beating opponent Hillary Clinton, once again surprising much of the nation just like his primary win just months earlier.
President of the United States:
President Trump, with his running mate Mike Pence, was sworn in on Jan. 20, 2017 and immediately got to work. One of Trump’s biggest campaign promises was to fill Justice Antonin Saclia’s Supreme Court seat, which he did, after confirming Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court in April of 2017, landing an early victory in his presidency. He also went on to confirm Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, after a dirty confirmation battle, and recently confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barret to the courts, sparking controversy due to the proximity to the election.
Trump did however have a hard time assembling his cabinet with Democrats in the senate filibustering his various appointments. Trump’s cabinet is better known for the number of officials he fired including chiefs of staff, Secretaries of State, and other administration officials.throughout his term, Trump also kept several promises including creating four million new jobs, confirming more circuit and federal judges than any new administration, working to prevent illegal immigration, and beginning the construction of his border wall in 2019, after a long fight with Democrats and a government shutdown.
The first term of the Trump presidency will also be remembered for its foreign policy. He pursued diplomatic relations with North Korea after a long back and forth with its leader: He had several summits with them and became the first U.S. president to set foot in North Korea. The President also pulled out of the Paris agreement, following the announcement on June 1, 2017 and drew criticism for that. In 2018, Trump also announced the United States withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear deal, as part of his tough stance against the nation.
In Jan. 2020 Trump ordered a military strike on one of Iran’s top military leaders, Qasem Soleimani, stoking already increasing fears on the global stage for its response. Iran responded with an airstrike on an American base in Iraq, in which soldiers got concussions and some had minor brain damage. However, Trump dismissed the wounds as “not very serious injuries.”
Much of Trump’s tenure will be associated with the Russia investigation which accuses Trump of allegedly colluding with Russia to help benefit him in the 2016 campaign. Special counsel Robert Muller conducted an investigation from 2017 to 2019. In Sept. of 2019, a whistleblower accused President Trump of allegedly asking the President of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter’s business dealings in Ukraine, after threatening to withhold military aid to the country if he didn’t. This complaint prompted a reluctant Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to launch an impeachment inquiry into the president and then impeach him in December 2019. Trump’s trial began in Jan. and quickly wrapped up the following month when he was acquitted of both charges.
It was during President Trump’s impeachment that the biggest issue of his presidency came up, the COVID-19 virus. Trump restricted foreign travel from mainland China in Feb and Europe in March. Trump has been criticized however, for downplaying the virus initially. On Feb. 26, 2020 Trump announced that Vice President Pence would lead the administration’s response to the virus. On Mar. 13, 2020, the President declared a national emergency in response to the virus which was already causing an economic recession. President Trump also announced a suspension of all American funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Apr. 14, accusing WHO and other similar organizations of taking advantage of U.S aid.
Trump worked with congress in March on a relief package to support Americans amid the pandemic by signing the $2 trillion CARES act on March 27, which gave Americans direct payments of $1200, provided relief to small businesses, and supported States and Tribes across the country. Following the shut down of most of the country, Trump has been working to reopen the country in order to protect jobs and prevent layoffs. The president has been called out, however, for disregarding many COVID protocols in the reopening process.
On Oct. 2, the President announced that he and the First Lady both tested positive for COVID-19, and Trump was taken to Walter Reed Medical center later that afternoon following reports of experiencing fatigue. Trump has since fully recovered from the virus. He has been criticized for holding campaign rallies so soon after testing positive for the coronavirus, however his doctors have said that he had tested negative for the virus for his first rallies.
Stances and plans for a second term:
Trump is currently running for reelection and has stuck with much of his platform from 2016, but has added some major proposals to his plan for his second term. According to the Trump campaign website, he plans on creating 10 million new jobs in 10 months especially with the rising unemployment rate during the COVID recession. He wants to provide “Made in America,” tax credits for manufacturing in America, and work to create new trade deals to create more jobs. Trump would also use his second term to “Eradicate COVID-19” by developing a vaccine by the end of 2020, “Return to Normal,” by 2021, and refill stockpiles to prepare for the occurrence of future pandemics. Trump plans to take on China in his second term by restricting federal contracts to companies who outsource to China, give tax credits to companies who bring back jobs from China. In terms of healthcare, Trump plans on cutting prescription drug prices, lowering healthcare premiums, and covering all pre-existing conditions. Along with the major issues, president Trump also wants to provide school choice, pass congressional term limits, fully fund and hire more police officers, end illegal immigration, launch the space force, bring our troops home, and appoint more federal judges to the courts.
President Trump is a strong and powerful force in American politics today and no matter if he wins his reelection or not, the Trump presidency will be remembered for things ranging from his cabinet, to his impeachment, to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic for many years and decades to come.
]]>Early Life:
Kamala Devi Harris was born on Oct. 20, 1964, in Oakland California to immigrant parents Shymala Gopalan Harris, a cancer researcher from India, and her father Donald Harris, an economist from Jamaica. Her parents had another daughter, Maya Harris, in 1967. Harris grew up in Berkeley, California, and fondly remembers her time as a child there. Harris was a part of the second class, of a national effort to desegregate schools, when she was bused to a school 40 minutes away from home in first grade, which she remembers experiencing. Harris’s parents divorced when she was seven years old and her mother gained custody of both she and her sister.
After moving to Quebec, Canada for a few years, Harris graduated from Westmount High school in Montreal, Quebec in 1981 and moved back to the United States for college at Howard University in Washington D.C. She graduated from Howard with a dual major in both political science and economics. Harris then went to the University of California Hastings College of the Law earning her Juris doctor (J.D) in 1989. The following year she was admitted to the California bar, the licensing agency for attorneys.
Early career and District Attorney (DA) of San Francisco :
After getting out of college, Harris started her career as Deputy District Attorney of Alameda county. During her time there, she became the managing attorney of the career criminal unit. Two years later, she joined the San Francisco attorney’s office and was appointed as the chief of the community and neighborhood division and she established California’s first bureau of children’s justice. During her tenure, she gained the reputation of being a tough prosecutor and many cited her as a potential contender for district attorney.
In 2003, Harris announced her intention to become the District Attorney of San Francisco, taking on the incumbent and her boss at the time, Terrence Hallinan. She won the race in 2004 and immediately got to work. During her time there, Harris worked to reform the criminal justice system in San Francisco and was labeled as a fairly progressive and popular prosecutor, compared to others nationally. Her record as district attorney has come under scrutiny several times over the handling of cases regarding the death penalty and drug offenses.
Attorney General of California:
In 2010, Harris announced her run for Attorney General (AG) of California, won by a narrow margin and was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2011, becoming the first woman and black and South Asian American to hold that post. Harris led the second largest Department of Justice in the United States, second only to the United States Department of Justice. Soon after being sworn in, she worked with other state attorneys general in cases following the 2008 recession and secured $25 billion for California homeowners after the foreclosure crisis. Under Harris’s tenure, the California DOJ became the first statewide agency to implement a body camera program. She also officiated the first same-sex wedding in California after Proposition 8 was initially enacted.
Her record as Attorney General has, at many times, been the subject of controversy for her contradictory positions and decisions, such as how she tried to push for programs that allowed for people to find jobs instead of putting them in prison and fought to put innocent people in jail even after being proven innocent. She refused to pursue the death penalty when a man killed a police officer, but also defended the California Death Penalty process in Court. Such contradictions have led many to criticize Harris for her policy positions over the years, specifically as Attorney General.
United States Senate:
In 2015, following the announcement that junior senator for California Barbara Boxer was not going to seek reelection, Harris became the first candidate for her seat. She made it past the primaries and won on Nov. 8, 2016, the same day as Donald Trump was elected President. Harris was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2017, and with that, she became the second black woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the U.S senate.
After being elected, she joined the Homeland Security committee, the select committee on intelligence, the judiciary committee, and the committee on the budget. She initially sponsored a single-payer healthcare system introduced by Sen. Bernie Sander, better known as “Medicare for All,” and supported the Green New Deal in her early days in the senate. She built a big reputation on the judiciary committee for her prosecutorial questioning style of Trump appointees in confirmation hearings, notably of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Attorneys General Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr. Govtrackinsider, a nonpartisan website that tracks legislation and members of Congress, labeled Harris as “the most left-leaning U.S senator in 2019.”
In 2019, she published her memoir “The Truths We Hold.” She voted to convict President Trump following his impeachment trial on both counts in Jan, 2020. Trump was acquitted by the senate after Democrats failed to pass the threshold needed to convict. During much of the COVID-19 Pandemic, she has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration’s handling of the virus, the economic recession and Criminal Justice in America. In May of this year, she along with her colleague Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, introduced the “Justice in Policing Act” following the death of Geroge Floyd to address policing in America.
Presidential and Vice Presidential Campaigns:
Throughout much of her career in Washington D.C, from 2017 to 2018, Harris was always seen as a top contender to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States to take on President Trump, from both sides of the aisle, and had not denied a possible run. On Jan 21, 2020 on “Good Morning America” Harris announced her intention to run for the Democratic nomination. A week later, she formally launched her campaign at an event in her hometown of Oakland, California and according to police reports, 20,000 people attended her announcement which was even greater than president Barack Obama’s campaign launch in Springfield in 2007.
Harris stayed at the top of the polls for the first 6 months of the campaign becoming one of the better known candidates. In April, both Senator Bernie Sanders and future running mate Joe Biden also joined the race for president. In the first Democratic primary debate in June 2019, Harris made headlines for taking Joe Biden to task on his previous opposition to busing for school integration which she was a part of.
In the second Democratic debate, Harris was attacked for her record as a prosecutor and for her record as the Attorney general of California by Joe Biden and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Following the attacks on her record and for much of the remaining half of 2019 Harris’s support dwindled. In a final effort, Harris began to reorganize her campaign strategy, focusing most of her campaign in early primary states. Harris suspended her campaign December 3, 2019, 2 months before the Iowa Caucuses.
Following her presidential campaign Harris kept a lower profile in Washington D.C but was seen as a top contender to be Joe Biden’s running mate especially after he committed to picking a woman as his running mate during his final debate with Senator Bernie Sanders. On August 11th, Joe Biden announced Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate with the following statement.
“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked Kamala Harris – A fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants-As my running mate. Back when Kamala was Attorney General, she worked closely with Beau [His son who was the Attorney General of Delaware at the same time]. I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.”
Harris’s selection as Vice President (VP) made history as she became the first black woman and the first South Asian American to be on a major party presidential ticket. Harris is the third woman to be a vice presidential. After her selection, she drew criticism from many in both parties for her “flip flops” on policy positions and was deemed “too liberal” and “too conservative” at the same time.
On Oct. 7, 2020 Harris Debated Incumbent Vice President Mike Pence drew over 50.5 million viewers, making it the 2nd most watched Vice Presidential Debate in American history, second only to the 2008 VP debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. Following the death of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and announcement of Amy Coney Barret as her replacement, Harris had to set aside her work on the campaign trail for her job on the judiciary committee for the confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Justice Barett was confirmed and sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice on Oct. 26 2020.
Harris, just like many members of her party, supports law enforcement reforms given her role as the top law enforcement officer of California. Harris initially supported eliminating private insurance completely, opting for a government plan but has since changed her views to supporting to keep private insurance and include a public option. Harris, along with her running mate, both support addressing climate change. During her campaign for president, Harris supported significant gun reforms and the National Rifle Association (NRA) has said she supports “extreme gun control agendas.”
Harris has broken barriers throughout her career through her various achievements, her record as a prosecutor, attorney general, and senator, and her elections, including running for President and her current VP campaign. If elected Harris would become the first black woman and South Asian American elected to the executive branch.
]]>After nearly three months of remote instruction, District 211 transitioned to hybrid learning on Oct. 26. For many Fremd students, this means that they will be able to return to the school building for some in-person learning.
A survey sent out to parents by District 211 gave all students the option to either continue at-home learning or take part in the hybrid scenario. Those who have chosen to return have been split into two groups, green and gold, that will alternate weeks going to school and attending class online.
Many parents have grappled with the question of whether to allow their children to return to on-site classroom teaching.
Pediatrician and Chair of Pediatrics at Aurora Medical Center Dr. Sheri Rocco explained that the answer is anything but straight-forward.
“It depends on many different factors. There is no one right answer,” Rocco said. “It’s only the answer that’s right for that particular student.”
Some factors students and parents have had to consider when making this decision include whether a student has pre-existing medical conditions, whether there is a family member in the home who is at a higher risk, and the specifics of the school itself.
“The example I give everybody is if you have a school that is overcrowded and was built one hundred years ago with awful ventilation, that’s going to be higher risk than a school that has more space to spread out,” Rocco said.
Like the fully-remote scenario, A-day and B-day schedules will alternate and class periods will be an hour long with 15 minute breaks between. Additionally, students at school will have 5 minutes to move between their classes. Students will be released in thirds, and when they leave, the teachers will spray each desk with a disinfectant.
In addition to frequent sanitation of high touch surfaces, the school will adhere to safety protocols implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Mask-wearing and six feet social distancing of students and staff will be enforced. Before arriving at school, all students must complete a daily wellness survey and their temperature will be scanned as they enter the building.
Along with the new alterations while entering the school, many changes will also occur directly inside the classroom. Teachers face the challenge of instructing students in person and through Zoom simultaneously.
English teacher Marylin Berdick explained that students may not be prepared for the difficulties attached to in-person learning.
“School is not the same just because students will be back in person,” Berdick said. “Things have changed here drastically. Students cannot hang out with friends anywhere. All students are either in class or in a designated area the entire time they are here.”
The return to school may be exciting for many, however it raises the issue of maintaining health and safety for students and faculty, in order to continue to offer in-person opportunities.
According to Director of Community Relations Tom Petersen, District 211 has launched an online dashboard monitoring health metrics provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Cook County Department on coronavirus.
“The D211 COVID-19 Dashboard will be updated daily on school days with available COVID-19-related data for District 211 staff members and students, including the number of positive COVID-19 cases” Petersen said.
The data included in this tool will be used to update the District’s eligibility for in-person learning based on schools’ ability to maintain a healthy environment.
Petersen reported that so far in-person activities and programs have successfully adhered to safety protocol throughout District 211, pointing to a safe return on Oct. 26.
Although the pediatric population as a whole has so far tended to have high recovery rates from COVID-19 infections, Rocco has seen increasing numbers of children in her practice who have tested positive for the virus.
“I’ve had little ones, (kids who are as young as) fifteen months old, and I’ve had lots of school-aged kids, including elementary, junior high, and high school students,” Rocco said.
Rocco noted that most of the kids who are testing positive for COVID-19 in her experience have been attending in-person classes or are involved in sports. She explained that some sports are safer than others for students to be participating in at this time.
While attending in-person classes does pose some risk, staying home for months on end comes with its own perils.
“We’re seeing a lot more depression, a lot more loneliness, and a lot more anxiety as the kids are staying home,” Rocco said.
Due to the lack of social interaction as well as the unpredictable course of the virus, the mindset and mentality of many teenagers and younger students has been severely impacted. The incidence of student substance abuse, anxiety, and depression is rising.
In terms of activities and athletics, students have not been able to have the full Fremd experience for months now. Sophomore Kenneth Shengena believes that, while athletics have been a bright spot, not attending school is a difficult reality.
“I really want to go back to school. I’m glad we’re in sports for the most part, but I miss school,” Shengena said.
Sophomore Gavin Ratigan believes that his education has changed due to E-Learning.
“I would be so much smarter if I was in school and would actually be willing to study and work for my grades,” Ratigan said. “It’s so hard to focus at home and even though I never thought I would miss school, I do.”
In the midst of uncertainty due to the pandemic, learning at school will be widely different than it has in previous years. Students, teachers and faculty alike will have to adjust to the new circumstances presented daily.
Assistant principal Eric Dolen believes that it’s important to focus on the positives in this scenario.
“In this day, I think a lot of the time we are able to focus on the things that aren’t going as well,” Dolen said. “It’s important to think about what we can be thankful for and take advantage of.”
]]>First, let’s start with what they had in Mitchell Trubisky. With Trubisky running the offense, the Bears played a very conservative style in which they ran the ball 48% of the time, which could be one of the signals that display a lack of trust and hope the Bears have in Trubisky’s game. They tried to compensate for this by running the ball on early downs often, hoping that their rushing game could lead to points. And while many would question this type of playcalling, the Bears had no other option. Trubisky showed that he was a terrible passer, only completing around 59% of his passes in the two full games that he played, paling in contrast to the league average 66%. Due to this low completion percentage, Trubisky couldn’t keep the offense on the field, mainly because he couldn’t convert crucial 3rd down passes in order to sustain drives, forcing them to punt or settle for a field goal far too often
Although Trubisky made many mistakes, they were covered up by the Bears’ outstanding defensive performance. Holding the Lions and Giants to only 36 combined points is no easy task especially with Trubisky at the helm. Due to Chicago’s poor offense and quick three and outs, their defense was forced to make plays that would stop opposing offenses quickly in hopes that the Bears offense would score. Luckily, this happened at the perfect time for them against the Lions. Trubisky finally looked like a first round quarterback, throwing three touchdown passes to win the game in a nail biter. The problem was that we haven’t seen this type of performance from him anytime else, even against an abysmal Falcons secondary. It was at this point where the coaches had enough– it was time for Nick Foles
Right as Foles was put in, we saw immediate success, as he threw three touchdowns in a comeback victory against Atlanta. And although the Bears had a comeback win, the most encouraging result wasn’t the W – it was his pass attempts. Foles had 29 pass attempts in less than two quarters, which is almost as many as Trubisky’s highest pass attempts in a game. Not only does this benefit the offense, but the defense also performs better since they don’t need to be on the field for as much time.
After that comeback win against the Falcons, the Bears completely flipped the script in terms of their game plan. After being one of the lower percentage passing teams in the league at 52%, from Weeks 4-7 they passed the ball 69% of the time. Immediately, we can see that the Bears trust Foles with the ball in his hands because Foles could actually back it up. Not only were the Bears throwing on almost 70% of their plays, but Foles was completing about 65% of those which is much better than what Trubisky had.
Even with this improvement at quarterback play, however, the Bears still averaged one of the least amount of points scored in the league. Why? The answer comes in their red zone touchdown percentage. The Bears convert a measly 45% of their red zone appearances into touchdowns which is the 4th worst in the league.
Now to finally answer the question: Foles or Trubisky? The answer is not that straightforward. Foles is no doubt an improvement over Trubisky and he has proved that he can win big games against great teams. However, unless he can become a more consistent passer rather than getting hot and cold, and the Bears show some sort of life in their offensive line, I don’t see the Bears making it very far through the playoffs. Not to mention that their record is not indicative of how poorly they have been playing recently. The real solution, in my eyes, will be our draft pick next year that can hopefully finally put an end to the Bears quarterback dilemma.
]]>Having grown up in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Hughes attended a high school she described as reminding her “a lot of what Fremd feels like.” She studied to become a high school English teacher at Augustana College and taught in Iowa then in Illinois. Hughes then decided to get a degree at Northern Illinois University for school counseling and worked at a high school in Iowa City after moving there. Returning to her home state, Hughes received her degree in Educational Administration and was a middle school principal before coming to the Chicago suburbs and joining the Fremd administrative team.
While in school, did you know you wanted to enter the field of education?
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher of some kind. Even when I was in high school, I think I was interested in learning what it would be like to be an administrator too. I just wanted to see all the different ways people could be involved in schools. There was never really a question that I would be involved with school somehow with my jobs.
Do you have a favorite book you taught as an English teacher?
I liked teaching anything by Nathaniel Hawthorne mostly because it was a challenge for some of the students I worked with to unpack the way that he wrote. If I could kind of help them get past the rhetoric, then we could get into all the levels of allegory and symbolism he had. It really was chock-full of literary elements and I really enjoyed teaching a lot of [Hawthorne’s work] because it was ripe with those examples.
How would you describe your transitions from English teacher to school counselor to assistant principal?
When I was starting out, I loved finding ways to draw connections to the books with students. In that process, I started to see that there were personal reasons why they would connect to books and I wanted to know them more individually as a person. This lent itself to being a school counselor trying to understand students’ backgrounds. As a counselor I started to notice that schools would do things the way they’ve always done it, so I was thinking, “How could I help to identify those spots, and get people talking and coming up with new ideas?” That lent itself to studying what school leadership would be. It was neat to find out the impact of each different role, and for me, I think it really matched where my passions were as I went through that journey at the time of life.
Have you enjoyed being socially distanced?
I really enjoy being around people and being social, but there are also sometimes when I like to have a little more of a personal bubble space where it’s not too intense. But I will say, I’m feeling like this is getting harder and harder to be isolated so much. And in our homes, too, personally, in terms of seeing family or friends, I’m looking forward to when we don’t have to think of the extra steps of now, with “How are we going to set everybody up? What if somebody doesn’t have a mask?”, et cetera.
Could you describe some tasks you carry out as assistant principal?
I usually work with our other assistant principals, Mr. Mehreioskouei and Mrs. Serafini, and our dean, Mr. Newmark. we’re trying to figure out how to make sure everyone’s connected – we’ve tried to get people hotspots if needed, we’ve tried to help with internet problems. We think through how we think proactively for when we have a lot of people coming to the building, how we make it super smooth and not very stressful when students get here, among other things. We think through a lot of those processes and systems to make sure students don’t need to focus on that stuff – just focus on learning, and being with teachers and friends.
Are there any improvements you think our administration can continue to make?
If you’re in school, you’re kind of a captive audience so we can bombard you with all sorts of communications via announcements on the loudspeaker or we can say, “At this point in time, everyone’s got to do this one thing” if there’s a survey or something. So now we’ve been thinking of a lot of ways to communicate effectively and in enough ways and clearly enough & with enough variety so everyone gets what they need. We need to make all of our communication really accessible because we don’t have [students] in our four walls to make sure it’s seen in that moment.
What about the Fremd community do you appreciate the most so far?
The first thing that comes to my mind is intense creativity and great ideas. One thing I’m really impressed by is all of the different ways that teachers are being creative to come up with ways to engage students using technology or ways to reach out. That makes me excited because if I can see that so much is happening remotely, I know 1000% that it’s gonna be incredible when we’re all back.
Is there anything you’d encourage Fremd students to keep in mind as we go forward?
Number one – keep being flexible and know that the staff is working very hard so that we can respond to all the different things that change. We get new information about what to do just about everyday, so sometimes things that we might share end up changing because of new information. We’re not trying to hide things or make it confusing, but as we work through these details, we’re trying to be responsive and be responsible for everyone’s safety. Another thing is at the same time, advocate for yourself. If there’s something you’re concerned or worried about, let us know. Reach out, get the help that you need, find the answer, or if something’s not working right, or if you’re concerned about something, just continually let us know so we can try to make it better with whatever parameters we’re given at the time. We’ll do our very best.
]]>Here is the story of David, which was told by the International Disability Alliance, who is visually impaired due to glaucoma. His anxiety about contracting COVID-19 has been steadily increasing. When going to the grocery store for food, he experiences challenges from people that are unaware or ignorant of his disability. Oftentimes, people are more and more centered on the pandemic without pausing to consider people that are dealing with much harder circumstances.
After walking down a one-way lane in the wrong direction, David was almost kicked out for not following social distancing rules. The IDA mentions, “He was told by staff and customers to ‘smart up’, and to bring somebody with him next time.”
For several people with disabilities, many are unfortunately forced to experience a significantly increased probability of contracting COVID-19. One example is in the regulation of hand-washing. As many may know, washing your hands is vital in preventing the virus from getting inside your body. However, certain disabilities make it hard for people to physically wash hands frequently.
Additionally, some disabilities include conditions that heighten symptoms and make it much more fatal if the person gets the virus. TIME mentions how Jeiri Flores, who has cerebral palsy, is in a situation like this because her disability weakens her immune system. She also recently got infected with pneumonia, making her even more susceptible to becoming seriously sick if getting COVID-19.
Some people require a caregiver or some kind of aide worker to assist them with some basic needs and functions. Now, this will add another obstacle for them, as this will virtually make social distancing impossible. Caregivers have their own share of exposure from people they meet and where they go, indirectly affecting the people with disabilities that they help. With their underlying conditions that could weaken their immune system, these exposures should not be overlooked.
Speaking of caregivers, the availability of health assistance is dwindling particularly during this crisis. Because most caregivers are provided by a Medicaid program and are not given proper health insurance or other PPE, most have to quit their job in fear of their own health and safety. But this forces people that are in need of help to make a choice: join a nursing home or find other home caregivers that are often less skilled and are used as assistants rather than full-time and experienced caregivers. Nursing homes are often avoided, as they are known to be hotspots of the virus.
The lack of care for these people is inhumane, as they are faced with a decision that inevitably will lead them to the same result of being exposed to COVID-19 and not getting the proper attention they require with their special conditions.TIME interviewed Julia Ramos, who has a grandmother who was living in a Long Island resident home. They discussed how New York started moving discharged patients, even ones that contracted coronavirus, into their resident homes. It seems as if no one cares for these ignored individuals with disabilities.
Not only does this apply to the aid they need, but also to the health resources. There are some materials like ventilators that coincide with the needs of both people that are infected with the virus and people with disabilities. There have been times of discrimination against people with disabilities with access to these medical resources. Some healthcare workers are putting the life of one above another. They should not have the right to take away something from someone with a disability who depends on it for their survival just because they discriminatorily think that someone without a disability has a life that is more meaningful. That is morally and ethically cruel. Flores says, “If I get corona, I’m gonna die because I’m disabled and someone along the lines has decided that my life is of less value. I’m not 30 yet. There’s still so much more that I have to do.’”
Lastly, communication remains more than ever a serious problem for people with disabilities. People that are visual, hearing, or cognitively impaired can have setbacks in being able to become up to date on the news that a pandemic is going on and what exactly they need to do in order to prevent getting infected by the virus. Bonnielin Swenor, a John Hopkins epidemiologist and ophthalmologist who is visually impaired, agrees that “[p]opular news sources may not be accessible, especially when information is changing quickly. I’m visually impaired and can attest to that.”
It is important to note the hardships that people with disabilities face during this pandemic. Our lack of awareness for their experiences leaves them to trek the hard path alone. For some, this pandemic is more than just avoiding becoming sick or being bored, it is about questioning their chance of coming out alive. A vast number of people are not paying attention, and instead complain about their smaller troubles. Some people with disabilities do not have the proper connection to the news, the health-related equipment required for their health and well-being, and the protection from the deadly virus in our midst, given their serious vulnerabilities. It is our duty to support our fellow friends and at least realize the dangers that they are battling.
]]>Betts hit .296, stole six bases, knocked in eight runs, and scored fifteen runs from the leadoff spot in the Dodgers’ batting order. His stats don’t do his spectacular defense and his leadership enough justice, as he was the tipping point that finally got the Dodgers a ring. People may look at all this and wonder, why would the Red Sox let him go? And the reason, of course, is money. Betts had one year left on his contract with the Sox going into the 2020 season, so they offered him an absolutely enormous amount of money in a ten year, $300 million dollar contract extension. As you might’ve guessed, it was turned down and the Red Sox weren’t willing to give up any more than that, so they decided to shop Betts. The Dodgers, obviously ended up with Betts and signed him to a twelve year contract worth $365 million.
The Dodgers are based in a huge market in LA, meaning they have a lot more money to spend than teams based in smaller cities such as Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Kansas City. Because they have the money to give up for Betts, trading for and extending him was worth it for the Dodgers. The Red Sox aren’t based in a small market in Boston, but it certainly isn’t as big as LA. They ultimately decided that giving that much money to one player would give the team a lot less room to grow and be a better team over the next decade. Difference in market size leads to different ways teams win championships and strategize across all sports. Small market teams build chemistry and their rosters traditionally by mainly using homegrown talent through drafts as well as some from trades, but typically don’t sign big ticket free agents because they don’t have the money. This is how the Rays set up their team and made it to the World Series. As I explained with the Dodgers example, big market teams are able to build their teams with free agents and have huge salary payouts each and every year.
With all the questions swirling around Mookie Betts and the Dodgers surrounding the trade, the contract, and his value throughout the year, the move was worth it for L.A. as they came out World Series Champions.
]]>In Round One, the Lightning faced the Columbus Blue Jackets. Even though being in the Stanley Cup playoffs are stressful in itself, this round was especially stressful due to the fact that these same two teams had faced each other in round one of the playoffs last season. In that season, the Blue Jackets dominated against the Lightning, finishing Tampa’s season in just four games.
This season, however, the tables turned. Tampa had clenched their round two spot by beating the Blue Jackets in five games. Game Five was the fourth longest playoff game in the history of the NHL, finishing at 5OT going for 90 minutes and 27 seconds. Brayden Point had scored the tie breaking goal, beating the Blue Jackets 3-2. This game is what changed the course for the Lightning and set them up for success for the rest of the season.
Round Two didn’t consist of a year-long redemption, but it was still exhilarating to say the least. Tampa faced the Boston Bruins and advanced to round three after playing five games. In the fifth game, Kevin Shattenkirk passed beautifully to Victor Hedman, allowing him to score the game winning goal after playing up to the second OT. The final score of this round winning game was 3-2, sending the Lightning to play in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Islanders.
The last time Tampa had been put in the situation of being possible conference champions was 2018 against the Washington Capitals. These conference finals were something to behold and a rollercoaster to watch. The Lightning faced the Islanders with aggression and competitiveness. This round had gone on for six games, and even though Tampa had clenched the conference title in game 6, there was a lot of pressure on the team going into that game. Game five had been won by New York in a double overtime. This loss for Tampa was very disappointing to the team but, in the words of Jon Cooper, the Lightning’s head coach, “Pressure is what you make of it,” and the Lightning took that pressure and made it victory in game six.
Once Tampa was presented with the Wales Trophy, they took a controversial advance by touching it. It is often viewed as bad luck to touch the trophy before advancing to the Stanley Cup, but the Lightning did what others may steer away from (considering that, in 2015, they didn’t touch the trophy and ended up losing to the Blackhawks). In 2004, however, the team had decided to touch the Wales trophy before advancing to their first Stanley Cup ever. That same season, they won it all and hoisted the Stanley Cup high.
The Lightning moved from Toronto to Edmonton after advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. Prepared to face the Dallas Stars, Tampa had something up their sleeve: Team captain Steven Stamkos. Stamkos had injured his core muscle and needed surgery, causing him to be out for months. He had begun practicing again with the team again once his core muscle healed. Shortly after his return, he managed to get injured again in his lower body, creating more IR time. There had been rumors regarding Stamkos possibly being on the ice for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sure enough those rumors were proven true during game three.
With only two minutes and 47 seconds of ice time throughout the whole playoff season, the captain had managed to score the second goal of the night, essentially changing the course for the rest of the game. That same game, the Lightning demolished the Stars, beating them five to two. Fast forward to game six, Tampa’s chance to take home the trophy. The Stars had beat them the game prior, and the Lightning were hungry for a chance to make history. Brayden Point and Blake Coleman had scored the only two goals of the game, causing the first and only shutout in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
And just like that, the Tampa Bay Lighting were the 2020 Stanley Cup champions. They were the first ever NHL team to win their whole entire season in a global pandemic, their names and numbers were inscribed into the shiny cup, and the celebrations began. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the team was unable to hold a regular parade throughout their city, but the players made small groups together and had their own boat parade in Tampa. They were able to abide by the Coronavirus guidelines and presented the Stanley Cup on a live broadcasted event at Raymond James stadium (where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play).
This team persevered through several hardships throughout the playoff season. No fans, no family, no real “home ice advantage,” yet they still managed to come on top and win it all.
]]>On Sept. 24, the New Jersey Legislature passed a bill with the purpose of mitigating the state’s amount of waste. The bill is now heading to Governor Phil Murphy for the final approval. As a whole, the bill prohibits single-use plastic bags, single-use paper bags, and polystyrene foam foodservice products in supermarkets, restaurants, and other stores. Additionally, the bill limits the usage of plastic straws by only supplying it to customers when they ask to acquire it from the staff. Otherwise, it will not be freely available nor given along with their order. NJ Spotlight News explains where this bill mostly applies and how there are still several specific plastic bag usage cases that bypass this bill.
“The ban on both plastic bags and paper bags is largely confined to large grocery stores,” the article said. “The bill includes many exemptions, including for uncooked meat, poultry and fish wrapped in bags, prescription drugs from pharmacies, and dry cleaner plastic bags, to mention a few.”
In a sense, this was still revolutionary, as it was one of the first bans to include single-use paper bags. Eight other states, one of which is New York, have only outlawed the use of single-use plastic bags in grocery stores. The closest another state has gotten to New Jersey’s strict ban is in California, who ordered shops to charge a minimum of ten cents for the utilization of paper bags. The New York Times interviewed Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, who is an avid supporter and advocate of the ban. Tittel explains the impact and importance of this bill.
“‘This bill is probably the strongest, most comprehensive bill in the nation dealing with plastics and packaging…. It will go a long way in our battle with plastic pollution,” Tittel said.
On the other hand, there are people who criticize this bill, claiming that recycled paper bags can be and are still considered a sustainable option. Other opposers are concerned about the loss of jobs caused by cutting down the manufacturing of plastic bags and the added obstacle companies and stores will have to face after the bill is put in place. Especially during the pandemic, small companies are already gasping for air under the difficulty of keeping up with the costs of maintaining their company without much revenue flooding in from customers that are quarantining and instead resorting to online shopping on Amazon, Walmart, and Target. NBC News, who mentions the difficulties these companies are facing, reported on Dennis Hart, who is the executive director of the Chemistry Council, which represents plastics manufacturers. Hart does not support the ban stepping towards helping the environment. He says that the bill is damaging “manufacturing plants in New Jersey and New Jersey jobs,” particularly during the pandemic.
The bill started originally with a different measure that consisted of a 5 cent cost with single-use plastic bags. But this proposition was vetoed by Gov. Murphy, citing it as “insufficient.”
When the new bill came out, The Assembly passed it in a 48-24-7 vote. It again was passed in the District Senate in a 26-12 vote without a debate. They are all waiting to hear from Gov. Murphy, but he is expected to concur. Republican lawmakers do not support this bill, as they do not understand why paper bags were included in the ban nor why this bill is being put in place during a pandemic, a financial crisis for businesses.
NJ Spotlight reports that Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Morris) questioned why it is being banned.
‘This bill is nothing short of sheer lunacy,’’ Bergen said.
Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, a Republican from Bergen County, questioned why the state is imposing new costs on businesses during a pandemic that has already cut into their profits, particularly restaurants.
“We’re essentially kicking them in the head,” she said.
Other practical information about the bill is that, once it is carried out, it will not be effective until after at least 18 months have passed. Other “grace-periods” will be put in place to give companies time to adjust and fully recognize all factors and rules related to the new bill. Furthermore, if any supermarket chains and stores do not follow the guidelines of this bill, they will receive a certain penalty in the form of money. This is more specifically described in the New Jersey Herald. The NJH claims that any business or company not adhering to the bill would receive a reprimand the first time, a fine up to $1,000 the second time, and finally a fine up to $5,000 the third time.
]]>On Oct. 6, Trump tweeted, “I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business [sic].”
The current election presents two candidates with opinions at the opposite ends of the spectrum; Biden’s administration is pushing for programs to help the people and Trump’s administration is hoping to catalyze change through helping businesses out. It is true that a bill this close to the election has the potential to destabilize Trump’s reelection campaign depending on the success of it, but the question remains if this is a bill that should be prioritized over election campaigns.
While Trump makes the conclusion that the American people can hold out on stimulus until they decide on a leader, this assumption remains costly and selfish for the average American, as the unemployment rate is currently 7.9% compared to the 3.8% record low of February. Moreover, the effects of the early summer’s economic bloodbath are still prevalent; the highest unemployment rate of 14.4% in April led to families dipping into their savings and struggling to keep food on the table or rent checks going through.
As a result of the pandemic’s immediate effects on jobs, Congress quickly designed the 2.2 trillion dollar CARES Act to try and salvage the economy and limit the impact of the pandemic on an already vulnerable American people. This bill was quickly signed by the President on March 27 in an unusually bipartisan effort, allotting almost 300 billion dollars in emergency payments to be sent to individuals. Still, the CARES Act quickly turned problematic.
First, the act created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was designed to send small businesses funds but instead allotted large sums of money to successful corporations. While the parties differed on the role of giving tax benefits to corporations, the mismanagement of the PPP clearly outlined bureaucratic flaws which only epitomized the failures of the government in adequately managing the coronavirus crisis.
Second, the bill had significant allotment issues, as people were unable to correctly file for and receive the money that they needed. The CARES Act, while well-intentioned, simply fell short of what the country needed. The American people needed a system with clear cut benefits and limited state involvement, but the complicated bureaucracy required to fulfill the ideas set forth in the CARES Act only held it back.
However, months later, the limited funds provided by the CARES Act have run out and economic recovery is plateauing. While we better understand the coronavirus now, the naive hopes the American people had at the beginning of the summer have been struck down by the harsh reality science presents us with: this pandemic is not going away. Here, the Trump Administration’s persistence in holding out on a new stimulus bill is the last step the government should take. The truth is that America needs a new stimulus bill now. No matter what happens on Nov. 3, lifelong savings will continue to run out, millions of Americans will still have no livelihood, and coronavirus tests will continue to be positive. The context of the new CARES Act is far too great to be gambled on an election.
]]>A very unsettled week of weather is forecast for the upcoming week as multiple storm systems move through the region. Temperatures this week are challenging to forecast as these storm systems contain many different fronts, or sudden changes in temperature over a short distance, which can affect temperatures greatly. However, the most uncertainty is present for the weekend of 10/24 into early next week as a large storm system enters the region. After a gradual warming trend early in the week leading to 70s by Thursday, temperatures remain rather uncertain for the weekend with current indications supporting 50s for high temperatures.
Daily Forecast:
Tuesday 10/20: Mainly cloudy skies with rain becoming likely later at night. High temperature of 50°, with a low of 46°.
Wednesday 10/21: Overcast conditions throughout the day will lead to increasing humidity and thunderstorms at night. High of 58° and a low of 50°.
Thursday 10/22: Mild conditions with periods of clouds and sun. Skies may shift between overcast and sun throughout the day. High temperature of 75° with a low temperature of 63°.
Friday 10/23: A morning high temperature in the 60s will drop throughout the day with overcast conditions and a chance for rain. High of 65° cooling to a low of 39°.
Saturday 10/24: Overcast conditions with cooler conditions. High of 49° falling to a low of 42°.
Sunday 10/25: Cloudy skies with rainy conditions. Large temperature swings are possible today. High temperature of 55° with a low temperature of 44°.
Monday 10/26: Continued rainy conditions with overcast skies. Large temperature swings may occur. High temperature of 57° with a low temperature of 41°.
National Weather Headlines:
A storm system sweeping across the United States this week will bring the first real threat of accumulating snow to the northern states.
Warm conditions return to California and the Southwest, increasing fire danger from the west coast into the plains and perhaps midwest. Numerous storm systems moving throughout the central US should help to keep most of the fire risk confined to the western states.
]]>Newmark grew up in southern Florida but attended Stevenson High School in Illinois, then transitioned from pre-law to studying education at Butler University. Describing himself as an active person, Newmark believed education was the field he would enjoy the most. Teaching English at the University of Barcelona sparked his desire to teach rather than pursue law, and Newmark went on to teach elementary school before joining staff here at Fremd.
Speaking on the development he experienced through his years of teaching, Newmark highlights his increased level of patience and appreciation for school.
“[Teaching] provoked thought that really made me appreciate what education is,” Newmark said. “And I learned just how to be even more patient in the process of actual learning.”
Patience, undoubtedly, plays a significant role in bringing Fremd students back to the school building for in-person learning. Seeing that many students and faculty are eager to get back to in-person learning, the Fremd administration has looked forward to the day students finally step back into the building even more. In anticipation of the return of students and faculty, the building has been prepared for the hybrid learning format since the start of lockdown.
Labeled two-way hallways and on-way staircases to regulate traffic flow now welcome Fremd students when they enter the building for materials pick-up or afternoon support. In addition, the 15-minute passing periods were especially designed for the hybrid scenario to designate which classes would be dismissed earlier versus later.
“We were all ready for the first week of August and going through next steps when we just got the message from the state said we should be remote,” Newmark said. “That’s where you need to have flexibility in the administration, so we say, ‘Okay, listen. We don’t want to do this, but we have to.’”
While hybrid plans were pushed aside at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, Fremd and D211 have been slowly incorporating more in-person opportunities for students. Newmark describes how the current situation could improve and elaborates on the slow return of in-person school.
“It is a slow re-entry into what we hope is a hybrid scenario,” Newmark said. “But as of now, I think that if there’s one area that we could drastically improve on, it would be communication.”
The process of reaching out via email and communicating extensively through Schoology has its holes. Even so, Newmark encourages students to continue being engaged and to remember that we are all in this together.
“It’s not about the individual; it’s about the collective whole,” Newmark said. “Because individuals will rise and fall, but if the collective nature of [our] school is positive and uplifting, individuals will have a hard time falling.”
]]>Ginsburg was a leading activist for equal rights, especially women’s rights. She constantly spoke out against discrimination and believed that everyone should be able to receive the same treatment and opportunities. This belief stemmed from her own experience of sexism, which she constantly dealt with during her studies at Columbia University, where she graduated first in her class. Reader’s Digest states that one teacher “even offered to give Ginsburg answers on a test in exchange for sex.” She fought against those who believed women to be the weaker sex by beginning to teach her students about women’s rights in the field of law.
During her term in government, Ginsburg opened political doors that no one had even known were there. She first joined the government sphere in 1970 after helping lead the American Civil Liberties Union to argue what History calls “six landmark cases on gender equality before the U.S. Supreme Court.” After five of these successfully passed, former President Jimmy Carter, inspired by her virtue and determination, personally added her to the U.S. Court of Appeals to help continue the fight for gender equality. From there she was nominated to the Supreme Court under former President Bill Clinton, becoming the second woman, and first Jewish woman, to hold said position.
However, that’s not all “RBG” did. Along with fighting for women’s rights, she also fought for the disabled, the LGBTQ community, and the undocumented. She was the first justice on the Supreme Court to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, a feat that many considered radical at the time. According to the Human Rights Campaign, she also “joined Justice Kennedy’s majority decisions in many landmark cases in LGBTQ civil rights history, including Romer v. Evans in 1996, Lawrence v. Texas in 2003, Windsor v. U.S. in 2013 and Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015.” According to Oyez, Ginsburg also voted to strike down Sessions v. Dimaya, a law that included the Immigration and Nationality Act, which stated that a “non-citizen convicted of an aggravated felony is subject to deportation.”
Ginsburg died on Sept. 18, 2020, after losing her battle to pancreatic cancer. Her time before and during the Supreme Court has forever defined what it means to be a feminist and fight for her rights. Without her impact, many Americans would not have the opportunities that they have today, and she should forever be remembered for her time.
Ginsburg once said, “I’m a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.” Because her death leaves an open chair in the Supreme Court, Republicans and Democrats alike are fighting to take it. However, many signs are pointing towards Amy Coney Barrett being the one to take her spot.
Nevertheless, America should take careful consideration when replacing Ginsburg, seeing as though it will not be an easy transition for anyone. RBG has forever left her mark on history, and America has very large shoes to fill. American equality is not quite what the 19th Amendment or the Voting Rights Act of 1965 had in mind, but hopefully, if those in a position of leadership continue to follow Ginsburg’s footsteps, America might just be one step closer to fulfilling the real American dream.
]]>As the 2020-2021 school year passes the quarter-way mark, conditions in Illinois have worsened: daily cases on peak days have multiplied nearly threefold compared to the cases from March 31, Fremd’s first day of virtual learning.
Though cases have risen significantly since the beginning of the outbreak, research has prompted numerous schools across the country to reopen their campuses, stating that by implementing adequate safety measures such as mandatory mask-wearing, acrylic dividers and temperature scans, in-person schooling would pose no issues. We appreciate District 211’s (D211) commitment to creating a safe environment for students and staff as they return to the school buildings.
We understand that D211 believes that it would provide an increased quality of education on campus, but the underlying safety concerns caused by our return to school in late October overshadow the pedagogical and learning benefits. Although participating in the hybrid model will increase social interactions between students and teachers, it is more important to remember that resuming in-person learning increases the chances of COVID-19 transmission between students and faculty. Due to the potential harmful consequences of learning indoors with over 1000 peers, the Viking Logue staff believes that D211 should not adopt a hybrid-learning model beginning on Oct. 26 until the risk of transmission is successfully mitigated.
]]>Stella credits her varying interests like operas and language learning, along with the friends she has made along the way, as being extremely influential in her development as a person.
English teacher Christie O’Donnell believes that Stella sets herself apart from her peers not only through academic abilities and work ethic, but through her awareness and character.
“Stella Chung has to be superhuman with all she is able to accomplish. She’s incredibly gifted, but what makes her even more special is her empathy and humanity,” O’Donnell said. “Stella taught me how to break a cypher, but she also reminded me every day that life is meant to be fun; she reinforced the code for how to live a rich and meaningful life.”
]]>A gorgeous week is expected to materialize for the first full week in October. Temperatures rising into the 70s by late week combined with abundant sunshine will provide for a rain-free and spectacular week. The first real threat of widespread frost will occur on the morning of Monday 10/5 as temperatures dip into the middle 30s across northeast IL. Sunshine and breezy southerly winds late in the week will help to increase humidity levels by late in the weekend, though the higher humidity levels will be manageable.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 10/5: Frost likely in the early AM hours. Then turning warmer with mainly sunny skies during the day. High temperature of 59° with a low temperature of 48°.
Tuesday 10/6: Seasonable warmth with plentiful sunshine and pleasant conditions. High temperature of 68° with a low of 57°.
Wednesday 10/7: A gorgeous day consisting of largely sunny skies with the possibility of a few passing clouds. High of 70° and a low of 49°.
Thursday 10/8: Continued abundant sunshine with slightly cooler temperatures. High temperature of 64° with a low temperature of 49°.
Friday 10/9: Perfect day expected with sunshine and a passing cloud or two. High of 72° with a low of 57°.
Saturday 10/10: Much warmer with mostly sunny conditions. High of 76° falling to a low of 57°.
Sunday 10/11: Continued warmth with increasing amounts of humidity. Sun and clouds mixed throughout the day will provide for another fantastic day. High temperature of 73° with a low temperature of 59°.
National Weather Headlines:
Continued hot and dry conditions in the western half of the United States continue to spread and ignite new fires across the west coast and into the plains. The forecast pattern provides no relief, as extended warmth will continue over the region.
Tropical Storm Gamma is currently spinning in the southern Gulf of Mexico, and currently poses no threat to the United States. This may change into next week as the storm turns north towards the US, as intensity is unclear.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Twenty-Six (as of Sunday 10/4) is moving northwest into the Gulf of Mexico. This cyclone is expected to form into a hurricane, likely affecting the Louisiana coast later this week. While future intensity or impacts are unclear, it nevertheless poses a threat to the United States towards the weekend.
]]>We’re expecting a gloomy week ahead as we launch into the first full week in the autumnal equinox. We are likely to see temperatures well below normal, plummeting from the lower 60s early in the week to the lower 50s by the end of the week. Periodic rain chances will be present, particularly on Thursday and late in the weekend as weak disturbances in the atmosphere ride through the region, with the strongest coming through on Sunday. Patchy frost may become an issue on Saturday morning.
Daily Forecast:
Tuesday 9/29: Pleasant but chilly day expected with mixed clouds and sunshine. High temperature of 60°, with a low of 46°.
Wednesday 9/30: Breezy with sunshine and periodic batches of clouds at times. High of 63° and a low of 45°.
Thursday 10/1: Turning colder with increasing cloud cover and a chance for a few showers by late afternoon. High temperature of 55° with a low temperature of 40°.
Friday 10/2: Much colder with mainly cloudy skies. High of 51° cooling to a low of 39°.
Saturday 10/3: Patchy frost possible in the early morning hours. Otherwise, continued cold weather with mainly overcast conditions. Rain becomes likely into the overnight hours. High of 55° falling to a low of 47°.
Sunday 10/4: Cloudy with rain showers possible. High temperature of 54° with a low temperature of 47°.
Monday 10/5: Becoming warmer with overcast skies. High temperature of 60° with a low temperature of 48°.
National Weather Headlines:
For the first time in a while, there is no tropical activity in the Atlantic Basin. This is giving much needed relief to the residents hit hard along the Gulf of Mexico this season.
Western wildfires continue to be an unfortunate story for the United States. Recent fires have now spread into Napa County in California, and have destroyed famous wineries. As crews struggle to put out the flames, new fires continue to form.
]]>New artists yet to be discovered by labels and PR teams and a blue check on Instagram turned to SoundCloud and Spotify’s Discover Weekly to hope that someone, somewhere would stumble upon their song and tell their friends to add it to their playlists. Established musicians would rule both streaming platforms and the 7AM radio, and budding singers could only hope that either their YouTube song cover channel or the famous CEO behind them in the coffee line would lead to their talent being discovered.
Enter TikTok.
Within two years, the app has captured the attention of 800 million active users as people watch TikToks between classes, while working out, and even on the toilet. Catering to those 800 million users are countless creators, including the same budding artists writing songs and creating remixes. What’s changed? TikTok is unlike YouTube because of one pivotal reason – the length of each video. Because of the fifteen to sixty second time range, users can scroll through hundreds of videos a day, filled with hundreds of different songs and creators. TikTok exposes its users to such a wide range of media that there’s a place for everyone, and among all those videos are the musicians of tomorrow. Based on just a few lyrics or beats, a new trend emerges, and before the creator knows it, their music is famous.
Take the example of Heather and Conan Gray, or Savage and Megan Thee Stallion, both previously unknown artists exploding onto the scene because of 15 seconds from their songs. Previously known artists also gained fame and popularity through TikTok, as shown by Dua Lipa’s song Don’t Start Now or Cardi B’s track WAP quickly rising up the Hot 100. In this regard, TikTok has had a phenomenal impact on the music industry. By allowing for the introduction of new, previously unknown artists at a quick pace, it has positioned itself as a cultural icon and allowed for musicians of all ages, appearances, music styles, and backgrounds to find their place in the music industry. It has effectively equalized the discovery of new artists.
However, the same thing that gives Tiktok a leg up over other social media platforms in promoting music may be its downfall. The app’s ability to transition through a number of trends in a week is making the very music it promotes extremely forgettable. While the music industry has always fought against the public’s short term memory loss when it comes to new songs, TikTok’s algorithm ebbs and flows specifically by erasing past trends and making room for new ones, something that the music industry was never prepared for. Success within the music industry depends on an artist and their music staying relevant for long periods of time, and TikTok prevents just that. This has led to new music from revered artists fading in light of a culture monopolized by something as arbitrary as an app algorithm. Critics argue that TikTok is setting the music industry back years as artists have to find new ways to chase relevancy and earn money via music sales.
The truth is, however, that TikTok does more good than harm. Before the app, young, unfound artists struggled for years to be found through YouTube or contacts within LA. The pace of both of these methods created an uncertainty in the world of music creators. However, through new streaming services and apps, led by TikTok, the world seems smaller for every content creator. TikTok may have made it difficult for stars to stay as stars, but it gives us a gift in return when raw musical talent is dispersed into the world with simple 60 second singing videos or instrumental ballads. For every Shawn Mendes of YouTube or Billie Eilish of SoundCloud, TikTok is giving us a million more. While current political happenings continue to shape TikTok’s destiny, we must remember its role in equalizing music and respect its impact on our culture today.
]]>The conflict over the budget of the bill began back in May, when a majority of Democrats sought to add to the $2.2 trillion stimulus package released in March (known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act). The House, narrowly controlled by the Democratic Party, passed a $3.4 trillion proposal in May, but it was ultimately rejected by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Republicans have instead pushed for a so-called “skinny bill”, proposing a bill totaling a relatively meager $350 billion, which has not settled well with Pelosi, who remains resolute in her statement that she will not accept a bill worth less than $2.2 trillion. Pelosi, however, has not only faced criticism from Republicans for a bill they deem to contain an overly large budget, but also from high-level Democrats who believe that a bill totaling around $2 trillion would be insufficient in addressing the needs of the American people.
Desperately seeking to broker a compromise, the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus, a group comprising of 50 members of the House of Representatives seeking to cooperate on important policy issues, threw together a last-ditch plan that would inject $1.5 trillion into the US economy and would also provide $400 billion in unemployment aid. The proposal, however, was rejected by high-ranking Democrats who, as stated earlier, again claim that the compromise would provide inadequate cover to America’s most vulnerable families.
When questioned about the Democrats’ refusal of the bipartisan compromise proposal, Fremd student Anish Mukherjee discussed some of his opinions on that refusal as well as some of the short-term effects of the bill.
“If both parties each control one part of Congress, there will always be problems, but at least there was a detailed compromise plan suggested in this situation,” Mukherjee said. “That decision to refuse the $1.5 trillion was surprising because now nothing will be given to the people that need it most. By blocking the deal, people that desperately need help the most aren’t getting any assistance, let alone the $2 trillion assistance the Democrats wanted to provide.”
However, while Mukherjee was a little surprised by the Democrats’ refusal to accept the compromise, Fremd student Advitya Batta isn’t surprised and in fact thinks the decision was logical.
“I feel like the decision was justified,” Batta said. “ A compromise might seem great to those in Congress now, but it might not seem so great in a few months if the economy and unemployment rate continue to get worse. If Democrats are going to provide help, it makes sense that they want to provide as much aid as possible.”
As talks for compromise stagnate in Capitol Hill, an increasingly vulnerable American public faces great uncertainty in receiving federal aid that could keep millions of families afloat by sustaining small businesses, prevent a worrying trend of evictions in major cities, give students an extended timeframe to pay off student loans, and keep unemployed families from facing major debt crises. To make matters worse, Republicans seek to cut $600 weekly benefits for the unemployed while Democrats are urging them to extend the benefits. Slashed weekly benefits will further harm American workers, who have already faced extended layoffs due to America’s prolonged struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social Studies teacher Amanda Schmidt had some insight to share regarding those affected by the reduced bill.
“The people that are most impacted by reduced benefits are those that are relying on a fixed income for their livelihood, and the current amount is not matched with cost of living,” Schmidt said.
]]>Critiques of the film include the official trailer of the film receiving two million dislikes, along with much of the 205,836 comments being derogatory of the behavior included in the film. One comment garnered 33K likes and defended the mother of the film, who was portrayed as cold-hearted. “I love how the antagonist is just a mother who doesn’t want her underage daughter to be sexualised,” it said. Another Youtube video by Paymoney Wubby talks about how, no matter what the intent of the film may be, it is still unacceptable to continuously present disturbing and exaggerated scenes of extremely young kids. “Every dance number is shot as if they are adults…. People are going to say, “Well that was the intent of the film.” If I’m going to make a movie that talks about the dangers of fast and loose lifestyle, I wouldn’t…cast eleven-year-olds,” he said. Another comment compared it to “ spreading awareness for forest fires by setting a forest on fire”.
On the other hand, some supporters of the film reason that the film was depicted like this because of the French culture. It is often said that the French culture is more “free” and open. However, many comments made by French audiences have claimed that they are not more “sexually open” and do not consider the film as a representation of their French culture or beliefs. Many of them continue to think of the film as pedophilia.
There are different sides and reasoning, however. Alissa Wilkinson of Vox defends the film’s disturbing scenes. “We are meant to be uncomfortable because the movie wants to shake us out of complacency and make us think about how the images that young people see profoundly mold and shape their view of themselves,” she claims. Wilkinson’s point is that though the film is a bit strange and their main goal might have ended up being unsuccessful, it was all centered on making a point about bringing awareness to how much young teens are affected by society, social media, etc.
Part of the movement in opposition to the film is U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri who wrote a letter to Netflix to ask for the film to be taken down and removed. Melissa Henson, a blog writer for the Parents Television Council, deems the film as a harm to society. “‘Although there is a danger that little girls will be attracted to this film – the far greater risk is the way this film normalizes the sexualization of little girls. ‘Netflix and its board of directors are getting rich off of this kind of content. Worse, they are desensitizing millions of viewers at home by asking them to be entertained by it,’ Henson added,” they claimed. Netflix may be going too far on its content in an attempt to produce more revenue.
But it seems like no issues existed before it reached Netflix. Doucouré herself wrote a short passage on The Washington Post in defense of her film. “They construct their self-esteem based on social media likes and the number of followers they have. To see these youngsters put so much pressure on themselves so early was heartbreaking. Their insights and experiences with social media informed ‘Cuties’,” she said.
]]>The first four rounds of the men’s side surprised fans, as many top players found themselves packing their bags. The night before the first round, Frenchman Benoit Paire tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from the tournament altogether. A few nights later, in a thrilling five-set match (6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (3)), an unseeded Steve Johnson defeated 16th-seed John Isner. Furthermore, first seed Novak Djokovic found himself out of the tournament after a fourth round match disqualification against Pablo Carreño Busta. Djokovic, angry with himself after losing a point, launched a ball towards the wall that hit a standing line judge. The line judge keeled over in pain, and Djokovic was defaulted with the match that went to eventual semi-finalist Carreño Busta.
The women’s draw was no different in the early rounds, as top seeds got knocked out by rising underdogs. 10th seed Garbine Muguruza found herself out in the second round of the tournament to Tsvetana Pironkova (7-5, 6-3). In addition, seventh-seed Madison Keys was forced to retire due to injury in the second round and world number 45 Caroline Garcia triumphed over first-seed Karolina Pliskova (6-1, 7-6 (2)). On the other hand, key players such as returning two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka and fourth seed Naomi Osaka breezed through the draw, passing top players such as second-seed Sofia Kenin and the Williams sisters to set up the exciting final rounds of the tournament.
In the men’s bracket, fifth seed Zverev cruised past the 27-seed, Borna Coric, after dropping a one-sided first set to set up a match with Carreño Busta. Zverev dominated the service game, cranking 24 aces to Carreño Busta’s four. Despite dropping the first two sets, Zverev clinched the match after gaining breaks in the last three sets, sending him to the first Grand Slam final of his young career. On the other side of the draw, second seed Thiem advanced past both youngster Alex De Minaur and last year’s runner up Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to enter his fourth Grand Slam championship match.
Fourth seed Osaka cemented herself in the books after earning two consecutive Grand Slams, and she continued to display her skills, swiftly finishing her quarterfinal matchup against Shelby Rogers in straight sets. After seven years of personal turmoil and unsuccessful strides on the court, veteran Azarenka returned to the second week of a Grand Slam, earning wins over two seeded players during the quarterfinals and semifinals to reach the championship match. Azarenka beat archrival and third seed Serena Williams in a grueling three-setter to enter the finals against Osaka.
Thiem began the five-set stunner by dropping the first two sets, struggling to hold a majority of his service games. Zverev capitalized on Thiem’s slowness on the court to seize the first two sets, giving up six games during the process. Down a break in the third set, Thiem won crucial points on Zverev’s serve, eventually leading him to take it 6-4. The fourth set ended in a swift manner, with Thiem able to manage Zverev’s service game during key points in the set. This match marked the fourth straight men’s Grand Slam final that spanned five sets. At this point, Zverev and Thiem began cramping, leading both to wear out as the final set approached a tiebreak. Thiem held on in the final points of the match due to Zverev’s lackluster serving, granting him his first Grand Slam title.
On the women’s side of the tournament, Azarenka comfortably held the first set, dropping only a game. However, Osaka began converting break points in the final two sets, granting her a second US Open title.
Despite the fact that tennis fans watched this year’s US Open on their television screens, the tournament highlighted that the athletes were willing to play in adverse conditions to compete and entertain. Djokovic’s surprising exit, Thiem’s ultimate first Grand Slam title, and Azarenka’s career comeback all signaled that the tennis world is evolving, introducing new champions and bringing back lost faces. The French Open qualifying matches have already begun, and the main draw will commence on Sept. 27, with Nadal hoping to tie Federer’s Grand Slam record.
]]>Sony: The four time champion of general home media, the Playstation 5 is probably exactly what you’d expect: the fifth multimedia device that can play movies, video games, music, and more. That is, assuming you’re willing to spend the extra $500 for the model with the disc drive. If not, you’d get it for $400, with the ability to play some movies, some video games, some music, and more, assuming you have the storage.
Microsoft: While the Xbox has been the sick man of the console wars since the introduction of the Kinect, perhaps a cure is to come. Microsoft has decided to introduce the 4th line of Xboxes, the $500 high powered disc loading Xbox Series X, or the $300 discless budget powered Xbox Series S. Both are to be sold alongside Microsoft’s previous Xbox models, the Xbox One X and the Xbox One S. That sure won’t be confusing!
NVidia: After some failed experimenting with the RTX 2000 series (we salute those who emptied their wallets on them), the RTX 3000 series has come to wreak havoc upon any users of a PC. The cheapest card, the 3070, is $500, the same price as the upper consoles while packing in tons of features.
Is it worth buying? Well, if you already have an 8th generation device, then no. Both Sony and Microsoft have announced their plans to support their previous console to varying degrees:
Sony: While they were going to have the PS5 adopt a separate path from the PS4, after seeing what Microsoft is planning to do, they are now deciding to copy them and do exactly the same thing. The PS4 will be supported for a long time, with many so called “PS5 Exclusives” now becoming “Playstation exclusives,” as PS4 versions are now under development. PS4 owners can continue to stick to their 7 year old hardware for the years to come.
Microsoft: The Xbox Series S and X are considered to be a “soft upgrade” from the Xbox One, with the Xbox One to still get plenty of support and new features in the long future. Most games for the Xbox Series X and S are likely to also see Xbox One versions, and all Xbox One games are playable on the Xbox Series X. If you own an Xbox One, you’ll be glad to hear this.
NVidia: I mean, you don’t need a new graphics card to enjoy the latest PC games. Any card from the 2010s is probably good for another 10 years.
But let’s say that you own a 7th generation device. Then of course now’s a great time to upgrade. The PS3 and Xbox 360 are beginning to lose general support, and GTX cards are beginning to falter in performance with the latest and greatest PC games. But, what is there to pick and see with these new devices?
Well, to start, all the new devices have ray tracing and an SSD, so it’s safe to say that they’ll look good and feel good. So what else do these companies have up their sleeve?
Sony: Sony’s hardware is probably the weakest among the competition, but with the amount of second and third party support it has, it’s likely that every drop of juice will be squeezed out of the PS5. The new Ratchet and Clank already looks promising, from the accurate reflections of Clank’s metallic exterior to the seamless loading of new game worlds thanks to the amazing optimizations done by Insomniac Games. Mostly though, it seems that Sony will stick to realistic cinematic experiences. I wonder what Naughty Dog’s next game will look like on the system?
Microsoft: The major problem of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and One was their lack of proper second and first party support, an issue they’re planning to negate with the 4th generation. With Microsoft’s planned purchase of Zenimax, the Xbox platform will have exclusives for series such as Fallout, the Elder Scrolls, Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein, and more. If Microsoft does not mess this up, they have a very good chance of becoming equivalent with Sony.
NVidia: As more and more applications support RTX, the 3000 series has a solid base to land on, for anyone who can afford it. Even Blender can utilize RTX for fast rendering of their projects, allowing any VFX artist to quickly see what they’re making instead of having to wait the standard 10 minutes or so otherwise.
Wonder which one’s best for you? All of the new platforms have something up their sleeve over the others, so it mostly comes down to the exclusive features of each console, since they’re all powerful in their own right; if you want cinematic experiences, then you can buy the Playstation. If you care more about gameplay than story, then the Xbox’s soon-to-be exclusive titles will likely be a blast for you. If you need to do a lot of computer related things, then I’m sure that a GPU would help in performing many tasks, especially in the visual field. The choice is yours, my friend.
]]>Due to the circumstances of the pandemic, concerns for the health and safety of students rise as some schools attempt to reopen. A New York Times survey found at least 88,000 positive college cases of coronavirus in the U.S. as of Sept. 10.
Returning to universities in large numbers is a potential health hazard, which has caused many schools to take new approaches to resuming the year.
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education that collects data on nearly 3,000 higher education institutions in the U.S., 34 percent of universities are returning primarily online this fall. Other reopening strategies include classes fully online, primarily in-person, fully in-person, or a hybrid.
However, with many classes moving online, the traditional experience of living on-campus may not be available in all cases. Schools are generally placing limitations on the number of students living on-campus and adhering to detailed safety protocol. Universities have followed an array of strategies regarding residence, ranging from completely closed to fully open.
For those that are opening, there will likely be a decreased number of students per dorm in addition to 6-foot distancing and mask-wearing when outside the room.
At Loyola University, classes began Aug. 24 and have resumed primarily online with the exception of certain lab-based science courses.
“There are about 200 students living on campus,” Director of Executive and Strategic Communications at Loyola Christian Anderson, said. “That said, the University is open. Our libraries, student union, fitness center, advising services, and other offices and buildings remain open.”
Other schools intending to reopen with in-person classes, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have had to quickly change reopening plans due to a drastic increase in positive cases. The school moved classes online after beginning with two weeks of in-person classes. Nearly 2,000 cases were reported on-campus and almost one-third of dorm residents were placed in quarantine.
In a news conference, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank emphasized the need to keep students at school in order to prevent further spread of the virus.
“This is their home,” Blank said. “They’re paying rent. It’s where they are. The more interactions we have with them, the more we can work with them, I think in many ways, the better off we are.”
Further measures taken to prevent the spread of cases at many schools also include the offering of on-campus testing. Some are even requiring frequent students tests to find and address positive cases quickly.
At Iowa State University, a testing facility recently opened on-campus to help prevent the spread of the virus.
“Iowa State’s 28.8 percent positivity percentage for those tested on campus during the second week of class is not unexpected as a result of the university’s targeted testing strategy, which focuses on testing individuals who are symptomatic or potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19” an Iowa State University report said.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has also seen an increase in cases, even after implementing a massive testing program that conducts between 10,000 and 15,000 saliva-based coronavirus tests per day. The school mandated a two-week lockdown for undergraduates to limit interactions that may produce further spread.
As colleges reopen, most are seeing an increase in cases. In particular, those that have reopened in person. Cities with large populations of college students have become major centers for the spread of the virus.
Although masks and social-distancing regulations have become a commonality when meeting in class, safety concerns are raised due to the lack of enforcement of regulations at student social events.
Partying without compliance to social distancing regulations and mask wearing has created a surge in cases.
In some instances, including a recent gathering of students from Miami University, students are hosting parties even after they know they’ve tested positive for the coronavirus.
Body camera footage released from the Oxford Police Department showed a student admitting to having a party that surpassed the 10-person limit allowed at gatherings per the city’s ordinance, even after testing positive for coronavirus a week earlier. Social distancing and mask-wearing were also disregarded at the event.
“So, you’re not quarantining if you’re mixing with other people,” the police officer said. “This is what we’re trying to prevent.”
Universities looking to reopen are presented with the challenge of addressing concerns related to student social gatherings.
Sporting events have also become COVID-19 hotspots. At Florida State University, the University of Kansas, and University of Texas at Austin, thousands of fans were allowed into stadiums without face masks to watch the first college football games of the season, which provoked much criticism.
As schools separated their students with screens and 6 foot social distancing requirements, they began to face an entirely new obstacle: maintaining a communal bond among students and faculty. At Loyola University, programs have been created in order to engage students in activities outside of academic work.
“Experts across the university in medicine, ministry, social work and wellness help connect the community with services and virtual spaces where they can find comfort, care, and professional development to navigate this weird and uncertain time,” said Anderson. “We have been very intentional and invested in creating a vibrant and varied program of virtual engagement opportunities where students can connect and collaborate in education, research, service projects with community organizations, and also for worship, socializing and fun.”
At this time, in-person activities may not be possible in all areas so technology can be a method of bridging the gap between students and the university.
New circumstances have affected nearly every aspect of the 2020-2021 school year, but many schools remain dedicated to providing students educational opportunities and support.
]]>The starters of the fire were a few people living in the camp and seeking asylum, ones who were upset with the pairing of unbearable and crowded living conditions along with being under lockdown because of the virus. They lit a fire near an area containing families and people tested positive with COVID-19. The Moria camp had their first case of Coronavirus on Sept. 2, and it had increased rapidly to 35 cases. Suspects on making the fire have been arrested.
Quarantine has been a scarring and difficult time for migrants, faced with being trapped inside the circumstances they have been in for so long. A doctor working for the BRF, the Boat Refugee Foundation, claims in The Guardian that all kinds of sicknesses are rampant in all ages, and floods of patients wait in interminable lines every day for hours seeking a few words of advice or treatment from them. Food is scarce, and sanitary conditions are barely existent. The porta potties contain an odor that permeates the air yards away. Overcrowding at the Moria camp has been a problem for a while, the population being more than 20,000 inhabitants when the camp itself was built for only 3,100. These migrants fled their homeland out of desperation and fear of the threatening life they had there. But it seems like it is not much different in the Moria camp.
InfoMigrant reported on Issouf, a migrant who had a front-line experience to the wrath of the Moria camp.
“I left my country because of the lack of security, but it’s the same here, or even worse,” Issouf said.
With COVID-19 being an extremely prominent issue, the situation is especially dire in the Moria camp. Social distance is virtually impossible, and there is not enough personal protective equipment and sanitary materials readily available for everyone to be able to wash their hands consistently and don masks. With those kinds of conditions, being under lockdown may not be the best decision.
Medecins Sans Frontieres: Doctors Without Borders sees a humanitarian issue with these events.
“What is actually happening is that COVID-19 is being used as an excuse to limit the freedom and rights of the people who are seeking safety in Europe,” they said.
Strangely, none of that has truly changed after the destruction of the Moria camp. It seems as if a new but related conflict has arisen. A new camp has been made in place of the original Moria camp. Many immigrants are extremely wary and reluctant to move in. They fear it will be the same or even worse than the Moria camp, and that their basic liberty and rights will continue to be ignored. Al Jazeera Media Network, a Qatari newspaper, spread the news on how the vacancy of the newly built camp reflected on the migrant’s fear of no change in the conditions.
“So far, only 1,200 people have moved into the temporary facility at Kara Tepe near the island’s port of Mytilene, which was ready to host at least 5,000,” it said.
The fire demolishing the Moria camp may symbolize how fragmented the migrant camps in Europe are. In Greece, migrants are no longer welcomed, though Europe claims it willingly accepts them. The New York Times explained the background reasoning to the broken migrant system. “With the movement of Syrians lessening in recent years, … the sense of urgency has lessened. In 2015, images of desperate refugees trying to make the Aegean crossing to Greece gained global attention…But few northern and eastern European countries opened their doors the way Germany did, leaving the problem mostly in the lap of countries at the European Union’s southern borders-Greece, Italy, Malta, and Spain-where frustrations have deepened,” it claimed.The Struggles of Migrants: Moria Camp Burned During Pandemic
]]>Opponents of a pass/fail system see it as an excuse for early-onset senioritis. Perhaps they fear students will snooze their alarms, forgo the Zooms, and miss out on a semester or year of school. These fears are unwarranted. There is limited evidence to suggest grades incentivize learning (International Society for Technology in Education). A traditional grading system may lead students to prioritize their grades over their understanding the material. As former Harvard dean Harry Lewis suggests, “if the only purpose of learning is getting the grade, the only reason not to cheat is the fear of being caught” (Psychology Today). As an e-learning environment significantly lessens the fear of being caught, a traditional grading system may contribute to a rise in academic dishonesty. A pass/fail grading system, on the other hand, would allow students to learn for the sake of learning.
The grades students receive during e-learning also serve little functional purpose; they don’t tell us much at all. Though assessments are a large portion of student grades, educators are now incredibly limited in the ways they can equitably administer tests. Students can share answers, reference their notes, or look up questions on the internet with little teacher oversight. Take-home tests, with no time constraints, run the risk of spurring egregious grade inflation. In-class tests are even more seriously flawed; they require two devices—an impossibility for some students—and may disadvantage test-takers with technology issues. Educators have also chosen to assess students differently, leading to large disparities in how different educators teach the same course.
Assessments are indispensable; they do improve how well students retain course material through the testing effect. Coupled with an A-F grading scale, however, they pretend to gauge students’ learning more accurately than they do. A pass/fail grading system would allow students to reap the benefits of assessments without dealing with the issues of e-learning grading.
The most troubling effects of an A-F grading scale, however, are its furtherance of the digital divide. Students may not have reliable internet access or spaces to do their schoolwork; others may face stressors inherent to living in a pandemic, like concern for their families. The district has made attempts to make e-learning more equitable, notably through its One-to-One iPad and Meal Bag programs. Traditional grading impedes these efforts. What do A-F grades tell us: students’ command of the material or the quality of their Wi-Fi?
While the semblance of normality that comes with a traditional grading scale may be reassuring, we cannot continue to pretend this year is normal. D211 must adapt. Let’s not fail our students and pass up this opportunity to switch to a Pass/Fail system.
]]>With notable players C.J McCollum and Jusuf Nurkić sidelined due to injury during the regular season, superstar Damian Lillard was paired with Carmelo Anthony in hopes of carrying this injury-riddled team to the playoffs. When the season was unexpectedly halted, the Blazers were not seen as contenders for the eighth seed in the highly-stacked Western conference.
When play resumed, Lillard quickly caught fire, leading the Blazers to win four out of their five seeding games. As these games went on, the Blazers continued their dominance and were noted by the league as contenders for the playoffs. Their final seeding game came on Aug. 13, and it was a must-win for the team. The game ended in a 134-133 win for the Blazers, and with this momentum, they cruised past the Grizzlies to secure a spot in the 2020 NBA playoffs.
Entering the 2019-2020 NBA season, the Phoenix Suns were coming off of a terrible season credited to poor coaching, draft picks, and off-court decisions. Fans and critics did not expect them to make it far after the regular season, but in the restart, everything changed.
Heading into the restart, the Suns were the worst team in the bubble, nine games behind the eighth seed. In a miraculous turn of events, Devin Booker and the Suns went undefeated, leading the Suns to within a game of the playoffs. Although the team did not make it far in the bubble, this team was a great example that perseverance leads to success.
Fresh off of an NBA title, the Raptors were riding high on their accomplishments. However, disappointment struck the hearts of Raptors fans after losing their franchise player, Kawhi Leonard, in free agency. Still, this group of players was expected to finish in the playoff race, as the team consisted of veterans who had all proved themselves in the past season.
The Raptors were optimistic, however, due to their newly emerging all-star duo in Fred Vanvleet and Pascal Siakam. Toronto finished the season as a second seed, proving that this team could contend without Leonard.
Heading into the 2019-2020 season, the Miami Heat boasted their new signings of All-Star Jimmy Butler and established veteran Andre Iguodala. Although many considered this a selfish move from Butler, thinking that the sole reason for this move was to be the lone star on his team, in retrospect, it paid off. The Heat experienced an average season and did not have many expectations to have a deep run in the playoffs.
In the first round, Miami faced the Indiana Pacers, and fans were excited to see T.J Warren battle Butler. Warren was quiet all series long, and the Heat took care of the Pacers in four games. The following round, the Heat saw themselves matched against the Milwaukee Bucks, who boasted the best record in the league and had MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. In game one, the Heat shut down the MVP, causing problems for the Bucks offense all night. The Heat stunned the Bucks and took the series in 5 games, upsetting one of the favorites to win the 2020 NBA championship.
During the 2018-2019 season, the Denver Nuggets were an up-and-coming young team with lots of potential. With no pressure, the Nuggets cruised to the third seed in the highly-stacked Western conference.
The Nuggets faced the Utah Jazz in the first round, and for the most part, this was an evenly matched series. It had many down-to-the-wire games, but with a commanding 3-1 lead in the series for the Jazz, the Nuggets’ season was expected to come to an end. With their backs against the wall, Denver, led by Jamal Murray, who saw multiple 50 point games in the series, edged out the Jazz. In the next round, Denver was set to face the Los Angeles Clippers, who were considered by many as the favorites to come out of the West. After four games, the Nuggets found themselves in the same place they were during the previous series, down 1-3. Many fans and critics ruled them out due to the skill of the Clippers. Denver was simply outmatched by the depth the Clippers had. Led by the duo of European sharpshooter Nikola Jokic and Murray, the Nuggets were able to come back from two 20-point leads and ultimately snatch the game 7 victory. This capped off a historic series, ultimately robbing NBA fans of the battle for Los Angeles.
]]>A major aspect of health many people don’t consider is nutrition. Found in grocery store produce, it’s essential for good health. Fortunate enough to have cars that facilitate the process of getting food, many Americans have little difficulty locating an Aldi or Walmart. Not everyone has this convenience, however. Impoverished areas where many people can’t even afford cars, this isn’t even an option; many grocery stores are a mile or further from the local communities. Unjust as it is, these districts are strewn with convenience stores stocked with candy, junk food and soft drinks in place of healthier alternatives. Inadequate access to healthy food usually leads to a wide assortment of health issues and diseases.
These obstacles to obtaining nutritious food are a large part of the reason that underserved populations are often victims to diseases such as hypertension and chronic stress. These rates are exceptionally high for many reasons. In predominantly white neighborhoods, citizens enjoy a strong sense of safety, while crime and violence is an unfortunate aspect of life in many urban communities. The trauma that accompanies this reality is detrimental to the lives of urban inhabitants. In addition, police brutality and the fear of being stopped by the cops instills fear into many people of color, increasing risk for diseases such as chronic stress. These are just a few of many diseases that plague those of poverty stricken sectors.
Another crucial factor in these health disparities is the astonishingly low number of hospitals located in low-income communities. In these areas, the act of getting a routine checkup can be an issue as hospitals are scarce. This is a result of the many hospital closures that have occurred over the last couple of decades. Of the few hospitals that exist, most are understaffed as well as lacking adequate resources, rendering them unable to fully serve their patients. With inequalities such as these, it is no wonder that impoverished communities face such high rates for many illnesses, ailments, and disabilities.
While COVID 19 has been a detriment to society, it has certainly affected certain areas disproportionately. In order to prevent health disparities that occur as a result of COVID and other diseases, there must be changes in the care given to these destitute areas. Clearly, systemic inequality plays a large role in these disparities, and it’s time for hospitals, institutions, and the government to begin to own up to past failures- and mandate change.
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Roughly a month later, the CDC went on to create a travel ban on Wuhan so that no American could travel there and risk exposure. While many American laboratories began the process of vaccine creation, the government’s laissez-faire policy caused a feeling of calm for many. This fantasy would very quickly be ruined, however, as the number of U.S. cases only increased. The United States government upheld its travel ban and created a nationwide health emergency by putting $50 billion into statewide funding for hospitals and the unemployed, but did little else. Perhaps if Trump had done more at the very beginning, the United States would not be in the turmoil that it is in now.
“It will all work out well.” Donald Trump tweeted on Jan. 24. “In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!” Despite the whirlwind of chaos surrounding him, Trump continued to act as though the virus was not as big of a deal as it appeared. This became a trend of his as the virus only continued to grow. For example, he claimed that the virus would go away once the weather became warmer, lied about the United State’s fatality rate compared to other countries, and stated that the virus was a Democratic hoax and not a problem out of the political sphere. Recently, proof has appeared in the news as evidence that Trump knew the risks of the Coronavirus from the start, yet refused to acknowledge them. In doing so, he not only risked his country’s safety but also the safety of others nearby.
One journalist, Bob Woodward, interviewed Trump in his new book, Rage, and showed that not only did Trump know how serious the virus could be, but he purposely told the public otherwise. Trump stated, “I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.” In fact, Trump went to China during the start of the virus to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. There he learned about the devastating effects that the virus could have on his country, but his stubbornness to appeal to the American people stopped him from telling the truth. This stubbornness and lack of common sense became more obvious when Woodward interviewed one of Trump’s staff members, Kayleigh McEnany.
McEnany has a history of picking up Trump’s baggage, in addition to being extremely loyal to the Trump administration, so it comes as no surprise that Trump’s press secretary completely took his side over how he covered up the outbreaks. When questioned at a press interview, she continued to say, over and over again, how Trump only cares about the safety of the American people, and that he in no way downplayed the Coronavirus. Additionally, when questioned about a rally that the president held under strict social distancing orders by the state, she replied that “People have a First Amendment right, if they so choose, to show up and express their political opinion in the form of a peaceful protest, which is what the President held.”
This need to divert from the direct question being asked multiple times shows how many people are covering for Trump and the size of the double standard that has been created. When Woodward finally asked Trump about the American lives that had been lost to the virus, the president responded with an answer that directly reflects his presidency. Trump stated that “The virus has nothing to do with me. It’s not my fault. It’s — China let the damn virus out.”
Donald Trump has spent his four years as president blaming his issues and faults on other people, so his response to the Coronavirus outbreak in early 2020 was no surprise. His failure to take consequential action during a worldwide pandemic shows his lack of dedication toward helping the American people. In pretending the virus wasn’t a big deal, he not only led to the deaths and injuries of thousands of current Americans, but also the future of America as a whole. People around the world have spent the last six months worrying about who the virus will affect next, but maybe their fear was directed towards the wrong antagonist. Maybe instead of resenting the virus itself, they should have blamed the powerful man with a platform who failed to take action.
]]>We’re expecting a rather quiet week in weather ahead, with pleasant temperatures, low humidity and sunshine expected. Hazy conditions may appear throughout the week, as a smoke plume in the atmosphere drifts in and out of the area from western wildfires. A storm system will arrive just in time for the weekend, bringing higher humidity and a chance of rain for the second half of the weekend.
Daily Forecast:
Monday 9/21: Very enjoyable day with mostly sunny and hazy conditions due to the smoke in the upper atmosphere. High of 74° and a low of 55°.
Tuesday 9/22: Plentiful sun with possible haze. High temperature of 76°, cooling to a low of 56°.
Wednesday 9/23: Warmer, yet beautiful, day expected with partly cloudy conditions. High of 77° and a low of 56°.
Thursday 9/24: Pleasant day with mainly sunny skies expected along with a slight breeze. High temperature of 75° with a low temperature of 58°.
Friday 9/25: Sunny skies will prevail, providing warmer temperatures and pleasant conditions. High of 79° cooling to a low of 61°.
Saturday 9/26: Sunny skies early will give way to gradually increasing cloud cover and humidity through the afternoon with rain likely during the evening and overnight hours. High of 83° falling to a low of 62°.
Sunday 9/27: Cooler, yet humid, with cloudy skies and showers likely. High temperature of 71° with a low temperature of 54°.
National Weather Headlines:
Tropical Storm Beta has formed in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. The storm will make landfall along the Texas Coast Monday afternoon and will continue inland through the first half of the week. Beta will eventually be swept westward and further inland later in the week as a Post-Tropical Depression.
Wildfires in the western United States continue to burn out of control, creating unhealthy air quality and extensive plumes of smoke for much of the West. These large amounts of smoke have reached the upper levels of the atmosphere, creating hazy conditions across a majority of the lower 48 United States.
]]>NFC North: Packers
I’m going to be starting off with a division that may be very dear to a majority of readers’ hearts, the NFC North. Now I’m just going to say right off the bat that I know my prediction might make fellow Bears fans a little upset, but I had to go with the Green Bay Packers. What really made me end up choosing the Packers was Aaron Rodgers, and his high powered offense. I think this year, A-Rod is going to be very motivated after the Packers took a quarterback with their first round pick in the 2020 Draft and is going to thrive on the offense built around him with two superstars in Davante Adams and Aaron Jones. Now, this division certainly won’t be Green Bay’s to run away with, as the Vikings and their spectacular offseason signings/trades and maybe even the Bears (even with Mitch…) will put up a fight all year long.
NFC South: Saints
Another division that I think is going to be really competitive, and it could really be a toss-up towards the end of the season, is the NFC South. This division was abuzz this offseason as each and every team seemed to be picking up superstars, from Tom Brady (Tampa Bay) to Todd Gurley (Atlanta) to Teddy Bridgewater (Carolina), but I really think that the team in this division with the, debatably, least impactful offseason will take the crown: the New Orleans Saints, led by veteran QB Drew Brees and an offense full of match-up nightmares. Obviously the Buccaneers adding Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Leonard Fournette to their offense is huge. However, I’m not totally convinced that this team is going to be as good as everyone assumes. Make no mistake, Tampa Bay is going to be a good team and a serious contender for this division, but I really feel like the Saints’ success in seasons past as a team makes them more of a safe bet.
NFC East: Cowboys
Debatably one of, if not the, worst divisions in football last year would be the NFC East. The playoff “race” between the Eagles and Cowboys down the stretch of the 2019 season was bad and honestly kind of painful to watch. Both of these teams seemed as if they were trying to give the division away last year, but this year the Dallas Cowboys will take the crown. While they’re plagued by injuries on the defensive side of the ball, Dak Prescott will thrive this season with the many skilled pass-catchers around him and Ezekiel Elliot will be eating all year long. The factor that really puts the Cowboys ahead of the Eagles (with Washington and New York not being real contenders), is their offensive line. Carson Wentz simply has no time to do anything in the pocket, and their offense really won’t be able to get anything started because of it.
NFC West: Seahawks
Despite one of the teams in the NFC West making it to the Super Bowl last year, it was really a surprisingly easy choice for me to pick the Seattle Seahawks to win it. No team in this division is bad. I can definitely see the Seahawks, Cardinals, and 49ers being contenders (and the Rams just being meh), but there’s two reasons that point towards Seattle being the best team. The first is maybe a little obvious, as over the offseason an already above average Seahawk defense picked up one of the best safeties in the NFL, Jamal Adams. I really liked this move a lot, as Adams serves as an anchor to their secondary who can make strong impacts on both opponents’ run and pass game. But the second reason is just simply Russell Wilson. Number 3 is one of the best quarterbacks in the league year in and year out, but never really gets the love he deserves. This year, that all changes as he will lead the Seahawks to the division title and be a legitimate MVP candidate.
AFC North: Ravens
To start off the AFC, we’re heading north to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. To keep it blunt, this was a no-brainer. The Baltimore Ravens are going to win the AFC North, backed by the reigning league MVP in Lamar Jackson. On top of the Ravens high paced offense, a really slept-on subject of that team is their defense. The Baltimore D really succeeds at defending against the pass and with a huge addition this offseason, Calais Campbell, they will elevate their defensive line to the next level. While I think the Ravens will take home the division pretty handily, the Steelers may be able to make a Wild Card run with their great defense and the return of Big Ben from injury. As for the Browns and Bengals… this just isn’t their year. Although, if the Bengals can find a way to surround Joe Burrow with a competent offensive line, they may become a good team in the following years to come.
AFC South: Titans
Now we move onto one of the hardest divisions to predict, the AFC South. I was personally torn between the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts, as the Texans lost their best wide receivers and the Jaguars are just bad. While the Colts weren’t a great team last year, they added veteran QB Phillip Rivers, which is huge. However, I really think that a run-based offense behind Derrick Henry and a solid defense will be able to push the Titans ahead. In the 2019 playoffs, the Titans shocked the world by coming in as a Wild Card and upsetting both the Patriots and the Ravens in back to back games. I feel like that was their way of showing everyone what they were made of. Especially with a weakened division to compete against, the Titans should be able to coast to the division title.
AFC East: Bills
For the first time since 2008, a team that isn’t the New England Patriots will be winning the AFC East come playoff time: the Buffalo Bills, who finished second last year and made the playoffs as a Wild Card. Josh Allen, the young quarterback, exceeded expectations last year despite the lack of seriously talented pass-catchers and weapons. This year, the Bills added star wide-out Stefon Diggs to their squad via a trade with the Vikings, which gives Allen a lot more to work with while the young and talented Bills defense battles on the other side. Going back to the Patriots, losing Tom Brady and replacing him with a beaten-up Cam Newton was a big setback. Many of the standout players from the Pats’ spectacular defense opting out of the season due to COVID-19 is a big, perhaps even bigger, blow. Despite all this, I feel like the Pats will find a way to pick up a few wins here and there and possibly get a Wild Card spot because under head coach Bill Belichick, it seems anything is possible (just make all their footballs are properly inflated).
AFC West: Chiefs
An absolute no-brainer here in the AFC West. Barring a fluke injury to the best QB in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes, there is no doubt in my mind that the reigning champs in the Chiefs will win this division. Of their 22 Super Bowl winning starters, the Chiefs are bringing back 20 to play for them this season. There’s no real obvious weak spots on this Chiefs team as they have one of the best offenses in the league and a solid defense highlighted by Tyrann Mathieu and Chris Jones, and even a good special teams unit. The only team in this division that has a slight sliver of a shot of dethroning the Chiefs would be the Denver Broncos, a young squad with a bunch of potential offensive stars. Cortland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy highlight the receiving core, and second year QB Drew Lock will be throwing them passes all year long. I’d say if everything goes right for this team, and all their young players play like proven vets, they might be able to get within a game of the Chiefs or overtake them by a game. This should show you how immensely confident I am in the Chiefs, as this is the one pick I am nearly 100% sure of.
With all of the division winners being set, it’s only right I give a quick Super Bowl prediction. The two teams with the two best QBs of their conference, and the league really, will play against each other come February. These two teams led by Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes, will be the Seahawks and Chiefs. I could definitely see this game being an absolute shoot-out and coming down to the wire, and it would result in the Chiefs being back-to-back winners in a close game.
]]>Now, “Mulan” has received the live-action treatment and was released a few weeks ago on Disney+. Director Niki Caro wanted the remake to be very realistic, as well as remain true to the original legend of Mulan. I found this odd. While it makes sense that she would want to go off of legend, most people probably wouldn’t know nearly as much about it as they do with the 1998 film. I found “Mulan” to be a pretty rough watch that seems to drag on without any of the heart and humor original fans know and love.
Among the greatest of the changes made for the live-action remake included a new villain, as well as the removal of the musical numbers and crowd favorite Mushu the dragon, and the addition of Mulan’s sister. Instead of the frightening Hun Shan Yu, we have the stagnant and uninteresting villain Bori Khan, who teams up with Xianniang, a witch who can shapeshift. There are also some changes to some of the most memorable scenes in the original film.
The iconic Matchmaker scene in which Mulan unsuccessfully tries to keep her grandmother’s lucky cricket subdued during her meeting with the Matchmaker, has been altered for the worse. Not only was the original scene comical, as we see the Matchmaker smear ink on her face, spill scalding tea on herself, and sit on hot coals, but it also reinforces the conflict that Mulan cannot bring her family honor.
However, in the remake, the scene is just very tense. A spider crawls onto the table and Mulan appears unable to simply point it out to the Matchmaker. Her sister’s fear of spiders, which is weakly introduced a few scenes prior, leads her to upend the table, and Mulan catches falling teapot and cups for a moment before they all fall to the ground. This scene shows how nimble and quick-thinking Mulan is, but that’s already shown at the beginning of the movie when a young Mulan uses a roof to get a chicken into its pen. The original Matchmaker scene was so funny mainly because we got to see the Matchmaker, a pretty nasty woman, get hurt. But without that, the new scene has barely a scent of comedy and instead just feels disappointingly tense, with very little resemblance to the iconic original scene.
There’s also fundamental changes to some key action set pieces. In the original, Mulan uses a flare meant to kill Shan Yu to cause an avalanche on a snowy mountain in the dead of winter. In the remake, Mulan tricks the enemy army into thinking that the Chinese have moved to the mountains behind them, leading them to fire a flaming stone into its snowy side. While both are pretty visually stunning, Mulan’s cleverness and quick thinking are shown much better in the original scene. Along with that, the final fight scene between Mulan and Shan Yu in the Imperial Palace from the original is traded in for a sword fight between Mulan and Bori Khan on some scaffolding. While both are exciting, the remake feels much less climactic than the original.
While the original supporting characters are still there in the remake, a lack of depth in the way they are written makes them feel absent. The original’s Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po are all very distinct individuals. The differences in appearance and personality are very clear and obvious, making them interesting, comical characters. However, in the remake, these three characters feel flat, one-dimensional, and have no significant traits that set them apart from one another. Cri-Kee, the good-luck cricket, is replaced with Cricket, a feeble soldier incapable of sticking up for himself. Li Shang, the army’s brave, by-the-book Captain, plays a pivotal role in the original as he falls in love with Mulan and grows softer. He has an interesting internal conflict as he struggles to be the military man his father wants him to be. He is completely changed for the remake. His military status is gone as he becomes just another member of the army. The army is led by Commander Tung instead, who winds up impacting Mulan more than Shang Li.
These character changes are certainly not helped by bad acting. Every single one of the aforementioned characters are pretty poorly played, with the exception of Commander Tung, played by Donnie Yen, probably best known for his titular role in the Ip Man films, as well as his role as the blind Chirrut Imwe from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The chemistry between Mulan and Shang Li just isn’t there, and they don’t share an actual romantic moment until the final few minutes of the film. I almost wanted them to just remain friends in the end instead of falling in love. In fact, Mulan had better on-screen chemistry with
By far the biggest problem with the remake, however, is the horrendous CGI. One would think that for a movie with a budget of 200 million dollars, the same budget as 1997’s “Titanic” (one of the most expensive movies ever made), there would be some truly incredible graphics, but they just aren’t there. From fake 3D models of a young Mulan to horrendously layered fire, the graphics are the worst I’ve ever seen in a modern film. It definitely doesn’t help that the scenes in which most CGI is used—the fight and battles scenes—are very poorly edited. I can’t remember a shot in one of those scenes that lasted for more than seven seconds before switching to a different shot, which makes it very disorienting and hard to follow. However, one of the better things about the movie is the stunning landscape shots.
The release of “Mulan” was fraught with challenges. It was made available on Disney+ before its free release on Dec. 4, but those who wanted to watch it had to pay an extra thirty dollars, in addition to the subscription fee they already pay. Along with that, many people are boycotting the film because of lead actress Liu Yifei’s support of Hong Kong police, who brutalized Hong Kong protesters during their demonstrations throughout 2019. The film also faced backlash around the time of release for filming portions in Xinjiang, China. There, many Uighurs, or Chinese Muslims, have been kept in “reeducation camps” that strip them of their human rights.
In the end, with all this considered, “Mulan” feels like a strange cross between the original legend and the animated film. It struggles to figure out what it wants to be and who it wants to appeal to, making it feel like a shell of its former selves.
]]>The premise is straightforward: a competitive team-based event similar to trivia, but with a difficulty placing it around “Olympics” level as compared to simple party games. Each match consists of twenty “toss-up” questions, followed by three bonus questions each for the team that buzzed in and correctly answered the previous toss up. This emphasis on speed, accuracy, and cooperation thus transforms Scholastic Bowl into an event of mental— rather than physical— fitness.
The topics covered during practice and competitions envelop a wide range of information. The core school curriculums are there: history, science, math, and literature— but so are more specific sections such as religion, philosophy, pop culture, arts and entertainment. A successful Scholastic Bowl competitor has knowledge encompassing one or several of these sections, but the team-based nature of the competition allows for each member to specialize in areas they’re most comfortable in. Subsequently, this creates situations requiring extraordinary teamwork.
Junior Shreya Seetharam elaborates on the cooperation demanded by Scholastic Bowl.
“It takes a great deal of trust in yourself and your own knowledge to buzz in and risk being wrong,” Seetharam said. “But it also takes a great deal of faith in your teammates when it comes to stuff that you don’t know.”
The trust this activity demands between teammates is what sets it apart from other competitive events at Fremd High School. The supportive environment is not unique to Fremd, however.
Seetharam adds that even among rival schools, “we all want each other to succeed.”
While some clubs and activities might rely on skills that are more difficult to develop, such as acting or stand-up comedy, Scholastic Bowl is an event with plenty of opportunity for dramatic and rapid growth.
Junior Danny Kim, who leapt from being one of the team’s middling scorers to a consistent medalist in every tournament, believes that Scholastic Bowl also places a heavy emphasis on hard work. He thinks the activity is largely self-directed, but caters to a wide variety of preferences.
“In Scholastic Bowl you get exactly what you put in,” Kim said. “You’re not made to do stuff. You can make the decision to be a lead player, or you can choose to be more laid-back and support your teammates.”
At the end of the day, however, the members of Fremd Scholastic Bowl all came together for the same reason: a love of knowledge, both the classical and the obscure.
Freshman Kishan Teeka comments that it was his enjoyment of the general activity that led him to join at the beginning of the year.
“I just love trivia,” Teeka said. “And doing it with friends just makes it so much more fun.”
Social studies teacher and Scholastic Bowl sponsor Kevin Palmer believes that the club has a lot to offer to students who might be seeking a more stimulating and unpredictable extracurricular.
“In my opinion, [Scholastic Bowl] combines the competition normally found in sports with the cerebral of academics. It can be quite exciting, with many matches being decided by the last toss up or the very last bonus question.”
Students with an interest in multiple subjects who would be interested in a fast-paced club like Scholastic Bowl can join its team members in rooms 236 and 237 on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school from 3:00–4:00.
]]>During the 92nd Academy Awards Ceremony, Joaquin Phoenix was awarded Best Actor for his performance as Arthur Fleck in the hit movie “Joker.” Like many other Oscar winners, Phoenix was grateful for his achievement but was visibly modest about it. The part of his speech where he was thanking people was extremely brief and he moved right on to the political portion of his speech. In his speech he talked about how we plunder and exploit the Earth’s resources. For example, he talked about our usage of cows for milk. Phoenix then went on to say that we are afraid of change but are inventive and capable of making a change that could be beneficial to everyone. He ended this speech with a lyric that his late brother wrote; “Run to the rescue with love, and peace will follow.”
Phoenix’s speech was very moving to the audience and brought up an important subject that is relevant to our time now. But is using an award speech for a political statement appropriate? Or should an awards speech only be used for thanking others for your achievements?
Using an award speech to voice significant world problems is important. It brings awareness to the millions of people that are viewing The Oscars. It may even unfold brand new ways of thinking, somewhat similar to The Silk Road in the West, which shared new ideas and religions. A way that this also benefits the more normal viewers like us is that we might see one of our favorite actors on the stage talking about a problem that interests us, spark inspiration in us and cause us to try and take action in helping with the problem that’s being recognized. The audience members that are lucky enough to be in the crowd of The Academy Awards can help in bigger ways. They obviously have tons of money, so they might decide to reach into their wallets and donate large amounts of money to someone’s cause.
Although, some people see it as disrespectful to talk about politics during their award speech. They say that the Oscars is a time to focus on celebrating the art of film and the actors that participate in it. While this is true, it’s also a big opportunity for actors to bring awareness to subjects that are much more important than entertainment.
Overall, I believe that using an awards speech is an appropriate and important usage of time. It can shine light on problems that may be not as focused on such as the concentration camps in China. It can also emphasize the more popular problems that have been going on for a while and get people to do something about it. Talking about politics gives us the opportunity to see the opinions of actors we admire and possibly support them in fixing problems in the world.
]]>Whether it be blowing leads or insane game-winners, this season has many NBA fans baffled at the current standings. To no one’s amazement, the many teams that boasted high potential in the off-season are dominating the league. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers (41-12) and their dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as well as the heavily stacked LA Clippers (37-18), including notable players such as Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Lou Williams, control the Western Conference. Meanwhile, reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks (46-8) stand over the Eastern Conference with a league-leading record. However, there has been a multitude of teams that have surprised the world of basketball, either exceeding or completely failing to meet expectations.
In the past, Mark Cuban has certainly had success utilizing young European stars, as seen in his 2011 NBA Championship under the leadership of Dirk Nowitzki. This season has surely taken him by surprise, however, as the return of Kristaps Porzingis and rise of Luka Doncic have brought the Dallas Mavericks, a team that only won 33 games last season, to a 33-22 record and a 7th seed in the Western Conference. This is a dramatic advancement from last year as they almost have as many wins as they finished with while almost half the season remains.
Much of their success comes from Doncic having a breakout season as a sophomore as he puts up 28.9 PPG 9.5 RPG and 8.7 APG, propelling him into the MVP conversation. Furthermore, Jalen Brunson, an Illinois native who attended nearby Adlai E. Stevenson High School, is having a great season; he was recently named the NCAA Player of the Decade, winning two championships in three years with Villanova.
With a young team and a star in Doncic who recently got selected as an All-Star starter, the future for this team looks bright.
Under head coach Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors have created a dynasty, winning three championships in five years. While the departure of star Kevin Durant was certainly projected to hurt the Warriors, no one expected the injuries to All-Stars Draymond Green (various injuries) and Stephen Curry (broken hand). Likewise, fellow All-Star Klay Thompson is also sidelined due to an injury dating back to the 2019 Playoffs where he tore his ACL. Furthermore, no one expected a team that set an NBA record for 73-9 in the regular season to be dead last in the NBA. Much of their failure comes from the young roster and the newly acquired players who still have yet to fully understand the system. Although rising star D’Angelo Russell was given in return for Kevin Durant via sign and trade, his 24.0 PPG 3.0 RPG and 8.0 APG are not enough to carry the team. His good numbers, however, were able to draw the attention of other teams and he was swapped for former ROTY Andrew Wiggins.
While the Warriors are having a disastrous season which includes the league’s worst record (12-43), fans remain hopeful for the Dubs with the return of stars Curry and Thompson. Their young roster is the third youngest in the NBA with the average age at 24.87, but under the leadership of former All-Stars and especially back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry, the Warriors can certainly bite back next season. A positive surprise for the Warriors is the signing of Marquese Chriss who is posting career-high stats. With all their young, raw talent and veteran leadership, the Warriors have a strong spark to kindle for next season in hopes they can return to their former glory.
Most NBA fans thought it was time for the Oklahoma City Thunder to rebuild; Chris Paul, however, said no. After losing star Russell Westbrook, the Thunder no longer have any players from their 2012 NBA Finals run, a team that included future MVPs Westbrook, James Harden, and Durant. While Westbrook and Harden have once again teamed up in Houston this season, Paul returned to Oklahoma, where he played initially due to Hurricane Katrina ruining his then team, the New Orleans Hornets’ arena. Paul, yet again being named an All-Star even after being called old and washed up, has provided a strong veteran presence for the team. Center Steven Adams is likewise offering a veteran presence along with controlling the paint, almost averaging a double-double with 10.7 PPG 9.3 RPG and 1.1 BPG.
The most surprising player on this unexpected Thunder run is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is boasting career stats: 19.5 PPG 6.1 RPG and 3.2 APG. This young and rising star, alongside Paul and Adams, has led the Thunder to a surprising 33-22 record, tying the Dallas Mavericks in the competitive Western Conference. Their recent success is a departure from their lack-luster start to the season where they were a below .500 team. They turned around their 7-11 start to go 11-4 in the month of December, tied for second-best that month with the Miami Heat. This surge of wins and continuous success in the month of January has placed the Thunder 5th in their conference and has surprised many fans of the NBA.
Most teams assumed that with the departure of Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, the Toronto Raptors would struggle to make the playoffs. The Raptors proved otherwise as they currently hold second place in the Eastern Conference as they are coming off a season-high 15 game win streak. Led by aspiring star Pascal Siakam, who recently was named an All-Star for the first time, with his fantastic season for the Raptors as he is averaging a career-high 23.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 3.4 APG.
Point guard Kyle Lowry also was named an All-Star this season, and has helped the team greatly at the guard position. Longtime NBA players Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka provide a veteran presence to the young players on the Raptors as they hope to win back-to-back championships. While most of their playoff power came from Kawhi Leonard, Fred VanFleet is also having a career season this year as he certainly proved himself in last year’s NBA Playoffs. While losing Leonard has certainly hurt the Raptors, to much surprise they are proving that they can withstand the pressure of being the reigning champions as they push forward into the season.
The most surprising team in the NBA is none other than the Miami Heat. With the addition of All-Star Jimmy Butler, the Heat are becoming an unexpected powerhouse in the competitive Eastern Conference, beating out strong teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers. While Butler had been bouncing around teams in previous years, it seems he has finally found a home as he is averaging 20.6 PPG 6.8 RPG and 6.2 APG with his new team. Some have even called for him to be MVP this season as he is leading the Heat to 4th in their conference.
Although Butler has playoff experience, the core roster of the Miami Heat includes many young players. Rookies Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn have proven themselves as steals in the most recent draft, as both players are contending for the Rookie of the Year award. Second-year player Duncan Robinson is shooting lights out this season as he tied a Heat record for 10 threes in a game this season and was recently invited to the three-point contest. The most unexpected player in the Heat’s surprising success, however, is first-time All-Star and NBA Skills Challenge winner Bam Adebayo who is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and assists. While the Miami Heat are off to a surprisingly potent start, hopefully, they can finish strong under guidance from Butler and head coach Erik Spoelstra.
]]>The NCAA tournament is always wild, but the chaos seems like it may be amplified this year.
There are no eye-popping talents like Duke’s Zion Williamson or Murray State’s Ja Morant, but there are a few National Player of the Year candidates to keep an eye out for in Dayton’s Obi Toppin, Iowa’s Luka Garza, and Duke’s Vernon Carey Jr.
Here are some of the key stories I’ve been looking at this year.
Potential for mid major upsets
One of the most thrilling aspects of the NCAA tournament is the unpredictability and the upsets. Some mid major squads which could steal a first round win are East Tennessee State (Southern Conference), Northern Iowa (Missouri Valley Conference), Vermont (America East) and Yale (Ivy League).
Vermont’s Anthony Lamb is one of the country’s top players. He has positioned the Catamounts, who have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in two of the past three years, for a bid this year.
Furman is battling East Tennessee State and UNC Greensboro for the Southern Conference regular season title. Any one of those three teams will be a dangerous opponent for an unsuspecting low seed. ETSU defeated LSU on the road and UNCG beat Georgetown on the road earlier this season.
Northern Iowa won games in the tournament in both 2015 and 2016 and has been the MVC’s clear-cut best team this year. The Panthers are poised to land somewhere in the 10-12 seed range.
Yale is not as talented as last year, when it pushed LSU to the brink in the first round, but still has a chance to win the Ivy League and pose a threat to a top seed.
Teams with sub-.500 conference records may make the tournament. Arkansas, Minnesota, and Purdue fall into this category. Many mid major squads like Akron, Liberty and New Mexico State are chomping at the bit to pull an upset over a mediocre team from a power conference.
North Carolina’s fall from grace
A shocking element to this season has been the collapse of the North Carolina Tar Heels. As of this writing, UNC is 11-17, dead last in the ACC, and coming off a trio of heart-wrenching losses to bitter rival Duke and conference rivals Notre Dame and Virginia.
This is the Tar Heels’ second-worst season of the 17-year Roy Williams era. The six-time national champions are on pace to finish with their fewest wins since 2009-10, the only season under Williams that they missed the NCAA Tournament.
North Carolina can attribute its underachievement to a myriad of causes.
Injuries have ravaged the Heels, as superstar freshman guard Cole Anthony has missed 11 games due to a knee injury and fellow freshman Anthony Harris has only played in five games all year.
The Heels’ transfers have not been as productive as anticipated. Guard Christian Keeling and forward Justin Pierce were supposed to provide balance and stability alongside Anthony. Keeling and Pierce have been underwhelming, and more of the scoring burden has fallen on big man Garrison Brooks and freshman Armando Bacot.
The Big Ten’s depth
The Big Ten is on pace to place 11 of its 14 teams in the tournament. Only Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern would miss out.
In contrast to North Carolina’s underwhelming season, three Big Ten programs have enjoyed their best seasons in years.
Illinois, Penn State and Rutgers would all make the NCAA Tournament if the season ended today. The Illini are a successful program historically, with 1,802 all time wins, but have fallen on tough times in recent years, with zero tournament appearances since 2013. Penn State has made the tournament four times since 1965 and nine times since 1941. For comparison, North Carolina has made the tournament 50 times since 1941. Rutgers has not made the tournament since 1991. These programs are navigating uncharted territory.
The Maryland Terrapins have a chance to win the Big Ten for the first time since joining the conference in 2014. It seems to be the same story every season, with Maryland posting a gaudy record through three months of the season before reaching the Big Ten gauntlet in February and faltering. The Terps’ record during February over the past four years is 14-14, despite the fact that they’ve made three tournament appearances in that span.
But this year may be different. Maryland is poised to make its deepest NCAA tournament run since winning the national title in 2002. A group of talented, experienced guards leads the way, spearheaded by senior Anthony Cowan Jr. Junior Darryl Morsell and sophomores Aaron Wiggins and Eric Ayala provide depth. Big man Jalen Smith, averaging 15.1 points and 10.4 rebounds, could be an All-American.
Seed projections
Seton Hall aims to land a low single-digit seed in the East Regional, where they would be able to play the first two rounds in nearby Albany before moving to Madison Square Garden for the Regional Semifinals and Regional Finals.
San Diego State aims to recover from its first loss of the season and earn the No. 2 seed in the West Regional, which would be played in Los Angeles. The Aztecs’ primary competition in the West is Gonzaga. The Bulldogs are coming off a tough road loss to a suddenly exciting BYU team.
The NCAA tournament is truly anyone’s to win. There have been seven No. 1 teams this season: Michigan State, Kentucky, Duke, Louisville, Kansas, Gonzaga, and Baylor. Any of them could win the national title, but the programs with the highest likelihood at the moment are Gonzaga and Kansas. These teams are experienced and have been to the championship game before, whereas up and comers like San Diego State and Dayton are in unfamiliar territory.
March Madness will be a thrill a minute for us fans. The countdown begins now – only 18 days until Selection Sunday!
]]>Throughout the off-season, one consistent thing has been mentioned over and over again, and that is Kris Bryant’s name. Whether it be about his grievance case regarding service time or trade talks, Bryant’s name has been front and center for news in the Cub fan base and the whole MLB for months. The undetermined grievance verdict also was related to Bryant’s trade value. If Kris Bryant lost his grievance to the Cubs, his trade value would be much higher because of the extra year of control the club has over him. Luckily for the fans and the organization, Bryant lost, making him a Cub until after the 2021 season. This loss would typically cause one to think that Bryant doesn’t want to be playing in Chicago, but really, it’s quite the opposite. Any time a reporter has questioned Bryant’s desire to play in Chicago, he has declined his assumed negativity towards Chicago. He wants to be a Cub for life and remain a core part of winning teams in Chicago for years to come. This is a good sign for Cub fans as Kris Bryant is sure to play well in 2020.
As for trade talks, many rumors have been swirling around about the Cubs during the off-season, also including Willson Contreras. Seeing as Bryant and Contreras are two young, talented players, they could definitely generate a healthy return of value in a trade. But, of course, they are core parts of the Cubs’ star-power and two of their best players, so it doesn’t really make sense to be in talks of a trade… unless they get something great back in return.
As for Kris Bryant, the most heavily talked about trade was him in exchange for Rockies third baseman, Nolan Arenado. Arenado is one of the best third basemen and overall players in the league, so one could definitely make the argument that it would be worth it to trade Bryant for Arenado. However, this was before Bryant’s grievance loss. The grievance being won by the Cubs would result in the Rockies receiving Bryant for the 2020 and 2021 seasons on a very small amount of money, but the Cubs getting Arenado until 2027 for $32.5 million a year. Ultimately, both players are great, but the small amount of money the Cubs are paying Bryant led them to lean towards him rather than adding another large contract on top of Jason Heyward’s enormous $23 million a year.
Trade talks for Contreras, while heavily mentioned, were never totally matched with a buyer or what the Cubs were looking to get in return. I believe the Cubs were considering trading both players, but only to an extent. I also believe that the front office was really trying to show everybody that no one is untradeable. Even some of their best guys were being shopped, so this might’ve been in part a strategy by Theo Epstein or Jed Hoyer to instil some motivation into the rest of the team. This new mindset of how not even the star players are untradeable shows how the front office is going to run things in a different way this season, hopefully for the better.
The biggest, most influential, and most impactful move for the Cubs this offseason was the signing of a new coach in David Ross. Ross last played in the MLB for the Cubs during the 2016 season when they won the World Series, under previous manager Joe Maddon. Since then, he has been working as an analyst and broadcaster for ESPN Baseball and has covered several Cub games. Now, as for managing, fans are expecting a change in the way things are run. There were many common criticisms that plagued Joe Maddon during his time with the Cubs, and they intensified during the past few seasons when the team wasn’t doing as well.
First off, Maddon used many different lineups and shook up who was playing in certain games, in what position, and in what spot in the batting order all the time. Maddon as a manager was very big into analytics which influenced him into starting certain players against certain pitchers, bringing in bullpen pitchers and then bringing them right back out, and making defensive replacements constantly during the game. Looking at analytics is a good thing, but it could be a little much. Ross, however, has already made it clear that he is going to stick with a more structural and routine approach. He plans to use a standard lineup and keep it flowing in a consistent way, nearly day in and day out. This should be better in having a more consistent team as a whole, and it will also benefit the players individually who prefer more balance over chaos.
The other big issue frequently talked about in Joe’s managerial style is his use of the bullpen. Joe Maddon tended to use the same select few bullpen arms in the same situations, over and over again. Basically, Joe was playing favorites. This favoritism led to the same few guys he used being very tired and overworked towards the end of the season, and especially during the postseason. This overuse led to Steve Cishek’s diminishing numbers towards the end of each season as well as the eventual result of the 6’3 170 pound pitcher, Carl Edwards Jr., being run out of Chicago and maybe even baseball. David Ross should be looking to come in and give a more even spread of innings to all the guys in the bullpen. Hopefully, a new approach on the bullpen and its use can help to fix some of the issues it has caused the past few seasons for the Cubs.
]]>Similar to the past global strains of the Coronavirus, MERS and SARS, the 2019 novel Coronavirus is believed to have originated from either bats or snakes in the densely-populated marketplaces of Southern China. The major symptom of a coronavirus contraction is viral pneumonia, untreatable by antibiotics and antiviral drugs. Those who have fallen ill are reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. As of March 2, an estimated 3,118 people have passed away due to the virus. The mortality rate of COVID-19 is an estimated 3%, a lethality much lower than that of its predecessors.
On Jan. 23, the government began its quarantine of the Hubei region, including the cities of Wuhan, Huanggang, Ezhou, and Chiba, alongside a soft lockdown issued on the cities near the quarantine. The government-run broadcaster CCTV issued an advisory to limit outside activities and avoid person-to-person contact to contain the spread of the virus. Commercial activity has since declined in the quarantined regions, with Starbucks shutting down its 2000 cafes in the region and all the regional movie theaters closing down.
Due to the increasingly globalized nature of the economy, any economic downturn in Southern China can quickly spread outwards, dampening economies across the world. A study by the World Bank found that a severe pandemic could cause economic losses equal to nearly 5% of global GDP, or more than $3 trillion. Losses from a weaker flu pandemic, such as the 2009 H1N1 virus, can still wipe 0.5% off global GDP.
Despite the best efforts of the Chinese authorities, COVID-19 has still managed to spread abroad. The global infection rate has surpassed 10,282 cases in 76 countries. South Korea has more than 4,000 confirmed cases, while Italy has over 2,000. In addition, a cruise ship named the Diamond Princess, carrying 3,711 passengers and crew, was quarantined on Feb. 3 by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare after a passenger tested positive for the virus. The ship has been stationed in Japan’s Port of Yokohama and there have been 705 cases of COVID-19 with seven deaths. In the United States, there have been 99 reported cases with six deaths.
In response to the outbreak, the Trump administration has taken several precautions to combat the domestic threat of the virus, evacuating groups of American citizens from Wuhan, with reports even suggesting that a total travel ban on Chinese flights has been considered as a highly viable solution. Simultaneously, the Center For Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have issued severe warnings against travelling to China, to avoid possible contact with the virus. Nonetheless, CDC officials recently stated that the spread of Coronavirus to the US is “inevitable,” with Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the National Center for Immunisation and Respiratory Diseases adding that “Disruption to everyday life might be severe.” Fears of an impending pandemic have already impacted the economy, as the Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 3,000 points before increasing 5.1% on March 2.
The containment response to COVID-19 has been the quickest in history, mainly due to the decision Chinese authorities made to share developing information with the public. As soon as Chinese officials isolated the virus’s genetic sequence and shared it with the public, virologists and immunologists around the world began working towards a vaccine.
Junior Casey Hishinuma recognizes the large-scale action organizations have taken to contain the virus.
“I think it’s great that the government is taking such meaningful steps to challenge the spread of the Coronavirus within the U.S,” Hishinuma said. “I truly hope we can stop the virus from spreading any further.”
]]>However, not everyone was pleased by Parasite’s success; President Trump criticized the foreign film for receiving the award for best picture at a Colorado rally. Trump said, “What the hell is that? We’ve got enough problems with South Korea with trade; on top of it, they give it the best movie of the year. Let’s get Gone With The Wind. Can we get Gone With The Wind back please? Sunset Boulevard, so many great movies ‘The winner is, from South Korea…’ I thought it was best foreign film, best foreign movie. No! Did this ever happen before?”
Trump doubled down in his comments, asserting that he had “never seen that movie before.” The studio responsible for Parasite fired back, tweeting that Trump’s comments were “Understandable” as “[Trump] can’t read” Parasite’s subtitles.
Though seemingly benign, Trump’s comments are reflective of a dangerous underlying mentality of American superiority. Many Americans ascribe to ideas that democracy is unquestionably the best political system, that American foreign policy decisions are always just, even that English is a superior language. Still, America has not exemplified ideal behavior at every juncture, and pales in comparison to other countries in many regards.
Trump’s remarks are also indicative of the xenophobia prevalent in American society. Times are changing in America, and the Oscars have reflected this change by incorporating other cultures into our own. While the Oscar for best picture has typically been reserved for American movies, it is perfectly acceptable for movies from a foreign country to receive this honor. South Korean movies deserve the same success that any American one does and should not be attacked for it.
Patriotism is important, but so is tolerance. Failing to understand the views of others—whether with regard to political views, cultural values, or any other aspect of our identities—is what drives issues as wide-ranging and far-reaching as political polarization and hate crimes. Patriotism doesn’t need to conflict with tolerance; love for one’s own country need not be coupled with hatred for another.
Acknowledging when other countries best the United States is critical for growth. Scandinavian countries, for instance, consistently rank higher in measures of health and wellness than the United States. Many countries, such Germany and Brazil, offer more affordable college tuition. Countries including Finland and Singapore perform more highly than the United States with regard to education. The mentality that America is the best at everything is not only incredibly pretentious, but simply wrong, and our country needs to become more open to this idea.
A foreign language film winning the award for best picture is something to be celebrated, not attacked, as it demonstrates that America is changing to be more welcoming of all cultures. Still, Trump’s comments reveal our continued need to strive for greater acceptance, in hopes that true coexistence can one day be possible.
]]>Federer described the nature of his injury and contemplated the future of his career in a post on social media.
“After the procedure, the doctors confirmed that it was the right thing to have done and are very confident of a full recovery,” Federer said.
He then went on to list the many tournaments he will be missing, which includes Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, and an exhibition match in Colombia. He will also be missing the French Open in June, an event that he has also decided to sit out in previous years. Federer is expected to return for Wimbledon in July.
Over his illustrious career, Federer has accumulated numerous accolades, including being the only man to hold the #1 ATP rank for over 300 weeks and having the most number of ATP Finals titles. However, Federer is still yet to win an Olympic gold medal for the Men’s Singles event; his knee injury may be a leading factor that stops him from attaining this one title that has eluded him throughout his 22-year career.
With this new update and a long list of missed tournaments, fans of the tennis giant are right to wonder whether Roger’s career is coming to an end. Back in 2016, when Federer was closing in on 35 years of age, many followers announced that they believed he would be retiring, but after a riveting win in the 2017 Australian Open, the rumors were quieted and Federer was once again at the top of his game. Over the course of the 2017 season, Federer picked up a title at Indian Wells and Miami, earning him the privileged Sunshine Double. After taking the clay-court season off, Federer stormed through the grass-court season with victories in Halle and London, where he triumphed over Marin Cilic to gain his eighth Wimbledon title. He won the Australian Open once again in 2018 by subduing Cilic in the final and proved to the world that even at such an old age, he could still bring the best of his game.
But this case is different. Federer has not won a grand slam since 2018, and his ranking is slipping. With incoming phenoms like Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, Federer is beginning to lose his ground in the larger tournaments. At 38, he is beginning to succumb to the challenges of aging and has reported numerous injuries in addition to this most recent knee injury. These effects have been highlighted time and time again in recent grand slam matches, such as his near-losses against John Milman and Tennys Sandgren in the 2020 Australian Open. Despite this, sources say that Federer has long dismissed any retirement claims and will attempt a return to the top, starting with the 2020 grass season.
With rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic slowly catching up to Federer in terms of his grand slam count (19 and 17, respectively), Federer hopes to increase these slim margins at Wimbledon in July, where he must prove to the world that he still has what it takes to take on the best of the game.
]]>According to UNICEF, 80% of the population, or 24 million people, are in need of assistance, while over 14 million of those people are in acute need and 12 million of those people are innocent children. An estimated 2 million children don’t have access to education anymore. Additionally, a 2019 report from the UN also found that almost 10 million people face extreme levels of hunger, while almost 20 million people don’t have access to proper healthcare. Over 3 million people have been displaced, and thousands have lost their lives to the fighting that has occurred after 2015. These numbers are even more horrifying when you consider the fact that the US may have contributed to them as well.
In March 2015, the civil war in Yemen escalated when Saudi Arabia and its allies began air strikes against the Houthi rebel movement. The US, France, and Britain have supported the Saudi-led coalition and have been supplying them with many of the very weapons that have caused destruction in Yemen and killed countless innocent people. They continue to do so even after evidence that Saudi Arabia routinely strikes civilian targets such as hospitals and schools.Because of this, a report from the UN Human Rights Council found that the US, France, and Britain may be guilty of war crimes.
What is even more concerning is that Saudi Arabia has also been recruiting thousands of Yemeni children to fight at its southern border, and the US still maintains close ties to Saudi Arabia. The US should not be aiding Saudi Arabia, especially when it is undeniable that this aid will be directly responsible for the deaths of innocents. The US is essentially helping Saudi Arabia to kill civilians by providing weapons, logistics, and finances. Both the Senate and the House gained approval to end American involvement in Yemen in April of last year, but President Trump vetoed this measure and instead continues to aid Saudi Arabia.
Our government’s actions give off the impression that the innocent people of Yemen are simply not a priority, but the rest of the country should be more aware about how America is contributing to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Powerful countries like the US should not be supporting the air strikes of schools and hospitals at the expense of innocent civilians, but rather should be the ones helping the millions of people caught in the crossfire. It is imperative that the US withdraws support to Yemen before it is too late for millions of people, because the people of Yemen cannot afford America’s actions for much longer.
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The biggest winners from 2020 were “Parasite,” “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” and “1917,” along with other best picture nominees such as “Joker,” “Ford V Ferrari,” and “Little Women.”
The Oscars went unhosted for the second year in a row. Instead, it was opened with a musical performance by Janelle Monáe. It involved tributes to “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Joker,” “Little Women,” and unnominated horror films “Midsommar” and “Us.”
“Parasite” deserved every award that it won, considering that it brought home to most awards last night. However, it also deserved to get at least a nomination for its score, as well as nominations for actors Choi Woo-shik, Kang-Ho Song, and Jang Hye-jin for their roles as Ki-woo, Kim Ki-taek, Choong Sook, respectively. Its win for best picture was record-breaking, as it was the first time a foreign film won the award.
On the contrary, the biggest letdown of the night was “The Irishman,” which won zero awards despite its ten nominations. Similarly, “Joker” was nominated for eleven awards, and only won two. However, both awards were deserved, as Joaquin Phoenix delivered a chillingly realistic performance as mentally-disturbed Arthur Fleck, accompanied by an equally-chilling soundtrack by Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Some other wins that were deserved were a best actress in a leading role award for Renée Zellwegger for her role as Judy Garland in the biopic “Judy,” achievement in sound and film editing for “Ford V Ferrari,” achievement in cinematography for “1917,” and achievement in production design for “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.”
The show had its fair share of unexpected winners as well. “Missing Link” lost to “Toy Story 4” for best animated feature, despite winning at the 2020 Golden Globes. “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” did not win Best Picture, although it won Best Picture – Comedy or Musical at the 2020 Golden Globes. Brad Pitt won for his role in the movie, beating out a well-performed role as Fred Rogers from Tom Hanks in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Laura Dern won best supporting actress for “Marriage Story,” although Florence Pugh in “Little Women” was a fan favorite and somewhat expected to win.
When award shows vary in their winners and nominees, they tend to become more enjoyable to watch. Not only will the winners from this year inspire the filmmakers of tomorrow, it demonstrates the potential of non-blockbuster films.
]]>The truth is, we are used to seeing these numbers. Every year, we see the smallest steps towards equality in Hollywood, and we congratulate the Academy on slightly more representation for half of America. Some of us shake our heads at the angry men and women that demand more from the Academy, confused by their rage and passion for something that seems so surface level.
The same bewilderment was directed at Natalie Portman, a Best Actress winner for Black Swan and best known for playing Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequels and the titular role in Jackie. At the 2020 Oscars Awards, Portman wore a cape embroidered with the names of eight female directors she believed should have been recognized by the Academy. People across America debated over her controversial actions; after all, change was happening, wasn’t it? What was the need for Portman to so dramatically take the limelight away from deserving male nominees? Most of all, as an actress who has worked with primarily male directors, shouldn’t Portman be making significant changes to her own movie choices instead of taking inflammatory decisions and disrespecting a revered platform?
What we must realize, as a society strongly influenced by film, is that Portman’s cape was an absolutely necessary step. It brought media and audience attention to a minimized, often understated feature of Hollywood that affects every aspect of American society. As a celebrated actress like Natalie Portman generated controversy and public awareness due to her outfit, she started a much-needed conversation about the overall representation of women in film and television.
Without financially supporting and validating female filmmakers and technical staff in film and television, we are lacking the understanding of a crucial perspective.
When women authentically tell stories about their experiences, they allow women in the audience to feel like they belong. This does not occur simply through a female main character; female directors introduce their interpretation of the world to a story, be it a rom-com or a war film. They allow others in the audience to gain a viewpoint into a foreign experience, enriching their perception of others. Without supporting female filmmakers, we are losing out on the stories they carry with them. Stories about inequality, abuse, and issues of safety create an environment where audiences can discuss themes they previously would not have considered. By opening up topics to further understanding and discussion, films have a reach beyond two hours at the theater; they’re vehicles for change.
The Academy, however, proves a major obstacle to the recognition of talented female directors and the resulting enrichment. According to Time magazine, only around 32% of the Academy’s voting members are women. Without female representation in the organization responsible for evaluation, how can we expect female-led films to be fairly judged? One may say that male members are willing to vote for examples of well-made films, but the truth is that these voting members are simply not viewing these films. According to the same Time magazine article, out of all of the voting members that attended screenings of Little Women, 33% were male. The lack of attendance ruined Little Women’s chances before official voting even began, taking away the credit a well-made film deserved. While the film’s story was woman-centric, it is fair to argue that voting members of the Academy should be required to watch all potential nominees.
Secondly, the archaic rules behind the Academy’s nomination are an obstacle to giving female directors a fair chance. The requirements for being nominated include having directed at least two films, with the last film directed having been released in the last ten years. However, the Academy fails to acknowledge that many female directors are faced with familial responsibilities during their careers, requiring them to cut back on directorial work and often work as producers or writers.
Women also face much more difficulty getting their film ideas approved by a producer to be made, largely due to lack of commercial success and industry acknowledgement for women-centric films. This creates a vicious cycle where women are not recognized for their films and are restricted from making more films specific to their experiences. It is a surprise that some women are even able to make the film they want to in this industry.
Natalie Portman was not being dramatic when she wore that cape. She was calling out the industry she works in for its double standards. She was calling out the Academy’s unfair rules and misplaced tendency to nominate male directors in a time where female filmmakers are making exceptional, boundary pushing art. She was expressing her desire to see and participate in more female-led directions, and she was completely valid in doing so. Natalie Portman is tired of Hollywood’s reluctance to appreciate female filmmakers, and we should be too.
]]>Screenshots of the conversations sprang up on Chinese forum pages, receiving wide-attention, including Wenliang’s manager, who denounced him for leaking the information of a possible virus.
Subsequently, three days later, Wenliang reported that the Chinese police from the Wuhan Public Security Bureau came to him, giving him a warning statement for “making false comments on the Internet.” After being forced to sign a letter that stated if he were to spread rumors again, he would violate the law and be prosecuted. In essence, Li Wenliang was silenced for being worried about the health and welfare of his country.
As of this February, there have been almost 80,000 total cases of the coronavirus with deaths approaching 3,000; it has spread to 36 separate countries with the most cases being in China, South Korea, and Italy.
While it is sensible for a government to reduce potential widespread panic, blackmailing a doctor with worries of a potential pandemic is not exactly the most ethical way to do so. Perhaps with the cooperation of a doctor’s knowledge of viral strains and symptoms, and the government’s power to shut down borders could they prevent or at least slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Yelling “fire” in an auditorium is illegal, for it presents immediate harm, but a virus takes time to spread. Informing civilians of viral infection is important, as it warns civilians to stay away from potentially infected areas of the province. Wenliang decided to stay in the province to help infected patients.
The death of Li Wenliang from the same coronavirus he warned others about caused uproars of anger and frustration at the Chinese government on censorship and the mishandling of vital information. Adding insult to injury, the reporting of Wenliang’s actual time of death was mishandled, with multiple posts from the Wuhan City Central Hospital stating he died at different times. This had led to some to concern whether Wenliang actually succumbed to the virus.
While the government couldn’t have possibly known whether the rumors of a coronavirus were true or not, the reports that showed the high possibility of patients having a strain of the virus highlighted the possibility of its existence. Wenliang only served to translate this information to others to see. Yet, this isn’t the first time the government has tried to manipulate doctors.
In a SARS outbreak in 2003 that killed over 800, the Chinese government admitted suppressing the actual number of patients with the virus by telling doctors to under report the actual number of cases. According to a CNN interview, a Chinese official stated how “the coverage position[ed] a negative coverage of China.”
While China may have acted more quickly and more efficiently against the spread of the coronavirus than previous pandemics, its continued use in censoring intellectuals is one to be forgotten. Due to the Internet, doctors like Li Wenliang are able to share information on the existence of the coronavirus. Censorship and repression of information is necessary in certain cases, but when the stake of a billions of lives are at stake, trying to maintain superficial authority is foolish.
]]>Since the initial outbreak, there have been numerous racist attacks. In a Los Angeles subway, a man made crude remarks about Chinese people and their hygiene. The man claimed that Chinese people were “disgusting” and that every disease has come from China (which, by the way, is completely false). Tanny Jiraprapasuke, the woman who was attacked with these comments, isn’t even Chinese. Even if she was Chinese, it still would not have been okay. She says that because of ignorance, the entire Asian community is unjustifiably under attack.
In early February, a woman was assaulted by a stranger at a subway station. The woman was wearing a face mask, which has been a common thing for East Asians to do in protection from pollution. Unprovoked by the woman, the man had hit her on the head and physically attacked her.
Sadly, these two incidents aren’t unique or uncommon. There are many more situations in which people have acted maliciously towards East Asians. The worst case resulted in the loss of a man’s life. A 60-year-old man died from cardiac arrest outside a restaurant in Sydney, Australia’s Chinatown. While bystanders could clearly see the man, reports say that people refused to perform CPR on the man in fears of contracting coronavirus from him. The man did not have coronavirus and died before paramedics arrived. His life might’ve been saved if not for the racist prejudices leading people to believe the man had coronavirus. It’s at this point where racism really kills.
According to reports by CNN, Chinese restaurants have also been hurting in the wake of coronavirus. Restaurants and businesses in Chinatowns across the country have been hurting financially as people are canceling reservations and refusing to dine at Chinese restaurants. A restaurant in New York’s Chinatown has no customers, even though there have been zero cases of coronavirus in New York. Clearly, the decision to steer clear from Chinese restaurants is heavily misguided.
Coronavirus is a scary pandemic that is one we should be taking action towards. The way to do that isn’t by being racist. There are travel bans on China right now which means it’s not possible for any more people with the coronavirus or without it to leave the country or enter it. It won’t help anyone if we’re judging people’s health based on their race. At this point, fearing East Asians or any race, in general, is ignorant and unjustified in every way. In order to get through this pandemic, we need to be working together, not against each other.
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Allow me to say something many would find debatable. Sonic the Hedgehog is the best video game movie to have come out of Hollywood since Mortal Kombat in 1995.
For those unfamiliar, Sonic was that guy (or rather, hedgehog) who rivaled Mario for a decade and two. Of course, recent titles are horrible messes (e.g. Sonic Forces) but his fanbase is only getting bigger, to the point where they actually affected the release date of this movie.
Now, does that mean most of you should watch it no matter what? Not really. But before I tell you why, allow me to focus on the many pros of this movie, starting with the title character.
Ben Schwartz’s Sonic is the best talking Sonic to have graced the screen, big or small, and that’s a fact. Fans of Jason Griffith better be scared, because another voice actor is taking the top spot. I mean, he sounds just like Sonic’s Japanese Voice Actor but in English. I hope Sega has enough money to pay him a lifelong contract, because Sonic fans are due for another replacement; Roger Craig Smith’s showed more than enough that he’s only fit for the dry and sarcastic Boom Sonic, not the energetic Sonic that Drummond and Griffith introduced.
We can’t talk about Sonic without Eggman (or as some people call him, Dr. Robotnik) either. Jim Carrey puts Mike Pollock’s Eggman of the games to shame, although that’s quite expected. His character starts off only mildly mad, before slowly but surely morphing into the standard 90s Jim Carrey madness as the movie goes on. If you enjoyed any of Jim Carrey’s early films, then this is a film for you, regardless of the blue fluffy thing in it.
Sadly, other than that and a bunch of Sonic references, there’s not much to see. The story can be done with literally any other video game or cartoon character and not change much, because it’s just another “alien goes to earth and scientist chases them” movie (yes, Sonic is an alien in this movie). Overall, it felt like it was building up a larger franchise that was hidden, given the quick glances at things one would think deserve more screen time, such as Sonic’s feathery foster mom (I wish I was joking), a tribe of echidnas (another spiky real world creature featured in the Sonic Games), and all the other planets/zones briefly mentioned and never brought up again.
I would’ve considered that as insulting as when Dr. Jekyl appeared for no reason in 2016’s The Mummy, but the difference is that Sonic’s universe actually has substance and was introduced correctly compared to the “Dark Universe”; the appearance of more than one echidna makes Sonic fans interested in whether the rise of Chaos will be a story in a sequel, while casual viewers will wonder when Knuckles will show up. The mid credits scene all but confirms a sequel, masterfully making every audience excited to see what’s to come.
Verdict: This movie is optional, the sequel is a must.
]]>Illinois, for example, has some of the most disparate funding gaps in the entire country. According to a 2018 report by The Education Trust, Illinois has the worst funding gap in the entire country between rich and poor schools, with schools with the most poverty receiving 22% less in state and local funding than low poverty schools. The report also found that Illinois had the second worst funding gap between schools serving the most and least amounts of students of color, with schools with the most amount of students of color receiving over 15% less in funding than those with the least.
This is partly because in Illinois, state funding previously gave low poverty schools a little over half of the state funding; however, there were huge deficits in local funding because of its reliance on property taxes. According to The Telegraph, in Illinois cities other than Chicago, property wealth directly correlated to how much funding a district received. Data from the Illinois State Board of Education proves that high poverty districts received less funding while low poverty districts received the most funding.
To combat this, in 2017, lawmakers changed the funding system to increase state funding for schools and make poorer districts more of a priority. Each district would be given an “adequacy target” that determines how much money they need to supply students with the education the state requires. The goal is for all districts to reach 90% adequacy by 2027, but for many students who graduate before 2027, these measures are too late to help them.
What is problematic is that the amount of funding a district receives also correlates with how well students do academically. According to The Telegraph, elementary level students from the most funded are over two times as likely to meet state standards on standardized math tests, and are 1.8 times more likely to do so on standardized English language arts than students from the leaded funded districts. For high schoolers, attending a school from a top-funded district translates into 100 additional points on the SAT, with 55 points on math and 46 points on language arts.
The fact that the wealth of a school heavily influences the achievements of students is absolutely unacceptable. Education is supposed to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, but it is clear that this is simply impossible when the quality of education for poorer districts cannot even begin to be compared to that of more affluent schools, just because of the differences in funding. The poorest neighborhoods deserve to have the best quality of education and sufficient funding, but it seems that in reality, it is frequently the opposite.
Schools like Fremd, for example, offer students countless more opportunities than schools in poorer neighborhoods do. Here at Fremd, every single student has a district-provided iPad and has the opportunity to take any of the 30+ AP classes offered. Meanwhile, poor public schools in Chicago can barely afford to provide their students with basic resources. A study by WBEZ Chicago found that a third of Chicago public schools had teacher vacancies for an entire year. It’s no wonder that students from poorer neighborhoods consistently do worse than students from more affluent neighborhoods, given that some districts don’t even have enough funding to hire the teachers to educate them.
Students from poorer districts should not have to wait until 2027 just to have access to the same opportunities that many of us in more affluent schools take for granted. Education is supposed to provide every student with the same opportunities, but instead it limits the poor and helps the rich get even more ahead. If Illinois continues to fail its low-income students, the gap between the rich and the poor will only widen and thousands more kids will be robbed of the chance to break the cycle of poverty before even entering the schooling system. Funding needs to be more adequately and equally distributed among districts regardless of how little they bring in from property wealth, so that every student has the chance to have a quality education. The education system must change to help students of all backgrounds equally, because it seems the root of the problem may be in the unfairness of the solution itself.
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The most captivating element of Honeymoon is how well-defined Beach Bunny’s style is. Despite this being their first album, Beach Bunny clearly knows what sound they want to create. The entire album carries the surf sound through it. The tracks on Honeymoon feature quick drumming and upbeat guitar riffs while the singer and head of the group, Lili Trifilio brings a strong voice to tie it all together. Trifilio sings with such emotion that it creates texture to the album, ensuring that it doesn’t fall flat.
Another quality of Beach Bunny’s music that interests listeners is the juxtaposition of melancholic lyrics and vocals with a bright instrumentation. Each track sounds like someone trying to cover up the weight of their sadness, which makes the lyrics even more impactful. This style is especially prevalent in “Ms. California,” in which Trifilio sings about how she wishes she was her crush’s girlfriend. On the surface, “Ms. California” seems like a simple cheerful song until you hear Trifilio say, “California girl, I wish I was her.”
On the flip side, Beach Bunny also knows how to do love songs. Honeymoon ends on a positive note with “Dream Boy” and “Cloud 9.” Both songs are quick, bubbly, and keep true to Beach Bunny’s style, which stops them from becoming generic and sappy. Also, the lyrics are straightforward which keeps up the uplifting mood, but they have a slight twist to them: “Even when we fade eventually to nothing / You will always be my favorite form of loving.”
While the end of Honeymoon is great, the real standout of the album is the first song, “Promises.” Overall, “Promises” is a vivid narration of someone hung up on a past relationship contrasted by catchy melodies and bright guitar riffs making it the best representation of Beach Bunny’s style. The highlight of this song is the chorus, Trifilio sings, “Part of me still wants you, part of me wants to fall asleep.” Later she says, “Part of me still hates you.” The way that the lyrics portray mixed emotions in such a plain way makes it easy to understand and empathize with. The first two times the chorus is sung, it’s fast and strong, but the next time it starts off soft and then quickly crescendos into the loudest chorus. The change in the chorus creates another dynamic to the song and gives it more life.
There’s something so genuine and sweet about Beach Bunny that they’re hard to forget. Maybe it’s Trifilio pouring her heart into each song, the simple lyrics or their summery style, but it’s certain that Beach Bunny knows what kind of music they want to make. Honeymoon is only Beach Bunny’s first album, but they have already established themselves as the front of the new wave of surfer indie pop.
]]>Set one year after the events of The Last Jedi, the film follows Rey (Ridley), and her companions Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Chewbacca, and C-3PO. They are on a quest to find a Sith Wayfinder device in order to find the risen Emperor Palpatine and the Sith fleet on the planet Exegol and destroy them to bring order to the galaxy. While they try to do so, the First Order and Kylo Ren (Driver), attempt them to stop them for almost the entirety of the movie.
The beginning of the movie is fast-paced and filled with tons of action. Up until this point, the film is smooth and exciting. But once the plot reaches the Resistance Base, that’s where the plot starts to crumble, revolving around deleted scenes featuring the late Carrie Fisher. The plot is forced to be written around these scenes, and everyone is given the uncomfortable task of having to work around it, making the movie seem choppy at points.
One of the biggest problems in the movie is that improbable nonsense happening with no explanation as to why. Now the Resistance is given word by a First Order spy that Palpatine has risen again and everyone seems to take the news okay, without questioning anything. In the original trilogy, Palpatine is thrown down a shaft and is killed, and 99.99% of all the characters in the Star Wars universe would have stayed dead. It makes sense from a cinematic point of view that Abrams is forced to bring in Palpatine (because there are no competent villains). But, in a in-universe point of view, we’ve never seen a Star Wars character ever rise from the dead, and the screenwriters just want us to accept this without asking for an explanation on-screen.
The midsection of the movie is arguably the best part of the movie, and most effective because you get the perfect balance of action and exposition, with Rey and Kylo’s two lightsaber fights, the Millennium Falcon chase scene, with Rey finding out her heritage, Poe’s backstory, and Kylo Ren’s redemption. With these elements, it finally feels like a classic Star Wars film. It’s where the acting of Ridley and Driver’s really stands out, as you can see the horror on Rey’s face when she destroys a First Order transport, and you can see the sadness, pain, and anger of Kylo Ren’s face the most in this middle section out of any point in the trilogy. This, however, doesn’t make up for the first act that’s filled with people talking about themselves, who they are, and where they need to go, and it’s just filled with clunky exposition that just bogs down the entire movie.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was ultimately a disappointing finish to the Skywalker saga, even with the great performances of Driver and Ridley, the stunning cinematography, and the CGI and practical effects. The score of John Williams creates a mysterious and exciting feel throughout the film, keeping us on the edge of our seats. The camera angles showing parts of Palpatine’s face in the beginning, and then a full front-on angle of his face as lightning lights up his dead and cold eyes is absolutely chilling.
However, the overuse of lightsabers destroys the elegance that defines them. The characters treat them like swords from a King Arthur story, instead of the elegant weapons seen in the first trilogy. The editing could have been much better, as the artistic elegance of Star Wars films is nonexistent.
But the big problem with The Rise of Skywalker is that it never took any great surprises and risk-taking and the main characters, especially Rey, never have to suffer the consequences of their actions, making them unrelatable. There are no real stakes in the movie, as evidenced by Threepio getting back his memory when the movie made it seem like he was gone forever. This makes it seem like the heroes can get by unscathed, and a few background character deaths wasn’t going to fix that.
Overall, these problems make the legendary franchise end with an unsatisfying thud and the last episode is just an unmemorable and fan-service filled movie which disappointed many fans and left them leaving theaters in anger, not satisfaction.
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Vaping, originally intended for adult smokers looking to wean themselves off of regular cigarettes, has created problems with addiction and teen use. Unfortunately, the advertisements, design, and flavors of vaping along with involvement in youth initiatives has attracted an audience of young people, provoking possibly dangerous effects.
A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that 1 in 4 high school seniors and 1 in 11 eighth-graders had used e-cigarettes within a 30-day period. Because of the extremely high teen involvement in vaping, officials are now labeling the issue as an “epidemic.”
Recent headlines cover the harmful effects that are being seen in many communities, including the Fremd student body.
The technology of a vape uses a cartridge and liquid. This small device heats the liquid which then vaporizes and sends a stream of chemicals to the user.
Although this new technology does not contain tar and carbon dioxide like traditional cigarettes, they contain many addictive ingredients such as nicotine, THC, and CBD oil. According to experts, the nicotine content in one Juul cartridge, a prevalent brand of e-cigarettes, is approximately equal to the amount of nicotine in an entire pack of 20 cigarettes.
Unfortunately, the tendency of addiction to vaping is much higher among adolescents.
Although it is illegal for teen use of the product, many prominent brands have been accused of marketing directly to children. Youth-oriented flavors of vaping liquid such as cotton candy and whipped cream are sold in packages similar to candy. Some scholarships are also awarded from e-cigarette companies for writing essays describing the benefits of product use. Often times these scholarships do not contain an age requirement, allowing minors to participate although the minimum legal age for purchasing is 18.
Across America, selling vapes or e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 21 is illegal. There is no statewide ban on vaping in Illinois, but there is a ban on vaping on any state-supported educational institution. This includes high schools such as Fremd.
Administrator Hamid Mehreioskouei, along with the rest of the disciplinary office, believes in individual repercussions rather than general guidelines. The administrators understand that the best way to help each student is different.
“Not every kid is the same, so not every resolution impacts each kid the same way,” Mehreioskouei said.
According to Principal Kurt Tenopir, the school is doing its best to keep up with the increasing use of e-cigarettes.
“The school has increased the number of times [student supervisors] patrol the restrooms during class periods, and sent patrols out into the parking lot before school,” Tenopir said.
The Fremd counseling department is also working with students to relieve problems with vaping and other addiction issues. Head of the counseling department, Antonette Minniti, explained the steps taken to assist students with vaping problems.
“We take an educational concerned approach and try to see what’s going on,” Minniti said. “There’s usually underlying reasons whenever someone is engaging in substances that aren’t good for you.”
Contrary to major brands’ focus on advantages of vaping, the increase in use may have caused a severe lung illness outbreak. According to the CDC, there have been over 149 cases of severe lung illness related to vaping as reported by over 15 states from Jun. 28, 2019 to Aug. 20, 2019. Evidence shows no sign of an infectious disease as the catalyst of this outbreak, but shows involvement of e-cigarettes in all cases.
Since this outbreak, the number of similar cases has grown to nearly 200 and reported by 20 states, along with two instances of fatalities.
Besides the danger of lung illness, many heart issues can follow use of e-cigarettes. According to jamanenetwork.com, heart diseases such as atherosclerosis, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac arrest can result from vaping, all of which could be fatal.
An interesting trend that differs from the trends ten years ago is how vaping affects students. Tenopir recalls back to when cigarettes were generally found among a certain clique. Now, Tenopir thinks it’s much different.
“Today, I think students who vape, it cuts across all of the different classifications of students, across socioeconomic lines, across racial and ethnic demographics,” Tenopir said.
Although much of the information related to vaping at Fremd is confidential, Tenopir did say that the amount of students vaping has increased over the past three years.
One of the major dangers of e-cigarette use is the lack of information on the long term effects. The technology is so new that researchers haven’t found all of the damage caused by using them over a longer time span. A few years ago when vaping was newly introduced, it was regarded as a beneficial technology to help cigarette addicts. Recent news of collapsing lungs and dead teens however, shows the opposite.
“I think that with the more information you have, the more knowledge you have, the better choices you make, and I think that’s what’s happening” Mehreioskouei said.
]]>Patrick Mahomes-Quarterback, Chiefs
One of, if not the, best quarterbacks in the NFL and reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes has been a dominating force throughout the playoffs and will need to carry his success into the Super Bowl if the Chiefs want to win.
The quarterback position is what most greatly sets apart these two teams: the talent margin between Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo is extremely large. Mahomes can do pretty much anything he wants, whenever he wants on a football field because of his cannon-like arm and ability to extend the play by moving around in the backfield.
The only negative I can see in the Chiefs’ offense is their lack of a good running game, and considering that Mahomes is their leading rusher during the playoffs, he’ll probably have the team on his back. Nonetheless, I’m predicting Mahomes will have a big game tearing up the 49er secondary with help from his top pass-catchers, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins.
Raheem Mostert-Running back, 49ers
Mostert, the starting running back for the Niners, has had a rollercoaster of a career. Cut by six different teams prior to coming to San Francisco, he worked his way into the starting role in a terrific running offense and is competing to win a Super Bowl.
Mostert is coming off the best game of his career as he propelled the 49ers past the Packers in the NFC championship. The 5’10” back rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns, accounting for all of his team’s points except for field goals. Despite their lack of a superstar QB, the Niner offense is able to make up for it with their strong rushing game.
Whether it be Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, or Raheem Mostert, the running back core of the Niners have been able to step up in big games with the help of their tremendous offensive line and they should look to do the same during the Super Bowl.
Chris Jones- Defensive tackle, Chiefs
Chris Jones will have to make a tremendous impact in the Super Bowl if he, and the rest of the Chiefs defense, want to stop the 49ers’ run game. However, he might not even step out onto the field.
Going into the AFC championship game against the Titans, Jones was talked about as being an X-Factor player as he came back from injury. He was especially needed in that game because the Chiefs defense had to try and take on the walking beast that is Derrick Henry. Although his snap count was limited, the Chiefs’ top run-stopper still made a big impact and, along with the rest of his team, held Henry to only 69 rushing yards. As of now, Jones still hasn’t completely recovered and is listed as questionable.
I know, I know this whole segment is hypothetical because Jones might not even play. However, Jones’ presence in the game is very instrumental to whether or not the Chiefs have a substantial chance of winning. The Chiefs are going to need all the help they can get from their interior rushers to stop the fierce rushing attack from the Niners and Raheem Mostert.
Nick Bosa- Defensive end, 49ers
While the Chiefs are looking for help from the interior defensive line with Chris Jones to contain the dominating 49ers run game, the 49ers will call on their rookie defensive end phenom, Nick Bosa to try and contain Patrick Mahomes.
Come Feb. 2, Bosa will be busy trying to contain one of the game’s best and most talented quarterbacks. One of the biggest parts of Bosa’s game is being able to break through the offensive line quickly to get sacks and pressure the QB. This skill will especially come in handy when going up against a quick, young player like Mahomes. Bosa should be trying to keep Mahomes in the pocket without giving him time to extend the play.
Slowing Mahomes’ success with Bosa would be huge for the 49ers. The Chiefs’ offense is so unbalanced that even if the 49ers defense were to slow down Mahomes ever so slightly, it would be detrimental to their chances to win the Super Bowl.
Although the Niners have a great team as well as Nick Bosa and Raheem Mostert, I believe that the Chiefs are going to bring home the Lombardi. Patrick Mahomes’ dominance on the field is just going to be too much for the 49ers to handle and Chris Jones is going to shut down the 49er offense.
Final score: 27-24, Chiefs.
]]>While it was originally priced at a retail cost of $150, the price of the calculator has also become stagnant. On Amazon.com, a new Ti-84 costs around the $100 mark, with the cheapest being a used one for $60. The technology used to build a Ti-84 and its family products do not cost $100. According to Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis, he estimates that the cost to build a TI-84 Plus costs $15-20 to manufacture. At this point, even a $2 packaged water bottle with a 4000% mark-up is better, as it’s benefactory for my health.
For over 20 years, Texas Instruments, the company behind the TI-models, has dominated the calculator market in education. While it was not the first of its kind in the market, its tactics to corner the business were new. By partnering up with math textbook publishers and seeking approval from College Board, Texas Instruments gained the upper-hand in integrating its products into the classroom and creating use in the school environment. In addition, the company has employed lobbyists to haggle the Department of Education for schools to implement their products.
While there has been competition from companies such as Casio and Sharp, Texas Instruments has the advantage of name recognition. Teachers teach students how to solve math problems using the TI-84 calculators. If a student were to have a different calculator, the student would need to research by themselves on how to solve the problems. This exact situation has happened to me on multiple occasions in math class.
Parents are required to spend hundreds on graphing calculators mandatory for math classes for use in very limited situations, while there are still students who still need financial aid for lunch. The cost of buying a TI-84 is worth around 50 Fremd lunches. In contrast, the Casio fx-9750GII costs around $30, yet still make a profit from its sales. The fact that a $30 calculator coexists with a $100 calculator that has the same capabilities painstakingly shows the mark-up the prices of these tools and greed when corporations are not controlled by government regulations.
Without government intervention, the prices of Texas Instruments calculators will remain at an exorbitant mark-up prices. As long as a demand for Texas Instruments calculators exists, the company will stay a monopoly in the field of education. Dominating over 80% of market sales, unless there is a change in aptitude from school districts and College Board, calculators will remain overpriced in the foreseeable future. If people cannot change, then it should be the duty of the government to help instill regulations on Texas Instruments.
]]>In the locker room, senior captain Steininger remarked about how he planned to motivate his team.
“We know going into this… that it is going to be a really tough match, but we just have to tell everyone to focus, try their best, and swim,” Steininger said.
Before entering the pool, senior captain Josh Lichtenwalter described the competition that Barrington brings to meets every year.
“Barrington is our number one rival, [because] they are the only ones that put up times that are similar to ours,” Lichtenwalter said. “Everybody gets their best times at this meet because they know its the biggest ones of the year.”
Fremd got off the blocks in a stunning fashion, with divers like Ian Ciborowski and Aidan McCall lighting up the pool, dismantling Barrington’s diving lineup. In recent years, Fremd’s diving team has shown promise and continues to perform well in high-pressure situations against tough rivals like Barrington. The advantage slipped away almost immediately, however, when the diving segment of the dual meet ended and the swimming began.
Though the captains tried to motivate swimmers to break their personal records and to inch past the swimmer in front of them, they failed to do so and were swiftly dismantled in the swimming contest; the only victory came from junior Justin Chen, who triumphed over all of his competitors in the 100-yard butterfly.
Coming off a 40-point defeat against Barrington , the Vikings knew they had to step up their game to hold their own against the Broncos in their next meeting. After 2020 rolled in, the Vikings faced off and defeated Schaumburg and Wheeling by in swift fashion, dismantling them each by over 40 points. This seemingly upward trend was halted at Senior Night against Palatine; the unexpected loss, however, did not faze the Viking spirit, as the night’s primary purpose was to remember the seniors’ journeys through the Fremd Swimming and Diving program.
The Vikings now approach the culmination of their 2019-2020 season, with meets such as conference, sectionals, and state taking place on Feb. 15, Feb. 22, and Feb. 29 respectively. With a majority of the varsity team graduating in 2020, the swimming team hopes to capitalize on their experienced lineup with wins at these championship meets.
Han describes what each team member has to do to succeed at the upcoming tournaments.
“As a team, we have to forget about the doubts and criticisms we’ve been receiving, forget the times, and just live in the moment,” Han said. “Cast everything aside and race.”
]]>Halsey weaves the story of heartbreak as well as learning how to love others and even more importantly herself. In “Without Me,” the best track on Manic Halsey tells the story of betrayal clearly and in the most chic way possible. Halsey asks, “Name in the sky, does it ever get lonely? / Thinkin’ you could live without me.” In addition to the excellent lyrics and vocals, the overall production of the “Without Me” is sleek. Another song with powerful lyrics is in “I Hate Everyone,” in which Halsey begins to question how she really feels: “So I just keep sayin’ I hate everybody / But maybe I, maybe I don’t.” The track shows how Halsey is beginning to grow and understand that humanity isn’t as cruel as she thinks it is. The most stirring of songs is “You Should Be Sad,” a country-inspired account of a past relationship with a self-centered man. The track is simple and raw, with just acoustic guitars and Halsey recounting her painful experiences. She croons, “No, you’re not half the man you think that you are/ And you can’t fill the hole inside of you with money, drugs, and cars.” Manic feels like one big confession spilling out of Halsey.
Another track that takes on a different sound from Halsey’s usual is “3 AM.” The track is fast-paced, but definitely more stripped down in comparison to some of Halsey’s other tracks that are filled with vocal effects and synthesizers. “3 AM” lets Halsey’s voice be the star of it by pairing it with electric guitar riffs and energetic drumming. The track is a vivid narration about trying to find reassurance and love from others. While the clear storytelling elements of the track is what Halsey is known for, “3 AM” is a shift from Halsey’s typical pop style due to the infusion of certain rock elements, and it works. “3 AM” has everything that makes Halsey great: alluring lyrics, beautiful voice, and a tendency to get stuck in your head, while also having a revamped style.
While “3 AM” is ultimately a success, the outro was offbeat. At the end of “3 AM,” Halsey inserts an audio clip of John Mayer congratulating her on the success of “Without Me.” It feels very out of place with the rest of the track. On relistens of “3 AM,” the outro will probably be skipped in order to get to the next track. Another oddity of the album came on the track entitled “killing boys.” It opens up with a piece of dialogue between Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox from the 2009 movie Jennifer’s Body. It does show where Halsey got her inspiration for the track, but again, it is extremely skippable and disjointed from the rest of the track.
The two audio insertions may flounder, however, the collaborations on Manic are well done. Halsey had three artists she collaborated with, Dominic Pike, Alanis Morissette, and Suga from BTS. The strongest of the three is definitely Alanis Morisette’s feature in the appropriately named “Alanis’ Interlude,” which expresses their experiences as bisexual women. The collaboration between the two singers clicks because of their similar style in addition to the fact that Halsey’s sweeter voice blends smoothly with Morisette’s rougher voice. Now, even though this collaboration is good, it still isn’t quite up to par with several of Halsey’s other tracks. Overall, all three of the collaborations in Manic don’t shine, but they fit into the album seamlessly.
Manic shows a much more refined and emotional side to Halsey especially in comparison to Halsey’s first album, Badlands. Badlands felt like Halsey was trying to hard to be edgy and dark, whereas Manic seems to be a more accurate representation of Halsey’s identity. In Manic, Halsey tells the story of who she is as a person through her lyrics with her own unique voice.
Link to photo – https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/halsey-manic/
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Over the past two months, Australia has been consumed by massive wildfires, some of which are the worst the country has ever seen. Federal authorities have struggled to contain the massive blazes in the country, especially in the state of New South Wales, which has been hardest hit.
The fires have razed large areas of bushland in national parks such as the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney. To make matters worse, thick plumes of smoke emanating from the fires have damaged several homes and blanketed entire regions of Sydney. In fact, according to a recent study done by the New York Times (below), the smoke was so bad in Sydney that air quality readings literally went off the charts, hitting 400 micrograms per cubic meter, 16 times what is considered “good.”
(source: NY Times)
In addition, while the ferocity of the wildfires has captured the attention of the public, several experts worry about how climate change has worsened the impact of natural disasters like fires. In fact, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Australia is experiencing one of its worst droughts in decades. Furthermore, a heat wave has caused the temperature to spike to nearly 114 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of the country.
When questioned about the precautions and safety measures that Australia should make in order to lessen the impact of their next natural disaster, Fremd freshman Amogh Ramkumar discussed some short-term priorities for Australia’s government.
“Right now, Australia should call in more firemen to control the spreading of the fires,” Ramkumar said. “They should also tell their citizens to control their energy usage.”
However, while Ramkumar thinks that Australia needs to take care of its current wildfires, Fremd freshman Anish Mukherjee believes that Australia needs to start preparing for future disasters by drafting new legislation in order to decrease the effects of climate change.
“In the long term, the government needs to become more aware of climate issues,” Mukherjee said.”They need to implement new policies. For instance, the government could advise Australians to start using mass transit so that people use less nonrenewable resources.”
The aforementioned environmental issues raise questions as to how Australia will deal with future crises, and several high-ranking officials in Australia have sent Prime Minister Scott Morrison warnings of the impact of climate change in the country. Despite the warnings that he has received, CNN reported that Morrison has claimed that he wants to reduce carbon emissions and will only stick to “sensible policies” and that there isn’t a “single policy” that can protect Australia from its fires.
Sydney native Ananya Chakraborty discussed several immediate changes that Australia is implementing in order to inhibit the effects of the wildfires.
“The government is advising people not to set fires in the woods,” Chakraborty said.”Many Australians are trying to consume less electricity to save energy. There have also been restrictions on the amount of coal [citizens] are allowed to use.”
Australia has been able to remedy the situation by calling in its reserve guard of firefighters as well as obtaining volunteer firefighters from other countries, such as New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. The severity of the wildfires has decreased, and Australia has been able to impose some short-term restrictions upon its citizens in an effort to get the country back on its feet. At the country’s current rate of carbon emissions, with no signs of major nonrenewable energy restrictions, the yearly set of wildfires may continue to grow worse in magnitude and duration.
]]>Young Thug is instantly recognizable. Over the last decade, his high-pitched, squeaky tones have propelled trap music and inspired the new vanguard of rappers. Though Thug’s latest album, So Much Fun, is far from groundbreaking, it delivers on the fun that its title promises. Often purposefully unintelligible, Thug’s rapping incorporates more flows and substantive lyricism than in the past. The album’s grittier synthesizer-heavy instrumentation is complemented by the occasional guitar riff or bird noise. So Much Fun’s high-energy tracks cement Young Thug’s status as a skilled, eccentric rapper.
Best track: “The London” ft. J.Cole, Travis Scott
9. Dreamville – Revenge of the Dreamers III
Hip-hop was once dominated by collectives and labels, but rap groups have been few and far between in recent years. Though it was made in just ten days, Revenge of the Dreamers III by the Dreamville label, consisting of J. Cole and a trove of talented up-and-comers, is one of the best recent rap collaborative efforts. JID’s frantic, high-pitched lyrical acrobatics populate tracks like “Down Bad” with witty bars like “Board of Education vs. Brown / I was bored of education, left the town.” Guapdad 4000’s infectious hooks cohere the many verses on tracks like “Costa Rica,” even rivaling a surprise hook by Kendrick Lamar on “Under the Sun.” Energy radiates through “Wells Fargo,” but there are also moments of softness on R&B tracks like “Self Love” with Baby Rose and Ari Lennox. Revenge of the Dreamers III brings together rising acts for a glimpse at the promising future of rap music.
Best track: “Costa Rica” with Bas & JID ft. Guapdad 4000, Reese LAFLARE, Jace, Mez, Smokepurpp, Buddy, Ski Mask the Slump God
8. DaBaby – Kirk
Though DaBaby’s debut studio album came out in 2019, he has already received extensive critical acclaim, including two Grammy nominations, and has accrued an impressive list of features on projects like Dreamville’s Revenge of the Dreamers III, Chance the Rapper’s The Big Day, and Obama’s favorite songs list. DaBaby’s sophomore studio album, Kirk, boasts impeccable lyricism and the rapper’s trademark staccato flows while establishing the rapper as an able melodist. Kirk showcases DaBaby’s silly flows and upbeat, energetic persona but also delves into the rapper’s mixed feelings of grief and happiness during his simultaneous ascent to celebrity and loss of his father. Though Kirk is a medium for DaBaby to reflect on his past, it also shows his promise for his future.
Best track: “XXL”
7. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
Rapper Freddie Gibbs and producer Madlib’s latest album, Bandana, revisits rap’s roots with socially conscious rhymes and varied production in an innovative way capable of satiating even hip-hop purists. Madlib’s frequent seamless beat switches challenge Gibbs to alter his flow mid-song, showing both Madlib’s proclivity for dynamic production and Gibbs’ penchant for rapping. The duo seems highly unlikely. Madlib’s soulful, uplifting samples contrast with Gibbs’ incisive attacks on mass incarceration, private prisons, and racial inequalities. Gibbs’ hyper-technical flow further contrasts with Madlib’s often unvarnished production. Instead of hooks, Bandana leans on this perplexing, peculiar, and unceasing juxtaposition to keep audiences engaged.
Best track: “Crime Pays”
6. JuiceWRLD – Death Race for Love
JuiceWRLD’s final album before his passing in December, Death Race For Love, is a fitting coda to a short but distinguished career. JuiceWRLD’s innovative, emo rap style on the album allows his music to be rich with emotions; even radio-friendly, pop tracks “Fast” and “Robbery” manage to feel earnest. The album is dominated by dour, introspective ballads but aggressive tracks like “Out My Way” are well-integrated and refreshing. Though JuiceWRLD occasionally stumbles during the album’s hour running time, he always delivers on consistently haunting, catchy hooks. He avoids trite flexes of wealth and fame, insistent that material success has done little to quell his sadness. Death Race For Love underscores the tragic nature of JuiceWRLD’s death, a permanent reminder of an artist committed to authenticity and genre-bending.
Best track: “Ring Ring” with Rvssian ft. Clever
5. YBN Cordae – The Lost Boy
YBN Cordae has long promised to bridge the generational divide in rap and his debut solo album, The Lost Boy, is his most serious effort yet to realize this aspiration. Cordae’s ‘90s flow on “We Gon Make It” coexists with the modern trap production on “Have Mercy.” Cordae’s rapping is as slick as ever but achieves greater lyrical meaningfulness than his previous projects. On The Lost Boy, Cordae explores familial themes on a gospel-inspired backdrop, balancing consciousness and optimism. Even with more earnest lyrics, Cordae injects The Lost Boy with his trademark carefree rhymes and beats. On “RNP,” for example, a funk track infused with bouncy J. Cole production, Cordae and Anderson .Paak trade often absurd lines discussing the trivial problems of the wealthy. The Lost Boy weaves jazzy hooks and golden age flows with modern production.
Best track: “Nightmares are Real” ft. Pusha T
4. Rapsody – Eve
Rapsody has always been one of the best lyricists in the rap industry, and her latest album, Eve, continues this trend. Tracks, titled after influential African women like “Sojourner,” “Hatshepsut,” and “Oprah,” teem with lyrical and sonic nods to the women they extol. “Nina,” which opens the album, for instance, is titled after the legendary singer and civil activist Nina Simone and samples “Strange Fruit,” one of its namesake’s hits. On the chorus of “Maya,” similarly, featured artist K Roosevelt sings “I can’t be no bird in a cage,” in reference to Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Birds” and book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The production is simplistic, apt for an able poet who does not need catchy beats as a crutch. Rapsody’s consistent flows also relay social commentary, offering listeners insight into America’s persistent racial and gender inequalities and their effects on her experience as an African American woman.
Best track: “Iman” ft. SiR, JID
3. Denzel Curry – ZUU
Florida native Denzel Curry’s fourth and latest album, ZUU, is a captivating homage to Curry’s home state and musical influences. Curry effortlessly transitions between the aggressive rapping he is best known for and earnest melodies, granting the album a multifaceted sound. High-energy, carefree summer anthems are punctuated with sobering commentary on the “many guns” that cause a “river of blood in these streets.” Though the entire album was freestyled, it is free of the lyrical lulls that typically afflict improvised rap. Curry frequently references his home state of Florida, even asserting that “South Florida might be the most beautifulest [sic] place in the land.” The album also spotlights Florida’s thriving local music scene, with almost all featured artists hailing from the state. On ZUU, Curry is always surefooted, confident in his impeccable rhymes and tributes to Florida.
Best track: “WISH” ft. Kiddo Marv
2. Little Simz – GREY Area
Little Simz’s third studio album, GREY Area, furthers her experimental sound and establishes her as a force to be reckoned with. The bare-bones instrumentation, often with just isolated strings and simple piano chords, is enhanced by the occasional contemporary flourish. Producer Inflo shows his production virtuosity with “101 FM,” which features commanding drums layered on an East Asian beat, and “Selfish,” which couples bass with airy, haunting Cleo Sol vocals. The minimalist instrumentation allows Simz’s dextrous steadfast and laidback flows to shine through on tracks like “Venom.” Simz heightens her storytelling prowess by relaying her personal experiences on tracks like “Wounds,” which critiques the rap industry’s glorification of violence and details Simz’s loss of a friend due to violence. GREY Area combines Simz’s agile mile-a-minute flows with crisp production for a filler-free work of art.
Best track: “101 FM”
1. Tyler the Creator – IGOR
With intricate instrumentation, insightful lyricism, and compelling hooks, Flower Boy, Tyler the Creator’s 2017 album, matured his technique and set the bar high for his future undertakings. Though less lyrically complex, 2019’s IGOR bests Flower Boy with an even grittier, more soulful view. IGOR stands out by serving not just a collection of songs, but instead a linear progression through Tyler’s meditations on heartbreak. His proclamations that “you make my earth quake” at the beginning of the album gradually devolve into half-hearted reassurances that “I don’t love you anymore” by its end. IGOR is also more cutting-edge than other 2019 projects. It fuses the flows and euphoric, triumphant synthesizers of Kanye’s Graduation era with funk and R&B sounds that are textbook Pharrell. IGOR also boasts an impressive roster of guest appearances, with vocals from the likes of Solange, Playboi Carti, and Kanye nestled in snares, distorted bass, and Tyler’s pitched-up vocals. IGOR delivers on well-incorporated A-list features and eclectic influences.
Best track: “I THINK”
]]>This series was the first time Jennings and Rutter had appeared on a version of Jeopardy! since last season’s Jeopardy! All-Star Games, which Jennings and his team won. However, this was Holzhauer’s first appearance since his thirty-two game long winning streak that ended at the very end of last season.
The series took a different approach than other Jeopardy! tournaments, which I personally enjoyed. Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time aired as an entirely different series, during prime time rather than daytime. This helped the show greatly. Unlike other tournaments, both the main show and The Greatest of All Time could air on the same day. This prevented the main show from being halted for a week.
It also included an hour of content instead of the regular thirty minutes, which allowed for a new, interesting layout. While it still followed the traditional Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy, and Final Jeopardy rounds, in that order, it included two games per episode. However, these games were instead referred to as rounds, and the two scores of each contestant were added together to complete one game. Whoever won three games first won one million dollars.
The show only lasted four episodes. Jennings won the first game, Holzhauer won the second, and Jennings finished out the series by winning the games three and four, earning the title of The Greatest of All Time. The entire show was a riveting close race between Jennings and Holzhauer, while Rutter gave an incredibly poor performance. Ending every round at near or at zero dollars in earnings, he proved that the size of the wagers don’t matter if you can’t answer the questions correctly.
As fun as watching The Greatest of All Time was, no show can be perfect. Jeopardy! is better when watched in the half-hour long doses it usually comes in. Any longer, and attention spans can be lost. Along with that, it seems as though ABC studios got more involved this time than normal. Not only were there multiple categories that were used to advertise other ABC shows, it also seemed as though the contestants and host Alex Trebek were encouraged to banter in the middle of the shows, which took away from the show’s flow and made everybody look uncomfortable.
Aside from the imperfections, Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time raked in ratings higher than last year’s Super Bowl. This raises the question of yet another season. This might be difficult, as Ken Jennings has announced that he will no longer be appearing on Jeopardy!, and there can’t be two Greatests of All Time. But fans will definitely want another season.
]]>English teacher and Writers Week sponsor Gina Enk shares what she looks forward to the most at Writers Week.
“Student periods are always very popular,” Enk said. “Generally, I think it’s just the feeling in the school that beings a little excitement to our January of this year.”
English teacher and Writers Week sponsor Russell Anderson speaks of the new presenters who have been invited for Writers Week XXVI.
“We have somebody named Matt Muse, who is a rapper and writer from Chicago and works with a group called Young Chicago Authors,” Anderson said. “We also have writer named Megan Stielstra who is an educator teaching at Northwestern University, so we’re excited to have her for the first time. There’ll also be an author, Mark Oshiro, who had a book come out called Anger is a Gift. We have a former student, whose named is Becca Nix Tam, who graduated in 2012, who is an author and a stand-up comic.”
While new presenters are welcome to join the Writers Week family, there have been many performers who make reappearances year after year.
“A writer from Chicago is Kevin Coval, who will be at Writers Week for the third time, and Mary Fons was here last year,” Anderson said. “We have some people who’ve taken some time off, like a couple musicians – Kevin Prchal and then J.C. Brooks – who haven’t been here for about 4 years. We also have one of our headliners, Naomi Shihab Nye, who hasn’t been to Fremd since 2002, so she’s coming back after a 17-year break and we’re really excited about that.”
Because of busy schedules, these said reappearances may not occur too often. However, there is one aspect of Writers Week that never changes: FANBOYS. A band consisting of Fremd faculty, FANBOYS gathers Fremd students and staff during the Friday of Writers Week, singing song parodies that are relatable for the typical Fremd student.
“I remember there was this one year when we only talked about forming a band,” Anderson recalls. “FANBOYS started off as a fake band, and we didn’t think it’d turn into something real but then it crazily did.”
Although only performing during two periods of the day, FANBOYS is usually one of the most popular performances throughout Writers Week. FANBOYS performs a variety of songs, and this applies to inviting presenters as well.
“We try to get a variety of presenters – a variety of genres and backgrounds,” Anderson said. “We hope that there’s somebody in the line up this year that students are going to love.”
]]>The Variety Show allows students to share a certain talent or ability unique to themselves. V-Show sponsor and English teacher Russell Anderson believes that events like this are great opportunities to learn more about Fremd students.
“I only teach English, so it would be easy for me to pigeonhole myself into my content: I think it’s important to understand that Fremd is more than just AP tests or a book,” Anderson said. “ I think the show is a great opportunity to see sides of students you typically won’t be able to see.”
Variety Show performers went through an audition process this past December, and the students have rehearsed since then in preparation for this year’s show. Junior Ariette Kaberlein, who is also performing this year, is impressed by how much the show has developed.
“It’s really amazing to only have a few rehearsals a week and see how everyone’s act is coming together and getting closer to the finished product,” Kaberlein said. “The people in the show are all very supportive and I love seeing other acts get better.”
Behind the scenes, the Tech Crew has worked diligently to precisely execute special effects. Tech Crew director, Michael Karasch, has had to care for his newborn and run the show. Anderson speaks on the increased role students have had this year.
“Tech Crew does a lot backstage; the student tech crew has really stepped up this year to execute the light changes and special effects,” Anderson said.
Sophomore Eric Song explains why his extracurricular activities are the reason he plans on attending this year’s show.
“As a member of Fremd’s jazz band I often see my peers perform their own improvised solos; I often feel energized to see them perform because it makes me want to take a shot at performing in front of people as well,” Song said. “It’s always nice to see my peers perform and I’m excited to see what happens this year.”
]]>Honorable Mention: Linsanity
After graduating from Harvard University, Jeremy Lin was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2011. During the 2011-2012 NBA season, Lin showed off his immense talent and began picking up popularity around the world. Lin was averaging 26.8 points per game, and scored 136 points in his first five starts, the most by any player since 1976. He also boosted Knicks’ ticket revenue single-handedly and managed to create his own brand, worth about 14 million dollars. Because of his increased popularity, a global craze for Lin was started, known as Linsanity.
Number 10: Golden State proves their talent in dominating performance
During the early parts of the decade, the Golden State Warriors were not on anybody’s finals radar. But, with the rise of NBA superstar Stephen Curry and other talented players, the Warriors managed to work themselves into five finals within the past five years and win three of them. Along with this, in the 2015-2016 season, the Warriors set a new record total games won with 73 wins in the regular season. This dominance proved that the Warriors were one of the best teams in the league, and possibly one of the best dynasties of all time, ranking among the likes of the 92-93 Bulls, with the help of star players such as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Number 9: Back to back buzzer-beaters end a dramatic March Madness tournament
The 2016 March Madness championship was a battle of two titans, with number-two-ranked Villanova and first-ranked North Carolina facing off in the finals. The game went back and forth, each team scoring points to put themselves ahead, and then losing the lead in a matter of seconds. Both teams fought down to the wire, and within the last minute of the game, with North Carolina down three, Marcus Paige hit a game-tying, crowd electrifying three. Now, Villanova had the ball and only four seconds to win the national title. Calmly, Ryan Archidiacano of Villanova dribbled the ball down and looked for an opening in the North Carolina defense. The ball was dumped off to forward Kris Jenkins, who set his feet quickly and then sank a three to win it all.
Number 8: Lebron James wins three rings to set himself at the top
LeBron James has cemented himself as one of the greatest NBA players of all time. During the decade, he broke numerous records, left his hometown, and rejoined teams all in an effort to become great. He started out in Cleveland, drafted first overall in 2003. At the start of the decade, James was traded to the Miami Heat, where he led the Heat to titles in 2012 and 2013. Despite this, James was deeply despised in Cleveland. After this, he worked harder, and a few years later, James decided to return to Cleveland to play for the Cavaliers. While he was there, he propelled himself to the top and launched the Cavs to a championship title. Whether he is the greatest of all time is still up for debate, but there is no questioning the fact that LeBron James has changed the game of basketball.
Number 7: New England electrifying 25 point comeback
By the end of the third quarter of Super Bowl LI, the score was 28-3, Falcons. On the other side of the field sat the five-time Super Bowl champion Patriots led by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. The first three quarters were very one-sided, with practically all the points coming from the Falcons, but by the start of the fourth, the Patriots began one of the greatest comebacks of all time. They clawed their way back into the game scoring touchdown after touchdown, stopping the Falcons’ offense with ease. They began to dominate the game. With the game tied, both teams entered the locker rooms to await the dreaded overtime. But the Patriots stayed calm, and with a two-yard rush from running back James White, the five-time Super Bowl champs made it their sixth.
Number 6: Tiger Woods shows his skill by winning a fourth Masters
Coming off a knee injury, Tiger Woods walked into the 2019 PGA Tour Masters a bit more defeated. Despite this, Woods brought one of the best performances seen in his life and in the golfing world. He went on a rampage through each hole and easily swept past the competitors. After years of waiting, Woods finally won his fourth Masters in quick fashion, beating out top players such as Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele. He took home the $11 million prize after going -13 in total for the tournament. Woods was and still is one of the greatest golfers of this decade.
Number 5: Katie Ledecky stuns crowds in sensational performances at the Olympics
No woman was able to keep up with American swimmer Katie Ledecky in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games. As the youngest member of the United States Olympic team at fifteen and nineteen years old, Ledecky stunned Olympics fans, swimming the eight hundred-meter freestyle unlike it had been seen before. In 2016, she shattered her own world record that she set earlier that year, leaving her opponents ten seconds behind her as she finished. Ledecky cemented her place in swimming history, claiming a gold medal in her first Olympic Games at fifteen years old and carrying through to her second Olympics, winning yet another medal in convincing fashion.
Number 4: India clinch second World Cup title, ousting Sri Lanka in the finals
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar played his last World Cup in India in 2011, where he and captain M.S. Dhoni led India to win their second-ever Men’s World Cup title. With Gautham Gambhir and Dhoni accumulating a total of 188 runs against Sri Lanka in the championship match, India won the World Cup for the second time in the country’s history, granting Tendulkar his long-desired wish of holding the Cricket World Cup trophy. Youngster Virat Kohli set up his career for success in their first-place finish and is now chasing down former teammate Tendulkar for the title as the greatest cricketer of all time.
Number 3: Usain Bolt dominates the Olympic track in 2012 and 2016
Although Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt achieved his undefeated world record in the hundred-meter sprint before the turn of the decade, Bolt continued to dominate the track up until his 2017 retirement. In the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Bolt managed to achieve the ‘treble-treble,’ winning the hundred-meter, two hundred-meter, and the four hundred-meter sprints, repeating his achievement in Beijing four years earlier. Bolt further impressed fans when he performed the stunt again in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Accumulating a total of nine gold medals over the course of his thirteen-year professional career, Bolt showed the world that he is truly the greatest sprinter the planet has ever seen.
Number 2: Michael Phelps returns to the pool with a splash
After a successful run at the 2012 Summer Olympics, American swimmer Michael Phelps announced his retirement. He was to leave behind his career of 18 gold medals at the age of 27. With the claim that he wanted to live a life outside of the pool, Phelps declared to his supporters that there comes a time in one’s life where one must make difficult choices. Though Phelps stunned fans with his early exit from the swimming scene, he shocked the entire nation in 2014, expressing that he will be making a return to the pool in the near future. Storming back into the 2016 Summer Olympics, Phelps erupted the crowds, amassing a total of six medals, five of which were gold. Phelps was back in the game stronger than he had left it.
Number 1: Cubs win first World Series in 108 years
Chicago fans’ 108-year long wait ended when Anthony Rizzo caught the ball at first base in the bottom of the tenth inning, granting the Cubs their first World Series victory in over a century. Climbing back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Cleveland Indians, Joe Maddon and his team pulled off what is now seen by many as the most memorable sporting moment in recent years. The Cubs’ victory brought a blue sea of millions of fans together in downtown Chicago, where they celebrated the team’s franchise-defining moment. America’s pastime had finally returned full circle to the Windy City, exciting baseball enthusiasts, and commoners alike.
]]>Our goal was to test two series of Oreos: One experiment was to test reactions to five different flavors, and the second experiment was to test regular Oreos versus Double Stuf Oreos. Both experiments had two trials: blindfolded and non-blindfolded.
First, we tested the placebo of 5 different Oreos by allowing 32 people to try them while seeing the Oreos. Then we had 32 people test them while being blindfolded to see if the colors of the Oreos play a large factor in determining its taste or if they genuinely taste like what they are supposed to, and our skepticism was warranted.
At the end of the first experiment, the results were relatively inconclusive, with only 2 out of 5 tests truly proving our hypothesis correct, in which people who couldn’t absorb the Oreos visuals, such as the color of cookies, cream, and size, were less likely to guess it’s flavor correctly. We needed to be sure, so we decided to go ahead and conduct another experiment.
In this next experiment, we had 46 participants try the regular Oreos and the double stuff. Again, half of the participants were blindfolded while the other half were not.
Ultimately, we concluded that being able to see the Oreos itself greatly influences what flavor the participants thought the cookie had. Though there parts of our first test that supported our hypothesis, the second test truly emphasized this point. Even though the cookies were different, they were thought to be the same. The impact vision has on our thoughts is remarkable, and this shows us that in our lives, we shouldn’t take things at face value. Like Selena Gomez once famously said, everything is not as it seems.
]]>Idina Menzel (Elsa), Kristen Bell (Anna), Jonathan Groff (Kristoff), and Josh Gad (Olaf) reprise their roles as voice actors for Frozen 2. Additionally, producers have added new characters: Iduna, voiced by Evan Rachel Wood, and Mattias, voiced by Sterling K. Brown. Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez have also created a fresh soundtrack for Frozen 2.
In Frozen, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf were fighting to rescue Arendelle from a perpetual winter, thanks to Elsa’s powers. This time, the group is trying to find the origin of her icy abilities. They must face terrifying monsters and deadly storms on their quest to save their kingdom from evil while developing tighter bonds with each other.
For the most part, Frozen 2 evokes familiar memories of the original Frozen. The main characters are on yet another treacherous journey together, with plenty of peril and comedy to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Like Frozen, the film maintains a strong focus on the sibling relationship between Elsa and Anna, rather than on an underlying romance plot typical of Disney fairytales. Kristoff’s repeated but failed efforts to propose to Anna provide a comedic refrain that’s never the main focus of the storyline. As for the soundtrack, in 2013, “Let It Go” was the anthem of self-empowerment, teaching viewers to embrace themselves and let their fears go. The sequel has proved not to reflect the same theme like the original, with the most famous of the songs being “Into the Unknown.” This track marks the new direction that Disney has gone in for the second edition of Frozen. The “happily ever after” aspect is removed, and as “Into the Unknown” is sung, the original group from Frozen is thrown into the real world and all its challenges, dealing with the aftermath of the events of the first movie. Through this, Frozen 2 represents the growing up process we all go through, and the important lessons we learn along the way.
With its entertaining but heartfelt storyline and meaningful takeaways, Frozen 2 is perfect for viewers of all ages. Like its predecessor, we won’t be able to “Let It Go.”
]]>The album starts off with “The Reaper,” a track featuring Amy Shark. The track is a change from what’s expected of The Chainsmokers. It has a much more sinister and intriguing sound in comparison to The Chainsmokers’ typical sunny sound. However, it has some glaring problems. First off, the track is far from cohesive. It switches from a section filled with soft guitar melodies to a section hammered with bass. Secondly, it features some of The Chainsmokers’ most beloved lyrics: random noises. The line “Am I in your way-ay-ay? Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah” was utilized 10 times throughout the track. That means “The Reaper” consists of a total of 20 ay’s and 50 ah’s. Sadly, “The Reaper” was not the only track that suffered from the plague of random noises. “Takeaway” had 48 yeah’s and 36 na’s. The Chainsmokers need to try harder.
Following “The Reaper,” The Chainsmokers immediately fall back into their usual role of being generic. The darker sound completely disappears and is replaced with their usual upbeat sound. It’s obvious that The Chainsmokers wanted to create a very sweet song when they created “Family,” which features Kygo. However, it’s just so painful to listen to. It felt like they Googled “quotes about family” and copy and pasted it into their song. For example, Taggart croons, “ I know some people, they would die for me/ We run together, they’re my family.” In addition to the dull lyrics, the track is just boring. The track starts with soft, bland verses and builds up to an equally bland drop. Unfortunately “Family” is far from the only track that is subject to this tragic format.
The only memorable track in the whole album is “Who Do You Love,” featuring 5 Seconds of Summer. The reason why this track is so much better than the others is simply that it doesn’t sound like a song by The Chainsmokers. The members of 5 Seconds of Summer provides all of the vocals, giving a well-needed reprieve from Taggart’s. Also, the track has more feeling than the rest of the album. The lyrics depict a man confronting his spouse’s infidelity and the track successfully creates feelings of hurt with impactful crescendos and strong drumming. “Who Do You Love” catches listeners’ attention since it’s the only song with some style and feel.
It’s easy to say that The Chainsmokers really struck out with World War Joy. The album fell flat in terms of lyrics and production rather than being dynamic. None of the songs were catchy, which is what The Chainsmokers have capitalized on to become successful. If you need some background music, this album is it.
]]>In all honesty, Baby Yoda probably wouldn’t be as cute if it had not been for computer-generated imagery (CGI). While Director Dave Filoni was making sure that Baby Yoda was just as much a puppet as he was CGI, he issued many callbacks to the original techniques in order to make Baby Yoda look as realistic as possible.
The thing is, no one had expected Baby Yoda to be such a popular character. The fact that Baby Yoda rose to stardom with no product placement, unlike the Porgs who didn’t quite capture everyone’s attention, shows that the best thing to make your characters popular is to not expect it at all. The Porgs that made an appearance in Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi did not strike the interest of most Star Wars fans and cast, including the main lead, Daisy Ridley stating, “I’m not a big fan of the Porgs.” There was a lot of forced product placement with them, and a failed attempt to make them an iconic favorite. All Baby Yoda needed to do was look cute in his hovering crib and suddenly he was everywhere. Baby Yoda has made his move on the general public and they are loving it.
Much about Baby Yoda remains a mystery. From what we know, Baby Yoda has no real name. While he is called The Child in The Mandalorian, there is no information on any other name for Baby Yoda besides of course Baby Yoda, which he was dubbed by the internet. Much is left vague about his past as well, as no information has been on his background, home planet, nor his family.
Disney+ rose to the top as a streaming service, placing its revenue and popularity among other services such as HBO and Netflix. The Mandalorian, one of Disney+’s originals, has already gotten a head start as not only a good source of Baby Yoda memes, but a well-written and developed show. Starring Pedro Pascal as the Mandalorian himself, the show follows the journey of a stoic bounty hunter who got a little more than he was bargaining for, AKA a cute green sidekick. Unlike the films, The Mandalorian goes off the script of just the Empire versus the Resistance and leads viewers into a world of an outsider’s perspective. The Mandalorian is not in the fight, yet he is affected by the aftermath, and that’s what makes the story so compelling.
One of the main reasons The Mandalorian gained so much popularity besides little Baby Yoda lies in with the common Star Wars trope of found family. Sure, every once and a while viewers want to see gory fights and angst, but what really charms the audience is a show of emotion and caring for other beings. Baby Yoda’s rescue serves as the drive for the plot, as he’s a defenseless child. There’s a good balance between action and emotion, making the show very well rounded and appealing to all audiences. One of the perks of a show such as this one is that not a lot of prior knowledge is needed to watch and understand what’s happening. Even if you haven’t watched any of the films and don’t know a lick of Star Wars knowledge, the plot is easy to follow and any important points are made by dialogue.
The show has been a smash hit so far. With a consistent episode schedule, The Mandalorian and the cute Baby Yoda are surely not going away any time soon. Keep an eye out for the little green fellow, he’s sure to do some big things.
]]>Knives Out is not the ensemble piece that its ads and trailers make itself out to be. While famous actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, and Michael Shannon have quite large parts in the movie, the main story centers around Cuban-Spanish film actress Ana de Armas and Daniel Craig. Craig trades in his suave James Bond voice for a slightly over-the-top southern accent for his role as Detective Benoit Blanc, who is mysteriously asked to investigate the death of rich mystery author Harlan Thrombey at the end of his 85th birthday party. At the center of this mystery is the man’s personal nurse, played by de Armas, known for Knock Knock and Blade Runner 2049. However, Craig and de Armas aren’t the only characters that shine in Knives Out. Chris Evans, known for his performances as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, proves himself as one of the best actors in this film, despite being present for only the second half of the movie. Thrombey may be the victim in this story, but his portrayal by world-renowned actor Christopher Plummer is award-worthy.
This film will appeal to all types of mystery lovers. Despite enough clues for a keen viewer to unravel the mystery, Johnson makes sure that the story isn’t predictable. Unless you have an avid sense of viewing movies, chances are you won’t be able to solve the mystery before Detective Blanc. But the writing isn’t the only thing that makes Knives Out an incredible movie. Directing, coming through strong in the movie is the main thing that sets it apart from its genre’s counterparts. Intricate camera angles and carefully planned shots give the movie a certain ominous mood that sets it aside from Johnson’s other movies as one of the best. Light and color combine wonderfully in almost every shot. While most directors focus too heavily on showing characters, Johnson utilizes the set and turns what would normally be a bleak setting in a mystery movie to a beautiful landscape. With most of the shots angled level of the actor’s heads, watching in a theater with a large screen will make you feel like you’re actually in the movie, taking part in the family’s conversations and staring down suspects.
Knives Out will be a great experience for anybody who watches because it has something for everyone. This film seems like a turning point in the mystery genre, which has definitely felt tired after recent duds like Adam Sandler’s Murder Mystery and the adaptation of Agatha Christie’s renowned novel Murder on the Orient Express. If there’s any movie to be looking for in awards season, it’s Knives Out.
]]>East: Philadelphia Eagles
The race for the highly contentious NFC East division playoff spot is currently between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys with a shared record of 6-7. The Cowboys’ loss to the Bears in Week 14 demonstrated key flaws within their defense. Much of their confidence has been lost and their chances of making the playoffs are slim, as they have to win all their upcoming games against some good teams like the Rams If they suffer a single loss in the coming weeks, their chances for securing a playoff spot drop significantly. The Eagles, however, have an easier path forward, having to face off against lower-ranked opponents like the Redskins. As they play the Cowboys at home, this game could be a possible tiebreaker, giving the Eagles a chance to take over the NFC East.
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks
Similar to the situation in the NFC East, the race for the West is between two closely -ranked teams in the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. Though both teams are highly ranked, the 49ers hold the superior record of 11-2. The Seahawks are directly behind, with a record of 10-3. Going forward however, the 49ers have a tougher schedule than the Seahawks as the 49ers have to face the Rams while the Seahawks face the Cardinals. Each team must win all of their games to clinch the playoffs, and for the 49ers, the Rams could pose a major obstacle for their hopes for the playoffs. The biggest game for each team would be their last games because they face off against each other and it could possibly serve as a tie-breaker. In that game, the Seahawks have home-field advantage providing them a slight upper hand over the 49ers.
NFC North: Minnesota Vikings
The race for the North is again between two teams: the Vikings and Packers. The Packers are currently in defensive slump, along with having a tough time moving the rock down the field, but they’re still at the top of the North with a record of 10-3. The Vikings, who have played much more consistently than the Packers, are right behind them with a record of 9-4. It’s vital for each team to win all their games, especially the Vikings as they have a lower record than the Packers. However, both teams have a tough schedule as both teams have to face the Bears. Taking on the Packers at home will be an important game as it could break their tie and give the Vikings the top position. The Lions are an unpredictable team and may upset the Packers. Ultimately, it will all boil down to the team who has the most confidence and momentum, which are the Bears, but because they are too behind in this race, it would have to default to the Vikings.
NFC South: New Orleans Saints
Unlike the other three regions in the NFC, the South has a team which has already clinched the top position in their conference and a spot in the playoffs in the New Orleans Saints. They lack major competition as the other 3 teams in their conference (the Panthers, Falcons, and Buccaneers) have consistently dealt with many problems ranging from injuries to a complete collapse of offensive and defensive systems.
AFC:
East: New England Patriots
Since the beginning of the season, it was clear that the Patriots would clinch the top spot of the AFC East. However, after some offensive issues and a couple of bad losses, the race for the top spot has become much closer between the Patriots and the Bills. The Patriots still hold the top spot of the East with a record of 10-3, while the Bills have a record of 9-4. The Patriots have to take on the Bengals, who have the worst record in the NFL. Another one of their remaining games is against the Dolphins, sporting a 3-10 record, the third worst in the NFL. The Patriots have an easier path to the top position compared to the Bills as they have to take on two lower-ranked teams which have struggled to get wins. On top of that, the Patriots also host the Bills in Week 16 and the result of that game will determine which team will take the East, and in their last meeting the Patriots came out on top. As the Patriots have home-field advantage in a divisional game and an easier schedule than the Bills, they should have enough to remain at the top.
West: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have already clinched the top position of the AFC West and, thus, guaranteed a seed in the playoffs. The Raiders are behind the Chiefs by three games and it will be close to impossible for the Raiders to win all their games and the Chiefs to win theirs. The Broncos and the Chargers are currently competing for the third spot in the division and their records are at 5-8. The Chiefs have to take on the Broncos, Bears, and Chargers.
North: Baltimore Ravens
With the addition of the Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have completely surprised many NFL fans. They have the best record in the league of 11-2, allowing the Ravens to clinch a position in the playoffs. However, they haven’t clinched their division as they have previously lost to the Steelers and there is a slim possibility for the Steelers to win all three of their games and the Ravens to lose all of theirs. The Ravens have to take on the Jets, Browns, and Steelers next. The second biggest surprise is the comeback of the Steelers. After a very slow start, they started to come back and currently have a record of 8-5 with a chance to secure a wildcard spot and perhaps even the division.
South: Houston Texans
The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans are currently tied for the highest record in the South with 8 wins and 5 losses. In other divisions they have two teams in the race for the top spot, and it all comes down to their last divisional game against each other. However, in the AFC South, though it is two teams competing for the division, these two teams have two games left against each other. Excluding their divisional games, the Texans have an easier schedule than the Titans as they have to take on the Saints. The Texans, on the other hand take on the Buccaneers. It’s vital for both teams to win all their games, but in the case of the Titans, it would be very tough for them to defeat the Saints. So it will come down to the two games against each other and the winner of those games will continue on to the playoffs. However, because the Titans play the Texans at home, they have a better chance of winning, but the following week, their odds of winning fall significantly, while the Texans eye a relatively easy matchup against the Bucs. After these two weeks, these two teams will likely share the same record, and it will come down to the very last game to determine the winner of this division. But as this game is being held at Houston, the Texans would have home-field advantage which should be enough for them to secure a win and regain their top position in the South.
]]>In less than one month, Illinois residents age twenty-one and over will be able to walk into a dispensary and buy marijuana legally. Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law in June that will make Illinois the eleventh state to legalize recreational marijuana. As of Jan. 1, 2020, residents will be able to have up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, 5 grams of concentrate and 500 milligrams of THC in products such as edibles. Non-Illinois residents will only be allowed half as much as residents. While proponents for the legalization have positive viewpoints, physicians, law enforcement, and politicians have expressed concern about the effect that the law will have on teenagers and the community.
Illinois legislatures are hoping to generate state income through taxing marijuana sales. However, Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz thinks that the state’s failure to provide local governments with a definite economic plan has made preparing for the new law difficult.
“The state has indicated that they will be setting aside a portion of their revenues to distribute back to local law enforcement agencies…[but] they have given us no indication as to what those amounts will be,” Schwantz said.
Recently, Naperville’s city council opted out of having recreational marijuana sales in their town; however, Buffalo Grove’s town council voted to allow a dispensary despite residents’ protests. Adding to this is the financial aspect that local governments must sort out.
“I feel that there is a general sentiment against allowing a dispensary; however, we know there will legally be marijuana in our town as of Jan. 1, and we will have significant expenses related to that when it comes to police training and equipment as well as the increased calls for service,” Schwantz said.
Options for Palatine are limited since marijuana will be present in the town. Palatine residents may encounter an increase in taxes or cutting of local programs in order to cover costs.
“Remember, the state of Illinois has legalized marijuana, not the Village of Palatine,” Schwantz said. “Remember that marijuana is still a controlled substance under federal law.”
Crime Free Multi-Housing Coordinator for the Rolling Meadows Police Department Officer Jason Everett references the impact that legalization of marijuana had on Colorado – namely, an increase in traffic accidents and eventually an increase again in illegally purchased marijuana due to it being cheaper and more readily available.
“They are also finding as time goes forward that people are reverting back to their old methods of obtaining cannabis because it’s so regulated to do it legally,” Everett said.
With this increased prevalence of marijuana in the public sphere, there are concerns regarding high schoolers’ health and well-being.
Site Leader for Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, at Northwest Community Hospital, Dr. Meta Carroll, stated her concerns regarding the availability of marijuana once it’s legal and a greater chance of it being found in homes.
“In the same way that teenagers can reach for alcohol that’s in the home, it’s just more accessible to the people who are most vulnerable to its effects; that’s really what I worry about,” Carroll said.
Although some say that marijuana is a harmless drug, it can still send teenagers to the ER secondary to unwanted symptoms. According to Carroll, there are a variety of complaints that bring patients to the emergency room which range from panic attacks to chest pain and respiratory distress.
A pediatrician, a pediatric ICU intensivist, and a pediatric ER doctor were all asked how frequently they currently see marijuana use in their patients, and they all responded that they see it daily. Pediatrician and Chair of Pediatrics at Aurora Medical Center Dr. Sheri Rocco said she does have serious concerns regarding the drug’s legalization.
“Whereas kids used to consider it illegal and dangerous, now I actually have teenagers argue with me that it’s healthy for them because it’s ‘organic’ or ‘natural, Dr. Rocco.’ I do worry,” Rocco said.
According to Carroll, a common misconception about marijuana is that it calms people down, but it can have the opposite effect.
“I see it almost every day,” Carroll said. “Sometimes, as kids experience anxiety they want to use marijuana to calm down or be able to sleep at night or just mellow out. But instead of their mood getting better, they actually get really, really irritable. Their mood disorder worsens. I think a lot of kids don’t know that.”
A freshman athlete at Fremd High School says he has no interest in using marijuana, not only because he wants to stay in good condition for his sport, but also because he’s had personal experience with the consequences of the drug on people he knows.
“I just know what it’s done to family members and what drugs can do, and that’s what scares me away. I feel like there’s going to be more problems for everyone,” he said. “Marijuana could ruin my season. We get tested and I don’t want to have problems with breathing and running. I think it’s more of a dangerous drug. You can get addicted and it will ruin your life completely.”
Students might be more vulnerable to peer pressure and more likely to experiment with the drug at some type of high school party. Science teacher Rachel Scianna knows of programs seeking to curb the exposure to drug use in high schoolers.
“I know in terms of the coaching community and the athletic community, they are instituting a program to try and combat some of the parties that might occur after a football game,” Scianna said. “They are trying to encourage more school structured events, like ‘Let’s have a cook-out with Barrington and Fremd’ instead of, ‘After the game let’s all go to a party.’”
The effects of marijuana have the potential of being a long-lasting issue and sometimes result in addiction. Rocco states that while some students had the privilege of getting their life back to normal, others continue to struggle.
“After you do marijuana for too long, it’s very hard to get off of it,” Rocco said. “I know that the internet tells teens otherwise, but it’s just not true. They will have a hard time readjusting to life. Right now, because it’s getting legalized, there is a thought that ‘Oh, it’s got to be okay, because it’s legal,’ but it’s not in any way. It’s still a drug, and I see a lot of kids that start out with pot and then they end up going to harder drugs.”
Despite marijuana being currently illegal, it’s still easy for a student to find it if they are determined.
“I once asked my nephew, ‘If you wanted marijuana, how would you buy it?’ and he said, ‘I would walk down the hallway of my high school or I would look around the cafeteria and find the seller.’ And so it’s very available, very prevalent, and not too expensive,” Carroll said.
Illegal marijuana is being laced with other drugs, including LSD, cocaine, and heroin. Carroll mentions the dangers that synthetic cannabinoids can have on patients. These chemicals can turn a simple marijuana high into something much worse.
“The biggest thing I worry about is all the synthetic marijuana that is out there; anybody can create a substance in a lab, anywhere and manufacture something chemically,” Carroll said. “The other thing would be if there is any additional drug that is mixed in with that, particularly opioids, which are super dangerous…and now I don’t know what that poison is that is in my patient’s body.”
Schools will have increasing challenges over the next several months.
“I think it will only be easier for high school students to get possession of marijuana. It will be in our town because of the actions of the state of Illinois. The effects of this drug are real and will have a negative impact on students. The schools will need to increase their enforcement efforts as well,” Schwantz said.
]]>On Thursday, Dec. 12, the Fremd winter band concert will be featuring all the bands that call Fremd their home. Jazz Ensemble will begin the concert at 6:30, followed by Fremd’s Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, then finally Wind Symphony.
Matthew Moore, head of the music department and director of Concert Band and Wind Symphony, shares his thoughts on the repertoire of Concert Band. Referring to the Concert Band’s “In My Perfect Place” by Leslie Gilreath, a piece in their program, Moore is proud of how his students have mastered the piece’s emotions.
“It’s a very mature composition that almost sounds like a collegiate level piece, but is accessible for our Concert Band,” Moore said. “It goes through many different emotions and styles, and I’m very proud of the Concert Band and their hard work with this mature composition.”
John Teichert, director of Symphonic Winds and Wind Ensemble, enjoys “Butterfly Ball”, which is a piece that Wind Ensemble will be performing.
“It’s a mature piece of music that the kids have worked incredibly hard on this quarter,” said Teichert. ”The piece is a waltz with irregular phrases and contemporary harmony, which is Music Teacher language for ‘it’s kind of weird but still really fun to play and listen to.’”
As the last band concert of the first semester the band students have improved greatly under the direction of their conductors. Throughout the first semester, Moore and Teichert worked on challenging their students with new band compositions, and look forward to seeing all of the bands perform on a higher level next semester.
While the next semester still seems to have a long way to come, the approaching band concert has its aspects to look forward to as well. When asked which song he anticipated most to conduct, Moore chose “Third Suite” by Reed. “All three movements are very different and musically rewarding in their own way,” said Moore. “The Wind Symphony students have been working very hard with their individual part preparation, which should result in a very rewarding performance for the band.”
]]>The discrimination against the Uyghurs began when China annexed Xinjiang in 1949. At the time, Uyghurs made up 76% of the region’s population while the Han Chinese made up only 6.2%. Because China seeks to silence any discontent and criticism of the Chinese Communist Party, when the Muslim Uyghurs resisted Chinese rule, China saw them as a threat. China cracked down on the Uyghurs primarily in the 1980s and ‘90s, however, these crackdowns have resurfaced following the Kunming train station attack that China believes was caused by Uyghurs.
In 2018, BBC News reported that based on satellite imagery, hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs were being imprisoned in a rapidly growing number of internment camps. China has denied the existence of these camps initially; however, they have since changed their stance stating that the purpose of these “re-education” camps is to stop terrorism and give vocational education to Uyghurs. The New York Times reported that inmates are required to “sing hymns praising the Chinese Communist Party and write ‘self-criticism’ essays.” Prisoners are subject to abuse from the guards and women and men are separated which is speculated to prevent the reproduction of Uyghurs. China claims it will free these Uyghurs after they “graduate,” however there is no clear definition of when this graduation occurs.
China has also deployed other strategies to convert the Uyghurs to the mainland
Chinese philosophy. Some Uyghurs have been employed by the state to investigate other Uyghurs participating in illegal activities ranging from giving up smoking to refusing to watch Chinese television. Additionally, there are various surveillance technologies in place such as face and voice recognition, DNA sampling, and iris scanning to uncover rebels of the Chinese Communist Party.
Simultaneous with the incremental state-exploitation of the Chinese Uyghur minority, China has been piloting its trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative since to expand its trade and infrastructural influence past its borders. In fact, this consistent correlation may signal a deeper motivation on the part of China, more economic in nature than its deep-rooted prejudice against Uyghurs.
Rushan Abbas, an Uyghur activist in Virginia, told Business Insider: “This has everything to do with the Xi Jinping’s signature project, the Belt and Road Initiative, because the Uyghur land is in the heart of the most key point of Xi Jinping’s signature project.”
Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has increased its infrastructural presence abroad, forging international trade agreements and replicating its totalitarian facial recognition systems in countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Angola, and a dozen other countries. Many countries fear that the increased Chinese presence abroad may spearhead the same systematic exploitation of Uyghur ethnic groups on an international scale. In an effort to shield its own demographic of Uyghurs from China’s relentless barrage, Sweden and Germany have reportedly halted any extraditions of Uyghur asylees back to China. The US government has yet to follow suit.
Perhaps the US may step in and utilize its position as the leader of the free world to condemn China’s blatant infringements on the human rights of one of its own minority groups. Just last week, the US House of Representatives passed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act by 407-1, which asks US President Donald Trump to condemn abuses against Muslims and calls for the closure of the camps in Xinjiang. Sophomore Michael Ganzorig sees the passage of this bill as a necessary step toward a brighter future.
“The events and abuses that I’ve been hearing about in China seem eerily similar to the steady buildup of human rights infringements under the Third Reich,” Ganzorig said. “We didn’t step in soon enough then. With the passage of this bill, I truly hope we’ll prevent such a dismal tragedy from occurring again. Nonetheless, the US needs to act now, before it’s too late.”
]]>#5: Los Angeles Clippers
Current Record: 18-7
The addition of all-stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George appears to already be a smart move for the Clippers, as the two are currently averaging 24.5 points and 22.7 points respectively. The Clippers offense is further enhanced by the reliable sixth man Lou Williams and power forward Montrezl Harrell.
Although the team has gotten off to a strong start, only time will tell if they can keep up their current level of play. In the 2018-2019 season, the Clippers began the season a similar way, but eventually fell off, finishing eighth seed in the West. Nonetheless, the performance of the Clippers early on in the season indicates that they are poised to go far in the playoffs this year.
#4: Boston Celtics
Current Record: 17-5
Despite losing franchise centerpieces Kyrie Irving and Al Horford at the end of the 2018-2019 season, the Celtics have remained a strong contender in the East. The signing of all-star point guard Kemba Walker has proven to be a worthwhile move, as he is an experienced floor general to build around.
The key to the Celtics’ success has been balance. Five different players, Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, and Marcus Smart, average double-digit points, allowing the team to stretch the floor, as each player is a threat. The roster is also very young, all players 30 or under, foreshadowing success for years to come.
#3: Dallas Mavericks
Current Record: 16-7
The biggest climbers on the list, relative to last season, the Mavericks, led by sophomore sensation Luka Doncic, have had an impressive start to the season. They went from 14th in the West last year to second this year. The tremendous improvement is in large part due to Doncic’s fantastic performance, averaging close to a triple-double with 30.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 9.2 assists.
The Mavs currently have the league’s highest offensive efficiency rating, likely due to their ability to spread the floor and move the ball well. This will bode well for them as the season progresses and may forecast a deep run in the playoffs for a previously struggling team.
#2: Los Angeles Lakers
Current Record: 21-3
Coming off of a disappointing 2018-2019 season where the squad failed to make the playoffs despite adding four-time MVP LeBron James, the Lakers have completely turned their operation around. Trading for six-time All-Star Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans proved to be the spark necessary to change the outcome of this season.
The dynamic duo of Davis and James has proven to be a dominant force in the West; Davis is currently averaging 26.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks, while James is averaging 25.6 points and 10.4 assists. The Lakers appear to be in excellent form and look poised to remain atop the Western Conference standings for the remainder of the season.
#1: Milwaukee Bucks
Current Record: 21-3
After a phenomenal 60-22 season in which the team led the league in wins, the Bucks have not taken their foot off of the gas, as they still remain in complete command of the Eastern Conference. The reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has only improved, averaging 30.8 points and 13.1 rebounds. His supporting cast, including Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, and Brook Lopez, have provided a consistent offensive threat, allowing the Bucks to average 121.0 points per game, the highest in the league.
Last year, the Bucks lost 4-2 in the Conference Finals to the eventual champions, the Toronto Raptors. This year, the Bucks appear ready for a chance at vengeance, if not a trip to the NBA Finals.
]]>On Nov. 29, a stabbing took place on the London Bridge in Central London. The attacker, Usman Khan, stabbed five people, killing two of them. Usman Khan was formerly in prison in 2018 for terrorist offenses. On this date, he had been attending an offender rehabilitation, a program created to help offenders re-enter society after their release.
Although under Khan’s terms of release he wasn’t allowed to enter London, he had been granted a one-day exemption for the event. To the event, he had worn a fake suicide vest and threatened to blow up the area. He began to stab people in the building with kitchen knives he had taped to his arms. He later fled the building and began to stab pedestrians on the London Bridge. In the building, a chef known as Lukasz was first to fight back. Lukasz grabbed the nearest weapon, a narwhal tusk from the wall to attack the offender.
James Ford, on day release attending the same event as Khan, was also one of the men who rushed out to tackle Khan after the attack, helping save a girl from a potential stabbing. In 2004, Ford had murdered 21-year-old Amanda Champion, who was disabled and had the mental age of a 15-year-old. Ford had strangled her and slashed her across the throat in a random attack. He was caught after confessing to the murder 45 times to a confidential phoning service.
The men who had tackled and attached Khan were all hailed as heroes by news outlets and on social media. However, the family of the victims says he was nothing of the sort.
Angela Cox, Champion’s aunt, told the Daily Mail, “He is a murderer out on day release, which us as a family didn’t know anything about. He murdered a disabled girl. He is not a hero, absolutely not.”
The pain caused to Champion’s family cannot be taken lightly; they will never be able to get her back. The life Champion could’ve led is gone and she can never be replaced. This makes it understandable how difficult it would be for the family to ever forgive Ford, which is something they have no obligation to do in the first place – even if he has changed.
This begs the question, is James Ford a murderer or a hero? There is not an easy answer to this question, especially when considering the fact that he took a life in 2004 but now in 2019 has saved a life. I would say he is both and neither at the same time. He did commit a terrible deed but again did help save a girl.
I think this incident goes to show that people are capable of change and we shouldn’t take people at face value. Although Ford had committed a terrible act that cannot be undone, he has tried to better himself and even helped save a life. I believe this message can be implemented into our daily lives as well; just because we have done bad things in the past, doesn’t mean we can’t do good things in the future. While benevolent actions cannot replace malevolent actions, they can help us change and better ourselves. The past can’t be changed, but we have the means to change our future.
]]>DACA, enacted by President Obama in 2012, provides relief from deportation and work authorization for immigrants brought to America as children. DACA allows nearly 800,000 Dreamers, a term used to describe those dependent on the program and affected by the Dream Act, to enroll in college and legally secure jobs.
The Dream Act was a bipartisan legislation that would allow two million Dreamers to better contribute to their families, their community, and boost our economy. Several versions of the bill were introduced in Congress since 2001, although the bill itself was never passed.
Due to DACA, recipients have been able to come out of the shadows. Many Dreamers don’t know they are unauthorized immigrants until they are teenagers – often when they discover they cannot obtain a valid driver’s license or apply for financial aid forms for college as they lack Social Security numbers. The Dream Act would have provided a pathway to U.S. citizenship to the young people who go to college and/or serve in the military while maintaining a clean record.
A recent Harvard Study found the program to be largely successful and having assisted many young people in a variety of ways; the program has provided long-term economic and educational benefits for young adults and their families. In fact, at least 76% of DACA recipients have completed their professional and educational programs, contributing largely to the nation’s workforce and billions of dollars to the economy.
Apart from the 34,000 additional first time applications currently processing from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, officials say they aren’t accepting any more applications.
Protection remains under effect for those with unexpired work permits and an applied renewal before Oct. 5. 16,000 DACA recipients have already lost their deportation protections. Before thousands more Dreamers lose their privileges in the only country they have known, Congress must take action.
President Trump has vowed to dismantle the program since 2017. Hours before the Supreme Court hearing last month, Trump tweeted, “Many of the people in DACA, no longer very young, are far from ‘angels.’ Some are very tough, hardened criminals…”
According to NBC News, four of the court’s conservative judges – Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh – appeared to side with the Trump Administration in shutting down the program.
As we await the Supreme Court’s ruling until the spring of 2020, it is important to realize that the DACA program has been a sense of hope for many immigrant families. It prevented family separation and signaled unity in communities. Dreamers have arrived to this country when they were children. They used the program to contribute to their families and to the U.S. economy as a whole. As thousands of young people depend on DACA, it is unacceptable for the Trump Administration to use the program as a way to hurt immigrant communities.
]]>In an effort to get the public excited about the mission, the space agency is giving people the chance to write their names on microchips, which will then be placed on the rover. A lab for microdevices at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will use an electron beam to stencil in the names that the public submits. More than a million names will be able to be inscribed on a single silicon chip.
While the sole purpose of past missions to the Red Planet was to find indicators of habitable conditions from the past, this mission seeks to search for signs of past microbial life and will try to gain a glimpse into the origins of life. In addition, the rover will monitor the Martian weather to assess if humans could potentially colonize the planet.
Furthermore, a helicopter has been attached to the rover to gain another vantage point atop Mars. The aircraft will explore Mars from the air while the rover collects samples on the ground. The helicopter will also snapshot aerial views of cliffs, caves, and craters. According to NASA, if the solar-powered helicopter flies successfully, it’ll be the first aircraft to fly on another planet.
Fremd freshman Advitya Batta believes that NASA is taking a step in the right direction as they seek to understand one of the greatest unexplored frontiers of the universe.
“I think now is a great time to carry out this mission. . . NASA is thinking ahead by trying to explore Mars,” Batta said.
Astronomy teacher Bradley Schroeder believes that NASA’s mission will have major future implications.
“I think that right now, they are on the right path. When the rover travels to Mars, NASA will be able to determine if Mars is a planet that harvests life and stores important resources. This mobile science lab will glean a better understanding of Mars if we ever choose to colonize it,” Schroeder said.
This rover marks the culmination of a multiyear long project, fraught with challenge after challenge. NASA’s chief scientist himself believes that a whole new set of scientific questions will begin to emerge from the results of this mission, but doubts the public’s ability to deal with the results of this mission.
However, Schroeder believes that the mission will energize the public. “I think people want to believe that there is life outside of Earth,” Schroeder said. “People will be excited about life elsewhere.”
As MiMi Aung, project manager for the Mars Helicopter at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, describes the obstacles NASA has faced, it is clear that this project could mark another chapter in NASA’s storied history for years to come.
“The chamber hosted missions from the Ranger Moon probes to the Voyagers to Cassini, and every Mars rover ever flown,” Aung said. “To see our helicopter in there reminded me that we are on our way to making a little chunk of space history as well.”
]]>Participants can grow either a mustache or a beard during November, or donate some money to the Movember Foundation, which runs a charity event to spread awareness for men’s health. The Movember Foundation uses this money to provide facts about men’s health and to support organizations such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation, LIVESTRONG Foundation, and the Prevention Institute to educate men of all ages about living a healthier and happier life.
In addition to raising money, the Movember Foundation runs two events to further provide awareness. The charity launched The Moscars in 2010, a contest where Movember participants submit videos displaying their involvement in Movember to potentially win prizes in a number of categories. The foundation also chooses the International Man of Movember to be the face of Movember for the entire year. Each country has one contestant that is voted in at the end of November by both fans and judges.
By 2030, the Movember Foundation aims to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25%. The foundation funds over 1250 projects across 20 countries to educate men around the world about their own health and wellbeing.
The term “Movember” originated in 1999 in Adelaide, South Australia. A local news station aired a story around a group of young men growing out their mustaches during November, which eventually turned into a worldwide phenomenon.
In 2004, a group of thirty men organized a similar event growing their mustaches for thirty days, and the group eventually became the Movember Foundation charity, which since raised $174 million worldwide. Just last year, the Movember Foundation raised $74.2 million, with $18.4 million coming from donations during Movember
Art Department Chair Paul Radek participated in Movember from 2011 to 2015 and believed in the importance of what Movember is doing for men’s health.
“I was drawn to the campaign because of the commitment to men’s health awareness,” Radek said. “Spreading awareness is one step, but Movember’s commitment to research, treatment, and post-treatment causes really sold me on their mission. “When I participated, if men joked or asked me about the mustache, I took the responsibility seriously to have conversations about men’s health. Also, in 2011, ironic mustaches weren’t yet in style, and having an excuse to see myself progress to a fully realized December “Mo” was an opportunity I could not pass up.”
Junior Harish Karthikeyan believes that Movember is a great initiative to help spread awareness for men’s health.
“I didn’t really know Movember was a thing, but I think it’s a good thing that they’re talking about men’s health, “ Karthikeyan said. “It’s a topic that not many people know about, but it’s actually a serious issue that happens to a lot of people, and it’s good they’re trying to spread awareness about it.”
]]>The College Admissions Scandal (2019), directed by Adam Sally, follows two wealthy mothers, Bethany Slade (Mia Kirshner) and Caroline DeVere (Penelope Ann Miller), who get caught up in the world of college admissions fraud, obsessed with getting their two kids into the best colleges. The events in the movie lined up closely to real-life news coverage, and took a chilling approach to events that were still being discovered in real-time.
The two mothers’ descent into the world of manipulation contradict each other and shed light on the different motivations that such a complicated crime has. At the root of it all, both mothers wanted the best for their children, at the same time being captivated by the allures of prestige.
Bethany Slade immediately jumped on the bandwagon when she heard about a way to cheat her daughter’s way into Yale. She told her daughter that it was what was best for her, and her daughter participated in photoshoots and willingly falsified SATs. Caroline DeVere, on the other hand, chose to keep it a secret from her son. At first, she pushed back against committing college-admission fraud, but stress and her son’s pushback on academics forced her to do what she thought was the only way to secure her son’s livelihood. The son was kept in the dark, proctors were bribed, and editors were paid to change test scores and Photoshop images.
When the inevitable admissions scandal breaks loose on television, the audience is left conflicted on how to feel. Even the family that had both the parent and the child intentionally committing fraud was a family that was both hated and, at the same time, sympathized with. Simultaneously conflicting emotions turned the movie into more than just a reiteration of real life. We know that what the mothers did was wrong, but the aftermath of the consequences still causes us to feel upset.
Certain moments give us exactly what we’re expecting when deciding to watch a movie about wealthy people using their money. Bethany Slade even justifies her fraud by saying,
“What parent of a brilliant minority child wouldn’t take every advantage they can? I’ve read about minority kids who’ve been accepted into Ivy League schools with SATs 200 points lower than yours…They have their advantages, and we have ours.”
Others aren’t so easy to quickly denounce with disgust. When Caroline DeVere gets caught and has to explain to her actions to her son, she proclaimed that everything she did was wrong, and that she would spend the rest of her life fixing this and atoning for this sin. She fully understood the problems with her actions, and does her best to recover. There’s a heaviness to the scenes and shows the consequences of “doing everything you can” for your child, even if in his best interest.
As a high schooler, I felt for the families and was even wishing at times that the children got away unscathed. The more I felt bad, the more I questioned my own moral integrity. The movie isn’t a quick fun show to make fun of or yell at; it carries a deeper message and questions such as what actually defines a meritocracy and what do we need to change as a society and a schooling system.
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Sweet Insomnia is brimming with juxtaposition, as the title suggests; the lyricism of “Panasonic,” for instance, critiques fame against a mellow, nostalgia-inducing backdrop. The playful, simple piano chord progressions of “Crimes” similarly contrast Gallant’s detailing of a relationship gone awry. The juxtaposition always provides functionality. “Sharpest Edges” describes a relationship that simultaneously results in happiness and pain. The contradiction between these two concepts is furthered by the contradiction between mushy instrumentation on “Sharpest Edges” and its pained lyricism.
If Gallant were ever to be spuriously labeled as one-note, the title track “Sweet Insomnia” acts as a perfect refutation in its fusion of elements of ‘70s rock with ‘90s R&B. The track sees Gallant’s meandering, fragile vocals anchored by featured artist 6lack’s more moody, robust sound. Its hazy melodies, syncopated percussion, and propulsive bass riff supply the foundations for the track’s dreamy, ethereal instrumentation. Though the dramatic vocal style Gallant assumes has roots in retro R&B, 6lack’s crisp vocals cut through for an equally contemporary feel.
The album’s minimalistic production is consistently artfully executed. “Compromise,” featuring Sabrina Claudio, shines, with an infectious tropical beat furthered by extensive use of synthesizers. The bleak, robotic 808 synthesizers on “Paper Tulips” are comparably apt for its bleak message about Gallant’s recognition of his faults in a relationship.
Insomnia’s faults lie solely in its regrettably short length, lasting only 35 minutes in its entirety. Its brevity is forgivable, however, due to the album’s commendable lack of filler. Even “410,” the album’s introduction, and interludes “Forever 21” and “Konami” are engaging.
Sweet Insomnia had the daunting task of following up Gallant’s previous album, Ology, but it is far from disappointing. On Insomnia, Gallant further reinforces his status as a force to be reckoned with through an impressive show of vocal ability.
]]>The tournament began in thrilling fashion as it repeatedly had in the past with Thiem’s upset over third seed Federer 7-5, 7-5. Second seed Novak Djokovic cruised past his first match swiftly, dismantling his young opponent Matteo Berrettini in two comfortable sets, only allowing Berrettini to win three games. The following day, seventh seed Zverev picked apart U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal’s defense in a quick two sets: 6-2, 6-4. An intense match-up between fourth seed Daniil Medvedev and Tsitsipas followed the Nadal thriller, bringing the tournament its first glance of a tiebreaker. After converting numerous points under pressure during the second set, Tsitsipas managed to take down a threatening Medvedev.
Tuesday’s matches stunned the London crowd again, bringing Thiem in the spotlight after he beat Djokovic in a grueling three-set match: 6-7, 6-3, 7-6. Tsitsipas once again proved to tennis fans that he had what it takes to crack through to the semifinals by dismantling Zverev in convincing fashion, not allowing Zverev to break his serve once throughout the match. Nadal made his return in breathtaking fashion in a U.S. Open rematch against Medvedev. After facing a match point in the third set, Nadal overcame the pressure to secure a needed win: 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.
The fifth day of the group stages brought one of the most surprising matches of the year: Djokovic succumbed to Federer’s aggressive court play, granting Federer his first official victory over him since 2015. Federer’s victory was seen as a possible turning point for his career: having lost the Wimbledon final to Djokovic after failing to convert on two match points, this win elated brought Federer into the semifinals.
The latter days of the group stages exposed Tsitsipas’s weaknesses to defensive counterplay. Nadal took down Tsitsipas in a back-and-forth three-set match that highlighted Nadal’s dominance from the baseline: 6-7, 6-4, 7-5. The loss did not eliminate Tsitsipas from the tournament, as his performances during previous group stage matches helped secure him a spot in the semifinals. With Zverev’s win over Medvedev on the same day, Zverev surpassed Nadal in the tournament standings. Nadal was eliminated from the tournament, bringing Thiem, Zverev, Tsitsipas, and Federer into the Nitto ATP semifinals.
After noting Thiem’s wins over Djokovic and Federer in the group stages, fans were not surprised to see Thiem outplaying Zverev in their semifinal match-up. Zverev fought hard in the first set to hold serve numerous times, but Thiem cracked through the Zverev serve at 5-5, granting him the first set. The second set ended swiftly, with Thiem breaking Zverev early, allowing him to clinch the second set 6-3. Federer fell to a dominant Tsitsipas in two clean sets; Federer was unable to mimic Nadal’s defensive prowess to capitalize on Tsitsipas’s weakness. As a result, Federer crumbled, losing 6-3, 6-4.
The final on Sunday split fans around the world, with Tsitsipas facing Thiem treating the audience to one of the most thrilling matches of the year. Thiem clinched the first set in a tiebreak, pushing the momentum towards his camp. Immediately after the start of the second set, Tsitsipas jumped on every opportunity Thiem granted him, allowing Tsitsipas to dismantle Thiem in a brisk 6-2 set. The third set proceeded in an orderly fashion, but as it drew longer, fans were pushed to the edges of their seats. It reached a climactic tiebreak where Tsitsipas outperformed Thiem by the slightest of margins to grant him his first Nitto ATP Final title, a feat that will change his career trajectory.
The end of the Nitto ATP Finals marked the culmination of the 2019 season. The results of the tournament left the Big Three on top of the tour, but with questions being thrown by Tsitsipas and Thiem, the 2020 ATP season is beginning to look murky for the veterans. The upcoming grand slam in Melbourne will truly highlight the state of the Big Three in tournaments to come. Until then, tennis fans will have to wait and see which players come out of their Australian Open preparation feeling the most fit.
]]>TikTok was originally named Musical.ly when it was initially released in April of 2014. Initially a lip-syncing app, it gained popularity and was acquired by the Chinese company ByteDance in 2017. They absorbed Musical.ly into their own app called TikTok. While there was no technical change from this transition Musical.ly and TikTok, most users would agree that a huge cultural shift of content occurred.
As a user of Musical.ly through the transition to TikTok, I can say the contents of the app has changed for the better. Musical.ly’s content heavily focused on lip-syncing and PG-13 content, for lack of better words. Thankfully, this has changed, and TikTok’s content now revolves around comedy and epic dance challenges.
TikTok has become a place for people of all ages to show off their many talents. For me, TikTok has become a place where I can create mini comedy sketches and have fun. TikTok’s content has such high quality that has been dubbed the new ‘Vine’, a popular previously existing short video app. Vine was shut down because of a lack of quality content and spamming, but TikTok has become the new source for such content.
TikTok has also become known for its addictiveness as people all over the world cannot get enough of it. In fact, 90 percent of TikTok users use the app daily and on average, spend almost an hour each day on the app, making, watching, sharing, and creating videos.
Honestly, I love TikTok, and it has become one of my favorite activities, I encourage everyone to check it out for themselves. There is content for everyone of all ages and backgrounds. TikTok is competing with big players such as Youtube, Instagram, and Snapchat on the big markets. When it comes down to it, TikTok is unique in its purpose aiming at content creators, allowing anyone to gain some fame. If you haven’t taken a look into it, I highly recommend it because even though TikTok can be addicting, it is worth it.
]]>The KSI and Logan Paul rivalry sprung up last year amid a flurry of online taunts and open challenges, in which KSI and Logan Paul took to the next level. They spent months arranging a match and spent many more training for it. Before their first match, they had a series of press conferences in which they both expressed deep dislike for the opponent. But these words had no effect on the real matter of the night: the fight. On the night of the fight, in Manchester, England, both contestants fired up and dueled aggressively. Despite both their best efforts, the outcome was a draw, and KSI and Logan Paul were sent home without a trophy.
After a few months of rest, the stars were eager to start again. They called each other and began to arrange a second match. This time the fight was staged in Los Angeles, where he would have a distinct home advantage. Like their first match up, prior to the fight, they had a series of press conferences. In the press conferences, KSI and Paul took light jabs and made personal remarks at the opponent.
On the night of the fight, over 10,000 people showed up at the live venue, and over 1 million were streaming. These numbers resulted from combined efforts of both stars, who each had around 20 million subscribers each near the time of the fight. This popularity, along with a few advertisements on the internet, brought in this large number of viewers.
The first few rounds had both men working out the other’s strategy, with little to no big blows. The two boxers took light jabs and bounced around the ring, scouting the other with no intention to strike with full force. According to judges, KSI had won the first three rounds in a tight contest 10-9, each round. Later in the fight, KSI had worn out and Paul won round four, 10 – 8. The last two rounds were even tighter than the first three, with KSI and Paul splitting both of them. They each were now jabbing quickly and taking big swings in the hopes of landing a knockout. After the fight, the judges convened for a short while, and brought the two men into the center of the ring and declared KSI the winner.
KSI then went on to console Paul after his loss. KSI stated that their bout was over and he would not be boxing again, but then recommended that Paul take on another opponent, wrestler CM Punk.
Although the KSI and Logan Paul era has ended, fans of other YouTubers can still look forward to other upcoming matches. The worlds of boxing and YouTube have meshed together, sparking a newfound interest for fans of both realms.
]]>Bennett and sophomore midfielder Eli Schoffstall scored two goals apiece against Warren. Junior Joey Gillespie filled in well for injured senior goalie Artur Cholewa, stopping all but one shot on goal. Against St. Patrick’s, Conway scored twice and Kating added a goal. Fremd finished the season 15-2-4 overall, unbeaten in conference play (10-0-2) and ranked 37th nationally and sixth in Illinois.
Against Warren, Fremd’s crisp passing helped the Vikings penetrate into Blue Devils territory. Fremd recorded eight shots on goal and 15 shots total. The Vikings’ aggressive defensive mentality prevented Warren from getting shots on goal, simplifying the game for Gillespie and minimizing the number of saves he had to make. Fremd’s win was a total team effort; after every goal scored, the bench erupted and the crowd cheered enthusiastically.
Head coach Steve Keller was pleased by his team’s performance against Warren.
“We were able to hold off a strong start from Warren and capitalized on our chances,” Keller said. “Once we went up two goals, we seemed to settle down and control the game.”
While Fremd recognized the talent Warren possessed, the Vikings were plenty confident in their own ability and showed their confidence early and often against the Blue Devils.
Defenseman Kaelan Conway described the challenge facing Fremd entering the Warren game.
“For Warren we knew they’d be a physical team to play against and that they were skilled in the back and could play really good possession,” Conway said. “I think the biggest thing that helped us against them was staying calm and just playing our style of soccer.”
Midfielder C.J. Williams also praised Warren’s skill level.
“Warren was able to possess very well in the midfield,” Williams said. “We had to communicate and hustle off the ball on defense to stay with their players and when we did that we were able to win the back and create opportunities offensively.”
Against St. Patrick’s, Fremd was tenacious but a late rally was not enough to save its season. Despite the loss, the Vikings headed home proud of their strong effort.
“St. Patrick’s forward was outstanding, defensively we allowed the Shamrocks too much time in the midfield and got beat a couple times by their forward,” Williams said. “We had them where we wanted them until a couple detrimental mistakes hurt us. We never stopped fighting in that one but it wasn’t enough.”
Conway spoke about the challenge Fremd faced against St. Patrick’s.
“St. Patrick’s was obviously a great team, probably one of the most technically skilled teams in the state,” Conway said. “We knew they were crafty on the ball so we focused on playing as solid defense as we could and not letting them have a ton of time on the ball to create chances.”
Team chemistry was vital to Fremd’s success this season. The senior class had played together for ten years, developed close friendships on and off the field and knew what it would take to accomplish their lofty goals. They dealt well with the high-pressure situations of the playoffs because they experienced similar success during the regular season, playing every game as if it were their last.
“For me personally I have played in big games before and have the experience and for the young guys we played a few games with big crowds in our regular season, such as Palatine and the conference championship,” Schoffstall said. “I think we played our hearts out and left it all on the field every game and I’m proud of how my teammates played.”
]]>Set in 1957 New York City, the film follows private detective Lionel (Norton), who struggles with Tourette’s syndrome. However, he has a knack for remembering things, which makes him excel as an investigator. One day, his mentor and close friend, Frank Minna, is shot and killed, which leads him into a new investigation into the final case that Frank was working on. The new investigation brings him into the world of New York City politics as well as the neighborhoods of the marginalized.
In the beginning, the movie hits the ground running. It starts off with a chase scene but soon after it slows down. Besides the beginning and the end, most of Motherless Brooklyn moves at a snail’s pace. The mystery is mainly pieced together through dialogue, and it takes patience and focus for the audience to sit through it. Despite this, the plot is intriguing and in its 144-minute runtime, Motherless Brooklyn touches on race, disabilities and corruption in politics in a very thoughtful way.
Norton’s performance as Lionel was a standout. Motherless Brooklyn did a great job in its portrayal of Tourette’s syndrome. It never felt like Lionel’s Tourette’s syndrome was being sugarcoated or overemphasized. Certain characters respond poorly to it, calling him “freakshow” and repeatedly asking Lionel to stop. On the other hand, some characters accept it and empathize with him. The different responses put Lionel in tough situations, and his reactions characterize him more than him having a disability. Norton portrays this condition very well, in addition, Norton’s genuine portrayal of Lionel’s feelings toward his mentor and the people around him brought heart to the movie. His feelings are what gave Motherless Brooklyn purpose and propelled it forward.
Another standout part of the movie was how well the style of the 1950s was expressed. From the fast-paced bebop jazz in a small Harlem nightclub to the costumes and set pieces, everything on the screen sucked us into this world. The private detectives in the agency are decked out in suspenders and trench coats while the women wore scarves and old-fashioned dresses. However, the element that really nailed the whole feel of the movie was the characters’ dialect, using words like “gumshoe” and utilizing thick New York accents.
In the slew of superhero movies and rehashed Disney movies that have been circulating, Motherless Brooklyn is a refreshing change of pace. It’s deliberate and thought-provoking about issues in society without being pretentious. The key point of Motherless Brooklyn is how it slows things down and focuses on the people in the story, the part of the story that makes it whole.
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The film begins when the oldest son of the poverty-ridden and unemployed Kim family, Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) gets offered a tutoring job for the wealthy Park family. He gets the job by forging a certificate of admission to a college, which begins their cunning plan of getting his entire family employed by the Park family. As the family gets entangled in a secret hidden within the Park home, the story takes an unexpected turn that causes everything to fall apart.
The film presents an allegory of our current society. It takes on dark humor to reveal the complex reality of class and the large gap between the rich and the poor. Bong Joon-ho perfectly casts the characters to represent their class and place in society. In particular, the mother of the Park family successfully conveys the stereotype of a wealthy housewife, kind and not necessarily discriminatory, but completely oblivious to reality. This theme of class is also shown in the glamorous Park house. Every wall being designed to fit perfectly is contrasted with the small, scraped together semi-basement home of the Kim family.
Throughout the film, the tension keeps building and pulls the audience in and doesn’t let go. Bong Joon-ho is incredibly successful in creating the illusion as if we are in the house with the family, which builds up anxiety and discomfort for the audience. The beauty of this film is that it forces the audience to be so stressed out and nervous, not just by the thriller aspect of the plot, but by just the mere conversations and details of the characters. Certain scenes make the audience feel as though they themselves are being the parasites, infiltrating the Park home. By the end of the film, when all the characters reach their breaking point and everything falls into chaos, we are left jarred and shaken, thinking about the film long after it is over.
Parasite lingers in your mind as the movie’s mixture between humor and thriller plays with the emotions of the audience and criticizes the issues of class.
]]>Township High School District 211 appointed Dr. Lisa Small as its new superintendent this past October. Small, who is D211’s current associate superintendent for instruction, will assume the position after the retirement of Dr. Daniel E. Cates, the district’s current superintendent.
Small has taken on various positions in the educational field prior to this appointment, starting with a teaching career at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, transitioning to District 211 as a math and science teacher at Hoffman Estates High School, and serving as William Fremd High School’s principal. When asked about her past experiences, Small believes it has helped her develop professionally.
“As a teacher, your whole world revolves around those kids in your classes. What can you do to prepare them, how can you adjust your lessons,” said Small. “As an administrator, the range of students broadens.”
D211 started their search for a superintendent this past June, signing a $17,900 contract with School Exec Connect, a third-party that would determine candidates for the position. Small, who worked with the Board of Education and Dr. Daniel E. Cates, believes that it is her inclusive experience that allowed her to stand out among the pool of candidates. She trusts that her previous and ongoing contributions toward developing District 211 lay a foundation for her future role.
“The experiences that I’ve had in the roles of this district prior to the job search is something that I hope the Board of Education saw as a benefit,” Small said. “I have that base perspective and understanding. For the past 27 years, I have been a part of building this district and moving it forward.”
Out of D211’s record of superintendents, Small will be the sixth of eight superintendents who were hired within the district. Small believes the trend is indicative of how the district desires to grow.
“I believe that it shows we are moving in the right direction, that we don’t want to be stagnant. It shows that we can continue to grow because of the successes that we’ve had,” Small said. “If you look at anecdotal data from past graduates, it shows that we are doing things right.”
Since the start of her career, Small knew she wanted to work within the field of education as a teacher, receiving a bachelor’s of Science-Biology Education from the Ohio State University in 1991. However, the transition from teaching to administration was an idea that sprouted through a recommendation.
“I was a math and science teacher; one day, my principal at Hoffman Estates High School at the time tapped me on the shoulder and told me I should apply to be assistant principal,” said Small.
Small believes that instance in her career can serve as a message in a larger context.
“When someone plants the seed in your head, that’s when you start to cultivate that idea and see if that’s what you want to do,” said Small.
Small received her doctorate of education in Curriculum and Instruction at Loyola University-Chicago in 2005; later earning a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership Administration and Supervision from National-Louis University in 2000, and her master’s of education in Curriculum and Instruction – Secondary Education from Northern Illinois University in 1997.
Assuming the role of Superintendent broadens Small’s responsibilities as she is now accountable for around 12,000 students’ successes.
“Many of our graduates, leave us prepared for their next steps; as superintendent, that’s one of the things I can ensure is that we continue down that road and continually prepare them,” said Small.
Small has already developed a wide array of goals, both short-term and long-term. Her first priority is to begin hiring and fill open positions so that District 211 hires the best teachers for their students. Looking more long term, Small hopes to develop a system that uncovers data on recent graduates, revealing potential successes and hurdles that they may face after high school.
“As we continue to do better at preparing students, I also want to find out graduate’s success rate when they leave us,” said Small. “I want to have a good system of contact from recent graduates one or two years down the line.”
There are some challenges that Small will need to address as Superintendent. Small explains her planned course of action and stresses the importance of open and honest communication tactics.
“I have conversations with the union on a consistent basis. I hope to continue those open conversations, because open communication is key to understanding each side. It is often due to misinterpretation. We need to make sure we truly understand where the other person is coming from.”
]]>In a statement released after the negotiation, the Football Federation Australia (FFA) said, “The new agreement reflects football’s determination to address issues of gender equity in all facets of the game and build a sustainable financial model.”
The Matildas will now be able to travel business class and will be provided with coaching support the same standard as the men’s. They will also earn an increased portion of the World Cup prize money and resources for youth football programs. The FFA claimed that, overall, the deal amounts to a 90% rise in guaranteed minimum payments.
Although the deal is a huge step forward for women in the sport, pay disparities still persist when it comes to the World Cup tournament prizes. The prize money for the 2019 Women’s World Cup was $30 million while the 2018 Men’s World Cup was $400 million. With the prize money for both tournaments being drastically different, the women still end up earning far less than the men despite the exceeding quality of their play.
The U.S. women’s national soccer team, much like the Matildas, has sued the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) due to apparent pay discrepancies. With four World Cup titles and tremendous success on the soccer field, the women’s team receives comparatively less compensation than the men’s team.
The women sign contracts that provide an annual salary of $100,000 and bonuses for wins and ties only. According to the Washington Post, the men are not guaranteed a set annual salary but are provided with $5000 in bonuses even if they lose. Overall, the women earned bonuses of $90,000 for reaching the quarterfinals in the 2019 World Cup. If the U.S. men’s team had reached the same point in last year’s World Cup, they would have gotten bonuses of $550,000. Due to this, USWNT has long been associated with leading the fight for equal pay for women in soccer, and this new deal can only stand as a factor of motivation and hope.
The Matildas, meanwhile, have been celebrating their win as they stand behind teams that continue their fights. Midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight shared a video on Twitter about the team’s history and wrote, “So many have played a part to help grow the game to where it is today. But remember, we’re not finished yet.”
Women athletes at the highest levels of play have taken their fight for proper compensation and better opportunities. Their unflinching demand to get paid what they deserve is a driving factor to ending gender discrimination in sports. The FFA’s decision to join this demand proved to women in sports that equal pay is possible. The agreement highlights the glaring inequalities present between men and women in professional sports. It encourages teams around the world to call for what they deserve and governing bodies of sports to serve what is deserved.
]]>Restricting access to locker rooms for solely one group of students is discrimination. To suggest otherwise would essentially be saying that it is acceptable for transgender students to be treated separately from others of the gender they identify with and that gender identity counts for nothing.
While some may say that gender is determined biologically at birth and that being transgender is a mental illness, it has been scientifically proven that this is simply untrue. According to Scientific American, there are multiple studies concerning research in genetics, neurobiology, and endocrinology that prove that trans people are in fact real, and do identify with something other than what their anatomy may suggest. Knowing this, there is nothing to justify treating trans people differently than other cisgendered people of the same gender, and trans students should never have been subjected to this in the first place.
Parents and students have no reason to be concerned. According to the Daily Herald, students will have the opportunity to change in separate, private stalls if they are uncomfortable changing in the presence of transgender students. Additionally, students will only be allowed to use the locker room of the gender that they identify with, meaning that this policy won’t be abused (for example, boys will not be allowed to use the girls’ bathroom). This new policy is one that protects all students, regardless of gender identity, instead of leaving minorities who are already discriminated against behind.
This policy will hopefully stand as the precedent for other districts in the area and perhaps even the country. Discrimination has no place in schools. Transgender students should have the right to use the locker rooms just as any other student would. With their decision, District 211 has chosen to prioritize equality over discrimination. Because after all, equality is a right, not a privilege.
]]>The Texans have been struggling to find their rhythm, and Deshaun Watson has not been able to step up and lead this team at all. After taking an embarrassing loss to the Ravens this defense will likely struggle against the Colts too. The Colts are coming in with a strong win over the Jaguars, and their offense has consistently been putting good drives together. Key players like T.Y. Hilton and Jacoby Brissett will dictate this game all the way. Unless the Texans can find their explosive offense, the Colts should secure this win.
Dolphins @ Browns: Browns
After a loss to the Bills, the Dolphins are honestly better off tanking the rest of their season to secure a higher round draft pick for next year. On the other side, the Browns came up with a big win over the Steelers, 21-7. The Browns are slowly incorporating Kareem Hunt, who was suspended for 10 weeks, into their offense. Jarvis Landry is also stepping up and helping Baker Mayfield create big plays. This “new offense” of the Browns will be tough to stop and their defense, who came up with four interceptions against the Steelers, should be able to shut down the Dolphins offense.
Lions @ Redskins: Lions
The Redskins, who have one of the worst records in the league, lost to the Jets. This Redskins team has too many injured players and too many inexperienced rookies on their lines and secondary. Their defense will have an incredibly tough time with stopping an offense like the Lions. The Lions, however, did lose to the Cowboys. Detroit, who also has a terrible defense, should still be able to keep the Redskins’ offense at bay. Matthew Stafford and his offense should be able to march the football down the field at ease as the Redskins just doesn’t have a good pass defense to stop the Lions.
Raiders @ Jets: Raiders
The Jets are also another team which have been degraded due to their numerous injuries. However, many of their star players are back such as Sam Darnold. After a confidence-boosting win over the Redskins, 34-17, the Jets will have a bigger challenge in stopping a very explosive offense: Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs. The Raiders somehow came up with a close win over the Bengals, 17-10, and will hope to extend their winning streak. The Jets have one of the worst offenses in the league and due to their numerous injuries, their defense will not be at their top shape to stop the Raiders. The Raiders’ defense is not particularly strong either, but because the Jets have one of the worst offenses in the league, the Raiders should still be able to secure this win.
Giants @ Bears: Bears
The Bears are having one of the worst seasons in their franchise history. They have no offensive identity and their defense is slowly deteriorating. After another embarrassing loss to the Rams, all hope is lost in the dream of Bears presence in the playoffs. The Giants’ defense is struggling to stop offenses and the Bears have shown that they have no offense. This game will revolve around if the Bears defense can stop the Giants (mainly Saquon Barkley) from outscoring their offense. This is going to be a very close game and considering that this game is being played at Chicago, a tough place to play in the winter, the Bears should have an advantage.
Panthers @ Saints: Saints
After a crushing loss to the Falcons, 3-29, the Panthers will have to take on one of the best teams in the league. The Panthers are currently being carried by their star running back, Christian McCaffrey. The Saints are coming in with an impressive win over the Buccaneers, 34-17. Their offense, mainly Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara, is simply too good to be stopped by a below average Panthers’ defense. The Saints’ defense will be able to keep McCaffrey on a leash and shut down the Panthers offense. This game will be dominated by the Saints from the first second to the last second.
Seahawks @ Eagles: Seahawks
The Eagles are coming in off of a tough loss to the Patriots. The Eagles have a solid offense with many key players like Jordan Howard and Alshon Jeffrey. But they lack a good and consistent defense which can come up with big plays and turnovers. The Seahawks have both a good defense and offense and it is tough to see the Eagles coming up with a win over, arguably, a top five team.
Buccaneers @ Falcons: Falcons
The Buccaneers always struggle to put drives together. They have extraordinary talent on their offense like Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, but what brings them down is often their quarterback, Jameis Winton. Their defense is also responsible for letting team easy touchdowns. The Falcons have put together some impressive wins, especially their last victory over the Panthers. If the Falcons were able to stop McCaffrey, then they should be able to stop Winston and his offense. The Bucs will also have a very tough time with stopping Julio Jones and Matt Ryan.
Broncos @ Bills: Bills
The Broncos were in complete control over the Vikings, but some key mistakes allowed the Vikings to come back. The Broncos are a very inconsistent team, and it is tough to tell whether they will play good one week or not. The Bills won against the Dolphins and are looking to dominate against the Broncos in the same manner they did to the Broncos. In the end, the Bills have a stronger defense and offense than the Broncos and this will result in an easy win for the Bills.
Steelers @ Bengals: Steelers
The Steelers surprisingly lost to the Browns, but they are going against a much easier team this week. The Bengals, the most consistent team in the league, lost their tenth straight game to the Raiders, 10-17. The Bengals are in no shape or form to beat the Steelers. Unless the Steelers decide not to play, they should come out on top.
Jaguars @ Titans: Titans
The Jaguars, led by Gardner Minshew, have come up with big wins but also big losses like their last loss to the Colts, 13-33. Their offense is slowly coming together however it is not going to be good enough to overcome the Titans defense. The Titans offense, mainly Derrick Henry, will simply run all over the Jaguars and there will be nothing the Jags can do.
Cowboys @ Patriots: Patriots
This is a big game for both teams. Both teams are coming in with a win in their previous game. The Cowboys came up with a big win over the Lions, 35-27, and the Patriots defense prevailed in their win over the Eagles, 17-10. This game will be decided on which team has a better offense. However, the Patriots defense is one of the best in the league and that was demonstrated in their superb performance against the Eagles. The Pats’ defense will be able to stop Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliot, and Micheal Gallup from outscoring Brady, Sony Michel, and Julian Edelman.
Packers @ 49ers: 49ers
This is going to be another good game, and this game will also be a shootout. The 49ers struggled with the Cardinals but still prevailed, 36-26. Lately, Jimmy Garoppolo is struggling and has made this offense take a couple of steps back. However, they should be able to find their rhythm back before this game and the overrated Packers’ defense will have a tough time handling George Kittle and Emmanuel Sanders. The Packers also have Aaron Rodgers supplemented with a strong running game. This game will be a close game, however as this game is in San Francisco and the 49ers have a slightly better defense they should come out with a victory.
Ravens @ Rams: Ravens
The Ravens have surprised everybody, and Lamar Jackson is nearly impossible to stop. They crushed the Texans, 44-7, and are looking to do the same thing in LA. The Rams, however, a team which has struggled all season due to a regressed Jared Goff and have stopped using Todd Gurley. The Ravens have a stronger offense and defense than the Rams. This game will be dominated solely by the Ravens.
]]>When attacked by critics who thought that his use of ads might have been influenced by the potential to make more revenue, Zuckerberg defended himself against such allegations. He claimed that Facebook ads make up less than half a percent of its revenue. Assuming this is true, Zuckerberg fails to recognize the reasons this may be so concerning. Even if Facebook doesn’t place such ads for revenue, these misleading ads should stop. While Zuckerberg expresses that he doesn’t think “it’s right for public companies to censor policies or the news,” the use of false information is outright lying to the public.
The spreading of false information also causes the public to be misinformed about what is going on in politics. Some people will come across such ads trust them to be accurate. Suddenly, this false news will spread across people regarding politicians, causing them to be influenced by inaccurate information. This isn’t fair to the people, as they have a right to know what is really happening with politics, not just fed lies regarding it. Also, this is unfair to politicians, because with false information being spread about them, this contributes to a negative image portraying them, one that is not even true. They hurt these politicians’ reputations for no reason.
A major point to address is that Zuckerberg needs to be a positive role model as a key public figure. Many people look to him as an inspiration and role model. Presenting false ads regarding politicians is not a very moral thing to do, and I don’t think it is something a person of Zuckerberg’s statute should be doing. A controversy such as this one can influence people the wrong way. They might think that these actions may not be immoral or see his actions as less severe than they really are because their role model is doing them. Other businesses may take on this mentality, and start doing this or even similar things because Facebook, an extremely prominent and influential business, set a negative example.
While some people may agree with Zuckerberg’s actions, I do not. I don’t see how it is fair for someone to complacently allow lies to circulate and spread. While Zuckerburg is a great businessman and CEO, I still believe he has a moral responsibility to set an example, necessitating his immediate eradication of these false ads.
]]>The instant laid back vibe is a pleasant shock to the system. My sister and I happened to enter just behind a couple, and so we were stuck in the tiny space left. The menu was shown on televisions above the kitchen, but the left television, which showed the main burrito/bowl options, was obscured by a wall that jutted out further than it should have. Because of this, we couldn’t decide what to order in time, which led to an awkward moment of silence between us and the cashier as we decided what to order.
Don’t let the name of the restaurant throw you off – there’s very little Mexican influence in Poke Burrito. The concept of the restaurant is that they have sushi, but with a twist. You can either get the ingredients of sushi in a bowl, sans seaweed and rice, or in a massive uncut sushi roll the size of a burrito.
We both decided to build our own orders instead of getting a pre-made combination of ingredients. The first decision was whether we wanted a burrito or a bowl. If you wanted a burrito, you had to decide if you wanted seaweed (standard) or soy paper ($1.00 extra). For both you had to decide what rice you wanted. If you didn’t want rice, you could get mixed greens. There was no limit on the “ingredients” you wanted, which included vegetables, as well as mandarin oranges, ginger, jalapeño, and cilantro, among others. Then there was the choice of sauces. There was a wide variety of sauces, each one with a different level of sweetness, spiciness, or sourness. The proteins were similar, but after picking three, each additional one cost $1.95. Finally were the toppings, which varied from onion, wonton, to seaweed salad.
My sister ordered a bowl, which cost $11.15 in the end, and I ordered a burrito, which cost $15.93. They offered cucumber water and lemon water, which you got yourself out of slick square jugs into small cups. The lemon water was nice, and the lemon to water ratio was pretty much perfect, but the same cannot be said about the cucumber water, which was much too strong. The service was incredibly fast, and out food came out about three minutes after ordering. This speed may have been the result of a nearly empty restaurant, but it was quick nevertheless.
After about three bites into my meal, it was pretty clear that sushi was not meant to be consumed in burrito form. It was about three inches in diameter, so you couldn’t get all of the ingredients in your mouth in one bite. Perhaps Poke Burrito could make the burrito smaller – I could have gotten most of the ingredients in my mouth if the diameter was two inches. The stickiness of the seaweed stuck to my lips as I tried to take a bite, which resulted in the seaweed ripping off of the rice right away. Along with that, the burrito came undone after about five bites, and so I eventually had to open it up and eat everything with a fork. But on the brighter side, the ingredients were definitely fresh. Everything was cooked very well, and it all came together wonderfully.
All in all, Poke Burrito was a nice experience for me and my sister. This new spot for a quick bite to eat with fresh, fulfilling food. It’s something of a testament to substance over style, but Poke Burrito could benefit by downsizing some of their menu items.
]]>Hao’s Success
Upon defeating David Howell in a thrilling eleventh round match and tying the point leader Fabiano Caruana, Wang Hao qualified for the 2020 Candidates’ Tournament, offering him a chance to challenge Magnus Carlsen for the world title. Chess fans were stunned, noting that Hao had reached his peak performance rating in 2013 and seemed to have declined from that point on. Along with Hao’s strong showing in the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament (also known as the Isle of Man), Carlsen’s record-breaking 101-game undefeated streak highlights the groundbreaking turnout of this year’s Isle of Man.
The Rise of Young Grandmasters
The tournament hosted an influx of new grandmasters, some of whom were promoted during the tournament. 13-year-old Raunak Sadhwani, 14-year-old Vince Keymer, and 15-year-old Jonas Buhl Bjerre were granted the Grandmaster title upon picking up the last of three required norms and passing a FIDE rating of 2500. Keymer and Bjerre became the youngest grandmasters from their respective countries, Germany and Denmark. The three young players are continuing the apparent trend of an increasingly young grandmaster population in the chess community.
Underdog Performances
The FIDE Grand Swiss tournament also highlighted the underdog achievements of several rising grandmasters. Notably, Grandmaster Alekseenko Kirill of Russia demonstrated fluidity in his gameplay, beating Sergey Karjakin, drawing to former world champion Viswanathan Anand, and splitting points with Carlsen. Kirill’s performance clinched him a third-place finish in the tournament, placing him above world-famous Hikaru Nakamura and Carlsen. Howell also stunned fans with his exquisite playing, holding his own to defeat top ten player Alexander Grischuk and to finish the tournament in eleventh. Along with Kirill and Howell, Grandmaster David Anton illustrated his rapidly increasing strength through his victories against Grischuk and 21-year-old Armenian grandmaster Robert Hovhannisyan, securing him a solid fourth-place finish.
The end of the Isle of Man tournament has left chess enthusiasts to question the future of the top ten. With poor performances from high-quality grandmasters like Grischuk, some top ten grandmasters are losing their positions in the leaderboards. With Carlsen finishing in sixth place overall despite losing no matches, it is becoming evident that upcoming grandmasters pose a great threat to current leaders. Fans now have eyes set on the Grand Prix tournament and Grand Chess Tour events in November to observe whether the trend of rising grandmasters will continue to finish the season.
]]>According to the New York Times, two states, Oregon and Utah, have recently passed laws allowing for students to do this. In Oregon, students are now allowed to take five days off every three months for their mental health. And in Utah, the definition of a valid excuse to miss school was amended to include mental illness as well as physical illness. Currently, in Illinois, Representative Deborah Conroy has introduced a bill that would allow students to have excused absences for mental health, but it has not yet been passed.
With the ever-increasing pressure to take more AP classes and become more involved in extracurriculars, the school can quickly become a major source of stress and anxiety. A day off every so often can make all the difference. It would allow students to take a day to sleep in, relax, and actually have time with their families so that they can get back on track with their work the next day. Just one day to help students manage their work and balance their course loads with their personal lives can help reduce the stress and anxiety many students face as a direct result of school.
Mental health also needs to be prioritized as much as physical health. Students are allowed to take a day off when they have a cold, but not when they are too stressed out or depressed? They are excused from school to recover from illnesses, but not when they need a day to manage their stress before they crack under pressure? Mental health issues are just as valid of a reason to miss school as physical illness are, and should be treated as such.
Some may be concerned that mental health days would give students the perfect opportunity to ditch school while facing no consequences for it. While I’m sure that some students would take advantage of this, it would only be a select few. For most students, mental health days are something many truly need, and a small number of students taking advantage of a mental health day policy shouldn’t ruin it for the rest of the students who genuinely need them.
Students deserve to be mentally stable, and mental health days are precisely what we need to achieve that. Our mental well-being is just as important, if not more important, than our physical health. Students must be given the opportunity to take time off to care for their mental health, without being penalized for it. It’s the least the school can do for us.
]]>Junior Edward Zhang expresses his discontent with the way talks are moving forward between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
“Back in 2016, everyone was talking about Brexit,” Zhang said. “It even became a meme. I guess it’s pretty disappointing to see that nothing significant has actually happened in the two years since the announcement of Brexit.”
Much of the discord that is preventing the UK’s secession from the European Union has to do with the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit, an issue that has been the predominant talking point in negotiations. This is because, after Brexit, the 310-mile Irish border will serve as the sole land demarcation between the UK and the EU.
Theresa May, the former Prime Minister of the UK and leader of the initial Brexit charge, included in her original deal, the idea of a ‘backstop,’ which would keep the UK in close relations with the EU until a trade deal permanently avoiding the need for border checks is agreed upon. The Conservative MP’s maintained strong opposition to the idea, claiming that the UK would inevitably maintain close relations with the EU indefinitely, without ever agreeing on a trade deal.
Following May’s resignation, current Prime Minister Boris Johnson included in his most current version of the Brexit deal that the UK will legally maintain a customs border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, however, border checks will only occur on goods entering Ireland from Great Britain.
Because the European Union has yet to respond to the UK’s plea to extend the deadline to Jan. 31, 2020, the current deadline for the UK’s exit from the European Union is Oct. 31. If negotiations have not moved forward by then, both organizations risk a ‘no-deal,’ in which the UK leaves the European Union with no negotiations.
Without some sort of deal between the UK and the European Union to transition the separation while maintaining economic relations, an overnight Brexit would trigger 4 percent tariffs on trade between the organizations, ramp up trade barriers between the UK and the EU, and deter investment in the Euro. In fact, in Nov. 2018, the Bank of England found that the UK’s economy could contract by 8% in the event of a no-deal Brexit and the Office for Budget Responsibility found that the UK would likely dip into recession in the aftermath.
Upon hearing of the potential results of a No-Deal Brexit, Sophomore Zaid Ahmed explains the urgency of UK-EU negotiations.
“Clearly, a No-Deal Brexit should be avoided at all costs,” Ahmed said. “With the economic livelihoods of millions of UK citizens on the line, I truly hope that the United Kingdom and the European Union are able to come to terms on Brexit.”
]]>Students ages 12 and under were dressed up in costumes spanning from cows to NASA astronauts to Mario Kart characters. They traveled from classroom to classroom, engaging in a variety of activities Fremd’s extracurricular clubs planned, including face-painting, musical chairs, and watching science experiments.
Halloween Fest provides a safe place for children to trick-or-treat while also avoiding the cold. This particularly applies for this year, as the weather decided to dress up as January for Halloween, and trick-or-treating out in the snow wouldn’t be the best idea for young children.
For three years now, Fremd has been a proud supporter of the Teal Pumpkin Project, a program which emphasizes the importance of providing allergy friendly alternatives. The project advocates for the awareness of food allergies and supports the inclusion of all children during the Halloween season. Including allergy-friendly prizes for children began just one year after the Fremd Student Council took over managing the Halloween Festival in 2012.
World language teacher and Student Council advisor Ashley Soriano, who’s been a part of this Fremd Halloween tradition for 10 years, recollects one of her most notable memories.
“My first year of teaching and participating in Student Council, I wore a huge inflatable Sumo Wrestling Baby costume,” Soriano said. “It was hot in that costume, and it was difficult to navigate around because I was so large. Everyone loved my costume, but I decided that it was a little easier to walk around wearing Student Council apparel, which is what I now wear.”
Making sweet memories of their trick or treating days is definitely a pro of hosting Halloween Fest, but giving back to the community is also a highlight of this Student Council event. The Fremd Student Council does so by collecting non-perishables, such as canned fruit, for the Palatine Food Pantry.
Not only do Fremd students give back to the community that has supported them for the longest time, but they also get to interact with younger children, celebrating Halloween festivities. Seeing the children run around to get candy probably brings back many vivid memories for high schoolers of the days when homework and grades didn’t plague them. Fortunately, Halloween Fest advocates for Fremd students to take some time off and to just celebrate an exciting holiday.
For Soriano, Halloween is more than just candy and costumes, as Halloween Fest serves a greater purpose for the community.
“My favorite parts are seeing so many groups in our school participating in this event, having such a big variety of activities provided to our community members, the happiness throughout the school on the night of the event, and the fact that we give back to the community by collecting non-perishables for the Palatine Food Pantry,” Soriano states. “It’s such a unique event, and I am proud of Student Council for putting it on each year.”
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On Saturday, October 19th, we ordered the same meal from the same restaurant and judged each company on price, speed, and service. Our orders were staggered five minutes apart. The order was one bacon cheeseburger, one cup of medium fries, and one double Oreo shake from Five Guys. We were staying in a room at the Lake Point Tower, a tall structure that stands just in front of Navy Pier.
We ordered first from Postmates. Immediately, the app began to offer us deals – they offer ”parties,” which is like carpooling. To get free delivery, customers may participate in a “party,” a type of carpooling system where a driver picks up food from one restaurant for multiple different orders, or customers can pay $9.99 per month on orders over $15. This order was the most expensive, at $33.53. There was no option to tip the driver, and the estimated waiting time was the longest at 30 – 40 minutes.
We ordered second from Doordash. We were offered a zero dollar delivery fee for the next thirty days on orders over ten dollars, which, of course, we denied to keep the test fair. The final price was the lowest, at $28.69, including a four dollar tip. They placed in the middle of estimated arrival times with an estimate of 25 – 32 minutes.
The final order was placed using UberEats. There weren’t a lot of deals offered to us, and while we ordered, we were hit with a collection of confusing fees, such as service fees, delivery fees, and cancellation fees, to name a few. While it did not apply to our order, they also charge a fee if your order is under ten dollars. The final price was in the middle of the three with $29.30, which includes a 20% tip. The waiting time was fastest at 20 – 30 minutes.
Pretty much as soon as the orders were placed, the companies showed their worth or lack thereof. While all three offered live text communication, Doordash kept us the most updated and was extremely accurate. What UberEats lacked in communication, they made up for with an easy to read tracking map. Postmates was by far the worst of all three. After spending a long time searching for a driver, they were barely moving, which makes sense in the Chicago traffic. However, after that, it seemed to be giving us multiple different drivers, and it took a very long time to find the right person for us.
Doordash was first to arrive, which a total delivery time of 23:40. Their driver, Chris, showed up on a bike, a smart idea for a quick way to get around the bustling Chicago streets. We tested the food immediately, and they brought us the hottest food, and the second coldest shake. Fifteen minutes later, our UberEats driver arrived. Clocking in at 38:36, our driver Charneeta arrived with the second hottest food and the coldest shake.
By then, Postmates still hadn’t found us a driver, and the estimated arrival time was over half an hour away. So we headed up to the room to enjoy the food we already had and periodically checked on the progress of our Postmates order. They sadly clocked in at 1:44:41. Yes, that’s an hour over the estimated arrival time. Sadly, their biggest flaw was their lack of an available driver, and we hope that this isn’t normal for Postmates. The food quality was less than stellar, as we were given the least hot food and the least cold shake.
This concluded our test of Doordash, UberEats, and Postmates, and there was a clear winner. With the only time under the estimate, not to mention the cheapest food, Doordash stepped up to the plate. So, if you ever need food delivered in a hurry, Doordash is the way to go.
]]>In the spirit of the season, we decided to put three mainstream brands’ autumn coffees to a side-by-side test, rating the appearance, aroma, and taste on a scale of one to five, one being unpalatable and five as fantastic. The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, Dunkin Donuts Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Signature Latte, and the McCafe Pumpkin Spice Latte were all purchased hot and in the smallest available size then evaluated by myself, and two fellow Fremd students.
A tall Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, with a price at $4.55, contains 300 calories in 12 oz. Dunkin Donuts also sells their Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Signature Latte with 216 calories in 12 oz. in a small for $3.09. In contrast, a small McDonald’s McCafe Pumpkin Spice Latte comes with 270 calories in 8 oz for $2.24 when whole milk was selected over nonfat.
After purchasing all three, we took a shot at predicting the outcome. We collectively agreed that the Dunkin Donuts version would most likely be the sweetest, McDonald’s with a weaker flavor, and Starbucks as the overall best.
Then came the time for the evaluation. We began by first examining Starbucks. In the appearance category, we unanimously ranked it a 4 out of 5 because of the orange tint to the coffee, light foam that wasn’t quickly melted away by the steam, and garnish of cinnamon. The fragrance was dominated by sweet floral notes and a hint of citrus, similar to a spiced vanilla candle. The flavor was compared to the aromatic, but sugary taste of a gingerbread cookie and was given a 4 out of 5 because of being slightly acidic.
The next beverage we tasted was from McDonald’s. They presented their adaptation of the drink with only a mild amount of foam that disappeared into the coffee quickly, so it was rated between 1 and 3 for appearance. Minimal pumpkin spice scent was detected, and the most noticeable smell was simply coffee. In fact, the taste contained a much fainter pumpkin flavor and felt more like drinking semi-sweet coffee than a seasonal latte designed to embody autumn. It was ranked between a two and four, but seemed to place higher if the person tasting enjoyed regular coffee with fewer additions.
Finally, we assessed Dunkin Donuts Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Signature Latte, which received a rating from 4 to 5 in presentation because of the fluffy foam and star-shaped spice topping. It had a very strong, aromatic smell, almost like a Christmas tree. Unfortunately, the taste was extremely bitter and overly spiced; it even paralleled to eating a candle. We all scored it a 1 out of 5 as we would probably not drink it again.
As a whole, our favorite was the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte as it best met our expectations in the assessment categories and contained the most pumpkin flavor. The McCafe Pumpkin Spice Latte was another recommended option specifically for coffee-lovers who prefer a stronger coffee taste. We found that the true answer to the inquiry of PSL quality is solely dependent on personal preference.
]]>In the previous movie, Jolie’s grace and charisma as Maleficent characterized the movie by showing a story from the perspective of the villain. However, the new plot killed the power that that Jolie gave as a lonely but dynamic godmother in trying to go after a more action-packed movie. This was also created by how the movie attempted to carve out the care Maleficent had in her, which was effective, but as the movie progressed and became more focused on the action, Maleficent was transformed into just a warrior, like all other movies. Maleficent lost the uniqueness of duality of love and hate towards humans and became just one of the many other fantasy action movies.
Even though the overriding action scenes did kill the uniqueness of the series, the scenes themselves, many being created through CG, filled the movie with color and beauty. The intricate details of the fairies and the magical forest successfully created a world filled with vivid hue and life. The costumes and makeup was original and extraordinary, mixing diverse cultural costumes and makeup to show their otherworldliness.
While the movie, for the younger audience, was satisfying with action packed scenes and dramatic visuals, for people who were looking for the mesmerizing acting of Jolie and the charismatic personality of Maleficent, this sequel felt empty and generic.
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Aaron Rodgers (QB)
There were many questions about the chemistry between the new head coach, Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers. However, those questions have been answered through the dominant offense led by Rodgers. The Packers are currently cruising at 6-1 with a three-game win streak, and they currently hold the number one position in the NFC North. The Packers dismantled the Raiders’ defense with a score of 42-24. Rodgers completed 25 out of 31 throws for 429 yards and five total touchdowns. He also had a perfect passer rating of 158.33, giving him 43.8 PPR fantasy points. Though the Packers were missing key offensive players like Davante Adams, Rodgers was still able to march down the field through the Raiders’ defense to score multiple times. Next week, the Packers are set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs who are without their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are struggling defensively, and their pass defense has had a very tough time defending deep threats and limiting the number of passing yards their opponents’ quarterback have had. Rodgers, without Adams, should still be able to rip through the Chiefs’ weak defense and find his tight end Jimmy Graham and other receivers like Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Start or Sit Week 8: Start
Dalvin Cook (RB):
This shouldn’t come by surprise at all, as the major component of Minnesota is their run game. The Vikings are 5-2, sitting at number two in the NFC North with a big win over the Lions, 42-30. Cook had 25 touches for 142 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. On top of that, he had one reception for 7 yards and zero fumbles for a total of 27.9 PPR fantasy points. Cook is a major player in this offense as he can run down defenses and also be a receiver at the same time. With his speed and agility, it is very tough for linemen to catch up to him. This dual threat will cause defenses throughout the NFL many problems. This week, the Vikings will face an extremely unhealthy Washington Redskins team. Many of their defensive linemen are injured, thus there are many inexperienced defensive linemen playing on their defensive line. The Vikings will simply run the ball over and over down the Redskins’ throat. Start or Sit Week 8: Start
Deandre Hopkins (WR):
Many fantasy players knew that coming into this season, DeAndre Hopkins would haul in many fantasy points for their team, as he is by far one of the most consistent wide receivers in the league, and he has lived up to that expectation. The Texans went up against division rival Indianapolis Colts, and ended up losing with a score of 23-30, putting them at number two in the AFC South just behind the Colts with a record of 4-3. In that game, Hopkins caught nine of twelve targeted passes. He amassed 106 yards and one touchdown with an average of 11.8 yards per reception, providing him a good amount of fantasy points: 25.6 PPR. The Texans, led by star quarterback, Deshaun Watson, have done well offensively with key offensive players like Hopkins, Will Fuller V, and Duke Johnson Jr. It is no doubt that Hopkins will remain Watson’s top wide receiver, leading to more receptions, yards, and ultimately fantasy points. This week, the Texans go up against the Raiders. The Raiders compensate for their subpar pass defense with a solid run defense. This should allow for more passes to be thrown to Hopkins and Fuller. Start or Sit Week 8: Start
Darren Waller (TE):
This may come as a surprise to many, as most would have expected either Zach Ertz or Travis Kelce here. However, the Raiders have been using Waller a lot, as after the loss of their star wide receiver Antonio Brown, they needed a person to fill his spot. Waller, a very athletic tight end, was able to fill Brown’s spot and help this offense take off with the help of teammate Josh Jacobs. They went up against the Green Bay Packers and fell short to a score of 24-42. The Raiders are currently second in the AFC West with a record of 3-3. However, this was a big game for Waller as he had a total of 31.6 PPR Fantasy points. He caught the ball seven out of the eight times he was targeted for a total of 126 yards, an average of 18 yards per reception, and two touchdowns. The Raiders are going up against the Texans, who have a very weak secondary allowing for more passes to Waller and more yards. Waller is a very strong TE1 option for this week. Start or Sit Week 8: Start
Chiefs (D/ST):
The Chiefs are not known for their defense as it is sub-par. However, they had the highest fantasy point total, 23, as they went up against the Broncos. The Broncos are simply not a good team and don’t have an offense that can function at all. Thus, the Chiefs came out with a win with a score of 30-6 putting them at the top of the AFC West division. This week, they go up against the Packers, whose offense is just too tough to stop. A Super Bowl-caliber defense is required to stop such an offense led by Rodgers, and unfortunately, the Chiefs just don’t have such a defense to stop them. This would be a very poor pick for this week’s matchup. Start or Sit Week 8: Sit
]]>Bye Week: Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys
Redskins @ Vikings: Vikings
This will be a blowout game as the Redskins have a poor offense which will struggle against the Vikings’ excellent defense. On top of that, Dalvin Cook will run all over the Redskins’ defensive line.
Seahawks @ Falcons: Seahawks
The Falcons are in a very bad spot right now as their defense simply cannot come together to stop offenses. They got blown out by the Rams, who are having their share of problems on offense. The Seahawks will march up and down the field and their considerable defense will be able to limit the Falcons offense from scoring too many points.
Chargers @ Bears: Bears
The Bears are struggling offensively. Trubisky repeatedly misses open throws and the play-calling from Matt Nagy is causing this offense to go nowhere. Fortunately for them, they are going up against the Chargers, who don’t have a good defense. This game, the Bears’ defense will simply shut down the Chargers’ running game and Melvin Gordon just like they did to Cook and the Vikings. I predict that Mitch will have a good game, throwing over 200 yards for two touchdowns.
New York Giants @ Lions: Lions
The Giants are just a bad team who have lost to the Cardinals who are not good either. It will be very tough for this team to be able to out-compete Kerryon Johnson and Mattew Stafford.
Jets @ Jaguars: Jaguars
The Jaguars are slowly piecing their offense together. The Jets have many key defensive players injured, which will allow the Jags offense to put some points on the board. However, the key will be whether or not the Jags defense without Ramsey can stop Darnold and the Jets. Taking into consideration that the Jags are at home and still have a good defense, the Jags should be able to stop the Jets offense from scoring more than their offense. This will be a close game.
Bengals @ Rams: Rams
There is no good way to put this, but the Bengals are simply the worst team in the league. The Bengals are going up against a Rams offense that destroyed the Falcons and are looking to do the same to the Bengals.
Buccaneers @ Titans: Titans
Jameis Winston is an unreliable quarterback. He throws one week for five touchdowns and the next week he throws five interceptions. The Titan’s defense is no worse than the Panthers defense. The Bucs’ defense is also one of the worst defenses in the league, which will allow Derrick Henry, Titans’ running back, to dominate.
Eagles @ Bills: Eagles
The Bills have not really played a good team at all except the Patriots. Last week, they almost lost to the Dolphins, so with this team, it could go either way. The Eagles are much more stable that way with talented players like Jordan Howard and Zach Ertz. With these players, the Eagles should be able to defeat the Bills. The Eagles’ defense is also good and will be able to stop them from scoring, giving more time for their offense to work with.
Broncos @ Colts: Colts
Similar to the Bears, the Broncos can’t put their offense together. Their defense has not lived up to the hype at all. With no weapons, the Broncos cannot stop the Colts from winning. The Colts will be in cruise control for this one.
Panthers @ 49ers: 49ers
Both teams have stellar offenses. The Panthers have running back Christian Mcaffrey, while the 49ers have tight end George Kittle. This game will boil down to who has a better defense, and currently, the 49ers have a better defense than the Panthers.
Cardinals @ Saints: Saints
The Saints just came up with a big win over the Bears in Chicago. If the Bears defense couldn’t stop them, then the Cardinals for sure won’t be able to either. Also, the Cardinals don’t have a good offense that can score over the Saints defense. This will be a blowout game.
Raiders @ Texans: Raiders
The Raiders have a very strong offense filled with talented players like Waller and Jacobs. The Texans have a very weak secondary that will struggle to guard Waller and Jacobs. This will be another offense vs offense game, and in this matchup, the Raiders seem to have a better offense and defense, allowing them to make big stops against the Texan’s offense.
Packers @ Chiefs: Chiefs
The Chiefs may be playing without their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but regardless of whether he plays or not it would be the Chiefs offense vs Packers offense. The Packers are playing without their top wide receiver, Davante Adams. This will be a close game, but because the Chiefs have home court advantage they would secure a win.
Dolphins @ Steelers; Steelers
Dolphins have no offensive or defensive weapons, and this has led to a winless season. The Steelers are the better team and will be able to get a win over the Dolphins.
]]>Though they are now both moderately successful, Purp and Kami were relatively unknown in the rap community in 2016, when they composed the duo Leather Corduroys and released Season, their first studio album. Rather than publish their work on most streaming platforms, the duo opted to post their music on Soundcloud. Season defies some elements of the SoundCloud rap style, avoiding “mumble rapping” and triplet flows. It does, however, maintain the genre-bending characteristic of the platform, exemplified by its seamless fusion of rap, funk, and progressive and indie rock.
“I Told You So,” featuring Chance the Rapper, opens the album. Chance abandons his typical brash tone for a subdued, melodic sound paired with ethereal production. The Leather Corduroys are largely absent in the opener, but Chance successfully sets the tone for the album to follow.
The other featured artist, Knox Fortune, grants an indie edge to arguably the most remarkable track on the album, “Remember Me,” which incorporates bold instrumentation, extensive audio panning, and distorted background vocals. Rock influence is again present on “Developers,” which chances polarizing some listeners with somewhat repetitive sampling.
The album exhibits apparent Kanye influence. Thematically and in terms of Purp’s flow, for example, “Rocket Man” is reminiscent of Kanye’s 2011 track “Lift Off.” “In Da Club” similarly evokes Kanye’s Yeezus era with its aggressive flow and “I Told You So” does the same with its production. Both tracks steer clear of simply parroting Kanye’s often sample-heavy, grandiose style, favoring a more minimalistic sound.
Listeners will be hard-pressed to find a song that falls flat on Season. Even the interlude, titled “My Good Girl,” is well-made, with pitched-up vocals and synth effects. Other tracks, like “Adios,” heavily utilize vocal effects to satiate contemporary rap fans.
Season lacks the lyrical profoundness of Purp and Kami’s later projects, which delve into their stories of a difficult upbringing in Chicago. Instead, Season favors escapism, providing an outlook that is both unburdened and amusing. It’s an “everything but the kitchen sink” album in its constant meshing of genres but overall cohesive feel.
Purp and Kami are constantly evolving as independent artists. Though the former members of Leather Corduroys continue to work together, their changing styles make the prospect of a future collaborative project perfectly resembling Season increasingly remote. Still, if their August collaborative effort “Sayless” and several acclaimed independent projects are any indications, Joey Purp and Kami will continue to share their virtuosity for years to come.
]]>Garcia approached the Sears entrance of the mall, driving straight through the entrance in an SUV. While Garcia continued his path down the mall, many shoppers called 911, alerting authorities of the situation. A rumor circulated that there was a shooting taking place, causing many people to head for the exits. However, this was quickly corrected by a dispatcher who affirmed there was no active shooter.
Garcia cruised through the mall without killing or severely injuring anybody. However, there were a couple of minor injuries.
Strict precautions were taken immediately. Following the incident, the mall was shut down for the remainder of the night.
The situation was eventually controlled, and authorities arrested Garcia. Following Garcia’s arrest, he was placed in a mental health care center. After keeping him there for a week, Garcia was finally released to the police to review more complicated issues of his case. After authorities deliberated his case, he was charged with terrorism and criminal damage to property. Garcia’s trial date is set for Oct. 18.
As for Garcia’s family, his sister has voiced that her brother is not “not a terrorist” and that she “knows that person is not her brother.”
]]>Gillis is accused of using a racist slur and insulting Chinese accents as part of a bit on Chinatown. Videos also surfaced of Gillis using homosexual slurs to characterize comedians he does not think are funny.
In a statement discussing the firing of Gillis, SNL apologized for their lack of diligence in investigating his prior remarks.
“We want SNL to have a variety of voices and points of view within the show … The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable. We are sorry that we did not see these clips earlier, and that our vetting process was not up to our standard.”
While SNL should have been more thorough in their vetting of Gillis, their swift action later on should stand as an example for other shows on how these types of decisions should be made.
In response to his dismissal, Gillis took to Twitter.
“I’m a comedian who was funny enough to get on SNL. That can’t be taken away,” Gillis said. “Of course, I wanted an opportunity to prove myself at SNL, but I understand it would be too much of a distraction. I respect the decision they made. I’m honestly grateful for the opportunity.”
Gillis’s apology was not formal, nor was it truly apologetic. In his eyes, being the “best comedian” he can be “requires risks.” Nowhere in his statement did he say that he was truly sorry for what he did, nor did he learn from his mistakes.
Gillis, however, is simply the latest casualty in a battle against racism and prejudice in the entertainment industry. Other notable firings include the ousting of Paramount TV president Amy Powell as well as the cancellation of the show Roseanne on ABC after the lead actress Roseanne Barr published numerous racist tweets.
While comedy is meant to poke fun at society, comedians must tread lightly when dealing with issues of race and sexuality. Specific words and phrases can trigger painful memories for some groups of people. Thus, we must prevent such unnecessary offensive language from being used in the public sphere. As a society, we must continue to punish those who use such language to promote feelings of bigotry and discrimination. Shane Gillis may have lost a significant opportunity, but the course of action taken by SNL was necessary and appropriate.
]]>Jade believes her positive mindset helps her continue to be the best version of herself.
“The sun is gonna come up and I am gonna sing,” Jade said. “It’s what I tell myself every morning as a reason to keep going no matter what I come across.”
English teacher Russell Anderson feels Jade’s outlook and work ethic in class distinguishes her from fellow students.
“Each day, Jade comes in ready to not only discuss the specifics of the text we are studying (Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X), breaking down the poetic craft and larger thematic ideas of gender dynamics and dual identities, but also how Xiomara’s story impacts her life and the world around her,” Anderson said. “This perspective, the ability to situate herself among those around her with care and attention, is what I hope all my students eventually achieve.”
]]>The Pakistan and Indian conflict started soon after the British ended their rule. Pakistan became its own country by separating from India on Aug. 14, 1947, one day before India gained independence. Their next major conflict was in 1965. This Indo-Pakistan war took place between April and September. Pakistan tried to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir and India defended itself retaliating launching a full-scale military attack on West Pakistan. The war lasted seventeen days and cost each side thousands of casualties.
Article 370 was added to the Indian Constitution on Nov. 17, 1956. It’s important to note that this article was never meant to be a permanent addition to the Indian Constitution. Simply put, this article granted Jammu and Kashmir “special status.” Only citizens born in Jammu or Kashmir could own land, have a job, and live there. Jammu and Kashmir also had its own constitution and the government of Jammu and Kashmir did not have to follow any of the laws of the country of India implemented unless they showed up in the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. The only characteristic of an independent country that Jammu and Kashmir did not possess was the ability to take part in foreign affairs. India classified Jammu and Kashmir as a region of India on October 26, 1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh executed the legal document The Instrument of Accession.
Removing this article takes away the undue special privileges of Jammu and Kashmir and allows other Indians to own land and get jobs in the region. This opens up a number of jobs for the rest of India. Revoking the article creates more jobs for Indians and constructs a better economy. Ideally, of course, the transition would be peaceful and positively impact society. The amount of jobs available would increase, poverty rates would decrease, and many opportunities would become available.
Realistically however, ever since the article was removed from the Indian Constitution on Aug. 5, 2019, unrest has only increased. Although the number of riots have gone down due to added security measures, many residents do not support the removal of Article 370. The Pakistan government claims that Jammu and Kashmir is a part of Pakistan and that India has no right to make those decisions for Kashmir. However, as the result of several debates and conflicts over the past decades, it has been made clear that there is a portion of Kashmir that is administered as India. The territory west of Indian administered Kashmir is part of Pakistan, and the region to the east is part of India. This topic is a breeding ground for many of the conflicts between India and Kashmir.
Many people do not support the revocation of Article 370, especially the government officials of Jammu and Kashmir. Many of the government officials that were in charge of Jammu and Kashmir were corrupt. For example, the money that India used to send to Jammu and Kashmir was never used for the right purposes. Abolishing Article 370 means that the leaders of the region will no longer be able to take advantage of those donations. However, hogging an entire region is simply not reasonable. Those against the revocation of Article 370 must understand that by taking out this article, all of society will reap the benefits.
The immediate effects of abolishing the article were staggering. A few days before the article was taken out, the Indian government urged all tourists to leave the area, with the warning of possible violent protests. All telephone lines were cut and the internet was suspended. The Indian government did not want terrorists to take advantage of the fragile situation. India acted with a goal of decreasing the number of casualties and the number of riots before they even happened by enforcing curfews and other strict rules. In order to protect its sovereignty, India acted proactively.
Abolishing Article 370 is a good idea. By crossing the article out of the Indian Constitution, India is opening up a literal gateway to the rest of the world. The level of unemployment will decrease as will the percentage of poverty. The entire world will benefit by the revocation of Article 370.
By abolishing Article 370, the Indian economy would drastically improve. Jobs would be made available to a country with five percent of its population classified as “Extreme Poverty.” Newer hospitals can be built for a stronger healthcare foundation. Colleges and universities can be established to expand the range of education. Taking this much-needed step would benefit India and consequently the entire world.
]]>With 588 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions for nearly four games Mitch has played so far, the people of Chicago and critics everywhere have been on his back about his poor play. The good play of Chase Daniel in his first game and obvious struggles for Mitch throughout the season led to people talking, debating which of the two quarterbacks would lead the Bears to more victories. I assumed Chase Daniel would lead the Bears to an easy victory over the not-so-good Oakland Raiders, and I would be writing an article about the “definite” QB controversy the Bears would be having after their bye week in Week Six. While I was partially right about me writing about the Bears’ quarterback struggles, the game’s outcome was the opposite of what I thought it would be. The Bears lost 24-21 and had all fans that hadn’t already begun panicking long ago wondering if it was time to start freaking out.
To me, it comes down to injuries, injuries, and more injuries. An injury to your starting quarterback is bad enough, but on top of this, the Bears had and still have injuries affecting the team in every area. Notable Bears injuries have been to Akiem Hicks’ elbow, Eddy Piñeiro’s knee, and Taylor Gabriel with his concussion.
To start, let’s talk about star defensive tackle, Akiem Hicks. Hicks suffered a knee injury prior to the Bears’ Week Four game against the Vikings and didn’t play in that game. Most Chicago fans and I were hyped to find out Hicks was able to come back and play against the Raiders in London. Just as Hicks was cleared to play, in his first game back, Hicks’ elbow got pinned between two players early in the first quarter, and he was sidelined for the rest of the game. Head coach Matt Nagy believes Hicks will be back later in the season and that his injury won’t be season ending. Hicks’ injury is a big blow to the defense, especially the run defense, which had just been torched by Raiders’ rookie running back Josh Jacobs.
Next, we have Bears kicker, Eddy Piñeiro. Piñeiro was the hero of the Bears’ last-second win against the Denver Broncos in Week Three when he kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired, but things weren’t going as good for him later in that week. He hurt his kicking leg in the weight room during the week, and while the injury hasn’t affected him lately, it did impact Piñeiro’s play in the game immediately after playing the Broncos. In that game against the Redskins, Piñeiro missed his first field goal of the season. Although the Bears won that game in a blowout, Piñeiro’s injury has affected his range on the football field, which may possibly damage the Bears’ playoff chances.
Taylor Gabriel, one of the Bears’ starting receivers, suffered a concussion in the same game where he went off for three touchdowns against the Redskins. After that game, Gabriel has sat out for two consecutive games and his injury has greatly diminished the explosiveness and success of the offense. Gabriel getting hurt just after he had what is probably going to be his best game of the season is a huge blow to the overall skill and productivity of the offense, especially after Trubisky got hurt. A backup QB having to come in is bad enough, and it’s even more concerning if one of the team’s strongest offensive weapons is sidelined.
Chase Daniel came in and played the rest of the game against the Vikings and put up solid numbers. With 195 yards and a passing touchdown through a partial game, Daniel surprised everyone. While many would give most of the credit for the team’s win against the Vikings, Daniel’s strong play was also one of the strong points in the Bears’ win. I thought that Daniel would be able to continue this success into his next game against a decently weak Raider team, but I was wrong. While his 231 passing yards and two touchdowns may seem to be a solid outing for a backup quarterback, the focus of viewers should be on the two interceptions that he threw. Daniel had a very impactful interception with 1:22 left in the 4th quarter, and it was horribly hard to watch. The most alarming part of the interception was how bad of a throw it was. The pass was supposed to be to Anthony Miller, who was wide open running towards the sideline. Daniel airmailed him, and the pass landed right into a defender’s open arms. On top of this, one of Daniel’s struggles was his inability to be mobile and get out of the pocket. He was sacked four times against Oakland and hit more times than that, and he could have avoided a good portion of these hits if he just left the pocket and rolled out.
Before Daniel’s bad game against the Raiders, many people (including me) were debating over the future of the Bears’ starting quarterback position. Was Chase Daniel really going to be a better option than a completely healthy Mitch Trubisky? I’m sure lots of peoples’ opinion was changed after Daniel’s outing against the Raiders, but my opinion has remained the same. The Bears have to stay rolling with Trubisky. He’s a young, athletic quarterback with a strong arm who has a great ability to make throws on the run. I get it. Trubisky doesn’t always hit open receivers exactly where he should, he doesn’t make the best decisions all the time, and he DEFINITELY isn’t a great option as a starter. But, the potential is there.
Mitch has a lot of upside and talent and keeps getting better as he keeps gaining experience because he is a young player. On the other hand, Daniel, who is 33 years old, will pretty much stay the same. There’s a reason why Chase Daniel has made over 34 million dollars and has started in under five games over his whole career. Don’t get me wrong, Daniel isn’t a horrible quarterback, but there’s parts of his game that he lacks. Daniel isn’t mobile at all, and the Bears don’t have a good enough offensive line to support a pure pocket passer. Mitch can extend plays with his legs and can make good passes even while under pressure and on the move. Neither QBs seem to be good options at this moment in time, but Mitch will be a better option in the long run. The deciding factors in why Trubisky is better than Daniel were his mobility, and ultimately, Mitch has more upside than Daniel and is just able to gain yards and extend plays until there’s an open receiver.
Due to the struggles and hardships that the Bears have faced, their start to the 2019 season has not looked good at all. The main factors that have led to the Bears’ slow start are the abundance of injuries the team has faced and the quarterback controversy they have on their hands. The Bears need to get things together quickly if they want to keep their Super Bowl, and even playoff hopes alive.
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The program was established by the then-Secretary of Education, Terrel Bell, in 1982. Bell had supported A Nation at Risk, which was a movement that brought attention to America’s “mediocre schools” that threatened the education of future generations. The National Blue Ribbon Program awards public and private schools including elementary, middle, and high schools for academic excellence or progress made in closing achievement gaps between student subgroups.
Alongside 24 other schools in Illinois, Fremd received the award, making it one of now 9,000 schools over the course of the award’s history to become a National Blue Ribbon school. This is Fremd’s third time receiving this prestigious award, with its prior two years being a recipient of 1986 and 1987. In the past five years, Fremd has worked towards eliminating the opportunity gap in graduation rates, discipline, advanced placement (AP) attendance, and dual-credit class enrollments. With more than 60 sponsored extracurricular activities, Fremd staff help contribute to Fremd students’ success in and out of school.
Principal Kurt Tenopir credits Fremd staff and families for propelling the school on this path to becoming a Blue Ribbon high school.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School,” Principal Tenopir said. “Fremd High School is extremely fortunate to have a talented and caring faculty, strong parent involvement and community support, and resources to provide rich educational opportunities for all students.”
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, along with the United States Department of Education, will commend the 312 public and 50 non-public school Blue Ribbon Award recipients on Nov. 14 and 15. Each year, there can be up to 412 schools that receive the Blue Ribbon Award. There will be an award ceremony celebrating those schools in Washington D.C. Each school receives a plaque and National Blue Ribbon School flag to display at the awards luncheon which annually occurs in November.
Superintendent Daniel Cates emphasizes the sense of pride and positivity the Blue Ribbon Award has brought to Fremd that will help the school move forward in every aspect.
“By fostering meaningful connections and helping students truly develop a sense of belonging in all of our schools, students are responding very positively,” Superintendent Cates said. “This great work is taking place throughout the district and this recognition affirms that everyone’s efforts make a difference for students. The Blue Ribbon put a little wind in people’s sails and it is a great way to affirm everyone’s hard work across the district.”
]]>Preparation for the musical started during June, as cast members and tech crew worked on set props and backdrops over the summer. Robin Quinn, Fremd teacher and director of the fall musicals, gives insight on the endeavors taken by the tech crew and cast to produce the musical.
“I really enjoy the energy the cast brings to production; I’m looking forward to seeing how the audience feeds off their energy,” Quinn said. “Since it’s a Disney show that has magic, it requires a lot of special effects that created a challenge for a tech crew. ”
The musical is based on a Disney movie that was released in 1991 and recreated in 2019, and audience members can expect a different interpretation when viewing the musical. Gage Bachmann, Fremd senior and lead, is acting as the role of the Beast in the play. Bachmann provides his opinion on the interpretation of the Disney movie.
“I like that the musical is a story that everyone knows, yet the version on stage is different from the movie,” Bachmann said. “It brings a lot of new elements to the story of Beauty and the Beast that not everyone is familiar with.”
This year’s cast features a significant amount of new members and underclassmen. Despite the youth, Bachmann believes that the group allowed their talent to speak louder than their age in the process of production.
“One of the most memorable things about this show was having a large portion of the cast being new this year,” Bachmann said. “I felt like at the beginning, there were a lot of new faces, but everyone is proving to pull their weight and show how talented they are.”
Although the original Disney film catered primarily to the younger audience, the musical offers layers of complexity in its larger themes and retains its ability to qualify as a family-friendly show. With a balance of goofiness and sophistication, Quinn believes the show offers something for viewers of all ages.
“There’s a blend between drama and comedy; there are moments that are meant to build a laugh, but then there are moments that are more serious, like how people fall in love or how some people in society fail to see the good in someone else,” Quinn said.
For those with a theater eye or a sharp eye in general, the production incorporates details in its acting to achieve effects that are often found in mature theater groups. Quinn hints at what audience members should look for if they’re looking to analyze how the production creates layers of plot development.
“Watch for the subtleties in the ensemble. Our ensemble is fantastic this year at building relationships behind the scenes and adding small elements of foreshadowing,” Quinn said. The small groups off to the side add layers to the story that help create a more realistic situation. “
With a pit orchestra performing live music and actors that come from the student body, Senior Danny Lu is eager to see his peers perform in the production of this year’s musical.
“The preview for the musical was riveting; I enjoyed watching my classmates perform, and I usually don’t get to see that side of them outside the classroom,” Lu said. “I plan on watching this year’s musical, and I know there will be a lot to enjoy.”
]]>Garcia’s family has come forward to say that he is not a terrorist. Three years ago, they say, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Garcia heard voices and took medication. Recently, he lost his medical insurance, and the drugs became too expensive for him to afford. Garcia admitted himself into a mental clinic but was released the day before the incident. Noemi Garcia, Javier’s sister, said, “I don’t think (Javier) belongs in jail. He needs a place he can get his medications and treatment he needs.”
Prosecutors believe that Garcia planned to drive through the mall, based on the hundreds of internet searches he did of the mall before the event.
The Encyclopedia Brittanica defines terrorism as, “the use or threat of violence (that) seeks to create fear, not just within the direct victims but among a wide audience.”
People believe that this was a terrorist attack akin to February 26, 1993, when seven terrorists put bombs in a car that was driven to an underground parking garage below the World Trade Center. The bombing took the lives of six people and injured thousands more. The repairs took a month, and six out of the seven suspects were caught. The similarities of this case and the one at Woodfield Mall may lead people to believe that Garcia could be a terrorist.
The differences between the World Trade Center bombing and the Woodfield Mall drive-through incident vary greatly; the terrorists from the attack left their car at an underground parking garage. Garcia drove directly through the mall without the use of weapons. He wasn’t targeting anyone, and he isn’t a part of any terrorist groups or cells. Also, the World Trade Center was targeted because of its representation of the economical and powerful state of America. If this was a similar case, then what was the significance of Woodfield Mall, especially when Chicago is just thirty miles away?
So is Javier Garcia, a terrorist? It seems that he isn’t. Prosecutors say that he was a terrorist, yet all the evidence appears to be stacked against them. Garcia was off his medication; he was not trying to scare people and was not a part of any organization that might want him to do something of the sort, and his car was not equipped with any weapons.
The debate on terrorism also brings up the discussion of mental health. Are we getting the care that some people need? In Garcia’s case, one could argue that proper care is not being provided. As was stated earlier, Garcia was released from a mental health clinic the day before the incident. With the incident happening just twenty-four hours later, medication would not be as extensive of an issue as him not getting proper care in the clinic. This proves that Garcia was released far too prematurely. Hopefully, the lessons learned from the incident lead to reforms in mental health care.
None of this is saying that Garcia should be excused for the incident. His actions were, of course, terrible. But does this make him a terrorist? We shouldn’t be so quick to judge him, because this does not. This was not a victimless crime, as Woodfield Mall has to deal with all the damages Garcia caused. When you include the variables of an unstable individual with no medication in a popular suburban area, it seems like a perfect recipe for a dangerous incident.
]]>Let’s flashback to that lockdown drill. No kid should have to deal with a real version of that, but so many do. Why? Because of countless problems with guns.
Guns are a massive problem in America now. They are the cause of break-ins, crimes, and deaths every day. Although we have laws and acts against guns, there are no extensive restrictions on them. Sure, you have to go through a lengthy background check and register the weapon, but that doesn’t mean that bad people won’t be allowed to purchase their guns. Because of this, pretty much anyone can buy a gun.
While I believe that guns are useful for protection in the military or for dangerous jobs like being in the police force, I do not think that Americans should have free rein of purchasing or using a gun whenever they want to. They should be available when a career requires one, but restrictions are necessary for who should use a weapon. Yes, the Second Amendment claims the right to bear arms, but should everyone be allowed to have a gun if they choose to?
In my opinion, not everyone should be able to own or purchase a gun, and strict restrictions should be made to enforce this. The majority of people can buy a firearm, and in some cases, it could be for protection, but isn’t it sad to think about the fact that we need to use guns to protect ourselves? According to a 2019 Gallup News poll, close to 30% of Americans own a gun, and that’s a decently high number. To put this into perspective, that is roughly 100 million Americans who own a gun. Guns aren’t always used for dangerous activities, especially in the South, where hunting and going to the shooting range are popular activities, but that doesn’t make up the full 30% of those who do own a gun.
Oakland. Parkland. Newtown. Sandy Hook. Columbine. Littleton. Greencastle. All of these cities are among the many who have experienced school shootings. These shootings happened within fifty years of one another, but they are all eerily similar. They start with someone who shouldn’t have a gun in the first place coming into a school with one. And each time, they ended up killing and injuring innocent people. It’s the same story and ending every time. Is this the way we want to live? Where we send our students off to school with the constant fear that maybe today is the day they won’t come back?
President Donald Trump recently spoke about guns and the laws concerning them. Because of the ever-rising death toll in 2019, Trump was pressed to take some action finally. According to Gun Violence Archive, 325 mass shootings have occurred in America this year. Although, as stated by CNN, he “told reporters after the meeting that he was prepared to take action. But he refused to specify on what.”
Back in September, Trump also presented the idea of expanding gun background checks. Reuters provides that, “‘We’re looking at background checks,’ he said, adding, ‘At the same time, all of us want to protect our great Second Amendment.’” These ideas seem promising, considering the fact that this restriction could greatly benefit the safety of Americans. However, his unspecificity adds to doubt further that anything will change.
Does this immediately mean that Trump is not going to take action, seeing as his history on promising something and then failing to execute it is quite large? No. But it also doesn’t mean that any action will be taken anytime soon. All we can do is hope that some change occurs and that it is fast.
Many believe that Americans should be able to do whatever they want with their guns since it is one of their Constitutional rights. This is false. People should be able to fulfill their rights as Americans, but there is an existing level of going “too far.” Guns should be used for protection, and if we allow everyone to use them, we’ll be doing the opposite. As a group, we need to continue to share the idea that gun violence needs to stop. Laws for gun ownership need to be stricter, but the shooters need to be punished for their actions as well. It is not just the gun doing the harming; it’s also the shooter.
The world is becoming more dangerous every single day. Some parents don’t even let their kids walk the streets alone for fear of them being kidnapped or put in danger. This shouldn’t be the type of world that we want to live in. We can hope that someone will make the change and make America safer, but in reality, we have to make that change for ourselves. Take action and share your voice. Because they might be able to silence one of us, but they’ll never be able to quiet all of us.
]]>In response to the scandal, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched an impeachment inquiry into the President after months of hesitation, saying that “…the Trump administration’s policies [violate] our national security and our protection.” It is clear that Trump should be impeached and convicted of abuse of power, which would remove him from public office and uphold the rule of law.
Before discussing the accusations against Trump, it is necessary to clear up a misconception surrounding the impeachment process. As only three presidents have been impeached, many conservatives have claimed that impeachment was designed to be rare and reserved for only the most heinous of offenses. However, this view does not reflect the wording of the Constitution, which frames misdemeanors, or criminal infractions that are less serious than felonies, as grounds for impeachment. Trump’s actions are, and the Democrats’ decision to launch an impeachment inquiry is completely reasonable.
There is little question that Trump engaged in the impropriety described by the whistleblower. On Sept. 26, Trump ordered the White House to release a paraphrased transcript of the call. While he should be commended for his transparency, he effectively implicated himself. Trump asked Zelensky to “do us a favor” and investigate the Bidens, citing two unsubstantiated theories surrounding their activity in Ukraine.
Trump first mentioned Crowdstrike, a cybersecurity firm that some Republicans believe conspired with the DNC during the 2016 election to bolster Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Not only is there no conclusive evidence that Crowdstrike favored Clinton, but it is not even a Ukrainian company; it was founded in California by a Ukrainian national and operates exclusively in the United States.
Furthermore, Trump referenced a 2016 incident in which Joe Biden threatened to withhold one billion dollars of aid to Ukraine as Vice President if they did not remove unpopular prosecutor Viktor Shokin from office. He claimed that Biden did this in order to benefit the Ukraine-based natural gas company Burisma, which Biden’s son sat on the board of. If true, this would create a massive conflict of interest and would be grounds for the termination of his Presidential candidacy. However, Biden’s threat, as well as his numerous trips to Ukraine, were diplomatic in nature. As an agent of the State Department, Biden sought to remove Shokin because of his obliviousness and complicity on corruption in Ukraine. It is highly unlikely that the State Department cared about Hunter Biden’s financial fortitude.
Asking a foreign power to investigate borderline conspiracy theories is wrong. However, even if the accusations against the Bidens were credible, Trump’s conduct would still be illegal. Rather than coercing a foreign power into conducting an investigation, the President should have utilized the services of the Department of Justice. It is likely that Trump talked to President Zelensky rather than the DOJ in order to acquire the most incriminating information.
It eventually came out that Trump was not alone in his decision to pressure Zelensky. From October 2 to October 4, The New York Times reported that figures such as Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and Vice President Mike Pence all knew about or listened in on the call. Furthermore, efforts to hide the records of the call were made, such as incorrectly classifying related documents as top secret, suggesting knowledge of guilt.
Trump’s defense has been weak and appalling since the whistleblower first spoke out. He called the impeachment inquiry a “coup,” lamented that the impeachment inquiry could “lead to civil war,” tweeted about nonexistent corruption by Speaker Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Leader Adam Schiff, and even implied that the whistleblower should be executed, likening him to a spy. These are not the words of an innocent man.
Many believe the Democrats are insincere in their motives for impeachment, and are only acting on a vendetta against Donald Trump. However, the move to impeach an incumbent President often bolsters support for said incumbent. The Democrats were aware of this, but chose to affirm the nation’s ethos anyway, putting them at risk of electoral collapse in 2020. Furthermore, removing Trump from office would result in Mike Pence becoming President. Pence is farther to the right than Trump, and is a tribune of the Republican establishment; this is far from ideal for the Democrats.
By failing to remove Trump from office, Congress will have failed to stand up for the sanctity of the office of President itself. The Leader of the Free World is expected to behave ethically, legally, and in agreement with America’s bedrock values as a nation. In that infamous call on July 25, Trump demonstrated that he did not care to uphold any of these. Removal is not out of the question; the House has the votes to impeach, and a new revelation might push the Senate over the edge of conviction. I hope that the Senate Republicans will forgo partisan loyalty and put America first.
]]>Vaccines are effective, and it’s relatively easy to understand how they get the job done. Vaccines work by injecting weakened pieces of viruses or bacteria into the human body. These allow our body’s white blood cells to learn how to combat the virus or bacteria before dealing with the real one. Vaccines dramatically reduce one’s risk of catching said illness and, thus, eliminates infections that once wiped out populations, such as the Black Plague. With the help of vaccines, we can put specific diseases under control. People who choose to refuse these vaccines are at risk of bringing back these illnesses that were once eradicated and caused outbreaks.
Take measles, for example. Measles has been and is now is the most contagious virus to humans and can lead to blindness and death. In the year 2000, the number of measles cases was so low that the World Health Organization said it had been eliminated in the United States. In September of this year, outbreaks started to occur in New York and eventually spread to the rest of the country. The current numbers threaten the elimination status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the majority of these cases are spreading in unvaccinated communities and threatening others’ lives. Much of the information for these communities is coming from Facebook groups, and word of mouth. News spreads through Facebook channels. This growing development cannot be tolerated, and these communities need to be educated, so they don’t continue to endanger the lives of others.
Some people choose to opt-out of vaccines due to misinformation. Many individuals have valid reasons to avoid vaccines. Until children reach around the age of two, they aren’t able to get a few immunizations. Additionally, those with weakened immune systems due to uncontrollable health conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDs, Type 1 diabetes (or others) can’t take vaccines. It’s not even a choice. Germs travel extremely quickly between people, almost as fast as misinformation. This makes it so much more important that individuals who can be vaccinated do so. When enough people are vaccinated, the germs aren’t able to spread as quickly, which protects those who were unable to receive the vaccine.
So, when people decide to avoid vaccines due to their personal beliefs, it isn’t justified. People should not be given the right to endanger lives while those in other countries go to great lengths to obtain the very same. We have an obligation to protect everyone, especially those who can’t protect themselves whenever we have the means to do so.
]]>1. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez
Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has taken the boxing world by storm in the past couple of years. With Floyd Mayweather retiring a couple years ago, boxing has its new poster boy. He’s the golden boy, recently having signed a $365 million contract with DAZN. Much like Mayweather, Canelo faces his own criticism despite his greatness in the ring. He has his fair share of scandals including a positive PED test and a couple controversial decisions against fellow middleweight Gennady Golovkin. Despite these nicks in Canelo’s reputation, nobody can deny his phenomenal boxing prowess. Alvarez posts a 52-1-2 with his only loss to an all-time great Floyd Mayweather at the young age of twenty-three. Before this loss, he was known as the typical boxer-puncher, coming forward with a solid chin and heavy hands. However after his fight with Mayweather, he seems to have adopted much of his attributes and integrated them into his style seamlessly. He is still the aggressive puncher he was before, but he now also possesses slick defense. In his last fight against Daniel Jacobs, a top three middleweight, he showed his ability to school even the best. He slipped punches with his hands down while applying constant pressure over the taller and heavier Jacobs. However, despite his stacked and voluminous resume, many fail to recognize him as a top pound-for-pound fighter. His next fight against Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev could potentially get him the respect he deserves, but it seems that every quality fighter he defeats is not good enough. Whether these criticisms are warranted or not is yet to be seen, but in my eyes there’s nobody who passes the resume and eye test better than Canelo.
As most people’s choice for the pound-for-pound number one, Vasyl Lomachenko has crashed into the boxing scene following a dominant amateur career. Boasting an impressive 396-1 record, his only loss avenged twice, in the amateurs including two Olympic gold medals for the Ukraine, “Loma” had one of the most anticipated pro debuts ever. Lomachenko lived up to the hype, easily handling his pro competition and gaining a reputation for making his opponents quit during the fight. With a seemingly unimpressive 14-1 record, there’s more to his resume than what meets the eye. His first loss was taken in just his second fight, which was for a world title. And in this fight, there is almost unanimous consensus that Lomachenko won and was robbed by the referee ignoring blatant fouls that his opponent Salido was committing. However, “Loma” didn’t let this early loss demoralize him. He immediately bounced back and fought Gary Russell Jr., the top featherweight at the time, to win the same title he missed out on against Salido. Since his loss, it has been pure domination. Nicknamed “The Matrix” he shows off his revolutionary footwork and insanely quick reflexes. This is all thanks to his boxing mastermind of a trainer, and father, Anatoly Lomachenko. At four-years-old, Anatoly began crafting arguably the most skilled fighter of all time. Vasyl boxed for five years and then his father pulled him out of boxing so he could dance for four years to work on a more graceful art. This four years proved to be incredibly important because now, he possesses some of the greatest footwork of all time. The only reason Vasyl is not first on my list is because of his short resume. Canelo has fought the more challenging opponents in his career that is eight years longer than Lomachenko. As for the future, he’s due for a unification fight and can become the undisputed champion of the lightweight division in 2020, which would be enough to convince me to move him to first place.
The pound-for-pound boxer you’ve never heard of, Japan’s bantamweight Naoya Inoue has knocked out eight straight top tier opponents. With otherworldly power and slick boxing skills to complement, he has begun to cement himself as one of boxing’s new young stars. Easily running through the top competition in three different weight classes, the sky’s the limit for Inoue. He is the complete package with lightning-quick speed, explosive power, pinpoint punching accuracy, and sound fundamentals. Inoue’s stock has continued to trend upwards with each crushing knockout, forcing the boxing community to pay attention to “The Monster.” The only thing holding Inoue back from moving up the pound-for-pound ranks is his competition. He’s fought his way through three weight classes, winning belts in each, but none of these weight classes are nearly as talented as the divisions his pound-for-pound competitors face. Japan’s Inoue will be facing his greatest challenge of his young career fighting southpaw legend Nonito Donaire on Nov. 7, 2019, allowing us to better assess the rising star’s pound-for-pound status. Inoue is the future of boxing, being a consensus top five pound-for-pound fighter at just twenty-five years old.
Dallas native Errol Spence has seen a slow rise to the top of the welterweight ranks. Sporting a respectable amateur resume winning the U.S. National Golden Gloves in 2009, and representing the U.S. in the Olympics in 2012, Spence’s leap to the top was no surprise. Using a devastating body attack, Spence suffocates his opponents with constant pressure. A win over Brit Kell Brook in 2017 to capture his first world title put Spence in the limelight as a formidable contender in the welterweight division. Despite being seen as a power punching brawler, Spence put his boxing abilities on display last March against Mikey Garcia in their highly anticipated bout. He stuck Garcia with his jab the whole fight and kept up a solid defense, winning him the fight by a wide margin. He will face his next test in a unification fight with Shawn Porter, which will be his biggest fight to date and will be a true test of Spence’s skills. While many consider Spence and Terence Crawford to be the top dogs at the welterweight division, it’s Spence who has fought the more challenging opponents. He hopes to solidify his standing as the number one welterweight with a decisive win over Shawn Porter.
]]>Our president merely told the two countries to “get along,” (a feat that is nearly impossible thanks to a less than friendly history spanning centuries) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did little to fan the flames, and the Wikipedia article of this situation is dusty and subject to biased edits. But why? There are plenty of news and opinion pieces out there explaining why we should care, but we should first figure out why we don’t care. The answer might not seem to be so black and white, but I think I know why.
The United States as a whole does not seem to care because we don’t see how it directly affects us. But what about the U.S.-China trade war? Well, it’s all about who’s involved. The number one economy, against the second strongest in a financial dispute is very serious for the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the trade war between the 3rd (JPN) and 11th (KOR) strongest economies in the world doesn’t really involve the U.S. government, despite those two being our strongest (and quite possibly) only allies in East Asia.
So that leads to the big question everyone asks. Why should we care? Well, while larger companies in South Korea like Samsung have made deals with Japan to ensure that their trade of smartphone parts will go unaffected, smaller companies will likely, no, definitely not have that luxury. This will kill off competition in South Korea, which in turn reduces the amount of competition worldwide, including us. Letting Japan continue its aggressive tactics without intervention will also help in further normalizing the use of trade as a weapon, something that has already been done multiple times by this point.
So, can we change this? Well, not at the moment. We can try, but the movement will likely lose steam without anything to fuel the flames. Thankfully, you might not need to care, because on Sept. 20, Japan finally agreed to hold talks with South Korea under a WTO dispute settlement. If the talks fail, well, we can only hope we start caring.
]]>“In addition to the usual first and second-grade things like math, science and history, the future King of England will be putting down the Play-Doh to take on religious studies, computer programming, poetry and ballet, among other things,” Spencer said, pausing to prompt laughter from the audience and other hosts. “Prince William says Prince George absolutely loves ballet. I have news for you, Prince William: We’ll see how long that lasts.”
Shortly after the comments were made, many other major dance figures responded through social media. Broadway star and Tony Award winner, Tony Yazbeck tweeted, “That’s what you want to teach our kids? That ballet is laughable?” Others, such as Broadway choreographer and director Jerry Mitchell, Dancing with the Stars veteran Derek Hough, actor and activist George Takei, actress and comedian Julie Halston, actress and singer Keala Settle also announced their displeasure.
In addition, 300 dancers, provoked by Spencer’s comments, gathered outside of the Good Morning America studio on Aug. 26 to take a ballet class as a protest against the common belief that “dancing is only for girls.” During this time, Spencer apologized on air saying her comments were “stupid and insensitive.” Spencer also interviewed three professional male dancers, Robbie Fairchild, Travis Wall, and Fabrice Calmels on the courage necessary to pursue dance as a boy.
In the interview, Calmels, principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, explains how many young boys quit dance because of the social reaction.
“Children should be entitled to experience things without being bullied,” Calmels said.
Fairchild a former principal with the New York City Ballet, agreed, sharing a personal experience of being bullied because of dancing.
“I can’t tell you how much that hurts,” Fairchild said to Spencer.
When So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Travis Wall was questioned about the impact of the show on the way young boys view dance, he addressed the idea of boys’ involvement.
“How many boys have started to dance because of that show, makes me so proud to represent that show…The message that I was just trying to get across was that I want more boys to dance,” Wall said.
The three dancers interviewed all accepted Spencer’s apology and as Fairchild said, “We are a community of love, and in order for us to move forward, we must move forward together.”
Local dance instructors appear to support the idea of dance for everyone, regardless of identity. Mt. Prospect School of Classical Ballet (MPSCB) Artistic Director Amy Hubert personally sees the participation of men in dance.
“We do tend to see them [male dancers] in classes at all levels,” Hubert said. “We have a couple of middle school guys who study hip hop, we have some adults that take different dance classes, ballet, tap, hip hop…Unfortunately I think there are [gender stereotypes in dance] and it’s super disappointing. Especially in this day and age, you have to be ready to open your mind and open your heart and receive the fact that people have different interests.”
Similar to the views of prominent voices in the dance world, dancers at Fremd seem to have similar reactions.
Freshman Megan Moscinski and student at Palatine Dance has also experienced boys in her ballet classes.
“My first dance class, I had two boys in my class, and all the girls were looking at them weird. It didn’t feel right to them but I was fine with it,” Moscinski said. “They [boys in dance] can do whatever they want to do.”
Comparatively, senior and Fremd Orchesis president Marissa Alfervic highlighted the degrading effect the comments could have on young boys interested in dance.
“It’s demeaning towards him because it’s his decision and he should be able to do what he wants as a growing boy,” Alfervic said. “We need more male dancers.”
]]>
The Men’s Draw
The US Open was headlined by two electrifying singles draws. The men’s draw started with little controversy, aside from a surprising early exit from fourth seed Dominic Thiem. Coming off a record-breaking summer hard-court season, fifth seed Daniil Medvedev was a tournament favorite from the get go; though he faced challenging four-set matches throughout the tournament, he proved he was a next-generation player that veteran players had to look out for. Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer shakily got off the blocks, dropping the first sets in his opening round matches. Federer found his groove later in the tournament, cleanly dismantling fifteenth-seed David Goffin in stunning three-set fashion. Rafael Nadal, the 2019 French Open Champion and second seed coming into the US Open, comfortably eased his way through his draw, beating the likes of John Millman and Chung Hyeon to advance to the second week of the tournament.
The first blow of the tournament struck when 2019 Wimbledon champion and first seed Novak Djokovic retired in his fourth-round match against 23rd seed Stanislas Wawrinka, a player highly regarded as one of Djokovic’s grand slam rivals. Reports of Djokovic’s left shoulder injury broke out before the tournament had begun, and its effects were visible on the court: Djokovic only won 50% of his second-serve points in his match against Wawrinka due to his lack of pace and spin. Wawrinka was shut down in the following round to Medvedev, who, at this point, was utilizing his dominant swiftness and fluidity on the court to handle his opponents.
In his quarterfinal match, Federer faced an unseeded Gregor Dimitrov, who is reputed for having a similar playstyle as Federer. In a grueling five-set match, Gregor Dimitrov managed to pull off the upset of his career, eliminating the grand slam record holder from the competition. An in-form Medvedev, however, ended Dimitrov’s tournament run in a short three-set match, qualifying him for his first grand slam final, where he would face the world-renowned clay court specialist Rafael Nadal.
Nadal, who easily converted the first two sets in his favor, was the favorite to win the championship match. However, as the third set began, the crowd started chanting Medvedev’s name, and the match seemed to turn around instantly. Medvedev then swiftly won the following two sets; as the points grew longer and longer, Medvedev began outplaying Nadal more and more frequently.
Prior to the match, ex-tennis player John McEnroe emphasized the need for Medvedev to shorten points to have even the slightest chance to take down Nadal, who is regarded as a phenomenal baseline player. Not only did Medvedev ignore McEnroe’s words, but in doing so, he was beating Nadal at his own game. Nadal broke Medvedev twice in the fifth set to regain composure at 5-2. Although a time violation cost Nadal his service game and allowed Medvedev to come back into the last set, Nadal clinched it in the final game, saving a break point that would have resulted in Medvedev regaining momentum. The final score of the match was 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4.
The Women’s Draw
The women’s side looked similar, featuring a few household greats and also a couple of the next-gen players. The tournament did not start without surprise, as many of the top seeds such as Simona Halep, 2019 Wimbledon Champion, fell to lower-ranked players. These surprises continued as the tournament progressed, but a few women pushed their way through and found themselves deep in the draw. Household names, such as 23-time grand slam winner Serena Williams, first seed Naomi Osaka, and young, up-and-coming Coco Gauff, each completed the first few rounds with ease and landed themselves into the later rounds of the prestigious tournament.
Osaka and Gauff faced off in a heated quarterfinal, but despite her efforts, the young phenom Gauff lost 6-3, 6-0. After the loss, Gauff praised Osaka.
“I’m going to learn a lot from this match. She’s been so sweet to me, so thank you for this. Thank you,” Gauff said.
Along with Gauff and Osaka, Williams also played a tremendous tournament, making it to the finals, only to fall short to 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu. Andreescu, a Canadian player who had never won a grand slam title before, shocked the world. After a grueling two hour match, Andreescu was the one on top, beating the 23-time grand slam winner Williams, 6-3, 7-5.
This match wrapped up a fantastic year at the US Open. Many top players such as Rafael Nadal and Bianca Andreescu managed to entertain crowds as well as bring out the best of themselves. As the last big tournament of the year has come to a close, tennis fans can now sit back and relax.
]]>Arguably, Chappelle’s special can be interpreted as a social commentary on a current trend in the media known as ‘cancel culture,’ a form of boycotting a celebrity after they share a socially insensitive opinion.
Cancel culture has often led to a decline to a celebrity’s notoriety. For instance, comedian Shane Gillis was recently fired from the Saturday Night Live cast after using racial slurs on a podcast he was featured in.
In his special, Chappelle brings up the example of Kevin Hart, an internationally recognized comedian, who stepped down from hosting the Oscars after specific homophobic tweets resurfaced from the comedian’s past. Chappelle claims that Hart was being unfairly punished for statements that were said during a time when awareness to communities such as the LQTBQ was not as prevalent as it currently is.
Despite the number of celebrities who have been under fire due to cancel culture, it’s also given many movements and groups new voices in the media. English teacher Russell Anderson provides insight into how cancel culture has developed within society.
“It’s definitely a product of the time; I think it’s good in that it encourages companies and celebrities to stand for something at times,” Anderson said.
In honor of pride month this past June, numerous companies and brands released pride products. These companies, including Nike, American Eagle, and Disney, released a plethora of rainbow-colored products and advertisements, indicating their support for the LGTBQ community and movement.
Chappelle is no stranger to stirring up controversy. The comedian has received a fair amount of hate in previous sets for sharing opinions that he claims are genuine yet unpopular. Senior Aditya Prathap shares his view on why he enjoys Chappelle’s sets.
“Dave Chappelle is a really funny comedian; although I like more of his earlier sets, his conversational style of comedy is refreshing, especially since most comedians on mainstream media use clearly rehearsed sets that feel more robotic,” Prathap said.
However the inclusion of jokes that involve socially taboo topics in his recent special have led to claims of Chappelle trivializing certain socio-political topics.
“While it may seem hypocritical considering I find Dave Chappelle funny, I think his jokes went a step too far,” Prathap said. “By making jokes on his set regarding suicide or abortion, it could cause the average viewer to believe that these topics are jokes in real life. By attaching these divisive issues to jokes, it will allow the average viewer to justify their apathy and indifference as they gradually become more desensitized.”
In the midst of his criticism, there has also been support for Chappelle testing the limits of his comedic craft. Anderson believes that although finding such limits in the arts should be encouraged, there are other creative ways to achieve a comedic effect.
“Whether it be comedy, literature, music, or film, I think it’s important for artists to continually push to do things other people haven’t done yet,” Anderson said. “I think it’s also true that there’s a line since some of his jokes are about people who are already marginalized.”
Despite the received controversy, Chappelle stands his ground, indicating how the comedian feels about cancel culture’s place in the media. Prathap shares his thoughts on how he believes cancel culture should fit within society.
“People are imperfect and will make mistakes, so if they do whatever they can to make up for those mistakes, I think cancel culture would just be unnecessarily punishing them,” Prathap said. “At the end of the day, the cancel culture was never supposed to demonize every person who made mistakes in their past, it was supposed to prevent enabling people who continually act inappropriately without remorse.”
]]>Senior Mary Tang expresses her excitement for an outlet to explore the diversity at Fremd. “It is going to be fascinating to see the different cultures that are present around us that we may not be aware of,” Tang said. “Personally, I am excited to exhibit my Asian heritage during Spirit Week.”
Student Council has also planned unique themes for Spirit Week during the week of homecoming. This year, the Spirit Themes are Jet Lagged Monday (Pajama Day), Tourist Tuesday, World Sports Wednesday, Where’s Waldo Friday, and homecoming shirts/blue and green Friday. To encourage students to participate in dressing up, Fremd will continue the annual tradition of awarding cookies to classes with the highest percentage of students wearing spirit wear each day.
Senior and leader of United Clubs of Fremd (UCF) Samantha Shirmer emphasizes the optimism that Spirit Week adds to the students. “Dressing up for Spirit Week is a great way for students to bond and connect as a student body,” Shirmer said. “It brings a fun atmosphere to school and can also help alleviate student stress.”
Another tradition that has continued from previous years are the food trucks that Student Council is hosting during lunch periods and after school events. On Friday, September 27th, the My Flavorit Place Food Truck will be open outside during lunch periods. On Tuesday, October 1st, the My Funnel and Your Sister’s Tomato Food Trucks will be open during the Bubble Soccer and Powderpuff games. On Thursday, October 3rd, the Beavers Donuts, Toasty Cheese, Fire Squared Pizza, and an unconfirmed taco truck will be open during an outdoor movie night from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Proceeds for homecoming are going towards JOURNEYS, a charity that supports the homeless.
Student Council Co-President Varsha Krishnan points out the best way to promote the upcoming homecoming dance. “It would be great if students show up and bring friends to all of our events,” Krishnan said. “We would love to see everyone there!”
The outdoor movie night is new this year. The viewing location will be the south field behind the south gym, where Aladdin (2019) will be playing. Admission to this event is free. On top of that, there are new special menu days during the week of homecoming, with delicacies from a variety of cultures, including Italian, Mexican, German, Chinese, and Greek. Full menus will be posted to Schoology in the upcoming week.
Tickets will go on sale on Friday, September 27th for $10. Then, from September 30th to October 4th, tickets will be $15, and students can also purchase tickets on the day of the dance for an increased price of $25. Homecoming t-shirts cost $10 and will be sold outside of the cafeteria from September 27th to October 4th.
]]>Mr. Bourke grew up about 25 minutes southeast of Palatine. He attended York High School in Elmhurst, IL, home of the Dukes. He went on to pursue a teaching bachelor’s degree in secondary education at the University of Missouri (Mizzou). He studied at Mizzou for three and a half years before returning to the state of Illinois to student teach in Northbrook, IL for one semester and then graduating from college that same year. Mr. Bourke has since become the sponsor of Philosophy Club where he enjoys seeing students put their ideas out onto the table. As a teacher who is fresh out of college, Mr. Bourke looks forward to jumping right into the variety of activities Fremd has to offer and helping Fremd students find themselves through literature.
What inspired you to become an English teacher?
I have had so many transformational educators in my life. I can think back to my 8th grade English teacher, Mr. White, who encouraged us to explore English through satire and conversations about ethics. He actually let me teach a class in 8th grade, and I feel like from that moment forward, this has always felt like something I wanted to do.
What’s your favorite childhood memory?
There are about twenty of us in my extended family. Every year, we all go to Long Beach, Indiana, which is right along Lake Michigan, and we all cram into this small little beach house for a week. I’m a fairly loud person, but in my family, I’m pretty quiet, so it’s just this loud group of twenty people, yelling and screaming in the happiest way possible, that we’ve been doing that literally ever since I was born.
What aspect of teaching at Fremd have you enjoyed the most so far?
I have absolutely loved the communities students create in classrooms. I think our students do such a nice job of genuinely trying to get to know each other. And especially in an English classroom, if you’re not willing to talk to one another, nothing’s going to get done. I think that Fremd students do a really fantastic job of opening up, being honest, being willing to share, and I’ve really enjoyed that about the Fremd culture.
Who’s your favorite author? Why?
My absolute favorite author is this man named David Sedaris, who is an essayist and a satirical writer. He writes down all of his life stories, and he does it with this very dark form of humor that is so much fun to read and enjoy. He does such a nice job of starting with one story, moving to another story, circling back to that first story. He does it in such a way that makes so much sense and his writing style is just impeccable. I could literally read his book and listen to his audiobooks all day, forever.
How do you relax after a day of rigorous work?
I think I’m incredibly lucky to be able to have hobbies that are associated with my job. I enjoy reading. There is a lot that I get at work that relaxes me. Especially with this being my first year at Fremd, I don’t get a lot of time to breath, but when I do, I love spending time with my family. I love spending time with the friends I still have around me. It’s really nice to be able to come back and rediscover the city that I left for a pretty extended amount of time.
What aspect of English do you wish people knew more about? Why?
I think that I love teaching English because I love exploring language. “That’s an interesting word you used, why did you choose that word?” “You just made up a word right now, how did you make up that word?” I think that is far more fascinating than taking a red pen and correcting every single time the grammar seems wrong, because we create language as we go as humans. We learn language not by studying a dictionary if it’s our first language, we learn language by experiencing it. I think that it’s a very common misconception that every piece of language is set in stone forever. So I think it’s really cool that English can be changing, and I get the opportunity to teach students how to make use of language as it changes frequently.
What do you enjoy most about teaching English in general?
I absolutely love seeing it in a student’s eyes when they’re like, “Oh! That’s what they meant?” I think it’s so cool when a student has a realization that I’ve never even had when I was reading a piece. Those are my most fun moments as a teacher, where we get to explore text together – where it’s not just me being like “This is how this happens.” It gets boring really quickly to me; it’s much more fun to go, “Let’s look at this together, let’s see what’s going on in this text.” I think that’s so much more fun, and that’s when I’m at the peak enjoyment of my job – it’s when we’re looking at a text together and discovering it together.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I think I will be expanding on what I’m already doing. I think the first five years of teaching are the most interesting time for my career, because it’s establishing who I am in a building. During my first year at Fremd, I’m still deciding, “Do I want to get involved with this; do I want to sponsor this; do I want to be a part of this?” I’m figuring out what I hope to get involved in.
]]>Green Bay Packers: 3-0
The Packers’ offseason moves were some of the most notable storylines over the summer. So far, these moves have clearly been successful. The additions of Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Za’Darius Smith, and Preston Smith have made an immediate impact that has given Green Bay a top defensive unit through three weeks. While they narrowly escaped with victories over division rivals Chicago and Minnesota, a 27-16 win at home against Denver showed that this team has the chance to be one of the best in the NFL. However, Denver and Chicago have been among the worst offensive teams in the league thus far, and Minnesota threw away a victory at Lambeau. Regardless of their defensive abilities, the Packers offense can’t be ignored as long as they have Aaron Rodgers, who will now be working with new head coach Matt LaFleur. Green Bay will be a playoff team and is in a very good position to win the NFC North, but tough matchups later in the season may show this team’s true identity.
Final record prediction: 11-5
Chicago Bears: 2-1
The Bears had a relatively quiet offseason, but that doesn’t mean it was a bad one. Chicago kept 10 out of their 11 starters on defense, replacing Adrian Amos with Ha Ha Clinton Dix at safety. Much like division rival Minnesota, there’s no doubt the Bears have one of the best defenses in the NFL. In Week 3 against Washington, the Chicago defense forced 5 turnovers, including a pick 6 in a 28-15 win. Even though the Bears have a strong defense, there are still some questions surrounding the offense. In his third season, quarterback Mitch Trubisky has looked like the team’s largest liability, making inexcusable passing decisions in close games. It’s possible Trubisky just needs time, given that he did not play in the preseason. He might need to adjust to a different running offense with David Montgomery taking a majority of the workload instead of Jordan Howard. If the defense plays similarly to their performance last season, Chicago should be in a very good position to repeat as division champs, although there is certainly more competition and pressure to win the NFC North now.
Final record prediction 10-6
Minnesota Vikings: 2-1
The Vikings hope to bounce back from an 8-7-1 record last season that disappointed many fans following an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2017. After three games, Vikings fans are beginning to picture a defense reminiscent of that team from two years ago. The key to success this season has been the Vikings’ offense. While many believe Minnesota’s fate lies in the arm of quarterback Kirk Cousins, a successful offensive line and run game may prove to be far more necessary down the line. The Vikings revamped their offensive line through the draft and free agency, while adding Gary Kubiak to their coaching staff and introducing a new zone blocking scheme. This has allowed for running back Dalvin Cook to lead the league in rushing yards through week 3, lessening the need for Cousins to carry the team to tough victories under pressure. If Minnesota’s offense can maintain a strong rushing attack while incorporating the passing game to an extent, this team is easily a contender to win the division.
Final record prediction: 10-6
Detroit Lions: 2-0-1
The Detroit Lions have surprised many this season with strong performances that currently leave them without a loss. Their offense has weapons on both the air and ground, something many Lions teams of the past have lacked. With second-year running back Kerryon Johnson, the Lions look to create a multidimensional offense, although Johnson has gotten off to a slower start than expected. Detroit’s offseason moves have paid off so far, with first-round pick TJ Hockenson and free-agent signings Trey Flowers, Mike Daniels, and Rashaan Melvin making immediate impacts. With consistent play from quarterback Matthew Stafford, Detroit could see themselves as contenders for a wildcard spot in the playoffs. It’s going to be a tough journey to a playoff appearance for Detroit in a strong NFC, meaning their tie against Arizona may end up being the key to their season, impacting their total win percentage in either a positive or negative way that could determine the outcome of this season.
Final record prediction: 8-7-1
Each team in the NFC North has a reason why they can win the division, but it won’t be easy for any of them to do so. It’s going to be very close, but the Packers will win the division with an 11-5 record. Both Minnesota and Chicago will finish at 10-6 and make the playoffs in the wildcard spots. Detroit will miss the postseason with a record of 8-7-1, with a strong foundation to build upon in future seasons.
]]>The two teams traded blows early on, with the score shifting back and forth in either team’s favor. As the first set progressed, Conant established a comfortable five-point lead. Nonetheless, the Vikings refused to give up, rallying back off of big kills from outside hitters Rylen and Breslen Reid. The sisters finished with 20 kills combined.
With the set nearing its end, Fremd was trailing 23-24. An ace from senior setter Lydia Vander Ark evened up the game at 24. An attempted spike from Conant went out of bounds on the next play, giving Fremd the advantage at 25. A clutch kill from Rylen closed out the set 26-24.
Senior right-side hitter Cassie Seaver details how the team’s grit and energy helped them come out on top.
”Our energy was really good towards the end of the first set,” Seaver said. “Even when we were down, we kept fighting to get back up, and eventually; we were able to pull through.”
The second set, while still competitive, proved to be slightly more comfortable for the Vikings, as they were able to maintain a lead throughout the set. Conant, however, would not let the gap grow too large as they always stayed within a few points. Ultimately, strong defense and excellent offense helped the Vikings finish the set out 25-21.
Setters Rian Baker and Vander Ark facilitated the ball well, finishing with 13 and 11 assists respectively. Sophomore libero Izzy Segoviano anchored the defense with seven digs, to go along with fantastic passes in serve-receive.
Vander Ark reflects on the team’s consistent confidence on the court.
“There’s never really a moment in anyone’s mind that we’re going to lose,” Vander Ark said. “If people make a mistake, then we just shake it off, and we’re just ready for the next point.”
After the victory against the Cougars, the Vikings also won the Glenbard West Invite on Sept. 21 and improved to 4-0 in the conference after defeating Schaumburg on Sept. 25. They will face off against Barrington on Sept. 27 to wrap up their first round of conference play.
]]>One recent rally was when Nestlé had thousands of citizens protesting over a problem that society has overlooked for a long time, pollution. In April 2019, Greenpeace activists in Virginia dragged a gigantic 15-foot tall pile of garbage to the Nestlé headquarters. Nestlé had contributed approximately 8 million tons of plastic ending up into the oceans each year. You may have also heard of the Chick-fil-A protests recently, regarding the acceptance of LGBTQ+ in our culture. But you may not know that these controversies have been concerning since 1967. However, they didn’t blow up until 2017, when the company donated 1.9 million to anti-gay groups, according to Vox. Due to the protests, the opening of the first Chick-fil-A in Canada was bombarded by LGBTQ+ activists. As a society, we are more aware of issues, quickly identify the problems, and boycott against them. Pop culture has also seen protests concerning politics and brands.
A recent example is a claim made by the H&M company. H&M has now refused to buy leather from Brazil to confirm they aren’t supporting farming that are helping fuel fires in the Amazon rainforest. Many famous artists have also protested against the companies and brands that support unethical things, whether it be going on Twitter or writing entire songs. These artists have inspired fans to assist them in their quest. In 2017, after Trump’s election, Eminem performed “The Storm,” a freestyle protesting against how the president disrespected the military, also highlighting his attacks on Puerto Rico. Millions of fans viewed this song.
Many may argue that protests are unnecessary and just cause useless chaos. However, while protests can be loud and chaotic, they are an integral part of fundamental rights and a reminder to people who have forgotten about them. They are loud because when they are quiet, nobody bothers listening. They are chaotic because when they are calm, nobody even gives them a second thought. And isn’t the right to protest an essential human right stated in the First Amendment? Therefore, protesting should be more accepted in our society. They are a significant factor in persuading businesses to alter.
Protests have proven to be a necessary part of the people trying to change society. They are critical because they are a way of showing the government what the people believe. Protesting affects all of us, especially since they can be the deciding factor over things that we are a part of. It’s about time that society started punishing the businesses and brands that flourish under unfairness and the suppressing of individual people. Companies like these need to be confronted, and the best way to do that is to protest. Hopefully, significant protests such as these can lead to a change in how controversial businesses operate and bring about a better society for all of us.
]]>Title track “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” which opens the album, sees Malone crooning over a slow tempo guitar riff. Malone’s purpose for creating the album – to critique Hollywood’s desire to suck the life out of him – is best reflected in this song, where he likens “vampires feedin’” to Hollywood executives. Despite Malone’s view that “Hollywood is bleeding,” Malone shares that “[he] still [calls] it home.” Its instrumentation is also decidedly eerier than Malone’s previous projects, indicative of the darker hues that command the first half of the album.
“Allergic” is arguably the best track on the project. Its purposefully jarring, bold opening steadily resolves into Malone’s nostalgic indie melodies. Malone juxtaposes his somber lamentations of a toxic relationship with saccharine, soppy vocals. Its timbre is frequently distorted, yielding a dramatic, rock-esque sound.
Otherwise, Malone is most at home on rap-learning tracks. The instrumentation on “Enemies” is remarkable, with bouncy percussive and trap effects. Malone adeptly sings the infectious hook, perfectly framing and balancing DaBaby’s aggressive flow and witty lyricism. On “Saint Tropez,” Malone delivers a dissertation on the merits of retail therapy. Both are reminiscent of Malone’s older work but don’t feel out of place on the otherwise mostly pop and rock album.
On paper, the multitude of collaborations on Hollywood’s Bleeding seem preposterous. “Take What You Want” pits heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne with hip-hop heavyweight Travis Scott. “Die For Me” features both trap artist Future and electro pop singer Halsey. In practice, the collaborations work together. On both efforts, Malone and the featured artists tone down their normal styles to create a pop sound palatable to fans of most genres.
Occasionally, however, Malone is outshined by featured artists. SZA dominates the foreground on “Staring at the Sun” with winding, mesmerizing melodies. Malone, though sadly in the periphery on his own album, admittedly does grant additional texture to the track. On “Sunflower,” similarly, Swae Lee and Malone’s parts are blatantly disproportionate – Malone is absent until the second verse.
Malone frequently veers from his typical playful bravado. At times, he’s referencing the Jonas Brothers and his affinity for pricey Crocs. Elsewhere, he laments about the pitfalls of his newfound fame and relationships that have gone awry. Here, his iconic auto-tuned vocals serve more of an artistic purpose than to make up for any vocal shortcomings.
The chilling, robotic distortion present throughout the album make it abundantly clear that Malone’s celebrity status has not detached him from reality, crafting a dreary narrative that is as credible and incredible as ever.
Photo courtesy of Genius
]]>Alejandro recognizes the importance of being diligent in order to reach his objectives.
“Take action for the things you want in life because no one else is going to do it for you; it’s up to you to put the work in and persevere through all and any adversity,” Alejandro said.
English teacher Christie O’Donnell feels Alejandro’s commitment in class will lead him to success beyond the classroom.
“Alejandro Gonzalez-Jimenez is a gift to have in the classroom because of his relentless dedication to the pursuit of knowledge, his humble and kind nature and his ability for analytical thought; he will be an incredible English teacher one day as he is already a model student and intern,” O’Donnell said.
The opening song of the album, “I Forgot That You Existed,” pays tribute to the angsty mood of “Reputation.” The lyrics provoke feelings of doubt and anxiety, while also describing Swift’s lighthearted dismissal of her past. Elements of bright pop, such as finger snaps for the rhythm, set the tone for the album’s adherence to Swift’s newer musical style while acknowledging characteristics present in “Reputation.”
“Lover,” the flagship song of the album, portrays the beautifully innocent side of love. With instruments chosen to reflect those typically in wedding bands, Swift writes of a picture perfect love story, similar to the simplistic style of her earlier days. A synth-pop glittery atmosphere helps establish a new era of her typical love songs.
Swift indulges in light social commentary as well, with songs such as “The Man” and “You Need to Calm Down.” In “The Man,” she discusses the double standards women face in society to confront issues of gender inequality. “You Need to Calm Down” supports the LGBT community, while tackling backlash to such topics. Both songs feature an upbeat tempo with a driving rhythm, similar to what was seen in albums like “Reputation” and “1989.”
The most heartbreaking song of the album is “Soon You’ll Get Better,” which details Swift’s mother’s battle against cancer. A collaboration with the Dixie Chicks and the emotional lyrics recall her country music roots. To highlight the story behind the song, she uses a sole guitar as the instrumentation for the song.
“Cruel Summer” proves to be one of the true masterpieces of the album. With an electro pop undertone, the song signifies her moving on from one of the worst times of her life- the summer of 2016. It manages to sound angsty, dreamy, wistful, and edgy all at the same time. This track perfectly defines the overall mood of the album as more warm and hopeful than ever before.
Throughout the entire album, Swift delves into unique musical challenges, with the use of steel drums in “It’s Nice to Have a Friend” and the integration of a saxophone into “False God” to reflect R&B, unfamiliar territory for her. “Lover” explores both the good and bad sides of love with a more positive outlook, while also revealing deeper stories full of emotions. The critically acclaimed album is indicative of a new direction in Swift’s music journey.
]]>Miller was assaulted by Turner behind a Stanford University dumpster following a fraternity party in 2015. Even with an ample amount of evidence against him – two Swedish graduate students who chased and held Turner until the authorities arrived – Turner only served three months of a six month sentence in county jail, raising questions regarding race and wealth gap in sentencing. Turner exemplified the bias that favors young, white men in assault and rape cases. What Turner’s conviction would mean for his future should not have been the deciding factor, but it was.
When news of Miller’s case first broke out, in media outlets, Turner was the “Stanford Swimmer” or an “Olympic Hopeful” while Miller was the “intoxicated woman found behind a dumpster.” Emphasizing her levels of intoxication rather than focusing on the real problem encouraged the idea of victim-blaming, driving her to believe that if she didn’t drink that night, she wouldn’t be standing in court with Turner. It’s partly what took Miller so long to reveal her identity: she didn’t want to be what the headlines made her to be amidst her family, friends, and co-workers. In the courtroom and in the public’s eye, Turner was not held responsible for his actions, deepening the damage done to Miller.
During Turner’s sentencing, Miller chose to read her impact statement directed towards him, which was later published by BuzzFeed and read by millions.
“I had to force myself to relearn my real name, my identity. To relearn that this is not all that I am,” Miller said to Turner in her statement. “I am a human being who has been irreversibly hurt, who waited a year to figure out if I was worth something.”
Miller is an important part of the history of millions of survivors and their rightful demand for justice & healing. Her testimony was raw and meaningful, shifting the burden from the victim to the abuser. The awareness she brought as she questioned the routine discrediting of victims through her statement is tremendous, but there is still more to be done to protect survivors. In order for victims to feel safe, the idea of believing & being a source of strength should offset the idea of victim-blaming. When someone comes forward to share their story, despite the many nights of hurting and healing, the least we can do is stand behind them as they fight for their equity.
Miller wrote in her statement, “The night after it happened, he said he didn’t know my name, said he wouldn’t be able to identify my face in a line up.” Neither Turner, nor anyone else, will forget Chanel Miller’s name now.
]]>In the film, Roy is disconnected from the external world and has difficulty understanding love, in family and relationships. In characterizing him, other characters are mostly pushed to the background, centering the entire movie on Roy. However, because of this, his personality and background is very thoroughly broken down and many of his thoughts being narrated in the background allows the audience to understand him on a personal level.
Pitt’s versatility as an actor is showed most by his transformation throughout the film. His performance at the beginning of the movie is emotionless. Even in scenes of near death experiences, he narrates what happened in a monotone voice, which at the start, seemed unrealistic. However, as the movie progresses, Pitt shows a shift in emotion as he rethinks his own desires, showing off the depth and humanity in the character. To create a whole movie centered on the internal conflict of character is an extraordinary feat that the movie pulled off very well. This was solely built upon the acting of Pitt and this movie displayed the true potential that he has as an actor.
While the set design and music is used deliberately to spotlight the performance of Pitt, it left the audience feeling unsatisfied and wanting more. Ninety percent of the movie is limited to two locations: space or the desolate space station. Throughout the entire film, there was very little to almost no background music. This silence of space, while also working to give off an eerie vibe of the unknown lurking at any corner, also achieves the effect of being alone and only with yourself and your thoughts. However, while this choice was made purposefully to make the audience also be in silence with the character, it was often times too little to keep the audience engaged for a two hour movie.
While Pitt’s performance was amazing, since the film is built on Pitt and his character reflecting on himself, just him narrating his emotions in the background lead to lost interest at certain moments. Even though there were attempts at catching the audience’s attention with some action scenes, it lacked the power to suck the audience into the movie and keeping them hooked.
Ad Astra, while posing many interesting ideas, lacked the driving force to keep the movie in motion and the audience interested. While Pitt’s performance was exceptional, the emptiness in the set and music left minds wandering during the film.
Link to photo – (9https://pixabay.com/photos/space-deep-space-galaxy-nebula-2638126/)
]]>In a tweet, First Lady Melania Trump stated that she was “deeply concerned” about this “epidemic.” Melania is the head of the “Be Best” campaign, which is trying to spread awareness of child wellness, bullying, and drug abuse. President Donald Trump said that the Democratic Alliance would put out “recommendations regarding the use of e-cigarettes.” Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar announced that a newly proposed enforcement policy would require e-cigarette companies to pull their products from shelves after at least six people have died from e-cigarette related illnesses.This seems like a much-needed change in our country.
All of this has boiled down to a potential vape ban in the United States. But why, some people ask, are lawmakers trying to ban vapes before they ban guns?
Guns have been in the spotlight for years as a national emergency. Accordingly,39,773 people died at the hands of guns in 2017, the highest number since 1963. 2017 was a catastrophic year for gun deaths, resulting in the highest numbers in the past three years. 64% of these numbers have been caused by handguns. These gun death numbers are higher than most other countries, such as Canada, Australia and various European Union nations.
In truth, guns are more threatening than vapes at this point in time. But look ahead, about seven years from now. Suppose that lawmakers decide that there should be a change in laws, whether that be better background checks, more red flag laws, or banning the AR-15 or guns all together. To do the latter, Congress would have to make an amendment that changes the second amendment. I say seven years because that’s approximately the time limit on making a new amendment. Although this change could take anywhere from one to seven years, the probability is that it will take up most of those years. Seven years is too long to put off the issues of e-cigarettes.
Banning e-cigarettes would most likely take much less than seven years. By giving priority to the gun issues, lawmakers will be giving the e-cigarette issues room to grow. While resolving gun violence will take more time, it is vital that we get issues about e-cigarette related illnesses out of the picture first. The Constitution says that to make an amendment, Congress must get a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives as well as the Senate, or by getting a majority vote by two-thirds of the states. Because of this, you have to take into consideration states that are pro-second amendment, such as Arizona, Missouri, and Georgia that will make the amendment process very difficult.However, states are ready to ban vapes and e-cigarettes. Suppose that every state that has experienced a vape-related disease is ready to ban them. That’s 33 states banning e-cigarettes – exactly two thirds of the states.
Banning e-cigarettes is a much shorter and easier road than that of guns. Right now, the gun problem is a tree – over two hundred years of gun rights – and the e-cigarette illnesses is a sprouting plant. By banning e-cigarettes, Congress would be ripping the sprout out of the ground. Getting to work on the gun violence issue next would be the most efficient way of solving both problems. We don’t want to spend up to the next seven years cutting down that gun violence tree while the e-cigarette plant grows out of hand.
]]>The Goldfinch begins with Theo Decker, sitting in a hotel room, his life a complete mess. It is revealed that the death of his mother as a young boy sent him spiraling into a life filled with grief. As he is shuffled around between different guardians, he tries to come to terms with his mother’s death and the faults that he committed.
One of the main elements of the film that was successful was the camerawork. There were quick cuts that conveyed so much without having anything to be said. Whether it be a shot of two pairs of feet to show a difference in characters or a look passed between a father and son, director John Crowley achieved what he wanted to say without anyone explicitly saying it. These scenes gave the viewers a chance to form their own conclusions and opinions without spoon feeding viewers what the film was trying to convey.
This piece of the movie was just one fantastic element of the many. The acting was spot-on with a standout performance from Oakes Fegley, who played the young version of Theo. Fegley did a great job of creating a realistic kid, someone who makes mistakes but you can’t help but empathize with. Also, the soundtrack was fun and fitting, with songs by Beethoven and New Order in it. However, when all the pieces of the film were put together, they didn’t come together seamlessly.
The question of why The Goldfinch failed so badly despite having superb elements is simple. The writers tried to do too much into too little time. There was a wide array of characters and viewers never really got to know them. Even the main character, Theo, felt underdeveloped. His relationship with every other character was rushed – especially the relationship with his mother. There are very few scenes with Theo’s mother, so it’s hard to empathize and understand why Theo was so devastated by her death. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Theo has not just one, but two love interests. Each of these love interests have their own stories that were brushed over in about 20 minutes. At that point, the film easily could have done away with one or both of them and focused on developing the relationship between Theo and some of the other characters, like his foster parents.
Along with an overload of characters, there were too many stories. Each character seemed to have their own half-finished storyline. Also, the film switches from Theo’s past to Theo’s present back and forth, but they do it so roughly that it’s an annoyance. The present Theo will talk about something and then it switches to the past, however the past perspective rarely answers the questions that the present Theo poses.
The Goldfinch tries to tackle too many issues all at once. Many of the characters are seen doing risky acts and it’s never addressed. First off, the kids in the film are seen doing drugs, drinking, and smoking, but the writers copped out of addressing it head on with one quick line of dialogue. Other issues brought up include suicide, child abuse, other violence, and confused sexuality, yet none of those topics were treated as seriously as it should have been. It felt like these serious topics were thrown in so that viewers would take the movie seriously.
There was too much happening that The Goldfinch ended up saying a whole lot of nothing. With fantastic acting, an interesting plot line and superb technical elements, The Goldfinch should have been great. But it wasn’t. The film tried to handle too much and the parts of the story that should have been capitalized on ended up falling through the cracks. What could have been a very emotional, moving story ended up being rather lifeless.
]]>Instagram is testing a new feature that prevents you from viewing how many people have liked a post. The like button is still there, but there isn’t an accumulating number of likes that you can see. Instead, the only person who can see how many people liked the post is the person who posted it, your followers can see is if any people they follow have liked it. Instagram has already taken action with their new feature in Canada, Australia, Japan, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand and Brazil which is a great start to the renewal of Instagram. The removal of the like button will help us enjoy posting on Instagram and prevent us from being obsessed with likes.
Instagram has many reasons for deciding to follow through with their idea. They want your followers to focus on what you are sharing with them, instead of how many likes you are getting. Isn’t this one of the reasons why we get Instagram in the first place? We want to share a part of our lives with our friends. People shouldn’t worry about how many likes they are getting. Sometimes if we don’t get enough likes we end up deleting a post. The entire purpose of Instagram is to share memories with each other, such as special events, not to delete them for not getting enough attention.
Being worried about the likes you get can put a toll on your mental state. We can get obsessed with the number of likes we get, and not getting as many as you want can be demeaning. We tend to compare ourselves to others, and the number of likes we get can be a way of comparison. We can become so obsessed with it that it can cause us to become depressed or anxious about what we post, be always wondering what will get us the most likes, instead of actually posting what we want to. Getting rid of the likes will reduce the stress of wanting the fake validation and actually let us enjoy sharing with our friends.
But what about followers? It’s almost the same as likes, but just as a whole on your account. People look at that too, although it’s not as eye catching as likes. So removing the likes isn’t fully removing the risk of all the negative impacts that can happen.
Some people think removing the ability to see the amount of likes someone is receiving isn’t a good idea. There has been a recent competition of who has the most likes between a picture of Kylie Jenner’s baby and a picture of an egg. People liked to see the likes go up and down, and watching their like count to one of these pictures. But this is another form of obsession. Getting too into these competitions can be unhealthy for you, because you’ll always have this on your mind. Removing the like button would fix this problem.
Instagram is doing its part on bringing us closer as a community by removing the ability to see the like count. This is a great change because they are helping to prevent your life from revolving around Instagram likes. We can start to focus on the better things in life, such as family and friends. This is a start to us being healthier and less obsessed about everything we post.
]]>According to Assistant Principal Eric Dolen, the carpets were worn out and getting old. The District had a set amount of money set aside for renovations, which entirely covered the cost of replacing the first-floor carpets. He also explained why we changed the carpet to a new black design.
“The District had a certain type of style picked,” Dolen said. “The style included squares so that if there was damage, the glue under there would never get 100% dried. So if something were to damage a tile, you could just pull it out. It’s more cost-efficient that way.”
Regardless, Fremd student opinion has been about fifty-fifty in regards to the look of the new carpets.
Senior Sofia Oliver feels the appearance of the carpets could be improved and more aesthetically pleasing. The older carpets used to feature green—one of the school’s spirit colors.
“I think they detract from the overall spirit of the school. Before they were matching the colors, but now they’re plain,” Oliver said. “It feels like I’m walking through just any other hallway instead of Fremd’s hallways. If they chose the new carpets just because the design cost was cheaper, the renovation wasn’t worth it.”
Junior Mukta Chanda agrees with Sofia Oliver’s opinion when comparing the two carpets.
“I honestly like the old one better,” Chanda said. “I don’t know how necessary it was to change the design to this new black one. If they had to renovate, they could’ve kept the old design.”
Even though some people question the appearance of the carpets, there are still people who welcome and support the new change. Freshman Madyson Kim prefers the new carpet compared to the one upstairs.
“I like the ones downstairs better because it feels a lot more newer and more modern than the floor upstairs,” Kim shared. “Even just walking on it, it feels as if the downstairs carpets are softer than the ones upstairs.”
She’s not the only one who supported the new carpets. Senior Miguel Mercado thinks that the carpets are a much-needed improvement in Fremd’s environment.
“The new carpets at Fremd are a good improvement in our school’s infrastructure,” Mercado said. “The black color is very modern and appealing, and it gives the school a fresh, clean feel. It was a sound investment.”
]]>One recurring statistic from the 2017 US Census Bureau’s data is that women make 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. However, this number is even lower for women of color. According to the same census, for every dollar a white man makes, Asian women make 85 cents, white women make 77 cents, black women make 61 cents, Native American women make 58 cents, and Latina women make 53 cents. This is due to a wide variety of factors, such as unequal access to education, racial prejudice, occupational segregation and even outright pay discrimation.
This pay discrimination has been most recently brought to light by the US Women’s National Soccer Team as they continue to fight for equal income. According to The Guardian, each player on the women’s team makes $110,000 if they become World Cup Champions, while each player on the men’s team earns about $407,000 for doing exactly the same thing. There is no reasonable explanation for why the men’s team makes considerably more, other than outright pay discrimination. If anything, the women’s team should be paid more, because they bring in more revenue while the men’s team hasn’t even been able to consistently make the World Cup.
President Trump recently met with the head of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and informed reporters that “Gianni and I just had a meeting on women’s soccer and what everybody is going to do to make that better and more equitable.” Infantino commented that “Soccer, which is a big part of this country as well, and women’s soccer, where you are world champions, there is much more to do. The president was saying this to me, and he’s right, and we’re working … we will announce very soon some new initiatives.” Hopefully, they will stand by these words and equal pay will finally become a reality for the women’s soccer team.
However, other examples of obvious pay discrimination can be seen in common careers, and most of them won’t see pay parity anytime soon. According to the National Women’s Law Center, when comparing black women and white men who are surgeons and physicians, black women make only 54 cents for every dollar a white man makes. Considering that this refers to people with similar occupations, and therefore similar qualifications and levels of education, this large of a wage gap is absolutely unjustifiable. Pay discrimination is seen far too frequently for it to be tolerated, and efforts must be made to make sure that it ends.
Additionally, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy and Research, women will only achieve parity by 2059 if it continues at this rate, while black women will have to wait until 2119 and Latina women will have to wait until 2224. Generations of young girls, especially those of color, will have to grow up knowing that the lack of pay equity is a problem that will directly affect them if nothing is done to fix the wage gap.
While most people are aware of how pay disparity affects women, many don’t realize that men of color are also affected as well. According to data from 2015 from the Pew Research Center, black men made only 73 cents for every dollar a white man made, and Hispanic men earned only 69 cents for every dollar a white men made. Although Asian men outearned white men, this is partially due to the fact that Asian men have the highest shares of college educated men out of all race groups.
Black and Hispanic men had the lowest amounts of college and educated men, but even when they were college educated, they still make less than their white and Asian counterparts. According to the 2015 data from the Pew Research Center, black and Hispanic men who were college educated earned only about 80% of what white college educated men made. The fact that men, who are similarly educated, can still make significantly less than a man of another particular race is concerning. How can there possibly be a logical reason that justifies such a large wage gap between men with the same qualifications?
Some say that the pay gap is nonexistent; that women and people of color make less simply because they don’t work as hard or aren’t as qualified. But how can that be true when there is clear evidence that people of similar occupations and education still see a major gap in their earnings solely because of race and gender? In a truly equal society, there would be absolutely no correlation between certain races earning significantly more than their coworkers of other races, because everybody would have the same opportunities to begin with. And there certainly wouldn’t be a correlation between one gender making vastly more than another, because everybody would be treated fairly.
Lack of equal opportunities, discrimination, and unequal access of education are all some of the roots of the problem, and until they are fixed, the pay gap will continue to be a major issue far into the future that impacts the economic freedom of millions in our country. The fact that the most disadvantaged people earn vastly less money than everyone else only goes to show that there truly aren’t equal opportunities for everyone.
Surprisingly enough, there actually is a law in effect with the goal of bridging the gender pay gap. The Equal Pay Act of 1963, however, has so many loopholes that it hasn’t been effective at all. It bans sex-based discrimination by making sure that companies pay men and women equally for “equal work on jobs … which require equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions.” However, men can still be paid more because of merit, seniority, and productivity, which makes it hard for women to prove pay disparity and hard for them to sue. Additionally, fines only consist of paying the employee back two years of their owed income, which hardly hurts companies.
Pay disparity doesn’t just hurt the individual, but their families and the economy too. This can be seen especially clearly with the gender wage gap. In 2017, 41% of mothers were the primary income-makers in their families. When mothers bring home less money, they have less to spend on helping their families, and as a result, have less to put back into the economy. However, there is still hope for closing the gender wage gap. The Paycheck Fairness Act was passed in the House earlier this year with precisely the goal of fixing the loopholes of the EPA, but has yet to pass the Senate.
Our society has to realize that it is absolutely unacceptable for such a staggering wage gap to exist in the modern world. Equal pay should be a basic right, and we must make an effort to change that through whatever ways we can, whether it is by making education more accessible for all, or by passing new laws that effectively guarantee that discrimination cannot affect earnings. We can only hope that it’ll be sometime in our lifetime, and not in another 100 years, because we are done waiting.
]]>What is likely the greatest thing about It Chapter Two is its cast. Standout performances include Bill Hader as Richie, James Ransone as Eddie, and Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. Each member of the Losers Club looks like they are a grown-up version of their child counterparts from the first film. Bill Skarsgård gives another brilliant and unsettling performance that will have you uncomfortably squirming in your seat every second he’s on screen. He manages to steal every scene he’s in with his chilling line delivery and charisma. The Losers Club still has excellent chemistry with each other as well. While their connection may not be quite as entertaining as it was in the first movie, the Losers still have hilarious and occasional heartwarming bonds with each other that will keep viewers entertained through the entire film.
All that said, the movie does have quite a few negative traits to it. Its biggest problem is that it has a lengthy runtime of 2 hours and 50 minutes. There isn’t enough plot to justify the runtime. The second act can be very repetitive as it features each of the Losers going to a part of town to get something with meaning to them. There is a scene for each Loser that follows the same format. They go to whatever location they need to, they have a flashback to their childhood, then Pennywise shows up and scares them. None of these scenes are particularly bad. To be honest, some are quite well-made and entertaining. However, this takes up approximately 40-50 minutes of the runtime, and it gets repetitive very quickly. Quite honestly, if someone left during any of these scenes to go to the bathroom or get a snack, they would be able to come back after the scene and not have to worry about missing anything crucial.
The film also would certainly have benefited from cutting out certain scenes. The character of Henry Bowers returns, but unlike the first film where he had an actual character arc and would have an effect on the plot in this movie could’ve been completely cut out of the movie and the main plot would’ve been unchanged. He’s a pointless character that only shows up for one or two fun scenes, and to unnecessarily increase the runtime further.
Something else that the film lacks when compared to its 2017 counterpart is the absence of a coming of age story. Watching the Losers as pre-teens grow further into adulthood was one of the greatest parts of the first movie. Now that they are already adults in this film, this aspect is completely scratched. Sadly, this makes for a group of mostly static main characters. Therefore, viewers are nowhere near as invested with these characters when compared with their younger counterparts. Both movies are all about facing your fears and coming together as a team. However, these themes work much better in the first film when the main cast are pre-teens rather than adults, especially when they were able to incorporate the coming of age story.
All in all, It Chapter Two is an ambitious movie that doesn’t hit as high as it aims to. While still an entertaining enough film with a handful of great performances, it unfortunately, suffers from a lengthy runtime, repetitive middle act, and a far better predecessor. It’s a film that’s good enough to be worth seeing, but when compared to the first film, it ends up as a disappointment. It will leave you craving more from it than what it gives, and because of this, It Chapter Two sinks more than it floats.
Link to photo – (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IT_(2017_film)_logo.svg)
]]>Asteroid 2000 QW7, will pass within 3,312,944 miles of Earth on Sept. 14, which is about two-hundredths of the distance between the Earth and the sun. Traveling at 14,361 miles per hour, or about 25 times faster than average airplane, the asteroid is estimated by NASA to be between 951 and 2,132 feet, falling into the NASA issued category as a potentially hazardous object. Because of its size parallel to that of the tallest building on Earth, the Burj Khalifa, it has also been deemed a “city-killer” asteroid.
NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies is keeping an eye on the asteroid, but experts believe the asteroid is non-hazardous, and will skim by Earth without disturbance.
While this asteroid is not presently threatening our safety, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, tweeted an alarming statement regarding possible future collisions between an asteroid and Earth.
“Wouldn’t worry about this particular one, but a big rock will hit Earth eventually & we currently have no defense,” Musk said.
Junior Keyana Desai thinks Musk’s comment is true.
“I feel like even if that [a collision] would happen there’s nothing we could really do about it so I don’t know if there’s any way to prevent it,” Desai said. I think it might just be inevitable.”
The “big rock” that Musk may be referring to is one named Apophis, the Egyptian god of Death, and is also nicknamed the “God of Chaos.” It is set to whiz by Earth on April 13, 2029. Apophis is relatively the same size as Asteroid 2000 QW7, but is predicted to come about 150 times closer. That is about 19,000 miles, closer to Earth than an airplane at cruising altitude.
However, NASA is positive that this asteroid will not come in contact with Earth. As for Musk’s statement, NASA is in disagreement. Their official website explicitly states that there is no known asteroid that poses a threat in the next 100 years.
Science teacher Kellie Flores trusts in NASA’s ability to deflect an asteroid if one were to come close.
“I’m extremely confident that people at NASA can [deflect an asteroid],” Flores said. “They’ve been to school, they know what they’re talking about, and I have full confidence in them,”
In contrast, freshman Shruti Patankar is slightly worried about a future impact.
“I’m not yet confident in NASA’s ability to deflect an asteroid, but I do believe that they must be working on something,” Patankar said.
Regarding our planet’s defense systems, NASA recently held their 2019 Planetary Defense Conference three months ago. At this gathering, a hypothetical asteroid impact scenario was simulated. In essence, NASA has firm faith in their ability to deflect an incoming asteroid if such an event would occur.
Flores is not at all concerned about a collision in the future.
“There’s always been cases where something large has hit the Earth, and it either hits it in the ocean or hits it in land, and it causes a big issue, but the last one to hit the Earth, I believe, created a large extinction period,” Flores said. “It’s been a while so I don’t know, maybe we are due for one, but at this point I wouldn’t be worried.”
]]>Last Thursday, we were able to get both chicken sandwiches. The location we had to go to was a bit far because the one nearest to us had sold out. After missing the sign on the outside saying that it was sold out, and then the other sign on the inside saying that it was sold out, the cashier finally had to deliver the bad news. Of course, that was all understandable considering how popular Popeyes has been recently. Only after driving to a location slightly farther away from us were we able to acquire the goods. I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and right out of the bag, I must admit, it looked like the Popeyes sandwich had been raised right, cared for, and made with love. It was a big sandwich that was very filling, and looked just like the ad online. The bun was golden brown, round and soft, while the chicken was thick and crunchy, but not oily or dry. The sandwich altogether was very delicious and tasted like what you’d expect: a chicken sandwich. With that being said, if you haven’t tried it, don’t expect to be blown away if/when you do because it really is just a chicken sandwich.
However, it was still very flavorful which I think was partly because of the “spicy” sauce. Overall, while it did leave me feeling wholly satisfied, my one peeve is that though the “spicy” sauce was delicious, it wasn’t spicy at all. I can’t even call it mild. It tasted like a slightly flavored mayonnaise. Or like the chef had discovered ketchup for the first time and was super excited to try it but also weary as though the red color deemed it daunting and extremely spicy when in reality it’s not. Though I personally have a high spice tolerance, I think Popeyes was just too shy to actually give the sandwich any heat. If a sandwich is called spicy, I want to feel a zing on my tongue, or at least have to take a sip of water! The Popeyes “spicy” chicken sandwich had me doing none of that, unfortunately. All in all, I rate this sandwich an 8/10. It was very delicious, yes, but when I ask for spicy, I want spicy!
Chick-fil-A has a renowned reputation to keep up with, and while it’s been a popular food chain for the past few years, the topic of which sandwich is better has only recently come up. We managed to squeeze into the already packed drive-thru lane and ordered a single Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. As we pulled up to the window, I have to made note that there was an employee accepting payments and handing out the food, and one just..standing there smiling? It’s obvious Chick-fil-A wants their kindness and compassion campaign to continue. A strange smile is not what I look forward to when I’m getting my meal.
My first thoughts on the sandwich, rather dry looking. It looked like it had been slapped together with a not-so-appealing bun. We split the sandwich down the middle and shared, and I have to say, the dryness did not let up. The chicken was all right, but I wouldn’t call it legendary. It didn’t taste like there were condiments on it either. It was just chicken and bread, which is okay for what they’re selling, but compared to Popeyes? Chick-fil-A really tried it. The sandwich just looked very plain. The hype of this sandwich just doesn’t make sense. It did taste good, but it wasn’t something memorable.
Overall, I gave the sandwich a 5/10. It meets the requirements of any fast food chain; the food is good and it’s made quickly. It didn’t knock my socks off like the Popeyes sandwich. I ponder what makes people go so crazy for such a bland sandwich. Could it be the corporate Twitter that attempts to fit in with our generation? We’ll never know the reason for sure, but Chick-fil-A sure has the public wrapped around it’s finger.
So, who won this feud? Well the answer is pretty obvious, I didn’t drag Chick-fil-A through the mud for no apparent reason. While both sandwiches are technically “fast food,” Popeyes outshined Chick-fil-A in this battle. We didn’t even mind having to drive farther away for the Popeyes sandwich. It filled us up and was good quality. This, of course, is our opinion, but if you like your sandwiches dry, then the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich is for you.
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Start ‘Em
Quarterback:
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles. Torching the Washington Redskins defense for 313 yards and three touchdowns, Wentz put up a fantasy point total of 36.2. Many questioned Wentz’s fantasy ability preseason because of his previously injury-plagued career, but in Week 1 Wentz silenced those who doubted him with a strong outing. While the 1st quarter was a weak one for Wentz and the rest of the Eagles offense, as Wentz settled in and remained strong in the pocket, the offense began to grow as did Wentz’s stats. Of those three touchdowns mentioned before, two were to the team’s new addition, Desean Jackson. Jackson’s touchdowns went for 51 and 53 yards and proved to be a big part of Wentz’s Week 1 success. Week by week and throughout the entire season, Jackson will continue to be a large part of why Wentz excels as a QB1 option in your fantasy league. As in Week 1, Week 2 for Wentz and the Eagles will likely be another shoot-out and close game as they take on Matt Ryan and the Falcons, another high powered offense.
Running back:
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals. Another player who was previously plagued by injury, David Johnson is my running back to start in Week 2. Johnson had 82 yards rushing, 55 yards receiving off of 6 catches, and one touchdown receiving. A large part of my excitement about David Johnson is his value in PPR leagues such as mine, but he can still prove to be a threat in Non-PPR leagues as well. Kyler Murray, the Cardinal’s rookie QB, often looked to Johnson in check down situations when being pressured and that helped him rack up catches and PPR points as well as a receiving touchdown. As for Non-PPR leagues, while the average rushing yards per attempt for Johnson wasn’t as strong as other top tier running backs’, the strong Cardinal offensive line will help DJ’s rushing stats grow.
Wide receiver:
Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs. Watkins went off in Week 1. Nine catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns for a grand total of 41.9 fantasy points with only two yards away from getting another 5 point bonus. In no way is Watkins going to play as well as he did in Week 1, but that’s not what I’m saying. Next week Watkins is going to put up good, solid numbers (not extraordinary, insane numbers like he did Week 1).The major reason for this is because of the injury to the Chiefs’ number 1 receiver prior to the season’s start, Tyreek Hill. Hil received a sternoclavicular joint (I’m not quite sure what that is either) in Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. While I can’t tell you when Hill will be back from his injury, I can tell you for sure that he won’t be back for Week 2. In Hill’s absence Watkins will take over the WR1 role for the Chiefs and shine in that role.
Sit ‘Em
Quarterback:
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers. Preseason, Cam was projected to be a top or second tier fantasy quarterback. The numbers he put up in his first game since Dec. 17 did not reflect anywhere near that type of ranking-rather quite the opposite. Cam threw for 239 yards with zero touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble. A large part of the fantasy appeal for Newton is the amount of rushing yards he gets, and that was also not there. The ninth year QB rushed for a career low -2 yards and only ended up getting a total of 7.8 fantasy points. While 273 passing yards isn’t that horrible of a total, Cam didn’t throw a pass for over 17 yards. All of those yards were racked up through small catch after small catch and over time, that is the really concerning part. As well as Newton not being able to string together long passes, another impact of him not being a good fantasy start is Christian McCaffrey and his success. The Panthers having an emerging star at running back takes away passing attempts from Cam, and when he does end up passing it’s a short checkdown pass to McCaffrey. When Cam was a dominant running QB the Panthers called a lot of straight running plays for him, but after multiple injuries and a better running back to support him, now Cam does not run the ball nearly as much as he used to. On top of the lack of rushing yards, the struggle in passing stats for Newton contributes to the reason of why he should be on your bench in Week 2.
Running back:
Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions. Johnson had 49 rushing yards on 16 carries and two catches for 13 yards in the Lions’ tie with the Cardinals. Before Week 1, Johnson was assumed to be the uncontested RB1 for the Lions, but every fantasy owner’s worst dream for their running backs came true. The Lion offense ended up being a running back by committee offense in Week 1. Johnson had nearly identical time in the backfield as RB2, CJ Anderson and even shared some carries and playing time with RBthreeTy Johnson. You might think that these numbers were unlucky and that they won’t happen again for Johnson, but I haven’t even gotten to the worst part of Johnson’s game on Sunday. These poor numbers came against the Cardinals who, last year, were the lowest-rated run defense in the whole NFL. If Johnson can’t put up good numbers against the reigning worst run D in the league, it’s highly unlikely he’s going to do any better against one of the top tier run defenses in the league last year (LA Chargers) in Week 2.
Wide receiver:
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks. Starting Lockett in fantasy is always a risky move, due to his immense boom or bust factor. Lockett is extremely dependent on touchdowns for getting a majority of his fantasy points. Week 1’s game was a great example of this. Lockett was only targeted twice in the game and only brought down a catch once in the game-in the 4th quarter. While this one catch went for 44 yards and a touchdown and brought Lockett’s point total to 9.2 points, it still wasn’t a good game. If this catch hadn’t been a touchdown, Lockett’s point total would have been brought down to a mere 3.2 points. That doesn’t remotely qualify for a starting position on your team. This touchdown dependency was enough of an issue to me that I didn’t even consider drafting Lockett, but if you did draft him make sure you carefully watch when you do or don’t start him (based off of possible injuries or weak defense). With the addition of DK Metcalf through the draft, Lockett’s targets will not show any growth throughout the season and will continue to be a factor why Lockett shouldn’t start on your team.
]]>The rapid innovation of the technology sector has made automation commonplace in the world of American manufacturing, reducing the need for comparatively inefficient human labor. As a result, businesses have no reason not to engage in layoffs of less profitable human workers. This trend is displacing millions of American labor at a rapid rate, and the Freedom Dividend will minimize the fallout from this process.
This spells disaster for the American workforce. According to the Brookings Institution, both sides of the political aisle agree that a weak response to automation would lead to economic depression. The Freedom Dividend is an unabashedly strong response to this looming crisis, and would ensure that Americans can afford essentials while they seek new economic opportunities. While many have suggested job retraining as a cheaper means of rehabilitating displaced workers, a study by non-partisan research organization Mathematica have shown that these programs are typically unsuccessful, producing low re-employment and operating at a slower rate than that at which jobs become automated.
Furthermore, a Bankrate study mentions that six in ten Americans would be unable to afford a 500 dollar emergency if it were to emerge. This situation creates massive uncertainty and stress, and can lead to working grueling hours or selling belongings to compensate. It is morally just to alleviate these concerns at the governmental level and allow Americans to focus on families, careers, and hobbies first and foremost, which the Freedom Dividend would achieve. The FD would create jobs and grow local economies by creating billions of dollars in spending money. An expansive Roosevelt Institute study found that those with disposable income tend to support local businesses when given free money; the FD would not fall into Apple and Amazon’s pockets.
The Freedom Dividend seems impossible to maintain. However, this is a misconception. Yang proposes a Value-Added Tax, or VAT, as a means of funding the FD. The VAT is a highly progressive tax for which the upper echelons of wealth bear the vast majority of the burden, as it falls exponentially as household income lowers. This means that the needy can reap the rewards of the FD without having to put much of their hard-earned money into it. We can, despite many arguments from opponents, find the money to implement the FD.
Interestingly, there was a time when Democrats and Republicans agreed that a universal basic income (UBI) like the Freedom Dividend was a good idea. In 1970, a bill establishing a UBI was approved by the House of Representatives and supported by Richard Nixon, but only failed in the Senate because the Democrats held out for a higher payout. Even the stalwart Republicans of that era recognized the benefits of UBI, yet in the modern age, as a UBI has become more and more crucial to the economic future of America, legislators have been stagnant on the issue.
Supporters of the proposal are sometimes labeled socialists or communists, despite the fact that the FD is capitalism with a floor beneath which the government would not allow Americans to fall. Interestingly, Yang’s Democratic challengers have panned the FD as gimmicky and expensive while championing similarly expensive welfare programs like Medicare for All and Free Tuition for All.
Liberals and conservatives alike have suggested that the FD, and welfare in general, creates a lazy and unmotivated population that has less need to work. However, this is not quite true. The one thousand dollars per month that Yang proposes is not nearly enough to support oneself, considering that the poverty rate is two thousand dollars per month. The FD would serve as a protective netting for workers, rather than a feeding tube.
Besides, an MIT study has shown that putting money in people’s pockets makes them more likely to worker longer hours, as they better understand how earning a greater salary will improve their lives. In addition, unemployment has been shown to lower where UBI is implemented. Opponents of FD might argue that one cannot trust a poor person to spend their money wisely, and that the acquisition of drugs, alcohol, and other frivolous items would be a priority for many recipients. However, the study referred to above found that UBI reduced or had no effect on drug crime and addiction levels. Poverty begets crime, while the reverse is untrue.
It is clear that the Freedom Dividend would drastically improve the lives of everyday Americans struggling to get by, while helping the higher-ups as well through its stimulation of the economy. So the adage goes, “Modern problems require modern solutions.” It’s not just a gimmick or a temporary fix. The Dividend is the modern solution that America needs.
]]>Although Brazil has sent many firefighters, soldiers, and even volunteers out to fight the fires, the fires continue to rage on as it nears the four week mark. This is partly due to the fact that Bolsonaro refuses to accept any international aid until French President Emmanuel Macron apologizes for making rude comments about him. The international dispute began after Bolsonaro responded to an uncalled-for comment about Macron’s wife, and then refusing to apologize for it once confronted. Macron has offered 20 million dollars in aid and has even called the burnings “an international crisis,” yet Bolsonaro continues to refuse the money. These poorly-planned actions will lead to the overall fall of the rainforest and a dangerously permanent destruction if not resolved.
Forest fires are a common problem in many dry terrains, especially in places that reach high temperatures. What makes the Amazon Rainforest fires different from other occurrences is the reason for why it’s still burning so severely: the ever growing problem of climate change. The problem of global warming continues to grow due to lack of political or societal attention. While it is obviously occurring in this day and age, many refuse to believe that it’s an actual problem, including politicians like President Donald Trump, who claims that since other countries have large amounts of snow and rain, global warming isn’t actually occurring, which could not be farther from the truth. Global warming, which has been ongoing for fifty years, has begun to worsen as time goes by. Mainly due to the production of greenhouse gases, it causes extreme weather to hit more often.
The fires have resulted in large clouds of smoke devouring the cities and towns, some 1,700 miles away. The smoke completely blocks out the sun in many places, causing the sky to appear like it is night at all times. If the fires continue to worsen, they could potentially destroy a large segment of the Earth’s oxygen, which would not only be detrimental to humans, but also the many species of animals and plants that live there. There are also many native tribes who live in these areas who have been forced out of their homes and land because of the fires. They also release carbon dioxide into the air and will lead to harmful effects if the numbers continue to intensively grow.
While any attempts at recovery might seem futile right now, there are actually many ways to help out in saving the rainforests. Rainforest Action Network, Rainforest Trust, and World Wide Fund For Nature are only a few of the many organizations working to help save the Amazon Rainforests. These three, like many others, are all working to not only protect the rainforests themselves, but also the many species that live in them. Other ways to help include refraining from using large amounts of paper and wood, eating less beef, and speaking out to other people so that everyone can learn what’s going on in a large portion of Earth. The more people that make a change and share their ideas means the more influence that they have over the health of Earth because the Amazon Rainforest is just one part of the terrifically beautiful Earth. If this can be saved, why can’t everything else? There is only one Earth. Make it count.
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“The Band’s Visit” revolves around the members of the Ceremonial Alexandrian Police Orchestra. Haled, a clumsy, love-deprived member of the titular Egyptian band accidentally buys bus tickets to the dusty, slow Israeli town of Bet Hatikva instead of their real destination, the culture-rich city of Petah Tikvah. They are forced to wait in Bet Hatikva overnight before getting on a bus the next morning in order to arrive at their concert on time. They pass the night by being taken on the town by local cafe owner Dina and her two employees, Papi and Itzik.
The musical, performed in one act with no intermission, boasts 15 musical numbers, most either by the band or featuring onstage accompaniments. One of the true stars of the show is Dina (played by Chilina Kennedy). Kennedy‘s talents are proven in “Omar Sharif,” where she sings of her memories of watching Egyptian romance movies at home as a child.
However, Kennedy’s performance can get dampened by Sasson Gabay, who plays General Tewfiq, the conductor of the band. Tewfiq is a depressingly serious character, and is portrayed by Gabay very well. However, while Kennedy is equally good at portraying Dina, her character should have been written next to someone with a much brighter personality. Dina prompts Tewfiq to come out of his shell throughout the play, but he doesn’t really crack until she admits her romantic feelings for him. When he does explain his shyness, it brings the innocently fun mood in the room to a somber level. Along with that, the drastic age difference between the two characters make any sort of romance feel just wrong.
In the end, however, it’s the simplicity of the show that makes it so incredible. While other musicals will try to wow you with an over-the-top set design and show-stopping musical numbers, “The Band’s Visit” amazes with the slightest lift of an arm or the twirl of a dress. Some of the most thrilling songs are sung with the characters standing still, or with minimal movement. The conversations, although dry at first sight, are filled with tension and strong wording, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. The different, Israeli-inspired music is a breath of fresh air from the overly-American tone most musicals receive today.
“The Band’s Visit” has everything. Love, heartbreak, a very well choreographed roller skate dance, a boy waiting for his girlfriend to call him – everything. While the show is no longer in Chicago, the chances are that it will come back soon. And when it does, I definitely encourage seeing it.
]]>The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently issued a report stating that global warming can reach a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels before the effects could become irreversible. If we continue with our current rate of emissions, the planet will warm 4.8 degrees C by 2100.
To effectively limit global warming, the world has to cut global human-caused carbon dioxide emission rates by 45% of the 2010 rate in the next 12 years, and ultimately reach a net zero by 2050. Already, we are two thirds of the way there with a total of close to 1 degree C warmed, and the effects have been seen around the world, with heat waves and millions having to abandon their homes due to natural disasters caused by climate change.
An estimated 100 million people could be in poverty by 2030, in addition to the 26 million per year who already are because of climate change, according to the World Bank. There would also be an increase in wildfires, hurricanes, and food shortages, all of which could lead to more deaths from climate change. In fact, the World Health Organization has predicted that there could be more than 250,000 deaths annually from climate change alone.
It’s not just humans that will be affected by this. Animals will also be severely impacted. One of the most illuminating examples of how climate change has and will continue to hurt animals can be seen with its devastating effect on polar bears. Sea ice is melting at 14% per decade, leading the polar bear population to decrease by two thirds by 2050. Polar bears are already on the endangered species list, and have been for about ten years. One study found that many polar bears will soon starve as they have a much harder time hunting seals due to lack of sea ice.
Our entire planet will be affected by climate change. Yet, the Trump administration has focused on helping the very industry that is responsible for being the major source of greenhouse gas emissions-the fossil fuel industry, and has decided to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, many of the major energy advisors in Trump’s administration have links to fossil fuel industries or are climate change deniers themselves.
Trump’s original administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, is an open climate change denier. He tried to overturn President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which was passed to reduce carbon emissions from coal plants drastically before 2030 by cutting emissions by 32% of the 2005 levels, before his resignation in July 2018.
His replacement, Andrew Wheeler, also wants to rollback the Clean Power Plan, which is unsurprising considering he has been a coal lobbyist in the past. Another advisor, former US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, whose job was to manage natural resources including coal, is a coal advocate who has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from the coal industry.
President Trump also announced that he is planning to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, though he cannot formally do so until 2020. The goal of this agreement is to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and checking in with every country every five years to ensure they meet their goals. The US is the only nation of the 197 nations that have signed that has rejected this treaty and intends to leave it. Trump believes that the US must withdraw because it “disadvantages the US” and its “economic production” while favoring China and India, the first and third largest carbon emitters respectively.
All of this really shouldn’t be surprising considering President Trump has actually tweeted that “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” But it doesn’t make it any less troubling. Our president is more concerned about America’s economic standing than the consequences of climate change, though there are actually reports suggesting that not doing anything would lead to a greater economic loss. In fact, a US government report found it would cause the economy to lose billions of dollars and end up reducing America’s GDP by 10% by 2100.
Blatantly ignoring the scientific facts will hurt not just America, but the planet itself. People will die by the millions and the world as we know it will be completely different by the end of the century. Animals and humans are already seeing the devastating effects of climate change, and it’s only going to get worse. America’s carbon emissions are one of the largest in the entire world, and if the Trump administration continues to neglect making the changes to reduce them fast, our futures will be more perilous than they already are. The dangers of underestimating climate change will be catastrophic, and it may soon be too late.
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Some psychology experts have actually said that lying and deception is essential to society. You know that one friend you don’t really like? Well, chances are they don’t really like you either. Many experiments have shown that up to fifty percent of people you think are your friends don’t actually like you.
In a friend group, people will tolerate those they don’t like because of the benefits of being friends or because they need to remain friends with this person to stay friends with someone they actually like. Additionally, it’s likely they tolerate those they don’t like so that the friend group can remain functioning; it’s the unsaid rule. Lying, in this sense, is keeping a friend group from falling apart. In a larger sense, lying keeps an entire society from falling apart.
This doesn’t mean lying about every detail in your life is a good idea and helpful to society. This means that sometimes white lies can be beneficial in keeping the calm between people. This way unnecessary disputes don’t take place and break apart the people within a group. To prove this, researchers from Mexico conducted a study about whether white lies were beneficial. They found that lying too much and complete honesty can both be damaging to any relationship.
The morals of lying, however, are tricky. Is it okay to lie if it’ll make someone happy? In a sense, yes. One situation we’ve probably all been in is the mother’s ugly dress. If you think it’s absolutely hideous, is it okay to lie and say, “That dress is gorgeous!”? These are all questions that even great philosophers don’t have shared answers to and are continuously debating. But, from what I’ve found, the best path towards these questions and the dilemma of honesty is to do what brings about the most happiness with the least amount of deception.
Lies are always going to be a part of our lives. While we’re in school, once we leave school and beyond, there’s no escaping it. Lying in itself isn’t bad but can be if it is abused. So go ahead and make that choice for yourself.
]]>The track that’s closest to what Lavigne is known for is “Dumb Blonde,” which is full of aggressive lyrics filled with self-confidence and an obvious desire to sound rebellious and punk. One of the main problems of the track is the rudimentary lyrics: “I ain’t no dumb blonde / I ain’t no Barbie doll / I got my game on.” Another key issue with the track is that Nicki Minaj features on it, and her style obviously clashes with the bad High School Musical vibes the track produces. “Dumb Blonde” proves that Lavigne is making the right decision to try to mature, because the wild and free vibe she tries to utilize has long outgrown the 34-year-old.
Lavigne has little success with lyrics in some of the more tolerable tracks on the album. They often feel generic, like she copied and pasted clips of the most cliché lyrics in pop music she could find. For instance, in “Souvenir” she repeatedly asks, “Can I keep you as a souvenir?” This results in the whole track sounding like a Hallmark card plucked off the shelf. Another misstep is in “Birdie,” where she employs the overused and unmoving caged bird metaphor, “Oh you can’t pull me down / So birdie fly away.” Lavigne does deserve credit for trying to use more meaningful lyrics, but she is still far from capturing sincere emotions.
One of the few things that Lavigne does succeed at is instrumentation. The top track of the album, “Love Me Insane,” features a simple piano harmony as well as a lush layer of string harmonies. Another track with engaging instrumentation is “Tell Me It’s Over,” which has a blues feel with it’s deep bass and the soft saxophone crooning in the background. However, it falls to a case of overproduction, with strange electric beats muddling the sound.
Overall, Head Above Water fails at conveying authenticity, stripping it down to another generic pop album. Whatever personal feelings Lavigne is trying to show is shrouded by her colorless lyrics which ultimately reveal that Lavigne is obviously trying to grow as an artist, however she’s still chasing her peers.
Link to photo – (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avril_Lavigne_on_piano,_Italy_(crop).jpg)
]]>Here are the reasons why YOU was such a captivating series:
1. The show is original and unique
The show YOU decides to take a new spin on the thriller/mystery genre, and tells the story of a stalker and psychopath through the perspective of the actual perpetrator. Much of the narration of the story is told through the thoughts of Joe, and does the job of establishing context and background, while doing it in an interesting way that keeps the traditional thriller feeling in effect.
For example, the introduction to the show is told through Joe’s perspective, where we hear his thoughts as he first lays eyes on Beck, and his narration foreshadows the imminent future of the victim, while still giving us a feeling of suspense. Since many shows instead choose to go with the viewpoint of the victim getting hunted, this TV series gives a fresh new feeling and perspective, while continuing to hit home with the traditional elements of a mystery as well.
2. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions
The structure of this whole series makes the audience constantly feel conflicted, watching all the events unfold through the eyes of the perpetrator. The interesting part of this series is how the narration of Joe’s thoughts provide justification. He constantly repeats how all his actions are for Beck, and though you know what he is doing is terrible, he makes it seem like it is rationalized. It makes the audience root for the success of Joe and want him to not get caught, even though he is the bad guy.
When Joe takes it to an extreme, it makes the audience wonder if Beck is even worth it, or when she does something stupid, you think that Joe should just leave her and find a better person. It makes you invested and makes you feel like you are Joe and you are in on all his plans. Also, this is caused by how it shows that Joe has multiple sides to him, and not all of them are bad. For an example, helping the kid next door who’s drug abusing mother has an abusive relationship with a boyfriend, who is a cop.
3. The tone of the show is mesmerizing
Another fascinating part of this new Netflix series is the feeling that it elicits from its viewers. When you watch a whole 10 episodes from the perspective of a psychotic killer, the growing uneasiness and captivation is territory that is unexplored in popular media among teens. The show foreshadows the inevitable unfortunate events, but the viewer can’t help but hope that things won’t happen.
While viewers feel an impending sense of dread for the future of the characters, the show still manages to play with their emotions. Around the middle of the show, they show Beck and Joe’s relationship as positive and even sweet at times. The show manages to use their background music and visuals as tools to completely shift the tone of the show at times where it would seem almost inappropriate. They use upbeat songs when introducing the scene of a crime and happy imagery when Joe may be describing something completely disgusting. These instances make it hard for people to stop watching, especially since it’s so outside the bounds of our regular media.
4. The cliffhangers
The style and design of the show is not something particularly new, but still very effective. Many of the episodes end by foreshadowing a particularly nasty or imminent event, and the effect of these types of endings on the viewer is powerful. Even as we were watching and might have had enough for the day, the endings always made us want to know more and continue watching, even if we had things to do. While most endings had the typical effect of keeping the audience interested, the way they ended the finale had a much more powerful effect. The last episode lends itself to a preview of what the next season might be about, and the curiosity it leaves with the viewers is enough to power them off toward the next season.
Watching events unfold from the eyes of a disgusting and psychopathic man, made YOU an enrapturing series that keeps viewers hooked. Through the overall quality of this series, we can be sure that the second season will be equally as addicting.
Link to photo – (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penn_Badgley.jpg)
]]>On Jan. 9, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, also known as the richest man in the world with a net worth of 140 billion dollars, took to Twitter to announce his divorce.
“As our family and close friends know, after a long period of loving exploration and separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends,” Bezos wrote on Twitter.
Although Bezos’ wife has appeared under news headlines from time to time, she normally stands outside of the media’s reach. Born MacKenzie S. Tuttle, not many (except followers of economics and intense searchers) know that she was of vital importance to the creation of Amazon.
An aspiring fictional writer of two books and a Princeton graduate, Tuttle met her future husband while working under him in 1992 at D.E. Shaw, a New York-based hedge fund. After working for him for three months, they got engaged; they married just three months after that.
The newfound couple moved to Seattle and rented a one-bedroom house in 1994, where they began plans for Cadabra, a simple online bookstore. The site competed with the likes of other bookstores such as the now-deceased Borders and currently-struggling Barnes and Nobles.
Business gradually improved and profits started to roll in. Soon enough, the online bookstore changed its name to Amazon.com and sold books to all 50 states within the U.S. as well as 45 other countries.
As the first-ever accountant of Amazon, MacKenzie Bezos supported the rise of the ever-growing company since the days of its birth. She took a risk by choosing to move away from her comfortable job and help her husband with the workings of Amazon.
Fast forward 24 years and Amazon is now one the most profitable companies in the world. According to the most recent Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC filings, this mammoth of a company made up 4% of all US retail sales and 44% of all e-commerce sales in 2017.
This performance allowed Bezos to become the richest person in the world, and is now the reason for why Mackenzie Bezos will become the richest woman in the world. In accordance with New York’s state law for divorce, each party is to receive half of all wealth and assets obtained during the marriage. Thus, Mackenzie will be gaining $67 billion and becoming the richest woman in the world. With this development, the future for the stake of Amazon still remains unknown.
As with all divorces, the potential for scandal looms behind the true motives for separation. Although Jeff and MacKenzie have announced their divorce to be amicable, reports of another woman have already surfaced from numerous media sources.
In alleged leaked text messages sent between the two, former news anchor and actress Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos are together. Multiple sources state that their relationship may have begun eight months before Bezos’s public divorce statement, but much speculation is at play.
Trials of marriage and divorce are a simple part of life, where people test whether they truly love each other or are destined to break apart. Although Jeff Bezos tries to keep his business and private life separate, these two aspects of his life will now inevitably cross paths and affect the future of Amazon.
]]>Instead of planning to perform at the Grammys on Feb. 3, rapper 21 Savage was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and placed in U.S. immigration detention. ICE accused 21 Savage — whose given name is Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph — of being a U.K. citizen who entered the U.S. legally in 2005 and overstayed his visa as a minor.
Sophomore Abhiram Vallabhaneni expresses shock when he heard that Abraham-Joseph was British.
“I always hear 21 rap about Georgia and Atlanta and just about street life in America,” Vallabhaneni said. “No one expected him to be British.”
News about Abraham-Joseph’s immigration was soon turned into memes that gained popularity on the Internet. Despite the jokes about Abraham-Joseph, his situation also brings to light the highly debated topic of young immigration.
In a statement on Feb. 5, Abraham-Joseph’s lawyers stated that Abraham-Joseph was brought to the U.S. at the age of seven under a temporary H-4 visa. However, he did not replace his visa when it expired, making him one of the 1.8 million Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. as children.
It is rare that a deportation case sparked this size of nationwide attention. Ten days after his arrest, Abraham-Joseph was released on bond from immigration detention.
Back in 2017, Abraham-Joseph applied for a special visa for victims of crime to assist law-enforcement investigations after he was shot six times and his friend died in a 2003 shooting. His visa is still pending, making it unclear whether he could ultimately be deported without his visa being granted.
]]>Users on Twitter and other social media platforms have begun romanticizing serial killers, especially Ted Bundy in the wake of his documentary and new movie. The movie itself has garnered criticism, which is pretty fair given the trailer. Judging based on the trailer and name, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, I get the sense it’s going to be a more witty dramatic thriller instead of a movie addressing a man who confessed to killing over 30 women and is thought to have murdered, mutilated, and raped over 100.
However, Twitter users continued commenting on his looks.
Zac Efron starring as Ted Bundy has also contributed to this deranged response. Netflix even had to issue a tweet countering the notions of Twitter users, writing, “I’ve seen a lot of talk about Ted Bundy’s alleged hotness and would like to gently remind everyone that there are literally THOUSANDS of hot men on the service — almost all of whom are not convicted serial murderers.” I can’t imagine how the families of the young women feel when seeing such responses as they show a complete disregard for the lives that were lost, lives that had hopes and bright futures.
However, some people have taken this to a whole new level: they are writing love letters to mass shooters and murderers. “Night Stalker” Richard Ramirez, rapist and serial killer, had many admirers due to his looks. One woman wrote him 75 letters and he later married her. Nikolas Cruz, who took over 17 young lives when he opened fire at his high school, has gotten letters, money, and graphic photographs from hundreds of men and women, some complimenting his looks and others confessing their love for him.
Will this type of response eventually become normalized as we become increasingly desensitized to shootings?
It’s unacceptable for people to be thirsting over and glamorizing sociopaths. This brings up the question—should movies and TV shows be made which can lead to this sort of romanticizing? I feel that creating awareness for the horror and tragedy that these people solicited is a better approach than the fantasized one being twisted by fans. Even in the series “You,” the main character is a stalker and murderer, yet there are women on the internet making excuses for his actions and expressing their attraction to him. And it’s directed towards the character, not just the actor.
The way with which we make such shows and movies is impacting how audiences react. Cinematographers at times draw a thin line between ‘romantic’ and abusive, and that’s impacting our societies response as many of the audience members are blurring that line and normalizing stalkers, abusive partners, and in some cases murderers.
Netflix’s documentary on Ted Bundy did a better job at showing the promising lives that were lost and the impact of his crimes, yet it’s also made him into a celebrity of sorts for a new generation. His story is circulating with the power of the internet, a lot more than stories of the dozens he tortured. And yet again, his renewed popularity lead to people leaving comments like ‘I wish I was the electric chair’ or Twitter users labeling him daddy, which makes me want to cringe very hard. I’m also thinking of the victims families who are forced to relive the memories of their young daughters cruel deaths.
I’m not sure what an effective solutions is, but maybe showing the aftermath and pain of the victims could hopefully minimize people tweeting and displaying their affection for murders. When people realize that actual lives are being lost and these people are to blame, the affectionate response would be limited or admirers would keep their glamorized view of the murderers to themselves.
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Coming into the match, Duke was ranked #1, touting freshmen phenoms Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cameron Reddish. On the other side was #8 UNC, featuring freshmen Nassir Little and Coby White, as well as seniors Luke Maye and Cameron Johnson. The game drew heavy attention, with ticket prices soaring into the thousands of dollars.
As soon as the game began, it took a quick turn for the worse. Blue Devil superstar Zion Williamson was dribbling the ball near the free throw line, and as he went to plant his left foot, the sole of his Nike PG 2.5’s ripped and opened completely along its outside edge, exposing Williamson’s foot in a gruesome scene. After the scary fall just 34 seconds into the contest, Zion got up off the hard court floor, hopped over to the sideline, and then proceeded to return to the training room, where he would spend the rest of the night. Williamson’s injury was later ruled to be a mild knee sprain.
With the loss of Zion, so too went Duke’s chances of winning. The Tar Heels quickly jumped to a 16-7 lead with the senior duo of Maye and Johnson leading the way. The combined effort of Barrett and Reddish was not enough, as the Blue Devils finished the half trailing 42-32.
The second half of the game was much of the same, with the Tar Heels dominating on both sides of the court. Within four minutes of the half starting, North Carolina was already out to a 22-point lead. The Blue Devils put up a considerable fight, but they were missing too large a piece of their team to mount a comeback. The match would continue like this until the final buzzer sounded, with the Tar Heels coming out with the win, 88-72.
On North Carolina’s side, the aforementioned seniors shined. Maye contributed 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and Johnson added 26 points. Little and White combined for 11 points. For Duke, likely top-five pick Barrett scored 33 points to go along with 13 rebounds, while Reddish put up 27 points.
As a result of his injury, Williamson remained on the sidelines against Syracuse on Feb. 23, although Duke still won. Many critics and professional athletes have told Zion that he should sit out the remainder of the season in order to maintain his health for the NBA draft. Williamson, however, has indicated that he does not plan to sit out once he recovers.
For Nike, the shoe malfunction has had obvious ripple effects on the company as a whole. Its stock market value dropped by $1.1 billion the day after the incident. While it seems like the majority of the damage has already passed, the full impact of the fallout of this fiasco remains to be seen.
While the actual rivalry part of the UNC-Duke rivalry may have been overshadowed by the injury of Zion Williamson, fans still got to see an enjoyable game that could foreshadow a possible matchup in the upcoming March Madness tournament. That being said, the two teams will still face off once more before the season is over on March 9, this time on North Carolina’s home turf. Fans will likely get to see the damage a healthy Zion Williamson can do against UNC’s lineup.
]]>The Rams entered the big game clicking on all cylinders led by DT Aaron Donald and QB Jared Goff. However, it was a different story in the Super Bowl as Donald struggled to break through the Patriots’ rugged offensive line, and Goff made inaccurate throws, often looking confused by what the Patriots’ defense was doing. This defensive triumph was spearheaded by All-Pro DB Stephon Gilmore and a strong secondary surrounding him. They also managed to neutralize RB Todd Gurley, holding him to a mere 35 yards.
On the other side of the ball, the Patriots protected Tom Brady from the opposing pass rush, which was instrumental for Brady in finding open receivers. The Rams’ defense played well in the first three quarters, including an interception on the first pass play of the game. In the fourth quarter, Brady and RB Sony Michel marched down the field and scored the first touchdown of the game to put New England up 10-3. Along with Michel, WR Julian Edelman put in a strong showing consistently acting as Brady’s go-to target. He finished with ten catches for 141 yards and was named the Super Bowl MVP, recording the most catches and receiving yards in the game.
Though the Patriots are happy with this win, the viewers were not. There were only six points scored in the first three quarters, and the Rams punted on their first eight drives in the lowest scoring Super Bowl of all time. In a season characterized by record high scoring and a game featuring two of the four highest scoring offenses in the league, most fans were expecting an offensive spectacle. The event that followed disappointed observers because of the low scoring and defensive focus.
Moving forward, Jared Goff must prove that he is a franchise QB that can lead the Rams in the future after his disappointing performance. If Goff can do this, it would be no surprise to see the Rams back in this game next year. For New England, lessening the load for Brady as he gets older and surrounding him with a strong cast will be a critical factor in determining how the Patriots will perform next year.
]]>After a successful winter dance last year, Fremd’s Student Council is hosting its second annual Winter Gala on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 7:30 to 10:30 pm in the main gym.
This year’s Winter Gala theme is “Starry Night,” and students can dress as casually or formally as they desire. Additionally, based on popular vote, the dance will be a turnabout.
Student Council has planned various components to the event in hopes of creating a memorable experience for all Fremd students. There will be a red carpet and photo booth set up outside the gym where students can gather with their friends to take pictures and a karaoke machine will be set up in the dance room where students can sing their favorite songs.
Junior and Student Council co-president Dylan Cardoza believes that Winter Gala will bring Fremd students together as a community.
“The goal Student Council has set for this year’s Winter Gala is to make it as fun and memorable for students as possible while creating a better sense of community at Fremd,” Cardoza said.
During the week leading up to the dance, students can participate by dressing up for spirit week. The spirit days are: PJ Day, Tourist Day, Class Color Day (Freshman-Blue, Sophomores-Black, Juniors-Silver/Gray, Seniors-Gold/Yellow, Faculty-White), and American Heart Association Shirt Day or Red Shirt Day. Each day students dress up to the daily theme, teachers will hand out raffle tickets. These raffle tickets can be used for a chance to win prize baskets containing Fremd apparel, snacks and AMC or Fandango gift card, autographed Blackhawks gear and game tickets, hockey stick signed by Patrick Kane, salon products, a five pound bar of Hershey’s chocolate, and many more. The pre-dance raffle basket winner will be announced at the end of 8th period on Friday, Feb. 22 and more winners will be announced during the dance.
Tickets can still be purchased for $20 online at tinyurl.com/wintergalatickets2019 or outside the cafeteria during lunch periods until Friday, Feb. 22. On the day of Winter Gala, tickets can be purchased for $30 at the door. This year, Student Council is aiming to raise $1500 that will benefit the American Heart Association Fundraiser.
Spanish teacher and student council advisor Ashley Soriano believes choosing a cause to support distinguishes this year’s winter gala from last year’s. “I love that we chose to support the American Heart Association and that there are raffle baskets throughout the night,” Soriano said. “There will be more students, more baskets, better decorations, faster check-in, and some surprise features in the actual gym during the dance.”
]]>Background:
Characterized by a colorful personality, Adrien Broner’s antics now often overshadow his actual fights. Broner was once the most promising prospect in boxing, holding world championships in four different weight classes, but has struggled since his beatdown at the hands of Argentine Marcos Maidana in 2013.
Since that fight he has been 6-2-1, a disappointing stretch considering previous expectations. His ego outside the ring was tolerated when he was winning, but as his performance has worsened, critics have come out to question his behavior out of the ring as a distraction for him and a potential reason for why he has struggled. This fight against Pacquiao is one that Broner needed to win if he ever wanted to be a world champion again and revive his boxing career.
In direct contrast to Broner is Manny Pacquiao, one of boxing’s greatest fighters of all time who is still competing for world titles at 40 years old. His resume speaks for himself; he is a world champion in eight different weight classes and is 61-7-2 over the course of a 24-year career.
There is not much to prove for Pacquiao as a boxer, but there is a question of if he can maintain his level of success at an older age. This fight is important for “Pac-Man” in the sense that he can prove to the doubters that he is still one of the top welterweights and can compete with the new generation of fighters.
With both fighters having a ton at stake, this shaped up to be one of the more interesting fights of the year.
The Fight
The fight began with a typical feeling out process where jabs were thrown and range was established. The first round was quite uneventful with Broner on the defensive, blocking Pacquiao’s punches without throwing counterpunches. Broner would continue being overly defensive throughout the fight.
After the first round, Pacquiao turned it up. He began throwing what he was known for: combination punches. Pacman is known for his quick hands, which he used to dart in and throw quick flurries and then retreat. These flurries broke through Broner’s high guard and caught him occasionally.
In the middle rounds, there were hints of a possible turnaround with Broner landing a couple solid counters, but he did not do enough.
In rounds seven and nine, his flurries were thrown at such a high frequency that Broner appeared to be on the edge of a knockout.
From the first round to the final bell, Broner was dominated and outworked, getting more shots landed on him. He seems to be adhering to his mentor Floyd Mayweather’s style too much by relying on the counterpunch and defense. Manny Pacquiao won via unanimous decision with scorecards of 117-111, 116-112, 116-112.
Post Fight
After the fight, Showtime sportscaster Jim Gray entered the ring to interview both fighters. Pacquiao responded in his typical positive and humble way. Thanking God when asked about his performance in the fight. To end the interview, he thanked his promoters and Showtime.
When Gray approached Broner, Broner immediately met him with an onslaught of expletives. When asked about the fight, Broner confidently stated, “I beat him. Everybody out there knows I beat him.” He attributed his loss to Showtime trying to get a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch. The aftermath of his ridiculous claim of victory led to countless comments concerning Broner’s ego and delusion.
Conclusion
Pacquiao’s decisive win over Broner could mean many different things. After the fight, Broner exhibited his hubris, which has been constantly cited as his largest problem. Considering the magnitude of this fight and that his reputation was on the line, Broner’s weak performance bodes badly for his future in boxing.
However, for Pacquiao, he was able to prove that he still belongs and that he can still butt heads with boxing’s finest. A fight against other belt holders Keith Thurman, Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, or Terence Crawford is likely in the cards for Pacquiao in the future. Overall, this fight enforced what we already know: Manny Pacquiao is still one of the best fighters in boxing and Adrien Broner’s attitude is holding him back from success.
]]>Compared with previous albums, Grande connects with fans on a more personal level through Thank U, Next, which was created in the midst of heartbreak and harsh realities. Throughout the album, Grande portrays unreliable relationships as childish yet foolishly complex.
The first single from the album was titled “Thank U, Next” and was immediately met with record-breaking popularity upon its release. The highly anticipated music video captured the essence of teen rom-com and displayed the films’ noteworthy storylines. However, despite the commendable music video, other aspects of the song are comparatively mediocre. “Thank U, Next” consists of flat vocals and a uniform melody. Additionally, the lyrics are directly addressed to Grande’s ex-boyfriends, failing to deliver a deeper message and resorting instead to a repetitive structure: “One taught me love / One taught me patience / And one taught me pain / Now, I’m so amazing / I’ve loved and I’ve lost.”
“Imagine” and “Needy” feature Grande’s wide vocal range and a penetrating backtrack. Grande’s impressive falsetto makes up for the unvaried lyrics about her insecurities. “NASA” has a similar theme and is an upbeat song. Grande makes multiple references to space by using puns that connect her own celebrity life to the emptiness of space: “Give you the whole world, I’ma need space / I’ma need space, I’ma, I’ma need space / You know I’m a star.”
“Bloodline,” “Fake Smile,” “Bad Idea,” and “Make Up” have straightforward lyrics and incorporate fast beats, rhythmic backtracks, and autotuned hooks.
“Ghostin” and “In My Head” establish a new mood for the album with the echoing melodies and Grande’s resonating vocals. In “Ghostin,” Grande goes through a process of self-reflection and confronts her former apprehensions: “You been so understanding, you been so good / And I’m puttin’ you through more than one ever should / And I’m hating myself ‘cause you don’t want to / Admit that it hurts you.”
Thank U, Next is a major breakthrough for Grande with its mature content and varied music styles. With this pop album, Grande aspires to share a personal story through music. Although it may be criticized for the lack of depth, Thank U, Next promotes self-awareness and is a female-empowering album that sets the stage for Grande’s future musical career.
]]>Ultimately, the Vikings honored the team’s four seniors (Dean Ganas, John Smyros, Timmy Carlisle and Bryce Hopkins) with a 44-33 victory. Improving to 8-1 in Mid Suburban League play, Fremd kept its hopes alive for an MSL championship. Senior forward Bryce Hopkins and senior guard John Smyros led with 11 points each, while senior guard Dean Ganas scored nine, junior forward Kayman Hopkins added eight and junior guard Jake Schoffstall tallied seven.
The Vikings’ turnaround could be credited to a fluid offensive attack paired with relentless on-ball defensive pressure that forced Conant to turn the ball over and gave Fremd easy buckets at the rim to start the second half.
Coach Bob Widlowski attributed his team’s success to its efficiency.
“We did a nice job of being efficient which helped us out tremendously,” Widlowski said.
The beginning of the game could have gone better but Fremd certainly learned from its mistakes.
“I believe we had a lot of energy coming into the game, but didn’t execute as well as we wanted to in the first half,” Smyros said. “Going into the second half we came out with a lot of momentum and started to build a lead which helped us pull away.”
Despite trailing 12-6 in the second quarter, Fremd pushed its lead to 12 in the third quarter before the Cougars pulled within three, 30-27, with 4:15 left to play. Hopkins and Ganas responded by drawing fouls and hitting free throws to widen the lead.
Widlowski was impressed with his team’s second half performance after a lackluster first half.
“In the second half, I thought we did a very nice job of speeding them up,” Widlowski said. “We came out in the second half and we trapped a lot more at the wing and in the full court… we did a better job of getting the ball in the lane in the second half.”
Kayman Hopkins recognized the team’s need to adjust to the pace of play.
“I thought we came out to a slow start in the first half because Conant really tried to slow the tempo of the game down. However, when we made adjustments at halftime and began trapping, we were able to speed up the game and dominate the second half by controlling the pace of the game.”
Despite Fremd’s best efforts, Conant maintained a steady and aggressive pace of play.
“We were playing pretty well on offense, but Conant was doing a good job of holding the ball and waiting for high quality shots which was taking away from us being on offense,” junior Kayman Hopkins said. “I think we can use this game to help us because it shows that everyone is always going to play hard against us and that we always have to play together and with energy from start to finish.”
Conant was well-prepared and efficient in its approach.
“Conant was a tough opponent. They know the game very well and are very well coached and organized. But at the end of the day, I think our experience allowed us to pull away and get the win,” Ganas said.
On what this win means for his team’s future, Widlowski recognized that it was a nice achievement but that the job is not done yet.
“Every MSL game is a tough game. You have to come to play. They came out with a great game plan and we’re very happy to come out of here with a win,” Widlowski said.
“We can definitely use this as momentum going into championship games and playoffs because we were able to experiment with some new defensive schemes that can potentially be useful during a close game in the future,” Ganas added.
Kayman Hopkins punctuated the victory with an emphatic dunk in the final seconds of the game.
Fremd advances to 17-4 with the win and will play a pivotal game at Schaumburg on Friday, as the winner of that game will win the MSL West.
]]>The first year I got into Writers Week (sophomore year) I submitted four poems, but only ended up reading two of them. I read the two pieces I felt were the least intense and the least likely to draw attention to me. Although I’d chosen to submit these poems, the thought of essentially carving out a piece of myself and handing it over to hundreds of people, entirely exposed and vulnerable, was extremely daunting and overwhelming. My only goal that year was to get through the performance without passing out. There was really nothing else I wanted to accomplish.
But my junior year, I decided to perform a more personal piece. It described what was going through my mind in the harrowing moments leading up to my mother’s death. And although I framed the piece as fiction (it was part of a larger story I was writing) that excerpt was immensely close to what I’d really experienced. Giving that much of myself to so many people was challenging, but I also knew how important this story was to me, and that if I was going to perform it, if I really wanted others to get something out of it, I needed to perform it well. In the end, that resolution to be truly vulnerable, that letting go, paid off. In the letters and comments from friends I got afterwards, so many told me how that story really touched them and made them appreciate those in their lives they loved.
In my performance this year, I read two poems again, this time chosen with more purpose and less anxiety. The second poem detailed significant moments in my life that have shaped me so far. I told the stories behind some of the references I made in that piece, giving the audience a window into my life and the lives of those I love. I was far less nervous than either year before, and much more confident in what I had to say.
Writers Week, to me, is all-encompassing. It isn’t just about writing. It’s about the timeless and enduring art of storytelling, through any medium. This week, I heard a wide variety of stories, from poets, to musicians, novelists, singers, and journalists, and to brave students who don’t even enjoy writing but had a story they felt was important and meaningful enough to share; to take that risk and expose their souls to friends and strangers on that stage for five minutes.
What I’ve realized these past four years is that everyone has a story to tell. And yes, that line is cheesy, but sometimes those are the ones that hold the most truth. Everyone who performed had their own story, their own perspective and message to put out there. Carried with each one was the cautious hope that someone in the audience might soak it up and take it with them beyond that moment.
So, as a senior, this Writers Week was especially nostalgic because it reminded me that there are many stories in my own life that will be coming to a close when I walk across that stage at the Sears Center in May. I won’t ever be able to travel back to this time in my life, to all the moments with those I love that have shaped me. But no matter what, I still have those stories. Those memories that I’ll carry with me and return to when I need them. Either just for myself, or to share with others.
That’s why storytelling is so vital, and why it’s endured in so many forms for thousands of years. We can never reach back into the past; retreat into those fleeting moments that are already slipping from us. The past is an era perpetually barred from us, but stories are a window to that era. They’re how we remember the moments that have shaped us, and we share them because they have the power to shape others as well. To alter perspectives and shift the narrative, even if only for one or two people in that entire auditorium. It’s still significant; it still means something.
I’ve grown over the years of performing at Writers Week and witnessing others (professionals and students) do the same––giving themselves over to the atmosphere of the event, to the wonder of the moment.That growth has taught me to value and appreciate vulnerability, and the effect a single story can have on someone’s life.
And Writers Week itself has grown as well. This is its 25th year, and in that time, the event has seen student submissions rise exponentially and hosted a wide array of presenters, including Gwendolyn Brooks on two occasions. Nate Marshall and Jamila Woods’s tribute to her this year brought that full circle, and served to further highlight how far this event has come in two and a half decades.
All this is to ultimately say, if you’re not a senior this year, I hope Writers Week––and maybe even this article––has convinced you to create and submit something meaningful next year, because the story you have to tell is more significant than you realize.
]]>Set in the 1980’s, Bumblebee focuses on a fascinating friendship between the transformer B-127 and Charlie Watson. One of the most heartbreaking scenes occurs towards the beginning of the film, after a Decepticon destroys B-127’s voice box and memory. Later on, teenager Charlie Watson finds B-127 and nicknames him Bumblebee. From there, a touching story officially begins, featuring the many nerve-racking adventures shared by Charlie and Bumblebee.
After Bumblebee loses his voice, he communicates with Charlie through snippets of music coming from a tape-player Charlie installed. Bumblebee and Charlie form an inseparable bond with each other, and the most significant aspect is how each moment between them marks a new development in character. Bumblebee helps Charlie move on from her father’s death and pursue an adventurous lifestyle, while Charlie is determined to help Bumblebee restore his memory and save the planet from annihilation.
The peaceful and lighthearted nature of the film comes to an end with the arrival of the Decepticons. This also marks a transition from Charlie’s everyday life to more action-packed scenes. Although Bumblebee is still recovering, he must directly confront the government agents, who were initially deceived by the Decepticons. Every time Bumblebee is injured or captured, the audience is left on the verge of tears. An extremely traumatic scene shows Bumblebee’s near-death, and Steinfeld brings out the intense emotions of helplessness and desperation. This moment evokes strong emotions from the audience, as they are able to feel Charlie’s sorrow and grief.
Despite the action and intensity, the latter portion of Bumblebee is in no way an overwhelming mash of violence and death. Throughout the film, a variety of scenes serve as comic-reliefs to keep the movie realistic and amusing. For example, Charlie meets Memo, a quirky and nerdy boy who is actually quite benevolent in nature. Memo joins in on the mission to save Earth with Charlie and Bumblebee, while adding a lot of delight and humor into the scenes. As the film nears its conclusion, Charlie’s audacity in helping Bumblebee defeat the Decepticons is astonishing and heart-lifting.
Bumblebee successfully continues the positive legacy of the former “Transformers” movies. The expertise of the actors enables them to portray dynamic characters with defining personalities. Through various conflicts between the protagonists and antagonists, the audience is kept on the edge of their seats from the very first scene. Overall, Bumblebee delivers the motivating message of pursuing your dreams and proves how family and friends are indispensable in life; ultimately, you can overcome any obstacles and reach for a future that belongs to you.
]]>Emcees Morgan Miller and Joey Barrett made frequent comedic appearances throughout the show, taking up the roles of reporters at Fremd. Miller and Barrett’s critiques on everything from the media center’s lack of computers and abundance of TVs to the administration’s role in the teacher strike contributed to an already memorable night.
Act One kicked off with Drumline’s energizing performance entitled “Barracuda/Too Many Tacos.” The show proceeded to live up to its promise of “variety,” featuring singing, rapping, dancing, beatboxing, comedy, poetry, and an assortment of instruments. The production artfully balanced lighter and heavier themes, with some acts addressing issues in the world today, calling for religious coexistence and acceptance of others and ourselves.
Junior Miguel Mercado, who shared yet another issue plaguing the world today, the plight of bees, considered the unique opportunities V-Show provides for Fremd students. “I…enjoy how it gives anyone regardless of background an opportunity do something and have fun doing it too,” Mercado said. “It’s one of the only events that allows really anyone to showcase their interests or quirks.”
While V-Show provided the perfect opportunity for many students to display the product of their hard work, it also created a uniquely memorable experience, for directors and participants alike. Sophomore Ariette Kaberlein, the pianist of the band Avenue 18, described her time spent preparing for V-Show. “It’s a very fun environment, [and] everyone’s excited to be there,” Kaberlein said.
Sophomore Max Wojtowicz, the drummer of Avenue 18, echoed these sentiments.
“It’s overall really fun and you get to show off your skills in front of a significant crowd,” Wojtowicz said. “I personally met some really amazing people and I don’t regret a thing.”
English teacher Russell Anderson, one of the directors of V-Show, revealed why he decided to help run V-Show.
“I love getting to see all the talent that the students have,”Anderson said. “For as creative and talented as I know students are in here, the talent and creativity they have in their free and extracurricular time surpasses that, so it’s a ton of fun for me. [It’s] nice to celebrate everything the students at Fremd do.”
]]>In the two semifinal matchups, the Alabama Crimson Tide hung on to defeat the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl by fending off a late rally while the Clemson Tigers thumped the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Cotton Bowl. This set up a national championship game which generated the lowest ratings in the history of the playoff, garnering only a 14.6 overnight rating. The Tide and Tigers played each other in the playoff for the fourth straight season.
Clemson defeated Alabama for the second time in three years. This game, however, looked drastically different than the championship of two seasons ago. In that matchup, Clemson QB Deshaun Watson capped off a come-from-behind victory with a last-second touchdown pass to WR Hunter Renfrow. Watson is now on the Houston Texans. Alabama QB Jalen Hurts, who played two seasons as the Tide’s starter and twice led them against Clemson in the CFP, is now with the University of Oklahoma. Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) are the new faces at quarterback for both programs.
Heading into this year’s national championship game, college football’s major storyline was Tagovailoa’s Heisman-worthy season, which was superseded by a late charge from Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray. Murray, a dual-threat QB, accounted for 54 touchdowns while leading the Sooners to 13 wins and a Big 12 title.
Oklahoma’s defense, which surrendered an average of 454 yards and 33 points per game, was often criticized for putting the team in many disadvantageous situations in close games. The firing of defensive coordinator Mike Stoops after Week 6 did not help matters. The Sooners needed 50-point efforts from Murray and the offense on a weekly basis. Murray, a Texas A&M transfer, carried the team down the stretch. This vaulted him above Tagovailoa, who sat out in the fourth quarter of blowouts to avoid injury, in the Heisman voting.
Alabama was referred to by many throughout the season as the “best college football team of all time”. They demolished their opponents, routinely scoring in the 60s and allowing fewer than 20 points. Tagovailoa’s pinpoint accuracy, deep throws and leadership enthralled the nation. He was seen as the Heisman favorite from Week 1 (a one sided victory over Louisville) onward.
Clemson was the Cavaliers to Alabama’s Golden State Warriors. One was the perennial favorite, and the other was the close second who rarely seemed to be able to push through. Clemson also thoroughly obliterated its competition. The best defensive line in America paired with Lawrence, the No. 2 recruit in the 2018 ESPN 300, created a monster which was impossible for opponents to stop.
On the other hand, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was the team many felt did not belong in the playoff. A schedule which included wins over five ranked teams, not to mention victories over division champions Northwestern and Pittsburgh, was criticized by fans for being soft. Simply because USC and Florida State, typical powers, were not bowl-eligible or national title contenders as in a typical year, ND seemed to be at fault for this failure to schedule aggressively.
Although the Irish appeared to match up well against Clemson on the surface, with no glaring weaknesses on their offense, defense or special teams units, many holes were exposed against the Tigers. Clemson freshman QB Trevor Lawrence shredded Notre Dame’s defense for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman receiver Justyn Ross went for 148 yards and two touchdowns while sophomore RB Travis Etienne tallied 109 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Oklahoma’s defense was its usual porous self against the Tide, allowing 45 points to Tagovailoa and Co. This time, it was not bailed out by the other side of the ball. OU’s offense was shut down, by its standards, scoring 16 below its season average of 50 points per game. Murray still recorded 417 yards and three touchdowns rushing and passing to bolster his case as a first round pick in the NFL Draft.
After Oklahoma-Alabama was the only playoff matchup to be remotely competitive, cries for reform to the playoff system rang out nationwide. Fans of Georgia, Ohio State and UCF, irate that their teams were not included, pleaded that the playoff expand to eight teams to give more programs the opportunity to compete for a national title. While the CFP committee has been reluctant to change the system for now, we will have to wait and see what the next several years bring.
]]>UMBC Does the Impossible
After a dominant 31-3 season led by guards Devon Hall and Kyle Guy, the Virginia Cavaliers found themselves ranked No. 1 overall in the 64-team tournament. Many experts and fans alike predicted UVA to go all the way to the championship game. That is, until 16-seed University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) came along.
UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in NCAA tournament history; No. 16 seeds were previously 0-135 all-time against No. 1 seeds. Perhaps the most astounding aspect of the contest was the final score, 74-54. Not only did UMBC do the impossible, they did it in spectacular fashion, outscoring Virginia by 20 points in the second half. While this unlikely victory is obviously a highlight of 2018, it will likely go down in history as one of the greatest sports upsets of all time.
Crimson Tide Comeback
An unexpected sports highlight of 2018 came just eight days into the year as the Crimson Tide mustered up a fantastic comeback against the Georgia Bulldogs to capture their fifth national championship since 2009. After going down 13-0 in the first half, head coach Nick Saban decided to sub out veteran quarterback Jalen Hurts and replace him with the true freshman backup Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa would go on to throw two touchdowns in the second half in order to help even the score up at 20 and force overtime. In the overtime period, Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard bomb to DeVonta Smith to win the game for the Tide 26-23. Since that historic moment, Tagovailoa has continued to dominate, earning the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award in the 2018 season and finishing second in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Croatia Cruises to the Cup
Coming into the 2018 World Cup with 30-1 odds, the Croatian national team was not exactly at the top of most people’s lists to advance to the championship match. Despite the odds however, the team, led by midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, made it all the way to the World Cup final for the first time in the team’s history, until they were defeated by France 4-2.
The team’s run in the World Cup was a magical one, besting Denmark and Russia in consecutive penalty shootouts. In the semi-final match, the Croatian squad forced extra time against England and went on to win 2-1. The performance by the 2018 Croatian national team will likely go down in World Cup history and will be remembered by soccer fans in Croatia and across the globe.
World Series Won’t Stop
While it did not feature an upset or amazing comeback, Game 3 of the 2018 World Series set plenty of records. The match, which pitted the Boston Red Sox against the Houston Astros, was the longest World Series game ever, in terms of time (seven hours, 20 minutes) and innings (18).
The game ultimately came to close when first baseman Max Muncy stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 18th, as he hit a walk-off home run to end the historic game. The context was truly a test of grit and mental fortitude on both sides, and it is highly unlikely that any of the previously mentioned records will be broken any time soon.
Luck of the Irish
College basketball has had its fair share of buzzer beaters. But to beat the horn in two consecutive games, the first to advance to the national championship and the next to win it, requires a bit of luck. Thankfully for Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale, the luck of the Irish was on her side.
Trailing by two in the Final Four matchup against the University of Connecticut, Ogunbowale put up a tough, contested three with one second left on the clock to win the Irish the game 91-89. But she did not stop there. In the national championship game against Mississippi State, Ogunbowale received the sideline inbounds pass and attempted an even tougher three-pointer that sinked in as the buzzer sounded. Ogunbowale won Notre Dame its first women’s basketball title since 2001. Her extraordinary performance in both games will go down as one of the most clutch feats of all time.
]]>For all its participants, Writers Week is a great opportunity for students to put their best selves on paper and display their creativity.
Junior Varsha Krishnan is presenting a fictional piece about a girl who survives a tragedy and the its bitter aftermath. Audience members can expect to hear her on Monday, February 4th during third period. Krishnan will be presenting for the first time at Writers Week; she expresses her excitement for the opportunity the event brings.
“Writers Week was on my bucket list for high school, and I wasn’t sure that I would get accepted, so I decided to try this year” Krishnan said. “ I rarely share my writing, so I thought this would be the perfect place to do so.”
Writers Week also serves as a platform for students to address problems seen in the United States. It allows performers to speak openly towards their peers and catalyze societal change with their writing.
Junior Valeria Delgado will be sharing her piece that concerns immigration policy in the United States. During fifth period on Feb. 4, Delgado hopes to change the way her audience views immigration and influence the future grassroots of society.
“My piece is on a couple’s immigration story and some obstacles they come across; the piece highlights this country’s immigration crisis and explains how we can start fixing our problems by openly expressing our opinions” Delgado said. “I hope my piece sticks to some and gets people talking about our immigration system.”
Junior Jessica Xu will be performing her slam poetry about her Asian-American ethnicity and the identity problems she has faced. To Xu, Writer’s Week will help her reach out to audience members who struggle with similar issues and different standards due to heritage and standards of society. On Thursday, Feb. 7 during eighth period, Xu looks to express her struggles in a creative manner.
“I’ve grown up torn between two standards and I’ve never had a clear definition of myself, I want people to know that your heritage only decides who you are physically and that you are in control of yourself” Xu said. “I’m really excited to share my piece because I know there are others with similar issues so I hope my piece reaches out to them to tell them they’re not alone.”
The week gives performers the privilege of sharing a piece of themselves with their audience; to Junior Keya Patel, writing has allowed her to develop into her best self and Writer’s Week allows her to connect her experiences with her audience. With her poem about the present, audience members can tune into Patel stress the importance of capitalizing the opportunities around them on Tuesday, Feb. 5 during 7th period.
“I am trying to express the importance of not letting the present go to waste; all we can expect for our lives to be depends on what we do with it and how we choose to live it” Patel said. “I want to get people to really think about what’s going on, whether that be in the world or in our community; I think any writer wants to connect with their audience and make them feel something, whether it be joy and pain or laughter or understanding.”
]]>What once used to be an appalling incident has become a frequent and only mildly shocking occurrence that doesn’t even consistently get news coverage anymore. As it has become more frequent, we haven’t realized that there once was a time not too long ago when mass shootings were almost unheard of. We have become so desensitized to mass shootings that we have forgotten to demand change.
Mass shootings are defined by shootings in which four or more people are shot and killed or injured, not including the shooter, and there have been even more shootings that don’t fit this set of qualifications. As of Feb. 26, there have been 47 mass shootings in 2019 alone.
For those with loved ones who have died from gun violence, or the survivors who made it out alive, the day of the shooting will forever be etched into their memories. Meanwhile, for the rest of us, it’s another instance of an increasingly common tragedy that we have become far too accustomed to. It still horrifies and shocks us, but we move on with our lives quickly, often without nearly enough of a second thought. We know it’s only a matter of time until the next one, but nobody ever thinks it could happen to them.
There may be a psychological reason that explains our decreased response to mass shootings. Charles Figley, the director of the Traumatology Institute and a professor of social work at Tulane University, observed the response to the Parkland shooting.
“There are two primary methods of dealing with a traumatic event: to respond, or to put it out of your mind. That’s what’s happening now,” Figley said. “We’re still shocked, but we watch the people in the communities where this has happened, and we see their shock, their unpreparedness. We think, ‘There is nothing they could have done.’ The more frequently this happens, the more it reminds people there’s nothing they can do, so they put it out of their minds.”
Additionally, one lab study was able to measure desentization in subjects who were exposed to varying levels of media violence. When referring to this study, Traci M. Kennedy, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, stated, “Those who are assigned to view higher levels of violence do show signs of desensitization, even within a few hours. They become habituated to the violence, they’re less scared or just less responsive, and show lower levels of empathy toward the victims.” It seems that our change in response may very well be psychological, and astonishingly enough, we are somehow becoming less sympathetic to victims as shootings occur more frequently.
If we continue to accept that mass shootings will always be a constant in our country, then how can we ever hope to makes the changes we need to in order to prevent it? If shootings don’t even become national news until a “significant” amount of people die, then how will we ever realize that even one, two, or three deaths or even injuries from a shooting is more than there ever should be?
If our own emotional reactions are blocked in response to such horrific events, how can we ever again fully realize the magnitude of the problem? The desensitization of mass shootings is a much more important issue than previously thought, as they are leading us to minimize the extent of the horrific event that occurs. Until we deem mass shootings as absolutely unacceptable, we destroy any hope of one day living in a world without them.
]]>
Along with Uyghurs, the region of Xinjiang attracted a Han majority, a migration encouraged by the Chinese government. Due to the government’s partial treatment of the Hans, a group of Uyghurs protested and killed 200 people — mostly Han Chinese — in 2009. This gave the Chinese government an excuse to justify its detaining of millions of innocent Uyghurs. The government has claimed that it’s trying to limit separatism based on religion and ethnicity. At the UN meeting, China has defended the purpose of these camps saying they are training centers intended to stop extremists.
However, UN and media reports show the harsh treatment in these “training” centers. Inmates are forced to criticize Islamic beliefs and declaim Communist Party propaganda songs. They are being forced to eat pork and drink alcohol, both prohibited by Islam. Detainees are kept in isolation without water and sleep. Former detainees have said they weren’t allowed to sleep and would be beaten for hours. Uyghur people are obligated to abandon their culture, language, and their lives back home. Yet, little is being done to help them.
Despite all inhumane actions, China still sits as a permanent member of United Nations. It either denies the existence of these actions or simply claims they are “educational.” To make it worse, the world has turned a blind eye to what is happening in Xinjiang. Their hesitation to speak out is due to close relations with China and the fear of social and economic consequences. Moreover, China has kept tight control over its media, limiting the information receive.
Uyghurs are running out of time to save themselves. Their lives built in Xinjiang are being destroyed. And they will continue to do so unless we act. Many organizations are already taking steps to help, and it is important that other countries of the world, the U.S. included, do the same. For example, The International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation recommends ways we can help Uyghurs in China: starting an event in your community, writing to local leaders, etc. Uyghurs in China are in need of international support, and any little action can have a great impact.
]]>A very recent example of this controversy is actor and comedian Kevin Hart. Hart’s homophobic tweets between 2009 and 2011 resurfaced the internet after he announced he would host the 91st Academy Awards. In one of the tweets Hart has since deleted, he said he would break his daughter’s dollhouse over his son’s head if he tried to play with it because “that’s gay.”
Since then, having to choose between stepping down from the Oscars and apologizing, Hart refused to apologize, complaining about people bringing up what he felt was old news. In a video posted on his Instagram, Hart claimed he had addressed the issue several times.
Hart’s pass on the apology wasn’t appreciated by many, including me. However, my views on this issue changed as I watched Hart on the Ellen show; Hart states in the show that he takes responsibility for his past actions and that he was at fault for his tweets.
He spoke about the impact the controversy had on him. “To go through 40,000 tweets to get back to 2008, that’s an attack,” Hart said. “That’s a malicious attack on my character. That’s an attack to end me.”
DeGeneres played down the criticism on Hart, saying, “Whatever is going on in the internet, don’t pay attention to them. That’s a small group of people being very loud. We are a huge group of people who love you and want to see you host the Oscars.”
Ellen’s forgiveness gave me a different perspective, especially since it came from one of the most prominent openly gay celebrities. Although I do believe Hart’s tweets were harsh and offensive, exposing a hard working individual for tweets he posted ten years ago is nothing but aiming to destroy his career.
Yet, this issue doesn’t just concern Hart. Tweets and posts of several celebrities were discovered and retaliation was experienced. In such circumstances, we as the general audience fail to realize that these celebrities are also human. They learn and grow; personal growth and self improvement are a part of being successful in life. And as long as they accept and apologize for their past actions, they shouldn’t be criticized. Additionally, such events remind us that celebrities we look up to are not perfect. They make mistakes, and when the mistakes spark the public’s eye, how they handle it is more important.
We need to realize that believing one’s opinions and perspectives do not change is ignorant. Sure, Hart, along with other influencers, was wrong and immature at the time. But it is as immature of us to not forgive them for something they did so long ago.
]]>Junior Ishika Awachat has founded Fremd’s very own Girl Up club, where members and volunteers can reach out to girls in developing countries including Guatemala, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi and India.
“[Girl Up] offers people great opportunities to come together and learn about world issues, arguably one of the most important issues facing our generation today, because girls have the power to change the world, but they are at a very distinct disadvantage,” Awachat said. “This club is an outlet for people to discuss the issue, and also do something about it.”
Awachat encourages people to join the campaign as providing girls with leadership skills and including them in the decision-making process is one of the major tools to spark economic and social change.
“We need boys to not only be allies, but co-conspirators in our fight to end gender inequality.” Awachat said, “In order for us to advance, those with privilege must take initiative to better this world for all. Today, 130 million girls around the world are not in school and on average, a woman earns 80.5 dollars for every dollar a man earns. We all have to work together for the greater good.”
Group discussion and coming together to open dialogue are primary goals of Girl Up.
“[It’s] unique in its own way, because it is a non-competitive club,” Awachat said. “We work together and everybody is a winner. We also get to enjoy ourselves in the process.”
Although this has only been the first year of the club, club members have conducted multiple awareness events, provided community service at a local women’s shelter, raised a combined $1,184 from a bake sale and a craft fair, and received $130 in donation: all of which supports 20 refugee girls in Uganda and provides girls in Guatemala safe mobility to education in the form of bikes. Recently, club members have even taken advocacy actions by signing the Girls Count Petition to help refugee girls receive education and sending letters to policymakers.
In the next three months, the club plans to carry out a movie screening, a student panel discussion/debate on various topics, and other fun events, all of which are applicable for volunteer hours.
Girl Up is an active, open club that always accepts new members. The club meets on Wednesdays in room 168 from 3 to 4 p.m. But if you can’t find the time to fit these in your schedule, you can still further the cause.
“You don’t have to be an active member of the group to help out,” Awachat said. “[Students], if they’re interested, can follow us on social media to see what sorts of volunteering events we’re doing.”
Girl Up’s Schoology Group (D2S2R-9NS23), along with the Twitter (@fremdgirlup) and Instagram account (fremdgirlup), are frequently updated with fundraising and volunteering events. More information about Girl Up can be found on their website, www.girlup.org.
]]>Whether we were traveling, out shopping, or just simply at home, the blizzard that struck after Thanksgiving this year was slightly larger and dangerous than a typical winter storm. There were numerous travel delays and road closures, making it nearly impossible to travel through the storm.
The National Weather Service (NWS) defines a blizzard as sustained winds gusting to 35 mph or greater. This in combination with falling and/or blowing snow results in blizzard conditions.
The recent storm, referred to as Bruce by The Weather Channel, formed in late November and swept through the entire Midwest and Central Region of the United States. A storm like this typically does not occur in these areas until late December. The dynamics of this dangerous storm, with very strong and efficient snow production, showed the necessity to be prepared for these types of events well before the winter season.
Thanks to relatively good agreement between the models, forecasters were able to predict the approach of the storm almost a week beforehand. However, a few days before the storm, problems began to surface. All models predicted a winter storm or blizzard occurring somewhere in the United States, but each showed different locations. Some models trended south of our area, while some trended well north near the Canadian border. Due to the inconsistency of the models, an official Winter Storm Warning could not be released until a day or two before the storm. Blizzard Warnings were not even issued for the event until just less than three hours before the storm.
By the time the storm came, travel was shut down and most roads were impassable. During the evening of the 25th, Township High School District 211 declared an emergency school cancellation for the next day.
Ultimately, the NWS measured a total of six inches of snow with drifts, to locally near a foot of snow with even higher drifts. While this storm is not one of the worst blizzards we have seen, it will certainly be remembered considering the widespread power outages and other issues around the area.
]]>For this month so far, we do not have any sign of another major storm occurring within the next couple of weeks like what happened a while back. However, with extreme temperature variations over the country this month, it is especially important to prepare for a possible storm.
Currently, one of the things that is on tap is the potential for a brief warming in temperatures for a week or so before temperatures crash again. Through December 19th, the pattern in weather appears to be locked into warmer temperatures, nearing 40 degrees. After December 19, meteorologists predict that the temperatures will only be in the 20’s for high temperatures with the possibility of large amounts of snow.
This period looks to be a transition period to colder weather overall. Beyond the 24th and into Christmas, it seems as if a chunk of the polar vortex, a large area of very cold air around the North Pole, could break away and spin off into the United States. It would start on the West Coast around the 24th and make its way east through the Christmas holiday. If this were to occur, the possibility of a potentially widespread snow storm would need to be watched because of the magnitude of the transition.
Nevertheless, it is still something to keep in mind that the exact details of when the transition to colder weather and snow will occur are still somewhat uncertain, but it is predicted to occur sometime near or after the Christmas holiday.
]]>The D211 teachers of the Northwest Suburban Local 1211 Union could go on a strike as early as Dec. 18. The Union is striving to negotiate a contract with the district that better compensates the teachers for their work and the cost of living.
From a student’s perspective, teachers striking could affect the scheduling of the school calendar. The Board of Education would be forced to cancel all school activities including class, clubs, sports and possibly reschedule finals in the case of strike.
Junior Sydney Kruto expresses her view on the possible implications of teachers striking,
“I think there’s nothing wrong if the teachers decide to picket a strike since they’re protesting for their cause,” Kruto said. “However, there needs to be an immediate solution, especially since we’re in finals season and it’s a stressful time for all students.”
When asked about the current negotiations and the possible effects on the student body, superintendent Dan Cates shared the following message.
“The Board recognizes that students, parents and staff members might experience feelings of stress and uncertainty surrounding a possible strike,” Cates said. “The Board and our administration are doing all we can to resolve the impasse and keep our schools open.”
According to the district’s website, D211 has offered its employees a two percent increase on their base salaries for the first year and a raise based off seventy-five percent of the Urban Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), a measurement for the cost of living, for the remaining three years. The Union has rejected this offer and requested a two percent base salary raise and a raise based off of one-hundred percent of the CPI-U for the remaining years of the contract.
Union president John Braglia commented on the negotiations occurring between the Union and Board.
“The district is allowed to levy, under state law, up to the CPI,” Braglia said. “We’re asking for a sub-CPI raises because it is respectful to the community and it allows the district to generate a surplus.”
Junior Aditya Prathap provides his insight on the union-district contract.
“I hope the contract includes adjustments for cost of living. The CPI changes frequently and it’s important for the teachers to be well-compensated since we live in an area with high property taxes,” Prathap said. “People don’t necessarily go to Fremd for its basketball courts or soccer fields, but rather for its teachers. At the same time it’s necessary for the school to maintain its facilities. There should be good balance on where the money goes because they both have an effect on the student.”
Teachers have been working without a contract and have been negotiating since July 1. After 16 meetings with the Board of Education and the Union, there has yet to be an agreement between both sides.
When asked about the possibility of a strike occurring, Braglia shared the following information.
“The labor board has authorized the union to strike on Dec. 18,” Braglia said. “The union is having a meeting Dec. 13 to present a vote of no-confidence in the Board of Education. If nothing can be resolved, the union has a tentative strike date on Dec. 18.”
]]>President Trump has called the migrant caravan “invaders” and has used them in a fear-mongering attempt to get people to vote. Right before the midterm elections, he told voters, “If you don’t want America to be overrun by masses of illegal aliens and giant caravans, you’d better vote Republican.” He also increased the number of troops at the border, which cost an estimated $50 million from this instance alone. President Trump also tried to ban migrants who cross illegally from seeking asylum, however, this was blocked by a federal judge because under both international and U.S. law, anybody who is fleeing from serious persecution has the right to ask for asylum, even it they don’t enter legally.
The authorities at the legal borders have been limiting the number of migrants allowed to cross and seek asylum to 40-100 a day at ports of entry, which is why many have tried to cross the border illegally. On Nov. 25, a group of migrants neared the border between Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, California. This started as a planned peaceful march to request asylum and protest the conditions of their shelters, and then the group broke apart and some migrants pushed up against the fence at the border.
At that point, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired tear gas at the crowds, justifying the action with a statement that it was in retaliation to aggressive men who rushed at the border and that four agents were hit by rocks. Since it was windy that day, the tear gas drifted half a mile, affecting women and children who were not even involved. Tear gas is banned on the battlefield by almost every country in the world, including America. Federal authorities and police, however, are allowed to use it for riot-control. There are better ways of controlling crowds, and there certainly are ways of retaliating that would not have ended up hurting innocent women and children, including toddlers and babies.
It’s important to keep in mind that these migrants aren’t illegal aliens that pose a threat to America. Most of them just want to seek asylum, which is a right protected by American and international law, and is by no means a crime. Instead of firing chemical weapons at mostly unarmed migrants and hurting innocent children in the process, America needs to do better and help those in need. Our country should be a safe haven to those seeking refuge and fleeing persecution.
We take it for granted that we weren’t born in a country where violence is rampant, but not everyone has that luxury. Some constantly fear for their lives, for their families, for their safety. If we were in their places, wouldn’t we also leave for a chance at a better future? We cannot forget that they have walked hundreds of miles just for a shot at a safer life for themselves and their families. To them, America is the land of hope and opportunities, and we must not let them down.
]]>
Instant Family, a film directed by Sean Anders, begins when an ordinary married couple, Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne), decide to foster a child, hoping for a sweet little kid but unexpectedly end up taking in three children at once. Including a rebellious fifteen year old high schooler (Isabela Moner) and two of her siblings (Gustavo Quiroz and Julianna Gamiz), resulting in chaos. The movie follows the path of building a family relationship, the importance of trust and communication, and provides the audience with a new insight on the realities of adoption. Even though it lacked personal connections with the audience, this movie conveys the warmth of family and will provide a nice laugh for the holidays.
A winning factor for Instant Family is the heartwarming charm and amiable atmosphere present through the developing familial bonds and ties. The parents’ struggle to get their new children to open up to them, and the strategies that they come up with helped build a lighthearted atmosphere. It was a lot funnier than what most people anticipated, especially considering that the plot didn’t seem all that unique.
An interesting thing about this movie is that it’s based on a true story of actual foster children. Sean Anders, the director of the movie, stated that the movie was largely influenced by his and his wife’s real experiences adopting foster children. Many of the jokes are influenced by his real-life events and it gives the movie an even more heartwarming feel because not everything is made up.
Even though Instant Family provided us with humor and tears most of the time, there was a detachment between the audience and the characters of the movie and the audience was kept at a third person stand point throughout the movie. In the instant when they opened up to each other, it was predictable, and even though sweet, there was the constant feeling of “watching it in the theater.”” There was never a point where the film delved deep into the emotion of the character, and lacked empathy for the characters. Rather than experiencing the whole journey with the family, it was just watching them go through it.
The movie takes on the challenge of showing adoption parents in a new light, and paints a comedic, and at times even frustrating view of adoption culture. It takes a closer look at the process and reduces the stigma associated with foster care and the view that foster care is “babysitting other people’s kids.” When Ellie and Pete introduce the idea to their family, they get some not-so-reassuring responses about things such as “crack babies” and a family having to be “their own blood.” The movie then addresses these complex issues such as family identity, and sometimes even racial issues associated with the system.
Overall, Instant Family came as a surprise towards the end of 2018, and even though it lacked a strong emotional connection to the film, it definitely reminds people how valuable strong relationships can be.
]]>Head coach Robert Widlowski offered a straightforward explanation for the team’s success.
“We did a good job defensively, executing the game plan,” Widlowski said.
It was clear from the start that Fremd was going to dominate, going up 16-2 in the first quarter. Fremd led 9-0 before Hoffman made their first basket. This dominance continued throughout the entire first half.
Widlowski credited much of their offense to fast breaks caused by rebounds when asked about how they found such success against Hoffman.
“Transition offense and rebounding, I thought Kayman Hopkins(junior) rebounded very well,” Widlowski said.
In the second half, there was a glimmer of hope for the Hawks to come back from the 24-6 deficit due to consecutive turnovers from Fremd leading to two transition buckets. However, this effort proved to be in vain as these four points would be the only ones they scored in the quarter. The Vikings would end up outscoring the Hawks in the third quarter 6-4.
Widlowski realized this shift in momentum and discussed it when asked about the team’s performance.
“We got out of rhythm in the third quarter and we’re looking forward to improving this in practice starting tomorrow,” Widlowski said.
Fremd would secure the win in the fourth quarter by outscoring Hoffman 5-4. Junior guard Jake Schoffstall led the team in scoring with sixteen and another notable performance came from Junior forward Kayman Hopkins, who led the Vikings in rebounds with seven and added seven points to that as well.
Fremd’s fantastic performance foreshadows great success, however the Viking know they can’t stay complacent.
“The thing is that no matter what the situation is, we are trying to look at ways to improve so we’ll go back, look at it, and the players have done a good job at recognizing that,” Widlowski said.
Fremd’s future seems to be bright if they can continue their lockdown defense and overall solid play. The Vikings next challenge comes from the Palatine Pirates on Dec. 14 at 7:30pm.
]]>The team’s record on the year moves to 1-1, this loss following a season-opening triumph over Rolling Meadows. Fremd moves on hoping to recover from a tough loss which helped them narrow their focus of where they need to improve.
Fremd’s experienced swimmers helped motivate the younger members of the squad throughout the meet. In a team event, juniors Sean Warner, Kyle Martin, Brandon Vera and Kevin Han finished sixth in the 200 yard freestyle relay.
Fremd individual winners included senior Yoochan Lee in the 100 yard freestyle; sophomore Hayden Kim in the Frosh-Soph 100 yard breaststroke; Kim in the 200 yard individual medley; and sophomore Joseph Farrell in the Frosh-Soph 200 yard freestyle.
In the team events, a team comprised of sophomores Nathan Spiekermann, Thomas Brinckerhoff and Kim and freshman Ryan Yoon finished first in the 200 yard free relay for the Frosh-Sophs.
Junior James Steininger finished second in the 200 yard individual medley, while senior Yoochan Lee won the 100 yard freestyle.
Fremd controlled the diving portion with ease, with junior Dan Narey, senior Christian Zukowski and senior Brennan Barrett finishing 1-2-3 and leading the way to victory for the varsity squad. Their stellar diving performance was assisted by a brilliant Frosh-Soph outcome.
Sophomore Aidan McCall won the Frosh-Sophomore diving competition and Brian Higgins finished third as Fremd won the F-S diving portion.
The final score was 98-88 as Fremd fell in a close contest for its first loss of the season. It was Fremd’s first loss to Barrington in four seasons.
Despite the outcome, Kittrell loves his team’s perseverance and commitment to improvement as an entire unit.
“I would say how proud I was of the boys’ effort, their commitment to one another and how excited they are for the rest of the season,” Kittrell said. “The boys fight well, they fight together and they do a really wonderful job of supporting one another.”
Kittrell was pleased with his team’s performance as a whole.
“I thought our boys rose to the occasion in a number of different opportunities but I think one of the most exciting things was how hard they pushed themselves,” Kittrell said. “There was nothing left to give, and as a coach, you just want to see them compete until the very last moment and that’s what they did.”
Junior Brandon Vera encapsulated his praise for the opponent and Fremd’s preparation which led up to the meet.
“The team’s performance was amazing… we could have been fully rested but I feel like we still went hard on our practices that week before the meet. Barrington was tough, we knew from the start that Barrington would be our strongest competition in the conference. We came in with a strategy that seemed to work and that is how we were able to obtain points for each race.”
Fremd’s future is bright based off of a multitude of standout performances in Frosh-Soph events and diving. The effort and intensity on display on Friday night must continue for Fremd to reach its season goals of producing the best possible outcome every single meet. The Vikings must control what they can control and ignore external factors and distractions while narrowing their focus on the goals awaiting them which need fulfillment.
Kittrell is confident that his team, which is heavy on sophomores and juniors, will improve as the year progresses, which bodes well for Fremd’s future. The Vikings can do their best to succeed by bringing Friday’s performance to every meet and maintaining consistency during each and every meet.
The boys’ next meet is at home on Friday against Schaumburg where they will attempt to rebound from their first defeat of the year.
]]>A track where The 1975 are way too ambitious is “The Man Who Married A Robot / Love Theme.” It’s a unique take on how our obsession with the internet negatively impacts us. The track uses Siri to tell the story of a lonely man who’s only friend is the internet while a piano is played dreamily in the background. The track is eye-opening and validates the title of the album, but the use of Siri hinders the track because it’s awkward to listen to. No one is going to jump into the car and feel the need to blast Siri on the speakers. “The Man Who Married A Robot / Love Theme” is The 1975 trying to be weird just for the sake of being weird.
While The 1975 lyrics are always interesting, sometimes they try too hard to be clever, leaving them seeming pretentious. In “I Like America & America Likes Me,” Healy demands, “Would you please listen?” over and over again. It’s The 1975’s attempt to call Americans to action about gun violence, but it comes off as arrogant considering that they’re not from America. Also, the grating autotune vocals doesn’t make the track any easier to hear.
The 1975 also face the problem of being just plain boring. A more stripped-down and raw version of The 1975 is presented in “Be My Mistake,” “Inside Your Mind” and “Surrounded By Heads And Bodies” which is very much needed after all of the unnecessarily quirky tracks. The main problem with these tracks is that the instrumentation is extremely simplified, but they also simplify the vocals, which leads to a very bland sound. Also, except for “Mine,” they all lack a strong melody, leaving listeners wondering when the track is going to end.
One of the only enjoyable elements about the album is the variety of genres and elements The 1975 employs. In “I Couldn’t Be More In Love,” retro synthesizers create a R&B feel and in “Sincerity Is Scary,” The 1975 creates a jazzy sound with trumpets and strong piano chords. Additionally, in “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME,” autotune and cheerful beats are used, creating summer vibes. The difference in the tracks lead to a lack of cohesiveness throughout the album, but it’s refreshing to see The 1975 try different genres out instead of using the same formula to try to recreate their past rock hits.
“It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)” is one of the few tracks that hit the mark on the album. Lead vocalist Matthew Healy sings lightheartedly over bold guitar riffs, “If I knew what you’d do/ Collapse my veins, wearing beautiful shoes.” At a quick listen, one might think that Healy was crooning about a girl he loves in a track that sounds like it’s straight out of a peppy 1980s teenage romcom. However, as the track progresses, it becomes apparent that Healy was writing about his struggle with heroin addiction and his dependency on it. The combination of the joyous instrumentation and the grave lyrics is a frightening one, making the track seem like the calm before the storm.
Throughout the entire album, The 1975 veers on the edge of being tedious and then swings off in an entirely puzzling direction. It’s draining to listen to, but it’s evident that The 1975 put forth a valiant effort to make meaningful music and avoid being generic. A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships is truly an attempt at creativity, the problem is that most of its tracks become exhausting after only one listen.
]]>Trump’s initial speech to back America out and cease the Nationally Determined Commissions to the agreement elicited strong public outcry on all sides of the issue, with many popular figures taking to social and news media to elaborate their thoughts on this ballooning issue.
Now, the polarization of this issue has largely waned, the effects of which are seen within Fremd. Sophomore Kyle Paloma expresses his surprise at the controversy’s declining publicity.
“When Trump backed out of the agreement, it was really surprising to everyone. My Instagram feed blew up with celebrities and their thoughts, and the issue seemed so pressing.” Paloma said. “Now, no one really talks about it anymore.”
But how have climate perceptions truly changed across America, since the agreement controversy?
In 2016, a Yale Climate Opinion Map estimated that 70 percent of Americans believed that climate change was happening and 81 percent supported funding research into renewable energy sources. Comparatively, a 2018 Yale Climate Opinion Map estimates that 70 percent of Americans continue to believe that climate change is happening, and 82 percent support funding research into renewable energy sources.
Evidently, data sets estimate that perspectives on climate change have remained largely unaffected by the agreement over the past couple of years. But, the agreement is largely an environmental issue, so what has been going on in terms of the environment since the withdrawal?
Most often, climate change is measured by the average temperature rise over a set period of time as a result of the incredibly large amount of heat that it takes to warm the Earth’s surface. From this lens, the last few years have been record-breaking; a government climate report published earlier this year estimates that last year brought an end to the three-year streak of record warm temperatures, with 2017 coming in at the second or third warmest depending on which data set is analyzed. The same governmental model predicts that the global surface temperature will be .5 degrees Celsius warmer in 2020 than the 1986-2005 average.
At the end of the day, the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate agreement has had long-term effects that have yet to fully manifest, and this 18-month snapshot of the decision has given a projective idea of what has come of the US withdrawal.
]]>Craig grew up locally, in Arlington Heights, and then moved to Palatine around his sophomore year of high school, graduating from Fremd High School in 2005. After attending Harper College, DePaul University, and Roosevelt University, he got his teaching degree from Northeastern. For him, this lifelong process to get to where he is now was not easy, but he is thriving as an educator that works hard and radiates empathy everywhere he goes.
When and where did you first begin teaching?
I started out as a Teacher Assistant in the Special Education department at Schaumburg High School, so there is a lot of instructing and teaching that I did over there. That’s where I got my first experience in a classroom setting as an instructor and helping out students, in particular, students with special needs. That’s kind of where I got the idea of going into Special Education — I was already getting my degree in English education, and then that moment at Schaumburg, I thought “Okay, now I want to get into the Special Ed department.”
Was being a teacher always your dream career or did you stumble upon it on the way to a different path?
It honestly was not my dream career. I did not make the decision to go into teaching until I was 26. From the time I graduated high school to that point of realization, I was pretty much lost; I didn’t really know what to do, and it was, like I said, that first experience being in a school setting as a Teacher Assistant where I really knew that this was where I need to be.
What is the thing that inspired you most to be a special education teacher?
I think applying my own experience of not knowing specifically what you want out of life right when you get out of high school, and not having that sort of path that everyone has. We often assume that right after you graduate, you go to college, you get a job, and that’s it. So I understand the idea that not everybody takes the same path toward success, and the students in my particular field and department have that same experience, and I applied it there. I also have a soft spot for people who need extra support and being able to let them have the same access and opportunities as everyone else. It feels great to be a part of that.
What personal strengths do you find especially helpful in your teaching?
Number one is definitely having flexibility and patience; understanding that each student is an individual, and finding that balance between doing something that is great for the group while also tailoring to each individual—I feel like I have a good sense of that. Another strength is being a kid at heart, and being able to understand and remember what it was like to be a teenager and everything that you guys are experiencing, and especially how you perceive the world. I think that it’s important to take these things into consideration every time I step in the classroom.
To those that don’t know much about it, what are some important things you think that everyone should know about special education at any high school?
I also didn’t understand much about it in high school, but I would say that what people really need to understand is that Special Education is a service we provide. A lot of people like to think that all these classes are easier or the kids have to do less work, and essentially the kids have to jump over the same bar that everybody else does. Our job, this service that we provide, is that little bit of a boost, or that little support, those certain strategies to help them get over that bar. Sometimes kids who aren’t in special education might take for granted that we have these skills that others don’t have. Something that might come off as easier to others doesn’t always happen like that for every student. I also would like for everyone to understand that students who do receive special education services are not defined by those services. Every student in this building has the same hopes, aspirations, dreams, feelings, and I would like everybody to understand that being in special education services doesn’t limit you in any way and there should absolutely be no stigma attached to it.
What are your hobbies and interests outside the classroom? What motivates and inspires you in life?
I’m inspired by just knowing that there is always something to learn, and there is always something that I don’t know. I’m always going to be growing and improving myself. I feel like I’m never really content with where I am at; I’m always looking for that next up to continue improving who I am. I really love listening to music. Not a day goes by where I don’t listen to it in some shape or form. I love pop culture, and I do like some trashy reality TV shows. I’ll give you the boring answer as well—I do like to read and write as an English teacher, and lastly, just enjoying and cherishing my time with my friends and family.
What led you to be a speech coach here at Fremd? Were you a part of the speech team or any other teams in high school?
In high school, I was not. I wish I would’ve been involved in more extracurricular activities, but I have taught speech class before, and I also have a history of giving speeches in college. I thought that it would be a perfect fit because it helps to expose myself to other students in the building instead of being stuck with my main group of kiddos. I get to meet everybody else. Sometimes I limited to this one hallway, so I get an opportunity to branch out. Speech team is actually a completely new experience for me; but now I’m three months into it, and I love it. I wouldn’t change it for anything else. I really didn’t know what to expect at all, but I find it very rewarding. There is a lot of talent out there that I didn’t know was in these walls, so it’s really great to see that.
What is the biggest difficulty you face as a teacher?
One of the biggest challenges is finding that balance between tailoring to each individual need, while also moving forward with the group. Like I said, it is hard to make the decision of catering to a big group of people but also making sure I remember that each one of them is an individual, and finding that balance is pretty tricky. There’s also never enough time to get everything done that I want.
What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?
Knowing that I am providing some type of guidance or support for young minds before they go out into the world. I just remember certain teachers that I can think of that have taught me something — at my age right now, I can still remembers what my teachers have done, so it’s fulfilling to know that I’m hopefully going to do that and have an impact on my kids when they’re older.
]]>I enjoy the idea of the Fremd Fifty, but I do understand the opposing opinions. On one hand, it’s not fair that some students work extremely hard and earn a fifty. On the other hand there are students that do no work and get a Fremd Fifty, when they should be getting a zero. To me, it seems unfair that the same credit will go to students who each put in very different amounts of effort.
There are also certain situations like mine, where it isn’t as simple. Most of the time when I receive a Fremd Fifty it’s because I do the work but forget to submit the assignment to Schoology. For example, I will go home and do the work to the best of my abilities but simply forget to click those two buttons. If the Fremd Fifty didn’t exist, I would have a big, fat zero in the gradebook. In many cases, that can be a hard blow to one’s grade. For example, if your grade overall is on the border, a homework category can make or break your grade, even more so if it is a test or quiz.
In order to get an idea about what other students felt, I conducted a poll. Of the sixty-seven participants, about fifty percent of students had gotten a Fremd Fifty. When asked if they liked the idea of the Fremd Fifty, about seventy-five percent said they liked it. From these stats, it seems well favored among students.
What surprised me the most is that over forty participants admitted to abusing this or knowing someone who has. Additionally, many students defended this saying with anything there will always be people who abuse it. Another thing many students brought up was that even if students do abuse it, a fifty percent is still not a desired grade and not even a passing grade.
Overall, we can see that some students liked the idea of a safety net and some didn’t like the fact that no work could equate to half credit. Despite the results, these statistics only spanned a small number of students in our school and do not proportionally represent the total population.
One of the reasons I love the Fremd Fifty is the reasoning behind it. It was implemented to create a form of equalized grading. It’s there in order to even out your grades to give you the grade you deserve. Without the Fremd Fifty, if you had three A’s and one F, your grade would likely average to a C. With the Fremd Fifty, your grade would average out to a B. I think this policy benefits students, protects their grades and keeps their best interests in mind.
Whether you like it or not, the Fremd Fifty does exist. It helps some students and it annoys others. Overall, it’s clear that there is a mix of ideas among students in our school. As we near finals, I can definitely say I feel more at ease knowing that I can least get a fifty percent. It’s not a lot, and it’s not passing, but it is something…something is better than nothing.
]]>On Aug. 1, Google Dragonfly’s existence was first made known to the public by an online news publication, The Intercept, revealing leaked documents about the development of the project. The documents describe the search engine as one that conforms with China’s “Great Firewall.” This includes enabling the Chinese government to block web pages that talk about free speech, human rights, political opposition, democracy, and other topics that negatively feature China’s authoritarian government. Additionally, a leaked confidential memo within Google was also published, revealing Google Dragonfly’s plan to pair people’s search history with their location and phone number.
The project represents a shift in Google’s policy in China. Back in 2010, the company took a strong stance against China’s efforts to limit free speech, deciding to leave China with the motto, “Don’t be evil.”
However, Google Dragonfly and other projects such as project “Maven”, a technology allowing drones to identify human targets, has made many Google employees express concerns over Google violating its own ethic principles.
In August, over 1,800 Google employees signed a letter to company executives, seeking more transparency about company projects and decisions.
“Our opposition to Dragonfly is not about China: we object to technologies that aid the powerful in oppressing the vulnerable, wherever they may be,” the letter clarifies.
Sophomore Kyle Paloma was surprised by Google’s change in morals.
“I thought Google was good but it turns out it’s all just about the money,” Paloma said.
At the Wired 25 Summit in October, Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed the project’s existence and announced that early testing was going well.
“It turns out we’ll be able to serve well over 99% of the queries,” Pichai said. “There are many, many areas where we would provide information better than what’s available.”
China’s internet users just recently reached 800 million users, representing over 20 percent of all internet users. Many Silicon Valley tech companies have been trying to get into the highly profitable Chinese market. In 2016, Facebook was revealed to be making a project similar to Google Dragonfly, allowing certain Facebook posts to be blocked by third parties. Additionally, LinkedIn has already been in the Chinese market because of its agreement to block certain content.
Another reason for the development of Google Dragonfly is the poor performance of the existing search engines. Currently, China’s most popular search engine is Baidu. However, Baidu is reportedly the most censored search engine and is also known for very inaccurate search results. A censored version of Google would overcome this obstacle and push Google into Chinese markets.
Junior Subaysh Kannan believes that Google entering China was a wise business move.
“Google is smart because they’re gonna be rich if they go into China,” Kannan said.
So far, there hasn’t been an official release date for Google Dragonfly. Whether or not Google decides to continue with Google Dragonfly will affect how Google is seen by the public and its employees in the future.
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4. PTXmas (2012)
Pentatonix’s first Christmas album features six covers of timeless seasonal songs. The most notable track of the album is “Carol of the Bells”, gaining over 131 million views on YouTube. The group capitalized on the ability of the vocal harmonies, combining them together in a way that delivered the melodic tune perfectly, but also allowed for the ominous undertone that seems to be a recurring theme in all the album’s tracks. Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola, the bass singers at the time, intertwined light percussive elements with low baselines to provide a slightly brighter version of the typically hymnal classics, namely in “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. PTXmas reached number 7 on Billboard 200’s charts, and while it didn’t quite near the level of complexity they have incorporated today, it provided a true insight into just how much the new a cappella group was capable of.
3. Christmas Is Here (2018)
As the most recent holiday album of the group, Christmas is Here! is only the second album to ever feature their newest member, bass singer Matt Sallee. Even though Kaplan, their former bass singer, decided to leave for a solo debut, Pentatonix still released twelve tracks that truly showcased the group’s growth. While again mainly composed of intricately reworked covers of popular holiday hits, this album did feature an original song, “What Christmas Means to Me”. In addition to their impressive lineup of songs, Pentatonix was able to produce a collaboration with Kelly Clarkson, in “Grown-Up Christmas List”. As 7th on Billboard 200’s charts, Christmas is Here! showcased the group’s clear progress in discovering their musical style, with both bright, lighthearted tunes and solemn carols characterizing the 2018 edition of the Pentatonix holiday release.
2. That’s Christmas to Me (2014)
The second experiment in holiday cheer was marked by a developing transition to more modern Christmas hits. With the debut of their first original Christmas song, “That’s Christmas to Me”, Pentatonix combined the typical elements of holiday anthems with their own personal flair. A collaboration with widely known artist Tori Kelly, “Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Be Happy”, helped propel them to the international spotlight. Throughout the album, melodies sung by Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, and Kirstin Maldonado sharply contrasts the darker tones of their friends to recreate the songs that are still sung every holiday season, with their signature style of innovative a cappella effects. The album reached the 2nd spot on Billboard 200’s chart, making it a highlight of their 2014.
1. A Pentatonix Christmas (2016)
Pentatonix’s most successful holiday album did not disappoint. When released, the commendable eleven tracks are possibly their best seasonal work yet, featuring two original songs, “The Christmas Sing-Along” and “Good to Be Bad”. Every last drop of talent had been poured into each ingeniously crafted track, with multiple layers of new, unexplored voice textures and passion unheard of yet. This album truly tested the limits of a human voice, including numerous effects that added to the overall fast rhythm of some song, namely upbeat hits like “Up on the Housetop”. Again, Pentatonix’s consistent vocal talents were showcased with some classic, lyrical Christmas songs, such as “O Come All Ye Faithful”. Their first number one album on Billboard 200’s chart has sold over 1,000,000 copies since its 2016 release, formally establishing their prominence in the music industry.
]]>In the wake of Kanye’s numerous controversies and disappointing releases, fans became increasingly disheartened, convinced that Kanye had lost his touch. Likewise, Kid Cudi fans were concerned for Cudi’s well-being as he shared his declining mental health. Kanye and Kid Cudi’s announcement of their formation of a superduo, Kids See Ghosts, and the release of an album by the same name thus had the pressure of meeting the creative standards set for the duo in spite of their struggles. Kids See Ghosts offers a rare window into mental illness in rap with its detached production and pained lyrics. Cudi and Kanye share their means of coping with adversity, frequently referencing their spirituality. It is regrettably brief, but satiates listeners with an ultimately optimistic outlook.
Best track on the album: “Reborn”
10. Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Despite being relatively new to the music industry, Metro Boomin has already made a name for himself in producing for successful artists such as Migos and 21 Savage. His minimalist style of production is punctuated by layered beats, contributing to what is arguably his most multifaceted release to date. This elevated, dark production is paired well with vocals from the likes of 21 Savage and Gunna. With seamless transitions within and between tracks, as well as obscure soul-heavy sampling paying homage to other genres, Boomin furthers his eerie, syncopated production aesthetic. On Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Boomin pushes featured artists to their limit as well as the rap industry as a whole.
Best track on the album: “Don’t Come Out The House”
9. SOB X RBE – Gangin II
SOB X RBE attracted national attention after their feature on the Kendrick Lamar produced Black Panther: The Album. Their second studio album and second release of 2018, Gangin II, marked potentially the last release from the group after rumors that it would disband and the members would pursue solo careers. Members of the quartet complement each other perfectly with Yhung T.O.’s melodic hooks melding with the more combative approach of Slimmy B, DaBoii, and Lul G. The quartet also achieves almost unmatched authenticity, showcasing Bay Area rap free of external influence. Treading genres in melding pop instrumentation, R&B hooks, and rap flows, Gangin II combines abundant energy and gritty lyricism in a way even seasoned artists cannot endeavor to achieve.
Best track on the album: “North Vallejo”
8. Eminem – Kamikaze
Eminem’s unannounced tenth studio album marked a return to his trademark old-school delivery absent on Revival, his 2017 release. Eminem utilizes Kamikaze to take controversial jabs at popular rappers, directly naming artists such as Lil Yachty and Tyler, The Creator in aggressive flows. Eminem’s aims at current rappers are creatively executed, as he transitions into the currently popular triplet flow to mock the new wave of Soundcloud rappers. Eminem also lashes out at critics of his 2017 album, reflecting his willingness to show vulnerability. Eminem is as unapologetic and unfiltered as ever, Kamikaze serving as the cathartic release of his fury. His mile-a-minute flow is at its best, his dexterity and flow serving as a testament to his 2013 claim that he is a “Rap God.”
Best track on the album: “Ringer”
7. Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
Cardi B’s prowess for topping the charts with release after release left many to question what her first full-length studio album would sound like. Cardi B’s answer, Invasion of Privacy, is more succinct than most rap releases, not diluting its quality by bloating itself with low quality tracks. Invasion of Privacy has a distinctly current sound, but incorporates unique influences, nodding to 90s and 2000s rap as well as to Cardi B’s Latin roots. Her honest, witty, and catchy delivery is at home both on her few emotional ballads and several radio friendly hits. Artfully bridging rap and R&B with several featured artists, Invasion of Privacy is both well-planned and well-produced. With versatile beats and engaging flows, Cardi B is a force to be reckoned with.
Best track on the album: “Best Life”
6. Drake – Scorpion
A number of artists strategically time singles to capture the coveted summer anthem, but no musician has done this as consistently and successfully as Drake. His June release of earworms like “Nice for What,” “God’s Plan,” and his creation of the viral “In My Feelings” did not disappoint, as Drake once again dominated the charts. Drake’s sampling on Scorpion far surpasses his previous works, with Lauryn Hill on “Nice for What” and posthumous vocals from Michael Jackson on “Don’t Matter to Me.” Lyrically, Scorpion is trite, as Drake whines of the pitfalls of fame and attempts half-hearted responses at diss tracks aimed at him. Despite this, Scorpion achieves a happy medium, featuring Drake’s old hooks and flows in a contemporary landscape melding rap and R&B.
Best track on the album: “Nonstop”
5. Playboi Carti – Die Lit
Criticized for being one of the many “mumble rappers” who emerged on Soundcloud after 2010, Playboi Carti had the burden of proving the viability of one of the most disruptive recent rap movements with his debut studio album Die Lit. Carti is by no means creative in his lyricism, but his relentless repetition and gradual fade into unintelligible ad libbing somehow adds to the charm of the album. Heavily distorted bass and trap effects contribute to a high energy sound that persists throughout the album. Unlike many albums of its length, Die Lit does not have weaker tracks or songs that do not fit with the album as a whole. Ultimately, Die Lit shows immense promise for Soundcloud rap as a whole and for Carti himself.
Best track on the album: “Shoota”
4. Lil Baby/Gunna – Drip Harder
Atlanta rappers Gunna and Lil Baby recently came into the garnered public attention after a series of well received releases such as Lil Baby’s “Yes Indeed” with Drake. On Drip Harder, their collaborative album overseen by mentor a Young Thug, Gunna boasts a heavily polished flow, contrasting with the more timid, hesitant style of Lil Baby. The duo’s more acoustic sound featuring the occasional guitar riff and riveting drum patterns stand out against synthesizer-heavy instrumentation. Their lyricism is somber, and is complemented by fitting production from Turbo, Tay Keith, and Wheezy. Through Drip Harder, Lil Baby and Gunna display their prowess both as solo artists but also as one of the best rap duos of 2018.
Best track on the album: “Never Recover”
3. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter V
Legal issues between Lil Wayne and Cash Money Records led Tha Carter V, Lil Wayne’s twelfth studio album, to be subject to several delays. Finally released in September 2018, Tha Carter V is the most earnest of Lil Wayne’s works. Purged of excessive auto tune, Wayne pursues a more somber mood as he recounts his attempt to commit suicide and includes a haunting, posthumous chorus from XXXTentacion. Still, Wayne continues to incorporate his characteristic double entendres and familiar flows over new beats. Tha Carter V invokes nostalgia in how little Lil Wayne’s style has changed over the years despite changes in the rap world. Though it can’t meet the caliber of some of Wayne’s earlier works, Tha Carter V serves to show that Lil Wayne is still one of the greatest rappers around.
Best track on the album: “Mona Lisa”
2. J. Cole – KOD
Cole’s persuasive storytelling bests most rappers of his standing, many of whom rely extensively on sampling to make up for their lyrical shortfalls. On KOD, Cole utilizes this penchant for storytelling to take aim at the new vanguard of rappers promoting materialism with meaningless lyrics, touching on more significant issues such as infidelity and his belief that the tax system is broken. The new addition to Cole’s repertoire acts as an introspective medium as well, “Once an Addict” recounting his mother’s struggles with addiction. KOD marks a shift from the more production heavy, lighter themes of Cole’s previous work. Through these darker themes, Cole provides a much needed message to 2018 rappers and redefines himself as an artist.
Best track on the album: “1985”
1. Travis Scott – Astroworld
Two years after its announcement, Travis Scott finally released his highly anticipated third studio album in August. Astroworld had the seemingly impossible challenge of living up to its hype, but does so with flawless production and well incorporated and numerous guest verses. From the overplayed “Butterfly Effect” to the less popular “Coffee Bean,” every song on Astroworld is unique, making its cohesive nature all the more impressive. Scott’s bold auto tuned vocals layered over infectious make for easily his most enthralling album yet. Coupled with artfully interspersed features including Frank Ocean’s ethereal vocals on “Carousel” and Drake’s fiery verse over Tay Keith’s beats on “Sicko Mode,” Astroworld is undeniably one of the best crafted albums of the year.
Best track on the album: “R.I.P. Screw”
]]>Wildfires are sometimes created due to the environment, specifically the aridity in the atmosphere. This is primarily due to climate change. With global warming, the atmosphere is actively changing and making the air dryer, stimulating an environment that is prone to fires. Other times, it is brought on by the people. Many of us unknowingly contribute to this natural disaster due to man-made fires, in order to clear areas for agricultural purposes specifically when there is dead vegetation in the area. To understand the aftermath, look at the 2017 wildfire in Santa Rosa, California. The damages cost billions of dollars, and the majority of the city was destroyed. Due to these unpredictable after effects, it is clear that more measures must be taken to prevent them.
California, as well as the federal government, are actively sending firefighters and helicopters to control these fires and prevent future ones. Furthermore, the federal government can put out protocols that will take preventive measures. For example, when power lines are built in areas where the heavy wind is present, they knock down the lines and create fires. The government can put regulations on companies that build power lines to ensure that they find alternate ways to build lines in areas. Another contributing factor to these fires getting out of control is the excessive number of homes that are built along the western border of California. This leads to increased humidity, as the border is close to the ocean. The lack of distance between homes increases the chance of fire, and destruction is imminent. The government needs to take precautions to prevent this by passing laws that inhibit prospective buyers from constructing homes near or on these borders.
The most important thing people can do is spread awareness. In addition, we can send donations to genuine ‘Go Fund Me’ pages to help people affected by the wildfires, even a couple of dollars will help the cause. Regulated wildfires are a needed component in maintaining a healthy Earth. But before it gets out of control, government regulations must be put in place along with collective action from the public. People all over should come together to find a way to prevent these frequent fires for a better future.
]]>Minhaj is an anomaly from the usual late night hosts, as they tend to be mostly white males. While Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, and Jon Stewart are very talented and successful, comedians like Trevor Noah and Minhaj bring a fresh perspective and clash with what is considered the standard. Trevor Noah’s stories of South Africa and growing up in a different culture enhance the experience of the viewer as he brings a new approach to issues, especially as some affect him personally.
Breaking the mold of usual late night comedy shows, Minhaj focuses on one topic for each episode, providing the audience with factual information from his team of researchers.
Even though the show isn’t void of his opinions and bias, the viewer leaves feeling they’re more aware and educated on a topic that is often not discussed due to its controversial nature. He often describes his show as a “woke Ted Talk.”
Patriot Act’s first episode happened to be about Saudi Arabia, less than a month after the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In his debut, Minhaj echoed the thoughts of millions of Muslims all around the world: Saudi Arabia sucks. Their government is a tyranny and not reflective of the religion they use as a scapegoat. Minhaj did not hold back for a second while discussing the crown prince, the US’s response to the murder, or the terrorism upheld by the Saudi government. The fact that his voice is being heard by millions, thus representing a group of people that often feel muted makes me proud as a Muslim.
Patriot Act’s format also differs from peers as the stage is circled by hundreds of glowing LED bulbs and several TV screens, Minhaj not bound by a desk and able to bounce around the stage, his engaging personality slipping out through the way he conducts himself.
Despite the modern adjustments made to a talk show, Minhaj doesn’t lose the characteristic that keeps people watching: humor. As the episodes have rolled on, his comfort level grows and he is able to be funny and talk about things that matter to him at the same time.
After seeing his stand up, the main topic he covered being the refugee crisis. Despite undertaking an extremely serious topic, Minhaj spun the issue around and had the audience laughing the whole time while still informing them with facts like the probability of an American dying in a terrorist attack by a foreigner being 1 in 3.6 million or 0.00000028%. It’s even smaller when narrowed down to the demographic the refugee crisis refers to as researched by the CATO Institute.
Minhaj’s ability to ease into controversial topics and still be hilarious is especially helpful in Patriot Act. With a unique spin on what political comedies are supposed to be, he is aiming to truly inform audiences, all while changing the narrative on Muslims and paving a path for other minorities that haven’t had the chance to have their voice matter.
]]>Taking place about seventy years before the events of the Harry Potter series, the first Fantastic Beasts introduced the awkward yet endearing Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), whose fascination with magical creatures took him to New York City and got him into ever-growing amounts of trouble. The film had some darker turns when it came to the parasitic magic known as an Obscurial, but for the most part featured the more whimsical side of the magical world.
The Crimes of Grindelwald, on the other hand, takes on a much darker tone from the start, with the deteriorating Warner Brothers logo harkening back to the eerie feel of the later Harry Potter movies.
There were numerous aspects of this film I enjoyed, but the most prevailing was the consistency and authenticity of the major characters throughout this series so far.
We meet Newt’s brother, Theseus (Callum Turner), right away. And, just as quickly, it becomes clear the brothers have a rocky relationship. What I admired about Theseus’ character, though, was that he didn’t fall into the all too predictable role of the purely menacing, diabolical older brother determined to make his sibling’s life horrific. It’s clear that Theseus does truly care about Newt and wants what is best for him, but the issue lies in the fact that Theseus fails to understand his brother––more specifically, he fails to understand that his brother has no interest in being like him.
In the first Fantastic Beasts, Newt befriends sisters Tina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie (Alison Sudol) Goldstein, and the non-wizard––or no-maj, as they’re referred to in America––Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). Jacob and Queenie begin dating, and by this film want to get married (which is against the wizarding world law in America). I loved the balance of intelligence and naivete that enveloped Queenie’s characterization in the first film, and was seamlessly carried into this one. At first glance, she can come off as a ditz, but her mind-reading abilities highlight her true cleverness. Despite that, she remains a dreamer as well, and struggles to come to terms with the idea that she and Jacob cannot get married.
This surprising complexity behind Queenie’s character provides the perfect opportunity for the infamous Grindelwald (Johnny Depp)––who seeks to get rid of the wizarding world’s most sacred law, the statute of secrecy––to lure her onto his side with promises of a world where wizards no longer have to hide, and people like Queenie and Jacob can freely marry each other.
The most impressive part of Grindelwald’s persuasive tactics is when he shows a vision of WWII: at the time an unthinkable future, that another world war was possible, let alone so soon after the first. Grindelwald’s images of tanks, concentration camps and nuclear bombs serve as a jolting lesson in what non-wizards are capable of without the magical world intervening, and further exemplifies why he’s able to get so many to join his cause. In Grindelwald’s eyes, if the magical world remains hidden among the shadows of non-wizards, the world is doomed to be destroyed by them.
And then there’s young Dumbledore (Jude Law) who shares an intimate past with Grindelwald and, in many ways, is his opposite. What piqued my curiosity most going into this film was how a Dumbledore who’s decades younger and possesses far less authority in the wizarding world than he does in Harry’s day, would be portrayed. Dumbledore is different in many ways, but the thread that goes back all these years is his quiet confidence through both great and harrowing events. He is almost always secure in himself, despite an unstable and chaotic world around him, and Jude Law portrays that phenomenally.
J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting skills have proven to be as good as her book-writing ones, and she’s once again managed to create a variety of complex characters that serve to strengthen the plot and add another intriguing layer to the ever-expanding world of wizards. The Crimes of Grindelwald weaves between each character’s strengths and flaws to craft an authentic story that proves this film goes far deeper than a whimsical tale of magical mayhem.
]]>AFC East
This division has gone according to script with the New England Patriots (8-3) in position to win for the 16th time in the past 18 years and in contention for a playoff bye. The Tom Brady and Bill Belichick combo has continued to succeed, and the return of WR Julian Edelman and addition of WR Josh Gordon and RB Sony Michel have opened up the offense paving the way for another division title. The only other noteworthy team in this division is the Miami Dolphins (5-6), who have struggled after a red hot start to the season. They have lost six of their last eight games and poor QB play from Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler have been the cause of this. Due to this downward trend, it will be unlikely that the Dolphins sneak into the playoffs.
Prediction: The Patriots are the #3 seed in the AFC, and the Dolphins miss out on the playoffs.
AFC North
The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1) got off to a slow start, but eventually returned to form and got ahead of the rest of the division. RB James Conner has been a revelation for this team in place of star RB Le’Veon Bell’s absence. Paired with the dynamic receiving duo consisting of Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster, the Steelers have piled points on the opposition with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm. If the Steelers can continue to stay hot, they will definitely be in contention for a first round bye, but a difficult schedule down the stretch may complicate things. Other playoff hopefuls include the Cincinnati Bengals(5-6) and Baltimore Ravens (6-5). The Bengals are all but eliminated with horrible play recently along with their starting QB Andy Dalton heading to injured reserve. The Ravens have played well as of late with rookie QB Lamar Jackson, but the burden may get too heavy to carry with a difficult upcoming schedule.
Prediction: The Steelers are the #4 seed in the AFC, and the Bengals and Ravens don’t make the playoffs.
AFC South
Similar to the Steelers, the Houston Texans (8-3) got off to a slow start, but have won eight straight games since. Led by sophomore QB Deshaun Watson, WR Deandre Hopkins, and a formidable defensive line consisting of J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, the Texans were able to turn their season around. This success could be attributed to a fairly easy schedule, but it has put them in the driver’s seat to win the division. The schedule doesn’t get any more difficult, so Houston would be a good bet to get a first round bye. Right on the Texans’ heels are the Indianapolis Colts (6-5), who have won five straight games. QB Andrew Luck has been red hot under new coach Frank Reich in a rejuvenated offense. The Colts will have trouble catching up to the Texans for the division title, but should be able to secure a wild card spot come January.
Prediction: The Texans are the #2 seed in the AFC and will get a first round bye. The Colts will get in as the final wild card team in the #6 seed.
AFC West
One of the biggest surprises of this year has been QB Patrick Mahomes’ spectacular play. At the helm of the Kansas City Chiefs (9-2) offense, they have averaged 36.7 points per game, second best in the league. With the best record in the AFC, the Chiefs are in position to claim a first round bye and a division title. The Los Angeles Chargers (8-3) have also been up to snuff led by QB Philip Rivers. They have been equally balanced on both sides of the ball and should have no problem acquiring a wild card spot. Also in the hunt are the Denver Broncos have pulled off two impressive wins recently and reasserted themselves into the playoff picture. Facing a fairly easy schedule the next 5 weeks, it would be no surprise to see Denver still playing in January, but their early season struggles may come back to haunt them in the playoff race.
Prediction: The Chiefs are the #1 seed in the AFC and will get a bye. The Chargers will fill out a wild card spot as the #5 seed. The Broncos will just barely miss the playoffs.
NFC East
This is currently the most unpredictable group as there are a few teams still in play for the division title. Initially, the Washington Redskins (6-5) paced the division, but it will be difficult for them to make any noise because of QB Alex Smith’s injury. The Dallas Cowboys (6-5) have taken advantage of this and jumped ahead of the Redskins at first place. With a rugged defense and an offense revitalized by new WR Amari Cooper, the Cowboys have become the favorites to win the division. Still looming are the reigning champions Philadelphia Eagles(5-6), who despite a slow start are still in the thick of things. If they can overcome their weak secondary and make a run in the last few games, they will certainly have a chance to make it, but it will be a difficult task.
Prediction: The Cowboys are the #4 seed in the NFC, and the Redskins and Eagles miss the playoffs.
NFC North
One of the biggest surprises of the NFL season has been the Chicago Bears (8-3). The Bears have shattered all expectations with the third best record in the NFC. With a stellar defense led by DE Khalil Mack and S Eddie Jackson along with an efficient offense under coach Matt Nagy and QB Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago has greatly improved from their lackluster 2017 season. Following three straight wins over division rivals, the Bears have all but locked up the division. Close behind the Bears are the Minnesota Vikings (6-4-1), who have struggled at times during the season, but a strong offense led by QB Kirk Cousins and a dynamic WR duo consisting of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen have pulled out key wins for them. Minnesota has a tough upcoming schedule, but their performance up to this point says that they will be up to the challenge.
Prediction: Bears are the #3 seed in the NFC, while the Vikings capture a wild card spot as the #5 seed.
NFC South
Arguably the best team in the NFL is the New Orleans Saints (10-1). With MVP frontrunner Drew Brees at the helm, the Saints have been electric on offense and average a league best 37.2 points per game. The Saints should comfortably win the division for the second year in a row and be well on their way to capturing a first round bye. The Carolina Panthers (6-5) initially looked like a guarantee for a wild card spot, but after losing three straight games, their season is in doubt. If Carolina can return to their early season success, they will be a formidable opponent. Their most recent loss to the Seattle Seahawks may be a key factor in tiebreaker scenarios and could potentially be the reason they miss out on the postseason.
Prediction: The Saints are the #1 seed in the NFC and get a first round bye. The Panthers don’t make the playoffs.
NFC West
Along with the Saints, the Los Angeles Rams (10-1) are one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. Under offensive guru Sean McVay and MVP candidates Jared Goff and Todd Gurley, the Rams have averaged an astounding 35.4 points per game, third best in the league. The Rams should have no problem securing a division title and a first round bye. In the hunt is the Seattle Seahawks (6-5) , who have shocked many with their success this season. QB Russell Wilson has willed this team into playoff contention, and with a fairly easy schedule and favorable wins for tiebreaker purposes, the Seahawks are a good bet to make the playoffs.
Prediction: Rams are the #2 seed in the NFC and get a bye week. The Seahawks sneak in the final wild card spot as the #6 seed.
]]>Alabama (12-0)
Alabama is the top ranked college football team and that is because they have been extremely dominant this season. They boast an undefeated record and their games are almost never close. In fact, only one of their twelve games has ended with a point differential in the single digits. Even when playing other powerhouses like LSU, they still dominate the field, winning by twenty-nine points and allowing zero. This dominance can be largely credited to Tua Tagovailoa, the Heisman frontrunner. His athleticism combined with elite arm strength and accuracy has made him nearly unstoppable, throwing thirty-six touchdowns and only two interceptions. However, Tagovailoa is not the only bright spot on this team. They seem to have little to no weaknesses as they gain eight yards per attempt, while giving up only four on defense. Alabama will go on to face Georgia on Dec. 1 in the SEC Championship game. The winner of this game could prove to be the favorite to win the national championship this year.
Clemson (12-0)
The second highest ranked college football team is led by freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Although he hasn’t produced as much as Tagovailoa, his performance is still phenomenal. He has great football IQ, a six-foot five-inch frame, an accurate and strong arm, and a quick release. Their offense is very similar to Alabama’s because both teams can generate a big play at any time. This is because wide receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Etienne both offer blazing speed and agility to compliment Lawrence perfectly. Clemson should be a dangerous team that could potentially challenge Alabama’s seemingly unstoppable offense. They will square off against Pittsburgh for the ACC championship and are expected to win to keep their undefeated streak alive.
Notre Dame (12-0)
Even though Notre Dame is just one place below Clemson in most college football playoff rankings, there is a clear skill gap. Their undefeated record is misleading because while other undefeated teams like Clemson and Alabama seem to be dominating their competition, Notre Dame has had a string of close games with unranked teams. Nonetheless, they are still a great team, just not as good as the teams I mentioned before. They don’t really have a star player, but the team is well-rounded and well-coached. That has been the key to their success in regular season play, but the question is how will they hold up against elite competition if they are selected to compete in the playoffs?
Georgia (11-1)
Despite Georgia’s inferior record to Notre Dame, they may quite possibly be the better team. Georgia has decimated ranked teams and besides their loss to LSU, none of their games have been close. One of Georgia’s key players is sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm. He has continued his solid play from last year but hasn’t shown shown much improvement. Freshman quarterback Justin Fields hasn’t played much as he’s behind Fromm on the depth chart, but he has a lot of potential. He was the number two overall ranked player coming out of high school compared to Fromm’s fifty-first. There could very well be a Tua Tagovailoa-type situation: the backup outplays the starter in the playoffs. Georgia also lost two top running backs to the NFL last year: Sony Michel and Nick Chubb. It would be a logical deduction to predict a large drop off in rushing production with this situation, but D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield have almost perfectly replaced Chubb and Michel with another effective running back tandem. They are set to face the number one seed Alabama on Dec. 1 for the SEC championship, and if they win, they could very well be considered the best team in college football.
Oklahoma (11-1)
The fifth ranked college football team this season is Oklahoma. The Sooners have the same record as Georgia, but they have a much easier schedule. The Oklahoma roster is kind of weak this year, but the key to their success has been quarterback Kyler Murray, the runner-up Heisman candidate behind Tua Tagovailoa. Murray is one of the fastest quarterbacks in college football; his speed combined with his elite pocket presence and accuracy provides a deadly combo. Oklahoma averages the most points per game in NCAA football with 50.9, and Sooner fans have Murray to thank for that. They lost 2017 Heisman winner Baker Mayfield to the NFL where he was drafted number one to the Browns. Because Mayfield played so well and was the key to success last year, there was a lot of doubt going into this season. They lost their top weapon in a top heavy roster so many assumed that they would flop this year, but Murray stepped up and has led Oklahoma to even greater success. Oklahoma isn’t a legit contender when it comes to being national champions, but they definitely are worthy of mention when talking about the top college football teams.
]]>Carpenter starts off her album with her lead single, “Almost Love,” followed by “Paris.” The introductions to these songs effectively build up suspense and set the mood for the album. Upbeat backtracks generate a steady rhythm, through which Carpenter showcases her wide-ranged and raspy vocals. The bass accompaniments add a romantically intriguing touch to both of these songs, showing Carpenter’s desire for love and travel.
The most noteworthy songs in the album are “Hold Tight,” “Sue Me,” and “Diamonds Are Forever.” They display a new side of Carpenter and are completely distinct from her other songs. With beat drops and exhilarating energy, Carpenter conveys a powerful message of self-confidence and boldness. The melodious and catchy tunes of these songs make the listeners feel like they can conquer anything and that creativity has no limit. The importance of cherishing individuality over materialistic wealth is revealed in the refrain of “Diamonds Are Forever,” “I am a diamond, and diamonds are forever / My love is timeless, ‘cause diamonds are forever, oh no / Money don’t buy class, and I can’t live quite like that, like that / I am a diamond, and diamonds are forever.” Through captivating vocals, Carpenter shows listeners that the individual is priceless and possesses the most value.
In “prfct,” Carpenter mocks the deception that is often correlated with perfection through her lyrics, “See right through the fiction, and all of this fakery / Just give me some friction, let me see what nobody sees / You don’t think that I can handle the truth?” The drumming in the backtrack adds a smooth and lively tempo to the song, and Carpenter’s execution of falsetto during the refrain sends chills down listeners’ spines. In “Bad Time,” Carpenter expresses her anger towards people who lose their integrity after being in a relationship. In particular, Carpenter proves to listeners the despicability of men who try to win back women’s hearts after betrayal. The shortest track on the album is “Mona Lisa,” which is another R&B style song. This short but sweet song leaves listeners reminiscing about Carpenter’s origins.
Singular: Act I is a major turning point for Carpenter, signifying her inspirational transformation from a Disney actress to a refined singer-songwriter. The unique pop elements, lyrics, and vocals incorporated into the songs showcase her growth as a singer. Singular: Act I encourages self-confidence and originality, and this positive message will be carried into Singular: Act II, which is due to be released early next year.
]]>Upon entering the first game, Carlsen demonstrated the reason why he had held the title for five years, opening with the highly unexpected Sicilian Defense as black and getting an early advantage. As the stakes of the match were ingrained into Carlsen’s head, he started to quiver and hesitated to convert, resulting in the first game being drawn. The following 11 games ended with similar results, all of which ended in dramatic draws.
Game 5 of the series illustrated Caruana’s intricate preparation through his opening surprise: b4 early in the opening. Caruana used this theme of controlling the queenside in his future games during the match, challenging Carlsen’s Sicilian legitimacy. Caruana began to use his newly formed ideas to gain advantages in the latter games, as he introduced new novelties to the game involving the idea of controlling the b6 square with all his minor pieces, pushing forward with a4 and a5, and nesting his knight on the b6 square.
No matter how much Caruana pressed for wins later in the series, Carlsen’s defense was immense, as can be seen by the depth in his calculation during game 5, where he survived Caruana’s attack while being down a piece. His previous beliefs that fortresses should not be used in chess were negated after this game, as he pressed forward and drew the nearly lost game, utilizing an impenetrable fortress.
With the series coming to a close, and in the last game of classical time control, Carlsen took control with the black pieces and began to dominate the queenside. 31 moves into the game, Carlsen surprisingly offered his hand for a draw and with Caruana returning the favor almost immediately, the pair were to play in a tiebreaker to decide who would be the world champion.
After the game’s close, Grandmasters and novices alike criticized Carlsen for his abrupt draw offer, emphasizing that the win was near and that he did not go for the win simply because he had better odds in the tiebreaker. The end of the classical section led to the two facing off in the rapid section, where Carlsen was able to prove his superiority.
With over a 100 point rating gap between the two players, Caruana came into the tiebreaker with the entire chess fanbase assuming that he lost his chance to attain the title because he could not best Carlsen in the classical section. Carlsen opened the first rapid game as white and, without giving Caruana any chances, took down the challenger swiftly leading to a 1-0 start for the Norwegian Grandmaster. With all chess players glued to their analysis screens for game two, Caruana opened and could not outplay Carlsen, resulting in another loss and a 2-0 start for Carlsen. Caruana needed a win in the next games; if Carlsen reached 2.5 points, he would retain the championship title. The last game brought much attention to Carlsen’s abilities in a rapid time control, as he dominated Caruana, gaining a passed pawn on the c-file to end the series with a 3-0 sweep. With this final victory, Carlsen prevailed over Caruana in the two week match, retaining his world championship title and his status as the best chess player in the world.
]]>The animated film, Ralph Breaks the Internet, directed by Rich Moore and Phil Johnston showcases the extensive internet system through an adventure with Ralph (John C. Reilly) and his best friend, Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman). These two arcade characters, in an attempt to save Vanellope’s game “Sugar Rush”, travel out of their arcade and into the web where they find a whole different world. This is the long awaited sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, released in 2012, a huge hit, but sadly, a lack of character empathy made it unable to live up to the high standards set in the previous film.
The original Wreck-It Ralph movie is mainly characterized by its appeal to old-fashioned video games and a vintage feel. Nonetheless, it brought forward a fresh new idea and was a hit in the movie industry and among kids, by introducing a world inside the games that we play. It focused on the development of the relationship between Ralph and Vanellope and how friendship is the most valuable medal. In the new movie, a lot of the ideas that gave charm the the old movie lost their hold, and nothing really new or revolutionary was introduced. It is most appropriately fitted as a continuation and it just expands the idea of a virtual world and the importance of friendship. As a result, the impact of the movie was not as significant as the old movie, but it was still memorable and did a good job of representing the complexity and vastness of the internet.
In conveying the essence of the internet, it was necessary in Ralph Breaks the Internet to showcase many companies that are eminent in the web, like Google, instagram, and eBay. This idea had the potential of getting out of control, making the film just a huge advertisement. However, the film never completely focused on one company and many of the sites and apps that people are familiar with, often times hung out in the background, allowing people to realize them but not immersing it completely into the movie. Granted, there were some instances where a company and site felt slightly advertised. However, in comparison to what other movies, like the Emoji Movie, had done, this movie seemed like they had done a good job in keeping commercial interests out of the film.
Another aspect that gave the movie some identity was the amount of creativity present throughout it. Many scenes took different aspects present in our media and crafted beautiful representations of them, which was reflected in the dialogue and animation of the movie. They expressed the internet and how it works as a large urban city, with individual sites standing as buildings and skyscrapers. Having people bouncing around and going to sites that they liked and also sometimes being flown to a completely different “building” with a single click was creative and showed what the internet is truly like.
Also the amount of jokes and references made the film enjoyable, and that they were targeted toward all audiences, not just kids and millennials. The jokes were beautifully crafted, mocking the simple yet dumb things that people seem to enjoy on the internet, like yelling goat videos.
Even though the animation was beautiful, there were a couple of gaping plot holes in the structure of the movie that went unanswered. Certain aspects of Ralph’s character were dramatized, making him seem more immature and unempathetic than how he was depicted as in the original movie. While attempting to be more creative, the basic structure of the movie was lacking. They emphasized comedy, and while the movie was very enjoyable in that aspect, many scenes lacked continuity and were dramatized to the point where a true message was hard to derive. Because of the creativity and comedy, the plot itself didn’t follow itself and the reader is left unsatisfied in its disconnection from the characters.
Gearing the perspective on the internet, the film had a fair representation of the power the internet holds, both good and bad. The movie conveyed how the internet, with one click could save a person, but also kill them. The internet is shown as a tool that can allow a person to find their passion in life and what they’ve always wanted. It shows how it can be a place full of dreams and where people can find supporters, people who truly understand them, and a place where people can express themselves freely. If the internet is used in the right way, it has the potential to save someone’s entire life.
However, the film did not just show the exciting side of the internet but went on to show how the internet could easily get out of control, like with buying things off the internet and how people can be hurt by words posted on to social media. It also conveys how the extensive connections that the web provides can help people but can also easily increase people’s insecurities or fears that they have in them. This movie was also a platform to send a message to kids of the impact small actions in the internet can have.
Even though the film’s plot holes and characters left a dissatisfaction at the end of the movie, it gave an effort to send a message and express the essence of what the internet should be. It was not as impactful as the previous film, but it worked teach the younger generation the correct way to use this new tool called the internet.
]]>For head coach Dave Yates, the team’s inability to rebound led to too many second chances.
“We need to rebound a little better,” Yates said. “I thought we gave up too many. In a defensive game, we lost some kids. We’ve got to get better at that.”
As the second half began, it was clear that the girls’ defense had taken a strong turn from the first half. Their passing became more consistent and they were able to pick up over six rebounds.
Klaczek praises the team’s tenacity and solid defense.
“I think our greatest strength was our defense in the second half. Coming out in the first half, our defense wasn’t great, but then in the second half, we turned it around,” Klaczek said. “We just came out with intensity and we all had energy, and when our subs came in, they kept up the tempo, so it was really good.”
Junior guard Crystal Kim controlled much of the passing on the court, assisting in several points for Fremd, while freshman forward Brianna Wooldridge turned four rebounds into breakaways which resulted in three points as well.
Yates shared his positive view on the team’s consistency during the game.
“I thought we had good balance. Lots of different people scored, we had lots of different options, and I think when we share the ball, and find all those different people, it’s hard [for the opposing team] to focus in on one kid.”
The game was a part of the 2018 Turkey Thriller tournament, and the girls’ win set them above the other teams in the games that followed, where they eventually won the tournament.
Sophomore guard Ruthie Montella talks about how the team’s win will affect the rest of the tournament.
“I think it was a huge win for us, because this is a huge tournament,” Montella said. “And it’s going to set the tempo for the rest of the teams we play later on. I’m proud of our team.”
The team will carry their success in this game to their next home game on Dec. 7 at 6 pm against Hoffman Estates.
]]>Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist residing in the United States, wrote for The Washington Post, often criticizing the Saudi government. On Oct. 2, he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and was murdered. President Trump has notably refused to condemn Saudi Arabia for its involvement, despite the CIA reporting that there is strong evidence that the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, personally ordered the killing.
Khashoggi was in a unique position—he was both close to the royal family and well-acquainted in the west, making him a popular go-to journalist for information on Saudi Arabia. He moved to the U.S. a year ago, out of fear of retribution from the Saudi government. Even so, his voice was silenced—not on Saudi soil, but on Turkish, and not while gathering information, but while fetching marriage documents.
President Trump’s inaction, fueled by the greater importance placed on Saudi-U.S. economic ties, has lasting impacts on journalism. Letting the murder simmer away in significance sends out a clear message to all investigative reporters that their safety is constantly at risk if they are labeled as “dissidents.” How are investigative reporters supposed to give us information if they fear violent threats to their livelihoods? Free press cannot be free if its journalists can be silenced without consequence and those that continue to report are forced into submission.
This is not the first time President Trump has faced criticism for his dealings with the press. His chiding of various reporting organizations as “Fake News” or “The Enemy of the American People” demeans the job that the press sets out to do. A threat to journalists is a threat to our right to information.
This month, there has been turmoil over the recent rescinding and returning of CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s White House press pass, resulting from a heated exchange between him and President Trump. After his pass was restored, the White House issued a statement, saying any “failure to abide” by any of the press conference rules may result in “suspension or revocation of the journalist’s hard pass,” all but opening up the door for the president and press to be involved in future similar conflicts.
Journalists, especially White House correspondents like Acosta, are entitled to questioning the president, serving the role of the watchdog. Not just President Trump, but any president. One of the most important legs that democracy stands on is free press, but the revoking of a press pass goes against the Constitution and does away with someone’s efforts to clarify the president’s words and policies for millions of readers and viewers. Without the liberty to question the president, or with the looming threat of having that liberty being taken away, free press is damaged, and one role of the media is rendered useless.
Silencing journalists creates more problems than it solves. In Khashoggi’s case, writing dissident articles turns lethal when a journalist simply exercises their First Amendment rights. In Acosta’s case, investigative reporting is quickly shut down if strict rules are not followed at the discretion of the president. A wealth of opinions forms the very base of democracy, and investigative journalists doing their job are trying to clear muddy waters to get accurate, previously unknown information to the public. Having the media assume the role of watchdog, nationally or overseas, is absolutely necessary. Free press will never be “The Enemy of the American People.”
]]>#5: Philadelphia 76ers
Current Record: 14-8
After an impressive 52-30 season last year, the 76ers have been looking to fill in any remaining holes to give them the push they need to go far in the playoffs. With the acquirement of all-star small forward Jimmy Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 76ers may have done just that. The trio of Butler, center Joel Embiid, and 6’10” point guard Ben Simmons has proven to be a recipe for success so far this season.
The 76ers appear to be ready to make a run deep in the postseason. However, in the past, this team has been plagued by injuries, so it will be crucial for their stars to stay healthy over the course of the regular season. If the necessary steps occur, the 76ers will likely be seen playing well into the end of the season.
#4: Milwaukee Bucks
Current Record: 14-6
Led by the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 26.8 points, the Bucks have gotten off to an excellent start to the 2018-19 season. Behind Antetokounmpo, small forward Khris Middleton and guards Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon have continued to grow, developing into formidable offensive threats. This multifaceted offensive attack has readily manifested itself, as the Bucks on average score 121.0 points a game, the highest in the league.
Now in a LeBron James-less East, the Bucks are serious contenders for a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. Even if not this season, the Bucks’ talented, young roster likely foreshadows success for years to come.
#3: Los Angeles Clippers
Current Record: 13-6
Perhaps the most surprising squad on this list, the LA Clippers have gotten off to an exceptionally strong start, currently sitting at the top of the Western Conference. The team does not have any superstars; in fact, this season was expected to be a rebuilding year, as the Clippers traded away all-star power forward Blake Griffin and lost big man DeAndre Jordan in free agency.
The key to the Clippers’ success has been balance. Five different players average double-digit points, allowing the team to stretch the floor, as each player is a threat. Small forward Tobias Harris has especially stood out, leading the team in points, rebounds, and minutes played, and also shooting 52.5% from the field. The Clippers were not expected to have so much success, but as long as the pieces continue to fall into place, they could likely keep their dominance going, even in the playoffs.
#2: Golden State Warriors
Current Record: 15-7
The reigning NBA champions have gotten off to a rocky start, despite still holding the second seed in the Western Conference currently. An internal incident between Draymond Green and Kevin Durant after Green elected to hold onto the ball late in the game became highly publicized, slightly rattling the team’s morale. Additionally, Golden State is presently without their star point guard Stephen Curry, who has been nursing a groin injury.
Nonetheless, the Warriors will likely still be seen in the NBA Finals, as has been the case for the past few years. The return of Curry, as well as the introduction of all-star center DeMarcus Cousins, who has been out with an Achilles injury, should be more than enough to ensure a fantastic season for Golden State.
#1. Toronto Raptors
Current Record: 18-4
While several teams could make a strong case for the number two slot at the moment, the Toronto Raptors are the only deserving squad of the number one slot. They started off the season 6-0 and now hold a solid lead in terms of wins over the rest of the league. Despite being under rookie head coach Nick Nurse, the team appears more than comfortable playing together and should continue to succeed.
The offseason trade for small forward Kawhi Leonard has boded very well for the Raptors. Leonard is averaging 24.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. That, along with point guard Kyle Lowry’s league-leading 10.4 assists, has proven to be too much for opposing teams to handle. The Raptors have a firm grasp on the Eastern Conference currently and appear ready to make their first ever appearance in the NBA Finals.
]]>One of the main winter hassles is forecasting. Long-term forecasting is more difficult than in the summer months because of multiple precipitation types that can occur. Forecasters use a variety of different models, or forecast outputs, that can give us an idea into the future. Because of the complexity of forecasting, there are a few different groups of model systems: climate, monthly, long range, medium range, short range and high resolution models. Each of these systems provide a key role in winter forecasting.
There are two main Climate Forecast Systems: the CanSIPS model and the CFS or CFSv2. The CFSv2 is a monthly model that provides a temperature and weather system forecast for a month into the future. It’s accurate with weather pattern predictions, but not individual weather systems projections. This model gives us the general idea of a potential arctic cold spell coming our way in the winter months.
The long range models are typically used on TV or in news. Long range models provide 15 days of forecasting, although they are typically accurate only for the first 10 days and don’t provide good predictions about winter precipitation. Some models that are a part of this category include the Global Forecast System (GFS), Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS), and European Model (ECMWF). In addition, a new model has recently been introduced called the GFSFV3. This model has been proven to project much accurate forecasting for a longer period of time.
Medium range models are models that predict about 3.5 to 7 days ahead. There aren’t many of these models, but the NAM is a notable one that has much better winter graphics than others. Medium range models are most commonly used, primarily for their higher resolution and longer range than their shorter range counterparts.
Short range models are the most critical for forecasting. These models are very good at predicting up to three days. They provide advanced products and accurate information. Some shorter range models include the HRRR, RAP, and NAMNEST. When winter storm warnings are issued, that information is mostly gathered from these short range and high resolution models. These models also provide information on the total snow accumulations and ratios, which are very helpful in warning the public.
All of these models are very important and all provide different insight to forecasters and the public. Each model forecasts in a different way, making weather forecasts more accurate when used together. By using the long range models, meteorologists can warn the public of significant weather for a week while further refining that forecast as shorter range models become available.
]]>Recently, the weather has been more appreciable of December weather, with temperatures sometimes unable to get out of the 20’s and a couple instances of snow. Over the past two weeks, two main concerns have been brought to meteorologists in Chicago:
For people wishing for milder weather, it will return to the region by the 17th. This weather won’t be very mild, but rather will nudge us near our average temperatures, currently in the low 40’s. Beyond the 24th and into December, the Climate Forecast System, CFSv2, predicts another series of arctic blasts, likely keeping our high temperatures in the 20’s. The Thanksgiving forecast calls for temperatures in the lower 40’s with partly cloudy skies. Snow is not likely, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some flurry action.
]]>Stars:
Deshaun Watson (QB):
The Texans are on a 8 game win streak relying on an explosive offense and defense, but the thing which is holding them back from a top two playoff seed is their quarterback, Deshaun Watson. Watson has had many up and down games. Fortunately for the Texans, the “good” Watson showed up to play against their divisional rivals, Tennessee Titans this week. Watson had 210 passing yards with two passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also had nine carries for 70 yards and a rushing touchdown. He completed 19 out of 24 passes, and thus scored 29.4 PPR Fantasy points. Watson was able to defeat a very strong Titans defense by running and also throwing the football, confusing the defense many times. He is set to go up against the Browns who have given up the seventh most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Even though Watson is shaky, he is going up against a weak defense who will have a tough time stopping him and his offensive weapons. Start or Sit in Week 13: Start
Christian McCaffrey (RB):
Even though the Panthers suffered a loss to the Seahawks, McCaffrey had one of his best games this season. He had 17 carries for 125 yards and a rushing touchdown. He also had 11 receptions for 112 yards and a receiving touchdown. This overall performance gave him a incredible score of 46.7 PPR Fantasy points. McCaffrey is dynamic running back and also a good flex option. He is extremely consistent in his scoring and also is a key player in the Panther’s offense. With a dynamic running back and a above average Panthers offensive line their running game is explosive. McCaffrey averages around 15+ carries per game. This type of numbers produce a good PPR fantasy score. He and the Panthers are set to go up against the Buccaneers who also have a weak defense and rush defense. Expect the Panthers to rely heavily upon McCaffrey to get them their win. Start or Sit in Week 13: Start
Amari Cooper (WR):
Amari Cooper helped the Cowboys get their win against the Redskins, putting them in the driver’s seat of the NFC East. Cooper actually broke a record on Thursday, with the most touchdowns and receiving yards on Thanksgiving day. He had eight receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Cooper has had some great games while others were completely terrible. When the Cowboys want to throw the ball, Cooper scores a lot of fantasy points, but when they rely on their great running back, Ezekiel Elliott, Cooper hardly has any receptions or yards. The Cowboys are going up against the Saints and it is highly likely that Marshon Lattimore will be covering Cooper. Even with this solid coverage Amari Cooper is still likely to catch some balls if thrown to him due to his athletic ability. Also, the Saints tend to give up the most fantasy points to receivers. The major issue is that the Saints rush defense is not too good and the Cowboys can take advantage and run the pulp out of the ball. This may create the scenario where Cooper might not be targeted resulting a low PPR Fantasy score for him. Start or Sit in Week 13: Sit
Eric Ebron (TE):
Other than the Bears, the Colts have been the other team which has been improving tremendously. They have a talented quarterback, Andrew Luck, but right now they have a great set of tight ends helping them out on offense: Eric Ebron or Jack Doyle. As there are two of them, one will often be targeted more than the other in one week and vice versa the other week. But as Doyle received a season ending kidney injury Ebron can now enjoy all of the targets for himself. Ebron had five receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns giving him 21.5 PPR Fantasy points. The Colts are set up to go against the Jaguars who have been struggling with their rush defense. They have great secondaries such as Jalen Ramsey, so this means that the Colts will have to use Ebron a lot to attempt to get a win. Start or Sit in Week 13: Start
Saints (D/ST):
The Saints have one of the best offenses in the league, but they definitely don’t have the best defense. Their defense has been struggling with stopping the run. Against the Falcons they had one interception, three forced fumbles, and six sacks. Although the Saints have been struggling they were able to step their game up and stop a very explosive Falcons offense and produce a win, 31-17. But asking this defense to do it again is tough as they just do not currently have great defensive-players which can create big plays. They are expected to go up against the Cowboys who have a star running back, Elliott, who will be able to exploit the Saint’s defensive line. Dak Prescott will also be able to come out of the pocket and run for some yards which will further frustrate this defense. Start or Sit in Week 13:Sit
Duds:
Matthew Stafford (QB):
The Lions went up against the strong Bears defense who were able to apply significant pressure to Stafford. Even though the Bears had only two sacks they were able to apply enough tension to force incompletions and interceptions. Stafford threw 28 out of 38 for 236 yards and two interceptions. He had an overall score of 5.4 PPR Fantasy points. His bad performance could be pointed towards the fact that Marvin Jones Jr. was injured and Kerryon Johnson was out too limiting Stafford’s options. The Lions are going up against the Rams next week and, given the struggles of Stafford, it is best if he is on your bench as he will probably end up throwing a couple of interceptions even if he gets Jones back. Start or Sit in Week 13: Sit
Alvin Kamara (RB):
Alvin Kamara is one of the key players to the Saints offense. Some argue he should win the MVP award this year, but his performance this last game suggests otherwise. Even though he had 14 carries, he was only able to rush 89 yards with no touchdown giving him an overall score of 10.8 PPR Fantasy points. This is a rare performance for Kamara and fantasy team owners should expect him to do better as he is a very consistent scorer. The Saints are set to go against the Cowboys’ average defense, but the Saints have the best offense in the league. Expect the Saints to use every single option such as Kamara, Ingram, and Thomas as much as possible. Start or Sit in Week 13: Start
Michael Thomas (WR):
Thomas is considered as one of the best receivers playing in the NFL today, which is why his performance in the last game was a bit surprising. He had only four receptions for 38 yards giving him an overall score of 7.8 PPR Fantasy points. He averages around seven receptions for 71 yards. This week Thomas should be expected to make big plays as the Cowboys will force QB Drew Brees to use all his options in order for them to win. Start or Sit in Week 13: Start
Trey Burton (TE):
Trey Burton has really helped out the Bears offense by acting both as a receiver and as a blocker. On Thanksgiving Burton was used more as a blocker. He had only four receptions for 28 yards giving him an overall score of 4.8 PPR Fantasy points. The Bears are up against the Giants who have a weak pass defense. Expect the Bears to use all their options such as Burton, Gabriel, and Robinson to their advantage. The Giants also allow the fifth most fantasy points to tight ends. Start or Sit in Week 13: Start
Seahawks (D/ST):
The game against the Panthers was a high scoring game and both defenses were unable to stop each other from scoring. The Seahawks were able to squeeze by to get the win against the Panthers. The Seahawks defense had only one interception the whole game. They allowed 27 points giving them an overall score of -3 PPR Fantasy points. They are going up against the 49ers who have one of the worst offenses in the league. The Seahawks should be able to hold the 49ers from getting 10+ points making them a worthwhile start in Week 13. Start or Sit in Week 13: Start
]]>Women candidates achieved historic firsts, most of them being Democrats. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will be the youngest woman to take office after winning New York’s 14th congressional district. Rashida Tlaib, who won Michigan’s 13th congressional district, became one of first Muslim women in Congress, joining Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar. Ayanna Pressley became Massachusetts’ first black congresswoman along with Connecticut’s Jahana Hayes. Two Native American Congresswoman have also made historic firsts: Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Sharice Davids of Kansas. Kyrsten Sinema, the first openly bisexual person elected to Congress, flipped a seat long held by Republicans. Numerous other women have made history with their election victories and recorded a significant amount of “firsts” for minorities and women in American politics. Nevertheless, among the historic accomplishments is Jared Polis, the first openly gay man to win a governor’s race.
Although they are far from having an equal representation, 23% of Congress will now be women. Before the midterms, only 84 of the 432 House members were women and 23 out of 100 were in the Senate. Out of the 107 women, only 38 were women of color. However, in the wake of the 2016 elections, an unprecedented number of women ran for office. According to Emily’s List, an organization that works to elect Democratic women, more than 20,000 women have showed interest in running for office since Trump’s elections. With the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Republican Party’s stance on reproductive rights, and the President being accused of sexual harassment by more than a dozen women, the new wave of women entering politics is much needed. Current controversial issues affecting women should include women.
A government for, by, and of the people should include a variety of voices. American politics, however, has been dominated by white males for a long time. A white male government — or any other majority single-sex, single-race government for that matter — limits different perspectives of a decision. When the broad spectrum of interests and experiences lack our elected institutions, minority groups are most likely underrepresented. To say the least, the new female candidates will be able to reach out to minority communities and encourage interested individuals of color into politics. Now more than ever, the people of America are encountering a political change. The election of 2018, we can only hope, will diversify policies as it diversified candidates.
]]>Some of the teams to look out for are Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Tennessee and Virginia. These squads opened the season as the preseason top six in the AP Poll.
Duke has the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the country, as it secured commitments from the top three players in the ESPN 100: R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish.
Kansas welcomes several transfers from major schools in juniors Dedric and K.J. Lawson (Memphis) and sophomore Charlie Moore (Cal). Freshmen Devon Dotson and Quentin Grimes are also poised to make major impacts for the Jayhawks.
Kentucky’s most prominent offseason addition was graduate transfer Reid Travis of Stanford, who averaged 19.5 points last season for the Cardinal. The Wildcats landed five star recruits Keldon Johnson, E.J. Montgomery, Ashton Hagans and Immanuel Quickley and fellow top 100 prospect Tyler Herro.
Gonzaga features junior Rui Hachimura as the headliner, plus a solid supporting cast comprised of junior Brandon Clarke, sophomore Zach Norvell and senior Josh Perkins.
Tennessee brings back four-fifths of its starting lineup: junior Grant Williams, senior Admiral Schofield, junior Lamonte Turner and senior Kyle Alexander.
Virginia returns All-American junior Kyle Guy, backcourt mate and fellow junior Ty Jerome, senior big man Jack Salt and sophomore NBA prospect De’Andre Hunter.
Defending national champion Villanova lost four players to the NBA Draft in Donte Divincenzo, Omari Spellman, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges. However, Jay Wright’s group brings back contributors and seniors Phil Booth and Eric Paschall. Sophomore Collin Gillespie is another name to pay attention to after contributing off the bench in two games in the NCAA Tournament against Radford and Michigan.
A major issue erupting in college basketball is the corruption trial and fraud scandal affecting major programs across the nation. The NCAA is still reeling from Rick Pitino’s departure from the University of Louisville amid scandal, alleged payments to players at Kansas University and the arrest of assistant coach Chuck Person at Auburn University. Widespread negative reaction to this news has polarized the nation over the issue of whether or not college basketball players deserve to be paid. Another oft-discussed dilemma is: how financial compensation for student athletes affects illicit behavior in relationships between athletic corporations such as Adidas and the parents of players.
Every season, several teams are overlooked at the beginning of the season before they finish strong and make deep runs in postseason tournaments. Some sleeper teams to watch out for are the Saint Louis Billikens of the Atlantic 10 Conference, the San Diego State Aztecs of the Mountain West Conference and the UCF Golden Knights of the American Athletic Conference. All three are threats to make the NCAA tournament if they win their respective conferences. UCF’s head coach, Johnny Dawkins, won a national championship as a player, and brings in three impact players: his son, Aubrey Dawkins, a transfer from Michigan in addition to seniors Tacko Fall and B.J. Taylor, who both missed time last season due to injury.
College basketball’s unpredictability is what makes it appealing to millions of fans. Many students at universities nationwide remain faithfully devoted to their schools regardless of the success of the team or its players. There is a certain naivety to college athletics due to players’ inability to receive financial compensation; nowhere is this more prominent than in college basketball, which is one of America’s largest revenue generators in sports. As for who will win the national title this season, all we can do is make an educated guess, fill out our brackets and hope for the best.
]]>The new iPad Pro gains many new features over its predecessor. It’s faster, slimmer, and carries a USB-C port, a new Apple Pencil, and a completely new design. Similar to the iPhone X, the new iPad Pro’s screen stretches from edge to edge. The iPad Pro comes with a larger 11-inch Liquid Retina LCD screen compared to last year’s 10.5 inch screen, while actually being thinner. Along with the similar redesign to the iPhone X, the iPad Pro also gets rid of the home button and adds Face ID. The base 11-inch model starts at $799, and the larger 12.9-inch version bumps that up to $999.
Sophomore Abhiram Vallebhaneni believed that the new redesign of the iPad Pro was a step in the right direction for Apple.
“I really like how the screen gets so much bigger,” Vallebhaneni said. “It’s like you’re just holding a screen.”
However, Junior Maya Poyraz was not excited about the base $799 price tag.
“I wouldn’t spend $800 just to use my face to log in instead of my finger,” Poyraz said. “It’s just not worth the price.”
Like the iPad Pro, the new MacBook Air also comes with a complete redesign. The MacBook Air is smaller than its predecessor, being slightly thinner and cutting down its weight to just 2.75 pounds. The MacBook Air also slims down its screen edges as well, making it look almost identical to the $1400 MacBook Pro when compared side by side.
Performance-wise, the MacBook Air scores extremely similar to the MacBook Pro in speed tests. A new feature of the MacBook Air is the addition of Touch ID, making logging in more convenient. The most standout feature of the MacBook Air is the screen. The MacBook Air comes with a 13.3-inch Retina display with a 2,560-by-1,600 pixel resolution, significantly larger than its previous LCD screen with only 1,440-by-900 pixels. The improved screen allows for greater color accuracy and detail. Although sporting impressive features, the new MacBook Air has the highest price in the history of the device, racking up the price from $999 to $1,119.
Unlike the other two products, the new Mac Mini doesn’t introduce any new features. It comes with four new Thunderbolt 3 ports, allowing for connections to many new products and upgrades. It also has the option for upgraded memory, and adopts PCIe-based flash storage, allowing for increased performance and storage. The new Mac Mini has the same small design and quiet performance as its predecessor, except now it comes in a new anodized aluminum space gray color. The $799 starting cost is significantly lower than many other Apple computers while providing some of the same performance and features.
]]>At the moment, the two main ways to become a citizen by birth are through birthright citizenship, or by being born to U.S. citizens. Ending birthright citizenship would affect the babies of all non-citizens. Any baby born to an non-citizen would not become a citizen, while any baby born to a U.S. citizen automatically would earn citizenship.
Even the babies of legal immigrants who are not yet naturalized citizens would not become citizens. According to the Center of Immigration Studies, in 2014, roughly one in every five births in America was to an immigrant. Of that, it is estimated that about 12.4% of births were to a legal immigrant, while about 7.5% were to an illegal immigrant.
The question at hand is, is it fair that only babies born to U.S. citizens would automatically become citizens, while other babies born in America wouldn’t, simply because of the immigration status of their parents?
Ending birthright citizenship would make it much harder for children of legal immigrants to become citizens. It takes legal immigrants years to become naturalized citizens. My own parents had not yet acquired citizenship status (they were green card holders working on gaining citizenship) at the time of my birth.
I became a citizen because I was born in this country, and the 14th amendment ensures that I have that right to citizenship. But if Trump gets rid of birthright citizenship, thousands of American-born children of legal immigrants would not get the opportunity to become an automatic American citizen like I did, just because their parents are not from here. Automatic citizenship would only be granted to American-born children with parents who are already American citizens.
When it comes to the American-born children of illegal immigrants earning automatic citizenship, there is quite a bit more controversy. Some say that birthright citizenship should end for the children of undocumented immigrants, or “anchor babies.” “Anchor baby” is a derogatory term used to imply that birthright citizen children born to undocumented parents are “anchors” of a sort, because they supposedly make it easier for family members to secure citizenship and protect against deportation.
However, a 2010 report by the Pew Research Center estimated that 90% of undocumented immigrants who had children in America had already been living here for over two years, which casts some doubt on whether or not undocumented immigrants really come here just for birthright citizenship for their children.
In addition to that, a 2010 report from the Migration Policy Institute showed that ending birthright citizenship would only add to the number of unauthorized immigrants, rather than reduce it, and would add anywhere from 16 million to 24 million more unauthorized immigrants by 2050, depending on how strict the law is.
It is also important to note that the number of births to unauthorized immigrants is declining. The Pew Research Center has found that there has been a 36% decline from 2007 to 2016, where of all children born in America, about 9% of children born were born to illegal immigrants in 2007, to 6% in 2016.
While some believe that birthright citizenship leads to immigrants surging to America and “abusing the system,” it is clear to me that this is not really the case. Immigrants should be able to take advantage of the opportunities America offers; the very same opportunities we already have within our reach and tend to take for granted. An immigrant who wants a better life for themself in no way “abuses the system” simply by coming here.
Legal immigrants should have the chance to start a life here, and have their children become citizens, like any other child born here would. Many of of our own classmates with immigrant parents most likely became citizens the same way I did, through birthright citizenship. America was founded by immigrants, and taking away birthright citizenship would only make it harder for many hardworking immigrants to have a chance at the American dream. And as for illegal immigrants, research shows that birthright citizenship is likely not the reason they came here for, and ending it would only add more illegal immigrants to the population.
Birthright citizenship contributes to the growing ethnic and cultural diversity of America. It is the reason why I have the same opportunities that every other American-born citizen does. America is a melting pot of cultures and countries, where anybody can live the American dream. Without birthright citizenship, we would would only become more xenophobic, and it would be much harder and take much longer for immigrants and their children to become citizens. The divide would only widen between immigrants and citizens. Hundreds of thousands of children born to immigrants would lose their constitutional rights to automatic citizenship in a country that was founded by immigrants, resulting in automatic American citizenship to be exclusively reserved for those with the American citizens for parents. If birthright citizenship dies, so does the American dream.
]]>Zoe works hard and has enthusiasm on a daily basis. “Throw yourself into everything you do. Whether it’s writing a complex research paper or making mac and cheese, passion translates to success,” Zoe said.
English teacher Theresa Christensen feels Zoe brings passion to everything she takes on. “Never have I met a more positive individual who enthusiastically dedicates herself to her goals than senior, Zoe Hannon. Zoe’s passion comes through in all that she takes part in – whether in the classroom or onstage in Fremd musicals, plays, or speech team competitions,” Christensen said. “Zoe truly exemplifies The English Student of the Month though her vigorous thirst for deeper meaning and connection within all that she pursues.”
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Under coach Mike Ditka, the 1985 Bears proved to be superior to most of the NFL teams, ending the season with the near-undefeated record of 14-2. Their losses against the Vikings and Rams did not stop them, as the team, led by football hall of famer Walter Payton won went on to clinch the Super Bowl title for the first time in the franchise’s history.
The Bears had a stretch of bad luck, not reaching the Super Bowl again until 2006, this time being led by Lovie Smith. Having only coached the Bears for 2 years, Chicago fans did not expect much of him, as they thought he needed more time to adapt to the team to lead them to the success Ditka had. Smith proved to be as determined as Ditka, wrapping up the regular season with an unexpected 13-3 record. The Bears reached the Super Bowl for the first time in 20 years, this time ready to compete against their neighbors: the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts, who also ended the season with a similar record, were able to finish stronger than the Bears, beating them by a comfortable 12 points to end the game with the score of 29-17.
This year’s Bears roster has positively impacted their performance lately, with an offensive lead in Trubisky improving their passing yards two-fold from last year. Trubisky’s consistent connections with receiver Anthony Miller, amassing over 250 yards, led the Bears to victories early in the season, while Nagy’s playmaking calls with running back Tarik Cohen led the team to victories against later teams. Trubisky is shaping up to be the next Mike Tomczak, reeling in passing yards every game and starting the season strong. Alongside him, Nagy’s attitude and motivation reflects that of Ditka’s and Tarik Cohen’s footwork is mirroring that of Walter Payton. The first third of the season has given the team motivation to relive the iconic moments of 1986 and 2006. The reformed roster has given Chicago fans hope that the Bears will proceed to enter the playoff and win the Super Bowl.
The 2018 Bears are the closest Chicago has come to retaining the title that Ditka worked so hard to earn in 1986. Fans hope for the 32-year drought to end following this season. The Bears are first in their division and will need positive results in their future games against the Vikings, Giants and Rams to help to secure their position in the playoffs. As the past lingers in the minds of all Chicago fans, they rest their hopes on leading offensive players like Trubisky and aggressive defensive players like Mack.
]]>A common theme throughout the season was Chicago’s inability to please or satisfy its fan base. After winning the 2016 World Series, the fall came fast and hard for the Cubs. They lost ace Jake Arrieta, winner of the 2015 Cy Young, and proceeded to lose star center fielder Dexter Fowler to St. Louis in free agency. They replenished their ranks by bringing up gobs of young talent from their farm system and inking Darvish to a six year, $126 million contract, one of the largest in the MLB. This caused further dissatisfaction when Darvish failed to perform up to expectations and tallied just a 4.95 ERA during his time with the Cubs before being placed on the DL.
Frequent weather delays and cancellations early in the season dulled the interest of Chicago fans, but after those were all out of the way, the team gained some momentum by winning nine of eleven games in the latter half of the month, fueled by strong pitching from Kyle Hendricks and Pedro Strop. While the Cubs were inconsistent at times throughout the rest of the season, they finished just two games out of first place in the NL Central. After losing to the Milwaukee Brewers on Oct. 1, a wild card elimination game that decided which team would receive a first round bye in the playoffs and which team would have to play a wild card game, the Cubs lost the chance to win their third division title in a row.
This has been one of the best four-season runs in Cubs history, as they have won 387 games in the past four years, good for an average of 97 wins per year in a 162 game schedule. In addition, Chicago has won sixty percent of its games since the 2015 season, one of the best marks in Major League Baseball.
Manager Joe Maddon, who has won nearly 60% of his games since taking over before the 2015 season, was mentioned in talks of being on the hot seat as well as having a strained relationship with team president Theo Epstein, who engineered Chicago’s drastic turnaround. These reports were later refuted, but raised uncertainty among fans about whether the man in charge of their resurgence was the right man for the job.
The Cubs finished August strong as they won seven games in a row at the end of the month, their longest winning streak of the season. They were unable to sustain this momentum into September, but came alive and moved ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in early September despite a very strong month of August for the Cards, where they tallied a 22-6 record. The Cubs fell behind Milwaukee in the division after the Brewers went on a 20-7 tear during the season’s final month. The Cardinals and Brewers were dead even heading into September, with both teams tallying 76 wins, but the Brewers surged ahead and won the division for the first time since 2011, when they also won 96 games. These factors all contributed to widespread disappointment among the Cubs’ fan base once the season ended, as Chicago supporters had become accustomed to annual trips to the NLCS, a dramatic shift for the franchise.
Meanwhile, the Cubs’ hitting has been phenomenal this season as well. Despite firing hitting coach Chili Davis after one season, Chicago showed improvement from 2017. Sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant garnered most of the headlines, but second baseman Ben Zobrist and outfielder Kyle Schwarber were just as essential to the success of the Cubs this past season. Rizzo smacked 160 hits and 101 RBI in addition to a .283 batting average, right on par with his career stats. He notched 25 home runs, his worst total since 2013. Bryant tallied 106 hits and 52 RBI while missing 60 games due to injury. He added 13 home runs and a .272 batting average, both far below his totals from the previous two seasons. Zobrist, who is less of a power hitter, went for 139 hits, 58 RBI, nine home runs and a .305 batting average. Finally, Schwarber, he of the 470-foot home run, bashed 26 this season, his fourth in the league, as well as 102 hits and 61 RBI for a .238 batting average.
The Chicago Cubs’ 2018 season can be considered a success due to the team continuing its growth from previous seasons by once again making the playoffs and seeing three players (Javier Baez, Willson Contreras and Jon Lester) named to the All-Star game. Hopefully, manager Joe Maddon returns for a fifth season and once again weeds the most production he possibly can out of his players.
]]>Junior wide receiver and defensive back Jack Hipchen highlighted the significance of this game.
“We are both fighting for a playoff spot so we don’t expect this to be a blowout game,” Hipchen said.
After last year’s disappointing 1-8 record, Fremd turned it around quickly this year. They ended this year’s regular season 5-4, winning five out of their last six games, after a dominant 48-13 win over Schaumburg.
Coach Sponsel explains the key to this recent success.
“The boys are playing together and I think their love for each other as teammates to keep this team alive was the biggest difference,” Sponsel said.
The game was off to a bad start because just less than 40 seconds into the game, there was a mouthguard malfunction which led to a fumbled snap that was recovered by the Saxons on the Vikings’ 22 yard line. Consequently, Schaumburg took a 7-0 lead less than a minute into the game.
Despite this early blunder, Fremd took control of the game; a kick return was the only other touchdown Schaumburg scored.
Through a strong run game, Fremd’s running back Nick Rattin broke not only Fremd’s single game rushing touchdown record, but also the rushing yardage record. Rattin rushed for a whopping 309 yards and six touchdowns.
It was clear since the start that Schaumburg could not contain Rattin as he was able to find gaping holes in the defense while shrugging off multiple tackles. Quarterback Ryan Saxe would score the first points for Fremd this game with a six yard touchdown.
After a strong defensive stand, Fremd got the ball back and Rattin capped off the drive with a 29-yard touchdown. Schaumburg scored their second and final touchdown in the second quarter off of a 90 yard kickoff return. The extra point was then blocked by Jack Hipchen, keeping Fremd in the lead 14-13. After this touchdown, Fremd took charge. In just the first half, Rattin scored four touchdowns on 29, 25, 12, and 74 yard runs.
On his fifth touchdown in the third quarter, he broke Fremd’s previous rushing touchdown record, set by Joe Chambers in 1995, off of a four yard touchdown run. In the middle of the third quarter, he played his last play of the regular season and scored a thirteen yard touchdown that would break the rushing yardage record with 309.
For the remainder of the game, no more points would be scored and Fremd ran out the clock to end it.
Despite a few mistakes, Sponsel was pleased with the team’s performance.
“We had a couple mishaps, but overall we played great. You don’t break two rushing records in a single game without them doing things right,” Sponsel said.
Coach Sponsel discussed Fremd’s future going into the playoffs.
“We won five of our last six and we’re conference co-champs. You’ve just got to understand that there is no easy team that gets into 8A playoffs. We’ve just got to do what we do and go out there and play great defense and control the clock and play good special teams and get a win against Homewood-Flossmoor,” Sponsel said.
In the end, Fremd would lose to Homewood-Flossmoor 21-0 in the first round of 8A playoffs, but this should not overshadow Fremd’s great improvement this year. Starting off the year 0-3, it seemed that Fremd was set for another rough tear. However, they were able to improve their record to 5-4 by the end of the season and put up a fight against one of the best high school football teams in Illinois.
]]>The entire process of getting into another form of storytelling requires trial and error. Podcasts are a form of passing time while simultaneously doing other activities like driving to work or going for a run. While many people listen to podcasts, they don’t always realize the depth that’s possible. As someone who has listened to a fair share of podcasts, here are some picks I recommend:
The Bright Sessions
It’s almost inevitable to look at the superheroes with tragic backstories and think somewhere along the lines of “they need help.” The Bright Sessions explores this idea. Told in a series of therapist sessions, a group of characters with atypical capabilities try to fit in, but at the same time, they must learn to deal with their powers. The appointments go as planned, until the therapist is revealed to have ulterior motives in meeting with these patients. Things get more complicated when these patients’ lives begin to intertwine. Overall, The Bright Sessions is a plot driven podcast that incorporates many different perspectives and presents a unique concept.
Lore
Unlike in film, there’s no jumpscares accompanying this type of podcast. Focusing on the fear behind many superstitions today, the creator of Lore recounts dark historical tales from myths to unsettling events. The ominous introduction and explanation of events leaves listeners in suspense. Ultimately, Lore strikes an easy balance between reality and fiction, offering an immersive experience in each episode.
Limetown
Lia Haddock, a reporter, is finally given the opportunity to investigate the truth of an untraceable township that vanished a decade earlier. After exploring the remains of the government-established settlement of Limetown, she begins to come in contact with the last few people directly related to the event. What makes Limetown stand out is the gradual build up to the climax. The lack of visuals allows listeners to form images of their own and shifts their focus towards the raw emotion through an expressive voice. In combination with the different perspectives that aren’t always truthful, these elements make the story more memorable.
Alice isn’t Dead
Refusing to believe their wife, Alice, is dead, a truck driver takes to the road in attempt to retrace her path. As the character’s search unfolds, they reflect on their relationship with Alice. Anomalies are encountered along the way, giving in to the notion that perhaps there might be greater hands at play. Alice isn’t Dead is told in an episodic and mysterious way, intriguing the audience from the beginning. The calm but unsettling narration creates a lasting impact that listeners can’t forget.
]]>Game One, 10/23 was a tight contest, featuring star pitchers Chris Sale of the Red Sox and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers. In the first inning alone, the Dodgers let in two runs, almost foreshadowing their tumultuous defeat. To their good fortune, they came back scoring two more runs in the next two innings, decreasing the score gap to just one, at a score of 3-2. Throughout the match, both teams played well, in the seventh inning, the Red Sox up 5-4, an unexpected hero came to shine. Playing in his first World Series game, 2nd baseman, Eduardo Núñez of the Red Sox walked up to the batter’s box and smashed a three-run homer, solidifying the win for the Red Sox. Many teammates regarded Núñez as the hero of the contest. After the game, Núñez said, “…I don’t care about being the hero. As long as we get the win, that’s all that matters.” Game one overall was a competitive game, but with the help of Nunez’s three run homer and proficient pitching, the Red Sox, came out on top.
Game Two, 10/24 was another interesting game, with the Dodgers once again experiencing trouble with scoring in the first few innings. The Red Sox leaped out to a one run lead after the first three innings. However, during the fourth inning, Dodgers’ batters Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig both hit an RBI, driving in two runs to take the lead, 2-1. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, this lead lasted only one inning and in the fifth despite having two outs, the Dodgers let in three runs, losing the lead and eventually losing the game 4-2.
Speaking about their 2-0 record at the time, manager Alex Cora of the Red Sox said after the game, “At least we know, if things don’t go well in LA, we’re coming back.” This attitude proved vital to the Red Sox’s eventual 4-1 World Series win.
Game Three, 10/26 was the longest game in World Series history. Eighteen innings of back and forth baseball wore out both teams, but in the end the Dodgers got the win with Max Muncy scoring a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 18th. Both teams displayed grit and played well, the Red Sox getting seven hits and the Dodgers getting 11. Eventually, nerves took a toll on both teams and they each committed one error but this didn’t faze Max Muncy of the Dodgers. Just around 3:30 am Boston time, Muncy decided to send LA fans home with a sense of confidence by hitting the heroic walk-off home run.
Game Four, 10/27 presented an even match-up between the teams. Unlike past games, the Dodgers managed to take a solid lead, scoring four runs in the sixth inning. One inning later though, the Red Sox fought back to score three runs, cutting into the Dodgers lead. To tie it up, Red Sox DH Steve Pearce, hit a one run homer, eliminating the Dodger lead. The ninth inning proved to be nerve wracking on both sides of the field. But, the Red Sox were able to answer the call to action by scoring five runs and putting the Dodgers on their back. In the end, the Dodgers only managed to wheel in two runs, handing the win, 9-6, to the Red Sox.
Game Five, 10/28 was the end of the road for the Dodgers and Red Sox. They each had come so far to earn their spot in the World Series, but only one team could be victorious. Throughout the series, the Red Sox showed that they could handedly beat their opponents and this game was no different. Winning by a score of 5-1, the Red Sox capped off one of the most dominant seasons, with a total of 119 wins(Only two other teams in history had more wins, the ‘98 Yankees and ‘01 Mariners), that a team has displayed in the history of the MLB.
]]>The Best:
Deshaun Watson (QB):
Deshaun Watson had a terrible game in Week Seven, but he was able to reverse that and help the Texans win the game against the Dolphins 42 to 23. His extraordinary comeback led him to score 31 PPR fantasy points, the highest in Week Eight for a quarterback. He threw five touchdowns, zero interceptions, 239 yards, and completed 16 throws out of 20. Though he was the highest scorer this week, Watson is still inconsistent with his points and even though he was able to crush the Dolphin’s defense, he will have a more difficult time against the Broncos, who have a very strong defensive line and can pressure the quarterback to throw interceptions. Taking this into consideration, Watson is not recommended to be the starting QB this week on your fantasy team. Start or Sit in Week 9: Sit
James Conner (RB):
James Conner is currently on a roll as he is filling in for the absent Le’Veon Bell for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This week he set a new career record with a 38.2 PPR fantasy points on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. With his explosiveness and the help from his offensive line, Conner was able to exploit the Browns’ rush defense and score two touchdowns with 146 rushing yards and 66 reception yards. This brilliant performance from Conner not only from this week, but also from previous weeks will cause some issues for the Steelers when they must choose between Conner and Bell for the starting running back position. It will be interesting to see who will get the position, but until then Conner is a very strong running back capable of scoring 20+ PPR points.
Start or Sit in Week 9: Start
Sammy Watkins (WR):
After struggling with injuries and lack of opportunities to catch the ball, Watkins was finally able to reach his all-time new record for this season with a score of 30.7 PPR fantasy points. Watkins was tied with Marvin Jones Jr. for this week. Watkins managed to have seven catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Sammy Watkins is one of the many weapons Patrick Mahomes has on the Chiefs’ offense. Additionally, the Chiefs’ offense shares its targets between tight end Travis Kelce, running back Kareem Hunt, and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins equally. This type of offense has led to Watkins being targeted on average five times per game. Watkins started off the season with a strong start, but then declined, and is now slowly again rising. The Browns’ pass defense and rush defense is definitely not the best in the league so playing Watkins will be a potential risk as Andy Reid might run the ball more, which would make Watkins more of a blocker rather than a receiver. Sit or Start in Week 9: Slight Risk in Starting
Travis Kelce (TE):
The Chiefs’ offense is currently at its peak as two key players, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins, were the top performers in their respective positions. Kelce scored 19.9 PPR fantasy points, his third highest this season. Kelce is definitely one of Patrick Mahomes’ favorite receivers, as he is being targeted on average five to six times per game, one of the highest for a tight end. Kelce caught the ball six times for 79 yards and had a touchdown. Kelce is a very consistent scorer, scoring on average 15+ points per week. It is highly recommended that Kelce starts in your fantasy team as he will be a key player in the Chiefs’ offense against the Browns in Week Nine. Sit or Start in Week 9: Start
Redskins (D/ST):
From last year to this year, the Redskins have improved especially in their defense. The Redskins scored a total of 14 PPR fantasy points, which is their second highest the season. This week the Redskins had two interceptions, a whopping seven sacks, and allowed only 13 points. The Redskins have some momentum with them which will help them face the strong Atlanta Falcons offense. Even though the Falcons have a really good offense, the current momentum of the Redskins defense should carry them through, and it would be a good idea to have the Redskins start in your fantasy team in Week Nine. Sit or Start in Week 9: Start
Will Lutz (K):
Will Lutz, the Saints kicker, has had a great season so far missing no field goals nor extra points. This week the Saints took on the Packers whose defense played extremely well against the Saints. This led to Lutz kicking three field goals and also three extra points giving him 16 total PPR fantasy points, which ties his highest score this season. In Week Nine, the Saints are taking on the undefeated Los Angeles Rams whose defense is to be considered one of the best in the league. But, the Saints have a strong quarterback, Drew Brees, who has many good wide receivers to throw to. With such a dynamic offense taking on a strong defense, the Saints should be able to get into field goal range so that Lutz can kick it in. So it would be recommended that Lutz be your kicker as he could be potentially faced with more field goal opportunities than extra points in Week Nine. Sit or Start in Week 9: Start
The Worst:
Drew Brees (QB):
Drew Brees is one of the best quarterbacks who have played this game. He has broken many passing records, but his performance against the Vikings on Sunday night was nowhere close to average for even a rookie quarterback. He scored only 6.8 PPR fantasy points, a big upset for many fantasy team owners, throwing only 120 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. On average, Brees throws around 250+ yards per game and two touchdowns per game. But his performance on Sunday never reached those numbers and he also threw his first interception of this season. But with the extreme pressure from the Vikings defensive line, Brees was forced to throw the ball quickly which led to interceptions. The problem is that Brees will be going up against the Los Angeles Rams which are a better version of the Vikings’ defense. Even if Brees has a better game in Week Nine, he will have a tough time with the Rams and their tough pass defense. For fantasy team owners, playing Brees as your quarterback will be a risk, but if he plays a really good game, then he just might do fine in Week Nine. Sit or Start in Week 9: Start
Duke Johnson Jr. (RB):
Duke Johnson is having a very rough season this year. His average fantasy points are around six PPR points. But this week he only scored 3.6 PPR fantasy points. He only ran two times for zero yards and had two receptions for 16 yards. The Browns are having a lot of trouble with getting their offense started. The Steelers have one of the best defensive lines in the league, and that definitely showed in the game as the Browns’ running game was smothered. The Browns are up against the Chiefs, and their rush defense is also pretty good, but their pass defense is not the best. So if you are going to play Duke Johnson Jr., then it would be best if he plays as a Flex rather than a running back. But either way it is strongly recommended not to play Johnson as he has had a very bad season, and it does not look like it will change in this upcoming game against the Chiefs in Week Nine. Sit or Start in Week 9: Sit
T.Y. Hilton (WR):
T.Y. Hilton has had a great season so far this year. He is one of Andrew Luck’s favorite receivers, but this week against the Raiders, Hilton had one of his worst games this season. On average he scores 15 PPR points, but this time he only scored 4.4 PPR fantasy points. Additionally, he had only one reception for 34 yards. Hilton is a very consistent scorer and he should be able to rebound back from his poor performance this week. On top of that, he also has a bye week in Week Nine which should boost his confidence against the Jaguars in Week Ten. Sit or Start in Week 10 : Start
Trey Burton (TE):
Trey Burton is one of the key parts of the Chicago Bears explosive offense. Burton enjoys a nice share of the receptions from Mitchell Trubisky. But this in this week, Burton only scored 4.8 PPR fantasy points and had three receptions for 18 yards against the Jets. On average, Burton usually scores around 12+ points and has four receptions per game. Because the Jets have a strong defensive line and mediocre pass defense, Burton was used as a offensive lineman rather than a receiver which is why his PPR score was a extremely low. In Week Nine, this should not be the case, as the Bills have weak defensive line and an even weaker pass defense. With the use of Burton and Kevin White, the Bears will definitely exploit the Bills’ defense. In other words, it is recommended to play Burton as your tight end on your team. Sit or Start in Week 9: Start
Raiders (D/ST):
The Raiders defense is one of the worst or sometimes is the worst in the league. They are struggling with their line as they lost a star linebacker, Khalil Mack. They also lead the league with the most number of yards lost to penalties on both offensive and defensive sides. This week they scored -8 PPR points with no interceptions nor fumbles. They are going to go up against the 1-7 49ers. But knowing the Raiders whose highest PPR score is eight, it would not be a good idea to play the Raiders D/ST. Sit or Start in Week 9: Sit
Justin Tucker (K):
It is always unpredictable with kickers, but Justin Tucker is known for being a great kicker who usually scores eight plus PPR fantasy points. But this week he only scored three PPR fantasy points, his lowest this season. A major thing to note is that the last two weeks, his PPR score has been less than five, and next week the Ravens are to going up against the Steelers. The Steelers have a strong defense, while the Ravens have an off and on offense. Basically, Tucker’s PPR score for Week Nine will depend upon how the Raven’s offense plays against the Steelers. Sit or Start in Week 9: Start
]]>The investigation found many flaws in the supposed path to wealth Donald Trump took. Most notably, it found that, in an attempt to avoid a 55 percent tax rate on gifts and inheritance, Fred Trump lied about the multiple transfers of wealth to avoid $500 million in taxes.
While many wealthy Americans avoid paying their full income tax through the exploitation of legal loopholes, the Trumps were found by New York Times to have used more than just legal evasion methods and were constantly conducting business in a very deceptive and obscure manner, preventing the taxing of these transfers of Fred Trump’s fortune.
According to The Times, 295 distinct streams of revenue to Donald Trump from his father were created over five decades, beginning in Donald’s infancy. Many have seen this interesting partnership between father and son not solely as a pursuit for increased wealth but as an attempt to create the clear allure of Donald Trump, Master Dealmaker and Self-Made Billionaire.
It is clear that tax evasion is not a very presidential thing to do, but this string of events occurred over two decades ago, a period of time in which much can change in an individual. While this shines a very negative light on Trump for now, many have questioned the true weight of this event.
Junior Aditya Prathap believes that in the grand scheme of things, this won’t play a large role in deterring support from Trump’s loyal fan base because they tend to focus more on concrete policy, such as tax cuts or deregulation, as opposed to his character flaws.
“Those who support President Trump have focused on the strength of his policies, whereas those who don’t have attacked his character,” Prathap said. “The emergence of these tax fraud allegations serves as another damper on President Trump’s character and portrays him as a dishonest man not worthy of the label ‘self-made’, but, eventually, the allegations will fade away and become meaningless as the media turns to other sources of controversy that attack President Donald Trump, not the businessman Donald Trump.”
On the other hand, many have voiced their opinions that it is simply unacceptable that the President avoided paying his taxes. In an April poll by analytics company Gallup, more than 6 of every 10 Americans said that upper-income people pay too little in taxes.
Sophomore Ojas Dumbre shares a similar belief with many of these Americans as she stresses that she hopes more Americans recognize how deeply flawed this situation is.
“It is one thing to be against the way of our laws and to act out against them,” Dumbre said. “It is quite another to go against the law solely for self-serving purposes at the detriment of others, and Trump is modeling the latter.”
The difficulty remains with how this kind of dilemma must be dealt with, or if at all.
Social Studies teacher Dorothy Robak strongly believes that this issue should not be ignored and that crimes like these should have more legal ramifications.
“Nobody is above the law,” Robak said. “White collar criminals are some of the most dangerous in the country.”
]]>Under coach Mike Ditka, the 1985 Bears proved to be superior to most of the NFL teams, ending the season with the near-undefeated record of 14-2. Their losses against the Vikings and Rams did not stop them, as the team, led by football hall of famer Walter Payton won went on to clinch the Super Bowl title for the first time in the franchise’s history.
The Bears had a stretch of bad luck, not reaching the Super Bowl again until 2006, this time being led by Lovie Smith. Having only coached the Bears for 2 years, Chicago fans did not expect much of him, as they thought he needed more time to adapt to the team to lead them to the success Ditka had. Smith proved to be as determined as Ditka, wrapping up the regular season with an unexpected 13-3 record. The Bears reached the Super Bowl for the first time in 20 years, this time ready to compete against their neighbors: the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts, who also ended the season with a similar record, were able to finish stronger than the Bears, beating them by a comfortable 12 points to end the game with the score of 29-17.
This year’s Bears roster has positively impacted their performance lately, with an offensive lead in Trubisky improving their passing yards two-fold from last year. Trubisky’s consistent connections with receiver Anthony Miller, amassing over 250 yards, led the Bears to victories early in the season, while Nagy’s playmaking calls with running back Tarik Cohen led the team to victories against later teams. Trubisky is shaping up to be the next Mike Tomczak, reeling in passing yards every game and starting the season strong. Alongside him, Nagy’s attitude and motivation reflects that of Ditka’s and Tarik Cohen’s footwork is mirroring that of Walter Payton. The first third of the season has given the team motivation to relive the iconic moments of 1986 and 2006. The reformed roster has given Chicago fans hope that the Bears will proceed to enter the playoff and win the Super Bowl.
The 2018 Bears are the closest Chicago has come to retaining the title that Ditka worked so hard to earn in 1986. Fans hope for the 32-year drought to end following this season. The Bears are first in their division and will need positive results in their future games against the Vikings, Giants and Rams to help to secure their position in the playoffs. As the past lingers in the minds of all Chicago fans, they rest their hopes on leading offensive players like Trubisky and aggressive defensive players like Mack.
]]>“A new day is on the horizon,” Winfrey said. “And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘Me too’ again.”
2018 has been a year profoundly characterized by the introduction and proliferation of this #MeToo movement. Amid growing international economic concerns and domestic lawsuits, this unexpected development has found its way into the national spotlight and undoubtedly reshaped society. Victims of sexual assault can now confidently speak out to an encouraging audience that is finally willing to listen.
However, despite the high-profile acceptance this newfound encouragement has received, some still find issues with the undue ramifications a false accusation can entail. Whether or not this is true, there was a marked increase in the number of sexually-charged lawsuits as a result of the #MeToo movement, the most popular of which was the hearing of Brett Kavanaugh on September 4th, 2018. At the hearing, Dr. Christine Ford testified about a terrifying encounter she experienced as a 15-year old, in which she recounts Kavanaugh forcing himself upon her and assaulting her.
“I believed he was going to rape me,” Ford said. “It was hard for me to breathe, and I thought that Brett was going to accidentally kill me.”
The lawsuit brought forth immense support from sympathizers and equally impassioned backlash from skeptics. Initially, the movement had gained strong traction, even in Hollywood’s innermost elite circles, which is evident through the various executives hastily disposed of in recent months by top companies. This was epitomized through Harvey Weinstein’s forced departure from the very company that he helped found.
Particular groups, motivated by both politics and judiciary fairness, changed the trajectory of the movement by raising popular opposition to it. Modern critics have coined the term, ‘call-out culture.’ A term which, by definition, accosts the level of unchecked power given to the accusers, and especially the perceived devolution of the criminal justice system into a state of politically-enforced tribalism. A system in which claims are essentially drowned out by the political and social agendas advancing them
This was indeed demonstrated in Kavanaugh’s defense in the lawsuit, where he resents the corollary onslaught of social and political devastation that laces the tip of any accusation.
“If the mere allegation, the mere assertion of an allegation, a refuted allegation from 36 years ago, is enough to destroy a person’s life and career, we will have abandoned the basic principles of fairness and due process that define our legal system,” Kavanagh said. “I am innocent of this charge.”
The #MeToo movement indeed carries a far-reaching touch, as Fremd students were avid with opinion. When asked about the impact Kavanaugh’s lawsuit had for the #MeToo movement, sophomore William Zhong expressed the same skepticism as Kavanaugh and his supporters.
“Although the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh are serious and must be taken into account, the fact that America is predicated on a judiciary system that assumes innocence before guilt, I feel, is being overshadowed,” Zhong said.
Indelibly ingrained in the fine lines of social media is the growing presence of these sexual accusations, claims which, although often fundamentally unprovable, often impassion strong-willed formations of both supporters and opposers. This particular fire is stoked even further as Kavanaugh markedly holds public office, casting assumption of political agenda on both sides of the issue. This polarization and division within the emerging popular support for assaulted victims almost diminished the movement’s original intention.
English teacher Robin Quinn voiced her disappointment at the rising polarization within such a well-intentioned movement.
“I think, it’s a devastating blow to the MeToo movement, it was painful,” Quinn said. “Even separate from the movement, it’s just shocking, I guess, to hear so much hate on either side and so very little listening.”
The question of Kavanaugh’s innocence does not stand alone and is far from singular. Rather, the public trial of Brett Kavanaugh displays the political and social edges of the American judiciary system, by raising several questions about the assumption of innocence under lawsuits that inherently carry with them an air of uncertainty, especially considering that most of them emerge decades after the crime, and without substantial corroboration.
]]>Robert Redford is a Hollywood legend, who has been stealing the hearts of audiences for sixty years. He is currently 82 years old, entering the movie industry in his early twenties, and is rumored that he will soon leave the screen and retire.
Redford’s legacy is characterized by his anti-hero roles rather than the typical handsome-male lead. He portrays criminals and those who society looks down upon with a stereotypical view. His most famous works, Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid and The Sting, have him in a controversial position where he does something that most people believe is bad, such as robbing banks, and twists the role so that the audience empathizes with his character.
For around sixty years, his on-camera facade of being a bad guy with a heart has characterized his acting career. However, his history of being the anti-hero is coming to an end with one last robbery movie, The Old Man and the Gun.
The structure of the movie itself had some of its own issues. Considering that the movie had an older and more mature audience, it’s expected to some level that there are more reflective scenes and less superficial and action-packed ones. However, many of the scenes, maybe in hope of being thought-provoking, left the viewer unfulfilled and at times confused.
Often times, the movie summed up important plot points and created scenes through text. For example, the screen had the text “he was smiling” on the screen instead of showing a scene in which he is smiling, and had the potential of being a very powerful moment. This obscure choice in production left the viewer feeling empty and cheated. It also had the effect of making the movie feel rushed and incomplete.
Even though this was the “great conclusion” of a sixty year Hollywood cinema legend, going into the theater, without any prior knowledge of the great backstory of Robert Redford, it felt weak. The movie depended on the power and reputation of Redford and seemed like they had the assumption that the whole audience was a fan of Redford and saw all of his previous films. There were many connections that the movie supplied to the audience, like quotes that were said in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and actors that had starred with him in previous films. However, as a first timer and a teenager that did not even know the existence of him, we were unable to pick up all the details, feeling left out and confused by the end of the movie.
The storyline had the potential to be very interesting considering its unique setup, but came out weak because it depended wholly on the reputation of Redford. The movie may have been interesting to the fans but did not have the strength to stand up by itself and pull in the audience.
Overall, the movie was a great ending to Redford’s 60 year legacy— if you’re familiar with it.
Link to photo – (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Redford)
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Despite Deerfield’s attempts at breaking through with constant attacks and strong serves, Fremd’s defense held strong. Blocks from the girls in the front row shut down most attacks and several digs from senior libero Maddie Aichinger kept Fremd in the lead.
Freshman middle blocker Claudia Wala comments on the team’s vigor throughout the game.
“Our biggest strength was our energy. Even when we were down, we never doubted if we were going to win or not,” Wala said. “We kept pushing and always made sure to cheer whenever we got a point. We focused on staying relaxed and just playing instead of thinking too much. Our fans and friends that came to support us really helped as well.”
After Fremd won the first set by a large margin, Deerfield was desperate to stay in the game, trading their offense for defense. However, the Fremd girls picked up on this and switched their own focus to attacking the other side of the court. Deerfield tried to block out the team, but to no avail. The girls’ offense broke through Deerfield’s defense easily, winning the game in two straight sets. Several spikes from senior outside hitter Heidi Sayre kept the girls ahead of Deerfield in the second set.
Wala explains her viewpoint on the team’s playing now and in the future.
“Our consistent defense and serving is really important in the game,” Wala said. “And it’s something we should definitely try to improve as the season progresses.”
Fremd’s current record is 31-7 and the team is currently competing in sectionals.
]]>Take, for example, Oct. 20. On this date, Chicago received its first snow of the 2018-19 winter season. The average high temperature for that date is 59 degrees. The actual high temperature for that date was 50 degrees at 12:01 AM! Technically this goes down for the high temperature of the day as temperatures were falling overnight due to a strong cold front pushing through.
By the time the afternoon came around, we were already into the low 40s and pushing 30s. Temperatures such as these can actually support snow. Since the cold front coming through was associated with a strong weather system, gusty winds were also an issue. The snow combined with gusty winds to 60 mph at times caused blizzard conditions to occur, recognized by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Chicago. This snow was about 10 days early, with our average first snowfall on Oct. 30.
Now you may be wondering, how could it snow if it’s 40 degrees? If snow is frozen and forms in air that is equal to or less than 32 degrees, it’s simply not possible, right? The answer to that question is no.
All precipitation starts out and is formed in a cloud.There is only one rule with precipitation and that rule concerns snow. This rule is that once the precipitation leaves the cloud, it cannot refreeze back into a snowflake because that is physically impossible. It can freeze into sleet or graupel (a pellet similar to snow), but not snow because of its unique shape.
Let’s start first by talking about the atmosphere as a whole. Right now, we only know what the temperature is on the surface, or where we live. There are different layers that exist above us, such as the 900 millibar (mb) layer, the 850 mb layer, etc. These are just other words for height in the atmosphere, based on the general pressure at that level. The surface is the 1000 mb level, which is generally what our pressure is on average at any given time.
The layers in the atmosphere are often different temperatures. These temperatures are determined by the weather systems that interact with the area. For it to snow above 32 degrees, you generally need an expansive area above the surface that is near or below 32 degrees. On Oct. 20, this area was realized above the 850 mb layer.
The other thing that is helpful for maintaining flakes to the surface is dry air. Dry air can be quickly cooled by the falling snow, making it much easier for them to reach the ground. Again, a relatively dry layer existed between the Surface and 850 mb layer on this date. These two things coming together were favorable for snow to hit the Surface layer, while the temperature was still near 40 degrees. No accumulation was realized due to the fact the ground temperature was very warm.
Now that we are in November, there are a couple of quick changes we should expect. First, don’t forget that daylight savings time ends on Nov. 4, so make sure to set your clocks an hour back. The official sunset on Sunday, Nov. 4 is 4:41 PM. Second, the high temperature of the day a few months ago was near 4 PM. Now the high temperature of the day will typically be realized at about 2 PM, especially as we creep further towards winter. Third, we’ve officially seen our first snow of the season and this would be the month we see more. Stay tuned because November, especially the latter portion of the month, is often a busy month for snowstorms in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Last year we had our first snowfall of an inch or greater on Nov. 10, so don’t let your guard down!
Finally, let’s talk about the forecast for the next few weeks. To start November, it looks pretty chilly. Currently the forecast is for highs to be in the middle to upper 40s generally from Nov. 1 – 8. These temperatures are considered below normal compared to our average high temperature of near 53 degrees in that period. There will be periods of rain during this period, but most rain chances seem to hold off until about the 7th or the 8th. For the period of Nov. 9 – 14, It looks like a rainy period with continued below normal temperatures in the lower 40s. You probably can’t rule out a day of snow showers near the 14th as the pattern starts to shift to a colder one. Beyond Nov. 14, the pattern is favorable of temperatures in the low 40s. Periodic blasts of cold air with rain and snow are possible, which starts to get us revved up for the winter season.
]]>The film sees Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle reprise their iconic roles as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers, respectively. When Myers escapes from a prison transportation bus and starts to murder people once again, Laurie prepares to carry out her goal of killing the mad man, who has terrorized her for the last 40 years. The movie delivers an amazing mix of horrific suspense and excitement throughout. It also has a couple scenes that callback to the first film, including Laurie’s granddaughter Allyson sitting in the back of a classroom with Laurie staring at her from outside. In the 1978 film, Laurie was in the same location as Allyson, only it was Michael who stared at her from outside the school. The final showdown between Laurie and Michael is incredibly intense. The two of them face off in a suspense building game of hide and seek. The showdown takes place inside Laurie’s home, which she has prepared for this very situation. The movie illustrates that Michael is not the only predator anymore. With Laurie readying herself for this showdown over the course of 40 years, they are now evenly matched.
Despite all these praises, the movie does have its shortcomings. The use of cheesy lines can distract the viewer from the movie. On a few occasions, a laughably weak choice of words is used for no reason at all. Another issue with the movie is the occasional overuse of gore. An example of this is when Michael kills one of his victims by stepping on his face. This is a cop-out instead of using our imaginations, and this scene fails to achieve its purpose, leaving the audience cringing rather than afraid.
Overall, the new 2018 Halloween movie is one of the best new additions to the series since the original was released in 1978. Although it suffers from cheesy lines and a slight overuse of gore, neither of these complaints hold the film back from being a great movie. The rivalry between Laurie Strode and Michael Myers has never been stronger, and their final confrontation in the concluding act of the film proves that. Fans of the series will get a delight from the many hidden Easter eggs that call back to earlier movies. Halloween is a not just an entertaining horror movie, but a great movie, period.
]]>Throughout my high school career many teachers and students were unaware of the fact that the school recycled, which led me to believe they didn’t recycle. This is unfortunate because many students use the schools alleged lack of recycling as their excuse to not recycle as well; but know that we’re all aware of the fact we have no excuses.
One of the easiest things we can do is start with recycling in class. Lamentably, not all classrooms contain blue recycling bins. However, they are located throughout the school for the purpose of recycling white paper. Unfortunately, many students will use them to dispose of trash or items other than white paper. The problem with putting normal trash in the recycling bins is that it leads to none of the paper being recycled because it has been contaminated.
Aside from paper, the school makes an effort to recycle many other items. Building and Grounds manager, Steve Balsley, mentions items that are also recycled.
“We recycle cardboard boxes from the kitchen, light bulbs, ballast (a type of electrical unit), scrap metal, batteries, old gym equipment, and some plastic bottles,” Balsley said.
Unfortunately, we can’t recycle all our plastic because it has It’s also not practical to recycle, as we don’t have the space and resources to sort through it.
“Nobody wants plastic,” Balsley stated.
The recycling service we use, Advanced Disposals, sees no benefit in recycling plastic as it has no weight, and is unprofitable to recycle.
It would be preferable if the school explicitly stated this information so that students could see that any efforts they made to recycle would be appreciated. Regardless, it can be said that we should all follow the example Fremd has set for us. Recycling is not an action where we can directly see the fruits of our labor, but it is essential that we understand how important it is.
]]>*Spoilers below
Based off a book of the same title that was published in 2017, The Hate U Give is a story that stemmed from an increasingly heated relationship between police officers and people of color––specifically black men. It’s an issue that, unfortunately, has yet to be resolved in our country today.
I read this book when it came out over a year and a half ago, and appreciated the balance of emotion and nuance that author Angie Thomas brought to this timely story. The movie adaptation didn’t disappoint either.
The Hate U Give centers on a black girl named Starr Carter who lives in a poor black neighborhood and goes to school in a rich white one. She struggles with different versions of her identity in each of those places, wanting to be herself in her neighborhood, but acutely aware that she must change who she is when she goes to school in order to be accepted. Early in the film, she witnesses an old friend of hers, Khalil Harris, get shot and killed by a police officer after they’d been pulled over for a minor driving mistake.
The story becomes all too familiar from there, as Starr watches Khalil’s character endure suspicion and scrutiny almost immediately, while the cop who shot him is rarely questioned about his own deadly actions.
From the start, the plight of poor neighborhoods like Starr’s is brought to light and examined. Starr’s dad, Maverick, used to deal drugs, until he did time in prison for a crime he didn’t commit so he could get out of the business. Maverick explains to Starr the allure of dealing, when money is desperately needed simply to pay bills and put food on the table, and the town’s minimum-wage jobs can’t make ends meet. Most get sucked into the business not because they’re lazy or greedy, but because they see no other way to provide for their loved ones, falling prey to a vicious cycle. Maverick sheds light on this struggle to inform the audience and give them an opportunity to understand and sympathize when they might not have before.
What this film did best, though, was open a nuanced conversation about police brutality––a timely, heated issue in this country. Varying points of view on what happened to Khalil were highlighted, giving the story a chance to be told from many sides.
Starr’s friend Hailey––who is rich and white––has a difficult time understanding why the cop did anything wrong. Hailey feels that since Khalil was a drug dealer––even though Starr explained that he dealed to pay for his grandmother’s chemo treatment, among numerous other things––he was probably going to get killed at some point anyways. Even with these types of comments, Hailey’s position is still depicted as complex. Hailey’s comments are not necessarily a symptom of racism, but come from a narrow and uninformed position. Hailey has a lot to learn about being poor and black; in the end, she isn’t willing to admit that.
Hailey’s character is contrasted with Starr’s boyfriend, Chris––also rich and white. They’ve been together for six months in the movie, and Chris is increasingly bothered by the fact that Starr won’t let him meet her parents or go over to her house. As the controversy around Khalil’s death gets more intense, Starr realizes she can’t keep that other version of herself from Chris forever. Chris, although a bit naive (realistically so), is there for Starr in any way he can be, even when he accompanies her to a protest that quickly devolves into a riot when news breaks that the cop who killed Khalil would not be indicted. Chris, like Hailey, has a lot to learn about being poor and black as well; but unlike Hailey, he recognizes the gap in his knowledge and chooses to do something to change that.
The character that had the most nuanced perspective in the story is Starr’s uncle, Carlos. As a black man who is also a cop, he symbolizes the intersection amidst the discussion around police brutality. Carlos tells Starr how the cop who shot Khalil may not be entirely to blame. There’s a lot a police officer thinks about during situations like that one, a lot they have to decide in a matter of moments––insinuating that if he had been that cop, he may have shot Khalil, too. After all, it had looked like Khalil was going for a gun (it was a hairbrush). But when Starr asks Carlos if he would have shot a white man doing the same thing, he admits that he wouldn’t have.
Starr’s conversation with her uncle emphasized how this is more than a race issue, it’s also an issue of how cops are trained; what they’re told to see as inherently dangerous, and how that education affects more than just white police officers. Seeing black men as an inherent threat––especially in poor neighborhoods––is in some ways ingrained in the system.
The movie adaptation of the The Hate U Give stays true to the message of the book, and adds a level of complexity to the conversation about police brutality that is greatly needed today.
In the end, Khalil Harris didn’t get justice because The Hate U Give isn’t about a perfect world, it’s about the real one. And it ultimately asks us, How much hate are we going to give each other before the cycle is finally broken?
]]>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 80 percent of California middle schools and high schools started earlier than 8:30 a.m.
American politician Assemblyman Jay Obernolte argues that later school times could improve student health, boost graduation rates, and save the school system billions of dollars.
“This is the single most cost-effective thing we can do to improve high school graduation rates,” Obernolte said.
Fremd math teacher and morning bird Daniel Hays opposes California’s ban on starting school early, revealing his own preferences for school starting times.
“Although I don’t feel completely well educated about the issues of starting school early, I personally am a morning person,” Hays said. “So I think it is better to get things done early and end school earlier.”
Research conducted by experts indicate that inadequate sleep for kids can lead to obesity, behavioral and developmental problems, and possibly depression. According to CNBC News, California legislators believe that a combination of late bedtimes and early school hours is putting students at a disadvantage.
Sophomore Jieun Kim believes later school days would be an important step to better physical health and personal well being.
“Many times I feel stressed from the homework load I have the night before and all the extracurricular clubs after school,” Kim said. “It would be beneficial to busy students like me to get this extra hour in the morning.
Due to an increased emphasis on extracurricular activities and AP classes, students today are staying up later with studies suggesting that as few as 20 percent of adolescents get enough sleep on school nights.
However, Senior Shreyah Prasad is partial upon the subject of schools starting later than 8:30, weighing the pros and cons of the situation.
“While starting school later is good for a students health, later times would then cause after school activities to drag later than usual,” Prasad said. “Thus, it would lead students to resorting to do their homework later, causing them to sleep even later.”
]]>I used to have the negative mentality that school spirit is pointless, thinking that taking pride in your school was a waste of energy and time. But then I started high school. Beginning of freshman year I was full of school spirit, and because I was I did everything I could so that our school could win. However, as freshman year went on, I felt as if we didn’t need school spirit because no one was doing it and I couldn’t see any of the benefits. Now, as a sophomore, I’ve got a different view on school spirit.
School spirit is really important to a school’s population, from the students, the parents and even to the faculty. In fact it brings people together, and creates a bond between students and even between students and family. The fact is, our students are a divided group of people. We all have different opinions and ideas of what’s right and wrong and hats considered cool and what isn’t. When we find a common goal, even something as simple as wanting our football team to win, not only do we become closer to one another but school spirit shown by fellow classmates also fuel support and gives athletes a sense of confidence.
Every competitive team or club at our school has one thing in common: a rival team. There’s nothing wrong with some healthy competition. It makes people want to be better and work harder. Especially in sports, school spirit can be really important if you want to succeed. If players have no faith in their team and no support for themselves, they’re really not going to do the best they can. School spirit gives students and faculty a belief in this community, that we can go forward. With that mindset, we will surely be able to do so.
In my high school experience so far, I’ve come to realize school spirit is much more than just posters and chants. It makes us work harder, giving us some healthy competition. I’ve come to find that having school spirit also brings people together. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the football team, if you really hate the color green or even if you’re graduating soon – school spirit is a truly important factor in our lives and impacts every single one of us. So the next time there’s a sporting event or a theme week, just have some fun and participate, knowing you’re doing more than showing up and dressing up. I really believe that the sooner you realize the importance and joy of school spirit, the better time in high school you’ll have. Plus, from personal experience, it’s a lot of fun to put paint on your face and “go bananas.”
]]>I’m a senior this year, my sister graduated four years ago, and as long as Fremd has been a conscious part of my life––and surely much longer than that––it has been a school entrenched in competition. The beginning of this school year has highlighted more efforts to that effect, a prevalent one being the new Student Readiness Plan (SRP)––an application that has made me glad I’m on my way out of here.
Now, there are some aspects of the SRP that are genuinely useful, mainly that it puts various resources––Infinite Campus, Schoology, etc.––in one place. I believe the main idea behind this app was to help students be as prepared as they possibly could be for college, especially as receiving a higher education becomes increasingly competitive. That sounds like a smart idea. But in this instance, it meant putting a number on nearly every aspect of a student’s life––which gives it the looks of an extreme case of quantity over quality.
The app has places to log things like SAT/ACT scores and your GPA, setting district benchmarks that are “goals” to be met. This isn’t really anything out of the ordinary, but there’s also an emphasis on meeting the Power of 15––the goal of having every student graduate from high school with fifteen college credits––which has been misunderstood and misplaced. Its original intention, and the data behind this idea, was aimed at college students, referring to how many credits they should take on per semester to graduate on time. (More on this below.)
There’s also a section titled “Global Community Skills,” which is supposed to measure a student’s ability to communicate and collaborate with others. It’s all self-assessing (meaning students can simply enter the desired score and move on) and once again numerically based. Then, in the “Wellness” section, there’s a part where a “Student will attend at least two school events not associated with membership on a team or club/activity.”
So, in addition to any activity or sport a student is a part of (which, the Student Involvement section states that a student should be in at least two), they should also attend separate school events too. These aren’t necessarily requirements (they’re listed as “goals”), but the language around them definitely comes off that way. Almost every sport at Fremd carries with it a six-day, two-hours-a-day practice commitment, and a good number of clubs have a similar level of intensity.
On top of extracurriculars, students are expected to attempt to complete the Power of 15––which sends the message that if you’re not in AP classes, there’s a standard not being met. Besides that, students have many reasons for not being in AP or other college level classes like dual credit courses, including commitments outside of the Fremd atmosphere. I’m going to graduate having taken two, and there’s still a struggle not to look at that as underachieving. Many of my friends have felt the same way.
Ultimately, the initial intent behind the SRP was to benefit students, but the reality is that Fremd is extremely competitive already. Attempting to put a number on nearly every aspect of a student’s life is overwhelming, and enhances the weight of expectations already bearing down on them. Being college ready (or in Fremd’s case, ultra-college ready) is important, but so is overall well-being, which is at risk of severely suffering from programs like this one. A little less focus on numbers, and a little more attention to emotional health can go farther than getting into a better college. It can give Fremd students a better life.
More information on the Power of 15: https://calhoun.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/CCA-Intensity-Brief-April3-1.pdf
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As with previous iPhones, this year’s iPhones have mainly hardware upgrades. This includes a better display, camera, stereo system, improved water resistance, and faster Face ID technology. Each of the three new iPhones also contains Apple’s newly unveiled A12 Bionic processor, which provides a boost in performance due to a new six-core chip.
Apple CEO Tim Cook called the devices “by far the most advanced iPhone we have ever created.”
One of the most anticipated releases out of the three new iPhones was the introduction of the iPhone XS Max. While it isn’t instantly apparent because of its tiny frame, the iPhone XS Max’s massive 6.5-inch screen makes it one of the biggest screens in the market, beating out its competitor Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s 6.4-inch screen.
Junior William Li was surprised by the announcement of the new iPhones.
“I didn’t know there was a new iPhone, but the iPhone XS Max looks amazing,” Li said.
Unlike Apple’s previous “budget” phones like the iPhone SE and iPhone 5C, the new iPhone XR brings in much more to the table. Although not cheap at $749, its price is relatively much cheaper than the other two new iPhones while still sharing most of the design and specs. The iPhone XR also comes in a wider range of colors: white, black, blue, yellow, coral, and red. Perhaps the most surprising difference is that the iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch screen, which is significantly larger than the 5.9-inch screen of the iPhone XS.
Computer Science teacher Charles Nichols voiced his excitement and opinion about the new iPhones.
“I’m actually very excited about the new iPhones, I’m still waiting for the XR to become available so I can get one!” Nichols said. “I currently have a loaner phone and have been counting down the days until it’s release.”
Although the iPhone XR has a slightly larger screen, everything else about the iPhone XR is worse than the XS. It’s slightly bulkier and has larger bezels. The biggest compromise in buying the cheaper iPhone XR is the screen. The iPhone XR downgrades from an OLED to an LCD screen, significantly lowering native resolution and brightness. Thus, the iPhone XR won’t display as accurate and vibrant colors. However, a small loss of quality in the screen won’t be a dealbreaker for the vast majority of users.
Sophomore and iPhone user Suyash Tewari shares which phone he would most likely purchase.
“I think I would buy the XR,” Tewari said. “I like the lower price and the cool new colors.”
If you’re thinking of buying one of these phones but are not willing to empty your bank account, the iPhone XR may be the best fit, as it has the perfect balance of performance and price. Not only does it have almost all of the features of the other two iPhones, but it’s also $200 cheaper than the XS with a larger screen as well. However, if you want a premium, good looking phone and you have the money, the iPhone XS Max is a great choice because of its gigantic screen and incredible performance.
]]>When and where did you first start teaching?
So my first teaching job was at a Chinese school in Lake Forest. It was 7th-grade math and then 1st-grade math, so that was a struggle. Then after that, Libertyville High School was my first teaching aide position, and then I got a job at Waukegan High School where I was for three years before here.
Did you enjoy math growing up? What inspired you to become a math teacher?
No. I had a really great math teacher that actually got me to like math, and so in a way, I kind of wanted to become that guy and kind of influence and inspire students who might not enjoy math to at least enjoy it.
Did you plan to become a teacher or was it something that just kind of happened along the way?
So if you ask my three-year-old self I would probably say “Yes I plan to be a teacher” and then as I grew up, it was in the back of my head. My dad is a professor so I kind of grew up with teaching as like a thing I was always aware of, but I didn’t necessarily plan on being a teacher. However, when I had that awesome math teacher I was like, “Aw man, I kind of want to do that.” So I went to college, I didn’t actually take any teaching classes because I just wanted to do math in general, and then kind of like sit on it and be like, “Do I really want to teach?” So I took like one or two to kind of feel for whether or not I would like it, and when I did figure out I liked it, I went on and got my master’s in teaching.
Tell me more about this math teacher. How did his teaching style impact you and your interest in math? How does his teaching style impact you as a teacher?
He just made math so much more understandable, so much more fun. I always try to do that for my students because I know walking in, unless you are like super duper math geek, it’s probably not your favorite subject. While it might still not be your favorite subject, it should at least be a subject you’re not dreading to go into every day, so that’s what I try to get out of my students.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of the classroom? More broadly, what inspires and motivates you in life?
I really like to read, I enjoy video games, listening to music. Sports are definitely not a hobby, although swimming isn’t too bad, but food, sleeping, probably the stuff you guys are also interested in. In life – food, I really enjoy food. You can really get me to do a lot of stuff with that. In terms of goals, I don’t know, just kind of trying to find new things everywhere learning new things every day and just constantly learning I guess.
Do you have a favorite math formula, theorem, or principle? What’s special or unique about this concept and why does it entice you?
Pythagorean Theorem – One reason is that it’s really hard to say and I enjoy saying the word Pythagorean. The more important one is because I see myself using it literally every day, so it’s just an extremely applicable theorem that everyone can understand, so I really enjoy it.
I’m sure you’ve heard students complain about learning abstract concepts in math – what is your response to students who claim that they’ll never use math in the “real world?”
So I get that a lot in geometry because you’re talking about proofs and triangles and parallel lines and you’re like “When am I gonna use this?” and my response is always: geometry is not necessarily about parallel lines and triangles, it’s about logic and reasoning. When you are speaking to someone you’re creating an argument, and that creation of an argument is logic and reasoning. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you are using geometry every day. It just might not look like the problems you see on the paper.
Do you have a message for people who dislike math or proclaim themselves as “bad at math?”
I mean not necessarily a message per se, but just don’t give up. There’s no such thing as “bad at math.” You’ve just kind of got to persevere, and you might not be the best at math, but I feel that everyone, as long as they can apply themselves and work hard towards it, can at the very least do well in math or get something in math and then get something out of math. Whether it’s a theorem you use every day or if it’s just like a C in the class, I feel like those are all successes in their own way.
At the end of the day, what would you say is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?
When I see that light bulb go off in your head. Say you’re struggling with those problems and all of the sudden you just go “Oh my gosh, I get it!” That is literally the best thing I could ever hear coming from your mouth.
]]>Fremd High School will be hosting its biennial Artsfest, a week long festival dedicated to showcasing various forms of artistic expression. Starting on October 29th, students will have the opportunity to go to the auditorium during their free periods and experience music and art at a professional level.
In the auditorium, professional musicians and ensembles from all over the country will be performing. Furthermore, students will be able to learn about various musical techniques and styles from these groups through interactive performances and time allotted for questions.
Freshman Brandon Grochowski is one of many students excited to listen to music at a professional level.
“I think it’s going to be really cool; you get to hear music at a professional level,” Grochowski said. “It’s going to be a very special occasion, this sort of chance doesn’t happen every day.”
The festival is not limited to only Fremd Music and Art students. Students with a various fields of interests are welcome to participate. Band director John Teichert believes that the week-long festival will benefit all students, not only musicians.
“It’s eye opening to see that music and art isn’t just limited to what you experience in school; there’s this whole world out there of music and this week will allow us to open up our ears,” Teichert said. “Even if you aren’t performing music, you feel and hear things that will not only interest you but also push you to think in a different way.”
With groups such as Alliance Brass, Fifth House, and the Jake Victor jazz quartet participating, students can expect to hear unfamiliar genres and sounds such as classical, contemporary, and jazz. For instance, the Northern Illinois University Steel Band will be performing on steel pans rather than a traditional set of steel drums.
For those interested in musical careers, multiple schools such as Roosevelt University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will be giving a “Careers in Music” presentations in the choir/orchestra room. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about musical careers.
In art classrooms and in the library classroom, the art department will bring in various visual artists and colleges to present to aspiring students. Colleges such as the Art Institute of Chicago will present characteristics unique to their programs, provide information on art portfolios, and give insight on potential careers after college. Furthermore, professional artists such as Jason Burke will share parts of their creative work and discuss job opportunities in art and design careers.
Throughout the week, students and teachers are encouraged to participate in Artsfest. Junior Mary Tang provides insight on why she is looking forward to the festival.
“Since I play music, I really want to listen and learn new styles and techniques about not only my instrument but also the ones I play with,” Tang said. “To add on, everyone is so focused on their demanding and challenging classes that sitting down and enjoying music for period is a great and well-needed break in your day.”
]]>Despite the unattainable expectations looming above us, students began to work the system in their favor, a practice labeled Academic Dishonesty. The posters around school are quite the eyesore, yet become a real issue as the last bullet point characterizes cheating as “acquiring and/or distributing tests, answers to tests, answer keys, class projects, research papers, reports, or school-owned materials through verbal, written, graphic, electronic, or other means.” The distribution of test answers is obviously restricted; however, the basic actions students take to help one another or further their understanding is something that the school is now against.
The phrase “school-owned materials” is also extremely vague, as it encompasses all notes and homework done by a student on an iPad. Not only is this expectation inapplicable to the outside world, it also makes students feel as though they’re constantly being watched, creating an overall distrusting environment at an already über competitive school. Cheating is something that would not fly anywhere, yet, the restrictions being enforced are not only extensive, they also create more roadblocks in education.
All classes now depend heavily on the use of iPads, and certain consequences result, causing Fremd to become increasingly paranoid about students not sharing work. My anatomy class engages students in several projects and dissections that lab partners and groups have to do together. After class, there is no possible way to find the emails of peers as members of courses on schoology have been made classified. As Fremd continues to progress technologically, the way students learn and take notes is also malleable. If the posters are to threaten against sharing homework, there is no assurance that students will not just use their phones, making these efforts futile.
We do understand that these actions have the intention of making students prepared for college and the discipline it brings, yet labeling the basic act of sharing notes as cheating is quite extensive, especially considering AP classes are the cornerstone of a Fremd education.
Instead of highlighting the repercussions of cheating, learning needs to be a focal point at school rather than doing what needs to be done to ace a test and keep your GPA. By focusing on comprehension of a subject rather than cheating, the need to cheat would be eliminated if students don’t feel as though they need to. By having review days before tests and emphasizing that help is available if needed, students would feel as though they have better options rather than to cheat. On the other hand, administration of tests could also be lowered, leading to dependence on small quizzes to track a students progress and gaining insight to what needs to be reiterated.
Currently, students stack up their schedule with classes they’ve been told will ensure success in their lives, all while neglecting the harm caused to their mental health and social interactions. With most classes assigning a minimum of an hour a night, students taking six AP classes spend their life after school immersed in a never ending web of school work, excluding the extracurricular activities we are strongly encouraged to take. And of course, a sport is the cherry on top to the anxiety filled life of the average Fremd student.
The exponentially rigorous standards created by ideas like those on the guidelines about academic dishonesty breed an environment of competition at Fremd, perpetually leaving students gasping for breath at the enormity of Fremd’s expectations. With that kind of school life being standard, students can feel as though that is the only way they will succeed, however through the encouragement of note sharing and more communication between students and teachers, academic dishonesty can be a problem of the past.
]]>The Fremd Fall Musical cast will be performing a parody of the 1974 comedy, “Young Frankenstein,” on Oct. 18, Oct. 20, Oct. 26, and Oct. 27 at 7 PM in the Kolze Auditorium. A preview of the musical was shown to English classes on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5, featuring the work of the cast, orchestra, and technology crew.
The preview was a brief glimpse of what audiences could expect at the actual performance. The cast performed various numbers including “Happiest Town in Town,” establishing the mood and overall plot, “Together Again,” and “Join the Family Business,” a highlight of the musical.
The storyline of “Young Frankenstein” is centered around Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, a medical lecturer who is shocked to discover that he will inherit his notorious grandfather’s estate in Transylvania. Along the way, Young Frankenstein meets Igor and Inga, the servants, and the intimidating Frau Blücher. The Frankenstein family convinces Young Frankenstein to continue his grandfather’s legacy, but complications arise when Frankenstein creates a menacing monster.
Director Judy Klingner explains how the “Young Frankenstein” musical will generally keep the plot and script of the film, adding some unique styles of its own.
“The film screenplay was written by Mel Brooks, and he also wrote the music and lyrics for the musical. The musical has exactly the same script as the film, but it adds the songs, which are in the same style of Mel Brooks because he wrote it comedic all the way through,” Klingner said. “Most of the main characters have their own song or duet. I think my favorite is a company number called ‘Join the Family Business’ because it is an act we performed for English classes. It is a song that tells a story, has all kinds of creepy special effects that go along with it, and has the whole cast involved.”
This will be Klingner’s last time directing the Fall Musical at Fremd, and it has been a rewarding experience for her. Klingner explains her rationale when it comes to choosing musicals.
“When we choose musicals, we typically look at the talent we have, and then choose a show that will showcase their talents and help them grow as performers,” Klingner said. “‘Young Frankenstein’ had all of the right components to do that for these kids. Truthfully, it is around Halloween time, so it’s a great show to pick for this time of year. It’s a comedy, and comedies are a lot of fun to work on. We’ve had a lot of laughs during the rehearsal process, which has made this a very enjoyable last show for me.”
Senior Morgan Miller, who plays Frau Blücher, describes some challenges she came across when trying to portray her character. Overall, Miller enjoys being in the Fall Musical because it gives her an opportunity to express her love for theatre and comedy.
“Frau Blücher has the thickest accent in the entire show, so that was really difficult because I basically had to mix a German accent with a Russian accent. She’s also insane and sexual yet put-together, so it was weird finding a mix between the different accents and personalities,” Miller said. “I love making people laugh, so anytime it’s a comedy, I’m always there.”
Sophomore Avery Monacella is in the ensemble of the musical. Despite some difficulties along the way, Monacella believes that the musical has provided a valuable opportunity for the cast.
“My favorite part about performing in the musical is getting to know the cast and becoming part of a family because at the end of the day, your cast is the people who you spend hours with at the theatre,” Monacella said. “My favorite part of ‘Young Frankenstein’ is all the choreography. It’s crazy and super fun, and all the technology is extraordinary and will make an amazing product.”
Seeing Klingner direct her final Fremd musical proved to be a memorable experience for the cast, and Miller shares her thoughts and appreciation towards Klingner.
“Working with Mrs. Klingner is like working with a second mom. She’s so kind and forgiving,” Miller said. “Mrs. Klingner is always there for us, and watching her direct her final show is heartwarming because she’s so engaged all the time. We want to make this a good show for her, and we keep saying, ‘Do it for Klingner!’”
Klingner expresses her gratitude towards the “Young Frankenstein” cast and the Fremd community. Klingner is thankful for all the support at Fremd, and she is very proud of the achievements of the cast.
“I’ve been so fortunate to work with a lot of talented kids over the years, and I feel extremely lucky that we’ve had an administration that has allowed me to expand our program,” Klingner said. “I’m super proud of how much we’ve taught the kids at Fremd to appreciate theatre through the assemblies and productions that we’ve been able to produce here. Finally, I’m most proud of all the kids who always exceed my expectations.”
]]>International students across thousands of SAT test centers in the United States flipped through their SAT exam booklets with a sense of recognition on August 25. Many of those students reported that the August SAT test included questions from the test administered in Asia last October.
One such student was senior Jerry Xu from Guangdong, China. She flew to the US specifically to take the August test.
“I was shocked when I saw the questions,” Xu said. “It was identical to a previous one. Although I have not taken it myself, I saved a copy of it as a practice.”
Comments on social media similar to that of Xu’s fueled outrage in the US student communities. More than two thousand people signed a petition to the White House for invalidating the test, as they believed that students who had taken or practiced with the test previously would gain a significant advantage over other students.
Junior Andrea Jing is strongly against the inadequate test integrity and believes that the test scores should be canceled.
“Usually when you take a test and retake the exact same one, you would know the answers for sure. This makes the curve unfair to all the other students,” Jing said. “[The students who have taken the tests] have probably compared answers with their friends and figured out the right answers.”
Despite the call for canceling the test scores, the College Board released the August scores on September 7, as initially planned. Before then, several official statements from the organization have been issued; most statements centered around measures of testing securities, and few suggested specific actions in regards to the test in question.
There is little doubt that the College Board had reused a previous test. To prevent the cost of test development, including the process planning, designing specifications, revising, pilot testing and norming, the concept of recycling standardized tests is not uncommon.
Yet, there is a bigger concern: was the test leaked after being administered in Asia?
“We recognize that organizations and individuals will consistently try to challenge the system and find new ways to cheat, which is why we continue to enhance our test security measures,” College Board said in a statement.
Disputing the statement from the College Board, Xu drew on personal experience with Chinese test-prep agencies and suggested that there is an official leakage from the College Board.
“Some of the official practice tests I’ve seen were of really high quality and accuracy,” Xu said, “They’re most likely the originals, shared amongst the test-prep agencies.”
Sophomore Jessica Li believes that Xu’s hypothesis is possible.
“In such a information-based society, files could be compromised quite easily,” Li said.
Five days after the exam, a class-action lawsuit was filed by a Floridian father whose daughter had taken the test. On behalf of all August test takers, it alleges that the College Board and Educational Testing Service (ETS) breached their “fiduciary duty by recycling old exam questions, including those that have been publicly disseminated prior to the SAT exam.” The lawsuit is currently being processed in the Middle District of Florida.
Social studies teacher Jacqueline Dickens believes that issues of this scope with the College Board need be resolved quickly for the sake of the students.
“This is definitely a serious situation as colleges seem to place a significant emphasis on SAT scores to determine which students they would like to accept as well as deciding potential scholarships,” Dickens said, “ I hope that this experience will encourage College Board to re-evaluate their security measures and make any necessary changes.”
]]>Over the summer, the Bulls drafted center Wendell Carter Jr. with the seventh pick and forward Chandler Hutchinson with the 22nd pick. Carter is best known for being a physical defender in the paint and perimeter and a decent shooter with good post play, who has a knack for taking advantage of second-chance points. Hutchinson is a solid playmaker and can get to the basket with ease, but his shooting and defense are still questionable. Carter is the more notable of the two as he will be expected to start alongside Markkanen in the frontcourt and help mask Markkanen’s deficiencies on defense. Hutchinson, on the other hand, will most likely be coming off the bench as a role player.
In free agency, the Bulls resigned guard Zach LaVine and acquired forward Jabari Parker. LaVine will look to build chemistry with the rest of the team and continue to improve as a defender this year. Parker is a more of a wild card as he has been injured for a good part of his four-year career but has potential to be a consistent scoring option. It will be hard to evaluate the new additions until they actually play together considering that they are all so young, but there is optimism with the all the talent on this team.
In order to be successful this year, Markkanen will have to continue his remarkable rookie year performance in order to function as the Bulls’ offensive centerpiece. The rest of the team should fill in around him as support. LaVine and Dunn in the backcourt will have to effectively command the offense, with Dunn serving as a go-to scorer from the perimeter and Dunn as a facilitator. Dunn also has to maintain his great defense from last year, when he averaged 1.4 steals. New addition Jabari Parker will also need to be someone the Bulls can rely on for a consistent source of points. Along with this, the bench unit with guards Denzel Valentine, Antonio Blakeney, and forwards Bobby Portis, Justin Holiday, Chandler Hutchison will need to step up.
Unless all of these pieces fall into place, it is unlikely that the Bulls will return to the playoffs this year. The key weakness for the Bulls is their defense as LaVine, Parker, and Markkanen are players that have struggled heavily on that end of the floor throughout their careers. Adding on to this, Markkanen is expected to miss the first month of the season, which will be a big hit to the Bulls’ record during this time period. With this likely slow start and the team’s shortcomings on defense, it will be difficult to recover and have a good enough record to reach the postseason. Despite these unlikely odds for this year, Bulls fans should continue to be optimistic about this team for future seasons because of the young lineup that has been put together consisting of Markkanen, Dunn, LaVine, and Carter.
]]>Million Dollars to Kill Me is the beginning of Joyce Manor’s departure from their previous style. Joyce Manor heavily relied on bold choruses, heavy guitar riffs, hostile pseudo-screaming, along with dejected, straightforward, sometimes quirky, lyrics. Their overall style captured the spirit of the feeling of frustration and angst of being young. It’s evident that Joyce Manor’s music has grown and matured as they have, but this album truly marks their transition from the frustration of youth to the melancholy of adulthood.
The album starts out with the gritty “Fighting Kangaroo.” Right away, “Fighting Kangaroo” sets listeners’ expectations for an album about the clash between the painful memories of the past and the bleak reality of the present as Johnson forcefully questions, “And is it true you knew I’d miss you/Back when we were little kids.” Joyce Manor continues to dig deeper into the past with “Think I’m Still In Love With You.” The track deals with the struggle of longing for the people and happiness in the past and the inability to move on from it.
The third track, “Big Lie,” is one of the best tracks on the album because of the haunting guitar melodies and Johnson’s raw vocals. Additionally, the lyrics portrays the frustration of the disconnection between what people present to the world and how they really feel: “Everybody thinks I’m joking/If it’s funny then hold me while I cry all night.” The track also functions as a signal for the album’s progression to more mature lyrics and instrumentation.
Another standout track includes “Silly Games.” The track ventures to a gentler side of Joyce Manor and provides a unique composition compared to the rest of the album. The track lays Johnson’s soft vocals over sweet piano melodies, chimes and wistful humming to create a nostalgic, dream-like sound.
The most disappointing track in the album is “Friends We Met Online.” While the track is a faster-paced one, the stale instrumentation and Johnson’s apathetic vocals account for the lack of the punch that is typically present in Joyce Manor’s music. Additionally, the lyrics are supposed to be a sentimental recollection of finding the internet as a place to turn to during painful times, but it just ends up sounding awkward: “You and I were members of the same online community/I know that it sounds kinda lame when I say it out loud.” The lyrics miss the humor and sincerity that Joyce Manor typically reaches with such candid lyrics.
After the trainwreck of “Friends We Met Online,” Joyce Manor more than makes up for it with “Gone Tomorrow” and “Wildflowers.” Both of the tracks are slower-paced, sorrowful and demonstrate Joyce Manor’s growth as artists. The serene vocals and gentle guitar riffs are a far cry from their past hits like their 2011 track “Constant Headache” but they still capture their signature dejected feel.
With Million Dollars to Kill Me, Joyce Manor acknowledges that they are no longer young and reckless and they show it with their more mature style. The entire album is a recognition of all the joy and pain from the past that still haunts the present and it feels as if Joyce Manor is accepting the past in order to look forward to their future progression.
Link to photo – https://joycemanor.bandcamp.com/
]]>Junior setter Lydia Vander Ark reflects on the team’s ability to perform as a unit.
“It was really good today. Playing together a long time, we know who is going to be where,” Vander Ark said.
As the first set kicked off, the Vikings quickly got out to a sizable 17-6 lead. The team’s defense, anchored by senior libero Maddie Aichinger, was nearly perfect the entire set. Flawless passes from the back row led to easy kills for the squad’s attackers and Schaumburg’s defense was unable to respond. Overall domination on the court allowed Fremd to cruise to an easy 25-11 first set win.
Head coach Curtis Pinley commends on the Viking’s defensive performance, which caused many problems for the Saxons.
“Because we were consistent in serve-receive, we were able to run our offense,” Pinley said. “Our ability to run our offense forced Schaumburg’s defense to move a little bit too much and that was when we were able to get points against them.”
While the first set may have been a blowout, the second set was much more of a challenge for Fremd, as Schaumburg put up a stronger fight. Neither team managed to get out to a lead of more than a few points during the entirety of the set. At one point, however, a succession of service errors and violations by Fremd, and smart plays by Schaumburg resulted in the Vikings trailing 15-18. This slight lead for the Saxons led Pinley to call a timeout. Senior middle hitter Jules Tangney details the benefit of the timeout late in the contest.
“It always helps so much to just take a moment and think about things and come out of the game and take a deep breath,” Tangney said.
This timeout proved to be the push needed for the girls to finish out the match in the second set itself, as the team quickly evened up the score at 20. The game remained tight, but a kill from senior outside hitter Peyton Hooker gave Fremd a 23-22 advantage. Hooker’s attack was followed by a kill from junior outside hitter Breslen Reid to make it 24-22. The Saxons managed to pick up one more point, but another kill from Reid wrapped up the set 25-23, and the Vikings walked away with the victory.
Pinley explains what he told his team during the timeout that helped bring about the win.
“I reminded them to stay aggressive. I also reminded them that they’re going to win as a team,” Pinley said. “I noticed that their energy was a little bit down, so I said one of the biggest things you’re going to need to do is figure out how to pick up each other on the court a little bit. And they came back out after that timeout and did a really nice job of doing that.”
Reid and senior Heidi Sayre led Fremd’s attack with eight kills apiece. Sophomore Rylen Reid contributed five. Setters Rian Baker and Vander Ark facilitated the ball well with 10 assists and 12 assists respectively. Aichinger held down the defense with 11 digs, on top of fantastic passes in serve-receive.
The win against the Saxons capped off a sensational 9-1 record in conference this season. The team also won the Grayslake North Invite for the second year in a row, increasing their overall record to 24-5. The Vikings have their sights set on a top finish in the upcoming state series this year.
]]>(Photo courtesy of National Weather Service Chicago)
Now that we are into October, there are a few notable changes we will see or have already seen that don’t deserve to be gone unnoticed. These will also feature as our weather tidbits of the month, with more in-depth information. One of the more notable changes we see are fewer thunderstorms, as well as extremely lower severe weather potential. While thunderstorms can and will happen in cooler air (ie. 40s and 50s), they are less likely to form or produce severe weather because there is no warm and moist air for them to feed on.
Like humans, thunderstorms and weather systems need something to sustain themselves. For thunderstorms, it’s just a tiny bit different. Now here is the other side of the spectrum. Fall is notoriously famous for strong weather systems because of cold wintry air meeting warm moist air. Strong weather systems can produce thunderstorms in colder air because of their powerful feed of moisture rich air they bring in with their strength. It’s similar to weight-lifting. We lift heavy things to become strong, and weather systems lift warm, heavy, and moisture-rich air which makes them stronger. This air is transported past the cyclone and into the cooler air, therefore creating many thunderstorms.
This also leads us into our second change we start to see a little later on and into next month. When warm and moist air crosses too far over into the colder sector, snow can form depending on temperatures. When you have a strong low pressure system, thunderstorms can form well into the cold sector because of how fast the air is transported into the sector. If the temperatures are below freezing, as is usual with strong fall systems, a rare phenomena can form called “thundersnow.” This is when thunderstorms form in the cold sector of a low pressure weather system. Thundersnow is more likely with strong fall systems, and is typically observed in November and December. However, if conditions are right in other months of the year, thundersnow can also occur then.
Now we get to the fun part: the forecast. As is the norm, we generally have the forecast through the 25th pinned down. Through this date, the average for temperatures are in the upper 50s to near 60 degrees. The current forecast looks to be on track with below normal temperatures during this period, likely in the low to middle 50s. This also corresponds with the Climate Prediction Center’s forecast for the region. No precipitation is likely throughout this period, and if there is, it will be limited in nature. We are also tracking potentially another cold shot arriving during the period of the 19th to the 21st. This may feature high temperatures in the upper 40s and low temperatures dipping into the 20s, which may prompt more frost/freeze headlines later on. After the 25th of October, we are generally expecting more below average temperatures struggling to hit 50 degrees at times. A couple of weather systems could come through during that time, and we may have to watch for a few snowflakes, since it is late October. We don’t want to forget that the first date for a trace or more of snow on average is October 30th!
]]>Williams, 36, was going for her 24th grand slam. However, she lost to Naomi Osaka, 20, after receiving three violations from the chair umpire — for illegal coaching, breaking her racket, and verbal abuse. The center of the controversy was the verbal abuse violation, which she earned after calling Carlos Ramos a “liar,” and a “thief.” Williams and Ramos are both to blame in the situation. Williams lost her temper when she needed it the most and Ramos failed to consider the consequences of his misjudging calls in such an intense match.
That being said, Williams’ point has validity — other men have said a lot worse. Former tennis player James Blake admits this via Twitter stating, “I will admit I have said worse and not gotten penalized. And I’ve also been given a “soft warning” by the ump where they tell you knock it off or I will have to give you a violation…”
Adding to that, fans never failed to show love for rage in sports, as long as it’s not from a woman. Tennis is filled with angry men: Agassi, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Benoit Paire, Andy Roddick. They scream, spit, swear, break a racket and get penalized with an occasional fine. Or not. But, Ramos was in no mood to let William put on a show. The three violations cost Williams a game and a $17,000 fine. To make it worse, following the controversial match, an Australian cartoonist depicted Williams as an ape-like child, stomping and complaining, with a pacifier. The association of black people with monkeys is traced back to centuries. The comparison is degrading and proves that times haven’t changed as much as we think they did. Osaka was also portrayed as a white woman in the illustration. The cartoon was discriminatory to two of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
It’s clear that Williams is the most well known victim of sexism in professional tennis. Recently, the French Tennis Federation banned her “Wakanda inspired catsuit” at the French Open. The suit’s main purpose was to help prevent blood clots in her body, following the birth of her daughter. The fact that her choice of clothing was a problem in a tournament designed to measure physical ability was sexist. One of the rare black women to dominate tennis, Williams has faced criticism throughout her career. Time and time again, Williams and other female tennis players have to experience things that their male counterparts never have to go through.
Certainly, Williams is not the only one in the center of a gender focused controversy. French tennis player Alize Cornet received a code violation for changing her shirt on the court, after realizing she had it on backwards. None of the men are penalized while sitting shirtless between games. During the US Open quarter final against Juan Martinez del Porto, John Isner changed his shirt 11 times throughout the game. During the same US Open quarter final, Novak Djokovic sat shirtless for several minutes while his opponent, John Millman of Australia stepped away to change his shirt. Neither of them were penalized. When you consider all this, there is no getting around the double standards on display. Cornet was penalized for something men like Djokovic have been doing for years. Three years ago, Canadian tennis player Eugenie Bouchard was asked to “give (us) a twirl,” by an Australian Open tennis commentator. Would he have asked a male player to twirl? Probably not.
Femininity has been a barrier to success when it shouldn’t be. The Williams-Ramos controversy was an unfortunate conflict with both sides at fault. However, Williams is not wrong to point out the injustices woman have to go through in sports. All in all, the continuous sexist events at the US Open question whether women will ever truly gain the equality they’re claimed to have in sports.
The most obvious issue with the system in place is that it fails to thoroughly check IDs. With approximately 2600 students entering the school every day and only a few staff members to screen them, it is simply not possible to check every single student. Many students slip through the checkpoints without proper identification, hiding themselves in the great mass of people attempting to enter the school. Even among those with their IDs, so many give only an obscured flash of their cards, which is not sufficient to actually verify that the right people have access to the school. When closely examined, each ID can identify a Fremd student, but at the current volume and level of scrutiny, they only serve as blurry indications. It is not unheard of for Fremd students to “borrow” others’ IDs, clearly undermining the purpose of an ID—to identify a person. Though letting another student into the school seems to be harmless enough, it is just as easy to give an ID to an unauthorized individual. Without further resources or manpower, Fremd is not well equipped to deal with the possibility of a person’s identity not matching the piece of plastic in their hands.
But even if every single student were adequately checked for ID cards, what would happen to the actual security threats—malicious actors and hooligans wishing to penetrate the school? Would they be dissuaded by the ID-checking system, or would they simply ignore the school’s staff and enter anyway? As dedicated and hard-working as the ID-checkers may be, they are not security guards and only have a limited number of enforcement options available. These reliable adults may serve to identify potential threats early on, but IDs are not exactly conducive to this purpose if they are not consistently checked.
Compare that—the effect of IDs on security threats—with the effect of IDs on pupils. Students who repeatedly forget or misplace IDs are punished by deprivation of money and time spent replacing their IDs. They prove to be no threat to the school and don’t disrupt the learning environment, but they are forced to begin their day waiting in a line and paying a fine for doing essentially nothing. The people who the ID system is supposed to stop are not students of Fremd High School. They wish harm upon the school and the people in it. They will not willingly submit themselves to additional security screening. They do not care about paying a fine, waiting in line, getting detention, or being yelled at by an adult. Nevertheless, it seems that these are the methods which are used to enforce ID policies. This implementation is far less effective at stopping dangerous individuals than it is at punishing students, the very people who are supposed to benefit from the ID system.
Looking at these questionable practices, it is natural to wonder if the school administration has faith in the ID system. A cursory examination would indicate that it does. By making this ID ritual a part of every student’s morning, the school has shown a dedication to their strategies. But if they were confident that checking for student IDs actually improved the security of the school, why are these checks effectively stopped at 2:45? After school, there remain hundreds of students whose safety is still important. If Fremd believes that IDs were protecting them during the school day, why aren’t they protected during the afternoon? Though Fremd is by no means in grave danger because of this lack of consistency, it does indicate that the school probably doesn’t think that checking IDs is going to help security all that much.
Indeed, the school administration does seem to recognize that more concrete security measures would be necessary to maintain an ID system. An official school policy requires that, in addition to showing IDs at the entrances, students and staff must also display their IDs “throughout the school day, and during school related after school activities.” According to a July Fremd newsletter, this compulsory display is necessary because the “ability to easily identify students and staff improves school safety and security.” This policy is unenforced, to the point where students don’t know about it, and staff members don’t follow it. The primary issue with this nearly completely ignored regulation is that it misleads parents into thinking the school is safer than it actually is. Regardless of disuse and possible deception, it offers an interesting alternative to the system currently in place.
As it stands, IDs are mainly used by Fremd to verify that people entering the school are authorized. The written policy seems to indicate a more comprehensive approach, whereby continuous display of IDs would ensure security throughout the entire school day. If enacted properly, this could actually improve security by making sure that every person in the school belonged, identifying potential threats very early on.
However, the drawbacks to this policy make it practically infeasible. Since the goal would be to make all students wear their own IDs all the time, they would need to be thoroughly checked all the time—occupying valuable chunks of the day which could be used for instruction. Students also generally dislike wearing IDs, and this move would undoubtedly promote a lowering of morale or backlash.
This policy—which the school could very well decide to enforce at any point—exemplifies the inherent tradeoffs and downsides in every ID system. The ones that are the most secure make the school seem like a prison; the ones with the best security involve either costly automated electronics or large amounts of time; and the ones that try to cut corners aren’t secure. In light of these potential downfalls, it is pretty obvious why Fremd has chosen to maintain the status quo—facially, it seems pretty secure, and hasn’t failed yet.
This illusion of security is occurring with a backdrop of recent national developments which have galvanized a school culture increasingly centered around safety. Parents, more than ever, are demanding that schools be separated from the threats of the outside world. Fremd has had IDs for years, but their presence now serves as a pacifier to these concerns. The outward appearance of a security plan should not matter. Regardless of how IDs seem, we should not accept the school’s solution if it doesn’t work.
Still, it is very easy to be complacent. After all, every scenario where the school’s safety is threatened is a massive hypothetical, and the current ID policy is probably one of the last places where a solution would be found. Having an ineffective ID policy is therefore unlikely to jeopardize the safety of any student. However, students and parents should not take any excuses from the school. Fremd has a duty to maintain a safe learning environment. If a measure is designed but not adequately executed for this purpose, it should be dropped or improved. It should not be misguided and overstated. The best future path for Fremd’s student ID program may be an open question, but the administration cannot continue to explicitly and implicitly mislead students, parents, and the community on the safety of their school.
]]>One of the major changes that fall brings is a substantial loss of daylight. As the days get shorter, temperatures drop as well and we will eventually see snow. Typically, Chicago sees its first measurable snow (>0.1 inch) during late October or early November. Meteorologists and weather agencies, even the Farmer’s Almanac, have predicted that this winter will be more severe than years past, foreshadowing a colder fall and the possibility of November snowstorms. However, it is generally too early to be making these predictions about fall because meteorologists and weather organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) have predicted a much milder fall and winter.
What we have predicted with higher confidence is the weather for the next few weeks as well as a longer range forecast leading into much of October. For the week of Sept. 30 through Oct. 6, temperatures are forecast to be below normal in the lower 60s with periodic rain throughout the week. It’s much harder to forecast precipitation patterns than temperatures because of how quickly the forecast can change. However, the weather pattern favors multiple rounds of rain at times throughout this period. For the second week of October, temperatures are predicted to be below average again, with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
The Climate Prediction Center, a climate branch of the NOAA, predicts that the month of October will be slightly below average in terms of temperatures (upper 50s to low 60s through the 14, 50s after the 14) and near normal in terms of precipitation. With below normal temperatures holding on for October, Chicago may have to watch for some early-bird snowflakes toward the latter part of the month. Overall, the area will be entering more of a fall-like pattern throughout the next few weeks. It looks like it’s finally time to start bringing out those jackets again.
]]>#5: Louisiana State University
Last season, under first-year head coach Ed Orgeron, the Tigers of LSU went 9-4, finishing third in the SEC West. The team has made some obvious improvements, as they have gone undefeated so far. A comeback win effort on Sept. 15 saw the Tigers scoring nine points in the final quarter on 249 yards from junior quarterback Joe Burrow in order to best Auburn 22-21.
While Burrow’s forty-nine percent completion rate and three passing touchdowns on the season is not the best, he has done a great job opening up the run game for running backs Nick Brossette and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who have five and four touchdowns respectively. LSU’s defense is solid on the whole, and the Tigers should be serious contenders this year.
#4: Clemson
Despite a victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2016-2017 season, the Clemson Tigers failed to achieve the two-peat, as they lost to Alabama in the semifinal last year. Clemson has had a solid start to the season, but they just barely held on against Texas A&M, winning 28-26.
The team has had a few position shake ups, as head coach Dabo Swinney just announced that freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence would replace senior Kelly Bryant at the starting spot. In the Tigers’ most recent outing against Georgia Tech, Lawrence was fantastic, connecting for four touchdowns in a 49-21 victory. In addition, running back Travis Etienne and wide receivers Tee Higgins and Amari Rodgers should help lead the Tigers to a very successful season.
#3: Ohio State
Although the Buckeyes may not have made it all the way to the College Football Playoff last year, they still had an impressive season, going 12-2, securing the Big Ten championship over Wisconsin and the Cotton Bowl championship over USC. They have begun the 2018 season undefeated, despite head coach Urban Meyer being suspended.
The Buckeyes have been dominant in every single game so far, but they will face a tough competitor in the Penn State Nittany Lions, who are ranked ninth in the nation, this Saturday, Sept. 29. Ohio State’s sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins leads the offense and has multiple options in running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber as well as receivers Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill. The Ohio State Buckeyes should be expected to go very far this year, possibly even ending with a trip to the College Football Playoff.
#2: Georgia
The Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking end to the season last year, losing to Alabama in the National Championship. However, they are once again on the prowl and are looking to redeem themselves this year. Georgia has already gotten off to a fantastic start, dominating in every game they have played so far and currently leading the SEC East.
Sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm has shown some signs of improvement and leads a multi-tiered and complex offense. Junior running back Elijah Holyfield is averaging a solid 8.1 yards on 36 carries so far this season. Their defense, anchored by linebacker D’Andre Walker and defensive back J.R. Reed, appears very strong yet again. The Georgia Bulldogs have all the pieces necessary to go very far this year, and it is likely they will be playing well into the end of the season.
#1: Alabama
Could any other team be expected to top this list besides the Crimson Tide? Over the course of their first four matchups, the reigning champions’ average margin of victory is 41 due to the team boasting an extremely talented roster on both sides of the ball. While their initial games have been blowouts, their first real contest comes on Nov. 3 when they take on the aforementioned LSU Tigers.
Breakout quarterback Tua Tagovailoa commands the offense and has multiple options with running backs Damien and Najee Harris and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith. The defense composed of linebackers Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses and defensive linemen Raekwon Davis and Isaiah Buggs has already recorded 16 sacks resulting in 70 yards lost for their opponents. Ultimately, Nick Saban’s squad looks poised for another trip to the College Football Playoff and possibly another championship.
]]>
Starring Shailene Woodley as Tami Oldham and Sam Claflin as Richard Sharp, Adrift is a romance and survival movie that is meant to deliver a message of true love, courage, and perseverance. Adrift is based on a true story of two sailors who set across the ocean from Tahiti to San Diego, and it takes place in 1983, when an engaged couple go on a long journey at sea, only to run into Hurricane Raymond. In the aftermath of the destructive hurricane, Oldham and Sharp are badly injured, but they are determined to push through all hardships for survival. Despite adequate promotion and anticipation for the return of Woodley and Claflin, Adrift proved to be somewhat of a disappointment. The film fails to stay true to its central theme, which should be based on the enduring love and passionate bond between the main leads. Instead, it focuses more on the aspect of survival at sea, which in no way nears the effectiveness of the legendary movie, Life of Pi, which was released in 2012 and set extremely high standards for future survival and action films. Overall, Adrift does deserve to be complimented for the undeniable acting abilities of Woodley and Oldham, evoking strong emotions from the audience.
Disney stuns the audience with Incredibles 2, a brilliant action and adventure animation that is also the long-awaited sequel of the 2014 The Incredibles. The Incredibles 2 lives up to the audience’s expectations through a combination of heartwarming and comedic scenes. Whereas The Incredibles featured Bob as the main protagonist, The Incredibles 2 adds a twist by having Helen as the new superhero who is responsible for saving the world, while Bob is now in charge of taking care of the kids and lives a “normal” life. Another notable aspect of The Incredibles 2 is the storyline for baby Jack-Jack, who discovers powers of his own. The Incredibles 2 could be fairly ranked as one of the most satisfactory films that came out in the summer of 2018. The audience is able to enjoy themselves in endless laughter, and a theme of cooperation and heroism arises in the many adventures the family goes through by combating evil and supporting each other. With its visually appealing animations and unique plot, Disney created another nearly flawless film with the release of Incredibles 2.
The science fiction film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a sequel of the 2015 Jurassic World. Starring Chris Pratt as Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom takes place three years after the theme park and luxury resort Jurassic World was destroyed by dinosaurs. Owen and Claire must rescue the dinosaurs from extinction when the island’s dormant volcano threatens to erupt. Their attempt at rescuing the dinosaurs could potentially hazard the entire planet, but they are determined to find a way to satisfy both ends of the spectrum. The success of Jurassic World largely contributed to the controversial opinions towards its sequel, with some fans criticizing Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom for its relative simplicity and others quite entertained. The film does a spectacular job of incorporating realistic scenes of blood and gore, and these components positively add to the “thrilling” aspect of the movie. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom seems to be a much less ambitious film compared to its predecessor, but the lighter elements incorporated into the 2018 version give the film a more humorous and jovial touch. For the most part, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom could be considered a success and allows the audience to “breathe” amidst the mind-boggling and horrifying tensions created by a majority of the scenes.
Marvel Cinematic Universe strikes with another fantasy and science fiction film with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp, a continuation of the 2015 Ant-Man and 2016 Captain America: Civil War. Starring Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, the film features superheroes with the ability to shrink and grow freely using a suit. The film primarily focuses on Lang’s struggle to balance his family life (taking care of his daughter) with his role as Ant-Man (completing superhero tasks). The film leaves a cliffhanger at the end, with Lang disappearing into the Quantum Realm, indicating another sequel to come. Ant-Man and the Wasp is a generally engaging film that is action-packed and suspenseful, incorporating many humorous scenes throughout. Despite positive feedback, the plot of Ant-Man and the Wasp is overly simplistic and comes across as dull and dragging compared to many other traditional Marvel films.
As the first American movie to feature an all-Asian cast, the groundbreaking Crazy Rich Asians condemns stereotypical society and awes the audience. With Constance Wu as Rachel Chu and Henry Golding as Nick Young, this romantic comedy film is about a couple that continues to love each other despite continuous opposition from family and society. With Young as a descendant of one of the wealthiest families in Singapore, Chu must prove herself to be worthy of his love, even if she does not come from a renowned family. The film reveals that money can’t buy happiness or love; it is inner-beauty that counts. Although Crazy Rich Asians has a somewhat cliché plot, the optimistic and humorous components added to the film allow the audience to be engaged in other elements aside from the plot. Crazy Rich Asians restores faith in the romantic comedy genre of movies by featuring a capable female lead with high morale who must go against a prejudiced society in order to discover her inner-values and undaunted abilities.
]]>Starting the match, head coach Scott Newmark had a new lineup in mind.
“We had injuries this year and this is our set conference lineup going forward and I think it’s going to be successful.” Despite the changes coach Newmark made, the team still showed grit and passion throughout the match.
One key example of this mentality on Fremd was freshman Sonal Matta. Matta played the meet with an injury and adapted well, not only to the injury but to the intrusive heat that day. She won in just over an hour, with a score of 6-1,6-0. After the victory, Matta commented on the tough match.
“I just took longer breaks and played more consistent,” Matta said.
Another key factor to the Viking’s victory was the coaching strategy coming in to the meet. Coach Newmark had to adjust to the heat and change his strategy accordingly.
“It’s all about knowing yourself, knowing your body, and knowing your opponent…some girls can handle the heat and some can’t, in doubles, the strategy stayed the same, stay aggressive, in singles, longer breaks, more consistency,” Newmark said.
This change in strategy played out well across the team especially in key players such as junior, Jane Bodensteiner. Bodensteiner won her match respectively, 6-0, 6-0 and also adjusted her play to the windy conditions and heat.
“Adding spin to the ball helped and I was able to get it in,” Bodensteiner said.
Despite this victory and the success the Fremd girls team has had lately, improvements still need to be made. Senior Diya Matta spoke about her win and some improvements she had to make.
“We tried to keep the points pretty short, so this helped us stay aggressive…in terms of improvement, I just need to make my second serve more and I’m just trying to make my first serve percentage higher,” Matta said.
Through setbacks and victories alike, the Fremd Vikings girls tennis team is constantly improving and Coach Newmark and the girls hope to achieve better than last years twelfth in state. Their next competitor comes in the form of Conant, who they will play at home on Sept. 27 at 4:45pm.
]]>Throughout the tournament, players like Roger Federer complained of excessive heat, as temperatures on court surpassed 100 degrees.
“Everything feels off when you’re hot,” Federer said. “It’s just one of those nights where I guess I felt I couldn’t get air.”
After Federer’s upset, many of the top seeds in the men’s draw lost to one another. No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal pulled out of his match against No. 3 seed Juan Martin del Potro after sustaining an injury following a five-hour nailbiter against the ninth seed Dominic Thiem. The resulting draw left Juan Martin playing a back-in-form Novak Djokovic in the final. Novak Djokovic’s hard court dominance in past years proved to be superior to Juan Martin’s potent forehand, as Djokovic utilized his improved court coverage and endurance to outdo his opponent in three sets.
In the women’s draw, the tournament favorite Serena Williams made steady progress, claiming victories over opponents with relative ease. She met a potential roadblock in her round-of-16 match against Kaia Kanepi, but managed to win the match in three grueling sets. Alongside Williams, Naomi Osaka was breezing through her side of the draw, defeating all of her opponents and only dropping a single set. Later in the week, Williams advanced to the championship with Osaka quickly following suit.
Osaka, a first time grand slam finalist, started the match swiftly grabbing an early break that gave her a 3-1 lead over six-time champion Williams. Osaka easily converted the first set to a decisive 6-2 victory. The second game of the second set was defined by an incident that sparked a story of controversies: Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, broke a grand slam regulation after he made a gesture to Williams that the umpire denounced was a violation of the rules, as the act of coaching was deemed illegal during play.
Frustrated, Williams repeatedly proclaimed to the chair umpire that she was not a cheater.
“But I’m telling you, I don’t cheat to win,” Williams said. “I’d rather lose.”
Her frustration continued throughout the rest of the match, as seen by fans when she smashed her racket onto the court. The incident resulted in yet another penalty, this one costing her a point.
Confused, Williams lashed out at the umpire, demanding that he owed her an apology for robbing her of a point.
“I didn’t get coaching. I didn’t get coaching. I didn’t get coaching. You need to make an announcement that I didn’t get coaching,” Williams said. “You owe me an apology.”
After dropping a game and giving Osaka a break later in the set, an enraged Williams took out her anger on the umpire and continued to accuse him of stealing a point from her.
“You stole a point from me,” Williams said. “You’re a thief too.”
After hearing this, the umpire decided to give Williams a game penalty, thus giving Osaka a 5-3 lead. Osaka quickly closed out the set 6-4, earning her first grand slam title. The awards ceremony ended up being just as controversial, as the American crowd booed the sponsors and organizers of the event, Osaka apologized for the turnout of the match, and Williams told her fans to forget about what happened and to stop booing. The drama that ensued after the match was highlighted by a two-sided social media argument: some people said Serena should not have been given the game penalty, while others held Serena at fault for her actions.
]]>The Offseason:
The Bears made some key moves to improve their squad this offseason: signing wide-outs Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, tight end Trey Burton, head coach Matt Nagy, and drafting Roquan Smith and Anthony Miller. The most notable acquisition, however, was a trade for edge rusher Khalil Mack in which the Bears gave up 2019 and 2020 first round picks, a 2020 third round pick, and a 2020 sixth round pick right before week one. These lineup changes have obviously paid great dividends as the Bears kicked off the year 2-1.
The Offense:
The offense has not looked great despite the successful record. It has actually been the weak point of the team as Trubisky constantly fails to put throws on target. After a lackluster first season, fans were expecting a breakout year but now are left with a feeling that he has barely improved. His completion percent is up ten percent from 59 percent to 69 percent, but this number is not that impressive when considering he averages 5.7 yards per attempt because his throws largely consist of short, safe passes that amount to nothing. His lack of vision and deep accuracy have prevented him from making a positive impact on the offense. This begs the question of whether he was the right selection to take in the 2017 draft when other star quarterbacks, like Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson have emerged from the same class. Only time will tell as Trubisky is still young and is adapting to the coaching change this year. The receiving corps of Trey Burton, Allen Robinson, and Taylor Gabriel looks to be a large step up from last year but without a solid quarterback they won’t be able to put their talent on display. The run game remains electric with the thunder-and-lightning dynamic between Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard.
The Defense:
The defense of the Bears is the highlight of the team, having forced at least one fumble and interception in each game. The front seven received a major upgrade this year with the addition of Khalil Mack. In three games he has forced three fumbles, returned an interception for a touchdown, and recorded three sacks. He also provides immense pressure on the opposing quarterbacks due to his pass-rushing ability. The secondary is still average at best due to lack of change in this section. However, this year they have much less responsibility due to the increased pressure applied from the line, which will hopefully compensate for the lack of skills in the defensive backs. As a whole, the defense appears to have the potential to end the year as top ten.
Conclusion:
The Bears seem to have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs this year despite the lack of a passing game due to how good the defense is. I project them to earn a record of 9-7 this year.
]]>Sophomore quarterback Ryan Saxe describes the team’s overall offense.
“We have a pounded and explosive offense which really likes to run the ball a lot,” Saxe said.
Sophomore offensive lineman Jack Walsh deconstructs the Viking’s offensive strategy.
“Just run it down their throats, and then once we ran the ball a couple of times, we throw the ball down the field, and score,” Walsh said. This strategy was definitely present in the game, as the Vikings ran the ball 38 times and only threw the ball six times.
But this game was not won by the running game alone; it had the help of the passing game. Saxe had an efficient game, completing four out of six passes for a total of 177 yards and no interceptions.
The first half ended with the Vikings up 14-0. The Pirates’ offense progressed very quickly up and down the field. They had numerous opportunities to score in the first half, but fortunately Fremd’s defense was able to pull their act together and stop Palatine’s offense from scoring. The Vikings first scored with only 3 minutes left in the first quarter. Luke Bilek scored from two yards away and Anthony Piasecki made the extra point. The Pirates offense was able to cruise deep into Vikings territory where they were halted by the Vikings defense. With only one minute and 38 seconds to go Saxe was able to connect with receiver Jack Hipchen for a 93-yard touchdown, the highlight of the game, which increased the lead of the Vikings to 14.
The Fremd defense had a difficult time with the Pirates quarterback, Zac Garnmeister, who was very quick in the pocket and gave little time for the Vikings defensive line to sack him. Though the defense had some issues, they still had a great performance overall. They had one interception, one sack, and one fumble recovery.
Senior Luke Bilek goes into more detail about the specific issues which his defense faced.
“Probably getting started in the first quarter, we came out pretty slow. We played a little soft,” Bilek said. “We weren’t really prepared for a couple of things they ran, but we adjusted and had it down during the second half.”
The second half was a complete game changer as the Pirates came into the game with a burst of energy. The Pirates scored and put up seven points, but the Vikings replied with a 58-yard pass from Saxe to receiver Will Ferry to put the Vikings at 21 points. Early in the fourth quarter, Bilek scored a two yard touchdown which increased the Viking’s lead from 21 to 28. The Pirates responded by scoring their own touchdown which left the Vikings eight minutes to score again. But that was too much of time, as the Vikings were able to score in less than four minutes as they were already in Pirate’s territory due to an attempted onside kick by the Pirates.
Head coach Lou Sponsel helps breaks down the Viking’s overall performance.
“They played disciplined football and stayed within their responsibilities, and I think in the end, that is what got them the victory,” Sponsel said.
Despite the impressive win, Sponsel still sees room for improvement.
“We just got to play more sound defensively, and we got to make plays when they are on defense,” Sponsel said.
The Vikings played a great game on both sides of the field, and they will be looking to get their next win at Barrington on Saturday, September 29 at 1:00 P.M.
]]>The movie follows Lara Jean (Lana Condor), a junior in high school, who always felt invisible, but experiences the spotlight for the first time through a fake relationship. Five love letters that she wrote for her crushes, including her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh (Israel Broussard), are accidentally sent, causing her to make a contract with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), one of the recipients of her love letters, to be in a fake relationship so that he can get back together with his ex-girlfriend and also save Lara Jean from having a misunderstanding with her sister, Margot (Janel Parrish).
The advancement of the portrayal of Asian Americans in society is a groundbreaker for the American movie industry. This movie expressed a different side of Asian Americans and did not convey Lara Jean and her family as stereotypically harsh accented, nerdy and unpopular. Instead, it showed the reality of how Asian Americans are no different from their Caucasian counterparts. Her different race never took a major role in how her character developed and the people around her. You could replace her with someone of a different race and the story would not have been greatly impacted and it goes to show how race doesn’t affect how you experience high school life. Also, in American media Asians rarely take the role as the main character and instead are shown on the periphery.
Despite its progressive casting, the basic structure of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before lacks proper development of the plot and characters. Throughout the whole movie, it’s tough to establish a connection with the characters, causing them to be indifferent to the events and experiences that they go through. Watching it as a high school student, Lara Jean’s life is unrelatable due to how unnaturally the events unfold. The whole story is something straight out of a YA book (which it actually is!) you read as a middle schooler, hoping that high school life will be like it, but never really is. The movie gives its best effort to be relatable and make the characters realistic, however her living in a huge house, having a bond with her family so strong, and a cute next door neighbor, makes everything seem fake and planned out.
As a whole, the movie has a lighthearted feel with young and vibrant actors which will cheer you up, but is nothing very unique. There is no part in this movie that stands out from all the other cliche, teenage, romance movies out there. With its predictable plot and the shallow storyline, it left us wanting more. For a film that seeks to convey the teen experience, it falls short from achieving a connection with the audience because of its lack of a moral or a deeper meaning.
]]>Searching follows the story of David Kim (Cho), a typical suburban father raising his teenager daughter, Margot Kim (La), after the passing of his wife and Margot’s mother. Suddenly, the disappearance of his daughter destroys the fragile peace he had created for himself and Margot in the wake of her mother’s death. Distraught and in anguish, David employs the services of Detective Rosemary Vick (Messing). In efforts to aid the investigation, he decides to scour her computer and social media for any clues. The resulting discoveries reveal a life Margot had been hiding beneath the screen for ages, shocking both viewers and her father.
Putting a modern twist on 2014’s Unfriended, the 2018 film pulls viewers on a whirlwind of emotions. With a simple, straightforward plot, in contrast with many movies of its genre, Searching creates an understandable, yet powerful, way of presenting an intriguing storyline. An Asian-centered cast, perhaps inspired by the recently released box office hit, Crazy Rich Asians, introduces a fresh perspective not previously explored in Hollywood. Viewers are immediately thrown into the mystery, and are kept on the edge of their seats until the end of the missing child story. The unique presentation method of the movie concretely centers around the heavy dependence on social media. The majority, filmed through mediums like a laptop camera, or seen through the display of a computer screen, wholly immerses viewers in the life of Margot Kim, as well as reveals the distress of her father as he frantically rifles through her social media accounts. The incorporation of typical electronics aspects, such as the appearance of notifications or an instance where David loses his mind over forgetting a password, forces people to notice how truly entwined our lives are with social media. With an unexpected plot twist at the end, Searching also illustrates the damage social media can inflict on our natural, human relationships.
A movie more applicable to today’s society, Searching provides an overdue look into the reality of social media, and presents it through a distinct medium. Despite a rocky start in the box office and a saturation of up and coming actors, the thriller has slowly gained fame, reaching a wide audience as well as theaters nationwide.
]]>One of the most notable features of Crazy Rich Asians, is that is the first movie with a modern story to have an all-Asian cast since 1993’s Joy Luck Club. The success of the movie is a step forward toward the inclusion of minorities in Hollywood because it proves that movies featuring Asians is marketable and able to be well-received. Another reason that Crazy Rich Asians is so significant because it makes sure that none of the characters are simple stereotypes. It is refreshing for all viewers to see Asians portray positive characters, and it’s especially influential for Asian viewers to see people like themselves on screen.
The music throughout the movie is also groundbreaking, as it features many Asian artists and many tracks sung in Chinese. The most impressive track is easily Katherine Ho’s rendition of Coldplay’s “Yellow.” Ho beautifully sings in Mandarin, which demonstrates how Crazy Rich Asians is proud to embrace Asian culture.
Crazy Rich Asians stars Constance Wu, known for the ABC series Fresh Off the Boat. Wu plays Rachel, an economics professor that was raised by her mother after moving to America from China. The movie starts off with her agreeing to go with her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to Singapore. They agree to attend Nick’s friend’s wedding and also to meet Nick’s family for the first time.
Upon arriving in Singapore, Rachel is thrust into the world of snobby elitists as she realizes that Nick’s family is extremely wealthy. Crazy Rich Asians does have the formulaic plotline of many of its romantic comedy predecessors (poor girl falls in love with the insanely rich boy), but the execution of the plot avoids many clichés. Crazy Rich Asians achieves a more mature story by placing Rachel’s struggle to win over Nick’s judgemental mother and the backlash of dating Nick as its focus.
As Rachel struggles through it all, her quirky best friend from college, Peik Lin, is there to help her figure out the customs of the insanely rich and impress Nick’s mother. Peik Lin is played by Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, and is known for her rapping and her role in Ocean’s 8. Awkwafina does an amazing job lightening the mood of the whole movie with her spot-on portrayal of Peik Lin’s witty and candid nature. Awkwafina and Wu play well off each other, creating memorable and touching scenes of the two friends together. Overall, Wu’s performance of Rachel is what really brings the movie together because she genuinely captures the emotions and fierce spirit of her character making viewers root for Rachel from start to finish.
Crazy Rich Asians shows Rachel facing the criticism from the rich and stumbling through the intricacies of their society, which reminds viewers of how people refuse to cower in the face of disapproval and instead act selflessly for the people they care about.
Link to photo – (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Singapore_Skyline_Panorama.jpg)
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10. “Ghost Town” ft. PARTYNEXTDOOR
“Ghost Town” is one of the few standout songs in an otherwise mildly disappointing album, Ye. “Ghost Town” is a far cry from the well thought out, perfectionistic previous Kanye works, but it redeems itself with well-balanced and effective collaborations with Kid Cudi and 070 Shake. Its obscure sampling of “Take Me For a Little While” by the Royal Jesters is classic Kanye and establishes that a remnant of the old Kanye is still there post “poopy di-scoop.”
9. “Heartless”
808s & Heartbreak features distant and detached production, owing to its creation in the aftermath of West’s mother’s passing away. “Heartless” encompasses this theme of the album with its heavily autotuned vocals. Kanye’s rapping is regrettably not featured, but “Heartless” serves to display diversity in Kanye’s discography by showing that Kanye does not always view himself as godlike and is not confined as an artist to rapping.
8. “Reborn” ft. KIDS SEE GHOSTS, Louis Prima
KIDS SEE GHOSTS, a duo consisting of Kanye West and Kid Cudi, quickly dissipated fears that Kanye had lost his touch with their self-titled album. West’s verse on this is the best of all his 2018 projects, and Cudi’s hook is nothing short of enthralling. The duo uses “Reborn” as an opportunity to, among other things, aid in removing the stigma against mental health in rap music. “Reborn” shows confusion but ultimately offers a path forward, in how Kanye and Cudi promise to “keep movin’ forward” despite adversity.
7. “Touch the Sky” ft. Lupe Fiasco
The horns and drums that continuously repeat in “Touch the Sky” on West’s 2005 album Late Registration make for one of the most memorable melodies in Kanye West’s discography. It lacks any complex themes or clever juxtaposition, but that hardly matters. “Touch the Sky” is inspirational and invigorating, perhaps showing that we all can aspire to one day achieve true success and “touch the sky” as Kanye believes he has done.
6. “Good Life” ft. T-Pain
“Good Life,” from Kanye’s third studio album, Graduation, has an uplifting and energizing melody. A well-integrated T-Pain feature establishes it as one of the most iconic sounds in West’s discography. It fosters profound contentment in the listener, and that carefree feeling alone is sufficient rationale for it to make the top 10.
5. “Ultralight Beam”
“Ultralight Beam” is one of the few tracks on The Life of Pablo that managed to exemplify the album’s promised gospel nature. “Ultralight Beam” displays West’s profound faith in God, but cleverly intersperses social commentary. Chance the Rapper’s feature is arguably one of Kanye’s best guest verses yet, and his rapid quip that he plans on “moving all [his] family from Chatham to Zambia,” reflecting how Chicago’s murder rate is higher than Zambia’s despite being more developed, serves to further illuminate social issues to the listeners.
4. “Gold Digger” ft. Jamie Foxx
This record-breaking pop culture phenomenon from Late Registration featuring Jamie Foxx is often at the forefront of people’s minds when they think of Kanye. Kanye’s flow and delivery is at its best and the accompanying riveting percussion contributes to a song that is undoubtedly engineered to get stuck in your head. The lyrics are humorous in the most Kanye way possible, and the end product is so brilliant and ridiculous that it could in no way be left off of a list of Kanye’s greatest hits.
3. “Homecoming” ft. Chris Martin
“Homecoming” was by no means West’s most popular song on his 2007 album Graduation, but it is undeniably one of the most remarkable points in his discography. His artful utilization of an extended metaphor to pay homage to Chicago coupled with contrasting soothing vocals from Coldplay’s lead vocalist, Chris Martin, make “Homecoming” both a tribute to his continued love for Chicago and to his penchant for lyricism.
2. “All Falls Down” ft. Syleena Johnson
West’s critique of materialism in society and his reflection on his own self-consciousness is one of the highlights of his career despite being from just his first album, The College Dropout. Here, Kanye is in his purest form, untouched by fame and its pitfalls, offering truthful social commentary in the use of possessions to hide insecurities. Its message, accompanied by acoustic guitar and endearing vocals, contribute to a song that is both thought-provoking and nostalgic.
1. “Runaway” ft. Pusha T
The opening lines of “Runaway” pan between the two speakers, creating an environment for the listener that is both mesmerizing and confusing, both beautiful and twisted, just as the album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy suggests. It leads into a nine minute, self-deprecating apology in which West comments on criticism aimed at him. Pusha T’s verse serves as a well-crafted juxtaposition to Kanye’s sincere musings, and West’s gradual descent into inaudibility as a result of extensive Autotune perhaps symbolizes his belief that the media distorts what he says until it is no longer reflective of what he means. Though Kanye reflects on and appears critical of how he “always find[s] something wrong,” “Runaway” is clearly the work of a perfectionist, suggesting that he has no intention to change his ways, but rather is content with only acknowledging them.
]]>Junior forward Russell Beaupre scored the lone goal, remaining consistently active in the box and creating havoc near Buffalo Grove’s end line. The Bison of BG held firm, however, and only let one goal slip through. A stout defensive effort was led by defenders and team captains Brian Hanus and Christian Kozaczka. Buffalo Grove head coach Darren Llewellyn led his team out with a ferocious and aggressive attack, but the Fremd team proved to be ready for every obstacle which they encountered.
Fremd head coach Steven Keller summed up his team’s philosophy.
“We respect Buffalo Grove’s fight, grit, tenacity and approach to the game,” Keller said. “They got after us early and made us work from the get-go. We’re pleased to get the shutout, but at the same time disappointed because we know it’s got to be better, we have to build on this. We’ve challenged our players as coaches to come out and put teams away, and we’ve let many teams hang around, so we’ve got to improve on that.”
Other standouts for the Vikings were junior defender Jake Schoffstall, junior defenseman Kaelan Conway and senior midfielder Anthony Tambellini. Swift ball movement kept the Bison defenders on their toes and constantly changing position, but Fremd found it tough to navigate past the Buffalo Grove defense and was repeatedly stonewalled upon attempting to put a shot past BG keeper Adam Sempoch.
In the first half, Fremd maintained control of possession but was unable to get on the scoreboard until the 25th minute, when senior midfielder Dorian Lesiuk punched in a goal to give the Vikings the lead. The Bison immediately went on the counter, keeping up a relentless stream of steady ball movement and high percentage shots for the rest of the game. Fremd answered back with a high powered offensive attack propelled by forwards Eli Schoffstall, Josh Bennett and Ryan Cox.
Schoffstall, while knowing his team won against the Bison, who entered the game ranked first in the MSL, still sees some areas that need fixing.
“It was a hard-fought game, we pulled it out 1-0… we didn’t play the best, but we just kept fighting and persevering,” Schoffstall said. “We played well overall, sometimes the skill wasn’t there, sometimes we made mental mistakes, but we still got the win. (Buffalo Grove) was one of the tougher teams we’ve played.”
Conway reiterated Fremd’s need to improve despite the win.
“We played hard throughout the game, we moved the ball well but could have been more consistent with many of our decisions,” Conway said.
It was a battle of defensive heavyweights, to be sure, and in the end, the Vikings emerged victorious. With the win, it advances Fremd’s chances in conference, as they beat Buffalo Grove, unseating the squad which was leading the conference heading into the game. The Vikings improve to 7-3-1 on the year, and will be one of the top contenders for the MSL championship this season.
]]>Despite this, the girls made an excellent recovery in the second set due to an increase in consistency and focus to secure the victory by the end of the third set.
Head coach Curtis Pinley commented that the team’s greatest strength was the girls’ comeback.
“Coming back from adversity. We got beat pretty badly in set one,” Pinley said. “And we probably had every right to kind of feel like we could give up, and they had none of that in them.”
Although Barrington won the first set with strong offense, the team came back and played with even more tenacity and fierceness in the second and third sets. During the second set, several digs from senior libero Maddie Aichinger kept Fremd’s defense strong while Barrington tried to take back the lead with dozens of attacks. Barrington attempted to stay in the game throughout the second set, but by the third set, several serves from freshman middle blocker Claudia Wala had turned the game completely in Fremd’s favor.
Throughout the third set, while Barrington’s offense tumbled, Fremd’s shined through, junior outside hitter Breslen Reid laid down 10 kills, and freshman setter Rian Baker had 16 assists.
Reid discussed how their victory helped to boost the team’s low morale from Tuesday’s loss.
“I think this game helped bring our egos back up from Tuesday,” Reid said. “It’s good, [it] helps motivate us for the rest of the season.”
Baker added on, talking the lack of enthusiasm that lead to the loss of the first set.
“More energy – that’s our biggest struggle,” Baker said. “We need to be more excited when we score points.”
Pinley attributed the team’s calm and composed nature as what lead to their victory.
“I think it was a team win,” Pinley said. “We had some players who were struggling a little bit, [and] we had two players come off the bench today and do a fantastic job in high pressure situation. We could use more of that all season.”
Fremd, with a current record of 15-4, will face off against Hoffman Estates on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at home.
]]>The Washington Redskins swapped Kirk Cousins for Alex Smith and didn’t improve at any skill positions on offense or defense and should be a middling team similar to last year.
The Dallas Cowboys, led by Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, lost pro-bowl tight end Jason Witten to retirement and are lacking at wide receiver with the departure of Dez Bryant. As a result, they will most likely take a step back from last year’s 9-7 season.
The New York Giants brought back last year’s core of Eli Manning, Odell Beckham, and Evan Engram. They also added star running back Saquon Barkley with the second pick in the draft. The Giants have the talent at their skill positions to be a potential playoff team, but whether the Giants are able to take this leap into the playoffs will depend on aging QB Eli Manning who struggled mightily last year.
Prediction: The Eagles should have a comfortable road to winning the division once again and making the playoffs.
NFC North
Led by a stellar defense and surprisingly good QB play from Case Keenum, the Minnesota Vikings won this division handily last year. And they did not let down in the offseason when they let Case Keenum go and brought in pro bowl Redskins QB Kirk Cousins to replace him.
The Green Bay Packers will get back two-time MVP Aaron Rodgers who missed most of last season due to injury; his return will likely put them back into playoff contention. The Packers also greatly improved their defense with edge rusher Muhammed Wilkerson and draft picks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson. With Rodgers returning and an improved defense, the Packers will be in contention for the Division title and a wild-card spot in the playoffs.
The Chicago Bears also improved their defense by adding 2016’s Defensive Player of the Year, Khalil Mack, and the eighth pick in the draft, Roquan Smith, to bolster a top ten defense. They brought in a new coach, Matt Nagy, to revitalize the offense under second-year QB Mitch Trubisky and added WRs Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, and TE Trey Burton to support the young QB. The Bears have an amazing defense and an up and coming offense, but it may take another year or two for Trubisky to reach his full potential and for the Bears to be serious contenders in the NFL.
Rounding out the North is the Detroit Lions who also brought in a new coach, Matt Patricia, but their roster did not go through any significant changes from last year. They are most likely to play similarly to last year and have a record around 8-8 as one of the NFL’s middling teams.
Prediction: The reigning champion, Vikings have the best chance to win this division again, but Rodgers and the Packers will pose as a serious threat.
NFC South
This division produced three playoff teams last year, which speaks to their overall strength. The New Orleans Saints won the division and the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons made it into the playoffs as wild card teams. None of these teams went through significant changes from last year so these teams should be back in playoff contention once again. The Saints led by young stars Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore, and veteran QB Drew Brees will be back in the playoffs and look to overcome last year’s heartbreaking loss in the Divisional Round to the Vikings.
The Panthers led by former MVP Cam Newton and four-time All-Pro LB Luke Kuechly will look to win the division and return to the Super Bowl after.
The Falcons will also try to return to the Super Bowl after their loss in 2016. Led by former MVP Matt Ryan and star WR Julio Jones, the Falcons will look to win the division and establish themselves as Super Bowl contenders.
The weakest team in the division is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who, despite lots of talent on both sides of the ball, could not produce wins last year. This year may be better, but 2015’s number one overall pick, Jameis Winston has struggled at the helm of their offense and change will most likely need to begin with him.
Prediction: Based on last year’s results, the Saints have the inside track path to securing the division crown once again, but this will ultimately be a toss up between the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers.
NFC West
Last year’s breakout team, the L.A. Rams, won this division fairly easily last year. The Rams have only gotten better over the summer, adding Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, Ndamukong Suh, and Brandin Cooks. They are led by last year’s coach of the year, Sean Mcvay, defensive player of the year, Aaron Donald, and the offensive player of the year, Todd Gurley. The Rams are loaded with talent at every position and will be serious Super Bowl Contenders. The rest of the teams are weak with rebuilding or declining teams.
The San Francisco 49ers showed potential last year with QB Jimmy Garroplo, but he got injured in the third week of this season and the 49ers should struggle mightily without him.
The declining Seattle Seahawks have a solid QB in Russell Wilson but have lost their defensive and offensive talent over the past few years and they missed the playoffs last year. This is expected to continue as they’ve gotten even worse from last year, losing CB Richard Sherman.
At the bottom of this division is the Arizona Cardinals, who are effectively rebuilding their team for the upcoming season as they added a new coach in Steve Wilks and drafted QB Josh Rosen with the tenth pick. They likely won’t win many games this season, but the Cardinals are looking towards the future.
Prediction: With no clear threat to the division title, the Rams should be at the top of the division at the end of the season and will be perennial Super Bowl contenders for years to come.
AFC East
The never-ending dynasty of New England continued to flourish as they took a trip to the Super Bowl last year despite ultimately losing. Led by Coach Bill Belichick and the ageless Tom Brady, who was the oldest player in NFL history to win the MVP last year, the Patriots will look to avenge last year’s defeat and make the Super Bowl for the fourth time in the past five years. The rest of this division is scattered as all the teams are rebuilding and looking toward the future, or are just not as good as New England.
The New York Jets and Buffalo Bills brought in rookie QBs, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen respectively. Both of these teams are looking for talent to develop a core for the years to come and will not be anywhere near the playoffs this year.
The Miami Dolphins are a weird team as they have been pretty average with their ups and downs, including a playoff appearance in 2017. The team lost pro- bowl WR Jarvis Landry and did not improve in other places on the roster and they will probably linger to make the playoffs as a wild card near the end of the season, but will not be serious challengers to win the Super Bowl or even win a playoff game.
Prediction: Unless the Dolphins finally put it all together, or the Jets and Bills rise to the occasion, the Patriots have an easy path to their 16th AFC East title in the past 18 years.
AFC North
After a shocking loss in the Divisional Round last year, the AFC North Champion, Pittsburgh Steelers were left with a bitter taste in their mouth. Their star, RB Le’veon Bell has not signed with the team yet as of week three, and star WR Antonio Brown has made some curious comments on staying with the team at the beginning of the season. If the team cannot overcome this drama, they could be in some hot water winning this division again.
The Cincinnati Bengals have gotten off to a hot start led by rising RB Joe Mixon and established star WR A.J. Green and are in the lead to win the division.
The Baltimore Ravens are not too far behind as they’ve brought back most of their cast from last year’s 9-7 season, but upgraded at WR by signing John Brown, Michael Crabtree, and Willie Snead to reinvigorate the Joe Flacco led offense.
The Cleveland Browns should also improve this year from their winless outing last year with the addition of QB Tyrod Taylor and WR Jarvis Landry. They are another team looking towards the future and are using this season as a transition to upcoming seasons as they drafted QB Baker Mayfield and CB Denzel Ward.
Prediction: This division is currently up for grabs due to the Steelers off-field issues, but after their 2-0 start, the Bengals currently have the clearest path to a division title.
AFC South
Along with the Rams, the biggest surprise of last year was the Jacksonville Jaguars as they made it to the AFC Championship game and almost to the Super Bowl. Boasting one of the league’s best defense led by Jalen Ramsey and Calais Campbell, the Jaguars will look to return to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl this time around.
The division also has the young and upcoming Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans led by QBs Marcus Mariota and rookie sensation Deshaun Watson respectively. The Texans will be much better than last year on defense with the return of J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus who will join Jadeveon Clowney on their defensive line. For the Texans to be successful, Deshaun Watson will have to effectively use his mobility to mask their weak offensive line.The Titans, on the other hand, have been somewhat held back by Marcus Mariota’s limited capability as a thrower, and he will need to improve on that aspect of his game for the Titans to challenge for the Super Bowl.
Unlike the Titans, the Indianapolis Colts are set at QB with Andrew Luck, but they have issues at almost every other position. With the lack of talent around Luck, it will be difficult for the Colts to make it to the playoffs, but Luck has carried them there before.
Prediction: The Jaguars should have consecutive division titles due to the weaknesses of the other teams in the South.
AFC West
The Kansas City Chiefs reigned supreme in the Wild Wild West last year and have looked much better than they did last year as second-year QB Patrick Mahomes replaced Alex Smith. Mahomes has been red hot in the first two weeks with ten touchdowns as the Chiefs have started 2-0.
Potential challengers to the Chief’s division title are the L.A. Chargers and Denver Broncos. The Chargers brought back most of their talented roster consisting of WR Keenan Allen, RB Melvin Gordon, DEs Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. They should be able to build upon their 9-7 season last year and be in contention for the division title and a wild-card spot.
Over the offseason, the Broncos greatly improved by upgrading at QB with Case Keenum and drafting skilled pass rusher Bradley Chubb to play alongside former defensive player of the year Von Miller. If Keenum can elevate their QB play and the defense continues to perform, they will also be fighting for a wild-card spot late in the season.
At the bottom of the barrel is the Oakland Raiders who, coming off their 6-10 record, lost former defensive player of the year, Khalil Mack, their number one WR Michael Crabtree, and made a coaching change all in one summer. This loss of talent and change will not help the Raiders get any better, so it is likely that they will finish worse than they did last year
Prediction: Mahomes and the Chiefs should run away with this division, but there will be a wild card team from this division in either the Broncos or Chargers or possibly even both.
Conclusion
As of right now, based on the first two weeks of the season, last year’s performances, and offseason transactions, the division winners in the NFC will most likely be the Eagles, Vikings, Saints, and Rams with the two wild-card spots filled by the Packers and Falcons. In the AFC, the Patriots, Bengals, Jaguars, and Chiefs should be atop their respective divisions with the Chargers and Steelers rounding out the playoff picture in the wild card spots. The favorites to win the Super Bowl as of now have to be the Rams, who are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and the team to meet them there from the AFC will likely be the Chiefs, led by a spectacular QB talent in Patrick Mahomes. Regardless of how the playoffs shake out, the season and postseason will be exhilarating.
To kick off the 2018-2019 school year, D211 has added fifteen propane buses to its fleet of 163 total buses. As a first step to making eco-friendly decisions, the district has decided to purchase propane buses after considering other fuel alternatives.
One of the key reasons for this purchase was an increased winter reliability, as students are often victims of the cold while waiting for their bus to arrive.
Math teacher and bus driver Robert Higgins recalls previous winter difficulties.
“I have had a diesel bus not start before due to the cold,” Higgins said.
With the addition of these propane buses, they have the potential to reduce dreaded waiting times. Unlike petroleum and diesel buses, propane buses do not run the risk of gelling during frigid temperatures, allowing them to start quickly and get students to school more efficiently.
These buses signify the district’s focus on being more environmentally-conscious. Propane produces significantly less pollution than its petroleum counterparts; therefore, the use of propane buses reduces emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon.
Freshman Ryan Ahn gives insight on greenhouse gases emitted by buses.
“There are many school buses that release toxic and pungent fumes” Ahn said. “These new buses are a step in the right direction.
With the addition of these “green” propane buses, responses from students have been positive. In fact, these new buses have sparked ideas on how the district can take more steps to being more environmentally friendly.
Junior Anjali Narahashim proposes an idea of a recycling program as District 211’s next step in making environmentally-friendly decisions.
“I think the propane buses were a great idea,” Narahashim said. “There’s not a recycling system at Fremd and we should do something to fix that. The effects of it would be really valuable for the school and the environment.”
]]>Golden State Warriors
Coming off the heels of an infamous championship series, Golden State’s championship prospects appear to be in reach thanks to no shortage of experienced talent. With the acquirement of an assertive force in the paint in the form of big man Demarcus Cousins, in addition to an already loaded talent field comprised of Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, the Bay Area team looks to be major contenders for championship hardware once again. The Warriors’ success can be attributed most to the wise cap-space management by GM Bob Myers, who was able to balance the paychecks of four perennial All-Stars.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets’ story has always been one of playing individual roles as best as possible in order to create the strongest offensive force in the league. This year is no exception as returning guards James Harden and Chris Paul aim to lead an experienced team that welcomed the presence of seasoned veterans in Carmelo Anthony and Brandon Knight this past summer. With the guidance and experience Anthony brings to the table, the exceptional guard skills Knight possesses, along with all their key players healthy, the Rockets look to go even further than they did last year, where they fell one game short of making the Finals.
Los Angeles Lakers
Perhaps the biggest story of the offseason was that of LeBron James’s decision to join the Lakers for their 2018-19 NBA campaign. He joins a young roster composed of sophomore guards Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma, along with young forward Brandon Ingram. Additional pickups Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson are expected to serve key mentor roles (along with James) to the Lakers relatively young core. LA’s former days of back-to-back championships seem to be plausible goals once again now with the ushering in of the James’ Era. Lakers fans feel confident to reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in almost nine years since their last appearance.
Boston Celtics
With Gordon Hayward’s injury clearance nearing, the Celtics’ chances of securing a Finals spot look within reach. Despite a relatively “quiet” offseason compared to the other teams on this list, returning players Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown reaffirm the amount of potential Boston has. Tatum, especially, baffles practically all critics at this point with the seemingly unlimited potential he possesses as shown through his incredible versatility as both a guard and forward. Pair that with the skill of Irving, the mobility of Brown, and the able-bodied Hayward and the Celtics have a strong core of players who remain in serious contention for the 2019 NBA Championship.
]]>TedEd meets twice a month; the first meeting is designated for brainstorming and planning Ted Talks while the second meeting is centered around debating topics.
Social studies teacher and TedEd sponsor Lindsey Corcoran explains the main objectives of TedEd.
“Our biggest goal is to give students somewhere to talk about issues that they’re interested in–either that apply to their own personal lives or current events–or various other things that they find of personal interest,” Corcoran said.
At the first bimonthly meeting students present various intriguing issues to the TedEd group and prepare for their own presentations. Members bounce ideas off each other to hear insight from their peers about potential topics for a Ted Talk. In addition, the club utilizes its first meetings to watch Ted Talks for inspiration.
Junior Dean Ganas, one of the creators of TedEd, explains how the club’s welcoming and noncompetitive atmosphere gives people the opportunity to express their opinion.
“I originally started [TedEd] as a place for people to come and debate ideas,” Ganas said. “I made it as a place for people that don’t usually have a voice. It gives people a chance who don’t usually speak out a chance to come and share their ideas in a good environment.”
When club members present their talks at the end of the year, they will upload them to the official TedEd Youtube channel. Then, TedEd selects students nationally to speak at the Ted Talk headquarters in New York City. Fremd TedEd members hope that their Ted Talk will be chosen for this opportunity.
A key concept of TedEd is challenging students to debate different topics from various viewpoints. At the second meeting every month, TedEd members are randomly assigned to a team and side of a particular issue, ranging anywhere from Facebook Messenger for 6-year-olds to iPad restrictions at Fremd. Students then transition into a discussion to debrief their argument.
Corcoran comments on what sets TedEd apart at Fremd and why students should consider joining.
“[Fremd has] a lot of different activities that are similar to Ted but have more of a competitive nature, so this is noncompetitive,” Corcoran said. “For students who are looking to just discuss things but not feel like there is a winner and a loser at the end of that conversation, I think this is a good place for them to do that and interact with their peers who share similar passions as they do.”
TedEd meets the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at both 6:45 a.m. and after school at 3 p.m. Students can attend whichever meeting time works best for them in Room 240.
]]>Shaping our nation through music
One of the ways in which African Americans have influenced American culture throughout history is through music. African American music continues to have a major impact on American culture in the modern day.
African American music has its origins in Africa. The banjo, originally referred to as the “Banja” was one of the first African instruments to make its way into America. More percussion-based African instruments were produced in America, leading to a blending of traditional African and 1700’s American music.
Later, in the 1800’s, styles of music such as country and blues were invented. Relying on the traditional rhythmic style of music from Africa, these new genres brought a new flavor to 1800’s America.
Eventually, music more removed from traditional African or American culture was created by African Americans in the form of African spirituals. These songs used powerful lyrics and emotional melodies to keep hope alive among the slaves. By the 1870’s, this style of music was popular throughout the United States, by white and black audiences alike.
In the early 1900s, alongside gospel and blues, jazz gained popularity. This style of music was far more complex than the ones which followed it and gained the attention of many bands who innovated and created their own styles of music based on jazz. Some of the more innovative styles were swing and bebop.
In the mid 1980’s, Rap music became popular and has continued to remain influential to this day. Poetic and intense in nature, it started with the singer talking between singing and eventually evolved into its own form of delivery.
Breaking boundaries in sports
African American athletes have inspired generations of people, of all races. Powering through tough times, they’ve created inspiring stories which many look to as a source of determination.
Athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, and Muhammad Ali all showed the entire world that their prejudices wouldn’t hold them back. They made way for other African American athletes and non athletes alike to show their talent without discriminatory setbacks. Walter Cronkite recalls that after Jackie Robinson became the first black baseball player and proved his merit, one could even see progress being made as African Americans entered “all walks of life.”
Black athletes have introduced some of the most powerful, inspiring stories which continue to be talked about widely today. They’ve given both hope and the message to keep going, to keep fighting through struggle to all types of people. Remembering names such as Jim Brown, Arthur Ashe, Joe Louis, and Alex Haley is important to remembering the contributions black Americans have had on American culture.
Contributions to modern medicine
Outside of cultural influences and contributions, many African American scientists and inventors have made great strides in the medical field that serve the common people every day. Advancements like open heart surgery and heart attack treatments have been developed by African American scientists and have led to groundbreaking medical leaps, and advancements like the wire precision transistor. Compact refrigeration units, invented by iconic inventor and African American Frederick McKinley Jones, have revolutionized the human experience globally.
One of the biggest advancements made in all of medicine is the research done to understand hearts attacks. A chemist by the name of Marie M. Daly worked with Dr. Quentin B. Deming in 1955 on understanding the causes of heart attacks. They discovered the effects of high cholesterol on the arteries of the heart. This made way for medical understanding of how diet affects the heart, and what one could do to reduce their risk of heart attacks.
Another medical advancement which saved many lives was successful open heart surgery, achieved by Daniels Hale Wilkins. Although he was the third person to ever perform open-heart surgery, he was the founder of Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses, a hospital which followed his practices, and saved many lives. He also went on to help treat former slaves in Washington DC.
In the world of engineering and technology, advancements made by black peoples include the compact refrigeration unit, made by Frederick Jones to transport food during World War II, and the wire precision transistor made by Otis Boykin.
Fredrick Jones was an inventor who was interested in automobiles since his childhood. He went on to experiment with sound technology, and eventually made compact refrigerators which were used during World War II to transport food and blood. In addition, the ability to transport perishable goods across thousands of miles has changed how people shop and eat on a daily basis.
Otis Boykin, a medical inventor, was interested in resistors since the beginning of his career. In the process of improving the pacemaker, he went on to create the wire precision resistor. This innovation became a common component in many machines due to its cheap and effective use of electricity.
Reforming civil liberties
One of the biggest parts of American history is the civil rights movement. In a response to the torrent of racist policies during the 1960’s, people rose up to fight for equal rights. The civil rights movement’s impact is undeniable and present in contemporary times. American law, society, and values were all changed by figures which now hold tremendous weight in their name, such as Martin Luther King Jr, and Malcolm X.
The civil rights movement also encouraged other movements. The second feminist wave, and calls for rights for Hispanic and Asian Americans among other groups were all influenced by the civil rights movement. It gave way to the end of segregation, the mixing of communities, a new era of progressiveness, and general growth of human and moral rights in America. Many of the principles which we consider inherently American today can be credited to the civil rights movement.
This February, we should take a moment to appreciate these contributions and how they have defined our country and our lives.
]]>An article posted by The Guardian details a Britain First supporters nationalistic journey towards a “better” Britain.
“A Britain First supporter gave a Nazi salute and shouted ‘white power’ before driving at a curry house owner during a drunken rampage, [a court has heard… He was heard to say:] ‘I’m going to kill a Muslim. I’m doing it for Britain. This is how I’m going to help the country. You people cannot do anything.’”
However, a pressing issue for American Muslims, including myself, is President Trump’s endorsement for this group. His previous anti-Muslim comments transformed into policies such as travel bans and it has quickly become clear to Muslim Americans what opinion the President holds of people like me.
Trump’s retweet of videos posted by Jayda Fransen, founder and political advocate of Britain First, depicted three cases of Muslims being violent towards non-Muslims. The videos were also widely taken out of context, helping reinforce the suspicion that some people hold of Trump being islamophobic. Especially since the tweets were headlined incorrectly, as one man, a Dutchman, was named a Muslim migrant by Britain First, even though he was neither.
Popularization of propaganda like this, considering the sensitive time period we live in today, is destructive to the confidence that adolescent Muslims are developing as they are trying, like all teenagers, to integrate into society as informed young adults.
The president’s Islamophobic retweets prove to be a worldwide catastrophe as he provoked a response from the UN’s human rights chief. A CNN article discusses Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s speech at the UN Foundation.
“The United Nations’ top human rights official was ‘aghast’ over President Donald Trump’s decision to re-tweet anti-Muslim videos from the far-right ultra nationalist group Britain First last week,” states the article. “…offering a robust rebuke of nationalist and populist leaders”
Negative consequences of Trump’s consistent utilization of Twitter, the Presidents’ preferred method of communication with the public, could cause global issues to escalate, best exemplified by increased popularity and media coverage for Britain First due to President Trump’s retweet to his 44.2 million followers. One of the organization’s latest tweets acknowledges the part he played in growing their ranks and increasing their prominence as a political force, and they continue to preach their anti-Muslim platform.
Overall, it has become a necessity to have a more effective and less controversial system with which the commander in chief can address the American people. Trump’s often distasteful comments give birth to a recent and prevalent question: how did presidents connect with audiences and Americans before?
From George Washington’s Farewell Address to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, they lacked a valuable ingredient which underwent mass popularization in past years: mass communication. Calvin Coolidge set a precedent for utilizing new methods of addressing the public as he went on the radio, followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his fireside chats, and later presidents continued the tradition.
As advancements in technology improved, adaptation to new methods continued when Harry S. Truman broadcasted a televised statement for the public and George W. Bush maintained podcasts. With the internet becoming a normality, Barack Obama employed the web to post clips in which he informed Americans about various topics. Although he did have an account set up for Twitter, it was mainly used by his staff during the presidential elections. Early in his first term, the former president admitted to not being acquainted with Twitter at all.
The latest commander in chief has sent out over 2,600 tweets since his Election Day, just over a year ago. Trump being a powerful global force and fostering deceitful and false information could further damage the already negative perceptions that some Americans have of Muslims. We, as a country, have become desensitized to President Trump’s turbulent tweets and it is important that we do not settle and accept the detriments, rather speak out for what we believe in even if it may go against the leader of the United States.
]]>For the past three years, the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar has been a hub of genocide, and reports on the “ethnic cleansing” have only recently begun creeping through the cracks.
Beginning in 1982, the predominantly Buddhist country revoked the Rohingya Muslims of their citizenships and the government has continued to discounted them from the census report as they considered them undocumented immigrants. Lacking any political autonomy, the Rohingya Muslims have been restricted on all bases of their lives for decades now including the marriage, voting, and the amount of children they are allowed to have. As the government began issuing military crackdowns on their villages, the Rohingya situation has progressively worsened as attacks snowballed and thousands have been raped, starved, tortured, and massacred.
Recently, several mass graves were discovered and the Huffington Post suggests they are a sign of genocide, since it is the organized killing of civilians by the government.
In junior high, my social studies classes spent the majority of those two years focused solely on genocides; we spent the latter half of eighth grade learning about the Holocaust. Eight characteristics were taught to us about how to identify a genocide:
2. Using hate symbolism in forms of hate speech.
3. Enduring unhygienic and inhumane living conditions in tents, they are dehumanized.
4. Organization of military forces against them.
5. An extreme separation of groups through propaganda.
6. As the preparation stage begins, it becomes clear that there is a genocide at hand as they are separated from the rest of the population.
7. Extermination is the mass killing of a people.
Along with denying Rohingyas citizenship, they are being labeled Bengalis, a different ethnicity, in order to strengthen their outcast status. The Myanmar militia continues to attack civilians without reason as many refugees have spoken about the abuse they’ve encountered at the hands of the governments military. The Rohingya have been shoved into a small corner of Myanmar, the state of Rakhine, as they are considered intruders from another country. Attacks on Rakhine have forced upwards of 400,000 Rohingyas to flee the country to refugee camps. Some local communities are also sharing anti-Rohingya pamphlets calling for the eradication of their people and advocating for an ethnic cleansing. Recent discoveries of mass graves send strong implications that the Myanmar army has been killing and burying Rohingya Muslims mass groups at a time without notifying any authorities. Knowing the government would only turn a blind eye towards this treatment, the Rohingyas are left helpless in their own homes at the mercy of a hostile military.
8. Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of Myanmar and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has withheld condemning the brutal practices of the armed forces of the government and does not recognize the Rohingyas to be part of her people. As they deny the brutal killings and refuse to denounce the militia’s practices, the government of Myanmar completes the last step of genocide: denial.
I hate the very existence of the root of the next question I will propose, however I do think it is necessary to consider when evaluating a crisis at hand: Is it because they’re Muslim that there has been minimal coverage? As proven above, their treatment ticks all the boxes of genocide. If a white community was persecuted by Muslim infiltrators, would the response be the same? Terrorist attacks are covered in seconds by news media, and they’ve shown the devastation as people have been killed in Paris, sparking the #PrayforParis campaign. One day prior to Paris, Beirut was bombarded with Isis attacks that took over 40 lives and injured more than 200 people, but there was no #PrayforBeirut. The victims in Lebanon’s capital were simply ignored. Granted, our world is a zone of destruction and not every death and attack can be recorded. Even though I have not looked through every news platform ever, this is a recurring trend I have noticed.
Times magazine writer Aryn Baker asks the question I’ve recently kept locked at the back of my mind:
“I tried to pin down a ratio: how many Pakistani or Afghan dead would it take to generate the same newsworthiness as the death of an American?”
The ethnic cleansing in Myanmar has been an ongoing ordeal; however, recent coverage has prompted growing numbers of Americans to acknowledge this crisis. At the start of the year, whenever I asked my classmates about the Rohingya crisis, I usually received a blank stare signaling their lack of knowledge about the pervasive conflicts in Myanmar. Some get so tired of news that they stopped caring, but we should not and cannot do that. It is integral to stay informed of the world around us as injustice and persecution is widespread and will not go away if we stop paying attention. We have to stay informed so that when it’s our turn, we aren’t going to let fatalities and genocides continue.
The Rohingya crisis has been garnering a lot of attention lately. With awareness, action should follow; an answer needs to emerge for stopping the violence and killings. This is a human crisis, no one can stop it but humans as a whole. After the Holocaust it was said that never again would such a tragedy occur without intervention, but here it is again. Martin Niemöller laments through his post-World War II essays the detriments of being a bystander, writing,
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
]]>Emily Klaczek, girls basketball
Favorite moment: Beating Rolling Meadows
Still only a sophomore, Emily Klaczek turned heads around the state this year with her play. In fact, she was impressive enough to earn the MSL West Player of the Year honor. Despite the Vikings falling just short in the regional finals this year, Klaczek expresses her appreciation for the her team’s supportive atmosphere.
“In practices, our teammates were always pushing us to be the best we can be, so I think that was a big help,” Klaczek said.
Klaczek, head coach Dave Yates and company now lose a contributing senior class. Thankfully, as noticeable on the court, she has developed leadership skills to utilize the next two seasons. Overall, Klaczek is looking forward to her future with Fremd girls basketball.
“Next year we have a new team coming in so I’m really excited to see how that goes with new players, work hard over the summer and see where it goes,” Klaczek said.
Alex Schillinger, boys swimming and diving
Favorite moment: Defeating Barrington after being projected to lose by 20+ points
Entering final year at Fremd, senior Alex Schillinger was determined to make waves—in the pool, alongside the rest of the boys swimming team. However, it was a tough task for the Vikings, who came off the loss of a huge prior senior class.
But the Vikings had other ideas. Schillinger details his team’s success in the face of such an obstacle.
“This season we’ve made a huge name for ourselves, as far as what we can pull off after such a huge loss [of the previous senior class],” Schillinger said.
That they did, putting on a show at sectionals before advancing many swimmers and divers to the state tournament. Among two relay and one other individual places, Schillinger got a medal for his ninth-place finish in the 100 breastroke at state.
A day before the successful state meet, Schillinger laid out his team’s mentality.
“This is kind of it you know. We’re leaving the last of it in the pool,” Schillinger said. “There’s no point in holding anything back now.”
Needless to say, they didn’t hold back.
Ryan Martin, boys basketball
Favorite moment: Beating Palatine in the team’s first matchup
With his team set to begin the playoffs tonight, Ryan Martin is entering the final weeks of his high school career. Undoubtedly, he’s made the most of it, chipping in for varsity over multiple years and earning an All-MSL West distinction. Martin comments on the reasons for his and his team’s success.
“I think for both the team and my own success, it’s always been trust what coaches and peers are telling you and continue to work hard and believe in each other,” Martin said.
Following whatever’s in store in the 2018 playoffs, Martin will continue his athletics and academics at the University of Chicago on a scholarship. But for now, his focus is on Buffalo Grove. Martin describes the Vikings’ approach going into tonight’s battle with the Bison.
“Our mentality is to be aggressive,” Martin said. “I mean we have to make sure we be aggressive and stay consistent. If we do that the whole game, and play well each quarter and win each quarter, that’s the formula for winning the game.”
Piper Miles, girls bowling
Favorite moment: Playing in, hanging out after an only-varsity tournament
Senior Piper Miles wasn’t always a top-notch bowler. In fact, she started bowling freshman year at the advice of her father, a former bowler himself. A far way off from her hesitant beginnings, Miles has left behind a collection of impressive bowling performances.
This year, she helped lead her team past the regionals and into an impressive fifth-place finish at sectionals, as Fremd narrowly missed the state tournament. As far as the group overall, Miles feels the Vikings embraced a reassuring atmosphere at the lanes.
“As a team, we’re very supportive of each other, so if we come off the lane and we threw a bad shot, we’re just like, ‘Put it out of your mind, just throw your next shot and do good,’” Miles said.
When asked about her love for bowling, Miles cites both interest and personal value.
“I really enjoy bowling because I like doing it in general and it helps me connect with my dad,” Miles said.
Cole Riemer and Adam Kemp, boys wrestling
Cole’s favorite moment: Winning his last high school match at state
Adam’s favorite moment: Defeating a Huntley wrestler who had beaten him multiple times
Continuing Fremd’s tradition of wrestling success, seniors Cole Riemer and Adam Kemp secured fifth-place finishes in their respective weight classes. Riemer attributes wrestling success to facing tough competition.
“Wrestling with the best guys in the state, in the country, is really where that individual success comes in,” Riemer said.
Despite going up against some of those wrestlers in the postseason, Riemer and Kemp were able to sustain those high finishes. Part of that process for Kemp was losing again to a wrestler from Huntley at sectionals, and Kemp declared it a turning point in his season.
“I’d say my turning point was when I lost to the kid at sectionals, because I kind of thought I would have to wrestle him at state again, so I’d have to figure out how to beat him,” Kemp said.
Remarkably, Kemp was accurate in his prediction, and at state he finally came out on top.
Now the Vikings must deal with the loss of Kemp and Riemer, the latter attending the University of Chicago on a wrestling scholarship. However, Riemer is hopeful for the upcoming years of Fremd wrestling.
“The underclassmen are really into it now, so that’s really good for the future of the program,” Riemer said.
Melanie Ng and Abby Moran, girls gymnastics
Melanie’s favorite moment: Dominating the conference tournament
Despite a regional win and a third place sectional finish, girls gymnastics was not selected for an at-large bid for the state tournament. However, seniors Melanie Ng and Abby Moran qualified individually to represent the green and gold at state, following multiple first-place medals in the postseason.
At state, the duo competed well, with Ng finishing ninth and Moran 12th in the balance beam event. Looking ahead, Ng offers a refreshingly honest take on doing gymnastics in college.
“I feel like [I’m] 100 years old, but maybe if there’s a club I can try keeping up my skills,” Ng said.
Regardless of their future, Ng and Moran have left a great legacy on Vikings gymnastics. Ng thinks the team gelled well after being relatively new to each other in 2016.
“We pushed each other, and then this year we got even closer,” Ng said. “So we already knew our strengths and weaknesses…and everyone was just always willing to help.”
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On Saturday, Feb. 24, from 7:30 to 11 p.m., Fremd students attended the semi-formal dance in the school gymnasium that included raffles, karaoke, a new DJ and catered food. During the week leading up to the dance, many students displayed their school spirit each day. Students all over the school prepared for this winter dance by decorating the hallways of Fremd in brilliant, radiant colors.
This year’s Winter Gala theme was “Winter Wonderland,” differing from the previous year’s “Blackout” theme. Student Council planned various events, including a raffle that students could enter to win one of many gift baskets.
Senior Michelle Jiang sees Winter Gala as a great way to spend time with friends and temporarily escape from the stress of academics.
“What’s great about Winter Gala is that it’s similar to Homecoming, but it’s a little less formal and stress-free to plan for,” Jiang said. “I am so glad to have attended an event like this my senior year.”
Last year, Winterfest was organized by the company Boom Tour, but Student Council had decided to organize the event themselves this year due to the high costs of having a company organize the event.
Sophomore Sharon Wu thinks that the new Winter Gala is a better and cheaper alternative to the company-organized event, and has drawn students in to provide an unforgettable experience.
“I think that it’s better if we don’t spend too much on these dances,” Wu said. “Regardless of having a company organize our dances or not, students find a way to have fun and Winter Gala was a blast.”
]]>The ceremony shined a spotlight on several K-Pop groups during the Parade of Nations, as athletes marched into the stadium under their country’s flag to upbeat bilingual rap music. This year, Olympic athletes from North and South Korea marched together under a single flag—a historic diplomatic decision that caused controversy but reinforced the main theme of peace. Korean musicians performed a soulful rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” surrounded by lights in the shape of a dove that symbolized peace and innocence.
The rest of the three weeks proved to be just as exhilarating as the opening ceremony. Here are some of the major highlights from this year’s Winter Olympics.
1) For 17-year-old Chloe Kim, her life would change forever when she became the youngest snowboarder to win an Olympic gold medal in the women’s snowboard halfpipe. According to National Public Radio’s Olympic coverage, “Kim wowed from the start, putting together complicated tricks to begin her first run and leading the field. That got her a 93.75 — good enough to win. She wasn’t satisfied. After falling on the third trick of her second run, Kim showed why she’s regarded as the best in the world, flirting with a perfect score (98.25) in the third run after finding out that her Grandmother —who had never seen her compete — had traveled from Seoul to Pyeongchang to watch her perform.” She is already regarded as one of the best snowboarders in global history.
2) It has been 90 years since anyone claimed gold in two different sports at the same Winter Games. But in PyeongChang, seven days after becoming the first snowboarder to win Olympic gold in alpine skiing, 22 year-old Czech sensation, Ester Ledecka, followed up her success with gold in snowboarding parallel giant slalom. She is the first woman, and only the third athlete, to achieve such success, yet remains humble in her triumph. According to CNN News, when asked whether she was the best athlete in PyeongChang, Ledecka gave a firm “no.” But her nonchalance does not change the fact that she is a once-in-a-lifetime talent that will never be forgotten.
3) Few fans at PyeongChang could match the level of relentless enthusiasm of North Korea’s cheering squad. The 230 young North Korean women charmed fans and viewers all over the world wherever they went. Dressed in matching uniforms, they were easy to spot and to hear, and they faithfully followed the North Korean athletes as they chanted, sang, danced and waved decorated flags in perfect unison. They grasped the attention of viewers and became a worldwide entertainment sensation with almost 440,000 views on Youtube.
4) After missing out on ultimate glory when losing to Canada in the 2002, 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics, the United States women’s ice hockey team was determined to take home gold in PyeongChang. The nerve-wrecking gold medal match between the underdogs from the United States and the four-time defending champions from Canada came down to a shootout when the score was leveled at 2-2. Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson from team USA finally scored to ensure United States’ victory. Jubilation ensued as the team celebrated winning Olympic gold for the first time in 20 years.
5) They may have lost to Sweden in the final, but South Korea’s curling “Garlic Girls” captured everyone’s hearts in Pyeongchang. Given their name because of their garlic producing hometown, the South Korean’s surprising winning streak turned them into instant internet sensations. Ranked eighth coming into the Games, the underdogs beat Canada and Sweden in the round-robin competitions and went on to defeat Japan in the semifinals.
6) One of the most important aspects of the Olympics is encapsulating the Olympic spirit. German Madrazo, an Olympic skier from Mexico, started skiing just last year. One year later, he finished dead last (115th) in the 15 kilometer cross-country race at the Olympic Games. But although the 43-year-old may have finished last, the sight of him crossing the line and holding the Mexican flag aloft exuded a sense of undeniable pride. At the finish line, fellow late-finishers greeted him with a hero’s welcome, lifting him onto their shoulders as he waved to the crowd with a huge smile on his face.
The top three countries with the highest medal count are Norway (14 gold, 14 silver, and 11 bronze), Germany (14 gold, 10 silver, and 7 bronze) and Canada (11 gold, 8 silver, and 10 bronze). The United States finished in a close fourth place.
]]>In recent years, various studies have indicated that increased academic competition has led to an unhealthy growth of substance abuse among affluent middle-class adolescents. More than ever, ambitious yet burnt-out students are turning towards unhealthy habits and outlets to relieve stress. According to Dr. Charles Cleland in a 2015 New York University College of Nursing survey of high-achievement high school students, stress relief and management are dominant factors of student drug use.
The increasing numbers of teenage substance abuse reveal a troubling reality. According to Nurse Lori Papciak, maturing adolescents are particularly vulnerable due to underdeveloped decision-making processes.
“The brain is still developing up until 25 years of age, so any chemical or drug is going to hurt the development of the brain. Everything’s filtered out through the organs, so you’re going to have those physical issues, but you’ll also have the social harms and the emotional harms of those substances, especially at such a young age. A lot of times, teens don’t think it’s a risk because the effects won’t come into play until maybe decades down the way,” Papciak said.
Combined with a lapse in decision making, Papciak addresses adolescent impressionability in relation to the perceived social benefits of substance use.
“Teens are more likely to perceive social benefits of drug use, such as being accepted among peers, or feeling more social than they are to evaluate the negative effects,” Papciak said. “When you look at the growth and development of this time period from a 14 to 18-year-old, you see developments in socialization, peer issues, and self-concept. You’re looking to be in the in-crowd and take those risks. Unfortunately, that’s a reason why you see drug use happening at this age.”
Adding on, counselor Tony Tosh proposes a psychological phenomenon responsible for perceived social pressures–a likely culprit.
“There’s this theory called the social norms theory–If somebody says ‘Oh, everybody’s doing it,’ the perception is more overblown than reality,” Tosh said. “If anything in life, we tend to believe the masses are doing what we might be more inclined to. If we don’t think something is the majority, we might be less inclined.”
Assistant principal Kimberly Glaser agrees, explaining that the reality often differs from our perceptions.
“It probably sounds sort of cliché but there’s this idea of peer pressure, and feeling like a peer group is doing it, or that other people are doing it,” Glaser said. “I would like to dispel that everybody’s doing it. Everybody’s not doing it. So if you feel like it’s something that you need to do to fit in, that is a myth. I could understand if there’s some pressure to feel like part of a group possibly, if that’s your perception of the case, even though that’s not maybe truly what it is.”
Sensationalism aside, correlation does not imply causation–perhaps the facts paint a different picture. Tosh reflects on past student substance usage data and reassures that student drug use is an uncommon trend.
“We have two things going on, we have the perception side, and we have the use side of the equation, and that’s from data we’ve collected from in the past,” Tosh said. “We often think that the perception is equally as important to look at as what people report they do. There’s usually a huge gap. I can say generally though, anytime we’ve taken data here, I can tell you that they didn’t differ really from any national numbers, maybe a percentage point here or there, that’s the general rule of thumb. And we found that things aren’t as bad as people thought.”
According to the 2017 Monitoring the Future project conducted by the University of Michigan in conjunction with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 27.8 percent of 10th graders and 39.9 percent of 12th graders reported using any illicit substance within a year of the survey. Overall, annual prevalence of substance use of the combined 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade population surveyed settled at a substantial 26.5 percent.
While certainly urgent, Glaser assures that the presence of drug use is not the utmost concern at Fremd High School.
“I don’t feel like there is a particularly widespread issue here at Fremd or in District 211 as a whole. I think historically, you might see some drug use at a high school across our country, throughout our society, but there is not an increased prevalence here at Fremd,” Glaser said.
Despite these assurances, student drug use nonetheless remains an important issue that carries heavy consequences. There are a variety of repercussions students must face for different levels of drug-related violations. Severity is dependent on two factors: selling and distributing drugs result in bigger infractions in comparison to usage. Students must keep in mind that underage drug use of any kind is against the law–the escalation of a drug offense may result in involvement from the Palatine Police Department.
On a lighter note, Glaser references many alternative consequences that do not involve the traditional punishment of suspension. These options offer stronger support through personalized instruction.
“It’s going to depend on the details of the situation, but there are a variety of options that we have here at Fremd. We have a chemical education group here at Fremd. It meets on a weekly basis, it’s run by one of our social workers here and it’s focused on decision making and learning about how putting different substances into your body can negatively affect you,” Glaser said. “That’s a group that we may assign as a consequence and an alternative to suspension for a student, especially if it’s maybe their first-time offence, to try to remediate the situation, to get them some more education so they can make a better decision for themselves.”
For the best results, it is necessary to make the consequence educational. Requiring the student to talk through their decisions helps the administration decide the best course of action for each individual. This approach focuses on how a student can recover and learn from their actions, breaking the cycle of addiction and dependence.
Tosh summarizes the key components of Fremd’s strategy towards student drug use.
“There’s discipline, there’s education, and there’s support,” Tosh said.
Though many students have not developed concrete decision-making skills, sometimes all a student needs is a nudge in the right direction. Glaser recognizes that mistakes are an unavoidable part of life–with the proper help, there’s only room for improvement.
“Our main focus is to try to move the student forward in a positive fashion, so we’re not back in the same situation again. Everybody’s going to make mistakes, and those mistakes are going to come with consequences, but our main goal is to try to find a system of support that’s going to help the student not make the same mistake again,” Glaser said.
]]>Prior to the season, the Bulls sent four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler and the 16th overall pick (Justin Patton) for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the seventh overall pick (Lauri Markkanen). General manager Gar Forman and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson believed it was time for change as the Bulls were an average team, sometimes peaking at the eighth seed of the playoffs.
This trade wasn’t well-received by Bulls fans, as Chicago lost Jimmy Butler for three players that were not as valuable as him. Zach LaVine was recovering from a torn ACL, and Chicago has had a bad history of players who’ve dealt with ACL injuries. Kris Dunn was not originally praised as he didn’t impress in his 17.1 minutes per game with the Timberwolves. Even Markkanen was a draft pick that no one was too sure about.
However, its evident that Dunn and Markkanen have become high-caliber players for this young rebuilding Bulls team. Both of these athletes have performed well, with Lauri Markkanen has averaging 15 points and eights rebounds while Kris Dunn has averaged 13 points and six rebounds. LaVine also has played well since his return from the torn ACL. With only about twenty games under his belt he averaged 17 points, three assists, and three rebounds.
Examining Minnesota’s return for the trade
Jimmy Butler is having another great season, averaging 22 points per game, with five assists and five rebounds. To top things off, Butler was a 2018 All-Star in a competitive Western conference. The 16th overall pick used on Justin Patton has not paid off for now, as he is constantly called up and demoted to the G-League team.
All this begs the question: Who won the trade? At this point, it has to be the Bulls with their young players putting up incredible stats. The team seems to have a bright future.
Nikola Mirotic improved greatly, helping the Bulls achieve an eight-game winning streak earlier this season. He’s been putting up some monstrous numbers with 17 per game and seven rebounds. While the improvement was great, the altercation in October between Mirotic and Portis hurt his chances of staying at the Bulls.
Fortunately, just before the deadline, the Bulls sent off a future second-rounder and Mirotic to the New Orleans Pelicans for their 2018 first-round pick, Omer Asik and veterans Jameer Nelson and Tony Allen. This trade benefits the Bulls since they will obtain a draft pick in a competitive class.
During the season, the Pelicans lost Demarcus Cousins to a ruptured achilles tendon, which led to the conclusion of his season. To keep their playoff hopes alive, the Pelicans needed a tall and physical sharp-shooter, and they get that in Mirotic.
Just before the two o’clock deadline, the Bulls traded draft rights for Milovan Rakovic, who hasn’t stepped foot on an NBA court, in return for a young power forward Noah Vonleh and some allocation money. The Bulls win this trade as they lose pretty much nothing for a developing power forward. Vonleh hasn’t really shown much in his time at Portland, but hopefully he will get more minutes in Chicago, proving fans in Portland wrong.
Final Word: As the Bulls obtain more developing young players, hopefully in a couple of years we are assuming these players will develop to their full potential. Noah Vonleh, a physical and sharpshooter from the arc, can fill in the vacant position for a substitute center. With the Bulls lacking a quality small forward, and players like Michael Porter, Jr. and Kevin Knox being in next year’s draft, the future first round pick can be used to draft one of these excellent playmakers.
]]>Death Cure may be a generally well regarded. That being said, it is far from perfect. The film has a brutally long runtime of 142 minutes. Many scenes feel dragged out or meaningless all together. Strings of dialogue seem to be repeated or unnecessary for a movie with a fairly simple plot. There are many differences from the book it is based off of. This can be a bad and a good thing, as some plot elements from the book may have fit well in a novel, but did not transition well onto the big screen.
At the same time, many things felt needlessly changed, sometimes for the worse. One of the most negative differences from the book is nearly everything with Minho’s character arc. In the film, Minho has been kidnapped by WICKED, therefore Thomas and the other Gladers need to breach into the WICKED headquarters and rescue him. In the book Minho was with Thomas and the rest of the Gladers the entire time. A lot of people, myself included, did not like how far the director strayed from the original material.
While some plot elements of the movie were not received well in the eyes of fans, there were numerous differences and moments that were. The Death Cure is considered to be one of the most action packed young adult movies ever made. The entire second half of the movie feels like an hour long climax that’s full of intense action. While some choices made in the ending aren’t looked on with positivity, it’s a mostly satisfying conclusion. An exclusive scene to the movie is its first scene. In this scene, Thomas and a few others attempt to extract Minho from a moving train. It is one of the finest action scenes in the movie that did not even appear in the book. This scene really grabs the viewers’ attention and draws them in.
Another positive element about the movie is the cast’s performance. Almost every character is brought alive by their actor or actress. Stand out actors and actresses include, Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, and Patricia Clarkson. Along with the performance, the visual and special effects are remarkable. The look of many objects and buildings are truly futuristic and well thought out. In a scene near the end, Thomas and Teresa are on top of the WICKED headquarters as it is in flames and about to collapse. The image of the two of them surrounded by fire on top of the largest building in sight is a visually stunning moment.
All in all The Death Cure is a adequate movie that holds some fantastic examples of action and intensity. It also concludes the Maze Runner series in a mostly satisfying way. However, it does lose some points for having some needless differences between it and the book, along with it having a long runtime.
Link to photo – (https://vimeo.com/253742457)
]]>According to the 2018 Science and Engineering Indicators Report published by the National Science Board, only 23 percent of the 57,937 high school students who took the AP Computer Science A test in 2016 were female. Similarly, the National Science Board further reports that women made up only 24 percent of the computer and information science workforce in 2015.
Worryingly enough, College Board statistics reveal that in 2013, not a single girl took the AP Computer Science A test in Mississippi, Montana, and Wyoming. If it isn’t evident already, there’s quite a problem in the computer science industry.
Math and computer science teacher Shannon Denna is surprised by the status quo but agrees with the current numbers. Nonetheless, Denna remains hopeful for the future.
“Yes, there is definitely an underrepresentation. To be honest, I’m not quite sure why females are hesitant to take the computer science courses,” Denna said. “Over the last few years, I have seen a definite increase in enrollment, which I think is wonderful.”
Junior Amulya Malapaka, President of the Girls Who Code club at Fremd, agrees with Denna and explains the trend through her personal experiences in computer science.
“I truly think that there is an underrepresentation of females in computer science,” Malapaka said. “I have met many girls that are scared to try to attempt a class in computer science, let alone a career.“
For many women, diving into an unfamiliar field stereotypically dominated by the opposite gender is a daunting and uncertain challenge. It’s evident that a change in society is needed to inspire the next generation of female developers. Denna draws upon her initial impressions of computer science in college for reference.
“I know when I was an undergrad math major I was terrified of my programming class. It seems silly now, but I didn’t feel like I could fit in with all the guys who lived and breathed computers and had grown up playing computer games,” Denna said.
Though a scary encounter at first, Denna soon realized that her ambitions in computer science were within reach.
“Once I got past my fear of failure, I was able to see just how natural the coding process was for me and I became much less intimidated,” Denna said.
The challenges provided by computer science are practical and unique. From logic-based problem solving to abstract critical thinking, the lessons offered by the subject are invaluable. Junior and AP Computer Science A student Fiona Freeman reflects on her coding journey so far.
“I thought that it would be a good skill to learn in our technology-centered society. So far, I have definitely learned a ton of interesting and new things that force me to think and explore new ideas,” Freeman said. “I really enjoyed learning JavaScript and messing around with CSS and different game designs, but Java is also interesting with its logic-based syntax.”
There are infinite solutions to each and every problem in computer science. In this sense, computer science is a continuously evolving art form. Denna explains how computer science teaches flexibility and compatibility in future, unforeseen lessons.
“It is a great area for people who like to visualize a solution and then try to find a way to make it happen. There is a lot of creativity and trial and error that goes into programming. There are so many ways to get involved in the field,” Denna said. “The most important thing to remember is that the field is always changing. It is impossible to learn everything and keep up with all the different languages and technology. By learning the logic behind writing computer code and how to problem solve, you can apply that skill to any current computer language being used and new technology as it emerges. Learning to code teaches you a different way to think that can open up possibilities and greater success in STEM-based fields.”
On the other hand, Malapaka believes that women have, and will continue to revolutionize the computer science discipline–an equitable relationship of give-and-take.
“I think that women have a lot to offer for computer science as well as the other way around. Women can be creative and wonderful problem solvers, and computer science teaches girls to be brave and patient. Learning to code doesn’t come easily, but with the right amount of work and patience, it is an attainable goal,” Malapaka said.
If the advantages of computer science are so plentiful, then the question remains on how the benefits can be shared equally. According to TechCrunch, the Chicago Public School Board of Education voted unanimously to implement computer science as a core subject and graduation requirement in 2016. Indeed, computer science and a future in a STEM profession introduce a lifeline for many underserved minorities. For Freeman, the solution is to dive in headfirst.
“I would encourage girls to try coding even if they don’t like math or computers because it is fun for many people and it is extremely relevant in society today,” Freeman said. “Also, it’s important for girls to support other girls who want to take coding classes, but are scared of the male-dominated course.”
Accessible to all, many of Fremd’s computer science courses such as the aforementioned AP Computer Science A, as well as AP Computer Science Principles, require no prior knowledge or experience with coding. Likewise, Denna believes that introductory computer science is entirely approachable, and as the name suggests, introductory.
“The best way to start is to take the intro class. Learn the basics of computer code, the logic of how the computer thinks and how to give the computer instructions. From there, you can learn how to write programs that interact with someone at the computer which is very exciting. Once those basics are learned, you can go anywhere with the skill,” Denna said. “I think the field of computer science seems very vague and out of reach for many females and they don’t realize how broad the field has become. Computers are at the center of everything we do and by learning how to code you make yourself more able to take control of whatever area you chose to study in the future.”
For those who remain unconvinced, there is no harm in giving it a try. Malapaka acknowledges that while computer science isn’t necessarily meant for everyone, she nevertheless urges all hesitant students to consider taking it.
“Without trying something, you can never decide whether it is for you or not. My best advice is to try. After attempting something, you can decide whether you like it or not,” Malapaka said. “Moreover, more girls than not never get it right on the first time. I still don’t have it down perfectly, but I am still trying. But in computer science and life in general, you don’t have to be perfect.”
From the perspective of a teacher, Denna affirms that computer science is a rewarding experience for all.
“Lately, I am finding a lot of joy letting my advanced computer science students teach me new concepts they are learning on their own,” Denna said. “In this field, everyone has their own areas of expertise and it is important to be willing to be both the student and teacher and explore together.”
]]>It’s a struggle to stand out amidst the sea of action movies that seem to be advertised everywhere, and though the Last Jedi makes an attempt, it falls flat. In this installment of the series, main protagonists Finn and Poe return with the Resistance, while Rey is off learning how to be a proper Jedi – and Kylo Ren broods in a variety of dark spaces. The subpar plot of the movie gets pushed aside to make way for the introduction of new characters – which is just another opportunity for the franchise to make yet more money off of branded products. As a result, viewers focus less on the actual storyline and more on the characters themselves.
Although, overlooking the initial impact of force-feeding (Ha!) characters down viewers’ throats, there is an upside to one of the newly introduced roles. Rose Tico, portrayed by Kelly Marie Tran, is the first major female character played by an ethnic Asian. The Star Wars franchise has had an unfortunately lengthy history of Asian erasure in its casting, so it’s much appreciated that they deliberately wrote a character in that would require an ethnic Asian actress. That, however, does not excuse the fact that there is little to no character development exhibited throughout all major roles. Finn, for example, has no large revelations or changes in morals in the entire two hours and thirty-two minutes of the movie – he remains a pious follower of the Resistance throughout and never doubts his transition from a cold-hearted Stormtrooper to a lovable hero.
In examining the story, it’s plain as day that even without the forced insertions of new characters, the plot is lacking in ingenuity and originality. For example, the whole “will he or won’t he” with Kylo Ren. It has long been speculated by fans that the writers would try to establish Kylo as a dynamic character that would seem to reject his master and turn to the Resistance but ultimately retain his dictator-like ambitions – so when Kylo finally made his fatal decision and offered Rey a leading role in his quest for galaxy-wide power, audiences yawned. And consequently, when Rey rejected his olive branch in the classic feel-good protagonist manner, viewers barely blinked. The Star Wars franchise has fallen into the depths of the cookie cutter sci-fi storyline, becoming increasingly predictable and boring.
To die-hard fans and enthusiastic experts, Star Wars will always come first in their hearts. However, for those who are just looking to watch a nice movie with a thought-provoking plot, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is not the movie to watch. It falls short of the standard set by the seventh installment of the series, and relies on the pure nostalgia of the franchise to rake in the cash. With a lackluster plot and intrusive characters, The Last Jedi just doesn’t live up to to hype.
Link to photo – (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Star_Wars_Episode_VIII_The_Last_Jedi_Word_Logo.svg)
]]>An inspirational opening ceremony filled with Korean culture kicked off the Olympics, which began on Friday, Feb. 9. The ceremony’s message centered on peace, passion, harmony, and convergence, and five children were used to symbolize the five Olympic rings and the five elements that are believed to make up the Earth. Each child stood for one element; earth, metal, wood, water, and fire. Also, a stadium was built specially for the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies (PyeongChang Olympic Stadium) and torn down immediately afterward.
Here’s a look at the winners and losers from Pyeongchang 2018.
Winners
Redmond Gerard:
The third-youngest-ever gold medalist in the Winter Games, Gerard became the first gold medalist born in the 2000s.
Lindsey Vonn:
These were Vonn’s last Olympics as an athlete, and the U.S. bid farewell to her. The veteran skier, who has the highest super ranking of any skier, man or woman, just finished competing in her fifth Olympics, an impressive feat.
Shaun White:
White’s inspirational comeback stole headlines in Pyeongchang. White earned his third career gold medal after recovering from stitches suffered during a failed run in October.
Chloe Kim:
Her achievements at the age of just 17 captivated millions around the world.
U.S. women’s hockey team:
Their victory enthralled millions of young female hockey players in America and even led to a guest appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and an appearance at a Tampa Bay Lightning game.
USA curling team:
Knocking off Sweden, the 2018 curling team won America’s first-ever gold medal in curling.
Different countries:
Thirty-seven American athletes competed under flags of other countries.
New additions:
Some additions to the Games included big air snowboarding, mass start speed skating, mixed doubles curling, and mixed team alpine skiing.
New countries:
The countries of Nigeria, Ecuador, Kosovo, Singapore, Eritrea and Malaysia all made their Winter Olympic debuts. On Tuesday, February 20, the Nigerian bobsled team, comprised of Seun Adigun, Akuoma Omeoga and Ngozi Onwumere, became the first Olympic bobsled team in history to represent an African nation.
More events:
This was the first Winter Olympics to surpass 100 medal events, with 102 total.
Leaders:
Norway led the group in medals with 39 overall, including a tie for first with 14 gold. Individual gold medalists representing the United States included Gerard, Jamie Anderson, Kim, White, Mikaela Shiffrin, and David Wise.
Losers
America’s finish:
The U.S. finished fourth in the total medal tally. They were unable to collect even ten medals, either gold, silver, or bronze, instead forced to settle for nine golds, eight silvers, and six bronze. The U.S. nabbed only two medals in figure skating, a poor outcome.
TV ratings:
Ratings for this year’s Olympics decreased from 2014 and were the worst ever for any Winter Games, as primetime coverage drew a combined 13.0 rating, yet NBC still hauled in a record $920 million in national ad sales.
Other controversies:
Some countries threatened to skip the Games due to the 2017-18 Korean missile crisis. Also, a number of Russian athletes were involved in an illegal doping controversy and were simply referred to as “the Olympic athletes from Russia.” Russia was not awarded any medals and no Russian officials were allowed at the Games.
Ending celebration:
The Games ended on Sunday, Feb. 25. Another great Olympics is in the books, and the world will need to wait another four years for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
]]>The Cubs had a short yet ambitious to-do list: bolster their bullpen and find an adequate replacement for the departing Jake Arrieta.
Check marks were made immediately with signings of Steve Cishek, Brandon Morrow, and Brian Duensing (re-signed), who were all effective relievers in the past year. Although the closing role is shrouded in ambiguity, the overall strength of the late-inning corps is among the highest in the majors.
When the standout ace of the starting rotation is still uncertain heading into Spring Training, it speaks volumes to the strength of the overall pitching staff. New signee Yu Darvish, who is the former longtime ace of the Texas Rangers, is bringing his powerful arm underneath Chicago’s blue pinstripes. He joins elite performers in southpaws Jon Lester and Jose Quintana, along with the emerging star Kyle Hendricks.
With the acquisition of former Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood, who is considered to have high upside with his exceptional pitch arsenal, manager Joe Maddon may be looking at the best rotation of his career. From ace to fifth starter, the entire starting group is rife with talent, effectiveness and the potential to outperform their division rivals by a wide margin.
The lineup still consists of the young infield stars that includes standouts Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, who look to extend their upward trends after a successful 2017 campaign. With the offensive game remaining solid for another year, the Cubs may be at their best formation in years.
It’s ambitious to jump to extremes, but the Cubs’ grip on the NL Central may be solid for another year.
BREWERS
Mid-January marked a significant push by the Brewers, who added Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain to their roster in the span of two hours. With their outfield now being considered well above average, one would expect the Brewers to ride their solid rotation to a postseason appearance.
There are a few variables, however, that calculate a regression down to a norm lower than last year. Unusually high production from their lineup boosted their record for the first half of 2017. Nearly every starter experienced career highs in ERA, wins, and innings pitched, despite the hitter-friendly nature of Miller Park. Thus, statistical estimates see the Brewers declining despite their offseason acquisitions.
Projections are fickle and ignore intangible variables on their own, however, and it is unwise to deny the emerging strength of the Brewers. After all, they are expected to be shoppers at the July trading deadline, which would boost their possibilities for a successful postseason surge.
Any regression will place the Brewers at a distant second, so it is up to their individual players to disprove pundits who believe their past season was fraudulent. If the Milwaukee rotation remains as effective while their lineup opposes the regressing predictions, they may be looking towards October baseball should the Cubs falter. At the very least, the Brewers are favorites for one of two NL Wild Card spots.
CARDINALS
Except for a trade for the Marlins’s star center fielder Marcell Ozuna, St. Louis has remained relatively silent this off-season.
Their outfield corners of Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty were traded for a cumulative output that nearly matched Ozuna’s cost. Both were average or below-average at best, so their departure is expected to have a minimal effect.
Although Carlos Martinez is an effective standout among the league’s starters, he can only contribute every five days. The rest of his comrades in the rotation have battled injury and old age: Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright have struggled during his past two years. Miles Mikolas relegated himself to Korea to revive his career before his contract with the Cardinals, and already looks vulnerable in Spring Training.
Luke Weaver, their top pitching prospect, is expected to be the fifth starter in their rotation. His talent and electricity could be offset by the injury risk, inexperience and inconsistency typical of rookies. Overall, the Cardinals rotation is simply not as heralded as it was. It’s continually degrading as more arms succumb to injury and surgery.
Signing Ozuna reinforces a lineup that leaned heavily on a few stars, namely Jedd Gyorko and Tommy Pham, who are expected to decline after their strokes of luck in 2017. If leadoff man Dexter Fowler stays healthy, their lineup can be effective enough to compete.
PIRATES
After years of clutching to among the most talented squads in the league, several variables began to corrode the team’s foundation. Jung Ho Kang, who was a key player for their 2015 postseason rush, is still battling visa issues and thus cannot play in the United States for now. Starling Marte was suspended earlier in 2017 for his use of performance enhancing drugs. Players were overall unhappy with the organization’s unwillingness to pursue free agents and trades in the past, despite their success and postseason potential.
With the remnants of their successful 2015 season fading, the Pirates are now turning towards a rebuild process. After trading their longtime franchise face in Andrew McCutchen and their ace in Gerrit Cole, it is safe to assume that the Pirates are putting up a white flag. Their major league depth is now miles from the Cubs, Brewers and even the Cardinals.
In any division, a rebuilding team is simply fodder to the winning records of its playoff-contending brethren. With the Pirates entering an era of darkness, the Cubs and Brewers have found new prey to feast on.
REDS
For the past few years, the Reds have been the little brother to the rest of the Central. That trend is, for the most part, not looking to change.
Outside of their MVP-contending superstar in Joey Votto, Cincinnati is looking at a meager lineup and an underwhelming pitching staff. They may be even worse than last year, with breakout shortstop Zack Cozart having departed for free agency, and few of their lineup mainstays posting supposedly unrepeatable, unusually high numbers last season.
Like the Pirates, their strengths will never be penciled into a major league lineup card; they hover in the minor leagues, waiting for the rebuilding storm to pass. For now, they will be an easy target for the elites that rule the division.
Projected standings:
Timberlake, a member of the now disbanded 2000s boy band *NSYNC, released his first solo album, Justified, in 2002. Since then, he has taken on roles in various movies such as 2010’s The Social Network and 2016’s Trolls and has released four other studio albums.
Man of the Woods begins with “Filthy,” produced by Timbaland and Danja who have been collaborators on a number of Timberlake’s songs over the years. Its funky, dark futuristic sound incorporates synthesizers, unique complimentary bassline and brief moments of crushing guitar. Though Timberlake isn’t singing so much as speaking, the song’s instrumentation makes it one of the standout songs on the album.
Timberlake unleashes his famous falsetto on “Higher Higher.” The Neptunes, a production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, bring their trademark funk sound to the song. Timberlake’s lower range vocals are layered with a perpetual Pharrell-esque falsetto. The infectious bridge, paired with subtle percussion, gives the song a sound reminiscent of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.”
Collaborations are scarce on Man of the Woods, but artfully done. “Morning Light,” which features Alicia Keys, has distinctive production from Timbaland, granting the song a mildly nostalgic sound. Chris Stapleton brings a bluesy air to the otherwise pop dominated album with “Say Something,” which successfully blends and balances Timberlake’s and Stapleton’s voices, albeit being mildly repetitive.
Timberlake seeks a contemporary sound in “Supplies,” but the result is ultimately disappointing. The track tries to meld trap effects more characteristic of Migos or Future with Timberlake’s voice. While Timberlake’s attempt to remain contemporary is appreciated, it is ill-fitting given both his voice and the song’s message. In “Wave,” Timberlake’s voice is drowned out by unnecessarily loud Caribbean sounds. The vocals are choppy, and “Wave” sounds like two separate songs poorly pieced together. Raphael Saadiq’s bass and the whistle that kicks in in the latter half of the song make “Wave” slightly more bearable.
Timberlake does not attempt to build off of previous albums, but rather redefines himself as an artist in Man of The Woods. While it lacks an overarching theme and screams confusion in its attempt to channel both futuristic and country sounds, Man of the Woods is capable of contending with other albums released over Timberlake’s illustrious career.
]]>Workshops on Friday included the Idea Generation Workshop and the Personal Website Workshop. The Idea Generation Workshop helped competitors start their projects by giving them ideas that were presented in past hackathons. Several projects that acquired high standings were based off ideas presented at this workshop. The Personal Website Workshop shortly followed the first workshop, and it provided the students with an interface to put their work on.
Freshman Vishal Chandrasekaran reflects on his coding knowledge prior to and after the hackathon.
“I learned a lot after going to a couple workshops, and I picked up a lot of extra knowledge in Java and HTML,” Chandrasekaran said. “The experience really helped me generate ideas and program efficiently.”
The PHS media center provided a natural setting for the hackathon, and the private rooms and comfortable seating provided a suitable environment for students to work in. However, after a tiring school day on Friday, many people were exhausted. For many people, the continuous cycle of programming, eating, and resting was unfamiliar, and led to a shift in their sleep schedule.
Math teacher Charles Nichols indicates the success of the hackathon after volunteering at Code211.
“The event was fun, and I saw some really neat projects at the end,” Nichols said.
Three hacks were chosen to take the top spots, each having their own positive impacts on society. One of the winning hacks took a picture of a menu and returned the healthiest option. Another hack had a user enter a zip code, and it returned the pollution level at that location. The last hack used the user’s location to provide information about the weather.
The 20-hour event introduced many D211 students to the idea, simplicity and impact of coding.
Junior Arnav Batta thinks that the hackathon was a new experience that shed light onto concepts he was unfamiliar with.
“Code211 was my first hackathon and was truly an interesting and rewarding experience,” Batta said. “For hours on end, my team and I collaborated to bring our idea to life and we learned about Java, web scraping, and teamwork.”
So what do Fremd students think about the Time’s Up Movement?
]]>Fremd’s talented student writers read their original pieces on Feb. 6, Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 in the Kolze Auditorium, showcasing their incredible writing skills in front of the student body. Some of these students share their thoughts and explain why being a part of Writers Week is special to them.
Swapnika Duvvuru, a freshman who presented a poem on Feb. 8 during first period, talks about the welcoming environment of Writers Week.
“I’ve always liked to express my ideas, and I thought it would be cool to go on stage and perform a piece that matters to me. It’s a new experience, and there was nothing to lose. The audience was really nice and was more friendly than I expected. People were enthusiastic to listen, and I couldn’t completely see the crowd, so this reduced some of my fears and made me more comfortable,” Duvvuru said. “Next year, if I have something that I want to present, then I would perform again. Personally, I felt that being in the audience was a super relaxing experience, so that was just as enjoyable as being on stage.”
It takes courage to try something that has never been done before, and for many of the students who presented for the first time at Writers Week this year, it proved to be a significant part of their academic lives.
Sophomore Anmol Desai presented an inspirational memoir during seventh period on Feb. 6. This was her first time speaking on stage at Writers Week, but she loved the experience and encourages students to present in the future.
“I really enjoyed seeing the presenters last year, although I did not participate in Writers Week myself until this year. The presenting experience was fun overall, but it was a bit nerve-racking before I got on stage,” Desai said. “For those who aren’t sure about whether or not they want to participate in Writers Week next year, I would tell them to just ‘do it’ because it is always great to try something new, and you can get a lot out of it.”
Paige Dirkes-Jacks, a senior who performed a song during eighth period on Feb. 7, is extremely thankful for the opportunities Writers Week provides. Dirkes-Jacks has presented at Writers Week since her freshman year, and she hopes that future Fremd students will enjoy this school tradition as much as she did.
“One of my favorite parts about Fremd is Writers Week, and it is a privilege for students at Fremd to have the opportunity to participate in this event. Writers Week allows students to express themselves. There is a wonderful and supportive environment, and I think it is very rewarding to perform,” Dirkes-Jacks said.
Overall, Writers Week gives students a chance to share creative writing that is both meaningful and unique. Many students wrote about important moments that helped them learn life lessons or grow as individuals. Whether it was presenting on stage or listening in the audience, Writers Week was a memorable event.
“This year, I wrote a song about learning how to move on from loss. During the process, I discovered that changes are positive factors, and performing my song gave me confidence for college and the future,” Dirkes-Jacks said. “I was nervous at first, but my friends are always so supportive. I would definitely encourage students to do it because Writers Week is just so amazing.”
]]>The initial element which caused me to have such a passionate appreciation for the movie Coco was the style and intricacy of its animation. From the grandness of the Land of the Dead to the wisps of hair on great grandma Coco’s chin, the attention to detail was spot on. The way the colors danced across the screen in each and every shot and the fluid movement of the characters allowed for a visual masterpiece.
Beyond the animation, another obvious success was Coco’s wonderful soundtrack. Upbeat happy songs, such as “Un Poco Loco,” as well as inappropriate (yet hilarious) songs like “Everyone Knows Juanita,” a surprisingly heartfelt song, take Coco to the next level. However, despite how amazing these songs were, nothing came close to my personal favorite song in the movie, “Remember Me.” This song was initially introduced to the audience as a cheerful song that instinctively makes you want to tap your feet. Then, it is reintroduced as a parting lullaby for young Coco in scene which caused excessive blinking as people attempted not to shed a tear. The voice actors imbued such emotion in their voices for the musical numbers; they made every scene all the more stimulating.
The last reason I loved Coco was because it contained what every Adam Sandler movie lacks, an amazing thing called “character development.” In the the beginning it seems like Miguel’s family consists of antagonists who force the path of shoemaker on an aspiring musician (Miguel). Although it’s soon recognized that they’re just trying to do what they perceive as “best for him” as they were in the past betrayed by their great great grandfather who left them to pursue his career in music. Soon they give in to Miguel’s requests after realizing the positive effects of music. Another clear show of this character development is Hector’s transition from selfish con man, to caring person, as his intent to help Miguel stops being about getting his picture to the land of the living, but rather keeping Miguel safe. Every second of this movie was beautiful, and any review couldn’t do it justice.
]]>The first act of the show opened with an energizing performance by members of Fremd’s drumline and was followed with impressive demonstrations of singing, dancing and rapping. Performers also showcased their skills in guitar, trumpet, ukulele, keytar and piano.
Additionally, the emcees of the Variety Show, Sophia Mavromatis and Shreya Tewari, provided a refreshing comedy break with their playful mocking of various Fremd norms, entitled “3 Minute Burn.”
Several Fremd clubs and activities took the chance to join in and show off their skills as well, including Women’s A Capella, Orchesis and the dance club. Lastly, Fremd’s show choir, Soundscape, closed off the first act with their elegant performance of “My Way/It’s My Life” that flaunted both the singing and dancing of members.
Sophomore Amani Bhagwakar, a member of Soundscape, explains that she enjoyed participating in the Variety Show because she was able to perform for her friends.
“I think performing in general is really fun because you can share your talents with the audience,” Bhagwakar said. “Performing for other shows, in particular for show choir, we perform at competitions but at competitions you’re not performing for anyone you know. For Variety Show, it’s different because you are performing in front of your peers and people you have known for a long time so it was really cool.”
Following the first act, the second act of the show featured a couple of Fremd’s clubs: Men’s A Cappella and Korean Club. Furthermore, phenomenal singing and dancing were present once again. However, in the second act, several new talents were shown, including the playing of instruments like bass and violin. The second act was ended with Olivia Calas and Alex Jusi dancing with mannequin heads placed on top of their own heads, creating a hilariously strange effect. The duo brought the show to a close with the audiences smiling and laughing. Finally, for the finale, all of the performers ran on to the warmly lit stage to rounds of applause, cheers and whistles.
Senior Lincoln Skoien performed as a member of Soundscape and Men’s A Cappella and, in addition, he performed “Not Over You” with Pranit Cheikycharla. Skoien credits the kindness of everyone participating in the Variety Show for why he enjoys participating as well.
“It’s a good atmosphere backstage,” Skoien said. “Everyone is rooting you on and it’s just a really nice community feeling. Everyone’s on the same page, everyone is trying to put on a good show and everyone is supporting everyone else so it’s a lot of fun.”
English teacher Theodhora Koller, one of the directors of the Variety Show, explains how the diversity of performances prompted the overall success of the show.
“There’s so many different kids that are involved. There’s kids from every part of the school: dance groups, different acapella groups, instrumental groups,” Koller said. “Kids from all walks of life get to try out for Variety Show and be a part of it. That’s what makes it really enjoyable for everyone.”
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The whole routine only lasts for two minutes and thirty seconds. However, the short time frame is filled with flips, stunts, and yelling to showcase the team’s best skills.
This year, one of the most difficult stunts according to junior Lea Larsen was the “full ups.” After working in their individual stunt groups, they are able to push through their toughest task.
Larsen shares the bustling nature of a typical competition.
“There’s nothing boring in it, and there is something always going on,” Larsen said.
To prepare, the team meets everyday after school for two and a half hours. They stretch, warm-up, practice their routine, then follow up with any extra practice for areas they think need more work.
Junior Mackenzie Basille characterizes the after school practices and highlights the team’s passion.
“It’s hard, pretty grueling, and intense, but every girl has so much passion for the sport; you don’t really realize how tired you are,” Basille said.
While each competition varies in the number of competitors, the highest number of teams Fremd has competed against this season was 34 at the Huntley Invite. They were able to place seventh and gained confidence to achieve their future goals.
The most important component to qualify for state is placing top five in the Mid-Suburban League. Basille attributes the team’s success to the countless hours perfecting their routine.
“We really work hard to nail down our routine during our practices, so we can feel confident going into the competition,” she said.
As a result, the team placed second in the MSL, followed by third in sectionals, and were once again on the road to state.
Basille describes the exhilaration of competing on the state mat at Illinois State University, under the lights.
“The feeling is one of a kind,” Basille said.
In a recap of the season, Larsen shares her most rewarding moment from this season.
“I am most proud of placing second at our MSL and third at our sectionals because it’s never been done before,” Larsen said.
With Larsen’s satisfaction of this past season, she looks to her senior year with excitement.
“I’m looking forward to do more things that I’ve never done, and be able to see how all my team’s hard work has paid off the last four years,” she said.
]]>Seniors Abby Moran and Melanie Ng will continue on to the State competition, both placing in the top five at sectionals. Moran excelled at the floor event, coming in third with a score of 9.2750 and will compete in Floor and Beam events. Ng came in fifth with a 9.3750, only 0.025 away from the fourth place spot in the Uneven bars. Ng has fortified her spot in the Mid-Suburban League and all around regional titles, and will continue to compete on the Uneven Bars and Beam.
During sectionals the girls accomplished their goal of doing well and coming in third, following Maine South and Prairie Ridge. Though this season has brought numerous successes, the girls will go into state searching for nothing but a win.
While some seniors will continue to the state competition, other gymnasts’ seasons have concluded and now will focus on their next year agendas.
Junior Gianna Christodoulopolous looks to continue the tradition of winning as she enters her senior year.
“I look forward to meeting the incoming freshman and encouraging them to be the best they can be,” Christodoulopolous said. “I really want to be a team leader for everyone and just have fun while trying our best.”
Throughout this season the girls focused primarily on becoming not only stronger individuals, but also a more unified team.
For sophomore Sam Shirmer, this season showed a lot of growth for the team.
“Hitting our high score of 145-875 at conference something we haven’t done in the past,” Shirmer said. “We got so close last season, but we finally reached our goal this season.”
The girls compete at Palatine High School on Feb. 16 and 17 in their final State competition.
]]>But, here we are, a season and a half later, and Negan remains our heroes’ greatest foe. And that “all-out war” scenario isn’t exactly living up to its hype, mostly because it’s dragging on. The first half of the current season turned out to be somewhat of a disappointment for me, and it has felt as if this show has been increasingly coming up short for the past couple of years. I used to watch every episode with a palpitating heart and goosebumps-ridden arms, literally on the edge of my seat with the fear and anticipation of these beloved characters’ fates. Recently, the storyline has been making my eyes roll in boredom and annoyance more often than anything else.
So here are the three main goals The Walking Dead needs to achieve by the end of this season to keep me interested:
1. Negan needs to die. Soon. When this villain first made his debut, he was one of the most frightening and merciless antagonists this show had ever seen. Unlike the Governor (remember when you thought he was dead and then he tried to wipe out the prison with a literal tank?), who showed signs of obvious trauma and mental instability, Negan has always seemed very much with it, making his actions all the more stomach-churning. His merciless bludgeoning of not one, but two, adored characters right off the bat (pun not intended) struck a daunting chord that severely crippled the spirits of Rick and his group.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a spectacular actor who portrays Negan gut-wrenchingly well, but by this point, the antagonist has become overplayed. The more scenes Negan is in, the less I fear him. It’s as if knowing more about him makes him more human and, as a result, less terrifying. He was much more feared when he stuck to the shadows of the show, the idea of him far more paralyzing than the man himself. By now, Negan simply doesn’t have the potency he originally held, and the longer it takes for him to die, the less satisfying that death will be. One of the most important aspects of quality writing is knowing when to end a storyline. Which brings me to my next point.
2. What about the cure? When we first meet Abraham, Eugene and Rosita in season four, they are on their way to D.C. under the impression that Eugene knows how to cure everyone and end the reign of zombies (or “walkers,” as they’re frequently called) that plagues the planet. But, upon discovering that Eugene lied about this in order ensure his own survival, the trek comes to a grinding halt.
Now, four seasons later, in considering what everyone will do once the omnipresent threat of Negan is no more, setting out on a search for a possible cure is a storyline I would eagerly revisit. The threat of walkers is never going to disappear unless some sort of cure is found. No matter how many are killed, more people will die, and turn, and take their place. Just because Eugene doesn’t know the answer to the issue of our loved ones rising from the dead and trying to eat our guts, doesn’t mean no one does. It seems highly unlikely that not a single government official in D.C. is still alive, or that no small portion of the military remains intact, hiding out somewhere, attempting to solve this issue. The only other time we ventured down this path was all the way back in the first season, when Rick and the group sought ultimately fruitless answers at the CDC.
But a whirlwind of time and events has passed since then. Enough of the wars, enough of the relentless fighting with other groups who can’t stand the idea of living in harmony with anyone else––even though they’re miles apart from one another––unceasingly power-hungry in this lawless world. It’s time to shift gears and look for action and intrigue on a different field. The search for the cure, for anyone in our nation’s capital who can make sense of all this, is the logical next step, and can easily still remain a storyline bursting with realistic uncertainty and peril at every turn. Which makes my last point all the more frustrating.
3. The overdramatic, unrealistic writing needs to reach its end. The reason I began watching this show at all is because the first episode completely hooked me. And every episode after reeled me in even further, gluing me to the complexity of the story and its characters. It was gory and raw and tantalizing while still remaining in the realm of practicality. Don’t get me wrong, that’s an extremely difficult feat to achieve in storytelling, especially on a consistent basis. But for five seasons, The Walking Dead continuously delivered, again and again. Most of season six kept footing on the same level, and it wasn’t really until season seven that I began noticing increasingly frequent overdramatized scenes with characters who simply would not be making these ridiculous mistakes seven seasons into this show.
Two prime examples come to mind: first, when Rick initially meets the Scavengers (that weird group that communicates like agitated toddlers), they take him on top of this hill known as the “Up, Up, Up.” My first thought when he gets to the top is, “He better not get pushed off this hill or I’m going to lose it.” And, of course, not only does he get pushed off, it occurs with a nonchalant one-handed shove, and Rick just goes toppling down, somehow not in the least expecting these mysterious strangers he just met to do that. Really? The man who survived a one-eyed psycho with a tank and a group of actual non-walker cannibals doesn’t see this coming? Secondly, the most recent mid-season finale featured a scene where Rick engages in a one-on-one battle with Negan, at one point actually getting the better of our villain and standing over him with Negan’s own menacing bat, poised to finally end it all––or at least smash his face in pretty hard. But instead, Rick halfheartedly hits him with the non-barbed wire part of the bat, giving Negan the chance to gain an upper hand again. Rick has been wanting to spill Negan’s blood since the moment they met, and now that he has the perfect chance––after a season and half––Rick pulls his punches?
It’s many moments like these in the past couple seasons that have disappointed me, and taken me from the story. With the success of the show, it seems that the writers have gotten complacent, thinking anything they scribble down is golden material. That has not been the case, and it’s time they check themselves.
Between a played-out antagonist, a never-ending war and increasingly subpar writing, The Walking Dead needs to take a serious look ahead and make critical adjustments if the show wants to keep up the prestige and respect it worked so hard to gain.
]]>A year ago, The Washington Post reported that approximately 3 to 5 million people protested following Trump’s inauguration. This worldwide protest was directed at President Trump’s views on issues such as women’s rights, the LGBTQ community, immigration policies and his alleged intolerance towards people of color and religions such as Islam. Although there is no official countrywide estimate of the number of people who participated this year, according to The New York Times, this year, more than 200,000 protesters attended the March in New York, 600,000 in Los Angeles and 300,000 in Chicago. People of all age, children to adults, came forward hoping to make a change. The second annual Women’s March was given a boost by the #MeToo movement. The movement encouraged women to come forward after sexual harassments by men, in particulara and pushed activists to demand for a deeper political and social change as well.
When asked how the #MeToo movement affected the march, sophomore Deborah Mensa looks at it both ways. She expressed how politics and the media affects her point of view.
“The movement was an awesome movement until men as a whole got called out. I believe any woman that accuses anyone. But if someone is lying about issues like this, it’s wrong,” Mensa said. “I thought Bill Cosby was an awesome person, but after accusations came out, I was in disbelief. At this point, I can’t trust Hollywood. Later, President Trump made some uncomfortable comments on women which made me think that I can’t trust politicians.”
President Trump tweeted a day before that it was a “perfect day for all Women to March” and “to celebrate… economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months.” Marchers criticized Trump’s views by carrying signs that read, “Stop pretending your racism is patriotism” and “Today we march, tomorrow we run for office.”
Sophomore Emilly Cantu felt strongly about women coming forward to march.
“The Women’s March is a great movement because it shows that women are influential and they too can fight,” Cantu said. “It is truly empowering to see women protest such important issues.”
]]>The Time’s Up, the movement against sexual harassment founded on January 1, 2018 by Hollywood celebrities in response to the Weinstein effect and #MeToo protest, took off on Sunday morning as soon as the red carpet opened, with actors and actresses such as Meryl Streep, Chris Sullivan, Daniel Kaluuya, Jessica Biel, Eva Longoria, Reese Witherspoon, Margot Robbie and many more all sporting elegant black tuxedos and dresses. As reported in a Chicago Tribune article, Alfred Moline told The Associated Press “I think it’s important to let women know that you listen to them and believe them.”
The internet brought criticism into the picture. Caitlin McBride, an online news reporter who voices her opinions on issues like sexual assault and picks apart celeb interviews, stated that “Actions speak louder than words and they sure as hell speak louder than a dress.” In her article, she states that men have been wearing black tuxedos for over 90 years, and that wearing black to the Golden Globes is “like wearing a swimsuit on a beach.”
Family and consumer science teacher Courtney Young gave her opinion on fashion becoming the victim of this movement.
“Fashion is an expression of what you believe and it’s the best outlet,” Young said. “It’s important for people within the industry to support each other. Fashion is not less enjoyable but it does make people think about what they are wearing. Using an award show as a way to execute this fight for support is a media outlet that entails instant publicity and it aids in helping people to become more comfortable.”
The movement created harsh realities for people in all ages, with the news covering Larry Nassar’s trial, an American convicted serial child molester. He was the USA Gymnastics national doctor and an osteopathic physician at Michigan State University. His case being broadcast brought the topic in conversations to light for everyone, including parents and kids.
Junior Shreya Ghosh things that celebrities are using their platforms to make a difference.
“I think most are using their platform in a positive way,” Ghosh said. “If you are trying to start or support a movement, social media is a really beneficial outlet that can efficiently reach other countries and a lot of other people.”
Sophomore Ava Agoranos stated regarding celebs forcing their beliefs on their coworkers, her view
“I think it’s great to see people coming together to support a movement, but I don’t think it’s okay to force celebrities to dress a certain way,” Agoranos said. “There are more effective ways to support a movement other than what celebrities wear.”
]]>Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, which is very similar to having a debit card, or a PayPal account. The difference is that instead of it being made up of dollars, it’s made of online currencies transferred directly back and forth between users without the use of a middle man or a banker.
What makes cryptocurrencies so appealing to users is that they’re not controlled by a central power, but by users and an algorithm. The algorithm will dictate how new coins will be created and how the transactions are made. This all sounds great, however Bitcoin has some unnoticed flaws.
Before we get into those flaws, it is important to understand how people are obtaining Bitcoin. Users who directly obtain Bitcoin are called miners. Miners are people who use high powered computers to solve puzzles relating to computer science. In reward for solving these puzzles they gain some bitcoin. The more difficult a puzzle, the more Bitcoin is rewarded. That’s why the dollar price of Bitcoin is constantly fluctuating. Then these miners sell off Bitcoin to others for paper money.
These miners who are constantly mining for Bitcoin, using these high powered computers, use up unnecessary energy. But they ‘mine’ for bitcoin and create transaction with other non-miners for usable money. These miners use so much energy that they could power one and a half million households. But instead of that energy going there, it goes into bitcoin mining. However, for some people the fact that Bitcoin is backed by electricity is a plus. As reassuring as that sounds, Bitcoin also has some security issues.
There are some known weaknesses of the internet that allow attackers to redirect Bitcoin traffic to wherever they choose. Adding to that, hackers can drop transactions, isolate Bitcoin nodes (computers that connect to Bitcoin), and just mess with miners in general. But, this is a threat that comes with any cryptocurrency. At the moment, Bitcoin is pretty safe, but be warned, all the risks listed above still remain.
The biggest, most concerning problem with Bitcoin is the uncertainty. One never knows how valuable it’s going to be. The value of the money depends on the miners entirely. Some people claim that the price will eventually stabilize with mass adoption, but there is no evidence to back this claim.
To invest? Or not to invest? It really is up to you. Bitcoin has way too many security and financial risks, and it causes environmental issues. As much as risk taking is important in investing, there’s too many flaws with Bitcoin to invest right now.
]]>With the significant increase in global temperature, the number of major hurricanes that occurred in the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season has topped the charts since the 2012 hurricane season. Since June 1, there have been a total of 8 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms; 4 hurricanes were classified as major hurricanes. However, since the Atlantic hurricane season does not officially end until Nov. 30, there are certainly more storms to come.
The first major hurricane, Hurricane Harvey, formed on Aug.17 off the western coast of Africa and later crashed into cities across Texas on August 25. With a peak wind speed of 130 mph, Hurricane Harvey was classified as a Category 4 hurricane, the first one to hit Texas since 1961. The hurricane dumped around 27 trillion gallons of rain, approximately 51 inches, in just 6 days, setting the record for the most amount of rainfall from a tropical cyclone in the U.S.. After the hurricane ended on September 3, more than 300,000 people were left without electricity. Hurricane Harvey also caused 75 billion dollars worth of property damaged. More than 185,000 homes that were simply damaged while 9,000 homes were completely destroyed. After the storm passed, 83 fatalities were confirmed.
Senior Abhi Balu expresses his sympathy towards the people in Texas, especially because his family was affected.
“After hearing from my family in Texas, I was dumbfounded by the impact it really had on their day-to-day lives. They had lost their home, been separated from many of their personal belongings, and emotionally severed by the traumatic events of the past weeks,” Balu said. “I felt immediately grateful for the things in my life that enable me to live so comfortably and safely. However, I also felt a strong desire to help those that lost all they had and were forced to start anew.”
While Hurricane Harvey demolished Texas, Hurricane Irma slammed into Florida on August 30 and dissipated on September 15. Classified as a Category 5 hurricane, the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, Hurricane Irma attained wind speeds of 185 mph for 37 consecutive hours. In just two weeks, Hurricane Irma damaged 90% of the properties in Florida, an estimated $300 billion dollars worth of property, left 60% of the population homeless, and caused 102 fatalities.
Environmental science teacher Kristen Newby provides information on the factors causing the intensity of this year’s hurricane season.
“It is very typical for a lot of hurricanes to occur in the months of August and September because it is in the middle of the hurricane season and it is also when the temperatures are the warmest. Hurricanes feed off of warm, tropical waters so as the current ocean temperatures are getting warmer, we are seeing that these storms are developing more often and in higher intensity,” Newby said. “ It is interesting to see the effects of the hurricanes from the perspective of those in the states being hit because we are very worried whereas they are a bit more calm since it is commonplace for them.”
Freshman Danny Kim believes that even with small actions our community can help the people who have been affected by the hurricanes.
“When I heard about the hurricanes, I immediately thought of the damage it would cause and the amount of money that would be needed to cover the damage,” Kim said. “Helping to raise money for disaster relief is very easy. Most fast food chains give people an option to donate to disaster relief efforts, so saying ‘yes’ when they ask for donations is an easy and convenient way to help.”
People who are interested in donating should contact American Red Cross, UNICEF, or other smaller charities.
]]>Season 6 finished off in a pretty bleak spot for Rick Grimes and the rest of his group of zombie-killing warriors. Negan and his Saviors – a group who had been believed to be exterminated by Rick’s people – had shown that they are far stronger and their numbers far greater than previously imagined. The Saviors had managed to trap Rick and many of the core members of his group in the woods, where they were introduced to Negan, who did not fail to demonstrate his charisma and dark humor from the start. The episode left us with a brutal cliffhanger when Negan decided to kill one of Rick’s people as payback but failed to show the audience exactly who that doomed person was.
Now, after enduring six months of nail-biting anticipation of just who could have met their demise at the hands of this psycho, the gruesome details have finally been relinquished.
And I have to give “The Walking Dead” credit. After cruelly deciding to make us wait this long to find out who Negan killed, I had high expectations for this season’s premiere, and I was well aware of the numerous ways this episode could easily turn into a massive disappointment.
But, to my surprise–and great horror–it met its promises of a worthwhile wait and exceeded them with gut-wrenching finality.
Here’s the three major things “The Walking Dead” executed well in this episode:
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
1. The kills. The biggest question for this episode was of course who Negan chose to slaughter with his barbed-wire encompassed bat he named Lucille. Many of the candidates were lead characters, some of whom have been on the show since the first season. In the comics this series is based on, Glenn Rhee – who had gone from pizza delivery boy to one of Rick’s most trusted friends – is the one who meets his fatal end. And fittingly so, because as one of the most beloved and selfless characters in the comics and the show, it makes sense that his death would be the most harrowing. Many thought the show would make the same call, but I had doubts that it would be willing to lose a groundbreaking character like Glenn.
When the bat finally came down, it was not Glenn on the other end but military sergeant and deliverer of the most gut-busting catchphrases, Abraham Ford. As much as I genuinely loved him as a character, and as gruesome as it was to have to watch his head get beaten to a pulp while his sobbing loved ones looked on in disbelief, this moment wasn’t nearly as agonizing as I had expected it to be. It was, frankly, a little bit anti-climactic.
That is, until Negan decided that just one horrific death wasn’t enough for Rick and his people to learn their lesson, and proceeded to bring Lucille down on none other than Glenn himself. That one did the trick. The excruciating horror of having to witness someone who might be my favorite character getting his head cracked open and his eye popped out while he desperately tries to utter one last line of comfort to his mortified wife, had me in speechless disbelief. Not only did “The Walking Dead” come through on its promise of an agonizing death, it went one step further and took out another adored and beloved character for good measure. That takes guts.
2. Making Negan believably terrifying. The most important aspect about the introduction of Negan’s character, was the fact that he needed to be doubtlessly terrifying. After six seasons of observing the terrors of the zombie-filled, lawless wasteland that is “The Walking Dead,” it takes a lot for someone to seem like a real threat to Rick and his group. But from the hundreds of bloodthirsty helpers Negan has at his service, to the cringe-worthy jokes he cracks in the midst of his seemingly routine slaughters, it quickly became clear that Negan resides on an entirely new level of monstrosity – one that Rick and his people have never seen before. And that brings me to my last point.
3. The plausible breaking of Rick Grimes. After Negan killed Abraham and Glenn, Rick responded in a very “Rick” way, when he said, “I’m gonna kill you…not today, not tomorrow, but I’m gonna kill you.” Over the course of the show, Rick has become increasingly more willing to fight for what is his, and is in no way accustomed to taking orders from someone else – especially not from someone like Negan. So when Rick said this to him, it was expected that he would want to get revenge for what Negan did, and that he honestly believed he would, someday.
But Negan doesn’t stand for this kind of thinking, and responded by shoving Rick’s son, Carl, on the ground in front of him, and telling Rick that he would have to cut his own son’s arm off unless he wanted the rest of his people to die.
Having just witnessed two brutal murders, guns to the heads the rest of his people, and surrounded by the multitudes of Negan’s men, Rick found himself completely trapped. For the first time in a long time, Rick had no control over the situation. No amount of pleading would change Negan’s mind, and only when Rick finally raised the axe to Carl’s arm, inches from cutting it off, did Negan stop him.
With fear raking through Rick’s trembling body as his head shakily nodded to each one of Negan’s commands, it was clear that Negan had finally broken this seemingly unbreakable man, and with him, the rest of the group.
Overall, this episode exceeded my expectations, and opened the door to an intriguing season that I hope will explore just how Rick’s people will be able to make a comeback against a power hungry tyrant with an enormous army and no remorse.
]]>The Cubs started off the postseason in the best way possible. They rolled past the San Francisco Giants in the National League Divisional Series, winning the series 3-1. However, despite their dominant offensive showing, it was the experience gained that benefited the young Chicago team the most. The youthful squad learned how to win close games, execute blowouts, respond after a loss, and complete a comeback. The greatest game for the Cubs to experience baseball in October was Game 4. After trailing 5-1, they came together after a double by Ben Zobrist to overcome a four-run deficit. The Cubs showed maturity through their ability to play small ball. Instead of swinging for home runs each at bat, they utilized a next-man-up mentality to string hits together. This comeback was capped off by Javier Baez’s single to center field to take the lead in the 9th.
The National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers did not start off as smoothly for Chicago. In Game 1, the Cubs seemed unbeatable behind the pitching of Jon Lester, surging to a 3-0 lead. However, Los Angeles was able to claw their way back to tie the game at 3 in the 8th. The Cubs were able to respond with a grand slam from Miguel Montero, who came off the bench as a pinch hitter. The ability for the Cubs to respond to adversity in Game 1 played out into the bigger picture of the entire series. The Cubs trailed in a series for the first time in October when the Dodgers went up 2-1. However, Chicago never panicked, even when their great players showed signs of weakness; like when starting pitcher Jake Arrieta let up four runs in 5 innings. Instead, others stepped up, such as pitchers John Lackey and Kyle Hendricks, to drive the Cubs to victory.
In the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, the Cubs used those lessons regarding maturity and next man up to win the title after trailing in the series 3-1. Each lesson was especially evident in Game 7. The Cubs faced adversity when they saw their four run lead dwindle to a tie in the 8th. Once again, they stayed poised. During the rain delay in between the 9th and 10th innings, Outfielder Jason Heyward called a team meeting to remind the team how to achieve the success they had previously in the game. After timely hits from Ben Zobrist and Montero to retake the lead, and strong pitching from Carl Edwards Jr., the Cubs held the surging Indians at bay to win the game. Finally, Cubs fan can rejoice after 108 years.
During the postseason, the Cubs success came from many different sources. However, their greatest source was their resilience. Multiple times during the postseason, the Cubs faced adversity in different forms. They trailed in both the National League Champion Series and the World Series. They saw their usual sure hitters face slumps, such as Anthony Rizzo going 2-28 to start the playoffs. The Cubs’ regular starters had poor games, both Arrieta and Lester let up three runs or more in one game. Nonetheless, each time the Cubs were able to overcome these seemingly insurmountable odds. Other pitchers picked up the slack, other players had clutch hits, and the Cubs won both series in which they trailed.
The Cubs victory in game seven of the World Series will go down as one of the greatest moments in the history of sports, right there with the 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympic Hockey game, as well as Muhammad Ali knocking out Sonny Liston in the first minute of the first round. Hopefully it won’t take 108 years to see them hoist another “W” flag in October.
]]>This is the second time the character Doctor Strange has appeared in a live-action film adaptation, the first being in 1978. Doctor Stephen Strange is a gifted, but egotistical, neurosurgeon from New York, who loses his ability to carry on his work after a car accident. He goes to Kamar-Taj, an institute for sorcerers in Nepal, to find a way to heal his damaged hands. Strange is then forced to become one of them and fight the evil wizard Kaecilius and his disciples in order to fulfill his quest. Along the way he is accompanied by his mentor, The Ancient One, played by Swinton, and finds love with his colleague Dr. Christine Palmer, who is played by Rachel McAdams.
Cumberbatch portrays Strange perfectly; he easily convinces viewers to root for him as he develops with a believable awkwardness that provides light humor. Not only Cumberbatch, but other actors, including McAdams, Swinton and Mads Mikkelsen, performed their respective roles exceptionally. Swinton and McAdams bring a personal depth to Strange’s character with down to earth acting that viewers can relate with. Mikkelsen plays Kaecilius well; however, because he was underused in the film, he was unable to fully display his acting abilities besides the typical villain role.
The dialogue provides cunning humor which adds to the charm of characters as well as background and characterization to most characters in the short time frame. Unfortunately, the film does not escape the well-known superhero clichés such as villainous rants, lectures on power and order and the puzzling vocabulary of a fantasy universe.
The strongest point of “Doctor Strange” is the wide range of special effects. Effects such as buildings folding and illusions of mirrors are utilized in the fight scenes which aid in making creative and eye-popping sequences. Throughout them, the soundtrack fades into the background, but overall the music accompanies all of the scenes properly. The downfall of the special effects execution is the camera focuses in on characters spinning through the air and fast-paced scene transitions are overwhelming and headache-inducing.
“Doctor Strange” might not be the most original movie, but it certainly is high quality in both visuals and actor performances. There is never a dull moment, the plot continuously moves and the visuals will glue viewers’ eyes to the screen. Strange is a character who is humorous and relatable due to his many flaws, which gives viewers even more reasons to enjoy “Doctor Strange”.
]]>The opening act was Needle Points, who is touring in support of their new album “Feel Young.” The young psychedelic rock outfit hailing from Philadelphia came out covered in neon clothing and glitter that immediately grabbed the attention of audience members who showed up early. Despite a strong start with the first few songs of their set, that focus soon began to wane as each of their songs seemingly began to blend into each other, creating a sloppy mess of distorted guitars and bass-heavy percussion. Nevertheless, their animated stage antics and commanding delivery surely entertained and warmed up the audience.
The following band, Chicago based-indie punk band Into it. Over it., played an impassioned set that included songs from their new album “Standards” as well as other assorted fan favorites. Led by singer-guitarist Evan Weiss, who has been involved in over a dozen different projects within the Chicago music scene, the band delicately combined melodic, howling vocals and punchy, fast guitar riffs reminiscent of early 2000s bands such as Say Anything as well as contemporary bands like Joyce Manor. After jokingly asking the crowd if any Palatine natives truly refer to Palatine when asked about their hometown or if they lie and just say Chicago, Weiss thanked the crowd for showing up to his first show in Palatine and lamented the fact that he had to miss the ongoing World Series game. After playing a number of songs from their new album, the band capped off their set with a memorable performance of three tracks from their beloved 2011 album “Proper.” The band ripped through spirited renditions of “Where Your Nights Often End” and the title track, which allowed for drummer Josh Sparks to display his impressive skills before closing the set with the band’s sparse, haunting ode to the West Town neighborhood of Chicago, “Midnight: Carroll Street.”
Shortly afterwards, mewithoutYou began loading their instruments and stage props, including large construction-grade worklights and an intricately designed backdrop. Drummer Ricky Mazzotta additionally lit a few sticks of incense behind his set that filled the venue with a calming, woodsy aroma. This was ironically followed by their set beginning with one of their most aggressive tracks, “Bullet to Binary,” which was also the first track on their 2002 debut album “A to B Life.” As soon as the first guitar notes rang out, the audience swarmed the stage and shouted every word along with singer Aaron Weiss who sprinted and bounced across the stage without stopping. The band then proceeded to play a number of energetic tracks, including more recent tracks from their 2015 album “Pale Horses.” Weiss also took a moment to joke around whilst tuning his acoustic guitar. “We’re usually used to selling out baseball stadiums because we’re all super-famous rockstars. However, there’s apparently something very important going on at Wrigley Field right now, so that’s why we’re here,” Weiss said sarcastically to the crowd. Slower, folkier tracks such as “Aubergine” and “King Beetle” occupied the middle of the setlist, but the audience still remained entranced by Weiss’ introspective, imagery-filled lyrics. The band then ended their set with a number of early tracks from “A to B Life” as well as with an encore containing their flagship song “In a Sweater Poorly Knit.” mewithoutYou put on a great show that proved that they could still be interesting and refreshing, even 15 years after first bursting upon the scene. By playing songs from every chapter of their lengthy career, they surely played a set that any fan of the band won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
]]>In the past, Fremd students and faculty have come together at the end of the day on Nov. 11 to celebrate the United States’ war heroes. Veterans from the local area, some with relations to Fremd students and faculty, come to this assembly, and a number of speeches and presentations are given to honor both the men and women who currently serve and those who have served in the past. Celebration ensues, and students and faculty are reminded of the many sacrifices made by U.S soldiers.
The social studies department, however, has decided to change it up this year. The Veterans Day assembly Fremd would normally have will be completely eliminated due to scheduling and planning conflicts, and will instead be replaced by a week-long fundraising competition between second period classes that wish to participate.
Social studies teacher Courtney Billittier, who helps organize Veterans Day activities, explained some of the fundraising going on this week.
“We’re partnering with Photos Hot Dogs in Palatine on Wednesday, Nov. 9, when 25% of all sales will go towards Fremd’s donation to the Soldiers Project,” Billittier said. “The class competition and the Photos event will be raising money for the Soldiers Project, an organization geared toward helping veterans’ transition back to civilian life, especially those suffering with the hidden wounds of war like PTSD.”
With the removal of the traditional Veterans Day assembly, there have been a mix of reactions from students. Senior Tomoki Yasuda found the assembly to be an event that did not necessarily encompass the true meaning of the holiday.
“I don’t really find celebrating Veterans Day on one particular day for about fifty minutes to be truly appreciating the veterans in our country,” Yasuda said. “It should be a year-long thing where we always appreciate our veterans.”
On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are also plenty of students who are against the removal of the Veterans Day assembly, such as sophomore Sharon Lee.
“Veterans are what made our country the way it is today, and I think it’s pretty sad that we don’t have a Veterans Day assembly this year,” Lee said. “In my opinion, it’s pretty important that we are reminded about how much veterans fought and suffered for our country.”
There are no indications as of yet on whether this change will apply to future years.
]]>This is my second year at Fremd and I love it! Although, I admit, freshman year was scary. I didn’t know what to do or where to go, the school was gigantic, the classrooms seemed to be very spread out and I really didn’t know anyone. Being a bit socially awkward, I was scared going into freshman year. However, sophomore year changed that. The school started to feel smaller and felt a bit more like home. I started to embrace being a student here and a part of the community. Fremd is a place where everyone finds his or her own place. Getting out of my shell and exploring new things helped me make some amazing friends. I overcame my social/academic challenges that I was faced with my freshman year. I can’t wait to see the adventures my future has in store for me.
]]>As for why the voting ended up the way it did, senior Illiyeen Khan speculates that the results of the Iowa caucus was based on Iowa’s demographics.
“There’s a large evangelical population in Iowa, and that’s why Ted Cruz got more votes over Trump and Rubio,” Khan said. “It was obvious that Hilary Clinton was going to win Iowa either way, as she has already had previous support in the state, versus Bernie Sanders being a newcomer.”
Several presidential candidates dropped out of the race following the Iowa caucuses after disappointing finishes. In the past week, Arkansas’ former governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Paul Rand, former Senator Rick Santorum, and Maryland’s former governor Martin O’Malley suspended their campaigns.
There has been quite a lot of speculation on the accuracy of the Iowa caucuses. A day after the results were released, Trump called for a new caucus in Iowa, accusing Ted Cruz of fraud. In a tweet, he pointed out that the Cruz campaign had falsely told voters that Ben Carson planned to drop out of the presidential race. Trump wrote that Cruz “illegally” won the caucus, but later deleted his comment on Twitter. Although Cruz’s campaign has apologized to Ben Carson, stating that there was a misunderstanding, another caucus will not be staged.
The Iowa Democratic Party discovered errors in their results from five precincts, but it did not change the overall results. Even with the revised vote, it’s still unclear as to who won the popular vote. As per tradition, the Democratic Party officials declined to release the raw vote numbers.
Freshman Trent Mueller points out that that after months of building up campaigns, presidential candidates finally get to see some results to indicate their success.
“It suggests what’s to come,” Mueller said. “It tells some candidates that aren’t doing as well to drop out, and it tells the candidates who their main competitors are.”
During the Iowa caucuses, the Democratic Party had to use coin tosses between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to break ties in precincts that award an odd number of delegates. As a result, Hillary Clinton won five delegates, two more than Sanders. However, even though the final results of caucus were the closest ever in the past 40 years of the Iowa caucus, the results of the coin toss did not give Clinton that half a percent advantage over Sanders.
Much of the confusion over the results of the Iowa caucuses rides on the fact that the Democrats and the Republicans run their caucuses in different ways. Each Republican casts their binding vote in a secret ballot. Then, each campaign gets a chance to convince any unsure voters before the voters place their vote. The raw totals of the votes are tallied by officials and sent to Iowa GOP officials to keep a running count.
The Democrats vote with a different method involving precincts. The first thing attendees do is declare their preference for a candidate. Those who can not make up their mind join a group known as “uncommitted.” Once everyone is organized into groups, the Democratic Party officials rule whether or not each group is viable based on whether or not they clear a certain threshold based on their percentage. After their first-round votes are tallied, those that were in a group that was considered as not viable have the chance to position themselves in place with another candidate that has be ruled as viable. After that, a second count will be taken.
From the results of the Iowa caucus in 2008, none of the top three Republicans were chosen as a presidential candidate by the Republican Party. Social Studies teacher Steven Buenning brings into question the true relevance of the Iowa caucuses, and whether or not they yield accurate results.
“It’s not indicative at all of how the nominated procedure is going to play out. Iowa is not representative of the country as a whole, it’s not a very diverse state,” Buenning said. “It’s a state that gets a lot of attention because they go to great lengths to be the first sounding board for candidates running for president, and the results from the Iowa caucuses are not to be reflective of anything in particular.”
A controversial aspect of the voting process during the Iowa caucuses is that the Democratic caucuses lacks a private ballot, whereas the Republican caucuses do have a private ballot. This means that while Republicans have the power to vote for whoever they want without anyone else knowing, the Democrats need be sure of their decision and may be pressured into choosing a candidate that they do not truly believe in.
Social studies teacher Kevin Palmer believes that the idea of a caucus is good in principle, but advocates for a revisit to the system used in the Iowa caucus to ensure accurate results in the future.
“Though the Republicans announce the total votes per presidential candidate. The Democrats announce their results by precinct—or voting area—and no one understands that system. There’s obviously some problems. The system is a bit archaic in that regard,” Palmer said.
]]>From its origins at Fremd, Writers Week has inspired other schools across the nation to launch variations of the event. English teacher Sarah Braverman feels that Fremd students have a sense of pride towards Writers Week as it is an event that emerged from their own school.
“Students like something that is unique to their high school, and Writers Week is so unique to Fremd,” Braverman said. “Now it’s starting to be picked up in other places, but it started here. And it’s something so special to us and something that we can be so proud of because regardless of if other schools start to do it, they’re doing it because we did it first. And I think that students take a lot of pride in that and it becomes something that is unique to Fremd High School and it’s something that Fremd put on the map.”
The pride students feel during Writers Week is especially apparent as student performers share their personal stories and are supported by the whole Fremd community. Junior Sarah Jones believes that the emotional aspect of Writers Week is what makes it so unique compared to other events at Fremd.
“I think Writers Week is unique because we’re all learning, but it’s also emotional as well. But overall, it allows us to connect with what we’re learning in the classroom here at Fremd High School,” Jones said.
Over the years, more Fremd students have been able to open up and express themselves through their writing. Herriges notes that this may be a result of increased faculty and professional participation in the event.
“I think when more students get to go through the experience of seeing Writers Week and they see the impact that it has on the people telling the story, students want to be a part of it,” Herriges said. “It allows them to voice ideas and it helps to inspire them to say, ‘I got something to say and I’m going to go up there and share what I have to say’. And I think it also creates an ideal by seeing the power of what writing and reading can do.”
Another factor than has attracted people like Sophomore Kaveen Desai is that it does not only have to be for writers. Everyone can gain something from the performances at Writers Week.
“At first I wasn’t so sure about it because I wasn’t really interested in writing, but when I went in it was really interesting to hear people’s stories and the messages they had,” Desai said. “I actually learned a lot from it.”
In recent years, Writers Week has evolved to include the student body even more. Such additions include a Writers Week podcast called ‘Write Life’ as well as smaller events throughout the year such as Write Night. Braverman reflects on these changes and the meaning of Writers Week.
“I think that the most important element of Writers Week is that it hasn’t changed over the years,” Braverman said. “Something as simple as the couches that are on stage during student and faculty presentations. It’s nice that even though things are changing there are certain traditions and certain elements of Writers Week that won’t change.”
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Junior Nikil Badey, the co-founder of LYFE, summarized its purpose, describing it as “the attempt to educate the students of William Fremd High School and to connect them in the friendship that’s really never forgettable.”
Badey spoke about an event that ignited the idea to start this club.
“A really big motive for me to come up with the idea and introduce it to Mrs. Denna was that at lunch I saw a student being bullied for their disability.” Badey said. “And it’s not that students were trying to be mean. They were not knowledgeable about what she was going through.”
Math teacher Shannon Denna, the sponsor for LYFE, spoke about how she got involved with the club, and how a simple idea became a mission that impacts so many.
“I was approached by a group of students to start a club that worked with students that have special needs.” Denna said. “I was approached because my daughter has Down Syndrome, and a lot of people knew that I worked with an organization called UPS for DownS, and a lot of people thought that I would be a good fit. We were worried we wouldn’t have enough people to start the club, and now we have more than we know what to do with.”
LYFE has opened a door and given a plethora of opportunities for many at Fremd to see students with special needs in a new light. However, some may be worried that they don’t have the right qualities to be in this club.
“Something that I really believe is that you learn values, morals and ethics,” Badey said. “I definitely learned when I started the club back in March. I did not know how to talk with students with disabilities or how to interact with them. I have learned that there is stuff I need to do in order to be a better friend. What do you need in order to be a LYFE member? Just have a nice heart and accept.”
So what are some things a member can get out of this club? Badey explained how joining LYFE has impacted him.
“Something that you can take away from the club is definitely that sense of friendship.” Badey said. “For me, I have a really hectic day, and I’m stressed, but when I’m around these students with different perspectives and knowledge, I just find it so fascinating. I like to take that out into the real world and apply it as well.”
LYFE Club stays busy, too. They have multiple big events in the works, including a winter craft party for kids with disabilities and their siblings, a winter baking party, and working with the Special Olympics organization at Kirk School on Plum Grove Road. All are attempts to further the bonds with special-needs students at Fremd, but as Nikil pointed out, these events aren’t just for students at our high school.
“One event that we’re trying to incorporate the whole community in is our winter craft fair.” Badey said. “It’s a free day where students can come in from all over the community. You come in, you make crafts, you learn something new and you enjoy your day basically, and that’s an attempt to connect Fremd not only within the school but outside the school as well.”
LYFE is making an impact at Fremd, even if you’re not directly a part of the club. Freshman Michelle Ganzorig comments about how this club’s mission has affected her.
“I think LYFE has a positive effect on the school, because even though you might not be the same as the person next to you, it teaches you to have kindness and to be open.” Ganzorig said.
If you’re interested in joining LYFE Club, you can contact Mrs. Denna at
sdenna@d211.org or talk to a current LYFE Club member.
]]>Morkes Chocolates, a Palatine chocolate shop, has been around for three generations in the Morkes’ family. While small businesses generally do not last that long, Morkes’ freshly made donuts, hand-dipped chocolates, fudge, and taffy ensure that its business is here to stay.
The business has been successful since its start in 1920 in Chicago. Store owner Rhonda Dehm reminisces about the beginning of Morkes when her father, William Morkes Sr., had opened the store.
“My dad and my uncle were in the city in 1920, then in 1967, they came out here. There were lots of riots going down in the city then, it was no place for a business,” Dehm said. “There were lots of riots, lots of businesses got hurt. So they moved out here on Rand Road.”
After the
strategic move to the suburbs, the business was then passed onto William Morkes Jr.
“My brother was the oldest of seven, he bought the business in his 40s and had it for a couple of years,” Dehm said. “I was helping him out once during Christmas season and he just asked me if I wanted to take over his loans and the business, so I did.”
Morkes continued to maintain its popularity through keeping its candy store authentic and classic. This appeal has attracted consumers of all ages, but Dehm specifically notes that the majority of her consumers consist of people over the age of 30, mainly seniors looking for their daily cup of coffee. Although that’s the case, Dehn continues to assure that Morkes appeal to all age groups.
“We also sometimes get high school students coming in here. They’re usually looking to personalize a candy bar or
chocolate for Homecoming proposals,” Dehm said. “We have a room where we do private parties also. We used to get calls for tours, but we’re not really set up for tours. Since I’m a very hands on person, I figured it would be much nicer to actually do something.”
While the sweets industry remains to be very popular and long lasting, the consumers are the driving force behind its success. Along with this guarantee, Dehm believes that it’s the aura in the confectionery industry that allows her to enjoy running her business.
“This industry is a very positive industry, lots of happy people coming in here.”
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With a turnout of over 90 students at the first meet, it was primed to be a huge success. Many students joined this club because they saw an opportunity they just could not miss out on: playing video games at school while hanging out with their friends.
Freshman Sebastian Lekus, an avid gamer, explains his reasoning about why he joined this very exciting club.
“When I was 5 years old, I became an avid gamer because I saw video games as an opportunity to have fun and play with my friends.” Lekus said. “Now when Fremd decided to have this club, I thought, well I like video games, if I can convince my friends to do it, then we will have a great time.”
Although the eSports Club’s main purpose is to play video games, it offers much more than that.
Sophomore, and one of the head creators, Sean Kim describes his main intentions of creating the club.
“We wanted to create an eSports scene in high school where people can socialize and have fun with each other,” Kim said. “In addition, one of the main purposes of this club is to attempt to connect these people into a community of other video gamers and just enjoy themselves.”
In this club, there are a variety of video games played such as League of Legends, Super Smash Bros, Hearthstone, and CS:GO.
Kim details the specific reasons as to why he picked out these certain games.
“We focus around these games because they already exist in other eSports Leagues and these games have humongous scenes,” Kim said. “Although we are having an issue with CS:GO duty to its M rating, we are working on a fix for it at the moment. In addition to these games, we want to add another game with the same humongous scenes such as Star Craft. We are working on expanding this to a wider variety, but need some time before we can implement them.”
Out of all of these games, the general consensus is that either League of Legends or CS:GO is the most popular game out of this bunch.
Freshman Alex Zhen has a different favorite game in mind.
“There are a variety of games to choose from in this club and it’s honestly hard to choose considering any games I have considered competitive and more that I don’t even know could be competitive are choices,” Zhen said. “If I were to choose, I would have to choose the game called Hearthstone, as I feel that it is a very underrated game.”
Playing in a head to head, all out, competitive game against an upperclassmen, or even against someone who has more talent and dedication can be very scary and intimidating.
Kim has seen many people in this club succeed and he has some words of wisdom for those shy gamers.
“If I had to give advice to anyone on succeeding in this club, I would say, just join and have fun, don’t let the name (competitive gaming club) intimidate you,” Kim said.
eSports club is unique because of its mixture of a friendly game of any sport and with a competitive spirit that the academic clubs have to offer. In addition, the Fremd eSports Club is planning a massive inter-high school competition while also working on making it more accessible to students. Currently, they are competing for a $20,000 scholarship prize pool.
Playing video games at school, hanging out with friends, and the opportunity to compete for a $20,000 prize seems like the perfect equation for recruiting players. This is the inaugural year and it is already gaining popularity.
]]>Chocolate has newfound importance in Senior Muhammad Hassan’s life, due to an influx of chocolate his family consumed after Halloween.
“These days I am using it a lot because my brother got a lot of it on Halloween. Usually I don’t eat it that much.”
Fremd utilizes chocolate periodically in some of the school’s culinary classes, according to Family and Consumer Science teacher Christina Parsons.
“In culinary classes, we use them in different parts of the year. When we bake, we use it a lot, like when we are making chocolate cakes, we use it for dipping sauces when we do the fondue unit, we use it in cookies like chocolate chip, we have some candy bars in some of the sweets that we make,” Parsons said. “The kids do like it so we try to do our recipes very kid friendly in there so we incorporate chocolate when we can and when it’s appropriate.”
The sweet substance has become an integral part in the lives of many Americans today; but how did chocolate actually gain its popularity? Many may be shocked to find that chocolate did not originate as something everyone can eat, but rather a drink only the powerful and the rich could consume.
Chocolate has its humble roots placed in Central America over 3,100 years ago, during the reign of the Aztec empire. The Aztecs discovered that cocoa beans they found could be ground up and processed into a thick, brown drink. Unlike many chocolate products today, which use sweeteners such as honey or sugar, the drink the Aztecs had created was actually very bitter. Nevertheless, the drink, known as Xocatl to the Aztecs, became extremely popular in the Empire, with many believing that the drink held holy powers. As a result, the chocolate beverage became reserved only for the king or for ceremonies like weddings or sacrifices.
To Hassan, the fact that chocolate was served in liquid form came as a shock; however, the bitter taste the drink has is relatively plausible to him.
“It does surprise me to think that chocolate was originally a drink and not a solid bar that we are used to. It’s just weird,” Hassan said. “I’m not surprised that it was bitter because you can still taste that bitterness in some of today’s chocolates.”
Chocolate remained exclusive to the Western Hemisphere for about 2,600 years until the discovery of America by the Spanish. As the Spanish made their way inland, they were greeted by the Aztec emperor Montezuma, who showered the Spanish with gifts, one of them being the chocolate drink. At first unappealing to the explorers, who cited its bitter taste as a detractor, the drink nevertheless found its way back to Europe, where sugar and cane juice was added. The sweetened form of the beverage soon became an extremely popular drink; however, its rarity and its high price caused the drink to only be affordable to the nobles and royals, thereby retaining its exclusivity to those in power.
By the 17th century, mass production of chocolate was finally made possible, allowing the public to consume the drink. Nearly 200 years later, chocolate took the form Americans are most accustomed to today when Joseph Fry created the first chocolate bar in 1868. Since then, chocolate companies, like Hershey’s and Ghirardelli, have been creating various chocolate products for the public.
Despite all the changes that have occurred to chocolate over the years, Parsons points out that the changes are not entirely radical.
“Chocolate has changed maybe a little, given the amount of time, but not so much, because chocolate has been used in recipes for a long time,” Parsons said. “Even the earliest recipes had to have chocolate in it, so it is an old ingredient.”
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This 2009 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel set in 19th century England is notable for its stunning animation. With Jim Carrey providing the voice for Ebeneezer Scrooge, the sweeping, enchanting special effects manages to present the classic tale as vividly possible and is reminiscent of some of director Robert Zemeckis’ other films such as Beowulf and Polar Express. Featuring the voice talents from such actors as Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright, Gary Oldman and Cary Elwes, this film delights viewers with its charming visual presentation.
John Hughes’ 1990 film about a young boy (Macaulay Culkin) who was unexpectedly left home alone during the holiday travel season is still considered one of the most inventive Christmas comedies of all time. Combining the sentimentality of other traditional family Christmas films with frenetic slapstick-comedy action, the film kept audiences entertained with the misadventures the McCallister family encounters. Complemented by the screwball performances delivered by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as two bumbling thieves, “Home Alone” still feels fresh and fun.
When “Elf” was first released to theaters in 2003, many believed it to be a modern holiday classic, due to Will Ferrell’s hilarious turn as the immature, naive Buddy, who was born in New York but was raised by Santa and his elves at his workshop in the North Pole. Upon his return to New York City, Buddy finds trouble connecting with his biological father, Walter (James Caan), due to Buddy’s numerous oddities, which includes a diet that consists candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup. Featuring an ensemble cast including Zooey Deschanel, Ed Asner, and Peter Dinklage, Buddy’s awkward but well-intended interactions with the people of New York still proves to be memorable and humorous. The popularity and legacy behind the film was large enough to inspire a Broadway adaptation of the same name, which debuted in late 2010.
“A Christmas Story” is seen by many as the quintessential Christmas comedy, and with good reason. This 1983 film about the memoirs of a young boy’s Christmas memories spawned a large number of pop culture references and dialogue that many still quote today. The plot begins with the boy’s simple desire for a Red Ryder BB gun, and spirals into numerous colorful situations, including a pink bunny suit, ruthless school bullies, and a grumpy department store Santa Claus. Much of the film’s praise stems from the realistic period setting, that painted a vivid picture of a 1940’s Midwest winter. The film is so beloved that TNT has run a 24-hour marathon of the movie on Christmas Day since 1997.
Initial reviews of “It’s A Wonderful Life” were very critical of the film, marking it as an overly sentimental, misguided film. As time passed, however, re-evaluation of the film has led to its status as an all-time classic. The somewhat somber film follows George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), a suicidal man whose attempt on his own life summons his guardian angel (Henry Travers) who tries to show him how much his life means to others, including his family and friends. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, and director Frank Capra has repeatedly named the film as his personal favorite.
]]>The team’s dynasty status is not solely based on their storied past. In fact, last year Fremd placed third in state for the third year in a row at the Illinois High School Association state tournament. This year Fremd looks to continue and expand upon its legacy.
When it comes to dynasties, the question is always why: Why have the Yankees appeared in 40 out of the 107 World Series to date and won more than a quarter of them (27)? Why can’t the Patriots lose? Or, in this case, why are Fremd girls so successful at gymnastics?
Gymnasts point to the team’s culture as having been key to Fremd’s sustained success.
Junior gymnast Megan Flynn qualifies this feature and its effect on the team’s success.
“I think the gymnastics team is really unique because we’re like a family and all really supportive of each other.” Flynn said. “This makes our team better because we all cheer for each other and that helps a lot especially during competitions!”
This sense of community transcends gender boundaries as well, with boys cheering on the girls at their practices and vice versa. The closeness of the larger gymnastics team may contribute to Fremd’s ongoing success.
Junior boys gymnast Eric Barnd hints that spiritedness of the team’s culture isn’t purely a natural occurrence, but actually a relatively purposeful approach.
“The team’s strategy in my opinion is to first go out and have fun this season and second to have the best and loudest cheers,” Barnd said.
For this upcoming season, girls gymnastics does not look to radically shift in theory, but only to build on previous success with the tried and true method of team spirit.
“Not a lot has changed, we still continue to work as a team and cheer each other on, like the past years!” Flynn said.
Fremd girls gymnastics’ first meet will be at home on Dec. 2 against Carmel High School.
]]>The El Faro was first commissioned in the Ford Administration in 1975. In comparison, the average age of a freight ship worldwide is around 11 years, a mere fraction of El Faro’s service time. Totes Maritime, the company that operated El Faro, states that despite its age, the ship met all standards and certifications set by the American Bureau of Shipping. However, according to former crew members, the El Faro had structural problems and was maintained at minimal costs.
Freshman Mayur Popuri believes that if the ship met standards, then it was seaworthy.
“I think if it met the standards, within certain guidelines, then the voyage was justified,” Popuri said. “40 years old doesn’t mean the ship hasn’t been touched in 40 years.”
During El Faro’s last call to the Coast Guard, the crew reported that the ship lost propulsion and was taking on water through a broken hatch. The captain announced that it had consequently taken on a 15 degree tilt. Shortly after the call, the ship lost all power. With the engines down, the ship and its crew were stuck just 15 miles away from the epicenter of Hurricane Joaquin, battered by winds up to 130 mph and waves as tall as buildings. Authorities are still investigating why the ship never sent out a distress signal.
According to Totes Maritime, the captain of the El Faro, Michael Davidson was a highly experienced mariner. He was reportedly given the decision to turn back, but proceeded because he believed he could outrun the storm. His plan fell apart after the ship lost propulsion, trapping him and his crew in the storm. Totes Maritime has been criticized for failing to turn the ship around, believing Davidson was well-able to deal with the storm.
Senior Abby Cohen agrees that Totes Maritime shouldn’t have let the ship proceed into dangerous conditions.
“I feel like they probably should have stopped them,” Cohen said. “It’s definitely not good for their company, and it was obviously unsafe for their crew members.”
Hurricane Joaquin began forming as early as Sept. 18 in the Atlantic Ocean. Over the course of the next few days, the storm would gain momentum, officially becoming a tropical storm by Sept. 29. The storm was declared a hurricane on Sept. 30, and a major hurricane by Oct. 1. By the time El Faro reached the wake of Hurricane Joaquin, the storm was already a category 3 hurricane. Hurricane Joaquin peaked with winds up to 155 mph, short of reaching category 5. It dissipated six days after the disappearance of the El Faro on Oct. 7.
After six days of intensive searching, the Coast Guard called off the search for survivors on Oct. 7. They confirmed that the ship had sunk on Oct. 5, in waters as deep as 15,000 feet in the Atlantic Ocean. The Navy will begin to search for the wreckage on the seabed using sonar and other methods in the following weeks. So far, rescuers have discovered a debris field and an unidentified body in a survival suit near the last known location of the ship, near Crooked Island of the southeastern Bahamas.
29-year-old Derek Davis, son of merchant mariner Larry Davis who was lost on the El Faro returned to his hometown to mourn the loss of his father. In an interview by the Wall Street Journal, Davis said that he hopes the sunken ship will be recovered so he can understand what went wrong.
“It would be nice to have that closure, but at the same time, he’s deep down in the ocean,” Davis said. “The long list of mariners who have given themselves to the sea, and been lost at sea – I’m not ashamed to add my father to that list.”
]]>The opening line of the movie (“For as long as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster”) still sends chills down the viewer’s spine even twenty-five years later, and this can be attributed to the genius of Scorsese’s direction. Ray Liotta, who plays Henry Hill, said the quote across the image of a young Hill walking though New York. The way that it is spoken creates a vivid memory that lives on in the mind of viewers.
With the brilliant screenplay and cast, viewers feel connected to the film, bringing in their own experiences along the way. For example, after a slight bump in the road and a murder, the audience saw the main cast head into Joe Pesci’s character, Tommy DeVito’s mom’s house to get some supplies to clean up their mess. But instead of getting the cleanup tools, they get caught by Tommy’s mom and she makes them an exquisite Italian meal. While absurd, it is one of the many examples of how Scorsese familiarizes Italian-American culture in the film. Another aspect that makes the film memorable is the famous tracking shot of Hill and his girlfriend using an underground entrance to get inside of a nightclub. Scorsese creates sense of immersion, placing a moviegoer in a seat at the nightclub, and DeVito’s mom’s kitchen. Because of his style there is no question as to why Scorsese was nominated for an Oscar for best director in 1990.
The film also launched the careers of many actors and actresses. Roles in both “The Sopranos” and “Goodfellas” share many of the same actors. While most of the actors’ careers died off with the end of “The Sopranos,” the roles they played and the jobs they did will remain immortal in film and television history. Many of Scorsese’s regular cast members played a crucial role in the film. When onscreen together, the stars of his movies have an amazing bond. The film also helped spawn numerous pop culture references. “The Simpsons” creator, Matt Groening, famously parodied the plot and some of the roles from “Goodfellas” in episodes such as “Bart the Murderer,” “Donnie Fatso,” and “The Haw-Hawed Couple.”
Most movies become outdated by the time they are a few years old, but that is not the case for Scorsese’s masterpiece “Goodfellas.” With an amazing cast and a brilliant screenplay, it is no wonder why the movie is still considered one of the best movies of all time.
]]>Following the first season of “Fargo,” which continued the storyline of the 1996 Coen Brothers cult film of the same name, the second season of this crime-thriller retains its quirky, dark atmosphere, while also featuring an all-new cast and time setting. In this season, we follow the 1979 investigation of a trio of murders at a Waffle Hut in Minnesota, headed by Officer Lou Solverson (Patrick Wilson), who was previously played by Keith Carradine in the first season. Eventually the case reveals a bigger, more harrowing plot involving elements ranging from a group of local gangs to a pre-presidential Ronald Reagan (Bruce Campbell). Featuring other big names such as Kirsten Dunst, Ted Danson, and Nick Offerman, this offbeat, snow-filled murder mystery is definitely one not to miss.
American Horror Story: Hotel (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. CST on FX)
FX’s horror anthology series “American Horror Story” quickly became the network’s top rated program with its fourth season, entitled “Freak Show.” With its fifth edition, “Hotel,” the series is looking to change things up. This season is the first to not feature cast regular and fan-favorite Jessica Lange. In early February, series creator Ryan Murphy announced that her shoes would be filled by pop singer Lady Gaga. Gaga plays The Countess, the strange, bloodsucking owner of the haunted Hotel Cortez in Los Angeles. The season carries on the tradition of containing pervading, dark themes, which in this season include the pains of addiction and unbreakable habits. In addition, series regulars such as Evan Peters, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, and Denis O’Hare return once again to help deliver the eerie, twisted storyline.
The Walking Dead (Sundays at 7 p.m. at CST on AMC)
The upcoming sixth season of one of the decade’s most popular drama comes after its successful prequel spinoff series, “Fear the Walking Dead,” which already built up anticipation to what show creators are calling one of the most action-packed season yet. The series will continue to chronicle the story of protagonist Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who struggles to maintain his humanity in the increasingly bleak, zombie-filled, apocalyptic world he inhabits, while taking care of his two children. In addition, fan-favorite characters such as Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) will also be forced to confront inner conflicts within the walls of their survivor community, while simultaneously battling the undead. Leaving over 15.8 million viewers stranded with its cliffhanger season five finale, the series is expected to dominate the Sunday primetime schedule block once again as massive audiences return to witness the unfurling fate of the survivors.
Master of None (Nov. 6 on Netflix)
Stand-up comedian and “Parks and Recreation” alum Aziz Ansari returns to television with his Netflix original series “Master of None.” The show’s protagonist, Dev (Ansari), a 30-year old New York actor and comedian with little success, struggles with indecision on large issues such as where he wants to lead his life as well as smaller ones such as what type of breakfast to get. In addition to Ansari, the cast also includes Claire Danes, Jon Benjamin and Eric Wareheim, who play his esteemed friends and colleagues who attempt to manage Dev’s increasingly neurotic behavior.
]]>Western Conference
Another year, another championship for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Western Conference. Chicago hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup for the third time in six years. With last years win, the trophy belonged to a Western Conference team seven out of the last nine years, and four in row. Those last four cups have been won alternately by the Hawks and Kings, although the Kings faded out of the playoff picture last year due to their lack of depth. This gave way to the feisty Anaheim Ducks, who narrowly missed the Stanley Cup after taking the Blackhawks to seven games in the Conference Championship. Led by its strong offensive attack, Anaheim is poised to be contenders again. In addition to the Ducks, the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues have been consistent playoff teams and could break out this year. The Sharks and Wild also should not be ruled out, as their experienced offenses could lead to a playoff run.
Eastern Conference
With the Tampa Bay Lightning’s explosive offense coming back this year, it’s hard not to see them having another great season. However, division rival Montreal Canadiens, led by outstanding goaltending, look to overtake the Lightning and win the Atlantic Division. In addition, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Red Wings or the Bruins have success as they look to capitalize on their experience and veteran talent. Over in the Metropolitan Division, it figures to be a close battle between four teams: the Rangers, Islanders, Penguins and Capitals. While the latter two feature attacks spearheaded by superstars, the Rangers rely on goaltending and the Islanders utilize their depth and speed. However it goes down, the Metropolitan Division figures to hold much of the strength in the East.
The 2015 NHL Draft featured top pick Connor McDavid, who is easily the most highly touted prospect since Sidney Crosby, even drawing comparisons from Crosby himself. With McDavid going first to Edmonton, the Oilers are expected to improve this year and in the coming years build a playoff core around the young center. In addition, the Buffalo Sabres drafted another stellar center, Jack Eichel, who also figures to develop along with the Sabres team.
While new players are certainly exciting, the NHL also introduced different overtime rules and a new, limited coaches’ challenge. Instead of the former 4-on-4 format, games this year that go to overtime will be played as a 3-on-3. It figures to make the overtimes much faster-paced and allow for more goals, which in turn greatly reduces the amount of shootouts fans will witness this year. Also, coaches can now challenge potential goals decided because of goalie interference or offsides violations. Although these types of plays don’t happen frequently, it will help get a few more calls right, which is all fans and coaches can ask for.
Eastern Conference
Metropolitan- As mentioned before, it figures to be a four-way race. However, the Pittsburgh Penguins added Phil Kessel to complement their superstar centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, which should vault the Pens into the top spot. However, if any one of the aforementioned players go down with injuries, as is the usual unfortunate case for the Penguins, it will be tough for them to remain on top. After that, it’s a toss-up between the Rangers, Capitals, and Islanders.
Atlantic Division– Similar to last year, the Tampa Bay Lightning should be able to dominate with their dynamic offense, who scored a league-high 259 goals last year. Steven Stamkos is predicted to be a frontrunner for many offensive awards, and Ben Bishop should continue to progress as a goalie. If Jack Eichel blossoms into a superstar early, it’s also possible the Buffalo Sabres could make an impact.
Western Conference
Central Division– With the experienced core of Toews, Kane, Crawford, Keith, Hossa, and Seabrook, the Chicago Blackhawks figure to win the division in 2015. Although two of their Cup wins have come after not winning the division, no other Central team has gotten substantially better, so the Hawks have a great shot this year. However, the Blues, Wild, and Predators all have the experience and power to possibly overtake the Hawks.
Pacific Division– With their narrow defeat in the conference championships last year, the Ducks figure to have success again this year. Led by stars Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim has the firepower to dominate again. Although their mediocre defense could pose a problem, coach Bruce Boudreau has the playing and coaching experience to weather any storm that comes the Ducks’ way. Similar to Buffalo, Edmonton’s stud rookie Connor McDavid could bring big success to the Oilers, although it probably won’t happen for a year or more.
With established contenders and players ready to go, and new rules and players set to bring a fresh look to the ice, a great mix of the old and the new is expected this year. However it plays out, the next seven months figure to bring lots of excitement to hockey fans around North America.
]]>LYFE, which began this fall at Fremd, defines their cause as building friendships in the community. After encountering a similar program at Palatine High School, math teacher Shannon Denna offered to sponsor the idea, having gone through an altering personal experience with her daughter, who was born with Down Syndrome.
“We thought we might be able to offer a different type of club for students with disabilities to connect with the rest of the school that they don’t regularly see in classes, and connect students with volunteering opportunities for people with disabilities,” Denna said.
LYFE decided to help out with Hoffman Estates High School’s Cupcakes for a Cause because the fundraiser spreads awareness for special needs children.
Sophomore Varun Cidambi believes LYFE and the Cupcakes for a Cause fundraiser help the community reach out to people they don’t always see at school.
“I think it’s good that we have fundraisers like these to keep the student populace in touch with the special needs kids,” Cidambi said. “We don’t reach out to them as much, and LYFE is an outlet for us to do that.”
Entry at the event is free,while cupcakes are priced at $2 or a dozen for $20. Face painting and other games for children will be available. Anyone can volunteer to bake or assist LYFE at Cupcakes for a Cause by registering here online. The organization recommends registration be completed before Oct. 15. Additionally, a cupcake contest can be entered by baking for the event. At Fremd, students can bake cupcakes on Thursday, Oct. 22, in room 112 from 3-5 p.m.
Even though the fundraiser is specifically for Hoffman Estates High School, junior Emily Keith hopes to replicate Cupcakes for a Cause at Fremd as LYFE expands.
“I think as LYFE grows, Fremd might have fundraisers like these in the future,” Keith said. “We’re still pretty new, and something like this is a big thing to get off the ground.If it is something that everyone shows interest in, then we can look at putting something like this together in the future.”
]]>“We live in a world where toxicity begins to interest us and take over our thoughts, beliefs, and actions. As cliche as it sounds, something that I’ve gotten out of every person I met was a little more hope that anything is possible. Before, I felt immature to think the opposite. It’s just something that has caught my attention since the start of all the hate with police brutality, bullying, etc. Honestly, just appreciate the people around you that support you because those are the people that you should work hard enough to die for”
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Many have concerns about the movie due to his recent roles; post 2000 a majority of Depp’s filmography has been mainly in comedy and movies that target a younger audience where Depp appears to be out of his comfort zone. He doesn’t seem to match the bravado of his earlier acting days where he pushed himself and really became that character he was pretending to be.
In “Black Mass,” the makeup department takes away that family-oriented fun and replaces it with an older and angrier looking Johnny Depp. Depp has a hit or miss history with most of his roles but in general his gangster and criminal roles are the hits.
The majority of his recent roles were the misses of his career. In the beginning of 2015 he starred in a movie titled “Mortdecai.” The movie was a massive flop and received horrible reviews, with Depp playing a Clouseau-like detective trying to recover an artifact in a plot that played out like every “Pink Panther” movie in existence. Not all fault can be given to him though as he did a decent job of getting into character, but the writing lacked substance and will be in a dollar bin at the grocery store in a few months. “Mortdecai” is only one of his more recent flops and there are many more including “The Lone Ranger” and the newer “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.
However, Depp is a much better actor than his recent films show. He starred in the 1997 movie “Donnie Brasco,” which tells the story of an undercover cop who infiltrates a New York mafia and successfully rose through the ranks. This role earned him a nomination for best actor by the Chlotrudis Awards and it was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. One casting that really shows promise is his role in 2009’s “Public Enemies.” The movie is about the life and death of infamous bank robber John Dillinger and his accomplices Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. This movie, despite mixed reviews, is considered to be one of Johnny Depp’s best roles. His charm as the volatile gangster made him stand out from an already great cast including award nominated Christian Bale.
Not only did “Public Enemies” tell the story from the villains’ side, but it also made audiences feel for them even though they were bad people who committed horrible crimes against the public and the banks. Audiences feel connected to them, and take pity when something bad happens. It is because of “Public Enemies” that Johnny Depp is seen as a respected actor. “Black Mass” will definitely draw a large crowd similar to “Public Enemies” when it releases Sept. 18.
]]>Rahm Emanuel is once again the Chicago mayor for the next four years after the first mayoral runoff in Chicago on April 7. It was a race between the Emanuel and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.
Before becoming mayor, Emanuel was President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff but decided to resign in 2011 to run for his current position. Though his eligibility to run was initially rejected, he was found eligible by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Emanuel won with 55 percent of the votes over five other candidates.
Garcia was the first Mexican-American in the Illinois State Senate. In the February 2015 mayoral primary, Garcia received 34 percent of the votes, finishing second behind Emanuel. However, Emanuel was unable to win the required 50 percent of votes needed to win the mayoral election forcing the two candidates into a runoff, another round of voting with the two most popular candidates.
The platform Emanuel ran on included his policy on higher education reform. Senior John Park supports Emanuel’s policy to make college free for several students.
“Emanuel really won my support and many others because of his well-proposed plan to make community college free for those who have a satisfactory grade point average,” Park said. “ I feel that it is a very good step in reducing amount of crime through education.”
The mayor had a twelve to one fundraising advantage over Garcia. Emanuel had nearly $23 million compared to Garcia’s $6 million. Garcia had not announced a financial plan to fight Chicago’s worsening finances and Emanuel ran campaign ads exposing Garcia’s lack of a financial strategy. Sophomore Chirag Naga believe that these ads helped Emanuel to victory.
“I completely supported Garcia until I heard about his lack of a financial plan in Emanuel’s commercial advertisements,” Naga said. “It helped inform people like me about his opponent.”
English teacher Steven Cavalieri believe voters should be more informed about their candidates in order to make the best choice.
“It is probably easier to those who don’t follow politics as much to vote for a candidate that have similar characteristics to themselves such as race,” Cavalieri said. “However, those who are well-educated and informed about their choices would most likely take into consideration the benefits these candidates would bring to our city.”
]]>“Looking” followed the lives of three gay men living in San Francisco led by neurotic video game designer Patrick, played by Jonathan Groff.
Despite positive reviews, “Looking” constantly struggled to capture a large audience. In its second season, the show received only a fraction of the audience that tuned in to watch its lead-in, the controversial comedy “Girls.”
HBO is famously indifferent when it comes to its show’s ratings, preferring, instead, to base its renewals on different factors such as awards attention and the show’s ability to bring in new subscribers. Unlike “Girls,” which has always received low ratings, “Looking” was never able to garner the attention or universal praise that would warrant a renewal from the network.
Since its premiere, “Looking” has been under an intense scrutiny from viewers, being the only show to predominantly feature gay characters on a major television network. Many accused the show of presenting a point of view that was too narrow and exclusive, failing to present an accurate depiction of San Francisco’s immense racial and cultural diversity.
While many of these were important criticisms for the show to address (the lack of lesbian, Asian-American or HIV-positive characters, for example), they often felt as if they were designed to set the show up for failure. As is the case with most fiction centered around a marginalized group, it was unrealistic to expect “Looking” to accurately depict the experience of every gay man living in San Francisco, much less of the entire LGBT community.
Instead, it was a show whose characters were so normalized that they bordered on coming across as boring or whiny. While this doesn’t necessarily read as a compliment, it does mark significant progress from the media’s typically sanitized and stereotyped representation of the community. The characters had sex. They worried about contracting STDs. In one memorable scene, the characters discuss the benefits of taking PrEP, a drug meant to prevent HIV infection. “Looking’s” representation was not perfect, but it was important.
Over the course of its 18-episode run, the show was still able to carve out a loyal audience. Following its second season finale, the show was championed by various publications including The New York Times, Vogue and The Guardian. Directors Joe Swanberg, Zal Batmanglij and “Transparent” creator Jill Soloway all reached out over social media in support of the show.
The one sentiment that seemed to unite most viewers and critics when it came to “Looking,” at least by the end of its second season, was that it featured some of the most distinctive storytelling on television. The show’s pace was jarringly slow, often lingering on mundane moments, providing snapshots of the character’s lives instead of traditional plot development.
This is best represented by the first season episode “Looking for the Future,” an intimate and profound half-hour that followed Patrick and Richie (Raul Castillo), his boyfriend, around San Francisco on a meandering, dream-like date. The episode, which did not feature any of the show’s other regular characters, felt almost like a television version of Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunrise.”
Considering this, it’s surprising that HBO would even put this show on the air. “Looking” would have represented a risk anywhere it could have ended up; it’s too intimate for weekly television, yet too sprawling to be contained in a 90-minute feature film.
Thanks to shows like “Transparent,” “Empire” and “Orphan Black,” there isn’t exactly a dearth of complicated LGBT characters on mainstream television. As encouraging as this is, however, the cancellation of “Looking” seems like a missed opportunity to continue sharing the stories of a population that is too often ignored or generalized in a way that does not feel tragic or trite but sensitive and realistic.
]]>The story in this film was well-written. It seems like taking out international criminals is a huge chore. Like for example that Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), the bad guy from Fast and Furious 6, was still alive. Even more so was the fact that his big brother Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) was more than a little mad about Dom (Vin Diesel) and the crew putting him in a hospital bed. Which doesn’t feel enough of a reason to bring forth the wrath of Dominic Toretto in my opinion.
Picking up directly where the end credits of Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift left off with the sudden death of Han (Sung Kang) this installment focuses on the world of shadows as the mysterious Mr.Nobody (Kurt Russell) appears to ask Dom and the crew to do a job.
There was also a huge piece of the film that was for the alpha couple Dom and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) . Letty unfortunately suffered from amnesia due to an explosion in the fourth film which nearly killed her. Dom and Letty have their true reunion in the best way they ever could.
Jason Staham plays one heck of a villain in Fast and Furious 7. From his fight against Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to going up against Vin Diesel the dude is a Hollywood tough guy. Even with difficult fight scenes, he showed some serious acting chops.Though after a while the number of his appearances became a nuisance until they actually felt warranted in parts of the film.
The death of Paul Walker in the middle of filming lead to rewrites, and production was delayed. Luckily, director James Wan chose to use a combination of CGI, spliced footage and recordings of Walker, his brothers Caleb and Cody, and actor John Brotherton to keep Walker’s Character alive. The end result was nearly seamless – it’s difficult to discern exactly where the editing is within the film. Walker’s character, Brian O’Connor, was treated with the utmost respect. In the film we see him struggle to adjust to domestic life as a father. “I miss the bullets,” he says. But as the movie drew on, it became more and more obvious where Brian needed to be. There was even a touching scene in which Brian tells Mia (Jordana Brewster) that if he dies that she has to go on without him. This was a fitting end because the writers instead of killing the character off in the middle they allowed his character a happy ending.The film is the perfect memorial for the talented late actor Paul Walker. It was a brilliant send off for Brian O’Connor and worth it.
]]>The album is a narrative, detailing Stevens’ life with his mother. Songs like “Carrie & Lowell,” “Eugene,” and “All of Me Wants All of You” mention summer trips to Oregon that Stevens made with his mother, stepfather and brother. Within these songs are specific references to childhood memories and times in which he felt closest to his mother.
Contrasting the positive, Stevens also composed multiple songs on this album focusing on the effect this death had on his adult life. In “Should Have Known Better” he mentions his own drinking and drug abuse, his experience in disconnected relationships, and the imminent self-loathing and emptiness he felt, shown when he sings, “In a manner of speaking I’m dead.” Delving deeper into the darkness, Stevens references suicidal thoughts and the constant longing he felt to be closer to his mother. This desperation, while referenced in the lyrics, is clearest in the music itself. Stevens’ voice swims in and out of waves of quiet piano and soft guitar strumming, and his whisper building to falsetto sounds like a cry for help.
“Death with Dignity” and “Blue Bucket of Gold” are two songs that illustrate this. “Death” starts off the album with the quiet plucking of guitar strings and melodic coos illuminating the background. Stevens’ voice is both killing and calming, and the song starts off the album by luring in listeners.
Following suit is “Blue Bucket of Gold,” which begins with a steady note being played on the piano and layered voices telling a story from the past. With little production, this song stands alone, with Stevens voice layered over itself adding extra power to a quiet history.
In most songs, Stevens’ best tool is his brazen lyrics. While the music, flecked with piano, some synthesizers, background harmonies, and some unidentifiable clicking sounds may say one thing, his lyrics tell the true story. “Fourth of July,” tells the story of his mother’s death, and while beautiful and picturesque images of the day itself are shared, the phrase “We’re all gonna die” is repeated frequently, contrasting fond moments with imminent ideas, seemingly portraying the thoughts in Stevens’ mind. Similarly, in “No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross,” Stevens declares that he’s “falling apart,” an honest statement which punctures the soothing motion of the song itself.
While Stevens has experimented with music most of his career, his personal connection to “Carrie & Lowell” makes it a standout. The emotion in his performance is evident and inescapable in a way that isn’t imposing or intense, but instead comforting and accessible. His opinions on life and death are presented beautifully in this precise and stirring tribute to his mother.
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His personal edge on comedy comes from his own origin as a multi-racial child. His mother, a South African woman, and his father of Swiss-German descent had Trevor when cross-racial relationships were illegal. As Noah puts it, he was “born a crime.” In the documentary, “You Laugh but It’s True,” Noah says that he’s never fit in anywhere because he’s neither black nor white. “And then when you get older it’s cool because you’ve lived everywhere and nowhere, and you’ve everyone and no one, and so you can say everything and nothing and that’s really what affects my comedy and everything I say.” Noah, a polyglot, can speak several languages including English, German, Xhosa, isiZulu, Sotho, and Afrikaan and is considered by many of his fans as a translator between different cultures.
Despite his preference of material to contrast cultures, countries, and governments, Noah is considered by colleagues as the “cuddly guy” because of his clean and polite persona on stage. Contrary to his usual disposition, Noah has caused an uproar due to a few offensive stereotyping tweets he posted recently. While many comedians encourage others to test boundaries, the main complaint was that his tweets, “just weren’t that funny,” but Comedy Central has supported Noah through all of this reminding everyone that, “it’s just twitter.” Fans of “The Daily Show” will be happy to know that the new host will maintain the legacy of dignity on the show that Jon Stewart has left, limiting obscenities and racial jokes for a cheap laugh.
Neither Comedy Central nor Noah has stated the direction the show will take as Stewart steps down. When Stewart took the show over from Craig Kilborn, the show became politically-centered with a dominant satirical component that earned a large viewership. The show is reputable enough that the majority of its young-adult viewers consider it as their main source of news. Noah’s ability to continue the credibility of the show is promising. During one of his guest appearances on “The Daily Show” he tested Jon Stewart with a game he created called, “Spot Africa.” Noah showed a picture taken in Africa and one taken in the United States and Stewart had to decide which photo was taken where, which resulted in laughs from the audience as well as the veteran host of the show himself.
No matter what, it will be tough for anyone to replace Jon Stewart. Audiences are already critical after losing “The Colbert Report” to “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore,” and Noah is not receiving a one-hundred percent approval rate. Regardless of premature censures, Noah will be nothing if not interesting with a fresh outlook.
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While conventional thought would say that any contest featuring the best players in the sport, all-star games as of late have failed to live up to their lofty expectations. Before this modern age of interconnectedness and instantaneous information, seeing an out-of-market player compete was a rarity and spectators typically received their news from newspaper articles a day later. But with the rise of premium packages, such as NFL Sunday Ticket and NHL Center Ice, from TV providers this once infrequent event has become increasingly commonplace. Today, news breaks almost instantaneously. While in years past, a fan watching a local game would have only heard about Odell Beckham Jr.’s phenomenal one-handed catch against Dallas, the catch was plastered all over social media in mere seconds. The culture of constant exposure to the media has made stars much more ordinary. Access to out-of-market players is no longer scarce and as such there simply is no need to have a an all-star game.
This year, the NHL all-star game had its lowest ratings in eight years, drawing fewer view than last week’s episode of The Bachelor. The Pro Bowl faced a similar problem, dropping 1.1 million viewers as compared to last year. In addition to being broadcast on ESPN instead of a major network, the rating reflected the declining sentiment from both viewers and athletes alike. Both the NFL and NHL have made attempts to resolve this crisis of indifference, seen through a change in format to teams that are picked from the all-stars, instead of the traditional method of conference playing against conference. Still, players lack the motivation to risk their bodies and their multimillion dollar contracts to exert any reasonable effort in what is essentially an exhibition game. This year’s NHL all-star game ended in a ridiculous 17-12 win for Team Toews over Team Foligno, a score unheard of in any competitive hockey game. No fan wants to waste their time watching the best players in the world dogging it, when they could instead find more drama catching up with Chris Harrison and everyone in the Bachelor Mansion.
Despite failing overall to meet fan’s expectations, a favorite event of each sports’ respective all-star weekends are always the skills competitions. Some of the most memorable moments in all of sports come from the Slam Dunk Contest (Does the name Michael Jordan ring any bells?). In these competitions athletes are free to give their all without much risk of injury, making for better entertainment. While all-star games are typically high scoring affairs, they are anything but competitive — last year’s NBA all-star game featured 318 points and absolutely zero defense. Given the current sentiment of both players and viewers, the major professional sports leagues should eliminate all-star games in favor more specialized skill competitions, while still honoring the accomplishment of the athletes.
In today’s world of sports, all-star games are more ceremonial than substantial. For athletes, the motivation does not exist to exert themselves in what is largely a meaningless game. Rather than continue to push what is a dying institution, all-star games should be discontinued in favor a lower stakes, more fan-friendly series of skills competitions to showcase the talent that got them there in the first place.
]]>The Vikes finished second in the Mid-Suburban League (MSL) West division and were barely edged out by Schaumburg, who finished one game ahead of the team’s 8-2 conference record. Despite these recent hardships, Fremd is poised to make a playoff run, as they have captured the second seed in the Crystal Lake South sectional.
Head coach Curt Pinley details the driving force behind the team’s continual success.
“It’s the leadership of the seniors– we have a lot of them,” Pinley said. “Each one of them has impacted the team in a positive way, whether that is through her play on the floor or how she influences the team off the court.”
In first round of the invite, the Vikings were matched with Oak Park and River Forest and they split the first two sets 25-13 and 16-25, but ultimately lost 15-13 in the final set. Following the tough loss, the Vikings defeated Dundee-Crown, their opponent for the first round of the playoffs, 25-19, 25-13. In the championship round, Fremd fell to Conant 25-19, 25-16 to secure sixth place.
An unquestionable leader of the team, senior setter Carly Roberts, who recently earned All-Conference honors, will not let the team’s finish in the invite hinder her preparation for the postseason.
“The invite over the weekend had some really high highs and some very low lows. We had a strong start on Friday, but we wavered a little on Sunday,” Roberts said. “That’s already forgotten. We are 0-0 going into the playoffs.”
Pinley is confident in his team’s ability to compete at a high level and knows that if they play the way they are capable of, the Vikings can be serious contenders.
“Right now, we feel pretty good about our chances for the match,” Pinley said.
The girls volleyball team will take on Dundee-Crown at 6:30 on Oct. 28 in the IHSA regional semifinals.
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The team dominated in the meet against Palatine, winning ten of the twelve events, including all three relays. Notable individual performances include senior Erica King, who won in the 200 and 400 meter freestyle with times of 2:13.47 and 4:39.63 respectively and senior Sydney Plichta, who won in the diving competition with a score of 236.70.
Head coach Andrew Kittrell credits the team’s success this season to the attitudes of each swimmer.
“We have a strong senior class. This is a group of kids that know what they need to do in order to do well,” Kittrell said. “The kids are self-motivated and driven, but they have also done all of the work with a lot of class and a lot of integrity. They want to do well for each other. ”
Despite the team’s struggle in past years in the Naperville North Invitational, the Vikes took home a second place finish winning five events outright. Senior Grace Kneller was a key contributor to the impressive showing, winning the 50- and 100- meter freestyle.
Kittrell says that senior leadership lead to the exceptional finish at the Naperville North Invitational.
“The kids believe that they can do really well,” Kittrell said. “It’s a hard point in the year to train, but they came in looking for success and they executed.”
Senior Julia Portmann, who competed in the 200- and 400- meter freestyle relays in the Naperville North Invitational, credits the team’s continued success to the commitment made by each swimmer.
“A lot of us swim year-round,” Portmann said. “A few years ago, the Fremd coaches started a summer swimming program and that has helped the other swimmers who don’t normally swim club stay in shape over the summer, so they are prepared for the season.”
Though they are accustomed to success, Portmann and the team will not change how they prepare simply because the season is winding down.
“We are just going to keep training the way we have been,” Portmann said. “Kittrell is not going to rest us. We have been working hard and we are going to keep working hard and swim our best.”
The girls swimming and diving team will take on Hoffman Estates at home in their senior night on Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m.
]]>Head coach Dave Yates highlights the importance of finishing the season with a win over Palatine.
“Our players are pretty proud that they’ve dominated the West,” Yates said. “Plus, they’re playing against their friends, the girls they played against in feeder and park district, so I think anytime you beat one of your rivals that’s something they enjoy doing.”
Junior guard Julia Wacker, who scored ten points against the Pirates, describes the team’s takeaway from the conference win.
“A big thing we’ve been working on all year is communication, which we still need to improve upon,” Wacker said. “Other than that I feel like it was a pretty good game all around.”
The Vikings spread the ball around with senior Haley Gorecki (18 points), and juniors Bryana Hopkins (13 points), Brianna Lewis (12 points), and Wacker (10 points) combining for 53 of the team’s 68 points. Yates emphasizes the importance of having more than one or two players scoring a majority of Fremd’s points.
“Teams could look to those players and say that you have to stop those two players. Palatine went box and one against us, they went triangle and two against us and other players just scored right away,” Yates said. “When people do those things to you and you score right away they don’t stick with those defenses. That’s been a good thing about this team – it’s deep and there are a lot of scoring options.”
Fremd finishes the season with a 22-4 record, with two of those losses coming against top national competition. Wacker contributes part of their overall success throughout the season to playing teams from across the country.
“We got to see a lot of good teams and we played teams with different styles than we have, so we’ve been able to work on different things that we saw we needed to improve upon,” Wacker said. “The high level of competition was very important for our team.”
Currently ranked third in state, the Vikings are constantly looking to improve their skills, both individually and as a team. With a tough road ahead, Yates wants to make sure that they focus on refining their weaknesses.
“I would say our largest area for improvement is consistency, the hard part is that when you beat people by a lot of points you have a tendency to lose focus and not do little things correctly,” Yates said. “So that’s what we’re going to be hammering them on for the next week or two, making sure we’re boxing people out and doing the things we want to do defensively.”
After reaching the 4A Sectional finals last year, Fremd looks to move past their previous mark of success this season. Yates knows that the Vikings have the ability to make a run at the state title, but he doesn’t want the team to look too far ahead.
“Our goal is to get as far as we can in the state tournament,” Yates said. “You have to take it one game at a time and we’ve expressed upon our players that you have to keep getting better every game and every practice. If we have that mindset then the rest will take care of itself.”
The Vikes take on Prospect (24-1) in the Mid-Suburban League Championship game at Prospect’s Jean Walker Field House on Feb. 11.
]]>“Reflection” begins with “Top Down,” a song featuring jazzy saxophone riffs and a techno base. Starting the album with this high energy hit invites listeners to “get in my truck” and get ready for the ride.
Following this is “Bo$$,” the first single of this album. A girl power anthem with references to Michelle Obama and Oprah, this song brings listeners back to the days of Destiny’s Child and TLC. With a bandstand feel and clappable beats, “Bo$$” mixes the classic girl group R&B vibe with classic soulful hits from way back.
Next up is “Sledgehammer,” the second single off the album, which is a powerful song that skillfully combines the singing talents of each member and weaves them into a ballad of sorts. Beginning with an a cappella rendition of the chorus and culminating with Cabello belting out the final note to end the bridge, “Sledgehammer” is sure to be a hit.
“Worth It” and “Like Mariah” are two songs that dip into the hip hop genre, with “Worth It” sampling a sound similar to Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty to Me” and featuring rapper Kid Ink. “Like Mariah” would definitely make the diva they are emanating proud. Samplings of Carey’s song “Always Be My Baby” combined with Fifth Harmony’s soulful lyrics sung in Carey’s style create a total R&B hit.
“Reflection,” “Them Girls Be Like” and “Suga Mama” are three more girl power songs to be expected from a powerhouse like Fifth Harmony. Breaking down female stereotypes and exerting their dominance with antagonistic and prideful lyrics, these three hits are punches in the gut in the best way.
“Everlasting Love” and “We Know” slow things down a bit. With the girls crooning out heartfelt lyrics and piano-led bluesy sound, these songs add a more diverse sound to the album overall and show Fifth Harmony’s versatility.
The true stand out on the album is the fifth track, “This Is How We Roll.” The five girls’ voices mix together in a potent chorus and break down with an intense Calvin Harris-style beat drop. The mix of smooth vocal rhythm and the deep electronic beat from verses to chorus fuses the song so well. Just as the group itself can swim between genres, so can this song.
With “Reflection,” Fifth Harmony has brought back the female empowerment that music has been lacking since girl groups were in charge in the late 90s- early 2000s. Their mix of old and new music styles combined with feminine lyrics and vocal flexibility make Fifth Harmony a group to watch.
]]>Sam Smith won the very first award of the night and gained traction from there. Contrary to expectations, though, Pharrell’s “Happy,” released in 2013, beat Smith’s “Stay With Me” in Best Pop Solo Performance. Even Pharrell seemed surprised by the win.
Taylor Swift was nominated for three awards, all for her hit single “Shake it Off.” She did not take home a single award, but seemed pleased when her friend Sam Smith did.
Ed Sheeran, sans a Grammy despite three nominations, beautifully performed his hit “Thinking Out Loud.” Right after that, he joined Jeff Lynne from the 1970s band Electric Light Orchestra to sing ”Mr. Blue Sky.”
Continuing with the pairing of old and new artists, Hozier was joined by the legendary singer Annie Lennox while singing his famous track “Take Me to Church.”
After a brief segment featuring President Obama discussing domestic violence, Brooke Axtell, a victim of domestic violence, took to the stage to tell her dramatic story.
During country singer Eric Church’s performance, an image of someone holding a “Je suis Charlie” sign, referencing the terror attack earlier this year, was shown.
A slightly toned-down Lady Gaga sang “Cheek to Cheek” with classic crooner Tony Bennett. Usher followed with a moving tribute to Stevie Wonder.
Later on, Kanye West and Rihanna were joined on the stage by Beatles frontman Paul McCartney, culminating in one of the biggest performances of the night. They performed their new song “FourFiveSeconds.” Another powerful performance was Sam Smith’s duet with Mary J. Blige. The two sang his hit “Stay With Me.”
Album of the Year went to Beck, a rock artist, rather than the predicted winner Sam Smith, and Beck seemed stunned when his name was announced in place of Smith’s.
The last two awards of the night, Song of the Year and Record of the Year, both went to Smith for “Stay With Me.”
After the Record of the Year was awarded, Jennifer Hudson and others came on and spoke out about singers’ rights to receive appropriate compensation for their work.
The night concluded with two brilliant performances of songs from the movie “Selma” featuring Beyoncé, Common and John Legend.
This year, the Grammys aired without error, and there were no sore losers. Many incredible older singers came back and performed new songs flawlessly with today’s singers. The political messages were new this year, but powerful, nonetheless.
]]>The game started off a sluggish one for the Vikings, as they were being outworked by Palatine for most of the first half. But the team had good ball control, according to head coach Bob Widlowski, who thought that was a highlight of this game.
“I thought we did a very good job during the game limiting our turnovers,” Widlowski said.
Missed opportunities was the name of the game Friday night, as Fremd missed free throws early in the game that would have been key points to have later on. As the game progressed, it got a little more physical between the two teams and the intensity rose as the game got to the later stages, resulting in a few small scrums late in the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Vikings held a five point lead after a big three-pointer from senior Zach Schoffstall, but Fremd turned the ball over five times in the fourth quarter which led to Palatine storming back, going on an eight point run to widen the lead. Widlowski thinks these turnovers have to improve, but the team did do a job stopping key players from the Pirates.
“We did a very good job on Maka Han and Chaney. I think the difference was our turnovers in the fourth quarter where we had a streak of turnovers that they converted on in the 4th quarter,” Widlowski said.
Widlowski says the team feeds off the energy from the crowd, especially for a rivalry game like against Palatine. The crowd became a factor when Schoffstall made a three-pointer late in the game.
“We have a huge crowd, we’ve always had a great rivalry with Palatine. I think it’s a great high school environment to play in for that contest,” Widlowski said.
Widlowski likes where his team is at at this point of the season, with playoffs only a couple weeks away and the team sitting at a 15-5 record.
“Our guys have given a very good effort all year long. We’ve been first place in the conference all season. We want to keep battling for that,” Widlowski said.
This game turned out to be an eye-opener for the Vikings, as they came back the next day and beat a talented Evanston team, 53-49. Widlowski thinks the team made the adjustments they had to for success after the close loss on Friday night.
“I really liked our attitude coming back after the game. We were very excited the next morning. The kids were locked in on the scouting report… and they came out with great attitude and effort against a highly state ranked Evanston team,” Widlowski said.
As the playoffs approach, Fremd still has some important games that will determine where they will be in the standings. The next contest for the Vikings is on Feb. 13 as they take on Barrington at home for a chance to regain the top spot in the MSL Conference.
]]>In their 23 years together, Blink-182 has sold over 35 million records worldwide, including classic records “Dude Ranch,” “Enema of the State,” and “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.” They have also built up a devoted fanbase over the years, with over 1.1 million followers on Twitter and more than 10 million likes on Facebook. Despite a hiatus from 2005-2009, the group has never lost its accessibility with its spirited pop punk.
Senior John Song first found out about Blink-182 in middle school, and has been a fan ever since.
“I started listening to Blink-182 in middle school. My friends told me about them, and it turns out they had some awesome music,” Song said. “I grew up listening to bands like Sum 41 and Green Day, so I immediately fell in love with Blink-182.”
Thousands took to social media with reactions to Delonge leaving the band, with many fans and followers confused about the exact details of his sudden departure. After the press release, Delonge has made numerous Instagram posts about how the rumors were false about him leaving the group and it was all a misunderstanding, but then Barker and Hoppus both released statements explaining how Delonge had actually sent an email to them through his manager saying that he had quit the band and has decided to focus on his other band, Angels and Airwaves.
Song was surprised at the news, and was further upset at the infighting between one of his favorite bands.
“At first I was shocked when I heard that Tom Delonge left Blink-182. A few hours later I saw a post from Tom Delonge, stating that all this was one big misunderstanding and that he was still in the band,” Song said. “Then a few hours later Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker stated that Tom Delonge had truly departed from the band. Not only did Tom leave Blink-182, he also attempted to lie to his loyal fans. This was beyond disheartening.”
Many believe that with Delonge’s absence, Blink-182 will not be able to carry on without his presence. Following the incident, Delonge announced that he will soon be releasing unrecorded songs that he wrote for Blink-182’s new album, along with brand new tracks from Angels and Airwaves. As for Hoppus and Barker, they say they are still devoted to Blink-182 and will push the band forward.
“Travis and I are intent on protecting the legacy of Blink-182 and continue to do what we’ve been doing for the past two decades: continue playing the songs that we wrote,” Hoppus told Rolling Stone.
Blink 182 will headline the 2015 Muzink Festival with Matt Skiba on March 22.
]]>Senior Eric An thinks the new paintball arena would be convenient and exciting.
“Palatine does not have many locations for activities,” An said. “Having a paintball place nearby would be enjoyable and a nice entertainment to have.”
The village council is concerned about an outdoor course that will open only during summer. The council believes the noise will disturb the neighbors nearby.
Freshman Gretchen Coleman mentions that the sound-proof tests are definitely necessary.
“The testing would probably bother the neighbors a lot, but it would be beneficial in the end to see if an outdoor course would be too noisy,” Coleman said. “I think that they would appreciate it in the end.”
The owner of O’Hare Paintball, Jeffrey Congine Sr., believes the noise is not as loud as people think it is and is confident that the business will pass the test. The company will also set up the outdoor course with nets so that no damage is done.
Coleman expresses is enthusiastic about the new paintball park.
“I would want a big course with a lot of hiding places to make it more exciting, a lot of protective gear to stay safe,” Coleman said. “It would probably be nice to have an area for eating and hanging out too.”
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The case, which was closed almost 15 years ago, has become the subject of a new podcast called “Serial,” a spinoff of NPR’s popular series “This American Life.” “Serial” is hosted by journalist Sarah Koenig, with each episode focusing on a different aspect of Syed’s case.
“This American Life” host Ira Glass wrote on his show’s blog that while it follows a real case, he wants “Serial” to have the same effect on listeners as many popular television shows.
“Our hope is to give you the same experience you get from a great HBO or Netflix series, where you get caught up with the characters and the thing unfolds week after week, and you just have to hear what happens next, but with a story that’s true,” Glass said. “Like ‘House of Cards’ or ‘Game of Thrones’ but you can enjoy it while you’re driving.”
Currently in its ninth episode, “Serial” has become a global hit. The podcast became the fastest to ever reach 5 million downloads on iTunes, where it is also the top podcast in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of “Serial,” websites like The A.V. Club and Slate are creating weekly podcasts dedicated to recapping the events of each episode. Funny or Die recently released a mashup of the show’s theme song with Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.”
Libby Nelson, a writer for news site Vox, attempts to explain the show’s popularity.
“Serial combines two lowbrow things people love — true crime and high school drama — and does it with NPR-level respectability,” she said. “In other words, ‘Serial’ is ‘Gossip Girl’ meets ‘Dateline’ crossed with ‘This American Life.’”
While fans of the show are speculating that Koenig has a planned ending to the series, one that would include revealing whether or not Syed is truly guilty, she insists, in an interview with New York Magazine, that she is not far ahead of listeners in terms of information about the case.
Koenig warns viewers against expecting closure once the series finishes its first season.
“I don’t know that I’ll ever be at peace with what we find or that there will be a definitive verdict. I’m not going to pick a side just because I’m supposed to for a Hollywood ending,” she said. “But the goal is to figure it out, and I would love to figure it out.”
]]>According to Mayo Clinic, PTSD is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event and causes nightmares, flashbacks and severe anxiety. The Soldiers Project gives money to veterans so they can seek the psychological help they cannot otherwise afford.
Spoor-Harvey picked “Never Gonna Give You Up” after a class survey. Students suggested songs like “Friday” by Rebecca Black and “What Does the Fox Say” but the most popular song was “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
“I have heard of a couple other schools that have done something similar,” Spoor said. “‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ was the best option. We wanted people to have fun, be a little annoyed, and donate money. Some of the other song suggestions would have just been mean.”
Sophomore Andy Hong believes that students would have still given money whether or not the song was playing.
“I wasn’t really swayed by the song. I would have donated anyways due to the fact it was for a good cause,” Hong said .
Junior Samiksha Gupta believes the song was a great way to proactively get people to donate.
“I think its a fun way to liven up the hallways and make people more aware of the cause that they are donating to,” Gupta said. “I think it was different because people were constantly reminded that they should be donating, which in my opinion is a positive because students have a lot going on and it helps to have reminders.”
During the school day on Nov. 11, there was a question and answer panel with the veterans. There were between four and six veterans during each period, and they served in different wars ranging from World War II, the Korean War, and the present day war in Afghanistan. The school also held a Veterans Honor Assembly to recognize all the veterans in the Fremd community. The assembly began at 1:50 on Tuesday, Nov.11 and invited all members of the Fremd community to attend. Congressman Peter Roskam attended along with the mayor of Palatine, Jim Schwantz.
Wilhelm wants students to take advantage of the opportunity to talk to the veterans.
“I hope that students will have a new appreciation for Veterans Day,” Wilhelm said. “With most holidays, students are just excited to have the day off of school and little attention is paid to the reason why. Because we have school on Veterans Day this year, we decided to use it as an opportunity to remind students that the freedoms, opportunities, and our way of life is due in part to the millions of veterans who put their life on the line for everyone else.”
There was a veteran speaker, Tim O’Brien, along with a student speaker, junior Johnny Barrett, and performances by the Fremd Chamber Singers and the Symphony Orchestra.
Wilhelm believes that having future Veterans Day assemblies would be a great opportunity for Fremd.
“I would love to do this assembly every year. Any opportunity we have to recognize the service of our veterans, I think we should take it,” Wilhelm said.
]]>The Student Business Incubator began as a college-level effort to teach students how to create and manage their own businesses through close mentorship. Gradually, local investors became interested in the business students’ projects, transforming the Small Business Incubator into a chance for fledgeling entrepreneurs to make start-ups profitable before ever leaving school. District 211 hopes to bring the same opportunity to high school students.
As University of California-Irvine business school administrator Charlie Baecker said in an interview with U.S. News, “An incubator is a lot like learning to ride a bike with training wheels.”
Senior Kamalesh Srikanth sees a lot of potential in the Incubator’s student funding.
“This program will catalyze the process of innovation by giving students an incentive to capitalize on their ideas rather than idly push them aside,” Srikanth said. “If the program takes off, I believe that it will primarily benefit the group of students without the resources to take advantage of their ideas.”
It wasn’t until Barrington High School decided in 2013 to host its own Small Business Incubator that this opportunity was given to high school students. Pitch day, the anxious closing night of the year’s program, was held May 29, 2014. Community investors bid on the school’s top start-up ideas. That night, $80,000 was raised for the five best start-up ideas students had created over the past year. The winning pitch was a “Find My Bus” tracking app which claimed the night’s largest investment of $25,000.
Freshman Hannah Jaros thinks the opportunity is beneficial for high schoolers.
“Giving students this opportunity will allow them to actively find out and experience career interests and furthermore encourage them to work towards their dreams,” Jaros said. “It will also prepare them for when they get into college and after that, the business itself.”
District 211 hopes to recreate Barrington’s success with the SBI, and has all five schools, Palatine, Fremd, Conant, Schaumburg, and Hoffman Estates, involved. Chad Jonas is Fremd’s coordinator and should be contacted with any further questions about the opportunity.
]]>The Hawks suffered a key injury when they lost forward Patrick Sharp to a knee injury, keeping one of the Hawks’ best scorers out for three to four weeks. Sharp is a first line player and anchors the Hawks power play. This injury comes at a bad time for the Hawks, as they have had trouble scoring goals in the early going, ranking 22nd in scoring. Last season, the Hawks had the league’s best offense, scoring and average of four goals per game.
Despite the lack of scoring, the Hawks have allowed only 1.87 goals per game, which is the lowest in the league. Goalie Corey Crawford had been great so far this season, posting a stellar 1.81 goals against average. When he went down with an injury, backups Antti Raanta and Scott Darling played solid.
Another problem for the Hawks this year is not playing a full sixty minute game. The Hawks play one good period, and then two bad periods and lose the game. This happened recently on Nov. 7, against the Washington Capitals, when the Hawks had a two goal lead late in the second period. Soon enough, the Capitals scored three goals in five minutes to take the lead before the second ended. Then in the third, the Hawks couldn’t score, and they lost 3-2. This has been the case more than once this season, and it shows in the Hawks’ record.
In the offseason, the Hawks signed free agent center Brad Richards, who was primed to play alongside Patrick Kane, but has yet to solidify himself on a line. Richards has been inconsistent thus far, only having eight points and a 0 plus/minus rating. He also has 36 shots but only two goals on the year. He has showed signs of potential, but also signs of regression, being a veteran player, as he has played 14 seasons in the NHL. With Richards not being the player the Hawks thought he was going to be thus far, others have had to step up, namely Kris Versteeg. After missing the beginning of the season due to a lower body injury, Versteeg has made some big plays in recent games. In a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 4, Versteeg scored a highlight reel goal against star goaltender Carey Price to put the game away for the Hawks in the third period. He has been promoted to the top line, playing in Sharp’s spot.
With a solid defense and good goaltending, the Hawks should improve, once the offense gets rolling again. Over the last few games, the Hawks have put up two solid victories, and a sloppy loss, but the offense is showing signs of life, scoring five goals on one of the best goaltenders in the league, Carey Price. If the offense returns to form, this team can be very dangerous down the stretch. The team is starting to return to form, but more net front presence and attacking the offensive zone from the middle and not the outside area if the offense wants to improve. The improvements have to come quickly, though, as the Hawks are about to embark on a two week road trip. The Hawks need more net front presence, attacking the offensive zone from the middle and not the sides.
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In Illinois’s gubernatorial election, Republican Bruce Rauner won 50.77% of the vote while Democrat incumbent Pat Quinn received 45.87% and Libertarian candidate Chad Grimm received 3.37%.
Social studies teacher Jacqueline Dickens feels that these results were expected.
“I am not surprised by the results for several reasons,” Dickens said. “The Republicans tend to have a slight edge over the Democrats in midterm elections. Voter turnout for midterm elections tends to skew towards older voters who are much more likely to vote for a Republican candidate.”
While close races across the country were expected to bring more voters to the polls, the national voter turnout rate declined to an estimated 36.6% of eligible voters participating in the elections this year according to the Associated Press.
Dickens feels that the reason for low turnout rates during midterm elections is because of public misconception.
“Voter turnout for midterms has historically been much lower than voter turnout for presidential elections,” Dickens said. “There tends to be a general misconception that the Presidential election is more important than midterm elections because the President is the leader of the United States. However, I would argue that the midterm elections are possibly even more important. Because less people vote in the midterm election, your vote in a midterm election is worth more than in a presidential election. Also, your local representatives have power to greatly influence your local community in ways that the President cannot.”
Sophomore Emma Liu attributes the low turnout rates to political apathy among the younger generations.
“Our nation needs to understand that millennials are not inclined to vote, and that’s a huge problem,” Liu said. “Stop saying you hate politics and you’d rather not vote for ‘the lesser of two evils’ – that’s essentially exacerbating evil itself.”
These elections saw an increase in women elected to Congress. The number of female Senators and Representatives now totals 100. Liu feels that this year marks a political milestone for women.
“The presence of more women in Congress is a great sign of our nation’s progress,” Liu said. “I think the increase is wonderful – and frankly, it was necessary and eventually going to happen. I’m glad it’s happening now.”
The results of the Senatorial election give Republicans 52 seats, Democrats with 44 seats, and two independent seats with two races yet to be decided. These results shift the Senate majority towards the Republicans and have given both houses of Congress a Republican majority.
While many Americans are anxious about the potential tension between Democratic president Barack Obama and a Congress with Republican majority, Senior Aaron Petykowski believes that this conflict will not have much impact.
“I actually do not think that the dynamic will change very much,” Petykowski said. “I feel like Congress and President Obama have conflicted a lot in the past, so seeing a Republican majority means more of the same for me.”
]]>Head coach Steve Keller credits the team’s consistency to the group of ten seniors that provided its identity.
“They had a goal in mind. They were all on the same page— they wanted to achieve something special and they did,” Keller said. “I thought that especially through the state series some of them really stepped up and got the team in the right frame of mind. They took charge and got the job done.”
In the state semifinals on Nov. 7 against Hinsdale Central, the team dominated possession yet was unable to get on the scoreboard until the 26th minute, when senior Zach Schoffstall converted on a penalty kick to put the Vikings ahead 1-0. The Red Devils responded in the 32nd minute on the counter attack, following an aggressive attack by the Vikes. The Vikings continued to control the tempo of the game, but were unable to stave of the Red Devil’s attack losing 2-1. While finishing with 20 shots to Central’s 12, the Vikings were unable to find the back of the net and came up short, losing 2-1.
Senior Ben Borst explains the team’s mindset heading into the third-place game after losing a match where the Vikings hit the post twice down the stretch.
“When it came to the Saturday game, we were all confident in our abilities,” Borst said. “We came out really loose and ready to go and we all knew that we could really show everyone in that stadium what we were capable of.”
Fremd looked to respond and finish as one of two teams in the 3A division to end their season with a win on Nov. 8, as they took on Streamwood in a battle for third place. The Vikings came out with equal intensity as the night before, controlling the ball and outshooting the Sabres 29-12 but finishing opportunities this time. Schoffstall opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 17th minute and went on to score a hat trick with goals in the 19th and 50th minutes. Senior Danny Burton added another in the 79th minute to give the Vikes a 4-0 lead, which they would keep.
Senior Will LeFevre, who came up with a number of key saves over the weekend, details the change in attitude which led to the Vikings’ success in the third place game.
“Saturday had a different mood throughout the game. On Saturday, we played everybody and the mood was a lot lighter,” LeFevre said. “We just said, ‘Let’s go out there because this is the last time you are going to put on a Fremd jersey and have some fun.’”
Keller identifies what he will have to do in order to build upon this year’s finish.
“As a coach, I am going to push them. It is a totally different team next year,” Keller said. “There is a new group of guys that will have to come together and we won’t let them become complacent.”
]]>On Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, Green posted video blogs introducing the executive producer, director, and screenwriters of “Paper Towns,” as well as the actors who will play Quentin, Radar, Lacey, and Angela.
Sparks has 19 published novels, nine of which have been adapted into movies with a tenth coming out in 2015. Green has five published novels, all of which have been optioned to become movies. At this point there are only two Green movies, but his extensive fanbase and popularity hint toward many more book adaptations.
The similarities between the two authors cause unfair assumptions to be made. Upon hearing about Green’s second movie I thought of the dominating name of Sparks, a man who figured out how to make a lot of money doing the same thing over and over again. Sparks has taken short cuts, writing the same love story with different characters. Green has been devoted to his art and has written five completely contrasting novels. Green’s “Paper Towns” was published in 2008 and was optioned for a movie in 2009 by Mandate Pictures. He wrote the screenplay but announced in 2010 that the movie will not be developed due to “creative differences.” Finally, Fox 2000, the production company that also bought the rights to “The Fault in Our Stars,” is making “Paper Towns” into a movie.
It is too rash to say that Green is the new Sparks. I define the difference between a good story and a great story by the effect it leaves with me. I have read over a dozen Sparks books and always finish feeling that I’ve read the exact story before. The plot is similar in each novel and while he has been successful with readers who enjoy consistency, I find myself hoping that the next book will have just a little more influence in my life. For me, the impact left after one of Green’s books is continuous. The characters exist even after I’ve turned the last page. I find myself wondering about details of the plot, questioning how characters would feel in what-if scenarios and going through the stages of grief over a real or metaphorical death. Sparks’ books with his cookie cutter plots, people rowing boats in lakes and disapproving fathers does not compare to the thought-provoking work of Green. I have a perspective on aspects of life that I did not even contemplate before. Green is not the next Sparks—he is something of his own entirely.
Green continually opens the minds of his readers, he has changed the way I think of metaphors and infinite space, and he merits a distinction among other young adult authors to reflect his accomplishments, not a comparison to the unexceptional thoughts of Sparks.
]]>After deciding “Mockingjay” would be too long for one movie, producers decided to divide it into two parts; the second, which has already started filming, is scheduled to come out on November 20, 2015. However, the director of both parts, Francis Lawrence is not revealing where in the plot he divides the movie.
Part 1 was filmed in many different locations, including Atlanta, Georgia, Paris, and Germany. The actors are pleased that Lawrence, who also directed “Catching Fire,” is directing both parts of “Mockingjay.”
According to Woody Harrelson, who plays Haymitch, a former winner of the games from District 12, Lawrence has a comprehensive directing style.
In an interview with MTV news, he says, “I like the way Francis is very thorough, very on top of everything. I really feel great,” Harrelson said of Lawrence’s direction.
One significant difference between “Mockingjay” and the earlier movies is that there are no actual Hunger Games, a ”game” in which 24 teenagers selected from the 12 districts are put into an arena and have to fight to the death. Instead, the story focuses on the conflict between the rising rebellion in District 13 and the Capitol. Even between the two parts of “Mockingjay,” Lawrence says they will have “two, very distinct stories.”
The actors in “Mockingjay” had to read the books to get to know their characters and to learn their relationships with other characters in the novels. Some of the actors have had to change how they portray their roles to keep up with how the characters have evolved throughout the books.
Francis Lawrence says that because Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, has “gone through the games one more time and having lost Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and having been run through the wringer, she’s even more damaged. So you find her in a more agitated place. She’s distraught, confused, angry,” Lawrence said.
The late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Plutarch Heavensbee, had finished filming his parts before his death. A Lionsgate executive said the performance is a tribute to his career. In an interview with screenrant.com, he says, “We’re all extraordinarily sad. But as it relates to production, it’s going to have no impact. Obviously, we’re going to have a couple of work-around issues but the movie will be creatively whole” the executive said. “His performances in both [remaining] movies will be up to the best of his craft. We feel it will be a good tribute to him.”
Boxoffice.com predicts the film will make $155 million dollars for the opening weekend alone, and $393 million total. These are predictions similar to what the two earlier films made; The Hunger Games made $152.5 million the first weekend. “Mockingjay Part 1” will thrill fans and please audiences all over the globe.
]]>“It was really cool to see, especially during my second marathon, people you could tell were doing their first one,” Figlewicz said. “When you cross the starting line, there’s a lot of energy. Everyone’s finally starting what they’ve been preparing for.”
More than 41,000 people participated in the marathon, with Figlewicz and math teacher Kelly Barrett among them. The cool and sunny weather offered ideal running conditions, and fewer runners were hospitalized than in past years, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Barrett was a first-time runner in the marathon. She enjoyed the experience, despite injuring her foot while training.
“The marathon was a lot of fun,” Barrett said. “I was so nervous though that I might have to drop out because of my foot. But when I was actually there and surrounded by people who were in the same boat, I felt very comfortable, and my foot didn’t hurt at all.”
Both Figlewicz and Barrett began training over the summer. Barrett took part in a group program in Chicago, while Figlewicz followed guides from magazines and books.
Freshman Luke Dinterman admires the teachers for their dedication.
“I respect Ms. Barrett and Mr. Fig for leading such well-rounded lives, preparing for a marathon on top of their other activities,” Dinterman said.
Barrett coaches the girls cross country team after school, and she hopes that her training for the marathon has inspired student runners to strive for their own goals.
“The girls in cross country who graduated last year emailed me to tell me good luck, and a couple of them said that they wanted to do a marathon too,” Barrett said. “I think it’s fun for them to see their coaches trying to reach for personal goals.”
Figlewicz admits that making time to train was difficult for him.
“A lot of these runners run everyday for miles, and I don’t have that much time,” Figlewicz said. “So I bought a book called “Run Less Run Faster”, which was really cool because as part of the program I could do little workouts in my house on some days instead of running.”
Junior Jennifer Brand believes that Figlewicz’s determination stems from his experience as a musician.
“He used to be in Drum Corps, so I guess he has the persistence to run marathons,” Brand said. “It’s pretty cool that he ran his second marathon. I wouldn’t be able to run one.”
Figlewicz and Barrett both enjoyed the scenery of the course, which ran along the lakefront and through cultural centers of Chicago such as Wrigleyville, Streeterville, Greektown, and Little Italy. As the runners ran through neighborhoods, the marathon took on the feel of a block party, with supporters handing out food and drinks and celebrating on the sidelines.
Figlewicz regards the atmosphere the spectators brought to the marathon as a major encouragement to the runners.
“It was a big party everywhere,” Figlewicz said. “When we ran through Chinatown there was lion dancing and traditional drumming, in Pilsen there were mariachi bands, and we ran by a gym they were playing the “Rocky” theme song. There was never a moment when there was nobody on the course, nobody cheering for you.”
Among the thousands of spectators was science teacher Brad Graba, who went with his sons to support his wife. He echoes Figlewicz’s view, saying that the enthusiasm of the spectators was remarkable.
“Most of the spectators were there to support friends or family, but that didn’t stop everyone from cheering on all the runners,” Graba said. “It was really neat to see that.”
Figlewicz accomplished his goal of running a time under 3 ½ hours. He is pleased that his training paid off.
“It was a big accomplishment for me because I came in seven minutes under my goal, and I didn’t think I could do that,” Figlewicz said. “I was able to stay consistent and keep my target pace the entire time.”
After running the marathon, Barrett more deeply empathizes with the victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.
“I can’t imagine what the people went through who had that happen to them right at the end of the race,” Barrett said. “Especially with the feeling you get when you’re about to finish-to have that happen to you-it made me feel for what happened even more so that before.”
She also feels more connected to the people of Chicago.
“I finished next to a girl who just started crying because she felt emotional,” Barrett said. “And even though she was a complete stranger, we hugged each other. I feel like the city just comes together during the marathon.”
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Junior offensive lineman William Pankratz understands the significance of the game.
“It’s a great rivalry, it really brings the town together and it’s a lot of fun to play in,” Pankratz said. “It’s a great community event.”
The Vikings have dominated the series recently, winning eight of the 10 last matchups. They looked to continue this streak after an early rushing touchdown by senior Nate Notaro gave Fremd a 7-0 lead. Two defensive stands, highlighted by a third and goal stop by the Vikes kept them in the game, as they trailed 10-7 going into halftime.
Head coach Lou Sponsel explains that the team did not play up to their potential in the first half.
“I think it was the worst half we have played all year,” Sponsel said. “To be down 10-7 at half was a gift.”
Palatine came out strong in the second half, taking a 16-7 lead with 8:07 left in the third quarter after a long drive was capped off by a rushing touchdown and failed two-point conversion. Fremd’s offense continued to sputter, but an interception returned for a touchdown by senior Jawan Gaines injected the team with life.
Sponsel says the momentum shift that resulted from the pick six brought the team back into contention.
“Having confidence is a big part being an athlete,” Sponsel said. “Winning teams have people that believe and losing teams don’t. When things start to go right you start to believe and it starts compounding.”
The third quarter closed with the Vikings up in a close 17-16 game. After a quick score by Palatine and a successful two point conversion, the green and gold had a scare when senior offensive lineman Jake Plantz stayed down following a routine run. While Plantz was unable to return to the game, fellow offensive linemen Jack Albrecht and Dominic Lombard were able to support the shorthanded team.
Pankratz explains how the injury impacted the team.
“It didn’t affect us at all. We have a lot of confidence in the guys that back us up and we didn’t miss a beat,” Pankratz said.
Once again the defense forced an unsuccessful Palatine field goal attempt following a sack by senior Kyle Lewis. After the missed field goal, Fremd had one last chance to make a comeback. The game ended in a Palatine interception with 32 seconds left that secured the victory for the Pirates. In the end, the spread offense of Palatine proved to be too much for the Vikings.
The Vikes are looking to learn from the loss and come out with a win against their next opponent, Conant. Pankratz feels that the team will be able to return to the high level of play that they are capable of.
“I think we’ve learned a lot from the mistakes that we made against Palatine,” Pankratz said. “We’ve corrected them and we can come back and be the dominating force we have been in weeks past.”
A 5-2 record keeps the Vikings in the race for a high playoff seed and the opportunity to make a run in the postseason.
The team will take on Conant on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
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The Palatine Food Drive, hosted by Lavelle Law, Ltd., donates received items to the Palatine Food Pantry. In 2010, Lavelle Law received a special commendation by the Palatine Township Board for their efforts. The law firm also assists the Arlington Food Drive and the Wheeling Township Food Pantry.
Palatine Food Drive coordinator Kerry Lavelle explains the behind the scenes process of the Palatine Food Drive.
“Last year we had about 40 volunteers who gave their time to unload the semi-truck of food donations,” Lavelle said. “Our volunteers then split into groups to pick up the food collected at our drop box locations scattered throughout Palatine or Arlington Heights and deliver the food collected to the Palatine Township Food Pantry or the Wheeling Township Food Pantry.”
Senior Meghan Bartos encourages donating to the food drive because it is a hassle-free process.
“It’s really easy to find stuff in your pantry that you never use,” Bartos said. “Everyone should donate these items so they can help a lot of people.”
The drop-off locations include the Palatine Opportunity Center, the Palatine Village Hall, and the Palatine Police Department. Locations will have boxes with the Palatine Food Drive logo for donations. The food drive also receives support and donations from local corporations, such as Eurofresh Market, WiseWay and Berkot’s Super Foods.
Freshman Jamie Stoesser shares his positive experience donating to the food drive.
“I have donated to the food drive before,” Stoesser said. “It made me feel really good knowing that what I did went to a good cause.”
The Palatine Food Pantry serves approximately 330 families every month within Palatine Township boundaries. Through the year, the food in the Pantry comes from individual donations or food drives by schools, churches, businesses, and other groups. The pantry is currently low on juice, cereal, toilet paper, spaghetti sauce and laundry detergent.
Social studies teacher Steven Buenning recognizes the importance of giving year round.
“I don’t look at a food drive that is necessarily a one-shot deal,” Buenning said. “To me, the food pantry always needs donations. That’s how we look at it in our household.”
Lavelle Law marketing manager Heather Slipkevych hopes that more Fremd students and staff contribute to the Food Drive.
“I would encourage any student, teacher or staff member to contact our office or visit our website to find a list of participating businesses and park district locations that are accepting donations,” Slipkevych said. “With each passing year, it is our main goal to add new drop box locations to our list and do our part to get more of the community involved in the collection efforts. ”
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Mohammed Hamzah Khan was charged on Monday for attempting to assist a foreign terrorist organization operating inside Iraq and Syria. His plan was to take by connecting flights from Vienna to Turkey, and a contact would meet him to bring him across the Syrian border.
As he was detained at the airport, FBI agents searched his house and found handwritten documents that revealed his support for ISIS. One of the drawings was an armed soldier with the Islamic State flag with Arabic words written on it that says, “Come to Jihad.” Jihad means a great struggle or strive for self-improvement for Muslims.
The agents also found a letter that Khan wrote to his family that explains his obligation to support ISIS.
“We are all witness that the western societies are getting more immoral day by day,” Khan wrote. “I do not want my kids being exposed to filth like this…”
Khan continued recording explanations for his choice to join ISIS. He stated his taxes were being used to kill his “Muslim brothers and sisters” and extended an invitation to his family to join him when he arrived at the Islamic State.
At a brief federal hearing on Monday, Khan said he understood the charges and possible penalties. Information has not been given about why Khan was stopped at customs and his parents did not comment at the hearing. Khan could face a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
Sophomore Priyal Gosar is concerned about terrorist activity around the Illinois area.
“I’m alarmed that there are potential terrorists around me,” Gosar said. “It makes me question my safety here.”
U.S. National security and counterterrorism officials have announced concern over radicalized Americans supporting and traveling overseas to ISIS. There have been 12 American citizens that have joined the terrorist organization and more than 100 have tried to go to Syria and were either arrested or went overseas and came back to the US.
Social Studies teacher Martin Zacharia is worried that the rapid development of ISIS could be difficult to stop.
“The number of Americans in Syria is quite small compared with the population in America but it is frightening to know even a small amount is over there,” Zacharia said. “I know that America is sending air forces to attack, but it is alarming to know this organization escalated so fast.”
]]>FireChat is an app that sends communications via Bluetooth, creating an anonymous peer-to-peer network that doesn’t rely on the internet. FireChat gained in popularity mostly due to the convenience to send messages anonymously in areas that are censored by the government, such as Iraq and China. The app received more than 460,000 downloads and hosted over 5.1 million chat sessions in Hong Kong alone.
As rumors started to spread that the government was going to cut off their internet access, protest organizers called upon protesters and citizens to download the app. The protesters used FireChat to revolt against an electoral reform which stated that the 1200 member committee would only be elected by business factions. Due to the fact that the protesters used umbrellas to shield themselves from pepper spray, the revolution is named the Umbrella Revolution. As soon as one of the protesters gained access to the internet, all the messages were automatically uploaded online to keep the rest of the world updated.
Freshman Margaret Griffin believes this app was beneficial to the protesters for its intended use during the Umbrella Revolution.
“I think it was useful, in the case of the protesters,” Griffin said. “They were fighting against a controlling government and they needed to voice their opinion against a controlling government.”
To avoid spread of false information, Open Garden decided to start making verified accounts. So far only a few people have been verified, most of whom are Hong Kong-based journalists. According to Open Garden, this will allow people to get a reliable source of information to a very large audience. Open Garden also plans on implementing a private messaging feature, which might include encryption of these messages for the safety of the users. Open Garden says these new features are beneficial to the users.
Junior Sean Balkir thinks that the Chinese government could have easily foiled the protests by leading them into false ends.
“In these protests, for example, the Chinese government could have spammed false information to potentially mess up the protests, which could be a giant setback” Balkir said.
Even though Open Garden has implemented some of these features, cience teacher and Model United Nations sponsor Vasilij Acic believes these cause even more of a threat to the users in countries with dangerous governments.
“I can see where the scary part comes, like if the information gets into the wrong hands, used in the wrong way, it can definitely get scary,” Acic said. “Although, if the app is used just like the protesters used it, not trying to have Big Brother watching, and doing it for a cause that they believed in, it definitely has benefits.”
]]>“Gone Girl” is a 2012 New York Times Bestseller and thriller detailing the mysterious circumstances of Amy Dunne’s disappearance and her husband Nick’s possible involvement.
The book is divided into two perspectives- the first dancing between Amy’s journal before her disappearance and Nick’s day-to-day life after his wife vanishes. The movie jumps between flashbacks from Amy’s perspective and Nick’s present day encounters. Fincher’s color schemes contrast the eerie reality to the couple’s vivacious past, using muted color schemes and warm colors respectively.
Fincher is used to dealing with strong female leads, having just directed Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” He lines up all the other players in his films as a mirror to show off the main female, and he does this very well. Rosamund Pike is able to shine through her conflicts and interactions with all other characters. The cinematography also stands out, while still remaining subtle. His use of grays and darkness to paint the ominous setting of the film is done flawlessly. One lasting image of the film was the startling contrast of the films title fading from black to white over a beautiful landscape image of a dreary beach.
Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Nick is something fans and newcomers alike will enjoy. Flynn writes Nick as initially dumbfounded with the disappearance of his wife. However, his behavior is perceived by others as suspicious, and Affleck is able to convey this precisely. Affleck also brings a level of lovableness to the character that may not have been obvious on paper. Pike was presented the difficult task of bringing Amy to life in flashbacks and presenting the character to audiences showing her descent into the foggy circumstances that surround her absence. Pike’s fluidity as an actress allows her to conform to this complex character. Pike becomes Amy, and entices Affleck along with viewers. Her ability to bring Amy and pump her full of color makes this film worthwhile from start to finish. Together, the two actors hitch onto these characters and carry them from a promising future to the dark, twisted expanses of reality.
Fincher has many advantages in adapting this novel into a film, including enlisting the novel’s author to write the screenplay and having the film’s score composed by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. Ross and Reznor join forces a third time to compose a chilling and enticing musical soundtrack to accompany this thrilling drama.
“Gone Girl” is raised elegantly from the pages to the screen by talented actors in perfectly cast roles, and the mixing of beautiful cinematography with a haunting score.
]]>Nathan first got the idea for the company when he realized that he could turn the woodworking in his free time into a full-fledged business.
“I really loved my woods class freshman year, and always looked forward to it. But during my sophomore year, I started to feel like an hour each day wasn’t enough, and wanted to start doing it in my free time,” Nathan said. “I started thinking that if I was going to be doing this work anyway, it would be awesome if I could turn it into a business, so that I’d have an excuse to do more of it, and so that it would pay for itself.”
Applied Technology teacher Josh Cattero noted how the Schmidts showed interest and curiosity in carpentry, and how much life they brought to the course.
“The Schmidt brothers are a truly unique and positive addition to any class, especially woodworking. Since their first year in Production Technology they have asked question upon question about how tools work, what type of wood you would use for each project, and why certain aspects of woodworking are important to know,” Cattero said. “As they asked questions their passion grew and grew and grew. They love everything about how things are made, making them, and having a positive impact on their surrounding world.”
Nathan and Trevor both personally handcraft each project they complete, and custom fit their work to meet the customer’s specifications. As the Woodschmidts begins to spread through word-of-mouth, the company is beginning to grow.
“I see us getting bigger and taking on more jobs. I’d love to be the official contractor of Fremd and see our company grow,” Nathan said. “I love the fact that other students appreciate what we’re doing, their support definitely means a lot to me.”
Cattero believes the Schmidts’ company will bring more exposure to the program, and that the company is a perfect example of how carpentry is more than just tools and planks of wood.
“The Woodschmidts have definitely made some noise with their business and are helping to make the woodworking program here at Fremd boom,” Cattero said. “The Schmidts understand the importance of woodworking, how exciting it is to build, and how building positive relationships to make our world a better place is just as important as a hammer and a nail.”
The Schmidts still continue to work hard at school and at their shop at home to guarantee their customers get the highest quality results at reasonable prices. Nathan finds that his company has been a great learning experience for him and his brother.
“There’s really nothing like it. I get paid to do what I love. The coolest part is that it’s something I would be doing anyway, except that people pay me to do it,” Nathan said. “I’ve always heard the saying: ‘Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,’ but it’s only now that I’m starting to understand what that really means, and I’m finding it to be true.”
]]>In its eighth season, Peter Capaldi stepped into the role of the Doctor while Jenna Coleman continued her tenure as the Doctor’s companion Clara. Capaldi’s Doctor is noticeably more confused, angry and unpredictable than previous incarnations, creating tensions within the TARDIS for him and his companion and a surprisingly dark direction to take the character.
The season’s opener, entitled “Deep Breath,” kicks off with a glitchy TARDIS being spit from the throat of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, which is eventually let loose in 19th century London. It’s an undeniably exciting episode to start the season off with—it’s filled with big action scenes and smart writing that helps the audience acclimate themselves to the new Doctor—but it’s not exactly representative of what the season will become.
The show, which is still filled with the type of frenetic energy and humor that’s defined in earlier seasons, has become increasingly contemplative, with many episodes examining the Doctor and Clara’s morality as they travel across space and time. In the season’s second episode, the Doctor asks, “Am I a good man?” The question is left mostly unanswered, but does, at the same time, quickly reveal itself to be one of the season’s most central ideas.
Throughout its run, “Doctor Who” has received criticism for its portrayal of its female characters, especially the Doctor’s companions. The show seems to be intent on silencing those criticisms this season. In “Kill the Moon,” the season’s seventh episode, the Doctor and Clara as well as Lundvik, an astronaut (Hermione Norris), and Courtney, one of Clara’s students (Ellis George), become trapped on a space shuttle armed with nuclear explosives in the year 2049 as the moon begins to crumble under their feet. They quickly learn that the planet is, in fact, a massive egg about to hatch an unknown and potentially dangerous creature.
The Doctor, realizing the choice they will have to make, quickly abandons the rest of the group, leaving them to decide whether or not to destroy the egg. While it would be easy to commend executive producer Steven Moffat for simply allowing the episode to pass the Bechdel Test, a criteria that a work of fiction only passes if it features two or more female characters talking to each other about something other than a man, “Kill the Moon” surpasses this. It goes further than giving Clara something to do other than be saved by the Doctor. It makes her central to the episode, keeping her front and center as the Doctor is nowhere to be found. The entire episode depends on her and the decisions she makes. The show seems to finally be realizing that a companion is often as essential to “Doctor Who” as the Doctor himself.
“Doctor Who” is, at its core, a children’s show. Its premise is inherently ridiculous and it often plays up its campiest aspects in order to be frightening, but not terrifying, to its target demographic. Because of this, the newest season of the show is arguably its best and most exciting since its 2005 reboot. In its eighth season, the show has begun examining fear, power and humanity with a depth and complexity that feels both thrillingly mature and refreshingly open-minded.
]]>Walking into the exhibit, it is helpful to remember that David Bowie is a controversial superstar. The way he dresses, performs and acts is uncomfortable for some people partially due to his willingness to show his skin early on. The exhibition does not pull punches when talking about his sexuality, flamboyance and racy style.
Each room in the exhibit covers a different period of time in his life and is ordered chronologically. The theme of one room is his childhood that includes the alto saxophone his father gave him, a video of his first performance and a photo of his first band. The next room is about the meaning behind his classic song “Space Oddity,” and it contains the movie poster that it was based off of, and the original handwritten lyrics.
The most interesting experience is the seamless headphone system that works all by motion sensor. Each room switches to a different song or interview pertaining to that room’s theme. The exhibit shows a wide range of his personal effects, from his handwritten lyrics to his Union Jack coat designed by himself and Alexander McQueen. Seeing all of the costumes is truly breathtaking. It is easy to tell how much thought and work went into each costume because people see the costumes in videos but many are in awe when they see his wardrobe up close. Every part of the exhibit is astounding due to the layout and the music that plays during the tour.
“David Bowie Is” is an incredible experience for those who are interested in learning more about the thought process that went into Bowie’s music. Tickets are on sale now and the exhibit goes until Jan. 4.
]]>Originally aired on ABC for two seasons from 1990 to 1991 before being cancelled for lagging ratings, “Twin Peaks” followed eccentric FBI agent Dale Cooper, played by Kyle MacLachlan, as he is sent to the titular small town to investigate the death of a popular teenager named Laura Palmer. In 1992, it spawned “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” a critically panned feature film companion to the series.
The revival was confirmed by both creators in simultaneous tweets that contained a teaser trailer for the new season as well as a hashtag reading “#damngoodcoffee,” a reference to the original series.
While speaking to Deadline, Frost confirmed that the series will be a continuation of the original, though it will feature a wider scope.
“It’s safe to say that things will happen in Twin Peaks that you’ll see,” Frost said. “Not necessarily all will be there but yeah, we are going to call it ‘Twin Peaks,’ so I think that speaks for itself.”
The return of “Twin Peaks,” which has been called one of the best shows of all time by Time and TV Guide, comes at the heels of a recent television trend of shows returning after cancellation. In November, HBO will begin airing the second season of its revived sitcom “The Comeback,” a decision largely attributed to its large and vocal following since going off the air, a trend Frost credits for “Twin Peaks” return.
“We just have to express our gratitude to the fans who have been so incredibly passionate and tenacious about the show over the years,” he said to Deadline. “The fact that this is still alive and kicking 25 years later is a great joy for everybody involved in it.”
While no deals have been formally announced, MacLachlan is widely expected to return to the series, as are many of the show’s original cast members. Frost says that even though the continuation will be considered a limited series, he has not ruled out the possibility about returning yet again to “Twin Peaks.”
“I wouldn’t think it will take us 25 years to decide the next time around,” he said. “But I think anything’s possible to be honest, given that this is happening.”
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The Gladers strive for one purpose – keeping the peace. These characters keep jobs for farming, building and laboring, while a select few run into the maze that completely surrounds them to try to find an exit. Thomas’s curiosity and intuition stands out from others and he becomes a maze runner.
Wes Ball’s feature film debut is startling with a dream cast that includes Patricia Clarkson, Will Poulter, Kaya Scodelario, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Dylan O’Brien’s acting is spectacular as he tackles this darker role in a sinister plot much like its sister films such as “The Hunger Games” or “Divergent.” “The Maze Runner” contributes more pensive scenes than anything else. Instead of peaks and valleys, the plot delivers a full non-stop cascade of fear, thrill, excitement and romance.
James Dashner is the king of plot-twists and keeps the audience in suspense throughout the entire film. Despite the overdone genre, “The Maze Runner” captures its audience in a state of awe and forces them to sincerely think about what they just saw, as this is only the first installment of a trilogy and leaves many unanswered questions.
Overall the great story, phenomenal acting, and astonishing special effects leave little to nothing to be desired. Compared to other movies in its genre, “The Maze Runner” exceeds expectations and no one will mistake it for another “Hunger Games” clone.
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Iraq war veteran Omar Gonzalez, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, has been identified as the intruder. No one was injured, and Obama and his family were not present. Officers later found eight hundred rounds of ammunition, a machete and two hatchets in his car in addition to the knife he carried.
Senior Nathan Cornwell expects better protection for the White House.
“There is no way that anyone should have been able to get access so easily to such an area,” Cornwell said. “This calls for a definite upgrade in the security of the White House.”
An agent inside the mansion finally subdued Gonzalez, who sidestepped a disguised surveillance team and an officer on the front lawn. After Gonzalez passed these security measures, the Secret Service failed to release an attack dog and the SWAT team in time.
U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson assumes responsibility for the security breach.
“It’s clear that our security plan was not properly executed,” Pierson told CNN. “I take full responsibility. What happened is unacceptable, and it will never happen again.”
In response to the intrusion, the Secret Service will begin a bag check in the White House vicinity and monitor tourists more closely. New locking mechanisms will also be installed to the White House.
Sophomore Emma Liu believes the past measures were not enough.
“The White House should have done a better job maintaining its safety,” Liu said. “They should have taken greater measures to ensure that Gonzalez didn’t get to the front, but achieve that goal without harming him.”
Gonzalez is a decorated veteran who served in the army for fifteen years. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia after his first tour of Iraq in 2008. Gonzalez carried a gun with him at all times, even while in the house, according to his neighbors.
An unidentified relative of Gonzalez hopes that the intrusion will bring light to giving veterans proper treatment.
“He’s been depressed for quite some time,” the relative told LA Times. “He’d been taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. I suspect he stopped taking it, otherwise this wouldn’t have happened.”
Gonzalez had previously made several attempts to break into the White House. Both times he was caught by White House security but released because the incident occurred outside the White House borders.
Social studies teacher Lindsey Corcoran thinks the United States needs to take better care of its veterans to prevent future outlashes.
“In the last couple years we’ve seen several incidents in which veterans suffering from mental complications are acting out in violent ways,” Corcoran said. “I think that we need to be more concerned with helping our soldiers adjust to civilian life when they return rather than with security.”
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Principal Kurt Tenopir believes the reason for Fremd’s achievement is due to the hard work of every individual who is involved in the school’s educational system.
“I think it is nice to be recognized around the state as one of the premier high schools in the Chicago area, and I think we take a lot of pride in that,” Tenopir said. “There is a lot of people to give credit to for that. We have some very hard working students, our staff works very hard to make sure we are providing a great education and of course I think our parents are doing a wonderful job of emphasizing the importance of education in their children.”
Sophomore Devin Dionne believes that Fremd’s accomplishment represents the school’s accumulation of academic successes in the past.
“Being this highly ranked means that the school has gained so much over the past years to achieve goals,” Dionne said. “It really puts our name out there in the world and represents our pride and success.”
US News uses a three step process to determine if a school would attain a position in their list of Best High Schools. The first two steps examines the school’s performance on state proficiency tests, and verifies that the school was properly meeting the needs of every student. If the school makes it past the first two steps, a third step decides the level at which the school prepares its students for college.
Assistant Principal Kim Glaser thinks Fremd’s high rank on the list confirms the existence of a diverse range of courses at Fremd.
“I think that it speaks to a lot of work that we’ve been doing as a school and as a district to offer as many opportunities as we can for students to have access to rigorous curriculum,” Glaser said. “We offer a lot of classes here that have very strong connections to college and career. It speaks to the work we have been doing, but it also keeps us pushing ourselves to keep wanting to innovate what we’re doing.”
Fremd was also one of the 53 schools in Illinois awarded with a silver medal, which are given to schools that passed the first two steps in the national ranking process, and have a College Readiness Index at or above 18.17. The maximum CRI a school could attain was 100. Fremd’s CRI was 41.7.
Junior Stephanie Mbi thinks that the staff and students at Fremd are the reason behind Fremd’s ability to make it this far with the US News rankings.
“Fremd has really good teachers and a staff that create a comfortable learning environment for the students,” Mbi said. “And Fremd has so many talented students in all fields such as sports, academics and music. The students at Fremd should continue to strive to become the very best they can be, and the faculty should continue to do their best everyday to aid and guide the students in accomplishing this goal.”
]]>In a season filled with ceremonies and gifts bestowed upon him for his career by the other MLB clubs, the Yankees failed to reach the playoffs for the second straight year, not allowing Jeter one last shot at a title to add to his five with the Yankees. Also, he made the playoffs 16 times in his career out of 19 seasons. Over his final three years with the Yankees, Jeter caught the injury bug but was able to play most of his final campaign. As the career of the face of baseball ends, we are left with a question, is he the greatest of all time?
The answer is a tough one, but I believe Derek Jeter is the best all time. While he doesn’t have the most World Series titles of any player, Jeter has excelled in many categories. He finished his career with 3,465 hits and 1,923 runs, which is good for sixth and ninth all-time respectively. While he was never a home run hitter like Hank Aaron, Jeter was a consistent hitter who also finished with over 1,000 RBIs. Even though these career stats are extraordinary, does he compare to other MLB greats such as Babe Ruth or Willie Mays? Ruth, a former Yankee, has won seven championships over Jeter’s five and Ruth has over 2,000 RBIs and 714 home runs.
While Ruth had more success winning championships, Jeter had more success at the plate during the postseason. He played the most games in postseason history with 158 and the most postseason hits with 200. The postseason matters most in baseball, and Jeter has had the best postseason career of any player to date, which puts him in a different level from Ruth or Mays. People remember the guy that was a hero in the postseason, not a regular season MVP.
Besides being a clutch postseason hitter, Jeter is a born leader. He has and always will be called the captain of the Yankees. Throughout his career, Jeter was the leader of the team and the favorite son of the entire city of New York. In a recent Sports Illustrated article, Tom Verducci describes Jeter as a type who doesn’t get angry very easily, but when someone goes against his baseball values, he corrects them. In baseball, leadership doesn’t come up often when discussing teams because a player doesn’t wear a captain patch on his jersey.
For Jeter, however, he has always been a clutch hitter for the Yankees, the one to turn to after a loss, or right before big games. One of the reasons the Yankees have been one of the better teams of the past few decades is because of great team building skills like Jeter’s. Without a doubt, Jeter is among the accomplished role-models baseball has ever seen, leading the Bronx Bombers to five World Series championships. Jeter has the leadership over all other players in baseball, making him the greatest to play the game.
With the playoff success, consistency as a hitter, and team rallying qualities, Jeter is the best to play the game of baseball. He might not have the most home runs or championships, but the way he conducts himself on and off the field makes him the best to ever play. The sport won’t be the same without number two in pinstripes.
]]>According to The Daily Herald, the bill proposed by Senator Sam McCann will require all Illinois schools to have carbon monoxide detectors in buildings where students are present but it does not specify where the funding for the detectors will come from. Illinois Association of School Boards executive director Ben Schwarm states that the association believes schools should decide whether or not they need the detectors.
Chemistry teacher Karl Craddock explains that carbon monoxide is a life threatening substance and making it even more dangerous is the fact that humans can’t detect it naturally.
“Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that you can’t smell,” Craddock said. “And you don’t know you’re breathing in until its almost too late. You get lightheaded and pass out.”
According to The Inquisitr News, students at North Mac Middle School filed into the nurse’s office at approximately 8:45 a.m. after the carbon monoxide gas leaked from a furnace. 150 students and staff members were sent to hospitals for nausea and other signs of sickness while the rest of the school was evacuated to nearby churches.
Senior Kristen Cardoza believes the incident could have been prevented.
“It’s really strange that we have fire alarms that can be set off by a little smoke but not alarms to check for poisonous gas,” Cardoza said. “They should have installed detectors in case something happens.”
Sophomore Andrew Hwang hopes the bill passes for the safety of the students.
“We need the detectors because the carbon monoxide affected the children’s health and it might happen again later in the future,” Hwang said. “We need to be prepared for these kinds of incidents.”
Fremd has handheld devices that check for carbon monoxide, but there are no detectors installed in the school.
Assistant principal Eric Dolen understands the cost of the detectors is a difficult topic to agree on.
“Anytime you get funding from the state, it is going to be money allocated from one direction to another,” Dolen said. “We want things, but who is going to pay for it. It’s a tough question to answer.”
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Head coach Lou Sponsel says that preparation will lead to success for the Vikings moving forward.
“Our kids are playing well right now and we are just getting better with our technique and execution,” Sponsel said. “The rest takes care of itself.”
The Vikings scored early and often on Hoffman. The team marched down the field in less than a minute on their opening drive, which was capped off by a 37-yard touchdown run by senior running back Darius Burchett, one of his two rushing touchdowns on the day. The Hawks immediately answered with a field goal on their opening drive, but the Vikings’ relentless play on both the offensive and defensive lines proved to be too much, as senior running back Jawan Gaines finished a 64-yard drive with a 28-yard rushing touchdown. A few possessions later, senior defensive back Ryan Haas blocked a punt, which was then picked up by senior Patrick McMahon and returned for a touchdown to make the score 20-3 with 2:36 left in the first quarter.
Junior quarterback Cordell Finely, who led the offense to two quick scores early and split time with senior quarterback Nick Bossong, who threw for three touchdowns on only eight passes, recognized the sense of camaraderie that benefits the team, in spite of competition amongst themselves.
“I am not worried about Nick being in, and he is not worried about me being in,” Finley said. “We both care for each other and have each other’s back.”
Everything went the way of the Vikes in the first half. Even on the rare occasion Fremd made a mistake, the team was able to turn the broken play into something positive. On a botched snap with 11:45 to play in the second quarter, Bossong managed to recover and complete a pass to senior wide receiver Kyle Lewis, who then ran 77 yards for a score. The Vikings lead 41-3 at halftime.
McMahon recognized that the team’s dominant performance during the rout of the Hawks was due to execution on both sides of the ball.
“I have to credit our play to the coaching plan and everyone’s physicality,” McMahon said.
Following a slow third quarter in which they gave up 14 unanswered points, the Vikings stopped the bleeding and crushed any possibility of a Hoffman comeback with a 91-yard touchdown reception by senior running back Cody Patenaude to make the score 48-17.
Sponsel is satisfied with the way the Vikings have responded following their tough week one loss to Lake Zurich.
“The kids are liking it and having fun,” Sponsel said. “When you are playing good, smart football, that is all you can ask for.”
The Vikings look to keep their momentum from their four-game winning streak as they take on the Schaumburg Saxons in a Mid-Suburban League conference showdown on Oct. 2 at 6:00 p.m.
The legislation will continue to improve marijuana-related laws throughout the year. Recently, three bills have been filed to remove criminal penalties for individuals found with up to 30 grams of cannabis. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, some acts such as HB 5708 will allow people to avoid jail time and possibly remove any criminal records, which could hurt public assistance, housing and employment. However, this doesn’t mean that Illinois will become flexible in regards to marijuana penalties.
The state continues to hold the record for having the fifth-highest arrest rate for marijuana possession. Prior to the implementation of the medical cannabis program, there would be a jail sentence of up to 30 days and a fine of $1,500 for possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana. For any amount higher than 30 grams, the punishment would be up to three years of imprisonment with a possible fine of $25,000. According to the Chicago Tribune, the number of marijuana license seekers has topped expectations with a total of 211 applications for dispensaries, whereas the Illinois’ allowance number is 60 dispensaries.
Fremd police consultant Bill Leyden hopes that people will use the program appropriately.
“Cannabis has been determined to provide comfort and pain relief to patients suffering from debilitating conditions,” Leyden said. “My hope is that those who do not need to use cannabis will not abuse this program.”
]]>On the other end of the spectrum, Lou Gehrig’s disease (also known as ALS) affects a substantially smaller amount of the population and flew under the radar of health corporations and most Americans until recently. It is no secret this summer’s ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is the reason behind the disease’s ubiquitous notoriety. In a month, from July 29 to Aug. 27, the ALS Association raised $94.1 million and gained 2.1 million new donors, according to alsa.org.
The money that the ALS association collected is matched only by #IceBucketChallenge’s Twitter, Facebook and Youtube following—according to Time magazine, Facebook had 2.4 million Ice Bucket Challenge videos by Aug. 18.
Sophomore Jackson Hirsch has familial connections to ALS, and participated in the challenge this summer.
“It’s very cool to see that lots of my friends now know about ALS,” Hirsch said. “I think that for sure more friends participated in ALS, mostly because of the massive social media campaign that the ALS Association led.”
The formula for successful fundraising has evolved to include the power of social media and viral videos. This year, several other charities were able to take advantage of social media including the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and the UNICEF: Force for Change campaign.
UNICEF partnered with Disney to offer rewards and prizes in exchange for online donations to UNICEF. the grand prize was a role in the upcoming Star Wars Episode VII. The promise of a small movie deal in a decade-long science fiction fandom spread throughout 125 countries, and $4.26 million was raised for UNICEF, according to thewaltdisneycompany.com.
Since 2003, 192,000 participants walked the 39.3 mile course at an Avon Walk event. The Avon Walk, similar to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, encourages individuals to ask their friends and families to donate as well. In fact, the Avon Walk model provides individuals with kits to start up community walk groups and fundraise in their area. This local fundraising model is typical of charity organizations but Avon’s move towards social media exposure reflects a changing trend.
The Avon Walk Foundation hosts a blog sharing stories of survivors and walkers along with encouraging campaigners to “be sure to use your Facebook, Twitter and any other social networking communities you are on to help get support for your Avon Walk.”
While donations ultimately fall on the altruism of the donor, the burden of creating interesting and trending campaign ideas has fallen on the charities. Few other charities have raised money comparable to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, but Hirsch predicts a popular movement towards more accessible and successful charity campaigns.
“Not only can Avon take up ALS’s technique, they can also find new things that they can do to bring more people into their charities,” Hirsch said.
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This is pretty standard for an Ed Sheeran concert, a man who began his performance by uttering the words “I’m a mess right now,” strumming soulfully on a small acoustic guitar. He then moves through an extended medley of his combined discography. Mixing in popular hits like “Lego House” and “All of the Stars” from the film adaptation of the novel “The Fault in Our Stars” along with new tunes like “Tenerife Sea” and “One”, Sheeran puts on a show covering all topics in his lyrics. Songs like “You Need Me I Don’t Need You” focus on the battle between Sheeran and a record label employee whom he didn’t get along with. Sheeran raps quickly and angrily in songs like this one as well as in “Don’t”, a song about a complicated relationship Sheeran had with a fellow singer. During “I See Fire” and “Give Me Love” as well as others, Sheeran instructs the audience to sing a melody consisting of ‘ooohs’ while he sings the song itself. The show continues on in a similar fashion. Throughout the concert, he trades off guitars, even once grabbing an electric guitar which he explains is a rarity.
Sheeran is a rare breed of musician, owing most of his success to another singer in her early twenties, Taylor Swift. Since touring with her last summer, Sheeran’s worldwide popularity has skyrocketed. He explains in songs quite often how he refuses to let the fame change him, and this is obvious through his sound and overall attitude.
Sheeran has no backing band or dancers. It is just him, a screen with occasional graphics, his guitar and his loop pedal, which allows him to record himself singing a harmony or strumming a riff on his guitar, holds down the loop pedal, records it and plays it back to himself, thus creating a backing band.
Ed Sheeran rarely converses with the crowd, and typically stands behind his guitar or mike stand. However, his powerful voice and passionate artistry make this show more of a production than anything else.
Sheeran uses his singularity on stage to his advantage, making a show more like a group sing-along. He recruits the audience to sing harmonies for him as back up, and call out lyrics to him. He stands on the speakers protruding from the stage, and conducts the audience in a modern orchestra of chaos and emotion.
Concerts are about unity, and Sheeran understands that. He doesn’t seek to dull the stripped down meaning of music, standing with a guitar and his voice and nothing else. Artists like Sheeran are changing the course of pop music, by straying away from overproduced party songs and leaning more towards meaningful lyrics and relatable lessons.
]]>The Bears season began with a disappointing loss to the Buffalo Bills. There were several things involved with this loss starting with the poor performance by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler having two touchdowns and two interceptions. The whole game cannot be blamed on Cutler though. There were key injuries that the Bears had to endure, including backup quarterback David Foles, safety Chris Conte, center Brian De La Puente – who replaced Roberto Garza – and Tony Fiammetta, a key free agent picked up by the Bears.
Week two for Chicago was much more promising than their season opener, as they had come back to win over the San Francisco 49ers. The first half looked like week one all over again, marked by poor defense and offensive failures. Cutler’s performance sky rocketed in the late game leading the Bears to victory. Chicago had a masterful three successful drives in the final quarter which led to scores created by Cutler. Cutler had a stellar four touchdown performance, tying his career high in touchdowns in a single game.
With a little bit of a streak beginning, the Bears managed to get an away win against the Jets. The Bears defense started off fast with an interception returned for a touchdown in the first quarter, and the offense finished strong with a 27-19 victory.
Bears fans across the nation were disappointed in the loss against the Packers in week four. The game started off well in the first half but slowly went downhill. The second half of the game was a disaster- coaching, play-calling, player performance and time management, which led ultimately to the opponent scoring, were key factors in created this catastrophe. This was never more evident than in the final minutes of the second quarter, when the coaches tried and failed to sneak in an onside kick, which lead to a Packers score right before halftime. Cutler once again threw two interceptions and nearly a third which led to the Packers scoring and increasing their growing lead.
The start of the 2014 season for the Chicago Bears has been a slow one. There have been some great performances, specifically their comeback win over the 49ers, and some terrible performances from the entire team. Offense is a key aspect that needs to be improved. Chicago needs to learn to utilize their receivers, who are some of the tallest receivers in the NFL, and put points on the board. Not only do the receivers need to be used more, but the Bears also need to watch their turnovers which lead to unnecessary scoring opportunities for the opposition. Fans should not lose hope because the potential of the Bears is there, but both the offense and defense need improvement.
]]>The playoffs begin with the American League Wild Card Game on Sep. 30 at 7 p.m. when the Oakland A’s visit the Kansas City Royals. The A’s were thriving, and had the best record in the league until Aug. 16. Their ace Sonny Gray was doing great, their slugger Yoenis Cespedes was going strong. But then they traded Cespedes for another ace Jon Lester, and traded two of their top prospects for two more aces Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Then Hammel and Samardzija fell apart, and the A’s began sinking. They managed to hang on, though, and grab the final playoff spot in the AL. Expect the A’s to win—they have a clean slate now and have the ability to go a long way despite their recent struggles, and certainly have more ability than the Royals. At the end of July, Oakland was 12 games better. With talent like this, they can easily pass through Kansas City.
The National League Wild Card game is Oct. 1 and will feature the San Francisco Giants at the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates were a favorite heading into the season, yet had an extremely disappointing start. They were fourth in their division (out of five) with a record of 41-40. They finished hot though, almost winning their division. Even though they ultimately fell short by two games they will still host the Wild Card game as the favorites to win and advance to the division series. I am predicting the Pirates win relatively easily, and head in hot to the NLDS. They are 4-2 against the Giants this year, and Giants starter Madison Bumgarner got hit hard the last time Pittsburgh faced him, giving up five runs and only lasting four innings.
Here is a closer look at the first round, or the division series.
Washington Nationals vs. Winner of NL Wild Card
The Nationals are the NL regular season champs, and look to continue through the postseason though they are a very inexperienced team. The Nationals’ average age is 27.7, the fourth youngest in the MLB, and besides a great year in 2012, they have not been a good team recently. The Nats will have the clear advantage, however, as whoever wins the Wild Card game will have already had to win a sudden death game, so they will be tired. Washington also has home field advantage. But if the Pirates do win, they enter with a hot streak going, and could overtake the top seed, as we see often.
Prediction: The Pirates will take this because they have a ton of momentum, but they will have to win the Wild Card game first. In the MLB, momentum is everything. And that’s not to mention the Pirates have three great pitchers. Their third best, Edison Volquez, will be starting the playoff game. This means the top two will be in a good spot to start against the Nationals should they get there.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals
This is the battle of those who have been there, done that. The Dodgers, with the best pitching rotation in the league, and the Cardinals, who always seem to contend, no matter how bad they look in the preseason. These two teams have dominated the National League in the past two years, in the regular season and in the playoffs. These two are almost always contenders, and they are at it again. Both teams are evenly matched. The Dodgers have let up an average of 3.81 runs per game, and the Cardinals have let up an average of 3.72. The Dodgers scored 4.46 runs per game, and the Cardinals scored 3.82 per game. Expect a lot of pitching duels, which make for a great series.
Prediction: Dodgers, just because of their dominant pitching. They need three wins to advance to the NLCS, and they have Clayton Kershaw (21-3, 1.77 ERA), Zack Greinke (17-8, 2.71 ERA), and Hyun-Jin Ryu (14-7, 3.38 ERA) to win them. If they need help, they can turn to veteran Josh Beckett, who threw a no-hitter earlier in the year.
And now the American League…
Los Angeles Angels vs. Winner of AL Wild Card
The Angels had basically the opposite season of the A’s — starting out average, and then skyrocketing up to the top of the AL. They ended up with not only the best record in their half, but the best in the whole MLB at 98-64. Obviously they are the favorites heading into the postseason. However, they are also inexperienced. Star outfielder Mike Trout is only 23. But despite this, they will play a team less rested than themselves, and whoever they play, no matter which team, will not come in with any momentum.
Prediction: Angels, because the best team in the majors with extra rest is unstoppable. The Angels led the majors in runs scored per game with 4.77, and were in the top half of the league in runs allowed with 3.89 per game. They will not be beat by a less-rested team.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are a team that is very experienced, yet did not have that great of a year. They made some big trades to amp their pitching by acquiring David Price from the Tampa Bay Rays, but the team still struggled to live up to their potential. In 2011, Justin Verlander won the Cy Young and the MVP of the American League, a feat not accomplished since 1992, yet finished with a subpar 15-12 record, with a 4.54 ERA. Detroit still won the American League Central though, and look to make a push in the postseason. The Orioles were not expected by many to contend for a championship this year, especially in their American League East. They ended up on top, and with an extremely superb record of 96-66. They are ready for Detroit.
Prediction: Tigers, because they have three aces. Justin Verlander, David Price, and Max Scherzer have all won the Cy Young Award in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. I doubt that all three will do poorly.
My prediction for the World Series? A Los Angeles matchup. Angels vs. Dodgers. The Dodgers could breeze through the NL with their pitchers, and the Angels could breeze through a very faulty AL. When all is said and done, I’m taking the Angels. I just cannot see them losing if they make it all the way to the end with their combination of hitting and pitching. This postseason, regardless of the outcome, will be interesting. There is no real expected winner, and even the favorites are only favored by a slim margin. We are in for a treat.
]]>According to John Hopkins Medicine, ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is defined as “a progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by a progressive degeneration of motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord”. The hospital also mentions that ALS is common within ages 40 to 70, but can occur at a younger or older age as well. The disease is estimated to be responsible for five out of one hundred thousand deaths in people aged 20 or older. and affects as many as thirty thousand Americans, with five thousand new cases each year.
Health department chair Jason Jetel describes the physical signs of the disease.
“The initial symptoms of ALS can vary case by case, and person by person. Un-coordination, weakness in the extremities, slurred speech may be initial symptoms and can be overlooked as they gradually appear. The hands and feet may be the first area affected by ALS and a person may find it to be difficult to complete everyday tasks such as walking, lifting items, dressing, etc. Shaking of the limbs and head are often seen as well,” Jetel said. “As the disease progresses, muscle weakness and paralysis is the typical experience. Speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing become increasingly difficult as the disease continues to weaken the muscles of the core and abdomen. This disease attacks motor neurons and typically does not affect sensory neurons. Occasionally, the progression may cease or even remit, but experts are unsure why.”
ALS is also noted as a common disease all around the world and is not affected by race or socioeconomic background. Reports of ALS date back to 1860 but to this day, no cure has been created.
For Jetel, the disease touched people he knows personally.
“My grandfather developed the disease after experiencing a stroke,” Jetel said. “A former neighbor and good friend has been battling ALS for about 10 years – the first two or three of which they had a difficult time diagnosing the disease.”
One of the most famous cases of ALS is baseball all-star Lou Gehrig, who played first alongside Babe Ruth on the New York Yankees. Halfway through the 1938 season, Gehrig reported severe fatigue during games, and his performance dropped drastically. Fans speculated the reason for the baseball giant’s demise, but it was later confirmed as ALS when Gehrig received diagnosis results from the Mayo Clinic on June 19, 1939, his 36th birthday. Gehrig retired two days later and his health deteriorated for the next two years. Finally, on June 2, 1941, Gehrig succumbed to the disease. This famous case gained ALS the nickname “Lou Gehrig’s disease”.
In 1985, nearly 40 years later, the ALS Association, or ALSA was formed. Created by Jane H. Gilbert as a non-profit organization, the association works in developing a cure for the disease as well as educating the general public on what the disease is and offering referrals to doctors and help for victims of the disease. The association also holds fundraisers to raise revenue for cure research, which includes an annual “Walk to Defeat ALS” and the Ice Bucket Challenge. Nevertheless, the cure has yet to be discovered.
Jetel describes what little information has been learned so far in terms of cure research.
“Scientists have found genetic mutations in various genes that seem to be common through many patients. In addition, scientists are also looking into environmental causes such as exposure to toxic substances, physical trauma, occupational hazards, etc.” Jetel said. They have also found that many veterans of the first Gulf War in the early ’90s developed the disease at a higher rate than those who were not in the Gulf. So, not knowing a specific cause has probably delayed a cure for ALS.”
This does not rule out the possibility of there one day being a cure however. The recently discovered field of stem cell research may yield some information on the causes of the disease. Using stem cells extracted from embryonic caviars, researchers can treat the cells to reverse their aging and discover developmental stages of ALS. The research has been criticized for being inhumane by using deceased embryos as well as being extremely expensive, however, the ALSA’s recent fundraisers are likely to take care of that.
Sophomore Daniel Peterson considers the Ice Bucket Challenge a success because of the money raised for cure research.
“Yes, I do think it is a success, even though I think it didn’t raise enough awareness,” Peterson said. “I definitely think it raised enough money for the cure.”
]]>From people dropping heavy buckets on themselves to others knocked unconscious from the ice, this challenge has been plagued by dangerous situations. In Kentucky, firefighter Tony Grider died from getting too close to a power line while helping college students from Campbellsville University do their version of the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Though the foundation has increased their donations through this clever marketing technique, senior Sresht Iyer can’t ignore the troubling side to this challenge.
“It’s a worthy cause with questionable benefits,” Iyer said. “People have died or have been harmed through this challenge and not many people actually adhere to the challenge and donate money to the organization.”
On the other hand, celebrities ranging from Leonardo DiCaprio to Jimmy Fallon created and shared videos of their take on the challenge while donating to this cause. The New York Times states that people shared more than 1.2 million videos on Facebook between June 1 and Aug. 13 and mentioned this campaign more than 2.2 million times on Twitter between July 29 and Aug.17. With this popularity, the ALS Foundation received over $114 million dollars from over 2.5 million first time donors.
While there are clear positives and negatives to this fundraiser, Junior Jessica Lu defends the challenge.
“The ALS foundation received a lot of money and awareness for the disease,” Lu said. “It’s true that some people don’t think it through when they decide to put dangerous amounts of ice inside the buckets, but that’s not a problem with the challenge itself.”
Several clubs at Fremd decided to take on this challenge and donate, while nominating other D211 schools to take part in the challenge as well. Principal Kurt Tenopir himself took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge this past month.
“The challenge was something that was easy and accessible for lots of people to do. It was something connected to the experience besides donating that made people feel more obligated to follow through on the donating part,” Tenopir said. “Overall it was an enjoyable experience, but truthfully the anticipation was worse than the outcome.”
]]>Throughout the speech, Watson cited personal experiences that demonstrated the harms of preconceived gender roles and gender bias. She shared experiences that highlighted how the effects of inequality can start at an early age and remain throughout one’s life.
At the start of the speech, Watson addressed a central aspect of feminism—its definition. To clarify the movement, Watson stated that feminism by definition is the belief that men and women should have equal rights. This directly contradicts the prevalent notion that feminists seek to overpower men. Instead, the ambition behind the word and the movement is to work towards gender equality in political, economic and social settings.
Unfortunately, modern feminism has gained the reputation of being “man-hating” and extremist. Many women have spoken against the movement with campaigns like “Women Against Feminism,” a Tumblr page that features girls holding notecards explaining why they don’t need feminism. Additionally, many female celebrities such as Shailene Woodley have been wary about proclaiming their status as a feminist. It seems that individuals, women especially, are hestitant about the word feminism because of the negative connotation the word and the movement have developed.
Although the speech was well-received with a standing ovation at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, critics have attacked Watson for her statements. They argue that as a wealthy and priveleged actress, she has not suffered the effects of sexism to the extent of more middle-class women. These criticisms have failed to note that Watson acknowledged her position in society and has chosen to use it to spread her platform. Critics have also asserted that the campaign’s name is inherently promoting the gender stereotypes it aims to deconstruct. However, “HeForShe” is not positioning men to be saviors for women, but instead framing gender prejudice as an issue that equally involves both men and women.
Watson’s speech has given a powerful voice to feminism on a global scale. Instead of questioning the validity of her speech, it is the responsibility of each individual to take action to end violence and discrimination against women, as well as recognize the negative effects of gender norms that men face. The Viking Logue Editorial Staff supports HeForShe and Watson’s stance in promoting gender equality throughout the world. In schools especially, it is crucial that each student is valued equally, regardless of gender or other differences. Through understanding feminism and becoming involved in the movement, students and faculty members can work to achieve gender equality.
To learn more about the HeForShe campaign visit www.heforshe.org
]]>When the school year began, Elza received the news about his nomination, but it didn’t seem like news at first.
“On the first day of school, Mr. Tenopir, comes to me and says, ‘I need to see you in my office,’ which is one of the last things you want to hear on the first day,” Elza said. “So I stepped inside his office and I see the superintendent, Mr. Cates, and then they close the door, shake my hand and say, ‘Congratulations, you made it to the top 12.’”
Elza explains how shocked he was at his nomination, as he believes that students should always be the top priority.
“When I was told I was nominated for the Illinois Teacher of the Year award, I was speechless, and I’m rarely speechless,” Elza said. “I’m not one who’s usually in the limelight, because I like putting the kids out there. The kids are what we’re here for.”
Past D211 award winners include Fremd physical education teacher Andrew Kittrell and Palatine High School’s “Palatine’s Promise”
State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch spoke about how the program allows the state to discover and award the people responsible for the high standards set in education.
“This program gives us the opportunity to meet outstanding educators at every level and recognize leadership and achievements in classrooms throughout Illinois,” Koch said. “Their passion, creativity and commitment to students is an inspiration. We are pleased to publicly recognize the individuals who make a difference in students’ lives every day.”
Sophomore Vince Hoffman, who takes Elza’s autos class, describes how Elza goes the extra mile for his students in class.
“Mr. Elza has gone above and beyond the necessary duties of a teacher,” Hoffman said. “Elza is a great automotive teacher and really a nice guy, but above all that, he always seems willing to sacrifice his own time to help a student improve not just in his class but in whatever their needs may be.”
For seven years, Elza has taught numerous automotive courses at Fremd and is a sponsor of Fremd’s Auto Club. Many schools across the nation do not have very large vocational education programs such as automotive or applied tech courses due to the high cost to maintain them.
Vocational education, as well as career and technology courses such as automotive tech have been in decline for the past decade or so with figures showing that from 1990 to 2009, credits earned by students in vocational education courses have decreased, while other subjects such as mathematics and science have steadily increased.
Elza believes in today’s day and age, the awareness and need for vocational education is high, due to the changing generations of workers and believes these awards and nominations will turn eyes towards this cause, along with the “Those Who Excel” program.
“When you look at hands-on, vocational education, there has been a large deficit recently,” Elza said. “In the seventies and eighties, there was a high demand for these types of courses, such as applied tech and engineering, but everything started to slow down when everything started to go overseas. Now we’re seeing all of these baby boomers who had these jobs retiring, who are going to take their positions? We’re getting a large push for these vocational education, and it’s extremely hard to get these courses ramped up again. It costs a ton of money, but it’s needed, and hopefully I’m in a position where I can change this, and bring awareness to this. There’s a lot of jobs in this.”
The 2015 Illinois Teacher of the Year will be named on Oct. 25 at the “Those Who Excel” banquet by the Illinois State Board of Education.
]]>The protest is intended to draw attention to their belief that climate change needs to be taken care of as a top priority and carbon emissions must be cut down. Similar protests are occurring to raise awareness of the geopolitical issue around the world. The march was just two days before the first United Nations climate summit in five years at its headquarters in New York, where 125 nations were represented.
An estimated 310,000 people showed up to participate in the march covering a two-mile route past Times Square. Of that group, 1,400 partner organizations signed up and many celebrities and officials joined in as well.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who has been an environmentalist since 1998 and was at the march as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s messenger of peace, expressed strong opinions on the march.
“We are at a pivotal turning point,” DiCaprio said. “We are seeing the effects of rapid climate change happening every week in the news.”
The march began at 1 p.m. after a moment of silence when a whistle was blown and a cacophony started to be an alarm on climate change. The marchers yelled and screamed as beating drums and blaring horns played in the background.
Sophomore Allison Marozza believes the protest raised awareness about the global climate..
“I knew about climate change but didn’t really notice the changes except that it was getting really hot some days and cold others,” Marozza said. “The protest really emphasized the dangers of the changing temperatures and showed people like me that we need to get up and do something about it.”
Climate change can lead to hotter summer days and frequent rainfalls. Severe snow storms are also a result of climate change because of the increased moisture in the air that drives heavier than normal precipitation.
On Monday, Sept. 22, another smaller group of 2,000 people came together to create a blockade in front of New York City’s financial district. The “Flood Wall Street” demonstration used the momentum from Sunday’s march to highlight Wall Street’s contribution to climate change. During this sit-in, over 100 people were arrested for not having a police permit and blocking traffic.
These two significant protests did show some outcome as President Barack Obama voiced America’s actions on climate change during the UN summit. The US is planning to reduce its carbon pollution by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.
Chemistry teacher Jennifer Carlson thinks the protest drives more people to look for solutions to the growing temperature issues.
“I don’t think we have the source of climate change figured out yet, but if there is a way to help then we should certainly try and do something about it,” Carlson said. “The protest definitely raised awareness for climate change and helped get people thinking what to do next.”
]]>The show follows four law students unknowingly embarking on a dangerous journey when they enroll in the course of legendary lawyer, Professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis). They make the mistake thinking that Criminal Law 100 is only a classroom experience.
The show, produced by Shonda Rhimes, the creator of “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” opens up with the show’s leads—Wes (Alfred Enoch), Connor (Jack Falahee), Laurel (Karla Souza), and Michaela (Aja Naomi King)—arguing about what to do with a dead body in their possession on the night of huge celebration at the university. Someone spills blood, but no one spills any secrets about who was murdered or who the culprit is.
The next scene transports the viewers and the law students three months earlier to when they are just beginning Professor Keating’s class. There they must compete against each other in a real ongoing trial to win the calloused lawyer’s favor and a position in her firm. The competitive nature of the wannabe lawyers thrives in this desperation and some break under the pressure.
In an environment filled with real convicted murderers, lawyers, and grad students, the viewer finds very few differences between them. I enjoyed deciphering who the “bad guy” is and finding out at the end that there is no clear answer as no character’s personality or motives are left one-sided. The plot promises to thicken as the audience learns more about each character, thus proving that lawyers–whether experienced like Keating or extremely hopeful like Wes, Connor, Laurel, and Michaela– are not always striving for justice. The show’s strategy of maintaining characters’ mystery waiting to be solved left me hooked from scene one.
This edgy new show has all the essentials: betrayal, affairs, mystery, desperation, sophistication, and of course, murder. At the end of the show’s pilot the audience gets the “who” of the murder, now they must wait for the “how” and “why,” and the big question of if they’ll get away with it.
While mature viewers are at the edge of their seats, make sure little kids aren’t nearby. In just one episode it’s clear that this will be an intense series that is not to be watched with little brothers and sisters in the room. But for those able to handle the intensity of the show, have your DVRs ready on Thursday nights for a thrilling show that will change everything you think you know about courtroom dramas.
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