All posts by HPSH Plaid Line

PRIZM, Student Creative Art

Optical illusion

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By: Pwe Doh Gay

This drawing is a cool optical illusion that messes with your mind. It looks like a 3D image, but it is a 2D drawing that is making it look 3D. I made the image because I saw a video of an optical illusion and wanted to try to draw it.

I really like how it turned out, because I did not think it would look good at all. I like how the black and gray looks on it and how the color makes it look cool.

I do think it needs some work, like the lines and the shading. The lines could be straighter and the grey could be a little darker. It does not look as good as my other images, but I really like how it turned out.

For my next drawing, I am thinking of drawing another optical illusion or something else.

PRIZM, Student Creative Writing

BAY OF VEINA INCIDENT: ARCERIUM RISING 5

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By: Hoaseng Thao

Note: This story revolves around the topic of war and military actions

Background

A year after the ceasefire that halted the Second Continental War, tensions between the Polaris Alliance Treaty Organization (PATO) and the Croatoke Defense Pact (CDP) remained rigid as both sides rebuilt their militaries for a possible flashpoint. A founding PATO member state, the Vaserian Federation, had elected King Shota Orion in 2024, who’d start the Shattered Front Initiative; an initiative to boost the Defense Forces (VFDF) budget from 2.9% of GDP to 4.2%, with the idea that Vaseria and their allies on the Vaserian continent would have to fight the Second Continental War alone.

A part of this initiative was to secure the Bay of Veina due to its strategic position to the Vaserian Federation and its ally, the Kingdom of Valona, but also because of the presence of the neighboring Republic of Nashua, a member state of the CDP. In a joint effort with Valona, the Vaserian Federation established Joint Naval Base Stonage on the small Valonan island of Sutao, housing over 30,000 military personnel and a small detachment of Aircraft from the Vaserian Navy.

THE INCIDENT

In the morning of November 29th, the island’s radar warning system intercepted three unknown signatures heading towards Stonage, with the craft appearing to be of Nashuan origin, however Nashuan officials have declined that the aircrafts were theirs.

Four fighter jets belonging to the 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron immediately took off from the island for interception, with the lead craft being manned by Captain Warrick, a veteran of the Second Continentals War.

At around 7:46 AM, the lead fighter jet, callsign “Typo”, receives on his warning system of a missile locked onto his jet, a VF-20A Starling, resulting in a hard turn to his starboard side as he deployed counter measures to break his heat signature. With the unknown crafts firing first, the call was given to engage the unknown hostiles with extreme prejudice. The first Starling to fire was commandeered by a pilot named “Taxes”, who locked on and fired a missile at an enemy jet, but missed.

Closing the distance between the unknown force and the Starlings, an anonymous pilot who took part in the incident, recalled that the unknown jets resembled that of a Kavaran SJ-88V Sea Lion jet, which are operated by both Kavara and Nashua, both members of the CDP.

The Starlings proceeded to split up, with a single jet acting as flank guard while the rest seeked to eliminate the threats. One Starling, is credited with downing two of the enemy crafts with only their main gun after their missile bay malfunctioned. The last remaining enemy jet, proceeded to bail out of the situation and flew towards Nashuan waters, resulting in the Starlings to return back to Stonage.

AFTERMATH

In the aftermath of the incident, Nashua denied all claims of responsibility, claiming that they had “eliminated” the remaining craft upon entering Nashuan airspace, however there is no evidence to suggest that the case was true. The incident would also inspire the creation of the 2027 film “FOX3!”, which included the same Starlings used during the incident.

Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

Positive & negative effects of video game addiction

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By: Hyde Moua

Image created with Openart.ai

I think that video games are beneficial and will have a positive effect as long as you don’t play for more than 4 hours every day because I also enjoy playing video games a lot and I think they have clearly helped me in my basic everyday life.

Some positive effects of playing video games are that your memory and learning abilities are enhanced. Your reaction time can also be enhanced if you play video games like first person shooters that are necessary to have faster reaction times to beat the opposing players.

Some more positive effects of playing video games are increased problem solving skills, decision making, and multitasking capabilities. Video games positively affect the brain by boosting cognitive functions which will also improve your hand eye coordination along with your spatial awareness because most games will need you to be aware of your surroundings. In a way, video games can be a workout disguised as fun because video games regularly increase and boost brain connectivity.

Some negative effects of video game addiction are vision problems. The most common type of vision problem is eye strain, which can lead to headaches or poor concentration. Video game addiction can also lead to seizures and psychological problems that will occur over time.

Some more negative effects are when video games are overused as a coping mechanism. This really becomes a problem when video games disrupt your normal and healthy life. Excessive video game addiction can also lead to mental health problems such as depression, social anxiety, and a lack of motivation. Video games will worsen the symptoms of a person who already has depression because excessive gaming removes a person from their real life responsibilities, relationships, and emotions, which can result in feeling numb and socially isolated from your life.

Personally, I think that video games are enjoyable every once in a while because I have gone through some of these symptoms due to excessively playing during the weeks. Overall, I think everyone should play video games, even if it’s just a little bit, because this way you can have the benefits of better problem solving, and decision making during stressful situations, and faster reaction times which could potentially benefit you in work or future situations.

Books/Art

‘Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ book review

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By: Sophia Elmstrom

*Warning: This review contains spoilers.

‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’, written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is a book that was written in 2017 but became very popular in 2022 from social media. It became so popular that it is being made into a movie for Netflix. The book became heavily known from the app TikTok and has been super popular since 2022.

When I first heard of the book I thought that it would be very overrated and kind of boring. I was proved very wrong within the first few chapters and got hooked instantly. The way that the book is organized and formatted makes you want to never put it down. There are exactly 400 pages in ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ and not one of them makes you want to stop reading it. The hype on social media was definitely deserved and I believe that Taylor Jenkins Reid is a very talented author with many other bestselling books like ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’ and ‘Malibu Rising’.

‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ is about a woman named Evelyn Hugo who requests that her final “interview” is with an unknown magazine reporter named Monique Grant. Evelyn Hugo tells this magazine that it is an interview about her dresses that are for auction but when she is with Monqiue she requests that she write a biography about her life. Monique accepts the offer and spends weeks with Evelyn writing this story and bringing it to life. Evelyn’s story takes place in the 1950s when gay relationships and marriage were not yet legalized or normalized.

The first husband that this book focuses on is Ernie Diaz, Evelyn’s first husband. She talks about how Ernie was her escape from her abusive father at only 14 years old and a way to get to Hollywood. Evelyn eventually meets someone in Hollywood and divorces Ernie at 17 for better publicity when entering the acting world.

Don Adler is Evelyn’s second husband and a fellow actor whom she was set up with by a producer in her studio. Don and her fall in love and shortly after their marriage he starts showing the abusive side of himself and starts hitting her. During this marriage Evelyn becomes very close with a costar named Celia St. James who during a party, she is told that Celia is a Lesbian. Evelyn confronts her about this later and they share a kiss which leads to Don divorcing Evelyn for being unfaithful.

Evelyn and Celia start dating outside of the media and in secret and Evelyn goes to Las Vegas with Mick Riva to distract the press. Celia finds out about Mick and Evelyn and Celia leaves Evelyn for five years which leads to Evelyn divorcing Mick Riva.

Evelyn is in a new movie where she meets her costar Rex North who she falls in love with and while they are married Rex cheats on Evelyn. Evelyn makes up a story that she had an affair with her close friend and producer Harry Cameron in order to keep Rex’s good name. While she is telling people this lie she finds out that Harry Cameron is secretly dating a football quarterback, John Bravernam, who is married to her old girlfriend Celia. Evelyn and Celia find their way back to each other and start dating again in secret.

This lie about the affair eventually turns into the marriage of Harry and Evelyn where they then move to Manhattan and live with Celia and John. They do this so they can each have their partners in secret so the press doesn’t suspect anything. Evelyn and Harry have a child after rumors about the couples start spreading, in order to prevent these affairs from getting out. Evelyn starts working on a movie with her and Celia’s ex husband Don Adler, and Celia gets very worked up about this and ends up leaving Evelyn for years.

Her second to last husband is Max Gerard who she stays married to for six years before reuniting with Celia. She soon learns that Celia has a condition which causes her to have less than ten years to live. Evelyn divorces Max and goes to Celia’s estate to live with her.

While Evelyn is living with Celia, Harry, her ex-husband and father of her baby, dies from a car crash leaving Evelyn and her child to grieve alone. Harry was with a man he was dating when he died and there was a letter written to Harry that Evelyn had yet to open. Celia suggests that Evelyn marry her younger brother Robert to draw away suspicion and all three of them live together until Robert dies three years later. Evelyn and Celia live together until Celia dies.

The book shifts back to Monique’s perspective where Evelyn is telling her that the person in the car with Harry was Monique’s father. This is why Evelyn had requested Monique to write this biography for her. Evelyn gives Monique the letter and tells Monique that the book can be published after she dies of breast cancer. Evelyn told Monique all of this because she had planned to take her life herself instead of letting breast cancer kill her. Evelyn is found dead and her death is reported as an overdose. Monique publishes the book where the main idea is that Evelyn’s true love was Celia St. James.

This book is very well written and organized well and the story is very interesting and page turning. This is one of my favorite books but I wouldn’t recommend this for every age. I would recommend this for 13 and up because there is a lot of mature talk and scenes. I give this book a 10/10.

Editorials/Student Voice, Local

How Uber and Lyft drivers fought to stop their own exploitation

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By: Jocelyn Knorr

Image taken from Wikimedia Commons

You’ve probably seen the social media buzz—Uber and Lyft are finally being held to Minnesota’s minimum wage laws. But how did we get here, and why weren’t they held to these laws in the first place? To find the answer, we have to go back to 2013, when the rideshare companies began operating unregulated in the Twin Cities. Minneapolis scrambled to let them operate legally, drafting amendments to the city’s taxi laws to allow them in; at the time pay was less of a priority than regulation of who could become a driver, as the lack of regulation made it attractive to people who would otherwise find it difficult to find jobs, such as those convicted of assault or other violent crimes.

Things moved fairly smoothly for a while—Uber and Lyft became the default way to get around the city without your own automobile, especially after they were allowed to pick people up at MSP airport.

Uber became the biggest startup in the world in 2019, and even COVID couldn’t stop it. When the pandemic impacted employment, more and more people turned to rideshares as a way to make money; they became an important source of income for students, and disabled people who couldn’t work a full day.

Immigrants also use rideshares as a source of income; according to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, 61% of rideshare drivers in Minnesota are foreign-born. Rideshares allow immigrant workers to find work, skipping over the preconceived notions of hiring managers.

However, this is when issues began to arise—or rather, were noticed. Things like sales tax, meant to be borne by riders, began to be skimmed via “administrative fees.” Uber claimed that there was an option for drivers to charge riders for tolls and other fees, but no option for that ever seemed to have existed in the Uber app. While Uber and Lyft claimed that their drivers made above minimum wage, the truth is that it was actually well under.

At the same time, international strikes were staged by drivers, hoping to bring awareness of what companies were doing to them. A new group of Minnesota drivers, the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association, spoke to the state’s Democrats in 2022. They pledged to strike a deal with rideshare companies, and began pushing a bill to set a minimum pay floor.

New York state began an inquiry about a year later; they found that rideshare companies had systematically shorted their drivers out of a collective $328 million via the methods outlined. They instituted a pay floor for drivers in accordance with New York minimum wage—Minneapolis did something similar, ensuring drivers a rate of $1.41 per mile.

This enraged Uber and Lyft, who threatened to leave the city of Minneapolis. They did something similar in Austin in 2016, over fingerprint background checks for drivers—the city council had to revoke the ordinance entirely to make the rideshare companies come back.

Meanwhile, in the Minnesota Senate, Omar Fateh (D), who represents District 62, spent most of 2023 pushing for a statewide minimum pay rate. The Democratic party only has a one-vote majority, and Senator Fateh (D) held up proceedings until the bill was passed—Democrats would be forced to either pass the pay minimum, or work with Republicans to get anything done.

The minimum pay bill passed just under the wire on May 18, 2024. It guarantees $1.28 per mile in accordance with both Uber and Lyft and U/LDA; under Minnesota laws, drivers will now make $15.57 per hour. The rideshare companies have since agreed not to pull out.

However, all is not completely sunny. There’s something to be said about the House and Senate going over Minneapolis’ head and acquiescing to large corporations. To quote Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai (D), “Preemption is bad. Period. Any and all attempts to undermine local control are bad. It’s a Republican and corporate tactic used around the country. Watching our [Governor Walz] cave to multibillion dollar corporations in insisting on preempting Minneapolis is gross.”

The law, too, doesn’t go into effect until January 1, 2025. How many people will be unable to keep their head above water until then? Will Uber and Lyft manage to alter the terms? We just can’t know. For now, we ought to keep these people in mind for the next year; both the rideshare drivers, whose income is still not safe, and the legislators that made this happen—especially in November, when many of them are up for re-election.

Baseball, Golf, Scoreboard/Schedule, Track & Field

Sport schedule for: May 27-Jun 1

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ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: MAY 27 – JUNE 1  
MONDAYMAY 27 
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
TBD Baseball SectionsRichfield High School
TUESDAYMAY 28
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
8:00am Boys Golf Section TournamentBunker Hills Golf Course
WEDNESDAYMAY 29
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
8:00am Boys Golf Section TournamentBunker Hills Golf Course
4:00pm1:40pm | 8:00pm 2 BusesTrack and Field Section PrelimsEast Ridge High School
THURSDAYMAY 30
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
9:00am Girls Golf Section TournamentGoodrich Golf Course
FRIDAYMAY 31
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
9:00am Girls Golf Section TournamentGoodrich Golf Course
4:00pm1:40pm | 8:00pm 2 BusesTrack and Field Section FinalsEast Ridge High School
SATURDAYJUNE 1
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
    
Editorials/Student Voice, Music/Concerts

OPINION: My definitive Beyoncé album rankings

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By: Charlie St. Dennis

As the craze behind Beyoncé’s new release, ‘Cowboy Carter,’ finally dials down, I’ve found myself taking more time to listen to some of her other albums from earlier in her career. In 8 solo studio albums, she has accomplished an admirable feat of having such a versatile discography with no stand-out “duds.” Here is my definitive ranking of each of Beyoncé’s albums, and why:

8. ‘Dangerously in Love’ (2003)

Recorded entirely during the longest and final hiatus of her hit girl-group, Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé recorded this as her first solo album. Though there’s nothing particularly bad about this, it even gave us some hits like “Crazy in Love” and “Naughty Girl,” there’s nothing that particularly stands out about it either. It is home to some of Beyoncé’s weakest tracks, which I won’t hold against her, considering she was very new to her career. My favorites off this album are “Dangerously In Love 2” and “Crazy In Love (feat. Jay Z).”

7. ‘I Am… Sasha Fierce’ (2008)

Perhaps her most commercially successful album, with 9 chart topping singles, ‘I Am…’ is a classic. It also introduces us to Beyoncé’s alter-ego, Sasha Fierce. Fierce is said to only come out on stage, and shows Beyoncé’s more “aggressive and sensual” side. This is a good album, although I like Beyoncé’s more deep work, and we don’t see too much of that on this album (even though it is there, in some parts). While the hits on this album include “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” “Halo,” and “If I Were A Boy,” my personal favorite is “Diva.”

6. ‘BEYONCÉ’ (2013)

This is probably my most controversial ranking here. Many dedicated fans of Beyoncé would place this in what they’d call their “Holy Trinity” of her discography…but not this dedicated Beyoncé fan. While I do enjoy this album, I don’t think it particularly stands out. It does capture Beyoncé in her first state of vulnerability caught on recording! We see this vulnerability on tracks like “Heaven,” “Pretty Hurts,” and my personal favorite, “Blue (feat. Blue Ivy).” We also hear more upbeat tracks, which are good as well, including “Feeling Myself (feat. Nicki Minaj),” “***Flawless (feat. Nicki Minaj),” and “XO”. These are tracks that I generally enjoy, but they don’t do it for me *quite* like some of the upcoming albums.

5. ‘B’Day’ (2006)

I think ‘B’Day’ did a great job at showing us a little taste of all that Beyoncé was capable of. She was fresh out of Hollywood and the award show circuit due to her success as Deena Jones in the movie-musical ‘Dreamgirls’ and she was ready to release music of her own. She uses country and creole influences, and gives us a perfect blend of deep & danceable. My personal favorites from the album are “Listen (from Dreamgirls)” and “Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix).”

4. ‘4’ (2012)

‘4’ is a very interesting album because it is like a roller coaster but without all the bumps. It goes up and down and has its dance songs, motivational songs, and its sad, more depressing songs, but it’s all very intricate and well put together. It’s hard to pick a favorite song, considering I like them all very much. I’d say one of my favorite songs of all time is “I Care,” so that’s definitely my favorite off the album. I also love “Party (feat. Andre 3000),” which delightfully serves as a celebratory song for any and every occasion.

3. ‘Renaissance’ (2022)

‘Renaissance’ is like nothing else I’d heard before. It is distinct and clear in its intent to educate and to bring up the events of the past. We hear features from previously little known black queer icons such as Big Freedia, Kevin Aviance, Kevin JZ Prodigy, among many others. Not only is it educational and intentional, it’s also just really good music. You get a little neo-soul out of “Plastic Off The Sofa,” you get some classic house from “Break My Soul” and “Pure/Honey,” and of course you get some disco from songs like “Cuff It” and “Summer Renaissance.” I find the album to be quite versatile and cohesive, and that really works well for it. My favorites on the album are “Church Girl” and “Pure/Honey.”

2. ‘Cowboy Carter’ (2024)

If you’ve been reading my pieces in the Plaid Line for awhile now, you now that I really enjoyed ‘Cowboy Carter’. That still remains true! The album is a lovely way of stepping into territory that was new to Beyoncé, but also something she has dipped her toes in before. Songs from ‘Lemonade’ and ‘B’Day’ have foreshadowed Beyoncé’s country feature. Anyways, I really loved this album, and it very quickly moved its way up the ladder in terms of my favorite Beyoncé albums.

My favorites at press time, because they always change, are “Tyrant,” “Sweet * Honey * Buckin’,” and “Daughter.”

1. ‘Lemonade’ (2016)

And lastly, but definitely not least, we have ‘Lemonade’. As you may know, I also really enjoyed ‘Lemonade’. It might just be the perfect album. It tells a story that can be listened to as one, or in individual parts, however you choose. It ranges from sad R&B, to a more upbeat equivalent, and has heavy Caribbean, Creole, and Houstonian influences. I implore you to read my prior review for my depth, but take my word for it when I say I truly love this album. My favorites are “Hold Up,” “All Night,” and “Freedom (feat. Kendrick Lamar).”

This was incredibly hard to write because I love all of these albums so so much, but here was my best shot. So, with that, there is Beyoncé’s studio solo discography. I hope you enjoyed this review, and let me know what you think of Beyoncé’s discography!

Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

Body image and the media

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By: Brogan Frey and Abisola Dosunmu

Image created with Wonder

If you’ve been on social media in the last decade, you’d recognize the constant push and pull for our brains attention, interest, and money. For some, it’s blatant, with the ads pulled from what you’ve liked or previously engaged with, on what you’ve shared or reposted. For others, it’s more subtle, with notifications to get the rush of dopamine into our brains, and the constant and never ending stream of content that keeps us on our phones scrolling (and makes what we’re scrolling through more personalized). It’s all led to an almost dystopian reality, a social epidemic of “perfect” faces and bodies beaming up at us through our screens.

The media is constantly impacting our daily lives. Our society greatly relies on the media to get all or most of our information, and that includes teenagers. According to a 2023 survey, 29% of teens get news from social media everyday, with another 23% getting news from YouTube. And while this is understandable, after all, using social media can help relieve the hardships of navigating through several websites and articles to find one source, this can also be quite harmful. The risks of social media are great. While on social media, people can be exposed to harmful or inappropriate content, dangerous people, they can be cyberbullied, they are at risk for identity theft, and that’s just naming a few. But the largest one that affects so many young people, is the interference with sleep, exercise, homework, or family activities.

If you asked a group of teenagers what the ideal body looked like, could you guess what they’d say? The majority of teenagers that we have asked described a very specific body type for men and women. For women, they said that the ideal body type is extremely thin, much like fashion models. For men, they said that the ideal body is tall and slender, but also muscular and toned. These body types are quite hard to acquire, but many will spend their whole lives trying.

When we look at images in magazines, on tv, or on social media, what we’re seeing isn’t real—it’s all edited and airbrushed to look perfect. These “perfect” bodies set up unrealistic expectations for how both men and women should look. As a result, many people end up spending a fortune on products trying to match these impossible standards. Some go to extremes and develop eating disorders or become ill in their pursuit to resemble the models and influencers they see online.

All of this quickly culminates into self esteem issues, anxiety about your appearance, and eventually body dysmorphic disorder, a condition defined by anxiety about how you look and the things you feel are “wrong” with your body.

Now, this frenzy about one’s appearance isn’t only limited to children and young adults. Anyone can experience this, though it may be more acute in anyone under the age of twenty-one due to the time period adolescents spend on social media affecting their still developing brains.

So, how do we stop this? There are countless resources available online and in schools, aiming to help people who idealize these bodies develop a realistic idea of what bodies are really supposed to look like. There are also several self help options that may not completely eradicate the self esteem issues at once, but will definitely help with time.

  1. Take brain breaks – knowing when to take time off of social media is vital to improving your self esteem. Implement that by limiting and scheduling your screen time, and recognizing when to drop the phone.
  2. Find what you like about yourself – find things that don’t necessarily include your looks, (like your personality) and capitalize on them. Focus on what you like about yourself, not what you don’t.
  3. Appreciate what your body can do – things like laughing, dancing, and making yourself and other people happy are things our bodies do everyday that don’t involve feeling conventionally attractive. Instead of looking at what you feel your body can’t do and feeling insecure, research what your body does everyday to keep you alive.

Below are some resources you can use if you need someone to talk to. A counselor is always available in the counselor’s office, in room 1303. If you need more support, here are a few therapists and counselors in the Twin Cities who specialize in body image:

Norris Vorasane – provides therapy to a diverse range of adult clients, including, but not limited to, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, military, students, and immigrants.

Dr. Alina Aloma – she is a bilingual Latina psychologist specializing in multicultural, gender, and LGBTQ affirming care.

Anna Stern – she is more interested in who you are than helping you be normal. Antiracist, affirming, social justice oriented and accountable.

For more information, please visit:

Music/Concerts, Tech/Games

JOYSTiCK empirical non-review – Ranking every ‘Minecraft’ Music Disc

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By: Daniel Kendle

In the game ‘Minecraft,’ a rare set of items are the 19 Music Discs. These discs can be found in a few ways, such as monster drops and loot in structures. They can be played in a block known as the Jukebox, causing a song to play. These songs are by various composers, including the artists Daniel Rosenfeld (commonly known as C418), Lena Raine, Samuel Aberg and Aaron Cherof.

However, just because they’re rare doesn’t make every disc “good.” That’s natural, and there’s definitely some that are better than others, and some that are worse. So, here’s a ranking of every ‘Minecraft’ Music Disc, listed from worst to best.

Discs will have 1 category they’ll be reviewed in: how good the actual song is. I was originally going to also judge them on how the disc looks and how hard it was to obtain, but I removed them as categories due to being too biased for my article. However, if I have anything to note about their looks or rarity, I’ll mention it in their section.

Finally, I should also mention that I have a very loose grasp on music theory, so lots of jargon and terms used in the medium will be absent here. Maybe that makes me unqualified to make this report, but what I do have is a very strong grasp on ‘Minecraft,’ as well as knowing what I like and what I…don’t but with that out of the way, let’s begin.

…..

No. 19 – “Stal” 3/10

“Stal” is easily the worst out of the lineup, and it’s clear to see why. The main instrument of the track, a recorder, is played without much of a melody or tempo, just screeching throughout. The song definitely feels like it was going for an ironic appeal, but just sounds cruel to the ears and never truly becomes what it sets out to be. As a 1-time listen it’s alright, but anymore and it becomes a dread to finish.

No. 18 – “Thirteen” 4.5/10

This is the first of 3 “story discs,” as I’ve come to call them. The trio don’t focus on traditional music, but instead audio that is used to tell an ambiguous story. There are fewer melodies and rhythms throughout the 3, instead there are sound effects that emphasize a horror aesthetic. These are cool, but due to the fact that they’re not so much “music” as audio horror, it’s hard to rank them higher than other songs here.

“Thirteen” is my least favorite of the trio, however. While I can appreciate the composer going for something different compared to his other discs, this never has much of a scary vibe for me. The other 2 at least have collective moments of both intensity and quiet somberness, but here it’s just a flat tone throughout. Strange siren-like noises are heard, but other than that and a couple other types of sounds, it’s very uninteresting and pretty boring.

No. 17 – “Chirp” 5/10

Now that the obvious worst 2 are gone, we can finally get to the harder discs to place. “Chirp” isn’t bad by any means, but compared to the rest of its family, it never reaches the highs that others hit. Interestingly, the main instrument at hand here is the Octigan, a piano-like keyboard from the ‘70’s that sounds unique, to say the least. I do like its usage though, but it nonetheless doesn’t save this track from being pretty forgettable.

No. 16 – “Precipice” 5/10

One of the newest of the bunch, “Precipice” is a disc that I’ve flip-flopped on since its introduction a couple weeks ago, as of writing this. My main issue with it stems from its overbearing melody; the entire track, from start to finish, consists of blaring synths that make the song very… boring? Repetitive? Either way, it’s definitely my least favorite of this new wave of music discs that’s been happening since 2020.

No. 15 – “Eleven” 5/10

The second story disc on this list. While iconic within the community and certainly a spooky listen, it has even less elements of standard instruments and notes. Instead, we have heavy breathing, matches clicking, and – my favorite – the sound of an unknown beast at the very end. It’s interesting, but again, not being a traditional song hurts its rankings here.

No. 14 – “5” 5.5/10

The final story disc! Not a lot to say here that I haven’t in the past 2, but I like the sound effects in this the most; they definitely build from the previous 2 discs in neat ways, but alas, this is the highest on the list that I can put it.

Also, this is the only disc that can be crafted, which is cool. That also helps it a bit due to being more unique. You craft it with 9 Music Disc Fragments, found in Ancient Cities underground, which are one of my favorite structures in the game.

No. 13 – “Mall” 6/10

This is the most relaxing of the discs, and I can see why. It veers into the LoFi area of song: a relaxing, quaint melody supplemented by synths and beats. In “Mall” it can be a bit forced and repetitive, but it’s all-around a good listen. Not one I’ll listen to over and over, but once and twice every blue moon; it’s solid.

No. 12 – “Mellohi” 6.5/10

“Mellohi” is an interesting one. Using a vibraphone, trombone, and accordion (among other instruments), it’s definitely one of the most unique discs here. It has what some call a “swing” vibe, to my knowledge named after the dance, but what do I know? Anyways, I like it, but it’s a bit out of place next to the rest of the discs, even the newer ones. Like, it doesn’t flow well if you listen to them all one after another. Nonetheless a solid disc.

No. 11 – “otherside” 7/10

This is the most controversial pick in this article, by a landslide. This was one of the first “new music discs” that have been coming since 2020, as I said before. A lot of people seem to like this one more than I do, and usually call it among the best discs. For me, I’m not so sure; it’s definitely good, but is a bit too slow for me, and I just find it to be repetitive, much like “Precipice.” Again, it’s a nice song though. I really like how it’s much more cheerful than other songs before, and has an optimistic vibe throughout that I enjoy.

No. 10 – “Blocks” 7.5/10

Pretty simple and laid-back, “Blocks” is the antithesis of older discs: a retro-esque track that uses some wacko instrument to give it a unique flavor compared to others of its kind. With that out of the way, I think this song in particular could’ve improved with some more dramatic elements, since the final product almost feels a bit too retro without much substance. Then again, maybe its simplicity is what’s fun about it, I don’t know. The bottom line is: this is really fun, and cool, and I like it!

No. 9 – “Cat” 7.5/10

“Cat” is a great track. One of the earliest, it’s another very happy and bubbly song that makes you feel as if you’re just discovering the ins and outs of ‘Minecraft,’ like you’ve built some stuff, looked around, and now you’re finally getting to exploring this vast world. Granted, another song later on in this article does this “vastness” idea much better, but for now this is really great. Bordering on an 8, but I do wish it had some louder instrumentals in the beginning, and throughout the song, to be honest.

No. 8 – “Wait” 8/10

Another short review. “Wait” is a quiet little disc, but is great for background melodies if you’re busy doing something else in-game and want to put a disc on. It’s not rocket science, but a lovely song overall.

No. 7 – “Creator (Music Box Version)” 8/10

Basically a shortened, simpler version of “Creator,” this disc is one of the few that’s a riff on another. It’s cool, and while maybe a bit high for a song who’s only real instrument is an actual music box, I think it’s very fun, and a bit creepy, which is perfect. It and its brother disc have such unique and different vibes when put against other discs, which gives them both high marks.

No. 6 – “Strad” 8.5/10

This was the most surprising disc on this list, partially because I get it mixed up with “Stal” all the time (which isn’t a good thing). Despite that minor setback, “Strad” is so cool and funky, and arguably uses the most synths out of any song on this list, which is really cool! Not ground-breaking or the best thing ever, but a sick track that I CAN listen to over and over.

No. 5 – “Ward” 8.5/10

When I say that “Ward’s” best moments are its first 3 seconds, that may seem like an insult. Well, it’s not. Those first moments begin with a haunting organ, followed by an eerie, yet much more suave and cool-headed song that’s also distinct from others. These top 5 discs all do something very different when looked at as a standard music disc in ‘Minecraft,’ and for “Ward,” it’s balancing both the grotesque and the funky. While I do wish it kept to the organ and creepy vibe, it’s still a great song.

No. 4 – “Pigstep” 9/10

“Pigstep” is easily the most popular of the newer music discs. Obviously a parody of dubstep music, it’s found in Bastions, one of the hardest structures in the game inside another dimension. It’s super great, and such an already-iconic track that it’s scary. It’s funky, it’s bold, and feels so unique. I really like it, as I imagine most others do. However, while it may appear at the top of almost all Music Disc rankings, it’s got a couple of nitpicks that bring it down slightly for me.

No. 3 – “Creator” 9.5/10

This is another one of the newest discs, and is the “normal” version of its music box version. It’s really great to see multiple variants of 1 song make it into the game, since the only times this has happened in the past are small parts of some songs referencing others. Granted, this is easily the best variant of the original disc. Pretty much everything from the music box applies here, except for that this one introduces electric guitar into the fray and it sounds really neat. What a lovely song!

No. 2 + 1 (Tie) – “Far” and “Relic” 10/10

I’m grouping the best 2 songs together because they’re the only 10/10’s on this list, and are each amazing. #2 is “Far,” the oldest of the pair. This one is similar to other relaxing songs here, but compared to those this feels much more somber, yet still holds a lot of optimism. Once again it’s primarily a song that emphasizes the vastness of this virtual world, but is just so good at it that it makes second place in the ranking.

Meanwhile, “Relic” is my personal favorite music disc in the entire game, with no discernible reason why. It’s just so good that it makes the top. It has some cool synthesizers throughout that makes it purposefully old-sounding. These make it different from all the rest, and lead it to being my favorite Music Disc in ‘Minecraft.’

Local, Science/Nature

Poor air quality in St. Paul, Minnesota: What causes it and how should you deal with it?

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By: Audrey Vlaminck

Image taken from Wikimedia Commons

Minnesota’s Air Quality Index reached record highs in the summer of 2021, creating serious risk of negative health impacts for everyone exposed, not just those with sensitivities. Despite the gradual return to the normal range in St. Paul and surrounding areas, going into this year’s wildfire season, residents should remain mindful of the dangers that air quality pollution poses.

Air quality is measured through the Air Quality Index which gives a number to the amount of pollution present, ranging from green (0-50 AQI – Safe to breathe) to maroon (301+ AQI – Hazardous, avoid physical activity outdoors if at all possible. People in high risk groups should remain indoors). This index is extremely useful as it can help warn people of the current risk, and can help people in sensitive groups make educated decisions on the amount of exposure they’re going to be experiencing. Bad air quality can cause shortness of breath and other respiratory problems that have a greater impact on people who have health issues that already impact their breathing.

This bad air quality comes from a variety of factors, but St. Paul is affected a lot by wildfire smoke mostly coming from Canada, as well as more local ozone pollution. While the negative effects of breathing in large amounts of smoke are pretty well known, the dangers of ozone levels are talked about a lot less. Ozone in the atmosphere helps to protect the Earth from radiation, and is extremely helpful. Ground level ozone however, forms when smog and other organic compounds react with each other in high temperatures. Contributors to this type of pollution include vehicles, paints and solvents, factories, and other fossil fuel burning activities. When inhaled, this ozone can cause similar health issues to smoke exposure, such as coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and even asthma.

These pollutants and their impacts on the overall Air Quality Index are bad on their own, but they are made much worse by climate change. Hotter weather and longer, drier summers cause wildfires to become more common and be much more destructive when they do happen, causing much more smoke to be produced. Ozone pollution is also worsened by higher temperatures, as they create an environment that is easier for the reactions producing it to happen. An increase in pollution from actions that burn fossil fuels that accelerate climate change also worsen ozone, as they provide more material to react with. Overall, climate change has a direct impact on air quality and the factors that cause it.

Experts predict that this summer’s air quality will be nowhere near as bad as it was last summer due to a milder early wildfire season as well as much less of a drought. Despite this hopeful news, those living in the Twin Cities area should remain conscious of the Air Quality Index and be on the watch for alerts as a drought later on in the summer is not out of the question.

When air quality is bad it is advised to reduce your time spent outdoors, especially intense exercise or any other activity that would cause you to be breathing harder. When inside, make sure to close your doors and windows and run an air filter if you have access to one. If you must go outside, certain types of masks can help reduce the amount of pollution particles you breathe in. Doctors recommend a properly fitting N95 or KN95 mask specifically for this type of filtration.

As climate change progresses, emissions from burning fossil fuels get worse and dry seasons become hotter and longer. This will result in a continuous decline of air quality due to an increase of direct pollutants such as exhaust and smog as well as other factors like ground level ozone and wildfire smoke. While we should not give up in our efforts to reduce this pollution and reverse its effects, these periods of bad air quality have become frequent enough that everyone should know how to read an Air Quality Index score as well as know how to minimize negative health effects when the air becomes harmful.

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