Category Archives: Entertainment

Movies/TV/Theaters

A history of the Addams Family

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By: Bijou Kruszka

The Addams Family: everyone has heard of them. With its distinct characters and deadpan, dark humor, the franchise has certainly cemented its place in popular culture. For those unfamiliar, the Addams Family consists of Gomez, the sword-wielding father; Morticia, the dark, seductive mother; Wednesday, the sarcastic daughter; Pugsley, the pain-tolerant brother; Fester, the eccentric uncle; Grandma, the kooky old lady; Lurch, the zombie butler; and Cousin It, a literal ball of hair. So, needless to say, there’s a lot of oddities to be found in these characters. However, they’ve been through a lot of different variations.

While most people think of the Addams family as characters from the silver screen, they actually started off as comic characters. The Addams Family debuted in 1938, as the creation of cartoonist Charles Addams. They appeared in single-panel comics in the publication ‘The New Yorker’. Looking at these comics, it is very clear to see the origin of these characters. However, originally they had no names or dialogue, only known as the Addams family because they were drawn by Charles Addams. Charles Addams drew 150 Addams Family comics in his lifetime.

Inspired by Addams’s comics, David Levy brought the Addams Family to television. Premiering on September 18th, 1964, this version of the Addams family created the characters we know and love today. Their dark sense of humor and macabre personalities captured the attention of many viewers. Plus, the TV show debuted the iconic, snapping theme song, composed by Vic Mizzy. Every Friday night at 8:30pm, viewers everywhere would tune in to watch the odd sitcom. The show ran on ABC for 64 episodes, plus a holiday special, concluding in 1967.

After the end of the television show, the Addams Family went relatively silent until 1991, when Paramount released the film ‘The Addams Family’. The film was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starred Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, Raul Julia and Christopher Lloyd. The plot follows a doppelgänger of Fester trying to infiltrate the Addams family. It was relatively well-received with audiences and critics alike, and led to a sequel in 1993: ‘Addams Family Values’. The main cast from the previous film returned, along with famed actress Joan Cusack. There was also a straight-to-DVD movie ‘Addams Family Reunion’, which replaced Raul Julia with Tim Curry. The film series is probably the most well-known and iconic piece of the franchise.

In 2019, another Addams Family movie was released, but this time the family was animated. The character designs drew heavily from the comics, but they were updated to make it three-dimensional. The movie featured a star-studded cast, with celebrities like Nick Kroll, Finn Wolfhard, Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, and Bette Midler all lending their voices. The movie led to mediocre critical reviews, but grossed $200 million in the box office. So, in 2021, ‘The Addams Family 2’ was released, which followed the family on a road trip. It received much less favorable reviews, and grossed $120 million.

Most recently, Netflix released the series ‘Wednesday’. Where Wednesday differs from previous adaptations is the significant lack of the rest of the Addams family. It only focuses on Wednesday, as she attends a mysterious boarding school. It still manages to keep the deadpan tone of the Addams family though. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Jenna Ortega, this series rose to unprecedented popularity through TikTok, becoming a viral hit with teens everywhere.

The final adaptation on this list is the Addams Family musical. Premiering on Broadway in 2010, this show keeps the macabre humor that the Addams family is known for, adds a musical twist, and is overall an incredibly fun watch. If you want to watch something related to the Addams family soon, you’re in luck. Highland Park’s very own production of ‘The Addams Family’ is opening on April 20th at 7pm. The other showtimes are April 21st at 7pm, and April 22nd at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Everyone involved in the production has worked very hard to make it a good one, and we hope to see you there!

Travel/Food

Siren tour guide

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By: Mae Skold

Siren, Wisconsin is a small town in northern Wisconsin, perfect for cabin stays and outdoor activities. The small town has a small population of 800 where everybody knows everybody. The town full of friendly Wisconsinites should not be overlooked for its size and they would love for you to stop by. Here’s what you should do!

Wisconsin is known for its lakes, so stopping by Siren’s Crooked Lake is a must. The lake has a fun park with live music, a nice beach, a playground, and good people. Children can safely swim and enjoy the water while adults can relax at the nice shoreline. There are lively fish that are a joy to feed and fish for. In the summer, Crooked Lake is a great place to visit.

If you’re more of an in-door person, Siren has many great stores and restaurants to stop into. One town favorite is the candy store Chipmunks Cheeks. The cute candy store has great ice cream, boba, and of course candy. Not only do they have sweet treats, but they also have fun toys and a kitchen supply store on the other side of the building. Another great place to visit is the coffee shop Chattering Squirrel. Chattering Squirrel and Chipmunks Cheeks are owned by the same family so you can be guaranteed great service every time. The coffee shop is perfect for a refreshing drink or a lunch in a cool, new renovated setting.

One of the busiest days of the year in Siren is the 4th of July. This day is a must for when you are planning when to visit the town. The town hosts a fun parade in the morning with floats, bands, and candy for the kids. After the parade, the lakes are bustling with boaters and families enjoying the water. If you are deciding when to visit, the 4th of July won’t disappoint.

This summer, I hope you consider keeping Siren on your list for a day trip or cabin vacation spot. When you decide to visit Siren we’ll be there to welcome you!

Travel/Food

The best chocolate chip cookie recipe

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By: Makenzie Malek

Chocolate chip cookies, my favorite, and it comes to no surprise that according to CBS news, it’s technically the U.S’s favorite cookie too.

There have become many variations of this one particular cookie, such as: adding oats and dried fruits, or filling the middle with brownie, and even adding fun candies like m&ms to the dough. Although those are fun and something different, today I’m going to share with you the best classic chocolate chip cookie recipe.

This recipe comes from: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10813/best-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Total time: 30 mins

Servings: 48

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons hot water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3-cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Step 1: preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2: beat softened butter, white sugar and brown sugar in an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth.

Step 3: beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla and beat until combined.

Step 4: dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt.

Step 5: stir in flour and chocolate chips.

Step 6: drop spoonfuls of dough on ungreased baking sheets.

Step 7: bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until the edges are nicely browned.

Step 8: cool for at least 2 mins and enjoy!

These are great to share with friends and family, and you can freeze the dough and the baked cookies for up to two months.

Like I said earlier, people often add different ingredients to the cookie, feel free to add a twist to this classic recipe to make it your own. Some mix-ins that I have added in my cookies that I recommend are m&m’s, white chocolate chips, and if you like your cookies more sweet, add dried cranberries. Some I haven’t tried but I have seen are things like mini marshmallows, and more uniquely, people have added bacon or crushed up potato chips.

This simple yet delicious recipe will have you wishing you made more than the serving size, and I hope you decide to try this if you haven’t already.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Cocaine Bear’ movie review

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By: Greta Johnson

The 2023 movie ‘Cocaine Bear’ is a 90 minute film based loosely on a true story. It’s about an American black bear in Georgia who ingested some cocaine that had been dropped from a plane into the Georgia wilderness. The bear then goes on a wild killing rampage and its only goal is to ingest more cocaine. Most of the characters in this movie are satire tropes who make bad decisions to move the plot along.

There’s a 13-year-old girl and her best friend (who go into the woods to see the falls), a park ranger, a group of teenage boys, 2 police officers, a mom and a man who works with animals. All these characters have encounters with the bear that are actually pretty funny.

Even though parts of the movie are honestly pretty gory and suspenseful, there’s a comedic feeling to the plot and dialect. I really liked this, I thought it made the movie worth watching and super enjoyable. I really like how all the actors portray their characters. Their reactions and how they handle all the situations feel real, not like some horror movies where they make the worst choice possible every time.

Overall, I really liked this movie. I thought it was comedic and did a great job making fun of a crazy situation. The whole storyline was honestly really crazy. There were many points in the movie that had me so surprised, I was laughing. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants a good laugh but you should be ready for some really bloody and gory scenes that will probably gross you out a little too.

I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

You can see ‘Cocaine Bear’ in theaters.

Entertainment

“Are YOU Smarter Than a 9th Grader?”

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By: Daniel Kendle

Hello, hello all, welcome to the 1st-ever showing of “Are You Smarter Than a 9th Grader?”, where we look at your mental prowess measured in comparison to that lovely animal we can’t help but cringe at, children. Specifically, high school freshmen.

In this game we’ll ask you, the audience member, to grab a piece of paper and write down the numbers 1-20. This is because we are going to ask you 20 questions in total, each with 4 possible answers. There is only 1 correct answer to each, and all are true statements.

At the end, we’ll have you tally up your answers. If you get one right, you get 2 points, meaning you can theoretically get a maximum of 40. Then, you multiply your answer by 2 and see how well you did. I’ve included some labels showing your strength depending on how well you did.

And, just a quick side-note: this game is best played with friends! Grab that one pal of yours who just won’t leave you alone about your D+ in Pre-Calculus and show them that yes, you are the superior hominid.

With all that being said, let’s begin.

“ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 9TH GRADER?”

….

QUESTION ONE: “Which of the following is NOT one of the 7 man-made wonders of the world, as of 2023?”

  • A. The Taj Mahal
  • B. Machu Picchu
  • C. The Sydney Opera House
  • D. Christ the Redeemer

QUESTION TWO: “How many counties are there in Tennessee?”

  • A. 95
  • B. 87
  • C. 21
  • D. 25

QUESTION THREE: “Who won the award ‘Best Cinematography’ during the 2023 Oscars award ceremony?”

  • A. ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’
  • B. ‘The Whale’
  • C. ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’
  • D. ‘All Quiet On The Western Front’

QUESTION FOUR: “What are the names of the 2 main characters in John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice And Men?’”

  • A. Joe and Farlock
  • B. Benn and Richter
  • C. George and Lennie
  • D. Gobo and Lockland

QUESTION FIVE: “Who wrote the book, ‘The Lost World?’”

  • A. Charles Dickens
  • B. Michael Crichton
  • C. Mark Twain
  • D. Maya Angelou

QUESTION SIX: “A juvenile bison is known as what?”

  • A. A kid
  • B. An infant
  • C. A sprout
  • D. A calf

QUESTION SEVEN: “In the game ‘Wingspan,’ you are tasked with collecting and playing birds on a preserve, as it’s a card game. What is a species of bird that does NOT appear in the game?”

  • A. Heath Hen
  • B. Horned Lark
  • C. Willet
  • D. Canada Goose

QUESTION EIGHT: “How long did World War 1 last?”

  • A. A year
  • B. 4 years
  • C. 8 years
  • D. 2 years

QUESTION NINE: “What day is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated?”

  • A. March 16
  • B. March 8
  • C. March 23
  • D. March 17

QUESTION TEN: “Which primary color combination is necessary for getting the secondary color orange?”

  • A. Red & Blue
  • B. Blue & Green
  • C. Yellow & Red
  • D. Green & Yellow

QUESTION ELEVEN: “What were the spikes on a Stegosaurus’ tail called?”

  • A. Thagomizers
  • B. Spikes
  • C. Ribblebacks
  • D. Spinal Needles

QUESTION TWELVE: “What is the only US state that can be spelled only using the middle letters on a standard keyboard (A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K, L)?

  • A. Hawaii
  • B. Alaska
  • C. Alabama
  • D. Kansas

QUESTION THIRTEEN: “What symbol on a QWERTY keyboard is known as ‘Caret?’”

  • A. *
  • B. %
  • C. ^
  • D. ~

QUESTION FOURTEEN: “What is the Minnesota State Muffin?”

  • A. Pumpkin Muffin
  • B. Banana Muffin
  • C. Strawberry Muffin
  • D. Blueberry Muffin

QUESTION FIFTEEN: “How many bones are in the human body?”

  • A. 318
  • B. 206
  • C. 79
  • D. 184

QUESTION SIXTEEN: “How many sides does a nonagon have?”

  • A. 9
  • B. 12
  • C. 13
  • D. 8

QUESTION SEVENTEEN: “Which video game won ‘Game of the Year’ at the Game Awards 2022?”

  • A. ‘God o fWar: Ragnarok’
  • B. ‘Stray’
  • C. ‘Elden Ring’
  • D. ‘Neon White’

QUESTION EIGHTEEN: “What is currently the largest living land mammal on Earth?

  • A. American Bison
  • B. African Elephant
  • C. Hippopotamus
  • D. Javan Rhinoceros

QUESTION NINETEEN: “Which of the following devices is used to spin thread and weave fabric?”

  • A. Steam Engine
  • B. Loom
  • C. Anvil
  • D. Printing Press

QUESTION TWENTY: “What are the 3 dimensions in ‘Minecraft’ called?

  1. The Overworld, the Underworld, and the Midworld
  2. The Beginning, the Between, and the End
  3. The Real World, the Slip, and the Waste
  4. The Overworld, the Nether, and the End

…..

Alrighty, that’s all of them! Now that you’ve either written down or remembered your results, let’s go over the correct answers.

  • Q1. C
  • Q2. A
  • Q3. D
  • Q4. C
  • Q5. B
  • Q6. D
  • Q7. A
  • Q8. B
  • Q9. D
  • Q10. C
  • Q11. A
  • Q12. B
  • Q13. C
  • Q14. D
  • Q15. B
  • Q16. A
  • Q17. C
  • Q18. B
  • Q19. B
  • Q20. D

So, like I said, once you tally up your answers – remember, you get 2 points for each correct answer – multiply your amount by 2 and look below to see what your mental prowess equates to.

0 – 20 Points: You’re probably some kind of non-human mammal. In that case, how are you reading this?

21 – 30 Points: You probably don’t concern yourself with random trivia. I suppose it’s admirable how you devote yourself to learning logical facts, but then again, where’s the flare in that?

31 – 40 Points: While you do tend to enjoy trivia, you don’t spend every waking moment of your day studying random facts. Pathetic.

41 – 50 Points: This is generally the standard base for most to be at. Congrats; you satisfy my standards for trivia.

51 – 60 Points: You are definitely smarter than a 9th grader. Then again, that’s practically a given for society at this point.

61 – 70 Points: Where’s your college diploma? Yeah, you’ve earned this title, congratulations! Now go use your intellect to solve world hunger, or something.

71 – 80 Points: Okay, you’re starting to scare me a bit.

And with that, the world’s FIRST game of “Are YOU Smarter Than a 9th Grader” has concluded. Thanks for playing, and I’ll see you next time. I’ve been your host, Mr. Whatsername, and I’ll actually be doing my Geometry homework now.

Books/Art

‘They Both Die in The End’ – Book review

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By: Biftu Osmon

‘They Both Die in the End’, written by Adam Silvera, is a novel about two teenage boys who receive an unexpected phone call informing them that they will die within the next 24 hours and that there’s no way of preventing it.

The novel mainly focuses on the daily rundown of the two main characters, Rufus, who’s an open-minded, spontaneous teenage boy, and Mateo, who’s the polar opposite, an introvert who prefers to keep to himself. These two characters are living completely different lives before they connect through an app meant for people who are inevitably going to die within the next twenty-four hours. It was created so people wouldn’t spend their last day alive alone.

Since they are fortunate to live close to one another, they decide to get together and spend the day bidding goodbye to their loved ones while also engaging in enjoyable activities. The book allows you to see every moment of Rufus and Mateo’s bonding and formation of their friendship because each chapter is an in-depth hour of their day. By the time the day was over, both of them had achieved something they had never imagined they would in their entire lives.

I would rate this book a 6/10. Although the ending was very obvious, because of the book title, I wish the author would have added a more interesting or more major plot twist. I began reading the book expecting it to be a 5 star book because the book had mostly only great ratings, and there was a lot of hype surrounding it all over social media. I still enjoyed the plot and idea the author had, and I would probably still recommend this book to a friend, because I still enjoyed it and I’m glad I read it.

News, Travel/Food

The healthy cereal lawsuit

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By: Joseph Nelson

We all remember the sugar coated cereal we would eat before school started, or while watching our morning Saturday TV. But we all know that the “best way to start your morning” slogan that would appeal to kids and parents was completely fabricated right? Well, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) feel’s as though the marketing for these cereal should not have any saying of how it’s “healthy” or “good for you”. Now, I’ve loved cereal when I was a kid (when my mom would let me have them of course) but I feel like I knew this wasn’t healthy at all, so would this change much? The answer to that is yes!

With this new rule, the FDA will mandate that foods labeled as “healthy” must contain food groups like fruits, whole grain, dairy, and other added ingredients that must now fit a certain criteria in order to be approved as a “healthy” cereal. Now, what are the actual stats of this rule? Well, the rule will limit all cereal to no more than 2.5 grams of sugar per serving. This would restrict multiple food brands from being on the store shelf with what now would be false advertising.

To put it into perspective, Fruit Loops are 12 grams of sugar per serving, Lucky Charms are 10 grams, and Cocoa Puffs are also 10 grams. This means that these “healthy” foods are now 4x-5x over the maximum amount of sugar, per serving, that is allowed within these cereals.

Now, large cereal companies like General Mills and Kellogg’s, decried the proposed nutritional criteria and threatened legal action against what they say is a “violation of their first amendment rights”. The companies are going on to say that the healthy labeling requirements are an unconstitutional reach from the government power over the food industry. But the FDA says otherwise.

The FDA goes on to counter the claim of “lack of free speech” with a brief but thorough statement “cannot explain why consumers cannot make their own healthy decisions based on [nutrition labeling] data”. Rather, it seeks to limit the food companies’ ‘speech'” effectively saying that with this new proposal, the product’s ingredients will be completely transparent to the consumer and will give them a completely unbiased choice of whether or not they put that candy bar in their cart.

Now, how will this change for the consumer? Well, we know that the average day Fruit Loop consumer will probably still be filling the pockets of the big corporations. But the new single mom walking down the aisle, looking for a healthy cereal for her kid, will now see all these cereals around her and will be able to accurately choose the best healthy option for her and her kid.

That isn’t stopping me though, Cocoa Puffs will forever be my childhood favorite.

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Clubs and Activities, Entertainment

5 fictional podcast recommendations

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By: Bijou Kruszka

Podcasts are becoming more popular every single day. They allow anyone to become completely immersed in a world from the comfort of anywhere they can listen to audio. One of the best ways to experience stories is through fictional podcasts, but it can be hard to find a really good one. Here are my top 5 personal recommendations for fictional podcasts.

#1: ‘The Magnus Archives‘

First on this list, and arguably the most popular, is ‘The Magnus Archives’. ‘The Magnus Archives’ is a horror podcast which follows Jonathan Sims, an archivist at the Magnus Institute, as he transcribes their files into an audio format. Every episode brings a new short horror story, which eventually starts to thread together into a larger, mysterious narrative.

Pros: There is a lot to like with ‘The Magnus Archives’. Every story
in the series is very creative and effectively horrific. From the very beginning, every episode delivers something interesting and fresh. It is also genuinely scary, something that can be hit or miss in an audio medium. Once you get a decent amount of episodes in, the show also creates a lovable cast of characters in addition to the main narrator.

Cons: If you’re someone who needs plot fast, this show is not for you. It takes a considerable amount of episodes to reach any small thread of plot, and when each episode is 25 minutes, it feels significantly long to move past the beginning. Additionally, the beginning episodes are not skippable, as some are necessary for plot details later.

#2: ‘Welcome to Night Vale‘

Next, we have one of the original audio dramas, ‘Welcome to Night Vale’. ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ (WTNV for short) is a radio show detailing the odd happenings of the titular small, desert town. Each episode follows a similar format: news, with a small episodic story flowing through it; then the weather report (which isn’t the weather but fun indie music from smaller artists); and then a conclusion, with the wrap up of the episodic plot-line and a few wise words from Cecil Palmer, the radio host and main narrator.

Pros: WTNV is a fun ride all around. Its comedic writing is top-tier, and Cecil’s deadpan delivery only elevates it further. The setting is consistently bizarre and fun to be in. As the podcast progresses, the town feels more and more tangible, with a recurring cast of quirky characters. There are genuine heartfelt relationships built, especially between Cecil and out-of-town scientist Carlos. The diverse catalogue of music built by the weather segment is also enjoyable. There is also a huge backlog to listen to, as they’ve been uploading every two weeks since 2012.

Cons: WTNV doesn’t really have much of a plot. While there are recurring characters and some arcs that extend outside of episodes, no central plot stays for very long. It also doesn’t have much variety in terms of sound, as most episodes are simply Cecil talking. This makes it a great podcast to relax to, not so much to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a high stakes podcast centered around one ongoing conflict, WTNV is not for you.

#3: ‘The Penumbra Podcast‘

‘The Penumbra Podcast’ is technically two podcasts in one. It alternates between storylines every chapter, “Juno Steel” and “The Second Citadel”. “Juno Steel” focuses on the titular character, a private eye on futuristic Mars, as he entangles himself in space crime through a series of fun characters. “The Second Citadel” is set in medieval times, and focuses on a group of knights trying to protect their kingdom and navigate their personal relationships.

Pros: ‘The Penumbra Podcast’ is fantastic. Each storyline is treated with the utmost care and is incredibly interesting. Both stories are absolutely fantastic with fully developed casts of characters and wonderful writing. There’s also lots of splendid queer and disability representations through a diverse array of characters. “Juno Steel” does a lot of creative things with its sci-fi settings and its characters are all incredibly distinct and fun. “The Second Citadel” creates a lot of interesting conflicts with its world-building and the variety in plot-lines is fun to see. If you like diverse, well-built characters, Penumbra is certainly for you.

Cons: With the way the storylines alternate, it can be easy to get jumbled up. Sometimes, this organization can lead to confusion in listeners and cause them to lose details that become central to the plot later. It also is fairly long. Each chapter is at least two episodes, each about 45 minutes long. While the Penumbra has settings you want to stay in for that long, if you’re looking for more bite-sized pieces, it’s not quite right for you.

#4: ’36 Questions‘

’36 Questions’ is a story about Judith and Jase, a couple trying to rekindle their deteriorating marriage by answering the titular 36 questions, proven to make you fall in love with the other person. ’36 Questions’ is different from the other podcasts on this list in two ways: it’s a musical, and it’s only 3 episodes long.

Pros: If you want something short to start listening to audio dramas, ’36 Questions’ is up your alley. Telling a complete story in approximately 3 hours, this is incredibly short compared to everything else on this list. The music for this is also splendid. Jessie Shelton and Broadway legend Jonathan Groff are both fantastic singers, and all of the songs feel very cohesive and are enjoyable to listen to. The central conflict is very grounded and the characters are realistic and well-rounded.

Cons: While it’s a pro, it’s also a con: this podcast is short. The ending isn’t exactly satisfying, and listeners will want to stay in this story for longer than what they’re given. However, there isn’t a whole ton of room for the story to expand. The main two characters are the only two characters (unless you include Henry the duck, which unfortunately I am not) so there isn’t much variety in the story itself.

#5: ‘Wolf 359‘

‘Wolf 359’ is a sci-fi podcast following Doug Eiffel, an astronaut aboard the USS Hephaestus, as he records his experiences in space via audio logs. He witnesses everything from aliens to mutiny, and he always has some quips to accompany it.

Pros: ‘Wolf 359’ perfectly balances both comedy and
drama. While Doug always has a joke for every moment, it’s not
afraid to get very tense or heartfelt. The crew aboard the USS
Hephaestus is completely charming, and they are all very well-developed. The overarching conflict is interesting for sure, but the filler episodes are sometimes even better. Overall, with an enjoyable cast and fantastic writing, this show is one you don’t want to miss.

Cons: This one is not the simplest to follow in terms of overarching conflict, especially if you are not a sci-fi person. The show throws you into the void of space, both literally and figuratively, and for those unacclimated to the genre, this can be somewhat jarring. I wouldn’t recommend this one as a first for new audio drama listeners, as the show has a tendency to move on pretty quickly without explanation.

In the end, the world of fictional podcasts is very diverse and has a lot to offer. Should you listen to any of these and enjoy them, you might have a fun time at HPSH’s very own audiodrama club. We meet every Thursday after school in the choir room. We discuss fictional podcasts of all kinds, sharing new recommendations and listening to episodes together. We hope to see you there!

Travel/Food

Canjeero and shaax recipe

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By: Ajmal Abdirahman

Canjeero is a breakfast staple in Somalia. Both my mom and dad would eat it almost every morning when they lived in Somalia. It’s one of my favorites from Somali food. I grew up eating it almost everyday just like my parents. My mom would get up very early in the morning and make a big batch of Canjeero and alongside she would also make her signature Somali shaax!

Canjeero can be eaten in many different ways. Like with shaax (which is Somali tea), with sugar and sesame oil, with goat or camel liver (which is called “beer” in Somali), with oodkaac (which is a Somali dish of preserved jerky style beef cubes), or my favorite way, with honey!

Somali tea (Shaax), was first introduced to Somalia through ancient trade with the Indians and Arabs. It’s typical for Somalis to drink this throughout the day but mostly at breakfast or late at night. Tea is widely preferred in Somalia over coffee. If you add milk to your tea then it is called Shaax Bigaysi.

I asked my mother for her recipes; here they are!

Canjeero Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1 cup of self rising flour
  • 1 cup of corn flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3-4 cups of water
  • 1 teaspoon of yeast
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar

Instructions on how to make Canjeero:

  1. First combine all the flours in one large bowl along with the salt, sugar, and yeast and whisk well
  2. Add the water slowly until you get the right consistency (thick and smooth)
  3. Then let the batter sit for an hour or overnight
  4. Enjoy!

Shaax Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • Cold water (amount is how much tea you want to make)
  • 1⁄2 cup of sugar
  • Cardamom (add desired amount)
  • Cinnamon sticks (add desired amount)
  • Cloves (add desired amount)
  • Ginger (you can use powdered ginger but fresh is best, also add desired amount)
  • Black tea bags or black tea leaves (add desired amount)

Instructions on how to make Shaax:

  1. First grab a kettle and pour your cold water into it
  2. Either boil the water first or boil when all ingredients are added
  3. Add your sugar
  4. Then add all your spices, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and ginger, then let that all boil together
  5. When that all boils together nicely add your tea bags or tea leaves
  6. Boil for a couple of minutes until it gets to a dark brown color
  7. Strain the tea and pour it into your thermos or tea pot
  8. Enjoy!

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Travel/Food

Attractions to do in the Twin Cities

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By: Jessica Garcia Saligan

CanCan Wonderland

This attraction is an amusement built in a historical building.
CanCan Wonderland has many attractions for all ages. Kids and adults can play an 18 hole mini golf course made by 18 different artists. All 18 holes are different and provide different skills. CanCan also has a ping ball arcade and many other retro arcade games. They provide many necessities to have an amazing evening.

Here is a link to find CanCan Wonderland: https://goo.gl/maps/FMmT32SeT7U2

Mall Of America

The Mall Of America has many attractions to choose from! They have an escape room with 12 different room choices from prison escape to a mansion escape. This attraction involves a lot of critical thinking so if you’re good at, that I suggest that you try it out!

The mall also has an indoor theme park with many coasters for all ages from thrill rides like the rock bottom plunge, to zip lining and many kid coasters for the little ones. I recommend the park to younger kids because the thrill rides aren’t as thrilling compared to other places, but overall, it’s a great place to spend an evening out.

If you ever get hungry while shopping, the 3rd and 4th floor have so many restaurants and fast food places and so many varieties of food you can choose from.

One thing that MOA is known for, is the biggest Sea Life in Minnesota; it has more than 10,000 underwater creatures plus the 11 breathtaking exhibits that are filled with 1.3 million gallons of water.

The Mall of America is located at: 60 E Broadway, Bloomington, MN 55425

WhirlyBall

WhirlyBall is a fun place to go out with family and friends! There are so many activities to do such as WhirlyBall, a lot of people don’t know what it is or never heard of it. WhirlyBall is a team sport that is up to 2-4 people per team. You have a bumper car and a scoop with a ball. What you have to do is make sure the ball doesn’t hit the floor and score on the opposite team’s goal.

Some other activities they have are laser tag, arcades, bowling, escape rooms, and if you really enjoy WhirlyBall you can join a Whirly League. You get a lot of benefits if you’re on the team such as exclusive food and drinks, 50% off walk-in Whirly anytime all season. It’s $5 per person for 3 games per night, which will be $75 per week. You need to have 5 players on each team and must be 18 years old to play. They are also known for how many good food options they have.

You can find WhirlyBall at: 2405 East Old Shakopee  Road,
Bloomington MN 55425