Category Archives: Entertainment

ME! by Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie

May 13, 2019 Maddie Baggenstoss Leave a comment

By: Daniela Fernandez and Maddie Baggenstoss

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard any new Taylor Swift music. The last new music we heard from her was from her Reputation album back in 2017.

Before the release of her new song, Taylor left many clues for fans to find. She posted 11 Instagram pictures all with the caption 4.26 which led many fans to think she would be releasing either a new album or single on that day. She then added a countdown on her website and Instagram story to mark the day all her fans were waiting for.

Then on April 26, 2019 she released her new song called “ME!” with Panic! At The Disco’s lead singer Brendon Urie. This song is very different from her Reputation album. It sounds very bright, cheerful, and peppy; as compared to the darker tone in her last album.

The song was released with a music video which represents a new change in Taylor’s music. Click here to watch the music video. With the video released many fans have decoded it to find hidden messages and clues for what lies ahead. According to Time Magazine, one of the messages fans have discovered is a snake transforming into butterflies. This is clearly referencing her Reputation album, which had a few major themes including snakes. The snakes represented all of the people who ruined her reputation. The snake transforming into butterflies most likely represents Taylor herself leaving behind her past drama in favor of a more positive style of music. Then fans found a painting of the Dixie Chicks in the background possibly telling them there would be a collab soon. All of the clocks in the apartment seen were set to 8:30 which many fans think is when Taylor will be releasing new music; August 30th. There are many more clues and messages throughout the video. To read more about them click here.

Swift and Urie performed their new hit song at this year’s Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. According to CNN, their performance then sparked controversy because they were accused of copying Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella performance. In both performances marching bands and drum lines were used, and the lightning was also very similar. Some have pointed out these similarities while others believe it is just bad timing. Beyoncé fans are using the hashtag #mayochella to mock the fact that Swift copied the Coachella performance in May.

In response to these allegations, many fans have taken it upon themselves to point out the fact that this is not the first time a drum line or marching band was used in a performance according to CNN. Many pointed out that Prince used them at his iconic Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2007, Gwen Stefani at the Teen Choice Awards in 2005, and Madonna in 2012 for her MDNA tour. Lastly, fans pointed out that Taylor Swift used a marching band in her “You Belong with Me” music video back in 2009.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Upcoming movies

May 10, 2019 teah Leave a comment

With Avengers: Endgame being released, a lot of other movies have been overshadowed. The movie made two billion worldwide, and is the second highest grossing movie, just behind Avatar. If you’ve already seen Endgame (or are just not interested in it), but still want to look forward to seeing a movie, then think about checking out these five upcoming films.

1. Detective Pikachu – May 10th

This movie is coming out May 10th, and is the first live-action Pokémon movie. A lot of people are excited to see how their favorite Pokémon fair in real life. Detective Pikachu’s storyline involves a Pikachu, played by Ryan Reynolds, only the main character, played by Justice Smith, can hear talk. It’s a mystery movie that promise’s to entertain you from beginning to end.

2. Brightburn – May 24th

Brightburn is introducing a new genre to films: superhero horror. It is about a boy who crash lands on Earth with superpowers. But instead of being like, say, Superman, who helps the world, he becomes a villain. He uses his powers for bad. Brightburn is directed by James Gunn, who has done excellent work on Guardians of the Galaxy, and will hopefully give the same heart to this movie which looks like a good spring horror film.

3. John Wick Chapter 3 – May 17th

This is the third installment of the John Wick films, and promises to delight the viewers of the first two. The John Wick films were received well, and if you’ve seen the first two then this one will most likely delight you. If you haven’t seen the first two films then it’s not too late to catch up, and go see the third when it comes out.

4. Godzilla: King of the Monsters – May 31st

Godzilla is a movie franchise dating back to 1954 in Japan. With this new movie however, Godzilla is not the only monster. The movie’s plot is just a big monster battle. If monsters aren’t your thing then maybe consider that Millie Bobby Brown, a fan favorite who played Eleven in Stranger Things, stars in this May release.

5. Spider-Man: Far From Home – July 2nd

Be careful before watching the trailer to this movie if you have yet to see Endgame, it contains a spoiler! Far From Home is the sequel to Homecoming, the Spider-Man movie starring Tom Holland as the title character that released in July of 2017. These Spider-Man films feature a high school Peter Parker. The film’s plot features Spider-Man going up against Nick Fury in Europe. The previous Spider-Man movie was well received as this one is sure to be too.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Avengers Endgame

May 8, 2019 ladafia Leave a comment

Avengers Endgame was released on April 22, 2019. The movie is three hours and 2 minutes long. It is rated PG-13.

*Warning – Some spoilers ahead*

After the devastating loss against Thanos, in Infinity War, the universe has come to ruin. With the help of the remaining Avengers: Black Widow, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Clint, Nebula, and Ant-Man, they assemble one last time to undo what Thanos has done.

The movie starts off with Clint’s family disappearing, along with half on the universe missing also. Nebula and Stark are stranded in space with little oxygen left, but they are returned to earth by Captain Marvel. Reunited with the rest of the Avengers, the team comes up with a plan to steal the stones back from Thanos, but upon finding him they realized that he has destroyed the stones.

Five years later, the Avengers are still in a bad place with still half of the universe disappearing on them. Later, when Ant-man escapes from the quantum realm, he had an idea to go back in time to undo what Thanos had created. With everyone on board with the plan, they decide to go back in time.

In the end, they successfully defeated Thanos, and bring back all the people they have lost, but they have also lost people that were important in the war.

Travel/Food

Coffee talk

May 2, 2019 delaneysiss Leave a comment

The article is for all of my coffee drinkers out there. Coffee may taste good, plus it helps you get through the day, but what happens when you try to sleep.

Well, let’s start with the ingredients as to what goes into coffee. Coffee is pretty much just made from, well, coffee beans, and speaking of coffee beans, according to MSN.com, they are actually considered seeds.

Coffee beans contain caffeine, which causes insomnia. Insomnia is not being able to sleep. Drinking coffee can also cause high blood pressure. Drinking a caffeinated cup of coffee can increase blood pressure. Therefore, people who already have high blood pressure are at risk of their blood pressure becoming much higher, which isn’t safe. Caffeinism is caused when an adult drinks about 6 cups a day. Sure, drinking that much coffee isn’t good for you, but an adult can handle the effects a little bit better than a child. You can check out Webmd.com for more information about the negative effects of caffeine.

I know not many people drink or enjoy coffee but they can enjoy it in other things besides just a hot drink. Coffee is made into many different foods – from jelly beans to ice cream. There are so many options as to how you eat/drink it it’s probably not a bad idea to know what some of the effects of it may be.

Tech/Games

PlayStation 5 – news, specs and pricing

April 29, 2019 elliotwallarticles Leave a comment

It has been more than 6 years since Sony released the PlayStation 4, so many people are asking for details on a next-gen system. Last week, PS fans got their wish. The PlayStation 5 will be released sometime in 2019.

In a recent interview, Mark Cerny (architectect of the PS4) said that the architecture of the PS5 will be similar to the PS4, which means that the new system will be backwards compatible (works with games from previous PlayStation systems).

The new console will have some significant upgrades with graphics and speeds, including 8K visual support (this will rely on upgrades from TV companies). The graphics will be driven by Raedons Navi line. This new graphics chip will support ray tracing, a fairly new chip that’s beginning to be used in many new movies and video games.

The new Sony console will not be inexpensive, but not as pricey as some devices coming out these days. At a starting price of $499, the system will be $100 more than its predecessor, the PS4. Hopefully, there will be significant upgrades and new specs that will make up for the $500 starting price tag. The system will probably also have more storage upgrade options, which will raise the price for consumers who want more storage for entertainment.

Tech/Games

The Instagram “Nasty List” hack

April 29, 2019 Maddie Baggenstoss Leave a comment

In the past few weeks, many Instagram users have seen strange messages on their accounts and sent to them by friends. If you have seen any of these messages, you are not the only one. The messages are spread from person to person, by clicking one link and entering a password.

The messages that people have been seeing all refer to something called the Instagram “Nasty List.” The messages vary slightly, but they all tell you that you are on the “Nasty List.”

Below the intriguing message, there is a live link. Many people unknowingly click the link hoping to discover where they are on the list and why. After clicking on the link, users are brought to a login page, where they are asked to enter their username and password. Although the page looks very similar to the real Instagram login page, it is really just a convincing fake.

Shortly after giving your information to this website, the same message you received will be sent to many of your followers. By clicking the link and entering your information, you are giving the hackers full access to your Instagram account. It is unknown what the hackers will do with the stolen accounts, but it is always better to avoid finding out.

The best way to avoid getting hacked in this case, is simply to not click the link. If you’ve already clicked the link, change your account password as soon as possible. This will make it so that the password you gave the hackers is invalid; however, they may have already changed your password. In that case, there unfortunately isn’t anything you can do.

If you are ever worried about your Instagram account getting hacked, the best thing you can do is set up two-factor authentication and never enter your information anywhere except for the official website or app.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Into the Woods

April 25, 2019 deitychildren Leave a comment

By: Vivian S

Into the Woods, presented by Highland Theater, is a musical, where dozens of fairy tale characters, you may or may not recognize, appear. Directed by Nancy Michael, many people participated in the making and success of the play. The play was split into two acts, with an intermission between them.

The basic plot of the play is that a baker (Logan Staeheli) and his wife (Leah Terry) can’t have children because a witch (Sidra Michael) cursed their family, so they have to collect ingredients for a spell for the witch. Their paths end up crossing with Red Riding Hood (Leah Morley), Cinderella (Clare Brownlee), and Jack (Soren Chirhart).

Some of my favorite moments included a song featuring the two princes (Thomas Madison and Soren Eversoll) called “Agony”, in which they are fighting over who has it worse. Another moment that had the entire theater rolling in their seats with laughter is when Rapunzel (Amelia Stensrud) drops one of the children. This might have been a mistake but it was hilarious.

Outside the theatre there was a board with pictures of the actors on it where you could leave praise and encouragement. I found that a very nice touch.

The play also gave special acknowledgement to the seniors participating, as for many, this may be the final play here they participate in. In the guide, they had small bios for all the seniors.

Let us also not forget the amazing job that the pit orchestra did during the play. The music added an amazing atmosphere to the play.

I found the props also rather enjoyable and impressive. The crew did a good job in wheeling out trees and Rapunzel’s tower.

That is not to say the play was perfect. I was sitting near the back, and I couldn’t hear half the words, which was unfortunate. I have never seen Into the Woods before, so I did not know the plot or, well, anything. That is why, when the play stopped for an intermission, I genuinely thought the play was over and almost left until a person I was sitting by told me it was an intermission.

Overall though, it was enjoyable and there was obviously a lot of work put into it.

Tech/Games

AT&T releases fake “5G E” – slower than other 4G networks

April 17, 2019 elliotwallarticles Leave a comment

With the roll-out of new smart devices coming soon from various companies (such as Samsung’s foldable phone), there is a need for a faster network connection. The idea of 5G has already started at Verizon, where they claim their 5G broadband will be 20 times faster than current 4G LTE speeds.

The issue is, AT&T released “5GE” (5G Evolution), which is reportedly slower than Verizon and T-Mobile’s 4G LTE speeds. AT&T claims that 5GE runs on an “advanced” LTE network, but Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint all currently run 4G on that network, making AT&T’s claim false and misleading.

Sprint took this false claim seriously, and filed a lawsuit against AT&T. They say that what AT&T is doing to customers is completely unethical and wrong. This is because what they claim is their 5GE network, is literally the same as Sprint’s advanced 4G speeds.

The fact that AT&T was able to release this network and call it 5G is concerning. This is because as technology develops, consumers need to be able to purchase reliable speeds for their devices, and not be lied to by powerful corporations. AT&T needs to accept what they did wrong, and actually work on a future connection with real 5G speeds.

Travel/Food

Easy dessert foods

April 16, 2019 danielas8 1 Comment

By: Thabash and Claire

It’s usually around fourth quarter when most students (and teachers) hit a wall. To cope with plenty of homework and stress, we’ve provided you with 4 minimal effort desserts. These recipes are simple, quick, and contain ingredients you probably already have at home.

Microwave Mug Brownie: This brownie is the perfect single person size! To jazz it up, add some ice cream or chocolate sauce.

Ingredients:

1 egg
1 tablespoon flour (white all-purpose)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons oil
4 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, the order does not necessarily matter.
Get two microwave safe bowls/cups/mugs to separate the batter into, the pour the mixture into th two bowls equally.
Microwave for 55 sec on high power (adjust if needed)

Rocky Road Parfaits: This parfait satisfies any sweet tooth! It makes four servings so that you can share with your family or friends!

Ingredients:

Package of instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups of milk
Whipped cream
Tiny marshmallows (optional)
Chocolate chips (optional)
Peanuts, chopped (optional)

Instructions:

Make pudding in accordance with directions. Use 2 cups of milk.
Remove 3/4 of pudding and set aside. Fill 4 dessert dishes with remaining pudding.
Fold whipped cream into ¾ of pudding. Then divide this mixture evenly into 4 dessert dishes (pre-filled with pudding).
Let stand for 5-10 minutes.
Top with marshmallows, chocolate chips, or peanuts.

Monster Cookie Bars: These M&M loaded bars are the perfect on the go dessert! This recipe yields 16-20 servings, perfect for sharing or eating over time.

16 ounce roll (refrigerated) of peanut butter cookie dough
¾ cup of rolled oats
1 cup M&Ms
½ cup coarsely chopped semi sweet chocolate
Chopped peanuts (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (f). Line a 9×9 in baking pan with foil. Grease foil and set aside.
Break down cookie dough into large bowl.
Combine oats with cookie dough.
Stir in both chocolates (and peanuts if desired).
Put combination into pan and evenly spread.
Bake in oven for 20 minutes.
Cool.
Cut into bars.

Cherry Pie Cups: These simple and easy cup are filled with a delicious cherry filling and if that’s not enough, you can switch up the flavors for a wonderful surprise.

Ingredients:

1 box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box SAVE $
1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling

Instructions:

1 Heat oven to 425°F. Remove crusts from pouches; unroll on work surface. With 3 1/2- or 4-inch round cutter, cut 6 rounds from each crust; discard scraps.
2 Fit rounds into 12 ungreased muffin cups, pressing in gently. Spoon about 2 tablespoons pie filling into each crust-lined cup.
3 Bake 14 to 18 minutes or until edges are golden brown and filling is bubbly.

We hope these easy dessert foods are enough to satisfy that small craving of yours or make to a perfect midnight luxury’s snack. Enjoy!

Movies/TV/Theaters

Top 5 movies to watch this spring

April 12, 2019 ladafia Leave a comment

Looking for movies to watch this spring? Here are a few ideas:

Jump In: Jump In is a movie about a about a young boy name Izzy Daniels, played by Corbin Bleu, pressured by his dad to be a boxer, but when a memeber of a skipping team drops out, he find a passion for this new sport. He starts to question himself if boxing is what he really wants.
The Breakfast Club is about five students, from different worlds, that have to endure a Saturday detention with their powerful principal. Each of them has a chance to tell their stories and to get know each other, and by the end of the day, they have to decide if high school will ever be the same.
Clueless is about Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone, who is a shallow, rich girl that goes to Beverly Hills High School. When she can’t get a teacher to give her a better grade, she matches him up with another teacher to make him happier, so she can earn a better grade.
Midnight Sun is a romantic movie about a girl name Katie Price, played by Bella Throne, who has been stuck inside her home since childhood with a rare genetic condition; a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight. Her dreams come through when she is asked out by her longtime crush, but as their relationship grows, Katie’s risk to sunlight grows and she’s presented with the issue of if she can ever live a normal life with her newfound soul mate.
Adventure in Babysitting is about a high schooler, Chris who decided to babysit one time after plans with her boyfriend failed. While babysitting, her friend calls to pick her up in the city. Things take a wrong turn when her car ends up being stolen, and now they are without a car in the city, so they find a way to get home before the clock strikes at midnight.