Entertainment

Whether it was because your one friend wouldn’t stop asking you to play it, or because you saw a long Twitter thread of terrifyingly dedicated fans discussing the game on your feed, everyone has been exposed to the hit mobile game Among Us at least once during these past couple of months spent at home. Among Us, despite being released in 2018, has grown drastically in popularity as of late. The game itself has a simple enough premise, taking direct inspiration from others like it such as Werewolf and Mafia: to find out who the "imposter" is among a large group of players, and to kill them before they kill off your entire group. The non-imposter players of this game, or crewmates, spend their time doing menial tasks and trying their hardest to find out who is and isn’t safe among them. It’s a simple game of social deduction, and unlike its predecessors, Among Us utilizes far less specific roles or rules, proving to be fun for players of all ages. But, as many of us have asked ourselves, what exactly is it about this silly online game with walking jelly beans for characters that has everyone so hooked? And, even more, could being at home have anything to do with our sudden love for the thrill of the chase?

Finding the answers to these seemingly simple questions all lies deeply with the context of this year. As we’re all well aware, these past few months have been anything but predictable. While staying at home and eating cheese whizz and Campbell's everyday might be the lifelong dream of many college sophomores, for most of us, staying at home has been hard. It would be disingenuous to say that waking up and seeing the same set of faces every morning, brushing my teeth, and searching the house for some spark of entertainment has been fulfilling, and more often than not I find myself feeling an odd numbness to it all. Let’s face it, we’ve all begun growing tired of the reminders that we’re not in this alone, that this is temporary, that we just need to bite the bullet and move ahead. Everyone gets tired.

But there’s something to be said for the strange fulfillment we get from the mere sound of our closest friend’s voices, and the strange warmth we’ve all come to miss after realizing just how dependent we are on it. Even the smallest hint of that once warm embrace our communal support systems have given us is enough to drive us forward, even if we often don’t admit it to ourselves. We rely heavily on one another to move forward, and even an ounce of joy, or heart racing fear that comes with committing mild atrocities in public for that matter, is enough to make us crack a smile.

Among Us gives strangers from all across this country, this world, an opportunity to run alongside one another in solidarity and have genuine fun each and every round. Despite its simplicity, it serves as an outlet for many of its players to feel something, even if most of the time what we get out of it is frustration, fear, and lots and lots of arguing. Despite the rage filled comments some bright blue nine year old crewmate named DaVinki poured into the group chat, it’s hard to deny the feeling that this emotion, this level of solidarity among other players like us online, is enough to make us feel almost normal. In all its glorious humility, Among Us serves as a reminder that people, no matter how quiet or hidden away, need each other. Even in a world as uncertain as this one, no barriers can ever truly take away our unique ability to find the love and continuous support we provide for one another, and despite the cold outside of these walls, we won’t ever stop loving and being here for the good people among us.

Whether you like spending time in the kitchen cooking, or you're like me and just like spending time in the kitchen eating, once you find yourself on Food TikTok, it’s easy to convince yourself you could be the next Gordon Ramsay (with or without the attitude). Here is a list of a few of the most popular Food TikTok recipes from the last month. So that your future-chef potential doesn’t go to waste.

Avocado Toast

If you have TikTok, you’re bound to have stumbled upon at least several “What I Eat In a Day” videos. If I had a dollar for every time I saw avocado toast included in them…. I’d be drowning in cash. I’m not complaining, though. The world needs to know about this emerald gem. Look at it this way: if you’re making toast you might as well throw an avocado on top...and an egg...and bacon...and onions...and jalapenos...and garlic...and tomatoes. Okay, maybe don’t throw on all of those if you’re interested in fitting into your jeans. But you get the idea. Spice up your breakfast (and don’t lie, I know your breakfasts have been lacking lately) with avocado toast. It’s quick, easy, and did I mention it tastes heavenly? Oh well, yeah, it does.

Smoothie Bowl

Aesthetic meets flavor with these addictive smoothie bowls. They’re like regular smoothies, but not. Think of them as EPIC smoothies. Smoothie bowls are epic because they offer so much versatility. You have the freedom to tailor them to your personal palate with an assortment of toppings including any type of fruit, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, granola, toasted coconut, almond butter, honey, the list is endless. A viral TikTok showing a smoothie bowl recipe has a comment admiring the consistency and appearance of the smoothie saying “I want to swim in this,” and honestly...same.

Gigi Hadid’s Spicy Vodka Pasta

Okay, so it’s a little basic. But Gigi Hadid’s not.

Popular, gorgeous, irresistible. Wait, Gigi Hadid or her pasta? Mmm...both. She may not be known for her cooking, but who knows? Maybe they teach a thing or two more in the modeling industry than we think. With just a few simple ingredients including tomato paste, cream, basil, and parmesan, you don’t have to worry about running to the stores in search of countless ingredients. It’s rich, creamy, spicy, and downright delicious. Added bonus: If you’re running short on time, don’t worry! This recipe only takes 20 minutes. Max. Try it out, this may just become your new go-to dinner.

Baked Feta and Tomato Pasta

Another pasta? What can I say? Who doesn’t love their carbs? Wildly popular on TikTok and basically everywhere else, this baked feta and tomato pasta is guaranteed to make your taste buds swoon. The best part? It barely requires any working brain cells. I’m serious; this recipe is so simple. Grab a baking dish, throw in some cherry tomatoes, a block of Greek feta cheese, lather on some olive oil, don’t forget your salt, pepper (red and black), and basil. Pop it in the oven for 40 minutes, add your pasta and BAM. That’s it. I’m drooling a little just thinking about it.

Crunchwrap Supreme

Craving Taco Bell? Bring Taco Bell to you with this DIY Crunchwrap Supreme. Now you get to create the ultimate comfort food in the ultimate comfort of your own kitchen. Not only is it (a little) healthier when it's homemade, but you also get to choose what you want to put in it. Try the traditional ingredients with ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream. Or make a vegan version, or an extra protein version. Or if you’re feeling a bit reckless, combine the best of both worlds by wrapping Chick-fil-a nuggets, fries, and mac and cheese into your tortilla. Yes, I did see someone do this on TikTok, multiple people, in fact. Anything goes in the world of Food TikTok. But hey, I'm not one to judge.

It is Oscar time everybody! There are some heavy hitters this year Mank leading with ten nominations about them trying to finish the 1940s movie citizens Kane, a movie shot in black and white which definitely added some characters. but there still is the trial of the chicago seven based off the 1960s riots regarding bobby seal a member of the black panthers. Ma Rainey's black bottom starring viola davis; an incredible musical role but not nominated for any song categories such as best original score. Pieces of a woman starring Vanessa Kirby about a woman who lost her child at birth and her experience after that there were a few scenes where I could hear her winning her nomination for best actress in a leading role. In animated terms nominated, the movie soul which won a golden globe, in short animated fil there is a movie called burrow a cute, and calm 6 minute animated short, about asking for help is okay. A few documentaries which are incredible crip camp about getting the disability law passed and experiences from people who went to crip camp and stayed over in the capital building for weeks to get this passed, my octopus friend is nominated, a live action documentary short called a love song for latasha which is the true story of the 1991 killing of latasha over a white female owner thinking that she was going to stell orange juice even though she had 2 dollars in her hand for it. It is told from her best friend's perspective. But let’s get to the break down of each category and what the public thinks the 93rd academy award winners will be held on aprill 25th 2021. There are twenty three categories andgoldderby.com has predictions for us. For best picture which is best movie the big winner is nomadland personally i have not seen this movie but i have seen the trial of the chicago 7, and pieces of a women which i think both have a incredible shot the acting and the drama was so good but between the two i have to say the trial of the chicago seven. Pieces of a women was good but the lead protagonist vanessa Kirby I think just missed the mark from perfection but she still is nominated for best actress. Mank is nominated which as i said is leading with ten nominations i thought that movie is very over rated the acting was ooor compared to the other competitors but Gary oldman in one of the scenes was very good but compared to the other two hours of the movie it is a poor ratio of good to bad. In best director category the predicted winner is nomadland again by Chloe Zhao who is one of the few people to be female and be a director so she is a underdog. In best actor category the predicted winner is chadwick boseman for ma rainys black bottom. Which was a great movie and he di incredible scean after scean. One of them which you can easily see that they deserved a oscar nomination. Unfortunately chadwick died in augost before the movie was realesed which makes people think that is a reason why he will get the oscar but his performance was truely breath taking. Gary oldman is nominated for mank which i could see a oscar win but compared to chadwick no shot. For best actress carey mullinger is predicted to win for promising young women. In mu opinion i believe that out of everybody viola davis should get it hands down for ma rainys black bottom; just her tone and drama really sold me, and she seemed like she really was that person; and trying to over come segregation as a singer which during the movie she has a conversation about it which was amazing in acting wise, but incredibly depressing. Vannesa kirby i believe does have a shot for pieceso fo a women even though i said it was a bit under comapred to ma rainys black bottom there were a few sceans where she just let her voice go off with yelling, and fierceness. For best supporyting actor Daniel Kaluuya for judas and the black messiah is predicted to win. But sacha baron cohen is nominated for the trial of the chicago seven is nominated he is a comidon in real life which he showed through out the movie with drama which is why im sold that he will win. But i am furious that mark rylance is not nominated for best actor for the trial of the chicago seven just like chadwick, scene after scene he got more furious and more into the part one scene in particular where he just lost it where that’s when it hit me that he should be nominated but at last no he is not. For best supporting actress oliva colman is predicted to win for the father. Amanda seyfried is nominated for mank but she did a poor jib in my opinion almost like she was not there at all. And she is not a contender to me. Best adapted screenplay Chloé Zhao is nominated for nomadland based off the book. Aaron sokin is the predicted winner for best original screen paly for the cast of the chicago seven. For best cinematography it is predicted that Erik Messerschmid is the winner for mank which i can see because the black and white shooting nad the atmosphere of the 1940s the trial of the chicago seven is nominated which i could also see because the 60s vibes, and all the fighting that happened that you see through out the movie but it is mostly a court room so i think it is very split but i tihnk mank will edge out and win. Ma Rainey's black bottom is not nominated which is another up set in my opinion had a great atmosphere but it was edged out. Best costume design winner is predicted to be ma rainey's black bottom which i can really see ann roth did incredible, but mulan is nominated which we all know that disney movie but it is in live action that has to be the clear winner but we will have to wait and see. Best makeup and hair stylists is ma rainey's black bottom Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson which i can see one hindred percent compared to mank who is also nominated ma rainys is the key winner. For best production design mank is predicted to win by Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale which o guess for this specific category compared to ma rainys black bottom i cans ee mank winning. Bes original score which is just a fance way of saying music. First of all how ma rainys black bottom is not even nominated for this one when it is about music, and has music in it is the biggest up set next to it not being nominated for best picture. Soul is predicted to win which is the animated musical disney movie which also won a golden globe so sense ma rainy is not nominated soul is the cleaver winner, case of the chicago, and mank arre also nominated but compared to soul no shot. For best original song which i can see how in this musical catagory ma rainy bis not nominated because non of them were originals. This one is full of heavy hitters. Speak now one night in miami is predicted to win for speak now. But i think the casto f the chicago 7 for hear my voice is another clear winner. The message and the voices is just incredible. Best sound Sound of Metal,” Phillip Bladh, Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés, Carolina Santana is predicted to win beating out soul, but i believe mank is a strong competitor for this category with the begging of the movie having great sound, and music. For best visual effects Tenet,” Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott R. Fisher, Mike Chambers is predicted to come out on top. But with there being a disney move like mulan that is being a live action i think is the winner just the location alone selled it all. Best animated movie soul is predicted for the gold which is pretty obvious especially with the golden globe win in this category. But there is a movie over the moon which had lazy acting but a incredible song called hey boy which was one of the best the rap in it was a bit over exaggerated but one of the best i have heard. For best documentary feature there were incredible options and i do not normally like documentaries i think they lean towards the direction of very cliche but there are amazing ones this year my octopus teacher is predicted to win which i have seen parts of and am going to watch it soon. But it looked incredible with the ocean floor which was actually filmed below sea level was amazing. But crip camp which is how the disability law was passed was so hart moving and the people who experienced it who we heard the first hand experience from them first hand which is how documentaries normally work commentary from the star was just flawless. Best international foregin film denmark wins with another round. Best animated short another category which i am not normally a fan of but these were great this year what ever happens i love you is predicted to win. Burrow was nominated which is about a bunny trying to dig his burrow and how it is okay to ask for help which he can all learn it is a very cute and funny movie with fun sound effect i think this one is up in the air. Best documentary short the winner is a love song for latasha which should win hands down 16 mins of pure gold. It is about the 1991 shooting of latasha a black female who was shot over 2 dollars from a white female store owner thinking she was not going to pay and shot when she had the money in hand. It is told from the perspective of her best friend which was a tear jerker a eye opener and heart warming it was pure gold and a clear winner. Best live action short the letter room is predicted to win. Well there you have it my opinion and predictions of the 93rd oscars in 2021.