It's that time of year again… When your instagram turns from holiday parties and picturesque snowy scenes to prom dresses. Is it a welcome change? Maybe. Is it a stressful one? Usually. Is there anything to stop the bombardment? Absolutely not. 

There is never a catch all color for events like these - since people have different styles and what have you - but in researching the popular sales and different websites, these are some trends to look out for this prom season as you search for the perfect dress. 

Pastels, pastels, pastels. Looking at the various stores and websites over and over again, you see the recurring pastel color pallet. Sage green and lavender shades are emerging at the top of the charts this year. Corset tops and high slits have been popular over the last few years and will remain so, but now with a new twist, ruffled skirts. 

This writer speculates that the off the shoulder, corset top, with a slitted, ruffled skirt will be the most popular dress of the season. This look can be utterly feminine or daring depending on the neckline, color and opacity of the corset. 

After looking at pop culture influences that will affect the trends this year, the top influencers in my opinion would be the Barbie movie, Ballad of Song Birds and Snakes - see the skirt of Lucy Gray (Rachel Zegler) - and of course, Taylor Swift. 

As with everything else this year, we can compare the trends to Taylor Swift’s Eras. The Prom 2024 Era is Speak Now and Lover. We are going out girly and fun, with a touch of rebellion. 

These are the predicted trends for this Prom season, but always stay true to your own style and wear something that makes you feel confident because that is what matters. You’ll probably look back either way and wonder why you wore such a thing, so make sure it’s worth it in the moment. 

(These lovely ladies live on with the recipes we have and through the memories we had together. I love them so much and know they would love that I am able to share their recipes with others. I hope you enjoy your holidays!)

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the prequel to the Hunger Games series. It follows the story of President Cornelius Snow - played by Tom Blyth - as a young man. This story illuminates not only Snow’s origin story but also that of the Hunger Games itself. Snow is one of the first ever mentors in the games along with his classmates at the Capitol academy. His tribute Lucy Gray Baird - played by Rachel Zegler - is from district 12 and takes the capitol by storm with her charm. They are a dynamic duo that change the nature of the games forever. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set during the reconstruction after the ‘dark days’. It had been ten years since the war between the districts and the capitol, and district 13 is gone along with the Snow family fortune. Cornelius is bound and determined to keep up appearances and achieve his goal of becoming President of Panem. He is shocked and insulted when he is given the girl tribute from district 12-- a slap in the face for someone of his social standing--until she turns out to be a star girl, someone who will be remembered, someone the capitol could grow to love. So with the Plinth Prize and his future on the line, he does everything possible to get her through the games. 

Suzanne Collins writes very detailed books, so it can be hard to fit all of the aspects into the movies. In the first three books - four movies - the production team did a very good job translating that into film. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is no exception. The movie stayed very true to the book with only a few minor differences. Overall it was well cast, the one character that fell short in my mind was Sejanus Plinth - played by Josh Andrés Rivera. In the book he is an innocent and sweet character which makes him really lovable, but in the movie he is a lot more angry which takes away from the charm he holds in the book. 

Collins did an excellent job of tying this story to the others. There are many family names that would be the parents and grandparents of capitol citizens in the later movies. There are also multiple other references to the first set of movies layered into the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, even the title. 

This movie was exciting, entertaining, and emotional. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the original Hunger Games, or anyone who loves action, sci-fi, and adventure. There are some scary and violent scenes, so if you don’t like that then it might not be for you. Overall it was a compelling movie that was a pleasure to watch. 

On October 27th, the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie was released in theatres as well as on Peacock to subscribers. The release was met with mixed reviews from fans and general audiences. The film currently stands at 5.6/10 on IMDb and 30% on Rotten Tomatoes. Even with these debatable reviews, the film broke debut records the weekend it was released.

The film is based off of a widely known game series of the same name, created by Scott Cawthorn. The games follow a security guard, Mike Schmidt, played by Josh Hutcherson in the film, who gets a job at Freddy Fazbears Pizzaria. Soon Mike will discover the secrets that lurk within the animatronics that are the Pizzaria’s main attractions.

The controversy arose when it came to the fans of the games who watched the film. While many “loved it” and thought that it was “amazing”, others were of a different opinion. Some, like Exeter Junior Kira Lahl, said that it was “predictable” as well as “not lore accurate”. Many believed that it should have been more true to the fashion of the games, using its main scare tactic as jumpscares. In general, many believed that the film was over commercialised towards general audiences.

Whether you are a fan or simply looking for a new film to watch, Five Nights at Freddy’s might be a new favourite for you! Or you may leave the theatre agreeing with those who pose criticisms against the film! 

“The Walking Dead” universe is back with a brand-new series! The new spinoff, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, focuses on fan-favorite character, Daryl Dixon, and his adventures in France. Dixon meets people along the way and assists them with what they need, but keeps his goal of getting back to his home in America.

Having premiered September 10th of this year, the new spinoff series has shattered AMC+ records, reeling in more viewers than its fellow spinoff, The Walking Dead: Dead City, which focuses on Negan (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and another fan favorite) and his adventures with Maggie (played by Lauren Cohan) in New York City. Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus, has been a very popular character in the “Walking Dead” universe and his archery skills have become a stamp to his character. Dixon faces many challenges including new types of “walkers”, his enemies trying to make more deadly walkers, having to take care of a boy (who is seen as special) who belongs to a nun he meets in France, and being sought after by an enemy force because he killed a man’s brother. Dixon displays his perseverance and skills throughout the episodes, proving to be a very strong character and living up to his hype. 

“The Walking Dead” Universe is set to get bigger, with the release of the spinoff The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live in 2024, as well as renewed seasons for The Walking Dead: Dead City and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will follow beloved Rick Grimes and Michonne, played by Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, who look to find each other again and return home. With the release of these news shows and seasons, the universe continues to expand, bringing new stories and adventures for characters loved by the fans. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is set to have a special screening for the season finale on October 12, 2023, at New York Comic Con, with the general premiere being Sunday, October 15, 2023. Get ready for more! 

A common misconception surrounding the brain is that we only use 10% of its capacity. While that statement is false, we all have some untapped reserves of mental acuity in our brain that can be harnessed. 

The first thing we can do to harness this brain power is to limit distractions. These include the obvious ones such as our phones, but even multitasking can lead to “attention residue”. Sophie Leroy, assistant professor of business at the University of Washington, explains when you ask your brain to go from one task to another, it struggles to discard the first and move on to the next. As this clutter builds up, more mistakes are made and our productivity and performance decrease. 

To sharpen our focus, it is important to schedule uninterrupted time to focus on the tasks that need completion. If this means putting away your phone, taking a few minutes to meditate, or even going on a quick walk to put yourself in the frame of mind to complete these tasks, find what works best for you. 

Our brains are amazing tools that are capable of many things, and we need to learn how to harness its greatest potential. 

Heid, Markham. “Here’s How to Focus and Use More of Your Brain.” Time, Time, 14 June 2017, time.com/4817946/brain-games-distraction-attention/.

With the new year starting comes new tv shows for all to enjoy. Some shows have already been released to great success with audiences, while others are to come out later in the year with much anticipation. While there are many new shows to look forward to, some of the world’s favourite shows are renewing for a new season this year. Make sure to look out for these shows this year!

New Shows of 2023:

The Last of Us

January 15 (HBO Max)

Since its release in January, The Last of Us has seen great success. Based on the video game by the same name, The Last of Us follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in a dystopian future where the world has been wiped out by a pandemic. With only six episodes under its belt, the show has been already deemed by fans and critics alike as one of the best shows of 2023.

Daisy Jones and the Six

March 3 (Prime Video)

Highly anticipated, Daisy Jones and the Six is to come out in March as a Prime miniseries. Starring Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Suki Waterhouse, and more! The show is based on the book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The show will follow Daisy Jones and her rise to fame in a blues-rock band in the 70’s. 

Agatha, Coven of Chaos 

Winter 2023 (Disney+)

After the success of WandaVision, Marvel’s beloved villain, Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) is back with her own spinoff. Little is known about the show just yet, only known to be released in Winter of 2023, but fans can barely contain their excitement. 

Shows with new seasons:

The Mandalorian, season 3

March 1 (Disney+)

The Mandalorian follows Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), a bounty hunter across the galaxy as he is set out with Grogu (more famously known as Baby Yoda). This season is said to follow Din as he returns to his home planet of Mandalore. Now on its third season, the fans are anxiously awaiting its release. 

Outer Banks, season 3

February 23 (Netflix)

The Outer Banks will follow the Pogues in their third season after they have left their hometown after the suspenseful ending of season 2. The fans have had to wait for a while since the release of season 2 in July of 2021, but are thrilled that the third season is coming out soon.

You, season 4

February 9 (part one), March 9 (part two), (Netflix)

You, after being nominated for Best Villain of the year in 2022 by MTV, is returning for its fourth season. The season release has been split in two, with the first half of the season being released on February 9th and the second half to be released on March 9th. The show's cult-like following has already rated the show highly and are excited for the second release of season 4.

Although it feels like homecoming was yesterday, prom season is somehow upon us once again. Throughout all the excited chatter about prom, you may find yourself stressed out about where to find a date, the perfect photo opp. destination, and most importantly, a dress. This article might not be able to help you find a date to prom, but it guarantees that you will show up in style, and not have to break the bank for it! 

As many of us know, prom dresses are usually not cheap. Ranging from as low as $50 to as high as $1000+ for some dresses, it can be hard for a high school student making minimum wage to afford prom dresses that are stylish without sacrificing affordability, or vice-versa. Here is a list of sites where you can find dresses that are both stylish and affordable for the 2023 prom season under $150.

1. Oh Polly $-$$ : Website

Oh Polly has a variety of gorgeous dresses for any occasion that are perfect for prom! Dresses here range from $18 (on sale) to $102. In addition to Oh Polly’s affordability, they have a huge variety of styles from basic to embellished, making this a great spot for anyone.

2. Lucy in the Sky $$: Website

Lucy in the Sky is a very popular online site for prom and homecoming dresses. Lucy in the Sky has a truly amazing selection of fashionable and unique dresses. Dresses from Lucy in the Sky range from $65-$120. 

3. Rent the Runway $-$$$: Website

Rent the Runway is a very underrated and special source for dresses! This is a unique spot because at RTR, you can literally rent the runway! On this site, you can browse dresses from countless designer brands. The cool thing about RTR is that instead of paying thousands of dollars for a designer gown, you can rent a new designer garment for prom, and then send it back when you’re done with it, so you aren’t left with an expensive prom dress that you’ll never wear again. Rentals here range from $30-$325.

4. Windsor $-$$$: Website

Another familiar favorite, Windsor is always a reliable source to find high quality formal dresses for an affordable price. At Windsor, you can find beautiful and one of a kind dresses for a great price! Prom dresses at Windsor range from $10-$300.

Going into the New Year, we all have things we look forward to doing, or in this case, watching. There are many films coming out this year, a select few that are very anticipated worldwide. Some will be sad and traumatic, others happy and fun, and some inspiring.  These are some of the most anticipated movies coming out this year.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantimania

February 17, 2023

Marvel’s newest film marks the start of its new Phase 5 and the 3rd Ant-Man installment. Main characters Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd, and Hope van Dyne, played by Evangeline Lilly, continue their heroic lives following the events of Avengers: Endgame. The movie continues to follow the new exploration of the multiverse, along with the newly introduced quantum realm. Paul and Hope develop a new device that sends a signal to the quantum realm. They get sucked into the quantum realm by mistakes and deal with all the trials and troubles that lurk there. 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

April 7, 2023

Our beloved Mario characters have been put into a movie! Just like the videogame, Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), and Toad (Keegan Michael-Key) take on the daunting task of rescuing Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) from Bowser (Jack Black). I doubt this movie will be anything short of entertaining, especially with this fun cast. You best believe I will be watching. 

The Little Mermaid

May 26, 2023

Disney’s newest live princess movie adaption takes to the screens! Starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, the movie takes a step towards more diversity in lead-role Disney movies. As before, Ariel will face picking between a prince or her voice for her happiness. Though Disney’s live-action movies don’t have the best track record, this Ariel is set to make a difference and inspire young children to dream. 

Creed III

March 3, 2023

The “Rocky” franchise continues with Michael B. Jordan playing Adonis Creed. This movie is the third and final installment of the Creed trilogy. Adonis Creed will be stepping into the boxing rink with Damian Anderson, played by Jonathan Majors, to fight as Damian sets out to prove his worthiness. Adonis must put his life on the line to fight his childhood friend Damian. Will Creed lose everything?

Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3

May 5, 2023

Volume 3 marks the end of the Guardians trilogy. This movie is set to get more emotional and deep with the characters. Rocket Raccoon, played by Bradley Cooper, gets to shine in this installment. Flashbacks of his past are a key part of the film, likely leading to him and his Guardian friends defeating his enemy together perhaps for the last time. Brace yourselves for this one; it’s gonna be sad.

Dune: Part Two

November 17, 2023

Dune is back with an even more stacked cast! Starring Austin Butler, Timotheé Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Zendaya, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin, and more. Dune: Part Two is destined to be just as great as the first one. It follows the events of Dune: Part One, and brings the storyline to a close. 

Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse

June 2, 2023

The sequel to Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse is set to release this summer. Miles Morales, played by Shamiek Moore, continues to explore his life as Spider-Man. More characters, including more Spider-Men, are set to be introduced in this movie, as it does deal with the Multiverse. This colorful, moving, action-packed movie is sure to be a grab this year as the amazing storyline continues. 

Barbie

July 21, 2023

This film is definitely a more interesting one. I mean…it’s about dolls. Played by Margot Robbie, Barbie is set to be a unique and fun movie showing Barbie’s life in our own world. She faces trials after being banished from Barbieland for not being pretty enough and sets out to our world to find the happiness she yearns for.  The “Barbie” doll has had a great influence on pop culture for many generations. Perhaps this movie will have one too. 

As Halloween approaches each year, so does the resurgence in the interest in Gothic literature. Many themes in these stories carry over into today's modern horror trends. Themes explored within these works delve into the fascination people have with the macabre. These pieces all have one main goal- to scare people.

The first gothic novel can be traced back to The Castle of Otranto by Horace Wolpole in 1764. From then on more and more books were written playing on superstition and fear. From this explosion in intrigue in gothic compositions, literary greats were born, such as Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, E.A. Poe, H.P Lovecraft, etc. 

Many creatures that are now well known in horror culture can be found in gothic works back in their prime. Vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts, zombies, take your pick, they can probably be found in today's Halloween culture! As time went on, gothic literature branched out into different subgenres. Now gothic and horror media exist in contemporary forms. The modern gothic literature genre includes works such as If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio, The Little Friend by Donna Tartt, Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan, and many more. Although, arguably one of the best known series that has come out of the concept of gothic literature would be Twilight. A contemporary novel series based on vampires that live in a small isolated town in Washington. 

So, if you are looking for something dark and mysterious to read this Halloween, perhaps look into reading a gothic classic. Or perhaps a contemporary gothic piece would be more to your liking. Either way, get into your Halloween spirit with a good book.

Second-hand clothes sometimes are mistaken as something that is undesirable, but that is absolutely not the case. When you buy something second hand you are not only giving your bank account a break but also the planet. There are countless garments in circulation in the world, some in better condition than others, but there is no reason to always buy brand new things. You can find classics or things that you would never have expected at a thrift store, but there is an art to finding things that you love so here are some tips on the best ways to thrift for clothes.

One: Patience, thrift stores are not like retail stores where everything is in a section in a variety of sizes and colors. You often have to sort through racks of clothes that have been disheveled by other customers and the constant shifting of merchandise in the store. It can take you a while to find what you are looking for so have patience and keep looking. Know when to give up, sometimes you won't find what you are looking for that day, but don’t worry about it; come back the next day and it might be there. 

Two: Go in with a plan, thrifting can be like grocery shopping on an empty stomach, you find so many great things but then when you get home you realize you don’t really need or have space for what you bought. So have an idea of what you are looking for that means looking for a certain color, brand, cut or pattern. It will make your thrifting much easier because you can scan the aisles until you see something that fits the criteria without having to check every item. 

Three: Make sure it fits; there is nothing worse than finding the perfect thing and then realizing it doesn’t fit. Usually there will be some sort of dressing room, but it is a good idea to wear form fitting clothes like leggings or spandex and a tank top that you can try clothes on over in case there isn’t a dressing room. Even if there is, it makes it easier to change. 

Four: Have fun with it! Make a day out of it and go to multiple stores; bring your friends and have a fashion show. There are so many options, classics that have been reimagined or something with a $200 price tag still on it. You never know. So maybe the next time you go by a thrift store, stop in and see if you find the garment that was meant for you.

Criminal Minds, one of the most popular shows on Netflix, is coming back for a revival. Many fans, including myself, are extremely excited.

If you don’t know what Criminal Minds is, I’ll tell you. Criminal Minds follows a group of elite FBI profilers who analyze criminal’s minds in order to catch the unsub (unknown subject - the person the profilers are trying to catch). Each member of the team brings their personal expertise to identify stressors, triggers, motivations, etc. Usually, this leads them to the culprit. 

Every episode involves the team solving a different case. The variety of these cases is very interesting to me. The show can go from abductions and robberies, to illegal amputations and an unsub making human marionettes. Some of my favorite episodes are “The Lesson”, “Mosley Lane”, “Zugzwang”, and “Green Light / Red Light”. Some of these episodes are directed by Matthew Gray Gubler, who plays Spencer Reid. He directed some of the creepiest, yet best episodes of Criminal Minds in my opinion.

Criminal Minds consists of 15 seasons. The first episode aired on September 22, 2005, and the last episode was on February 19, 2020. Throughout 15 years, the team has changed almost consistently, with actors leaving and joining. The team as of season 15 is Joe Mantegna (David Rossi), Matthew Gray Gubler (Spencer Reid), A.J. Cook (Jennifer Jareau), Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia), Daniel Henny (Matthew Simmons), Aisha Tyler (Dr. Tara Lewis), Adam Rodriguez (Luke Alvez), and Paget Brewster (Emily Prentis). 

Joe Mantegna, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler and Paget Brewster have all agreed to come back for the revival, which is going to be 10 episodes. However, Matthew Gray Gubler and Daniel Henny have not signed any contracts or closed any deals to come back. Henny is filming another season for The Wheel Of Time, but I believe it’s possible for him to guest star in an episode. There have been multiple social media posts relating to a Q&A for Gubler’s new movie King Knight. He said that the Criminal Minds reboot conflicts with his new projects, so he can’t come back to the revival. As I stated before, I still think it’s possible for Gubler to guest star in one of the episodes. A lot of fans, including myself, are saddened by this news. Matthew Gray Gubler’s Spencer Reid is one of the most popular characters on the show, and is my favorite character. Many people love Gubler, so I believe that there’s a chance that the reboot might not do well. I will definitely still watch the reboot, but many people, like me, have lost their favorite character. 

References

Andreeva, N. (2022, February 4). 'criminal minds': As dealmaking continues, six stars are poised to return for revival on paramount+. Deadline. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://deadline.com/2022/02/criminal-minds-revival-paramount-plus-1234926358/ 

 Inet. (2022, February 19). Matthew just said he isn't coming back to criminal minds :( but he has 2 projects coming out! Twitter. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://twitter.com/lifegonewild/status/1494898444137205763  

IMDb.com. (2012, December 5). "criminal minds" the lesson. IMDb. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2516536/ 

IMDb.com. (2010, March 3). "criminal minds" Mosley Lane. IMDb. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1592610/ 

IMDb.com. (2013, January 16). "criminal minds" zugzwang. IMDb. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2613042/ 

IMDb.com. (2017, May 3). "criminal minds" green light. IMDb. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://m.imdb.com/title/tt6604248/ 

IMDb.com. (2017, May 10). "criminal minds" red light. IMDb. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://m.imdb.com/title/tt6688102/ 

IMDb.com. (2021, October 8). King knight. IMDb. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://m.imdb.com/title/tt11252460/ 

The average American spends up to five hours on their mobile phone. The average teenager spends up to nine hours looking at a screen, both for entertainment and education. 

A screen time observation poll asked students what app they spend the most time on. Choices included popular social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Youtube, Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Twitter. An “other” option brought in results from Apple Music, Spotify, and Netflix. The most popular app used by teenagers according to studies is TikTok. The poll supported this finding, with Tiktok being the most used app with 41 votes taking 29.1%. Closely following TikTok at 28.4% is Snapchat, which is then followed by Youtube at 23.4%. Aside from most of the other apps receiving one or two votes, Instagram received 11 votes taking 7.8% and Spotify received nine votes taking 6.4%.

Obviously, evolving technology causes everyone to be surrounded by devices and screens almost all the time. However, the amount of time that the average person spends on their phone is unhealthy and excessive. A goal to work up to is just spending two to two and a half hours on devices daily. One method to reach this goal is simply doing day-to-day activities without your device. For example, try having a meal without a phone. Another idea is just prioritizing your responsibilities, and this can be done by making a list or schedule. Planning out when events are happening or when assignments are due is a great habit to develop for productivity. Putting devices in a room outside of the bedroom can also help reduce screen time. One last suggestion is just exploring the physical world rather than a virtual one; try going outside for a walk with family or pets. In the end, too much screen time can lead to many mental and physical health issues that just aren’t worth it.

Let’s face it: the average person leads a busy and oftentimes overwhelming life. In high school, a typical student has multiple homework assignments to complete, club meetings to attend, sports practices to go to, and family-responsibilities to take care of on a daily basis. And get this: it all has to be done after going to school for 7 hours! Hence, it’s normal to feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. 

This is where a lovely term called time management presents itself. With a few lifestyle changes and a little shift in mindset, a workload that seems overwhelming can actually become manageable and easy. 

The first step to becoming a pro at time-management is asking yourself some questions, those of which must be answered honestly. The first question is: do you procrastinate? If you answered yes, then you must start changing your habits if you want better time management skills. Instead of waiting until the last minute to start your projects and homework (no, you don’t perform better under pressure), try starting your tasks earlier and working on them one chunk at a time. Not only does this make the workload more manageable, but it will reduce the stress of getting everything done by your deadline. 

The second question is: Do you spend too much time on your phone? If you aren’t sure, check out your screen times in your phone's settings. If you are spending multiple hours on social media apps, then you are losing a lot of time that can be used towards productivity. Try setting time limits on social media and keeping your phone out of sight when you are working to eliminate distractions. Without the incessant buzzing of text messages, you just might get your hours of homework done in only one. 

Another helpful tip towards becoming a pro at time-management is staying organized. Try keeping a planner where you write down your daily to-dos, crossing them off as you get them done. Keep your binders neat and your desk space de-cluttered. You might start to see that a clean space equates to a clear mind. 

Lastly, learning how to manage your time requires a certain mindset. Adopt this phrase: “If I don’t want to do it now, I won’t want to do it later either.” When you realize that by being productive you are helping your future-self out, you will be much more motivated to get things done in the moment instead of pushing them off. With a little practice and some simple mindset adjustments, you will be well on your way to becoming a pro at time management.

Are You Dreaming?

Have you ever spent a morning dwelling on something that occurred in your dream from the previous night that you just can’t shake? Or have you ever been so close to remembering a really interesting part of your dream that you  just need to elaborate more on? It turns out that everyone has dreams every night and some of the plots that have kept you lying awake thinking may have an entirely different meaning than what you thought before. 

The Facts

Although some people may think that they don’t dream, or dream rarely, this is actually not the case at all. It has been found in multiple studies that most people dream between 3-6 times each night, but about 95% of those dreams are forgotten when you wake up. Most dreams occur during the REM(rapid eye movement) stage of sleep which is when your mind is most active. It has also been found that the majority of dreams only last between 15-20 minutes, which means that most of the night no dreams occur. 

Why do we Dream?

There are many different theories about why we dream, but the most commonly accepted one is that dreams are the result of our subconscious mind trying to make sense of emotions and thoughts that we had during the day(Burnett). This can be as simple as being nervous for a test then failing it in your dream to seeing something during the day that subconsciously reminds you of a person or place in your life who then ends up in the plot of your dream. Dreams also are commonly associated with symbolic languages which vary from person to person but usually follow some certain themes. “Dreams usually represent what we are feeling in the present or what we want in the future. They also represent our hidden desires and our deepest fears” (Burnett).

The Meaning Behind our Dreams

There are many common dreams that most people can recall having. The exact meaning varies from person to person but there are some generalized theories behind some of these. 

#1-Falling

‘"Dreaming of falling is very common. It is a symbol of fear in real life - perhaps of failing at work or in your love life," claims Russell Grant, author of The Illustrated Dream Dictionary. "Falling often expresses a need to let yourself go more and enjoy life more" (Cherry).

#2-Public Nudity

Most people have had the awkward dream of showing up somewhere in their birthday suit for no known reason. These dreams are typically common and are thought to indicate that you feel like a phony or are afraid of revealing your imperfections to others. 

#3- Being Chased

“Tony Crisp, author of Dream Dictionary, suggests that being chased in a dream might indicate a desire to escape from your own fears or desires” (Cherry). It may also be important to identify who you are being chased by in order to more fully understand your dream. Being chased by an animal represents that you are hiding from your own anger, passion, or feelings. Being chased by a mysterious unknown figure indicates past or childhood trauma. Finally, being chased by the opposite sex may mean that you are afraid of love or are haunted by a past relationship (Cherry). 

#4- Losing Teeth

Most of us can recall an odd dream where we lost maybe even a few teeth at the same time and it’s not usually a settling experience. “Penny Peirce, author of Dream Dictionary for Dummies, suggests that dreaming about losing teeth can have multiple meanings. It might mean that you are worried about your attractiveness or appearance. It might also indicate that you are concerned about your ability to communicate or concerned that you might have said something embarrassing” (Cherry). The purpose of teeth is to be able to bite, grind, or tear, so once they are lost you lose an aspect of your personal power. 

#5- Taking a Test

The meaning behind taking and/or failing a test in your dreams is simply feeling/being unprepared for the challenges in your waking life. 

#6- Infidelity 

The dream of your partner cheating on you is a sign that there are communication or trust issues in the relationship. 

#7- Flying

Have you ever dreamed of flying high above anyone else? “On the one hand, such dreams can represent feelings of freedom and independence. On the other hand, they can also indicate a desire to flee or escape from the realities of life”    (Cherry).

#8- Pregnancy 

Pregnancy in dreams has been interpreted to represent emotions from love to fear. “David C. Lohff, the author of Dream Dictionary, believes that pregnancy dreams might sometimes represent a woman's fears of being an inadequate mother. Author Tony Crisp, on the other hand, suggests that such dreams indicate that the dreamer is developing some area of potential or deepening a relationship” (Cherry). It has also been associated with going through rough times. 

#9- Being Lost in a House

Have you ever dreamt that you were lost in a house? Was it your house or was it somewhere unfamiliar altogether? Discovering a new room in a familiar place means something new is coming up in your life but being lost means you can't find a clear direction to go in life. 

#10- Your House is Broken into

The intruder represents an element that has intruded on your peace of mind. 

Weird Facts About Dreams

There are a few odd things that we cannot do in our dreams that you may have never noticed before. 

1. The people you see and interact with in your dreams are people you have either seen or interacted with in your waking life. For example, have you ever dreamed of moving somewhere new and somehow all of the people there are people you know? This is because our minds are theorized to not be able to “invent” new people. 

2. Most people cannot read, write, or tell time in their dreams. It has also been discovered that we do not have our sense of smell in our dreams. 

3. Can you recall ever using your smartphone in your dream? If you can, you are a part of the 2% of people who say that they have as well. Smartphones in dreams are rare but have been deemed to represent loss or mourning in your waking life.

4. Believe it or not we can’t actually speak in our dreams. “The regions of our brains that are responsible for interpreting language are much less active while we’re asleep” (Psychologists Explain 6 Common Things We Can't Do in Our Dreams). Some have said that when speaking with others in their dreams, it seems like telepathy rather than verbal communication. 

5. Eating has been found to be a very rare occurrence in dreams. Maybe you remember just being about to eat or just finishing eating but it's highly unlikely that you would remember being able to taste the food. 

Here are a few random facts that may surprise you:

• 12% of people only dream in black and white. 

• The majority of men dream with mostly male roles while women dream with a balance of male and female.

• Many of our dreams are strange because the part of our brain that is responsible for making sense of things shuts down while dreaming. 

• Women are more prone to having nightmares than men.

• Blind people can see in their dreams. The extent of things varies depending one when they went blind or if they were born blind. 

• Eating before bed makes nightmares more likely because it boosts your metabolism which increases your brain activity. 

All in all, dreaming remains a mysterious part of all of our daily lives. When you try to connect the dots some very interesting things about yourself can be discovered. 

Many new movies came out this past month and here are three for the spotlight. With October comes Halloween and with Halloween comes the release of some scary movies. This month Halloween Kills came out on October 15, 2021. Nicholas Vishio, a junior, gives the movie a 7 out of 10 rating. His review is as follows:

“As a sequel to the 2018 Halloween I thought it was solid and good, but it is not perfect. I liked the presentation and effects done for the film, but it lacked the suspense that was a staple theme for the 1978 Carpenter Original. Micheal was definitely more brutal than his previous outings. It was nice to see the return of the original characters outside of Laurie from the first movie, like Tommy Doyal, Lee Brackett, and Marion Chambers.  I would rate this movie 7/10 a good watch, definitely recommend it if you are interested in the Halloween Franchise.”

Along with Halloween Kills the sequel to Venom, Venom: Let there be Carnage, was finally released on October 1, 2021. Noah Gates, a sophomore, gives his review of the movie:

“It was pretty good. Pretty drawn out and boring until the action begins. The action felt well paced though, but it felt more like a cameo for carnage. There were some really good jokes as to be expected from the last one. Overall I enjoyed it. They developed the story well and the ending was pretty intriguing. Definitely recommend.” 

Lastly, the series of Daniel Craig Bond films has come to an end with the latest movie No Time to Die. Jeremy Weaver, a senior, saw the movie and gave his opinion.

“No Time To Die is an action packed adventure that will continually leave audiences on the edge of their seats. It is also the perfect sendoff to Daniel Craig's James Bond, whom fans of the series have known and loved since his debut in the 2006 film Casino Royale.”

October is ending and November is approaching and you know what that means… more new movies! A new addition to the MCU, Marvel Cinematic Universe, is coming on November 3. Marvel’s Eternals is a movie about superhuman immortals reuniting to battle evil Deviants.

On November 11 there will be two new intriguing movies released as well. First of the two is Ghostbusters: Afterlife. This movie is a prequel to the existing Ghostbusters movies that follows two children and their mother as they move to a new town and discover their grandfather’s legacy. 

The second of the two movies to be released on November 11th is a movie adaptation of a musical written by Steven Levenson. This adaptation is coming to Netflix and will be directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Tick, Tick...Boom! is a musical that follows a young theatre composer before his 30th birthday as he navigates life in New York City.

That’s all the movies to report for now, happy watching everyone!

November 2020 

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix) - November 13 

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is an upcoming American Christmas musical film written and directed by David E. Talbert, starring Forest Whitaker and Madeline Mills. The story surrounds a toymaker and his granddaughter, who construct a magical invention which, if they can get it to work in time for the holidays, could change their lives forever. In a way, this movie reminds me of The Polar Express when they get off the train at the North Pole. This film is rated PG-13.

Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix) - November 24 

Hillbilly Elegy is an upcoming American drama film directed by Ron Howard based on the 2016 memoir written by J.D. Vance. Some of the starring cast members include Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Haley Bennett, Gabriel Basso, Frieda Pinto, Sunny Mabrey, and Ethan Levy. This movie is an exploration of the American Dream through three generations of an Appalachian family growing up together and figuring out who they truly are. The film focuses on the family’s Mother who thinks their kids can do better, even though they think they are good enough, and how they can learn from each other. This film is rated R. 

December 2020 

Mank (Netflix) - December 4

Mank is an upcoming black and white American biographical drama film directed by David Fincher. Some of the starring cast members are Sam Troughton, Ben Hecht, Fredinard Kingsley, Randy Davidson, Jamie McShane, Arliss Howard, Joseph Cross, and Leven Rambin. The story centers around the life of Herman J. Mankiewicz as he wrote Citizen Kane, and the problems that arose with Orson Welles over screenplay credit leading up to the film’s release. I would say that a key part of this film is the main character’s struggles with suicidal drinking. This film is rated R.

Free Guy (Cinema) - December 9

Free Guy is an upcoming American science fiction action comedy directed by Shawn Levy. Some of the main cast members are Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Corner, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, Matthew Cardarople, Aaron W. Reed, Sophie Levy, Ryan Doyle, David Morwick, and the popular youtuber Jacksepticeye. This film is about a bank teller, Guy, who is a background character in the video game Free City that will soon go offline. Guy becomes aware of the fact that he is living within a video game, and takes action to save the video game from being shut down. This movie is not yet rated.

Death on the Nile (Cinema) - December 18 

Death on the Nile is an upcoming mystery crime film directed by Kenneth Branagh based on a 1937 Agatha Christie novel. A few of the cast members include Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright, Tom Bateman, Emma Mackey, Rose Leslie, and Russell Brand. This movie is about renowned Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, who has an investigation of murder on the S.S Karnak Cruise Ship. This movie is not rated yet.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) - December 18 

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is an upcoming American drama film directed by George C. Wolfe. Some of the cast members include Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Taylour Paige, Colman Domingo, Gylnn Turman, Jeremy Shamos, Micheal Potts, Dusan Brown, and Johnathan Coyne. The film is about a blues singer, Ma Rainey, and her band in Chicago in the year 1927. This is a Rated R film.

Coming 2 America (Cinema) - December 18 

Coming 2 America is an upcoming romantic comedy directed by Craig Brewer. Some of the main cast members are Eddie Murphy, Shari Headley, James Earl Jones, Arsenio Hall, John Amos, Kiki Layne, Wesley Snipes, Garcelle Beauvais, Michael Blackson, Lesile Jones, and Louie Anderson. This film is a sequel to the original film Coming to America. Prince Akeem Joffer is set to become King of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America. Akeem sets off to America once again with his sidekick Semmi to be reunited with his long lost son. This film is not yet rated.

Monster Hunter (Cinema) - December 30

Monster Hunter is an upcoming military science fiction film. A few members of the cast include Mila Jovoich, Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman, Diego Boneta, T.I, Megan Good, Josh Helman, MC Jun, Hirona Yamazaki, and Arron Beelner. The movie is about a portal transporting an elite unit of soldiers led by Artemis. They go into a strange world where powerful monsters rule. When they are faced with danger they run into a mysterious hunter who may be their only way back home. It is a PG- 13 film. 

I think it’s safe to say that we all need a vacation right now. However, with the Coronavirus Pandemic currently forcing us all into quarantine, that is impossible for all of us. Luckily, Nintendo recently released a brand new installment of the Animal Crossing series on March 20 for the Nintendo Switch console. This may have been the most convenient time for a nice, peaceful, nostalgic video game to come out in history, and the sales statistics suggest this as well. During the month of its release in the U.S., it has already become the best-selling entry in the franchise’s history. It is also the country’s third-best launch for any Nintendo game ever, following Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Super Smash Bros Brawl. New Horizons is also already the No. 2 best-selling game in the U.S. for 2020, behind Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. 

So, why are so many people obsessed with Animal Crossing in the first place? Well, speaking as a dedicated fan who has played all five installments of the series, including spin off games such as Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, throughout my childhood, it is the most pleasant video game I’ve ever played. With more and more games with violence and gore as their common theme, it’s nice to play a game with a slower, more relaxed pace. In Animal Crossing, players take on the role of a lone human in a new town filled with cheerful animal villagers. Players are tasked by Tom Nook, a raccoon who bombards you with debts and mortgages you never agreed to, with building a thriving society filled with shops, bridges, and other accommodations for your animal neighbors. There are no high scores, vampire Nazis, or final bosses. 

Each installment in the series has a slightly different progression of gameplay, the main difference being if you are moving into a forest, town, city, or island, which is the location of the recently released version. New Horizons built off of the success of the last installment, New Leaf, which came out for the 3DS in 2013 and sold over 12.45 million copies worldwide. After seven years, fans were craving for a new entry. New Horizons has more landscape and furniture customization than ever before. The game recently had a major Earth Day Update on April 23, which brought back characters from previous installments such as Leif, who is a sloth that runs a garden shop with bushes and flowers for even further island customization. 

Many assume this game is targeted toward young children because of the general cuteness of the graphics, but surprisingly, a large demographic of players are millennials ages 20-30. For adults, Animal Crossing offers the white-picket fence American dream that is increasingly elusive, especially during coronavirus-induced economic stress. Whether you are a long time fan of Animal Crossing, such as myself, or are reading about it for the first time, I highly recommend trying out this game.

Sources: 

https://venturebeat.com/2020/04/21/animal-crossing-new-horizons-is-already-the-best-selling-game-in-the-series-in-the-u-s/  

Have you been having abnormally vivid dreams lately? Well, you are not alone. Ever since the world pandemic began the number of Google searches for “weird, vivid dreams” has doubled. So why are all us having weird dreams at a time like this? According to researchers, dreams usually process what just happened or what happened a long time ago. Since there is so much going on in the world today, your brain is just processing all of the information you receive throughout that day. 

Many people also claim they do not dream, but in fact, they do. People who claim they don’t normally dream, are coming forward and saying they are starting to remember the dreams they had the night before. This could be because of the situation all of us are living in. 

If you're having more nightmares instead of weird dreams, that is okay too. Dreams are also a way of processing your emotions throughout the day. At this time many people are fearful, uncertain, and helpless because of the ongoing pandemic. These emotions could be coming through into your dreams and resulting in frequent nightmares. According to researchers, the most common nightmare since the pandemic started is a chase dream. Many people say their chaser does not have a face. Researchers say the chaser does not have a face because of the unknown circumstances from the coronavirus. There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, and your body is showing your true emotions through your dreams. 

To cope with your dreams during the pandemic, try to do something like exercise during the day to take your mind off what's happening in the world today.