The Turn of the Key - A Book Review

The Turn of the Key - A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently read the adult thriller book The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware and enjoyed it a lot! The book is based on The Turn of the Screw, a classic book that one of my favorite Netflix shows The Haunting of Bly Manor is based on. I bought The Turn of the Key with this in mind and was so happy that I did - it was basically “Bly Manor the book!” Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT! Also, trigger warnings for: death, child death, murder, gaslighting, cheating, incest, sexual assault, abandonment, drinking, poison, suicide, grief, forced institutionalization, sexual content, and homophobia. The book follows a woman, Rowen, who is applying for a nanny position in Scotland. She gets the job, and then learns that their previous nannies left under mysterious circumstances...and once she starts working, she starts to understand why: the house might be haunted. 

My critique for this book is the very British language, which resulted in the author using the homophobic F slur instead of saying “cigarette.” I was not given a warning about this before I read the book and was surprised. I understand that this is something that I may come across while reading from British authors, but I would appreciate the authors to recognize that a diverse group of people will read their books and to handle the language with care. 

The story is told in an interesting way: through letters to Rowan’s lawyer...while she is in prison for murder awaiting trial. She is begging her lawyer to believe that she did not kill one of the kids that she oversaw while on her nanny job. I found myself making lots of Bly Manor connections even though The Turn of the Key came out months before the show did. Three major differences were: the book takes place in current time (while the show takes place in the eighties), the book contains a “smart” house with all sorts of cool tech, and the book does not include a lesbian romance. There are so many twists and turns that I did not expect at all, and I fully did NOT see the massive twist at the ending at all. I love books with a huge plot twist, for example: The Silent Patient by Alex Michealides. I love the quote “People do go mad, you know, if you stop them from sleeping for long enough…” This quote is a good example of the spooky, Halloween vibe that I got from the book! 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for October. It is a great spooky book filled with a creepy house, suspicious children, a poison garden, red herrings, and murder! I give it a 10/10 and cannot wait to read more of Ruth Ware’s books!

Reasons to Write and To Write Well

Reasons to Write and To Write Well

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

(Image Credit: pixabay.com)

Writing is useful in so many ways. Yes, writing can be the cause of anxiety, but it can also create a lot of good things in our mind. Writing has been in our lives for ages. There are many reasons to improve your writing skills. Everyone writes messages, essays, or emails daily, so under no circumstances should the importance of good writing skills be diminished. Students are especially reliant on writing. Of all the tasks’, written assignments are the most common. They strive to improve learners’ analytic and critical thinking skills and most notably, they play a considerable role in students’ academics. 

Education puts a strong emphasis on writing. Students have to produce numerous written assignments, including but not limited to various essays, reports, case studies, reviews, and projects. And although such tasks are prevalent in academia, learners still face trouble composing impeccable papers. The main issue though is trying to find the time for it all. Without a shadow of a doubt, writing can be tedious, mainly in academia. And love it or hate it, you can’t hide from completing such tasks and submitting them on time. Thanks to solid writing skills, you won’t spend hours researching, outlining, and drafting a document. The ability to compose an essay and make it smooth-running will save you bags of time you can spend on activities you like more.

Good Writing Skills are Required Everywhere. Whether you decide to continue your academic path, delve into accounting, or become a designer, writing is necessary. Good writing abilities allow you to better express yourself, convey a message to the reader, and have all the leverage you need to satisfy your needs. Writing helps polish speaking and communication skills. Writing documents requires following a specific format and structure. Besides, many jobs require proving writing skills during the application procedure. Let alone writing personal statements when enrolling in a college or university program or applying for a scholarship.

Have you ever thought about why prolific writers always think outside the box? Writing stimulates the brain. Expert writers can generate unique ideas and concepts quickly because of their writing experience. They know how to kick off the writing process, what to focus on to come up with exclusive thoughts, and, most importantly, how to keep their content high-quality.

Additionally, writing speeds up brain function. We’ve all experienced that fatigue and stiffness upon waking up. Needless to say, our brains can barely work first thing in the morning. Writing helps accelerate the brain. By writing several paragraphs, you immediately become more productive and active.

Writing also can enrich the imagination. Being persistent with writing requires generating a variety of different content. Although numerous of topics exist, you will sometimes have to produce essays on familiar topics. Of course, everyone will want to stand out when working on such papers. Good writing boosts your imagination and allows you to come up with one-of-a-kind concepts. Besides, it enlarges your horizons and lets you touch upon various subjects you would never think of in the past.

As stated above, these are only a few reasons in favour of the importance of writing. Yet, they prove entirely that outstanding writing provides a dozen benefits, like improved communication, enhanced imagination and creativity, and the ability to buckle down tasks faster without sacrificing their quality.

Midnight Mass - A Review

Midnight Mass - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently watched Mike Flanagan’s newest Netflix show Midnight Mass and I loved it! It is a seven episode limited series, and it tells the full story in a great way in such a short time. The show is a slow burn supernatural horror with an awesome cast. The show is about an isolated religious island community that experiences miracles and frights after the arrival of a strange young priest. It stars creator Mike Flanagan’s wife Kate Siegel (Hill House, Bly Manor), Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights, The Last Winter), Samantha Sloyan (Grey’s Anatomy, Hill House), Rahul Kohli (Bly Manor, Supergirl), and more. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: death, blood and gore, murder, jump scares, alcoholism, car crash, drinking and driving, animal cruelty, animal death, pet loss, poison, cults, suicide, arson, cannibalism, seizures, miscarriage, self-harm, gaslighting, racism, and gun violence. 

The show started slow and not very scary as you get introduced to the setting of the fictional Crockett Island and meet the characters. This made me think that I would not be too scared while watching (as I am not the biggest horror fan), but I was very wrong. The show gradually gets more disturbing, scary, and thought provoking. It focuses a LOT on religion, but do not let this turn you away, the show is great and takes twists that I definitely did not expect. I made connections with The Haunting of Bly Manor and The Haunting of Hill House, who were also created, written, and directed by Mike Flanagan. The acting in this show is phenomenal, and there are a lot of beautiful and emotional monologues throughout the show. I think that it is fun that Mike Flanagan had two cameos in the show (one that I spotted and another one I saw on social media). I loved how there was diversity in the show, with Rahul Kohli’s portrayal of a Muslim man on the very Catholic Crocket Island. Mike dove into his personal experiences to make this show, as he was an altar boy and was an alcoholic. He originally started writing a Midnight Mass book years ago but never finished (fun fact: there is an easter egg about this in his movie Hush with Kate Siegel and Samantha Sloyan). He then tried to get it made as a movie before finally landing on a television show. 

Midnight Mass is incomparable to his other projects of his that I have seen (Bly Manor, Hill House, and Gerald’s Game). The show makes you think about religion and how it can go too far very fast. Overall, I highly recommend watching it, and it is a very good weekend binge. I give it a strong 10/10! I am very excited to see more projects from Mike Flanagan!

Come From Away - A Musical Review

Come From Away - A Musical Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

I recently watched the professional recording of the hit Tony Award winning musical Come from Away. It is an amazing musical, and it is about the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack in New York City, which caused 38 planes to be diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. The musical showcases Canadian kindness during a traumatic time. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for: death, grief, trauma, terrorism, racism, anxiety, alcohol, claustrophobia, and 9/11. 

The show is a perfect mix of heartbreaking, funny, and uplifting. The found family aspect of it is beautiful. The cast are amazing and ace their roles. The Canadian jokes are very funny - I hope to see more popular musicals set in Canada in the future! I realized while I was watching the show the gravity of it being performed and filmed in New York City. The show came out on the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which is powerful. The performance is filmed beautifully, it gives you close ups when necessary and wide shots at good timing to show the sets and choreography. I loved how some actors played multiple small parts in addition to their larger roles, because it is impossible to have a cast full of 700+ people on a stage so small. I was born a few weeks before 9/11, and I cannot even imagine what it was like to be older during that time. Come From Away brilliantly gives me a peek into what people faced at the time, as the characters are based on real people. The music is catchy, emotional, and tells the story in a wonderful way. The musical is not entirely sung through, so there are some jokes and context you would miss out on if you only listened to the soundtrack. You would also miss out on the excellent props, sets, and choreography in the show. The accents in the show are hilarious - in the first song, the local Newfoundlanders sing, “You probably understand about a half of what we say.” I loved the diverse representation in the show, of races, genders, sexualities, and religions. 

Overall, I LOVED the Come from Away movie. I highly recommend checking it out! It is available to watch on Apple TV+. I give it a very strong 10/10, and I believe that it has become one of my favorite musicals. 

Candyman (2021) Review

Candyman (2021) Review

By Cedric Bell

Photo Credit: www.imdb.com 

A sequel to the 1987 horror film of the same name, Candyman (2021) is another film that follows the recent trend of half-reboots. While still acknowledging the original, it goes in a mostly original direction, while using some of the same ideas and characters as the original. It stands on its own and can be fully enjoyed without any knowledge of the prior films, but does not completely neglect them either. But what really sets it apart from them is the fresh approach that it takes to horror filmmaking, interlacing the horror elements with strong social commentary and a uniquely stylised direction.

Directed by Nia Dacosta and written by Nia Dacosta, Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld, Candyman (2021) follows an artist's deepening obsession with an urban legend in his neighbourhood of Cabrini Green, the Candyman. According to the legend, if his name is said five times in a mirror, he comes to murder whoever said it. This pursuit of the urban legend brings him back into the public eye, and starts a new chain of crimes that tears the neighbourhood apart. While the premise sounds a bit cheesy, it is handled in a very mature and reserved way that keeps it from seeming silly, and focuses on much more specific themes rather than just the horror elements. It goes surprisingly deep into social and racial themes such as gentrification, ghettoisation and police brutality, and naturally interweaves these ideas into the story in ways that make it much more interesting than it would be otherwise. It also brings up an artistic dilemma about whether or not using suffering as an artistic muse is taking advantage of that suffering, or is bringing to light an important issue. Aside from the subject of police brutality, the film never offers simple answers to these issues, and instead raises the question and argues for both sides, creating a horror movie that has more serious ideas than most of its contemporaries, and is more interesting as a result.

The film has a lot of very unique and positive aspects to it. The cinematography is excellent and has a lot of visually interesting and meaningful shots, the best among them being the shadow puppet sequences that are used to great effect. The acting, especially from the leads Teyonah Parris and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, is very strong and makes them both likeable. The themes and ideas that it brings up are interesting and thoughtful, and it relies on suspense and eeriness rather than jumpscares or obvious horror. In my mind, this film is almost a masterpiece. Almost.

There are two major issues that this movie has. The first is that there is a pretty major reveal towards the end that didn’t work very well. Without going into specifics, a character makes a heel turn into a villain that feels rushed and forced. They explain it well enough, but it is explained with a flashback that comes far too late in the movie, and makes the twist seem sloppy and a little ridiculous as a result. The second issue this movie has is more of a matter of preference. Unlike Jordan Peele’s other two horror movies, the themes and ideas that are brought up in this movie, while interesting, are used very bluntly and obviously. There is little room for interpretation because these ideas are often just stated outright by the characters, which can make it feel like the audience is being beaten over the head with them. While I personally didn’t mind it, because the movie has a lot it has to say in a very short time, some might find it a little jarring. It is by no means a worse approach than the more subtle way Get out or Us addresses issues of race, but it is noticeably more direct.

Overall, the 2021 reboot of Candyman is an incredible, thoughtful horror movie, and though there are a few issues that hold it back from being perfect, it is a movie I cannot recommend highly enough that combines skin crawling horror and meaningful social commentary in a movie that I will be thinking about for a long, long time.

Solar Power by Lorde - A Review

Solar Power by Lorde - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Lorde finally released her long awaited third album called Solar Power on August 20th (which was the day before my 20th birthday). The album is full of summery vibes and fun songs, while also having her classic emotional punch. The album weaves intellectual lyrics about love, relationships, fame, heartbreak, family, nature, politics, and growing up all together in a beautiful way. 

The first song, The Path, is about fame and growing up. In the song, Lorde says, “Caught in the complex divorce of the seasons/Won’t take the call if it’s the label or the radio.” She also says, “Now if you’re looking for a savior, well, that’s not me.” I love this line. The second song (and title track) is called Solar Power and is the perfect song to blare on the beach. The song is about using nature and the outdoors as escapism. In the song, she sings, “Forget all of the tears that you cried, it’s over.” She also says, “And I throw my cellular device in the water/Can you reach me? No, you can’t” I like this line because Lorde does not use social media and it feels fitting. But my favorite line in the song (and possibly whole album) is “I’m kinda like a prettier Jesus.” Moving on to track 3, California is once again exploring fame and how Lorde does not like it. Lorde sings, “Goodbye to all the bottles, all the models/Bye to the clouds in the skies that all hold no rain. /Don’t want that California love.” Lorde slows it down for the emotional fourth song on the album called Stoned at the Nail Salon. The song is about growing up, nostalgia, and disassociation. My favorite lyrics in this song are, “Cause all the music you loved at sixteen you’ll grow out of/And all the times they will change, it’ll all come around.” The fifth song is called Fallen Fruit and is about remembering those who came before us. In the song, she sings, “To the ones who came before us/All the golden ones who were lifted on a wing/We had no idea the dreams we had were far too big.” Track six is my favorite song on the whole album. It is called Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All), and it is about nostalgia, grief, and growing up. It reminds me of songs that would be in early 2000’s movies. In the song, she says, “Couldn’t wait to turn fifteen/Then you blink, and it’s been ten years/Growing up a little at a time, then all at once.” She also sings “‘Member what you thought was grief before you got the call?” Track seven is called The Man with the Axe. She sings “I thought I was a genius, but now I’m twenty-two.” The eighth song on the album, Dominoes, is a petty reflection on an ex-boyfriend. It reminds me of the song Mr. Perfectly Fine by Taylor Swift. In the song, she sings, “Fifty gleaming chances in a row/Then you flick them down like dominoes/Must feel good being Mr. Start Again.” Lorde slows it down again for the heartbreaking ninth song called Big Star which is about her dog Pearl that passed away. She sings “But every perfect summer’s gotta take its flight.” Track ten is called Leader of a New Regime and is a short song about politics. She sings, “Won’t somebody, anybody, be the leader of a new regime?” In the eleventh song, Mood Ring, Lorde satirizes people who are spiritual and use crystals. She sings “Don’t you think the early 2000s seem so far away?” and “Ladies, begin your sun salutation/Transcendental in your meditations/You can burn sage and I’ll cleanse the crystals/We can get high, but only if the wind blows.” The final song on the standard album is called Oceanic Feeling, which is a whopping six minutes long. In the song, Lorde says “Slidin’ the knife under the skin/Grateful for this offering/And all the livin’ things under the sun.” 

Overall, I love this album and I am so happy that Lorde finally released a new album after not releasing anything for four whole years. My favorite songs are Secrets from a Girl, Solar Power, and Stoned at the Nail Salon. I give Solar Power a strong 10/10 and highly recommend checking it out! 

Ace of Spades: A Book Review

Ace of Spades: A Book Review 

By: Mallory Johnson

Ace of Spades is a young adult thriller mystery book by Faridah Abika-Iyimide (it is her debut book!), and it came out on June 1st, 2021. The book is described as “Get Out meets Gossip Girl” and that is the best way to describe the story. It follows Chiamaka and Devon, the only Black students at the prestigious Niveus Private Academy. But...when the anonymous “Aces'” starts exposing secrets, they realize that they're the only people being targeted. Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for racism, homophobia, outing, murder, a car accident, blood, death, racial slurs, gun violence, fire, bullying, stalking, gaslighting, toxic friendships, suicide, drug abuse, sexual assault/harassment, incarceration, and sexual content. 

Ace of Spades is a thrilling mystery that is very fast paced as you try to figure out who Aces is. I recommend watching the movie Get Out first and having a basic understanding of the show Gossip Girl. The story is hard to read at times, as it deals with racism and homophobia. There are twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The secrets that were exposed shocked me and I was in for a fun ride with this book. A quote from Ace of Spades that I love is “At the end of the day, I had to learn to protect my heart above everything, at all costs. If I didn’t protect it, no one else would.” On the very first page of the book are these two quotes: “they say life is full of surprises. That our dreams really can come true. Then again, so can our nightmares.” from Gossip Girl, and “All I know is sometimes, if there’s too many white folks...I get nervous.” from Get Out. It is not just readers on social media making connections to Gossip Girl and Get Out while reading, this book is literally Get Out meets Gossip Girl. I recommend this book to white people who want to learn more about the horrors of racism but who still want to read fiction books. I am glad that I watched the movie Get Out before reading because I got the full impact of the story. There is a huge plot twist at the end of the book that I didn't see coming at all, which I love. 

Overall, I loved reading this book, and I highly recommend reading it! I love reading books with good, diverse representation and this book definitely did that. I give Ace of Spades a very strong 10/10 and cannot wait for more books from Faridah Abika-Iyimide!

You Signed Up for This by Maisie Peters - A Review

You Signed Up for This by Maisie Peters - A Review  

By: Mallory Johnson 

Maisie Peters released her debut album on August 27th, and I have been listening to it on repeat ever since. It is a pop breakup album, and I am obsessed with it. Maisie is on Ed Sheeran’s new record label, Gingerbread Man Records, which is super cool. The album weaves lyrics about heartbreak, growing up, driving, family, friendship, love, and mental health together in a beautiful way. The songs are very catchy and fun while also being sad if you dig deep into the lyrics. The smart yet heartbreaking lyrics pull you in for a journey. The first song and title track “You Signed Up for This” is very relatable to me, especially the opening lyrics “I am 20 and probably upset right now/I still haven’t got my driver’s license.” The second song called “I’m Trying (Not Friends)” discusses heartbreak after a breakup and trying to move on while trying to be the bigger person. The lyrics “Well I might be bitter and twisted and broken and petty and lying/But at least I'm trying” show the diverse range of emotions that are caused by breakups. The third song on the album, called “John Hughes Movie”, is one of my favorites. It references 80s romantic comedies made by John Hughes (think The Breakfast Club). It discusses a love that is not meant to be. I love the lyric “Cause if you don’t want me/then you're not the one.” The fourth song called “Outdoor Pool” goes back to high school young love and breaks your heart. Maisie sings, “We went swimming in an outdoor pool/and you wouldn't tell a soul at school/I’m just fifteen, I just want you, so that’s cool.” The fifth song is called “Love Him I Don’t” and is all about finally moving on from a bad breakup and toxic relationship. My favorite lyrics in this song are, “Now it’s coming up roses/Kicking up snow/What a long winter/What a bad joke.” and “Everyone else can have him but I won’t.” “Psycho” is the sixth song and another one of my favorites. Maisie calls out a toxic ex who cheated on her. My favorite lyrics in this song are “All kinds of ghosts down in your basement/You made me feel so useful, then so used.” I also love the bridge. My third favorite song on the album is the seventh song called “Boy,” where Maisie iconically calls out a toxic, serial-cheating ex. It is hard to pick a favorite set of lyrics from this song, so here are a few: “In love is something that you’ll never be/And you should take this personally.” and “When I told you you were funny I lied.” and “If I was the last girl on earth/You’d still be weighing up your options.” and finally, “I could be a grown-up/But baby you know what?/Maybe I’ll release this song instead.” Ed Sheeran co-wrote this song with Maisie which I think is fun! The mood shifts completely in the next song called Hollow, which is a heartbreaking song. My favorite lyric is “The casualty of love is the price of being free.” Maisie talks about how heartbroken and hollow she feels after a relationship ends. The ninth song, “Villain,” is equally as heartbreaking as Maisie talks once again about heartbreak. She says that she feels like the villain in the story, and says, “If she’s the girl of your dreams/The best thing you’ve ever seen/Well, what does that make me then? /I’m your villain.” Maisie switches gears for the tenth song called “Brooklyn,” which is about her lovely relationship with her sister Ellen (who she mentions in the first song). My favorite lyric from this song is “If you want to take her out, you're gonna have to ask me first/Come on, have you seen those eyes? /It’s nothing but the best for her.” This song makes me think of my own sister. In the eleventh song, “Elvis Song,” she talks about good memories from a relationship. She says, “In my mind, I hear it and I know nothing’s changed/In my mind, we share earphones on the midnight train.” Maisie sings about feeling bad about not committing to the relationship and how she was the one responsible for ending it. Another one of my favorite songs is the acoustic “Talking to Strangers.” In the song, Maisie sings about how she keeps talking to strangers about her lover. She sings, “Oh, I can’t stop, I can’t just not/Tell the whole wide world and this room/No, I can’t stop, even if I wanted to talking to strangers about you.” The second last song called “Volcano” once again talks about a toxic relationship and is very sad. My favorite line is, “I’ll throw you in a volcano, hope death is sudden.” The last song, called “Tough Act,” is a heartbreaking breakup song that reminds me of the song Fine Line by Harry Styles. She says, “Saying goodbye to a best friend/Is the bad part of the right thing to do.” and “Everybody knows that a breakup/Is better when there’s someone to hate but/You were my favorite way to stay up, and I’d say that still.” 

Overall, I am obsessed with this album and believe that it is a very solid debut. My favorite songs are Psycho, Boy, Talking to Strangers, and John Hughes Movie. I give this album a strong 10/10 and highly recommend checking it out! This was the perfect album for the end of the summer. 

Unpregnant - A Review

Unpregnant - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson

Unpregnant is a movie based on a book of the same name that came out in 2020. The movie is funny and very enjoyable. It is available to watch on Crave and HBO Max. I love how it was written and directed by a woman. The movie follows a seventeen-year-old Veronica who accidentally gets pregnant, and then must travel across the country to get an abortion with her childhood friend, Bailey. It stars Haley Lu Richardson (Five Feet Apart, The Edge of Seventeen) and Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria, Divorce). The movie discusses abortions, the right to choose, and issues with abortion access. I am pro-choice, and I really enjoyed how this movie was also pro-choice. Before I go any further, I want to put in place a spoiler alert. I also want to put in place trigger warnings for: abortion, sexual assault, stalking, flashing lights, and a toxic relationship. 

The acting, directing, and cinematography were excellent and made for a fun watch. I loved the soundtrack, the road trip adventure aspect, and the friendship in the movie. I found it very awkward when Veronica’s boyfriend proposed to her when he found out she was pregnant. I loved how organized and planned Veronica was about the whole trip. One of my favorite parts of the movie was the LGBTQ2+ representation in it, and how it was not a big deal in the movie; it did not change much of the plot. I loved that Bailey was so supportive and called to book the abortion appointment for Veronica. I loved when they were at the carnival on a ride, when they were screaming their secrets; specifically the line “We’re gay and pregnant!” I did not trust the family that gave the girls a ride from the carnival, and I was correct. 

This movie reminded me of the movie Booksmart, where two teenage girls must go on a big adventure to get to a party. But instead of a party, the teens are going across the country to get an abortion. I liked how Bailey reunited with her dad, and that Veronica supported her when he was rude to her. I found it hilarious that they pulled up to the abortion clinic in a limousine, and that the driver, Bob, walked them into the clinic and said that they are great friends. I really appreciate how they showed the abortion process and explained it in a good, healthy, honest, and unbiased way. I was glad that Veronica thanked Bailey when they got home from their big trip. 

I found it very powerful and important that Veronica said that she did not feel bad about the abortion, and the whole conversation that she had with her mom was powerful. I loved how Veronica told her other friends about the pregnancy test being hers, and then went to sit with Bailey. I enjoyed that there was a post credit scene. 

The movie took a difficult subject and handled it in a brilliant way. Abortions and abortion access is something that is very important to talk about. Overall, I loved this movie and give it a strong rating of 10/10. I definitely recommend checking it out!

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) Review and Master’s Issue Update

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) Review and Master’s Issue Update

By: Mallory Johnson 

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) came out on April 9th. The album is a whopping 26 songs (1 hour and 46 minutes) long and features all the songs from her original Fearless album (that came out in 2008). It also includes the song Today Was a Fairytale, which was on the soundtrack for the movie Valentine’s Day (which she starred in). Additionally, the album includes six previously unreleased songs from “the vault.” These songs were written in approximately 2008 and were not originally on the album. They are: You All Over Me (featuring Maren Morris), Bye Bye Baby, Mr. Perfectly Fine, That’s When (featuring Keith Urban), We Were Happy, and Don’t You. Keith Urban also sings background vocals on We Were Happy. Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is the first of the re-recorded albums to be released. It is theorized that 1989 may be next, as Fearless and 1989 are both critically acclaimed. 

In November 2019, I wrote an article covering the reason why Taylor Swift is re-recording her first six albums. In summary, she was formerly with the record label Big Machine Label Group. In 2019, she posted on her social media accounts that the rights (“masters”) to her first six albums were sold to Scooter Braun. Scott Borchetta was the man that signed her (he is the owner of Big Machine). He is the one that sold the rights and did it without Taylor’s permission. She begged to own her work but was not allowed to. She was legally allowed to begin re-recording her first five albums last November, these albums include: Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. She cannot re-record her sixth album Reputation until next November, as it needs to be five years old. Taylor chose to add the (Taylor’s Version) at the end of all the album and track titles to prove that she owns them and to prevent possible mix-ups with the original versions.  

I listened to Fearless (Taylor’s Version) as soon as it came out, and I am obsessed with it. Somehow, Taylor sounds both young and mature at the same time. The nostalgia that I have surrounding all the songs made this even more special. It is rare that you get to listen to an album for the first time again, and this re-recording process allows for that. 

There are a few lines/songs that feel different listening to them now versus way back in 2008. For example, the song White Horse has a line that says, “I’m gonna find someone someday who might actually treat me well.” Taylor has been in a loving relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn for around four years now, and he treats her very well. Also, the line in the song Change that says, “It was the night things changed,” is special because April 9th was truly the night things changed for Taylor. 

I saw a social media post that pointed out that Taylor now owns 4/9 of her albums and now the release date of April 9th (4/9) makes a lot of sense. Her vocals on the album sound incredible, and you can tell that she put a lot of effort in to make it sound as close to the originals as possible. She also brought back some of the band members that she was working with at the time the songs were made, which I love. In the vault song Mr. Perfectly Fine, I love the line “Hello Mr. Casually Cruel,” as it is a lyrical parallel to the emotional Red song All Too Well where she says, “So casually cruel in the name of being honest.” My favorite songs on the album are Fearless, The Way I Loved You, and Mr. Perfectly Fine. Overall, I give the album a strong 10/10 and highly recommend checking it out, and I am so excited for the rest of the re-recorded albums to come out!

How to make the perfect Easter Bunny Cake

How to make the perfect Easter Bunny Cake

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

Photo credits: Food Network

Have some extra time on your hands? Bake a cake! This Bunny cake is perfect for the Easter Holidays. Below you will find the recipe that I obtained from Food network. There are many more recipes at: https://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/photos/easter-sweets but this seemed as one of the most festive and fun to make!

Total prep time for this cake is 1 hour.

Ingredients: 

Frosting:

• 6 cups confectioners' sugar

• 3 sticks (12 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

• Pinch fine salt

• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Bunny:

• 2 baked 9-inch round cake layers (your favorite recipe or an 18.25-ounce boxed cake mix)

• 1 1/4 cups sweetened flaked coconut

• 2 store-bought biscotti

• 1 tube pink decorating icing

• 2 black jelly beans

• 2 marshmallows

• 1 white jelly bean, halved lengthwise

• 1 pink jelly bean

• 1 black licorice wheel, such as Haribo

Directions:

1. For the frosting: Combine the sugar, butter and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a hand-held electric mixer). Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Add the vanilla, increase the speed to medium high and mix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with milk until the frosting is easy to spread.

2. For the bunny: Spread a thin layer of frosting (about 2/3 cup) on the flat side of one cake layer and top with the flat side of the second cake layer. Measure 5 inches across the top of the cake and cut down through the layers, creating 2 layered pieces that are slightly different sizes.

3. Place the larger piece of cake cut-side down on a large platter or cake board. If using a rectangular cake board, place the larger piece so that the long edges are parallel with the long edges of the board. This is the body of the bunny. Cut the smaller piece of cake in half crosswise, so you have 2 layered wedges. Place one wedge in front of the body, with one flat side on the board and the other flat side against the body. The curved side will be on top. Take a serrated knife and round off the sharp edges on top of the head. Cut the tip off (the nose) at a 45-degree angle. Reserve all scraps in a bowl.

4. Separate the layers of the remaining wedge of cake. These will be the back legs. Round the sharp edges of the cake wedges with your knife and add to the scrap bowl. Place one piece on each side of the bunny, with one flat side down and the other flat side facing forward (the round side towards the back of the bunny), about 1 inch from the end of the bunny's body.

5. Mix the cake scraps in the bowl with a fork until mashed and then pack into a ball with your hands. Place the ball behind the bunny's body and adhere with a dab of frosting. This is the bunny's tail.

6. Frost the entire bunny, tail and all, using 2 to 3 cups of the frosting, keeping some definition with the bunny parts and frosting more generously around any sharp edges to give a rounded look to the bunny parts. Sprinkle the bunny with the coconut to fully cover. Gently pat to adhere.

7. Insert the biscotti between the head and body, pressing into the cake to secure them. These are the ears. Place the base of the ears close together at the center of the head and angle them out. Frost the front of each biscotti with some frosting. Then, using the pink decorating icing, frost a smaller strip in the center of each biscotti, going down to where the ears meet the head but not going all the way to the top.

8. To make the face, press a black jelly bean into each side of the head for the eyes. Cut one of the marshmallows into 3 circles, discard the middle piece and press the 2 end circles, cut-sides in, into the front of the face for the bunny cheeks. Push the white jelly bean halves into the face below the cheeks, round-sides out, for the teeth. Place the pink jelly bean above for the nose.

9. Unroll the licorice wheel and cut 2 pieces, each about 1 1/2 inches long. For each piece, peel the strips apart halfway down and then cut each separated strip in half lengthwise so you end up with a piece looking a bit like a broom. Repeat with the second piece of licorice. Tuck each piece, with a dab of frosting, behind a marshmallow cheek, with the cut ends facing out for the whiskers.

10. Cut the second marshmallow in half lengthwise. Make 3 slits in each half, going about halfway through (these are the toes), and place in front of the legs for the bunny's feet. Adhere the bottom of the feet with frosting if necessary.

Easter Baking Recipe

Easter Baking Recipe

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

Photo Credits: The Food Network

Easter will be different this year. No indoor household gatherings greater than your designated visitors will be permitted. As a result, the extended family gatherings we have gotten used to from years before the pandemic will not be possible this year. Last year during this time, we were slowly settling into the new “COVID normal.” Restrictions on gatherings were lighter than what they are now. Some people were able to enjoy their last typical Easter gathering. 

           This year in an attempt to brighten your Easter holiday, I have found the most fun baking recipes that I believe will lift your spirits. While you may not be able to showcase your baked goods over Easter lunch/supper, you will nonetheless be able to show them off to your extended family through social media or by dropping some off at their door. I picked out my favorite recipes from the Food Network, where sixty-five recipes are available.  

In case you do not want to bake any of the options I suggest, you can find more options here: https://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/photos/easter-sweets 

Bunny Oreo Balls: A no-bake dessert! They are a fun easter themed dessert that will have your family saying “Wow, they’re so cute!” The total time for making these is 2 hours.

Ingredients: 

• One 14.3-ounce package chocolate sandwich cookies, such as Oreo (about 36 cookies)

• 6 ounces cream cheese

• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

• 3/4 teaspoon meringue powder (available in the baking aisle)

• Pink gel food coloring

• Black gel food coloring

• 2 cups white candy melting wafers (about 13 ounces)

• 1 teaspoon refined coconut oil

• White sanding sugar, for decorating

• Pink sanding sugar, for decorating

• 45 mini marshmallows

Directions: 

1. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Pulse the cookies in a food processor to fine crumbs. Add the cream cheese and pulse together until the mixture begins to ball up. Transfer to a large bowl and knead together a few times until completely combined.

3. Roll about 1/3 of the mixture into 18 truffles (about 1 level tablespoon each) and place on one of the prepared baking sheets. Roll the remaining mixture into 18 larger truffles, (about 1 heaping tablespoon each), and place on the second prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm and chilled through, about 1 hour.

4. While the truffles chill, prepare the decorations.

5. For the royal icing, combine the confectioner's sugar and meringue powder in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on low speed just to combine. Add 2 1/2 teaspoons water and increase the speed to medium. Beat the mixture until the icing is stiff enough to hold a peak but soft enough to pipe, about 2 minutes. If the icing gets too stiff, add up to 1/2 teaspoon more water.

6. Divide the icing evenly between 2 bowls. Tint one bowl of icing bright pink using the pink food coloring. Tint the remaining bowl of icing with the black food coloring. Transfer the pink and black icings to separate piping bags (with no cut openings) or to resealable plastic bags and set aside.

7. For the white coating, combine the candy melting wafers and coconut oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the mixture in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until the wafers are melted and the mixture is smooth, about 1 minute 20 seconds. Set aside.

8. Put some white sanding sugar and pink sanding sugar in separate bowls.

9. For the bunny tails: Cut 9 of the marshmallows crosswise to create 18 halves. Carefully dip one flat side of each marshmallow piece in the white candy coating, let the excess drip off and then dip in the white sanding sugar. Place each marshmallow piece sugar-side up on a plate to set. These will be the bunny tails.

10. For the bunny ears: Cut 18 of the marshmallows in half on the diagonal to create 18 pairs of bunny ears. Dip the cut side of each marshmallow piece in the pink sanding sugar. Place sugar-side up on the plate with the tails to set.

11. For the bunny feet: Cut the remaining 18 marshmallows in half lengthwise to create 18 pairs of feet. Set aside on the plate with the tails and ears.

12. Put a truffle in the white coating and use 2 forks to evenly coat. Lift out the truffle, letting any excess drip off, then return to the baking sheet. Continue with the remaining truffles (both sizes) until all are all coated. If the coating cools to room temperature during the dipping process, microwave it in 20-second intervals to reheat. Reserve the leftover white coating to use as glue for the tails, ears and feet.

13. For the heads: Dip the bottoms of 2 bunny ears in the leftover white coating, place on top of a small truffle and hold in place until the coating sets, about 15 seconds. Snip a very small tip off the corner of each bag of icing. Pipe a small pink heart for a nose on the front (face) of the truffle. Pipe a pair of eyes and mouth using the black royal icing. Repeat with the remaining small truffles.

14. For the bottoms: Dip the cut side of a marshmallow tail in the leftover white coating. Place the tail on top of one of the large truffles and hold in place until the coating sets, about 15 seconds. Dip the cut sides of two marshmallow feet in the leftover white coating. Position them on the truffle below the tail and hold until set in place. Use the pink royal icing to pipe a large oval on the top each foot and 3 small circles underneath for toes. Repeat with the remaining large truffles.

15. Return all the truffles to the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Serve chilled.

My Thoughts on the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards

My Thoughts on the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards 

By: Mallory Johnson 

The 63rd annual Grammy Awards were on Sunday, March 15th. The award show recognizes music and musical talent and is known as “Music’s biggest night.” 

I LOVED Harry Styles’ performance and was obsessed with all three of his outfits and different feather boas. Trevor Noah was the host of the show, and he was a funny host. I enjoyed Billie Eilish’s performance, and I liked that she was singing on top of a car. I love that Meghan Thee Stallion won the Best New Artist award, she was super shocked in her acceptance speech. 

I like how they did the show, but at points it seemed more like a big concert instead of an awards show. I enjoyed Dua Lipa’s performance and liked the 70’s vibe of Bruno Mars’s performance. I loved that all the nominees for Best Country Album were women! 

Taylor Swift’s performance was amazing and without a doubt my favorite of the night. I love that she did a mashup of Cardigan, August, and Willow, and was surprised that she brought an Evermore song into the mix. Her set was gorgeous and fits the vibes of the album SO WELL. I also loved the dress that she performed in. I also loved her non-performance look and her matching mask. 

I loved that Harry Styles won for Best Pop Solo Performance, it was his first EVER Grammy win, as One Direction never won a Grammy. The tribute segment felt even more special this year. I enjoyed Mickey Guyton’s powerful performance. I enjoyed Maren Morris’s performance, but did not like that John Mayer performed with her. I loved Meghan Thee Stallion’s performance and all the dancing (and tap dancing!) 

I liked the WAP performance, it was funny with all the censoring. The set was super cool! I like how they honored small theatres throughout the show. Lil Baby’s performance was powerful and relevant (it was about police brutality, protest, demanding for justice, and racism). 

Beyonce made Grammy history, and is now the most awarded artist at the Grammys, with a whopping 28 awards! 

I LOVED that Taylor Swift won Album of the Year for Folklore! She is the first woman to win Album of the Year three times! Her first win was for Fearless (country), second was for 1989 (pop), and now Folklore (alternative). Her three wins were also in three different decades - Fearless was released in 2008, 1989 in 2014, and folklore in 2020. This is the first time she won Album of the Year for an album she owns! 

It was interesting to me that the Recording Academy denounced all forms of bigotry and hate. I love how Billie Eilish won Record of the Year, because she is only eighteen years old and extremely successful.

10 Doctor Who Quotes To Inspire

10 Doctor Who Quotes To Inspire

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Doctor Who is the longest-running science fiction show (though not continuously) for over fifty years. The modern run of the show started in 2005 with the ninth Doctor. 

The Doctor has regenerated 13 times (Technically more if you count the Timeless Child storyline and the War Doctor). Each time they change, we are introduced to a Doctor who is trying to rediscover who they, but they know that they always help. 

The Doctor has adventured through space and time, met many people, traveled with numerous companions, loved and lost. Doctor Who has so many moments that sit with fans forever and even some make it to those who have never see the show. Doctor Who has a far reach for so many reasons. It's about love and hate. Loss and gain. Truth and lies. It's about exploring the universe and exploring ourselves. It's about adventure and helping others. It's about the infinite possibilities and realizing what is finite. It's about choices and why we made them. And it will forever be about running away with a Mad (Wo)Man in a Box.

These quotes are all from the modern run of Doctor Who. You don’t even need to know the show to take inspiration from the words of The Doctor. 

1. “Never be cruel. Never be cowardly. Remember, hate is always foolish, and love is always wise. Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.” – 12th Doctor.

2. “We all change, when you think about it. We’re all different people all through our lives. And that’s OK, that’s good, you gotta keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.” – The Eleventh Doctor.

3. “Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It’s not the time that matters. It’s the person.” – The Tenth Doctor.

4. “We’re all capable of the most incredible change. We can evolve while still staying true to who we are. We can honour who we’ve been and choose who we want to be next. Now’s your chance! How about it?” – The Thirteenth Doctor.

5. “You were fantastic. And you know what? So was I” -The Ninth Doctor.

6. “The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. Hey. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don’t necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.” – The Eleventh Doctor.

7. “I carry them [Family] with me. What they would have thought and said and done. Make them a part of who I am. So even though they’re gone from the world, they’re never gone from me.” -The Thirteenth Doctor

8. “You want weapons? We’re in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world!” – The Tenth Doctor.

9. “Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind.” – The Twelfth Doctor.

10. “Love, in all its form, is the most powerful weapon we have. Because love is a form and like hope, love abides in the face of everything.” – The Thirteenth Doctor

#FreeBritney: A Summary

#FreeBritney: A Summary  

By: Mallory Johnson 

Britney Spears has gone through a lot in her long career, including mental health issues, paparazzi not leaving her alone, public relationships (and very public breakups), invasive interviews and tabloids, or her toxic conservatorship with her dad. She is a well-known pop singer, her most popular songs are Toxic, Baby One More Time, and Oops I Did it Again. In the New York Times documentary “Framing Britney Spears,” all of this is discussed. 

Conservatorship is defined as a guardian or a protector is appointed by a judge to manage the financial and/or daily life of another due to physical or mental limitations, or old age. In 2008, Britney Spears was first placed under this conservatorship, and she had no control over her money or assets. This conservatorship is still in place thirteen years later, despite Britney’s wishes. Britney’s fans started a movement with #FreeBritney, in hopes of helping her get freed. They make social media posts and protests about it (as you can see in the documentary). Fans also believe that Britney is sending cryptic messages on her Instagram account. Some fans believe that she does not have full control of her social media accounts. 

You can learn more about this in the documentary “Framing Britney Spears” on Crave, but it is hard to watch, as it details the mistreatment, conservatorship, and mental health issues that Britney went through over her whole career. 

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers - A Review

Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Phoebe Bridgers released her second solo album in 2020, and I recently listened to it for the first time. It is a beautiful album that reminds me of Folklore and Evermore by Taylor Swift. My favorite songs are Kyoto, Garden Song, Moon Song, and Graceland Too.

 The song Kyoto seems like a happy song on the surface, but when you look at the lyrics it is the opposite. It is about Phoebe’s strained relationship with her dad, and how she always wants to be somewhere she is not. One of my lyrics in the whole album is “The doctor put her hands over my liver, she told me my resentment’s getting smaller,” from Garden Song. The song DVD Menu is interesting because it is instrumental, sets the mood for the album, and sounds the same as the end of I Know the End...so you know the end the whole time (and so the album loops beautifully). Phoebe recently performed Kyoto and I Know the End on Saturday Night Live. The song I Know the End is an eerie apocalyptic song, featuring Phoebe and her band screaming at the end. The song Punisher is a beautiful, heartbreaking song about the late Elliot Smith, fame, and fans. A lot of the songs on Punisher require a deep look at the lyrics to truly understand how heartbreaking they are. 

Punisher discusses familial relationships, romantic relationships, murder, religion (or lack thereof) and mental health. Overall, I give Punisher a solid 10/10 and highly recommend listening to it!

Book Recommendations for the Pandemic Life

Book Recommendations for the Pandemic Life

           It is no question that many people are bored from being stuck at home and are taking up new hobbies that they would never have expected. From hearing other people, I know, people who do not ordinarily read have decided to start reading because of how bored they have gotten. I suspect people have been deviating from reading because most of their jobs or classes have moved online using some video software. The last thing they want to do after a long day of looking at a screen is looking at another screen and watch television. So, here are my book recommendations for people in the pandemic. Without any spoilers!

Spring Snow by Yukio Mishima 

Written by a samurai and writer from the end of the 20th century, "Spring Snow" is a romantic novel that, in my opinion, makes Romeo and Juliet look amateurish. Mishima's excellent poetic writing style alongside personal experiences living simultaneously paints vivid and emotional images that can make the reader feel as if they were there. This is one of my favourite fiction books.  

Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen

This one is for those who miss traveling or have the desire for adventure within them. This book is all about Magellan's legendary journey. He circumnavigated the globe and found the elusive "Dragon's Tail," which is more commonly known as the "Strait of Magellan." One of the aspects that makes this book good is that it draws upon the journal entries of sailors on the ship with Magellan at the time. In my opinion, this journey's reality and events are beyond something that someone could have imagined writing for a story. I would describe this one as "intense." It puts in perspective how dangerous exploration is.  

The Art of War by Sun Tzu 

This book is for those who are looking for a good non-fiction book to fill their minds. It is called the art of war or the art of life, depending on its translation. The Art of War is a book that is about 2000 years old and describes all kinds of war principles and tactics. Many warlords and generals have famously used this book throughout history. While mostly on war, a lot of the philosophy in this book can teach many important life lessons that can significantly improve one's quality of life. Although it may be obvious given that I am a physics student, my favourite chapter in this book is "potential energy." My favourite quote from this book is, "There are, but five notes, and yet their permutations are more than can ever be heard." Sun Tzu's Art of War is one of those books I find myself coming back to time and time again. 

Regardless of whether one chooses to read these books, I think now is an excellent time to start into the habit of reading. You never know what you might find. A mentor of mine once said that "books contain the answer to every question. It is up to you to find the answers."

N. Monk, Futurist and Philosopher  

Halsey’s “I Would Leave Me If I Could” - A Review

Halsey’s “I Would Leave Me If I Could” - A Review

By: Mallory Johnson 

Last October, the singer Halsey released her very first poetry book titled “I Would Leave Me If I Could,” and I finally read it recently. The book is full of beautifully written poems and references to some of Halsey’s music, which I really liked as I am a huge fan of her music. I loved that she included her poem “A Story Like Mine” in the book, because she performed it at the 2018 Women’s March in New York City, and it was VERY powerful (you can watch a video of her performing it on YouTube). The poem discusses her and her friend’s experiences with sexual assault, so please be careful when you read it. 

The book is full of beautifully honest poems that give you a personal inside glimpse of her life, even more than her music gives you. The cover art of the book is also beautiful and was made by Halsey herself! Most of the poems are not too long, but “A Story Like Mine” is approximately four pages long. A few poems reference Halsey and her reproductive journey. She is pregnant right now, but she had a miscarriage in the past (and performed a concert the same night!) A few poems reference her bisexuality, which I love. Halsey talks about her childhood, family life, relationships, trauma, and more. Overall, I give this book a whopping 10/10, and highly recommend picking it up! You can find it at most bookstores! 

The Best Notebook I Have Ever Come Across

The Best Notebook I Have Ever Come Across

If there is anything a student probably does not like about taking notes, one of those things is having lots of notebooks filled with notes. In the times of the pandemic there is another new annoyance that students face when writing their notes. More specifically students and professors often must scan their notes and assignment work and convert it into a pdf file. A lot of students do not exactly have great scanners to scan their pages, so their pdf file of their work is not the greatest quality or worse fighting with the lighting on the document on your paper is a nuisance. Of course, one can try to type all their notes, but of course anyone in any mathematics or logic-based courses knows, typing your notes in such a class is about as possible as growing wings and flying. Even with all the keyboard shortcuts memorised I cannot possibly type any of the formulas I need to in class fast enough. One could get a tablet and a stylus to take notes during class, but tablets alone are kind of expensive and not every student can afford to get one, and on top of that one must worry about keeping the tablet charged. I personally do not like writing on a tablet because it still does not quite feel like writing with a real pen.  This is where the Rocket Book notebook comes in.

About a year and a half ago, when I was talking with someone over the phone, they told me about some notebook they had seen, and were telling me about how one could write on this notebook scan it send it to wherever and then just erase the pages and keep reusing the notebook. At the time I thought that sounded cool and was a little too good to be true. So, I sort of just kept it in the back of my mind. During Christmas I was given one of the Rocket Book notebooks as a gift, more specifically the Rocket Book Fusion the second generation of the original notebook. Ever since I have hardly ever wanted to use anything else. The notebook has many nice qualities. The first and obvious pro is that it the pages are completely reusable. Once one is done with a page, they can just erase it. With the Fusion in particular, one just erases the pages with a damp cloth with water. The pages themselves are water-proof, and tear-resistant! The pages and cover of the notebook itself are quite nice neither of which are flimsy or weak materials.  In the Fusion, it comes with a wide variety of different types of pages in it. It has planners, calendars, dot grid, lined, to do list, and bullet/idea journal pages. I personally use the dot grid pages the most because I do a lot of maths related work so drawing graphs is quite easy to do. Its convenience does not end there. The Rocket Book notebook pages are designed to be scanned and sent in many ways. So, when one scans the pages with the app, one can completely ignore shadows because even if a shadow covers half the page it will not show up in the document. At the bottom of every page there are some symbols, each of which can be pre-set as a specific destination so that when you scan a page and cross one of the symbols it will automatically send it to the pre-set destinations. The pre-set destination which you can custom choose are highly compatible with things like, Google Drive, Slack, iMessage, email, Evernote, Dropbox, OneNote and even OneDrive. One of my pre-set destinations is set to my university OneDrive and it works exactly how one would want it to. 

The only real con to the Rocket Book Notebooks, is that one must use a special kind of pen, but the pens are essentially the same price as regular pens. I hardly consider this a problem because the pens are good, and one must buy pens anyways for writing on regular paper. So, if anyone is considering whether they should get one of the Rocket Book notebooks, the short answer is: definitely. There are many kinds of Rocket Books with different size and types of pages, with different smart capabilities. I personally plan to get a second one known as the Rocket Book Matrix which is more for people who draw many graphs or write a lot of maths related content. I rate this notebook 6/6. It really is the best notebook I have ever seen. 

N. Monk, Futurist and Philosopher

Playing Older Video Games

Playing Older Video Games 

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

With a lot of free time to spare, I have found myself playing older games. Usually, I play games that are intensely optimized for graphics and have enormous open worlds. Yet in recent weeks I have started playing other kinds of games.

One such game is Sims 3. It is not too old of a game as it only stopped releasing expansion packs in 2013. The Sims 3 has a lot more features that I enjoy over the newest Sims games. Sims 3 had a large open world for your sims to be a part of and to explore hidden rabbit holes. It had a lot more choices for employment and hobbies. It's also a smaller game GB wise to install if you need to install it digitally. 

Another game I have been playing a lot of is SimCity Societies, which is a literal combination of the Sims games and SimCity games. In this games, a focus on build style is important as well as what point types the buildings give. It is meant to focus more on the 'fun' side of creating a city. I only recently got the game to reinstall to my modern PC after last getting it to work five years ago. 

Another game I have been playing a lot of recently that isn't a Sim style game is State of Decay (the first one). It was a game originally intended to be a multiplayer online game, but the developers decided it would make a better single player game and the storyteller in me agrees. It was also designed for the original Xbox but works just fine on the PC. There is an amazing story taking place during this zombie apocalypse survival game. 

There are so many older games, even ones more than a decade old that can be quite fun to revisit or even to play for the first time.