May 2022 Issue 6
Final Letter From the Editor Dear Harvey Community, The time has bittersweetly come for me to say my goodbyes to The Pulse and The Harvey School. From September 2021 to June 2022, I was honored to serve as The Pulse’s editor-in-chief and layout editor.
Featured in this issue:
Reports
Sports News
Reviews
For as long as I can remember, I loved reading and writing. By the age of 5, I could get so lost in a book that my preschool teachers didn’t want to interrupt to tell me it was circle time. At 8 years old, I would hide under my bed covers with a book and a reading light, and my parents couldn’t even yell at me for staying up past my bedtime. I mean, how are you going to yell at your kid for reading? My love for literary arts first stemmed in the form of creative writing. In first grade, I wrote a short story about a unicorn named Amanda, which I presented in front of my entire elementary school at a learning assembly along with a painting I made of her. Hmmm, I wonder where I got the name from? By the time I reached middle school, there were no more “Read 10 books for a pack of stickers” competitions, and writing stories about unicorns didn’t cut it. For every book I even touched in middle school and high school, an analytical essay followed it. Eight years of MEEAL, TRIIC, or whatever anagram you want to use for body paragraphs, ultimately was the main contributor to a decline in my love and passion for literary arts. And then … 2020. The start to every great story nowadays. All you could do is sit around and watch or read the
news, and when you couldn’t go out and see things happen beyond a screen, you started to wonder what’s real and what’s not.
Readers, I leave you with a condensed version of my ComBy 2020, I was ready for mon App personal statement, the truth. Any good journalist endless appreciation for all your knows that it should be the facts support for The Pulse and The that are printed. As editor-in-chief, Harvey School, and five simple I strived to give readers not only words: Do what makes you happy. articles that they want to read but also the ability to say they have Sincerely, a solid and factual foundation of what they have just read. I will Amanda Mohamad continue to tell the truth as a journalism major this coming fall at Editor-in-Chief and Layout Editor the University of Miami in Coral of The Pulse Gables, Florida, and I have many to thank for helping me get to this point. Coming out the other side of a global pandemic (knock on wood) is no easy feat, but some pandemic habits have followed me out the other side. I want to thank my junior editor and friend, Emma Galgano, for always keeping me motivated and having such a keen eye on the occasional days when I could not be my best self for The Pulse. You are the brightest star in a sky full of NASA satellites, and I cannot wait to see you thrive as the next editor-inchief of The Pulse and beyond. Additionally, I would like to give an immense thank you to the faculty advisor of The Pulse, Ms. Holmes. Ms. Holmes, among your many talents in both the classroom and theater, your best strength has to be dealing with me for four years. Four years of being my biggest cheerleader, always having my best interest, keeping me sane, and reminding me how appreciated I am. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your love and support and want you to know how appreciated YOU are. Entering high school, everyone wants to find a place to belong, whether they are the prettiest, the smartest, the most athletic, etc. On the other hand, I just wanted to be doing something that made me happy. When in doubt, I always came back to The Pulse, whether it was writing my articles, editing, or creating the layout, because it made me happy. Perhaps my childhood joys
The Harvey School 260 Jay Street Katonah, NY 10536
Spring Pulse Seniors Photo Courtesy of Hudson Chris
of reading and writing are coming back into my life.
Photo Courtesy of Catherine Burges
Harvey News
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Fly Faculty Fits The Pulse Staff Editor-in-Chief Amanda Mohamad Junior Editor/Layout Emma Galgano Sam Alexander Grace Alpern Hudson Chris Jake Cremins Spencer Elkind Dan Gasch Dylan Gueli Bradley Lederer Jonah Weinstock
By Sam Alexander
Teachers are often recognized because of their hard work and dedication in the classroom. What they are not often given credit for is their style. The Pulse has decided that there are two faculty members who are both inspiring teachers and fly fashion icons. Mr. Zachary Wright and Ms. Rosana Lindoro are two teachers that always have their own flair when it comes to style. The Pulse had the privilege of interviewing both icons and talking to them about what their style means to them. Mr. Wright started the interview by saying one of his favorite brands is Banana Republic, but he does not shop there too frequently. When asked about how his style has changed since high school, Mr. Wright stated, “I have become more comfortable with
Faculty Advisor Virginia Holmes
Mr. Wright in his stylish cardigan. Photo Courtesy of Sam Alexander.
myself, and I stopped caring about what others think. I decided I would wear what I felt comfortable in.” For Mr. Wright, his style has always been bright and colorful, which makes sense, as he is such an energetic and fun person to be around. Mr. Wright also talked about how important it is to find clothing that makes “you feel confident and good about yourself.” He continued , “If you don’t feel good about the way you look in your clothes, it has an impact on the way you move throughout the day. Find something that you feel reflects who you are and how you want to present yourself.” The Pulse also asked Mr. Wright what his favorite piece of clothing is, and he responded that it was both a cardigan and a leather bow tie. He mentioned that he often wears the bow tie because “it is enough to be dressy, but it is also a little more casual.” He added, “It was actually made through ‘upcycling,’ and the bowtie was a purse at one point. It can also be a conversation starter.” Ms. Lindoro is our in-house fashionista, and The Pulse asked her similar questions about her unique style. Ms. Lindoro stated that her favorite brands are, Zara, J.Crew, and Banana Republic.
Ms. Lindoro also talked about the evolution of her style, saying, “I find myself going back to high school because I love the elephant leg pants and sweaters. It is almost casual and has no age.” The Pulse asked about Ms. Lindoro’s inspiration when it comes to clothing, to which she said, “I like to look at catalogs when I am buying. I also do look at how other people dress.” The advice that Ms. Lindoro would give to a student trying to create their own style: “Be comfortable and be tasteful. You can wear something really tasteful while still being trendy.” One of the most impressive things that Ms. Lindoro told The Pulse is that each day it takes her about a minute to choose an outfit. Ms. Lindoro always has good style, so this is definitely a powerful skill. Similar to how Mr. Wright has a favorite bowtie that he wears to multiple events, Ms. Lindoro has a “lucky shirt and a lucky pair of leggings.” She said, “Depending on the occasion, there are key items I will wear.”
Ms. Lindoro and her husband both looking fly.
and light sweaters. For the winter, I wear knee high boots and leggings and long sweaters. For the spring, I wear skirts, T-shirts, and jackets.” As we all know, school can be tiring, but seeing Mr. Wright in his colorful bow ties, or Ms. Lindoro with her bright and energetic style, definitely lightens the mood on those dreary days. The Pulse would also like to recognize the fact that both Mr. Wright and Ms. Lindoro will be leaving The Harvey School at the end of this year, and we would like to thank them for their inspiration in the classroom and for their fashion. We will miss them and their fly fits in the Harvey halls next year.
Ms. Lindoro also expressed that during each season, she likes to wear different styles, stating, “For fall, I like to wear slacks
The Spectacular Mr. Saltz By Dan Gasch
Spring 2022 Pulse Staff
During the 202122 academic year, The Harvey School hired many great new teachers. Specifically, Mr. Brandon Saltz has been a fantastic addition to the science and math departments. In preparation for this article, The Pulse interviewed Mr. Saltz in order to learn about his back-
ground and what brought him to Harvey. Mr. Saltz was born n Brooklyn, New York, and lived in Riverdale until he turned 10. He then moved West and lived in Las Vegas, Nevada and Culver City, California and then back East to Clearwater, Florida. After living in Florida, he moved back to Culver City, California, where he attended high school. After high school, Mr Saltz attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he majored in English. Then, Mr. Saltz received his Master of Arts in Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University, the first and largest
graduate school of education in the United States. Outside of Harvey, Mr. Saltz has a family with his wife Sarah and two children who are twins in 10th grade. In addition, he and his family have two cats that are also twins. Before he found his passion for teaching, Saltz owned his own Taekwondo school where he taught traditional and Olympic style Taekwondo along with self-defense. He stated that “owning a martial arts school was awesome.” Before coming to Harvey, Mr. Saltz taught at Rye Country Day and the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn
Mr. Saltz, who teaches Science Trajectories, Physics, Biology, College Math and Algebra II, stated that he loves teaching at Harvey because he has the opportunity to establish relationships with students. He added that he loves the “beautiful Harvey campus” and that “the administration gives teachers the opportunity to develop their own programs.”
Mr. Saltz cont, on pg 3
Harvey News
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Mr. Zazzarino: “Millionaire” Teacher By Jake Cremins
In May 2022, The Pulse interviewed Mr. Matt Zazzarino, a new English teacher here at Harvey. The Pulse learned all about Mr. Zazzarino’s life before Harvey, his experience during this first year at Harvey, and all the factors that make him one of Harvey’s most interesting new faculty members. Mr. Zazzarino grew up in New Jersey and then moved to upstate New York. He met his wife when he was in high school, and he and his wife’s sisters both were friends in high school and had similar names: Pam and Sam. When he talked about it, he said, “It’s a small world.” Mr. Zazzarino originally wanted to be a musician, and he had an internship in the music industry for about a year, but all the job opportunities were filled. So, he decided to switch his major and discovered his love for English. When Mr. Zazzarino was in high school, he said that he was a “bad student,” who “never listened, never paid attention, and even got detention almost every week.” He eventually realized, though, that he wanted to turn to the “other side.” Before working at Harvey, Mr. Zazzarino worked at a school in New Jersey where he was a one-to-one instructor, meaning he taught only one student at a time. Mr. Zazzarino was nervous coming to Harvey because the classes were much bigger than the ones he had
Mr. Saltz cont. from pg 2 When asked what specifically led him to Harvey, he stated, “I needed a change from where I was. I live really close by, and I know other people who work at Harvey.” Furthermore, Saltz wanted to switch to teaching high school, as he was teaching middle school at his previous schools. During the winter term, Mr. Saltz ran an after-school martial arts program, which he stated he’d be interested in doing again. Additionally, he has previously coached cross country at his former schools. Outside of Harvey, Mr. Saltz is a man of many hobbies, including being a cyclist, a cook, and a martial artist. In addition, he loves to play the guitar and read. As a teacher, Mr. Saltz has taught a very diverse range of subjects, and his professional background is vast. From his martial arts school to experience working
previously taught. He said that when he worked with students one-on-one, he “understood their learning styles best and had that personal connection with the student.” He realized that it is not much different here, and he still feels the personal connection with students at Harvey. Interestingly, Mr. Zazzarino shared that he has spent the last four years teaching himself Japanese. Something fascinating about his teaching style is that he gives work that he would’ve found fun and exciting when he was 16. He puts himself in the students’ shoes, and that’s what makes his teaching style different from others. Mr. Zazzarino is very involved in the Harvey community, as he is a co-coach for boys junior varsity basketball and baseball. His love of music is still apparent, though, because in his spare time, Mr. Zazzarino is the lead singer and guitarist in his band with some of his friends. They get together once a month to play some songs, and they even perform. Some people know Mr. Zazzarino for being on the television show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” His wife found out that they were doing auditions for the show, and she said that Mr. Zazzarino should go and audition, so he said, “Why not?” A few months after the audition for the show had been completed, Mr. Zazzarino was on a run,
in publishing and even in a business office, Mr. Saltz has worked in many different departments. During the composition of this article, faculty advisor to The Pulse, Ms. Holmes, shared that Mr. Saltz often likes to ask people what they are currently reading. When The Pulse had the opportunity to ask Mr. Saltz what he was currently reading, he informed us that he is reading “The Age of Wonder: The Romantic Generation and the Discovery of the Beauty and Terror of Science”, by Richard Holmes. When asked if there was anything he wanted to include that would run in The Pulse, Mr. Saltz had a very thoughtful response, stating, “As someone who gets to observe lots of students teaching grades 9 through 12, I encourage teenagers to constantly look outside their friend groups and what they think their interests are. Find new ones and focus on being good people.” A Pulse writer, Bradley Lederer, who is a student in Mr. Saltz’s biology class, stated, “Mr. Saltz is a smart man, and students who take his
and he got a call from an unknown number, and he said that he normally doesn’t answer calls from an unknown number, but for some reason he answered it. It was the producers of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” telling him that they wanted him to be on the show.
Mr. Matt Zazzarino on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” after
winning $20,000. Mr. ZazPhoto Courtesy of Pinterest zarino was on this quiz show, successfully answering six questions The Pulse thanks Mr. Zazcorrectly, and earning $20,000. The zarino for his time in giving us this $30,000 question was up, and he interview, and we congratulate him had already used all of his hints on on a successful first year at Harvey. previous questions, and he told The Pulse that he probably shouldn’t have And who knows – maybe Mr. Zazzarino will be the first Harvey faculty used them on those prior ones. The member to win “Who Wants to Be a question he ended on was, “At the Millionaire?” 2013 music awards, Kelly Clarkson introduced this woman by saying, ‘I have the coolest mother-in-law in the world, and y’all can suck it.’”
He had no clue what the answer was, and he said that he misread the question, so he stopped right there and took the $20,000 instead of guessing incorrectly and only winning $1,000. At the time, Reba McIntyre was Kelly Clarkson’s mother-in-law.
class can see his passion for teaching.” Interviewing Mr. Saltz was a great experience, as he is a fascinating person who has seen many different places. The Harvey School is very fortunate to have added Mr. Saltz to the teaching staff, and The Pulse hopes that he has enjoyed his first year at Harvey.
Mr. Saltz enjoying the Harvey campus Photo Courtesy of Dan Gasch
Reports
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President Macron’s Rocky Road to Reelection By: Emma Galgano
Emmanuel Macron declared victory in the second round of France’s presidential election in late April, defeating populist candidate Marine Le Pen as Europe reels from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to CBS, Macron was initially a French banker and politician who was first elected president of France in 2017. He was the eldest child of two doctors and distinguished himself by displaying an aptitude for literature, politics, and theater. On May 15, 2012, Macron became the deputy secretary-general of the Élysée, a senior role in President François Hollande’s staff. Macron was motivated to make a change in France, and he first showed that determination by putting forward a proposal that would increase the 35-hour workweek to 37 hours by 2014. Le Pen started her political career as an administrative apparatus of the National Front, which her father founded in 1972. One of Le Pen’s most famous political accomplishments was her winning the election for the National Front leader in 2011 against her father. According to the BBC, while Le Pen embraced the National Front’s established anti-immigration stance, she rebranded the party’s traditional Euroscepticism (criticism of the European Union) as French national-
ism. She was also a heavy critic of the anti-Semitism that had marginalized the party in the past. Currently, the president of the French Republic is elected to a fiveyear term in a two-round election under Article 7 of the Constitution: “if no candidate secures an absolute majority (including blank and void ballots) of votes in the first round, a second-round is held two weeks later between the two candidates who received the most votes.” As of 2022, every election since the direct election system was introduced has gone to a second round. Macron and Le Pen ran for president for the first time in 2017. Macron ran as a “neither left nor right” independent, promising to shake up the French political system. In contrast, Marine Le Pen ran for president under the National Rally Party. Macron won 66% of the votes, making him the president of France. Macron was the first person in history to win the presidency without the backing of the socialists or the Gaullists. He was also the youngest head of state since Napoleon I. Then, on March 7, 2022, the Constitutional Council published the names of the 12 candidates for the 2022 French presidential election. But the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine had significant effects on the election, since the media switched to covering the war rather than traditional party
events. According to The Economist, Macron’s polling improved significantly during the Ukraine crisis. This was primarily due to presidential candidates like Le Pen and Zemmour praising Russian President Vladimir Putin for his current and past actions. Le Pen benefited enormously from the presence of Zemmour, who was so much further right and so unapologetically anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant that Le Pen seemed temperate by comparison. Macron’s and Le Pen’s Presidential agendas became more groundbreaking than seen in the 2017 Presidential election. Macron ran on the promise to reunite the country “filled with so many doubts, so many divisions.” Le Pen pledged to dilute French ties with the 27-nation EU, NATO, and Germany, moves that would have shaken Europe’s security architecture as the continent deals with its worst conflict since World War II. Besides the public backlash Macron has faced from Le Pen supporters, Macron has developed a respectful reputation from French citizens. According to The Economist, “This is a president who devours dossiers, pores over public policy, and studies subjects independently to fill in the gaps carelessly left by others. Even his admirers say Mr. Macron is not always an ‘easy boss.’”
Macron waving to the people of France right before delivering his 2022 Presidential victory speech. Photo courtesy of Damien Henderson
Washington Post writers Rick Noack and Lenny Bronner stated, “A Macron victory would mark the first time French voters granted a president a second term in two decades. A Le Pen victory would mark the first far-right presidency in French history — and would upend politics both in France and Europe, potentially bolstering Moscow, diminishing NATO, and fragmenting the European Union.” In the second and final round of voting, President Macron secured an impressive 58.5% of the vote, soundly defeating the nationalist-populist Marine Le Pen, who scored 41.5%. During Macron’s victory speech in front of the Eiffel Tower, he told French citizens that he “vows to be a president for everyone in France, including those who did not vote for me.” The Pulse would like to wish Macron luck and congratulations on another presidential victory.
Seven Places to Get Outside and Be in Nature By Dan Gasch
Throughout the school year, students are often stressed over many different aspects of their academic life. Now that the weather is warmer, Harvey students have the opportunity to get outside and appreciate the natural beauty of where they live. Throughout Westchester County, there are many beautiful places Harvey students can go to experience the outdoors. One option Harvey students have if they are looking to go on a hike is the Silver Lake Preserve in White Plains. The trails at the Silver Lake Preserve are peaceful, as they pass through streams and many large rock structures. Even though Silver Lake is in the middle of White Plains, the trails feel very isolated and relaxing. Despite fishing at Silver Lake not being permitted, it is still a nice place to go if you are just looking to get out into the woods and go on a hike. Another incredible hiking option for Harvey students is Turkey Mountain in Yorktown. Turkey Mountain has multiple different trails that range in difficulty level. The most rewarding part of hiking at Turkey Mountain is the breathtaking view from the peak of the mountain. At the peak, you have a view of the Hudson River and New York City. In addition, it is a
wonderful place to have a picnic or take photographs. Other great places for Harvey students to hike include Rockefeller State Park preserve in Mount Pleasant or the Leon Levy Preserve in South Salem. Luckily, for students who want to get outside but are not interested in hiking, Westchester County has many beautiful lakes and ponds. In particular, Halsey Pond Park in Irvington is a fantastic place to spend a day outside. When you first arrive at the entrance of the park, you are not able to see the pond, but continue along the trail, and you will reach the harmonious spot. Halsey Pond is the perfect place for Harvey students who are interested in getting into fishing. The pond contains a large population of Bluegill Sunfish that are always willing to eat a worm or some bread. Although the pond is subject to a lot of fishing pressure, there are also plenty of Largemouth Bass that can be caught by the more advanced and patient angler. The water in Halsey Pond is very murky, so the easiest way to catch predator fish like bass is by using lures that disrupt a lot of water like Bladed Jigs or Squarebill Crankbaits. In addition to Halsey Pond,
Harvey students interested in learning how to fish should go to Sparkle Lake in Yorktown. Sparkle Lake is another great place for beginners because there is easy access to plenty of good fishing spots. When fishing at Sparkle Lake, you can expect to catch Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, and possibly Brown Bullhead Catfish. When I was younger, Sparkle Lake was my home lake, as I lived just a few minutes down the road from it. When I was growing up, Sparkle Lake was the ideal place to learn how to fish, as there are plenty of fish that will easily bite. Byram Lake is a peaceful reservoir located in Armonk and is a spectacular place to spend time outside. Byram has a boat lot which can be used by eligible residents of Bedford, Mount Kisco, and Armonk if they buy a permit at the Mount Kisco Town Hall.
would be near impossible from the bank. Bank anglers will have the chance to land perfect casting angles that would be difficult to achieve from a boat. Although both are good options, I recommend fishing from a boat at Byram Lake because when fishing gets slow on hot summer days, you often can only catch them in deeper waters. Whether you’re looking to go fishing or just get outside and go on a hike, walk, or picnic, Westchester County has plenty of amazing places to do so. Although it would be impossible to name all of the great outdoor spots the area has to offer, the ones named in this article are some of my favorites.
According to The New York Times, the name Armonk is a derivative of the Algonquin word for “the fishing place between the hills.” I believe the town got its name because of Byram Lake. For people looking into fishing at Byram Lake, you can easily do so from a boat or from the bank. When fishing from a boat, anglers have the opportunity to cast into many places that
Fishing at Byram Lake Photo Courtesy of Zach Feldman
Reports
Page 5
What’s Smokin’ Out There? By Jonah Weinstock
broken when the Dixie fires broke out in Northern California less than a year later. It burned more than 963,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,300 structures in the region. As reported by fire.ca.gov, new breakouts of mega fires, which are burning in excess of 100,000 acres, have become part of a seasonal ritual in the Western United States. Wildfires are naturally ocFire at Mormon Emigrant Trail East of Sly Park, curring to forest ecosystems, which California. clear out dead debris. Climate Photo courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle change has extended seasons of dryness and higher temperatures, Wildfires and it has exponentially increased have been a major issue for a long time. the chances of wildfires. They burn down thousands of acres of land and destroy people’s homes. In reIn addition to weather, insects cent years, wildfires have become a nalike bark beetles damage trees and tional problem, especially in the West. make them more susceptible to burning. According to stacker.com, in mid-AuHarmful vegetation such as cheatgrass gust 2020, a series of lightning storms also burns easily and contributes to struck Northern California. This region the spread. Traditionally, trees are a was experiencing a severe drought durstorage vessel for carbon, releasing ing the season. This destruction ignited carbon when burning and during deinto what became the August Complex composition. According to epa.gov, the fire. European Union’s monitoring service estimated that 2021 global wildfires As reported by c2es.org, released 1,760 megatons of carbon over the course of almost three months emissions, just over what the Russian during that time, national forests nation emitted in 2020. were burned, and 935 buildings were destroyed, which caused thousands According to sgp.fas.org, of people to evacuate. By the time it black carbon, or soot, can also travel was fully contained, the fire resulted in beyond zones of wildfires, taking in total damage that was twice the size of sunlight and warming the earth. Besides California’s previous record and among environmental harm, the spread of the largest fires in U.S. history. wildfires is threatening the residential population too. In January 2022, a MarAccording to nifc.gov, the shall Fire in Colorado destroyed more August Complex’s record was nearly
than 1,000 homes. In November 2018, the camp fire in California caused a great eruption and catastrophe to approximately 20,000 residents in Butte County. Wildfires can cause tremendous health problems for people who live in densely populated areas that are prone to wildfires.. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, wildfires are also caused by human activity. There are a variety of things that people do that can start wildfires such as unattended, burning of debris, downed power lines, negligently discarding cigarettes, and intentional acts of arson. According to epa.gov, the National Interagency Fire Center has recorded an average estimate of 70,000 wildfires per year since 1983. The extent of burned areas by wildfires every year appears to have exponentially risen since the 1980s. According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), the largest burned acreage has occurred in a period of 10 years since 2004. This also includes the peak year in 2015. According to BBC.com, the late 1990s was a transition period in certain climate cycles that tend to alter every few decades. This alteration plus other ongoing changes in temperature, drought, and snowmelt, might have contributed to warmer and drier weather that have boosted wildfires in areas of the western United States.
As reported by stacker.com, the total area burned each year from 1984 to 2018, or the amount of land burned that suffered severe damage, has ranged from 5 to 23%. Fire related threats are increasing, especially as more people live around forests, grasslands, and other natural areas. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, between 1980 and 2020, the United States had 18 wildfires that caused more than $1 billion in damage. Since 2000, 15 of those have happened. Over the past several decades, the United States has spent more than $1 billion per year to fight wildfires, including an additional $1.6 billion in 2019. Over the years, wildfires have been and are continuing to be a problem in the United States. Even though wildfires are beyond our control in various circumstances, there are still things we can do to prevent the severity of them. We need to change our habits, be prepared to extinguish them, and make smarter choices that won’t cause fires to disperse. Hopefully, in the future, wildfires will be more preventable and will not occur as frequently as they do now. If we make small changes, like thinning out dense forests regularly, the severity of wildfires will diminish, lives will be saved, forests won’t burn as much, and our environment will continue to flourish.
Hope and Unity, Rise and Fall, Heaven and Hell: The Snyderverse Story By Spencer Elkind
It’s no secret that in the world of film, Detective Comics (DC) has not had the best luck. While some of their films have no doubt been successes, others have fallen flat on their face or just never got off the ground. However, there’s been one story that has dominated the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) for the last decade, specifically behind the scenes. The story of the man who launched the DCEU and the studio’s relationship with him. And no matter how hard they try, DC can’t get away from the Snyderverse. Zack Snyder is a director known for his unique filmmaking style, devoted fanbase, and unparalleled vision. In 2010, Warner Brothers hired him alongside legendary director Christopher Nolan (who had just wrapped up DC’s critically acclaimed “Dark Knight “trilogy) to create a film universe for DC. The company was anxious to keep up with Marvel Studios, who were busy launching their own cinematic universe. Three years later, Snyder helmed his first DC film: “Man of Steel.” This marked the beginning of Snyder’s grand plan for DC, centered around a five-film arc based on Henry Cavill’s “Superman.” The
narrative would be built around hope and unity, and it would slowly build Superman up to become the character he is in the comics. In 2016, the second DCEU film “Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice” was released. The film was panned for its dark tone and grim take on DC characters, and it underperformed at the box office, despite featuring the two most known superheroes of all time. With Snyder’s next movie, “Justice League,” a month away from filming, Warner Brothers began to interfere in the DC universe. Studio executives ordered Snyder to inject more humor into “Justice League.” The changes that Snyder and screenwriter Chris Terrio made were sufficient, and filming began in May 2016. Filming wrapped in December, with Zack Snyder, Chris Terrio, and Snyder’s wife Deborah assembling a 330-minute assembly cut, which they planned to release in two parts (Warner Brothers did not want the film to exceed two hours but consented to a two-part release of two hours each). Warner Brothers wanted Snyder to add even more humor in reshoots, bringing in Joss Whedon to help with script rewrites.
Then, tragedy struck in March 2017, when Zack Snyder’s daughter Autumn died by suicide. To cope with this turn of events, Snyder and his wife both stepped away from “Justice League,” and Warner Brothers ordered Joss Whedon to completely overhaul it. He cut nearly 90% of Snyder’s footage and conducted reshoots to fill the rest of the two-hour runtime. “Justice League” was released in November 2017 and was criticized for its departure from Snyder’s tone, its poorly placed and borderline sexist jokes, and unfinished CGI (due to executives refusing to delay the movie so they could keep their bonuses). Today, “Justice League” is regarded as one of the worst comic book movies of all time. In late 2017, members of Snyder’s fanbase started a petition thought of as the beginning of #ReleasetheSnyderCut. The petition called for Warner Brothers to rerelease “Justice League” as it was when Snyder left the studio. This eventually blossomed into the wider Snyder Cut movement. From 2017 to 2020, every member of the “Justice League” cast expressed support for the movement,
and Snyder himself made cryptic posts from VERO to tease his cut, despite Warner Brothers insisting it was a pipe dream. At the same time, the Snyder Cut movement also became a large charitable force, with nearly all the money from Snyder Cut events going to charities that help prevent suicide, raising over half a million dollars by February 2021. On May 20, 2020, Snyder announced that the Snyder Cut, now called “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” would release on HBO Max in 2021. It would be four hours long, and Snyder was given $70 million to conduct reshoots. Less than a month later, actor Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg in the movie, accused Joss Whedon and the executives of WB of racist and abusive behavior on set, and Fisher was supported by nearly the entire cast. Snyderverse cont. on pg 9
Sports News
Page 6
The Head Game: Performing Under Pressure You hear the snap of the pitcher lock the ball in their glove. Two times, and a swing releases the ball on a journey, deciding the fate of the lowly batter as it enters the catcher’s mitt. A million decisions are made in both the batter and the pitcher’s mind. They question all their abilities. Their inner monologue runs on and on, going through the motions of swinging and pitching. The pressure of your team relying on you, or the expectations of your coach, can cause the greatest of outcomes or the worst. Depending on how you handle pressure, you could help your team win magnificently or lose miserably. Seniors and Harvey varsity baseball captains, Dom D’Onofrio and Jake Hellinger, think of pressure as a passing feeling. This isn’t a surprise, considering Dom and Jake are two of the most easy going people at The Harvey School. For them, pressure fades once you feel comfortable with your teammates and coaches. Dom, who pitched for the team, spoke with The Pulse on the demands of being a captain, saying, “The real pressure comes from myself to impress my teammates and to show up for them.” Harvey varsity softball captain, Kira Ortega, agrees. “It isn’t about the pressure from your parents or anyone else at all. It’s about the goal to show up for your team and yourself. You can’t get lost in your head. You have to breathe
By Grace Alpern
and be responsible for what happens”.
Senior captain Jake Hellinger began his Harvey varsity baseball career as a ninth grader. When asked about the intensity he felt early in his high school baseball career, he recalled, “When you’re the youngest kid on a team, it’s a lot harder because you feel like you have to impress people, but once you’re used to the team, it’s easier over time.” This season’s youngest, ninth graders Max Hernandez, Will Hargreaves, Drew Morris, and Mario Corso-Winks, have had nothing less than a warm welcome to Harvey varsity baseball, although, as required by any varsity team, there is a responsibility to work hard and play at a high level. The Harvey baseball environment is based on a whole desire to win. When Dom spoke with The Pulse, he described the squad not as a group of players, but a team who works together and looks out for each other. Dom said, “When everyone has the same mindset, it’s easy. It makes it a whole team effort.” The Pulse asked softball captain and pitcher, Erin Philips, who she is proving her skills when on the mound, and she answered, “When I’m pitching, I try to get in the mindset that I’m just practicing with Kira, but I put a lot of pressure on myself because I know I can do well, and I expect myself to do my best every time.” Kira’s inner monologue
when she’s at bat or catching is often pretty harsh. When The Pulse asked her about her mumbling self-criticisms, she responded, “When I do stuff I know I shouldn’t have done, I talk to myself a lot. I’m telling myself that I have to do better. The thing is you can have confidence, but it comes with being very, very hard on yourself and wanting to be the greatest ever.” Erin and Kira are two great players on the softball field, and they have been lucky to have a fantastic, supportive coach. This year marks the last year of Mrs. Amie Phillip’s Harvey softball coaching career. Having coached softball for 18 years, she has been with the team through thick and thin, the days with two dozen players and winning championships to now with only a single-field worth. This May 2022, Mrs. Phillips ended her Harvey coaching career winning her final HVAL championship. Reflecting on her time with the team, Coach Phillips said, “It’s been amazing being a part of so many great teams. We’ve had many winning championship years and many rebuilding years, but I wouldn’t trade any of them for anything. Getting to know the players and staying connected to them after graduation is an honor. I will definitely miss coaching.” Kira Ortega, now a rising senior, has played for Mrs. Phillips since the eighth grade. She recalls the responsi-
bility she’s felt from Coach Phillips, saying, “She never put pressure on me. She had confidence I was there for the team and put responsibility on me in the way you have to be at practice and make sure you’re helping everyone out. Even if I wasn’t the captain, I was on the team.” When asked what makes Coach Philips unique, Kira said, “She made softball fun in school. It wasn’t that you have to win everything. It was more like you can have fun while hitting and throwing. Everything doesn’t have to be serious and stressful, as it can be fun, too.” No matter the position you play, the sport you play, or if you even play sports at all, we teenagers are all dealing with the ups and downs of confidence and insecurity. You could be the best player in the world, but your abilities are still challenged by your mind. It is no longer about athleticism or teenagers wanting to play Division I sports, it is an “all-in-the-head” game.
Varsity Softball Captain Kira Ortega at bat. Photo taken by Ben Goldblatt
Djokovic Jumps Back on Court After COVID-19 Setbacks By Hudson Chris
COVID-19 vaccine, most of the Grand Slam tournaments require and support players to get vaccinated. According to ATP staff members, players are strongly advised to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and 97% of the top 100 players were vaccinated before the 2022 Australian Open. Novak Djokovic Strongly Striking a Backhand in the 2022 Dubai Open Photo taken by Tumaini Carayol
The Association of Tennis Professions (ATP) has altered its rules concerning a player’s ability to compete in professional tennis tournaments based on their vaccination status. Novak Djokovic, a Serbian professional tennis player currently ranked No. 1 in the world, refuses to get vaccinated and is unable to play in every tournament. His ineligibility to compete for every major title has become a controversial topic for tennis fans across the globe. Djokovic is arguably one of the greatest, or THE greatest male tennis players of all time. Living in Belgrade, Serbia during his childhood, the right-handed Djokovic began perfecting his tennis skill set and turned pro in 2003. From eating a blade of grass at Wimbledon, to thanking the crowd after victories, Djokovic receives respect for his actions and ability to win 20 major titles. Unfortunately for Djokovic, the ATP added new tournament rules due to COVID-19. Even though players can compete in some tournaments without a
Despite the ATP urging players to get vaccinated, CBS writer Shanna McCarriston states, “Djokovic has been vocal about his vaccine status, saying he would give up Grand Slam title chances before getting vaccinated.” The male Serbian tennis star stated his opposition toward receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in April 2020. Djokovic has not always been trustworthy when disclosing the truth about his COVID-19 exposures. Whether or not he lied on purpose, Djokovic claimed that he tested positive for COVID-19 on a different date compared to the one recorded in official databases. According to Der Spiegel, “the most plausible explanation is that the positive test result was added to the official Serbian database on the 26th of December, and not on the 16th.” Djokovic’s incredulous behavior followed him when being denied entry into the 2022 Australian Open after traveling to the continent Down Under. Tanushree Pandey, a writer for The Print, explained that Djokovic’s visa was revoked after Australian Border Force officials questioned his vaccination exemption. After initially winning a “legal battle” that allowed Djokovic to remain in Australia,
he had his visa revoked for a second time and was deported. Leaving Australia was a difficult pill for Djokovic to swallow, as he sought to defend his Australian Open title and attain the most Grand Slam tournaments. When arriving in Belgrade, Serbia, supporters convened at the airport and celebrated Djokovic, despite the fact that he lost the opportunity to compete in Australia. In particular, his fans waved the Serbian national flag and enthusiastically chanted, “We love Novak.” According to BBC reporters, one of the Serbian tennis star’s supporters said, “This is a shame what they did to Novak in Australia. This is a shame what the world has come to.” These fans believe that Djokovic should have been eligible to compete in Australia without judgment about his vaccination decisions. Currently training in Serbia, Djokovic has been preparing for tournaments that do not require a COVID-19 vaccine. He reached the quarterfinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February 2022, defeating Lorenzo Musetti and Karen Khachanov before being upset by Jiri Vesely. At the Monte Carlo Masters in April, Djokovic lost his first match in the Round of 32 to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Despite these uncharacteristic tournament losses, Djokovic had a stronger showing at the Serbian Open. After defeating Laslo Đere, Miomir Kecmanović, and Karen Khachanov, Djokovic endured
a difficult three-set loss to Rublev in the finals on his home soil. Overall, it seems that being denied entry into majors, like the Australian Open, has been a setback to Djokovic’s competitive edge when seeking to become the greatest icon in tennis. Yet, there is still hope for Djokovic’s future in tennis. Although he was deported from Australia and unable to compete for his 21st major, Djokovic will most likely be allowed to compete in the 2022 French Open, also referred to as Roland Garros. According to ABC News reporters, “Novak Djokovic will be allowed to play at the French Open, even if he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, as long as the pandemic situation in France remains stable.” In addition to potentially competing in France, Djokovic has been accepted to play in England’s worldwide renowned grass court major, Wimbledon. CBS News reporter Christopher Brito claims, “Novak Djokovic can now defend his Wimbledon title after organizers decided Tuesday to let unvaccinated tennis players play the tournament.” Receiving entry into the French Open and Wimbledon will open a gateway for Djokovic’s success, and it will be an opportunity to chase the record books. Even though Djokovic sits one major below Rafael Nadal, he is tied with Roger Federer, who also possesses 20 majors. There is hope that moving forward, COVID-19 complications will no longer interfere with Djokovic’s ability to become the greatest male tennis player of all time.
Sports News
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Yankees Going Yard By Bradley Lederer
as the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots., . The Yankees have won a record 27 World Series titles and 40 American League (AL) pennants. They lead the whole MLB in total World Series titles for as long as the MLB has been in existence.
Photo of Derek Jeter at the plate batting. Photo Courtesy of Britticana.com
The New York Yankees are a prestigious Major League Baseball (MLB) team that has been around since 1901. Their original name for the team was the Baltimore Orioles, which has no correlation to the modern-day Orioles. According to Britticana.com, in 1903, Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the franchise after it ceased operations and moved it to New York City. The Yankees organization is one of the most famous and successful franchises in sports. This includes other famous sports franchises such
The Yankees have had many famous ball players that have been a part of their organization throughout history. Players like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, and many more have prospered as part of the Yankees. The Yankees have also retired many numbers, which means no other Yankee can ever wear that certain number again. For a player, having his number retired is a huge accomplishment, as only 23 people have had their numbers retired in the history of the organization. According to Baseballreference.com, Derek Jeter is one of the most famous Yankees that had their number retired. He retired in 2014 after playing shortstop for the Yankees for 20 seasons with the team. During his two decades on the team, he won five World Series. Throughout his career, he had a .310 batting average, 3,465 hits, 260 home runs, 1,311 RBIs and 1,923 runs scored. Jeter is
nicknamed “The Captain” and will forever be remembered as a great teammate, a great ballplayer, and a great leader for the game of baseball. Yankee Stadium is located in the Bronx in New York City. There was an old Yankee Stadium before the new one was built in 2009. That was around during a lot of the World Series wins for the Yankees. Still to this day, the field of that old stadium is right next to the new stadium to remember the old times and wins of the organization. During the 1900s, the Yankees were the dominant team in the MLB. They set a major league record by winning five consecutive championships from 1949 to 1953, and they appeared in the World Series nine times from 1955 to 1964. During that nine-year span, they were arguably the best team in the world. At this writing, so far in the 2022 season, the Yankees are 33-15, and they lead the whole MLB in wins. They also have star players such as Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Rizzo carrying them this year to the No. 1 seed in the AL East.
Judge is leading the whole MLB in home runs with 17, while Stanton is close behind with 11 and Rizzo with 10. The Bronx Bombers are off to a hot start this season and are looking to make a strong push to the World Series. Former Pulse writer Regimantas Ciunys, better known as RC, stated, “The New York Yankees are the best baseball team of all time, and they have a good chance of making it far in the playoffs during this season.” RC also said, “Aaron Judge is the greatest of all time.” Since the Yankees are such a historic franchise, they have acquired immense popularity over the years. Specifically, many people at The Harvey School follow the Yankees, including the Head of the Upper School Phil Lazzaro. From the times of Babe Ruth to the current Yankees, the franchise has made a huge leap from its old Baltimore Orioles days, and they have set themselves in sports history for eternity. In the MLB, the Yankees will go down as one of the most prestigious teams and will be forever a part of this great sport.
Winning Time? By Grace Alpern
May 15, 1980. The Los Angeles Lakers have won their first National Basketball Association (NBA) championship with rookie Earvin Magic Johnson. Pure magic is what was created on that fateful night. Many consider it the game of his career as he glided across the floor at every position. With legend Kareem AbdulJabbar out of the game due to an injury, it was time for Magic to shine. As Magic laced Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook in the first period, Johnson solidified the finals MVP award as his own. This was only the beginning of the “Showtime” era Lakers that would go on to dominate the NBA throughout the 1980s. With a starting five that included basketball legends Magic, Abdul-Jabbar, and Norm Nixon, , they went on a playoff streak. In 2022, television producer Adam McKay revisited this exciting era of basketball through his show “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.” Throughout the HBO Max series, McKay attempts to do justice to the beauty of basketball, specifically how the Lakers play basketball. The series starts with a disclaimer appearing on your screen stating, “This series is a dramatization of certain facts and events. Some of the names have been changed and some of the events and characters have been fictionalized, modified or composited for dramatic purposes.” As if the Lakers’ rise to glory wasn’t dramatic enough. The audience is taken on a
journey through NBA history, watching the Lakers find their magic smile. When Magic Johnson joined the Lakers, his passion was on display for all to see, as every game, no matter the score, you would see a smile across his face. Thus, the Lakers couldn’t help but be swayed into the smile mentality. NBA players today have an athleticism greater than past players, but there is one thing missing from today’s game. You only see this quality once in a lifetime. What I’m talking about is creativity in basketball. During the series, Adam McKay highlights this creativity. He shines a light on Magic. Magic could get the ball to his teammates in ways you’ve never seen before. Around his back looking at the camera, the ball would end up in the hoop. Throughout the release of the series, the NBA season has been in full swing. The 2022 Los Angeles Lakers includes NBA stars Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook. As our television screens saw the success of the 1980 Lakers, 2022 Los Angeles fans saw their beloved team fail to make the 2022 playoffs. While Adam McKay was celebrating the once NBA leading team, owner of the Lakers Jeanie Buss was rethinking every decision she has made. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Buss is quoted as saying, “If we are not living up to the Lakers standard, absolutely I will look at everything … I will make the hard decisions, because that’s what you have to do.” Buss is determined to live up to the “Lakers standard”
and make L.A. proud. The Pulse spoke with avid Lakers fan and Pulse writer Sam Alexander on his opinions about the season. Sam said, “Going into the season, I had high expectations. I guess I always do as a Laker fan, though. But, as the season progressed, everything kind of fell apart slowly. There are so many key figures on the team that we just have to put the puzzle together.” As a fan of the Lakers for most of his life, Sam says his favorite L.A. players date back to the 2000s. The L.A. team has a history of drafting legendary players early on that grow with the team. You see these players throughout the different eras. In the ‘80s, it was showtime with Magic and Kareem, and in the late ‘90s early 2000s, it was Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Sam spoke about Anthony Davis and Lebron James’s relationship, saying, “Watching the current Lakers, it doesn’t really feel as magical as it did when I really got into basketball. I got into it because I started watching highlights of Kobe and Shaq playing. Lebron and Anthony Davis play well together and mesh well, but they haven’t clicked like Shaq and Kobe.” Many feel similarly to Sam about the team and hope for them to make a comeback. Meanwhile, fans have “Winning Time” to tide them over. With an 8.4/10 on Rotten Tomatoes, the show received mostly positive reviews. But one review stood out, from former Lakers star center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Since retirement from basketball, Abdul-Jabbar has spent his time becoming a published author, writing articles for both the Los Angeles Times and his Substack page. On April 19, 2022, he published an article titled “‘Winning Time’ Isn’t Just Deliberately Dishonest, It’s Drearily Dull.” Abdul-Jabbar writes about the mistakes that McKay made when creating “Winning Time,” specifying what is the real story and what isn’t. Abdul-Jabbar also goes far enough to criticize the show’s characterization of the players. He asks, “How did so many talented people go so terribly wrong?” The Los Angeles Lakers have a history of excellence in sports and talented players that will echo throughout time. Looking ahead to the 2023 season, fans can only hope Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook connect during the offseason. Despite the failure of this season for the Lakers, there is no doubt that they will find their winning streak once again. For now, The Pulse can only hope for the team to find their magic and Kareem AbdulJabbar finds his peace. Earvin ’Magic Johnson’ playing basketball. Image Courtesy of NBA.com
Reviews
Page 8
Pink, Pineapples, and Pretty Darn Good Food
The Art of Funko Pops
A Review By Amanda Mohamad
A Review By Dylan Gueli
Since its opening, The Lila Rose Restaurant has taken Fairfield County by storm. Located at 121 Towne St., Stamford, Connecticut, The Lila Rose offers a playful twist to your typical tapas restaurant. Opening a restaurant at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic is no easy feat. But with the uniqueness of The Lila Rose’s dishes and drinks, the restaurant received the Experts’ Pick Best Appetizers award from Connecticut Magazine in January2021, just four months after opening in September 2020. By 2020, Towne Street was already home to the popular, awardwinning restaurant Taco Daddy. According to CT Bites, the owners of Taco Daddy, John and Morgan Nealson, “partnered up with Chef Mo Major, General Manager JJ Henao, and Mixologist Dave Cohade to create a restaurant experience like no other,” and The Lila Rose was born. Unfortunately, the Nealsons decided to close the restaurant on May 7, 2022, and make way for their new concept, Cugine’s Italian. This review was written before its closing, and maybe it’s strong enough to resurrect The Lila Rose someday. The Lila Rose is the place to be Friday and Saturday nights, and getting a table on those days is far less likely to happen without a reservation. The restaurant is open from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Friday for dinner, dessert, and drinks, and 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. for brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert, and drinks. Entering the restaurant, customers are greeted with golden faux trees running up the walls, pineapple art, neon light signs, and pink— Lots. Of. Pink. For our male readers, this may be your worst nightmare. But don’t worry, the delicious food will make up for the uber-feminine atmosphere. For the Saturday and Sunday morning brunch, you cannot leave without trying the French toast. Perfectly cooked and soft-textured, the French toast is a great breakfast option to fill you up for your busy weekend ahead without making you feel too full. But similar to Friday and Saturday dinner, brunch at The Lila Rose is usually packed with diners, so be sure to make a reservation if you don’t want to wait around. The Lila Rose is considered a tapas restaurant, thus designed so their customers will order multiple small dishes instead of one larger entree. The friendly servers recommend that everyone orders two or three tapas each. While (what is not COVID friendly? … the restaurant?) not necessarily “COVID-friendly,” my recommendation is to eat with a larger group, order a variety of tapas, and share. That way, you get to try more items without breaking the bank. One of my favorite tapas is the gnocchi (pronounced en-oh-kee, personal pet peeve) mac and cheese, which costs $10 for a half size and $18 for a full. The gnocchi, a pasta with a chewy potato-like texture, is mixed with Jack cheese, ground pepper, and parmesan, and not your average supermarket, from the box mac and cheese. The gnocchi mac and cheese carries a spicy kick with it (nothing too bad, in my opinion),
Two of The Lila Rose’s most notable dishes: the French toast (right dish) and the fried rice (left dish). Photo Courtesy of CT Bites.
but if you’re not a fan of spice, you can opt for gnocchi with a smoothtextured, fresh pesto sauce. Another fan-favorite tapa has to be Lila’s Fried Rice, available for $12. Harvey senior Marygrace Iannacito, who loves going to Chinese food restaurants, even said, “This is the best fried rice I’ve ever had.” Take her word for it because the flavor in the rice paired with the flavors of your favorite meat of choice is truly indescribable. Two Guinness World Records have been broken only 40 minutes from The Harvey School. The Lila Rose has broken the Guinness record for the World’s Largest Truffle, weighing in at 8 pounds and worth $220, and the World’s Most Expensive Truffle, costing $250, both filled with dark chocolate ganache. But these truffles don’t fully cover The Lila Rose’s delicious dessert menu. If you don’t want to spend the money for the truffles, my go-to dessert is The Lila Rose’s chocolate lava cake. For $13, filled with oozing melted chocolate and topped with powdered sugar, any chocolate fan would love this lava cake, which is definitely on the smaller portion side if you’re looking not to waste calories. For those who aren’t such a huge fan of chocolate, The Lila Rose serves a cheesecake Brule and Key lime pie to tickle the sweet tooth, both available for $11. Pair any dessert with coffee or an espresso drink, and The Lila Rose becomes a makeshift French cafe. The Lila Rose’s brightlycolored atmosphere makes it an excellent photo-op for your next Instagram post, whether posing by yourself or with a group of friends. The restaurant’s outdoor seating includes a massive mural of pink and blue pineapples, giving off a tropical vibe, even on the bitterly cold winter days. Ironic as it sounds, these murals continue in the restrooms, and with fluorescent LED mirrors, the restrooms become another fun photo-op and mirror selfie spot. But before you leave, don’t forget to pose in front of the neon pink lit “Hello Gorgeous” sign, because even after eating all of the delicious food, you can’t help but feel your best in such a lively environment. The Lila Rose brings the trendiness of a New York City or Miami restaurant to Stamford while still serving fresh and delicious food. Trust me when I say, this is a restaurant you want to put on your weekend agenda ASAP, whether with family, friends, or on a date. And if you don’t believe me, take to social media to see how far people will come from to eat at The Lila Rose.
If you don’t know about Funko Pops, you are missing out. You might think they are just toys, but these are actually collectibles, and they hold great value. Here, you will learn about all the different types of Funko and how they are different from others. They are unique with their looks, and having more than one movie or show character just makes them so interesting. From a collector’s point of view, seeing more than one kind of Funko gets me more intrigued to buy more. The company Funko was founded in the year 1998 by Mike Becker, the owner of Funko. Their most popular figure is the Pop Vinyl, which can be almost any different iconic figure. As they have made multiple different Funkos, the most popular over the years has stayed as Pop Vinyl. Even though they have lots of others, people mostly want this kind. Another Funko product is called Funko SODAS. This is one of the coolest because inside, there are two different variants. All of them have certain piece counts. The piece count is pretty much how many are made. Each SODA has a different piece count, and the lower the piece count, the rarer the SODA will be. Most of the SODAS created are iconic figures from years before most people at Harvey were born, such as Gizmo, Banana Splits characters, and RoboCop. Even though I might not know who the figures are inside SODAS, they are my favorite because of the chance to get two different figures. Now, in each SODA, there is a chance at a chase. The chase is the rarer figure in the can and is what everybody is hoping for. It is 1/6 odds to pull the chase. The chase will have a higher value, as it is much harder to get. A SODA can at retail costs $15. If you pull a common, it will be that price or a little under. If you pull a chase, it could be three to four times the price depending on the figure, piece count, and the demand. All in all, SODAS are awesome because of this opportunity to pull something better. They have more excitement for them, as you don’t know what is inside. Sometimes people will be happy if they pull a common because the figure is still cool, but it just does not have a high value. To be honest, SODAS are pretty much a mystery, and you really never know what’s inside. But sometimes you can feel the can because of a weight difference to tell what is inside. Next up, a type that many people do not know of is Funko Hikari. This is a type created in July 2014. These are Japanese vinyl figures who are bigger than other figures that they have created. They have lots of iconic figures, and most of them have low piece counts. You can still buy them from retailers and other places, but the Funko website does not sell them anymore. Now, the type that most people collect and are very excited about:
Photo of Dylan Gueli with his Funko collection Photo Courtesy of Melissa Acciavatti
Funko Pops! There are so many that it is impossible to get them all. They vary in all different types like Disney characters, horror characters, video game characters, and lots more. There are events a couple of times a year called Comic Con that get very rare Funko figures that can be worth lots of money in the future. Some Pops from these cans that have low piece counts can be worth hundreds to thousands of dollars. Also, Pops can be signed, increasing their value even more. Some of the coolest Pops are the ones where they make their mascot into other types of characters together. For example, Freddy Funko as Fred Flintstones is so great, as it’s an iconic figure with their mascot. The most expensive Funko Pop coming in at $13,300 is Alex DeLarge from the movie “A Clockwork Orange.” It is extremely rare and so hard to find, and just knowing a collectible figure is worth this much money is something nobody would expect. As we are on this topic, I am also a huge collector of Funko and love collecting as many figures as possible. Mostly, I will collect SODAS, as they are exciting with that chase of a chase. Pops are awesome, but the rarer ones are more intriguing but way out of budget at my age. Hopefully, one day my collection will expand, and I will collect the rarer Pops. There are lots of awesome Freddy Funko Pops, and the one that catches my eye the most is Freddy Funko as Snow Miser. It’s an extremely low piece count coming in at 49. This is mind-blowing to know, and you will barely see one that is on the market. Finally, as I grow my collection, I hope to get lots of rarer Pops and SODAS that keep on coming out. And Funkos may seem like toys to people, but these are some of the coolest collectibles. All of them are basically figures that were created during most people’s childhood. So, it makes you want to go buy those figures, as you know them!
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Reviews
Nic Cage is All the Rage in New Film: Review of “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” By Sam Alexander Dazzling. Spectacular. Majestic. Three words that could be used to describe either a beautiful horse or Oscar -winning actor Nicolas Cage. On April 22, 2022, Nic Cage returned to the big screen in the meta-action/comedy “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” directed by Tom Gormican. In the movie, Cage plays his toughest role yet: himself. The film is about Nick Cage (in the movie, his name is spelled with a “k”) a hyper-exaggerated version of the real-life actor, who is in financial debt and has to accept an offer to come to a crazed fan’s birthday party for $1 million. While Cage initially does not want to attend, he eventually becomes very close with the fan, and together they bond over movies, family, and life in general. However, like most of Cage’s films, things get strange. The fan, Javi Gutierrez, played by Pedro Pascal, is a supposed drug lord, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) contacts Nick Cage in the hopes that he will spy on the criminal. Nick Cage now has to balance friendship as well as being an undercover agent, which makes for a highly entertaining film. I had the opportunity to watch this movie, and I have only
amazing comments to say about it. This is not only one of Cage’s best performances, but it is also one of his best movies. At the time of writing, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” has an 89% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 92% audience rating. For a Cage movie, these types of scores are practically a first. This film is also a complete homage to Nic Cage fans. It references movies like “Con Air” and “Mandy” while poking fun at the actor in the best way possible. The film is exactly what a Nic Cage fan is looking for when it comes to cinema. Other than the constant references, the best part of the movie was the chemistry between Pedro Pascal and Nic Cage. The two actors do an amazing job at creating a “bromance” in such a bizarre concept for a movie. The one part of the movie that could have been stronger is Tiffany Haddish’s character as Vivian. Vivian is the CIA agent, but she only has a few minutes of screen time. Some of her sections feel rushed, and I personally feel that with a comedian as strong as Haddish, her character could have had more impact. But that one complaint does not change the fact that everybody should go see “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.” Whether began taking steps to completely phase Snyder out, greenlighting reboot projects and retooling films to erase his work. But it was too late, as the Snyderverse movement began to organize events to convince Warner Brothers to bring Snyder back. Like the previous movement, all proceeds from these events went to suicide prevention charities.
To this day, the movement continues. Snyder continues posting on VERO, urging his fans not to give up The Snyder Cut was released faith and keeping us interested with clues March 18, 2021, on HBO Max. It received more positive reviews and was toward a bright future. In 2022, the Snyder Cut won the Oscars Cheer Moment almost universally considered better Award at the Academy Awards, and banthan the 2017 version. It became the fourth most-streamed movie of 2021 and ners displaying #RestoretheSnyderverse flew over the venue. holds a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the highest scores for a And the movement has reason superhero movie. for hope now. In March 2022, the merger Despite Warner Brothers insist- between Warner Brothers and Discovery Channel finally went through. The heads ing that this was the end of Snyder’s trilogy, a new movement emerged. More of Discovery began laying off the toxic people now wanted to see Snyder’s five- executives who had opposed the Snyder Cut and abused Ray Fisher. With their film arc realized. The #RestoretheSnyderverse campaign was even bigger than interest in DC’s library, it’s slowly becoming a matter of when the Snyderverse its predecessor, as it brought in people who had seen and fallen in love with the will be restored rather than a matter of if it will or not. It could even happen by the Snyder Cut. time you’re reading this article, followWarner Brothers and DC began ing Discovery Investor Day on May 18 taking steps to completely phase Snyder (update, it didn’t; wait for DC Fandome later this year). out, greenlighting reboot projects and Synderverse Cont. from pg. 5
you like comedy or action, there is something for everyone in this movie. The film also brought Nic Cage back into popularity on social media. Recently, Cage has done interviews for YouTube, magazines, and even “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” where Cage expressed that he has not done a national television talk show in 14 years.
is why “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” is worth it. It plays into the legend while still respecting the actor. Therefore, you should definitely see “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent!”
So, not only is this a movie for loud and proud Nic Cage fans, but it is also going to create a new generation of fans for all ages. A review by Marya E. Gates on RogerEbert.com describes Cage’s performance and writes, “Cage the man always knows what is expected of Cage the myth. In ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ he finds the perfect synthesis of the two, and in turn delivers one of the most complex, yet crowd-pleasing performances of his career.”
Nic Cage as Nick Cage in “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.” Photo courtesy of The Verge
Cage knows how to deliver. Even though “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” is definitely a strange concept for a movie, Cage’s performance allows for the film to be successful. Cage is such a legend in the movie industry. Gates goes as far to call him “the myth.” Nobody knows what to expect when walking into a theater to see the new Nic Cage film, and that of when the Snyderverse will be restored rather than a matter of if it will or not. It could even happen by the time you’re reading this article, following Discovery Investor Day on May 18 (update, it didn’t; wait for DC Fandome later this year). Whether you agree with the quality of Snyder’s work or not, it’s hard not to see the struggles he’s gone through to see his work realized. Those struggles continue to this day and will continue to be the defining feature of DC’s film universe. At least until #RestoretheSynderverse succeeds.
Have A Great Summer And A Special Thanks To: Mr. DelCampo, Mr. Wahlers, Ms. Forte, Ms. Grazia, and Mr. DePalma Thank you very much for all of your help with The Pulse this Year!