RECAP
2016
Internet Trends Petty Joe Biden/Joebama: The election’s outcome was disappointing for many Americans, but imagining the former Vice President being a petty prankster in the White House helped overcome some of the post-election gloom.
Water bottle flip: A high school teenager uploaded a video of himself to Twitter of him flipping a water bottle and making it land upright at a talent show. People started taking on the challenge for themselves as the trend became more and more viral.
Damn Daniel: “Damn Daniel” became popular after teenager Josh Holz uploaded a video on Snapchat of his friend Daniel Lara, complimenting him on his white Vans. The video spread and many parodies of Holz’s signature catchphrase were made.
Arthur fist: Initially a screencap from the Arthur episode titled “Arthur’s Big Hit”, the infamous photo of Arthur’s fist has been used online to express anger at an infuriating situation.
The Bee Movie: The Bee Movie had already been a popular topic of discussion on the internet due to its weak plotline. The internet trend exploded, however, when a YouTube video titled “the bee movie but every time they say bee it gets faster” was uploaded. The trend of speeding up a video or song every time a specific word was said spread to other fanbases, but the Bee Movie one is still the most popular.
Pen Pineapple Apple Pen: Japanese entertainer Kazuhiko Kosaka, known in Japan for his fictional character DJ Piko-Taro, uploaded a video of himself as his character singing an amusing yet infuriating song whose catchphrase “Pen Pineapple Apple Pen” and loud grunting instantly caught fire.
Dat Boi: Nobody really knows where the frog named Dat Boi riding a unicycle came from, but people embraced it anyway. On Halloween 2016, a Fremont student was seen dressed up as the frog, riding a unicycle around campus.
Harambe: The death of gorilla Harambe got a lot of media attention after he was shot and killed after a child fell into his enclosure in Cincinnati Zoo, and jokes about it started circulating after the initial shock of the death died down.
Blurbs by Momina Nadeem, Online Editor Photos courtesy of pngpix, WGBH, Paramount Pictures, /fa/-Fashion, Facebook Fresh Memes above the Mojave Desert and Other Delectable Cuisines, metroxpress, Kosaka Daimaou, and Free Creatives.
Movies
Moana features Disney’s first Polynesian princess and music written by creator of the Broadway hit Hamilton, Lin Manuel Miranda. Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
The movie Deadpool stars Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Ed Skrein as the villain, Ajax. Deadpool is a very humorous film about a man who wants to fix his mistakes. Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
The movie La La Land stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. It is a romantic film with an oldtime Hollywood feel. Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Suicide Squad was directed by David Ayer and starring Jared Leto as the Joker and Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Rotten Tomatoes: 26%.
Capta War w it stay extra tures in wh confli each o 90%
Finding Dory, a se movie “Finding Ne ing movie and unfo the backstory of Do her parents in the p heartwarming story Rotten Tomatoes: 9
ain America: Civil was so well liked that yed in theaters for 2 weeks. The movie feaan action packed plot, hich the Avengers face icts and turn against other. Rotten Tomatoes:
equel to the original emo� was a heartwarmorgettable. It explores ory as she tries to find present-day. It is a very y befitting of Pixar. 94%
Photos courtesy of Warner Bros., icloud Picture, Indie War, DC, Pixar, DeviantArt, Lionsgate and 20th Century Fox and Marvel. Blurbs by Karen Newmark, Staff Writer
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was released on Dec. 16, 2016. Rogue One, A Star Wars Story is a spinoff canon Star Wars story that takes place before Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Rotten Tomatoes 85% Doctor Strange is a Fantasy/Science fiction film that was directed by Scott Derrickson. The movie shows lots of violence, but has a good message to send. Rotten Tomatoes: 90%.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was directed by Zack Snyder and starred Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman. Superman is seen as a threat and has to fight Batman. Rotten Tomatoes: 27%
The movie Zootopia was directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore. Zootopia has a very positive message to send and a positive role model, Judy Hopps, as the main character, and the movie has enriching commentary on the problems of modern-day society, such as racism and sexism. Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Major Events The Zika virus outbreak begins in South America.
January 28
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claims responsibility for 3 coordinated bombings in Brussels, Belgium, killing 32 and injuring 250 people.
March 22 February 18
Barack Obama becomes the first U.S. president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge in 1928.
Blurbs by Sofia Agha, Staff Writer Photos courtesy of New York Daily News, Time magazine, Biography. com, Wikipedia, Disney, Getty Images, and The New Yorker Info courtesy of The New York Times
The 2016 Summer Olympics are held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Trump is elected as the 45th President of the United States.
The United Kingdom, in a referendum, votes to leave the European Union.
June 23 June 12
29 year-old security guard Omar Mateen killed 49 and wounded 53 people inside gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida.
November 9
August 5-21 July 25
Hillary Clinton becomes the first female presidential nominee of a major party in the U.S.
October 17
The Iraqi government launches an offensive to take back the city of Mosul from ISIL.
December 19
The Russian ambassador to Turkey is assassinated.
Music Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” made us dance until we could no longer. His song reached the top ten on the Billboard top 100 and stayed there for over a week, tying a record with Bruno Mars for most #1s by a male artist. 4 stars.
Bruno Mars has an uncanny ability to make us shake, rattle and roll. His retro funk style always manages to hit the spot. His hit song of 2016, 24K Magic, had everyone feeling like gold. 5 stars.
The Chainsmokers “Closer” made us all go back to elementary school English class. We discovered that Mrs. Johnson was wrong: closer DOES rhyme with corner and rover. Although it was an absolute earworm, it was truly relatable. 3.5 stars.
Beyonce’s “Lemonade” was an experience. Released just 2 days after the death of fellow music artist Prince, it brought the mourners back to their high spirits. It brought up many personal issues for the queen including hints of infidelity. 6 stars, she went off the chart.
The Hip Hop earworm, “Panda” by Desiigner drove us all nuts for the whole year but left us dreaming of a “white X6, Panda,” even if there were not “broads in Atlanta.” Desiigner’s reputation for collaborating with other artist is paying out well for him. 3.5 stars.
The hip-hop phe Drake left nothin with his #1 song which topped cha the world. His si us all feel like co Dancing With T stars.
Rihanna’s “Work” motivated us to reach our goals even when we felt like we could not succeed. She struggled for a long time with abuse but soon found freedom of expression through her beautiful voice. 2.5 stars Alexander Hamilton and his ragtag gang of freedom fighters inspired countless people to continue to fight for what we believe in, all the while teaching us about American history. 5 stars Calvin Harris gave us a great beat and story with “This Is What You Came For.” He described his relationship with Taylor Swift through adventurous and mysterious lyrics calling for his ex-love to return. 4 stars
enomenon ng else to desire “One Dance”, arts all across ilky voice made ontestants on The Stars. 5
Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” was thrilling to say the least. Her songs are unique because they describe her struggles within the music industry and her life. They bring a sense of mystery to otherwise appealing pop songs. 4 stars.
Blurbs by Andrea Lanfranconi, Lead Photographer Photos courtesy of Parkwood, Columbia, RCA, Atlantic Records, Westbury Road, Roc Nation, Disrupter, Sony, OVO Sound, Young Money, Cash Money, GOOD, Def Jam, Inertia, and Monkey Puzzle.
Although it has not been an easy year for Kanye West fans, it is hard to deny that “The Life of Pablo” is a work of art. Kanye West talks about everything from his rise to fame to his strong bond with his family and friends. Truly, it is a masterpiece worthy of a cultural icon. 3.5 stars.
Deaths
Fidel Castro Born: August 13, 1926, Birán, Cuba Died: November 25, 2016, Havana, Cuba Fidel Castro was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. He survived over 600 CIA assassination plots, created a communist state and lives on as one of the most controversial political leaders of the 20th century. Leonard Cohen Born: September 21, 1934, Westmount, Canada Died: November 7, 2016, Los Angeles, CA The legendary songwriter passed away on November 7. He was most famously known for writing the song “Hallelujah,” a cover of which was featured in Shrek. Alan Rickman Born: February 21, 1946, Acton, London, United Kingdom Died: January 14, 2016, London, United Kingdom Renowned for playing antagonist roles, British actor, Alan Rickman, passed away on January 14. With a baritone voice and a cynical tone, Rickman pulled off the “bad guy” role quite impressively. He played Professor Snape in the world famous movie series Harry Potter. Prince Born: June 7, 1958, Minneapolis, MN Died: April 21, 2016, Chanhassen, MN Talented and beloved musician, Prince, died on April 29. Prince defied music genres and broke through with many hit songs such as “Little Red Corvette,” “Purple Rain,” and “Kiss” as well as many more. His ability to alternate between a kaleidoscope of genres was a wonder of the world. Blurbs by Jenny Nguyen, Staff Writer Photos courtesy of ABC 7 News, LopezDorgia Digital, People magazine, Getty Images, Playbill and Q Political Information courtesy of People magazine
Muhammad Ali Born: January 17, 1942, Louisville, KY Died: June 3, 2016, Scottsdale, AZ Three-time world champion boxer, Muhammad Ali, died on June 3. He was a member of the Nation of Islam and an activist against racism as well as religious discrimination. Ali was a strong and opinionated man who stood for what he believed in. Strong fists, soft heart, Ali was an inspiration to many. Debbie Reynolds Born: April 1, 1932, El Paso, TX Died: December 28, 2016, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA Debbie Reynolds was an actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. Reynolds was an entertainer at heart and played countless roles in movies and TV shows. She was a charitable and dedicated woman. Reynolds died the day after her daughter passed away. Carrie Fisher Born: October 21, 1956, Beverly Hills, CA Died: December 27, 2016, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA Carrie Fisher rose to fame after starring in the “Star Wars� films as Princess Leia. Fisher showed the world the not-so-pretty sides of fame and life, including addiction and mental health issues. She wrote many books which talked about love, her life as Princess Leia, her own experiences with addiction, and many more. Her talent and bravery still stands tall today. David Bowie Born: January 8, 1947, Brixton, London, United Kingdom Died: January 10, 2016, Manhattan, New York City, NY After an 18-month long battle with cancer, David Bowie was defeated in January 10th. The iconic superstar was able to recreate himself, almost by magic. He transcended music as well as fashion. Creative and fearless, Bowie defied gender, sexuality, and genre.