Garden City Echo Fall-Winter 2022-23

Cover by Elaine Wang

Table of Contents

Editors-in-Chief

Emma Rathgeber Elaine Wang

World/National News (page 4) Daniel Butt, Editor

Community/School News (page 12)

Riya Katriyar, Editor

Student Spotlight (page 17)

Maria Santos, Editor Reviews (page 18)

Julia D'Aloisio, Editor Ana Gaztañaga, Editor Maria Gaztañaga, Editor

Faculty Advisor

Mr. McAuley

NOTE: The opinions expressed in the following articles do not represent the opinions of the administrative staff at GCHS, merely those of the writers themselves.

A Note From the Editors

Dear Readers,

As the school year gets back into full swing, it is evident that we have made great strides towards a return to pre-COVID normalcy: no more mask mandates, eight-minute passing periods, or canceled midterms. However, the world is still not in the clear. Since Thanksgiving, there has been a dangerous spike in COVID cases and hospitalizations. Cases of the flu are also on the rise, taking a toll on communities across the nation, including Garden City. If we further analyze events on a global scale, it becomes evident that the world is constantly changing and evolving, and circumstances can often prove contradictory. While some parts of the world are experiencing treacherous droughts, for instance, others are simultaneously suffering through massive flooding.

In this edition, we delve into some of these issues and more. However, we must also assess the positive changes taking place around us. To accompany the start of the new school year, we take a look at the school’s updated library, clubs, and this past September’s Spirit Week. This issue also reaches beyond our school, to events such as NASA’s Artemis I Mission and the invention of the James Webb Space Telescope. To wrap up the paper, the Reviews section delves into the wonderful world of books, movies, and music.

We are very excited to take up the positions of co-editors-in-chief of the ECHO student newspaper this year. It is an honor to be able to continue this tradition, and we look forward to leading ECHO and watching it continue to grow. As we head into the Christmas season, we hope everyone stays safe and has a lovely winter break. Happy Holidays, and enjoy this Fall/Winter issue!

Sincerely, Emma Rathgeber and Elaine Wang

Communities Around the World Devastated as Flood Levels Rise

By Hunter Maguire

wordd This year, the wettest July in sixty years saturated soils, causing large parts of Pakistan's Sindh and Balochistan provinces to flood. Hundreds of villages and towns across the Indus River Valley were submerged, and over 1,500 people have died across the country Millions more have been displaced from their homes and are either marooned in their villages or staying in overcrowded displaced people’s camps. The rural poor have been hit hardest, unable to flee and more likely to be affected by water-borne diseases And, as the Indian Ocean warms, destructive flooding events like this year's will become increasingly common.

Every summer, like clockwork, as the land warms relative to the ocean, sea breezes blow torrential moisture and rain toward South Asian countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. This weather feature is called the monsoon season, and it provides farmers with most of the water they need to grow crops and survive. However, these monsoons are a blessing and a word

curse, since with heavy rains like these comes flooding, stressing poor-quality housing and infrastructure

Meanwhile, closer to home, floods have also devastated many of Eastern Kentucky’s towns and valleys this year. Between July 26th and July 29th, over a foot of rain fell in localized areas, causing severe damage and dozens of fatalities Due to the mountainous terrain and thin soil, Appalachian states like Kentucky are extremely vulnerable when intense storms hit Strip mining and economic exploitation by mining companies have also worsened the impact of flooding, preventing the hillsides from absorbing water, and leaving poorer Appalachians (many of whom work for these same companies) to live on floodprone land. As a result of July's floods, 38 people were killed, including one family with four young children.

Furthermore, from September-October 2022, a major disaster rocked our nation as Hurricane Ian made worddddd

landfall in Western Florida and the Carolinas Ian practically destroyed coastal communities such as Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, and Captiva as a Category 4 storm, and clocked in as the fifth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the United States. Up to 15 feet of storm surge pushed onto land in Southwest Florida, sweeping some houses all the way out to sea and killing dozens Rescuers and aid workers are still determining the death toll, but at least 103 people have died, the majority in Lee County, Florida Dozens are likely still missing or unaccounted for.

Even though New York luckily isn’t prone to flooding, it can and does happen, even at “safe” elevations Just last year, flooding killed a dozen people in Queens, and caused extensive damage to countless homes (All of the basements down the block from my grandparents' house, which sits atop a hill, severely flooded). As climate change worsens, flooding will continue to turn from a remote possibility to a reality for many people

Here are some tips from experts to ALWAYS follow in case of a flood.

NEVER drive through flooded areas: Your car will probably hydroplane or suffer some sort of damage, and there’s no real way of knowing how deep floodwaters are If floodwaters surround your car, abandon it and seek safety yourself!

rush to save family heirlooms and other possessions. Having

some sort of emergency box or kit ready will help protect you and save time for other preparation

were contaminated with sewage, toss all furniture/fabric and plush objects Wash all fabrics until any scent comes out, and freeze books, photos, and documents to prevent further damage.

. word

Learn your risk levels in case of flooding: Many cities have maps available online detailing flood risk, and you should be aware of the landscape around you If you live in an area with thin soil or a valley, you will be at risk if a flood hits your area.

Have some sort of emergency kit and a flashlight ready if storms are expected: Oftentimes, when disasters like floods strike, people tend to forget basic necessities in the word

If you ’ re at risk, try to flee and weatherproof your home beforehand: If you have the ability and warning to flee, do it! When people wait because they don’t feel like leaving or want to protect their valuables, they put themselves in mortal danger. Try and bring your valuables and heirlooms with you if you want them to stay safe.

Know what to keep, what to throw away, and how to salvage objects: Preparing in advance and acting quickly will help you save more of your possessions Always throw out food and medications contaminated with floodwater If the floodwaters word

Evidently, flooding is an extremely dangerous and destructive natural disaster that, unfortunately, is becoming more and more common. Just six inches of moving floodwater can knock a person down. Floods can rip away family homes or generations of memories, and can even kill a person within a matter of minutes With climate change showing no signs of stopping, and sea levels slowly rising, many people’s homes and towns might be “swimming with the fishes” sooner than we think.

Residents of Hyderabad, Pakistan use rafts to navigate a flooded street Courtesy of aljazeera.com

An Arid Era is Upon Us

By Elaine Wang

In 2022, many parts of the world have suffered extreme weather, from droughts to floods. This year, the western United States has been hit especially hard with droughts Although California experiences annual droughts during the summer and early fall, recently there have been exceptionally severe swings between wet and dry weather.

So far, the 21st century has been the driest 22-year stretch in over 1,200 years, and climate change is likely the main reason behind the severity of the droughts, according to multiple studies Droughts are classified into D0 (Abnormally Dry), D1 (Moderate Drought), D2 (Severe Drought), D3 (Extreme Drought), and D4 (Exceptional worddddd

Drought) In July, more than a third of the land in western states was classified as D3 or D4.

In California, more than 660 wells dried up by early August, resulting in running water shortages Since 1990, the Colorado River’s flow has shrunk by about 20% and no longer reaches the sea. On August 16, the US Department of the Interior announced for the first time in history that the Colorado River will operate in a Tier 2 shortage condition This means that Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona will have to significantly reduce their usage of Colorado River water by January 2023, with Arizona, for example, facing a 21% cut Legislators from states in the wordd

West will meet at the Colorado River Forum on October 17-20, 2022, in Henderson, Nevada to discuss strategies for cutting water use.

The dry weather has also facilitated the spread of forest fires. As of late September 2022, a total of 6,473 fires have been recorded in California, which have burned over 365,000 acres of land Over Labor Day weekend alone, 3 major fires were reported. The biggest of these– the Mosquito Fire–burned for 46 days straight and destroyed nearly 80,000 acres before it was fully contained in late October. Smoke from these fires has resulted in unhealthy air quality and mass evacuations

The dry, cracked bed of Lake Oroville in California, Courtesy of cnn.com

2022 US Open: New Brooms Sweep the Courts

Clean in Flushing

By Maria Gaztañaga

Most people who watch the US Open have a favorite player that they have been supporting for many years, but sometimes a player's time on the court comes to an end. Although it is sad, it makes room for more tennis champions to emerge.

Tennis fans were devastated to hear that Serena Williams, the winner of 23 Grand Slams and four Olympic Gold medals, and Roger Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion and one-time gold medalist, said goodbye to their treasured sport. Williams started playing tennis professionally at the age of fourteen and has impressed audiences with her mastery of the sport ever since The American legend decided to announce her retirement after losing her third match to Australian Ajla Tomlijanovic Similarly, Federer amazed crowds with how effortlessly he played the game. Yet, he retired at the end of September after playing alongside Spain's Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup in London. word

"I'm happy, not sad,” expressed the Swiss tennis legend. Both tennis champions will be missed on the court, but with loss comes gain.

Some players were able to prove their worth to the world, one of them being Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz won the 2022 US Open at the age of nineteen The young Spaniard won one of the biggest tennis events in the world fresh out of high school. On the last day of matches, fans rooting for Alcaraz were practically biting their nails out of nervousness. Luckily for his supporters, Alcaraz didn’t disappoint and was able to beat Casper Rudd, a more experienced, but still young Norwegian tennis player. When he got the winning point, Alcaraz was so overwhelmed with emotions that he lay crying on the court. Then he climbed up to his box where his family and team were to hug and thank them.

Another player who took audiences by storm was Iga Świątek, the female winner of this year's US Open. Świątek started playing tennis at age five in Poland, where she grew up Since starting, she has had many notable moments in her career. Along with her victory at the US Open, she also won the French Open in 2020 and 2022

This year's US Open certainly had many surprises in store. With that in mind, it has still been bringing people together from all over the world to marvel over the amazing men and women that compete every year in one of tennis's premier tournaments

Courtesy of TIME Magazine

The Death of Queen Elizabeth II

By Ella Pocock

On September 8th 2022, at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died of old age Elizabeth II was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, Princess of York, on April 21st, 1926. She served as the late Queen of the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death at age 96

Born in Layfield, London, under the reign of her paternal grandfather King George V, her parents were Prince Albert, Duke of York, second son to the King and great-grandson to Queen Victoria, and Elizabeth, Duchess of York, the youngest daughter of the affluent Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Originally not a direct heir, Elizabeth’s father succeeded the throne to become King George VI after his elder brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne after less than a year as monarch when he left to marry Wallis Simpson, an American commoner and double divorcée, which left Parliament in great scandal.

At age 4, her younger sister and only sibling Princess Margaret was born, and during the Second World War the late Queen served as a mechanic, namely in Mechanical Transport. In 1947, she married Phillip Mountbatten (10 June 1921-9 April 2021), Prince of Greece and Denmark, with whom she had four children: King Charles III (b. 1948), Princess Anne (b 1952), Prince Andrew, Duke of York (b. 1960), and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar (b 1964)

In 1952, at age 25, she ascended the throne following her father’s death, becoming Queen Elizabeth II

Throughout her 70-year reign, Elizabeth saw her silver, gold, and platinum jubilees, was served by over 170 prime ministers, met with 5 popes and 13 U.S. presidents, and became the longest reigning British monarch. Her eldest son, Charles, will be crowned on June 3, 2023, and will be the oldest British monarch to ascend the throne.

A young Queen Elizabeth, during the first years of her reign. Courtesy of Bettmann Getty Images

An older Queen, taken at a royal banquet in Berlin Courtesy of Sean Gallup, Getty Images

The James Webb Space Telescope: Peering Into the Cosmic Past

By Elaine Wang

On December 25, 2021, NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), named after the scientist who led NASA during the Apollo missions. JWST reached the Second Lagrange Point, which it orbits as part of a larger solar orbit, in January 2022. On July 11, JWST sent back its first picture, an infrared view of the universe and the deepest view to date, showcasing galaxies dating back over 13 million years.

This telescope specializes in making observations with infrared light, whereas the older Hubble Space Telescope (HST) specializes in making observations with ultraviolet and visible light. JWST has a foldable mirror 6.5m in wordddd

diameter, the biggest ever launched into space This mirror contains plenty of cutting-edge technology–including microshutters to remotely block out stray light, and Wavefront Sensing and Control algorithms to align the 18 segments of the mirror–allowing it to see 13 6 billion light years away.

Since July, many images produced by Webb have been displayed to the public. One of these images portrays a stunning infrared view of the Carina Nebula, and has revealed new insights about the impact and process of star formation. Furthermore, in late July, JWST spotted two galaxies that looked as they did just 300-400 million years after worddddddd

the Big Bang, which proved to be a new record for the most distant astronomical observations JWST broke its own record the next month, observing galaxies as they were just 200 million years after the Big Bang (the distance is not yet confirmed). On September 9, JWST discovered an exoplanet similar to Jupiter, but 20 times bigger and located 72 lightyears from Earth. To this day, Webb continues to produce stunning images of the universe, particularly of exoplanets and deep space, and is expected to continue working for many years to come

Courtesy of nasa gov

NASA's Artemis I Mission Heads for the Moon

By Emma Rathgeber

The Artemis I mission, carried out by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was a planned uncrewed expedition to the Moon Launched at 1:47 AM, November 16 of this year, it sent the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft roughly 280,000 miles to orbit the Moon. This mission is the first part of NASA’s Artemis program. The goal of this program is to explore the lunar surface and set up a base on the Moon, which will ultimately aid in sending crewed missions farther out into the solar system. In addition, the Artemis program will send the first woman and person of color to the Moon.

Artemis I was the first integrated test of NASA’s SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and ground systems at Kennedy Space Center, where the launch word

took place The mission ensured that these systems are able to safely perform the operations necessary for future crewed missions to space.

During takeoff, tremendous amounts of lift were produced by the SLS rocket in order to carry Orion into orbit After approximately ninety seconds, the boosters, service module panels, launch abort system, and core stage separated from the spacecraft. Orion exited Earth’s orbit with a boost from the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS), which separated from the craft about two hours later. With this last major push, Orion was on its way to the Moon

Aided by a European service module, Orion zipped past communication satellites orbiting Earth. From that point forward, it used the Deep Space Network to communicate with word

Houston mission control The spacecraft took several days to get to the Moon, during which engineers analyzed the rocket’s systems and made any necessary corrections to its trajectory

Upon reaching the moon, Orion carried out a close flyby within 62 miles of the lunar surface. In this way, Orion harnessed the Moon’s gravitational force and entered into a retrograde orbit (i.e., an orbit in the opposite direction of the Moon’s orbit around Earth). It stayed in this orbit for several days, collecting data while mission control examined its performance

In order to initiate its return home, Orion performed another flyby to accelerate towards Earth After reentering the atmosphere at about 25,000 mph, it landed off the coast of Baja, California, where wordddd

Courtesy

members of the US Navy and NASA were waiting for recovery In total, Orion traveled over 1.4 million miles by the end of its journey

The Artemis I mission is just the first step in advancing deep word

space exploration. It has proven to be a vital step in preparation for manned tests of Orion and the SLS rocket. With further testing and improvements, more people and cargo can be sent to the Moon and beyond. As word

space travel becomes less reliant on Earth and more reliant on the lunar surface and orbit, it will become possible to explore deeper into the depths of space than ever before

Courtesy of nasa com

Courtesy of nasa com

New Changes to GCHS Library

By Joaquin Seneque and Daniel Butt

As I'm sure many of you have already noticed, massive changes have been made to the school’s library these last few weeks. Over the past two years, Mrs. Calemmo, the school’s library media specialist, has worked tirelessly to implement a new multi-phase layout that merges the traditional library format with the flexibility of a learning commons found in most universities Plans for the new and improved library were first drafted in 2019 and would have been implemented sooner if not for the pandemic. Now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the finishing touches have been made and we’re excited to detail the new improvements to the school library.

When first establishing the new library, staff wanted to place primary emphasis on flexibility A flexible learning environment gives students the impression that they are able to be comfortable while also being w

productive Upon entering the library, you immediately notice the detachable tables that can be moved and reattached with ease, allowing you to study wherever you please. As stated previously, learning commons found in local universities were a major inspiration for these changes Not only are the new seating arrangements comfortable, but they also give students a feel for what the learning environment will be like on most college campuses. GCHS took direct inspiration from local high schools as well, such as Great Neck South High School, which had a library transformation in 2019. Great Neck South’s booth-like seating was an incentive for social interaction and collaboration among students; GCHS has adopted these principles with its booth seating areas, located on the right side of the library

Work on the recent changes officially begun on Saturday, September 24th, and the library wordd

was ready for students on the following Monday, September 26th. Changes included the introduction of booth seating, detachable tables, and chromebook charging stations, which are extremely helpful, considering that schools across the country are slowly transforming into a digital academic landscape. In addition, Mrs. Callemo plans to upgrade the computer lab, located on the left side of the library, by adding multiple media tables The inclusion of said media tables, which serve as large horizontal touchscreen structures, would prove to be one of the biggest technological improvements made to the library in recent years. All things considered, the recent changes made to the GCHS library have not only inspired more social learning practices, but more potential plans for the future.

Spotlight on Clubs

By Tara Kerimian

At Garden City High School there are about sixty clubs Some are academic, some are creative, some are social, and some are a combination of the three. I will be spotlighting some of the clubs from each category, with a special look into the clubs I am involved in.

Academic clubs include the honor societies: there is the overarching National Honor Society and then there are language specific ones. You apply to both in the beginning of junior year and you are inducted towards the end of junior year Both have a requirement of a GPA of 92 or above, and for National Honor Society, there is an additional community service requirement of 55-60 hours. This community service includes volunteer work performed after graduating from middle school. This club meets once a month before school in the auditorium and is run by word

Ms Young The club is dedicated to doing community service to better our community The German National Honor Society, which I belong to, works hard to bridge the gap between different generations of Germans and to keep the language alive with the younger grades. It usually meets once a month after school with Frau Rupes on Wednesdays in room 110.

.....One creative club is Inkspots, the school’s literary magazine and creative writing club It meets once a week on Mondays after school in the writing center. It is run by Ms. Oriani, as well as by the editorin-chief, myself. This club is open to all grade levels and all skill levels We usually write based on a prompt, but there is no obligation to follow the prompt The club is a very supportive and freethinking word

space Towards the end of the year, Inkspots accepts submissions for the magazine, so if you have talents in writing or art, feel free to submit something. Another creatively oriented club is this publication, Echo. It gives students a chance to review events and media that interest them and to test the waters as a journalist.

One social club is GSA, the Gay-Straight Alliance. It allows students who identify as part of the LGBT community to have a safe space, and it is also a great place to just go and make friends, even if you are just an ally. It meets in room 210 on Tuesdays after school and is run by Mr. Dunleavy.

While I only highlighted a few clubs, there are plenty more at GCHS. If you want a full detailed list, there is one on the school website I hope you join some and have fun. word

Hope Club, Courtesy of Mr. Wiedenhoft

The Chemistry Club grows crystals for the US Crystal Growing Competition, Courtesy of Dr. Foley

Garden City's Got Spirit!

By Ana Gaztañaga

GCHS celebrated an extended Spirit Week this year, spanning from September 23rd to September 30th Once again, this year's spirit week did not disappoint. Many GCHS students took part in this eventful week that culminated with a thrilling pep rally. Due to the lack of a week solely dedicated to spirit week because of Rosh Hashanah, it was extended to begin on the Friday the week before. Hence, spirit week kicked off on September 23rd with the much beloved “Pajama Day”, where the hallways were flooded with kids in onesies, slippers, and sleeping masks. Then followed “America Day” on Wednesday the 28th where everyone was decked in red, white and blue. “Color Wars” took place on Thursday, where each student dressed in their grade’s designated color- freshmen in white, sophomores in gray, juniors in blue and seniors in the traditional black The week culminated with “Spirit Day” on Friday, on which students dressed in Garden City’s wordddd

classic maroon and gray school colors, including wearing their sport uniforms and merchandise. Each class also came up with themes for spirit week, including ‘Fresh’ Minions (Freshmen), ‘Soph’ Wars (Sophomores), Fabulous Juniors (Juniors), and Kanye West’s Graduation (Seniors) The Junior class ultimately emerged victorious in the decorating competition, in which each grade decorated the gym according to their pep rally theme

Seniors on the football team and other varsity sports made appearances at the primary, elementary, and middle schools to get the younger grades excited about homecoming Back at the high school, upperclassmen poured into the gymnasium at the end of ninth period where they could watch the pep rally in-person Anna Cooke opened the event with a wonderful rendition of the StarSpangled Banner, which was met with enthusiastic applause from everyone. The school’s Marching Band then gave the word

opening performance, rallying the students with energizing music and a color guard display. Afterwards, varsity kickline and varsity cheerleading performed their respective dance routines, unleashing splits, kicks, and impressive dance moves in the process. The traditional display of the other varsity teams' skits then followed. The most memorable skits included those of the varsity football team, where an impassioned noodlepool battle was reenacted, the boy’s varsity soccer team, who danced to Shakira’s "Waka Waka" in onesies and costumes, and the boy’s varsity cross country team, who opted to host a hotdog-eating contest instead of the traditional skit, which was ultimately won by junior William Morgan Towards the end of the event, seniors Elle Basile and Ryan Krieg were crowned homecoming queen and king.

Without a doubt, spirit week and pep rally will go down as one of the most unforgettable events during this school year! word

Homecoming King Ryan Krieg and Queen Elle Basile stand side-byside Courtesy of patch com Varsity Kickline offered a stunning performance at this year's Pep Rally Courtesy of patch com

The Cheerleading squad soared high in the air to show off their school spirit Courtesy of patch.com

Student Spotlight: Isabella Fuertes

By Jisha Samuel

Isabella Fuertes is a freshman at Garden City High School

While Isabella may only be fourteen, she's done things that few fourteen year olds have done. Shortly after the 20212022 school year started, she founded the Cranes for Cancer organization.

In fact, this September marked the first anniversary of Cranes for Cancer. Isabella was inspired to create Cranes for Cancer because of the story of Sadako Sasaki. Sadako was born in Hiroshima, Japan just around the time the first atomic bomb was dropped She was diagnosed with leukemia, a lifethreatening cancer, at the young age of eleven Due to the limited access to treatment, doctors believed she wouldn’t survive it However, Sadako remained strong throughout her illness and believed in a Japanese tradition, which held that if an ill person folds 1000 paper cranes, the gods will grant them one wish Sadako was determined to achieve this feat word

and made it her goal to fold 1000 cranes Sadly, Sadako died on October 25, 1955, having folded 664 paper cranes Although she did not achieve her goal, Sadako left a legacy of persistence and optimism that grants hope to all patients battling cancer.

After hearing Sadako’s story, Isabella stated, “cranes, for this project, represent hope and comfort Cranes equal peace ” Cranes for Cancer first gained publicity at the GC Cares-AThon, held at the Middle School in January 2022. She shared Sadako’s inspiring story and taught listeners how to fold cranes. After that, she was interviewed by a popular news network, spreading Sadako’s story further. Isabella became even more inspired when a Japanese mother told her that she was very grateful for the project She said that the more people fold the cranes, the stronger and higher the wish will be carried Isabella’s ultimate goal for Cranes for word

Cancer is to raise awareness for leukemia patients and their needs. She hopes to make positive change in the world Her beginning goal was to raise $1000 by folding a string of 1000 origami cranes After reaching her goal, she planned to go further, raising even more money She has folded around 400 cranes so far. Isabella says that she has more things planned for the future, and she's not finished yet. She needs as much support as possible! The project can only succeed if the community joins together to support those fighting leukemia

Fun Fact: On a memorial arch for Sadako, there is an engraved quote that reads, “This is our cry. This is our prayer Peace in the world ” If you wish to donate to St. Jude's, whose mission is to find a cure for pediatric cancer, you can do so using the following QR code:

Midnights: The Latest Taylor Swift Album

By

Taylor Swift is entering yet another era: Midnights Swift emerged onto the music scene nearly two decades ago with wild blonde hair, cowgirl boots and hats, and a Nashville twang. Since then, Swift has practically rebranded herself with each new album. Most notably, she adopted an edgy bad-girl persona for her sixth studio album, Reputation. She quickly shifted into a softer, calmer style with Lover, which is depicted on her album cover with pastels Then, during the pandemic, Swift released two more albums, Folklore and Evermore, both with a mistyfall feel depicting cardigans, messy braids, and forests Shortly thereafter, Swift announced that she would rerecord her first six studio albums after losing masters to Scooter Braun, who bought her previous record label Fans sang and cried along to songs on Red (Taylor’s Version), in particular the 10 minute version of “All Too Well”, about her breakup with

with actor Jake Gyllenhall Since then, fans have been eagerly awaiting the announcement of her new album.

On August 28, 2022, Taylor Swift announced the release of her 10th studio album. She tells fans to “meet [her] at midnight” on an Instagram post with the following description: “the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life, will be out October 21.” Since the announcement, fans have been tirelessly searching for easter eggs giving clues about the new release

Swift has amassed nearly 83 million views on TikTok, after beginning a series entitled “Midnights Mayhem With Me”, in which she reveals one by one the names of the 13 tracks on the album. The official tracklist word

includes: "Lavender Haze," "Maroon," "Anti-Hero," "Snow on the Beach," "You're on Your Own, Kid," "Midnight Rain,""Question…?," "Vigilante S---," "Bejeweled," "Labyrinth," "Karma," "Sweet Nothing," and "Mastermind."

Swift has also announced the release of four vinyl records which, when configured together, form a clock Between the album and vinyl covers, fans speculated that Midnights would have a 60s-70s sound much like the Carpenters and the Mamas & the Papas

Although Swift hasn’t announced tour dates yet, official sources confirm that she will have a combined world tour with Lover, Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights. Swifties, get ready!

Courtesy of Spotify

Maria Santos

Courtesy of syracuse.com

Duel

By Julia D'Aloisio

Debuting in 1971, Duel marks the beginning of Steven Spielberg’s illustrious career as a director. This thriller not only showcases Spielberg’s genius in directing but his innate knack for storytelling.

The film begins with a focus on a business commuter, with a seemingly mundane introduction There is no dialogue, no interactions with others, and no suspense. Just a man driving on the road This measured approach to create suspense pays dividends when the intensity begins to increase

After a few scenes featuring the arid scenery of what appears to be Southern California, the audience is introduced to the antagonist -- the truck The interactions between the car's driver and the truck begin in a conventional manner When the truck, greasy and beat up, appears, the driver thinks nothing of it and passes it However, the truck continually catches up to the driver, who wordword

we later learn is David Mann, creating unbearable suspense And thus, the game of cat and mouse between the driver and the truck begins

This game continues through a gas station, a school bus with children, and a diner, but all the while the truck driver’s face is never revealed. Spielberg only gives the audience glimpses of his shoes and jeans. This mysterious brilliance on Spielberg’s part only adds to the tension in the film. While watching, one can only wait in nervous apprehension for what will befall David. This character, who on the surface does not appear complex, is later revealed to have difficulties in his personal life, which is illustrated through phone calls with his wife and an inner monologue

Adding to these elements, the film's cinematography contributes to its overall impact The camera often pans over the truck and the driver’s car while wo ordd

they are on the road. And through the use of differing angles and placement from the driver’s perspective, the audience becomes immersed in the scenarios Spielberg creates.

In one scene, after pulling over to a diner, David notices the truck is parked in the lot! In this scene, David’s inner monologue clues in the audience to his thoughts and his suspicions of the other men in the diner But, since he does not know who the driver is, he ends up confronting the wrong man This is but one instance of the paranoia he feels, which is imparted to all who watch

Through this style of storytelling, Spielberg creates not only excitement and anticipation, but an underlying sense of terror for the entire audience And here, this simple ninety-minute film titled Duel, is where the world-renowned director's career all began word

The decrepit truck shown charging ahead on a villainous quest (Duel, 1971)

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

By Emma Rathgeber

How would you go about prodding a murderer for an explanation of his actions? That may be a loaded question, but it’s exactly the dilemma Theo Faber faces in The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Ever since Alicia Berenson murdered her husband, she has not said anything in defense of her actions, nor has she explained her motivations. As a psychotherapist, Theo is tasked with bringing to light these unspoken details. However, his challenge is more complex than what it may seem. This is because, in the six years since she stabbed her husband to death, Alicia Berenson has not word

only refused to offer an explanation: she has not spoken a single word.

I had the privilege of reading this book over the summer. Before I began, I had high expectations, due to the many commendatory reviews I found online. And I must say, I was not disappointed While the first fifty to one-hundred pages were not as exciting as I might have liked, they provide detailed background information that is essential to the development of the plot This part also adds a whole new level of intrigue to the rest of the novel As the plot progressed, I grew a bit confused as to how all the plot's word

different elements and characters would come to fit together. However, I believe it is this confusion that made the twist so shocking.

Although I read it a couple of months ago, I still get the chills when I think about this part of the novel. Rarely have I felt the need to put physical distance between myself and a book in order to allow myself to process what I’ve just read, but this was one of those times. An added bonus is that, after all the pieces are fitted together and the big picture is revealed, the plot deescalates at just the right pace to wrap up the story and tie it with a bow.

Released in February 2019, The Silent Patient is Alex Michaelides’ debut novel. He has said that because of this fact, he did not feel immense pressure while writing, as there were no expectations to meet However, the novel’s debut at #1 on the New York Times Best-Seller list, its three Goodreads Awards, as well as my own humble opinion, serve to demonstrate that The Silent Patient has cemented itself as a staple in the psychological thriller genre

Courtesy of The Washington Post

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My Year of Rest and Relaxation

By Hunter Maguire

“Reva was my only friend, but I hated her. I popped another bisphenol and faded back into unconsciousness.”

Throughout My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Ottessa Moshfegh makes no effort to convince us to like or sympathize with our oh-sodespicable unnamed narrator. A self-proclaimed WASP of the Upper East Side, living off her dead parents’ inheritance, she has everything most people can only dream of, yet is absolutely insufferable She is twenty-six, blonde, thin, and rich, but she squanders her life away with bored apathy inside the walls of her luxury apartment. Her only satisfaction comes from popping pills, re-watching the same old Whoopi Goldberg movies, and putting down her only friend, the lovingly anxious Reva

As the book opens, our narrator makes her only firm resolution of the novel: to sleep away an entire year, secluded in her apartment, with the help of her bumbling psychologist, Dr. Tuttle Tuttle, supremely gullible and comically stupid, is easily fooled into prescribing an alphabet of meds to the narrator, from Ambien to Nembutal to Zyprexa

The first chapters of the novel meander through the narrator’s life events with annoying self-awareness She begins her year “working” at a Chelsea art gallery, but she gets fired after dozing off everyday in the supply closet. Her parents– a closed-off college professor and an irritable day-drinker– never offer much emotional support. She clings to her on-off boyfriend Trevor, a pathetic thirtysomething Wall Street banker, as some sort of surrogate parental figure. Nastiest of all, she plays on Reva’s insecurities for her own validation, yet is word

cold and unsupportive whenever Reva needs love or support Her only forays out of the apartment are to the Egyptian bodega for coffee, to RiteAid to refill prescriptions, and to Dr. Tuttle’s office once a month for new prescriptions

However, as the months drone on, she starts taking a fictional, experimental medication called infermiterol Her “rest” becomes interrupted by strange actions taken in her sleep; random AOL messages to men online, parties and shopping trips she can’t remember, and phone calls she definitely shouldn’t be making. On New Year’s Eve, she knocks herself out with the infermiterol, and somehow wakes up on the LIRR headed to Reva’s for her mother’s funeral. Because of this misstep, she devises a new plan to lock herself in her apartment and sleep away the weeks until her infermiterol runs out. Afterwards, she emerges from hibernation and returns to life in summer2001 Manhattan in the book’s closing chapters

Overall, I really enjoyed My Year of Rest and Relaxation Ottessa Moshfegh is an amazingly talented writer, and is especially skilled at portraying complex characters and ideas, such as mental illness and disgust, in her writing. She successfully manages to depict the narrator as human and a result of her own traumas, without veering into romanticizing or defending her actions. Even though the medications and events within are fictional, the central characters such as the narrator, Reva, and Trevor are very much a reflection of real people, insecurities, and societal patterns. The story also successfully makes a commentary on the 1990s-2000s "yuppie" culture word

in Manhattan before the sobering reality of 9/11, which I especially enjoyed, considering so many of our parents and relatives were very much a part of that demographic.

The writing strongly captures a sense of life for the young and wealthy in early-aughts New York, from the elitist art and social scene to diet culture and superficial beauty standards

I also especially appreciated the relationship between the narrator and Reva, and the complexities of the dynamic between them. I found Reva to be an extremely sympathetic character, so desperately seeking love and comfort from those around her to distract from internal emotions of despair and worthlessness. Although some may find her superficial, focusing on her appearance and social graces, she only uses these as tools to ease her own suffering and feel the warmth and appreciation of society. The contrast between her and the narrator, who instead chooses to seal herself off from society to nurse her wounds, is very much a central element of the plot. Seeing and understanding each other’s pain makes both Reva and the narrator feel slightly less alone and miserable in their unfulfilling lives.

Although the novel contains serious, substantial themes, the inclusion of black comedy truly ties the book together and prevents it from becoming simply a gloomy narrative of mental illness. The narrator’s actions are definitely ludicrous, and reality is distorted just enough to add a darkly silly element to MYORAR: from the effects of the infermiterol to Dr. Tuttle’s cluelessness to the ridiculous concept art of the gallery The book remains a relevant social commentary without ever taking itself too seriously.

Before I wrap up, there are certain elements of the book that would alienate or unnerve many readers Ottessa Moshfegh is unafraid to write very graphically, especially about bodily woddrds

functions, and there are several scenes that are indisputably gross. At one particular point, I even had to put down the book, close my eyes, and take some deep breaths to erase a particular mental image! Additionally, the novel doesn’t shy away from racism and other forms of prejudice, especially coming from the narrator herself. Although these aren’t condoned in the writing, it’s understandable that many people would be uncomfortable reading a book including them. Eating disorders are also mentioned in deep detail, which was discomforting as well.

In sum, My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a deeply relevant and interesting book, although I wouldn’t recommend it for every reader. If you’re passionate about psychology, social and cultural patterns, or just love a fascinating, character-driven story, however, this book is a must-read!

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For Five

By Riya Katriyar

For Five Coffee Roasters is a chain that has already popularized itself throughout Long Island and has now opened a new location on Seventh Street Although For Five is best known for its coffee, it also offers food: including an array of sandwiches, salads, and cookies. While deciding on my order, I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the menu. Eventually, I settled on an iced coffee, a chicken-pesto burrata sandwich, and a chocolate chip cookie As expected, the food was delicious! The sandwich w

was larger and more costly than expected, but that did not detract from the taste I think it's safe to say that For Five is solidified as my new spot for iced coffee! Not only was the food amazing, but the ambiance of the café made it even more enjoyable. It’s a great environment to catch up with friends, enjoy a relaxing snack, or get some work done I would definitely recommend checking it out if you haven’t done so already!

Courtesy of forfivecoffee.com

Courtesy of forfivecoffee.com

Courtesy of forfivecoffee.com

Courtesy of forfivecoffee.com