Letter from the Editor-in-Chief
Dear Patriots,
I would like to just take a second to appreciate the fact that 2020 is officially over. One of the worst years of most of our lives is over and we can finally look forward to new beginnings. A vaccine is coming out, meaning that we are one step closer to getting things âback to normal.â 2020 has taught us that you never know what is going to happen next. You learn that you canât take even the littlest things for granted. Nothing is guaranteed in life, so you have to make the most of what you have now. Learn to find the happiness in small victories like getting that assignment turned in on time (even though it was submitted at 11:57 p.m.) or going through a green light right as itâs about to switch to red. Though it doesnât seem like much, when you arenât getting any big victories, it makes these small ones even more precious.
Sometimes we get caught up in making a New Yearâs resolution thatâll somehow turn us into a âbetterâ person than we were last year. Remember to be kind to yourself when making a resolution or two. You are wonderful how you are now. You are enough as you are now. Thereâs nothing wrong with wanting to be a better person, but please donât believe that you arenât good as you are now.
I hope you take the opportunity to enjoy the feeling of a new beginning that comes when the Earth makes a full loop around the Sun. Enjoy the little things, take pride in your accomplishments (big or small) and find new things that you love.
Do the good things,
Editor-In-Chief
Haley Bullock
Managing Editor
Jenna Rose
Social Media Coordinator
Abigail Fletcher
Faculty Adviser
Jeremiah Massengale
Staff
Makayla Durham
Nathan Evans
Cassidy Howard
Kristin Mitchell
Masyn Mitchell
Alex Nunn
Maranda Young
Guest Contributor
Tobias Draper
Front cover by Haley Bullock
Back cover by Makayla Durham
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Things Kept Getting Worse
The five worst events of 2020
HALEY BULLOCK Editor-in-Chief
1. Coronavirus
Undeniably, the coronavirus pandemic has been the worst event that has occurred in 2020, and possibly the decade even though it has just started. Starting in Wuhan, China in early January, COVID-19 made its way to the US before the month was up. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a national public health emergency on Jan. 31, 2020. Masks became mandatory in most areas across the globe to try to slow the spread of the virus down. It is claimed that there have been 86.6 million cases and 1.87 million deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, in January 2021, a vaccine is slowly being released to the public, starting with healthcare workers.
2. Death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests.
Though this is highly political and controversial, the events surrounding and following George Floydâs death in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020 caused an outcry from both sides of the political spectrum. In protest for the way Floydâs death and case was being treated by Minnesota officials, people took to the streets to express their need for change by protesting. Riots also caused millions of dollars in damage for more than 1,500 locations, according to the Star Tribune, a newspaper from Minnesota. Many people have said that there needed to be police reformation to combat systemic racism so events like these would be less likely to transpire.
3. The Australian bushfires.
The Australian bushfires in January 2020 caused devastation for humans, animals and nature. According to World Wildlife, 3 billion animals were killed or displaced including: 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180 million birds, and 51 million frogs. Thirty-three people, including four firefighters on the scene, died in relation to the Australian bushfires. It is also reported that more than 27 million acres of bush, forest
and parks were burnt. More than 2,000 houses were burnt in New South Wales, which left thousands of people to flee for safer conditions. These bushfires raged on for weeks, which is why the devastation and damage was so high. At the end of March, the bushfire season in Australia was over, ending its most destructive season yet.
4. Explosion in Beirut, Lebanon
On Aug. 4, 2020, a large explosion in Beirut killed at least 200 people and injured around 5,000. White smoke from a large fire at the Port of Beirut could be seen from all around the city. After the warehouse was caught on fire, there was a large explosion, followed by smaller firework-like explosions. Then, described by the British Broadcasting Channel, âAbout 30 seconds later, there was a colossal explosion that sent a mushroom cloud into the air and a supersonic blastwave radiating through the city.â The multiple explosions not only caused extreme property damages on the areas surrounding the blasts, but it also left around 300,000 people temporarily homeless.
5. The Death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) passed away on Sept. 18, 2020 of metastatic pancreas cancer at 87 years old. RBG is most wellknown for her work for gender equality and womenâs rights. She served 27 years on the Supreme Court, making her a crucial justice. Appointed by President Bill Clinton to the Supreme Court, RBG became the second woman ever appointed. RBG was also the first woman to be a member of the Harvard Law Review. She spent her career dedicating it to abolishing laws that outright discriminated between women and men. She is a historic figure that paved the way for the future of women.
Photo courtesy of Gayatri Malhotra
Photo courtesy of Nicole Baster
Haley Bullock, Editor-in-Chief
2020 Recap: Netflix & Quarantine
BY ABIGAIL FLETCHER
Social Media Coordinator
1. Queenâs Gambit
Set in Lexington, Ky, viewers can follow the orphaned Beth Harmon, played by Anya-Taylor Joy, through the struggles of addiction and competing to be the worldâs best chess player. âQueenâs Gambitâ came to Netflix on Oct. 23, 2020. It is a limited series meaning it has a predetermined number of episodes to tell the complete story. Also featured in the series are Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Harry Melling and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd. Kudos to Director Scott Frank for showing the class, excitement and skill that goes into the ancient game of chess.
Listing âQueenâs Gambitâ in the best slot was a no-brainer. I was able to watch the entire show in one weekend. The pacing was phenomenal and became a true nail-biter for me. The aesthetic vibes of the â60s were incredible. From the fashion and decor to the cars, the show perfectly fits the era. Old hits from Bananarama, Herman Herbitâs and The Vogues can be featured on the show. This show will keep you on the edge of your seat.
2. The Haunting of Bly Manor
Creator Mike Flangan made his first âThe Hauntingâ series with âThe Haunting of Hillâ that aired on Netflix in 2019. Flangan comes back to Netflix with the next chilling series, âThe Hauntingâ of Bly Manor. The series is about a young woman, Dani Clayton, seeking a job to be a governess to two young children. The series is set in 1980s London, so viewers can expect big hair, mom jeans and scrunchies. The â80s aesthetics take the backseat to the chilling, eerie vibes exposed instantly in the first episode.
Starring Victoria Pedretti as Dani, this show takes you on a thrilling ride.Expect the unexpected while watching Bly Manor. Creator Mike Flangan does an amazing job telling a truly scary story. Flangan doesnât sell out with cheap jump scares. This show is an absolute must-watch.
3. Iâm Thinking of Ending Things
This movie, based on the novel by Ian Reid, takes you on a mentally spiraling journey as a young woman, Lucy, portrayed by Jessie Buckley, goes to visit her boyfriendâs parents at a secluded farm. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this movie is for you. While watching the
movie, I had this unnerving feeling of deja-vu. It felt similar to dreams I have had where I felt I couldnât wake up. The movieâs pacing is very dreamlike or sporadic.
The movie might leave you feeling sort of frayed and confused. Director Charlie Kaufman knows how to execute the perfect psychological thriller. As hints in the name, there is an alluding to the idea of suicide. If you have a sensitivity to the concept of suicide, this movie may not be for you.
4. The Devil all the Time
Starring the web-slinging actor Tom Holland as Arvin, âThe Devil all the Timeâ features a stacked cast of actors, including Sebastian Stan, Robert Pattinson, Bill SkarsgĂ„rd and Henry Melling. Set in rural southern Ohio in the 1960s, it shows Arvin trying to protect the ones he loves from sinister characters.
The movie takes a while to get the storyline driving. There is a large web of connections to draw between the characters, so the set up to the main plot takes some time. Once the plot gets going, you will be on the edge of your seat. This is not a feel-good movie. There is a heavy emphasis on death and sexual assault. If either of those themes are difficult for you, this movie is not for you.
5. Tiger King
A very popular documentary series that many viewers watched during quarantine follows the eccentric character, Joe Exotic, and his feud with Carol Baskin. The series exposes the world of big-cat breeding and the spearheads behind it. It mainly focuses on Joe Exotic, who makes the entire series with his character. Riddled with a conspiracy theory about the death of Carol Baskinâs late husband, Don Lewis, and the use of gas chambers on big cats by Doc Antle, this show shows two sides of the big-cat industry. Without the featuring of Joe Exotic, this show wouldnât have been as entertaining. The series shows scandals and conspiracy. There is a hint to a part two of the series with further investigation into the big-cat world.
A Year of Untraditional Cinema
The top five movies of 2020
BY TOBIAS DRAPER Guest Contributor
1. âTenetâ
âTenetâ is a science fiction action-thriller created by visionary director Christopher Nolan with a stellar cast. Nolanâs classic âInceptionâlike niche that keeps you on the edge of your seat. After taking 5 years to write this attentive screenplay, Nolan challenges audiences again to keep their eyes on every detail and even challenges himself by avoiding his classic spy-genre approach to bring you a visually stunning film bursting with visual effects in this blockbuster epic. Itâs a great original film with an original story and letâs face it, most of the films that come out now are comic book movies. So, go treat yourself to something new and give yourself a breath of fresh new content. You deserve it. 9/10.
2. âMortal Kombat Legends: Scorpionâs Revengeâ
This film is a direct to video R-rated film based on the âMortal Kombatâ video games following the events of the classic âMortal Kombatâ story but with the focus being mostly on, well, Scorpion getting his revenge. Yes, kids canât watch this bloody animated feature, but trust me, you are in for a treat. From well written dialogue to excellent animation, this film packs a Fatality with every frame and story thread, immersing you into the world of âMortal Kombatâ like youâve never seen before. If youâre with your friends, grab the popcorn and scream, âGET OVER HERE!â because this film is chalked full of things old and new fans of the franchise will enjoy. 8/10.
3. âExtractionâ
From the team that brought you âAvengers: Endgameâ comes an action-packed Netflix original film filled with grit, excessive violence, and praiseworthy performances, âExtractionâ follows a mercenary, played by Chris Hemsworth, in Bangladesh trying to save the son of an Indian drug
lord. Another original movie with no connection to cinematic universes and reboots, simply a one-off story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I went into this movie thinking this was going to be atrocious but came out thoroughly impressed. If you like action thrillers, this oneâs for you. 8/10
4. âHillbilly Elegyâ
Many audiences that watched this Netflix original gave the film backlash and said this isnât what living in Kentucky was or is like. The funny thing is, theyâre wrong. Having parents that grew up in the â90s and lived in the lifestyle of the family this movie is based on, I can say it holds true to its setting and atmosphere quite well. The cast is remarkable, with the duo of Glenn Close and Amy Adams on the television screen and with iconic director Ron Howard at the helm this movie is a treat for Kentuckians, especially for those who grew up in the 1990s. This is one of those films that the critics were just wrong about. 7/10.
5. âScoob!â
âScoob!â is a CGI animated mystery-comedy film meant to reinvigorate the franchise for new audiences and is considered a reboot, of which we have many. Yes, it has flaws and certainly does not hold up to the classic late 1960âs version, but that doesnât mean you shouldnât watch it. Itâs the only Scooby-Doo movie to actually show us the origin of the Mystery Inc. gang in a well-executed manner as well as have actual superheroes in it. This movie has a ton of laughs and will even cater to some of the old fans as well as the newer ones its intended for. 6/10.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
YouTube Platforms That Rose Up
The top five channels on YouTube that came and went in 2020
BY MAKAYLA DURHAM Staff Writer
As 2020 has finally come to an end and looking back over the year that feels like it could have lasted forever, letâs look over some channels that made being stuck in the house almost worth it.
1. UNUS ANNUS
On Nov. 15, 2019, two YouTubers, Mark Fischbach (known as Markiplier) and Ethan Nestor decided to create a channel where they posted a video every day for a year and at the end of the year, they were to delete the entire channel. These videos ranged from cooking to dancing and even eating fire, but every day, sure enough the two boys published a video that was designed to make you laugh and understand the phrase âmemento mori.â âMemento moriâ was the whole message of the oneyear channel, it means you will die someday so make the most of the time you have. On the year anniversary of the channel, they hosted a 12-hour livestream where they talked over their favorite moments and together at midnight, they deleted the entire channel. During the quarantine is when this channel really started to gain attention with everyone stuck inside and having to find ways of entertaining themselves, whatâs more entertaining than two guys doing dumb stuff together?
2.
BRITTANy BRoSKI
This self-made Tik Tok star gained popularity in early 2020 with a video where she tried a Kombucha drink for the first time and her facial expressions made the video a viral hit. Broski soon turned over to YouTube and began producing videos with her roommate where they would sit down and discuss a topic which usually ended in the two girls laughing so hard, they had to end the video. Broski produces these comedic and uplifting reels that are surely going to put a smile onto your face that was especially needed in the year 2020.
3. CoRpSE HUSBAND
This YouTube channel is not new to this year but has regained popularity for something outside of his own channelâs niche, playing video games. Corpse Husband has been known in the past for telling scary stories in his low voice that created a soothing but creepy effect to the videos. This year a game known as âAmong Usâ gained popularity over
the summer and this YouTuber was a must watch for not only his voice but his playing styles in general. If other YouTubers were playing the game with him and posted the content later on, they would add his name to the title because they know his audience would watch it due to him not posting as much as other gamers. Corpse Husband also has his own music which also gained an immense amount of popularity during the course of 2020.
4. DAD, HoW Do I?
This YouTube channel started in April of 2020 and went viral overnight after a tweet on twitter of the channel and the message behind it got massive attention. The channel is by Rob Kenney and his reason behind it was that his dad left the home at an early age and he had to learn on his own how to complete basic tasks in his life such as shaving or even how to grill. He creates these videos with motivational messages in each one that gives you such an uplifting meaning to learning every day basic skills. His whole goal behind the channel is to help adults like him that came from a fractured home life as a child and show them and help them better understand the topics that he covers in his videos.
5. JENNA MARBLES
Jenna started her YouTube channel in 2010 and has over 20 million subscribers, in 2020 she decided to quit making videos because her older videos that her channel was built around contained harmful jokes and comments that overtime has caused backlash towards herself. Jenna over the years has deleted certain videos and apologized for the content that was created so many years ago, but she felt it wasnât enough. Deciding to take a break from it all and stop showing herself on any social media platform was a heartbreaking moment from fans that were there from the start of it all. 2020 for YouTube showcased a lot of true colors for many creators and the term âcancelingâ came into effect more than it should have. Jenna wanted to make sure she decided when things were to end for her channel and not let others tell her that she needed to end things. Jenna will always be a top YouTube creator in my eyes and certain videos of hers to this day still bring a smile onto my face.
Music Is Constant
The top five albums of 2020
BY JENNA ROSE Managing Editor
Isolation. This is a word that encompasses the feel of 2020. The COVID-19 global pandemic is what the past year will be remembered for and because of the need for social-distancing and self-quarantines, many people were more isolated than they have been in the past. For me, music has always been something that brings happiness and in a year of uncertainty, I believe it was appreciated more than ever. The industry took a hit when concerts and tours couldnât happen, however, it didnât stop artists from releasing music and engaging with fans virtually. Below is a list of the five best albums of 2020 ranked.
1. Heartbreak Weather â Niall Horan
Just before the pandemic began to hit America and shut everything down, Niall Horan began promoting his second album since One Directionâs hiatus. Heartbreak Weather was released Mar. 13, 2020 in the beginning of quarantine and quickly hit #1on the iTunes sales chart. Based on my opinion of Horanâs first album, Flicker, I was ready for something I could enjoy while bored at home. Heartbreak Weather is one of those albums that you can hit shuffle and play on repeat. I admire when artists can create a work that seems timeless as soon as itâs released. This album is lyrically artistic and has a nice mix of fun pop sounds and calmer ballads. It even brought us a new wedding song with âBlack and White.â
2. T.R.U.T.H. â Guy Sebastian
Guy Sebastianâs ninth album T.R.U.T.H. is a work that I describe as beautiful. This album is impressive from start to finish and shows how versatile Sebastian is. This album has songs that have a soul, jazz sound like âBefore I Goâ while others are more pop like âWho I Love.â His vocal range is showcased in this album as well which will always give me chills when listening to music. Sebastian hadnât caught my attention with his music since âBattle Scarsâ with Lupe Fiasco in 2012, however, with this album he is beginning to become a favorite artist of mine.
3. To Love a Fool - Cory Asbury
Because of its powerful lyrics and beautiful sound, âReckless Loveâ by Cory Asbury, released in 2018, became a favorite of many fans of worship music. With the popularity that Asburyâs music had gained in the past, I was anticipating an album that had the same value in 2020. To Love a Fool did not disappoint. While Asburyâs sound is similar in his songs, his lyrics are personal and encourage an idea of unity in our struggles and Godâs grace. âDear Godâ is a raw song written as a letter to God which is more unconventional than some Christian music. The song âSparrowsâ has been a top song for Christian radio and is one of my favorites to listen to. Itâs a song that is helpful especially in a year of anxiety and worry which led me like this album even more.
4. New Hope Club â New Hope Club
The self-titled album by the New Hope Club trio has a sound that is uplifting and easy to listen to. I love finding pop albums that I can play all the way through without running into explicit songs which made me enjoy this album even more. New Hope Club is the groupâs debut album and was released on Feb. 14, 2020. Songs such as âLet Me Downâ and âPermissionâ as well as some others on the album are the type of songs that would be played at a pool party or on a road trip. This work leads me to believe that this group will be gaining more popularity as they continue to produce a fun sound.
5. Louis Tomlinson â Walls
Yes, another former One Direction member has made my list. If you were a fan of the band and have been keeping up with Louis Tomlinson you likely know that his mother passed away in 2016. Walls includes the touching song that he wrote for her after her passing titled âTwo of Us.â This song can bring you to tears which, in my opinion, is a true sign of art. This album has a feel that is very reminiscent; I found that Tomlinsonâs lyrics paint a story and can be relatable for many. This work was what I had been waiting for from Tomlinson and I was happy to see it come to fruition. His sound has always been unique and his album showcases that well.
Photo courtesy of Capitol Records
Photo courtesy of YouTube
