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CUTTING THE CORD Are streaming services worth the time and money?
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Felix Varela Sr. High School * 15255 S.W. 96 St., Miami, FL 33196
n i t e l l bu rd a o b
Hits and misses
Miami welcomes Super Bowl LIV! Bienvenidos a Miami!
For only the third time in the history of this country, a president has been impeached. Like him or hate him, this is still not something we should be proud of.
Legends never die! Kobe Bryant will be missed.
Next year, school may be starting about an hour later. More sleep!
Varela will be welcoming classes next year for E-Sports and Drones!
Next year, school may be ending about an hour later. Less time for jobs!
table of contents
Ta b le of Contents | View p oints
ViEWPOINTS
School Libraries Column.................................. 5
News
volume 19 feb‘20
Viper News.........................................6 EVHAT............................................. 7 Staff Lounge............................. 8 Impeachment........................ 9 Trump becomes the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.
Editors
Middle East Conflict....10
Jonathan Bigio-Vargas Jose Donate Natalia Fernandez Karolyn Legra Maria Pacheco Kiana Paulino Isabella Vallejo
lifestyle
Restaurant................11 Frozen II................... 12 Doctor Sleep........... 13 Disney Plus..............14
Reporters l Isabella
Disney's new streaming service battles Neflix for viewers
Cerioni l Eric Davis l Alexander Dominguez l Joshua Escobedo
Music........................ 15 Modern Warfare......16 Oculus........................17
sports
Adviser
Editorial Policy
The Viper Vibe is the student newspaper of Felix Varela Senior High (15255 SW 96 St. Miami, FL, 33196). It is an open forum for student expression. The opinions expressed in the publication do not reflect the official opinions or policies of the school. The Viper Vibe welcomes letters to the editor, but requires that they be signed and reserves the right to reject, edit and condense letters. The staff and adviser can be contacted at 305-752-7900 or thevipervibe@gmail. com
Check out the latest in Winter Sports.
On the cover: Cutting the cord was supposed to be the answer to high cable bills. However, with all the new streaming services, including the new Disney Plus, how much money are we really saving? photo by Isabella Cerioni.
Talk to us: thevipervibe@gmail.com
Londono l Andres Murillo l Mia Rivera
Elizabeth Cardenas
World Series................ 18 Varela Sports.................19
Above: Varela's Media Center, Viper Central, has been closed down to students and classes. photo by E. Cardenas; The House of Representatives votes on the second of two articles of impeachment of President Donald Trump at in the House Chamber at the Capitol Building on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, in Washington, D.C. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to successfully pass both articles, charging President Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. photo with permission Getty Images/TNS; Whenever someone clicks on classic content in Disney+, they will find this language: "This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions." photo with permission Disney Plus/TNS; Junior Angelo Delatorre goes for a layup in a game against Palmetto. photo by Fox-Mar
l Isabella
Sponsorships
Your thoughts may be featured in the next issue of the Viper Vibe!
The Viper Vibe welcomes sponsorships from individuals and businesses, but reserves the right to reject any material deemed inappropriate for a high school publication.
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Viewpoi nt s | E d it or ial
Streaming TV costs too much money and time Editorial
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utting the cord has been the mantra for many who are tired of paying too much for cable packages. In the not-too-distant past, the way people watched TV was through cable. Cable companies controlled little mini-monopolies making it impossible for viewers to watch anything but what their neighborhood companies wanted to show. And those same companies could charge whatever they wanted because viewers couldn’t get any other cable company in their neighborhood. But then came satellite TV. Suddenly, people could attach a little dish to the side of their house or apartment and choose another company like Dish Network or DirectTV to watch their favorite shows. But dishes were unreliable, especially here in Florida. One rainstorm and there went the signal. Now, we have the Internet and streaming services. With new technology, we are being provided more options. In 1997, Netflix entered the market as competition for Blockbuster, a home movie and video game rental store. In 2007, when data speeds and Internet bandwidth had improved, they started to stream content which effectively put Blockbuster out of business. Since Netflix, other services like Hulu, HBO Now, Amazon Prime, CBS All Access, Britbox, Pureflix, and now Disney Plus have all entered the field, each with its own cost. These apps are even
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making their own original shows and movies. Live TV streaming services like Sling, AT&T TV, Philo TV, and Fubo TV provide everyone with the news, sports and other channels found on cable. With all these options that people now have, the question is: Is it worth it? Everyone wants to be able to watch their favorite shows , movies, and games. The prices of streaming are supposed to be lower than cable but with so many additives and options to choose from, streaming can actually be more expensive. We are paying as much for all the individual services as we pay for cable. We here at The Viper Vibe see a more troubling aspect of the current TV trend: the amount of time being spent on these services. The way we watch TV has changed a whole generation of people into couch potatoes. Instead of waiting a week for a new episode, we have the ability to binge watch shows. This means that countless hours are spent in front of a TV/computer/tablet/phone screen instead of outside interacting with other people. This new generation is so caught up in technology, that they don’t appreciate what is off screen and outside in the real world. Technology can be a good thing, but only if used wisely. And streaming TV may not be the best use of our time and money.
The way we watch TV has changed a whole generation into couch potatoes
Colu mn | View p oints
students need Libraries to be successful academically
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column
ibraries are super important. They are a crucial and free tool for free inforeditor mation and ideas. It's also a getaway ig: ASTHXTICBXLLA option for students to get any work done or simply have a place to just hang out. You’d think that it would be a given for public schools to have a library or a media center for their students’ convenience. I was surprised to find that a majority of Miami-Dade public high schools do not have that advantage. Libraries/media centers are being removed or closed down or remodeled to be computer labs for testing. There is no point in having a beautiful media center full of useful things that can make students' lives easier when it comes to school and not use it. Turning it into a computer lab is kind of pointless when we already have three labs. But a good old library is always beneficial, especially for a high school. According to Phi Delta Kappan, the professional journal for educators, “Data from more than 34 statewide studies suggest that students tend to earn better standardized test scores in schools that have strong library programs.” This might actually end up benefiting the school by improving Varela’s academic grade. An effective school library or media center “welcomes people in. The library is a safe place, that values and includes students from different cultures and backgrounds. It brings people and information together and makes connections with other libraries and information sources to help users find what they need.” (The National Library) The library also is a good neutral place for students to chill and hang out during lunch or before
Isabella Vallejo
or after school as well as for their scholar needs such as printer and computer access. With technology growing at such a rapid pace, schools are embracing it and using it to its full advantage. Most of our textbooks are online. Teachers are requiring that we type up our essays in MLA format and turn them in either printed out or through websites such as Turnitin.com or Edmodo. What if I don’t have a computer at home? What if my printer is out of ink and I can’t afford the $80 new cartridge? In the past, here at Varela, the media center gave us access to both computers and student printers. “Although information technology is woven into almost every aspect of learning and life, not every learner and educator has equitable access to up-todate, appropriate technology and connectivity. An effective school library bridges digital and socioeconomic divides to affect information technology access and skill.” (Phi Delta Kappan) Go to the public library, our school says. You can use their computers for free. Public libraries have a schedule that does not coincide with students and their school or work schedule. If I finish working on my essay at home at 10 p.m., the public library closed at 8 p.m. I can’t go there to print out anything. And they don’t open until 9:30 a.m., more than two hours after school starts. In order to meet the demands of school and teachers, students should have access to a place in school where they can study, work online and print out materials. We already have the room. We already dedicated it as a media center for student use. We should be able to use it.
The library is a safe place, that values and includes students from different cultures and backgrounds
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News | A ro u n d V arel a
News
HEADLINES AND HAPPENINGS
December 13
December 13
Sr. Pep Rally
NJROTC Holiday Event A taste of the holiday spirit was brought by the NJROTC Seniors got to celebrate being seniors on Friday, Dec. 13, Unit and several clubs to the Veterans at the local VA Hospital. 2019 with the Senior Pep Rally. Friend groups gossiped and The NJROTC Unit, Quill and Scroll, Jazz Band, First Priority, took memorable photos and videos, singing and dancing along and FBLA supplied the celebration with food, decorations, and to the music. They played cup pong, ran in a six-legged race, Varela water bottles filled with candy. NJROTC Cadets served and went through hula hoops. When the whistle blew for tug of war, seniors on the bleachers ran down to either side of the food and conversed rope, ambushing the game and making it one to remember. To with the Veterans. Jazz end it with a bang, administration came out dressed up in 70s Band performed a wonderful show that costumes and performed a dance to Dancing Queen by Abba. consisted of traditional holiday music. The NJROTC Cadets celebrated the NJROTC cadets enholiday season with Veterans at the VA Hospital. photos by E. Cardenas joyed comforting the Veterans with holiday spirit and Viper pride. Administration “The veterans had dressed up in 70s outfits to fun talking to us and dance to Abba's loved the music and it Dancing Queen at this year's Sewas fun making them nior Pep Rally. photo by Mathappy,” junior cadet thew Melton Julio Vergara said. December 16
January 16
Rainforests of the Maya
Sr. Movie Night
Science classes were introduced to Richard S. Kern from Odyssey Earth Encounters in Excellence Inc. on December 17th. Kern presented a film, Rainforests of the Maya, which he had worked on to emphasize the beauty and concerns of the Maya rainforests. From unique birds to the prominent jaguar, the film focused on calling attention to the dying ecosystem as well as showing the amazing influence of the Mayan civilization on the environment. Kern narrated the 37 minute film live and offered a question session at the end.
Richard S. Kern narrated his film, Rainforests of the Maya, for Science classes. photo by Kiana Paulino
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The new year began with seniors enjoying Senior Movie Night. Usually, the event takes place in the cafeteria, but this year activities decided to shake things up a bit and decided to do the movie “under the stars.” On Thursday, Jan. 16, a projector was set up in the grass next to the concretables. The seniors all decided to watch the horror movie Insidious. “Movie night was everything that I expected,” senior Maria Vargas said.
Seniors showed up with air mattresses and blankets for Senior Movie Night. The "movie under the stars" that seniors chose was Insidious, perfect for being outside in the dark. photo by Natalia Fernandez information gathered by Isabella Cerioni, Cristen Lameira, Kiana Paulino, and Natalia Fernandez
Aro u n d Varela | N ew s
Every Viper Has a Tale: Ariel Stewart
father have made this an on-going competition between each other. Everybody has a hob- “We challenge each by they are interested in other by seeing who can whether it be birdwatch- stack the most dice in a ing, stone skipping, or row, I can do it about 5 even extreme pen spintimes while my dad can ning. Junior Ariel Stewdo it about 10 times,” art has a unique talent said Stewart. and hobby of her own Stewart, who is origcalled dice cup stacking. inally from New York, Dice cup stacking moved to Miami when is a performance art in she was three-years-old which the performer because of extended scoops dice off a flat family being here, the surface with a dice cup weather being warmer, and then sets the cup and her family believing down while moving it it was a safer and cleanin a pattern that stacks er environment to raise the dice into a vertical their children. column without any of Stewart and her them falling. family visit New York at Although she does least once a year, mostly not compete for anyto see family that was thing, she uses her skills left behind along with to impress friends and feeling the New York city family. atmosphere. As a matter of fact, “I really miss going Stewart picked up on on the subway and the the talent when she was noises in the busy city, 11-years-old to amaze it’s so quiet here comher father. She and her pared to New York,” she By Kiana Paulino Editor IG: KiANAARAAE
said. Since Stewart was so young when she moved here, she considers Miami her home. She loves school here and has made friendships that have lasted since kindergarten. Academically, she has flourished, making her parents proud. Stewart hopes to continue on to college and become a nurse. Her inspiration comes from her aunt, who was a nurse, who passed away last year due to breast cancer. “Helping people has been the most important thing in my life; I never want to see people struggle or in pain. Being a nurse would put me in the position to give people the aid they need,” she said. “Rather than being in a cubicle somewhere, I would be making a real difference in the world.”
Junior Ariel Stewart performs her dice cup stacking trick. She has been doing the trick since she was 11 in order to play with her father. photos by Matthew Melton
Materials: Any cup of your choice, 3-6 dice
Step 1: When you pick up the first dice, swing the cup back and forth, alternating between a 45 degree angle and 90 degree angle.
Step 2: In order to stack the dice you must finish your swing of the cup but stop short.
Step 3: Your dice will be stacked (after tons of practice).
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News | A ro u n d V arel a
Inside the Staff Lounge What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
“The day has come.”
Mr. Marcus Harrell
Mr. Harell is the Head Custodian and has been working for Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 28 years. He has been at Varela for 14 of those years.
What sound or noise do you love?
Old school music 8
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The Government
What inspires you?
What do you like to do on vacation?
Supporting chaos around me
Relax and watch sports
What is your favorite thing about working for Varela?
What is your least favorite word?
The staff and the students
Incomplete
What is your favorite word?
Hello
What’s the worst mess you’ve ever had to clean up at Varela?
What sound or noise do you hate?
Feces inside one of the restrooms
Hatred
What profession other than yours would you not like to participate in?
Marine Patrol
These questions are based on the French television series Bouillon de Culture hosted by Bernard Pivot. Information gathered by Jose Donate and photo by Isabella Cerioni
Aro u n d th e U.S . | N ew s
Left: Lead by House of Representatives Clerk Cheryl Johnson and House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving, followed by impeachment managers Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), lead the procession carrying the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives to the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 15. photo with permission Los Angeles Times/TNS; Below: The articles of the impeachment against President Donald Trump are seen before U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signs it during an Engrossment Ceremony on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 15, in Washington, D.C. photo with permission Abaca Press/TNS
Impeachment heads to the Senate By Isabella Londono There is
Staff Reporter a lot of IG: isabella.xoxoxo talk in Washington about impeachment, but what does that really mean? Impeachment is the ultimate check of the chief executive of the United States and to formally accuse a public official of a serious crime in connection with their job. It doesn’t actually mean getting rid of a president; it’s just the first step. When Congress feels that a president has overstepped his authority, or committed a serious offense, it has the right to remove the president. This starts with an investigation in the House of Representatives. After the investigation, the House votes to decide if they want to impeach the president. This is like bringing charges against the president. If the impeachment goes through, the House
delivers the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate who then tries the president on those charges. In the trial, the House acts as the prosecution and the president is defended by his own lawyers with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court acting as judge. All the members of the Senate are the jury. Twothirds of the senators must vote to remove the president, which today would be 67 out of 100 senators. In December, the House voted to impeach President Donald Trump. Impeaching the president is rare. There have only been two presidents that have been impeached in the whole 243 years of our history as a nation. President Andrew Johnson was accused of high crimes and misdemeanors in February 1886. Then in February 1999, Bill Clinton was impeached for lying under
oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. Due to the Watergate Scandal in 1972-1973, Richard Nixon was on the verge of being impeached when he decided to step down as president on August 9, 1974. While the constitution does allow for impeachment, it is vague on the exact charges that can be made. According the Article II, section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, “The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” These charges are left up to the interpretation of the House. In the case against
President Trump, the house has charged him with two articles: 1) abuse of power for pressuring Ukrainian President Vologymyr Zelenskiy to investigate political rival Joe Biden in exchange for foreign aid, and 2) obstructing justice by blocking Congress from being able to hear certain testimony or read certain documents that were subpoenaed by the House. (The New York Times) Now that the House has voted for him to be impeached, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi sent the impeachment papers to the Senate for the trial and vote. Since Republicans have a majority in the Senate, it is likely that Trump will be found not guilty, just like Johnson and Clinton.
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News | A ro u n d t h e W orl d
U.S. and Middle East tensions rise Jonathan Bigio-Vargas
Editor bigioj5291@gmail.com
Top: Shiite Muslims hold pictures of slain top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani to pay him tribute during a candle light vigil in Islamabad Jan. 8, 2020. Iran fired a volley of missiles late on Jan. 7 at Iraqi bases housing US and foreign troops in Iraq, the Islamic republic's first act in its promised revenge for the US killing of a top Iranian general. photo with permission Getty Images/TNS; Bottom: Screen grab of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a propaganda video in an undisclosed location, released on April 29, 2019. photo with permission Abaca Press/TNS
The Middle East has seen a lot of activity in the past few months with several U.S. enemies killed. In early October 2019, President Trump announced that he wanted to pull American troops out of northern Syria. This caused a lot of debate because many people feel that the humanitarian crisis going on there requires outside intervention. According to Social Studies teacher Mr. Pablo Gomez, Trump promised to physically remove American soldiers out of dangerous foreign places. He is trying to keep his campaign promise of bringing U.S. troops home. There are many people in this country who believe that it is not good for the U.S. to be the policemen of the world and that our men shouldn’t even be over there.. However, by pulling out of Syria, we are leaving an ally unprotected. A group of people called Kurds live in the northeastern part of Syria and eastern part of Turkey. With the death of more than 10,000 Kurds, we have been supporting them with ground and air support for years. By pulling out of the region, we are leaving the Kurdish people open to genocide by several countries. In the midst of the controversy over this decision, Trump approved a mission that resulted in the death of ISIS founder Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in Syria. After airstrikes took out ISIS forces, U.S. troops surrounded and attacked Al-Baghdadi’s compound. They evacuated some people who were willing to leave, but Al-Baghdadi continued to fight and eventually set off a suicide vest killing himself and two children. The compound was later destroyed with drones so that it could not be used as a shrine. While the death of Al-Baghdadi is a step in the right direction for getting rid of ISIS, it didn’t take long for a successor to be named: Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi. In January, Trump approved a drone strike against General Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The guard is a very large military force within the Islamic Republic, very loyal, very well trained and very well funded. Gomez equates Soleimani’s position as military Surrounded by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Donald Trump delivers a statement in the Grand Foyer of the White House, in response to Iran firing more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi military bases housing US troops on Jan. 8, 2020 in Washington, D.C. The attacks came the night before in response to the United States drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. US and Iraqi sources said there were no known casualties. photo with permission Abaca Press/TNS
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leader with one of America’s joint chiefs of staff. He was not seen as a crazy terrorist, but a military general. Iran supports Shia militias around the Middle East with training and guidance. “[Soleimani] was very active and very influential in most of the Shia sect part of the Muslim Middle East,” Gomez said. Because of his leadership, he has been a target since George W. Bush was president in 2007. The idea would be to “cut the head off the snake” and stop some of the attacks. According to NBC News, Trump signed the order to kill Soleimani after Iran attacked an Iraqi base in Kirkuk that killed a U.S. contractor and wounded American soldiers and Iranian-backed militia stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. After Soleimani’s death, Iran struck bases in Iraq that had American forces, but no soldiers were killed. Instead of striking again, Trump decided to try to deescalate the military conflict and imposed new sanctions against Iran.
Fo o d | L if estyle
lifestyle Barton G delivers on taste
views of trees, perfect for an evening dinner. By Karolyn Legra Editor The food is great, IG: karolynlegra but in my opinion, the decorations that come with the food are bigger than the food itself: like they would put big forks in just a simple little dinner plate. For the appetizer, we ordered their delicious, savory Churros. I think they were my favorite thing about the restaurant. The churros themselves had a little sweetness, but were paired with a cheese type dipping sauce. Then I went on to order the Strike Out Sliders, three mini-burgers that came with Wagyu beef, Gruyere cheese, red onion jam, smoked ketchup, and garlic aioli, all on a black truffle brioche. They were good and tasted different than the average burger. The red onion jam, which doesn’t sound that great, actually made it taste different in a good way. I didn’t like the smoked ketchup sauce, and I would have preferred regular ketchup. My parents both ordered the Stop Chicken Me Out, which was a roasted garlic-marinated half chicken confit with marble herbed potatoes, grain mustard jus with crispy wild mushrooms and tomato jam. The whole thing was served to the table on a small grill. My parents were very happy and satisfied with their choice. Between the ambiance and the food, Barton G is a definite must try. Its cost is not for the faint of heart and should only be considered for special occasions.
Looking for a special restaurant? Need someplace to celebrate an anniversary or birthday? Barton G is a restaurant of American/Contemporary cuisine located on Miami Beach. It is mostly known because of its creative designs and presentations. Besides their creativity, the food is excellent. Prices vary from $20 to $40. The service from the waiters is extremely good and they really attend to all your needs and are very pleasant. The service is really fast and food arrives in the blink of an eye. While they serve meat, vegetarians are not left out. They have salads like the Barton G Seasonal Chopped Salad for $25 and the Black Vito’s Caesar Salad for $21. The restaurant is only open for dinner running from 6:30 pm to 10 pm Monday to Thursday and 6 pm to 11 pm Friday to Sunday. Besides it being in Miami Beach, Barton G also has locations in Los Angeles and Chicago and soon in New York, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C. The view inside and outside is beautiful. Inside they have beautiful chandeliers and a nice bar; outside they have
From Top: The Churros are savory instead of sweet, paired with a cheesy sauce. The Strike Out Sliders are made with Wagyu beef and served with a red onion jam. The Chicken Me Out was served roasted on a small grill with herbed potatoes. photos by Karolyn Legra
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L i f est y le | M ovies
Top: Frozen 2 photo with permission Disney/TNS; Bottom: From left, Elsa, voiced by Idina Menzel, Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, Kristoff, voiced by Jonathan Groff and Sven star in Frozen 2. photo with permission Disney/TNS
Anna and Elsa return to Arendelle in Frozen 2 Maria F. Pacheco The two sisters that
Editor everyone fell in love IG: mmffppmm with in the movie Frozen are back and ready for another adventure that leads them far away from their kingdom of Arendelle. After Anna, along with the help of Kristoff and Olaf, helped find Elsa and stop the spell she released which caused an eternal winter, they have run into another mystical force that seems to be calling to Elsa. This then leads them to their search in finding out the origins of Elsa’s powers. Frozen II is considered by most to be a successful movie, receiving 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. But it is not as good as the first movie which rated a 90 percent. People loved both the songs and how it really revealed more backstory to the origins of Elsa’s powers and her parents. It had a good combination of romance, heartbreak, action and heartwarming moments.
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My favorite part of it was how there was never a dull moment and how it shows the background of their parents as opposed to how in the first movie there was barely any information about them. It also further explained
why Elsa was given the powers that she has, which to me was interesting and answered some questions I had during the first movie. I also really loved how this was not only a movie that would be entertaining for kids but also teenagers and even adults. Since it’s been six years since the first movie came out, many of its fans have grown up with the characters and have found so much joy in feeling the nostalgia for a return of one of their childhood movies. “It was really good and I honestly can’t believe that it has been so long since the time that I watched the first one with my family and friends,” senior Elena Fontana said. Idina Menzel (Elsa) and Kristen Bell (Anna) returned as the voices for the main characters to create the new playlist which lived up to that of the first one with many more girl-empowering and catchy songs that allowed many moments in the movie to be more powerful than ever. Although the songs were really good there wasn’t one stand out song that was as iconic as the “Let It Go” song in the first film. While it may not have been quite as successful as the first movie, I believe that it really lived up to the hype of the Disney franchise and certainly did not disappoint. Even though, it did not seem like they left the movie open to another sequel, it still did have an epic ending. All in all, fans loved this movie almost as much as its original, bringing us on an emotional rollercoaster that always leads to the happy ending at the end.
Mov ies | L if estyle
King shines again with the thrilling sequel Doctor Sleep By Mia Rivera Forty years ago, direc- Knot a cult of entities who
Staff Reporter tor Stanley Kubrick IG: imiiav took author Steven King’s novel The Shining and turned it into a movie. In 2019, director Mike Flanigan brought us its sequel Doctor Sleep. Doctor Sleep was quite the alternative to The Shining. Viewers have called The Shining a “suspenseful horror classic” which is “violent and dark.” I totally agree. Doctor Sleep had more supernatural/sci-fi elements and superpower aspects. The horror factor of The Shining kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Small details, such as the soundtrack, sound effects, and hints in the dialogue and background of the movie, kept an ongoing suspense and made the experience all the more real. I felt connected through the fears of some of the characters, and I believe the actors delivered that very well. At the end of The Shining I saw potential, mostly in the characters. I wondered how far Danny could go with his “shine” powers. The supernatural activity that seemed to live inside Danny’s mind appears to have lived on. In the new film, we see Danny in his early to mid-40s struggling with drugs and alcohol, mirroring his father’s alcoholism of years ago. Danny then meets a friend who helps him become sober through a rehab program. Eight years later, in his apartment, Danny gets messages scratched onto the chalkboard left in his room from the previous tenant. Danny communicates with Abra, a young girl who also has the “shine.” Abra tells Danny of True
seem like people but live long by collecting and feeding off of the “shine” (an extrasensory gift that sees futures and/or paranormal beings), from other young children. Danny and Abra go on a terrifying journey, learning tricks to play on the “demons,” and how to control their “shine” to defeat the gruesome acts of the True Knot. Flanagan captured a sense of fear that reflects what our own fears could be and went deeper into psychological horrors. Characters such as Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson) and Crow Daddy (Zahn McClaron) felt truly evil. Ewan McGregor, who played Danny, carried out a believable performance of true terror. The recreation of certain scenes from The Shining and the original iconic roles of Shelley Duval, Danny Lloyd, Jack Nicholson and Scatman Crothers were downright incredible. The visuals strongly portrayed emotion in the characters’ and what they endured and the sound effects brought chills. Doctor Sleep remarkably conveys King’s unsettling story of the sinister events encountered by his traumatized characters. Audiences apparently agree since it has gotten mostly favorable reviews on both Imdb.com and Rotten Tomatoes. I definitely feel that it is worth the price of a movie ticket. There’s just something about watching this movie in a dark theater with strangers. While it may not have been as scary as The Shining, its psychological terror makes it more sinister.
From top: Jack Nicholson peers through an axed-in door in the 1980 film The Shining. photo with permission Warner Bros./ TNS; This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ewan McGregor in a scene from Doctor Sleep. photo with permission Warner Bros./TNS; photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
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L i f est y le | T V
Disney Plus has won over millions Jose DOnate
As if Disney didn’t already editor ig: joss.eeee own enough, it has recently joined streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime with their own service, Disney Plus. Between Nov. 12 and 13 of 2019, 10 million users were added to Disney Plus. With the low price of $6.99/month or $69.99/a year, it is surpassing the other streaming services which have been hiking up their prices. Their library will contain not only new and classic Disney movies and TV shows, but also a whole new catalog from Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic and Fox. And like the other services, they will be creating their own original content, such as High School Musical the series, a Star Wars series and live action movies like Lady and the Tramp. Netflix has lost over three million subscribers transferring to Disney Plus. While
Netflix still has a contract for Avengers: Infinity War, Thor: Ragnarok and other Marvel movies, those films will migrate over to Disney Plus when the contract runs out. Disney also bought controlling interest in Hulu, which has a large audience of live-streaming viewers. Disney is now offering a package deal of $12.99 which will include Hulu and ESPN. Even though Disney is associated mostly with family-friendly movies and animation, it does have instances of cultural insensitivity. Rather than ignore those movies, Disney Plus will include them, but with a disclaimer. “This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.” Movies, such as Dumbo, include “The Song of the Roustabouts,” which shows several “African-American workers putting up the circus tent while singing about
Disney Plus attracted 10 million subscribers the day the streaming service launched earlier this month. Photo with permisiion Disney/TNS
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their lack of education and penchant for drink.” (businessinsider.com) It also contains several crows “that speak in a jive-like dialect, the leader of which is actually known as Jim Crow.” Peter Pan with its depiction of Native Americans and The Jungle Book with its characterizations of Black people portrayed as monkeys, along with several Mickey Mouse shorts are included in the Disney Plus collection with disclaimers. Notably missing is the film Song of the South, “a
Baby Yoda in “The Mandalorian” on Disney Plus. Photo with permission Disney/TNS
movie deemed so inappropriate today, that it hasn’t been released on the new Disney Plus streaming service, and likely won’t ever be.” (businessinsider.com) Since Disney Plus is still fairly new, its fate is not yet known; however it has made waves with its new Star Wars series, The Mandalorian. Both critics and audiences seem to be happy with the series rating it in the 90s on Rotten Tomatoes. The success of The Mandalorian and its “Baby Yoda” do indicate that Disney is on the right track.
Music | L if estyle
By isabella cerioni
Staff Reporter isabellacerioni@icloud.com
Layton Greene St. Louis-born singer Layton Greene has a vibe that feels like a breath of fresh air. Her style of music fits perfectly into the R&B/Soul genre, heartbreaking yet uplifting. While listening to Greene’s EP Tell Ya Story I took a journey through her life: the pain of knowing her mother was getting weaker as she continued to do drugs, the horrors of watching her drunk father put a gun to his wife’s head at only ten years old. It is sad to hear about everything that Greene endured throughout her life but in an interview with Apple Music she said, “It is important to talk about what molded me as a person and everything that led up to where I am today.” Greene also describes herself as a hopeless romantic which shows through a few of her tracks such as “Never Knew” and “I Love You” as she sings about the man who she felt saved her life. In “Choices” track four of the project, Greene finds
herself blinded by love and in a difficult situation, “...and the guy I was with was disrespectful and cheated constantly. While he was slacking, I met another guy. Even though this guy was sweet and respectful, it was hard for me to give him my attention because I was so wrapped up in the bad guy.” The next track, “I Choose” is dedicated to herself. She realizes her worth and is angry, “Not only because of the stuff they put me through, but because I should have known better. I’m apologizing to myself and letting myself know that I choose me.” I admire Greene for making this decision, not many girls choose themselves. It is empowering and sets a perfect example that she points out in the last track of “Tell Ya Story” which is that you do not need anyone but yourself. “This song is a lightbulb moment. I realized that in order to heal properly, I have to focus on me,” she said. This EP is a lightbulb moment. I realized that no matter what I go through, if I am strong and believe in myself and love myself unconditionally, I will get through anything. The same way Greene did in her story that I have had the honor of hearing through her smooth, mellow flow. photos with permission Quality Control/Capitol Records and MXMTOON
MXMTOON I have a lot of respect for Mxmtoon, her music and the message she is trying to get across; however I personally do not like it. In her debut album, MXMTOON shares with us her rhyming diary entries. Her bio describes it as an “an off-the-cuff account of her most private thoughts and feelings, usually dashed off very late at night, straight from her brightly lit brain. In her deliberate refusal to hide behind metaphor, the Oakland-based artist otherwise known as Maia achieves a quiet bravery, an unrestrained honesty that gives voice to those who often go unheard.” Her vibrant song writing and rawness has allowed her to build an astounding bond with her audience. “Writing songs was a way to express all the things I couldn’t talk about in face-toface interactions, and share them with a community
of people who maybe also needed to put up a façade to get through the day,” she said in her bio. “Music has always meant a lot to me, my soul longs for it and my heart becomes content when I listen, regardless of what has happened to me that day.” It is evident that MXMTOON’s music has that effect on her audience and I applaud her for speaking on things that not many people bring out of the darkness. “Seasonal Depression” reveals Mxmtoon’s rare gift for illuminating experiences typically unrecognized in pop music. Her voice and melodies are soothing but personally her music does not reach me emotionally, making it hard to feel a connection to the lyrics and the story she is telling. As I listened to her music I did not feel that I could relate to her and the things she has been through.
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L i f est y le | G am es
Modern Warfare returns to Call of Duty Andres Murillo Call
Staff Reporter of Duty andresm12145@gmail.com (CoD) is a first-person-shooter video game that was introduced in 2003. The two main series are Modern Warfare (MW) and Black Ops. Most fans prefer the MW series because the storyline and overall game is better. MW is better because the maps, the campaign, and the multiplayer has always been better. After eight years of waiting, CoD fans can go back to the MW series. The new MW was released on Playstation4, Xbox one, and PC in October 2019. Players have the option of playing alone against bots, or online in teams. This game is based on a new storyline with some familiar faces, as well as some new ones. The campaign will take about 7-9 hours to beat. The storyline is a reboot of the MW series. Gamers play as soldiers fighting in the Middle East against computer opponents. The gameplay is different from any CoD game.There are new features such as characters being able to mount on a wall or table, etc. There are new animations such as reloading, running, throwing a flashbang, etc. Overall the gameplay of the game is smooth and fun. There are new and returning game modes. The new game modes included 2v2 , ground war (32v32), cyber attack, night vision mode, and headquarters.
2v2 is two teams going against each other in a small map with respawn disabled. Ground war is two teams of 32 in a huge map with tanks, helicopters and five flags. Capturing the the flags gains points for the team to win the match. The online game allows gamers to play as the good or bad guys. Cyber attack is like a search and destroy, but players can revive their teammates. Night vision is all the game modes but in the dark. Headquarters is a multiplayer game mode in which teams capture a set point on the map to gain points. It’s one of the most popular game modes because it offers experience points for each second that a player is able to capture and hold the headquarters. The headquarters is marked by a metal box with a computer on it. The returning game modes are Special Ops and Survival. There are also all of the regular modes such as Team Deathmatch and Free for All. One flaw of MW is the maps. The maps feel too big and the matches usually reach the time limit. One good thing is that there is free content being added to the game over time. In my opinion the game is worth playing. The game is $60 new at at stores like Walmart and Game Stop and only gets a little cheaper if pre-owned. But because so many hours can be spent playing it, the money is worth it.
From top: photo courtesy of Activision Publishing; Poison gas plays a prominent role in the story campaign for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. photo with permission Activision/ TNS; Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was released on PC (via Battle.net), PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on October 25, 2019. photo with permission Activision/TNS
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Oculus is the leader in VR tech By Alexander Dominguez Staff Reporter Alexthechew56@gmail.com
With videogames reaching the advanced age of virtual reality, it’s finally time to answer the question of “What type of virtual reality headset I should get”? Well, the virtual reality game company Oculus recently released two new versions of VR headsets: the Oculus Rift S and the Oculus Quest. While the Rift S and Quest may seem similar, there is a large difference between them and that is the marketplace where games are bought. For gamers with an Oculus compatible computer that has a display or mini display port, the Rift S provides the ability to get games that can be bought. Oculus has its own exclusive store that sells games; but games for the Rift S can also be bought from the Steam game marketplace and various third party websites. The Quest can only receive games from the Oculus store due to it not needing a computer to run and having its own power source. Even though games can
come from different marketplaces, they still cost the same. Basic games such as VR Chat, a multiplayer social space where people can interact as their favorite characters in virtual reality, or Job Simulator can range in price from $5 to $15. More complex games made by professional developers like The Walking Dead: Saints And Sinners will sell for about $60. Both headsets are practically the same with their specs and such; the big difference between the Rift S and the Quest is that the Quest does not need a computer to run games or power itself; the headset is the console itself. The downsides of the Quest are its battery longevity, its battery only has about two hours of gameplay, and it’s a little front heavy. However, without the cord, there is more freedom of movement. The Rift S has a wire that connects to the computer, but it’s long enough so that there is little worry about tangles or tripping on the cord. The Rift S also contains access to
the computer’s desktop and Left: Pedro Vargas (9) demonstrates the Steam game how students use the Oculus Go devices in the VR classes. photo by Almarket thus exander Dominguez; Right: San Jose Mercury News technology columnist acting like a Troy Wolverton tries out the Oculus large extension Rift virtual reality headset system while the Consumer Electronics of the computer; covering Show in Las Vegas. photo with permisplayers can even sion San Jose Mercury News/TNS watch movies graming languages and then and browse the build up to using Unity’s C web. Sharp programming language VR technology has been in which students can actually exploding in popularity, so create games in a 3D world,” much so, that what used to VR teacher Michael Sakowicz be available only as college said. courses, are now being of Students use the less fered at the high school level through Career and Technical expensive version of Oculus called the Oculus Go which Education (CTE). Here at is similar to the Quest as it is Varela, we have added Game not tethered to a computer and Simulation courses or allowing students to move what we refer to as VR classmore freely around their es. desk. It lacks features that are “The virtual reality classes are only a portion. It’s normally found in the Rift S and Quest, but the students a game design class. Students are learning the basics, are beginners just learning how to use and program the intermediate and advanced application steps and uses of equipment, so those features are not really necessary. The not only what games can do but how to make games using cost also makes it easier to repair or replace equipment if simple and advanced coding anything unfortunate were to techniques using Javascript, happen to any of the Oculus Python and some other proGo headsets. There's no better mobile VR experience than the Oculus Quest, and its The VR classes are perfull-motion untethered design feels like the future. Let's see how good fect for someone who wants the app library becomes. photo with to be a game designer and permission CNET/TNS learn the fundamentals of game design and coding.But for those that just want to stick to gaming, go and check to see if your computer is Oculus compatible and see if the Rift S or the Quest is for you.
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S por t s | P ro
sports Nationals clinch World Series title By Joshua Escobedo In
Staff Reporter 2019, IG: Joshuae305 the World Series was played by The Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. The teams battled it out to the very end for all seven games. Washington D.C. has had several MLB teams. The first Washington team was the Washington Senators that operated from 1901-1960. They won the World Series in 1924. In 1960, The team moved to Minnesota and became the Minnesota Twins. The second Washington Senators played from 1961-1971. That team moved to Texas to become the Texas Rangers. D.C. spent the next 33 years without a team. In 2005, the Montreal Expos moved to D.C. and became the
Washington Nationals pitcher Daniel Hudson celebrates after defeating the Houston Astros, 6-2, in Game 7 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019. photo with permission Getty Images/TNS
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current Washington Nationals. Houston’s team was a little younger, being established in 1962. At first, the Astros became established as the Houston Colt .45s which gave them the entrance to the National League in 1962. By 1964 they had become the Astros; they played in the AL West division until 2012. The Astros made their first World Series appearance in 2005, but were swept by the Chicago White Sox as a National League team. They moved to becoming a American League team in 2013. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and flooded large portions of Houston. The team was playing away games at the time and the storm forced them to play even home games at away locations. But Texas was proud when just nine weeks later, they were able to win their first World Series title again the Los Angeles Dodgers throughout all seven games. The Astros overall are considered one of the most dominant baseball teams in recent years. This year’s series was played from Oct. 22 to Oct. 30. Teams must win the best of seven games. This series was very special for the Nationals who hadn’t made it to the World Series since 1924 when they were called The Senators.”
The Washington Nationals celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros, 6-2, in Game 7 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019. The Nationals won, 6-2. photo with permission Getty Images/TNS
The Nationals took the Brantley in the final inning first two games, while the As- that sealed the Nationals’ tros took the next three. The victory in Game 7. Nationals tied it up in the 6th About a week after their game forcing the tie-breaking win, the Nationals participat7th game. ed in a parade honoring their One of the best standout championship win. At the end moments of the World Series of the day, Nationals’ owner was that Nationals’ pitcher Ted Lerner told the crowd, Stephen Strasburg was named “This is for the city that's MVP following the Nationals’ always believed, the players 6-2 Game 7 win. He played who always fought and the a crucial role in playing six fans who were with us every innings to outduel Astros step of the way.” pitcher Justin Verlander in Game 2. He eventually came back in Game 6 to pitch the ninth inning to beat Verlander again. Another great standout from the game was during the final moments of the game when Houston Astros pitcher Chris Devenski reacts after retiring the side against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning the closing pitchduring Game 6 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houser Daniel Hudson ton on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019. The Nationals won, 7-2, to force a Game 7. photo with permission Getty Images/TNS struck out Michael
Varela | S p or ts
Soccer Boys According to Head Coach Juan Monge, this year’s Boys Soccer team is a very young team; they have started two freshmen and four sophomore players. “We’re getting along, playing well and winning,” he said. At 7-7-4 the team headed into Districts against Palmetto, but lost in a shootout 6-7. “We probably need the most work on passing the ball and communicating with each other,” sophomore defense player Kevin Martinez. “Our best thing is our spirit. We play our hearts out.” The most challenging team they played was Doral Academy and resulted in a 7-1 loss. Their practice is focused on improving their
Top: Junior Joseph Diaz goes for a layup in a game against Sunset. Bottom: Senior Amy Dominguez shoots the ball in a game against Florida Christian. photos by Best Photo Creations
all scores as of Jan. 31
footwork. Their teamwork is improving resulting in better playing and wins. Girls The Lady Vipers struggled this season at 4-10. They lost a lot of seniors from last year including their goalie. But the team and captain have a strong relationship. “Our relationship is stronger this year than it was last year,” senior captain Cindy Longares said. “One of the hardest parts of us playing is communication because we’re so focused on getting at the goal and everything, so I think that’s hard to communicate and still be focused on the team,” junior Gabriela Alfaro said. “And then during the season we had to start a little bit from scratch because a
lot of seniors from last year graduated. Trying to get new people to work with us and create a good new team, yeah, that was kind of hard."
Boys The Boys Basketball team only has about three or four seniors this year. The majority of the players are juniors, with the JV team moving up next year, making the team a fairly young group. They are standing at 2-13 with their only wins against Reagan and Pincrest
Prep. According to junior captain A.J. Lacaci, their most difficult opponents have been either Braddock or Ferguson. In their most recent home game against Braddock they finished with a score of 3768 giving us a loss. “The game wasn’t necessarily tough, it was more just our team wasn’t showing up to play that night,” Lacaci said. “Just because of how hard we made it for ourselves.” Girls The Girls Basketball team is young with girls who are new to the game. At 1-14, they are struggling, but junior captain Bianca Valentin
By Eric Davis, Jr. Staff Reporter IG: ggi.eric
Top: Boys Soccer plays against Palmetto for a 3-0 loss. Bottom: Sophomore Jade Ward dribbles the ball down the field against Coral Park photos by Best Photo Creations
Basketball believes they can get better. “We’ve been working hard,” she said. “We have a good relationship.” The hardest team they played was Ferguson. “The team had their ups and downs. Since it was a fairly new team and some of the girls haven't played, I didn’t think they were going to bond but they did. They’re very close,” said senior captain Amy Dominguez. The team gained a lot of juniors this year which may help next year. Junior Emely Bravo said that they really need to work on their communication in order to improve their standing next season.
Winter Sports
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