Category Archives: Features

What went wrong in the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show?

10 Mar 2023 Elan Amienyi

Some have described the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime show, featuring Rihanna, as one of the best halftime shows to date. In my opinion, the show left much to be desired and was far below the expectations of viewers. It is perhaps one of the worst halftime shows that I’ve witnessed.

The show was exceptionally low in entertainment value. Rihanna performed on a levitating platform that resembled a scene from a video game. She did not move very much due to her pregnancy, and her movements did not match the energy level of her backup dancers. While the movement of the backup dancers was high tempo, Rihanna was more or less static, merely swaying from side to side. This created a huge imbalance in the aesthetics of the overall spectacle.

To provide maximum entertainment, previous Super Bowl halftime show headliners have invited other stars to complement them. However, Rihanna chose to perform solo. Performing solo meant there was no wardrobe, or elaborate stage manipulation. The only “change” was when the levitating platforms rose or fell. Thus, the show was rather flat and lacked attention grabbing activities.

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To a wholesome and impressionable person, Rihanna’s show would be considered “not ready for prime time.” It is not surprising then that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received over 100 complaints that some of the dance moves were “patently offensive and completely inappropriate for children.” Some even commented that her inappropriate movements were not suitable for broadcast!

In sum, it is necessary for future Super Bowl organizers to endeavor to recruit performers who will entertain and keep the attention of the entire audience, old and young. Performers, who will not only present a varied and diverse show, but who will respect the sensibilities of the game’s diverse audience. This will keep future shows from being lackluster.

Elan Amienyi is a sophomore member of The Quill.

Features

Looking to grab a chicken sandwich? Check out these places.

18 Jan 2023 John Bieda

The fast-food chain industry has been one of the most popular things in the world. I would like to say when hungry, most people’s options come down to fast food when on a long trip. Today I am here to help you choose the best fast-food places to eat at when going up and down the East Coast.

You can always start with the Chick-Fil-As of the world and stop and get a good consistent chicken sandwich. A few can rival the chicken sandwich on the menu; and the fries, when prepared correctly, can be outstanding. The milkshakes are fabulous, but the price of Chick-Fil-A’s food can be costly, especially with many people in the car when traveling. If you are looking for a crunchier bite of a chicken sandwich, you can head over to Popeyes.

Popeyes also has delicious fries, and while they don’t serve milkshakes, you can still get a good bite to eat without the exact pricing as Chick-Fil-A; it can be more cost-efficient and decent food. If you want to travel down the East Coast, you can find places like Raising Canes, which has fabulous chicken and delicious sauce. If you are looking for a good chicken place and are tired of Chick-Fil-A and Popeyes, grab a bite at Raising Canes and get great chicken.

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If you are looking for a sandwich, you can go to many places. Subway is all over the place and is consistent with how good it is. Suppose you are looking for more of an Italian sub, head over to Jersey Mike’s. Jersey Mike’s flavors come together well; the sizes can vary from huge to small. The problem with Jersey Mike’s is the cost; a lot of their food may be overpriced.

Finally, is Which Wich Subs. They have surprisingly tasty food, and it is very consistent. I wouldn’t say you would get this over a Jersey Mike’s, but if you want to try something new, this is a great option.

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If you’re looking for a place that is a little out of the ordinary and want to try something new, I suggest heading to Zaxby’s. Very much like Raising Canes, they have great food, and they have delicious chicken.

If you are traveling and need a good place to eat, head to these great food places that will blow up your taste buds.

Jack Bieda is a Junior member of the Multimedia Journalism class.

Art & Music, Features

The life and legacy of Ice Cube

18 Jan 2023 David Cohn

O’ Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson is one of the biggest Rap sensations to grace the music world. Coming from Compton in the inner streets of California with his mother, Doris, and his father, Hosea. Cube had a strong support system that took him away from the drugs and crime of Compton and created a strong foundation that would lead him toward a life of prosperity. In 1988, Cube graduated from the Phoenix Institute of Technology. Around this same time, Ice Cube got more involved in music.

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Ice cube had been rapping since he was 16 but strayed away from that life as he drifted from Compton. After finishing college, Cube caught up with some of his old friends from South Central L.A. with the big names of Dr. Dre, Eazy E, and MC Ren to form the gangster rap group N.W.A. N.W.A is seen as a group of pioneers in the new music wave of gangster rap. The group’s heavy sounds and lyrics of the reality of inner-city neighborhoods shook the music industry as the group delivered songs about racial injustice and poverty, particularly in the African American community. The group’s popularity skyrocketed throughout the 1980s as they released hit after hit. Tours, albums, and concerts shook America, with Ice Cube spearheading the groundbreaking group making Ice Cube a pop culture name. This all changed in 1989 when Ice Cube split from N.W.A over a dispute of payment between the group.

Even though Ice Cube’s time with N.W.A had ended, but it didn’t stop the growth of Ice Cube in music. As if he had never skipped a beat, Cube released his first solo album, “Amerikkka’s Most Wanted.” This groundbreaking album showed Cube could run the music world by himself. This domination continued for the next four years as from 1991 to 1994, Ice Cube would release an album every year and rock the billboard charts with albums “Death Certificate,” “The Predator,” and “War and Peace.” Ice Cube would grow as a name in the music world as his popularity grew. This empire would continue from the 90s until Ice Cube’s last album was released in 2018. Cube was on top of the music world for over a decade, leading him to grow from rags to riches.

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In addition to being a household name in the rap industry, he has been a part of several movies throughout his career. A majority of the movies he is in are comedy and action movies. Some of his films include: Barbershop, Are We There Yet?, Three Kings, Friday, Boyz N The Hood, and more! In 1991, Ice cube made his cinematic debut in the role of Doughboy in the late director John Singleton’s featured film Boyz N The Hood. Ice Cube praised the director after his passing in 2019, saying: “….He loved bringing the black experience to the world.” Following that role, he starred in the legendary comedy movie Friday in 1995. Because of his brilliant and hilarious performance in the film, his acting career seriously took off. Ice Cube then became the face of the Barbershop franchise, which movies were released in 2002, 2004, and 2016, respectively. Ice Cube has appeared alongside actors such as Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum in 21 and 22 Jump Street, Charlie Day in Fist Fight, and Kevin Hart in Ride Along 1 and 2 in a swarm of well-enjoyed comedy films. Ice cube also has experience as an executive producer for the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, in which his son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., plays the role of his father, Ice Cube.

Thanks to the works of Ice cube and the N.W.A, gangsta rap became mainstream. Ice Cube’s legacy is one to remember, and his joy and charisma are widely recognized and reflected in his work. Ice Cube inspires many with his lyrical genius and abilities, which makes him one of the most influential artists in our world today. In the words of Ice Cube himself, “Don’t worry about being a star; worry about doing good work and all that will come to you.”

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Braylon Sims is a Senior member of the Multimedia Journalism Class.

David Cohn is a Senior member of the Multimedia Journalism Class.

Features

How good are we at accomplishing our New Year’s resolutions?

16 Jan 2023 Collin Park 1 Comment

A new year means a fresh start and new goals to be accomplished. New Year’s resolutions are goals that people make to achieve within the year. These goals can be changing a bad habit, continuing a healthy diet, maintaining or losing weight, or exercising daily. New Year’s Resolutions were first created 4,000 years ago with the Babylonians when they celebrated their first barley harvest. These goals might seem easy to keep up with, but how many people achieve their New Year’s resolutions?

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Free illustrations of Fat — Photo by LilyCantabile

Around 39% of the US population make New Year’s resolutions, 59% of them being between the ages of 18 and 34. In 2022, 48% of people wanted to exercise more, making it the most popular resolution. In 2023, the three most popular New Year’s resolutions are improved mental health, improved physical health, and losing weight.

Let’s look at the top two resolutions in 2023: improved mental and physical health. According to a survey with 1,005 US respondents conducted by Forbes Health, young adults focused more on their mental health than their physical health. 20% said that improving mental health was a top priority, 16% said that improving physical health was a top priority, and 64% said they were of equal importance. 47% of women chose improved mental health as their resolution, while 40% of men chose improved mental health as their resolution. Men were more focused on improving their physical health. This is just the creation of a New Year’s Resolution, but how many people actually accomplish their resolutions?

Free Goals 2023 illustration and picture — Photo by RosZie

81% of people felt confident in achieving their goal, with men feeling more confident than women (86% vs 79%). In 2022, out of 39% of people who made resolutions, 23% failed their resolution the first week after setting their goal, 43% failed their resolution before February, and 91% failed their resolution. How come so many people fail their New Year’s resolutions? Many New Year’s Resolutions fail due to unreasonable goals. Because of unreasonable goals, 35% of people lose their motivation to continue, and 19% say they are too busy. So what did the 9% of successful people do to achieve their goals? These people are not perfect; the average amount of slip-ups is 7 per person. What allowed them to achieve their goal was their resilience and determination.

You may ask, “How can one keep their New Year’s resolutions?” Here are some suggestions:

Free Goals Smart illustration and picture — Photo by Geralt

Use the SMART goal rule (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely)
Create short-term goals to give satisfaction to keep on going
Have someone make the resolution with you so you can encourage each other
Be fully committed to your resolution
Remember, delayed gratification!

Successfully achieving your New Year’s resolution will be a great feeling. Everyone will mess up, but are you willing to get back up and push yourself? It’s not too late to start a New Year’s Resolution!

Collin Park is a sophomore member of the Multimedia Journalism class.

Features

Can you spot the difference between AI and Human writing?

10 Jan 2023 Cooper Funk

As AI technology continues to advance, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between writing created by a human and that created by a machine. This can be especially true when it comes to more conversational or creative writing, such as social media posts or marketing.

So, how can you spot the difference between AI-generated writing and that created by a human?

In this survey, we ask you to read two pieces of writing and identify which paragraph was written by a human and which was written by an AI. Read the writing samples carefully, and see if you can spot the difference between human and AI writing.

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How did you do? Were you able to accurately spot the differences between the AI and human generated writing? It can sometimes be challenging to differentiate between the two, but with practice and attention to detail, you can improve your skills.

Oh by the way, the intro and outro were generated by AI.

Cooper Funk is a senior member of the Multimedia Journalism class.

Jimmy Thomas is a senior member of the Multimedia Journalism class.

Chat GPT is a freshman member of the Multimedia Journalism class.

Features

It’s time to “be real” on social media

15 Dec 2022 Cooper Funk

Let’s be real, how many of us fake our Instagram posts, stories, and what we do daily? Hopefully, not everyone can relate, but the sad truth about our internet presence in today’s world is covered up with staged images and events. But recently, a new app that has been blowing up in popularity has the opportunity to change that, called BeReal. Whether you want to be real and show what you’re actually doing is up to you, however.

BeReal was released in 2020 by French developers Alexis Barreyat and Kevin Perreau and was available in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Korean, and Portuguese.

The aim of BeReal is for people to show their friends and family what they’re doing at a specific time in the day. BeReal will send you a notification anytime in the day saying you’ll have 2 minutes to take your BeReal. Everyone who gets that notification then opens up the app and takes a picture of themselves and what they are doing at that moment. You then get to see your friends’ BeReal and find out what they’re doing. Even if you miss the time frame, the app is forgiving and will let you post a late BeReal.

The app has recently gained traction over the past few months and now has become one of the most downloaded apps of 2022. Nothing like this was ever created, and it seemed like people loved the idea of it.

To see what people thought about BeReal, we asked Freshman Jace Taranto and Mount DeSales Senior Holly Bruchalski their thoughts on the app. “I only have it to see what my friends are up to,” said Jace. “Overall, I think it’s pretty fun to see what people are doing at the same time you are,” replied Holly.

While it might seem like there is an overall positive vibe that BeReal has going for itself, some other aspects were brought up. Holly stated, “at the same time, it’s kinda hard to keep up with doing it every single day cause you still wanna enjoy your day without having to post about it.” It might seem like a chore to some and, to others, a way to brag about themselves.

With it being the internet, people will find a way to fake their posts and make their life seem more extravagant just to get attention. From a man running to the Eiffel Tower to get it in his picture to a lady going out with friends and taking a picture with a guy from 7/11, or even at the mall and having an employee snap a photo.

Recently senior Harry Kennedy asked a group of students in the class to stage his BeReal to show him receiving the Bocce Ball championship award. This is a fabulous example of people willing to wait to take their BeReal to show their friends something interesting in their life.

From personal experience, it has been easy to notice scrolling through BeReal that people don’t always want to show that their life isn’t as great as perceived by others. Holly responded, “People should definitely be real with their posts since people want to know what’s going on at that given moment.” Would you agree with her or beg to differ? Does it now matter to people that the main purpose has been compromised by people who don’t want to “BeReal,” or is it still an app where people can share their lives without any filters?