By Jacob Kersh
3) Sonos One ($199.99): The Sonos One is a new speaker that integrates Amazon’s extremely praised Alexa voice control, just like an Amazon Echo speaker but with significantly better sound quality and performance. It offers most of Alexa's smart home controls and her extensive knowledge base, and its response time is also much quicker than the Echo’s. The Sonos One is also able to work seamlessly as part of a Sonos multi room system, which is a huge benefit to those who already have Sonos speakers or receivers in their house; it also can pair with another One for a true stereo sound experience. Additionally, most are very excited to use Amazon’s artificial intelligence to control music in their households. Freshman Anthony DeCamillo says that his family “already have two Sonos speakers in our house and an Amazon Echo because [they] really love music. [They] have always wished that [they] could use the Echo to control [their] Sonos speakers, and now that dream’s going to become a reality!” Another benefit to buying this speaker is that, in early 2018, Sonos plans add Google Assistant as another personal assistant option in case users aren’t a big fan of Amazon’s Alexa. Go figure! 2) Nintendo Switch ($299.99): The Nintendo Switch is a versatile hybrid game console that “easily switches between a big-screen TV and on-the-go portable” (CNET). Although it had a bit of a slim gaming library when it first hit stores back in Spring of 2017, it now includes a tremendously good mixture of must-have Nintendo franchise exclusives, indie titles and even some decent PC ports. Since its debut, the Nintendo Switch has shown the company is still willing to take risks in order to separate itself from mainstream consoles such as the XBOX One and PlayStation 4, and at the same time innovate in ways the worldwide gaming community never saw coming. Finally, the Switch offers plenty of unique and compelling gaming experiences, immense portability through its connectable controllers, and intensive graphics that really pop—all while exhibiting an elegant design and amazing ease-of-use. Its sleek and clean operating system also has allowed it to catch up and maybe even surpass its competitors. Overall, this console is a massive breakthrough for Nintendo and the console community as a whole. 1) iPhone X ($999.99) The iPhone X was overall a massive gamble for Apple, but high risks often result in high reward. And the chance they took on this revolutionary new device has not only paid off for them, but for their consumers as well. Removing the beloved home button and altering the design factor of the new iPhone was a tremendously dangerous move, but Junior Hassan Malik says that the shift was “desperately needed after years of similarity” and that “the phone’s premium design, extra battery life, and all-screen blend together to really form the best iPhone that Apple has ever made.” Its shiny, edge-to-edge display in the shape of the polished stainless steel antenna band looks extremely spiffy, and the silvery glass back is both elegant and flashy. Its new interface has been reported to be enjoyable by the majority of consumers, and although the shift to using gesture control took longer than expected for some, the resounding consensus is that it feels more intuitive than what came before. Many especially like the fact that swiping down to reach either Notification Center or Control Center is much easier because of the division created by the notch at the top. Overall, Apple’s new iPhone is truly a winner, so only one question remains: will you pay the hefty price required to make the device your own? By Jackie Lyons & Kendall Howze
What comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Hot chocolate, warm blankets, being curled up by the fire, watching holiday movies with your family. But what’s on tv? It could be a classic like How the Grinch Stole Christmas or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but at some point or another, you’re probably going to find yourself watching a Hallmark movie. Hallmark: home of heartfelt Christmas rom-com. Many of the movies have a similar plot. The typical Hallmark movie features a girl in a small town working as a journalist, publisher, CEO, interior designer, artist, or something along those lines. Along the way she finds herself trapped or forced to work with a man that she at first does not like. Eventually, she falls head over heels for him and finds love, family, and the true meaning of Christmas. (The more complicated plots may include a love triangle with a good-for-nothing-workaholic-boyfriend that she leaves for the new guy.) Many people are skeptical about the value of Hallmark movies, which is understandable. Why watch a movie if you already know how it’s going to end? Senior Keylin Perez said she watches them because “[she] just loves [to see] the romance and the Christmas miracles.” That’s what makes it so entertaining to its viewers. Hallmark movies aren’t about suspense and plot twists. They are about the warm feeling that comes from watching two characters fall in love against the odds in the spirit of Christmas. Sure, many have similar plotlines, but that means that each one leaves you with the same warm feeling. Senior Gopika Gopinath said, “I just love Hallmark movies, they all just make me happy!” That feeling is what compels loyal viewers to grab a blanket and a mug of hot chocolate by the fire every Christmas while the countdown to the newest Hallmark film. No matter what’s going on in your life, sitting back and watching a Hallmark film can help you escape your worries and feel what the characters in the movie are feeling. In one of Hallmark’s newest Christmas movies, The Christmas Cottage, working girl Lacey Quinn, doesn’t believe in the magic Christmas can bring. When Lacey goes back home to act as the maid of honor for her best friend’s wedding, she hears the legend of The Christmas Cottage. According to the legend, anyone who spends the night in the cottage during Christmas time will fall in love forever. As the maid of honor, Lacey has to decorate the cottage, along with the help of the best man, her best friend’s brother/ex, Ean. While decorating, a blizzard blows through, closing roads and forcing them to spend the night. Lacey soon realizes the legend may not be so far fetched after all. The Christmas Cottage was your typical Hallmark movie. It was charming and had that heart warming Christmas sentiment. Hallmark alumni, Steve Lund, played the suave and worldly Ean. Lund has appeared in many other Hallmark classics such as The Art of Us, Best Christmas Party Ever, and Christmas Incorporated. Lund stood out in this performance due to his raw emotions and the chemistry he had with costar, Merritt Patterson. The highlight of the movie was the twist. It was just so surprising and made the audience want to continue watching Lacey’s Christmas unfold.The movie is a great fit to those who are already in love with Hallmark movies and those who are trying to find the holiday spirit. If you missed the premiere of The Christmas Cottage, you can catch it again on the Hallmark channel. Not only will they be playing classic Christmas movies, but every Saturday during December a new movie premieres at 8pm. Feel free to make yourself a mug of hot chocolate and watch a new Hallmark movie under a nice, warm blanket. By Julianna Mirabile
Are you ever in the desperate situation where you and your friends don’t want to make the waiter split the bill five ways and leave it to one person to pay? Or if you have to split the Uber bill with your friend? Or in general, owing someone money, but not having the cash on you? No need to worry. The upcoming app, Venmo, is here to solve all those issues. Venmo is an app that allows someone to pay and request money from friends. It syncs up to the contacts on your phone, automatically adds everyone you know, and after adding your credit and debit cards safely and securely into the app, you’re ready to use it. This convenient app can be used for sharing rent, splitting bills, paying someone for tasks or jobs, and anything else one could think of. The money is quickly transferred within two business days from the Venmo app to your bank account. Junior, Hailey Griffin, states that, “I always use Venmo to pay back my friends when we go out to eat. I never have to bring my money with me.” Besides paying people, there is a social aspect. When paying someone, there is an area to write a simple comment about what the money is for. This comment is allowed to be seen by your friends in the app. Therefore, the app can be seen as both entertaining and serious. Some people might not approve of this app because they don’t see it as trustworthy. Sophomore, Julie Thomas, explains that, “I’d rather just bring cash with me so I don’t risk any hacks into my bank account.” However, if you are a PayPal user, there is no reason to be opposed to using Venmo. It uses the same security networks, and is said to be the daughter of PayPal. It allows its users to set up a pin passcode before entering the app to provide more security. Also, if there is a mishappening (given it is above $50) and Venmo is contacted within two days, they will take care of it. This amazing, reliable app skyrocketed this year and is used by millions. It’s convenience, simplicity, and versatility is what makes it a fan favorite. If you haven’t already downloaded this free app, you should definitely consider adding it to your homescreen the next time your wallet is running low. By Kendall Howze
If you’re looking for something to do from November 30th to December 2nd, Glenelg’s theater department has the perfect solution. Glenelg’s theater teacher, Kassidy Sharp, has been directing the school’s fall play, Noises Off. The play is a comedy, featuring a play within a play, cleverly titled Nothing’s On. In the first act of Noises Off, the characters all struggle to remember their lines and seamlessly run through a full rehearsal of their play. Fortunately, they are all exceptionally supportive of one another. By act two many of their relationships are broken and the cast can no longer stand to work with one another. By the final act, all relationships are in chaos, their play has strayed from the plot, and everyone is struggling to figure out how to keep the show going on. The cast was made up of nine members, Senior Jackie Lyons (Brooke), Senior Corinne Rasch (Poppy), Senior Jake Baker (Gary), Senior Jake Wilkin (Tim), Senior Matthew Hulett (Lloyd), Senior AJ Patel (Frederick), Senior Allison Fitzgerald (Dotty), Junior Cameron Denny (Selsdon), and Sophomore Kelsey Flavin (Belinda). They had been rehearsing from mid-September to November 30th. Many of actors had starred in Glenelg’s last straight play, Lend Me a Tenor, but there were many new faces on stage this year. The new cast did not disappoint, filling the auditorium every night. Noises Off was a less conventional than Glenelg’s previous straight plays. Generally, our plays have two acts with an intermission in between them. The plot of Noises Off warranted three acts due to the play’s plot. Creatively, their play within a play, Nothing’s On, was performed three times. In the first act, the play ran almost seamlessly, shown to the audience as if they were watching a dress rehearsal. For the second act, stage crew flipped the set around so that the audience was viewing the performance from behind. Nothing’s On was performed again, but instead of seeing the performance, the audience watched the cast member arguing backstage. In the final act, the set was turned around one last time so that the audience was once again viewing the front where the performance was taking place. Sophomore Raj Ukondwa said that the play “was overall cohesive and well thought out.” Many of the audience members responded positively to the unorthodox design, which can be difficult for the director/cast to achieve when taking such risks. Often times, it is difficult to predict how an audience may react to structural changes, but audience members like Senior Max Stout felt that “the structure was impressive in that its design allowed for easy movement and quick change between acts.” Overall, Noises Off was one of the most creative plays that Glenelg’s theater department has performed. Not only did the risks the director took pull a positive response from the audience, but the cast pulled it off hilariously. The second act had little to no speaking from the cast members and still sent audience members laughing hysterically. Sharp and her cast members never disappoint with any of their performances. Though the play is over, eager audience members and those hoping to join the program should not worry. Auditions for the school’s spring musical, Young Frankenstein, will be on December 19th. More information can be found at the desk in front of Sharp’s classroom. Don’t hesitate to audition. If you loved Noises Off as much as everyone else, join the theater department this spring! By Sayo Jolayemi
With the growth of popular streaming platform SoundCloud, and the success generated by pioneering musicians such as Chance the Rapper, Post Malone and Kehlani, more than ever young talented individuals are beginning to make music. Whether it be writing, producing, or mixing, these artists are up next in the music industry, and their shine can’t be stopped. Futuristic Zachary Beck, better known as Futuristic is an Arizonian rapper, who gained fame through his 2015 project, “The Rise”. Through the years he has been delivering killer hooks and artful verses whilst collaborating with the likes of Devvon Terrell, Hopsin, and Karmin. Futuristic just recently dropped his new EP entitled “What More Could You Ask”, if he isn’t on your playlist yet, you might have to check him out if you’re a fan of artists like KYLE, and Bryson Tiller. “He just makes feel good music,” lamented Glenelg Junior Abraham LeFevere, “plus his music videos are really good.” THEY. This duo straight out of sunny LA is not new to the rap game, having been writing for Jeremih for quite some time, they have recently begun singing their own tunes. Hits like “U-Rite” and “Dante’s Creek” showcase their soulful R&B delivery and display their ability to captivate listeners with stunning choruses. THEY. provide the perfect jams for a kickback, and once you start listening, you’ll find yourself hooked on THEY. Nebu Kiniza Nebu Kiniza hails from Queens, New York, and if you don’t know him by name you should recognize his voice from these few words… ‘Gassed up shawty, said I need bout 40, pull up to the party…” His smash song “Gassed Up” peaked at #45 on the Billboard charts and was a bop for the entire summer. He’s recently collaborated with the self proclaimed King of the Teens, (Lil Yachty) to create the stellar track, “Wake Up”. Kiniza has crafted a style unique to him which can best be compared to Khalid, or Post Malone. Kamaiyah Kamaiyah Johnson, an Oakland native has made a name for herself in the past two years. Dropping viral tracks such as “How Does it Feel” and “I’m On” propelled her to being named a XXL Freshman. Since this, her records have only improved in quality. She has also collaborated with the likes of Drake and YG to create the summer anthem “Why You Always Hating?”. Kamaiyah raps with the confidence and utilizes wordplay in a style reminiscent of Kendrick Lamar. If Kamaiyah maintains this pace, there’s not doubt she will remain “Successful”. NAV NAV, born Navaraj Singh Goraya, has been making waves ever since his first song dropped. Receiving cosigns from the likes of The Weeknd, Drake and Kylie Jenner also helped catapult his work to stardom. Having dropped a solo album this year, and one with legendary producer Metro Boomin, NAV sure is capable of getting his verses stuck in your head. His most recent release, “Wanted You” features the highly popular Lil Uzi Vert and has already reached spot 64 on the Billboard charts. “This song is stuck in my head at all times, I can’t stop singing it,” commented Glenelg Junior, Dan Soltis. Sampa the Great Sampa Tembo, is a poet first and a songwriter second, using her beautiful artistic style of spoken word to spit cold truths over just as cold beats. Dubbing herself ‘the Great’ there’s no doubt she sees herself a pioneer in the rap game, and she deserves all the praise. Her breakout single “Blue Boss” is wonderfully written, and does not disappoint. Having drawn influence from the likes of Lauryn Hill and 2Pac, her style is a fantastic combination of heavy rap and flowy R&B. GoldLink The DMV’s very own D’Anthony Carlos has been relatively unknown for a majority of his professional career. However his work has not gone unnoticed, receiving a XXL Freshman nod back in 2015, along with Fetty Wap, Dej Loaf and Shy Glizzy. The latter of which who Carlos would team up with, along with Brent Faiyaz for the Grammy nominated, “Crew”. A song so successful Gucci Mane, had to hop on for an extra verse on the remixed edition. GoldLink’s newfound recognition should help promote him to a household name, and with the artistic styling of his EP, “At What Cost”, it would be well deserved. These seven rappers have long been creating lyrical masterpieces, and it’s about time you indulged in their music. They can be found on all streaming platforms, be sure to let us know who you end up listening to, and what tracks you end up loving. By Anna Lawson
“Okay class, clear your desks and take out a pencil. It’s time for a pop quiz.” A feeling of stress and anxiety spreads across the room. Oh no, how much will this lower my grade? Do I understand this topic? Didn’t we just learn this yesterday? Almost every student has endured a pop quiz at least once in their life, and I think it is fair to say that every student dislikes them. Rather than helping students further their knowledge in a subject, as they were originally intended to do, pop quizzes only add stress to already anxious students. If there is a widespread feeling of antipathy towards pop quizzes, why do we still have them? There are numerous problems with pop quizzes, one of which being that both students and teachers live extremely busy lives. I can say from personal experience that high school students have homework piled on them constantly. The average student has at least two to three hours of homework per night, but in most cases the number can increase to five or six. Time for homework combined with sports, extracurriculars, jobs, time with family, and sleep leave little time to study information that you may be tested on the next day. In addition, teachers have hours of grading to do every week, so why add an extra quiz to their workload? Although some teachers believe pop quizzes are a necessary step to ensure that their students understand the topic, the idea of a gratuitous quiz is simply not fair. Jasmine Daniel, a Glenelg Junior, says that “there have been times when I fully understand a topic after about twenty minutes of studying, but instead I’m given a random pop quiz on a subject that I have not gotten the chance to comprehend or ask questions about.” This common trend leads to a decrease in a student’s grades. When a teacher warns students about a quiz, students automatically begin asking questions, rereading classwork or the textbook, or going in for extra help. All three of these actions actually help the student learn the topic so that they can have a fair chance when being tested. An announcement of a pop quiz leads to a quick two-minute cram before the quiz is placed on your desk. Although a student might remember the information short-term, they will most likely not actually learn the topic in order to be able to remember the subject for the future. Glenelg Junior Devin Henley recounts a time that “[he] had a pop quiz on a topic [he] didn’t understand, so [he] studied the information right after [he] found out about the quiz, in order to get a decent grade.” Even today, he is still confused regarding the content on that quiz. This common occurrence must come to an end if teachers want students to properly learn and retain information. By Hannah Butera
Senioritis (noun): A disorder acquired by Seniors in high school characterized by a declining motivation and an urge for the year to end. Every Senior endures this at some point, and if they don’t- they’re lying. When college or other exciting plans are right on the horizon and they’ve already faced three years of high school, this affliction is inevitable. To prove how real Senioritis is, let’s take a look at how three Seniors feel about the subject. Senior Brittany Anderson defined Senioritis as “what you get when you stop caring about school as you begin getting accepted into your future plans and want to move on.” Anderson admitted to having a bad case of senioritis. When asked her about her future plans, Anderson said, “I am taking a missionary gap year to Thailand, Malaysia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica where I hope to better people's lives while developing a further understanding of cultures around the world”. With future plans as extravagant as Anderson's, Senioritis is simply unavoidable. Senior Maddie McSally classified senioritis as “the extreme lack to do anything academically.” When McSally was asked if she has Senioritis she said, “I would say that I do and don't. I only take three classes so yes, but I work hard in those classes so no.” McSally is committed to play lacrosse at the University of Maryland, so she is eager to get the year over with and start her exciting future. Finally, Senior Glenn Brown described Senioritis as “not wanting to do work because you're done with high school.” And you guessed it, he has Senioritis as well. Brown said, “my hope is to attend Clemson in the fall, the school I've always wanted to go to”. Once again, exciting future plans tends to trigger the urge to be done with High School. As you can see, Senioritis is an epidemic amongst high school Seniors. The Seniors interviewed have a healthy amount of Senioritis, given their exciting future plans. For the Seniors out there who have lost their drive, remember that this momentous year shouldn’t be taken for granted. My advice to anyone with Senioritis is to try and overcome it by working hard and preparing yourself for the future. You have made it to the final year of High School, and now is not the time to lose your ambition. Time flies, and before you know it, it'll be time to graduate. Yes, it's healthy to have a bit of Senioritis, but let's not allow it to detract from Senior year; the best one yet. By Jacob Kersh
There are a number of cameras within the enthusiast market that are designed specifically for taking either videos or photos. Brands such as Canon and Nikon continue to produce more still-photography oriented cameras, while companies such as FujiFilm work towards creating devices with significantly better video capabilities. And this division makes sense in many ways, as photographers and videographers are actually quite different people; a photographer’s ideal camera would be quite a bit different to what a perfect videographer’s camera would be. For example, next time you see someone out shooting with their camera, pay attention to the way they are holding it. Photographers normally hold the camera and shoot with the tiny window found at the top of many DSLR’s, also known as a viewfinder, while videographers would normally hold the camera slightly in front and away from their bodies when shooting videos and essentially only utilize the rear LCD screen, giving them the power to see their camera’s buttons and dials clearly when changing settings. Despite the fact that the abilities of cameras within both the hobbyist and enthusiast industries are becoming increasingly separated, Panasonic launched a new flagship mirrorless camera this November that encompasses the best of both worlds: The Lumix G9. This new camera not only possesses the blisteringly fast autofocus and 4K quality video that previous Panasonic models have had in the past, but now also offers incredible potential for photographers as well. Read on to discover some highlights of this impressive new device. Improved Camera Body: While image and video quality are the most important strengths that a camera needs to possess, they are not the first thing you are going to notice when you take a device as well-made as the G9 out of it’s box. The camera, complete with a new magnesium-alloy body, more robust handgrip up front, and generous eyecup on back, make it a true attention-grabber. The new chassis also sports much-improved ergonomics and many new features, with a generously-sized status LCD bar, an intuitive rear-panel joystick for selecting autofocus points with ease, and exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) control buttons at easy reach of your shutter finger. It also features a lockable mode dial which sports a total of three Custom positions. Additionally, it is not only splashproof and dustproof, but freezeproof to 14°F. This addition is certainly a welcome one, as the now weatherproof body will allow photographers to take it to more extreme environments without having to spend extra money on housing. Junior photographer Jordan Chizmadia says she is “very excited about the addition because buyers will be taking many more photos in the snow this winter”, which she cannot wait to see. High Resolution Mode: The Panasonic G9 is the first Lumix camera to offer a pixel-shift High Resolution shooting mode, producing up to an 80.6-megapixel image if used correctly. Basically, the G9 sensor is able to take eight separate frames in record time and composite them together in-camera! This feature, however, does have its limitations and appropriate use-cases. This mode is probably best suited for architecture and landscape shots that do not have any moving subjects, because given the multi-shot nature of this mode, improper stitching and increased motion blur could easily occur. But although it might be a very situational feature, the G9's high-resolution mode captures an amazing level of detail when executed properly. Photographers have tested the device during the past few weeks and have come out with some stunning photos. New Stabilization System: The five-axis image stabilization system in the Panasonic G9 is an area where the device bests not only its Panasonic predecessors, but also blows its flagship sibling, the Panasonic GH5, out of the water. Although it uses the same gyro sensor as in the GH5, the incorporation of improved algorithms by Panasonic, which take into account data from the image sensor while also determining a motion vector (analyzing handheld motion regulate how much the image should be warped), allow the system to produce a claimed six-and-a-half stop corrective ability. What this means in real life situations is that video quality will be extremely smooth and users may not even need to splurge on buying a pricey external gimbal or stabilizer. Freshman Anthony DeCamillo says that “gimbals on the market today are way too overpriced, so having stabilization built into the camera is much better because [he] won’t have to pay as much, will not have to remember to charge anything else, and will have much more space in [his] camera bag for other necessities if [he] decides to buy the G9.” Pricing and Availability: The Panasonic G9 will be sold body-only in the US market, priced at around $1,700. Because of its high price-point, it is more oriented toward camera enthusiasts and possibly even professionals because of its exceptional performance. However, if hobbyists are willing to splurge on this incredible device, they will not be disappointed. The camera is expected to start shipping in early January 2018, and will come with a battery pack, a USB-powered dedicated battery charger and cables, a shoulder strap, eyecup, body cap, flash sync socket cover, and hot-shoe cover (prevents interior dust and debris). In conclusion, Panasonic’s new Lumix G9 is undoubtedly in a class of its own, but only time will tell if consumers will be able to withstand its hefty price-point and purchase this highly capable flagship device. |
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