Winter 2022

1. Profiles......................................................... 2 EditorsinChief:SkylerMofleandCaitlynBrooks
News............................................................ 3, 4, 5
Student Life.................................................. 6, 7 Contributers:
Reviews ....................................................... 8,9 Camille Celecia Jake Surace
Editorials...................................................... 10, 11 Eva Supa Caroline D’Ambrosio
Sports...........................................................11,12 Grace Caroppoli JaimeYoos
Brook Lynn DaSilva Jordi Silva
Advisor:Mr.Klauber
For more great student
articles and videos, visit our
website at westbullseye.com
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@WESTBullsEye
The Student Paper of Smithtown High School West
Table of Contents: Staff:
Does Hamilton Deserve the
Praise It Gets?
By: Skyler Mofle
While walking in the snow on a cold, winter day, it’s commonplace for
you to leave a trail of footprints, the imprints of the bottom of your boot clearly
sticking to the freezing ground.This‘footprint’—while metaphysical in nature—
can be applied to philosophies and patterns of human life around the world,
namely a class in which we all take in high school: history. History, for some, is
an exciting class that teaches us about the way our ancestors used to live, how-
ever this doesn’t apply to everyone in the fact that history can be unfortunately
boring. So, when asked whether you’ve watched Hamilton when you’d rather do
literally anything else, it can be hard to give the play the credibility it’s received
when history just isn’t your thing. Despite this rather large obstacle, Lin Manuel
Miranda’s masterpiece of a show has the prowess and the talent to make history
enjoyable for everyone. So, yes, there is no doubt that the musical arrangements,
the excellent cast, and the hard work put into the show suffices to make it worthy
of the praise it gets. (Continuedonpage10)
Talkin’ Yanks Podcast Review
By: Caitlyn Brooks
The 162- game long season of baseball wouldn’t be complete without
some type of entertainment to endure along the way.TheTalkin’Yanks pod-
cast, produced by David Mendelsohn and hosted by Jimmy O’Brien and Jake
Storiale, is the perfect group to get yourYankee updates, content and news
daily.
The podcast originally aired in 2017 and gained some following, but
in 2019 they went viral after Jimmy (Jomboy) published a breakdown video
while watching aYankee game.The breakdown was onYankees’manager
Aaron Boone and the home plate umpire of that game.The video, picked up by
microphones, was broken down by Jimmy as he made a video of him reading
both of their lips as Boone got ejected. O’Brien gained a major following after
the video was published and amassed over 300,000 subscribers between the
Boone video and other breakdowns of MLB incidents.The Jomboy Media
Company was created by the end of 2018, and was also the beginning of the
Talkin’Baseball podcast hosted by Jimmy, Jake and former major league player,
Trevor Plouffe. (Continuedonpage8)
Winter 2022

2. NEWS
Profiles
2 3
Gabby Petito’s Case is Nearing a Close, But Many Others Are Still Missing
By: Eva Supa
Late last month, the mystery of missing person Gabby Petito, which gathered national media attention, seemed to have drawn to a close with the discovery of the body of Brian Launderie, her boyfriend who was the only person of interest in the case. Before that, it seemed that
there was not a day where you could turn on theTV and not see her face on the screen. Many people even tried sleuthing themselves and monitoring the case on social media.Virtually everyone was interested, or at least knew about, Gabby Petito. However, there are so many other missing
persons cases that go unheard of and have practically no media exposure at all.
Asher Chapman, founder of Missouri Missing, calls the issue“a silent epidemic.” She began Missouri Missing in 2007 after her daughter had gone missing four years prior.While working with families dealing with missing loved ones through her organization for over 14 years, she
learned first hand just how many missing persons cases don’t receive the amount of media attention as Gabby Petito had.
She knows all too well how it feels to have a loved one who is missing. Her daughter, Michelle, better known as Angie, has been missing for 18 years. She found that helping others has aided her own healing process.“Every family that
has a missing loved one, especially in the very beginning, the family is frantic.You can’t sleep.You can’t eat. It is insane how horrible it is. And I’ve done it a long time and personally, I have to do what I can to help other people, that helps me,”Asher Chapman said.
One such person who is also dealing with the pain of having a missing child is Paula Cosey Hill, who remarked on how the Gabby Petito case has affected her.“Everybody who is missing loved ones is saying,‘Why wasn’t my case done like that?’”said Paula Cosey Hill.“It’s very hard
because it takes you back to when your child went missing.”Her daughter, Shemika Cosey, went missing when she was 16 years old near her home in St. Louis, Missouri, a few days after Christmas back in 2008.
Seeing Gabby Petito’s case develop had been an“emotional rollercoaster”for her, as she simultaneously grieved for the Petito family while also reflecting on all the things which didn’t happen following her daughter’s disappearance. “All the questions that weren’t answered with
my daughter, I’m checking to see if they were doing it in that case,”said Cosey Hill.“When you report your loved one missing, you hear,‘We’ll try to get someone on this,’and they act as if they don’t have enough manpower to do it.”
“But as you can see, they can get enough manpower to do it,”she said.“They just choose which cases they want to do. I don’t want to get emotional, but I put a little prayer in my heart, and I said,‘Lord, what about Rajah?’” This was the reaction of Alicia Kirkland to the wide
coverage of the Gabby Petito case, whose cousin, Rajah McQueen, has been missing since June. McQueen was seen last in a car in Cleveland, Ohio with her boyfriend.
“My heart goes out to Gabby’s families, but I do find a lot of similarities; they were both with boyfriends, there was domestic violence going on,”Kirkland said.
Despite all the commonalities, McQueen’s case was not given the same attention as Petito’s.Why is this occurring for so many missing persons cases?“I struggle with saying this, but I’m going to say the hard thing. It’s also because she was a beautiful white woman, and I think in this country,
we don’t think someone of color is equally as beautiful and has worth,”said Sylvia Colon, who works with families of missing loved ones in Cleveland, Ohio. She believes that the media is responsible for the lack of coverage of missing peoples of color and that more interviews are needed.
At the end of 2020, the FBI had over 89,000 active missing person cases, and 45% of those were people of color, according to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC). At the same, though, only about one-fifth of missing persons cases involving minorities are covered
by news outlets, according to a 2016 analysis published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. NatalieWilson, co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation, Inc., an online search agency that helps find Black and Hispanic children, says minority children who go missing are often
considered runaways, which can lead to less media attention and less aid from law enforcement. Similarly, minority adults who go missing are classified as involved in crime, violence, poverty, or addiction.
The occurrence of the historically little attention paid to the missing persons cases of people of color was dubbed as“missing white woman syndrome”by late PBS anchor Gwen Ifill.“We’ve been sounding the alarm for close to 14 years that this is an issue and we need to have
that conversation, all of us, as to how we can change the narrative,”saidWilson.“We’re not surprised by the publicity or the reaction [to Gabby Petito’s disappearance] and we are also hoping and working to keep our missing in the forefront as well.”If there is any good that can come from the
disappearance and death of Gabby Petito, it is that this momentum gathered from her case could be used to shine light on other missing peoples, according to Asher Chapman.
“Many people think it’s unfair, and it is unfair to a lot of other families to a certain extent, but then again it's opening avenues, it’s helping other people,”she said.“It might look subtle, but she’s helping so many people.”Asher Chapman believes that there is a need for change,
suggesting that communities become more involved. She says it’s as easy as simply sharing a flyer.“Share those flyers, it only takes a second. Every time it’s shared, that increases the chance that that person is found.”
Tragedies On Set:The Alec Baldwin Case
By: Caroline D’Ambrosio
Beloved actor and producer Alec Baldwin is now involved in one of the most tragic and easily avoided on set accidents in recent film history. On
Thursday, October 21st, Baldwin was on set for a newWestern movie“Rust”in Santa Fe, New Mexico when he fired off a prop gun that killed Halyna Hutchins
(director of photography) and injured Joel Souza (director). According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Baldwin was hysterical, crying outside the sheriff’s office
and frantically on the phone. Baldwin, an avid proponent for gun control, was told the gun was“cold,”and the shooting was deemed“an accidental weapon
discharge.”
While this is all a true and true tragedy, it begs the question why safety protocols regarding guns are not more rigorous. For that matter, why are
weapons with the ability to do so much harm not being substituted for alternative, non-deadly sound effects movies where they’re needed? According to the
Associated Press, from 1990 to today there have been 43 deaths on set of movies andTV and 150 serious injuries.While cases like Hutchins are extremely rare and
tragic, they are not impossible. In 1993, Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, was tragically killed thanks to an alleged blank that was shot at him, which turned out
to be real. He was killed instantly.
This provokes a bigger issue, one that is highly controversial in the common world let alone Hollywood–are guns ethical? Surely in a time when
movies themselves can be made fully in CGI with the most high-tech effects of all time, they can make phony guns.This doesn’t always help though, as even
blanks can eject toxins and harmful emissions. Hollywood’s Safety Bulletin by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Review states that prop firearms on
set should be“treated as if they are loaded.”However, there is still clearly a lot missing from this memo, when accidents like this are still happening in 2021–no
matter how rare.
As for Alec Bladwin, no charges have been filed, and he is a“free man.”He took to twitter, saying:“There are no words to convey my shock and
sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I am in touch with her husband,
offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
The RittenhouseTrial
By: Skyler Mofle
Kyle Rittenhouse, a name that has been plastered all over the news, (regardless of the channel you watch)
has recently been acquitted of all charges following a national trial that left many viewers with different opinions about
the verdict itself and the state of our country.
It all started during a protest in Kenosha,Wisconsin that continued the Black Lives Matter movement and
followed the death of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man that was shot and seriously injured by police officer Rusten
Sheskey in the same town. Rittenhouse had been standing outside of some businesses during the demonstrations and
shot three men, killing two and injuring the third. During the trial, Rittenhouse argued that he fired in self defense. His
first count that he was charged with was FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESS HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUSWEAPON: a bystander
video shows Rittenhouse being chased through a parking lot by Joseph Rosenbaum; Rittenhouse fled behind a car, and the
video shown at the trial showed Rittenhouse firing as Rosenbaum chased him.
A second count—FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY, USE OF A DANGEROUSWEAPON—was
added in regard to the Rosenbaum shooting. A third count—FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY, USE OF
A DANGEROUSWEAPON—was introduced with more video evidence, this time showcasing an unknown man leaping at
Rittenhouse and trying to kick him seconds before Anthony Huber (one of the deceased) moves his skateboard toward
him. Count 4—FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUSWEAPON—was charged in Huber’s death;
video shows Huber leaping up at him after Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum and swinging a skateboard at his head and neck
and trying to grab Rittenhouse’s gun before Rittenhouse fires.
The fifth count—ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUSWEAPON—this
was the charge for Rittenhouse shooting Gaige Grosskreutz (injured) in the arm seconds after he shot Huber, and as
Grosskreutz came toward him holding a pistol. A sixth count (possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18)
was dismissed by the judge present, and the final count (failure to comply with an emergency order from state or local
government) was dismissed by the judge as well. Rittenhouse’s acquittal left the public reaction to be very divided. Some
argued that this was a step in the right direction, and others argued that this only further proves what’s wrong with the
state of our country currently. At this moment, Rittenhouse has started online nursing classes at Arizona State University.
Dave Hulbert:
A Look Into Being an OBGYN
By: Skyler Mofle
While Patrick Dempsey (Derek Shepherd) has stolen the hearts of millions on the famous televi-
sion series Grey’s Anatomy, his portrayal of what it means to be a doctor might not exactly be accurate. I sat
down with David Hulbert, a practicing doctor, to discuss the ins and outs of what being a doctor actually
looks like. Besides his love for gardening, Pennsylvania State University, biking, and skiing, (two of his sons
live in Colorado) Dave also loves being an obstetrician gynecologist and everything that comes with it.
The premise of being an OBGYN is often overlooked by the majority of society, and the general
understanding of the implications of being a doctor in this field is skewed. On a day to day basis, Dave
attends to the care of his patients, delivers babies, performs surgery and operates on people.When asked
about the very nature of his job and why he picked this specific profession, David explained that he’d origi-
nally picked up the idea of becoming a surgeon in third grade, specifically from the television show Medical
Center. After enduring twelve years of general education and four years of college at Binghamton University,
Dave attended medical school as well. Once he’d arrived at his three years of residency, he surmised that the
demanding work of being a surgeon took too much time away from the activities he wanted to do and the
relationships he wanted to maintain; he realized that pursuing an OBGYN speciality would still encompass
his love for being in the operating room and performing surgeries, it would create a stronger team bond be-
tween the speciality of doctors than surgeons, and would also allow him to make more time for the things
he loved. Ever since then, Dave has been practicing medicine for over 30 years, joining up with other doctors
to create a multi-speciality group that houses four different buildings with specifically focused specialities.
Despite his general love for his occupation, Dave—much like everyone else—has his favorite
parts of his job, as well as certain specificities that he has grown to dislike.The best part of his job, to him, is
“being in the operating room.”Although the work is challenging, he enjoys the process and the overall ben-
efits of caring for his patients and taking away an ailment of stress for them. An interesting connotation of
bringing a life into this world for Dave is that he sometimes physically encounters a kid he delivered or some
of his patients from years and years ago.“While working with the Penn State Alumni Association during the
‘freshman sendoff’ to give out scholarships, I encountered a girl I had delivered over 24 years ago. It was an
awesome experience.”Getting to make an impact on the lives of his patients is something majorly impor-
tant to Dave, and that’s a large part of why he enjoys his job so much. On the other hand, there’s always a
dark side to every bright light; the long, demanding hours of being a doctor is something that David hasn’t
seemed to grow fond of.When I had asked Dave for an example of work that felt almost like a chore, Dave
responded with,“In the office, we’re expected to update an electronic medical record for every patient that
we assist, and I’m an awful typist.”Although Dave’s immediate like or dislike of certain necessary procedures
at work may fluctuate, his conscience and reasoning does not. From over 30 years ago until now, Dave has
always possessed a love for what he does and his ability to save lives and help people when they’re in their
time of greatest need. Dave stresses that,“even though—as a doctor—we sacrifice our time with family
and friends, our sleep schedules and even certain holidays, the long road to get to the point where you can
confidently say you’re making a difference in society is well worth it.”
The gravity of such a difficult and prestigious job such as being an obstetrician gynecologist is
always pulling; the weight of your power to bring life into this world and to save lives is taxing.To answer my
question of what Dave takes away from having a job like his own, Dave explained that,“I gain satisfaction
knowing that my patients trust me and that I’m their doctor. I can take away the importance of enjoying my
job and how important it is to me to help people live their lives, as well as to bring new lives into this world.”
The importance of OBGYN doctors around the world never wanes, and sitting down with David Hulbert helps
to show that. Given the current state of the world, it’s vitally important that we continue to support our
healthcare workers and to give them the credit they deserve, obstetrician gynecologists included.
Dr.Tracy Brooks; A Profile
By: Caitlyn Brooks
When you think of seeing the world clearly, precisely and in clear picture, you might have the urge to pick
up the phone and make an appointment with your local optometrist. For over twenty years, my mom,Tracy Brooks,
has been practicing optometry. She recently opened up her own optometry practice while balancing her previous job
and managing a household.
Dating back to before college, studying optometry wasn’t her original plan. An interesting story I was told
is that when she was younger, my grandma was at the eye doctor and saw a young, female optometrist. She told
my grandma that she was about to get married and was hoping to start a family in the future.With that in mind, my
grandma had liked the idea that young women are working in careers that were normally pursued by men; that was
what inspiredTracy’s career.
After graduating from Smithtown High School East,Tracy attended the University of Buffalo for her under-
graduate and later went to SUNY College of Optometry to fulfill her optometric studies. For over twenty years, she
has been in the practice and has worked at multiple different practices.The idea of building her own practice came
from the fact that she hadn’t found the ideal practice she was looking for over those 20 years.
Tracy’s dream studio was warm and cozy, something she hadn’t experienced in a practice before. It was to
be welcoming and a boutique style studio, different from any other practice.With that, the process of building her
studio took over a year, but in February of 2020, Lux Eye Care Studio was open for all your eye care needs.
While managing coronavirus with a month-old practice was challenging, Lux Eye Care has been success-
ful in over the year it’s been open. Featuring some of the latest technology for the optimal eye care exam, all of your
contact lenses, eye care health exams and in-style lenses and frames, Lux Eye Care is the perfect studio to fit all your
needs.
A large selection of frames is provided to all patients including: Prada, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, Ray
Ban, State, Maui Jim,Tiffany and more; all will leave satisfied and stylish.With more to come in the future, it’s clear
that the latest styles and trends can be found. Also, contact lenses come in a large variety and are catered to your
own preference and feature some of the greatest lens options.The best part of her job is when a patient is satisfied
with their purchase and being able to see the world how it should be seen.
One of the most different aspects of Lux Eye Care is the atmosphere itself. A goal ofTracy’s was to create a
warm and welcoming atmosphere upon opening up her business—and that atmosphere has been established. All
patients ofTracy’s are given the best possible care whether it is through a regular exam, selecting frames and con-
tacts, or receiving the best treatments.
Although it may seem like Dr. Brooks is very dedicated to her profession and her business’success, she is
also very passionate about her family and hobbies. At home, Dr. Brooks enjoys spending time with her family- and
pets of course. Spending time with her family is the most important thing in her life aside from owning and manag-
ing a business. One of her most prized hobbies is attending Broadway shows and going into the city.
Ever sinceTracy was little, going into the city and experiencing the bright lights ofTimes Square and the
thrill of watching musicals has stuck with her throughout her life. It is one of the hobbies that has been passed down
to her kids (well, two out of the three at least) and holds a special place in her heart. Creating and maintaining a
home for her family is also important to her.
While it may seem managing her own business has been rough on her, it has only strengthened her rela-
tionship with her family as we have all been there to support her throughout her entire career and this chapter in her
life in particular. I love spending time with my mom, and her caring and warm personality at home certainly comes
out of her at work with her patients, which is what she has hoped for in opening a business.
In the end, the best qualities of Dr. Brooks, inside and out, are what makes her and Lux Eye Care one of the
best places to see the world how you want to see it. If you get the chance to have your eyes examined by Dr. Brooks
or spend time with her, you’re one lucky person; and that’s why I’m glad I get to call her my mom.

3. NEWS
4 5
Who is Kathy Hochul;
NewYork’s New Governor?
By: Eva Supa
Lately the state of NewYork has had its fair share of drama in the governor’s office. It started with Governor Cuomo’s
rise to stardom with praise of his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which didn’t last for long as criticism soon came flooding in
regarding his handling of nursing home cases.The watershed moment, though, came when women spoke out with their claims of
inappropriate behavior, the saga finally ending when the disgraced governor resigned in August of this year.
This left Cuomo’s next in line Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul with the title of Governor. Hochul now holds the historic position
as the first female governor of NewYork.
“As someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in the line of succession, I am prepared to lead as
NewYork State’s 57th Governor,”Hochul said.
Hochul was born and raised in Buffalo; a member of a working class Irish Catholic family. She had developed an ap-
petite for activism as a teenager during her years at Syracuse University. During that time she led boycotts, including one against
the college bookstore because of its high prices.
Her political career started in 1994 when she was appointed to fill a vacant seat on theTown Board of the Buffalo
suburb of Hamburg when she was 35 years old. She had at that point already been immersed in politics as her husband,William
Hocul, was also a rising Democratic politician who eventually served as the U.S. Attorney for theWestern District of NewYork.
Thomas Quatroche, who had been on the town board during the same time as Hochul, remarked to the NewYork
Post on the board members decision to unanimously choose her for the position:“She was active in the community. She had a
background in the job, had a law degree. It was natural.”
Hocul was a member of the board for a decade until she was picked by Erie County Clerk David Swarts to replace Ken-
neth Kruly as his deputy. Swarts was then appointed commissioner of the Department of MotorVehicles and Hochul was bumped
up to his position as Erie County Clerk where she remained for several years.
In 2011, Hochul ran in a special election for a congressional seat, in a red leaning district where her opponent was
projected to win. She pulled off an upset victory, but her time in office was short lived as district lines were redrawn in an even
more republican area. She lost in 2012 to former Erie County executive Chris Collins.
Following that loss came a big gain, when Cuomo picked her as his running mate in 2014. He chose her after Lieuten-
ant Governor Robert J. Duffy decided to retire, with Cuomo seeing Hochul as his best bet in getting the votes ofWestern New
Yorkers.
During her time as Lieutenant Governor, she did not have much influence in large decisions as she was not part of
Cuomo’s inner circle. However, she did embrace her largely ceremonial role to the best of her ability, going across the state on the
behalf of Cuomo. Over her six years in the position she made it her annual tradition to visit every county in NewYork.
In 2018, after being Lieutenant Governor for four years, she ran for reelection and was challenged by JumaaneeWil-
liams, a progresssive Democrat and three-term NewYork City councilman. She managed to fend off the challenge fromWilliams
(now the public advocate for NewYork City.) Before that, though, there were rumors circulated in the NewYorkTimes saying that
Cuomo encouraged her to leave the position and run for her old congressional seat. Ultimately, Hochul stayed on the ticket, and
together with Cuomo they won the election with almost a two-to-one margin.
When women were coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo, Hochul made very few
public comments surrounding the issue. However, after the report surrounding the investigations were made public, she made
immediate comments.
“The attorney general’s investigation has documented repulsive and unlawful behavior by the governor towards mul-
tiple women,”she said.“Sexual harassment is unacceptable in any workplace, and certainly not in public service. No one is above
the law.”She added at the time that because she was next in the line of succession for governorship, it would be inappropriate to
comment further, but did say she believed“these brave women”and admired their courage.
Hochul has also historically been an advocate for women’s health and safety. She was a proponent of NewYork’s
“Enough is Enough”legislation, which was meant to fight against sexual assault on college campuses. And in 2006 she, along with
her mother and aunt, created the Kathleen Mary House, a transitional home in Buffalo for victims of domestic violence.
Hochul defines herself as an independent democrat. People are hopeful that she will bring a new style to the gov-
ernor’s office, optimistic that her by-the-book technique will starkly contrast to Cuomo’s top-down approach and will encourage
collaboration.
NEWS
The Earth Has a Second
(Kinda- Sorta) Moon
By: Eva Supa
When asked the question of how many moons that Earth has, the question seems like a no-brainer. Of course, there’s
only one moon -- or maybe not. In 2016, it was actually discovered that we have another moon in orbit around the Earth.
This quasi moon known as Kamo’oalewa is named after the Hawaiian word referring to a moving celestial object.
Kamo’oalewa was discovered five years ago by the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy. Scientists utilized the Panoramic
SurveyTelescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) at Haleakala Observatory, which is a high powered telescope that has
discovered many satellites, including over half of comets found since 2014.
The quasi moon is far from the Moon that we are used to seeing in the sky each night. It measures less than 164 feet
across, while in comparison the Moon is over 2,159 miles in diameter. Kamo’oalewa also has a strange orbit, in which it gets no closer
than 40 to 100 times the 384,000 km distance of the Moon to the Earth.The flight path is caused by the competing gravitational pulls
of the Earth and the sun, bending its orbit.
“It’s primarily influenced just by the sun’s gravity, but this pattern shows up because it’s also -- but not quite -- on
an Earth-like orbit. So it’s this sort of odd dance,”says graduate student Ben Sharkey of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the
University of Arizona.
Sharkey is the lead author of a recent study published in the science journal Nature, in which they propose the origin of
Kamo’oalewa, which has been a mystery to scientists for years.
This doesn’t mean the origin of the moon has to be exotic, though.The multitude of asteroids that are within the solar
system can get caught by the pull of planets and become fragmentary moons. Sometimes, asteroids don’t orbit planets convention-
ally but travel in front of or behind them while orbiting the sun, such as theTrojan asteroids that trail Jupiter.
However, Kamo’oalewa’s mysterious composition made it a unique case.While most asteroids reflect brightly in certain
infrared frequencies, Kamo’oalewa looks much dimmer.This suggested to scientists that it had a different composition than most
asteroids, therefore meaning a different origin than other quazi moons.
Sharkey, along with his PhD advisers, decided to explore where in the universe this quasi moon came from.They em-
ployed several telescopes, but the results were nonetheless inconclusive, as the moon’s composition and infrared signature puzzlingly
looked unlike other asteroids.
This was until Sharkey turned to data from our own famous Moon. He looked at a paper published by one of his advisers
on lunar samples from the Apollo 14 mission, and found that the data from moon rocks and the data from his telescopes were a
perfect match. Kamo’oalewa’s infrared signature paralleled the behavior of lunar silicates on the surface of the moon exactly.
“Visually, what you’re seeing is weathered silicate,”said Sharkey.“The eons of exposure to space environment and to
micrometeorite impacts, it’s almost like a fingerprint and it’s hard to miss.”
The fact that Kamo’oalewa is a fragment of the Moon makes sense, especially when looking at the many craters that dot
the surface of the Moon.The Moon is constantly battered by lunar objects causing debris to be ejected into space, with Kamo’oalewa
being one of them. Instead of flying through space or landing on Earth as a meteorite, though, Kamo’oalewa became a whole new
quasi moon orbiting Earth.
Even though the human race is just getting to know Kamo’oalewa, sadly, it won’t be sticking around with us for much
longer. Due to its unstable flight path, scientists estimate that our little moon will stay for only 300 more years, before breaking free
of the gravitational pull of the Earth and Sun and then flying through space for the rest of its long life.
Canada Has Banned
ConversionTherapy
By: Caitlyn Brooks
Early in December, Canada has joined a handful of other countries and states to ban the very contro-
versial conversion therapy.While harmful to the minds of these individuals and seen as a discredited practice,
conversion therapy aims to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity through practices ranging from electric
shock therapy to behavioral therapy.
As a part of the ban that was passed earlier in December, a bill came into effect on December 8th
making it a crime for any citizens of Canada of any age to be subjected to this harmful“therapy”.
Canada has followed the footsteps of other nations like Brazil, Germany and Ecuador as well as 20 U.S.
states including the District of Columbia as part of a world effort to ban conversion therapy. Last year, the United
Nations had called for this practice to be banned world-wide.
The American Medical Association also voiced their support for a world-wide ban and called for other
states and federal governments to put more emphasis on a ban. As a part of voicing their opinion, they also said
that conversion therapy“has no foundation as scientifically valid medical care and lacks credible evidence to sup-
port its efficacy or safety.”
In response to Canada’s official announcement of the ban, Prime Minister JustinTrudeau wrote on
Twitter,“It’s official: Our government’s legislation banning the despicable and degrading practice of conversion
therapy has received Royal Assent — meaning it is now law. LGBTQ2 Canadians, we’ll always stand up for you and
your rights.”
AnotherWave of Covid is Hitting
the US, But Now It’s Omicron
By: Caitlyn Brooks
With another massive increase in coronavirus cases in the US, a new strain, Omicron, was detected for the first time
in California early in December. As the winter is approaching, experts warn that a new surge of cases are upcoming.
The new strain of coronavirus, omicron, has been detected in at least 40 states in the US includingWashington D.C.
and Puerto Rico according to public health statements and officials as of December 17th with the first case being detected on
December 1st.
Omicron is the second well-known strain of covid and it is highly transmissible— even more so than the rapid
spreading Delta variant which also remains a problem.“With those high transmisity rates will result in millions more to be
infected”, says Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
According to Osterholm, Omicron will cause a“serious strain”on the healthcare system as more workers have begun
to get sick as the hospitalization rates are increasing as well. For the most part right now, the Omicron cases seem to be mild but
still highly contagious.
CDC director Dr. RochelleWalensky said the Omicron variant is“increasing rapidly”and is expected“to become the
dominant strain in the United States as it has in other countries in the coming weeks.”Even with vaccines and boosters, which
were not approved when the last big surge in cases was last winter, experts are warning for another rough winter.
Still, one of the best ways to protect yourself is from getting vaccinated and with the booster on top of that. Studies
done by taking blood from an unvaccinated person and a vaccinated person has shown that the vaccines are effective, but now
with a dose of the booster, it will restore more immunity from all strains— including omicron.The rate of vaccines is also up by
22% from November and most of that includes adults receiving their booster shot.
Officials including Dr. Zeke Emanuel, formerWhite House health policy advisor under President Obama, said that“In
March 2020, we didn’t understand a lot about coronavirus. Second of all, we have vaccines now.We have the ability to change
those vaccines.We’re getting oral therapeutics.We have much better tests and test availability. None of that’s perfect, but it’s
much better than it was in March 2020…”
picture
Worst Storm to Ever Hit
Kentucky Causes Devastation
By: Eva Supa
Most of the midwest is still in shock from the devastating and deadly storms that ravaged through the area Friday into Saturday
morning earlier this month.The rare December storm had sparked multiple tornadoes, which destroyed towns and killed dozens of people.
Powerful winds caused extreme damage to towns, with buildings completely decimated across the midwest.There were at least 45
confirmed tornadoes that sprung up during the storm.The strongest wind gusts exceeded 100 miles an hour.
The storms passed through Kentucky,Tennessee, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri, with the western part of Kentucky
receiving the brunt of the storm.
In Dawson Springs, Kentucky, Andy Hernandez, 87, and his 78 year old wife Betty are just beginning to pick up the pieces after their
home was destroyed.They keep the few belongings they are left with along with some donations from their church in a truck.
“We love that little house. But anyway, it’s totaled,”Betty said.Three out of every four homes in Dawson Springs were destroyed.
In Kentucky alone, at least 70 people have been declared dead so far. According to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, the death toll
may rise to over 100 people.The ages of the deceased range from 2 months to 98 years old.The mega storm is likely to have been the worst to
ever hit the state.
In Mayfield, Kenutcky, at least eight people were killed when a candle factory was leveled.“It’s changed the landscape…here in
Mayfield,”Kentucky State Police Lt. Dean Patterson said.“We’re seeing [destruction] that none of us have ever seen before.”
Murray Holbrook, a town resident, was with two of his friends in the hallway of a house in Mayfield at the time of the storm.“I don’t
know how I survived it,”Holbrook said.“It happened so quick…it sounded like two freight trains coming up on top of us.”
The hallway collapsed leaving Holbrook pinned underneath heavy debris, leaving him trapped while his friends were able to escape
to find help.“I could see the rain, I could still hear the wind. And debris and dust were just flying all around me,”he recalled.“I thought something
else was going to drop on top of the wall and completely crush me. I was scared and I just knew that I was going to die.”
A volunteer firefighter was able to free Holbrook of the debris and save his life. Mayfield resident Rick Foley was in his home when
parts of his home collapsed on top of him.“I heard it coming,”he recalled.“My ears popped and everything just hit all at once. And I ducked down
and just everything piled on top of me -- all the debris.”
Foley, covered in dirt and overwhelmed with shock, spent the rest of the night in his bed, with the walls of the bedroom torn apart.
“I’m 70 years old and I got to start over,”he said, holding back tears.
Another Mayfield resident, Steve Sasseen, huddled in a basement with neighbors, trying to protect themselves by putting laundry
baskets and blankets over their heads. Once the storm was over all he could see was“haze and dust.”He went outside and found that the neigh-
borhood“looked like a war zone.” “I’ve lived here all my life, and this is the worst thing I’ve ever had to go through,”Sasseen said.“I keep thinking
it’s a nightmare and I’ll wake up.”
In the town of Gilbertsville, Kentucky,Wilbert Neil, 88, and his 63-year old son Jerry Neil narrowly survived the storm.Their house
was completely destroyed and all of their belongings were buried under the rubble. Wilbert Neil was emotional when volunteers found old
photographs of his 85-year old wife. According to the family, she has Alzheimer’s and has no idea that the house has been destroyed.Wilbert
Neil said he couldn’t bring himself to tell her. “This was the dream house for my wife,”he said tearfully. ”We got it. She loved it. She’ll never see it
again.”
In the week following the storm, President Biden surveyed the damages in Kentucky. He also signed an emergency declaration for
the state on Saturday, which opened the door for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal entities to organize relief efforts.
“Whatever is needed, the federal government is going to find a way to supply it,”President Biden said.
Governor Beshear reflected on the troubles faced by Kentucky this year.“I wish I understood why we’ve been hit by the pandemic,
historic ice storm, flooding, and now the worst tornado in our history.” He added that“we’re going to grieve together, we’re going to dig out and
clean up together and we will rebuild and move forward together.”
Joe Gatto leaves
‘Impractical Jokers’
By: Skyler Mofle
For those who thoroughly enjoy cable television, it’s a commonality to click around on channels
and run into the enormously popular hit television show Impractical Jokers.The hit series is made up of four
men—four jokers—that play pranks on people and make each other do embarrassing things for entertainment
purposes.
Brian“Q”Quinn, James“Murr”Murray, Joe Gatto and SalVulcano make up the cast, and until recently
the four of them effortlessly basked in the fame and the enjoyment of filming such a show. On December
31st, Joe Gatto—via an Instagram post—announced a couple of personal thoughts and snippets of personal
information he had been dealing with; ultimately, he announced that he’d be leaving the show for good after
nine seasons to focus on himself and his children.“Alongside my friends, I’ve devoted a decade of my life to build-
ing this franchise and couldn’t be prouder of what has been accomplished. However, due to some issues in my
personal life, I have to step away,” the star stated.
Gatto spilled into his own private life as well:“Bessy (his former wife) and I have decided to amicably
part ways, so now I need to focus on being the best father and co-parent to our two incredible kids.”Gatto contin-
ues to thank his fans and his supporters, stating,“To all of the amazing fans, thank you for allowing me to make
you laugh with Jokers.They say that laughter is the best medicine, and I hope I’ve been able to provide some of
that over the last decade. Seeing you laugh has been my own medicine, particularly in these weird and difficult
times we find ourselves.”
And to top it off, Gatto paid homage to his costars and his friends as well.“Outside of my family,
my relationships with Murr, Q and Sal have been the most important in my life. (...) I am very thankful to have
worked with each and every one of them.”Joe’s three other co-stars addressed this post via their own joint
statement on social media, saying,“After all these years together, we never imagined making Impractical Jokers
without Joe.While we are saddened to see him go, we want to keep making people laugh, keep our relationship
with the Impractical Jokers fans going, and keep working with the members of our team that we consider family.”
‘The Golden Girls’Superstar
BettyWhite Passes Just Before Her
100th Birthday
By: Skyler Mofle
BettyWhite, the beloved Rose Nylund fromThe Golden Girls and Sue Ann Nivens onThe MaryTyler Moore Show, died on December
31st—Friday night—at her home in Los Angeles.White was 99 years old, and had three weeks until her 100th birthday.Throughout her life,
White has amassed an incredible resume, arguably holding the title for the longest lasting television career for a celebrity, ever. BettyWhite won
five Primetime Emmys and one competitive Daytime Emmy , as well as a lifetime achievement Daytime Emmy in 2015 and a Los Angeles regional
Emmy in 1952 — in a television career that spanned seven decades and that the 2014 edition of“GuinnessWorld Records”certified as the
longest ever for a female entertainer.White’s involvement inThe MaryTyler Moore Show from 1973 to 1977 gave her her breakthrough, garner-
ing two Emmys. Her iconic role onThe Golden Girls—which revolved around the lives of four older women sharing a house in Miami—gave her
another Emmy award in 1986.White won her final Emmy in 2010 as outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for hosting the Mother’s Day
episode of“S.N.L”(Saturday Night Live).
BettyWhite’s presence in the entertainment industry has never wavered for the long amount of time she’s been prevalent for.The
late actress amassed so much respect and credibility for her incredible and memorable roles on iconic television shows, and fans have taken
it upon themselves to honor her, stating onTwitter that,“BettyWhite spent a lifetime making others laugh, she wouldn’t want you to be sad
tonight. Goodnight, Golden girl”(TSting18). Notably, BettyWhite’s credibility has remained strong for so many years, and will continue to shine
brightly for years to come.

4. 7
Student Life: Fall Sports
By:BrookLynnDaSilva
Student Life:The Arts
Student Art
Band, Chorus and Orchestra
In the midst of exploring her creativity, JensenHerbst—a senior atWest—has created some fantastic art pieces. Her art style
“ranges from cartoon-like drawings (Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon animations) to more abstract and exaggerated realism.”
AP Art allows her to create more of her stronger pieces.When asked what her favorite piece is, why, and what inspired her to
make it, Herbst listed a painting: a nighttime landscape of a corn sign at dusk. Her other favorite piece is an animated depiction of
a memory she shares with her friends while at the beach when they were looking for little crabs.
What is your favorite piece you’ve composed and why?
SamCrush:“It’s called“Her Heart Rejoices in the Forest”, it was actually inspired by a week in March of 2021; I was staying after school and I was just having an overall miserable
day, but then I just I remember looking outside and just seeing the sun and I remember it—just like it the way it looked like off the window. And I remember it gleaming on the
hallway floor, you know right up where the staircase is, and I just remember sitting in that moment looking outside the window and I’m like‘wow this is so beautiful’and it just
made my day. I felt like you know God’s calling for me for something; so I went outside, and it was a little bit cold out there but I remember specifically what I was wearing…
and I went into that trail near our school… and I literally just went in there and the piece is called‘Her Heart Rejoices in the Forest,’because that’s literally what I did… I’ve
never felt so alive in my entire life—I felt like I was actually free for once and I had this sort of freedom in my heart.The piece is written for symphonic bands so it’s for all these
different instruments… and even if it is composed for a symphonic band, it sounds like a symphonic orchestra piece. It is such a beautiful piece; it starts off all nice and peace-
ful and then I kind of wanted a twist and turn with it. I kind of wanted to make it seem like I wanted to switch into minor and I wanted to make it seem darker, so that’s what I
did… I wanted some kind of story to this and that’s why I love this so much. It really reminded me of what freedom I have in this world…”
GirlsVarsity Soccer
GirlsVarsity Soccer took every game personally and played with pas-
sion every time they stepped on the field.Whether home or away they
represented“West Side Pride.” With 16 wins and only 2 loses these
girls never stop playing their hearts out. Along with having top scorers
Hannah Maracina, Nicole Mennella, and Stephanie Schubert to secure
win after win. Passionate coaches, Fey and Forman, only had good
things to say about this monumental season and how grateful they
were to have such a competitive and eager group of players to coach
this season. Pumped would be an understatement to describe these
girls before, during, and after playing every game.Whether on the
field or on the bench, the whole team worked together to make their
presence known that they showed up to win.They didn’t just have a
great season, but finished it off with a Suffolk County Championship
under their belts.
BoysVarsityVolleyball
The girls weren’t the only team tearing it up on the court!
BoysVolleyball came out ready as well.With an overall record
of 13-5, these boys faced tough competition but persevered
with intensity and pride.With leaders on the team stepping
up and making big changes left and right, it goes without
saying that some of the team’s most crucial aspects for
victory is their all around skill and secret weapon known as
Dan Shanley.They set a goal early in the season to achieve
the County title and in the end it paid off handsomely with a
plack and a trip upstate.
Girls Swimming and Diving
Our Girls Swimming and Diving team this fall were moti-
vated and hyper focused on winning the County title. Every
stroke, every dive, and every competition this team executed
perfectly and they did it all together.With an undefeated
overall season finishing 8-0, it’s safe to say that hard work and
dedication really do pay off. Although everyone on the team
harnesses such marvelous talent, one swimmer really stands
out for not just her execution but also her speed. LeahTreglia
this year broke the county record in the 100 backstroke with
a seeding time of 54.71.The team and coach have stated that
they are proud of how far they have come and as long as they
all worked together throughout the season, they knew they
would do just fine.
Lastly I want to highlight and thank everyone who showed
up to games to support our teams, players, and coaches.
After a rough two years in sports, it was definitely a differ-
ent atmosphere with no supporters to cheer our teams on
from the stands and bleachers.Whether it was chanting,
singing or making a sign to support your friend that plays,
every little bit went a long way. Fans are just as important
as the players in a way because they really make the
games feel more alive. So, thank you all for supporting our
teams, we couldn’t have done it without you all.
Gymnastics
Our own Gymnastics team this year secured the title of
Suffolk County Champions.With an incredible season
going undefeated (5-0), these girls worked hard to
earn this honorary title.They all fought and worked
hard for every point earned.They not only made their
coach proud but also themselves and everyone that
watched the meets.They hope to inspire young gym-
nasts to work hard, don’t give up, and keep the County
title streak for years to come.
Boys Cross Country
Boys Cross Country went undefeated again this year with
their overall ending 6-0.This is the boys’5th straight league
title in a row and they have not lost a duel meet since 2016.
The boys have said that they enjoy going to practice every-
day, but they absolutely love the feeling of winning.
GirlsVarsityVolleyball
GirlsVarsityVolleyball stormed onto the courts this season
hungry for another championship title under their belts.
Coaches Marchese and Brown hyped them up all year.
Finishing with an undefeated season, (17-0) these girls
wouldn’t have gotten where they did without their chemis-
try and dedication to the sport.Their top scorers were Kasey
Tietjen, Carley McAleavey, and Erica Arroyo.They were again
able to win another County Championship and do it in style.
6

5. Reviews
8 9
Talkin’ Yanks Podcast Review
By: Caitlyn Brooks
Continued from page 1...
Episode 660 was uploaded right after the final game of the last Red Sox-Yankees regular season series, in which the
Yankees swept Boston. Jomboy and Jake start out the podcast by having a“mood check”and how they felt after the game was
over.They started looking into their last two regular season series, both against division rivals and how it could play out into the
postseason.
The first segment of the episode goes over a recap from the first game of the series on Friday night. Like in all the
other episodes, Jake does his“bern”- his way of recaping the game- filled with jokes and goes over the major points from the
game. Included in the bern are mentions of Giancarlo Stanton, GleyberTorres and Gerrit Cole who were all big performers from
the game.They went on about who pitched in that game. Cole, who started out the game, pitched decently according to both and
they said it was the bullpen who came in and solidified the win for theYankees.They go more in depth about certain plays, stats
from the game and the biggest moments as well.
In the recap of the second game of the series, Jake starts it off with another“bern,”which like the one before was ex-
citing and entertaining, listening to all the small details and big plays that turned the game into what it was; a thriller. Something
I found pretty interesting was their comparison of Giancarlo Stanton- who in that game delivered a grand slam to put theYankees
on top- to a formerYankee legend, Reggie Jackson. Jake goes on to say that he thinks Giancarlo is“our Reggie Jackson,”he’s going
to be their big home run guy in the future. Other mentions went to the pitching staff again, this time being Luis Severino and
Michael King who both pitched extremely well.
The recap of the third game of the series started out with yet another“bern”by Jake. After his bern, they started
critiquing and commenting on some of the managerial decisions made by Aaron Boone throughout the game.They mentioned
that both Boone and Alex Cora -manager of the Red Sox- were playing a“game of chess”throughout the series, having a lot of
moving pieces and making moves both offensively and defensively. Another big point brought up by both was the whole game
itself, describing it as a“drunk”game; a lot of missed plays by both teams, which led to the score becoming what it was.
After the recaps, they moved onto their“Pride of theYankees,”the“MFer of theYankees,”and their regular old award
segments.The pick for their Pride of theYankees this series was Giancarlo Stanton, who was unreal throughout the weekend.The
Yankee MFer was someone who had underperformed. Jake picked relief pitcher Joely Rodriguez and Jomboy picked outfielder Joey
Gallo. Their“Regular Old Awards”segment varies each week and they give unique and charming awards to certain players.This
week, for instance, one of them was the“If you don’t fear it, it can’t hurt you”award given to Anthony Rizzo by Jake.
This was the first time I had listened to theTalkin’Yanks podcast all the way through. I’ve followed them on Instagram
andTwitter for years but after listening to it, it really makes me want to listen to it again.The duo of Jake and Jomboy is hilarious.
Mixing in comedy, stats and news, - at one point they were talking about the use of their pinkies after reporting on Aaron Judge’s
dislocated pinky during the game- they are enjoyable to listen to.They hit on all of the major talking points of the series and Jake
nailed his berns throughout the episode. If you’re someone who is really into baseball- specifically theYankees- and enjoy hearing
stats, learning facts and hearing other opinions on it, then theTalkin’Yanks podcast is definitely something I can recommend.
Red(Taylor’sVersion)
By: Grace Caroppoli
Taylor Swift is now rerecording some of her old albums in order to make them more original and her own. She
previously re-released her album Fearless in March of 2021 and just recently re-released Red.The first version of Red came
out in 2012 and Red (Taylor’sVersion) was released on Nov 12, 2021.
In the newer Red there are some key differences between the re- release and what was originally released. On
the new album she re-recorded every single song on the first Red. She also added her 10 minute version of“AllTooWell”
and there are also 8 new songs from the vault that she had originally planned to be on the album but did not make the final
cut in 2012.Then at the end of the album, there is a message forTaylor explaining the album very briefly.
Taylor re-recorded her previously released songs, some to name being“Treacherous”,“I Almost Do”, and“Stay
Stay Stay.”She redid some of her most known parts in her songs such as her speaking part in the song“We Are Never
Getting BackTogether”and her giggle at the end of the song“Stay Stay Stay.”Taylor kept some of the most iconic pieces of
her songs in the track but she also changed things like her background instrumentals in some of her songs such as“Girl At
Home.” The original“Girl At Home”is very tamed, and calm with a build up to the chorus of the song, while the re-released
version just starts very up beat and the pre-chorus lowers in volume then rises again in the actual chorus. She also got
people that were featured in the original album to collaborate with her again; the two features being Gary Lightbody and
Ed Sheeran. Sheeran is actually in one of the unreleased songs, too. Phoebe Bridgers was featured in“Nothing New”from
the vault. My favorite original songs from the re-released album are“The LastTime”, featuring Gary Lightbody,“The Mo-
ment I Knew”, and“Starlight.”“The LastTime”is incredibly well written and I love the difference in their voices.“Lightbody”
has a very dark and deep sounding tone, whileTaylor has a super airy and light hearted voice and the two sounds contrast
each other very well.“The Moment I Knew”is also a personal favorite of mine because the cello in the beginning of this
song is very distinguishable and gives this song such a deep and meaningful touch.“Starlight”is another great re-recorded
song because it is very upbeat and so fun to jam out to.
Along with all of the original songs she released 8 songs that were written to be on Redbut did not make
the final cut.These songs included“Better Man”,“Nothing New”,“Babe”,“Message In A Bottle”,“I BetYouThink About Me”,
“ForeverWinter”,“Run”, and“TheVery First Night.”My favorite of the newer songs is“TheVery First Night.”It gives such a
good description of how it feels when things start off so well and everything feels so good, but no one understands what
you miss after something goes wrong. In addition to 8 unreleased songs, she also put her 10 minute version of“AllTooWell”
on the album.The version of“AllTooWell”in the original album is 5 minutes and 28 seconds, but her first version she ever
wrote was about 10 minutes long which she shortened because at the time of release, she believed you could not produce
a 10 minute song.The new version is so amazing and so manyTaylor fans are absolutely obsessed with it.Taylor added
multiple new verses and she even had a short film recorded with actors Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink.The parts being
played were actually never given names and only said to be Him and Her.
The last recording on Red (Taylor’sVersion) is a short message fromTaylor. She explains that Red was written
to resemble a heart broken person and all of the messiness within the emotions connected with heartbreak. I believe Swift
perfectly illustrated all the emotions of heartbreak and the ups and downs people go through when they split up with their
partners.These sharp changes in emotions can even be seen in the lineup of songs; you go from listening to“AllTooWell”
which is just a heart wrenching song to hearing“22,”a song all about having a good time with her best friends and forget-
ting about all of life’s issues.
This re-released album is so well put together and you can see all of the hard workTaylor puts into this. She
constantly tries to give her fans the best that she can and this album absolutely shows that. I believe Red (Taylor’sVersion)
was amazingly well done and these songs will definitely be added to my playlist.
MarioKart (Wii!)
By: Jordi Silva
The MarioKart series is one of the most popular and most universally well known collections of racing games
in the world, and it was started by Nintendo with the release of SuperMarioKart in 1992.This is a series of racing games, so
the main purpose of these games is to race around some tracks while trying to avoid your opponents to get the fastest time
possible.The final results for what Nintendo has produced are already good as they are, but there are some hidden gems
within those games that have been created by the consumers who have purchased these games; the modding community.
Mods in MarioKart are modified versions of the games, with custom textures or models that can go over characters, karts,
and race tracks.This means that if you can make it yourself, you can race as whoever you want, wherever you want, on
whatever vehicle you want!There is so much variety, and it’s very fun and interesting to see what people can come up
with. Creating mods in MarioKart allows for a wider range of options within the game itself, as each game normally has a
limited selection of characters and an average of 32 courses to race on. Even though the normal selections of MarioKart are
great, they do tend to get bland very easily as a result of the limited amount of options available.With mods, however, you
can choose from hundreds of different courses of different lengths and difficulties, and race as anyone from a selection of
dozens of characters.
The biggest and most popular collection of MarioKart mods comes from CustomTrack Grand Prix Revolution
(or CTGP-R for short), which is a mod pack for MarioKartWii, released in 2009. Although by default there aren’t any custom
characters, instead there are vehicles with modified stats and a selection of about 210 custom tracks in addition to the 32
courses originally in the game.This contains about 8 times the amount of content that the original games, which is a lot
considering this is a mod for one of the top-selling games in the series. As a result of major success from CTGP-R, many
others have taken time to mod the other games in the series, however most of them aren’t as well known as CTGP-R was.
The next big MarioKart mod collection was CTGP-7, a mod for MarioKart7 on the 3DS, which was first in development in
2015. CTGP-7 isn’t as amazing as CTGP-R was due to the hardware limitations of the 3DS in comparison to theWii.TheWii
is a console and the 3DS is a handheld device, so they are 2 different pieces of technology with 2 very different amounts of
storage they can handle. Despite this, CTGP-7 still managed to pull through with a lot of unique and interesting content. In
this mod, there are quite a few custom characters, 56 custom tracks (with 16 more coming soon, plus the 32 in the original
game), and even custom ways to play! Currently the only custom game mode isVS Mode, where you can freely race on
any other track against computer racers with any settings you would like to use to modify the race. However, a new mode,
Mission Mode, is being worked on and is set to release in the coming weeks. As a passionate player of MarioKart myself, I
am looking forward to trying this new mode, as it will be refreshing to see something even more new come into this series!
From my personal experiences, creating mods in MarioKart is something that is very positive, as it allows you
to be a part of the development, as well as show off your ability to create things. I have recently gained a small passion for
art, and decided to move that passion into this community to further express myself and show more people who I am as a
person. Although I have only felt interested in modding games in general recently, it has been quite easy to connect with
the other developers and understand how to start working on things in the game. From a playing perspective, these mods
add a fun and unique twist to one of my favorite games even to this day.
By modifying the game’s files, these big hits are able to show off their true potential as they are being pushed
to their limits.The success of this franchise (as well as the mods) is very impressive, and it’s only going to continue to grow
from here as long as everything stays working well.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana
Mania: A Perfect Remaster
By: Jake Surace
Growing up as a kid, video games were one of my biggest places to escape and find entertainment.
Although video games often get a bad reputation (albeit for fair reasons), they have been a huge part of my child-
hood, and in some cases have changed my life. Some of my personal favorite games that provide huge nostalgia
for me now are Minecraft,Tony Hawk Pro Skater (2x & 4), and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. Super Monkey Ball
Deluxe in particular has its own backstory.
I never had the game in my inventory. Back in the early 2010’s I used to always watchYoutube videos
of walkthroughs and speed runs, and it was a game I desperately wanted to play for myself. In 2017, I finally
received Super Monkey Ball Deluxe as a birthday present, and it instantly became one of my personal favorite and
most fondly remembered games.
A few years later in 2021, big news hit the gaming community.When SEGA announced it’s remaster
a few months ago, titled“Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania,”words were not able to explain my excitement. I
did have some doubts of whether or not the game would live up to its potential, but when it was released and I
was able to try it out, I was pleasantly surprised. In summary, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania was an absolute
success. It perfectly encapsulates the nostalgia and old school feeling of Deluxe, while improving on its design and
gameplay mechanics. Let’s go further in depth.
For those who do not know what the Super Monkey Ball series is, you are quite literally a monkey
trapped inside a ball, who needs to clear a collection of stages in order to complete different difficulty modes. In
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe, you had a set number of lives, in which you could choose up to 99.There were“Extra
stages’‘ in each mode, and if you used all 99 lives, you could not continue on to them. In Banana Mania, however,
a new alternative for extra stages was added: the helper feature. It will slow your game down and assist you in
completing stages. If you use the helper feature, you cannot continue on to extra stages.This is one thing that
makes Banana Mania’s gameplay superior over Deluxe. Lives were a trouble for players back then, but now you
have infinite lives, and a good alternative for extra stages, making the game way more fair than previously.
Banana Mania generally has the same physics and controls as Deluxe, but another nice thing about
the new game is the amount of consoles and ports you can play on.The remaster is now open to PC, Nintendo
Switch, and mobile devices. Super Monkey Ball games were only ever on Gamecubes, Xbox, and Playstations,
but adding in new options for devices and consoles to play on will help the game in sales, and will create a much
larger community surrounding the game.
Moving on from gameplay and mechanics, the design of the visuals are very appealing.This was one
of the biggest factors of making Super Monkey Ball a nostalgic series for me.The remaster completely ramped up
the visuals while still sticking to an older formula, which is another reason why Banana Mania is a great remake.
When it comes to stage design, they are still just as fun to play as they were years ago. Super Monkey
Ball Deluxe is a combination of Super Monkey Ball One andTwo, meaning all of the levels from both games are in
Deluxe.While the remaster didn’t change major things in the stages, in general the gameplay is as fantastic and
engaging as it was years ago.
Although I have a ton of praise for Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania, one of the very few turnoffs for
me was the music, one of the key components that defined the series. During my first run of the new game, I was
hoping that the older music from Deluxe would still be included, and it turns out all of the music was remixed.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the new soundtrack, but as some say,“the old is gold.”
Of course that does not mean I do not like the remaster just because of one small detail. Overall, I
think that Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is an almost perfect revision of Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. It brings
back all the nostalgia and old school vibe that Deluxe had, while completely revamping the design of both the
visuals and gameplay. I have just started playing this game about two to three weeks ago, and although I am not
too far into completion, I am excited to complete the game and am looking forward to what the future holds for
the series.
MGMT: One of the Next Greats
By: Caroline D’Ambrosio
In an era where indie is dominating, it seems like the influences of its former greats are often swept under the rug. An
example of a musical group who does not deserve to be regarded as a one-hit-wonder but is not necessarily mainstream is MGMT.
The psychedelic rock, new wave, electro duo that initially started as a joke has become something of a league of their own, with
timeless tunes that will with no doubt age with the same respect as elder niche legends like Pink Floyd orTheTalking Heads.
The 2000s were overwhelmed with influences overlapping in seemingly every genre, with each getting their chance
to shine respectively. For the first time in what felt like ever, chart-topping hits could be pulled from all different kinds of scenes,
from the ultra decade-defining pop punk of Avril Lavigne and Paramore, to the ever-legendary world of 2000s Hip Hop greats like
LilWayne and KanyeWest. However, somewhere along the line, Indie music made its mark thanks to the likes ofThe Strokes and
Arcade Fire. Indie rock seemed to carve its niche after being more influential in the media—enter MGMT.
In 2002,Wesleyan University students AndrewVanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser concocted instrumentals mimicking psyche-
delic pop paired with song lyrics made to parody the concept of classic rock stars, thus creating Oracular Spectacular (released in
2007).The album has 10 tracks, all-encompassing the sound of indie rock and EDM with themes playing on rock star cliches, acid
trips, and loss of innocence. Its most striking song by far is either leading singleTime to Pretend or Kids, both accompanied by
confusing and trippy music videos--a recurring theme throughout MGMT’s career.
The album was a hit, landing itself a place not only on people’s iPods but in the media. In 2008, Rolling Stone dubbed
their debut a“glitchy daydream rock into an intergalactic odyssey.” The recurring themes explored within these tunes paired with
addictive beats has put MGMT on the map, and made them something of trailblazers for the future of indie music.The 2010s were
without a doubt a pivotal time for what would be a decade of computer-produced electro, and MGMT definitely helped to catapult
that.This bliss would not be temporary, however, as this parody album brought the band to new levels of popularity, and they still
are producing music today.Their most recent album, Little Dark Age (2017), is arguably some of their best work yet, with expect-
edly higher production and ultra-synth sounding instrumentals that make you feel like you’re in an 80s Sci-Fi movie. MGMT will
undoubtedly be making excellent music for years to come.
WhyYou ShouldWatch Netflix’s
Hit Show“SquidGame”
By Skyler Mofle
If you’re anything like me, you’ve learned to take show recommendations on social media with a grain of salt.Tiktok andTwitter
can be wonderful places to find great content, however they both seem to lose credibility when you have 13 year old kids attacking you in
the comment section for not watching the upcoming season of Riverdale. Keeping this in mind, I had been wary of recommendations from
Twitter on my timeline and from my friends about a new show called Squid Game, which follows a similar pattern to that of the famous
young adult novelThe Hunger Games in the same implied philosophy of Darwinism.The reason that makes this show so different and so
popular—it’s the most watched show on Netflix ever—is that it’s not just a horror show. Naturally, it makes us question the nature of
humanity itself: are we inherently good or inherently evil?The dialogue, camera work, and the overall thought process put into the show
makes us think about the extent to which we’re willing to do something, and this show is a good indicator of how far we’ll really go. *With
that being said, spoilers will be ahead as I try to explain why you should watch Netflix’s hit show Squid Game.*
In all transparency, the South Korean horror show is a gruesome, brutal depiction of people who have nothing to live for being
thrown into a series of games that will determine whether they live or die. At the end, the sole winner will acquire a monetary total of over
39 million dollars. However, this comes at a cost as there can only be one person that survives the games in order to actually obtain the
cash prize.The scariest thing about this very sentence is, the contestants actually were given the option to completely stop the games if
the majority voted in that favor.The second episode of the nine episode series showcased this, and the episode reflected on peoples’lives
outside of the games.They were so drawn to the money and to the pulsing phenomenon known as human greed that they—knowing that
they’re probably going to die— voluntarily went back and continued to play the games for the rest of the series. It was chilling to watch
people be captured and twisted around at the prospect of being a billionaire that they seemed to completely disregard their own lives, the
lives of their friends and family, and the lives of others in the games that could have been spared. As the games progressed, the contestants/
players started to get angrier and greedier, the floating golden piggy bank of money serving as a reminder; one of the players mercilessly
killed about 20 players in the middle of the night with the remainder of a glass bottle he’d received in the morning with breakfast. It’s not
just the players that seem to feed off of this greed, as the physical games themselves start to get greedier and more dangerous as you watch
the show move along. An example of this is a comparison between episodes 2 and 7, where the game required for the players to pass the
next round went from carving a shape out of a cookie to jumping on glass (not knowing what’s tempered and what’s not) and plummeting
to your eventual death. Jump Cuts in the episodes themselves refer to theVIPs, or the men funding this expedition, who watch idly and greet
death as if it was an old friend.Their arrogance and corruption has caused them to enjoy such a horrific sight, multiple times on end.
The avid characterization in this show also helped contribute to the quite obvious critique on society and its hierarchical mone-
tary demands. One supporting character known as Sangwoo was a graduate from Seoul National University (Korea’s Harvard) who scammed
people out of money and fell into a load of debt before joining the games. He was also the childhood friend of the main protagonist Gi-hun,
who showed first hand what the shock of greed is to see someone you thought you knew change so much for money. Sangwoo betrayed nu-
merous players, even ones who had blindly trusted him and followed him—Ali, a Pakistani native who came to Korea to make money for his
wife and son, for example.The burning desire for billions and billions of dollars had caused Sangwoo’s mortality to completely dissipate, and
this show did an excellent job with showing how we’ll do anything collectively for something as fickle as materialism.The representation of
throwing ourselves into situations to win money or to be paid despite it not matching up with our morals is unfortunately a reality, and the
abandoning of common courtesy and goodness in our hearts for materialistic reward is sadly a frequent practice. So, despite the fact that
yes, Squid Game is just a horror show on Netflix, it also brings up societal issues that no one wants to admit.The popularity of the show has
forced people to look greed and corrupt human nature in the eye and observe how this philosophy of thought has become commonplace.
Whether you’re prompted to watch Squid Game with the English dub or the subtitles, the universal theme that it teaches is one hundred
percent worth your time and worth your thoughts.
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