BY LAASYA AKI
STAFF WRITER
Athena: child of Zeus, the Greek goddess of war and wisdom. She is also associated with crafts, especially weaving. She was a natural leader and everyone feared her. Heroes often went to her for help on quests. She was full of vengeance and made enemies with Poseidon, god of the sea. Athena was born from the skull of her father. Hephaestus, god of fire, had to split Zeus’s skull open with an axe just to bring Athena out.
BY LAASYA AKI
STAFF WRITER
Hephaestus, or Hephaistos, the Greek god of fire, is known for his way around the forge. Possessing the power of fire, he is able to create the most amazing metal items. He is the son of Hera and one of the twelve major gods. Because of his weapons and armor, the gods were able to win battles against even the most terrible creatures. Hephaestus creates tools for the gods that allowed them to harness and strengthen the forces of their powers. Greek demigods and heroes traveled miles and faced many challenges to even hold a craft of Hephaestus. Even though he is honored throughout Greece, he was rejected by his own mother first.
BY KAIA KARPE
STAFF WRITER
Chameleons can change color for multiple purposes: to intimidate predators, camouflage themselves, find mates, and possibly change their temperature. Their skin cells have microscopic crystals that are clumped together and are called photonic crystals. To change colors, they squeeze their photonic crystals, “causing different wavelengths of light to be reflected…meanwhile, the normal skin cells can expand or shrink to fill in any gaps” (Arnold). Most have thought that blue chameleons would have a blue pigment in their skin, but that is incorrect.
BY LAASYA AKI
STAFF WRITER
Among Us, Minecraft, Fortnite, Roblox – you’ve probably played at least one of these games during the pandemic. Most of us have tried passing time through various methods. One of these methods is gaming, which is an easily accessible way to pass time. It also gives us a way to hang out with our friends virtually. So, we have definitely gained a lot from the gaming industry during the pandemic. But what about the gaming industry? How has it been affected by the pandemic?
Continue reading “The Pandemic’s Impact on the Gaming Industry”
BY LOGAN SCHLOSSER
STAFF WRITER
Hello to all of you wonderful ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the next installment of I Review Games While Sleep Deprived, or affectionately known as IRGWSD. So today I will be taking the time to review some of the halloween events going on in popular video games. These can be from little things like sprite changes, or big changes like gameplay elements being added. Now with those introductions out of the way, let’s get right into it!
BY YOUSEF GHARIB
STAFF WRITER
It sounds like the unbeatable final level of an action-packed video game. Unfortunately, it’s all too real for Xbox 360 owners — a circle of flashing LED lights around the power button that indicates a massive hardware failure.
BY VENKATA KARAVADI
Diwali, also spelled Divali, one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, lasting for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month, Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika. A Hindu festival of lights, held in the period October to November. It is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and marks the beginning of the fiscal year in India. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November). The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning “row of lights.” The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. The third day of Diwali is celebrated on Saturday, November 14, 2020. Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Among Hindus, the most widespread custom is the lighting of diyas (small earthenware lamps filled with oil) on the night of the new moon to invite the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In Bengal, the goddess Kali is worshipped. In North India the festival also celebrates the royal homecoming of Rama (along with Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman[there are many Indian gods that Indian people worship. TONS]) to the city of Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the 10-headed king of the demons, thus connecting the festival with the holiday of Dussehra. In South India, the festival marks Krishna’s defeat of the demon Narakasura. Some celebrate Diwali as a commemoration of the marriage of Lakshmi and Vishnu, while others observe it as the birthday of Lakshmi.
During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli, consisting of elaborate designs made of coloured rice, sand, or flower petals. The doors and windows of houses are kept open in the hope that Lakshmi will find her way inside and bless the residents with wealth and success.Diwali is generally a time for visiting, exchanging gifts, wearing new clothes, feasting, feeding the poor, and setting off fireworks (though such displays have been restricted to limit noise and other environmental pollution). Gambling, especially in the form of card games, is encouraged as a way of ensuring good luck in the coming year and in remembrance of the games of dice played by Shiva and Parvati on Mount Kailasa or similar contests between Radha and Krishna. Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins. The time of Diwali is one of the most festive and beautiful times of the year. Diwali literally means a row of Lights. It is a time filled with light and love; a time when Indians all over the world rejoice. The meaning of Diwali, its symbols and rituals, and the reasons for celebration are innumerable. Diwali also celebrates Lord Rama’s glorious and long awaited return to his kingdom of Ayodhya after his fourteen years of exile in the forests. It commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakaasura who had kidnapped and terrorised the gopis of Vrindavan. It is also celebrated as the day Bhagwan Vishnu married Maha Lakshmi. Diwali is also associated with the story of the fall of Bali – a demon king who was defeated by Lord Vishnu.We decorate our homes with lanterns; but what is the symbolism behind that? Those lanterns signify God’s light, penetrating through the ignorance and sin of our daily lives. They signify the divine light, shining its way through this mundane world. A home bathed in light is a home in which anger, pain and ignorance are being dispelled; it is a home that is calling to God. However, too many people turn this into a domestic beauty contest, spending days and a great deal of money to purchase the newest diyas, the most beautiful candles. This is only the light of glamour. It is not the light of God.
The light of Diwali should be within us. It should symbolize the personal relationship between God and our families. Let the light penetrate inward, for only there will it have lasting benefit. A piece of cotton soaked in ghee, lit with a pure heart, a conscious mind, and a desire to be free from ignorance is far “brighter” than 100 expensive deepaks.
BY ALICE FONTANESI
STAFF WRITER
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS TO THE PROMISED NEVERLAND ANIME. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Did this pandemic delay so many things you were looking forward to? Have you been waiting forever for season five of My Hero Academia to come out? Were you expecting the Demon Slayer movie to come out in September, but now it’s supposed to come to the U.S. in 2021 (based on true events of Alice Fontanesi’s impatience)? With season two coming in January 2021, it’s a great time to discover The Promised Neverland.
First of all, what is The Promised Neverland?
The Promised Neverland (Yauzoku no Nebarando) is a manga series written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu. It was officially serialized by Weekly Shonen Jump in August of 2016 and adapted into an anime by CloverWorks in January of 2019. The series is expecting a live-action adaptation this December and won the 63rd award for Shogakukan Manga Award in 2018 in the shonen category.
Now, what is the plot of The Promised Neverland? In episode one, we’re introduced to the three main characters of the series. The first is Emma, an energetic and positive child, but one that doesn’t lack any intelligence. There’s also Norman, the more reserved member of the group, and Ray, a cold, but caring, friend. The three of them live with about 40 other “siblings” in an orphanage known as the Grace Field House. Their caretaker “Mom” (Isabella) takes care of all the children, and we are introduced to Sister Krone,another caretaker, later on in the series. Life couldn’t have been any better for the orphans. Great food, nice housing, a great mom, and plenty of play time – who wouldn’t like it?
When one of the orphans, Conny, is sent away, Emma and Norman realize that she has left her toy rabbit, Little Bunny, behind. They go to return it, but they discover Conny’s corpse instead. The two of them discover that this orphanage was actually a farm where children were raised to eventually be shipped out and eaten by demons. They collaborate with Ray, Don, and Gilda to construct a plan to escape the farm before any of the other children could be shipped out.
The story does a good job of keeping things realistic, a problem most horror stories have. There is plenty of tension between the characters now that they know what is going on, and the pacing is great. As a wannabe author, I find it hard to keep a nice flow in stories without making it seem rushed, forced, wonky, or anything else. The Promised Neverland doesn’t rush or make things too slow, which adds to the realism of the series.
Also, the characters are well written. The children are not only extremely smart, but mature, considering that most of the characters are between the ages of four and eleven. The adults in the story are also quite intriguing. Sister Krone is willing to help the children despite her desire to become a Mother because she doesn’t want any of the kids to become as twisted as she was. Isabella is also quite the character because you can always debate among yourself whether she is a good guy or not.
Despite a few minor problems, like the CGI backgrounds or the small differences between the anime and manga, The Promised Neverland is definitely a binge-worthy series and you should go watch it right now. Seriously, the first season is twelve episodes; this isn’t another One Piece. You can find the series on Crunchyroll and many other anime streaming platforms, so grab your tissues, a little buddy, and a reminder to stay away from the manga readers that like to spoil everything and watch this masterpiece.
BY VENKATA KARAVADI
STAFF WRITER
Holi is an Indian tradition that is celebrated by throwing colored (and safe) powder and liquid at each other. Holi is called the festival of colors because of the amount of colored stuff they use during the day. Holi is celebrated during the month of March (since we do not have an exact date for Holi). Also, Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as the Indian “festival of spring”, the “festival of colors”, or the “festival of love”. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil. Holi also celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many, it’s a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon day) falling in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. Holi is considered one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country. It is also sometimes called the “festival of love” as on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and all types of bad feelings towards each other. The great Indian festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun. It is celebrated with the name Holika Dahan or Choti Holi on the first evening of the festival and the following day is called Holi. In different parts of the country, it is known by different names.
The vibrancy of colors is something that brings in a lot of positivity in our lives and Holi being the festival of colors is actually a day worth rejoicing in. Holi is a famous Hindu festival that is celebrated in every part of India with the utmost joy and enthusiasm. The ritual starts by lighting up the bonfire one day before the day of Holi and this process symbolizes the triumph of good over the bad. On the day of Holi people play with colors with their friends and families and in the evening they show love and respect to their close ones with Abeer. Holi has been celebrated in the Indian subcontinent for centuries, with poems documenting celebrations dating back to the 4th century CE. It marks the beginning of spring after a long winter, symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. It is celebrated in March, corresponding to the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna. In 2020, Holi begins March 10.
There are varying accounts of Holi’s origin mentioned in several works of ancient Indian literature. According to one popular version of the story, an evil king became so powerful that he forced his subjects to worship him as their god. But to the king’s ire, his son Prahlada continued to be an ardent devotee of the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu. The angry king plotted with his sister, Holika, to kill his son. Holika, who was immune to fire, tricked Prahlada to sit in a pyre with her. When the pyre was lit, the boy’s devotion to Lord Vishnu helped him walk away unscathed while Holika, from whom the festival derives its name, was burned to death despite her immunity. How Is Holi Celebrated? The advent of spring symbolizes rejuvenation, new beginnings, and everything in life that is optimistic, sunny, and brimming. Holi also has a share of mythical stories as the other Indian festivals. Also known as the festival of colors, the festival relates to the legend of Holika. The date of this festival varies as per the Hindu calendar every year. Earlier, this festival was only celebrated in India and Nepal. In recent times, it is celebrated all over Europe and North America where there is a huge Indian population. So, If you like to use colored powdered and liquid on your friends, then have fun during HOLI! (It is usually at the end of March.)
BY ROWAN RAVERTY
STAFF WRITER
The world is full of some amazing creatures. They all look incredibly different from each other – like the long necked Giraffe or the large Saltwater Crocodile. Well, I’m here to tell you how you can design your own species of animals for your story needs.
Step 1: Look at animals that already exist. References are always good to have. In our world, some animals look alike without being related, like how Koalas look like bears without being related to them. Red Pandas might resemble Giant Pandas, in name and looks, but they aren’t related. Plus, it’s easier to look at an image when it comes to figuring out how to draw something a certain way.
Step 2: Draw what the base of your new animal looks like. Everything needs a base to start with before you begin adding anything crazy. What do you need for a base? Well, the body and head shape. Those are the main things a base needs. You can also add any legs or arms if you want, but that is mostly going to be with the next step.
Step 3: Add any other physical features/traits. This includes any extra limbs, horns, wings, etc. This is also where you would add any differences in males and females, and the looks the babies will have. There’s a lot of examples in nature, too. If you’re having trouble thinking of differences, you can look up ideas.
Step 4: Non-visible traits. What does your creature have that we can’t see? An example is that some snakes have venomous bites. What about enhanced senses? It doesn’t have to be anything real animals have either. You could give it a second stomach or say it can freeze whatever it bites.
Step 5: Colors and patterns. This is a very important part of your species. Look at animals in real life. Some of their looks help them blend into their surroundings. Others have bright colors to tell anyone who thinks of eating them that they’re poisonous. Choose the colors that best represent your animal’s traits and habitat.
Now, the final step: Create a bio. You need more than just looks. What is its name? Where do they live? How long do they live for? What is their main source of food? These are some of the main questions that come to mind when thinking about what to put. Anything else you think is important to know should also be written down.
And there you have it, how to make a species. Use this to make some animals of your own for whatever adventures you want. Maybe you want to design an alien planet? Or write a story on a lost civilization? Whatever the reason is, you can use this to help.
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