2021 Movies to See!

By: Hannah Marie Watch

Yes, this year may be different even though COVID-19 will still continue but one thing that everyone looks forward to is MOVIES! 2020 had maybe one or two big movies coming out but 2021 has a LOT coming in for you. So if you like, take a look at what new movies and sequels are coming out in theaters, HBO MAX, Disney+, Netflix, Hulu and more. 

Coming 2 America (March 5, 2021) PG-13

Coming 2 America is “set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda” as well as all around the globe “as newly crowned King Akeem and his trusted confidant, Semmi embark on an all-new hilarious adventure” that brings them back to Queens, New York, “where it all began.”

Raya and the Last Dragon (March 12, 2021) PG

Raya is a warrior who is trying to protect a dragon jem but, with that she has to face difficult times and is trying to find the last dragon. 

No Time to Die (April 2, 2021) PG-13

Recruited to rescue a kidnapped scientist, globe-trotting spy James Bond finds himself hot on the trail of a mysterious villain, who's armed with a dangerous new technology.

A Quiet Place Part II (April 23, 2021) PG-13

The Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Black Widow (May 7, 2021) PG-13

According to the headmistress, the Red Room had called her "Black Widow" because of her small size and murderous skills. "Like the deadliest of spiders, easily escaping notice," she observed, "until it is far too late."

Godzilla vs Kong (May 21, 2021) PG-13

Premise. In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity's fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages.

F9 (May 28, 2021) PG-13

Dominic Toretto and his crew join forces to battle the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they've ever encountered -- his forsaken brother.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (June 11, 2021) PG-13

The plot would revolve around research being done by the university, which would bring about threats from other dimensions with a new team of Ghostbusters forming to save Earth's plane of existence from supernatural threats.

In the Heights (June 18, 2021) PG-13

In The Heights, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes in 2006, is a story about the New York's Washington Heights neighborhood. ... Miranda and Hudes used these themes to further acknowledge some of the critical pressures and struggles faced by individuals living within a minority immigrant community.

Uncharted (July 16, 2021) PG-16

Treasure hunter Nick Drake, a descendent of explorer Sir Francis Drake, learns the whereabouts of El Dorado, the fabled South American golden city.

Minions: The Rise of Gru (July 2, 2021) PG

Gru the minion mastermind is back, but with his life story. How despicable can he be? 

Dune (Oct. 21, 2021) PG-13

'Dune' focuses on the Atreides family as they try to survive on a new hostile planet. The Atreides family are the rulers of the ocean planet Caladan, and "Dune" begins with patriarch Duke Leto receiving an assignment from the Emperor to relocate to Arrakis, a dangerous desert planet.

West Side Story (Dec. 10, 2021) PG

West Side Story is a modern musical representation of the classic story "Romeo and Juliet". The sharks and the jets are rival gangs fighting for the same territory. Tensions rise as a shark girl named Maria and a Jet named Tony fall for each other, but there's a problem: they can never be allowed to be together.

Sources:

https://variety.com/lists/most-anticipated-films-2021/

www.glamour.com 

www.imdb.com

www.cnet.com

Recommended Music For You

By: Kasandra Lechleiter

GENRE SONGS

Pop Never Really Over by Katy Perry

I Hope by Gabby Barrett (feat. Charlie Puth)

cardigan by Taylor Swift

Country homecoming queen by Kelsea Ballerini

Ho Hey by The Lumineers

One Man Band by Old Dominion

Rock Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd

Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Another One Bites the Dust by Queen

Rhythm & Blues Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars

Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara

My Church by Maren Morris

Indie Let Her Go by Passenger

Royals by Lorde

Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye

Dance/Electronic Don’t Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers (feat. Daya)

Faded by Alan Walker

No Promises by Cheat Codes (feat. Demi Lovato)

Alternative Demons by Imagine Dragons

Drops of Jupiter by Train

The Sound of Silence by Disturbed (a cover of Simon and Garfunkel)

Rap

Circles by Post Malone

In My Feelings by Drake

My House by Flo Rida

A

Recipe of the Week

 By: Kasandra Lechleiter

Recipe: German Pancakes Category: Breakfast

Notes of Experience:

• You might want to double the recipe, whether you want it to be considerably thick or just have it in a bigger pan.

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs (preferably large)

• 1.5 tablespoons (tbs) of granulated sugar

• 1 pinch of salt

• 0.75 cup of milk (preferably warm)

• 3 tablespoons of melted butter (not entirely melted)

• Optional: Serve with sliced strawberries, lemon juice, and powdered sugar to taste

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 400* Fahrenheit (205* Celsius)

2. Combine the eggs, granulated sugar, salt, milk, vanilla, flour, and melted butter in a blender and blend until smooth.  (Or I suppose you could mix them in a bowl, but if you’re really hungry, blenders will be faster.)

3. Preheat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.  (If your oven is numbered, I suggest 5-7, the medium range)  for 3-4 minutes.

4. Melt the butter in the skillet.

5. Pour the batter into the heated skillet and then immediately (and carefully, for both the food’s sake, and yours) move the skillet to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes.

1. The pancake is done when it is a rich, amber color and the sides have risen considerably

6. Let the pancake cool

7. Enjoy!  ;)

Celebrity Influence On What We Purchase

By: Elise Stefankiewicz

Popular faces can convert into excellent salespeople. The personalities we see on the internet stick in our minds. The best way for brands to develop an association in the brain of its consumers is through those who have a high follower count. Celebrities are one of the best ways to promote companies, since we see them in commercials when we turn on the TV. We all know about Micheal Jordan’s partner with Nike or Kendall Jenner’s partnership with Pepsi. Celebrity endorsement is a modern routine. Celebrities have tremendous influence on our world, especially what the money we have is spent on. 

Youtube culture has created a new name for someone who has a lot of followers but is not considered a celebrity. We call those people “influencers” who get paid to promote certain brands to their followers. These brands can be big or small but either way it sparks the consumer interest by association. If the person you follow uses a certain face wash, you are more prone to buy that face wash when at the store. Youtube brand deals are partnerships between creators and brands. A YouTuber will mention the sponsored brand in their video and include background knowledge on it, then show how much they enjoy it.

By promoting the brand, sales will significantly increase. Today we view YouTubers or celebrities as role models and what they have, we want. I often find myself buying things because someone that I follow has it. I’m sure we can all relate to that statement whether it is a phone case, piece of clothing, or a water bottle. The things that are being promoted to us often find their way into our cart. We may not always realize this but it is reality. 

We live in a world of advertisement. A good advertisement strategy happens to involve celebrities promoting products or brands. In our society, those who lay under our “following” button influence what we purchase. It is a reality that we may not even realize. The impact influencer marketing has on consumers is pretty simple: we are influenced to buy and we buy. This way of advertising has changed marketing ways forever.

Book Reviews by Ava Tanis

From Above

Another book review! Finally! Last week’s book of choice was From Above by Norah McClintock; a short and sweet mystery novel. One of the books for the upcoming March 23 Battle of the Books event, From Above tells the story of Riley Donovan, a high school student with a knack for investigation. When she witnesses a peer fall to his death from the roof of a school building, Riley is almost sure she sees another person up there with him. She knows something must be wrong when the police try to close the case as a suicide even after being told that there could have been another person involved. Riley becomes determined to get to the bottom of her acquaintance’s death and learns lots of interesting information throughout the process of piecing together the true story. 

Only 231 pages long, From Above is a quick and easy read that can be accomplished in one sitting if you want to squeeze some reading into a tight schedule. School, work, and extracurriculars can make it pretty difficult to justify reading, so this book is perfect for busy students. 

From Above is the second in Norah McClintock’s Riley Donovan Mystery series, but it can stand on its own. You don’t have to read the first book in order to understand the plot lines or get background information—though some extra character development might enrich the story a little bit more. The main plotlines of the mystery tie together nicely and you won’t be left with any questions about the murder, even though you can genuinely never guess who the killer is throughout the story. If you like a good plot twist, this book is definitely a good option for you because the real murderer will surely catch you off guard at the end. 

While it does discuss more serious subjects (death & murder, duh), the novel is not particularly emotional or deep and probably will not leave you with much of an impression other than ‘murder bad, perseverance good’. Riley’s unflinching adherence to her suspicions and relentless perseverance in the face of a highly dismissive police force is the overall theme and takeaway, which is arguably more inspiring than profound or heavy. 

Overall, From Above is a fun, simple book for anyone interested in a lighthearted, but thought-provoking mystery read.

What to Do When You are Bored! (No phones required)

 By Hannah Marie Watch

Since we all are cooped up in our houses and we aren’t really doing anything it can be very easy to just pick up your phone and go on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc. But that is all our lives are cooped up with ELECTRONICS! So why don’t you try something on the list provided. NO PHONES REQUIRED!!!

• Give yourself a manicure or pedicure. 

• Try out a new hairstyle or experiment with your hair.

• Take a bubble bath. 

• Doodle, color, or draw on some paper. 

• Write a poem or write in a journal.

• Take a nap.

• Read a book.

• Stretch.

• Bake something. 

• Meditate.

• Write a poem.

• Write a letter to your future self.

• Take a long shower.

• Drink tea or coffee.

• Cuddle with a pet or people you love.

• Plan a future trip. ( NO Looking stuff up!)

• Write a book or story. On paper!

• Organize your closet, or do a full-blown closet clean-out.

• Start a DIY project.

• Do your laundry.

• Tye-dye.

• Do something crafty.

• Make a bucket list.

• Read a magazine.

And once you have tried all of these things or some of them add it to your day instead of spending 12+ hours on your phone.

How to Maintain Good Mental Health and Manage Stress During the Pandemic

 By: Grace Pereira

How COVID-19 Effects Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a drastic effect on people’s mental health, and teens especially feel the burden of this eight month isolation. The familiar routines and usual ways of life have suddenly shifted to an uncomfortable cycle. Many days may feel like an endless loop on repeat. Quarantine has replaced the real-life connection between peers, friends, teachers, and coaches; to pixels on a screen. Our human desire for face-to-face interaction with others outside of family members is left unsatisfied, and mental health decline is the result.

In addition, the new teaching methods and this unfamiliar school system results in a lot of unforeseen stress. The struggle to maintain good grades using only a Zoom lecture ruptures the capacity to remain focused and motivated to learn. Without someone physically present to guide students, or a peer to work with in the classroom, the assignments may pile up and it is easy to become engulfed in negative emotions and stress.

While these negative effects of new stress and mental health struggles are daunting to say the least, here are a few methods to cope with these feelings and begin a flexible lifestyle that can adapt to this isolation era.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

• Take some time to relax. Take deep breaths, stretch, meditate, or take a nap to recharge and clear your mind.

• Call or text a friend. Let them know how you are feeling, and ask them the same. Communicate your feelings to each other, this way you have an outlet for your emotions and can share advice.

• Talk to family members. Even though we have been stuck with only our family for months on end, day in and day out, communication is key. Inform them if there is something that they are doing that bothers you, and ask for comfort if you are feeling down.

• Find something new to be passionate about. Whether it’s learning a new instrument, drawing, exercising, or simply writing in a journal, focusing on something new keeps your mind busy, and you may find a new source of happiness, especially since there is more time for it.

• Take a break from your phone. Yes, this is the cliche every parent says is the cause of all “teen problems”, but there are truly downsides of this constant social media pressure. Sometimes we end up comparing ourselves to others, and in addition, not everything we see on our phones is positive, it’s just designed to capture our attention. So take a break and do something fun and productive!

• Take care of your body. It is so important to stay healthy, especially right now. Make sure to practice good hygiene, always remember to eat, and exercise. Your physical health can have a direct impact on your emotions.

Tips for Managing Stress

• Stay focused and on-task with a schedule. List out what you have to do in a day, and assign adequate time for each task. By checking things off the list, you can feel more motivated, and become more productive.

• Prioritize the important things. Don’t spend time worrying about things that have not occurred yet, and those which you have no control over. Handle every day at a time, and focus on what is important to you. 

• Get enough sleep. It is important to get 8-10 hours of sleep every night, so you can wake up and feel ready to make the most of your day.

• Use practical coping skills. Break a hard task into smaller tasks, and do them one at a time to the best of your ability. You do not have to be perfect!

• Be positive. Now, more than ever, it is easy to become worried due to the seriousness and stigma of COVID-19. Try to eliminate intrusive thoughts, and look for a bright side. Offer support to loved ones and your community to help yourself and others feel more stable during uncertainty.

We Are in This Together

No matter what, we must keep moving forward and try our best to adjust to these unprecedented times. Even though sometimes you may feel isolated and alone, know that everyone is experiencing this for the first time as well. We are all in this together. If you or a loved one needs extra help, don’t hesitate to call the numbers below, or to speak to a professional.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255

Warren County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 908-454-5141

2nd Floor Youth Helpline (Call or text): 888-222-2228

SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

 

Source:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html