By: Miracle Mckenzie![]() Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania. It consists of over 1,000 islands scattered throughout the central and southern part of the Pacific Ocean. Native inhabitants are known as Polynesians. The six countries in Polynesia are New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Samoa. Out of these countries New Zealand is the largest. Although scattered, these countries and islands that make up Polynesia share lots of similarities ranging from languages to even cultural beliefs. Despite the large number of people from these islands Polynesians weren’t always known. They actually started to get recognized and known like a year or two ago, but mainly this year. This was possible thanks to athletes like Troy Polamalu and actor, Dwayne Johnson. Not only was it these people that put Polynesians on the map but the whole Polynesian community itself as they bonded together and came out on top. ![]() Now Polynesians are everywhere and blooming in every single career aspect. They can be seen in the music industry with singers like Dinah Jane, Jboog and American Idol winner William “iam” Tongi. Also rappers like Savage, Drew Dreezy and Scribe. Not only are they in the music industry but also the dancing one. Recently, there has been lots of sights of Polynesian back up dancers behind big pop stars like Chris Brown and even Rihanna at her big halftime show performance at the 2022 Super Bowl. These dancers included Lance Savali, Parris Goebel, and her amazing team of Polynesian dancers. One recent big step for Polynesians and their fame was MMA fighter Justin Tafa and his vicious 66 second knockout against Parker Porter. As times are going it is always awesome to see people succeed. The most amazing part about the rise and recognition of the Polys is how their cultures come together as one and support one another as family. It’s not only cool to watch but also to be a part of. Seeing this change in the world is also inspiring to those around. Young kids can finally see and look up to those in the media and real world that look like them and probably had the same upbringing.
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By: Andrés MartínezJID UNREALEASED ALBUM JID has disclosed that he is working on more songs than he previously anticipated, including two new albums and several collaborations with Lil Yachty.
During an Instagram Live on Tuesday (August 29), he declared, "Finna drop some music," teasing the release of a new two-pack. "Me and Yachty formed a group we dubbed the Blakkboyz, boom. We will therefore drop [it]. Forever n Day collaboration and features “Then, I think I'm going to give you guys an album before this Metro garbage comes out, kind of like the Forever & A Day project, " he said. “I'm just making announcements as quickly as I possibly can. I won't even be on this project anymore because I'm too old for it, but it will have 10 to 12 songs and will be called Forever & A Day. Oh well, I'm almost done.” Forever n Day teasers By responding to a tweet that implied they were only teasing a new song, JID clarified that the duo is engaged in a comprehensive project. Even though the pair hasn't released any songs together, they seem to have gotten along well in the recording studio. JID responded to Metro's tweet with "I love working with u brudda, it's an honor," to which he added, "Honor is mine family ." This year, Metro Boomin has a number of high-profile releases planned, including the as-yet-untitled album. The leader of Boominati is also getting ready to work on a joint project with Future, an Atlanta native with whom he has had a successful partnership for the past ten years. Think "Mask Off," "Jumpman," and "Where Ya At." By Victoria Valenzuela The renowned band, The Foo Fighters are back with a new album and a new member. After losing their drummer, Taylor Hawkins, in early 2022, they were left at a deficit for how they would continue as a band. Having formed in 1994, they have a pretty deep seeded history in music history. By developing such a big name and big fan base, the Foo Fighters have become one of the greatest bands of all time. With 10 studio albums and 11 number one hits, many thought this might just be the end of an era. The band introduced their new drummer, Josh Freese, on a live stream almost a year after the death of Taylor Hawkins. From the announcement, he was greatly welcomed by the music community. The Foo Fighters new album is being released on June 1st, while the single “Rescue” is available on all streaming platforms. Their tour also started May 24th, and many fans are looking forward to hearing their favorite band again amidst still paying tribute to the beloved drummer they lost.
By Alexander Cobbs Jerry Springer was a beloved television host who entertained audiences for decades with his irreverent humor and candid discussions on a range of topics. Born on February 13, 1944, in London, England, Springer moved to the United States as a child and later became a successful lawyer and politician before finding fame as a talk show host. His life and career were marked by both controversy and triumph, but he remained a beloved figure to millions of fans until his retirement in 2018.
Springer began his career in politics, serving as a councilman and later as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. He ran for governor of Ohio in 1982 but lost to incumbent Richard Celeste. After leaving politics, Springer became a television news anchor in Cincinnati before moving to Chicago to host a local talk show. It was there that he first gained national attention for his unorthodox style and controversial guests. In 1991, Springer launched "The Jerry Springer Show," which quickly became a hit with audiences across the country. Known for its outrageous guests and explosive confrontations, the show tackled controversial topics such as infidelity, drug addiction, and sexual orientation. Springer's trademark catchphrase, "Take care of yourself and each other," became a rallying cry for fans of the show, and he was widely admired for his dedication to promoting tolerance and acceptance. Despite criticism from some quarters for its sensationalism and lack of decorum, "The Jerry Springer Show" remained one of the most popular talk shows on television for over two decades. Springer's unique blend of humor, empathy, and frankness made him a beloved figure to millions of fans around the world. Throughout his career, Springer remained active in politics and social causes, serving as a commentator on current events and frequently speaking out on issues such as gun control, civil rights, and income inequality. He also wrote several books, including a memoir entitled "Ringmaster," in which he reflected on his life and career. In 2018, after over 4,000 episodes, Springer retired from hosting "The Jerry Springer Show." In a statement, he thanked his fans for their support and acknowledged the show's impact on popular culture. "I will always be grateful for the support and loyalty of our fans over the years," he said. "It has been an honor to be a part of your lives, and I look forward to continuing to share my thoughts and ideas with you in new ways." Jerry Springer will always be remembered as a television icon who brought laughter, tears, and thought-provoking discussions to millions of viewers. His legacy as a trailblazer in the world of talk shows and a champion for tolerance and acceptance will continue to inspire future generations for years to come. Thank you, Jerry Springer, for a lifetime of entertainment and enlightenment. By Victoria Valenzuela Singer Mac DeMarco recently released a new album called “One Wayne G,” which consists of 199 songs. However, it’s also considered 20 albums in one. The whole album is around 9 hours long. Something really unique about this is that most of the songs aren’t even finished. It is filled with unfinished tracks and samples which take his fans and listeners through a musical journey and creations from 2018-2023. DeMarco took a risk considering not everyone is going to have the time to listen to all 199 tracks, but this unique strategy could be a blueprint for other artists. There are also very few titles to these songs making it very different. They are numbered chronologically by date so that listeners can really understand the artist's journey to a greater extent. Being a DeMarco fan myself, I can definitely say this album is interesting and not like any concept I have ever seen before. However, I’m excited to see how he continues his musical career and releases through the rest of the year. If you have the time, I’d consider giving it a listen.
By Gabrielle Born What are the origins of April Fools’ Day? The origins are not well defined. There are many theories that try to explain the origins of this holiday. One theory is that this observance first occurred in 1392 in Geoffery Chaucer’s book called The Canterbury Tales. In this book, a fox tricks a rooster into closing his eyes so that the fox can stuff him in a bag, without the rooster looking, and eat him for lunch. Another theory for the origin of April Fools’ happened in France in 1582 when New Year’s Day was changed from April 1st to January 1st. The people who celebrated New Year's Day in April were known as “April Fools,” possibly becoming the origin of April Fools’ Day. Why do we celebrate a holiday like this? It is celebrated to be a fun day to pull pranks on people.
What pranks could we do?
By Victoria Valenzuela On March 17th, Taylor Swift opened her new tour, the “Eras Tour” in Glendale, Arizona at the State Farm Stadium. The whole show was about 6 hours long. Many fans had been waiting for this night for months. Paramore and Gayle were her openers and put on an amazing show to kick off the concert. On social media platforms, you could find many people live streaming the concert so people who weren’t there could enjoy it as well. Swift performed 44 songs from all 10 of her albums in a 4-hour set with almost no breaks. With amazing imagery and sets, she was able to put on a whole production that mirrored a lot of her old performances from years past. As talented as she is, she was able to truly make this a magical experience for a lot of people. She performed some of her saddest songs, such as “Illicit Affairs' ' and “Mirrorball”, along with some of her biggest bops like “You Belong With Me” and “Fearless”. Along with this, she played her first song she ever released on piano which was a very emotional experience for many. Fans explain that for them, it’s like “coming home”. They have grown up with her and she's an artist that has been such an influential and relatable icon for everyone. The full setlist:
“Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince,” “Cruel Summer,” “The Man,” “You Need to Calm Down,” “Lover,” “The Arche,” “Fearless," “You Belong With Me,” “Love Story,” “Tis the Damn Season,” “Willow,” “Marjorie,” “Champagne Problems,” “Tolerate It,” “…Ready for It?,” “Delicate,” “Don’t, Blame Me,” “Look What You Made Me Do,” “Enchanted,” “22,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” “Invisible String,” “Betty,” “The Last Great American Dynasty,” “August,” “Illicit Affairs,” “My Tears Ricochet,” “Cardigan,” “Style,” “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Bad Blood,” “Mirrorball” (solo acoustic), “Tim McGraw” (solo acoustic), “Lavender Haze,” “Anti-Hero,” “Midnight Rain,” “Vigilante S**t,” “Bejeweled,” “Mastermind,” and “Karma.” The fan base also made it such a great launch to the tour. With elaborate, creative costumes, exchanging friendship bracelets and much more, it shed a new light on the past and present of Taylor Swift. Two fans even had their wedding ceremony in the middle of the concert. Swift also broke records becoming the most ever attended concert in the female music performer industry with 70,000 people attending. This broke the record previously held by Madonna. As the tour extends through the rest of the year, many fans are excited to see what she has in store. By Diego Campbell If you are reading this article the day of its release, then congratulations: you have the exclusive right of reading these two days after the real, legendary Ides of March, March 15th. But wait. Why is it legendary? Where did the phrase come from specifically? What is it supposed to mean? It’s a strange story that had to do with bad omens, the moon, and a betrayed emperor and his biographer (not necessarily in that order). Here is exactly what it means to Beware the Ides of March. The Meaning To understand the Ides of March, we must know what an “ide” is. The Romans created dates called “marker days” which the rest of the month revolved around. The ides were one of these days. It represented the middle of the month; The fifteenth days of March, May, July, and October, and then the thirteenth for every other month. The ides were also the dates when the first new moon of the month came in. The Ides of March was originally the beginning of the new year on the Roman calendar. However, an emperor named Julius Caesar came along and moved the New Year two months earlier, turning January 1st into the big day. It’s ironic, then, that this date he simply brushed aside would become the end of his years. The Origin Julius Caesar was a Roman Emperor who had won the heart of the people. However, Caesar's fellow senators weren’t just normal people; they were conservative politicians who wanted to hold on to their own power. They believed that he would inevitably remove their privileges, and began planning to kill him. Fortunately for Caesar, he had hired a soothsayer who could tell the future and warn him of any threats. Sure enough, the soothsayer delivers a prophetic warning: The emperor will not live by the end of the month. His exact words: “Beware the Ides of March.” Luckily for the senators, Caesar safely made it through most of the month and deduced that the sayer was wrong. On the Ides exactly, he came to the soothsayer and said something along the lines of “The Ides of March are here, and I’m still alive.” The soothsayer retorted something along the lines of “The day’s not over yet.” Sure enough, Caesar walked into his council chamber and was subsequently stabbed by his own men. He wasn’t careful, despite all the warnings to beware, and bled out on the floor because of it. Flashforward a few centuries later, and Shakespeare is studying Latin. He comes across the tale of Caesar's brutal betrayal, and essentially asks “Is anyone going to make a play about this?” and not wait for an answer. The Legacy
Ever since Shakespeare wrote “Julius Caesar," and ever since the play has been subsequently performed, those five words, “Beware the Ides of March,” have gone down in history as a bad omen. Pop culture has branded the phrase as a warning, a day of doom, or a downfall by disaster, depending on how you slice it. Television shows have named episodes “The Ides of March” to signal a climax to a long running arc. George Clooney directed a political drama named “The Ides of March.” It's a story about dirty modern politics, similar to how dirty ancient politics ended Caesar’s reign. It’s a day of bad luck worse than a year of Friday the 13ths, and it makes for the perfect crescendo to a great story. The Present By the time this article comes out, the Ides of March have already passed, and I’m making a safe bet that you survived. We should all try to live our lives carefully, but ultimately the Ides are just like any other day. It’s important to learn from the past, but there’s no good reason to live in fear because of it. It may sound cool, and it makes for a great ominous warning in books and tv, but anything bad that could happen that day could happen on any other day too. So don’t just “Beware.” Be aware, and be ready. We don’t have any soothsayers who can tell us the future today, so we better take it easy. By Gabrielle Born Today is St. Patrick’s Day! It is the day where we wear green, consume Irish cuisine, and attend St. Patrick’s Day parades. But why do we do these things? We actually have these St. Patrick’s Day traditions because they originated from Ireland. We originally wore green to avoid getting pinched by leprechauns, which are small, mythical creatures from Irish folklore that like to pinch people for fun. Apparently, since leprechauns cannot see the color green, if we wear green, then leprechauns will neither be able to find nor pinch us. We eat Irish food like corned beef and cabbage, and drink Irish drinks like Guinness because this is what the Irish ate and drank. The first documented St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1771, by the American organization called The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and it was held to honor St. Patrick. But who was St. Patrick? St. Patrick was born in 386 AD. He is the patron saint of Ireland. But did you know he was actually not Irish, but British? In 402 at age 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders, brought to Ireland, and was enslaved. After being a slave in Ireland for six years, he escaped Ireland and fled back to Britain. Later in his life, he traveled back to Ireland to preach Christianity. He then died in 465 AD and is celebrated for bringing Christianity to Ireland. There are legends of St. Patrick “driving out snakes” from Ireland which is a metaphor claiming that he drove out the Pagans from Ireland. St. Patrick possibly used shamrocks, or four-leafed clovers, to represent the Holy Trinity.
So, what are some fun ways to celebrate this holiday?
By Diego Campbell Minecraft’s upcoming update, 1.20, may not have a promotional name like its predecessors, but players are starting to call it “amazing” and “game changing” anyway. Minecraft Live, a livestream where upcoming projects at Mojang are announced, revealed 1.20s nearly completed features such as camels, hanging signs, and a bamboo wood type. But in the past few weeks, Mojang has announced the rest of the update’s new additions. And if you thought 1.20 was random before, you haven’t seen anything yet. Armor Trims In a strange twist of fate, Mojang has added style to Minecraft. Armor trims and upgrades are ancient, uncraftable tablets that change the appearance or strength of a piece of armor. These tablets are found in structures that naturally generate around the world, such as shipwrecks and desert temples. Armor Trims use ingots or crystals like iron, gold, amethyst, or diamond to put patterns on armor. Armor Upgrades are tablets that, when used with netherite ingots, turn diamond tools or armor into their netherite variants. (This is the only type of armor upgrade in the game as of the writing of this article.) This change to the netherite upgrading process makes collecting this overpowered armor much harder, but players have praised the change regardless. Stronger armor should not be easy to create; so, many in the community have felt that adding this extra step is a much needed balance to the process. The Sniffer The Sniffer is the winner of the 2022 mob vote, where millions of players cast their votes to add it into the game. It is the first “ancient mob” Mojang has added to the game, which means that its species went extinct long ago in Minecraft's past but can be revived in the present. Players can accomplish this by finding its eggs in suspicious sand. The eggs hatch into snifflets before growing into gentle giants. The biggest reason to bring sniffers back is because they can snort the ground and discover ancient seeds. These seeds will grow into a beautiful prehistoric torchflower, which can add an exotic flair to your world. Disclaimer: Torchflowers do not emit light. Their sole purpose is decoration and orange dye making. Archeology The promise of Archeology was made over two years ago, and now it’s finally being fulfilled. The Archeology system adds the brush, suspicious sand, and pottery shards to the game. Suspicious sand can be found in the desert around desert temples and wells. Brushes can be used on suspicious sand to carefully pull out relics of the past, such as emeralds, diamonds, or pottery shards. Pottery shards are uncraftable, but they can be combined with bricks to create decorated pots. This allows players to uncover secrets of the past and to tell their own stories within their worlds. The Cherry Grove Biome
If you ever thought there wasn’t enough pink in your own Minecraft world, venture into the mountains to find a brand-new Cherry Grove Biome. The Cherry Grove Biome, or Cherry Blossom Biome, is a forest of pink trees whose petals fall to the ground. The more petals on the ground, the more beautiful the block will become. It’s a peaceful place filled with the most adorable of animals, including pigs, sheep, bees, and rabbits. The pink trees also add in a new type of wood. Wood blocks can be crafted into trapdoors, buttons, doors, signs, and more. And this pink colored block will certainly add an adorable style to your builds. Final Thoughts In an update as random as the 1.20 update, it’s strange to see so much interesting stuff being added. Sniffers and Archeology give players a look into Minecraft's past. Cherry Blossoms add new flavor to the game. Armor trims are just ancient styles, period. In all the chaos of this update, it’s nice to see that this chest of features is actually filled with gems. |
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