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OPINION | A Brief Exploration of the Plants vs. Zombies Series: its Faults, and its Successes
As a self-proclaimed enthusiast of mobile games, nothing speaks more dearly to me than the world of Plants vs. Zombies (PvZ), arguably the most successful mobile-centered game franchise to come out of the 2010s.
EDITORIAL | Nine New Year’s Resolutions for the VSB
The Editorial Board has a few changes in mind when we look ahead to 2024. However, we can’t implement them on our own. The shifts we would most like to see occur are district-wide, and require the help of the VSB’s Board of Trustees. That’s why we’ve conveniently created a list of nine new year’s resolutions for the VSB — one for each trustee on the board.
2024 Grammy Nominations
On Feb. 4, 2024, the 66th Grammy Awards will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with a host yet to be announced. The televised ceremony is airing live on CBS, and will be available for streaming on Paramount+.
HOLIDAY EXCLUSIVE: Q&A with Santa Claus
Nest reporter Austin Witter (12) speaks with Santa Claus on all things Christmas.
HOLIDAY EXCLUSIVE: Q&A with the Grinch
Nest reporter Jeffrey Chan (11) speaks with the infamous Grinch on all things Christmas.
Roaring Through The Neon: Unveiling the Thrills and Spills of the Inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix
Last month, Formula One's most anticipated grand prix was held in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas. For those unfamiliar, Formula One is the highest international car racing competition, where ten teams and 20 drivers compete in specialized, high-performance cars for the World Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.
OPINION | All I Want For Christmas Is Royalties
November first. You walk into the grocery store, hoping to score some discount Halloween candy. And then you hear it. The flashy 13-note opening that signals the beginning of the holiday season. Year after year, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” plays from millions of speakers across the globe. We’ve all heard the song, with its stellar vocals and pleasing melody. But how did it come to be?
REVIEW | Why Our Music Taste is Objectively Better Than Yours: A 2023 Music Review
Despite Drake releasing an album, 2023 was actually a fantastic year for music. While this year might not have been for all the dogs, there were quite a few mainstream artists who released solid albums. However, listening to all of those will leave a blank space in your head. Therefore, we would like to review some of the albums that you definitely should have listened to this year but have probably never heard of.
REVIEW | Six Movies for the Holiday Season
Here are six movies to cozy up to over the winter break. Happy holidays!
REVIEW | Five Laptop Options for High School Students
With the holiday season approaching soon, students may be considering the purchase of a new device in the new year. However, prices for these devices are usually overly expensive. Here are some laptops that are affordable, reliable, and highly productive for school purposes.
Gobi Bear? Or Nowhere? Soon to be Extinct in Mongolia
The Gobi bear is a unique species of brown bear living exclusively in the Mongolian Gobi Desert. The cute but scraggly-looking bear, also known to the Mongolians as “Mazaalai”, is critically endangered, with less than 40 individuals left in the wild.
Sea Star Arms: An Exciting New Revelation
For years, scientists have been puzzled over the anatomy of these strange creatures. Sea stars, with no recognizable head, were thought to not have one. But new research published on Nov. 1 in the journal Nature reveals the complete opposite.
Photographic Evidence Confirms Survival of Attenborough’s Long-Beaked Echidna
A team on an expedition to Papua New Guinea has captured conclusive evidence of an endangered species of mammal previously feared to be extinct. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), named after the British nature broadcaster, is one of only four living species of echidnas. “[It] has the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater, and the feet of a mole.” said Dr. James Kempton, a biologist and expedition lead from the University of Oxford.
RIP Omegle: The Demise of the Online Chat Service
The online video chat service Omegle was shut down on Nov. 9. This followed the settlement of a 2021 lawsuit regarding the sexual abuse of minors on the platform, which was originally created in 2009 by then 18-year-old Leif K-Brooks.
Safety Declaration Signed At First International AI Safety Summit
The United Kingdom government hosted the first international artificial intelligence safety summit in Bletchley Park on Nov. 1 and 2.
Europe’s New Digital Identity Wallet
On Nov. 8, the EU’s Internal Market Commissioner, Thierry Breton, announced a deal with Members of European Parliament (MEPs) for a European "digital identity wallet". According to Breton, this initiative promises every EU citizen “a secured e-identity for their lifetime”.
SEC Delaying Bitcoin ETF: Something Bigger at Play?
On Nov. 17, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) again delayed an application by the investment firm Franklin Templeton on the much-anticipated Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF).
After the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes: Six Months of No Work
On May 2, the Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) strike began. On July 14, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined the writers, leading to a combined strike that lasted until Nov. 9.
President Xi Meets with American Business Titans
On Nov. 15, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the United States. His visit aimed to strengthen economic ties and ease geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
ANALYSIS | Box Office Underperformance May “Snap” Marvel Out of Existence
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) first debuted in 2008 with the release of Iron Man, and after 15 years and earning more than $28 billion at the global box office, the franchise appears to be sinking under its own weight.