By Manha Masood

As Ramadan approaches once again, a quiet sense of reflection and renewal settles in, bringing with it moments of gratitude, togetherness, and a deeper appreciation for the simple joys of life. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is observed by millions around the world as a time of fasting, reflection, and togetherness. It is a period of personal growth, gratitude, and generosity, inspiring people to be more mindful of their actions and to foster a spirit of kindness and connection.

Fasting from dawn to sunset is a key part of Ramadan, offering a chance for renewal and gratitude. The day begins with a pre-dawn meal called suhoor and ends with iftar, the joyful evening meal where families and friends come together to break their fast, often starting with dates and water. More than just an act of restraint, fasting encourages a sense of appreciation and strengthens one’s ability to focus on positivity and self-improvement.

Beyond fasting, Ramadan is a time for strengthening community bonds. Many take the opportunity to give back through charitable donations or small acts of kindness, ensuring that those in need are supported and included. The month fosters a deep sense of togetherness as people come together for shared meals, meaningful conversations, and moments of reflection. It is also a chance to step back from daily distractions, set new goals, and embrace habits that promote personal well-being.

As Ramadan comes to an end, the festivities of Eid al-Fitr bring an atmosphere of joy.  Families and friends gather to celebrate with special meals, heartfelt exchanges of gifts, and acts of kindness. It is a time of sharing, as people contribute to charitable causes to ensure that everyone can take part in the celebration. The values highlighted during Ramadan—compassion, patience, and self-awareness—serve as lasting reminders to carry forward, enriching lives long after the month has passed.

By Jessica A. Dennehy

The language learning platform Duolingo announced that their mascot, Duo the Owl, had passed away on February 11th, 2025. Born Duo Keyshauna Renee Lingo in the year 1000 BC, Duo had been the face of the company since its founding in 2011. He will be remembered for his snarky social media presence and vaguely threatening manner of reminding platform users to complete their daily language lessons, having been known to call in the occasional ballistic missile strike and more commonly to physically abuse those who failed to maintain their lesson streak. His memory lives on through his former squeeze, the Scrub Daddy mascot, their plethora of mini owl-shaped sponge babies, his unrequited lover, pop star Dua Lipa, and the widespread terror he instilled in the language-learning community.

On Tuesday, February 11th, the platform released a statement on social media announcing Duo’s death, breaking the news by saying that, “Authorities are currently investigating his cause of death, and we are cooperating fully. To be honest, he probably died waiting for you to do your lesson, but what do we know?” At that time, the cause of his death remained undetermined, with the company respectfully asking that speculation—and celebration—be put on hold until more was known of Duo’s untimely end. “We know he had many enemies, but we kindly ask that you refrain from sharing why you hate him in the comments,” with Duolingo instead encouraging people to share their credit card information so the company could sign them up for its premium subscription service. “In his memory,” of course.

The TikTok announcing Duo’s death quickly garnered comments from various corporate accounts, including Hilton, Kleenex UK, Hallmark, Pop-Tarts, Utz Snacks, and Meow Mix. Others, like Chipotle, Netflix, and Xbox, reacted to the news on Twitter. Even Duo’s long-time, unrequited love interest, Dua Lipa, acknowledged the tragedy, tweeting, “Til’ death duo part.” During this period of mass mourning, condolences poured in from prominent institutions such as the European Space Agency and the World Health Organization, which assisted in the investigation by ruling out smallpox as the cause of death, stating, “The disease has been eradicated since 1980.” Social media users also grieved the loss of an icon, with many expressing shock and sadness—some even requesting the company restore their lost daily streaks in his honor.

As the investigation unfolded, major breakthroughs were made, some of which were announced via social media. Later on the 11th, Duolingo cryptically tweeted about a promising lead: “We are investigating Jimmy.” By Wednesday, officials had identified Duo’s cause of death, sharing a graphic video revealing that Duo was killed in a hit-and-run accident from a speeding Tesla Cybertruck in a parking lot. The collision launched Duo seemingly into the literal heavens, with the post offering a reward to anyone who could identify the driver.

In the wake of the tragedy, Duolingo updated its app store and social media profiles to mourn their beloved mascot, modifying his avatar to have crossed-out eyes and a lolling tongue. The platform also updated the statuses of its other characters to properly honor Duo. One TikTok featured Duolingo characters Lily and Zari solemnly carrying Duo’s coffin to the truck bed, sprinkling it with rose petals.

To commemorate his legacy, the company announced the sale of Duo plushies in coffin-shaped boxes, noting, “All Duo plushie purchases come with a free, limited-edition memorial coffin box, while supplies last.” In lieu of flowers, Duolingo urged people to complete their daily lesson in memory of Duo the owl, concluding with the statement, “We appreciate you respecting Dua Lipa’s privacy at this time.”

NOTE: Since the time this article was written, Duo has been resurrected. Not even death can stop him from ensuring your Spanish lessons have been completed.

By Lily Barr

When this is being published, it should be about a week after Quitters Day, which fell on January 17th this year. It marks the day when the majority of people have either quit or stopped their new years resolution. If you made a new years resolution and you’re still going strong then congratulations, but if not, then the rest of this article is for you!

One important thing is that if you ‘fail’, you can and should continue hacking away at your resolutions. For example, my new year’s resolution was to draw a little something everyday, even if it is just a small sketch. However, with school and extracurriculars I get pretty busy and don’t have time to do so. I could have thrown in the towel and given up, but instead I just drew longer the next day and continued. Even if you don’t “make it up,”  continuing your resolution is always better than giving up on it. 

This brings us to the next point of making new year’s resolutions that shouldn’t fall behind on. Since life is unpredictable it’s normal to not always be able to keep up with your resolutions, but a few of these parameters should help.  Generally, your goals should be as specific as possible, rather than, ‘I want to get stronger’ do something like, ‘I want to lift x amount of pounds’ or ‘I want to go to the gym/workout x amount of times a week’. Second, make something realistic by knowing both  yourself and your schedule. If it’s something that you’re pretty sure you can’t do amidst your busy life, you’re probably right. Third, create a plan to achieve your goal. I, personally, don’t think this is usually necessary, but, of course, it’s up to personal preference.

If you’re still struggling to keep up with your resolution, a good way to help is to have some form of accountability. This could be something like telling people about your goal, even posting it online with other people trying to accomplish the same or a similar goal. Next, you could track your progress. The exact method of doing this depends on the goal, but some way to show yourself that you’re making progress is a great way to stay motivated. Finally, reward yourself, have you kept up with your goal for a month or better yet 3? Then get a little something for yourself. You need to go all or nothing, treat yourself for doing good.

Hopefully, all of this will help you finally achieve your goals, but it doesn’t have to be a new year to improve yourself. Everything else mentioned here can be used for trying to achieve anything else, it’s just more topical to treat it as new year’s resolutions.

By: Jessica A. Dennehy

It was the holiday break, and naturally, my festive self plopped down on the couch, ready to binge a quick miniseries on Netflix. You know the type—something short, sweet, and easy to get through. After scrolling aimlessly for a good 30 minutes, dodging the algorithm’s disastrous picks, I was surprised that I still couldn’t find anything decent. For reference, I’m not a TV connoisseur—I don’t mind a mediocre storyline as long as the cast is easy on the eyes and there are subtitles to make me look vaguely intelligent. Yet, there I was, with my cup of hot cocoa now lukewarm, still unable to settle on something to watch. 

In a logical manner, I began to brood and sink into a deep stupor of non-festive contemplation, coming to a realization that television—once the golden medium for long-form storytelling—has become a victim of its own success. Shows are constantly delayed, beloved series get axed mid-arc, cliffhangers dangle indefinitely, and “successful” series just are left long past their story’s conclusion. The industry’s obsession with profit has eroded the essence of good storytelling. This is a generalization, I freely admit, as  binge-worthy content still hooks viewers, but with so many shows bogged down by delays, half-baked narratives, and bloated franchises, TV isn’t what it used to be.

A great cliffhanger keeps you hooked, grasping at plot threads and counting down the days until the next season drops. It’s a tried-and-true storytelling trick, woven into shows, stories, and even sprawling movie franchises. I’m all for it—in moderation. When a show’s follow-up season gets hit with repeated delays, that initial post-finale high sours into disinterest at best. Take Netflix’s Wednesday as Exhibit A. The first season dropped on November 23rd, 2022, and became an instant cultural phenomenon, with over 1.2 billion viewing hours within its first few weeks. I fully understand that quality television takes time. Season 1 took about 8 months to produce, and with the recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, plus cast and location changes, delays are inevitable. I’m not heartless—I get it. 

However, Season 2 was announced in January 2023 and then…nothing. Filming didn’t start until April 2024, and post-production means Wednesday Addams will not brood on our screens again until 2025. With the three-year gap it takes Netflix to release Wednesday Season 2, a newborn baby could learn to walk, talk, and develop a basic grasp of sarcasm. Momentum matters. In an era where new content drops every five minutes, waiting three years for a follow-up season is, to say the least, not a bucket-list item. By the time Season 2 rolls around, I’ll have to rewatch the first season just to remember who’s dating who and why everyone’s mad at that one guy (there’s always one guy, and I’m pretty sure he left the cast). Sure, I’ll be there with the rest of the world when it drops—but I won’t really be excited. That’s the problem with endless delays: the hype fades, the buzz fizzles, and the once-electric connection between audience and story flickers out. Characters get swapped out, plotlines feel stale, and the urgency that made a show feel unmissable? Gone. A cliffhanger is only as good as the resolution it promises, and if that resolution takes three years to arrive, don’t be surprised if the audience has already moved on to the next franchise on their watchlist.

Then there’s the increasingly common phenomenon of abrupt cancellations—TV’s equivalent of being ghosted. Writers, producers, and entire casts pour their hearts and souls into crafting intricate storylines and jaw-dropping finales, only for the rug to be yanked out from under us all. Take Kaos, our Exhibit B. The 2024 Netflix mythological drama had an ambitious, intricate plot and was the kind of show that didn’t just tell a story—it built an entire world. It had political intrigue, ancient gods having meltdowns, and Jeff Goldblum as Zeus. Yet despite the show’s undeniable potential and a growing fanbase, Kaos was canceled after one season. Why? Because it was too expensive. 

And this isn’t a one-off heartbreak—it’s part of a pattern. Streaming platforms have seen a 26% increase in one-season cancellations over the last five years, with one in four shows getting the axe before they even have a chance to hit their stride. Part of it comes down to money: before streaming took over, TV shows earned their keep through viewership—more hours meant more ad revenue. However Netflix, along with many other modern streaming platforms,  doesn’t work that way anymore. One account equals one unit of income, whether you watch 10 minutes of Is It Cake? or binge all of The Crown in a weekend. Netflix could have the most-watched show on the planet, and it wouldn’t necessarily mean more money in their pockets. Add in COVID, industry strikes, and general production slowdowns, and you’ve got a perfect storm of cancellations. But Netflix’s unique release strategy of dropping  entire seasons all at once means a new show has about four weeks to prove it was worth the investment before the algorithm shoves it into obscurity. And let’s be real—when a show like Kaos gets cut short despite Jeff Goldblum quite literally sitting on Olympus, it doesn’t just disappoint fans. It creates a cycle of distrust. Why invest in a new show if it might vanish before the story finishes? Why let yourself get attached to characters who might be snapped out of existence mid-arc? The pattern—greenlighting grand, ambitious shows, only to bail on them before they can deliver on their promise— leaves audiences resultantly feeling burned, creators feeling  stifled, and long-form storytelling beginning to feel more like a gamble than an art form.

On the flip side, shows that do survive past a few seasons often stumble into another classic TV pitfall: overstaying their welcome. Take Riverdale, for example—a series that began in 2017 with a compelling small-town mystery drenched in teenage drama. But as the seasons dragged on, so did the plotlines. Cults? Superpowers? Musical episodes every third Tuesday? By 2023, both the cast and Netflix audiences were collectively begging someone—anyone—to just wrap it up already. What started as a tight, moody teen noir devolved into a hallucinatory fever dream… and Riverdale is far from alone. The average critical rating for shows drops by 30% after the fourth season. For every Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul that sticks the landing, there’s a Scream Queens, Glee, or The Walking Dead that is shambling along long past its expiration date. 75% of shows that cross the five-season mark experience a double-digit drop in audience engagement, and 60% of long-running series report lower viewership with each subsequent season after the fourth. Yet, studios keep them alive like some sort of undead cash cow because spin-offs and reboots mean more content and more chances to monetize. 

Even when a show survives its debutant first season, its original storytelling has a tendency to overstay its natural lifespan. Some narratives are meant to be tight, finite, and satisfying. Sure, these extensions allow audiences to hold on a little longer to their favorite characters while studios get to keep the money printer whirring in the back, but these bloated franchises  rarely keep audiences genuinely invested. At a certain point, watching a once-beloved show hobbling past its prime feels less like entertainment and more like… well, watching Riverdale Season 7.

At the end of the day, the decline of binge-worthy, narratively satisfying TV isn’t due to lazy writers or distracted audiences—it’s because profits have taken precedence over storytelling. Delays, sudden cancellations, and endless spin-offs are the result when creative vision is sacrificed for the sake of quarterly earnings. TV still has the potential to move us—but that can only happen if studios stop treating shows as disposable content and start prioritizing genuine storytelling once again. Otherwise, the golden age of television will fade into nothing more than a distant memory, remembered only by those who recall when a season finale truly meant something.

By Manha Masood

The Met Gala, also dubbed as “fashion’s biggest night,” is an annual celebration and charity event for art, culture, and high fashion hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. The red carpet event, which preserves and celebrates fashion for the evening, has been walked by nearly every notorious celebrity, with clothing that must follow a very specific theme that parallels the honoured exhibit on display.

This year ushers in a new theme for the 2025 event entitled Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Many are overjoyed and excited for the inclusion and recognition that follow such a prestigious event. This theme directly highlights the innovation of black designers as well as the legacy they leave behind as designers. This groundbreaking event celebrates the history, artistry, and global influence of Black fashion, marking the first time the Costume Institute will feature an exhibition exclusively spotlighting designers of colour. It seeks to honour the creativity and resilience expressed through fashion as a medium of identity and cultural pride.

This theme probes the discussion of historical and cultural relevance, revealing ways in which people of colour have used clothes as a tool for self-expression, resistance, and identity formation.

The exhibition will display garments, photographs, and art illustrating Black style from the 18th century to the present day. Pieces by the likes of iconic designers- Virgil Abloh and Olivier Rousteing—will show side by side with historic attire such as an 18th-century velvet dress. This way of storytelling evidences Black creators’ rich, deep impact on the global fashion narrative.

Led by honorary co-chairs A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour, respectively, this year’s gala has in store a never-snoozing revelry to mark creativity with a conscience. Funders of the extravaganza evening include Louis Vuitton and Africa Fashion International; the exhibition space is on display from May 10 until October 26, 2025.

This year’s theme underlines fashion’s role in shaping cultural discourse, advancing diversity, and inspiring new conversations about representation, heritage, and much more.

By Manha Masood

  In German fables, the word Doppelgänger, which means double-walker, was typically considered a bad omen. German writers used it to describe a ghostly double or counterpart of a living person, a presence that brings misfortune or hardships. However, as the years pass, this term begins to take on a new shape and grow through pop culture into a new definition. When compared to the current frenzy of celebrity look-alike contests, it is now considered a compliment.

                  The trend originally began in October as hundreds gathered in Washington Square and Central Park to feast their eyes on the 20 or so lookalikes of the infamous Dune actor Timothée Chalamet. This intrigued many as an unexpected outcome of over 700 viewers came as a shock, as no one expected such a turnout, and the day was followed by police interference and multiple fines and arrests directly to some Timmys as well. And what catapulted this event into virality was that the actor himself ended up showing up and snapping a couple of selfies with fans.

            Furthermore, as time went on, this trend gained popularity across all social media platforms as people grew fascinated and entertained. Additionally, many began to replicate this event with their own favourite celebrities. From the baseball legend Shohei Ohtani to Gladiator 2 actor Paul Mescal.

The community’s creativity continued to prosper all around the globe.

                  And stakes began to rise as the Twisters star Glen Powell held a contest in his hometown, Austin, Texas, and rewarded the winner of the contest, judged by his mom, a chance to cameo in the remake of The Running Man, which Powell is currently filming in London, and a prize and personal video addressed to the winner, respectively.

           These lighthearted gatherings have grown into community events, bringing together a diverse group of people with shared interests and allowing for new friendships and bonds to be formed. After an era of social distancing and gathering restrictions, these events provide a new opportunity to reconnect with your community.

                 What’s more, all these contests are free; they are quite entertaining and don’t cost the participants a single dime, but rather just your presence. They can serve as a much-needed break for individuals navigating stressful or high-pressure days, acting as a joyful escape from the demands of daily life. 

                 These events may seem silly, but they in fact fulfill a deeper purpose. In a world that is increasingly isolated and disconnected, these types of events could be exactly what the world needs right now to heal and reconnect with society.

By Armita Rohani

Thanksgiving in 2024 will certainly be interesting. From election partisanship to expensive food, conflicting political opinions and awkward conversations, thanksgiving dinner will be far from boring. For some, it’s an extra two days off from school, and to others it has a deeper meaning (positive psychology anyone? It’s okay, Mrs. Bailey agrees with me). If you are lost or just hunting for new ideas/things to do, then this article is for you! Detailed below will be some very yummy recipe ideas, conversation starters to avoid those awkward silences, and things to be thankful for during this thanksgiving season.

Thanksgiving Foods to Stuff Your Mouth With:

1. Sweet Potato Casserole: buttery mashed sweet potatoes and a crunchy pecan topping.
2. Carbonara Mashed Potatoes: crispy pancetta, cheesy Parmesan, rich egg yolks and loads of black pepper
3. Parmesan Roast Turkey
4. Green Bean Casserole: bacon cooked with peppers, garlic and onion.
5. Sausage and Herb Stuffing: sausage and herb stuffing
6. Parker House Rolls 
7. Green Bean Cobbler
8. Baked Macaroni and Cheese 
9. Sheet Pan Crispy Mashed Potatoes: an entire sheet pan of super crispy mashed potatoes
10. Butternut Squash Soup Simmer: butternut squash in broth with buttery, sauteed onions, then puree and season
11. Apple Pie 
12. Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms: marinated mushrooms in olive oil and wine, then stuffed them with sweet Italian sausage and cheese.
13. Pecan Pie
14. Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake 
15. Sausage Cornbread Stuffing
16. Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip 
17. Sweet Potato Salad:  Feta, dried cranberries, and red onions
18. Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread: cranberry sauce and brie
19. Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrot
20. Sweet Potato Gratin

Conversation Starters That DON’T Involve Politics:

1. Did you read the newest issue of East Side News?
2. Any good books you’ve read so far?
3. What a rainstorm we’ve been having this month huh?
4. Did you know that ski season is coming up? You guys gonna hit the slopes this year?
5. When do you plan to put up your holiday decorations?
6. How’s work/school/college apps going?
7. What did you think about quarter 1?
8. Any other plans than this dinner?
9. If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go?
10. Any upcoming movies or shows you’re looking forward to watching?
11. Best flavor of pie?
12. Did you see the Bills v Chiefs game? Talk about a hero!
13. What are you most grateful for?
14. Did you exploit those Black Friday deals yet?
15. When will you go Christmas shopping?
16. If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life what would they be? (if you want to spice it up, ask: what would your death row meal be?)
17. If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would buy?
18. What’s your favorite vacation memory?
19. What’s the best gift you’ve received (tangible or intangible, your choice)?
20. If you could time travel, what time period would you visit?

Conversation Starters to Watch the World Burn:

Disclaimer, the questions here do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the author…they’re just questions if you really want to spice things up during dinner–they make the night interesting.

1. What did you think about the election?
2. Why do you think Harris lost?
3. Thoughts on Trump’s cabinet nominations?
4. How many genders are there?
5. Are you spiritually active?
6. Do you say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?
7. What do you think of the economy?
8. Does oversight have an “e” in it?
9. Would you have voted for Redmond Wright? 
10. Do you hate women, or do women hate you?

What to Be Thankful For (Because the World Didn’t End…Yet):

Feel free to snag some of these for your gratitude journals by the way…

1. Your family, friends, and pets
2. Your health
3. Peace where you live
4. A roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, a pillow, and a blanket
5. The clothes on your back
6. The food on your table
7. Having access to clean water
8. Being able to buy 20 t-shirts (seniors is Mr. Wright’s class will get it)
9. Being able to buy food/groceries
10. Having access to electricity
11. Having access to warm water
12. Being born in a time period where modern healthcare exists
13. Having ways for entertainment (back in my day, we watched paint dry), like movies, shows, games
14. Being able to read
15. Having access to education
16. Indoor plumbing 
17. GPS
18. Your car (and if you don’t have one, your parents’ car)
19. Diversity
20. Freedom