My take On Gossip Girl

By Milling Galloway

After spending my time the past two months on the infamous show Gossip Girl, it is clear that this is one of the best shows I have ever truly seen. The characters are what stick out the most. On the Upper East Side of New York is where the untouchable elite lives. Serena Vanderwoodsen or Blake Lively plays her role to the exact. Going off the deep end and running away from her problems give depression-like emphasis. Blair is controlling, selfish, and devious. Her only true love is Chuck Bass, the heir to the Bass industry fortune. His young childhood tragedies caused him to be on and off horrible acts, but he has a great heart. Young Nate Archibald is a fine young man who does get into some trouble. He has great intentions, but it seems like his grandpa controls his destiny. Big and well-known families seem to control everywhere in the city. Chuck is the richest and most powerful by far, but money is not a problem. Over in Brooklyn, The Humphreys live peacefully and happily but money can be a problem. Dan is a very talented up-and-coming writer. His father Rufus is a very gifted musician. Well was. Jenny Dan’s sister is a well-known queen of Constants school- she is also very good at fashion and later leaves to pursue it. All seemingly good people don’t always do what’s right. No matter where you are from or the amount of money you have. Lieng, cheating, and scandals rule this action-packed series. Friends seem to leave and always come back. I personally really loved watching all six seasons of this show. It always seemed to be very intriguing and I always wanted to watch more and more. What was it that brought me in? To be honest besides the beautiful girls, such as Blake lively. I don’t know. Possibly the constant drama that a person could only dream of in some far far away land. Money like that has never really been seen. I also wonder if people like that even exist. Kids go to school and do whatever they want and the second they get into real trouble their parents bail them out with their endless amounts of money. Overall this show was a wonder to watch and I loved watching it.

EPIC: the New Hamilton

By: Lottie Bynum

Casual musical enjoyers of musicals often say Hamilton was their introduction into theater and the performing arts. Due to its catchy songs and historical plot retold in a modern way through theater and rap, it caught many people’s attention. Now there is a new playwright looking to tell the story of The Odyssey in musical form. Jeorge Rivera-Herrans started writing EPIC: The Musical In 2019 as part of a project for college. Over the past two years, he has since finished it and finished the recordings of the songs which have gone up on Spotify and other music platforms. 

The true work of completing such a task as this is aided by TikTok and YouTube where Rivera-Herrans posted his progress on the musical and did casting calls to find his voice actors and singers for his recordings. EPIC is very similar to Hamilton, but it’s a much more modern and pop-culture way of writing, casting, and producing unlike Hamilton which Lin Manuel Meranda had more professional casting and producing processes. Because of the casting calls for singers and voice actors as well as Rivera-Herrans posting updates, snippets, and easter eggs of the musical while in progress and opening up about how he wrote it and what inspired him, EPIC has gained a large following on TikTok supporting the creator and his musical; A modern way to get his audience involved in the musical. While EPIC isn’t yet at the same fame of Hamilton it isn’t a stage musical where they perform it on stage, rather it’s the collection of songs other creators can build upon with their own visuals such as animation or creating their own stage performance for the songs. These two plays have many similarities in that they are both historical events/stories turned into musicals for the modern day audience and push each other forward with their growing followings. Overall, EPIC has a larger relation with young adults because of the experience of the making of the musical being so public on TikTok and the original  content it’s based on being more well known as well as the sheer musicality in the production.

Is Honesty always the best policy?

By: Campbell Cromer

It is often said that honesty is the best policy, and honesty is considered one of the basic rules of life. But is honesty always the best policy? Yes, there are times where full disclosure is scary and can be dangerous to use, but honesty it means to create relationships and build trust among people and to help with personal growth and development.

First, honesty inspires trust. We demonstrate reliability to the people around us when we are honest. Trust forms a perfect foundation for meaningful relationships, whether personal, professional, or anything else. It is very difficult to regain trust it has been destroyed by dishonesty. What may seem like a harmless white lie in the moment can easily fall into something much bigger and destroy both connection and reliability. Honesty, on the other hand, fosters transparency, making others to feel safe with you and confident in your words.

While honesty is widely valued, there are instances where dishonesty can have a positive purpose. Some white lies, for example, can save relationships or spare someone unnecessary pain. In dangerous and high stake situations, such as protecting others from harm, dishonesty would be the best choice. Similarly, small lied can maintain harmony, like complimenting a friend’s efforts even if they aren’t the best. Though honesty remains the best option, thoughtful dishonesty, used very rarely, can sometimes show kindness, safety, or compassion but that is very rarely true. 

Some people argue that dishonesty can sometimes spare feelings or avoid conflict. However, lies often bring unintended consequences, creating larger issues in the long run. Even when the truth hurts, it allows for thought and resolution. Lies, by contrast, trap us in a life of discomfort and lies.

Ultimately, honesty is about integrity not just in how we treat others, but also in how you live with yourselves. A life built on truth, even with  challenges, is far more worth living than one covered in lies and deceit. Honesty isn’t just the best policy; it’s the only path to real connection and a long lasting life of personal growth.

Top 5 Fast Food Places

By: Morgan Aycock

  1. Zaxby’s 

I could eat Zaxby’s everyday. I always get the big zax snack. Their fries are probably the best fries from any fast food place. Zax sauce is so good and goes perfectly with everything they have. They also have the best salad. They used to have raw fries which they should bring back because I remember always getting them when I was younger. 

  1. Chick-Fil-A

There isn’t anything bad from there. I like that they don’t only have chicken on the menu; they have a nice variety of different choices to choose from. They have healthier options like salads, wraps, and fruit. They probably have the best mac and cheese out of any fast food restaurant, and they have by far the best ranch. I also like their waffle fries because no other fast food place has those kinds of fries and it makes them unique. They have the best breakfast out of any other place, but my only complaint would be that it ends at 10:30 and not 11, because who wants to eat lunch at 10:31? They are overall the nicest fast food place and have good, Christian morals and values.

  1. Bojangles

Bojangles is at #3 because they don’t have a nice variety on the menu, but their food is good quality. Their Southern style chicken is one of my favorites. The seasoning is something that you will not find at any other fast food place. This really sets them apart from any other fast food place. Their breakfast is also very good; one of my favorites is the Cajun chicken biscuit. The biscuit is buttered perfectly, but also has a sweet taste, which makes it a good combination of sweet and salty. Their food is also very fresh and they have some of the best honey mustard that you can get out of anywhere.

  1. Cook out

Cook out has a great variety on their menu. They have from barbecue to burgers, so they have something for everyone. They also have some of the best milkshakes you can get anywhere. The portion sizes are very good and the meals fill you up. The prices are very affordable, and the portion sizes makes it a great deal. They also add a good Southern aspect to the menu from barbecue to hush puppies to banana pudding milkshakes. 

  1. Sonic 

Although sonic is not one of my favorites, they have a very good variety on the menu. They also offer slushies, which fast food restaurants often don’t have. Their drinks can be customized to anything you want added to them. The carhops are something that no other fast food place has and makes Sonic unlike any other place.

The Top Five Best Christmas Foods 

By: Lucy Buxton

“I didn’t look like this before the holidays”. How often do you hear this from at least five family members you haven’t seen since summer? Well, zi heard this a lot over this years Christmas break. Needless to say. It really does make you feel a little bit better about indulging into these wonderful seasonal foods. I will be naming my top holiday foods…once again, in no specific order.

Coming in strong, Gingersnaps. My next door neighbor, Cammy Chandler always makes the most mouth watering cookies. They are thin and crisp and go perfectly with some vanilla ice cream. They are so good that my parents used to make us put the last of them on a plate for “Santa” but we know who really ended up enjoying them.

Up next, my moms breakfast casserole. We have this every Christmas morning and it just starts the day off on an even higher note than it already is on. It consists of sausage, egg, bread, and a layer of cheese across the top. It simply never gets old.

Another seasonal food that never fails to get me in the right Christmas spirit is Peppermint Bark. I have no all time favorite brand that makes this, I pretty much enjoy every kind of it. I feel like this is agreeable amongst most people. How could you not like chocolate plus a thin layer of peppermint? 

Adding on to my previous comment about Peppermint Bark, I enjoy all the different seasonal candy bags that brands make. Such as red and green M&M’s or Christmas tree Reese’s Peanut Butter cup. These brands really know how to get customers in the spirit and to get them to spend money, even if their candy tastes the exact same as their normal candy it’s just a different color or shape. 

Lasty, at number five, I’m going to put in asparagus. I know this is completely different then the last for items I just named but for some reason the asparagus at my grandma’s house on Christmas night is just different. It pairs so perfectly with the steak and makes me feel a little bit better about how bad my eating habits have gotten over the long break.

Ranking Social Media Platforms

By: Olivia Cogswell

People all around the world have had a growing obsession with social media platforms. New ones have been created to replace old ones or to even copy and modify current ones. Children, teens, and adults go on social media as a way to cure boredom, and even get so drawn into what they are watching due to algorithms that personalize each account to the person. However, certain social media platforms are superior to others. 

Pinterest comes in sixth place. Pinterest is a platform in which people use to get craft ideas, recipes, clothing styles, and much more. It is customizable to the user and what they are most interested in when using the app. This is a good platform because you are able to create boards with different category names so that people can find it later. It also allows you to follow people, so that you can gain inspiration from their boards. However this platform is not very entertaining. It easily boards off and is not something people click on often to fill their free time. Yes, it is helpful in some ways, it is not one that draws users attention unless they are looking for specific information. So, Pinterest is used less for pleasure and more for guidance and ideas. 

Twitter comes in fifth place. Twitter has been around since 2006, and since then has been renamed to X. Its popularity has also decreased since it was created due to other platforms created to modify it. People go on there to share their thoughts and spread news. Majority of users are older and had it when it was first created. Although it is entertaining to hear people’s opinions on certain subject matters, and see memes that have been spreading for years. It is not a platform that keeps many people entertained for periods of time. 

Facebook comes in fourth place. Facebook has also been around since 2004. It was one of the first popular social media platforms. Although many people do have Facebook accounts, its main audience is adults. Parents usually post updates of their kids, and many schools keep accounts in order to keep parents informed. So it is multi-use. Due to its change in order to keep up with competing platforms, Facebook added reels which allow users to stay entertained on the app. This increases its popularity with different age groups and brings the platform up in the ranking. Not only does it allow entertainment for adults, but it tries to appeal to younger generations who need to swipe. 

Instagram comes in third place. Instagram is a multi-use platform. There is so much that can be done. People can post photos, watch reels, interact with others, and keep informed. Due to the setup of the platform, it appeals to so many different audiences compared to facebook. It provides entertainment and can also allow people to start small businesses with the connectivity of the app. Also the security on the app, allows many people to feel comfortable posting. They give you access to make accounts private as well as turning off comments, blocking certain people, and limiting those who can contact you personally. 

Snapchat comes in second place. Snapchat is very similar to any texting app. Although it allows you to send pictures and videos to your friends and keep up to date with them. It allows you to pick and choose who has access to message you which makes it safer and better. Snapchat also has its form of reels, which many people are entertained by due to the fact that it is customized by which video you’re interested in. Users can also post on there and can choose who can see what. Snapchat also allows you to save pictures and videos to memories which allows you to go back and watch the things you have been up too through the years. 

TikTok comes in first place. Tiktok is a steadily growing platform. It allows you to watch and make videos and share them with friends. It is also a great time killer and keeps people entertained by personalizing the for you page to individuals. It also has created the TikTok shop which allows you to see certain items on your feed and click and buy, these items are usually much cheaper than other store brands. The shop is also a great way for small businesses to grow companies and spread their brand around by making descriptive videos and posting them. 

Top 5 Sodas

By: Addie Griffin

Everyone has a favorite soda, whether they want to or not, and everyone enjoys them. There are many different flavors and kinds for everyone to enjoy. Today, I will be ranking my top five favorite sodas. 

5. Starting at number five is Sprite. This soda is a classic. It is very refreshing and fizzy, and the lemon-lime flavor adds the perfect amount of sweetness. Sprite is also caffeine free which can be seen as another plus. However, It can seem bland to me at times, which is why it is in the number five spot. 

4. At the number four spot is Pepsi. Many people may think Pepsi doesn’t deserve a spot on this list, but I think otherwise. It is sweeter and has less fizz than Coke which I personally prefer. It is sugary and bubbly and tastes great especially paired with a burger and fries.

3. At the number three spot is Cheerwine. Cheerwine may not be as well known as Pepsi or Sprite, but I personally think it is better than both of them. It has an amazing cherry flavor that is very sweet, which I look for when drinking a soft drink. It is not easy to find everywhere, so whenever I see one I just have to get it. 

2. At the number two spot is Cherry Coke. In my opinion, Cherry Coke is so much better than the original Coke that everyone loves. The cherry flavoring makes it taste fancier and gives it the sweetness that is missing from the original Coke. The cherry flavoring isn’t too little or too much, it’s the perfect refreshing amount! 

1.Now for the overall best soda is Dr. Pepper. No other drink comes close to how unique and flavorful it is. It’s not like regular coke or a cherry soda, it is something completely different. Dr. Pepper is rich, sweet and bold all at once. I think it has the most flavor of any soda which is way more than just sugar and fizz. Dr. Pepper is the ultimate soda. It’s different, delicious, and always hits the spot. 

Carolina Panthers End of the Season Review

by: Knox Buxton

The Carolina Panthers won their season finale 44-38 in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons. I enjoyed watching the game and I was happy with the way Bryce Young performed to end the season. Young passed for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns, he also rushed for 24 yards and 2 touchdowns. He made the jump from being labeled as one of the biggest busts during the beginning of this season to being 1st among Quarterbacks in total touchdowns in weeks 16-18. Bryce Young also had a top 10 passer rating and no turnovers in the final 3 weeks.

The Panthers main problem to end this season was their defense. Losing Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson hurt the defense a lot to start the season and it didn’t get any better at the end when Jaycee Horn went out for the last week. Horn was really the only good part of the defense this season because he was the only one to get selected to participate in the pro bowl. I think if the Panthers can build up the defense this offseason and add an elite wide receiver to pair with Bryce Young, they could definitely make a run and surprise a lot of people next season. If I was the General Manager of the Carolina Panthers, I would look to add Tee Higgins or Garrett Wilson if we could get one of them for the right price. I would also go out and draft the best defensive players available in the draft and make sure the players on the defense that got hurt are good to go to start next season. The Panthers have the 8th pick in this year’s draft and there are a lot of ways it could go when it comes to making their selection but ultimately, I think it will need to be a defensive player. Their defense finished at the bottom of the league in pretty much every category, but I don’t think it should be super hard to fix. In conclusion, even though Carolina finished with a 5-12 record, I think the future is bright and Bryce Young is the guy for them.

What is the Best Fruit?

By: Stirling Tindal

          One of the best tasting and most nutritious sources of food is fruit. Today I will be comparing fruit and determining which is the best. 

          Some of the best fruits are strawberries, oranges, pomegranates, grapes, apples, and bananas. Each of these fruits have an extremely juicy and satisfying taste. I will be judging these off of their ease of eating, taste, and how filling they are. 

          Bananas are a great fruit in sports because of their potassium. They are very easy to eat with only having to take off the peel. It has more of a bland taste but still a good flavor. Bananas will fill you up pretty well and are great for more situations than just being hungry.

          I never had a pomegranate until recently but was very surprised as to how it tasted. It is one of the sweetest fruits I’ve had. The only problem with it is that you have to eat around little seeds. Plus there is not much fruit around the seed so it doesn’t really fill you up at all. Pomegranates are still a great fruit but the seeds are the main thing holding it back.

          Grapes are a great snack and can be frozen for a different taste. I prefer grapes thawed and I also only like purple grapes. I’m not a fan of the sour taste or the green and the crunchy feeling of the frozen ones. They are very easy to eat and have a great taste however they are not something you’ll want to eat to fill you up.

          Apples are a classic fruit. When you think of the word fruit you think of apples. There are many different kinds of apples. A good apple is one of the best things ever but it’s very rare to find it. They are super easy to eat and can fill you up pretty well, but their taste can be very bland or perfect. Most of the time it is bland and that’s what holds down apples from being the best.

           Oranges are one of the best tasting fruits. All oranges taste good unlike apples. Oranges also will fill you up if it’s the right size. It would be the perfect fruit if it weren’t for its breakable shield that it has for a skin. It shouldn’t take me more than five minutes to open a fruit and stab the inside of my fingernail with its skin. Oranges are so close to being the best if it had no peel.

          Strawberries are magnificent. There is no other way to describe them. Strawberries’ taste is so sweet and the texture is perfect. They are one of the easiest to eat and have a little stem to hold them. On top of that, it is probably the most filling of fruit I know. Strawberries are nearly perfect and are by far my favorite fruit. If I see a platter full of every fruit, I will be eating all of the strawberries first.

Call of Duty Black Ops 2

By: Braelen Lewis

Call of duty is a game that has been around for quite awhile, back when the Xbox 360 was the newest console. This game holds a special place in my heart due to the great memories I made playing it with my friends and the great stories I watched unfold playing their campaigns. My first and favorite call of duty game I have ever played is call of duty black ops 2 which I love so dearly due to the great campaign and extremely fun multiplayer. Most importantly though the thing that made this game so important to me was the zombies mode because it was the first one I ever played and the best. I can remember vividly in my mind playing that game with my brother all the time and each and every map. My favorite map was called transit which often received a lot of hate but to me it was the perfect map due to how different it was to its counterparts. It was so different due the fact that instead of just one area to play in you could get on the bus and travel to individual different smaller parts of the map each with their own secrets to uncover. Another aspect of the game that I loved so much was the unique weapons in the game compared to the newer games because back then there were no bad weapons each were unique and had their own aspects that made them so unique to use. Certainly the newer games that have come out in the recent years do have their own kinks that make them fun to play but they could never recapture the atmosphere that was call of duty black ops 2. This game will forever hold a special place in my heart as my favorite call of duty game of all time.