Clemson Tigers Struggling

By: Burns Bateman

The Clemson Tigers are facing a rough stretch this season, and several factors make this losing run particularly striking. After years of dominance, the Tigers’ offense has noticeably declined: they’ve shifted from elite quarterback play and strong offensive line protection to a unit marked by inconsistency, particularly in the passing game and receiver development. Meanwhile, the defense once a consistent strength has suffered lapses in execution, discipline and energy, with multiple observers noting a startling loss of hunger and edge. Turnovers have emerged as another worrisome trend; the Tigers are among the worst in their conference in lost fumbles and turnover margin, which has translated into opponents gaining hundreds of points off mistakes.  Add in coaching and schematic issues analysts describe the offense as at times obsolete the line as overmatched, and the system as improperly aligned with the players at hand. Perhaps most damaging is the mismatch between expectations and reality: this program entered the season as a national title contender, predators of top talent and storied success, yet they now find themselves staring at their worst start in decades, forced to “reset goals” rather than chase championships.  Ultimately, Clemson’s current losing season isn’t the result of one isolated problem it’s the cumulative effect of fading culture, systemic breakdowns on both offense and defense, and uncharacteristic mistakes that have turned once-routine wins into questionable performances. The talent remains, but the cohesion, urgency and execution do not—and until those intangible elements are restored, the Tigers are going to struggle to reclaim their elite status.

Why Christmas Is the Best Holiday

By: Benson Elmore

Let’s be honest — every holiday has something fun about it. Halloween has candy, Thanksgiving has food, and New Year’s Eve has parties. But when it comes to pure happiness and good vibes, Christmas is the best holiday out there. Nothing else even comes close.

The Whole Vibe Is Amazing

As soon as December starts, the world feels different. The lights go up, Christmas songs play everywhere, and everything suddenly feels cozy and cheerful. You can’t help but smile when you see houses glowing with decorations or smell cookies baking in the kitchen. Christmas doesn’t just happen on one day — it’s an entire season of excitement.

It’s All About Giving

One of the best parts of Christmas is the giving. Sure, getting gifts is awesome, but giving them feels even better. There’s something really nice about finding the perfect present for someone you care about. Plus, people seem kinder this time of year — donating to charities, helping neighbors, and spreading positivity.

The Food Is Next-Level

No holiday feast beats Christmas dinner. There are cookies, hot chocolate, roast dinners, and desserts that only come around once a year. And the best part? You can start eating “Christmas food” weeks before the actual day. No one judges you for it — in fact, they’ll probably join you.

The Music Never Gets Old

Christmas music is a whole genre on its own. From Mariah Carey to Michael Bublé, these songs never fail to make you feel festive. Even if you pretend to be tired of them, once “Jingle Bell Rock” starts playing, you’re probably humming along without realizing it.

It’s Full of Memories

Christmas is also about tradition — decorating the tree, watching classic movies, and spending time with family. Every year feels a little different, but those small traditions always make it special. It’s a time when people slow down and actually enjoy being together.

At the end of the day, Christmas stands out because it brings people closer. It’s cozy, it’s joyful, and it reminds us what really matters — love, kindness, and connection. That’s why, no matter how old you get, Christmas will always be the superior holiday

Is AI Taking Over the World a Good Thing?

By: Andrew Howle

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a sophisticated branch of computer science that creates machines capable of simulating human thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning. It was first developed in 1956 but did not come to light until recently, with the emergence of ChatGPT and OpenAI. These computational machines have the ability to obtain knowledge more efficiently and effectively than humans in a faster and more sophisticated manner. The chatbots learn every time a command is imputed into a site. However, these chatbots are not always right with the answer given to our question. These answers sometimes can be completely wrong or the AI can interpret the question wrongly, leading to a false answer.

Although AI makes mistakes, it becomes more enhanced every day, leading to fewer errors. This super knowledge or super weapon could be the utter downfall of our society. Each country is not going to end the development of intelligence, because another country will catch ahead. This ideology is most noted from the Bible, being called the Problem of Moloch. This problem is described as a situation where groups are driven to destructive outcomes through a series of rational, self-interested decisions, even though no one wants the bad result. An example of this is competitive athletes who inject steroids into their bodies to gain a competitive edge over their opponents. However, this edge leads to health problems, notably in the heart down the road. These steroids are not used by many, but since people have the opportunity to gain an edge many take the shot. This is similar to AI with countries trying to outdo each other with their intelligence. Even though sophisticated AI could lead to job loss and machines taking over the economic system. Countries are still beginning to develop the usage of AI.

Another reason AI is being widely used is the lucrative aspect of intelligence. Companies like OpenAI are making billions of dollars from the usage of AI. There are web companies like Grammarly that have added chat bots to do the work for papers. A notable example in Sumter is the AI drive-thru at Bojangles, taking your order. This AI is taking the job of a human who could be earning money. Although AI seems to be helpful now. It is a very harmful thing for the future. I think that the development needs to be capped so it does not become over humans one day. 

Dancing with the Stars Week in Review

Adelaide Eaddy

  1. The night started off with a wonderful Wicked themed open number. This dance was choreographed by Chris Scott. They then announced the guest judge of the week was the director of the upcoming movie Wicked: For Good, Jon M. Chu. This week’s scoring will be combined with last week’s since last week there was no elimination. Each couple will dance to a song from the movie Wicked.
  2. The first couple was Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold. They danced a contemporary to the song “The Wizard and I.” They scored a 28/40, with all four judges giving a 7. Their combined score was a 58/80.
  3. The next dance of the evening was a jazz dance, performed by Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy. They danced to the song “What is this Feeling.” They scored a 35/40 with Carrie Ann, Derek, and Bruno giving 9s, and Jon giving an 8. Their combined score was a 70/80.
  4. The third duo was Robert Irwin and Witney Carson performing a jazz to “Dancing Through Life.” They received a score of 36/40 with all judges giving 9s. Their combined score was a 71/80.
  5. The fourth couple of the night was Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas. Mark choreographed a Quickstep to the song “Popular.” This dance received a score of 39/40 with Carrie Ann, Jon, and Bruno giving 10s, and Derek giving a 9. Their combined score was 72/80.
  6. The next dance of the evening was a Rumba by Dylan Effron and Daniella Karagach. They danced to the song “I’m Not That Girl” which received a 32/40 with each judge giving an 8. Their combined score was 69/80.
  7. The next dance was another jazz, performed by Andy Richter and Emma Slater. They danced to “One Short Day,” which received a 27/40 with Carrie Ann, Jon, and Bruno giving 7s, and Derek giving a 6. Their combined score for both nights was 51/80.
  8. The seventh couple of the night was a contemporary to “Defying Gravity” by Elain Hendrix and Alan Bersten. They were given a score of 36/40 with all four judges giving 9s. Their combined score was 66/80.
  9. The eighth dance was a foxtrot by Jen Affleck and Jon Ravnik. They danced to the song, “As Long asYou’re Mine.” They scored a 32/40, with all of the judges giving them an 8. Their combined score was 61/80.
  10. The next dance was an Argentine Tango to “No Good Deed.” This dance was performed by Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov. They received the score of 36/40, with all judges giving a 9. This makes their combined score a 65/80.
  11. The last dance of the evening was a Rumba to the song “For Good.” This dance was performed by Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa. They received a 39/40 with Carrie Ann, Jon, and Bruno giving 10s, and Derek giving a 9. Their combined score was 71/80.
  12. After the last dance all of the couples went to the floor for elimination. The hosts announced every safe couple until there were three left. The last three were Andy and Emma, Scott and Rylee, and Dylan and Danielle. The couple who ended up being sent home, with the lowest votes and scores combined, was Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold.

Tornado Outbreak

By: Paige Sanders

Between March 13th and 16th, 2025, an omnipresent tornado outbreak affected the Midwest and the East. There were 114 tornados across 8 states that rained terror in multiple towns. This is enough to classify it as a “historic outbreak.” 

It all started on March 13th when an extreme weather warning was issued for areas in the Midwest. On March 14th, multiple tornadoes touched down. Ranging from EF2 to EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The next 2 days were a living nightmare for the towns that were issued  warnings. By March 16th, 43 people were to be presumed dead from these unpredictable storms. 

America is estimated to have 1,200 tornadoes per year, the majority of them happening in the Midwest, which has become a tornado brewing ground. Due to the wide fields, warm winds being blown in from the Gulf of Mexico, and cold winds battling them from the Rocky Mountains, the Midwest has been the perfect place for a tornado to form. This has given states in the Midwest the nickname “Tornado Alley”.This tornado outbreak in particular was said to be caused by climate change, the Gulf of Mexico has been gradually warming up creating the winds that have been the cause of these “supercell” storms. Scientists believe that outbreaks like these could become more frequent if we don’t stop these rising temperatures. In order to prevent these supercell storms, we need to fight the climate change battle before it becomes irreversible. 

Vacation

By: McClain Segars

I have been able to visit Florence, Italy twice and it has been the best experience both times! Once with my family and the second time with my school, so here are a few tips!

Walk Everywhere: Florence is a small city, and the best way to experience it is on foot. Plus, you’ll stumble upon hidden gems that you might miss if you’re driving. Learn Some Italian Phrases: Locals appreciate it when you try a little Italian. Even just saying “Ciao” (hello) or “Grazie” (thank you) goes a long way.
Skip the Line Tickets: If you’re visiting popular spots like the Uffizi or the Accademia (where the David statue lives), book your tickets online in advance to avoid the long lines.
Don’t Rush: Florence is meant to be savored, not rushed. Take your time, enjoy the food, the art, and the atmosphere. And most importantly—have fun!

Florence is the perfect mix of culture, food, history, and style—and it’s all waiting for you to explore. Whether you’re there for the art, the food, or just to see what all the hype is about, Florence will leave you with memories you’ll never forget. So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready for an adventure you’ll be talking about for years.

Summertime

By: Mary Carter Smith

Summer is my favorite time of the year. It is so much better than winter for multiple reasons. One being you are out of school. School causes a lot of stress such as grades, studying, practices, waking up early, the list could go on! I also am not the biggest fan of the cold.I hate having to wear a jacket or sweatshirt everywhere I go because it is so cold outside. During the summertime you can put the boots, hats, gloves, scarfs, jackets all up! Warm weather also makes outside activities more enjoyable. Summer also means longer days and more time to be productive and social. A highlight of it being summer is Pelican Snowball opens back up! Snowcones are my favorite sweet treat especially from Pelicans. I usually get superhero which is blue raspberry and cherries mixed together. Ten out of ten would recommend it to anyone. My favorite thing to do during the summer is go to the beach. Most of the summer I usually go to my beach house in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. My family has a house on the marsh which is my favorite view. I love hanging out on our dock and going on our boat. Tubbing would probably be my favorite summer activity. I love the fear of falling off the tube and holding on as tight as I possibly can to try to stay on. Another fun summer activity is beach days. I love laying out on the beach. The breeze is always so nice and the beach is always relaxing. My favorite thing to do while on the beach is swim in the ocean. Some people are scared of the ocean. I personally love it and am not scared of sharks or other creatures that most people are. When the end of the summer comes around I get upset but then remember summer will be back again.

Pumpkin Spice

By: Maecy Hunt

Every year, like clockwork, pumpkin spice shows up and completely takes over. The moment September hits, it’s everywhere — in lattes, candles, cereal, muffins, and, for some reason, even air fresheners. It’s not just a flavor anymore; it’s a seasonal event.

But why are people so obsessed with it?

Technically, “pumpkin spice” doesn’t even contain pumpkin. It’s just a mix of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves — stuff we could use any time of year. But something about that combo, during fall, just hits different. Maybe it’s the cozy vibe it gives off. Maybe it’s the marketing. Probably both.

The hype mostly started with Starbucks and the Pumpkin Spice Latte. Since its launch in 2003, the pumpkin spice latte has become the most popular seasonal drink ever. Now, tons of other brands jump on the trend every year, hoping to ride the wave of pumpkin-flavored hype.

At this point, pumpkin spice has become more of a tradition than a taste. People associate it with fall — colder weather, leaves changing, cozy clothes, and yes, a warm cup of something sweet. Even if it’s a little over-the-top, it brings a weird kind of comfort.

So yeah, the pumpkin spice craze might seem ridiculous, but it’s also kind of genius. It turns a basic flavor into a whole seasonal mood. And honestly? If sipping a pumpkin spice latte makes people feel a little happier during midterms or freezing mornings — who’s complaining?

The Second Blog

By: Joey Robertson

Monday:

I started off the day by brainstorming ideas for the next video I could make, until I eventually landed on a campus tour/review. I had never seen an actual campus tour for Wilson Hall, and I thought it would be useful to have one for students coming to wilson hall, who haven’t been on campus before. So I started planning what and where I would want to show, and writing a few critiques I had about the layout/design.

Tuesday:

Continued work on the script, and decided how I would film everything and the route the tour would take: through the upper school building, up into the middle school, across to the Nash building, then the engineering hallway and chapel, return to the lower school, before ending at the Track/Football field (though im now realizing I forgot the Kindergarten/Pre-k area). 

Wednesday:

Got right to filming the B-roll, since I wouldn’t have enough time to film me actually giving the tour, and I was correct. Thankfully the B-roll didn’t take very long and I was able to get photos and footage of all the places around the school I needed. Afterwards I worked on uploading it all to the google drive and organizing it. 

Thursday:

I knew the tour would take all of the period to film, so I got into it as quickly as I could. I was able to film both the opening and closing by myself, but I got help from my other team members, Thomas and Hannah, for filming the actual tour, since I couldn’t film, talk, and give the tour all at the same time. I finished just barely in time for 5th period. Later that night I painstakingly had to convert all 35 files to MP4’s, before importing them to my editing software.

Why the Atlanta Falcons will make the playoffs

By: Griffin Jones

The Atlanta Falcons will make the playoffs this season. Following a disappointing 2024-2025 season, finishing 8-9, the Falcons went into the offseason with a few holes around the team. The defense struggled the few seasons prior, specifically the defensive line, finishing with 31 sacks the second lowest in the league. 

After a great 6-3 start and a lead in their division they began to decline. Kirk Cousins, the star quarterback the Falcons signed in the offseason, showed to be too old and fragile to perform throughout the season. Despite signing a quarterback, the Falcons drafted a Quarterback 8th overall, Michael Penix, out of Washington.

Coming into the 25 season, the Falcons filled many of their holes. Although they lost some talent on defense, they had an amazing draft. Selecting two first round defenders at linebacker and edge along with two safeties later in the draft that proved to be impactful. As in the game on Sunday night vs the Vikings last week the defense recorded 2 interceptions along with 6 sacks, only allowing 6 total points. 

The offense this season looks to be extremely promising this season, led by second year QB Michael Penix, along with a superstar running back Bijan Robinson and his second half at RB, Tyler Allegier. Robinson, has proved to be a top 5 back in the NFL and looks to have his best season yet not only running but catching the ball as well. For other receiving options the Falcons return two fringe 1000 yard receivers. One being star wide out, Drake London, London is a 6 ‘4 WR entering his 4th season. Finishing last year 4th in the league in receiving yards,recording 1,271 and 9 touchdowns, he is expected to take an even bigger leap this year into a true superstar. At the other WR Darnell Mooney ended his first season in Atlanta last year just shy of a one thousand yard season. The final weapon of the Atlanta offense is TE Kyle Pitts, Pitts is a monster on the field, nicknamed the Unicorn, he stands out just based off his pure size. He began his career with an outstanding rookie year in 2021 with the Falcons. However, since then it has become underwhelming to say the least. Despite that, with a new and improved QB situation, Pitts looks good and ready to produce. All this along with an extremely young core only means the future is bright.

After two games this season the Falcons stand 1-1 with a tough slate ahead including the Bills, Commanders, and 49ers. However, with a weak division and a much improved team, I believe the Falcons will finally break through and finish 10-7. Not enough to win the division but good enough for a wildcard spot.