Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections OPERATION GREEN LIGHT JUST AHEAD! Chris Cavaliere Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Turner Publishing, Inc. Valley Stram North Spartans proudly wear green, their school color. Green is the color of hope. We wear it to show school spirit for our sport teams, clubs and for the pride we have for our school community. How about we shine green for our veterans this month? Did you know that November is National Veterans and Military Families Month? Veterans Day is November 11th. Respecting veterans and their families on a day or a month needs more recognition. Greenlight a Vet is a campaign of recognition, support and appreciation for our veterans and their families. It’s simple: change one lightbulb at your home to green. Just think of driving through our community at night during the month and seeing homes with green lightbulbs shining bright. We could start a great conversation and message of gratitude. Lightbulbs symbolize ideas. We can plan assemblies and share ideas on how to continue honoring veterans though our Student Council, National Honor Society, students and teachers. We can expand appreciation by participation at Wreaths Across America. It happens in December and May for remembrance during the holidays and for Memorial Day. I have placed wreaths at veterans’ gravesites at this event and it gave me a feeling of pride. I was also lucky enough to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington Cemetery. Veterans should never be forgotten. Do you know the significance of folding the American flag and how it should never touch the ground? Do you know how to retire a flag? I am a Boy Scout, and I’ve learned many protocols that symbolize respecting veterans. Let’s learn and honor our veterans together. Participation in Operation Green Light will continue the Spartan spirit in a way that has never been done before. Think of this, one night a veteran or a family member of a veteran drives through the Valley Stream community and sees streets of homes with green lights shining! I have had one in the front of my house for many years. This will be an incredible “Thank You” for them all to receive, so let’s start the conversation and let’s make it happen. Sources: https://www.nysac.org/issues/veterans-affairs/operation-green-light/ https://www.militaryonesource.mil/media/toolkits/service-provider/national-veterans-military-families-month/ https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/flagdisplay.pdf BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Gender and Sex: The Misunderstandings and Differences By Rachel Ezeadichie Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by Cosmopolitan With Pride Month already here, and more and more people experimenting and discovering their gender identities, we should try to understand the differences between sex and gender. It is a common mistake to mix the two up, or not understand them, which is where their definitions come in and why they are separate. Sex is something you are assigned at birth by a doctor. The assigning of your sex includes many factors like chromosomes, hormones and genitalia. Most people are assigned male or female, which is put on your birth certificate. Some others may be intersex , which means that their anatomy doesn’t fit on the male or female anatomy categories. Some may figure this out when they hit puberty, or they may never figure it out at all. This can happen when chromosomes aren’t XY (male chromosome) or XX (female chromosomes). Gender is normally shown as male and female. This is not the case though, because it is a spectrum. There are male and female, but there is also non-binary. Non-binary is the term used for people who don’t generally agree with the male or female terms as the only two choices. There are other gender terms as well like bigender , which means that they identify with both man and woman at different points or agender which just means they don’t identify with any gender at all. People who don’t identify with the gender they were born with are transgender, while people who do are cis gender. People can use pronouns that help them feel more comfortable with their gender. Pronouns like she/her or he/him are what many people use, but others exist too. The singular pronouns they/them are what most non-binary people like to use. So, for this Pride Month, think about your gender and consider how you or others might feel about identifying terms. Gender is something that can be experimented with like trying different labels and seeing which feel comfortable for you, or asking others to try out different pronouns on you. Everyone can like and feel different things, so see what you are comfortable with. Happy Pride Month! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Goodbye DeBlasio: How the 2021 NYC Mayoral Election is Turning Out By Logan Balsan Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by the New York Post Republican, turned Independent New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg was term limited and couldn’t run for re-election in 2013. Traditionally a Democratic city, after nearly 20 years of Republican control in the Mayor’s office, the Democrats gained the office back, electing Bill DeBlasio. He would be the first Democrat since David Dinkins, Mayor from 1990-1994, to be elected. Now, it’s a clean slate in 2021, and with what’s currently transpiring in the city, will the Republicans be able to take the Mayor’s Office back? Mayor Bill DeBlasio has been one of the least popular statewide politicians since the beginning of his second term in office, and the piling crises and problems have kept that approval rating on the decline. DeBlasio has tried to deal with a homelessness crisis, an increase in crime rates, and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those residing in the city have disapproved of his response to many of these problems. For example, according to Rolling Stone , 52 percent disapproved of DeBlasio’s response to the homelessness crisis while only 35 percent approved. The Republican and Democratic Party Primaries are heavily contested. In the Republican Primary, only two candidates are running: Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, and Fernando Mateo, Founder of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. In a hotly contested debate, they went back and forth on stage hosted by WABC. In the Democratic Primary, a slew of candidates are running. Major candidates include former 2020 Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang, Brooklyn Borough President Eric McAdams, and Former Commissioner of the NYC Department of Sanitation Kathryn Garcia. Polling indicates that it is a heated race, as Yang and McAdams are nearly tied in polling. New York City is a traditionally Democratic city, but the Republicans held the Office from 1994 until 2014, from Rudy Giuliani to Mike Bloomberg, and possibly again this November. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Nostalgic for Sentience’s Absence  By William Mullin Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Original photography from William Mullin Remember when you were little? And when you were happy, you laughed And when you were sad, you cried Why don’t you do that anymore? Just because of arbitrary self-restrictions Or other’s expectations, I suppose Remember what it felt like? To be free of self-consciousness Unknown to the crowd Why don’t you think like that anymore? Too aware now and I’m a mess Imbued with “social anxiety” Unfortunate that now you can’t even be free with yourself Simplicity dies, and overwhelming thought takes over Each choice, no matter how small, needs contemplation Each conversation requires active consideration A shame that nothing can be simply what it is A pity that everything will never be how it was I miss it. Both for you and for me. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections 3/14: A Commemoration of “Pi” By Christina Ossa Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original image by Christina Ossa March 14th is a date that ironically celebrates the math notion Pi (or π), but some of you may ask: “Why exactly 3/14”? Well, as many of you know, π is an irrational number that begins with the three numbers 3.14. So, since π’s first three numbers are 3.14, it only makes sense that the commemoration of the numerical symbol would be 3/14. While there won’t be much discussion about how the pies themselves are made, the mathematical aspects of the pies will be reviewed, but if you’d like to recreate these pies, the recipes will be at the bottom. So, to celebrate this valued symbol, let’s take a look at a few different pie recipes and their areas, circumferences, radii, and diameters! Also, let’s discuss the various formulas that go into calculating such a simple-looking symbol like π because calculating it may be more complicated than expected. What is Pi (π)?: Put simply, pi (or π) is C (circumference) / D (diameter). Now, you may be wondering what that exactly implicates, and well, the answer is more complicated than expected. Pi (π) has been studied across multiple different areas of the world, from the Middle East, Europe, China to the United States. Its studies show information revealing the true meaning of π but also a rich history of mathematics throughout time. A more shocking discovery in π’s research was the method of exhaustion, which explored the idea that if different shapes with multiple different sides (ex: pentagons, hexagons, and so on) were drawn inside of a circle, this would lead to an increasingly more accurate calculation of π. But, this obviously was not optimal since π repeats forever, and the highest value of any mathematician (Archimedes) was a 96 sided shape known as an enneacontakaihexagon. However, even this shape did not lead to an exact calculation of π. But, the main takeaway from thousands of years of research on π is that the symbol is more deceiving than it seems since it has infinite numbers calculations and continues indefinitely. Since a circle continues indefinitely, that means π will as well, which is why π constitutes an irrational number. While it may be common knowledge that circles have infinitely many sides, that’s not exactly the case, and that’s not the exact reason for π having infinitely many digits. A circle is essentially a type of polygon with infinitely many sides, but since you clearly can't tell these same sides from the circle itself, that means every point you take on a circle is aside. So, that means π will always be an irrational number that continues forever, containing infinite digits related to the “infinite” sides of a circle. But, what is the relevance of π? Well, that can be explained using actual, real-life pie... Apple “Pi”: This dessert is perfect for family or friendly get-togethers, it only takes a few elements to put together and make, but the more amusing part is how this pie, like the others, happens to be circular. This means we’ll be able to see the dimensional aspects that make up this pie using π to calculate them! Radius: 4.5 in Surface Area: 63.617 in^2 or 20.25π^2 Diameter: 9 in Circumference: 28.274 in or 9π in Original Photography by Christina Ossa The “Pi” is not only sweet but contains rich dimensional elements! The radius of this “pi” is 4.5 inches, and the diameter is 9 inches, so from there, we can calculate the circumference and surface area. If you don’t remember, the formula for calculating circumference is either 2πr or πd (d standing for diameter), and for the purposes of this “pi,” we’ll be using both. Utilizing both formulas, we get that the circumference of this apple “pi” is about 28.274 inches or 9π inches. Now, we can use the radius of our “pi” here to calculate the area of it, which will let us know exactly how much filling can fit into our “pi.” Using the formula πr^2 to calculate the area of a circle (our “pi”), we can infer that the surface area will be about 63.617 in^2 or 20.25π in ^2. That means we would be able to fill this “pi” with 63.617 inches of filling, which could feed at least five or six people per about 12-13 inches! These calculations allow bakers to see the exact amount of filling appropriate for a pie dish. While many (including myself) would not calculate like this, it’s interesting to figure out step by step the dimensional, mathematical aspects of pie that include the use of π. Blueberry and Pumpkin “Pi”: This is a pie I’ve talked about before, and you would think that this pie would be the same size as the last one, but surprisingly it’s not. Pie pans can vary by a slim margin, a fact that not many bakers take into account since the essential part of a dish is mostly the ingredients. But that shouldn’t mean anyone should undermine the relevance of the pan! Also, since these pies were baked with the same pan (albeit at different times), their dimensions should be roughly the same, and we should be able to draw similar conclusions from calculating solely one! Radius: 5 in Surface Area: 78.540 in^2 or 25π^2 Diameter: 10 in Circumference: 31.416 in or 10π in Original Photography by Christina Ossa The diameter of these “pi’s” turned out to be 10 inches instead of 9 inches. That would mean the radius would be 5 inches, and from here, we can use our circumference formulas! From the formulas, we would get that this “pi” has a circumference of about 31.416 inches or 10π inches, which gives us the exact value of the outside/crimping of this pie. Now, we would want to figure out how much this “pi” dish could be filled with apple filling, so we’d switch to our surface area formula (πr^2). Using the formula, we would end up with an area of about 78.540 in^2 or 25π in^2, telling us that this pie dish would feed at least 6-7 if they took 11-12 inches of pie per piece. This is helpful information since this delectable dessert could be served and shared amongst guests fairly, and we know the optimal dimensions for filling this pie. Also, this shows us how this pie dish is superior to our pie dish in the apple “pi” since it could supply more and, as a result, feed more people. Not only did the more profound and mathematical background to the “pi” help us figure out the optimal dish to use so that we could feed the maximum amount of people! As you can see, the relevance of π in pies is more interesting and complex than it might appear on the surface. Even though circumference, surface area, diameter, radius, and π may not be the end all be all to baking a simple pie, it could give you insight into the physics of how baking truly works and explain the mathematical aspects of baking that allow a pie to be constituted as a pie. So, next time you think π is useless or has no real-world applications, think back to actual pies and how without π, there would be no pie! Apple “Pi”: Ingredients: Crust: Refer to either “Pi” article listed below! Filling: -5 lbs apples -1 cup brown sugar -½ tsp salt -2 tsp ground cinnamon -½ a lemon, squeezed -1 tbsp + ¾ tsp cornstarch Glaze: -3 tbsp water -1 tbsp + ¾ tsp cornstarch -3 ½ tbsp unsalted butter Directions: Peel and thinly slice apples into a large bowl Add brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, lemon, and the 1 tbsp and ¾ tsp cornstarch to the apples; make sure to combine the ingredients thoroughly into the apples (use your hands if you have to!) Add the apples to a colander and leave over the large bowl to drain the excess liquid for about 30-45 minutes Once drained, add the collected liquid to a medium-sized saucepan and add the apples back into the bowl Keep the saucepan over medium to medium-low heat until it begins thickening Once the mixture slightly thickens, add the remaining cornstarch to the water to make what’s called a slurry Once combined, add the slurry to the saucepan mixture and allow to thicken for 1-3 minutes; after thickened, add the butter and let melt After the “glaze” is done, allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes and begin prepping the crust or pre-made dough into a pie dish Add the glaze once cooled back into the apples, and once combined add this apple mixture evenly into the pie dish Place either a lattice or cover (slicing thin lines on top of the top piece of dough) on top of the apple mixture onto the pie dish (refer to blueberry or pumpkin pie recipes for detailed explanations!) Bake at 400°F for 40-45 minutes, let cool for at least 15-30 minutes, and enjoy! Blueberry “Pi”: Refer to this article!: https://www.vsnorthstar.com/articles/holiday-sweets Pumpkin “Pi”: Refer to this article!: https://www.vsnorthstar.com/articles/fresh-pumpkin-pie-vs.-canned-pumpkin-pie%3A-is-it-worth-the-time%3F- BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Dulcetta By Nora Chery Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by the Food Network Sophia let out an exhale when she plumped down on her chair. She sat there, quickly gathering as much oxygen as she could, then releasing it inside the small space of her kitchen. She used her left forearm to wipe the sweat from her forehead, though the rest of her body was coated with it, staining the red baggy shirt she was wearing. When her session of heavy breathing had somewhat dampened, she shot out a huff of annoyance. She was, once again, disappointed with herself; a minuscule time of eight minutes and she already felt like she was running a 24-hour long marathon. “It’s such a challenge to lose even a pound”, she thought to herself, making a trip to the refrigerator. She reached down, her hand passing the chocolate pudding and the left-over butterscotch cinnamon pie for the container spinach-kale salad. Grabbing a plastic fork, she sat down on her chair and sunk the fork into the salad. She took small bites and munches; the salad tasted decent enough, but it didn’t compare to the sweet smell that caught her attention. Sophia immediately froze when she noticed who the smell belonged to. So, she’s still here . The heels of her shoes clicked across the tiled floor, making their way towards the backside of Sophia. No doubt it was her - Dulcetta. Her soft chest leaned on the space of Sophia’s back, her chin resting on her shoulders. A long slow exhale through the nose let out cinnamon sugar scent. It had nearly made her betray her promise, to herself, of keeping a calm composure. “Are you forgetting someone, Sophia?” Her breathy honeyed voice asked, sinking her weight. Sophia kept her focus on the salad, gulping slowly. Dulcetta was brightly gorgeous with soft lips, people of any preference, would dream of kissing. Her body in a beautifully designed dress with unconscious elegance, Sophia knew why she had come. “No” Sophia had replied lowly, “I don’t — I don’t think so.” “Cleary... you’ve forgotten about me,” she soothed. Dulcetta placed her thin pointer and thumb under Sophia’s plump chin, giving a somewhat stern squeeze. Just as Sophia’s body did not do any sort of action, her salad abandoned. She was once again relentlessly breathing hard, as she tried to make herself uncomfortable under the sweet woman’s grip. Dulcetta barely noticed or even cared. “You’ve always started and continued the day with me,” she said calmly “I’m a bit hurt.” Sophia’s stomach churned, as she gulped, the smell was becoming more and more intoxicating; Dulcetta smirked. “Not now... not anymore,” uttered Sophia “I’m-I’m going to change, and I can’t have you waltzing around in my life, ruining it.” Dulcetta’s grip on Sophia’s chin grew tighter. “Oh, darling no — darling c’mon, you don’t mean that,” Dulcetta stated sweetly. “You don’t want to change, you don’t want that salad, you want me. And I want you because you’re my little piggy.” Sophia said nothing. She only looked down at her spinach-kale salad, her large chunky body shifted. The salad didn’t seem all at that decent. She felt her pudgy face turn towards Dulcetta’s smiling face. “Who’s my little piggy?” Dulcetta asked as she leaned over for a kiss. “I am.” Sophia muttered ---- Sophia leaned down to take a bite of her butterscotch cinnamon pie. It’s such a challenge to lose even a pound , she told herself, cutting out another piece. But I can always start another day . BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections The SpaceX Dragon Crew Missions: How They’re Changing History By Elyas Layachi Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by SpaceX Space exploration is an ever-changing process. The dawn of space exploration really began during the Space Race, from 1955 till 1991. Occurring during the Cold War, this was a competition in which the winner wanted to land astronauts on the moon first and return them back to Earth safely. In the Space Race, the Soviet Union eventually had the upper hand when they launched the first astronaut into low-earth orbit, but the United States eventually caught up and outdid them with them being the first to land astronauts on the moon through the Apollo Moon Landings. Winning the Space Race, America gained a reputation of prestige and intellectuality. Losing the Space Race, the Soviet Union was devastated, and their reputation was damaged. The Apollo Moon Landings were primarily politically driven, and after the Space Race, the United States did not continue sending astronauts to the moon. Instead, they constructed, along with other nations around the world, the International Space Station, a space laboratory currently in low-earth orbit where astronauts and scientists conduct experiments and perform maintenance on satellites. In 1981, the first space shuttles were launched in conjunction with the International Space Station. They helped assemble it in low-earth orbit! Known as the Space Shuttle Era, this was a period during which NASA focused solely on sending spacecraft to low-earth orbit, with no goal of sending humans back to the Moon or even Mars. Now, today, the space shuttle era is long over, and the “Artemis era” has begun. Launches are taking place over the next four years to send humans to the Moon, and for the first time, private space companies are taking part in this historical movement. Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are partnered with NASA through the Flight Opportunities program and are taking the next steps to send humans back to the Moon. Flight Opportunities Program According to NASA, the Flight Opportunities Program “facilitates rapid demonstration of promising technologies for space exploration, discovery, and the expansion of space commerce through suborbital testing with industry flight providers.” In short, the program is designed to have private industry develop technologies to be used by government agencies in future space missions, and they are given the task of conducting experiments in low-earth orbit for these agencies. Through this program, for example, SpaceX constructs rockets and delivers a payload, and now astronauts, to the International Space Station and back. With this partnership, instead of NASA focusing on sending astronauts to the International Space Station, they can now focus on sending humans to the Moon and developing spacecraft and technologies to do so. Furthermore, another example of this partnership is between NASA and Blue Origin, in which Blue Origin conducts suborbital experiments with NASA technologies and facilitates their overall development. SpaceX The private company that facilitated the development of the technology used in the Crew Dragon mission on November 15th was SpaceX. The company was founded on May 6th, 2002 by Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla, the futuristic car company. The company designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft for NASA. It joined the Flight Opportunities program, along with other companies, and has flown various spacecraft for NASA, including its crew Dragon, and it is the first company to successfully construct a rocket that is completely reusable, meaning its fuel stages are reusable, along with the capsule. Furthermore, the rockets can land themselves after detachment, which is quite remarkable, considering that such a concept is almost futuristic. The company now has the task of launching astronauts to the International Space Station, and this is the first time a private company has launched astronauts into space for a government agency. SpaceX Dragon Crew launches to the ISS On November 15th, 2020, the first mission to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon took place. The spacecraft represented a new era of space exploration, with an advanced interface and futuristic look and feel. This mission was known as the Crew-1 mission, since the astronauts were going to the International Space Station for a long duration of time rather than for a stop. They will conduct many microgravity experiments, including growing radishes in space and looking at astronauts’ brains! The launch proved successful, and the landing module was able to dock with the International Space Station successfully. The astronauts aboard, Shannon Walker, Victor Glover (the first African American astronaut in space for an extended-stay mission), Mike Hopkins, and Soichi Noguchi make up the Crew-1 mission. This mission is historic since it is the first one solely fueled by the innovations of private companies under the influence of NASA, a governmental space agency. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections 2024 News Recap Sahar Ali Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 The 2024 season has finally come to an end, which many of us are glad about. But to see the effects, negative or positive, that 2024 had on people, let us look back on some of the major events that occurred around the world this year. APRIL 8TH, 2024 – The total solar eclipse covered cities in a blanket of darkness across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Solar eclipses are a rare occurrence and tend to happen in the same place every 375 years (CNN). According to CNN, the next solar eclipse will most likely occur sometime in the 2040s. About 32 million people were in the path of the solar eclipse’s totality, which allowed many to experience a once in a lifetime occurrence. SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2024 – Famous rapper, Sean “Diddy” Combs, was arrested due to charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. As time went on, allegations of sexual abuse against Combs emerged, which he continued to deny. As of December 2024, BBC claims that Combs is detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center, located in Brooklyn, New York, and has denied more than two dozen sexual assault accusations; he has entered a not guilty plea. Not only that, but Combs has been denied bail for a third time (BBC). OCTOBER 9TH, 2024 – Hurricane Milton hit Florida in the evening as a category 3 hurricane, which is described to have winds between 111-129 miles per hour that bring devastating damage according to the National Weather Service. The damage was catastrophic, leaving 24 dead according to CBS News. Additionally, the storm created widespread damage, “leaving more than 3.5 million Florida residents without power following the storm, and significant flooding throughout the state” (Surfrider Foundation). OCTOBER 16TH, 2024 – Liam Payne, a member of the English boy band One Direction, fell to his death from the third floor of an Argentinean hotel. Before his death, staff at the Casa Sur Palermo hotel in Bueno Aires called emergency services about a guest “who is overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol” and “destroying his room” (BBC). Payne’s death shows the toll stardom can take on one’s mental and physical wellbeing. Payne himself opened up about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse which helped him cope with “the heavy burden of fame” (CNN). NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024 – The results of the US presidential elections came out, showing that Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump beat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by 86 electoral college votes. The country during this time was divided between both candidates. The election was difficult for Harris as she replaced President Biden when he stepped down for the race with only 100 days to campaign. Trump’s campaign was defined by his vision to reduce illegal immigration while Harris’s campaign focused on her mission to make abortion legal across the country. In January of 2025, Trump was sworn in as the United States’s next President. DECEMBER 4TH, 2024 – Luigi Mangione, who allegedly resented the healthcare system as he suffered from severe back pain all his life, fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Mangione gained supporters that raised more than $100,000 and showed their animosity towards the healthcare system in the United States (ABC News). Thompson’s death ignited debates surrounding the idea of whether or not Mangione’s actions were justifiable as 49% of Americans have a negative view of the healthcare system (ABC News). SOURCES: CNN’s top 100 digital stories of 2024 | CNN Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: A Timeline of Allegations | Teen Vogue Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail for third time in New York Hurricane Milton leaves path of destruction across Florida, at least 24 dead Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale A Perfect Storm: Hurricane Milton's Impacts Across the Sunshine State AP's essential role in elections | AP News Things to know on shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO | AP News   UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting prompts questions about how to prevent copycats - ABC News   Americans are unhappy with the state of health care and insurance - ABC News   BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Inspirations Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image provided by Elaine Ching In the quiet of dawn, where dreams take flight, Inspiration whispers, a beacon of light. It dances on breezes, a muse in the air, A spark in the heart, a passion to bear.   In the depths of despair, it's a lifeline of hope, A lifter of spirits, a boundless scope. It paints the world with colors anew, Inspiration, a friend, forever true.   From nature's wonders to stories untold, Inspirations are treasures, more precious than gold. They fuel our ambitions, ignite the soul's fire, A force that propels us to reach ever higher.   In the darkest of nights, when shadows surround, Inspiration's a torch, a love that's profound. With words, art, or music, in all that we do, Inspirations create, and dreams they pursue.   So, cherish these moments, these gifts from above, For inspiration is the heartbeat of life, the purest of love. It's the whisper of angels, the courage to soar, Inspirations are timeless, forever, and more.   In every sunrise and each silent star's gleam, Inspiration resides in life's vibrant stream. A wellspring of power, an eternal muse, Inspirations are boundless, in them, we infuse.   They guide our endeavors, through journeys unknown, Inspirations as captains, our hearts they've shown. In the tapestry of life, they weave, and they blend, A source of creativity, with no limit or end.   So, embrace their embrace, let inspirations ignite, Your spirit and dreams in the day's brilliant light. In the dance of existence, through each twist and turn, Inspirations shall guide you, make your soul burn. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Montgomery Ricky by Ricky Montgomery By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Original image by Ricky Montgomery Ricky Montgomery, a 27-year-old born in Los Angeles, California, was best described prior to 2020 as a little eclectic but full of good sound and creative merit. Prior to his fame on TikTok, he was also successful on Vine, leading to online support for his 2014 debut EP Caught On The Moon. However, the EP failed to draw mainstream attention leaving him relatively underground until years later. His 2016 full length release Montgomery Ricky made waves amongst his own fanbase and drew in a few more to ride the Ricky Montgomery wave, yet he would not reach anything close to his current level of notoriety until the massive success of some of his songs as TikTok sounds. These will be track-by-track reviews, with each track scoring points for factors such as musicality, lyrical content, continuity (how well each track fits into the rest of the album), and theme. Each track will receive a score out of 10, and then be added up to create the final score for the album. Let’s begin with Track One: “ I’m alright if you’re alright, I’m okay if you’re okay” takes us into the hook of this deceptively cheerful song about finding yourself and accepting that you’re lost. Lyrically it tells the story of someone struggling to find happiness in darker times, and, through a loved one, is finding more happiness than they had ever thought possible. As an opening track, it is supposed to establish several themes, either musical or lyrical, of the overall album. However, many of them are hidden behind the bright combination of electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and keyboard that allows the audience to get lost in its soundscape; it was only on repeated listens that I finally began to see the overall themes of this album fully displayed in the track. Score: 7/10 - A cheerful opener with a fun instrumental; however, it fails to successfully introduce the rest of the album. Line Without a Hook Have you ever known someone completely and totally out of your league? Yeah, this song does, too. Here our singer watches as a crush falls into the lake of their own self-doubt, but not before comparing his own doubt to theirs, with “you’re a pond and I’m an ocean.” To the singer, his crush removes all negativity from the world around them. Yet their love interest is doubting themself, forcing our singer to feel that they are even worse in comparison. This track is an emotional standout on the album. It starts the process of “losing yourself” as described in This December, and beautifully pulls together motifs of drowning and feeling incomplete with the end of the bridge and the final chorus by quite literally leaving the last line of the bridge incomplete, and exclaiming that he would pull his lover from the tide of their own emotions if he knew how. Musically this track adds another layer to the usual drums, bass guitar, guitar, and piano ensemble with the addition of a violin, a motif which will show up in later tracks surrounding love. Score: 8.5/10 - Beautiful story and lyrics, fits well into the album as a whole and performance is emotional; however, the emotional buildup pales in comparison to others on this album. Cabo  Returning to the cheerful sounds of the opening track, Cabo tells us the story of two people just falling for each other but can’t tell the world yet. Secret garden meetups and dancing on beaches when no one’s looking fill the bright tone of the lyrics supported by the bright instrumentation. The bouncy rhythm lends itself to nervous heartbeats, and the up-tempo guitar and synth add life, making this song utterly danceable and incredibly fun to listen to. It also might be the catchiest song on the whole album, so once you play it once, prepare to be humming along to it all day. This track does feel a little disjointed from the past songs musically; however, lyrically, it may be the singer’s attempt to love again after the failed relationship in the previous song. Score: 7.5/10 - A blast to dance to and utterly enjoyable, but if it fit better into the album it would most likely have scored higher. Don't Know How  Montgomery faces a large amount of insecurity throughout this album - he doesn’t know who he is or where he is going - much less if he deserves to be loved. However, his track takes these insecurities and changes them into something new. Instead of not knowing if he can love, he now worries about how he loves. Is what he’s doing good enough? He doesn’t know how to make the other love him more and that thought leaves him fraught with insecurity. The almost club-like mix sound really sells the fact that his insecurities here are masked by a cool persona of outward confidence. Instead of hiding in his home, he’s gone out to dance, but sadly, he can’t seem to take his mask off. The thrumming bass and casual guitar riffs combined with small amounts of synth would make this the perfect song to dance to: if not for the fact that the mixing leaves it sounding very removed as if our singer is in the bathroom trying to hype himself up. Score: 6/10 - Fun to listen to with an interesting meaning however is easily one of the more skippable songs in terms of the overall album. Last Night  Last night opens with a guitar intro reminiscent of Paramore, then immediately slams you with lyrics about learning who you are and exactly where you come from. Montgomery gets to show off his vocal ability here, not through challenging high notes, but through the sheer amount of emotion he is able to place into this track. Each “woah” sounds perfect for an anthemic call and response, and the heavy guitar and drums add to the overall experience. This song is not the most lyrically impactful, but that’s why it works so well. It shines here for the performability, and just how well it works its way into the shuffle. Unlike other songs off this album, its reliance on instrumentation is a strength and not a weakness that is glaringly obvious when played back-to-back. Score: 8/10 - This song is a cheerful romp through all Montgomery’s artistic talents. Although it is not the most important in terms of story, its ability to draw a crowd in makes up for its overall simplicity. California  Craving success and allowing your ego to grow just to maybe make a name for yourself? Sounds like every starving artist’s dream to me. This song is all about wanting to be known, but also knowing that you don’t know how much of yourself you’d have to give up to get that chance. Here Montgomery asserts that art is dead, and the artists have blood on their hands. Is it worth selling your soul for a chance at a glitzy lifestyle? Neither I nor the singer have the answer. However, I think that the instrumentation on this one is worth dying for, the energetic guitar parts mirrored with a lively piano part and drums ready to pull you to the middle of a dancefloor are what sell me on this song. Score: 9/10 - Maybe my love for this song is all smoke and mirrors, but according to Montgomery, so is everything else. My Heart is Buried in Venice  Breaking the established theme of the album, My Heart is Buried in Venice is a slow, stripped-down song about growing old and loving someone even when they make mistakes. Only containing an acoustic guitar and drums, the instrumentation allows this song to feel wistful and winding, as if the singer is walking through old streets and has nowhere better to be. At first the song seems like this happy tone is all the song contains, but as the lyrics progress, the story sours ever so slightly; again our singer feels insecure about how much his partner loves him. He is fully prepared to take the blame for his lover’s mistakes, yet it seems that he is too busy drowning in his own thoughts despite the beautiful people and places around him. Although it is much slower than the previous track, it almost feels this is the result of California, a love that was in the spotlight becomes calm and quiet when the lights go off, making you wonder if it was ever really real at all. Score: 8.5/10 - Peaceful and calm, following the bright and cheery California it is a change of pace, but not an unwelcome one. Mr. Loverman Okay everyone: this is the song you have been waiting for. This is the Tiktok sound that has taken over the minds of singers and instrumentalists alike. The chorus is well known: “Cause I’m Mr. Loverman, and I miss my Lover man.” However, the intricacies and buildup in this song are truly what make it a masterpiece, not just a popular 15-second soundbite. A broken lover, dry and tired eyes, and shaky hands are our intro to the world of Mr. Loverman, and by the time you exit, you’ll be wishing your eyes were dry. Lyrically we’re fed the story of a man who doesn’t seem to know how to go on in the wake of a heartbreak. Lost between worlds of inebriated apathy and tearful reminiscing, our singer painfully recounts just how much he misses the person he once loved. Although lyrically poignant, what really sells me on this song is the musical build up. Its slow rising crashes like a wave over Montgomery’s calm vocals creating emotional dissonance to tug at your heart strings. The only real detractor from this lovely song is the instrumentation; I would have loved to see a new addition to the competitively simpler instrumentals on this song. Score 9.5/10 - Well-deserving of the praise, amazing vocals and lyrical patterns; however, I’m left craving an addition to the soundscape. Get Used to It  Honestly, this is the most forgettable song on this album. Although its lyrics are not generic, they fail to garner attention. Its opening feels clumsy and its self-referential nature fails to allow the song to stand out, which would have given it some redeeming value. The lack of changes in the vocal and instrumental style feel repetitive at this point. If Mr. Loverman is the album’s high, Get Used to It is by far the lowest of the lows. Anything this song does well is displayed elsewhere on the album, and it really has no witty lyrics or great emotional story to make it stand out. If you crave a guitar part that makes you want to air guitar like the best of them, listen to California. If you want a cheerful melody, try Cabo on for size, and if youre craving some sad lyrics to go along with that up-beat feeling, go give Last Night a try. I love this album and a lot of the work Ricky Montgomery has done, but this is one song I won’t even give the time of day. Score: 2/10 - Really, they can’t all be winners. Snow This album begins in December and ends in a snowy winter, presumably a year after the opening track. This is a homecoming for our lead singer: he has finally moved on from pining over a lost love, and now he can see with a bit of clarity. The relationships detailed throughout were all unhealthy in their own ways; Cabo and California detail saccharine sweet relationships, burning bright and fading fast, never really meant to last. Last Night is begging for someone to notice, and Line Without a Hook wonders if the singer was even worth noticing. Don’t Know How and Get Used to It are chock full of insecurity and doubt in the singer’s own stability. This December places too much of the lead’s emotional wellness on another, My Heart is Buried in Venice easily is wishful thinking at the start of a relationship. Mr. Loverman is the downfall of one or many of these relationships. Snow , however, is a moment’s clarity in Montgomery’s mind. The skeletons have left the closet and now they hang on his mirror; he is able to recognize the toxicity that has followed him through this year, and he is finally able to return home, not just from galivanting across the world, but from the mountains and valleys of this year’s worth of emotion. Although it may seem like nothing special and is not a standout musically or lyrically in comparison to others, this song does enough to propel the album to the top of my list. Score: 10/10 - Simply astounding in the layers of meaning, made even more significant by the easy-to-follow lyrics and instrumentation. Final Thoughts: This album is a fun way to pass 36 minutes and has a song for almost any event in your life. It is not by any means a perfect album, and there are better (and worse) albums out there. However, this album is still very good! If you enjoy Cavetown or Conan Gray, I would recommend you take a listen. Even if you don’t, I wouldn’t be surprised if one or two of these songs charms their way into your heart. Overall score: 76/100 BACK TO TOP