fernandt – Page 2

The Quill #1: Bingeable TV

February 17, 2025

Shows with 20+ Episodes

Supernatural poster Saving people, hunting things. It’s the family business for the Supernatural (2005-2020) brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) after the unnatural death of their mother 22 years ago. Between attempts to avenge his wife, the brothers’ father John Winchester (Jeffery Dean Morgan) raises the two to become supernatural hunters, killing angels, demons, werewolves, vampires, and more. Until one day Dean shows up at Sam’s college apartment with the news, “Dad’s on a hunting trip, and he hasn’t been home in a few days,” pulling Sam back into the hunter life he wanted to escape

If you’ve been in this fandom long enough to know the prime of “SuperWhoLock” on Tumblr, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, then to help set the atmosphere for all the lore I’m about to throw at you, let’s go over two fan-favorite episodes from the Super third of the tri-fandom title.

This show’s 20-episode format has given it the opportunity to have some of the most ambitious crossovers, a personal favorite of mine being “Scoobynatural” (Season 13, Episode 16). This episode allows the live-action characters of Sam, Dean, and their angel friend Castiel (Misha Collins) to enter the animated world of Scooby Doo: Where Are You? The episode was a rewarding callback for the fans who learned over the seasons that Dean’s favorite show was Scooby Doo, because as he said, “Growing up on the road, no matter where Dad dragged us, no matter what we did, there was always a TV. And you know what was always on the TV? Scooby and the gang.” This episode allowed a lighthearted break for the characters and viewers during one of Sam and Dean’s most difficult season-long story lines.

These two brothers have assumed multiple celebrity and ’80s hair rock identities to hide their secrets behind, while on the roadroad in the fan-favorite car. The 1967 Chevy Impala is referred to by Dean as Baby. The car became so beloved by the viewers that it gave an opportunity for the show to center an entire episode around it, titled, “Baby” (Season 11, Episode 4). This episode was told entirely from Baby’s point of view, giving us one of the best brother- bonding scenes out of all 327 episodes when they sing and ad lib to the song “Night Moves” — further showing how even though they go through extremely dark times, they still are allowed these lighthearted moments.

Now you might be wondering why I mention these random episodes in particular. That’s because all of that wouldn’t have been possible without the structure of the 20-episode season. This structure allows time for these characters to build connections to not only each other, but also their audience. Using the small details of each character to create bigger stories that the new, rushed, 10-episode standard season doesn’t allow. While yes there are still boring filler episodes here and there, and seasons that fall flat in comparison to others, as a whole, the 20 episodes almost always will tell a better and more developed story and world. Available on Sling TV and Netflix.

—Kendall Cox, TV Editor

Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty poster Looking for an early 2000’s show with a relatable protagonist who critiques the beauty standards that plague us all? Well, Ugly Betty might be the next TV show for you to watch! Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama series with four seasons and 85 episodes. Staring America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, the show dives into the life of Betty when she lands a job at the prestigious fashion magazine, MODE. Hired for her less-than-ideal looks, the unfashionable Betty is thrust into a world where she is suddenly the ugliest girl in the room. The show explores romance, drama, and humor for the whole family, all while examining difficult themes like the objectification of women and societal beauty standards.

For its time, the show was noted as being rather progressive as it starred Betty as an “unattractive,” braces-wearing, brown-skinned woman. It delved into Latin American issues and had characters who were openly gay and transgender. The popularity of the show in its time showed that audiences wanted to see diversity and representation in media instead of all-straight, all-White cast lists. The show received high acclaim and eventually won an Emmy “despite” its diverse focus. To this day, America Ferrera has been the first and the only Latinx actress to have ever won an Emmy for best actress. Stream on Netflix and Disney+.

—Alex Lopez

How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother poster If you are in the mood for a feel-good, easy watch, How I Met Your Mother is a great option that has about 20-22 episodes in each of its nine seasons. It centers around a group of friends living in the “greatest city in the world,” New York City, and follows the silly situations they get themselves into. Despite being very similar to other sitcoms, what sets this show apart is we are being told the story through the mode of a father recounting to his children the stories from his young-adult life that lead up to how he met their mother. (Hence the name.)

Ted is the main character and narrator of the show. He is a hopeless romantic who is obsessed with the idea of finding “the one” and is willing to go to some excessive lengths to do so. Some of his best friends are Lily and Marshall, a couple that are so cute, it is almost disgusting. Marshall is a law student who is working towards becoming a lawyer so he can fight to protect the environment, and Lily is a kindergarten teacher who aspires toward being an artist. Next is Barney, a stereotypical bro. By day, he works a corporate job where he makes tons of money but no one really knows exactly what it is that he does, and by night, he plots and concocts crazy stories to seduce the women of New York. Last but not least is Robin. She is the newest member of the group, joining the gang after moving to NYC from Canada to pursue a job in TV broadcasting. She is constantly deciding if she should put her career or her love life first, which can get her into some silly and sticky situations. The group dynamic makes for some hilarious happenings and is what gives the show its charm. Stream on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ Apple TV, and Amazon Prime.

—Payton Rhyner

The Quill #1: Music Reviews

February 17, 2025

Our Favorite Albums

To kick off the first edition of The Quill we will be getting to know our editors music taste, and take a look at some of our music recommendations. We want to celebrate our different tastes and share with you some of the genres and artists we love within this section. This week, our editors have free range to pick whatever they feel is their favorite album of all time. We hope you find some new bops and join us in jamming out!

Unreal Unearth
Hozier

Unreal Unearth cover Choosing a “favorite album” is almost an impossible task for me, as I’m sure it is for many others. I tend to listen to a little bit of everything from rock to folk, oldies to modern hits, and everything in between. My favorite artists are all over the board when it comes to genre and include Hozier, Teddy Swims, Billy Joel, Chappel Roan, and many others.

The album I would say is my favorite at the moment is Hozier’s Unreal Unearth (and the accompanying EPs and singles). Hozier is a singer hailing from Ireland who is most known for his songs “Take Me to Church” and “Too Sweet” and has a whole discography full of alternative/indie songs. Unreal Unearth is his his most recent album and is just over an hour of near perfection. It was written during COVID, after Hozier read Dante’s Inferno, and is heavily inspired by the narrative poem. It pulls themes from the epic and gives them a modern twist that both reflects the past and is applicable to the present.

This album is not the type where every song sounds the same; rather, each song is vastly different, giving you a wonderfully rounded listening experience. I definitely recommend listening to the album in the order it is presented, but if listening to the whole thing isn’t your style, I would suggest starting with the songs “Francesca,” “Damage Gets Done,” and “Anything But.” I give this album a 10/10, no skips (except for maybe the instrumental interlude), and I hope you love it as much as I do. Happy listening!

—Payton Rhyner, Music Editor

Aftercare
by Neesa Barrett

aftercare cover Moody, intense, and sharing the struggles of love and mental health, Nessa Barrett is an alternative, dark, electro-pop singer-songwriter. Her newest album, Aftercare, was released on November 15, 2024 and had a deluxe edition with six more songs added on February 6, 2025. The singer kicked off her tour on February 4th in Minneapolis. Now let’s dive into the album itself!

Every single song on the 15-song album, the second album released by Nessa Barrett introduces a new vibe based on the similar themes of love, s*x, and the consequences of it on every track. This album marks the artist’s signature sound and style, evident even though she’s released only one other album, a few EPs, and singles in the last four years. This new release is a vulnerable piece for the singer that goes over more than the artist’s typical lyrics of deteriorating mental health and broken hearts. The songs branch off into a powerful, storytelling ambiance with the music in the background clashing with the addictive deep emotions in the singer’s voice. Each song offers its own vibe. For example, “Stay Alive” speaks about the destructive mental balance of staying alive for the same reasons one might consider the opposite. Nessa says in the song that “There’s beauty in the pain, pain, pain, pain, pain/The sh*t that I would die for/Is the sh*t that I’m alive for,” all while she’s screaming over divine summits of synthetic majesty. While “Given Enough” represent the lyrics of repeating “Haven’t I given enough?” The lyrics portray the message that a toxic, back-and-forth relationship isn’t right. Adding percussion and strings, the song speaks powerfully about how consuming love is and how vulnerable it can make a person. Nessa Barrett is a powerful singer-songwriter, with the potential to rise up the ranks and become bigger than ever with her soul-touching lyrics.

—Jenna Fintelmann

The Quill #1: Video Games #1

February 17, 2025

Our Favorite Games

Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) is your classic wild-west cowboy simulator that lets you saddle up in the year 1899, filled with gangs and outlaws. Released in 2018, the game is a mesmerising western adventure. Fan of the original Red Dead Redemption? This prequel to the original game lets you dive into the events that lead to our beloved John Marston’s fate.You step into the boots of fun-loving cowboy Arthur Morgan in a completely open-world setting that is free to roam. Now I have to admit, playing as a different character from the original game can always be a shock, but Arthur easily pulls you in with his witty personality. You can hunt, fish, rob trains, and even try your hand at poker or blackjack. RDR2’s story is rich with drama, betrayal, and of course, redemption. The game also features a built-in online mode, where you are able to completely customize your own cowboy/girl to your liking (This is my favorite feature!) and play with your friends. The graphics and soundtrack are nothing short of breathtaking, and both make the game feel like a work of art. The world truly feels alive — but the story will break your heart, so sorry for that trauma in advance.

After putting in almost 4000 hours between story mode and online, I can confidently say that RDR2’s luscious landscape is like a second home to me. It’s an experience that stays with you long after the credits roll and is a demonstration of how powerful storytelling can be in video games.

Available on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, and Steam.

—Katie Frank, Video Games Editor

Elden Ring

Elden Ring poster A fallen order, a populace tormented by immortality, and a god who has forsaken both their family and followers. In this damned realm you stand alone, a wretched “Tarnished.” A warrior, banished from The Lands Between long ago, has now come back to tear down the old and dying order that plagues a land once blessed and prosperous. This is the world of Elden Ring. Released in February 2022, it shook the foundations of the gaming world. In stark contrast to FromSoftware games of years past, Elden Ring is an open-world game, with most of the game being optional content.
Difficulty is a common staple of FromSoftware games, and Elden Ring is no different in this regard. It’s a challenging experience, and defeat is common. Where this game diverges from past titles such as Dark Souls is how the player can go about dealing with this difficulty. Elden Ring gives the player countless ways to advance, not merely one or two. This is where the open world comes into play. Those who are looking for a challenge similar to past titles are free to focus on the more difficult main story bosses, or simply run to a higher leveled area from the beginning! That doesn’t leave those looking for a more casual experience without options, though. Areas are immense, and even the beginning, lowest level areas have many enemies and bosses to offer. This creates a slower, easier progression for more casual players.
The final part of this masterpiece is the story. Elden Ring is packed to the brim with stories to tell, Interesting characters to encounter, and endless misery. To those who enjoy stories of tragedy, Elden Ring is an unmatched holy grail. The stories are deep, interconnected, simple to understand, and easy to become invested in. Interacting with the characters from these stories is what brings it to the next level. The player must put down legendary beasts, demigods, and warriors who’ve succumbed to madness. No matter how great or powerful your enemies, you are the end of their story.Available on Playstation 4/5, Xbox One, and Steam.

—Shane Ewig

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the latest installment in The Elder Scrolls series from Bethesda. This game holds a special place in my heart, as it served as my introduction into the wild, enchanting world of The Elder Scrolls. While Skyrim is a fairly easy game to pick up and understand, the deeper lore of the series is not, and that’s precisely what makes this game so captivating to me. Skyrim is not simply an open-world RPG experience; it’s a portal into a magical world full of legendary warriors, theological endeavors, and world-ending catastrophes.
An empire flailing in its slow descent into oblivion, an Elven cultural conquest in the face of Nordic resistance, and the Psijic Order has returned to Tamriel. At the same time, an ancient deity banished from the past and into the present threatens to claim dominion over the world. Among this chaos, you’re caught by an Imperial troop when attempting to cross the border of Skyrim. Unexpectedly, you’re grouped in with a band of rebel soldiers, including their leader.They’re determined to put you to death with the rest of the rebels, despite the fact you’re uncatalogued. You watch as a rebel is executed, and you’re called up next. Just as the headsman raises his axe to take your life, a dragon attacks — the first to appear in hundreds of years. You manage to survive the attack as the Imperial troop’s focus is set on the larger threat. After escaping, you soon find that you’re the Dragonborn, a Nord folk hero of old. While the fate of the world hangs in the balance, you may still act freely. Whether you want to become a war hero, an assassin, or a loathed and disgusted cultist in service to an ancient evil, the choice is yours. This freedom of choice makes Skyrim infinitely replayable, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop coming back to this war-torn province of Tamriel.

Available on Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Steam.

—Shane Ewig

My Time at Portia / My Time at Sandrock

Sandrock poster It’s difficult to be even a novice gamer without hearing of ConcernedApe’s hit indie game Stardew Valley. If you’re a seasoned video game-enjoyer, you should know it isn’t the first or last of its kind. Many similar hybrid farming/dating sims predate the bestseller, such as the notable Harvest Moon and Rune Factory franchises. Even more have followed, one of which I am excited to share today: Pathea’s My Time series.

Honestly, I didn’t expect greatness when I first picked up the My Time series. Instead, I ended up discovering a hidden gem. Unlike Stardew Valley’s retro-inspired, top-down playing style, the My Time series features a 3D open-world experience. Most named characters are fully voice-acted (with the exception of day-to-day dialogue), adding far more flavor and character depth than a text-based, two-dimensional playstyle could ever hope for. While Stardew Valley is extremely impressive, given that it was created in its entirety by a single dude, there’s a lot more you can do with a team behind you, and that notion shines through within My Time.

The first game in the franchise, My Time at Portia (2019), is set in a humble town, rebuilt by survivors who emerged from underground long after ancient civilizations were destroyed in a terrible calamity. You play as the town’s new builder, tasked with creating all sorts of items using relics and gathered materials to improve the village. However, what I really want is to introduce its even better sequel, My Time at Sandrock (2023).

My Time at Sandrock, in my humble opinion, is an extreme improvement from the previous game. Though I prefer both the artistic and programming choices of its successor, I personally recommend playing Portia first. Sandrock can be played alone without any knowledge of the previous installation, so if you care more about overall enjoyability rather than understanding the depth of the lore, it wouldn’t hurt to start with the sequel. However, playing My Time at Portia beforehand equips the player with information endearingly referenced in the sequel.

Anyone who can compare the two games will likely notice the vast improvements in the gameplay, distribution of tasks, and story quests from the first to the second installation. In Sandrock, you are, again, one of the town’s novice builders; this sequel takes place after the events of My Time at Portia and similarly focuses on an environmental, eco-friendly theme. Sandrock, overtaken many years ago by corporate greed, was once a lush, flourishing place before the effects of industrialism dried the soil bare. In the present, the people of Sandrock desperately search for a sustainable water source beyond importing and a method to recover the beautiful farmland that once existed where only desert remains. As you can guess, that’s where you come in! Pathea not only provides players with unique game mechanics, but also a wonderful story that sends a powerful message about protecting the planet, with a little extra magic.

As far as characters go, My Time at Sandrock beats Stardew Valley by a landslide — it’s hard to betray one of my favorite childhood games with that, but it is my truth. While My Time at Portia offers much wider character diversity than Stardew Valley, My Time at Sandrock surprised me with an even better array of townsfolk. In both Portia and Sandrock, you’ll meet people of all different backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages — a breath of fresh air for players of color, compared to Stardew Valley’s … two Black characters. With 21 romanceable options and no restrictions on gender preferences, there’s someone for everyone in the arid community — even otherwise undesirable characters that are mostly intended to be married for stat benefits.

Anyone who enjoys these types of games should give My Time at Sandrock a try. From compelling stories to one-of-a-kind mechanics, the My Time franchise will be a great fit for anybody looking for a casual, day-to-day progress kind of game.

Available on Playstation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.

—Marco Fernandez

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

The Legend of Zelda cover Are you a retro gaming junkie like me? If your answer is yes, then allow me a moment to gush over the game that defined a large part of my childhood. Released on the GameCube and Wii on November 19, 2006, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the 3D entries in Nintendo’s infamous The Legend of Zelda franchise, but unlike many of the series’ other installments, which typically feature lighthearted narratives and colorful graphics, Twilight Princess takes a much darker approach.

Duller color schemes, a unique, yet somehow more lifelike art style for the characters, and a story where protagonist Link is forcefully transformed into a wolf are all elements that gamers can expect. Link is also accompanied by Midna, a mysterious imp who seems to have her own motivations in halting the advancement of Twilight, a darkness that consumes more of the kingdom of Hyrule by the second. It is the player’s job to guide Link toward defeating the looming darkness, saving his friends, and returning himself to human form.

Now in terms of gameplay, Twilight Princess is a bit different, depending on the version you play. The original GameCube version consisted of standard gameplay using a GameCube controller, but it was with the later release of the Wii version that differences began to appear. Due to the Wii’s emphasis on motion-control technology, the Wii version is essentially a mirror image of its GameCube counterpart. This is because in the GameCube version Link was left-handed, so in order to make it easier for right handed players to use motion controls that matched Link’s movements, the development team decided to mirror the entire map of the game.

While The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is considered by many to be fairly dated by today’s gaming standards, it is still a classic from my childhood that I will always cherish. It is a game that I will never stop recommending to gamers looking to get into The Legend of Zelda as a whole, or to those who simply enjoy retro action adventure games in general.

Available on Nintendo Wii, GameCube, and Nvidia Shield TV.

—Noah Spellich

The Quill #1: Video Games #2

February 17, 2025

Confessions of a Sonic Fan

There are certain fandoms that seem to never die. Fandoms like Harry Potter, Star Wars, Pokemon, and more last for a lifetime. I just so happened to be in one of the most iconic — and cringiest — fandoms of all time.I was a Sonic kid. A huge Sonic kid.

Yeah, I’m very aware that the Sonic fandom has a reputation of being cringe and toxic. Thankfully, I was a child with very limited internet access.

I first laid eyes on the blue blur when I was about seven, with the TV show Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. To sum up the show, it was insane. Sonic and Tails have to fight Dr. Robotnik and his robo-goons, and it goes from 1 to 1,000 in less than five minutes. I had only two thoughts as I witnessed this: Sonic is awesome, and where can I find more?

Suddenly, I was whisked away into a whole new fandom. For the longest time, I was a dedicated Sonic fan. As I got older, I dove in deeper. Since we were mainly a Mario family, the only Sonic games I ever played were the Mario and Sonic Olympic games on the Wii. I learned about a lot of the characters and grew more and more attached to them.

During this time, I’d started developing my art and writing skills. When kids want to learn how to write and draw, they usually go towards things they know. I ended up drawing a lot of Sonic art, specifically in middle school. It got so bad that I got called into my 8th grade history class and asked to stop drawing Sonic characters. I didn’t stop making art, but it transformed into fan fiction. My first fanfiction.net account was dedicated to creating unfinished Sonic fan fictions. Before you ask — yes, I read them, and yes, they suck.

I thought after a while I would grow out of my Sonic phase, but I never really left the fandom. Once the movies started coming out, my love for the series came back in full force. I’ve been watching more Sonic cartoons, listening to the soundtracks, and even playing the games once or twice (change for parallelism) (I’m horrendous at games, so it was worth a shot). One thing I ended up taking away from this was that some things are a part of you, no matter how ridiculous they might be. Sonic is in my blood, and I’ll probably end up supporting this speedy rodent for the rest of my life. So if anyone takes anything away from this, embrace the cringe. You might realize how much it’s formed you today.

—Julia Hahn

The Quill #1: The Trash Vortex

February 17, 2025

You’ve reached the place where all the bad, but oh-so-satisfying entertainment exists. Here, in the Trash Vortex, we provide you with only the trashiest, most bingeworthy recommendations. It’s a dark hole you won’t escape!

Trashy Films We Want to Rant About

Emilia Pérez

Emilia Perez poster

Emilia Pérez: one of the worst piles of crumbs gathered off the floors of a kindergarten cafeteria and dubbed as some putrid excuse for a film production. This flaming heap of sewer slop somehow amassed a whopping 13 Oscar nominations, despite being inarguably the most hated movie on the 2025 Academy Awards roster.

The fact that it received a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 11% (lower than both Madame Web and Joker 2) and a critic score of 72% reveals that the state of the American film industry is clearly not where it’s supposed to be. Criminally out-of-touch, old, bald dudes like that 72% of “critics” — high off snorting dust they scraped off of some dumpster in a back alley — praise these awful movies because they think they’re what the audience wants. None of them have even half the functioning neurons required to hear their viewers.

The plot of Emilia Pérez revolves around its fictional namesake, a Mexican cartel leader; she fakes her death to abandon her previous life (which included a wife and kids) so she can medically transition. The other main focus is the film’s protagonist, Rita, the lawyer Emilia kidnaps and pleads for assistance. Strangely enough, the filmmakers decided to incorporate musical aspects to the project, which might have worked out okay had anyone on the team heard any song in their life before. Few to none of the songs had a memorable or lasting melody, and if any did happen to be at least a little catchy, I promise the lyrics ruined them.

Not only are they barely comprehensible, but both the script and the songs are more often than not outright disrespectful and transphobic. Even after Emilia comes out to the protagonist and her surgeon, she is deadnamed and misgendered the entire time. Her identity is only respected after she physically transitions; this conveys the damaging narrative, to confused cisgender allies, transphobes, and impressionable trans youth alike, that someone’s true gender only deserves respect once they’ve completely surgically transitioned. As anyone who already has a decent understanding of how trans people “work” — for lack of better words — should know, many trans people choose not to completely surgically transition or do it at all. Invasive surgery is expensive and physically demanding, which not everyone is monetarily and/or physically/genetically equipped to handle.

For example, the number “Lady” depicts Rita arguing with the surgeon she chooses to convince him that Emilia truly needs these operations. Rita and the surgeon misgender Emilia for the entire song, with the doctor repeatedly referring to her as “Mr. Mystery.” He insists that Emilia is simply confused and desires a change of personal, non-gender-related identity rather than a change of sex, initially refusing to even consult with Emilia herself.

To conclude, if you’ve any respect for trans people at all, don’t give this production any of your time or money. You definitely shouldn’t pirate the movie if you intend to hate-watch it because piracy is bad, and stealing from multi-billion dollar corporations is just terrible; don’t do it. Anyhow, the film deserves none of your time, as the French guy who made it put absolutely zero effort into not only the representation of trans identity, but Mexican culture, as well.

Let’s not mention that they cast a Spanish woman with a history of racism to portray a Latin American woman. Because every Spanish-speaking country is pretty much the same, right? (/s) Available on Netflix.

—Marco Fernandez, Trash Vortex Editor

He’s All That

He’s All That (2021) is the painful gender-swapped reboot of the film She’s All That (1999). The reboot follows TikTok star Addison Rae’s character Padgett Sawyer as she makes a bet with her frenemy Alden (Madison Pettis) that she can take “the loser” character Cameron Kweller (Tanner Buchanan) and turn him into the next prom king. What makes Cameron a loser and Padgett popular? Well, Cameron’s loser qualities in question include his lack of social-media presence and friends along with his interest in photography. He’s the complete opposite of Padgett, who presents to the world a false luxurious life, pretending to be rich in order to stay popular in school and online.

During the film, we watch as Padgett begins to worm her way into Cameron’s life, connecting to his little sister, inviting him to events, and showing up at his home and work, where she throws horse poop at him and then the two proceed to laugh about it. Because apparently that’s romantic? To follow that, not even 30 minutes in, we see Cameron’s character immediately start falling in love with Padgett. Mind you, this is only their second time hanging out together, and it’s during a god-awful karaoke scene.

Since this movie was shot around the COVID-19 lockdown, the majority of it follows these two characters around random locations, watching as they bond over their lack of father figures and middle class status. Padgett brings Cameron thrifting to upgrade his wardrobe, before chopping up that horrendous wig the hair department gave him, turning him from “loser” to “hunk.” As she goes on to make him “beautiful” on the outside, the feelings between the two begin to grow and Cameron tries to help Padgett see her own beauty on the inside, under all the makeup and fake luxury life lies — providing us the overall, failed message, of the movie’s true meaning.

Then, of course, he finds out about the bet in front of the whole school and leaves her, because we always need the damning moment before the end. Due to this, he decides not to attend prom, missing Padgett’s prom queen speech about how she’s actually not the perfect, popular, rich girl she said she was but was lying the whole time.

But don’t worry! Even though Cameron misses the speech, and there’s no reasonable apology, his little sister convinces him to forgive Padgett, and Cameron — being the flat spineless character he is — says yes. Next thing you know, he’s riding up to the high school on a horse, finding Padgett before the two dance under the stars to a cover of the song “Kiss Me,” coming full circle to the original She’s All That.

While the film hoped to present a more modern take on She’s All That, any substance the creator tried to go for about accepting one’s inner beauty is all painfully drowned out by the mediocre acting, obvious product placement, and overreliance on using technology and trends to relate to younger generations.

Even though the main story is poorly put together, I will give it credit for the scenes involving Cameron and his little sister that provided a genuine bond between two characters that’s actually believable. While I can easily see everything rough about this film, unfortunately, it is still a guilty pleasure of mine that I will continue to suggest that people go and watch. Stream on Netflix.

—Kendall Cox

The Quill #1: Sports Center

February 17, 2025

NFL Coaching Language: What’s the Deal with It?

Football on a field For decades, NFL coaches have been talking to certain players of their team in a particular language and/or code. For example, in the early days of football, coaches would use hand signals and/or less complicated verbal communication, which would be told to the quarterbacks before they’d run out to the huddle for the next play. However, in today’s game, they’re primarily delivered via radio communications and occasionally through hand signals. This has led to many questions about the language including: has the communication between players and coaches always been like this?? How long has it been being used? Why and how do they do this? And finally, what does the language mean?!

Well, the language may have originated as far back as the 1970’s, having been created by two assistant coaches for the New England Patriots, Ron Erhardt and Ray Perkins. It’s used as a way of indicating to the players what plays, formations, and routes to run on a specific drive, and it was delivered in ways that prevented the opposing team from finding out what play was going to be run next. Since then, this practice has (for the most part) stayed the same. The only major changes to occur happened in 1994 when the terminology became more modernized, communication methods advanced with the use of radio headset communication systems, and the overall complexity of the calls became much more difficult.

For example, in the New Orleans Saints modern play call “Hop to Gun Kings Trips Right Tear 52 Sway All Go Special X-Shallow Cross H-Wide,” the “Hop to Gun King Trips Right” indicates the lineup formation. The “Tear 52 Sway” indicates the protection scheme, or whether or not the running back will need to protect the quarterback. The “All Go Sport” is the play time or otherwise tells whether the play will be a “run” or “pass” play. Finally, the “X-Shallow Cross H-Wide” will indicate the receiver’s routes and the “cadence,” or otherwise when the ball will be snapped to the quarterback. Also, when a quarterback shouts out something like “Blue 42!” or “Green 18!” before the ball is snapped, he is signaling to his offense that they are changing the play.

The play-calling language used by NFL head coaches has been around for as long as the game of football has, and it will likely only continue to evolve with the sport as time goes on.

—Seth VanEss, Sports Editor

The Quill #1: Self-Care Corner #1

February 17, 2025

Confidence is Key

Joggers My own personal tip for self-care is simply getting up and getting moving. Whether that would mean going outside to take your dog for a walk, doing Pilates in your living room, going to the gym for an hour before/after work, etc. Getting your body moving has helped people look good as well as feel good. Some examples/hobbies to get yourself moving are as follows:

Walking/Jogging: The benefits of daily walking or jogging are that these are low-impact, safe, free forms of exercise that can, first and foremost, improve your mental health. They can reduce your levels of anxiety and depression, lower your mood, help you sleep better, boost your creativity, and even lower your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia. While physically, walking or jogging daily could help you stay fit, lower your risk of heart disease and stroke, and lower your risk of falls.

Pilates: Pilates’ biggest improvement for self-care is that it offers better core strength, balance, posture, and alignment. By working on these physical improvements through Pilates, you can also help your chances of reducing and preventing injury by improving your flexibility. Like walking/jogging, Pilates also helps to reduce stress and anxiety through the controlled breathing techniques.

Gym Exercise: Going to the gym has similar benefits to walking/jogging, as it also gets your body moving. Exercise, in general, could help with your sense of control, your coping ability, and your self-esteem. Many people work out to maintain their physical health, but it also helps maintain a healthy mindset, reducing the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, as mentioned above.

Exercising helps with self-care, as it helps your brain release the “feel-good” chemicals, known as serotonin and endorphins. While you’re on the journey to improve your fitness, you can also improve your mental health.There are free at-home options from finding the right guides. The UWGB Kress Fitness Center and pool (Green Bay campus) are open at different times on different days. You can assess the hours here. UWGB also offers different exercise classes, which can be found here.

—Jenna Fintelmann, Self-Care Editor

Photo by Fitsum Admasu / Unsplash.

The Quill #1: Self-Care Corner #2

February 17, 2025

Mind, Body, and Soul

Woman painting Taking care of ourselves is so important for our overall well-being. I love to weave self-care into my daily routine. Self-care doesn’t only involve your physical health but also your social and emotional health.

Physical health is really a top priority for me, so I make sure to set aside time for exercise a few times a week. Whether it’s enjoying a morning jog, joining a yoga class, or simply taking a walk in nature, staying active brings me so much energy, helps melt away stress, and lifts my spirits. Plus, I pay attention to getting enough restful sleep, aiming for 7-8 hours each night to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day.

Taking care of my mental and emotional health is just as crucial. Every day, I set aside time just for myself. This time is essential to ensure that I nurture my well-being instead of dedicating all my energy solely to school and work. One way I accomplish this is by practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is embracing the present moment with an open heart and without judgment. It’s an excellent practice that allows you to truly experience and appreciate every single moment in your life. You can practice mindfulness during activities including reading, listening to music, coloring, or engaging in a calming hobby during these moments.

Building social connections is a key part of my self-care journey. I make it a priority to reach out to family and friends through regular phone calls, friendly texts, or fun meetups. These valued relationships offer wonderful support and help me remember that I’m never alone, even when life gets a bit crazy. All these habits come together to help me maintain balance, stay grounded, and truly feel my best!

—Cheyenne Shull

The Quill #1: Today’s Trends

February 17, 2025

AI Personalization

TikTok logo Artificial intelligence (AI) personalization is truly transforming platforms such as TikTok, as well as schools, creating wonderfully tailored experiences that celebrate individual interests. Whether they involve curating a user’s feed or supporting students in their learning journeys, these innovations make each interaction feel special. TikTok is really changing the game when it comes to sharing content. Its fun, short-form video format is capturing the attention of people worldwide. Thanks to TikTok’s amazing success, other platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are jumping on the bandwagon with similar styles. As TikTok keeps growing and evolving, we can’t wait to see how AI will become an even bigger part of the app, making it easier to discover awesome content and edit videos. This will create even more exciting experiences for both creators and viewers alike. Today, technology is evolving rapidly, and we can see how much AI and popular platforms like TikTok are impacting our daily lives. AI has become a key player across various fields, from healthcare and finance to marketing and entertainment. A standout trend is the rise of AI-driven personalization. For instance, TikTok uses AI to curate personalized content feeds, analyzing our behavior to serve up videos that fit our unique tastes. This transformation is really reshaping social media and content creation, making it more engaging and tailored just for us.As technology evolves, AI is here to assist with your schoolwork. It’s becoming a fantastic resource for streamlining research, boosting productivity, and enhancing your learning experience. Influencers on social media rave about tools like ChatGPT, which are excellent for answering questions, clarifying concepts, and brainstorming ideas for your essays. AI-powered research assistants can swiftly help you find relevant sources and neatly organize your information. Apps like Grammarly improve your writing by refining grammar, punctuation, and style. Additionally, math-solving apps like Photomath guide you through problems step-by-step, making math much less intimidating. Even study apps are becoming smarter, personalizing your learning to fit your strengths and weaknesses, making studying not only effective but also enjoyable.

—Cheyenne Shull, Today’s Trends Editor

The Quill #1: The Nerd Zone #1

February 17, 2025

Wandering Wikipedia: The Year 1467

Enigma machine This week I was feeling positively historical. So, I chose a year in history, precisely 558 years ago, during the Middle Ages. The time of dragons, alchemists, and wizards, if you’re a fantasy nerd like me. If you’re a historian like these Wikipedia people, you’ll know it is a time full of cruel, ruthless monarchs such as Khan Xälil.This particular year, however, was a great year for war and peace. Interestingly, on October 21 of 1467, a man named Giovanni il Popolano was born to the noble Medici family. He grew up to be a diplomat and studied under his cousins Giuliano and Lorenzo El Magnifico. Unfortunately, he died in the year of 1498 at the young age of 30. His cause of death was unknown.

A hop, a skip, and a jump a little ways northwest to Europe: This year, the first polyalphabetic cipher was invented by Leon Battista Alberti. He, much like Giovanni, is also Italian. A polyalphabetic cipher, boiled down to basics, is simply a cipher where a person swaps letters of their alphabet for symbols, numbers, or other sequences that only they have a key for. Notable examples of polyalphabetic ciphers are the Vigenère Cipher and The Enigma Machine (pictured above).

—Sylvie Cavros, The Nerd Zone Co-Editor