Staff Picks: March 2

Susannah Mitchell19sacks-blog427

Online Co-Editor-in-Chief

The wonderful author and neurologist Oliver Sacks has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In this essay, he expounds upon life and death, and what both mean to him now that his lifespan has been shortened. Sacks uses these several hundred words to say goodbye to his life, his readers and to the future. I can’t help but think how much the world will be lacking once his magnificent mind is gone. “Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure.”

 

 

Julia Poe

original-7912-1424438920-18Online Co-Editor-in-Chief

Despite all the power of technology and our buzz-driven world of social media, there seems to be one topic that is never covered enough online — mental illness. Honestly, I don’t think it’s realistic how happy we constantly expect each other to be. This article deals with how to live on when you aren’t happy, and how to be okay with days of depression and anxiety. It’s an honest look at something that most people go through, and it might just help you sort out what’s going on in your own head when you’re not happy.

 

Katharine Swindells

Online Co-Head Copy Editor

Recently I’ve been obsessed with 27-year-old British pop star FKA twigs, and if you haven’t heard of her, I need you to change that. Although she’s been around for a couple of years, she’s gained fame more recently, and was nominated for two awards at this weeks BRIT awards, losing out to Sam Smith and Paloma Faith. I’ve never seen someone who so effortlessly tip-toes the line between human woman and ethereal being. I’m begging you to check out her surreal performance of her song “Hide” from earlier this year – it’s honestly hypnotic.

 

Mike Thibodeau

Online Co-Head Copy Editor

If you’re a fan of the Barclay’s Premier League and you love a witty British man getting cheeky about football (soccer), check out last week’s “Premier League in 90 Seconds” at ESPNFC.

 

 

Sean OvertonIMG_4045

A&E Editor 

This story is for those who are interested in beautiful art and those who praise and identify with icons. Artist Douglas Bourgeois is inspired by the height of the jazz days, icons such as Elvis and new icons like Lana Del Rey to create mind boggling art. This art involves pop culture and graphics that kind of make your mind feel like it is tripping acid, and it really makes you think. It also encompasses his Catholic background and his interpretations of religion and dream-like American landscapes into his art.

 

enhanced-19746-1424365542-14Matt Kaplan

Eastipedia Editor

Ever since I was a kid, I have always wanted to explore the world. That also meant that I have wanted to explore different worlds. When I read before that people are going to be living on Mars, I was so excited. But then this happened, and even though it sucks that we can’t abandon our lives on earth, the science behind it is really interesting.

 

Celia Hack

enhanced-16865-1424754345-8Online Opinions Editor

At the Oscars Sunday, Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic remarked that Zendaya, who was wearing her hair in locs, probably smelled like “patchouli oil”.

Someone then added “or weed”. Many interpreted the comment as racist, and while Rancic apologized, Zendaya’s come back on Twitter was remarkably well composed. “To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or ‘weed’ is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive,” she wrote.

 

keri-feature-hunthhbpDaniel Rinner

Online Sports Co-Editor

Ron Hunt hasn’t played Major League Baseball since the ‘70s. He’s not in any hall of fame. You won’t hear his name again. The only thing that makes him stand out is a single statistic: hit by pitch (HBP). In the 1971 season, Hunt took first base after getting hit by the fastest throwers in the game 50 times, 15 more than the next all-time season leader. Five Thirty Eight Sports wrote this article on the man who took the most for the team.

 

Stella Braly

Homegrown Editor

I don’t often take the time to read a full article when scanning through the news, but recently, something caught my eye. About 100 years ago, there were more than 100,000 wild tigers in grasslands and forests of Asia. With habitat loss, lack of prey and conflicts with humans, today there are less than 3,200 tigers remaining in the wild.

 

Will Clough

Online News Editor

_69531116_a7bad521-37ac-4e74-848b-ac406f6375d3

National safety is always a big concern here in the U.S., especially when it concerns anything nuclear. That’s why it’s no surprise that our ears are tuned into a North Korean weapons scandal. Because of North Korea’s focus on their nuclear weapons program, an arms embargo has been sanctioned upon the country. But the North Korean’s are attempting to get around this sanction through their boats. They want to rename them. By doing this, it makes it harder to track which boat travels where, and therefore makes it easier to get weapons. The UN will be launching an investigation and attempt to eliminate this problem.

 

FILE PHOTO:  Eddie Redmayne To Play Stephen Hawking In Biopic Role

Katie Lamar

Online Photo Co-Editor

I fell in love with Eddie Redmayne when he played Marius in “Les Misérables.” He transformed into a completely different person in “The Theory of Everything” and blew me away. If you have, or haven’t, seen “The Theory of Everything,” check out this nod to the actor from the man he acted on behalf of.  

 

Leah O’Connor

Podcast Editor

720x405-b75dd31761fbf9e5dc7b036389d257ffThe iconic “The Breakfast Club” was released 30 years ago, and since then it has had a lasting impact on pop culture. A variety of different people, from John Green to TV writers and producers talk in this article about how the movie affected them and the world around them. This article shows how films can affect different people, and the world we live in, in different ways. It’s also interesting because it has the opinions of the writer/producer of “Gossip Girl,” of which I’m a pretty big fan.

 

Callie McPhail

Online Photo Co-Editor

This combination of songs, old and new, would be a great addition to your spring break playlist. Whether you’re road-tripping, catching rays on the beach or relaxing at home, these songs are perfect for any occasion over the upcoming break.

“Paradise Waiting” — Vacationer

This beach-themed band really makes you feel like you’re by the ocean with their relaxed, electric sound. If you like this song, check out “Trip” or “Good as New” by Vacationer as well.

“Pusher” — alt-J

This track off of alt-J’s newest album, This Is All Yours, has unfortunately gone unnoticed. It differs from alt-J’s usual upbeat techno songs and has a mellow, acoustic sound.

“Kansas City” — The New Basement Tapes

This is for all of you staycationers who are bummed about being stuck in KC over break. It may seem like a drag, but it must be pretty cool if Marcus Mumford is singing about it. Embrace the staycation and go explore our beautiful city!

“James Dean” — Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. fits best into the “Indie Pop” genre, and though I am not usually a fan of pop music, I adore everything about this song.

“Love Me Like You Do” — Ellie Goulding

Again — pop isn’t really my thing on most occasions, but Ellie Goulding is a goddess and her unique voice strays away from the typical pop auto-tuned songs. Definitely worth four minutes of your time.

“From Eden” — Hozier

I’m sure by now everyone has heard Hozier’s Take Me To Church, but this catchy love song, From Eden, hasn’t gotten the hype it deserves quite yet. The upbeat and happy lyrics will have you singing along in no time.

“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” — Vampire Weekend

I hope that everyone can agree with me when I say that Vampire Weekend is the ultimate beach music. I could’ve chosen any of their songs for this playlist and been perfectly content but I always find myself belting this one in particular.

“You and I” — Ingrid Michaelson

This song is an oldie but a goodie nonetheless. I heard it for the first time a couple weeks ago and was instantly hooked by the cute lyrics and happy melody.

“Constant Conversations” — Passion Pit

I think everything about Passion Pit’s music is incredible. The way all of the electric beats and sounds flow together creates little 3 minute masterpieces that never fail me. This song is one of their more laid back tracks, great to listen to when you just want to chill.

Leave a Reply

Author Spotlight

The Harbinger Staff

The Harbinger Staff
The Harbinger is the exclusive student-run news program for Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, KS. Staffed by approximately 60 dedicated super-students and overseen by advisor C. Dow Tate, its online and print publications have won numerous national awards. The publication is updated with daily published content including stories, video, live broadcasts, photo galleries and multimedia packages. Select stories are published in its print publication every two weeks in addition. Partnered with The Harbinger, harbiephoto.com is a website run by the student photographers of the newspaper and the yearbook staffs. Updated daily, harbiephoto.com allows visitors to purchase prints of high-quality photos at low rates that appear, and don't appear, in online content or print. For more information, e-mail us at smeharbinger@gmail.com »

Our Latest Issue