casey's (not the gas station)

Every year, like clockwork, my social media feeds flood with Spotify-wrapped posts from all my friends. Among all the typical top artists like Taylor Swift and Drake, there was a name who I’d never seen before this year. Noah Kahan.

One of my close friends back home was the one who first introduced me to him, saying that he performed at her college recently and she’d been a fan ever since. Now, as the year comes to a close, Noah Kahan has found his way into the top 5 of many Spotify Wrapped’s.

So…what’s the allure behind this one guy? “In many ways, Kahan represents a new archetype for a male artist,” says an article from Boston Magazine. “He’s Vermont, but not crunchy. Countryside, but not country. Long-haired and bearded, but not greasy. Masculine, but emotionally evolved” (para 11). Kahan’s music is identified by a few instruments, a personal atmosphere, and poignant lyrics.

Alli Madden adds her thoughts on his style of music: “It’s a mix of upbeat and catchy sounds and deep lyrics. On the surface they’re fun to jam to but they just get better when you really listen to them too”.

One way to identify Kahan’s niche is by comparing him to Jason Aldean, who also topped the charts this year with his hit song, “Try That in a Small Town”. Jason Aldean, a country superstar, wrote the song to speak out against the current culture of individualism and deviance. His sentiments in the song received backlash over the seemingly racist and violent undertones in the song.

Kahan also writes about his small town in New England, instead saying he wants to convey the sentiments of Steinbeck with Salinas or Stephen King with Maine. Noah Kahan’s music seems to cater to an audience not yet identified: small-town kids who feel alone, teens struggling with mental health, and even fans of the sub-genre that seems to have all but dissipated in the ’00s.

Kahan’s songwriting also shows a new-age view on topics like mental health. He notes that he grew up in a household where it was not taboo to talk about things like that. His mom, after all, wrote books about how to help failing families.

These introspective, mature themes seem to connect with an audience that is ready for deeper meaning in their songs. Nick Schiltz commented on why he thinks Noah Kahan’s music feels different than others: “All of his songs have a mature storyline. When you listen to Kahan’s music, it doesn’t feel like country, it’s more like its own genre. I think the acoustic feel to his songs makes them sound so unique.”

Grace Pham agreed with this sentiment, saying: “I was not often drawn to country/folk music because I didn’t really resonate with the message that I felt mostly spoke to people who had southern upbringings and held an unrelatable view of love and life.” Kahan has proved that there are people out there who will listen to the genre, and country just needs a bit of a modern twist.

Another artist has proven that country is still in, that being Lil Nas X when he released “Old Town Road” in 2018.

While Kahan’s music and Nas’s are nothing alike put side to side, they both are questionable of the country genre. At first, Nas’s track made it onto Billboard’s “Hot Country Songs” list, but a week later, Billboard removed it from the country chart and has since defended its decision. Many people called the song “trap-country”, and the song went on to receive multiple Grammys.

Noah Kahan’s rise within the modern country music scene shows a transformative shift in the genre. His unique blend of Vermont authenticity, modern aesthetics, and a focus on small-town narratives and mental health resonates with a diverse audience seeking depth in their musical experiences.

Homer the bear was found dead today, confirmed by Sarah M. Getty, zookeeper, and Chris P. Bacon, the director. “He was a very curious and playful polar bear and we will miss him terribly,” says Sarah. Shanda Lear, the senior staff vet, says that the zoo will perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

Other precautions are being taken to monitor the other polar bears that cohabitated with Homer. Bacon says “We will do everything in our power to determine how this bear died. Animal welfare and the preservation of species are our primary goals here at the zoo.”

The polar bears at Midland Zoo have thrived since 1985. Their habitat is made to engage in natural behaviors with features such as manufactured snow, hunting trout, and digging in gravel. The habitat was designed for the visitors to learn more about these endangered animals.

Every year, like clockwork, my social media feeds flood with Spotify-Wrapped posts from all my friends. Among all the typical top artists like Taylor Swift and Drake, there was a name who I’d never seen before this year. Noah Kahan. One of my close friends back home was the one who first introduced me to him, saying that he performed at her college recently and she’d been a fan ever since. Now, as the year comes to a close, Noah Kahan has found his way into the top 5 of many Spotify Wrapped’s. So…what’s the allure behind this one guy? “In many ways, Kahan represents a new archetype for a male artist,” says an article from Boston Magazine. “He’s Vermont, but not crunchy. Countryside, but not country. Long-haired and bearded, but not greasy. Masculine, but emotionally evolved” (para 11). Kahan’s music is identified by a few instruments, a personal atmosphere, and poignant lyrics.

One way to identify Kahan’s niche is by comparing him to Jason Aldean, who also topped the charts this year with his hit song, “Try That in a Small Town”. Jason Aldean, a country superstar, wrote the song to speak out against the current culture of individualism and deviance. His sentiments in the song received backlash over the seemingly racist and violent undertones in the song. Noah Kahan also writes about his small town in New England, instead of saying he wants to convey the sentiments of Steinbeck with Salinas or Stephen King with Maine. Noah Kahan’s music seems to cater to an audience not yet identified: small-town kids who feel alone, teens struggling with mental health, and even fans of the genre that seems to have all but dissipated in the 00s.

Kahan’s songwriting also shows a new-age view on topics like mental health. He notes that he grew up in a household where it was not taboo to talk about things like that. His mom, after all, wrote books about how to help failing families. These introspective, mature themes connect with an audience ready for deeper meaning in their songs. One of my close friends and teammates, Nick Schiltz, commented on why he thinks Noah Kahan’s music feels different than others: “All of his songs have a mature storyline. When you listen to Kahan’s music, it doesn’t feel like country, it’s more like its own genre. I think the acoustic feel to his songs make them sound so unique.”

My close friend back home, Grace Pham, also agreed with this sentiment, saying: “I was not often drawn to country/folk music because I didn’t really resonate with the message that I felt mostly spoke to people who had southern upbringings and held an unrelatable view of love an life.” Kahan has proved that there are people out there that will listen to the genre, and country just needs a bit of a modern twist.

Another artist has proven that country is still in, that being Lil Nas X when he released “Old Town Road” in 2018. While Kahan’s music and Nas’s are nothing alike put side to side, they both are questionable of the country genre. “Old Town Road”. At first, the track made it onto Billboard’s “Hot Country Songs” list, but a week later, Billboard removed it from the country chart and has since defended its decision. Many people called the song “trap-country”, and the song went on to receive multiple Grammys. I think both artists prove that country is long due for a change, and that massive audiences are waiting for it to happen. While his songs are deep, another friend of mine adds that his songs are still catchy and fun to listen to. Alli Madden adds: “It’s a mix of upbeat and catchy sounds and deep lyrics. On the surface they’re fun to jam to but they just get better when you really listen to them too”.

The write-up I did was on Instacart, a technology company first, but more specifically about this recent Tuesday, in which every dollar spent on Instacart they donated one serving of fruit to people in need. I think the initiative is great, and everyone should have access to healthy and nutritional foods. This article felt more like an ad or a “humble brag” more than anything else but I think it does what it needs to: highlight recent developments within the company for positive connections with the community.

Link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instacart-launches-third-annual-giving-tuesday-campaign-to-support-partnership-for-a-healthier-america-with-up-to-1-million-servings-of-fruits-and-vegetables-301996486.html

The Piouroinnes had a soft, flaky, wafer outside that melts in your mouth and a nice hazelnut filling that is very…comforting to eat. The wafers are like Pocky, long thin sticks where they’re designed to make you eat maybe a couple at once and it certainly makes me want to eat multiple. This is the same case with the moon pie, with a soft texture and taste that makes for the perfect sweet. Even the tangy sweet rope was in that same shape, I’m assuming it has some sort of psychological advantage for consumers.

My last conversation was a quick exchange between me and my roommate, Nick. It started on text until I crossed by him on the sidewalk on the way to class, and we finished the conversation face-to-face. It was about a project for psych, and he asked to see what I had done the previous semester for said class. I said I would look for it and that was that.

Welcome back to this week’s edition of “Worldside: The Radio Broadcast for Morningside.” Let’s get into today’s topics:

Humane, a San Francisco start-up, is set to unveil the Ai Pin, an artificially intelligent device aimed at combatting smartphone addiction. The founders, former Apple employees, envision a screen-less future, utilizing AI to enable voice and gesture controls for tasks like messaging, music, and translation. The device is priced at $699 with a $24 monthly subscription. However, the success of this ambitious project remains uncertain, with challenges including a new operating system, potential user reluctance, and technical glitches during demos. Freshman Eein McKinley offers his thoughts on the product: ”Depending on how people receive it, I can see it being a good replacement. But if not a bunch of people buy into it, I can easily see this falling to the wayside.”

On the opposite end of the tech world, Nepal has banned TikTok, citing the platform’s failure to control hate content. The move follows India’s ban on numerous Chinese apps in 2020 amid a Himalayan military standoff. While TikTok’s global user base exceeds a billion, Nepal’s ban signals a broader trend of governments restricting its use due to data privacy concerns and content issues. TikTok, facing increased scrutiny worldwide, has not responded to Nepal’s ban. Sophomore Parker Halder agrees with the ban, citing his own belief that: “It’s [TikTok] taking away from children’s learning.”

Shifting gears a bit, a recent study in the Royal Society Open Science journal uncovers interesting tactics employed by female frogs to avoid male advances during mating. The research by Carolin Dittrich at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology in Vienna shows that these resourceful amphibians employ a range of strategies, including feigning death, rolling in water to shake off suitors, and mimicking male calls. “It was definitely something I could relate to,” says Senior Emily Chicoine.

Stuart Scott, a major figure in the world of sports broadcasting, took to the stage at the ESPY Awards to share his story about perseverance, support, and passion.

He first quoted the iconic Jim Valvano speech, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” Stuart’s speech added to that sentiment, saying: “When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.” This phrase encapsulated the essence of his journey battling cancer, emphasizing the importance of living life to the fullest, fighting fiercely, and making each day count.

Stuart Scott also emphasized the vital role of a support system in life. He shared his experiences of hospital stays, surgeries, and moments when he felt too exhausted to continue the fight. He recognized the unwavering love and support of family, friends, and even Twitter followers who were essential in his battle against cancer. Stuart emphasized that the fight against cancer was not a solitary endeavor and encouraged others to lean on their loved ones when needed.

Stuart continued, expressing his unwavering love and dedication to his two daughters, Taelor and Sydni. “My littlest angel is here. My fourteen-year-old. Sydni, come up here and give dad a hug, because I need one.” His love for them was his greatest motivation and strength, a reminder that the battle against cancer was not just about survival but about living with purpose and embracing the support and love of those around you. As he concluded, he expressed gratitude to ESPN and the ESPYs, embraced by his daughter on stage.

This article discusses “Now and Then”, the Beatles’ latest release, labeled as their final song. It’s a reconstruction of a John Lennon demo from the 70s, reimagined by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr in 2022. The song shows the main melody in a minor key, starting with a piano, guitar, and drums that gradually expands to include strings. It simplifies his original narrative, finishing more optimistically than the original. The track ends with a distinctive and syncopated string phrase, followed by a faint voice saying, “Good one!” While the production is interesting, the main concern is how fans will react to the song being a more digitized “final” release. “Now and Then” evokes nostalgia, serving as a reminder of the band’s lasting legacy, particularly for those who grew up with their music. However, it begs whether bands/musicians will soon be able to expand their legacy beyond their death with the help of technology and AI. It reminds me of that one Black Mirror episode with Miley Cyrus, and it is a little concerning, to be frank.

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/arts/music/beatles-now-and-then-last-song.html

Turns out rejection is just as hard in the animal kingdom as in real life. Female frogs in particular have developed clever strategies to escape the relentless advances of male frogs during the mating season. A recent study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science reveals their tactics, which include evasive maneuvers and even faking their own deaths to avoid mating.

Carolin Dittrich, a postdoctoral researcher at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology in Vienna, discovered the phenomenon while studying European frogs’ mating habits. These frogs typically lead solitary lives, except during the two-week period in spring when they gather for an intense mating event known as explosive breeding.

Male frogs may sometimes grab onto a female already with a partner or multiple partners, creating a chaotic and potentially dangerous “mating ball.” While researching, Dr. Dittrich observed female frogs faking death during mating encounters. These frogs would go limp, splay their limbs out, and appear lifeless when a male grabbed them. After a few minutes, the male would give up and move on, at which point the “dead” female would revive and swim away. Approximately one-third of the females employed this tactic.

The female frogs also rolled in the water to shake off their male suitors and mimicked the calls males make when grabbed by other males to divert attention away from themselves.

The strategies proved effective, with 25 out of 54 females successfully escaping their persistent suitors. These findings challenge the perception that female frogs are passive in breeding events. Furthermore, the research dispelled the notion that male frogs use body size as a criterion for mate selection, as they seem to “grab whatever they can” in their frantic pursuit of mating partners.