The Pulse - April 2023

A Basket Full of History

By Emma Galgano

The Harvey girls varsity basketball team has made Harvey proud with their outstanding and record-breaking season. Last year, the girls Varsity record was 4-10, and they had an excellent showing in the HVAL playoffs, despite falling short in the semifinals. However, the team has come back better than ever!

Ms. Victoria Shopovick and Ms. Felicia Peterson coach the team. Before the season started, Coach Shopovick stated, as reported on the Harvey website, “We’re excited to have a really great season this year, and we look to increase our wins from last year and make it deep into the playoffs.”

The roster consisted of a substantial number of seniors, including captain Kira Ortega at point guard, Emi Knauer at forward, Jordan Latta at guard and small forward, Celia Baer, 2022’s top leader in rebounds at forward, Juliet Jaques at guard and small forward, and Liz Hurley at guard and small forward.

The team also consisted of juniors: captain McKensi Forde at shooting guard and small forward, Fernanda Alexandre at shooting guard and small forward, Mariona Bascunana Amat at guard and small forward, and Grace Alpern at guard. The team also included two ninth graders: Amani Carty at forward and Peyton Forde at guard.

The girls opened their season with an impressive victory over Masters, allowing them to qualify for the Peg Duggan Tournament at Horace Mann School in Riverdale against Inwood Academy. The team continued their victorious run at the tournament with a final score of 5122. Some game standouts include the Tournament MVP McKensi, who put up 11 points, junior Fernanda with 17 points, Peyton with her outstanding defense and 13 points, and Kira with eight points and several steals.

In the next game, the team defeated their first HVAL opponent, Westover, making their league record 1-0 and overall record 3-0.

On Dec.14, the team put in an extraordinary effort against HVAL rival Watkinson, despite their heartbreaking loss by one point, making the final score 57-56. This made the team’s league record 1-1.

After the game, Coach Shopovick said, “Even with the score

going back and forth, they kept their composure and didn’t let it affect their game. Every player stepped up and knew what they needed to do. I couldn’t be more proud of the girls.”

After the Winter Break, on Jan. 4, the players returned with their win against HVAL opponent Christian Heritage, with a final score of 65-28. The team’s star players of the game included Peyton, Kira, Fernanda, and McKensi. The team then continued their winning streaks with an outstanding performance against HVAL revival Westover in a 68-24 victory. Three days later, they beat another HVAL opponent, Forman, 76-39.

In the next three games, the team continued their winnings with all of the game’s final scores consisting of the Cavs being 20 points ahead of the other team.

Despite their loss against the highly acclaimed New York Military Academy, the girls hopped back into their winning streak in a hard-fought game against Holy Child on Jan. 28. In this game, Kira showed off her skills, as she went six for six on 3-pointers and finished the game with a team-high of 19 points. This victory vaulted Harvey into a first-place tie with Watkinson, as both of their HVAL standings were 8-1.

On Feb. 6, it was Senior Day, and the Fenstermacher Athletic Center was decorated with bright, love-filled posters of each senior. The team went against The Wooster School and defeated the Generals despite a close first quarter. Coach Shopovick stated, “When the second quarter started, they knew what they needed to do. They started to lock their defense up, forcing turnovers and coming back with a basket.”

In honor of Senior Day, senior Emi Knauer, a four-year varsity player, stated, “Getting to know all the people on the team has been genuinely one of the best parts of my year, and I am so grateful to be on a team that is so supportive of one another.”

The players then won their next two games against Williams School and The King School. These wins improved their HVAL standing to 12-1 and their overall Cavs record to 18-2. In the next game, the players continued their winnings ways by defeating The Frederick Gunn School

by a 20-point margin.

Then on Feb.18, in a 68-38 victory against Forman, girls made Harvey history by obtaining 20 victories and becoming the first varsity team in Harvey’s basketball program to reach that record. Initially, the 1994-95 boys Varsity Basketball team held the record with their 19win record.

Coach Shopovick celebrated this accomplishment by stating, “The girls played amazing. I couldn’t be prouder of the way they played.” After the game, Harvey Communications reported, “Harvey Director of Athletics Ray Lacen waved the team over to line up at center court where he saluted a team that had just made school history. The team threw their arms up in celebration and embraced the cheers the home fans sent their way.”

The team then went on to defeat Watinkson in the Championship game in front of a huge crowd. This officially made the team 2022-23 champions of the Housatonic Valley Athletic League!

The Pulse would like to congratulate the girls varsity basketball team on their highly successful season and on making Harvey history!

Update:

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE PULSE, WHICH WILL FEATURE AN ARTICLE ON THE BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM AND THEIR SUCCESSFUL SEASON!

The Girl’s Varsity Basketball celebrates making Harvey History with their 20th victory. Photo Courtesy of Harvey Communications.

Dear Editor,

The Pulse Staff

Editor-in-Chief/Layout

Emma Galgano

Sports Editor

Dan Gasch

Benji Cutler

Spencer Elkind

Bradley Lederer

Razi Tanksley

Jonah Weinstock

Hudson Zamacona

Faculty Advisor

Virginia Holmes

Did Phase 4 Achieve its Purpose?

Ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) returned in 2021, there’s been a lot of hate thrown around at their “Phase 4 and the Multiverse Saga.” People have criticized its lack of direction, lower quality, and high output. But what if I were to tell you these criticisms have been entirely overblown? While I wouldn’t say “Phase 4” was a success, I can say that it accomplished its sole purpose: to expand the world of the MCU.

First, let me address the drop in quality. People have pointed out many problems in recent MCU projects, mainly with writing, and I can’t disagree with that assessment. But I also cannot say it’s gotten worse. Some movies might have received lower Rotten Tomatoes scores than other MCU entries, but audience scores have remained well above 70%. It’s not like the previous phases were devoid of mistakes, either (think of “ or e Dark World” and “Iron Man 2”), but now they’re being looked at through rose-colored glasses.

Another thing worth pointing out is the Disney+ television shows made by Marvel continue to receive great reviews. Even “She-Hulk: Attorney At Law,” a show that was put on blast by the Internet for its entire run, holds an 87% critic score. So, at least according to critics, Marvel’s television has kept up the quality we’d expect.

e second complaint is the increased output of content from Marvel. In 2021, Marvel put out four movies and ve shows with more content than ever. Needless to say, this le many fans feeling fatigued with Marvel as a whole, leading Marvel to cut back to three movies and three shows for 2022. While this year has more than that planned, Marvel has indicated it plans on delaying shows such as “Echo” and “Agatha Coven of Chaos” in order to not oversaturate the market.

And for those complaining about fatigue, let me remind you that you don’t have to watch all the shows. Only two of them so far, “WandaVision” and “Loki,” have had a substantial impact across the wider universe. e rest are side stories you can probably skip if you want. You don’t have to watch everything to understand where the MCU is going anymore. Regardless, I think Marvel has found an appropriate level of output for future years to avoid tiring out its audience.

Finally, I can’t agree with a lack of direction. People who complain about the lack of direction are acting like anos was in every movie, when in reality, he only had about 10 minutes of total screen time before “Avengers In nity War.” Compare that to Kang the Conqueror, who will serve as the main villain in the third Ant-Man lm before presumably having multiple appearances leading up to “Avengers Kang Dynasty.” So, in my opinion, the Multiverse Saga has even more direction than the In nity Saga.

e point of “Phase 4” was not to build up to the epic Avengers movies we’ll get one day. It was to rebuild a er the previous saga and introduce new characters and new stories. Shang-Chi, the Eternals, Ms. Marvel, and Moon Knight are just a few of them. ey are set to be the main players going forward into the more focused Phases 5 and 6. In addition, the less focused nature of Phase 4 allowed directors such as Sam Raimi, Chloe Zhao, and Micheal Giacchino to have more creative freedom. And, if I recall correctly, that is what we fans wanted: for projects to feel di erent and not stick to a basic superhero movie formula!

Pulse Staff

So in that regard, Phase 4 accomplished exactly what it needed to do. It introduced audiences to new, charismatic heroes that will push the universe forward. It showed us new sides of the MCU that had never seen before and gave directors increased creative freedom to help esh out those new corners. ough heavy-hitters like the Fantastic Four and the X-men are still a few years out, we can rest assured knowing the universe is in safe hands until then, and hopefully, the remaining two phases in the Multiverse Saga will regain the high quality that the MCU was known for in the late In nity Saga.

Sincerely,

Spencer Elkind

The Blood Is the Life in the Lasdon Theater

By Benji Cutler

On Feb. 3 and 4, 2023, “Dracula,” inspired by Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, was performed at The Harvey School. Ms. Virginia Holmes led the winter production, and the script was written by Steven Dietz. Starring wonderful talents across the board and backed up by a hard-working crew, the play ran in a thrilling and entertaining manner.

For those who are not familiar with Stoker’s work, “Dracula” is about a bloodthirsty vampire lurking around Transylvania and London, hoping to attack, or bite, anybody he can find. Dracula is surrounded by Jonathan Harker, Dr. Seward, Renfield, Mina, and Lucy, and none of them are safe from the Transylvanian Count.

To say the least, Ms. Holmes’s production perfectly captures the essence of Stoker’s “Dracula” and Dietz’s script. Ms. Holmes’s direction, the entire cast, the fantastic set and costume designs, and many more essential aspects truly made Harvey’s “Dracula” come to life.

To begin, the entire cast of “Dracula” worked phenomenally together, but the huge standouts were Łukasz Daszcynski and Mara van den Tol. Mara’s performance as Count Dracula was brilliantly unsettling and haunting, giving the audience a true “Dracula” experience. Mara’s chilling voice and gothic

costume built such an ominous mood on the stage as well.

Additionally, Łukasz was a star in his role as Renfield, stealing every single scene he was in. His emotional range nailed both hilarious and haunting moments, making the audience simultaneously laugh and sit back in their seats. Łukasz opened and closed the play with ease, smoothly bringing us in and taking us out of the fantastic production.

The true hero of the “Dracula” production was undoubtedly Eli Klagsbrun. The same day as the first performance of “Dracula,” Eli found out that he would be playing one of the biggest roles in the play, Dr. Seward. He had very little time to learn his character, in terms of dialogue, costume, behavior, and motivations, but Eli somehow pulled it off. Through strong determination and hard work, Eli stepped up to the challenge and succeeded with ease and passion.

Outside of Łukasz, Mara, and Eli, the entire cast helped to create a dark and chilling mood that was so entertaining from start to finish. Alex Silverman and Ava Lazaroff shared fantastic chemistry together as Mina and Lucy respectively, and they each were brilliant on their own. Alexa Williams played a charismatic Van Helsing to perfection, and Ari Klein’s role as Harker was powerful

and emotional as well.

Alongside the play’s spectacular acting, the entire production surrounding the cast was unbelievable. Even before the show began, it was clear to the audience that the set design was beautiful and unique, thanks to Mr. Alexander’s care and hard work.

Additionally, the costumes added unmeasurable visual appeal to the play, as Ms. Merola’s designs fit each character perfectly. For instance, Mara’s dark and gothic costume enhanced Dracula’s character so nicely. Each outfit was filled with detail.

With the costumes, the makeup for certain roles was fantastic. Mara’s white face juxtaposing with dark lipstick was so effective during Dracula’s haunting scenes. The memorable moments of the three Vixens, played by Olivia Barsky, Chloé Ramsey Lavoie, and Stella Runyan, were elevated by their unsettling makeup and costumes.

To add, several students other than the actors got involved in the production in a wonderful way. Ninth grader Jesse Baron worked effectively and phenomenally as Light Board Operator, never missing a beat during the play. Junior Tracy Wang also added a fantastic off putting tone in key scenes as Sound Board

Operator. Not to mention, sophmores Daniela Rynott and Tinsley Valenti were very efficient as stage managers as well. “Dracula” would not have been possible without these students’ hard work, and it did not go unnoticed by anyone.

All in all, “Dracula” was a huge success at Harvey, with every single member of the production putting in amazing work and effort. The entire cast and crew should be so proud of themselves, as they transformed the Lasdon Theater into a haunting and chilling atmosphere.

Leahy: Leading Lacrosse, Lifting, and Lateness

The Pulse had the opportunity to interview Nick Leahy, The Harvey School’s new attendance and bookstore coordinator. While interviewing Mr. Leahy, The Pulse learned about his life and his contributions to Harvey.

Some of you may also know Mr. Leahy from his work in our athletics program. In the spring, he is one of the coaches for the varsity boy’s lacrosse team. In winter term, you would have seen him leading the afterschool Weight Room activity.

Mr. Leahy grew up in Patterson, New York and attended Brewster High School. From there, he continued his education at Western Connecticut State University and majored in History. When asked about his reasons for choosing this major, Mr. Leahy said that he was “led by his interests,” as he was always “big on American history” and “ancient Greek and Roman civilization.”

Mr. Leahy stated that he grew up playing soccer and football. But after 13 years of playing

By Bradley Lederer

soccer, he switched over to football full-time. He then went on to play football in college at Western Connecticut State, and he continues to play semi-professionally.

Before working for Harvey, Mr. Leahy was employed by the Bedford Highway Department. He also worked as a part-time substitute teacher last year before getting hired for the bookstore coordinator job. Then, Mr. Phillips, Harvey’s prior head of security, told him about a job opening at Harvey, and the rest was history, as Mr. Leahy was then hired by the school.

Mr. Leahy said that he wants to make the bookstore at Harvey have a college bookstorelike feel. He and administration are currently in the beginning stages of this process, with food and clothing currently for sale. Mr. Leahy hopes to expand it to fit the needs of dorm students by selling items they might need such as deodorants, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc., and making it more accessible for students to buy things they need for class.

When asked what Mr. Leahy likes most about Harvey, he said, “I enjoy the flexibility as well as the familytype community that the school offers and also the explorative nature of always wanting to take on new ideas and building on them.”

Outside of work, Mr. Leahy enjoys hiking, hunting, and fishing as well as going to the gym and playing Xbox.

When asked what else he wants Harvey students to know, Mr. Leahy said jokingly that he wants people to “go to class” and make his job easier.

On a different note, some of you may remember Mr. Leahy’s participation in our Winter Pep Rally. He played in the race to wrap rolls of tissue paper around his arms. Mr. Leahy fell short of first to a student, but he certainly put his fun-loving nature

on display.

The Pulse thanks Mr. Leahy for getting a chance to interview him and learn about his life, and we wish him well with this new endeavor.

Photo of Mara van den Tol as the title character in Harvey’s “Dracula” production. Photo taken by John Brooks.

Photo of Mr. Leahy, Courtesy of the Harvey Website

UFOs Shot Down Throughout the U.S.

By Dan Gasch

On Jan. 28, 2023, a Chinese spy balloon entered United States airspace over Alaska. The balloon went on to fly through Canada and then the lower 48 states of the U.S. After the Defense Department announced that it was tracking the balloon over the continental U.S., it quickly headed toward the East Coast of the country.

On Feb. 4, the balloon was shot down over the coast of North Carolina. According to Assistant Secretary of Defense Melissa Dalton, “The spy balloon’s height was comparable to the Statue of Liberty, about 200 feet tall with a jetliner size payload.”

Although China has claimed the balloon was just a weather balloon that had gone off course, U.S. military personnel were able to confirm the balloon possessed surveillance technology. According to CBS News, “Video of the balloon showed small motors and multiple propellers that allowed China to actively maneuver the balloon over specific locations, according to a senior administration official, and it was steered by rudder, a U.S. official said.”

Thankfully, many parts of the balloon that were floating on the surface, and other pieces that had sunk

to the bottom of the ocean were recovered. Specifically, 30 to 40 feet of the balloon’s antenna was recovered from the ocean floor. According to CBS News, “These portions will be going to an FBI lab at Quantico, an official said.”

When asked what impact the Chinese spy balloon would have on relations between the U.S. and China, Vice President Kamala Harris stated “that (relationship) is not going to change, but surely and certainly, that balloon was not helpful.”

According to the BBC, China has maintained the view that the United States overreacted by shooting down the balloon and argue that the U.S. has sent balloons of their own into the Chinese airspace in the past.

Just days after the original Chinese surveillance was shot down, more unidentified flying objects (UFOS) were identified throughout North America. Objects were shot down in Alaska, Canada, and over Lake Huron. Unfortunately, finding the remains of these objects are much more challenging, because they are located in remote terrain, and the object that fell over Lake Huron is now in deep water.

According to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, there is no evidence that these objects were sending any sort of communications to China. Kirby went on to state, “There is so far no indication that the three unidentified objects were part of China’s spying program or involved in external intelligence collection efforts. “The U.S. is also ‘ruling out that they were U.S. government objects,’ he said. “Though it’s still possible they were linked to commercial or research entities.”

According to the BBC, the object shot down over Yukon Canada appeared to be a small metallic balloon that had a tethered payload below it. All three of the other objects that have been shot down are reported to be smaller than the original balloon.

During a news conference, President Biden explained that the three objects were likely owned by private companies potentially studying weather. He went on to explain that the U.S. military has enhanced radar sensitivity recently, and many new objects have been identified as a result.

A lack of information directly following the downing of these un-

The Embattled George Santos

By Razi Tanksley

Newly elected Congressman George Santos might be headed out of office as fast as he settled in.

According to analysts Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona, Fredreka Schoten and Gregory Krieg, recent reports have shown Santos to be a man with a history of lies, theft, and fraud. Not only is the new congressman under speculation by Democrats but New York Republicans are also investigating his past to uncover his buried truths.

As the investigation into Santos’s past deepens, more and more organizations have collaborated into his inquiries. Notably, the New York State Attorney General’s office and federal prosecutors of New York have dived into his financial disclosures and the selfmade loans Santos made to support his campaign for a House seat, as reported by Jacqueline Sweet.

The latest scandal about him is his false claim of being Jewish after delivering a speech in the House of Representatives to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day. In 2011, Santos made offensive jokes about the Jewish community and, as his anonymous friend recounted, “brushed it off saying he was Jewish.” It was later confirmed by genealogist Megan Smolenyak that after analyzing his genealogy records, “There’s no sign of Jewish and/or Ukrainian heritage and no indication of name changes along the way.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stated in a news conference that he is not only ashamed about Santos’s actions, but he also voiced concerns about how damaging Santos’s lies are to himself and the Republican Party.

To continue this point about the trickle effect, writer Joe Anuta reported how for Nassau County Republicans, “fresh off huge midterm gains there and elsewhere on Long Island, the party will be heading into a tough election season in 2024 with President Joe Biden atop the ticket.”

Anuta continued by pointing out the fact that with “sky-high unfavorability ratings and zero support from fellow party members, Santos will have a tough time clinging to his seat — as evidenced by Democrats and Repulicans already drawing up short lists of who might replace him — and could hurt fellow GOP candidates by association.”

Another serious issue from Santos’ past that is coming into light is his alleged fraudulent behavior with campaign money. New York Times columnists Grace Ashford and André Spigariol have reported in an expose that “irregularities in Mr. Santos’s campaign spending have emerged, including $40,000 on flights and payments for rent that are linked to an address where Mr. Santos is reported to be staying, a possible violation of the ban on us-

ing campaign funds for personal expenses.”

Santos’ dwindling reputation continued when Navy veteran Richard Osthoff became involved as part of an FBI investigation into Santos’s GoFundMe for Osthoff’s service dog. $3,000 was raised to help pay for surgery to remove a tumor from his dog, but according to Osthoff’s discussion with ABC News, “Santos did not come through with the money and ignored text messages about it.”

Sadly, Osthoff’s dog later died from her tumor. As a response to the dog’s passing, Osthoff stated, “I don’t ever want to see another person, especially another veteran, go through this again.”

On tape, Santos confessed to the accusations made about him and said, “I’ve obviously…lied to him, like I lied to everyone else.” Santos also stated, “ I’ve made bad judgment calls, and I’m reaping the consequences of those bad judgment calls. “This recording was provided to Insider by journalist and formerapplicant of Santos, Derek Myers.

identified objects has led to conspiracies and public uncertainty. According to The Hill website, a Pentagon official stated that extraterrestrial life in relation to these UFOs could not be ruled out.

Regardless of who is responsible for these UFOs, it is clear that these objects and the original Chinese spy balloon have had a large impact on the United States.

As investigators continue to uncover the truths Santos has buried, the congressman has continued to fight against the claims against the ever-rising exhibits against him.

A large balloon is seen above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina, with a fighter jet and its contrail seen below it, on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Courtesy of CBS News

Democrats and Republicans share a sense of betrayal by Santos, but differ on how to handle the situation.

Photo Courtesy of Camila DeChalus

Reports

What Is the Video Game Adaptation Curse?

By Spencer Elkind

believe it’s because movie executives and creatives will never take the medium of gaming seriously. According to all these ideas, any video game adaptation is cursed to be underwhelming and terrible.

wood. “The Last of Us” was immediately planned for both a television and movie adaptations.

which put a pause on the video game adaptation’s rise to popularity.

On Jan. 15, 2023, HBO premiered “The Last of Us,” its latest prestige television series. This show is a direct adaptation of the video game of the same name, it’s been heaped with praise from critics and audiences alike for its story, performances, and faithfulness to the original game. However, critics are bringing up another idea: That “The Last of Us” has broken the game adaptation curse. But what is this supposed curse, and why has it been brought up so much over the last few years as video game adaptations have grown in number?

The idea behind this is simple: Video games cannot be correctly adapted into other forms of media. Reasons why people believe this curse exists vary. Many think it’s because video games can be played and interacted with, an element that movies and television lack. Some argue that it’s because video games primarily aim at children and lack the mix of storytelling and characters needed for an adaptation. And some

Pretty much everyone agrees that the origin of this curse came in 1992, with the first attempted adaptation of the “Super Mario Bros” franchise. This film completely reimagined the iconic characters of Mario and his friends as people in Brooklyn, with the tagline “This ain’t no game.” Needless to say, this film was a failure and led to future adaptations of video games choosing to be completely faithful to the source material.

Throughout the rest of the 1990s and the 2000s, adaptation after adaptation was bogged down by exposition dumps, poorly executed in-jokes, and ill-defined characters. Even when forced to be completely faithful, writers couldn’t help but poke fun at the source material whenever they got the chance. It seems video games had become the laughing stock of Hollywood, and the idea of the video game adaptation curse had fully set in.

But in the early 2010s, everything changed with the release of “The Last of Us.” It is difficult to state this moment’s importance in gaming history. For the first time, audiences worldwide realized games could tell stories on the same level as television and movies and kickstarted a new era for video games in Holly-

An “Uncharted” film, considered the precursor franchise to “The Last of Us,” emerged from development hell. And nearly 30 years after the failure of “Super Mario Brothers,” Japanese game studios opened up to the idea of video game movies once again, and they began licensing the rights to Sonic, Pokemon, and, of course, Mario, to American studios for the first time in the 21st century.

It would be five years until these films were released. Until then, audiences continued to endure another round of low-quality adaptations such as “Warcraft,” “Tomb Raider,” and “Rampage.” Two films based on the “Angry Birds” franchise were released and achieved commercial success as well as some critical success, becoming some of the first video game adaptations to do so.

The first major blow against the idea of a video game adaptation curse came when “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu” was released in 2019. Films based on the Pokemon franchise were nothing new, but this was the first time one had been produced by an American studio as opposed to in-house at Nintendo. This was also the first time Pokemon had been made into live-action, and it quickly achieved success, becoming the second-highest-grossing video game adaptation to this day.

Less than a year later, Sonic finally arrived on the big screen as a feature film. “Sonic the Hedgehog” was originally supposed to release in November 2019, but the reveal of Sonic’s initial design led to universal internet backlash, resulting in Paramount Pictures pushing the release date back to February 2020 to redesign Sonic. However, that extra time proved valuable when the film was released, gaining positive reviews and high commercial success, becoming the final major blockbuster before the COVID-19 pandemic,

But while the film industry remained shuttered into 2021, Netflix decided to release something that many people consider to be the end of the adaptation curse: “Arcane.” Unlike everything else that’s been discussed in this article, “Arcane” was a television series not based on a particular game but on the lore behind the popular title “League of Legends.” Within months, “Arcane” became known as one of the greatest feats of animated media ever made, showing people that video games could succeed as television in addition to video games.

Unfortunately, 2022 proved that video game adaptations were still vulnerable. While the sequel to 2020’s “Sonic The Hedgehog” continued the legacy of the first film, other adaptations, such as “Uncharted” and a series based on the “Halo” franchise, mostly fell flat. “Halo” fell victim to the same flaws of a 2000sera video game adaptation, while “Uncharted” suffered from acrossthe-board miscasting. This served as a reminder that video game adaptations existed on a scale just like all other media. They were not all good, but they were not all bad.

Now we reach 2023, where two adaptations will shake the industry. The first is “The Last of Us,” already swimming in praise and an early Emmys contender, followed by “The Super Mario Bros Movie,” an animated film set to finally bring Mario back to the big screen under the close supervision of Mario’s creator. Regardless of what happens with these two, most would now agree that the video game adaptation curse is either broken or never existed.

The first movie in 30 years to star Nintendo’s legendary video game character Mario, the Chris Pratt-led animated movie will hopefully bring the idea of the video game adaptation curse to a close.

Photo Courtesy of IMDB

On Nov. 5, 2022, Shaylian Nuerdanbieke defeated Darrik Minner via technical knockout (TKO) in the first round of their featherweight bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Suspicion around the bout arose after a strange movement in the betting odds just moments before the fight. According to the Lines website, “Nuerdanbieke had opened as a modest betting favorite, going off somewhere in the range of -200 with most sportsbooks. When the fight started, those odds had rocketed up to -450.” A significant line movement was improbable, considering the fight was not expected to receive much attention.

According to Matthew Holt, president of U.S. Integrity, “Abnormally large amounts of money were wagered on the under two and a half rounds (prop bet), and abnormally large amounts of money wagered on this fighter to win by first-round knockout.” The fight ended early in the first round when Minner threw a kick and dropped to the canvas, seemingly suffering a knee injury. Nuerdanbieke went on to finish Minner with ground strikes.

Suspicion about whether

Sports News

UFC Hit with Fight-Fixing Scandal

By Dan Gasch

the fight had been fixed is based on comments made by Derrick Minner’s cornerman James Krause. Krause has publicly said that he often bets on UFC events. According to S.B. Nation, he stated: “I bet every single card, just about every fight.”

Over the summer, it was revealed that Krause had been serving as a “middleman” and was getting paid to place beats for people on an offshore sportsbook. According to the Bloody Elbow website, “Krause supplied bettors with a line of credit and login credentials. Those bettors, according to sources, placed bets on the offshore betting site and paid Krause directly via Venmo or PayPal.”

As a result of suspicious activity, Krause’s YouTube channel and Discord have been shut down, and the UFC has informed fighters that he is no longer permitted to coach UFC fighters.

Coaches like Krause have been exposed to a wealth of knowledge that the general public is not. They often hear about possible injuries fighters sustain during training camp and how the fighter is

performing during his camp. Someone involved with sports betting on fights leads to a clear advantage and is similar to insider trading on the inside.

On Nov. 7, 2022, the UFC announced a thorough investigation into the situation. Initially, UFC president Dana White was dismissive of the controversy. During a media scrum,

White stated, “There’s no proof anyone involved bet on it.” A month later, during a news conference for UFC 282, White’s tone shifted. White stated, “They are gonna go to…federal prison, federal… prison.” White continued, “If you are that…stupid and anyone else wants to do it, knock yourself out. There is not enough money in it to ruin your life – and not go to jail, go to federal prison.”

This is not the first time the UFC has had an issue with fightfixing. In 2017, former UFC fighter Tae Hyun Bang was sentenced to 10 months in a South Korean prison for taking money to intentionally lose a fight despite agreeing to throw the fight. Bang changed his mind and

A New Dynasty

By Razi Tanksley

After the Chiefs hoisted their second Lombardi trophy in four years, many fans believe that Patrick Mahomes is leading the next NFL dynasty in Kansas City. During a postgame interview, he said that he was denying this idea, for now. Despite his humility, many across the football world see differently.

After the lights in State Farm Stadium shut down and the NFL offseason began, many known names in the NFL have been drawn into national headlines. However, it’s not all because of team signings.

won the fight, later returning the money.

The controversy that has come out of the Minner-Nuerdanbieke fight has caused the provinces of Alberta and Ontario, Canada, to remove UFC odds from sportsbooks. Controversies like this in sports are not unheard of but are unfortunate, because they question the legitimacy of the organization hosting the event. Hopefully, the UFC uses their resources to prevent fighters and coaches from illegally betting on fights and prevent potential fight fixing from happening.

Super Bowl LVII began with massive hype, and not just because the Lombardi Trophy was up for grabs. The game, which took place Feb. 23 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, was a major milestone in NFL history, because it was the first Super Bowl with two starting Black quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles.

After a touchdown catch by A.J. Brown and two rushing touchdowns from Jalen Hurts, the Eagles established a strong presence in the stadium and led 24-14 at halftime. But then Andy Reid’s, Chiefs Head Coach, Company mounted a 10-point comeback and kept the game close until they very end. Then Chiefs’ kicker, Harrison Butker, redeemed his earlier miss by solidifying the Chiefs’ victory with a 27-yard field goal.

Before stepping onto the field to face the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, he was awarded his second MVP, and a week later he won his second Super Bowl MVP. This victory awards him and fellow Chiefs like Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and coach Reid a 2-1 record in the past four years in the big game.

A hot take by CBS journalist Bryan DeArdo connected Mahomes and Kelce to the legacy Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski created in New England. In DeArdo’s analysis, he points out that “Kansas City joined the Patriots as the only teams this century to play in three Super Bowls over a four-year span. It did so despite trading away one of the NFL’s best skill players, Tyreek Hill, during the offseason.”

Another similarity between the two famous franchises is that they each have a legendary quarterback and tight end connection, hall of fame coaching, and are seen by some as the villains of the NFL.

Before kickoff, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made an appearance alongside the medical personnel who saved him from cardiac arrest in early January and oversaw his recovery. But his apparel has been the center of recent controversy.

At the game, his jacket featuring Jesus has been seen by many as offensive and blasphemous. In a public response, Hamlin apologized sincerely and profusely.

In his address, he stated “After talking with my parents I understand how my coat could have offended some people. It was never my intention to hurt or disrespect anyone, the coat is abstract art to me… I will learn from this and continue to walk in Love as I ALWAYS have. Matthew 7:1-5.”

Back in Kansas City, the fans and players celebrated on an extraordinary level during their championship parade.

At the parade, Kelce was most likely the loudest voice, as he hyped his team and the fans that supported them throughout his triumphant season.

At the parade, he thanked the people of Kansas City by telling them, “Chiefs Kingdom, we do this for you guys.” Kelce continued, starting to get a little emotional, “I want you guys to genuinely know this, we do this for you guys. We love every single time you make Arrowhead [Stadium] shake. Wooo! [Ric Flair noise]. Uhhhh, nah, nah, nah. In all reality, this was the best season of my life. I owe it to you guys, I owe it to the guys on this stage, I owe it to everybody in Chiefs Kingdom, and the organization that we have been able to create.”

After winning Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs have stacked their claim as a contender in the AFC for years to come.

Photo of featherweight bout between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Patrick Mahomes runs onto the field to celebrate winning Super Bowl LVII.

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

If you want to get into playing the guitar but are not too sure what your style is or what you want in general, don’t worry. Although any guitar would most likely do the job, there are others that can satisfy not just one music taste but all.

I have been playing guitar for almost a decade, and picking out a new or used guitar isn’t my first rodeo. The difficulty of deciding on the guitar that you will play for years and years can be sketchy for beginners. There are three guitars that I recommend for anyone who can’t decide what they really want.

Coming in at No. 1 is the Fender Stratocaster. Fender Stratocasters are great for leveling up.

Iconic Guitars

By Hudson Zamacona

Fender has three Stratocasters for players who climb the ladder from engineer to advanced. Squier by Fender is made in Indonesia, Mexico, and America. And this order starts from affordable to high G’s.

Stratocasters are great because they offer a diverse range of tones with their three pickups and 5level switch a mix of different tones. You can play warm blues, hard rock, and even metal. Personally, I believe that any guitarist can work with their guitars to produce the sound they want. For guitar players, the model doesn’t matter, but the Stratocaster is a top recommendation.

Stratocaster became distributed in 1954, which was a year that brought her to the hands of some of the world’s future greatest guitar players of all time.

Most are made from alder wood, which generates a warmer tone and comes in hundreds of different colorways. If you want your strat to become easily road worn, then a model before 1967 would be the one to get because they were sprayed using nitrocellulose, but don’t be shocked to find one at over $5,000.

Guitar players known to play Stratocasters are Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Edge

of U2, Eric Clapton, and many others.

For those who feel like they listen to more 70s, to 90s rock n roll and want that old-school classic feel and sound, then the Gibson Les Paul might be the right choice for you. Fender Gibson has another company called Epiphone which produces the same guitars at a cheaper price.

Les Pauls are heavy and make you work hard to play, which is why many players find this guitar to be a great option for rock. Slash, the guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, said he likes how durable and heavy Les Pauls are. According to Far Out magazine, Slash described this guitar, saying, “I love the weight of it. It felt solid.”

Gibson Les Pauls were first manufactured in 1952, two years before the strat. Les Paul also has so many dope paint jobs.

Guitar players who are known to use Les Pauls are Slash of Gun N’ Roses, Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Steve Jones of Sex Pistols, and Randy Rhoads, who played for Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, and many more of Rolling Stones list of top 100 guitarists of all time.

The Spare Child

By Emma Galgano

On Jan. 10, the Duke of Sussex published a memoir, “Spare,” which has been electrified with outrage. The memoir sold 1.43 million copies on the first day of sale, making it the fastest-selling nonfiction book of all time, according to Fox News. However, despite its massive popularity, the memoir did not portray Harry or his family positively, but instead, it depicted him as egotistical and tonedeaf.

This article, however, will have no “spoilers,” as Harry and his wife, American actress Meghan Markle, have already broken their silence many times about why they left their royal duties and why they have left the United Kingdom, where Harry’s father is now King, for California.

The memoir was dedicated to “Meg and Archie and Lili ... and, of course, my mother.” According to CNBC, it was ghostwritten by J.R. Moehringer, who has ghostwritten books for a handful of celebrities, including tennis star Andre Agassi and Nike founder Phil Knight.

The Duke’s memoir reminded me of a reality television show: something you don’t want to enjoy but cannot look away from it. Although the biography is practically royal slander, and at times it feels morally wrong to read, the vivid stories are so entertaining and drama-filled that you cannot

stop reading.

Prince Harry opens his book on the day he was told that his mother, Princess Diana, had died in a car accident in France. Harry was 12-years old, confused, and devastated. His mother’s death seems to be a defining moment in Harry’s life, and throughout “Spare,” he uses it to explain moments that he is not proud of (like drug use, bad relationships, and family issues).

When Harry was in his 20s, he and his brother demanded to see the full file on their mother’s death. They realized that the last thing their mother probably saw were flashes of light from a photographer’s camera.

Prince Harry spends much of his story blasting the British press and paparazzi and blaming them for his mother’s death and their mistreatment of Meghan, before and after their marriage. The devastation over Diana’s death is what caused Harry to realize that the press would never leave his family alone and that his safety and sanity were at stake.

The title of the book “Spare” is an interesting choice. Harry, as second son to Charles, is a “spare,” as he would have only become king if his brother, William, Prince of Wales, died. Now that William has three children, it is very unlikely that Harry will ever inherit the throne.

Prince Harry spends the middle section of the book retelling stories of his time in the military as a pilot. Harry is very proud of his service and the way he rose through the military ranks.

This set him apart from his brother, who also served in the military but also spent more time in school and attended to more royal duties. Harry even mentioned how many lives he killed in Afghanistan and the heavy toll that took on him, even as he knew it was his duty.

While Harry writes as an individual separate from his famous family, naming himself “spare” obviously links him to the “heir.” Harry states several times in the book that he loves his brother William, and his wife Catherine (Kate). However, the book is filled with insults and blame toward them.

He calls the future king “Willy,” and he mentions his receding hairline, blames William and Kate for his Nazi costume many years ago, blames Kate for making Meghan cry before the wedding, accuses William of assaulting him, and hints that it was William and his press office that leaked negative and personal information about Meghan for years. In “Spare,” Harry rips apart his brother while also claiming that he loves his family.

Coming in at No. 3, a highly recommended guitar, would be the Gibson SG. The Gibson SG was used mainly for hard rock, metal, and blues. The SG is very lightweight, making it easy on your shoulders if you perform live. SGs have a unique design that you have seen and heard of before.

SGs are made from Mahogany wood, which generates a more aggressive sound and tone. Guitars made from Mahogany are meant for more hard rock, classic rock, and metal.

Some guitar players who thrashed with an SG are Angus Young of AC/DC, Joe Bonamassa, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Randy Rhoads, Jimmy Hendrix, and others.

At the end of the day, I recommend that you try out different guitars and find the one for you. This article is intended to help people who are really struggling with where to start, but at the end of the day, you are going to fall in love with one.

“Spare” is an interesting read, and the Audible version is narrated by Prince Harry himself. If you are looking for new information, you won’t get much, as he and his wife have been doing countless interviews and a Netflix show. In his book, Harry proves why he is the “spare.” He has a hard time getting out of his brother’s shadow and acts like the younger, jealous brother that the name “spare” implies. In other ways, though, the book is a love song to his mother and his wife, and for that, Harry is a gentleman.

Hudson Zamacona playing a Les Paul guitar.

Photo Courtesy of Hudson Zamacona

Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare” on display. Courtesy of CNBC

Endless Tension and Emotion in a Tight Kitchen

By Benji Cutler

Have you ever watched a television series that has made you panic, smile, laugh, and cry in the span of a 30-minute episode? Created by Christopher Storer and starring Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear” accomplishes just that. “The Bear” is an eight- episode series, released in June 2022 on Hulu, that follows a man named Carmen, or Carmy, who has to take over his late brother’s sloppy and hectic res- taurant in Chicago.

Jeremy Allen White leads the show as Carmy, who was a successful chef in New York City before his brother died. Michael, Carmy’s brother, leaves behind a restaurant that is destined to fail in the near future, as it is damaged and rusty. However, Carmy is determined to turn the restaurant around and make it into an organized and successful place, although he knows that it’s not as easy as it seems.

What this show nails right from the first episode is its atmosphere. The actors, cinematographers, writers, editors, and directors all contribute to truly making Carmy’s restaurant, The Beef, feel so lived in and real. Every character is full of layers, and the show brilliantly makes the audience believe that these fictional characters are real people with full, human lives.

Not only are the charac- ters written and developed superbly, but each cast member is phenomenal in their own roles. Jeremy Allen White leads the way in unbelievable fashion, as his emotional range from calm to furious is unreal. Everybody alongside him somehow lives up to his high standards as well, especially from the brilliant performances of Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie, Ayo Edebiri as Sydney, and Liza Colón Zayas as Tina.

Additionally, the camera work is top notch throughout the series. The show is very fast- paced, and the editing adds to that stressful and hectic feel. As the setting of the series is a res- taurant, there are many moments where the food is shown off, and it will immediately make you hungry. However, what makes this series’ cinematography stand out are the long takes.

There are many instanc- es where the camera will not cut for several minutes, and it is truly hard to believe how the actors and people behind the scenes could pull it off. In particular, the majority of episode seven, “Review,” is a long take without any cuts or edits, and it builds such a stress-inducing feeling in the audience. This particular episode shows the greatness of “The Bear,” as it perfectly cap- tures the tension and emotion built into the characters and the restaurant.

The location itself also plays as its own character, and

the restaurant of The Beef is utilized brilliantly. This first season revolves around this restaurant and how each character wants to succeed in a different way. One character wants to completely create a brand-new system for the chefs, while one wants to keep things exactly the same. The conflict between the characters branches from the restaurant itself, which is such a brilliant decision for the show.

The tight kitchen with little breathing room builds tension so efficiently, as some of the blame for the characters’ decisions can be given to the hectic atmosphere of their working space. The messy and un- organized feel of the restaurant brings the best and the worst out of each character, making the moments of success feel so much better and the moments of failure feel that much worse. It is so easy to sympathize with each and every staff member at The Beef, due to the wonderful writing and character development.

Not to mention, this show consists of eight 30-min- ute episodes, which is very min- imal compared to iconic shows such as “Stranger Things” or “Breaking Bad.” However, through fast pacing and phe- nomenal dialogue, the actors and writers don’t waste a single moment, making every scene both memorable and meaning- ful. There is never a feeling of boredom, as every moment either offers great humor, emo- tion, or tension.

“The Bear” is likely best for adult viewers (high school and up). The show contains strong language, and addition- ally, it confronts some sensitive topics (i.e., suicide). However, if you feel comfortable with these aspects, “The Bear” is a must- watch series on Hulu, and it is one of my personal favorites of 2022. Season 2 will premiere during early summer of 2023, so now is the perfect time to catch up on the show.

Top Five: Chain Restaurants

By Bradley Lederer

One of the questions we ask ourselves every day is, “What do I want to eat?” As someone who often eats out and enjoys a quick and relatively inexpensive meal, I have acquired a list of my top five chain restaurants that I recommend for Pulse readers.

My No. 1 favorite chain restaurant has to be Shake Shack. For those of you who have never been to Shake Shack, which is probably only a few of you, this spot is the best because of the good quality food.

My personal favorite sandwich at Shake Shack is the Shack Stack, which is a single cheeseburger, and on top of that is a fried mushroom with cheese on it. It is super delicious, and I 100% recommend it to Pulse readers. This burger in my opinion is the best because each bite has a good mix of burger, cheese, and mushroom. The bun on the burger is a sweet potato bun that melts in your mouth with each bite.

The fries at Shake Shack are also good because they are crispy and crinkle cooked. I usually would get two orders of fries just because of how good they are.

Option No. 2 is Chipotle. I love Chipotle because it is a cheap option that I could eat every day. At Chipotle, I usually get a burrito or bowl. The ingredients, such as the chicken and steak, are cooked to perfection and are complemented with other toppings. Chipotle is also an affordable option, as it usually costs me around $15 for my meal. I love to eat chipotle during lunch, or even dinner, because of how consistently Chipotle make its food.

I like Chipotle because it has great chicken and steak options. My favorite is the steak burrito with pinto beans, cheese, sour cream, and lettuce. The steak is always perfectly cooked to the point where it’s tender but still has a little bit of a bite to it.

My No. 3 choice is Chick-

fil-A. Chick-fil-A is also on my list because of its food. Their chicken sandwiches are good and are relatively inexpensive as well. I usually eat Chick-fil-A in Florida, because it is more available there, but there are a couple of Chick-fil-As in New York and Connecticut. Chick-fil-A is a

great option to eat during a late night out or even a lunch party. During one of my football dinners this year, the parents kindly got us Chick-fil-A. Everyone on the team loved it, and that is why Chick-fil-A is so high on my list.

McDonald’s is No. 4. McDonald’s is a great place to get fast food. It has delicious burgers and fries, as well as other delicious foods like chicken nuggets and apple pies. I especially love their fries because they are loaded with salt. On top of that, they are probably the most iconic fast-food french fries. The McFlurries are also good. I get the Oreo McFlurry, which is my favorite, and so do most people. McDonald’s is always a inexpensive and reliable fast-food option, which is why it is No. 4 on my list.

The final chain restaurant on my list is Subway, which is my No. 5 pick. Subway is a great place to eat if you are craving a inexpensive sandwich. At Subway, you can build your own sub. My go-to is a 6-inch Italian sub with steak, mozzarella cheese, and mayo. It is a good reliable eating option for every day.

An honorable mention on my list is only available in some states, and that is Burger Fi. Burger Fi is a very good chain restaurant, but sadly there are no locations in the Tri-State area yet. I love its burgers and fries. They are cooked on the grill and smashed down into small patties.

Next time you decide to eat out, you can refer to The Pulse and use my suggestions to pick a chain restaurant.

Photo of Jeremy Allen White and the Cast of “The Bear.” Courtesy of Rolling Stone.

Photo of Shake Shack’s delicious food. Courtesy of Democrat and Chronicle

In January 2023, I decided to try something new. So, I went to a mall in Norwalk that I’ve never been to before called the SoNo Collection. The mall opened in 2019 a. When I got off I-95, the mall was right across the street.

Its modern glass architecture from the outside was very nice. It gave it sort of an urban vibe to where it was. The mall does not have an outdoor parking lot, so my friend (Michael DiVestea, a Harvey alum) and I parked inside the indoor parking garage. Unfortunately, you have to pay for parking, which is a little annoying.

When we got inside, we took several mini escalators to get to the mall. When I actually saw the mall, it was shocking. The modern design reminded me of the Westchester Mall in White Plains, New York. The mall had three floors. The first store I went into was H&M. I got myself some T-shirts for a fairly good price since they were having a new year’s discount.

There’s a really cool arcade in the mall. My friend and I played some games, and we won enough tickets that we both got stuffed toys.

The Up-and-Coming SoNo Mall

By Jonah Weinstock

There were quite a few teenagers in the arcade, which made it more fun. For lunch, we went to a Chinese restaurant called Uncle Seven in the mall. I got scallion pancakes and a spring roll, which I thought was pretty good.

Michael had ribs and dumplings, and he thought they were excellent. I also like the atmosphere in the restaurant and the music wasn’t too loud. Next, we went to the Clark’s store in the mall. I was looking for a pair of Clarks that were a wide size for me and that were under one hundred dollars. I saw some pairs that looked to be around my price range, but they didn’t have any wide shoes. From there on, we went to Gelato Cioccolato, where we both got fruit sorbet.

I got a strawberry sorbet, and Michael got a mango sorbet. Considering I’m not a big fan of sorbet, in general, I thought mine was really good for what it was. It was a little expensive, in my opinion, but it was well worth it personally. We then went to Children’s Place. I’m currently an uncle to a newborn baby in my family, so I decided I wanted to get him some baby clothes. I must say that I thought the selec-

tion at SoNo Collection was much bigger than the Children’s Place at the Danbury Mall. I bought my nephew some nice baby shirts that I purchased at a really good discount because of the New Year’s sale.

From that point, we went to Cafe Oui. Michael had an espresso, and I had a cappuccino. I must say, my cappuccino wasn’t very warm. I also thought it was too strong for my taste. From there, we continued to walk around the mall.

Overall, I had a very good experience at the SoNo Collection. It was sort of in between the lines of the Danbury Fair Mall and the Westchester Mall. It was more expensive than the Danbury Fair Mall but was a little less expensive than the Westchester Mall. If you’re ever in and you need to do some shopping, I would highly recommend it. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

SoNo Collections Meets Bloomingdales.

Photo Courtesy by Stamford Advocate.