June 2021 Volume 21 Issue 6
Final Letter from the Editor Dear Harvey Community, If you would have told me in September of 2014 that I would be writing this letter as the Editor-in-Chief of the Harvey newspaper, I would probably say two things: “Do I really write for the school newspaper?” and “Wow! I made it all the way through.” Serving as the Editor-in-Chief of The Pulse was truly an amazing honor. I learned so much across my three years as a member of The Pulse. From my first day in The Pulse, as a not-so small-sophomore, I set the goal to one day become the Editor, and now, in the spring of 2021, in a world no one could have imagined, here I am as Editor.
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Reports
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Sports News
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Reviews
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Harvey News
However, while I was the only sophomore taking Newspaper Production at the time, becoming Editor-in-Chief was no walk in the park. Through my experiences in the newspaper, the most important skill I learned was the importance of being a team player. While this year was unlike any other, I was grateful to be surrounded by a number of terrific people who helped to continue the amazing Harvey tradition of The Pulse despite the obstacles put in place by the pandemic.
This school year, I was blessed to have an incredible staff of writers. I truly believe that this was the best staff of writers ever assembled, and I could not be more grateful to work with them over the last nine months. I would like to thank Lauren Grauer, Assistant Editor for The Pulse. Lauren is a dedicated worker, always there to lend a hand, even when she isn’t asked. Without Lauren, The Pulse would not have been as successful as it was this year. I would also like to commend Ms. Boltz on her time with The Pulse over the past two decades. Even after her time teaching the Newspaper and Yearbook class came to an end, Ms. Boltz still formatted and helped produce The Pulse. In just the seven years that Ms. Holmes has been working at Harvey, Ms. Boltz has helped her layout and design over 50 issues. As this is Ms. Boltz’s final year at Harvey, on behalf of all of us at The Pulse, we would like to thank her for creating the framework to display our work to the Harvey community.
seasons did not take place, and in a year where theatrical productions and artistic endeavors were limited, to say that we were far apart would be a major understatement. While the world threw us a curveball, some things stayed the same. And once every marking period, a new issue of The Pulse was released to the Harvey community. Although the old paperback format of the past was no more, The Pulse was still released. Being able to serve as your Editor-in-Chief this year has truly been a privilege. But more importantly, Harvey has truly changed my life. This place has made a larger impact on my life than I can put in this letter. I will leave everyone that reads this letter one final piece of advice: If you have an interest in something, try it. It may just change your life Max Edelman, Editor-in-Chief of The Pulse .
This year has been far from normal. In a year in which we were in and out of school on short notice, in a year in which the fall and winter sports
Signing Out with Mr. Cook By Lauren Grauer
As we say farewell to the beloved Mr. Cook, who will be retiring at the end of this school year, The Pulse conducted an interview with him about his career. Mr. Cook has been a faculty member at Harvey for 20 years and has held an array of positions.
Eco. The book describes how it’s better to be ‘a guide on the side than a sage on the stage.’ Eco’s point is that a book isn’t really a book until a reader brings their ideas to it. I’ve tried in the English classes to stay out of it, except as a guide on the side.”
Mr. Cook was the Head of the Upper School, the Director of Studies, the creator of the International Studies program, and, most recently, he was the Director of International Students program and a teacher of both Psychology and 12th grade English. Mr. Cook has surely “been around the block” at Harvey.
Before coming to Harvey, Mr. Cook spent 12 years teaching at the Low Heywood Thomas School for Girls, which is now the King School, in Stamford, Connecticut. And then he was the Assistant Headmaster of St. Luke’s School for 11 years in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Mr. Cook is beloved by his students. Senior Chloe Krasne said, “I am always engaged in Mr. Cook’s class because of how passionate he is with his teaching. He values every student’s voice, and he listens to everyone’s opinion. He will definitely be missed by all, especially by my class.”
The Harvey School 260 Jay Street Katonah, NY 10536
The Pulse asked Mr. Cook about his teaching style. With humility, Mr. Cook said, “I like to engage my students in conversation. I was in love with my opinions when I was younger, and that has changed. About halfway through my career, I read a book called ‘The Reader and The Text’ by Umberto
The Pulse asked Mr. Cook if he always wanted to be a teacher. He said, “Yes. I’ve taken the Myers Briggs test about 50 times over the course of my career. I always come up with the same profile, and it’s the profile of a teacher. Since I was a kindergartener, I thought it was a pretty sweet deal to be talking about books and ideas.” We also wanted to know what the role of being The Head of The Upper School was like. “It was a lot of fun. It was interesting to put some new systems in place and watch them work.”
Photo of Mr. Cook. Photo Courtesy of The Harvey School website.
Mr. Cook attended the University of North Texas for his undergraduate degree. He started off studying music and then switched to a dual major in English and philosophy. For his master’s degree, Mr. Cook went to Ohio University and studied education.
Mr. Cook cont. on next page
Harvey News
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DePalma Knows Best
The Pulse Staff
Mr. John DePalma is The Harvey School’s Logistics Coordinator, Associate Camp Director, O’Malley Dorm Parent, and the man who knows everything.
Editor-in-Chief Max Edelman
The Harvey community knows that Mr. DePalma gives the best advice on what to buy. Ms. Holmes said, “For years, I’ve been searching for the best water bottle. Mr. DePalma told me Yeti, and the rest is history!”
Assistant Editor Lauren Grauer Layout Editor Amanda Mohamad
Antonio Emmanuel Emma Galgano Kevin Li Alexia Roisenvit Jeremy Stewart Razi Tanksley Rocky Zhang
Faculty Advisor Virginia Holmes
By Emma Galgano
Fantasy Island Amusement Park. Mr. DePalma recommends wearing spray-on sunscreen while at the beach. Mr. DePalma said when he is not at camp, his favorite thing to do over the summer is to go boating with some friends. His favorite place to boat is Lake Mahopac or the Hudson River. Lake Mahopac is less than 30 minutes away from The Harvey School and has 145 restaurants within 5 miles.
Assistant Editor of The Pulse, Lauren Grauer, was asked, “Why did you choose Mr. DePalma as your mentor for Senior Bridge?” She responded with, “I wanted to create a blog, and I was asking for someone to do it without paying for an online website, and Mr. DePalma taught me how to form a Google Drive. Within 10 minutes of meeting with him, I already had a blog set up. He also has a supportive side to him, and he also came to watch the presentations.”
For essentials, Mr. DePalma recommends “Ray-Bans or anything polarized for sunglasses.”. He is also a big fan of “wayfarer” (which is a style of Ray-Bans). Ray-Bans are a bit on the pricey side, but Mr. DePalma said they are worth the money.
For summer, Mr. DePalma can name the best beach and the best place to buy sunglasses. He knows what’s worth the price and what’s considered overpriced. Mr. DePalma also knows how to keep himself busy over the summer, too.
While at the beach, Mr. DePalma recommends the classic AirPods for listening to music. Mr. DePalma said, “Hands down, they are the best headphones.” Apple AirPods cost $199, and AirPod Pros cost $249.
The Pulse asked Mr. DePalma, “What is the best beach to go to?” He responded by saying, “The best public beach I would say is the beach within the areas of Long Beach and Beach Haven.” This beach is in New Jersey and about two and a half hours away from The Harvey School. Beach Haven would be a perfect beach to go to with a few friends! Beach Haven has activities like a Thundering Surf water park, a Maritime History Museum, and a
and has excellent reviews. One review even says, “Great food, good prices, great portions, quality barbecue!” Mr. DePalma’s favorite ice cream place is Mystic Drawbridge ice cream in Mystic, Connecticut, which is a bit far from Harvey, but remember the name if you are ever in that area! They offer gourmet ice cream specialties, espresso, cappuccino, and lattes in addition to homemade pastries. Mr. DePalma is the man to go to when someone needs a recommendation. The Harvey School would not be the same without Mr. DePalma!
Ray-Bans are also very stylish. Celebrities like Tom Cruise, Beyonce, Kristen Stewart, and Bruno Mars have all modeled for the brand. A pair of RayBans can cost between $150 to $500.
However, Beach Haven and Long Beach are not Mr. DePalma’s favorite vacation spots. Ocean City, Maryland, is his recommendation. “I go every couple of years, and I am going this summer.” Ocean City is a little over four hours away from The Harvey School and has activities from drone shows to music festivals.
Photo Courtesy of dogingtonpost.com
Harvey News
Are We Ever Done Hearing from Mr. Dunn... No! By Lauren Grauer
Dean of Students Mr. Gary Dunn holds the record for the most featured person in The Pulse during the 2020-2021 school year. Every article that included Mr. Dunn, though, was never about him, as those previous articles featured his insight on student life at The Harvey School. Mr. Dunn, an important Harvey figure, was finally interviewed about his career, family, and overall life on April 29, 2021. Harvey began their search for a Dean of Students at the perfect time. Mr. Dunn previously worked at Stanwich in Greenwich, Connecticut, and he left when it permanently closed in 2018. At Stanwich, Mr. Dunn was the Assistant Head of The Upper School and Athletic Director. Mr. Dunn was not set on his career path from the start. Like the majority of people, Mr. Dunn learned what he wanted to pursue as he matured.
physical education teacher and fifth-grade math teacher. Today, Mr. Dunn lives in Norwalk, Connecticut with his beautiful family, which includes his wife Tara, 3-year-old daughter Madison, and 11-month-old son Grayson. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn met when Mr. Dunn was 34 years old. They got married three years later, and he calls his wife “his better half.” Mr. Dunn knew he found a great place at Harvey, saying, “I gravitated towards the Dean of Students position because of the relationship I had with students as a teacher. My experience and struggles as a student helped me navigate the difficult world of adolescence. There were difficult situations that I went through in my life that have helped me to connect with kids on their level.”
For his undergraduate degree, he studied Sociology at The University of Connecticut. To take responsibility as an adult, Mr. Dunn gave himself a deadline to decide if he should go into the military or education.
Mr. Dunn continued, “If you were to tell my high school self that I was going to be a Dean of Students, I would have laughed. At that time, I cared about baseball and having fun, and understanding the value of education was not at the top of my list.”
Mr. Dunn decided on a career in education, and what guided him in that direction was when he worked as a substitute teacher in his old school district, Wilton. He also worked as an aid with autistic children.
Mr. Dunn does pour the majority of his energy into Harvey, but he did talk about how he spends his free time. “Having two children takes up a lot of my free time. I also like to play golf, and I enjoy coaching baseball.”
Mr. Dunn was offered a position at New Canaan Country School in their apprentice program. After two years at New Canaan Country School, he moved on in the educational world and worked at Waterside School in Stamford as a
Working at an independent school means Mr. Dunn can still coach baseball. He is the cocoach with Luis Lopez for the Harvey Varsity Baseball team. Before coaching at Harvey, Mr. Dunn coached pretty seriously for 12 years in
various AAU programs. However, since getting married and starting a family of his own, Mr. Dunn had to put coaching on hold. When The Pulse asked what Mr. Dunn’s favorite part about Harvey is, he said, “the students of course, and I work with some really cool people.” In the broader part of Harvey’s student life, Mr. Dunn enjoys working with the student council, because he feels it is his role to help students have their voices heard. In the future, he hopes that he can bring back cultural awareness clubs. Harvey students, listen up! Mr. Dunn shares what he would like to tell his high school self. His answer is short and powerful: “Try new things. See the world.” Mr. Dunn continues to leave a lasting impression on the Harvey community through his dedication to students and faculty.
Food-wise, Mr. DePalma recommends Holy Smoke in Mahopac. “I go every summer to dine in, or I get take out.” Holy Smoke is only 24 minutes away from The Harvey School
Spring 2021 Pulse Staff Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Magazine
Photo of Mr. DePalma. Photo Courtesy of The Harvey School website
Mr. Cook cont. from cover
Aren’t we all curious about what an English teacher’s favorite books are? Mr. Cook’s are “Moby Dick,” “The Catcher in the Rye,” and “Heart of Darkness.” His favorite book ever to teach is the “Things They Carried.” Mr. Cook loved his time at Harvey because “Harvey is a school that values individuals over programs. I think this is a really good thing.” If Mr. Cook could go back in time and tell his high school self one thing, he would say, “Don’t take it all so seriously.” The entire Harvey community wishes Mr. Cook well upon his retirement! We thank him for his dedication to Harvey for the last 20 years!
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Photo of Mr. Dunn. Photo Courtesy of Lauren Grauer
Photo Courtesy of The Houston Chronicle
Reports
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Reports
The Show Must Go On
Vaccine Rollout
By Emma Galgano
By Razi Tanksley
Since the start of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution in December of last year, over 295 million doses have been administered across the United States. Many of these recipients have had at least one dose out of the two doses required for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Now that we have hit this major landmark, society can continue on the path toward the end of the pandemic. According to NPR, “By late March, the United States was administering more than 3 million shots per day. The country reached President Biden’s initial goal of 100 million vaccines into arms in his first 100 days by day 58 of his administration and surpassed 200 million vaccines by day 92.” One of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s top priorities is to influence popular community figures to encourage vaccinations among people who are skeptical or oppose getting their vaccine shots. Fauci recently stated to ABC News that “what we are doing is we’re trying to get, by a community core, trusted messages that anyone would feel comfortable with listening to, whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat, an independent or whomever you are, that you’re comfortable,” For many people, these vaccines don’t just mean being protected from COVID-19, but they also give them aspirations for a
future free from the pandemic. ABC News reported that in Nashville, Tennessee, “the Music City Center bustled Sunday with vaccine seekers. High demand for appointment-only shots at the convention center has leveled off enough that walk-ins are welcome.” Amanda Grimsley, who received her second shot recently, said that “she’s ready to see her 96-year-old grandmother, who lives in Alabama and has been nervous about getting the vaccine after having a bad reaction to a flu shot.” Interestingly enough, according to NBC, there is a relationship between states that have the most people vaccinated and politics. As reported by NBC, “According to the analysis by the CDC, the states with the highest vaccination rates have a history of voting Democratic and supporting President Joe Biden in the 2020 election: New Hampshire at the top, with 71.1%, followed by New Mexico, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine.” The CDC also conducted research, stating, “Tennessee sits in the bottom four states for rates of adults getting at least one shot, at 71.1%. It’s trailed only by Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi — three other Southern states that lean Republican and voted for Donald Trump last fall.”
to the vaccines is the return of the recently suspended “one and done” type vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for redistribution from the CDC, but people have shown caution about this specific vaccine because a select few people developed a rare blood clot after being vaccinated. Out of the 7 million adults that were given the Johnson A nurse administers a COVID-19 vaccination in & Johnson vaccine, six of Riverside County city of Corona, Calif., on Jan. them developed the blood 15. Photo Courtesy of AFP clot as a side effect from the shot. Despite the setbacks like this one that have occurred during the pandemic, many still have hope that the world will be able to make it through and reach the other side into a brighter future. David Ingram of NBC News is one of those people who feels hopeful about the vaccines helping society to make it through this pandemic. He recently stated that “despite the challenges that remain, the rollout of the vaccines has gone far better than many Americans feared it would in late December, when state and local officials seemed unable to get doses off the shelves.”
The lights will soon go up on Broadway once again, as New York’s theater industry has set its sights on restarting performances this fall, beginning Sept. 14. Broadway shows like “Hamilton,” “Chicago,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Wicked,” “Aladdin,” and more have all announced their return to Broadway. According to the Spotlight on Broadway website, in 1750, Thomas Kean and Walter Murray opened one of the first theaters in New York City. It held 28 patrons and primarily performed Shakespearean plays and operatic theater. Ever since then, Broadway shows are one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York City. Governor Andrew Cuomo says that theaters are allowed to sell tickets at 100% capacity. ABC states that Cuomo prefers “theaters to require a 100% vaccination rate, but that the state cannot mandate the use of vaccinations that are under emergency use authorization.” The official COVID-19 Broadway restrictions were lifted May 19, 2021. The Broadway League said that they applaud the Governor’s announcement, and the reopening of Broadway will lead New York on the road to recovery. Cuomo felt confident in his decision, because
An added factor that will help American’s gain more access
By Amanda Mohamad
on Roosevelt Avenue in New York City. This year’s festival will feature 60 artists and bands over the course of the weekend, with Billie Eilish, A$AP Rocky, J Balvin, and Post Malone as headliners. Popular artists performing at this year’s event also include Grammy Award nominated artists Tyler, The Creator pictured performing at the 2019 Governors and winners Ball. Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, and 21 Savage Aside from a wide array of performances, Gov Ball is known for (just to name a few!). its many “photo-ops” on the island, In terms of the change popular New-York based restaurants of location, The Governors Ball and food trucks, as well as several website states that the event has been other activities and games. Gov Ball moved to Citi Field, “Because it’s 2021 is going to look a bit different super easy to get to, we can dress this year, though, due to the ongoing it up like crazy, and it enables us to pandemic. create a one of a kind 360° festival Gov Ball 2021 will be experience for you (meaning no held from Sep. 24-26 at Citi Field long walks between stages or sound
bleed!). Besides, you’re not a real New Yorker unless you’ve moved a couple times, ammiright?” This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new and unprecedented regulations. Cases and deaths are decreasing, and a significant amount of the U.S. population ages 16 and up have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, there is still a chance that the festival can be considered not safe enough to attend and be canceled a second year in a row. Nonetheless, Gov Ball has luckily prepared for the worst. Those who bought tickets for Gov Ball 2020 have been given refunds and have the option of rolling over their tickets for this year’s festival instead of having to repurchase their tickets. The same will apply for Gov Ball 2022 (which will be held in Gov Ball’s regular time in June) in the event that Gov Ball 2021 is canceled or rescheduled . Gov Ball cont. on pg. 6
as of May 19, 2021, New York’s daily average of new cases is about 3,400, with roughly a third of the state’s residents fully vaccinated. That translates to 9 million residents having received one vaccination and 7 million at full immunization. The Washington Post states that from Jan. 1 to March 12, 2020 (when the theaters shut down), Broadway earned $1.8 billion from ticket sales. Due to Broadway’s closing, 100,000 jobs were affected. Production casts have taken a hit as well. Because it’s been over a year since the last Broadway performances, children have grown out of their roles. Many Broadway employees have left the industry, returned to school, developed new careers, or left New York permanently. According to ABC News, to support the performance industry in New York City, the Fiscal Year 2022 enacted budget included $1 billion in Small Business and Arts Relief and Recovery Assistance, which consists of the New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit Program that provides up to $100 million in tax credits to jump-start the industry and revitalize tourism in New York City.
As for the finances to bring Broadway back, St. Martin estimates that “it will cost the smallest shows around $1.5 million, and more like $4 to $5 million for most just to come back.” Broadway producer Ken Davenport said, “We have nothing but ticket sales. Cut down our capacity to 25%, and you’re significantly reducing our ability to actually be able to pay people.” According to Ticket Broadway lighting up New York City! Photo News, “A new study, released courtesy of MGN by the national marketing research company Shugoll Research, found that theater Famous Broadway actress fans will return to Broadway, just not Patti LuPone has urged audiences immediately.” back to Broadway. In a musical video, LuPone stated, “For those of More than half of those us who love it, there’s no substitute, surveyed said they would “probably and without an audience, there’s wait at least a few months before no show. So I speak on behalf of returning, while only one-fifth will our entire community when I say attend a show that they want to see ‘Welcome back to…’ and here right away.” the stage’s great belter goes into musical mode by singing ‘Broadway! To keep the spirit of theater Broadway! We miss it so much!’” alive, Broadway stars have been participating in various live streams. Broadway is coming A handful of cast members will back better than ever. Hopefully, appear in a digital benefit concert to Broadway will be able to recover help raise funds for Broadway Cares’ from COVID-19. Break a leg, COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Broadway! Fund.
Young Love Versus Distance By Amanda Mohamad
Make Way For The Governors Ball! One of the most significant losses in the world of entertainment during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was the fact that concerts and music festivals were canceled, postponed, or virtual. Nonetheless, New York City is taking a step toward normalcy in the entertainment business and bringing back arenabased events on Feb. 23. More specifically, The Governors Ball music festival is back for 2021! The Governors Ball music festival, also known as Gov Ball, was first held on June 18, 2011, and is typically held as a kickoff to summer. According to The Governors Ball website, after 10 years of holding the annual event, the festival now lasts three days and has had up to 150,000 people in attendance. Gov Ball features a variety of artists and musical genres over the course of three days including pop, rock, electronic, hip-hop, and more. It is produced by Founders Entertainment, which is a festival promotion company based in New York City, which is known for also producing The Meadows Music and Art Festival.
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Springtime at Harvey means love is in the air. For some, being in a relationship is an exciting experience, but for others, it may be a tricky avenue. More specifically, high school senior couples are faced with an intense decision: break up or try and stay together through college? No matter how long a couple has been together, transitioning into a long-distance relationship can be difficult to navigate. Whether someone in the relationship is older and leaving for college, or both people in the relationship are going to different schools, there are many aspects to consider when deciding what is best for a relationship in these circumstances. Psychology Today conducted a study in 2014 and found that “more than 1,000 men and women currently in relationships tried to add clarity to the effect of dating long-distance by comparing the experiences of people in longdistance relationships with those in geographically close relationships. At the heart of the investigation was an attempt to identify the
specific personal and relationship characteristics that predict healthy and happy relationships.” The findings of the study “suggest that certain objective factors and subjective relationship judgments promote healthier long-distance relationships.” These include: low psychological distress, distance, more relationship certainty, and having a positive attitude about long distance. The Pulse interviewed Nadine Rattner and Sammy Ross, who have been together for about nine months. Rattner is a Harvey senior who will attend University of Denver this fall. Ross is a former Harvey student and Pulse writer who now attends The Loomis Chaffee School as a sophomore. The distance between Rattner and Ross will increase from an hour and a half drive to a six and a half-hour flight. However, they are still willing to make it work. “Since Sammy planned to go to boarding school, we had to consider the idea of long distance sooner than expected, which I really
appreciate, because it was like a practice run. We got to experience a small part of what it will be like when I’m away at school across the country. It was definitely good practice and helpful to adjust to not seeing each other practically every day,” Rattner told The Pulse. When Rattner and Ross are able to talk to each other via FaceTime iMessage and see each other in person, they try to make the most of their time together. Rattner continues, “FaceTime is really the best option long distance couples have, and although it’s nowhere near the same as being together in person, it’s the closest there is.” Ross added, “We FaceTime at least once a day, usually during our free time or before we go to bed. Also, updating each other on all of the details going on in our days helps us feel together and close.”
Image courtesy of The Telegraph.
Ross continues, “When we are able to see each other in person, we usually hang out each day or every other day and try to spend as much time together as possible while we are both home.” Yoing Love cont. on pg. 6
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Sports News
Sports News
By Max Edelman
Altinha: The New Era
Nothing But Nets: The 2021 Brooklyn Nets Season The Brooklyn Nets are in prime position to make a run for the National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship this summer. Led by superstars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, the Nets are many people’s picks to come out of this season as NBA champions. However, how did they get there?
For many, the Nets were the title favorites even before the trade was made. But this trade gave the Nets a group of three of the NBA’s best scorers to ever walk the planet. The hype around them was unreal, and when all three are on the court together, it is truly a sight to be seen. They are 6-1 when they all play in the same game. However, the problem lies in the fact they have only played seven games together.
Going into the season, the Nets were seen as possible title contenders and even some people’s picks to win the finals. Yet, their roster at the beginning of the season was very different from their roster today. After months of anticipation, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were finally expected to suit up together. With a very strong supporting cast, Joe Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and DeAndre Jordan are just a small sample of the assistance Durant and Irving had. The Nets also had a new coach going into the season. In early September, the Nets shocked the NBA world when they hired NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash as their new head coach. Although this would be Nash’s first head coaching job, the expectations for Nash were simple: Win the NBA Championship. The Nets 2020-21 season began with high expectations, but the Nets didn’t become the
It also seems as if injuries always hit the Nets at the worst times. Whenever one star came back, it always seemed like another went down. However, the Nets continued to win and get stronger. Nets Superstars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden Photo Courtesy of FOX Sports
powerhouse team they were expected to be right from the jump. The Nets found themselves trading wins and losses for much of the first months of the season. Durant would miss time early on in the season due to a COVID-19 exposure, and Irving would miss time in early January due to personal reasons. With problems beginning to arise, the Nets realized that their window wouldn’t be open forever. And that is why on Jan. 13, 2021, the Nets completed one of the biggest trades in the history of basketball.
In Houston, former MVP
and Rockets superstar James Harden made it very clear to the Rockets and the public that he wanted out of Houston, even telling reporters that “he had done all he could” in Houston. The very next day, Harden found himself in Brooklyn. The Nets sent Caris LeVert, Rodionis Kurucs, four future first round picks, and four draft pick swaps to the Rockets for James Harden. In addition, the Nets also sent young fan favorite center Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team deal that landed Harden in Brooklyn.
In March, the Nets landed former Pistons and Clippers allstar Blake Griffin after the Pistons bought his contract out. The Nets also landed former Trail Blazers and Spurs all-star LaMarcus Aldridge. However, he only played four games for the team before retiring due to heart issues. On April 27, The Nets clinched a playoff spot and were the first Eastern Conference team to do so. And as of May 6, The Nets hold a 43-23 record, good for second in the Eastern Conference. With the regular season winding down and the playoffs finally on the horizon, only time will tell whether the Brooklyn Nets live up to the hype and finally capture the NBA title.
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By Antonio Emmanuel
According to Globo Esporte, altinha originated in the 1960s on the beaches of Rio as a mixture of leisure and sport. The game took shape around 1994 in Ipanema, when a group of athletes came together to define some rules and add some maneuvers of football and futevôlei to make the game difficult.
to kick it behind your head, the ball goes back over you, and the game continues. And the list goes on and on, with a ton of different tricks. The fun part is there are always some people creating another one.
touch the ground, and always kick the ball at the person in front of you and the partners at your side. You just raise the ball up to them so they can attack each other the same way you attack the person in front of you.
According to Globo Esporte, the sport helps keep players in shape. They are constantly working their muscles, because most of the games are played in the sand.
Vinicius Lugão once said in “Be Better,” the altinha film, “I am taking altinha to the whole world!’ And that’s what he started doing in the beginning of 2020. He went to Buxelas in Belgium, Portugal, and Spain, where that game was praised by a lot of people.
Today, each team of altinha has its own characteristics, and each game has a personality. Vinicius Lugão, also known as the father of altinha, created a new style to play the game with a bunch of tricks and different rules that are used today in big tournaments. To play, you only need one ball and four to six players maximum. Formerly, the game was very basic and simple, but now it’s composed of various types of tricks. For example, Shark Attack is a trick that involves the help of your side partners, where one lifts the ball up to a height where you jump with both feet in the air and hit it with only one, then you fall on your back, and the game continues. The Scorpion is one of the most used tricks and is the easiest to do. You just need your partner to kick the ball in your direction, and then you let the ball go past your head, then you use your heel
The altinha movie “Be Altinha players having fun on the beach. Photo courtesy of Google Better” Images. was Altinha works the musculature of released in 2020 and had thousands the legs and is an aerobic activity. of views in just days. The idea of It increases balance, burns from the movie was to unite all of the 700 to 1000 calories, promotes best altinha players in Brazil in Rio de Janeiro to make a week interaction and socialization, works of just playing altinha and to tell motor coordination, and stimulates their stories about how they started concentration. playing. You can easily watch the To some people, altinha movie on YouTube. seems very hard to play and understand, but in the end, it is very Altinha tournaments were easy. Get four friends and a ball, created in the 2000s with a rule that form a rhombus, never let the ball really made the sport different from
the others. In every tournament, you can only play if there’s a woman on the team. You can’t play with four men. That was very revolutionary, because it shows how the sport cares about the fact that every woman can do what a man can, and that’s why it is getting more recognized in Brazil and other countries.
Photo Courtesy of Dog.international
2020 Summer Olympics in 2021? By Kevin Li
Gov Ball cont. from pg. 4
As of May 24, Gov Ball 2021 tickets are on sale now for as low as $319 for three-day general admission, and $129 for one-day general admission, both with fees included. VIP and Platinum tickets are currently sold out. Gov Ball is also giving people 18 years or older the opportunity to become a Gov Ball Ambassador, whose job is to sell tickets and earn points to redeem a ticket themselves. For more information on Gov Ball 2021, visit The Governors Ball website. Here’s to being one step closer to normalcy in the world of COVID-19! Young Love cont. from pg. 5
Long-distance relationships have the potential to be successful when both people in the relationship are attending different colleges. For example, Harvey alums Elizabeth Mahony and Oliver “Ollie” Davies, who graduated in 2019, have been together since their senior year of high school. Even when Mahony went to Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania and Davies went to The George Washington University in Washington D.C., they managed to find ways to continue their relationship successfully. Mahony told The Pulse, “During the summer after our senior year, it became more obvious that long distance was something we were going to have to do. We were dating when we were getting accepted to colleges, so it was always in the back of our minds. This sounds cheesy, but we knew we loved each other and that we were both happy, so why would we stop doing something that makes us so happy? Neither of us really questioned it, and we both knew what we wanted, so we were willing to see how it would go. Long-distance relationships have the potential to be successful when both people in the relationship are attending different colleges. For example,
Harvey alums Elizabeth Mahony and Oliver “Ollie” Davies, who graduated in 2019, have been together since their senior year of high school. Even when Mahony went to Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania and Davies went to The George Washington University in Washington D.C., they managed to find ways to continue their relationship successfully. Mahony told The Pulse, “During the summer after our senior year, it became more obvious that long distance was something we were going to have to do. We were dating when we were getting accepted to colleges, so it was always in the back of our minds. This sounds cheesy, but we knew we loved each other and that we were both happy, so why would we stop doing something that makes us so happy? Neither of us really questioned it, and we both knew what we wanted, so we were willing to see how it would go.” Davies and Mahony had already been together for over one year when the pandemic started, and as a result, their relationship underwent more change. “The pandemic was our relationship’s number one supporter, since we were both home. But before then, we would switch off every month from him coming up to my school and me going down to him. It was only about a three-hour train ride,” Mahony continued. When asked what advice she had for couples who want to do longdistance in college, Mahony said, “You have to both care and be dedicated to your relationship. It’s also important to trust each other, and trust is something that has to be earned. You should definitely have a solid foundation to your relationship and relatively good communication before choosing to go long distance. Talking about your struggles is really important, and it really is a matter of teamwork” The Pulse thanks Mahony, Rattner, and Ross for contributing their thoughts and experiences, and we wish the best of luck to couples who are considering long distance.
It is odd to see the “2020” Summer Olympics happening in 2021. Interestingly, according to Los Angeles Times, this is the first time the Olympic games have been postponed (three were completely canceled during the World Wars). Since the pandemic is still active in many countries, people are not expecting it to be as commemorated as the ones before. The official website of the Olympics published an article on March 30, 2020, stating that the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020 “will be celebrated from July 23, 2021 to August 8, 2021.” Several days after the announcement, on March 25, Newsweek reported that fans on social media want the name and the logo for the Olympics to be adjusted because of the postponement. The organizer wants to keep them for marketing purposes. Shortly after the announcement, American bobsledder Lolo Jones tweeted, “FINALLY THE OLYMPICS OFFICIALLY
postponed for a year!! No box of Wheaties (breakfast made for athletes) for me today.” A sports article published by CNN states some of the reactions given by athletes. World champion heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson said she was disappointed by the decision, but she understands that postponement was right to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Overall, CNN described the postponement as “a mixture of relief and sadness.” One year later, on March 20, 2021, The Washington Post reported that overseas spectators will not be allowed to attend the upcoming Olympics “in an attempt to lessen pandemic risks.” In addition, ticket holders will be refunded at “Current Value.” The postponement is also a heavy punch in Japan. As reported by Inside the Games, Tokyo 2020 will cause economic loss up to $23 billion. One year before the incident, Statista published an article saying Japan will gain 32 trillion yen nationwide.
On the brighter side, the Olympics committee announced that they will introduce five new competitive sports in the upcoming events. According to an article published by NBC Sports, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will now include baseball (men only), softball (women only), skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing (a form of rock climbing).
for the Olympic roster. Because the pandemic is still in other countries, the upcoming Olympics might encounter some problems. But The Pulse looks forward to the Olympics, and we hope it will go smoothly.
The upcoming Olympics will include several famous athletes. For example, Simone Biles, who is the third most decorated gymnast in Olympic history, currently holds 30 medals and will attend. She could be challenging Belarus’ Vitaly Scherbo, who won 33 metals in his career. 24-years old American competitive swimmer Katie Ledecky is another superstar in this competition. She is considered one of the best women swimmers of all time, holding a world record for women’s 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle. In America, the Olympic dream team has always been competitive since its creation in 1992. 12 American players will be selected
Logo for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Photo Courtesy of Live Science.
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Sublime Service at South End A Review by Jeremy Stewart
Tips and Tricks to Navigate Air Travel During COVID-19 By Alexia Roisenvit
Most of us haven’t traveled in a long time due to the pandemic and all the lockdowns. Some may be scared of catching the virus on a plane. On May 15, 2021, I had the opportunity to travel from John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport in New York to Jorge Chavez airport in Peru. After a year and a few months of no traveling, I am back in Peru, and I will give tips and tricks on flying on an airplane during a pandemic. South End in New Canaan, Connecticut. Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Stewart
South End, located in New Canaan, Connecticut is a neighborhood restaurant that offers comfort food and a cozy environment for guests interested in afternoon or evening dishes. The restaurant is on the more expensive side but serves quality dishes that match the pricing. According to Executive Chef/Owner Nick Martschenko of the South End Restaurant Group, which consists of three separate restaurants, South End is “a comfy, lively, modern tavern specializing in delicious farm-totable seasonal fare.” South End’s main intention is to provide the highest quality experience “whether it’s family brunches, lunches or dinners, get-togethers with friends, small bites and drinks or the location to celebrate private events.” My family and I regularly visited South End on Monday evenings (pre-COVID), as we personally know the owner. However, a break from visiting was needed for safety precautions until the restrictions were lifted. According to Tripadvisor, with a rating of 4.7 stars, South End is #4 out of 44 total restaurants and #2 out of 14 American restaurants in the town of New Canaan. From singular guests to groups as large as eight, diners have the ability to make reservations for the morning to early afternoon or the evening. South End is open daily for different sets of hours, it is vegetarian-friendly, and the menu contains gluten-free options. It is considered a local restaurant where regulars can get brunch or dinner, and it’s popular among teens and adults. Every Monday, my family and I order three variants of the South End burger, and the staff are very accommodating to adjusting dishes based on descriptions. The South End burger consists of a grass-fed grilled burger, Benton’s bacon, American cheese, hand-cut fries, and house ketchup (replaceable by regular ketchup or other condiments). The menu as a whole contains a wide variety of food
items for both brunch and dinner. Seafood, grilled meats, fish, plantbased products like salads, pasta, sandwiches, and breakfast foods such as omelets and French toast are able to be adjusted according to dietary restrictions and personal preferences. My parents have gone to South End for a much longer time than I have, so they have had a larger variety of dishes. Their common starter dishes are chilled oysters on a half shell with cocktail sauce and yuzu mignonette (a sauce in addition to the oysters) and spicy tuna poke consisting of marinated tuna, sesame oil powder, and micro cilantro. The foods each have their own distinct sweet or savory flavors with textures that match the price. This allows the customer to get what they pay for. Although the prices are considered on the expensive side, they are not outrageous, and you will have the satisfaction that you got your money’s worth. The overall ambiance of the restaurant is professional and formal. Generally, the restaurant is intended for friends and family with nice decor. Four-person tables and booths are laid out with a bar for drinks to the side. The overall theme is more modern, with darker wood tones and white/beige-colored walls. The lighting is lowered for a more laid-back feel. The furniture and building are properly cleaned and maintained. The staff members always greet you with open arms, and they make you feel comfortable and welcome as if you were family, and you could get to know them if you were regulars. South End is a restaurant mainly dedicated to serving teens and adults sweet and/or savory dishes. It is well maintained for a proper and relaxing ambiance, and the chefs work hard to ensure the food reaches its full potential. The staff members make you feel at home while allowing you to enjoy the food that the restaurant provides.
On the plane, there are no social distance rules, and you can sit with anyone, but you have to continue to wear your masks and the face shield. They serve food, but I decided not to eat, because it is a whole process to take everything off and then put it on again. The person sitting next to you on the plane and you take turns eating, so there is less of a chance that you will catch the virus. My advice is to eat before going on a plane so you can sleep and relax without worrying if you have to clean your utensils and everything due to COVID-19. Bring wipes with alcohol to clean, and just watch a movie, sleep, or do something productive so time goes by faster. Masks make it harder for you to breathe properly, and being on a plane for so long with a mask and a face shield can give you a headache. My advice to keep you feeling fresh is to buy an “AIR PRO MASK.” It helped me a lot during the flight, and I had a super comfortable and relaxing trip. I never felt that I had to have a “mask break.” This mask comes with a machine that blows air, and it has a valve where you connect a tube to the mask, and you get air. It makes you feel so much better, and the lifetime of the battery is five hours. You can charge it and use it again with another mask.
“Black Myth: Wukong” and Innovations in Production of Chinese Video Games A Review by Rocky Zhang On the morning of Aug. 20, 2020, a live video demonstration of the game “Black Myth: Wukong,” a domestic action game, was published on Bilibili (a Chinese official video site like YouTube). Less than one day after it was released, it had more than 10 million plays on the video platform, which blew up the whole network of gamers and video game developers. According to Game Science, gamers, video entertainment developers, and professional electronic games critics from all over the world were all amazed by the production and the live demonstration video presented by the game developers
players? How to use the fastest way to let foreign players appreciate the core of the game based on mythology background? In addition, next time, can the game team keep this quality? Can we keep the original intention and content in the coming team expansion? These are all questions that must be answered.”
Even though the live demonstration of the game is only about 13 minutes, as observed from the official Bilibili report, gamers are shocked at how much detail and surprise the game was able to present. The quality of art is very good, and the whole development process of the fluency of the game is without a doubt excellent.
Even though COVID-19 is still a risk, people are starting to travel. When going to the airport, you see how people respect social distancing more than in stores or anywhere else. When going through security, everyone takes turns putting their belongings through the machine in order to be scanned. Every country has different rules, but for Peru, before even checking in, you have to fill out “a declaration jurada,” which is a form where you agree to all their rules. Also, you include all your information about where you are going to be quarantining for the next 14 days. Also, Peru’s law states that everyone on the plane has to have a face shield and two masks due to how harmful and dangerous COVID-19 is in Peru, and they are trying to stop the spreading of the virus because we also don’t have enough vaccines for everyone. For Peru, you have to have a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before your flight.
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From the environmental rendering presented in the gaming demo video to the physical feedback of the game details, this work is undoubtedly close to the quality of the 3A masterpieces outside of China. But these are just tiny appetizers of the game, and the main reason why it is so popular among Chinese gamers is because of the usage of the Chinese mythology of the Journey to the West. View through the airplance window. Photo Courtesy of Alexia Roisenvit
Also, don’t forget to check the country’s policies, because every country is different, and they have different requirements and rules regarding COVID-19. They are not all like the U.S., so you have to be very careful. To finish, I would like the readers to know that traveling right now is not too dangerous, and according to Cleveland Clinic, “most viruses don’t spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, many airlines have taken necessary precautions to keep their planes sanitized and safe for travelers.”
Photo Courtesy of Paw Castle
According to Game Science, the original background of the game originated from the Mythology Journey to the West, which is a national treasure mythology piece. The mythology is about Xuan Zang, the holy monk who traveled a long journey to the Western Heaven to fetch the Buddhist sutras with the Monkey Wukong, the pig Bajie, and the monk Sha Seng while overcoming multiple difficulties and challenges. To expand on that, Wukong is the figure of Monkey King that is popular in China and worldwide and also the main character of the game “Black Myth: Wukong.” Having a long 5,000 years of history, China has a lot of cultural background and mythology that were passed on from our ancestors. However, these Mythologies weren’t being well used by people in the modern era. Most Chinese mythologies have been made into cartoon series on television and abundant low quality web games, but there are not a lot of major game developers that truly use the gigantic background to create a game that will cause repercussions among gamers worldwide. As developers such as Ubisoft and Blizzard are using a lot of western mythology and history elements to enrich the overall settings of their games, not a lot of Chinese major game developers are willing to use the treasured Chinese culture to innovate their merchandises. Game Science decided to level up their games, which is now coming to a tremendous success. From the interview of IGN, according to Jiang Baicun, the lead game director of “Black Myth: Wukong,” “Of course, the reason why it is so crazy among gamers is because of the explosion of repressive emotions among Chinese gamers that they haven’t got any good games with Chinese culture and some Mythologies in it, and while playing games such as God of War or Dark Souls, Chinese gamers never got a chance to have their own 3A game productions based on their own culture that they could play and be proud of. Not flying dragons or medieval knights, not kings, castles or scary Western Monsters, but more elements of Chinese mythologies and culture.”
Screenshot of the demo video for “Black Myth: Wukong.” Photo courtesy of Game Science.
Have a relaxing, fun, and safe summer, Harvey! - The Pulse Staff, Spring 2021
Jiang also stated that there is a lot of essence of Chinese culture that could definitely be used in the development of future video game entertainments. According to Game Science officials, this whole game demo was definitely not only a simple demonstration and promotion of the game itself, but also a sign showing foreign gamers and game developers from other countries how amazing and diverse Chinese 3A games production can be. With better technology, production quality, and the influence of the Chinese culture and mythology stories, Chinese electronic entertainment companies are able to shock the whole world. Though the game seems to have a great overall look through the 13 minutes demo, there is also still more to go. According to the official site Black Myth: Wukong, the development company Game Science is still recruiting workers, electronic visual artists, and game drama directors to help speed up the process of releasing the game while keeping the fabulous quality of it. Quoting a professional electronic entertainment drama director Yasin from the site Zhihu, he said: “It really decides whether a game can go down in history or whether it can really be played to demonstrate the full background of Journey to the West. It depends on the story of the game, the background of the game, and the immersion that the game can bring to the players. To take care of foreign players that do not have the knowledge of the Chinese Mythology, (the game developers) we have to solve the problem of the export of the culture of the Journey to the West.”
Yasin also stated, “Can the core of the story be accepted by foreign
Photo Courtesy of luxuryrealestate.com