Kickback

Kickback It’s okay to be alone

Remembering AmyWinehouse Why Back to Black has us so blue

DIY Witchcraft

Summon and dispel spirits

The Secret Life of Introverts

Learn what they really do behind closed doors

Fall 2018

Letter From theEditor

Hello Lovely Tonight is when the sun will fall and the stars will rise. The night skies become black, you close your eyes, and time to relax is finally justified. The stress of the day is done and I welcome you to join me for a read. I, here, writing to you with a side of slightly sweet black coffee and you with your painted toes while dawning a satin robe. We’ll get tired the fire and read along to every word someone else has wrote. You’ll enjoy the hearth and security of home and the sanctity of being on your own. No one to hear, no one to see, you are nothing but free to lounge around nakedly and wildly sing like a siren of the sea. I hope you enjoy this little read and it warms your soul like romantic company and makes you smile like your favorite comedy.

So, honey, kick up those feet & have sweet dreams,

M. James Salem

Table of Contents Entertainment...pg.4

Reader Submission...pg.8 From Us to You...pg.11 Personality Quiz...pg.14 Recipes...pg.16

Amy, Amy...

Amy,Amy, Amy, Amy...

Few stars have found their way to comfortably leave the spotlight. Icons such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and even Michael Jackson are conspired to be faking their deaths. The pressure of the spotlight was certainly on for late jazz and blues singer, Amy Winehouse.

The 27 club member died at her London home in July 2011 due to alcohol poisoning; it was ruled a suicide. Winehouse’s instability rose within fame - showing early signs of mental illness as a child when her parents divorced. Cameras followed the controversial singer walking down roads, getting into vehicles, and spending time with her beau out in public. The show the paparazzi was looking for was an unfiltered, intoxicated Winehouse to stick on the cover of a tabloid.

Winehouse’s death is largely attributed to the pressure of the media not unlike Princess Diana.

Before her untimely death, however, the songbird released two albums of her own. In 2003, Winehouse released her first album, Frank, under Universal’s Island Records. The album received critical success as a debut album, was nominated for several awards, and it’s name was later revealed to have been inspired by Frank Sinatra.

Winehouse’s true masterpiece was her second and last album, Back to Black, released in 2006. The album is a collection of heartfelt croons about her, her lovers, and a need for weed. “Rehab” is her song with the most commercial success. She sang “No, no, no” and we said “Yes! Yes! YES!”. “Unholy War” is an ode to her nickname-dropped long time boyfriend, Blake Fielder, detailing her once undying loyalty to him. Perhaps the most profane track on the record is titled “Me and Mr. Jones” (because her producer wouldn’t let her name it “F***ery”). The song’s content originates from Winehouse’s big crush on her friend, Nasir Jones.

The album is strung with catchy beats, dark romantic undertones, and drug references. The only thing left to say about Winehouse’s album, Back to Black, is that she was iconic for a reason.

Reviewing A Reviewer

When you’re looking for a more intimate experience than TV can provide, YouTube and it’s self-made celebrities are here to help. Youtubers, as they’re referred to, are folks who have reached fame and followers through their uploaded content to YouTube.

One such Youtuber took a risky step this past year when she left her job at Buzzfeed. Safiya Nygaard, co-creator of Buzzfeed’s channel Ladylike, made the bold decision to leave the company that garnered her fame. In a video addressing her leave, Nygaard describes the choice as a reclamation of independence. Company executives at Buzzfeed restricted her communication with fans and left the co-creators in the dark about branding and partnership decisions.

Since beginning her own Youtube channel in January 2017, Nygaard has reached a sweltering 4.3 million subscribers. Her dorky personality and content creativity keep her newest videos Youtube’s trending chart days after they’re uploaded.

While Nygaard is mostly notable for her videos on the subjects of fashion and makeup - this hasn’t stopped the experimental beauty guru from unique video ideas.

A recurring series on her channel has been researched videos on the history of accessories, specifically chokers and lipstick. The Stanford alumni has also made big purchases for the sake of her videos. One time purchasing an auctioned storage unit to explore, buying a week’s worth of discount clothes from Wish and Romwe, and wearing a $280 mohair tube from Dukyana for a day. As for makeup, Nygaard is a self-described “lipstick fiend”. In her videos, while reviewing makeup, she’s often left with some leftover. This is how she has created her more successful series on her channel where she has mixed every brand of a form of makeup she possesses. Lipstick, foundation, and even eye shadow fall victim to her and her curious clutches.

Nygaard rose to internet fame rapidly but never allowed her platform to get to her head. A genuine smile and sense of childlike wonder is in her eyes as she rips open packages of new items to review for our entertainment. Her positivity is positively infectious and a click on her eponymous channel will show you just why.

American Horror Story Grace and Frankie A Speck of Dust The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Another Period Orange Is the New Black Planet Earth II The Mick Chopped

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Wicked Fishah’

“We’re really going on a whale watch today guys? It’s gonna rain,” I said. “Don’t be such a downer,” Mel responded “I got to get pictures of those whales for my instagram.”

The three of us had all just flown into Boston together. I wanted to see the city - they wanted to spend the day out nature. We rented an older fisherman’s boat and he said his name was Ed. Ed was a friendly man, a dirty man, and one of his eyes was always half shut.

Bessy, his vessel, was a white ship with gray grimey ring around the bottom, where it touched the sea. A retired whale watching boat, he called it, that he recycled into a fishing boat. He’s a fisherman out of Boston, one of the only, he says.

“Time to go, kiddos,” he beckoned at us. I was nervous to board. He told us there was nothing to fear and I believed him. The overcast skies must’ve been influencing my mind. I should be more optimistic.

Alex and Mel were already photographing the whole experience, shooting the horizon. I wasn’t sure what they were photographing but I was hoping it was what they were looking for. It was certainly going to rain today. I just didn’t know when.

The first raindrops hit the back of my neck and then I was drenched. The clouds all emptying into the sea. We all emptied inside the boat, clearing the decks. Photos will have to wait for another day.

Ed was so gracious he offered us food. Fresh lobster, he called it, just caught yesterday. “They’re not safe to eat unless you boil them alive.” he told us. I think, I hope he means the lobster. I don’t ask and he doesn’t specify.

He said he’d boiled them on the boat and brought plenty of butter. The man even emptied the meat out of the shell. A little bowl of meat for all of us. We all began to eat, heartily.

We were grabbing at it with our fingers. Ed’s fingernails were dirt-caked, but I didn’t comment. A trough of butter each, the chewy, fatty flesh tastes saltier than I remember it. “It must be the butter,” I tell myself, “then again, I’ve never had lobster this fresh.”

Ed was a voracious man. A lover of his stomach. He ate with gusto, swallowing butter-drenched wads of sea arachnid. I didn’t stare for too long. But, my ears couldn’t escape the slurping. I was nauseous.

He shared with us an anecdote. Fisherman were becoming scarce in Boston. “Madness falls upon men who envy,” he says, and I guess I agreed. He said that his fellow fisherman were disappearing off the docks. The nickname of whatever’s to blame: The Fisher Cat. But, no one knew who or what was shorting the clocks of men of the docks.

The police told us the true story. Ed, really named James, was an old time war vet. Vietnam left behind a damaged mind. He moved to Boston not too many months ago and attempted to make pay fishing. Ed loved the ocean. Ed, an unsung hero in his head, saw himself climbing the chain of the fishing game. 13 fisherman were missing from the docks. 13 ships left buoying in the bay.

Ed died on September 14th that year. After frequenting the generous man’s ship, we weren’t shocked to be asked about his own passing. Unlike the other men in his trade, Ed’s body was discovered sleeping peacefully on the couch. A newspaper tent shrouded his face; his pants were drenched with urine. He died surrounded by squalor. He kept his domain as hygienic as he kept himself.

Ed didn’t have a luxury home. A wooden shack, mesh window screens, and a rusted tin roof. It had two rooms and a bedroom because the woods was his toilet, he said. Ed, however, was now dead. The only important thing he left was a little pickle jar in the fridge. Unscrewing the jar, it smells like garlic, dill, and lemon juice all while 13 dead fisherman’s fingers pointed back at you.

DIY Witchcraft: Ouija Halloween is around the corner and on everyone’s mind. While everyone is partying and living up the creepy evening, there’s another way to summon company without sending a text to a living human person. Ouija boards have been a source of pop culture taboo for ages - played by folks who are attempting to contact the spirits of the dead. The danger of contacting an essence not borne unto this plane is not unreal and can be avoided with these quick easy tips.

Two players are considered ideal. The more intimate setting is less confusing for spirits trying to reach across. The key to the ouija board, however, is to remain calm and respectful to the presence that has joined you. The potential insight this spirit is a privilege.

The traditional ouija rules dictate a “Lady and a Gentleman” are to be the players. The board should be placed on the laps of the couple, their legs bent, and knees touching.

The planchette, the triangular decoder, may need a minute or a few to “warm up”. Initial trouble making contact might be temporary due to the spirit’s capabilities of being able to reach across. As with humans, creatures of other realms are of different strengths.The speed the planchette moves is a good indicator of its power.

Remember your etiquette when speaking to your guest and try not to be fearful, uncomfortable, or rude towards their company. Simple questions first, imagine you’re speaking to someone who just woke up. “What’s your name?”, “How many of there are you?”, “Do you mean us any harm?”. A player asking for physical proof (movement of an object, physical sensation, poltergeist-like events) are asking for trouble.

Once the lights are darkened and dimmed, you should have a welcoming setting for the spirit to walk into. A white candle symbolizes pure intentions and is seen as a welcoming invitation to communicate. Your fingers should be placed on the planchette when you’re ready to begin.

Ouija boards are not taboo or feared for nothing. The boards contain a power that acts as a gateway for spirits of the undead or unearthly creatures to come into our world. A spirit who has made harmful or evil intentions known should be cut from communication immediately.

Spirits are trapped on their side of the board, however, and some of them crave release. Freedom from their side and the ability to influence the world around them. Escape attempts are usually perpetrated by malignant spirits and take the form of the planchette moving in a figure eight formation, a countdown from Z to A, or a countdown from 9-0.

The ancient ouija spirit, Zozo, began to be reported by players in the early 1900s. Zozo’s form has not been seen and his existence is often believed to be nothing more than an urban legend.

Symbols of his presence are the darkening of the room, a rapidly moving planchette, or the spelling out of his name. Zozo is a demon who draws power from how much fear you give him.

The more scared you are the easier you may fall prey to his tricks where he will attempt to free himself and raise chaos in your life. Zozo is known to be physically dangerous and capable of human possession. If any indicators of Zozo appear then communication should be cut immediately. If he has somehow escaped and you believe the spirit has begun to bring chaos into your life - please contact your local religious leader.

DIY Witchcraft: Palo Santo The environment around you affects the way you feel and act. Negative energy and vibrations can resonate off of toxic people, dramatic arguments, or even yourself on a bad day. Sage is an herb commonly burned to cleanse the air and energy of a room. It calms and smokes out negative vibrations from your home. A more uncommon root used for cleansing energy is palo santo.

The root of the South American tree, whose name translates to “Holy Wood”, belongs to the citrus family. Palo santo’s uses extend further than spiritual purification, however. It’s a bringer of good fortune The wooden root has also been known for its medicinal properties as well - a holistic relief for colds, stress, asthma, headaches, anxiety, and depression. Often sold as an essential oil, palo santo is easy to ingest nasally. If you can only find palo santo in root form, inhalation of the smoke has the same effect. Caution though, the smoke stings!

The Secret Life of Introverts

Human evolution has been occurring for hundreds of thousands of years. We began to farm, raise our own food, start businesses, and trade. Thus, society was formed through the combined effort and organization of the people. There are some modern humans, however, who still prefer to stay away from the rest of their kind.

Introverts, as they’re commonly referred to, are people who prefer to maintain their space and privacy from social situations. Time alone is precious and necessary to these people’s mentalities. They’re often overstimulated in public while their contrast, extraverts, thrive with more social stimulus. If you catch your friend taking a lot of bathroom breaks or making silly justifications to go home - they’re probably an introvert.

Unlike popular opinion, introversion isn’t a personality trait. According to an article in Psychology Today, Paula Costa and Robert McCrae developed the six facets of introversion that are subject to change throughout the course of our lives. The Warmth Facet targets your comfortability talking to new people. This facet determines how easy it is to get to know you and how long it’ll take you to warm up to others. The Gregariousness Facet deals with your personal enjoyment around other people. Folks without a lot to back up this facet are the ones who tend to shy away from crowds or anywhere people gather. Your Assertiveness Facet sees over your ability to express and act upon your own needs. Introverted people are usually more submissive and tend to allow others to be served first, lead the way, and dominate opinions. The Activity Facet is self explanatory - it simply covers how active you prefer to be. Extraverts have a naturally outgoing nature that’ll push them out of the house and into society. Introverts, on the other hand, are more laid back and don’t go stir crazy when left alone. The Excitement Seeking Facet looks at your desire for adrenaline in your life. This facet is high on people who want to drive race cars and cliff dive; people who want to live their lives to the extreme.Your Positive Emotion Facet is about your physical expressions of joy. A big smile, a spring in your step, or a bright outfit definitely help your happiness shine through. Introverts, who tend to lack in this facet, aren’t necessarily anxious or depressed. They’re quietly content.

Local introvert extraordinaire, Olive Case, an applied mathematics major at Lasell College, shares her insight on why she enjoys her own company more than other people’s. “I was a quiet kid, kind of a weird kid, but I was just a shy kid. Over time, I grew into my confidence and I realized that I didn’t really enjoy talking to people that much. It wasn’t that I was scared of people, they bored me, honestly. I realized as I got older that I couldn’t have as deep or educated a conversation with someone my age. It just wasn’t going to happen - I went to school with some girls that literally only talked about boys. My quietness is just kind of a tradition I guess I’ve kept up.

Even when I’m at work I’m in the back little archival room.”

In 2012, Scientific American did an interview with author Susan Cain. Cain has written a novel, Quiet: The Power of Introverts, where she discusses her findings and love for the quiet ones. When asked about the correlation between introverts and creativity, Cain responded with a resoundingly positive answer. Backing up her answer with the works of psychologists Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Gregory Feist, Cain believes that solitude is the underrated key to creativity.

Eyeing the art that coated the walls of Case’s room, the concept of introvert’s correlation with creativity was discussed. “Oh I totally buy that, the most artistic people I know are sad. Well, I don’t mean it like that - but they’re quiet. They’re the kind of people who, I think, find it easier to express themselves through pen and paper rather than verbally. You know how there was always that quiet kid who sat in the back of class, doodling in his notebook - that was me. An angsty artist isn’t a character archetype for nothing, you now? I’m mostly into collaging these days but I still find time to draw a lot”.

The secret lives of introverts are as individual as they all are. The differences in how they spend their alone time depend on their individual interests, but we can take a good guess it’s going to be something artsy and homemade.

Been thinking about adding a furry, tail-wagging friend to your lonely little home? Of course you have! This quiz will tell you what common dog breed would be a great match with your personality!

Every answer you answer, there are three coordinating colors, whatever color you have the most of upon completion is your new best friend!: Do you enjoy getting out into nature?

Year Round!...Red Green Yellow Only In the Summertime...Orange Blue Brown Hell NO...Pink Purple White Are you a patient person?

Of Course!...Brown White Nope Nope Nope...Pink Purple Green Do you often invite company over?

Yeah...Red Yellow Brown Uh No...Orange Green Do you work a lot?

Yes...Purple Yellow White No...Red Blue Brown Have you ever been a dog parent?

Yes, all kinds!...White Brown Yes, a little one though...Orange Red Blue I’m a newbie...Pink Purple Yellow How well do you do with poop?

Dog poop is dog poop, I don’t care...Pink Green I can’t handle mud mountains...Orange Purple White Are you an athlete?

Yes!...Green Brown No…Pink Purple White Do you have access to running space (yard, dog park, etc.)?

A yard!...Purple Brown I could walk to the park...Red Yellow Blue No, sadly...Pink Orange White Are you brave or more cautious?

I’m Brave!...Orange Green Blue Kinda Cautious…Purple White Brown Very Anxious...Red Yellow Do you have another dog?

Yes...Yellow Blue Brown No...Pink Purple

A Smoothie and a Boozy: Creamsicle Smoothie Pumpkin Spice Margerita 1 frozen banana 1/2 frozen avocado 3 Clementines 2 tbsp coconut milk (the cream from top of can) 1/2 cup coconut milk (watery part) 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp almond milk 1/4 tsp almond extract 1 tsp fresh lemon juice Directions: Peel and freeze the avocado, Clementines, and banana before making this smoothie. Once frozen, place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. You may add more liquid if it is too thick.

Makes 2 cups.

Quiz Answers!

Red: Dalmatian Orange: Chihuahua Yellow: Golden Retriever Green: German Shepard Blue: Beagle Purple: Yorkie White: Pug Black: Pit Bull Brown: Italian Greyhound Pink: Poodle

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 2 bar spoons pumpkin marmalade 3/4 ounce Grand Marnier 1/4 ounce tequila 1/2 egg white Directions: 1. Shake ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon. Garnish with an orange twist.