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Time to ‘bee’ conscious Why schools should invest in environmental clubs and programs
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Eagles take flight
A look at the first varsity football game of the season starters
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What’s new at Allen
Allen ISD’s 2019 changes, additions, and updates
Coughing up a lung DANGERS OF VAPING p.11
Allen High School / issue 01 volume 38 / October 11, 2019 / TheEagleAngle.com
EAGL E /A NGLE Editors-in-chief The Eagle Angle distributes Brooke Adams 1,000 copies of each issue Sophia Forrester on campus to faculty and students. Contents Managing editor may be viewed online Alessio Haro at theeagleangle.com. News/Feature editor Businesses who wish to Abi Marines advertise should contact Matthew MacVeigh, Commentary editor newspaper adviser, at Kennedy Jackson 469-319-6216. The Eagle Angle reserves the right Sports editors to deny publication Nicholas Chamness of advertisements. William Geiger Advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by the Photo editor staff or administration. All Gisselle Alvillar editorials reflect the views Staff writers of the authors and do not Khushboo Amarnani necessarily represent the Lilly Arnold views of the staff, adviser or Colin Campbell administration. The Eagle Emily Hall Angle is a member of Quill Meghan Holloran and Scroll, the Interscholastic Mackenzie Jones League Press Conference Harper Mayfield and JEA/NSPA. Alice Shao Kedhar Swaminathan Milka Yohannes
TheEagleAngle.com @theeagleangle
E/A
Q&A with Swim Coach Brent Mitchell Story by | Lilly Arnold
@ahseagleangle ahseagleangle
“I think the biggest thing that comes out of swimming in general is learning about yourself and learning what winning and losing is....” “...There have been a lot of kids through this program in the last twenty years, and I feel very honored to have been a part of their lives for one, two, three, even four years.”
Read more at TheEagleAngle.com
04 07 15 19 Why schools should invest in environmental clubs and programs
A look at the first varsity football game of the season and this year’s starters
New releases from band favorites The Band CAMINO and Gloryhammer
Allen ISD’s 2019 changes, additions, and updates
DOnuts AND DOnotS EAGLE/A NGLE
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Story by | Harper Mayfield
ut
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Allen Donut
Kr e y p s ri
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’S DON X A
There’s nothing wrong with this donut from . It’s fine. You wouldn’t say no to it. It is a donut after all. It tastes like you would expect a donut to taste. The donut is a little denser than you might expect, perhaps due to the store’s recent change in batter. It runs pretty average in terms of size too. The cost is a little over seven dollars for a dozen, a pretty standard rate. Prior to the batter change, these donuts were not only better, but they cost almost a dollar less. The store is open from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., so you’ve got plenty of time to get all the sugary dough rings your heart desires. All in all, Allen Donut puts out pretty solid food. It could be better, but it could be a lot worse too.
Krispy Kreme
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The search for truth. For as long as humans have existed, we have yearned for knowledge. This quest has taken us to the bottom of the ocean, the moon, and now to three donut shops in Allen, Texas. We visited Allen Donut, Krispy Kreme and Max’s Donut Shop to discover who holds the title of Allen’s best donut. At each of these locations, we’ll examine the taste of the donut, how big one donut is, the price point for a dozen and hours of operation of the store.
is a donut giant. It was big news when one opened in Allen. The “Hot” light is a massive draw for customers. How good are the donuts? They’re solid. In fact, they’re better than that. Krispy Kreme donuts are good. They won’t blow you away, unless you’re really into glaze. If that’s your thing, they’ve got it in spades. Krispy Kreme donuts also taste noticeably sweeter than our other two contestants. Krispy Kreme charges $7.99 for a dozen, right in line with other area donut shops. Where they really get a leg up on the competition is hours of operation. Krispy Kreme opens up at 6 a.m. and remains that way until 10 p.m. You have all day to purchase a donut should you so choose.
MAX’S DONUTS is an Allen institution. Everybody knows
it, and everybody loves it. Rightfully so. Max’s provides great-tasting donuts that also happen to be significantly bigger than the garden variety competitor. There’s enough glaze to be tasted, but not so much that it overwhelms you. The donut itself is exceptional. It tastes better than its competition, and the texture is significantly better than the offerings of other donut purveyors. In spite of their size, offerings sit a little lighter post-consumption. In addition to taste, they come a little cheaper than other area stores. Max’s opens at 5 a.m. and closes at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays, while staying open until noon on weekends. Max’s provides some of the best donuts in the area, making the line well worth the wait.
After much careful thought and deliberation, a verdict has been reached. Each of our contenders has made a valiant effort, one that should be appreciated in the extreme. However, there can be only one. One donut to rule them all.
MAX’S DONUTS. Max’s puts out high quality product day in and day
The lone survivor of our sugary struggle is out. Their donuts are great, and well worth the attention they get.
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Time to
BEE
Dear Educators, The Amazon rainforest is burning. How does that impact me in Allen? Well, it may not physically affect me, but I know that it is horrible for our atmosphere. More importantly, if the Amazon keeps burning, it could disturb rainfall patterns here in the U.S. I know this because I learned about the Amazon rainforest in an after-school environmental club. Environmental programs at school are integral to teaching students how to respect the environment and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Joining an e-club can be for everyone, regardless of their stance on environmental issues such as climate change. It can motivate them to change and make more environmentally conscious decisions, such as using a reusable water bottle instead of plastic.
conscious Story by | Meghan Holloran
experience, and helped me learn to care for the environment as well as how important recycling is. One year, the club went on a field trip to the Community Waste Disposal Processing Plant in Irving. It was interesting and educational because I saw all the work that goes into separating recyclable materials from trash. I had no idea how smelly and messy the recycling process was until I went on this tour. I never knew how complicated the sorting process was and it gave me a greater appreciation for the workers dealing with all the tons of material.
Being a part of my school’s environmental club had a longlasting impact on me as I grew up. Not only did I make many friends at the meetings, but it was also educational and made me excited to learn and be outside. One of my fondest memories of that club was when a beekeeper held a presentation on bees and beekeeping, which taught me how important bees are for our plants and food production. Learning about bees helped me to not be afraid of them, since they are just doing their job pollinating plants.
The only way environmental clubs can survive is through proper funding, amazing volunteers and sponsors who are passionate to teach students about the natural world around them. Funding is crucial in order to build long-lasting projects that encourage growth and serve as an educational lesson for students. Because of grants and funding from the PTA, Boon’s environmental club was able to build a butterfly garden and seven raised-bed vegetable gardens. Students in the club participated in basic gardening and learned how to grow healthy vegetables, a skill that can be used later in their lives. This wouldn’t have been possible if not for PTA funding and outside grants from State Farm, which played a key role in my exposure to gardening. That knowledge gave me the foundation to help my mom with our own backyard vegetable garden. I would not have had the ability to learn how to plant and take care of a community garden if I wasn’t for the first hand experiences and lessons I learned during my time in the environmental club.
Additionally, the yearly creek cleanups made my 8-year-old self feel like I was helping the Earth, even if I only picked up a few pieces of trash. As I got older, I became more involved in e-club. In sixth grade, at Earth Fest, I led nature walks through a small part of the Dayspring Nature Preserve and eventually led creek cleanups with the current president of the school’s e-club.
I encourage the citizens of Allen to support environmental clubs. Doing so will enable students to be properly informed and mindful about the environment around them and promote educational activities that not only enrich a child’s understanding of the environment, but help save it too. Parents and educators, if you want to benefit today’s youth, please consider creating an environmental program for your students to participate in and have an impact on our environment.
Having a program like this enriched my elementary
These types of programs empower students to begin caring for our planet in a positive, healthy, and much needed manner. Environmental clubs can raise money to protect the Amazon rainforest by purchasing land and ensuring it won’t be developed or razed for farming. Small initiatives like this can promote change in our society and beyond. The citizens and educators of allen should consider supporting more environmental initiatives to improve the environment and aid in teaching students healthy habits for the future. 4
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A New Blu Innovating the future of Allen’s cuisine Story By | Khushboo Amarnani
As I walk into the Blú kitchen, the sight of students working their posts surround me. Some clean while others observe. The kitchen is preparing for Blú’s opening. “We’re going to be open four days a week,” Head Chef Mathew Denman said. “Our goal is to be open so kids could come get a coffee or a pastry [during privilege periods]”. Denman is a newcomer to Allen and has a dual degree from Le Cordon Bleu in Dallas, Texas, and Paris, France, and has been in the restaurant industry since he was 15 years old. After going to the University of Oklahoma for one year, he dropped out and enrolled at the Le Cordon Bleu. “I’ve done everything from busboy to an executive chef,” Denman said. “So I’ve done it all.” With Denman’s experience, he plans to revamp Blú this year. This includes changes in the menu and restaurant
Photos By | Gisselle Alvillar
hours. Since its opening in 2011, Blú has had the exact same or similar menu every year. Denman plans to change that by incorporating a Latin American menu with many new dishes, along with having specials every three weeks.
“The Russian dressing for the Reuben, we’re making it from scratch,” Denman said. “We’re brazing out our own pork and making our own salsa pico de gallo fresh every day.”
“We’re gonna make a burger and it’s gonna be a phenomenal burger,” said Denman.
“We’re trying to make it less higher end food and more classic Americana,
Denman plans to take a dish and “blow it out of the water,” by adding all the small parts of a common dish up and making it remarkable. “We’re trying to make it less higher-end food and more classic Americana, but at the same time making that elevated, like a higher production value of that set item,” said Denman. Blú has a set yearly budget and orders from Ben E. Keith Company and Kroger for all stock in Blú. All food made and served at Blú is from scratch.
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but at the same time making that elevated, like a higher production value of that set item,” said Denman. Denman said he plans on having a special every three weeks with different cuisines. With his experience, he plans on going into different cuisines and respecting the art of food all over the world.
“We’re going to do Indian and Ethiopian and so many others,” Denman said. “I don’t want to just make the cuisine. I want to show respect, and I do this with every cuisine, show the cuisine the respect it deserves.” Students in the culinary program will be learning every aspect of running a restaurant. Not just the cooking, but the cleaning too. “My kitchen will not be dirty,” Denman said. “They’ll be different students at different stations and they’ll just rotate
through the whole kitchen so they get to do everything.” Sophomore Samantha Swartzbaugh said she joined so she could learn how to cook and is enjoying it so far. “We’ve started to make some food which was fun and nerve-racking when we were selling it,” said Swartzbaugh. Students will be doing all the work, not only learning. So far they’ve learned about cleaning, arranging the kitchen and preparing dishes, and learning how the work in the kitchen is nonstop. Denman
said they’re learning “how a normal day at a restaurant works” without doing bookwork, but instead, a hands on experience. “You know idle hands create problems so we just don’t ever do that,” Denman said. “I took the chairs out. There’s no chairs anymore, you don’t sit in the kitchen.” Blú opens for lunch and breakfast on Sept. 4. And as Denman said, the chefs of Blú, will be ready for all aspects of food.
Story by | William Geiger
Photo by Giselle Alvillar
Eagles take flight
Ranked 15th in the nation, and after years upon years of undefeated regular seasons, the Allen Eagles need no introduction. After every season, sophomores and juniors have to step up to the plate and fill the shoes of those left behind by star players of the past.
“For this year’s team, I hope we are able to grow close together not only as teammates but as brothers“ - Celdon Manning
With wide receiver Theo Wease leaving for the University of Oklahoma, the most notable players moving up are the Green twins. Number 8 Blaine, and number 9 Bryson are both excellent players who both had significant time in the previous year, now in a more prominent spotlight with Theo Wease out of the picture.
The Eagles enter the field. Photo by William Geiger
Allen groups up for a timeout. Photo by William Geiger
One thing that is assured is that Celdon Manning will show up. He pulled out all the stops the last season as a junior, and is looking to further expand on his talents and refine his skills to become one of the best running backs in Texas.
“The year we won, we played Cedar Hill, we beat them, so they’ve been talking a lot of trash, and we’re just hoping to be successful again,” Celdon Manning The first game of the season on August 30 was against Cedar Hill, in the 20th anniversary of the annual Tom Landry Classic. They notable won against Cedar Hill in 2017 to win the state title.
Players meet on the field for the coin toss. Photo by William Geiger
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The second quarter began with the Cedar Hill Longhorns gaining momentum. Quarterback Kaidon Salter came up with a quick 37-yard pass in the endzone to receiver Cameron Hutchings. The Eagles began their drive at the 31 yard line, but were soon shut down by an interception that brought the Longhorns to the Eagles 20 yard line. Quarterback Aron Brown carried it in for an eightyard touchdown to bring the score to 13-27 after a missed extra point. After kickoff, the Eagles troubles continued. They fumbled the ball, and the Longhorns capitalized on that mistake by bringing it to Allen’s 48. Their drive brought them to the eightyard line until a pass was broken up in the endzone, causing a turnover on downs.
In three words, how would you describe this year’s team? “Family, relentless, fun.” - Blaine Green
New players entering the starting lineup. Infographic by Nicholas Chamness and Harper Mayfield. The game began immediately with an 80-yard carry from quarterback Raylen Sharpe, and he kept the momentum for the next possession, with a 17 yard carry for another touchdown. Manning rounded out the quarter with a 15yard carry to conclude the perfect first quarter, 21-0.
“We bonded a lot this summer, this has probably been one of the hardest summers that I have been apart of that we all worked as hard as we could. Outside of school, the whole team went to Pinstack together and just bonded there as well.” - Bryson Green
After halftime, Cedar Hill was gathering momentum after an interception that brought the Longhorns to Allen’s 20 yard line. The Eagles were able to force a turnover on downs, and swiftly charged straight into endzone territory, with a pass from Sharpe to Bryson Green to bring them to the 17 yard line, followed up by a touchdown pass to Blaine Green to bring the score to 28-13.
The Eagles began their 4th quarter with a kick from Griffith, but the Longhorns quickly responded with a 52-yard pass followed by a successful two point conversion to make the score 34 - 21. Allen started their next drive at their 31 yard line, and quickly brought it within touchdown range, with Raylen Sharpe throwing an 18 yard touchdown to receiver Justin Hill followed by a successful extra point by Alex Brown. The game ended with a 22 yard touchdown pass and extra point from the Longhorns. The 20th Tom Landry Classic ended with Allen on top, 41 to 28.
“In the past, you know when you win something and you get cocky? You start to feel like you’re big and tough, but now that we feel like we’re not up there anymore, we’re trying to let people know that we’re still there” - Celdon Manning Longhorns and Eagles at the line of scrimmage. Photo by William Geiger
After a failed drive from the Longhorns, Eagles kicker James Griffith secured a 20 yard field goal. On the next Longhorn’s drive, Allen’s Zayteak McGhee was able to intercept a pass at their 44 yard line with 51 seconds left in the quarter, ending the quarter with a huge pass from Sharpe to Darrion Sherfield to set them up for the final quarter at the 24 yard line.
“If we start looking to the future and not look at right now, that can jeopardize us. It was a long time ago, one of the best teams that ever came through Allen, won ten games in a row. First round of the playoffs they lost to a team they shouldn’t have lost to because they were cocky” Celdon Manning 8
VIOLENCE IS NOT A GAME In recent years, there has been a skyrocket in massacres across the United States. Due to this recent rise in horrible and unspeakable crimes, many civilians, politicians, celebrities, and others all have their own opinions on why these individuals do what they do.
In April of 1999, two gunmen committed one of the most haunting and terrifying school shootings to date at Columbine High School in Colorado. What solidified it in the public’s eye wasn’t just the abhorrent events, but what followed. Politicians and many others blamed parts of the entertainment industry for events of Columbine, such as rock musician Marilyn Manson, the internet, and, most infamously, the interactive entertainment medium of video games. More specifically, the popular grandfather of the first-person shooter: id Software’s “DOOM”, as the two Columbine shooters were fans of the game and even created a map modeled after the school. The recent events in El Texas, on Aug. 3, 2019, and Dayton, Ohio, the following day have resparked the discussion on whether or not gaming is responsible for these atrocities.
Paso,
With the advancement of graphics in video games, the visuals in those games can project incredibly violent displays of death, destruction, and in some cases gore, with notable examples being the 2016 remake of “DOOM”, its upcoming sequel, the “Grand Theft Auto” series, and “Hotline Miami.”
The flaw with the recent arguments concerning the idea of gaming of being the source of awful acts is that they are ignorant to actual current societal issues pertaining to violent behaviour in teenagers or children. The epidemic of mass shootings in recent years, as well as the issues with the shooters themselves are not caused or incentivised by gaming.. Arguments accusing video games inaccurately portray the idea that gaming is the sole factor that made the shooters tell themselves “I’m going to do this.” Before the solution to the spike in these events can be discussed, the problem with the argument about gaming causing these events should be properly addressed.
GAMING PROMOTES VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE This statement is clearly false. I say with confidence because any game that was intentionally created to promote violence against people of a certain group of people would not be sold by any means. Most retailers wouldn’t carry it and Steam, a widely used PC gaming software distribution platform that allows anyone to post a game, would probably drop it. The only way a game of that nature could be distributed is through unregulated sites
Why media, such as videogames, are not to blame for violence Commentary by | Colin Campbell
filled with malware and viruses, and even then there would be no way it would be, in any way, the same quality to that of most big budget (AAA) titles. Games as a medium are not intended to promote or condone violence against actual people. If that were the case, why were games being sold originally at places like Toys R Us, and why would they be aimed toward children. Violent games didn’t really hit the markets until the early to mid 1990’s, and when they hit shelves, many parents and politicians alike were claiming they were promoting death and violence when they were just more mature content. The controversy surrounding mature content in gaming from titles such as “DOOM”, “Mortal Kombat”, and “Night Trap” resulted in the creation of the ESRB ratings board for gaming where similar to a movie, a rating would be put on a game to determine whether or not it would be suitable for an age demographic with topics such as intensity of violence, sexuality, language, and the subject matter of the narrative being major deciding factors. Developers have disclaimers, public statements, and much more that they do not condone or encourage the reenactment of the events on screen. The same logic can be applied to any media with some amount of violence. A perfect example is with Toshihiro Nagoshi, creator of the “Yakuza” series, a flagship series of gaming titan SEGA and one that’s rapidly rising in popularity in the states. In a college lecture, Nagoshi stated “I cannot bring myself to promote the emotion that violence is fun, that committing crime is fun.” The “Yakuza” series is one where although yes there is intense fight sequences and deep subject matter wrapped up in a Japanese mafia conspiracy, you can also do karaoke or bowling or help people. Yakuza has an interesting understanding of character development through mechanics. Anything you do in the game, Kiryu, the main protagonist, would do, and he’s not the kind of person to kill people on
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the street or crash cars into buildings. Even in games where you can cause intense scenarios of chaos, they still don’t outright say “hey kids, wanna shoot up a bank?” When you see an intense fight scene with guns in John Wick or a scene involving sexual assault, you know it’s not trivializing or encouraging the behaviour because you’re fully aware that it is not real. As long as the audience is aware of the fact that it’s fake, it’s not bad or harmful to see, and certainly not promoting it.
Getting rid of media goes against the first amendment. In a society of free speech, there will be violent ideas expressed. It’s not the job of creators to censor their work because a child wants to play GTAV and the mother doesn’t want her son playing a violent game that she bought him. When it comes to children, it is the parent’s job to control the content in which their child consumes and therefore shouldn’t blame the creators of said content for them not properly monitoring their children.
GAMING TRAINS KIDS TO BE KILLING MACHINES
Overall, the arguments presented against video games with the claim that they will negatively affect its users, particularly children and teenagers, are false and not based on actual evidence but of speculation derived from a precognition of distaste toward it. Whether it be due to they’re children’s over usage or what the media has already told them without the basic human skill of taking something with a grain of salt. If a shooter played “Call of Duty” at some point, or in the case of Columbine if the shooters played “DOOM”, that doesn’t mean that they were influenced to do their crimes by the violent game. If terrorists ate broccoli before commiting acts of terrorism, does that mean broccoli is to blame? Correlation does not mean causation.
Just because an Xbox or PS4 controller has a trigger does not mean it trains children how to properly use firearms. When compared, a controller and any firearm are handled completely different from how it is held, how much it weighs, and the force required to pull the trigger. The argument that shooting games train people to be more instinctive is true, that’s not arguable, but not to the extent to where people do not think before their actions. Gaming can also train one in terms of better eye hand coordination and stress management. Additionally, a feeling of meaning can be felt through video games, by having a player be a larger than life hero with unimaginable power. Video games have many positive benefits, but one thing it cannot do is properly train one to use a firearm.
CERTAIN GAMES HAVE DISTURBING IMAGERY It is up to the purchaser or, in the case of minors, the parent to determine what kind of product they are buying before they actually buy it. If one buys the new “DOOM” game without any research to see what it’s like, then realize it is too graphic, it is not the fault of the creators that the consumer cannot handle it.
VIOLENT GAMING DESENSITIZES PEOPLE TO VIOLENCE This is valid. However, the case is the exact same thing for movies, books, literature, music, our own thoughts, and everything from T-shirt designs to real world events. In terms of media, the only way to prevent desensitization of violence is to outright get rid of it, which is just plain unrealistic.
There are three things that need to be addressed to prevent the tragic events and massacres over the past 20 years that will continue unless acted upon. First, if a person talks fequently about subjects such as murder, destruction, suffering, and other disturbing topics in a threating way to themselves or others, it may be a red flag pointing to the violent nature of the individual in question. Although there is a possibility it could just be a joke and the person may not actually be considered a danger to themselves or others, it would be better for someone to report the behavior rather than wait and potentially allow for any threats to be carried out at the cost of other people’s lives. Second, mental health is an increasingly important topic in recent years as the impact of it and the people affected has grown exponentially over the past 10 years. The individual’s mental state must be taken into account: not just
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The upcoming sequel in the DOOM franchise is scheduled to arrive in stores in November 2019 and has been rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. by speculation based on behaviour but also by professional evaluation. The knowledge of what condition the person suffers from could likely allow for increased possibilities toward the help and rehabilitation of them. Last, context is important when looking at situations like this. One of the Columbine shooters claimed his event would be just like 1993’s “DOOM” in an infamous quote that started the debate and blame game on video games, but people ignored that he also claimed in the same sentence that it would be like the Vietnam War. Before blaming something for an atrocity, it’s important for other factors in the person’s life to be taken into account. It’s been proven time and time again that the idea of gaming and media being responsible for such atrocities is absolutely false. The best thing to remember from debates such as this one is that games are games, but life isn’t. People shouldn’t overlook important elements of someone that could cost lives then blame it on something else. The ways to prevent mass shootings are debatable, but censorship of media, such as video games, is not the right way to do it.
COUGHING UP A LUNG The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared seven deaths and more than 530 confirmed cases of lung disease associated with the use of e-cigarettes.The number of cases is increasing, as people continue to puff away at their e-cigarettes, commonly known as a vape. This stimulant is the new trend, especially among teenagers. E-cigarettes are intended to be used by adults (over 21) who are recovering from smoking actual cigarettes. However, in recent years, e-cigarettes have been developed differently — they’re smaller and there’s now hundreds of flavored juices that can be used with them.
Caroline Asimakos was
in school one day when she suddenly started coughing. She was wheezing and coughing for what seemed like forever, until she started to cough up blood. Asimakos was terrified about what was happening to her, and what’s responsible for her unknown diagnosis is her JUUL (an e-cigarette that is shaped like a USB drive.) Her Instagram posts were uploaded to Twitter, where the tweet now has over 75 thousand retweets. “Honestly I had no idea my story would ever reach this much exposure,” the Candian high school student stated. “My initial intentions were just to warn my friends on my private page.” In addition, Asimakos said she wants other teens to be aware that vaping isn’t as safe as it seems, and they should consider what could happen to them. “...open [your] eyes and look at the [JUUL] box. There is an actual skull on it. It’s poison.” Asimakos is from Canada and was 11
“I defInitely think e-cigarettes are marketed to teens. Why else would they have fLavors and have them ‘disguised’ as USB’s?” introduced to vaping three years ago when she went to Florida to attend an academy. “I guess everyone around me was [vaping.] I started ‘juuling’ every day since,” she wrote. “I would go through a pod a day to a day and a half. I was sharing with my friends, but it was mostly me.” Like any teen, Asimakos said she didn’t believe anything could happen to her, until it did. “I didn’t think it would happen to me either. I always thought there’s probably someone out there that’s been smoking longer than me and is fine. Then it happened to me, and it’s completely changed me for the worse,” she said Asimakos said she has been in and out of the hospital three times now, and it’s been a month of constant coughing. She also gets frequent nose bleeds. “I am going to run tests with the New Brunswick chief of medical… so hopefully I will figure out what’s happening and how to solve it.”
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researchers found that exposure to increased cinnamon fLavoring caused signifIcant cell death, compared with other fLavors.
mixing multiple fLavors can be more toxic to cells than exposure to just one fLavor at a time.
According to the CDC, there are less toxic chemicals in e-cigarettes compared to actual cigarettes, but vapes still contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Nicotine is a stimulant drug, and can alter physiological and/or nervous activity in the body. Because nicotine is a stimulant drug, it is also highly addictive. As reported in a presentation of International Symposium on Nicotine,
nicotine is as addictive when compared to other stimulants like heroin and cocaine. Moreover, according to the Truth Initiative, cigarettes and e-cigarettes will result in the same amount of nicotine intake over time, meaning that e-cigarettes are not better than traditional cigarettes. As claimed by the National Institutes of Health, it has been proven that nicotine is a gateway drug, and over 90 percent of adult cocaine users between the ages of 18 and 34 have smoked cigarettes before they began using cocaine. As specified by the CDC, nicotine can halt brain development for teenagers, and also lead to lung disease. Furthermore, as
according to the Truth Initiative, JUUL pods contain as much nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes. Nicotine isn’t the only damaging aspect in e-cigarettes; the CDC discovered that they discharge aerosol as well. E-cigarette aerosol is dangerous and not water vapor, contradictory to common belief. Users breathe in and exhale aerosol from e-cigarettes and vapes, which contain not only nicotine, but also extremely harmful substances. As specified by the Truth Initiative, these harmful substances include lead, nickel, silver, formaldehyde, and other chemicals that are linked to cancer and central nervous system problems.
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Also, according to the CDC, the flavoring associated with JUUL linked with other e-cigarettes contains diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.
announced Sep. 11 that they would attempt to ban all flavored vaping products. Trump alludes that e-cigarette companies are advertising with flavorings to appeal to teenagers, which he says needs to be stopped.
"I was pressured into vaping by my peers. I regret it."
“I definitely think e-cigarettes are marketed to teens. Why else would they have flavors and have them ‘disguised’ as USB’s?” Asimakos commented.
On top of the dangerous chemicals contained in e-cigarettes, proven by the Truth Initiative, companies falsify ingredient lists that have been proven true through studies have found mislabeling to be a common issue for e-cigarettes, meaning the nicotine levels labeled are not always 100 percent correct. Consequently, the Trump administration
Tryston Zohfeld is a typical 17-year old teenager. He went to school at Weatherford High School in North Texas. He was rushed to the hospital on July 26 due to throwing up and coughing profusely. It was at the hospital where it was found out that Zohfeld’s lungs were blocked. He was medically induced into a coma, with his condition getting worse. In addition, the tests for certain lung diseases were all coming back negative. It was discovered that Zohfeld had been vaping since eighth grade. The many chemicals that e-cigarettes contain had made his lungs so inflamed that his respiratory system was failing. The years of vaping had caught up to him, so much so,that
the chemicals scarred his lungs. Zohfeld was in a coma for 10 days and had lost 25 pounds. He vowed to never vape again, as they’re not as safe as warranted.
“It’s so disheartening and discouraging that our generation is the one that has to face the consequences of this addiction.”
36 out of 716 students answered that they vaped* 533 out of 2300 students answered that they vaped*
1 out of 5 high school students in the last 30 days has vaped*
= 100 students *Data collected from a survey conducted by The Eagle Angle, data collected from Support Counselor Jennifer Atencio, and data collected from the CDC
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The Eagle Angle conducted an anonymous survey to collect data from students about vaping.
“I believe people are quick to antagonize anything new… stop treating vaping like the plague...” a student wrote.
“I [vape] because it gives me something to do to occupy my boredom,” one student wrote. “It’s like chewing gum for me in the sense that it helps calm me down and keep me focused on things that I need to do.”
Additionally, some students emphasized that the school shouldn’t be punishing students, but attempt to help them instead.
Another student wrote, “I was pressured into vaping by my peers. I regret it.” From the data collected, there are students who believe vaping is dangerous and advise others not to do it. “It’s so disheartening and discouraging that our generation is the one that has to face the consequences of this addiction,” a student wrote. On the flip side, some students say vaping shouldn’t be entirely blamed for the many cases of lung disease.
One student wrote, “instead of kicking kids out of school and throwing them into Dillard, create addiction sessions, possibly, and try assisting, not penalizing.” “We need more education about it in schools so people don’t do it,” another student wrote. However, the answers to why do teens vape, most replied that they vape because of anxiety and/or stress.
ing stress of school and other activities.” Asimakos continually emphasized
"Truly never thought I’d be in a situation like this, coughing up crazy amounts of blood. It had me shook to my core. It was a wake up call for me, and I am grateful for it. I have been able to reach millions of people and warn them of the dangers of vaping."
that she
In survey comments, one student wrote that “it helps my anxiety,” and another wrote, “it removes some of the debilitat-
*
How old do you have to be to vape?
18 years 21 years 19 years Data collected from the Public Health Law Center
*Pennsylvania is not applicable 14
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AN electrified album
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our member alternative-indie band, The Band CAMINO released their 2019 extended play (EP) “Tryhard” on Aug. 23. This release was composed with a variety of booming bass, thundering drums, mellow keys, and incredible vocals. The alternative style of music the band produces is very much a different take on music-making than most artists do. The very upbeat yet calming effect of the instruments, coupled with the genius lyrics their songs feature is a big part of their individual style. All eight songs on The Band CAMINO’s 2019 EP have their own unique sound, lyrics, meaning, and set of instruments used to make each song recognizable and enjoyable for their listeners. Back in 2016, the members Andrew Isbell, Jeffery Jordan, Graham Rowell and Spencer Stewart released their first EP titled “My Thoughts on You.” They gained major popularity after their song “The Black and White” was featured on a Spotify “Top 50” playlist. Since their rise to the surface, the band has compiled 1,761,223 and counting total monthly listeners on Spotify, one of the highestranked apps to stream music. One of the reasons The Band CAMINO was, and still is, getting listeners’ attention. In 2016, the typical big-named artist
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COMMENTA RY
The Band CAMINO didn’t have to try so hard to rock this one Story by | Mackenzie Jones
was releasing pop, electronic and rapstyled content, so alternative rock and indie music wasn’t being released in abundance. Trading in their softer and simpler style of music with the keys, drums and bare vocals seen on their 2016 EP, the members go for a more upbeat and busy effect to their 2019 release. The opening track “What I Want” starts off with an electric guitar riff that slowly adds in drum beats before the first lyrics of the EP make their debut. The beat and vocals start at a low and calming entrance but it later goes into a high, attention-grabbing buildup. Going into the lyrics and adding more instruments is a consistent theme throughout the EP as it starts low, then crawls to a fantastic high. Apart from the new sound of their songs, another element unique to “Tryhard” is the interesting effect of the singer’s voice appearing to sound muffled which can be heard in the sixth track “Haunted,” and echoes which can be heard in the seventh track “Farsighted.” The incredible elements of muffles and echoes create a sense of fantasinating depth that ties both the lyrics and instruments together. Although this EP is full of unique elements such as the background 15
sounds introduced that makes the album outstanding, a variety of instruments used in each song and powerful vocals that are enjoyed even on their own, one element may not be as enjoyable to listeners. Multiple times throughout the album, the lyrics sound so muffled because of the echoes that understanding what exactly is being said can be difficult. Other than this, The Band CAMINO has definitely nailed and released some awesome music. The band has stated that they consider the sound they create as rock music with 80s production and that unique sound can easily be heard in “See Through” with keys as the opening for the 80s aspect then heavy electric guitar and drums are added for the rock aspect. Although there are deep and loud sounds to create the rock side of the EP such as in “Daphne Blue,” the vocal tone brings an overall not-heavy-rock energy for the listeners because the voice dynamics typically stay between talking pitch and mild yelling throughout the entire EP. The Band CAMINO’s “Tryhard” deserves an A as they have proved they can produce both soft and rock tyles of music with an alternative feel that creates an illusion of the s past which is different from the commonly seen pop released music in 2019.
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ymphonic power metal band, GLORYHAMMER’s third fulllength offering “Legends From Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex” melds theatrical song with epic fantasy to bring to life the momentous struggle between hero Angus McFife XIII and the evil wizard Zargothrax. The album is the latest installment in a series that tells the spectacular legend of Angus McFife, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Fife. In the previous album, Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards, Angus and his allies battled the dark forces of Zargothrax in an interstellar war that ended with Earth destroyed and both Angus McFife and Zargothrax drawn into a wormhole. The story of Legends From Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex picks up as Angus McFife arrives into an alternate past where Zargothrax reigns supreme over the Kingdom of Fife. GLORYHAMMER takes their characteristic power metal sound to new heights in this album with soaring, operatic vocals, DragonForce-esque
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guitar solos, enchanting keyboards, and cinematic orchestral synths. The album opens with a symphonic intro track that calls to mind the intense music of Star Wars before it jumps into the galloping guitar of “The Siege of Dunkeld (In Hoots We Trust).” This track features powerful guitar solos, sinister Latin chanting, and a dramatic spoken word interlude in which Zargothrax overpowers Angus - an interlude which sounds like a scene from some heavy metal musical. The album continues with the gleefully evil “Masters of the Galaxy,” a track that features a chorus too catchy for its status as the theme song of the villain Ser Proletius, and the uplifting “The Land of Unicorns” with its enchanting keyboard solo. GLORYHAMMER’s skillful songwriting is further on display in the melodic guitar-and-keyboard duets of “Power of the Laser Dragon Fire” and the regal brass fanfares of “Legendary Enchanted Jetpack” as well as their awesome taste in song titles. Both “Gloryhammer” and “Hootsforce” are epic, energetic anthems with
simple but effective riffs and singalong choruses. The energy then drops in level with the synth-heavy “Battle for Eternity,” a song which is slightly too melancholic for a penultimate track. However, the final song, “The Fires of Ancient Cosmic Destiny,” is a masterpiece with cinematic storytelling, powerful symphonic elements, and multiple masterful guitar and keyboard solos. The story is drawn to a close as Angus McFife defeats Zargothrax, but a cryptic encoded message at the end suggests that there is more to come in a future album. Although there were a few points which could have been improved, such as the mixing in “Power of the Laser Dragon Fire” which buried the guitars, the clash between the epic lyrics and melancholic music of “Battle for Eternity,” and the simplicity of the rhythm guitar, “Legends From Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex” is a spectacular album. The symphonic elements were effective, the choruses catchy, and the solos a wonder to behold. GLORYHAMMER’s latest album scores an A-.
A Heroic Journey GLORYHAMMER’s Legends From Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex
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Story by | Alice Shao
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behind the Team
The Team
While the athletes at Allen are some of the most successful and strongest high schoolers around, injuries in sports are inevitable.
What most people don’t see after an athlete is injured and forced to sit out during games for weeks or possibly months on end, is the recovery process and who is in charge of it. Coach Mary Lynn Miller has been a part of Allen’s sports medicine program for 22 years and counting, where she has been the backbone of maintaining the health of our athletes. Deciding what direction somebody wants their life to go after high school can sometimes be a stressful process, but that wasn’t Miller’s experience when getting hurt unexpectedly opened new doors for her. Unlike most people, Miller had already decided on what she wanted to do with her future while she was still building it as a teenager.
Story By | Mackenzie Jones
“I was in high school and had gotten hurt,” Miller said. “I saw what the athletic trainers did so that’s when I basically decided that’s what I wanted to do.”
“People want to be a part of it,” Miller said. “People want to learn what we do, get involved, and this is a great way to do it.”
As planned, she later became a certified athletic trainer who now holds the position of teaching Allen’s student athletic trainers first aid, teamwork and many more skills that pertain to both health and the real world.
Although curiosity of the health field and wanting to get involved may be some of the reasons that students choose to get involved with the sports medicine program, Miller’s reason is different. She sees herself a part of it to be a helping hand and as an aid to others.
“We started off with about 12 kids and now we have 63 kids; we’ve fluctuated between 60 and 70 kids the last few years,” she stated.
“The opportunity to help athletes get back on the playing field or court safely when they get injured is what training means to me,” she said.
For the program to begin with a dozen students, then in a few decades time grow into five times that, is amazing to see as the years go on. More students are hearing about the athletic training program and gaining the urge to check it out.
Apart from being the person on call if there is an injury or concern, Miller still makes time to create relationships with the athletes and trainers she works alongside with every day. With being a trainer as well as a fellow teammate to her student trainers, Miller has experienced watching her group of athletic trainers learn about the health field and grow as she once did as a beginner.
Mary Lynn Miller is a certified athletic trainer for Allen High School athletics. “The team behind the team does an awesome job, day in and day out, to keep our Eagles flying.” Miller said. The student athletic trainers and Coach Miller make sure our athletes are taken care of. Pictured from left to right: Megan Haller, Emilie Eix, Brizah Ambriz, Jenna Lowenberg, Grace Meil, Leena Afana, Chaz Watson, Mary Lynn Miller, ATC, LAT, Kristin Hill, Karina Lopez, Kendra Beacham, Aless Paz, Kally Debusk, Avery Wurzberger. Photo courtesy of Chay Nersesian. 17
She said ome of the great things she has encountered as an athletic trainer are all the different athletes she’s met along the way, have treated, gotten to know and all the student athletic trainers that shes ever gotten to teach and guide. Also according to Miller, each year brings new additions to the athletic training family which allows for new challenges to face and new students to teach the basics of athletic training like first aid, how to be leaders, good teammates and how to be helpful. “The positives outweigh the negatives by a lot,” Miller said.
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At times sports medicine can be good and full of fun that includes constantly helping people, being able to make connections with other trainers, and getting to watch a variety of sports, but Miller also said the downsides are Texas’s hot weather and long hours. While the hours can be exhausting from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. in some cases such as Friday night varsity football games, the student trainers remain hard at work to accomplish the day’s tasks. A typical day for the student trainers include therapy treatment to the injured athletes early in the morning, then football practice in the afternoon in the fall and spring, then switching to train their assigned second sports in the winter. “They come in ready to work even if they’ve had a bad day, they’re out [on the field] in the hot sun and getting things set up,” Miller said. Most of the current athletic trainers have been participating in the program since their freshman year. Senior Grace Meil has been a part of the athletic training program since the beginning of her freshman year in 2016 but found her inspiration to go into the health field much before that.
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Throughout the years, Meil said her favorite part of being an athletic trainer is getting the opportunity to be involved in something so great. She said she felt that many people at Allen are unaware of the stellar sports medicine team we have the pleasure of calling ours, the trainers are still hard at work with being a big help towards our athletes as if they get appreciated every day for it. “We are not recognized much with what we do,” Meil said. “We provide such a big impact that you couldn’t imagine a day without.” Despite the long working hours, extremely hot weather, and fastpaced skill learning, Miller and the student athletic trainers said they are constantly putting forward their best effort to be Allen’s best first aid team. “[Allen has] the best athletic trainers in the state and we have a great group of students who work hard every day,” Miller said. (Below) Grace Meil is a student atheletic trainer for Allen High School and their varsity football team. “I am so proud of my Allen Eagles,” said senior Grace Meil. She is blessed to have been a head student athletic trainer for the 2019 football season.
“In seventh grade, I had a leg injury that caused me to lose my soccer career and go into physical therapy,” Meil explained. “There I found [my] love of health and felt called to be a physical therapist.” After joining athletic training, Meil said she was taught the reality of leadership and the longer she continued in the program, the more she saw her leadership role becoming a responsibility in being a good teammate. Fortunately for Meil, her hard work of being an outstanding leader paid off as she was picked to be one of the 2019-2020 head trainers, meaning she had proved herself to stand out among the other trainers and was now a lead trainer. 18
(Above) Kendra Beacham joined athletic training her sophomore year in 2017. “Friday night light’s are always my favorite part of the week,” said senior Beacham. Beacham loves the medical side of athletic training because she is always learning new about injuries. Photos by: Gisselle Alvillar
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WHAT’S NEW AT ALLEN?
F HALL Photos by | Alessio Haro and Gisselle Alvillar
Classrooms including new TV screens, desks as well as the teacher’s name under the room number are part of the halls new renovations. “It’s easier to find your classes because the teachers names are on them, and it looks more organized,”Junior Muskan Ali said. Before the revamp, the teachers name of the class was displayed above the door.
One of the unique new features of F Hall consists of the new pods. “I appreciate the F Hall renovation because of the new pods and the updated feel,” sophomore Andrew Carbonell said. The pods consist of couches, desks, and TV screens, but are unfortunately not accessible for students at the moment.
There have been technological improvement to F Hall as well, such as the clocks. “The clocks look better and are actually useful,” said senior Seyar Muhsen. The brand new digital clocks in the renovated hallway are fully functioning rather than other clocks around the school. 19
The hallways in F Hall look very different than the rest of the hallways around the school. “To me, I think it looks too bland, it needs a pop of color,” junior Cole Philips said. Currently, F Hall is still under construction.
Story by | Lilly Arnold Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. Those four categories of learning comprise STEM, a general acronym for classes that integrate those four specific disciplines and apply them to the real world to help prepare students for future careers.
Labue, said. “We have graphic design, interior design and architecture, and engineering design.”
Going astray from what’s common, Allen ISD’s new center adds in another letter. The A in STEAM is for the arts, which may seem out of place among the others at first. Once looked at from the big picture, art plays a major role in all four of STEM’s sectors.
According to Labue, an early committee looked at all the math, science and art classes in Career and Technical Education to see how they would integrate together, and those particular art classes integrated “quite nicely” with the other subjects. For example, art can be implemented with technology in the instance of website design, or with engineering with sketches and blueprints.
“On the high school side we have a couple of different art-driven classes,” executive director of AISD’s STEAM center, Larry
“All of our different content area teachers have time during the day that they plan together,” Labue said. “Your CTE teacher
Thoughts on the new bell schedule Photo by | by Jake Burke
30 people were surveyed on their thoughts on Allen High School’s new bell schedule.
Infographic by | Abi Marines
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will work with your math teacher and your science teacher to make sure that all the different content is interconnected, and that they are planning lessons that match all the different areas. Art is intertwined within everything everybody does.” According to administrators, the STEAM center’s goal is to provide innovative learning experiences that stimulate curiosity, creativity and problem solving. Adding in the arts element connects and enriches the sciences, giving students a unique opportunity to use art skills to improve their ideas and projects in the STEM field.
Photo by | Jake Burke
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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba EAGLE/A NGLE
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The new era of Shonen anime has arrived.
As a pretty avid anime fanatic, I’ve watched a good amount of mainstream and lesser-known animes including “Inuyasha”, “Devilman Crybaby”, “the Promised Neverland”, “Bungo Stray Dogs”, and my personal favorite as of right now, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba..” Some people have given the description that Demon Slayer is the dawn of a new Shonen era, which I agree with. “Demon Slayer” is definitely a breath of fresh air within popular Shonen titles like “Naruto”, “Hunter x Hunter”, and “Fullmetal Alchemist.” The first distinction is easily the art style. “Demon Slayer” is extremely colorful and not afraid to use very bright and vivid colors in it’s aesthetic — on the flip side there’s a lot of dark, rich deep colors as well. It’s an extremely beautiful anime. In addition, the shadows are more harsh and sharp compared to older anime art styles. The animation is considerably more distinctive as well compared to ‘traditional’ anime; a lot more fluidity within the characters’ movements and fight scenes. With the character design, the first detail that immediately made the character design different were the eyes. Overall, anime eyes are usually always big— that’s just the art style of anime — and “Demon Slayer” is no exception. However there is one key difference, and that is how the eyes are specific to each character. Now, obviously, of course, different characters have different eyes, however, the eyes on each character are all constructed individually. For instance, the protagonist of the show, Tanjiro Kamado, his eyes aren’t perfectly round, there’s a hint of a hexagonal shape. For Shinobu Kocho, a Hashira, her eyes don’t include a pupil, they’re just one color. Next, the storyline is pretty original, but it does feel reminiscent of other animes where the protagonist goes on a journey
with his friends and becomes super strong along the way. However, that isn’t good nor bad— I have enjoyed the story so far and it’s very entertaining. The plot of “Demon Slayer” is Tanjiro Kamado, the eldest in his family, who finds his family slaughtered by a demon with only Nezuko, his little sister, surviving. He becomes a part of the Demon Slayer Corps and the rest is based on that. However, some episodes have felt very fast, and others very slow. The pacing of the journey isn’t always the best, which affects the storytelling varying ways. Especially in the beginning — when Tanjiro trains to become stronger, it doesn’t feel rewarded enough, which some other animes have a problem with too: the protagonist suddenly becomes a super-strong warrior for the convenience of the story. Moreover, when Tanjiro encounters two powerful demons who work together, and they are seemingly very strong relative to other demons because of their status with Muzan Kibutsuji, the first demon to exist, the two are defeated pretty quickly and easily. To expand on this, Tanjiro defeats a former Demon Moon – extremely high-level demons — what seems to be effortless. However, when encountering other powerful demons in the forest a couple of episodes later, it’s drawn out more and Tanjiro seems weaker than before. In addition, the way demons are explained and handled is a little bit incongruent. For example, the first demon he encounters is a very low skilled one, however after this one is killed, the show never touches on those types of ‘low skilled’ demons again. Tanjiro solely runs into very high skilled demons, which is very convenient for his journey. On the other hand, the characterization 21
of the four main characters is phenomenal. Sometimes, animes can gloss over minor characters, but Demon Slayer provides touching backstories for them. I care about Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke (my favorite.) Each of the characters have their own definite personalities that complement each other. Alongside the characterization of the main characters, the protagonist can only be as good as the antagonist, and the characterization of the demons themselves is done very well. There is one absolutely beautiful scene of Tanjiro killing a demon, and I honestly shed some tears because of how beautiful the death was. That scene only worked because the demon was very well executed as a character. I felt for them, I felt their pain and suffering. At the same time, the more malicious demons feel almost like traditional hard opponents for Tanjiro – witty lines of dialogue, the evil laugh, and always gets defeated. However, Muzan Kibutsuji, even though we’ve seen about a total of five minutes of him within the on-going series, is presented as a very evil and clever character. He reminds me a little bit of Naraku from “Inuyasha” which I don’t mind at all. Overall, “Demon Slayer” has been very entertaining and I can see myself becoming very invested in the show. The show is on its first season, and it’s awesome so far. I highly recommend it to everyone– the art is beautiful and the characters are developed and personable. I rate “Demon Slayer” a B+.
Shonen: (Shōnen, shonen, or shounen manga is manga aimed at a young teen male target-demographic. Weekly Shōnen “Jump” is a weekly shōnen manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. It is the best-selling manga magazine.)
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2 8 2
1
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3 2 1 8 9
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6 Level 2.25
9 5 1
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The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9. The same number can’t appear twice in the same column, the same row, or the same box.
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