#10- Wild Card

13 Reasons Why

One of the more recent TV shows that I have watched is called 13 Reasons Why. This show premiered on Netflix on March 31, and its 13 episodes were all released at the same time. 13 Reasons Why is based off a young adult book written by Jay Asher that was released back in 2007. The story in the book revolves around a teenage boy named Clay who receives a box of 13 cassette tapes delivered to his door. He soon discovers that the tapes are from Hannah Baker, a classmate of his who recently committed suicide. In these 13 tapes, Hannah talks about 13 different people and the things they did which ultimately led her to decide to take her own life. Each episode of the series revolves around someone's tape and tells the story of what they did to Hannah. Before she took her life, Hannah designated a second set of cassette tapes with Tony, one of Clay's friends, and told him that if the people on her list didn't listen to the tapes, then she wanted him to release the second set of tapes to everyone.

I first read 13 Reasons Why in February of this year. I had seen promotions for the Netflix series and had remembered that I had heard about the book before but had never gotten myself to read it. The show looked like something I would be interested in watching, so I decided to go ahead and read the book before the show came out. I can say that I liked the book and would probably read it again someday. The book is read through Clay’s perspective and has excerpts from Hannah's tapes. In order to develop 13 Reasons Why into a Netflix series, the writers and producers definitely had to do some adapting to the script for it to translate onto the screen.

The Netflix series sticks to the basic storyline included in the book. Clay gets the tapes on his doorstep and begins the journey of listening to each one and going to different locations that Hannah marked on a map (which came with the cassettes). In the book, the whole story takes place overnight. Clay receives the tapes during the day, then all throughout the night he listens and travels around town, letting Hannah's story unfold. In the Netflix series, the story happens over a period of several weeks. Clay only listens to a few parts of the tapes every once in a while because he gets overwhelmed by flashbacks and by everything he hears on the tapes.

One major addition to the series that wasn't in the book is the presence of all the people who were on the tapes. In the book, they are only talked about, but in the show, they are actually main characters who are a big part of the storyline. You get to see how they actually react to the tapes existing, and you receive more information on their backstories and how they interact with each other after Hannah's suicide. I will say that the interactions between the teenagers are often a bit too dramatic at times. The show features the teenagers, who are on the tapes, taking every measure they can to make sure that others, especially Clay, don't tell anyone outside the group about the tapes and the information that is on them.

Another storyline in the series that wasn't in the book revolves around a lawsuit that Hannah's parents make against her high school. Hannah's parents are only talked about in the book, but, in the series, they have more of a major presence. I really liked having her parents being characters on the series because you get to see how Hannah's suicide affected her parents, which is something that you don't get to find out in the book. Clay's parents are also featured in the series as well, and you get to see how they deal with Clay and the problems he has after he receives the tapes. One other thing to mention is that Clay and Hannah have a stronger and closer friendship in the Netflix show than they did in the book where they were more like acquaintances.

There are various other storylines in the show that were added to make the plot more interesting, and certain scenes were amped up to make the show more dramatized. The 13 Reasons Why book deals with serious issues such as bullying, rape, and suicide. In the actual book, there are two specific instances in the book where two individuals are sexually assaulted/raped, and these scenes are depicted on the Netflix show. They are shown, in full, and they are very hard to watch. Also, included in the show is the heartbreaking, gut-wrenching scene where Hannahs commits suicide. When she decides to end her own life in the book, Hannah overdoses on pills, but it is only mentioned and is actually never a real book scene. The Netflix show changed the way that Hannah commits suicide, and they show her doing it without censoring any of the details. The writers and producers of 13 Reasons Why decided to show Hannah committing suicide by slitting her wrists in a bathtub. They felt that if they showed Hannah taking her own life in this way, then people would see that suicide isn't beautiful in any way. Honestly, the scene where it happens in the show is so heavy and difficult to watch. After I finished the 13 Reasons, my emotions did feel somewhat drained, and the heartbreaking reality that suicide is something that happens very often set in with me almost instantly.

Since the show's release, there has been a lot of controversy regarding whether or not 13 Reasons Why was a problematic portrayal of mental illness and suicide. Some say that the show romanticizes suicide and leaving behind tapes (or any other kind of notes) as some kind of revenge. Certain health professionals, adults, and teens are expressing concern that the show is not helping to talk about the role that mental illness can have on suicide since it was never confirmed if Hannah did have depression. There are people who feel that showing graphic images of rape will be triggering to some viewers and that also depicting the act of suicide is doing more harm than good. People on the other side of the argument believe that the show is a good representation of what is happening in our schools and that it opens up a necessary conversation about serious issues such as bullying, rape/sexual assault, and suicide.

If you have never seen 13 Reasons Why before, I would say that you should watch it at least once, but only if you feel that the show won't be too much for you. Those who have dealt with rape/sexual assault, bullying, mental illnesses, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts should take precaution and decide beforehand if they can handle the material depicted in the show. I would definitely recommend that teenagers watch the show with their parents or with someone they trust in case they have questions and need answers about certain issues. One important thing that can be taken away from watching 13 Reasons Why is that everything affects everything. Every word you say to others matters and everything you do has some effect, not matter how minuscule it may seem to you.

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JebwYGn5Z3E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqzjb07py9s

https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Differences-Between-13-Reasons-Why-Book-TV-Show-43404725

http://mashable.com/2017/04/18/13-reasons-why-headspace-warning/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link#RMYOlBKntSqU

#9- Classmate Blog Critique

Critiquing My Classmates

It’s highly important that we encourage our fellow classmates and give them credit for the work they’ve done, especially for these blogs. Every person tries to make their blog as substantial and well done as they can, and everyone spends a good amount of time researching and writing every blog post. The completed project will be a blog full of a variety of interesting posts created by the student. So far, I’ve noticed that all my classmates have been putting a lot of effort into their blogs. I have a feeling they will be proud of their work once this class is over.

One blog that I think is particularly well-done is Shriya’s. She always chooses good topics to do for her posts. One of my favorite posts that she did was for Lifestyle or Pop Culture. Shriya talked in depth about Momos (South Asian dumplings). She chose to write about this because Momos are her favorite food from back home in Nepal. Shriya gave a slew of information regarding what Momos are, how they are made, and all the varieties that are available. I had never heard of Momos before her blog post, and now I kind of really want to try some.

Every post that Shriya has done this semester has been very detailed. She breaks up her critic into several sections which I think is helpful when you are reading her review in the blog post. Her critics are at the end of her blog posts at a separate section where they can be easily found. Shriya also includes a variety of videos and pictures that help show you exactly what she is writing about. Overall, I feel that Shriya has done a great job so far with her Mass Media Criticism blog.

Another blog that I really liked this semester was that one that Justice has been working on. Justice’s topics for his posts are very interesting and often revolves around stuff I didn’t know about. His writing is so very detailed, and I think that’s what makes his posts engaging. The amount of interactivity that he includes is exceptional. There are lots of links that he includes along with pictures and videos.

When it comes to his reviews, Justice doesn’t hold back on his criticism. If he loves something, he gives it praise. If he thinks something is stupid, he will go into depth about how much he dislikes it. In other words, his criticism is on point. His reviews are quite humorous, and I had a good time reading through all of them for this review on his blog. One of my favorite posts that he did was his Series of Unfortunate Events review because I also watched that show on Netflix, enjoyed it, and then found myself agreeing with pretty much everything he wrote in his post about it. Lastly, I also enjoy his pleas for everyone to watch The Leftovers. I must say he’s very good at promoting that show (even though I still haven’t brought myself to watch it just yet). Anyways, Justice’s blog is impressive, and I think he should be proud of the work he’s done this semester.

http://shriya3503.blogspot.com/

http://seymourjustice.blogspot.com/

#8- International Media

Telenovelas

A telenovela is essentially similar to what we would call a soap opera in the United States. The name combines the Spanish words for television (televisión and tele for short) and novel (novela). When a telenovela is on TV, it will air around 5 or 6 times a week. In the telenovela world, there are series that air during the daytime, similar to American soap operas, and some that will air during prime time (usually 8 to 11 p.m.).

            Telenovelas are different than American soap operas like Days of Our Lives or All My Children. American soaps typically take place in the same location for the entire series and might run for several years with different characters being written off or added on. For example, Days of Our Lives has been around since 1965 and still follows storylines regarding the three main families (the Hortons, the Bradys, and the DiMeras). A telenovela series will have around 120 episodes or more. Episodes are called capítulos in Spanish (capítulos translates to chapters). Unlike American soaps, telenovelas do end after a few months. Each one will cover a different topic and have its own special name. Telenovelas can feature storylines revolving around murder, romance, comedy, and fantasy, and actions are often more dramatic than regular acting. Overall, telenovelas are part of “a distinct genre with a global reach.”

            Telenovelas were first created in the 1950s, which was around the time when television began to make its way into people’s homes. These series were first made and shown in Latin American countries. Today, telenovelas can be made and watched anywhere that there are Spanish-speaking citizens. Many telenovelas are produced in Mexico. Miami, Florida is also a popular place where telenovelas are made, and Spanish networks, such as Univision and Telemundo, are located there as well. This growth in production in Florida came about because of “American marketing opportunities, tax breaks and the growing Hispanic audience in the United States.” Telenovelas can also be found in Europe, most likely in the country of Spain. Some can even be found in Africa or Asia.

            There are multiple ways for those in the United States to watch telenovelas. They can be viewed on Spanish-language networks that can be bought from your television provider, watched online, or seen on Netflix. Telenovelas available on Netflix include María la del Barrio, La Reina del Sur, La Familia P. Luche, and more. I would recommend watching telenovelas because they are highly interesting, and I actually prefer them more than American soap operas. I first watched a telenovela when I was visiting my friend’s house (who speaks Spanish). Even though there were no subtitles and I had no idea what the characters were saying, it was still fun to watch. I’m sure there are telenovelas out there that do have English subtitles. I also think that watching telenovelas or other Spanish-speaking shows would be beneficial to those who are trying to learn Spanish. You can gain practice translating other languages through watching these kinds of show, which will ultimately be helpful in the long run.
P.S. I've included an example of a telenovela's opening theme and a clip of a rather dramatic (but laughable) scene from María la del Barrio, a popular telenovela from the 90s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdFLmVxNzO8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piFFNUAhy4A

https://telenovelastudies.wordpress.com/what-is-a-telenovela/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Days_of_Our_Lives

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/business/media/telenovelas-popularity-brings-business-to-florida.html\

https://www.popsugar.com/latina/photo-gallery/40737923/embed/40738888/Mar%C3%AD-la-del-Barrio

#7- Social Media

Social Media Stories

The app Snapchat first became popular around 2011/2012. On Snapchat, users can send pictures and chat messages to their friends and family members. Special filters can be placed over people’s faces for fun, and there’s also a page on the app where users can read different news stories. Another feature of Snapchat are the Stories. The app first released this feature in October 2013. Users have the option to send one of their “snaps” to their Story where those who are friends with them can view their Story and send a reply to it if they wish. Over the years, other social media websites have decided to follow in Snapchat’s path and add their own Story options to their apps. Should other apps have adopted this feature, or should they have left it to Snapchat?

My personal favorite social media app to put stories on is Snapchat. I prefer using Snapchat more because I enjoy the filters they have on there. You can turn yourself into a dog or a cat using one of the available filters, and you can also add colored filters, emojis, and geotags (logos that represent special locations) to your pictures. Also, when you watch a Story on Snapchat, you can watch it as many times as you want without it showing on the user’s account how many times you viewed. I like to be a little nosy sometimes so I like that it only shows that you watched it once instead of 20 times. Snapchat was the original creator of having a Story option so it’s no wonder why I think they do it best.

Instagram Stories can around in August of last year. These stories are at the top of the app’s front page. People can take pictures with the Instagram camera and then add color filters, text, drawing, and stickers. I haven’t used Instagram Stories, but I have only just started using Instagram again so I might look into it. I don’t really have any gripes or complaints about Instagram Stories. They are simple, easy to use, and enjoyable to look at. This summer, I'm going to be experimenting more with Instagram Stories for my Fundamentals of Digital Cinema class, so afterward I will probably have a more expert opinion regarding this feature.

Facebook also added a Stories option in March of this year for its users. These stories appear at the top of the homepage, and users can take pictures with the Facebook app’s new camera. I checked this camera out the other day. While I wasn’t expecting to like it, I found myself thinking it was pretty cool. The Facebook camera has a variety of filters, much more to choose from than on Snapchat. They might not be the same popular filters that people have come to associate with Snapchat, but they are still fun to play around with. Users can take these pictures they take on the camera and place them onto their Facebook Story.

Although the Stories option for Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook feature mostly similar features, Snapchat is still the one that most people use if they want to post a Story. Instagram Stories are on the climb to being as popular as Snapchat Stories, while Facebook Stories still hasn’t really caught on yet. I personally see more people posting Stories on Snapchat and Instagram than on Facebook. In my opinion, Snapchat still has the coolest filters, and they are constantly adding new ones (including some recent filters that add 3D objects onto pictures). I don’t mind other social media apps taking ideas from Snapchat because, honestly, every app somewhat borrow ideas from other apps. Nothing is exactly original anymore in today’s media.

https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/18/snapchat-introduces-world-lenses-live-filters-for-just-about-anything/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Snapchat 

https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/25/facebook-stories/

#6- Critiquing a Media Critic

Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah is the current host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. His spot as host was previously held by Jon Stewart for 16 years, and Trevor took over the show in 2015. Trevor Noah is a 33-year-old “comedian, writer, producer, actor, media critic, and television host” from South Africa. He had been involved with The Daily Show since 2014 but became the host the next year when Jon Stewart announced that he would be leaving the show.

I first watched The Daily Show with Trevor Noah last semester when I was writing a paper on television news for my Intro to Mass Communications course. I admit that I had never seen The Daily Show before I had to work on that assignment. When I noticed the show was on Comedy Central, I thought it would be a good news program to watch because I wanted a break from the other typical news shows I was analyzing.

I’ve seen articles on the Internet talking about Trevor Noah is not as good as Jon Stewart was as a host for The Daily Show. When I first watched it, I was not biased on Trevor Noah being the lesser host because I had honestly never taken the time to watch The Daily Show when Jon Stewart was hosting. I thought that Trevor Noah was a good host for The Daily Show. As a critic, he talks about news in politics along with other world and pop culture headlines. I watched The Daily Show when the 2016 Presidential Election was underway, so there was a lot of talk about the latest Trump and Hillary news. Trevor has an enjoyable sense of humor, and everything sounds nice and smooth when he says his jokes in his South African accent. He criticizes everyone to certain point, but I don’t think he tries to push any kind of bias on his audience. He just says what he has to say, and his critiques of political figures, celebrities, and real life people often get a few laughs out of me. Even when his jokes or critiques fall flat, I still enjoying watching him and listening to what he has to say.

Probably one of my favorites episodes of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah was where he interviewed Tomi Lahren, a beautiful blonde who is known for making her conservative opinions known loud and clear on The Blaze (since this episode was released, Tomi has been suspended from The Blaze due to her views on being pro-choice). In the episode, Trevor and Tomi discussed different issues (such as immigration, Colin Kaepernick, and the Black Lives Matter movement) while both sharing their own personal opinions. Even though they both disagreed on many issues, it was a mostly civil debate, and even though Trevor believed differently than Tomi, he never once belittled her. Trevor handled the debate well and made his opinions on the issues known without trashing Tomi on-air, and she did the same to him. I feel that Trevor Noah is an adequate host for The Daily Show and an effective media critic because he critiques things with humor and truth, but he is also very polite and genuine.

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/m9ds7s/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-exclusive---tomi-lahren-extended-interview

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Noah

#5- Movies

Arrival

I've loved movies for as long as I can remember. When I was a child, I was obsessed with Winnie the Pooh, the Wizard of Oz, and any animated movie that Disney released. Whenever my parents watched a movie, I would sometimes join then in the fun and sit next to them on the couch. I will never forget the time I watched an alien movie called Signs. I’m pretty sure watching that movie scarred me for years (even though it wasn’t that scary), and for some time after I saw it, I was too afraid to be alone at night in the darkness of my room because I was convinced that an alien would come snatch me in the middle of the night. Today, I’m not really scared of alien movies anymore. Probably the best movie I’ve seen lately is Arrival, a movie that’s about aliens but not in the way one would typically expect of alien movies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFMo3UJ4B4g

Arrival is a science fiction/mystery movie that was released on November 11, 2016, and stars Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker. The movie received a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 8 out of 10 stars on IMDB. Arrival was recently nominated for Best Picture and several other categories at the 89^th Academy Awards. The main plot of the movie revolves around twelve alien spaceships that land at different locations around the world. The United States Military and the government, along with scientists, attempt to figure out why the aliens had landed on earth and what exactly they wanted from humans. Amy Adams plays Dr. Louise Banks, a linguistics professor who has been whisked away to a spaceship site in Montana. While at the site, she has to find a way to communicate with the aliens and also has to decode their language.

When one sees that a movie revolves around aliens, he or she might expect it to be an intense, action-packed ride. Arrival is a slow burning movie in my opinion. The movie is never really intense, but it does rely on emotions and a race against time to make you interested in watching it. I thought the plotline was very interesting at first, and I was curious to see what the aliens were going to look like. The film starts off with an emotional bang by showing flashbacks of Amy Adam’s character raising her daughter, Emily, only to lose her to cancer when she’s a teenager. When the movie moves into the scenes where Louise Banks is in contact with the aliens, it’s confusing at first because of the aliens’ language (which consists of O’s connected to various other shapes). During the movie, you watch the team try to figure out what the aliens are really saying, and you might feel a little lost like I was the first time I watched it. Even if the aspect of the alien's language in the movie gets confusing, I would say just keep on watching because everything will make sense in the end (I'll talk about that here in a minute)

The storyline of Arrival gets a bit more dramatic when certain countries around the world decide they want to attack the aliens instead of taking a gentler approach to figuring out why they're on Earth. Near the end of the movie, there is an important revelation that the aliens give to Louise Banks which ties the whole film together. I'm not going to give away any spoilers here, but when I first watched Arrival, I didn't really understand the whole point of the movie until this certain part near the end. It was one of those revelations that don't necessarily shock you, but it will make you go, “Oh, now everything makes sense.”

The last few scenes of Arrival were the ones that truly affected my emotions. The events that occur in these scenes are, in my opinion, both sad and beautiful. I didn’t expect myself to tear up while watching this movie, but when those scenes came on and the score music starting playing, I found myself crying. I think the instrumental song that played during those parts added that emotional depth to the movie that tugs at your heart. I thought this movie was fantastic. Even though it’s not an action-packed movie, it makes you think about the way we as humans communicate with each other and about your choices in this life. One of the main ideas that Arrival is trying to put out there is, "If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things?"  I can say that it definitely made me do a little thinking of my own, and its effects definitely stuck with me long after the credits rolled out. The last thing I want to mention about Arrival is that its cinematography was very breathtaking and well done. The trailer honestly doesn’t do the movie any justice because the only way to experience the emotional depth of this movie is to watch it for yourself. I can honestly say this is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXNvm-7ZZVc

#4- Technology

The Mr. Coffee Smart Coffeemaker

Technology continues to advance, and over the past decade, we have seen countless devices that are labeled as being smart. These devices that have smart technology in them are supposed to contribute to making our lives better and easier. Should all devices have some sort of smart technology embedded in them, or are some better off when left alone?

A coffee maker is one device that has been impacted by smart technology. Tried-and-true coffee makers are often simple enough to use without being smart. If a person wants to use a coffee maker, he or she just puts in coffee grounds and water and then will press the smart button to begin brewing. Most coffee makers have an alarm that can be set in order to start brewing the coffee at a specific time. So exactly how efficient and necessary are smart coffee makers in today’s world?

The Mr. Coffee® Smart Optimal Brew™ 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Wemo is one these new smart coffee makers that has hit the market. This coffee maker currently costs $149.99 and has received 4 stars out of 5 on the Mr. Coffee website. One of its special features is that a user has the ability to set a schedule of when the coffee maker needs to brew coffee based on their daily habits. The schedule can be adjusted at any time to fit a user’s needs. Another special feature of this smart coffeemaker is that it has Mr. Coffee’s Optimal Brew technology. Using the Optimal Brew, a user can choose the strength of the coffee they prefer, and the coffee will be brewed faster and hotter than it would in regular coffee makers. The coffee pot is also made of stainless steel, which will ensure that the coffee stays hot and tastes fresh. The coffee maker also has a feature where a user can pause the brewing, grab a cup of coffee, and then let the rest of it finish brewing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGODQUtxQD4

The features of the Mr. Coffee Smart Optimal Brew Coffee Maker can be controlled using the WeMo app on Apple and Android devices. On the WeMo app, a user can create a weekly brewing schedule, turn the coffeemaker on or off, and receive notifications either if they need to refill the coffeemaker or if the coffee is ready.

Reviews for the coffee maker are mostly positive, although the product usually receives about 4 out of 5 stars. One review from Engadget said that the coffeemaker has a nice design to its interior and that coffee does stay hot when left to sit in the stainless steel coffee pot. The reviewer said that the WeMo app is very useful when wanting to set a brewing schedule or choosing when to make a cup of coffee. Despite all the coffee maker's fancy features, he did say that he didn’t think he could justify spending $250 for a smart coffee maker, even it was handy and did work well. The coffeemaker is currently on sale for $149, but the price is still expensive for a device that is only meant to make coffee. I do think it would be nice to have those smart features on a coffee maker, although I’m not sure if I would personally pay $149 for one. If a smart coffee maker was on an extreme sale (such as under $100), I would maybe consider either purchasing it or asking for it for Christmas or my birthday. The WeMo app would be handy because I could choose to start brewing coffee from my phone and receive reminders when my coffee is finished. Maybe I will buy one someday, but I don’t think it will be anytime soon.

http://www.mrcoffee.com/coffee-makers/smart-optimal-brew-coffeemaker-with-wemo/mr.-coffee-smart-optimal-brew-10-cup-programmable-coffee-maker-with-wemo-bvmc-pstx91we/BVMC-PSTX91WE.html

 https://www.engadget.com/2015/02/03/irl-a-month-controlling-my-coffeemaker-over-wifi/

#3- Lifestyle or Popular Culture

Two Favorite Beauty Trends and Two "Hacks"

Tons of beauty trends and "hacks" come around every year, and no matter how ridiculous they are, people will probably try them for themselves.

One makeup trend that was popular last year and is still highly popular this year is major highlighting. This trend involves one using a highlighter (shimmery powder that can be purchased in many different colors) to make their face glow. Some people use a rather heavy amount of highlighter to the point where their faces look lit from within (or to the point where they might resemble a glazed doughnut). I love highlighter, and I think they look extremely pretty when applied to people's faces. When you put highlighter on top of a cheekbone, it looks gorgeous when light hits it. Some people also use colorful highlighters and can be quite artistic with the way they apply them to their faces.

Another makeup trend that has popped up over social media in the last six months or so is excessively artistic eye makeup. Now, we're not just talking about somewhat colorful/perfectly blended eyeshadows but rather, actual works of art that people create on their own eyelids. Eyelid designs can range from simple and pretty to extravagantly detailed. One girl even painted her own replica of Van Gogh's Starry Night on her eyelid. These images of people's beautiful art can be seen on social media all the time. I see these types of pictures frequently and am always amazed at the things people can do with makeup. I honestly don't understand those who criticize people who do eyelid art by calling the act unnecessary. Makeup is art, and you face is the canvas, therefore, I say go to town with it.

Another beauty related trend that has hit social media recently consists of different items one can use to apply foundation onto their faces(the colored liquid stuff for those who don't do makeup). Two of the strangest hacks I've seen are using a bra insert sponge and a condom wrapped around a beauty sponge. I think both of these "hacks" are a bit ridiculous, and I probably won't be trying them anytime soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyi4DWz62_o

For the bra insert, this tool will supposedly apply one's makeup smoothly to the face and not soak up as much product as a beauty sponge would. One supposed plus of using the bra insert is that cleanup will be a breeze. The left over foundation can just be wiped off the insert with a tissue or a towel. After this hack came out, beauty vloggers all over YouTube started posting videos of them doing their first impressions of using the bra insert to apply their makeup. Some say it works, but some also say the hack is just a dud. Any criticism of the bra insert not working did not deter the beauty company Molly Cosmetics from creating their own silicone sponge, called the Silisponge, that slightly resembles a bra insert. The product has become a best-seller because people were curious as to whether it would work or not. On Amazon, the product currently has mixed reviews.

The beauty hack featuring the condom has only recently appeared on social media but is starting to become more talked about. For the hack, one needs to take the beauty sponge of his/her choosing and simply put it inside a condom (one that is preferably clean and has been washed with some kind of soap). The condom over the beauty sponge is supposed to give the same effect that the bra insert is supposed to have with face makeup. Since the beauty sponge is nestled inside, the condom will prevent the sponge from absorbing the product and will give the makeup as much coverage as it can possibly have. Does this hack truly work for people? I'm not really sure, but it has received the same mixed reviews that the bra insert did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ASXCuj6_oc

All I can say is that you won't find me using either of these hacks anytime soon. I'll just be sticking to my tried-and-true beauty sponge (the Real Techniques sponge is cheap and works very well in my opinion).

#2- Television

The 100

The 100 used to be one of my favorites shows to watch on television. This teen drama, which currently is in its 4th season on the CW network, revolves around a post-apocalyptic world where the earth has been wrecked by nuclear war, and those who have remained have inhabited one giant space station called the Ark. In season 1 of the show, officials from the Ark make the decision to send 100 juvenile prisoners to the ground to test if humans can survive on earth, seeing as it has been almost 100 years since the nuclear war. The 100 juveniles crash-land on earth and have to explore the dangerous, unknown land while trying to make a new home for themselves. I first found the show in December of 2014, and I binge-watched the whole first season within a few days.

The first season features the tension between the Sky People (those from the Ark) and the descendants of the people who survived the nuclear war on Earth (called the Grounders). The Grounders are seen as an unknown danger in the first few episodes because strange events start happening, but the Sky People don't actually come face to face with the Grounders until later. The Sky people start experiencing attacks from the Grounders because they are foreigners in the Grounder’s homeland. The first season of the 100 mainly deals with the Sky People trying to fight off the Grounders, and it also focuses on the tension and drama that builds amongst the Sky People, who have differing opinions on how their group should be led.  The season finale features a major battle between the Sky People and the Grounders, which ultimately ends on a cliffhanger. This was probably my favorite season of the show because it was exciting to see how the Sky People adapted to a world they had never seen before.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia1Fbg96vL0&t=132s

The first few episodes of the second season had already aired by the time I started watching the show, so I didn’t have to wait for the second season to premiere as did other fans who watched the show when it first aired on TV. The second season of The 100 dealt with the adults from the Ark having to come down to earth because of dwindling resources on the space station. In this season, most of the Juveniles are being trapped by the Mountain Men, a society of people who survived the nuclear war and made their home in an underground government bunker.  I highly enjoyed this season because I thought the storyline was intriguing, and it really made me excited to watch the show every week. There was one specific creepy revelation about the Mountain Men, who were at first seemingly nice people, that made the season a very interesting ride. It was also refreshing to see the Sky people and the Grounders group together to fight a common enemy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0vrIMcMz9Q

The third season of the show, however, was not my favorite. I liked the first few episodes because it was interesting to watch what went down after the second season ended, but I just felt that the season didn’t live up to the first two. There were several deaths in the season that I felt were uncalled for, and I noticed, as did other fans, that the PoC characters on the show were not treated as well as other character and were seen more as the villains instead of the heroes. I also felt that the storyline was more boring and the aspect of AI technology and a chip that controlled people’s minds just didn’t work very well for the show. I’m not alone in these feelings though; other fans felts that this season was lackluster. The 100 has its worst ratings during the third season due to fans boycotting the show because of the season’s storyline and controversy caused by the show’s creator, Jason Rothenberg. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL9D1a-8SEg

The fourth season recently premiered, and I watched the first episode of the season. I think I've decided to give the show a season chance. I thoroughly hope that the 100 redeems itself and that this season will be much better than the last and comparable to the first two seasons that I enjoyed so much.

Update: I gave the first few episodes a chance, but I just couldn't get myself excited about the show again. There's honestly no telling if I'll watch the rest of the fourth season anytime season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3koIh0Izwk

#1- Music

Troye Sivan

Most times when I listen to music, I tend to pick and choose songs from artists that I like. Sometimes I do enjoy listening to a particular artist's entire discography. I feel like there are certain albums from artists that I go back and listen to all the time because I thoroughly enjoy, or at least like, every song included on the album.

One of my favorite albums to listen to, particularly when I’m driving, is Blue Neighbourhood by Troye Sivan. This album has been out since December 4 of last year, but I still listen to it often. Blue Neighbourhood is classified as a pop album with its subgenres being electropop and dream pop.

Troye Sivan, born Troye Sivan Mellet, is a 21-year-old singer from Perth, Australia. Troye acted and sang during his childhood, and in 2009 he was featured as young Wolverine in the X- Men: Origins movie. In his later teen years, he began posting videos to his YouTube channel, where he currently has over 4 million subscribers. Troye released singing videos and other comedy-related videos that propelled him into the role of an internet personality. Even though Troye regularly kept up with his YouTube channel and acted in different films (such as the three part Spud series), he ultimately decided to start making music of his own. He released two EPs titled Dare to Dream and Jun Haverly in 2007 and 2012. Troye's third Ep, titled TRXYE, was released in 2014 and hit Number 1 on iTunes. This was the EP that really established him as a legitimate pop artist. Another EP named Wild came out in September 2015 and was essentially a preview of songs that would be on his debut album. His first full-length album, Blue Neighbourhood, was released in December 2015. It received generally positive reviews from fans and critics and debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

One of the things that Troye Sivan is best known for is being an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Troye first publicly came out as gay in 2013 in a video posted to his YouTube channel. His coming out video now has over 7 million views. Troye has been adamant about being open about his sexuality in his music and in championing for LGBTQ+ rights. On his album Blue Neighbourhood, the song Heaven ft. Betty Who highlights Troye’s struggle with being gay and questioning religion. He released the official video for the song on January 19^th, and the video featured a montage of historical black and white clips of the LGBTQ+ community. In the summary for the video, Troye writes, “We have always been here. we will always be here. This video is dedicated to all who’ve come before me and fought for our cause and those who now continue the fight. In dark and light times, let’s love forever.” This song is probably one of my favorites on the album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VNV__mV38s

I enjoy the Blue Neighbourhood album mostly because it's a different kind of pop music. It's still pop (which one of main genres of music I listen to), and it has catchy melodies and lyrics typical of pop music, but the lyrical content of Troye's music is highly relatable to someone my age. His music deals with falling in and out of love, leaving and missing home, and accepting yourself through the good times and the bad as well. While other pop music revolves around what some would call "vapid" content, Troye's music has meaning without sacrificing interesting and catchy beats and hooks. Something also worth mentioning is that I thoroughly enjoy his aesthetical aspect as well (mainly his album's color scheme/ artwork and his overall presence). His music videos are quite well thought out and directed, with my favorities being his Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy that features videos for the songs "Wild," "Fools," and "Talk Me Down."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xCMF7jsDJI