The Phantom Voice
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the phantom voice
Jake Carrabis She: I have a doctor’s appointment today but I really don’t want to go… - He: Just call in sick then. Bus driver to passenger: Don’t you want to sit down? - Passenger: No, I am in a hurry. Insurance clerk: "Where were you born, Sir?" - Man: "In the United States." - Insurance clerk: "OK, and which part?" - Man: "My entire body." What did one candle say to the other? - A: I'll be going out tonight. “What's the name of your new dog?” - “I don’t know. He won’t tell.” What did one wall say to the other wall? - We’ll meet at the corner. Why do the French eat snails? - Because they cannot stand fast food. What kind of bagel can fly? - A plain bagel. Did you hear about the constipated mathematician? - He worked his problem out with a pencil. - It was a No. 2 pencil. What do you call a cow with no legs? - Ground beef. What did the buffalo say to his son when he left for college? - Bison. Halloween Bonus Jokes What do skeletons say before eating? - Bone Appetit! Why are ghosts bad at lying? - Because you can see right through them How can you tell if a vampire has a horrible cold? - By his deep loud coffin!
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Vincent Orlando Christopher French, a professor of psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, explains: Although conspiracy beliefs can occasionally be based on a rational analysis of the evidence, most of the time they are not. As a species, one of our greatest strengths is our ability to find meaningful patterns in the world around us and to make causal inferences. We sometimes, however, see patterns and causal connections that are not there, especially when we feel that events are beyond our control. The attractiveness of conspiracy theories may arise from a number of cognitive biases that characterize the way we process information. “Confirmation bias” is the most pervasive cognitive bias and a powerful driver of belief in conspiracies. We all have a natural inclination to give more weight to evidence that supports what we already believe and ignore evidence that contradicts our beliefs. The real-world events that often become the subject of conspiracy theories tend to be intrinsically complex and unclear. Early reports may contain errors, contradictions and ambiguities, and those wishing to find evidence of a cover-up will focus on such inconsistencies to bolster their claims. “Proportionality bias,” our innate tendency to assume that big events have big causes, may also explain our tendency to accept conspiracies. This is one reason many people were uncomfortable with the idea that President John F. Kennedy was the victim of a deranged lone gunman and found it easier to accept the theory that he was the victim of a large-scale conspiracy. Another relevant cognitive bias is “projection.” People who endorse conspiracy theories may be more likely to engage in conspiratorial behaviors themselves, such as spreading rumors or tending to be suspicious of others' motives. If you would engage in such behavior, it may seem natural that other people would as well, making conspiracies appear more plausible and widespread. Furthermore, people who are strongly inclined toward conspiratorial thinking will be more likely to endorse mutually contradictory theories. For example, if you believe that Osama bin Laden was killed many years before the American government officially announced his death, you are also more likely to believe that he is still alive. None of the above should indicate that all conspiracy theories are false. Some may indeed turn out to be true. The point is that some individuals may have a tendency to find such theories attractive. The crux of the matter is that conspiracists are not really sure what the true explanation of an event is—they are simply certain that the “official story” is a cover-up. For more information visit: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-some-people-believe-in-conspiracy-theories/ By Chris Bacalla
“We did our waiting, nine years, in Azkaban!” Was the cry of Potterheads everywhere as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child released in July of 2016, having endured nearly a decade outside the walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft Wizardry. At the conclusion of The Harry Potter Series in 2007, several types of fans emerged in regard to the continuation or ceasing of the series. Hopeful ones foresaw a Marauders book, or even series. “Cynics” (who were typically the more informed fans keeping up with Rowling’s input) figured the “Nineteen Years Later” epilogue was the closest we’d ever come to an extension of the Potter timeline. Some hoped to see this epilogue built on in another novel. Such a hope was the closest to the truth, save its platform. In cooperation with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Rowling welcomed fans back to Platform Nine and Three Quarters in form of play at West End’s Palace in London. It being a rather long play (the first act has a run time of 2:40, the second 2:35), viewers had the option of a full or split-act viewing. These details are now, at last, relevant to Americans, for it is coming to Broadway at the Lyric Theatre in Spring of 2018. The process of obtaining a ticket is not easy, though. Prospective viewers first had (yes, had, because the cutoff date has passed) to apply for an access code by giving their email, phone number and other basic information. This week, a select number of fans will be sent said access code and then have the ability to buy a ticket. Those not lucky enough to be sent the code are not left in the dark, though, regarding the story. Acts One and Two have been available in print since its London premiere date in 2016. Some have deemed the Cursed Child to be a publicized fanfiction. Others claim it simply doesn’t have the same “feel” as the Original Seven. Many are disgusted with the revival of the Time Turner and its use in the plot, as time travel inevitably creates many holes and/or paradoxes. Those who enjoyed the story appreciated the shift in focus on house Gryffindor to house Slytherin, and Harry’s son, Albus, and his insecurity as consequence of being The Chosen One’s son and a Slytherin. Additionally, any stroll through the castle or the Hogwarts Express was sure to be enough for avid fans who have yearned for such an experience. Another interesting aspect of the play is that its main characters, Albus and Scorpius (the beloved Draco Malfoy’s son), are rather quirky, and compliment each other in a beautifully awkward way. The old trio were outcasts, but more as a result of their preoccupation with saving the wizarding world and steadfastly backing Dumbledore even when in the minority. Albus and Severus are outcasts for reasons more commonly seen in the middle school/high school era: being labeled as “weird” because they don’t like Quidditch (or the muggle equivalent) or for being socially awkward. Also, their endeavor to assist heartbroken Amos Diggory is also quite misguided, more for parent recognition and self defining rather than the noble, selfless reasons we saw Harry have. All of these variations let us see the same, wondrous wizarding world—just through a different lens. For some, this is off-putting and undesirable, which is understandable. However, I appreciate it while maintaining my preference of the original series. I also think, for now, that the play as a whole would be better told through novel, but I will have to view the story via its intended platform before confirming such a stance. Fans interested in furthering their immersion in Rowling’s Wizarding World also have four additional films of the Fantastic Beasts franchise to look forward to, the latest installment coming to theaters November 16th, 2018. Harry Potter and Star Wars fans alike are relishing in the continuation of their respective universes which have both introduced new plots and characters and sealed the proverbial deal with their overwhelming nostalgia. Luca Gross One of a more popular tv shows today is a dark comedy on FX that centers around a rather dysfunctional group of lifelong friends that call themselves “The Gang” and the wacky situations they get themselves into and out of. It has a small main cast with Charlie Day as Charlie Kelly, Glenn Howerton as Dennis Reynolds, Rob McElhenney as Ronald "Mac" McDonald, Kaitlin Olson as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds, and Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds. There are several side characters that pop in and out throughout the series. The show combines classic sit-com elements from big inspiration Seinfeld and mixes it with their own dark humor. The show has been airing for over a decade, with the first episode airing way back in August 4, 2005, 12 years ago. They have 2 more seasons scheduled but here’s the catch. Season 13 is planned to air after an “extended hiatus” according to Howerton due to all being busy. Many of the actors are doing other work. Kaitlin Olson starring in a new show The Mick, which is finishing up it’s premier season. Rob McElhenney is directing a movie based on the popular kid game Minecraft. Danny Devito is starring in the play “The Price” on Broadway. Howerton himself is working on a pilot for an NBC series. He said he may not return to season 13, depending on how that project goes. Nothing has been said about his presence in season 14. A fun little side note, with the scheduled seasons it will become the longest running comedy on TV. An FXX representative said production dates and airdates for Season 13 of Sunny are still to be determined. Pushing the next scheduled seasons back a little longer than usual is probably for the best in my opinion. Although it is one of my favorite shows to date, the recent seasons have been close to lackluster. The show has been on and written by the three (Howerton, Day, and McElhenney) for over a decade, and they are bound to become jaded. The show might not be the same, but it certainly won't go anywhere anytime soon. Jonathan Kelly Happy Death Day was about Tree Gelbman, a stuck up, spoiled, party sorority girl who is trapped in a seamlessly endless death cycle on her birthday. She is forced to try and find out who her killer is and why she is stuck in the viscous cycle. It never specifies how many times she really dies but she seems to get very used to dying over and over again. The only was she could survive was to kill her killer but first she has to figure out who it was first. She first had to make a list of everyone who might want her dead which was quite a long list. Day after day she would go through the list and figure out who her killer was. Eventually in the end it was her roommate who she was very mean to. The movie itself was very predictable and not very entertaining. It added in a small twist towards the end but it was very obvious and not very surprising. The main character was not very likable to quite frankly it wasn’t heartbreaking to see her restart her day over and over again. As she evolves throughout the film she gets kinder and nicer and she learns to appreciate the things that she has. Eventually she figured out that her roommate was her killer and puts an end to her. She survives the day and finally wakes up the next day. Overall the movie was a little slow and predictable, i would give the movie a 4/10. Maine In 1901, the Kennebec Arsenal in Augusta was turned into a psychiatric hospital where thousands were buried in unmarked graves, after horrific treatments. The facility closed in 2004, however there have been many reports of hearing cries and screams coming from inside and stories of spirits roaming around. New Hampshire Although the NH state hospital in Concord is abandoned, explorers have ventured into the brutal asylum reported feeling cold spots, heard screams, and saw objects being pushed off tables. Vermont The High Life Ski Club in Chittenden was home to a William and Horatio Zephaniah, who claimed to be mediums and would hold sitting sessions to connect with the dead after they transformed the farm into an inn. Massachusets In Fall River, MA, you can spend the night a Lizzie Borden’s house, where she allegedly brutally murdered her father and stepmother. If you stay here, you can expect to hear weeping, see shoes moving across the floor, and witness a ghost tucking you into bed at night. Connecticut Union Cemetery, in Easton CT is haunting to the next level. There have been reports of seeing a lady in a white nightgown, with red eyes, roaming the cemetery. In addition to the spooky lady, mists, light rods, and orbs have been seen in pictures that were taken here. Rhode Island The Biltmore Hotel in Providence was named America’s most haunted hotel in 2000, and was said to be the inspiration for the show Bates Motel. Many satanic rituals were conducted here and guests say they still hear chatter from other rooms. One report says that sometimes guests will simply vanish during the night. New York Heard of the movie, Amityville Horror? That was based off a real house on 103 Ocean Ave Amityville, New york. In 1974, Ronald DeFeo shot and killed 6 of his family members in that home. A year later when a new family moved in, they were haunted by paranormal activity for the whole 28 days they lived there. Alexander Gaglio Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D platformer Video game. It puts the player in the role as Mario as he travels across worlds of his hat shaped ship named Odyssey to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. -Produced by Nintendo, Platform Nintendo Switch, Release date 10/27/17 Sonic Forces is a fast paced action Platform game where the player goes through a world destroyed by Dr.Eggman and a new villain in Sonic Forces. -Developed by the Sonic team, Composed by Tomoya Ohtani, Release date November 7, 2017, Platforms xbox one, Playstation 4, microsoft., Nintendo Switch Need for Speed Payback is a single player racing video game that follows the former street racer Tyler Morgan. Their are 5 different types of cars race, drift, Off-Road, drag and Runner. -Developed by Ghost Games, Published by electronic Arts, Release date November 10, 2017, Platforms xbox one, Playstation 4, microsoft. Middle Earth Shadow Of War is a Action Role playing game in the Lord of the Rings Universe.The player can control a massive army and take on Sauron's Fortresses where nothing is forgotten. -Developed by Monolith Productions, Publishers Warner Bros, Engine LithTech, Release Date 10/10/17, Platforms Playstation 4, Xbox one, and Microsoft. Assassin’s Creed Origins is a action-adventure video game. It is set in Egypt where players will find Great Pyramids and hidden tombs, to discover the origin of the Assassin’s Brotherhood. -Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Published by Ubisoft, Engine Anvil, Release Date 10/27/17, Platforms Playstation 4, Xbox one, Microsoft Call of Duty WWII Is a fast paced first person shooter that puts the player in World War 2 in a Single player campaign and a multiplayer mode. -Developed by Sledgehammer Games, Published by Activision, Release Date November 3 2017, Platforms Playstation 4, Xbox one, Microsoft Far Cry 5 is a Open World First Person Shooter it puts the player in a country taken over by Anti-Government Militia Group. -Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Published by Ubisoft, Release Date February 27 2018, Platforms Playstation 4, Xbox one, Microsoft Red Dead Redemption 2 is a open world western action adventure game. It is about the epic tale of tale of life in America’s unforgiving heartland. -Developed by Rockstar Games, Published by Rockstar Games, Release date is unknown, Platforms Playstation 4 and Xbox One Aidan Somers Denis Villeneuve is proving himself to be the titular director of modern day cinema. Since 2013 he has directed four movies close to cinematic perfection, and Blade Runner 2049 succeeds these films in spectacular fashion. Ridley Scott created this world and in my eyes Villeneuve perfects it. From the opening sequence Roger Deakins sets up the world, with his outstanding cinematography. If Deakins doesn’t win an oscar this year I may lose respect for the academy entirely. The film is beautiful, the color pallette within each scene is unique yet fitting, the world is not only maintained from the first movie but expanded, with the advancements of technology, both in our world and Scott’s. The movie is a visual masterpiece and the effects never falter. Some are maintaining that similar to the original movie the film suffers from style over substance. I can’t help but disagree on both accounts. While the original suffered from slow pacing it still had a emotional screenplay and believable characters, despite being in a science fiction movie. 2049 continues this trend as it introduces new characters and brings back old. My personal favorite character features Ryan Gosling as Officer K. Gosling gives one of the most stellar performances of his career as the no nonsense K, unraveling secrets that could topple civilization. His character arc throughout the movie was one of the emotionally moving aspects of the film. Jared Leto gives a solid performance as Niander Wallace, the new business tycoon creating replicants. I was thankful he was not as prominent as I believed he would be, he presented a looming threat but never even faces the protagonist directly. Harrison Ford returning as Deckard proved to be one of his best performances in several years. While his return as Han Solo was compelling, he steps up the acting here. Sylvia Hoeks gives a frightening performance as, Love, Wallace’s right hand replicant. Hoeks delivered one too many cliche lines but proved to be a worthy antagonist to Officer K. Denis Villeneuve continues his trend of mastering action sequences in film with this movie. From the tension building border standoff in Sicario, to the highway race in Prisoners, Villeneuve is unbelievably talented at his art. Every time a gun was fired in 2049 I felt the impact of the shot. The choreography is exceptional and the characters truly feel as though they receive every blow. Blade Runner 2049 is a modern day science fiction gem, standing far above films like Alien Covenant and Valerian. It’s very unfortunate that the film will likely tank at the box office because people will be discussing it for years. My only issues with this film lie in the one or two cliche lines as well as the flashback sequences used during revelations. With a director like Villeneuve the sequences never feel cheesy but they are a dangerous game in the film industry. Some may find the length of the film intimidating and I will admit the film does require a patient viewer able to understand the at times slow pace. Overall the movie is my favorite of the year and I’ve already seen it three times. Take it easy Libby Villar The Netflix Original series Stranger Things comes back with a new season. In July of 2016 Netflix released a new original series called Stranger Things. This Netflix Original was the second most watched show within 35 days of it release, with 21.7 million watchers. This new season comes out October 27th. This new season has a lot of action. Taking place in the 80’s you see the four guys Mike, Will, Lucas and Dustin dressed up at The Ghostbusters. A hit movie back in the day. This season there is going to be a lot of action. In the trailer you see the guys in the arcade, and Will starts to wander off after hearing his name. Shortly after when he goes to turn back it turns into the upside down world. Also during the trailer you see will being what seems like he’s possessed and inside the upside down world, and you continue to see this throughout the upside down world. In the trailer we see Eleven turn up in the upside down world. This shows that she isn’t gone forever, and will soon be back with her friends. During this season you also see Will in the hospital, and the new cast member Sadie Sink playing Max. This new character Max is seen helping the guys while Will is in the hospital. I wonder if she’s taking his spot permanently or just until he’s out of the hospital. This makes you wonder what else will be happening this makes you wonder what else will happen during the new season. I guess everyone’s just got to wait for the new season to find out what will happen and what new adventures everyone will be faced with. By Kevin Lessing The second trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi came out a little later than was expected, but it definitely provided us with some impressive battles and visuals to speculate about. Here are some of the things we can gain out of the trailer and some predictions as to what it will lead to in the film. Be warned, there’s quite a bit of speculation about what the scenes mean regarding The Last Jedi’s story. The trailer opens with a shot of Kylo Ren looking through a viewport as the First Order prepares its war machine. This location likely takes place on the Supremacy, which is Supreme Leader Snoke’s massive star destroyer. It is the largest Star Wars ship the fanbase has ever seen. Just after this, we hear Snoke say, dramatically, “When I found you, I saw raw, untamed power… and beyond that, something truly special.” I believe Snoke is talking about Kylo Ren here, as he refers to how he found him. Snoke is praising Ren and I believe the reason he values him so much is because he knows the ways of both the light(from when he trained as a jedi) and the dark side of the force(from training with Snoke), making him a dual-threat that has the potential to be extremely powerful. The next shot includes Ren walking into some sort of opening with his troops, on the planet of Crate. This shot oddly mirrors the scene of Anakin walking into the Jedi Temple with his clone troops during Order 66, which symbolizes how Ren wants to be like his grandfather and how he is going down a path similar to the one his grandfather took. The trailer next jumps to Rey and Luke on Ahch-To, where Rey is handing Luke his lightsaber. Luke seems to have an unnerving look on his face, as this lightsaber holds many dark memories for him. Rey then states how she now feels the power inside her, since it has now “awoken”, and that she needs help in order to gain control of it and use it to her advantage. This is where Luke comes in, as we next see Luke training Rey in both the ways of the force and lightsaber combat. Rey then breaks the ground beneath her, and Luke once again has an unnerving look on his face due to the immense, yet raw and untrained, power he is witnessing. He says, “I’ve seen this raw strength only once before. It didn’t scare me enough then… it does now.” It is intriguing to see how powerful Luke perceives Rey to be and it makes us wonder even more about who her parents are. I believe he is referring to Kylo Ren in his quote, since Luke witnessed his great power while training him, and Ren betrayed Luke and the Jedi Order, sending Luke into exile. He must be hesitant to take on such a powerful apprentice because he seemingly is afraid that a betrayal will occur again. We then jump back to Ren piloting his TIE Fighter, where he flies in an attack against the Rebellion to one of the Resistance’s largest ships, with his mother, Leia, on board. Scenes split back and forth between Leia and Kylo, as the latter is seen with his finger on a trigger, which seems to be aimed at that Resistance ship. The mental connection between the two is evident, as both of them are seen tearing up. Ren does not hit the trigger in the trailer. I believe that Ren will not pull the trigger and kill his mother because there is still some of the light in him, which is evident throughout the trailer. Ensuing this, Chewbacca is seen piloting the Millennium Falcon with a porg by his side. Porgs are a sea-bird native to Ahch-To and they must have some significance to Luke, as it seems as if he brings some off of the planet he was in exile on along with him. We next see Finn fighting Captain Phasma, with Phasma wielding a staff weapon, and Finn wielding a Z6 baton, which is a weapon of the First Order. Following this, we hear Luke say, “This is not going to go the way you think!” Once again I believe that Luke is attempting to communicate to his former student, Kylo Ren. I believe he is trying to get Ren to see that Snoke plans to take him out before he becomes too powerful to be a threat to him. Next, there is an intense scene where Rey is shown in great amounts of pain, with Snoke using the force to induce this pain into Rey. I believe that Snoke is attempting to turn Rey to the dark side by torturing her, as we hear her say, “Fulfill your destiny.” The last scene shows Rey talking to Kylo, and Kylo reaching out his hand. The trailer emphasized the light that is still in Kylo, and how he realizes how strong he is in the light side of the force, so I predict that there will be great conflict within him throughout the film; possibly to such great extents that he betrays Snoke. |
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