American Horror Story Is Not As Separate As We Thought

by Evan Deane

 American Horror Story is a critically acclaimed anthology series on FX network. Premiering each year in October since its debut back in 2011, the show is recognized for its widely-known cast of characters, engrossing plots, dark themes, and exploration of the supernatural and everyday fears.

The show has received 136 award nominations, winning 39 of them in total. Award titles include “Top Ten TV Program”, “Outstanding Directing”, and “Best Actress in Miniseries/Movie” to name a few.

Up until a few weeks ago, the general consensus surrounding the four seasons of American Horror Story was that they are all stand-alone installments, each season featuring some returning cast members, but playing different characters in a story unique to each season. However, according to co-creator Ryan Murphy, this is not the case at all.

The shows latest installment, subtitled Freak Show, has done something completely unprecedented. For the first time in the show’s 4-years on the air, a character from a previous season has returned. This would be none other than Pepper, played by Naomi Grossman, from the shows second season, Asylum.

Initially Grossman’s return was thought to be a fan-service of sorts but it turns out to be much more than that. It was recently announced that actress Lily Rabe with also be returning to reprise her Asylum role as Sister Mary Eunice. Being that the events of Freak Show take place just before those of Asylum, fans will surely get to see much more of Pepper’s and Eunice’s back stories. When asked about Rabe’s return Murphy had the following to offer.

“There’s definitely a rhyme or a reason and a connectedness to all of these seasons, but in the same way, they’re standalones, which is the fun of it.  But it is a puzzle.  And Lily coming back and dealing with Pepper is sort of the first unveiling of that connectedness.  She’s so great in that role, Lily.  I understood she wanted to go off and do her own show.  But I was thrilled she was able to come back and give us a couple days and show how Sister Mary Eunice and Pepper are connected,“ said Murphy.

But it is not only these two seasons that have intertwining storylines. Murphy dropped a bit of a bombshell when he revealed that all four seasons of American Horror Story: Murder House, Asylum, Coven, and Freak Show are in fact connected. In a recent interview with Murphy, he addressed how exactly each season was related.

“The interesting thing about doing a show like this is every season is incredibly its own story and its own beginning, middle and end. It is its own journey, but we have always from the very beginning in the intertwining mythologies and how things connect.  This is the first year where we begin to tell you that season two is connected to season four which is connected to season one.  People have started to write articles about that.  A lot of their hypotheses have been completely right on.  That’s the fun of the show.  Hopefully by the end of the run, be it 10 years or 15 years, people will be able to stand back and be able to say, ‘Oh that was connected to x.’” Murphy explained.

Murphy says that they are just getting started. Clues are littered within each and every season, hinting at their connections. Now it’s time to begin explaining how all of the different worlds, characters, and stories are meticulously pieced together.

Sources:

“List of Awards and Nominations Received by American Horror Story.” Wikipedia.

Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Nov. 2014. Web. 21. Nov. 2014.

“Ryan Murphy Says All Seasons of American Horror Story Are Connected.” Collider.

N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

Should iUpgrade? A tale of the iOS 8

by Ryan Johnston

The age old question: should I upgrade to the new Apple operating system, iOS 8? In my opinion, those who have not yet downloaded iOS 8, do not go through the cumbersome duty of having to delete a bunch of applications and photos in order to download this new update. I say this due to the new features, or lack thereof.

            In the commercials and advertisements put out concerning iOS 8, there were features that were promised, but when consumers downloaded the update, they were not there. This was a large mistake on Apple’s behalf because this makes the consumers lose faith as well as credibility.                  

            Aside from the lack of features, the new features are not the most sought after ones, however they can prove useful and more convenient. A few examples of added features are the following: ability to send voice messages through a text, ability to share your location with the person whom you are texting, new fitness improvements and a brand new keyboard layout. With these new features, consumers seem to be pleased with their functionality, however I believe they were hoping for a lot more, as this operating system was said to be the biggest release yet.

 

The new logo of the iOS 8: a mediocre fad or the real deal?

 

            One very large downside as I mentioned earlier is the features that were promised but never released. One example of an unreleased feature that mountains of people were looking forward to was the ability to lock your text messages and photos. What this means is essentially that you would have to enter in a unique passcode that the phone owner sets. This feature would be very useful in case you do not want your pesky friends searching through your text messages or photos without your permission. A second downside is the lack of features that were actually released. Granted, the features that were released can be very handy in certain situations, but I was expecting a lot more out of this new update. I was seriously very disappointed when it came out because I was so hyped up about all the features they said they would release and didn’t.

            To wrap up, I would not recommend spending your precious time uninstalling numerous apps in order to make space for this update. Despite my opinion, there are still others that enjoy this new update and enjoy utilizing the features that it offers, however I do not.

I Think I'm Growing Up

by Meaghan Angers

When you're younger, you dream of being older. You imagine what your high school life will be like and how you will one day be a cool “older kid". You imagined what life would be like when you would finally be like the teenagers on television and in movies.

When I was in elementary school, I went to the Malcolm White right next to the Woburn High and envisioned my life in that big building next door, being a high scholar, no longer a little kid at recess.
            When I was younger, my dream was to be a singer in a band. My friends and I made a band, wrote songs and waited for the day that we would be the opening act for the Jonas Brothers. I thought I could be a student and a rock star like Miley Stewart, also known as Hannah Montana. My dream did not become a reality, though. The band was not successful and no longer exists, nor do I have a desire to pursue a career in music. I have learned that I am not talented enough to make it in the tough business of the music industry. 
            Growing up, I imagined that my life in high school would include a hot boyfriend. I fantasized about a boy who looked exactly like Joe Jonas. Essentially, I thought that when I was older, I would be dating Joe Jonas. Currently, I have yet to have a boyfriend and have not seen a guy around the high school that has come even close to looking like him.
            I imagined myself walking into prom wearing a pair of gauchos, since I thought they were the most stylish thing you could ever wear. Junior prom is approaching and if I wore a pair of gaucho pants, it would be a nightmare more than a dream. I have come to learn that going to prom means wearing a dress, which I could not be more excited for. But my younger self didn’t realize that gaucho pants were not worn by seventeen year old girls going to prom.
            I was also a soccer player until freshman year. Up until I was in 6th grade, my dad was my coach. I thought I would be playing soccer throughout high school and I would be on the varsity team. I thought I would get a college scholarship for playing soccer. But I thought wrong when two years ago, I quit soccer. I went to cross-country and it will always be one of the best decisions I have ever made. Never in my childhood did I imagine myself running miles upon miles or being the captain of a cross-country team. When I was younger, I didn't even know that cross-country or track was a sport that people did.
            When you're a kid you have all these big expectations and that's because no one has the heart to bring you down. High school isn't what I imagined it would be like when I was a kid. I thought you had to have a boyfriend and never knew of my passions, but that's the thing about life. You grow and you learn what really makes you. I'm still growing up; and I'm still continuing to learn who I am.



From playing on a field to finishing at Horn Pond, I found my heartbeat.

The College Struggle: Where Will I Be in 20 Years?

by Francesca Armstrong

The pencil drops, seniors scream, and parents hide their wallets as that dreaded time of year creeps up: college. The frightful question that seeps through the majority of high school seniors minds is "what am I going to do with my life?" For some, it's a confident answer of "I am going to college of course!" while others shake their head and decide if college is even something to consider.

College is expensive, especially if you live in Massachusetts. Prices can range anywhere from $17,000 a year to an upwards of $60,000, and almost no one has that money to give. Sure, scholarships help out a little bit, but not enough to take a dent out of that higher education price tag.

Some students try to opt out of two years of tight budgeting by going to community college and transferring into a different college after their first or second year. This can be a great plan for saving money, but after the two years, many students do not want to uproot and change schools to start paying the price of the monstrous tuition.

Families with especially tight funds may not have the ability to send their kids off to college, and taking out those loans tends to be out of the question. However, what's the difference between getting a college degree and working after high school instead? Some seniors see working as the better option, nearly scoffing at the fact that other people want to be in debt for the rest of their lives. The thing is, does the higher education actually benefit students.

Well, studies conclude that yes, there is in fact a reason millions of people put themselves through college. According to pewsocialtrends.com, there are several differences between people with college degrees and a people who only have a high school diploma.

The information stated on the pewsocialtrends website shows that the average person with a Bachelors degree makes $45,500 a year, while a person with a high school diploma on average makes $28,000 a year. Those numbers two numbers are different, but still not convincing enough to some.

The unemployment rate for workers with a bachelor’s degree is 3.8% as compared to the 12.2% of people who never went to college. The working world is getting competitive, and companies are going to consider a person with a college diploma much more than a person with just a high school education.

Another persuasive statistic is that among people with a bachelor’s degree or more, only 5.8% are living in poverty as opposed to 21.8% of high school graduates that are living in poverty. That means if you have a college degree, you are over three times less likely to become poverty stricken.

Some students may still believe that going to the armed forces or just working right out of high school is more practical option for them, but college deserves some serious thought. Whatever high school seniors choose to do with their lives is the right one, and every option should be thoroughly examined to ensure the best decision. 

Get hooked on reading

by Jillian Cremens

Are you looking for something good to read? Is your English teacher making you get an independent book to read? Either way, here are some books perfect to read whether you are being forced to or not.

Divergent, by Veronica Roth is a great book. Yes, this actually is a book and not just a movie. Divergent is the first book to a riveting trilogy. This book's world is seen through the eyes of a girl named Tris Prior, previously known as Beatrice before she left her faction of Abnegation. Her world of dystopian Chicago is split up into five factions: Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, Amity, and Candor. Each of these factions were created based upon their highest value. To find out the faction one belongs to, he/she must take an aptitude test. Some people, like Tris, belong in more than one faction, which is highly dangerous and those people must hide their so-called divergence in order to stay alive. Tris, originally in Abnegation, leaves her faction to join the intriguing Dauntless, the faction who values bravery above all else. However, hiding her divergence is hard when the Dauntless simulations do not work on her. Will Tris be able to survive Dauntless and keep her divergence hidden?

Paper Towns movie release date is June 19.

The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green is a highly praised book and movie, but believe it or not John Green, has a few other novels that might perk interest. Paper Towns, which is now in the making of becoming its own movie, is an incredible novel filled with adventure and mystery. It’s senior year and Quentin is still in love with Margo, his adventurous neighbor known for her ability to run away and leave clues to find her, only to return before any sense is made from them. On the last few weeks of senior year, Margo goes missing yet again and her clues are left for Quentin to decipher. It seems the more clues he solves, the farther away he is to finding Margo and the more this assumed stable girl appears to be quite unstable. As the days Margo is missing add up, Quentin fears if this stunt of hers is really a body hunt.

A more lighthearted book of John Green is An Abundance of Katharines. A child prodigy named Colin has only dated Katharines his whole life but none of them worked out. Then the summer before college he is dragged on a road trip by his friend to lighten him up after yet another rough breakup with another Katharine. Colin finds the need to create the perfect math formula for how long a relationship between two people will last using variables like how many times one has been dumped vs. dumping someone else. Who knows if his formula will work or even if he will fall in love with another Katharine?

Additionally, John Green's Looking For Alaska is a story that gets people thinking. People are not always as okay as they seem and this boarding school kid, nicknamed "Pudge" finds this out the hard way as he's pulled deeper and deeper into this girl named Alaska's labyrinth.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin is an eerie book that is hard to put down. After a horrible accident in a "haunted" abandoned building, Mara Dyer wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of an incident that left her as the only known survivor of her friends and a completely collapsed building. Even without knowing what happened, this event leaves her with intense post dramatic stress disorder that gives her blinding migraines and hallucinations. Afraid of her mental health, the Dyer family moves to Florida hoping Mara will get better. Instead, her hallucinations worsen enough to harm her physically. She also begins envisioning people brutally dying only to find out that they have died that day in the exact way she envisioned. At the same time, scattered agents from the night of the accident slowly come back to Mara. As her "hallucinations" become more frequent and the night of the accident pieces together, Mara begins to think that this is not all in her head.

Whether or not you want to read books or not, these books are great and will get you hooked on reading!

Some things will change

by Brandice White

Taylor Swift released her newest album, 1989, on October 27, and it is her first album completely breaking free of her country background. Her first album titled Taylor Swift, included “Change,” “Picture to Burn,” and “Should’ve Said No.” She also is known for her songs, “Fearless,” “Love Story,” “Sparks Fly,” “Mean,” “The Lucky One” and “Red.” Through each of her albums, there were more songs with a pop sound.

1989 is is her first album completely lacking a country feel, which may not necessarily be a bad thing. Over the past eight years, since the beginning of her career, Swift has clearly attempted to cross the pop-country boundary. She isn’t pretending to be something she is not, but instead becoming more of herself as her music has evolved. Red was the album that consisted mostly of pop but was still somewhat called country. Songs like “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Getting Back Together” are two of the most popular songs on Red, both pop songs and both very different from Tim McGraw from her very first album. Writing all of her own songs, Swift has been making the change on her own, without being influenced by anyone else for her to switch genres.

Recently, she has received criticism from her collection of break up song after break up song; however, she has also been able to keep up a very positive public appearance by avoiding controversy. She has won numerous awards including multiple Country Music Awards, American Country Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Brit Awards, CMA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards, iHeart Music Awards and People’s Choice Awards. Swift has never forgotten that she has many younger fans that look up to her as a role model and try to follow her example. She has advocated for human rights, natural disaster relief, children’s literacy, LGBT anti-discrimination and helping sick children’s charities. A perfect example of her efforts to show her appreciation for all for her fans is when she surprised Jordan Lee Nickerson, a patient at Boston Children's Hospital this summer. Nickerson has Williams Syndrome and was recently diagnosed with leukemia as well, Swift being her generous self sang her hit song “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” to Nickerson.

In her just-over-a-week-old album, 1989’s first released single was “Shake It Off.” In this song, she easily shrugs of the ridiculous criticism that has come to her about her dating many, many, many guys such as Joe Jonas, Harry Styles, Taylor Lautner and Conor Kennedy. Some say it’s time for her to act like a twenty four year old rather than the sixteen year old she was when her entire career began. However, her not changing the messages of her songs has clearly continued to hold the attention of her fan base.

Other songs on the 1989 album include “Blank Space,” “Out of the Woods” and “Bad Blood.” Sadly, none of these songs have remained on YouTube past last Tuesday or Spotify, so looks like you have to head to Target to get that Deluxe Edition or hop on iTunes ASAP. 

So, how do you like the new album?

 

Taylor Swift sings during her Red Tour

photo from flicker: jazills/CC