What are the social determinants of health (SDOH) and why do they matter?? Many of us may not be fully aware of these terms and this topic, but this is something each of us should be aware of, as they are critical in determining our health and the health of those around us. The CDC and the World Health Organization have emphasized that SDOH are the factors which greatly impact health outcomes. “They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies, racism, climate change, and political systems.” The SDOH therefore have a significant and critical impact on health and are crucial in determining the health outcomes for our society. Ultimately, these factors play a key role in the success and well-being of our communities.

SDOH can be divided into the following broad categories: Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Health Care Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and Community Context, as determined by the US Department of Health and Human Services who has launched “Healthy People 2023.” This initiative “sets data-driven national objectives to improve health and well-being over the next decade.” These are the goals and objectives that have been outlined and identified as important measures to follow to improve the social determinants in these major categories.

1. Economic Stability

While it may not be prevalent in our immediate communities, in the US, it is estimated that 10% live in poverty, with insufficient income to afford the basics such as food, rent, and clothing- things many of us take for granted. Objectives in the category of economic stability are aimed at improving income for people so that they can afford these basics. Goals include things like improving the numbers of

adolescents who are unemployed or not in school, reducing poverty, increasing the rate of employment, and reducing hunger and food insecurity.

2. Education Access and Quality

Access to excellent schools and teachers is something that we may take for granted here in Mountain Lakes, where we have outstanding schools and most people headed to college. However, this is not something that everyone can take for granted. Education matters, since we know that people with more and better-quality education have improved health overall, better jobs, and longer life expectancies. Goals in this category include improving educational opportunities and supporting children and young adults in achieving academic success. Some of the objectives in this category include improving the proportion of high school students who graduate in four years and increasing the proportion of high school graduates matriculated in school after graduating.

3. Healthcare Access and Quality

In our area, we have numerous top doctors and hospitals within close proximity, but again, this is not something everyone can take for granted. Access to affordable, quality healthcare is critical in maintaining optimal health but many lack the ability to see a doctor for routine care or for emergencies. Part of the problem is related to the lack of health insurance; it is estimated that 10% of Americans lack health insurance, causing obstacles in obtaining appropriate care. Goals to improve healthcare include things such as reducing the proportion of emergency room visits with excessive wait times, increasing the proportion of adults who get preventive health care, which includes increasing the proportion of people who get cancer screenings. Preventive health services are important in minimizing the chances of developing more severe and life-threatening conditions such as cancer and strokes.

4. Neighborhood and Built Environment

Our community is often highlighted as one of the best places to live anywhere, even in the country. We have ready access to clear air, water, and have limitless access to parks, fields, and even lakes. Where one lives, attends school, works, and enjoys recreation has significant impacts on their long term development, and overall health. To that end, goals include making one’s immediate environment a safer and healthier one. Objectives include reducing violent crimes committed by minors and young adults, reducing toxic pollutants in the environment, and increasing smoke-free homes. 

5. Social and Community Context

It is known that healthy relationships, both within families and outside of them, can have major impacts on overall health and well being. Objectives including reducing depression and anxiety in family members caring for people with disabilities, reducing the proportion of children with a parent/guardian who has been imprisoned, increasing the numbers of voting citizens, and increasing the number of families who read to their children a minimum of four days weekly.

The SDOH are the critical determinants that can tremendously influence and transform an individual’s health and well being. We should all become familiar with what they are and how we can work to improve them for everyone in society. The SDOH can be categorized into the broad categories of Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Health Care Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and Community Context. Continuous efforts by the local and national governments are underway to improve these factors in an effort to make our communities healthier and more successful. As citizens and students, we should also be aware of the SDOH and champion these causes. This is important in to ensure that everyone has access to optimal resources in order to flourish and thrive. 

About Post Author

Justin Lee (‘24) & Jessica Lee (‘24)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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Summary (major spoilers ahead!)

Bruce Wayne is just starting to become Batman and he goes around and helps the police stop crimes.  One day, Don Mitchell, the mayor, is killed by someone calling himself the Riddler.  He gives Batman ciphers that slowly lead him to his next victims and, later, his identity.  Batman visits Oz Cobblepot, aka the Penguin, due to pictures the Riddler released of the late mayor and a mystery girl.  He meets Selina Kyle there, and he follows her and catches her burgling the late mayor as Catwoman.  When they get back to Kyle’s apartment and she realizes her roommate is gone, they see that the Riddler posted a video showing him about to kill Police Commissioner Pete Savage.  He then teams up with her to find out information about how Savage was connected to the Iceberg Lounge. Kyle learns about a rat in a drug bust case from the DA, Gil Colson. 

The Riddler makes Colson go missing for a few days but he returns when Mitchell’s funeral is happening.  The Riddler makes Colson admit on a live stream his wrongdoings but dies before he could tell the world who the rat was.  Batman eventually figures out that Cobblepot must be the rat but when he goes to confront him with Officer James Gordon, he sees that Cobblepot and Carmine Falcone are still running the drug operation that was allegedly busted years ago.  Catwoman steals a ton of cash from Falcone while at the drug lab causing Batman to have an intense car chase just to talk to Cobblepot with Gordon.  Cobblepot leads Batman to discover a website that leads him to figure out that he, Bruce Wayne, was the Riddler’s next target; however, Alfred Pennyworth ended up being the one hurt. 

When Wayne wasn’t hurt, the Riddler revealed secrets about his father that made Wayne visit Falcone.  Falcone told him that he thinks Maroni, an old drug lord, killed his parents but after Wayne visited Pennyworth, he found out Falcone actually killed his parents.  Batman, Catwoman, and Gordon found out that Falcone also killed Kyle’s roommate and that Falcone is Kyle’s father.  After Catwoman and Batman broke into the Iceberg Lounge and fought Falcone and he was getting arrested, the Riddler shot and killed him from an apartment.  Riddler was found, arrested, and revealed to be a man named Edward Nashton.  Batman visited Nashton in prison and what he was saying made Batman go back to the apartment.  He figured out the Riddler’s master plan, which was to blow up the seawalls and have his followers kill everyone.  Batman, Catwoman, and Gordon were able to stop his followers before they killed everyone in the city.  The movie ends with Kyle leaving town, Penguin wanting to take power, Batman and Gordon keeping the city safe, and Nashton making a mysterious, laughing friend in prison.

My Thoughts on the Movie

This movie might have been long, but it was really good. The whole movie was shot amazingly and nothing was as it seemed.  All the riddles and crunched-for-time scenarios had me at the edge of my seat. I liked how action-packed it was; there was never a dull moment. I liked the dynamics between Batman and Catwoman and Bruce and Alfred. They clashed with each other at one moment and the next they were totally in sync.  Robert Pattinson did a phenomenal job in this movie. He played Batman perfectly and had an interesting take on Bruce Wayne. I am glad that the movie didn’t take ten minutes to explain how Bruce’s parents died. It was just a bit of information that was mentioned when needed and I thought that made the movie more enjoyable since I didn’t have to learn about how he became Batman again. I really hope they make a sequel because I really like that it focuses on the beginning stages of being Batman.

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Marina Barbarisi ('25)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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Ever since its first airing in 2016, Netflix’s The Crown has been a point of discussion for people all over the world, from actress Claire Foy’s widely appraised (yet contentious) portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II to Helena Bonham Carter’s award-winning depiction of Princess Margaret. And to top it all off, the budding actress Emma Corrin made a fairly controversial characterization of Princess Diana! However, regardless of The Crown’s hotly debated representations of the Royal Family, it can be established without a doubt that the original soundtrack, although featuring different composers across seasons, has never failed to astound its audience. 

One such piece is “Voices” from Season 4 of The Crown, released in 2020 and written by British composer Martin Phipps. “Voices” is one of those compositions that cannot only be described by words, but also has to be audibly relished by one to experience its unabridged magnificence and deep meaning. As I now begin to analyze this unparalleled composition in full detail, I suggest that you listen to the song in advance to truly understand what I will explain.

Although not explicitly stated, the song is understood to be Princess Diana’s theme, as it plays whenever she is in a state of emotional distress. The song starts off with a chorus of, quite unsurprisingly, voices, a motif that repeats until the very end of the song. However, after each line, there is a haunting echo which, in my opinion, symbolizes Diana yearning for help and locked in loneliness, but unable to reach out because of the cold and impassive Royal Family surrounding her. There are also minute threads of music that play simultaneously with the voices or in between them. The first of which is a tune sounding like a mixture of voice and organ put together, giving off an ominous but angelic feeling that continues for the rest of the song. Right after, the drums starts to play, gradually intensifying as the climax of the song nears. This crescendo emphasizes the storm building inside Diana, which boils to a complete breakdown as she endures the immense pain and pressure that the Royal Family inflicts upon her. She knows she cannot show a single glimpse of her inner reality, and must perpetuate the image of her “fairytale” life to the outside world. 

Once the climax hits, the once stable chorus of voices that has been recurrent since the start of the song now turns into a colossal wave of heartache, despair, and madness as Diana, thrust into the jaws of the Royal Family at the naïve age of eighteen, struggles to cope with all the mental strain and suffering put onto her from such a young age, eventually resulting in a gruesome eating disorder: bulimia. One instance of the song’s use occurs when a newly engaged Diana experiences extreme loneliness in Buckingham Palace when her future husband, Prince Charles, doesn’t answer a single one of her calls while away on a six-week long trip to Australia. Diana begins to practice ballet after she hears the news that Charles has had a unique bracelet specially made for Camilla Parker-Bowles, his supposedly “ex”-girlfriend, with both of their initials carved on it.

Upon finding out, an enraged Diana immediately calls the queen to call off the wedding, only to be “fobbed off” by the queen’s secretary. Not knowing what else to do, Diana continues to practice ballet as a way to cool herself off. Not so long after she begins to dance, the climax of  “Voices” starts to play in the background as her ballet transforms into a hysterical cry for help, screaming with agony but no one to come lift her up to escape from the mental torture she is forced to bear.

After the climax, a prolonged melody of strings is played until the very end, depicting the rest of Diana’s life, from being innocent “Shy Di” to the subtle yet fierce “People’s Princess.” Her impact lives on after her tragic and untimely passing in 1997 which leaves the entire world in tears and shock. The song ends with the chorus of haunting voices again, leaving behind a sense of something unfinished, something waiting to be uncovered from the hidden, and something that lives on and will never stop doing so until eternity. 

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Keerthana Venkatesh ('24)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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At the end of the first semester, MLHS welcomed back Mrs. Fiorina. Mrs. Fiorina taught here part-time a few years back and worked with Mrs. Delgado teaching family and consumer science classes. After spending some time in previous districts, she has made her way back to continue teaching at MLHS. Students enrolled in her classes know how passionate and enthusiastic she is about teaching kids how to cook in the kitchen. Read below to learn more about Mrs. Fiorina.

Where are you from?

Oakland, NJ

Where did you teach before your return to MLHS?

Ramapo High School, Woodridge High School

How long have you been in education?

6 years

Tell us a bit about your process with going into education. Was there a certain teacher you had who inspired you or did you always know you wanted to teach kids?

My 7th grade “Home Economics” teacher, Mrs. Osborne, inspired me to get my first job in a restaurant.  After college, since my degree was in Foods and Business, I worked for food companies developing recipes for packaging. For many years I did volunteer work with kids. At my son’s back-to-school night in his food class, I decided I wanted to take my passion for food and my love of working with kids and put them together so I went back to school for certification.  

What made you want to teach the family and consumer science classes?

My job at food companies had me teaching executives about how their products work when incorporated into recipes, so I started thinking about teaching cooking classes way back. Recent courses I have taken include Budgeting for the family, Housing and Design, and Fashion and I find all of them so enjoyable.  All of the courses in a typical Family and Consumer Science department interest me.

Is there a favorite family and consumer science class that is your favorite to teach?

Any foods classes but I really enjoy Global Foods because I love traveling and learning about all the amazing international cuisine out there and in this course I get to teach the students about some of it!

What is your favorite part of teaching at MLHS? What is it about MLHS that is different from previous districts?

Mountain Lakes is filled with a positive energy you don’t see everywhere. The students and staff are friendly and have been very welcoming. There is a lot of school spirit and support for all the sports, clubs, and activities. 

What do you like to do when you aren’t teaching?

I enjoy cooking and baking, traveling with my family, learning to golf, sewing, and hiking. 

About Post Author

Samantha Rafferty ('23)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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“Good Afternoon Lakers,

Just as a reminder, please take a look at our Dress Code Policy below.  Any student who comes to school dressed inappropriately will be asked to change his/her clothing.  If a student does not have something appropriate to wear, his/her parents will be contacted to bring appropriate clothing to school. 

Unacceptable Clothing includes (but is not limited to) the following:

• Extremely low cut, plunging or transparent clothing and clothing that is suggestive
• Tube tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps, backless and bare midriffs
• Sleeveless tops are prohibited for boys
• Bottoms that exaggerate, emphasize, reveal, or call attention to anatomical details
• Short shorts, pajamas, other forms of sleep wear, and bathing suits
• Sunglasses, headbands, bandannas or other head coverings (unless worn pursuant to a bona-fide religious belief or other medical purpose), metal chains, jewelry or accessory articles that have the potential to be used as a weapon, gang attire, facial markings that display non-school related symbolism
• Slippers, footwear intended for the beach
• Hats and hoods must be removed upon the teacher’s request

The dress code is meant to be a guide for appropriate dress at school and may not include specifics regarding changes in trends.  Please be aware that the dress code may be modified from time to time during the school year to more clearly define appropriate dress for school.  Special consideration will be made for field-trips and other school-related activities. 

As always, if you have any questions or are confused regarding this policy please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation,

Mr. Mangili“

Above are the exact words of an email sent to the entire student body of MLHS. This sparked outrage, for a day. If you also felt the outrage, you may be an anarchist. Anarchism is defined by David Graeber as the belief “that human beings are, under ordinary circumstances, about as reasonable and decent as they are allowed to be, and can organize themselves and their communities without needing to be told how.” This relates to the dress code, since we students are reasonable and decent and do not need to be told what to wear. We will not come to school half-naked, and we do not need to be taught rules of decent dress. If you agree with this, again, you may be an anarchist.

Some people may say that a dress code is not actively harmful because if we follow it appropriately without being asked, then it does no harm. I rebut this with the specific wording of the dress code. The code’s fifth point states that unacceptable clothing includes “head coverings (unless worn pursuant to a bona-fide religious belief or other medical purpose), metal chains, jewelry or accessory articles …” I find this statement to be harmful. There is no stated reason to prohibit people from wearing hats, and secondly, the concept of “hats worn pursuant to a bona-fide religious belief” is subjective, and therefore could be used to harm students that are members of religious minorities that are typically not seen as legitimate (like Pastafarians, for example).

The dress code also has elements of misogyny. The first, second, and fourth restrictions on the dress code are directly aimed at those with female anatomy, without directly stating it. Such “guidelines” reflect how society, in general, tends to consider women and femme-presenting individuals to be less valuable than men and masc-presenting individuals, as women face heavier restrictions than men. A broader, societal example of this misogyny is the pink tax, in which necessary hygienic products used predominantly by women are treated as “luxury items” and are taxed as such. The school dress code attempts and fails to conceal its misogyny.

In conclusion, if you take issue with the school dress code, you may be an anarchist.

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Anonymous

mliddle@mlschools.org

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The HBO show “Euphoria” has undoubtedly taken the world by storm, myself included. In fact, every Sunday night while season two aired, I locked myself in my room and watched each episode alone in the dark. And you know what, I feel no shame. You can’t blame me; I had to make sure I absorbed every single moment!

Regardless, it would be a lie to say that I didn’t spend countless hours scouring the internet for behind-the-scenes footage, interviews from the cast, or moments that I missed after each episode. “Euphoria” has a way of sucking viewers into the storyline so deeply that it’s almost impossible to shake off each character’s emotions or get the soundtrack out of your head once an episode ends. I mean, the word Euphoria in and of itself has come to encompass so much more than the show alone

Dozens of different elements contribute to the show’s unparalleled electric vibe. The writing and direction of Sam Levinson serve as the backbone of the entire show, for starters. Levinson is also a recovered drug addict himself. The complexity of each character makes no one feel insignificant to the plotline either; their contrasting wardrobe and makeup take on much deeper meanings as well. 

It would also be absurd to ignore the soundtrack, which truly gave it wings. It’s hard to imagine the show without its sporadic yet somehow cohesive soundtrack, not to mention Labrinth’s original songs.

Still, amongst all the other aspects that make the show so captivating, it is the cinematography and visual appeal that make “Euphoria” so uniquely… “Euphoria.”

Marcell Rév, the show’s cinematographer, creates beautifully aesthetic images using color and technique. To make the show feel as authentic as possible, he focuses on emotional realism rather than physical realism. Each shot perfectly complements each character’s dialogue and emotions. To understand a mere sliver of the cinematography, let’s look at four of the most visually iconic moments from season one. (spoilers ahead!)

Episode 1: Rotating Room 

The first party scene in “Euphoria” is CHALK FULL of action. It’s when we see Rue meeting Jules, Fez’s kindheartedness, Maddy and Tyler doing… that… in the pool, McKay’s feelings for Cassie, Nate’s explosive anger issues, blah, blah, blah. 

The most mind-boggling moment of the episode is when Rue comes out of the bathroom after feeding her addiction and walks into the hallway. To mirror the disorientation and confusion that she is experiencing due to her high, the hallway completely rotates around her while other party-goers remain unaffected. 

Marcell Rév achieved the shot with a hallway set built on a custom gimbal. As Rue (Zendaya) walked into the hallway, the bathroom set broke away, and the room rotated around her while she remained in the frame. The extras were even strapped to the ground and flipped upside down to avoid the need for digital effects!

The shot seamlessly captures the instability in Rue as a character. It makes sense why Levinson incorporated this moment into the pilot episode: to establish a relationship between Rue, her addiction, and the audience. This kind of ingenuity and attention to detail makes “Euphoria” so worthy of the praise it has received!

Episode 2: Rue Fighting Leslie

Like every other episode of “Euphoria,” episode two is packed with intricacy and complexity in both the characters’ individual plotlines and the show as a whole. Most importantly, this episode gives us our first look at the extreme tension between Rue and her mom, Leslie. Unsurprisingly, every confrontation is rooted in Rue’s addiction. 

During a fight, Leslie accuses Rue of drug abuse, and Rue, being the frustratingly unreliable and dishonest character she is, denies it. The heated conversation quickly blows up into a physical altercation that ends in Rue threatening Leslie with a shard of broken glass. 

Throughout a cinematic montage depicting Rue’s family, Marcell Rév intertwined shots of the fight with her mom and her drug abuse. Ironically, the scene is accompanied by Bobby Womack’s upbeat “Fly Me To The Moon,” adding to the masterful contrast between each shot. 

This scene is a stark contrast to the rest of the show. “Euphoria” is known for its long flowing shots and soft blue and purple lighting. During intense interactions between characters, the camera moves sporadically and the coloring is harsh and muted.

What makes the scene even more authentic is that it was entirely improvised. Neither Zendaya (Rue) nor Nika King (Leslie) was prepared to stretch to such extreme lengths to achieve the realistic confrontation we see on screen. The scene became so intense that Zendaya left the set feeling physically ill while Sam Levinson literally broke down in tears after calling “cut.” In fact, Nika King nearly ran into the camera when Zendaya pointed the piece of glass at her. Why? It was REAL!

Episode 4: Carnival *chef’s kiss*

The cinematography in episode four is deserving of an entirely separate article. The aesthetic colors, fluid shots, dialogue, soundtrack, and general messiness make it one of the most memorable episodes of the entire show, including season two! Who hasn’t seen the image of Rue standing in front of the Ferris wheel with glitter under her eyes?

For your reading pleasure and my sanity, let’s only unpack the single most intricate shot of the episode: the carnival. The introduction to the carnival is a long, continuous shot that bounces from character to character without any noticeable cuts. The cameras twist around corners and weave between carnival-goers, fixating on different conversations as it goes along.  

Since “Euphoria” is usually fast-paced, it is easy to forget that each character’s plotline intertwines with everyone else’s. Scenes including every character interacting with each other are sprinkled throughout the show and are crucial to its cohesiveness. 

Marcell Rév described the carnival as “dreamy but based in reality;” each scene is the product of extensive attention to detail and intricacy. The crew of “Euphoria” built the entire set from the ground up to make room for the tracks and cranes used to position cameras perfectly. The final product is a cinematic masterpiece that is definitely worth a watch.

Episode 8: Rue’s Relapse 

Here’s another scene that warrants much more attention to detail than I’m about to provide you, but alas, we will proceed. Rue relapses after staying clean for three months in the final scene of season one. The lead-up to this moment is anxiety-inducing, consisting of Rue and Jules’ escape plan, Cassie’s abortion, Fez’s robbery, and more. Regardless, Sam Levinson decided to abandon the idea of a “happy ending” and closed the season with a scene emotional enough to leave his viewers in shambles. Yay!

To capture the gravity of Rue’s situation and set up for season two, Levinson threw physical realism out the window to tap into the emotional side of addiction with‒you guessed it‒a hard-hitting, fully choreographed musical number! Wait… what?

Let me explain. Rue’s relapse is one of the most pivotal moments of the show. To accurately capture the devastation and chaos of this moment, Levinson heavily utilized music, metaphors, wardrobe, and unsurprisingly, excellent cinematography. His ingenuity is proof that dialogue alone is not enough to make audiences connect with an on-screen character regardless of their own lives. 

In the words of Sam Levinson himself, “I knew where Rue was headed and I knew what was going to happen, but it felt like in some ways seeing her relapse felt dark to me in a way that doesn’t fully encapsulate the cycle and the madness of addiction — how you’re thrown back into it and thrown out of it and it’s dizzying and at times beautiful but also really…terrifying.”

The scene shows Rue being tossed around by hundreds of people, all showered with glitter and wrapped in her signature color: maroon. The music and the choreography continue to build as Rue climbs a mountain of people, only to fall out of the frame the second she reaches the top.

While recounting his creative process, Sam Levinson told the Hollywood Reporter, “I think the idea is in the back and forth of Rue getting shoved towards this mountain of bodies and the metaphor of that, and what it means to be an addict…It came together in a way that was more emotional than I ever anticipated.”

The emotions evoked by watching “Euphoria” are the result of masterful music composition, engaging storylines, flawed characters, and excellent cinematography. However, “Euphoria” is packed with dozens of moments that can be picked apart to reveal much deeper meanings than aesthetics alone. All of this to say that if you haven’t yet given “Euphoria” a watch, I HIGHLY recommend it!

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Ally Carlson ('23)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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Note: Yves Tumor is pronounced EVE too-MOHR.

Inside the very title of Yves Tumor’s single “Gospel for a New Century,” we see a manifesto wrapped inside a pun. The title alludes, first and foremost, to the awakening of a generation and the realization of a new form of art that fearlessly embraces self-expression. However, in tandem with Tumor’s embrace of love is an homage to the root of all popular music today: gospel. Blues. And from the very first thumping bass note, we can glimpse a sonic journey that gazes headlong into the 21st Century, yet which is ushered ever forward by the rhythms of the 20th.

The sonic message conveyed by the song is further reinforced and elaborated upon by the music video. We see Tumor dressed as Satan, backed by a V-formation of backup dancers wearing lamb masks. Modern cinematography is juxtaposed with fuzzy, static-soaked VHS footage. Like channels being changed on a TV, the rapid vacillation between these two lenses presents an important statement about Tumor’s music. It dabbles in the classic, soul-rooted funk of the 20th Century, but it’s not James Brown or Sly Stone. It’s psychedelic, certainly, but not quite in the manner of Pink Floyd or Love. Of course, psychedelic funk has been around just as long as psychedelia or funk, so Yves Tumor certainly didn’t invent it. Yet, the eclecticism of Tumor’s songwriting traverses such genres, meandering between them to create something new out of a familiar mold. Perhaps we can hear that “funk-with-a-modern-sound” vibe most closely in Childish Gambino’s “Awaken, My Love!” (2016), of “Redbone” fame, but even that does not approach the introspection and visceral immersion of Tumor’s oeuvre.

With such imagery in the music video, we come to understand the attitude behind the song; after a breakup, the singer has rejected the frilly aspects of romance and embraces its more gloomy, salacious undertones. Love is not all cherries and cream: it is tempestuous, it is passionate, and it is dark and brooding. Avid animé fans will quickly catch onto the subtle allusions in the title card and song title. Tumor pays homage to the series Neon Genesis Evangelion, whose Japanese name (Shinseiki Evangerion, romanized) literally means “New Century Gospel.” 

It’s in large part this grandeur, this Prince-like ostentation with a Gothic Rock twist, that aggrandizes Yves Tumor beyond a jack-of-all-trades who can conjure funk and disco rhythms in a way that is uniquely modern and sui generis. They (Tumor) are a showman whose movements and emotions and expressions belong distinctly to themselves. We can peer into their pain vicariously, accepting in vain their invitation to indulge in that mad stupor we call love. But like the wind, we cannot hold it and keep it as our own; we can only feel it stab us in quick currents. And that’s precisely how love is. We experience it through other people, yet somehow, love is untouchable, and love to one person can be something completely different to another. 

When the chorus arrives, we hear Tumor rasp a lovelorn threnody: 

This ain’t by design, girl

Take it softer

You know I’m out my mind, girl

Don’t make this harder

Come and light my fire, baby

How much longer ’til December?

Say what you really mean

Did you catch it? There it is! The phrase “light my fire” is so ubiquitous in soul as if to be its own artist. And here, Tumor pays homage to that tradition: from Stevie Wonder to Lauryn Hill to J Dilla, lighting one’s fire has been used time and time again to symbolize stirring affection in the beholder. We also come to understand how Yves Tumor characterizes love as something not at all “designed” — love is about madness that has no cure except time. Only the chillwinds of heartbreak can extinguish its mighty forces, and even then, it returns. Even after being let down, Tumor still longs for “December.”

The song flips a short sample from 당신은 무얼 몰라 (“You Don’t Know”), a highly obscure funk track by Lee Son Ga (1978). Tumor completely reinvents the horn motif from the sample to create an entirely new melody, altogether concocting a commanding cacophony of dissonant brass instruments. Underneath we hear the bass walking every which way, swinging up and down akin to the rhythm of a subdued heartbeat. The sound is unmistakable, yet it feels so distant in nature. As is customary in psychedelic funk, the snare drum is very thick and even—almost a muted shout—and the bass is incredibly dense and steady; the two sounds fight an epic battle, symbolic even of the internal conflict between the channeled logic of the mind (snare) and the erratic, perfunctory passion of the heart and soul (bass).

In Heaven to a Tortured Mind (2020), Yves Tumor truly comes into their own. But the opening track and lead single, “Gospel for a New Century,” truly cements their reputation as an all-around connoisseur of ‘70s and ‘80s funk, disco, and psychedelia, as well as ‘00s electronic and dance music. Truly no two albums, let alone songs, from Yves Tumor are the same. Tumor’s music, much like its subject matter, is as capricious and indescribable as love itself. Stream the album here: https://yves-tumor.ffm.to/htatm

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Conrad Lewis ('22)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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At the beginning of March, members of the MLHS Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band journeyed to Orlando. Challenging weather placed obstacles in their path, which…(insert drum roll)…canceled their performance! What were they to do? With instruments in hand, white polos on their backs, and smiles on their faces, they found ways to enjoy the rest of their time in the most magical place on Earth. Please enjoy these photos from the trip!

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Rebecca Hirschfeld ('23)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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The American Dream Mall is a shopping and entertainment complex comprising of a Nickelodeon-themed amusement park, DreamWorks Water Park, an indoor ski slope (Big Snow American Dream), an ice rink, and a concert venue, among other things. There are about 450 retail shops and 100 dining options. It is currently the second-largest mall in America, consisting of over 3 million square feet. The amusement park is indoors and has 22 rides and attractions in total and 6 roller
coasters. It opened in October of 2019 as the most expensive mall built in the U.S, costing around $6 billion. It is located in the Meadowlands Sport Complex in East Rutherford, NJ, overlooking NYC from the Hudson River. It is approximately 30 minutes from Mountain Lakes.

Rollercoasters

The Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park consists of 5 roller coasters: TMNT
Shellraiser, The Shredder, Sandy’s Blasting Bronco, Timmy’s Half-Pipe Havoc, and
Nickelodeon Slime Streak.

TMNT Shellraiser

The headlining attraction is the TMNT Shellraiser, which is a Gerstauler Euro-Fighter and is the world’s steepest roller coaster. It has the same features as the Takabisha Roller Coaster in Japan. Riders are initially dropped several feet before twisting slowly into a Jojo roll (a 360° inversion). Then, they are launched 62 mph into three successive inversions before being brought to a vertical lift hill. Riders experience the sensation of plunging backward. At the top of the lift hill, riders are suspended for 14 seconds behind a glass window and experience a breathtaking view of NYC in the distance, before plummeting 138 feet into three more inversions. One could describe the Shellraiser as a shell-raising, hair-raising ride. The Shellraiser is my favorite ride because of its complexity; it incorporates inversions, launches, a steep drop, topped off by an amazing view of NYC at the apex of the ride.

The Shredder

The Shredder is a coaster manufactured by Gerstlauer, where riders spin freely. It has a height of 85 feet and a speed of 36 mph. MLHS student Jessica Lee remarked, “I love American Dream
and my favorite ride by far is The Shredder because it is thrilling but not as terrifying as
some of the other thrill rides.”

Sandy’s Blasting Bronco

Sandy’s Blasting Bronco is an Intamin launch coaster where riders are launched out of the station, and navigate through several inversions. When riders return to the station, the track detaches and flips 180° around, facing riders in the opposite direction. They are subsequently launched, facing backward this time, and traverse the course once again. However, this ride has been closed every time I have been to American Dream.

Timmy’s Half-Pipe Havoc

Timmy’s Half-Pipe Havoc is a Half Pipe roller coaster, manufactured by Intamin, where riders are placed in a train resembling a skateboard and spin freely during the ride. They are launched back and forth several times between about 200 feet of track, each side having a spike about 100 feet tall with a vertical drop. When I rode this, I feared that the train would derail; the train appeared to come precariously close to the edge of the track. Nickelodeon Slime Streak is a roller coaster manufactured by Chance Rides and reaches a top speed of 37 mph. It reaches a height of 70 feet and features a twisted drop with several hills and turns. It navigates the circumference of Jimmy Neutron’s Atomic Smasher and then passes over Timmy’s Half-Pipe Havoc. This ride is more of a family coaster and is targeted at the younger age demographic. Along with multiple roller coasters, there are several other thrilling attractions or flat rides at the park.

Kraang Prime Pandemonium

Kraang Prime Pandemonium is a pendulum ride
where riders are swung side to side in multiple 360° loops. Riders experience complete weightlessness as well as hangtime; the ride hangs you upside down for several
seconds.

Additional Rides

Aang’s Air Gliders is an attraction where riders loop around the center of the ride while being continuously spun in 360° loops sideways. The park also features a 125-foot drop tower named Skyline Scream, where riders are slowly rotated at the top and experience an impressive panoramic view of the NYC skyline through clear glass panels.

DreamWorks Water Park

The DreamWorks Water Park is the largest waterpark in North America with 20 attractions and slides. It is home to several record-breaking attractions such as the largest indoor wave pool, the largest indoor tipping bucket, the tallest indoor speedslide (Surfari Slider), a 14-story high body slide (Thrillgascar and Jungle Jammer), and the longest hydromagnetic water coaster (Toothless’ Trickling Torpedo). The waterpark also includes many other thrilling slides such as Shrek’s Sinkhole Slammer, a raft ride incorporating a huge funnel, Speeding Frenzy, an enclosed tube water slide, as well as a 40-foot wave simulator, among other things. American Dream Meadowlands also includes Big Snow American Dream, an indoor skiing/snowboarding park 4 acres large covered with 5500 tons of snow. It features 4 lifts, two of them being magic carpet lifts (A conveyor belt style lift hill).

The American Dream Mall has faced financial difficulties dating back to its inception around 15 years ago. It was just beginning to gain popularity after being opened for only a few months, when it was forced to shut down in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in October 2020, but was hindered by construction delays as well as public reluctance to patronize indoor establishments.

Despite its troubles, I believe that American Dream has a bright future as it is an ideal place for a staycation, with diverse offerings and something for everyone. It already has so much to offer and continues to grow. For example, The New Jersey Hall of Fame, a 10,000 square foot entertainment and learning center, is slated to open this fall. The American Dream truly is one of a kind and helps make New Jersey a “New Jersey Dream” destination.

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Justin Lee ('24)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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Bubble in Paradise

A Review by Jessica Lee

Bubble in Paradise is a bubble tea café in Denville that serves bubble tea, smoothies, snacks, shaved ice, hot food, and plushies. It is located on 38 Broadway, in Denville, NJ.

Its main focus is bubble tea, which is a drink that has gained popularity in recent years. Bubble tea shops are becoming more prevalent in New Jersey and some big name chains are Kung Fu Tea and Gongcha Tea. Some of these shops are further away, but it is convenient to have a bubble tea shop like Bubble in Paradise just minutes away from Mountain Lakes.

What is Boba?

Boba is made of tapioca pearls, derived from cassava root, also known as yucca (a type of potato). These boba pearls are traditionally black, but can also be multicolored. The pearls are served in a brown sugar syrup; mixed with tea and ice, it creates the perfect beverage.

History of Bubble Tea  

Bubble tea was originally introduced from a stand in Taichung, Taiwan in 1980. It was originally offered with a black tea base but transitioned to include different variations such as fruit tea and slushies, with various flavoring options used to create different offerings. Liu Han-Chieh from Taiwan introduced the tapioca bubbles in Taiwan. The “bubble” part of the bubble tea is made of chewy tapioca pearls. Initially, smaller tapioca pearls were used in this drink but slowly evolved to the current day, widely-used bigger, typically black, tapioca pearls. These tapioca pearls are simmered in a brown sugar syrup for multiple hours at a time. With regular tea there is an option of adding milk, to produce the classic milk tea. 

Popularity of bubble tea

By 2027, it is estimated that the bubble tea industry is supposed to skyrocket to $4.3 billion. In Southeast Asia in 2018, it was reported that there was a 3,000% increase in sales. In the US in 2019, the total income for bubble tea was $2.4 billion. Bubble tea is now so popular that it is honored with its own day, April 30, National Bubble Tea Day. 

Customized Drinks

Each bubble tea can be customized exactly to your liking. Popular bubble tea options include choices of black milk tea, green milk tea, mango tea, taro (purple root vegetable) milk tea, and matcha milk tea, among others. Some toppings, which are add-ons, include lychee jelly, grass jelly, aloe jelly, and red bean. There are more toppings that are available depending on the location. Bubble tea can also be customized by adjusting the sweetness, the amount of ice, and more or less boba.

My Recommendation

My favorite option from Bubble in Paradise is brown sugar bubble tea with regular milk, ice, boba, and lychee jelly. I have sampled bubble tea from a variety of bubble tea shops, but Bubble in Paradise is my favorite. I find that the tea has the perfect elements of sweetness, the bubbles are chewy, and the drink is overall complimented well by the toppings. There are a number of varieties of bubble tea such as dragon fruit bubble tea, mango bubble tea, cherry bubble tea, brown sugar bubble tea, and many more. Some other food options include taiyaki which is a cake molded into the shape of a fish, as well as shaved ice such as Mango Ice, Taro Temptation, and Matcha Matcha.  Bubble in Paradise offers snacks made at the shop as well as some packaged snacks. There is also a wide variety of plushies, ranging from small to extra large. Many of them are adorably shaped in the form of bubble tea, serving as a nice reminder of your favorite drink. 

Bubble in Paradise provides a fun and interesting alternative to the typical coffee shops. Bubble tea is an increasingly popular choice among students and adults alike, and Bubble in Paradise serves as a pleasant option providing not only customizable bubble tea, but a variety of other food and plushies.

Inspiration Roll

A Review by Justin Lee

Inspiration Roll is a new restaurant in Denville that serves ramen, poke, and
other Asian offerings. It is located at 28 Diamond Spring Road in Denville, inside a
storefront called The Grub Connect. I first encountered Inspiration Roll in Westfield, NJ
several years ago, and it quickly became a favorite of mine. I was thrilled to learn that
one had opened in Denville, just minutes away, rather than a trip more than 30 minutes
away. There is a third location of Inspiration Roll located in Morristown. Inspiration Roll
fills a much needed niche for these kinds of Asian selections in our area.
Inspiration Roll offers a choice of ramen (Japanese noodle soup), poke (a Native
Hawaiian dish traditionally composed of diced raw fish which can be served either as an
appetizer or as a main course), and various appetizers. There are vegetarian choices
and gluten-free choices, which make it a place that everyone can enjoy. Allergies can
also be accommodated by the restaurant. Prices are reasonable, and the majority of
selections are $15 or less.

My Recommendations

My favorite item on the menu is the Original Tonkotsu Ramen, which is composed of a 10-12 hour soy-based pork broth, braised pork, and black garlic truffle oil, offered in original or spicy versions. This dish is rich, savory, hearty, and makes
for a satisfying and filling meal. Another favorite of mine is the Shoyu Ramen, which is flavored with a shoyu (Japanese style soy sauce) based 7-hour chicken broth and braised pork. This ramen is less rich but equally delicious. Other ramen varieties on the menu include Pork Shio, Miso (or Spicy), Vegetarian Miso, as well as the more unique choices of Thai Red Curry Spicy and Karaage. Karaage is made of a creamy 7-hour chicken broth, popcorn chicken, and corn. These latter two items represent flavors not typically found on ramen menus.

Another appetizing choice for a main meal is the poke. At Inspiration Roll, the
poke is served as an entree and is available with not only the traditional raw fish, but is
available with other protein options including pork, chicken, tofu, and eggplant. The
poke can be served as either a burrito, rice bowl, or salad, each of which can be
customized to your preference. There is a choice of base, protein, toppings, crunch, and
flavors. Toppings include such things as edamame, corn, portobello, and seaweed.
Crunch options range from fried onions to wonton chips. Lastly, flavors include sauces
such as miso sauce, sriracha ketchup, and teriyaki sauce. There is also an option to include
additional protein, toppings, crunch, and flavors for an upcharge.

My favorite version of poke is the rice bowl, which comes in white rice or brown rice, as well as other choices of base including kale and romaine. There are also recommended combinations available that include The American Dream (consisting of
spicy tuna, cucumber, guacamole, mango, romaine, tempura flakes, spicy mayo); the Gandhi (consisting of tempura eggplant, cucumber, guacamole, tamago, romaine, peanuts, and peanut sauce) and the Einstein (pork katsu, cucumber, purple cabbage,
tamago, Japanese pickle, and teriyaki sauce), among others. There are several gluten free options. My favorite combination is the Ford, which is the combination of fresh
salmon, guacamole, fried onions, and sriracha ketchup.

In addition to these choices, there are a variety of interesting sides available,
which represent Asian fusion cuisine. Options of sides include Confucius Nachos
(adorned with tuna, guacamole, mango, cheese, tempura flakes with spicy mayo &
teriyaki sauce); J.K. Rowling Fries (Japanese and Korean inspired fries with pork belly,
kimchi, cheese, spicy mayo & teriyaki sauce); Popcorn Chicken R.O.C (Asian spiced
pieces of chicken with a side of sriracha ketchup); and Takoyaki (fried wheat cakes with
octopus, dressed with Worcestershire sauce & Japanese mayo).

Inspiration Roll has some indoor seating which tends to be available and allows
for social distancing. There is usually some background music and the servers will bring
the food to you if dining in. It is a casual setting that provides a relaxed and
convenient option for our area. Food is also available for takeout and delivery and is
usually prepared within 10-20 minutes. The prices are reasonable and the selection is
wide, with a range of healthy options, making it a great option for locals. Inspiration Roll
is a welcome addition to the local restaurant scene and rounds out some of the culinary
offerings in the area. If you haven’t had a chance to try ramen or poke before, this
restaurant is a good option to try these items. There is also an ability to earn rewards
with the purchases which can be redeemed for free items. This is a good incentive to
patronize this restaurant over and over again.

About Post Author

Jessica Lee ('24) and Justin Lee ('24)

mliddle@mlschools.org

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