The rapid development of social media has been one of the biggest technological achievements of the 21st century, but most people fail to realize it is rotting your brain every second you spend scrolling. Follow along as we discover how social media affects your attention span.

How Does Social Media Affect Cognitive Function?

The human brain is a powerhouse of receptors and processors, including your dopamine receptors. Think of dopamine receptors as the “feel-good center”. They absorb dopamine molecules and as a response, a sense of pleasure is rewarded to the brain. Yet, these receptors are very sensitive… if they are abused with a constant release of pleasure, the threshold for that pleasurable experience gets gradually higher. However it takes months, even years to notice the changes. This is where short-form content comes in. 

Apps such as Instagram, FaceBook, and TikTok are some of the largest platforms in the US, yet they have single-handedly ruined people’s attention spans without any repercussions whatsoever. Short-form content, by nature, encourages quick-shifts in focus, making long-term tasks seem impossible. This is achieved by how this short-form content affects the dopamine receptors; when scrolling on these apps, with each scroll, the brain releases dopamine. In turn, this increases the threshold for dopamine release and simultaneously damages your attention span. 

The Testimonies

Studies have shown that 67.6% of short-form content users find it harder to concentrate on longer-form tasks, which goes to show how much of an impact daily scrolling can have on the brain’s dopamine receptors. When the brain finds it hard to do even simple tasks such as washing dishes or doing laundry, change must be in effect to revert the effects before it’s too late. 

Another study has shown, as reported by PhD professors working with the American Psychological Association, that between 2004 and 2023, the average attention span among all social media users has dropped from 2.5 minutes per task, to 47 seconds per task as of 2023! This doesn’t happen for no reason, and social media is to blame for this significant drop.

 Attention span is a strong negative correlation, meaning when one factor increases, another drops simultaneously. This refers especially to decreased attention span, and heightened stress levels. When the brain gets pressured, specifically when scrolling on social media, a mass influx of dopamine from scrolling leads to the heightened stress levels. Consequently, when heightened stress levels occur, so does worsened mood; as a result, the brain is stripped of mental resources required for real-world engagement.

Rejuvenating Your Attention Span

It may seem scary to notice your attention span drop in real time, but do not worry, it’s easier to repair your attention span than damage it. I wouldn’t even say it’s repairing your attention span, but rather managing it. 

You can manage this not by immediate cessation, but instead using it during breaks, and by setting mini-goals with your work first to naturally activate your dopamine receptors.

My advice, do the easy things right. When you notice yourself drifting off during work, catch it and put your phone down before you go down an endless pit of scrolling. It’s not about forcing yourself to focus harder, but about controlling the small habits that quietly destroy your attention.

The Little Things

Ultimately, social media is not inherently harmful, but the way we use it is. The constant stream of dopamine to our brain is doing more harm than good, and expecting gratification only makes it harder to engage with actual tasks that require focus and attention. 

On a lighter note, the good news is that attention span isn’t permanently lost; it is shaped by the habits around it. By becoming more aware of how harmful social media can be, we can regain control over our focus. In a world that requires focus, the first step is to put down social media. 

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Athletes are some of the most enduring and tough people you can meet. They are constantly required to perform at the highest level, yet that can be extremely difficult if recovery is not addressed. If you are committed to a sport, yes, performance should be your top priority, but performance goes far beyond your physical play. Believe it or not, how you recover is vastly more important than how you perform during your matches. 

Recovery Methods and The Science:

The next best method, also very accessible, is massaging. Whether it’s done by a medical professional or performed with a massage gun, massaging provides a hyper-efficient, yet slightly painful, method of recovery. A 2022 study from the Frontier Journal found that massaging significantly decreases soreness by improving blood circulation. Yet, although massaging heavily reduces inflammation and soreness, it has few real long-term enhancements, only a handful of short-term effects such as decreased stiffness and looser muscles. All of which require long-term treatment to make a significant difference. However, massaging is one of the most effective forms of recovery, especially for high-octane athletes such as basketball and football players. Hence, massaging, when in the right hands, can be one of the most invaluable forms of recovery. 

The Final Stretch

Even elite athletes often neglect recovery, which only leads to harmed performance over time. When unconfronted, athletes tend to stiffen up, and getting back to healthy shape only gets harder from there. Now, with the unprecedented technology that only makes recovery easier, there is no better time to focus on recovery. Because if it’s never evaluated, your body 30 years from now will suffer from limited mobility and a multitude of preventable injuries that could’ve been avoided with proper recovery today.

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A menu is the first thing anyone is greeted with when they arrive at a restaurant and sit down. Sometimes, it takes the form of a touch-screen board. Other times, it takes the form of a fancy, paper menu. In fact, an often overlooked element of a restaurant is the menu itself. We typically think that certain restaurants, restaurants that have been in business for decades (fast food or sit-down), keep their old traditions and items, creating foods that thousands and even millions enjoy to this day. And although their standards may remain the same, a restaurant’s menu is not static, fluctuating in price and changing its medium over the course of many years. With that in mind, it may be time to change the menu one more time.

For many, a menu is easy to use. Look through the choices and pick the one you crave the most. Simple. Neutral. Unfortunately, a menu is only effective if it is understandable or even readable. For many individuals who are low vision or blind, this may become an impossible task. In truth, reading the fine print for the ingredients is already a challenge for most. Let’s be honest: who really understands what a sweated onion is? Thus, it should come as no surprise that blind people, who have to overcome both barriers, fail to get all the necessary information and need help from others to order. That diminishes their own personal autonomy and agency. 

So what can be done to truly help those who struggle to perform seemingly easy tasks, like reading a menu? Restaurants can begin by training staff members on how to handle the situation if a blind or low vision customer comes. According to the NIH, 1.2 million people living in the U.S today are legally blind. This means that it would be worthwhile to teach staff members Braille and train them in the event that a blind person visits their restaurant. Moreover, as a tangible solution, restaurants can begin to implement Braille menus. For example, using a local restaurant as an example, Hapgoods has implemented a Braille menu to cater to those who need it. Not only has the menu helped those who are blind, but it also allows people who are low vision or older to read the menu items because of the larger text. 

However, even with these solutions, most businesses are not given an incentive to implement them. Admittedly, for most, it may be seen as a hassle. Many restaurants are just trying to stay afloat, and adding more rules and requirements may be a burden for them. This is exactly where legal policies can step in. For starters, local and federal governmental agencies could offer tax reductions for those who abide by ADA accessibility guidelines. By offering more reductions, it may encourage a more widespread adoption of these menus.

Furthermore, running a successful business often requires expansion and renovation. Therefore, the government can build on existing policies that allow for “fast track renovation” (functionally speeding up the time it takes for grants to be permitted), incentivizing the business to follow regulations established for PWDs (people with disabilities). 

 Menus should not be a barrier to independence. By adopting accessible formats like Braille, and strengthening incentives through policy, restaurants can create a more inclusive dining experience for all customers.

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As a child, I certainly was not the world’s most avid Frozen fan. The movie’s songs were just so popular that I refused to take part in enjoying cult classics such as “Let it go” or “Fixer Upper.” However, as years passed, I can proudly say that Frozen is one of my top five favorite Disney movies. With lovable characters, a genuinely enticing story, intriguing worldbuilding, and of course, magical powers, the film evokes a feeling which simply cannot be replicated. Going into Mountain Lakes High School’s production of Frozen the Broadway Musical, I admit I felt a tad bit nervous. Not only had the MLHS theatre team lost many senior actors from 2024-2025 that I had become familiar with, but because I wasn’t sure how one of my favorite Disney movies would be translated on stage. Of course, these concerns were QUICKLY dismissed, as the show not only blew past my expectations, but also proved that the theatre program is constantly gaining incredible new talent each year.

My first viewing of the Frozen musical was magical. I walked into the school with some friends, being kindly greeted by Mr. Henry before I stopped to look at the amazing pictures on display from the Mountain Lakes Garden Club photo contest. As I walked into the theatre, we sat down and I was just giddy with excitement. In the first act, the musical plays out similar to how the movie does: Anna and Elsa are introduced, we learn about Elsa’s burden of becoming queen of Arandelle, and travel in search of Elsa with the legendary group of Sven (Camryn Gauthier), Kristoff (Carter Nikolsky), and Anna (Mia Bezalel). What really struck me in this first act was the incredible acting from every character on stage; there truly never was a dull moment with this cast. Of course, songs like “Love is an Open Door” featured incredible vocal and dance performances from Jayden Trogani as Hans, and Mia Bezalel as Anna, but I also found a lot of entertaining side-plots happening behind the windows on stage between other characters. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Keith Cullen’s various ‘tangos’ as the Duke of Weselton. Busting out the modern dance moves in Arendelle just really resonated with me for some reason, and Keith really fit the vibe of the duke perfectly in the show. Regarding “Love is an Open Door,” I would really like to just exclaim how elated I was to see Jayden play the role of Hans. He delivered his lines with such gusto and made me physically jump up and down with glee whenever he was on stage. Below is my reaction to seeing Jayden on stage.

It is the combination of incredible choreography along with the synergy that everyone on stage has with each other that makes the musical so entertaining to watch! Some other songs that really stood out to me this act were “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” in which Grace Shuhet (Young Elsa) and Bridget Keyt (Young Anna) delivered performances which warmed my heart and kept me smiling, and “Dangerous to Dream,” where Ella Thomas (Elsa) introduced me to an emotionally moving song which became my favorite of the show upon my second viewing. 

After I stocked up on candy and bought a stunningly gorgeous tiara from my producer friend Brandon Keyt, the second act commenced. 

I obviously have to highlight Hygge, including fantastic choreography and an incredible accent by Allesandra Wianecki (Oaken). My friends and I loved this song, laughing and singing along gleefully in our seats as we watched the whole cast perform eye-high kicks just like the Rockettes. What really impressed me this act was how big a role the ensemble played in the last few scenes. I absolutely loved when Elsa, Kristoff, and Anna are all navigating through the blizzard on the frozen lake, trying to find each other, while multiple cast members are fluidly dancing around them, mimicking the harsh wind while melodically singing “colder by the minute.” The scene was so cohesive yet frantic, it really had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation, while still making me smile in awe at the amazing performances from the stage and pit.

Overall, Frozen was such a wonderful experience, and every member of the production from crew to the cast to the pit orchestra should be proud of their fine work. The talent displayed not only by the upperclassmen, but also the multitude of underclassmen foreshadow great things to come for MLHS theatre!

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Regardless of whether or not you grew up as a Disney kid, I can guarantee that a majority of kids have some sort of picture that pops into their heads when they hear the words “Disney princess.” The Disney franchise—the products, the movies, the characters, the parks—has been inescapable since its creation over a century ago. This popularity is not all bad, regardless of what image you might have of Disney adults, the Plus Sized Park Hoppers, or maybe some of Disney’s controversial mistakes that they’ve been working overtime to correct; at the end of the day, Disney has produced wildly popular and moving stories that are undeniably cultural icons. 

With that said, anything that has this significant a role in popular culture is bound to have an impact on its audience, especially when its audience is largely children. Therefore, we must ask the critical question of what kind of role and prevalence this influence has on a child’s development and what we need to be wary of in the future if this impact proves to be negative. 

Why do people like Disney SO much?

While many people are simply enthralled by Disney’s emphasis on fairy tales and happy endings or its unique theme parks and roller coasters, there is also a psychological appeal to the magical world of Disney. When it comes to the parks themselves, everything is intentional. I was shocked when I found out how much visual deception they use to make buildings seem larger, castles seem grander, and the park feel completely isolated from the outside world, all to transport you into what feels like an entirely unique space. The rest of the world stops existing, and time moves differently. 

On top of that, the roller coaster and theme park rides are emotional experiences tied to the movies themselves. While Six Flags is fun because you get to go on a huge, fast roller coaster, Disney is unique in that you become a part of the stories that you love so much. I’ll admit, I will never forget the first time I rode Rise of The Resistance and stepped into the stormtrooper room for the first time, since the nostalgia and connection to the Star Wars series that I felt was incredible. Disney uses your loyalty to their moving stories to make even the lines for the rides experiences in and of themselves.

There is also never a shortage of things to do in Disney World, or any of their theme parks, for that matter. As author Michael Brody puts it, “There is little question of what one will do next. Your existence is structured. Attention is diverted by a parade, fireworks or Pluto coming your way.” In other words, when it comes to the parks, people love Disney so much because it creates an illusion of fantasy. The movies have a similar effect, using fairy tales and emotional appeal to create a loyal audience. 

More than entertainment?

If Disney can draw people in using simple psychological tricks so easily, is it more than just entertainment? What kind of influence does Disney really have? According to Madeleine Binkley, when kids are repeatedly exposed to Disney media, their growth, play, and definition of self are all uniquely impacted. Children are the perfect consumers, and while you can argue Disney’s intentions are pure, they know their audience. They research and adapt heavily, which is why “Disney has become one of the most prevalent educators of its time, educating children how to express cultural notions of race, gender, sexuality, and ultimately, a discourse of the self.”

In terms of play, children learn what they believe to be creativity and imagination from what they consume. When their role models on the screen are girls playing with princess dolls or boys acting as heroes, they subconsciously absorb that that is what they are meant to do. Additionally, many children use movies like those that Disney produces to learn how to  “operate within the socio-cultural and historical framework in America,” which can be beneficial to have an example to look towards but also incredibly dangerous if these examples promote racist, sexist, or otherwise harmful ideologies. Therefore, it is impossible to say that Disney does not present some sort of danger, purely because of how malleable a children’s mind is. 

If Disney is known to psychologically affect a child’s development, instilling in people their views on gender, beauty, class, language, stereotypes, and more, parents who cannot see past the facade of magic indubitably need to take a step back and assess what these movies are teaching their children. While Disney has been making strides recently to fix their former wrongdoings, a lot of their old movies promote incredibly harmful stereotypes. Take the original Aladdin film as an example—while it was later changed, the song Arabian Nights initially included the lyric “where they cut off your ear if they don’t like your face” to describe the fictional middle eastern city.

Is Disney doing this on purpose? Some argue that Disney’s goal has always been to entrap innocent audiences and instill their ideologies in them, while others argue the contrary. Regardless of intention, kids learn from example, and Disney needs to be wary of the fact that the role models they create must set strong examples. 

The “Disney Complex” and its impact on society

As I mentioned earlier, Disney is notorious for reinforcing gender roles and cultural norms that can be incredibly restrictive and harmful. The “Disney Complex” is defined by Raven Quander as the “intricate interplay between Disney’s idealized portrayals of life—such as happily ever after endings, gender roles, and archetypal heroes—and the unrealistic expectations they can foster in young audiences.” With that in mind, Disney’s often overly simplistic and stereotypical stories teach children that conflicts are easier to solve than they are in reality, some major wrongdoings don’t have long term repercussions, love is always fantastical and romantic, and that beauty plays a significant role in opportunity and society. These are all things that we wish to be true, but it is dangerous to feed kids expectations that contrast reality. 

The most harmful part of these stories is that they fail to prepare kids for the real world. Once again, Disney has improved significantly in their more recent stories, working to fight against stereotypes and integrate storylines that are not always focused on two opposite gender characters falling in love and using their love to save the day. However, so many children continue to consume the tried-and-true Disney classics, myself and my family included. Once again, as Quander wrote, “Prioritizing only happy endings in media could hinder young audiences from developing the necessary emotional tools to process and manage life’s disappointments, failures, and losses.”

Infinite ends to this story

Ultimately, there are so many directions this discussion could go in. We could talk about how the changes in Disney over time signify changes in social values, the disclaimers they’ve added to offensive movies like Aladdin and Song of the South, why Disney adults exist, and much more. What I think is most important to take away from this is the fact that any large franchise or cultural pillar with this vast of a reach is going to have both positive and negative impacts purely because influence is power. It is critical that Disney remains aware of this influence and works to use this power for good. 

More than that, I think as a society we need to agree to stop worshipping franchises. Instead, we can appreciate the brand of Disney while also being conscious of the potential negative impacts of the messages Disney has spread on a child’s development, keeping us aware of the fact that Disney is ultimately a business. I recently got to visit Disney World for a trip through our school’s music department, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the magic, but you can appreciate it for what it is without worshipping it.  

With all of this in mind, we can discern that, while Disney remains near and dear to many of our hearts and is not inherently unhealthy if it is taken with a grain of salt, anything that has the power to have such a substantial influence on a child’s development needs to be carefully managed. Disney is just one example of how we need to keep a close eye on what kids are consuming; this is true for all content, especially in the digital age. At the end of the day, Disney serves as a lesson of balance.

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Women’s History Month is celebrated every March to honor the important contributions of women from the past and present in American history, culture and society. Key figures that are often highlighted during Women’s History Month include Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who were the primary leaders in the fight for equal rights for women, Amelia Earhart, who was the one of the world’s first female pilots, Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her bus seat for a white man, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Marie Curie, scientist and the first woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. 

Women’s History Month originally began in 1978 as a weeklong local celebration in Santa Rosa, California, organized by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. The celebration then spread across the country as other communities began to hold their own Women’s History Week celebrations. The celebration eventually received national recognition from President Jimmy Carter in February 1980, when he issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. The following presidents continued to proclaim National Women’s History Week every March until 1987, when Congress passed a law designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Additional resolutions were passed from 1988 to 1994 authorizing the President to issue annual proclamations designating March as Women’s History Month. This tradition has since continued, making 2026 the 40th anniversary of Women’s History Month.

Since the first Women’s History Week in 1978, other countries have joined the United States in honoring women and their contribution to history and culture, including Canada and Australia. The National Women’s History Alliance chooses a theme each year for Women’s History Week. The 2026 theme is Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future, highlighting women who are driving innovation and systemic change across environmental, economic, and social sectors, fostering long-term sustainability and equity for people and the planet. Themes from the past have included the 2025 theme Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations which celebrated the collective power and influence of women and the 2024 theme Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress which focused on gender equality as a human rights issue. Beyond the themes, Women’s History Month represents the correction of underrepresentation of and discrimination towards women while also celebrating their many achievements and impact on the world. 

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The alarm rings, and you hit snooze without thinking. A few minutes later it goes off again, and suddenly getting out of bed feels really tough. It might seem like a motivation problem, but the real explanation is rooted in biology and our bodies.

Even the common habit of hitting the snooze button can make the problem worse. Studies suggest that about 45 percent of people press snooze regularly. Each time someone falls back asleep, the brain may begin starting another short sleep cycle. When the alarm interrupts that cycle just minutes later, it can intensify the feeling of grogginess and make waking up feel even harder.

Ultimately, it takes more than just laziness or a lack of willpower to get out of bed. It takes time for the body and brain to adjust from sleep to wakefulness. The struggle you have with your alarm clock is more about biology than discipline when you understand the science behind mornings.

In addition to the standard recommendation to “get more sleep,” research points to a few less evident methods that can facilitate waking. Exposure to bright light shortly after waking is one of the most effective. Morning light strengthens the body’s circadian rhythm and signals the brain to stop producing melatonin, which makes you feel alert faster. Another method is changing the temperature. Moving into a slightly cooler environment or splashing your face with cool water can help the body transition out of sleep by increasing alertness. Some sleep researchers also suggest placing your alarm across the room so you have to physically get up to turn it off, which interrupts the urge to fall back asleep. Even small habits like drinking water soon after waking or doing a quick stretch can help signal to the body that the day has started and make the transition from bed to morning feel a little less painful.

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Whether anticipated or dreaded, the talk leading up to Bad Bunny’s halftime show was undeniably energized. Since announcing he wouldn’t be touring in the U.S. due to fears of ICE at his concerts, his public image has been thrown into the political sphere—a sphere that he is not unfamiliar with. Through music videos and carefully chosen lyrics, the rapper has long championed Puerto Rican identity while raising awareness of the island’s issues rooted in U.S. ownership. With all the buzz about his political standings and speculation regarding what his performance would contain, it’s no surprise that this year’s halftime show became one of the most watched to date, averaging around 128.2 million viewers between 8:15 to 8:30pm. Unsurprising still, it garnered both very positive and very contemptuous reactions. So, what exactly was the messaging behind his show?

The Show Itself

The show opens with a young man dressed as a jíbaro (a traditional Puerto Rican farmer) holding a guitar and saying “Qué rico es ser Latino”—“how wonderful it is to be Latino.” This, in retrospect, sets the tone for the show as a whole, preceding a celebration of not just Puerto Rican culture, but Latin culture as a whole. 

However, there is also significance in the clusters of sugar cane surrounding the man. Throughout the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, sugar plantations in the Caribbean were devastating in both their size and impact; over the span of these hundreds of years, thousands of enslaved Africans were brought to the islands to endure backbreaking work for Europe’s profit. Representative of the colonial presence in the Americas at the time, the sugar cane was a major part of the Puerto Rican economy until its decline in popularity, largely due to the abolition of slavery, workers strikes, and mismanagement. In 2000, Puerto Rico closed its final operating sugar cane mills.

This specific foliage seems ever-present as a backdrop for Bad Bunny’s show, as the camera pans up to reveal long lines of dancers dressed as sugar cane workers after the young man yells, “Hoy se bebe,” a playful phrase that roughly translates to “today, we drink.” Accompanied by the opening instrumental of Tití Me Preguntó, Benito’s 2022 dembow hit from Un Verano Sin Ti, these first ten seconds are welcoming despite the darker history conveyed by the imagery. Arguably his most popular song, it makes sense that this is the introductory number, presumably serving to catch the viewer’s attention with a song that many have already heard. For the next minute, it is performed while walking through familiar Latin American scenery — a stand for coco frio, a group of older men playing dominoes, and a piragua stand featuring various Hispanic flags on the flavor bottles.

Following a blunt transition into Yo Perreo Sola, we are immediately met with a slow panorama of various dancers and Latin artists in Bad Bunny’s “casita,” a prop house that has continuously been used on his tour. During shows, the casita is usually filled with VIP guests. This time is no different, with some familiar faces being Cardi B, Pedro Pascal, Karol G, and Young Miko. 

Shorter clips of popular reggaeton songs like Safaera, Party, and VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR led up to a seemingly prefilmed clip of Bad Bunny falling through the roof of the casita, into a room of a family watching his halftime show live. Dusting himself off and walking out of the house, a camera leads us through a crowd of young people dancing to Gasolina with the opening beat of EoO. Declaring in Spanish, “you are listening to music from Puerto Rico, the neighborhoods, the caseríos,” the flashing lights of the stands hype up his quick performance of the recent hit from Debí Tirar Más Fotos. 

“Good afternoon, California,” he says, following a transition into the introduction to MONACO, played by young violinists. Stating his full name, he continues, “If I am here today at Super Bowl 60, it’s because never, never have I ever stopped believing in myself. You too… you too should believe in yourself. It’s worth more than you think. Believe me.” Finishing off Bad Bunny’s inspirational motif with the first lyric of MONACO, “¿Este es lo que tu quería?”—“Is this what you wanted?”, we pan over to a wedding taking place. After finishing the formalities in Spanish, the couple kisses and walks off to reveal Lady Gaga clad in a blue dress with a bright red flor de maga, Puerto Rico’s national flower, on the right strap. Her outfit, complete with white accents, has the same coloration as the Puerto Rican flag.

Her part of the show is a salsa remake of Die With a Smile, her dramatic 2024 hit with Bruno Mars. The wedding scene continues, with her song transitioning into lyrics from BAILE INoLVIDABLE—“while one is alive, one should love as much as possible.” Complete with coordinated salsa dancers, the scene is alive, with Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga dancing at center stage. Waking up a young child sleeping on a set of chairs, he continues singing his salsa hit, surrounded by the wedding guests and saying “Dance, dance, dance, without fear. Love without fear.” 

A shot of the couple kissing distracts from Bad Bunny positioning himself at the edge of the platform, ready to fall off into a crowd of hands at the bottom as the instrumental for NUEVAYoL begins. A coordinated, elegant visual transitions into a more bustling one, akin to the Latin areas of New York City. Dancers celebrate and whirl around in front of conversations being had by a barbershop, a small market setup with a glowing “We accept EBT” sign, and a Caribbean Sport Bar Grill with a Puerto Rican flag containing large “CONEJO” lettering on it (“bunny” in Spanish). The dances that follow in this segment are less coordinated and more full of spontaneous excitement and energy, wrapped in the warmth and color of community. “Puerto Rico feels close,” Bad Bunny sings happily, taking a shot from an older lady at the Caribbean bar. 

The trumpets die down and we are suddenly placed in the perspective of a family watching Bad Bunny’s Grammy acceptance speech as the song continues with “The best in the world.. number one, the best in the world, OK? Puerto Rico.” Bad Bunny comes up to give the young boy in the family his Grammy—a young boy many online have speculated to be Liam Conejo Ramos, the five year old detained by ICE in the previous month. However, the child here is just an actor, perhaps representing a young Benito or aspiring young Latin American children as a whole. “Always believe in yourself,” he says, as the beat fades away.

Now, we are presented with a jíbaro strumming a guitar and revealing Ricky Martin, the pop star known for singing Livin’ La Vida Loca. He sings the chorus to LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii, a song on Debí Tirar Más Fotos that highlights Puerto Rico’s resistance against colonialism—“They want to take away my river and the beach / They want my neighborhood and for abuelita to leave / No, don’t let go of the flag or forget the le lo lai / Because I don’t want them to do to you what happened to Hawaii.” He sings passionately into the camera as the show takes on a more political tone, power lines behind him blowing and throwing off the dancers dressed as jíbaros that were on them. The opening drums of El Apagón are played—a song whose name itself (“The Blackout”) alludes to the frail power grids of Puerto Rico that cause frequent blackouts. 

“Puerto Rico is great,” Bad Bunny sings, emerging with a Puerto Rican flag—notably, the blue of the flag’s triangle is much lighter than the navy version more popular in the U.S. While the navy triangle widely signifies Puerto Rico as a property of the U.S., the light blue flag is a historical one of resistance against Spanish rule. Recognized as the first national flag, it was the face of a fight for independence and sovereignty.

He lets up holding this flag only to climb on top of the powerline, singing, “Now, everyone wants to be Latino.. but they lack rhythm, drums, and reggaeton,” once he reaches the top. “Welcome to the calentón,” are the last lyrics before the power lines begin sparking again.

After a few seconds pause, he begins singing CAFé CON RON as El Apagón’s electric beat kicks back in. The energy builds with the lyrics, “We’re already in the streets, come out to your balcony,” with all the dancers from previous segments filling in the spaces between the plants. Weaving through the crowd, various flagbearers run to where Bad Bunny is, with Puerto Rico and the U.S. leading the others.

Benito, clutching a football, says “God Bless America,” then asserts that he doesn’t just mean this in the traditional American sense. In fact, the U.S. is mentioned only after he lists various other countries in the continent of America over the final drum beats of CAFé CON RON, building up to: “And my motherland, my homeland: Puerto Rico.” Turning out the football and holding it out to the camera, we can now see that it says “Together, we are America.” “We’re still here,” he says, as the musicians around him hold their instruments up to the sky as he does with the football. The final song of the show is DtMF, played joyously as the dancers and musicians and flagbearers around him jump, singing the lyrics. “I hope my people never move away,” the lyrics sing, surrounded by fireworks setting off in the stands and loud, cheerful trumpets. “Thank you so much,” he says, ending the show.

A Message of Togetherness

While not entirely groundbreaking, a celebration of Latin culture and identity at the biggest annual American sporting event serves as a reminder of the role Latinos have had and will continue to have in shaping the mindsets and culture of the U.S. In the face of pressure from the White House, which previously criticized the choice of Bad Bunny as the halftime performer by saying “all it does is sow hatred,” Bad Bunny delivered an energetic performance whose underlying tone was pointedly one of unity and love. Above all, as he stated at the Grammys and reiterated in his show: the only thing more powerful than hate is love.

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Cardio Room

Treadmills, starimasters, and bikes, oh my. With rows of treadmills, 6 stairmasters, and many ellipticals and bikes, it’s easy to find a mode of movement for anyone. Most machines are LAFitness brand and feature a large, spacious screen with different options to customize your workout. Scenery videos, on-demand classes, and a timer help you get the most out of your time. I personally love walking on the treadmill and climbing stairs on the stairmaster, so I greatly appreciate the abundance of machines, which practically eliminates waiting time.

Turf Section

As someone who stretches for 10-15 minutes before every exercise, I absolutely loved the expansion of the turf area. With 5 spacious mirrors, a rack of free weights, and various other tools, the gym’s turf area is the perfect place to start my workout. The old Y gym had only a small corner designated for free space, limiting people’s warm-up stretches and free-weight warm-ups. The new upgrade is a 10/10 in my eyes, and it makes it easy for me to ease into my workout with a calming stretch. It is the first place I use as I plan my workout for the day and ease myself into movement! 

E-Gym

One new addition to the renovated why is the E-Gym section. With about 7 machines, including a leg press, back extension, and bicep curl, this section of the gym is perfect for people of all ages; however, I most commonly see older members using it. And you know what, I do not blame them. Whoever thought of integrating video games with workout equipment is pretty clever. So far, I have not tried these machines myself, but I will be sure to play around with them when I am looking for a chill and fun addition to my workout routine.

Free Weight/Machine Section

The new free weight/machine section is one of my favorite aspects of the renovation. The increased number of benches and new additions, such as the hip thrust machine, make hitting any muscle group possible and with ease. While I’ve heard complaints that the machines are too close together, I haven’t found that to have a significant impact on my workout, and overall, I think the setup is ideal for almost all workouts. I also appreciate the organization of machines, with most leg, arm, and core machines being grouped in their respective areas. 

Pilates/Free Movement Room

Looking into the wood-floored and glass-doored room in the corner of the gym, it is most likely unoccupied. When used, it transformed into an area where people of all ages could take classes, ranging from dance cardio to yoga. Although I have yet to take any of these classes, I definitely look forward to them in the future. On the other hand, when the room is not in use for various classes, this quiet, free room is perfect for ending my workout with a 10-15-minute core circuit. The turf area is also good for a quick ab burner, but it can be crowded and a little distracting; I prefer to grab a yoga mat and a 10-pound weight in the unoccupied room to end my workout!!

Spin Classes/Room

For fans of Soul Cycle or your home Peloton, the new cycle room will fulfill all of your spin class dreams. Aesthetics alone make the experience hard to compete with, complete with dim blue lighting and a beautiful bike setup. The space also features state-of-the-art spin bikes, and classes are offered twice a day, emphasizing proper technique and an intense workout. As stated on the YMCA website, all fitness levels are welcome, so don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone and drop in on a class. I certainly will!

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January is rarely quiet in the soccer world, and this year’s January transfer window was no exception. Across leagues like the Premier league, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A, clubs reshaped their rosters with signings, surprise departures, and loans. From Premier League moves to under-the-radar transfers in other divisions, these players are going to be hard to miss.

Premier League

Aside from Manchester City, a defeated Spurs team, sitting on the lower end of the table for the Premier League, has just signed Conor Gallagher for around 35 million euros. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder is exactly what Tottenham needed. With Kulusevski and Madison missing, their midfield has been lackluster. With Gallagher ready to be a new engine for them, they may be able to turn their season around.

La Liga

Ligue 1

With that, those are the major transfers in the January window. The soccer (football) world is excited to see what these new stars will bring.

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