Category: Lifestyle
Is that YouTube challenge worth it?
By Jasmine Ferrell, Staff Writer
@JasmineInBoston
Sometimes the YouTube Challenge isn’t Worth it…
The presence of YouTube has forever influenced our lives, for better or worse. One of the more negative trends it’s spawned is the YouTube challenges. Whether it be swallowing a tablespoon of cinnamon, or eating so many crackers in the allotted amount of time, none of these challenges are a good idea. Countless people have made recorded their own attempts at these challenges, and most of the time the only result is comical spectacular. Well, spectacular is the wrong word, because in reality the results are never that funny let alone, funny enough to inspire an infinite amount of copycat videos. There is also the whole health hazard concept that should be regarded, because a lot of these are not at all healthy. So before you stress out your organs and try one of these for five seconds of fame, let’s break this down.
The Cinnamon Challenge:
What is it? Swallowing a tablespoon of Cinnamon in less than one minuet.
Downside? The Boston Globe wrote an article that teens who partook in the challenge have been taken to the emergency room for collapsed lungs and some suffer long-term effects like scarring and lesions in the lungs. Totally worth it to record yourself spewing cinnamon like some kind of Venetian fountain.
The Gallon Challenge:
What is it? Drinking an entire gallon of milk in one hour (anything less than whole is “cheating”
Downside? Well the body is not accustomed to digesting so much milk in one sitting so there can be some rather nasty after effects: vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea according to U.S. News.
Ice and Salt Challenge:
What is it? Putting salt on your skin and then an ice cube on top.
Downside? Besides the pain and burning you’re bound to feel, the same U.S. News article pointed out that some have received frost bite, and 1st to 2nd degree burns. That’s real cute.
There are hundreds of challenges out there if you want to waste a couple minutes of your time, but think about it. It’s not so impressive a feat, when you’re puking in the corner. So again, let’s all thank YouTube and the creativity of its users.
Below, view the cinnamon challenge in action:
Beyoncé world tour bans press photographers
By Devon Delfino, Staff Writer
@devondelfino
Beyoncé’s fierceness seems to have backfired in these press photos/ PHOTO VIA BuzzFeed.com
According to an article on Poynter.org, Beyoncé’s Mrs. Carter Show world tour has banned all press photographers from the show and has provided a list of pre-approved images to be used for coverage instead.
I might be the only one— aside from the press photographers— but I am kind of disappointed with this decision.
Apparently this move has to do with some particularly unflattering photos published on BuzzFeed.com from the Superbowl Half-time show; with the numerous less-than-flattering memes that resulted, it’s understandable that the press would get the cold shoulder.
It’s no secret that the star is insanely gorgeous, and with a culture obsessed with beauty, she’s done pretty well in branding her image. Needless to say, the meme incident was a P.R. nightmare, but the popularity of the photos only increased.
But why do we love these really unattractive memes? Maybe it’s because of the cult of the celebrity: we (well, some of us) are so obsessed with fame that we will do anything to feel closer to it. Maybe it’s because we are jealous of her. Maybe it’s just because photos like the ones on BuzzFeed are such a rarity in celebrity culture. There’s a reason that there is an entire career field dedicated to crafting celebrity’s public images; but there’s also a reason that things like BuzzFeed and TMZ still exist.
I like to think that it’s because they remind us that even the prettiest among us can look bad from time to time, it’s only human.
The ban won’t solve the problem, though, because of a little thing called the camera phone. Over the years, there has been a dramatic increase in the involvement of amateur photographers who use their camera phones to capture anything from concerts to news. For better or worse, this trend shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
The Great Gatsby Soundtrack
By Maya Devereaux, Staff Writer
@MayaDevereaux
While hailing from the town that inspired West Egg in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby certainly adds to my excitement for Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation out next week. A long list of other factors account for my increasing enthusiasm— the soundtrack and Leonardo DiCaprio, just to name a few.
The star-studded cast, which includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton and Isla Fisher, seems to be going head to head with the also star-studded soundtrack that has been recently revealed to the public. Jack White’s rendition of U2’s “Love is Blindness,” can be heard in the film’s first official trailer. The rendition is enough to send chills down your spine as you watch Leo’s character Jay Gatsby toss his abundance of silky shirts at Daisy Buchanan in the novel’s famous scene.
To name-drop a few artists in the fabulous line-up: Gotye, Sia, Fergie, Will.i.am, the xx, Lana Del Rey, Florence and the Machine, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z. An article on MTV describes Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful,” the film’s original song, as somber-sounding, which seems only fitting for the mood of the film.
In case you haven’t yet seen the trailer or any of Luhrmann’s other films for that matter, they are over the top. So who better to include in the soundtrack than Beyonce? Combined with Andre 3000, she has produced a cover to Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black.” Though many are thrilled by the sultry and dark cover, Winehouse’s family is certainly not, especially Winehouse’s father.
According to an article by the Huffington Post, Mitch Winehouse, father of the late singer, has taken to Twitter to voice his discontent with the portrayal. He says the cover “doesn’t bring anything to his daughter’s 2006 original.” Winehouse also states in a tweet from April 2 that he had no idea his daughter’s song was going to be covered by Beyoncé. In response to multiple tweets from the disgruntled father, fans from both parties have taken to the Internet to defend both sides.
One thing for sure is that Baz Luhrmann’s take on the 1920s novel and his overall filmmaking style demand something unique from its predecessor— the 1974 adaptation with Robert Redford— both musically and stylistically.
Check out the trailer below:
Yelp Prison Reviews
By Lindsey Cantey, Staff Writer
At least you have some idea of what prison might be like/PHOTO VIA Danielle Cantey
Thanks to business-review sites like Yelp, every decision we make as consumers can be well-researched. These days, we, as consumers rarely need to buy a new product, visit a new restaurant, or plan a vacation to a new place without becoming acquainted first with the level of quality it possesses.
This is where Yelp comes in. Anything remotely foreign, whether product or place, is typed into the search box. The results are cataloged and potential customers can view scores given and reviews written by past customers. Yelp can also tell you whether or not a place is open or closed, how far away the location of a place is in proximity to where the potential customer is, and is customized to a person’s specific location (i.e., Yelp in Boston, Yelp in San Francisco, etc.)
The peer-review model employed by Yelp works so well with influencing everyday purchase decisions. It is only logical it would be useful for other life experiences as well. Even life experiences such as prison. Yep, you read right. Yelp even has reviews for prisons. In an article by ABC, there are reviews on Yelp for prisons. Each review is composed of evaluations written by inmates, visitors and even lawyers.
Yelp prison reviews can be a useful and comical tool for those that have a choice. Through Yelp, one can virtually experience life in prison regardless of what side of the bars you may be on. Just like a restaurant or a salon.
So, in the event that you may be visiting a prison, I would highly suggest going to Yelp first. At least you get a sense of what you’re getting into. Sort of.
Spotlight: Treat Cupcake Bar
It’s cupcake heaven at Treat./PHOTO VIA Heather Hamacek
By Heather Hamacek, Staff Writer
@HeatherHamacek
Cupcakes are delicious; there is no denying that. Probably because they’re miniature cakes! Everything tastes better when it is miniature. Treat Cupcake Bar, which recently opened a location in Chestnut Hill, knew exactly how to take a cupcake shop to the next level. The customer becomes part of the experience at Treat’s make-your-own-cupcake bar, where customers are able to mix three toppings of their choice to create a custom frosting, much like Cold Stone Creamery. The custom-made frosting then tops a cupcake of the customer’s choosing.
Not only do the customers get control of the components of the cupcake, they can even do the mixing themselves if they want! Customers then get a naked cupcake, a cup of frosting and their three chosen toppings to mix in and design.
“Treat is focusing on the fact that everyone loves cupcakes. Our initial branding was more kid-oriented,” said Adie Sprague, head baker and general manager. “A lot of cupcake stores target adults with nostalgia, [but] we went right [back] to the beginning. It doesn’t have to have a nostalgic vibe, it [cupcakes] can just be fun.”
Treat mixes a fun activity along with a delicious treat, making it an excellent place to visit after dinner or on a date. The pre-made cupcake flavors are quite ingenious, ranging from Fluffernutter to seasonal treats, like Sprague’s favorite, Blueberry Pancakes.
Treat caters in addition to having a café. It has two locations currently, the new shop at The Street— an outdoor collection of shops and eateries in Chestnut Hill— and the original shop is based in Needham.
New parenting trend: diaperless babies
By Brandon Lewis, Staff Writer
@Brandon_S_Lewis
Are diapers becoming a thing of the past?/ PHOTO VIA youmaybenext.com
People say that when you have children, you change forever. Well, when it comes to hipsters having children, they pretty much stay the same.
According to an article in the New York Times, young New York parents have been catching on to ‘elimination control,’ which apparently means allowing their babies to roam society without diapers. Hipsters are granting their offspring the right to use the bathroom wherever their little hearts desire. It could be the supermarket parking lot, behind the bushes at the local park, or the kitchen sink.
Yes, the kitchen sink where you watch dishes and prepare food.
Many parents say this new tactic is a way to avoid the constant washing and reuse of diapers. So we’re training pets to use the bathroom on newspapers but teaching babies that it’s all right to pop a squat in the middle of the playground.
Elimination control is described in an article on CBC News’ website as enabling parents to recognize when their children have to use the bathroom. When babies are on the verge of eliminating their wastes, they most likely give off a warning such as a grimace or noise. Then parents associate the babies’ warnings with their needs. This connection between parent and baby represents the elimination communication.
Ten years from now when I become a father, my children will be raised with diapers on their bottoms. I just can’t imagine myself running to get a bucket to place under my child when he needs to use the bathroom. Even though a significant chunk of my income will be devoted to buying diapers, they’re just more convenient in my opinion. They provide a soft cushion for babies and let them use the bathroom without having to ‘inform’ their parents.
The only benefit I detect from elimination communication is that babies tend to be potty trained faster than kids that wear diapers. This may entice some parents but not me. Throwing away a diaper is easier than cleaning feces and pee out of a bowl, don’t you think? I’m sure that some people will think that elimination communication is the best thing in the world. But for me, my children will not step foot out of the house without a diaper. Sorry, not sorry.
Is Catholic school really that bad?
By Samantha Wong, Staff Writer
@saaaamwong
If you went to Catholic school, this pattern will bring back memories/ PHOTO VIA etsy.com
A few months back, Buzzfeed produced an article titled “24 Signs You Went to Catholic School,” and being Buzzfeed, the article was naturally relatable and hilarious. Admittedly, though, there is some element of sadness with being able to relate to the signs. Some signs are normal (e.g., “4. You probably still write in cursive.”), but some hit a bit too close to home for comfort (e.g., “13. You only learned about one sexual orientation”).
For a good four years, I attended a Catholic school. In the Philippines, most schools are Catholic or align their views with the values of some version of Christianity. This is not limited to primary and secondary education, but universities as well. This might have something to do with the fact that Spain is mostly Catholic and the Spanish colonized the Philippines for a couple hundred years (read: about 400).
In all honesty, I didn’t enjoy Catholic school. I was there for middle school but not high school but middle school. Still, coming into a non-Catholic high school from Catholic school was a bit confusing. I definitely will say I missed some crucial moments of growth as a tween. Growth, that I personally feel, I would have gotten otherwise from a non-Catholic institution.
Whether or not a school emphasizes certain values or not, as long as one is learning to be more knowledgeable, I don’t think it necessarily matters what kind of institution one goes to. Socially, I don’t know if I can say the same thing since Catholic schools are definitely more rigid in comparison with social norms. But otherwise? Education is education.
MUSE: My love affair with Fort Point
By Brooke Jackson-Glidden, MUSE Editor
There’s a tiny foodie mecca hidden across the bay, a five- to ten-minute walk from South Station. Perhaps you’ve seen it on a visit to the ICA or the Atlantic Wharf. It’s a bizarre contrast between modern Los Angeles glass and classic Boston brick architecture: the waterside docks perfect for a quick dip of the toes, the restaurants for miles, indie gourmet groceries and Asian-fusion small plates.
Also known as the Innovative District, Fort Point has been exploding with new restaurants. In March alone, three different food vendors opened in the area, alongside half of Barbara Lynch’s tiny empire (Sportello, Menton and Drink). Here’s your quick guide to eating your way through Fort Point:
The Blue Dragon is a more than appropriate place to sit back and relax after a long day./PHOTO VIA Brooke Jackson-Glidden
Blue Dragon: Ming Tsai’s Asian Small Plates are a hit since opening earlier this year. His second restaurant, Tsai, keeps his atmosphere casual and fun, with tasty Asian twists on classic gastropub fare.
CHECK OUT: The escargot, dan dan noodles, shepard’s pie, and the Dragon burger
Tavern Road: This modern edition to “Restaurant Row” (Congress St., over the river) serves cool small(ish) plates late at night, with a very young atmosphere and innovative menu.
CHECK OUT: The moulard duck, grilled octopus, and the gnocchi
Sportello: Barbara Lynch’s take on a diner. This “Italian lunch counter” serves sandwiches and homemade pastas that will make your head spin.
CHECK OUT: The gnocchi, the spicy tomato soup, and the sweetbreads
Other than the Bee’s Knees, where else can you find so diverse a selection?/PHOTO VIA Brooke Jackson-Glidden
Bee’s Knees: This gourmet grocery opened last month, and we’re so glad. Bee’s Knees offers a wide variety of locally and internationally sourced cheese, produce, wine, and other food items that are sure to make any foodie smile.
CHECK OUT: The cheese selection, the café
Flour: Almost everyone knows and loves Joanne Chang’s popular indie bakery, but most of them didn’t know it was located in this tiny foodie paradise.
CHECK OUT: “Pop Tarts”, sandwiches, and sticky buns
COMING SOON: Row 34, Pastoral
The Dartmouth ‘Social’ Cups Program
By Danielle Cantey
@canielle17
Eating alone may not be as sad as it seems with Dartmouth’s Social Cups program./PHOTO VIA Flickr user Jim Pennucci
We’ve all experienced the anxiety of entering a crowded lunch room alone on the first day of middle or high school. In those awkward grade school years, finding someone to sit with could be a daunting task. Sitting alone generally indicated you were some sort of social pariah. But once college begins, those anxieties and stereotypes about dining hall sociability disappear…or do they? Eating alone shouldn’t be an indication of loneliness or social status, but sometimes it is.
According to an article in The Dartmouth, Christopher McMillian, a senior at Dartmouth College, has implemented the Dartmouth Social Cup Program. The program is designed to combat the awkwardness of eating alone with special red cups. When the red cups are used in lieu of Dartmouth’s regular clear cups, they indicate that the student using it wouldn’t mind company. While there are students who have made fun of the program and others who complain about the cups’ ineffectiveness, the idea behind them is brilliant. As McMillian says in the article, “Students often feel uncomfortable or awkward when they are eating alone.”
The social cups are aimed at ameliorating some of the awkwardness associated with meeting new people. The cups may be ineffective when most people have established solid friend groups, but the program has great potential for freshman entering in the fall. What better way to improve freshman year than with a red cup that encourages people to come up and talk to you.
College Confidential features the perilous task of eating alone as a hot topic. Go to any dining hall on BU’s campus, and you’ll see a variety of diners: people eating alone, two people eating together, and people eating with groups of friends. In college and in life, eating alone is often a result of busy schedules and convenience. Luckily for those who feel too uncomfortable to embrace the solidarity of solo eating at Dartmouth, these red cups may just be the solution.
‘What Would Ryan Lochte Do?’
By Devon Delfino, Staff Writer
@devondelfino
It’s official, anyone can have their own show. The new show on E!, “What Would Ryan Lochte Do?”, premiered this past Sunday, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why someone though this was a good idea.
True, Lochte has accomplished a ton when it comes to swimming. But the 28 year old’s 11 Olympic medals fade into the background as soon as he starts talking. Okay, so it’s not exactly as confusing a choice as “Keeping up with the Kardashians”, but, from what I’ve seen in the promotionals, it’s not that much better.
It’s not so much what he says (though he did once admit to wanting to be the next Kim Kardashian), but the way that he says it that makes Lochte one of the more unintentionally hilarious athletes I’ve seen.
So of course, they gave him a reality show.
The invasion of reality TV has brought with it a kind of voyeuristic obsession and a cult-like following. From the “Jersey Shore” to the “Real Housewives” series to the magic that is “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo”, we have more reality shows than we can handle.
In a recent interview on Fox29, Lochte’s surfer-dude demeanor, his inability to answer simple questions and his continuous attempts to coin the phrase, “Jeah” (in the words of Regina George, “Stop trying to make ‘jeah’ happen, it’s not going to happen”) made the anchors burst out in hysterics. At this point, the athlete has become more of a joke than I think he realizes. The weird thing is that he is talented, educated and obviously determined.
But that’s clearly not what reality TV is about, and it never will be. It’s about pure entertainment, and the hilarity that ensues when Lochte speaks might be enough to keep viewers watching.
Watch the promotional video of Ryan Lochte’s new show below:
