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Bryce Romig, Uncategorized

Tank Top trend becoming increasingly popular

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Click here to find the perfect tank top

By Bryce Romig

This year has seen more unique trends than ever before. From neon colors to darker undertones, the trends have varied greatly. Summers latest trend has seemed to have taken teenage girls by storm. Tribal tank tops have become popular with girls everywhere, and it seems like every store you go too has a multitude of them just waiting to be bought. The question is why is something so simple hitting major fashion markets everywhere?

The answer is simple; take something plain and comfortable like a tank top, add some colorful touches and designs, now fashion can be easy and flexible.

“They are more comfortable than some other shirts. I really like the bright colored ones, such as orange, pink, or purple,” said junior Hannah Andres.

Sophomore Olivia Nguyen is also up to date with today’s fashion.

“I like tank tops because they flatter most body types, and look good with shorts. I wear a lot of black, so I like to wear pastel pink colored ones because it can make your outfit look vintage and girly,” said Nguyen.

Tank tops also work as a great addition to summer because of the thin fabric and weightlessness they provide. This way, you can keep cool and look sharp all at once.

“I like wearing tank tops because they are comfortable and in summer you don’t have to wear a heavy shirt. You can just put on a tank top and not worry about being hot all day,” said freshman Colleen Fitzgerald.

Tank tops are also very wallet friendly. For fashionistas on a budget, these are calling your name.  Almost every store has them on their racks, and the prices tend to range anywhere from ten to thirty dollars. This makes for a great way to save money and add a great addition to your closet.

“I shop at many places such as American Eagle, Forever 21, and Body Central. They have great prices, and tank tops are cheap anyways,” said Andres.

School rules may interfere with your choice of tank top, so steer clear of any thin strapped ones. If you are absolutely set on a tank top that you may feel will cause a problem, trying adding a light jacket or light see through shirt over it. This way, you can look fierce and still cooperate with school dress code.

Girls, if you are looking to try out some of these tank tops yourself, try matching it with a mini skirt. These really add a glamorous effect to the outfit, and take out the lazy tank top stereotype.

For the guys, tank tops are always in. Try sticking to darker colors. These are easier to match with colored shorts, and make you look a little bit manlier. While girls have many different styles of tank tops, men don’t have very many. Try to steer clear of wearing tank tops and jeans, this combination may confuse others about what season it is, and won’t compliment your awesome fashion sense.

Tank tops seem to go with everything, so don’t be afraid to try something daring. You might surprise yourself, and come out with a rocking outfit. And before you know it, you’ll be the school trendsetter.

A&E, Brooke McAfee

The Civil War’s second album offers intensity and emotion

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 By Brooke McAfee

The Civil Wars’ new album, entitled The Civil Wars, brings a tense, dark tone to their distinctive sound. The folk duo, consisting of singer/songwriters John Paul White and Joy Williams, has broken up, due to “internal discord,” and though the exact nature of this split remains unclear, the sentiment can be heard throughout.

Their debut album, Barton Hollow, featured the harmonious vocals of the two singers, their voices blending together in a unique way. Their second album relies more on the vocal talent of Williams, and the harmony is less balanced as White’s voice often seems to fade into the background, while Williams pure, dramatic voices soars.

The album opens on “The One Who Got Away,” featuring heavier instrumentation and the intensity that signals the theme of the entire album. The vocals are passionate and are perfectly matched by the lyrics such as: “Oh if I could go back in time/ When you only held me in my mind/ Just a longing gone without a trace…”   This song is a definite highlight, since it keeps the signature sound that first drew in fans, but is also more expansive and experimental. White’s voice is featured more in “I Had Me a Girl,” a twangy song with a rougher quality.

“Same Old, Same Old” is infused with the gentle melancholy of a hopeless relationship that is crumbling apart, and seems to be an answer to Barton Hollow’s “Poison and Wine.” This particular song provides perhaps the most intimate portrait, portraying the heart of the “civil war,” which is showcased in the album.

It is followed by the haunting “Dust to Dust,” one of the most beautiful songs on the album. The poetic words are tinged with sadness, yet are reassuring: “You’ve been lonely too long/ Let me in the walls you’ve built around/ We can light a match/ And burn them down…“ “Eavesdrop” starts softly and calmly, but builds into a dramatic, defiant crescendo, with lyrics detailing the denial stage of a dying relationship.

Many of the songs are more eclectic. “Devil’s Backbone” will appeal to those who enjoyed the track “Barton Hollow,” and  “Down in the Valley” offers a refreshing shift from the heartache of the previous tracks. They include a few cover songs, including Smashing Pumpkins’ “Disarm,” that they make their own with their sincere vocals.

Williams sings “Sacred Heart,” a song sung entirely in French. This song lacks the intensity present in many of the tracks, and seems like a bittersweet goodbye.The somewhat unusual “D’Airline,” composed of whispery vocals woven together in a intricate melody, concludes the album.

Avid fans of The Civil Wars’ may have mixed feelings about their new album. True, it is does not have all of the gorgeous, peaceful harmonies of Barton Hollow, and the duo’s parting is certainly a disappointment. However, this album tells a different story, and it tells it with such authenticity that it is difficult not be swept into its emotion.

A&E, Michael Pepin

Nintendo leaves E3 shocking investors, gamers

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By Michael Pepin

Anyone who is remotely interesting in gaming or anything technology related has probably been looking forward to E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, this June.  This event is considered by many to be the greatest event of the year for companies looking to target gamers and investors.  However, Nintendo, which is arguably the most popular gaming company in the world, will not be attending E3. 

This shocked a lot of people, and various rumors of all sorts have been flying across social media in response to this.  While random sites whisper of Nintendo being ashamed of their new product, the Wii U, in comparison to competitors like the Playstation 4 and others, the real reason behind this decision is more simple.  Nintendo felt that it was no longer necessary to attend the E3 event and showcase the Wii U,  feeling that with the expanse of social media and Nintendo’s great reputation, it was no longer necessary to attend E3.  Instead they will be hosting smaller events outside of E3 to reach out to their audience and plan to use the new Nintendo Direct conference to contact their customers. They felt that people are going to continue with the Wii U whether it makes an appearance at the Expo or not. Instead of E3, Nintendo spent a much smaller sum of money to attend several smaller conferences, which they feel will make a much bigger impact than E3. 

Some feel that this was a smart move for Nintendo, being the first to cut out of E3 and break tradition in this new era where such conventions are no longer needed.  In the past, E3 was for gamers, and investors.  Gamers want to learn about the games and not spend ten minutes hearing about this new game and an hour about stock and regulations and business related stuff.  With several other smaller events, it allows Nintendo to get a much more focused audience for each end of the spectrum rather than simply appealing to everyone at E3.  In addition, at E3 they would have to compete against Sony and Microsoft’s new systems while all they would have is the Wii U, which is already in production and was shown last year as well.  Without new content, it would be a disadvantage for them to spend so much time and effort at E3.
However the outcome of this endeavor could easily be disastrous.  E3 has become a tradition for all of the major companies, and Nintendo is one of the big three of the E3.  Simply not showing up is almost unthinkable, it is the biggest event of the year.  Many fans feel betrayed that Nintendo is simply relying on their reputation to carry on with the sale of their products, and this arrogant act could easily be their  downfall.  People come to E3 to see the progress of the companies and see upcoming consoles and games.  By not showing up other companies, like Sony and Microsoft, take the stage in their absence.  
This could be the downfall of E3 rather than the downfall of Nintendo.  In this new age of technology, contacting customers directly through their console could be the new path that advertising and display is taking.  Other companies like 2K Games and Rockstar have backed out of E3 as well in Nintendo’s wake.  Attending and hosting these conventions is expensive.  This could be the beginning of a new era for gamers, or it could be the end of Nintendo’s time as a major console developer, only time will tell.