TOP 5 SHOWS THAT YOU SHOULD WATCH

By Luke Whobrey

1 – Breaking Bad

Though often heralded as an oft crime thriller, “Breaking Bad” has had a resurgence in popularity with the release of a spinoff, “Better Call Saul” (an equally nefarious-themed acquaintance), as well as a variety of internet memes chronicling its main character, Walter White’s mouth-agape expression in response to a tragedy. The show, focusing on themes of disparity as well as chronicled events of impending doom, present a narrative meant to show that while action is a gripping feature, there is more to be presumed within what we perceive as “Illegal.”

2 – The Sopranos

A crime drama starring New Jersey’s finest James Gandolfini, the “Sopranos” focuses on an Italian-American mobster who attempts to reconcile his family life with his infidelities as well as the numerous amounts of punches, gunshots, and kicks he has to throw to get people his way. Running for seven seasons, David Chase presents a narrative acquainted with that of oldie-goldies in cinema, reminiscent of “The Godfather”, “Goodfellas”, and “The Untouchables”. 

3 – The Walking Dead

A post-apocalyptic horror show with elements of the Western genre, especially that of Spaghetti Western, “The Walking Dead” chronicles in its first few seasons the life of a certain Rick Grimes, a police officer who awakens in a hospital after having been shot by a criminal. While asleep, the world around him collapsed to hordes of flesh-eating monsters that the characters in the show refer to as “walkers.” Delivering horror with a slice of standoff, “The Walking Dead” provides enough entertainment in both its catalogue of weapons as well as its production of acquired nuances, a feat seldom accomplished in mainstream media.

4 – The Last of Us

Despite only recently coming out and having four episodes total as of writing this, “The Last of Us”, like “The Walking Dead”, focuses through both flashbacks and interactions on a world destroyed by both firebombing from a desperate military as well as the undead who brought it upon themselves. The show echoes themes of affection and bewildered morality, as well as the unfortunate alliances and sacrifices needed to be made to fight against a foe, in this case one mutated with a large appetite for brains. 

5 – Futurama

While a wild suggestion with its two-dimensional landscape compared to the previous shows, “Futurama” serves as one of “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening’s finest works, coming elements of comedy with surrealism, non-sequiturs, and futuristic vendettas, all held together by a stream-of-consciousness format explored in the character of Philip Fry, a despondent salesman who finds himself sent 1,000 years into the future in cryostasis. 

Stranger Things Season 4 – Review

Project | Stranger Things, Season 4 - Rodeo FX

Written By: Samuel Broady

The popular Netflix original series known as “Stranger Things” fully released its fourth and latest season last July and fans all over the world are still talking about it. Everybody loves a great sci-fi horror story about a group of kids stopping supernatural forces; and, personally, I believe that the show deserves all the views and love it has received. Of course, the newest season isn’t without its flaws, but it did revive the show and there’s a lot of reasons for that.

The main improvement with the fourth season is that the original elements of mystery and horror have returned. It’s safe to say that a mysterious story is all about revealing one piece of information after another, until each piece fits together perfectly to reveal the whole story. On a horror basis, this season really cranks it up. It embraces the Stephen King vibes and it increases the brutality. With the introduction of the villain Vecna, it’s a refreshing take on the genres that made the show magic in the first place.

Another thing that has always driven this show is the characters. Eleven is always interesting; Hopper remains a strong fighter; Steve’s development is amazing; and Eddie is amusing. However, in Season 4, Max has the best arc. She blocks out her friends because of her depression and trauma. But when she’s faced with the risk of death, she uses her happy memories to escape the darkness. What seemed like an apathetic lifestyle turned into an instinctive embracing of friendship and life. As a social commentary, I believe that her struggle is the best aspect in the new season.

There are a lot of other positive aspects in this season. The emotions are all over the place. Building off of our attachment to the characters, there are several heartbreaking scenes.

Additionally, the scope of the story is huge, the production design is off the charts, the filming locations are stunning, the special effects look convincing, the cinematography is showcased in spectacular use of dramatically colored lighting, the action doesn’t fail to entertain, and the performances rock. Sadie Sink (Max) and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) especially shine in this season. Finally, the music is awesome. The biggest example is “Running Up That Hill”, a song from the 1980s by Kate Bush, which topped the charts on Spotify this year after its revival on the show.

There are negative aspects, unfortunately. The biggest issue is how overstuffed the episodes are. Too much happening can make one get lost and some subplots are more engaging than others. They should remove characters because some have no need in the show anymore. Also, the amount of plot armor and untied loose ends is somewhat underwhelming.

Needless to say, “Stranger Things” Season 4 improves on a lot of things. It’s not perfect, but it certainly proves the possibility for blockbuster television. All we can do now is wait for Season 5 and hope it’s even better because the future looks bright. According to the Duffer Brothers, we’re headed into a time jump that will only take place in Hawkins with no new characters. And that sure sounds promising.

All in all, Stranger Things Season Four deserves a 9/10.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Review

By: Sam Broady

2022 was a good year for movies. With “Top Gun: Maverick,” “The Batman,”  “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Bullet Train,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” cinema was back. Oddly enough, there was one other film in theaters that nobody asked for, nobody expected it to be good, and nobody hated it. That film is “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” Out of all the possibilities for a sequel, “Puss in Boots” turned out to have one and it happened to be amazing. I was blown away in theaters. I have a good memory of it and I look forward to re-watching it because it may be my favorite Dreamworks film. “How to Train Your Dragon” held that title for a long time.

The best thing about this film is by far the animation. In all honesty, it is the best animation I have ever seen. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is well known for its top notch animation, but while its visuals have the highest highlights, I think this film has better visuals overall. The action looks especially good. I love how the frame rate slows down in all the fight scenes. My favorite scene is the fight between Puss in Boots and Death because the color scheme looks amazing. I adore the use of colors and lighting in this film.

Another thing I love about this movie is the characters. I think it’s really important for a film to prioritize its characters if it wants to be memorable; luckily, that’s what happened. I highly enjoy Puss in Boots in this film. I don’t remember anything about the prequel but it doesn’t matter. Antonio Banderas gives the character such energy and he keeps his vibrant personality among the challenges he faces. I like his reunion with Kitty: she gets the job done. Perrito the dog is a funny addition. He brings love and comfort to the story. Goldilocks and the three bears are a delight to see and I didn’t expect them to be so fun. However, my favorite character is the wolf. His name is Death and he is the coolest character in fiction. Every time he’s on screen, he gives me the creeps. 

Surprisingly, the themes are conveyed with more depth than I expected. This film explores the fear of dying, which many can relate to. With Puss in Boots being on one out of nine lives, he is running for his life for the first time. His objective in the story is to make a wish for more lives so he can be the legend everyone knows him as. But, in the end, he realizes one life is enough when he gets to spend it with the people he loves. Or should I say animals. Everyone else cancels their wish as well when they learn to appreciate what they have. Having someone to trust, having a family, having friends; there’s a heartfelt message about sticking with what you have in life and it’s done in a rather subtle manner that complements the characterization of our protagonist.

Extra aspects that I enjoyed are the voice acting, the humor, and the music. I don’t know why Dreamworks went so hard on this film, but I am so glad they did. We need more animated masterpieces like these; films that specialize in the telling of a story and the style of animation rather than serving as a formulaic cash grab that intends to sell merchandise and teach kids nothing. You can feel the passion that went into every frame of this film. I cannot feel anything when watching films produced by Illumination like “Minions”. The difference in quality between Illumination and Dreamworks is unreal. By all means, I think it’s safe to say that “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is the best animated film of 2022 and I am very thankful for its release.

Scary movies have a frightful history

by Natalie Creagh and Aurora Grisham

From blood-filled elevators and “One Wish Willows,” to that feeling of anticipation and caution, wondering what’s going to happen next, horror movies can be a crowd favorite to some or a nightmare to others.

Art by Jeremiah Rogers.

Horror films have been around for many years and have also changed with how fear is portrayed and what the generations consider scary. So how did this all start, and how do horror films continue to evolve and frighten people?

The first horror film ever made was “Le Manoir du diable,” known in English as “The Haunted Castle” or “The House of the Devil,” in 1869 by George Méliès. The film included cauldrons, bats, skeletons, and ghosts, things that someone in 2026 wouldn’t be as scared of.

The first popular, full-length horror film was “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.” Other iconic classics include “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson, about a scientist named Henry Jekyll who, when testing out a potion, becomes his beastly alter ego, Mr. Hyde, terrorizing and killing the people of London.

Everyone knows and loves the classic films, such as “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and “Carrie,” but new movies are constantly coming out, like “Obsession” and the newly-released “Other Mommy.”

Everyone has their favorite horror movie, and there are many to choose from. Let’s see what movies students and staff prefer.

Junior Kai Helton, who says he prefers the more classic horror movies, said his favorite horror movie is the 1996 “Scream.” Helton said that, if he had to spend a full day in a horror movie, it would be “Silence of the Lambs.”

Helton said, “If I wasn’t a main character, I don’t think anything would happen to me.”

“The Silence of the Lambs,” released in 1991, follows a young FBI trainee, Clarice Starling, as she hunts for a serial killer, “Buffalo Bill,” and seeks advice from the brilliant psychiatrist and insane cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The movie is a psychological horror, full of moments of fear and suspense.

On the topic of psychological horror movies, sophomore General McLain finds that psychological horror movies are interesting.  The movie McLain would want to be in was the 2005 movie “The Descent,” a movie about a group of friends going on a gone-wrong cave-diving expedition. McLain said that he prefers classical movies, with his favorite being “The Conjuring.”

With classical movies, APUSH and government teacher Robert Russell said that his favorite is “The Silence of the Lambs.”

“I think it’s the most realistic horror movie I’ve seen,” Russell said.

Russell responded to what movie he would prefer to be in with The Silence of the Lambs, for the reason of finding FBI profiling to be very interesting and their process of finding serial killers.  He said that he prefers classic horror movies like “Halloween” and “Carrie.”

English teacher Grant Vance said, “I’m a huge fan of the original ‘Halloween,’ and I did my college English thesis paper on ‘Scream.’”

Vance felt that, if he had to spend a day in a horror movie, he would pick “ Buddy,” a new movie released in August of this year. “I think it would be a fun one,” he said. The story follows a group of kids trapped in a “Barney and Friends” style world with an orange unicorn named Buddy, who takes a dark turn from the typical kids’ show.

Most everyone likes horror films, with horror being a universal theme. From psychological to thriller, horror is an undying genre that is being constantly revamped and the standards are constantly changing.  From “Le Manoir de diable” to “Obsession,” there’s always something for everyone to watch.

JROTC cadet Ryan Lossner presented Silver Valor Award on Monday

Photos by Ashton Walcott.

Red Devils prepare for girls’ basketball season

by Layney Derricott

A new season comes with new opportunities, challenges and goals.

The girls’ basketball team is preparing for the court. Coming off of a 14-11 season last year, they’re ready to improve. Preseason practices have been a great chance to get ahead on this season’s improvement. Junior shooting guard Lili Mangrum shared that the new season has brought adjustments for the Red Devils.

“We’ve been learning how to play with the lower classmen,” said Mangrum, “as well as adjusting to the new people coming in, really working on becoming a team.”

Girls’ basketball is mainly junior led, and these juniors have played together since they were children, forming a lifelong connection.

In addition to Mangrum,the juniors include point guard Makenna Taylor and guard Jazlynn Bryant, among others. Coach A.J. Moye shared that the team’s strong bond will play an important role in their succession.

“Our team is filled with high level characters, mainly led by juniors that are driven and know what it takes. That also strongly care for each other’s well beings and improvements,” Moye stated.

Returning players bring experience and a sense of recognition in each other, while new faces will have to adjust with the pace of high school basketball.

Freshman Trinity Broadway said her biggest challenge during the preseason preparation includes “adjusting to the different levels of basketball,” and “becoming quicker and more focused.”

As the team continues to adjust for the season, they are keeping an eye on competition as well. Junior forward Lorelei Darling identified the two toughest teams.

“The toughest team we will face is Pike, along with Christian Academy. The game will be intense, along with a learning curve we will have to face,” said Darling.

Junior Makenna Taylor prepares to pass the ball during last season’s JHS-New Albany game last season. The Red Devils won 60-48. Taylor is one of several juniors who will lead this season’s basketball team. Photo by Parker McCloskey.

With challenging opponents ahead, experience and determination will be key for the team. Taylor has faced many challenges so far into her basketball journey, saying the toughest being ,”honestly, trying to win a sectional has been tough in the past years, especially since our conference can be competitive. I, however, have a really good feeling about this year.”

That confidence Taylor holds carries into practice, where Bryant said team highly focuses on staying positive, motivating one another, and, “making sure not to fall short, not letting teammates fall short either. Along with keeping practice positive.”

Through encouragement, determination, and teamwork, the team hopes to turn their competitive mindset into success this season. Individual players have their opportunities to make an impact.

Taylor is the player everyone should be looking out for, according to Mangrum, saying she will “wow” the crowd this season with her skills and determination.

While individual talent is important, it only makes up one part of a team. Mangrum added that their combination of strengths all are what truly makes up the team.

“Our team is strong both defensively and offensively mainly due to our abilities to all play at all levels, equally improving and correcting together,” she said.

In this team no one is left behind, as they advance and get through struggles together. Like a family, heading into the season they’re excitedly preparing.

Bryant shared that her excitement resides in really harvesting in the season by “playing with all my teammates, just being all together again. Winning games and really shooting for a sectional win.”

Junior Jazlynn Bryant takes a moment before heading into last December’s game against Floyd Central. JHS defeated the Highlanders 50-47. The Red Devils begin their season Nov. 7 at Castle. Photo by Malachi Conrad.

We need more blood drives across America

by Angelina Beach

The JHS Blood Drive sponsored by the National Honor Society took place last Thursday and Friday, and as a healthcare student who plans on staying in the healthcare field for as long as possible, I think that blood drives are very important.

But most people don’t take them as seriously as they should.

Unfortunately, out of all people who are eligible to donate to their blood drives each year, only 3% actually donate.

So much blood is needed everyday in the United States. That being said, in order to help save lives, we need more people to donate.

Donations have the power to transform lives. Whether it’s someone who has recently suffered a car accident or a child battling cancer, a single donation of blood can save up to three people.

Blood is an important factor when it comes to the healthcare field. Individuals with illnesses that cause anemia will usually be the recipients of blood transfusions.

For example, sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders that affect the major protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells, the hemoglobin. It is a disease that requires blood transfusions throughout the patient’s life. This disease affects a good amount of people in the U.S.; in fact, around 1,000 babies are born with it each year.

That being said, people need to start spreading awareness about the importance of blood drives.

Whole blood donations only take a short amount of time, about 8-10 minutes. For a pint, it only takes up to five minutes or less.

For a successful donation, it is recommended donors drink a lot of water, get enough food in their system, and be well rested. It is best to enjoy foods with high iron, in order to keep the body healthy and well energized.

Certain foods and beverages can have a negative effect on blood, including alcohol, fattening foods, foods that reduce iron absorption, and aspirin.

Newer studies show that it is actually healthy to donate blood, both for the donor and receiver.

The more blood that is donated, the more lives that can be saved.

  • Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets.
  • Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed everyday in the U.S.
  • Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
  • A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
  • The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O.
  • According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.9 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
  • Source: The American Red Cross

Head coach Sherron Wilkerson motivates players through discipline

by Natalia Martinez

Head boys’ basketball coach Sherron Wilkerson scans the hallway by the lunchroom, looking for problems to solve. Most students know him as the coach behind the game plan for JHS players.

“I coach basketball to teach kids and get to help them and teach them the things teachers and others don’t really get to teach them,” said Wilkerson.

Wilkerson played basketball at Jeff High before he ever coached here, as he was on the 1993 state championship team. He has carried what he learned from playing in that game through college and now to his players.

“Everything I learn from college I teach all at the high school level to show them what it takes, because if you’ve never been there before, you don’t know what it takes to be there.”

Those who know Wilkerson describe him as a good person and role model, saying the way he chooses to teach his players is a view of his character.

“Sherron cares a lot about the kids, making sure to teach them life lessons and put them on the right path in life. People just see his intensity, not how much he cares and helps the kids, and the kids that come back after graduation, he still helps them,” said safety and security officer Brian Mitchell.

Junior and varsity player Shyne Scruggs agreed. “Coach Wilkerson is very serious and a hard worker when it comes to basketball and very smart and intelligent.” 

Wilkerson wants his players to succeed on and off the court. He also supports them when they leave for college.

“He is always thinking about coaching when he’s not coaching, also making sure the kids are good and taken care of at home and if they need something to let him know,” said Mitchell. 

Wilkerson demonstrates the ability to bring out the best in every athlete, pushing them to reach their full potential and setting them up for success for success in the way he views losses.

“We don’t judge off our losses; we judge off performance and growth.’’ said Wilkerson.

Boys’ basketball coach Sherron Wilkerson. Photo by Natalia Martinez.

Indiana school voucher program expanded

Any eligible child can now receive voucher, regardless of family financial status

by Parker Vibbert

The Indiana Choice Scholarship, commonly known as a school voucher, was created in 2011 in an effort led by former Governor Mitch Daniels, R-IN, with the goal of providing lower and middle-class Hoosiers the opportunity to attend Private Schools.

Daniels advocated for the program and signed it into law to help Hoosier students.

“My intention was to give low-income citizens the same range of choices for their children’s education as their wealthier neighbors have,” Daniels stated in an email interview.

Daniels was also critical of the mandate that students must attend specific schools.

“We don’t tell them where they must buy their groceries or where they have to get their haircut, but in this most crucial of life decisions we had been telling them that their kids will attend a specific school, even if they found that school unsafe or of poor quality,” he stated.

With that goal in mind, the vouchers opened the door for students in poor or failing schools to attend private, often religious, schools whose tuition they otherwise could not afford.

It quickly grew into the largest school voucher program in the United States, with 76,000 Hoosier students using school vouchers in the 2024-25 school year.

Daniels served as president of Purdue University from 2013 to 2022, and has again served as interim president since July. No stranger to helping students and their families financially, he froze the tuition at the university for 11 straight school years during his prior tenure, and it has continued into the 2026-27 school year, reaching the university’s 14th consecutive year of frozen tuition.

Daniels says this is a priority because he has seen the financial burden Hoosiers face in their daily lives.

“I arrived at Purdue after 10 years of daily personal contact with the people of Indiana, and I was highly conscious of the pressure high college costs were imposing on our low- and middle-income families. I thought it was especially important for our public universities to prioritize affordability, and Purdue, the state’s land-grant school, most of all. In business and government, I had found again and again that large bureaucracies will always charge more if they can get away with it.”

Despite the annual tuition freezes, Daniels said Purdue never wound up with a deficit, which was enough for the practice to continue.

“When we broke the annual increase pattern, and found that we could still break even, I was able to persuade our board to do it a second time, then a third, and the success became self-reinforcing,” Daniels said.

Now, Governor Mike Braun, R-IN, and the Republican supermajorities in both houses of the Indiana General Assembly have removed the $220,000 yearly income cap for a family of four on the voucher program, allowing any eligible child to receive a voucher, regardless of financial status.

State Representative Wendy Dant Chesser, D-Jeffersonville, criticized the move, pointing to data showing the average yearly income of a school voucher recipient is around $102,840, nearly 50% higher than the average annual Hoosier income of roughly $70,000.

“In the 2024-25 school year, more voucher dollars went to families earning over $100,000 than to families earning less,” Dant Chesser said.

Dant Chesser also criticized the method in which the income cap was removed, being included in the state budget.

“The income cap change was included in the 2025 state budget bill instead of being passed as standalone legislation. I voted for the state budget because of what it did for our community, including funding for skilled trade education.  If removal of the income cap had been its own bill, I would have voted against it.”

Critics argue the state is now giving money to families who don’t need it so their children can attend an elite private school at little to no cost to them.

Daniels rebukes that argument.

“The duty of the state is to provide for children’s education, not to dictate where, or what form that education should take.  Regardless of their income, parents are simply directing tax dollars they have paid to the schools they believe [are] best-suited to their children.”

Lamb: A Mind-Bending Icelandic Film

Foreign films are nothing new to the United States. Most of them are Bollywood productions from India or horror films from Japan and Korea, like the Oscar award-winning ‘Parasite’ released in 2019. But now, with the release of  “Lamb,” Director Valdimar Jóhannsson may be making Icelandic film history.

The trailer for “Lamb” left many wondering about the film, and soon theories started to form in the comment section of the trailer’sYouTube video. The film is rated R and is advertised as horror. However, “Lamb” will most likely be seen more as a thought art-house film than a horror film to the American audience. The movie has very little dialogue, leaving much of the plot for the audience’s brain to figure out. And the ending is so abrupt, viewers will be shocked it’s over. For an hour and 46-minute movie, it leaves a lot for the brain to ponder.

The film takes place in the mountainous lands of Iceland. The two main characters are sheep farmers who live a typical life until one of their ewes gives birth to a lamb with a significant abnormality. The lamb is half-human. She resembles a lamb from her head to her right arm, and the rest of her is human. We can assume our two main characters, Maria and Ingvar, are desperate for a child due to their immediate acceptance of bringing the lamb child into their life. They name the little female lamb Ada. The name has a special meaning to the film, but that is for the viewers to find themselves. When Uncle Pétur shows up, their lifestyle with Ada is challenged. Not only by Pétur but also by something far more sinister.

The characters are well-rounded but also mysterious. To the viewer, they can either be seen as protagonists or antagonists, depending on their perception. Their outfits are typical modern-day Icelandic sweaters that help them keep warm in the freezing climate of Iceland. One big question from fans is how Ada’s character was formulated? When asked how he approached Ada’s look, Valdimar Jóhannsson highlighted patience.  “The actors were also very important because we used lambs, children, and puppets to shoot those scenes, so shooting took a long time, and they had to be very patient,” he said to Screen Daily.

When asked where the inspiration came from, Valdimar Jóhannsson said, “I was inspired by so many things: films, folklore, books, paintings, images. I started to create a sort of sketchbook with some elements of the story and drawings…” he said to Screen Daily. 

“Lamb” is an intriguing humanity versus nature story that will keep you trying to figure out the plot for the entirety of the film and keep you engaged throughout the movie. If bizarre and abnormal concepts are your thing, “Lamb” is the movie for you.

How to Properly Eat Oreos

Story by Lydia Church

Everyone eats food differently. Some of us eat the conventional way, then there are those of us with questionable methods for eating various foods that the rest of us judge…but never discuss. What if you were asked how you eat a certain food? Would you believe this is how everyone should eat it? Today, one of the hottest debates in food consumption will be put to rest: What is the proper way to eat Oreos?

When given the question–“How do you eat your Oreos”–there were many like-minded people with similar responses. Most people responded: “with milk.” Yet many were not very detailed in their responses other than Senior Nick Goss who replied, “I drown it in milk with a fork until all of the bubbles in the milk are done.”

Along with the milk, there were a lot of “like a normal cookie” responses. Nothing special, just like a cookie. “I eat them the way they come because I’m not a psychopath,” says Abby Napper, also a senior. 

Although there were many repeat responses, there were also a few unique responses too. Kirati Kiviniemi on Instagram says, “I enjoy scraping off the middle and only eating the cookies if I’m not feeling lazy.” Taking a sixth grade dissection project approach in this case, his form closely relates to the also common separation technique in which you separate the cookie down the middle, creating one cookie that is plain and one with all the cream. 

The most intense debate was deciding whether the cookies should be eaten as a whole or separated into halves. Separate being eating one side before the other. 65%of those who answered said whole, while the other 35% replied separately. For those who chose to eat separately, another question was posed. Should you eat the cream side first or the cookieside? 52% said they would go for the cookie side first, the other 48% said they would chow down on the cream. And for the final question there was a decisive winner. When asked whether to eat Oreos with or without milk, 82%sided with milk, while 18% thought the glass of milk should be left out of the equation. 

After interviewing the students at Jeff High, including in decisive students, the proper way to eat an Oreo was finally determined: You should eat an Oreo as a whole cookie with a cool glass of milk. Though on days when you feel that you should take that risk of separation, eating the plain cookie side before the cream cookie side is recommended in order to save the best for last. This is unless you are Evan Cawthorn, a senior, who had strong opinions when asked about eating Oreos saying, “I don’t. I hate them”

Purrfect Day Café: A local cat café that has helped 5,000 cats get adopted

Story by Marni Scholl

Look no further than the Purrfect Day Café for the perfect place to spend a free day. You get the opportunity to play with adorable kittens and sometimes even adult cats. Even if you are not looking to adopt, visiting the cats is still a beneficial activity. It helps the cats become socialized

and friendly to people of any age. 11 a.m. to four p.m. is when children are allowed in with an adult supervisor. Four p.m. to eight p.m. is for anyone over 18.

All of the kitties are from the Kentucky HumaneSociety. For the first time, the Kentucky Humane Society has had more cat adoptions than dog adoptions. Usually, cats only makeup a third of their adoptions, according to Spectrum News. When you enter the café, you can find a scrapbook of all the different types of cats they have been cared for and have been adopted. Their diversity ranges from senior cats to blind cats, all of whom need a loving home. You get an hour in the playroom to bond with acat, and it is advised that you spend 30 minutes before deciding on the cat you want to adopt.

Lots of small businesses had to close during the pandemic but not Purrfect Day Café. Their adoption rate went up because people wanted a furry friend to keep them company while they were at home. “The community made sure we were not going anywhere,” said the manager, who is also known as Top Cat, Robert Mason. The business has been going strong since2018, and it continues to thrive. On Wednesday, the 18th of August, they reached their goal of 5,000 cat adoptions.

This place isn’t just a hang-out space to play with cats, though. It truly is a café with a variety of drinks and treats to enjoy. There is even wine and beer to purchase for an older audience and an outdoor patio called the “catio” where you can enjoy your beverage. Drinks are allowed in with the cats but not snacks. Upstairs you will find a party room where you can celebrate a birthday or other celebration. You can even purchase fun t-shirts, sequin cat ears, and colorful stickers to decorate with and support the business. Some of their merchandise promotes their LGBTQ+ friendly stance. 

Often after a good play, the cats will fall asleep in your lap. It’s a great place to bring a friend or to make a friend, human or feline. So what are you waiting for? Head to 1741 Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky, for a day of fun!

How to Walk in the Hallways / Tips to avoid hatred from peers

Story by Max Fisher

After a year of quarantines and online learning, the Jeff High hallway crowds are back again, and students have taken notice. “The hallways are so crowded it makes no sense,” said Miles Harper, a Jeff High student. While others like Toby Kauchak echoed similar concerns, saying, “They’re very crowded and loud.” Year after year, students clustering together in crowds during passing and blocking movement in the hallways and stairwells have become a hallmark of the Jeff High experience. While some congestion is inevitable, here are a few tips to make your hallway experience and that of your peers much easier.

– There is never a reason to talk in a circle. There is nothing worse than walking down the hallway and being stopped by a group of people talking in a circle. If it is that serious–and it probably isn’t–please at least try to find a more spacious area such as the commons. And if you can’t do that, feel free to discuss in a more compatible shape such as a line or a condensed oval.

– No Public Displays of Affection. The love of your life will still be there after the hour and a half class, and, no matter what you think, people do not want to see that. Your friends definitely mock you for this behind your back.

– Walk on the right side of the hallway. There is no reason to walk on the left unless you are heading to a locker or a class. Please stick to the right.

– The main stairs are actually not the best place to have a meaningful conversation. Despite what you might think, your conversation is most likely to be heard by the 50 people who walk by you. If you really need to talk, just know that literally anywhere else in the school is a better spot.

– Don’t run. You are at school, it’s not worth running. However, an exception can be made for light jogs to the lunch line? Especially if heading to the sandwich line to avoid waiting for food for over half your lunch. 

Hopefully, these tips will help create a better hallway experience, and if not, it’s at least nice to complain about this perennial problem.