Category: Opinion

Off The Grid is a new cyberpunk third-person battle royale game co-created by Neill Blomkamp, known for his work on the movies District 9 and Elysium. The game takes place in a dystopian world where 60 players (150 players by full release) compete in PvE or PvP modes. The world is ruled by corporations where participants fight over valuable cyber augmentations. 

     A part I found particularly interesting was the short films directed by Blomkamp, which added very interesting depth to the game’s lore.

The game combines elements of battle royale and extraction shooter formats, with unique mechanics like jetpacks and cyberlimbs that can be swapped at will during a round. Players can engage in both PvP skirmishes and PvE storyline missions on the same map. The game is visually impressive, however, it does have some issues with optimization.

The most surprising aspect of this game is that it includes optional NFTs.

Players can gain in-game “loot boxes” called Hexs that need to be taken to a node and submitted. The node will then verify that the Hex is genuine and assign a unique virtual signature to every item contained within, thus minting them as legitimate NFTs. or a new crypto token called GUN. However you need to subscribe to “Off the Grid+” to use it in the player marketplace, which also has a lot of pay-to-win features.

This game is currently in Alpha on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. In the future, Off the Grid is expected to receive more updates with additional maps, multiplayer modes, and customization options.

The 4th Gen IT Girl Group did it again! AESPA had their 5th Mini Album “Whiplash” comeback earlier this week. Here’s an overview:

     Whiplash (3:03): This song, in my opinion, is the ultimate club song. It’s such a fun song about confidence with lyrics like “One look, give ‘em whiplash,” and truly this is such a good dance song. I will say though, it felt a little lackluster to me, but that might be because I’m not all too big on EDM or techno type of music. After Drama, Supernova, and Armageddon, I was expecting something similar so Whiplash was definitely new to me but maybe it just needs to grow on me. I will say though a lot of Aespa’s songs and their concept is about how they don’t conform to the norm and how they are who they are, so I’m here for it!

     Kill It (3:20): This is by far my favorite from this album! I love the vibes and vocals of this song, it felt very on-brand for SM (aespa’s entertainment agency). It also reminded me of NCT 127, a boy group from SM. Personally, this song would’ve been a better title track but nonetheless, Kill It is also about confidence and essentially being amazing at being yourself with various lyrics like “The more you try to block me/ The more advantageous it will be for me, I’m better,” and “I’m so good at it, uh/ I’ll shake you up.” The pre-chorus makes me ascend! It’s so enchanting.

     Flights, Not Feelings (3:02): This song was very interesting when I first listened to it. At first, I actually didn’t like it at all, but after a couple listens, I was starting to vibe with it. This might be my second favorite! The way the chorus in a way ran after the beat felt like an addition to the song rather than a takeaway. Their vocals and tones are so soothing. It is a bit hard to discern what this song is about but I will try my best! The title suggests the idea of “catch flights, not feelings,” which means discontinuing developing relationships and going on various trips to distract from that lack of personal relationships. This song has lyrics like “Oh, I tried to warn you/ Now I’ll do as I please/ Let it flow, oh,” which makes me think this is another type of situation like Kill It, with the idea that nothing you do to make me feel bad will work, and I love that! 

     Pink Hoodie (2:26): Another song with a similar vibe to NCT 127 but I love it! It’s such a fun song, the beat during the chorus feels sploinky, if that makes sense.

Another song with the same idea of confidence with lyrics like “Grab all the attention/ I’m wearing my new clothes/ I’ma give you my, my, my, my passion,” and “The more you see, the more you fall for it, fabulous.” The bridge really cements this idea of confidence and how I like who I am. Lyrics like “See me now/ I’ll change endlessly/ Crumbling borderline/ Breaking free from the stereotype/ Headlines pouring in/ I even like the chaos/ I like myself better like this.” 

Flowers (3:11): This is very different compared to the other songs in terms of meaning, a sort of love song. I adore this song so much because of how it feels; to me, it feels like the sun shining through clouds, a slight breeze, and the autumn leaves falling. With lyrics like “I don’t wanna wait/ I throw myself into your scent that no one else knows,” and “You’re my dahlia, tulips and daisies/ A slowly spreading fragrance/ Violet sunset, it seems like it doesn’t exist in this world,” it is clear this is indeed a love song. Something about this song feels very sad though, I can’t place my finger on it. 

     Just Another Girl (3:04): Another love song but with a twist! Just Another Girl seems to be a breakup song with lyrics like “I been obsessed with you/ All these clumsy feelings, I’ll stop them,” “Falling apart, you and I, you and I,” and “You have no more chances, one shot/ I was too good for you.” Personally, this song doesn’t exactly fit in this album with the other songs but on its own, it’s a good piece. With a pop-rock type of vibe and lyrics like “Looking at you, caught red-handed, shh/ Secretly smirking, you love it/ Did you think I’d just be sad? No excuses, shh,” this song gives mid-late 2000’s vibes and I really enjoy it!

     When you’re a kid, nothing excites you more than free candy and that’s exactly what Halloween is. However, as an adult, you realize that the cost of a bag of candy is scarier than any horror movie. This year particularly, the price is astronomical to supply treats for your trick-or-treaters. With the price of cocoa being extraordinarily high, let’s look at alternatives to ensure a great Halloween without breaking the bank. 

When shopping for treats, stay away from chocolate, as its prices are the highest. Instead, opt for a bag of candy, as they tend to be on the cheaper side. If chocolate is too important to you, consider purchasing a variety pack that contains both candy and chocolate. Sam’s Club and BJ’s have a membership fee to shop, but if you are a member, you can buy candy in bulk, significantly lowering your unit price. 

     If looking for the cheapest way to enjoy Halloween, consider purchasing treats that aren’t food-related. This has become more popular in recent years as the Greenbush YMCA hosts the Capital District Teal Pumpkin Party which offers a food-free Halloween experience for all kids. The purpose of the Teal Pumpkin Project is to include kids with food allergies in trick or treating. If you choose to pass out treats like this it can be way cheaper as Target Dollar Spot and Dollar Tree offer items

-like fake tattoos and Halloween pencils.

This type of treat tends to come in bulk and is a much better value than chocolate. 

With the cost of candy skyrocketing, creative ideas for Halloween are a must. Be selective in where you buy your candy so as to get the best deal and keep in mind alternatives to keep trick-or-treating not only fun but budget-friendly as well. Happy Halloween!

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to travel down to Daytona Beach in Florida to watch the Daytona 400 NASCAR race.  Held at the same venue as the famed Daytona 500, this event is 100 miles shorter, and hosted at night.  The race attracts over 75,000 people, and unlike the 500, most of them are local to the area.  As a result, a much higher percentage of race-goers drove to the track rather than flew.  This made things difficult when it came to grabbing dinner after the race.

The checkered flag was taken at 11:46 PM after the race had gone to overtime.  We stuck around for roughly 25 minutes to watch the post-race events, then made our way to the car.  Being past midnight at that point, most dinner establishments were long past closed.  After a bit of looking through as we sat in traffic, we found a Buc-ee’s located just 4 miles from the Speedway that we set our sights on.  The drive from our parking spot to the gas station took about 40 minutes, and once we arrived the place was packed.  Being right off I-95 and one of the few places still open we knew it would be busy, but when we arrived there were already thousands of people getting gas or pursuing the store.  It was my first time ever at a Buc-ees, and I would be judging the store under the harshest of conditions.

Upon entering it was clear that they had anticipated the rush and had brought their A-game. 

Photo Credits: David Zalubowski/AP

Every part of that store ran like a well-oiled machine, which was instantly clear as we walked in and saw the cashiers making quick work of the line that was hundreds of people long. 

The store was virtually shoulder to shoulder the whole way through, but I made my way to the center in hopes of obtaining their famed brisket sandwich.  When I reached the station what I saw was nothing short of amazing.  The way the food station ran was almost like a performance, with everything running flawlessly.  In just 10 minutes of finding a space in the mass horde of people, I was able to obtain the three sandwiches for my group and make my way to the checkout.  All-in-all, my total time in the store was less than 25 minutes.

     So after just this one experience, I buy into the hype for Buc-ees.  It seems odd to have brand loyalty to a gas station, but once you visit it for the first time it all makes sense.  

This past Monday, October 21, Voices held an event spotlighting Dr. Monica Debro, a speaker, author, and certified mental health coach. Her narrative was to encourage others to embrace
their authentic selves regardless of their past and to overcome the troubles of being S.A.D. (stress, anxiety, and depression), welcoming a brighter future. Sharing her personal journey, she detailed troubles with domestic violence, brokenness, and suicide which made her message even more sincere. I may not speak for everyone but myself when I say that she definitely captivated ears.

Going deeper into her presentation titled “Rewriting the Script”, she challenged us to think about our thoughts and what’s in our hearts. Self-talk, the way in which we talk to ourselves, is very important in determining what we really believe about our identity. The negative things we say about ourselves do nothing but bring us down. It is a terrible habit and is the opposite of self-love.

Isn’t it enough that we already deal with the negative words that others have to say about us?

However, when it comes to speaking about other people, it’s far easier for us to say positive things about them. So why not ourselves? Why not tell yourself ‘I am loved, I am important, I am worthy’? Why continue to stone yourself? Put down those stones
because you have enough of them to build a wall and that’s something you don’t need. You don’t need isolation when you already feel deeply cast out. In a time like that, you need someone
you can trust to confide in. Someone to help steer you straight so you’re not like a reckless driver on the road. Yet, the most impactful person who has the power to turn it all around is you. It is your choice to stop tearing yourself down and you must decide.
Will I continue on with harming or participate in my healing? Nobody can do it for you. You need to “love yourself to life” as she stated.

To conclude, the auditorium may not have been filled, but she certainly filled the room with her spirit. Being actively engaged with the audience, she prompted us to speak positive affirmations and to repeat them loudly. Asking questions and giving gift cards to those who answered. But most of all, her transparency and vulnerability lit up the room. It was a beautiful and encouraging message, well worth the 50-minute lecture.

  Just this past Saturday was the third annual WagenFest, held by an organization called WOLFSGART. A little meetup of a collection of some of the most easily identifiable vehicles ever made! On Saturday, October 12,I had just woken up and today was laundry day, but on the way to the laundromat, a sign caught my eye! That sign said, “Wagen-Fest 2024” with the date stated as today. While I’m not the hugest car guy, I still knew I had to check it out, since Hudson Crossing park is so close by. So on the way back into Schuylerville after laundry I walked down the little gulch, and headed into the event. At the opening there was a setup of small tables, with merchandise such as shirts, stickers, and keychains (I bought a sticker, pictured below), and beyond that were the main attractions! The most memorable of which being the classic vans, as well as the cute little beetles! Generally I would see maybe 1 VW van every few months, but here there were 10+, and that was only when I was there. Nearly all of the participants were friendly and excited to have someone to talk to about their beautiful vehicles, and towards the latter half of the event I was able to speak with the event organizers Anthony, Lasey, and Stella Fitzsimmons. Who brought their very own car to the event for display too, a 1961 all original pastel blue beetle, shown front and center below. 

    From friendly vendors to cool cars, I’d say I had a pretty good time, but I really don’t feel like the event had nearly any promotion prior to the day of; living close by, and passing by the venue nearly every day, I would’ve expected to have know this was going on prior to the day of, but there was no signage, and no notice freely available to me. So in future iterations I’d like to see a little more effort go into generating hype around the event, as well as maybe a few more vendors there. Which seems entirely possible given the size of the main field in the park. If you’d like to find more on them, and their events you can search up either Wolfsgart, or WagenFest on social media.

     Overwatch 2 is the sequel to the smash-hit game from 2016, Overwatch. It was a team-oriented game which heavily relied on team coherency and communication. This was in order for players to be successful in climbing the ranks and building their skills. In 2022, the original game shut down. In its place came Overwatch 2 the anticlimactic sequel, which players had too high of expectations for. 

    Overwatch 2 brought a lot of new updates, such as new characters, new maps, new game modes, and new cosmetics. However, with the new updates, some old features were removed as well. Features such as loot boxes, game cards, and medals. One of the most critical changes that came with Overwatch 2, was the addition of a Battle Pass.

  Battle Passes have been added to many games as rewards for players to receive as they play the game more. Battle Pass rewards would include character skins, in-game currency, and more. 

We are now on the 13th Season and the 13th Battle Pass of Overwatch 2, both of which are leaving players indifferent with the changes of this new update. As of October 15, 2024, Season 13 brought character ability changes, a new ‘mythic skin’ and map reworks. While many people are happy that a character famous for being overpowered was finally debuffed, or ‘nerfed,’ many were confused as to why some changes existed. 

    “I would rather eat soup with a fork than play the newest update,” one of many avid Overwatch 2 players, Richard Weatherly says. Richard was disappointed with the changes that came with this new update. “They nerfed my favorite character, I’m very upset,” An anonymous former ESports team captain for Overwatch 2, states. 

     This update has left many upset, most confused, and very few satisfied. Blizzard Entertainment, the studio that created Overwatch 2, has nothing to say at this time about the recent backlash they have received in light of the changes.