Looking For Somewhere Hot To Go During The Winter Season? Check Out These 3 Beaches In Puerto Rico.��

Crash Boat Beach (Photo: M.Vazquez)

By Manny Vazquez

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Puerto Rico’s climate is ideal for fun in the sun if you are looking for a quick trip to a warm-weather destination during winter break. The island boasts some spectacular beaches to enjoy with friends and family.�� And as someone who has family on the island and visits frequently, I hope you enjoy my favorite beach recommendations.

1. Crash Boat Beach

Crash Boat Beach (Photo: M.Vazquez)

Crash Boat is a popular beach in Aguadilla, and there are so many activities, from swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, and surfing during the winter months.��

A few feet from Crash Boat is El Natural, a famous diving spot with a huge reef full of marine activity. Crash Boat was originally built for use by the U.S. Military to rescue downed Airmen from Ramey Air Force Base. Crash Boat is also an ideal spot to watch and photograph sunsets.��

Marynell K. gave her and shared her thoughts on the experience at Crash Boat. “Despite being crowded, the beach is absolutely beautiful! There were food vendors. We had just eaten, but we definitely got some Pina Coladas.”

confirms the popularity of the beach. “Due to the popularity of this beach, it fills up quickly, especially during the morning. If you’re coming from San Juan, I suggest planning the road trip early in the morning.”

My father, Manny Vazquez, Sr., from Richmond Hill, New York, recounted our 2022 family trip to Puerto Rico. “This summer, we went to Crash Boat, and we had a great time. The water was nice, the beach was nice, and the food was really good. And I was grateful enough to enjoy the time with my family.”��

highlights the ways you can experience Crash Boat and its nearby attractions. Full-day tours of west Puerto Rico are $215.53 per adult. You can also do an adventurous San Juan, Crash Boat Beach, Cabo Rojo, and Bio Bay Boat Ride for $159.95 per adult. A VIP services tour for up to 14 people will cost you $1,000.��

2. Flamenco Beach��

The Vazquez Family Enjoys Flamenco Beach (Photo: M. Vazquez)

Flamenco Beach is one of the world’s top beaches and is ideal for swimming, unwinding, and beach bumming. Flamenco Beach is the very reason visitors often choose to venture outside the mainland. The highly reviewed beach is waveless, making activities fun and safe. The water is about 1.5 miles long and is very clear. Full-day snorkeling tour to Culebra Island with lunch for $139.38 per person. The top sights in Flamenco Beach are Culebrita, Tamarindo Beach, and Playa Carlos Rosario.��

Stephen D. gives his thoughts on Flamenco Beach and talks about . “Wow. As an avid travel geek, I have seen my fair share of beaches in my life. None, however, compare to the sheer beauty that is Flamenco Beach!!”

Flamenco is also a , meaning it passes stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria.�� says, “Flamenco is a Blue Flag-certified beach and the best beach for swimming and diving in Puerto Rico. Flamenco Beach offers a romantic landscape with green rolling hills, lush green tropical vegetation, and vibrant tropical bird species surrounding the spacious white sandy beach.”

Adam Rodriguez, from Brooklyn, New York, recalled his time at the beach and his fun experience. “This beach is awesome to be at, and I was here with my friends, nieces, and nephew. The view was good, and the activities were really fun.”��

3. Domes Beach

Domes is located in Rincon between a white house and Puerto Rico’s inactive nuclear reactor. The beach has turquoise waters and golden sand and is an excellent spot for whale watching during the winter season. Though the beach is not a place for swimming, visitors can read and relax, watch surfing competitions, and take horseback riding tours. The area boasts hotels and vacation homes that people can rent to enjoy their stay at the beach.��

Darwin Reyes, from Brooklyn, New York,�� loves this beach and his experience there. “The beach was really nice, and even though you can’t swim in it, the water was nice and clean. My family loves it, and I would honestly come back here someday.”

talks about where the beach’s name came from and how it has bouncy waves year-round. “Named after an old dome-shaped nuclear power plant that sits behind the beach, Domes Beach in Rincon is one of the most popular surfing destinations in Puerto Rico. Although the beach has bouncy waves year-round, winter is still the best time to surf at Domes. Domes are also the home of the famous Corona Pro Surf Circuit, which attracts surfers from across the globe.”

For those interested in surf lessons, private beginner surf sessions start at $77 to register, though $84 special offers are sometimes available. Tickets for the Rincon Snorkeling tour are $55 per adult.

Conclusion

All�� three beaches get great reviews and are perfect places to visit during the winter break or any time of year.�� Whether you are on a family getaway or spring break with your friends, Puerto Rico beaches will not disappoint you.

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FTC Mass Comm student Andrew Gluck reviews Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Additional reporting by Jacob Bila

As Marvel fans and most moviegoers know, in 2018, the movie Black Panther was released to a��. Four years later, on Veteran’s Day, came the long-awaited release of the sequel,��Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This movie has beautiful visual effects. The costumes are creative, and the sets are amazing. Parts of the story touch upon issues of racial equality, which make the message meaningful.��

The film begins as the nation of Wakanda mourns the death of their leader and the Black Panther, King T’Challa. Political tensions rise with other nations, and one emerges from underwater as a new threat to Wakanda, led by Namor, a mysterious leader with winged feet. T’Challa’s sister, Princess Shuri, must unite her fellow leaders and allies to defend Wakanda.

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The advanced technology and the existence of Vibranium made Wakanda one of the most powerful nations on Earth in this exciting story. In the newest release, an underwater world was also discovered to have the extraordinarily strong Vibranium. This metal element’s strength lies in its ability to store and release kinetic energy, which the Black Panther uses.��

One of the essential parts of this movie may be the tribute to the memory of Chadwick Boseman, the original Black Panther in the Marvel film.����before��Wakanda Forever was made. Black Panther is one of the original Avenger characters, but the Black Panther can change over time. The person must be considered worthy of becoming this leader. An exciting moment of this movie was when the female lead became The Black Panther. That is a first for Marvel comics. Spoiler Alert! Click for the spoiler for the new Black Panther!��

Surprisingly, some professional movie critics did not find all aspects of the film favorable and preferred the original firm overwhelmingly.

, said, “…..��Wakanda Forever, like many Marvel movies, has too much plot. There are a lot of characters to keep track of.”��

Another popular reviewer, Roger Ebert, , pointing out, “At nearly every turn,��Wakanda Forever��fails, starting with its setup. Colonist countries, now afraid of an African superpower, are scouring the world, from sea to sea, searching for Vibranium (the metallic ore that powers the African kingdom).”��

Though I understand that a professional movie critic’s job is to analyze plot details and provide a comparison to a movie’s prequel, I relax, take in a new story, and eat some popcorn while watching movies. So, I enjoyed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever��and recommend that everyone watch the film over the holiday break.

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Apple Watch Ultra (Photo: Apple)

By Dennison DeNatalie

Though the Apple Watch Ultra is two months old, I wanted to thoroughly test it before publicizing my thoughts. Well, here we are – I’ve now had the opportunity to put the Apple Watch Ultra through its paces.�� the Apple Watch Ultra in September at their annual iPhone event. Being one of the first people to have the iPhone 14 Pro, I also had to purchase the Apple Watch Ultra.��

Apple claims that the Ultra is more durable than any other Apple Watch ever produced. And the redesign sure makes it seem that way. The Ultra features a new Sapphire Crystal display, the most durable Apple Watch display ever. This display is surrounded by a Titanium and Ceramic Case, which slightly protrudes from the glass to protect it.��

The Watch Ultra is available in one version but with different bands. All Apple Watch Ultra are 49MM in size and have LTE and GPS connectivity. Meaning ….. no need to search for the cellular version; there is only one! Ultra is also a bit heavier on the wrist, but it feels like a solid watch and would hold up to quite a bit of abuse.��

Watch Ultra features a new Action button. This button on the left can be configured to do many different tasks, including turning on or off the flashlight (which I have set up to do), any shortcut, or even opening an app. Long-time Apple Watch users may find that this button gets in the way of hitting the digital crown or side button, but just like anything, you get used to it very quickly.��

The Ultra’s digital crown and the side button also have a new protection method. The right side of the Ultra has this protrusion that seats the Digital Crown and Side Button within it. The Digital Crown has much less travel than in previous versions of watches.

Ultra comes with a whole new host of safety features for the customer base for who the watch was designed. For hikers, Ultra features a new siren, waypoint tracking, and satellite communication. For divers, the watch can track depth and water temperature. For athletes, the watch can call for help by itself in case of an emergency.

As a firefighter, I’ve had the Ultra in some intense heat. The watch has held up with no issues at all and still tracks those vital activity goals while working. The Ultra also tracks temperatures constantly, so I can always look back and check what the temperatures are under firefighting gear. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Testing the Apple Watch Ultra in the fire truck. (Photo: D.DeNatalie)

Phone calls have gotten better on the Ultra. The speakers are incredibly loud for a smartwatch, and the three-microphone array makes it easy for the other person to hear me. These microphones work together to create the best possible sound and help with noise cancellation.��

All-in-all, does everybody need the Apple Watch Ultra? No. The Ultra is the G-Shock of Apple Watches. For the daredevil. For the thrill seeker. For the dangerous individual. Or, for the Apple junky who wants anything with an Apple logo.��

At $800, some people will be deterred just by that. For more information on specs or how to purchase, visit��.��

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Lake George facing Buck Mountain (Photo: Brandon Laxton)

By Brandon Laxton

As much as we love warm summer weather, autumn is the perfect time to visit Lake George, the “Queen of American Lakes.” The weather is beautiful, the colors are vibrant, and there are plenty of places to explore with friends, family, and children.

Where is Lake George?

Lake George is a small town in upstate New York, tucked in at the southern end of the . It’s just over an hour’s drive north of Albany, and if you don’t live close by, you can fly into Albany International Airport. Coming from New York City is about a 3.5 to 4-hour drive, depending on the route you choose. It’s the perfect weekend getaway for nature enthusiasts.

Lake George (The Actual Lake)

Lake George is surrounded by a rich environment. If you visit in the fall, you can’t skip the historic of the lake (also called Lake George). The boats are wheelchair/handicap accessible (up to a certain deck), so there are no limitations on who can board and enjoy the view of the crystal-clear water.

The most popular option is the 1-hour cruise aboard the . There are three decks with indoor and outdoor viewing areas, meaning that you can enjoy the trip no matter the weather. The first floor also has windows to the engine room, which is a fun way to see how the boat operates.

Alternatively, you can hop aboard the for an exquisite dining trip across the lake. They mainly offer brunch, lunch, and dinner cruises that take about two hours to complete. Each trip provides ��special narration by the captain, which explains the deep history of the region, points of interest, the geology of the lake, and what you see from the boat.

Prospect Mountain (Photo: Brandon Laxton)

Mountain Hiking

If you want to get away from the water, you can take the three-mile round-trip hiking trail up Prospect Mountain on the west side near the town of Lake George. The 3-mile trail is steep , so be mindful of wearing the proper shoes. Sunset is the ideal time of day to experience the scenery fully. As the weather cools down and trees begin their transition from green to yellow and red, you will find yourself with a breathtaking view of warm colors reflecting off the water.

Alternatively, you can drive up to the summit on Prospect Mountain Highway (also known as the Veterans Memorial Highway). You can stop at three points of interest: The Narrows, Lake George Panorama, and The Eagle’s Eye, for different views along the way.

Another route to consider is , which is located on the east side of the lake. It’s a much longer route, lasting approximately 7-miles up and down the trail. There are entry points from either the north (Shelving Rock Road) or the south (Pilot Knob Road). If hiking on this path, you will need to come prepared as it can take about 5 hours to complete. There are some rocky sections as well, so this trail isn’t ideal for beginners. However, if you do take the challenge, the reward is a stunning birds-eye view of Lake George and the surrounding mountains.

Railbikes (Photo: Brandon Laxton)

Railbikes

If you don’t know what railbikes are, they are special vehicles that can seat either two or four people. This fun activity allows passengers to ride along railroad tracks and explore a section of the Adirondack railroad that never saw passenger traffic. You can go at your own pace, so it’s a perfect activity for people of all ages.

has many locations to choose from. A fan favorite is North Bridge Run, which is 30 minutes away from Lake George. The trip is 7 miles long, starting at North Creek Station. You will travel along the banks of the Hudson River, through the beautiful Adirondack Forest, and then over the Hudson on a spectacular trestle bridge before turning for the return ride back to the launch point.

Railbiking Trail (Photo: Brandon Laxton)

One of the newest additions is the Stony Creek/Warrensburg Run – which is only 10 minutes from Lake George. This 8-mile railbiking route runs between Thurman Depot and the gorgeous 1000 Acres Ranch grounds. You’ll get to take in views of the Hudson River and the Adirondack Mountains along the way.

Both rides take 2 hours minimum to complete. It is highly recommended to book tickets in advance because they can sell out quickly. The best way to do this is online via the Revolution Rail Co. website. Also, be mindful that the railbikes shut down at the end of October!

WRAP UP

Peak tourist season in Lake George is always during the summer when temperatures are warmer. As cooler weather settles in, the area becomes a perfect place for a fall weekend getaway. Not only will you avoid the large summer crowds, but you’ll also experience amazing outdoor activities!

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Harry Styles’ Love on Tour at Madison Square Garden (Photo: Sabrina Boyle)

By Madelyn Llanes

Fresh off his third album titled Harry’s House, is making his way around the world again, on yet another leg of his infamous Love on Tour. (Let’s just say, it’s a great name for a tour.) Styles recently closed out his 15-night residency at Madison Square Garden. Shows began on August 20^th, 2022, and concluded on September 21^st, 2022.

Fans from all over the world flew in to see him perform at the “World’s Most Famous Arena.” Over the years of playing at this arena, whether it be in his days or his solo days, Styles is now an established MSG mega act.�� ��And this year was one of his most special tours, a milestone in his career.

On his fifteenth and final night, Styles was awarded a personalized banner from The Garden. “Harry Styles 15 Consecutive Nights.” Not only was he brought to tears, but his audience, friends, and family were as well.

At the beginning of the show, those in the lower bowl seats and those in the general admission area were gifted boas (Harry Styles wore one once, and suddenly, it’s a staple piece at his shows, but it just adds to the fun). The boas were a must; if you were in the front row of general admission, MSG crew members ensured that the boas were being worn. If you did not have one, they gave you one. The crew told fans, “He wants to see you in them.” Attached to the boas were postcards that said, “Thank you for joining us at the history-making final show of Love on Tour, 2022. Tonight, we celebrate ‘15 Consecutive Nights at The Garden.’ Love, Madison Square Garden.”

Harry Styles (Photo: Sabrina Boyle)

Styles’ outfits were also a major talk of this residency. Styled by Harry Lambert, Styles came out on stage every night in some sort of a custom Gucci ensemble. Whether he wore a rainbow tracksuit, a denim cowboy getup, overalls, or a sparkly bedazzled set, everyone was in awe.. Fans who could not attend the shows would take to Twitter and ask their friends every night at 9 pm, “what color do you think he’s wearing?” It was like a game to some, but it was always fun to join. Some would even say that Styles has style.

.�� She referred to him as “walking joy, walking happiness, walking love.”. That was enough to bring everyone to tears. After receiving this gift, he told the audience, “anytime that you come to Madison Square Garden and you see that, remember it’s because of you. That is ours. Thank you so, so much. All of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

If you are a Harry Styles fan, that night is a moment in history. Whether someone attended one show, all fifteen, or somewhere in between, whether they went alone or with friends, or were even dragged to the show regardless of being a fan or not, the room was filled with such unconditional love.

That night, Love on Tour created a whole new meaning.

In his song , Styles wrote the lyrics, “you can throw a party full of everyone you know, you can start a family who will always show you love.” The friendships that are created at his concerts are friendships that will last forever. Some may even consider these new friends to be like family. People who met on Night 1 attended Night 15 together. There is an unbreakable bond and a deep love that they share.

In 2019, . He described her as “a beacon to all of us. Whenever you hear her voice, life gets a little bit better. When she sings, the world is hers, and it is yours. She is everything you’ve ever wanted in a lady, in a lover, in a friend.”

If you ask any Harry Styles fan to describe him, they would say the same thing. Some would even call him their Stevie.

Madison Square Garden became not only Harry’s House but a home to so many.

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TECH PREVIEW: iPhone 14

iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max (source: Apple)

By Dennison DeNatalie

We’ll start with the iPhone 14 and the new iPhone 14 Plus. Apple has decided to bring back the old naming scheme with the non-pro lineup this year. There are a host of new features for both the pro models as well as the non-pro models, including a new feature called Emergency SOS via satellite.

Emergency SOS via satellite allows iPhone 14 to communicate with satellites in space when cellular service is not available. Many operations go into making sure the iPhone 14 can effectively communicate with satellites, considering satellites are such low bandwidth. Apple had to make iMessages 3% smaller in size to be able to speed up communication. iPhone will also send your location and the nature of your emergency to emergency services and updates your ‘Find My’ location. Also new with iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro is advanced crash detection, a feature Apple describes as “a feature you never want to use.”

iPhone 14 has a 6.1” display, and starts at $799 for the 128gb model, and the iPhone 14 Plus has a 6.7” display and starts at $899 for the 128gb model. All iPhone 14 models will include the satellite safety feature for free for up to two years. Pricing for that service has not yet been released.

iPhone 14 Pro is where the big upgrades come in. This year follows suit with the past, where we see an iPhone 14 Pro in 6.1” variation, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max in 6.7” variation. While also including the same new advanced safety features that the iPhone 14 has, the pro models also now include a 48MP rear camera module.

Dynamic Island feature (source: Apple)

The biggest change in the lineup this year for the pro models is the removal of the famous iPhone ‘notch.’ Introducing…the Dynamic Island. Dynamic Island is a small slit at the top of the display where your front facing camera and Face ID sensors are located. But, that’s not all. Dynamic Island is also integrated into the software to “bubble up” your notifications, without distracting you from what you’re doing.

iPhone 14 Pro is the first iPhone to ever feature an always on lock screen. Quickly glance at your iPhone 14 Pro for the time, date, and whatever other widgets you please to setup. In your pocket, iPhone 14 Pro will go dark to preserve battery life. Apple is still claiming an all-day battery life.

iPhone 14 Pro models ship with A16 Bionic, which Apple claims as the “Ultimate Smartphone Chip.” A16 Bionic is not only more efficient than A15 Bionic, but also performs more operations while doing so. A16 Bionic features a faster 6-core CPI, and 50% more memory bandwidth, to be able to complete over 17 trillion operations per second.

iPhone 14 Pro starts at $999 for the 128gb version, and iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1099 for the same 128gb version.

All iPhones are available for starting Friday, September 9^th at 8AM Eastern, and will ship on Friday, September 16^th.

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Need a quick and tasty breakfast before early morning class? ��FTC Hosts Nick Giorgou and John Maturo make egg sandwiches in the microwave as part of the Mass Comm lab’s Dorm Cooking series.

Recipe adapted from .

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PC gaming is properly portable

By James Manthos

Portable PC gaming is nothing new. Over the last decade, we have seen a ton of advancements in devices such as laptops with high quality and, in some cases, desktop-grade parts, making them the ultimate portable machines. But in 2017, when the Nintendo Switch came onto the market, portable gaming changed, just like it did in 1989 with the Gameboy. Tech enthusiasts and gamers want a device that can play most of their library while simultaneously being a powerful and small form-factor device. Five years later, Valve and Steam have created that answer with the Steam Deck.

Spec-wise, the Steam Deck is a Valve product first and foremost, meaning it can run a huge portion of the Steam library. The Steam Deck runs off a particular version of Arch-based Linux called SteamOS. For Windows people, the Steam Deck is an X86/X64 device, meaning it is fundamentally a ligament PC.���� If the owner desires, they can install Windows on it, but Valve does not currently recommend it as it is still in development. “We are unfortunately unable to offer ‘Windows on Deck’ support,” says Steam Support.

When discussing hardware specifications, the Steam Deck supports storage ranging from an eMCC 64GB hard drive to NVME 256GB SSD to a whopping 512GB SSD while also having available onboard expandable storage to handle your extensive game library. Most consumers want to focus on the power that the deck has for its size. The Steam Deck is powered by an AMD APU with a 4 core CPU and 8 RDNA GPU cores. For some, this does not sound like a lot, but this has been tested and runs the popular new title at high settings with a stable 60 fps, which is mind-boggling for a portable device that only weighs 1.5 pounds.

Valve offers a feature that can check your Steam library for what games are compatible out of the box or the few games that need programming to work with the Steam Deck for the gamers who worry if their games are not compatible. Valve will also be selling a dock in the near future that will turn this from a portable device to a desktop unit on the go, allowing connection to a keyboard, mouse, and TV/Monitor, to name a few.

When a device like this enters the market, the big question that is frequently asked is, “Why does this exist, and who even needs this?” The Valve Steam Deck is a device made for the tech enthusiast, and not only is it a commodity, but it is an eyeglass into the future of technology for what is to come. It is the perfect device for gaming on the go.

Prices for the Steam Deck range from $399 to $649. Check out the for more information on the different models and availability.

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The Handling of Anxiety on TV

By Emily Angelastro

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No One Can Stop You if You’re on the WayUp

REVIEW: Internship and job hunting can seem like finding a needle in a haystack- WayUp can give you a step above the rest.

By Emily Angelastro

It’s not always easy searching for a job after graduating college. Not all of us land an internship during the academic year, and finding our perfect careers afterward can be a challenge. This uncertainty is where platforms like WayUp come in handy.

WayUp is an online job site that helps current college students or recent graduates search for internships and job opportunities while also being discovered by employers. The website aims to transform the process and get back to what matters most in an employee. As said by the founders, “It shouldn’t be about gender, race, who you know, or where you’re from — it should be about your skills, your drive, and your passion.”

When you first sign up for WayUp, it takes five minutes to fill out your basic information about yourself, indicate your experience, and upload your resume. Once your profile is finished, you can select the jobs and industries you’re interested in, ranging from barista to law and journalism. The job opportunities on your dashboard are then perfectly curated to you and all right at your fingertips. Here, you can further specify what job you’re seeking- whether it’s part-time, full-time, or an internship- and explore industries based on your experience. These listings can range from entry-level jobs to Fortune 500 companies, and there’s no shortage of postings.

This site’s cool feature is creating “Search Alerts,” where WayUp sends you daily or weekly email reminders with jobs related to anything you search, so you never miss out on an opportunity. Another key feature of WayUp is the “One-Click Apply,” meaning you can apply for jobs with the information provided in your profile with just one click. This site makes it easy for you to apply to several positions in just a few minutes.

WayUp also provides career advice, where you can get tips on resumes and cover letters, job interviews, and even how to land an entry-level job with no experience. There are plenty of articles filled with expert guidance and recommendations, so there’s no need for you to feel overwhelmed as you search for employment.

And it’s not just you searching for jobs- employers search for you, too. Employers can reach out to applicants they think would be perfect for the job they’re hiring for, and WayUp connects each party to find the ideal match.

Landing an internship or job can be daunting, but WayUp streamlines the experience. I’d give this platform five out of five stars. WayUp is an excellent resource for every college student just starting their career or anyone who needs a bit more help paving the way.

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