Video Games; Simple, Complex and Fun

Video Games; Simple, Complex and Fun

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Gaming has a lot of choices in genres, styles and platforms.

There are many with a lot of time to spare right now, and boredom can be easily achieved. However, there are a few ways to overcome boredom and use up some free time. One of the ways to overcome boredom is of course video games. There are advantages of gaming include promoting healthy lifestyles, increasing social activity, slow the aging process, and make the participant a better decision-maker. Video games can have amazingly positive effects. They can also potentially help those who have multiple sclerosis with balance and improved cognitive function. There are video games on just about everything. There is a huge variety of options, ranging from idle games to app games to larger computer games. 

There is a large library of games that are available on your smartphone and downloaded through app stores on Android and Apple devices. 

Bitlife simulator, where you take a person through their entire life, making decisions to go to school, make friends, commit crimes, and continue their family legacy. 

TapTap Music games are quite fun. They are the smartphone version of the DanceDance revolution and come in a wide variety of options. You follow the beats to songs and try to hit it each time to get a perfect score. 

Fruit Ninja is an addicting mobile game where you literally slice fruit for points and do your best to avoid bombs. 

Then there is the classic Tetris, trying to get the maximum amount of point by completing lines and some versions have levels that become faster and faster in an attempt to keep you focused. 

Games on your phone can be played anywhere and almost anytime. Some use up more battery power than others but just keep on eye on the levels and you’ll still be able to have fun.

Other games are available through various consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. There are so many options to look at here. 

Horizon Zero Dawn is a recent release, a beautiful open-world game where the world is ruled by machines. That is a game where you are playing a single character and trying to figure out her past. 

A popular game right now is Animal Crossing: New Leaf. It is played on the Nintendo Switch and has a multiplayer option that allows people across vast distances to create together.

Mass Effect is played on multiple platforms for all four games in the series. It is almost a decade old and remastered several times. It is among the first games where choices mattered in the long run. 

Stardew Valley is a farming style, pixel game that rose quickly in popularity due to its in-depth story, simple gameplay mechanics, and LGBTQ inclusivity. 

Minecraft is another popular choice where survival and creativity can be done on their own or at the same time. It is a game that started out as a simple indie game that has evolved to inspire creativity in various mindsets, such as building, coding and entertainment. 

There are also massive multiplayer online role-playing games or MMORPG that are usually free with various subscription options or in-game purchases. 

Games like World of Tanks, DOTA 2, Hearthstone, and Star Wars: The Old Republic are popular around the world. There are many options in the games and even stories to follow. These games are generally only available on PC platforms with a constant internet connection. They can help to create social connections that are otherwise lacking in the world right now.

There are so many games to chose from and video games can be beneficial in the way they engage with different aspects on a day-to-day basis. Some of the benefits are physical, psychological, and social. With video games, you either win or you keep trying, learning from your mistakes as you progress until you reach the goal. They can improve cognitive abilities, such as increase visuospatial cognition, mental rotation, attention, and help individuals overcome cognitive limitations. Video games can also prime natural positive aggression, helping behaviors, and prosocial behaviors. Not only are there benefits from a scientific standpoint, but they are also a great deal of fun. Having fun will keep you coming back to your favorite games and build a multitude of skills. Perseverance is of key importance in playing video games, building skills for those games, and for real life, and it's important in having fun playing these games.  

Amazing SciFi Shows That Are Still Great To Binge Watch

Amazing SciFi Shows That Are Still Great To Binge Watch

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Science Fiction is an amazing genre. It is often called “sci-fi,” and it is a genre of fiction where the content is imaginative but based on some degree of scientific realism. It relies heavily on scientific facts, theories, and principles as support for its settings, characters, themes, and plot-lines, which is what makes it different from fantasy.

There are a number of SciFi shows that range from a few episodes to numerous seasons. Science fiction seems to bring out such an intense fanbase, no matter the success of the show on networks. A good example of that is Firefly which lasted only 14 episodes but was so popular with fans that it received its own movie years later. Star Trek also has a number of series, each had its own range of success with the fanbase. The original series lasted only three seasons but is very popular and celebrated sixty years after it first aired. 

Image Credit: wall.alphacoders.com 

1.Stargate SG1

A show that followed a low--budget film from 1994 simply titled; Stargate which starred Kurt Russel, and James Spader. A movie where a ring-like object nearly two stories tall was found in Egypt and allowed an air force team accompanied by an archeologist to another planet inhabited by humans lorded over by an alien species that looked human on the outside. The show changed the casting but kept the original premise of other-worldly travel through a wormhole, saving humans and other species from a race of aliens that portrayed themselves as gods. The series follows a team, called SG1, the primary team for the Stargate program as they travel to other worlds, make allies and fight their enemies. 

The team remains largely the same for the entire ten seasons of the show, though lead Richard Dean Anderson left at the end of season eight, but continued to make guest appearances for the rest of the series and one of the movies that followed. 

The series lasted ten seasons and had two movies and two spin-off series.

Image Credit: Creative Commons 

2.Stargate Atlantis

Stargate Atlantis is the first spin-off series related to Stargate SG1. This show was originally supposed to follow right after the end of Stargate SG1 as a series but the other show continued and Atlantis aired simultaneously with the last few seasons of SG1.

This show followed the primary team of Atlantis but also focused on the running of the City of Atlantis, which was a technologically advanced city designed to sit on the surface of a massive body of water with the ability to sink under the surface and would also function as a massive spaceship.

This series only lasted five seasons and sadly had no movie to follow, though a third series, Stargate Universe followed the year after the cancellation of Atlantis. It was much less successful than SG1 and Atlantis.

Image Credit: art.alphacoders.com 

3.Battlestar Galatica (2003)

A show that was remade from its original series that aired in 1978. The show was remade shortly after the horrible events of 9/11 and this show focused on a lot of political, economical, and human rights issues of a group of people trying their hardest to keep their species alive while been chased by the enemy that destroyed their colonies. Battlestar Galactica is a three-hour miniseries starring Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell with an ensemble cast.

The series follows immediately after the destruction of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol by the Cylons, a race of mechanical beings that developed the ability to have human-like Cylons. The survivors of humanity search for their original home; Earth while being chased by the Cylons and dealing with numerous issues that plague the fleet. 

The pilot was a two-part mini-series followed by four more seasons and two prequel movies titled Razor and The Plan. This series is placed on a lot of most-watched lists because of the issues the show dealt with which include abortion, domestic terrorism, and election stealing. It received large amounts of awards for its special effects, storytelling, and acting.

Image Credit: wallpaperaccess.com 

4.Star Trek: The Next Generation

This series was the spin-off to the original Star Trek series, though it was over twenty years after the Original Series aired. As with the original Star Trek, TNG was still very much about exploration, "boldly going where no one has gone before". Similarly, the plots captured the adventures of the crew of a starship, named the USS Enterprise-D.

There were 178 episodes produced over a total of seven seasons, making it the longest-running Star Trek series to date, and the adventures of the crew continued onto the big screen in four movies.

Image Credit: wallpaper-house.com 

5.Star Trek: Voyager

This series of star trek was aired when Star Trek Deep Space Nine was half-way through their own series, though finished years after that series had finished. Voyager was the third spin-off to the Original Series. Star Trek: Voyager (VOY) focuses on the 24th-century adventures of Captain Kathryn Janeway and her crew aboard the U.S.S. Voyager. The crew of Voyager combines forces with the crew of a destroyed Maquis ship in order to find their way home. Stranded over seventy thousand light-years from Earth, the crew tries to make the journey home while also adhering to the doctrine of exploration that Starfleet prides itself on. 

Due to its great distance from Federation space, the Delta Quadrant is unexplored by Starfleet, and Voyager is truly going where no human has gone before. Voyager is fast and powerful and has the ability to land on a planet’s surface. It is one of the most technologically advanced vessels in Starfleet, utilizing computer circuitry that incorporates bio-neural circuitry. 

Voyager aired 172 episodes over seven seasons from 1995 until 2001. While it didn't run for as many episodes as TNG did, Voyager was able to discover numerous new alien species and was better balanced with its gender ratio, with a female lead and several strong supporting female characters.

Image Credit: wall.alphacoders.com 

6.Warehouse 13

A unique series in that its genre is considered Science Fiction but it is also described as a dramatic comedy and supernatural. The series follows U.S. Secret Service Agents Myka Bering and Pete Lattimer when they are assigned to the secretive Warehouse 13 for supernatural artifacts.  As they go about their assignments to retrieve missing artifacts and investigate reports of new ones, they come to understand the importance of what they are doing.

Somewhat of a short-lived series with six seasons, but only 12 episodes in season 1, 13 in both seasons 2 and 3, season 4 was its longest season with twenty episodes and just six episodes in its fifth and final season.  

These are only six possibilities of different Science Fiction shows to watch. There is always more to find, more to watch, and many more to love As Warehouse 13 is described; "Welcome to Endless Wonder."

Spring and Summer Courses 2021

Spring and Summer Courses 2021

By: Maria Garcia Manzano 

Since Covid-19 continues to affect the province, Brandon University has decided that courses will be primarily held online for the spring 2021 and summer 2021 terms, with only a few classes being in-person. This decision was confidently made, knowing that last year's online spring and summer terms were a success. 

Brandon University acknowledges that online teaching and learning has come with new challenges that have required more effort from staff and students. However, the BU community has risen to the challenge and has learned how to make it work. Registration for spring and summer 2021 opened up last week and has to be completed online since the university remains closed. Visit: https://liszt.brandonu.ca/BUOnline/BUStart/Logon.aspx to complete your registration. 

Registration for the Fall 2021/Winter 2022 Terms will most likely be open in early April; however, a set date has not been released by the university. Furthermore, Brandon University is actively monitoring Covid-19 as they plan for the upcoming fall and winter terms. 

Spring Session Schedule and Courses:

First Term: May 3rd to May 20th

Second Term: May 31st to June 17th

Courses offered: 

• 01.271: Field Experience

• 04. 706: Theory/Practice of Standardized Assessment

• 15.454 & 15.654: Applied Biomedical Science

• 36.162: Making Sense of Gender

• 42.333: Field Geology

• 54.155: Canada to Confederation

• 68.393: Treaties & Treaty-Making

• 69.346: Integrated Practice

• 71.272: Human Responses III

• 71.375: Nursing Practice IV

• 78.172: Fundamentals of Politics

Complete Course List: https://www.brandonu.ca/registration/files/2021-Spring-Courses.pdf 

Summer Session Schedule and Courses:

First Term: July 5th to July 22nd 

Second Term: Aug 3rd to Aug 23rd 

Courses offered: 

• 02.780: Curriculum Foundations

• 04.730: Current Issues in Counselling

• 04.748: Autism & Education

• 30.151: University Writing

• 04.776: Social Ecological Resilience

• 30.145: Contemporary Literature

• 54.153: World History to 1500

• 86.158: World Mythology

• 90.155: Social Institutions and Processes

• 01.770: Issues in Educational Admin

• 36.277: Hindu Goddesses

Complete Course List: https://www.brandonu.ca/registration/files/2021-Summer-Courses.pdf

Studying at Home

Studying at Home

By Kiertsan Garbutt

Our first full year of online school is coming to a quick end! As finals are right around the corner it is time for some hardcore studying! During finals it is important to stay on track or even work ahead. This way when editing final papers, you have the time to do so. Also, if you work ahead, any leftover cramming for exams can take place. 

To stay on track, I recommend planning what you need to get done everyday in order to complete tasks on time. Additionally, making to-do lists for each day makes your tasks seem less overwhelming because you planned when you are going to complete something. Also, during finals, specially essays or final projects, you should aim to have them done a few days before the due date. In case anything goes wrong, technology wise, you have a couple days to fix the problem and still make the due date. Planning ahead is crucial.

It is really important to keep trying your best. I know that we all feel burnt out at the end of a term and rather get it over with. However, all your hard work during the semester is ineffective if you don’t keep trying to finish it off with a bang! Burning out is a tough feeling to manage and seeking help for this feeling is your best bet. To help deal with a burn out, remember to take study breaks, eat food to fuel your brain, and get enough sleep. Best of luck with all your studying!

St. Patrick’s Snack Ideas for Your Household and Designated Visitors

St. Patrick’s Snack Ideas for Your Household and Designated Visitors

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

Photo Credits: Google Images

As with all prior holidays, this St. Patrick’s Day will be different from previous years. Last year during this time, Brandon was beginning to enter the Covid-19 era. Under current restrictions, households can have either another household visit or two designated visitors. Outdoor gatherings can be up to ten people. With beautiful weather forecasted for St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it would be a good idea to provide you with some green-themed snack ideas. These are perfect for you to share with your household and designated visitors. I believe that sharing delicious food with loved ones can help take our minds off that for a year now, we have lived during a global pandemic that has drastically changed our way of life. I will provide four recipes for green-themed savory snacks that will help lift your spirits!  

1. Green Stuffed Pepper

Stuffed peppers are a great appetizer for St. Patrick’s Day as they fit with the green theme of the holiday and are generally liked by all. They are a tasty quick and easy snack to make. 

Ingredients:

• 6 green bell peppers

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 garlic cloves minced

• 1-pound ground turkey

• 2 cups cooked rice (see note in the post for tips and tricks)

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1 tablespoon dried parsley

• 1 tablespoon dried basil

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce

• 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

• Cut the tops off of the peppers, remove the ribs and seeds, and then dice the tops of the peppers.

• Place the hallowed-out peppers in a large bowl and drizzle with a little olive oil. Cover with a plate and microwave for 7 to 10 minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plate as there will be a lot of steam.

• While the peppers cook, heat a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Add the chopped bell pepper tops and garlic. Sauté until soft, about five to seven minutes.

• Add the ground turkey and break up as you cook it. Season with onion powder, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook until the meat is no longer pink.

• Stir in the cooked rice, pasta sauce, and one cup of the mozzarella cheese. Taste the mixture and add more salt and pepper to taste. Divide the mixture between the five hollowed out bell peppers. Top with the remaining cheese.

• Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

2. Spinach & Artichoke Cups

Spinach cups are easy and festive, everyone will be sure to love them! You can either buy Tostitos scoops from the store and reduce your workload or you can make your own shells. You can also fill them with store bought spinach dip (again easier option) or you can make your own. 

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray

• 1 (10-oz.) package frozen spinach, defrosted and chopped

• 1 c. canned artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 c. sour cream

• 1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella

• 1/4 c. grated Parmesan

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 tube crescent dough

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, sour cream, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.

• On a lightly floured surface, roll out crescent dough, pinching seams together. Cut into 24 squares. Place squares into muffin tin slots and spoon 1 tablespoon of dip into the dough. Top with remaining mozzarella.

• Bake until pastry is golden and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes

3. Jalapeno Potato Poppers

They are a staple party snack and they fit in with the green-themed. While these are typically served in bigger gatherings, I am sure your household and designated visitors will have no problem eating all of them by yourselves!

Ingredients:  

• 15 small red potatoes approximately 1 pound

• 6 slices bacon

• 4 ounces cream cheese softened

• 1/4 cup jalapeno chopped into small pieces + additional to slice

• 1 cup cheddar cheese

Instructions: 

• Preheat oven to 400°.

• Wash potatoes and dry with a paper towel. Poke each potato once or twice with a fork. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes or until tender.

• While potatoes bake, cook and crumble bacon, dice 1/4 cup jalapenos and cut 30 thin slices.

• Let cool enough to handle. Cut each potato in half, scoop out insides with a melon baller, leaving a thin layer of potato close to the skin. Place inside of potato in a medium bowl.

• Add cream cheese, bacon, and jalapenos to the potato, mix well.

• Divide filling among potato halves. Top with cheddar cheese and one jalapeno slice; bake for 20 minutes.

• Serve warm.

4. Leprechaun Bark

So far, we have covered our salty and cheesy basis. However, if you have a sweet tooth this sweet addition is sure to conquer it! Leprechaun bark is easy to make and this recipe will save you even more time since it is a no-bake recipe. 

Ingredients: 

• Rainbow Candy

• Lucky Charms Cereal

• Gold Cake Decorations

• White Chocolate

• Green Candy Melts

Instructions: 

• Melt the white chocolate and green candy melts in separate bowls. Melt them by putting them in the microwave for 1 minute on high heat. Spread a white later and then a green layer and decorate with your St. Patrick's Day-themed candy.

• Freeze until hard and then break apart to eat. Super simple, super tasty and fun.

Snacks for Studying

Snacks for Studying

By Kiersten Garbutt

It is important to stay fueled during stressful times. Here is a list of quick snacks you can make while you study!

A smoothie bowl! All you need is some frozen fruit, yogurt, and around ¼ cups of either water or milk. Once this is blended you can add your choice of toppings. You can add chia seeds, granola, fresh fruit, nuts, coconut, etc. This snack is healthy, and quick and easy to make.

Next up, are sweet potatoes chips! All you need is a sweet potato, your choice of seasoning, and some kind of oil. First you are going to thinly slice the potato, next lay them on a cooking sheet and coat the potato in oil and then sprinkle the seasoning on top. Bake at 400F for 20 mins, flipping the chips halfway. This snack is not time consuming to make and still very delicious. 

Additionally, there are a lot of snacks you can make just using peanut butter. If you are feeling lazy, here are some foods you can pair with peanut butter. You can pair apples, celery, crackers, and bananas with peanut butter to make a really fast and yummy snack. 

Finally, cheese and crackers. Cheese and crackers are super easy to make all you need is crackers and cut up some cheese. If your feeling fancy you can add salami or ham or even pickles. 

Remember it is important to fuel your brain during studying. Instead of reaching for a bag a chips take a few extra minutes to make a healthier option! 

Valentines in Isolation

Valentines in Isolation

By Kiersten Garbutt

Valentine’s day like any other holiday we spent in isolation will be hard. Valentines day is often spent with the person you care for the most. So, its not wrong to say spending it apart will be tough. Here are some fun isolation valentine ideas to use if you will be apart from your significant other this year. 

The first idea is just to have a movie night together, you can try the feature called Netflix party where you can stream movies together. This feature takes away all the hassle of trying to set up a movie manually by syncing you both up automatically. Its definitely not the same as in person. But you can prepare your favourite snacks and spend the night in together but apart!

Have an arranged facetime dinner! You both can cook your own versions of the same meal and have a fancy virtual dinner date. If you are not into cooking, ordering in is also an option. Either way having a meal together can be a lot of fun!

If you are able to see each other on valentine’s day, then here are some creative date ideas you can do at home instead of going out;

A painting night is a great activity to indulge in, especially if you both enjoy the arts. There are many painting tutorials available on YouTube, and Bob Ross episodes can be found on Netflix! An at home spa day is also a great idea, you could pamper each other with facemasks and bubble baths. If your not feeling up to anything too crazy, a movie night will suffice. I mean as long as your spending the day together its hard to go wrong! 

Overcoming Procrastination: Time management

Overcoming Procrastination: Time management

By: Kiersten Garbutt

The art of procrastination is something I’m sure we have all mastered. But since mid-terms are quickly coming, it is for the best that we all use our time productively. The key to managing your time is to get a calendar or agenda of some sort. Keeping track of important due dates will let you work ahead, and you will have a general idea of your busier weeks, so you can prepare accordingly. Many of us have to work during the school semester, which can be really hard to manage. Like previously stated, writing your schedule down weekly will help you plan ahead. Making a to do list for everyday weekly will help you remember important assignments; this is important because stressing about when you have time to complete an assignment can raise your stress levels even more. This way you know when you will be devoting your time to each of your assignments. The trick to time management is to get assignments done a few days before they are due, when you are working ahead you have more time to study for big tests or mid-terms and to carefully edit essays. Additionally, working ahead allows more flexibility in your life, if you wanted to pick up another shift or hang out with a friend you can and probably would experience less guilt when doing so. 

Studying can be a really hard task when we have distractions like our phone right beside us, I recommend putting your phone on do not disturb and throwing it to the side when you are studying. While studying it is important to limit your distractions, even listening to music can alter how much you are retaining. Studying with limited distractions will cause you to get your work done faster, which in the end makes you more productive. Also, while studying it is very important to take breaks. I recommend a method where you are productive for thirty minutes and then take a five-minute break. This gives your brain a mental break and will allow you to retain information so much easier. While taking your break it is important to leave the ‘productive’ spot. Separating your productive area and your relaxing area is very important, it will trick your brain into thinking that once in the productive spot you should be doing something productive. To conclude a huge part of having good time management skills is using your time wisely and to your best advantage.

Budget Friendly Hobbies for University Students

Budget Friendly Hobbies for University Students

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill

Brandon University, while one of the most affordable post-secondary institution in Canada can still be expensive. As students, we budget our funds towards school, and living expenses. However, we should still find things that bring us joy! Having a hobby can be psychologically beneficial to our health and during these unprecedented times, having an activity that we enjoy may be just what we need to get us through the pandemic. Below I have listed five different budget friendly hobbies that I believe will bring joy to your every day life. 

1 Reading:

Reading allows us to temporarily escape into a different world and this method of travelling costs very little. If you have an amazon account you can purchase ebooks through amazon, download the kindle app and read them. Ebooks are typically cheaper and you are able to start reading as soon as your transaction goes through, rather than having to wait for your book to arrive in the mail. If you have an apple product you can also purchase books through Apple Books. In case you want to have the physical copy of the book you can order through a variety of different retailers. One of my favorites is www.bookoutlet.ca as it has a variety of books offered at discounted prices. 

2 Photography:

Thanks to technology, most people have access to cameras on their phones. If you do not want to splurge on buying a professional camera, you can hone your skills on your phone instead. Additionally, there are a wide range of apps and resources to learn photo editing on either a phone or computer. 

3 Drawing:

If you want to learn how to draw there are many free online courses (https://www.thoughtco.com/free-online-drawing-classes-1098200) that can help you hone this creative skill. The great thing about drawing is that it can be done anywhere and you are able to take a quick photo and share your creations on social media. Or alternatively you can just keep them to yourself. Drawing is also a gateway hobby as it may even lead you to pursue painting and other creative activities. 

4 Cooking:

Many people don’t realize how much they like cooking until they really try it! This could be the case for you. Not only will cooking help save money on your meals since you won’t be constantly ordering skip the dishes, but cooking for yourself can be a healthy and creative alternative way that will allow you to feed your body and spirit. Plus, you will learn a whole array of different recipes that you can then share to your family and friends. 

5 Restoration and DIY:

If you happen to take a walk around your neighbourhood or even inside your home and see a piece of old furniture lying around you may want to create a unique show piece. If you are willing to spend the time requires to restore furniture in creative ways then you will find yourself enthralled by the process. DIY is one of my personal favorites as I love to constantly rearrange my room and décor. I have found that browsing through the Facebook marketplace or on ebrandon I can find a variety of different items that I can restore into unique pieces that fit the aesthetic of my room. 

There are a variety of ways to occupy our time while that do not involve watching Netflix, YouTube videos, or Disney+ etc. While there is no problem watching and enjoying shows it may be getting a little repetitive at this point and we may yearn for something different and a little more stimulating. Now is the time to switch it up and start a new hobby. 

Brandon University Politics Society Hosts “How Inciteful: Reflections on Trump’s Interdisciplinary Impacts on Academia.”

Brandon University Politics Society Hosts “How Inciteful: Reflections on Trump’s Interdisciplinary Impacts on Academia.”

Aidan Trembath

With Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20th, Trump’s impacts on academia will continue to be analyzed for years to come. The Brandon University Politics Society is excited to host a multidisciplinary roster of professors to explore Trump’s presidency through a myriad of academic fields. The speaker series, called “How Inciteful,” will begin on January 19th, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and will continue for the following two Tuesdays, January 26th and February 2nd. Each Tuesday, three professors from a diverse range of fields, including biology, English, gender and women’s studies, sociology, music, philosophy, and political science, will present on how Trump’s presidency has either impacted their field of study or how their field of study may understand his brand of politics. Trump’s influence on academia has no borders, and Canadians must understand “Trumpism” from the source in order to understand its effects on Canada’s own politics and scholarship.

The speaker series will be comprised of talks by Brandon University’s President and professor of political science, Dr. David Docherty, associate professor of Gender and Women’s Studies, Dr. Corinne Mason, and professor of English and Creative Writing, Dr. Reinhold Kramer. Dr. Docherty will explore the governmental transitions in the American context, Dr. Mason will discuss the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality through a lens of anti-carceral activism, and Dr. Kramer will reflect on Trump’s brand of truth and its reliance on emotional cogency. The 26th will have presentations by Dr. Christopher Schneider of Sociology, Dr. Richard Baker of Political Science, and Dr. Rachel Elliott of Philosophy; the 2nd will be comprised of talks by Dr. Bernadette Ardelli of Biology, Dr. Hailey Murphy of Political Science, and Dr. Leanne Zacharias of Music. 

“How Inciteful” will be hosted over Zoom with the event description and Zoom call link located under Brandon University’s website’s list of events. Each Tuesday’s speaker series will utilize the same call link. A Q&A will follow all three presentations per night to allow audience members to explore the presentations’ insights.

Online Fall Term vs Online Winter Term.

Online Fall Term vs Online Winter Term.

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill

Having achieved the first full week back to school for the winter term I cannot help but compare my experience to the past fall term. While both terms are online, I feel as though something has changed this winter term. Perhaps I have now grown accustomed to what is required of me as I navigate through an online learning environment. Last term due dates and deadlines crept up on me and I felt more stressed than I felt during my first year at BU. During the fall term, I went in with the mentality that it would be easier as it was online and on my own terms. However, I quickly found that not all of my professors would be recording their lectures, therefore, making attendance mandatory, and even if they recorded and posted their lectures, I was behind in schoolwork and would not be able to re-watch them.

             This past fall term taught me that in order to keep up on schoolwork, every zoom meeting would have to be attended and paid attention to. I would log on to the zoom meeting and try to listen and take notes. However, more times than not I would use my phone during class. Whenever I did this, I realized that studying was more difficult as I had not fully paid attention and class and had to read a lot more than I would have if I had simply paid attention to the lecture and taken notes in the first place. During the Fall term, I also left a lot of assignments right to the last minute. I handed in everything on time, but I would procrastinate in beginning the assignment to the point of leaving them the night before and doing them. This worked for some assignments and not others as a lot of my assignments revolved around writing 5–10-page papers. Which is not an easy task to accomplish in one night. Overall, as a result of how I chose to go about the fall term, my stress levels were high. This winter term, however, I am committed to changing the bad habits I formed.

Throughout the fall term I never turned on my camera nor did I participate when the professors asked questions in class. I refused to use my mic and never spoke. This term I have turned on my camera and have begun speaking in class. This has made me pay more attention during class as while I engage, I find I hold myself more accountable if I do not pay attention. I have also made myself listen to all lectures and only re-watch them if absolutely necessary. Furthermore, I am trying to take notes as I follow through with the lecture. I have not had any tests yet, but I do think this will help as I study for them. Since less material will feel unknown. This term I will also try to start assignments earlier, so I do not end up having to work on four assignments over a single weekend. 

7 Ways We Have Adjusted to Living in Quarantine

7 Ways We Have Adjusted to Living in Quarantine    

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Throughout 2020, we have had to adjust the ways in which we live our lives. Through the various lockdowns, quarantines and increase in COVID-19 cases, we have found different ways to try to continue our lives similarly to the way they had been before. Nothing stays the same, but we all hope it can. Change is difficult to accept, especially when it is seemingly forced on us. 

1.Going to School Online.

The first COVID-19 lockdown in Canada was in the spring of 2020 in March, which ended up cutting into the end of the school year for anyone attending or working at a school. Students in elementary, middle and secondary school had to stay at home and university and college students had their courses and final exams interrupted. It was a rush to get systems set up to continue classes and exams. The first set ups were not very good, but they did the trick in the short term. It took many people a long time to get used to the changes. This meant doing classes online, taking tests in a way that wouldn’t be considered cheating, and figuring out how to make the best of classroom time to learn and ask questions. 

2.Working from Home.

In the same way of getting used to going to school online, a large number of people needed to do the same for their jobs. Not every job could be transitioned to an online or work from home variant but those that could were able to use the internet and phones to continue work. In my own personal case, I have been able to do the majority of my work from home with going to the office just once a week. 

3.Fewer Shopping Trips for Groceries.

Going to grocery stores just to get milk or some junk food is not a doable proposition right now. People are required to make trips to the store seldomly, and when they do, it’s for the essentials only. There are apps in some cases that allow you to order groceries online by having store employees do the shopping for you and you then pick up the groceries outside without having to enter the store. Remember to shop for what is considered important, like fruits, vegetables, milk, hygiene products and other things, depending on your region and what is considered important and essential.

4.Socializing Long-Distance.

As Human’s we are very social creatures and being suddenly forced to cut-off all physical and close contact is difficult for a lot of us. Technology has helped a lot in that regard. Using Zoom in the same way as school and work to socialize with family and friends helps. Even birthday parties need to be long-distanced. Having a party of some sort over Zoom or something similar helps to fill that gap, especially for young children who usually invite their whole class. At least over Zoom, they will have something to look forward to. 

5.Finding New Hobbies.

It can be incredibly easy to get bored nowadays and hobbies are a fun way to fill our free time. Hobbies can help to relieve stress by keeping you engaged in something you enjoy; hobbies give you a way to take your mind off the stresses of everyday life. Having a hobby can be a great help to your social life and creating bonds with others. Partaking in a hobby can be enriching to your life and helps to gives you a different perspective on things. It doesn’t matter what type of hobby you choose; you will definitely be exposed to new ideas. Hobbies help you grow in various ways, including exposing you to new opinions and to new ways to look at life.

6.Phone Call Appointments with Doctors.

Going to a hospital or clinic to visit a doctor seems like a less than ideal situation right now. Many doctors are doing appointments through video conferencing or through the phone as it limits the potential for exposure. It is still very important to have regular appointments with doctors -- seeing a doctor is a vital investment for your health. Regular examinations catch problems early, when they are more treatable. This is particularly important for older people, as susceptibility to illness increases with age and with the increase risk factor of COVID-19. 

7.Wearing a Mask and/or Gloves.

One of the arguably largest adjustments we have had to make is wearing a mask to cover our nose and mouth whenever we leave the house or interact with another person, even from a distance. Masks are a tool used to suppress virus transmission and save lives. They help to reduce potential exposure from an infected person whether they have symptoms or not. When someone coughs, talks, or sneezes they could release germs into the air that may infect others nearby. Face masks are part of an infection control strategy to eliminate cross-contamination. Washing hands and wearing disposable gloves are of great importance as well. 

Our lives have had to adjust and change. Some of the changes are small, but some are rather drastic and take some time to get used to. The changes and adjustments with various policies are precautions that give people guidelines to follow. Just remember that life continues, and we will get through this difficult time.

DIY Christmas Gift

Let’s BAKE it Happen

Kiersten Garbutt 

This Christmas will surely match how the rest of the year has gone. We will all struggle as local stores shut down or are only allowed to sell essentials. If you are unable to order online, then this article is the one for you! This Christmas, instead of gift-giving items, give some baked goods as an alternative! Here are some easy-peasy recipes that anyone can make! 

Cinnamon buns have always been a family favourite and really, who would pass on such a delicious treat! You are going to need 2 eggs, 1 package of active dry yeast, 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1 tsp salt, ¼ cup of white sugar plus 1tsp set aside, 1 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 cup milk, and 1/2 cup water. Step 1, mix water, 1 tsp of sugar, and yeast and let that mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. While you wait, warm the milk in a pot until it starts to boil, then take off heat and add the rest of the white sugar and ¼ of butter. Step 2 get a larger bowl and mix the yeast mixture, the milk mixture, and the eggs. While mixing, gradually add all the flour. Then knead for approximately 8 minutes. Step 3 is to oil a bowl and let the dough sit for an hour with a damp cloth covering the bowl. Step 4 while the dough is rising, melt the leftover butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar together. Step 5 is to cover the bottom of your baking pan with the brown sugar mixture, make sure to save at least half of the mixture! Step 6 once your dough is finished rising, roll the dough out in a rectangle and then brush the brown sugar onto the dough. Step 7 tightly roll the dough and then cut into approximately 15 pieces, then place into the pan. Cover again and let rise for another hour. Finally, place them in the oven at 375 degrees and cook for 25-30 minutes. (recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/21461/ooey-gooey-cinnamonbuns/?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=allrecipes_allrecipes_11686958&utm_content=easter_verticalimage&utm_term=easter_202002) 

Another recipe is a Christmas classic: sugar cookies! For this recipe you will need 3 sticks of unsalted butter, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp almond extract, 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, and 1 tsp baking powder. First step is mix butter and sugar, then add all wet ingredients and mix, lastly add all the dry ingredients. Once all mixed roll dough into a ball and wrap in saran wrap or place in a bowl and freeze for 30 minutes. Next, roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters of your choice! Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees! Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes before decorating! (Recipe: https://www.handletheheat.com/easy-cut-out-sugar-cookies-with-icing/) 

Hope these recipes help you with the gift giving season! Stay warm and stay home!

DIY Christmas

DIY Christmas

By: Cedric Bell

Christmas can be an expensive time of year, especially for University students. One of the easiest ways to circumvent this problem is by getting homemade or cost effective gifts for others. Not only are they generally cheaper, but they can also be much more personally meaningful to the recipient if they can see the time, effort, and personal thought that has gone into making them. There are a variety of different kinds of DIY projects that can turn into great Christmas gifts, such as art, decoration, trade skills, or items that would be personal to the other person.

Art

There are many different mediums of art that could turn into a great DIY gift for someone, no matter what your artistic inclination is. Whether it's knitting, painting, drawing, or even writing to some extent, like poetry. For example, one of the Christmas gifts I gave someone one year was wood burning art of their favourite animal.

(Photo Credit: artofmanliness.com A Beginners Guide Pyrography, aka Wood burning)

Decoration

This one works especially well for anyone you live with, such as family, roommates, or significant others. Redecorating a room or wall to make it more functional or visually appealing would make for a great surprise as a Christmas gift, provided of course that the person is alright with their things being changed. This could include painting a mural, putting up a shelf for someone's collection, or other things like that to make their living spaces more suited to them.

Trades

If you’re not as artistically inclined, there are still plenty of options to turn to for DIY gifts. For example, if you have any skills in the trades like construction, wood or metalwork, there are lots of gifts you could make someone. Maybe you could make them that shelf they need, or a fire pit for when it gets nicer out. There are also lots of decorative things you can make out of wood and metal, if you want a less complicated but more visual gift to give, like a wooden mug or metal art.

Personal items

While these aren’t as easy to make yourself, they can be cheaper than most gifts, and can carry a lot of personal weight. Meaningful gifts outweigh expensive ones, and as long as you know the person well enough, there should be some good options. For instance, you could get them something with emotional meaning, like a photo album, or something to do with an inside joke. 

Christmas can be expensive and pricey, but it doesn't have to be. One of the best alternatives to make it a better experience is to give out homemade gifts rather than store bought ones. It cuts down on costs, and often means a lot more to the person receiving the gift. These examples should help to get an idea of what you can make for others, but shouldn’t be constraining in any way. There are plenty of creative and thoughtful ways to show people that you care about them over the holidays, and these are just a few.

STUDY TIPS DURING READING WEEK

STUDY TIPS DURING READING WEEK

Hello everyone,

Since we have reading week coming up, sharing some tips and ideas that have worked for me and some of my friends would not be a bad idea. Personally, I know that our gadgets, and some activities that go on in our lives, may serve as major distractions during this week off from school, so I am going to try to address as much as I can.

CURBING SOME COMMON DISTRACTIONS

• Try writing down some of the distractions you tend to face while trying to study. For example, if you begin to think about a movie when you are studying, just write it out somewhere, that way you can just come back to it at the end of the day.

• Create a study group. Most times, all we need is motivation. Find those friends that share common goals with you and have your best interest at heart. They will not let you waste your time when exams are around the corner.

• Make use of apps that help you focus. Fortunately for everyone, technology is making things very easy for us. There are special apps that are built to help you focus, just in case you find it hard to stay off social media.

• Try to motivate yourself and not procrastinate. These tips I have given cannot work if you personally do not have any plans to help yourself. You need to develop the mindset that whatever you study or do is for your own benefit. Netflix and YouTube and other streaming platforms or social media are there to stay and when you pass your tests, you can go back to them.

I hope you find these useful and apply them during the reading week.

Goodluck.

By: Kosy Ijeoma

Lowering Stress During Midterms

 Lowering Stress During Midterms

By: Mary Okorie, Reporter

Exam periods can be extremely stressful, and students tend to face anxiety during this time of the term. This is due to many factors, such as not preparing well before exams, or not sleeping and eating healthy. To reduce stress during exam periods students should make sure to prepare well and study, eat healthy, and have adequate sleep. They can talk to someone if it’s needed.

Good preparation

Preparing before an exam would really help to reduce the stress during midterms. Students would likely feel more confident about the exam and that can help them relax a bit. Due to heavy course load or various other reasons, students might find it hard to study before the day of the exam. This is where time management comes in. students should set apart time to study and reading goals to reach for a particular day. Reading should never be left to the day before the exam. When students study each day and prepare well in advance, they can know their weak points and find ways to clarify what they do not understand. So, when the exam is close, students do not need to start rushing and putting stress on themselves since they will have prepared enough ahead of time.

Healthy Food and Adequate Sleep 

Good food and sufficient sleep also helps reduce stress during exams. The brain needs enough rest and energy to function so students need to eat and sleep well. This goes in hand with preparing because if students prepare well, they will not have to give up their sleep to study the night before an exam or disrupt their eating patterns. Stress levels can go up when there is not sufficient sleep or consumption of unhealthy foods, which can make students fall sick. If students still can not deal with the stress, another effective method is to talk to someone who can give them better advice on how to manage their stress levels during exam periods.

Stress can really lead to a lot of other things and it is much better to try and keep it low when possible.

Trick-or-Treating May Still Happen with new Ideas for Safe Ways to Get Candy

Trick-or-Treating May Still Happen with  

New Ideas for Safe Ways to Get Candy

By Zach Roozendaal, Contributer

Concerned that your friends and family might come down with COVID-19 from trick-or-treating this year? Well no worries, because there are some incredibly ingenious ideas to help you not get Coronavirus yet still allow kids to get the candy they want to get.

        First of all, it’s no secret that with the rising case numbers in the province that many people are planning on boycotting giving out candy due to the risk of infection that it presents, which is understandable, but where there’s a will, you can be almost 100% certain that there is in fact a way, and these ideas may just be the way to getting somewhat of a happy Halloween.

        First and foremost, getting the kids to get the candy without the health risk is a big issue. You’d almost inevitably be coming into contact with kids by handing out candy. Or could you? Some houses in past years that weren’t able to get to the door to greet kids would instead leave a bowl of candy on the doorstep, allowing for the kids to get a candy. Of course, there’s the issue of kids getting germs on the bowl, and greedy kids trying to empty the bowl into their own bags and baskets. The way around these issues is to be by the door to see each group or individual child, and then after they go, spray the bowl with disinfectant and the candies in it. Don’t worry about kids ingesting the disinfectant, as it’ll dry and be harmless by the time they get back home, and the candy is also covered by wrappers that will prevent any of the disinfectant from getting on the candies themselves, as long as you’re not giving out things that come in cardboard or paper packages like say Smarties. 

        By sitting at the door, you can also observe and make sure kids don’t take more than they should, and be there to confront them if they do, as I will be, but while dressed as Michael Myers, because it is Halloween after all. 

        If you have a window by your front door then you can open it and give out candy by taking a cardboard tube and opening the window each time kids come. Simply place a candy in the tube and slide it down to the kids, and therefore you’re putting distance between both you and the kids. If you wan to make sure you can sanitize the tube, then either cover the end with plastic wrap that can easily be sprayed with disinfectant or use rainspout attachments, or a piece of PVC pipe, just whatever you can to keep that distance between you. Make sure that you sanitize after each kid comes, and leave a sign requesting only one child come up to the front of your home at any given time, and that one parent can join as well, but that way you prevent multiple groups from coming into contact with each other.

You can also try something similar to my first idea, and for kids that do come in groups, simply toss a bag on the doorstep with a few candy bars for them to share amongst themselves. Or the other thing you can do is go to the store and instead take small bags of candies and mail them to friends or family who have small children, so it’s like trick-or-treating but without the risk of infection. 

There are lots more ways, but those are just a few, and I hope that maybe it’s given some of you ideas to both combat COVID-19 and still let kids in your neighbourhood have a fun and safe Halloween. I’ll leave you all with my final thought now, as always.

Where there’s a will, there’s almost certainly a way. Creativity is the key to solving almost any problem.

With that being said, hopefully Halloween is saved, or at least somewhat. Anyways, remember to wash and sanitize your hands often, social distance and wear a mask when necessary, and stay at home if you don’t feel well.

Until next time, I’m Zach Roozendaal, signing off. Happy Halloween, stay safe out there, and goodbye for now.

Fun Ideas for Halloween Activities

Fun Ideas for Halloween Activities

By Zach Roozendaal

As the world is still battling the threat of COVID-19, many families are going to unfortunately be looking at having to cancel trick-or-treating this year. But don’t worry, because if you’re one of those families who hasn’t got candy to hand out or is going out to take a child to get a big supply of candy, then here are some great alternative ideas to help you beat your fear of being bored to death this October 31st.

First of all, look at getting a pumpkin. Nothing says fall like pumpkins, and you can make jack-o-lanterns with them. You can carve all kinds of cool designs into them, or go for a classic toothy smiling face with the triangular eyes and nose.

Still wishing to dress up? Invite a few close friends over, maybe like 5 or 6 and get a few drinks and some snack sized candies and have a costume party at your place, just make sure everyone is safe and uses hand sanitizer on the way in and hasn’t been feeling sick lately.

Another great idea you can try is watch a scary movie, as it is Halloween after all. You don’t have to watch a horror movie necessarily, I mean you could binge all the Treehouse of Horror episodes of The Simpsons, or watch the Charlie Brown Halloween special. If you want to watch a scary movie on Halloween, then my personal recommendation is maybe something sci-fi.

If you’re really looking to get into the spirit of all things scary and creepy, then check out the immortal and timeless classic from 1978, Halloween directed by John Carpenter and Deborah Hill, besides despite Michael Myers reputation of being a cold blooded killer he only manages 5 kills in the film, and only 4 take place on screen and they’re not very gory, since it was the 70’s after all and that’s not something audiences were used to at the time.

Go buy yourself a kiddy pool at your local store, and fill it with apples and go bobbing for apples, and buy some caramels and nuts and seeds and candies and you can make candy apples after you’re done. Caramel and candy apples taste great, and if you’re looking for something a little more interesting than caramel, you can always melt down candies like starbursts or Jolly Ranchers to use as a different sweet coating. 

In addition to carving pumpkins, you can use the seeds for some baking. Make some spooky pumpkin seed muffins or cupcakes with pumpkin spiced cream cheese frosting that’ll bring out the fall festiveness in everyone. Get some pumpkin spiced coffee from your local coffee shop, like Starbucks, Tim Hortons or Forbidden Flavours. 

        Make sugar cookies and get pumpkin, ghost, witch, skeleton, bat and vampire shaped cookie cutters. You can also get cat shaped ones or maybe even tombstone or spider shaped ones too. Get lots of multicoloured frosting or sprinkles in Halloween colours like orange, green, purple, white, yellow and black.

        Maybe this year you won’t be going out for treats, but you can still stay at home and do plenty of tricks. For example, you can get a cheap mask from your local costume shop like I did, (I got Michael Myers, what can I say? It’s a great film!) and scare your friends or family.

Looking for costumes ideas this year? Well with my vast pop culture knowledge, that’s no problem my friend! You could always dress up as Joe Biden or Donald Trump, since it’s an election year and those costumes will be trending. Don’t have enough money? No problem. Go to your local thrift store and buy some old clothes or an outfit to do a simple costume. Get a Hawaiian shirt and pop on some shorts and grab a coconut or two and some rum and soda with a pair of shades because who said you can’t go as a beachgoer for Halloween? Put on a black suit and black tie with a white shirt and grab some shades and go as one of the agents from Men in Black. You can also just put on a collared shirt and tie with some dress pants or khakis and carry a mug and go as an office employee. Get some scrubs and go as a doctor, or wear a suit with a white pillowcase and dress as Slenderman. Or you can be like me and print off a Kazakh flag and get a grey suit and beige tie with a fake moustache and go as everyone’s favourite Kazakh journalist, Borat Sagdiyev, which is sure to be a smash hit and a great success, high five wawaweewa!

Go visit a spooky location and record an EVP session. Get palm readings and visit a psychic or do whatever, or take a walk in the woods in the dark, but just in case bring a flashlight or lantern. Play a scary game, like Slender or Amnesia, although my personal recommendation is Dead by Daylight, a game I’ve been hooked on for months on mobile, and they’ll have released their Silent Hill Chapter on mobile by Halloween, meaning you can play as Pyramid Head or Cheryl Mason, or a whole list of other characters, like Ash Williams from Evil Dead, (as voiced by Bruce Campbell), Ghost Face, Freddy Krueger, Bill Overbeck, Laurie Strode, Leatherface, the Demogorgon, and Michael Myers. Check it out as it’s free on the app store.

And there you have it, some fun and safe activities this Halloween. Remember to wash or sanitize your hands often and wear a mask, social distance when possible, stay home if you feel sick and have fun and be safe this Halloween season. And now as always, here’s my final thought for this article:

Fear is something that can both strengthen and cripple us, but in the right scenarios, it prepares us.

Until next time, this is Zach Roozendaal, signing off. Goodbye for now, and Happy Halloween.

My Coming Out Story

My Coming Out Story  

By: Mallory Johnson 

In honour of National Coming Out Day, which was on October 11th, I wanted to share my coming out story. I first came out to my friend Miles over text, this was when I was still questioning my sexuality (at this time, I thought I was bisexual), but it felt good telling someone. A little while after that, I told my friend Ashley that I was bisexual, also over text, and it felt great having another person know about it. A little while after that, I told my friend Brittany (also over text), this one felt really good because Brittany is one of my favourite people and I felt a relief that I didn’t have to hide it from her anymore. Eventually, I had to kind of come out to these three friends again because I realized I was not bisexual, but a lesbian. I am super grateful that my friends all supported me throughout this journey. Then, on September 15th in Brittany’s Brandon University dorm room, I sent my sister a Tik Tok video that had a gay joke in it. She asked me “Does this mean you’re gay?” and I said yes, and she said that she loved me and that she already knew. A little later that same night, I sent my parents Ally Hills’ Coming Out Song video, formally coming out to them. I am so lucky and grateful that I was met with so much love after I did that. The next morning, I texted my other friends, the rest of my family, and formally came out on Instagram and Facebook. I was met with so much love from everybody. After this, I went to the mall and bought a bunch of pride things and ordered a giant rainbow flag off Amazon. I now have a lesbian flag in my room. I am so lucky that I was accepted by everyone I came out to, because I know that not everyone is this lucky. Please remember that outing someone is never okay. If you are wanting to come out, please do it safely, and on your own terms.

2020 Halloween Costume Ideas

2020 Halloween Costume Ideas  

By: Mallory Johnson 

Halloween 2020 is quickly approaching, so I thought that I would share some costume ideas with you! I got most of these ideas from Pinterest, others from pop culture this year, and some just from experience. 

I decided to organize these in age groups, so my first ideas are for young kids. These ideas are simple, with costumes you can probably find at Walmart or Value Village. These include animals in general, superheroes, firefighters, princesses, emojis, witches, ghosts, aliens, and Wizard of Oz characters. These are all classics and are always a fun time! 

The next age group is teenagers, so they are a bit more mature. These ideas should also be easy to find but are a little more homemade then the ones listed above. These include a cheerleader, a skeleton, the Pink Ladies from Grease, Crocs, Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice…), Rosie the Riveter, Thing 1 and Thing 2, a deck of cards, a boxer, a ghostbuster, the Joker, Pennywise, athletes, a tourist, and an angel or a devil.

My next age group is young adults like myself. These are simple yet mature and fun. These ideas can be homemade or found at Halloween stores. These costume ideas include different alcoholic beverages, like White Claw or Pink Whitney, red solo cups, Cards Against Humanity cards, The Purge characters, Britney Spears, characters from the musical Hamilton, and Harley Quinn from Birds of Prey.

My final age group is adults, and these costumes are also simple and easy to find. These include Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic, Morticia Addams, The Price is Right host and contestants, The Office characters, a One Night Stand, a clown, and Minnie and Mickey Mouse. 

Regardless of how Halloween looks this year, if you are going out trick or treating or celebrating some other way, please do not forget to wear a mask! Help slow the spread of COVID-19! Happy early Halloween 2020!