Mount Hood

‌Five impactful TEDTalk videos on YouTube

Explore vulnerability, personal power and strength in these TEDTalks

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

As the new year begins, lists of resolutions and affirmations are being crafted, big changes are being made and we all continue to adjust to our new normal. With content being created and released left and right across platforms, it can be hard to sort through all the options available. TEDTalks are well-known ⏤ having been hosted all across the world ⏤ with speakers who describe compelling and moving stories of their experiences. Here are some videos that may help provide some perspective on topics like vulnerability, gaining confidence and releasing fear while bravely moving forward. 

 1. “How not to take things personally?” by Fredrick Imbo. TEDxTalks. (March 4, 2020)

Looking to help grow people’s communication skills and support them in their experiences, Fredrick Imbo has embarked on his own journey of learning to not take things personally, after struggling with it in different situations both personally and professionally. In order to confront the ways in which he wanted to grow, he took a job as a referee and kept making meaningful changes along the way. 

2. “To overcome your challenges, stop comparing yourself to others” by Dean Furness. TED. (June 8, 2020) 

After Dean Furness lost the use of his legs in an accident, he had to adopt a new mindset that freed him from the restraints of comparison, which helped him get better day by day. Exploring new definitions of his “personal average” helped him reach his best when all judgment and comparison were released unconditionally.

3. “How to become your best when life gives you the worst” by Peter Sage. TEDxTalks. (July 15, 2019)

Peter Sage spent six months in one of the United Kingdom’s toughest and most violent jails as the only civil prisoner there. Through his experiences, he gained friends, countless stories and a national award for his work that improved the lives of prisoners. With his unique knack for storytelling, he guides people on how to get through some of the hardest times in life while staying authentic. 

4. “Finding Home Through Poetry” by Najwa Zebian. TEDxTalks. (Nov. 29, 2016) 

World traveler and poet Najwa Zebian uses her vivid language and spoken word poetry to describe her experience of growing up in many different countries, and how she often struggled to find a place where she felt fully at home. Through her captivating words and experiences, she redefines what a home is, and how to find belonging in the ways that matter most. 

5. “The power of vulnerability” by Brene Brown. TED-Ed. (July 10, 2013)

In Brene Brown’s study of human connection, she goes one step further and explores how empathy, love and genuine connection shape our experiences as people. While on a journey that explored people’s humanity and inner workings, she also had to be vulnerable with herself in order to go further. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

‌10 scrapbooking tips and tricks to try out

A well-loved pastime is making a comeback in 2021 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Scrapbooking has been cherished by many types of people, and one of the beauties of the craft is that it’s open for anyone to enjoy. It can be used to remember the passing years and fun times and can be incorporated into cards, letters, journals and photo albums alike. The art form has been used for centuries to capture important moments and faces filled with smiles. In past times, some people would compile scrapbooks throughout the years for their children ⏤ occasionally gifting them on their wedding day or important birthdays. It can also be used as a thoughtful way to commemorate a loved one who has passed away. 

Although not as many people are utilizing scrapbooking nowadays, the craft can be explored individually but can be enjoyed with company such as groups, retreats or classes. The world of scrapbooking can be intimidating; there is no one “right” way to scrapbook, and the most important part is to have fun with it and to see where it goes. That being said, there are a few tips and tricks that can make the activity easier to explore:

  1. If a traditional scrapbook isn’t available, any drawing booklet, old journal or photo album will work just fine. 
  2. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Most materials used can be found around the house or bought at thrift stores and yard sales.
  3. Pick a color scheme and a theme. If using photos, the rest of the page layout can be inspired by colors or details in the pictures. 
  4. If using older photos with limited or no copies, it can be best to leave them as is or to cut them in traditional shapes like squares or ovals. If they are more recent photos, consider developing extra pictures.
  5. Thicker cardstock paper works best for backgrounds since it withstands materials like thick markers, lots of tape and paint. Pictures from magazines, newspaper clippings and drawings all work too. Put unused scraps in a resealable plastic bag to avoid a mess.
  6. Journaling highlights and details from the event, memory or photo can be a good jumping-off point for a page, which could include the location, date, weather, favorite parts and the people involved. 
  7. If the page layout doesn’t include journaling and isn’t quite centered around one theme, quotes from books, movies, tv shows or lyrics can be used to balance the design. 
  8. For an added design element, include dried or pressed flowers or leaves, or embellish with bits of fabric, ribbon, stickers, paint and different writing techniques.
  9. Using textured paper adds a little pop to the page, and envelopes can double as pockets for photos or journaling snippets. Two-page layouts add extra space.
  10. Don’t glue or tape things right away; lay it all out and experiment with the design. Double-sided tape works best when layering, and glue sticks work better with paper.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Artist Spotlight with musician Neal Cranston

A Western student and musician with many talents 

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

While majoring in history and minoring in geography at Western, senior Neal Cranston has still been able to build himself a strong audience for his music over the years. Cranston taught himself how to play the guitar, harmonica and has continuously developed 14 years of experience with the piano. He regularly explores different areas of music, but the piano is his favorite instrument to play. Cranston said he learned to “train the ear to play what you hear;” he admits it’s not the most traditional route to go when mastering instruments, but it’s kept his passion for music alive because of its organic roots.

He first found his passion for music in the third grade, where he began teaching himself to play piano by ear. He was first drawn to music on his own and spent time at home in Canby, OR ⏤ where he trained his ear to pick out melodies and practiced his piano skills. After he started honing his talents in different music genres and gaining more experience, a family friend encouraged him to take lessons and explore the scales on the piano. 

The years of his hard work have paid off, with his talents booking him in-person gigs at restaurants, weddings and wineries. Cranston described one of his favorite experiences which occurred last December. He was playing Christmas music on a beautiful grand piano at a winery and saw CJ McCollum from the Portland Trailblazers in the audience. 

When he isn’t playing for venues or famous basketball players, Cranston works on his own music, and even released his first single, “Make it Without You,” this September on all streaming platforms.

With help from some friends, he was able to record and produce this single that incorporates old school rock with a modern vibe. He wrote the lyrics in a few days and crafted the rest of the song for a few months before releasing it, taking time to make sure the song stayed true to his rock roots and live band feel, while also taking influence from modern music.

Along with developing more albums and EPs, Cranston is also curating music that highlights his strengths in piano and other instruments. He hopes to release more music that incorporates raw human feelings and experiences, as he believes that “there’s a lot of power inside the human aspects of music.”

These days, Cranston can be found performing socially distanced shows at certain local restaurants and venues, like Wayward Sandwiches in Canby, OR. If he’s not performing in person, he’s probably developing his website, or posting more music on his YouTube page, Neal Cranston. Make sure to keep up with new songs, shows and interactive posts on his Instagram @neal_cranston_music.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu 

15 films to close off the year

Scope out some of the newest December films

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor 

There’s no shortage of memorable movies that have been released this year, and new flicks are still being produced through December for anyone to enjoy during the holidays. Ranging from action movies, thoughtful tales and lighthearted family films, all these films can help make a cold night feel more comfortable. Plus, staying at home, kicking back with some cocoa and throwing something on the big screen sounds like a pretty solid way to close off the year. 

Here are 15 movies that are sure to keep everyone occupied during winter break and help beat any boredom. Most of these films are or will be available on video streaming services, and some can be found in select theaters after their release date. 

 

  1. “The Sound of Metal” (Dec. 4) (Amazon Prime Video)
  2. “Let Them All Talk” (Dec. 10) (HBO Max)
  3. “Songbird” (Dec. 10) (Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, iTunes and Youtube )
  4. “The Prom” (Dec. 11) (Netflix)
  5. “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (Dec. 18) (Netflix) 
  6. “Greenland” (Dec. 18) (Amazon Prime Video)
  7. “Coming 2 America” (Dec. 18 — postponed) (Amazon Prime Video)
  8. “Breach” (Dec. 18) (Amazon Prime and in theaters)
  9. “The Father” (Dec. 18 — postponed) (Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Netflix)
  10. “Soul” (Dec. 25) (Disney+)
  11. “Promising Young Woman” (Dec. 25) (In theaters)
  12. “Wonder Woman 1984” (Dec. 25) (HBO Max and in theaters)
  13. “News of the World” (Dec. 25) (In theaters)
  14. “We Can Be Heroes” (Dec. 25) (Netflix)
  15. “One Night In Miami” (Dec. 25) (Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Netflix)

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu 

20 classic games to play with family and friends

Board and card games to revisit this season

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor 

Between the stress of buying gifts for the holidays and the building excitement of the incoming new year, a classic board game can be all anyone needs to destress. Tabletop games are about coming together with family and friends to have a lively, fun and lightly competitive time together. Some games are straightforward and lighthearted, like Candy Land or Connect Four, while other games seem like they are designed to cause an all-out debate about the rules and technicalities at the table, like with Scrabble or Clue. 

In any case, here’s a list of classic board games that everyone loves to play and hates to lose. Nearly all of these can be purchased online or in stores; thrift stores are also a good place to check for more unique games or neat card decks to try out. These games are ranked from the least to most likely to start a debate about the rules and who won. 

  1. Uno
  2. Marbles
  3. Mancala
  4. Connect Four
  5. Dominoes
  6. Hungry Hungry Hippos 
  7. Candy Land
  8. Chutes and Ladders
  9. Operation
  10. Don’t Break the Ice
  11. Sorry!
  12. Jenga
  13. Battleship
  14. Checkers
  15. Chess
  16. Twister
  17. The Game of Life 
  18. Scrabble 
  19. Clue
  20. Monopoly

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Join the holiday scavenger hunt for hidden gnomes

“Gnome on the Roam,” a free holiday event in Independence

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor 

In order for the community to celebrate this year’s holiday season, many local events and traditions have to make accommodations. “Gnome on the Roam,” a free family-friendly scavenger hunt, is a holiday event hosted by the Independence Downtown Association. Running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and spanning from Nov. 28 to Jan. 9, there will be plenty of time for members of the community to participate in the scavenger hunt and find the 15 plus gnomes that are painted in the shop windows along Main Street and C Street in downtown Independence. 

These crafty little gnomes will be hiding well, so be on the lookout and pick up a scavenger hunt form ⏤ they will be available in front of Indy Commons and other businesses starting Nov. 28. Once all the mystery items have been found, people can drop off the form in the dropbox at Indy Commons, 154 S Main Street, for a chance to be entered into a weekly drawing. 

The prizes will include $20 gift certificates to any downtown business of your choice. Updates on the “Gnome on the Roam” scavenger hunt and future events can be found on the Independence Downtown Association’s Facebook, and their Instagram page @downtownindependence. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Beat holiday stress with some funky tunes

Enjoy a playlist that travels through the ‘60s and ’90s

Natalie Dean | Entertainment Editor

The holiday season is finally here, and while it’s an exciting time to spread cheer, some days are longer than others. People need ways to unwind and kill time in between the holiday get-togethers. Here are 15 songs to help distract from the stressfulness of the holidays, ranging from the 1960s to 1990s; there’s bound to be quite a few throwbacks and other well-loved tunes. Find a few artists to revisit, and add some of these groovy classics to a playlist. Don’t forget to check out the playlist with all these hits under “Beat the holiday stress with some funky tunes~” on Spotify at TheWesternHowl.

  1. “Just the Two of Us” — Bill Weathers ft. Grover Washington Jr.
  2. “Give Up the Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)” — Parliament 
  3. “Juicy” — The Notorious B.I.G.
  4. “What’s Going On” — Marvin Gaye
  5. “Love Train” — The O’Jays 
  6. “Blue Bayou” — Roy Orbison 
  7. “Play That Funky Music” — Wild Cherry
  8. “Little Lies” — Fleetwood Mac 
  9. “Boogie Wonderland” — Earth, Wind & Fire and The Emotions
  10. “Funky Town” — Lipps Inc.
  11. “Get Down on It” — Kool & The Gang
  12. “Love Her Madly” — The Doors
  13.  “I Wish” — Stevie Wonder
  14. “Night Fever” — The Bee Gees 
  15.  “Get Down Tonight” — KC & The Sunshine 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

 

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