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Death and Return of Comic Books

Something caught the eye of James Pensabene, an animation student at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, as he wandered the aisles of Barnes & Noble. It was a comic book, but it looked slightly different than the ones he’d seen in the past; smaller, the size of a paperback novel. He picked up the book, looking at it with skepticism. Flipping through the pages, James grew intrigued. Finally, he turned to the back to see the price: $10. Abandoning his wandering, Pensabene brought the Compact Comics release of All-Star Superman to the register.
Game Rant •

Intel Arrow Lake Desktop CPU Release Plans Leak

Intel's plans for its new desktop CPU have leaked, including a projected October release. Codenamed "Arrow Lake," this CPU has yet to be revealed to the public. However, Intel is expected to unveil Arrow Lake sometime in September with its launch following soon after.
In May, details were given about another Intel CPU coming this year. Intel's Lunar Lake CPU is its new mobile chip launching in Q3 of this year. This mobile chip, alongside the yet-to-be-announced Arrow Lake, will be Intel's pr...
Asbury Park Press •

Wall native discovers previously unknown ancient Egyptian cemetery

It wasn't long ago that Wall native Emily Smith-Sangster was excitedly flipping through the pages of National Geographic as a child and begging to go to the Egypt exhibit at Monmouth Museum. Now she's the one making the discoveries.

Since 2022, the egyptologist, archeologist, and PhD candidate has been working with Princeton University and the Ministry of Antiques in Egypt on an excavation in Abydos. Here, she along with her team made the discovery of a previously unknown cemetery that could fu
The Berkeley Beacon •

Is it worth jumping ship from Twitter?

Elon Musk acquired Twitter on Oct. 27 and promptly got to work setting it on fire.
With the hellscape that is Twitter now burning to the ground—and around 3,000 remaining employees working to put out Musk’s fire—people have been flying out of the bird app to find a new social media platform to nest in. Whether it be the 6-year-old Mastodon finally getting the attention it’s craved, the brand new Hive Social run by merely three people, or the resurgence of fan-favorite Tumblr, the question remain...
The Berkeley Beacon •

City Hall Plaza reopens after over three years of renovations

Three years, one pandemic, and $95 million later, renovations at City Hall Plaza have concluded, and it has finally reopened to the public on Nov. 18.
Since July 2020, City Hall Plaza has been closed for renovations intended to make the area more accessible, appealing, and sustainable. A newly-constructed path connecting Congress Street to Cambridge Street, areas with “plug and play” accessibility for events, a speaker platform, extensive foliage, a civic pavilion, and a playground make up the a...

Asbury Park Press

Explore a featured selection of my writing from the Asbury Park Press

Aberdeen News •

Looking to catch some waves? Here's what you needed to know before you surf in New Jersey

Looking to catch some waves? Here's what you needed to know before you surf in New Jersey

If you're looking to get on a board this summer, now's the time.

There are over 80 spots among New Jersey's nearly four dozen beach communities where surfers can spend their summer catching waves, but what should a beginner look for when swimming out to the shore? Start small, for one.

“The best places to surf are probably the worst places to learn how to surf,” said Kyle Murray, a surfer and employee at
Asbury Park Press •

Colts Neck man gets 15 years in 3 armed robberies

A Colts Neck man who committed three armed robberies throughout Monmouth County in 2021 has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.

Conor Kavanagh pleaded guilty to the charges on January 30. The 31-year-old man admitted to all three armed robberies.

In the first robbery, which took place on November 13, Kavanagh approached the teller window at the PNC Bank inside of Stop & Shop on Route 36 in Keyport and passed a note informing them that he w
Asbury Park Press •

Wall native discovers previously unknown ancient Egyptian cemetery

It wasn't long ago that Wall native Emily Smith-Sangster was excitedly flipping through the pages of National Geographic as a child and begging to go to the Egypt exhibit at Monmouth Museum. Now she's the one making the discoveries.

Since 2022, the egyptologist, archeologist, and PhD candidate has been working with Princeton University and the Ministry of Antiques in Egypt on an excavation in Abydos. Here, she along with her team made the discovery of a previously unknown cemetery that could fu
Asbury Park Press •

Party patrol: These 32 Jersey Shore towns have youth curfews in place

Party patrol: These 32 Jersey Shore towns have youth curfews in place

Jersey Shore towns have been struggling to control parties organized by teens on social media, which sometimes draw thousands suddenly, causing irritation for both the police and residents. To counter this, more and more towns have been enacting curfews in an attempt to curb these pop-up parties.

While anger over parties and alleged youthful excess isn't new at the Jersey Shore, these parties have led to a slew of new action
Asbury Park Press •

'Unprecedented' wildfire smoke, poor air quality expected to remain in NJ another day

'Unprecedented' wildfire smoke, poor air quality expected to remain in NJ another day

Across New Jersey, commuters and school children who are donning masks and finding outdoor recess canceled want to know: when will the air be safe to breathe again?

The air quality alerts and hazards are expected to linger through Friday, particularly for susceptible groups, like children, people with asthma or respiratory conditions, elderly adults and pregnant women.

During a news conference Thursday, Gov.
Asbury Park Press •

Primary Election 2023: Poll closing times, registration info and more as NJ heads to polls

Primary Election 2023: Poll closing times, registration info and more as NJ heads to polls

June 6 is Primary Election Day, and citizens throughout New Jersey will be voting in a bevy of local races. Here is everything you need to know to be prepared before heading to the polls.

When do the polls open?

The polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Previously, from June 2nd to June 4th in-person early voting was available. The polls were open Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 from 10
Asbury Park Press •

Why does it smell like smoke in New Jersey?

Why does it smell like smoke in New Jersey?

Wildfires occurring hundreds of miles away are causing New Jersey residents to smell smoke.

Fires in Canada have been blazing as wildfire season begins in the country. While the fires are not spreading to the U.S., smoke from the blazes is.

These fires are what's currently causing the smoky smell filling the air throughout North Jersey.

"The way the winds and the upper atmosphere (are) rotating, it's just picking up all the smoke and just pushing i
Asbury Park Press •

Here's what New Jersey can expect for Hurricane Season

Here's what New Jersey can expect for Hurricane Season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its predictions for the 2023 hurricane season.

The season officially started June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30. Every year, before the season begins, NOAA releases their predictions, which include whether the season will be average, above average, or below average in terms of the number and intensity of storms.

For 2023, NOAA is predicting a relatively average season w
Asbury Park Press •

Should NJ schools be required to teach swim safety?

Should NJ schools be required to teach swim safety?

SPRING LAKE - With the Atlantic Ocean as his backdrop, Assemblyman Sean Kean urged New Jersey legislators Friday to support a bill that would require instruction in water safety in public schools.

Kean was joined by Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines; Dominick Mondi, Executive Director of Northeast Spa and Pool Association; and Joe Ohme, founding board member of the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance, all supporters of water safety initiatives.
Asbury Park Press •

State of growing: 14 New Jersey towns where population is growing the fastest

State of growing: 14 New Jersey towns where population is growing the fastest

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nowhere in New Jersey has been growing as fast as Ocean County.

U.S. Census data released last week showed while New Jersey's population has remained mostly flat, Ocean County grew by nearly 3 percent — the largest increase in the state. Four of the five fastest growing towns in New Jersey are in Ocean.

Lakewood, which has been the fastest growing town in New Jersey for deca

GameRant Articles

Explore a featured selection of my writing from GameRant

Game Rant •

Diablo 3 Reveals Season 32 Details

Blizzard announced that Diablo 3 Season 32: Ethereal Memory will start on July 12. Alongside the date, Blizzard outlined the Season's themes, rewards, conquest, and bosses. Diablo 3 has received continual support from Blizzard since its release in 2012, even with Diablo 4 being out for over a year now. This trend is set to continue, as fans of Diablo 3 will be able to enjoy Season 32 soon, which is bringing in a slew of new content, keeping the 12-year-old game fresh.
Diablo 3 was released i...
Game Rant •

League of Legends Getting New Game Mode in July

Riot Games has unveiled a new game mode coming to League of Legends called "Swarm." This PvE event will run from July 17 to August 19. Riot showed off Swarm in the new summer trailer for League of Legends.
Every summer, League of Legends players look forward to what Riot Games will do for its summer event. Last summer, Riot Games introduced Arena into League of Legends. This game mode saw players compete in 2v2v2v2 elimination games, similar to a mix of League of Legends and Teamfight Tactic...
Game Rant •

Splatoon 3 Reveals Summer Nights Splatfest Details

Nintendo has revealed that the Summer Nights Splatfest for Splatoon 3 will take place the weekend of July 12. In these game-wide events, players pledge their allegiance to one of three teams and battle it out in Turf Wars to earn points for their side. At the end of the weekend, points are tallied, and one team is declared the winner. This marks the 17th Splatfest of Splatoon 3.
Nintendo announced the Summer Nights Splatfest back in May. Summer in Splatoon is already underway, with the three...
Game Rant •

World of Warcraft Dev Hints at Story Mode Potentially Being Expanded in the Future

According to a senior developer of World of Warcraft, the game's upcoming "Story Mode" being added in The War Within expansion may be expanded in the future. World of Warcraft is quite possibly the most famous MMORPG ever released, paving the way for future MMOs. After 20 years of being focused on the cooperative fight, Blizzard is adding a way for solo players to experience the last bosses of the game's raid alone.
The War Within is the next expansion for World of Warcraft. The War Within i...
Game Rant •

Madden NFL 25 Confirms 'BOOM Tech' Gameplay and More Features

EA has outlined changes coming to Madden NFL 25, namely a new physics system called "BOOM tech." Madden NFL 25 is the next entry in the yearly football series, and fan excitement is through the roof. With Madden 25 on the horizon as well as the return of College Football, football fans are in for a treat this summer.
The hype for Madden 25 has been building leading up to the game's release. EA has been releasing new information about the game leading up to its August 16 release. EA announced...
Game Rant •

Elden Ring Director Reveals What Future FromSoftware Games Will Build Upon

The director of Elden Ring, Hidetaka Miyazaki, spoke about FromSoftware's future, revealing that it will build upon the freedom and difficulty of Elden Ring. With Shadow of the Erdtree being released just recently, FromSoftware is not yet ready to reveal its next game, but the company is learning from Elden Ring's success when developing the game's successor.
FromSoftware is known for its extremely difficult games. From Dark Souls to Elden Ring, its titles challenge players in ways that many...
Game Rant •

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is Canonizing a BO2 Choice, and It's Bad News For One Character

Spoiler Warning for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 The upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will finally confirm which ending of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is canon, revealing the fate of a fan favorite character. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will base its campaign on this ending.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is a favorite among fans of the franchise with players still discussing the game's campaign twelve years after its release. There are four different endings players can get depending on whether th...
Game Rant •

Intel Arrow Lake Desktop CPU Release Plans Leak

Intel's plans for its new desktop CPU have leaked, including a projected October release. Codenamed "Arrow Lake," this CPU has yet to be revealed to the public. However, Intel is expected to unveil Arrow Lake sometime in September with its launch following soon after.
In May, details were given about another Intel CPU coming this year. Intel's Lunar Lake CPU is its new mobile chip launching in Q3 of this year. This mobile chip, alongside the yet-to-be-announced Arrow Lake, will be Intel's pr...

UGames

Explore a featured selection of my writing from UGames

uGames •

Nintendo Switch Sees Sales Drops Compared To 2023 - uGames

The Nintendo Switch has seen a decline in sales this year in comparison to 2023. The Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 also saw a sales drop this year. All three consoles’ sales have dropped by double-digit numbers from last year.
Circana, an analytics company, released its report on the U.S. video game market in May, revealing that video game spending is down by 40% since 2023. Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony are all down by double-digit percentages since last year with Nintendo seeing the largest...
uGames •

Nintendo's President Gives Update On Switch 2 - uGames

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has given an update on Nintendo’s next console, assuring fans that the supply of the Switch’s successor will meet audience demand. Rumors surrounding the next Nintendo console have been abundant, with people speculating on its release date, power and whether it will be a follow-up to the Nintendo Switch. While very little is known about the console, Furukawa assures fans that supply will be plentiful upon release.
Nintendo announced their next console via Twi...
uGames •

'Crazy Taxi' Developer Gives A Big Update On 'Completely New' Game - uGames

The series producer of Crazy Taxi, Kenji Kanno, has given an update on the new entry, stating that the new game will be “completely new” from what came before. Crazy Taxi is a classic Sega franchise from the days of the Dreamcast. The series has been long dormant, but at the Game Awards last December, Sega announced that Crazy Taxi is making its return.
Like many Sega games, Crazy Taxi started as an arcade title before being ported to home consoles in 2000. The arcade game came out in 1999 and w...
uGames •

The Best Deals Of Steam Summer Sale 2024 - uGames

Steam Summer Sale 2024 is underway, running from June 27 to July 11. This annual sale is known for having deals on the most popular PC games both new and old. With thousands of games on sale, it’s easy to lose track of the best deals of the summer. Whether players are clearing out their wishlists or trying to find something new to play, these are some of the best deals Steam has to offer.
The LCD model of the Steam Deck is 15% off, making the entry model less expensive than a Nintendo Switch. Gr...
uGames •

'Super Monkey Ball' Rolls Into A New Game - uGames

Super Monkey Ball returns triumphantly with the first new entry in the series in 12 years. Banana Rumble is the first new Super Monkey Ball game since 2012’s Banana Splitz on the PlayStation Vita.
Super Monkey Ball is a classic Sega franchise dating back to 2001. The series’s first entry, Monkey Ball, was an arcade exclusive. The first console entry in the series is an enhanced version of the arcade game for the GameCube called Super Monkey Ball. The game’s task is to challenge players to naviga...
uGames •

'Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree' Seeing Mixed Reviews On Steam - uGames

Elden Ring‘s expansion Shadow of the Erdtree was released on June 21 to overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews. However, a few days later, reviews are mixed due to its difficulty and performance. Elden Ring has been a smash success for FromSoftware, selling over 25 million copies since its release in 2022. The game’s long-awaited expansion is finally here, and it’s pulling no punches.
FromSoftware games are known for their extreme difficulty. From Dark Souls to Bloodborne, players will undoubtedl...
uGames •

Everything Announced At The June 2024 Nintendo Direct - uGames

The June 2024 Nintendo Direct brought with it a slew of games, both old and new, coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2024 and 2025. While no new information was given about Nintendo’s next gaming system, Nintendo fans were notified of long-awaited titles in fan-favorite series.
Among the direct highlights are a new Mario and Luigi game, a new Legend of Zelda game and gameplay footage of Metroid Prime 4, which was revealed in 2017. This Nintendo Direct was jam-packed with games, giving Nintendo fans...
uGames •

The 12 Best Announcements From Xbox Games Showcase 2024 - uGames

Microsoft held its Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, showcasing new games, familiar titles and information about upcoming releases. Here are the most exciting announcements from 2024’s Xbox Games Showcase.
The newest Call of Duty game will be released on October 25 and is coming to Xbox Game Pass day one. More gameplay and information on the title were shown at the Call of Duty Direct immediately following the Xbox Games Showcase.
The next title in the Doom series was announced. Doom Guy will be se...

Berkeley Beacon

Explore a featured selection of my writing from the Berkeley Beacon

The Berkeley Beacon •

Mark Leccese: Longtime professor, reporter, trumpet player retiring after 16 years at Emerson

Mark Leccese has been a reporter, an editor, and everything in between. Now, after 16 years at Emerson, the longtime journalism professor is stepping away from the classroom and looking forward to his next chapter—music.
“I’m proud of what I accomplished as a professor at Emerson College,” said Leccese, who left the newsroom and took a full-time teaching position at Emerson in 2007. “But personally, I’m ready for change.”
Leccese has left an impact on students throughout his 16 years of teaching...
The Berkeley Beacon •

Is it worth jumping ship from Twitter?

Elon Musk acquired Twitter on Oct. 27 and promptly got to work setting it on fire.
With the hellscape that is Twitter now burning to the ground—and around 3,000 remaining employees working to put out Musk’s fire—people have been flying out of the bird app to find a new social media platform to nest in. Whether it be the 6-year-old Mastodon finally getting the attention it’s craved, the brand new Hive Social run by merely three people, or the resurgence of fan-favorite Tumblr, the question remain...
The Berkeley Beacon •

College students protest human rights violations in Iran

Trigger warning: links included in this article contain graphic imagery.
Beheshteh Ghaderi and her husband John traveled an hour to Boston to show their support for those suffering under the regime in Iran at protests hosted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and University of Massachusetts-Lowell. 
“The government, they just kill children, they kill ladies,” Beheshteh Ghaderi said through tears.
“Her cousin was one of them,” J...
The Berkeley Beacon •

City Hall Plaza reopens after over three years of renovations

Three years, one pandemic, and $95 million later, renovations at City Hall Plaza have concluded, and it has finally reopened to the public on Nov. 18.
Since July 2020, City Hall Plaza has been closed for renovations intended to make the area more accessible, appealing, and sustainable. A newly-constructed path connecting Congress Street to Cambridge Street, areas with “plug and play” accessibility for events, a speaker platform, extensive foliage, a civic pavilion, and a playground make up the a...
The Berkeley Beacon •

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks in Boston before midterm elections

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a rally on Nov. 2 to endorse the Massachusetts democratic candidates for this year’s general election.
Harris, alongside democratic gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, addressed the crowd at Roxbury Community College urging everyone to vote blue.
“Why should I vote? It’s a very righteous question. Here’s what I have to say. We’ve got lots of material,” Harris said, referring to the democrats’ age...
The Berkeley Beacon •

“Hands on a Hardbody” competition takes place in 2B alley

For his 21st birthday, senior comedic arts major Max Charbonneau challenged a group of friends to hold onto the Norman Lear statue in Emerson’s 2 Boylston Place alley. He offered a case of 24 steaks as a reward for the competitor who lasted the longest.

Charbonneau was inspired by “Hands on a Hardbody: The Documentary,” a film detailing the Hands on a Hardbody competition in which 24 people touched a truck for as long as they could with the last person remaining winning said truck.

The event k
The Berkeley Beacon •

The Omni Parker House celebrates National Boston Cream Pie Day

The Omni Parker House—home of the original Boston cream pie—welcomed visitors for free slices of the famous cake in celebration of National Boston Cream Pie Day last Friday. Guests could also meet head pastry chef Laura Boyd-Figueroa.

In 2013, the Omni Parker House made the recipe for its Boston cream pie available to the public. The recipe Figueroa uses to make the pie is the same one the Omni Parker House used in the 1870s.

“[Customers] come here for a reason,” Figueroa said. “They want it t
The Berkeley Beacon •

Struggles and successes of student entrepreneurs

Between attending classes and working jobs to support their businesses, student entrepreneurs face a multitude of challenges.

Jacob Warman’s passion for drawing began when he was young. He grew up visiting his mother once a week at a Barnes and Noble, where he would spend hours drawing pictures based on anatomy books. He found himself in awe of skater designs and Japanese tattoo art as he grew up, eventually launching his sustainable clothing business, KNUCKLEHEAD, in August of 2021. He takes i

Miscelaneous

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Death and Return of Comic Books

Something caught the eye of James Pensabene, an animation student at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, as he wandered the aisles of Barnes & Noble. It was a comic book, but it looked slightly different than the ones he’d seen in the past; smaller, the size of a paperback novel. He picked up the book, looking at it with skepticism. Flipping through the pages, James grew intrigued. Finally, he turned to the back to see the price: $10. Abandoning his wandering, Pensabene brought the Compact Comics release of All-Star Superman to the register.

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