4.5/5 Stars

Singer and songwriter of the band Paramore, Hayley Williams, is now writing solo songs that reflect on how she has grown from her past relationships. Her new album, “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos,” is made up of 14 songs, which shed light on her recent divorce in 2017. The album was released on Feb. 5 and consists of relaxing, acoustic instruments and soft-toned vocals, showcasing the passion Williams puts into her music.

This new album put Williams entirely in the spotlight. Not only does she sing all of the vocals, but she also plays the instruments on the tracks, which include drums, guitars and keyboards. Since creating new music outside of Paramore, her lyrics focus on heartbreak, relationships and growth from her experiences, creating a much different vibe from the pop-punk music she is most known for. 

In her song “First Thing to Go” from the album, Williams sings, “I’m scared to lose what’s left of you,” subtly referring to her ex-husband Chad Gilbert. You can really feel the emotion in her voice, and her lyrics are relatable to many listeners. What is most impressive about her music in this new album is how even though the songs are about heartbreak and lost love, they give off a feeling of relaxation and peacefulness. 

In addition to “First Thing to Go,” other notable songs include “Inordinary,” “Over Those Hills” and “Asystole.” In “Asystole,” Williams sings, “I want to forget / But the feeling isn’t something I can let myself let go of.” There are many albums in the world that highlight the effects a breakup or divorce can have on someone, but “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos” reveals the raw emotion and pure loss that is personal to Williams. Any listener could feel the pain she feels, as well as the self-growth she has manifested from going through her divorce.

Williams was with Gilbert for nearly a decade and was married to him for a year. Gilbert is the guitarist in the band New Found Glory. A few years after the divorce, Paramore took a break from music in 2019 and Williams branched off to create her own music.

Paramore was created in Franklin, Tennessee in 2004 when Williams was just a teenager. Williams was the lead singer and other members of the band included guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. The band had a recording contract with Warner Music Group’s Fueled by Ramen, the same label that Twenty One Pilots is signed to. Albums by Paramore include “All We Know Is Falling” (2005), “Riot!” (2007), “Brand New Eyes” (2009), “Paramore” (2013) and “After Laughter” (2017).

After creating such an emotion-filled and heartfelt album such as “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos,” there is no doubt that Williams will continue to release beautiful music for her fans to love and appreciate. Her past troubles may have been difficult, but those experiences will only continue to make her and her music stronger.

In college, balancing multiple classes, self-care, a social life and even a job can seem overwhelming, if not impossible. Learning how to get into a study routine, though, can help you stay organized and sane during your crazy, work-filled semester. Here are the top five routine studying tips you should learn before ending your college-career to help you be as successful as you can be.

1. Take good notes: One of the most important studying tips you can learn before leaving college is taking good notes. If your notes are messy, all over the place or don’t exist at all, you are doing it wrong. When note taking, be sure to keep things simple by writing down the key points from the lecture or textbook. If you write down too much information, it can overwhelm you. Another good tip for note taking is to color-code your notes. By highlighting in different colors or using different colored pens, it can make notetaking more fun and enjoyable!

2. Change up your studying location: Studying in the same location can become boring and repetitive. By switching up your venue, it can help you retain more information as memory is influenced by locations. Go to the library, student union or even a local park. Get creative and find a comfortable place to make the best out of your studying time.

3. Make some flashcards: Not only does good note taking help you study better, but making flashcards is helpful, too. Flashcards are especially helpful for learning vocabulary words in information-heavy science classes. This can be a fun way to study when you’re with friends. Have a friend hold up a card and see if you know the answer on the other side. Once you get the hang of the flashcards, try and guess the answers faster and faster. It is a guaranteed trick to help you retain and remember content for your classes.

4. Don’t multitask when studying: When you sit down to study for a class or exam, it is important to make sure you focus only on studying. This means you need to eliminate all distractions. Let your friends know you will see them later, place yourself in a quiet environment and put your phone away on silent. By deciding to focus only on studying, your brain can process information faster and engage fully with the content you need to learn.

5. Take breaks in between: Remember to always take breaks in between studying. If you study all of your material at once, your brain will retain less information due to a lack of rest and reflection. Staying energized is the best way to keep up with learning, so take a short break every hour or so. Not only do small breaks every hour help but taking a day or two off from studying during the week is beneficial as well. Self-care is just as important as doing well in your classes, so if you don’t put your mental health on your top priority list, it could hurt your academics farther down the road.

Monday: National Free Shipping Day

Dec. 14 is National Free Shipping Day. Take advantage and go get your holiday shopping done online by saving money on free shipping! Thousands of online stores and retailers ranging from large and small businesses are offering this deal on shipping. Along with this offer, they will also guarantee that your items will arrive by Christmas Eve. This means you can cozy up with your blanket and laptop and get your shopping done like a pro.

 Dec. 14 is also National Bouillabaisse Day. Bouillabaisse is a traditional Provençal fish stew that originates from the city of Marseille, France. Some ingredients of the dish include mussels or clams, crab or squid, three different kinds of fish, onions, tomatoes and a variety of spices and herbs. If you haven’t heard of or tried this dish before, plan a day of fun to cook it with your family or friends! 

Tuesday: National Cupcake Day

 Dec. 15 celebrates one of the most popular party foods in the country: cupcakes! Celebrate this day by trying out and baking different types of cupcakes. From red velvet to funfetti to marble, the possibilities are endless! If baking isn’t your forte, visit a local business or cafe and try out their cupcakes. Either way, 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year, so you deserve it. Treat yourself! 

Wednesday: National Chocolate Covered Anything Day 

Dec. 16 is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. If you were looking for an excuse for a cheat day, today is the day. Whether it be donuts, cake or even strawberries, this day can turn anyone into a chocoholic. Gather your friends and family to indulge and get your chocolate fix in. 

Dec. 16 is also National Barbie and Barney Backlash Day. For those of you who didn’t appreciate or enjoy the existence of these two popular 2000s icons, this day gives you the opportunity to pretend that they never even existed!

 Thursday: National Maple Syrup Day 

Dec. 17 is an exciting day for the state of Maine and all of New England. For National Maple Syrup Day, get together with friends and family to start cooking up some pancakes and waffles to pour your favorite maple syrup on. Another fun activity you can do to celebrate this day is look up the history of maple syrup and how it is made. You might be surprised to find out that maple sugaring began way back in the 1500s!

Friday: National Bake Cookies Day

Dec. 18 is National Bake Cookies Day. As if celebrating cupcakes and anything covered in chocolate and maple syrup this week was delicious enough, now you can eat even more sweets and still get away with it. Give this day the recognition it deserves by baking your favorite cookies at home. Maybe even try a new type of cookie recipe you’ve never had before! Today is another opportunity to make your house full of sweet smells before the holidays.

Dec. 18 is also National Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day and National Ugly Sweater Day. Refresh your memory by putting on “Elf” with your favorite ugly Christmas sweater on and get a good laugh out of the next person who calls you by answering with “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”

This 2020 holiday season, shopping at your local businesses for gifts in the Orono and Bangor area is critical. With the unusually high levels of unemployment that were seen this year due to the pandemic and quarantining regimens put into place by the state, local businesses had a difficult time getting the number of customers and purchases they are used to seeing. 

As most local companies in Maine rely on the summer season to bring in tourists, the heavy decline in business this past summer led owners to struggle to keep their doors open. Now, with the holidays approaching, these local businesses are relying on sales this month to carry them to next year’s summer season. Many are implementing holiday deals, sales and promotions to encourage locals to do their holiday shopping with them. Being active in parts of our community and supporting them this season is more important than ever. Here are five local businesses you can support by grabbing a coffee and a baked good or purchasing holiday gifts for friends and family, each with their own special holiday deals.

The Nest: Orono

Located in downtown Orono, the Nest is a coffee lounge popular among locals and college students. The Nest offers a cozy, aroma-filled environment to relax, chill out and enjoy a hot cup of coffee with friends. With a full-service espresso bar, customers can order drinks from cappuccinos to lattes to iced coffees. Food is also available with a range from sweet treats to smoothie bowls. This holiday season, Nest is providing gift cards to purchase in-store to make the perfect stocking stuffers for friends and family. 

The Store Ampersand: Orono

After being open for more than 40 years now, The Store Ampersand in Orono managed to keep its doors open during the entire pandemic. Customers have been enjoying this small shop for years, and for good reason. Here, locals can enjoy coffee, baked goods, breads, groceries, cheeses, gifts and much more. For the holidays this season, The Store Ampersand is allowing shoppers to schedule Private Holiday Shopping sessions to have the entire store to themselves. With COVID-19 still a concern, this offers people a safe shopping environment while they get their holiday shopping done. This opportunity is available from Dec. 1 to Dec. 22. Appointments are for Mondays through Fridays at 6:15 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 4:15 p.m. To make a Private Holiday Shopping reservation, call (207)-866-4110 or email TheStoreAmpersand@gmail.com.

West Market Square Artisan Coffeehouse: Bangor

Located in the heart of downtown Bangor, West Market Square Artisan Coffeehouse (WMSACH) is a small, comfy coffee shop. With cozy couches and chairs, this local business is the perfect environment to soothe yourself with a cup of coffee. Pastries and baked goods are also available for purchase and goods from local artists are for sale. This season, WMSACH has brought back Jingle Beans, a blend of “washed and naturally processed Ethiopian beans” from Tandem Coffee Roasters. This blend can be bought in coffee bags to make the perfect gift. This local business is also advertising artist Samantha Bullard’s coffee paintings that can be purchased by customers. Each painting was painted with real coffee, and they are being sold framed and ready to go. Jan’s Heavenly Jams can be purchased as well, making great stocking stuffers. WMSACH will be closing Christmas Eve through the month of February, so be sure to stop in before they reopen in the spring season. 

The Not So Empty Nest: Bangor

In Bangor is The Not So Empty Nest, a crafty store that offers a wide variety of products made by Maine artisans and craftsmen. From unique up-cycled furniture to art done by local artists, this shop is the perfect stop to fulfill your holiday shopping checklist. This season, The Not So Empty Nest is providing lots of stocking stuffers for customers, as well as a new candle line that features frosted colors for the holidays. On their Facebook page, they have posted gift guides for shoppers to get ideas for gifts for family and friends. This past Sunday, Dec. 6, wreath delivery was available within 20 miles of the store, so be sure to watch out for similar deals. Now until Christmas, instead of 10% off Christmas decor and poinsettias it is 15% off. Lastly, every customer who makes a purchase in-store will receive a coupon for $1 off at the new Mainely Mercantile next door to The Not So Empty Nest.

Aroma Joe’s: Orono

Aroma Joe’s is a well-known coffee shop chain around Maine and many bordering New England states. This shop features AJ’s RUSH energy drink combinations, lattes, coffees, hot chocolate and more. Food is also available for purchase from bagels to cinnamon rolls to breakfast sandwiches. Currently, the Orono location is drive-thru only, but that doesn’t mean holiday deals are canceled! From now until Dec. 24, every time a customer buys a digital gift card of $25 or more, they will receive a free 24-ounce drink to use between Jan. 11, and Jan. 31, 2021. This deal is for app purchases only. Another deal is running until Dec. 31. Every day from 2 p.m. until close, coffee-lovers can order a 20-ounce $2 Holiday Drink. This deal is for in-store and app purchases. Holiday Drinks include the peppermint bark latte or macchiato or a salted caramel latte.

All the deals and specials for these five local businesses can be located on their Facebook business pages that are updated every week. Remember to stay safe this holiday season. Happy shopping!

On Nov. 12, the University of Maine History Department held its third symposium series talk, “Moved by the State: Forced Relocation and Making a Good Life in Postwar Canada,” via Zoom. Guest speaker Tina Loo gave a presentation on the topic with a prepared PowerPoint and case studies on relocated communities. This talk was co-sponsored by the Canadian-American Center at UMaine.

Loo is a professor of history at the University of British Columbia and a well-known historian in Canada. She is also a member of the Royal Society of Canada and is currently the co-editor of the Canadian Historical Review. Loo recently had her book “Moved by the State” published in 2019.

In “Moved by the State,” Loo discusses five examples of postwar relocation cases in Canada. The five examples take place in the Central Arctic, Newfoundland, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia. Loo discussed three of the five cases in her presentation.

Before sharing the three case studies, Loo examined how forced relocations are now understood as welfare and economic development measures. According to Loo, it is about political development, lifting people out of poverty and making them more governable.

The first case presented was on the Inuit people in the Central Arctic in the mid-1950s. Loo talked about how migratory barren-ground caribou were appearing less and less, harming the Inuit who depended on them to survive. With the land no longer sustainable, the Inuit people were relocated.

“To reduce welfare costs and prevent Inuit from becoming dependent, bureaucrats from the Federal Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources decided to move groups of them to new and better hunting grounds,” Loo said. “A decision that turned out to have tragic consequences. After learning several Inuit had died of starvation in the winter of 1958-1959, Northern Affairs concluded the land had failed the people and not them. In light of that, they believed the best course of action was to relocate these inland peoples to permanent settlements on the west coast of Hudson Bay.”

From here forward, many Inuit went to work for a nickel mine for wages, becoming “people of the rock.” This mine then closed in 1962, causing many to relocate again to go work for other mines throughout Canada. Many of the others who didn’t relocate again were trained to create ceramics with the local clay since Northern Affairs believed market consumers in southern Canada and beyond had desires to purchase “authentic Indigenous craft.”

The second case was about resettlement in Newfoundland. The decline in cod fishery led to widespread poverty in small, coastal settlements. These families had carried out these salt fish trades for centuries, supplying them to merchants. 

“The solution proposed by the Newfoundland government was to modernize the fishery, in part through a joint federal-provincial fisheries household resettlement program that ran from 1965 to 1975,” Loo said. “Concentrating the provinces’ scattered population in growth centers, as they were called, would, the politicians and the planners believed, create a workforce for the offshore fishery and its associated processing plants. Through resettlements, small-scale producers would become wage laborers in an industrialized fishery — a fishery for modern times.”

One main issue the Newfoundland government faced with these resettlements was that relocation was voluntary. Families had to choose to leave, unlike the Central Arctic Inuit case, where people were forced to relocate. Another issue was that outport Newfoundlanders lacked the skill of collective decision-making.

The final, third case Loo discussed took place in eastern Quebec. Taking place in the early 1960s, the poorest area of Quebec was in the Lower St. Lawrence and Gaspé region. 

“It was also the subject of what was then the most ambitious and expensive economic development project funded by the federal and provincial governments,” Loo said. “It was carried out by the Arms-Length Eastern Quebec Development Office, the Bureau D’amenagement de L’est du Quebec, or BAEQ. It had the quiet revolution goal of ‘rattrapage,’ that is the goal of the resident’s catching up to the standard of living that was enjoyed by their fellow Quebecers.”

This catching up involved two things. The first was consolidating a rural population in “marginal parishes.” The second was to convince those left on the lands to improve agriculture and fisheries through modern methods and technologies.

Following Loo’s presentation, the Zoom was opened up to a Q & A session facilitated by Mark McLaughlin, a member of the History Department and the Canadian-American Center. McLaughlin directed the Q & A, while Loo provided the answers to the best of her abilities.

Although this symposium series talk covered just a sliver of forced relocation in postwar Canada, it gave a glimpse of what life was like for struggling Inuit, Newfoundland fishers and poverty-stricken families of Quebec in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Loo has done much more extensive research on relocation and resettlement in postwar Canada, as well as research in the environmental history of Canada.

For more information on Loo’s research, publications and awards, visit history.ubc.ca/profile/tina-loo.

On exhibit until Nov. 12 in the Lord Hall Gallery was the University of Maine’s 2020 senior art show, “Surviving Anecdotes.” The gallery featured 16 students in a variety of mediums. From polished steel sculptures to acrylic on canvas to digital prints, the exhibit showcased pieces for everyone to enjoy. 

This year was a particularly difficult one for the gallery’s staff to get this exhibit up and running during the pandemic. According to Rachael Murphy, a senior intern at the gallery who also contributed artwork to the exhibit, setting up the show took a bit of time-crunching, as it usually doesn’t get put up until the end of the year. Staff only had five weeks to hang, position and prepare all of the pieces.

Another challenge the Lord Hall Gallery faced was advertising. Since the show had to be put up so quickly, it was difficult to get advertising out to the public. 

“Word [only] just started going out and now the show is coming down,” Murphy said.

Regardless of being pressed for time and struggling to get word out to the public, the show still exceeded expectations. One of the 16 senior artists, Raquel Garmony, found the show to be a success.

“I’d just like to add that everyone did a terrific job of putting in their artwork and putting the show together,” Garmony said.

Although the title of the exhibit is “Surviving Anecdotes,” Murphy stated that even though many of the artists created their own individual themes, most of the artists, if not all, were connected by the title of the exhibit.

“I think one of the big themes we had that we all connected with was the title ‘Surviving Anecdotes,’ where all these pieces of art were made before the pandemic happened,” Murphy said. “They were kind of these lasting pieces of what we did before we shut down and everything changed.”

Another senior artist, Darria Hansen, shared that she noticed a common theme of health concerns among the exhibit’s displayed pieces.

“Individual motifs aside, themes of one’s health and horror aesthetics were recurring ones, it seemed,” Hansen said. “It’s a reaction to our current times, a way to vent frustrations we can’t act on otherwise — be them personal problems, like chronic disorders or political unrest.”

Amidst all the displays of artwork and themes was a printmaking piece, “Brice the Behemoth.” This piece, done by Murphy, is a woodcut relief print. Her inspiration comes from spending her summer in Weld, Maine, using wildlife around her as an inspiration — a more uplifting theme with the pandemic and health concerns aside.

“This print is a search for positivity during these stressful and uncertain times,” Murphy said. “Interactions with these creatures fixed my mind in the present. I find myself reflecting on the value of small moments, becoming an observer of my surroundings instead of an active participant. This print expands out to broader commentary on humanity’s odd relationship to nature, desiring connection and control, whether we are aware of these unique interactions or not.”

Another piece of artwork, a sculpture made from found objects titled Polycystic, was done by Hansen. Polycystic brings awareness to the condition of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and the weight Hansen experiences day-to-day.

“It reflects on my experience with PCOS, the violent nature of the physical pain it’s brought me, and the unfortunate view society has of me and others with the disorder,” Hansen said.

Hansen also shared that her theme for most of her artwork was horror and her goal at the end of the day was to make viewers feel what she feels when looking at her pieces. This is accomplished in her other pieces of artwork which are also featured in “Surviving Anecdotes.” Along with “Polycystic,” her printmaking pieces, “Second Sphere: Dysphoria” and “Third Sphere: Self Harm” represent and resonate her theme even further. “Second Sphere: Dysphoria” is an intaglio etching and “Third Sphere: Self Harm” is a woodcut relief print.

“My prints further ideas of stress and mental health, with the angels being some of my favorite works,” Hansen said. “‘Second Sphere: Dysphoria’ and ‘Third Sphere: Self Harm’ are from a developing series of mine dealing with mental health and social issues through the lens of biblically accurate angels, with each ‘sphere’ denoting how corporeal [“Third Sphere”] or incorporeal [“First Sphere”] a feeling or issue is. There’s something almost cathartic about appropriating Christian imagery and using it to talk about [LGBTQ] issues like body dysphoria. It’s something I’m actually continuing with printmaking currently, and hope to submit to the student exhibition next year.”

Despite the challenges “Surviving Anecdotes” faced in order to make the exhibit possible, it was without a doubt a success. All 16 senior artists displayed talented, emotional and personal pieces of artwork for the public to admire. With having to set up this showcase in a short five weeks and having it come out immaculate, the staff and students of the Lord Hall Gallery should be proud of what they effectively delivered.

4.5/5 Stars

On Oct. 28, 2020, Netflix released its new holiday rom-com “Holidate.” Featuring every holiday throughout the year, along with relatable young-adult humor, this movie exceeds viewer expectations.

“Holidate” reached No. 4 on Netflix’s Top 10 chart on Nov. 6, 2020. With a TV-MA rating, this movie is certainly one for mature audiences in need of a good, heartfelt laugh. There are scenes involving alcohol, drug use and profanity, though, so it is best that viewers are 17 years of age and older. 

Director John Whitesell could not have picked a better pair than leading duo Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey. The chemistry between the two is portrayed so successfully that it could produce tears of both joy and sadness from the audience. “Holidate” flawlessly demonstrates the true definition of a rom-com going back and forth from funny to romantic to funny again.

With a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes, “Holidate” provides the perfect amount of love, heartbreak and humor without overdoing it. The plot follows the two main characters, Sloane and Jackson, who are both exhausted by their families’ annual questions about their love lives (or lack thereof). If Sloane has to hear her mother ask when she is getting married one more time, she might lose her mind. As a solution, the two decide they will be each other’s “holidate” with no strings attached to avoid the pressure of showing up to holiday events sad and alone. Although both charming and attractive characters, Sloane and Jackson each have a fear of commitment and trust that they need to learn to overcome in order for the “holidate” agreement to work.

Other cast members include Jessica Capshaw as Sloane’s older sister Abby, Kristin Chenoweth as Sloane’s Aunt Susan and Manish Dayal as Faarooq, a doctor who Sloane’s mother tries to set her up with. Sloane’s brother York is played by Jake Manley and York’s fiancee Liz is played by Cynthy Wu. 

McG and Mary Viola were both producers of “Holidate,” and the cinematography was done by Shane Hurlbut. Notable movies that were produced and directed by McG include “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Babysitter” and “Terminator Salvation.” Director Whitesell’s film credits include “Deck the Halls” and “Big Momma’s House 2.” 

While the director and producers did a great job putting this film together, the actors and actresses made all the difference. By the end of the movie, every single character’s personality and traits are well known and loved. “Holidate” glimpses into not only Sloane and Jackson’s Christmas, but every holiday throughout the year from Valentine’s Day to Cinco de Mayo to the Fourth of July. That is what is so flexible about this movie; it can be watched and enjoyed by fans any time of the year!

As a whole, “Holidate” gives viewers a rom-com that is relatable to relationships in the 21st century. It’s honest, hilarious, romantic and even a little inappropriate, but that makes the film even more enjoyable. As the winter holiday season approaches, Netflix subscribers have the perfect popcorn-eating, binge-worthy movie to add to their wish list.