“April Showers Bring TMI Flowers (and a New Article)”

By the TMI Journalism Club

In our last article of the 2023-2024 school year, the TMI Journalism Club is highlighting everything from our past school events, Earth Day, music releases, sports events, fashion and so much more. We hope you enjoy!

Editorials

Earth Day- History and Ways to Celebrate:

By Lily Warr and Kiara Dwivedi

April 22 was Earth Day, a day dedicated to showing support and appreciation for the environment. While most are aware of the event and eager to celebrate, few know the history or how to get involved.

The first Earth Day occurred in 1970. In 1969, a massive oil spill in California caught the attention of Senator Gaylord Nelson, who had always had concerns for the worsening environment. Taking inspiration from the young anti-war protestors, Nelson came up with an idea that would infuse their passionate energy with an increased awareness of the effects of pollution. He hired Denis Hayes to organize campus teach-ins on April 22, 1969, and the movement only took off from there. Seeing its potential to inspire more Americans, Hayes built up a national staff to promote the events, and the following year, millions of people took to the streets to demonstrate against the effects of industrialization on the environment and human health. Since then, every April 22 has been dedicated to raising awareness for Earth, which is crucial now more than ever as the climate crisis rages on.

How can get involved with Earth Day? It is important to note that any effort to help our environment, no matter how small it may seem, can positively impact our community. For example, conserving energy at home, limiting water wastage, planting seeds for pollinators, and remembering to recycle can all make a difference in keeping our planet clean and healthy. People celebrate Earth Day in several ways including spending time outside, planting a tree, or cleaning any trash in the community. Another way to support is to simply spread awareness of what can harm our environment and what we can do to prevent it by watching nature documentaries. It is important to educate ourselves and others on why it is necessary to protect the Earth because doing so will lead us on the right path to keeping Earth’s flora and fauna safe and protecting our home.

Source:
https://www.earthday.org/history/

The Tortured Poets Department: An Indication of Tortured Fans to Come

By Margo Delmer

The fanbase of famous songwriter and singer Taylor Swift has eagerly anticipated April 19, a date announced in early February, as the day that Taylor’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, was to be released. This album includes sixteen songs and is rumored to focus primarily on Joe Alwyn, Taylor’s former boyfriend of six years.

When the album was finally released, many listened, enthralled by the new tracks they would obsess over for some time. However, the excitement did not end at midnight. Two hours later, at two o’clock Eastern time, Taylor revealed another album had been released. The surprise album included fifteen more songs, making the total number of tracks thirty-one, and totaled over two hours of music.
While song critics analyzed Taylor’s lyrics, some opinions focused on her considerable Christian religious references. Many consider her references as a mockery of the religion, as she contradicts many of the Bible’s teachings through her lyrics.

Consequently, I am concerned for her reputation with her fans, as this criticism could be a precursor to her future downfall. Formerly a massive fan of Taylor Swift, I am relatively saddened to finally accept that, as of lately, she has not produced songs that compare equally to those before. Along with Taylor’s incorporation of controversial biblical lyrics distressing numerous listeners, many of the songs in Taylor’s new album seem to be redundant and too similar to her past recordings.
While listening to The Tortured Poets Department for the first time, I observed how many of the tracks narrated comparable fairytale scenarios and played melodies resembling those from her other albums, specifically Willow and Folklore. As a result of this, I am afraid Taylor is exhausting her resources and will have no more innovative records, which might explain the need to insert some controversy into her new material to create more buzz. Unfortunately, with the increasing number of records that Taylor and innumerable other artists produce, the availability of unique yet melodic tunes decreases. This also might be a symptom of our society believing that more is better but also evidence that too much of something can be detrimental.

It is clear that Taylor attempted to mimic older songs that had gained popularity while adding a modernist element for originality. Still, as seen in songs from her latest album, her outcome did not exhibit the same greatness. Although I am glad to see Taylor Swift’s accomplishments throughout her life so far, I hope that she does not continue to release substandard music.

School Events

ISAS

By Lily Warr

This year’s ISAS was hosted at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School up in Austin. For those of you who haven’t been, the festival serves as an opportunity for high school students from across Texas (and a few from surrounding states) to showcase art ranging from paintings to theater productions.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the opening night festivities. Three student bands, all specializing in different genres of music, performed on a large outdoor stage. They sang covers of The Cure, The Killers, and even Nirvana, offering a fun-filled end to the first day. While there were many more musical performances throughout the weekend worth noting, theater had its moments as well, including TMI’s production of The Blind. The play follows a group of blind men and women who are lost in the woods. Unbeknownst to them, the priest who cares for them has died, leaving them unable to navigate back to safety. The performance left viewers blind themselves, offering up an ending meant to be interpreted in whatever way one pleases. Those looking for something with a little less seriousness attended St. Andrew’s production of Chicago. Complete with peppy musical numbers and amazing costumes, the play was certainly one to remember. Those who participated in ISAS for the purpose of showing their 2-D art also found great success. TMI received excellent critiques for painting, photography, and ceramics, all of which were displayed in the gym for students to walk through.

Big congratulations to everyone who participated in the festival this year! If you are considering attending ISAS in 2025, you should. It is an amazing opportunity to not only improve your artistic skills, but to make lasting memories as well.

The 2024 Solar Eclipse

By Katie Hendrick

Picture Sources: NBC News and Business Today

According to KSAT News, on April 8th, San Antonio experienced its first total solar eclipse since around May 1397. People from all over the United States traveled to Texas in hopes of catching a glimpse of this amazing solar phenomenon. Spectrum News even announced that Bill Nye the Science Guy came to Texas to attend the “Eclipse-O-Rama” festival in Fredericksburg! Although the weather did not cooperate and it was very cloudy outside, San Antonio still got to experience the looming darkness once the eclipse hit totality! The eclipse reached totality in Boerne for a total of three and a half minutes and a total of two and a half minutes in the majority of San Antonio. The next time a total solar eclipse will be visible within the United States will not be until August 23, 2044, so this event was pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness in person. The memories the TMI communities gained through this eclipse will last a lifetime!

Prom

An interview with Juniors Reagan Bishop and Emilio Saucedo

Q: What was the process of planning prom?
A: “We had weekly meetings on Tuesday that we would talk about different decorations and stuff that we would want to use and also our budget. Then they day of prom we had to go set up.” – Reagan
“And then pizza selling, selling pizza every week.” -Emilio
“And trying different fundraisers too.”- Reagan

Q: What was the most stressful part of the planning process?
A: “The Hollywood letters, for sure, we made some hollywood letters, if you went you saw them walking in. Transporting them from TMI to the venue, Mr. Walker Allen decided to sit on one of the letters on the way to the venue so it broke. So hours before prom I went to get a drill some screws and built it again on the spot.”- Emilio

Q: What was the most fun/ most memorable part of the planning?
A: “I think setting up was honestly kind of fun, we got to go to the Dominion in the morning and set up the inside and the backdrops”- Reagan
“For me it was the pizza selling, that was definitely the most fun to skip chapel, we saved a lot of people we ate a lot of poisoned slices”- Emilio
“Oh ya a lot of rat poison.”- Reagan

Q: Overall, do you think prom was successful?
A: “Ya, I think so!”- Reagan

Keeping Up With the Cadets

By Chance Walker and Alex Lambert

Monday, April 22nd was the Corps awards and Commissioning ceremony for the class of 2025. Many cadets received awards commending their scholastic, athletic, and leadership efforts this year. Chance Walker, Thomas Skelly, and Ankith Padala were named as the new company commanders, Victoria Hughes as the battalion executive officer, Jackson Uhr as the command sergeant major, and Alex Lambert as the battalion commander.

The Best Drilled Squad competition was conducted and cadet Travis Chaffee from Charlie Company won.

The Best Drilled Platoon competition was conducted and cadet Chance Walker from Alpha Company won.

The MacArthur Cup award was handed to Charlie Company, commanded by Aidan Notzon and 1sg Ankith Padala.

Commandant’s Cup was won by Charlie Company.

Day of Service 

By Sofia Kock

On April 17th, all non-Corps students participated in TMI’s annual Day of Service, which focuses on giving back to the community. Exercising the school’s core values, WISER, students went off-campus to work with organizations that serve various causes or stayed at school to help with projects around campus. TMI students were reminded to put forth their best effort as Servant Leaders through these activities. They did an excellent job at representing the school, as teachers received much positive feedback from the service leaders. These volunteer opportunities included the Food Bank, Soldiers Angels, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Self Defense, Youth Do Vote, and TMI Beautification.

Food Bank Service Day

By Kiara Dwivedi 

The Junior class spent Service Day helping at the San Antonio Food Bank! The students separated into groups with different tasks including packing fresh produce like cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and cucumbers into bags to be delivered and distributed to the community. Other students assisted in writing labels or lifting the bags of produce onto carts. Working in a long assembly line, the junior class used teamwork as well as listening and communication skills to develop the most efficient method and finish packing all the vegetables before returning to TMI. Volunteering at the food bank reinforced the student’s values of servant leadership and gave them the opportunity to give back to the community. We look forward to next year’s visit to the Food Bank!

Service Spotlight: Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a nonprofit organization that builds and delivers beds to children who don’t have one. Believe it or not, over 70,000 kids in San Antonio do not have a bed to sleep in. As volunteers, we got to work through the several steps of building a bed, from sanding the wood pieces to the branding and staining of the assembled bed frames. While working in the warehouse was very special, the director insisted that going to the deliveries and seeing the kids’ reactions after sleeping in their own, comfortable beds was the best part of the process. If you are interested in directly giving back to your community, visit the organization’s website and plan a visit. They are always looking for more volunteers!
The following interviews feature students working and sharing their experiences:

Sports:

Track

By Carolina Meneses 

Track season is officially coming to an end with the state meet happening this Friday in Waco! This season has been very successful for the TMI track team with many school records and personal records from the athletes. Last week thirty-two of the athletes went out to Seguin High School and competed in the TAAPS Regional track meet. Despite some very windy weather last Thursday, seven of the athletes broke their personal records, and eleven athletes got top four in their events, meaning they will move on to compete this Friday. Wish the Track Team luck as they finish up their season!

For pictures and updates follow: @TMI_TrackandField: Instagram

Volleyball

Volleyball Coach, Laura Groff Interview:

Picture credits: @tmibaseball on instagram

What hopes do you have for this upcoming volleyball season?
“To figure out the personalities of the girls and figure out whose going to the right combination to put on the varsity and JV team.”

Being new to TMI how would you describe the vibe when you first arrived?
“Awesome! I think the culture here is amazing and I’m just glad I’m part of it.”

What made you want to coach here at TMI?
“I think when I first came here two years ago and helped out with the junior high I told Coach Palomo that I would really be interested in leading the women’s side, being the women’s AD (athletic director), and so when he called me to be the women’s AD he said the volleyball position was open too and so it was kinda like a win-win for me.”

When did you realize that you wanted to be a volleyball coach?
My senior year of high school, I knew I wanted to be a coach but i was a basketball player before a volleyball player, so I thought I was going to go the basketball route and then I chose volleyball in college, I got recruited for both and then I choose volleyball and then I just never looked back.

What is your favorite volleyball memory?
“Oh, my gosh, probably playing in the world games in Kobe, Japan.”

Thank you Coach Groff!

Looking Ahead

Overview of events happening this Spring!
Final Exam Dates: May 20-22
Monday: History + Science
Tuesday: English + Language
Wednesday: Math + Make-up
Graduation – May 23rd

What’s Poppin’

Highlighting current events and pop culture

Cowboy Carter

By Lily Warr

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Cowboy Carter since it was first announced during the Super Bowl, and Beyonce (once again) did not disappoint. The country album is the second part of a three-act project, with Rennaissance serving as Act I. The Cowboy Carter era began with the surprise release of the single “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” which proved to be an immediate and massive success. However, in my opinion, it was outshined by the rest of the album. With a whopping 27 tracks, some were worried about the quality of Cowboy Carter and the presence of filler songs, but the use of interludes, done by Willie Nelson, made the project flow incredibly well. Dolly Parton, another country music legend, was also featured on the album, singing along with Beyonce in “TYRANT.” Not only was she a feature, but Beyonce also released her version of Dolly’s hit song, “Jolene.” In contrast, the singer also covered “Blackbird” by the Beatles, originally written in response to the violence the Little Rock Nine faced after segregation was made illegal.

This is just one example of the rich and complex history that inspired Cowboy Carter. The title not only refers to Beyonce’s last name, but the Carter family as well, who was dubbed “The First Family of Country Music” and reached great heights of popularity from the 1920s-50s. It is said that one of the members, Maybelle Carter, invented a musical technique known as the Carter Scratch, which became wildly successful and is now a staple in countless country songs. However, upon further digging, one will discover that the sound was actually created by an African American man named Lesley Riddle, who worked alongside the Carters and helped them find fame, receiving no recognition in return. This story sets the scene for Cowboy Carter. The album is about reclaiming the origins of country music and diving deeper into its history.

I could go on about the rest of this album’s inspirations; however, I might take up half of this month’s article. But between the history that went into Cowboy Carter and the quality of its tracks, I think it’s safe to say that Beyonce has 2025’s Album of the Year award in the bag.

Source:
What Is The Meaning Of ‘Cowboy Carter’ Beyoncé’s Latest Album – Capital

April Fools Pranks from Popular Brands

By Nicole Kock

This April Fools, while many of us were thinking of ways to prank our friends and family, trending companies were planning and preparing their pranks for their customers. Giving us something to laugh about, they meticulously planned the release of funny and creative products.

Starting off strong was 7-Eleven’s new addition to their sparkling water collection, the Big Bite Hot Dog sparkling water. They stated that people can “Say goodbye to the days of alternating bites of a hot dog with sips of a beverage, now those on the go can swap the bun for bubbles.” 7-Eleven’s marketing team really knew how to attract an audience towards such an interesting creation because, let’s be honest, who wants to waste their time eating a hot dog when they can drink it?

Our next prank was Olipop’s addition to their soda collection. Everyone loves sour cream and onion chips, and everyone loves healthy soda so everyone will love their Sour Cream & Onion flavored soda. It was “a match made in heaven… to bring the delicious, tangy flavor of Pringles’ Sour Cream & Onion flavor to life in a liquid form with prebiotic benefits,” the companies said.

Moving on to a different audience, debatably a more popular one, teenage girls. This year, Sol de Janeiro was receiving accusations that their hand cream and other products were attracting insects, specifically spiders. They could have taken this personally but instead decided to mock all these rumors by releasing a new product. They introduced their ‘new’ Aranha Spider Salve and Cheirosa 8 Perfume Mist, claiming they were made from ‘musk’ & ‘cobweb dust’ to attract spiders. Sol de Janeiro released that “Like all SDJ products, this incredible and efficacious new duo not only smell and feel incredible but are specially formulated with spider pheromones that are irresistible to our arachnid friends!”. Although this was a joke, many customers were saying that they were curious to try it and suggested that they could release it as a limited edition on Halloween, if not, it would be a ‘mist’ opportunity.

To sum it up, this year, companies got very creative with all their prank products and it is safe to say that their marketing teams need a raise for their outstanding work. We’ll see what next year has in store for April Fools.

Sources:

April Fools’ Day pranks: Apps to translate baby stoner sayings, a ghostbuster at Tinder Beauty brand mocks rumors its cream attracts wolf spiders & says new prank spray is made with bug ‘musk’ & ‘cobweb dust’ | The US Sun

Valero Open

By Carolina Meneses

Earlier last month, the annual Valero Texas Open was hosted here in San Antonio at the TPC golf course. Over 150 golfers participated in the tournament, and 29 advanced to the Masters Tournament, which ended a couple of weeks ago. The winner of the 2024 Valero Texas Open was Akshay Bhatia, who scored 268 and won a rewarding prize of $1,656,000.00!

For more information about this year’s tournament visit: Valero Texas Open – Tournament Info

Eternal Sunshine Album Review 

By Carol Marin

After 4 years of not releasing an album, Ariana finally dropped her long-awaited seventh album, Eternal Sunshine, after the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Announcing it through social media her fans were excited about the upcoming release. Diving deeper into R&B and Pop, Ariana brings to life an album with amazing production and storytelling skills. Ariana touches on the theme of divorce, breakups, and self-acceptance conceptualizing the movie. Two songs on the album sample Beyonce Don’t Hurt Yourself, and it’s speculated that Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake on True Story and The Boy is Mine by Brandy and Monica to her version of The Boy is Mine. Her vulnerable and sad lyrics detail a relationship falling apart and her coping with the situation. In my opinion, this album is one of the most vulnerable since Thank You Next, with the lyrics in I don’t Want to Break Up Again and the emotional ending to I Wish I Hated You. Ariana’s vocals are more diverse as she dives into her lower range with the song Imperfect for You, showcasing her impressive vocal ability. I loved this album and was taken aback by the difference in sound, the lyrics are great, and the music is very well produced. I recommend this album to anyone going through a breakup or a self-discovery journey.
Hits: Intro (end of the world), bye, Don’t Want to Break Up Again, I Wish I Hated You, Supernatural, We Can’t Be Friends, True Story, Eternal Sunshine, The Boy Is Mine
Miss: Yes and? ordinary things
Overall score: 8.8/10

Found Heaven Album Review

By Carol Marin

Conan announced his new album through social media. The album is heavily inspired by the 80s/70s with several references to that era in the tiles of his songs. Never-ending song (never-ending story), Fainted Love (tainted love), Lonely Dancers (tiny dancers), Alley Rose (abbey road), Eye of the Night (eye of the Tiger). His inspirations were David Bowie, Elton John, Queen, A-ha, and Cutting Crew. It has a retro glam sound with lyrics based on heartbreak and his first real breakup. Conan was sick during some of the recordings of the album his vocals still sound good and the production is spot-on for the 80s. The album is very original and has several dance numbers with vulnerable lyrics about Conan’s emotions during heartbreak. Even with sad lyrics, the album remains quite upbeat with a few heartbreaking moments but it’s true to its inspirations and aesthetic. In my opinion, this album is really good, I was very surprised as it felt like listening to hidden songs from the 80s. The Album is great for dancing and singing. I recommend this album to anyone wanting to go back to the future (or past) or going through a heartbreak.
Hits: never-ending song, fainted love, lo ley dancers, alley rose, the final fight, bourgeoisies, forever with me, winner
Miss: eye of the night, boys & girls, killing me
Overall score: 9/10

Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department Songs analysis 

By Carol Marin

Are you ready for it? Taylor has been working nonstop on her Eras Tour around the world, and no Swiftie expected another album to be released. As Taylor Swift took the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album of the Year, she announced her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department.
As we listen to the album, we can analyze Taylor’s hidden messages behind her songs and decipher who each song may have been written about or what inspired it.
Here are a few song analyses and lyrics from the new album

So Long London: This song is a reference to her song on the Lover album London Boy where she talks about Joe Alwyn. In London Boy, she talks about how in love she is; however, in this song, she describes her relationship falling apart and gives the listeners an insight into why they broke up.
In the beginning, we can hear the lyrics “so long London” with a mimicking of wedding bells as a harmony, a wedding that never happened, but she has said in other albums that she wanted to marry Joe.

Interesting Lyrics
“I stopped CPR, after all, it’s no use”- Taylor realizes that even though she wanted to save the relationship it will not work, she also references a lyrics in her song You’re Losing Me saying “I can’t find a Pulse My Heart won’t start anymore for you”

“You swore that you loved me but where are the clues? I died on the altar waiting for the proof”-We can infer that Joe never proved to Taylor how much he loved her, dying on the wedding altar waiting for the proof and reassurance she so desperately wanted.

“My white knuckles dying grip holding on tight to you quiet resentment”-Alluding to Joe having resentment towards her, or her career she was tired of holding on to a dying relationship. Referencing another of her songs The Great War with the lyrics “My knuckles were bruised like violets”
“How much sadness do you think I have in me?”-In an interview, Taylor said she and Joe loved listening to sad songs together, also referencing that in her song “You Losing Me” “How long could we be a sad song”. Tells Joe that she can’t always stay sad and wants to be happy as well.

But Daddy I love him: Taylor references the little mermaid in the title and sings about her short relationship with Matty Healy. She speaks to the fans saying that she knows Matty is controversial but she wants to be with him and expresses that no one can tell her who to date.

Interesting Lyrics
“I’m having his baby no I’m not but you should see your faces”-Breaking the fourth wall Taylor purposely telling her fans that they say so much about her personal life she might as well joke about it and see their reaction.

“Stay away from her the saboteurs protested too much”-In 2023 her fans wrote Taylor a letter telling her not to date Matty, as he is a controversial individual, later in the lyrics she says how they never heard the critics and just “drove away” fast enough to not hear anyone because they were in love.

“I’ll tell you something about my good name, it’s mine alone to disgrace”-Referring again to the letter her fans wrote, she tells them that her name is only hers and not theirs. Taking power back to her name she reminds fans that her personal life is hers.

“And no you can’t come to the wedding”-Most fans form parasocial relationships with their favorite celebrity and Taylor is no stranger, here she puts up a boundary between them as well. Possibly referencing when her fans invaded her friend Jack and Margaret Antonoff’s wedding, just to get a glimpse of Taylor, who was in attendance.

Who’s afraid of little old me?: Describing the rumors surrounding her personal life and career she confronts the listener by saying “Who is afraid of little old me” and then telling them “You should be”. Giving us an insight into her life in the industry Taylor tells us that she can bite back if she wants to. This song is similar to Mad Woman on the album Folklore.

Interesting Lyrics
“Is it a wonder I broke, let’s hear one more joke”-In 2016 Taylor was stuck in a drama with Kim and Kanye where she was the punchline for jokes. Fans noticed an interesting choice made as she barely pronounced the K (the K falling on the beat) making it seem like she is saying “Joe”. Fans speculate it could either be about Joe Alwyn or Jo Koy, who made a joke about her at the Golden Globes.

“I was tame. I was gentle till the circus life made me mean”-In her Miss America documentary, Taylor says she was told to be gentle by several producers and labels to be well-liked. After 2016 suffering being humiliated and living a “circus life” by being the center of jokes and cancellations, she stood up for herself and changed her attitude creating the era and album of Reputation.

“You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum that they raised me”-In the fortnight music video, at the beginning, she appears in a mental hospital. We can speculate that the asylum is the music industry which she has been a part of since she was 14.

“So all you kids can sneak into my house with all the cobwebs”-The famous Cornelia Street house that Taylor rented and wrote a song about is in New York. It has been a tourist location for fans. Calling her fans and others “kids” telling them that the house is haunted by her memories. In this home, she once resided with Joe Alwyn.

The Cop Show

By Lily Warr

Walker’s Worldview

Picture source: Astronomy Magazine 

Penny for Your Thoughts

By Chance Walker

Who are the biggest companies in the world? If you’re judging size by market cap, then 7 of the most consistent in the world are all tech companies: Microsoft, Apple, NVIDIA, Google, Amazon, Meta, and Tesla. This grouping has been dubbed the Magnificent 7. The first 5 of these stocks are also the current five highest in market cap in the world, with Microsoft sitting at the top at 3 trillion USD all the way down to Amazon at almost 2 trillion USD.

The two stocks not in the worldwide top 7, Meta and Tesla, have both seen better days. Tesla has faced historical struggles over being unprofitable and overinflation of its value. Tesla has also seen a lot of volatility recently with the Chinese EV market getting ever more competitive, millions of Cybertrucks being recalled, and Elon Musk’s general chaotic nature on the Tesla side.

On the Meta side, Mark Zuckerberg continues to pour billions of dollars into his personal pet project, the Metaverse. Having most recently spent $4.3 billion in the last three months to bring up the total price tag to an eye-watering $120 billion. I have advocated for VR before on other columns, but it just seems like customers and the market in general is not quite ready to jack in to the Matrix with only 23% of American households owning or using a VR headset. Meta’s most recent fall came during its report of its most recent earnings in recent weeks. Meta released that it spent around $40 billion on its MetaAI project, which has investors worried about the potential of it becoming another Metaverse. Meta doesn’t see a high return on investment from this project for at least five years.

With these two companies falling in market cap, it remains to be seen whether or not the Magnificent 7 will become the Fantastic Five, but I believe that Meta will almost certainly be able to weather the storm. FaceBook and Instagram are only growing in popularity, and I believe its investments will be worth it in the long run, especially when you look at Disney’s investment of Epic Games and its Unreal game engine. AI will allow for the speedy development of the infinite worlds and characters the Metaverse so desperately wants to become.

Tesla is another story. Tesla saw a lot of media chatter with the Cybertruck’s unveiling, but with its multiple recalls and constant complaints of poor design, windows and trucks closing on appendages, poor mileage, and a host of various issues, Tesla’s saving grace might turn into its downfall. Elon Musk himself commented that Tesla was just an AI company masquerading as a car manufacturer. It remains to be seen if Tesla will join NVIDIA, Anthropic, and OpenAI, in the AI arms race.

Whether or not Tesla or Meta ends up slipping in the global ranks, this grouping of companies have such a hold on the global economy with tech industry becoming ever more important in the birth of the AI industry. I will be shocked to see any one of these companies ever completely fall apart from the seems, only barring Tesla going bankrupt if Elon Musk were to die unexpectedly.

The AI Advocate

AKA Chance Walker

Reflecting on the Cold War, one can’t help but draw parallels between the Space and Arms Race, primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union, and the ongoing Artificial Intelligence Race among major companies. The first contender in this fierce battle was OpenAI, now renowned for its household AI assistant, ChatGPT. OpenAI swiftly forged a strong alliance with Microsoft, with the tech giant investing over $13 billion to enhance its own AI Copilot program.

Google, not one to be left behind, launched Bard, a whimsically named but ultimately underwhelming competitor to ChatGPT. Bard was eventually rebranded as the ‘new’ AI, Gemini, which, while not groundbreaking, is a step ahead of its rivals. Google, despite having its own smartphone line, has reportedly been in talks with Apple for a potential collaboration, offering Apple access to Gemini for their next iPhone.

Meta has been developing its own MetaAI for some time now, as I mentioned in the previous article. This system has been annoying Instagram users for weeks when they want to search for people or content, and a text box pops up asking if they want to ask MetaAI something, which is never the case. I didn’t even want to cover this AI as it is currently the biggest loser.

Amazon, surprising some but not to those who see Amazon digging its dirty fingers into every market possible, has made a 4 billion dollar investment in Anthropic, which is a relatively lesser-known player in this match. Still, it is most certainly a dark horse. On the most recent tests, Anthropic’s best model, Claude 3, beats GPT-4 on every qualification.

While GPT-4 can create and modify images, Claude excels at writing code, math problem-solving, and most language-based areas. For instance, GPT -4 could be used to generate realistic images for virtual reality applications, while Claude could be used to automate complex coding tasks or solve advanced mathematical problems. Consumers may see ChatGPT as a catch-all, jack-of-all-trades tool that is an easy go-to when you have a variety of tasks that need to be done, but they might go to specific AI tools like Claude should they have more specific requirements. These AIs may become hyper specialized, like getting a law or history degree in specific areas or times. Many have begun to speculate that Open AI is dumbing down ChaGPT with a consensus that it has gotten worse, slower, and more resistant to being helpful. This could be why Claude has overtaken ChatGPT and even Gemini’s best model, Gemini 1.0 Ultra, beating OpenAI in more categories than not.

This serves as a crucial lesson for AI companies, underscoring the need for constant innovation and adaptability. Stagnation in this rapidly evolving market could lead to a complete loss of market share, a scenario that could materialize as early as next year if Claude continues to rise in prominence.

Whenever I need help with a problem in the future, I do not know if I will still be using ChatGPT, Claude, or even Gemining, but I do know one thing: I will never use MetaAI.

Source: Hudson Valley Tourism

Seedlings of Wisdom: A Visit to the Orchard of Mirth

By Chance Walker and Luke Martinez

Greetings to all at the Orchard of Mirth! Today, we’re showcasing an enchanting and rare variety, the Gravenstein apple shining and glistening in the sun’s light. We hope you will take these seeds of wisdom and water them with thought, discussion, and meditation to cultivate them into the wisdom you seek. Here are this month’s aforementioned seeds:

1. “I grabbed a pile of dust, and holding it up, foolishly asked it for as many birthdays as the grains of dust, I forgot to say that they be years of youth.” Ruminate on that.
2. “The only thing scarier than the completely unfamiliar is the distortion of the familiar.” Ponder it.
3. “The divinity in me recognizes the divinity in you.” is an ancient Buddhist greeting. Consider it.
4. “It’s not the people that vote that count. It’s the people who count the votes. Mull it over.
5. Reflect on it.

The Radish *COMPLETE MISINFORMATION*

Headlines:

Students Rejoice as Sage Dining Announces All Chicken Menu

Early Polls Say Christian Lacayo Wins Junior Class President in a Landslide

Father Scott Announces in Recent Interview “Imagine The Size of a Janitor’s Closet Then Half It, That’s the Size of the Portables Next Year.”

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Advice Column:

Q: “I’m feeling really pressured about prom—there’s so much expectation about dates, dresses, and after-parties. I’m not sure I want to go, but I also don’t want to miss out. What should I do?”
A: “Prom can feel like a monumental event, but it’s important to remember that it should be enjoyable, not stressful. If the traditional prom scene isn’t your thing, consider alternative ways to spend the evening. You could organize a small gathering with close friends, go on a fun trip, or even volunteer your time for a good cause. Whatever you choose, make sure it feels right for you. Prom is just one night, and many ways exist to make lasting memories!”

Q: Request: “I’m overwhelmed with AP exams and college applications. How can I manage my time better without sacrificing my grades or my sanity?”
A: “It’s crucial to prioritize and organize. Start by creating a realistic schedule, allotting time for study, breaks, and sleep. Break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, and set daily goals. Don’t hesitate to seek help—from teachers, counselors, or even apps designed to enhance productivity. Remember, taking care of your mental health is just as important as acing exams. Balance is key!”

Q: “I’m trying to decide between staying close to home for college or going out of state. I’m worried about the cost and being away from my family. Any advice?”
A: “Choosing a college is a significant decision that depends on multiple factors, including personal, academic, and financial considerations. Start by listing the pros and cons of each option. Consider financial aid opportunities and the long-term benefits of each education path. Discuss your thoughts with family and a school counselor to gain more perspective. Remember, the best choice is the one that aligns with your future goals and comfort.