Earlier this week, Frank Reich was fired from being the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. This by itself is not all that surprising and bares little interest unless you are plugged in to the Colts as a fan. However, the Colts have hired an interim head coach by the name of Jeff Saturday.

He was an awesome player, and no one will dispute that. Still, hiring a former player who has no college or professional experience is puzzling, especially for a team that lacks a clear direction.

This hiring has added fuel to the fire of another coaching dilemma, this time focused on Brian Flores and his Racial Discrimination Lawsuit of the NFL. Back in February, Flores alleged that three teams (Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, and New York Giants) participated in racial discrimination against him during the hiring process. He claimed that the Giants and Broncos had no intention of hiring him but decided to have him partake in an interview to meet the qualifications of the Rooney Rule. He also alleged that the Dolphins labeled him unfairly as noncompliant.

This lawsuit is still ongoing, and more allegations have been added over the months that followed. Overall, Flores feels that as minority, he has not been given the same opportunity as many less qualified white coaching candidates. Now, a player with no professional coaching experience of any kind has been hired as an interim coach, and again Flores was not considered. (It is important to note that the Rooney Rule does not apply to interim head coaching positions. A minority coach does not need to be interviewed in this situation.)

The NFL has struggled with being more inclusive for minorities for its entire history. Though not thought of nearly as often as the color barrier of baseball, historically broken by Jackie Robinson, the NFL’s color barrier was broken only a year before that historic feat. There was a time when people of color were not allowed to participate in football. Remnants of this can still be seen with the use of the Rooney Rule. The disparity of inclusion is still a big enough issue that rules have been put in place to require teams to give minorities a shot. And if what Flores alleges is true, that rule is backfiring on the NFL majorly.

There is no point to holding an interview for a person that you know you are not going to hire. It is a waste of time and disrespectful to the aspiring employee. It does no good to anyone involved. With the lack of minority head coaches and minority team owners and executives in the league, it is difficult to see how the Rooney Rule has improved the NFL’s hiring of minorities. If anything, it only acts as a front to weakly invalidate the genuine issues that are brought up regarding this topic.

With the hiring of Saturday, many more experienced coaches were passed over. Many of them were minorities. Until the NFL begins to see more of these minority coaches get opportunities, it is reasonable to question the possibility of racial discrimination within the hiring processes around the league.

In the summer of 2019, I had just graduated from high school. I knew that I was going to go UNK and get a degree in computer science. I had always loved computers and technology, so it seemed like the perfect choice. I had all of my classes picked out, a dorm room with a selected roommate, and confidence in my ability. I was ready to take the academic strides necessary for me to achieve what I wanted to do.

There was only one thing that I was stuck on. One thing that I was nervous to do.

MUS-103. Marching band.

I was incredibly scared. I had signed up for the class and received all of the required music to be a part of the drumline, and some of it was above my level. I was never the best musician; I only played percussion instruments as a hobby and my music reading skills left a bit to be desired. When I saw those notes glaring at me from the 20-page music pamphlet, judging me with the strength of an accented rimshot, a terrible anxious feeling rose within my stomach. I began to doubt my decision to join the band. Many hours were spent bathed in the unforgiving glow of my laptop with the cursor over the ‘drop class’ button. The thought of clicking was so enticing. It was the blanket that could shield me from the cold of uncertainty.

But I did not click that button.

Fast forward three and a half years, and I have just finished my final season as a member of the Pride of the Plains Marching Band. I participated in a banquet that celebrated all of the members, and because of my senior status, I received a blanket with my name and section embroidered on it. It is not a particularly quality one. The stitching is large and a bit clumsy, and some loose threads stick out erroneously. That doesn’t matter to me though. In a way, it suits the blanket well. I played the biggest bass drum on the line, and I think I reflect that clumsiness, lumbering around blind as a bat.

The blanket is a powerful symbol to me. One that shows my dedication and mistakes equally. A lot of time and effort went into being a part of the drumline, and I have certainly made mistakes. There is not a blanket big enough to have the sheer quantity of loose ends to signify that. But the blanket I have does a pretty dang good job, and it tries its best.

Looking at my name written in blue and gold, I thought back to my indecision in 2019. I was so close to running away from that cold uncertainty. So close to letting my fear get the better of me. I am so glad I didn’t. After all…

This blanket will actually keep me warm.

You and I are caught in a hurricane. Surrounding us is a torrential downpour and vicious winds that tear into trees and buildings, causing chaos. Waves crash against windows distorted by the faint bleak light that leaks through the cloud canopy. Encompassed by mayhem, we are constrained to the eye of the storm with only one way to go.

Up.

…at least, that is what it has felt like these past two years.

It really has been incomprehensible how much has happened in only 730 days. I remember that feeling that came with the news of covid. It was a mixture of worry and bravado, a mask of apathy over the bubbling insecurity. At first, I thought that it was something that could be ignored. After all, it seemed impossible that one person’s action from halfway across the world could cause any repercussions, much less any that actually affect me specifically. I was wrong.

I remember waking up one day and getting a barrage of messages on my phone. I had three texts from my mom, a couple emails from the school, and an advertisement sent from Amazon about some random item they wanted me to get. Groggily, I whipped up the messenger app and took a look at my mom’s messages and got to see every single one of my college plans go out the window. My first year of college was to be cut short, and I would have to finish all of the classes I was currently taking from home. Even though I was a fully grown adult, I do not think I grasped the totality of the situation. The hurricane had started outside my window, but I never really looked at it. I ended up packing all of my bags up and heading home. The drive back (about 4 and a half hours) was exhausting for my head. All I could think about were the ways this hurricane would affect me and my life. This hurricane waged for a while longer, and it still flurries a bit to this day. Here and there you hear about an infection or an insurrection, but the wind has died down. However, I am still within the eye. The events that collapsed the world around me put a spotlight on me. The only thing I could focus on was myself; on improving as a person and becoming someone that I could be proud of. I started learning piano and I began to go to the gym. I reached out to people I had not talked to in a while. I stood in the eye of the storm and looked straight up at the sky. That may sound a bit pretentious, but I genuinely think I have become better. The situation was grim, but I made the most of it.

Pizza is ubiquitous. You have had it everywhere, everywhen, everyhow. Throw in any interrogative word you want; I am sure that a pizza has fulfilled that request. Yet there always seems to be more to be done, more to be had. There has never been a perfect pizza. ‘The Flippin Sweet’ tries its best, and it is a solid attempt at creating a pie worthy of adoration.

When I entered the restaurant, I was slightly surprised. It has that hole in the wall feel to it. The one that lets the customer know that this is either going to be a great experience or a terrible one. There is no in-between. Tables were spread somewhat haphazardly around the floor, and on the walls were huge nostalgic signs lined with bulbs shining that old yellow light. Fortunately, the aesthetic came off as charming instead of unsettling. I ended up getting the Mookie, a pizza laden with heaping portions of mushrooms, onions, and a whole lot of protein.

I am not a picky eater. I will try anything that gets put in front of me, and I am one of those people who loves pineapple on pizza. Eating at ‘The Flippin Sweet’ though, I thought I would stay on the beaten path. I am glad that I did, at least this time. The pizza was great!

The pie was densely stacked with Italian sausage and beef, along with the prerequisite sauce. The crust, succumbing to the weight of its contents, folded in on itself instantaneously. Biting into the treasure trove made any unsettled feelings caused by the store’s appearance subside. It was not perfect by any means, but the pizza pie was certainly worth the price. The onions added a much-needed crunch. They diversified the texture of the meal greatly, and with how dense the other ingredients were, it was necessary. The sausage added that little kick that is vital to a great pizza, and the sauce is the canvas that the rest of the puzzle rests on. I would gladly enjoy another pizza from this lovely place again.

The valid parentheses problem is pretty common and demonstrates the user’s ability to use a rarer data structure: the stack.

Given a string filled with parentheses – (, [, {, ), ], } – you must determine if the string is valid. A valid string is one that has the same number of opening parentheses as closing ones, and those groups must match in order. One being out of place immediately invalidates the string.

Example: “{[[]]}” This would be a valid string, but “(([]()” would not.

The first thing to determine is how to attack the problem. Our best bet is using a Stack, which is a data structure that holds data in a first in, last out style. It acts like a stack of books; you add to the top, and to dismantle it you would take from the top. This is perfect for this situation.

To begin, we need to set up a loop that will go through the given string. Because we need to know what each specific character is, it is best to turn the string into a character array and loop through that.

public boolean isValid(String s){
    Stack<Character> stack = new Stack<>();
    for (char c : s.toCharArray()){
        //logic
    }
}

So we create the stack and tell the computer that it will be filled with the data type ‘Character.’ Then we create a for each loop stating that for each character ‘c’ in the newly made character array, we will be running that logic.

Now to add the logic. We know that for every open bracket, there must be a corresponding closed bracket of the same type. We also know that they must be ordered correctly. To do this, look at the following code.

public boolean isValid(String s){
    Stack<Character> stack = new Stack<>();
    for (char c : s.toCharArray()){
        if (c == '(')
            stack.push(')');
        else if (c == '{')
            stack.push('}');
        else if (c == '[')
            stack.push(']');
        else if (stack.isEmpty() || stack.pop() != c)
            return false;
    }
    return stack.isEmpty();
}

That was quite a bit of code, so let’s take a closer look at it. For each character in the array, we check to see which kind of bracket it is. If it is any of the opening ones, we add the corresponding closing one to the stack. (stack.push() adds the data to the stack). If the current character is a closing bracket, that final if statement is the only one that matters. The two lines ‘||’ signify ‘or.’ If the stack is empty or the data at the top of the stack – which is obtained via the pop method – does not equal the current character, we run the ‘return false;’ line. We know that if the stack is empty but there is still a closing bracket to loop for, it means that there is no corresponding opening bracket and the string becomes invalid. If the popped data does not equal the current closing bracket, it means that there is a mismatch between brackets, and that also invalidates the string.

If the loop completes without returning a false value, the only thing left to check for is if the stack is empty. If it is, the string is valid and the return should be true. If not, return false. That completes the problem!

(This post is a bit abstract, but after really looking into “Thanks to Them” from the Owl House, I wanted to try and capture what I felt Luz was feeling in a small little story. It is hard to do that show justice, but I gave a whirl!)

As the once green leaves are pulled down by the autumn breeze, engulfing the ground in waves of red and brown pigments, you may find yourself being a bit more introspective. You trudge along the sidewalk and begins to think of the past and the future, about how this chapter of your life, the year of 2022, has begun to end and how it has affected you and those around you. While lost in your mind, a chilled gust slices through your jacket and further along animates a flying ghost decoration. It swings solemnly as you continue walking by, each step greeted with the vivid crunch of leaves and a growing listless feeling. It’s a bit ironic, that ghost. It hides its face, and yet you feel as if you understand it completely.

A few of the remaining leaves up in the trees continue to fritter down, kept just above the ground by that persistent wind and a cobweb decoration strewn hastily over a streetlight. Underneath that light is a puddle. Though slightly disturbed by the wind, your face is reflected clearly within it. You peer down, and a pained smile reflects back up at you for a second before a final powerful gust releases an above leaf from its tangled prison. It seems more decrepit that the others. It falls and disturbs the water, and a distorted grimace appears for a fraction of a second before becoming completely unrecognizable in the ripples. You look up and see the oak tree that has been losing its leaves. The wind has stopped but it doesn’t matter; there are no more leaves left. The tree stands weakly, as do you, but you continue to walk. The crunch of your footsteps is louder than before. Far behind you, the ghost decoration slowly stalls. One couldn’t help but feel it had more to say.

“Thanks to Them” debuted on October 15th and hit #1 on trending on YouTube soon after. Acting as the beginning of the end for Luz and the gang, it was incredibly anticipated by both fans and those who looked on with a sordid interest because of Disney’s decision to cancel the show. The hype was NOT misplaced. The episode was a fantastic introduction to the final season of The Owl House, capitalizing on the opportunity given to it by the season two finale while setting up a multitude of plot threads into motion. Any and all viewers will be satisfied with the humorous horror that awaits them. This is written with those who have watched the show in mind. However, spoilers will only be minor.

With the show’s cancellation, it would be reasonable to assume that “Thanks to Them” (TTT) would suffer from inconsistent pacing. The sheer number of loose ends to tie up following season two is a herculean task for a full season, much less a shortened one. Amazingly, though, TTT delivers. The episode expertly weaves between lighthearted humorous scenes (Amity in the library is a highlight) and emotional climaxes with the grace of a ballerina. Each scene flows seamlessly to the next, even if it is from a different perspective or in a different setting. This entertaining current allows the writers to wring out every drop of content they can from the limited time that they were given. Each second has a discernable weight and value. There is no wasted screentime, nor are there any superfluous situations imposed on the viewer. TTT respects the viewer’s time and attention with reverence.

The episode mainly focuses on three characters: Luz, Camilla, and Hunter. The other members each get a spattering of moments here and there, but they are not the stars of the show. It is disappointing that these characters do not get explored as much because there are interesting avenues to follow. This is one of the only complaints that I have towards TTT. I wanted more, but if my only complaint is about character moments and interactions that didn’t happen, there isn’t much to go into. What is here is fantastic, and given the situation, it seems acceptable.

The entirety of The Owl House has had a theme of identity, meaning finding who you are and people who will accept you for that. TTT continues that theme and uses it to delve deeper into the three characters that get the spotlight. (The episode is set during Halloween, the time of year where everyone makes light of their identity by wearing costumes. The characters themselves are wearing outfits too. The irony is palpable.) Each of them struggles with a different aspect of identity. Camilla has refused to accept herself and her passions and had begun to push that behavior on Luz. There is an amazing flashback scene with Camilla that shows why Camilla acts the way she does. It added much needed depth to her character. Luz has struggled to find her identity. She is caught between two worlds, two different people she can become, and she is terrified of the prospect of choosing. This leads to the best scene in the entire series, but I’ll save that for the end. Hunter struggles to discard a previous identity, one that continues to plague him regardless of his actions. The plot places him in a situation where what little of his own identity he has created is stripped away from him and he is forcefully disposed to be the one person he does not want to be. Three different issues, but one masterful theme.

TTT’s climactic battle (which looks obscenely fluid and engaging – the animators leveled up for that scene) presents Luz with an opportunity to form her identity. With her mother there, Luz picks up the hat that was part of the costume she was wearing. A beautiful leitmotif of the show’s theme plays as she grabs the hat and places it on her head. Such a simple scene means so much for her character. I am being deliberately vague but know that this scene elevated TTT to a new level. Tears were shed, and if that isn’t a good episode of a children’s show, then I don’t know what is.

Jonathan Gold is an incredibly influential writer. Every restaurant within the great city of Los Angeles hopes to have this inconspicuous man walk through their door. They hope to delight him with a flavorful meal and have that meal be perfectly articulated to the readers Gold writes for. In this article, I’ve selected two of Gold’s more famous and awarded writings to talk about. Hopefully, a taste of his delectable words is in the cards. (Both articles can be found at this link!)

The first article I decided to take a look at was Gold’s “Home of the porno burrito.” With such an interesting title, I had to take a look. Gold begins his review as he begins a lot of his writings: speaking to the reader as if it were a normal conversation. He speaks with confidence about the reader’s experiences, which shows a bit of his carefree attitude. He has no way of knowing that the reader has had a potato taco as he states with upmost certainty, but even if the reader has never enjoyed that meal, he feels that he has after reading. The flavors and ingredients are laid out to the audience with such ease and precision. You can almost smell the food through the page! He continues on about the burrito itself, listing the humorous name that has been bestowed upon it by those that have engulfed it. Ultimately, though, he ends up finishing the review not with the taste of the food, but with the people after they are done. There was not a speck of food left.

“Flesh and Bone: Playing with Kobe at mighty Cut” yet again begins with that same attention-grabbing tactic of speaking to the reader as if he were a man right in front of Gold. This time, though, he asks a question regarding the delightful steak he is about to consume. He speaks about the ambiance of the establishment and a little bit of the history behind it as well. Gold, as a food critic, strives to not only talk about the singular aspect of the taste of the food, but how a customer feels during and after eating. He explains that Cut is the “love child of Puck’s senior chef Lee Hefter.” This is completely arbitrary when it comes to the taste of the food, but it adds so much depth to the article itself. It helps to put the reader in the shoes of the customer.

I am currently going to school for computer science, and that means that I have to get good at the 1s and 0s of the world. Naturally, I have turned to the same website every other aspiring computer scientist has to work on my coding skills: Leetcode. Today, I will be explaining one of the easiest problems on the website, Two Sum. This is the one that you should definitely begin with if you are trying to dip your feet into coding; it is simple, but it contains a lot of the overarching issues that will commonly come up.

The description of the problem is as follows:

Given an array of Integers and an Integer target, return the indices of two numbers such that they add up to the target.

So, we need to find a way to iterate through the array and find a position and its complement that add up to the target and return those two targets. The simplest way of doing this is to create a double for loop. One that chooses the first position and one that loops through the array checking each position to the initial one.

This would work, but it is extremely slow. This solution has a time complexity of n-squared where n is the number of Integers in the given array (nums). To solve this quickly in a time of 2n, we need to use a HashMap.

A HashMap is a data structure that contains values that are labeled by keys. Each value is assigned a key when it is added to the HashMap, and that key can be used to instantly get the value, skipping a ton of processing. In this case, if we use the complement of the current position we are looking at (which can be written as the target – the value at that position) as the key and store the current position as the value, we will be able to then loop through the array once more and simply check if the complement exists for that value. If it does, return the current position and the complement’s position. Problem solved!

class Solution {
    public int[] twoSum(int[] nums, int target) {
        HashMap<Integer, Integer> data = new HashMap<>();
        for (int index = 0; index < nums.length; index++)
            data.put(target - nums[index], index);
        int[] solution = new int[2];
        for (int i = 0; i < nums.length; i++){
            if (data.containsKey(nums[i]) && data.get(nums[i]) != i){
                solution[0] = data.get(nums[i]);
                solution[1] = i;
            }
                

        }
        return solution;
    }
}

I was going to the Apple Market in town and noticed a man who was on break. I decided this was the perfect opportunity to have another one of these posts.

His name is Jacob, and he seems like a great guy!

Me: “What is your favorite part about the fall season?”

Jacob: “Flies die.”

Me: “That is a perfect answer!”

Jacob: “Yeah, I have a garage that kinda acts like a man cave, and the flies get super annoying. It is so much nicer when they are not there anymore.”

That is possible the best response to that question I have ever heard!