JCHS's Finest News Source

The Caldron

The Caldron

The Caldron

All content by Melissa Freed

“Cats”: A Fever Dream

Melissa Freed February 1, 2020

When I was invited to go see Cats my initial reaction was ‘no, god no’, but after thinking about it for a few minutes I decided I cannot miss what is sure to be a garbage fire of a film. Walking...

“Knives Out”: The Sharpest Film of the Year

Melissa Freed January 5, 2020

Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” is a wildly fun and charismatic whodunit that displays a visually stimulating world of mystery and dry comedy at its finest. The large ensemble makes it harder to determine...

Let It Flop: Review of “Let It Snow”

Melissa Freed November 30, 2019

*This review contains spoilers Once November hits all the cheesy Christmas movie trailers are bound to clog up your YouTube recommendations. Netflix was no exception to this and became one of the first...

“Be More Chill” on Broadway

Melissa Freed May 29, 2019

If you could take something that would make you feel connected and happy all the time, would you? If you could pop a pill that makes you likeable instantaneously, and helps you get the girl or boy of...

New Zealand Mosque Massacre

New Zealand Mosque Massacre

Melissa Freed April 4, 2019

New Zealand faced one of its darkest days on March 15, 2019. There was a mass shooting at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, which left at least fifty people dead...

Michael Cohen Tells All

Melissa Freed April 4, 2019

Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, stood before the House Oversight Committee on February 27, 2019 to testify against the President. Cohen remarks Trump as a racist and a “con man” during...

Collision in Wayne Takes Three Lives

Melissa Freed March 6, 2019

On February 19, 2019 at 9 a.m. in Wayne, NJ, Jason Vanderee crashed into the Delta Gas Station killing the gas station attendant, and a father and his son. Vanderee was driving his 2004 Honda Pilot under...

These Teachers Want More than Just Apples; L.A. Teachers Begin Striking

These Teachers Want More than Just Apples; L.A. Teachers Begin Striking

Melissa Freed January 28, 2019

Around 30,000 Los Angeles public-school teachers assembled the largest school strike in America on January 14, 2019. At 900 schools in the district, approximately 500,000 students’ educations came...

Martian Mission Makes a Touchdown

Melissa Freed December 22, 2018

A journey of 300 million miles came to an end on November 26, 2018, as NASA’s InSight Mission landed on Mars after traveling through space for a little over six months. The NASA mission cost $814 million,...

Tree of Life Shooting

Tree of Life Shooting

Melissa Freed December 1, 2018

On October 27, 2018, Robert Bowers attacked the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, claiming eleven lives from the ages 54 to 97 years old. The victims of this attack were: Joyce Fienberg,...

Hurricane Michael

Melissa Freed October 24, 2018

Hurricane Michael had winds up to one hundred and fifty five miles per hour when it slammed into the Florida Panhandle on October 10, 2018. The hurricane was confirmed to have taken the lives of 18 people,...

Habitat for Humanity 2018

Melissa Freed May 15, 2018

It’s 8:00 AM on a Saturday; I am sitting in the cafeteria at James Caldwell High School, the voices of freshmen and seniors alike are bouncing off the walls. On the table lay my work gloves and hammer....

The Cambridge Analytica and Facebook Scandal: Is your Data Safe?

The Cambridge Analytica and Facebook Scandal: Is your Data Safe?

Melissa Freed April 5, 2018

The British political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, used personal information from over fifty million Facebook profiles without users permission. Cambridge Analytica was hired during the election...

Drug-Wielding World of Curling: A Satire

Drug-Wielding World of Curling: A Satire

Melissa Freed March 8, 2018

The Winter Olympics is a time for countries all over the world to forget about their differences and unite over the games. Athletes work tirelessly and are filled with ambition as they vie for gold at...

#TrumpShutdown

Melissa Freed January 30, 2018

On January 20, 2018 in Washington D.C., the federal government partially shut down after the Senate rejected a short-term spending bill on the previous Friday night. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had...

Turtle Back Zoo Lights up the Night

Turtle Back Zoo Lights up the Night

Melissa Freed January 3, 2018

On the first of December, the Turtle Back Zoo held their free “Holiday Light Spectacular,” which included over fifty winter and animal characters. Visitors had the option to donate non-perishables,...

No more Viewings for Bellevue Cinema

No more Viewings for Bellevue Cinema

Melissa Freed November 21, 2017

Mark the day November 12, 2017, as the day the iconic Upper Montclair Bellevue Theater closed. Never again will the eager teenagers flock to this Montclair theater with bright eyes and a hunger for cinema....

Banning the Classics: To Kill a Mockingbird

Banning the Classics: “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Melissa Freed October 24, 2017

The beloved story of "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is told in the perspective of a young girl named Scout Finch. Scout, her brother Jem, and father Atticus, live in the small town of Maycomb...

Life’s Not So Sweet at Sweetwater River: Review of “Riverdale”

Melissa Freed May 18, 2017

The new hit American teen drama series “Riverdale” has already been renewed by the CW for a second season. The show is based on the “Archie” comic which was created in 1939 by John L. Goodwater....

“YouTube’s Restriction Mode Causes Conflict with the LGBTQ+ Community”

Melissa Freed April 7, 2017

Many creators and users have been complaining about the Restricted Mode on YouTube which is an optional parental-control feature that avoids content that has been flagged by an algorithm. Restricted...

Goodnight Moon, and Hello Comet!

Goodnight Moon, and Hello Comet!

Melissa Freed February 16, 2017

If there is nothing good to watch on TV, try looking up at the stars! You will be amazed at the celestial events that will occur. For example, on February 10, 2017 two major phenomenons occurred: a penumbral...

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Review by Melissa Freed

Melissa Freed January 20, 2017

The smash hit, new broadway musical, ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ was one of the best shows I have ever seen. ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is the story of a socially awkward senior and his struggle to fit in. Evan...

Load More Stories
Donate to The Caldron