It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us ...

Another fortnight has passed. You probably haven't heard "fortnight" used like this in a long time, but hey, it meant "two weeks" long before it meant "wildly addicting MMO game." Anyway, we're the moderation team at Vocal, and it's time for another roundup of stories that we loved!

Every week, we ask the Vocal community to be just that: vocal.

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd cried out that he couldn't breathe, and the people heard his cries.

On the surface, photography seems very simple. All we see photographers do is aim the camera, maybe adjust the lens a couple times, and push the button—so it must be simple, right?

Figuring out if someone realizes you exist is a problem. If said someone does, figuring out their feelings for you is also a problem. So is coming up with ideas for a first date, and then there's the question of whether or not they sleep with socks on.

From exquisite wines to hoppy brews to one-of-a-kind cocktails, there's so much to explore in terms of the wide array of alcoholic beverages available for consumption. Whether grabbing a drink casually with an old friend or celebrating a special occasion, there's a certain sense of satisfaction gained when we discover that one beer or cocktail will become our new go-to drink. And with breathtaking vineyards, extraordinary breweries, and eccentric new bars popping up across the country, the options seems endless when it comes to experimenting and discovering amazing new beverages.

From the beginning of the 20th century to present day, animated films have held a special place in our hearts and in the cinematic universe. Movies like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles have dominated the box office and controlled our emotions. No matter your age, you can be neither too old nor too young to enjoy these classic animated films. Contrary to popular belief, these movies are more than just hypnotic entertainment. These films tend to carry out a significant underlying message ingrained in the plot. Animated films such as Inside Out, Coraline, and Moana all entertain the viewer while emphasizing a deep message throughout the story.

It's graduation season, and thousands of students are walking across the stage to grab their diplomas and run off to the next stage of their lives. Some may downplay that diploma as a fancy piece of paper with pretty writing, but it represents years of hard work and persistence. More than that, it represents how much the student has grown, the experiences they've had, and the obstacles they've overcome. Everyone's experienced the pain of crunch time, and we all know how much dedication it takes to get to morning classes on time. When you have your diploma in one hand and you're throwing your graduation cap into the air with the other, it's important to remember that all those hours spent were worth it in the end.

We love cats and dogs. Yet as much as we do, they might not be the right pets for you. It may be because of allergies or time or space. Maybe you just love them at a distance, but can't imagine yourself living with a cat or dog.

Yoga is personified by measured breathing, long-held stretches, and the practitioner's calm, peaceful expression. It's the antithesis of the fast-paced lifestyle so many of us have gotten used to. Outside of rush hour traffic and work desks, the idea of sitting in one place for so long can seem alien. The idea of doing so peacefully is nearly incomprehensible.

Our mothers have a huge impact on our lives. With us from the start, they give us food, shelter, and our first taste of unconditional love. They guide us through all our lives' milestones, like teaching us to walk, or driving us to our first day of school, or holding us as we cry over our first heartbreak. And the support doesn't end with the legal threshold of adulthood. Our mothers continue to help us even after our 18th birthdays—through our first tax season, DMV visits, and scheduling our own doctor appointments. If all this didn't make them invaluable, their wisdom and advice certainly is as soon as we have children of our own.