The Magnet
October 2015 Vol. II
Issue I
Art by Narek Mughestyan
Features 5-6
Opinion 24
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Letter From the Editors The beginning of the school year marked the pressure continuing the work of the last years editors on starting this year’s magazine. With the trusted spirits of our former editors, we embarked on this new venture. We wanted to move away from some of the components from last year and we have brought in more sections, creative extras, and more art. We incorporated fall-themed designs and have a calendar that brings in student work from Mr. Zamlich’s Photography 5-6 students. Our Features include varied topics, where you can read about backpack variations and what makes students decide on their backpack, an inside look of Clark’s ACE class, parents influencing children to stay home instead of going to college, and studying abroad. Our Student Work includes drawings from Mr. Over’s animation class, some photography and creative writing from Ms. Guarino’s class. Our In the Lifestyle offers a look into students’ social lives, shopping trends, and hang out spots, including stories on popular shops such as Zara, H&M, and Pandora. There are also dining suggestions with stories
Monika Petrosyan
Lilia Lamas Alec Badalian
on King Taco and Home. There are also trends with Colourpop adding a variation of stores. Incorporating a completely new section set aside that section from the rest of the traditional story types that have previously been featured. The In the Life section offers a look into a mud run experience and going to school without makeup for a week and seeing the effects. Lastly, we have A&E and Opinion sections where students share their thoughts on world events and reviews
on restaurants and shows. We hope you enjoy the new additions we have made as we still kept the ideas of our former editors. Have a great start to the holiday season and check out clarkchronicle. com for more stories. Sincerely, Alec Badalian Lilia Lamas Monika Petrosyan
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Clark Calendar
OCTOBER 2015
No School Days: Monday, November 10: No School (Teacher In-Service day) Friday, October 30: Staff Development Day Looking Forward to November: Banking Days Monday, November 2 Free Dress Day, October 29 Friday, November 13 November 20
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Can we sustain life on Mars in the near future?
Did Argeen Ghazarian survive the Mud Run?
How great is Troye Sivan’s 6th EP?
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11 15 21 27 28
Features
Backpacks, Studying Abroad, Cultural Living, ACE
Student Work Creative Writing, Animation, Photography
Lifestyle In The Life Opinion A&E
Zara, H&M, Pandora, Colourpop, King Taco, Home
City Hall, No Makeup, Mud Run
Donald Trump, Life on Mars
The Martian, Movie Poll, Suits, Another One, Wild
The Magnet a contemporary magazine template design for indesign
Managing Editors Alec Badalian Lilia Lamas Monika Petrosyan Staff Writers Farah Ali Lauren Alparaz Alec Badalian John Bandek Argeen Ghazarian Lilia Lamas Hayk Martirosyan Natella Muradyan Christine Ohanyan Monika Petrosyan Eunice Ramilo Chelsea Santos Vache Sarkissian Staff Photographers Natalie Deravanessian Anthony Francisco Tina Keshishian Natella Muradyan Eunice Ramilo Henry Reed Karla Solorzano Website Editors Argeen Ghazarian Karin Najarian Vache Sarkissian Business Managers Rita Belamejian Argeen Ghazarian Thor Hauerbach The Magnet, an open forum, is published by the Clark Magnet High School Publications class (4747 New York Ave., La Crescenta, CA 91214, 818.248.8324), which is solely responsible for all copy, designs and ideas contained herein. The Magnet has the right to edit any letter for purposes of clarification, length and grammar. The expressed opinions are not that of Clark Magnet High School nor of the Administration. Layouts completed onsite. This magazine was printed by aPrintis Inc., 4695 Chabot Dr, Site 200 Pleasanton, CA.
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Features
Strapping onto change Taking a look inside that Jansport backpack Backpacks By Alec Badalian Modern day high school students have come a long way from the dorky roller backpacks they once carried with them in high school alongside their light-up shoes and Spongebob lunchboxes. It’s a whole new game in which teenagers have this vast collection of backpacks from which to choose.
A blue Jansport with a brown canvas bottom.
They can go for a simple Jansport that, while dull, still is completely functional and does exactly what it’s supposed to: carry a supplies for as long as possible. Or they can go for more of a chic, designer type of backpack, a popular one being American Apparel’s denim backpacks, which may help the user look cool and trendy, but may not act as a durable accessory. The type of backpack a student decides to take to school depends entirely on how they prefer to organize themselves.
Some students have backpacks that are both wider and longer than them, because they absolutely need a one and a half inch binder for each of their seven classes and pencil bags and whatnot. “I like having a big backpack because it gives me freedom for whatever I want to use it for,” said senior Mikia Zohrabian, who carries a relatively large backpack. “I don’t just use it for school, I also use it for when I go on trips. But in regards to school, having a large backpack is very useful because sometimes there is lots of materials to carry, like in the beginning of the year when teachers give out textbooks.” There are also those students who don’t have much regard for organization and the work and handouts they receive from multiple classes into one binder, decreasing the overall weight they’ll have to carry. These students are also prone to having papers loosely sticking out from their backpacks, a trait that no student should aspire to. “Having a small backpack is good
A grey Hershel and a black High Sierra backpack.
because you won’t have something heavy and annoying to lug around all day,” said senior Marcelo Marta, who has what he describes as “a small to moderate size backpack.” Marta only has two classes on odd days and says he doesn’t really need too much space for his materials. “Then again, if it’s too small, you might not be able to fit everything in it.” Then there are a select group of students, almost entirely composed of seniors, who don’t even bring a backpack to school. Whether it be due to a lack of classes, as some seniors can take as few as two classes a day, or a significantly small amount of materials needed for those classes, some students just don’t deem it necessary to lug a backpack with them to school every day. “All I need can be contained in one binder,” said senior Chris Gevorkyan, who only brings a one-inch binder with him every day for his three classes. “I change the contents of it every night depending on whether it’s an even or odd day and that’s all I need,” he said.
6 A multitude of different backpacks as students head to their buses.
There’s also a deciding factor among everyone as to what warrants a certain object as a necessity. For example, pencils, paper and binders/folders are universally known as school necessities, as students will not be able to complete their work without them. However, phones, laptops and headphones can definitely argued as essential school materials. A recent New York Times article by Hiroko Tabuchi explores the kinds of objects the typical American student carries and shows how times have changed from the days in which backpacks could only be filled with papers and books. His two subjects, college students Alejandro Sarete and Cho Young-Uk, revealed that their backpacks contained none of those traditional school supplies.
Sarete’s contained only “[a] smartphone, USB thumb drive, playing cards, [and] lip balm,” while YoungUk’s simply had “[a] Lenovo laptop and adapter.” Though Sarete and Young-Uk are college students, this phenomenon of minimizing the mate rials a student takes to school most certainly applies to high school students all the same. According to HealthDay, the average high school backpack weighs somewhere between 14 to 20 pounds, while the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s backpack weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child’s weight. This is one of the more positive effects of under-packing for school, the reduction of gaining scoliosis due to a heavy backpack pulling a student’s back down.
A collection of Jansport backpacks, which make up 20% of the backpacks students use in the U.S.
A dark green Hershel backpack and a light green shoulder bag.
Yet again, the lack of material can also cause a student to fall behind on their academics, as they may not come to class fully prepared. “There are some requisites you have to bring, but there are some that are extraneous, such as bringing a textbook every day, which may lead to academic issues,” said Zohrabian. Though it is possible to come to school with only a few binders or folders and manage to work as an efficient student, under-packing for the sole purpose of not having to wear a backpack can also end up being problematic.
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Studying abroad opens new possibilities Expanding students’ views
Studying Abroad By Eunice Ramilo
Junior Marah Hasan said that she thinks she would enjoy studying abroad. “I think I’d learn a new language and get to travel,” Hasan said. “But I still have my doubts.” Despite the benefits she would expect, Hasan said she would be concerned about being away from her family as well as the money such a program would cost. Although students like Hasan remain uneasy about studying abroad, many Clark Magnet teachers highly recommend it from their experiences. One main factor that stands out in studying abroad is the exposure to different ways of life. Foreign language teacher Anne Reinhard studied in Spain during her junior year of college for two months. She said that she had a culture shock during her stay; learning the use of public transportation and the shopping system while learning to speak Spanish were all new to her. “Learning the subways was an adventure,” Reinhard said. “Shopping was also different. You went to more little shops to find things rather than one big place that had everything.” Foreign language teacher Victoria
Melissa O’Gara and another AFS student from Germany riding a reed boat on the Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca in the Andes mountains.
Marcucci studied in Salamanca, Spain for two summers while getting her master’s degree. She confessed that she too had a culture shock even though her family was from Mexico and she was able to speak the language. The way people talked, dressed, and ate were all
Melissa O’Gara with her host family in Peru.
new to her. Marcucci noted how the shops in Madrid would close as early as 3:35 p.m. for the traditional afternoon siesta or resting period. She said that she did not take the siestas for the first few days because she wasn’t used to it, but for the whole night, the whole neighborhood would be awake and partying. “I had to acclimate myself to taking those afternoon siestas and then go back to my class,” Marcucci said. Aside from learning a country’s way of life, another main advantage of studying abroad is gaining a different perspective of the world. College career prep and health teacher Judy Sanzo studied in Austria and Germany for the summer while working on her master’s degree. She said that despite the change of cultures, the strict professors and the cost to get there, her experience was worth it. “Any time you get to experience a different culture...I think it’s a good thing,” Sanzo said. Studying in a different country made her realize how people in the United States have it easy regarding education. She explained how countries such as
8 Melissa O’Gara with her friends from school at a kiosk. They would go there every day after school to buy snacks.
Japan and Germany value education to its fullest where students are forced to follow strict schedules and go to school more than five days a week. “It brought awareness to how other countries value education,” Sanzo said. Foreign language teacher Melissa O’Gara also gained a more broad perspective of the world. Having studied in Peru for three months, in Mexico for two months, and in Salzburg, Austria for a semester, she said that studying abroad changed her life and it made her become more aware of the world. In Peru, she described seeing a poverty level that she didn’t know existed. “It’s not a theory anymore, it becomes reality,” O’Gara said. “It’s not a contrived environment, it’s survival in a lot of cases...you’re going to expand your knowledge more than any book could ever offer.” Studying abroad not only changes how a person sees the world, it also changes how the world sees a person. According to the University of California Merced, 97 percent of study-abroad students find jobs in as few as 12 months, whereas only 49 percent of regular college grads find jobs in the same amount of time. Marcucci said that she thought this makes sense since students who study abroad become mature and open their minds to the new ideas around them. Marcucci said that she didn’t realize how independent she can be and how she could manage things on her own
while staying in another country. “Everything that my mom did to take care of me back home, I had to do [while studying abroad],” she said. There are many studying abroad programs available to all kinds of students throughout the country. The International Education of Students Abroad or IES Abroad is a program that includes more than 130 worldwide programs in more than 21 countries. It also includes financial aid and scholarship programs to students who may not be able to afford the costs of
studying abroad. A more popular program would be the American Field Service Program or AFS which started out in 1915 as the American Ambulance Field Service during World War I. Today, the program remains in more than 50 countries with nearly 13,000 students enrolled each year. They have also awarded $3 million in scholarships per year for studyabroad students. High school students who are interested can apply to study abroad for as much as a whole year or as little as two weeks. This year, AFS is holding a contest called Project: Change. Through this, students ranging from eighth grade to twelfth grade create ideas that would impact lives and make the world a better place. The winner of the best idea will be granted a full scholarship to go abroad and carry out their plan for two weeks over the summer. According to O’Gara, the best time to go study abroad would be during college since the programs don’t cost any more than the tuition, so there is not a big difference in the money spent. She said that students should take the opportunity to study abroad because that might be the only time to go out and see a different world. “It’s the only time in your life that you’ll get five straight months where you can go and experience one place or many places,” O’Gara said. “Once you get your job, your vacation time is limited.”
Melissa O’Gara in an outdoor museum and cemetery that includes wellpreserved bones and grave sites that date back to the Inca period.
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Students pursue careers with ACE program Mentoring students to the future ACE Program By John Bandek For the past three years, Glendale High School and Clark Magnet High School have participated in the ACE mentoring program — an extracurricular activity that allows students to expand their knowledge in the architecture, construction and engineering fields. Lia Gharabeg, a junior who has been in the program since freshman year, originally joined to learn more about the three fields. “I always wanted to know what engineers did as an occupation, but after I joined ACE, I found that architecture interests me as well.” Gharabeg hopes to continue her participation in ACE in order to figure out which one of the two pathways she should pursue. This nationwide program gives students many opportunities, whether it be public speaking skills or paid summer internships. “Because of ACE I have learned many new skills such as leadership, time management and operating tools,” Gharabeg said. Clark Students in ACE also participate in design competitions and experience hands-on learning in the construction trades. They work together with Glendale High students as a team to complete a project they will present at the end of the year to all the other teams in the Los Angeles region. “I have been in ACE since freshman year,” said junior Arpa Zorakian. “I joined the program because I was not sure which pathway to pursue — architecture or engineering.” After joining the program, Zorakian found that engineering is her true calling. Zorakian recommends ACE to anyone who is uncertain on what their future career will be. Maurice James, former assistant principal at Clark, has been representing Clark’s team for the past few years. He has introduced
students to many people working in the three fields and has opened the gates for students to discover paths to their future. Unfortunately, James will not be able to represent the team this year. However, photography teacher Gregory Zamlich will be taking James’ place. Zamlich said that he cannot wait for the program to start. He has had some experience in the construction field prior to becoming a teacher at Clark and is eager to help the team in any way possible. Clark’s team rides a bus to Glendale High School every other week during enrichment where they meet with the Glendale High students in the classroom of Betsy Astor, a special education teacher who represents the Glendale High team. Upon arrival, the team discusses what needs to be accomplished with their mentors. According to most of the participants in the program, the mentors play a crucial role in the program’s success. “I think the most important part of the program is having all the support from our mentors,” Gharabeg said. “They contribute their time to ensure we understand all about architecture,
construction, and engineering.” “Without the mentors, the team will not be able to compete in the competition, they always support us, teach us techniques, enhance our understanding, and most importantly, make us prepared for the industry,” Zorakian said. Gharabeg said that most of the participants last year have graduated, so the team is looking for new students who are interested in joining this school year. Galia Gharabeg, a former participant in the program, and the sister of Lia Gharabeg found the program of great value. “It’s a great program for students to be a part of,” she said. “It has allowed me to decide which pathway I should take.” Gharabeg said that she is confident that her decision in majoring in graphic design was a great choice. The seniors in the program benefited from the experience in many ways, with some seniors were being awarded scholarships. “I have made so many connections and friends throughout the years in ACE,” Lia Gharabeg said. “Architecture is connecting people to buildings, and the only way you could do so is by first learning how to connect to
Clark and Glendale High students participating in one of the design competitions.
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Some students working on the actual model at Glendale High School.
people, and ACE has definitely taught me to do so.” At the end of the school year, all the teams from the ACE Los Angeles region meet at a high school and present their designs for their project. Last year, the schools were given the task of designing a campus for a university. The Glendale team was tasked with creating the student commons. “The software we used for designing the building was Google Sketchup,” Zorakian said. “Learning the software is fairly easy and is a bonus when it comes to job or even college applications.” According to both Zorakian and Gharabeg, the designing part of the project has led them to think in a more broad and creative manner. After designing the building, the students made a 3D model out of cardboard, wood and other materials in order to put on display at the actual competition. They also were required to create a presentation in order to present in front of the other schools. This was the most terrifying part of the project for most of the students,
but nevertheless, it allowed all of them to enhance their public speaking skills and feel confident in their work. “I have learned countless things in
ACE, but I believe this program has allowed me to learn one important aspect anywhere in life, regardless what it is —teamwork,” Lia Gharabeg said.
The ACE Glendale team meeting construction workers and discussing construction techniques.
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Student Work
Lousine Aslanyan
12 Mr. Over’s Animation Students Cierra Serrano
Minely Moradian
Mrs. Guarino has her students relate themselves to food Starbucks Anonymous The moment you walk into Starbucks you get hit with a plethora of smells from the freshly brewed Colombian roast coffee to melting ham and cheese sandwiches fresh off the oven. Glancing up at the poorly lit menu, you look at the wide array of choices, but of course you end up getting you usual, for me, it is an iced green tea. No matter which Starbucks I find myself at, they always have relaxing, calm music. Music that allows me to focus on my own thoughts and concentrate at the task ahead of me. Taking me into a new world, far away from the outside. Starbucks is filled with all sorts of people each with their own personality, seen right in their hands. Black coffee drinkers
rushing in and out, always hectic and busy. Eight year old children feeling cool for drinking Starbucks without the coffee, full of happiness. Even the old couple sitting in the corner reminiscing about their lives over their hot black coffees. For me, my ice green tea reveals that I am a person who is laid back and goes with the flow. I love not knowing what to expect every time I walk through the doors. Every person that comes in and out, is unique in their own way and has their own journey. Different drinks, different people. It is never the same, always with variations and a uniqueness that is their own. I love listening to the conversations I would never expect to hear from people from different worlds. The old man telling his story of his American Dream to a high school student. Even the caffeine driven business woman
who takes time in talking to her best friend during lunch. It reminds me that in a world filled with more than 7.3 billion people no one is the same. The unexpectedness beyond the doors, always makes me happy that each visit is going to be different.
A white girl’s paradise.
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Lifestyle
Looking cute on a budget Makeup that won’t make you broke Colourpops By Chelsea Santos A Colourpop Cosmetics, based in Los Angeles, is geared to make “luxury formulas at prices that won’t break the bank” (as stated on their website). With 830,000 Instagram followers, Colourpop is set to take the world by storm. After hearing a lot about how great the quality is for the price, I decided to try it for myself and see what all the hype was about. So, I went online (the cosmetics are only sold on their website, nowhere else) and picked out a couple things that piqued my interest. (Helpful hint: If you put in the code THANKSBABE at checkout, you get $5 off… score!) Colourpop is most famous for their lip products, so I picked up two of their “Ultra Matte” liquid lipsticks, which go for a lovely $6 apiece. One is in the shade “Clueless,” and is described as a “dusty mauve pink.” The other is “Trap,” described as a “dusty greyed out beige,” or a nude color. The formula is very thin — a little goes a long way. It can get a little on the drying side if your lips
aren’t moisturized properly, so prep with a lip balm before you apply it. I also got a “Lippie Stix” lipstick ($5) in “Juice Bar,” a color described as a “cool toned berry pink in a sheer finish.” It goes on quite nicely straight from the tube, and it smells like cupcakes. What’s not to love? Their “Super Shock” highlighters ($8), not the ones you use on paper, are super-pigmented; “Monster” is a “light pink with highly opalescent duo chrome finish” and makes the skin look amazing, almost as if you’re lit from within. The best way to apply the unique, buoyant powder formula is with your fingertips — brushes will mess up the product, which kind of sucks because makeup brushes tend to do a better job of application. The same goes for the “Super Shock” eyeshadow ($5), the little sister of the cheek products. “Shop” is a “rusty coral in a matte finish,” so it’s basically red with no glitter. The shadow is long-wearing, goes on smooth, and it’s tear-proof (trust me, I tried it). My biggest problem was how long it took for the order just to process. It took almost a week before my
There were even little instruction cards on how to get the most out of each product.
purchases shipped, and that’s a major problem for those of us who tend to get impatient. The verdict: Colourpop’s products lived up to the expectations; they’re long-wearing, great quality, and I may just come back for more. Not only are they cruelty free (they don’t test on animals!) but they’re pretty forgiving to your wallet too.
A handwritten note came with all the products.
The Ultra Matte liquid lipstick in ‘Clueless,’ Lippie Stix in ‘Juice Bar,’ and Ultra Matte liquid lipstick in ‘Trap.’
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Pandora impresses with its crafty simplicity 101 Americana Way, Glendale (818) 637-2511
Monday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Tuesday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Wednesday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Thursday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Friday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
The entrance to Pandora in the Glendale Galleria.
Charms with their jewelery Pandora
By Lilia Lamas The Pandora jewelry store in the Glendale Galleria mesmerizes passersby with its elegant store entrance and the lovely window displays containing charms, necklaces, and bracelets. The outside windows are decorated with painted leaves, and there is writing on each glass display that read “Discover your flights of fancy” and “Pandora rose isn’t just a rose.” On a recent visit, I was enthralled by the contrast of lights and the amount of charms for bracelets. I was going in to purchase more charms for my bracelet and took my friend along with me.
We were greeted by a kind salesperson. I was impressed with the professional and classy outfits the women in the store were wearing: buttoned up white blouses and fitted black pants. Before I asked her any questions, my eyes immediately ran to some beautiful rings, and I had no idea Pandora made rings. The salesperson asked for the color of my bracelet and she assisted us in finding charms that would match the bracelet. We were shown one of the new charms that had come in that corresponded with a navy bracelet. I set my eye on two charms — one that was silver and one that was sparkly blue. The store has a very clean look
and the showcases feature pink and blue wall color. My friend and I noticed how the light of the jewelry store was not as overbearing as other jewelry stores are. As we left the store, with the potentials of my purchase for my bracelet, I was given a booklet of charms, which gave me more time to really look at the charms I would want to buy. I left the store gazing back at the shinning white room with the glass vividly dispalying the beautiful charms. A chique bag and bracelet from Pandora.
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Lifestyle
Look good, feel good with H&M Fashion at its finest 891 Americana Way, Glendale (818) 502-9835
Monday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Tuesday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Wednesday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Thursday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Friday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm Sunday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
H&M in Americana at Brand, and though I am not impressed by the service there — the employees always seem to be too busy to help you even if you explicitly ask
www.hm.com
H&M
By Christine Ohanyan H&M is a clothing retail company that caters to a wide range of ages stretching from teens to adults, attaining such an audience through a timeless style that is simple yet chic. Over time, the franchise has gained respect in the fashion industry, ultimately earning a location in the infamous Champs-Élysées in Paris, alongside brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Dior. Fancy, right? But fancy doesn’t have to mean expensive. The great thing about H&M is that it offers stylish pieces for affordable prices, in addition to their frequent sales. I recently shopped at the
Something I’d wear out of school that’s in dress code.
Very Lana Del Rey, right? them to — I am very pleased with my purchases for their trendy appearance, good quality and reasonable prices. I bought four lovely items, each for less than $20: two clothing items and two accessories. One of my clothing finds, and my favorite one, are these long-legged, diamond-patterned trousers that have a flowing fit just below the waist band, and get narrower towards the ankle. These pants are as soft as silk, and I’m often compelled to lounge around in them after school because of their extreme comfort. They make any basic outfit pop effortlessly, such as when paired with a black tank top and sandals. It also doesn’t hurt that I’ve washed them three times since I bought them and the black-and-white print hasn’t faded at all. My only complaint? My sister loves them too, and keeps “borrowing” them
from me. My next article of clothing is this airy white blouse, and... Wait for it... It has a collar! And sleeves! Yay for looking cute and not getting dress-coded. This top’s loose fit and cut-out shoulders give it a laid-back feel, with a touch of glamour, great for those of you who prefer a blend of comfort and style. Throw on some necklaces and formfitting black pants, and you have yourself an outfit that you actually enjoy wearing, and that your teachers can’t give you detention for. We all know that accessories make a huge difference, which is why I had to pick up these two moon-pendant necklaces and this beige floppy hat. The necklaces I bought actually didn’t come together, but I pair them with each other because the glimmer of the full moon next to its crescent form adds a touch of enchantment to any outfit. As for the hat: in all honesty, I felt the urge to buy it because it made me feel like Lana Del Rey when I tried it on, and who wouldn’t?
I’m not actually this tan.
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Zara opens in Galleria Teens discover a hot new store The front enterance to Zara.
100 West Broadway, Glendale (818) 548-3606
Monday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm Tuesday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm Wednesday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm Thursday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm Friday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm Sunday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm www.zara.com
Zara
By Natella Muradyan “I always wished that Zara would open in Glendale Galleria,” said junior Anna Ghazaryan. “Now I don’t have to go all the way to Sherman Oaks or Pasadena to be able to shop from Zara.” The news of the Spanish retailer Zara opening a store in Glendale Galleria has people going ecstatic. The gigantic store, and Zara’s ninth LA-area store, includes clothing for men, women, children and babies. The store being divided into these sections
makes it even easier to find items. Junior Ani Petrosyan said that the store looks nice both from the outside and inside. “I love how neatly organized the store is,” she said. “It just makes me want to shop there even more.” Not only are many Clark students happy to welcome the store, but the store’s location causes even more excitement. “Americana is a common hangout place for a lot of people, so it’s nice that people can hang out there while also being able to shop at their favorite store,” said junior Alex Karapetyan. Seems perfect, right? My experience at Zara was a little different. Let’s start with the unreasonable prices: why should someone pay $50 for a plain white shirt at Zara if they can buy it for $20 at some other store? I would recommend for those who are on a budget to look for clothes in other stores before buying it from Zara. However, most of the clothes there have great quality which might make up for the price. Regarding the employees, the cashiers
didn’t seem to be too excited about working there. This might be because Zara is a newly opened store and they are getting too many customers; hence, that may be why the line was so long when I was there. As a result, they might just be tired, but they should still be a little more welcoming since it’s their job. Some of the employees showed little excitement about working at Zara, and some didn’t know the location of certain items in the store. When asked where the black fedoras were located, one of the employees said that she was busy doing something, and would ask another employee. It’s better to just say, “I don’t know,” than spend her time asking some other employee, which I could have done. The second employee wasn’t much help either, because she said that the fedoras should be found around the store. It’s not entirely fair to blame the employees because it is a new store, and they are most likely getting familiar with the store’s layout. At the end of the day, I was pretty happy since I was able to get many clothing items from there that I liked. Oh, and the black fedora? Yeah, I was able to find it and I didn’t hesitate for a second about purchasing it.
Vache Sarkissian makes that Zara T-shirt, jacket, pants and work.
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Home cooking at its best Where the food is as good as home 1760 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Feliz (323) 669-0211
Monday: 9: a.m. – 10: p.m. Tuesday: 9: a.m. – 10: p.m. Wednesday: 9: a.m. – 10: p.m. Thursday: 9: a.m. – 10: p.m. Friday: 9: a.m. – 11: p.m. Saturday: 8: a.m. – 11: p.m. Sunday: 8: a.m. – 10: p.m.
A breakfast burrito served with lightly fried potatoes, HOMEmade salsa and chipotle mayo.
www.homerestaurantla.com
Home
By Alec Badalian Within the bustling streets of Los Feliz lies a hidden gem of fine eatery. In front, a sign composed of light bulbs welcomes guests as they walk under a multitude of towering trees that shade a collection of tables. In the center of all this is a magnificent fountain inhabited by dazzling fish, as well as a collection of charming figurines. This destination is none other than the simple-named, Home. This small, cozy restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Home features basic dishes such as mac and cheese and fancier ones like filet mignon medallions. The food is great, no matter which choice, but if there’s one that stands out of the three, that would be their delectable breakfast items. The service is also phenomenal everytime, as every waiter has a smile on their face and are always asking whether or not each customer is fully satisfied. Also, dogs are welcomed, and because its in an area heavily populated by hip, young people, theres’s almost always going to be an adorable dog at the side of your table, pawing at your leg and asking for a strip of bacon. The breakfast burrito is especially fine. Unlike most burritos, this hold its structure without the help of foil, no
matter how much goodness is stuffed inside. In it are eggs, bacon, cheese and black beans, which are perfectly mixed together, ensuring a taste of each with every bite. All of that is wrapped in a homemade tomato-basil tortilla, taking the already wonderful flavors to the next level. Another marvelous selection would be one of their sweeter dishes, preferably the “really good french toast,” as stated by their menu. They use a thick, doughy challah bread served with delicious,
organic maple syrup, which makes the final texture of the dish nicely balanced. The center is chewy and moist, while the outside is perfectly crispy. Home has two locations: the aforementioned one in Los Feliz and one in Silver Lake, located on 2500 Riverside Drive. The Los Feliz one is the better of the two, as the overall design and amount of space is simply nicer. Due to the food and atmosphere, Home is without a doubt a must-go dining destination.
The pearly gates of Home.
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Is King Taco the King? Royalty on a plate
A pair of delicious carne asada tacos that come topped with onions and cilantro.
115 -117 E Broadway, Glendale (818) 409-0172
Monday: 9:00 am – 12:00 am Tuesday: 9:00 am – 12:00 am Wednesday: 9:00 am – 12:00 am Thursday: 9:00 am – 12:00 am Friday: 9:00 am – 2:00 am Saturday: 9:00 am – 2:00 am Sunday : 9:00 am – 12:00 am www.kingtaco.com
King Taco By Farah Ali
Conveniently located on Broadway Avenue, King Taco has been hyped about by many taco lovers. King Taco opened up their most recent location in Glendale, and it has been flooded with business ever since. I walked into the well lit King Taco, and was greeted by strong smells of Mexican cuisine. At a first glance, King Taco was clean and filled with people enjoying their meals. While standing in line, I browsed the menu, which was mostly in Spanish. But having taken Spanish for three years, I was able to pick up that carne asada means beef, and pollo is chicken. Going
King Taco in the heat of lunch hour.
in, I wanted to try what King Taco was known for — their tacos. They had an interesting variety of meats to choose from: the classics, such as grilled beef and chicken. But they also had some meats that I was not heard of before, such as cabeza, which I learned is cow’s head meat. I was so confused as to how someone could eat head, and I was not about to find out. King Taco sells more than just tacos; there are burritos, nachos, quesadillas, sopes and more. I ordered two carne asada (grilled beef) tacos. As waited for my number to be called, I noticed that they had a lot of seating, and
additional seating in the next room. The restaurant was big with large windows, but wasn’t very decorated, and was very plain. Eventually, my number was called and I carried my food to me seat. The two tacos were topped with onions, cilantro and a red salsa. There were additional sauces which I picked up on the way. The food looked appetizing, in large part because of the bright colors the cilantro and different salsas brought forth. The meat was flavorful, and the salsas gave a really nice, spicy kick. The crunch from the onions and the tender meat was a great combination. King Taco has some really great tacos, some of the best I’ve ever tasted, in fact. It’s almost always packed, and for a good reason too. Their tacos are flavorful and filling. However, the parking is not convenient, as you have to park in the public parking structure in the next building and walk down to King Taco, and hope to make it back before your free 90 minutes is up. Nonetheless, this restaurant is in reach for most of us, as it is a few blocks away from the Americana and Glendale Galleria. If you want some good Mexican food in Glendale, King Taco is the best.
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In the Life
Student Ambassador program helps community Benefitting City Hall City Council By Anthony Francisco “Welcome to the City Council meeting!” are the words I always say when greeting visitors, as a Student Ambassador, to the Glendale City Council meetings. The Student Ambassador Program is a way for students from various high schools to get involved in their community by volunteering in City Council meetings to act as representatives. Student Ambassadors attend the meeting held every Tuesday for about five months. Ten students are currently enrolled in the program. After attending an appointment and interview with Clark graduate Lyova Zalyan, who now works as the instructor of the Student Ambassador Program, I received a phone call in June from Zalyan a few hours after my appointment. “Congratulations, you have been accepted into the Student Ambassador Program,” Zalyan said. “You
will be trained on the program next week.” The following week I became a Student Ambassador. I stood waiting inside the City Clerk office dressed in my black suit, white dress shirt, dark solid tie and dress shoes. While I was waiting, I felt excited and nervous at the same time because I didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised to see other Clark Magnet and Glendale High School students who got accepted into the program. Most Student Ambassadors looked familiar because they go to the same high school as me. When the other Student Ambassadors and I began our training, Zalyan took us for a tour around City Hall to learn where everything is located and the significance of each room. I was astonished with the design and history of the building because it was my first time being in the Glendale City Hall. After the quick tour, we were seated in the council chambers where we learned the objectives of a Student Ambassador. The Student
One of the many towering buildings of Glendale, CA.
Ambassadors act as representatives welcoming new attendees, explaining the agendas and answering any questions pertaining to the meetings. Zalyan explained the agenda, request-to-speak cards and the proceedings to every council meeting. He then taught us how to assist new attendees with any questions they may have along with the different stations each Student Ambassadors would be assigned for each meeting. Student Ambassador Lauren Alparaz, a senior at Clark, said she was surprised by how much effort goes into each council meeting. “On the first day of training, it was strange to me how much goes into the meetings, especially if you just catch them on TV,” Alparaz said. “They seem really dull, but a lot goes into it.” Zalyan also told us about an incident that caused police and SWAT officers to appear in City Hall. A janitor was cleaning in the council chambers and accidentally hit the panic button near the desks of the council members. When the officers arrived Zalyan had to apologize for the mistake of the janitor. When training day was over I still wasn’t sure if I was ready for the upcoming meeting that would be the real start to the Ambassador Program. It was a lot of information to digest on the first day. So on the days that we did not have a meeting, I studied my notes so that I could be prepared to answer and assist attendees. Prior to each council meeting, for the first 30 minutes, Zalyan tests us on what items are on the agenda to make sure we have the appropriate knowledge to assist anyone who has questions. Zalyan would say to us, “So what’s on the agenda, guys?” At one meeting I responded by saying, “Consent item C, street and sewer improvements,” showing my knowledge of the meeting’s agenda. For the first meeting in June, my station was to sit and observe the City Council meetings from the back of the room. I learned about different prob-
20 The city of Glendale pictured from Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
lems that I never knew existed in Glendale every time citizens would bring those problem before Council members. Different organizations would propose plans with PowerPoints on how to improve situations concerning the community. Student Ambassador Elika Reyes, a senior at Clark, said that she learned about the issues and problems the City of Glendale is facing and how the City Council proposes solutions to address these problems. While observing with me, Student Ambassador Elizabeth Minasian, a junior at Clark, said that she learned about different organizations that showed up to the council meetings. “For example,” Minasian said “I came to know about the Armenian National Committee of America, when a representative from the committee discussed about her trip to Armenia with one of the council members.” I also learned that every project that goes on in Glendale is announced and discussed by the Council members and later opened to the public to give any thoughts. For example, after Council member Sinanyan discussed the Scholl Canyon landfill project, he opened the discussion to the public. Mike Mohill, a Glendale resident, always partici-
pates in these discussions, giving his opinion on the matter. In all of the meetings I attended, Mohill was always in attendance. Mohill has many heated arguments with the mayor and is usually the highlight of most meetings, according to all the Student Ambassadors. Many Student Ambassadors and attendees enjoy seeing him speak in the council meetings because it’s interesting for the audience and controversial to the other council members. Alparaz said that Mike Mohill is actually her favorite person at the meetings, as he keeps everyone on their toes. After the meeting we have a debriefing where we talk about what happened. All of us ask Zalyan questions pertaining to the meetings. Sometimes Zalyan explains to us confusing items and he talks about the most important item that happened from the agenda. The Glendale City clerk originally started the program for high school students in 2011, according to Zalyan. The main goal of the program is to make high school students more educated and interested in voting. “I was part of the pilot program and we started evolving the program as the years went by,” Zalyan said. “We
went to different high schools to recruit a variety of teenagers and we wanted to give an opportunity to all high school students.” Joining the Student Ambassador program helped me develop useful skills that I can use every day. One of these skills that I improved in was communication. During the council meetings, I had to always communicate with new attendees that had questions pertaining to the agenda. In one meeting a visitor asked “Where can I fill a request-tospeak Card” I would answer, “If you go to the second floor in the council chambers, their would be a table on your left you could fill out.” Minasian said that she benefited from the program in many ways. “I didn’t really join the Student Ambassador program for my college application,” said Minasian “I did it for the experience because it looks really good after college when you have experience talking to people outside your comfort zone.” Student Ambassadors often get good feedback from people. “This group of students that we have now are great,” Zalyan said. “They are always professionally dress and well prepared before the meetings. They are always ready to help our residents with a smile.”
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Participatory
Going through a makeup master cleanse A step back from the beauty market Makeup
Senior Lauren Alparaz.
By Lauren Alparaz Typing “no makeup” into Google leads to suggestion boxes completing the phrase as “no makeup challenge,” “no makeup selfie,” “no makeup makeup.” Senior Sipan Nazaryan thinks that the natural look means “not having those dark things around your eyes, like no mascara.” This so-called “natural look” became pertinent at New York Fashion Week 2014, with the likes of Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Rebecca Minkoff, rag & bone’s respective models wearing sporting a few products — Marc Jacobs models with completely bare faces. Celebrities like Demi Lovato post selfies tagged with #NoMakeupMonday, garnering hundreds of thousands of likes and subsequently spawning a trending hashtag. Kim Kardashian graced the cover of the Aug. 2015 issue Vogue España with only “moisturizer, lip balm, and curled lashes,” according to Kardashian’s personal makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic. Such heavy media coverage of stripped down faces is a heavy contrast to the glammed out side of the makeup spectrum. YouTube is home to over a million contouring videos, with methods ranging from “clown” to “henna”; strobing deemed as “contouring’s au naturale French cousin” by Marie Claire Magazine has racked up tens of thousands of tutorials on YouTube. Both are popular makeup practices that are meant to transform the face by utilizing shadows and light. These makeup techniques have spawned new products to the market, both high-end makeup stores and drug stores carry contour kits or understated eyeshadows, discreetly named the Urban Decay “Naked Palette” or the Maybelline “Nudes Palette.” But before graduating to these more in-depth makeup
products and techniques, I started out with shaky pencil eyeliner in the seventh grade. Maybe uneven eyeliner wings are a rite of passage. I picked up my older sister’s pencil eyeliner one morning about six years ago not because I had a particular vision that I was trying to accomplish, but because other girls in my grade were starting to wear it. Senior Tiffany Yemenian had similar cosmetics beginnings. “My family is full of girls, so I grew up watching them wear it and ever since I can remember I’d steal my mom’s, aunts’, cousins’ makeup and play with it,” said senior Tiffany Yemenian. “I have a problem with the freckles on my face, so I started using cover up, but I realized how fun it is and started to experiment more, and my passion just grew. I wear it now because I just love putting it on. It depends where
I’m going and how much energy I feel like putting into it, but usually for school 15 - 20 minutes but for events and stuff it could take up to 45 minutes.” For the past six years, my affinity for makeup has definitely grown. Beginning with basic pencil eyeliner and drugstore mascara as a middle schooler, I’ve developed a full-blown routine: primers, BB cream, concealer, bronzer, highlighter, eyeliner, mascara, and powder add up to about half an hour of my morning. Common misconceptions of makeup include that its users “wear makeup to impress others” or that “women feel insecure without it” — neither of which are bulletproof facts, but rather sweeping generalizations. “I was introduced to makeup a long time ago when my mom would play around and put small things like eyeshadow and blush on me, but I started wearing makeup around
22 my sophomore year,” said freelance makeup artist Cianna del Rosario in an e-mail. “Back then I wore makeup to impress, it was always towards my insecurities, but now I wear it for myself. Now it’s my passion and another art form to me.” I don’t solely wear makeup for its ability to hide physical flaws like discoloration or ubiquitous teenage acne. I wear makeup for the ritual of waking up a little bit earlier in the morning to take care of myself before having to deal with a stream of classmates for eight hours. An aftershock of this self-care is the physical aspect of it: the fuller eyebrows, glossier lips. I’ve been wearing makeup for so long that the concept of going a week without it didn’t appeal to me until my face broke out and going bare-faced seemed like the last resort. The first day sans makeup, I went into a Sephora with my consumer lenses wiped clean to observe what I was missing. Roaming around the store, each product seemed to be
aimed a little more sharply at the consumer. Often, whimsical packaging and punny names are enough to sway customers into looking at products like Two Faced’s Teddy Bear Hair or Benefit’s Watt’s Up! highlighter. But not everything is aimed to be pink and sparkly; companies like NARS and Makeup Forever use minimal, sharp designs to attract customers. Walking out of the store with only testing swatches on my hand instead of their signature black and white bag felt empowering, like being on a diet and walking away from the candy section of 7-Eleven. “A few years ago, I got into makeup to express myself. I see a lot of girls coming in with trying to imitate their older sisters or models in the ads. Each company has a different demographic,” said Sephora employee Carlos Roble in an e-mail. “Older women tend to look at classics Bobbi Brown, a lot of teenagers like Urban Decay for the Naked Palettes.” Disrupting a six-year-old routine,
even for a week, felt unnatural. Getting an extra half hour of sleep is definitely a plus, but my body clock tended to shake me awake. For lack of better wording, my face felt the way bareMinerals products aimed for — naked. Just minus the flawless finish that their cosmetics provide. I’ve been wearing it for so long that walking around without it felt like phantom limb syndrome. I initially thought that wearing no makeup would be, well, noticeable. Aside from a few prolonged stares and comments along the lines of “You look tired,” nobody noticed my lack of makeup until I told them about the week-long challenge and then they would compensate with, “Well, you look fine.” The results of the week weren’t earth-shattering: abstaining didn’t clear up any acne, and if anything, any imperfections were more apparent without the BB cream and concealer to cover anything up. My takeaway from a weeklong makeup detox: absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Alparaz’s makeup bag.
23 Connor McGarrah and Argeen Ghazarian after finishing the Gladiator Rock’n Run.
Racing from obstacle to obstacle
Running through mud is more fun than it sounds Mud Run By Argeen Ghazarian Mud runs are not traditional types of runs in any way. They are races where participants run through obstacles of mud, water, ice, soap and other challenges to finish the race. The runs are usually 10-kilometer races, but depending on the track and the amount of room, they could be 5-kilometer instead. Since mud runs are growing in popularity, many different organizations have started their own runs. Some of the popular races in the Los Angeles area are the Gladiator Rock’n Runs and the Down and Dirty Mud Runs. Senior Connor McGarrah and I decided to take part in the 10 kilometer Down and Dirty Mud Run at Castaic Lake in April 2015 as our first mud run. We had no idea what to expect but we ran 3-6 miles every weekday
since the moment we signed up to prepare for the run. The race had more than 20 obstacles that kept us worrying and ensured that we finish the race completely muddy and wet. “My favorite obstacle was the Tunnel and Low Crawl,” McGarrah said. “It was a tunnel filled with deep mud and it was funny because you could see everyone losing their shoes in the mud since it was so thick.” This race also had four or five mud pits that made us lie on our stomachs and crawl through mud to get out. Because of the drought, there were no rinse off stations so we had to jump in the lake to wash off before getting in the car, which was a great way to end off the run, by the way. Since the first mud run we did was such a fun success, we decided to take part in the Gladiator Rock’n
Run in Irvine on June 25. This race only offered a 5 kilometer with fewer obstacles than the last, unfortunately. Although, the Gladiator run was shorter, their obstacles were much longer, muddier, and more difficult. There was a section of deep mud that required 10-15 minutes to complete because it was so long and tough. The water plunge was probably the most refreshing obstacle in the entire race. “They actually had a wet slide that plunged you into a pool of muddy water,” McGarrah said. “And it was so fun since it was really hot outside.” After the race was over, there were bands and food trucks around the course to celebrate the run and make the day even more fun. Next L.A. Mud Run: December 05, 2015 - Castaic Lake
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Donald Trump combs his way through the election Donald Trump
Donald Trump points in the faces of his underlings.
By Hayk Martirosyan Donald John Trump came down an escalator on that fateful day of June 16 and announced that he shall be listed among the many other candidates for Presidency of U.S. In his emotional speech, Trump tugged on the heartstrings of Americans by comparing all Mexican immigrants to rapists, speaking of building a wall between U.S.A. and Mexico, and how he will be “the greatest jobs president that God ever created.” Now he holds the lead for the Republican candidacy and has a high chance of winning. With all seriousness, one must wonder, how does he achieve this? Why is a man criticized as an ignorant fellow, at best, winning the hearts of all Americans? Well, to understand this, one must see what makes Trump truly stand out among his fellow candidates. Trump is a billionaire with a net worth of $4 billion. Besides his recently acquired position as a “politician,” Trump is also a real estate developer, the chairman and president of Trump Organization, and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. That’s not mentioning the 33 Trump buildings, including Hotels and Tower developments. However, most importantly he is a television personality. He has been in our homes way before the election via his countless television shows, including The Apprentice and Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf. Trump has what most of the other members don’t: he is popular amongst the people, and he is renowned for owning a successful business. The other thing that makes Trump special is his boldness. Many supporters of the Republican Party, including members of the
local Republican Club at Foothill, admire Trump’s boldness. “While he irritates me often, I admire his boldness,” said a member of the Republican Club, Marvin Owen. “He is an action man and has no fear.” Generally, people seem to like Trump due to his openness and ability to ignore any concept of “political correctness” and get straight to the point. To many, Trump is the most trustworthy president as he doesn’t try to hide himself. Yet to many others, his behavior shows
bigotry, not honesty. For many people, Trump has managed to insult the majority of America in a matter of three or four interviews. The only person who could insult more people in less time, was probably Adolf Hitler. Yet others vote for Trump because … well why not? When given the choice of a good and a clearly bad choice almost all people have a nagging curiosity to find out what will happen if they chose the latter, and some people actually do. Some people just want to see the world burn. Ultimately, it is up to every American to vote for or against Trump. And it is entirely their business if they do or don’t. That said, many people may lose their hope in humanity if he actually wins. I know I certainly will.
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People volunteer to rove on Mars Mars By Monika Petrosyan When people start considering the 2000s as “ancient times,” they will most likely find it hard to believe that there was no such things as having the option of living on Mars. In a time span of 15 years, the nonprofit organization Mars One and NASA both plan on sending people to the planet. However, their ideas beg the question of whether the plans are ethical? The dispute can reasonably make someone reconsider making a trip up to the red planet. According to an article in Cosmos Magazine, the risk is so apparent that a NASA committee made a list which included “hazards posed by space radiation, psycho-social issues, bone and muscle loss,” and the list goes on. Space is the ”harshest possible human environment, exceeding conditions anywhere on the planet.” Despite the controversies, several people are advocating the mission and companies have begun working on it. Mars One, a non-profit organization that plans on being the first to send people to the red planet, has been making dramatic leaps in trying to make the dream a reality, and according to USA Today, they will be sending 100 applicants up in
Both NASA and Mars One plan on sending people to Mars in about 15 years. as soon as 2024. Once you sign up and are chosen to go and live on Mars, there’s no coming back. According to a news article in USA Today, an MIT analysis said that people could start dying on Mars from “oxygen related issuers as early as 68 days.” The technologies needed to sustain life are still being developed. Maybe the reasons
that people don’t have the option of leaving Mars is because they the know that by the time they get settled in, they won’t be alive. According to Business Insider, on Aug. 13, two MIT students, Sydney Do and Andrew Owens, met with the founder of Mars One, Richard Branson, and pointed out all of the faults in the company’s plans. They don’t have “the required funding” or the technology to pull it off. According to Do and Owens, the program is “fundamentally unsustainable because the cost grows as the number of people living on Mars increases,” and that its “preliminary and needs further research and development.” Unlike Mars One, NASA has been developing the capability of making a human round trip to Mars possible. They have begun testing the proper technology to make the voyage possible.
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NASA recently announced the discovery of water on Mars. Even though they’re not fully prepared to make the mission, Mars One is still in a hurry to start civilization there. Though their dedication is admirable, their plan is flawed. Without the right equipment, sending people to the unknown is dangerous and immoral because there are too many risks. NASA is also dead-set on being the first to make another giant leap for humanity, and thankfully, they will be able to bring you back to Earth once you’re there. According to a news article Forbes, most of NASA’s work has been about developing the capability of making a “human round-trip voyage to Mars,” possible. The agency has been testing technology that will help make the trip possible. In the 2020s, NASA plans on sending astronauts aboard the International Space Station in a low-earth orbit so that they can “prove many of the technologies and communications systems needed for human missions to deep space,” according to the agency’s website. Already, according to a news article in USA Today, NASA has already begun preparing to send a crew to Mars
in the 2030s, and so they’ve locked six people inside an “isolation dome” in Hawaii for a year, making it the longest experiment in the U.S. It’s comforting to know that NASA has a plan, and they’re going through with it in the safest and most plausible ways possible. However, I have seen one too many episodes of “The Twilight Zone” to know that an isolation dome cannot end well. Yes, living on Mars would be incredible, and I would love to be able to take a vacation there someday — many people would — but I’d only do it if the process was foolproof. Un-
like Mars One, NASA has greater resources and a more solid plan, making them a more likely candidate in being the first to send people, but the question about ethics remains. Even if NASA finds a way to make the trip safe, there is a great psychosocial risk that comes with being in an isolated, uncivilized community. Life on Mars would be amazing, and it would be the perfect excuse to not show up to your high school reunion, but until the plan is solid and the people running it are confident, a trip to Mars may not be such a great idea.
Matt Damon’s latest movie (See review on page 29) has inspired people and scientist alike to advance exploration on Mars .
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Arts & Entertainment
Science-fiction with more science than fiction 140 miles away from home The Martian PG-13 By Alec Badalian Whether it’s a grand-scale adventure like Gladiator or a more contained one like Alien, director Ridley Scott knows how to craft incredibly suspenseful works of cinema. However, as of late, the 77 year-old filmmaker has lost his touch with age, and it’s been shown in some of his recent efforts such as Exodus: Gods and Kings and Prometheus, which were quite weak. With that said, Scott ends up leaning more towards the work he made in his prime with The Martian. Launching into theaters on Oct. 2, this space drama stars Matt Damon as Mark Watney, an astronaut/botanist on a mission to Mars with his crew of the Hermes space shuttle consisting of Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), Rick Martinez (Michael Peña), Beth Johanssen (Kate Mara), Chris Beck (Sebastian Stan) and Alex Vogel (Aksel Hennie). When a storm occurs during their mission, Watney is struck by debris and is presumed dead, but actually manages to survive, yet is now alone on Mars with nothing but his suit, a rover and a containment center. Once Earth realizes he’s still alive, NASA director Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels), with the help of his colleagues Venkat Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Mitch Henderson (Sean Bean) and Rich Purnell (Donald Glover), begin to organize a rescue mission. As complications arise and the mission keeps getting delayed, Watney must learn new ways to keep himself alive while endur-
A Cold War thriller from Steven Spielberg starring Tom Hanks as a lawyer attempting to free a detained pilot from the Soviet Union. In theaters Oct. 16.
Mark Watney stares towards the vastness of Mars. ing the harsh conditions of Mars until his rescue. Perhaps the most intriguing concept here is the fact that the overall story is less comparable to science-fiction than it is to science-reality. The filmmakers have paid attention to detail and have attempted to make each scene appear realistic. The film never once seems too farfetched, which keeps the drama strong. The film’s sharp comedic edge provides moments of levity throughout. It’s always naturally implemented into the story and never feels forced, due to both the actors and the top-notch script they’re working with, penned by Cloverfield scribe Drew Goddard. The film consistently moves well and the overall length is perfectly cut, which makes everything as tight as possible. Also, when a film has such a great
cast like this, the performances could go either way. They could either be completely phoned in or have actual heart and soul in them. Fortunately, they fall into that second category. Damon proves himself yet again as a profound lead and the supporting cast elevates the material around him to equally magnificent levels. This is a well-put together thrill ride full of amazing performances, a spectacular sense of scope and refreshing logic. The tension is always there, the soundtrack is creatively composed and the dialogue is keen and never becomes technological jargon like it would in other science-based films. It’s always relatively easy to follow and never becomes too preposterous for the audience to follow. This is definitely one of the year’s best films.
Also in October:
Guillermo del Toro’s latest psychological thriller set in a rural mansion during the 19th century.
Vin Diesel stars in this supernatural action film as an immortal man who hunts witches in New York.
In theaters Oct. 16.
In theaters Oct. 23.
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What movie are you looking forward to in Novemeber? - 11 - 31 - 29
Poll conducted by the Magnet in September. Seventy-one students were polled from the classes of Mr. Over, Ms. Sanzo and Ms. Gharibian.
Suits manages to secure spot as #1 drama series on USA Specter and Ross bend the laws of television
Suits
TV-14
Image still from the theme song from Suits.
By Argeen Ghazarian Premiering on USA Network in 2011, Suits has paved its way through five seasons thus far and is still standing strong with new episodes airing every week by being USA’s number one drama series. In the show, Harvey Specter (played by Gabriel Macht) is one of the greatest and most feared lawyers in New York City, but he needs to hire a new firstyear associate to help him with probono cases that aren’t worth his time. During his round of interviews, highly intelligent drug dealer, Mike Ross (played by Patrick J. Adams), runs into the office in an attempt to ditch the police following him. Specter sees the genius and potential hidden behind Ross and signs him on the spot. The only problem: the law firm Specter works for only hires from Harvard; Ross didn’t go to college. Through the seasons, Specter and Ross grow a unique bond that is indescribable while they are forced to hide their secret from everyone including the ones they love, which causes greater turmoil.
Both main characters continue to become more complex with each passing episode; with new secrets, affairs, careers and cases, the show promises to surprise and impress every time. One of the many great aspects about this series is that there is one continuing enemy of the firm, the man that was previously in charge but overthrown by Specter and co-managing partner Jessica Pearson (played by Gina Torres). In addition to him, however, every season has its own protagonist that keeps the firm’s future hanging in the balance. The plots never repeat. They never fail to impress. They never bore. They never get old. The writers are absolutely genius.
They had their eyes set on exactly what they want the series to accomplish and they use different obstacles to form this sense of suspense through every episode. Alongside the suspense and drama, the writers throw in some comedy here and there to make the audience crave more of these snarky remarks. Making sure each scene had a nice look to it was very important to the creator of the show. Scenes always had high expectations and the cinematographers always went above and beyond when it came to making the scenes look new, fresh, and appealing on screen. After the first episode of season five aired, USA’s CEO announced that Suits will be renewed for a 16-episode sixth season because of its success.
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Another hit with Another One The laziest man in music
Another One By Vache Sarkissian Among the many talented musicians in the indie music scenes of Montreal and New York, one of the few to actually gain some recognition in recent years is Canadian-born singer and multiinstrumentalist Mac DeMarco. Through his uniquely lazy, slacker lifestyle (which is highly prevalent in his music), he has gained popularity among many like-minded people in behaving himself something like a real-life version of The Dude from The Big Lebowski. After graduating high school in Edmonton in 2008, DeMarco moved to Vancouver and attempted to start a career in music there. He called himself Makeout Videotape and self-produced and released one album called Heat Wave, which sold out its 500-unit run. After a couple other tries with unsuccessful bands, he finally moved to Montreal to record music alone again. Demarco’s highly-anticipated album Salad Days was released on April
WILD
By Lauren Alparaz With stars like Taylor Swift and Sam Smith singing his praises, it’s hard not to pay attention to Troye Sivan, 20-year-old Australian singer/songwriter. Released on Sept. 4, WILD has peaked at the top five in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It would be inaccurate to credit his success solely to his Twitter mentions; WILD is Sivan’s
The album cover for Troye Sivan’s EP, WILD.
1, 2014, and was immediately very successful. Also earning Pitchfork’s “Best New Music” designation, Salad Days took DeMarco to new heights. He toured extensively for the next year and a half, playing everywhere from big festivals like Pitchfork Fest and Bonnaroo to little venues all over the world. Now, DeMarco has released a mini-LP called Another One. The album, barely passing the 20-minute mark, is his most melancholic release to date. As DeMarco himself described it in an interview with NPR, “It’s all love songs this time. It’s just kind of like every angle of how somebody may feel if they’re having strange feelings in their chest.” The album is comprised of eight songs all between two to four minutes long which feature DeMarco’s signature clangy guitar tone, bouncing bass lines, jazz organs and keyboards, and lyrics which show his maturation as an artist and human being. The album is instantly gratifying. Upon the first drumbeat of “The Way You’d Love Her,” the mood of the rest
of the album is already set. Another One is the kind of album that you could just listen to over and over again and it would trigger the same emotions each time. Like any good piece of art should be, Another One is very appealing on a shallow and aesthetic level but also very complex and meaningful at the core, making this album DeMarco’s best yet. It’s a sign of very good things to come from the 25-year old well on his way to becoming one of the most prominent musicians of the decade.
Mac DeMarco’s fourth studio album, Another One.
Fans go wild for WILD
YouTube’s next big thing fourth EP, his first released at just twelve years of age. With three EPs under his belt and features on The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack, Sivan perfectly captures the vulnerability of adolescence with deep house beats akin to Kygo’s on tracks like “THE QUIET” and “FOOLS.” But “WILD” is the shining star of the EP, with a children’s choir echoing him in the chorus. Expanding the LGBT community’s visibility is a priority on Sivan’s agenda, with the single’s music video following puppy love between two boys while simultaneously cutting to their relationship as teenagers. The video is the first installment of the Blue Neighborhood trilogy, which will capture the relationship’s
development through the years. The Blue Neighborhood is mentioned on the EP as somewhere Sivan ichs to leave, all too relatable for teenagers waiting to escape their city limits. He curses charismatically, unapologetically on the EP, drops bombs here and there the way authentic, uncensored adolescent conversations go. He explores the anxieties that come with new love in “BITE” and the nostalgic desire for childhood’s carelessness in “EASE.” With a voice comparable to that of R&B star Sam Smith, deep house beats paired with soothing piano, Sivan’s coherent songwriting is about to tip him over the edge into mainstream American radio, which he completely deserves based on his bolstering talent.
Photo Credits
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1. Tina Keshishian 5-6. Henry Reed 7-8. Melissa O’Gara 9-10. John Bandek 13. Chelsea Santos
14. Lilia Lamas/Flickr.com 15. Christine Ohanyan/H&M.com 16. Natella Muradyan 17. Alec Badalian/Wikipedia.com 18. Vache Sarkissian 19-20. Wikipedia.com 21-22. Lauren Alparaz 23. Argeen Ghazarian 24. Hayk Martirosyan 25-26. Neil Scheibelhut/Readingeagle.com,NASA, Collider.com 27-28. Collider.com/Wikipedia.com 29. Wikipedia.com