October 2016
Vol. III
Issue 1
The Magnet
DRESS SCARY
Pokémon: Gotta catch ’em all!
pps 4-5
Unique and unusual Halloween costumes
pps 10
Clark Calendar
Letter from the editors For this first issue of our third year, we incorporate the themes of politics and fall/Halloween. In the Opinion section, our writers tackle hot-button political issues like marijuana legalization and the Black Lives Matter movement. We also gathered some input from our students on the current candidates for the presidential election. The election to us brings a sense of change, not only in the government, but in the nation in general. The race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton is finally coming to a close, and whether you support either of them or not, you must
admit that this presidential election has been like none other. Trump, if elected, would be the first president with no previous formal political or governmental experience. Hillary Clinton would not only be the first woman president of the United States, but also the first spouse of a former president to be elected. Take a look at what our students think about the candidates on page 10. To help spread the Halloween and fall spirit, we’ve published two relevant Lifestyle articles:
one by Tenny Vasghanian on “7 DIY Halloween Costumes of 2016” and one article by Natalie Deravanessian on the “Best Fall Products.” These, like all of the articles written by the Pubs staff, can be found on clarkchronicle.com.
Table Of Contents Features 2
Gotta catch ’em all by Anthony Fransisco
8 Lifestyle
Chasing the Olympic dream by Tiana Hovsepians
Should electronic devices be allowed at school? by Rita Bilamejian
DIY Halloween costumes by Tenny Vasghanian
Highlight Coffee stays true to its name
In The Life 16
by Kasy Vasquez
A day in the life of a business manager by Ani Agesyan
Local animal shelters give abandoned animals a better life
Pros and Cons of the Presidential candidates by Arman Antonyan
Sprouts and Trader Joe’s fall faves by Natalie Dervanessian
by Ani Sarkisyan
Thoreau experiment by Alen Zhorabyan
Opinion 22
Pros and cons of legalizing marijuana by Jaden Florita
Give transgender talent a chance by Ariette Reynaldo
Black Lives Matter doesn’t care about your life by Christine Ohanyan
A&E 26
‘Empire of Storms’ by Urielle Corcuera
Mild High Club’s ‘Skiptracing’ is the essential chill-wave, jizz jazz record of the year by Vache Sarkissian
‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ amazes audiences by Leslie Chung
The Magnet Magazine Magazine Editors: Tiana Hovsepians Himanshi Ahir Gabriella Kchozyan Alen Zohrabyan Anthony Francisco Christine Ohanyan Website Editors: Natella Muradyan Ani Sarkisyan Arman Antonyan Vache Sarkissian Ariette Reynaldo Vache Sarkissian Staff Writers: Tenny Vasghanian Kasy Vasquez Ani Agesyan Kasy Vasquez Business Managers: Arman Antonyan Alen Zohrabyan Ani Agesyan Rita Bilamejian Photographers: Arman Antonyan Urielle Corcuera Jaden Florita Rita Bilamejian Natalie Dervanessian Trisha Gomez Jaden Florita Eunice Ramilo Anthony Fransisco Henry Reed
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 on-site. This magazine was printed by aPrintis Inc., 4695 Chabot Dr, Site 200 Pleasanton, CA.
Visit us online!
clarkchronicle.com
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Features
Gotta catch ’em all?
Pokémon Go loses some of its intial popularity By Anthony Francisco “Whenever I walk my dog, I’m always on my phone trying to catch new pokémon and fighting gym leaders,” said St. Francis senior Justin Jalandoni, who has been playing Pokémon Go since the beginning of Pokemon Go showcased on Android.
July. “I like the fact that I have traveled to new places that I’ve never been to catch new pokémon.” Pokémon Go was released on July 6, and is a free-to-play mobile game that allows users to travel anywhere in real life to capture virtual monsters named “pokémon” through the camera, Internet data and screen of their smartphone. The game encourages physical activity by making players walk to capture more pokémons and compete in gym battles. “I enjoyed playing it the most because it motivated me to walk outside and get fresh air,” said junior Patricia Cardeno. “This game allows
me to socialize with people and create conversations which was a good way to improve on my social skills.” According to CNET, when the app was first released, Pokémon Go surpassed many popular apps, including Pandora, Twitter, Netflix and Spotify Music. In less than a week of its release, Pokémon Go surpassed popular games such as Candy Crush at 8.7 percent and Clash of Clans by 5.2 percent. “I believe this game was popular because of the constant advertisement it got on social media,” Cardeno said. “Pokémon has always had a big fan base, and I feel that this game allowed the previous pokémon fans to return as well as new ones.” To capture a pokémon, the player turns on their camera and swipes the pokeball with their finger. A ring level will be on the Pokémon to determine the difficulty level using color. A green ring indicates that the difficulty is easy while the red ring indicates the greatest difficulty. UCI alumnus Mark Chua said that he enjoys the game mechanics
of capturing and battling pokémon. “I feel that the game strays away from the generic battling from the previous Pokémon games,” Chua said. “The constant challenge of taking over gyms makes the game replayable and challenging.” In September, Pokémon Go fell from the the top free app to the 19th top free app. According to an article by Washington Post, Pokémon Go users are unhappy with the game’s constant bugs and the shutdown of third party websites that allow users to track specific pokémons. Some users have reported the flaws of playing the game. According to the statistics taken from Bloomberg Markets, Pokémon Go has been steadily declining since mid-July. On July 21, Pokémon Go had the most active users at an estimate of 45,000,000 players worldwide. As of August 16, active users have decreased to about 30,000,000 players worldwide. Pokémon Go engagement has decreased by 60 percent after a month after the game’s debut. Crescenta Valley High School ju-
The Americana is a popular destination for people playing Pokémon Go.
Features Pokémon Go players find Pokémons as they walk around the park.
nior Callista Cabrera said the game got repetitive after a long period of time. “The game gradually got boring because I would go to the same places and the same pokémons would be there,” Cabrera said. “Pokémon Go is becoming unpopular because you have to go outside for a videogame which seems ridiculous and many people are starting to realize that.” After the app’s release, many Pokémon Go players got into accidents while playing the game. Pokémon Go are notorious for concentrating on solely on the game and not paying attention to the environments around them. Senior Justin Jalandoni from St. Francis High School witnessed an accident that almost occurred near his house. “I saw these two kids play-
Echo Park is popular for its water Pokémons.
3 ing Pokémon Go while walking my dog,” he said. “Then out of nowhere they were wandering around the streets looking down on their phone when a car almost hit them.” Niantic, Inc. has updated the game since its release, adding a buddy pokémon, moveset changes and bug fixes. “I believe if the Pokémon Go keeps updating the game, the game will last a very long time,” said senior Jonna Price. “The makers of the game should add new generations of pokémon to excite existing players.” Jalandoni said that he believes Pokémon Go will last a few years and will continue to be popular. “Pokémon Go will continue to be a hit for a very long time because of the constant challenge of becoming the best pokémon player,” Jalandoni said. “You’re never going to remain the best of the game and I believe that’s what makes the game renewable. Others say that Pokémon Go is just another passing fad. Junior Samantha Gerolaga believes that the game is gradually becoming unpopular. “Everywhere I went you could hear the background music playing while everyone was walking around playing the game,” Gerolaga said. “There was nothing game changing about the updates and at this point everyone could tell the game was fading.” Senior Calvin Bayaua previously played Pokémon Go for about three weeks and then deleted the app. “The game had no fresh content that wanted me to continue playing,” Bayaua said. “This game is not going to become a big hit again because all the updates they have added were really minor and wasn’t a game changer in my opinion. Honestly, this game was another one of this hot trends that eventually will die and will be forgotten.”
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Features
Chasing the Olympic dream Local rhythmic gymnasts find the sport challenging, By Tiana Hovsepians yet rewarding
Gymnast Nicole Aruzumyan practicing her ribbon routine.
Fourteen-year old Jodie Mendoza has been doing rhythmic gymnastics at Rhythmic Olympica in Glendale for six years now, and the Olympics is her ultimate goal. “It’s every girl’s dream to go, and it happens only every four years, so it’s really rare,” she said. Mendoza, along with the rest of her teammates, trains from four to four and a half hours every day, six days a week, at
this gym. The Rhythmic Olympica gym features high ceilings, which are needed for working with apparatus. The apparatus includes a rope, ball, hoop, clubs and ribbon. Gymnasts can either have a group routine or an individual routine. Young athletes often find the training the most challenging aspect of any sport. “Training is really hard
and it keeps getting harder every day,” said twelve-year old Tamara Chinivizyan. She started the sport when she was seven years old and has been competing for four years. Rhythmic gymnasts are known for their flexibility, and to maintain that flexibility they must stretch every day, whenever and wherever they can, even outside of class. Training for something this seri-
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Features
Anastasia Papadeaus (middle) practices her ball routine.
ous at such a young age comes with its disadvantages, such as barely having any social time and the difficulty of keeping up with homework. However, 14-year-old Anastasia Papades does most of her homework during school hours and finds that she is able to manage her time wisely. 15-year-old Sonia Petrossian, on the other hand, was not that fortunate. Petrossian is a former Clark student who had to leave Clark in the middle of her sophomore year last year. The demands of both her school work and gymnastics was just too much to handle, and she had to make the decision to leave Clark, to focus more on her dream. She knew that spending time away from practice was not an option. “When I’m not training, all I think about is training,” she said. Although Petrossian had to make such a bold choice, she is not the only who has had a hard time keeping up with the demands of school and gymnastics. Two of Rhythmic Olympica’s coaches, twenty-year old Michelle Carreon and seventeenyear old Natalie Bazikyan, had to make a similar decision. Carreon and Bazikyan are both former Clark students and had difficulty managing their time. Since
their first gymnastics class of the day started right after school, they had to be picked up from their bus stops, change into their gym wear in their cars, eat a small snack, and rush off to class every single day. By the time they got home and ate dinner, they barely had enough time to do their homework and spend time with their families. Once it got to the end of their sophomore years, they had both decided that it was time for them to stop competing. However, soon after they quit they began to coach the younger gymnasts. “It just happened,” said Carreon. “Competitions were too stressful,
but I wanted to continue the sport somehow.” Carreon, along with coaching, now attends Santa Monica College. Bazikyan started coaching for similar reasons, and when asked if Clark really “ruined” her chances at the future she wanted, she said that it actually helped her in many ways. “Even though Clark’s work was a lot, it really prepared me a lot for college, which is something that I’m very thankful for,” said Bazikyan, who now attends Pasadena Community College. Carreon and Bazikyan said that knowing that that they can coach kids, helping them become the best they can be, makes them proud to be coaches. As a teenager, or a preteen, most kids are often out with their friends, but not future Olympians-in-training. Most of them have friends during school, but after that they have absolutely no time. Some may ask, is it worth it? Giving up a normal childhood for pain, sweat and tears? Many Rhythmic Olympica gymnasts think so. “I don’t have a lot of time for friends, and it’s kind of sad,” said thirteen-year old Anahit Hayrapetyan. “But I love this sport, so it’s worth it.”
Tamara Chinivizyan stretches in preperation for the heavy workout to follow.
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Features
Electronic devices
Should they be used during school hours? By Rita Bilamejian According to a 2016 survey from Common Sense Media, 50 percent of students feel “addicted” to their phones. “I would definitely feel weird and different if I didn’t have a phone,” said senior Anik Boyadzhyan. As cellphones become a greater part in our everyday lives, the long disputed argument of using phones during school hours gains more and more momentum. According to the Glendale Unified School District BP 5131 Board Policy, students are allowed to possess electronic devices — mobile phones, smart phones, laptops, tablets or other forms of communication devices — at school. Students are only allowed to use these devices during emergencies or when instructed to do so by an administrator. In any other situation, the devices must be turned off or on silent during school hours. As technology continues to evolve, school district policy may change as well. According to Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline Perez, the GUSD may make some changes to the current policy. “The California School Board Association (CSBA) recommends updates to board policies, and we follow those accordingly,” wrote Perez via email. “Technology is fast becoming an integral tool in delivering instruction and supporting students’ learning in the classroom. We are currently in the process of updating board policies, including our acceptable use of cell phone and electronic devices this year.”
The potential for modification in school board policy might be because cellphones are used so frequently in daily life. “I often have to call and text my parents about important reminders and other problems that need to be communicated with them as soon as possible,” said senior Areen Andreasian. “It’s a crucial part of our lives.” Students not only turn in assignments by hand but also digitally. Websites and apps like Turnitin.com and Google Classroom increase the use of electroinic devices. Clearly, schools rely heavily on technology and thus increase in students the need to use electronic devices. This escalation demonstrates why some argue that parts of the District policies should be modified to allow some access to electronic devices during school hours. “I am in favor of students having access
to cell phones during lunch and snack so long as they are not doing anything inappropriate,” said math teacher Amir Ghavam. Because grades play an important part in students’ lives and because they are available online, checking grades could be categorized as an appropriate use of cellphones during school hours. “Grades are really important to me, and I always want to be updated,” Boyadzhyan said. “But because of the rules, I can’t check as much as I want to, and so I feel nervous all the time.” As grades are available online, so too is the daily bulletin that informs students about clubs, scholarships, important dates and events and lunch programs. Clark’s bulletin plays a vital part in updating students about school activities. Because the bulletin is available digitally and because some teachers do not read it during class, students can stay informed
“I think if you are using phones during class they shouldn’t be allowed, but if you’re using it alone for projects or other learning purposes then it should,” said senior Anthony Cragnotti.
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Features
Students always want to check their grades as they are often available online.
about the daily news by viewing the bulletin on their phones rather than picking up a paper copy in the main office. “I always want to check the bulletin because it offers a lot of information that I wouldn’t have known about,” Andreassian said. While most students think that cell phone use should be allowed in school, Clark administrators think otherwise. “We adhere to a pretty strict policy,”said Assistant Principal Armene Mkrtchian. “As far as punishing students for using them, I strongly follow the Clark policy and will take them away if I see them out.” While many students and some staff may find benefits to using cell phones in school, others argue that cellphones promote cheating and other negative behaviors. In order to lessen the likelihood of cheating, some teachers collect all electronic devices or have policies that make students put backpacks in the back of the room during testing. The banning of cell phones can also be justified with the existence of social media. Not only does social media serve as a distraction for some, but students might invade
other students’ privacy by taking pictures of them and posting them online, thus giving administrators more reason to restrict phone use on campus. “We want to protect the rights and privacy of other students,” Mkrtchian said. “More importantly, we want to focus on instruction. Learning and direct socialization are interfered [with] when students are on their phones.”
“I think having phones during school is nothing but a distraction,” agrees senior and GUSD student board member Arvin Sarkissian. “The school’s staff and administration are already incredibly lenient about using phones out of class, during snack and lunch. The policy is completely fair and it would be a mistake to change it.”
“Cell phones can be useful and relevant to school,” said junior Karin Najarian, “as long as there are limitations.”
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Lifestyle
Do-it-yourself Halloween costumes Save time, save money, and do it yourself By Tenny Vasghanian
Netflix and Chill
This is a fun and “chill” way to make a DIY halloween costume that does not require driving to a Halloween store and waiting in ridiculously long lines. This is perfect for two people and you would need two sweaters — one red and the other blue. You can either print out the Netflix logo and tape it on the red sweater, or you can buy the special iron-on paper that will stay on the sweater. For the “chill” sweater, you can print out the word “chill” or use the special iron-on paper and add some snowflakes with a Sharpie marker, or print it out.
any fan of the movie Mean Girls. In a scene of Mean Girls, a random student stands up in the gym and talks about how she wishes they could all get along like in middle school. She goes on to say that she wishes she “could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy.” Damian then yells, “She doesn’t even go here.” All you need is a light blue hoodie, black sunglasses, paper and a marker. Put on your hoodie and sunglasses and on the paper write, “She doesn’t even go here” and you are now Damian.
Snapchat filter — Dogs
If you can’t get enough of Snapchat, be a real life filter. This costume idea can be great to do with a friend or solo. Google and print out the dog ears on cardstock paper and preferably hot glue the ears to a headband. Draw on the nose of the dog. This process also works with the Dalmatian dog filter.
Damian from Mean Girls — “She doesn’t even go here” costume
This unisex costume can work for
back some fashion trends back while completing the look.
Greaser/Pink Lady
For a simple, costume that represents one’s favorite ’70s musical, wear a black leather jacket, a white tee and some black jeans with gelled hair combed back to be a greaser. Pink ladies can wear high waisted black jeans (or any style or color of jeans) with any pink bomber jacket. If you are in a rush, or it seems impossible to find a pink bomber jacket, substitute it with a black leather jacket or bomber jacket with a white tee and some red lipstick. To add some edge to the costume, wear a bandana around your neck.
Frat Boy
Mia Thermopolis and Lilly Moscovitz from Princess Diaries
Grab your favorite Clark blouse, black knee high socks, a tie, a cardigan and a plaid skirt and with a friend you can be Mia Thermopolis and Lilly Moscovitz. This costume can be put together with Clark attire with a plaid skirt (a regular skirt is fine too). Grab a section of the front of hair and put it in a ponytail to mimic Lilly Moscovitz’s hairstyle, or make your hair poofy and a little frizzy to have Mia Thermopolis’s hairdo. Add a pair of sunglasses from early 2000’s to bring
For boys who have no interest in wearing a costume for Halloween, you can use clothes already from your closet. You need the following items: any colored dress shirt, cargo pants or shorts, an untied tie, a red cup and a backwards baseball cap. Wear this outfit with a group of friends or by yourself and get an early start on your college years. Girls can wear this costume as well and switch it up.
Monsters, Inc. — Mike
To be Mike Wazowski for Halloween you need a green T-shirt, white paper or felt, light blue paper or felt and a black marker. With the white paper or felt, cut out a big circle and with the blue paper or felt cut out a smaller circle for the iris of Mike’s eye. Then with the black marker, make a small circle in the center of the blue paper for the pupil.
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Lifestyle
Glendale’s Highlight Coffee is true to its name
Local coffee shop shows dedication to great coffee By Kasy Vasquez Located at a busy intersection, Highlight Coffee is hiding in plain sight — inside the weather-worn exterior of the once Hotel Glendale. Inside, however, the coffee shop boasts an open, minimalistic scheme. Friendly staff and soft background music help complete the illusion of being transported to another world, far away from the loud and hectic reality outside.
A deliciously refreshing iced latte.
As suggested in the name, Highlight’s main highlight is their coffee, both iced and hot. While their menu changes, coffee-based drinks like cappuccinos, lattes, mocha, drip- and cold-brewed coffee stay constant on the menu. This focus does not go unrewarded, as each cup is carefully brewed by the baristas to ensure the bold, full flavor that is associated with a fresh cup of coffee. If coffee isn’t your thing, they also offer a selection of teas and bottled drinks on the small menu. During my visit, I ordered an iced latte, which is made using espresso and milk poured over a glass of ice. The beverage had flecks of essential oils in it, which
is usually a sign of an excellent cup of coffee. Being a primarily homebrewer myself, however, I was completely unprepared for the flavor of the coffee, complete with sweet, fruity undertones and none of the bitterness I was used to. Despite its appearance of a more “grab and go” locale, most customers were seated and busy on their laptops while enjoying their drink. The experience was a bit undermined by the few seats available in the shop. At the time I arrived all the tables were taken, and I had to awkwardly stand at the counter while sipping my drink. The staff is very friendly. During my visit, they answered my questions, helping me decide on a drink. It was also apparent that they were on friendly terms with each other, which in a small location is very important to the ambiance of the place. All told, Highlight Coffee is a great place with delicious coffee and on-par service, perfect for stopping by for a pick-me-up.
The entrance to Highlight Coffee located on Broadway.
Highlight Coffee Location and Hours Address 701 E. Broadway Glendale, 91205 Hours Monday-Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday- 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. www.highlightcoffee.com
Lifestyle
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Decision 2016: Whom do we dislike less? Pro: “Of the two candidates, she seems less likely to do something spontaneous.” Con: “She probably won’t change the holes that the Obama administration left.” —Derick Ambarsoomzadeh, junior Pro: “She’s not a racist like Trump.” Con: “She’s a liar.” — Nare Terteryan, freshman Pro: “She’s Bill’s wife.” Con: “She seems secretive.” —Aram Arutyunyan, senior
Name: Hillary Rodham Clinton Age: 68 years old Facts: • First woman elected to the New York Senate. • Tried to join the Marines. • In 1988 and 1991, The National Law Journal named Hillary one of the 100 most powerful lawyers in America.
Pro: “He’s not like other politicians. He’s passionate.” Con: “It doesn’t seem like he has a plan. What he talks about is very general and basic; he doesn’t use data.” —Karen Shaheideh, senior
Name: Donald Trump, Sr. Age: 70 years old Facts: • Trump has received two Emmy nods for his work in television. • In 1977, Trump married his first wife Ivana, a model and alternate on the Czech Olympic Ski Team. • Went to military school.
Pro: “Trump seems genuine, straightforward and intimidating. He has the presidential look and stamina.” Con: “Doesn’t think before he speaks sometimes.” —Shushanna Khachatryan, junior
Pro: “Trump always has the right ideas.” Con: “Sometimes he’s too hot headed.” —Garbis Balasanians, sophomore
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Lifestyle
Sprouts & Trader Joe’s Fall Faves Throughout the year you may not be thinking about cinnamon and pumpkins, but as time passes, stores begin to quickly stock up on the seasonal favorites that they hope will satisfy their customers. With the leaves falling and fall taking its course, we are exposed to the best fall products containing pumpkin in many different forms. There are many fall flavors, leaving everyone one special treat to choose from. How about a nice snack? Try…
Here’s a list of our top favorite fall foods that you can find at our local specialty markets...
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie Mochi Ice Cream:
Looking for a pumpkin-filled breakfast? Try...
Sprouts Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola:
16 oz. - $3.99/ea. Enriched with pumpkin and flaxseed, this breakfast choice provides Looking for a hot fall beverage? Try… with all the fiber you need in the day while still enjoying a tasty treat. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice
Trader Joe’s Pecan Pumpkin Instant Oatmeal:
12.6 oz. - $2.99/ea. Crazing hot oatmeal? Try the Pecan Pumpkin instant oatmeal, which is easy to prepare and provides you with all the fiber you need in the day. Looking for a cool fall beverage? Try…
Sprouts Sparkling Pumpkin Spiced Apple Cider:
32 oz. - $3.99/ea. This fantastic seasonal beverage gives you a sense of apple at first, followed by the taste of all the spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and even pumpkin!
Sprouts Organic Pumpkin Spice or Apple spice Kombucha: 16 oz. - $2.99/ea.
The fermented tea has found a way to get into the holiday spirit incorporating pumpkin pie spice to give it a nice kick.
12 oz. - $3.49/box Trader Joe’s has always had mochi ice cream. This seasonal addition is an orange mochi “wrapper” filled with pumpkin ice cream, seasoned with pumpkin pie spices.
Sprouts Pumpkin Seed Tortilla Chips:
6 oz. - $2.99/ea. with Pumpkin Spice Salsa: 16 oz. $2.69/ea. Coffee: Sprouts Pumpkin Seed Tortilla 14 oz. - $6.99 Chips are tasty enough to eat right It wouldn’t be fall without a pumpkin out of the bag. Adding some of the spice coffee. Try the medium-dark roast pumpkin spiced salsa on the side that combines orange peel, cinnamon, will create the perfect salty-sweet nutmeg, allspice, vanilla beans and combination. pumpkin spice oil.
Sprouts Pumpkin Spice Black Tea: 20 ct. - $2.49/ea. Not a fan of coffee? Try the delicious Pumpkin Spice Black Tea. Each cup of this sensational holiday brew is filled with the flavor of a freshly baked pumpkin pie.
Or some cosmetic products?
Sprouts Organic Pumpkin Pie Lip Balm:
.56 oz. - $2.99/ea. During the fall season skin becomes dry, so having chapstick around is always a good idea. Instead of having a flavorless chapstick, pucker up to pumpkin.
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Student Work
Taking a closer look at the little things
Point of view and breadth projects
Anna Karapetyan, junior
Niko Tadevossian, junior
Natella Muradyan, senior Allen Yousif, junior
Vachik Gharibyan, junior
Hrach Nalchajayn, senior
Student Work
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Students taking photography this year are using different elements and properties to explore photography. The point of view project for Photography 1-2 students is designed to capture photography through different angles. Photography 5-6 students completed the Breadth Rationale project, a demonstration of their understanding the principles of design: unity, variety, balance, contrast and repetition.
Natalie Deravanessian, senior Chantal Kasbarian, senior
Melissa Diaz, sophomore Sioret Nersesian, junior
David Babakhanian, senior
Natella Muradyan, senior
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Student Work
Poetry, prose, and more! I Don’t Remember
Inside Mind Outside Mind
By Andrea Vasquez
By Nanor Asadourian
Looking through a reflection, all I see is this girl. She looks so different that I can’t recognize her.
Her hair is halfway down to her belly button and changes From coffee brown to chestnut brown
Her hair is like a wave as she lets it fall down from her messy bun. Her eyes are not as bright as they were.
What happened to that other girl in the reflection, You know, the girl with the long hair?
Hair was so dark that people considered it black
Still so beautiful because people admired its existence. So fragile and lost.
I can’t remember how she did it all
Because all I see in this reflection is a woman with puffy red eyes and a painted Smile.
I worry for her.
I try so hard to remember that girl in the reflection I saw years ago. But I can’t remember “her.”
Ah Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth, isn’t it?
The children running around, happy as can be. I sat on a bench across Thunder Mountain and thought, “Why me?” Why did I have to grow up so quickly?
As the cart came to a stop to aboard more children on the ride, my childhood stopped at my parent’s expense.
Their problems play in my head reminding me why I had to grow up. I wish I was a child running around waiting for a ride, instead I’m running around my grades, trying to catch up. A rollercoaster who goes up, up, up, then just remains.
Nothing happens with all the excitement. Sorry, this isn’t a cliché with “My life just keeps going down.”
A child on a coaster wishes for the ride to go on forever, but forever is a long time; to get trapped in time, a single moment. But it’s better than never being a child again.
You know, go on kid, and ride what you want for as long as you want.
Just never come off wishing you return to reality ‘cause truth is, that’s what I did. Now I’m stuck on Space Mountain when it’s actually stuck. I guess magic stops for adults. Don’t Ever Grow Up.
Student Work
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Orange By Gian Rivera Black goes with everything. It is the color of the night and what lurks in the shadows. Black is the color of Batman, my favorite American Superhero. Black is suitable for all occasions: formal or casual. It’s not overly bright and obnoxious, it’s serious and to the point. It can be used for suits, for jackets, for shirts, for slacks, for practically any article of clothing. Kind of obvious I enjoy the color black. It’s a good color, but it is not my favorite. Orange, without a doubt, triumphs black as my favorite color. It brings to mind the images of a burning fire, or a beautiful, golden sunset. For others it represents the season of fall and Halloween. In a lecture on colors and their effect on people, I had learned that people are more divided on whether or not they like the color orange more than they are with any other color. As a child, I would almost always pick the orange option if given one. I would select the orange lollipop as I left from the doctor. I would like the orange KoolAid, or drink orange juice. I saved the orange gummy bears or the orange M&Ms for last. I preferred orange pencils to yellow pencils, even if they were exactly the
same. When I was a kid, I wanted an orange car. Even now, I often pick the orange option for many things. I have many orange notebooks, and a large orange binder. My phone case (you know, the thing that teenagers are constantly carrying around with them, are constantly using, and are almost always looking at) is orange. Now the true, ultimate, and definite reason why I love orange more than any color is actually quite simple. Orange is the color of Goku’s Martial Arts Gi.
By Niko Tadevossian Photo 1-2
All writing is from Mrs. Guarino’s Creative Writing class. If you’d like to submit your writing, please see the magazine editors during enrichment in Mr. Davis’ room.
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In the Life
Keeping up with the competitiveness
A day in the life of a nail salon manager By Ani Agesyan
According to an article from The Week, nearly three-quarters of high school students in a 2014 survey stated that they wanted to start their own business in the future. However, it’s not a secret that the business world is extremely competitive. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that while 400,000 new businesses are started every year in the USA, 470,000 businesses close. Knowing these statistics, I became curious as to how exactly it feels to be in this business world. I decided that running a business for a day would be an enriching experience. After talking to Melania Mirzoian, my mother, and planning out a date, she agreed that I would, for a day, run her Glendale nail salon. If you live in Glendale or have been in Glendale, there is no doubt
The outside of Melania Mirzoian’s salon, Le Monge Nail Salon.
One of the many products used every day at Le Monge.
that you’ve seen multiple nail salons. A Google search for nail salons in Glendale provides 66 results. The nail salon business is clearly a competitive one. “You have to always be on top of the game and be one step ahead of everyone else,” Mirzoian said. “If someone does something new you have to do it better.” I also got some insight from D’Luxe Beauty Salon owner Alenoosh Shajaian, who said that it is sometimes very difficult to compete with all the other salons. “When something is trending you have to be the first to provide it to customers,” she said. While I had been at Le Monge Nail Salon multiple times before to get pampered or even to just visit my mom at work, walking in knowing I would be the manager for the day felt different. I felt a bit nervous but mostly confident. I had never paid attention to what went on behind the scenes. I assumed that I’d be dealing with
tasks that are specific to salons: making appointments, dealing with walkins, taking payments, and in general guiding customers — and I did. But, there was so much more to deal with than just the basics. You can be taught how to use a credit card machine, or how to book appointments, but there are some things that you cannot learn or prepare for, some things you just need to be patient with. Although I had a pretty pleasant experience, there were definitely some parts I wish I could have skipped — by some parts I mean stubborn customers. Yes, the customer is always right, and no matter how difficult it may be, you have to just go with the flow with a smile on your face. Still, this was my biggest challenge. One woman had even walked in and ignored the friendly welcome that our staff provided. Okay, that wasn’t so bad, but she then continued to be difficult to work with and had
In the Life Agesyan writes appointments at the front desk of Le Monge.
a bad attitude towards not only me, but the rest of the staff. When my mom asked what color she wanted to do her nails, she snapped back, saying, “I don’t know, what colors do you even have?” I tried my best to handle all of this professionally. Yet I was so tempted to give the same uncalled for disrespect she had given everyone there. I had to use every ounce of patience in me to just let it slide. We all know that nail salons are relaxing environments to give yourself a break, so tension like this is aggravating for employee and customer alike. Also annoying would be when people brought their kids and didn’t control them. “It’s the worst when little kids are running around while the parents are being rude,” Mirzoian said. “It disturbs customers and workers from doing their job.” These irritating parts of the job were worth it because I got to meet so many people. Not including the few rude ones, most of the people were kind and friendly. It’s crazy how much some people will reveal about themselves at a nail salon, They walk in strangers and walk out friends.
“Depending on what they get done, some appointments can take 10 minutes, some take an hour, but no matter the time, these people trust you,” said Araz Sirijanian, a facialist at the salon. “You end up knowing where they went or are going to school, how many children they have, what their profession is, what they like to do in their free time, or even their opinion on Trump — that one always seems to come up,” Mirzoian said. Especially at my mom’s salon, we try to make you feel at home. “EvAgesyan organizing the nail polish bottles by color.
17 erytime I walk in, it’s like I’m walking into a second home,” said Tereza Sanchez, a loyal customer who has been revisiting since the opening back in 2013. Taking phone calls is also key to the front desk job. Most of the phone calls consisted of people calling and asking about prices, appointment availability, if we accepted walk-ins and the salon hours. I sat at the front desk, so I also dealt with where people with appointments went and I had to ask what the people who were “walk-ins” what they wanted to have done. Taking payments wasn’t rocket science. I just counted up their total, put the money in the register or made a card transaction. Even if it wasn’t hard, it was still tedious work. However, the overall work that is put into running a salon is not easy in the slightest bit — most customers don’t see it during their visit. “When I go to get my nails done, I honestly don’t think about the work behind it,” said Narine Najaryan, a junior at Glendale High School. “I just hope they end up doing a good job. Personally, I could never do what they do.”
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In the Life
Local animal shelter gives abandoned animals a better life Sante D’Or adoption center gives a second chance to unloved animals By Ani Sarkisyan Opening the heavy back door that read “Be careful, a cat might be behind the door,” I walked into Sante D’Or animal shelter. I hung my bags on the hangers, sanitized my hands, and was ready to help. As I saw all the volunteers, I understood that there’s always a way to help the furry friends that call the animal shelters their home. If animals lovers of all ages unite, they can give animals an amazing life. Back in 2011, I bought my Pomeranian Poodle Cookie. Yes, I said bought, not adopted. At that time, purchasing and adopting pets made no difference to me. However, after I discovered that over 7.6 million animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, I decided it was time to do something about it. Whether it was because of the guilt I felt for buying rather than adopting, or because of the joy that my dog brought into my family, I wanted to help out other animals in some way. Eager to find a way to help, I
began asking around to see if anyone knew of a way that a teen could help sheltered animals. Junior Ben Satzman introduced me to an animal shelter called Sante D’ Or. Keeping this odd-sounding name at the back of my head, I researched the organization and found out it was a nonprofit, no kill animal shelter in Atwater Village. Sante D’Or was founded by Kelly Milam and has had over 3,000 animals adopted, according to the organization’s website. Scrolling through the website, I came across the volunteer tab which led me to a simple application process. I was so surprised that the shelter accepted volunteers of all ages. I frantically entered my information and waited for a reply. Koschka Bahr, the volunteer coordinator, emailed me back the following day, providing me with a volunteer orientation date. As my orientation day got closer, I started to research different shelters around the area. The Burbank Animal Shelter is another shelter that has similar intentions as Sante D’ Or. As of September 20, the shel-
The newly-remodeled animal shelter provides a lively and bright environment for its animals.
Sante D’Or offers cats different ways to exercise.
ter had 26 dogs, 18 cats and several rabbits up for adoption. This shelter was appealing to me because of its variety of animals, but it only accepts volunteers who are 18 years or older. After gaining more information about shelters, I began to pay more attention to The Humane Society’s compelling advertisements. “Those commercials are really sad and they kind of force you to donate money,” said junior Manuel Sardaryan. “I don’t like them.” These commercials are what got me to the Glendale Humane Society’s website since the shelter’s name was based on the Humane Society organization. Though their names are similar, the shelter is not directly associated with the Humane Society, according to an email from the Glendale Humane Society staff. Once again, I was somewhat disappointed when I discovered that you must be at least 18 years old to volunteer at the Glendale Humane Society. The shelter is only open to the public by appointment since strangers can stress the animals, according to the Glendale Humane Society website. In
a phone call with the Glendale Humane Society, Carmen, a staff member said that people can donate to the shelter. This is a great way for non volunteers to help out since the shelters are always in need of supplies such as litter boxes, rags, treats and anything else animals would need. On the day of my orientation at Sante D’Or , I entered a room full of cats and around ten new volunteers. Volunteer coordinator Koschka Bahr gave us a tour of the shelter, explaining that it had been remodeled by Animal Planet’s show My Cat From Hell. The room was echoing with meows and barks, and I couldn’t be happier. This is where I belonged. “I love how welcoming the shelter is. It doesn’t remind me of those commercials,” Sardaryan said during the orientation. After the hourlong tour, I learned that as of September 18, the shelter carries 50 cats, 23 kittens and two dogs. Bahr said that the shelter accepts volunteers in three shifts: morning, noon and afternoon. They allow volunteers of all ages because the shelter was run on a volunteer-only basis, with the exception of Christy Keefe, a full-time employee. To sign up for my first real volunteering day, I emailed Bahr again and reserved the morning shift for a Sunday. Once I got to the shelter, I was greeted by the supervisor, Tom Beyer and a volunteer named Susan. “We’ll be starting with cleaning all of the cages,” Susan said. I went up to the cage, wore my gloves, and nearly gagged in response to the smelly litter box. Trying to hold my breath, I removed from the cage an adorable orange and white cat named Weekend at Bernie’s. I grabbed a rag from the blue Ikea caddy, sprayed some Method cleaner in the cage and started cleaning. By far, cleaning the litter box was the hardest part. I had to throw all of the “used” litter into
19
In the Life
Sante D’Or saves over 500 animals are saved every year.
the trash bin and add a couple of new scoops of litter. After the first cage was done, I became familiar with the cleaning process. Cleaning cages started becoming an easy task until I had to clean one that was filled with four kittens. One by one, I had to carry them into a carrying cage because the kittens were not allowed to roam around with the other cats. With scratch marks all over my arms, I cleaned the cage. This cage cleaning experience taught me to wear long sleeved shirts to the shelter. After cleaning cages was over, freshman Amira Elle Abu-Jaber and I started sweeping the floors. AbuJaber swept, and I mopped after her. This process was probably the best since the cats were all roaming around and playing while we were getting ready to open the shelter to the public. “This is my fifth time coming here and it’s great because I help the animals and get volunteer hours at the same time,” Abu-Jaber said. At noon, a swarm of people entered the waiting room, ready to see the animals. After that, they were admitted into the actual shelter, where they would pet any cat of their choice. During this time, I went into the kitten room where ten adorable kittens attacked me with their cuteness. One of them even climbed onto my back when I was about to leave the room. As I was playing with the
kittens, Beyer said that cat adoptions were $155. “Each cat comes with a collar, a tag, a microchip and all of its vaccines,” Beyer said. As 12:30 approached, I went into the back room to sign out on the volunteer sheet. As I was about to leave, I heard an adorable “meow” and saw that a kitten wanted to get into his cage. I let the kitten into his home, sanitized my hands and went home feeling like a better person. The following Sunday, Sardaryan and I went to the shelter again, with a gained appreciation for the organization and the people a part of it. “I feel like at first, I just came for the hours, but now, I really like coming and petting the cats and, hey, I’m also highly allergic, so that’s fun,” Sardaryan said.
Sarkisyan cleans a litter box as cats roam the shelter.
20
In the Life
Spending an hour with Transcendentalism
Freedom is by choice, not situation By Alen Zohrabyan As I rested on the steps of the Mesnager Barn at Deukmejian Park in La Crescenta, surrounded by oak trees, I freed my mind of all unnecessary things. Being taught to be one with and absorb the creation of Mother Nature was a suggestion by my 11th grade American Literature teacher, Diana McGrath, who recently taught our class about transcendentalism. In order to put what she taught into action, our class took a field trip to Dunsmore Park in early September where we journaled about our surroundings. Wanting to further explore what I had experienced at Dunsmore, I took it upon myself to explore transcendentalism and the teachings of famous writers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, the men behind this belief. This idea sprouted and grew in 19th century America when writers brought forth ideas that related loosely to the beliefs of Buddhism, which also
puts reason to the fact that divinity exists in all of humanity and nature. Being a strong believer in this movement, Thoreau went as far as isolating himself from all of society in a small house he built just west of Boston, facing Walden Pond, for two years. During this time of exploring and absorbing nature, he would write about the beauty of the pond and anything that would come across his way. Taking inspiration from this experiment, I decided I would isolate myself, not for two years, but for an hour. Considering how most of us are constantly connected to social media and our electronic devices on a spiritual level, this, I thought, would be a valid period of time to separate myself from everything. The location I chose to use in order to disconnect from everything was Deukmejian Wilderness Park, located just north of Clark Magnet High School. Ironically, the area was going through construction, being an interesting combination of mod-
nature meeting the territory of man The cascades of steps next to Mesnager Barn.
ern society taking over and nature fighting to keep itself relevant. After coming to a disappointing realization that nature will soon be a thing of the past, I sat down on the cascading steps of the majestic 100-year-old Mesnager Barn and allowed myself to absorb all the life of this small piece of still existent nature. At first, like anyone brainwashed by social media and electronics, I felt boredom instantly take over, constantly urging me to think of all the things I could be doing instead of sitting at the steps of a barn. Forcing myself to finish what I had begun though, I grabbed my pencil and notebook, and began writing about the various ways in which nature was coming to life. Slowly but surely, the bitterness and distaste that I had with having to waste an hour of my life, which could have gone to more brainwashing with social media, changed to a combination of appreciation and gloom. The appreciation being the fact that nature by itself was an absolute work of art, one no artist of any acclaim could forge onto a canvas, overtaken by how this beauty was being depleted for the capitalist gains of America. A half an hour or so in, my mind began to wander off into the mesmerizing beauty of all the plant and animal life in front of my very eyes. I could feel myself being submerged into the grass, being surrounded by the large oak trees, the brown and white buckwheat and the small bluish pigeons. Wanting to explore my newfound
In the Life
Views from the main point of the park.
freedom from the shackles of society, I walked around, examining the flowers, which at first seemed to have been dried up from the Californian heat, but at second glance were just painted a beautiful dark and light brown. After seeing the perennial statice, I strolled towards the very old, but marvelous Mesnager Barn, built on a property acquired by George Le Mesnager in 1898. Fall being the season when grapes thrive, the vines had taken over the thin wooden pedestals and had created a small forest of grape leaves. As I looked closely, these small round spheres of mother nature’s fruits, I assumed, would most likely have been grown to produce white wine. I appreciated the care that went into this small plot of land, as I knew now how important it was to preserve the nature that was given to us and not take advantage of something so defenseless. This is something society must work on preserving, because one day we may realize that this puzzle piece of our lives has become one with history, after which we will reminisce about, wondering why we tore it down to build up our concrete jungles. Leaving Deukmejian Wilderness Park, I felt highly affected by this experience. It came to my attention that the conservation of something that makes up such a large part of
our lives begins with one person. Through this transcendentalism experiment, not only did I become one with nature, but I also found divinity in everything I surrounded myself with that day. Being a critic of this belief, I was surprised at how my mindset changed by the simple disconnection from social media, and all things electronic. Returning to where this began, other students in McGrath’s class also reported similar types of inspirations. “I agree with the fact that less truly is more, and that people should definitely appreciate what they do have instead of complaining what they don’t have,” said junior Sevak Kazaryan. Before learning about Thoreau and the appreciation of life, The Mesnager Barn under a blanket of clouds.
21 Kazaryan said that he already would limit phone use and put more time into constructive activity, something most teenagers and young adults do not choose to do much of. Stephanie Sajjadieh, a teacher who at Clark Magnet High School who visited Walden Pond in 2004 during the wintertime, described it as “a religious experience,” noting the heavenly beauty of the pond, especially during the colder months in Boston. She also said that a former student of hers actually traveled to Boston to visit Walden Pond and reported the experience as “unforgettable.” Over the 30 years that Sajjadieh has been teaching about Walden Pond and Thoreau’s transcendental journey, she said that has seen how reading the book and learning about transcendentalism positively influenced students’ interest in meditation and temporarily encouraged them to remove technology and to consider nature as a part of their lives. McGrath said that she taught our American Literature class about Thoreau’s experiment because it resonated with her own experiences as a child. “Growing up, my backyard was a huge meadow with a small creek, where I would play every single day,” she said. 2016 marks 162 years since Thoreau’s memoir, Walden, was published. Being a belief so applicable to daily life, many famous artists and leaders have practiced transcendentalism, including singer Katy Perry, who in an interview with Transcendental Meditation said, “I start my day with transcendental meditation.” Also, Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, who led a march against British dominance of its imperial colonies, was also a reader Thoreau’s teachings and practiced civil disobedience.
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Opinion
Pros and Cons of legalizing marijuana in California
By Jaden Florita Cannabis, dank, ganja, kush, reefer, dope, whatever you want to call it, all refer to the same thing — marijuana. With the November elections upon us, although marijuana is legal in 25 states, the idea of marijuana legalization in California gives people mixed feelings. While marijuana is more “natural,” cigarettes contain an abundance of harsh chemicals, especially carcinogenics, substances that cause cancer. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide, nicotine, tar, arsenic, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, acetone, butane, formaldehyde, and up to 4,000 chemicals in each puff you Football player, Eugene Monroe, is a marijuana advocate.
take. Cigarettes don’t help medically, unlike marijuana. Medical use of marijuanacan bebeneficial. Although it isn’t recognized by the FDA as a medicine, the chemicals in marijuana — cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — can help treat and cope with illness and pain. What are the uses of medicinal marijuana? It helps treat PTSD, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, mental disorders, seizures, pain, autism and many more ailments. Marijuana can also help treat chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE, which is common to football players. According to The Baltimore Sun, NFL player Eugene Monroe, the first NFL marijuana advocate, says that, “[marijuana] is something that can be very beneficial to a lot of people, not just athletes.” In the reality television show Weediquette, Krishna Andavolu explores the world of legal marijuana use. In the episode “Marijuana Minors,” Andavolu discovers how Mykayla Comstock, an 8-year-old leukemia patient uses marijuana to suppress the effects of chemotherapy. Andavolu said that the THC and
CBD attacked the cancer cells in her body. Her parents say that before she started using marijuana, Mykayla was thin, never hungry and unenergetic. But once Mykayla took her first dose, her mother said, “We got our baby back.” Although marijuana is helpful for illnesses, people seem to abuse it, which is why legalization for recreational use can cause conflict. Despite the fact THC treats stress and relieves pain, it’s mostly known for altering the brain — the feeling of being high — euphoria. In the United States, about 30 million people abuse marijuana, especially minors. Studies state that people using marijuana for recreational use are most likely to be addicted to other mind-altering drugs. The taxes collected from marijuana sales can help the state economically. In the state of Colorado, $1.5 million collected from marijuana taxes undertook the homeless issues. Revenue from marijuana sales can help the community by funding school programs and drug abuse programs. Voters now in California must decide if they too will legalize marijuana.
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Opinion AGAINST “It’s a good thing for people who need it, but in the long run people are going to abuse it.” — Leila Manaois, junior
“Marijuana can help with many illnesses, but people take advantage of it.” —Talia Beginian, junior “Minors would be influenced by adults who use it for recreational use.” —Isabella Balderas, junior
According to proponents of marijuana legalization
A small pinch of marijuana.
FOR “Recreational use of marijuana shouldn’t be possessed as a crime.” — Stephanie Chung, junior “Smoking marijuana isn’t as harmful as smoking a cigarette.” — Jarred Lima, junior
“Other than medical and recreational use, hemp has many benefits on the society. Like paper, lotions, textiles, and many more.” —Tristan O’Donnell, senior We can get rid of the illegal drug cartels.” — Yerine Kwon, junior
“Prop. 64 would distribute certain amounts of marijuana to individuals. It would be under control.” —Theodore Supangan, sophomore
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Opinion
Give transgender talent a chance in Hollywood By Ariette Reynaldo With the 2016 Emmys over and most actors given their credit due, usually people lie in anticipation for the Grammys and Oscars. This time, however, Jeffrey Tambor’s speech about accepting transgender talent into the acting industry has made waves in social media. “Please give transgender talent a chance,” Tambor said after receiving his reward. “Give them auditions. Give them their story.” Hollywood is no stranger to discrimination. Recent films and TV series have begun to expand the range of character diversity, but have failed to do the same with their casting choices. It would only make sense to allow transgender actors to play transgender roles, yet there’s a strong stigma in the industry that prevents that.
“Hollywood is no stranger to discrimination.”
Actors like Tambor, who won an Emmy award for his role as a transgender woman in the TV series Transparent are given these roles despite not being trans themselves. Trans actors of similar caliber are pushed aside in favor of more famous cisgender actors. Such a system is unfair and degrading to transgender actors who work just as hard for the same role. Though the genre of shows like Transparent are comedy, having cisgender actors play transgender roles to enhance the comedic effect is a not so subtle stab at the transgender community.
Transgender actors have been successful in Hollywood. Laverne Cox, Sophia Burset in Orange is the New Black is a famous trans actor known to be an activist for the transgender community. Cox has advocated for transgender acceptance in the acting industry and agreed with Tambor’s view. “Give trans a shot,” Cox said. “I would not be here tonight if I was not given that chance.”
“...there are almost 700,000 transgender Americans...”
The transgender community has been more prominent in society thanks to activist like Cox, but it hasn’t always been like that. Unlike other minorities, such as people of color, the transgender community lack an extensive background that enable them more coverage for their cause. According to Cox’s bio on the official Emmy website, she was “the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show” and was nominated for an Emmy in 2014. This was only two years ago, and the transgender community has been around for way longer than that. Some argue that there are already enough transgender actors in Hollywood and that pushing for more is unnecessary. However, it’s not just about giving more trans actors jobs, it’s also about providing representation for the trans community. There might be more transgender actors and roles on screen than before, but many are just side
Jeffrey Tambor along with the cast of Transparent.
characters with little importance or screen time. Trans actors also need larger and more prominent roles to be able to reach out to others. It’s really important to have someone a viewer can identify with and look up to on TV. Seeing people similar to oneself on shows and movies is reassuring and helps people be more comfortable with their identity. According to Timesunion, there are almost 700,000 transgender Americans; so it’s not as though there aren’t enough to be on the radar for casting purposes. Tambor and Cox acknowledged that trans people should be given more auditions and generally more chances in the industry. The trans community has struggled for the awareness they have today in society, but the fight doesn’t stop there. In the words of Tambor, “We have work to do.”
Opinion
25
Black Lives Matter doesn’t care about your life
Black Lives Matter activists destroy black communities in Ferguson, MO.
By Christine Ohanyan According to bystander video recordings and other witness reports compiled in Infowars, on Sept. 22 “Black Lives Matter” bestowed upon us a remarkable series of events in Charlotte, NC which included smashing up windows of apartments where other black people live, beating up innocent people in underground parking lots, and attempting to throw a live journalist into a pit of fire. The actions that these agitators carried out would resonate most with the definition of the word “riot,” the complete opposite of “peace.” And how do mainstream news reporters, such as reporters of MSNBC and CNN, describe these events? They called it a “peaceful protest.” “The people that are out here protesting, they’re like, hugging. They’re being very peaceful,” said MSNBC news reporter Tammy Leitner. Diff color Why are these news reporters, and other public figures such as Beyonce and Barack Obama, so desperate to conceal the reality that this so-called “activist movement” is a locus of unjustified violence committed by criminals, gang members,
and thugs — one of whom, named Assata Shakur, is the very inspiration behind movement and is also a convicted cop killer on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list? Would it not be more productive to acknowledge the reality of this destructive, horrendous excuse for activism to stop it from destroying black communities and perpetuating the stereotype that black people are excessively violent? Wouldn’t this be infinitely better proof to black people that their lives actually do matter? The actions of this violent hate group prove to be completely contradictory to the euphemistic media narrative regarding it and the supposed objectives stated on their official website, and even to the title of their movement.
A “lives matter” anti-police movement would be more appropriately named “White and Hispanic Lives Matter” - Mac Donald Washington Post On the Black Lives Matter website, it is stated that a supposed “major misconception” about the movement is that it hates white people and cops. If this is the case, then why do so many Black Lives Matter activists display verbal and physical ag-
gression towards white people and cops? This includes an activist calling for the “lynching of white people and cops,”men shouting “Black Lives Matter” as they beat up seven white males, an activist calling to “kill all white babies,” a protest leader calling for supporters to “shoot police and run them over,” and a group of Black Lives Matter protesters chanting “What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want them? Now!” To adopt the mentality of anyone affiliated with Black Lives Matter would require the rejection of logic, statistics, facts and reality. The reason why Black Lives Matter is in fact extremely hateful and aggressive towards white people and police is because its activists believe that there exists a system in which the police “treats white people as if they have more value, and are more worthy of protection” than black people, according to their website. This is simply not true; according to data compiled by The Washington Post, 50 percent of the victims of fatal police shootings in 2015 were white, while 26 percent were black. This means that last year, nearly twice as many whites were killed by cops than blacks. Considering this reality, how exactly could there possibly exist a system that prioritizes white lives over black lives? Black Lives Matter is a complete fraud. The activists of this movement violently operate under the false premise of aiding in black people’s lives, while destroying black communities, killing other black people and demonizing the very people who are meant to protect black neighborhoods.
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Arts & Entertainment
Empire Of Storms: a shock for fantasy lovers
By Urielle Corcuera The cover and title alone of Empire of Storms, by Sarah J. Maas, are enough to pique anyone’s interest. This most highly-anticipated fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series surpassed my expectations with its beautifully crafted plot and the way Maas brings everything to life. If you are a mature reader who wants to enter something that is phenomenal and out of this world, then this book is for you. The novel is set in a world that is not only populated by humans but also by faes, witches, gods, goddesses, demons, creatures . . . you name it. Brought up as an orphaned human assassin, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius travels the path with her royal court to reclaim her throne as the lost demi-fae queen of her lands
and hopefully bring peace and recover the world she lives in. However, none of her people are willing to acknowledge her as queen, believing that she has abandoned them all those years. And with an ancient demon king rising and a powerful immortal fae queen wanting to take over the continent, Aelin along with her court take risks and make sacrifices to fight two wars at the same time, and to also save her lands and prove herself as their rightful leader. Allegiances form, kingdoms collide, thousands of her kind fall, and it is Aelin who will be the only salvation. Maas focuses on other characters and not just her protagonist. She gives them backstories which helps give them life and depth, allowing her readers to fully know the characters and connect with them. Each character is deeply flawed and layered, and despite the fact that they are not of the human race, a reader can still empathize with each one. The character arcs are also greatly developed throughout the novel, which I really thought was something that was vital to the story. For instance, Manon Blackbeak, leader of a coven, is raised to be be soulless and uncaring. But when the life of her cousin, who is also her second-in-command, is ordered for execution by their matron, Manon willingly rebels against their whole clan, ready to be stripped off of everything she has to save her cousin. And in the process, she discovers that she is not who she was raised to be and became her own person in
charged of her own fate. Maas is remarkable. She creates a new world of other beings and then expands that world with complexity and detail, and she manages to create this fictional world’s own history with little pieces of information and connect those to create something extraordinary. The plot is superb. It’s actionpacked, and half of the dialogue oozes sassiness and humor. The revelations are so jaw-dropping that I had to close the book for a moment and pace back and forth in my room. It’s also a 700-page book, so there is a lot to remember. There are only two things that are not as impressive in this book. First, everyone is in a relationship, which, let’s be honest, is pretty unrealistic even for a book. Second, the ending is also very similar, almost like a twin, to her other novel called A Court of Mist and Fury, which also happened to be a story that revolves around faes and other beings. Maybe Maas is planning for a crossover. Or maybe not? Who knows? Nonetheless, this book is insane. It’s intense. It’s heart-breaking. It’s shocking. It’s joyful. Basically all the elements of a great book are contained within this work. Like with Maas’ previous works, it set the bar high up again, so it’s no wonder that the book series is being adapted for a TV series.
Arts & Entertainment
Mild High Club’s
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Skiptracing
is the essential chill-wave, jizz-jazz record of the year
By Vache Sarkissian What makes a good indie record? The resurrection of cheesy ’80s synths? Guitars that sound like they’re being played through an amplifier made of tree bark? Vocals that can only be understood under a heavy amount of chemical influence? The occasional woodwind instrument? For Alexander Brettin’s new record as the one-man Mild High Club, the answer is probably all of those things. Since his early days of touring with Mac DeMarco and Walter TV, he’s built a somewhat mild reputation of living the slacker life and making music corresponding to that lifestyle. Skiptracing is the second record by Brettin, and in the eyes of many fans, it’s definitely a step up. The record feels more thematically cohesive as a whole unit, while also featuring some of the grooviest, waviest and chillest stand-alone tracks of the Mild High Club discography. Songs such as “Homage” and “Skiptracing” have that warm and familiar-sound-
ing twangy guitar tone fans are so fond of while songs such as “Tesselation” and “Kokopelli” feature some dirtier, bluesy guitar tones which contrast with the vibey keyboard sounds creating an atmospheric and overall extremely easy-to-listen-to record. The music is very straightforward and laid back while simultaneously giving the listener something to think about. It’s safe to say that Skiptracing is a very unpredictable record in terms of sounds, but is very familiar in terms of the warm, early ’70s nostalgic vibe which has become an essential aspect of jizz jazz music. In addition to having a better balance of various instruments and guitar effects, Skiptracing also has a more experimental sound to it. Brettin explores some areas of jizz jazz which have never really been embraced. While Timeline sounded much like The Beatles’ Revolver and The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and Mac DeMarco’s Salad Days combined into one record, Skiptracing has a more assertive and unique voice which clearly says that Mild High Club is
an extremely original and visionary artist. While holding onto the heavy, spacey echo on the vocals, songs such as “Chasing My Tail” and “Chapel Perilous” also have some near-chorus effects with layered vocals and a beautiful stereo drum machine that sounds phenomenal on headphones. And underneath all of it is some of the most mesmerizing bass lines and rhythm work from any record this year. Song such as “Skiptracing” and “Homage” have the most addicting and funky bass lines on the whole record, and those are just the first two songs. On LA’s very own Stones Throw Records, Mild High Club is building a name for himself as one of the most promising musicians to arise in recent years. And with Skiptracing, he has cemented his standing in the world of jizz jazz as someone who definitely deserves a whole lot of credit for his unique style and vision. With Skiptracing, Mild High Club has given the world the perfect album to slap on to the record player to kick back and unwind.
Alexander Brettin in the middle alongside his touring bandmates knows as The Mild High Club.
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Arts & Entertainment
‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ amazes audiences
By Leslie Chung Tim Burton’s new film, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, like his other recent films, Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, meshes Burton’s style of directing with the film’s storyline. In Miss Peregrine, the main pro-
tagonist, Jake, goes through a rough time, always being isolated by others. One day, Jake decides to go visit his grandfather. When he comes to the house his grandfather is missing. He goes to the backyard to see that his grandfather was stabbed. Jake notices that his grandfather’s eyes are not there any more. Before he dies, his grandfather tells Jake, “Find the bird in the loop on the other side of the old man’s grave on September 1940, and tell them what happened.” He goes there for the summer and meets these peculiar children in the 1940s. Jake discovers many things and goes on adventures with these children. The film’s fantasy-based plot helps create an eerie setting of the movie. However, Burton only adequately creates character’s background. The movie itself could have used more time to explain how the antagonists created other evil creatures called the hollowgasts. The hollowgasts are monsters designed to eat the eyes of people, but mainly children with peculiarity. Burton fo-
The peculiar children prepare to fight the hollowgast.
cuses on the main antagonist, making it confusing for the audience to know where the evil creatures came from in the beginning. The film is set in the present day, which makes the plot more interesting. During the movie they showed the audience can recognize an object instantly because it is within our time period. For example, Jake brings out a phone and all the children look at it like they’ve never seen it before. However, when the main character (Jake) finds the house, it gets confusing to identify what time period the movie is in. When Jake first finds the house, it is still 2014. Later, he knocks out and wakes up again. But, when he wakes up, he is stuck on Sept. 3, 1940. The time transition is hard to notice at first, but within a minute, the audience can probably tell the time transition happened during that time. Burton also spectacularly portrays the theme of identity. In the movie, Jake struggles to find his identity throughout the story. He goes through rejection, questioning his true identity. Viewers can see his character develop as he finds his identity at the end. Burton creates a wonderful film in his book-based Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. The movie teaches us that finding our identity takes us a great deal amount of time.
Photo Credits Cover - Anthony Francisco
Magazine Editor Photo - Eunice Ramilo Table of Contents - Ani Sarkisyan wikimedia.com
stonesthrow.com pinterest.com flickr.com
collider.com
2-3. Anthony Francisco wikipedia.org flickr.com
4-5. Lilit Krkasharian 6-7. Eunice Ramilo 8. pinterest.com
9. Kasy Vasquez 10. Henry Reed
wikimedia.com
11. Natalie DerAvanessian
15. “Orange Paint Splat� via publicpicturesdomain.net Niko Tadevossian
16-17. Ani Agesyan
18-19. Ani Sarkisyan
20-21. Alen Zhorabyan 22-23. wikimedia.org wikipedia.org pixabay.com
24. wikimedia.com 25. wikimedia.com
26. bloomsbury.com
27. stonesthrow.com 28. collider.com
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