Slick Magazine December by HBHS Journalism

M A G A Z I N E Issue 3

Editor’s Note Happy Holidays, Oilers! December has come at last. Whether you’re lighting the menorah, decorating the Christmas tree, or just celebrating the end of the year, we are all glad the holidays have arrived. This issue of Slick Magazine is truly special. The editors want to extend a tremendous thank you to all of our staff. Every member of our staff worked incredibly well with one another and crafted yet another amazing issue ahead of schedule. In addition to our 100% original content, we are also pleased to announce our issues are now available in digital and paper format! If you would like to order your very own copy of our magazine, stop by Ms. Trelease’s room (A24) or email us!

Matt Sargent

Candy Hart-Peratt

Dixie Chatt

Gracie Briquelet

Contents photography by: Dixie Chatt

Conversation Pieces....................................................................... 4-13 Creative Writing............................................................................ 14-19 Entertainment............................................................................... 20-29 Music............................................................................................... 30-36 Holiday........................................................................................... 37-47 Fashion........................................................................................... 48-51 Sports............................................................................................... 52-55 Past/Present/Now............................................................................ 56-65 Extras.............................................................................................. 66-77

4 artwork by: Dixie Chatt

Like, Is "Like" Really By: Katy HouchenBy: Katy Houchen Necessary? Elizabeth Schlosser Adverb: Like - used to convey a person's reported attitude or feelings in the form of direct speech. In previous generations to now, vocabulary has been getting shorter as technology has expanded. Adults always tell kids how their generation is “ruining the english language”. I think that there is a meaning to their words, but I don’t think that kids are necessarily “ruining” the language. Teenagers tend to use the word ‘like’ very frequently when it’s not needed. A few months ago, my dad was at a college listening to students presenting their presentations. When he came home, he told me that one of the girls used ‘like’ more than four times in one sentence. “Like, um, like, you know, like that thing like, when you do this….”. When my dad told me this, I started to pay more attention to how many times people use the word ‘like’ when it is irrelevant in the sentence. When I was in my English class one day, a guest speaker come to our class to share what they did for a living. When I noticed that she was saying ‘like’ and ‘um’ very frequently, I began making little tally marks in the top corner of my paper. By the end of their presentation, which took the whole period, they said ‘like’ over 120 times, and ‘um’ more than 200 times. When I brought this up to my friends, they were saying how they don’t use ‘like’ that much, but when having one-on-one or group conversations, they say it way more than they expect. From that moment on, my friends and I have begun to play a game, where whenever one of us in the group says ‘like’, the person that hears it snaps their fingers. This makes them realize how many times they are actually using the word. People use ‘like’ way too much while talking, but why don’t people use it while writing? To investigate this theory, I went around to a couple of my friends and one of my teachers here at HBHS. I asked them their opinions on how they feel about this topic and how ‘like’ is being used nowadays. These were their responses;

Personally, the word ‘like’ is overused and quite annoying. I’ve lived in multiple states and I’ve noticed that in California the word ‘like’ is everyone’s go to word in a time of awkwardness or not remembering something. I️ personally try my best to not use it, but sometimes it does slip out.

Sheridan Reineck

In my opinion, the word "like" is overused and frequently grammatically misused. In today's society the word "like" has replaced certain words such as "said." "Like" also has many uses including being used as a noun, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and an adjective. Overall, society has evolved the word "like" and changed the initial purpose of the word.

Patrick McCormick

The word ‘like’ is thrown about within the English language similarly to a ball on the playground. It has many meanings, and we as teenagers use it most frequently as a common “buzz word,” for lack of a better term. However, ‘like’ is a word that means more than just the space between two thoughts. It allows us to portray our innermost feelings of happiness towards aspects of the world that please us. ‘Like’ lets us show our gratitude for a cold scoop of strawberry ice cream on a hot summer day, the crisp sound of wind rustling through trees, or even another human being that may catch our eye as desirable. So, while ‘like’ may be used and looked upon by the general public as a word void of deep meaning or substance, I feel that it offers so much more. Through all the interviews and walking through the hallways just listening to people talk, I have realized that the word ‘like’ is used a lot. In some situations, however, ‘like’ is needed For example, “I would like a…” or “They showed me it, like this…” I am not saying that people should try and completely stop using the word ‘like’, but I want people to be more aware of it when they use it which in most cases, it is not necessary.

f O s e v i t c e Persp

CONFIDENCE By: Ally Brodmann

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look at fear in the face."

-Eleanor Roosevelt The reason many people never fulfill their potential is not because of a lack of opportunities or resources, but rather the lack of belief in themselves, or a lack of self-confidence. What is confidence? Is it genetic or learned? Is it an emotion or a behavior? I was able to interview three students and three adults to find out the different perspectives on what they think confidence is and what makes them most confident. “I am the most confident when I am with my friends and family. Just being around people that I love and who I know won’t judge me and can just be myself around. To feel happy, to feel like me. Confidence is being happy with yourself and just loving who you are, not really caring what other people think, and just being the best that you can be and know that you are the best you can be. Just to be happy overall.”

- Madie Romine (student)

“The first thing that helps me feel confident is when I am prepared for whatever situation I’m going into. If I know where I’m going or who is going to be there [and] if I’m prepared, if my work is done, I’ve done my part so I’m just completely ready for the situation. That helps me feel confident. Also, dressing for the part. If I’m going out for the evening and I get dressed up nicely, then I feel a little more confident. If I’m going to [for example] back-to-school night and I’ve fixed myself up, then that helps me feel confident. I think the bottom line, for me, is based on how you feel about yourself, not what others think of you or say about you. It’s knowing that you are good enough, knowing that you are equal. There’s no high or low; you’re the same as everyone else and you’re able to go in and do your part of whatever you’re doing without worrying that it’s going to be good enough. You just know that your part is done well because you were prepared and were ready for it.”

- Jenifer Brodmann (adult)

“I think when I’m in a comfortable environment which is any kind of place with my friends, with people I’m comfortable with. For me, [confidence is] just being, I guess, comfortable or happy and pleased with who I am or what I’m doing.”

- Elyia Ramos-Chung (student)

“I feel confident in my workplace, with my experience and the longevity of how long I’ve been doing what I’m doing. Lots of years, lots of knowledge over those years. When I go [into] a job, lots of times I get asked to consult because of my knowledge. I’m confident that I can go out and be able to present myself and present my reasons as to why something can be done or why something can’t be done. Confidence, I guess, would be the way I perceive myself in a positive way, due to experiences.”

- Garry Brodmann (adult)

“I would say I feel most confident after a performance, after I perform really well and the audience is really excited. After, I feel like I did good myself; that’s when I feel most confident. Also, I feel confident when I put myself together and put on my favorite outfit and I do my makeup and my hair. [It’s] when I just feel good about myself. Confidence is being happy with who you are… I feel like it’s an emotion when you’ve accepted yourself and you love yourself and you just like being who you are; you’re not afraid to be yourself. I think it’s just a reflection of your personality.”

- Mia Cutler (student)

“I feel most confident when I’m at work because I am good at my job. I think that I get my confidence from how I was raised. My parents just taught us confidence; I think it’s a learned behavior. Then having three older brothers that helped me become confident, one of them in particular who was my best friend growing up and probably still is to this day. I learned confidence from him as well. I see how good he is at his job so that makes me more confident because I follow his lead. Then again, I feel confident when I’m at home too because I’ve built a beautiful home and I’ve got a great husband and great kids. I think confidence is being a good listener. I think confidence is having good self-esteem, not overly-inflated self-esteem, but being sure of yourself. Just to have a good overall feeling for myself. I’m not really hard on myself; I don’t beat myself up like ‘Ugh, my pants don’t fit me’ or ‘I’ve gained weight.’ I don’t let that stuff get in the way. I usually wake up in the morning, take a nice deep breath, and say ‘today is going to be a good day.’ I think you create how your day is going to be so if you wake up and you’re bummed about how your hair looks or ‘oh geez. I forgot to put this on’ or ‘I look fat in this;’ you’re going to carry that with you all day. I generally wake up in the morning and one, thank God that I woke up, and two, tell myself it’s going to be a great day.”

- Linda Burns (adult)

In the end, I have noticed that it is more of a learned experience rather than a genetic one. Through the different perspectives, I have also noticed that the adults have based it more around their families and the students have based their confidence off of their friends. People are more willing to believe in themselves when there are others around them willing to help lift them up. So, what does confidence mean to you?

School VS.

Sleep By: Christian Fukino

Sleep (noun): a condition of body and mind such as that which typically occurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is relatively inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended. Thanks, Google. Sounds pretty complicated, right? You do it every night, though. It’s normal - it’s just another routine of life, like breathing and eating. However, what you might not know is just how complex sleep can be. It could be said that the whole “sleeping is good because it helps your brain do things” thing is common knowledge - and it should be - but how many of you actually get the sleep you need everyday as an adolescent? Now, if you are someone who stays up past midnight with your eyes glued to a screen (or what have you), then the logical thing to do is to just sleep in until lunchtime becomes breakfast time. There’s just one problem: you have to go to school, which means you have to go to sleep earlier in order to get your sleep and function properly during the day. Before something hits the fan - it’s not your fault that you’re a night owl, and you have science to back you up for it! Octavia Fukino, a licensed marriage and family therapist and psychological clinical counselor who has worked with teens for 5 years, talked with me about the correlation between adolescents and sleep problems. Her studies have gone in-depth on how, when a child reaches puberty, the child’s circadian rhythm - the way the body reacts to the differences between night and day - shift about 2 hours. This leads to teenagers not feeling tired when night comes, making it increasingly difficult to fall asleep. To compensate for not being able to achieve an orderly slumber, teens find other ways to pass the time. This would not be a problem, because one of the best ways to make up these lost hours is just to sleep later into the morning.

There’s also a peer pressure factor in this; when a teen’s friends stay up late, the teen could be inclined to stay up along with them. However, schools normally begin earlier in the morning - generally around 8 o’clock - which forces the teens to wake up between 6 and 7. According to Nationwide Children’s, the average amount of sleep for adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 achieve is around 7 hours, when they should be getting 9 to 9 ½ hours. Sleep deprivation is frequent, and it can affect a teen’s mood and behavior, as well as impacting the cognitive, academic, and driving abilities. Lack of sleep can also cause and/or exacerbate mental health problems. Teenagers absolutely need sleep in order to function in this world, but there’s an obvious problem between the needs and the wants in this equation. There have already been schools considering a change in their schedules to accommodate for this issue, which helps to address it, but the number is relatively small. Still, there are other ways to help a teenager fall asleep at a proper time. The UCLA Sleep Center says that quiet environments, dim lights, and soft music can help set a tone for the nighttime hours. Also, caffeine and soda intakes should be kept under control. It is also recommended to avoid napping during the day and doing late-night homework. Rather than making up for sleep during the afternoon, it’s best to do it in the morning on the weekends, but not for too long, because it could interfere with one’s individual sleep schedule. Sleep is an essential part of a human being’s life - there’s no debating that. As complicated and quintessential as it is, in most respects, it’s incredibly simple to do. Only when a person interrupts the body’s normal sleeping schedule do problems arise. Of course, there are some issues that are out of our hands. However, even if there is no cure, there’s always treatments. Managing time, calming down, and staying healthy are some of the best ways to help. For all of you night owls, maybe try to pass the time without gluing your eyes to an electronic screen. It’s also worth mentioning the slight possibility that local schools all around the country could offer some help in this regard, but don’t rely on it. Avoid sleeping too much and too little, and find a schedule that works for you and the things you have to do in the day. That’s enough for today, though, so lights out.

Not Just A Princess.

Nowadays, it can be hard to find a suitable role model. The celebrity world is always corrupted by lies and scandals; it is always hard to find a celebrity who is upfront and honest with the people. Most people don’t want the next Kardashian to be their role model; they want someone who can show them it is okay to not be okay. Carrie Fisher showed people everywhere that it was okay to not be okay. She battled mental health issues and drug addiction and was open about it. Fisher wrote 4 books and 3 memoirs being brutally honest about her life, her affairs, and her inner demons. It was this honesty which made her one of the most trusted public figures in Hollywood. She wasn’t just a princess in a gold bikini, nor was she just Jake Blues’s psycho ex-girlfriend, she was and will always be a savior and an idol for girls everywhere.

“Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow,” These are Fisher’s words to the people who are struggling mentally, who are afraid to pursue their life’s dreams. Her life outside of the big screen was not picture perfect. Fisher suffered from bipolar disorder, drug addiction, and alcoholism, but she embraced her problems and used her wit and humor to become a needed hero to all peoples, especially those who are mentally ill. Hannah Jane Parkinson, a journalist, wrote, “I’ve never seen Star Wars, but discovering Fisher through Stephen Fry’s documentary on manic depression immediately made me feel less alone.” This is just one person out of the thousands, even millions, who Fisher has made feel a little less alone. Fisher, coming out about her disorders influenced a multitude of Americans to open up to their friends and family about their problems which led them to seek treatment. Fisher never expected to have a cliche Hollywood happily ever after. She spoke freely and frequently about her 45-year long battle with bipolar and substance abuse, explaining how opioids reduced her manic episodes. Once, she wrote about her stomach being pumped after overdosing. Fisher even recalls receiving electroconvulsive therapy, formerly known as electroshock therapy.

By: Izzy Agnello

Many Hollywood stars have died from drug abuse, but no one remembers how they died. Unlike most celebrities, Fisher showed herself going through the symptoms and the struggle comparable to an everyday person. She did not glamorize it or try to hide her troubles. She was honest and real about her problems. She showed how people can have a life and family outside their depression. Fisher was a real person, not another carbon copy big name. Her problems did not ruin her, nor did they embarrass her. Many call Fisher a “bright light” when it comes to people struggling with mental illness. However, she was a hero in other ways; she is still considered an icon to girls and women everywhere. Fisher was imperfect and she embraced it. Unlike most actresses, she didn’t hide her imperfections. She marched to the beat of her own drum and told people when she had a problem with them. An old friend of Fisher’s, Heather Ross, was recently interviewed on a morning radio show in Arizona. In the wake of Hollywood stars accusing producers of sexual harassment, she reflected on her own encounter with sexual assault and what Fisher did to defend her. Ross became friends with Fisher and moved to California to begin a career in the film industry. She met with a producer to talk about business when, in his car, he came on to her but she jumped out of the car before he did anything. Then, Ross told Fisher about the incident; she was protective of her and cared about her safety. Ross recalls, “She said, ‘I just saw him at Sony Studios. I knew he would probably be there, so I went to his office and personally delivered a Tiffany’s box wrapped with a white bow.” photography by: Izzy Agnello

Ross then asked what was inside, Fisher stated, “It was a cow tongue from Jerry’s Famous Deli with a note that said, ‘If you ever touch my darling Heather or any other woman again, the next delivery will be something of yours in a much smaller box.” Imagine if five in ten people had the guts to stand up to someone who they know is exploiting, not just women, but sometimes even men and more commonly children. Women are taught to be reserved and have certain thoughts. For example, all those “trends” that everyone seems to follow are just another standard for women. Do not be another follower. Be someone who people will be proud of in the future. People should fight to be the person they want to be. Carrie Fisher learned to be herself. She became a hero and an icon. She knew what she wanted when she wanted it. To most people, she is Princess Leia in Star Wars. To others, she’s Mystery Girl in Blues Brothers. Some may know her as Marie from When Harry Met Sally, or even Janie from Drop Dead Fred. To me, she is not a princess or a psycho ex-girlfriend, but a woman who was extraordinary. Fisher was an accomplished author, script consultant, mental health advocate, dog lover, quirky tweeter, mother, storyteller, feminist, and more importantly, herself. We lost Ms. Carrie Fisher on October 27, 2016. She was an inspiration in this world and the next. One bodacious soul who fought her demons and continues still to help people open up about addiction. You can say, “She drowned in moonlight, strangled by her own bra.”

What Is Feminism?

By: Amber Zeng

“THE THEORY OF THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL EQUALITY OF THE SEXES.” - Merriam-Webster It sounds simple enough, but what does equality mean? What is political equality? How do we measure the social equality of women? It all depends on who you ask. The mainstream version of feminism sets a list of rules and excludes everyone who doesn’t follow them. It isn’t progressive, it’s regressive. You can’t be pro-life. You can’t be a Republican. You can’t follow female stereotypes. It’s always something you can’t be. Instead of saying what women can be, it segregates them into categories. It does exactly the opposite of what it claims to stand for. But how did we get to this point, and what is feminism really? The definition of feminism and what it means to be a woman has changed throughout history. Feminism can be simplified into four main waves. The first wave focused on the legal rights of women, the right to control and own land, and the right to vote. This wave was sparked by the increase of women activists protesting against the Victorian image of women that was the only accepted view of females in modern society. It dictated that women and men have specific spheres of life, men were responsible for earning money and politics, women were responsible for taking care of the home and kids. The second wave of feminism started in the early 1960s and broadened the spectrum of issues from suffrage to domestic violence. It also expanded the areas that feminism was present in, such as the workplace, and the legal sphere. This wave was thought to have started from a variety of factors. One such factor is the book titled The Feminine Mystique which was written by Betty Friedan and talks about how mainstream media portrayed a false image of women. During this time, the perfect wife shown in media stayed at home and took care of the children. However, this book contests that concept.

The author of the novel conducted surveys and found that women who were involved in the workforce and the home were more fulfilled and satisfied with their lives than women who stayed at home. After that, the third wave of feminism began to focus more on individuality and embracing diversity. This wave lasted from the 1990s to around 2012. Unlike its predecessors, the third wave of feminism was very freeform and undefined. While in the second wave, women, in general, agreed about certain issues like how sex work was degrading, in the third wave, responses were more ambiguous. There was no real yes or no answer to similar questions. The fourth wave of feminism is the one we are currently in and is a movement defined by technology. The current movement uses social media like Instagram, Twitter, etc. to condemn and call out sexual harassment is all spheres of life such as the recent #MeToo movement. However, the mainstream definition of feminism is completely different from what seems to be the core idea of the feminist movement. Feminism is a word with many sides, and a feminist is a word with many faces. There is no “right” definition of feminism. To me, feminism is a collection of values geared toward a positive shift in empowering women. It doesn’t matter what gender you are or what you want to do in your life. It’s about the core belief that everyone is equal, and it’s about the fight to achieve that equality. Feminism isn’t about politics, or religion, or whether you are pro-life or pro-choice. It isn’t about whether women want to be housewives or if they follow feminine stereotypes. It is the right of equality, choice, and respect. That is my definition of feminism.

Creative Writing Corner : Grace Galarraga

By: Carter Bernard

Introduction: My friend Grace is an amazing person; she’s funny and quirky, like a lot of us. She said that, if I wanted to, I could feature some of her stories for my article; I said yes. Grace sent me two of her stories which I am featuring here. They are just as amazing as she is. I asked her about some of the inspirations for her short stories and how she feels about the finished product, I hope you enjoy. “The Dreamer’s Home” is a beautifully poetic story about a scientist and a dreamer who find a planet and make it a home for their people, by sharing it. The dreamer’s people arrive and build a small town with a blanket of stars above them and the scientist’s people also arrive, and build their huge cities of technology and bright lights. One day the dreamer notices something about the stars in the sky and it changes her world, if only she had someone to ask for help...

“The Dreamers Home”

One night, a scientist and a dreamer visited this planet concurrently. Although they came from different places, both wanted to use the world as a place for their people to live. The dreamer was in search of a place to admire the stars, while the scientist was looking for a place to build his city of lights. Since the planet was big enough, they decided to share it. In the weeks that followed, the dreamer began to see what the scientist was creating: a city of lights, with buildings so high, that it almost seemed impossible. While the view was something to admire, the dreamer noticed that the stars would never be visible in the city. She was happy where she was, in her town of stars.

artwork by: Gracie Briquelet

Once upon a time, there was a planet surrounded by stars. There was neither sun nor moon that surrounded the planet, which constantly made it night. Despite the lack of sunlight, the town was never a dark place; in fact, the stars were as bright as a full moon.

The scientist looked across at the town being built and saw many reasons why the town would never thrive as much as his city. The town would be small, mainly fitting about five-hundred people, and his city would fit thousands of people. No one in his city would be lonely, and everything would be beautifully lit up in his city of power. Eventually, people from the dreamer’s planet showed up and people from the scientist’s planet also began to show up. Each respectively enjoyed their own side of the planet, and life went on as it would. The townspeople admired the stars, and the city folk admired the lights, as it was supposed to be. In the town of stars, the wondrous dreamer sat on the roof of her house. As she looked upon the stars, she noticed something shocking. She stood up and saw with her own eyes a star go out. The light simply went out and the star was gone, forever. In the following days she noticed that one by one stars were disappearing, and she didn’t know why. She looked at the city across from her, and she realized she knew someone who did. After years of settlement, the scientist had successfully built his city up to his original vision. One million lived in his city, and he lived in the tallest highrise on the two-hundredth floor, in the middle of it all. One night, he looked out his window, which expanded from ceiling to floor, and suddenly felt his heart sink within itself. He was in the tallest building in the city, and all he could see were the tops of other buildings. Years ago, he found this sight beautiful. He still did, but he realized that all the buildings and lights looked unchanged, after all those years.

He recalled the memories of his childhood, before his endeavors with more sophisticated forms of science. His father once told him of his charting of the stars on his home planet. The thing he admired the most about them was that the sky was never the same. Stars were constantly moving, and that's what made them fascinating. He stepped on his elevator which brought him down all 200 floors and decided to walk to a special place. When his heart weighed heavy and his mind light, he always would return to the same spot: a bench atop a hill in the only park in his city. It was at the edge of the city, closest to the town of stars. There weren’t many visitors, and for that he wasn’t sure why. He found the park very peaceful. As he sat on the bench, he realized that his heart weighed heavy, and he felt empty. In a city with a million, he had never felt more lonely. The following night, the scientist heard a knock at his door. As he opened the door, he locked eyes with someone he thought he’d never see again: the dreamer. “I need your help,” she said. “The stars, they- they’re going out. And I don’t know what it means, but I know you do.”

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt of the story “The Dreamer’s Home” If you would to read more visit the link here : http://bit.ly/2AAZhfE

ABOUT

THE AUTHOR

photography by: Andrea Cervantes

Did anything inspire you for “The Dreamer’s Home” or did it come from a special place? “The Little Prince is a big inspiration for me, because it’s one of my favorite books, and I really love space and the cosmos and stars.”

What do you hope people will take away from “The Dreamer’s Home”? “I hope people will find the story endearing, and I hope that they find the writing poetic and they can see the stars when they read. ”

Speaking of poetic, can you teach me to be as amazingly poetic as you? Or should I say, other people? “That’s so sweet, I don’t know. I just, well, when you think about something that you really love, whether its a form of nature or whatever, maybe you like flowers, or you like, you know, diamonds. When you describe it, it comes from within yourself because you’re describing something truly beautiful to yourself, for me it’s the stars. So if the stars are beautiful to me I would describe them in that way, so it’s not really something that’s taught or learned, it’s more natural.”

Do you have anyone you would dedicate this to, or is it just a special personal piece? “Special piece, I didn’t really dedicate it to someone.”

photography by: Kat Beason

By: Kat Beason I look out to the sea. Oh, so beautiful, but very different from me. I'm sitting here thinking among all this beauty, but then there is me, Man. So ugly of mind. Not as pure as the sea. Where do we belong here in this world of beauty? And what do we do to feel belonging? We destroy the beauty... And why should we belong here? It is beyond me... To try to belong in a world so unfit to us, so we think... We destroy it to make it so we, Man, have somewhere to belong. We take something so pure and break it down. Down to whatever we want because it's what we feel is best. Best to survive and live on... Just because it's what we feel is best doesn't mean it's right. Shouldn't we preserve the beauty, purities and more? Why destroy it all? Just to feel like we belong? Just because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like us? Doesn't mean it needs to change just for us to belong. Why not accept the beauty? Why not let it show you that you, Man, do not need to destroy beauty to belong here. You can belong together. You just need to figure it out. I look out to the sea. Oh, so beautiful, but very different from me. I sit here thinking among all this beauty. And then there is meâ&#x20AC;Ś

k r o Y w e N n Whe Met Cinema

By: Grace Galarraga

There is a certain timelessness that comes upon viewing New York City on film. New York, being one of the oldest cities in the United States, has seen the silver screen more than once. Along with this sense of timelessness comes a wash of odd feelings of nostalgia for someone like me, who has lived in New York for most of my life. Perhaps it’s something in the buildings, or the way the city lights up at night, or maybe it’s that iconic skyline, but something about New York brings about the feeling of romance, whether you have been or not. But what is it that makes New York City a city of love in most of the films it’s been featured in? It starts in the city. New York City is one of the most well known places in the world. In the early stages of our nation, it was a place where everyone had a chance, where anyone could achieve anything.“If you look at history of film, there was Hollywood, but even before that there was New York,” English and Art of Film teacher, Scott McLaughlin states.

Even before Hollywood, where movies were born, New York captivated audiences with it’s indescribable charm and urban setting. As Mclaughlin states, “New York added a bit of realism to the movies that were made at the time and they continue to do it today,” and this use of realism can be seen in Woody Allen’s 1979 film, Manhattan. In past years, this film has been dubbed as Woody Allen’s love letter to the city he grew up in, and the message becomes clear upon viewing the film. Shot entirely in black and white for no real reason other than to show New York in her best light, Manhattan truly shows all the best parts of the city, and all the best parts of love. An example of this can be seen in the iconic shot by the Queensboro bridge, as characters Isaac (played by Woody Allen) and Mary (played by Diane Keaton) begin to fall in love. The romanticization of New York comes from films like this, films that show the city off beautifully, all while masking it with a love story. Woody Allen’s character in this film put it perfectly, “He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion. Make that, he romanticized it all out of proportion,” and the same could be said for audiences. As put by McLaughlin, “Sometimes a city itself is a character.” and an example of this can be seen in Nora Ephron’s 1993 film, Sleepless in Seattle. Quite contrary to it’s title, the most memorable and well known scene in this movie is on top of the Empire State Building.

It shows a contrast between Seattle, which in this movie represents a place of grief and despair for recently widowed single father, Sam (played by Tom Hanks) and Manhattan, a place where love is born again and where he meets Annie (played by Meg Ryan). Sleepless in Seattle shows the prime differences between cities, and by doing so, leads the viewer to believe that New York City is where the romance lies. Nevertheless, the ending is among one of the best, instilling a good, fluffy feeling in the audience, and of course, leaving them begging for New York City. Christmas romantic comedies. Almost everyone watches them around the holidays, and they never disappoint. In fact, viewers never get tired of them, and re-watch them year after year. While Christmas rom-coms have been pretty diverse in their locations, there are a handful of flicks that have been set in New York. Elf, a Jon Favreau film, is an example of this. It’s become somewhat of a cult classic over the last few years, with Will Ferrell’s memorable Buddy the Elf character, it’s hard not to forget. While this film also uses New York City to it’s advantage, it portrays New York City during the holidays, which is a whole other thing. Along with being hectic, the city is cold, with black slush caking the sides of roads, people rushing to buy last minute Christmas gifts, not to mention hordes of tourists visiting to experience things like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Overall, the city is a mess around the holidays. But why is it that it looks so beautiful in films? The city at Christmas time in holiday movies is portrayed as almost too good to be true to viewers who haven’t been to New York around this time. It almost seems magical that Buddy and Jovie could get into the Rockefeller Ice Skating Rink without breaking their legs while trying to get in. When posed with the question as to why more and more Christmas romantic comedies are set in New York, Mclaughlin answers, “The city during the holidays is beautiful. The decorations, the lights, the Empire State building is lit up. All the other reasons apply. It’s just a beautiful city during that time.” Viewers of holiday films could not agree more. Another prime example of both a classic and timeless holiday movie set in New York is George Seaton’s Miracle on 34th Street. The film oozes the New York City holiday feel, complete with a Santa Claus with very real whiskers and a love story somewhere in between the Kris Kringle court case. artwork by: Gracie Briquelet

While the movie mainly takes place within the Times Square Macy’s, it truly shows the hectic Christmas feel within New York, through the point of view from a popular shopping center. Much like Elf, the romantic element of this movie isn’t the main point of the film. While the film itself is about a crowd of people coming together to support someone else during the holidays, a love story is somehow nestled in. How? Something about being in New York during the holidays, while defending a certain jolly old elf, leads to romance. No one really knows why, it’s simply a fact. The idea of two people meeting each other in a city as vast as New York, is, in it’s own way, the definition of love. A movie that redefines love using this method is Rob Reiner’s 1989 film, When Harry Met Sally. The movie has become a classic holiday watch over the years, even though the holidays are hardly a part of it. It’s the perfect example of a boy meets girl story, with an odd exception. What sets When Harry Met Sally apart from the rest of New York City rom-coms is the way the story is told. Harry meets Sally straight out of college; they proceed to hate each other. They leave each other in New York City, and expect to never see each other again. Five years later, they meet in an airport. They try to be friends. They agree against it, and move on. Another five years later, they meet each other again, in a city of almost 8.5 million, and they finally decide to become friends. Then, the love story begins. This type of story wouldn’t work in a small town, or I would argue, in any other city. Manhattan, being so well known and such a big city, makes falling in love seem almost impossible, and all the more romantic. As McLaughlin says, “Quite a lot of people choose that city because a lot of people can identify with it. There’s already a prior knowledge. We already know the Empire State building, statue of liberty, we know what it looks like. It’s kind of like the American city,” and one that is perfect for romance.The thing that gives New York rom-coms their romantic element is hardly the location. It’s not New York, it’s the love. It’s the idea of meeting someone in a city so big and so well known, where everyone is trying to be someone and get somewhere, that you can meet someone and fall in love. While New York is a true beauty to look at, in the end, it is a city, a city where every type of person dwells, good or bad. Films set in New York for the romance of it show that it isn’t about the city, the lights, or the skyline, rather about the story of two people in love. If one looks deeper into New York for what it truly is, (an overpopulated city), the idea of romance can seem lost. So why the romanticization of New York? Perhaps, the New York portrayed in film is nothing more than a dream; a dream to lead on the hopeless romantic in all of us.

WHAT TO BINGE WATCH ON

NETFLIX

THIS WINTER BREAK

By: Emi Jimenez

photography by: Dixie Chatt

If you dislike school as much as I do, then you are probably excited to have winter break. Two weeks without lectures from your teachers, or piles of homework. A time to sleep-in, hang-out with friends, visit family or go on vacation. But some of us prefer to stay in bed eating snacks and binge watching shows. Netflix has hundreds of options, so many that we might not know what to watch. This is where I come inâ&#x20AC;Ś I am here to give you a list of movies and T.V. shows you can watch based on what you like. Enjoy!

SCARY MOVIES

ROMANTIC SHOWS

- The Babadook - Curse of Chucky - Stitches

- Love - Your Lie in April - Descendants of the Sun

SCARY SHOWS

SUSPENSEFUL MOVIES

- Death Note - Slasher - American Horror Story

FUNNY MOVIES

- Naked - Exams - The Interview

SUSPENSEFUL SHOWS

- Mean Girls - White Chicks - Nacho Libre

FUNNY SHOWS - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Friends - Parks And Recreation

ROMANTIC MOVIES

- Riverdale - 13 Reasons Why - Law & Order Special Victims Unit

SUPERHERO SHOWS - Super Girl - The Flash - Arrow - Iron Fist - Defenders - Daredevil

- Moonrise Kingdom - Safe Haven - A Little Bit of Heaven 23

THE

HAMILTON EXPERIENCE

By: Sheldon Stires & Grace Galarraga

1773.

Alexander Hamilton enrolls in New York City’s King’s College. 1776. Hamilton meets Aaron Burr. 1804. Hamilton meets his end from both his best friend and enemy. 2015. The show Hamilton created by Lin-Manuel Miranda opens on Broadway and changes history. 2017. The show comes to California, where a lucky few get tickets get to see it’s majesty. That’s where we are today. The Tony award winning show, Hamilton, took the world by storm in late 2015. The idea came to fruition when Miranda picked up a book on Hamilton’s life (Hamilton by Ron Chernow,) and he soon realized that there was more to the founding fathers than meets the eye. Using rappers such as Biggie Smalls, Jay Z and Eminem for inspiration, Miranda created a musical masterpiece telling the story of one of this nation’s founding fathers who went unnoticed for many years.

While watching the show in New York would have been more iconic, The Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, California brings a sense of broadway to the movie-making state. The theatre cannot possibly be missed when walking the streets of L.A. as the marquee takes up a majority of the building’s entrance. The theatre itself gives off a nostalgic feel for the Great White Way in its prime, clad in it’s dazzling lights and posters.

The theatre interior is something else entirely. It drops the vintage feel of its outside appearance right away, and introduces the audience to a new feeling. To those who haven’t seen it, the ceiling in this theatre is a bright blue and is meant to simulate the idea that the sky's the limit, a perfect setting for a story like Hamilton. While the theatre is large, it isn’t over the top in its size. In a way, the size of it balances out the very large marquee in the entrance. The theatre glitters in gold and freshness, just like the show it’s presenting. As the show starts, it is introduced by its very own King George, played by Rory O’Malley. As the statement of ‘please enjoy MY show’ is heard and the audience’s laughs die down, the show starts off with a bold and unforgettable riff, and we see our leading man. Alexander Hamilton in this particular performance was played by the understudy Ryan Alvarado. He’s short in stature and from the audience’s perspective, looks and sounds like a replica of Lin-Manuel Miranda. He brings the charisma and charm of Alexander Hamilton, and most importantly, brings him back to life. And so it begins.

artwork by: Sam Roum

Aaron Burr (played by Joshua Henry,) tells the audience a bit about Hamilton’s life, along with everyone he affected. The audience gets an introduction to the all-star cast in the song “Aaron, Burr, Sir,” where characters like Aaron Burr, Lafayette (played by Jordan Donica,) Mulligan (played by Mathenee Treco) and Laurens (played by Ruben J. Carbajal,) bond with Hamilton over drinks and become his companions throughout the rest of the show. After introductions are made, the show quickly goes into “My Shot,” in which Hamilton shows his confidence and motivation to the audience. The song, one of the most well known on the soundtrack, is complete with amazing lighting and choreography to go along with the strong and insightful lyrics. It is truly one of the most memorable parts of the show. After getting involved in the war, Hamilton goes to a “Winter's Ball,” where he meets Angelica Schuyler (played by Emmy Raver-Lampman,) the daughter of a rich United States Senator, Philip Schuyler. It is Angelica who then introduces him to Eliza Schuyler (played by Solea Pfeiffer,) her sister and Hamilton’s future bride. The happy mood quickly changes, however, when Hamilton and the rest are back on the battlefield. A song that starts off the kick back to the war is “Guns and Ships,” which has been named one of the fastest songs on Broadway. As sung by LaFayette, the rap is truly something to experience. Further into the war, Laurens and General Charles Lee enter a duel, and the “Ten Duel Commandments” are introduced. As the song plays out, a sense of anxiety washes over the audience, who at this point are clutching on to the edge of their seats as Laurens and Lee aim their guns at each other.

Act one ends with ‘Non-Stop,’ in which the audience sees Hamilton’s life after the war. The song foreshadows Hamilton's eventual death with the line from Burr, “that attitude will be your doom,” which perfectly sums up Hamilton’s entire character in one sentence. There’s a scene between Hamilton and Burr on Burr’s doorstep, when Hamilton tells Burr that he wants to fix the new U.S Constitution, which changes the course of the song. As the song says, Hamilton joins forces with James Madison and John Jay to write a series of essays defending the new United States Constitution, which are known today as The Federalist Papers.

A pivotal moment in the entire musical happens at this point. Chills are sent down the viewers backs as Burr narrates that twenty-five essays were supposed to be written, but eighty-five were completed. Even more chills are sent down the backs of many when he states the statistics of it all: “John Jay got sick after writing five, James Madison wrote twenty-nine, Hamilton wrote the other fifty-one!” The act ends with Hamilton stating what he said in the beginning: He is not throwing away his shot. Act two begins by introducing Thomas Jefferson, followed, of course, by all hell breaking loose. The song entitled, “What’d I Miss?” contains bits of jazz influence that the show seemed to be missing. Straight from Paris, Thomas Jefferson jumps right into his position as Secretary of State. Jefferson is one of the most refreshing characters in the show. He is a mixture of both rap and Broadway. From his exuberant long Prince-esque purple coat to grinding on one of the tables during a cabinet battle, Thomas Jefferson brings the flare to whatever room or song he is in. His character, while a bit dramatic and going against most of what Hamilton has to say, is among one of the best. A similar character to his is King George. The man hardly moves once on stage, simply to prevent the large crown on his head from falling. What he lacks in movements he makes up for in attitude. King George brings the comedy and the snark of an old ex-boyfriend to the United States, who so desperately wants to get back together with her. Both he and Thomas Jefferson bring a sense of light to the darker themes of the show, keeping it balanced and a pleasurable experience for all. Act two becomes more and more twisted as Hamilton gets older. He cheats on his wife, and foolishly tells everyone years later, ruining his chances of becoming president. His son, Philip, dies in his mother’s arms after getting into a duel with someone, in one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show. This is followed by ‘It’s Quiet Uptown,’ a song that shows the bleakness of life after loss.

Burr turns against Hamilton, which eventually leads to another duel entitled, “The World Was Wide Enough.” Aaron Burr narrates as his moments with Hamilton begin to fade. The determination and pain in his voice is evident when he says, “This man will not make an orphan of my daughter.” His voice breaks with both anger and sorrow for having to battle Hamilton, someone who has been both an enemy and friend to him throughout his life. A gunshot is heard, then a silence. The light changes and goes to white, and the sound of wind is heard on the battlefield. Hamilton talks of his life, recognizes his faults, and accepts death. His voice becomes a mere echo as he tries to convince himself whether to live or die, whether to join all the people he has lost in his life or continue living. He looks up as he speaks and Washington, Laurens and his son, Philip, are all dressed in white, waiting for him to join them on the other side. It is in this moment that Hamilton throws away his shot. Burr screams, “Wait!” and the audience is silent, just like Hamilton’s body lying on the battlefield. The story of Alexander Hamilton is neither sad nor happy, and he himself is neither a good or bad person. From the way that the story is told, while mostly in Hamilton’s favor, it doesn’t leave out all of the bad things he did. It goes into how he cheated on his wife, was impulsive, quick to anger, and stubborn, while also leaving him vulnerable. Hamilton is a perfect balance of a history lesson and a rap album, wrapped up nicely with a beautifully told story and simplistic set. Lin Manuel Miranda gives a voice to Alexander Hamilton, a forgotten founding father, in an unforgettable musical.

photography by: Sheldon Stires

By: Genesis Tapia

A murder, a baseball game, and a crime scene. It would slowly evolve into a story of a man whose life would change forever. Long Shot is a documentary about a man named Juan Catalan, who was arrested for a murder he did not commit. Just think, a man who was accused of murder, who never committed the crime, and a Dodgers baseball game that would clear his name. On a normal day, there was a knock on Juan's door. When he looked outside there were policemen on his doorstep and surrounding his house. Frightened and shocked by an accusation of killing a girl he did not kill. Juan was then taken to jail for the time being in order for the court to have time and figure out exactly what happened that night. He was then able to get a lawyer who would do everything in his power to search for evidence in order to clear his name. Juan and his lawyer were facing a prosecutor who had never lost a case and liked to pick off people with a death penalty. Curious to know more, watch the new Netflix special Long Shot. It will leave you wondering how one innocent man can lose his freedom in a blink of an eye. While watching the documentary, it made me rethink about life. How we take everything in life for granted. Including freedom. Juan is a man just like everyone else. Having a job to make money to provide for his family and living a happy life to the end. Long Shot is a fantastic documentary to watch. It made me feel all types of emotions that I don’t normally feel while watching a show, a movie, anything in general. I especially felt sad for Juan because he had to go through all those bad moments that will forever stay with him. Juan’s family also had to go through that, including his daughter, who thought that her dad might have been a killer. I couldn’t imagine what Juan and his family went through. Overall I thought the documentary, Long Shot was a wonderful film to watch. For viewers, it has your crime investigation and documentary film all in one. I suggest people who like to watch documentaries and crime investigation to give Long Shot a try and enjoy watching. I surely had a splendid time watching the film. Hope you enjoy it as I have.

artwork by: Dixie Chatt

Show Nerd

GOING GREAT By: Matt Sargent The Front Bottoms are a New Jersey native band that has been made famous for their indie rock sound, emo lyrics, and the obscure meaning behind them. On October 13, 2017, the band released their seventh album, Going Grey. The album is filled with joyous sounding music accompanied with relatively sad lyrics. In the album, the songs sound as though the band is reminiscing on moments from the past. This relates to the title because the term “going grey” refers to someone getting older. Track by track, each song has it’s own meaning, but it all ties into the overarching motif of aging. The first track on the album is titled “You Used to Say.” Disclaimer! This is one of two songs on the album that has an explicit tag on Spotify. The song begins with a slow intro. Waves crashing, seagulls chirping, and an ominous sound tying it all together. The music begins and it can best be described as the kind of sound you’d hear at the beginning of a coming of age film. Then, the voice of Brian Sella, the vocalist of The Front Bottoms, asks a series of seemingly rhetorical questions. “Do you think my eyes should be wider?/ Do you think my expression should match how it is on the inside?” This is Sella saying that his feelings on the inside aren’t the same as they’re depicted on the outside. From the get-go, the listener has an idea of what the album is going to entail. After the chorus, the next verse goes, “You used to say, ‘Don't be angry’/ I finally understand why/ Everything that you taught me/ Got twisted up, on the inside.” Growing up, advice is often met with anger and confusion since there is a lack of understanding in many young people (myself included). As time goes on, one is more likely to take kindly to advice and constructive criticism because, a lot of the time, it is coming from a place of love.

One’s desire to tell Sella “don’t be angry,” can be seen as them telling him to face life with a better attitude. In the cloud of youth, this is interpreted negatively thus becoming “twisted up.” Sella has now recognized that this was a lesson. He seems to be taking the words to heart now that he is older. “Peace Sign” is the second song on the album. This song has one of my favorite lyrics on the entire album. “She started talking backwards/but nothing good it brings her/ so the next time that she sees him/ it’ll be peace sign middle finger.” The line is perfectly worded in such a way to not only be ironic, but also keep the rhyme pattern that was established. It sounds dorky, but it’s little things like this that can really turn a good song into a great one. Continuing with the theme of growing up and maturity, the song describes a woman who likes to perform in front of crowds. The woman referenced is unknown, but Sella obviously has feelings for her and they probably left things on a sour note. Why not write a song about it? Have you ever heard of a sad love song? Well, look no further. The second to last song on the album is titled “Everyone But You.” This song is exactly what The Front Bottoms are all about. The music is very upbeat and peachy. However, the lyrics are very melancholy and rather depressing. “I can’t get happy, can’t get sad/ it’s hard to do/ when I hate everyone but you.” This song reminds me a lot of the song “Flying Model Rockets” off their album My Grandma vs Pneumonia. Both songs sound similar in tempo and the rhythm is almost exact. I think you could splice lyrics from one song into another and it would sound like it was intended. “Everyone But You” sounds like Sella has grown up. In the first verse, he says, “The consequence is coming, I still have yet to learn/ That every little bit helps the fire burn,” after stating that he built a metaphorical flame in his mind. The consequences of Sella’s behavior are going to bite him in the ass and he knows it. He knows he is burning bridges thinking that it’s going to help him, but it’s really just isolating him further.

artwork by: Dixie Chatt

The final song I’m going to go over is my personal favorite. It’s called “Grand Finale.” The song is actually in the middle of the album, not at the end as the name would have listeners led to believe. If one song were to summarize the motif of the entire album, it’s this one. The first verse alone wraps up everything discussed in the previous songs. “Encore, night is almost over/I'm bored, wanna leave/It felt good before, but now/it's getting older/'Cause there's no more empathy”. It can’t get any clearer than that. I like this song because I can relate to it..Talking about phones falling into fires and fireworks remind me of early July. I have always enjoyed the 4th of July because it’s a time to stay out late and make memories. I feel like this song really focuses on the summer because the summertime is usually an opportunity to act childish and dumb. Anyone who says they haven’t made dumb decisions over the summer at sometime in their life is lying. I think Sella understands this. The way he is describing the end of summer is like the end of adolescence. To conclude, Going Grey by The Front Bottoms is an album full of symbolism and a common motif of growing up and accepting that the past is in the past. On a scale of one to ten, I would give the album an 8.5/10. While the album is great, little issues bother me. As stated prior, a few of their songs sound similar to songs on their other album. Not to mention how repetitive most of the songs are on this album. Fans of TFB were excited to hear about the new album when they announced it back at the end of August. Certainly, they received one of the better albums to have been made by the band. All of their albums are available on Spotify, and Apple Music as well as on CD and Vinyl!

Forgotten Classics presents:

THE STONE ROSES

n 1989, the English rock band, the Stone Roses, released their self-titled debut album which garnered critical acclaim and was hailed as, “One of the greatest British albums ever recorded.” The Stone Roses fused alternative, funk, blues, and dance rock. The band was one of the pioneering bands of the Manchester movements which mixed alternative rock with 60’s pop and psychedelia. Their most prominent line up consisted of Ian Brown on vocals, John Squire on guitar, Mani on bass, and Renni on drums. The group practiced for six months and played their first gig in 1985 and toured extensively after that, which led them to gain a substantial following. The band was able to meet their managers Matthew Cummngs and Gareth Evans at a venue called International 1 in the month of April and released their single "So Young"/"Tell Me.” In order to increase their notoriety, the band graffitied their name across Didsbury in Manchester. This caused more people to become interested in the band despite the negativity. Throughout this time, Couzen and Garner left the band. To fill in for Garner, Rob Hampson was chosen. After a few gigs, he left and the band asked Mani to join them. From that point on, the band started falling into place. The band released their debut album The Stone Roses which was produced by John Leckie. “Made Of Stone”and “She Bangs The Drums” became hits and were played on the airwaves, as the band began to sell out concerts across the country due to the exposure. Though many critics praised the album, the band themselves surprisingly expressed distaste for it. The band released the single “One Love” before entering a four year period when that halted making music, due to legal battles and other obligations with their record label, Silvertone.

By: Natalie Han

The group was infuriated and stated that they were not being paid enough. The court released the band from their five year contract and soon the group was signed by Geffen Records. The production of the follow up album was slow due to each band member’s family obligations and other personal problems . Second Comings was released in December of 1994. The album was mostly written by Squire and more hints of jazz influence were seen throughout the tracks. The album had mixed reviews with some critics saying they had lost their meaning. Over the course of the year, Reni and Squire left the band due to disagreements. The band continued to tour for another six months but in October of 1996, the band dissolved. In 2011, rumors of gigs being scheduled for The Stone Roses began to arise. Members of the band began to send out cryptic messages and Brown finally confirmed the rumors and announced that The Stone Roses would reunite after fifteen years for a worldwide reunion tour. They played with several bands like The Farm and Mick Jagger and other artists. Their last concert was on June 24, 2017 at Hampden Park. After the performance, Brown said, “Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened.” Many fans believe that this signified the end of The Stone Roses, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Throughout the years, The Stone Roses had their ups and downs. The albums following The Stone Roses were bashed by their critics and overall could not reach the success of their debut. Nevertheless, the band was able to influence countless bands and other artists with their sound. artwork by: Dixie Chatt

THE DEATH OF LIL PEEP & IAN CURTIS By: Jameson Jaksch

Lil Peep was dead.

JOY DIVISION

artwork by: Dixie Chatt

On the night of November 15, at around midnight, I was laying in my bed, not able to fall asleep due to my ever present insomnia. All was seeming pretty regular, and as with every other night I lay there looking at my friends’ feeds on Snapchat and Instagram until I was finally getting exhausted enough to fall asleep. that’s when I noticed. On my friend Chase’s Snapchat story with a black background, it read “R.I.P. Peep” in classic white Snapchat lettering. I lay there confused, and I thought at worst maybe it was just an overdose and he was in the hospital recovering, or hopefully just a hoax altogether as I had remembered a couple months ago I had seen posts like this for Lil Pump even though nothing had happened and he was seemingly fine. I Snapchatted Chase who himself is a huge Lil Peep fan, and I asked him where he got the information that he was dead he responded saying that his manager had posted it on his Instagram. Sure enough, I found dozens of people talking about it, and this also made me realize that the reason there were no news articles present was because it was so recent and it had happened around that hour. Even then I still wasn’t convinced; stuff like this had happened plenty of times in the past where someone had thought an artist had died but it just turned out to be a hoax or an over-exaggeration. The situation that was unfolding made me even more restless, and I told myself I would not sleep until I read a news report, so I waited. Finally about 20 minutes later, actual news sites began to report on it, and from there I didn’t need any more explanations.

Although he wasn’t my favorite artist when he was alive, I still respected him, and I knew that he was without a doubt the most talented “mainstream” rapper to come out of the Soundcloud independent scene. Another thing that made it seem so surreal was the fact that a lot of my friends, myself included, were supposed to go see him live the next night. Thinking of this fact, I contacted my friends who I knew were still awake and they were just as stunned as I was. Questions of how, why and when were on everyone’s minds, and I knew that there wouldn’t be an exact answer until the next day, so I did everything I could, and I finally somehow eased my mind to sleep. The next morning I woke up and everything just seemed dreary and lifeless, and this all made me think of the death of Ian Curtis, which occurred in 1980. The fact that I was reminded of this wasn’t surprising. They were both unique artists in their own right. They’re both artists who used the popular music of the time as a way to write as well as entertain, and both artists died just as they were beginning to grow in fame and success. As I walked to school I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I kept drawing comparisons to the two. Of course when I got to school everyone was talking about it, and everyone had something to say. Some people were devastated, others used it as an opportunity make jokes and to mock him. The criticism people were throwing at Lil Peep was somewhat understandable; some people found him pretentious, some people found him uninspired, and all of these critiques had a certain truth to them. Then at the same time there were people who viewed him as an idol, people who looked to him as independent rap’s savior, and some of these praises were deserved as well. The whole day was full of so many emotions and questions, and most of the questions people were asking wouldn’t get straight answers until later in the day. That afternoon people finally got some closure when news outlets started to report on the cause of death, and it was determined that he had died of a Xanax overdose. This sparked heavy conversation in the music industry and health industry as well. This reminded me of the death of Ian Curtis even more and how his death sparked conversation in both these industries just like Peep did with drug abuse. Now I don’t want to call Lil Peep the modern Ian Curtis, but there’s no way I can ignore the similarities. For one thing, they both presumably suffered from depression and both of their cases went relatively ignored; both kept on powering through and tried to make their fans happy. Both were growing in fame at an astounding pace, and because of this fame, both were being torn apart more and more. Both wrote heavily on topics of depression and isolation, and both lived what they wrote.

Though by no means is Lil Peep comparable to Ian Curtis in the writing department when it comes to poetics, it’s still scary how close the subject matter is with the two. Some people might ask why nobody saw Lil Peeps death coming, but people asked the same thing when Ian Curtis killed himself. And the answer to that is silence. Both of these artists didn’t really talk about it to their friends, they saved how they felt for the music, and because of this they paid the ultimate price. I know it seems as if I’ve gone off topic but I introduced my point of this thinkpiece exactly the way I wanted to, with the whole bit about my first hearing of his death and the reactions of people around me. I did this because it all seemed way too reminiscent of the day Ian Curtis killed himself and the reactions around him, and the reactions of his fans. On that day Ian Curtis and his band Joy Division were set to depart on their first American tour, and 3 nights later were supposed to play their first gig at the legendary venue on the east coast The Hurrah. As Merrill Aldighieri remembers, she was supposed to show her science fiction comedy as the opening act for Joy Division until the managers of the venue had come in tearfully to tell the audience the news. I also have mutual connections with Joy Division’s American tour. although I was not alive at the time, one of my brother in law’s closest friends was supposed to see them only a couple nights later down here on the West Coast until he heard the news, and the concert was inevitably cancelled. Sound familiar?. That was my point of the first section of this article, to demonstrate how similar both cases of these tragic deaths were, and how these deaths had an immediate impact on people who loved these artists. I'd like to end this article with hope for the future and how we have proof by looking back at the past with Ian Curtis. When Ian Curtis died there was an immediate shockwave, and his death is often cited as the start of the boom of New Wave that defined the 80s because of Joy Division’s hit Love Will Tear Us Apart which had a very distinctive unique sound, as well as the fact that the remaining members of Joy Division went on to form New Order which became one of the most essential bands of that decade. Looking back at that, and the fact that out of one person’s untimely death, a whole new genre was formed. The question is whether or not Lil Peeps style of “Emo-rap” will take off and possibly define the 2020s the same way New Wave defined the 1980s, and only time will tell.

DECEMBER PLAYLIST By: Natalie Han follow our playlist here: http://spoti.fi/2Ay1knB

1. Locket

Crumb

2. Song 3

Inner Wave

3. Plastic Fantastic

Pinkest

4. Do The Trick

Dr. Dog

5. Drop the Guillotine 6. Horchata

Peach Pit Vampire Weekend

7. Mr. Blue Sky

Electric Light Orchestra

8. Golden Power

Magic Potion

9. Blown Rose

Blossoms

10. Super Natural

Turnover

11. Alrighty Aphrodite

Peach Pit

12. White Flag

Jay Som

13. This Is the Day

The The

SANTA'S JINGLES get into the holiday spirit here: http://spoti.fi/2ACk6f1 A Holly Jolly Christmas

Burl Ives

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Dean Martin

Back Door Santa

Clarence Carter

Blue Christmas

Elvis Presley

Jingle Bell Rock

Bobby Helms

White Christmas

Bing Crosby

Santa Tell Me

Ariana Grande

Last Christmas

MTYC

Underneath the Tree

Kelly Clarkson

White Winter Hymnal

Pentatonix

Miseltoe

Justin Bieber

Christmas Wish

She & Him

....and so much more! 37

BlondeSquad Meets Christmas By: Emma Ford, Katy Houchen, & Kenzie Jones

e are the Blonde Squad, almost like the Buzzfeed’s the Try Guys and Lunch Break combined. Basically, we are here to help you guys prepare for every event and holiday. This season is Christmas, so obviously we are here to help you pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Before the shopping begins we asked a couple of our fellow students what they have previously experienced in the Christmas Tree Department their past Christmases. Our statistics show that 63% of you prefer a real christmas tree, 49% of them get pine trees, 79.2% get tall ones, 64.2% decorate their trees with no particular order, 52.8% of people get their tree earlier in the season, and 45.3% of people get there trees bigger and fuller. So our mission is to find the perfect christmas tree this year. On our way to finding our perfect Christmas tree we decided to indulge in some Christmas festivities and go ice skating. This was the perfect detour on our journey, allowing us to really get in the Christmas mood and allow us to have some fun. Let’s just say ice skating isn’t really the easiest, but you could basically call us professionals. When we got to a Christmas tree lot we realized that there are a lot of different types of trees to choose from and various looks that you will want to consider, we decided to start searching. We first found out that Noble Trees were our favorite trees because they were fuller and really gave off the look that we liked. However some notable options could include a Douglas and Pine, each of those offered almost the same look as the Noble,

photography by: Matt Sargent

but in the end we decided that a Noble Tree was our favorite. Now that we have found the best tree in the lot, we have decided that it’s completely necessary to decorate it. So deeper into our research we went and realized that 64.2% decorate their trees with no particular order. So we headed straight to Target to find the perfect decorations for our perfect tree. First we started with picking a theme. A theme is very important because it sets up the basics of your tree, and gives you guidelines for the perfect tree, for your perfect Christmas. Along with the theme comes the different type of colors that you or your family wish to choose. Our theme of choice was a color scheme which was filled with red, white and gold. Target was full of an abundance of our color scheme and we picked up a few items which included: ornaments, ribbon, sparkly sticks, and lots of lights! Lights are our favorite because a tree with just lights really leaves an impression over a tree without lights. There you have it, the steps to a perfect Christmas tree, but what really makes the perfect holiday tree...is putting your personal touch on it. Add a little something that represents you in a perfect way because no tree is the same, they are all original and each one represents you. Don’t let the stressful feelings of the holidays get to you; enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate, ice skate with your best friends or decorate the perfect tree, but remember the holidays are all about being with the people you love, that’s what makes Christmas perfect. Until next time..

photography by: Matt Sargent

r o F s t a e r T Fun s y a d i l o H e h T By: Briana Dooley

Christmas Wreaths What you’ll need: - ⅓ cup of butter - 4 cups of mini marshmallows - Green food coloring - 6 cups of cornflakes - Red Hots/red cinnamon candy How it’s made: 1. Put cornflakes in a bowl 2. Melt butter in a pot on low heat. When the butter is melted, add in the mini marshmallows and continuously stir until melted. Then add food coloring. 3. After the marshmallows are melted, add in the cereal and stir until it is mixed in 4. Spread a bit of parchment paper on the table. Be sure to grease your hands with cooking spray or butter before touching the cornflakes. Take handfuls of the corn flakes and shape then into little wreaths. After shaping them, top them off with a Red Hot or cinnamon candy!

Peppermint Bark What you’ll need: - Dark chocolate - White chocolate - Two teaspoons of canola oil - ½ a teaspoon of peppermint extract - Crushed candy canes or peppermint candy How it’s made: 1. Grease a pan lightly and line with wax paper 2. Put the dark chocolate and 1 teaspoon of canola oil in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute, stir the sides and keep microwaving until it’s melted. When it’s all melted add in ¼ of the peppermint extract. Repeat with the white chocolate in a separate bowl. 3. Pour the melted dark chocolate onto the greased pan and spread it evenly across the bottom. Let it set in the refrigerator until it has hardened fully. 4. After the dark chocolate is hardened, spread the white chocolate over it evenly. 5. Sprinkle the crushed peppermint over the top and press in carefully. 6. Again, refrigerate until fully hardened, then break the into medium pieces.

White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel Sticks What you’ll need: - Pretzel rods - White chocolate - Crushed candy canes

photography by: Briana Dooley

Homemade Sugar Cookies What you’ll need: - 1 cup of softened butter - 1 cup of sugar - 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract - 1 egg - 3 cups of all-purpose flour - ½ a teaspoon of salt - 2 teaspoons of baking powder How it’s made: 1. Preheat your oven to 350F 2. Mix the butter and sugar together until they’re smooth. 3. Add in the vanilla and egg 4. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder. 5. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together. The mixture should be crumbly. 6. Knead with wet hands and separate the dough into 2-3 balls and cover them with plastic wrap 7. Flour the surface you’re rolling the dough out on and add a bit of flour onto the rolling pin, roll out the dough until it’s about ¼” thick. 8. Use your choice of cookie cutter to create the shapes/figures. After you’ve cut them out, use a spatula (metal works best) to move the

How it’s made: 1. Lay out a piece of parchment paper 2. Melt the white chocolate in a bowl on a low heat until it is completely melted. 3. After the chocolate is melted, you can start dipping your pretzels into it. 4. Finally, sprinkle the crushed candy cane over the pretzels, let them set (the fridge is fastest), and enjoy!

White Chocolate Hot Chocolate What you’ll need: - Milk (it doesn’t matter what type) - 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract - Chopped or chips of white chocolate -Whipped cream and marshmallows (optional) How it’s made: 1. Add the milk, vanilla extract, and white chocolate into a saucepan 2. Cook on low-medium heat. Occasionally stir 3. Top it off with whipped cream, marshmallows, or any topping of your choice. Serve right away!

Walking In A Winter Disneyland By: Sheldon Stires Who doesn’t love Disneyland? Actually, who doesn’t love Disneyland during Christmas? The holiday season at Disneyland is truly the best time of year to go to Disneyland. The sights of the castle decorated with icicles, walking down Main Street U.S.A. seeing a bright Christmas tree and the sweet smells of candy canes and fresh gingerbread. Here are some ways you can spend the most wonderful time of year at the Disneyland Resort:

1. Seasonal Overlays

One of the best parts about Disneyland is obviously the rides, but some of our favorite rides this time of year have a special twist. The most popular overlay is the “Haunted Mansion Holiday”, which is based off of the 1993 movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. This overlay goes through the famous mansion as it is decked with garlands made of bones and Christmas wreaths that may try to eat you! The other popular overlay of this year would be “It’s a Small World: Holiday” which is a 15 minute cruise around the world with dolls singing holiday tunes.This overlay immerses riders in other cultures and represents how everyone around the world celebrates Christmas or similar holidays.

2. Holiday Treats

Along with rides, Disneyland is also known for their tasty snacks and treats. Maybe you could sit down with a nice hot chocolate and enjoy one of Disneyland’s many nighttime spectaculars. You can find the famous Disney hot chocolate at any location that sells coffee and/or any restaurants with fountain drinks. Another holiday favorite is the classic giant Disneyland candy cane, which is only available on certain days of the season. You can find these at Trolley Treats in Disney California Adventure and the Penny Arcade in Disneyland. You could also enjoy a nice soft gingerbread man with chocolate Mickey ears available at any in-park bakery. These are only a few of the many treats you can find in the park during the holidays.

3. The Castle

Disney could not go a single holiday without decking out its classic icon. At this magical time of year Sleeping Beauty's Castle is decorated with white snow and icicles. If you walk around the castle around 8:30 you can witness the castle light up with beautiful lights and it even snows! This is a magical experience where you watch the holidays really come to life as the castle is lit up and snow magically falls. Though it is a small event it is one of the most magical things about the holidays at Disneyland.

4. Night-time Spectaculars

When people think about Disneyland during the night-time, who doesn’t think about fireworks? Well, at this time of year Disneyland presents, “Believe… in Holiday Magic,” which is one of the best firework shows that Disneyland has ever created, and it's only presented 2 months a year. Like the castle lighting at the end of this show it also snows which makes the experience even more magical. While Disneyland has fireworks, Disney California Adventure has “World of Color: Season of Light.” This show uses water and lights to make a very entertaining and fun show for everyone. The idea behind both shows is to portray holiday dreams and magic, which Disney is no stranger to, and that's how they make a 15 to 20 minute show so magical.

5. Christmas At Disneyland In General

Disney does Christmas like no other place in the world. Who else has a 50 foot tall Christmas tree in BOTH Disney parks, and a whole bunch of other decorations throughout the resort? If you have nowhere else to go for the holidays consider spending a day with family and friends at Disneyland. It is truly a magical experience overall and you will make memories that will last you a lifetime.

photography by: Sheldon Stires

top 5 x-mas gifts

By: Kelsey Fuller

1. finding your zen $19 Target Stoneware “Hey Honey” 10.3 oz Mug $4 Me Time Wild Fern & Verbana Epsom Salt $3 SpaLife Coconut Water Facial Mask $3 YesTo Charcoal Deep Detox Christmas Kit $5 Xhilaration™ Women’s Slipper Socks - Ivory $4

2. homework who? $15.76 + Gift Card Amount Target Market Pantry All Natural Popping Corn Yellow $3.29 BIG Sour Patch Kids Soft Chewy Candy $2.29 Mike N Ike Original Chewy Candy $1 Milk Dud Caramel and Chocolate - 10 oz $2.19 Cheez It Original Baked Snack Crackers - 1 oz $2.99 Wondershop™ Women’s Cozy Christmas Crew Socks Santa $5 Target Knitted “Happy Holidays” Gift Card {Amounts

May Vary}

3. your guy friend $25 [Prices May Vary] Amazon, Target, & Seatgeek.com Vosuloty Leather iPhone Case $10.90 PlayStation or XBox Gift Card {Amounts May

Vary}

Sports Game LA clippers Game or USC Trojans Game Prices starting at $7

4. Totally hipster bestie $25.50 Amazon & Etsy Joe’s USA Koloa Surf Slouchy Beanie $12 CYY Mall Iphone Case, Classic 3D Vintage Style Camera shape Starting at $10 CraftFoxCollective Lotus Flower Charm Choker Necklace $3.50

5. Tan in december $27.09 Chicgrace.com & Forever21 ChicGrace Solid Wrap Bikini Set $10.90 ChicGrace Printed Tassel Round Beach Blanket $8.29 Forever21 Oversized Cateye Sunglasses $7.90

photography by: Kelsey Fuller

By: Natalie Ha

HAILI NEWTON @JASKOVIASKI How would you describe your fashion?

Well, it´s honestly a mix of a lot of different styles from alternative to having inspiration from different eras like the 80s’. Right now, I am really into the alternative movement going on right now too.

What are some of your influences?

I like to look at a lot of high fashion shows, like I said, the alternative movement throughout the years and also a lot of movies like “Heathers”. Winona Ryder in “Heathers” is one of my biggest inspirations for fashion. A lot of other big designers such as Alexander McQueen inspire me.

Does social media or anything else influence your fashion? Say Youtube or Instagram? I follow a lot of Instagram accounts and my friends who are really into fashion, so I take a lot of inspiration from them I guess and the random people I follow.

Any fashion tips or tricks?

Personally, I really like drawing out and designing stuff I have in mind and then going out and looking for it. That’s always a really fun thing to do.

Where do you shop for your clothes?

I shop at a lot of “basic” stores like Forever21 and Urban Outfitters. I also go to a lot of thrift stores. I like going to L.A. and finding small thrift stores because they have really good deals instead of paying for $20 glasses at a popular thrift store. I shop online too, but it's from the stores I already mentioned like Forever21.

photography by: Natalie Han

t r o p e R e l Sty eport R e l Sty

What is your favourite piece of clothing that you cannot live without? Pleated skirts or skirts in general.

What are your opinions on dress codes?

In my view, I know there has to be limits to what you can wear to a school, but there have been many cases this year where it's been unfair. Like girls wearing shirts with spaghetti straps and being dress coded in 90ºF to 100ºF weather. Girls shouldn’t be put under such restricting dress codes like “no spaghetti straps/ no halter tops/etc.” because it makes boys “uncomfortable.”

JAMESON JAKSCH @SCOTTCLOCKWORK How would you describe your fashion?

That’s kind of a hard question. I guess I would describe my fashion as not necessarily spastic, but more wild. I feel like it compliments my personality. I wear a lot of Golf Wang which is a clothing company started by Tyler, the Creator and a lot of their clothes are very colourful. I would describe my style as mostly colorful and unique.

What/who are some of your influences?

This is pretty obvious but Tyler, the Creator. The next one may be a bit surprising, but I’m strongly influenced by the style of Morrissey. This is kinda old, but I used to be very influenced by Ian Curtis from Joy Division. I would say that Tyler, the Creator is my main influence though.

How does the media influence your fashion?

The media doesn’t really influence my fashion at all. I don’t like to listen to what the media says about fashion. In fact, I feel like a lot of mainstream, trendy fashion is not necessarily bad, but I think people who wear things like Huf or Thrasher are too scared to step outside their boundaries. They fear what their friends will say. I just say go for it, screw what they say.

I commented on how he wears Supreme.

Well, I haven’t been wearing my Supreme stuff lately. I really wanna get some more Supreme stuff because I literally only wear Golf most of the time. Golf is great, but I think there is a point where I get too carried away with it.

What is your favorite piece of clothing to wear?

Hmm I really like my hoodies, but shoes definitely. I don’t wear anything else besides One Stars which is kinda bad, but I really like them. I have like four different pairs of One Stars.

Any fashion tips or tricks?

I guess like what I said earlier. My only tip is to be yourself and just wear what you like and not be afraid to wear what you like. Don’t avoid wearing something because your friends think it’s stupid or if your parents or teacher say not to. Wear what you want, it’s really up to you. Trust me, that’s one of the things I had to learn. I used to be really afraid to step outside my boundaries. But if you're comfortable with yourself and what you wear, people might catch on to that and you might become a trendsetter.

Where do you shop for your clothes?

Pretty much online or I'll go to Fairfax. In terms of casual clothes like pants and stuff, Target is pretty nice. I don’t really care about pants though as long as they look good and that they are comfortable. They are just pants. I care more about shirts and shoes.

photography by: Natalie Han

By: Kelsey Fuller

any people these days will argue the point; is cheerleading a legitimate sport? Twenty years ago, it wasn't. These days it’s considered a hot sport trend. Almost every high school has a cheer team, and there seems to be an all star cheer gym popping up everywhere around the country. Right here in Huntington Beach there is a gym, Pacific Coast Magic (PCM), devoted to the sport of cheer. In high school cheer you practice 2 or 3 days a week. For all star cheer you can practice 2 days a week for 3 hours a day, and some girls can cheer and tumble up to 20 hours a week. What’s different about cheer is how much of a team sport it is. You tend to create this bond with your team and you hope for each one of your team mates to succeed in some way. Sometimes its just smiling at a team mate, watching them gain a new skill, or becoming closer after a recovery. Some days can be rough though, with all the crazy things we do, much of it results in an accident or injury. Overall cheer can mentally and physically tear you up. Some skills can give you mental blocks and it can eat you from the inside out. Cheer itself is very competitive, and competitions can become very serious. Competitions and practices leading up to a competition tend to be stressful. This is when you start to see the life drained out of your body, and in 2 minutes and 30 seconds you can make it or break it. I talked with my team mate Elizabeth DeSantis and asked her about her experience at competitions and practices.

How would you describe practices leading up to competitions? [ED] They are very stressful and we are always going full out (doing your routine, and doing all your tricks). It makes me tired. What are competitions like? [ED] There is so much going on. The only thing you're focused on is your makeup and hitting your routine. You have so much adrenaline when you come off the stage you aren’t even out of breathe. What exactly is Summit? What importance does it have for your team?

[ED] Summit is the biggest competition for levels 1-4, so you have the best girls from the country you’re going up against. There’s so much pressure for you to do well. What does your team mean to you?

[ED] My teams mean so much to me. They always know how to cheer you up, it always hurts me to see them upset.

photography by: Kelsey Fuller

Is Cheer A Sport?

No Pain... No Gain. Today the game of girls soccer is gaining popularity quite rapidly. Girls around the world are playing this exciting, fast paced, competitive game that comes with many risks. I was one of those people who fell in love with this competitive game but was not fully aware of all the risks. Now, I have not played for two years because of knee and back injuries, and those are not including the three concussions I received throughout my 12 years of playing. I went on a mission to find my passion in other places like writing, music and art. That’s what brings me here to you now, writing this article to go over the growing risks of girls soccer and its effects. In any sport you play there is always a risk of concussion, even in rare cases in sport swimming; it can and does happen. American Football is one of the most commonly known sports for brain injuries. In fact, football is right after girls soccer, volleyball, and girl’s basketball on the list of concussion rates. The girls soccer’s rate of concussion is increasing quickly. Today in 2017, the rate of concussion is tied with, or possibly more than, American football and three times higher than boys soccer. These studies are found higher in the more competitive years, such as high school. It is said that 27% of girl soccer players injuries are traumatic brain injuries. Considering the sport is also known for its high rate of knee and other injuries, this is a high percentage just for concussions. To compare and tell you how significant that number is, American football only has a 24% rate of traumatic brain injury. In a study by American Academy of Pediatrics they said, “A new study found girls were significantly more likely than boys to return to play the same day following a soccer-related concussion, placing them at risk for more significant injury. More than half of girls in the study resumed playing in a game or practice the same day as their injury, compared to just 17 percent of boys.” This is a scary find, because the risk of going out and playing after a brain injury can severely injure you even more than you were originally.

By: Kat Beason Why is it so common for girls playing sports to receive traumatic brain injury? In an article by The Washington Post with an interview with Geoff Manley, chief of neurosurgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and co-director of the Brain and Spinal Injury Center at the University of California-San Francisco, he stated “We’ve seen a lot of data come out of women’s soccer that shows the women may very well be playing harder than the men. These are tremendous athletes with incredible skill who play really hard and there is no protection.” This is a common explanation along with the idea that girl’s necks aren’t strong enough and the game involves many headers causing injury. In the end there really is no foolproof explanation as to why girls rate of concussion is much higher than boys. I went over to the school soccer team and had an interview with number 21 of the JV team, Sammy Diamond. She and I used to play with each other on the same team for a good 4 or 5 years. She also plays on the Huntington Beach High School football team. “I was not fully aware of the of the risks there were in soccer until I joined football.” was Sammy’s response to when I asked if she was aware of the risks of playing soccer. In soccer you will get hit, kicked, or even sometimes punched and you just get back up. This is just how you play the game. Sammy said that she realized how much this affected you when one time she got hit in a football game with all the padding and protection and stayed standing because she had had worse playing soccer. In soccer there is no protection other than the thin layer of clothing covering you. No padding… No helmets…

photography by: Kat Beason The reason that concussions and injury are more common in girls soccer is “ girls have to work more to get the ball than the guys because we are not always as quick as them. Girls are definitely a lot more rough and make more contact because we also typically can't kick the ball as far as guys do.” Sammy explained to me. I also believe this theory because I always remember if you wanted the ball you needed to get physical. At least that was the way I was taught. Fight for the thing you want and don’t just watch. There are many reason why girls who play keep playing though. First off, it's fun just to get outside, run around, and kick a ball around with your friends. “Soccer gives you such a bond and keeps you out of trouble. Personally, it keeps my mind off of things, whether it be stress, school, or stuff going on at home.” Sammy explained to me. “I play soccer because of the lifetime bonds that you are going to have your whole life. These are the girls that are going to stick around forever.” Yes there are always risks to anything you do. There are also always the good things about it. The friends, lifetime bonds, and just getting out. Do what drives you to get out of bed in the morning and you are passionate about. You just want to make sure you prepare yourself for what you are getting into and make sure to be well informed of all the pros and cons.

Echoes: A WWII Story By: Christian Fukino The 20th century is defined by war. Nations destroyed, millions killed, and the unlocking of the atom’s terrifying power. WWII rewrote everything we knew about warfare. From the tactics used on the battlefield, to the varied, and sometimes horrifying, methods of mass destruction, the world would never be the same after September 2, 1945. For those who were lost in the world’s bloodiest conflict, they will never be forgotten. Those who survived witnessed some of the most traumatizing events human eyes have ever been forced to see. With war comes distrust. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, America took a stand to any possible outside threats. Any Japanese living in the United States were viewed negatively. Referred to as “Japs”, most of the Japanese population lived on the west coast of America, with various different goals in mind, whether it be for education, employment, or simply to live in “the land of the free”. However, due to the outbreak of World War II, the already slanted view of them soured to bitter, blind hatred.

She doesn’t remember how long she stayed at the hospital, but they were later relocated to the camp at Santa Anita, where they were briefly reunited with their parents, before being separated again. “When I got there, I found out that we were living in luxury - in a horse stable.” The biggest adjustments, Osima recalls, were eating in a massive mess hall and showering in a completely open room. A few months after living in Santa Anita, Osima was relocated once again to Jerome, where she stayed for two years. When it was announced that America was going to close the camps, Jerome was among the first to be shut down. All of the people at the camps were told that they could go eastwards, but they couldn’t return to the west coast. Once Osima was released from Jerome, the family moved to Chicago, where the Japanese prejudice was significantly less, and where the family could rebuild.

There is no debating how terrifying war can be. No matter where the enemy lived, America would find them, if it meant a peaceful world. Eventually, the war ended, but at what Vy Ogata - Hawaii, 1941 cost? Vy Ogata was born and raised in Hawaii, separated from the main fronts of the war. Her father Ruby Osima - Jerome Relocation Center, 1941 worked as a commercial fisherman in order to support his family on the islands and back in Japan. Ruby, at the time 11 years old, grew up with her family of Ogata was 13 at the time, and she actually rememfarmers in the city of Carson. At that age, Osima had no real bers seeing the Pearl Harbor attack. Ogata wasn’t way of knowing about the war - nor did she fully understand fully aware of the war, nor did she understand exactwhat it was - until after the Pearl Harbor attack. She rememly what was happening then, but she recalls seeing bers “seeing [her] dad sitting by the radio… [they] were so the planes fighting and the smoke from the fires. At concerned, ‘What is going on?’”, eventually leading to them the time, she could only think “My goodness, how being forced to evacuate. Osima was the oldest of four chilrealistic!”. As the battle waged on, Ogata realized dren - two younger brothers and a younger sister. Around that she wasn’t watching a military training exercise that time, one of the younger brothers caught an illness, and, - she was watching one of history’s most famous strangely, only the three that weren’t infected were all taken events. away by ambulance to the LA County Hospital. As she left, she looked out of the ambulance window to see her uncle crying. “I saw that, and I thought ‘Oh my gosh, what is going on?’”

photography courtesy of: Ruby Osima, Vy Ogata & Helen Fukino

Although America wanted to put the Japanese people who were living in Hawaii into camps, the Hawaiian population filled 70% of the entire population on the islands. If all of them were relocated, it would ruin Hawaii’s economy. Because of this, Ogata avoided the camps. Nonetheless, the entirety of the US’s western coastline Japanese population was taken, including Ruby. The Japanese on the islands weren’t completely safe, however. Ogata’s uncle had opened up a haberdashery before the war, but because of the start, “he lost everything”.

Helen Fukino - Hiroshima, 1945 August 6, 1945 is a date that has been scarred into the hearts of many; it is a day that will never be forgotten, especially for those who were there to witness it. Helen Fukino, only 12 years old, was living in Hiroshima with her family. She was born and previously lived in America until 1939, when she started taking school in Japan. Six years later, the American B-29 Superfortress nicknamed “Enola Gay” embarked on its historic flight. When the bomb dropped, everything under the roof of the house was destroyed except for the roof. The blast caused all of the glass to shatter around Fukino’s father, who was quietly resting at the time.

(The following paragraphs contain some graphic details, reader discretion is advised) “Then it got dark, and everybody thought they were dead. I thought I was dead, too.” After recovering from the initial shock, Fukino managed to climb to the top of the roof that sheltered her from the blast. Looking around, she remembers that, apart from one temple nearby, everything was completely leveled.

First, her father scaled the wall, and, using the blanket, helped the rest of the family and many other struggling citizens up. The blanket was left at the site. Sometime after that, the sky began to produce a black rain. It was at this time when Fukino’s mother, covered in radiation burns, began to feel the effects of the sickness. Fukino’s father created a makeshift shelter in order to wait out the rain. The woman could hardly walk, and would not be able to function properly for the next multiple weeks. As the family pushed on, Fukino had to walk around the bodies of multiple burning soldiers who had to stand out in the black rain, and later noticed a girl calling for help, saying “I can’t see! I can’t see!” The reason the girl couldn’t see was because her eyes were dangling out of her head. Fukino forced herself to move on, trying to get away from the city.

(End graphic content) The family sought refuge in a farmer’s house in the nearby mountains, until they could reach the train station, where they met up with Fukino’s brother. She doesn’t know how he made it, but she was happy to see him. Unfortunately, multiple of the stations were destroyed, so the family had to walk further until they found an operating one. Fortunately, all members survived, and her mother was soon able to live as a healthy woman once again. The mother hung the blanket used to help the traumatized citizens out of the river outside of the home to dry. When they returned to retrieve it, the blanket was not there - either stolen or lost. However, Fukino’s mother said “It’s okay, if the blanket helped somebody, then it’s okay.”

As the bloodiest conflict in history, it is inevitable for survivors to bear the weight of these kinds of stories. Whether merely a bystander, a captive, or a true survivor, each of these intrepid souls walks a road like none other - only accompanied by those who can share a similar experience. Tragically, the number of these individuals is shrinking rapidly. In order to fully appreciate who they are and what they did, we must immortalize their stories, by one way or another, to The surviving family reached a bridge in which they had pass onto future generations. This piece only contains three shortly summarized stories of the countless left to cross; however, the farther half of the bridge was engulfed in the world. My grandmother, who still lives with me in flames. Their only other option was the river below, where many of the town’s citizens were crossing, bathing in the water today, represents an ideal that I am extremely proud of, from the intense burns, or floating because they had already left. and I still struggle to imagine the kinds of trauma she Fukino’s and her family managed to cross the river, but in order went through. If you have a loved one who saw, expeto reach the land on the other side, they had to climb up a rock rienced, and survived World War II, remember that you and your family are blessed. wall. Fortunately, Fukino managed to regroup with her mother and father. Her father was covered in blood due to the broken glass that scraped him in the explosion, and her mother She also found her neighbor nearby, but the man couldn’t talk. Fukino would later find out that the entirety of the man’s lower body was burned, and couldn’t move from where he was. Incredibly, Fukino’s home closet was still standing as well, and she scavenged her lavender blanket.

photography by: Christian Fukino

photography courtesy of: Ruby Osima, Vy Ogata & Helen Fukino

e h T e Befor l l i p S Oil

By: Kenzie Jones & Emma Ford

The school we know today hasn’t always been the big, career filled, and vast campus we have become acquainted with. Today our school is filled with a variety of sports, APA, and online users. However have you ever thought what school-life was like five, ten or even twenty years ago? Football has always been a major aspect of high school life, but how big was it back then? Tom O’loughlin went to HBHS from 1978 to 1982 and he was apart of the football team playing linebacker. We asked him how his experience was different back then and how HBHS has shaped him into the man he is today.

When did you go to school here, and what year did you graduate?

photography courtesy of: Tom O’loughlin

“ I was at HBHS from 1978-1982 and graduated in 1982.”

photography by: Kenzie Jones

How was your football experience at Huntington? “ My experience with football in high school was tremendous. I played four years of football at HBHS and at this time in the world, there were not as many options for kids to do like there is now. There was no internet, let alone any computers, so sports was a major component in most of the students at HBHS. My freshman year, I was named most valuable player on my team which was such an honor for me. It carried me through life knowing if I really set my mind to something, I could achieve anything I want, as long as I put my best effort forward. I finished my sophomore year on a team that went 8-2. The school was excited because the year before me went 9-1 and we felt that going into the next year, the team would really blend together and bring HBHS a winning season; something they had not seen in decades.

Have you implemented any life lessons you learned in high school in your daily life? “College or joining the service or any other life you so choose to pursue (after High School) teaches you how to deal with kids that might bully you and to be able to deescalate a situation, it teaches you to be able to get along with maybe kids you had no interest in being around but you treat them with respect and you’ll receive the same respect back. These simple lessons in high school have been implemented in my life and in my career for years. My biggest compliments are when I run into people I went to highschool with and they tell me what a nice, outgoing person I was and that they knew I would be successful.”

Unfortunately, the players didn’t come together as a team, both my junior and senior year, because we underperformed, but looking back at this taught me not to expect everything in life to come easy; it takes hard work, dedication and being able to blend into an environment to achieve your goals.”

photography courtesy of: Courtney Riddle

APA has been a part of HBHS for 25 years and performing arts has always been a part of many students’ lives even prior to that. Courtney Riddle went to Huntington graduating in ‘99 and was the first class of Freshmen to pass through the APA department. Today, her daughter attends Huntington, following in her steps in APA and school involvement, planning to graduate in 2020. We went straight to her to figure out how different our school is today.

What department of performing arts were you involved in when you went to high school? “I was in musical theater and part of Surf City Singers. I was also in MUN, ASB, and played Volleyball.”

What was your favorite memory? “I would say either traveling to Europe with MUN or putting on the homecoming parade with ASB... but most of all I love that all my memories include so many different groups of friends. At HBHS it’s accepted to move fluently through friend groups, ie. the jocks, the brains, the theater geeks, and I still feel like that’s true from what I see today. It’s definitely not the norm, but makes for a really great high school experience.”

How has Huntington changed now that your daughter is apart of performing arts? “How has Huntington changed? The APA program has definitely grown in size and gained accolades since I was there. More majors and the option for minors, as well as many more performance opportunities. The awards ceremonies and honor chords didn’t exist. Neither did APA student council....But some things remain; Sounds of the Season and almost all of the department heads are the same. I never did dance for PE because I played sports. I think it’s cool because all departments of APA are in dance together you get to meet people outside your department, but I also think it’s a bummer that APA kids can’t participate in sports too!” As you can see, Huntington Beach High School was a very different place a decade ago. The football team has changed because a few decades ago, there weren’t any distractions like there are now. Football was a big influence because everyone would gather to the games and the team would bond. As a result, the team would have better outcomes in their games and the school all together would come to the games to cheer the team on. From Mr. O’laughlin’s response, we, as students, can see the effect of phones on the generation that has come to be. APA has made many improvements since the program first began. From being significantly smaller, and not having many departments, to where it is now, APA has many different opportunities for all of the different students that come to Huntington. Many kids move from different cities to become a part of the APA program here at Huntington Beach High School. Many opportunities in the performing arts program lead to kids getting jobs in TV shows and movies. Chrissy Teigen, Mary Beth Evans, Beth Broderick and Steve Breen are some of the people that came out of HBHS that became actors in different businesses.

photography by: Christian Fukino

CALL DUTY OF

WWII

The Call of Duty franchise has seen incredible change over its lifespan. From its roots in World War II to the modern era of warfare, and finally the distant future of enhanced combat, players and fans have seen the shooter game evolve - for the better or the worse. The recent installment of the game, Call of Duty: WWII, was released on November 3, 2017, taking place during the second World War. It was a breath of fresh air for the new players and a welcome return for the veterans. The game certainly built up a healthy amount of hype, selling over 50% more copies than its previous release, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, on release. WWII was viewed positively by players and by critics, earning a Metacritic score of 81%, a TrustedReviews score of 8/10, and a 7/10 from PC Gamer. However, any major COD Youtubers have created videos sharing their many criticisms of the game, with Drift0r, a statistical and factual individual with over one million subscribers, saying that “WWII may have the worst launch of any Call of Duty title in history”. Although there have been multiple patches to polish out most of these issues, they are still worth mentioning - and they might be persisting on rare occasions. For one, connection to servers has not been the greatest, and this was a widespread issue. Still, the early connection problems could have been due to the massive amount of players online during the release week, but some have still reported problems with this. The game has its share of positives as well. The graphics are realistic and beautiful, and it’s clear how innovative the game is, even with the given setting of the mid-1900’s. This is massive for veteran players who have clearly expressed their complaints on the last three games with futuristic settings. Most of the negatives and complaints from players seem to originate from the multiplayer, with the other game modes proving to deliver promise for many.

By: Christian Fukino

In my own opinion, the base game is solid. Although I have not completed the campaign, what I have seen so far has impressed me. The online multiplayer is engaging and entertaining, with a welcome return to grounded combat, and lots of innovations that make the title stand out amongst the rest of the COD games. To me, one of the most interesting aspects of WWII is the third game mode: Zombies. The community is no stranger to facing off against the undead hordes from past games, but Sledgehammer’s take on the mode focuses heavily on the horror aspect. However, I would be lying if I called this game perfect. There are still instances of various problems with the game that have persisted from launch. Also, the huge problem that has turned thousands of veteran players off from the recent games has returned: paying for RNG (Random Number Generation) based supply drops. As of the Winter Update, non-cosmetic weapons have already been implemented. Fortunately, even if the franchise won’t stop putting non-cosmetic content into these drops, the developers has taken feedback from the community, and there are alternate methods to acquire these items for free. If you are reading this as a reference for whether or not you should purchase the game, here’s what you should take home: The game will (hopefully) improve over time. With your $60 purchase, you receive a cinematic campaign that has roots in the games that Call Of Duty started with, a multiplayer with a variety of classic and exotic weapons from the second world war, and a zombies mode that stands separate from the others in the series. The game will not be perfect, but if you’re looking for another first-person shooter that is reminiscent of the original COD titles, this might be the game for you. Overall, Call of Duty: WWII was the game that players wanted, delivering on getting our boots back on the ground.

study tips F

inals: coming soon to a school near you. As unfortunate as it is, there is no way to avoid them; they just keep coming. Here are a few little study tips that might help you get through them easier:

1. STUDY EARLY First off, it is super important to start studying for finals at least a few weeks before the first exam. If you always start ahead of schedule, you’ll never be cramming the night before an exam. This will create high levels of anxiety, and it is not helpful when trying to learn large amounts of material. Try to figure out how much time you need to set aside each day for each individual subject. Be realistic on how long each will take to memorize vocabulary or read through notes. You’ll most likely perform better after doing this.

2. LISTEN TO MUSIC Music can help you focus if you pick the right songs. Forget your favorite songs that might break your concentration when you need to study. Studies have shown that while many teens prefer to study while listening to music, they are less likely to remember information that way. If you must listen to music, try and stick to instrumental or classical music. Another interesting way to study is to use music and songs to practice memorizing something. Making up new lyrics to your favorite songs that incorporate the formulas or historical dates you have to memorize will help you study and things will be a lot easier to remember.

By: Ally Brodmann

3. DO HOMEWORK ON YOUR DESK INSTEAD OF DOING IT ON YOUR BED Because your bed will tempt you to stop working and sleep, it is best if you don’t put yourself in that position. You may easily allow the comfiness of your bed to take the focus away from your studies. Also, if you have trained your body to connect your bed as a place to get homework done, once you lay in bed to go to sleep, your mind will continue to run.

4. STAY WELL-RESTED + TAKE BREAKS This is probably the most important point. While it is important you stay focused on your studies, you shouldn’t burn yourself out. A great way to be less stressed is to pace yourself, rather than preparing for the dreaded all-nighter. An individual won’t be able to memorize or comprehend all the material at once. There’s a lot to be said about a good night’s sleep. Although it may be tempting to cram everything in at the last minute, it is a very bad idea. It will just add more stress on top of everything, and you won’t retain information. Take breaks to improve your concentration when you return to studying. Exhausted students can't concentrate on exams. Well-rested students, on the other hand, are much more relaxed and alert when it comes time to take exams.

5. ORGANIZE A GROUP STUDY SESSION Make a plan with friends to review the class material, compare notes, or work through tricky concepts. You'll benefit from the different study habits and notes of the other members in your study group.

Not only is it more fun to study with your friends rather than studying by yourself, you will also learn a lot more. By verbally going through the facts and formulas with a partner, you are thinking about the material more deeply, which means youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll remember it better later. That way you are less likely to miss something. However, remember to stay focused. While studying with someone may be helpful at times, it can also be dangerous if you get distracted easily.

6. QUIZ YOURSELF Read it. Write it. Say it. Go through your notes and pull out the key points by reading them, re-writing them, then saying them out loud. Draft potential exam questions and quiz yourself so that you can set expectations of what you need to focus on. This method really helps some students engrave facts in their memory. If you create actual exam questions, you will familiarize yourself with the type of language that will be on the exam.

7. EATING HEALTHY Everybody knows you should eat breakfast the day of a big test. Researchers have suggested that high-carb, high-fiber, slow-digesting foods like oatmeal are best. But what you eat a week in advance matters, too. Cameron Halloway, a researcher at the University of Oxford, has explained that when an individual studies, the brain consumes glucose. Take a five-minute break every hour to let your body produce more fuel for your studying. Eat things such as the following: almonds, fruit, and yogurt. Eating a healthy snack is very beneficial and can make a massive difference.

photography by: Ally Brodmann

8. CHANGE STUDY SPOTS Move around your finals schedule! Spending all night in the library can be draining. According to the New York Times, a simple alternation of the room where a person studies improves memorization. Psychologists have discovered that the brain makes subtle connections between what it is studying and the background awareness it has. Try alternating your study spots between the library, a study room, or even a quiet coffee house. Though finals may not be your favorite thing in the world, there are multiple ways to make this time much easier. Whether it is getting more sleep, finding a different study spot, or creating a playlist, there is always another way to improve your study habits. Hopefully these 8 new ideas will help you on your way to an A!

A Look Through A Skeptic's Mind. By: Sheldon Stires Conspiracy Of The Month:

POLYBIUS

Imagine this: It's 1981 and you and your friends are at an arcade with a pocket full of quarters. You walk in and browse the arcade only to see a very specific game, a game that is completely blacked out with green text on the top. This game is Polybius. Polybius is an arcade game that appeared at an Oregon arcade for a month in 1981 and then disappeared forever. This wasn’t your average game. It was said to have displayed scenes that caused epileptic seizures and even went so far as to cause a boy to die. Not only did this game cause seizures, but it also displayed a wide range of colors and some even believe that it displayed subliminal messages. There were even some reports of men in black suits “collecting data” from the machines before the arcades closed. Then Polybius mysteriously disappeared, never to be played again. Nothing about the game is really known except for the fact that it was a very difficult game to play and it displayed bright colors. To make things even creepier, the manufacturer of the game was named Sinneslöschen, which is German for senses (Sinnes) and to delete (loschen), in other words sensory deprivation. Wouldn’t that provide an explanation that the game might be government controlled? Many have claimed to have worked on the game, one being a “representative from SEGA,” saying that it was a game intended to make people addicted, but this was confirmed to be false as SEGA stated that they hadn’t even heard of the game. There is so much behind the game that is known, and even more about it that is unknown. One thing that is worth noting is that if the game was meant to be addictive, it would explain why there were men collecting data from the machine, and why it was claimed by some to be a very difficult game. The popular idea is that supposedly government connected ‘men in black’ are a part of this theory and are believed to be the very same men that were viewed “collecting data” from the machines.

Though there is no real evidence that Polybius existed, memories still exist as well as the mental problems that affected the players. Where is Polybius and did it ever exist at all?

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS By: Candy Hart-Peratt

Mickey Mouse November 18, 1928 A fictional character that is the symbol for the Disney Franchise was created by Walt Disney in the early 1900’s. He first made a debut in the short film Plane Crazy. From then on, Mickey Mouse went on to become one of the most recognizable faces in our world today. From being plastered on posters in Disneyland and being displayed all over televisions, this iconic mouse with red shorts and circular ears is the staple of our generation.

Jimi Hendrix November 27, 1942 As a musical icon of the 1960’s, Hendrix changed the course of Rock ’N’ Roll music for decades to come. Most well known for his songs “All Along the Watchtower” and “Hey Joe,” Jimi Hendrix revolutionized the instrument of the electric guitar.Ultimately raising its popularity in mainstream music. At only twenty seven years old he met his demise due to a drug overdose.

Marie Antoinette November 2, 1755 The last queen of France during the French Revolution was born into the Austrian royal family. At the ripe age of only fourteen, she was married off to King Louis XVI. As queen, Antoinette would make quite the impact on the French economy and the mindsets of influential thinkers. During the riots of the revolution, her story ended with a guillotine at the age of thirty-seven.

A Gamer’s Career Choice By: Moses Sandoval

Pro-Gamer 1. Pick your game: Find a game you're interested in. Play against others and become exceptional at it. 2. Stay motivated: Find a way to stay motivated; if it's money or family, you should find a way to stay motivated. 3. Practice: Practice makes perfect, or so I’ve been told. Study plays, have some of your own, watch others, and learn how to lose, because even when you lose, you’re practicing. 4. Gear up: You're going to need equipment that allows you to compete, but don't spend too much. Find something that suits you. 5. Join the community: Gaming is mostly about individual talent, but being a team player is twice as important. Get to know your community. 6. Find a team: Once you start building up that fame as a competitor, find a team. If you’re good, teams will find you. 7. Enter tournaments: If you get good at singles or team play, enter tournaments. Winning at live events not only brings you respect but money as well. 8. Get sponsored: Sponsors can provide gear, and you also earn a living. Gaming is no longer a hobby it's now a living Salaries: The 15 highest-paid professional gamers earn from $226,776 to $454,544.

artwork by: Moses Sandoval

Youtuber 1. Determine what you want to accomplish: Decide what videos you want to make. 2. Create channel: First, you are going to need a YouTube channel. Next, fill out the about section. Finally, create a channel icon and channel art. 3. Make videos: The fun part is making videos. Gather up your equipment and start making videos. 4. Create a playlist: After making a few videos, group them up. It helps the viewers find other videos like the ones they just watched. 5. Share content: Don't forget to promote yourself. Your videos will go through the YouTube traffic. It's always good to market you.rself 6. Analyze data: Now you got videos out on the interweb. You should see how the public is interacting with them. 7. Stay engaged with your audience: Don't just upload and forget about it. Go back and check on comments that the viewers leave. Remember to not take hateful comments too seriously. 8. Link Google plus account: This helps to centralize feedback into one space. That way you can access all the comments in one place. 9. Add annotations to your videos: Annotations are clickable text boxes that you can add a link to in which you could link other videos or even your very own website.

Salaries: Once you link Google AdSense to your channel, 68% of the ad revenue is yours. YouTube charges advertisers around $.18 per view when a viewer watches 30 seconds of the ad. If you have 1,000 views to your video and 15% actually watch the ad, then you have 150 paid views. At $.18 per view, this equates to $27 charged to the advertiser. As the content creator, you get 68% of that, so you average around $18 per 1,000 views.

Twitch Streamer 1. Have great internet connection: Having great internet is a must. If you have stuff like Spectrum, gaming is trash. 2. Get a quality headset: Sound plays a big role in gaming. Sometimes the slightest sound can turn the tide of the game. 3. Play what you want to play: You are the content creator. That means that you get to choose the game that you want to play. Diversity in games can help bring in the views. 4. Interact with viewers: Acknowledge your viewers. They have great ideas which can help out. Remember that not all comments are nice. 5. Stick to a schedule: Choose a time and take it. Choosing a time that all people will be able to view helps a lot. 6. Network with other broadcasters: “I work alone,” Mr. Incredible said. Look where that got him. Working with others is a good way to have a great time.

Salaries: The more popular streamers pull in from $1.00 -$3.00. The standard subscriber rate of $4.99/month starts off on a 50/50 split between Twitch and the streamer, but is open to scaling with their viewership, and streamers can earn up to a 60/40 split — which is about $3.00 per subscriber. If you have made it this far, congratulations! You could be the next KuroKy or even the next TBNRFrags. I hope that my research has inspired you to be gamers, even if you don’t like gaming, or aren’t interested in the having any of the associated jobs. It's important to always follow your passion.

artwork by: Moses Sandoval

CATS VS. DOGS spoiler: they're both perfect

By: Andrea Cervantes

Animals come in all different shapes and sizes. If you asked someone whether or not they have a pet, their answer will most likely be yes. If you were to ask what kind of pet they have, the most common answers will be dogs and cats. Dogs are more active while cats are more mellow. When people are asked what is better cats or dogs, people usually go with the animal they have. So what’s really better, cats or dogs? Cats are little, furry animals that love to lie around anywhere. Cats have their own personalities that can cause them to be very sassy which reflects on everything else that they do. They are like children who are very needy and also very picky. The cost to have a cat isn’t that high. The things you really need is a litter box, cat litter, and food. You can easily find a litter box at your local convenience store for around $1 to $5. For cat litter, a normal sized bag can go from around $3 to $20, depending on the brand. The same goes with cat food. Cat food can go from $4 to $15 depending with the brand you get. No matter the cost, cats are great companions that will give you affection, but only if they want to!

I asked Vanessa Cervantes, a cat owner, what she thinks the superior pet is and what expenses come along with having a cat.

What do you think is the superior pet, cats or dogs?

“Cats have always been the superior pet and animal in general. Cats hold power over their owners and other animals and they do their own thing which is why they're so easy to take care of yet they are still very loving at the same time.”

What are some expenses that come along with having a pet?

“Monthly I spend around $8 on a bag of food. For cat litter I usually use 4 a month so I would say another $8 as well.” I asked Rosemary Ramos, a dog owner, on what she/he thinks the superior pet is and what expenses come along with having a dog.

What do you think is the superior pet, cats or dogs? “I prefer dogs because they’re more outgoing and you feel less lonely with them unlike cats who just sit there and do nothing”

What are some expenses that come along with having a pet?

“I spend a little less than $30 on my dog. Her food is around $13 for the big bag of Beneful because that’s what she likes and it’s Dogs are a bit opposite from cats. Dogs what’s more healthy for her. Her food usually lasts her around a come in all different shapes and sizes, but their month and a half. I also usually buy a small package of doggy pads personalities can differ in many ways as some are in case she needs to go when I’m not home and a couple of dog more active than others. Dogs are mostly known for bones for her to chew on that would last her a month.” being very energetic which is good, but also can be bad due to the fact that some dogs can become very I asked Amber Zeng on what she thinks the superior pet is destructive. Dogs don’t need much, as their main and what they think the expenses are for each pet. necessities are food and dog pads. The normal cost for dog food starts from around four to thirty dollars What do you think is the superior pet, cats or dogs? depending on the brand of food you buy. Dog pads “Cats because they don’t need as much work and attention that usually cost a bit more starting from around $10 dogs need.” and moving up towards $30 or higher due to the amount and brand you buy. Dogs are great animals that you can just be carefree with, but they also can What do you think are the normal expenses for each be soft and caring at the end of the day. People have different opinions on each animal as some people prefer cats and others prefer dogs. To get in depth with these people, I’ve decided to ask for their input on what they think the superior pet is, cats or dogs. artwork by: Gracie Briquelet

pet?

“I would say around the same as the expense of a baby in a family.” Cats and dogs are different in many ways making it difficult to pick one superior pet. If you are introverted, then a cat is the right pet for you. However if you are the complete opposite, extroverted, then a dog is your new best friend. Now I leave this to you guys. Maybe you think cats are superior over dogs. Maybe you think that dogs are superior to cats. Either way both animals will love and adore their owners and we shall return that love with treats and warm cuddles!

top memes of 2k17 h8 symbol

2017 was the year of fidget spinners and interesting fashion choices. I’m not hating, but this year was definitely something else. But don’t you dare bring up 2016. God, that was a horrible year. Moving on from that…Memes have played a huge part in becoming who I am, and I consider myself an expert. From Rick Rolling to the Spongebob memes, I know them all. I don’t know if that’s something I should be proud of. As the year is coming to an end, I sat on my bed thinking about what to pitch the following day. I didn’t have many ideas; therefore I decided to “ironically” download the iFunny. I’m not going to lie, I may have laughed at a few of them. Inspiration hit me like a truck. Now I’m sitting a day before I’m supposed to turn this in, writing my butt off. I’m just being honest. From the iconic Snapchat hot dog meme to the distracted boyfriend, these are the top ten memes of 2017. Please, enjoy.

1) “Homeboy’s gonna, like, get it.”

Bella Hadid, a popular model signed with IMG models, said some very interesting things in an interview back in October. Many people were quick to realize and make fun of her on Twitter. The video went viral and, after watching it countless times as “research”, I was truly astonished. And it wasn’t just me, the entirety of Twitter was too. Hadid continuously uses the terms, “dope” and “homeboy.” Other phrases she uses include, “they better be fresh” and “he’s such a real one.” Yikes.

By: Angie Martinez

2) Snapchat Hotdog 150 million people had access to this strange hotdog. My question is, why do so many people have Snapchat? It all started when a video was uploaded in June of a dancing hot dog on a man getting a tattoo. This dancing hot dog meme soon became what I call, “a virus to the internet”. Reddit, Instagram, and Twitter were all infected by the dancing hot dog. It escalated to the extreme, and soon we had an eighty dollar hot dog costume. The amount of times I’ve typed, “dancing hot dog” has left me dumbfounded at this point.

3) Blinking Guy Drew Scanlon: the genius behind the perfect reaction image. He is a video editor and podcaster at the video game website, Giant Bomb. The GIF originated from a Giant Bomb video, “Unprofessional Fridays.” The earliest known usage is from June 2015. It later spread from Twitter, the brain of most memes. Even though the GIF has been around for two years, it only blew up this year.

4) Distracted Boyfriend The internet was completely abolished by this couple walking down the street. Many stock images have come into light because of their “normal” situations. The origin is unknown to this day, but the earliest usage of the meme is from the Instagram account, @_dekhbai_. Within seven months, the post gained 28,500 likes. On August 22nd, Tumblr user klubbhead found and posted a compilation of similar photos and those also gained popularity. artwork by: Gracie Briquelet

8) How Italians Do Things The Italian Hand has become one of my all time favorites over a period of time. Essentially, it’s a series of photos with a hand bunching it’s fingers together with the tips pointing upwards. On March 13, 2017, Twitter user @donny_drama posted photos of a person holding a mug while making the hand gesture. From March 17, Meme of the Month calendars contained the viral images as March’s meme. What an honor.

9) “Why Is the FBI Here?” A series of images that include a Google search with a text notification from “Dad” suggesting the FBI had been notified of some strange searches. February 12, 2017 is the date of the origin of the meme. @blaze.it.memes, an Instagram 5) Mocking SpongeBob page, posted a screenshot of Google searches that included “nearest kindergarten school”, “how to clear search histoThis perfect reaction image can be found in the episode, “Little Yellow Book”, which was aired November 15, 2012. ry”, and “where to find a bomb.” It also includes a lovely During the episode, Squidward discovers that when Sponge- message from “Dad”, asking as to why the FBI is at their home. On February 24, Twitter user @realMythical posted a bob sees plaid, he begins to act like a chicken. The earliest screenshot within the Google search bar, “how to get Mineknown use is when Twitter user @OGBEARD posted a screenshot of the scene where Spongebob begins acting like craft for free”. It’s followed with a text from “Dad” asking the classic line, “Why is the FBI here?”. a chicken. The tweet gained mass recognition with 73,000 retweets and 147,300 likes in merely five days. Quite astonNow, I am to reveal the final meme of 2017 we should imishing, if you ask me. mediately forget once 2018 arrives.

6) Cracking Open a Cold One with the Boys Ah, yes. My favorite. The explanation is in the title. It indicates opening a cold can of beer with a group of male friends. The phrase was first coined on Facebook. Someone created a Facebook page titled “Cracking Open a Cold One with The Boys” in February 13, 2016. It did not gain popularity until the Youtuber, One Million Times, uploaded a video titled “Cracking Open a Cold One with the Boys 1 million times.” June 2017: that’s when it hit 100 on the Google Trends page.

7) The Ting Goes “Man’s Not Hot” is a viral song from rapper, Roadman Shaq. Shaq says the infamous line, “The Ting Goes” followed by many gunshot noises from his mouth. Michael Dapaah, an English comedian, posted a snippet of the clip and received more than 2,300 retweets and 5,000 likes. Another Twitter user, @faceinthenews, shared the video with the caption “Where the hell does this guy get his ting from please”, receiving more than 23,700 retweets and 36,320 likes.

10) The Emoji Movie In shame, I bow my head, for I have watched this mess. Now, it was only because my own mother thought it would be a good movie for family night. Ugh! Yes, I am putting on the role of an angsty teen. The movie was released July 28 from director, Tony Leondis. May 4 was when the emoji epidemic sadly began. The internet started talking about it from when it was first announced. Many people began to mock and make fun of the so called “corny” movie. The Youtuber, Leafyishere, first made a video on the movie calling it cancerous, and many other words. Over two months, the video gained 1.2 million views and 15,100 comments. On July 21, Youtuber Jacksfilms got invited to the premiere of the movie for being the number one fan. There we have it folks, the worst, I mean dead, memes of 2017. If you enjoyed this article make sure to smash the like button! Please subscribe and turn on those post notifications! Merch link is in the bio!

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