The Advocate - Issue 14 - January 24, 2020

Volume 54, Issue 14 January 24, 2020 advocate-online.net

January 14th, 2020

FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS

DEBATES Des Moines, Iowa DEMOCRATIC

Women's leadership applications PAGE 2

Trouble for content creators PAGE 4

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Video Game Streaming PAGE 7

ELECTION MEDIA CIRCUS PAGE 8

Selena Gomez 'Rare' album review PAGE 6

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2019 FIRST PLACE

General Excellence

Pacific Northwest Assoc. of Journalism Educators

NEWS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

WOMEN TAKE CHARGE Daniella Young The Advocate

The deadline for application to the next New Leadership Oregon conference this summer– aimed at women, to emphasize the values of leadership and raise awareness about community and political issues – is Feb. 18.

Any woman currently enrolled in a college or university in Oregon is qualified to apply. The Summer Residential Program for this conference is set for June 18-23 at Portland State University.

The participation fee for the six-day conference, including food, housing, and materials, is about $250. There are also scholarships available for students to help reduce that cost.

A followup fall training date will take place in September.

According to Edith Ramirez, ambassador of the program, “It is a great opportunity to meet great leader women in our community, learn

leadership skills, gather with students from different colleges or universities, increase your networking and boost your self-confidence.”

The goals and missions of the program include giving young women leadership skills and opportunities that can benefit them in their life, while giving them a memorable experience.

“English is my second language, and I started learning this language in my thirties,” said Ramirez, a returning MHCC student. “Sometimes it was challenging to continue school, and I had thought to end my education, but I did not. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to be selected to attend New Leadership Oregon 2019 where I met great women leaders who have been making a difference in our community. This program helped me to develop leadership skills, and boosted my confidence to pursue a higher education.”

For more information on the program or to apply online, visit: thecenterforwomensleadership.org

NEWS BRIEFS

EOU GRESHAM eou.edu/gresham | apwilliams@eou.edu | 503.491.7248

Come see me today on the Mt. Hood campus! > Free unofficial transcript review > Learn about Fast Track Transfers > Create your educational plan to EOU

WITH PARRISH CHANG

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on MondayTuesday, Jan. 27-28, in the MHCC Student Union. The event runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days in the Fireplace Lounge. Students, staff and Mt. Hood community members are invited to participate.

Pick your EOU major – fully accredited and online! eou.edu/online

LUNCH AND LEARN: TECHNOLOGY AND STALKING January is National Stalking Awareness Month, and the focus of the next Lunch and Learn discussion is “Technology and Stalking,” led by MHCC cyber security students. They will meeting at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 28, in the Town and Gown Room in the Student Union.

CAMPUS FEUD

You’ve heard of “Family Feud.” Now the Associated Student Government (ASG) is bringing “Campus Feud” to MHCC. Teams of five will compete to name the most popular responses to survey questions, to win gift cards to Black Rock Coffee (one for each player on the team). Sign-up for teams is available in the Student Union. The contest is at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the Fireplace Lounge.

Andrea P. Williams | Center Director, Advisor Partnering with Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark St. | AC 3308A

VIEWS ON THE IRAN CONFLICT Will recent tensions with Iran lead to War? Join MHCC instructors Javid Mohtasham, Tom Scales, Peter Cunningham, Elizabeth Milliken, and Pat Casey in a Historians Roundtable discussion set for noon on Thursday, Jan. 30, in Room 1608.

for the students by the students Editor-in-Chief Chloe Collins

Sports Editor [Position Open]

Associate Editor Omar Saradi

Opinion Editors Omar Saradi

News Editor Chris Barney Arts & Entertainment Editors Kurt Larson Eli Rankin

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Broadcast Team Gage Linhares Robert Frank Thomas Silk Alex Ramos Annie Avila

Graphic Design Editor Eli Rankin

Photo Editor Maysee Thao

Broadcast Producer Naethaniel Lile

Photo Team Bethy Fallgren Landon Spady Fletcher Wold

@mhccadvocate

Ad Manager Parrish Chang

Outreach Manager Melanie Roberts

Staff Writers Brad Le Daniella Young Kel Buell Laura J Clement Omar Carrillo Carson Koch Zarah Escutia Ash Espinoza

Social Media Manager [Position Open] Distribution Specialist Julia MacDonald Advisers Dan Ernst Howard Buck

MHCC SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP

Learn how to apply for MHCC scholarships, including tips for winning essays. Current and future MHCC students are welcome; no RSVP is necessary.

The workshop is on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 4:15 p.m. in the Learning Success Center, in Room AC 3333.

@theadvocateonline

@mhccadvocate

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NEWS | OPINION

JANUARY 24, 2020

TENSION BETWEEN ROYALS Robert Frank The Advocate

The royal family of the United Kingdom is the most well-known family in the entire Western world.

Sixteen countries today, including the U.K., recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state.

Even I, someone who was born in and spent the first seven years of life in Germany watching British television, recognized the royal family and what they meant to, essentially, the world. I’ve learned quite a bit about their family structure and heritage. I’ve watched the televised weddings of both Prince William and Prince Harry.

Because of the fame of this family, the apparent publicized split between Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, and the royals has taken the world by storm.

For those who don’t know what is happening, there was a sudden and surprise announcement made by the couple (Harry and Meghan) on their new website, Sussex Royal, that they “intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family” and “balance [their] time between the United Kingdom and

North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen.”

This came as a massive shock to the rest of the royal family, even causing the Queen to call a meeting between herself, Prince William, and Prince Harry, during which she reluctantly granted such independence to the couple.

I feel that people must put themselves in the couple’s shoes to understand why they would give something up, like this.

Say you’re Meghan Markle in 2017. You are a successful actress who has managed to stay out of the limelight for a majority of the time. Now you announce your engagement to the FIFTH IN LINE TO THE BRITISH THRONE. Within about 5 minutes, you have gone from essentially nobody, to being associated with one of the most famous families in history.

From then on, British tabloids such as the Daily Mail, the Sun, the Daily Express, (mind you, maybe even historically worse than American tabloids) are speculating on and conjecturing everything about your personal life. You now need to know every royal duty you must do when you are married.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Fast forward: You are now married, tabloids are even harsher on you, you have a newborn child, and the divide between family members is starting to show. In your mind, what would you do?

Continue being harassed by the British media, or do something seemingly radical and separate yourself and your husband from all that pomp and circumstance and create your own life out of it?

When we take a second to stop and see the bigger picture, we must realize that just because the royal family has all the money in the world, and all the fame that a 1,000-year-old monarchy brings, its members are still just people.

They have their issues, just like we have issues with our own families.

They have their jobs and duties, just like we do. The only major difference is that their entire lives are documented and lied about constantly.

Fame has a cost, and while Harry and Meghan will still be associated with the royal family, we can’t be too hard when we judge giving up that kind of scrutiny and pressure.

Photo from The Washington Post

100 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE Brad Le

The Advocate This month marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Nations (LoN), predecessor to the current worldwide, intergovernmental organization, the United Nations.

Founded on Jan. 10, 1920, after the Paris Peace Conference that ended the first world war, the LoN’s objective was to focus on disarmament and prevent future wars across the globe.

Although the organization lasted only 26 years until the founding of the United Nations after World War II, the LoN set up many of the principles, objectives, and agencies used by the U.N. today.

The structure of the LoN mainly consisted of three main organizing bodies: the Assembly, the Council, and the Secretariat. The main priority of the Assembly was to organize annual conferences of its members.

Although the Assembly could not execute or enforce any activities, the body was responsible for overseeing the budget of the LoN, permitting potential countries to join the LoN, and recommending action for the Council.

Next was the Council, whose primary duties were to solve international issues. If a solution could not be met between the countries involved, the Council had the authority to execute specific disciplinary actions, including moral condemnation, economic sanctions, and, finally, military action from LoN members.

Lastly, the Secretariat: The Secretariat handled the daily activities of the LoN and assisted the Assembly and the Council. Unlike the Assembly and the Council, the Secretariat had a single formal leader (person), called the Secretary General.

GET TO KNOW THE ADVOCATE

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Despite the clear roles that each body in the LoN fulfilled, the LoN was infamous for having many weaknesses and for failing to resolve international disputes. The most prominent example of the LoN’s weakness revolves around its lack of global representation, most notably, the United States. Ironically, while the LoN was founded by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, the U.S. was absent from the LoN’s Council, which enabled France and Great Britain to not cooperate with Germany between World War II and the outbreak of World War II. In addition, the members of the LoN were hesitant to take unified military action against foreign countries that some members would view as being “on good terms.” As a result, members were afraid for the safety of their own sovereign nation and the LoN could not collectively deter aggression around the globe.

Lastly, the LoN’s power was severely hindered by their lack of its own military force. Because the LoN did not have its own military, it had to rely on the members of the LoN to provide a military, and as mentioned before, the nations were hesitant to employ their own forces in such efforts.

While the LoN was, overall, a failure in achieving its goals to disarm and prevent future conflicts globally, the legacy of the LoN provided many of the structures and philosophies that were transferred to the current day United Nations in 1943, at the Tehran Conference.

As flawed as the LoN was during the early 20th century, it is worth remembering that only, and exactly, 100 years ago did the first intergovernmental organization try to promote world peace, and the legacy passed down to the U.N. of today.

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication.

All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.

Omar Saradi Associate Editor

Omar is a second-year student at Mt. Hood. He plans to transfer to UO to major in Journalism. In his free time Omar likes to hang out with friends, explore the world around him and discuss the societal challenges that face the world today.

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OPINION

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

CULTS ARE NOT AS ABNORMAL AS YOU THINK

Omar Carrillo The Advocate

If there’s something the nonsecular world has always had a firmer grasp on than the secular world, it’s the understanding of the impact of faith in our everyday lives.

It is easy to disregard blind devotion as some kind of madness, and hard to understand what blind devotion truly feels like, for someone distant from the concept. It’s a concept so foreign to many of us that the phrase “blind devotion” itself often brings with it a scoff or an eyebrow raise.

When witnessing or reading of mass movements lead by something

seemingly so uncertain, it is hard to understand. Cultism and cultish behaviors are often seen as belonging to a radically far edge of a faithorganized spectrum, with pure denial of spirituality at the very opposite end. But that assumption may just be as arbitrary as any other arrangement. Perhaps sectbased belief is in fact the bridge between the two sides, secular and nonsecular.

Should this, in fact, be the case, then examining these movements may just give an insight that could bring us that much closer to answering that grand, enigmatic question: Why would anyone do such a thing?

Two of the most iconic cults in recent history, reigning over all others in current pop culture, are Jim Jones’s Peoples Temple and Ti and Do’s Heaven’s Gate.

Both are infamous for their movement’s grisly end by means of mass suicide.

Jones amassed his following through the preaching of a new-aged branch of traditional Christian thought. Founded in Indianapolis and later moved to San Francisco, the organization, bringing together more than several thousand

members at its peak, was known for its melding of leftist political thought of racial and class equality with typically right-wing evangelism.

But after moving once more onto a property (newly named “Jonestown) in Guyana, South America, and a culmination of events after reports of abuse from within Peoples Temple (and after the murder of journalists and attempted defectors and a U.S. congressman), Jones gave the ultimate command to his followers: to have one final, poisonous drink The result was the death of 918 people, the most American civilians to die in a deliberate act until the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Heaven’s Gate, founded in Los Angeles, hit several quite similar beats: enthusiastic and ambitious leadership (in this case the likes of “Do” and “Ti,” born Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, respectively), far-reaching travel, distinctive beliefs, etc.

After the death of co-founder Ti, Do found himself overwhelmed by the sudden sole responsibility of the leadership of so many passionate people. Complications that would arise

from his own inner power struggle and numerous outside forces (such as increased media coverage) would lead him to give his own last command to his loyal admirers to take their own lives, by poison and asphyxiation.

The death count was far less than that of People’s Temple, but no less shocking. The members of Heaven’s Gate died over several days, their bodies carefully posed by other followers.

The key difference in terms of belief between the two groups, however, comes from Heaven’s Gate’s fascination with another phenomenon: space travel and scientific advancement.

Many observers will commonly pit science and religion against each other in a debate over “true revelation,” but maybe this is an uninformed conclusion. It’s true that Heaven’s Gate initially spawned from an interpretation of biblical text, but as more time passed from its inception the less important this initial spawning point became. When the cult died, it died in a deliberate faith that scientifically observed “reality,” like the cyclical passing of the Hale-Bopp Comet, brought with it a sure-fire result – a result of its own kind of scientific

method.

Its followers found great comfort in the speculation of just what a new horizon of technological continuity would bring for both themselves and the outside society. They had no doubts about this wonderment, just as People’s Temple found no doubts in their longheld Christian beliefs.

The larger point here is that it is clearly ignorant to simply chock up cultist thinking to either“delusional religious sentiment” or “far-fetched scientific quackery.” Cults, whether by an exploitation of their people or not, draw their influence from a powerful value within us all. Clearly, faith has no boundaries, at least from a totally neutral definition. It has no morals itself. No higher goals. No preferred conduit. No binary split, such as “religious” or “non-religious.”

After all, what greater gray area than a concept that can lead to so many lives being enriched and given meaning, and also so many lives taken, in swift and unfeeling condemnation.

is this: Kids love the internet, for better or worse. And, with a website like YouTube, no account is needed to access its countless number of videos of varying subjects and intended audiences.

Or ig ina l ly, YouTube drew people in by offering money to create videos for the site, appealing to the new generation by touting a shortcut to celebrity. Another way YouTube held its audience’s attention was by collecting data from their devices (namely, previously watched videos) to keep the recommended video feed relevant to those viewers’ interests.

This feature is on by default, and, even with an account, can’t be deactivated.

So, when it comes to gathering information from minors using the site, YouTube is in a rather precarious situation. Last year, YouTube was found to be directly violating COPPA by collecting minors’ information and sending it to advertisers, and a settlement was levied against YouTube and Google for $170 million.

the platform that lured them in with promises of a steady paycheck.

Now it appears that, yet again, YouTube has passed the consequences of its sins onto the breaking backs of its content creators.

To comply with COPPA, individual creators now have to sift through all their videos and mark them as being “intended for Eli Rankin | The Advocate kids” or not. However, This COPPA’s language is extremely is where the wound begins to fester. vague, and reading it can lead Over the course of the last anyone to conclude that almost decade, YouTube made repeated all content could be considered decisions at the expense of their as targeting children. This leaves content creators to make the individual YouTubers to play a site more advertiser-friendly. 50/50 game with the FTC, with YouTubers can no longer say certain stakes of an up-to-$42,000 fine, words or cover certain topics with a platform that promised them without risking demonetization. support that’s nowhere in sight YouTubers also have to struggle whenever they upload a video.

Another impending blow is the against changes that introduced an unforgiving “strike” system for proposed update to COPPA (which violating the terms and services renames it “PROTECT Kids Act”), (that are easily abusable) and broadening its scope without fixing tightened the grip of copyright laws any of the legislation’s massive on the website. Many creators now problems.

One new change that has rely on secondary income sources to continue producing content for creators in a frenzy is a raise in the

protected age, from 13 to 16. This would essentially render YouTube invalid as a platform because the site’s user base largely consists of teens. If a video is labeled as “made for kids,” then the video loses comments, likes, 90% of its ad revenue, and the ability to have recommendations (as well as be recommended).

These changes heavily stunt YouTube channels by minimizing ad revenue and silencing most avenues of interacting with viewers and receiving feedback. Reading through YouTube comment sections that still exist, I repeatedly found this opinion: Nobody supports content that preys upon minors, but they are against the restriction of free speech and exchange of information.

YouTube has been controversial since its inception, and the new COPPA updates feel like a thinly veiled attack against YouTube by outside special interests.

And, for now, YouTuber content creators will have to learn to tap dance on a tightrope, seeking to entertain the masses while avoiding violating an out-of-touch bill or YouTube’s increasingly constricting terms of service.

YOUTUBE RULES RESTRICT CONTENT CREATORS Eli Rankin

The Advocate On Dec. 31, people were pouring their glasses to toast to the arrival of a new decade, but YouTube content creators were probably filling their glasses for a less celebratory reason.

In the latter half of 2019, YouTube announced that major changes were coming to its site on Jan. 1 to comply with federal legislation that was put forth by the Federal Trade Commission back in 1998. The bill, named the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), was originally enacted during the rise of mainstream home internet usage in order to protect children, under the age of 13, from having their data collected by “websites or online services directed to children.”

This act is the reason why online games, social networks, and services require users to be above a certain age in order to create an account with them.

However, most of us who grew up since the late ’90s probably remember subtracting a few numbers from our birth year to log onto whatever online fad everyone was into at the time. The takeaway PA G E 4

OPINION

JANUARY 24, 2020

SNOW ISN’T A BIG BRAIN FREEZE, BUT A BLESSING

Kel Buell

The Advocate An interesting thing I have discovered over my several years of life: Not a lot of people like snow.

Once we hit the age of 16 to 18, it begins to lose its sense of childlike wonder and joy, and simply Mount Hood covered with plentiful snow. becomes a cold inconvenience.

However, for some (myself one of the most beautiful things to included), snow never lost its shine. behold (if you don’t believe me, you I still wake up every day hoping should look up some pictures of for a glimpse of a layer of white undisturbed, snowy forests), but it covering the grass. Not only is snow has the most creative potential. It’s

Web Photo

like the ground has been covered in a layer of cold, white Play-Doh, ready for you to mold into whatever you wish.

That, and the ever-classic “you

can pelt your friends with it!” aspect can turn a snowy day into a buffet of activities one can use to stave off the encroaching boredom that we all feel constantly creeping

doubt. It is a belief, through-andthrough, after all.

From its inception in a midCold War world, to the modern day, the belief has amassed over 100,000 followers with many centers for worship across numerous countries. While that number is nothing to scoff at, quick growth for the religion only began after the late nineties, according to the church, beginning its spread in the United States from Los Angeles.

So why might their followers’ close proximity and influence make us feel almost… uncomfortable?

As their vocality has spread

even further into the corners of our daily lives, so has a growing suspicion of their intentions: Student publications, from Portland State University to Arizona State University and the University of South Carolina have all formally published their own observations and concerns regarding the sect’s rising presence in their communities, with concerns of possible connections to human trafficking arising several times.

It may not be such a wonder why it all might just make us feel uneasy: The entire globe has been the stage for an endless series of bloodshed

up on us every day.

Whether it be building supersized snow-people, an igloo, or “the world’s best snow fort,” creating these monstrosities can make a day fly by. And once you’re done, there’s the classic mug of hot chocolate before you settle down for dinner.

But...

You can also use snow to make your own dessert. Just grab a mixing bowl, scoop up a layer of fresh snow, add some vanilla, milk, and sugar, and mix thoroughly. At the end of the process you have your own delicious, home-made ice cream, which, in my opinion, is the best way to end a night.

This has been my opinion piece/ how-to guide on how to turn a snow day into another slide on the highlight reel of your life.

Farewell, and good luck in that frosty wonderland. Don’t get frostbite!

WORD SPREADS ABOUT ‘GOD OF MOTHER’

Omar Carillo The Advocate

A puzzling statement to read, and one just as puzzling to hear – to most Americans, an idea fairly abstract. For this is not a concept elaborated upon or even mentioned by practically any other Christian denomination.

None, except one.

Across the greater Portland area, and reported all across the country now, people yell and throw up the phrase on colored signs.

The three words, printed on glossy pamphlets. The statement has even reached the MHCC campus.

With several encounters having been described by students, there is both a natural sense of equal parts curiosity and concern regarding the presence of a new faith-based movement in our midst.

Is there a reason to worry, after all?

The belief in question belongs

to a specific sect of Christianity thought quite new in the grand scheme of Protestant history: the World Mission Society Church of God (or WMSCOG) was founded in South Korea by a man named Ahn Sahng-hong in 1964, and after a couple decades, its leadership was passed onto a man named Kim Joocheol and a woman, Jang Gil-ja.

It is Gil-ja whom so much attention is thrust upon in the preaching of the denomination.

As “God the Mother,” it is believed that she had been married to Sahng-hong, who is himself considered a second coming of Jesus Christ by his followers.

Having considered to have fulfilled the certain necessary prophetic steps, Jang Gil-ja is now seen as the feminine counterpart to a holy rule, a “Heavenly Mother.”

The organization’s official webpage, WMSCOG.com, elaborates on a particular reasoning for a motherly god’s existence: “Children can only have life if there is also a mother because it is the mother who gives birth. Christ showed us to pray to our Father in heaven because, as children of God, we also have God our Mother.”

Though of course one particular interpretation of scripture, specifically the Hebrew bible, this direct explanation of the logical conclusions the group adheres to is one described without hesitation or

and conspiracy masked by religious process. It’s scary enough to think about the denominations that already have existed for hundreds of years, and now, one that has existed only a few decades?

Perhaps it is still too early to speculate confidently what yet another Christian branch may have in store for the rest of the international society in which it was born. Regardless, one should remember that while time as we perceive it is linear, human intention and action is not – no matter what kinds of blessings may be had in mind.

Priority Registration for Veterans is Feb. 6.

Veterans always receive priority registration at MHCC and we’re here to assist transitioning from life in the military to life as a college student.

› VA Educational Benefit Counseling.

› Academic Advising. › Certification of Enrollment.

› Financial Aid. › And much more!

Contact MHCC Veteran Services to Get Started: 503-491-7346 or Veteran.Services@mhcc.edu PA G E 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

BYLETH HOUSES FAN BACKLASH Parrish Chang The Advocate

Super Smash Bros. is a video game series that has been going for a little over 21 years. With five games in the installment, each new game added new characters for players to use. However, the most recent added character has sparked some huge backlash within the Smash community.

On Jan. 16 there was a Super Smash Bros. announcement for the fifth and final character of the first DLC fighter’s pass.

This character was the main player character from the “Fire Emblem Three Houses” game, Byleth.

Byleth has fast become the most hated character added to the game in the series’ entire lifespan. To give some perspective, we currently have the Wii Fit Trainer from Nintendo’s fitness game “Wii Fit” – not even she is as hated as Byleth, currently.

Byleth (a unisex character) seems to be a unique facet added to the entire roster, so why all the hate?

It’s not because of the character itself, but rather because of the series it hails from. Although Fire Emblem Three Houses was a hugely successful game, Fire Emblem in general has a bad reputation in the Smash community. Fire Emblem currently has the third largest character representation in Super

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Smash Bros., so people are tired of seeing Fire Emblem characters in the game.

There has been a huge debate about whether this has been handled well, but are the community’s proposed solutions to the Byleth controversy any good?

One of the biggest suggestions

by the Smash community is that Byleth should have been pushed back to be the first character of DLC fighter’s pass 2, so that everyone in the first fighter’s pass was a thirdparty character. Before jumping to this conclusion we should ask ourselves a question: “If Byleth was the first character of DLC fighter’s pass 2, would you be eager to buy it?”

The first character of the first fighter’s pass was Joker, from Persona 5, which sparked excitement and eagerness to buy the game and the fighter’s pass.

From a business standpoint, it makes sense to end this pass with

an underwhelming character so that Smash can start the next with an amazing character that will make players more eager to buy in.

With that in mind, is the hate Byleth is getting fair? Everyone has an opinion, which is reasonable, but we need to be able to respect each other’s opinions. The Smash community is supposed to be more like a family, rather than a war zone.

Byleth gets hate because of all the other Fire Emblem characters.

Marth, who is another Fire Emblem character in the game, has a bunch of “clone” characters.

This is where most of the hate is coming from.

Web Graphic People have suggested that we get rid of some of the characters and keep only the unique ones in the game. This would leave us with Marth, Ike, Robin, Corrin, and Byleth. This seems like a good idea on paper, but again this would still make people upset.

A good portion of the community are saying that it’s okay to have an opinion on the matter, but we should enjoy the fact that we get this many new and original characters into the game, period.

Byleth will be making their debut on Tuesday and will hopefully win the community over with her fun-looking gameplay, that we’ve always gotten from Nintendo.

SELENA GOMEZ SELENA GOMEZ ALBUM ‘RARE’ TREAT HEADLINE Melanie Roberts The Advocate

Web Graphic

Selena Gomez kicked off the new year right and has made her comeback in 2020 with her newest album, called, “Rare,” released on Jan. 10.

She also got a new tattoo below her right ear that says, “Rare,” matching exactly of the font of the new album.

I remember Gomez from years ago, watching her on “Barney and Friends,” and obviously I grew up with her on the Disney Channel.

I’ve always loved her acting and music, and just her as a person. She seems so down to earth and loyal to everyone she meets in her life.

Back in November 2013, I saw Gomez appear at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas for her Stars Dance Tour. I hope to see her again before long if she does a tour for

“Rare.” because I truly enjoyed seeing her live, seven years ago.

Personally, I really love this new album, as this is my favorite album of hers, by far. Her songs are just very raw, real, and personal.

In them you can tell how deep or excited she is, just about life.

My favorite songs from her album include, “Let Me Get Me,” “Dance Again,” “Rare,” “Look At Her Now,” “People You Know,” “Vulnerable,” “Crowded Room,” and “Lose You to Love Me.” The only songs that currently have music videos are “Rare,” “Look At Her Now,” and “Lose You to Love Me.” The rest are lyric videos The latter was the first song in her album to be released on Oct. 23, 2019, followed the next day by Look At Her Now. Gomez’s new album is definitely a 5/5 from me. I love it so much, as I listen to it on my iTunes every day. Her album has truly helped me get through hard times, and into the new year.

5 out of 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

JANUARY 24, 2020

GAMES, GOOGLE, AND FAILED ASPIRATIONS

Kurt Larson

The Advocate Along with the new decade comes not only a whole new generation of video game consoles, but the first real glimpses into the “future” of gaming.

At the tail end of 2019, Google officially released to the world its premium video game streaming service, Google Stadia, which was swiftly met with mediocre reviews from audiences and users alike.

While initial interest in the streaming platform was positive, due to the poorly handled release of the service and the apparent imperfections of the technology still being quite noticeable, the project already seems destined for the graveyard, after only two months on the market. Needless to say, the service is starting to look like a big disappointment for Google.

Due to the inadequate internet speeds experienced throughout much of the United States, Stadia was never going to be an option for the majority of the public, but it’s starting to seem like Stadia isn’t really for anyone.

Despite reassurances that Google’s new low-latency technology would both improve and perhaps even actively reduce latency, the fact of the matter is very much the opposite, with input lag persisting. Though not all Stadia subscribers have experienced detrimental latency, gigabit internet speeds, which greatly improve the quality of the streaming, are both expensive and widely unavailable to much of the general population, which makes the platform, at best, a less ideal way to play your video games.

Even when the service is working as intended, there are still some compromises you’ll have to deal with as a Stadia user, such as the active resolution scaling, which is supposed to help maintain a steady frame rate when your internet speeds fluctuate, but in reality, just results in a muddy image.

At this point, the only real saving grace of Stadia is its portability. Being able to stream the newest games on your phone, tablet, computer, or any random TV is a compelling

idea. However, apparently not compelling enough, as the Stadia app for android has barely broken the 500,000 download mark. While those numbers are nothing to smirk at, they’re still just a drop in the bucket compared to the tens of millions of downloads recorded by other popular apps on the Google Play store.

It also d o e s n’t help that you

have to pay $129 for the Stadia premier edition, which is currently the only available option. The spending doesn’t stop there, either.

If you actually intend on using the service, you’ll have to cough up another $60 for one of the few, relatively dated video games that are offered on Stadia.

Unfortunately for Google, it seems

the company’s confidence has gotten the better of its leaders in their attempt to corner a virgin market.

While streaming is undoubtedly the future of gaming, Google has fallen prey to the same pitfalls of those who came before them. Famously, Onlive attempted a version of a video game streaming platform in the early 2010s, followed by Sony’s short-lived Playstation Now service a few years later, both of which failed due to the same latency issues that plague Stadia today.

Unlike streaming a movie, there is so much more information that needs to be sent and received by a device streaming a video game, and simply put, the internet infrastructure of America is simply not up to snuff. Unless the service significantly reduces in price and can improve its latency issues, the future will just have to wait a few more years.

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ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE HANDBOOK Ashaura Espinoza The Advocate

With everything going on in the world, the littlest things always manage to slip by and sometimes those little things can have drastic measures.

It’s not every day you’re going to hear the words, “How would you survive a zombie apocalypse if it were to happen?” My reasoning for that, is because it’s not realistic.

If someone asked “What are your plans for the weekend?” That would make sense. It’s logical!

In case someone does decide to test your apocalyptic knowledge, however, there are a few things I think are a must-know.

Sit back, relax and try to outrun the growling, drooling brain eater, if you are in fact, living through the apocalypse. The key to survival is crucial. Every mistake can lead to your downfall. Getting a simple cut can cost your life.

For starters, here is a small list of first aid supplies you may want to keep handy. The basics: adhesive bandages, antibacterial ointment, anti-diarrheal medication, aspirin,

aspirin alternative, bandana cloth wraps, tape, clips, safety pins, eye drops, a flashlight with batteries (or one that is solar powered), gauze, rubbing alcohol, scissors, sedatives, tweezers, and water sanitizing tablets.

Next on the list: Rations. You will need to eat and drink to survive.

In order: 1) Bottled water is a must; dehydration should be the least of your worries.

2) Energy bars have nutritional value and are long lasting. It wouldn’t hurt to have a few on hand.

3) Nuts are nutritionally important for their antioxidents, omega3s, and protein.

Nuts are small and easy to transport. You

may enjoy almonds, walnuts and pecans.

4) Peanut butter is packed

with protein, yet doesn’t require refrigeration. It can be used alone or added to less desirable foods to make them taste better.

Did you know that peanut butter may also be used as a natural greasy oil?

A little peanut butter will keep your chainsaw purring, no matter how many zombies you have to chop through!

5) Canned meat: The good news is, canned meat is ready to eat and has high levels of protein, making it good for sustenance. Easyopen containers are often small enough for easy packing and require no preparation time.

There are many varieties of canned meat available, including Parrish Chang | The Advocate V i e n n a

sausage, tuna, deviled ham, etc.

There are many other types of canned goods, as well as beef jerky, dried fruits, beans, even hot dogs and seasoning (Though I don’t know when you’re going to be able to put spice in your life when you’re running for it!).

Now, you’re probably asking, “Ash, I have first aid, food, and water. But where can I sleep, and how will I stay warm at night?”

Well, it’s not ideal, but in “The Walking Dead” the characters survived for a good while in the jail. So, a jail or prison may be a good idea as long as you hold the keys and it has fencing and bars.

Or, find somewhere high up, like a tree house or the mountains; some people even suggest a bank vault!

As for staying warm, I would say fire is your best choice. You can cook with it and boil water. You can also set a field of zombies ablaze, if the time calls for it.

Well, that’s just a bit of knowledge you could use, not only to look like a total bad-ass to your friends, but, to also survive an accidental zombie apocalypse.

Until next time!

PA G E 7

OPINION | SPORTS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

EYE-OPENING HOCKEY GAME EXPERIENCE Brad Le

The Advocate On Sunday (Jan. 19), I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Western Hockey League game between the Portland Winterhawks and the Kelowna Rockets.

Admittedly, my family never emphasized athletic skill, instead emphasizing and encouraging academic prowess. As a result, I grew up having an interest in games such as chess or trivial pursuit. I did have a brief yet passive interest in sports, especially baseball, though that was only a result of my interest in history and fascination with Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, and Jackie Robinson. My family did enjoy sports, especially basketball, American football, and MMA, but only occasionally.

Hockey to me seemed to be a sport that only gets appreciated in Canada, just like how soccer is hugely popular in Europe. My only acknowledgement of hockey prior to Sunday as in 1982, where Clint Malarchuck (coincidentally, a former Winterhawk) suffered a life-threatening injury, and when NHL Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky acquired the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card in 1992 for $451,000.

Needless to say, I went to my first hockey game (and first athletic contest) with no preconceptions.

Although my interest in and

knowledge of sports was very limited, I knew I had to take the chance to see it with my own eyes.

I was lucky to have the chance to sit in the front row right behind the penalty box, extremely excited to see what how good the Winterhawks really were since I heard much about their reputation as a top-tier WHL team.

As for first impressions, I was pretty entertained as the arena started playing club music shortly before the game started. The first moments of the game started off relatively quickly, though I was mostly focused on trying to use my rudimentary understanding of ice hockey to observe how the game functions. That was, until the first minute where there were player collisions against the glass on the ice rink. From then on, it was a flash of intense hockey plays.

During the first period, the Winterhawks were notably far more aggressive in their attempts to score a goal, while the Rockets were a lot more defensive. Unfortunately for the Rockets, defense is not the best offense, resulting in the Winterhawks scoring two goals during the period.

While the first period was very aggressive, the second period was not so much. Both sides were very passive in their attempts to score, and no goals were achieved. Perhaps

both sides had given up trying to the hockey spectators truly have. myself purchasing hockey game score more?

In Veterans Memorial Coliseum on tickets (partly due to my college Nevertheless, the third period Sunday, they would scream in satis- costs) in the near future. However, had a contradictory attitude of the faction as the Winterhawks scored, I am grateful for the opportunity to game, compared to the second pe- they would brood when the Rockets have attended my very first sports riod. The Winterhawks scored an scored; they would call their own game and wouldn’t trade my time additional goal in the first two min- team “idiots” when the Winter- on Sunday for anything else.

In the few hours that I watched utes, but the Rockets throughout the hawks failed to score an “easy” goal; third period nearly turned the tide and they would shout death threats from the front row, I would come – nearly. Kelowna scored the game’s against the referees whenever they to appreciate the rigorous skill it took to score a goal. In the end, final two goals, resulting in a 3-2 made an unpopular call.

Winterhawk victory.

It was almost as if the stereotype even though I had a longtime disinterest in sports, I am beginning One of the things about sports was an understatement. and particularly hockey (at least, I still do not claim to be an avid to understand what makes hockey stereotypically) that fascinated me enthusiast of sports nor can I see such a popular game. is the zeal and emotional expressions that sports fans exhibited during the games.

My family has yelled at the TV during Blazers basketball and Seahawks football games, but hockey had the reputation of a very passionate fanbase. Though I thought that it was an exaggeration, I came to find out firsthand how Photo taken by: Maysee Thao much passion Gabe Klassen, No. 16, assisted on the winning goal for the Winterhawks on Sunday.

Bernie Sanders told Elizabeth Warren that a woman can’t win as a president. Sanders, a supporter of women in politics throughout his career, denied saying that.

What made rounds in the media was the amount of attention this story got. It felt like some sort of coordinated effort to stir up controversy and drama before the caucuses.

Since the beginning of his run for president, Joe Biden was the top candidate to attack because of his huge amount of support. Over time, that support has gone down enough for contenders like Warren and Sanders to cut Biden’s lead. His record and policy inconsistency has been on display and attacked by candidates such as Sanders, because their policy ideas are at odds with each other.

Meantime, dramatic attacks, leaks and faux scandals have been pushed by media outlets such as CNN and MSNBC, particularly

with “outsider” candidates like politicians aren’t a fan of Bernie. in common is that they’ve taken Andrew Yang, Tulsi Gabbard But, Yang and Gabbard have been corporate money or are taking and Sanders. Since announcing largely ignored by the media, going big0-dollar donations; the ones his campaign, Sanders has been as far as (along with the Democratic who aren’t are the candidates that criticized by those media outlets National Committee) to not are ignored.

I predict the results of the Iowa for reasons that they can’t seem to include them in recent debates.

The candidates that have cozied caucus on Feb. 3 aren’t going to pinpoint and tell their audience.

It’s easy to criticize Biden up to the media have included matter as much as the amount of because his policy blunders are Pete Buttigieg, Amy Kloubachar, drama around it – and, just like last on display with the Iraq War Biden (somewhat) and Warren. election, this will translate directly and the Wall Street bailout, but What all of those candidates have to the general election. the media can’t look toward policy inconsistency in order to criticize Sanders. Instead, the media questions his identity as an old white man. Occasionally they ask him the classic “How are we going to pay for all the free stuff?” question in each of the debates, but that question has been answered in every debate by him since the start of the 2016 election. He and all of the other candidates are tired of that question.

It’s no secret that the Web Photo establishment media and From left: Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders pose for the Jan. 14

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES’ MEDIA PROBLEM

Omar Saradi The Advocate

We are now mere days away from the important Iowa caucuses that play a major role in who will secure the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party in November. That nominee will run against President Trump in the general election; however, some candidates are already feeling the heat of the campaign.

In the last televised Democratic debate, the media made an event out of the alleged incident in which PA G E 8

Democratic debate.