The Advocate
In a critical moment for the United States, lawmakers find themselves locked in a fierce struggle concerning the federal debt ceiling.
With the nation rapidly approaching its current debt limit, the fate of the country’s financial markets and its population lies in the hands of Congress, which must unite in order to raise the current debt limit.
Failing to do so could lead to a potentially devastating default on loans, resulting in the suspension of Social Security benefits, military paychecks, and government jobs. The repercussions of surpassing the federal debt limit would also have far-reaching consequences for both domestic and global financial markets.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen estimates that “Treasury will likely no longer be able to satisfy all of the government’s obligations if Congress has not acted to raise or suspend the debt limit by early June...”
The debt ceiling, a statutory cap on the amount of debt the U.S. government can accu-
mulate, has been a contentious issue for several decades. Originally implemented as a means to control federal spending and ensure fiscal responsibility, the reality is that the debt limit has been raised or suspended a staggering 78 times since 1960, as reported by the U.S. Treasury Department.
Constant increases in federal spending –
widespread concern among many voters over the ever-rising federal debt, many politicians are reluctant to be seen as advocates for raising the ceiling.
approved from both sides of the political aisle – has necessitated these frequent increases in the debt ceiling. Consequently, legislators have come to rely on Congress raising the debt limit each time the government faces a financial shortfall.
Given the significant impact the debt limit can have on the American population, it is puzzling why there is such a substantial dispute and conflict surrounding the issue. One of the primary causes is politicians’ desire to please their constituents. Considering the
Furthermore, some lawmakers exacerbate the conflict by attaching unrelated and extraordinary priorities to must-pass legislation. This diversionary tactic hinders Congress from focusing on the debt limit itself and instead sparks contentious debates over the additional policies and bills appended to the legislation. Some legislators and observers argue that the debt limit should not be wielded as a bargaining chip during budget negotiations, as doing so risks destabilizing the national economy.
While excessive federal spending has brought the nation to this juncture, mere spending cuts alone will not suffice to prevent crossing the debt ceiling. Congress would need to implement substantial reductions in spending, potentially coupled with tax increases – a difficult move even during less-partisan, cooler times than currently.
If Congress fails to promptly raise the debt ceiling these next few days, the consequences
would be severe. The Treasury Department would be forced to prioritize which social services receive funding, potentially leading to the suspension of vital programs. Financial markets would likely suffer a tumultuous period as investors grapple with uncertainty surrounding the United States government.
The Advocate Republican Oregon state senators have been walking out of this year’s session of the Oregon Legislature for over two weeks now and show no sign of stopping soon.
This has brought action in Salem largely to a halt.
This isn’t the first walkout in recent times. In 2021, House Republicans walked out for two days over a bill that would redrawn Oregon congressional districts heavily in Democrats’ favor. The GOP has participated in six walkouts just since 2019. Democrats are not strangers to the tactic, either: From 1971 to 2001, they staged at least three walkouts.
The Oregon Senate is made up of 30 senators total, 17 of which are currently Democrats, giving them a majority in that chamber. Currently, 10 Republican senators are continuing their walkout, along with one Independent member, and this means the senate can not vote on anything because the remaining 19 members do not meet quorum – quorum being the legal minimum number of people needed to be present to vote on legislation and other functions of the senate.
In Oregon two-thirds of the senate needs to be present: 20 members.
What’s different this year is that state legislators in Oregon who accrue more than 10 unexcused absences are banned from running for reelection. This is due to Measure 113, approved by 68% of voters who cast ballots in the
November 2022 election, referred to voters after Republicans’ 2019 session walkout (several actually retreating to Idaho, to avoid contact by Oregon State Police sent to retrieve them) drew much attention.
As of May 23, 10 senators have exceeded the mark and are now not allowed to run for reelection. One is the Independent member; the other nine are Republicans.
The walkout is conservative members’ response to two bills under consideration this year, one that would protect gender-affirming care for minors and another that adds to gun control measures. The gun control bill would require individuals to be 21 years of age to legally possess a firearm and punishes possession, manufacturing, and transfer of ghost guns (those scrubbed clean of identifying serial
numbers), among other things.
The other bill would protect medical providers who perform abortions or gender-affirming care from legal punishments. It also would expand what insurance policies must pay for, and makes other changes.
The bigger problem is that the current legislative session is set to end on June 25 and those who have been absent from the floor say they will only come to the senate floor on that final scheduled day to pass the state’s two-year budget and to pass any “bipartisan-approved” bills.
If the two sides do not negotiate a return to the senate floor – and little progress has been reported to date – those bills and all of the other proposed legislation since January will die, for this session.
Isabela Durighello
Leydi
Lindsay Leeman
“THE DEBT LIMIT HAS BEEN RAISED OR SUSPENDED... 78 TIMES SINCE 1960”Illustration Design by Leydi Perez
There is fun coming all afternoon to Mt. Hood Community College on Thursday, June 1, in the form of Barney Bash, meant to celebrate the end of another successful academic year.
Hosted by the MHCC Office of Student Life and Civic Engagement, the Bash will run from noon to 7 p.m. in MHCC’s Main Mall and the Student Union – absolutely free to all visitors, whether students, staff, or community members of all ages.
Avery DiepThe
AdvocateStarting at noon, a photo booth, obstacle course, bungee obstacle course, and two bounce houses will be open in the Main Mall, and be available until 7 p.m.
There also will be live music performances in the Mall starting at noon, with the cover band
Hans & the Wanted playing until 3 p.m. Next comes the MHCC Jazz Band, which will perform from 3 to 5 p.m. At 4:00 p.m., the remainder of the Bash “carnival” events open for all. There will be a petting zoo, magician, balloon animals, henna tattoos (temporary
ink-based tattoos), laser tag, and other games to play.
Mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) and free food will also be offered.
From 4 to 7 p.m., visitors can slide into the Student Union Building (AC1051) for movie night entertainment. The featured movie will be the 2010 Disney film, “Tangled.” Loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “Rapunzel,” the movie runs about 100 minutes. Refreshments will be provided.
Earlier this month, Mt. Hood Community College held a Student Transfer panel event: Several former MHCC students who transferred to four-year institutions were interviewed about the jump and shared a lot of helpful advice and information about the process.
Here is a summary of what the panel members had to say:
First, prospective transfer students are encouraged to take as many of your required credits here at MHCC as possible. Most likely, credits here are MHCC will be significantly cheaper than at a four-year school. With that said, be careful to ensure the Mt. Hood credits you are taking will count towards your target degree, whether that be an associate degree here at MHCC or a bachelor’s degree at your transfer institution. You may lose a significant sum of money if you do not properly plan out your courses.
Notably, many four-year universities have a maximum number of transfer credits they will accept. Most public four-year universities in Oregon accept up to 124 transfer credits from community colleges, including Portland State University, Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, and Western Oregon University.
Realize that you do not have to plan out your courses by yourself: You have an academic adviser at Mt. Hood to assist you. Communicate with them to help you create a comprehensive academic plan. For more information about academic advising, see: https://www. mhcc.edu/AdvisingCenter/
You also can contact an adviser at your transfer destination before you transfer, which can help tremendously in ensuring a smooth move. Do not be afraid to get help from your advisers and ask questions. It’s not a bother, because academic advisers love to help, and that is what they are there for.
If after a transfer occurs you find that some of your credits did not transfer, you have the option of petitioning for those credits. This process varies by school, so inquire with your academic adviser at your transfer institution about this option. In some cases, the instructor for the course you wish to transfer can advocate for the course transfer.
It is also highly recommended to apply for scholarships. Scholarship applications can be overwhelming since there are so many different ones you can apply to. Great, reachable scholarships to start with are the Ford Family Foundation scholarships and the Oregon
Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) scholarships.
If you ever need help applying for colleges or scholarships, there are various resources available to help you. MHCC offers many resources for prospective transfer students, such as the TRIO Student Support Services (TRIOSSS) program. TRIO offers help with college essays and scholarship applications, and more. TRIO does has eligibility requirements: You must meet at least one of these criteria: first-generation college student, low-income, or have a documented disability. To learn more about TRIO-SSS, visit https://www. mhcc.edu/TRIO-SSS/.
Even if you do not qualify for TRIO, you can still find help at the AVID Learning Success Center. AVID offers writing and English language tutoring that can help you to write college or scholarship essays. In-person writing tutoring is offered in Room AC1451, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.
Remote writing tutoring is offered 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. To learn more about AVID tutoring, visit: https:// www.mhcc.edu/avid/
Some of the transfer panelists shared a few miscellaneous tips and ideas.
Mt. Hood has a lot of unique outdoor courses, such as Rafting (PE185RT). If you are interested in those courses, seize the opportunity here at MHCC because they likely will not be offered at your transfer institution.
While you’re still here at MHCC, engage in extracurricular activities, go to events, and meet new people. A lot of those you meet will be prospective transfer students just like you, and you might friends with many of them even after transferring.
Hi, my name is Andrew. I am currently a junior in high school but in my second year of my associate’s degree program at MHCC. I’ve been with the Advocate since January of this year and have enjoyed learning more about the college, meeting new people, and improving my writing skills. As News Editor,
I help come up with story ideas, run our weekly meetings, and help layout the newsprint edition every two weeks. Personally, I like writing about news and politics, as well as about sports. In my free time, when it’s sunny out, I enjoy golf and taking my two Border Collies to the dog park. In wintertime, I enjoy
snowboarding on Mt. Hood.
I am currently working towards my Associate of Science in Business Transfer and plan on going to an Oregon university to finish a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
FOR MORE INFO ON ACADEMIC ADVISING SCAN THIS QR CODE:Image sourced from Web.
Picture this: it’s a beautiful, warm day in Salem, Oregon. The sun is shining, the trees are blooming, and college students determined to facilitate change for the betterment of ourselves, our state, and our nation are gathered at the state Capitol Park in front of Salem’s historic Capitol building to protest budget cuts against higher education.
Knowing that an updated two-year state revenue forecast was set for release to state legislators on May 17, the Oregon Student Association took to the Capitol on May 11 to demand that the Legislature adequately fund our public universities and community colleges.
I had the honor to attend with several of my Associated Students of Mt Hood Community College (ASMHCC) colleagues, and here’s how it went down.
For some background information, public universities and community colleges are asking Oregon state legislators to pass several bills. House Bill 3089 aims for “hunger-free campuses” and addresses food insecurity among college students. HB 3121 seeks to reduce the cost of textbooks and other resources that have exponentially increased in price over the years.
HB 2263’s goal is to create a task force dedicated to improving options for affordable, accessible student housing. Last, but certainly not least, HB2263 would create a task force focused on building accessible, affordable childcare for student-parents.
On top of these asks, public universities and community colleges are asking for increases in state funding. “1.05 to thrive” was the public (four-year) universities’ motto when they demanded $1.05 billion in the Public University Support Fund (PUSF) from state legislators. Community colleges won’t settle for the short end of the stick either, and are calling on legislators to approve $855 million in the Community College Support Fund (CCSF).
Oregon students and college faculty aren’t ready to stop there: We’re also asking to increase money available through the Oregon Opportunity Grant – a state-funded educational grant that has helped marginalized and
disadvantaged students further their education and better their lives – from $200 million to $400 million. The final ask is that state legislators renew the Oregon Tribal Student Grant of $40 million.
These are no small asks but are necessary for students and college faculty and staff across Oregon to reach their fullest potential.
Our day began at the Mt. Hood campus where six of my ASMHCC colleagues and I met with Doctor Abio Ayelia, MHCC’s Stu-
As we met with our state legislators, Ayelia opened up about his experiences of having to stay late on campus to provide food boxes to students in need, sometimes as late as 7 p.m. He recalled having to personally deliver food boxes, too. During our meeting with Rep. Greyber’s chief of staff, Ayelia asked; “How can [we] learn on an empty stomach? How can [we] afford college if we can’t even afford food? Food is a basic right… When students are healthy, the rest will fall into place.” (He
importance of both the PUSF and CCSF due to the interdependence of public universities and community colleges. ASPSU President Wing laid out the fact that 60% of PSU students are transfer students from community colleges. We also discussed the historic neglect of East Multnomah County when it comes to budget and resources. MHCC faces barriers with funding from local property taxes; it just isn’t enough to keep the college flourishing to the degree it deserves.
Community colleges specifically are often the link between rural communities (which are historically underfunded, undereducated, and often otherwise neglected by state legislators) and urban communities, allowing them access to resources and education they may not otherwise have. Community colleges are a critical resource nationwide and deserve adequate funds from all state legislators.
After the first round of meetings at the Capitol, students gathered at Western Oregon University for lunch and to hear from a few guest speakers. They described their own histories with OSA and highlighted the importance and power of student organization, stating that if we organize and demand adequate funds and resources we have the ability to make an impact not only on the state, but across our nation.
After lunch, we returned to the Capitol. During our last meeting of the day with Rep. Lieber’s staff, we asked that legislators “invest in our future by investing in education.”
dent Life director, for a car-pool commute to Salem. We were greeted by several Oregon Student Association volunteers and assigned to different groups.
Ayelia and I were assigned to Group No. 5, along with Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU) President Kierra Wing and ASPSU presidential candidate Tucker Luft. During the day we met oneon-one with House Rep. Lisa Reynolds (an Eastern Washington County Democrat), as well as staff members for Rep. Dacia Greyber (D-Southwest Portland/Beaverton), Sen. Chris Gorsek (D-Gresham/Troutdale/Fairview), and Sen. Kate Lieber (D-Southwest Portland/Beaverton).
also pointed out that “Community colleges are the backbone of the local economy.”)
This service is the side of Student Life that Mt. Hood students don’t often see.
Due to funding cuts and the unstable state of our economy, Student Life and MHCC’s Student Basic Needs departments have been working tireless, countless hours to ensure students, their families, and our community are receiving the bare necessities – something our own government should be doing, instead.
Portland State student presidential candidate Luft said that in the end, the supported grants and funding increases would “pay for themselves.”
Throughout the day, we all highlighted the
To end Lobby Day, students rallied on the stone square of the Capitol Park. We held signs and banners that backed up speakers from different colleges.
Thousands of students across metropolitan Portland, and more across the state, are struggling to get their basic needs met. Higher education – and education in general –is a fundamental right, not a privilege. Students will not back down until we see progress from our legislators. Investing in higher education is an investment into the future of ourselves, our communities, and the betterment of our nation.
We ended the rally with a short, simple, yet massively impactful chant: “Higher education, the future of our nation!”
The Advocate
Mt. Hood once again hosted the NWAC Championship track & field meet this season, on May 2223. The Saints women’s and men’s teams both finished in ninth place (Lane Community College won both team competitions).
Only the top eight finishers in each event score points for their team, and MHCC athletes had several strong showings.
OLIVER REIS, 1ST PLACE, TRIPLE JUMP
WILLIE TRAN, 4TH PLACE, TRIPLE JUMP
DEGHLAN JOHNSON, 3RD PLACE, 110 METER HURDLES
DEGHLAN JOHNSON, 3RD PLACE, 400 METER HURDLES
OLIVER REIS, 8TH PLACE, 100 METER RUN
MAKAELYN JENNINGS, 2ND PLACE, JAVELIN
GRACE LAM-TIANG, 8TH PLACE, JAVELIN
GRACE LAM-TIANG, 3RD PLACE, SHOT PUT
4 X 100 METER RELAY, 3RD PLACE:
KENNEDI THURMAN, KAILEY BIGGS, MATLYN LEETCH, ANDREA BOGDAN
MATLYN LEETCH, 6TH PLACE, 100 METER RUN
ANDREA BOGDAN, 8TH PLACE, 100 METER RUN
The Saints entered the NWAC Softball Championship tournament as the No. 5 seed but things got off to a slow start. First, the defending champs were upset 7-3 by Lower Columbia, so were sent to the consolation bracket where another loss meant elimination. They played again on Thursday night, falling behind Spokane 2-0 early before they blasted to an 8-2 lead. But the Sasquatch fought back to force extras and it was 8-8 in the bottom of the 8th before Lexi Geary hit a walk-off ground-rule double for a 9-8 win, getting the Saints to Day 2.
Friday began early with a 10 a.m. game vs. the Walla Walla Warriors, who they easily took care of, 12-2 in five innings, to earn a midday mati-
nee against the Columbia Basin Hawks who gave them a fight. But the Saints surged again to win 8-3 to advance tp a third game that day against North division winner Bellevue, who unfortunately ended their season, winning 14-4 in five innings. The players spent a long time huddling afterwards, saying final goodbyes. The Southwestern Oregon Lakers went on to win the title game, 6-1, against Clackamas (Mt. Hood faced neither team) – that one run for Clackamas the lone run Lakers pitchers gave up all weekend. I asked some of the team to reflect on how they felt abut the season and any final messages they had to say. Take a look below at some of the responses.
I am so proud of the way we finished our season! Fighting through the loser bracket for a fifth-place finish showed the kind of resiliency this team had. I also loved the support from all of our alumni, family and friends. It really showed how big our Hood family has become over the years!
This season was definitely a special one. Although we didn’t get the ’ship, I am so so proud of how our team continued to fight through the tournament and not accepting defeat, especially after the first game. I cannot wait to see what our freshmen and soon-to-be sophomores will do next season, but know they will continue to evolve this program to be even greater. Thank you to my amazing coaches, teammates and family for pushing me to be my best. #3 out!
I have been playing softball now for years and I have to say this was one of my favorite years. The coaching staff elevated me to a new level. Not just on the field, but off the field as well. I will remember this year for the rest of my life. As to my teammates, they were my rock. They kept me serious when we needed to be and also could make me laugh at any given time. I wish all the best of luck in their future.
The highly anticipated 2023 National Basketball Association Draft Lottery took place on May 16, granting basketball fans a sneak peek into the upcoming NBA Draft in late June.
NBA teams anxiously awaited learning their draft order, sparking excitement over which would secure the first overall pick and the opportunity to acquire the exceptional French talent, Victor Wembanyama.
For those unfamiliar with basketball, the Lottery is an annual event hosted by the NBA to determine the order for selecting new players in the upcoming draft. Its fundamental purpose is to promote competitive balance within the league – teams with the poorest regular-season records are given a higher probability of receiving a top pick, encouraging them to rebuild and enhance their rosters. However, the lottery system also is specifically designed to discourage teams from intentionally losing games to secure more-favorable (higher) draft positions, a practice commonly known as “tanking.”
The May 16 event showcased the unpredictability and excitement associated with the lottery. A pair of teams – including the Portland Trail Blazers – experienced unexpected jumps in the draft order, while others unfortunately slipped a few spots. This element of sur-
prise infused the proceedings with excitement.
Surprisingly, the San Antonio Spurs emerged as the winners of the May 16 lottery, securing the first overall pick despite having only the third-worst record in the 2023 season. This stroke of luck grants them the opportunity to select Wembanyama, a game-changing talent who has the potential to elevate the team’s future success. Standing 7 feet, 2 inches, the 19-year-old France native has shown remarkable shooting, ballhandling, and defensive skills.
the Hornets already have a top guard in their lineup – LaMelo Ball – they may choose Henderson or another hot prospect, or consider trading their pick to another team.
Also highly likely to be chosen with either the second or third pick is Brandon Miller, a forward from the University of Alabama renowned for his deadly jump shot.
The remaining draft class this year is brimming with young players who also possess the ability to reshape the NBA landscape. One top prospect in the upcoming draft is Scoot Henderson, an explosive guard from the G League Ignite (the developmental G League is one step below the NBA). He has shown extraordinary skills throughout his basketball career.
The Charlotte Hornets will pick second overall the draft, indicative of their need for new players to strengthen their roster. While
Miller averaged 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds with the Crimson Tide this last season, making him a valuable asset for some team. a surprise to many fans, and thanks to the chance of the lottery (they had the fifth-worst record last season). The Blazers face two choices: Select the third pick and strive for a successful season pairing Damian Lillard and the rookie player (along with making other changes), or trade the pick to another team in hopes of acquiring larger, more defensive veteran players. Fans are already engaged in heated debates over Portland’s decision, but only time will reveal the front office’s ultimate decision.
Beyond the top three slots, the Houston Rockets claimed the fourth spot, followed by the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic in the fifth and sixth spots.
In the weeks leading to the June 22 draft, speculation will abound as fans eagerly anticipate how teams will utilize their picks to improve their rosters.
“RIGHT BEHIND CHARLOTTE, WITH THE THIRD DRAFT PICK, ARE THE BLAZERS...”
Kane Finders
The Advocate
Around 30 minutes’ drive from Gresham, the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge sits right off State Highway 14, just east of Washougal, Washington. With five miles of trails, this refuge offers a wonderful hiking experience.
I recently spent around three hours to see most of what the area has to offer, namely the three distinct trails available to explore.
If you arrive at the main entrance off Highway 14, you will start your journey on the
Mountain View Trail, which will connect you with the Refuge River Trail. Hiking in, you will have breathtaking views of the refuge’s floodplains, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River. Along the trail there are multiple benches on which to take a rest.
The Refuge River Trail runs east-west along the Columbia River, offering beautiful views. This trail runs for three miles and is connected to an additional parking lot and Captain William Clark Park on the west side of the refuge. Following the trail east will lead you to a connection to the Wildlife Art Trail, and walking a bit more east will lead to you another viewpoint overlooking the
river. Throughout this trail and the Wildlife Art Trail are many beautiful wooden bridges over the floodplains and other smaller bodies of water.
Spurring off the Refuge River Trail is the Wildlife Art trail, a one-mile trail that has sculptures, benches, and cutouts of animals dotted along it. One important note is that in order to protect wintering waterfowl, a portion of the trail is closed from Oct. 1 through April 30, annually.
Since this is a wildlife refuge, there are other rules to follow. On the Mountain View and Wildlife Art trails, only pedestrians and service dogs are allowed. No other pets, or vehi-
cles of any type, are allowed. There also is no jogging on these trails.
However, visitors using the Refuge River Trail may have leashed dogs, horses, bicycles, and can jog, as well.
Along with those rules, it is important throughout the refuge to not to deviate from the trail as this may harm the habitat and surrounding ecosystems.
This park can’t be fully described with only words. If you have the time, I heavily urge you to visit and check out this hidden gem of a park yourself.
Recently, I was lucky enough to watch one of MHCC Theatre’s performances of “Buried Child” by Sam Shepard, a twisting, morbid story about a broken family in Illinois during the 1970s economic recession.
Family patriarch Dodge and his wife, Halie, fight over their two sons – Bradley and Tilden – as Halie mourns her youngest son, Ansel, who apparently was murdered. Arriving in the middle of it all is Vince, Halie and Dodge’s grandson, with his girlfriend, Shelly. Together, the characters weave a story of family secrets and tightly knotted blood ties, with nothing quite as it seems in a family that hides its brokenness under a blanket of obfuscation.
Every technical aspect of the Mt. Hood show was executed to perfection. Take the television, a major component of the show’s lighting design: How do you simulate a television on stage? You take the frame of an old television and you put a flickering light in it, perfectly angled away from the audience so no one except the actors sees what it really is.
The entire set was meticulously decorated,
with the characteristic floral wallpaper hand-painted by the theatre technicians. Every prop was obviously chosen with great care by props designer Briella Cabbage, perfectly suited to the show and the actors who used them. The lighting, designed by AJ Brazile, perfectly provided the creepiness factor while still allowing us in the audience to see the actors, with a favorite lighting design being the aforementioned television flickering as the lights went dark at the end of the play, showing only the characters sitting on the couch, as another character ascended the stairs, showered
by warm light that never quite reached the other members of the family.
The set was immersive, as if we were standing right in the living room with the characters, watching it all, unable to intervene. The intimate setting of MHCC’s blackbox Studio Theatre only furthered this feeling.
Of course, I have to make note of the acting, too.
Mt. Hood’s production was incredibly lucky to host actor Leif Norby, who appeared under a special appearance contract and has also performed at Portland Center Stage.
In order of appearance, the cast was as fol-
lows: Norby as Dodge; Emma Stewart as Halie; Sam Holloway as Tilden; Chris Wolfe as Bradley; Caleb Unciano as Vince; Maddy Bouley-Haynes as Shelly; and Diego Nyoman-Cash as Father Dewis.
Though the cast was small – comprised only of seven people – each actor played their part with incredible skill that I know from experience is gained only from hours of grueling rehearsal. Each character had a distinct personality, and the delivery of lines was always perfectly timed to elicit laughs, and, occasionally, gasps of shock from the audience. No one dared to shy away from the morbid material, facing it unflinchingly, and the show was all the better for it.
Not only was the play itself fantastic, but the front-of-house technicians were accommodating and courteous when I arrived. I showed up frazzled and very nearly late, and they were incredibly kind and helpful, showing the exemplary grace I expect from MHCC students.
Altogether, Buried Child at MHCC was a fantastic experience, chock-full of a great cast and a masterfully thought-out technical design. My only regret is not seeing it sooner.
Shot in early 2022 and releasing this summer is “Barbie”: a live-action Barbie movie set in – you guessed it – Barbieland. There have been animated Barbie movies, before, 36 of them, to be exact. This will be the first live-action version, and you might be wondering, “What could be the plot of a live-action Barbie movie?”
Let me do the honors and tell you: Barbie gets expelled from Barbieland for being a less-than-perfect looking doll, so she sets off for the human world.
The film is directed by Greta Gerwig, who also directed “Little Women” that dropped in 2019 and “Lady Bird” in 2017. This will be her fourth turn as a director, having also acted, been a playwright and a worked as a screenwriter.
This Barbie movie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, as the main Barbie and Ken in this story. In Barbieland, there are only Barbies and Kens, besides the creator of Barbie and Ken (so far as I can tell).
The Barbies in the movie have several positions in the Barbieland society; for just a few examples, Issa Rae plays President Barbie, Shannon Rooney plays Lawyer Barbie, and Kate McKinnon appears as Weird Barbie. The Kens are cast as numbers: Scott Evans plays Ken No. 6, Simu Liu plays Ken No. 2, and so on.
Based on advanced descriptions, this movie may seem kind of cringe-looking –however, that might be the very reason to go see it.
Barbie is due to hit theaters on July 21.
“Fast X” (also best known as “Fast and Furious 10”) is the tenth film in the ‘Fast and Furious saga, and premiered on May 19.
The film is directed by Louis Leterrier, with the contribution of screenwriters Dan Mazeau and Justin Linn, and stars the same core actors and characters as when it began.
Facing many missions over the
years and always against impossible odds, Vin Diesel returns as Dominic “Dom” Toretto – not to carry out another dangerous assignment but to protect what is most precious to him, his family in danger.
You might say, “Who might want to hurt Dom’s family, and why?” The answer would be Dante Reyes (played by Jason Momoa), someone fueled by revenge who appears from the shadows, spending the last 12 years putting together a
plan to avenge his father’s death and make Dom pay the ultimate price.
To secure his family and loved ones, Dom must do everything possible to protect them from the evil villain who is very much not like the ones he had fought before.
Not only was I surprised that the new movie was coming out this year, I was also extremely excited to see it in a theater. I have been a fan of all the Fast and Furious movies, and this 10th movie is unique like
the others.
The words to describe this movie are adventurous, breathtaking, emotional, and immense talent. When I started watching the movie, my face had a “WOW” and “Oh my God, I can’t stop smiling” expression.
However, I also felt mixed feelings in some scenes. I felt sad but at the same time happy, because the movie made us understand a lesson, which is that family is the most important thing in our lives and we would do anything to protect ours from evil. Also, I felt furious (yes, furious!) because it cannot be that the villain wants to destroy an innocent, loving and united family that is not even to blame for the death of his father.
The things I enjoyed the most were the filmmaking techniques used to make the movie enjoyable. First, the clothing the designers made for each actor is customized, according to each character in the movie. Next up, the cars used, because their scenes are not just a simple race but a street race, and also the enthusiasm the characters have when they are driving it. The special effects are incredible. You do not even know for sure if this is really happening, but the production team does an excellent job behind the scenes to show that really is happening, so that you tremble with emotion.
If you are a fan of the Fast and Furious series, I recommend this awesome film because it has a lot of action and, more adventure, crime, great mysteries, and suspense. You will admire the incredible places that make up the scenes of the movie.
But it will also teach you some important lessons that the actors want us to learn. You will see an unforgettable moment where they show a person who is no longer with us, but the actors will always remember that person in their hearts and as their family member.
“THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE INCREDIBLE... THE PRODUCTION TEAM DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB BEHIND THE SCENES... SO THAT YOU TREMBLE WITH EMOTION.”
“Conservation is the preservation of life on Earth, and that, above all else, is worth fighting for.” - Rob Stewart, documentary filmmaker/author.
“If you think the ocean isn’t important, imagine the Earth without it. Mars comes to mind. No ocean, no life support system.” - Dr. Sylvia Earle, American oceanographer.
You might be asking about the meaning of Rob Stewarts’s quote, what could be the message he wants us to understand: The significance is to help conserve the life of someone, or something, that needs to be safe from risk of extinction.
We comprehend that the risk of many animals from the land, the forest, and even from Iceland, is increasing. However, we need to acknowledge that marine species are at a much higher and immense risk of vanishing from our planet. According to the website article “11 of the Most Endangered Species in the Ocean,” posted at Earth.org and written by journalist Olivia Lai, who is passionate about wildlife
and ocean conservation, threats that include overfishing, habitat loss, environmental degradation and pollution, and climate change have tormented various marine creatures to the very border of disappearance.
Just take a moment to look through the several marine species facing the highest danger of vanishing from our oceans, please:
The Vaquita is the most critically endangered marine mammal, with about 10 individuals of this type (dolphins) remaining in 2023. The population has decreased terribly in the last few years because of fishery bycatch – getting entangled and drowned in gillnets intended for other fish.
The North Atlantic Right Whale is one of the large whales in danger of extinction, with only 366 individuals carrying on. These whale species are at risk from ship collisions, fishing nets, and climate change.
The Chang Jiang (or Yangtze) Finless Porpoise population is only at about 1,000 and at risk of being critically endangered. This river population has been decreasing because of overfishing reducing its prey, and getting entangled in fishing gear, struck by boats or ships, and illegal fishing activity.
The Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of the two last monk seal species, with a total population of about 1,400. The monk seal has long been killed illegally and hunted for its meat, oil, and skin but now faces pollution and fishing bycatch threats.
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is critically endangered because of the loss of nesting sites, fisheries bycatch, and coastal development, as is the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, with harsher storms, changing seas and sand conditions along with other human impacts also to blame.
The Giant Manta Ray is at high risk due to overfishing, entrapment in fishing gear, bottom nets, and microplastics that are ingested.
The Whale Shark (a type of shark, not a whale) is considered endangered because of the sale of its meat and fins and getting injured by boat propellers, not to mention impacts of water pollution and even noise pollution.
The Northern Fur Seal population is decreasing because they are hunted extensively for their fur, and climate change.
The Southern Bluefin Tuna is a long-endangered breed of tuna, due mostly to overfishing and illegal fishing. Industrial-raised individuals stay on floating farms for several
months, and when they grow up, they are typically harvested, frozen, and shipped to Japanese markets.
The Dugong (cousin to Florida’s manatee) is endangered mostly due to coastal development that robs their habitat, or industrial activities. It also often becomes a victim of bycatch.
Finally, Coral Reefs so important to much of our sea life are particularly vulnerable to human activities, including pollution, rising temperatures, and fishing activity. More than 25 corals are listed as threatened or endangered. By now, you probably understand that these magnificent and innocent marine animals need a lot of help because of all the danger they are going through today, starting decades ago.
Share this knowledge with friends or family – and if you prefer to donate to part of these marine creatures, please visit the World Wildlife Fund website for more information at: https://www.worldwildlife.org.
Sabrina Kuhlmann The Advocate
The Marvel Cinematic Universe team has always had a penchant for making incredible, emotional movies, and it’s happened again.
Following the tearjerkers that were “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” many fans were excited for the silly mannerisms of Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy crew to return. If you were rooting for the latest Guardians movie to provide a break from the tissue box, well… you might want to bring one, just in case, when seeing “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” which opened in theaters on May 5.
For me, the Guardians series has always been a story of family. As someone who grew up in foster care, it was up to me to decide who was family and who wasn’t. Sometimes, blood doesn’t always equal family. Guardians of the Galaxy normalized that for me. From the very
first movie, it was apparent that the stories were meant to normalize taking comfort in your Found Family. In that first film, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) broke her ties with her adopted father after realizing that he stood for the wrong things and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) had to find solace in his new friends after losing his family.
In Vol. 2 of the series, Peter had to discover that his father, Ego (Kurt Russell) wasn’t the
father he had been craving, and had to make peace with it while Nebula (Karen Gillan) finally left Thanos (Josh Brolin) after having enough of his abusive manner. And now Vol. 3 also fits the theme, this time focusing on Rocket.
In this newest installment, Marvel fans will be very pleased to see that Rocket Raccoon’s origin story is finally here. Much light is shed on its nature, to the delight of comic fans. But not only does Vol. 3 depict the Guardians finding solace in a Found Family, it shows the struggles of mourning a loved one, and the anxiety of feeling like you must live up to the legacy of another.
Fans will also see other familiar comedic faces from Marvel, including Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova), The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), and Adam Warlock (Will Poulter).
All in all, the MCU again brings a masterpiece to the box office, and to our hearts.
Lindsay Leeman The Advocate
On Monday, May 15, I went to the Global Breakfast hosted by MHCC. It was seriously an amazing experience, and just so sweet.
When I walked in, I immediately saw all the impressive food from all types of cultures. It tasted delicious! And everywhere I listened there were different languages being spoken –ASL, Spanish, and many others.
Of of the acts I saw, my favorite was the traditional African dance group from Ghana. They performed and pulled people in from the crowd to teach them to dance like they do. It was so amazing and inclusive... I was, and still am, at a loss for words of how to even express the sheer happiness and generosity that was emitted.
It was remarkable to see that there were so many people there since it was the first time that Mt. Hood had held this event in four years! This was a morning to remember. I appreciate all the hard work and dedication it takes to bring these events to life, and to think that it was so long since the last one is crazy because it went so smoothly, from my perspective.
A big Thank You to those who helped bring this memorable event to life!
“THE STORIES WERE MEANT TO NORMALIZE TAKING COMFORT IN YOUR FOUND FAMILY.”
