THE ANTLERETTE
Issue 10
the antlerette
february 2018 IN THIS ISSUE
The Value in Learning about the World’s Cultures by Emily Kennedy, Staff
Since we are typically surrounded by one distinctive culture belonging to the region in which we live, individuals are often unaware of aspects of other cultures. The world possesses an inconceivable amount of different cultures. Unfortunately, most people are only exposed to what they are confronted with in their own lives. It is unspeakably valuable to develop an understanding of other regions to understand both the world as a whole and the diverse array of people who inhabit it. A large source of cultural traditions is the enriched blend of religious practices and beliefs that has emerged in many geographical areas. This is displayed by the wide range of religions practiced in Africa, including mainly Islam, Christianity and native African religions. These often meld together as groups tend to draw different elements from each that they feel personally connected with. Their culture emphasizes the importance of art, such as pottery, cloth and other handmade items. Bright colors and
music are highlighted, often referencing African cultural tradition, beliefs and history. On the Asian continent, regions like China also have spiritually linked art. Chinese pottery, sculptures and paintings are often influenced by Buddhism and Taoism, as well as the ancestral connection prevalent in Chinese society. Meanwhile, India practices a range of religions. This is reflected in both their infamous art and architecture. Some notable displays include stunning Mughal-era architecture and structures like the Taj Mahal. Cultural tradition throughout the world is a key expression of a region’s values and structure, often rich with history and meaningful beliefs possessed by a group of people. It is what distinguishes people from one another, yet also unites us through the ability to learn and share cultural elements. Learning about the diversity of the world’s cultural traditions is a way to deepen not only an individual’s awareness, but also her connection to others from different backgrounds. http://iea.rs/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/worldhands_00278818-800x500.jpg
Frozen Iguanas Fall in Florida It’s raining cats and dogs… or in this case – iguanas. The East Coast has been experiencing a terrible bomb-cyclone, causing extremely cold weather. Weather so extreme that in early January, Florida residents have seen frozen lizards fall from the trees. Page 2
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Reading beyond the Lines I get it, we all get busy sometimes, especially with our crazy day to day schedules. Who on earth has time to read? For fun? This, among many, are excuses I hear all the time for people not being able to simply pick up a book. Page 5
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What’s in a Name? by Tracy Tran, Assistant Editor
Hi! My name is Tracy Tran. Believe it or not, I had an identity crisis at the age of 7. As a young girl, I was raised in Vietnamese culture from my first generation Vietnamese American parents. My given name is Giang. I adored this name as it was a physical connection to my ethnic roots. It symbolized the bowls of pho, red envelopes during the Lunar New Year, and the constant nagging to do well in school. Cause C’s don’t get degrees. This whole identity fiasco began in second grade. It was a bright sunny day. During recess, a girl my age in a yellow dress asked me for my name. I answered, “My name is Giang. G-I-A-N-G.” Her response was, “What? That’s a weird name and not what you look like. Maybe Hannah or Ashley? How about Lauren?” Her straightforward reaction tore my world apart and left me in shock. The pride and integrity of what my name stood for was thrown out the door. I had no idea that physical appearances correlated with a name. After that incident, other children that day made a game to “improve” upon my name. For example, “G-string”, “Gang Gang”, and “Genghis Khan”. If people said this to me today, I’d laugh and brush it off, but for little me, that moment was soul crushing. My selfconfidence crumbled and I felt alienated for something I had no control over. Giang once seemed like a blessing to me, yet at the time it seemed like an inconvenience.
Don't go thinking You can run around wrecking cars Those cars have hearts, you know Bolted shut and humming with fumes
That same night, I cried to my parents, begging them to explain why they gave me such a burden, begging for a new name that wasn’t too strange. A name that wasn’t foreign. A name that was normal like your everyday Emily’s and Sophia’s. A name that would be me. My parents came up with Tracy as it was also a play on words with my middle and last name. When the new school year started, it wasn’t surprising that I felt more included as I continued to forge my new identity as Tracy. People began treating me like a normal human being simply because of a name. I stopped using Vietnamese with my family and tried to forget everything I was raised with all together. I wanted to be an American. In my mind, being American meant eating burgers, speaking only English, and watching lots of football. In all honesty, I didn’t hate this constructed lifestyle I had for myself, but I wasn’t completely fulfilled. My activities director in eighth grade was able to resolve my dilemma when she refused to call me Tracy. It left me confused at first. Through trial and error, she soon was able to pronounce it
Non Timebo Vitae By McKenna Morris, Staff
Don't break my heart I'll turn around, Fault lines in my fingertips Metal shards in my chest Humming with rage It's hard to be a healer When your first instinct is to destroy So don't go thinking You can run around wrecking hearts You might find yourself Unable to rebuild your own
correctly. She told me that it was a great name and it stood for more than I gave it credit for. This became a lightbulb moment for me. I could coexist with the two identities that I had; I didn't have to trade one mask for the other. During my high school years, I’ve learned to find the equilibrium between the two worlds that I exist in. Now, I use Vietnamese in my daily life, even teaching my friends some words here and there. I go by many names now as each now comes with a personalized connection. I fully immerse myself into the Vietnamese language, food, and culture once again. My identity crisis ceased as I grew to enjoy living with both identities. This is not an issue for me anymore, but it sheds light for those who may face the same dilemma, struggling to find a balance in two different worlds. So, hi! My name is Giang Tran, but you can also call me Tracy.
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Logan Paul Scandal By Yasamine Yusufzai, Staff
Do you watch videos on YouTube? If you do, then you have most likely heard about Logan Paul. Logan Paul is an American vlogger on YouTube, whose fame started on the now dead app, Vine. After Vine shut down, he started a YouTube channel called Logan Paul Vlogs, and he started vlogging random videos every day and has reached a total of 15 million subscribers. Recently, Logan Paul went to the Aokigahara forest in Japan. The forest lies near Mount Fuji, and it is infamously known as the “perfect place to die”, since many people have wandered into the forest to commit suicide. Its suicidal rates are so high that it is the world’s second most popular place for people to go and kill themselves. Throughout the forest, there are signs that say things like “Your life is a precious gift from your parents” and “Please consult the police before you die!” to try to prevent people from committing the act.
On January 1, 2018, Logan Paul published a vlog of him and his friends visiting the forest. They went off the trail, which is against the law in Japan as the many twists and turns in the forest can get you lost. As they were wandering off the trail, they found a dead body hanging from a tree. After finding the body, Logan Paul seemed to act shocked, as people should be when they find a dead body out in a forest that is infamously known for the amount of people that go there every year to commit suicide. Then he and his friends started making jokes around the body, such as “Yo, are you alive? Are you f***ing with us?” Needless to say, Paul received a lot of hate, especially from celebrities. YouTube ended up taking down the video and Paul issued a written apology on his Instagram. He later on posted a video captioning “So Sorry” on YouTube apologizing for everything that he did in the forest vlog.
We all joke about things in our everyday lives, but this crossed the line. It’s common sense that when you see a dead body in a suicidal forest, you immediately call the police. You don’t go ahead and move closer to the body, videotaping the entire thing and only blurring out the victim’s face, joking about whether suicide is a real “thing” or not. That is just upright disgusting. Suicide is a real thing. Over one million people in the world die of suicide every year. That’s one death every 40 seconds. Every 40 seconds. It took me over six minutes to just free write and edit this paragraph up to here. Nine people (and hopefully not more) have already killed themselves by now. Please don’t intentionally try to hurt other people’s feelings or your own, as you may end up as one of these people. Yours and anybody else’s life is a precious gift that can never be taken back. Nobody can escape death. If you witness anybody having negative thoughts such as wanting to harm themselves or you to yourself, call 1-8 http://i0.kymcdn.com/photos/images/original/001/328/602/3f2.png
Frozen Iguanas Fall in Florida By
Jordan Ritchie, Staff
It’s raining cats and dogs… or in this case – iguanas. The East Coast has been experiencing a terrible bomb-cyclone, causing extremely cold weather. Weather so extreme that in early January, Florida residents have seen frozen lizards fall from the trees. You can rest assured, they are not dead...just frozen. Due to the fact that lizards are cold-blooded, when the temperature drops, it affects the temperature of their bodies. So to preserve their body temperature, they allow their body to
somewhat shut down, which is why they fall from the trees. This state of inactivity is known as “torpor”. After spotting a seemingly dead iguana belly up on the ground, one’s first instinct might be to inspect the reptile. Ron Magill, an American wildlife expert of Zoo Miami, advises anyone who comes across a frozen lizard to NOT touch them! Although the lizard may appear dead, that is not always the case. And, although they are frozen, if they were to warm up and thaw, they could
attack if they’re disturbed. As long as no one touches or disturbs them, both parties are safe, and the lizards will most likely go back to their normal selves eventually. However, iguanas aren’t the only animals suffering from the cold weather. Sharks washed up on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, frozen to death. In a North Carolina pond, an alligator’s snout is seen poking above the frozen surface, after seemingly trying to stay alive. Near the Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, sea turtles are freezing up, so the National Park Service brought them in to be cared for in warm kiddie pools. Be on the lookout for more news about frozen animals! And remember not to touch any!
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Cannabis Crackdown By Daniel Thomas, Staff
Marijuana has had a reputation of being considered extremely dangerous by politicians. This has been proven to not be the case, and in many situations it can be beneficial to ill people by increasing appetite, decreasing nausea, reducing seizures, anxiety, and paranoia (according to the American Cancer Society). However, many politicians still insist that it is a danger to people including Jeff Sessions, Attorney General of the Trump Administration, who recently released a memo on the reversal of the legalization of marijuana. Opinions on cannabis have fluctuated throughout the years as it was originally used for medicine and sometimes recreational needs. According to PBS.org, it wasn't until immigrants from Mexico came here smoking it and calling it marijuana that people started getting all up in arms about it. This eventually led to the passage of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 which officially banned the use and cultivation of marijuana followed by presidents such as Nixon and Bush Jr. declaring a “War on Drugs.” Times have changed since 1970. We have made serious progress in accepting marijuana as not terribly harmful to our
bodies and even legalizing it in a few states. Now marijuana is not great for you, as it can increase the appetite of someone that is not in need of food. It also increases heart rate and changes your blood flow to your brain, which causes attention and memory issues, according to WebMD.com. It can also be addicting, but there are much more addictive drugs that are causing problems right now, like opioids, which cause sweating, nausea, constipation, and substance dependence. Yet, people like Sessions would rather exhaust their energy on banning marijuana. According to Sessions’ memo on this situation, he claims that this return “is also a return of trust and local control to federal prosecutors who know where and how to deploy Justice Department resources most effectively to reduce violent crime, stem the tide of the drug crisis, and dismantle criminal gangs”. What violent crimes do ‘weed addicts’ commit? How is banning marijuana going to reduce criminal gangs? Are we just going to ignore other, harder drugs that cause more damage to people’s bodies and mental health such as methamphetamine and cocaine? According to ProCon.org, the chemicals in cannabis are called psychoactive chemicals, but the major one that causes
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Joyner Lucas “I’m Not Racist By Kyle Mann, Staff
WARNING: The following song is explicit and has controversial opinions and topics in it. If you have the tendency to be offended, do not listen to this song. “I’m Not Racist” written by Joyner Lucas is a song talking about the very well-known issue in America- racism. This song references racism and discrimination between mainly white people and black people, and also includes illegal immigrants from Mexico and North Korea bomb threats. Whatever political views you have, everyone can relate to this song in one way or another. What I personally love about this song is that this rapper puts a great representation on both the black and white man's perspective on the matter without leaning to one side. This artist’s reason for
writing this song is to show Americans that, even though we can’t fully understand where each race is coming from on their opinions on life, we can still respect what they have to say. In the music video, it shows a stereotypical white man dressed up in “redneck” looking clothes and a stereotypical black man dressed up in “ghetto” looking clothes, sitting around a table talking to each other about the issues referenced. This song starts off as a white man's perspective on black people and present political predicaments, such as Donald Trump's success in the presidential election and The Black Lives Matter movement. He expresses how many black families take advantage of government support and don’t progress through their
people to feel a high is called “tetrahydrocannabinol”, THC for short. When THC enters your lungs, then your bloodstream, and then eventually your brain, it triggers what are called ‘receptors’. These receptors give you the feeling of euphoria, or being high. Marijuana is still a drug, so your body reacts the same way by releasing dopamine, making you want more. Compared to a harder drug such as heroin, which Sessions says is just as bad as weed, weed doesn’t have addictive chemicals that make it harder for the user to quit. Sessions is so clearly trying to fear-monger and make us believe his agenda. Sessions is basically just trying to save his money. The marijuana industry will take away some of the profits from other industries he is already invested in, such as big pharmaceutical companies that provide almost the same kind of stuff and even the opioid industry (according to The Guardian). So if he scares people away from the drug, by saying enforcing these restrictions will “provide them all the necessary tools to disrupt criminal organizations, tackle the growing drug crisis, and thwart violent crime across our country”, it puts it in people’s minds that pot smokers are dangerous and are causing crimes across the nation. It distracts from the current opioid crisis, which means he wins by protecting corporations while locking up casual and medical marijuana users
mistakes; such as, saying certain derogatory words. The second half of the song is the black man's perspective on white people, explaining how naturally racist we are, explaining that because generations ago when slaves were common basically stunted black people’s future. I have learned from this song that if you fully agree with everything the white man or black man is saying, you are the reason why racism is still an issue in our society. This is explaining the -idiocrasy of majority thoughts and shows that people of any race are ignorant basically for believing everything one culture has been saying. So, if nothing less, I hope that you listen to this song and realize the other side of the spectrum because how can you fix or convince someone if you don’t understand them first? YOU CAN’T! You’ll just go in circles around each other forever if you don’t take the time to realize that you might have fault in this predicament. You’ve got to have an understanding before you attack them, so you know how to approach the situation.
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Issue 10 necessarily help you in any way, it just might. You don’t have to read a textbook to expand your mind and know the truths of life. Here, I’ll list just a few of many incredible fiction philosophical books that can do more than just captivate, but also generate new ideas inside you and awaken a sense of self being. The Stranger by Albert Camus is a fictional book that explores the absurdism and ideas that surround existentialism. The absurd in existentialism is basically the ideal of the human tendencies to search for the meaning of life influenced by overwhelming feeling of the incompetence to find one. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera has a more fictional take on it that follows the lives of the protagonists through 20th century Czech society. Throughout this
Reading beyond the Lines By Gianna Toribio, Staff
I get it, we all get busy sometimes, especially with our crazy day to day schedules. Who on earth has time to read? For fun? This, among many, are excuses I hear all the time for people not being able to simply pick up a book. What if I told you you might be able to find just that little bit of time you ever so coincidently claim to not have? What if reading could expand your mind and waken new things inside of you? Would you make time then? The amount of time you allow for yourself to read truly depends on how interesting the book is. Of course, no one would like to read things that cannot help you in anyway. Although it might seem that fiction doesn’t
novel, the idea of eternal recurrence is explored. This idea of eternal recurrence is a philosophy that the universe has already taken its course and everything along with its energies will reoccur infinitely. The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, though a captivating and invigorating story, maintains the absurdity of human infatuation captivated by the ideas of beauty. Still convinced that you couldn't bare to read an entire novel? Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot explores the concept of time and existing through four quartets of poetry. This piece of poetry is beautifully written and created by timeless ideas and is a personal favorite of mine. These are only a few among many, many incredibly composed works of literature that explore deeper into the concepts of the universe and human tendencies. Do yourself a favor and read for yourself, and explore the world’s possibilities and all the ideas that go beyond simplicity.
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Top Spots to Get Food in Sacramento By Benjamin Rodriguez, Staff
Downtown and Midtown Sacramento are kabobs and gyros that also has a great range vibrant places that share the wonderful vibes of pastries. OBO’ is a Fantastic Italian of the city with restaurant located on their wonderful Folsom Blvd. Not only is food. With the food made fresh Sacramento everyday with organic being home to ingredients, but the Elk Grove, the ambiance of this eighth most location is also very culturally diverse welcoming with a city in the urban homey vibe, (try United States, the pizza!). One of my the food culture personal favorites is of the city is very the Thai Canteen on diverse. 16th Street. It's great if One great spot you're visiting the town https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photos/0d/e4/fa/8e/street-rain.jpg called Petra is at night because they located on 16th serve decent good portions at a Street. This is a Greek restaurant with great decent price and they serve a great Thai tea.
Hot Sacramento Summer days call for a classic. Gunther’s Ice Cream on Franklin Blvd. is a must have, but don't get dismayed from the lines- the wait and the options are worth it. Looking for a good breakfast? Crepeville on L St. is your best bet, whether you're looking for something savory or you've woken up with a sweet tooth, Crepeville has got you covered! Are you just looking for a good ol’ burger? Burgers & Brew on R St. serves the classics with a spin and have great options if you're looking for some mean loaded fries. Sacramento has fantastic spots for whatever you’re craving. I encourage you to go out and search these spots and get to know your city! Your taste buds will thank you for it.
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Rise of Veganism By Hannah Villarreal, Staff Veganism is a movement that has been going on for a long time, yet recently in the last few years it has skyrocketed. With all the documentaries and articles created to prove to the public that the exploitation of animals is pointless, cruel, and a giant red self-destruct button for our planet, it's hard to believe that there aren't more people going vegan already. Many people are trying to get healthier, trying to go green because clearly global warming is a thing, and the truth is being leaked about the treatment of animals in agriculture. With all the documentaries coming out and studies done on the standard American diet versus the plant based diet, why has the American Cancer Society or American Diabetes Association not changed their diet suggestions or meal plans? The World Health Organization has classified processed meat as a group 1 carcinogen, which is categorized in the same group as tobacco, plutonium, and asbestos. In recent years, an increasing number of people have been wanting to make better
Issue 10 food choices, trying to be healthier, which is good, but sometimes they make the typical and wrong food choices. The misconception for people is the belief that certain animal products are healthy and good for you when in reality they aren't. For example, chicken has been labelled a health food for years, but it’s been found to be the leading cause for sodium intake in the standard American diet and has 100 mg of cholesterol in only 4 ounces of it; other foods that have 100 mg of cholesterol are beef, half an egg and 3 cups of milk. Now why would the American Cancer Society encourage you to increase your intake of this. To make matters even stranger, the American Health Association states beef and pork are part of healthy eating. The World Health Association even states that dioxins, which are are a group of highly toxic pollutants that can cause cancer, have been found in every part of the world mainly in the fatty tissue of animals and over 90% of human exposure to this toxic chemical is through their food. The food is in fact mainly meat and dairy products, including fish and shellfish. Surely dairy must be okay, except for that fact that Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health states the number one source of saturated fat is dairy. There is a strong link between dairy and autoimmune diseases, stated by Michael
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Vegan? NO! By Anna Serpa, Design Manager Disclaimer: I support those who choose to adopt this lifestyle or those similar, and in no way support cruelty towards farm animals. However, I do believe some people are inherently misinformed about this topic. The vegan movement has quickly spread throughout the United States as an alternative way of eating with an idealistic approach against inhumane treatment of large scale animal farming. Some documentaries stretch facts and incite fear into its viewers in hopes of converting more people to veganism. While these diets have been advertised as healthy, the bottom line is that humans are omnivores, therefore requiring forms of protein, amino acid, and a range of vitamins and minerals not always available in plant-based diets and supplements. Some plant based foods aren't as healthy as they may appear, like peanut butter or candy. There is little to no nutritional value within them. Supplements can’t sufficiently supplement the chemicals, vitamins, and minerals that one’s body needs to properly functions. Plant-based diets can only fill holes of these needs to an extent, but the
body will begin to crave meat for the nutrients it lacks. More studies link long term veganism to increases of rapid declining mental and physical health, including brittle bones according to Rogue Health&Fitness. Alex Jamieson, a woman who had been vegan for 13 years, began to crave meat, so she adjusted her diet to suit her body’s dietary needs. She also discussed that the vegan diet doesn’t work for everyone and her followers were not seeing any results of what such diets promised, ultimately giving it up altogether. Eggs, fish, and occasional red meat are quite beneficial without advocating for the poor treatment of the mass farm animals. There have been randomized controlled studies on diets; the results produced displayed that a vegan diet is not always the healthiest choice for someone. When comparing such diets, such as Atkins (low-carb, high fat) and an Ornish (near vegan) diet, results showed that the Atkins diet was more beneficial than that of the Ornish. The subjects who were on the Atkins diet had greater weight loss, an increase of “good” cholesterol, lower triglycerides, and more people made it to the end of the diet because it was easier for them (Popular Science). However, vegan diets are a great short term solution to reducing sugar intake and learning good behaviors with food. “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell is a leading factor in
Klaper, M.D. Nutrition-Based Medicine. All of this information is available, yet the world still believes these foods are healthy for you. Slowly people are uncovering this information on their own instead of activists trying to show people the facts. We all know that global warming is a thing, but do we really know why it’s caused? To most people global warming and planet destruction is from the elevated levels of CO2 in the air and is caused by the gas from cars and factories, when in reality animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gases while transportation is only 13%, so instead of walking, biking or even running to your destination, try to change the way you eat. Animal agriculture is also the cause for 51% of human climate change and 30% of the world's water consumption; water usage domestically is only 5% compared to animal agriculture using 53% of it. Love the rainforest? Animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of Amazon rainforest destruction that includes 136 million acres being cleared and destroyed because it. This is also the leading the cause for “ocean dead zones”, habitat destruction and species extinction. But thankfully our society is changing and realizing the wrong doing that’s going on, we take a step closer to taking better care of ourselves, our planet, and the creatures who inhabit this planet alongside us.
documentary propaganda for veganism, and, recently, there have been disputes over the fallacies contained within it. Denise Minger investigates parts of the study, exposing some of its falsehoods. Minger found that Campbell’s claim that animal protein can be directly related to cancer through cholesterol was unsupported, stating that, although cholesterol has a link to cancer, it is not directly related to animal protein. There was a small margin of difference between the plant and animal based fibers and proteins. This being a singular example of the fallacies of Campbell’s claims, and the extensive research can be found at https://deniseminger.com/2010/07/07/the-chinastudy-fact-or-fallac/. In all realities, veganism is more than a diet; it’s a moralistic approach to the food industry’s illtreatment of animals. While vegan diets may be beneficial for short term diet to initiate dietary and lifestyle adjustments, the body still requires more nourishment than the vegan diet allows. A vegetarian or pescatarian diet would be substantially more nourishing and can be done without breaking the ideals of the vegan community through locally sourced animal products. However, the vegan movement uses strong propaganda to persuade consumers to switch to an all plant based diet. Therefore, before leaping into such strong dietary adjustments that may not suit your body’s needs, it would be highly recommended to make adjustments to your already existing diet.