The Featheralist: Volume 01, Issue 01

introduction

table of contents

By Skyler Wu

To a bird, feathers are disposable.

The bird is flying over the forest canopy when suddenly one of its feathers falls off. That feather gracefully pirouettes down to the forest floor, and the bird continues its journey, unhindered by its feather’s departure.

3

STINKY TOFU

5

WORLD LEADERS TO WATCH

7

POLITICAL AWARENESS

9

EGYPT ATTACK 1

The stray feather on the forest floor is not inherently important. The bird does not lament its loss. It knows full well that within a week, a new feather will grow in its place. And the casual human observer does not notice its presence. Yet to various human civilizations in history, that feather had immeasurable value.

To the great Sioux warriors in the Black Hills, the feathers that they salvaged from the forest floor were not worthless.

Each feather, accumulated over the seasons and affixed to headdresses, captured tribal and individual identity. Even today, those bright feathers still adorn the headdresses and dream-catchers that serve as living manifestations of Native American cultures. What appeared to be detritus on the forest floor to the common observer is to the Sioux a symbol of their people.

To the Chinese, feathers were the most powerful materials in existence. Imperial officials collected quail and peacock feathers to form fans—not for cooling, but for warfare.

During the heat of a battle, a general could swipe left, and his troops would march westward. Swipe right, and the column would march eastward. Slash forward, and his troops would charge, spears extended. With that one fan, a general could change the fate of tens of thousands of soldiers. That feather fan, a couple of feathers fastened to a stick, was worth a thousand times more than the sum of its parts. To the Chinese, a feather determined success or failure, victory or defeat. Not just worthless.

To the Europeans and their descendants, feathers were the “swords” of the monarchs, aristocrats, and thinkers . The religious pioneer Martin Luther used a quill to compose his 95 Theses, forever changing the religious landscape of Europe. The survival of empires, ideas, and societies were all decided by the flick of an ink-dipped quill. From the signing of the Peace of Westphalia that marked the end of religious warfare in Europe, to the Declaration of Independence that marked the birth of a new world power from the ashes of colonialism, and to the Emancipation Proclamation that granted liberty to those who had been enslaved for centuries, feathers have written the course of European and American history. When one considers that Western civilization was inked by feathers, those seemingly discarded objects are suddenly imbued with great power.

“That feather fan, a couple of feathers fastened to a stick, was worth a thousand times more than the sum of its parts.”

Birds have coexisted with humankind for millennia. Regardless of their geographical location, feathers have played a pivotal role in human history. Today, the role of the feather has evolved into that of the pen and Microsoft Word, but its properties and uses still remain the same. The world as we know it was composed piece by piece by scratches of a feather.

When we fathom the massive implications that the feather has had on our American society, we cannot help but think of The Federalist Papers, a collection of 85 essays by three of our founding fathers that detailed how our “great experiment” of a federal government would operate to the masses and the world. In respect to The Federalist Papers and the massive repercussions of the feather on our society today, we took on the name The Featheralist to serve as a wellspring of information, discourse, and activism.

11

A STARCHY PROPOSAL

13

YOU, THE FCC, AND NET NEUTRALITY

The purpose of The Featheralist is to compose a better society for the next generation. By briefing our readers on current affairs, exposing them to sociopolitical ideas, and inspiring them with the most insightful creative writing pieces, we hope to contribute just one etch onto the obelisk of society. Please help us and support us on this journey.

15

- Sincerely, The Featheralist

PAINTBOX GALLERY

17

AUTHORS / WORKS CITED

2

stinky tofu

By Kane Xu

A stinky, fermented aroma wafted into my nose as I waited at my grandmother’s kitchen table. The sizzling sound of Chinese firecrackers struck my ears as it ricocheted across the small apartment walls.

The bowl of fried stinky tofu settled onto the dinner table.

Upon meeting this uncanny dish, I immediately retracted in repugnance. The revolting odor yanked my appetite out of my stomach and reduced my salivary glands to an arid desert as I pushed the foul dish away.

“It’s supposed to stink, just give it a try!” my grandmother exclaimed.

I inhaled the last bit of fresh air, pinched my nose, and reluctantly took a bite. Surprisingly, the tofu underneath the crisp, fried skin was warm, soft, and welcoming. Although stinky, the tofu’s soft, mouthwatering texture and warm welcome delighted me. Every time I visited my grandmother’s house and smelled the fermented aroma of stinky tofu, I would sprint to the kitchen with excitement. Thus, stinky tofu became a household tradition and staple. It became my favorite dish.

But what is it? Stinky tofu is a traditional Chinese dish prepared by first marinating the tofu in a fermented brine mixture, then deep frying it. The dish is notorious for its stinky aroma yet delicious taste, which makes stinky tofu an extraordinary Chinese classic.

Along with the stinky tofu, I would meet my uncle on every visit. As a young, immature child, I never understood my uncle’s condition of Down syndrome. My knowledge about my uncle was limited to a patchwork of assumptions, portraying him as a hostile creature. His skin sagged from his bony cheeks to his jaw. The dark abyss under his folded eyelids stared straight into my eyes. He constantly strolled around the house, grumbling and murmuring everywhere he

3

went as if he lived in another world as distorted as himself.

As a young child, his presence terrified me. Whenever my uncle was within my view, I would retreat in fear. I knew he was sick, but I often wondered when he would heal and become normal like the rest of us.

However, one day, my view of my uncle suddenly changed. I was just getting out of my bed when I heard soft steps approaching; it was my uncle. My muscles twitched, then froze. He slowly slumped next to me and touched my face gently, as a mother would stroke an infant. My fear began to subside, and my muscles relaxed. For the first time, I didn’t see cold hostility in the dark abyss of his eyes, but softness and warmth. Though I still did not completely understand my uncle’s condition, I came to accept him as he came to accept me.

“The dish is notorious for its stinky aroma yet delicious taste, which makes stinky tofu an extraordinary Chinese classic.”

When I sat leisurely on the living room couch, my uncle deliberately settled next to me like a faithful companion. He stared at me in silent observation as I stuck out my hand for a handshake. I grabbed his hand and fastened it to mine, and we shook. A wide smile emerged from his blank expression. How beautifully his smile radiated! This was perhaps his most memorable trait. His smile engrossed me in a joyous warmth and was truly contagious; I could not help but smile back. Although my uncle has physical limitations, his happiness withholds no boundaries. Sometimes, I am burdened with a bittersweet feeling, for I wish that he could speak to me in person. Through his eyes, I see a whole world of his own, and I am glad to be part of it.

My uncle very much resembles stinky tofu. Stinky tofu smells noxious on the outside, yet feels warm and soft on the inside. Like stinky tofu, my uncle’s Down syndrome

“People immediately look down upon disabled people and deem them unfitting for a regular life. As I was unable to see through the crispy outer layer of the tofu, society is unable to see through the layer of prejudice.”

made him unappealing on the outside, yet in reality, he is harmless and has a loving nature. My uncle rarely spoke to me in words; he usually referenced me with a tap on the shoulder or a simple nod. However, his silent gestures spoke for him, and were enough for me to understand that my uncle loved me.

“His smile engrossed me in a joyous warmth and was truly contagious; I could not help but smile back. Although my uncle has physical limitations, his happiness withholds no boundaries.”

As much as I enjoyed stinky tofu, my grandmother offered me a different sort of dish: the dish, I observed, was love.

She clothed, fed, bathed, and cared for my uncle with utmost patience and tranquility. On the warm, quaint kitchen table, I would often see my grandmother feeding spoon after spoon to my uncle. Her hands never cared to stop, for her love towards my uncle never ceased. I can imagine fifty years ago, in the same apartment and on the same kitchen table, my grandmother feeding my infant uncle with the same tenderness and care. Under the beaming rays of the sun, I can hear the laughter and giggles of a baby boy with Down syndrome, which in recent years has not subsided, but perpetuated. Even now, it is common for Chinese households to abandon their children if they had disorders.

Perhaps that’s where my unfathomable respect for my grandmother is rooted: caring for my uncle was not an obligation out of necessity, but an obligation out of love.

Through the warming thoughts of my grandmother’s actions, my view on people with Down syndrome changed.

Our society tends to see disabled people differently. People immediately look down upon disabled people and deem them unfitting for a regular life. As I was unable to see through the crispy outer layer of the tofu, society is unable to see through the layer of prejudice. As a result, people judge the disabled upon whiffing their stinky presence.

The exterior and interior of the stinky tofu exist as two extremely distinct worlds. Perhaps that is what makes the dish such a delicacy. Not only is it delicious, stinky tofu offers a valuable lesson: never judge people at first glance, for genuine beauty comes from the inside. My grandmother’s benevolence towards my uncle conveys the same message: to value intrinsic beauty rather than external appearances.

Stinky tofu will forever be a faithful reminder that only with a compassionate heart, can one break the barrier of prejudice and discover hidden beauty.

4

world leaders to watch in 2018

By Anurag Pamuru & Michelle Wang World leaders change not only the policies we see, but also the future of millions. Aware of the enormous power they hold, we present to you three leaders to watch in 2018: Kim Jong Un, Mohammad bin Salman, and Vladmir Putin.

NORTH KOREA Population: 25,368,620 Nuclear Arsenal: 30 GDP Ranking: 113

SAUDI ARABIA Population: 33,000,000 Nuclear Arsenal: Unknown GDP Ranking: 20

RUSSIA Population: 144,526,636 Nuclear Arsenal: 7,300 GDP Ranking: 12

5

김정은

KIM JONG UN First on our list is Kim Jong Un. As the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), also known as North Korea, Kim holds one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals in his hands and is notable for his routine threats of nuclear warfare on the United States. Kim possesses an ever-growing arsenal of missiles and rocket artillery, including more potent ICBMs (Inter-continental ballistic missiles) that North Korean media claims can hit the United States.

Under his leadership, North Korea has entered a new era in its nuclear program-- with at least 89 confirmed missiles tests since his rule began (Albright). That’s more tests performed than his father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, combined. But the coming of the new year seems to be a reformation of goals for the Kim regime. On the 31st of December, Kim made clear his intentions for re-establishing inter-Korea relations in observation of South Korea hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics. Amidst these seemingly conciliatory pieces of rhetoric, the dictator “reassuringly” stated that “The entire mainland of the US is within the range of our nuclear weapons and the nuclear button is always on the desk of my office. They should accurately be aware that this is not a threat but a reality. (George)” The future of the Kim regime can only be decided by time as the year unfolds.

‫نلاس نيب دمحم‬

Владимир Путин

MOHAMMAD BIN SALMAN

VLADIMIR PUTIN

Yet another important figure is Mohammad bin Salman-- he has yet to ascend to the throne of Saudi Arabia, but has already made large impacts on Middle Eastern politics. Born as the Crown Prince of the rich desert monarchy, Salman was second in line to the throne until the fall of last year, when he removed his cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, from power. While the Prince claims this is all in pursuit of “anti-corruption”, many have deemed it as an attempt to consolidate power in a divided government. As Crown Prince, he has already made numerous changes to Saudi society, such as repealing the ban on women driving and presenting the high-aspiring Vision 2030 plan, which aims to make widespread social and economic changes in the conservative Saudi government (“Yemen Country Profile”).

Meanwhile, his bombing campaign in neighboring Yemen, which left around five thousand dead, has sparked international outcry and doubt to whether the Prince is really as progressive as he seems (“Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Power Behind the Throne.”). Upon this, Salman has made many other questionable foreign and domestic policy decisions years prior. Only last year, the Prince supported the controversial end of diplomatic relations with Qatar, leading to further aggravation of Middle Eastern politics. As 2018 wanes and his coronation comes closer, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman will be a significant presence in the years to come.

And last, but certainly not least on our list is Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has always been a rather controversial figure, but he has been especially controversial over the past few years as he’s escalated conflict in the region, cracked down on political opposition, and supposedly directed hacking of the 2016 US presidential election. The most notable of his actions has been the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, which fueled a war between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian government in the nation’s East. Tensions don’t seem to be subsiding anytime soon either--fighting in eastern Ukraine has killed over 10,000 since it started in 2014 and has recently seen even more clashes throughout the region (Hawksworth & Audino). While this might all sound like old news, it’s important to remember the actions by Putin as we look at his goals for 2018-- becoming president again. Although he hesitated to announce his candidacy, no one questioned Putin’s intentions of whether he wanted to stay in power for another 6 years. With the election being held on the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, the lack of legitimate opposition candidates, and his popularity in Russia, it is projected that Putin will almost certainly win the Presidency again come March -- a move that will keep him in power till 2024.

The countries these three men rule are global powers that show little sign of slowing down in their ascent to greatness.

Whether they march for peace or for ruin, it is certain that the mark they will make on this coming year is incalculable.

6

why is it important to be politically aware?

by Jasmyn White & Emma Palmer

Gutenberg’s printing press revolutionized mass media in Europe. It provided a permanent alternative to the oral tradition and made reading more accessible to the lower and middle classes. Today, the Internet is a much more potent manifestation of Gutenberg’s revolution. With so many channels of communication: from Instagram to billboards on the I-15 to this antediluvian relic we call television, legitimate news stories can disseminate to a great proportion of the population in mere seconds. But these same networks can also be utilized by fake news and propaganda; with one click, a malicious individual can potentially fool the whole world.

The United States is a democracy. As citizens, all of us are obligated to vote and use our suffrage to benefit this nation.

With the rise of alt-right and alt-left movements, anarchical groups, and xenophobic institutions, we need to take into account their political influence to make a well-informed decision when voting. For every white supremacist vote, another vote cancels it out. Thus, “every vote counts.”

For those of us who are not of voting age, we are not off-the-hook by any means. Being politically active means being a part of your community. We often forget that our

7

neighborhood, city, and state require just as much attention and participation as our federal government does. Volunteering around San Diego, joining clubs here at Del Norte, learning the laws and propositions of California, and remaining an engaged member of your smaller community.

Or we can just pay attention in APUSH and AP Gov.

“The United States is a democracy. As citizens, all of us are obligated to vote and use our suffrage to benefit this nation. With the rise of alt-right and alt-left movements, anarchical groups, and xenophobic institutions, we need to take into account their political influence to make a well-informed decision when voting.”

Political awareness also includes tuning into various news sources to ensure the information is as truthful and accurate as it can be. If one is not politically aware and procures information from biased sources, one may live, act, and vote by inaccurate information. With the proliferation of the Internet, there is now more room for misleading sources such as Breitbart or National Policy Institute (benign sounding, but extremist). However , the Internet also is rife

“Being politically active means being a part of your community. We often forget that our neighborhood, city, and state require just as much attention and participation as our federal government does.”

with legitimate sources. Sources like CNN, NBC, and NPR constantly pump out headlines and analyses on government actions and proceedings. Many of these news institutions also cover international topics such as Syria, the Paris Agreement, and Brexit. With such widespread proliferation of the Internet, we have no excuse for not being political aware. For those of us who dislike reading blocks upon blocks of prose text, social media outlets like Snapchat and Facebook supply their millions of users with short news stories by CNN and breaking news updates from across the globe.

Today, more than ever, being politically active means simply turning on your phone. Because our generation controls the future, it is vital to our country that we remain informed—not only to defend our own rights and beliefs, but also to defend others who do not have a voice. Our democracy cannot operate on the assumptions of a misled public.

“If one is not politically aware and procures information from biased sources, one may live, act, and vote by inaccurate information.”

In a few years (or now), you will have a say in the decisions that could make or break another person’s life. As we slowly but surely progress into adulthood and attain our suffrage rights, we are obligated to stay loyal not to party lines, but rather to the facts. For those who do align to one party or another, it is imperative to embrace compromise and bipartisanship. Compromise stems from mutual understanding, from walking in the other side’s shoes. It is crucial that we understand the legislative machinery, leadership, and how the entire system functions at the community, state, and national level. Instead of pursuing reform through revolutionary antics, we must instigate reform through the proper democratic channels upon which our nation have operated.

As we embark on this quest for political awareness, it is necessary that we understand not only the aerial view of how the entire system operates, but also the pivotal roles that we play as individuals. Political activity does not start nor end at the voting booth. For those attaining voting age, suffrage should not be taken for granted. Throughout the annals of western civilization, the fight for suffrage and representation came at the cost of thousands of lives lost.

As citizens, do not take this lightly.

8

destruction of faith

By Ellie Feng

Imagine a mosque. Picture the peace and serenity within-- how, on a glorious Friday afternoon such as this, hundreds of people inside the mosque would be bowing their heads in prayer, in worship, in reverence.

Not only is it a symbol of faith and religious expression, but it is also a safe haven for worship, a Muslim’s center of society and life.

Suddenly, in the midst of prayer, an explosion of noise, violence, and shrapnel splits the air and obliterates the silence with screams. The blood splatters around the hall, painting the room in red. The mosque descends into shrieks and havoc. Chaos, hysteria, and raw terror grip the room, driving those who still survive to blindly scramble for an escape. And imagine the one question that pounds in all of these victims’ heads: a simple question of “why?”

As the remaining innocent scramble for safety, they latch onto their one hope for survival: the building’s exit. Yet as they flee in desperation, bullets rain down mercilessly in their staccato rhythm, ripping apart the bodies of innocent civilians fleeing the scene. The rhythm of violence erupting from machine guns in hidden nests decimates the refugees. At the end of the day, 305 people have died. 128 are injured. Children are orphaned, families are shattered, and an entire town -- an entire world, is submerged in mourning.

9

This is no mere nightmare that disappears by dawn. This is reality. This is what happened on November 24, 2017, at Egypt's al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed (Nabil).

This terror attack in Egypt’s north Sinai province is the deadliest of its kind in Egypt’s modern history and ranks among the top 15 deadliest terror attacks in history (Johnston).

But who were these victims and what did they do to supposedly deserve death?

The victims of the attack are followers of Sufism, or mystical Islamic Sunnism. Sufism is not a sect of Islam, but rather a “spiritual dimension” of Islam that emphasizes discovering one’s inner identity and forging a spiritual connection with God. Throughout history, Sufi Islam has been an integral part of Islamic society since the 12th Century and has dramatically shaped the Islamic “Golden Age” of art and literature. However, in recent years, Sufism has become increasingly targeted, with attacks against them growing increasingly violent. The proposed reason for this is that Sufism promotes “tolerance and pluralism, qualities that in many religions unsettle extremists” (Specia).

In simple terms, extremists view Sufis as heretics. The Islamic State accepts only the fundamentalist form of Sunni Islam--the set of beliefs centered around a literal interpretation of the Quran. Recently, both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State target Sufis and mosques in other nations. President of Egypt Abdel el-Sisi’s ties with religious minorities such as the Sufis may be another reason contributing to these attacks. Many believe that the terrorists’ actions could be seen as a step taken to seize political power. Thus, as in most other terrorist attacks, religious prejudice and the merciless search for power are at the root.

This attack is reminiscent of a similar terrorist attack in Egypt in 1997, the Luxor massacre. This massacre was also carried out by Islamic militants and killed 70 people, most of whom were foreign tourists (“Bloodbath at Luxor”). The public outcry against these Islamic terrorists and the subsequent action taken against them caused a decline in the number of terrorist attacks-- that is, until the most recent terror attack in Egypt in Bir al-Abed. This indicates the possibility of another attack in the near future.

“Many believe that the terrorists’ actions could be seen as a step taken to seize political power. Thus, as in most other terrorist attacks, religious prejudice and the merciless search for power are at the root.”

We live in a world controlled by fear and hatred. The vicious destruction of faith, both in mind and spirit, is what tears our world apart. It has grown to such an extent that our faith in humanity diminishes almost every single time we

We live in a world controlled by fear and hatred.

The vicious destruction of faith, both in mind and spirit, is what tears our world apart. It has grown to such an extent that our faith in humanity diminishes almost every single time we turn on the television.

turn on the television. Especially in this past decade, the bad news greatly overwhelms the good news. What comes to mind first is most likely 9/11, the most infamous and devastating terror attack the world has seen in modern history. Although we usually think of 9/11 and countless other terrorist attacks occurring in the 20th Century, we have seen this trend of fear and hatred continuing through history. The oppression of African Americans in the United States, the genocide of Jewish people during World War II, and even the stereotypes that have emerged and persisted to this day in society about anyone are the results of fear of hatred. The world is naturally cruel and unaccepting. We cannot put our faith into a broken world like ours. Our efforts to combat this fear are seemingly futile, however, we can’t just let the world as we know it crumble.

What can we do? Increase global awareness. By increasing global awareness in the form of spreading current issues and news, we can be better prepared for any emergency and be prepared to offer assistance in the forms of funds and supplies to areas affected by disaster. If we unite against hatred and help those in need, then we can help spread a positive message of kindness. We must change our mindset.

Every tragedy we see on the news should not erode our faith in humanity; rather, it should our strengthen our resolve and kindness.

10

a starchy proposal

By Angela Chen

Have you ever had an irresistible urge to eat your neighbor? Most people would shudder, retch, or possibly faint at the thought of ripping through human flesh and devouring a human carcass. Unfortunately for us, this dreadful vision of cannibalistic savages will likely become a reality in the near future.

Why? Unlike what many may logically assume, this degradation of society will occur not due to corrupt politicians, disastrous events, or hazardous innovations.

Through my intense research and analysis, I have concluded with utmost certainty that the singular reason for the fall of society is cereal commercials.

By promoting backwards values such as discrimination, homicide, and cannibalism, cereal advertisements have a tremendously negative impact on society and will ultimately uproot civilization itself.

11

One of the most insidious cereal commercials known to mankind promotes discrimination against innocents. Created by none other than the militant General Mills, the most recent Trix commercial features two young boys, the iconic Trix rabbit, and floating cereal. When the rabbit pleads for a taste of the crunchy, fruity orbs of deliciousness, the children open a remote-control trapdoor beneath the rabbit's feet and comically drop the rabbit into a hole (Violet). At first glance, the commercial may seem lighthearted, playful, and harmless, but look closer: these depraved little brats snatched fruity cereal out of the paws of an innocent bunny and condemned it to an abyss of utter darkness and despair for the faultless act of asking for food.

What did this poor bunny do to deserve such cruel and unusual punishment? The Oxford Dictionary defines discrimination as "the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex" ("Discrimination"). Is denying a hungry humanoid hare a bite of cereal while supplying children with an abundance of grains not unjust and abominable?

“At first glance, the commercial may seem lighthearted, playful, and harmless, but look closer: these depraved little brats snatched fruity cereal out of the paws of an innocent bunny and condemned it to an abyss of utter darkness and despair for the faultless act of asking for food.”

Now, some may scoff at the absurdity of this advertisement - why would a rabbit eat sugary toasted balls of whole grain corn dyed a variety of flashy colors? Aren't rabbits supposed to eat only carrots and lettuce? And to that I say, nay. The point is not to question the diet of the Oryctolagus cuniculus, it is to critique the social implications of this nefarious commercial. Additionally, the assumption that rabbits eat only carrots and lettuce is both an overgeneralization and a scientific inaccuracy - rabbits, in fact, can also live off of the nutritious faces of people who believe that rabbits eat only carrots and lettuce, but to date, not a single rabbit has ever devoured a human face, as these bunnies are simply too kind and well-mannered to cause harm. But we mustn't dawdle too long on the topic of rabbit demeanor, as this Trix commercial has yet another formidable tactic for degrading society: advertising primarily to innocent children. These are the very people who will become the citizens and leaders of tomorrow! If our youth views discrimination as acceptable, they will surely apply this to other areas of life and create a future full of prejudice. All our efforts against racism, sexism, and inequality will go to waste; all our attempts at being civilized will go down the drain.

Equally appalling are commercials for Cinnamon Toast Crunch (CTC), which promote homicide and cannibalism by featuring personified cereals torturing and devouring each

other in the most grotesque ways possible.

These advertisements cleverly disguise the violence with a sugary coat of "Oh, they're eating each other because they taste so delicious! Crave those crazy squares! Buy our yummy cereal!" to trick unsuspecting viewers into subconsciously accepting murder, sadism, and cannibalism as normal occurrences. For instance, in the advertisement nicknamed "Tongue Twister," two humanoid pieces of cereal lick sugar off each other's faces and end up tying their tongues in a Gordian knot - which one crazy square promptly untangles by devouring its "buddy." Meanwhile, in "Swirl," a cinnamony culprit downs an entire pool of milk - and all the other squares of cereal innocently floating on top. Both advertisements are accompanied with cheerful, upbeat music to convince viewers of the harmlessness of these cannibalistic cereal squares ("The Crazy Squares"). Unfortunately, millions of viewers are unaware of this sly promotion of sickeningly sadistic, cunningly creative murder strategies, thus falling prey to the villainous CTC's indoctrination. This will inevitably transform civilized people into savages, barbarians, and worst of all, savage barbarians! Worst of all, cereal is such a wildly popular breakfast food that these cereal companies will make enough profit to eventually deprive every other organization and institution of monetary supply and thus influence. In the end, nobody will be powerful enough to stop the malicious CTC from transforming us into sadistic, homicidal cannibals. More people than ever will slaughter and consume their fellow human beings, and the world will explode into one gory, rampant killing fest! Oceans will run red with the blood of the innocent, plains will disappear under mountains of rotting human carcasses, and civilization will go down in flames - or, even worse, down the esophagus of a cereal killer.

“If our youth views discrimination as acceptable, they will surely apply this to other areas of life and create a future full of prejudice.”

Despite the obvious danger of cereal commercials, many people still stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the severity of the situation. They argue that when pushing for social reform, legal change, or the preservation of civilization, we should focus on more significant influences and work together to achieve bigger ambitions rather than fall apart over minute details. They howl about the triviality of cereal commercials and urge their crazed followers to disregard the advertisements. And perhaps they are right to some extent - after all, the 19th century fight for racial equality would have died in a miserable hole had the abolitionists squabbled over the aesthetic of Neoclassical chairs rather

than working together to emancipate the slaves, and the 20th century fight for women's rights would have died in that same miserable hole had the feminists bickered over the aesthetic of Cubist tables rather than working together to advocate female suffrage. Cooperating and focusing on the bigger picture is key to the success of every reform movement. However, cereal commercials are no trivial matter - they obviously dictate the course of civilization.

Why would anyone stop to consider the miniscule influence of corrupt politicians, disastrous events, or hazardous inventions when these deplorable cereal commercials screech catchy slogans and indoctrinate unsuspecting civilians from magazine covers, billboard displays, and smartphone screens? They’re everywhere! They’re inescapable! And the masses naively enjoy this omnipresence! Why, CTC has 1.2 million followers on Facebook, 20.3k on Instagram, and 20.1k on Twitter! And while that may not seem big in comparison to the world population of 7.6 billion, remember that these cereal-making companies are raking in mountains of profits, which they can use to fund the creation of brain-controlling devices, implant these devices into the brains of innocent rabbits, and send the face-eating bunnies after the 7,598,759,600 people who aren't brainwashed enough to follow CTC on social media. No matter what you believe the rabbit diet consists of, you will never be safe from the carnivorous remote-control bunny. And if the bunnies don't get to you, your cannibalistic neighbor will.

We must not sit idly on the sidelines and allow these insidious cereal advertisements to demolish humanity and civilization. We must not ignore our calling to restore morality, preserve order, and prevent this impending crisis. Cereal commercials are a scourge to society - we must destroy them all!

12

you, the fcc, and

net neutrality

By Ken Zhou

While the fight for net neutrality has approached its seemingly darkest hour, it is time for us to reflect on what we have lost. But also what we can win back. The internet is the ultimate modern-day creation. As a seemingly limitless bank of entertainment, information, and media, the internet has provided society tools and connections that cannot be understated. It has become such an intrinsic part of our culture that for many, a month without wi-fi is little better than a death sentence. Disconnection from the world wide web is a disconnect from society, something that seemingly nobody can afford to bear.

Though the internet’s uses cannot be understated, what can be understated is the amount of control and freedom you currently have on the internet. Yes, your internet service providers (such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, AT&T, and Verizon) track your searches and bandwidth usage. Yes, your future employers can track the illicit activities you commit on your work computers. Yes, you can be monitored, and yes, you aren’t totally free on the web.

13

You are, however, fully in control of what you see on the Internet. You’re entitled to every website available; you don’t have to pay any additional fee to your ISP to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment for logging onto your favorite game, or binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix. You don’t have to suffer mind-numbingly slow speeds for daring to log onto the Time Warner Cable website as a current Comcast member. Your experience on the web is your own jurisdiction; your internet service provider cannot interfere with this. This freedom, however, might dramatically change. Cue the issue of Net Neutrality.

For those who are new to this topic, Net Neutrality is best defined as “the principle that Internet service providers must treat all data on the Internet the same, and not discriminate or charge differently by user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication.” In less technical terms, the businesses you pay for your wifi-- the aforementioned ISPs like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, etc.-- can’t force you to pay additional money for specific websites or content. They can’t censor search results because of political views they don’t agree with. They can’t throttle your speeds when you log onto a website, and they can’t hold your experience hostage by locking the freedom of high speeds and ad-free content behind an additional $25.99/month paywall. With Net Neutrality, ISPs cannot be the tyrants of your internet experience.

This issue is that the FCC (Federal Communications Commission)-- the organization previously responsible for upholding Net Neutrality-- has recently underwent a change in leadership. Ajit Pai, the new chairman of the FCC, has declared his intent to fully dismantle Net Neutrality and allow ISPs to do whatever they want to the backside of your internet experience (“Ajit Pai”). He argues that in the free market, you can always choose a different ISP if your current one is being a total scumbag and abusing a lack of Net Neutrality regulations. This, he argues, promotes a healthier competition between ISPs and ultimately allows them to regulate themselves, lest they lose customers. This argument, however, is fraught with flaws. First, many people across the nation have only one ISP to choose from (which is one reason why Comcast, scumbag extraordinaire, still exists). In this case, ISPs don’t actually have competition and are under no obligation not to ravage your internet connection with scummy tactics to sell their scummy packages. Second of all, even if you could choose a better ISP, your new ISP would always have you at the mercy of its whims. If a company can stamp out all of its competitors with its generosity, what stops them from raising its prices

when all of their competitors have been ground to the dust?

Don’t believe me? Look at Uber.

All in all, the destruction of Net Neutrality results in only one ending for consumers: a worsened experience. Forget all this talk about the ‘free market,’ forget all of Ajit Pai’s delusional assertions. Net Neutrality was never a bad thing for us. It was never broken, and its existence only served to benefit us. Why does the FCC need to fix something that isn’t broken? Why would any rational human being willingly hand their current liberties to greedy, exploitive businesses?

I understand that most of this has been regurgitated to you over and over and over again. The simple fact is that the FCC has won. Net Neutrality is repealed. The ISPs and avaricious lobbyists had their way. However, not all hope is lost.

As we speak, our senators and Congressmen are pushing for the reversal of this repeal. One day, perhaps in the near future, Net Neutrality will return to being our right again.

“Your experience on the web is your own jurisdiction; your internet service provider cannot interfere with this. This freedom, however, might dramatically change.”

Fight for our right to post PSAT memes, if nothing else. This setback in the fight for net neutrality is no checkmate. We have to understand that net neutrality was only just implemented in 2015, while the Internet has been around every since the 90s (“Who Invented the Internet”). It took us more than two decades to pass net neutrality. Two decades of activism and reform cannot simply be erased through the votes of 5 individuals on the FCC. Throughout history, our democracy has demonstrated that reform is not continuous-- there will inevitably be periods of setback and decline.

Take abolition and women's suffrage for example. In regards to net neutrality, we are simply in the period of setback. Reform will continue. That is how history operates.

However, in order to leave this period of setback, we need to ensure that the issue stays relevant.

Thus, I implore you to keep demonstrating your support for net neutrality. Petition to your congress people and senators. Don’t let America forget about its rights-- the right to clean, unadulterated access to the internet. Remember, we can only lose when we say we have lost. Support anti-Net Neutrality organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the ACLU. Protect the internet.

14

paintbox gallery The following is a selection of works from the online gallery of Paintbox. Del Norte Paintbox is a club featuring artists across all mediums and their artwork. To view more, visit their website: https://www.paintbox.site/ Paintbox is always looking for new artists and members, so be sure to join if you are interested!

girl with owers, by richard shi

dragon, by derrek fan 15

sunset hill, by ellie feng

the dancers, by peggy shen

so many girls, by atheena guy

pearl, by sydney hsieh

made of love, by anna sriphet 16

about the writers Curators of the Featheralist SKYLER WU

Political and sociological studies are important because they tell us more about our society than any hard STEM field of study. How a human thinks is way more complicated than the formation of an ionic bond or photosynthesis. How a society, with multiple individuals spanning different geographical expanses, thinks is simply unfathomable. Hence, I have a profound interest in the humanities.

KANE XU

Kane Xu is a freshman at Del Norte High School. He loves learning science and enjoys participating in debates. Whenever he is not involved in academic activities, he enjoys playing soccer.

KEN ZHOU

I'm interested in politics primarily because I want to stay informed of the world's happenings. I don't form an opinion on a topic based on a single news source. When confronted with a controversial topic that is of interest to me, I draw information from news sources with polar opposite views, in order to understand the arguments of both sides and form my opinion off of the merits of both arguments.

Something interesting about me is that my family has more fish than I have eyes.

ANURAG PAMURU

Hey everyone! My name is Anurag and I'm Vice President and a writer for this club. I enjoy reading about politics and history because I have a desire to learn not only how the artificial lines on our globe came into place but also to learn what keeps them from all falling apart.

ELLIE FENG

I like the humanities because there are endless possibilities for what you can write about. Through writing, you can explore and unlock your own creative potential and develop your own unique voice to project to the world. Writing is a powerful tool that allows us to communicate our opinions and ideas, especially when used to raise public awareness about global issues.

MICHELLE WANG

Hi! My name’s Michelle Wang and I really love the humanities and specifically, writing and politics.

When it comes to writing I love persuasive writing and as for politics, I identify as a centrist. Some activities I’m involved in include debate, dance, and science Olympiad.

EMMA PALMER

I’m interested in politics because I love to see how the patterns of history play out in today’s political environment.

17

ANGELA CHEN

I’m interested in politics because it affects our day-to-day actions. How do I stay politically aware? I don’t.

JASMYN WHITE

I’m interested in politics because depending on who is in charge of my state and country life could be great or it could be a struggle. It's something everyone should be a part of because it affects everyone.

ISABEL SHIH

I have always been interested in humanities and politics. I love learning about us as humans and how we interact with the world around us and follow this passion by taking other humanities courses (anthropology!) and staying politically aware by always listening/watching the news.

- Notable Contributors -

Del Norte Graphic Design Club

Del Norte Paintbox

Works Cited Leaders to Watch: Albright, David. “North Korean Plutonium and Weapon-Grade Uranium Inventories.”

Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium 2015, Institute for Science and International Security, 7 Oct. 2015, isis-online.org/uploads/isis-re ports/documents/North_Korean_Fissile_Material_StocksJan_30_2015_revised_Oct_5_2015-Final.pdf.

George, Steve. “Kim Jong Un offers olive branch to South.” CNN, Cable News Network, 2 Jan. 2018, edition.cnn.com/2017/12/31/ asia/kim-jong-un-new-year-address-nuclear/index.html.

Hawksworth, John, and Hannah Audino. “The World in 2050.” PwC, www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/economy/the-world-in-2050.html#.

“Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Power Behind the Throne.” BBC News, BBC, 6 Nov. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40354415.

“Yemen Country Profile.” BBC News, BBC, 4 Dec. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14704852.

Destruction of Faith: “Bloodbath at Luxor.” The Economist, The Economist Newspaper, 22 Nov. 1997, www.economist.com/node/106278.

Johnston, Robert. “Worst Terrorist Strikes--Worldwide.” JohnstonsArchive, JohnstonsArchive, 4 Dec. 2017, www.johnstonsarchive.net/terro rism/wrjp255i.html.

Nabil, Sally. “Egypt Attack: Gunmen Kill 235 in Sinai Mosque.” BBC News, BBC, 24 Nov. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42110223.

Specia, Megan. “Who Are Sufi Muslims and Why Do Some Extremists Hate Them?”The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 Nov. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/11/24/world/middleeast/sufi-muslim-e xplainer.html.

“Yemen Country Profile.” BBC News, BBC, 4 Dec. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14704852.

You, The FCC, and Net Neutrality: “Ajit Pai.” Federal Communications Commission, 13 Oct. 2017, www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/ajit-pai?qt-leadership_tabs0#qteadership_tabs.

“FCC Leadership.” Federal Communications Commission, www.fcc.gov/about/lea dership.

“Who invented the Internet?” Computer Hope, 31 Dec. 2017, www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001016.htm.

A Starchy Proposal: “Discrimination.” English Oxford Living Dictionaries, Oxford, 2017.

“The Crazy Squares.” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Feb. 2016.

Violet, Kirsten. “Trix Swirls - Comeback (2017).” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Apr. 2017.

18

“By briefing our readers on current affairs, exposing them to sociopolitical ideas, and inspiring them with the most insightful creative writing pieces, we hope to contribute just one etch onto the obelisk of society.”