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Contact The Garfield Messenger The Garfield Messenger Garfield High School 400 23rd Ave Seattle, WA 98122 Phone/Fax: (206) 252-2270 E-mail: garfieldmessenger@gmail.com
Add the Garfield Messenger on Snapchat! @ghsmessenger The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
Volume 94 Issue 5 January 22, 2016
News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
The Oscars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Get to Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Technomania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
by Aidan Miller
by Elena Orlando
Color Me Crazy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 by Izzi Olive
First Come, First FAFSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 by Bella Rowland-Reid
by Messenger Staff by Elena Orlando
The Rebirth of Slick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 by Hannah Tacke
Hang up the Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Know Your Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
by Alex Ferry
Boy Band Poster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
by Emma Cooper
by Julia Robaidek
By Messenger Staff
Winter-Ballin’ or Winter-Fallin’ . . . . . . . . . . . 15 The Munchies: My Pho-nomenal Farwell . . . 16
by Kyle Ting
Gateway to Veganism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 by Bronwen Street
Hand Me Ups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Flawless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
by Izzi Olive
by Eli Wilson
Gowns to Come . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Basketball Update . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . 17
by Quinn Sullivan
by Maggie Emerton
A Priceless Investment. . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Bra Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 by Claire Boudour and Emma Cooper
Life Advice With Doctors Robaidek, Braman & Mulligan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
by Aidin Chestnut and Aidin Montefisher
Not-so-Super Bowl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 by Claire Boudour
by Julia Robaidek, Sami Braman & Kate Mulligan
Managing Editor Carson Jones Graphics Editor Michael Ybarra Section Editors Izzi Olive • Aidan Chestnut Aidin Montefisher Caleb Stocker • Hera Ford Business Executive Delaney Connor Backpage Artist Kate Mulligan Webmaster BriAnna Green Advisor Corey Allan Martin
Writers Aidan Miller • Alex Ferry Bella Rowland-Reid • Bronwen Street Claire Boudour • Danny Levy Elena Orlando • Eli Wilson Emma Cooper • Hannah Tacke Julia Robaidek • Kate Mulligan Kyle Ting • Quinn Sullivan Sami Braman Photographers Jeff Nguyen • Maddie Hazzard Maggie Emerton • Keenan Simpson Illustrators Danny Levy • Lucca Hagmayer Urpi Ruiz-Angeles Business Staff David Willner • Anika Thomas-Toth
Cover by Carson Jones and Keenan Simpson
Gateway to Veganism pg. 6
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news Get to Know:
News Briefs By Aidan Miller
Cameron Crawford
Willing to Fight and Die
Legos may just seem like small plastic toys that are stepped on in the middle of the night, but for junior Cameron Crawford, they are the subject of his art pieces. “I’ve been building with legos for more than ten years, but now I only really use the mini figures, not the sets.” First, Crawford photographs figures outside doing abnormal things like building snowmen or riding horses, and posts the pictures to his Instagram account, @CAMRC_, before building them. Crawford says “the sets can take anywhere from fifteen minutes to three days, and with the pictures, [he] will just take a box of mini figures and go out for a couple of hours and see what happens.”As for the future of his photos, Crawford says “I’d love to do it as a profession, but toy photography is not really widely accepted. Nature photography, model photography, those are things people can do for a lot of money, but toy By Jeff Ngyuen photography is more of a hobby.” Crawford’s favorite Lego pieces are the hotdogs and carrots and he thinks The Lego Movie is “an amazing movie! I wish I could have worked on that, they did a really great job with it.”Crawford’s photographs are worth looking through because he takes something familiar and sentimental, and produces something unexpected. -EO
Color Me Crazy: Adult Coloring Books
Five of Amazon’s fifteen best-selling books of 2015 fall into one unexpected category: adult coloring books. One of the most popular gift items this holiday season, adult coloring books are renowned for their stress-relieving properties. This trend may seem zany, but we encourage you to try it out for yourself -- pick up some colored pencils, a handful of pens, or even your vorite crayons spend some time helping this image come to life. Abide by the lines or disregard them entirely for a welcome respite from the pressures of daily life. -IO
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faa n d
The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
On January 2, an armed militia took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Oregon. They took over the sanctuary to protest the prosecution of Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond – two ranchers who back-burned federally-owned land. The militia is led by Ammon Bundy, son of Cliven Bundy, who led a militia group in a standoff in 2014. The militiamen have stated that their goals are, in addition to the release of Hammond, to bring back federal ranching land into the control of individual states. Ammon Bundy said, “We’re planning on staying here for years.” The group has made it clear that they are willing to fight — and die, if necessary — to defend their rights to maintain their land freely.
H2O+Lead= Flint
President Obama has declared a federal emergency in Flint, Michigan, as the water has been deemed poisonous. Dangerous levels of lead have been found in local tap water, which has turned an orange-brown color. The cause of the contaminated water is attributed to a change of water supply to save money for the city. State officials are saying that the new pipes that were being used were actually leaching lead into the water supply. Reports came out that the city of Flint was well aware of the lead levels in the water but failed to take any action.
Revenge: A Dish Best Served with Tacos
Joaquin Guzman, better known as El Chapo, the notorious Mexican drug lord, has been rerecaptured. His capture comes off the heals of an interview with Sean Penn for the magazine Rolling Stone. The Mexican authorities found El Chapo after tailing his tunnel diggers for weeks. The final piece of evidence was a large taco order which the SWAT Team trailed to the residence of Guzman. After a brief car chase, El Chapo was detained once again. The United States government is now requesting Joaquin Guzman be extradited to the US.
Conservacadia
Oregon lawmakers have proposed a radical new idea: to include Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon in a bigger Idaho. The idea comes from many conservatives being fed up with having to deal with the more liberal, western parts of their states. The bill has no practical chance to pass through Oregon’s and Washington’s legislature but some are still taking the issue seriously. “I don’t see this as a Democrat-Republican issue,” Ken Parsons, an Oregon farmer said. “I see it as an urban and rural.” While this idea might entertain more than a few Seattleites, it comes down to the question: are we willing to lose the apples?
Art by Urpi Ruiz-Angeles
News
First Come, First FAFSA
Why you should get your FAFSA in. Now.
F
By Bella Rowland-Reid
or many seniors, January marks the month of final college applications, semester exams, and the ill-fated arrival of senioritis. Additionally, with January comes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA. Released on the first of January each year, the FAFSA is an online application that provides students with need-based aid, in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs, for college. Requiring tax information, home status, and college choices, the FAFSA is a tedious process-- this is why Garfield head counselor Daniel Lee is committed to assisting all seniors in their applications this year. “[Garfield] works with students to ensure they all complete the FAFSA,” says Lee. “Whether [students] think they need it or not, it can be very beneficial in the college application process.” Currently, the Garfield counseling office and College and Career Center are encouraging students to complete their FAFSAs as early as possible, as many students do not complete it by the June 30th deadline.
According to Lee, Garfield’s FAFSA completion rate is below satisfactory, and he hopes more seniors will access the help they need in order to complete the application before its deadline.
Louisa Anderson. “You are expected to have all your tax information and [certain] signatures.” Washington is one of the seventeen states with explicit first-come, first-served financial policies, making many students c o m plete
Art by Daniel Levy Art by Daniel Levy
“Last year [Garfield’s] FAFSA completion rate was 68%,” says Lee. “We want to get that number up.” Part of the reason this number is so low is because of the mandatory tax information parents must submit. Because taxes aren’t due until April 15, many parents must enter their tax returns from the past year and update this information, which can be a hassle for busy families. “It’s really complicated,” says senior
Know Your Rights
their applications as soon as possible. However, Lee warns against rushing the process, saying a rushed application benefits no one. “Students have college applications, letters of recommendation, and final exams. It’s a lot of stress on them,” says Lee. “Take the process slow.” On January 19th, Garfield held a FAFSA night, where professional tax filers and college financial ad-
visors walked students through the process creating an accurate application. However, having a FAFSA night after the application has been out for almost a month may prove detrimental to students, as a significant funds have already been depleted by the time they file. “As time passes, the pool of money will gradually decrease,” says Lee. Nevertheless, Lee says it is better to submit a late application than not submit one at all. “I have heard students sending in their applications in April or May and still getting large amounts of aid,” says Lee. “Know it’s never too late [to apply].” While the deadline this year is still more than five months away, as Lee recommends, don’t wait until the last minute to start the application, and seek help if you need it. “Don’t sit back and wait for someone to tell you to do it,” says Lee. “Research your options. Take initiative.” To the class of 2016, good luck. Now get to work.
The ACLU club hosts forum on teen sexting. By Julia Robaidek
On January 19, Garfield’s ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) club held a forum in the library about teen rights surrounding sexting. This forum was motivated by a case in North Carolina in which a teen discovered with nude photos of himself that he had sent to his girlfriend was tried as an adult for exploitation of a minor. The minor in this case was himself. “[That case] was a big deal and it doesn’t seem right to me,” says senior Sean Devenney, co-president of the ACLU.
ACLU club is an offshoot of the the forum to educate students on American Civil Liberties Union, a t h e i r rights. “If [students] are gonational organization dedicated to defending individual rights based on ing to be sexting, constitutional law. [they] should at “[ACLU] tries to have least know the forums and assemblies risks,” says Greenstein. “Sexting can about things we think have really bad conpeople should learn about or at sequences for underaged teenagers’ lives, and I don’t least discuss,” says Devenney. think teenagers really appreArt by Daniel Levy Cases like the one out ciate that.” of North Carolina spurred To help teens understand ACLU club to take action, planning their rights, ACLU club got in touch
with a technology rights lawyer affiliated with the ACLU nationally, who spoke at the forum. “I started looking up privacy rights, and realized that it’s super complicated, so we got in touch with this speaker,” says Devenney of the lawyer. The Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine recently put out a study reporting that a quarter of teens between the ages of fourteen and nineteen have sexted in the past. With the behavior so prevalent, education is a matter of growing importance.
The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
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features
Hand Me ups
Garfield juniors open their own thrift shop.
A
By Izzi Olive
far cry from the usual summer plans of a Central American volunteer trip, lifeguarding or bussing tables, Garfield juniors Ava Zech and Julia Reguera plan to open their own thrift store this summer. The duo hopes to launch “Hand Me Ups” in the Container Park of downtown Las Vegas in early July 2016. Zech and Reguera plan to collect lightly-used fashion forward clothing in collection bins from Garfield students and in downtown Las Vegas in order to stock their shop. Hand Me Ups will start as a “pop-up shop” on the lawn of the Downtown Container Park, which is a complex of repurposed shipping containers housing small shops. Donors will choose from twelve charities, ranging from the American Refugee Committee to the Environmental Defense Fund, to receive the proceeds generated by their donated clothing. “We wanted people to be able to enjoy shopping while giving back to something they believe in,” says Reguera. After attending the Life is Beautiful music festival in Las Vegas for the past few summers, the duo decided to take advantage of the quickly-developing area to launch this
project. “Our goal, if we get a lot of foot-traffic, is to move to an actual store in the Container Park,” says Zech. The pair explain that they’ve made use of connections in Las Vegas in order to make this project a possibility. Zech is close friends with Tony Hsieh, CEO of Las Vegas-based online company Zappos. Hsieh owns the Downtown Container Park and the neighboring Airstream Living Experiment, an urban trailer park.
“He’s like my second dad,” says Zech. “He’s the one who got me interested in business.” Hsieh put Reguera and Zech in contact with the general manager of the Container Park, and will allow Zech and Reguera to stay in the Airstream Park for free. Hsieh lives in one of the thirty trailers in the complex with his pet llama Marley. Other than the donated space, Zech and Reguera have a goal of being as financially independent as possible. “We might need loans to ship Photo courtesy of Emily Piette the clothing down to Las Vegas, but we’d like to be able to pay those loans back,” says Zech. The pair hopes to set an example for teens getting involved in the business world: Reguera says that if they make the move into an actual store space, they would consider inviting several other friends to work at Hand Me Ups to keep the project completely plan to open Hand Me teen-run. “A lot of younger peo-
Ava Zech and Julia Reguera Ups in July 2016.
ple want to get into business, but they aren’t considered reputable, just because of their age,” says Zech. “We want to change that.” Meanwhile, the two students are working on getting the necessary permits in order to establish a shop. “It’s hard, ‘cause we don’t have any money,” says Reguera with a laugh. A partnership with Buffalo Exchange will allow Hand Me Ups to operate as a pop-up shop without obtaining their own business license, but if the project expands, they’ll need their own permits. Zech is a Running Start student, and recently learned that she will likely be graduating with the class of 2016. Previously, the pair were unsure about the fate of Hand Me Ups at the end of the summer. However, Zech says that she would consider spending time in Las Vegas next year in order to help the project expand -- it all depends on how things go this summer. “We have no idea how it’s going to go. It’s really exciting but also scary at the same time,” says Zech. Check out the Hand Me Ups website at http://handmeups.wix.com/avaandjuliaproject .
gateway to veganism
The Meatless Monday phenomenon. By Bronwen Street When meeting a vegan, you can often expect said vegan to aggressively declare themselves vegan at some point in this first conversation, looking down on you from their throne of kale chips and soy milk. An unspoken stigma surrounds the meat and dairy free -- a certain suspicion and mockery of their lifestyle that perhaps stems from the fact that pulled pork sandwiches are gifts from the heavens. Salad as a staple food may seem ridiculous to the larger population, but the fact is these people are making a socially conscious choice by eliminating animal products from their diets. “Meatless Monday” was introduced about 13 years ago as a public health and environmental awareness campaign, with the goal of convincing as many people as possible to cut meat out of their diet for one day a week. It has since boomed into a global movement with many participants all over the world. The health effects of meat have been studied for many years now, and the over-
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arching consensus is that excessive meat consumption causes many otherwise preventable illnesses like cancer. Garfield Environmental Science teacher Rachel Petrik-Finley has been an on-and-off vegetarian for years. “I know that limiting meat lowers cholesterol and calories per portion. Meals with no meat means I can feel like I’m eating more and still be satisfied,” she saysw. Recently, Finley decided to go vegan during the weekdays, and has noticed differences in her health as a result. However, the main reason Finley went vegan wasn’t to improve her own health. In light of the recurring news that this
The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
planet is even more screwed than humans thought, she decided that taking the jump from mostly vegetarian to mostly vegan was necessary for the planet. “Teaching APES and what I’ve read and watched has taught me that what we eat has the biggest impact on the environment. The amount of water used, the way we use the land, the chemicals we use to stimulate crop growth, and the greenhouse Art by Urpi Ruiz gases we produce are all tied into what we eat. Meat and dairy use the most resources and produce the most emissions,” Finley says. Much of the population feels that they
could never be vegetarians because meat is such a big part of their diet - too big to give up. However, it isn’t necessary to give up meat completely in order to better your own health as well as the environment. “Any way, in any amount you can limit meat is progress,” says Finley. This is precisely the message that Meatless Mondays is trying to convey, which is why it has been so successful. “Cutting out meat for only one day a week seems much more achievable to most people. I see it as a gateway to a more healthy lifestyle,” Finley explains. With the rise of Meatless Monday and increasing awareness of the impacts meat and dairy have, the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle has been commercialized. In every grocery store and restaurant in cities, there will be vegan and vegetarian options. Thousands of recipes for substitute dishes can be found online in cookbooks and blogs.
Opinion
Gowns to Come
An open letter to the Garfield community.
By Quinn Sullivan In the ongoing movement towards gender neutral graduation gowns, conflict was bound to arise. With the traditional gender-divided gown colors, purple marked for “boys” and white marked for “girls,” the school became divided. ASB and many others advocated for all students wearing purple gowns, while other students started a petition to allow students to choose their own gown color. ASB strove to protect those with nonbinary or transgender gender identities, who might be uncomfortable choosing one color. Many of the opposing students were girls who wanted to wear white gowns -- their rationale ranged from wishing to carry on a tradition to feeling that white gowns were simply more flattering. When the issue came to a vote, the senior class decided on allowing students to choose their own gown color. With this decision, Garfield both fails to include students who are gender non-binary and further reinforces the gender distinctions that divide our school. Next year is the time for change. Erasing this color restriction, a one color graduation makes for a safe and comfortable space for everyone. “It’s just something that needs to be done. It’s an outdated tradition and if Garfield strives to be a place that’s inclusive of all, you gotta put your money where your mouth is,” says ASG vice president Hannah Farrell.
With the results of the class of 2016’s vote, controversy buzzed instantly. Although the majority reflected a push for color choice, many advocates for the movement were gravely disappointed. Carolyne Sandoval, an officer of the Gay Straight Alliance, strongly supports the one gown movement as she states that “It’s a trivial thing to be so polarizing. It seems like a common sense solution. How do we make everyone in our class feel comfortable on a day that’s important to them?” However, not everyone sees it this way. Shedrick Johnson, president of the Black Student Union says, “People made it seem like we should have catered to the minority. That’s not fair because others are the majority.” Ac c o r d ing to Democracy Web “...as democracy is conceived today, the min o rity’s rights must be protected no matter how singular or alienated that minority is from the majority society; otherwise, the
majority’s rights lose their meaning.” Here’s my question: if we don’t stand up for marginalized groups, those who are not the majority in our school or in our society, how will justice ever be achieved? History has shown us that people don’t always make the right decisions right off the bat. Those mistakes are the ones that the future demands reparations for. Felicia Bazie, President of the class of 2017, wishes to end the division of the Garfield student body. “Because it’s that important, I’m going to try my hardest to go forward with it. I want to figure out a
Art by Danny Levy
way to accomplish ‘One Garfield.’ I don’t know what that will be yet, but something,” says Bazie. Isn’t that Garfield’s goal? “One Garfield” must be more than a t-shirt if we want everyone to feel united. Although many Garfield students have
referred to this movement as disastrous and poorly handled, the real issue was a lack of information and a lack of support for fellow classmates. The most important thing about belonging to a community is that everyone feels valued and supported. In the jumble of quick decision making, unclear communications, and a last minute vote, tensions built and blame was thrown. Although it may appear to be simple, making a decision for the class of 2017 and the classes beyond won’t come without hours of discussion. Shedrick Johnson repeats over and over that we need to “Inform the people and get a game plan now.” Creating a clear and communicative plan is essential for next year’s battle. This subject will not be put to rest until everyone comes to a fair compromise. What is the best for the greater good? How can we unite together, regardless of gender identity, race, class, religion, sexual orientation, and more, to make sure every single person in this school is treated with the respect they deserve? As Obama said in his final State of the Union: “Will we respond to the changes of our time with fear, turning inward as a nation, and turning against each other as a people, or will we face the future with confidence in who we are, what we stand for, and the incredible things we can do together?”
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Opinion
The Bra Problem Undertones in the underwire. By Claire Boudour and Emma Cooper
M
any people wear bras. We do this not only for ualization and think of bras as sexual objects. This then a fourteen. sex appeal, but for support and comfort. Yet allows people’s bodies to become even more sexualized, When a group of women took to social media to contoo often, bras are marketed as a product to and limits a person’s definition of self. vince Victoria’s Secret that the advertisement should be make someone sexy or to attract men, when they’re literAs the consumers of bras, do have some sort of pow- taken down, the company only partially changed the adally just underwear for your chest. er over corporations. We have been able to make some vertisement. The same image of thin women was still For example, Nordstrom is doing a special Valentine’s waves in terms of protesting the lack of body diversity in used, but the slogan was replaced with, “A Body for Every Day-themed promotion of women’s undergarments. Slid- bra advertisements. Body.” But what their image really seems to be saying is, ing panels with images of bras and underwear on their Representation in modeling and marketing is a major “A Body For Every Stick-Thin and Cellulite-Free Body.” website are captioned with phrases such as “Sweets for problem, and has certainly gained attention in recent Victoria’s Secret isn’t the only company whose adveryour Sweetheart” and “Postpone Dinner.” years. One of Victoria’s Secret’s most popular items is tisements for bras feature thin white girls with unblemYes, we lonely singles understand that Valentine’s Day the Body bra, which was marketed with the slogan, “The ished bodies and large breasts. While shopping online in is a romantic holiday, but the idea conveyed in these ad- Perfect ‘Body”. Harmless, right? A fun play on words to popular stores, all of the models are very slim, except for vertisements -- that bras and underwear are specifically get the name of their product out there. a few more realistically sized women who are clearly lapurposed for seducing a man -- is unacceptable. Bras are But when that slogan was placed over an image of ten beled as “PLUS SIZE.” worn to play sports, eat food, and take out the trash. This models, all but one of which were white, and all of whom However, there have been stories of success. Anclothing item is not in fact designated for sex, as adver- were a size zero at the largest, it attracted public scru- other popular line of bras, American Eagle’s Aerie, has tisements iften imply. tiny. Most American teens are not a size zero. In fact, moved towards more body inclusive marketing. Their ad On the other hand, Nordstrom is not doing any kind the national average dress size is between a twelve and campaign #aeriereal features models that haven’t been of Valentine’s Day campaign for men’s underretouched. The introduction to this campaign wear products, which are all labeled with nonreads, “There is no reason to retouch beauty. We sexually charged adjectives such as “microthink the real you is sexy.” stretch,” “classic,” and “luxury.” This ousting of photo editing is progress in the The problem doesn’t end with the label harmful world of bra marketing. But it really is placed on the bra. One Victoria’s Secret adverjust a first step. The girls’ body types may be more tisement directly suggests that a bra is a sexual diverse than those shown in Victoria’s Secret adobject. The advertisement shows an image of a vertisements, but they are still fairly slim. woman’s hand, dangling a bra from one finger. The average teenager, regardless of gender, still The line at the bottom of the advertisement can’t look at someone in a magazine and think, reads, “Dress your boyfriend’s floor.” Last time ‘Wow, they look like me.” Aerie may be trying to we checked, bras are supposed to be dressing take steps forward, but it isn’t really enough to the people who need them, and not gathering make real change. dust on some boy’s floor. This is not a distant issue unrelated to students ‘Huh,’ we think to ourselves while scratchat Garfield. Bra sexualization is a prevalent issue ing our boobs. ‘Why are companies advertising in our daily lives, whether you wear a bra or not. these items of comfort as something sexual?’ People, primarily girls, experience it everyday, With their sexualized advertisements, bra and some boys enable it. We are all living in this companies are marketing their products toworld, and the continued sexual oppression of wards men, not the people who wear them. half the population is unacceptable. We all have They aren’t selling a product; they’re selling the a responsibility to fight the treatment of people idea of a person being sexy for men to enjoy. as objects. Obviously there’s nothing wrong with someWe’re an influential generation. With half of one wanting to be sexy. That is their decision, us buying the sexualized product, and the other and we fully support their right to have a choice. half of us being targeted by the marketing of the But when these advertisements are constantly product, we do have a say. sexual, that choice is taken away. We, as braWe can make change. For us, change starts wearers, have been trapped in a corner. with being aware of the thought process behind This issue has become incredibly widesexualized bra advertisements and actually thinkspread. It is so ingrained in our society that ing about what advertisements are communicateven the categorization of bras is sexualized. ing. If the advertisement is attempting to sell Bras and all other women’s undergarments are their product by sexualizing girls, then maybe it often marketed as “intimates,” which clearly would be a better choice not to shop there. suggests sexual activity. Will we cry a little bit because our wish to be To contrast, men’s underwear is sold under treated as equal human beings prevents us from “athletic wear” by most major retailers. buying nice bras at places like Victoria’s Secret? Photo by Maggie Emerton Yes. But it’s a forward step in the long trek to genThis never-ending issue has desensitized people to just how bad the sexualization has be- Bras are not a product for men to enjoy, so they should not be der equality, and that makes it worth it. If we all come. Flooded with advertisements and labels of marketed as if they are take a step, we can cover miles of distance. bras implying sex, women begin to buy into the sex-
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The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
opinion
How to Live Your Life
Life advice from unprofessional sources. By Julia Robaidek, Sami Braman and Kate Mulligan So like I’m a straight guy and I hang out with my bros all the time and like bump hella G-Eazy and Yung Lean whenever we chill but like I think I’m in love with Mariah Carey- how do I come out to my bros as a die hard Mariah Carey fan? Sincerely, Yung Lean or the Christmas Queen
How do I come out as squirrel-kin to my family and loved ones? Sincerely, Squirrelself SB: Before answering your question, I did some research on what exactly squirrel-kin is. If my facts are correct, this means you often crave nuts, feel urges to scale trees, and laugh in a squirrel-like fashion. This situation is unique, but the #1 rule in life is be true to yourself. Maybe this means constructing a leaf-nest in your backyard, or maybe harvesting nuts from a local fertile tree, but in any case, you must be honest with your family about your apparent connection to the squirrel community.
For this one, the advice squad turns to Garfield’s own Mariah Carey expert, senior Hank Noland. HN: Listen sis, I know it must seem like you’re in a hard situation but honestly you’ve just found yourself in the group of the greatest fans ever: the Mariah Carey Lambily! As for your friends all you gotta do is sit them down one by one and just be honest with them. Just say something like “Sup Brett? So I just wanted to talk to you because I know we vape all the time and I know you think we have really similar music taste but I have to tell you...I’m a Mariah Carey fan. I always have been. I didn’t choose this life, it chose me when I first heard “We Belong Together,” I couldn’t resist. I’m sorry it took me this long to be honest with you about it.” Yes, they’ll most likely be ignorant at first, but if they’re really your bros, they’ll understand, accept you, and, hey, maybe one day they’ll sing along to her runs with you, just give it time! Hey :) I’m out to a few close friends (and then some), but not that many people know that I’m queer. Also, I’ve been having issues with self-acceptance, related to my sexuality. What should I do? Sincerely, Newly Out JR: When queer people first come out, it’s common for us to think that in order to continue to be out, we have to make announcements to every new person we meet. (Nice to meet you, I’m queer!) In reality, you just have to not lie about it when it comes up. So as for the relatively small circle of people that know you’re queer, relax, be honest, and give it time. There’s really no rush to expose yourself to the random judgements of strangers anyways. Self-acceptance, however, is a much larger journey, and realistically one you’ll be on for the rest of your life. Some of it will come with time. For a quicker fix, immerse yourself in your community, and try to find some positive queer role models. Read queer literature (try James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, or Allen Ginsberg, some of my favorites). Watch queer media. Join queer clubs (GSA meets every Wednesday at lunch, room 320!). Make queer friends. Take your time.
Photo by Maddie Hazzard
Riley Calcagno still doesn’t love me. Is there anything more I can do??? Sincerely, Cag-Hag Hits Snag
JR: The saga continues. Unfortunately, our earlier advice was well-researched and thorough. If you are still having trouble, it may be a lost cause. As a last-ditch effort however, you may try a heartfelt fiddle serenade or a highly public feminist rant. I’m kind of interested in this boy who goes to another school, but I’m pretty sure he has a girlfriend. I gave him my number and he hit me up. Am I violating “girl code” if I pursue him?? Do I directly ask if he’s dating someone first? Sincerely, Duderuses Before Uteruses? KM: The responsibility is on him, not you, to respect this potential girlfriend, especially since you haven’t even confirmed she exists. The concept of a “girl code,” while sometimes unifying and empowering, often allows girls to place blame on each other or themselves, rather than on a boy involved in the situation. Take for instance a girl who stays with her cheating boyfriend, while denouncing his girl on the side, whether she knew about the situation or not, as a whore. Since this boy reached out to you, you can assume there is mutual interest. Go for it! If it’ll make you more comfortable, ask him upfront if he’s involved with someone else. If he does have a girlfriend with whom he is supposedly exclusive, it will be up to you to decide whether or not that is something you want to pursue.
Do a comprehensive review on all the bathrooms in the school based on how nice they are/cell service strength. Sincerely, Seeking Urination Station JR: You can use the bathroom in the Teen Health Center if you want to experience the paramount luxury of doing your stuff in a room all to yourself. Great cell service and extra points for being gender-neutral. KM: Although I’m personally a fan of the third floor bathroom on the west side, I would also like to take this opportunity to issue a PSA to all those at Garfield who use the ladies’ bathrooms. ALL BODILY FLUIDS SHOULD REMAIN IN THE TOILET BOWL. I’ve opened a stall door to find an array of bodily substances smeared on the seat a shocking, and quite frankly disgusting, number of times. I know we can do better.
The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
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THE OSCARS
a&e Messenger makes their picks for the annual movie awards
Best Picture: MERU The North Face climbers Jimmy Chin, Renan Ozturk and Conrad Anker team up on the most extreme expedition to date. Climbing the Shark’s Fin on Meru, a 21,850 ft peak in India, is proven to be as daunting a task as any of them could imagine. Two years after their first attempt, the trio returned to the face and conquered the summit. Along the way they are reduced to eating half a cheese rind a day, one climber has a stroke on the mountain, and their feet wither and rot with wet and cold. It’s true display of human perseverance in breathtaking scenery. The climbers use their own cameras to capture unbelievable shots, creating a documentary that rivals all movies from every category. -KS
Best Actor: LEONARDO DICAPRIO In his twenty-seven year career, Leonardo DiCaprio has racked up six Oscar nods for best actor. From his first nominated film, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, to this year’s The Revenant, Leo has played some of the most charismatic, heartbreaking, revealing, and complex characters the Academy has ever even had the pleasure of viewing. Leo doesn’t just deserve an Oscar for The Revenant -- a role where the vegetarian was mauled by a bear, slept in a horse carcass, and ate a bison liver -- he deserves one for each and every beautiful character his flawless being has blessed the screen with. Even if you’re not a Leo fan yourself, these other nominations are downright laughable: since when has anyone ever cared about Michael Fassbender? Academy, if you’re reading this, America is wearing its heart on its sleeve, and we have our minds made up. -BRR
Best Director: TOM McCARTHY Even though director George Miller’s extensively minimal use of CGI and unbelievable depictions of dystopian Earth Mad Max: Fury Road have made him seem the shoe in for this years best director slot, it may be the underdog that steals the show. While not packed chock-full of violence, Tom McCarthy is able to capture more human emotion in Spotlight than any other film this year. Viewers who know all too well how events unfold between reporters at the Boston Globe and the Catholic Church, are drawn in by montages of reporters simply doing their jobs, and it couldn’t be more compelling. McCarthy develops the recent scandal involving the exposal of a religious institution running half the world, into a suspense story that will not soon be forgotten. -DL
Best Soundtrack: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS When Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit theaters this past holiday season, it shattered ticket sale records within weeks. This new Star Wars episode is just as powerful and incredible as the ones that preceded it, and a huge part of it’s success is the soundtrack. Combining original classics with new additions, musical genius John Williams definitely nailed it. Williams has an incredible history, as he wrote the scores for the original Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and more. The opening sequence Best Actress: BRIE LARSON from Star Wars is one of the most Brie Larson stars in the new emotional drama Art by Luca Hagmayer recognizable songs ever, and Williams Room, based off the bestseller by Emma Donobuilds upon it with other songs such as ghue. Larson plays the role of Joy Newsome, a twenty-four “The Ways of the Force,” and “Snoke” (which year old mother who was kidnapped and held in a shed for the has lead to theories over the true identity of past seven years. Despite this being Larson’s first lead role in a Snoke- Darth Plagueis?). Hopefully Williams will major motion picture, she was phenomenal. Larson’s breakout be back for the next installment in the Star Wars performance will drag you along this emotional roller coaster series. -ABM as she plays out the raw emotions of someone who is recovering from a traumatic event. Larson walks the fine line between playing her character who often is stoic on the outside while showing every stomach churning emotion on she experiences on the inside. This performance alone has launched Larson into one of the biggest young actors on the rise. -AMM
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The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2015
A&E
Technomania
Technology to look out for in 2016. By Elena Orlando
VIRTUAL REALITY
DRONES
NETFLIX SOCKS
SCiO
By Danny Levy
T
his past holiday season, over one million privately owned drones (unmanned or remote controlled aircraft) hit the skies. In 2016, drones large enough to carry people might join them. Earlier this month, a drone capable of carrying 220 pounds was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show, and although not yet legal in the U.S., we could see these metal death traps flying later this year. Because of legal and safety issues, Amazon’s air delivery service likely won’t begin in 2016. However, more drones capable of avoiding collisions by themselves and thinner and lighter drones for racing will be available for purchase. Drones have a wide range in prices, with lower quality recreational models under $100, higher end models used for videography over $1000, and those capable of transporting humans around $300,000.
Two years ago, Facebook bought the virtual reality company, Oculus, for $2 billion. In March of this year, the highly anticipated Oculus Rift will be released. While virtual reality may seem like an oxymoron, products like the Rift do exactly as the name suggests; recreating landscapes and immersing you into the worlds of movies and video games. With 360 degree viewing and stunning visuals, virtual reality headsets try to trick your brain into believing that what you’re seeing is actually real. VR technology makes it harder to distance today from the technological world we imagine when thinking about the future. PS4 is also releasing a virtual reality system in the first half of this year, that will use the current controllers. The price for PlayStation’s VR system has not been released yet, but could be a real competitor to the Oculus Rift if its cost is below $600.
THE REBIRTH OF SLICK
It’s a Saturday night. You think, “Should I start doing my homework right now so I won’t wake up with nothing done on Sunday?...Nah, I’ll watch Netflix instead.” The pull of the black hole that is Netflix is too strong. One episode turns into nine, and suddenly it’s two a.m. and there’s crumbs in every crevice of your comforter and your eyelids won’t stay open. But your young body was built for this, so you start episode ten, but end up falling asleep five minutes in. If you’re wearing Netflix socks, that show won’t keep going without you. This DIY project was posted on the Netflix website, and works with a sensor inside of the socks that sends a signal to your TV to pause the video when you’ve fallen asleep. The only downside of the socks is that you have to get off your lazy bum and make them. The sensor itself requires some programming and soldering, and unless you want to put that sensor in some lame pair of socks, you’ll need to whip out those knitting needles.
Get ready to solve some of the mysteries of the universe. The pocket sized SCiO debut at the 2016 CES (Consumer Electronics Show), and allows you to find the nutritional value of food, know how well your plants are doing, and find out what’s in your medication. The SCiO does this by analyzing how the molecules within the substance interact with light, and then sends the information to your smartphone. This means never cutting into an unripe avocado or melon, but also that it’s easier for people with diabetes to make sure that they’re getting the right amount of nutrients. The SCiO can be pre-ordered right now, and will be available for purchase in May of this year.
Vinyl records reenter the music industry. By Hannah Tacke Huddled together in a dimly lit room, incense fills the air as spawns of Urban Outfitters gather together in a shrine lined with tasteful tapestries, fiends to aesthetic. To set the mood, an Artic Monkeys record is rotating in a muted red Crosley turntable as sultry tunes drift through the air. In recent years, vinyl records have been resurrected from the graveyard of obsolete technology and tangible tunes are bringing brought back into style. Records have seen an upsurge in sales by 50%, and in 2015 more than 13 million vinyl albums were sold in America, with the last year to reach such high numbers in sales being 1992.
Art by Luca Hagmayer
One would think that such hobbies remain reserved to those born in the era of vinyl who look to be whisked away in nostalgia as Bob Dylan’s “Blonde on Blonde” plays in tribute to its memory. But contemporary artists are contributing to its resurgence as even artists like Adele, Kendrick Lamar, and Lana Del Rey are producing records in response to its recent popularity. Junior Maggie Rosen grew up with her parents record player and recently bought herself a turntable. “I think it’s really fun to listen to records and it’s so much more tangible and interactive than listening to songs on your phone. It’s just nice to clean my room or chill with a record playing.” Maite Gato-Fuentes also has a turntable, having owned one since she was two years old. “When you buy a record, you’re buying a whole album and you have to put in more effort to listen to a record by visiting record shops,” says Gato-Fuentes. Since the fall of the compact disc, music has been primarily accessed through online vehicles. Apps like Spo-
tify and Pandora are specifically programmed to aid the user in finding one’s certain taste. By using these apps to primarily listen to music, the whole culture around listening to tunes has adjusted to compliment singular tracks, essentially eradicating the experience of consuming an artist’s full record. What the digital world of music is providing is a satisfying quench for the need to jam. Songs pass by each other one after the other in playlists with titles such as “Deep Dark Indie” or “Pump Up Tracks,” and singling out the most fitting track on an artist’s record. Listening to an album start to finish creates a bond between the musician and the listener, as a deepened level of appreciation is achieved as tracks are being digested. Records are vital in preserving key relationships between the artist and the listener, a greater sense of the artist’s soul as a musician is revealed. So stop by a record store, take in the aroma of decades past, and unwind to the warmth of a spinning vinyl.
The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2015
13
a&e hang up the phone
Forty-eight hours tech free(ish). By Alex Ferry
A
re we compromising the quality of our lives by been with smart phones. giving in to technology? Would we happier with“On the plane ride back, the last thing we said to each out it? Is it possible to live completely free of it? other was ‘what’s your phone number?’ Usually that’s one Keenan Simpson and I were very curious to find out, of the first things I’ll ask someone,” says Sharp. so we did a 48 hour trial without technological use. She also realized that conversation topics were differPrior to this experiment, the longest I had been using ent when she and her friends didn’t have phones with no technology was an eight day backpacking trip, and I them. came back refreshed and happier than ever. Simpson had “If [someone] were talking about their best friend, ina similar experience, going 28 days without using tech- stead of showing us their instagram or facebook, they nology when he went on a canoe trip. would just describe them and tell stories. If [I was] hav“I was totally removed from civilization so I didn’t feel like Photo by Keenan Simpson I was lacking in communication,” says Simpson. Although we both found good things come out of not using technology, when we tried to avoid it in a modern setting, it became a completely different exercise. We found that it was impossible to carry out our everyday lives without engaging in some sort of technological innovation, so we agreed on only eliminating screen technology. The small innovations were the hardest to avoid; such as calculators, clocks, and even making coffee in the morning. Almost everything we did required the use of some sort of technology. For me, the hardest part was the social aspect of it. Not only was it difficult to communicate with friends and plan anything, but it was also hard to not partake in any media. A message sent in by the most primitive mailing service: paper Doing homework outside of the classroom also created a disaster. For almost ev- ing a debate, instead of someone just whipping out their ery class, a computer is necessary for homework assign- phone and looking up the answer and ending the converments; whether it’s an essay, research, or checking your sation, we would just keep talking,” Sharp shares. grades, school is made ten times more difficult without a Sharp met her entire travel group via social media becomputer in the modern age. fore the trip, and noticed how much her opinion of them There are loopholes around the use of technology for changed once she actually met and got to know them in just about everything, and that’s what we were looking to person. find. But the thing is, technology was made to improve “It was really weird to see what people said on the inthe quality of our lives; to make our lives easier. When ternet before I met them. It gave a false identity of who in pursuit of avoiding it, it creates unnecessary suffering that person was,” says Sharp. “I was worried I wouldn’t and difficulty. get along with them based on the group message we had.” However, there is a fine line between using technology After having been social media free for over four for advantages, and letting it absorb human interactions. months, Sharp’s perspective on technological communiJunior Caroline Sharp took a semester abroad in Af- cation changed drastically. rica where the only accessible technology was an email “I feel like if our generation put as much effort into to her friends and family once every few weeks. Meeting genuinely getting to know people as they did creating people became a different experience than it would have social media profiles, we would be a lot closer with the
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The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
people around us,” explains Sharp. “If we got to know people before we followed them on instagram, we would be a cohesive group of people; when you meet someone on social media before in person it’s pretty false most of the time.” One of the best things that electronic communication has brought to society, is that it’s much easier to be in contact with people at all times. However, this could also be a negative aspect. “Not having as much contact with people all the time made it feel more special when I did have contact, like emails from my friends every few weeks. It made me appreciate my friends a lot more, and getting to talk to them face to face when I came home,” says Sharp. For Simpson and I, besides the fact that our daily necessities became difficult, there were a few good things that came out of the experience. First off I was able to get my homework done a lot faster without checking my phone while doing it. I also found it was nice not to have music blaring in the car, and it forced me to make more conversation. Overall we both felt like we were able to be more efficient. airplane. Sharp also found her productivity increased in the absence of her phone and other technologies. “I felt a lot more productive. I would think to myself, ‘if I were in Seattle I’d probably be checking my phone or watching TV’, but instead I’d be reading or doing something cool with my friends,” says Sharp. Technology was created to solve problems and increase the quality of life. Innovations we use today create opportunities for the human race to perform at its highest level. However, when people are overusing technology and obsessing over social media and communication use, they are degrading the original purpose of it, and it’s no longer improving their lives, it’s doing the exact opposite. How can we balance our lives to incorporate it when we need it, yet resist the temptation when we don’t?
A&E
Winter-Ballin' or winter-fallin' Student opinions on the do's and don'ts of the upcoming winter formal. By Emma Cooper
Marte Borgmann (0’19) The Sweetheart
New to the world of high school formals, this young freshman girl is looking forward to Winterball. “I think it would be really cute if they did something with a poster or writing it out so I could piece it together,” says Borgman of her ideal ask. “Like write it on a poster with little hints, and then it would say ‘Do you want to go to Winterball with me?” *trails off looking embarrassed* Borgmann isn’t planning on asking anyone herself. “I don’t really have a whole lot of confidence to ask someone,” she says, squirming. For a date, Borgmann is thinking casual. “I don’t want him to be super formal. Low pressure,” she says. “I just want to have a good time,” she adds, blushing. According to Borgmann, a corsage is more appropriate for prom than Winterball, claiming that it is “too formal”. She also isn’t opposed to buying her own ticket. “It would be very lovely if he bought me the ticket, but I don’t expect it,” says Borgman. If she doesn’t get asked (and who wouldn’t ask this sweet and beautiful freshman?), she plans to go with friends. “I don’t feel the need to be asked, so if I’m not asked, I won’t feel bad,” says Borgmann bravely.
Peter Walsh (0’16) The Warrior
Was it too many women, too much extravagance, or too many broken hearts? Whatever the reason, this strong and silent senior soul has become disenchanted with the formal dance franchise. Peter Walsh describes his feelings about the upcoming dance as “apathetic”, yet still plans on attending, only for the sake of maintaining his reputation as a social maven. In Walsh’s highly esteemed opinion, Winterball is a casual event. “I would like to say whoever is going to be my date had better be ready for a low-key evening,” proclaims Walsh. To ask his date to Winterball, Walsh favors a direct and painless approach. “I probably would say ‘Hey, would you like to accompany me to Winterball?’ And then they’ll say *in falsetto* ‘Yes, of course, Peter!’ And then I would be like ‘Okay, cool.’” says Walsh. Walsh prefers to cast a wide net in terms of dates, with thirty to fifty potentials. “I prefer the spray and pray method,” says Walsh. He intends on dressing simply, yet with athletic flair for the big night. “I was thinking my reversible Seattle Parks and Rec tank top with U.S. short shorts and slippers. Without socks. Make sure to get that down- without socks,” says Walsh. Walsh estimates it will take him five to twelve minutes to get ready, not including the time to cut a few flowers from his own flower bed for a corsage. Walsh’s date will then be escorted to the dance in his mom’s Subaru or in a Honda Civic, which she will have to drive, as he has yet to obtain a driver’s license. Any interested dates should note that this senior boy will not be volunteering to buy the tickets.
Jacob Orser (0’19) The Lover
Remember when you were a freshman? Romantically inclined yet incredibly nervous, you carefully planned how to ask out your date, what to wear, and where to party. And your name was Jacob Orser. And you were 4’1’, ridiculously adorable, yet very uninterested in this writer. As our token freshman boy, Jacob Orser has given a lot of thought to this upcoming Winterball. “I think I would go for something romantic. Get her something personal, but not too personal so if I get rejected it won’t be too bad,” says Orser thoughtfully on how he would ask the girl. When asked who he has in mind as a date, he replies boldly, “I got one in mind.” Yes, Jacob, I know you are thinking of me. Please stop being so obvious. It’s embarrassing. If he gets with this mystery girl, Orser plans to take her out to dinner, and then will head to the dance. He is willing to pay for the tickets and the corsage, and also wants his suit and his date’s dress to match. “I’m all about class,” he says with a twang of swag in his tone (What this translates into: Sophomore boys need to step up their game). Orser may also hit some parties after the dance, but only “if the turn up is real.” He is very excited for Winterball.
Lucas Holloway-Figueroa (0’16) The Power-Player
After four long years stuck in this purple hole, Winterball marks the approach of graduation for seniors. For HollowayFigueroa, it is full of mixed emotions for this reason. “I’m kind of nervous, because it’s my second to last school dance here,” she says. “Then I have prom, and then I’ll be gone. It’s kind of bittersweet.” However, Holloway-Figueroa intends on battling through her spicy emotions to have a popping night. “I think a lot of people are dying to ask me,” says Holloway-Figueroa nonchalantly. “I’d say about 10 [people].” For those enamored individuals, Lucas recommends a public, yet fun way of asking her, such as coming into her classroom. However, she is not averse to extreme displays of affection. “Shirtless boys and teddy bears, I can see it now,” she says dreamily. Holloway-Figueroa’s future date should know that she plans on avoiding typical formal dance stereotypes, such as corsages and the boy buying the tickets. “They’re too old-school,” she says of corsages. Holloway-Figueroa plans on taking Uber to the dance (*Senior boy groans “Senior girls ALWAYS want to take Uber. It’s so expensive!”*), but she won’t be staying long. “You go to the dance to get pictures and then you leave and go to a friend’s house and hang out there,” says HollowayFigueroa.
As for me, your local single sophomore, I will be crying at home, watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, and chugging the juice of aggressive apple trees. I will welcome anyone who wants to join me in my pity party.
Art by Urpi Ramirez
The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
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A&E The Munchies: Pho-nomenal Farewell Pho at Bamboo.
With Kyle Ting
A
s we have learned from the beloved Pixar movie Ratatouille, food invokes a sense of home and comfort. If you can recall the scene when the cranky old food critic (that’s me) eats Remy the rat’s exquisite ratatouille, it can literally send you back in time with just one taste. That’s one of the unique powers of food, linking past to present through flavors and textures sending pleasurable memories to your brain. Food has this powerful effect on restaurant workers Thanh Lee and Garfield Senior Billy Chow, the people that run 15th Avenue’s Bamboo. Bringing a little bit of Vietnam with them to America, this can be seen in the decor of the restaurant and savored in the authentic taste of a spoonful of chicken pho. “This is a family business,” says owner Thanh Lee, “so we opened up a very long time ago when I was little.” The thread of culture runs through the restaurant and rings clearly to create the unique atmosphere of the restaurant. The water feature of a smiling Buddha atop fountain surrounded by a wall of lush greens is illuminated well by paper lanterns of a variety of colors, playing upon its Vietnamese roots. The low level Asian music in the background adds to the tranquil environment, calming the customer into comfort. I was welcomed promptly by Billy Chow who waited me throughout my evening. Billy loves working at Bamboo and says “[We] stick together, we are like a family, it’s more than just working here, we support each other.” One of his favorite things about working there is meeting new and unusual people so make sure you’re as strange as possible for him. It makes his work exciting. Being a usual customer (the restaurant is right down the street from my house), I am familiar with the menu and ordered some of their best dishes: Chicken Potstickers ($5), a Chicken Pho ($8), and the Grilled Chicken Rice Dish ($10.50). For all of you vegan/ vegetarians out there, don’t worry, Bamboo is renowned for their Vegan pho, with a homemade vegetable broth. “People
A waiter sets the table
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The Garfield Messenger 1/22/2016
A waiter sets the table in front of holday decorations here love vegan” says Thanh Lee. Within minutes of ordering, the pot stickers arrived with a side of garlic ginger soy sauce to dip. The combination was decadent, the soft filling soaking up the strong flavors of the garlic and ginger, and the mushy inside is complimented by the fried dough on the exterior. The vegetables on the inside have a very subtle presence; their sole purpose is to provide the texture in the middle. All of the food came at once, before I was able to finish my potstickers. The next dish to grace my pallet was the Chicken Pho. The pho was served in a sizeable portion with vermicelli noodles and chicken swimming in a rich, salty broth with a garnish of green onions and a skosh of garlic. The pho is also served with a side of bean sprouts and basil so you may add them at your own liberty, but upon my recommendation I would say that it has its optimal flavor with a dash of basil, a handful of the sprouts for crunch, and some plum sauce for a tangy, sweet depth of flavor. My final and favorite dish was the Grilled Chicken Rice dish. The plate is a simple dish of grilled chicken in a sweet marinade atop a bed of shredded lettuce with assorted veggies and a mound of rice. The combination of the rice with the ample slices of teriyaki style chicken is excellent, with enough food to satisfy a rumbling tummy. As the youth say nowadays, the plate was fire. Bamboo performed well in all sectors: great ambience for dining, friendly staff and splendidly speedy service, great food and comforting pho, and an all-around review of four out of five munches. The price is only slightly expensive but nothing out of range for a good bowl of pho on a cold rainy Seattle day. I am sad to inform all of my readers that this will be my last issue of the Munchies (I know, it’s a tragedy, something about needing an art requirement to gradu-
ate, some BS). I have thoroughly enjoyed expanding all of your pallets and taking your tastebuds on a tour of the good cuisine in Seattle. I hope that someone will take up the torch and carry on the fire of the munchies, blazing passion into the hearts of young foodies and making sure that we stick on the track of higher cuisine. Keep elevating your tastebuds and expanding your horizons.
Photos by Kyle Ting
Munchies: 4/5 Price: $$
Sports
Flawless
How the cheer team perfected their 150 routines. By Eli Wilson
“Y-E-L-L Bulldogs yell… GHS!” “I like the cheers where there is more crowd participaEvery Garfield student knows the words to the famous tion because it’s just more alive,” says senior cheer capY-E-L-L cheer. All the credit for this school wide anthem tain Moët Beaver. can be attributed solely to the Bulldogs cheer team. Along with bringing in the crowd, the girls like to Every August, a couple weeks before the start of seize game break opportunities and display their talents school, the cheer squad fires up their season with at least with longer, more complex routines. four practices a week, all three hours or more. With the football season starting right in the first weeks of school, the cheer team must have at least half of their routines perfected… half of their whopping 150 routines. Some cheers are football only, and some basketball only. The girls do around 50 cheers a game, all of them in sync and flawless. “Nice to have them break up lulls in the game with fan favorite cheers like walk it like a dog,” says senior dog pound leader Brad Huffaker. The cheerleaders travel to every football game, and every home basketball game, as well as some important road matchups. “We cheer at certain away games, like the really competitive ones, such as Rainier Beach, Cleveland, and O’Dea,” says senior cheerleader Nia Jessie. By the end of the week the team has cheered in seven to eight games, along with weekday prac- Photo by Maddie Hazzard tices on off days - a grind to say Cheerleaders perform their opening lineup routine. the least. In order to keep it interesting, the team chooses their Jessie says, “I like a lot of the stomp and beat cheers favorite cheers to display, and engages the crowd when- we have because it really catches everybody’s attention. ever possible. I like being on a podium when it comes to performing.”
Aside from aspirations to become superstars, many cheerleaders join for the community, and a chance to meet people they might not get the chance to meet outside of cheer. “The relationships that you develop with the girls [is my favorite part]. It’s important to make connections with people, especially underclassmen,” says Jesse. Part of the reason so many of these girls bond so strongly is due to the student lead practices. “The team is very student run, the captains really run the practices. Our coach is more of just a supervisor,” says senior captain Olivia Lindblad. The captains are elected by the team, and they tend to evolve into their roles overtime. Beaver says, “I knew all the cheers, and when it came to teaching the new girls the cheers I just stepped up and did it. Then they seen me and be like ‘wow she has leadership skills’, and that’s how I got promoted.” Garfield is one of the many cheer teams in metro, but is unique from other schools in it’s tradition and identity. “We are very different from your typical cheer team, we’re very influenced by the Garfield culture and where we live in Seattle,” says Lindblad. The cheer team has become an iconic piece of the strong Garfield athletic tradition, and looks to continue contributing Bulldog spirit and pride.
Basketball Update by Aidin Montefisher
Basketball season is upon us here at Garfield, and both the boys and girls have been dominant on the hardwood. The boys have been living up to their lofty expectations, as they are ranked #1 in state, along with a Top 25 national ranking. They are 10-0 in league, and looking to pave their way to an undefeated season and a deep run into playoffs. The girls are 6-3 in Metro league play, with one of their most significant victories a 67-3 win over Nathan Hale, and a fourth place finish at the San Diego Holiday Classic. Both teams play this Friday against Eastside Catholic, at home.
Infographics by Maggie Emerton
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Sports A Priceless Investment The passion behind sports. By Aidan Chestnut and Aidin Montefisher
“It’s just a game.”
It’s one of the most common phrases heard in sports, as people downplay the importance of it. Sure, the meaning behind it is good, but as an athlete, there is perhaps nothing more infuriating than hearing how it doesn’t really matter. Playing a sport is so much more than the two hour performance on the field. Each win, each loss, each hard practice, each film session, leads to a team becoming a constant emotional roller coaster. And as the rollercoaster hits new lows and new highs, the emotional investment stored in a player’s heart only rises. As the regular season games turn into playoff games and playoff games turn into state games, the question is: are sports worth the emotional investment. Championships are won with incredibly intense emotions, high stakes with a lot on the line. The upside to this is winning. Nothing can beat the thrill of success, but the alternative to having high hopes and high aspirations is the possibility of losing. And losing that far down the road in the season can sting more than anything. Garfield sports last year had numerous sports defeats, many of brutal nature. Most notably, the soccer team rallied to beat several top opponents before losing a heartbreaker to Interlake in the state championship, losing 1-0. Soccer players and coaches weighed in on this heartbreaking day, and if the season is really worth the heartache suffered in the end. “I felt bad that we had worked so hard throughout the season, avoided elimination by winning against Sealth, Blanchet and Mercer Island, conceding one goal in all of state, and losing to a team that was worse than we were,” says junior Rainier Schlekeway. “We went through a lot to get to that situation, and at that moment I felt like it was for nothing.” But investing everything you have into something you love is what sports essentially are. Heartbreak, triumph, or emotions in between makeup the spectrum that defines a sports season. “Yes, it’s worth the emotional investment, although I don’t view it as an investment that I purposely put into it. I just like to play, and I like to win. I work hard for it, so if I’m not succeeding it can hurt,” says Schlekeway. In the Garfield boys soccer team’s case, a 1-0 loss in the championship is the worst possible outcome on paper. But athletes are forced to bounce back however they see fit, unless they want to continuously feel down for an extended period of time. “For the first 2-3 days I just felt depressed, not really wanting to do anything, thinking about what I could have done differently,” says Schlekeway. “But the two weeks after the loss I just was pissed off and started doing lots of fitness before I went to sleep.”
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Different people react to losing differently. Boy’s soccer coach Carlos Enriquez’s mindset represents the learning and growing aspect of losing. It is always important for teams to remember how far they’ve come, no matter the end result in a season. “At the end of our 1-0 loss to Interlake I felt a strong combination of pride, joy, disappointment, and inspiration. The pride and joy quickly shifted to sadness and disappointment, but it would always sway back to the same startBy Danny Levy
ing point--pride and joy,” says Coach Enriquez. “I was proud of the work the group had put together throughout the season to get to that point (first State final appearance in school history), but also in the effort that we put in during the actual final-knowing that we battled to the end!” Adding on to the agonizing losses was baseball, as they were able to come within one win of a state berth, before losing four straight games. People said, “they lost to the state champs and runners up, so that’s okay”. It’s not okay. Losing is never just okay. The quote “I hate losing” is overused in sports these days, but that’s because it’s so true. Coming into a must win game against Mercer Island, the Garfield baseball team had lost three straight games. They were playing at a Division One ballpark, in perfect baseball weather, with cotton softly drifting through the air. It felt surreal- there was a moment before game-time when it was dead silent and all one could hear was the wind, and it was in that moment that people remember why they love sports as much as they do. So when Garfield ended up losing 5-1, tears were shed. Half the team was crying, not because of the loss itself, but
because of the losses they were experiencing- losing the season, losing each other, losing the game itself for the seniors. As athletes we pour so much into the game, in the hopes of getting so much out of it, and sometimes what we get in return sucks. Even if you’re not an athlete, fans pour so much into the game as well (well, some do). That’s why sports is so great. There is nothing else in the world that can affect you as much as some silly game with a bunch of grown adults getting paid millions of dollars. But the great thing about sports is that it’s really never over. Games end, seasons end, but the sport continues. Despite all the losses and failures along the way, Coach Enriquez described it perfectly by saying “the very reason it hurts is the reason why you pursue it--you got to be all in! I think a person can grow a lot if they get to experience what it is like to fully invest themselves into a collective cause, which is what you do when you join a competitive team. The game itself has the potential to bring out any emotion at any given time, it’s always worth playing! Each team and every player continues to fight for it’s moment in history, and to join in the legacy of those who precede it. The question that remains is not “what happened”. It is “what’s next?”
sports
Not-So-Super Bowl
A football-hater’s guide to Super Bowl Sunday.
By Claire Boudour very winter, the United States becomes a football frenzy. Here in Seattle, you can’t take three steps without seeing Seahawks gear. This year the Super Bowl will be on February 7th, and the football craze will only get worse in the days leading up to the game. On the day of, there are a few things us non-fans can do to survive. First, try avoiding the game all together. Since the vast majority of Seattleites will be huddled indoors screaming at their televisions, lots of activities that are usually unbearably crowded suddenly become available. Lots of these options are downtown, so make a day of it. You can see a movie, and laugh as loud as you want in the empty theater. Hit a few of your favorite stores, and enjoy the doting affections of the salespeople as the entire staff waits on you hand and foot. This can all be done on your own, or with a group of likeminded individuals. It’s hard to believe, but there really are other football haters in Seattle. Locations that are usually full of tourists will become ghost towns. Have you always dreamed of visiting the EMP or the Space Needle and being the only one in the building? Here’s your chance.
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The issue with all of these ideas is that they can rack up a serious bill. If you aren’t trying to break the bank, don’t worry. You can stay home with your football-loving family or friends, and still have plenty of fun. T h e best part, or really the only good part, of any Super Bowl party is the food. It’s the only day of the year where you can stuff yourself way more junk food than anybody should ever eat, and escape guilt free. If you’re being forced to watch the game, make it fun for yourself. Every time there’s a field goal, grab a tasty treat. If there’s a touchdown, have two. Soon you’ll be so motivated by these snacks that you’ll be just as invested in the game as even the most intense football fan. A quick five minute google search can give you hours of entertainment at any
Super Bowl party. Simply type in “unpopular football opinions”, and you’ll have enough material to start a fight on your hands with every fanatic in the building. Maybe you don’t really think that the 1976 Buccaneers, who had a 0-14 season, were the best team in NFL history, but saying it can stir up
Art by Urpi Ruiz Angeles
plenty of drama with the diehard fans who are itching for an argument. Even if all of these strategies fail you, just sitting in front of the TV can still be plenty of entertainment. The four hour chunk of television taken up by this colossal sporting event isn’t just four hours of gameplay. Between the advertisements and the halftime show, there’s plenty of airtime that doesn’t involve football at all. This year’s halftime show will feature Coldplay and Beyoncé, and although it might not beat last year’s Left Shark excitement, it will for sure be a great show.
After all, anything that involves Beyoncé is the best possible use of your time. Super Bowl advertising is notoriously amusing, and always features a good mix of heartwarming and emotional pieces, and lots of funny ones like Fiat’s “little blue pill” ad from last year. Even if the game nearly bores you to death, there will still be lots of breaks. Last year, there were 61 ads broadcasted during the game. Thirty seconds of advertising space during last year’s Super Bowl cost a whopping 4.5 million dollars. Anything that expensive has got to be entertaining, right? But even better than the halftime show and the ads is my personal favorite Super Bowl tradition, Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl. The twelfth Puppy Bowl will air this year, and features lots of adorable dogs playing “football”. Or rather, lots of adorable dogs running around a miniature football field. The event has attracted so much attention in past years that Michelle Obama opened the show in 2014. Super Bowl Sunday is an intimidating 24 hours for sports-haters everywhere, but if you follow these easy steps you might have a chance of making it out alive. Good luck!
Eli Wilson takes home mess guess victory After a long and hard season, he comes out victorious. A message from your champion: In light of my first career Mess Guess victory, I would like to thank the people who helped me reach my goals. Retired Mess Guesser Aidan “Can’t Call Audibles” Chestnut helped fill my brain with sports knowledge of all kinds throughout the season, this award is as much yours as it is mine. Secondly I would like to thank my Mess Guess opponents who made the stupid picks that allowed me to, by default and common sense, rise to the top. And finally I would like to thank the man, the myth, the legend- Mr. Corey Allan Martin. I owe all my winnings to you, you are like a father to me, and I only wish you good luck in future years as Messenger advisor. And to all my fans I say: Let’s celebrate this win, see you next season, and Roll Tide. - Eli Wilson
Final Standings First Place: Eli “It’s Too Easy” Wilson
Second Place: Quinn “Thanks Caleb” Sullivan
Third Place: Aidin “Tough One” Montefisher Fourth Place: Aidan “Go Pack Go” Miller Fifth Place: Alex “Sunk” Ferry
Photo by Jeff Nguyen
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