The Talon - Issue #5 2020-2021

2020-2021 Issue 5

Table of Contents Pages 1-2: Winter Formal Pages 3-10 :Sports/Student Life Pages 11-16: Entertainment Page 17: Gamer's Flight Review Pages 18-29: Guest Sixth Grade Persuasive Essays

A Chilly Winter Formal

by Sienna Mehling

To some people’s surprise, formal did happen this year. On the cold Saturday of January 23, Immanuel High School had a winter formal in the Old Gym. Before you got to enter, you had your temperature checked. The gym was transformed into an elegant room with pretty lights and beautiful table decor. In one corner of the room was where you got to take your photo with your date or your friends. In another Mrs. Johnson, Ms. Martinez, and Miss Goetz were serving Italian sodas that were so good that it was impossible to not go back for more. By the time we got to our tables, we were already greeted with an appetizer that was a kabob of some small snacks. This year, Mr. and Mrs. Hofer graciously helped out with the food. It was buffet style and you were able to get a salad, green beans, mashed potatoes, chicken, steak, and it wouldn’t be an Immanuel formal without... zwieback! After we ate dinner we were offered a cupcake at the dessert table to finish off our meal.

This year's game was Immanuel’s own version of “The Price is Right.” There were six people called up each round and there were a total of eight rounds. A mix of the Immanuel student body was brought up to guess the price of certain items and

whoever was the closest won. After they got the winner of all 8 rounds they had the final rounds. The finalist had to stack 15 cups in order of 1-15. If they made it past that then they had to shoot rubber bands at the cups. If they succeeded at that, then they had to pick up M&M’s with a straw and move it to another plate. Then, there were two. Lauren Krahn and Luke Wilkins were the top two and the winner was determined by rock, paper, scissors. Wilkins won and ended up winning a brand new car! No literally! It was only two inches big but it was still brand new! Overall, it was a fun night of friends, delicious food, and a great time!

Winter Formal Gallery

Pride of the Valley

by Luke Wilkins Kids across the Central Valley dream that one day they will become a sports superstar. However, not many are lucky enough to achieve it. Two guys who come from the Central Valley have flourished into NFL superstars, but their roots might be closer to you than you think.

Josh Allen Josh Allen was born on a cotton farm in Firebaugh, Calif. He went to school at Firebaugh High School, where he competed as a Quarterback for the Eagles. Allen consistently put up huge statistics, and was a threat in both the Eagles’ passing game and rushing attack. Allen completed his high school career with 5,269 passing yards, while completing 59 touchdowns to only 15 interceptions. However, Allen did not receive any scholarships to play football at the collegiate level. Even though he did not receive any huge scholarships, Allen was able to walk on to play football at a small junior college in the area, Reedley College.

Davante Adams Davante Adams was born in the town of Palo Alto, Calif., where he attended Palo Alto High School. Adams developed a love for sports early on in his childhood, and played both basketball and football in school. He played both wide receiver and cornerback for the Vikings’ football team, and was able to lead the Vikings to a CIF championship. As a high school senior, Adams had a total of 64 receptions for 1,094, and 12 touchdowns on offense, while also totaling 44 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception on defense. His efforts on the football field earned him a scholarship to play wide receiver at Fresno State.

Josh Allen played well for the Reedley College Tigers.

In his first year, he completed 127 passes for 2,055 yards, while completing 26 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. Allen’s accuracy, athleticism, and size were able to earn him an opportunity to play football at the University of Wyoming. In 2018, Josh Allen was selected 7th Overall in the NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. In 2020-2021, Josh Allen had an MVP-caliber season, but eventually lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.

In his first year at Fresno State, Adams redshirted as a freshman, meaning he did not play in any games. In his next two years with the Bulldogs, Adams totaled 3,030 receiving yards with 28 touchdowns. In 2014, Davante Adams was selected in the second round by the Green Bay Packers. In 2020-2021, Adams had another amazing season with the Packers, and is considered one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He and the Packers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC championship on January 24th.

Both players are widely respected and seen as some of the best at their position, but it was their humble beginnings that made them so great.

New Year's Resolutions

by Paige Howard

As we start the new year, people have begun New Year’s resolutions. The first New Year’s Resolutions were said to have started about 4,000 years ago by the Babylonians.

These resolutions were quite different from what we are used to today, they were promises that were made with their gods. If these promises were kept the gods would have favor on the people in the coming year, if not they would fall out of favor. Early Christians believed the first day of the year was a day to think about mistakes made in the past year and decide to be better people in the new year. Despite being from religious roots, New Year’s Resolutions today are much more of a secular practice.

Instead of making promises to God, most people make resolutions to themselves and focus mostly on selfimprovement.

Immnauels students also have a strong opinion on New Year’s resolutions. Several students were surveyed, and here is what they had to say:

Freshman Jakob Percival: They seem like a good idea, but nobody ever holds to them.

Junior Jamee Lindahl: I feel that New Year’s resolutions aren’t as effective as they seem. Most people say that they’re going to do something and then after a while give up. This year I’ve been cautious about some of the habits that I want to start this year. For example, I’ve been working to keep drinking more water and spending more time with my Bible as a part of my daily routine. I don’t think that New Year’s resolutions are altogether worthless I just feel that it takes a very disciplined person to actually keep their resolution and I know that I’m not one of those.

Freshman Sarah Larger: I think New Year’s Resolutions are goals for yourself and set new expectations you want for the new year. My resolutions are to be motivated throughout the year, manage my time equally, and be open-minded to new opportunities.

Senior Sammie Greene: I think New Year’s resolutions are a good thing depending on what it is. If you set realistic ones then they are good, but some people make them out of reach. I set a new years resolution this year of not drinking soda and I plan on keeping it. I honestly haven’t set any real ones in the past so this is the first one I’m trying.

Senior Trevin Paulsen: I think that New Year’s Resolutions are sound in theory but silly in practice.

People often take them by themselves and do it alone, with that said I am trying to drink healthier this year, less sugary drinks, less soda, etc. and I’ve told my family about it so they keep me accountable.

Managing Screen Time

by Sarah Nath Technology has become a huge part of our day to day lives. It is so easy sometimes to pick up a device and not really remember what is going on around you. Screen time looks different for all students. Some students may have a reminder or timer on how much they want to be on their phone, while others are just very consistent with being on their phones/ technology.

Some students may be better at prioritizing time on their devices, while also being able to focus on doing school. The Screen Time option in a phone’s settings allows students to see how much time in a day or week they are spending on their phone. There is an option on Apple products that allows students to put a limit on how much time they spend on their phones, or if there are any specific apps that are taking up lots of time.

Screen time isn’t always a bad thing, but sometimes it can become too much and from time to time it might be a good idea to take a break from usual screen time for students.

For Freshman Darah, screen time is 4 hours and 6 mins per day and her most used apps are Instagram and Spotify.

Freshmen Jackson spends 4 hours on a screen and his most popular apps are Youtube and Instagram. Freshman Natalie’s screen time is 2 hours per day and her most popular apps are Pandora and Messaging. Sophomore Austin Stevens' screen time is 6 hours a day on average, and his most frequently used apps are Messaging and games. For Sophomore Naomi’s screen time is on average 6 hours and her most popular apps are Snapchat and Tik TokSophomore Sienna spends 7 hours and 48 minutes per day and her most used apps are Instagram and Snapchat.

For Junior Vincent Vargas screen time is 5 hours and 24 mins per day and his most used apps are Snapchat and

Instagram. For Julianna on average her screen time is 2 hours and her most popular apps are Snapchat and Tik TokJunior Alex Hughes screen time is 4 hours per day on average , and her most frequently used apps are Netflix and Pandora. For Senior Austin Engleman screen time is 5 hours per day and his most popular apps are Tik Tok and Youtube. Kinslie screen time is 4 hours and 30 mins, most used apps are, Snapchat and Spotify Sammie’s average is 4 hours and 15 mins most used apps are messages and tik tokPerla’s average screen time was 2 hours and 6 mins a day most frequent apps are tiktok and instagram

Which 'Ade is the Best Aid?

by Shawn B. Rodgers

For decades, two sports drinks have continued to battle throughout their existence: Powerade vs. Gatorade. First would come Gatorade, created by and for the Florida University athletes, called “The Gators”, who continuously faced dehydration. After finding the perfect formula, Doctor Robert Cade would restore Florida athletics and also inspire a whole new way of hydration in 1965. Coming 23 years later in the year of 1988, Coke decided to release a new drink to the market, one that rivaled the hydration that was served in a Gatorade and allowed others to experience a different taste within a sports drink. A rivalry was born, one that still is currently lasting in today’s world.

Many people may have strong opinions on which is better; whether it be the taste, the flavors available, or the hydration they experience with each sip. Powerade has been a proud sponsor of Immanuel for years, mostly because the school serves Coca Cola products, and Coke produces Powerade. However, with this sponsorship comes many questions: Would Coca Cola restrict Immanuel from selling other products? Do students enjoy the taste of Powerade? Do students rather have Gatorade on the shelves in the cafeteria?

As the data came rushing in on a survey that was made, Powerade would take the massive lead and receive 31 votes over Gatorade’s 13 votes for which

drink students prefer. The reason behind this preference seemed to be the taste of the drink, as it received the majority of the responses, with 42 votes. Once I spoke with some of the students who have had the chance to drink both Powerade and Gatorade, it was clear that both products are great. Jonah Tolpezninkas, who loves both drinks, said, “For personal preference I would choose Gatorade. I feel like there are more flavors to choose from and they taste really good.” Tolpezninkas went on to identify how he believes both are hydrating and provide energy for any athlete. After asking Nicole Maldonado if the school should continue to serve Powerade over Gatorade, she replied with an interesting and creative idea. “I think they (Immanuel) should try to sell Gatorade to see if students will buy more of this than Powerade.

Many believe that Immanuel should continue to serve Powerade because of the sponsorship and the contract our school has with Coca Cola. Another reason why we would continue to serve this drink is because of the $10,000 we received from Powerade in the 2018-2019 school year; as our school won a promotional video featuring athletes throughout each program. Our athletic director, Mr. Josh Franco, stated that the check is being saved for a project that is to come in the future. “The money that we won in the contest has been put into the locker room fund for out at the complex. It was a great start to a really big project.” A very exciting response and something to look forward to in the future for our school.

All in all, it doesn’t matter if you prefer Powerade or Gatorade, both sports drinks are hydrating and thirst quenching. This doesn’t prove one is better

Teacher Profile: Mrs. Solorio

by Allison Dias

What do you teach?

I am the JH and HS principal’s assistant and the Head Cheer Coach (when we have a season), and this year the ASL Teacher.

How long have you been teaching?

I have been working at Immanuel since the 2017-18 school year. I am the JH and HS principal’s assistant and the Head Cheer Coach (when we have a season), and this year the ASL Teacher.

When did you learn ASL? I started learning ASL in 6th grade at a private/christian school called Cathedral Christian School. When I got into Junior High (HERE AT IMMANUEL) our Bible teacher had us learn a few songs in ASL for different events. So when I got into college I continued to learn ASL. It was pretty amazing because my teacher was actually deaf.

Such a great opportunity. I would interpret for church and talk to the deaf community that was involved there. It was so great to be able to be the ”Bridge” between the deaf and hearing world.

than the other or that one is better for you than the other. At the end of the day, as long as you are putting one of these famous sports drinks into your body, you will continue to have the energy and endurance to perform as an Immanuel Eagle.

How did you become the ASL teacher?

Before this year started I was heartbroken when I found out that there was no ASL teacher. It was a hidden secret that I knew sign language. I wanted the students here at Immanuel who had already started learning ASL to continue on this path. So I talked with Mr. Goertzen to see if there was a possibility that I could help in this area where there was a need; and because of the position that I already had as his assistant. At first I was a little nervous, hesitant and honestly not 100% sure that I could handle it all. But my GOD never gives me more than I can handle. Handling both positions has been great and keeps me on my toes for sure.I am so honored and blessed that I have been able to teach this year. Praying for each of my students in my classes that the Lord will use them in a mighty way and allow them to become the “BRIDGE” between the deaf and hearing world.

NBA Start-up

by Jonah Tolpezninkas

When the 2019-2020 NBA season was halted on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the NBA looked as if it were done for the rest of the year.

This was because of the infamous Coronavirus, which at the time, was very new and people did not necessarily know how dangerous it was. Because of lack of answers and learning along the way, the NBA decided to postpone--not cancel, the season.

Four months later, the NBA decided to resume on July 7th and finish the season in a “bubble” in Orlando’s very own Disney World. In this bubble, the

players lived in seclusion from their families, and only bonded with teammates within the resort.

They got tested everyday, wore a mask everywhere, except the games obviously, and were practically living on an island for months. For the Lakers, who would end up winning the 20192020 championship, they actually stayed there for three months total. The season ended on October 12th, and that was that.

Interestingly enough, a normal NBA season would start around October 27th or so. This wouldn’t be the case for the 2020-2021 season. Instead, the NBA decided to start the season on December 22nd, and even that start date gained astounding criticism from players because it would be the shortest offseason ever!. But, to

put it into perspective, they did in fact have four months off in between, and besides, what else will they be able to do--you can’t travel (no Cancun, sorry fellas).

So, the NBA season started, but this time, not in a bubble. It was unrealistic and highly demanding to put players in another Disneyland-type bubble for way longer than the previous tenure, and the players would probably petition. Instead, the NBA sought to provide a safe environment for both players and coaching staff to participate in. First off, every team has their home arena. The season was not going to be only at one or two locations, but rather,

at each arena as if it were a normal season. The difference is there would be no fans in attendance. Also, there have been certain protocols for players to follow like not going to huge events, or wearing their mask everywhere. The NBA is very strict with its policies, like wearing a mask on the bench, no high fives or hugs with opposing players before games, and much more. Although it sometimes seems illogical for players to not be able to shake hands before or after the game with opponents they had just faced, it is all necessary to put in the effort to keep players playing. Lastly, players usually sit out if they have COVID-19, or have been exposed. There are many rules in this certain grey area, and the NBA determines how much someone that has been exposed sits out. The players also get tested everyday. There have been instances where players have tested positive, and games have had to be postponed. Like young NBA star Luka Doncic stated, “I think that’s going to be the big part: Which team is not

going to have positive people.�

Although this is true at a certain level it also puts responsibility on players to try to be as safe as possible for not only themselves but for others on the team. With all of the changes to the NBA season, it is still a blessing to be able to watch favorite players and sports teams play. Without sports, as all you sports fans remember, it is straight up depressing. Now, I am

able to watch basketball, especially when we are not allowed to play it ourselves. Since it has been about a month since the season began, it has been a very interesting year. Every game is up for grabs, even if one team is very good and one is trash.

This could in fact be attributed to several newborn factors, but all the more reason to watch good

NBA games. As of now, the defending champs (the Lakers) are playing very well, except for the fact that they blew a twenty point lead to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors (I just had to point that out); the Brooklyn Nets now with the newfound trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving can be interesting, the Giannis-led Bucks, the revived 76ers, the up and coming Utah Jazz, and much more. This season is up for grabs for anyone, because there are so many teams this year that are flat out good. As a Golden State Warriors fan, it was sad losing Klay Thompson for another whole year. Now, Stephen Curry has to carry the entire team by himself, literally. There's no stopping him.

He has been double and tripleteamed every single game, while still averaging 28 points per game. The dude dropped 62 the other night! The Warriors have had bright spots, and rough

A Person's a Person, No Matter How Small Immanuel's performing arts department will be bringing Seussical the Musical to the stage on the first two weekends in March. Most of the plot is based on the Dr. Seuss classic "Horton Hears a Who", although audiences should be on the lookout for many other famous Dr. Seuss characters, including the Grinch. TIckets will be available in the office and at the door. Bring your friends!

patches, but currently they are still above .500% in wins, and are still gaining chemistry along the way, due to a young roster with many newfound additions and roles.

Overall, I believe that Warriors can give any team a run for their money if Curry plays MVP caliber like we know he can (and is currently), and if everyone else steps up to the challenge as well.

As of now, the NBA season has been great, especially in the strange times we are living in. It is amazing to be able to talk trash with opposing fans again and have something to talk about that is positive, unless your team gets killed every night, then maybe not (usually we would feel bad for the Knicks fans but this year poor Detroit.) All in all, I cannot wait to see what happens next in terms of NBA awards, fans in attendance eventually, and who brings home the NBA championship.

What is More Exciting to Watch: Football, Baseball, or Basketball?

by Lucas Rodriguez

What’s more exciting to watch: football, baseball, or basketball? Basketball, baseball, and football are some of the popular sports played at Immanuel. Here at Immanuel, I asked 30 students to give me a reason to which is the better sport to watch. I asked 5 seniors, 6 juniors, 8 sophomores, and 11 freshmen.

About 40% said football is the more exciting sport to watch due to the fact that it can get intense, especially because it has more action and hands-on involved movements. Also, it’s a guarantee to give you action moments. They also did agree that it can get slow sometimes but if it’s like a booth review which is when the people in the booth review a play that may overturn a referee’s call on the play but the suspense can leave you at the edge of your seat.

This was a mix between freshman, sophomore, juniors, and seniors.

50% said basketball because of how interesting it is, especially when there are top-tier players.

Basketball is an up-close performance and fastpaced, some people say. There are also no breaks in basketball and there's always something happening. Finally, 10% said baseball was the most exciting sport to watch because it can be exciting when you have two good teams playing. If it’s like the World Series, it can bring a lot of excitement but it’s a much slower-paced sport than the other two sports, but if you’re patient it can be exciting.

Of Warmth and Of Life

by Riley Chastain

Being warm is much more than a feeling or a sort of emotional expression. It’s more than a good book or a nice blanket or a hug from a loved one. It’s an absolute necessity to the wonderful, diabolical game that is life. In the Central Valley of California, temperatures have been steadily dropping with predictions of potential rain. This translates to a major need to stay warm and there is no better way to constantly stay warm than winter clothing. As with everything in this material world, there is a great and complex science behind warmth and winter clothing. So before you go buy that ginormous parka that has insufficient insulation and end up wasting more money, take a trip down the warm side and see the science of warmth.

The way the body reacts to anything cold is shocking and truly brilliant. The body’s first response to the chill of a winter day is by constricting the blood vessels.

This is why if someone plays a sport in the cold or is about to do something after being cold, it is essential that they “warm up”.

When the blood vessels are constricted, there is a limited amount of blood flow which also means the blood sits in one spot

for longer. This also has a similar effect with clothing. A piece of clothing with a tighter fit is going to keep your body warmer than something baggy or loose and this should definitely influence the choice of clothing in the winter.

Now that the fit is out of the way, it’s time to talk about the soul of the item… the materials. A scientifically advanced material for the winter is going to greatly enhance your body’s ability to produce warmth. The body’s second response to cold is shivering. In essence, shivering is repeating muscle contractions.

This is the reason why shivering is somewhat uncomfortable and quite difficult to control. The material can greatly help the resistance to shivering. The ultimate in terms of winter clothing material is wool. Wool is very thick and has great natural insulation, as it is normally on an animal who is outside all of the time. For some people, it can cause itchiness and if that is the case, then the merino variant of

wool is the way to go. It’s not a BAAAAAD choice if I do say so myself.

The second best material is fleece. Fleece has very similar properties to wool, only it is quite a lot easier on the wallet, due to the fact that it is made out of polyester, and does a fantastic job at keeping the body dry if you are in a rainy climate. The third best choice and final one to mention is cotton. This should come as no surprise, as cotton has proven to not be just warm, but delightfully comfortable. Pair cotton with a tight fit and your muscles will thank you for not torturing them with shivering.

There you have it. It turns out that through looking at a little biology and anatomy, it is possible to determine the best material for winter. Many layers are not the answer to cold conditions. Less layers with the right fit and right material will serve you much better than layers upon layers of random fabric.

Valentine's Day: Love or Loathe?

by Jorja Caviness

The history of Valentine’s Day is really random, it's the holiday everyone knows but it has a very interesting background. It's from a day of celebration in an ancient pagan festival, it was held in Rome each February, which centered the whole day on bringing new couples to each other. This all happened centuries before Valentine, the man that started Valentine's Day, was even alive. He was a Roman priest who was known for helping people get secretly married. Emperor Claudius II didn’t want men to get married because he figured they were better soldiers without wives, but Valentine would go against this and marry people behind his back.

Remember in elementary school when you would take a mailbox full of candy that you would write your name on and then pass the cards out when you got to school but then you couldn't wait to see what you got.

After school was over you'd be on your way home and you were so excited to eat all the candy but more than likely your parents would take it and say that you could only have it after dinner. Then the time would roll around and you’d find out your parents hid all the good candy leaving the bad ones.

Now it’s a day where couples give each other chocolate and say how much they love each other.

There are many people that look at the holiday as though it’s genuinely meaningless, or like someone decided to make it a holiday just so they could make a huge profit off of people being in love. Just because it’s made for couples doesn’t mean single people get left out, many people will find that the candy is cheaper than usual and will make that the reason they like Valentine’s Day. The people who do love Valentine’s Day though tend to have more of a higher spirit than others, they may see this as a day where everyone comes together to celebrate the love we should all have for one another. While there are people that see it as a weird way to make couples have another day to celebrate being together as if their anniversary isn’t a thing, or use it as a way to make a huge profit over one day like Halloween. Many people don’t really know whether or not this holiday is something that’s really important or just another day to celebrate.

Plus there are many other things that people can do on Valentine’s Day that don’t need you to be in a relationship. Galentine's Day has become a big alternative to Valentine’s Day for single ladies. They can watch movies, give their friends candy, or just hang out instead of being alone. Which is a very good way to still be able to enjoy the holiday without having a significant other. Overall Valentine's Day really is just a big day of sharing people's love for each other and spreading happiness in ways that count.

A Peony for your Thoughts

by Kinslie Haltom

Everyone loves flowers, except those who are allergic to them. Receiving flowers is probably the sweetest gesture one can receive. It sends a sincere message without needing to talk to that person. All flowers have a meaning. For example, many people receive roses during February because they symbolize love. Roses aren’t the only kind of flower that have a sincere message associated with them. Flowers like tulips, orchids, carnations, and daisies are also flowers that can be related to love. Tulips represent the sender’s heart, orchids represent the beauty in the receiver, carnations represent the fascination within the relationship, and daisies represent loyalty within the relationship. Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday where people pick flowers for the people that they care about. It is also the day where people also receive an assortment of chocolate.

The top best selling chocolates on Valentine’s day are Godiva, Ghirardelli, Hershey, Dove, Ferro, Neuhaus, Russel Stover. Chocolate covered strawberries are also a very popular dessert to pair with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Many people use this holiday to show the special people in their life a little extra emotion and attention.

The Reason for Skincare

by Mia Barbosa

All skin is different and with that, there are so many different skincare products to choose from.

People can have dry skin, oily skin, a combination of both, they can break out very easily, or God just blessed them with the most perfect skin. You can get products for your skin anywhere just be aware of what says “flammable” and be sure to stay away.

You can find skincare products at Target, Walmart, Rite Aid, Sephora, Ulta, Walgreens, CVS, Lush, etc.

There is a wide array of brands and new products are being manufactured every day. Some are cheap, some expensive, some work, and others can just make your skin worse. With that being said let’s talk about where you can get some inexpensive skincare.

A very popular brand right now thanks to Tik Tok(which is something right now that people are turning to find good skin products) is the brand called “The Ordinary”. They carry very inexpensive products and most are proven to help your skin, but think again this product may not help all skin types, everyone’s skin is different and special in their own way and sometimes you have to go through a lot of trial and error to see what works best for you. You can find this brand in Ulta, on Ulta’s website,

Sephora along with their website. Some more affordable brands are Mario Badescu, CeraVe(also very popular right now), Cetaphil, and many more.

Just about everyone has a face wash they use or a parent or sibling uses, but some people go beyond that. There are moisturizers, oils, serums, sprays, masks, toners, eye creams, sunscreens, spot treatments, etc. All have their benefits but for the most part, everyone just needs a good face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen especially with it being the wintertime and with that brings dryness of the skin. Sunscreen is a big thing when it comes to skincare, not many people use it or people tend to think this is something that you only need in the summer but in reality, you need it every day, well if you want nice skin when you’re older than you should wear this all the time. Each season brings different needs when it comes to our skin. You can usually buy skincare anywhere but be aware of what you are buying. Pay attention to the ingredients that are used to make that product and how you feel about putting that on your skin. With this generation, there are more brands coming out with healthier products to apply to your skin, and even though they may be on the pricey side the benefits they have for your skin is immaculate.

The Tragedy of The Office

by Alex Hughes

This year started off with the moment all of America has been dreading since its announcement: the removal of The Office from Netflix. Currently on Peacock, the comedy show is no longer accessible to millions of fans if they are unwilling to pay $5 a month. While it hasn’t completely disappeared from the streaming world, it still is a tragic loss to those who don’t have a Peacock account. Here is a reflection for those who can no longer watch the legendary show of the five most iconic episodes.

5. Season 4: Episode 1 and 2: Fun Run. These roller coaster episodes start off with Michael Scott hitting employee Meredith Palmer with his car, fracturing her pelvis and sending her to the hospital.

While in the hospital, the office discovers that Meredith received a rabies shot due to some animal bites she had gotten months before when Dwight held a bag over her head with a bat inside in a heroic effort to trap the animal. Michael, claiming he saved her life, organized the “Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure” in an attempt to raise money to find the cure to rabies. There is already a cure, of course, which they gave Meredith in the hospital, but it was still a generous thought on Michael’s part. Also, Dwight kills Angela’s cat Sprinkles and stuffed her in the freezer, effectively ending their relationship.

4. Season 2; Episode 1: The Dundies.

Michael Scott hosts the annual Dundies Awards for the employees of Dunder-Mifflin Scranton in Chili’s.

All the employees collectively agree on one thing: the Dundies are horrific. That being said, they suffer through the offensive jokes and roasts for the sake of their boss. During the course of the night, Pam gets outrageously drunk and, when she accepts her dundie, she says, “I feel God in this Chili’s tonight”. She kisses Jim for the first time, which definitely makes this one of the most memorable episodes, but Chili’s bans her from ever entering one of their restaurants again.

3. Season 7; Episode 22: Goodbye Michael.

If everyone is being honest, this episode made every viewer bawl like a baby as the whole cast sang goodbye not only to Michael, but Steve Carell with the song “9986000 Minuets”. It was the most emotional episode of the Office by far as the audience got to see Michael Scott for the last time.

Michael says goodbye to the cast by giving Andy his top ten clients, Darryl his insightful book “Somehow I Manage”, and a tearful hug to Pam at the airport as he leaves the show for good.

2. Season 5; Episodes 14 and 15: Stress Relief. Any Office devotee vividly remembers the episode when there is a false fire drill set up by none other than Dwight Schrute. With Michael leading the whole office in a mass stampede of confusing, Dwight shouting helpful but ignored commentary, Angela throwing Bandit up into the ceiling to Oscar who crashed down into the office, Kevin being the most logical person and kicking in the vending machine to steal the snacks, Stanley suffering a heart attack, and Dwight carving the face off of a CPR dummy in an effort to demonstrate how to harvest organs after death, Stress Relief is an episode filled to the brim with comical moments.

1. Season 9; Episode 25: Finale. The last episode of the 9 season series, “Finale” is another heart wrenching goodbye to the whole cast. It takes place one year after the previous episode, and in that time period Kevin Malone and Toby Flenderson were not-surprisingly fired, Stanley Hudson finally made the right decision to retire, and Creed disconcertingly faked his death to avoid incarceration. During the course of the episode, Michael Scott returns with the iconic line “That's what she said” for Dwight and Angela’s wedding, and Ryan and Kelly make the terrible decision to run away together. The whole cast united one last time to say their goodbyes and move on with their lives, showing everyone who watched not to waste the good times while you are still in them and, in the end, as Pam wisely put, “There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things”.

Gamer’s Flight Issue #5: Star Wars Squadrons Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox X, PS4, PS5, PC

by Josiah Light

It’s no secret that Electronic Arts has butchered the Star Wars franchise with its terrible choices in how to market them, (Star Wars Battlefield II anyone?) They are often considered to be one of Disney’s worst choices when it comes to handling the Star Wars franchise. Within their slew of horrible games, however, there are a few gems. Star Wars Squadrons is one of those gems, but it is a flawed one.

The game is a starfighter shooter game where you pilot various ships from the original trilogy of films. It takes place after the second Death Star was destroyed and the new Republic is trying to find the last of the Empire. You play both a recruit for the Vanguard Squadron for the Republic and Titan Squadron for the Empire. The constantly shifting perspective gives you a full experience of both sides of the war.

The flying in the game is top-notch and feels smooth as butter and ships can be customized to fit your needs for the mission. However, the problems do start to show themselves, even early on The first major problem is the balance in multiplayer. The Republic has a huge advantage as their ships have built-in shields. This means that the Empire players have more health to deal with when trying to shoot down the Republic than they do. This means that the Republic often will win with a huge lead. The other problem is the controls. They work fine, but you can’t remap buttons on your controller.

This is a problem if you instinctively go for one button, but it doesn’t do the move you need to do.

Despite these flaws, the game is still fun to play and the story isn’t up too short either.

Rating: 6/10

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Immanuel Sixth Graders Display Their Best Persuasive Writing Immanuel's sixth grade students have been learning the fine art of persuasive writing. Under the instruction of teacher Mrs. Melissa Hillner, students were taught the steps to persuade an audience of their point of view.

Once the students had written and edited their writing, several were chosen as the best examples of sixth grade persuasive writing. The Talon looks forward to the day when these talented students can join our writing staff.

Abortion: Basic Right or Murder?

by Simone Light

Imagine this: you have become pregnant, but do not want children. So, you go to an abortionist and kill the fetus, not knowing what chemicals the abortionist put into you. You later wake up with horrible pains in your stomach. You are rushed to the hospital, swearing that you did not get an abortion, because the abortionist told you not to do so. Because of this, the doctors can not help you, and, shortly after, you die. Allowing these procedures to play out will cause the death of hundreds of lives per year that were not necessary deaths. Some supporters of abortion believe that the fetus is not alive, that it is not a human being.

Thousands of abortions happen per year in just California alone. However, aboriton should not be legal at all. Firstly, women have died from abortion, because deadly chemicals have been put into their bodies. Second, despite what many people believe, a fetus is still alive, and you are murdering a human being. Finally, before a baby is born, he or she has potential, and some of the most famous people were

allowed to live from abortions, and became someone great, inspiring millions of people in the process.

Abortions can cause the mother to die from toxins being put into their body. According to the publishing company Elsevier Ireland (a website that does give facts) in Sciencedirect.com, “Illegal abortion is responsible for up to half of maternal deaths.� The Science direct quote is saying that half of the deaths that occur during pregnancy are the result of illegal,

and legal, abortion. Another quote from Scielo.org (another credible source, that takes its research and surveys straight from the source) is, “The aim of this cross-sectional hospital-based study of 7,845 pregnancies, was to analyze deaths of women hospatilized for childbirth and abortion…” To explain this quote from Scielo.org, 7,845 women were hospitalized for complications in childbirth and for complications in abortion procedures, and those 7,845 women died. Aside from this, you need to consider both the mother and the fetus, whom you are murdering.

Despite what people think, a fetus is alive, and you are murdering a human being if you murder the fetus. According to Medicine.Missouri.com and the references of Don Marquis (a credible person that many people have used his reasearch for their own) from his article in 1989 “Why abortion is Immoral,” “The embryo or fetus is a person. Persons have the right to live. It is wrong to kill a being with a right to life. Therefore it is wrong to kill the embryo or fetus.”

The author of this article is saying that all persons have a right to live, and so the embryo or fetus has a right to live instead of being aborted because people have classified the fetus as being a person, but not a human being. If a fetus is a person, and people have said that a person has the right to life, then the fetus should not be aborted. Furthermore, another quote from the same article states, “The relationship between the mother’s body and the embryo or fetus is unique. It is so clear that the fetus is “part” of the mother’s body, like an internal organ is part of the body.” The article is stating that the unique and precious relationship between the mother and the fetus is important, and that the fetus, while still in the mother’s womb, is like an internal organ and is part of the mother’s body. Therefore, because the fetus is a person, and is connected to another person, it should not be killed because a person would not kill their own internal organs. It follows, then people do not also consider the potential that this unborn baby contains.

Before a baby is born, he or she has potential, and some of the most famous people in the world were going to be aborted. According to kokomotribune.com, author Ed Vaseick who uses references from UK Telegraph, states in his article that, “Andrea Bocelli, the blind opera singer, will wow just about anybody with his amazing voice.

According to the UK Telegraph Bocelli, “...interrupted a concert to recount the story of a pregnant woman who was admitted to the hospital with appendicitis. “‘The doctors had to apply some ice on her stomach and when the treatments ended the doctors suggested she abort the child,’ said the singer.“‘They told her it was the best solution because the baby would be born with some disability. But the young brave wife decided not to abort and the child was born. That woman was my mother, and I am the child.”’ The quote from this article is saying that if Andrea Bocelli’s mother had aborted him, we would never have this amazing opera singer’s voice in this world. Another quote, according to Nationalpost.com states, “Pattie Mallette’s”, Justin Bieber’s mother, said that her, “Position on abortion is clear; had she not converted to Christianity before getting pregnant as a teen, her popstar phenom son, Justin Bieber, would have never been born.” According to this quote, if Pattie Mallette’s choice had been to abort her baby, then we would have never had the pop-star, Justin Biber. As a result, killing the baby, kills potential greatness that can inspire other people for greatness, and we are losing so much potential in the world, because millions of babies are aborted every year.To summarize, you kill potential by killing the baby. To go along with this, you also harm the mother, and you are destroying something unique and precious. Therefore, aboriton is a horrible, cruel thing, because you are affecting the mother, and, along with killing the fetus, you are killing the potential that that baby holds. Fixing this problem can be simple and complicated. However, doctors should encourage the mother to put the child into foster care, or into an adoption service if they can not take care of the child. Just simply doing this could possibly save hundreds of lives per year.

The Death Penalty Doesn't Give Second Chances

by Andrew Kawagoe

Imagine a world without a capital punishment: a murderer has finished his time in jail and decides to kill another. Should you put him in jail again so he can think about what he did? Well, he has already had time to think about what he did; so, if you tried that again, it is unlikely that it will work. At this point, he has already stolen two people's lives; thus,in return he should give his. Although a controversial issue, the death penalty should be reserved for those with a lack of remorse or those who have commited at minimum two capital crimes. The first reason for this procedure for capital punishment is to prevent against the event that the person charged with the crime was framed. The second reason for this new capital punishment framework is so it can still work as a detterent, but also to allow those who are remorsefull a second chance. Finally, the death penalty costs taxpayers a lot of money per prisoner, and this system supports lessened expenses.

The reason the capital punishment should be reserved for those who have commited at least two capital punishments is to prevent against innocent death in the case of framing. DPIC (Death Penalty Information Center) is an organization run by a nationally recognized expert on the death penalty serving the media for free recieving donations from individual donators and sponsors. For example, according to D.P.I.C. “Since 1973, more than 170 people who had been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S. have been executed.”

The amount of people that were executed may be small compared to all the people executed but the fact is that their futures were all taken from them.

According to another study done by D.P.I.C., about 18 or more people were executed between the years 1989 and 2011 and found possibly innocent in later years. These people had their futures taken away from them because the death penalty doesn’t give second chances. Yet, even if the capital punishment is reserved for those with a lack of remorse it can still work as a crime detterent.

Capital punishment can be used as a crime detterent while also allowing the criminal to think about what they have done, if it is restricted to individuals who have committed at least two offenses For example, according to Amnesty International, “Many crimes are committed on thespur-of-the-moment.” However, the death penalty could work against meditated murder. According to the last words of Lee Hall, a convicted felon on death’s row, “I think people can learn forgiveness and love and make the world a better place. That’s all I have to say.” Lee Hall is an example of someone willing to change and someone who believes that there are other people who would try and fix their mistakes if they were to be given a second chance.

Along with allowing the criminal to think about what they did, it will also lower the expenses used on the death penalty.

The death penalty’s preffered method of execution,coupled with food, water, shelter, lawyers, judges, and sometimes extended trials, costs a lot of money. Corrina Lain is a constitutional law scholar who writes about the supreme court's normal decisions;she was also given the University of Richmond’s Distinguished Educator Award.

According to a paper written by Corrina Lain, “Illinois, for example spent some $100 million on the death

penalty in the 10 years prior to its abolition, and it had executed no one during that time.” The money spent on the death penalty could have been used towards medicine to help people in the United States on death row or not. Furthermore, the CA Commission on Fair Administration of Justice investigated the absurd amount of money used on the death penalty instead of on the states’ other issues, “Using conservative rough projections, the commission estimates the annual costs of the present system ($137 million dollars per year) the present system after implementation of the reforms… ($232.7 million per year)... the death penalty(11.5 million).” The CA Commission of Fair Administration of Justice was formed by the CA senate to “study and review the administration of criminal justice in California, to determine the extent to which that

process has failed in the past.” The amount of money spent on the death penalty is an insane amount that could be used for helping those on death row who have mental issues or ptsd. Due to the costs of the capital punishment reform should be looked at more seriously.

Not all criminals sentenced to death row are guilty, and there are some criminals who regret and wish they could fix what they did. Criminals on death-row who want to or have changed should be given a second chance, and, in doing this the government would most likely save money. In conclusion, the government has the ability to reevaluate the death penalty into something that costs less as well as something that can help people by only enforcing the death penalty after two committed felonies.

Capital Punishment

by Ellyann Thomas

Imagine: you are biking outside of town and gain speed as you pass the prison. Over the sound of the rusty gears on your bike and your breathing, you hear a desperate scream coming from over the fence. Once you realize what happened, you turn around and bike as fast as you can toward home.

Death. Death. Death. One word passes through your head the whole way home. The death penalty has been debated in California since its becoming a state in 1850. People who believe capital punishment should be legal argue that it relieves citizens of the insecurity of criminals roaming free. Furthermore, they proclaim that it controls crime better than a lifetime imprisonment. On the other hand, people who believe the death penalty should not be legal assert that it is inhumane and it minimizes the right to live. In fact, capital punishment should not be legal in California. Firstly, it is more costly than a lifetime in prison, second, there is no way to take back the death penalty if there was an error, and finally the crime rate has been proven to not decrease due to causes of the death penalty.

Capital punishment should not be legal in California because a lifetime imprisonment is more inexpensive. According to an assistant professor of Economics at the West Virginia University, Alex Lundberg, “Jasper County, Texas ...raised property taxes by eight percent to fund a joint trial for suspects in the 1998 murder of James Byrd.” (James Byrd was an African American man murdered. Three men were involved and at the time of it, they were finding the suspects.)

In other words, if capital punishment is illegal, property taxes may not be as high. Apart from the fact that the death penalty raises taxes, it also costs far more than the incarnation. An institution known for recognizing and fighting for human rights, the Amnesty Institution, reported that, “In California, the current system costs $137 million per year; it would cost $11.5 million for a system without the death penalty.” To put it another way, California could reduce the amount it spends on consequences by over 75% if they did not use the death penalty. Not only does capital punishment cost more than a lifetime imprisonment, but it cannot be undone.

The death penalty should not be legal in California because of its inability to be undone. Because of its nature of finality, numerous humans have been killed by capital punishment and later been found innocent.

It was asserted by deathpenaltyinfo.org, a site in which all facts about the death penalty can be found, “Since 1973, more than 170 people who had been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S. have been exonerated.” The evidence clearly states that lives have been stolen without a reason or fact of why. Capital Punishment is further proven to constantly mistake innocent humans for guilty by The National Academy of Sciences, a group that confronts challenging issues for the benefit of society. They state “...at least 4.1 percent of defendants sentenced to death in the United States are innocent.” By extension, despite there only being a low percent of 4.1 of death penalty cases being innocent, there is still a large risk of mistaking innocent humans for guilty. In addition to its inability to be undone, capital punishment has not been proven to reduce the crime rate.

Yet another reason the death penalty should not be legal in California is that it has been proven to not reduce crime rates, which is one of the main reasons capital punishment was created.

Deathpenaltyinfo.org plainly states that, “During the last 20 years, the homicide rates in the states with the death penalty has been 48%-101% higher than in states without the death penalty.” In other words, the death penalty states can have over twice as much as non-death penalty states. The bar graph on

the left further proves that crime rates do not decrease due to capital punishment. The graph reveals that the average murders per state in death penalty states per year are between five and six. By contrast, Non-Death Penalty states have between three and four murders per state per year. In conclusion, crime rate has been proven to not decrease in death penalty states.

Numerous statistics and studies have shown the death penalty to have a negative effect on society and citizens in ways like killing innocent and spending unnecessary amounts of money. Finally, it has never been proven to reduce crime rate. In conclusion, the death penalty risks innocent lives and requires society to waste money and therefore, should not be legal.

The Benefits of Video Games

by Scarlett Flaming

Picture this: you are playing your favorite video game, when suddenly the screen turns pitch black.

In confusion and a bit of frustration, you take off your headphones and scan the room for the source.

Turns out it is your mother, plug in hand, blabbing about how video games are bad for your health.

Many people attempt to argue that video games are evil, but is that really the case? Most of these arguments are backed up with zero evidence. In reality, a lot of video games can actually improve your visual spatial skills, and even selective and sustained attention. In fact, some games are even able to benefit children’s education. Plus, this information is backed up by real neuroscientists.

Video games can be harmful if you play them excessively, but if you set a time limit, they can improve certain parts of your brain. Experts say that your visual spatial abilities can be improved by playing video games. Recent studies have shown real proof of this, where scientists actually test it out.

Marc Palaus, an expert at neurology, and his fellow colleagues (all of which are experienced in the field of neuroscience) wanted to take a deeper look at how video games could benefit people: “They collected the results from 116 scientific studies, 22 of which looked at structural changes in the brain and 100 of which looked at changes in brain functionality and/or behavior.” The studies showed that video games really do improve how some parts of our brain perform, like it’s visual spatial abilities and memory. Furthermore, video games can increase the size and efficiency of brain regions even just related to visual spatial skills. According to Elena M. Marron, Laboratory Head and Professor of Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, “The right hippocampus was enlarged in both long-term gamers and volunteers following a video game training program.” An enlarged hippocampus is superior, it is able to retrieve spatial relationships and declarative memories. However, video games

do not only enhance visual spatial abilities, but they can also improve your selective and sustained attention.

Gamers tend to have revamped sustained and selective attention, which has been proven by various studies. In fact, Meiya Ma (assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the University of Arkansas School of Human Environmental Sciences) had collaborated with researchers at the Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of the Ministry of Education of China. They tested many gamers, some were experts, others had only played for a couple of years. As they played League Of Legends, the experts observed their brains. Then, they performed a real test just to back everything up even further, “...the researchers briefly showed each subject a square in the center of a computer screen. Then another square flashed in a different part of the screen and the subject was asked to identify the position of the second square relative to the first.

During the course of the experiment, the researchers also monitored brain activity associated with attention using electroencephalography, or EEG.” The researchers observed that in the initial assessment, the expert gamers had more brain activity associated with attention than the non-

experts. The experts also scored better on the initial visual selective attention assessment. After only an hour, both of the type of gamers had enhanced attention skills. The researchers explained that, while suggests even short periods of gaming can improve some of your brain functions. These neuroscientists agreed as each one of them recorded: ‘‘These findings by no means suggest that expertise acquisition can be completed within one hour.” In other words, it takes more than just a couple of hours for your brain to change beneficially, but if you are a hard-core gamer you are more than likely to have better sustained and/or selective attention.

These types of attention is great for learning in school. In fact, there are some games that can actually help a gamer’s education levels.

Popular games like Minecraft, Roblox, and Call of Duty (COD), actually may be able to teach youngsters some basic survival skills, how to be creative in different ways, and brief history about the World Wars. Expert Aurora, a researcher who specializes in creative writing, and someone who is very active on ID Tech, says that Minecraft is good for many things. She states in a recent article, “One reason Minecraft is good for kids is the promotion of creativity, problem-solving, self-direction, and collaboration—all of which stand out as the lesstangible, non-academic benefits Minecraft provides.

It is these life skills that will give kids the boost needed when they eventually work their way towards succeeding in college and future careers.” Which is saying that Minecraft can help boost young gamer’s ability to do well in school, and maybe even in future jobs. Call of Duty can also be a good way to learn a few facts about history. The cinematic scenes found i n COD actually hold valuable information about the

World Wars. It showcases how the soldiers may have struggled, overcome difficult challenges, and fought hard for their country. Many of the missions that Call of Duty gamers are sent on are based on real events. For example, in one of the Call of Duty games, there are different missions you can choose from. One of them is “D-Day,” which is a very important part of history that most students learn or at least hear about. During that mission, you are to go through the real events that occur during D-Day. Last but not least, one of the most recognizable games, Roblox. A lot of individuals think that Roblox is just a silly game where young children go to play on and interact with their friends. However, Roblox is a place for creativity and exploration. Many of the mini games that are included with the game include drawing, quick calculation, science, biology and a lot more. Plus, many creators have learned how to advertise, hire staff, gain Robux (digital money that can only be used to buy things in the Roblox Store and to play some games), and a lot more from creating games that others can play; which may not only help their careers in the future, but it teaches them the true importance of leadership. All of this information leads to the conclusion that video games are quite helpful to growing a child’s education capabilities.

Playing video games hours on end may be a bit hurtful, but that is just one con compared to so many pros! If you happen to play video games like many others, then you most likely have better visuospatial skills, attention spans, and you may even be more educated. So, the next time your parents take out the plug to your console or computer and try to tell you how bad video games are for you, remind them of these real facts.

Teenage Depression

by Emma Calandra

Depression in teenagers has tripled over the years. Do you ever wonder why? It is because of the effect of social media.

According to pewresearch.org, “Fully 81% of teens say social media makes them feel more connected to wats going on in their friends’ lives. . .” According to mayoclinic.org, “A 2019 study of more than 6,500 12- to 15-year-olds in the U.S found that those who spent more than three hours a day using social media might be a heightened risk for mental health problems.” There are some positive effects of social media, like it increases self confidence and creativity. It is also good for connecting with family and friends and developing new friends online.

However, social media has a negative effect on young people because it causes depression, increases cyberbullying, and intensifies feelings of isolation.

Social media is problematic for teens because it causes depression. According to a study in 2017 published in Clinical Psychological Science Magazine, over half a million 8th through 12th graders showed that, because of depression from social media, the sucide rate increased by 65 percent. In other words, social media causes depression and suicidal thoughts and it increased by 65 percent, which is a staggering amount. According to a 2016 study of 450 teens, the more social media they used the higher the chances of depression were. In short, using more social media increases the chances of finding previously unseen mental illness in young children. Depression can be caused by social media; similarly, it can also cause cyberbullying.

Social media also increases cyberbullying.

According to a study by Digital Information World, 64 percent of teens who have experienced cyberbullying say that it affects their personal life. To

put it another way, Facebook, Twitter, and Ask.fm are platforms of social media that cause cyberbullying for teens. According to a study by Mitch van Geel of Leiden University of the Netherlands, cyberbullying was more likely to give teens suicidal thoughts than face to face bullying. To put it bluntly, the study is saying cyberbullying is worse than face to face bullying because it increases suicidal thoughts more than it could if the bullying happening face to face. Van Geel’s research also explains that cyberbullying stays around, since the insults and harassment are now trapped on a device, which means the victim is always carrying around their bullies with them. As a result, cyberbullying can also lead to isolation.

Additionally, isolation can also be caused by social media. According to a study by the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, teens that use social media heavily are three times more likely to feel isolated. To put it another way, the study is saying people who do not use social media a lot tend to not feel isolation, but people who do are three times more likely to feel isolation then people who do not.

According to another study from the University of Pittsburgh and University of West Virginia, for every 10 percent rise in negativity on social media there is

a 13 percent increase in isolation. In other words, there can be lots of negativity of social media and every 10 percent of that increases isolation in younger children. The affects of isolation are having lower confidence and they can feel left out which then causes jealousy. In short, isolation can increase because of social media.

As a result, social media has a negative effect on people and can cause more problems than we think.

It can cause harmful things like depression that can last for a long time, cyberbullying, isolation, and more. You can prevent children from the negative aspects of social media by monitoring your time on social media, encouraging offline activities, and having social media breaks.

Censorship and Government Control

by Emma Goetz

Imagine that you are a journalist, and your job as a journalist is your only way to earn money for your family. However, you are constantly living in fear of being arrested or harmed by the government for the information you are giving out. All of your friends have either been arrested, killed, or exiled for having the same job. Nevertheless, you know the people need to be informed on what is going on in the world, which puts you and everyone else under a lot of pressure because of the censorship taking place.

Regardless, there are many different beliefs on censorship. Naturally, some people believe that we need censorship because it protects children and other vulnerable people from hearing or seeing things that are bad for them, whereas other people believe that censorship keeps people from expressing themselves. Despite these beliefs, the government should not be able to limit what other people say or read. Firstly, censorship creates fear and weakens the people as it strengthens the government. Secondly, the government is able to hide information from the public by censoring. Lastly, censorship takes away the freedom of the people.

One of the worst parts of censorship is that it strengthens the government while it puts the citizens down. Censorship always results in horrible outcomes, that take many forms. As people live in fear of censorship, lots of books are unread or unwritten. As Judy Blume (one of the most censored authors) states, “It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. It is the books that will never be read. And all

due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers are the real losers.” In short, Judy Blume has written many books, never to be read, because of censorship and the fear it projects. There are many other authors, journalists, and news reporters that relate to this. According to CPJ, a committee dedicated to saving journalists from censorship, “In Eritrea, President Isaias Afewerki has succeeded in his campaign to crush independent journalism, creating a media climate so oppressive that even reporters for state-run news outlets live in constant fear of arrest. The threat of imprisonment has led many journalists to choose exile rather than risk

arrest. Eritrea is Africa’s worst jailer of journalists, with at least 23 behind bars-none of whom has been tried in court or even charged with a crime.” In other words, in Erita, censorship has led many innocent journalists to jail or exile just because journalists give information out, instead of hiding it. Consequently, because censorship gives the government so much power, it also gives them the ability to hide or cover up important information or the truth.

Moreover, with censorship taking place, all information is filtered through the government; therefore, the government decides what information we hear. Consequently, information is hidden from us. There are many examples of this throughout our history. For example, Hitler used censorship to take control. He used it to hide what was really going on and then brainwashed the people into following and idolizing him. Censorship is really quite dangerous.

The government has enough power to take the truth and not tell you anything at all. After all, Yevgeny Yevtushenko (a Russian poet who dedicated his life and freedom to giving others freedom of speech and overall freedom) once said, “When the truth is replaced by silence, the silence is a lie.” By extension, when there is information that everyone needs to know, and the government tells them nothing, it is all just a lie. A lot of this censory comes from fear of what the people will say. To take a case in point, George R.R. Martin (another writer against censorship) stated, “When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say.” In short, George R.R. Martin is saying that when the government tries to stop you from using your mouth, it is only proving that they are scared of what will come out of your mouth. When the government tries to stop you from doing things, they are trying to take control over everyone. Moreover, censorship not only takes away people's rights to know what is going on, but it takes away their freedom, too.

As the government looks to take over the freedom of speech and thoughts, they are ultimately taking over freedom. You might not think much of freedom because you live in the United States, but freedom is really an important thing to those who

have never experienced it. At one point, the United States did not have freedom. It was something that our forefathers fought for. They gave their lives for freedom. Freedom means no censorship, and no censorship means you have control over your mouth, thoughts, and actions. For example, Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy once stated, “First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible end. The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought.” In short, thinking for yourself is freedom, but when the government seeks to take this away, they are ultimately taking your ability to have freedom. This is something that we do not usually notice a lot.

Censorship can be disguised in many ways. For instance, President Trump was just censored and has been banned from the media, because people did not want him writing things on it that would help others support him. Moreover, censorship was once again used for trouble and to take away Trump’s freedom of speech. When freedom of speech is taken away, we are just silent, not able to speak our feelings or acknowledge what is going on. According to George Washington, “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” In other words, George Washington declared that without the right to talk, we are silent and dumb, just being led into trouble without warning. Therefore, with the government over control of censorship, they are over control of you!

As some of censorship’s main faults, these three topics all connect. Furthermore, censorship can be used to hide the truth, which gives the government too much power, and results in the freedom of the people being taken away. Censorship is a huge risk and puts a lot of people in danger of losing a lot of things including freedom, truth, and strength.

Ultimately, freedom means to have control over your actions and mouth; therefore, censorship is something we should all fight to keep out of our world.

The Unconstitutionality of The Death Penalty

by Antonia Ortiz

Since as far back as the eighteenth century B.C., the death penalty has been a well deserved punishment, but has also been the topic of many arguments for centuries. Some people believe that the death penalty is unfair and it does not adhere to the idea that all people make mistakes, some so drastic that the death penalty was even considered.

On the other hand, others support the idea of the death penalty being fair and well deserved because of the crimes that were commited. However, the death penalty should not be legal in California because it is unconstitutional. Secondly, the death sentence involves racial biased decisions. Finally, it does not give people the chance for selfimprovement.

The death penalty contravenes the constitution, specifically the eighth amendment. The eighth amendment in the U.S constitution states that, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” The constitution clearly opposes “cruel and unusual” punishment, yet death by lethal injection is an element in the death penalty. Admittedly, death by lethal injection could be a painless way to die, but the people who were sentenced to death by lethal injection wouldn’t be able to explain what it felt like because they died. Arthur J. Goldberg and Alan M. Dershowitz, authors from Harvard University claim that, “The cruel and unusual punishment clause of the eighth amendment is directly in point.” To put it another way, the death penalty violating the constitution needs to be addressed. Evidently, the death penalty is unconstitutional in various ways. In addition to being unconstitutional, the death penalty involves racially biased decisions.

Individuals who murder white people are more likely to be sentenced to the death penalty than those who murder people of color. In “The Case Against The Death Penalty,” Hugo Adam Bedau, Ph.D. says, “In the trial courts of the nation, even at

the present time, the killing of a white person is treated much more severely than the killing of a black person.” That is, sentencing of the death penalty involves who you are, or the color of the victim. In fact, the death penalty’s statistics show that more sentences of the death penalty were to nonwhite convicts. Michael L. Radelat, the author of “Racial Characteristics and the Imposition of the Death Penalty” writes that, “Of the 3,859 civil executions that took place from 1930 through 1967, 2,108 or 54%, involved nonwhite offenders.” Clearly, race and color are factors in which the decision is made for the sentence of the death penalty, which makes it an innappropriate punishment to use. Not only is the decision for the death penalty racial biased, but the death penalty does not make people want to self-improve or restore themselves.

Finally, the death penalty does not improve what prisoners’ want for self -improvement; since they will be executed, whether they improve their character or

not is not taken into account. According to Federal Sentencing Reporter, Ashley Nellis, “As discussed subsequently, the expanding use of LWOP sentences reflects a loss of confidence in personal reformation...” The Life Without Parole sentence and the death penalty are not the same form of punishment, but LWOP(Life Without Parole) would be better because prisoners would be able to reflect on what they did and die naturally instead of being executed. Along the same lines, Arthur J. Goldberg and Alan M. Dershowitz believe that people’s lives and faith are at stake. Arthur J. Goldberg and Alan M. Dershowitz of Harvard University stated this, “The lives of over five hundred prisoners waiting on death row are immediately at stake. But also at stake is our faith in and commitment to national self-

improvement.” Citizens of California do not realize that supporting this unusuality of a punishment puts a lot more at stake than just criminal’s lives.

Ultimately, the death penalty does not allow prisoners to positively self-improve or restore good character.

The upshot of all this is that the death penalty has been proven to be unconstitutional, racial biased, and also not helpful when it comes to prisoners wanting to self-improve or restore their lives. There are more than enough articles and experts who agree with this reasoning. Moreover, those who agree with this reasoning are experts in the topic and are highly respected amongst their peers. Therefore, the death penalty should not be legal in California, or in any other state.