DEADLINE Volume 7 | Issue Two
IN THIS ISSUE: Freshmen Interviews : 1 The Uncensored Library: 5-6 Mulan Controversies: 11-12 Album Review: 15-16 Latinex Inventions: 25-26
TIME IS NOW
MEET THE
Despite starting off online, how is middle college for you?
By: Nora Taing
Even though starting off online is a bit hectic and sometimes frustrating, I really enjoy Middle College. I really enjoy the clubs. Even though it’s online, I can still feel those really positive vibes. And everyone is so helpful and nice—like the upperclassmen are really informative and kind. And the other freshmen are helpful too, because I know I’m not the only one in this struggle, and it takes away some of the stress.
Brooke Rameriez What are some of your hobbies? Some of my hobbies include surfing, drawing, sewing and altering clothes, and cooking. I’m not that good at surfing but it’s really fun—sometimes scary—but really fun. I draw when I get the chance, usually. With school, I have a busy schedule, but when I am free it’s something small that makes me really happy. For most of my drawings, I draw inspiration from songs and music. I really love clothes and style. I got a new sewing machine recently and am buying some new stuff for it, but I have some beautiful outfit ideas in mind.
But cooking is my favorite hobby, I really like it when others try my food beca use there can be so many levels in flavor and depth in cooking—it’s fascinating. And food makes people smile, and it can be a way of showing love and care. Sharing that with others like family and friends is the best feeling ever.
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freshmen What is your favorite food/restaurant?
cLASS of 2024
My favorite food would probably be my grandma’s Albondigas soup. She usually makes it when it gets colder outside. I love my grandma and all the food she makes. A lot of the food I learned to make was from her. But recently, I’ve been trying to eat more vegan food, but it’s not a strict diet at all. I just wanted more veggies in my daily meals. And my favorite restaurant would be “EAT bar and grill” in Thailand. It was so amazing there, and it was so welcoming and such a positive vibe. The owner, who was Swedish, actually came and sat down with us for the whole meal and we all talked and laughed. It was one of my favorite experiences at a restaurant.
What would you say is your spirit animal? I think my spirit animal is a lion. I am a Leo, but I don’t know if that is relevant. I would say that, because lions are strong, lions are leaders, and lions have such a confident and headstrong aura to them, but they are also just big cats, and they can be playful and loving and funny. I like to think I know what I’m doing with my life and where I’m heading, but also keep in mind that I should enjoy my life too, and I shouldn’t have to live so strictly and orderly. It’s okay to have fun, but also knowing what your values are and who you are as a person. What was the funniest thing that happened to you? In the 6th grade, one day we had a substitute. And so it was like a Fun-Friday, and my friend Veronica and I were just eating grapes in the corner of the classroom talking. And it was really loud in that classroom, and everyone was having fun. And I started choking on a grape but also laughing. So we were dying of laughter while I was choking on a grape. The substitute came by and stopped, and turned to look at me then walked back to the teacher’s desk. And for some reason, this did not help the situation and we just laughed more. That will forever be one of my favorite “funny” moments with that friend. 2
Dining with Dragons Angelina’s Spaghetti House is located in
Stockton, and they have delicious Italian food, offering a variety of pastas, sandwiches, chicken dishes, and steak dishes . They are open from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Mondays, from 11:00 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. on Tuesday through Thursdays, 11:30 A.M. to 9:30 P.M. on Fridays, 4:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. on Saturdays, and 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Sundays. They are open for take out, and on Tuesday, September 22nd, they opened for outdoor dining for Tuesdays through Sundays. When I went, I ordered the food to-go, and I thought it was amazing. Angelina’s is one of my favorite restaurants to go with my family. When I went, I ordered the chicken parmesan, which came with fettuccine alfredo, and a salad. The chicken is so good, and the part that I like the most about it is the melted cheese and sauce on top. It is so delicious that I get it almost every time I order from this restaurant. The fettuccine alfredo is also really delicious. Most meals come with the choice of soup or salad on the side. I enjoyed eating at Angelina’s and I think that it would be either a 4 or 4.5 out of 5 stars. This restaurant is a little on the expensive side, but it is definitely worth it because of how delicious the food is. Moreover, each meal comes with a lot of food, so you’re definitely getting your money’s worth. So, if you like eating Italian food, then this is a place that you should check out! By Elizabeth Rocili 3
WEST COAST WILDFIRES By Arlene Hickman
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etween California, Washington, and Oregon, more than 5 million acres have burned down. At least 36 people have died and thousands of families have lost their homes. But how did this even happen? It seems as if the skies turned orange overnight and we all got to experience golden hour all day. While the selfies I took were immaculate my lungs did not appreciate the brief moments when I had to step outside. How did these three states almost simultaneously catch on fire, and why haven't they been contained yet? There are a variety of things that have contributed to this massive surge of fires along the coast. One major contributor is climate change. With record high temperatures, and extremely dry and windy weather, it's no surprise so many fires broke out. All of the farmland in California, which consists of numerous crops and vegetation, dries out during the summer due to the crazy high temperatures, and this dried land then served as fuel for the foreseen fires. It doesn’t help that California is in a 9-year long drought, which the president doesn’t even believe exists. California currently has 27 wildfires burning ranging in containment percentages. One fire in California, the Bobcat Fire, has burned over 105,000 acres since September 6th, when it first started. This is one of the largest fires in Los Angeles County’s history. The cause of this fire is still unknown. There are more than 1,700 firefighters fighting this fire alone, who have managed to get the fire to 15% containment. The El Dorado fire in California was started from an explosive used for a gender-reveal party on September 5th. This fire caused over 30,000 evacuations and burned over 22,000 acres. Another cause of some of the fires is lightning, an example being the Lionshead Fire in Oregon. This fire has so far burned over 200,000 acres and is only 10% contained. Unfortunately, some of the fires’ origin is unknown, which is the case for the Pearl Hill Fire in Washington. The Pearl Hill Fire started on September 7th. This fire has burned over 223,000 acres, but luckily it is now 94% contained. You may be wondering, how do the fires make the sky orange? Simply put, the smoke from the fires is able to disperse and block the blue light coming from the sky before it reaches your eye, which then leads to skies looking red and orange. With these smoke particles in the air, our air quality decreases tremendously. I believe these fires were Mother Nature's way of telling people to wear a mask, because the air quality is so terrible that people are being forced to wear masks to avoid breathing in the smoke. There is so much smoke in the air that it has now traveled all the way over to Europe. If that isn’t concerning, I'm not sure what is. People with pre-existing issues breathing, are encouraged to stay indoors and avoid extensive actions as much as possible. When you need to leave your home, make sure to wear a mask. 4
The Uncensored Library The Uncensored Library. The name almost speaks for itself, but let me introduce the first ever Minecraft library that holds many different articles from journalists all over the world who live in a country where the freedom of speech is suppressed by controlling leaders. Minecraft, one of the world’s most successful and accessible games with over 126 million users, has been utilized by Reporters without Borders, to give journalists an opportunity at free speech despite living in a system in which public opinions are heavily manipulated by the government campaigns. Forbidden articles written by journalists from five different countries have been collected in an interactive game created for young people to bring forth the truth behind these corrupted countries. This library opened up its doors on March 12, 2020, the world day against cyber censorship. It gives the voice back to the journalists and reporters that have been banned, jailed, exiled, or even killed for speaking up and letting their voices be heard. This library was created in order to provide the next generation with knowledge to fight against the world’s oppressive leaders. On this server, you can read written articles from Jamal Khashoggi, Nguyen Van Dai, Javier Valdez, and many more. Jamal Khashoggi is one of the most known journalists of the decade because of his fight against the repression of honest journalists in Saudi Arabia. His work about the crown prince of Saudi Arabia led to his dismemberment inside the consulate. Although he has passed, he will never be forgotten, as his voice lives on in the Uncensored Library where the truth will continue to be told. After I typed “minecraft library” into the google search bar, the first link that appeared was the uncensoredlibrary.com/en. Although I was only looking for inspiration for my Minecraft library, my curiosity led me into a whole new world filled with voices waiting to be heard. These articles are essentially a cry for help, to let the public know what forms of corruption occur behind closed doors in many countries. According to Wikipedia, corruption is a form of dishonestly or criminal offense undertaken by a person or organization entrusted with a position of authority, to acquire illicit benefit or abuse power for one’s private gain. Many countries are corrupt but the oppressive government fails to reveal such matters to the public. These journalists have risked their life and their family’s life to reveal the truth as they believe that the truth will always prevail. There are many articles that I have read on this server that have got me utterly speechless. Learning about the corruption behind high officials of different countries and their ways of covering up the truth with murders of innocent people have brought upon a new understanding of the hardships in these suppressive countries. If you would like to visit this server and learn about the truth, the server IP is visit.uncensoredlibrary. com, but you have to run the server on Minecraft version 1.14.4 in order to access it. This beautiful server brings forth the idea that the #truthfindsaway. 5
By: Hieu Ho 6
MAYOR MICHEAL TUBBS: THE GOOD AND THE BAD BY CHAU ANH NGUYEN
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amount of freedom SEED gave these recipients, many people are highly skeptical that the money will be spent in good faith, and some have even gone as far as to claim that the government is “paying people not to work,” as demonstrated in the documentary. These worries seem to be unwarranted, however, since monthly tracking reveals that less than one percent of the money was spent at tobacco and/or alcohol stores. Rather, 39 percent was spent on food, 24 percent was spent on merchandise, and the rest was spent on “utilities, auto care, medical and insurance services, recreation and transportation.”
Stockton Mayor Michael D. Tubbs, elected in 2016, has endured a career among mixed public reception. Regarded as not only the first African-American mayor but also the youngest mayor of Stockton, attention and scrutiny have not only targeted many of Tubbs’s “reinvent Stockton” policies and programs, but have arisen around his actions in his overall political career as well. One of his most controversial decisions was the launching of Advance Peace, a program created to target and reduce gun violence in the communities of Stockton. Though the mission is objectively good, the dissatisfaction lies not with the intent of the program, but rather around the program’s plans to tackle gun violence: by engaging and collaborating with those who’ve had a past of lethal firearm offenses to create strategies to combat the issue in the city. Because these people are also being paid, a lot of frustration and dislike arose against Tubbs as a result, from simple criticism to antagonizing comments like “He’s paying gangs to kill each other,” as shown in the HBO Original Documentary, Stockton On My Mind.
Aside from his policies, one of the most memorable political actions Mayor Tubbs carried out amidst mixed reactions is endorsing Micheal Bloomberg in the 2020 democratic presidential candidate race. Known for claiming that Bloomberg is the candidate “with the resources, with the record, and with the relationships” to defeat Trump, the immediate negative public reaction that Bloomberg received extended to Tubbs. Nevertheless, most likely, the mayor’s endorsement is more-so motivated by his shared history with Bloomberg (i.e. graduating from the mayoral program sponsored by Bloomberg back in Tubbs’s college days, Bloomberg’s donations to a few Stockton projects, etc.) rather than by any of Bloomberg’s actual credentials.
In addition to that criticism, many people also felt that the Advanced Peace program was a waste of their tax money. This concern was later reassured, however, by Daniel Lopez, the mayor’s public information officer, in the documentary, “So everybody’s upset and online, everybody’s like, ‘You’re not gonna use my tax dollars. Not my tax dollars.’ How many times—it’s not tax dollars. Jeez, it’s private funds paying for this.” The Advance Peace program was not the only one to spur dispute, because as shown, Mayor Tubbs’s Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) program also received some backlash. Built on the statistic that over 40 percent of Americans cannot afford a 400 dollar emergency, the SEED program is designed to randomly choose 125 people from a low-income neighborhood and gift them 500 dollars with no regulations as to how the money is allowed to be spent.
Finally, one of the biggest reasons why there are many unfavorable opinions regarding Mayor Tubbs is just simply because nothing—in terms of crime— has changed under his term. While the most recent police report, August 2020, shows that crime is overall down compared to last year, this is obviously due to the COVID-19 lockdown. When taking into consideration the Stockton PD’s 2017 annual report and the 2018 annual report, crime rates have remained the same or have even increased slightly. Homicide has gone down slightly in 2018, but more information needs to be gathered in order to determine the effectiveness of Tubbs’s programs. Overall, while Mayor Tubbs clearly has good intentions with many of his programs, the effectiveness of his policies and overall mayorship is up to the individual’s evaluations.
Conflict and controversy already reside around the idea of universal basic income, but considering the 8
By Jaskaran Bajwa
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has Passed Away the Race to fill her Seat Begins
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n September 18, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had tragically passed away. She had been battling cancer for many years and had survived both pancreatic cancer and colon cancer, but sadly succumbed to the disease and passed away.
legally be inferior. She ruled on many notable cases such as the United States v. Virginia which made it illegal for Virginia Military Institute to refuse enrollment to women. Her work was a large step forward in the battle for equality, and her impact will be felt for many generations to come.
Justice Ginsburg was an advocate for the rights of women, minorities, and the LGTBQ+ community. Prior to her judicial service, she was a litigator arguing multiple cases before the Supreme Court that advanced the rights of women. Without her service, women would still not be paid equally in the army, women would not be able to receive the same benefits as men, men would not be able to collect their wife’s social security, and overall women would
While many are still mourning Justice Ginsburg’s death, the political machine must still go on and the Republican-controlled Senate has announced plans to go forward with President Trump’s supreme court nominee. This comes as a surprise due to the stark contrast to their words in 2016, when they said they would not hear President Obama’s supreme court nominee, citing that it was too close to an election. 9
The issue many Democratic Senators and observers have with Judge Barett is not with her abilities to understand the law, but rather her views of the law. Judge Barett is a devout Catholic and adheres to the judicial philosophy of Originalism. Originalism being the judicial philosophy that one must look at the constitution in the same way that the founding fathers did when women could not vote and people still owned humans. In her confirmation hearing to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, her view on debated issues, such as abortion, LGBT rights, and the affordable care act, are unfavorable. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California stated that the “Dogma lives very loudly in you,” which caused controversy and was seen as an attack on Barret’s Catholic faith.
President Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland did not receive a hearing or a vote.
The main justification that the Republican Party is using to go on with the nomination is the simple fact that they have expanded their majority. Republican Senator Tom Cotton stated, “The American people didn’t just reelect Republicans they expanded our majority.” Many have called out the Republican Party on their hypocrisy regarding their decision to go forward with President Trump’s nominee.
Judge Barret has stated she will adhere to the precedent that has been set by the courts. This statement has come into question specifically in two cases regarding abortion that have come before her as an appeals court judge. Barret ruled to restrict access to abortion both times.
This nominee comes at a crucial time when the balance of the Supreme Court is at stake. The Supreme Court currently, without Justice Ginsburg, leans toward conservative views. President Trump’s previous nominees, Niel Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh shifted the court further to the right, with Justice Ginsburg acting as a counteracting force. The Supreme court could be the “most conservative it’s been since 1950”.
This is a tumultuous time in American history especially as we near the presidential election. This open Supreme Court seat is a debated topic, especially with important issues such as LGBT rights, immigration, female reproductive rights, and the Affordable Care Act’s future all depending on the seat. Right now the future seems unclear.
President Trump’s nominee, Amy Coney Barret, is a current judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and a former professor of Constitutional Law at Notre Dame University Law School. Judge Barett has an accomplished record in her teaching and academic career. She graduated first in her class at Notre Dame Law School and clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia. She was awarded the “Distinguished Professor of the Year” award three times. 10
Mulan Live Action Controversies Mulan (2020), directed by Niki Caro, is a live-action adaptation of the Chinese folklore, The Ballad of Mulan, which follows Mulan’s journey serving the Imperial Army in place of her father. The developments for the movie began in 2015 and was set to premiere on March 9, 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the debut was postponed until September 4, 2020, where it was released on Disney+ for a fee of $30. Some controversies are causing heated debates surrounding the film. The main two being the public display of support for the Chinese police in Hong-Kong by the main actress, Liu Yifei, and the second being the end-credits thanking the Xinjiang area, which is known for having internment camps.
The lead actress and main star of the film, Liu Yifei, publicly voiced her support for China by reposting a pro-police comment on Weibo, a Chinese-monitored social networking app. The post contained an excerpt from the People’s Daily, a government-run Beijing-based newspaper, stating, “I also support Hong Kong police. You can beat me up now.” Although she gained mass support on Weibo, it was a completely different reaction on Twitter, which is banned in China. The #BoycottMulan started circulating on the front pages of Twitter, promoted by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan. Alongside the trending hashtag movement, many celebrities also expressed their disappointment towards the actress.
The second controversy concerns the end credits. Disney includes a thank you message to the CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Committee. The Xinjiang area is infamous for enforcing the Uighur Muslim concentration camps. These internment camps host millions and millions of Uighur Muslims, where they are put under cruel and inhumane treatment under the disguise of voluntary training programs. Seeing the collaboration between Disney and the Xinjiang officials is extremely concerning as it shows that Disney is actively ignoring human rights nor the repercussions of working with them.
Although there is controversy concerning the film, there are still plenty of critics praising the film for not being an exact frame-for-frame copy of the animated film, unlike the Lion King (2019) and Aladdin (2019) remakes. It also comprises an all-Asian cast, showing cultural representation. Lastly, it portrays a strong female heroine. 11
Mulan Live Action Review Spoiler Alert
Mulan (2020), directed by Niki Caro, is a live-action remake of the beloved Walt Disney Pictures animated film, Mulan (1998), directed by Tom Bancroft and Barry Cook. Both Disney films are based on the Chinese folklore, The Ballad of Mulan, which follows Mulan’s journey to becoming a confident and capable young woman while serving her country in place of her father. This film tried to align itself with the Chinese folklore and attempted to be more culturally accurate, unlike the 1998 film. The 2020 rendition of the lore was given a production budget of $200 million, making it the most expensive film directed by a woman. The developments for the movie began in 2015 and was set to premiere on March 9, 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the debut was postponed until September 4, 2020, where it was released on Disney+ for a fee of $30.(Spoilers) While I was watching the film, I felt as though it lacked the Disney spark that the animated film had carefully nurtured. To me, the storyline was the biggest issue, as it was poorly written, with the characters and plot being developed inadequately. Another concern with the film was that it was culturally inaccurate. This could partly be due to the fact that none of the scriptwriters were Chinese, thus causing the material to be lost in translation. In the live-action adaptation, many of the characters that are strongly associated with the movie, such as Mushu and Li Shang, were removed due to the response given by Chinese movie-goers towards the 1998 version. Instead, new characters were implemented, such as giving Mulan a sister; splitting Li Shang into Commander Tung and Chen Honghui, who is the main love interest; and converting Mushu into the spirit of a Phoenix. Now, there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with the concept of adding new characters to fit with the new narrative, seeing as how it’s a stand-alone movie based more on folklore than it’s animated predecessor. However, the problem arises when these new characters can be taken out, and it wouldn’t affect the movie whatsoever. These new characters were completely one-dimensional. The addition of Mulan’s sister to the story is just one example, seeing how she is only shown for a sliver of a part in the exposition. Her character doesn’t add much to Mulan’s story, and she just seems to be a background character rather than a supporting character. Alongside the characters being completely flat, the build-up for Mulan’s character was done inadequately as well. Mulan, our main heroine protagonist, didn’t have much character development. Instead, it’s just established that she has Qi, which is an abundance of energy stored in every life force, that isn’t supposed to be used by women. She is simply established as an overpowered heroine who can do anything, even full-blown martial arts as a child. Her life is never at stake at any point during the battles. The flaws that the animated Mulan has, that makes her lovable, was completely taken away. This is because she isn’t shown any flaws. She's depicted as a perfect girl who can do martial arts, especially with the fact that the Matchmaker found a suitor for her shows that she isn’t the same clumsy and incapable girl. This lack of flaws makes it difficult for the audience to create a connection of empathy or sympathy with her. They aren’t able to relate to her as a character, her situation, or her struggles. Although the film lacked a strong storyline and characters, I have to say that the cinematography was breathtaking. I was taken aback at the scenery of New Zealand and China. The vibrant colors, the wide lens shots exposing the whole scenery stretched out throughout the horizon, and diverse landscape. It was beautiful. I went out and collected the opinions of others who watched the film. They expressed how they were disappointed in the film because of how the plot was interpreted from the original. It felt as though a lot was lost in translation. One even expressed how the movie should be boycotted because of their affiliation with Xinjiang and with the actress’s public support with the policing in Hong Kong. As expressed by surveyors, who chose to remain anonymous, “It lacked that Disney Spark.” If you want a more in-depth review from a Chinese person, picking apart every flaw with the movie, I would suggest watching Xiran Jay Zhao’s video titled, Everything Culturally Wrong with Mulan, addressing everything wrong with the movie from a cultural standpoint. 12
M
Bad Boy
Chungha x Christopher
Lighter / Time
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Laundry Day
Sofia Clairo
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lost cause// KennyHoopla
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Sea Sick binki
Feel free to send us your favorite songs: tinyurl.com/mchsmixtape
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M I X T A P E
Warm (ft. Mia) Dre’es
girls
girl in red
Blueberry Eyes (ft. SUGA of BTS) MAX
Weekend Clubhouse
Cheesin’
Cautious Clay
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Big Sean is Jhené Aiko’s boyfriend, but during this song, they’re dissing each other. It’s one of the more resonant songs on Chilombo where you have to listen to the lyrics and get a grasp onto what they’re both saying. This song gives me TWENTY88 feelings (Jhené and Big Sean’s group name), and they created a fantastic piece of work together. 4. Speak This song is sad. It is one of her more underrated tracks on the album and deserved as much hype as her other songs (like “... Fairy (OTW)” or “B.S.”) had. The song is about her being free from a relationship and being able to finally be her true self. This song is filled with emotion and gives the listener a freeing feeling of capability and knowing your true worth. 5. B.S. (feat. H.E.R.) This song is about going through a rebound. She wanted to leave her boyfriend for not knowing how to treat her right, but yet she’s back once again. The music, I would say, is very toxic, but it’s also relatable.
CHILOMBO
6. … Fairy (OTW) In this song, listeners get to hear a different side of Jheby: Mehki Randle né, and I suggest you listen to it if you want to know There have been so many good album releases lately, but what I’m talking about. I love the beat to this song. I have to say that my favorite album as of right now is Anytime I hear it, I just automatically become happy. Chilombo by Jhené Aiko. With it being her third album, she has a unique way of flipping R&B beats with her 7. Happiness Over Everything (feat. Future & Miguel) lyrical genius, while also making it a meditative album. Jhené outdid herself with this song. This song was Every song has a self-discovery and healing aspect, originally on her first mixtape “Sailing Souls,” but she whether it is an ancient bowl’s transcendental tones, or decided to sample it again and make it more modern, the usage of chakras, known to calm anxiety. The album and she did just that. I am shocked at how well all of has twenty tracks and runs for an hour and three min- their voices compliment one another This is an appreutes. ciation song to women who know what they want and 1. Lotus (Intro) This song has done wonders for me. It’s short, sweet, and to the point. It gives me genuine chills with the tone of her voice here; it is so calming and welcomes you intoyouinto the album.
don’t settle for less.
8. One Way St. (feat. Ab-Soul) Six words--Why is this song so underrated? This song is about Jhené feeling sanity and relief and knowing she’s not completely perfect, claiming that she feels like she’s going down a one-way street. I loved it so much. 2. Triggered (freestyle) It’s not my song of choice, but it definitely deserves If a toxic relationship could be a song, this one is it. I ha- way more attention. ven’t even been in a serious relationship, yet this makes me feel like he is already guilty in whatever he said he 9. Define Me (interlude) didn’t do. This song was entirely freestyled, which is su- This song has been my go-to when I need to relax after per impressive, and I think this is one of the best songs a stressful day. You can hear the tunes and instruments on the album. 15
that helped Jhené produce the anxiety-relieving effects that we all need at times. 10. Surrender (feat. Dr. Chill) Surrender is one of those songs you can listen to on a morning walk or while you’re at the gym.. The synchronization, blending of the vocals, and the harmonies during the chorus is immaculate and talently mixed. 11. Tryna … (feat. Micahfonecheck) I can’t lie. This has to be one of my favorite songs in the album. In this song, Jhené discusses how when she gets a hold of her friends for a night of fun, and they bring something that gives her a peace of mind.She feels like she can fly and how she never wants to come down. She introduces the song by making us feel like that’s what’s missing from her and how she needs this more than ever. 12. Born Tired This song is for people who need a little inspiration in their life. If you feel like life is genuinely not working out as planned, rest assured, this song can bring reassurance that you didn’t know you needed to keep going. 13. LOVE Being another one of my favorites, LOVE is, as inferenced from the title, about loving yourself, and knowing how to love others, even if you doubt that true love is real. 14. 10k Hours (feat. Nas) This song is super sad. Jhené touches on how she misses her boyfriend and how she feels like she can’t lose him, no matter what they’ve been through. 15. Summer 2020 (interlude) If you need a song that makes you feel worthy, this is one. This is a continuation of 10k Hours, and how she misses her boyfriend by her side. 16. Mourning Doves This song is about how she saw beautiful doves in the morning, but how, when she took the time to think about it, they were symbolizing mourning her and her boyfriend’s love. I love this song and the way it transitions into the next song. 17. Pray for You After losing her boyfriend, she is talking about how she still prays for the best of her ex. She wants him to succeed and win in life. 18. Lightning & Thunder (feat. John Legend) I have no clue why everyone ignores this song. Her voice is so angelic in this song, and it holds a powerful message. This song is about heartbreak and shows her expression of how she feels like her life is incomplete. John Legend also sounds fantastic in this. He adds so much emotion to this song. 19. Magic Hour A continuation of Lightning & Thunder, she is singing about how she is content with life but is still waiting for the right person to come into her life. I love the soft tone of the song. 20. Party for Me (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) The last song on the album, Party for Me, is about how Jhené wants everyone to celebrate her death rather than mourn. When she’s gone, she wants everyone to party hard for her and have a good night. I like this song, but in all honesty, it did not need Ty Dolla $ign. 16
Latinx Stude Lea Rodriguez What do you identify as ethnically? “Ethically, I identify as Hispanic. “
Are there any special holidays relating to your culture that you celebrate and would love to “Yes, there are some special holidays that relate to my culture. One of them is Dia de los Muertos. This holiday is from October 31 to November 2. Dia de los Muertos is an Aztec tradition that honors the dead. My grandmother and I would make conchas for our relatives who are no longer with us. Another special holiday would be Virgin de Guadalupe. This holiday is more common in the Mexican/Catholic culture. It’s a religious feast day that’s celebrated on December 12. This holiday celebrates the belief that a man encountered the Virgin Mary. My family and I would go to the church and drop off some candles and flowers. These are [just some] examples of holidays in my culture. There are so many more.”
Is there any specific aspect or tradition of What would you say is the most commonly your culture that holds a special place in your held misconception about people of your heart? Why? culture? “Yes, there is a specific aspect or tradition of my culture that holds a special place in my heart. That is Virgin de Guadalupe because that is the same day my beloved parents got married. My parents mean so much to me, and if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I am so thankful to have them in my life.”
“I would say ‘All Latin American immigrants are poor, uneducated and untrained’ is the most commonly held misconception about people of my culture. In all aspects of culture, anyone can come from a different cultural background and still have a better education than others do. Some don’t have the opportunity to attend colleges or apply for jobs. Many Latino workWhat makes your culture unique in your opin- ers are determined to accomplish things ‘till it’s ion? done right. They do not ever give up. Just be“In my opinion, the food makes my culture cause people are Latino doesn’t mean they are unique from the rest. I love Mexican food, es- poor. Some can be high class or middle class.” pecially the enchiladas, tacos, flan, conchas, chilaquiles, tamales, mole, etc. You wouldn’t get [these foods] in a different culture.” 17
nt Interviews What do you identify as ethnically? “I identify myself as Latina due to my Spanish origins.”
Are there any special holidays relating to your culture that you celebrate and would love to share?
The people coming together to celebrate, the music playing, as well as what it symbolizes makes it unique to me. Family is always coming together no matter what. We’re very united.”
Ashanti Ambriz
“A special holiday relating to the Hispanic culture would be Día de Los Muertos. Even if our family members who passed away are not here with us, we’re able to acknowledge all the memorable moments we once had with them. We usually have photos of those who passed away and put out favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored to have a sense of them still being with us as one would when they were alive. To add on, ‘Dia de Los Angelitos’ is also special because this one focuses more on the children who have passed away.”
Is there any specific aspect or tradition of your culture that holds a special place in your heart? Why? “A specific tradition that holds a special place would probably be ‘Las Posadas.’ It’s celebrated about 9 days before Christmas. [Oh, and it’s] more of a religion lesson in Latin culture! We learn a lot about the story about Joseph and Mary on their journey before Jesus was born, and family members usually act it out, and it’s one big play. Along with that, there’s also a feast of traditional foods.”
What makes your culture unique in your opinion? “I would definitely have to say Quinceñeras adds something unique to our culture, because it marks an important part of a girl’s life. It’s seen as a young girl entering womanhood, [and it’s] both a religious and social event. All the people gather at church, and once the ceremony is over they go out and have fun.
A Note from the Team: Thank you to everyone who participated in our Latinx Student Interviews series! For the entire Deadline team, this has been an amazing and educating experience, and we hope to continue segments similar to this in the future. By: Chau-Anh Nguyen 18
Latinx Stude Lea Rodriguez What do you identify as ethnically? “Ethically, I identify as Hispanic. “
Are there any special holidays relating to your culture that you celebrate and would love to “For the most part, we only celebrate dia de los muertos, dia de Reyes and semana de pascua. Dia de los Muertos is really well known, but my family does do it differently. We set up a small ofrenda (or like an offering table) with some goodies and a picture of our past relatives. We always include my great-grandma and on my half-cousin’s side, you can see her tia and cousin. We spend the day praying and wishing them safe travels and telling stories about them. Dia de Reyes is the day of the three kings. It’s typically seen as the day the three kings, from the Bible, came to see Jesus. We have this large cake with three baby Jesus dolls placed inside and then we cut the bread. Whichever family gets the bread with the baby inside has to hold a dinner/party. My tia and tios always give us a small gift. For semana de pascua, which is basically Easter week, we celebrate Good Friday. This is when we commemorate as Christians, typically Catholics, the crucifixion death of Jesus. SeeI have tias and tios who aren’t really aunts and ing as we aren’t Catholic, we usually don’t fast, uncles, but because their friendship is cherbut it’s . . . common for us to go to church, throw ished, they become family. It’s somewhat funplays of the crucifixion, pray and host dinners.” ny, because an easy way to explain our uniqueWhat makes your culture unique in your opin- ness is by something that most refer to as the five F’s. Family, faith, fiesta, food, and Futbol. ion? All of us focus on something different, but our “Ah, personally I think it’s the fact we are all family. family, faith, and food are the biggest things to stand out. Our abuelas pass down generations In our culture, we are close to everyone, and we welcome people with open arms whether they are of cooking, and food always brings the family blood or not. It’s our faith and core values that are together. Worshiping God makes us spiritually what makes our culture so unique. Family is always closer, but in the end, it all revolves around such a big thing, but to Hispanics, we are so close and family.” treat everyone with love.
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nt Interviews Is there any specific aspect or tradition of What would you say is the most commonyour culture that holds a special place in your ly held misconception about people of your heart? Why? culture? “I really enjoy Dia de Reyes. It really brings my Hispanic family together. I always get to help cut the bread and it’s always so fun seeing the worry on each other’s faces as we cut the bread. I believe—and this is excluding my mom’s side of the family seeing as they are in Mexico—we usually have 20-30 people in the same room at the same time. I always get to see cousins I haven’t seen in a while, and I think that’s why it’s so embedded in my heart. Being such a big family makes it hard for us to all come together, but for Dia de Reyes, so many of us are able to come together and really celebrate our heritage.”
“Hm, that’s a slightly harder one. A lot of people assume that we are all Mexican when many of us are Puerto Rican, Cuban, Portuguese, Dominican, etc., which then feeds into a lot of people assuming all immigrants are Mexicans, and that they are all poor, uneducated, and untrained. Many of us are [either] third or fourth generation. Though there are people who are immigrants, that does not immediately make them poor or uneducated. Mexico is a pretty well-off country, and people don’t only flee because of economic issues, but also political [issues], and it’s not only Mexico they immigrate from. Also, the stereotype of all Mexican immigrants are illegal—which is also not true. Though some are here illegally, it’s not only Mexicans, like I said.”
Gonzalo Alvarado Are there any special holidays relating to your culture that you celebrate and would love to “Some holidays that we celebrate that are special to my culture is All Saints Day, where we celebrate our relatives that have passed.”
What makes your culture unique in your opinion? “What makes my culture unique is that we celebrate things that other cultures don’t—like a quince, saint days, and more.”
What would you say is the most commonly held misconception about people of your culture?
What do you identify as ethnically? “I identify [as] Latino.”
“I think that most misconceptions about my people and the culture is that we are [associated with] crimes, which is false. We are all hardworking, and we work for everything we have. We’ve earned what we have.” 20
Jaeden Conrad What do you identify as ethnically? “Well, mainly Puerto Rican and Filipino.” Is there any specific aspect or tradition of your culture that holds a special place in your heart? Why? “Probably the food. Food’s a big part of our culture, and whenever we visit my grandma, she makes a feast! [There are specific kinds of foods from my culture,] but there's not a name for them. The weirdest one is pig’s feet though.” What makes your culture unique in your opinion? “Maybe the language? We have a different dialect. Language and food, [mainly]. We have different words for things [compared] to typical Spanish, and our food isn't like typical Latin food. [Like, banana, for example.] Like, usually, Latinos say ‘plátano,’ but we say ‘guineo.’” What would you say is the most commonly held misconception about people of your culture? “Probably that we're either Mexicans or black, ‘cause we're always mistaken as either of those.” 21
Jamil
What do you identify as ethnically? “Ethnically, I identify as Hispanic. Mexican boi!” Is there any specific aspect or tradition of your culture that holds a special place in your heart? Why? “There are holidays relating to my culture, [but my family and I] don’t really celebrate any.” Is there any specific aspect or tradition of your culture that holds a special place in your heart? Why? “My culture really values family, and I really like that.” What makes your culture unique in your opinion? “I think our sense of community is unique. Hispanic people are very friendly, and we can make friends with anyone no matter what.” What would you say is the most commonly held misconception about people of your culture? “I’d say the most common misconception is that we’re thugs and gangsters—I don’t know.” Are there any final thoughts, opinions, or experiences relating to your ethnic background that you’d love to share? “Not really, Mexicans are [ . . . ] funny doe!”
Velazquez 22
Dahyana Arroyo What do you identify as ethnically? “I identify as Mexican, but to be more specific, as a Chicana. Both of my parents are immigrants who were born in Mexico, which makes me Mexican, but unlike them, I was born in the United States. This makes me a Chicana since I come from Mexican descent.” Are there any special holidays relating to your culture that you celebrate and would love to share? “One major holiday that my family celebrates is el Dia de los Muertos, which translates to Day of the Dead. It is split between three days, but the third day is the one most people celebrate. On October 31, it’s el Dia de los Inocentes (Day of the Children), November 1 is el Dia de Todos los Santos (Day of all the Saints), and November 2 is el Dia de los Fieles Difuntos (All Souls Day). This holiday gives families a chance to remember their loved ones that have passed on. People believe that on their designated day, souls can return back to earth. This is why the families make altars, known as ofrendas with their relatives’ pictures and favorite foods for them to feast on.”
Is there any specific aspect or tradition of your culture that holds a special place in your heart? Why? “A tradition that holds a special place in my heart are Quinceañeras. I was fortunate enough to have had one when I turned 15 years old. A Quinceañera is a comingof-age ritual in which a girl is marking her passage from childhood to womanhood. There is usually a dance that takes place in which the Quinceañera’s father takes off her flats and replaces them with heels, signifying that she is now becoming a woman. This is usually followed by a father-daughter dance. That particular tradition, I believe, is why Quinceañeras hold a special place in my heart.” What makes your culture unique in your opinion? “Something that I think makes my culture unique is how diverse we all are. You can look at two Mexicans from the same Mexican state, but they could look and speak completely different from one another, partly due to some having more or less indigenous blood than others. This, however, doesn’t make any of them less invalid because they don’t ‘fit’ society’s idea for how someone of Mexican descent should look.” What would you say is the most commonly held misconception about people of your culture? “I think the most commonly held misconception about Mexican culture is that there's one set group of things— such as our customs, traditions, outfits, or festivals. I don’t really like [it] when people picture Mexicans in a sombrero, a poncho, and with tacos, because it’s a stereotypical, one-sided view of Mexican culture. A lot of Mexicans don't really even dress like that unless they’re from pueblos or they live on ranches. You can go to one state in Mexico, such as Baja California, and find it to be completely different from another, such as Michoacan. This is exactly why, however, I find my culture to be so beautiful.” Are there any final thoughts, opinions, or experiences relating to your ethnic background that you’d love to share? “I’d like to finish by saying that I’m glad to have grown up in a city as diverse as Stockton. This city allowed me to grow up around people of different ethnicities, but also many Latinxs. I was able to find a sense of community within people in my culture which allowed me to relate with them in ways I couldn’t really do with others. I found many other Chicanos and Chicanas who had the same problems as me, allowing me to form bonds with them. If I didn’t have all this in my life, I don’t think I would have been so passionate and proud of my ethnic background as I am today.”
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Maya Villalpando W h a t d o y o u id e n t if y a s e t h n ic a lly ? “I id e n t ify e t h n ic a lly a s h a lf w h it e a n d h a lf M e x ic a n .”
re a lly . W h e n y o u c o m e t o M e x ic o , y o u s e e a ll t h e v e n d o r s t r y in g t o g e t t o u r is t s t o b u y a r t , b e c a u s e t h e y k n o w it w ill a t t r a c t t h e m . I’v e a lw a y s a d m ire d M e x ic a n a r t .”
A r e t h e r e a n y s p e c ia l h o lid a y s r e la t in g t o y o u r c u lt u r e t h a t y o u c e le b r a t e a n d w o u ld lo v e t o sh a re ? “O n e h o lid a y t h a t I re a lly e n jo y e d w a s t h e D a y o f t h e V ir g in o f G u a d a lu p e . W h ile t h is w a s a m o re re lig io u s h o lid a y , it w a s s t ill v e r y fu n t o m e . I re m e m b e r w a k in g u p s u p e r e a r ly in t h e m o r n in g a ro u n d 5 A .M . o r s o , a n d g o in g t o c h u rc h w it h m y d a d . T h e y w o u ld h o ld a s h o r t m a s s t a lk in g a b o u t t h e b a c k g ro u n d o f t h is d a y a n d h o w a m a n n a m e d J u a n D ie g o h a d a n e n c o u n t e r w it h t h e V irg in M a r y t w ic e . I re m e m b e r a ft e r w a rd , d a n c e r s w o u ld c o m e in s id e t h e c h u rc h a n d t h e n le a d t h e c h u rc h -g o e r s o u t s id e , a n d [t h e n ] t h e y w o u ld p e r fo r m a t r a d it io n a l A z t e c d a n c e . I re m e m b e r d r in k in g h o t c h o c o la t e a n d b e in g m e s m e r iz e d b y t h e b e lls a n d t r in k e t s w r a p p e d a ro u n d t h e d a n c e r ’s a n k le s . T h e d a n c in g w o u ld c o n t in u e u n t il t h e s u n c a m e u p a n d t h e n w e w o u ld a ll g o b a c k t o o u r c a r s a n d g o b a c k h o m e . I d o n ’t k n o w w h y , b u t I’v e a lw a y s lo v e d t h is h o lid a y e v e n t h o u g h I’m n o t a s re lig io u s a s I u s e d t o b e .”
W h a t w o u ld y o u s a y is t h e m o s t c o m m o n ly h e ld m is c o n c e p t io n a b o u t p e o p le o f y o u r c u lt u r e ? “ T h e m o s t c o m m o n ly h e ld m is c o n c e p t io n w o u ld p ro b a b ly b e t h a t w e a re la z y . I fe e l e x a c t ly t h e o p p o s it e a b o u t t h is . I fe e l t h a t p e o p le w o r k s o h a rd ju s t t o p ro v id e fo r t h e ir fa m ily a n d t h e ir liv e s .” A r e t h e r e a n y fi n a l t h o u g h t s , o p i n i o n s , o r e x p e r ie n c e s r e la t in g t o y o u r e t h n ic b a c k g r o u n d t h a t y o u ’d l o v e t o s h a r e ? “I h a v e a lw a y s h a d m ix e d fe e lin g s a b o u t m y e t h n ic b a c k g ro u n d . S o m e t im e s , I fe e l lik e I’m n o t M e x ic a n e n o u g h a n d [s o m e t im e s I fe e l] t h a t I’m t o o w h it e . I’v e a lw a y s p a s s e d a s w h it e , s o p e o p le a lw a y s a s s u m e I’m w h it e —e x c e p t fo r m y la s t n a m e . I’v e h a d p e o p le g u e s s t h a t I’m It a lia n o r e v e n H a w a iia n fo r s o m e re a s o n —ju s t b a s e d o n m y lo o k s a n d m y la s t n a m e . H o w e v e r, I k e e p in t o u c h w it h m y c u lt u re a lw a y s , a n d I t h in k t h a t I’m a lr ig h t w it h b e in g b ir a c ia l.”
I s t h e r e a n y s p e c i fi c a s p e c t o r t r a d i t i o n o f y o u r c u lt u r e t h a t h o ld s a s p e c ia l p la c e in y o u r h e a r t ? Why? “I g u e s s o n e s p e c ia l a s p e c t o f m y c u lt u re t h a t h o ld s a s p e c ia l p la c e in m y h e a r t is h o w m u c h fa m ily is v a lu e d a n d c a r in g fo r o n e a n o t h e r. I re m e m b e r e v e r y t im e I c a m e t o v is it m y a b u e lo a n d a b u e la , t h e y w o u ld a lw a y s b e e c s t a t ic , a n d m y a b u e la w o u ld a lw a y s p in c h m y c h e e k a n d t a lk a b o u t h o w b ig I w a s g e t t in g . S h e w o u ld a lw a y s c o o k fo o d fo r u s e v e r y t im e w e c a m e t o v is it , a n d m y a b u e lo w o u ld a s k h o w I w a s d o in g in s c h o o l. W h e n e v e r s o m e o n e g e t s s ic k in t h e fa m ily o r s o m e t h in g h a p p e n s , p e o p le a re a lw a y s c o n c e r n e d a n d m a k e s u re t h e y g e t b e t t e r. P e o p le w o r k h a rd fo r t h e ir fa m ilie s t o m a k e s u re t h e y a re h a v in g a g o o d life . I t h in k t h a t ’s a v e r y s p e c ia l p a r t o f m y c u lt u re .” W h a t m a k e s y o u r c u lt u r e u n iq u e in y o u r o p in io n ? “I t h in k w h a t m a k e s m y c u lt u re u n iq u e is p ro b a b ly h o w c o lo r fu l a n d b e a u t ifu l t h e a r t is , fro m d a n c in g , m u s ic , p o t t e r y , lit e r a t u re , p a in t in g s —ju s t e v e r y t h in g 24
Latinex Inventions Pt. 1 BY: The ENTIRE Deadline Team
Whether it be health-wise, economic-wise, social-wise, or tech-wise, it’s important to recognize the enormous contributions that Latinx people have given to this country. From little inventions that make our lives all the more convenient to innovations that helped push our country into a new era, the Deadline team is proud to present a collaborative article featuring thirty-two inventions by Latinx people (thirty-one for each day of Latinx Heritage Month, and even one more just because). 1. Color T.V. - The next time you watch T.V., remember to thank Guillermo González Camarena, a young Mexican inventor who discovered and introduced color television to the world. His improvement on the Trichromatic field sequential system not only led to the creation of this incredible innovation—which later became the predecessor for future color T.V. systems—but also contributed to the establishment of the standard for NASA spacecraft. 2. Wireless Phone - Often considered the forgotten pioneer of wireless transmission, the invention of the wireless phone would not have been possible without Roberto Landell de Moura, a Brazilian priest and scientist. A natural genius, his ideas were so unheard of at the time that many believed him to be crazy. However, despite the constant dismissing and shaming he had to endure from the general populace, he was nevertheless able to patent his wireless telephone invention—alongside his two other inventions, the wave transmitter and the wireless telegraph—in the U.S. between 1903 and 1904. 3. Instrumental Seismic Intensity - Prior to the Instrumental Seismic Intensity, there was a gap in civil engineering, and for a long time, scientists were looking for an efficient and accurate way to measure the level of damage an earthquake caused. It was only thanks to a passionate Chilean engineer by the name of Arturo Arias that this in-depth seismologic measurement was made possible. 4. Hot Air Balloon - Considered one of the oldest contraptions to grant humans the ability to fly, some of the earliest experiments behind the hot air balloon were conducted by Brazilian priest and inventor, Bartolomeu Lorenço de Gusmão, in 1709. 5. First Artificial Heart - We can thank Dr. Domingo Liotta, an Argentinian scientist and a pioneer of heart surgery, for one of the most significant medical milestones in history: the revolutionary development of the first artificial heart. Not only did the prototype heart allowed the 47-year-old patient (who suffered from severe heart failure) it was experimented on to live for three days until a new donor heart was available for transplant, but it also paved the way for future “mechanical devices to be used as a bridge to transplant.” 6. Contraceptive Pills - Luis Miramontes, from the small town of Tepic in Mexico, was offered the opportunity of a lifetime when chemical company, Syntex, asked him to complete his thesis project in one of their labs. He was given the job of creating a stronger synthetic form of progesterone that would mimic its contraceptive properties. After about a year in the lab, Miramontes had done it. Not only was this synthetic progesterone 8 times stronger than the original, but this new contraceptive could also be ingested orally compared to the previous forms of birth control that had to be injected. 7. Captcha Code - Professor Luis von Ahn, a Guatemalan-American, solved the problem of spam emails and programmed bots by creating the captcha code, which includes distorted images of words that people would be required to complete. Humans can easily look at these images and figure out the word that they need to type. He first gave Yahoo access to his invention for free, and starting in the early 2000s, his captcha code has been used in many websites for account making. 25
8. The Beautyblender - Have you ever wondered what led to the idea of the soft, egg-shaped sponge that leaves the foundation looking flawless? Rea Ann Silva, a Mexican and Irish celebrity makeup artist, knew she needed a better tool to apply foundation onto the skin flawlessly while also giving the “airbrush” effect. Silva spent hours in her makeup trailer cutting and shaping makeup sponges into the iconic egg-shape that we know today. After perfecting the shape, Silva knew she had created something big and set out to do the research on how to make this invention mainstream. 9. The Electric Brake - Mexican inventor, Victor Ochoa, was born in Ojinaga, Mexico in 1907. The electric brake was evolved from Ochoa’s first invention of the magnetic brake, which was intelligently created using magnets and wire. The magnetic brake was able to force a moving vehicle, such as a car or a train, to stop at the driver’s control. He publicly shared his invention with the United States Patent office in 1907, and he made versions of his invention to fit the type of vehicles popular during the 20th century. 10. Duolingo - Do you recognise Duo, the green owl that stands as a mascot for the language learning app, Duolingo? When you need assistance with learning a new language, you can refer to the app developed by Luis von Ahn, a Guatemalan inventor. Living in the United States with a large diversity of cultures around the world, it is evident that we are surrounded by many different languages. Since its release in 2011, over 300 million people have registered to learn from this free app that offers over 38 languages to its users. 11. Earthquake Resistant Foundations (Control Pilings) - On September 19, 2017, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Mexico City, causing the death of over 350 people and many infrastructures destroyed. Manuel González Flores engineered control pilings which allowed large buildings to adapt with the movement of earthquakes rather than staying rigid. The movement of these buildings caused less damage, hence bringing forth the idea of earthquake resistant buildings. 12. Chocolate - The Aztecs learned about the value of cacao beans from their predecessors, the Mayans, and saw these seeds as gifts from the god, Quetzalcoatl, who was believed to pass on knowledge about health, food, and agriculture. Because the cacao trees could not grow Tenochtitlan, the only way to get cacao seeds was through trade, which made them extremely valuable. One way the wealthier Aztec citizens enjoyed chocolate was with a chocolate drink they learned from the Mayans. This drink was served cold and mostly savored by priests, rulers, and noblemen. 13. Brain-Machine Interfaces - Brazilian scientist, Miguel Nicolelis, invented brain-machine interfaces used in medical treatments, designed to help paralyzed patients regain control of their limbs. His brain-machine interface helped a major part in a machine in which they attempt to move a robotic arm by stimulating their brain, and many patients have been able to improve their condition by doing this exercise. 14. Scorpion Sting Antidote - Alejandro Alagón is an antivenom researcher from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and the antidote that he created took 12 years to make, finally being FDA approved in 2011. Algon stated, “We have been working together to test the Mexican antivenom under the United States rule for close to 12 years . . . The collaboration has really helped us produce a better product.” 15. The Ballpoint Pen - In 1938, the ballpoint pen was invented by László József Bíró, who was born in Hungary and became Argentinian by naturalization. A journalist and an artist, he wanted to create something that could write with thick ink, but still dried quickly. To use this kind of ink, he created the ballpoint pen, which had one end closed, and the other end had a little metal ball that spins against the ink. 16. Dactyloscopy System - Juan Vucetich (1858-1925) was an Argentinian policeman who created the first working system of fingerprint identification. He was also the first to use fingerprint evidence in a murder investigation. His system became known as scientific dactyloscopy. To this day, Vuvetich’s system is used internationally. 26
A Non-Latinx Learning About Latinx Culture One thing I love about Latinx cuisine is that it is so diverse and inclusive. Anyone can find something delicious to satisfy their taste buds.
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, I’ll be writing about my experience learning about this beautiful culture. Prior to writing this article, I have to admit that I did not know much about the culture. Studying more about Latinx culture and its influence on American culture was an entirely educational experience.
Foods such as tacos, burritos, tamales and churros are a few examples of the delicious Latinx cuisine we have all indulged in. However, there are so many different options and choices. Desserts most of us have eaten before, such as flan and tres leches cakes, are from Latin American cuisine. OthLatinx culture is so vast, extraor- er staples, such as empanadas, dinary, and is prominent in more mangonadas, and carne asathan 20 nations all across Latin da are also delicious dishes. America: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Puerto Rico, and many more. Their vibrant festivals, rich traditions, and influence on society makes this particular culture so diverse. Their influence on society is everywhere, especially in America, from the food we eat, the music we listen to, the holidays we celebrate, there is always a touch of Latinx culture. 27
Latinx music and entertainment have also created a blooming culture in the United States, as well as around the world. Memorable Latinx artists include Selena, Ricky Martin, Ritchie Valens, and Celia Cruz. Music from these respected artists have impacted millions around the globe and their music is still played today. “La Bamba,” sung by Ritchie Valens, and “Como La Flor,” sung by Selena, have a heavy influence in Latin American music. In the article, “Latino/a and Hispanic Culture in the U.S.,” it states, “Numerous Hispanic and Latin American musicians have achieved international fame such as Jennifer Lopez, late Tejano singer Selena, and Puerto Rican heartthrob Ricky Martin.” Modern Latinx artists who continue to use their talents to share various styles of Latinx music include, KAROL G, Maluma, and J Balvin.
Just like music, dancing is also heavily influenced by Latinx culture. Dances such as the Salsa, Bachata, and El Cabello Dorado are well known and popular. I highly recommend you consider taking the time to learn these dances, they are highly creative, and fun to take part in and learn. Latin-American artists and writers have received recognition for their creativity and originality from their works. Renowned artist, Frida Kahlo, is well known for her self-portraits because of her usage of vibrant colors, and for being a voice for Mexican and indigenous cultures. She is honoredin Mexico as an icon to the feminist movement. Gabriel García Márquez is one of the most famous Latin American authors and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera are both his notable literary works. He was remembered for his use of magic realism, creating magical elements
to descibe society and reality. is not only a celebration for many Latin Americans but also a celebraLatinx traditions and holidays tion for independence. September are one of the most important 15 marks the anniversary of indeaspects of their culture. Some pendence for five Latin American traditions from Latinx cultures countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, are quinceaneras (a coming of Honduras, and Nicaragua. The inage event for a young woman) dependence of Mexico (September and Cinco de Mayo (honors the 16), Chile (September 18), and Belize Mexican army’s victory over (September 21) fall into this month French invaders, 1862), a pop- as well. It is important to acknowlular celebration in the United edge the strength and perseverStates. Another Latinx tradi- ance of Latin Americans in history. tion/holiday is Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which is As I was doing my research for this a tradition celebrated to honor article, I realized even more how the dead. “Day of the Dead is vast and beautiful the Latinx cula rare holiday for celebrating ture truly is. I feel more connected death and life. It is unlike any to the Latinx community and am holiday where mourning is ex- more in love with their culture. Latchanged for celebration.” This inx Heritage Month is a celebration tradition dates back to rituals of Latinx history and their people. commemorating the dead in I think that we should all take this pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. time to commemorate the comDia de los Muertos is still a major munity for all the contributions holiday celebrated today from they’ve made around the world. October 31st to November 2nd. Latinx
Heritage 28
Month
By: Danielle Tuazon
Latinex Inventions Pt. 2 BY: The ENTIRE Deadline Team
17. Transdermal Patch - Alejandro Zaffaroni (1923-2014) was an Uruguayan biochemist who developed the early concepts of transdermal patches and other innovations. Transderm-Scop was created for motion sickness, and Transderm-Nitro was designed to treat angina. The FDA approved more than 40 transdermal products. Zaffaroni’s transdermal research led to the growth of drug delivery systems. 18. Neonatal Artificial Bubble - Claudio Castillón Lévano, a Peruvian inventor, developed a new portable incubator and respirator: the Incuven. Incuven is designed to be used in hospitals that lack neonatology professionals or do not have a NICU (intensive care units). This invention saved the lives of many premature births and high-risk newborns. 19. The Stent - Julio Palmaz, from La Plata, Argentina, is a doctor of vascular radiology at the University of Texas Health Success Center. In 1987, he created the first ever commercially used stent that is used to maintain or restore the flow of bodily fluids throughout the body. A stent is a small tube that doctors can use to force a blocked passageway to open and keep it from reclosing. Aside from reopening blood vessels, it can be used for many body passageways such as bile ducts, bronchi, and ureters. 20. The AcceleGlove - Although the usage of sign language is not universal, José Hernández-Rebollar, a Mexican innovator, created the AcceleGlove. Recognizing the importance of easing the communication gap for the deaf community, he created AcceleGlove in response. It was only thanks to this invention that the possibility of being able to immediately translate the movements of sign language into written and spoken form was realized. 21. Captopril Medication for Hypertension Treatment - Perhaps one of the greatest Latinx inventors is Miguel Angel Ondetti, an Argentine inventor who created captopril, a highly effective treatment for hypertension. Captopril medication, also known as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, is undeniably impactful for it has significantly reduced death rates among patients suffering from congestive heart failure, postponed kidney failure among diabetics, and opened a widely new field of medical research: ACE inhibition. 22. Photography - Hércules Florence (Antoine Hércules Romuald Florence) was born in Nice, France in 1804, and he moved to Brazil at age 20. Hércules Florence was not recognized for his invention of photography until 1976, even though he invented photography in 1832. He had diaries from 1834 that prove that he was the first person to use the word photographie (photography in English). 23. Diamond Scalpel - Dr. Humberto Fernandez-Moran, a Venezuelan doctor, invented the diamond scalpel in 1955. With the blade made out of synthetic diamond, it allows doctors in surgery to create more accurate and sharper cuts. This invention had allowed the fields in medicine and electron microscopy to improve in its research. 24. Magical Realist Literature - Whether you know it or not, magical realism literature would’ve been nonexistent without Columbian author, Gabriel García Márquez, a pioneer of this literary genre. Considered the father of magical realism, the idea of incorporating fantastical elements into an ordinary world was only born due to Márquez’s brilliant creativity. 29
25. Indelible Ink - Filiberto Vázquez Davila, a Mexican biochemical engineer, invented the first ink that’s impossible to erase. Invented in 1993, it was considered revolutionizing creation intended to stop voter fraud. The ink will last on your finger (commonly applied to the thumb) for eight days, and was formulated with acetone, chlorine, and other various solvents. 26. Popcorn - The next time you are watching a movie and eating popcorn, or are just eating it as a snack, you can think about how people have been eating popcorn for over 4,000 years. After all, popcorn was created by the Aztecs. Once the Spanish invaded, popcorn began to spread all over the world, and today it is a very popular snack. 27. Airplanes - We all know the Wright brothers, known to have invented the airplane; however, those in Europe tell a different story. Alberto Santos-Dumont made his first flight on November 12, 1906. He had flown a kite-like contraption on the outskirts of Paris. As this first public flight, he quickly became known to be the first inventor of the airplane in Europe. 28. Tortilla Machine - Remember, the next time you eat a soft and warm tortilla, thank Fausto Celorio Menodza for inventing the tortilla machine. He invented the automatic tortilla machine in 1947, which revolutionized the way tortillas are made. By 1975, his machine could produce 200 Kg of tortillas per hour using half the power of the leading competitors. Today, this machine lives on in restaurants and factories all over the world. His legacy lives on in the company he founded, Celorio Maquinas Tortilladoras.
29. Liquid Fueled Propulsion Engine - Today, we see news on T.V. or watch a new rocket heading toward the moon. These events wouldn’t be possible without Pedro Paulet of Peru. He is the man who is accredited with inventing the first liquid fueled engine. While he was born poor, word of his talent spread like wildfire. He eventually was able to study at the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris. There, he invented the world’s first liquid fuel-powered Jet Propulsion engine. He is honored at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
30. Tequila - Tequila, invented in 1758, was first discovered by the Cuervo family and officially mastered in 1873 by Don Cenobio Sauza with the secret trick known to best produce it Blue Agave. Blue Agave was found to be very convenient when producing the beverage. Once drinking was made legal again in the United States of America, tequila found its way in the hands of many American citizens. It began taking advantage of Mexico’s
31. Paddle - In 1969, Enrique Corcuera wanted to take elements from a game known back in his hometown of Acapulco, Mexico, as Platform Tennis, and reinvent it, which would eventually spark interest throughout the world in the following years. He titled his invention the “Paddle Corcuera,” which is now commonly known as the “Paddle,” and began working on ways to make this a competitive sport with one of his friends Alfonso, from Hohenlohe-Langenburg. 32. Semi-Automatic Rifle - The world’s first semi-automatic rifle was invented in Mexico in 1887 by Manuel Mandragon. Mandragon, a general in the Mexican army, invented this rifle that would go on to become the world’s deadliest weapon at the time. This weapon could not be mass-produced in Mexico, so Mandragon approached a Swiss factory to make these for him. Today this weapon has transformed warfare all over the world, 30
OCTOBER 2020
Thank you for reading the first issue of this year’s MCHS Deadline! If you have any questions, comments or concerns please DM us on our Instagram page: @mchsdeadline. We would love to hear feedback from you. While you are reading our digital copy, we have a website available for you to check out.
TEAM MEMBERS
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Senior Editor: Chau-Anh Nguyen Senior Editor/Social Media: Hieu Ho Graphic Designer/Writer: Aashna Singh
We will continue to accept your song recommendations for MCHS mixtape all year round along with applications to take part in Freshman Interviews! So you may be apart of the next issue! The links for both of those forums can be fond in the linktree on our instagram page.
Graphic Designer/Writer: Nora Taing
The Deadline team will continue to work hard and come up with new ideas! We hope you will come along with us on this journey! Until the next issue, stay fiery Dragons!
Senior Writer: Jaskaran Bajwa
Graphic Designer: Charlene Nguyen Senior Writer: Arlene Hickman Senior Writer: Danielle Tuazon Junior Writer: Mekhi Randle Junior Writer: Elizabeth Rocili