THE TIME IS NOW.
DEADLINE
VOLUME 6 ISSUE 3
IN THIS ISSUE SCHOOL NEWS 1-2 | Movie reviews 3-6 | LOOK BOOK 8| DRAG QUEENS 9-10 | PHOTOGRAPHY WITH AN AMATEUR 11-12
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CHOOL N chool news SCHO FRESHMeN
BY: Danielle Tuazon
Just this past month, we had our first rally of the year. It seems to be that a lot of the freshmen were excited for their first rally. Many felt an adrenaline rush going into the auditorium and hype for each of the classes. As for their favorite parts of the rally, most would say they loved the talent show acts and lip sync battles. One of the freshmen that I interviewed, Jeremy Manwaring, said this about his experience, “It was exciting and interesting to see the performance and all the hard work that people put into the performances.” Overall, the freshmen had a fun and fresh experience at rally and are excited to see the next one in the spring semester. Rally was a lot of fun, as well as talent show, and everyone’s acts were amazing! It was exciting to see the freshmen shine in this rally so, I am looking forward to seeing you guys shine next semester!
sophomores BY: Arlene Hickman
Last month, we had our first rally of the year. The class of ‘22 was trying to comeback from their mistake last rally. Sophomore rally King and Queen, Hailey Phan and Tin Nguyen, led their class to victory with their adorable rendition of “Love Is An Open Door” and their undeniable class spirit. They have set the bar for lip-sync battles to come. This was definitely a feat no one saw coming. Class of 2022 rose out of nowhere with their win in Penny Wars. While talking to a few sophomores about the rally, they agreed that the banner competition should have gone to the Juniors and that 2nd place overall should have gone to the Juniors. There are no upcoming field trips for class of ‘22, except the school-wide trip scheduled to be in the spring semester.
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NEWS OOL NEWS
School news juniors
BY: Marina Balaga
Three months down and two more to go until the fall semester of the 2019-2020 is complete. Though the end is nigh, the juniors still have many things to do. Recently in our AVID classes, we finished presentations on possible scholarships we could apply for. The scholarships ranged from $500 to $5,000 with requirements ranging from making an account on the website to writing an essay. For juniors, I suggest to start applying for scholarships because we are required to apply to at least three by the end of the semester for AVID. I recommend using some of the scholarships that were presented in class, but if none of the presented scholarships appeal to you find more on other websites. Some websites you can use are Unigo, Niche, and Go Merry. For the websites I had mentioned, the first step that is required is for you make an account with the website. The websites will also ask you questions referring to things like your possible major, what type of financial assistance you are looking for, and the year you graduate high school. Answering the questions given to you will narrow down the list of possible scholarships you can apply for. Then after you find the ones that interest you, you do what is required for them. Two scholarships that I personally have participated in were both offered by Niche and titled the “$2,000 ‘No Essay’ Scholarship” and the “$1,000 School Survey Sweepstakes.” Remember when you’re applying for scholarships to look at your email to see if you have gotten it. Good luck fellow juniors!
SENIORS
BY: nikaela Llosa
Hey Seniors! It’s finally November, and we are making big moves. Most of your college apps will be due by the end of the month, so try to get them done soon. Another thing to think about— there are many scholarships you can apply for! Our last semester is coming up, and it will be our last time signing up for Delta’s classes. Registration dates will be posted on November 12th and registration will begin on the 19th. Enough of college apps for one issue, let’s talk about some other class reminders. Please keep sending your videos and pictures from the freshman to senior year to either the 2020 Google Classroom, or to the email. Also, keep asking around if you haven’t found a “thing” yet. Once you have decided, DM @co_20yalty on Instagram, or text Raiya! This semester has gone by so fast, but let’s make the most out of it!
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While scrolling through twitter the other day, I came across a hilarious article about director Bong Joon Ho and Harvey Weisnstein. When Snowpiercer was released in 2013, Weinstein was in charge of the American release of the applauded Korean movie. While trying to make trying to make the movie more appealling to American masses, he was hellbent on removing a scene that he disliked. The aforementioned scene is one of Chris Evans (the beloved Captain America) tripping on a fish. In an elaborate lie, Bong Joon Ho told Weinstein that he was dedicating the scene to his fisherman father. Harvery relented after hearing such a heartfelt story. Hilarious— I love hearing that Weinstein got finessed. After that, I knew I had to review one of Bong Joon Ho’s movies. Of all his work, I decided to review Okja. One of the most unique films in 2017, Okja deals with veganism, the meat industry, and corporate greed. It’s easy to be immediately turned off at the mention of those words, but the movie explores these subjects in a fresh and insightful way. It tackles the hypocrisy present in both the meat industry and vegan activists alike. For Bong Joon Ho, no one is exempt from analysis. Okja also has a stellar cast full of familiar faces: Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhal, and Paul Dano. In Okja, a powerful company by the name of Mirando Corporations (a spoof of the real Monsanto Company) enacts an international experiment where they give genetically engineered pigs to various farmers around the world and track their growth. In South Korea, Mija and her grandfather come to love their pig and name her Okja. After the end of the experiment, Mirando Corporation officials come back to retrieve Okja. What ensues is an hour long rescue movie where Mija travels the globe to get her back. While fighting corporate officials, she is joined by hilarious vegan activists— but the lines of good and bad are not static. In the end, everyone is motivated by their relentless agenda, unafraid to use Mija as a tool in their final plan. The only person who is truly virtuous in this film is Mija. Completely apolitical, she does not care about corporate greed or animal activism. She only wishes to reunite with her friend. It’s easy to immediately take a side in the polarized debate regarding meat consumption, but Okja prompts us to look deeper into this problem. In the end, Okja is not a story pointing to the moral deficits of the meat industry. Okja is a story pointing to the moral deficits in all of us. If any of you guys have Netflix, do yourself a favor and watch Okja. If you have watched Okja or will watch Okja, contact me if you want to have a conversation aboutit— this goes for any movie. Happy watching! 3
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BY CHAU ANH NGUYEN With much publicity from meme culture alone, Tall Girl’s debut in September received sweeping reactions all across the internet— both positive and negative. A Netflix Original, Tall Girl centers around a character named Jodi who struggles with her insecurities concerning her 6’1 height. She soon develops a crush on a foreign exchange student at her school, and learns to overcome her insecurities, especially in the face of bullies. Tall Girl has received a heavy amount of negative criticism justifiably. It perpetuates many cliches (i.e. the evil mean girl, the handsome heartthrob, etc.) in a tired, recycled fashion, and it heavily emphasizes Jodi’s height to the point that it feels exaggerated and overdramatic. Furthermore, Jodi also comes off as unlikable in many scenes. She is very plain personality-wise, and most of her traits seem to consist of simple self-pity and perpetual complaining. Additionally, a lot of the humor in the movie was probably not intended to be humorous. The recycled stereotypical characters, the unrealistic depiction of high school teenagers, and the dramatization of certain characters and certain lines all contribute to uncontrollable laughter due to the movie’s ridiculousness, not due to the movie’s cleverness. The core of Tall Girl’s message, in essence, is to point out how many people reject tall girls simply based on their height alone, but this seems trivial in comparison to those who are going through actual hardships (i.e. a family death, foster care, etc.). Their delivery of this message falls flat, and the lines they used to deliver this message feels regurgitated. Even then, this message is contradicted by Jodi’s actions within the movie (she rejects a short guy simply because he isn’t tall enough for her). The movie did have potential though. Maybe if they addressed this hypocrisy, and expanded the theme to show how both men and women are guilty of rejecting people based on these little, insignificant characteristics, then the movie might’ve turned out more interesting. Maybe it would’ve received more positive reception. Despite all its negatives, however, that isn’t to say Tall Girl is entirely bad. The movie does offer a sweet sister bond that remains a core element throughout the plot. Both Jodi and her sister, Harper, served as each other’s confidant and each other’s support center. Overall, the movie Tall Girl isn’t a huge must-see like Avengers: Endgame, Joker, or Crazy Rich Asians, but if you’re incredibly bored, then Tall Girl will at least guarantee you some laughs. 5
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AMERICA’S CLOSET BY: Patricia BAYONA
Simplicity-- often underrated in most cases. However, a major principle in this industry is practicing MINIMALIST fashion. In previous issues, the “LookBook” has been a part of deadline that doesn’t necessarily engage with the people they feature (other than the pictures of course). For this issue, we’ll be introducing America Jimenez wearing five different looks of hers! Where do you draw inspiration from for your outfits? “I look at other people around me or at school, and I see what looks cute on them then try to see if it looks good on me because everyone has a different body type. I look for what looks good on my body type.” Do you have any advice for putting together looks? “I think I would say try to match as much as you can because if you match the look seems more together and organized. Matching really is everything. Really simple outfits always look good, in my opinion, but if you are aiming to ‘go all out’, try using accessories and dress up the outfit.” How do you coordinate your outfits? “I usually go off colors; again, everything has to match! If I have light pants, I go darker for the top with whatever shoes match the pants. It may seem repetitive, but matching is really important. When you’re putting together your outfit, get colors that compliment each other well. (For example: yellow and blue, 7 white and pink, white gray and black, or red and black)
How would you describe your style? “Simple, basically. I think it’s classy and cute, and I don’t like looking like a bum.” Do you think you stick with trends or stray out of the mainstream? “I think I do both because sometimes the trends don’t work for me so I go a different route. I take stuff from trends, but I make it my own. I still have my own style that I go to. What is a fashion trend that you think NO ONE should follow? “Big, blocky shoes.” What are the places you shop at/ brands you live by? “Hollister, for sure, for pants. I’ve also been getting into Fashion Nova for pants too. I like Stichic, Forever 21, Abercrombie, and American Eagle. I go to places like Ross or Burlington because they have really cute things for a really good price. I buy shoes from the obvious places, like Shoe Palace or Footlocker, but I also go to Macy’s or JC Penney. I usually go to Dillard’s whenever I need a formal type dress.” What do you think of the fashion industry/ how do you think it could improve? “I think it’s been improving because everyone has a different shape and a lot of brands have been getting more inclusive to different people’s body types. Even Hollister has been updating their pants; they have these like new curvy pants.”
85°C Bakery DINING WITH THE DRAGONS
Around a month ago, 85°C Bakery opened to their new location here in Stockton. I decided to try it out! The moment you step inside you can see and smell all the delectable treats ranging from bread, cookies, cakes and other pastries. Each time a new batch is ready, the employers call out FRESH BREAD! It makes the place feel lively and homely as you look at the wide selection they have on display. The place is a bit small and clustered especially when there is a long line of people going back and forth at the pastries section. However, the enticing aroma of the pastries filled me with excitement as I walk around each display. Before you start to get some bread, you must grab a tray with a paper liner and tongs. After going back and forth for each display, I decided to get the Chocolate Sponge Roll ($2.95) and the Cafe Latte ($3.50). The wait time for the line is a little longer than what you expect; it was a long 10 minute wait of me holding a heavy tray full of delicious sweets. I went to the bakery after school and it seemed to be the busiest time for them, but it was also when they had a lot of fresh pastries ready. The roll was not overwhelmingly sweet, yet it maintained the semi sweet chocolate flavor along with its airy, spongy texture, which I love. The drink, however, did not meet my expectations. Preferably, I like my coffee to be sweet to fit my childish taste, but this coffee was more on the bitter side. Of course, you can ask for sugar packets and they will be happy to give it to you. It did have a strong coffee taste to possibly cancel out the sweetness of their pastries, which makes sense since you’re surrounded by sugary treats. Overall, my trip to 85°C Bakery was very pleasant. The workers were very nice and patient as well. I can’t imagine wrapping everything so quickly and putting them neatly in the box. It’s a great place to have a chat with someone as you munch on some bread. The bread is definitely amazing and unique so I recommended you to try it. The downside would be the drinks. The selection sounded really delicious but the drink itself was lackluster. Check 85°C Bakery for yourself if you want to experience high quality fresh bread! 878 W Benjamin Holt Dr, Stockton, CA 95207
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pulence. It means luxury, it means wealth, it means success. It’s a layered word; a word bigger than its denotation. It’s a word that has haunted the LGBT community for decades. So many dreaming of opulence and looking to make it big…..and just as many falling short. Opulence was for the straight. The conformers. The white. One of the only places that many of these people would ever see real opulence was in the ballroom. Ballroom culture is a term to describe an LGBT subculture in which people, often drag queens, compete in categories for trophies and prizes. With its most notable height being in the 1980s balls often consisted of African-American and Latinx members of the LGBT community. Balls were a place to be seen and with categories such as Femme Queen, Bizarre, and Vogue…..people showed up. However, something even more infamous than the fabulous clothing and extravagant makeup is the language used at the balls. “Miss Veronica Ferocity serving us mother-of-the-bride realness, while Ricky and Lil Papi Evangelista are giving us sexy bad boy hanging out down at Port Authority!” This is a quote from the FX TV show Pose, which is set during the late 80s in the ballroom scene. It’s a prime example of ballroom talk. It was outrageous and at times, downright hurtful. However, it was fitting. The slang used in ballrooms represented more than just what people looked like or how someone walked. It represented the melting pot that was the LGBT community, and it represented the day to day struggle each person went through. Words like “realness” not only meant that someone could pass as whatever they were trying to be, but it meant that they could be that. In the infamous documentary, Paris is Burning, Dorian Corey, transgender drag queen, says “In real life, you can’t get a job as an executive unless you have the educational background and the opportunity. Now, the fact that you are not an executive is merely because of the social standing of life. Black people have a hard time getting anywhere and those that do are usually straight. In a ballroom, you can be anything you want. You’re not really an executive but you’re looking like an executive. You’re showing the straight world that I can be an executive if I had the opportunity because I can look like one, and that
BY: REAGAN ANDERSON
HOW DRAG QUEENS AND GAYS CHANGED THE WAY WE TALK like one, and that is like a fulfillment.” To clarify, throughout history, people a part of the LGBT community have been scrutinized for not being “normal.” This holds them back from things like jobs and major opportunities. In ballroom culture, being real and “serving realness” meant that for at least a moment in time, none of that homophobia or racism could hold anyone back...they were everything they wanted to be. However, terms like “realness” and “serving” are not the only terms that we’ve gotten from ballroom culture. Terms like “yaas”, “queen”, “hunty”, “spilling the tea”, etc are all from drag and ballroom cultures. In fact, many of these terms were being used long before the ballroom heyday. Balls first gained popularity during the Harlem Renaissance (1920-1930) when being gay was an unthinkable and punishable sin. This forced many people to gather in a place that they knew would be safe. Ball culture was built for the outcast of the worlds, and they had no boundaries or limits as to how far they would travel to be with people who were like them. This meant that languages for different regions and cultures were being blended together to create what would eventually be known as drag slang. When drag culture had an influx in popularity during the 70s and 80s, this mixing of terms would happen once again, further building ballroom culture and slang. Due to this blending of terms, it is hard to pinpoint exactly where each phrase originates from. However, due to the demographics of the balls throughout history, many terms can be assumed to be from African-American or Latinx communities. Most of these terms were exposed to the public in the early 90s when Paris is Burning was released and Madonna released her song Vogue. Throughout the decade, as the average person began to become aware of the underground scene, the people who were actually a part of it started fleeing. Today, there is still a ballroom scene, though it is nothing like it was before. Though, how balls live on is through their language. Today,
there is still a ballroom scene, though it is nothing like it was before. Though, how balls live on is through their language. Today, It’s not uncommon to scroll through social media and see phrases like “spilling the tea on (whoever)” or “OMG SHE IS GIVING ME LIFE!!!” Most of these phrases were introduced to modern audiences through programs like Ru Paul’s Drag Race. So, why does this matter? Well….simply because it does. So many people use drag slang on a daily basis, yet they have no idea where it comes from. In a sense, forgetting where these phrases come from is like forgetting the scene and the people who created it. “Those scary images of people literally deteriorating before our eyes have gone; people think they can just take a pill if they have HIV and still have sexual intercourse and yes, that’s partly true, and we have made great advances, but we also, with the internet and social media, live in a fake world, with people only posting what they want us to see – so I think it’s important to show how bad things were for the generation of twenty or twenty-five years ago.” This quote was said by Jose, a modern-day ballroom judge and it shows why remembering the people who created these terms is so important. As stated, we live in a fake world where no one wants to talk about uncomfortable topics or bad things that have happened in the past. This isn’t a time period that is focused on in history class, nor is it a time period that most people would deem as “important.” But, it is. So yes, while these are just words that anyone can use, they are words with history. They are words that mean more than we give them credit for.
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Photography with an Amateur
RAIYA
SO
GETTING BACK INTO IT
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It hasn’t been that long since I started writing these articles, and I hope that my previous articles have helped you with understanding photography. Personally, I feel out of it. I just haven’t been motivated to go out and shoot. So I thought to myself, “Well if I feel this way, maybe other people do, too.” Note: I will be inserting random photos in this article for fun. IT HAPPENS I’m no professional photographer; I barely consider myself qualified to be writing these articles (LOL), but I am confident enough to be writing about being sure people experience all sorts of creative blocks. Note: Sorry for that jumbled mess of a sentence. It happens. WHY DOES THE BLOCK HAPPEN? Sheesh, that’s a hard question. I really don’t know. My mind is like skfdbhkefhvewfj. I have many projects to do, and I have many ideas. Crazy how I am stumped in terms of photography but want to do so many other things. It’s kind of ironic that I feel creatively blocked, but I’m trying to plan other creative projects. On a more serious, less contradicting note, there are times when I don’t feel motivated to do photography. There are times when I want to try something new. Sometimes, I want to dabble in film or learn cinematography. I overwhelm myself trying to learn all of these things, and it leads to blocks for me. For you, things could be different, or maybe you’re lazy like me. You may be stressed. Whatever it is, we got this! Try to go out and shoot!
GETTING PAST THE BLOCK Personally, if I struggle to take photos, I force myself to get out and shoot, and most times, I end up enjoying my time taking photographs. Maybe that will work for you. Try to make photography fun by switching things up. Do you enjoy shooting portraits? Try shooting landscapes. Do you take pictures in the same place? Try moving to a different location. Feel like you have no good ideas? Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from other people. Try negative space photography. Try night photography. Try studio photography. Try black and white photography. You could even try astrology. The possibilities are endless. All of these things are meant to force you to slow down and become more creative with your composition. 12
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS II
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88RISING BY: HIEU HO
sian representation has been low for the past decades, however, the 88rising media company has raised the bar for Asians. They have created a media company that solely focuses on expanding the merge between Asian cultures and hip-hop. So far they have had huge successes with music such as Joji, one of their signed artists, who topped the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart as an Asia-born singer. They have also started the first music festival centered around Asians in America, Head in the Clouds. Last month, 88rising released a new album called “Head in the Clouds II.” It is a sequel to the first “Head in the Clouds” album. This album is a collaborative album with the many artists signed on the label. In my opinion, this album was not as good as the first album. There were songs that were released a second time on the album, which includes “Indigo,” “Just Used Music Again,” “Breathe,” and “These Nights.” The first track on the album is “These Nights” which is a collaboration between Rich Brian and Chungha, a female K-pop artist. This song is a different style from Rich Brian’s typical music. There is more auto-tuned singing for Rich Brian rather than his usual rap style. Another song is “Tequila Sunrise,” which, in my opinion, is one of the better songs because it is more upbeat and catchy. The next song is “Walking,” which is a collab between Swae Lee, Joji, Jackson Wang, and Major Lazer. Other songs produced by Major Lazer are on the poppier side so this song was more upbeat. “Shouldn’t Couldn’t Wouldn’t” by NIKI and Rich Brian is a melancholy song that symbolizes two significant others that are beginning to realize that their love is empty. The ninth track on the album is the famous “Indigo” by NIKI. This song was released beforehand and was used for various TikToks. NIKI sings about her curiosity as to how far the relationship will go and alludes it to the color indigo on the rainbow. “How far does the indigo go?” “Calculator” is the eleventh song on the album and it is one of my personal favorites. It uses a malfunctioning calculator to symbolize a bad relationship. One of the lyrics states, “I think my calculator’s broken / I’m not meant for love.” A song featured on the album is a remake of “I Love You 3000” sung by Stephanie Poetri. In this version, the word “husband” is replaced with “best friend” and Jackson Wang sings a duet with Stephanie. Personally, I think that this album is good but there are definitely a few skips. There are different styles that would fit a variety of music tastes. I enjoyed the collabs that 88rising decided to feature on the album because it included a more creative aspect with the different voices and artists. My top three songs are Calculator, Walking, and These Nights. If you have the chance,
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TRACKLIST:
01. These Nights 02. Strange Land 03. Need Is Your Love 04. Tequila Sunrise 05. Walking 06. Breathe 07. Shouldn’t Couldn’t Wouldn’t 08. Just Used Music Again
09. Indigo 10. Hopscotch 11. Calculator 12. La La Lost You 13. Hold Me Down 14. I Love You 3000 II 15. 2 The Face 16. Gold Coast
MR. TRAN
BY: KAREN Nguyen Vo
Many of the people in our student body haven’t had the oppor-
tunity to meet a new member of our staff, Minh Tran. Mr. Tran is currently our substitute teacher for AVID 10, Integrated Math 1, and Integrated Math 2. He was born in Vung Tau, Vietnam and has two daughters. He has been teaching for 17 years, but outside of work, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his daughters. How has subbing for AVID 10 and Integrated Math 1 and 2 been so far? “One thing I’ll tell you is that this school is so motivated. I can tell by how students are working, what students they are. Like when they do their math work… [the students] just know exactly what to do. I would just say most of the students are highly motivated… especially, also, in the AVID classes. Right now, they’re doing their hours, tutorials, and scholarships.” So this leads a bit into the next question: is there anything notably different between MCHS students and other students you’ve taught while subbing? “Like what I said earlier, self-reliance and self-motivation. I’m looking at the AVID classes, and I see you guys all helping each other out. You guys don’t see color or race—you guys are all together.” If you weren’t in the teaching profession, what would you be doing right now?” I thought I would be a musician [laughs]. I can cook pretty well. I also like being around kids. Oh—I think I would be a counselor.” What do you like to do in your free time? “Listen to music… that’s my number one priority.” What genre of music? And what bands do you like? “Rock music. Anything with rock in it. I like the Beatles, The Cure, The Verve, and Pink Floyd. It’s like being asked to pick
your favorite kid. You can’t.” Is there anything you would like the students who don’t have classes with you to know about you? “I’m actually very easy to talk to. I like to keep to myself a lot of the time, but once you get to know me, I’m very easy to talk to. I can seem unapproachable to others, but I am actually very open-minded.” What do you see yourself doing in ten years? “Hopefully, my first daughter will be in college, and my second daughter will be in high school. I think I’ll still be teaching or working with kids.” Finally, do you have any advice to give to the students of MCHS? “Whatever you believe in, go for it.” RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS Last movie you’ve watched: “The King of Gambling” One thing on your bucket list: “I don’t really think or plan too much in the future anymore, so I just want to make ends meet and take care of my children.” Favorite season: “Fall” 14
DECEMBER 2019
DEADLINE CREW
EDITOR - Karen Nguyen Vo GRAPHIC designer + writer - Reagan Anderson GRAPHIC designer + writer - Kelly Suth photographer + writer - Raiya So senior writer - Nikaela Llosa Senior writer - Patricia BAYONA Junior writer- Chau Anh Nguyen junior writer - Arlene-Leigh Hickman junior writer - marina balaga Junior writer - nora taing junior writer - Hieu Ho junior writer - CHARLENE NGUYEN junior writer - Danielle Tuazon
SUDOKU SUDOKU