The Antlerette Volume 99 Issue 3

The Antlerette Volume 99

December 2024

Issue 3

Santa Claus Bailynn Heu, Staff Santa Claus was made for the Christmas holiday that started back in the 4th century, and it still goes on until this day. He was the figure who would pass out presents under families’ Christmas trees and in stockings by going inside chimneys.

The naughty list kids would receive coal from him as their negative consequences, while the nice list kids would receive whatever they wished for as a reward for their goodness. This brought joy to the nice kids, but the naughty kids would get upset over the coal that they got instead of what they wished for. This idea about the nice and naughty list motivates children to be positive and kind to be considered in “The Nice List,” to receive what they want and also to become a better person. As for Santa Claus’ reward, he would eat the chocolate chip cookies with milk that the family set out.

Santa lives at the North Pole with a giant toy factory that has

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working elves. Many little elves ran around making toys, being

by Santa’s side, watching kids, working on Santa’s sleigh, etc.

Santa’s sleigh is powered by flying reindeer and magic. Since it gets dark at nighttime, he has one main reindeer in the middle that lights the way with its glowing red nose. As Santa flies across the towns with his sleigh, he joyfully rings a Christmas bell to let kids know he’s out there. Many kids stay up because of their excitement about him.

Santa Claus wasn't considered a person; he was considered an idea that blossomed in the young ones' imaginations. This idea about Santa Claus helped give kids the opportunity to imagine the possibilities of being good. It would be good for them because they will try to learn how to be a better person by doing good actions.

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Christmas in Disney Kina Her, Content Editor A magical holiday experience as the holiday season approaches, Disney parks around the world transform into winter wonderlands, captivating visitors with their unique blend of festive cheer and beloved characters. From sparkling lights and enchanting decorations to special events and themed attractions, Christmas at Disney is a magical experience that delights guests of all ages.

A winter wonderland: the moment you step into a Disney park during the Christmas season, you're greeted by stunning decorations that evoke the spirit of the holiday. Each park has its own unique flair, but all share a common theme of joy and celebration. The iconic Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom in Florida is adorned with thousands of twinkling lights that create a breathtaking spectacle each evening. In Disneyland, California, the park's Main Street, U.S.A. is transformed into a charming Christmas village, complete with a giant tree, garlands, and snow-covered rooftops. The aroma of freshly baked cookies and hot cocoa fills the air, enhancing the cozy, festive atmosphere. Festive events and entertainment in Disney go above and beyond to celebrate Christmas with a

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variety of special events and entertainment.

One of the highlights is “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” at Disneyland, where beloved Disney characters, from Mickey and Minnie to Elsa and Anna, celebrate the season with music, dance, and holiday cheer. In Walt Disney World, the “Epcot International Festival of the Holidays” showcases holidays from around the world, featuring food, decorations, and traditions from different cultures. Guests can enjoy seasonal performances, storytelling, and delightful cuisine as they explore the park. For those seeking an unforgettable nighttime experience, the “Cinderella's Royal Table” dining event offers a festive meal inside Cinderella Castle, complete with character appearances and a view of the castle’s holiday lights. No holiday celebration at Disney would be complete without indulging in delightful seasonal treats. Throughout the parks, guests can find special holiday-themed snacks, such as gingerbread cookies, peppermint-flavored desserts, and festive drinks. Each park offers its own unique culinary creations, ensuring there’s something delicious for everyone.

Additionally, Disney's shops become treasure troves of holiday merchandise, featuring exclusive ornaments, apparel, and gifts.

Collectible items that celebrate the season quickly become favorites among fans and visitors alike. A Touch of Tradition

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in Disney understands the importance of family traditions, especially during the holiday season. Many families make it a tradition to visit Disney parks during Christmas, enjoying the magic together year after year. This sense of nostalgia and togetherness adds to the enchantment of the experience, making it a cherished memory for many.

In conclusion, Christmas at Disney is truly a unique experience that combines the joy of the holiday season with the magic of Disney. Whether you're taking in the festive decorations, enjoying seasonal entertainment, or savoring special treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. As the parks at Disney light up with holiday spirit, they invite guests to create magical memories that will last a lifetime. So if you're looking to celebrate Christmas in a truly enchanting way, consider a visit to a Disney park—you won't be disappointed!

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Pulling Out of the Paris Agreement Thomas Perera, Staff In June 2017, former President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, a landmark international pact signed in 2015 by nearly 200 nations. The agreement sought to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels with an aspirational goal of capping warming at 1.5°C. As one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, the United States’ exit had profound implications for global climate action, diplomacy, and environmental policy.

President Trump justified the withdrawal by claiming the agreement imposed unfair economic burdens on the United States while benefiting nations like China and India. He argued that compliance would result in job losses and economic decline, particularly in sectors like coal, manufacturing, and energy. By framing the decision as a defense of American interests, Trump rejected the collaborative spirit of the agreement, stating that he was “elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.”

Despite promises to negotiate a “better deal,” no alternative framework emerged during his presidency.

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The withdrawal, which officially took effect on November 4, 2020, drew sharp criticism domestically and internationally.

Environmentalists argued that abandoning the accord signaled a disregard for the scientific consensus on climate change and the urgent need for coordinated global action.

Critics also warned that the absence of US leadership weakened international resolve and emboldened other nations to scale back their commitments. Additionally, the decision created uncertainty for renewable energy markets, which rely on long-term policy stability to drive investment and innovation.

However, the move also galvanized opposition within the United States. Cities, states, businesses, and advocacy groups reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris goals, launching initiatives like the “We Are Still In” coalition. These efforts underscored the growing recognition that climate change requires a multi-level response, irrespective of federal policy.

The US’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement highlighted the challenges of balancing environmental stewardship with economic concerns. While it reflected a broader debate about national sovereignty and global cooperation, its long-term impacts on climate progress remain a critical issue. The

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decision underscored the need for sustained leadership and collaboration to address one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century.

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What Happened to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Colin Metcalf, Staff Many people can recall hearing about the vast pile of trash floating around in the middle of the Pacific years ago. Millions of people learned about the countless health and environmental concerns this trash brought up and the world banded together in order to put an end to it. Small startup tech companies appeared, hoping to use new technology to fight this literal garbage. Fast forward to today, and it seems like the concerns and media coverage for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch have dried up. So what happened to it? Were we able to save the oceans?

The short answer is no, not at all. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is still there, and is still huge. The patch covers around 1.6 million square kilometers, or twice the size of Texas and three times the size of France. Now, this patch isn’t an island, nor is it a solid mass of plastics. It’s mostly made up of small plastics and microplastics. And according to a 2021 study, it’s still growing at a rate of 2.5% per year. This patch causes many issues for the ocean environments, including entangling marine life, especially with discarded fishing nets. This garbage can also transport non-native species to new environments.

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These species may overcrowd the native species if they are invasive, which disrupts the ecosystem. But the most pressing problem, especially for humans, is when marine life ingests the plastic and other trash floating in the ocean. This is harmful to the health of marine life, seabirds, and fish, but the real issue comes when we eat the fish that have been ingesting these plastics. This contaminated seafood exposes us to microplastics, which can bring about some health concerns for us.

With all these concerns, why did we just seemingly forget about it? In the mid 2010’s, it seemed like all everyone was talking about. But the buzz has largely waned. One significant reason for this decline in interest is called “issue fatigue.”

There seems to be a new environmental crisis or alarm all the time, and we have grown used to that. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which was once a shocking testament to man’s addiction to plastics, has become just another statistic amongst countless other tragedies. And without visible success in removing debris and tackling the problem, the public’s enthusiasm quickly diminishes. It’s a disheartening fact to think about, that this major issue is just one of many, seemingly not even worth our attention anymore.

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It may seem like an insurmountable problem, but one mustn't lose hope. Collective action can drive monumental change, and this is exactly what we need to solve the challenge of the garbage patch. We can support innovations and organizations that make efforts to clean up the ocean, such as The Ocean Cleanup, which has already removed millions of pounds of debris. We can advocate for stronger policies to regulate plastic production and waste to hold the largest manufacturers accountable for their trash, or rethink our own plastic usage, opting for reusable items whenever possible. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch feels overwhelming at times, yes, but we must remember that we have the power to come together with a solution. By addressing it, we’re not only cleaning up the ocean, but we’re redefining how we interact with nature. We cannot stand by and let this story end with neglect and inaction, but with innovation, hope, and teamwork.

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What In The World is Elon Musk Doing?

Adrian Bayardo, Editor-in-Chief Two years ago, in April of 2022, billionaire Elon Musk publicly voiced his interest in purchasing Twitter…as a joke. That joke turned out to be one of the most expensive jokes in history, leading to Musk entering a deal to buy the social media platform, a deal that Musk tried (unsuccessfully) to get out of.

In the end, Musk was forced to buy Twitter for 44 billion dollars in October of 2022. I covered this topic when Musk first purchased Twitter, when the platform’s fate was still uncertain. The past two years have been…eventful to say the least, and the social media platform formerly known as Twitter has devolved into utter chaos.

One of the major changes Musk implemented once he acquired Twitter was to rename it. On July 23rd, 2023, Musk announced that Twitter would be renamed “X”. Musk did this so that the social media platform would share a name with his other companies like SpaceX. Suffice to say, that name change did not go over well. When the new name was announced, thousands of users voiced their discontent with the new name.

After being named Twitter for over a decade, many users

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found it hard to imagine the platform going by any other name, while others felt the name “X” sounded strange. To this day, most people refuse to call the social media platform “X”.

The public’s refusal to accept X’s new name has frustrated Musk greatly. Ironically, Musk is upset that people won’t respect the new name of his social media platform when Musk himself refuses to acknowledge his own transgender child, referring to her as his son and refusing to call her by her proper name and pronouns.

Unfortunately, having a weird name is not the worst problem with X. Although Musk pledged that X would not “take sides” on political issues, the newly renamed social media platform has become a breeding ground for unregulated far-right propaganda. X’s algorithm is designed in a way that promotes far-right conspiracy theories that were previously regulated on Twitter before Musk took over. Specifically, conspiracy theories about the 2020 election being stolen are allowed to gain traction on the platform, as there is little to no fact checking on these dangerous false claims made by users.

During the 2024 election cycle, Musk publicly voiced his support for former President Donald Trump’s campaign.

Coincidentally, X’s algorithm also promoted content that spread misinformation and lies about Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. This troubling pattern with X’s

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algorithm has led millions of people to leave the app and move to a new app, Bluesky. Bluesky was designed to look and act like how Twitter used to be. The app has attracted many notable users like actors Ben Stiller, Mark Hamill, and politicians like former congressman Adam Kinzinger.

Musk’s pivot to becoming a far-right sympathizer has expanded beyond his management of X. The 53-year-old billionaire became an active force in the Trump campaign, and has been promised a position in the new Trump administration that will begin on January 20th, 2025. Despite no prior experience in government, president-elect Trump has promised Musk a job as the head of the “Department of Government Efficiency”, a department that does not currently exist. It is not yet clear what that position will entail, and many experts have voiced their concerns with Musk’s plans to cut billions of dollars in government spending, especially since Musk has no experience in government and it's not entirely clear if Musk understands how the United States government works.

In two years, Musk has gone from an angry Twitter user, to an angrier owner, and now he will be tasked with maximizing the “efficiency” of the federal government. The next four years are going to be very interesting…

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The Villainization of Femininity Bakhtawar Ahmad, Staff What does it mean to be “feminine?” For many, the answer might feel personal, shaped by individual experiences or cultural values. But when we zoom out, society’s collective understanding of femininity is strikingly narrow and often dismissive. This dismissal becomes glaringly obvious when we examine how feminine activities and careers are treated.

From a young age, girls are conditioned to downplay their association with femininity. One question from childhood captures this perfectly: “Are you a tomboy or a girly girl?”

While seemingly harmless, this question forces a hierarchy— where “girly” is lesser and being a “tomboy” is seen as cooler or tougher. Like many girls, I labeled myself a tomboy just to fit in, even though I didn’t entirely identify with it. Movies, friends, and even adults subtly taught us that femininity was frivolous, unserious, and unworthy of respect.

This bias extends far beyond playground labels. In third grade, I discovered my love for fashion. I spent hours sketching designs and crafting elaborate looks, eager to pursue a career

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as a fashion designer. But when I shared this ambition with my teacher, it was met with laughter—a joke to share with my parents later. My teacher’s reaction mirrored something I’d come to understand all too well: feminine interests were trivial, unworthy of aspiration, and certainly not worthy of respect.

Ironically, when men enter traditionally feminine fields like fashion or cooking, society reacts with admiration. Men are seen as pioneers, geniuses, or trailblazers for stepping into spaces dominated by women. Consider how celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay are revered, while countless women in the culinary world are reduced to stereotypes of homemakers or “moms who cook.” In fashion, men often ascend quickly to positions of influence and authority, their work deemed “artistic” or “visionary.” Meanwhile, women who live and breathe fashion are dismissed as superficial or vain.

This double standard isn’t limited to hobbies or creative fields, it also goes into careers. Teaching, nursing, and caregiving— fields that uphold the foundation of society are historically female-dominated and undervalued. These careers are labeled as “women’s work,” and their importance is extremely downplayed. Yet when men enter these professions, they’re seen as extraordinary for choosing to work in them, often

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garnering leadership roles or higher pay.

Even feminine-dominated intellectual pursuits, like literature, face this bias. For centuries, writing has shaped cultures and histories. But women writers and scholars have had to fight their whole lives to be taken seriously, even as literature remains a cornerstone of human progress.

So why does society continue to devalue femininity? The answer lies in deep-rooted misogyny we’ve been taught whether we know it or not our whole lives. We like to call ourselves progressive, celebrating women who break barriers in male-dominated spaces like STEM or the military. But in doing so, we often perpetuate the message that feminine spaces and traits are inherently inferior.

True progress isn’t about elevating women by forcing them into traditionally masculine spaces. It’s about dismantling the hierarchy that places masculinity above femininity in the first place. Respecting feminine pursuits, whether it’s fashion, caregiving, or literature, is the first step toward a world where gender no longer defines worth.

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Is Cynthia Erivo in the Wrong?

Marvin Canaya, Staff Recently, there has been mass promotion and anticipation among the public for the upcoming Wicked movie. Much excitement was caused by the popularity of the Broadway musical, as well as the well-known actors starring in this movie, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. For many months there have been countless trailers and media posts to promote this movie, one of them recently being a reimagined movie poster, inspired by the poster of the original Broadway musical. This reimagined poster includes one very noticeable change compared to the original, that being the showcasing of the face of the Wicked Witch of the West, Cynthia Erivo’s character.

A few days after the poster’s release, there was an edit made by a fan that wanted to show what the movie poster would look like using the Broadway poster’s format, which covers Cynthia Erivo’s character. Not long after this post was made, there was another AI edit which featured the two characters showcased in the poster fighting. This was later seen by actress Cynthia Erivo in which she had an angry response to the edits

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posted on her Instagram story using the phrase “It degrades me.” This stirred lots of controversy and backlash towards Cynthia Erivo, as many people saw her post as being “over dramatic” or “disrespectful to her fans.” Now a question has come up. Is Cynthia Erivo in the wrong?

There have been many reactions to Cynthia Erivo’s post in which many people have stated, “She’s overreacting” and “The fan was just trying to pay homage to the original.” Many people have disagreed with Cynthia Erivo’s statement, in which she states, “Our poster is an homage not an imitation.”

People have mainly disagreed with her assumption that the fan edit was supposed to mock their spin on the original poster and make it seem as if one is better than the other.

Wicked fans’ discontent with Cynthia Erivo post has made many of them reconsider their desire to see the new Wicked movie.

Recently, there was an interview with Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo’s co-star, where she was asked “what was your reaction when you saw the poster,” in which she responded that she believes that AI may be “conflicting or troublesome sometimes” and that it is a “massive adjustment period.”

Ariana Grande says that fans are always gonna want to make

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their edits but sometimes they can be taken too far while expressing her respect for her co-star. Ariana Grande’s response to the question has been seen by fans as very “neutral” and not as defensive as Cynthia Erivo’s, in which Ariana Grande does not want to cause too much drama around the subject, especially because of how close their movie’s premiere is.

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The Appeal of FNAF and Its Impact on Gaming Dylan Perkins, Staff What makes something great? There are many factors that contribute to greatness, but one factor that stands out is impact. When it comes to the world of video games, Five Nights at Freddy’s has crawled its way to greatness due to this one factor. This game dug its way into people’s hearts with its fascinating lore, imaginative community, and simplistic yet horrifying playstyle. These effects grabbed the attention of many other game developers, causing them to create other games inspired by the series’.

Five Nights at Freddy’s, a game about a security guard who works the night shift at a pizzeria, was inspired by the hate comments of the creator, Scott Cawthon’s previous game, Chipper and Sons Lumber Co. When the game first surfaced on the internet, it gained widespread attention due to its unique playstyle that offered a refreshing new way to game.

While most games allow the player to move around and complete complicated tasks, Five Nights at Freddy’s has one goal. Survive. The game’s playstyle offers two doors, two lights, and a camera. This is all the game gives you to survive the horrific animatronics coming to end your life. The simplicity

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behind the playstyle is what many players say adds most to the horror.

Many games were inspired by Five Nights at Freddy’s mascot effect. Since Freddy was in the name and the logo of the game, it made Five Nights at Freddy’s very easy to recognize. Games such as Poppy Playtime utilized this mascot effect to make their game easier to recognize. The utilization of mascots has shown to make horror games more iconic to the masses. In conclusion, Five Nights at Freddy’s has inspired a multitude of successful indie horror games and will forever be known as one of the best horror games.

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MACARON RECIPE Maya Buqeileh, Design Editor With Christmas coming just around the corner, it is always good to share treats with loved ones. This year, why not take on the challenge and try something new? The macaron is a delicate French cookie known for being extremely hard to make. I would set aside a day or two to work since there is a lot of waiting involved. There’s no need to worry, now you have an easy to follow recipe. Be precise and careful!

This recipe simplifies and slightly adjusts one you can find online. Credit for the original recipe goes to Jody Tixier & Alexis Deboschnekon the Tasty Team’s “How To Make Macarons” at Tasty.com.

Ingredients 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar 1 cup almond flour ½ teaspoon of salt Another ½ teaspoon of salt to be used later 3 room temperature egg whites ¼ cup sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Optional: Gel food coloring

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1. We begin this recipe in a completely dry (not straight out of the sink) food processor. Add the powdered sugar, almond flour, and first ½ teaspoon of salt.

2. Turn on the food processor and let it mix thoroughly. You will most likely have to open the food processor to make sure it is completely mixed at the bottom, using a utensil of your choice or shaking the food processor before turning it on again to be completely sure you got everything.

3. Prepare a large bowl and a sifter. Pour a small amount of the dry mixture into the sifter so it is about one-third full and begin sifting into the bowl. Try not to miss and sift as much as you can into the bowl. If anything is still in the sifter and not passing through the holes, do not push it through or toss it into the bowl. Just throw it away, take a breath, and continue with the rest of the dry mixture.

4. Now you have a bowl of freshly sifted dry ingredients. You may put this aside for now.

5. This part may prove difficult so be careful. Separate your egg whites from the egg yolks and put the whites in an electric mixer bowl. a. There are many ways to separate egg whites from yolks. I would recommend doing them one at a time because if the yolk breaks in the white bowl, it will be almost impossible to get it back out. You may do

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whatever you please to get this step done, but I use two relatively simple methods: Crack the egg carefully and try to hold the egg yolk in one side of the shell while most of the egg white falls into the bowl. If most of the egg white has fallen into the bowl, you could move on. If there is a lot still in the egg and you want to use it, transfer the egg yolk from one side of the shell in a careful pouring motion.

Crack the egg and gently drop it into the bowl.

With your clean hand, carefully extract the yolk and discard it.

6. With your egg whites in the electric mixer, add the rest of the salt and beat until it has soft peaks. Soft peaks are when the egg gets all fluffy and white. When you lift the mixer away from the egg, a small mountain should be made that lets go of the mixer and loosely falls back eventually. You know you’re close when it is as white as paper.

7. Slowly and carefully incorporate the sugar into the mixture.

It should be like a gentle rain or waterfall pouring in as it is being mixed. Do not just drop it all at once.

8. Add the vanilla extract.

OPTIONAL BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Add a few drops of gel food coloring of your choice. Remember, this color will fade eventually. For example, 3 drops of red will be a gentle pink.

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9. Continue beating the egg white mixture until you reach a stiff peak consistency. This means when you pull the mixer away, the egg white will follow and rise in a form that is more capable of keeping shape. A good way to test this if you’re pretty sure it’s reached the stiff peaks is holding the bowl upside down like a Dairy Queen Blizzard. It should not fall out and I really recommend you be careful trying.

10. Take the bowl away from the mixer, you won’t be needing it anymore. Now you have two bowls, one with the egg white mixture and the other with the dry mixture. Carefully pour one-third of the dry mixture into the egg mixture. Fold to combine the mixtures, meaning moving the egg mixture from the bottom to the top of the dry mixture and gently pushing them together with your spatula. Try not to be too rough or fast so you won’t pop the air bubbles in the egg white mixture.

Continue this process until the mixtures are fully combined.

Try not to overmix. At the end of the process if you scoop up some of the mix with your spatula you should be able to complete a figure eight in the bowl using the mix.

11. Pour the mixture into a piping bag with a round tip. You need a lot of control for this next step.

12. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, pipe circles of equal size onto the paper. They should be at least one inch apart. (You may choose your size, I would recommend a diameter of 1 inch or 1.5 inches)

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HELPFUL SHAPE TIP: You may buy a silicon template for the size and shape of the macarons online or print out sheets of paper with equal sized circles to make your own sheet. Just don’t forget to throw the paper out before you bake.

HELPFUL PIPING TIP: A way to get good circles is starting from the center and gently squeezing the piping bag. It will begin to spread out on the parchment. Gently pull up while you’re piping to increase the height and make it look more natural. To finish off, stop piping and either quickly pull up or do a small circle to make sure it is all out.

13. Place a towel on a solid flat surface and tap/drop the tray until the bubbles are out or about six times.

Now for the more simple steps.

14. Leave the macarons out to sit for over three hours 15. Bake the macarons at 300 degrees F for 17 minutes.

Hopefully they should come out with feet (little stands lifting them up) and no cracks. If not, no need to worry. They will still taste amazing and you can always try again another time.

16. Take the macarons out of the oven and let sit for about two-five minutes.

17. Place macarons on a drying rack until completely cool; I would say about an hour.

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18. Make a little sandwich with two equal sized cookies and your desired filling in the middle. a. You can enjoy any filling you want. I would recommend buttercream as the best option. You can look up your own recipe. Some of my favorites have been strawberry, raspberry, vanilla, and a combination of vanilla with cinnamon and nutmeg flavored buttercream with this recipe. Be creative!

19. Let sit in a refrigerator overnight or for a few hours (hopefully 12 hours).

20. ENJOY!!

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The Adventures of Steven: A Battle to save Christmas Michael Coronado, Staff On the night of Christmas Eve a boy named Steven laid out cookies and milk for Santa, hoping to see him as he came down his chimney. His older sisters Luna, Willow, and Reya were decorating their gingerbread houses in the kitchen. As they finished, they called Steven in for him to decide who had made the ultimate gingerbread house. However, his thoughts were in an entirely different place as he deliberately tried to get all of the tools necessary to catch Santa and see him for the first time. He scavenged their garage for anything he could use to capture Santa. Willow called out his name once more, and this time the sisters finally got his attention. He came back to the kitchen to ask, “Did you need something?” The sisters replied saying, “We need you to decide who has the best gingerbread house!”

“Fine if I have to say, then it’s definitely Willow.” She jumped and screamed with joy as the other two sisters frowned in disappointment. They soon gathered together to watch their favorite Christmas movie with cups of hot cocoa and snacks.

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As the movie finally ended, the sisters picked Steven up together, carrying him upstairs. He laughed and screamed as they climbed the stairs into his room. Finally, they tucked him in and kissed him goodnight. Steven waited, waited, and waited to finally hear Reya’s door close indicating they were now all in bed asleep.

He snuck downstairs to finally enact his plan to catch Santa.

He set up his booby traps and sat on the top of the stairs, waiting for Santa to arrive. As midnight arrived Steven finally heard it! He heard Santa’s sleigh and could even see a brief red light from Rudoplhs nose. Steven sneakily went downstairs to wait for Santa to climb down the chimney and fall right into his trap. He waited one minute, then two, then two became four minutes, and four became six minutes. Did Santa see through his trap? Did he know of his plan to capture him?

What was taking so long? Then, the silence finally broke! But it wasn’t Santa he could hear, but rather a cackle? Laughter?

Who other than Santa would be laughing right now?

A loud crash came from the roof! Steven's sisters finally awoke and rushed to Steven’s room to see what was going on. Each sibling, with the same bewildered expression, looked at one another for an explanation as to what was happening. Then suddenly, a creaky voice was heard, “Christmas at last is mine!”

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The four rushed up to their roof to see who the mystery man was!

It was none other than the greediest of them all, the Grinch!

Steven yelled out for Santa, wondering what the Grinch had done. That’s when Steven finally saw him tied up to his sleigh!

He tried to rush over to untie Santa but the Grinch swiftly kicked him away. Willow quickly caught him before he’d fallen off the roof. Steven knew it’d take the four of them to beat the Grinch and save Christmas. They’d quickly unwrapped a few presents to find themselves a few weapons to fight.

Steven had a huge candy cane, Willow got a nerf gun, Luna got a super bouncy ball, and Reya got a trumpet. A trumpet…?

It didn’t matter now. They knew they had to work together if they wanted to stop the Grinch.

Willow started first by shooting her nerf gun as a distraction, while Steven snuck up behind the Grinch and hit him in the back with the candy cane. Before he could grab Steven, Luna threw her bouncy ball and knocked him into a daze. The three celebrated quickly upon seeing the Grinch fall. They cheered up and down till he stood behind them and yelled what could only be described as a screech. But before he could grab them,

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Reya came behind him and smacked him in the back of the head with the trumpet. She didn’t know what else something like that could do in a situation like this. Steven quickly untied Santa and was met with a quick thank you. Santa readily yelled, “Ho-Ho Ho” to send the Grinch back to the lonely cave he came from.

Santa gradually thanked each of the siblings for their bravery and victory in defeating the Grinch. Before he left, he’d taken Steven’s hand to give him a small gift. He was told to answer the following morning if he truly wished to see what it’d become. Santa flew away into the night to deliver the rest of the presents to all of the nice boys and girls.

They’d fallen asleep together on the living room couch stunned by what had just happened last night. Only till Steven remembered his special gift from Santa. He’d opened it to find a small lion cub, except its fur was a light red. Under him lay a note from Santa, “A small token of appreciation, one that will let you come to my saving wherever I may need it.”

The siblings laughed and played with the small cub, whilst our hero’s story came to an end. Besides, who knows what adventures Steven may tread in the future?

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habits Azriel Ezra Hu, Copy Editor It wasn’t until someone pointed it out to me that I noticed.

My best friend and I both laugh in the same way, my dad says that my mom and I both have the same expression when we’re annoyed, and my mom says that my dad and I both have the same fast walk.

I still braid my hair the way my older sister taught me, and I still play a video game my little brother once loved.

I use the same flavor of chapstick that I used in second grade

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because it was my then-best friend’s favorite flavor.

I always drink Coke with a straw because it was the way my ex-boyfriend drank it.

I still go swimming every week because it was a habit my ex-girlfriend and I started together.

I have books on my nightstand that were recommended to me by my co-worker.

I didn’t realise it before, but I can’t stop seeing it now.

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The End of Her Time Kaylyn Haley, Staff She was yanked forward by the wrist, her aunt’s short nails painted freshly in a pearly white polish that screamed money in the ears of every other mother in the pizzeria. Her aunt swiftly opened the door to the back of the restaurant, waiting for it to close before she let out a single word.

“What is wrong with you, Charlie? I ask you to hold still while I speak with your father, you run off and be rowdy with other children! I ask you to sit down and eat your food, you go and jump on top of a table and dance like you own this place!”

Her aunt’s face was twisted in a vicious frown that made her tummy turn upside down. Charlie’s eyes found their way towards her brand new blue shoes she had asked her father to buy her just last week, avoiding the piercing gaze of her aunt’s brown eyes.

“Daddy owns it.” She hesitantly challenged her aunt. Those brown eyes widened and she swore she could see the fire burning behind them.

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“That isn’t the point, Charlie! You will stay here till you can act like a lady instead of a rabid animal.”

With that her aunt slammed the door that led back inside, a little click heard from the knob as if it were a nail on the table. Charlie stood there for what seemed like an eternity, when in reality it was only around thirty seconds. It was night time and the restaurant was no longer open to the outside, only catering to the final party on the inside before they would fully close for the night. She ran up to the tiny window next to the dumpster, peering inside through the transparent glass and watching all the younger children. They laughed with each other and played endlessly with their plush toys, and in the background music played loudly. Tears filled her eyes as she banged her fist against the clear pane, repeatedly knocking over and over again in hopes that one of the children would hear her cries, “Let me in! I pinky-promise I will be good!”

“Are you all right, young miss?” a deep voice questioned from a few feet away, forcing her to pause and look at the mysterious person. She examined his brown boots and scuffed jeans, his yellow hoodie that had many small condiment stains plastered over the fabric. He held a bottle of Budweiser in his hands and looked down on her as if she were a ladybug in the dirt. His

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face… she recognized that face. “Mr. Will,” she formally called to him. “Daddy says I shouldn’t talk to you without him nearby.”

“Ah Charlie, your dad is right inside. Besides, I’m a friend, aren’t I?” He smiled, one of his teeth more golden than the rest. She backed up just a bit, wiping the tears she had forgotten about as he took a step closer to her.

“I guess. Auntie says you are not nice. But she’s even meaner.”

She tucked a foot behind her leg, the wall no longer allowing her to move.

“Well, do you think I am nice, Charlie?” His eyes were dark, and they held deep secrets that one could not simply unveil.

She nodded, keeping her eyes directly on his. “Yes, sir.”

He smiled with every tooth, bending down to meet her eyes, his dead iris looking straight into her soul. “Your auntie is a smart woman.”

She took a look at her surroundings, her eyes landing on a purple Ford Pinto that he had once picked her up in when her father was too busy to bring her to daycare. Her eyes never left

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the car as he raised that same bottle of beer into the air, and they never left when it swung down to her head, shards of glass cutting her skin. Charlie’s eyes grew sorrowful. She knew what death was, her father never hid what the meaning of it was. Once he swung the now broken bottle of beer at her again, she wondered if this is what it felt like to die. Dying hurt a lot. Blood splattered on the floor around her as she felt her head muffle up, like it was as light as a feather. Maybe she would go to heaven since she felt like this. Mr. William delivered one final blow with the bottle before her world suddenly became quiet.

He stood there for a few moments, adrenaline pumping throughout his veins. For the first time in years, he felt like he was free. That Henry had taken so much away from him, starting with his business, then his sons, and he had returned the favor by taking the only reason he had left for living. The pieces of the puzzle would all start to fall together from here.

He didn’t bother cleaning up the mess he had created, opting to bring what he had left of the bottle with him.

William walked over to the purple car, opening the door with his small key and sitting in the driver’s seat. He placed the key in the ignition and turned it, causing the car to make a chattering sound before a loud boom that made it driveable.

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With one final look at his masterpiece, he reached in the back and pulled another bottle from the case he had bought from the store down the street, opening it with his pearly whites and speeding away from the still warm body. He only had so much time to enjoy before they would find him, if they did.

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Story Time With Ethen Ethen Rico Villa, Staff Hello, and welcome back to “what did Ethen do this time.”

Today I will be talking about how I have spent the last week learning how to play a card game. Okay, so to give some background, I have always been a big fan of collecting things and one of those things are cards. I loved going to the store with my little brother and looking for the newest pack of Pokémon cards. At the time that was kinda the only thing we did together but nonetheless it was fun. So a couple years after that (present day) my friend told me that there was a card game on something I watch from time to time. It was a game called the “Dragon Ball Z Card Game” and it was something I was interested in, something I wanna try to get into. So I looked up the game and it looked fun and like any other card game they had tournaments. So I looked at those tournaments and studied the videos and recaps from them. And from all that I learned which starter deck I would like to buy for myself. So I looked online to find the nearest card store and bought my first card deck and started to practice. Then soon after I bought thick card sleeves and bought a deck box for them to be safe. After all that I started to learn what type of cards I would like to add from there. So I looked online to find

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decks and I landed on one deck that I really liked, and this deck was the same deck that won 1st place at a tournament.

SPZ Alex’s Vegeta deck was the winner for the Dragon Ball Z X One Piece tournament, so I wanted to see what he used and what strategy he used for that deck. Now I know how to use the deck and am ready to rematch some of my friends because I will admit, I got served last time like I was on a silver platter.

So that's how I spent almost 2-3 days straight trying to learn how to play one game.

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Biker in the Wilderness Caiden Brown, Staff There was a guy. His name was Jeffery, but he went by Jeff. He was on his dirt bike riding through the forest when suddenly a rock he did not see made his bike go airborne. His bike wrapped around a tree and he sprained his ankle.

He forgot his phone at the house and had nothing on him but a granola bar for a snack if he got hungry later. Just then Jeff heard a twig snap about 20 feet to the right of him. He stared intensely into the thick bushes. Just then a beautiful deer emerged from the bushes. This deer gazed at Jeff with curiosity and friendliness.

Jeff, startled by the deer, tried scurrying away from it. As he tried he noticed his leg was stuck under a big branch, which under his condition he could not lift. The deer, noticing his struggle, started to lift the heavy branch. The deer lifted the branch just enough for Jeff to free his leg. The deer then came over to offer to help Jeff up and take him towards his home.

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They walked for a while and Jeff finally made it to his house.

He then gave some of his granola bar to the deer as a thanks for the help. The deer ate some and walked back into the forest.

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A Man’s Best Friend Jorden Dykes, Staff My dog, Ollie, is an absolute sweetheart. When she was a puppy she was the first one in the litter to figure out how to use the doggy door so she’s very smart. Even though she is smaller than her brothers and sisters even now, she still plays just as rough 11 years later so she’s in good shape.

My family got her when I was six and she was very protective over me and my family. My dad says that when he was getting ready for work in the morning, she was lying on my chest and when he got closer, she started growling because she couldn’t see who he was. My dad said that's when he knew she was meant to be with us and that she was a blessing.

She is a beautiful dog too, inside and out. She’s gentle with strangers and kids, she even gives hugs and sometimes says I love you. She’s never bitten anyone and only barks when people get too close to the house. She can also do tricks like dancing and rolling over. She’s so goofy too, and has her own little personality. As she grows older she’s becoming more and more rebellious too and argues with my dad sometimes which is funny to watch. I would do anything for my dog and I know she would do anything for me.

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Why Cats Are The Best Pet Mikela Laurenzi, Content Editor One of the most beautiful and innocent creatures on the planet are cats. They’ve been around as long as we can remember and have always been a great household pet. They are loveable, adorable, and cuddly creatures. They’re great as first pets to keep you or your child company because they don't require much work or maintenance. All they want to give is love and affection and, depending on which one you get, a side of attitude as well. And when coming home from a long day, they are a great stress relief.

Indoor cats are the best in my opinion because they are more available for immediate stress relief and keep you cozy. Also they can suffer from less injuries, illnesses, infections, and can avoid predators. They'll be treated with more care and you can keep a better eye on them to make sure they don't get into any danger. However, I feel like the best cat to adopt would be an outdoor cat. They have more skills and can take care of themselves more. In a lot of cases they are more grateful for what you give them because they never had it before, which means in return they are more affectionate.

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Realistically, all animals are the best, but cats are better for starting a family so that you age with them as well. They will last you years on end and will fill your life with more joy and companionship than ever before. This is why I personally think cats are the best pets for humans.

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Sexiest Man Is a Scam Belen Gutierrez, Staff Since 1985, People Magazine has been picking the year’s “Sexiest Man Alive” every November. They allow people to vote for the different options so the winner can be based on the general public. However, in recent years, it seems the decision is not up to the people at all, and they’re simply already picked despite the obvious choices. Last year, the winner was Patrick Dempsey and this year it's John Krasinski.

Both men haven’t been relevant in years and People snubbed the people’s winners, Pedro Pascal for 2023 and Glen Powell for 2024.

The entire process for choosing a process is clearly out of the people’s hands, despite being able to vote. They should be picking the winners based on who is consistently relevant throughout the year. Patrick Dempsey has not been relevant since his days on Grey’s Anatomy, and the majority of people don’t often talk about him. Had the award been given to Dempsey when he was still on Grey’s Anatomy, there’s an argument to be made that he should get it because he’s relevant.

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Last year the attention was all on Pedro Pascal. He had an incredible year with his role as the Mandalorian and Joel Miller in The Last of Us. His performances caused movies he did years ago to rise up again like Kingsman: The Golden Circle and his role as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones.

During the voting process, there was a question called “Who is your favorite Pedro?” and it gave different roles he has and asked you to vote for your favorite. It seemed like People Magazine were definitely picking him, and the general public clearly thought he was the winner, but then right out of left field they came out with Patrick Dempsey, who hasn’t been in anything relevant since 2022 in Disenchanted, the sequel to Enchanted.

People Magazine ignored who the people clearly wanted and went out and picked a random actor who wasn’t relevant at all that year. Many people get excited over this event, as it's fun to be able to nominate your favorite celebrity, but People Magazine disregards the majority’s opinions and ruins the fun.

This year wasn’t any better as the award went to John Krasinski. He is a great actor, and he did have some attention this year as he directed the new kids movie If. However, the movie wasn’t widely promoted and no one really watched it.

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His wife, Emily Blunt, has been more influential for years and still is. The award going to Krasinski would make more sense if it had been years ago when The Office was still going. There was never a point in the year where the internet was head over heels for him.

The people’s attention was on Glen Powell for a good majority of the year. He had an incredibly good year with movies like Twisters, Hit Man, and even the resurfacing of Anyone But You. For a good majority of the year he was consistently relevant, and this year it wasn’t just him that was consistently relevant. There were other people who could’ve been considered like Austin Butler who had so much attention for The Bikeriders and Dune: Part II. There were many actors in the running this year because they had months of attention, however it went to someone who’s only remembered for being Jim Halpert on The Office.

John Kraninski is a great actor and has produced great movies like A Quiet Place, but he shouldn’t have gotten the award.

There were other people like Glen Powel, Austin Butler, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Marcello Hernandez, and even Pedro Pascal again who have been consistently relevant, not even just this year but for many years now.

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Is STEM or Humanities More Beneficial?

Lana Holbrook, Staff Does your dream career also include your dream salary? Many people choose STEM majors and put aside their love for the humanities in order to make enough money for the life they want. However, is this worth it? Do STEM majors really make more money in the long run? The New York Times found that the earnings advantage of a STEM major over a humanities major disappears after age 40. This is due to young people entering the workforce and older generations’ technical skills becoming less valuable.

The top employed major is science- or engineering-related.

However, this does not take away the validity of humanitiesbased majors. Many people tend to underestimate humanities majors, but these things are fundamental to society, just as much as STEM is. These things must be able to coincide with and not claim superiority over each other. The closing gap amongst financial advantages between humanities and STEM majors is also aided by liberal arts education providing more skills that are useful in the long-run and are not specific to certain career paths. Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills are incredibly useful and necessary for any career, which

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makes humanities-based majors more appealing to younger audiences despite an inherent ignorance to issues bigger than themselves. With an assortment of problems going on that the younger generations have had to endure, there has recently been an influx in people going into humanities majors.

Is STEM more beneficial than humanities? Both types of majors provide the same opportunities and you can make a living off both. So, if you have a passion for literature but are afraid of what may happen, don’t settle for a major you won’t enjoy. You know what they say: “if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”

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