The Antlerette// January 2 2018

THE ANTLERETTE

Issue 7

the antlerette

january 2018 IN THIS ISSUE

A New Future in Medicine

by Tracy Tran, Assistant Design Manager

I’ve recently had the opportunity to get a researching these stem cell to cure diseases, peek into UC Davis’ Institute of Regenerative such as HIV, heart disease, cancers, etc.

Cures to observe the study on stem cells.

Today, patients are now getting cellular After the tour, I discovered a unique field that therapy to ease symptoms of particular has limitless potential to not only save lives, diseases, which are about $6,000 per but to also cure diseases that have affected treatment. A stem cell transplant can range everyday people. from $350,000-$800,000.

What are stem cells and Has there ever been controversy what can they do? Each cell with the research of stem has its own license plate cells? Yes, of course. Until the which allows them to recent decade, scientists perform their specified were using donated human function. Stem cells have embryos to study human the ability to develop into embryonic stem cells. This specific cell types throughout was a massive controversy the body; when they divide and with many conservative Americans replicate, the newly grown who considered the research a http://www.awaremed.com/wpcells can either be another content/uploads/2016/07/stem-cell-tissues-2.jpg destruction of life. In 2006, a stem cell or advance into being a specified breakthrough reduced the amount of cell. Embryonic cells can be various kinds of embryonic cells to be used. Instead, cell types; meanwhile, adult stem cells are researchers discovered how to stimulate a limited with their own tissue origin. patient's own cells to behave like embryonic Embryonic stem cells can be induced into stem cells. being bone marrow or repair damaged tissue The researchers at UC Davis told me that under specific conditions. The hematopoietic this was one of the facilities that are leading stem cells are able to transform and give a the world with stem cell research. Stem cells rise to red and white blood cells and have a large potential to cure many diseases platelets, which results in a quicker recovery that can prolong human life for a better from trauma. Mesenchymal stem cells or future for many and needs to continue to be MSCs can evolve into bone, cartilage, or fat. funded by the people.

The institute at UC Davis is currently

Justice for Poultry Following the recent backyard chicken boom, raising poultry as a hobby has become increasingly popular in suburban neighborhoods........................…………Page3 https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/11/20/15/30/c hicks-2965846_960_720.jpg

It’s Time for Dogerrrrrr Baseball The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the richest histories in Major League Baseball. This Southern California team has 5 World Series titles under their belt, the last one being in 1981……………………………..Page 6

THE ANTLERETTE

| Issue 7

Tech-Addicts

by Daniel Thomas, Staff

The new iPhone X came out recently and it got a lot of people excited, so excited that they thought it was a good idea to wait out in the cold with a bunch of sick strangers [who probably haven't taken a shower in a while] until midnight, just to be one of the first people to receive the newest overpriced and underpowered fragile smartphone. Oh wait, this isn't new. This has been happening for years and it’s not just limited to phones; it includes tablets, movies, video games, video game consoles, books, and so on. People crave the newest thing, but it gets crazier when it involves phones, but why do people do this?

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One of the reasons for this is that, unlike video game consoles or books, cell phones target a wider audience since they provide more function outside of basic entertainment, which attracts people who have a desire for staying up to date with the latest things, even if it costs them $1,000. For many, they have an aspiration to collect every iPhone, Galaxy, etc. and they force themselves to stick to that.

Phone service companies, like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, are not helping their addiction, as they reward customers that stay up to date by giving you a discount on the newest phone if you have the last release under their service.

Another reason is more psychological.

According to the Time Magazine article “Why Buying the Latest Apple Gadget Can Feel Like a Religious Experience,” a rush of dopamine is sent through them when getting the newest phone,

California Grown

by Hannah Faith Villareal, Editor-in-Chief

Nuns and marijuana. Two words you wouldn’t normally hear put together, but the topic itself is quite normal to the Sisters of the Valley in Merced, California. That’s right, folks, right here in California, not far from the Antlerette’s very own EGHS, there are a bunch of nuns growing marijuana for medical purposes. They have good intentions. The Sisters of the Valley use Etsy to sell medicinal salves, tonics, and tinctures. Their products are high in CBD, otherwise known as cannabidol, a cannabis compound that’s been shown to have medical benefits, and also low in THC, the tetrahydracannabidol which is a another cannabis compound with psychoactive properties. Their products are independently organically certified.

The sisters make the medicine using an “ancient ritual” in which cannabis tinctures are turned every morning and night, only bottling them on a full moon, and saying a healing prayer over any jar and bottle before it is sold.

Sister Kate told ABC News, “We make CBD oil, which takes away seizures and a million other things. It’s very high in demand from cancer patients right now. And we make a salve that’s a multi-purpose salve, but we found out it cures migraines, hangovers, earaches, toothaches and diaper rash”. The salve consists of cannabis trim, vitamin E, lavender oil, coconut oil, calendula oil, and beeswax.

There were some issues with its legality, but since California legalized medical marijuana, I suppose the Sisters of the Valley don’t face much trouble with that anymore. Although, Mayor Stan Thurston did express his own moral opinion on the cannabis market stating, “I find the argument that we’re going to make a bunch of money on cannabis- I find that despicable.” He may not be the only one against using marijuana even for medical purposes, but nevertheless, it is now legal to utilize the properties for health’s sake.

Determination.

Defined as the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose.

Many of us take the next step because we know we have to, but there is no better way of moving forward, than to move with a purpose and a set goal. We have to set a location and move forward towards it step by step. We need to move with passion and keep in mind that there will always be barriers. We have to keep fighting through to the end and get back up when we fall. We can’t let previous failures hold us down and make us believe that every time will be like the last.

and it starts to become an addiction.

Apparently, the same parts of the brain react at getting the new phone as someone who goes through a religious experience. Our brain is wired to crave security and higher social status, and companies profit off this fact by releasing practically the same cell phone every year, pretending like it is the next big thing with revolutionary, never-before seen technology that will make your life immensely improved, but no.

At this point, it’s out of the company’s hands. Even if Apple didn’t over-hype their product, they still have an obsessive audience that will buy anything from them. I understand the OCD mentality of buying every product from your favorite company, but there’s a point to where it becomes an addiction, and you will need to settle with what you have already.

THE ANTLERETTE

Ramen Break

by Anna Serpa, Design Manager

Maruchan Instant Ramen is something we think of as so common, cheap, and readily available to us; however, there is a place where ramen recipes, otherwise known as soups, are exchanged and members of this society bond over this sodium riddled treat. This society is one that resides inside of America’s prisons (because we have so many of them), which makes the prisoners bond over the thing found in their commissary.

Issue 7 A Youtuber known as emmymadeinjapan was able to interview the co-author of a book called “Prison Ramen”, during which Gustavo “Goose” Alvarez, a former prisoner, spoke about how the instant ramen was an equalizer or common ground between him and the other inmates. Mr. Alvarez also said that these bonds helped to save each other from a type of insanity as they served their sentences.

In fact, there are many reports that ramen is becoming a currency within the prison system as a way for prisoners to obtain more food when budget cuts take away a daily meal. With numerous cookbooks coming out about prison ramen recipes, these books expose some of the

Following the recent backyard chicken boom, raising poultry as a hobby has become increasingly popular in suburban neighborhoods. However, this seemingly innocent and eco-friendly pastime can actually be harmful to the birds, if they are not properly cared for and given the same consideration as more conventional pets, like cats or dogs. Chickens are not objects or machines; they are living, breathing animals with personalities that do not deserve to be treated like trash. The newfound mainstream practice of chicken keeping should be as serious as raising any other animal; saving these mass-produced animals from diseaseproducing factory conditions should not

Can you name the most horrible thing humans have ever done? Murder? Crime?

Starting wars? What about creating slavery and still letting over 45 million people worldwide fall victim to it? Yes, people are still slaves even in the twenty-first century. A subject that your World History teacher is teaching you is happening in Libya today, right now.

On November 15, 2017, CNN released a video showing an auction that happened in Tripoli, back in August, sent to them by a contact. In the video, it shows three African men being sold for 1,200 Libyan Dinar, the equivalent of 877.64 U.S. Dollars. The

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time, their flesh is so damaged the meat can only be used in dog food, but some goes into school lunches.

If we cannot give these animals a better life than they would have in a factory, why are we raising them at all? I am here to draw attention to the fact that chickens are not just food or a means to an end. Ignorance and malpractice only prove to damage the wellbeing of the birds we are supposed to be saving. Eggs should not be a sign of chickens “earning their keep”.

Exploitation is not an honorable concept for humans, so why is it perfectly acceptable to exploit animals? It is not wrong or girly or sensitive to name your chickens, to genuinely care if they live or die or to treat them with respect and love. It should be expected and taken for granted, and the fact that today’s society cannot recognize harm when they see it is disheartening and just disappointing.

auctioneer says that he was doing a “sale” and that these three men are "big strong boys for farm work".

According to CNN, the slave auction was “one of many in Libya”. They believe that there are other ones happening in the following Libyan cities: Zuwara, Sabratha, Castelverde, Garyan, Alrujban, Alzintan, Kabaw, Gadamis, and Subha. CNN also addressed that there are probably many other cities around the world, not just in Libya, that hold slave auctions.

The reason why these auctions are mainly being held in Libya is because thousands of migrants enter Libya every year to either escape conflict from their home country or to go to Europe for a better life. Libyan coast guards have tripled since July to make sure that migrants aren’t smuggled to Europe.

This caused more people to want to be

smuggled to Europe because many of these migrants have spent all their money to just reach Libya. Now that the immigration process is taking longer than expected, many migrants are becoming homeless. Many of these smugglers promise to be the gateway to Europe, but they, instead, kidnap these poor migrants and sell them as slaves. The migrants don’t end up reaching freedom and are put in a position that is worse than when they started out.

We should all do what we can to prevent slavery. Before this, I didn’t even know that slavery still existed. Just because it doesn’t happen where you live doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world.

Hopefully, these migrants find a way to escape slavery and have a better life.

Slavery Still Exists ;by Yasamine, Yusufzai, Staff

Prisoners make alliances over readily available food turning their society segregation into their own society and using ramen as the backbone of the economy. I find it very admirable; they have taken a bad disposition and created their own way of life around the restrictions of their prison. Who knew ramen could be worth so much?

mean a single lonely hen trapped in a 4 square foot excuse for a coop eating nothing but leftover Mexican cuisine.

Every year, over 300 million chickens have their beaks melted off and spend their two miserable years of life in a cage the size of a file drawer with ten other hens unable to lift a single wing. Disease runs rampant because, in such close quarters, even for these meticulous birds, hygiene is impossible. When birds die of starvation, dehydration, illness, or broken bones, the corpses are often left unattended and the remaining survivors must live with the bodies of their companions rotting at their feet.

Male chicks are suffocated by the billions and many more are thrown into high-speed grinders called macerators while still alive. By the time the hens are two years old and sent to slaughter, 30% have been suffering from broken bones, osteoporosis, and rough treatment for most of their lives. Most of the

Justice for Poultry ;by McKenna Morris, Staff

hardships that the authors, or other inmates, dealt with while serving their time.

THE ANTLERETTE

| Issue 7

Barred for Life

by Gianna Toribio, Staff

As we grow older matters we never thought twice about make their way to be present as important issues of life. As children, we are visually entertained by many things, one of those being the zoo. Going to see your favorite animals alive and real before your eyes and ears to experience up close is an experience we can all probably relate to. Yet, as animal awareness and cruelty becomes more apparent to the social world, it is unfortunate for some to not realize that here in its nature is an entire place of animal cruelty.

Zoos are entertaining, yes- there is no denying that, but it is no space for wild animals to be placed and expected to live fully and freely, like originally intended to.

4 Wild animals are found in the wild and stripped from their natural habitats where they are forced to live in a confined, caged area. This is not how animals are meant to be kept. Today, many people do not support Seaworld as it is notorious for its abusive nature. Yet, here the same is happening to a large variety of animals on perhaps an even wider scale, and, somehow, is not a topic amongst many for its cruelty and abusiveness.

There are many concerning aspects of a zoo in its entirety. Most importantly, zoos do not have the capability to resemble the proper habitat for each individual animal they keep. How do you suppose a polar bear exhibit could possibly give the right conditions and temperature to such an animal in a place like the San Diego Zoo? Most polar bear exhibits are outdoor and cannot meet the natural temperature needed, which results in many animal

For Every One Lost

by Jenna Quarnstrom, Staff

Lately, zoos have been a topic of much controversy and are synonymous with animal cruelty and mistreatment. The issue of the mistreatment at SeaWorld often comes to mind when one thinks of mistreatment within zoos, but SeaWorld is not a zoo. It is an amusement park with rides and attractions, and the whales are there as attraction, not as a part of a zoo. However, the events at SeaWorld cannot shape our interactions with zoos, as most zoos are highly beneficial to several conservation efforts.

The benefit of zoos are clear: they protect endangered animals that are losing their habitat due to deforestation and urbanization. Animals, such as the giant

softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) and the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), rely on zoos as their habitat has been reduced by massive deforestation and illegal hunting. Only 3 of the softshell turtles still exist, and their chance of surviving and increasing in number relies solely on breeding outside of the wild. With less than 100 Sumatran rhinos left, efforts to save them also rely on breeding within captivity.

The breeding of these species is difficult and requires the right environment in order for their numbers to grow.

The main concern with zoos is that animals released back into the wild will have lost all of their wild instincts within captivity. Most zoos put their animals through a

illnesses and places a great deal of stress on the animal's mental health. Ever seen a tiger pace? This is a coping mechanism for tigers and many other captive animals to try to cope with the stress. Cats especially have a very hard time breeding when in captivity and cannot keep up their population due to living in too cramped environment.

In a perfect world, perhaps it could be as simple for zoos to never have existed, or perhaps just be able to maintain and provide stable living arrangements for all animals.

Many probably do not realize the extent to the improper ways of living in such zoos. And today, awareness needs to be brought up and talked about just as equally.

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rehabilitation process before sending them back into the wild. Rehabilitation ensures that animals are able to survive in the wild without the help of humans. Thus, animals that are leaving zoos to reenter their natural habitats have a chance of surviving.

Due to deforestation, urbanization, and illegal hunting, the planet is on the brink of losing many species. As forests and habitats are turned into urban areas, the animals that live in those habitats are forced to relocate, but often find little land to relocate to. Illegal hunting occurs when more animals are killed than have been allowed in a single hunting season, if there is a hunting season for that species. These aspects lead to the endangerment and loss of species. Once a species has been lost, it cannot be returned, and zoos are one of the ways that endangered species are being brought back from the brink of death. Zoos are the last chance for dying species.

THE ANTLERETTE

| Issue 7

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The World Has Lost Its Direction By: Chelsea Planesi, Business Manager Remember back in 2010 when five adorable British and Irish boys stole the hearts of practically every teenage girl? One Direction, formed by Simon Cowell on the U.K. X Factor, skyrocketed to fame with their single “What Makes You Beautiful”, and their fame didn’t seem to stop there. The boy band of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson went on to release five albums and win 212 awards. They are the most successful boy band in recent years, especially by breaking the record of most consecutive albums to debut at number 1 (they had four in total). This band dominated the mainstream music industry with their charming personalities, beautiful voices, and irresistible good looks.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end eventually. On March 25, 2015, Zayn Malik split from the group and the rest of the band’s separation- excuse me, hiatushappened officially in 2016. Zayn, of course,

debuted first as a solo artist with his hit “Pillowtalk. Niall was next with his heartbreaking song “This Town” and Louis followed suit in late 2016 by being featured on “Just Hold On” by DJ Steve Aoki. “Sign of the Times” kicked off Harry’s solo musical career, and the last remaining member, Liam, ended the solo debuting process with “Strip That Down”. Harry also starred in the 2017 war film Dunkirk, showing audiences that he could act just as well as he could sing.

Only Zayn, Harry, and Niall have solo albums out; Louis and Liam are probably too busy with their small children, Freddie Reign Tomlinson and Bear Payne, to handle albums.

Now, as the boys search for themselves in music and film (and focus on their new family lives), the world scavenges to find a boy band that might replace them. With a TV show legitimately titled “Boy Band”, it’s not very hard to see that the world is trying to find a

new 1D. There is a massive flooding of various boy bands all trying to make it big in the music industry, including PRETTYMUCH, Why Don’t We, CNCO, Citizen Four, and In Real Life. It’s a boy band renaissance, as Vulture magazine calls it.

One Direction set the bar for all future boy bands incredibly high. Unlike other successful boy bands from the past, each member has been able to break through with a solo career. With their perfect voices, attractiveness beyond all levels, and charming personalities, it’s hard to beat them. I, and other Directioners like me, can tell you that finding a boy band with funny video diaries, impressive Weezer covers, humorous mid-show lyric changes, and iconic “dance moves” is practically an impossible task. It would feel like infinity if you were to try to count all the little things that made 1D such a good band. The world is searching for its missing direction, for One Direction is a once in a lifetime boy band. https://images5.alphacoders.com/474/474715.jpg

Some Groovy Tunes: Suggestions from an Arrogant Hipster By:

Emily Kennedy, Staff

I have struggled over the years to discover music that I find acceptable, as the type of music I enjoy is often obscure and, unfortunately, nearly impossible to find. To spare individuals from the arduous scavenger hunt I experienced, I have taken it upon myself to compile a list of albums I have deemed of the utmost quality. They are, as follows: 1. Yellow and Such by Gus Dapperton: This is a quality EP, if I do say so myself. It tends to inspire compulsions to wear ugly clothes from a thrift store and dance ironically in public spaces. While bystanders may find this behavior strange and borderline unacceptable, the individual going through the Gus Dapperton experience will no doubt be having a grand ol’ time.

2. This Old Dog by Mac DeMarco: Like DeMarco’s previous works, this album is

wholeheartedly fantastic. I suggest that everyone listen to it immediately, so the global population can assume a chill persona and any and all conflict will be eliminated.

3. Driving to Hawaii by Summer Salt: I quite frequently find myself sounding like an idiot as I explain that the band is not called “Somersault”, although I feel that would also be an exemplary band title. Regardless of the confusion surrounding the name, this EP is, like the other tracks on this list, full of quality tunes.

4. Unpeeled by Cage the Elephant: This is a live album featuring a multitude of songs from their previous albums Tell Me I’m Pretty, Melophobia, and Thank You, Happy Birthday.

Personally, I feel that the live versions of these songs are preferable to the original versions, and I love the original versions more than I love myself.

5. What Do You Think About The Car? By Declan McKenna: I find this album to be considerably enjoyable and the live performances found on YouTube are also fantastic. Declan has also produced some quality music videos. For example, he recently made a video for his song “Why Do You Feel So Down?” in the format of an ‘80s workout video. I also suggest checking out his website, where his vinyl has been sold out for six months. Thanks for being so considerate of your fan base, Declan.

I sincerely hope these suggestions have been at least slightly helpful, or at the very least informational. I attempted to include albums that could be applicable to a wide range of individuals, although it might be difficult to conceptualize music that is stranger and more obscure than the music I have mentioned.

THE ANTLERETTE

Issue 7

It’s Time For Dodgerrrrrr Baseball

By Benjamin Rodriguez, Staff http://timothykurek.com/wpcontent/uploads/2017/10/los-angeles-dodgers-browserthemes-desktop-wallpapers-for-the-on-los-angelesdodgers-wallpaper-2.jpg

The Los Angeles Dodgers have one of the richest histories in Major League Baseball.

This Southern California team has 5 World Series titles under their belt, the last one being in 1981. It has been 29 years since the blue have donned the National Championship trophy. 1981 was the year of the infamous fist pump of Kirk Gibson. Fast Forward to 2017, the Dodgers are young, talented, deep and in the World Series. The Dodgers held the number one seed in the NL West and the best record in the MLB. The Dodgers have broken quite a few records this season and were looking to close it with the Commissioner’s Trophy before they fell to the Astros. One of the records they broke was that they were the first to win 30 in a 34game span since the 1977 Royals, and the first to do so in the NL since the 1936 Giants.

This Dodgers' squad has had two 10 game winning streaks this year. While the longest streak in the division play era (1969 onward) is 12 set in 1976, and their longest since moving from Brooklyn to L.A. for the 1958 season is 14 also achieved in '62 and '65.

Their franchise record is 15 wins in a row set in 1924.

This team has a line-up of stars, one of those being Kiké Hernandez. Kiké Hernandez tied the major league record with three home runs in a postseason game, and tied the record with seven RBI in Game 5 against the Cubs. Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner broke a 60-year-old franchise record in his team's 8-4 loss in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on October the 29th, when he reached home safely in a 15th consecutive postseason

game. Finally we have Clayton Kershaw.

Earlier in the season, Clayton Kershaw became the first Dodgers pitcher to strike out 200 batters in seven seasons in a 3-1 win over the rival Giants. Clayton Kershaw was brilliant in his World Series debut, striking out 11 and was backed by the power of the NLCS co-MVPs in the Dodgers’ 3-1 win over the Astros in Game 1at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers fell to the Astros 5-1 on game 7 of the World Series. Although the boys in blue did not walk home with the trophy, the season they had was full of record breaking games and moments. The 2017 Dodgers broke the 29 year deficit of making it to World Series and are hoping to take it next year.

The Legacy of the Sacramento Kings By: Jason Nguyen, Staff

Lately, the Sacramento Kings have been struggling, to say the least, in making playoffs year after year. Many people have been wondering when they Kings will ever revert back to their earlier form in 2000, when Chris Webber and Jason Williams combined efforts gave the King’s fan hope.

Recently, the owner and general manager, Vivek Ranadivé and Vlade Divac, have devised a plan to rebuild the Kings and return to their throne to as a playoff contender. The media went crazy when the Kings traded Demarcus Cousins for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans and Langston Galloway last year.

Cousins has played for the Kings for seven consecutive years, showing his love and passion for Sacramento by playing his hardest and trying to win every game the moment he stepped on the court. In spite of his hard work and dedication, it wasn’t enough to bring the Kings to playoffs and win a championship. Although he has created many cherished moments that are ingrained forever in King fans, the drought of

a playoff dream that fans have been waiting for is going to be a little longer.

The big hope in the future of the Kings, as a team and an organization, has been revitatizes by their most successful NBA draft in their history. Drafting De'Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles, and Frank Mason implants hope for the future of the Sacramento Kings organization. These four drafts will be the base of the King’s foundation that will lead them to success in the future with the help of these NBA veterans. Vince Carter, George Hill and Zach Randolph will be leading the new generation of Kings, developing a new found hope for the King fans to look forward to. The goal now for the Kings is not to win, but to build a structure for the future to revert back to the old times of their gameplay.

As a Kings fan myself, it is frustrating to see them constantly lose and struggle each season. Although I believe that the new plan for the Kings will be a strenuous process in rebuilding the Kings to become a playoff

team, I do hope that these young players will be able to make an impact in the future for the organization. I want to witness the Kings go to the playoffs at least once in my lifetime and say that I was with the Kings since they were at the bottom of the rankings. I want to see them progress and improve season after season, allowing more people to become a Kings fan and share the same passion and aspirations together. In the end, enduring these harsh times is all worth in the future to see them win a championship once again. https://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.element/media/2.0/te amsites/kings/KINGSDIGITAL-SYNC/kings_web_201604-19/images/logo-current.png

THE ANTLERETTE

| Issue 7

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The Wrong Generation

By Daniel Thomas, Staff

How many times have you heard “Music back then was so good compared to music now?”, or “I was born in the wrong generation!” This is something that is said by many kids/teenagers/young adults. This statement is false, as it only refers to “popular music”. You know, the songs on the radio by artists like Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Drake, DJ Khaled, Young Thug, etc. Songs that fit the categories of sappy love songs, mumble rap, and the occasional “relatableto-millennials” songs, such as Logic’s “1-800273-8255” and Katy Perry’s “Chained to the Rhythm”, all with an annoying dash of autotune and drawn out techno choruses. I am not going to defend these songs. I fully admit that music is a monster business and makes it hard for more underground artists to be more successful without needing to hit those generic beats. Instead, I will offer other alternatives that show people were not “born in the wrong generation”.

When people usually bring up old, good music, they tend to mention 80s-90s rock/grunge bands such as Rush, Van Halen, Nirvana, and the like. Now, although rock as a genre has pretty much escaped the public

eye in terms of popularity, there are still bands out there that bring the same sound, such as the Oh Sees. The Oh Sees are an alternative rock band that deliver an intense and aggressive sound that really shines through in their most recent album, Orc. Another recent band named Beach Slang offers a sharp combo of punk and rock that includes grunge-like vocals reminiscent of Nirvana and Bush.

A genre that has been known not to be losing popularity, but instead losing quality, is hip hop or rap. It is very common for someone to make fun of current hip hop, and, when it comes to the popular, most played tracks, they’re not wrong. That is why the radio is not the most reliable source of good music, as there are multiple examples of good hip hop artists out there right now.

Brockhampton is a hip hop/rap, selfproclaimed “boy band” that provides verses that sound like a mix of classic rap and modern with beautifully harmonized choruses. And, if you are interested in some mellow rap, there’s Open Mike Eagle, who presents a chilled out mood in his music to deliver emotionally potent and original sounding songs, especially in his album Brick Body Kids Still Daydream. The most popular rapper right now, Kendrick Lamar, is often

c

Bye Bye Bye to Good Music

By Jordan Ritchie, Staff

Hans Christian Anderson once said, “Where words fail, music speaks”, but it seems that, in our world today, music is also failing. With Queen and Prince–everyone’s favorite musical monarchs–gone, *NSYNC broken up, and Elvis’s memory living only through Las Vegas impersonators. We are going through a downward musical spiral! The truth is the music then was good before, it ain’t no lie. But music now ain’t good no more, so bye, bye, bye.

I took a poll of 62 people at our school asking what their favorite music decade is, and 10 people chose 2010-current, 10 chose 2000-09, 12 chose the 70s and prior, 12 chose the 80s, and the 90s was the favorite with 18 people. 84% of the people surveyed agreed that music was much better back then and it started getting worse in the 2000s, but the year pinpointed the most was 2010, which marked the beginning of our current decade.

Did someone flip a switch after 09, epically decreasing the quality of mainstream music?

What is the reason for this musical apocalypse?

The answers from the people surveyed varied from the music having no soul, to the lyrics using unnecessary profanity or degrading women, but these were the top four answers: #4: Artificial Sounds. A lot of music nowadays doesn’t use real instruments. A lot of the time, it’s just special sound effects from a computer or machine. Some also complained that music got worse since singers started using autotune, decreasing the authenticity. #3: Sounds the Same. Many people complain that most mainstream music is too similar. There is no originality, creativity, or uniqueness. Most songs use similar beats, rhythms, lyrics, and even titles. In the last few years, there were at least 10 different songs titled “Stay”. #2: Meaningless. Many of the people I surveyed complained about how the songs they hear today have no meaning or the lyrics are random. They don’t feel anything when they hear the music because there is no passion put into the song.

considered “the savior of rap”, and was inspired by Tupac, Jay Z, Eminem, and such artists. Even though his more popular hits such as “HUMBLE.” and “LOYALTY.” fall into the category of popular music, he still has an amazing line up of tracks like “Wesley’s Theory” and “The Art of Peer Pressure” and albums like To Pimp a Butterfly and good kid, m.A.A.d. city.

If you want to find new music on your own, there are services like Spotify and Pandora that shuffle up songs similar to ones by artists you like, so you can discover more artists in the process. The point is, if you look hard enough, you will eventually find some good music. I mean, unless you are completely jaded and only enjoy music from before your time no matter how hard you try, because in the end, it is just opinion. You can have your different preferences with music, but just remember before you say that you were born in the wrong generation, remember that you live in one of the best generations in music, since you have the classics from back then and the good stuff from now.

#1: Sex & Drugs. Many songs of today discuss taking drugs and getting high, not only encouraging young people to follow suit, but also making a very mundane song topic. Sexual themes are also a large topic in today’s music. And most of the time, it’s not even about love, it’s purely physical.

So what can we do to fix this? Maybe artists should start writing their songs about things that really matter and mean something to them, instead of filling their lyrics with F bombs. Refrain from using so many computerized sound effects in songs and make it more music than machine. And it’s okay to be unique! Artists shouldn’t be afraid to break free from the musical status quo and be a little different.

There’s still hope for the future. Janet Jackson is touring again, young pop-rock singer Adam Lambert united with the remaining members of Queen to be their frontman, Justin Timberlake is still classy after going solo from *NSYNC, and Backstreet’s back! So don’t worry, oldies’ fans, maybe not today, but someday, music will make its big comeback. We’ve just got to keep believing, and as George Michael of Wham! said, “Gotta have faith…”

THE ANTLERETTE

| Issue 7

8

The Review: ARK: Survival Evolved

By Christian Ajos, Staff

We all have seen the movie Jurassic Park; people visit an island filled with dinosaurs.

Well, there is a game about being on an island with dinosaurs and, no, I’m not talking about Lego Jurassic World. I’m talking about ARK: Survival Evolved. ARK: Survival Evolved is an open world survival developed by Studio Wildcard in collaboration with Instinct Games, Efecto Studios, and Virtual Basement. It was also published by Studio Wildcard and was released on August 29, 2017.

ARK, like other games in the open world survival genre, is about a person who is stranded in an unknown area. The player moves the character and gathers materials to survive. Surviving the first day is a challenge.

The player must gather materials to build things to defend themselves and harvest resources. Players also have to keep an eye on their stats which includes hydration and food. This is just the beginning. Players must survive the scaly and furry residents of the island and some won’t hesitate to attack. I

remember playing the game for my first time. I was just minding my own business, spearing fish to get food, when, all of a sudden, a Pegomastax attacks me. I ran and was killed by a pack of raptors. This adds to the challenge because the further one goes into the Island, the tougher the dinosaurs get. In addition to surviving packs of predators and angry herbivores, players gain experience from doing anything. The amount of experience gained depends on what the player is doing. Whether it be menial tasks like picking berries or complex ones like killing a Tyrannosaurus with nothing but your bare fists, players gain experience. Leveling up allows the player to unlock new crafting recipes and new workbenches to craft higher level objects. Players can choose to build a home base or a mobile base. Bases can be built by crafting or acquiring structural components such as floors and walls. If players get lonely, they can take advantage of the game’s taming system. Players can tame dinosaurs using one of two methods,

knockout or passive. Knockout is pretty self-explanatory. As the name suggests, the creature must be knocked out and fed. This method is the primary method of taming for most creatures in the game. Passive taming is when the player feeds them while the creature is still awake.

Tamed dinosaurs can be ridden on and serve as companions. All in all, there are sixty species of the island and most are tamable.

There is also the multiplayer system which can be either online or local. In this system, players can form tribes and even go to war with other tribes. I have a small problem with this system as there is a limit to how far joining players can go from the host player.

ARK: Survival Evolved receives a 7.3/10.

The game is amazing with stunning graphics which make the scenery look breathtaking; however, the game has flaws mainly in its taming and multiplayer system. Tamed dinosaurs can vanish without a trace from the game and cannot be recovered. In multiplayer, players are bound and tethered to one person which ruins the experience of online exploration and the feature of tribal warfare. After all, how can a war advance if they can see what the other side is doing?

Despite this, I would still recommend this game to people who are looking for a difficult survival experience.

c

The Secret Life of a Fanfiction Author

By Chelsey Adams, Staff

My life has been like any other high play or book or anything; for example, there schooler’s… except I have a Hannah Montana is Harry Potter fanfiction, Hamilton fanfiction, identity. While I am a quiet, intelligent and Game of Thrones fanfiction. Some of you student to my peers, I am also a selfmay have read fanfiction, or watched it on published author, thanks to an app called the big screen, because Fifty Shades of Grey Wattpad. For five years, I only ever actually started off as entrusted my closest friends Twilight fanfiction. with this secret, and, for This form of literature five years, I never entrusted is seen as inferior and my family with this secret. I weird. It’s not always finally told them last summer, https://s3.amazonaws.com/freebiesupply/large/2x/watt professional, or socially pad-logo-transparent.png out of the fear that they acceptable, to say that would find out on their own. I realize now you read or write fanfiction. At first, I that I never needed to keep this a secret from thought fanfiction was strange, but I soon my family, or anyone for that matter. This is realized that it was just another way for me the documentation of my past five years as a to express myself through writing. fanfiction author.

With fanfiction, there is so much to love. I The first question in your mind is probably love the idea of being in love with a series, “What is fanfiction?” Well, fanfiction is a like Harry Potter, and combining that love form of literature that is someone’s take on with my own imagination. I love being able anything they like, whether it be a movie or a to see how much people love my works.

Writing is an easy way for me to get my thoughts and feelings across, and I often find my everyday life reflected in my works.

Fanfiction sparks a passionate fire for writing in me. I can clear my head and display my thoughts through something popular; I can make someone across the world smile. I can do anything I set my heart to. I’ve created a small foothold for myself by writing and publishing my works for the past five years. My twelve works (including short stories) have reached six continents and my best work has over 116,000 reads, which is a lot for a girl from Elk Grove. My writing has grown and expanded over this time. I have tested out different genres: fanfiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and just plain fiction. I am not quite ready to tell all of my peers about my Hannah Montana side, but I am proud of all that I have so far accomplished.