The Antlerette Volume 98 Issue 3

The Antlerette Volume 98

December 2023

Issue 3

History of Halloween KyRee Fultz, Staff Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in the US. Kids look forward to dressing up as their favorite characters and going door to door knocking, hoping for their desired candy. Halloween takes place every year on October 31st; however, it is not a federal holiday meaning people do not get school or work off on that day.

Halloween originated as the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. This would soon evolve as later in the eighth century, Pope Gregory III decided to make November 1 as a time to honor all saints. This created a holiday known as “All Saints Day.” Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Eventually as time passed, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes, and eating treats that we see today.

01

Halloween has evolved into one of the most profitable holidays for the US. In fact, this year Halloween set a $12.2 billion Halloween spending splurge in the USA, creating a new record. These are all profits from Halloween candy, costumes and decorations. Even though Halloween may not have the same symbolic meaning as other famous holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, it still plays an important part in our childhoods.

02

Day of the Dead Camila Avila, Staff The Day of the Dead, also known as Dia De los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday celebrated to honor the dead. It is believed that the souls of the dead return back to the living world. During the celebrations you will often see vibrant colors which are meant to represent life and who they once were.

The holiday began from indigenous customs in which the Aztecs had a month dedicated to honor the dead. To honor them they would set up altars, also known as ofrendas, in which they would leave drinks, food, or their personal belongings, which is intended to welcome their dead loved ones.

03

This holiday is celebrated November 1st and November 2nd. This holiday is typically very emotional for most; for others it's very exciting because you feel closer to those who once lived. It really brings family and friends together since everyone cleans their loved ones’ graves and decorates them and at home they set up altars and decorate them with their loved ones’ pictures, favorite foods, snacks, water, soda, beer, and other types of alcoholic beverages. They also make sure to leave their prized possessions or items that represent them is placed next to pictures.

During this celebration families bond in many different ways like grief but the celebration usually gives everyone a sense of happiness knowing that they are back once again. The celebration is filled with dancing, singing, and prayers. Overall it’s a beautiful way to remember our loved ones.

04

The History of Veterans Day Ava Xu, Staff In the year 1918, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the Great War ended. In 1938, Veterans Day, also formerly known as Armistice Day, was made a legal holiday in the United States to honor and commemorate the veterans protecting our country.

When Veterans Day became a federal holiday, it didn’t always stay on November 11. In fact, in 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill was signed, ensuring three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays, such as Washington's birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on their original dates. But with the new law in 1971, there was confusion as to why Veterans Day was going to be held on October 25, 1971. But luckily on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned Veterans Day to its original date of November 11th, beginning in 1978. Since then, Veterans Day has been observed on November 11th.

05

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day which is a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their love of the country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. In the United States, an official wreath-laying ceremony is held each Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Parades and other celebrations are held in states around the country.

06

The History, Legacy, and Present of Thanksgiving Lucan Amituanai, Staff Thanksgiving, one of America’s most celebrated holidays, has been a deep tradition in the U.S. before the U.S. was even established. Dating all the way back to 1621, the origins of the holiday lay within our foundation as a country and also spread our central idealism for our “land of the free.” In the present day, people come together to give thanks for what they’re grateful for every fourth Thursday of November.

In 1621, English colonists from Plymouth and the Native Wampanoag people came together and had a meal. Pilgrims, celebrating their arrival onto the New World soil, invited the Natives for a feast and certain marksmanship and foot race games. Only certain states celebrated the holiday for centuries, until in 1863 during the Civil War, when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. In our present time, Thanksgiving is still looked at as one of America’s most iconic traditions and holidays. People all over the country use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to share a meal with their families, give thanks to what they’re most grateful for, and enjoy fun activities and games in spirit. Our old traditions that are so deeply embedded into our nation created new traditions that we continue to celebrate now during this holiday.

07

In conclusion, recognizing how Thanksgiving originated in our country helps connect how we live and celebrate through the holiday today: enjoying yourself through what should be a good day is what’s most important, and giving thanks for what you’re most grateful for should be an everyday thing, but especially on Thanksgiving.

08

Why is Christmas the Best Holiday?

Sydney Wesselink, Content Editor A lot of people have a favorite time of the year, whether that be a holiday or simply a season that they feel happiest in. During fall there's Halloween and Thanksgiving, and then in winter we have the best holiday, Christmas.

There are many reasons why Christmas is the best holiday, so sit back and allow me to show them to you.

Whether or not you enjoy Christmas, at some point it was your favorite because of the famous Santa Claus. Struggling to sleep, waiting to hear him coming down the chimney to bring you presents and eat the cookies you made with your parents earlier that evening was how every kid's Christmas Eve went. When you’d wake up there would be a bunch of new presents under the tree that Santa had brought you. Obviously we’ve reached the age where that isn’t the case anymore, but when you think about it, it was an amazing part of your childhood that filled you with hope and happiness.

09

Even though we are older, and Santa Claus is just a fun myth that’s a comforting Christmas tradition, there are still a bunch of different opportunities to make memories with your friends and family. You can decorate the Christmas tree using meaningful ornaments your family has collected over the years while a movie or music plays in the background.

The smell of cookies being cooked in the oven knowing you can stay up all night with your friends watching all the classic Christmas movies like Elf or How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

For those who love Thanksgiving for the food, did you forget about Christmas Eve dinner? There is still this amazing opportunity to eat a big feast of ham, turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and many other foods your family might cook. You get to go to sleep with a stuffed stomach, knowing that when you wake up you get to open presents as well as watching your loved ones open the ones you got for them.

Besides the decorating, food, and the presents, there is just the environment of the special holiday. Driving through town with restaurants having lights up, your neighborhood being decorated and lit up, and just simply the joy that comes with this holiday filling the air. It’s refreshing outside knowing that most people are feeling the same warm happy feeling you are knowing Christmas is right around the corner.

Since every holiday has its own traditions and their own special reasons to love it, Christmas has the warm feeling you won’t feel any other time of the year and where you can make memories that are impossible to recreate any other time of the year.

10

Coco Gauff’s Journey to Winning the US Open Joanna Arteaga, Staff As many may know, the US Open is a tennis tournament held annually with some of the greatest tennis players in the world. The now-retired Serena Williams was the youngest player to win the US Open, but now a new aspiring tennis player has taken her place. Her name is Coco Gauff.

With the hard work that both these tennis players have put in, people are excited to watch the journey of Coco Gauff unfold.

Gauff started playing tennis when she was six years old. She had a strong bond with her dad while playing tennis, which made her love of the sport become stronger. At the age of 14 she entered her first professional tennis tournament, winning first place. Gauff became an outstanding tennis player with all the hard work that she had put in.

11

People from all around the world have come to win the championship of the US Open. Many women like Iga Świątek and Ons Jabeur traveled to get a shot at winning the trophy. With the years of experience that these women had, people were sure that it was going to be an interesting game.

But people did not know that 19 year old Coco Gauff was going to rise to the top. With the pressure on her shoulders to win the US Open, all she wanted to do was to win for her family. Despite losses against Jessica Pegula and Iga Świątek, she had great wins against Elise Mertens, Jelena Ostapenko, and Aryna Sabalenka, and won the championship match. After winning the toughest match that she has ever played in her life the first thing she did was call her brother.

Coco Gauff worked hard to win the US Open. And now that she’s on top with Serena Willaims she will continue to play the sport that she loves, celebrating every win with her family, who always encouraged everything that Coco has loved.

12

How TikTok Influences People’s Perception of News Marie Ndulue, Staff Most people have some sort of social media on their phones. As of 2023, Tiktok, a video-sharing app that quickly rose to fame in 2019, has over 102 million users from the United States alone. With the ability to post whenever and wherever, people often share news on TikTok as it is an easy platform to get a message across. However, with little regulation, people watching often take in news that is biased and sometimes untrue.

The influence of social media in politics has greatly increased within the last decade. Society constantly relies on it as a source of information. This dependence on social media can be harmful, however, as people often take misinformation as truth, influencing public opinion. Especially over the last few years, TikTok, which was created by Chinese company ByteDance, has gained power in the political environment. Originally, TikTok began as an app for youth to dance and post lip sync videos to songs. However, it has shifted to cater to people of all ages.

13

TikTok has especially become popular among members of both political parties. During the 2020 election, people from both parties often used the platform to express their opinions and concerns. Even politicians use TikTok to form relationships with potential voters. They target their audience’s beliefs and influence their opinions. Younger generations are especially being influenced as they tend to believe that politicians are more authentic and honest on social media than mainstream media.

TikTok is still a fairly new social media platform compared to Facebook or Instagram, for example. However, its influence on people of all ages cannot be denied and it continues to shape our perception of the world around us today.

14

There is No “Sexiest Man Alive” Adrian Bayardo, Editor in Chief At the end of each year, one male celebrity is chosen to be featured on the cover of People magazine and crowned the “Sexiest Man Alive”. This title is absolutely meaningless, and in this day and age, physical magazines are a dying medium. Despite this, the concept of a “Sexiest Man Alive” title still captures the attention of many as they speculate over who will be the next man featured on the cover. However, People Magazine’s pick for the “Sexiest Man Alive” of 2023 was… an interesting one to say the least.

On November 7th, 2023 it was revealed that actor Patrick Dempsey was the selection for this year’s “Sexiest Man Alive” magazine. Dempsey rose to stardom when he starred as Doctor Derek Shepherd on the hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy in 2005. From 2005-2015 Dempsey was one of the most popular TV doctors. He was so popular in fact that he won second place for People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2005 and 2006. However, what makes this selection unusual is the fact that Dempsey is long past his prime and has not been involved in any major noteworthy projects since his departure from Grey’s Anatomy eight years ago.

15

When looking at People magazine’s selections in the recent past, all of the celebrities selected were still relevant in their field. Actors like Chris Evans, the “Sexiest Man Alive” of 2022, starred in the second highest grossing movie of all time within three years of being selected. Singers like Blake Shelton and John Legend were both judges of the popular singing contest show The Voice at the time of their nominations. The same cannot be said for Dempsey, who has been out of the spotlight for eight years now ever since the actor stepped away from Grey’s Anatomy to spend more time with his family. His career is objectively not at its peak.

Dempsey peaked in the 2000’s. It would have been more appropriate for him to be featured on the magazine cover in 2005 or 2006 when he got second place, and People magazine is simply trying to make up for that missed opportunity now. They even admitted so on the cover of this year’s magazine, as underneath Dempsey’s name it said “(finally!)”, acknowledging that this pick would likely have been more appropriate 18 years ago. This pick was not based on the physical appearance of Dempsey, as the actor, now 57, has aged considerably since he reached his peak popularity nearly two decades ago. It is clear that Dempsey was only selected based on nostalgia, not for his actual appearance or career in the year 2023. There were many actors who were much more popular this year, and starred in much greater hits than anything Dempsey has been a part of in the last eight years.

16

Pedro Pascal without a doubt was the biggest actor of the year. He starred in the hit shows The Last of Us and The Mandalorian. Pascal has been nominated for three Emmys this year including one for his appearance on Saturday Night Live. The Chilean-American actor gained extraordinary popularity on Tik Tok. Pascal is simply more popular than Dempsey, much more relevant, and also objectively better looking than Dempsey is today.

Picking Pascal would have made much more sense based on recent trends in People Magazine’s choices. However, in the end, none of this matters. The People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” title means nothing and is all for fun; there truly is no one “sexiest man alive”. That being said, if there was one it would not be Patrick Dempsey.

17

FNAF Movie: A Cheap Knockoff or Perfection?

Khang Pham, Staff Five Nights at Freddy, also known as FNAF, is an indie game released in the early 2010s that brought in a niche community. Created by Scott Cawthon, FNAF follows Michael Afton working at a different pizzeria as a nighttime security guard to find and kill his father. Michael’s father William Afton is a maniac murderer who killed children and put them into animal suits called animatronics. Those dead children’s souls possessed the animatronics and began killing anyone who tried to enter Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. The FNAF series became a huge success within the gaming community, attracting many fans worldwide. Mr. Cawthon has created seven other FNAF-related games following the story of Michael after the first FNAF game. So with the huge popularity, Mr. Cawthon decided to find producers to create a movie dedicated to showing viewers the lore of FNAF.

18

The Five Nights at Freddy film was released in theaters October 27th, 2023 which made fans from all over the world book a ticket to watch the movie.

Popular trends on social media like TikTok and Instagram captured the nostalgia that many adults have for the FNAF franchise, as many grew up playing or watching people play FNAF. But fans of the movie were not happy.

Many called it, “not accurate to the games,” “low funding,” and overall “not a good movie to represent the FNAF franchise.” But in my honest opinion, the movie was spectacular! The cast that was chosen to play the characters was fantastic: Josh Hutcherson played Michael Afton and Piper Rubio played Michael’s younger sister. Oh, and the animatronics were absolutely beautiful; even though it's a movie meant for children there were some moments that were very suspenseful and kept me, a 17-year-old, entertained throughout the whole movie.

And most importantly, that movie had a really tight budget, as 20 million is all they had to work with, compared to most movies being over 40 million. I would give my applause to the directors and all the cast members for bringing such a nostalgic movie. It wasn’t my 17-year-old teenage self watching the movie; it was the 11-year-old boy watching my favorite childhood game come to life.

19

Inflation: Then v. Now Le’Andre Murrey, Staff When you look at prices today, we tend to think, “Wow, those prices are high!”, but just how high have those prices gotten over the years? e are going to take a deep dive into the world of inflation. We will be looking at prices from the 1960’s all the way to 2023.

To know what I am talking about, first we must understand what inflation means. Inflation is a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

20

Our journey begins in 1960, when inflation was just a baby. Most of the food items a household would need would cost around seventy cents at the most and that was for coffee by the pound. The cheapest thing you could find was a loaf of bread, which cost about twenty-two cents a loaf. This was just the beginning. As we jump ahead to 1969, the price of a loaf of bread went up by three cents to twenty-five cents a loaf. A pound of coffee cost eighty-five cents by 1969.

Now we will move on to the 70’s. Gas prices in the 70’s were still reasonable as by 1970, the price of gas on the gallon was thirty-six cents per gallon. By now, inflation was well known, but there was not much of it though. The worst of it in the 70’s was in the winters of 1972 and 1973, when inflation rates more than doubled to 8.8%. Later throughout this decade it would reach 12% and by 1980, inflation was at 14%. So it has grown over the years.

Although now we are seeing a little dip in inflation from where it was in the 70’s and 80’s. Today’s rate of inflation is about 3.7%.

Today, that same loaf of bread that you could buy back in 1969 for twentyfive cents a loaf, now costs about $4.03 a loaf, so inflation has risen a lot since then, and in my opinion we aren't done with inflation yet.

21

Superhero Serial; Chapter 3: An Interesting Dinner Kaitlyn McNally, Staff Okay, this is incredibly bizarre, but Aja can get through this! She hasn’t been harmed in any discernible way, still has her mask and uniform on so her identity hasn’t been compromised, and has been treated like a royal guest of honor, which is strange, but not horrible. She can get out of this!

But first, what to do about“Amethyst would like your opinion on tonight’s menu.”

The dinner.

♦ Time passed quickly, and Aja found herself escorted to a pair of fine wooden doors almost as soon as she had confirmed the menu. She hardly had enough time to come to terms with her current situation, and now she was expected to make small talk with the most dangerous man in the city! Dave, the man who had been sent to collect her, opened the doors to reveal a moderately sized dining room, with a walnut table that could fit six people, assuming two sat on the ends. However, only those two seats had table settings, and the other four chairs had been removed. The strangest thing about the setting was the deep purple curtain hung across the center of the table, blocking the seats from each other.

22

Amethyst stood near the chair on her left, and a woman with a clipboard stood next to him. They both turned to her as she entered, and Amethyst seemed to stare at her for a moment, his expression unreadable underneath his signature full-face mask. There was a tense silence before the woman spoke.

“Good evening, I am The Marshall. The menu has been delivered to the kitchen, and food will be ready soon. Please take your seat.” She gestured to the chair across from Amethyst.

Aja settled into her seat nervously, and was very thankful that her mask had been designed to cover only her upper face, so she wouldn’t have to remove it to eat or drink. She wondered if the curtain was Amethyst’s solution to the problem, as he had always been careful about protecting anything that could be used to identify him.

“So,” Amethyst began, “I trust you were comfortable?”

“Yes… But where am I? Why am I here? And why are you being so nice?”

“One thing at a time,” he chuckled. “This is one of my safehouses. I brought you here after you fainted – a dingy alley isn’t a very comfortable place to rest and recover. As for ‘being nice,’ well, it’s the mark of a good host, isn’t it? And you have done me no wrong, I have no reason to harm you. Besides, I find you… interesting.”

Well, that was a weird thing to say. And a little creepy if she was being honest. “But why do you care if I’m passed out in some alley?”

23

Amethyst hesitated, made a few attempts to speak that all sounded uncertain, like he was caught off guard, but in the end it was Marshall who responded.

“We aren’t barbarians,” she said, only the slightest twitch betraying her disgust at the idea. “We have no want for unnecessary suffering. As the Commander said, you have done us no wrong, so there was no reason to leave you there in possible danger.”

“Yes there was!” Aja’s frustration with everything finally boiled over, and kept her from noticing a movement that looked suspiciously like a facepalm through the curtain. “I work for the people trying to catch you! I could turn you in, or lead them here! I’m a security risk!”

Amethyst let out a short bark of laughter, “They’ll never find us. And even if they do, we’ll get away, as we always have.” She could almost hear the smirk on his face.

And she very much wanted to punch it off.

24

Why Electric Cars are Bad - For Now Richard Gao, Staff Electric cars have taken the automotive industry by storm. Companies like Tesla only sell fully electric cars and other major car brands have also started following the trend of going fully electric. It takes a lot of power and minerals to create Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries. That source of energy comes from the burning of coal and creates CO2 as a byproduct. On top of that, lithium mining is bad for the environment. To add to the negativity of electric cars, child labor is used to mine minerals. Many consumers are unaware of the damage EVs cause environmentally and ethically.

The majority of EVs are being built in China, a country known for enormous coal burning. To create lithium ion batteries that power electric cars, an enormous amount of energy is needed. Minerals like cobalt, nickel and lithium all need to be mined in order to build the batteries. Mining activities result in destruction of habitat, soil contamination, and deforestation. Keep in mind the majority of the minerals are being supplied from poor countries. The locals do not benefit from such destruction. An EV battery contains thousands of lithium ion cells. On top of that, other components and hardware are required for the manufacturing of it. In the long run, the manufacturing of electric cars is essentially just as bad as combustion engines.

25

Another reason why is that implementation of child labor is used to supply batteries. In countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa, children are used to mine cobalt due to its high demand by the growing electric vehicle market. Many activists are calling it modern day slavery. Children are working in unsafe working conditions and being in hazardous environments. Exposing themselves to toxic substances isn't the way for anyone to go. The mining facilities do not provide gear for the children and lack basic amenities like clean water. It's not just children though; adults also work in the mines for little pay.

Although EVs get “cleaner” as they get driven more and more often, there are still downsides. Due to the increasing demand of electric vehicles, there will only be further damage to countries providing the materials, harming their own people environmentally and physically. However, certain facilities are beginning to increase pay for the miners and eliminate the need for child labor. As technology advances, so will the sustainability of electric cars. There is no doubt that EVs will be better in the long run, but consumers need to be aware of what is going on behind the scenes.

26

A Journey Kina Her, Staff Disney Pixar has become a household name in the world of animation and storytelling, captivating audiences with its magical tales and groundbreaking visuals. Over the years, the studio has revolutionized the animation industry, pushing boundaries and setting new standards for excellence. This article will take you on a journey through the evolution of Disney Pixar productions from its humble beginnings to the present day.

In 1995, Disney Pixar's first feature-length film, Toy Story, burst onto the scene, forever changing the landscape of animated movies. Directed by John Lasseter, this groundbreaking film introduced audiences to Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and a vibrant world where toys come to life. Toy Story not only became an instant classic but also marked the beginning of a successful partnership between Disney and Pixar.

As Pixar continued to create innovative stories, they ventured beyond the world of toys and into different imaginative realms. Films like A Bug's Life (1998) and Monsters, Inc. (2001) showcased Pixar's ability to breathe life into unexpected characters and make them relatable to audiences of all ages.

These films demonstrated the studio's commitment to storytelling excellence while maintaining their signature humor and heart.

27

One of the key factors distinguishing Pixar from other animation studios is its dedication to technological advancements. With each new release, the studio has consistently pushed the boundaries of animation technology, showcasing stunning visuals and lifelike animations. Films such as Finding Nemo (2003) and The Incredibles (2004) wowed audiences with their realistic underwater environments and superhero action sequences, respectively. Behind every successful Pixar film lies a captivating story that appeals to both children and adults. Up (2009), a poignant exploration of love and loss, touched the hearts of audiences worldwide, while Inside Out (2015) delved into the complexity of human emotions in a way never before seen in animation. These films have solidified Pixar's reputation for creating movies that entertain, resonate, and provoke thought.

In recent years, Disney Pixar has also embraced the importance of cultural diversity and inclusion, reflecting a more representative world in its animated films. Coco (2017) celebrated Mexican culture and introduced audiences to the vibrant Day of the Dead tradition, while Soul (2020) explored life's purpose through an African American protagonist. These stories not only inspire, but also promote understanding and empathy. As Disney Pixar continues to evolve, fans eagerly anticipate future projects that will undoubtedly continue to captivate and inspire. With sequels to beloved films like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles, as well as original stories yet to be unveiled, the future looks promising for this innovative animation studio.

28

From the groundbreaking world of Toy Story to the culturally diverse narratives of Coco and Soul, Disney Pixar has cemented its place as a leader in the animation industry. Their commitment to storytelling excellence, technological advancements, and heartfelt narratives has earned them countless accolades and a dedicated fan base. As we look to the future, we can be sure that Disney Pixar will continue to push boundaries and enchant audiences worldwide with their imaginative and unforgettable productions.

29

The Impacts of Books Mikela Laurenzi, Staff Decades before the cell phone or any electronic device that is used today, there were books. And there still is, but the difference between today and decades or even centuries ago is that people used to actually read them.

Today people are always focused on their electronics and they don't know the value a book can and does hold. People should take a break from technology every now and then, and to give them time away from what's going on in today's world.

When you open up a book, you open up more than just paper. You can create new ideas and unlock new likings by simply reading. Not to mention, it can also improve your reading skills and help with school. They can take your mind into another universe if you have found the right book. It can be a great escape from reality and a great way to cope with whatever is going on in life. The words from Garrison Keillor, “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” A book will never leave your side and as long as people keep writing them, there will always be an escape from reality. People today tend to have a low reading skill because everything seems to be digital and because books are not as common anymore.

It is a known scientific fact that reading can help reduce stress levels. They can also improve vocabulary expansion. They hold a lot of knowledge and a lot of power when it comes to the world. These were just some of the impacts of books and reading when it comes to modern day society.

30

How Similar We are to the Great Apes Olivia Miller, Staff Primates have been our closest ancestor over the course of our six million years of evolution. To most primates, we are 96% a DNA match and nearly 99% to chimpanzees and bonobos. The great apes are the gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees, which is the oldest group of them all. Can you believe how far a percent can go in DNA? It is a common misconception that we evolved from monkeys, but we just have a common ancestor from millions of years ago. Over a large amount of time, living things change in order to fit their environments. It is assumed to be an extinct ape, but we have yet to discover a lot about the evolution of us.

Although it is not surprising how they share so much DNA, considering our skeletal structure and anatomy. With them also being very intelligent beings, it’s no question that they are very similar to us.

31

Just looking at humans and primates, you can tell that compared to other animals, we have a lot of the same physical traits. Monkeys and humans both use their hands and thumbs with the same structure, while many other animals don't have separate fingers for their thumbs. Males are both 5% to 10% bigger than females due to being sexually dimorphic. We get sick from the same diseases and are omnivores. Our internal organs and skeletons are the same and we have different blood types. The list just keeps going on, but just seeing a video of them can say a lot. They move on their two legs like us, but we just don't ever walk on our arms so they aren't as strong.

The ability to figure things out and form relationships are also shown in apes. Mothers hug and kiss their babies like we do, and they learn to agree and communicate with others, although it’s not through speaking like us.

There have been some occasions where humans have been able to train monkeys how to talk through sign language, which is incredible that it’s even possible. They are built to have longer life spans, few offspring, and larger brains just like us. Both our vision is dominant to the rest of our senses. They have the ability to experience laughter, enjoyment in food, and understanding emotions. At this point they should just be considered one of us.

It’s amazing to see how much the primates and we have in common. Seeing videos of them expressing joy and understanding what each other and what humans are communicating is proof that we are connected in many ways.

Studying their behavior and comparing it to ours can expand our knowledge about humankind and the animal kingdom.

32

where the garden Azriel Hu, Copy Editor The hole in my torso has finally grown large enough due to erosion that the vines that have been crawling over me for months can steadily creep inside.

It is no longer weird that I can feel it. The space where ribs and flesh used to be is now an absence, a void filled by invasive, greedy verdure. The fact that one cannot know the feeling of blood running through veins, muscles tensing, bones shifting until it is all gone is a uniquely slow kind of despair.

It is grotesque that I still have the sensation of being human - I can feel the rain falling down my cheeks, I can hear the absolute silence of this damned place. But I cannot see when the sun rises, or when it falls, and I cannot smell the smoke from the fire burning five gardens away.

But I know it is there. The plants scream about it.

33

But I know it is there. The plants scream about it.

Through the stories they pass on I hear of it. I hear of how the roses where the fire first began wailed as their petals crisped from the heat and burned, of how the flames consumed the trees until they too let out their death creaks. I hear of how the strawberry runners three yards west went quiet as sweet ash rose into the air, of how the squash and pumpkin and pea plants shrieked a terrible chorus until they were silenced. I cannot yet hear their deaths.

I do not know what will happen when it reaches here. It is slow-burning, that fire, a lazy killer. It will raze the plants but not me. I will have to listen until they die, scorched to ashes. Will it be a mercy? I have had much time to think about this. Already the vines are hungrily scratching away at my insides. Who will bring me news once these parasites are dead? I will lose it all when they are gone - a consciousness unbound by sensation or emotion.

What kind of end will that be?

What kind of end can there even be? There will be no end to this existence.

Already most of my face is gone; it cannot be much more until what is left is smoothed away, until I no longer know whether or not I have eyes. It is not enough that I am already the barest imitation of what I once was, that the wind and rain have leached away everything?

34