THE
BREEZE VOLUME 27, ISSUE 10
Tragedy at North Park Elementary Editor's Picks
The Breeze staff picks feature stories worth a read
The San Bernardino shooting and the effects on the community
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April/May 2017
CONTENTS News
On Campus
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What You Need to Know
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Supplying Hope
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Tragedy at North Park Elementaary
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A run-through of this week’s most important news stories
How local non-profit gives hope to the hopeless
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Closing of LDC
Investigating the closing of the Learning Disability Center
ASCC's Trip to D.C.
Student Government voices concerns of Chaffey students
Chaffey Car Show
A look at the cars that were featured at Chaffey's annual car show
Homeless Graduate
An on-campus guest writer shares an inspiring story
Features
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Mind Uploading
The reality of a Sci-fi horror
Editor Picks
The Breeze editors' favorite feature stories from this spring
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April/May 2017
CONTENTS Opinion / Reviews
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Fate of the Family
A review of the eighth entry of the Fast and the Furious
New Kung-Fu Kenny A review of Kendrick Lamar's new album, DAMN
Uber
What it's like working for Uber and if it is worth it to students
An Individual's Loss of Internet Privacy How your internet privacy is becoming increasingly less private
Life & Style
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Who did it better?
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Tattos or Taboo
Comparing the styles of Northern California to Chaffey
A look at tattoo discrimination in the work place
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Not the Average Mexican Dish
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IE's Premier Chicken & Waffles
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A story featuring a local restaurant, Luna Modern Mexican Kitchen
A review of the Inland Empire's only chicken and waffle hosue
Boozer Rick Sanchez Usurps Obserdity How humanity shines through in a dark cartoon
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April/May 2017
Letter from the Editor: Love and sports belong together. Both exist, and are great by themselves, but there is something special about the two of them together. For fans, sports are often their first true love. While there is a difference between being romantic with a person and being romantic about a sport, the feelings can be surprisingly similar. My favorite teams will never hurt me the way people can, but I am just as faithful to them as I am to my girlfriend. I am romantic about sports, and you should be too. You'll begin to not only love the team, but the people who love your team too. You'll become certain the stands you sit in are full of the best fans in the world and being a a part of that is similar to the feeling of being in love.
Kyle Smith @_kyol thebreeze@chaffey.edu
My experience with the Breeze has given me the same feeling as well, and while my tenure as Editor-in-Chief is over with the printing of this issue, I know that my team and my fans are the best in the world.
Editor-In-Chief Kyle Smith
A&E Editor Diana Semerdjian
Multimedia Producer Hanajun Chung
Managing Editor Jullian Aiden Bravo
Opinion Editor Chris Salazar
Online Editor-In-Chief Daniel Steele
Life & Style Editor Jessica Villalvazo
Staff Writers and Photographers Students of Journalism 30 & 31
Photo Editor Christopher Santee
Audio/Visual Editor Emmanuel Vargas
Features Editor Katherine Ramirez
Baseline Editor Juan “Charlie� Vargas
News Editor Jullian Aiden Bravo
Social Media Editors Maya Hood Imani Smith
Sports Editor Chris Sainz
General Manager Daniel Steele Lab Techs DeChanne Lane Emmanuel Vargas Faculty Adviser Michelle Dowd Journalism Coordinator Neil Watkins
The Breeze is published up to eight times a semester by the journalism students at Chaffey Community College, 5885 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737. Telephone: 652-6934/6936. Opinions expressed in this publication are the responsibility of the student newspaper staff and should not be interpreted as the position of the Chaffey College District, the college or any officer or employee thereof. Letters and guest columns for or against any position are welcome. Letters should be kept as brief as possible and are subject to non-substantive editing according to guidelines established by the Associated Press. The Chaffey Breeze is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges and the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
The Breeze
April/May 2017
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Calendar
April 24; May 2; May 4 Health Information Booths: RANCHO: April 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on stroke and heart awareness. RANCHO: May 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on stress management and mental health. CHINO: May 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on mental health. Tuesday, April 25 Financial Aid Awareness Day: RANCHO (BE-106 & BE-108): Financial Aid Awareness Day will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by to complete a free 2017-2018 financial aid application. Staff will be present to assist with any questions or concerns. Free lunch will be provided when proof is shown that you completed your 2017-2018 FAFSA or Dream Act Application. April 26; May 2; May 3 Grad Fest: RANCHO: April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FONTANA: May 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. CHINO: May 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Multiple vendors will be on-site. For more information regarding Class of 2017 Grad Fest, visit http://www.chaffey.edu/gradfest. April 26 - 27 Panther Pantry: RANCHO: April 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. FONTANA: April 26 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. CHINO: April 27 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday, April 26 Earth Day Celebration: RANCHO (MACC North Patio): The Earth Day Celebration will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Multiple agencies and vendors such as Omnitrans, Burrtec Waste, SCE, Sierra Club and Rancho Cucamonga city staff will be on-site to spread environmental awareness. Wednesday, April 26 Screening and Discussion: FONTANA (FNAC-218): The One Book One College will host Screening and Discussion of Boyhood from 12:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 Student Invitational Panel Discussion: RANCHO (Wignall Museum): A panel discussion regarding the Student Invitational will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 Legal Night: RANCHO: The 4th annual Legal Night will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Chaffey staff, students, families, members of the community or anyone who can not afford an attorney will receive one-on-one legal advice from professional attorneys. Registration is required at www.chaffey.edu/legalnight.
April 27, 28, 29 & 30 Dance Connection 2017: The Dance Department will present its annual spring dance concert headed by dance director Michelle Jenkins. The show celebrates a diversity of modern dance, contemporary and classical ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, musical theatre and ballroom. The show be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the above dates. Saturday, April 29 Leadership Conference: The second annual Leadership Conference, sponsored by the Chaffey DREAMers, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4, 5 & 6 Chaffey College Concerts: RANCHO (Theatre): The Spring Choral concert, directed by David Rentz, will begin on May 4 at 7:30 p.m. The Spring Instrumental concert, directed by Patrick Aranda, will be begin on May 5 at 7:30 p.m. A second Spring Choral concert directed by David Rentz, will begin on May 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for each concert are $12.
Follow Us: @thebreezepaper
@thebreezepaper
/Chaffeybreeze Cover photo: Community members mourning at North Park Elementary in San Bernardino on April 11 Cover photo by Hector Solorzano The Breeze
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News
April/May 2017
5 Things You Need to Know Jullian Aiden Bravo @Mr_Reporter_
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ISIS Claims Responsibility for Paris Terror Attack: One policeman was shot dead and two others were wounded in central Paris on April 20 after a lone gunmen opened fire and fled the scene. The gunmen was later killed by police. French President Francois Hollande said the attack is believed to be related to terrorism. The self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) announced that one of its own carried out the attack. Since 2015, 238 people have been killed in jihadist attacks, according to data from the AFP news agency. Mr. Hollande said security forces had the full support of the nation and that a national tribute will be held to honor the fallen policeman. - Source: BBC News
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O’Reilly Resigns From Fox News: Conservative television host Bill O’Reilly was forced out of Fox News on April 19 following a series of sexual harassment allegations and an internal investigation that revealed more. On April 1, a New York Times article revealed how Fox News and 21st Century Fox repeatedly stood by O’Reilly even as he and the company reached settlements by five women who accused O’Reilly of sexual harassment and other sexual behavior. The agreements totaled to $13 million. More than 50 advertisers abandoned his popular show the O’Reilly Factor and woman’s right groups called for him to be fired. O’Reilly’s pay-out is estimated to be about $25 million. - Source: The New York Times
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DOW Jones Donates $1 Million to Trump to Ignore Pesticide Study: Studies by federal scientists have found that chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion—a group of pesticides that are a big money-maker for Dow Chemical—are harmful to “critically threatened or endangered species.” Historically, groups such as the Environmental Protection Agency would fight to prevent the harming of all species. However, the new EPA Chief Scott Pruitt said last month that he would reverse the Obama administration’s efforts to prohibit “Dow’s chlorpyrifos pesticide on food after recent peer-reviewed studies found that even tiny levels of exposure could hinder the development of children’s brains.” According to the AP, lawyers for the DOW company have sent letters to the heads of the EPA, asking them to “set aside” the results of the studies, claiming that they are “fundamentally flawed.” - Source: Vanity Fair
The Breeze
U.S. Prepares Charges to Arrest Julian Assange: According to CNN, U.S. officials have prepared charges to arrest Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange. The Justice Department investigation of Assange and Wiki Leaks dates backs since 2010, the year the site first gained notoriety for its leaks regarding files stolen by former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. Prosecutors were concerned with whether the First Amendment prohibited the prosecution of Assange but now believe they have found a way to move forward. “It’s time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is: A non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia,” said CIA Director Mike Pompeo. - Source: CNN
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Aaron Hernandez’s Brain to be Released For CTE Study: The brain of Aaron Hernandez, a former NFL star and convicted murderer, will be released to a center for study about possible brain trauma, according to authorities. The announcement to release Hernandez’s brain comes after Hernandez’s death was ruled a suicide by the chief state medical examiner of Massachusetts. Hernandez’s brain will be released to the Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office. The 27-year-old football star was a former tight end for the New England Patriots. He was serving a life sentence for the 2013 murder of his friend when he was found hanging in his cell on the morning of April 19. - Source: NBC News
April/May 2017
News/Feature
Supplying Hope
Ravyn Salas @ravyntheweirdo With trends easily spread through social media, getting swept up in the latest phenomenon feels inevitable. The Leela Project challenges that norm by adding philanthropic content to Instagram and Twitter platforms, sharing pictures of more than just flashy outfits and envy-inducing vacation snapshots. The Leela Project, a nonprofit started in Corona, is building its following while showing the Inland Empire what happens when compassion meets the community. What started organically as two friends handing out food to the homeless in their neighborhoods has become The Leela Project. Founded by Seth Wheels and Domnick Verrette, the nonprofit focuses on giving back to the community and showing marginalized people they matter. In its first year, The Leela Project has hosted events local to Corona, aiming to ease grim times. Their first event was a success, feeding over 100 homeless people, and their latest event, held at Corona City Park, provided foster kids with school supplies, beach gear, and haircuts, courtesy of local barbers who volunteered their time, skills, and empathy. Their last event focused on kids in the foster care system. In the years between his
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The Leela Project poses for a group shot on April 1 after the day’s events. Photo by Marcella Martinez
parents losing their parental rights and his grandmother gaining custody, co-founder Varette entered foster care. “I was in the system actually,” he shares. “I know what it’s like to have a social worker, I know what it’s like to have supervised visits.” Verrette hopes that his life experience can show kids that there are alternatives to using detrimental outlets, like joining gangs or engaging in drug use to cope with challenging times, which research shows is likely. Studies of youth who have left foster care have shown they are more likely than those in the general population to not finish high school, be unemployed, and be dependent on public assistance. Many find themselves in prison, homeless, or parents at an early age. The Leela Project can reduce these imminent societal issues. Wheel, aware of the homeless population in the northern part of Corona, saw that the rain brought more of the homeless population into the streets when their encampments were flooded, bringing about their first event. Dominick and Seth are clear about opening their arms to the ostracized memThe Breeze
bers of their community, whether in foster care, struggling with homelessness, or facing addictions, financial instability, or any kind of abuse. Regardless of faith or background, their objective is helping those “rough around the edges.” “We just don’t want it to be specifically a Christian labeled organization because then that turns away someone who would want to help that doesn’t share the same beliefs,” Wheel explains. “It doesn’t matter what religion or faith they are just as long as they have a good, helping heart.” The organization has plans to extend its service borders, showing the impact that donating time, resources, and empathy can make on people and ultimately creating a shift in culture. Verrette believes what you give, you get, and both founders have been pleasantly surprised by all the help offered. “Once you show people that you are making a difference, they are eager to help,” Verrette shares. The Leela Project is now busy planning their next event aimed at pampering single mothers. They are planning to host a dinner, with entertainment including spoken word poetry.
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News
Tragedy
April/May 2017
Hector Solorzano @_HecSolo_
at North Park Elementary
O
ver a year after the deadly terrorist attack in San Bernardino, the recent tragedy at North Park Elementary School put the city in the world's spotlight once again. On April 10, Cedric Anderson, 53, entered the classroom of his estranged wife, 53-year-old Karen Elaine Smith, and opened fire killing her and Jonathan Martinez,8, before turning the gun on himself. Nolan Brandy, 9, was also wounded during the altercation.
North Park Elementary School, Cajon High School and Cal State University San Bernardino were all placed on lock down as the incident unfolded. According to San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan, Anderson entered through the schools office and convinced the administrator that he was going to drop something off to his wife. Anderson and Smith, his estranged wife, were found dead in the classroom along with the two injured boys. Smith was a special needs teacher for students in first through fourth grade. Fifteen students were present in the classroom during the shooting, according to Burguan. The students that were shot were located behind Smith and were not believed to be targeted by Anderson. Anderson and Smith married in January before separating last month after issues in their marriage arose. According to Burguan, Anderson had a criminal background spanning from domestic violence to drug and weapons charges. Students from the elementary school were taken to Cajon High School and CSUSB shortly after the incident. Parents and guardians lined up for hours to pick up their children. The school was closed for one week and students returned on April 17. On April 11, a day after the tragedy, a candle light vigil was held at North Park Elementary for Jonathan Martinez and Karen Elaine Smith. The vigil began with the song Amazing Grace sung by two singers and the crowd followed with a prayer. Principal Yadira Downing, Superintendent Dr. Dale Mardson, school board member Margaret Hill and staff that knew the victims were among the speakers at the vigil. Toward the end of the
night, the attendees were instructed to light their candles. The crowd once again went into prayer and song. The vigil was put on with the help of Hope World Wide and the district. Patricia Ward, 59, of San Bernardino, who has grandchildren that attend North Park, said she was scared and worried when she got the news of the incident. As a preschool teacher, Ward says that her job is to protect all children and that she is entitled to take care of the children first. Ward's daughter, 39-year-old Martrina Thompson interrupted to say, "I sent my kids to school that day not knowing this was going to happen." Thompson said that her son knew Martinez and that he was sad about the incident. Melissa Hernandez, 39, has a 6th grade daughter that attends North Park. She says that all she can tell her children is that "It [shootings] happens, we don't know why it happens but just to be aware[...] they can't stop things, but just to be aware." Hernandez, fighting back tears, had a message for the nation. "Talk to your kids before it can happen," she says, " you think it doesn't happen or can't happen to you[...] it happens. It doesn't mean it can't happen again."
Hector Solorzano Community members and district staff at North Park Elementary mourning on April 11.
The Breeze
April/May 2017
News
Hector Solorzano San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan, speaking at the press conference on April 10.
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Hector Solorzano A mother and son mourning the victims of the tragedy on April 11.
Hector Solorzano Buses dropping off children from North Park at Cajon High School on April 10.
The Breeze
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News/Feature
April/May 2017
Closing of the LDC
The Learning Development Center now stands empty on the corner of Central Ave. and C St. in Chino. Photo by Daniel Steele.
Daniel Steele & Jullian Aiden Bravo @MetalgearSteele & @Mr_Reporter_ Some students with autism from the Learning Development Center (LDC) now have nowhere to go for crucial job training.
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he typically spacious room used for the monthly governing board meetings was abnormally packed on Dec. 15 of last year. Concerned parents and students were anxiously waiting their turn to speak out against the school’s decision to close the LDC — a two-year program situated off the Chino campus that trained students with autism to find much-needed jobs. “The Learning Development Center offered me a chance to get a job,” said Christian Townsend, a former student from the LDC. “Now that it’s closing, I don’t know what I’m going to do to get those skills.” LaToya Townsend, Christian’s mother, also spoke to the governing board about her disappointment. She said her son and other disabled students did not feel welcome anymore like the rest of the school’s
population. “You have a tradition with helping students with disabilities,” she said. “(The) college is a community college and we are part of the community and are asking you to help those who are not fully able to help themselves.” Other former LDC students and parents spoke to the board about there deep concern for the program’s closure. They each gave personal issues they have with finding job training. Because of their level of autism, the students at the meeting were unable to find jobs that most others can. Some are relegated to their homes with little to no career options available to them. The LDC had 35 students when it closed. About seventy five percent of them found other programs or took regular classThe Breeze
es on campus, but the rest are still looking for help. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a general term for the varying degrees of complex disorders of brain development. Autism can range from gifted to severely challenged in abilities such as learning, thinking and problem solving. There is nothing about how a person with autism looks that sets them apart but they may interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most people, according to the CDC. People with ASD have difficulties in social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication and tend to have repetitive behaviors. According to a statistic from the CDC, one in 68 children have an autism spectrum disorder. Some people with ASD
April/May 2017
Former governing board president Lee McDougal and new president Katie Roberts on Dec. 15. Photo by Duane Tkatch
require daily assistance while others need less. Some former LDC students lie in the middle of the spectrum, and the program was uniquely qualified to aide these students’ specific needs. Holly Batsford, mother of a former LDC student, found UCLA’s Pathway Program, which offers students with disabilities basic skills and vocational training. However, she could not afford it as tuition fees for the program are $32,125. “I went on a literal quest to find a place for him closer to home,” Batsford said. “This exhausting search left me feeling hopeless and devastated, as no program was appropriate.” Eric Bishop, Vice President of Student Services, first notified the students via email and phone on Nov. 8, 2016 that the LDC would close due to a contract cancellation “serving the LDC.” The contract was with the State of Calif. Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). The DOR would officially close the program in less than a month, on Nov. 30. The language of the email, along with subsequent ones from Superintendent Henry Shannon and past Governing Board President Lee McDougal, led Townsend and other parents to believe the DOR was funding the LDC directly. But this was not the case. The LDC offered vocational training to students with disabilities. Once students finished the two year courses in the LDC, the final step was the Workability III program (WAIII). This program bridged the gap between finishing the LDC courses and getting an actual job. It offered employment assistance. Workability III was
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News/Feature
Board meeting attendees on Dec. 15. Photo by Duane Tkatch
the cancelled contract with the DOR Bishop referred to. “You...had been informed by the school that (the LDC closure) was a result of DOR closing the program,” said Pauline Pina, staff services manager at the DOR, in an email to Townsend. “I explained that we closed the Workability III placement program and not the Chaffey LDC program.” The DOR cancelled the WAIII program with the college because they were not getting the employment results they needed. The program’s two-year contract was also coming to an end. The governing board then decided to gut the entire LDC program, because, according to Bishop, the DOR paid over half of the expenses through WAIII. “The demands were unreasonable,” said William Miller, director of Disability Programs and Services, about the DOR’s requirements for the WAIII. Miller also attributes the LDC closure to its limited resources. “The building wasn’t what it could be,” he said. “Why do this half version of the program when you could close it down then operate later at full capacity?” “It was a decision you needed to make,” said Bishop in a comment about their financial constraints. In addition to the LDC’s closing, parents such as Townsend are unhappy with how they were notified. “They didn’t talk to us before they did it,” she said. “If they would have researched before they made the decision to close it, they would have known there wasn’t many options available.” The Career Institute — a career planning organization Bishop referred to ChrisThe Breeze
tian Townsend after the LDC closure notice — was unable to help him. It could not accept him into the program based on his learning level. Bishop admitted that he could have handled it better. “If I could have done it again, I would have done it differently,” he said. “Because of the process, I understand their feeling. I’m working to alleviate that.” Bishop met with former LDC students and their parents in Jan. to plan alternatives for the students. He has also been in contact with them over the Spring semester. “We’re working on options,” Bishop said. “I’ve given myself deadlines.” Bishop said he is hoping to be in communication more throughout the end of Spring and have a plan for the families by the end of the semester. He would not elaborate on the options he is currently looking at. “There is a concern we don’t value the population,” said Bishop in regards to the families affected by the LDC closure. “I think that’s not true.” Although it is a collective effort, Townsend has been the most vocal of the parents in pushing the school to help the students with autism find a career and support themselves for a better life. Although the LDC closed over four months ago, Townsend’s Dec. statement to the governing board still stands. “We ask you to look into your hearts and use the collective intelligence of this room to find a solution to this problem that is attainable,” she said.
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News
ASCC in D.C. April/May 2017
ASCC members—Tiffany Marquez (far-left), Francisco Hernandez (left-center), Maria Isabel Sandoval (right-center) and Diana Contreras (far-right)
Jullian Aiden Bravo @_Mr_Reporter During spring break, five representatives of Student Government attended a national conference for community colleges held in Washington D.C. The purpose of the conference was to train students on how to communicate effectively with legislators and to allow student representatives from various community colleges throughout the nation to advocate the needs and goals of their student population. ASCC President Travis Alwin, Commissioner of Fiscal Affairs Francisco Hernandez, and council-members Maria Isabel Sandoval, Diana Contreras and Tiffany Marquez are the five students who represented Chaffey College. Other California
schools such as San Bernardino Valley College, Crafton Hills and Victor Valley were among the vast number of community colleges that attended the event. Specifically, their goal was to voice the needs of Chaffey students regarding financial aid, college accessibility, DREAMers/ DACA students, homeless and foster students and the possibility of an open resource center for affordable textbooks. Since a large number of California colleges were present, much of the conference was focused on listening to and addressing the concerns of California issues. The dominant concern was the topic of undocumented students and DACA. The Breeze
California has large immigrant population and there is an estimated 1,100 undocumented students attending Chaffey College. “What we’re facing here is something that is facing the entire state,” Alwin said. “We as Student Government have a job. We’re here to represent the 24,000 plus students here at Chaffey College.” In a meeting with Diane Feinstein’s head of education, the students discussed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Many students are ineligible to receive DACA so they pushed for actions that would allow for more student eligibility. They also discussed concerns regarding
April/May 2017 student privacy and the issue of sanctuary status. Recently, the Chaffey Board of Governors voted to make Chaffey “a school of sanctuary” that protects the privacy of undocumented students but not necessarily an official “sanctuary campus” for fear that the Trump administration will cut Chaffey’s federal funding. “They were telling us that California was doing everything they can to make sure the Trump administration didn’t have a big effect here,” Sandoval said of the meeting with Feinstein’s head of education. In addition to that meeting in Feinstein’s office, the students had an opportunity to meet with a staff member in the office of California Senator Kamala Harris. They talked one-on-five with Harris’s head of education and health. The students advocated for the expansion of Federal Pell Grants to include middle class students who are
News currently ineligible to receive federal aid. According to Sandoval, the responses they received were vague and evasive. “We were shocked at that,” Sandoval said. “He told us that we were the most challenging group he had so far.” “Our hope is that he relayed the information as well as the information from the rest of the California colleges that did meet with him and that he formulated a list that he presented to Kamala Harris,” Alwin said. The students were asked to collect heartbreaking stories of undocumented students and email them to Harris, who would then present the stories to the senate in hope of enacting change. Aside from voicing student needs, the five students also networked with other student representatives from different schools. They gained insight on how to reach out to the student community and experienced
The Breeze
13 first-hand the rough world of politics. Their experience also sharpened their skills in effective communication and leadership. “I learned a lot about how politics and legislation works,” Sandoval said. “Being in that atmosphere you see how it is day-today. It’s very gritty. You have to know what you want be super straightforward.” For Alwin, their mission at the conference was accomplished. Their voices were heard and their concerns taken in. “This event—what we accomplished here—you’re not gonna see tomorrow or the next day but we secured a lot of these issues,” Alwin said. “We can definitely shape the future of not only Chaffey College but California as a whole. What we did in D.C. will have impact on Chaffey students in the long run.”
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Feature
Daniel Steele @MetalgearSteele
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n the 2015 survival-horror game Soma, the protagonist Simon Jarrett suffers a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. He loses his wife in the crash and finds that his injury is terminal. Jarrett has nothing to lose except for his mind, and in a way, he does. Yet he’s left with the exact brain he starts with. In a last-ditch effort to save his own life, Jarrett agrees to an experimental program, created by a Dr. Munshi, which copies his brain one-for-one into a simulation. This simulation allows for Munshi to target and freely experiment on the deteriorating part of Jarrett’s brain to find solutions to the ailment. After all, it’s just a simulation. But it is a perfect simulation, and it is here where Jarrett’s existential nightmare begins. In a theoretical world, where the brain has an exact copy, are there now two Simon Jarretts? Soma weaves this idea throughout its plot and plays with ideas about consciousness and self, asking what these things truly mean. Its premise relies on the theoretical idea of mind uploading, also called brain uploading or whole brain simulation. The theory suggests that if a perfect scan of a brain with all of its data is transferred to a computer, then so is the person’s consciousness. The premise is clearly science fiction for the distant future. Many sci-fi novels and films have riffed on this idea, but Soma is a highly compelling take on it. At one point in the plot, the game lets its player make a decision. From the start of Soma, the player controls the copied version of the original Jarrett. Later on, the player must copy the original’s copy, but at that point the player still thinks the first copy is the original one. The Breeze
April/May 2017
April/May 2017
Feature The player can choose to pull the cord on the first copy they had initial control of, effectively ending Jarrett’s life. But the player lives on through the second copy. Is this murder? The second Jarrett still experiences pain and all the other human aspects of the physical one, but it’s simulated. Whether the player pulls the cord or not depends on whether they think of Jarrett’s copy as a human being. A consciousness with value. And if the player doesn’t value the copy, what does that make you, a copy of a copy? Although Soma’s sci-fi is farflung, actual neuroscientists and collaborators from several universities and the National Institutes of Health are currently working on the Human Connectome Project. The project aims to build a comprehensive map of the human brain, called connectomics, to better understand its complex anatomical nest of neural connections. The project is highly ambitious and lengthy. There is so much information to process from a human brain that mapping a single one will likely take decades and many more millions of dollars. In a video for Boston University, Dr. Bobby Kasthuri, neuroscience researcher at Argonne National Laboratory, said “the entire (human) genome can fit on one or two thumb drives.” Kasthuri then said just a cubic millimeter of a mouse brain would fit on 400,000 thumb drives. The project’s ultimate goal is to use its data to research brain disorders such as dyslexia, autism and Alzheimers, to name a few. But some futurists postulate that connectomic’s natural and ultimate conclusion is transfer of consciousness.
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This transfer, or mind uploading, seen in Soma assumes that all consciousnesss resides in the brain. Some philosophers disagree. “I don’t think consciousness can ever be reduced to any physical brain activity,” said philosophy professor Daniel Kern. “So that means the most you can do with a computer is transfer information from the brain to information in a computer.” Kern said a crucial aspect of consciousness is lost in this information transfer, since not all of it is physical. He agrees with David Chalmers, a well-known Australian philosopher and cognitive scientist who specializes in philosophy of the mind. Chalmers says there are aspects of consciousness not reducible to objective physical structure, called qualia. Kern gave an example of qualia with the color red. He said there is no redness in the brain. It doesn’t see red, but fires neurons which a person attributes to the color. A color-blind person may not see the color red at all. Therefore, colors like red are a subjective experience in relation to each person’s consciousness. Kern’s and Chalmer’s positions on consciousness make them non-physicalists, but many neuroscientists are. Whether Soma’s chilling premise of brain uploading becomes a reality depends on which view is the truth. It will also take time and the incredible collective effort of humanity to push the limits of our understanding of consciousness.
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Editorial
April/May 2017
Must-read Features
(Featured in ‘Mother Jones’) Map of Winn Correctional Center. Jon Stich
Charlie Vargas (Baseline Editor)
Jessica Villalvazo (Life & Style Editor)
Hanajun Chung (Multimedia Producer)
Mother Jones: “My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard” by Shane Bauer This feature piece is an amazing example of investigative journalism. For those that argue that investigative journalism is dead have clearly not read Bauer’s work. Bauer goes undercover to get insight on what a private prison entails and the power and accountability a prison guard has in his role. This is written in long form and broken up into five chapters. With each chapter that progresses, the readers can see the metamorphosis of Bauer from journalist to prison guard. The way that Bauer engages his readers is addictive which makes a great asset to investigative journalism. I won’t ruin too much of the story but if you’re familiar with the Stanford Prison Experiment there are some startling parallels.
In i-D’s feature article “The Transformative and Terrifying Role of Gowns in Film” by Mel Campbell, the topic of whether femininity and poise behind wearing a dress can ultimately affect the way a women perceives herself physically and emotionally and how this can cause an identity crisis. Campbell discusses Beauty and The Beast and how the drastic “makeover” scene can be a demonstration of the way women can potentially find love and acceptance by changing the way they appear. I think this article is an important read, simply because the younger generations are more so focused on physical features and beauty. With movies that highlight this concept, quite like the ones that focus on Disney princesses, the push of an unrealistic image is more prevailing than ever.
This one’s a bit of a cheat, as it’s not really an article. My recommendation is the Youtube channel belonging to Vox.com. With a little over half-a-thousand videos, the channel features subjects ranging from Politics, Art, Pop-Culture, History, Education and many more. They’re expertly edited, and have great production value, specifically in sound and animation. It must be said that the animation done in these videos are absolutely inspiring in visual storytelling and information. It’s literally the ideal way to learn and retain information.
The Breeze
April/May 2017
Editorial
17 Jullian Aiden Bravo (Managing Editor) Close your eyes and imagine yourself wandering through an ancient, mystic-like forrest. Its trees tower at a height of 300 feet; their width: 30 feet. In this forrest, the trees predate the English language and most of the world’s major religions. They are a humbling reminder that mankind is ever so small. This place, believe it or not, exists, and is not very far away. The Sequoia National Park is exactly that—an old forrest with towering trees. “In The Land of Giants” by Jon Mooallem, is a feature story that explores the history and beautiful nature of the Sequoia National Park in California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains. The photos, taken by David Benjamin Sherry, show a place that can be described as mystical, dreamy, and spiritual. The story is very well-written and conjures vivid images and scenes the writer experienced. And at the same time, Mooallem’s writing style creates a sense of nostalgia for a place I never visited before. Perhaps it’s his vivid descriptions or his soft, novel-like tone paired with the brilliant photography that creates such a feeling. This piece is a must-read for anyone interested in history and adventure. Upon reading the final sentence, exploring the Sequoia Nation Park will definitely be on your bucket list.
New York Times
Daniel Steele (Online Editor in Chief)
Kyle Smith (Editor-in-Chief)
Chris Salazar (Opinion Editor)
The best stories are always intensely human. In Waypoint’s article, “The Dying Man Who Found Hope in ‘Breath of the Wild,’” Patrick Klepek documented the final weeks of Gabe Marcelo, a man with a terminal life-long heart condition. Marcelo’s dying wish was to play the then unreleased new Zelda game, and Nintendo was kind enough to let him. The story tells of Marcelo’s past challenge with his condition and how he found escape from it through video games. It’s a heartbreaking story and does not require any knowledge of video games to appreciate.
A heart transplant is pretty amazing itself, but when a heart, that at one time pumped blood though an NFL tight-end saves the life of a baseball Hall of Famer, it is even more special to sports fans. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports not about two professional athletes, but about two people who have shared the same heart and what it means to the families. In the article, he writes about the death of Konrad Reuland from his mom’s perspective, and the moment she met Rod Carew, who now has Reuland’s heart inside his chest.
The Atlantic: “The Brilliant Incoherence of Trump’s Foreign Policy” by Stephen Sestanovich. This feature article is incredibly timely, considering the recent rise in populist politicians from the left and the right. But, more importantly, Sestanovich details how Donald Trump was able to capitalize on the collective disillusionment with the global, neoliberal order. Interestingly, with Obama and Putin framing the context of his ascent, Trump seized a historic contradiction in which a sizable minority of our domestic electorate “wanted relief from the burdens of global leadership without losing the thrill of nationalist self-assertion.”
The Breeze
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News
April/May 2017
CAR SHOW
GT-40. Photo by Esmerelda De Santiago
Esmerelda De Santiago @reporter_esme
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haffey College’s 9th annual car, truck and motorcycle show was held in the northern parking lot early morning on April 9. Visitors rallied in as car owners began to show off their cars for their vibrant colors, designs, speed and style. Cars were lined up in isles with their hoods open. Their owners sat or stood beside them, ready to speak and share their stories as judges inspected each car’s specifications, aerodynamics, wheels and paint quality. Six out of ten interviewees spent more than $10,000 on their automobile after purchasing it. About 90 percent of owners were 50 years or older. 52-year-old Brain Castańeda, of West Covina, owns a 1969 Road Runner with a black vinyl top, red streaks and an outside left hand manual chrome mirror. He said the thing he finds most incredible about his car is the originality.
Mustang. Photo by Esmerelda De Santiago
The Breeze
April/May 2017
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News
ZZ06 (left). Viper engine (Right). Photo by Esmerelda De Santiago
Vintage classic (left). Classic Chevy Nova (Right). Photo by Esmerelda De Santiago
“This is a numbers matching all original 65,000 mile with only one repaint 18 years ago,” Casteńeda said, “other than that everything is like if you went back to 1969 and somebody handed you the keys at the dealership.” Casteńeda maintains it himself, has a climate control garage to keep the temperature right and does not allow anybody to touch it. There are only three original silver ones to still exist in the United States. When purchased it was $40,000, but is now worth about $100,000. Even though his car is worth so much, Castańeda says it’s not about the money but the love the owner has with the car that makes the value of the automobile so much more. “I’m thinking about maybe being buried inside of it,” Castańeda said. 67-year-old Phil Leatherman, of Corona, showed off his red 1931 Chevrolet five-window coupé with an orange and yellow flame design. Real flames shoot out of the exhaust pipes by ejecting fuel into the exhaust and putting five gallons of gasoline
into the pipe. With 3,000 horsepower the Chevrolet uses 32 gallons of fuel to the mile and runs on methanol. “So at least its green, because it is alcohol,” Leatherman said. 67-year-old Henry Louis, of Orange County, owns a poppy red 2015 Corvette Stingray with 512 horsepower. “Every now and then, they will come out with Stingray and it’ll be limited production and they will go back to calling it a Corvette, so now you have a collector car because it was only made for four years,” Louis said. Students of the Automotive Technology class organize the event and is mainly an event for fundraising. “These guys organize weeks ahead and wake up at four in the morning today to have everything ready,” said Sherm Taylor, coordinator of the show and professor of Automotive Technology. The Automotive Technology club is known to be the only club to fundraise $1,000 for the Fun to Dream foundation for eight years in a row. The club also gives The Breeze
$500 to $1,000 to the Veterans Resource Center, hundreds of dollars to the Food Pantry and paid for a Night with Santa with the money raised by the car show. Last year they achieved $3,500 to provide scholarships alone. Taylor says this amount of money is favorable to provide not only because it gains good reputation but to inspire other clubs to achieve their goals and be able to compose great amounts of money for scholarships. When it comes to money, “one good rule is never take more than you get,” Taylor said.
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A&E/Reviews
April/May 2017
Hanajun Chung @hanajunn-
A
s Easter weekend comes to a close, the eighth installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise has broken International box-office records with over half-billion dollars in sales, edging out “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” A success internationally, this diverse cast of characters find themselves starting somewhat fresh without the presence of the late-Paul Walker...
The Breeze
April/May 2017
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A&E/Reviews
Universal Pictures
While the entries can be scattered regarding continuity and character, each “Fast and Furious” film entertained through fun characters and incredible car stunts. Despite the overall silliness of the franchise, one can’t fault the series for committing to this constant “expression” of ideas, emotions, stakes and further character work through cars. Who cares if a boat, tank, or even a plane might better suit their purpose—why do any of that when they got fast-ass cars? But all of that only works if the people behind the wheel are able to get the audience along for the ride. “Fast Five” (the fifth entry) is probably the one that has the most harmonious execution of character and stunts, culminating with a climactic heist in Rio that’s brilliant. “Fate of the Furious” will also show audiences car stunts that they have never seen before. At this point, it’s expected. Yet the film doesn’t adhere to the characters in the same, loving lens as previous directors have done in the past. As a result, “Fate” loses a lot of the fun and energy of prior films. Away and living the life with his recovering-amnesiac lover, outlaw Dominic Torreto (Vin Diesel) is confronted by a cyber terrorist group led by the enigmatic Cipher (Charlize Theron), forced into betraying his former team after she shows him something that he cannot ignore. As a result, his former team must stop Cipher and rescue Dom, while siding the previous film’s villain Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham).
This premise alone is one that can worry and excite series’ fans. As fun as it is to see Statham in these films, his role here is a tone-deaf betrayal to the franchise’s logic and ethos. In the prior film (or third, depending on who you ask), the character’s brutal murder of a franchise regular is the inciting incident in the seventh entry. Even if you excuse that, Statham simply can’t fill the void left by Sung Kang, Gal Gadot and the late-Paul Walker—which is a shame, because he has the best action scenes in this film. Additions such as Kurt Russell and Helen Mirren try to add some humour and play, but they’re barely in the film. Don’t get me started on Scott Eastwood... If insane action is what’s desired then this somewhat delivers. There’s one set piece that takes place in New York City about midway through that’s outstanding. The level of destruction and ingenuity in that sequence is staggeringly scary. There’s the obligatory street-race sequence that’s surprisingly good which opens the film, but the film ends on big, slightly confusing mess of CGI, explosions, ice and Tyrese yelling. In fact, the two standout action scenes don’t really feature cars, rather just creatively executed hand-to-hand brawls in a prison and an airplane. The direction here by F. Gary Gray is a seamless one from all the other films, meaning that it does look and at times feel like a “Fast and Furious” picture. Yet he doesn’t have the glee and playfulness that Justin Lin and James Wan brought in previous seThe Breeze
quels, playing this one a bit more straightfaced, much to its detriment. Gray gets a good performance out of Dieself, but that’s about it. But Chris Morgan’s script brings this whole thing down. On one hand it hits the minimum requirements to make a “Fast and Furious” film, but Morgan forgot one of the most important elements to this series: family. Gone is the sense of comradery and teamwork that made these outlaws transition from boosting DVD-VHS combo players to international spies. People come for the action, but they stay for this oddly tight group. Some characters from previous films do show up, but they do so without a sense of agency or individual purpose. They become the worst kind of plot devices, emblematic of this whole film’s practice of repurposing character to deliver the worst kind of blockbuster. The live-action adaptation of “Need for Speed” is proof that excellent car stunts alone (and trust, that film has incredible stunts) aren’t enough to fill seats. “Fate of the Furious” is on track to making record-breaking numbers in the box office, and will most likely result in the studio fast-tracking the ninth entry. But if this is the direction they’re going to take these characters, the fate of the franchise is heading toward a troubling path. Grade: C+
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Reviews
April/May 2017
K
NEW KUNG-FU KENNY
endrick Lamar dropped his fourth studio album “DAMN” on April 14,2017. The album follows two singles, “The Heart Part 4” and one of the album’s single Humble. His last two albums “Good kid, M.A.A.D City” and “To Pimp A Butterfly” where top three on the U.S. Billboard 200. Lamar’s compilation album “Untitled Unmastered” hit number one on the Billboards 200. The beats worked well with the message and the entire theme. For example, the beats in “PRIDE” and “HUMBLE” contrast each other, giving these songs more meaning. In “PRIDE,” the beat is soft, using his voice in contrast to the feeling pride. In “HUMBLE,” he has this a very in your face beat. His lyrics are more out there, some fans believe he was bragging more. This intrigued fans in the differences of how the song is portrayed—in name and how he used the beat to make it feel another way. It game the album a wow factor. The features on this album where on point with Rhianna, ZACARI, U2. They all brought something different to the album that Kendrick combined well with his own style. The voices sound like they where made for the beat. Kendrick even changes his own voice to fit the theme. Kendrick showed his frustration with hip-hop. His last album was to help black artists and have them join the movement to bring the rap game back to its roots. The fact that he did attack other rappers in the album shows he trying to change the rap game and he did it very well. This frustration made the tracks more genuine. He was talking about the rap game. “DAMN” has a great blend of new and old regarding style, containing a great message. The only problem is the last two albums were game changing. Kendrick is known for his revolutionary skills, but this album reminded me of “To Pimp a Butterfly.” Kendrick has been known for his story telling in albums like “Good kid, M.A.A.D City” and we’ve only really seen this side of kendrick in “Control” by Big Sean which featured Kendrick in it. “DAMN” did not disappoint he really put us in his shoes and shows the fans how he feels whats going on in the world and in his world. This album is the best album of the 2017 by far.
Christopher Sainz @Chrisainz2
Grade: B+ The Breeze
April/May 2017
Opinion
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DeChanne Lane @ChaffeyBreeze
Uber’s advertisements flood us daily; drive part-time and earn some extra cash. Having multiple sources of income is a great idea, but would driving around, picking up complete strangers really be worth your time? As a full-time student living on my own, I can always use some extra cash, so I decided to try it out for myself and see what I could really earn. Here’s the rundown. After signing up, passing its lax background check and completing a vehicle inspection at a Jiffy Lube in Chino, I was able to hit the road. For the past two weeks I have been fitting in four to five hours of driving every morning before classes. Although I live in in San Bernardino County, I decided to drive in the Los Angeles area, which required me to wake up at 2 a.m. to start driving by 4 a.m. On my very first day behind the wheel for Uber, I was able to make $75.53 for four hours and three minutes of work. Not bad, but considering the 25 dollars I had to put into my tank to start, I wasn’t sold on the idea. The next day I was ready to quit, after depriving myself of sleep for a measly 32 bucks. But I decided to stick to it for the entire two weeks. My first week’s pay totaled $341.79, about $18/hr. Driving for Uber my second week was
much more rewarding, and dangerous. After driving that first week, I was able to participate in promotions. If I made 25 trips between 4 a.m. Monday and 4 a.m. Friday, I would earn an extra $55. For 60 trips I would make $95. I was a little more familiar with which areas were most profitable, so I was able to make an average of about $110 before class. On one particular day, my Internet bill was due and it felt good to know that after driving for four hours in the morning, I could make enough to pay it and still have some cash left over. Everything was going fine until a situation caused me to realize how risky it was driving around Los Angeles in the wee hours of the morning. On one trip, I found myself in the car with two men who were not my riders and refused to get out. Lucky for me there was another passenger, since I was driving UberPOOL, and he was able to remove them from the vehicle. Still, fear rushed over me as I wondered what would have happened had I been alone. Although I strived to complete the 60 trips during the week for the extra $95, I found myself driving at 3:10 a.m. for 15 minutes straight, without any ride requests. I called it a night and took the hour-andtwenty-minute drive home. I was two rides
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short and felt cheated that I would only qualify for the extra $55. My second week ended with a pay of $823.54, 35 hours and 24 minutes on the clock. Subtracting the $25 I put into my tank each day, I took home $648 that week. Not bad, but nothing major. Uber is a good way to earn some quick cash. There are no set schedules, which allowed me to choose when and how long I wanted to work. They send you an Uber debit card that allows you to cash out at anytime, which is very convenient. The hours I have to get up are a drag and make it hard for me to focus on schoolwork, which is the only reason I wouldn’t recommend it for students in the Inland Empire. While Uber is available in San Bernardino County, it is not as lucrative as driving in the greater Los Angeles area. The one day I drove locally, I made $27 in four hours. I wasted much of my time and gas driving around waiting on rides. The biggest downfall to driving locally is that there are no surges. Overall, if you have a lot going on in your daily life and need a few hundred extra bucks, or just lunch money for the day, driving for Uber is a good option.
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Opinion
April/May 2017
$old: An Indvidual’s Loss of Internet Privacy Charlie Vargas @CharlieVargas19
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iith what seems to be one chaotic event after the other in the news cycle, there are often stories that get buried by louder ones which absorb the media’s spotlight. One of those stories is the Senate and House of Representatives’ vote that moved to gut the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines which prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from selling consumers personal data, such as browsing history without the permission from their customers. This move should come as no surprise, as the current administration grows more and more corporatist. The Trump administration is often critiqued for its picks of governmental positions, such as Scott Pruitt for the Environmental Protection Agency, Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education, Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State and the list goes on. The disdain and disapproval of the administration’s choices are typically reasoned by the fact that the head of those positions don’t even believe that their very positions should exist. Pruitt doesn’t believe in climate change, Devos has only attended private schools and Tillerson blocks any media coverage which prevents any insight into foreign affairs from reaching the public. Americans are not benefiting from anything this administration promotes, but there are some benefits for corporate interest. With fewer regulations for the environment, more oil pipelines can be built; less funding for public education means more
for the investors of for-profit schools, and with the public eye obstructed from foreign affairs, Tillerson himself could easily profit from foreign negotiations without the public knowing. The common theme in this administration is that corporate interest comes before the individual which is precisely what Americans are facing when FCC guidelines are slashed. Eric Null, policy counsel at Open Technology Institute, highlighted some of the key vulnerabilities in his piece, “Don’t Repel Common Sense Privacy Rules.” He writes, “If the resolution succeeds, there will no longer be any rules on the books ensuring that providers shield consumers’ data from hackers or inform customers of breaches.” That danger is harmful to the individual who does service with internet providers and leaves their identities and personal information at risk. This is already a major concern to Americans with the current internet protections in place by the FCC. A 2014 Pew Research Poll found that Americans had the almost same level of mistrust of government as they did businesses over their personal information. The poll found that 67 percent felt the government can be trusted only some of the time and 71 percent said that advertisers can be trusted only some of the time. Although the American public is not very fond of how their privacy is treated, their privacy protections are threatened by adThe Breeze
ministrations like Trump’s ,who favor corporations and big business over the rights of individuals. This policy would also loom over individuals with increased mass surveillance. Laura Moy of The Daily Dot was recently interviewed on Democracy Now!, providing examples of what this new policy would look like. “If you’re going to WebMD.com to look up a health condition, your internet provider sees that information. And now, with repeal of the rules, it is possible that internet providers will see this as a green light to go ahead and sell that information about you to entities that might want to use it, for example, to track you or monitor you or just to market you related goods to the things that you’re interested in.”
April/May 2017
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Opinion
Categories of Sensitive Communications Information History of every website and app a consumer has visited or used, including history that reveals private interests and associations, such as visits to an addiction support forum, an online sports bookie, or a gun auction platform Location, time, and destination/origin of online communications and activity, including text message history that reveals every person a customer exchanges text messages with, how often, and at what hours of the day Video-on-demand history, including history that reveals prefer-ences for, for instance, political documentaries or religious programming Information related to consumer finances or health Precise geolocation of consumer devices at all times, day or night Notifications to customers when data is compromised or hacked
This would eliminate privacy on the web and do more than just target individuals with ads based on search histories. It would also track data about every site visited, which projects a more intimate look into the identities of internet users. Evan Greer, a transgender activist, spoke recently in an interview with Counterspin about some of the dangers marginalized communities may face with their loss of internet privacy. “It’s so clear that low-income communities, communities of color, women and the LGBTQ community, basically anyone who is already marginalized in our society, stands the most to lose when we lose this privacy, and is at the highest risk. I can say for myself, as a member of the LGBTQ community, for folks in my community, privacy is not a luxury, it can be a matter of life and death. Someone could lose their job because their internet browsing history leaks, or because of something that they’re doing online. Someone could get kicked out of their home, or face violence on the street. ” Employers would also be in the market to purchase data, which may filter out individuals who are sick or viewed as a liability. This could have an impact on who companies consider hirable. What is occurring here in this slashing of privacy is that individuals are being stripped of their value.. An internet user’s information is so valued, companies are willing to pay good money for it, but now big businesses have figured out a way to do it without the consumer’s consent. The individual has become a commodity in which they have absolutely no gain or control of how these companies profit off of them. This is alarming, considering that communication companies such as Cambridge Analytica have used data that’s already public and available to succeed in Brexit and the Trump campaign. Cambridge Analytica claims to have data points of over 220 million Americans, which allows them to “...model target audience groups and predict the behavior of like-minded people.” Where this data mining begins to narrow its focus is in the sale’s pitch of their “Behavioral Microtargeting” method, in which they describe their service to investors as being able to “…anticipate
Currently FCC Protected
Unprotected Under New Bill
√ √ √ √ √ √
X X X X X X
newamerica.org
“The individual has become a commodity in which they have absolutely no gain or control of how companies profit off of them.”
the needs of your customers and predict how their behavior will change over time, so you can build services, products and campaigns they really love.” Now imagine the use of this already pinpointed data and it becoming combined with the data of an individual’s browsing history. Then, imagine this data to be sold to companies without the consent of an individual. It’s perilous to leave these intimate details to corporations and governments who only seek to exploit these privacies for their interests and gains. As of now, this policy could be vetoed by Trump but judging from his embrace for corporatists in his cabinet, one might find the outcome predicable.
The Breeze
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Life & Style
April/May 2017
Who did it better? NorCAL vs. SoCAL:
Kemi Ike
@kemgross White-crop sweater with a pink windbreaker from NorCal. Photo by Kemi Ike
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ollege is a place for people to explore new desires and express their individuality freely. Students from two different schools located in separate parts of California shared their exquisite personalities, through an appealing sense of style and their own personal idea of fashion. Northern California students obtain a sense of fashion that is both bold and whimsical. With the colder climate compared to Southern California, they are normally forced to add a type of outerwear to their outfit of the day. But they do it with obvious thought and preciseness. Tan-colored trench coats and army surplus jackets cover some of the students of San Francisco State University, after morning rain masked the colorful city. San Francisco natives are easy to identify. They ready themselves for the bright sun to cover the campus, so they don’t need heavy jackets weighing them down. Whether it was a woman walking around confidently with her bare shoulders or a man sporting a hoodie under a
Grey shirt with Levi’s denim jacket from SoCal. Photo by Kemi Ike
button-down coat, each outfit documented stood out from most. In Southern California, it’s easier to wake up in the morning without wondering what to wear for the weather, because it’s normally always warm. And in the spring, the weather is often perfect for any ensemble. The students at Chaffey College express their sense of style by embodying popular looks in today’s youthful society and branding it as their very own. Various colors and patterns illuminate the outfits of the women, and also the men. Even though Northern California is known to uphold an artistic street style, many students at Chaffey express that same style with their one-of-a-kind thrift store finds and eclectic finishing pieces to a once simple outfit. After close observation and comparison of the two campus looks, it’s up to you to decide. Who did it better?
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Life & Style
April/May 2017
Aaliyah t-shirt from SoCal. Photo by Kemi Ike
Grey turtleneck with oversized-coat from NorCal. Photo by Kemi Ike
Striped mock-neck top under overalls from NorCal. Photo by Kemi Ike
Tan trenchcoat over hoodie from NorCal. Photo by Kemi Ike
Breeze Band T and flannel from SoCal. TheThe Breeze Photo by Kemi Ike
Supreme back pack from SoCal. Photo by Kemi Ike
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Life & Style
April/May 2017
T A T T O O OR Jessica Villalvazo @yessicavazo
T A B O O Dalyna Lepe in Rancho Cucamonga, April 17, presenting her tattoos.Photo by Jessica Villalvazo
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early 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo on their body, which is 14 percent of America, according to Tattoo Statistics. The annual amount of money spent on tattoos in the U.S. is rounded to $1.65 billion. The average cost of a small tattoo is $45 while the average cost of a large tattoo is $150 per hour. The numbers increase as the years go by. Tattoos, which have been around since ancient times, are created as an expression of personality and a testament to rebellion,
aesthetic and individuality. Dedicated tattoo lovers become drawn to the adrenaline rush of being under the needle and some cover large areas of their bodies in artwork. The reasoning behind tattoos is a broad topic but many with tattoos can agree that it is a part of who they are. Travis Green, 23, of Fontana, is currently a bartender at a restaurant called The State. After large amounts of money and time were spent, Green has covered himself in a sleeve of Japanese artwork,
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demonstrating the narrative of a Japanese folktale where a koi fish turns into a dragon. “It is a way to express myself. it’s also a little bit of a release,” Green said. “So once I got my first one I immediately knew I wanted to get a lot more.” As the world of tattoos is continuously expanding, so are the stigmas behind tattoos and the people who choose to cover their skin with them. Stereotypes such as irresponsible, careless and unprofessional are given to the people
April/May 2017
Life & Style
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“Tattoo discrimination occurs in everyday life both explicitly and implicitly.” who expose their ink to society. Quite frequently, those covered in tattoos are told “you won’t get a job” or “you’re going to regret that when you get older.” Although gang members and felons have a history of tattoos, not all of the tattooed population fit into that category, which is another correlation society seems to make toward tattoo lovers. Tattoo discrimination occurs in everyday life both explicitly and implicitly. But the real concern for tattoos is seen in the work place. Concealing tattoos can be a part of a dress code or the image your place of employment may want to keep. However, having tattoos doesn’t make anyone less of a worker and is not a valid excuse to exclude those who wish to have tattoos while maintaining a career. “It depends on the placement of the tattoo and how easily it can be concealed. And of course the place of employment,” Green said. “But society is definitely becoming more and more accepting of people with tasteful tattoos as an expression of self and art.” Support Tattoos and Piercings at Work (STAPAW), is a Heal the World movement that was established to expose discrimination among those who have tattoos or piercings in the work place. According to their research, nearly 73 percent of a hiring staff stated they would hire an individual with tattoos, while 6 percent said they would not. To compete with that, 76 percent of employees stated their belief of having tattoos to be hurtful to their chances of being hired. Only 4 percent stated that they actually faced discrimination. Society has created a fear between work and tattoos that it is ironically unreasonable when seeing statistics of this nature, where employers are not doing much of the judging, as those covered in ink are more so fearing the judgment.
Tristan Stewart in Ontario on April 16 showing off his tattoo sleeve. Photo by Jessica Villalvazo
The Breeze
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Features
April/May 2017
Not The Average Mexican Dish
L
una Modern Mexican Kitchen is a Mexican fusion restaurant and bar located in Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga. European, South American and Asian fusion dishes are on the menu which can be paired with their signature margaritas and cocktails or from their over 50 choices of vodka. Grass roots owner, Francisco Perez, along with his wife Linda and son Cisco, opened the Victoria Gardens location in 2015. Perez, 61, opened the first Luna restaurant in 2011 in Corona. Perez has been in the industry for over 40 years starting as a dishwasher in a French restaurant working his way up to management. He has taken his knowledge from the various restaurants he has worked at and incorporated bits and pieces into the menu so customers can enjoy today. Lunch entrees consist of flavorful tortas, fresh salads, enchiladas, tacos topped with kim chi, fresh seafood plates and fajitas. The list goes on with their starters, one choice in particular is the Fresh Corn and Goat Cheese Tamale. It is made with roasted poblano rajas, a cilantro pepita pesto sauce and topped with a dollop of rich goat cheese. Like many of their plates, it comes with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and piquillo sauce for presentation. Manager, Bruno Escobar, 26, says his current top three entrees are the Steak Adobado, Habanero BBQ Ribs and the Drunken Salmon. The Steak Adobado is a grilled-flat iron steak rubbed in new Mexico red chile served with chorizo hash potatoes, indian corn and poblano ancho chile cinnamon emulsion. “It’s not traditional Mexican food,” Escobar said. “We make everything here. We have a Chef and a Sous Chef.” Dessert options are Deep-Fried Ice Cream, Warm Butter Cake, Envueltos de Crispy Sweet Banana, or Flan Brulee Trio. “That’s where the fusion kicks in,” Escobar said. In an effort to give customers a well rounded experience of the food and drink menu, the restaurant hosts a tequila dinner every final Wednesday of each month. For $45 customers get a three course meal paired with a tequila drink for every course. “Every month we change the tequila,” Escobar said.
Justine Quintana @ChaffeyBreeze
A waffle plate from the Maple House. Photo by Justine Quintana
Currently they are on a rotation of Frida Kahlo tequila. Their margarita mix is also house-made with lime juice, agave nectar and a secret family ingredient according to Escobar. As manager, mainly over the bar, Escobar worked his way up from server, crediting his mentor-like relationship with Perez. Along with the experience of Mexican fusion dishes and drinks, customers can also enjoy the colorful and unique art of Eddie Jelinet that is displayed throughout the restaurant. His paintings are bold, many of which feature depictions of the artist Frida Kahlo. Perez is looking to expand and has scouted areas such as Orange County and Palm Springs. But Escobar says they are all still ideas. “Before I leave I want to see 100 Lunas,” said Perez. Other deals customers can expect at the Victoria Gardens location are 2 for $30 on Monday’s which includes a three course meal starting off with an Empanada, an entree of tacos, enchiladas or burritos and a butter cake dessert. “That’s what will get you hooked,” Escobar said of the butter cake dessert. Tuesday’s customers can enjoy happy The Breeze
hour all day and on Wednesday’s signature margaritas are $5.50. The Pepino Margarita is a customer favorite made with cucumber, jalapeños and cilantro. On Sunday their brunch special is $21.95 for unlimited champagne, agave yogurt, pan dulce and an entree of choice.
Dinner meal consisting of three wings plus two sides. Photo by Justine Quintana
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Reviews
April/May 2017
Inland Empire's Premiere Chicken & Waffles
A waffle plate from the Maple House. Photo by Herman Dugbartey
Herman Dugbartey @ChaffeyBreeze Most of us have heard of or had the chance to experience the unique southern combination of chicken and waffles. While it is a common find in the south, it is not as easy to locate in the west and almost impossible to find in the Inland Empire—that was until March 2015 when Maple House Chicken and Waffles was established. Conveniently located in Ontario, right off the 10 freeway, on Mountain Street in the shopping center near the UFC gym. The restaurant is known for their never-frozen food and freshly cooked meals. “Maple House is not a fast food restaurant. We invite you to come in and enjoy the family ambiance!” That is the Maple House motto. With that being said, it was time to take them up on their invitation. From the second my foot entered the door I was warmly welcomed, despite it being a busy Saturday afternoon. That was not an easy task to accomplish. According to locals, the popular items on the menu were the lunch or dinner meals. I ordered the dinner meal, that came with three chicken wings, macaroni and cheese and turkey greens. My meal totaled to about
$15. The wait time for the meal was about 30 minutes because they cooked it on the spot. But it was worth the wait. Everything I ordered was cooked with complete love and I savored every bite. Their chicken was flavorful and well-seasoned. Three wings were the perfect portion to even out the rest of the meal. The waffles were fluffy and fresh—nowhere near frozen or artificial. The side dishes were also on point. Macaroni and cheese—which is where I am the hardest critic—was surprisingly delicious. The turkey greens were the perfect contrast to the entire meal. Personally, I recommend adding Red Rooster hot sauce to the greens and wings for that extra kick. Maple House the only southern soul food waffle-house in the Inland Empire thus far and they are making their mark in a positive way. Give them a try when you find yourself in the mood for some home-cooking. Grade: A
The Breeze
Dinner meal consisting of three wings plus two sides. Photo by Herman Dugbartey
The Breeze
April/May 2017
Guest Writer/Feature
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Homeless Guest Writer Karalie Sevilla Mary Ann Morrell admits to making many poor life decisions. Right or wrong, big or small, every choice she made led to another until one day, she found herself astray. She was homeless and abandoned without family or friends to turn to, except for her then-homeless son, Harold. For years, and still to this day, she has spent her days in her car, the one place she calls home. Morrell’s trouble started when she dated a drug user who coerced her into drug use. “I dated a guy who was in prison, and after he got out, he got me into meth,” said Morrell. “I didn’t want to at first and even cried. But I tried it, and after that I wanted more.” “Then, I started to sell,” she added. “He was crazy and pretty much came to my job and told everyone I worked with I was doing drugs. I lost my job. Then I couldn't pay for rent. I went to jail and after I got out, I didn't have anything.” Morrell only had her son to check on her from time to time. One day in 2013, when she was 58, she found herself lying on the grass behind a Carl’s Jr., directionless and despondent. “God help me,” she thought. “What can I do to get out of this lifestyle?” As her thoughts raced, she was immediately interrupted by the sight of students walking to school. She took this as a sign and thought, “No way, not at my age.” But Morrell eventually gathered the confidence to reach out to an acquaintance attending Chaffey. “Get your foot in the door and pick a couple classes,” said her friend. Morrell then met Ray Austin, mentor for student equity, who introduced her to a team of light workers–representatives from every department on campus–who began to aid her in her journey.
Graduate
“If it wasn’t for Ray, Susan Starr, Lorena, Katrina (Sevilla), and all those in admissions, counseling and financial aid, I don’t know where I’d be right now,” Morrell said. The turn of events occurred quickly, and after obtaining the approval for FAFSA, Morrell enrolled in Accounting and Music Appreciation in her first semester. She earned two Bs that year. “I can do this,” she said. Semester after semester, she stayed determined. Although unaware of her direction, she continued to register for classes and maintained a good standing GPA. She stayed proactive and took part in any scholarships she could find, writing essays in hopes of earning money to help her through school. Living in her car isn’t easy. Most nights Morrell studies with a flashlight. Every morning before class, she goes to her church and reads the Bible while she waits for the school library to open. She stays on campus from open to close. Each day is a struggle for whether she can get free Wi-Fi, do her homework and shelter herself from the rain. It’s a challenge to even find her next meal. Although overwhelmed at times, she still manages to focus, push forward, and doesn’t allow negative thoughts to hinder her progress. “I’m just trying to be obedient to God. I don’t know why I’m in school, but little by little he’s providing me with opportunities, and opening doors,” she said. “I’m obedient by following his lead. I can’t do it my way.” It wasn’t until the beginning of the Spring 2017 semester when it was brought to her attention she had accumulated a 3.4 GPA, as well as the minimum units to transfer out. Again, Morrell was not aware of her progress, and furthermore, had missed the The Breeze
deadline to apply for Spring 2018 admittance to Cal States. Austin introduced Morrell to Transfer Center Program Assistant Katrina Sevilla, who together with Austin worked hard to get her enrolled as soon as possible to keep her momentum going. After a few phone conversations and emails to Cal State San Bernardino explaining Morrell’s story, they agreed to send her an add code. She was accepted for Fall 2017. Morrell says that by the grace of God, she is now walking in a clear direction. “I also thank my ex-boyfriend who gave me that car to live in,” she said, laughing. Morrell now also works in the admissions and records office as a student assistant to help each new batch of students orient themselves to the college. “When I see people who are lost, I ask myself if there’s anything I can do to help. I know there are other students out there like me,” she said. “I didn’t know there were people willing to help me. If I can help one student get through their obstacles, then I’ll feel like I’ve done my job. I know they’re out there struggling, and with worse problems than me.” Now 61 years old and in her final semester, Morrell has a 3.4 GPA, and is hoping for a 3.6 when she leaves. Awaiting the completion of her five remaining classes, she will walk in the commencement ceremony this Spring with her degree in Accounting Bookkeeping. Her dream is to eventually open a nonprofit shelter for people and animals.
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Opinion
April/May 2017
Boozer Rick Sanchez Usurps Absurdity Chris Salazar @ChrisEclectic23
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ietzsche proclaimed that “God is dead.” And we killed him. But Rick Sanchez, the beloved eponymous and sardonic scientist of the animated series “Rick and Morty,” illustrates the profundity of existentialist angst in a universe devoid of benevolence. Rick, the belching alcoholic, genius, whose character embodies a Kierkegaardian anxiety, the bodily pleasures of Camus and the rebelliousness of Sartre, returns for a long-awaited third season to break the fourth wall, satirically advising against overindulgences in reflection. “What about the reality where Hitler cures cancer?” Rick said to his naïve 14-year-old do-gooder nephew, Morty, as they dragged and buried the corpses of their parallel-dimension selves. “The answer is don’t think about it.” Rick’s callous admonition underscores a numbing realization: In an infinite number of realities, absolute truth drowns under a torrent of limitless possibilities. There is no providence. No inherent meaning. Science is no longer the means to some greater end—it is the end. It becomes a paradoxical refuge without closure because reverence prevails where scientific explanations falter. And to the smartest man in the multiverse, everything is intelligible. In a word, Rick is jaded. And that’s part of his charm. His brilliance pierces through mendacity. He understands that existence is ultimately pointless. So, while Rick and Morty is unflinchingly hilarious, its hilarity is drawn from the horrors of cosmic disregard. H.P. Lovecraft was the quintessential sci-fi horror writer who wrote of the utter insignificance of humanity. Creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon even pay a brief homage to the American author in the opening sequence of the show, as Rick and Morty are tailed by Cthulhu, one of Lovecraft’s mythical creatures who belongs to the pantheon of ancient and frighting deities, otherwise known as Great Old One’s. Lovecraft’s science fiction brings to bear the incongruity of life’s apparent significance and the cold vastness of eternity. And every episode of “Rick and Morty” is
fraught with the same existential motif. The animated series, if nothing else besides the priceless toilet humor, begs the viewer to recognize the irrelevance of living, the terrifying absurdity of the human condition. It’s a reality that philosophers and the layperson alike must wrestle with. “There is only one truly serious philosophical question,” wrote Albert Camus, the French-Algerian novelist, journalist and playwright, in the Myth of Sisyphus, “and that is suicide.” Camus’ provocation was both literal and figurative. That is, someone can either commit physical suicide or philosophical suicide. The former is a finality, while the latter is a delusion, a conceptual trick which obscures the absurd—the futile search for meaning in a meaningless universe. The heroic response, to Camus, is: Acceptance. Accept that life is absurd. Accept that, in the end, every individual struggle, no, all of human kinds struggle ends in dust. The heroic response is to gaze into the void, and manufacture meaning in spite of its worthlessness. And, like Camus, Rick relishes in his vices. There’s no sense in denying the variety of life’s pleasures to appease the social dictates of gratification abstinence. As the series unfolds, Rick’s brazenness is reminiscent of Jean-Paul Sartre’s rebellion against the current of “bad faith” and the capitalistic machine. Sartre, the preeminent existentialist philosopher of the twentieth century, was concerned with the habitual deceptions people commit. To live in “bad faith” is to fall prey to the mistaken belief that choice and the fear of its consequences implies that people do not actually have the freedom to choose. But, to Sartre, that simply represents the safe, default choice where the individual is subject to the mercy of circumstance. It’s simply a failure in recognition, a lapse in the multiplicity of options available to pursue. But, it’s not as if hordes of alternatives are a cure all. “Marry, and you will regret it; don’t marry, you will also regret it; marry or don’t marry, you will regret it either way,” wrote The Breeze
Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher and theologian. “Laugh at the world’s foolishness, you will regret it; weep over it you will regret that too; laugh at the worlds foolishness or weep over it, you will regret both.” While Rick tends toward negligence throughout the show, in the episode “Auto Erotic Assimilation” he succumbs to his loneliness as his former fling, Unity, a collective hive mind entity, reignites an old flame only to later realize it would never work out, and leaves just as abruptly as she (it?) returned. The heartbreak that saturates the end of that episode is an honest glimpse into the character whose adored not for his courageous acts but for his laxity. Rick, despite his apathetic exterior, is human and longs for a glimmer of sincere connection. So, while profane humor pervades the series, the import is to recognize the absurd nature of an ephemeral existence, and endeavor to achieve. Because, as the connoisseur of indecency and interdimensional space travel, with a flare for hive mind partners, Rick nonetheless aims to uproot the machine—even if it’s all in vain.
The Breeze