ISB Dragon Scroll
ISB Newspaper Club
March 2022 edition Newspaper
-Student Life-
New Staff
March 1, 2022
Anna Janowski
As the #1-ranked high school and #2-ranked middle school in Oregon, ISB is unique both in its academic strength and in the communities it encompasses. The student body represents great diversity in ethnicities, nationalities, and cultures. Hardworking, motivated students form communities of their own within the school. Students are challenged and work hard at ISB in a way that isn’t reflected at many other schools. And this unique combination of qualities stands out to no one more, perhaps, than staff members new to ISB.
Several have also expressed their hopes for the future. Ms. Ogden, who noted that she sees students frequently using their phones, says she wants to see them become “more of a community of readers.” Ms. Hubbard is looking forward to seeing her seventh-grade students “go all the way through and graduate.” Mr. Robbins, the new school social worker, wants to improve the school’s culture around mental health. These teachers are already contributing to making ISB a better place.
Beyond students, too, the new staff have expressed great satisfaction with ISB. The communities of students are strong; communities of staff are as well. “We all get together, we all talk… there’s a lot of collaboration,” Ms. Hubbard says of the school’s science department. She calls the relationships between the teachers in her department “great” and says staff at ISB are “all very supportive of each other.” New teachers are enjoying ISB’s support systems for both students and staff.
“I have found my professional home here,” Mr. Gilford says, adding that he’s felt “incredibly welcomed” into his new role and into the school community by both students and staff.
The kindness between students that the new staff have noted and the diversity of the school are just a couple of the characteristics that define ISB beyond its rankings. Several teachers have also pointed to the friendliness and respect between students and staff as an indicator of why they like ISB’s culture and why it’s so positive.
These relationships aren’t just theoretical or rare, and they aren’t an exaggeration, either. Mr. Robbins remarked on the positive, friendly relationships between students and staff, explaining that students often say hello to him as he walks through the halls. “There’s a lot of caring that’s going on,” he says, and as a result of this positive atmosphere, he’s felt “very welcomed.” Just a few minutes after he made this comment, a student in the hallway just outside the Wellness Center proved it true by saying, “Have a good weekend, Mr. Thomas!”
Mr. Thomas replied, “Thank you! You, too.”
This interaction wasn’t an intentional affirmation of Mr. Robbins’ observations, nor was it just a coincidence. After all, how coincidental can something be when it’s happening all the time? This was simply one of many conversations of its kind that happen every day at ISB. And it’s these kinds of relationships and communities that, in large part, have given ISB’s new staff members such a positive first impression of the school. The “expect welcome, extend welcome” idea “is so true,” Ms. Hubbard says. “Everyone believes in that.”
And whether you have been here for more than a decade, less than a year, or anywhere in between, ISB is a better place because of it.
ISB Fall Dance
March 1, 2022
Sophia Wagner
The Fall Dance was the first dance of the 2021-2022 school year, and it occurred on November 19th from 7 to 10 pm. In the weeks leading up to the dance, students were encouraged to vote on either a Space Western theme or a Disco Inferno/Studio 54 theme. The winning theme was Disco Inferno/Studio 54 theme, and while this was groovy for some students, it proved to be more controversial than expected.
On the positive side, the dance allowed high school students to have a chance to connect after a long year of CDL. The Disco Inferno theme allowed for creative outfits, so students could express some creativity in their formal wear. In addition, the DJ’s playlist consisted of pop hits as well as dance remixes, and this meant that many people were familiar with the music choices and could sing and dance along. The dance was held in the ISB gym, and there was fog in the air to make the lights look magical; Oliver Wagner, a 9th grader, said that his favorite part of the dance was the lights and the unique atmosphere. The courtyard and wellness center were open for students to relax in, which was unique to the Fall Dance and was something that many students enjoyed. In general, the dance was a time where students could let loose and have fun.
On the other hand, there were some aspects of the dance that could have been improved. While some thought the DJ’s lights were fun, they were also too bright and blocked out the lights that Student Council had set up. In addition, the DJ didn’t seem to pick up on the students’ preferences for music and seemed unable to “read the room”. Both of these problems can be attributed to the DJ who will most likely not be returning to ISB.
One student opinion of the Fall Dance comes from senior Jaime Park, who disapproved strongly of the chosen theme. She argues that the main problem with the Fall Dance wasn’t the DJ or the dance atmosphere, but rather the Disco Inferno theme itself. I interviewed her over email last week about why this might be, and she said “Being our first in-person dance in almost 2 years (prom notwithstanding), we need a message of togetherness, of perseverance… hope, and unfortunately the 70s is unable to, fundamentally, reflect this.” She goes on to say “The West: a land of unforetold adventure, a terrain harsh and inhospitable, yet filled with hope, exploration, and most importantly, community. In many ways, this golden land reflects our very own ISB [...]. We emerge, from the dust just as the pioneers of the west have, facing the territory bravely with just the clothes on their back. The obstacles and dangers that we face may not be life threatening, but the IB is certainly an equally formidable and stressful foe as the great unknown, yet we survive and forge on. Through all these circumstances arise community, camaraderie between fellow sufferers of the International Baccalaureate program. The West: quintessentially ISB.” She finishes her statement by saying “I lament the loss of what we could have had. The whoops and yee-haws that never came, the boots and wide brimmed hats we never had the opportunity to wear. [...] In summary, we should have had cowboys.” Cowboys or not, Jaime’s point about how ISB needs unity and togetherness is something that many have been discussing this year, especially the seniors. Unity could be something that ISB always works towards, especially over the 2021-22 school year. The ISB dance had both pros and cons that can be used to make the next dance even better.
In conclusion, the Fall Dance was a good start to the school year, but it could be improved by using more student input. One of the main problems with the DJ was that very few requested song choices were actually played, and in terms of the dance theme, some students’ opinions still went unheard despite what was likely Student Council’s best efforts. Student representation is an essential factor in what makes a fun dance, so one hopes that student representation can be improved for the next dance to make it even better.
-Local & Global Events-
Interstate Bridge Faces Interesting Reform?
March 1, 2022
Donnie Huang
The current Interstate Bridge, composed of 2 truss bridges, on a sunny day. (Goff)
The local Interstate Bridge’s recent start of its new replacement project begins with community engagement. The Interstate Bridge, also known as the I-5 Bridge, is the main crossing point over the Columbia River between Oregon’s Portland and Washington’s Vancouver. Although the bridge contains “one span of the bridge now over 100 years old”, it supported around 120,000 average weekday crossings during 2020 (“Frequently Asked Questions.”)(“Columbia River Bridges.”). However, as stated by the replacement project (named the “Interstate Bridge Replacement Program”), updating the Interstate Bridge is still a “vital priority for the region”. (“Frequently Asked Questions.”).
A map of the Interstate Bridge’s location.
(“Understanding the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.”)
In general, the bridge was built all the way back in 1917 posing a danger risk to those crossing (Goff). Specifically, the bridge poses a “risk for collapse in the event of a major earthquake and no longer… [satisfies] the needs of modern commerce and travel” (“Frequently Asked Questions.”). Although there have been “problems identified over the past decades”, they still “remain and have not been addressed.” (“Fact Sheet.”) Although there have been previous attempts at renovating this bridge, there have been previous attempts to renovate this bridge. none have yet succeeded as far as this one.
Image of the Interstate Bridge from a 1931 postcard (Shedlock)
The Interstate Bridge Replacement Program itself aims to solve the following identified issues: congestion, earthquake vulnerability, safety, impaired freight movement, inadequate bike/pedestrian paths, and limited public transportation (“Fact Sheet.”). In general, the program seeks to make the bridge safer but also accessible, providing the community the ability to use this crossing. In a joint effort between the governments of Washington, Oregon, Portland, Vancouver, and the local transportation agencies (such as TriMet), $50 million have so far been invested into this project (“Fact Sheet”).
Currently, the project’s planning phase has relied extensively on the public’s feedback. Through recent public meetings with the different sections of the community, the program has been actively listening for suggestions and concerns. With around 14,500 comments received from the local community as of 12/27/2021, there has been an effort to get the local communities’ voice hear. (“Community Engagement”). One can learn more or even submit their comments at https://www.interstatebridge.org/resources/contact-us/.
If one ever finds themselves crossing this bridge within the next few years, gaze and appreciate this historical building as it will soon be gone.
Holidays Going Down?
March 1, 2022
Avery Hill
COVID-19 has played a very large role in all of our lives in the past nearly 2 years, and holidays are one of the many things that are impacted in a very large way. Being near people that are not in your household will lead to extra possible exposure to the virus, creating large amounts of fear from all over the country. This fear factor led to different things year-round, but all fell under the same reasoning.
Halloween of 2020 was easily the year with the least amount of Trick-or-Treaters at least since 2015, having only 38% of parents confidently state they will allow their child to Trick-or-Treat. The no and unsure options were split with 31% each. Parents were afraid to have their children go door to door to constantly talk to other people and expose themselves to the virus. It’s safe to say that most parents were not willing to take that chance. In the end, there was about a 58% participation rate, 10% lower than 2019.
A large part of Thanksgiving was gathering with your family and spending time with them to celebrate. This was likely to not happen due to the fear of the virus, leading to possible short food exchanges, but not a full Thanksgiving celebration. These types of holidays just were not the same without the large gatherings. Other holidays such as the winter holidays (which may be religion dependent) became smaller versions of their former selves. Gifts were exchanged, but the large family gatherings were kept to a minimum. Every holiday had become a watered down version of its former self, adding to the already stressful and depressing times of the pandemic.
The restrictions made people restless so the amount of gatherings slowly began to rise. Thankfully, the release of the vaccine reduced that fear factor significantly and people were starting to do more things and others completely ignored the virus entirely. Egg hunts for Easter were not quite to their fullest yet, but at least the concept was starting to appear more often by 2021, in comparison to absolutely nothing in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic being fairly new. Halloween of 2021 had much more overall participation, now having 82% of parents confidently allowing their child to Trick-or-Treat, showing that thanks to the progression of vaccines and abilities to fight the virus, people became far less worried. As vaccines become more widespread and more people get them, the impact of the virus will greatly go down and eventually, things will become similar to how things were in 2019.
What is Fast Fashion?
March 1, 2022
Syona Vashisth
Fast fashion is probably something you have been hearing about more often than before. It has come into light that many prominent clothing companies are using unethical ways to produce garments that a majority of people buy and wear. In totality, fast fashion is a design and marketing technique primarily focused on producing large quantities of clothing; specifically trendy ones that consumers want to own. This production centers around low quality materials, because they are cheaper in order to make those popular styles on such short notice. Recently, there has been fast changing fashion trends which puts pressure on companies to produce huge masses, and they sell them for cheaper prices because they know the public will buy them. The results may have the people satisfied with their wardrobe, but the results of this method of clothing production has a huge impact on different communities, and our planet itself.
History of Fashion and how it led to Fast Fashion
For a long time, in the early 20th century, fashion trends would change by seasons. The designers would work ahead to plan their designs for the future seasons. This was before fashion was available in huge quantities for the public. As the decades progressed, fashion became a more prominent role in society. People used clothes to showcase their personalities and personal styles. It became more customary for stores to always have unlimited quantities of clothing, so they needed a way to produce efficiently. According to the Sunday Style Times, “It particularly came to the fore during the vogue for ‘boho chic’ in the mid-2000s,” referring to fast fashion. If you want to go way back, fashion before the 1800s did not have the same concept as it does now. Manufacturers weren’t overproducing materials or wasting resources. People had to use what they had carefully, because there wasn’t an unlimited amount of supplies, unlike today where almost everything is mass produced. During the Industrial Revolution, which ended in around 1840, the invention of the sewing machine came to be an advancement in the fashion industry. From then on out, making clothing was a lot easier, cheaper, and faster to make. Fast forward to the 1960s and on; this is when people started to use clothing as a way to express themselves and find their personal style. There was a huge range of clothing, and different styles were available to more and more people. This was when companies began mass producing, because there was an increasing demand for clothing in general. In the 2000s, online shopping became a contributor to the fast fashion problem we have today. More and more people became prone to buying clothes more often; new items were always coming out, and people loved to be on trend. Without even knowing it, the majority of the population was contributing to fast fashion.
The problems with Fast Fashion
Fabricating numerous clothes definitely has its downsides. Companies need people to work at the sewing machines and produce the clothing that so many people buy and wear. Even though they are so popular, the actual workers don’t get paid much at all. Because fast fashion refers to cheaper clothes so more people will purchase them, the brands need to keep their prices low; one way of doing this is by driving down the wages of the workers. Companies do this by locating the countries with the lowest labor standards so that the workers can be more easily exploited. Many of these workers undergo harsh conditions, and the factories where they work are not properly maintained either. In 2013, the Rana Square clothing manufacturing complex located in Bangladesh collapsed, which killed over 1000 people. This horrible event brought some awareness to the treatment of the people who made the clothes many wore.
Fast Fashion not only has an impact with people, but also has one on our environment. Our planet undergoes horrible treatment such as having polluted water due to the use of cheap and toxic dyes. Polyester is one of the most popular materials used, especially in fast fashion, and is derived from fossil fuels, which ultimately leads to global warming. Other fabrics such as cotton need huge amounts of water and pesticides, and are taken from developing countries. This can put stress on water basins and lead to environmental disasters such as droughts. The constant need of materials from fast fashion companies leads to land clearing, biodiversity loss, and soil quality problems which are all environmental impacts.
What are Fast Fashion Brands - What You Should Do
A majority of the stores and companies that people, especially teenagers buy from tend to be fast fashion. It’s incredibly hard to buy something completely sustainable all the time; it's unrealistic for many and also buying cheaper clothes is just what many people have to do. Buying from fast fashion brands doesn’t automatically make you a bad person. If you are someone who orders frequently from places like shein, H&M, Forever 21, Boohoo, and more, and throws out “old” clothes frequently, you are a contributor to the growing fast fashion industry. Buying from those stores and keeping the items for longer periods of time is better because they are staying with you for longer and aren’t being thrown away.
COVID-19 Booster Shots in Oregon
March 1, 2022
Emilio Calderon
*Note article was written at a date prior to publishing. Therefore not all information may be completely current*
Although many aspects of life have returned to ‘the new normal’ it is important to remember that we are still living through a pandemic. The curve may be flattening (yay!) but we must still be ever cautious with COVID. With the new Omicron Variant possibly bringing a new age of COVID, keeping yourself safe from the virus is now at it’s utmost importance.
Cases
While cases have shown some promise in recent weeks (not all data for the past 17 days has been reported) as the OHA Epidemic Case Curve shows a steady decline in cases in the past few weeks, it is not time to quite give up on this pandemic. With the still deadly Delta Variant and growing concern over the Omicron Variant, the pandemic is far from over. And one of the best ways to do so is getting vaccinated.
Vaccinations and Booster Shots
In Oregon, 62% of the population has been fully vaccinated (two weeks after getting two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of the J&J vaccine), with 72.9% of the population over 18 being fully vaccinated. However, this now raises the question: whats next?
If you are not yet vaccinated your first step should be getting your first or second dose! Remember that for people over 5 but under 18, the Pfizer vaccine is their only option right now. And despite 5-11 year olds getting a smaller dose it has the same level of effectiveness against the virus. Fortunately, both Oregon and the CDC have vaccine finder websites to help people who need to make a vaccination appointment.
If you are fully vaccinated, remember this does not make you immune from the virus. While vaccines do provide protection from COVID and intense reactions to the virus. It is still best to social distance and wear a mask to stay safe from infection. The World Health Organization has a great article explain vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, and protection and the CDC has an article on life being fully vaccinated if you are interested in learning more!
Now in the United States, those 18 and older are eligible to receive a ‘booster’ shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. A booster shot is an additional third dose of a COVID vaccine to keep the body’s immune system strong against the virus. Think of it like how flu shots are available every year to fight the flu, however, the booster shot is using the same formula used in current vaccines.
However, it is important to wait to get your booster until six months after your second dose for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine or two months after your dose of the J&J vaccine. It is also important to note that “you may choose which COVID-19 vaccine you receive as a booster shot” according to the CDC (COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots). You can schedule an appointment with either a location near you, or find one using Oregon’s or the CDC’s have vaccine appointment website.
When going to your booster appointment, remember to bring your vaccination card so it can be updated with the info for your booster shot.
Moving Forward
Like always, it is important to socially distance, stay masked, and get vaccinated! The only difference now is that we now can get booster shots to keep our immune systems strong against the virus. While changes in the virus like the Delta and Omicron Variant are ongoing, the end of the pandemic can be just around the corner if we all follow proper COVID protocols. Stay safe and stay healthy!
-Entertainment-
Can You Rrrroll Your R’s?
March 1, 2022
Irene Lim
Can you roll your r’s? Like, properly. Like, r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r. I can’t. My twin brother can, though. People who speak languages like Spanish and Italian and Russian and Hindi roll their r’s every day! Korean has a rolled-r sound as well, but even some Koreans can’t sustain a trill. Why? Why can some people roll their r’s and some people can’t? Can it be learned? Or is it a talent you are born with? Do genetics play a role? Today, we will explore the phenomenon of rolled r’s.
The rolled r is also known as the trill or, if you want to be linguistically accurate, the “alveolar trill.” The trill looks like [ r ] in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). “Isn’t that just like a regular English 'r'?” You may ask. Out of all the world’s languages, the trill is actually more common than the “r” sound in English, so the phonetic symbol for the typical “r” in English is represented by [ ɹ ] instead. Sometimes the alveolar trill is mistaken as the alveolar tap. Try saying the word “butter.” That flick of the tongue to make the “tt” sound is the alveolar tap! Korean employs this tap in its “ㄹ” letter, which is why some Koreans may sound like they can roll their r’s but they really can’t. The alveolar tap makes essentially the same sound but it is not the same as the trill since it cannot be sustained.
Let’s go back to the very beginning. Every human is born with the same ability to pronounce all the different sounds humans can make (unless, of course, you have some sort of speaking disability). So, genetics isn’t a problem. The trill is learned. There is still hope for me, and all of you who can’t roll your r’s… yet! Trills are learned through imitation and practice. A lot of practice. In fact, the trill, and all r-sounds, called “rhotic” sounds, are some of the last sounds children learn to pronounce. Exposure is why Spanish, Italian, and Russian speakers roll their r’s so well. English doesn’t have a trill sound so many English speakers just never learn it.
But that still doesn’t explain why some English speakers have naturally learned to roll their r’s while others haven’t. Well, I’ve got an answer for you. There’s a reason why I haven’t specified what exactly the English “r” is yet. Out of the seven rhotic (“r”) sounds that can be made, English speakers usually use two of them.
The postalveolar approximant “r” is the most common, about 60% of Americans pronounce their r’s this way. It is where the tongue curls and touches the roof of the mouth just behind the teeth to produce the “r” sound. This movement is similar to how to make the “l” sound as well. Flicking the tongue like this every time you pronounce the “r” sound builds flexibility and familiarity with that movement. Because of this, the people who have learned to say their r’s the postalveolar way have an easier time trilling.
The “bunched” or “molar” “r” is less common, even though it makes nearly the exact same sound. It is where the tongue “bunches” low in the middle of the mouth and presses against the molars in the back. This is how I pronounce my r’s. With the “bunched r”, the tongue does not practice the flicking motions required to make a trill, thus, people (me) who pronounce their r’s with a bunched tongue have a more difficult time learning to trill.
All is not lost, as I said earlier, because trills can be learned! To learn the trill, all you need is concentration and practice, practice, practice! Well, that’s what I’ve heard, anyway. Since I still can’t yet trill, here are some resources that would explain it better than me:
How to Trill Your R - Latin Tutorial
Finally An Accurate Explanation of How to Trill the Spanish R - Ten Minute Spanish
How to Roll Your R’s - Wikihow
How to Roll Your R’s - Super Coco
Which way do you pronounce your r’s? Can you trill? If not, give it a try!
(P.S. Do you know how many times I tried to trill while writing this? Like, way too many. It’s harrrrrrrrd.)
Rising Artists: New Names of the Music Industry
March 1, 2022
Anya Li
Are you looking for some new music? Or are you looking to support small artists? Or maybe it’s something else. Whatever it is, it’s time to discover some hidden gems of the music industry that have yet to be discovered!
Genre: Pop/Rock
Lesley Roy is an Irish artist from Balbriggan, Dublin, where she lives part-time. She splits her time there with the time she spends in New York City, where her wife lives. She has worked with artists like Adam Lambert and Miss Montreal and even competed in Eurovision 2021, which is an annual contest where countries in Europe compete to win the iconic glass microphone trophy. There, she placed 16th in the 1st semi-finals with her newest single “Maps”. She has a distinctly raspy voice, which she pairs with music featuring a unique mix of classic rock and modern pop. So for those of you who can’t seem to choose between rock and pop, Lesley may be the one for you!
Genre: Punk/Rock/Pop
Are you a fan of the 70s? Perhaps enjoy raw yet relatable songs? If so, Foxes might be an artist to try out. Though her real name is Louisa Rose Allen, she goes by her stage name Foxes, which she chose to eliminate confusion with singer Lily Allen. She rose to popularity through her song “Clarity”, a collab with Zedd. It even won her a Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2014! Her sound is similar to that of the punk rock era in the 70s, and she has even cited Patti Smith, an influential singer of the era, as one of her major influences. However, she took what reporters call a “three-year hiatus” from 2017-2020, which she says in an interview with AtwoodMagazine “helped her realign her life”. Now though, she is glad to be back and quite excited for people to hear her music her new album, Friends in the Corner, was released in April of 2021! When asked to describe the album, she describes it as “raw” and even “[exposing] in a way”.
Genre: K-Pop/Indie/R&B
Cho Seung-youn, otherwise known as WOODZ is a Korean singer and songwriter. Some may know him as a rapper and vocalist of Chinese-Korean group UNIQ, although they split in 2015 due to the heightening tensions between South Korea and China. In UNIQ, he and other group members made what was considered “classic K-Pop”, but as WOODZ, he has now shifted his music in a different direction. After experimenting with many genres, such as HipHop, Pop, EDM, and ballads, he decided to go with an indie and R&B vibe. His songs also have more power, yet are still soothing to the soul. A storyteller with his music, he is very personal with his lyrics, putting his entire heart and emotion into them. Released in October of 2021, his EP (extended play or mini-album) “Only Lovers Left” highlights this ability and the way he can showcase a concept to fit the message of any song. Make sure to go check it out and give him some love!
Genre: J-Pop/Indie
Eito’s debut single, “Kōsui” went viral on TikTok in early 2020, which charted the song on the Billboard Global 200 and scored his first #1 on the Japan Hot 100. Following his #1, he won an award for the song in the category of Best Breakthrough Song at Japan’s MTV music awards. “Kōsui” is part of his first album “Sukkarakan”, which he released in January of 2021. Like many of his songs, a large portion of the songs on the LP (long track) feature his acoustic guitar, bringing out his “unique and strong vocals”. His comforting voice paired with the acoustics of his guitar are truly an irresistible pair. Throughout the year, he has released multiple singles, all of which have the same indie vibe as many songs on Sukkarakan.
Genre: J-pop/Anisong/R&B
Eill, whose name was inspired by the Norse healing goddess Eir, has been writing and composing music since the age of 15. Not only that, but also is quite a gifted songwriter, having written songs for NEWS, Taeyeon, and collaborated with Pink Sweat$. Eill is known to be very expressive with her voice, consisting of a perfect mixture of sweetness, bittersweetness, luster, and strength. Despite having released 3 mini-albums, she has not yet released a full album, which is coming in February of this year! The album name has been revealed to be titled Palette and some of the tracks to be featured on it, though the order is still unknown, are “Breathe here”, “Hikari”, “Like a flower”, “Plastic love”, “23”, the acoustic version of “Katappo”, and the extended version of “Breath here”.
Genre: Lo-Fi/Bedroom Pop
Lily Ki, also known as LilyPichu, is an artist whose music radiates comfy vibes. Already busy with the responsibilities of being a full-time streamer on Twitch, she was afraid to start a music channel, though she had always wanted to. One day, she decided, I’m just going to do it. And with that, her music channel, named comfi beats was born. Once, when chatting with her stream she said, “I take a lot of pride in the music I compose and create.” And she should. Lily composes and writes all of her songs, a huge feat considering she is a full-time streamer. However, she does have a producer to help with the production. “It’s really cool that I can give a producer all my ideas and they can make it come to life,” she says. Most of her songs are accompanied by the piano, and even sometimes purely piano, like her songs “Walking With You” and “Comfy Vibes”, the latter holding a special place in her heart as her first song. Her voice, even when talking, is very high pitched, almost like an anime character, and very soft, adding to the relaxed vibe of her songs. Outside of music, as mentioned above, Lily is a streamer Twitch, where she has garnered over 2 million followers and is part of the organization Offline TV with creators like Pokimane, Toast, and her fiance Micheal Reeves.
Genre: Pop
Lisa Cimorelli was catapulted into the spotlight when she and her five sisters released a cover of “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus in 2009, which has garnered almost 9 million views! Together, the six of them formed the band Cimorelli, which she is still a part of after over 10 years! In 2018, Lisa announced on Instagram that she was going to be releasing her music as a “side project”. She has released multiple singles since then and has collaborated with other artists in the industry as well, like Tyler Ward and RiffRaff. Her songs reflect both her low points and her times of gratitude and self-awareness, even sometimes becoming “horrifyingly personal”. She has a passion for arranging songs, which she does for her band too. Her powerful, energetic voice, belts, and huge vocal range (B2-A6) never fail to awe those listening. Additionally, she has many live and acoustic versions of her songs without the production and effects on her vocals on her YouTube channel. She never has any autotune in these versions, stating that she prefers to “let [us] hear [her] properly just as [she is], mistakes and all.”
Games of The New Decade
March 1, 2022
Stephen Judd
As the quarantine reaches its 2nd anniversary, we continue to spend our lives socially distant from one another. While we take good care of our future, whether it be health or grades, the days drag on and become boring and stale. So if you have the urge for some excitement and don’t know where to start, a variety of new games have recently dropped in stores.
Smash Bros Ultimate’s new arrival
As most of the students in the school know, the last character in Masahiro Sakurai’s Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC pack 2, Sora, was released October 18th on the Nintendo Switch. Gamers of all ages enjoy playing with this new character, along with the rest of the 87 characters on the cast on the new Super Smash Bros. Roster.
Metroid: Dread: a long-awaited fan favorite
After four years, the platforming action-adventure title of Metroid finally released a follow-up game titled Metroid: Dread to the Nintendo Switch. Because of new and old fans’ love for this game, sales are skyrocketing around the globe. From the map design to the very sound effects, this comeback could be the Metroid series’ finest work. Reaching high scores on Google, IMDB, Gamespot, and Metacritic, this new release is worthy of all the praise.
Forza Horizon 5 is a masterful open-air driving experience
As the series makes game after game, it never fails to amaze: the seasonal landscapes, the rolling hills, or the lit streets of Mexico, Aztec ruins to the turquoise bay waters, the world of Forza Horizon 5 is full of racing thrills and sights to behold. Having an astonishing 8.9/10 from Metacritic, this game is truly the best in its line.
After almost a decade, Super Monkey Ball comes back
The series Super Monkey Ball has been in neglect for nine whole years. Now the series has come back with a vengeance, releasing Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania (SMBBM). SMBBM is an amazing representation of the old games. Its cute nostalgic art style brings old and new players to the franchise. Its arcade content, story modes, and multiple customizable and swappable characters bring hours upon hours of content and creativity to the Nintendo Switch.
There sure are lots of new exciting titles released this year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good titles from years past. That doesn’t mean we should neglect the older games that are still relevant today. While the new release line of games looks promising, there are still games we can reference from times of old.
Breath of the Wild is a timeless masterpiece
Even after 4 years, Breath of the Wild (Botw) has remained one of, if not the most popular game of the decade. The open-air field of Hyrule has outclassed other competitors like never before. If you love fighting Fighting bokoblins, the mutated malice of Calamity Ganon, or guardians of ages long past, combat has been enhanced to a degree almost no game has explored before. With multiple questlines and ways to play the game, you can find yourself lost in the experience you make for yourself. Whether it be riding a horse in the plains, or enjoying the calming atmosphere of a Shiekah tower, Botw is a game like no other. The game even has 2 DLC packs which can enhance your experience even further with intriguing questlines, amazing graphics, and a story to remember.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: The true RPG experience
The name Skyrim, a bold name dearly beloved by many has held its reputable stock in the last decade, and with it has only gotten better. The freedom to do whatever you want in the cold plains of Skyrim, Tamriel’s northmost province. Meeting the Jarls of the 9 holds and helping their people, or joining a villainous group of assassins, the choice is completely up to you. Now on Xbox, PC, Switch, and PS4/5, being the game with the most console variety thus far.
Honorable Mentions:
Ori and the Blind Forest: A tearjerking 2D platformer game that explores the forest of Nibel, exploring the roots of Ori’s origin, pain, and coming of age story. The game’s story is like no other, bringing out all sorts of emotions within the player. This tearjerking experience is now available on Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
As we all know, this wouldn’t be a complete list without the original heavy-hitting titles, such as:
Tetris, the 8-bit stacking game, is an excellent competitive or casual after-school activity.
Genshin Impact: A Brief Rundown
March 1, 2022
Helena Lieu
Genshin Impact. The game that few have been able to avoid, perhaps hearing from a friend, seeing a YouTube advertisement for it, or scrolling through your Instagram feed. However, is it worth giving in to the pressure?
Chinese game company Mihoyo, who produced the popular game Honkai Impact, released a free open-world adventure game with gacha elements in September 2020, and picked up extreme popularity for the company ever since. Players can download the game and explore the world of Teyvat as a traveler searching for their lost sibling, following the story as they meet and aid new allies along the way, such as the cocky and relaxed cavalry captain Kaeya, or dutiful and kind Acting Grandmaster Jean. Unlocking new characters to fight introduces the gacha system, which acts similar to a toy vending machine, and encourages players to spend in-game money.
Providing a rich story influenced by historical Chinese, Japanese and Germanic culture, Genshin Impact has attracted fans with its deep and complex lore. This coupled with loveable characters has reasonably brought Genshin to its popularity today. However, there are some points which have hindered the game from growing even further in popularity.
Although its characters are appealing to some, most characters in Genshin Impact are forgettable, with dull and archetypal backstories. Beautiful design and high damage numbers are usually the most appealing aspects of new characters, but the writing and development of characters such as Raiden Shogun and Xinyan hinder their potential to be fan favorites. There is also the favoring of male characters over female characters, as there is consistently more in-depth and complex backstory created for male characters such as Xiao and Zhongli.
Additionally, although this game is great for beginners, it stagnates in excitement and novelty as soon as players pass about Adventure Rank 50, as gameplay becomes less about exploration and more about farming and fixations around high damage numbers. While this could be fun for some, this stagnation does not reflect how the game is advertised as an adventure game.
Genshin Impact is very much reliant on the pay-to-win strategy. Because of the gacha system, players are encouraged to gamble in-game money to obtain characters and weapons. This encourages excessive spending, as players can pay to buy in-game currency. According to Statista, mobile players spent over 167 million dollars in October 2020, while Genshin was gaining traction in the entertainment world. While this aspect of the game could be engaging to some players, there is no denial that bad habits and even a spending addiction can form around the gacha portion of the game. It is noticeably more difficult to be as successful as a free-to-play (players that spend little to no money on the game) when compared to a whale (those who spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a month on the game), making it frustrating to those who cannot spend money on the game, especially considering it is becoming harder at higher levels to receive free in-game money.
Mihoyo has a lot of potential with Genshin Impact, however its character depth and pay-to-win system hinders its ability to truly stay interesting to a player over an extended period of time.
The Dragon's Corner (Gossip column-March issue)
Carter Morrison
-No, you’re not going to marry your high school sweetheart-
As the new year begins to bloom, there are a variety of exciting romantic opportunities to be had. Here in the Dragon’s corner all matters casual, dramatic, and sickeningly sweet will be discussed. These are the month’s most prevailing advice for finding that special someone:
Be yourself (With restraint)
Everyone likes someone who's honest and confident with who they are. But nobody wants to see your full unbridled chaos until they really get to know you. Keep it normal.
You’re not going to marry
This is the title of this article because it's an important point. A lot of high school is spent thinking about the future, but when it comes to a relationship that’s not how it should be taken. Have fun, be respectful and kind, but live it up.
Make sure to have fun
Tying into the last point, all parties having fun should be a prerequisite, of course there will be times when things have to be serious, but it’s best to take a lighthearted and casual approach to high school dating.
Don’t burn any bridges man
Breaking up really sucks, there's no denying that. There’s a reason that every single song on the radio is about love. Love is a universal condition, one that unites humanity everywhere no matter who that love is for. So don’t burn your bridges man, it’ll make everything really weird and awkward.
Don’t write a love advice column
I think this one is self explanatory.
Be even
Relationships are a two way street, both people should feel that their opinion matters and is listened to. One person should not hold more power than the other.
-And now, the story evaluation section-
In this part of the column, I will be discussing various mistakes and issues commonplace in the decisions of fictional characters. Real feelings are nothing to laugh about, however these characters come from stories. So thankfully, laugh at them all you want.
The old and bad-Romeo and Juliet
Now this is a classic, everyone knows these two names, regardless if they know the story or not. What we have here is a perfect example of miscommunication, passion being allowed to run amuck without any form of control. So please, talk to each other. Don’t be Romeo and Juliet.
The new and bad-Twilight
Bella and Edward’s relationship is tremendously terrible. For one, Bella has barely any voice at all, which I suppose could be blamed on bad writing, but as the story presents itself, she is a person without a perspective, and she has no control in the relationship. She goes along with Edward’s whims (who is several decades older by the way) without rhyme or reason. He also watches her sleep, threatens her, and drags her into dangerous situations, making this a definite no go.
The good-Scott Pilgrim vs the World
This is a good example of turning things around, that even if both people have made mistakes and been bad to each other, things can, and usually will, get better. Scott in the beginning of the series is a freeloader and a liar, and when he meets Ramona, she isn’t much better. However, over the course of the books they push each other to their limits, and instead of breaking, mature and discover things about themselves they’d been blocking out. It's a relationship that helps them both grow immensely as people, with a charming story as well.
Finally,
Submit your own love advice through our email, I want to hear what you’ve experienced for the next issue. After all, advice is better the more people that give it.
See ya💋
-Citations for Articles-
Interstate Bridge Faces Interesting Reform?
Citations:
“Columbia River Bridges.” Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council, https://www.rtc.wa.gov/data/traffic/bridges/daily.asp.
“Community Engagement.” Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, https://www.interstatebridge.org/get-involved.
“Fact Sheet.” Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, Jan. 2021, https://www.interstatebridge.org/media/hlkksrep/ibr_fact_sheet__v11-20-2021_vfinal_remediated.pdf.
“Frequently Asked Questions.” Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, https://www.interstatebridge.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions/.
Goff, Michael. “Interstate Bridge.” Bridgehunter.com, Historic Bridge Foundation, 21 Jan. 2009, http://bridgehunter.com/or/multnomah/interstate/. Accessed 26 Dec. 2021.
Shedlock, David. “Interstate Bridge.” Bridgehunter.com, Historic Bridge Foundation, http://bridgehunter.com/or/multnomah/interstate/. Accessed 26 Dec. 2021.
“Understanding the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program.” Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, https://www.interstatebridge.org/about.
Holidays going down?
Statistics Citations:
Kiernan, John S. “Halloween Facts Infographic: Spooky Stats for 2021.” WalletHub, 25 Oct. 2021, https://wallethub.com/blog/halloween-facts/25374#:~:text=31%25%20of%20parents%20think%2013,up%2038%25%20from%202020).
Published by Statista Research Department, and Sep 24. “Halloween Participation in the United States 2015-2021.” Statista, 24 Sept. 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/243201/planned-halloween-participation-in-the-united-states/.
Trenda, Eloise. “Halloween: Parents Letting Their Children Trick-or-Treat U.S. 2020.” Statista, 16 Sept. 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/777768/us-consumers-plans-for-giving-candy-to-trick-or-treaters/.
What is Fast Fashion?
Stanton, Audrey. “What Does Fast Fashion Mean, Anyway?” The Good Trade, The Good Trade, 14 Oct. 2021, https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion.
“What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is It a Problem?” Ethical Consumer, 2 Nov. 2021, https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/what-fast-fashion-why-it-problem#:~:text=Fast%20fashion%20is%20%27fast%27%20in,few%20times%20before%20being%20discarded.
“What Is Fast Fashion?” Good On You, 25 Oct. 2021, https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-fast-fashion/.
“The History of Fast Fashion.” TUGI, https://www.theurbangardeninitiative.org/blog/the-history-of-fast-fashion.COVID-19 Booster Shots in Oregon
Citations:
“Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Nov. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html.
“Find a COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon : Oregon Health Authority.” NIC GovStatus - Emergency Response Solution, https://govstatus.egov.com/find-covid-19-vaccine.
“Find COVID-19 Vaccine Locations near You.” Vaccines.gov, https://www.vaccines.gov/search/.
Oregon COVID-19 Case and Testing Counts Statewide. Oregon Health Authority, https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/oregon.health.authority.covid.19/viz/OregonHealthAuthorityCOVID-19DataDashboard/COVID-19EPICases.
“Oregon COVID-19 Vaccine Effort Metrics.” Tableau Public, Oregon Health Authority, 30 Nov. 2021, https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/oregon.health.authority.covid.19/viz/OregonCOVID-19VaccineEffortMetrics/StatewideProgress.
“Vaccine Efficacy, Effectiveness and Protection.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/vaccine-efficacy-effectiveness-and-protection.
“When You've Been Fully Vaccinated.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Oct. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html.
Can You Rrrroll Your R’s?
“Bunched R vs. Retroflex R Tongue Placement.” YouTube, Peachie Speachie, 19 June 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcrVeMYnOS4.
Davies, Emma. “Why Can't Everyone Roll Their 'R's?” BBC Science Focus Magazine, BBC, www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-cant-everyone-roll-their-rs/.
“Finally an Accurate Explanation of How to Trill the Spanish R.” YouTube, Ten Minute Spanish, 15 June 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrywWf3mXGI.
Harbeck, James. “What a Single Sound Says about You.” BBC Culture, BBC, 18 Mar. 2019, www.bbc.com/culture/article/20190315-what-a-single-sound-says-about-you.
“How to Roll Your R's: The Definitive Guide.” SuperCoco, www.supercocoapp.com/post/how-to-roll-your-rs/.
“How to Roll Your ‘r‘s.” WikiHow, 5 Nov. 2021, www.wikihow.com/Roll-Your-%22R%22s.
“How to Trill Your R.” YouTube, Latin Tutorial, 17 Nov. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9eN2B7Wj68.
“IPA Symbol: [ɹ].” Phonetics, 2005, home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~krussll/phonetics/transcription/english-symbols/r.html.
Lillet, Amanda. “119: The Bunched R Sound - Pronuncian: American English Pronunciation.” Pronuncian: American English Pronunciation, 5 Apr. 2016, pronuncian.com/podcasts/episode119.
Marie, Erin. “The Real Reason Some People Can't Roll Their 'R's.” Health Digest, Health Digest, 2 Nov. 2021, www.healthdigest.com/649808/the-real-reason-some-people-cant-roll-their-rs/.
“Pronunciation of English /r/.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pronunciation_of_English_/r/.
Scott, Tom, director. Why Jonathan Ross Can't Pronounce His Rs. YouTube, 24 May 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld3A3QCpXd4.
“Voiced Alveolar and Postalveolar Approximants.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Dec. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voiced_alveolar_and_postalveolar_approximants.
Wostiera, Nadja. “The Many Sides of the English 'R'.” Explorations in English Language Learning, 17 June 2019, englishexplorations.check.uni-hamburg.de/the-many-sides-of-the-english-r/.Rising Artists: New Names of the Music Industry
Citations:
Albert, Michael. “The Artist Named Woodz.” Kpopmap, Kpopmap, 21 Oct. 2021, https://www.kpopmap.com/the-artist-named-woodz/.
Betker, Ally. “Meet Foxes, the 27-Year-Old Singer-Songwriter Who Won a Grammy before Releasing Her First Album.” W Magazine, W Magazine, 28 July 2016, https://www.wmagazine.com/story/foxes-coldplay-on-the-verge.
“Biography.” Eill OFFICIAL WEB SITE, https://eill.info/biography/.
Donaldson, Becky. “Foxes on Her Career Reset and Comeback Confidence.” HELLO!, HELLO!, 1 June 2021, https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/hfm/20210601114168/foxes-hello-fashion-cover-interview/.
“Eill (JPN).” Genius, 2019, https://genius.com/artists/Eill-jpn.
Japan, Billboard. “J-Pop Newcomer Eito Scores First No. 1, Yoasobi Rises to No. 2 on Japan Hot 100.” Billboard, 20 May 2020, https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/eito-kousui-yoasobi-japan-hot-100-chart-9387656/.
“Lesley Roy - Ireland - Rotterdam 2021.” Eurovision.tv, https://eurovision.tv/participant/lesley-roy-2021.
“Lesley Roy's Irish Rock.” YouTube, 27 Sept. 2008, https://youtu.be/Q7sb5bPaMTU. Accessed 6 Jan. 2022.
“Lilypichu Talks about behind the Scene of Every Song She Made Part 1.” Performance by Lily Ki, YouTube, 18 Mar. 2021, https://youtu.be/CgyEEtyDUPg. Accessed 6 Jan. 2022.
“Lisa Cimorelli.” Genius, https://genius.com/artists/Lisa-cimorelli.
Mosk, Mitch. “‘Emotional Car Crashes’: Singer/Songwriter Foxes Makes a Stunning Return with Her 'Friends in the Corner' EP.” Atwood Magazine, 7 May 2021, https://atwoodmagazine.com/foxes-music-interview-2021-friends-in-the-corner-ep-feature/.
Oricon.co.jp, Eito "Kosui" MV Was Selected as the Most Talked-about Song of the Breakthrough Prize , 19 Nov. 2020, https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2177072/full/.
Ramenbeats, DJ. “Who Is Eito?” QAZ JAPAN, https://qazjapan.com/dive/who-is-eito/.
Wilson, Roxanne. “Woodz: Closer than You Think.” The Kraze, The Kraze, 25 Oct. 2019, http://thekrazemag.com/latest-updates/2019/10/24/woodz-closer-than-you-think.