Category: Arts & Culture

  • 3 Cambodian Alternatives to Traditional Holiday Meals

    3 Cambodian Alternatives to Traditional Holiday Meals

    What is better to eat during the holidays than a meal that warms your heart? During the holidays, my family always sticks to non-traditional holiday meals. Instead of fruitcake, eggnog, candied yams, and roasted potato, we have traditional Khmer meals. There is nothing that can warm my heart more than a meal that reminds me of my heritage.

    1. For the main course, instead of having beef wellington or a roasted turkey, we have Yao Hon. Yao Hon is a Cambodian Hot Pot. Each Khmer family makes their Yao Hon differently, but my family makes it from chicken stock (we also have an abundance of vegetables to cook within the hot pot). It is a quick meal to make since we only need to prep the stock and the sides to put in the pot.


    2. For an alternative to a warm cozy bowl of soup, we have Nombajok. Nombajok is similar to ramen, but the noodles are made from rice. Nombajok has different types of broth: the traditional Khmer broth is made from fish, but throughout the years, Cambodians have picked up different spices. It all depends on the family; for example, some Cambodians put curry in their nombajok.
    3. For dessert, instead of fig pudding, we have Nom Som Jayt, which translates to dessert banana. It looks like sushi but is considered dessert. It is made from rice, mixed from condensed milk, banana, and beans, then wrapped in banana leaf. When you leave the Nom Som Jayt out for a while, the banana turns purple and becomes much sweeter to eat.
  • Mythology: Holiday Edition

    Mythology: Holiday Edition

    Dionysus

    On Christmas Day, a Greek God called Dionysus was born. Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele. Unfortunately, when Semele was pregnant with Dionysus, Semele was burnt to crisp; however Zeus managed to save Dionysus by granting him immortality and from then on, he was referred to as “the one twice-born.” (which referred to his prenatal birth and then his actual birth from Zeus).

    As a God, Dionysus was known as the god of wine, pleasure, festivity, vegetation, and frenzy; Compared to the rest of the Gods, he seemed the most fun to be around, mostly because Dionysus spent his life traveling around the world and was one of the very few Greek characters who were able to successfully bring back a dead person from the underworld.

    Dionysus made a lasting impact on Greek society. Four times a year, the Athenians and citizens in Greece would come to worship Dionysus. The Greeks would sing, drink large amounts of wine, dance, and revel in a state of madness to honor Dionysus. At a point, a contest was formed to honor the best tragedy, where three tragedies and one satyr play would be shown. Due to these celebrations, Dionysus drove the development of Greek Theaters. To this day, Dionysus has an impact on Western society, as greek theaters would then influence western theaters, giving us a platform to watch the Nutcracker and a Christmas during the holidays. 

     

    Huitzilopochtli
    Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and the sun, was known as a principal deity in Aztec society. Huitzilopochtli is interpreted as “The Hummingbird of the South” or “Blue Hummingbird on the Left” where Aztecs believed that deceased warriors reincarnated as hummingbirds and Aztecs considered the south to be the left side of the world. Thus, his name takes a deeper meaning as the “resuscitated warrior of the south.” Huitzilopochtli is also known as Uitzilopochtli, Xiuhpilli (Turquoise Prince), and Totec (Our Lord). His calendar name is Ce Técpatl and his nagual, or animal spirit, is an eagle.

    In one version of events, Huitzilopochtli was the son of Omecίhuatl and Ometecuhtli– the male and female aspects of the primordial god Ometeotl. Alternatively, Huitzilopochtli is the son of the earth goddess Coatlίcue, born in the Coatepec Mountains. Huitzilopochtli avenged his mother after she was killed by her children Centzonhuitznahuac and Centzonmimizcoa. Huitzilopochtli dispersed them in the heavens to become the northern and southern constellations. His sister, however, Coyolxauhqui was the first to fall as he defeated her as he was born from his mother’s corpse and flung her head to the sky, which resulted in the creation of the moon. The conflict between Coyolxauhqui and Huitzilopochtli was thought to happen daily as the exchange for the control of the sky between the sun and the moon. Huitzilopochtli was thought to be accompanied across the sky by the spirits of fallen warriors (later reincarnated as hummingbirds), and from noon was accompanied by Cihuateteo or spirits of women who died during childbirth. Night arose as Huitzilopochtli moved through the Underworld until dawn, where the cycle continues.

    The Aztecs believed Huitzilopochtli guided them from the sacred cave of Aztlan to the Valley of Mexico, founding the city of Tenochtitlán in 1325 CE. During the journey, priests carried his image of a hummingbird on their shoulders, with his voice giving orders at night. Huitzilopochtli’s first shrine was built on a spot where priests found a eagle poised on a rock devouring a rock devouring a snake, an image so striking that it is portrayed on the Mexican flag.

  • Comic: Bambatbear

    Comic: Bambatbear

  • sus game among us

    sus game among us

    Acrylic paint on canvas by sierra brott-hunter

     A long time ago… okay maybe not so long ago, like about 2 years ago… dun dun dun. In 2018  a  new game came out and barely any people knew about it, fast forward two  years to where we are now in 2020. There have been some crazy trends and shows because of quarantine,  but now everyone is obsessed with this  game called Among Us. Starting at the end of September, it became a huge  sensation even celebrities are playing the game. It is a really good and fun way to make online friends. My  friends and I play it weekly. To play, my friends and I group facetime, so it is easier to play the game, while one of us creates the room to play the rest of us wait to get the code.

         How we distribute the code is by saying the first letter of a word, for example if the code was ADVOQ, we would  be like Apple, dog, violin, octopus, queen, just because  people do not listen so we have to do it like that. In the game there are imposters and crewmates – there  has to be  4 or more people to play the game. There can be 1 or more imposters, it  can be whatever  you chose, the crew mates go around the ship to do tasks and try not to die while doing tasks to win. The imposters go around the ship to fake tasks and eliminate the crewmates to win. The imposters can sabotage, or vent to to not get caught. 

     

      I decided to draw and paint among us characters. During the process of me painting and drawing i am going to be honest, it took me a long time because I would stop and listen to music, brainstorm on how I wanted to lay it out, I would also play the game, but I finally figured  out who wanted to lay it out. This is how it turned out. My cousin helped me on it so it’s a little messy but it is okay if because it was a fun thing to paint.  

  • The Inn of Sin

    It was snowing heavily as the man in the brown coat entered the lone inn in the middle of nowhere. Little did he know that he had just entered the jaws of death.

    The innkeeper was a kind old lady who showed him to his room. It was a creaky, dim-lit building but that did not seem to bother him. ”The ferocity of this storm may last a few days, but no worries, I have a feeling that something interesting will happen soon. Hopefully, it will not be a total bore for you, dear,” the old lady said with a sly grin. As the man in brown sat on his bed, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. He could feel it. A set of eyes. Staring. Straight. At. Him. 

     

    It was half-past 12 when he heard it. A shriek, so loud, that it may as well have awakened the dead. He and three others rushed toward the noise. There, at the entrance of the inn, the old lady lay there in a pool of blood. The man in brown checked her pulse, then shook his head. “What in god’s name happened here?” asked a man in blue, trembling in fear. He was a small, skinny fellow, with a mustache that did not fit his face. “Well, my good sir, it seems as if the innkeeper was killed by something that struck the back of her head,” calmly replied a young man in dark spectacles. Then there was silence, everyone still in awe of what was in front of them. “Well, I’m not staying in this house of horrors,” the man in blue announced as he stormed to the door. But it wouldn’t budge. The man in blue tugged and kicked it. It was futile. The door would not open. They were stuck. And one of them, guilty.

     

    The four of them, all four suspects in the murder, then gathered in the main room. The man in blue, a duke, Nathaniel Poe. The man concealing his eyes with spectacles, Arthur Shelley, a chemist. The tall woman, Theda Lux the traveler. And the man in the brown coat, the writer Nox Ray. Nox smiled, finally something interesting. Now, the game has begun.

     

    The group decided to split up and look for any clues. A foolish move. As Nox went back to the scene of the crime, he noticed something odd. A small black button. Fascinating. He slipped it into his pocket and continued to look around. Nothing more out of place.

     

    As Nox returned to the main room, he noticed Arthur and Theda already there. How peculiar. It turned out they didn’t find anything out of the ordinary anywhere else. ”Find anything?” Theda asked. Just a button he responded. “One clue…how disappointing,” she stated as she went back to staring at the clock on the wall. Tick-Tock. Then he felt it, the piercing eyes. Nox felt a shiver down his spine as he asked, “Where’s Nathaniel?”

     

    They found his limp, lifeless corpse in a chair within one of the many rooms. Cause of death–slashed throat. As Nox examined the scene, he found another clue. A silver shilling. Without a single drop of blood. That struck down a motive. Greed. This meant the killer was smug, careless. He had the time to slip out unnoticed, throwing off the trail. Or so he thought. Though there was one fatal mistake.

     

    “It’s you,” Nox declared as he took a sip of the tea that lay on top of the dresser. He pointed at Arthur. Arthur raised his eyebrow, “And why would that be?” The piercing eyes seemed unphased. “Elementary, the button I found near the innkeeper matches the design of the button on your coat and the abandoned shilling represents that the person must not care much for the money. Additionally, the physical injuries the victims received must have been from someone slightly muscular. And plus, the throat wound was aimed to look centered, however, it is clear the wound is more to the left, implying that the guilty party is blind or injured in their right eye. Now, will you take off your spectacles, Arthur?” Arthur struggled and slightly grinned. “What’s the point? You’re already dead.” Nox’s vision started to blur. The tea. Poison. Who placed the tea there? There are two. Nox’s eyes then met the set of cold staring eyes that stalked him. “Well played, Theda.”

     

  • Comic: Bambatbear

  • Monthly Mythology: October

    Monthly Mythology: October

    Hecate: The Halloween Queen

    Have you ever heard of the Halloween queen? 

    In Greek mythology, there was a goddess named Hecate who is known as the Halloween queen for her “witch-like figure.” Hecate was the daughter of Perses, the titan of destruction, and her mother was Asteria, the titan goddess of fallen stars. Originally,  Hecate was depicted as a woman who held up two torches. Families viewed her as someone who would protect them from danger. Yet, Hecate protected everyone, even those who society shunned, like witches, prostitutes, and beggars, and because of that, she was known as the Halloween queen.

    Roman God Janus: The With Two Faces

    Crossroads, we have all been there. Does one go left or right, or perhaps the road down the middle?

    In Roman mythology, Janus is the god of doorways and transitions and is known for having two faces. One face points toward the past, the other points toward the future. Janus represents the middle ground of dualities, such as life and death. Janus holds a key in his right hand, symbolizing the protection of spatial boundaries. It was said that Janus was present at the beginning of the world and ruled over life events, where he is an initiator of the shifts between the stages of life. He is also responsible for the transitions of eras of history which is why the first month, January, is named after him.

  • An FAQ Focused on College Degrees

    With the end of every school year comes the idea of uncertainty of what’s next, and how you might get there, epically for the seniors of the 2020-21 school year. Steps can be taken to complete a college application or file for student aid or loans, but choosing what to do for the rest of your life is a strenuous decision that will have an impact on the rest of your life. Questions fly through the air and, sometimes it’s hard to find answers.

    Listed below are ten general questions that might help you choose which degree you might pursue to get the job you want:

     

    1. What are the levels of college degrees?

    College degrees have four major categories for degrees: Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral. The degrees on their own can take two to eight years to complete depending on the degree you chose, and the field you’re going to study. Associates Degrees usually take around two years to complete. Both Bachelors and Masters Degrees can take anywhere from two to a cap of six years to complete, and a Doctorate or Ph.D. takes at least four years to complete.

     

    2. Which college degree should I get for my field of study?

    The college degree you get is based entirely on what you want to do with it, and how far you think you’ll be able to go with it. Some are content with an Associates Degree, and the limited knowledge that might come with it. Many, however, would recommend a Bachelor’s Degree at least, to gain the basic knowledge of the field you’re studying. A Master’s degree is also a decent choice to achieve for any field of study, and would only require an extra year or two of study. A Doctorate of Ph.D., however, is usually reserved for medical degrees and those going into the intensive or extensive field of study, and would not be recommended by many to achieve.

     

    3. Is it good to get a Doctorate degree?

    Of course, you can get a doctorate degree, but whether you should is an entirely different matter. By getting the credentials you affirm that you know exactly what you’re talking about, but in most cases, while you’re working on getting your doctorate or Ph.D., your peers who only went for a bachelor’s or master’s degree may have already advanced and established your careers. All-in-all a doctorate or Ph.D. is not recommended. For many medical professions, however, and professions like researchers and college professors, a Ph.D. is mandatory.

     

    4. Can/Should I Double Major?

    Double majoring is a popular choice if both majors you want to obtain are close to are nearly the same profession, Like a Finance and Accounting double major, or the majors for Engineering and Mathematics. Having this extra knowledge for your field can help with gaining an internship or a job. 

    Many colleges have a chance of double majoring as well, as well as pre-made schedules for classes and possible internships to allow students to complete a double major within four/five years. Double majoring is a good idea if there’s a second major that you may need to make it further into your career.

     

    5. What is a Minor?/Should I Get a Minor?

    A minor is a second, smaller degree that you can achieve along with your major. If there is a second topic or set of classes that you may want to take that does not pertain to your chosen major enough to consider double majoring, a minor is a good choice. On its own, it’s possible to gain a minor in three years, but it is impossible to obtain a minor without simultaneously participating in a degree program of some sort. A minor cannot be obtained on its own. You can, however, obtain multiple minors as long as you’re actively working towards your major.

     

    6. What happens if I drop out of my degree?

    Dropping out of a degree program can have a very selfish or selfless reason, but regardless of why, not many hear about the aftermath unless they drop out themselves, or they hear it first or second hand. If you drop out of a degree program, you still have all the credits of any classes you finished and passed while getting your degree, but under no circumstance can you claim that you completed your program. It also might be a small scuff on your academic record, but if you dropped due to personal or familial reasons, it doesn’t matter why you needed to drop. However, getting back into school to finish your degree may be difficult, and transferring your degree to a different school may be even more difficult.

     

    7. Can I get a third Major?

    There is no limit on how many degrees any person can get, regardless of what they are or what they may be used for. The pursuit of education is a noble goal, and no college can bar you from getting as many degrees as your heart desires. However, after you fulfill graduation requirements for a bachelor’s degree, you will no longer be eligible for federal education grants.

     

    8. How would my degree be useful?

    The main goal of getting a degree would be proving to your employer and your peers that you understand what you’re talking about and that you can be trusted with the part of you job that pertains to your degree What you get your degree for, or the broad ways you can use your degree, can also be useful. If you get a degree that can be used for a wide variety of jobs, it gives you the option to choose which job you want to do. 

     

    9.  Can I continue to the next degree if I stop at an AA or Bachelors?

    If you stop at an AA or Bachelor and take a break from schooling, it’s possible to go back and advance your knowledge or the degree and your knowledge to a Bachelors or Masters. Each degree is a type of “stepping stone”, meant for the knowledge you earn to lead you to the next step. It’s always a recommendation to advance your degree to your own desire. Though the time you may take between getting one degree and taking the step to get the next degree may hinder the knowledge you remember and can affect how fast you may be able to obtain a Bachelors or Masters. It can also make it harder to go back to school because in the time off you might get a job, get married, or have kids, all of which makes it harder to go back to school!

    10. Do I Have to get a degree if I want to take college courses?

    Some colleges and universities may require you have the main goal of earning a degree to take classes at their school, but many community colleges have no requirement of getting a degree to expand your pool of knowledge, though not an ivy league school, any Community college or university is a good source of higher-grade classes for young adults wanting to take leisure classes, adults who want to expand their knowledge, or elders who want to get back into studying.

  • Humans of Quarantine: Chilling, Exhausted, and Not Missing the Beach

    Humans of Quarantine: Chilling, Exhausted, and Not Missing the Beach

    “Lately I have been feeling extremely exhausted and overwhelmed by not only school and distance-learning, but from my community being torn apart and all over the place from past/recent tragedies.”
    —Mahogani Sogules-Corbin

     

    “Quarantine just means I don’t have to worry as much about wearing sunscreen.”
    —Sophia DelBello
    Reymar Santos, High Life Staff Writer: “This is my Uncle Eddie, he’s been chilling and pushing through this quarantine and he said, ‘Make the most of the time spent with your family because that is all that we can do. Enjoy life that’s it.’ “
    “Life WAS like a box of chocolates, but now its as uneventful as a Kit Kat Bar from the 99¢ store.”
    —Christian Gisborne
  • Humans of Quarantine: My Mom

    Humans of Quarantine: My Mom

    When the first outcry from WuHon China began, I remember the immediate fear my mom had. I was worried, but I thought she was paranoid. She would always tell me to bring a facemask to school, stop eating at school, and to wash my hand before I enter the car. As a typical sixteen-year-old, I became irritated.

    As I interviewed my mom about this virus, I understood her fear more.  Throughout the interview, I grew to love, and admire her efforts.  This is what she said to me: 

     “With the CoronaVirus, you can not avoid the death and the depressing state of this country. It makes me sad, not stressed but sad. If we are on lockdown forever, I know I can not visit my family in Cambodia. Even though I’m used to staying at home, as a housewife, I constantly feel worried when I go outside, it’s a motherly instinct. I miss going to the beach without worrying that I might catch the CoronaVirus. When the CoronaVirus is over I want to go to the beach, visit China Town, and go to the mall with my kids. But right now I’m ok staying at home with them.”

    Within the interview, a big theme that my mom highlighted was her fear that I would catch the coronavirus. In spite of all the misfortunes the Corona Virus brought, it also created a stronger sense of unity for families. It is hard to look at any positives in these unprecedented times, but staying with family is a sure way to keep oneself sane.

  • Moose: As Advertised EP Review

    Moose: As Advertised EP Review

    “This feeling is overpowering” for Chris (AKA: Moose), and so are the sounds used on his debut EP.

    I never imagined an indie band creating an album so bad that it’s worse than Justin Bieber, but lo and behold, As Advertised did it. I’m happy his wife thinks it’s cute, but I can’t imagine lovers of the genre enjoying anything about it.

    They Might Be Giants is a strange artist to take inspiration from among other soul and folk influences. He claims that he writes indie pop/rock, but As Advertised is anything but. If I were to assign it a genre, I would say it’s some subgenre of electronic, maybe computer music.

    Even by those standards, the “instrumentals” used on this EP resemble that of a warped record or badly damaged CD. The beat sounds either rushed or dragging on top of the vocals (and I do mean on top of them — they overpower them), and his vocals sound off at times like in the track, “Old News.” His voice sounds like it would fit well in the indie/psychedelic scene, but the sounds he uses as music are too cheap and bubbly to blend together well.

    As Advertised isn’t carried by the vocals or lyrics, as hard as it tries. The aforementioned “Old News” sounds like it’s trying to be an electronic Alex Turner speak-singing over elevator music. The lyrics of “Irl” are cringe-worthy at best, littering text-speak once or twice per line, it seems. And I’m not exaggerating: “Maybe you’d LOL if I sent you a GIF.” The song has an attitude about it trying to be one of the “cool kids” and it is not subtle about it, either.

    No, the EP is carried instead by the worst possible aspect you could add to a song: samples. And his selection is strange, at best: sitcom laugh-tracks to end off “Old News,” the “You’ve got mail!” notification in “Irl,” and even monkey noises in “A Fine Specimen?!”

    I understand that this is my own opinion. People love albums that I hate. But I can’t imagine anyone loving this EP. I would love to hear what a fan has to say about it — maybe I’m missing something. The worst part? I actually think he could pull off a career in music. So pinch me and tell me it’s a dream, because I can’t stand this first EP. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever heard worse than this. And I certainly hope that I never will.

    Overall Rating: 0.0/10

  • Quarantine Playlist

    Music always makes the atmosphere much livelier, and what more do we need in a quarantine than that? Despite being alone, music fills the quiet space. Below I compiled a list of song recommendations. Each is separated into its category, describing an emotion to uplift you during quarantine:

    When you need to feel a little bit happier:

    • BENEE – Glitter 
    • Goldville – Sway
    • Rudimental – These Days (AJR Remix)
    • The Wombats – Greek Tragedy ( Oliver Nelson Remix)
    • Astro Safari – Oh My Lord

    When you need motivation and more energy:

    •  Razihel – Legends (feat. TeamMate) (Hyper Potions Remix)
    • Eminem – Berzerk
    • HONORS – Over
    • Tyron Hapi x Liam Ferrari – I Like The Way
    •  Jose Hertz – Stay Lost

    When you need to relax and chill out:

    • FKJ – Leave My Home
    • Alina Baraz & Galimatias – Unfold
    • Somar- My Window 
    • J L – Summertime
    • Troye Sivan – Too Good

    When you want to have an existential crisis:

    • GANZ – Whatever You Choose
    • Tahoma – Find You
    • Aidan – you’re so beautiful
    • Trinton – Lately
    • Birdy – Not About Angels (Tr3ybeatx Remix)