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The Limbo Between Life and Death

The Limbo Between Life and Death

Let me start this by saying I hope this article will show some of you reading this that you are not alone.

I have, at a handful of points in my life, battled suicidal thoughts. In fact, I have almost committed suicide. It has been quite a while since I have had any of those thoughts, but having them in the first place is still something I don’t like to admit, even to myself. There are three times that I can vividly recall almost committing suicide and without going into detail, I can attribute my very rational fear of making that decision as the only reason I am here today. It truly is something else when you feel there is no hope, and as far as you can see there is no way out.

OpinionConner SavageNovember 20, 2019Conner Savage, Dana BinfetComment

A Life-Changing Pledge to an Ethical Wardrobe

A Life-Changing Pledge to an Ethical Wardrobe

My wardrobe was killing people.

Caught in the rat race of mass consumption and swayed by cradle-to-grave marketing campaigns, I filled my closet with fashion brands with questionable labor practices. Countless news reports showed how child labor, extremely low wages, and dangerous working conditions were the fuel to the global fast fashion machine; but, honestly, I felt overwhelmed by it all. I was just a community college student with journalistic aspirations confined to a barely-read blog.

OpinionEline MillenaarNovember 20, 2019Eline MillenaarComment

Of Cults and Culture

Of Cults and Culture

The word “cult” is like the word “love”; both have been overused to the point of senselessness. Everyday, people say they “love” things that they certainly wouldn’t marry or die for. Pop culture elements that tout a dedicated group of fans are quickly dubbed as a “cult” following, though the fans likely wouldn’t drink poisoned Flavor-Aid to show their devotion to, say, Rocky Horror Picture Show. To be fair, with Rocky Horror fans, you never know.

OpinionTatiana LouderNovember 6, 2019Chloe Geschwind, Tatiana LouderComment

We Need to Celebrate Veterans Day Every Day

We Need to Celebrate Veterans Day Every Day

We need to celebrate Veterans Day, not only on one day, but every day. I’m writing this paper because a survey came out that says 22 veterans commit suicide every day. I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corp. and on Aug. 4, 2019 I had surgery on my knee. On Aug. 26, the first day of school, all hell broke loose.

OpinionClyde Bates Jr.November 6, 2019Clyde Bates Jr., Dana BinfetComment

The Tech Giant (Maybe) Monopoly

The Tech Giant (Maybe) Monopoly

By legal definition, Facebook and Alphabet are not monopolies. Facebook doesn't have a stranglehold on online communication, as there are other ways of connecting to others through sites or apps like Discord, Twitter, or even Snapchat. Google is the most dominant search engine in the world but there are others like Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Yahoo. Facebook and Google aren't the only options in their respective industries, but while they aren't technically monopolies, this doesn't stop them from engaging in monopolistic behavior.

OpinionEarl AgustinesNovember 1, 2019Earl Agustines, Chloe GeschwindComment

Walk, Don’t Drive

Walk, Don’t Drive

We live in one of the most accessible cities in the United States. Across all of Los Angeles, there are numerous commute options to get to school, work, or just to try a new coffee space. But with the celebrity name, L.A., comes the celebrity rumor, L.A. traffic. With so many options to choose for transportation, much of our community still decides to drive everywhere.

OpinionAlex MichaelsonNovember 1, 2019Alex MichaelsonComment

The Judgement of the Joker

The Judgement of the Joker

When one goes to the movie theater to see the new “Joker” movie, it's no surprise to see a couple police officers guarding the perimeter of the cinema. Although some theaters nowadays will usually check bags before people come in, extra precautions are being put in place with this new contentious movie. Controversy sparks from the violence portrayed, and has caused paranoia that this in turn will give people the idea that they, too, should create violence in the real world.

OpinionChloe GeshwindOctober 22, 2019Chloe GeschwindComment

Blind Eyes and Genocide

Blind Eyes and Genocide

The Turkish government refuses to acknowledge the Meds Yeghern as a genocide. Their education system paints Armenians as traitorous defectors who were a threat to the Ottoman Empire, and they continuously lobby foreign governments to prevent the spread of public knowledge about the genocide.

OpinionDorothy AlexanianOctober 22, 2019Dorothy AlexanianComment

Should Midterm Exams Be Eliminated from Academia?

Should Midterm Exams Be Eliminated from Academia?

Within the next couple of weeks, Santa Monica College (SMC) students will be undergo the worst portion of the semester: midterm exam time. During this time period, SMC students will experience sleepless nights, stressful mornings, and long days. Many will be drowning in class notes and textbooks, forming large study groups.

OpinionMarkeis JeffersonOctober 18, 2019Markeis Jefferson, Dana BinfetComment

Canadian Election Looms, Promising Scandal and Controversy

Canadian Election Looms, Promising Scandal and Controversy

As the election to determine Canada’s next Prime Minister - and hence the political landscape of the country itself - emerges, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is embroiled in a series of controversies that threaten to undermine the Liberal parliamentary majority.

OpinionDashon LoveOctober 10, 2019opinion, Dashon Love, Chloe GeschwindComment

Active Shooter Protocols Normalized Across The United States

Active Shooter Protocols Normalized Across The United States

It’s back-to-school season for kids across America. As the new school year welcomes prospective students, Sandy Hook Promise released a PSA video on Sept. 18. The video depicts cheerful schoolchildren parading ordinary school essentials for the academic year that may now come in handy when fending off an active shooter.

Opinion Marley AlanizOctober 8, 2019opinion, Marley Alaniz, Chloe GeschwindComment

China threatened by massive Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrations

China threatened by massive Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrations

In Hong Kong, pro-democracy camp's protest marches have filled the streets for over one hundred days. The often violent clashes between Hong Kong citizens and riot police cracking down on protesters is a thorn in the side of Beijing. The authoritarian regime on the mainland desires to display the face of calm unity in its celebration of the 70th anniversary of the declaration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on Oct. 1.

OpinionDrew AndersenOctober 1, 2019opinion, Drew Andersen, Dana BinfetComment

Walmart Isn't Waiting for Gun Control

Walmart Isn't Waiting for Gun Control

One would think with all the shoddy work the Trump Administration has done and with all the ridicule they've received, there would be no more new ways to mock them. Then Walmart comes in to enact gun control measures in their stores after two major shootings affected their branches. Meanwhile, the U.S sits at around 300 mass shootings with no major solutions, according to the Gun Violence Archive website.

OpinionEarl AgustinesOctober 1, 2019opinionComment

One Semester as a Digital Nomad

One Semester as a Digital Nomad

Digital nomads are people who can work from anywhere, using technology to perform their jobs. This career path is becoming more popular and more common. The job market is changing as more companies switch to online platforms. As such, college students should take at least one semester of online classes to prepare themselves for the benefits and challenges of a remote job.

OpinionEline MillenaarSeptember 26, 2019opinionComment

The Importance Of Seeking Academic Help

The Importance Of Seeking Academic Help

During the week before the semester begins, you promised yourself that this school year will be better than the last one. You vowed that you were going to sleep earlier, eat healthier, and study harder. Now, 12 weeks have passed into the semester and you’re in distress because your grades are suffering.

OpinionMarkeis JeffersonSeptember 24, 2019opinionComment

Fallout of the G-7

Fallout of the G-7

It is now the end of 2019’s long and arduous political Summer. The G-7 has come and gone, having met in Biarritz, France earlier this week, and the nation’s that constitute it are no closer to effectively dealing with many of the myriad issues facing the democratic world than they were before. With the United States continuing to oppose any involvement in climate change meetings, and the United Kingdom on the brink of a “no-deal” Brexit, tensions were high.

OpinionDakota Castets-Didier September 5, 2019opinionComment

A Summer of Sobering Up

A Summer of Sobering Up

This summer was the first summer in four years that I spent mostly drug and alcohol free, and it truly changed me for the better. For a little bit of context, I have struggled with drug and alcohol abuse since my freshman year of high school… But this summer was when I decided to stop using drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, my only coping mechanism.

OpinionConner SavageAugust 27, 2019Comment

Conceiving Regression: Undoing 46 Years of a Woman’s Right to Choose

Conceiving Regression: Undoing 46 Years of a Woman’s Right to Choose

Over the past six months, eight states have passed the most elaborate anti-abortion laws that America has seen in decades. On May 15, Alabama passed a bill that prohibits abortion in the most restrictive fashion of any current law in the country.

OpinionJackie Sedley & Hazel SiffMay 30, 2019Jackie Sedley, Hazel Siff, Janet AliComment

A Letter to Those Older

A Letter to Those Older

I am not a confrontational person. I do, however, enjoy debate and sharing ideas, arguing about views of life, and dissecting what behavior is moral and what isn’t. People around my age generally agree with me on most things, particularly politics. Thus, I seek people older than I, who will challenge me in my thinking, resulting in a discourse more fruitful because we will disagree.

OpinionLauri HelinMay 28, 2019Lauri HelinComment

Pro-Life: Whatever It Takes

Pro-Life: Whatever It Takes

Abortion has always been a controversial topic in America. However, with the US recently forcing the UN Security Council to rewrite a resolution on sexual violence in wartime to essentially prohibit abortions, this is now forcing other countries to follow a pro-life stance; a stance that has no plan for the amount of issues that come with childbirth and care.

OpinionEarl AgustinesMay 18, 2019Earl AgustinesComment