Latest literary listens included in your Spotify subscription

Share: For those with Spotify premium, the holidays have arrived early with the release of over 150,000 audiobooks included in your membership, allowing up to 15 hours a month of listening. With the long weekend fast approaching and the temperature dropping, here are some cozy, heartbreaking, and transportive audiobook recommendations available on Spotify. And if none of these are your cup of tea, know that Spotify has made a deal to include the entire audio catalog of publishers HarperCollins and Penguin Random House for premium …

After 44 years at PCC, trustee John Martin will cruise into retirement

Share: Some call John Martin a walking encyclopedia of Pasadena City College and with good reason; having served on the school’s Board of Trustees for the last 44 years, he knows the entire institution, from top to bottom.  On Oct. 18 at the Board of Trustees meeting, Trustee Martin announced his retirement and his decision to not run for re-election in the 2024 election for his board seat, opening the door for others to take his position after serving on the board at PCC since …

The Roman Empire still reigns supreme on social media

Share: How often do you think about the Roman Empire? For me personally, before August 2023, I hadn’t thought about the Roman Empire since my 8th grade history class. In the ever-evolving landscape of pop culture, trends come and go, but some manage to stand the test of time. One such phenomenon has recently taken social media by storm – the “Roman Empire” trend.  The trend’s roots lie in the initial question: “How much do you think about the Roman Empire?”  As women probed the …

PCC celebrates Shatford Library’s illustrious history at 30th birthday party

Share: Over 30 years ago, between the E-building and lot 7, a barren plot covering about 60,000 square feet of land awaited construction. Plans for the new library began over 30 years prior, with groundwork starting in 1991. The old library, located in the L-building, opened in the summer of 1949. For the time, the new space impressed the college with the steadfast construction and the jump from 38,000 books to over 43,000 books. However, its end was imminent. On Sept. 7, 1993, a new …

New college program takes practical learning outside the classroom

Share: Eight California community colleges are preparing to pilot a new competency-based education (CBE)  program to offer select degrees without letter grades or any time in a classroom beginning next fall.  The schools are designing direct assessment associate degree paths in high demand fields like technology and logistics and early childhood education and automotive technology. With completely flexible online schedules, the programs will be geared towards working adults with some experience in the field. “What education needs to do is really prepare learners to be …

‘Black-ish’ star was on the yard for the HBCU Caravan

Share: Fun and exciting games, and dances as well as scholarship opportunities, on-the-spot admissions, and a speech from TV star and Harvard alumni Yara Shahidi brought a widespread number of inspired students to the PCC “On The Yard: HBCU Caravan”. The event was held on October 24th in the quad and the energy was immaculate while the vibe was pristine. Fulfilling food trucks and mainstream music set the tone early on for all the students and staff that arrived. “The energy was fun, bold, and …

Stodgy old Hollywood can’t keep up with its young audience

Share: While the AMPTP and its studios have reached an agreement with the Writers Guild of America (WGA), their fight to keep the actors under their thumb rages on. The LA Times released data from a poll which found that the majority of Americans side with the workers on strike. With 34% in favor of actors and 7% with the studios, the remaining 59% is split between people sympathetic to both sides (29%) and people with no opinion(30%). The same poll also found 51% of …

PCC students join national walk-out to protest the Israel-Hamas war

Share: Recent escalation in violence in the Middle East spilled over to U.S. campuses, including PCC, as students and faculty address the long and brutal conflict between Israel and Hamas. On Wednesday PCC’s Anti-War Club put up a demonstration, part of a national walk-out calling for Israel to cease fire, repel the occupation, and stop U.S. funding of the jewish state. “We’re calling for an immediate ceasefire,” Colin Montoya, a PCC anti-war club member said.“Of course, this won’t solve the conflict but at least for …

Pumpkins galore: Explore SoCal’s most unique pumpkin patches

Share: October is the month of all things pumpkin. And there’s no better way to celebrate the autumn season than going to a pumpkin patch! Whether you plan to participate in hands-on activities or just capture the perfect fall photo, we’ve gathered five of SoCal’s best pumpkin patches that you don’t want to miss. Note that these are not in any specific order. Cal Poly Pomona’s Pumpkin Festival delivers not only photo-worthy sights, but also multiple attractions for a busy, yet fun day. Apart from …

5 silly, spooky movies will make you laugh and cry this Halloween

Share: Horror films and Halloween go together like masked killers and stupid teenagers. However, the horror genre has become far more diverse over the years, with films such as, “Get Out,” “Hereditary,” and last year’s “Barbarian,” proving how capable horror can be at telling meaningful stories. As great as those films are, they don’t exactly scream “Halloween”. The mood for this time of year should feel more “spooky monster scary, not grandma died scary”, to quote Donald Glover’s Troy Barnes from “Community”. That being said, …