Share: Social media is an extreme driving force when it comes to the relationship between consumerism and trends. It is obvious that the majority of the trends we see going viral on the internet aren’t timeless but rather fleeting. In order for many young people to stay on trend, they will do anything to try and mimic what celebrities are wearing or what they see going viral on social media, even if the pieces they are buying are fast fashion or absurdly expensive. In a …
Aaron Donald’s abrupt retirement wrecks the Rams’ future
Share: On Mar. 15, Aaron Donald shocked both Rams and NFL fans by announcing that he was retiring after only ten seasons. The announcement came after reports stated Donald was likely to play in 2024. The question is: Is it too early? In the Rams’ Super Bowl year in 2021, Donald put up 12.5 sacks in the regular season and added 3.5 sacks during their playoff run. He’s the reason Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow wasn’t able to convert that 4th and 1 play in the …
Are parasocial relationships worth the commitment?
Share: Having a relationship with your imaginary friend is typical as a kid, but what about when you’re older and that imaginary friend turns into someone real—like a celebrity? The routine is the same: you laugh with them, cry when they lose, and get a little discouraged when they choose someone other than you. Should this type of behavior be taken into consideration? Parasocial relationships are one-sided emotional connections fans have with public figures and fictional characters. The term was coined by social scientists Donald …
Character appropriation: Zack Snyder doesn’t respect comics canon
Share: Zack Snyder doesn’t get comic books. It’s by no means a new sentiment, in fact, Snyder has been ripped to shreds time and time again over his views going back as far as when he completely butchered “Watchmen” in 2009. But those transgressions and concepts almost pale in comparison to his most recent statements that lit comic-book fandoms everywhere ablaze. This time around instead of mildly polarizing audiences with his films, Snyder went straight for the jugular and took a critical stance on Batman’s …
Editorial: Angelenos aren’t ready for the Olympics and neither is the city
Share: Despite being years away, the 2028 Olympics loom over the heads of all Angelenos in the greater LA county area. While the prospect of an economic boom looks appealing, the question remains: Can the city be fully prepared for this? The answer is a very eye-opening “no” unless significant change can be spurred in four years. Los Angeles is home to about 3.849 million people as of the 2020 census, but within that colossal figure lies a vast number of people without homes. As …
New state program offers system impacted students money for college
Share: A new state pilot program intended to help formerly incarcerated students has debuted at several community colleges in California, to ease their transition and reintegrate education into their lives. The Hire UP program will pay students for time spent in class and doing homework. It is a $30 million state initiative modeled after guaranteed income programs. The program was formerly restricted to those in prison, foster children, and CalWORKs recipients. California Community college systems like Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma County Junior College, and …
Activists successfully pressure Pasadena to pass ceasefire resolution
Share: The City of Pasadena officially passed a bilateral ceasefire stating a return of all the hostages still held by Hamas. On Monday, March 18, the Pasadena Convention Center was packed with an energetic crowd as the city council discussed whether the city should take an official position on the war in Gaza. Before the meeting started, a pro-Palestinian crowd gathered a rally with chants outside the Convention Center. Police presence was also heavy as crowds entered the premises, with passions running high, as constituents …
‘Love Lies Bleeding’ is must-see madness
Share: “Love lies bleeding” is filled with twists and turns that will no joke have you on the edge of your seat. Director Rose Glass kicks off 2024 with a whirlwind queer love story. The romantic thriller set in the 80s is surely on its way to becoming one of A24’s greatest hits. It contains mature themes and stars Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Jena Malone, Dave Franco, and Ed Harris. This film had it all, the crowd was enthralled and so was I. It follows …
Softball losing streak continues but shows promise against Compton
Share: In a hard-fought game, the Lancers squared off against Compton in a game filled with highs, lows, and plenty of action on the field. Despite their best efforts, the Lancers ultimately fell short, but not without showcasing their improvement as a team. “I think our team played a lot better together. We had a little curse going on in the third inning, but we were able to get out of it,” second baseman Leiana Rodriguez said. “I feel like my team had my back …
BLOTTER: Art critique gone wrong
Share: Monday, March 4, 2024 1:06 a.m.: An officer advised a female sleeping east of the R building to leave. 2:29 a.m.: An officer advised a male walking through parking lot 7 to leave and told him that the campus was closed. 8:16 a.m.: Staff reported an encampment in the staircase landing on the west side of the E building. An officer advised the occupant of the encampment to leave. 10:46 a.m.: Staff reported a male yelling at himself and setting up an encampment on …