February 2026 

Volume 4, Issue 5

5 WAYS TO COMBAT ICE  

By TJ Lovejoy

With the growing presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, and the looming threat of ICE activity in Duluth, it is more important than ever for us as community members to be educated on how to protect ourselves –and our community– from their unjust and brazenly illegal operations. This list has been compiled in order to share resources for combatting the presence of ICE within Duluth and the Twin Ports area.

1. Carry and/or memorize identifying info + avoid carrying any foreign IDs 

Your Birth Certificate, Driver’s License, Social Security Number (SSN), and Passport all count as forms of federal identification. Generally it’s better to actively carry and memorize your SSN rather than one or the other. 

2. Call the Twin Ports Rapid Response Team at (218) 213-5009

The Twin Ports Rapid Response Teams is an all-volunteer group promoting the656676656556565656561222222552112 safety of immigrant community members and the wider Twin Ports community as a whole. If you see ICE agents or an ICE operation, call them and report details including: time and place, number of agents, vehicle and license plate, and the actions of the agents. You can find more information at https://twinportsrapidresponse.org/  (note to staff: please unblock this site). Non-urgent requests or questions can be directed to their email at hello@twinportsrapidresponse.org 

3. Report Sightings at iceout.org/en/ 

Similar to the Twin Ports Rapid Response Team you should report time and date, location, number of agents, vehicle and license plate, activity, and also any gear or tools the agents might have. If you’ve used Inaturalist it’s kind of like that but more depressing and sad.

4. Carry a Whistle

Whistles have shown to be an effective way to warn others nearby of the presence of ICE. Be careful as you do this. It’s better to do this as a group and it’s probably a good idea to carry at least one form of federal ID with you. 

5. Carry a Protest Rights Card (hint: you can cut this one out!)

If ICE tries to arrest you or shows up at your door, hand this to them, or slip it under your door, and refuse to speak.

VALENTINE'S DAY IDEAS

By Nico Dickhausen

February is upon us, which means Valentine's Day is approaching. I have a hard time picking out what I should give my friends. I always feel like what I pick out isn't enough. There is always the simple box of chocolates or the simple card, with a cute message on a sticky note. I think there are ways to make your Valentine’s Day gifts better and more personalized. I like to make my own cards, using watercolor paper and some cool drawings that I feel represent the person. As well as writing a little personal message, or even a poem. I also like the idea of bringing baked goods to someone, especially if you know they love them. Even planning a movie night the weekend of Valentine's Day seems more thoughtful than a simple card. While having a movie night, you can bake, do art and crafts, or even play a game. Even giving people a specialized painting, or even a decorated journal. Yes, it's okay to give simple cards and flowers. But I think it goes a long way to add personal touches to gifts, and go the extra mile to make someone feel a little extra special.

VALENTINE’S DAY AROUND THE WORLD

By Sonam Choetso 

Japan - White Day 

White Day is celebrated on the 14th of March in Japan and other East Asian countries. It is considered a “reverse Valentine’s Day” where men reciprocate gifts given by women on Valentine’s day. The gifts are usually white chocolates (this is where the name comes from) as well as marshmallows, jewelry, and cosmetics. Ideally, the gift should be 3 times the value of what they got, known as sanbai gaeshi (triple the return). It's a day for men to return the gesture, express gratitude, or confess feelings. 

South Korea - Black Day

Unlike Valentine's day, a time to celebrate romance, Black Day is an unofficial holiday for singles in South Korea. It is celebrated on April 14th, and people do so by eating jajangmyeon (black noodles), drinking black coffee, wearing black clothing, and gathering with friends. It is a light hearted celebration, people often find it humorous instead of sad. 

Brazil - "Dia dos Namorados" (Lover's Day)

Brazil’s Dios dos Namorados is celebrated on the 12th of June. This date was picked as it is the day before St. Anthony of Padua’s (the saint of marriage) birthday. Dia dos Namorados is celebrated by going on romantic dinners and exchanging gifts like chocolate and flowers. 

China - Qixi Festival

The Qixi Festival is a celebration of the love between Zhinü and Niulang in Chinese mythology. This holiday is based on a love story between a mortal man and a celestial weaver. Forbidden from being together, they were separated by the Milky Way (River of Heaven).

IT SHOULD BE BAD — A REMINDER

By [DATA EXPUNGED]

You should make something you’ve never made before. Just try it out. If you’ve never painted, grab some watercolors. It isn’t gonna be perfect. Heck, it’ll almost definitely be bad. Make it anyway! I know people say it a lot, but you aren’t going to get good at something without being bad at it. So please, from the bottom of my heart, fail. Fail over and over again.

Eventually, guess what will happen? You’ll learn! You’ll start to figure out how to fail less. You’re still going to fail, and you’re going to wonder, “Why am I not improving? I’ve been working so hard, what am I doing wrong?” You aren’t doing anything wrong, and I assure you that you ARE improving. Even if you can’t see it, even if you feel like you’re stagnating, I promise that you’re getting better. With each mistake, each problem that seems unavoidable, you’re growing. You’re going to slowly figure out work arounds for what you have trouble with, solutions to those seemingly impossible problems. It isn’t going to be easy, and it isn’t going to be fast. You aren’t going to be a master in a week, or a month, or a year. It might take your whole life. All the more reason to start now, right?

[EXPUNGED]’s Song of The Month: Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra

CHICKEN NUGGETS!!!!!!!!

Ingredients

3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 cup of bread crumbs 

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon of dried basil

1 teaspoon of dried thyme

1 teaspoon of salt

½ cup butter, melted

 Step 1

Gather all the ingredients, and preheat the oven to 

400 ℉.

Step 2

Cut the breasts into 1½ inch pieces.

Step 3

Mix the bread crumbs, parmesan, basil, and salt all together well in a medium bowl. Put melted butter in a bowl or dish for dipping.

Step 4

Dip chicken pieces into the melted butter, then put them into the bread crumb mixture.

Step 5

Place the well-coated chicken nuggets on a greased cookie sheet in a single layer.

Step 6

Bake the nuggets in the preheated oven until browned, and the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.

WOULD I STILL LOVE YOU IF YOU WERE A WORM?

By Josey Johnston

The stupid question to test if love is unconditional. While I’ve never been asked about it, I’ve thought about it a lot in excruciating detail. I don’t think the people who ask this consider all the factors and implications.

First of all, bold of you to assume I love you, take me to dinner first, coward, but let’s act like I do for this. Did you become a worm during the time I’ve known you, or is this an alternate universe where you’ve always been a worm? If you’ve always been one, I’d probably love you the same amount as regular worms. When I find a worm, I pick it up with a stick and bring it to my pet ducks, watching them chase each other for it until it gets ripped in half or swallowed whole. 

If you became one, was it a long and horrific process, or did you become one overnight? Will I be sitting beside you as you scream in agony and shrivel up like a little raisin? Or will I text my dad “I think I really found the one” and wake him up the next morning with “DAD THEY’RE A WORM!!!!”? 

Do I even know it’s you? I mean, if I see a worm wiggle out of a pile of your clothes, I’d probably put the pieces together. But if I wasn’t a witness, are there any distinguishable details? Does the worm have your eyes?? Your smile??? If I dropped you in a bucket full of other worms (not that I’d be seeing other worms), would I be able to find you again????

Are you entirely a worm, or just mostly? Would you still be able to talk? Would you still be (relatively) intelligent? Would your speech come from some sort of magic or would you get worm-sized human teeth, vocal cords, and a tongue? Could you still eat human food, or would I need to stock up on soil? 

Probably the most important question, is there a cure to your wormness? Am I going on a dangerous quest and fighting a dragon for a potion? Is this going to wear off over time? Is it like a werewolf thing, where you’re only a worm sometimes? Are you a wereworm?? Are you???

I know there’s other things to consider, but I’m just going to skip to the end. My answer is probably going to be no. I’d spare you from the ducks, maybe keep you in a little cup of mud and dirt, but I think that’s about it. If you could communicate, and if there was a way to change you back, sure.

I guess I don’t have a way to know for sure, though. Maybe you could find a way to worm into my heart.

OPINION: MORE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE SEEN WHITE BIRD 

By Liv Braaten

Very rarely do I find myself happy with a movie adaptation of a book. Especially not a graphic novel. White Bird (2023) is a rare exception. Based on a 2019 graphic novel of the same name, a companion to the book Wonder, it starts with a bully in Wonder visiting his grandmere for dinner, where she urges him to take action instead of just sitting and watching the things wrong in the world. She attempts to convince him by telling him her story. From this point on, much of the film is a sort of flashback to her childhood as a Jew in Nazi occupied France. Sheltered as she is, she doesn’t believe that the violence will reach her town (spoiler alert: it does). She has to hide with the help of a boy from her school, Julien, who is an outcast at school because of his limp. Without going into too much detail, it is devastating. The main critique I’ve heard of this movie is that they spend too much time building a relationship between the two main characters. This is ridiculous. It just is. Without the relationship between the two and the development of their friendship, the entire flashback lacks humanity and emotion. And since the bulk of the movie is taken up by the flashback, it would skew the film’s whole message. When I saw White Bird in theatres, almost no one was there while other films were full. White Bird is not only a beautifully crafted piece of cinema, through both the visual scenery and meaningful character relationships, but it also holds a message that is extremely relevant today. Watch White Bird. 

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FEBRUARY EVENTS

By Evelyn Maloney

As school starts rolling back into session after the wonderful week of our chosen symposiums, we obviously are starting to get more work. After school study time is dedicated to individuals who feel they want more time for doing their work, while being in school. With February coming in quick, Duluth is holding a Free Art Dai (day)! Bring your love for art on February 14th to the Duluth Art Institute in the Lincoln Park Building (2229 W. 2nd St.) This event starts as early as 1:00 pm going until 4:00 pm! This is a day where even if doing art isn’t your thing but you have the smallest bit of curiosity, you can come stop by and learn to make some neat, simple fun crafts that can be made for all ages! You can make your own Valentines Day decor gifts, or cards or even craft anything with any theme you choose. Bring a friend, bring your grandparents, even bring your younger siblings (even if they annoy you.) It's a fun thing that you can dedicate some of your Sunday to, to learn more about art or just freestyle it and make whatever you feel like!     

Next up at Harbor City we have our Sweetheart dance coming up! Make sure to be dressed up in your valentines day themed outfit, it could be a pink or red shirt, or wear whatever you'd like! Come comfortable or show up fancy! This dance is held at Harbor City school on February 14th, starting at 7pm going until 10! Grades 9-12th are able to go (Sorry middle-schoolers, you’ll get there.) Show up with a group of friends, or just one! If nobody you know is going, but you still want to go, you're welcome to come, make some new friends! Our students are very welcoming and we’d love for you guys to come. 

        On that note, we also have a Matinee performance group coming to OUR school!! They are performing what's called “Acrostrum,” they are a Chinese folk classical music group where they will be performing on Monday February 2nd, held in the 4th floor cafe starting at 8 am going until 9:15 am. Come on by, you don’t have to stay for the whole thing if you don’t feel like it, but if you want to hear some classical Chinese folk music for a little bit I’m sure you’d have a blast! This is for any grades/ages from our school to go see (middleschoolers you too!) 

Next up for any people who LOVE snow, and the season of winter, Bayfront Park in Duluth is  holding a Cold Front celebration, for lots of winter fun! This event is free, and any ages are welcome, and is held on February 7th starting from 12pm going until 7pm! There are going to be loads of fun winter activities that you and your family and friends can come by and enjoy! They have Youth Dog Sled Rides, Bonfires if you just want to be nice and warm and sip on some hot cocoa, Curling, Ice Skating and Sledding, Snow Volleyball and way more! Ever heard of volleyball in the snow?! I definitely haven’t. I have no idea how it works but if you're curious, this is a good day to go to Bayfront and check it out! Since we actually have snow this year, unlike last year where it was gloomy and only had mud and dead grass, they were actually able to do this event! If we end up getting more snow it would make sledding, and skiing so much fun. So if you're interested in being active or just want to chill by a bonfire come on by to Bayfront with anyone you’d like! This is a family friendly event so if your parents want to bundle up your baby brother, or sister they are welcome too. Tell your friends, tell your family! Everyone is welcome!

Next up in Duluth (5401 E. Superior St.) With what is called “Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday Marketplace.” This is an event where you and your family & friends can come stop by and look at the neat stuff they are advertising. Certain things that you could buy there are a load of various handcrafted items. From jewelry, cards, home decor, hand-dyed yarn and clothing to baked goods jams and way more! This is held on a Saturday, February 14th from 10am to 3pm! Come on by and browse the cool stuff! It's all handmade and if you're curious on how something was made I’m sure the people who are selling them would be happy to explain their processes. If you're not interested in buying anything and you just want to look around and get cool ideas for your next craft, you are welcome too. It is a free entry so come by for a little bit of your Saturday and go check it out!

THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE’S DAY

By: Liv Braaten

Today, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, France and more. But where did this holiday come from? The holiday is named after a patron, Saint Valentine. The Catholic church recognizes three saints named Valentine. No one is really sure which it is. One legend says that Valentine was a priest who served in third century Rome. After Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men, maintaining that they were better soldiers when unmarried, Valentine continued to marry couples in secret, and was eventually executed. Some think that St. Valentine of Interamna (several towns in modern day Italy) was the true namesake. He was also executed during the reign of Claudius II for continuing to convert new followers and not renouncing his faith. During the middle ages, the holiday was popularized through a common belief that February 4th was the start of bird’s mating season, which added to the theme of romance the holiday has today. Valentine greetings were popular in the Middle Ages, but written ones weren’t until the 1400s. By the mid 18th century, it was common for cards or gifts to be exchanged on Valentine’s day. Americans started exchanging handmade valentines in the early 1700s, but Esther A. Howland started selling the first mass produced valentine cards in the 1840s.

TROLLEY PROBLEM

By Josey Johnston

You’re standing beside a track and a trolley is growing near. There is a fork in the road. On the track the trolley is set to go down, there are five people tied down and they will be run over. You can pull a lever and redirect the trolley, but there is someone tied to that path as well. What do you do?

I’m sure you’ve heard this before. I’m sure you’ve thought about this. But I’m here to tell you that your answer sucks. Obviously, the right response is to jump in front of the trolley, bravely sacrificing yourself and living on as a legend that managed to single-handedly stop a moving vehicle. Assuming the tied-up people can tell the story before dying to another trolley, that is. This morality stuff is easy.

This has always been a little silly to me, though. I know to pull the lever is to kill someone, but your actions would lead to death either way. Deciding not to act is still an action. This is like asking “would you rather have one dollar, or two dollars?”

I made a new trolley problem for you. You’re walking through the forest and there’s a cool little lizard that’s following you around. If you keep it as a pet, you’re happy because you have a lizard. If you don’t keep it, you’re sad because you don’t have a lizard, but you also wouldn’t have the responsibility that comes with pulling a wild animal from its natural habitat and taking care of it. Your walk is almost over, act fast.

Got another one. It’s midnight and you really want to get a snack, but the kitchen is attached to the living room and there’s a guest sleeping on the couch. The only food in the house needs to be microwaved. Do you go back to bed hungry, or do you risk waking up the guest for a little treat? There technically isn’t a time limit but you feel weird about standing around out here and you want to go back to your room.

Enjoy those little thought experiments. While you ponder, I will be tying people to railroads for nondescript reasons.

EDGE WATERPARK

Doubletooth Grizzly

This past weekend on our three day weekend, me, my family, and a couple of friends visited the Edge Waterpark for a night! I used to go all the time when I was just a little boy. I hadn’t gone in probably 4 or 5 years. Back in the day my Grandma would always take us every couple years during winter break or spring break. We would go through the lazy river, hang out in the whirlpool, play pool basketball, go across the floating crabs and starfish. Get completely rained on by the dumping bucket, the jungle gym with small slides. As well as have a blast going down the tube slide and body slide. And of course chillaxe in the hot tub! That is pretty much all the things we did this weekend. It was great! Of course it wasn’t the same as before. We’re a lot older now and those experiences aren’t the same. But it was very nostalgic and fun to experience that with friends. We also really enjoyed going to the continental breakfast! Seeing those classic cereal dispensers, and the juice fountain. But I think my favorite part was when we went exploring at night. We ended up finding this sort of entrance lobby sort of area. It was dimly lit and the wind outside made an eerie sort of howl. But it was oddly peaceful. Another great moment was when we all put on spaw masks and watched a show on the classic hotel channels. We had a fantastic time and we made a lot of lasting memories together!

STUDENT ARTIST OF THE MONTH: MOTH KEDROWSKI

By Annabelle Denton & Vivvenne McKinney

How long have you been an artist?

“I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. I think I started doing serious artwork when I was around 5.”

What is your favorite medium?

“I kind of prefer traditional art with pencils and pens, but I do like using markers as well.”

Who is an artist you admire and why?

“Jon Christian Sava, he is an artist on YouTube and he does watercolor. Sometimes it looks like he isn't even using watercolor; it looks like they used markers.”

What would be your dream job if you could be an artist?

“I would be a sculptor.”

Do you have a favorite art piece?

“It kind of changes depending on what one I make and what one is recent.”

TATER TOT HOTDISH

Beef

Canned soupe

1 pound of ground beef

Salt and black pepper for taste

Obversely tater tots

2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Step one

Grab all the. Preheat the oven to 350

Step two

Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until completely browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in condensed soup; season with salt and black pepper.

Step three

Transfer the beef mixture to a baking dish; layer the tater tots evenly on top, and sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.

Step four

Bake in the preheated oven until tater tots are golden brown and hot, 30 to 45 minutes.

OPINION: BIRD-SAFE COFFEE GOES BEYOND SAVING BIRDS

By TJ Lovejoy

During Mr. Scott’s 5th hour Ornithology elective I had the opportunity to learn about a plethora of ways our actions affect birds and nature. The vast majority of these made sense. Obviously bird-window collisions are a problem. Of course stray cats would pose a threat to songbird populations. However, one of the issues raised seemed unusual at first; bird-safe coffee. I mean, are birds drinking coffee or something? But the further we researched the subject as a class, and the more I thought about it on my own, the more interesting the connections between coffee, birds, and the environment as a whole became. 

For those who are not aware: not all coffee is created equally. The two main types of coffee are sun-grown coffee and shade-grown coffee. Sun grown coffee is grown using direct sunlight which also involves clearing out an area. Shade grown coffee is grown under tree cover and is often more expensive to buy. Coffee is easiest to grow in tropical climates like northern South America, Central Africa (along the coasts), and Southeast Asia. Because of that, most coffee both sun-grown and shade-grown is produced within nations in these areas. The impact on the environment from clearing out space for sun-grown coffee in these critical habitats is extensive and even stretches to our own local environment. 

The main thing that makes sun-grown coffee so harmful is the land used to grow it. Many migratory birds, including local birds such as the Broad-winged Hawk, Cliff Swallow, and the American Redstart, either live in the Amazon Rainforest, or use it as a critical stopping point during migration. On top of that, the Amazon Rainforest is the most biodiverse place on earth and contains thousands of species; many still undiscovered. The land allocated to grow sun-grown coffee takes away acres upon acres of the precious habitat these species need in order to live. Meanwhile, shade-grown coffee ensures the conservation of these areas. The extinction of a species is arguably the most irreversible and damaging effect we can have on the environment. You can’t bring the birds –or the thousands of other species that live in the Amazon Rainforest– back from the dead. Not only could the species of the Amazon disappear, local birds we’ve grown accustomed to around Duluth could as well. 

Another negative impact of sun-grown coffee is the amount of resources it takes to grow. Particularly fertilizer. While shade-grown coffee uses leaf litter from the floor of the tree canopy as fertilizer, sun-grown coffee imports fertilizer from other sources. Connecting back to our local environment, many fertilizers use a substance called ‘peat’. Peat is a rare type of moss and an essential component of an often underlooked habitat: bogs. Bogs, like our local Sax Zim Bog, are an essential habitat for species that could otherwise not survive in different conditions. Additionally, bogs are a massive carbon sink. The WWT article linked below estimates that peatland bogs in the UK store over half of all the United Kingdom’s stored CO2. 

Unfortunately, because it is such a common ingredient in fertilizer, peatland bogs are often mined for peat. This is an extremely damaging process as peat takes a long time to grow and damaged peatland bogs release high amounts of CO2. The peat in the fertilizer used to grow the coffee you drink could’ve come from Sax Zim Bog. Additionally, bat guano, an important substance for bat habitats, is another common ingredient in fertilizers. While guano can be sustainably harvested, this is seldom the case. The same is true of peat in warmer climates like Ireland, where breweries have sustainably harvested peat for centuries. The abundant use of fertilizers in the production of sun-grown coffee is a deeply harmful factor that damages environments both world-wide and local. 

In contrast to sun-grown coffee, shade grown-coffee is very sustainable. It preserves the habitat that birds and other rainforest species live in, (in most cases) it doesn’t use imported fertilizers that contain mined peat or unsustainably harvested guano, and it’s often ed to taste richer opposed to sun-grown coffee. 

Many shade-grown coffees also come with a seal of sustainability from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. This seal ensures the farms the coffee beans come from are deforestation free and guarantees habitat protection. Visit https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/bird-friendly for more information. 

So, what can you do to help? First of all, buy shade-grown coffee obviously. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute has compiled a list of coffees they’ve labeled as environmentally friendly. A link is attached below directing to this list. If you wish to purchase bird-friendly coffee in person, the Lake Superior Zoo is one listed location on the Smithsonian’s list of locations to purchase bird-friendly coffee. The best way to find out if a specific location is bird-friendly tends to be asking them or looking for the seal. Starbucks, unsurprisingly, is not bird-friendly. Please stop buying from Starbucks. I'm literally begging you. They are the devil. Even if you don’t drink coffee you can still share this information to others who do. The more people drinking shade-grown coffee, the better. Eventually larger corporations may even be tempted to switch to shade-grown coffee if there’s enough demand. Given the numerous ways in which the production of sun-grown coffee affects our own community, it’s not only our responsibility to consume responsibly, it’s also for our own benefit. 

Sources and additional information in the links below:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/

https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetlands/peat-bogs

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/buy-bird-friendly-coffee-online

Guano information:

https://www.batcon.org/our-work/endangered-species-interventions/protecting-bats-from-guano-harvesting-in-mozambique/

PRAISE THE YELLOW KING

By [DATA EXPUNGED]

The King in Yellow was written by Robert W. Chambers in 1895. The book contains a series of ten short stories surrounding a fictional play also titled The King in Yellow. Only brief passages are shown throughout the collection, as the play is said to inspire a fanatic obsession if read in its entirety. Although a fascinating read, the book was never really given much attention outside of those in the cosmic horror community. Even then, most people only know The King from stories by H.P. Lovecraft, the man often given credit for creating the cosmic horror genre. He falsely refers to The King as Hastur, the name of a city mentioned in a few of the short stories within The King in Yellow. The ruler of Carcosa has, however, found a resurgence in popularity as of late from an unexpected source.

Minecraft. I’m going to assume you know about it. There are people who enjoy using Minecraft as a vessel for storytelling in a variety of ways. One of the ways people can go about such a thing is through unfiction. Unfiction is, put it simply, fiction portraying itself as reality. The strange middle ground between fiction and reality, unfiction can be a really interesting method of storytelling and immersion. 

But why am I talking about a block game? That seems weirdly off topic to a horror book written 130 years ago, right? Well, if you’re aware of Searching for a World That Doesn’t Exist and the media surrounding it, that question might already be answering itself in your head. Searching for a World That Doesn’t Exist, which I will from now on refer to as SFAWTDE, is a YouTube video with over 20 million views, showing someone finding a strange tunnel in his Minecraft world that he didn’t build. It’s an incredible video, and its story goes into some crazy places that are pretty hard to fit into a short summary, so I won’t try. Just go watch it. The only thing that’s important to us is that it has mentions of The King in Yellow, and it got a lot of people interested. 

What I find most interesting is viewing the popularity of SFAWTDE from a metatextual standpoint. Wifies —the creator of SFAWTDE— is by no means a small channel, but this video exploded in popularity unlike any of his other works. The one video he makes taking inspiration from a book about people becoming obsessed with a piece of media is the one video that takes the internet by storm. Now, am I saying Wifies actually harnessed the power of The King in Yellow to further his own interests by packaging it into a more consumer-friendly experience than an old book written a hundred years ago? Legally speaking, no. I am absolutely not implying that. I’m just pointing out a fun little tidbit.

“Along the shore the cloud waves break,

The twin suns sink behind the lake,

The shadows lengthen

In Carcosa.

Strange is the night where black stars rise,

And strange moons circle through the skies

But stranger still is

Lost Carcosa.

Songs that the Hyades shall sing,

Where flap the tatters of the King,

Must die unheard in

Dim Carcosa.

Song of my soul, my voice is dead;

Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed

Shall dry and die in

Lost Carcosa.”

Cassilda’s Song in “The King in Yellow,” Act i, Scene 2.

SENIOR PROFILE
TJ Lovejoy

By Olivianna O’Leary

Q: What plans do you have for next year?

 A: I’m hoping to major in animation and minor in comic art at MCAD (Minnesota College of Art and Design).

Q: What are your favorite things to do outside of school?

A: Hang out with my awesome friend group (RIP Malcolm), I love to draw, BIG SURPRISE, and I also love listening to and finding new music!

Q: What is your favorite memory from your years as a student?

A:  During my freshman year first symposium, children's book writing, we were talking about our favorite kid books and Milo (who has graduated already), brought in a book called The Wereling. It was a young-adult werewolf romance novel. Worst book ever written, best book to read!

Q: What was your favorite trend that you can remember?

A: It’s Greegraw.

Q: What was your biggest challenge you overcame, and what did you learn from it?

A:  I had terrible grades at Edison, and once I came to Harbor City I feel like I really turned it around and I found a great group of people that I could bond with. I'm happy I won't have to go back to that forsaken place ever again!

Q: If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what advice would you give them?

A: Cherish the time you have with the people you meet and the friends you make, because senior year sneaks up on you really fast.

WINTER DISAPPOINTMENT

By Doubletooth Grizzly

I am sad to say, winter has been mildly disappointing so far this season. Don’t get me wrong! Christmas was incredible. My disappointment has nothing to do with holidays, no quarrels there. I am talking about the weather! It has been too warm. There hasn’t been enough snow. Not a single genuine blizzard! Not even a snow day. The snow melts or just barely exists during the day, and then it freezes at night and creates a murderous layer of ice! This is not what I had hoped for this winter. This makes a lot of winter outdoor activities pretty much impossible for a lot of people. Those include snow shoeing, fat biking, cross country skiing, ice skating, etc. For a lot of these hobbies, you need nice, somewhat fresh snow, and what we have had a lot of this winter is snow that has been melting away and turning into grainy, icy snow. And even ice skating doesn’t align with this weather because the ice melts and then creates a layer of water on top of the ice. It just gets slushy and uneven. I am hoping and praying that February will have good snow, temperature, and joyful spirits!  

HISTORY OF THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

By Jacques LeButte

The Red Hot Chili Peppers was formed in Los Angeles in 1982 by lead singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Micheal Balzary (known as “Flea”), guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons as highschoolers. Calling themselves “Tony Flow and the Miraculous Majestic Masters of Mayhem” (they wouldn’t be known as the Red Hot Chili Peppers until March of 1983), their first performance was on December 16, 1982 in a club on Hollywood Boulevard. At the time, Slovak and Irons were in a different band and decided to leave once their other band got a record deal, and were replaced by Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez. Their first album was called The Red Hot Chili Peppers (very creative). Released in 1984, it did pretty well with audiences. Their producer pushed for a clean and radio friendly sound, but the band was unhappy with the result. They then went on tour, Sherman was fired in 1985 due to conflicts between him and Kiedis, and Slovak was brought back. Their second album Freaky Styley wasn’t well received with audiences, but despite that the band was happy with how it turned out. Martinez was fired in 1986 and Irons was brought back. Kiedis and Slovak also developed serious heroin addictions at this time, and Kiedis was briefly fired for a time because of this. After becoming sober and rejoining the band, he immediately started using again, and Slovak died due to a heroin overdose after the release of the Uplift Mofo Party Plan in 1988, prompting Irons to leave but would later join Pearl Jam. In the same year, they hired guitarist and fan John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith, who have remained in the band since, although Frusciante left and got rehired several times. The album that was most successful was Blood Sugar Sex Magic which got them several awards including a Grammy. The rest is history, as they became world famous and loved by many, and as of writing this are currently working on their 14th album. 

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Aries, watch out! Cupid is aiming his bow at Taurus, and the arrows are not metaphorical this time!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)      

Taurus, you better stop Gemini from eating those chocolates. You know how they get when they eat chocolate…

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Gemini, you should do Cancer a favor and get them some of those chocolates on the table over there. 

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Cancer, don’t forget to bring gifts for your friends for Valentine’s Day. Oh wait… what? You already forgot? …how could you? *sniffles*

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Leo, you should get revenge on Cancer for forgetting the magic of friendship and poison the chocolate at the dance. 

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Virgo, you should reignite the spirit of friendship by finding… I don’t know. A Roman god or something. 

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Libra, you must act as a guiding light; show the way for Virgo to complete their quest.

  Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Scorpio, you and Sagittarius should secretly follow Virgo for no reason in particular…

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Sagittarius, if you chance upon the Roman god Cupid, you should swap his arrows out for real ones. For the love of the game. Duh. 

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Capricorn, maybe you should check the chocolates in that heart-shaped box… 

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)

Aquarius, quick! You must work together with Capricorn and uncover Taurus’s plot! 

Pisces (February 19 - March 20) 

Pisces, based on the information you’ve gathered from Libra and Aquarius, order Cupid to shoot Taurus, reigniting the friendship and whimsy in their heart. This is the only way to stop the plot to poison the Sweetheart Dance. Trust me.