Senior assassin participant Tyler Chan chases his target, Vincent Lee-Imhof, with a water gun down the street, ultimately succeeding in eliminating him.

Photo by Tyler Chan

By Angela Gin

On April 6, seniors returned from spring break brandishing water guns and swimming goggles; senior assassin was in full swing once again. 

The game is typically run by senior class ASB students and is not school affiliated. No Lincoln staff were involved in the game operations.

The rules were the same as last year’s game, but modified for teams of three to four. Each player paid the $5 entry fee and downloaded the Splashin app, where they would share their location with all the other players. The app does not provide real time location but instead gives an updated location every ten minutes. To access live locations, players could purchase the premium, which, in addition to real time locations, would provide the type of movement and activity. 

The goal of the game is to not get eliminated. Each team is assigned another team to get out at the beginning of each round; each round lasts a week. To move on to the next round, a team has to eliminate at least two of their targets. To eliminate someone, one member of the group has to film themselves shooting their target with water from activity sanctioned water guns. If a team does not eliminate two targets, they are disqualified.  Players can not be eliminated on campus, at home, or at their place of work. The campus safe zone rule applies to after school activities like sports, dance, or JROTC. Additionally, if a player is wearing their goggles on their head or a floatie, they are immune to attacks, unless a purge happens. Purges are short periods of time, typically lasting a couple of hours to half of a day, when a player could eliminate any other player, even those who are not their team’s targets. The last team standing wins the cash prize. 

This year, 91 seniors signed up to participate, teaming up with their friends in hopes of winning  the prize of $400, the combined money paid from all participants’ entry fees, and splitting it with their teammates.

However, the festivities were cut short only five days into the game on April 10th when Lincoln’s deans, Tumua Faasua and Tammy Yan, went to the ASB classroom and told them to shut down the activity due to the violation of school and district policy. 

According to California Education Code 48900, students are not allowed to bring weapons or objects that resemble weapons to school. 

In regards to why this is only becoming a problem now, Lincoln principal Marisol Arkin says, “Senior assassin is not a school sponsored activity and raises significant safety concerns, as well as a threat of substantially disrupting normal school activities.”

Arkin also states that cancelling senior assassin was a preventative measure and because of the potential harm, the activity is shut down indefinitely. 

She says, “People can get hurt, people that are involved in it. In my 16 years as an administrator and 27 years as an educator, things can start off as play and very very often escalate when something happens. I don’t believe that any students that created this had any ill intent. I don’t think that there was anything malicious behind it, but they’re not thinking bigger picture about the overall safety.”

Participants of the game were disappointed to find that the game was cancelled. Senior Misha May says, “[Senior assassin] was a blast for me. It was a bummer to hear it got shut down.” 

Since the game ended, ASB has offered to reimburse the entry fee of all players via Zelle or Venmo.

Arkin addresses Lincoln seniors, saying, “We know that senior year is a big deal. And we know that we’re at the end, and we want you guys to find joy. And I think there’s a lot of different ways to do that. We just want it done in a safe way at school.” 

Arkin also states that administration is willing to collaborate on alternative ideas. 

By Ariana Lopez 

Students who are currently enrolled in Spanish 3 and signed up for AP Spanish will be able to take AP Spanish next year at Lincoln to receive college credit. AP Spanish was previously available during past school years, taught by Trayvon Bailey, but that  wasn’t the case this school year. The class was last offered for the 2024-2025 school year. Last year students signed up for the class but shockingly, even though AP Spanish was part of the course selection, the course was not available this year due to the lack of students not signing up for it. This year it was vice versa; enough students signed up for the class, in fact enough students signed up to run two different AP sections this year according to Bryan Hill, next year's AP Spanish teacher. 

Hill has been teaching for 23 years, and this is his second year at Lincoln: he taught IB Spanish (international baccalaureate) in his previous school in Michigan for 17 years. Hill never thought about being a teacher until freshman year of college. He at first studied business but his only favorite class was Spanish. Although he never considered being a teacher before his first year of college, during his second year of college he studied abroad in Queretaro, Mexico, to pursue his career as a Spanish teacher. Hill shares that the importance of AP Spanish coming back to Lincoln besides receiving college credits—is that more students can learn the ability to speak other languages and learn critical thinking skills like reading and writing. These skills are very beneficial when applying for a job like healthcare. Students who are native speakers also benefit from taking this course. People with a Spanish speaking background have responsibilities to be translators for their parents. For example, parents would tell their kids to translate their documents or repeat what they are being told at the doctor’s office during an appointment. 

“It is a huge gift to be able to use and go through the world and interact with people who have all different languages,” said Hill. 

Students who have the opportunity to take AP Spanish  learn critical thinking skills and put them into practice with real life scenarios. For those who are native speakers, the class will also teach academic language. As stated by AP Central, during the course of the year, students will learn to comprehend writing and audio text, make cultural connections, learn how to speak and write to others, and communicate through spoken and written presentations. 

Bailey, previous AP Spanish teacher, said teachers have to teach the same curriculum. The course being taught is determined by AP Central, a website used by AP instructors. By the end of the year, students will use their knowledge on the topics that were covered during the year for AP testing; the test determines if the student will receive college credits. Hill mentioned that his goal for this course is to make AP accessible for everybody who is taking it. The class is a mix of students who are native Spanish speakers and students who are learning the language. Hill wants all students to feel supported when taking the AP course."I want people at Lincoln to know that if you are working through years of any language that you can get to AP,”  said Hill. If Lincoln students who are currently enrolled in Spanish are up for a challenge, AP Spanish is the class for them. Not only will they learn to speak, read, and write Spanish but will be able to learn and understand different cultures. 

By Leo Le

The long-awaited and needed renovations of Abraham Lincoln High School’s athletic facilities have recently begun.

Starting in late March of 2026, Lincoln High School’s field improvement project kicked off, bringing major changes primarily to the Lincoln football and track fields. 

On November 6th, 2024, San Francisco voters passed Proposition A, a $790 million general obligation school bond measure. The bond will be used to improve school’s across the district in infrastructure and safety, positively impacting students. A portion of the money granted to Lincoln was invested into the renovation. Additionally funds will be used from a special fund dedicated to construction and renovations.

According to Marisol Arkin, the principal of Abraham Lincoln High School, “Lincoln is not paying for the field improvement project.”

The SFUSD Facilities Department assesses conditions of fields and athletic areas at schools across the district. These assessments determine which SFUSD schools are prioritized in renovations of their fields and athletic areas.

Arkin states, “Lincoln’s field was one of the highest priority projects, which is why it was selected for this work.”

The project’s scope is set to upgrade existing athletic facilities, including a brand-new synthetic turf field, track repair and resurfacing, a scoreboard, water fountains, accessible parking spaces, and improvements upon the fence, long jump area, and bathroom accessibility. 

The new synthetic turf is expected to make a big difference. Compared to grass, turf acts as a more cost-efficient and aesthetically pleasing material with bright colors and a logo of Lincoln High School. Additionally, turf is much easier to maintain because it eliminates the concern for watering and mowing. 

Mason Silvey, a Lincoln freshman on the track and field team, exclaims, “I really like the idea of new fields.”

These changes may improve the overall school experience by encouraging more students to participate in sports. The new fields could also create a sense of renewal and excitement, not only for athletes but also for students who may enjoy the improvements made to the fields during their regular walks in physical education classes.

While these improvements are expected to positively impact not only the aesthetics of the fields but also the overall school experience, students are already feeling the effects of the closure, especially athletes. Every day of the week, starting in January and going until March, track and field athletes practice at school for hours before they leave. Due to the ongoing renovation, track and field participants have to practice at alternative locations such as San Francisco State University's track and field. This takes away more than thirty-minutes out of practice, or makes practices last even longer.

Michael Lee, a Lincoln freshman on the track team who runs the 1600 and 800 meter events, expresses, “I think the renovation will improve aesthetics and students’ experience […] but one thing that disappoints me is we have to commute to practice, which lengthens our time at practice.”

Track and field isn’t the only sport where students feel the impact of the field’s renovation project. Baseball, softball, and lacrosse continue to practice as their seasons are ongoing. These teams have to resort to practicing on the small grass field on the side of the Lincoln track and football field.

Xavier Malizia, a senior at Lincoln and team captain of the boys' baseball team, angrily expresses, “The renovation is very inconvenient for us [baseball team], and three sports teams have to share the small field next to the track.”

Additionally, Lincoln's football field is a venue for graduation ceremonies hosted by both A.P. Giannini and Hoover Middle School. With the field unable to be used, both schools had to find alternatives. A.P. Giannini will still be hosting its graduation ceremony at Lincoln, but it will take place in the auditorium. Hoover, on the other hand, has decided to choose another venue overall.

According to Arkin, “The field is expected to be completed in August of 2026.”

By Phoebe Seigel

On Friday, May 1st, student journalists from 11 school publications, including the Lincoln Log, were invited to a press forum with officials from mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration. Schools at the forum included Lick Wilmerding, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, Mission High School, Convent, Riordan, and Lowell. Students were told beforehand to come prepared with three questions they had, but were guaranteed, and ultimately got to ask, only one question per publication. 

This was the very first time the mayor’s office has held a forum like this, giving the opportunity to student journalists to ask questions that concerned them and their fellow students. Questions ranged from concerns over MUNI’s budget to worries over San Francisco’s affordability. 

 “It was a great opportunity. It felt really important to hear what other people in the city had to say, and what questions they asked,” says Lincoln Log writer and forum attendee Elise Dunn. 

Though mayor Lurie himself was unable to attend the forum, students were able to direct their questions at a panel of several of his employees. Alicia John-Baptiste is the city’s director of Infrastructure, Climate and Mobility, who answered questions about the future of MUNI, and  explained the three-tiered strategy they have planned to shrink the deficit the transit system has found itself in. 

“The very first step was to take every measurement we could immediately, to make sure that we kind of reduce the size of the deficit as much as we could, without cutting the transit surface. And so that meant reorganizing the way that it operates tend to take some of the cost out of the system. The second step was to say, ‘Okay, we know we are going to need more revenue in order to support these systems,’” says John-Baptiste. 

The third step she outlined came in the form of ballot measures advocating for a raise in sales tax to fund MUNI and a new personal tax that would go towards preventing service cuts. Both measures have been backed by mayor Lurie. 

Many students had questions about funding and affordability, especially surrounding the rising costs of living in the city and funding going towards SFUSD. According to Charles Lutvak, the mayor’s press secretary, one of the mayor’s main focuses is affordability in the city. 

“The goal is to look across aspects of life around the question of government, and say, ‘How can we bring down the cost of living down by thousands and thousands of dollars?’ Initially, one of the big initiatives that we launched was an expansion of free and low cost childcare. So we are leveraging hundreds of thousands of dollars in unspent funding that voters had approved eight years ago, [allowing] the mayor to expand childcare subsidies,” says Lutvak.

Overall, the forum was a way for the mayor’s office to show their care and concern for student journalists. 

Sara Falls, the Lincoln Log Advisor says, “I think it’s super cool that they put this together, because it shows that they care about the high school constituency, and that they care about student journalists. I hope that they follow through, and continue to take seriously the issues that matter to students.”

By Kevine Liang

 Competitions become the main focus of Lincoln Architects during April and May as impending architecture competitions’ deadlines are near. Paolo Salazar, who teaches Advanced Architecture, Architecture 1, and Art 1, guides his students in preparation for the annual Engineers Alliance for the Art’s Student Impact Project Bridge Competition and The Architectural Foundation of San Francisco’s High School Design Competition.

Jane Regnier and Kiki Johnson are seniors working alongside two freshmen, Anna Chang and Kailey Liang and were chosen from third period to attend the Student Impact Project Bridge Showcase at UC Berkeley. Their reimagined bridge was named The Hills and won second place overall. Juniors Zekai Liao, Ayden Lieu, Curtis Cheuk Hin Lau, and Colin Siu won best in class with their bridge named The Celestial Gate. 

This year students could choose from two scenarios to reimagine: either the moving 3rd Street Bridge in San Francisco or a new bridge that spans the Ashley river in Charleston, South Carolina. The top two teams per class qualify to represent Lincoln in showcasing their ideas against other Northern California high schools at UC Berkeley on April 25th. Three groups that scored top three overall will be awarded cash prizes.

Students are judged on the innovation of their bridge and their speeches. Since the innovation relies on describing aspects of the bridge model that cannot be seen, Salazar’s focus has been on preparing each groups’ speeches, in terms of memorization, confidence, engagement, and highlighting unique aspects.

Last year, where a Lincoln group won first place for the first time on the moveable bridge, students were required to make at least three rough draft drawings of their bridge. These rough drafts are created into paper models, then move on to scaffolding cardboard models. These requirements were a shift from his first year of teaching Architecture in 2024, where students were required to only make one drawing. 

He explains, “I think a lot of the times people’s first idea is not their best idea and [so working on more models and drawings] gives [students] a way to really build off their mistakes and kind of work through any issues.” 

The Celestial Gate Bridge is an arch bridge that features a hydraulic vertical lift mechanism, a movable bridge that lifts its deck straight up while being powered by hydraulic jacks. Liao, Lieu, Lau, and Siu were inspired by the Fremont building in San Francisco, while incorporating a LEED system, a green rating system which provides framework for building healthy, efficient, and environmentally friendly projects and nighttime protection from cellforce towers. 

Regnier and Johnson’s green bridge features an arch with trusses; their inspiration came from the hills of San Francisco and local vegetation. Special attributes of Regnier and Johnson’s bridge include a bridge powered by wind turbines. 

Regnier wanted to take an art class but was placed into architecture without knowing art was incorporated into many aspects of it. To Regnier, the emphasis on preparation left little time for the actual building of the bridge.

“At first, I was really scared. You know, I knew nothing, but then I kind of found some sort of beauty within being precise with all the measurements and such…I felt like we were really rushing things, but it ended up looking quite beautiful in the end, and we were learning as a team,” she says.

Dom Hayet, Thomas Byrne, and Dalton Muck were working with Salazar’s class, where they were really helpful in “pushing [them] out of their nest” as Regnier describes. Engineers like Hayet, Byrne, and Muck are volunteers from around the city that come into support the students with problem-solving and advice, giving students the opportunity for students to experience and learn more about what architecture or engineering could look like. 

Additionally, Salazar’s Advanced Architecture class is preparing for the international AFSF competition on the topic of revitalizing and redesigning Fisherman’s Wharf, competing against Lick Wilmerding and schools across the U.S., Korea, and China on May 8th. 

Students have to think about using mixed structures in order to reimagine Seawall Lot 300/301, an area west of Pier 39 to align with the City’s Climate Action Plan in mitigating sea-level rise while incorporating vacation rental units, a restaurant and a boba cafe, a visitor center, a promenade, two public plazas, and their own interests like a skate park. 

Advanced Architecture students like Steffie Kwong and Judah Meyerson are given around 130,000 square feet in their scenario to remodel but had to take into consideration how their design could encourage gathering with events, performances, outdoors, daily use, and how their design would enhance the picturesque view of the bay. 

Advanced Architecture was brought back for the first time this year since 2022. In preparation for the AFSF competition, the students mock revitalized mid-Market street—last year’s competition prompt. Students are required to write an essay and a two minute presentation, and with funding from the district, the architecture students get to use brand new MacBooks, 3D printers, and AutoCAD and Revit, industry standard software used to render 2D drawings and 3D models to pitch their ideas for the new pier. 

Kwong is a senior in Advanced Architecture and has had her mind set on architecture since eighth grade after interning with an actual architect. Throughout her design, her hope for the resurgence of third spaces is prevalent. Kwong’s redesign features open space that feels more connected, allowing people to walk anywhere and see more. Natural light makes up a large component of her design. 

The architecture classes offered at Lincoln allow students a chance to explore their career possibilities. “A lot of people think they have to be kind of groomed since middle school to be in those kinds of fields (architecture and engineering), but no, that’s not the case,” says Salazar. 

Meyserson is a sophomore pitcher on the Lincoln baseball team, and Architecture 1 was his first exposure to art. Before, Meyerson wasn’t much of an art person; he chose architecture because he thought the subject was the least oriented around art. Architecture being a more structured way to be creative allowed him to have great experiences in continuing to take Advanced Architecture this year. 

“I certainly didn’t expect myself to want to do something like this in the beginning of high school. I am not sure I want to do architecture, but there are certain aspects of it that I enjoy, like urban design, civil engineering, and thinking about the space itself and how it is working into the city, in the neighborhood.” 

Meyerson works with two other juniors, and his last trip to Seattle left a lasting impression on his designs for his focus on the vacation rentals at the Wharf. He incorporated the idea of a rooftop pool and lookout into a scenic view of the bay. He wants people to have a memorable experience and having these amenities is important to drawing people in. 

“Even with certain constraints you can have certain freedom with your design. All of our designs are very different from each other, and they look a lot different."

By Sophie Ng 

One spring ago, I promised myself I’d write my college essays over summer break. That summer, I wrote absolutely nothing. My saving grace that fall was the fact that my American Literature final had been to write all four UC personal insight questions. 

By the end of junior year, you’ve done everything you can academically in regards to college applications. Rather than impulsively picking up a new activity you think will look impressive, continue what you’ve already been doing. The summer before senior year is the time to start the actual application process. With summer on the horizon, I advise rising seniors to at least start preparing the skeletons of their college essays. 

The Common App offers seven prompts exploring broad topics such as adversity, personal growth, and identity, with students responding to one in 650 words or less. The UCs offer eight prompts that are more concentrated; questions ask of leadership, creativity, and community service. Applicants must choose four of eight to respond to in 350 words or less. These prompts are found on their respective websites.

 It is tempting to write an essay that reads as a resumé, especially with prompts that encourage you to write about leadership, but admissions officers will see your achievements and accolades in the activities section already. 

Essays are your chance to breathe life into your application by telling a story, and the key to becoming a better writer is to read, read, and read. All SFUSD students get a San Francisco Public Library card, which can be used to check out books in-person or online through apps like Hoopla and Libby. In this context, read memoirs. Memoirs capture the narrative and introspective style demanded of college essays. 

My two favorites are “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi, which chronicles Kalanithi’s struggle with his lung cancer diagnosis as a neurosurgeon, and “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller, which details Miller’s experiences dealing with trauma and the legal system after being sexually assaulted during a party at Stanford University. Both of these books are beautifully written and dive deep into personal reflections and growth. What’s particularly captivating about both of these texts are the author’s abilities to take a specific event in their life and tie it in with the rest of their character. 

Both of these books cover a life-changing event. However, you don’t necessarily have to cover something as heavy on your college essay. In fact, you can write about the seemingly mundane as long as you are passionate about it. One of the PIQs I submitted was about making fan edits of the K-pop girl group LOONA. 

Once you get a clearer idea of what you want to write and how you want to write it, aim for a complete first draft of your main essay before the start of the school year. Your first draft will be your worst draft, so don’t fuss over perfection. Allow yourself to write poorly; you can always go back and revise. Depending on your senior courseload, you will probably not have the time or motivation to work on your essays as much as you’d like once school picks up. 

As for the technical aspects, start to prepare a list of colleges you want to apply to and look into their application requirements. Several schools require letters of recommendation and supplemental essays specific to that institution. Make a Google Doc of all the essays you’ll have to write and see if there is any overlap. It is okay to reuse—in fact, I would encourage you to reuse supplemental essay outlines since most prompts are adjacent.

Perhaps most importantly, get off of r/ApplyingToCollege or whatever online college admissions communities you lurk on. It’s easy to freak out over not doing enough; the so-called “LinkedIn warriors” and their flawlessly worded posts thanking whoever and whatever for an opportunity out in Whoville, the college admissions influencers clamoring for your attention with inane hooks like: “Not doing this in 7th grade will absolutely destroy your chances of getting into an Ivy League,” and your peers buzzing in your ears saying, “I’m so cooked, I’m so cooked,” in a dizzying loop are enough to send anyone into a spiral.

Applying to college is going to be hard, but remember that this process will only take up a sliver of your life. In junior year, I kept a diary. On October 22nd, 2024, I wrote a list of things that were bothering me. The list reads, “college applications / I’m hungry / my hair is too short / the SAT / AP exams.” 

One spring later, I get to look back at this weird, mushy period of my life and laugh a little at this list. The spring after you apply, you, too, will get to look back at your weird, mushy period and laugh. 

By Christine Kang

For generations, summer jobs were a predictable milestone for American teenagers. When school lets out, teens head straight into seasonal work. It offers independence, spending money, and a first glimpse of adult responsibility. In 2026, that similar summer pastime is becoming harder to hold on to. What used to be an easy way for a sixteen‑year‑old to earn a paycheck is now squashed by rising wages, new technology, and a flood of older workers competing for the same short‑term roles.
Even for a three‑month summer job, workers are expected to handle customer conflicts, communicate professionally, and stay focused without constant supervision. Seasonal employers can’t afford to hire someone who needs weeks of training when they’re only open for three months. Instead of taking a chance on a high‑schooler with no experience, many businesses now choose college students or adults who can start strong on day one. Another major shift is the growing number of adults seeking seasonal work. Some want extra income to offset rising living costs while others prefer flexible, short‑term jobs that don’t require long‑term commitments. This means teens aren’t just competing with each other, they’re competing with adults who have years of experience and full availability. For employers, the choice is obvious, the adult applicant is less risky for a fast‑paced, short‑season business.

As a manager of a restaurant in the Ferry Building BiJay puts it, “If we’re paying twenty an hour, we need someone who can jump in on day one.”

Technology is reshaping summer work. Many of the simple tasks that once made summer jobs perfect for teens are now automated. Self‑checkout counters reduce the need for cashiers. Mobile ordering apps cut down on counter staff. Even scheduling times are determined by owners and managers, which limits workers with consistent availability.

A student who constantly applies for work, Caitlin Hilt states, “... after about two or three months I heard that I got rejected. But I got an interview in a month and the orientation email a week or more after I applied…”

Time and scheduling is a problem for teenagers, whose summers are often packed with sports camps, family trips, part‑time classes, and college visits. Seasonal employers, facing high labor costs, can’t afford unpredictable attendance or randomly assigned meetings or interviews for applicants. Employers would focus on adults who can work steady hours all summer long.

On top of that, transportation is becoming a real obstacle. Many teens don’t have cars, and public transit schedules don’t always match early morning or late‑night shifts. Employers don’t want to deal with workers who might be late because a bus didn’t show up. And with insurance costs rising, some businesses won’t let minors operate equipment or handle certain tasks, shrinking the list of jobs teens are even allowed to do.
Still, even these human‑centered summer jobs are becoming more competitive than they used to be. Camps and recreation programs want workers who can commit to the entire summer, not just the weeks between vacations and sports tournaments. Some programs even start hiring in late winter, long before most teens begin thinking about summer plans. As a result, the teens who land these roles are often the ones who prepare early, complete certifications ahead of time, and show they can handle responsibility before the season even begins.

The easy, low‑stakes summer job is fading, but not all doors are closing. Instead, the summer job market is becoming more selective and more skill‑based. Teens who adapt, by building soft skills, demonstrating reliability, and leaning into roles that require human connection, can still carve out meaningful opportunities.

By Quincy Fulton

Alan Wong, District 4 Supervisor, is a lifelong member of the Sunset and once attended Abraham Lincoln High School, graduating in 2004. After the recall of prior supervisor Joel Engardio and the mess of tried-and-failed replacements, Wong was sworn in on the steps of Lincoln by Mayor Daniel Lurie. 

He was never formally elected, only appointed by Lurie, and he is running for reelection on the June 2nd ballot with the help of some current Lincoln students. Multiple students are working on his paid canvassing teams and internships for experience and insider perspectives on the political world. They have a range of jobs they can choose from, including canvassing and rearranging the current Supervisor’s office supplies. 

“At first I was just interning because my major is going to be political science. I was a paid canvasser for Saikat [Chakrabarti], but I switched over to canvassing for Alan Wong because he genuinely endorses the JROTC, which is a program I’m in,” an anonymous senior stated. 

Wong has served in the California National Guard for over 15 years, although his campaign has not been endorsed by the U.S. military. As a supervisor, he introduced a resolution supporting the importance of Junior ROTC. 

On other young-adult-based establishments, the anonymous senior said, “[Wong] does a lot for younger people, especially because he was the former City College board trustee during 2020 and 2024, so he was the person that kept City College free for SF residents,”

Fellow senior, Aidan Bolosan, had the same reason for joining the campaign. “As I intend to enter [the political science field], I’m campaigning in general in order to learn more about elections,” Bolosan stated. 

On why they picked Wong out of the five running for the seat to canvas for, the anonymous canvasser said, “He is the one that aligns most with my political points.” The other four running for the seat are Natalie Gee, Albert Chow, David Lee, and Jeremy Greco. 

Wong is running on a campaign of funding the police department and making the Sunset cheaper and livable, but the anonymous senior said that his campaign is also largely focused around District 4 youth. 

The interns, also, are largely San Francisco youth from different districts, the anonymous senior said. 

“What I meant by endorsing JROTC is that [Wong] talked to the school district board and was like, ‘No, don’t shut this down. It’s such a good program,’” the senior continued. 

They also added a reason for participating: “It’s very important to keep track of political affairs. You can’t just say, ‘Oh, I don’t involve myself in politics anymore,’ because it affects your life.”

Freshman Nathan Liang interns for Wong and sometimes canvasses, unpaid, and said “I didn’t specifically want to campaign for Alan Wong, but he has the best stances, sponsors, and chances of winning the race.” 

In particular, Liang agrees with Wong’s stance on closing the Sunset Dunes park and reopening the Great Highway on weekends. 

On why he decided to intern, Liang said “I just wanted to learn more about politics, and see how things are run, especially in the city.” 

Many of the students working on the campaign team are using it as a safe first venture into city bureaucracy. However, the canvassing can sometimes get rowdy, as it involves talking to people about potentially divisive subjects.

“It’s hard to campaign; it’s lowkey rejection therapy, because you’ll always get a person that's kind of evil, or someone that’s just even more evil, just telling you their stuff,” the senior canvasser recounted. 

None of the interns and canvassers represent Wong at school, and say schools hours don’t inhibit their roles, even benefitting them: “People also go home at around the same time as we leave school, so the moment I get [to their doors], I can just start talking,” Liang described about canvassing. 

“Sometimes you can see people going into their houses,” Liang added. 

He thinks canvassing is fine, but he mostly likes the office work, personally making post-its or other reminders for Wong, as it has a quiet and plain atmosphere. 

“I’ve talked with [Wong] once: it was when he was doing a fundraiser, so I was sitting at the door, trying to get people to write their names down, and he thanked me for being there on that day,” Liang remembered. 

Whether they are knocking on doors and spreading the word, or helping to organize Wong’s office, the students feel like they are learning and breaking in a fresh path for themselves through a candidate they have a connection to. 

This fall, Lucas Rondone is headed to Buffalo, New York, to play Division II volleyball at Daemen University, where he plans to major in Physical Therapy. 

Rondone wasn’t a volleyball player all his life; he grew up playing Amateur Athletic Union basketball. It wasn’t until COVID-19 pandemic where he discovered his passion for volleyball. 

His transition from one sport to another wasn’t easy, but he values his mom for being the motivation and determination behind his consistency in the sport. 

“I started playing volleyball, and I was really bad at it. But she would come with me to the park every day during COVID,” Rondone says. 

The persistence extended towards his recruitment process. Rondone shares his proactive approach to the recruitment process by consistently emailing coaches and colleges. His hard work paid off as interest poured in, allowing him to narrow down to his top five schools, one of them being Daemen University. 

Daemen University stood out the most with its campus culture. After having the opportunity to spend two days on campus getting to know the players and environment, Rondone knew he had found a community that he resonated with. 

While he is eager to move to Buffalo, Rondone admits that the San Francisco food scene is irreplaceable. He’ll miss the ease of hopping on a Muni bus to find any cuisine he craves, as well as his mother who has been his biggest supporter. Despite the long flight to the East Coast, he looks forward to the challenge of a more competitive athletic environment and a chance to connect with other peers across the country. 

“I feel good about it, it’s gonna be a good experience to find a new place outside of San Francisco,” Rondone adds. 

These stories are just a glimpse of these graduates of the class of 2026.  As these graduates embark on the next chapter away from San Francisco, they carry their experience and supportive community of Lincoln onto their journey. Congratulations to the class of 2026!

By Lola Snopkowski

Lincoln wrestling closed their season finishing first place in the city for the third year in a row. They won their first title in 2024 and haven’t stopped yet, winning in 2025 and now in 2026.

In order to keep their momentum, they continue to work, practicing on campus Monday and Wednesday, at an SF State camp Tuesday and Thursday, and competing in tournaments on the weekends. 

This is the first year they’ve done this much work outside their season due to the high level of commitment. 

Coach Michael Frias stating, “This year we've had the largest turnout for our club wrestling team, with many of our wrestlers consistently winning medals at tournaments.”

Junior Ramya Reeves states, “I think it will really help us overall, like we're just perfecting our craft [...] I feel like it will definitely make a big impact next season.”

Coach Frias belives that the training will give Lincoln an advantage against their opponents stating, “It's like adding another year before you actually start the upcoming season.”

Reeves also mentions that many key seniors will be leaving, so the fact that they are training before their season will help the underclassmen improve and gain more experience.

One of those key seniors is Kai Villegas, who has been on the team since his freshman year and has been one of their best wrestlers, winning co-MVP last season.

One in particular tournament this offseason was the USA Wrestling State Championship in Fresno on April 17th, in which senior Villegas, freshmen Josue Campos and Enzo Lometti, and juniors Mishell Cardona and Josiah Patton wrestled. 

Villegas did very well considering the extremely large brackets and steep competition. He won four matches and lost two, placing third, becoming the first student from Lincoln to place in a state championship tournament. In one of his first matches, he lost to an opponent that he ended up wrestling again in his last match, which would determine if he got third or fourth and beat him, to which he states, “Beating him was definitely my highlight.”

Villegas passes the torch confidently to the current juniors Patton, Jordan Baylor, Cardona, and Reeves, stating, “The current juniors will be great leaders of the team next season. [...] The next generation of wrestlers in Abraham Lincoln High School is looking promising with incredible talent and dedication.” 

Although losing seniors on any team can be challenging this team has gone through it before and always finds a way to keep thriving. Their work in the offseason will ensure the underclassmen come into the season prepared and ready to lead the next generation of Lincoln wrestlers.

Coach Frias states, “The beauty of that process is that there are always new wrestlers that step up and become those new leaders.”

They are always looking for new wrestlers on the school team and on their side team, Villegas stating, "The SF Elite Wrestling Club is open to anyone who wants to join, and to email friasm@sfusd.edu for more information.”

By Xavier Malizia

The Abraham Lincoln girls softball team started off the 2026 season four and three in league, defeating Galileo, Mission, Balboa, and Burton while falling short to Lowell and Washington. With so many new faces on the team, this record is impressive. Out of the 23 players on the roster, ten are freshmen. The coaching staff are also new, and with six seniors, the team is experiencing both the end of an era and a bright future to the program. 

With such disruption on the team, one thing proves more important than winning: building a strong atmosphere and culture. 

“Each player is a leader in themselves. Even if they are young, they can learn off of each other,” says assistant coach Holly Argente.

 Argente is also a paraprofessional at ALHS and says that coaching softball is the biggest thing she looks forward to at the end of her day. This is her first season with the team.

Senior Mina Reyes also speaks about the atmosphere of the team, “I think it's kind of like a rebuilding year. Everything feels very new.”

This feeling has a large part to do with the new coaching staff, who have an unconventional approach for adjusting to a new team. Reyes, along with senior Sophie Ng, are the captains of the softball team, and described how the new coaches leave them in charge for a large portion of practices.

“We run the drills, and they're just there to, like, support us,” explained Reyes.

This unconventional approach gives the veteran players a lot of control over practices, allowing them to focus on what they feel needs to be improved.

One major issue that the team faces is consistency with attendance and energy, which are two large factors towards the success of the team.

“I think everyone showing up is a big thing, and just the way we come in, our energy is a big thing,” says Reyes.

When attendance and energy are what they should be, the team reaches much higher levels of success, and things in that area are set to improve.

“I think a lot of the freshmen are into it. They show up every day, and in the following years, I think that they will make a good team. Since this is more of a rebuild, we're kinda setting the structure for [the future],” explained Ng.

Despite their roles as captain, coach Argente doesn't want Ng and Reyes to be seen as above the rest of the team.  “Someone can hold the role of captain, [but] I want to say they’re all leaders,” says Argente.

 “Whether or not they are experienced or not experienced, you could always learn or teach something,” added the assistant coach.

Argente went on to add that these skills go beyond the field, and that she hopes her players will bring those traits further than just softball.

By Kevin Hu

The 2026 CIF San Francisco Section All-City Boys Tennis tournament was held from April 27 through May 1, showcasing some of the best tennis players across five schools in the district. All City featured varsity singles alongside varsity and novice doubles matches. Competition opened at Lowell for the first three days before moving to the Goldman Tennis Center for the final two days of play.

On May 1, seniors Derek Lau and Bradley Chu competed against Lowell junior Pakin Papartassee and Lowell senior Oliver Grimwood for the doubles championship, while senior Theodore Hom fought for the singles championship.

Lau and Chu went the distance against Papartassee and Grimwood, requiring all three sets to be played before a winner was determined. Lau and Chu dropped set one (1-6), and despite showing signs of life in set two, beating Papartassee and Grimwood in 8 games, the duo would ultimately lose set three (1-6).

Hom and Braunstein also went the distance, but in the singles finals. Hom, and Braunstein, who Coach Max Van Engers considers to be Lowell’s best player, battled for three hours, when Hom was finally crowned as the winner.

“I was kinda nervous at the start since this was my first appearance in the finals, hence the 0-6 start,” Hom explains. Despite wrestling with nerves, and dropping the first set without winning a game, Hom’s determination never waned or wavered. “I went back to the basics. I decided to just focus on my footwork and my fundamentals.” After Hom stopped overthinking and fell back on what he knew best, he would not drop another set, winning sets two and three in ten and nine games respectively. 

Overall, Hom’s win was a rewarding end to a tiring season for the tennis team. According to team manager Kimora Huynh, the team would practice up to hours everyday. “They have been practicing everyday unless there is a match or if the court is wet,” says Huynh. “Sometimes the coach lets them have a day break but usually they’re always practicing.”

The Mustangs also continued to scrimmage and play league games up to a week before All City, including defeating Lowell in a scrimmage game five matches to two, beating Balboa in a league game five matches to none, and losing to Lowell in a league game two matches to five.

Hom attributed his tournament win to his team, family, and friends, citing them as the reason he worked so hard. “I couldn’t do it without my teammates, family, and friends supporting me from the sidelines,” Hom says. “Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout the journey.”

By Elise Dunn

The sun is blazing, the pressure as high as the heat, but Lincoln’s Dragonboat team shows no sign of slowing down. Recently, Lincoln's Dragonboat team took their mustang pride all the way down south to Arizona for the two-day Tempe race competition. 

Founded in 1996, Lincoln's dragonboat team has established themselves as a legitimate competitor, placing first and second in as well as recently gaining a brand new record of 1 minute and 59 seconds. In previous years they have won over 20 championship titles through the California Dragon Boat Association.

Dragonboat is a synchronized team paddle sport, originating in Southern China over 2,000 years ago. It features over twenty paddlers, one steerer, and one drummer. The sport itself has been known to be a relatively challenging sport that not only focuses on strength but also technique and synchronization.   

The competition in Arizona was new playing ground for the team, being one of the only Bay Area teams while also competing in the premiere adult division instead of the youth category; the stakes were definitely high before and during the competition. 

“We [competed] pretty impressively, considering that we were competing against adults and people on college level teams” says senior paddler Moyses Aguire, “I definitely was nervous that we were racing against adults.” 

Regardless of the adult teams, Lincoln came and completed a successful race. Out of the three boats, Gold, Red and Black, and gold and red placed high in the intermediate B Division and recreational C Division. 

“Although we didn’t place in the A-Division I think we represented the Bay Area well,” recalls Aguirre. “We still did a pretty big accomplishment there.” 

Not to mention a 13-hour flight delay on the way to Arizona which proved to be a setback for the team, as the delay took away their practice time before the tempe race. 

 “Usually we get to practice on the water before the race but this time we were going into the competition without any familiarity," says gold boat paddler and senior Sophie Ng. 

The team's successes at the Tempe Race set up motivation and wins for future competitions including the 2026 youth race in May and the upcoming international race in Taiwan. 

Senior and co-captain Alex Lam reflected on the competition, “We are returning back to our dynasty days and this [race] was a high signal that we were ready to start winning again.”

By Zoë Hsu Doo

The deciding factor in whether a person will be an interesting conversation partner is if they read books about fairies. From fairies, aliens, and hockey to poetry–such different topics–each curates the same thing: media literacy. Every scroll, every comment section, every book review, and every movie discussion is tainted by an audience that often doesn’t read. The beauty in media is ruined by shallow online discourse and shrinking attention spans. It raises the question: are people actually getting stupider, or are they losing the ability to function without consulting ChatGPT or having it spelled out for them? The issue is not intelligence, but the overall decline in reading, literacy, and critical thinking.

Education and reading for fun have separate benefits. Without regular practice, the reading comprehension skills drilled into us as children fade, replaced by regurgitated opinions on the Internet. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 21% of adults in the US are illiterate or functionally illiterate. Literacy goes beyond decoding words; it is about understanding nuance, reading between the lines, and interpreting meaning.

This is where media literacy comes in: the ability to analyze, interpret, and question information. Modern online culture is a myriad of short-form videos dependent on initial shock and the first five seconds, rewarding speed over depth. Discourse is based on assumptions instead of analysis. People want information simplified into digestible summaries. Books demand the opposite; they require patience and interpretation. 

So, when was the last time you read a book purely for fun? Reading for enjoyment isn’t trivial; it builds empathy, imagination, focus, and complex thinking. Unlike other forms of media, books force the creation of mental imagery. They leave room for ambiguity and personal interpretation. Aside from finally checking a book off my “To Be Read” list, my personal favorite part of reading is analyzing the characters. Dissecting character choices, down to their history, symbolism, and relationships, brings me endless fascination. Being able to share my interpretations and discuss with others is what draws me to fandom spaces.

The decline in reading culture is not owed to a single cause. Technology has shortened attention spans, with even education increasingly relying on screens. During online learning, books were often replaced by digital content. At the same time, life is often ridiculously overscheduled; between school, extracurriculars, and constant pressure to be productive, reading for pleasure feels like a luxury. As people grow up, the habit slowly disappears.

As a child, my form of rebellion was reading under the covers with my nightlight to see. Books became the compass for my sense of self, yet whenever someone tried to force me to read, I immediately hated the book. Reading cannot be forced if it is meant to be enjoyed. When it is, resentment replaces curiosity. Enjoyment comes from discovery and freedom.

Of course, reading takes time and access, and many face external challenges that demotivate them. Audiobooks, graphic novels, and comics are meaningful entry points and are readily available at public libraries. The goal isn’t gatekeeping what counts as reading, but encouraging deeper engagement with ideas. Reading is meant to be fun, to incite curiosity and deeper thinking. Start small. Read a chapter a day. Choose topics that genuinely interest and entertain. 

People are not inherently getting stupider, but they are losing the habits that strengthen thinking. Reading will not solve every societal problem, but it deepens the understanding of ideas and people. 

Now as for what books to start with, I could write an entirely new story on book recommendations.

By  Camille Chew

When asked to name different forms of artificial intelligence, a majority of high school students respond with different chatbots. ChatGPT unsurprisingly showed up the most, followed by Gemini. In reality, AI is a broad label, covering a vast number of technologies: navigation technology, cancer detection machinery, smart appliances, assistive technology, and so much more. 

Many high schoolers have attached to the notion that AI is a detriment to society; a tool that solely enables cheating, plagiarism, and a general alleviation of human effort. 

While this position is derived from real cons of AI, it is also born from a narrow view. 

On one hand, AI is damaging; it’s allowing pathways for students to graduate while plagiarizing, businesses to replace artists with generated graphics, and cyber crime. But on the other hand, AI is opening doors to improved aid for disabled people, early natural disaster identification, and streamlined medical care. 

 Given AI is such a ubiquitous technology that seemingly sprung out of the blue in the past couple of years, an agitated response is far from unexpected–but also far from what AI needs today. 

According to Microsoft, 16.3 percent of the global population uses AI. That’s 1.3 billion people, all using a tool comparable to a car with no seatbelts. AI now needs restriction and grace. 

AI’s capabilities are constantly growing, but it comes with a cost. Its rapid progress has moved far too fast for regulation and law to keep up.

For instance, the ability of AI to generate content has grown rapidly in just a couple years. While AI videos have gone from uncanny Will Smiths with melting faces and limbs that blend into bowls of spaghetti to threats to politicians who now must argue against video evidence of them doing something they would never imagine doing, legal restrictions and laws have failed to prevent malicious use of AI generated media. 

It’s no wonder that out of those 1.3 billion people, Stanford finds that 45 percent believe AI products and services are more harmful than beneficial–right now the dog which is AI runs off without a leash. 

But it’s not as simple as labelling the issue an AI issue.

On April 14th this year, a legally blind runner, Clarke Reynolds, ran a marathon with the support of AI Meta Glasses. Another visually impaired runner, Thomas Panek, similarly ran a marathon using the same glasses only a few weeks prior on March 15th. For Reynolds, the glasses connected to an app called “Be My Eyes,” which allowed fellow runners to provide him verbal instructions; for Panek, the glasses themselves read out directions. 

The inspirational stories of these two runners represent only a fraction of the good AI is capable of. In India, AI prediction tools are warning communities early about floods, keeping citizens safe and informed. 

AI is currently in a limbo state–it faces few federal guidelines but vast capabilities for both good and bad. MIT claims over 50 percent of large companies currently use AI–a number likely to grow based on the trends of previous years. AI will continue to progress, and how we guide it is now of utmost importance.

If we want to guide AI thoughtfully, we need to start first by understanding what it really is. 

Oversimplifying AI to chatbots–the ChatGPTs, Geminis, and DeepSeeks of the AI world–and slapping negative labels on AI as a whole only prevents deeper understanding of what AI truly enables: aid for disabled people and improved medical care, among a plethora of other uses. 

AI starts as a collection of nodes connected by branches; the simplest forms merely evaluate the outcomes of situations by tracing the possible results of decisions. Like a tree, these branches grow and new nodes sprout. 

To properly care for AI, we too should begin by tracing the branches. From the roots of AI to its uses, all knowledge better prepares us for living a life with AI and making decisions surrounding it. 

I admit, it’s easy to look down on AI–it has its glaring cons. But as an informed collective, we can begin to prune, cutting off deepfakes and plagiarism, while cultivating more stories like Reynolds’s and Panek’s.

By Xavier Malizia

 In my opinion, The Artemis program is the Moon mission that The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA has always wanted because of its scientific-focused goals and slower timeline that favors a science agency rather than a greedy nation.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced that the United States would reach the moon before the decade was over; a goal that, by some miracle, was achieved in the summer of 1969 when Astronaut Neil Armstrong climbed down the ladder of the Eagle landing module to take the first steps on the moon. The Apollo program was a direct race against Russia and the later Space Shuttle was a program shaped by US military requirements to gain space superiority. On the other hand, SLS, the rocket that carries Apollo, is purpose-built for deep space exploration, such as transporting humans to the moon. NASA secured what little funding it could, and is putting it all into a science-focused mission. This is what NASA is for; it's why they exist: to push the limits of space exploration, not battle with the bureaucracy and military to compromise.

To many, this might sound dumb. Why do we need to go to the Moon, let alone permanently live there? Well, the answer is that the Artemis mission comes at a time of change in human spaceflight. At a time of intense politics and a changing world, many shakeups are altering the course of space. Through this, the Artemis program is emerging with one important goal: research. Some of humanity's greatest discoveries and  inventions have come because of spaceflight. Inventions such as LASIK eye surgery, ventricular assist devices, scratch-resistant lenses, grooved pavement, artificial limbs, firefighting equipment, freeze drying, solar panels, and so, so much more are a result of spaceflight programs. In addition to this, a large amount of medical research is conducted in zero-gravity. For example, studying cell growth in space has helped discover new methods of cancer therapies. Without the ISS, the settlements on the Moon will hopefully allow for continual advancements in research.

Recently, on April 1st, 2026, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched four astronauts to the moon to return for the first time in 54 years as a part of the Artemis II mission. The crew rode in the Orion capsule, which was launched into orbit aboard a Space Launch System rocket from pad 39b, the same site that the Apollo missions departed from. The mission successfully transported astronauts into Earth’s orbit, before they raised the highest point, or apogee, of their orbit to reach the moon, taking a trip that would solidify many records. The crew became the furthest humans ever from Earth–252,756 miles–and marked the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit, the first Black person to travel beyond Earth’s orbit, and the first Canadian to pass the same milestone. The lunar flyby lasted ten days, with the crew safely splashing down off of the coast of San Diego on April 10th. Such a historic mission captured the attention of millions of people across the globe, inspiring the next generation of space-lovers, and you can start to see how this mission aspires to the more scientific goals at NASA, rather than political. NASA secured what little funding it could, and is putting it all into a science-focused mission. This is what NASA is for, it's why they exist. To push the limits of space exploration, not battle with the bureaucracy and military to compromise.

We must understand that NASA, is a research agency foremost, yet is left extremely limited due to issues with the bureaucracy. The brightest, most talented scientists, physicists, and engineers work at NASA, yet they are not limited by what their brilliant minds can do, but limited by what scraps of funding they can get from Congress. NASA gets 0.33% of the National Budget, and a proposed 47% cut on that has been issued by the White House for next year. While it may seem like spending money on NASA is wasteful and not important in such a challenging time in the world, the innovation and scientific research that NASA provides adds much more value that it uses to the quality of life, abilities, and economy of the world.

Hopefully, in the future, NASA can use the Artemis program as a launchpad for the future of space exploration. Using existing hardware, new innovations, and private spaceflight conjointly to achieve the scientific research dreamt up when the association was created.

By Michael Lai

Time seems to be moving faster and faster. With the school year coming to an end and summer right around the corner, we have an exciting time to look forward to. 

It has been a difficult school year for some of us, and whether this applies or not, I’m sure we’re all excited for summer. The feeling of not having any more academic stress, no more early alarms, and most importantly, more free time, is something we must take advantage of.

On social media, there has been a saying that “2026 is the new 2016.” I’m sure all of our generation deeply enjoyed 2016, the music, the freedom, the childish memories, just the vibes in general. Our generation of people, ages around 16-18, will have 2016 as one of their best years in their lives. 2016 was truly different from our other childhood years, the vibes were too nostalgic. 2026 has been media agreed as “the new 2016”, because of the potential of fun it brings us. 

Something that has already brought back some 2016 vibes, is Justin Bieber at Coachella. Justin was one of the biggest music artists during 2016. Listening to his old songs now can really bring back memories. Justin’s performance at Coachella was outstanding, even singing in his “old Bieber” voice while “Beauty and a Beat” was playing.

The following activities are only stuff I’m familiar with.

My favorite genre of activities is to go outside and explore. Getting outside for a walk, a run, a bike ride, anything, if done consistently, can help to get in shape. But fitness isn’t the only benefit of exercise; another reason I exercise is for the mental benefit. It keeps my mind calm during the activities, reaching a complete state of peace. Exercising is what I resort to when my mind is buzzing and overwhelmed. I can’t speak enough on how big of an impact exercise has had on my physical and mental health. Additionally, thousands of studies prove that regular exercise leads to a longer life. Exercise can be one of the best things to do over the summer to develop a new habit going outside.

Something else to do over the summer is to spend time with friends and family. Some ideas that come to mind are to go to an amusement park, or start a monopoly game—we all know these last long. There are infinite things to do with your family and friends, but that’s not what’s important. What’s important is the fact that you’re with them, your presence will always hold more value than anything you guys do together.

This summer also brings us so many new movies, allowing us to look forward to something, such as new movies to watch and new shows to binge. Watching movies or shows consistently could develop a new hobby, something to get us through the break to kill time.

A movie, for example, is Spider-Man. Spider-Man is one of the most anticipated movies coming out this year, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” The previous movie ended us off with Peter Parker wiping his identity, with no one knowing who he is anymore. “Spider-Man Brand New Day” shows us a new Peter, the trailer shows us a glimpse of his new suit and a whole new behavior from Spider-Man. Hulk will be included in this movie, along with rumors about Andrew Garfield  also being in it.

Something else of interest to watch is Formula 1. Some of the most loved and well-known races on the F1 calendar are taking place this summer. The track known for being narrow, the Monaco Grand Prix, takes place on June 7th, 6 a.m. The Grand Prix that has lots of history and has been with F1 for the majority of its years, the British Grand Prix will take place on July 5th, 7 a.m. One of the most loved track, Spa-Francorchamps, the Belgian Grand Prix will take place on July 19th, 6 a.m.

This concludes what I recommend doing over the summer. It has so much to offer, and we have so many things to do. I personally regret all the times I’ve stayed indoors doing nothing. For many of us, it will be our last summer as teenagers with fewer responsibilities. We can’t let this summer go to waste.

By Sylvia Liu

Creative writing has been around for centuries, along with fanfiction which has evolved from 18th-century literary re-imaginings and 1960s Star Trek fanzines into mainstream online media.  As fandoms grow, fanfiction has become more popular over the years, and people are joining creative spaces for fanfiction without learning the proper etiquette, creating a toxic environment. Years have passed but people still deserve respect and to be shown proper fanfiction etiquette, since that's what makes a community grow and thrive.

Fanfiction is a creative, derivative work produced by fans or non-fans using the characters, settings, and storylines from pre-existing media. Fanfiction is mostly popular with younger people, but anyone can enjoy it or create it. 

Many in fanfiction communities are forgetting that real people are behind the writing and they deserve respect, just like any other real-life books. Fanfiction is a creative outlet for those who want to create works for themself and others based on fandoms they are in. Most are teens and young adults who are writing. It’s often one of the first writing adolescents share with world, so it feels more personal. It shouldn't have to be said, that when finishing reading someone’s work, don’t harass them in the comments. Fanfiction should be a safe creative space. If you don't want to read something, don’t. There is often a filter and tags telling you what's in the story. 

There are, of course, times when the tags are not labeled correctly or just added to increase the views. In that case, 

Another prevalent issue is copying another person’s story. It’s okay if inspiration is taken from someone, just make sure to give them credit for the inspiration. It's impolite to copy someone’s work word for word. For example, the fanfiction named “A Spring Without You,” is copied from another fanfiction, “In Another Life,” word for word, it just changes the names. That isn't acceptable; it’s bad etiquette and makes the creative space toxic by creating drama. Unseemly messages are sent to both authors and it creates discourse between fandoms where fans are pressuring another fandom to stop plagiarization. 

In the past few years, there have been more and more fanfiction sites where you are able to read and write. Wattpad, Archive of Our Own, and fanfic.net are some sites, and as Wattpad is often the first site people are introduced to, it’s where most etiquette is learned. Archive of Our Own is the most popular site and there are many resources that filter fanfics that are not desirable. Fanfic.net has similar resources to Archive of Our Own but it is more restrictive and doesn't allow for explicit writing.

The commodification of fanfiction has also become prominent, turning creative, non-commercial works into marketable goods, shifting from passion-driven community creation to profit-driven content. 

According to Section 107 of the Copyright Act, fanfiction is fair use, but cannot be sold since it includes characters in a show or book without permission. While fanfiction can exist because of fair use laws, the writing of fan fiction doesn't affect the market, and as long as you are not selling the fanfiction with the character name, it is legal. Even if you change the names of the characters, most of the time, the plot is so deeply ingrained in the settings of the original world that it doesn't make sense to change the names. Such books that started off as fanfictions include “Alchemised” by senlinyu, “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James and “After” by Anna Todd.

Historically, fanfics are built on a gift economy, where status and value are earned through contribution, community engagement, and sharing of labor. Fanfiction is often written because the writer loves the fandom and wants to create work to share. It’s assumed that once up at a free website, it would stay free.

By Yasmine El Hattab

Released in 1975, “Jaws” was an instant success and became the poster child of the animal thriller genre. Even half a decade later, “Jaws” continues to play in theaters and is frequently mentioned in modern-day film conversations. More than a shark attack movie, the mid-seventies release set the standard for the category that few films released today have matched. 

Since then, countless animal thrillers have been produced, especially shark films, but many of them feel like variations on the same formula. While notable entries like “The Meg” and “47 Meters Down” have found commercial success, a large portion of the genre relies on repetitive plots, thin character development, and overly predictable themes.

The issue is not that animal thrillers lack potential; it's that the industry keeps producing lazy versions of them. Nobody is calling for the two hundredth version of a shark thriller or a new species take on “Cocaine Bear.”

One simple search on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video shows an endless number of creature features, but many feel interchangeable. All containing the same promise, escalation, and lack of depth, whether the threat is a snark, snake, bear, or primate, there is really nothing left to see that hasn't already been done exponentially better.

Everything feels boring and predictable because it indeed is. People are producing animal thrillers simply for the sake of producing, with no clear development necessary for movies hitting the digital catalog. 

A recent example of predictability is “Primate” (2025), which follows the familiar “animal gone rogue” plot where a rabid pet monkey attempts to kill its owners. While part of it is a simple personal disdain for the movie, it's overall just lackluster. The film is flat and undeveloped, relying only on its suspense factor to carry it. 

The world was never calling for another suspenseful evil monkey movie, so why make it? 

In contrast, “Nope” (2022) uses its chimpanzee subplot as more than a horror gimmick. Introducing the animal as a feature in a sitcom, the animal serves as major commentary on spectacle and control. Both movies follow the “brutal animal” concept, but “Nope” displays the stark difference between a developed film and what many modern entries are missing: intention and a narrative purpose beyond the creature. 

Established franchises like Rise of the Planet of the Apes or the Kong series continue to succeed because they treat the animals as part of a structured story world, not relying simply on one selling factor. Their movies continue to see success because they're unique films, ones with developed and growing plots rather than clear attempts at a money grab.

Considered to be another iconic animal thriller, “Anaconda” (1977) received its remake this year, straying from its iconic thriller factor and sold as an action comedy.  Despite a release to the 2026 box office, both films grossed an estimated one hundred thirty-five million dollars at the domestic box office.

Falling flat compared to its original film, “Anaconda” (2026), was clearly a sad, modern attempt to remake an iconic, and its box-office-flop made that more than clear. Clearly trying to ride on the known success of its origin, “Anaconda” failed to cement itself in the hearts of original “Anaconda” fans, now far from its iconic beginnings. 

It's not that animal thrillers are bad, but the genre has become oversaturated with uninspired releases. There's no need for a remake of an old film or another recreation of “Jaws.” People aren't looking for movies relying solely on shock value or scare factor; the genre needs to start releasing something new. 

While keeping an eye on the modern box office, enjoy already iconic films for what they are. Take the time to watch films like “Jaws” and “Anaconda” because they're impactful and developed, rather than one-time, dismissive viewing of the watered-down films being pushed out now. 

If the next animal thriller wants to be “iconic,” it should be something new. 

By Angela Gin and Phoebe Seigel 

In late March, Lincoln’s administration made the decision to cut AP English Literature and Composition. Despite the best efforts of Sara Falls, the AP Literature teacher, and AP Literature students, the class has been officially removed from the school’s course offerings as of early April.

AP Literature has been part of  Lincoln curriculum for over 20 years. To remove the class is to disregard the legacy of the class and its impact on generations of Lincoln students. 

Lincoln graduate Claire Cover says, “I’ve used skills that I was able to hone in AP Lit in almost every class I’ve taken as a college student.”

Removing AP Literature  from course offerings is an enormous disservice to younger students and will ultimately fail to prepare them for higher-level learning beyond high school. 

Next year, I, Phoebe, will be attending Smith College, a small liberal arts school in Western Massachusetts. When I visited the campus, I had the opportunity to sit in on a few classes, and found they were immensely different from all but one of my high school classes–that class being AP Lit. In the Smith classes I sat in on, everything was very discussion-based, with students talking about the texts they had read, about world events relating to course material, and engaging in lively debates that furthered all of their learning. This is exactly what we do in AP Lit; we discuss, we offer up our  ideas, we debate–all things that are invaluable to our learning, giving everyone a greater appreciation of literature. I feel that if I had not taken AP Lit this year, I would be vastly unprepared for Smith next year and would be struggling to keep up with the way their classes are structured. While not everyone will attend a liberal arts college after high school, having the kinds of discussions we have in AP Lit is still valuable for preparing students for college and life in general.

Here at Lincoln, only two Advanced Placement English classes are offered: AP English Language and Composition and AP Literature. Cutting AP Literature leaves the English department with a single AP English class and takes from humanities at Lincoln as a whole.

As AP Lang teacher Shamira Gratch states, “We don’t have a lot of AP offerings in the humanities, and the humanities, in general, are a place where students are kind of, I don’t know if I’d say discouraged, but it isn’t as valued the same way science and math is. In our culture, too, not just our school.” 

She adds, “The danger of not having students engage with the humanities is massive, because it’s literally our culture. It’s where people gain empathy. And so classes like AP Literature and literature classes in general, and art classes, and classes where you get to reflect more on the human condition are really important, especially at a time in a student’s life where they’re developing their opinions, their sense of morals, really grappling with big ideas, which you should be at this age, and that’s what a class like AP Literature provides for students.”

By cutting AP Literature,  the school is actively pushing the ideals of a society that values science and math fields over the humanities, and thus suppressing students who care about the humanities–which is something we need to care about–from pursuing their interests to the fullest extent. 

“There’s a long history of schools prioritizing STEM over the arts and humanities, but we’re in a literacy crisis and it’s only getting worse with AI. Knowing how to read, how to write, and having good media literacy is genuinely essential for adulthood, and getting rid of AP Lit is going to be incredibly detrimental, ” Cover says.

The decision to cut AP Lit is not one that can be pinned on any single person or entity. It, as most things are at SFUSD, is a result of the district’s budget crisis. 

“Elliot Duchon [the state budget auditor guide] was really clear: Because teaching an AP class comes with an AP prep period, and because we’re in this really intense period of fiscal austerity, we cannot justify a singleton AP class if it gives that teacher a prep period. So last year, the edict was really clear. No singleton APs. I knew that really early on. And so I spent a lot of time in the spring semester, before the course fair, recruiting,” says Falls. 

This year, however, Falls says she was repeatedly told that singleton APs were not in danger of being cut, and that the budget was in a stable enough place to not cut any programs. Upon finding that AP Lit would be cut, Falls went to the administration and was reportedly told that AP Lit “wasn’t a program.”

Falls admits that she could have done more to recruit students to AP Lit for next year, but she is, as we all are, a very busy person, and it is unreasonable to expect her to recruit at the pace she did last year when she was repeatedly told that she did not have to worry about singleton APs being cut. 

In response to student emails appealing to the principal and assistant principals, Marisol Arkin states that,  “Unfortunately, for the upcoming school year, AP Literature did not receive enough student requests to meet that threshold. In fact, fewer than one-third of the required number of students signed up.”

Solutions to the problem of lack of interest have been presented, including taking in juniors on the AP Language waitlist, which is what ended up happening this year and has proven to be an effective method.

Mika Buckwald, a junior who took the class this past year, has had nothing but good experiences. She says, “I am extremely grateful to have been able to take AP Lit with Ms. Falls. This class has helped reinspire my love of literature and immensely improved my writing. Ms. Falls is obviously a very passionate teacher which has made it one of my favorite classes I have taken at Lincoln.”

However, such solutions have been disregarded as the administration resigned to cutting the class rather than searching for a way to keep it. That being said, the general edict is that, in the coming years, there will be a continued effort to start offering AP Literature again. 

AP Literature has done so much for so many students. Students today especially need to be having the conversations we have in AP Literature, and they need to read the texts we read. This class is vital to creating the thoughtful, engaged scholars we claim we want to create. It is doing a huge disfavor to underclassmen to limit their education by removing AP Literature from course offerings.

By Abigail Park

From burrowing in trash bins to scurrying behind passersby late at night, the uneasiness of feeling bothered and watched by city-dwelling raccoons can be easily solved: domestication. 

It’s not as evil as it sounds.

Fundamentally wild animals, the gray, cat-sized rodent-shaped mammals have been inhabiting cities like San Francisco for years. Their little black hands can be seen scrounging in trash cans, or their round eyes shining from several feet away. 

As raccoons remained within our cities, their phenotypes and evolutionary adaptations like long snouts, which scared off predators, and long-ranged foraging, to help hunt after prey, died out, since the traits are no longer necessary for survival when living off of human leftovers. These new generations of raccoons are already mistaken to have domesticated themselves and are losing their biological advantages for survival.

Why not save the raccoons from being treated like a human waste cleanup crew and give them the proper nourishment and care they can no longer provide for themselves?

Pet raccoons bring a multitude of benefits and amusement, for both the owner and the raccoon in return. Let’s not ignore these demeaning conditions we forced them into.

Firstly, raccoons are insect and rodent controllers! Surely the rats scurrying around Lincoln High School have made an appearance when standing in the cafeteria lunch line, if not around the city. With raccoons under human care, they can save us from any jumpscares by munching the tiny, scary, creepy crawlies to death.

Secondly, raccoons are also extremely intelligent. Biologically equipped with hand-like paws, raccoons can solve many puzzles–they are already smart enough to know how to remove lids from trash cans! When feeling lonely, mindlessly scrolling on a phone, or going crazy with nothing to do, a raccoon can keep one company instead. Maybe playing some games and puzzles with them to see who finishes first will productively fill up time; a man’s best friend isn’t exclusive to dogs–what happened to inclusivity?

Lastly, with their small, beady, black eyes and long, fluffy coat of gray fur, raccoons are undeniably cute–why wouldn’t one be inclined to take a raccoon home? 

There is talk–raccoons are unpredictable and aggressive. However, with the proper instruction and treatment, their mischievousness will follow suit similar to an orange-tabby cat. Just because raccoons may steal snacks, or at times, shimmy out of one’s grasp, doesn’t mean we should treat them disposably.

Like cats, dogs, mice, snakes, and even bears, raccoons are no different. Just like how these animals are legally allowed to be pets in some states, raccoons can also thrive as pets. 

With the right training and amount of care, like any other pet, raccoons can become our new companion: to protect us from tiny bugs, to challenge us with engaging games, and to comfort and give us warm cuddles.

Digging through another species’ trash for food leftovers just to survive is inhumane–let’s put an end to raccoon mismanagement.

By Lincoln Log Staff

Today’s youth is plagued by a new epidemic, one that lurks in the hallways and infiltrates our phones, nonchalance and a loss of whimsy. 

Nonchalance is defined by indifferent behavior propelled by insecurity and a need for emotional self-defense, implying a lack of enthusiasm and interest. On social media, nonchalance is often associated with teenagers being “mysterious,” purposefully masking their emotions and reactions. But recently, the style has grown into judging people for smiling or having fun. Entirely fueled by what behaviors are “acceptable,” people are increasingly afraid of judgement. Expressing love or having a little too much fun in public have become actions to be embarrassed of. 

The art of having fun has been lost. The appeal and expectations to be “nonchalant,” or cool have overpowered the desire to live life and feel emotions. This feels like a direct result of social media and its power to create standards for happiness and when to show it. One example of this is the “frolicking” trend on social media, where creators visiting beautiful national parks or outdoor areas post videos of them running around and “frolicking.” This does show happiness and fun online, but only in a uniform way.  It seems like now standards dictate how to post happiness, which strips the joy of any genuineness and makes it performative.   

For example, on Instagram, the photo dump has become a Goldilocks equation of sorts—what’s the perfect ratio of posed photos and curated candids to achieve maximum coolness? Social media has become one of our main channels of supposed self-expression, but overemphasis on appearances have diminished authenticity. 

With that, people have grown embarrassingly obsessed over how they present themselves. Instagram stories only encourage this by showing who’s viewed their stories, pressuring people to perform as an effortlessly chic and cultured version of themselves. Instagram accounts become a convoluted version of ourselves stitched together by carefully curated moodboards and highlights, devoid of authentic passion and emotion. 

Additionally, heavy doomscrolling feeds a constant stream of dopamine that numbs the brain, making it harder to find focus and joy in any activity. Simultaneously, it fuels negative self-esteem, the leading cause of peoples' lack of passion and their callousness. 

Through social media, like any other popular song or dance, hobbies have become trends. Back in 2013 and 2014, Rainbow Looms was the hobby to get into as a child.  This is now true of crocheting or bedazzling energy drink cans. Today, hobbies are seen as a status symbol and proof of a social life. They become their own form of consumerism, as people handpick their interests to fit the aesthetic of their tailored persona, rather than choosing an activity born from real passion. 

Experimenting with avocations because they look cool online is okay; it is when they are pursued solely for being performative that it is wrong. 

Whimsy and joy aren’t the only things lost in the influx of nonchalant teens; human connection is threatened. Modern day relationships, specifically situationships between teenagers, are characterized by competitions of who can respond later while ignoring each other in-person. The goal of the "competition" is simple; whoever cares the least wins. When everyone plays to win, they end up losing the chance of connecting with others, a skill necessary for emotional maturity.

The “feminine” traits widely discouraged since the birth of gender roles and the patriarchy come down to one thing: emotion. According to misogynistic ideals, women get too excited, talk too much, cry too much, and feel too much. It has become “feminine” to care about anything at all– and those who do care are ridiculed as being over-dramatic or over-bearing. In a society that functions on the principles of misogyny, where being overly feminine, as both a man or woman, is considered a weakness, apathy becomes the goal. To be apathetic is to not be vulnerable– something we shame so much in men. The rise of nonchalance being the ultimate goal is a reflection of the Internet’s toxic misogyny. People don’t want to be feminine; people don’t want to be seen as weak, so they try not to care about much at all. It is harmful to everyone. 

Ultimately, being nonchalant is a paradox. Obsessing over whether one appears to care about something or not is just caring with extra steps. If someone takes the extra lengths to mask how they feel so as not to appear weak, they care. At its core, nonchalance is just self-consciousness on steroids, dressed up to appear indifferent. 

To end nonchalance, we must bring the color back into the world. Rediscovering passion requires more than sheer willpower and won’t give the same immediate instant gratification that social media does; it’s a trial-and-error process, and caring is the first step.

Bring back whimsy and joy by embracing spontaneous joy and romanticizing the mundane. Start with little changes, wear more color, write in colorful pens, eat sprinkles on everything, and use glitter. All in all, bring back fun! Be creative without fearing how people will respond to it! Start spam posting for the thrill of it, not for achieving perfection. And as consumers, we need to be less critical of others. Use all the saved stickers, dress up for spirit days, try something new, take bad photos, send snail mail, but most importantly, take time to appreciate the little things, even if it means being judged.

By Martin Situ

The first time I saw Tokyo Cream was late at night, when I had gone out for Pho with some friends. As I stepped out of the Pho restaurant, Tokyo Cream’s black-and-white-themed exterior and a poster featuring what seemed to be an onigiri-shaped croissant caught my attention. I knew then and there that I would have to go to Tokyo Cream one day and try out their menu, and finally, I now have a good reason to.

After a long Sunday, I decided to go to Tokyo Cream late in the afternoon. When I first entered the shop, I found the atmosphere quite pleasant. It was peaceful, with music playing in the background and the sunlight beaming through the front windows, helping to illuminate the shop. On one wall, there is a cityscape painting covering the entire length. On the other side of the shop, there is a giant sign saying “IRVING DISTRICT,” and underneath it is a painting of a chibi-robot with what seems like a marshmallow for a head. Though, my favorite part about the design is how at the top of the walls of the shop lies black and white drips, a decoration representing the shop’s black and white soft swerve swirl. I ordered a total of three items, which came out to $17.45, and tried the item my friend bought as well.  

The first item I tried was the one my friend ordered, the Tokyo Cream Banana. It comes in a cup no taller than the height of a small mug, but the banana soft serve is swirled all the way up past the height of the cup, with dark chocolate drizzle and banana slices sitting around the sides. When I went for the first bite, I was pleasantly surprised. It tastes much like dried banana, having a decently intense flavor instead of being subtle. The dark chocolate drizzle also adds a nice touch, helping to balance out the sweetness of the banana soft serve.  

The item I most wanted to try was the Kouinigiri. When I was looking up the menu online before I went to the shop, the one item that stood out from the others was the Kouinigiri.  It looked like an onigiri–Japanese rice ball–with a pastry outside, and I thought it would be like a croissant. In actuality, it was disappointing. The first bite I took gave me nothing but the cold, slightly sweet pastry outside, an almost stale taste. I looked into the Kouinigiri and saw what seemed to be a filling in the middle. Next bite, I got a tiny bit of the filling, which filled my mouth with only a hint of banana. The more I ate, the more my hopes fell. The filling was all concentrated into this tiny ball in the middle, leaving almost every bite bland. The filling itself was decent, but too potent in each bite to be enjoyable.

After the Kouinigiri, I still had hopes for the other pastry Tokyo Cream had, the Croquant Choux. I really had no idea what this one was, as I never saw an image online, and the shop didn’t have an image of it on the menu. When I pulled the Croquant Choux out of the bag it came in, I had a small chuckle. The pastry came out to be six inches long with cream gushing out past the front of the pastry. When I took a bite, I was baffled at how crispy the outer layer was, yet how easily it melted in my mouth. The cream filling of the pastry only added to the experience, blending pleasantly with the slight nutty taste of the outer layer. After the disappointing Kouinigiri, I was delightfully satisfied with the Croquant Choux.

After ordering the two pastries, I was stuck between ordering one of the soft serves or a drink. Tokyo Cream offers a multitude of matchas, sparkling waters, and coffees. All of the drinks with images on the menu looked phenomenal. I ended up settling on the Sakura Matcha, as I desired to see if matcha could redeem itself, since the last time I tried it, I had a not so great time. The Sakura Matcha features a stunning three-layer design. The base is a vibrant strawberry puree, followed by matcha, and topped off with strawberry cream. The drink looked so magnificent that I didn’t want to mess it up, but at last, I sadly poked the straw into the Sakura Matcha and stirred it up. The initial sip blasted my mouth with the sweet and tanginess of the strawberry puree. A bit too much for my taste, but pleasant nonetheless. The matcha was smooth and creamy. The taste wasn’t too overbearing, but bold enough to harmonize well with the strawberry cream.

Overall, I’d say that Tokyo Cream is worth it. The shop provides one-of-a-kind pastries and drinks that you can’t find anywhere else but the shop’s first home location in Roseville, California. The soft serve is decently priced for the size, while also being smooth and rich in flavor. The matcha prices ranging from $6.95 to $7.75 also makes it cheaper than Tokyo Cream’s competitors such as Kiss of Matcha, while offering similar if not higher quality matcha. The Kouinigiri, while I didn’t enjoy it much, I still believe is worth a try as it is an SF original and I may have just went on a bad day. The Croquant Choux is also a great pastry that people with a sweet tooth will enjoy. Tokyo Cream is a dessert shop that I wouldn’t mind going back to, especially for the soft serve.

By Zoe Hong

At 2:34 AM I was sitting in my bed against the wall when I finished chapter 232, the last chapter of “Chainsaw Man" part two, a week after it had been released. I had an AP Biology test the next morning, and the story I had been following for almost eight years ended, by the conventional standard, badly. 

"Chainsaw Man," written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, follows Denji, a teenage devil hunter who works for the Japanese public safety devil hunting commission, killing the physical embodiments of fears after merging with the Chainsaw devil, a devil embodying the fear of chainsaws, to take on their powers. 

While the series is extremely popular, getting an anime adaptation in 2022 and winning the Next New Series at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, it has a dark and peculiar tone, taking on a gritty atmosphere, handling death, sex, and violence. This, combined with an odd cast of characters and an ambiguous main antagonist for most of the story, makes the manga understandably not for everyone.

Fujimoto's art takes on a gritty feel as he uses cross hatching to portray battle scenes on a grand scale: cities destroyed, bombs taking down skyscrapers, and blood spraying. Fight scenes can be difficult to navigate with his characters fighting grotesque devils covered in blurry action lines to represent movement, but the series often slows down, instead using expressive panelling–borders specifically–to create omnipotent forces of dread as the characters face devils that appear out of nowhere.

"Chainsaw Man" embodies the spirit of the 2008 horror movie, “The Chaser,” in which the villain is caught early, forcing the narrative in unexpected directions. “Chainsaw Man” takes twists and turns as villains are revealed and central characters die without warning, leaving readers in suspense. 

Spoilers in this section

The story leading up to the ending of part two was so poor that when it ended with an ironic line from Denji, I almost felt relieved that maybe the story was so terrible on purpose to be a meta commentary. 

Chapter 232 essentially resets the story and characters back to chapter 2 where Denji is first joining the Devil Hunting Commission leaving all of part two's apocalyptic build up; the horsemen, the erasure of Michigan, immortality, the fire devil–loose threads–forever erased. 

This is, by all means, a disappointing ending. I don’t believe that stories need to tie every loose thread to be a satisfying ending; plenty of stories don’t. But the sheer amount of questions and character degradation before the reset made the ending feel like an easy escape for a corner Fujimoto was perhaps writing himself into. The reset felt like an easy, unsatisfying way to force development onto characters that hadn’t earned a change and bring everyone back to life for what felt like a half attempt at fan service. 

The problem lies with the ending theme of “Chainsaw Man” part one, that bad movies can not exist without good movies, and bad movies deserve to exist. 

When Denji says in the final chapter, “I wish I’d only have good dreams,” this is a clear call back to the antagonist from part one remarking “It would be good to erase boring movies from existence.”

I don’t know if I'm reading the work of a tired author who didn’t know where else to go with the story after introducing so many plot points, or someone who masterfully planned out an ending designed to strike controversy in order to lead people to the conclusion that bad manga deserve to exist. 

How do you criticize a story whose thesis is that bad endings have value?

Of course, the ending was still terrible; characters built up with their own motivations and personalities are watered down to love interests for Denji, and Denji himself regresses as a character from his development relating to hypersexuality from part one. But these points frustratingly disappear under the argument, “it's bad on purpose,” making it almost immune to criticism. 

After part two ended there was a lot of discourse: if all the time spent reading this story was for nothing, if part three was going to happen, if Fujimoto should've ended the story a long time ago. 

I felt this too initially, almost hoping for a part three to give a more satisfying ending, to reintroduce complexity into the story instead of leaving the characters I had followed for so long a husk of who they used to be. 

Had I been following this story for nothing? 

Of course I hadn’t, and whether this was me coping or a genuine analysis made me realize that Fujimoto didn't owe me anything. “Chainsaw Man” entertained me; its characters made ugly decisions in a way I felt no story could do, and despite the bad ending, I had fun. The ending didn't erase any of that, and I wouldn't ask an author to disingenuously make a part three to something they thought was finished.

Fujimoto's questionable ending makes “Chainsaw Man” worth reading in the first place. A story doesn't need to satisfy expectations, it needs to be what the author wants it to be. 

“Chainsaw Man” often drives people away within the first couple chapters. It's weird, it makes people question what the author is thinking, makes people analyze it in long winded newspaper reviews, and has people claiming “it's not that deep.” 

When reading, you can make your own interpretations of the story to get back what you put in. Enjoying the story as a classic shonen with disappointing reset or a dark fantasy that ended peacefully in a world where Denji isn’t so tortured is up to the readers. So rather than believing the ending is bad, I think it was consistent. “Chainsaw Man” has always made strange, frustrating decisions. That's what made it so popular and entertaining. Maybe this ending was fitting. 

The story did not end well. But I'm glad it happened. 

By Kenny Lin

When a company controls and manages its entire production process, from hardware to software, and has the resources and technology, it can create a valuable product. This is exactly the MacBook Neo: Apple’s first entry-level laptop, released in March 2026.

What makes the Neo special is that, currently, nothing on the market offers what it has for its price point—a high-performing, all-day lasting battery and quality-built laptop. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3X, a close competitor to the Neo, offers advantages such as better battery life, more RAM, additional ports, and a larger screen. However, the Neo is still faster and offers an overall better quality in construction, keyboard, trackpad, camera, speaker, and display compared to the typical $600 laptop.

The base model MacBook Neo is $599, or $499 with an education discount for students and educators. The build is sturdy aluminum with a 13-inch, bright, high-resolution display; a snappy, light keyboard; two USB-C ports; a headphone jack; 8 GB unified memory; 256 GB SSD storage; and is powered by the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro.

The color is available in neon-ish gray, pink, yellow, and blue. And for an extra $100, the Neo doubles the SSD storage to 512 GB and unlocks Touch ID to securely unlock the laptop, input passwords, and make payments.  

But the Neo doesn’t offer a backlit keyboard, MagSafe charger, and upgradable unified memory compared to Apple's more expensive MacBooks, like the Air and Pro series.

The Neo performance—how quickly and efficiently a system completes tasks—is approximately 40 percent faster on single-core performance and nearly equivalent on multi-core performance to the MacBook Air M1 during a benchmark test. This means the Neo proves to be outstanding because the M1 Air has been a known reliable computer popular for everyday tasks since its release in 2020, while continuing to hold well in today's market.

In terms of software, Windows and macOS are roughly even; it depends entirely on the user's needs and preferences. Most jobs and gaming use Windows because it is more versatile and offers more software compatibility. MacOS—which runs on the Neo—is easier to use, better-looking, and offers stronger security.

According to LinkedIn, 88% of teens in the U.S. have iPhones. The Neo offers connection to the Apple ecosystem, a seamless connection from iPhone to computer that syncs everything from iCloud: photos, passwords, messages, notes, and drive.

Computer enthusiasts might note that the 8 GB unified memory, 256 GB SSD, lack of a second fast USB-C port, and limited port selection are major weak points that other entry-level Windows laptops offer more of. But these points are minor because most users won’t use the full extent of the computer's capabilities. The target audience for the Neo is users who need a reliable computer for homework, writing, watching videos, browsing online, playing light-to-moderate video games, or creating moderate video and/or graphic edits.

But why should buyers consider buying the Neo rather than a refurbished MacBook Air or Pro, like the M1 or M2, which can be cheaper and faster?

A big benefit of the Neo is its longer support for software updates. Apple usually supports seven years of software updates when a MacBook is released. Additionally, the repair cost is lower than that of the more expensive MacBook. For an out-of-warranty broken screen repair through Apple, the Neo will cost around $200-$300+ while the Air series is $400-$600+ and more for the Pro series.

Don’t get me wrong, not everyone in the Neo's target audience is compatible with the Neo, whether due to macOS lack of software support or the weak points discussed above. Choosing a laptop depends on the user, who, if interested, should do more research to find the correct laptop for their needs. But for most who are looking for a laptop that can handle most computer tasks and want a quality product at a reasonable price, the MacBook Neo offers that. But act fast, they may be selling out.

By Orin Yu

As someone who grew up reading Andy Weir’s novels, and loved the film adaptation of “The Martian,” “Project Hail Mary” was a movie I had been waiting years to see. My expectations going in were high. 

It did not disappoint.

“Project Hail Mary” follows Dr. Ryland Grace, a scientist who awakens alone on a spacecraft with no memory of how he got there. As his memory slowly returns, he realizes he’s part of a last-ditch mission to save Earth from a mysterious threat putting humanity on the brink of extinction.

From the moment the film began, I felt something oddly nostalgic. The feeling of opening a brand-new sci-fi paperback as a kid: that clean, fresh smell of ink and paper, and the sense that anything is possible. That same sense of wonder fills this movie.

The film delivers an action-packed experience full of heart, humor, and tension. Even though I already knew the ending from reading the book, the film kept me on edge the entire time. By the time the credits rolled, my hands were literally sweating.

The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative duo behind films like “21 Jump Street,” “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” and “The LEGO Movie.” Their background in comedy and animation might seem unexpected for a serious sci-fi story, but it works incredibly well here. They bring a sense of humanity and humor that balances the film’s high-stakes premise.

Weir himself was also closely involved as a producer, even giving Ryan Gosling an early manuscript of the novel before it was published. That level of involvement shows—this adaptation feels deeply connected to its source material.

Visually, the movie is stunning. The cinematography stands out through its use of color and composition, contrasting the cold emptiness of space with moments of warmth and life. Cinematographer Greig Fraser is currently on a generational run, with movies like “Dune,” and “Project Hail Mary” as no exceptions. The framing of shots and lighting choices help emphasize both isolation and discovery, making the audience feel like they’re right there alongside the protagonist.

The film shares some DNA with “The Martian,” especially through its use of technical jargon and video log entries. However, Lord and Miller’s direction gives “Project Hail Mary” its own identity, leaning more into emotional connection and character relationships. 

The cast, led by Gosling as Dr. Grace, delivers strong performances that ground the story. His portrayal balances intelligence, vulnerability, and humor, making the character feel real even in an extraordinary situation.

Among the other characters in the story, Sandra Hüller delivers a strong, commanding performance as Eva Stratt, though the film’s portrayal softens some of the character’s ruthlessness compared to the novel. Her karaoke scene, in particular, is surprisingly powerful, offering a rare glimpse of vulnerability that humanizes an otherwise uncompromising character.

As an adaptation, the movie stays largely faithful to the book while making smart changes for pacing. For example, in the novel, Dr. Grace spends multiple chapters figuring out that he is no longer in our solar system, while the movie condenses this into just a couple of minutes. It’s a necessary adjustment that keeps the story moving on screen.

That said, a few omissions stand out. Most notably, the film leaves out the moment where Stratt forcefully asserts her authority in court, a scene that, in the book, firmly establishes her power and willingness to override global opposition. Another scene from the book, where Antarctica is nuked to accelerate climate change and buy time for the mission, is missing. In the novel, this moment highlights just how desperate the situation is and how far certain characters are willing to go to ensure humanity’s survival. Its absence slightly softens the sense of urgency.

Similarly, the film glosses over the consequences faced by Stratt. In the book, Stratt describes how once the mission is complete, she will likely face repercussions from the world governments for her actions. While in the movie, this is only hinted at in the ending scenes. The book's portrayal of this fact displays Stratt as someone who bears the burden of morally difficult decisions. While I don’t think its exclusion hurt the movie, exploring that more deeply could have added another layer to the film.

Overall, “Project Hail Mary” is an incredible sci-fi film that lives up to and in some ways exceeds the expectations set by its source material. It brings the words of Andy Weir beautifully to the screen and shows you a whole new meaning to the term “hail mary.” For fans of science fiction, this is easily the best the genre has offered this year.

By Sophie Ng 

“Hey! It’s U!” chants underscores, opening her third album, “U.” The record was crafted across multiple cities, inspired by the dry and modern architecture of urban spaces like malls and airports. As a child, underscores was fascinated by the architecture of hotels—so much so that her grandmother would go up to front desks asking if her granddaughter could take a peek at the rooms.

The album cover features an illustration of Stonestown Galleria by Japanese artist Ochiai Shohei. Being a San Francisco native, underscores spent her teenage years with the mall. She states that she would walk from her home to Stonestown listening to a specific album for the duration of her journey. Underscores describes the album as “not a club record” and intends it to be enjoyed alone on headphones. 

The aforementioned, “Hey! It’s U!” starts the chaotic hyperpop single, “Tell Me (U Want It).”  The final lead single released and the album opener, “Tell Me (U Want It)” does not stand out as much as the other lead singles with its lack of structure. After a good two minutes of brain-tingling, fizzy EDM synths, underscores suddenly dips into silence with the sound of a DJ backspinning a record, and into a pixelated, hazy whisper-outro in which underscores repeats the title of the track over and over. The outro is easily one of the worst parts of the album, but it isn’t absolutely unbearable. “Tell Me (U Want It)” makes for a strong opener, but is not as strong on its own. 

The second track and first single released, “Music” starts with a rhythmic, hydraulic drilling sound. Underscores begins the second song by singing, “Last night / I had the wet dream ‘bout the perfect song,” immediately throwing listeners into this disorderly fever dream-esque world in which romantic partners are compared to music.

The chorus briefly contrasts the incessant hammering beat and dives into a glittery rainbow soundscape as underscores sings, “When I’m with U / It feels like music.” The song is glitchy, maximalist, and even slightly grotesque, but so disgustingly catchy. 

Another “It’s U!” echoes through the third track, “Hollywood Forever.” However, this time, underscores recites the opening line with a dreamy, pixelated quality. What follows is a steady EDM track with smooth synths and underscores exploring the aches and luxuries of fame. She asks, “And you say I’m so Hollywood? / Well, aren’t we all so Hollywood?” 

The song explores a variety of genres in its five minute runtime. Around the halfway point, the song dips into Jersey club and later drifts into a choppy and hypnotic loop with underscores repeating, “Forever, forever.” The final minute eases into a soft, soothing harp melody with underscores reciting, “You (you don’t believe in me).” Despite this progression, “Hollywood Forever” isn’t overwhelming. Underscores balances each of these sonic flavors and delivers one of her strongest songs.

“The Peace” utilizes a crispy, hypnotic vocoder loop that gets a bit annoying as the song goes on. Underscores notes she wanted the instrumental to “sound like the Mac startup sound was singing 'Eleanor Rigby’ [by the Beatles].”

Despite being a fan favorite, I didn’t find myself enjoying “The Peace” as much as the rest of the tracks. Nonetheless, it’s a listenable and satisfying track that leans on the mellow side. 

“Innuendo (I Get U)” opens with gun-cock sound effects reminiscent of the 2018 editing era. The song has a bit of a cold, hedonistic vibe going for it with its heavy bass and underscores’ sultry whisper-singing. While not my cup of tea, the track’s bumpy synths and dance break get me moving, and the lyrics are bound to get stuck in any listener’s ears. 

Underscores then serves my two favorite tracks back to back: “Lovefield” and “Do It,” the latter was my introduction to the world of underscores. Initially released as the second lead single in November 2025, “Do It” is sickeningly good. A crispy and accessible hyperpop track, the song’s lyrics explore the struggle of relationships under the limelight, with underscores taunting, “Am I in your playlist? / Do you have Spotify?” 

The former, “Lovefield,” is gentle with its digital synths and much more confessional in lyrics. Underscores uses a physical space of a lovefield to explore the oscillation between friends and lovers. Her vocals are almost hypnotic in this song as she sings, “It hurts for me to wait on you / I bet you’re waiting on me too.” The song builds into an infectiously sparkly flash of dance-pop as it reaches its climax—albeit with the aforementioned bittersweet lyrics. I am being so serious when I say summer has to sound like this outro. If there is any song I hope you listen to after this review, it would be “Lovefield.”

Perhaps the poppiest and most commercial-friendly track on the album, “Bodyfeeling” takes on a smooth, chic groove that gives listeners slight whiplash after the sonic crunch that is “Do It.” The song is not one I’d put on by choice but not one I’d skip.

Closing off the album is “Wish U Well,” which opens with a series of eerie urban sound effects, before slipping into a sugary country-influenced melody. Another bittersweet and emotional track, underscores grapples with finding closure with a past lover, singing, “I’ll wish U well forever.” The song haunts in its final moments, with a static-y voice saying, “The lump is gone / Something’s watching me.”

While “U”’s accessible sound pivots from the immersive storyline of her 2023 album “Wallsocket” and the dense production of her 2021 album “fishmonger,” underscores does not dilute the quality of her artistry and music to appeal to wider audiences. “U” is a sardonic and witty record that listeners who appreciate more polished, maximalist dance-oriented sounds will enjoy. 

By Yasmine El Hattab

Few science fiction franchises have shaped cinema the way Alien has. Debuting in 1979, the ongoing series has redefined both science fiction and horror, creating one of the most interactive and unforgettable creatures ever put on screen: the Xenomorph. Across decades and endless films, the Alien franchise has remained a culturally iconic and inspirational film, a pioneer of survival horror and social commentary. 

The original Alien movie, “Alien” (1979), introduces the Xenomorph aboard the commercial space ship USCSS Nostromo, manned by a crew under Weyland-utani, an intergalactic space corporation. The creature's terrifying life cycle, using a human body as a host before "bursting" from it, immediately established the film as something never seen before. What begins as a routine space mission transforms into a thrilling, survival horror where a crew is hunted one by one. The 1979 film is unique, and proposes an unseen creature and an entirely new, horrifying life form. 

At the same time, the film reveals the sinister motivation behind Weyand-Yutani. As an established interstellar corporation, Weyland-Yutani is introduced as nothing more than a company. However, as the film progresses, it's clear it's more interested in preserving the Xenomorph more than its crew's life, deeming them expendable, a clear drag on the modern corporate systems. 

Even decades later, “Alien” (1979), remains a masterclass in tension and commentary, continuing to influence modern sci-fi horror, mainly seen through the Xenomorph. 

The franchise’s original storyline follows Ellen Ripley through four films, from “Alien” to “Alien: Resurrection.” Across isolated planets and doomed spacecraft, Ripley becomes trapped in an endless conflict between humanity, the corporation, and the Xenomorphs. Her repeated encounters with the creatures destroy any chance at a normal life, turning her into one of science fiction’s most memorable victims.

The series’ prequel films, “Prometheus” and “Alien Covenant: __?” take the franchise in a different direction by exploring the origins of humanity and artificial life, however the charm is more than still there. The film examines creation, obsession and humanity's desires all through android "David 8's" fascination. Watching an android find his only purpose in creating life, the films are a terrifying yet fascinating experience unseen anywhere else. 

A sleek, shiny, leather-like creature with an elongated skull, metaloid teeth and acid for blood, the Xenomorph has remained an iconic creature feature. They're introduced as hive-minded creatures, with nothing other than a need to kill and reproduce. The Xenomorphs are terrifying creatures, but the movie makes it clear they're conscious and elegant. From its almost human consciousness to its “perfect” composition, the Xenomorph is something to never forget. 

Despite the destruction the creature causes, the films repeatedly suggest that the Xenomorph is never the true villain, but simply a victim of corporate greed. Weyland-Yutani constantly sacrifices human life in pursuit of profit and control over the creature. The Xenomorph, while appearing to be a monster, is simply a symbol of the consequences that come with taming with forces beyond human comprehension. 

Each film a unique take on the Xenmorpoh and its relationship with humanity, the “Alien” movies are intimate and thrilling films. An entanglement of life, the films are an experience unseen anywhere else and a dynamic worth interacting with. The movies are raw, displaying the connections that run through all life and their interactions with each other, the beauty of the xenomorph and its mind, and the unseen three of spaceship horror. Taking the time to watch the “Alien” films reveals the beauty in each movie. 

By Anya Golden

May 1st marked the last play for Lincoln's Drama and Tech departments for the school year. Every year, the last play consists of two one-acts directed by Lincoln seniors. This year those seniors were Angela Gin and Benjamin Jung, who have both been a part of the Drama Department for the past four years.  

Directed by Gin was “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors”. Written by Ian McWethy, the play is a comedy that explores the chaotic, cringe-worthy moments of theater auditions. The play is  character-driven and highlights extreme archetypes and the exasperation of those trying to cast them for Romeo and Juliet. 

The audience spent most of the play laughing out loud to a myriad of characters, some sporting fake mustaches and raunchy voices to those having overbearing and sassy acting coaches tagging along in the audition. 

Directing the one-acts involves choosing(or writing) the play of your choice. Gin’s first choice was to direct “Act 3 of Plaza Suite” which did not work out due to licensing issues. Although “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors,” was not Gin’s first choice of play, she ultimately chose it because when she first read the script she laughed out loud. Her favorite part was that none of the actors could never be too crazy or chaotic—any and all exaggeration was a key part of the performance.

In order to make sure that actors could really hone in on the ecstatic comedic performances, Gin allowed the actors to have some say in what their characters did. In the creative process, she began with a loose vision and gave out guided character choices but collaborated with the actors for the rest of their roles.

“I think that made the show even better than it already was,” Gin said. 

The casting process was a bit of a struggle for both plays, as the One Acts don't usually get a lot of auditions. For Gin, this posed a challenge because she needed more actors than auditioned. She solved this by having some play multiple roles, which perfectly fit the humorous style of the play. Due to triple casting, Gin worked to space out their roles so that their quick changes would work well and made sure everyone got to play characters of entirely different emotions and motives.

Jung chose to not only direct his play, but write it as well. His play, “Island Flora,” was inspired by the concept of reality shows, specifically, the fake, “spoofy” ones like “Total Drama Island” or “Object Shows.” 

“I wanted to create something that has larger than life characters.”

Like Gin, Jung did not go with his original plan for the play; in fact, during the writing process, he went through three different versions. He found that as he was writing, plot points he never considered and jokes he hadn’t thought of came to life on the paper. 

Jung discovered that a lot of the play was shaped by his cast and being able to bounce ideas off each other. Early days the 30 days they had to prepare were spent discussing plots and characters, building ideas off of each other. 

“With each cast member being unique, that came with the advantage of shaping their roles to fit them, for the best performances they could bring,” Jung explained. 

Despite being in the department for four years, directing these one acts came as a learning experience for both directors. In writing the script for his play, Jung learned that he tends to write longer and heavier dialogues, struggling with creating small talk between actors. 

He also explained how writing and directing ultimately came down to how he was feeling in the moment, emphasizing the importance of trusting your gut more than your head when being creative. 

Gin found that she had been a “jaded director” in the past. In directing a sillier play than she was used to, she used it as a learning experience to compare her past ways as a director and a more relaxed style.  

The one acts were made even more special as the majority of actors in both plays were new to acting. The new senior actors, Alisa Kyran, and Rae Johnson decided to do it as a last “hoorah!” for highschool, and underclassmen like Avery Cronin, Aubrey Gonzalez, Aaliyah Payne-Huang, and Arethzy Vega saw this as a good opportunity to start their future high school acting career. 

At the end of the play, one of the tenured actresses, Kennedy Byrne, gave a shoutout to the new actors and their commitment to learning a new craft. 

Gin added her own compliments about the new actors ability to “learn on the fly,” and hopes that they will continue to participate in theater. 

By Mikayla Chew & Zoë Hsu Doo

In San Francisco, practically every other street sells overpriced matcha. Not all matchas are created equal, not every shop, and definitely not every location. As self-proclaimed matcha veterans, we ranked every San Francisco location of two fan-favorite matcha chains, Kiss of Matcha and Tadaima, determining the best location for each and our overall favorite.

Each location was graded based on the taste, color, texture, sweetness, price, and overall quality. The perfect matcha latte should have a complex balance of rich earthiness, sweetness, umami, and slight notes of bitterness; a bright, vibrant but simultaneously deep green color; and a smooth texture with minimal grainy sediment. All of these characteristics combine into the ideal A+ matcha experience. To maximize bang for our buck, we want a generous size for a reasonable price. For maximum convenience, we also considered the location of each store. To keep our ranking consistent, our orders of the matcha lattes followed a specific order: classic matcha latte, less ice, whole milk–or whichever milk doesn't cost extra), and 100% sweetness. 

For Kiss of Matcha, the original North Beach location came out on top. While the Tadaima rankings were close, our personal favorite was the Marina location. Now the best for last, our favorite overall was, drum roll please…Tadaima Marina! 

Kiss of Matcha

Kiss of Matcha first opened in San Francisco’s Chinatown/North Beach district in late 2023. The café specializes in ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha, the highest grade of matcha powder. Along with matcha drinks, they also serve hojicha beverages, coffee, and dessert treats. Their most popular menu items include the original uji matcha latte, matcha cream latte, and strawberry matcha latte.

Broadway/Chinatown

As a first-born, I can confidently say the first-born location is the best one. The matcha was well balanced, strong, creamy, and had minimal sediment. It was sweet without becoming overpowering. While the consistency was slightly lighter than the Clement location, it never tasted watered down—instead, it felt refreshing and smooth. At $7.17 for a 16 ounce latte, Kiss of Matcha is definitely the pricier chain. However, the North Beach location offers my personal favorite menu item: the mango matcha latte with free matcha cream when ordered through the app.

Clement

The forgotten middle child of the Kiss of Matcha family is exactly what you would expect: mid. Based on both this test and previous visits, their drinks are either excellent or so gritty it feels like drinking sand. Still, at its best, the matcha latte tasted almost like melted ice cream—nutty, creamy, and slightly thinner in texture.

Irving

The newest addition to the Kiss of Matcha family is unfortunately the weakest one (sorry, Joyce). Compared to the other locations, the matcha-to-milk ratio was noticeably smaller, causing the milk flavor to overpower the matcha itself. As the drink sat, the sediment became increasingly gritty. Compared to many other matcha cafés in San Francisco, it was still enjoyable, just not when competing against its sister locations. For Lincoln students, however, this location is by far the most convenient. One recommendation: avoid ordering in large groups, especially identical drinks, because the matcha flavor becomes noticeably weaker.

Tadaima

The word “tadaima” translates to “I’m home” in Japanese, perfectly reflecting the comforting atmosphere the founders wanted to bring to San Francisco. Tadaima first opened in the Mission District in the summer of 2024, serving matcha and hojicha drinks alongside Japanese sandos, onigiri, and musubi. Their most popular items include the chicken karaage sando and strawberry cream matcha latte.

Irving

The Sunset community recently welcomed Tadaima’s newest location, and it has already become a hotspot for matcha lovers. Located in the heart of Inner Sunset, the café has a lively atmosphere, often with a line stretching out the door. The interior is modern and clean, featuring emerald-green tiling, although seating is limited, making it better for a quick stop than a long study session.

The food selection is impressive, especially the wide variety of freshly made onigiri. Customers can even watch the rice balls being hand-pressed behind the counter.

Still, the matcha remains the star of the show. The latte had a velvety texture with a perfect balance of earthy flavor and sweetness. The matcha itself was bold and strong, allowing every flavor note to stand out clearly. For anyone looking for a quick but high-quality grab-and-go spot, this location is ideal.

Marina

Tadaima Marina was our first introduction to the chain, and from appearance alone, the vivid green color already looked promising. The texture was velvety and thick, even without an added cream top, with very little sediment or grittiness. Compared to the other locations, the Marina latte was less sweet, allowing the earthy umami flavor of the matcha to shine through more clearly.

The drink itself was nutty, creamy, and slightly roasted in flavor, with a thicker consistency than the other locations. Like all Tadaima stores, the matcha is batch-prepared, which helps maintain consistency. At $6.75 for a 16-ounce drink, the portion felt fair for the price.

My personal favorite drink from Tadaima is the matcha latte with strawberry cream. The Marina location also wins points for convenience—it is dangerously close to Brandy Melville, making it the perfect stop before shopping or running errands.

Mission

The origin of it all; Tadaima quickly gained popularity through social media, and for good reason. The latte was clean, balanced, and slightly sweeter than the Marina location. Initially, the drink was smooth, although it became slightly gritty as it sat and needed occasional stirring.

Out of the three locations, this latte was the thinnest and most refreshing, though it also tasted the most watered down. Part of that may have been because it traveled the longest before being tested. While the drink itself was still excellent, the Mission location is the least convenient for Lincoln students, making it harder to justify when equally good—or better—alternatives are much closer.

Overall, Kiss of Matcha was creamier, sweeter, and almost dessert-like in texture. Because the drinks are hand-whisked individually, the quality can vary depending on the location and preparation. When done correctly, however, their drinks are exceptional. Beyond the classic matcha latte, Kiss of Matcha also offers a wider range of creative drinks. We highly recommend trying the hojicha cream latte, matcha cream latte, and mango matcha latte.

Tadaima, on the other hand, delivered a stronger and cleaner matcha flavor while still maintaining creaminess. Our personal favorite drink was the Matcha Latte with Strawberry Cream, and you can never go wrong ordering the shrimp or chicken karaage sando alongside it.

The biggest differences between the two chains came down to consistency, texture, matcha-to-milk ratio, and price. Because Kiss of Matcha hand-whisks each drink, their lattes can either be incredible or disappointingly milky. Tadaima’s batch preparation creates more consistency, although it also leads to slightly more sediment. Kiss of Matcha also varied more dramatically between locations, with North Beach delivering the strongest matcha flavor and Irving the weakest. Tadaima remained relatively consistent across all locations. In terms of texture, Kiss of Matcha was richer and creamier, while Tadaima leaned lighter and cleaner. Price-wise, Kiss of Matcha was slightly more expensive at $7.17 compared to Tadaima’s $6.75 for the same size.

In the end, Kiss of Matcha North Beach stood out because of its strong flavor and creamy texture. The Tadaima competition was much closer, but Marina ultimately won for its balanced flavor and full-bodied matcha taste. Our overall favorite was Tadaima Marina because it delivered the most complete matcha experience: smooth texture, strong flavor, balanced sweetness, and consistency.

As people who have practically financed our own matcha addictions, we can confidently say not every $10 matcha is worth the hype. Half the reason people think matcha tastes like grass is probably because they ordered it from a trendy café using low-quality powder. In the end, location matters just as much as the brand itself, and the best matcha I’ve ever had was homemade in my house.