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Current Events
A Brief Update on COVID Progress, Various Developments
Brian Molina 2024
With the rollout of various COVID vaccines and millions of Americans alone (and counting) being partially or fully vaccinated and the race to achieve some form of herd immunity, the world truly is in a constant battle against a microscopic enemy. Its “soldiers” are found everywhere, from knowledgeable experts who have crafted the vaccines to doctors and frontliners to social workers. The world is not “out of the woods” yet on the pandemic- case surges and regional variants are still on the horizon- but every new development seems to slowly inch us all closer to normalcy.
Indeed, there is still much to be done before the risk of COVID surges can completely go away, at least within the U.S. In recent weeks, there have been surges of varying severity in a handful of states, notably including the state of Michigan, often featured on news headlines. In that state, patient counts have been increasing, as has been the number of young victims of the virus. Its mask mandate, already applying to children 5 years of age and older, was further expanded to include children 2-4 years of age as well. COVID variants have had sweeping impacts, with hospitals becoming overwhelmed as hospitalizations increase. The chief medical expert of the state, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, stated earlier in April that more than 2,200 cases of variant infections had been tracked. Fortunately, as of late, the spike in cases has been waning as measures to combat the pandemic continue.
Nationwide, efforts to release and put into arms COVID vaccines from various companies have generally been successful, with millions already being partially or fully vaccinated. However, one company raised controversy. Last month, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine became the subject of concerns after a select number of its recipients later experienced severe blood clots.
While this side effect was still relatively rare, it was enough to warrant a temporary pause on its distribution until it was reviewed and released once more, albeit in certain cases with a label mentioning the clots. Aside from that vaccine, others have been proficient at reducing infection and hospitalization rates.
Despite the occasional item of controversy or brief setback, efforts to beat the pandemic have been going strong. President Joe Biden himself praised the “stunning progress” that had been made but at the same time warned everyone to “not let up” their guard- yet another reminder that there is still a long way to go in the battle against COVID. With strategy, resilience, and diligence from everyone, what was once a distant dream of returning to normalcy may just become a reality again if things go well.
Works Cited
23, Andrew Joseph April, et al. “States with Springtime Covid-19 Surges Appear to Have Turned a Corner.” STAT, 23 Apr. 2021, www.statnews.com/2021/04/23/states-springtime-covid-19-surges-turned-corner/.
Asmelash, Leah. “In the Midst of a Covid-19 Spike, Michigan's Mask Mandate Is Expanded to Kids Ages 2-4.” CNN, Cable News Network, 26 Apr. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/04/26/us/michigan-children-masks-trnd/index.html.
“CDC Recommends Use of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Resume.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/JJUpdate.html.
Commissioner, Office of the. “FDA and CDC Lift Recommended Pause on Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine Use Following Thorough Safety Review.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-and-cdc-lift-recommended-pause-johnson-johnson-janssen-covid-19-vaccine-use-following-thorough.
Singh, Maanvi, et al. “Biden Hails 'Stunning Progress' on Covid but Warns Americans: 'Do Not Let up Now' – as It Happened.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 28 Apr. 2021, www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/apr/27/joe-biden-covid-coronavirus-us-politics-live-latest.
It Happens Here, Too: A letter to my AAPI community, and for anyone willing to listen
Joann Moon 2022
I’m so tired.
I’m so tired of seeing another attack, I’m so tired of my heart breaking in half, I’m so tired of seeing another tragedy turned into a mere casualty, recorded as numbers for those who don’t understand, to marvel and look away.
According to NextShark, the reports for Asian hate crimes have skyrocketed by 1900%. But this statistic is only the gateway to understanding the deep scars that COVID racism will imprint onto Asian Americans and our families.
Hate crimes and racism seem worlds away from our little pocket of California suburbia. However, reports of brutality have spread to Fresno. Earlier this year, three separate incidents related to Asian racism have been cited around the area, and though injuries have been minor, it only speaks volumes onto the lengths that this hatred has come to.
Though the fixed number of attacks here in the Valley is low, “ ...official statistics can be misleading. Advocates say few Asian Americans want to report their crimes. Sometimes there is a language barrier. Sometimes there is suspicion toward institutions” (The Fresno Bee). This means that not only are Asian elders being attacked for their race, but it further perpetuates a low-consequence, high-“reward” tactic, as they are less likely to be reported. Advantageous or respected? The AAPI community and its supporters have gathered their social media presence through numerous systems to help prevent these attacks. “Hundreds of people are volunteering to escort elderly Asian Americans to help keep them safe”, sang the headlines of an ABC News article. But how can we know that these attacks will stop?
Social media is a double edged sword. The same mode of communication that united #stopAAPIhate was the same mechanism that people used to spread the “Slap an Asian” trend in which you record yourself slapping an Asian elder while in public. Though this gained traction and news media attention, it further solidifies that we cannot rely on good news to solve greater engrained issues within our country.
So as a part of Asian American Pacific Islander month, here’s what you can do to learn more:
Support your neighborhood Asian restaurants; not only does it help to eat local, but it’s cleansing the stain of racism-- that eating Asian food and from Asian places aren’t the cause for the virus.
Understand Valley Impact: below is a linked article that details a Hmong woman’s perspective of Asian hate crimes. https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article250061784.html
Listen to your Asian friends! First-hand experiences help provide insight into how to be a better ally.
Resurrection: The Greatest Miracle in Human History
Praise Okoli 2022
Resurrection Sunday, or Easter, is the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the defining feature of the Christian faith. It is this event that separates it from every other religion on the planet. This phenomenon is the climax of the Gospels, the books of the Bible known as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, that describe the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus, knowing all things as an omniscient God, knew of these events prior to his arrival on Earth. Yet He made the decision to commit the sacrifice in order to save humanity from its ultimate enemy: sin and death. This testimony is the backbone of the Gospel that is shared by Christians all around the globe today.
Different iterations of this story can be found in Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, and John 17-21. In these chapters, Jesus undergoes a betrayal from one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot. Jesus celebrates Passover with His disciples, predicts their inevitable denial of ever knowing Him, and gets arrested by local authorities. He is tried in front of Pontius Pilate and Herod, who conform to the wishes of the crowd and deliver Him to death on a cross in place of a criminal (see Luke 23:1-25 for details). Jesus hangs on a cross between two separate criminals, declares His completion of His work, and dies in the early hours of the morning. He is buried in a tomb purchased by Joseph of Arimathea and laid dead there for the rest of the week. On the first day of the week, Jesus rises again. The news is first revealed to the women disciples of Jesus before He appears to about 500 witnesses who claimed to see Him again after His death. Jesus then ascends to heaven after assigning the Great Commission to His disciples and those that would follow Him afterwards.
This story of Jesus’ sacrifice is told every year, in every church, from a variety of perspectives. From evidence-based theological arguments asserting the validity of the event, to the vivid imagery and scientific study of exactly what suffering Jesus had to go through on the cross (physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, etc.), Christians use multiple avenues to get the main point across; Jesus died and rose again, conquering death and giving us freedom from the things we hate the most about ourselves (aka sin). This year was particularly special because of the positivity surrounding COVID-19 news. Churches are reopening again and people are getting the in person worship experience once more, due to the lower COVID cases. It gave a fresh understanding of the freedom God has given us through His son; the joy and delight was present throughout the days leading up to the event.
My personal experience this year felt different, too. Unfortunately, my church was not able to have in person service for Easter, so I got to celebrate Jesus’ gift from the comfort of my couch. The difference this year came from a few things, but the main one was from the perspective of a seasoned Christian.
I was reading the book of John during this time, and I found out that for this particular season of my life, John is my favorite Gospel. It has a completely different tone than the other Gospels. It skips the birth of Jesus and tells His story from the perspective of Jesus’ closest friend on Earth, John the beloved disciple. The book focuses on the parables that Jesus taught, and John explains the thoughts behind what Jesus said and how it was received by those who heard it. Out of the four Gospels, John takes up the most chapters for explaining Jesus’ death because it talks about Jesus’ experience and what happened after He rose again, specifically with His disciples. It reveals the prayer that Jesus prayed for mankind (chapter 17: 20-26) and the thoughts of Jesus’ disciples when hearing about His resurrection from the women.
When reading their responses, I’m used to judging from an outsider's perspective, claiming that they should have believed that Jesus had risen and whatnot. But this year, I found myself relating to them more than ever, especially with the pain and uncertainty that came after seeing Him on the cross. After all, Jesus was supposed to be the savior of the world, the one that would deliver them from the hands of the cruel Romans that were ruling them at the time (or so they thought). I’ve had experiences where I’ve felt like Jesus was not there, or did not care about what I was going through. So I get why Thomas waited to see Jesus’ face before believing. I get why Mary and the other women were weeping when they saw the tomb empty. I even get why Peter and others went back fishing. They did these things because life got hard, and Jesus wasn’t there to help them.
But that’s not the end of the story. Why? Because now we know that Jesus was not indeed “gone but never forgotten”. Thomas understood why Jesus waited to show Himself, to test the strength of his faith. The women rejoiced over the news of Jesus’ resurrection, which increased their faith. Peter left his fishing nets (again) and declared his love for Jesus, in a promise to spread his faith. They all did this for one simple reason; Jesus is alive. Jesus is there, no matter how bad the world gets, no matter how many heartbreaks we go through, no matter how much we think He doesn’t care. It was this basic understanding of the Gospel that really gave a new appreciation for Easter this year. I have faith that even if things can’t go back to the way they were, or if people remain ignorant and selfish, or if everything seems like it’s falling apart, I can trust that Jesus is still here and, more importantly, has conquered all of our obstacles. He is alive, and He’s already won the toughest battle there is. The question now remains; will you acknowledge His victory?
Reviews and Opinions Column
Reviews and Opinions Column
New Music Review: Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and More
New Music Review: Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and More
Nyanza Williams 2022
Nyanza Williams 2022
Since the start of 2021, artists have been on their A Game, releasing song after song, ep after ep, album after album. Most recently in April, we have received some prime listening material, such as Taylor Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Olivia Rodrigo’s single Deja Vu, JB’s Freedom EP, and Demi Lovato’s Dancing With the Devil… the Art of Starting Over (album).
Fearless (Taylor’s Version) - Taylor Swift
I’m not gonna lie, I tried to stay up to listen to Fearless, but I happen to go to UHS where sleep is the only option for survival, so I ended up having to listen to it in waves throughout the week. Needless to say, my mirror got a front row seat to a full-on concert, complete with fake-belts, overdramatized hair tosses, and blood-curdling high notes (there’s a reason I didn’t join choir), especially on iconic tracks like “You Belong With Me,” and “Love Story”. The album also had some new songs like “Mr. Perfectly Fine” and “You All Over Me" (feat. Colbie Caillat), and you can pretty much bet that I memorized those lyrics quicker than an APUSH Hub date (*cough cough*). When listening to this album, one will be transported to the “magical” early 2000s, complete with condensed drums, acoustic guitars and Taylor’s signature early “young country” sound.
In addition to Taylor’s album, Justin Bieber put out Freedom, the EP on Easter Sunday. This came as a surprise to many as it was very different from his usual type of music, being that it was a gospel record. The ep was complete with special appearances from Brandon Love, Lauren Walters, Tori Kelly, Chandler Moore, and a few others. I listened to the entire thing and I must say it was pretty enjoyable. The title track is very lively and encourages an impromptu dance party. This comes right off the tails of his sixth studio album that he just released, Justice, which also contained some allusions to his own personal spiritual walk as well as the usual praises for Hailey.
Let me just start this off by saying I’ve listened to this song an unhealthy amount of times. Personally, the first listen was an out of body experience, granted I am a hormonal seventeen year old. The song is from the perspective of an ex girlfriend/boyfriend who sees their former partner doing the same things with their new person that they had done with the ex. The song begins with a calm Olivia singing about
“Car rides to Malibu
strawberry ice cream,
one spoon for two…”,
then leads into a confrontational pre-chorus in which she says,
“So when you gonna tell her
that we did that too, she thinks it’s special
but it’s all reused…” (*mic drop*).
The second verse journeys through more of the protagonists' questions and their uncertainty about what really defined the relationship, saying
“another actress
I hate to think that I was just your type,”
After another confrontational pre chorus, the protagonist journeys into a climactic bridge, with Olivia’s powerful vocals soaring overhead as she sing/shouts,
“Strawberry ice cream in Malibu,
don’t act like we didn’t do that [stuff] too,
you’re trading jackets like we used to do
(now everything is all reused)”
After she has finished with the belting session, she concludes the song with the same, simple intro from the beginning. Not to mention the production on the song, done by Dan Nigro, who has also helped to produce work for artists like Conan Gray, Dillon Francis, Carly Rae Jepson, etc. etc. Overall, (in my opinion at least), the song is a masterpiece and brings even more promise for Rodrigo to have a lasting career in the entertainment industry.
Taylor Swift and the Question of Artistic Vision
Kendall Guisto 2022
Taylor Swift has been taking the music world by storm ever since her debut album in 2006, Taylor Swift. She has effortlessly kept listeners entertained through different eras and styles of her music. Many Swifties agree that her music has been a consistent soundtrack for their lives over the past 15 years. Now they can experience that nostalgia all over again thanks to Swift’s newest decision regarding her music.
Back in 2006, Taylor Swift had signed a contract with Big Machine Label Group. This contract gave them ownership of her first six masters. Masters are the original recordings of albums and whoever owns the masters owns the songs. Swift left the record label in 2018 for Republic Record and tried her best to regain control of her masters. The only deal Big Machine Label Group was willing to offer Taylor Swift was for her to earn back the masters of each old album by providing them with a new one. Swift knew this would never guarantee her full control of her music, so she left behind her six masters.
As of June 2019, Scooter Brown purchased Big Machine Label Group and therefore Swift’s first six albums. This made her particularly upset because Swift is not fond of Brown and his record of manipulative bullying. She had previously been involved in a feud with one of Brown’s clients, Kayne West. Swift’s outrage and claims against Brown caused an intense fight online that ended with Brown upset over death threats his family was getting. Taylor Swift announced that her contract would be over in November of 2020 and she could begin to re-record albums 1-5. Album six, Reputation, can also be remade but not until five years after its debut.
The fruit of Taylor Swift’s labor can now be seen this month as Fearless (Taylor’s Version) was finally released. Swift went out of her way to recreate the original album’s songs as much as possible, but there are inevitable differences like instrumentals and Taylor’s voice. The new Fearless album also includes some from the vault songs and collaborations. Despite the minor differences, Swifities seem to all agree how emotional of an experience listening to the new album is. It seems to be acting as a perfect time capsule back to everyone’s lives in 2008.
Taylor Swift's new album does raise some questions about artistic integrity and re-releases, but the important thing seems to be that such a successful artist finally has control over all of her works. With such an exciting release of Fearless (Taylor’s Version), I think it is safe to say that everyone is anxiously waiting to see Swift’s vision of her other old works.
Works Cited
Godzilla vs Kong: A Review (Some Spoilers)
Ryan Titapiwatanakun 2023
There have been many different renditions of the movie Godzilla and King Kong, but on March 31st, audience members were able to experience the two of them together in theaters and on HBO Max. As the title suggests that these giants would be fighting against each other, the film does not upset. However, there are a few details that make this movie more than just two titans fighting to the death.
The plot of this film is rather simple at first. The predecessors of these animals have been in a long war, and these two seem to be the only ones left. Because there is a fight for dominance and victory, Kong is urged to find a new home to avoid wreaking havoc against Godzilla. As the humans seem to be on the side of Kong throughout this movie, Godzilla can easily be portrayed as the antagonist. What adds a twist to this situation is that Godzilla has a reason for being chaotic and rising up to the surface after several years. While there is the main plot that depicts them fighting, Godzilla also deals with another conflict from the company Apex Cybernetics.
The second storyline that occurs in the background of the film includes the actors Millie Bobby Brown, Julian Dennison, and Brian Tyree Henry. While some information may stem from the 2019 Godzilla film, I personally was able to understand the plot with no prior knowledge. These three characters are facing Apex Cybernetics in an attempt to uncover why Godzilla initially started attacking innocent civilians in the beginning of the film. Near the middle of the movie, they find out that Apex Cybernetics has been building Mechagodzilla, a robot capable of taking on other Titans. Apparently, Godzilla was able to recognize the signals given off by Mechagodzilla, hence explaining why Godzilla followed Apex Cybernetics across the world as they tried finishing their creation.
By the end of the movie, these two storylines seem to come together, ending the film with an ultimate battle where Kong and Godzilla join forces to take down Mechagodzilla. These two giants were fighting throughout the entire movie, and it was interesting to see them decide to suddenly team up once they both identified a common threat. While this movie seems to end peacefully with these two leaving each other alone, people that still haven’t watched the film may be questioning who won the fight between the two titans. Fortunately, the director distinguishes each of the fights between Kong and Godzilla relatively clearly, so the answer to who won can easily be determined by watching the film. This movie has tied the themes of rivalry while highlighting the significance of teamwork. Therefore, to give an overall rating of this film, I would say that this is a strong 7/10, and that I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an action packed adventure.
Works Cited
Bisset, Jennifer. “Godzilla vs. Kong Review: It's the Smash Hit Monster Movie We Need.” CNET, CNET, 7 Apr. 2021, www.cnet.com/news/godzilla-vs-kong-review-hbo-max-smash-hit-monster-movie-we-need/.
“Mechagodzilla.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechagodzilla#:~:text=MonsterVerse (2021),-Mechagodzilla made its&text=Mechagodzilla was built by Apex,the King of The Monsters.
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