The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: Life & Arts

  • Making a New Year’s Eve resolution

    Making a New Year’s Eve resolution

    By Domanique Crawford

    This sounds familiar, right?

    You wake up and smell the fresh air. It’s a new day, a new year, and there’s definitely going to be a new you. You whip out a pen and paper to jot down your master list of improvements. When you’ve completed the list, you feel that just by writing it down that you are a champion and have already accomplished something.

    You post the list on the fridge to remind you of your goals. One week passes. Two. Finally three. The list has fallen to the ground and been trampled so much, its only refuge is the crevice that divides the countertop and refrigerator.

    Following through with resolutions is harder than actually making them, and though the first month might be hard going, there are 11 more months that you are still able to work with.

    Lorenz Hernandez, Humboldt State environmental resources engineering major, said alternatively to creating a list of things to start on, she makes a list of things that can be improved.

    “I start a new journal,” Hernandez said, “and January first, I actually write a note to myself and actually say what I want to do that year.”

    Hernandez uses the journal to monitor the negative and positive experiences when working toward achieving her resolutions throughout the entire year.

    What is the point of New Year’s resolutions if we seldom take the time to fulfill them?

    New Year’s resolutions today are a way of self-motivation to stimulate personal improvement. Ironically, statistics show only 45 percent of Americans say they will make a resolution, while 8 percent of people will keep them. Considering that New Year’s resolutions are self-imposed, it makes me think our resolution should be something we will actually accomplish.

    Marc Ornear, a student in the teaching credential program, suggests reaching for smaller, very specific goals that are easier to achieve.  This way, he doesn’t feel the pressure of failure.

    “I come up with very vague [goals] that are not very solidified,” Ornear said. “Like, try to get more exercise time in or try to get more relaxation time in.”

    Rather than losing exactly 20 pounds, promise yourself that you are going to simply start exercising. Now don’t get crazy and plan to work out 10 hours a week/five times a day. Again keep, it simple; maybe 30 minutes, three days a week.

    When choosing your resolutions, we must remember that change is a long and ever-evolving process. It can’t be completed overnight. Sometimes we fail on the first try but don’t give up. Or give in.

    Rachel Bowkley is another HSU student in the teaching credential program.

    “I got disenchanted because it doesn’t feel like it’s new,” Bowkley said. “It’s just sort of the same stuff. I try to improve throughout every year and just use the new year as, what could I do better this year instead of continuing what I did last year.”

  • Q&A with fencing master Antone Blair

    Q&A with fencing master Antone Blair

    By: Andrew Butler

    Q: Where did you get your start in fencing?

    A: I joined a college club at Beloit college in Wisconsin. I started it as a hobby; I had no intention of making a career out of it.

    Q: Did you have a major at Beloit? Perhaps a different career plan?

    A: I actually double majored in anthropology and classical Mediterranean civilization.

    Q: Mediterranean?

    A: Yeah, like classical Greece and Rome, Ancient Egypt, places like that. I was interested in Greek archeology so both those majors kind of played into that area of study.

    Q: Did you do any work with those degrees after college or was it straight into fencing?

    A: I went on several site digs. After spending time around professors, I realized I wasn’t necessarily interested in all the extra work that goes into archeology.

    Q: Site digs? Where?

    A: I did one in Wisconsin and one amidst the high altitude planes in Northern Chile.

    Q: How did you make your way to Humboldt State fencing?

    A: I moved here in 2000. I started showing up to the club just to stay practiced. It turned out I was one of the most experienced fencers in the club so I became somewhat like the instructors TA and helped teach other students.

    Q: When did you start instructing the class?

    A: 2001.

    Q: What is your favorite fencing weapon to use? Which do you use the most?

    A: The foil is the most commonly used weapon. It’s the usual starting sword for a beginner. My personal favorite has to be the Spanish rapier.

    Q: Tell us about the different fencing styles. Which is your go to?

    A: Fencing schools nowadays teach a somewhat homogenized version of all the classical styles. There used to be more of a distinction throughout the methods. You had German, French, Italian and Spanish styles. For example, the Italian style is very direct and tends to be fairly aggressive. The Spanish style, on the other hand, is more reserved, and involves a lot of analytical thinking. It depends on using your space effectively. My preference is with the Spanish style of fencing, I work with it the most.

    Q: Ever pretend to be a pirate?

    A: No.

    Q: Any competitions?

    A: I’ve been in a lot of competitions throughout the years, sure.

    Q: Can you live off of fencing competitions?

    A: A century ago, the top fencers could tour their countries and make a living. Today it is rare but the top fencers can live off their earnings. Mostly however, you have to be an instructor of some sort to make a living off of fencing.

    Q: Where did you do your fencing studies?

    A: The Martinez Academy of Arms in New York. I started there a little after being hired at HSU. In 2006 I became an instructor, in 2009 I became a provost and last November I became a master.

    Q: A master? How many master’s of fencing are walking around the world?

    A: Five including myself. There were only two up until this last November.

    Q: What does it take to become a master of fencing?

    A: It takes thousands and thousands of hours along with an about 15-year apprenticeship at the school. The final test itself is a week long exam. It lasted about 10 hours a day for the whole seven day week. I had to do everything; from showcasing different fencing styles, to answering fencing questions regarding technique and history, to officiating fencing matches.

    Q: Where do you go after achieving master?

    A: There’s not much upward movement left. However, the hope is to train more people to become instructors and eventually masters. It’s all about keeping the tradition and history alive, and making sure fencing is passed along the generations. I want to ensure the things I’ve learned are passed on.

  • Word on the street

    Word on the street

    Photos & Story by: Alex Hasenstab

    Going home for the holidays is a nice break after a long semester. There is no school, we get time off and we get to be around our families. Still, as nice as it is to be around our families, they definitely do some things that get under our skin. Here is what a few Humboldt State students said annoys them most about their families when they go home for the holidays.

    What annoys you the most about your family when you visit home for the holidays?

    mos-carolina-herrera

    “All of the questions they ask about up here.” – Carolina Herrera, junior, Tulare, CA

    mos-alex-grey

    “Fighting with them about the amount of cats that they have. I think it’s too little.” – Alex Grey, senior, San Francisco

    mos-luis-melendez

    “Having to stay at home and not be outdoors, and abiding by the rules of my parents.”- Luis Melendez, freshman, Santa Ana

    mos-tracy-gatumu

    “When we disagree on our opinions and facts and then they want to persuade on thinking the way that they do when they should appreciate that I think differently than them.” – Tracy Gatumu, senior, Anaheim

    mos-jose-chaidez

    “They are really loud, and they always want to dress up the same.” – Jose Chaidez, freshman, Los Angeles

    mos-killion-newsome

    “That I always feel bad when I don’t hang out with them. I wake up at 2 p.m. like everyday and my dad would go to bed at like 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. so we never hung out.” – Killion Newsome, freshman, Sacramento

  • A good start to “A Series of Unfortunate Events”

    A good start to “A Series of Unfortunate Events”

    By: Liam Olson

    “A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Bad Beginning: Parts 1 and 2” are definitely a good start to the new Netflix series. From the wide variety of different characters to the beautiful sets of these episodes, “The Bad Beginning” definitely will make the viewer not want to look away from the rest of the season.

    The first season of the show was added to Netflix on Friday, Jan. 13. Barry Sonnenfeld directs “The Bad Beginning” and Daniel Handler (who plays Lemony Snicket) adapted the books for television.

    The adaptation stays true to the book, however, some plot points that make the book more dramatic are replaced for comical scenes. To a person who read the book series, this may be disappointing, but for those who have not, it is enjoyable.

    In order to make the show more lighthearted, comical tropes were added such as defining vocabulary words to explaining the difference between literally and figuratively. Although these pauses are fun, they become more excessively used as the show goes on and create unnecessary pauses in the plot.

    Most of the plot follows the books with the Baudelaire children, played by Malina Weissman (Violet), Louis Hynes (Klaus) and Presley Smith (Sunny), escaping the grasps of Count Olaf, played by Neil Patrick Harris, who wants their parents’ fortune.

    With the extra time the show had due to each books being split up into two parts, plot that was never mentioned by the books is explained in the show, making it more interesting for fans of the book series.

    As far as the acting goes, a majority of the actors do well. Patrick Warburton gives an amazing performance as the solemn narrator, Lemony Snicket, for the story of the Baudelaire children. K. Todd Freeman’s performance as Mr. Poe seems to be the weakest of the main characters. Much of his acting makes the character feel fake and unbelievable, and the coughing gag for Mr. Poe becomes excessive over time.

    Weissman and Hynes do well as Violet and Klaus Baudelaire; they perfectly capture the clever and sincere personalities of the characters. However, they do sometimes fall flat in their interactions with Neil Patrick Harris’s Count Olaf often looking lost on how to respond to him. Harris’s performance as Count Olaf gives a humorous take on the character compared to Jim Carrey’s darker version of Olaf in the 2004 film. Although Harris’s Count Olaf is not very intimidating as a villain, he does make up for it in his outrageous and entertaining antics on screen, though they sometimes drown out the other characters who struggle to react to his strong personality and actions.

    One of the most prominent elements worth mentioning in the show are the set designs. There is a wide variety of set designs from the dark and dreary mansion of Count Olaf, to the peaceful and colorful house and library of Justice Strauss. All the different locations in the show add to the overall atmosphere to the scenes.

    “The Bad Beginning: Parts 1 and 2” are good starting points for “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” While there were a few issues with the first two episodes, the series shows promise. Viewers will want to keeping looking to see what happens next in “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

  • High school friendships can change and that’s okay

    High school friendships can change and that’s okay

    By Ashley Groze

    It seems when I was in high school I never did find my place. Of course I had tons of “friends” whom I would see on campus or at games that I would say hey to. But the group of friends that I mainly kicked it with during break and lunch were friends that I’ve known since grade school. We will always have a bond, but the bond is there because of the years we’ve spent together. I have friends that I’ve met in college that I feel like I’ve known my whole life.

    Over break, I reflected whom I still remain close to and whom I’ve drifted from. It seems that many people don’t find their place until after high school. There are many different places the high school friends veer toward:

    • The One Who Ghosted but Instantly Reconnects in Person
    • The One Who’s Always There for You
    • The One You Didn’t Want to Bump into but You Have an Unfortunately Small Hometown
    • The One Who Drastically Changed
    • The One Who Still Thinks We’re in High School
    • The One Who Peaked in High School
    • The One Who Went to Harvard
    • The One Who’s Now a Stoner
    • The One that Has Two Kids
    • The One Who’s Already Landed Five Internships
    • The One You Realize Was Never Actually Your Friend

    There are friends that remain in touch through social media, but the relationship never extends past a like or a share. The main point is, reconnecting with high school friends is usually bittersweet because either you change, they change or you both do.

    Sometimes this change is good. Sometimes you both matured and you share stories for inspiration. In other situations, this change creates tension and pushes you apart. The friendship slowly drifts because you just don’t talk as much and you’re not in each other’s lives anymore.

    Although we had four weeks off this break, I chose to spend only 10 days of it at home.

    I realized when I’m home, I’m not happy. Humboldt is where my life is at. Guiltily but truthfully, I’m admitting that I simply don’t feel as close to certain people from back home anymore. There are places I’d rather be exploring and other college friends whom I want to spend time with.

    Though it’s depressing, drifting is natural. When you make memories with new people, it becomes apparent how desolate the memories of your old friendships are, especially when my college friends were there for me during my struggles while high school friends weren’t. I learned to depend on my newer friends for support.

    We need friends to be stable and accessible. The bitterest realization I ever made was when I thought to myself, “You weren’t there for me when I needed you and I got through it. So I don’t need you.”

    If I saw some of my high school friends today, it just wouldn’t be the same. One of the most hopeless feelings in the world is chasing after something when it’s already gone.

    With that in mind, what will never change is the impact these people had on me. To many, high school would be considered our formative years, and the people who surrounded me in high school influenced and shaped me into the respectable person I am today. The friends I made in high school will always be a part of me. Wherever we go out into the world, I know that in a way we’re always going to be connected.

  • A taste of Bim – Review

    A taste of Bim – Review

    By: Bryan Donoghue

    Picture yourself reclined in a lounge chair on a beach in Barbados. Directly above you, coconut trees lightly sway in the wind, as the sun breaches between leaves and streams of light shine through. Many can imagine the way this feels, but in stark contrast to a country near the equator, we live in Humboldt County. Although both are regarded as beautiful locations internationally, it’s difficult to find an authentic experience can that represent that essence of the Caribbean. That is, until I stumbled upon a restaurant off of G Street in Eureka.

    A Taste of Bim is run by a mother and daughter duo who have brought their own experience from cooking in Barbados (also known as “bim”) to the United States, using traditional spices and recipes. The atmosphere walking in is ambient, yet illuminated in certain areas with low white and yellow lighting. In the open kitchen beyond the bar, splashes of fire rise into the air as you can see food being made from the comfort of your seat. The festive theme centers in on Barbadian culture, while a cheerful playlist of multicultural music assures you, as the customer, that you’re about to have an experience reminiscent of paradise. The restaurant was continuing to serve one family as I walked in; all other seats were empty.

    The waitress Debbie, who conducted herself to be both calm and cordial, immediately sat me and we briefly went over the menu. She started me off with Caribbean lemonade; a sweet drink that is made from fresh lemonade, raw cane sugar, and dried hibiscus leaves. It was absolutely delicious and served as a perfect counterbalance to reset the palate every time you try a new dish. I first ordered the doubles, an appetizer consisting of curried chickpeas that are topped and sandwiched over two pieces of flatbread. The curry began to overpower the dish at first, and the flatbread wasn’t sandwiching the chickpeas, but it began to gradually become more mellow as you eat it in unison with everything else. Even for an appetizer it was a lot of food, and mid-meal digestion became necessary.

    From there, I ordered the green banana salad. Refreshing and sweet, this salad was tossed together with diced cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, and bananas. A little hard to grasp with a fork, and possibly easier to eat with a spoon, this salad was a challenge to eat with one utensil. However, the taste was mouthwatering, and the banana pantomimes something akin to a dessert, while still giving it the health benefit any salad would.

    The finale of my experience had to have been a magnum opus for short rib. The meat was braised to cook slowly, and as the food reached my table, I immediately realized I would not need a knife to cut into it. Tender, lean, and just barely held together; this meat was perfectly cooked. It surrounded rice pilaf that had been cooked with beans, and then a thick savory gravy was poured over the top of the entire plate. The taste was refined yet so complex that I couldn’t even think of a single spice used to create that symphony of flavor. To me, it was impeccable. Through the entire experience, more customers began to come in; and even still, Debbie was entirely accommodating.

    I have to admit, I left with a smile. The pricing is anywhere from around $15-20 for a main dish, and around $10 or less for an appetizer or salad. Now picture yourself in that lounge chair again, but this time in Humboldt. The sun might not be shining every day, but if you’re looking for that warm Caribbean feeling, consider having A Taste of Bim.