The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: Opinion

  • Mar’s Gaming Garage

    Mar’s Gaming Garage

    Mario explores a journey beyond the Mushroom Kingdom

    By Mario Orozco

    Super Mario has been a staple of the gaming world for decades, with over 200 games spanning across a multitude of genres. This week’s edition of Mar’s Gaming Garage will focus on Super Mario Odyssey (SMO), a 3D exploration game following Mario as he journeys through lands outside of the Mushroom Kingdom. SMO was recommended to me by a forestry major, and as we share the same name, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to review a Super Mario game.

    SMO is vastly different from the traditional 2D-style Super Mario games that the franchise has become known for. While the main plot follows the usual trope of fighting bad guys and saving Princess Peach, the customization, gameplay, and world design set this game apart from others within the franchise.

    Customization is something that Super Mario games have been missing throughout the years. SMO changes this trend by introducing 40 outfits that can be mixed and matched to give Mario a fresh new feel. Whether you want to play as a Samurai or run around in your boxers, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Mismatching Mario’s clothing was a lot of fun, and I created tons of chaotic outfits throughout my playthrough.

    Super Mario games tend to follow a similar gameplay style with differences mainly lying in the powerups. However, this formula is completely thrown out the window for SMO. Instead, much of the gameplay involves using Cappy, Mario’s sentient hat, to progress through the levels. Cappy allows for Mario to do things that wouldn’t be possible otherwise, you can bounce on him to cross long gaps and use him to control enemies. Being able to control Goombas, Chain Chomps, Bullet Bills and even Dinosaurs was a fun, creative way to progress through levels and keep them engaging.

    The world design in SMO is another area where the game excels. The game has a total of 18 unique kingdoms that you can explore, each having their own boss fights to round off the worlds. The kingdoms in SMO are diverse and help keep the game from feeling repetitive. There is a lot of contrast between the different kingdoms. It was fun getting to see Mario in different environments from what I’m used to. Exploring a kingdom that is essentially New York City in nothing but boxers and a hat was a fun experience. 

    I want to give an honorable mention to the bosses in SMO. Similar to the kingdoms, there was also a lot of contrast in the different boss fights. Going from fighting a goofy looking bird to a dark and intimidating dragon kept me on my toes and made the game interesting.

    There aren’t very many things I dislike about SMO. However there is one issue: to progress to a new kingdom, the game requires you to collect a certain amount of moons that are scattered around the worlds. This wouldn’t normally be something I dislike, other Super Mario Games have hidden star coins, and I think finding those are fun. The difference is those star coins aren’t required for progression. This paired with the absurd 880 unique moons throughout the kingdoms can make parts of the game feel tedious to play through.

    Despite this, SMO is still an amazing game and a creative take on the Super Mario formula. It took me a total of 17 hours and 3 minutes to complete, and I rate the game a 4.5 out of 5. If you are a fan of the franchise and enjoy open-world sandbox style gameplay, then I recommend Super Mario Odyssey to you.

    If you have any games you would like me to review, you can email marsgaminggarage@gmail.com.

    Mario Orozco is a writer and assistant social media editor for The Lumberjack. He transferred to Cal Poly Humboldt in 2022 and his favorite game of all time is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

  • Letter to the Editor: 

    Interim President Michael Spagna recently called for us to, “come together as a community.” But what does community mean to you, Dr. Spagna? Is it just a place, a logo, or something more? 

    True community is rooted in compassion, respect, and mutual support. It involves standing up for each other, not merely engaging in, “courageous conversations.” I do not feel welcomed by this empty call for unity while voices speaking out against the oppression of Palestinians are suppressed. Silence in the face of such injustices is complicity. The real community at Cal Poly Humboldt consists of those who speak out, even in the face of repression, for the dignity and humanity of the Palestinian people. As long as your version of community includes the dehumanization of others, I cannot be part of it. My community is with those who fight for justice. 

    To my fellow humans: the time to stand against oppression is now. True community is built on shared joy and struggle for liberation. Free Palestine.

    Sincerely, 

    Jack McCann

  • Dog parks are dirty, dangerous, detrimental, dysfunctional, and downright deadly

    Dog parks are dirty, dangerous, detrimental, dysfunctional, and downright deadly

    By Griffin Mancuso

    One day, your close friend offers to invite you to a fun party. You spend more time with this person than anyone else, so you trust them and follow along. You gladly hop in the car and your friend drives you to a house you’re not familiar with.
    Once you’re brought inside, the house is filled with dozens of people who you have never seen before. As soon as you step through the door, a group of partygoers swarm you, staring you down and blocking you from every angle. One of the people next to you open-mouth coughs on your face, and several others start shoving you and tugging at your shirt.
    You frantically look around for your friend, and you find them sitting in the kitchen scrolling through their phone. They look up and smile, shouting, ‘I’m glad you’re making some new friends!’

    This would already be overwhelming for a person, so imagine how it would feel if you were a few feet tall and had the mental capacity of a toddler. Dog parks are a cesspool of chaos, disease, uneducated owners, and stress for you and your dog.
    People bring their dogs to the park for a variety of reasons. They may want to socialize their dog, help them overcome fear of other dogs, get their dog some exercise, or find community with other dog owners. All of these can be achieved without a dog park, and any benefits of going to one are outweighed by the cons.

    Just like people, not all dogs are extroverted and want to befriend every dog they meet. It’s like they are stuck in a party where they can’t choose to leave. If your dog is nervous around other dogs, dog parks only exacerbate the problem. Introverts do not magically become extroverts, and you cannot expect your dog to befriend every dog they see. 

    If your dog goes into the dog park well behaved and friendly, they may pick up some rude behaviors during their visits. Dog parks are overstimulating environments where most dogs cannot make good choices, and in some cases the line between playing and fighting is crossed.

    I have lost count of how many fights I had to break up at dog parks. It’s all fun and games until you’re trying to break apart two 100-pound dogs by yourself and one of their collars snaps. Usually, one of the dogs involved was a repeat offender and the owner couldn’t get past their own ego and stop bringing their dog back to the park. This isn’t the fault of the dog — we don’t expect every human to get along, so we can’t expect dogs to do the same. You may trust your dog to play with others politely, but the other dogs there could turn on a dime at any moment. No matter who starts it, they will get involved in a fight at some point. In rare cases, your dog may not walk out of that fight alive.

    If another dog doesn’t injure your dog, the park itself will. Each of the dog parks in Humboldt County present their own unique hazards. Eureka Dog Park has plenty of gravel to crack your dog’s nails and a river bed of still water brimming with parasites. Del Norte Street Dog Park is overgrown with thorny blackberry bushes. Hiller Park is a minefield of gopher holes waiting to break your dog’s ankles.
    I used to regularly take my dog to dog parks. He was a relentlessly hyper puppy, I was desperate, and I didn’t know any better. He played well and had no incidents up until he was around one and a half years old. Suddenly, he became too overstimulated to listen to commands or recall around large groups of dogs. He was older and stronger, and he decided that chasing after dogs and tackling them was fun. Most dogs and their owners did not. 

    It took me a few months to realize I wasn’t setting him up for success and I needed to find another way for him to get physical and mental enrichment. He is now fulfilled by dog sports, regular training, and occasional one-on-one playdates.
    We like to treat our dogs like human children, but at the end of the day, they are unpredictable animals. No matter how badly you think your dog needs lots of friends, taking them to a Russian roulette dog fight club is not going to do them any favors. Socialization can be done safely in many different places — pet-friendly stores, hiking trails, parking lots, or at supervised playdates with trusted dogs. Be involved in your dog’s exercise and use it to increase your bond with them. Be your dog’s own party.

    Griffin Mancuso is a journalism major and editor-in-chief for The Lumberjack. He is involved in multiple dog sport groups in Humboldt County and teaches local training classes. His dog-child athlete Oscar Meyer can run up to 27.5 mph, has titles in Fast CAT and AKC Fetch, and really likes cheese.

  • The forest is greener in Humboldt County

    The forest is greener in Humboldt County

    By Julia Kern

    I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a random weekday, a little over a year ago, I was in my room aimlessly scrolling on my computer through what felt like an endless list of California colleges. 

    I’m from Fresno, California. If you didn’t know already, Fresno is a city of over half a million people crammed in between dilapidated infrastructure and smelly farmland. So, you may not be surprised that I have been itching to leave Fresno for as long as I can remember. 

    To me, Fresno never felt like home. Sure, my parents are there, my friends, and all the sites are familiar and nostalgic to me. I’ve just gotten to the point where I felt like I needed a change of scenery.

    So naturally, Fresno State was totally out of the question. I wanted to go somewhere far, somewhere I wasn’t familiar with, somewhere nothing like the place I grew up, which is how I landed on Cal Poly Humboldt.

    The pictures of the campus immediately caught my attention. I imagined living on a campus in the middle of the forest. If Humboldt isn’t the opposite of Fresno, I don’t know what is. The trees and plants are actually green. The sky is pure blue, instead of that hazy kind of blue I’ve become so accustomed to. It also rains more than twice a year — which is something I still need to adjust to. 

    That all may sound strange to get excited over, but when you’re from a place that feels like you’re living in a perpetual dust bowl, you would probably like the rain, too. 

    Now that I’ve been living here for about a month, I’d say I’m liking it here. The change in pace from a concrete jungle to a serene rainforest is something I am more grateful for than I can express in words. 

    In the beginning, I sorta felt like a background character in a popular TV show, where everyone else seemed like they had everything figured out and I was just some girl trying to fit the mold. I feel fortunate that this community has ended up being so welcoming and friendly. There has always been someone to assure me that I’m doing fine and that I’ll eventually find my place in all this.

    So, I’m deciding not to be worried about what these next two years will have in store for me. I will just have to take it day by day, and it will all work out. 

  • Meditations on Life and Loss Along the Road

    Meditations on Life and Loss Along the Road

    By Mia Costales

    I saw you for a split-second on the side of the 101,

    a blur of soft doe fur and bloodied innards trailing behind you.

    What beauty you possessed, your body laid out with such stillness.

    I wondered if your woodland friends were waiting for you on the other side of the road,

    puzzled as to why you hadn’t come home yet. 

    Watching the clock tick on and on pensively,

    praying to a god with ornate antlers and a speckled coat. 

    The hot summer sun shone down on your blood,

    turning it black as the asphalt beneath it. 

    What cruelty that you know what cold metal and plastic feels like,

    that such a foreign object would be the last thing you touched. 

    I thought of the car that couldn’t change lanes quick enough, 

    forced to paint the road behind them with red streaks of you. 

    How could such a gentle creature know such pain? 

    I wished to turn back around, 

    to move you off of the highway shoulder to a place more peaceful. 

    I yearned to cradle you in my arms and nuzzle my face 

    in the velvety spot between your neck and ear. 

    I would put you to rest in a bed of red flowers

    and weep over your stiff figure, mourning the forest’s loss.

  • Coffee brews a sense of nostalgia

    Coffee brews a sense of nostalgia

    By Alexandra Berrocal

    I was a regular tea-drinker. My aunt kept boxes of tea in her kitchen, and I visited my aunt often, so I wound up drinking tea often — I tasted chai for the first time in her house. I also grew to love gingerbread tea, which was something she always had around the holidays. If you add just the right amount of sugar, it tasted like a gingerbread cookie. I always loved that. I got to drink tea more often than coffee as a kid, so naturally, I was a devout tea drinker. 

    When I was a young girl, my mom always made me coffee on my birthday. It was the only time of the year where I was allowed to drink coffee, so it was always a special treat. She would make an extremely weak brew, so that it would not taste bitter. She would always put melted chocolate at the bottom, so that it would suffuse the rest of the coffee and make it taste somewhat chocolatey. I always looked forward to this.

    Somehow, the switch turned. When I got older, my mom stopped making my special birthday brew. I don’t remember how or why. However, I grew to love the bitter flavor of straight-up coffee. I didn’t need to have chocolate in it, just some milk and sugar. There were even exceptions to that. I still love a good cafe de olla, a type of Mexican coffee that does not taste bitter. I don’t remember the first time I tried it, but from the first sip, I was enchanted. Also, I am a unitarian universalist, and shared church social life revolves pretty heavily around coffee. Every Sunday, after service, coffee is always served in most congregations.

    I grew to enjoy the bitter flavor of coffee. I also came to appreciate Vietnamese coffee. It’s sweeter than your average coffee. This may be controversial, but I love the Frappacino bottles of coffee that they sell in most grocery stores. Yes, the Starbucks ones, although I love the Peet’s Coffee ones too. A lot of people think it tastes gross.  What is gross is the Dunkin Donuts version. I don’t know what Dunkin Donuts does to its bottled coffee, so to speak, but it tastes like medicine.

    I would say that the reason I prefer coffee to tea these days is that coffee simply has more body to it. Tea basically feels like glorified water to me, unless it has milk and sugar in it. Chai tea is also based on milk, so it doesn’t feel like glorified water. But even with milk and sugar, tea simply feels watery to me. Coffee doesn’t feel quite that way to me. I might feel differently if I drank my coffee black. Black coffee is similar to tea in a lot of ways, it just has more flavor, and more punch. Now, would I rather drink black coffee, or tea? Honestly, I would prefer tea. But would I prefer tea or coffee with milk and sugar? I’d take the coffee any day.

  • Tea needs more love

    Tea needs more love

    By Alina Ferguson

    What I am about to say is really a hot take, pun intended. I think, wholeheartedly, that tea is better than coffee. 

    Tea is relaxing.You sip tea and people watch outside your window, or you simply watch the rain. You can have tea cold, you can have it hot, but never lukewarm. That is simply wrong. 

    Tea is perfect if you are sick. It is the perfect medicine and can potentially provide positive benefits. Just think about it—there are detoxing teas, but you do not hear about detox coffee, because coffee does not detox and no doctor recommends a cup of coffee when you are sick. 

    There are teas for stomach issues, for headaches, and a myriad of other issues. Many teas have infusions or essesenses of floral elements that have a variety of benefits, not to mention the lovely scent. 

    Even caffeinated tea can bring tranquility. I think tea and I think calm, peace, and just relaxation, even with the highly caffeinated ones. Black tea is my chore drink. It’s relaxing enough that I can do chores at a leisurely pace, but caffeinated enough that I will not fall asleep during the laundry folding portion of my chore rotation. Coffee, on the other hand, is usually for those who are on their feet and on the go.

    Tea also smells amazing. Some may argue it smells like nothing, but I simply disagree. If a tea says that it has hints or essence of strawberry, then it means that the tea smells like strawberries. Surprisingly, floral teas have a strong smell and often can taste like that flower. 

    Tea tastes great without anything added into it. You can have hazelnut tea, but it’s not a syrup like with coffee. Coffee drinkers often add syrups, sugars and other things to make it a fun— or even a palatable—drink.  Some may argue tea just tastes like nothing. I’ve heard it be called lightly flavored water. Well, I say that tasting nothing still tastes better than tasting just plain bitter coffee.
    Yes, tea can be bitter. Very bitter. However, you can sometimes control the bitterness by how long you steep the tea. This gives you more control than coffee, which relies on the bean. 

    Tea is a gateway drug to mug collection. I have about 25 mugs and counting, and that is just here in Arcata. I have no idea what about collecting a mug gives me tingles and a sense of euphoria, but oh, does it! They do have coffee mugs, but it’s not the same as getting a mug for tea. A tea mug. 

    And don’t even get me started on tea parties…

  • How to survive a psychosis episode

    How to survive a psychosis episode

    By Savana Robinson

    My psychosis

    My father carried me to his duty vehicle with my feet bloody and raw. I had run almost two miles from home — barefoot at night, in winter. This wasn’t even the peak of my psychotic episode. A few days later, I woke up being taken out of an ambulance after being given a shot by a nurse, which I was later told was most likely Haldol, an antipsychotic.

    Leading up to this, I had known something wasn’t right for weeks. It was a weird feeling — like everything was wrong. Food had started to taste bland, my handwriting was getting worse and it was harder for others to understand, and I wasn’t sleeping well. Then, I started having visual and auditory hallucinations that made me paranoid, but I thought they were real at the time. I thought people were surveilling me and out to get me. My behavior was erratic and I was talking nonsense. 

    My family brought me home and I had a break. I thought there were explosives everywhere and I had to run for my life. I left my house late at night and ran onto the freeway and jumped the fence to the road adjacent. Someone pulled over and I begged them to let me hide in their car and they said the cops were coming to help me. My dad said that was the most fucked-up call he had ever responded to as a first responder. A few days later, I was admitted to a psychiatric facility after having horrible hallucinations in the hospital. I thought my family had been tortured and mutilated. I stayed there for nine days and was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar I.

    What is psychosis?

    This was a psychotic episode, which was also the onset of my schizophrenia. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, psychosis happens most often to young adults in their late teens to mid-20s. I was 22 when mine happened. The Institute also lists behavior changes, such as difficulty telling fantasy from reality, paranoid ideas, sleeping less and trouble communicating.

    Getting help

    I had help from the Cal Poly Humboldt University Police, my motorcycle girlies, and my family. I had two hospital stays before I got mental health treatment in a facility that had social workers, therapists, and nurses. Afterwards, I got a therapist, a psychiatrist and started medication. Besides the trauma my own brain put me through, I got pretty lucky with my journey to the center of the Northern California mental health system.

    If you believe you or someone you know may be experiencing psychosis, call the 24/7 county crisis line. Humboldt County’s number is 707-445-7715. Sempervirens Psychiatric Health Facility in Eureka is the only mental health facility in a 300-mile radius. I was taken from Ukiah to Red Bluff — 160 miles — for my treatment.

    Moving forward

    A year and a half after my episode, I’m the most successful I’ve ever been. My symptoms are manageable with medication and I can recognize when things start to get weird and I need to change something. Psychosis feels like the end of the world, but it’s not.

    Savana Robinson is a senior journalism and film student who also works at Redwood News as a multimedia journalist. She likes cats, video games, and motorcycles.

  • Letter to the editor

    By Ethan LeVering

    To the students of the university of Cal Poly Humboldt, 

    It is my regret to inform you that over the summer I was recalled by our campus’ administration from the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, I was disavowed by our dean of students Dr. Mitch Mitchell for being “unfit to represent” our university, and ultimately I was impeached and removed from the office of A.S. president on meeting number 2.5 of the board of directors. It is my understanding that this is unprecedented, as all of this occurred before the typical orientation/training that occurs for the position and before the semester even began. After being interviewed by Brad Butterfield, I was thinking about how he asked a question along the lines of, “If you were still president, then what policies would you be supporting on campus?” Afterwards, I wrote a list of seventeen policies that I would support if I were still the A.S. president. This list is not comprehensive and is in no particular order. It is focused around policies that I would support, rather than focus on policies that I oppose, although the two can often get intertwined. I would like to clarify that several points were written in reference to the lockdown of campus that took place over the summer. Since then, a new Time, Place, and Manner policy has been put into effect which officially closes off campus at night and removes the one-hour of sound amplification that was previously permitted on the SAC Quad each day. It is yet to be seen what impact this will have on the activism that takes place on our campus. 

    Keep it up out there, 

    Ethan LeVering 

    Seventeen Policies 

    1. I support the expansion of waste reduction techniques and our campus’ zero waste initiatives.

    2. I support an end to the ticketing of students living in their vehicles and the implementation of a safe parking program on our campus for these students. 

    3. I support increased access to menstrual products to all public restrooms on our campus.

    4. I support increasing the number of gender-neutral restrooms on our campus.

    5. A Bachelors of Arts in Communications is currently the only degree our university offers to the prisoners of Pelican Bay State Prison. I support increasing the number of degrees the Incarcerated Schoolers Program offers. 

    6. I support increasing collaboration between the Associated Students and the cultural centers & collectives, such as ADPIC, El Centro, and Umoja on our campus.

    7. I support the pro-ceasefire resolutions regarding the ongoing genocide in Palestine passed by the Associated Students and University Senate last semester (Spring 2024). 

    8. I support reopening campus to the wider community of Arcata. I oppose the new surveillance systems being put in place after the pro-Palestinian occupation of Siemens Hall.

    9. During the occupation of Siemens Hall, access to Nelson Hall West (alongside that of the rest of our campus) was shut down. I support the Associated Student’s acquisition/purchase of a new building which is to be student-operated separate from the overarching key-card system on our campus. 

    10. I was very fortunate to have had the experience of taking the Yurok language class at Eureka Senior High School. I support the implementation of local indigenous language classes, such as Yurok, Wyiot, and/or Hupa, into the curriculum that our university offers. 

    11. I support our university reimplementing its currently defunct Industrial Technology program as a part of polytechnic rollout.

    12. I support increasing the number of field courses, such as the Klamath Basin field course, Mattole River field course, and Costa Rica field course, offered by our university. 

    13. I support our university purposefully preserving several historic houses around campus. This includes guaranteeing the SJEIC’s continued residence in the Balabanis House and CCAT’s continued residence in the Buck House for as long as those organizations see fit. 

    14. I support the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology using the footprint of the now demolished Jensen House for the purpose of constructing a greenhouse attachment to the community garden. 

    15. I support, when also supported by respective departments, the implementation of new masters level degree programs. 

    16. I support the expansion of employment opportunities on campus, particularly within the core programs of the Associated Students. 

    17. I support implementation of more genuine student-lead democratic processes, and less systems of bureaucracy, within the general operations of the Associated Students board of directors.

  • Staying in the moment and being mindful with meditation

    By Gabriel Zucker

    The thought of sitting down, doing nothing, just breathing, sounds very pointless. This was my view of meditation for a long time. Why spend time getting my mind right when there is so much stuff to do right here and now? It made sense to me for a long time, but the more I avoided the deeper issues, the harder it became to function. Since I started my meditative journey, these issues have been more manageable and easier to process. The two forms of meditations that have had the most impact on me are mindfulness and somatic meditation. Both are different but help with different aspects of my day-to-day life. 

    A little background first – I am diagnosed with ADHD and have dealt with really bad anxiety most of my life. My mind moving a million miles a minute is something I deal with every day, but it can become overwhelming within a blink of an eye. Thankfully I have found different ways to deal with the chaos of my mind.

    My first introduction to spirituality and meditation was mindfulness. This is a form of meditation focused on understanding what is going on in the mind. This is done through training your mind to process thoughts in the present moment through breathing exercises and mantras focused on love and acceptance. 

    My mantra is usually, “I breathe in, I am one. I breathe out, I am whole.” This keeps me grounded on my breathing instead of my mind wandering.

     The hardest part for me was removing myself from the thoughts and emotions that came up during my meditation. What helped me the most was projecting these thoughts outward. I sit with the emotions as if they were a friend, instead of letting them run rampant throughout my mind. The biggest thing about mindfulness is staying in the moment. This was confusing for a little, but the best way I can explain it is understanding the difference between past, present and future. The moment is understanding that anxiety is coming from past trauma and an unknown future. Healing the past and preparing for the future is the best way to explain the moment. 

    Another form of meditation that has helped me a lot with past trauma is somatic meditation. This is something that I learned from therapy and has helped me process my past from a point of healing instead of acceptance. This is very different from mindfulness; instead of analyzing and processing the mind, it instead focuses on the body’s reaction to different emotions and situations. For instance, when an anxiety attack comes up, there usually isn’t one thing that activates it. My body becomes overstimulated, causing my mind to explode with every worst possible scenario no matter the situation. Mindfulness never helps me when this happens, controlling my mind is impossible in these moments. Focusing on the feelings, not thoughts, going through my body helps ground me back to reality. I am anchored back to what is real and what is made up in my mind. I used to always overanalyze this, putting words to feeling. My therapist helped me realize that I don’t have to think during this. Instead, focusing on my body, noticing where it tenses up, is a great step in calming down my whole body. 

    I am not saying this is a foolproof way to overcome mental health issues; I fall short every day. I forget to meditate, I deal with anxiety most days, but that is okay. If I have learned anything from meditation it is that I can’t be too hard on myself. Life is hard and that is okay. It is how we approach each moment, with understanding and love. That is how one can find their best self.

  • Worrying about graduation? Don’t bother. You have no choice.

    By Dezmond Remington

    Graduation is fast arriving, and there are less than two weeks remaining until I am an honest-to-god adult. Soon, I will leave the warm womb of the university and the financial forces that have allowed me to focus on nothing but school for the last three years – I am terrified. 

    What worries me is the uncertainty. I knew what I’d be doing for the last 21 years. Now, I do not know what I will do with my life. I do not know where I will be in a month, let alone a year from now. If an interviewer asks me where I think I’ll be in five years, I think I’ll laugh and vomit a bit. 

    But hey, I’m also excited. I can do anything I like for the next 50 years. ANYTHING. I’ve been fantasizing about working on some rich dude’s yacht and crossing the Atlantic. I suppose I can do that now. I could throw my life away if I wanted to, or I could make it as awesome as I want to. Anything goes. 

    Everyone else older than me has gone through this before, so I’m not fretting too much. I’m also super lucky. Worst comes to worst, I can always move back into my parent’s house. 

    Really, there’s no point in sweating about the rest of my life. It’ll happen if I want it to or not. Might as well enjoy it. 

  • Writing while wrestling with a busy college schedule

    By Alexandra Berrocal

    I will be graduating next semester if all goes well.  I believe that makes me a senior. When I was here, I wrote four books. I am currently working on a fifth, which should be out by this summer.

    These books are BLOODY ROYALE (a book of essays), BOY FROM TALLINN (chronicling a really weird friendship that I had the summer after my first semester here), IRIS (about the more dysfunctional aspects of my family), and I AM THE DARKNESS (a cookbook about living with depression and bipolar disorder). 

    The book I am currently working on is called AGNES DEI, and it is my first novella. It is also my first work of fiction. Many of my books are very short. This isn’t intentional, it’s just my style.

    Being a writer at Cal Poly Humboldt is like being a writer anywhere else. You have your day job, which is what you came to study. Then, you have your spare time. You can either write when you are done with all of your homework for the day, or you can get up extra early so that you can write before your classes begin. 

    When I was working on AGNES DEI, I took both approaches. Sometimes, I’d get up extra early to write, and sometimes I’d write after completing my homework. However, sometimes I’d write before starting my homework for the day. 

    Writing fiction is a wonderful stress reliever. It also gave me a boost of confidence that I could get all of my homework done and my writing in one day. It also helped me academically for this reason. When you are writing a thousand words a day for your novella, anything your teachers throw at you seems really easy.

    Creative Writing Club was also an excellent resource this year. I am not certain if I wrote any of my novella during their hours – blame my bad memory. However, they gave me time to work on editing, write if need be, or just talk to my friends on Discord or in the club. More often than not, I wound up talking to my friends on Discord. 

    That doesn’t mean it wasn’t useful, however. I have been exposed to poetry and poetic forms, and I have met people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.  In fact, if they met more often than once a week, it would be great. I also like to paint, and I have fond memories of bringing my painting supplies, and painting a picture of my friend. I also tried to get into crocheting during Fall semester, and the president of the Club helped me with crocheting in the round. That hobby didn’t last long (crocheting is hard!) but it was still a good experience.  

    Ultimately, writing is a solitary experience. It is a team effort too. Place affects it. You’re alone with your computer in a room. When you are done writing your piece (which is the solitary part), you show it to your critique website, or your friends, or whoever looks over your work for you. That’s the team effort part. 

    I am not sure that the books I wrote during the time I’ve been here would have been the same if I had written them at, say, Chico State. In this way, these works are unique to Cal Poly Humboldt and portray the way this place has become a part of me, for better or for worse.

  • Why you should give WWE a chance

    By Mario Orozco

    As a child, I was a huge fan of WWE. I had all of the action figures, posters, and attended as many live shows as my family could afford. As I grew up, I fell out of love with the WWE; it had become pretty stale. In recent years, professional wrestling has gone through a resurgence in popularity reminiscent of the 1990s. Gone are the days of Vince McMahon as WWE has entered a new era. In this new era, I have found myself fully back in love with professional wrestling. For those of you who used to love WWE and those who are just curious, you should give it a chance.

    WWE’s storytelling is unlike anything I have seen in other forms of entertainment. These storylines are told both on the mic and in the ring. It is truly athletic theater at its core. WWE has told so many genuinely amazing narratives throughout its time, and in the last two or three years, this quality has been so consistent, it has become the expectation. WWE has adopted a form of long-term storytelling that has allowed for fully fleshed out multidimensional stories. While the plots are typically simple, good vs. bad, they are able to be told in a way that is incredibly unique and something only professional wrestling can do. 

    Apart from the stories, the actual matches themselves are another reason to give it a chance. It is like watching an action scene unfold live in front of your very eyes. It is breathtaking, seeing these people put their bodies on the lines, week-in and week-out for our entertainment. Professional wrestlers are both the actors and the stunt people in their matches. Understanding the difficulty of pulling off these incredible moves, which are live with no redos, adds to the spectacle that is professional wrestling.

    The best part to me is the talent themselves. There are so many different characters with different motivations and journeys. As you see a character rising up the ranks and struggling to become a star, you know the person behind the character is facing a struggle as they try to make a name for themselves and connect with the audience. I can almost guarantee there is a person you can relate to and root for. WWE today is so much more diverse than it was 10 years ago, the roster is filled with different body types and racial backgrounds. The women’s division is also the best that it has ever been for all of professional wrestling, with WWE having arguably the strongest and most talented roster of women, capable of putting on fantastic matches and main eventing shows.

    It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, there is surely something in it for you. Even if you don’t like the WWE style, there are so many amazing companies out there that will have something you’ll like. We live in a time where professional wrestling is better than it ever has been. There is no better time than now to hop on the train and enjoy the ride. 

  • Navigating my ADHD

    By Mia Costales

    If someone had asked me four years ago if I thought there was a possibility I had ADHD, I probably would’ve laughed in their face. Not to toot my own horn, but throughout my childhood and teenage years, I was an exceptionally good student and excelled in both academic and extracurricular activities. I was a straight-A student, played in the symphony and chamber orchestras, wrote for my school’s paper, and graduated with honors. I’ve also always been an extremely quiet and reserved person which, in turn, usually granted me the “old soul” title by the many teachers and adults in my life.

    By no means did I display the classic ADHD symptoms that most people think of when they hear those four letters; constant fidgeting and excessive movement, impulsivity or general hyperactivity. 

    So you can imagine my surprise when I failed out of college in the spring semester of my freshman year and was soon after diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there are two types of ADHD: inattention and hyperactivity.

    In my case, symptoms of inattentive ADHD looked like having difficulty sustaining attention in tasks, difficulty listening when being spoken to directly, forgetfulness and disorganization. Hyperactivity is generally the more well-known type, consisting of symptoms such as not being able to sit still or being described as constantly on the go. It is also important to note that some people can display symptoms of both types of ADHD, effectively having a combination of inattention and hyperactivity. 

    After getting this diagnosis, I was able to look back on my past behaviors and come to terms with this new knowledge. I was also lucky enough to have a great support system of people who were willing to help me get back on track and continue my schooling. Leaving Humboldt after my freshman year was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I ended up moving back home, where I got a full time job waiting tables and took online classes at the local community college.

    Per my mom’s request, I also started focusing on bettering my mental health, which meant attending therapy sessions and starting on medications. Learning that I have ADHD definitely came with its setbacks, but it was ultimately the catalyst for getting me back up to Humboldt and adopting a healthier and more productive mindset. Growing up, I couldn’t help but notice feeling weird or different from a lot of my peers, and this feeling really alienated me.

    Now that I am older and better able to understand why I felt this way, I am one step closer to processing these feelings for what they truly were. While getting a proper diagnosis is obviously not the end-all be-all for many, it can definitely give comfort to people who have felt some sort of otherness their whole lives, and maybe even help them realize that they aren’t alone in their feelings. 

  • I am on a cocktail of drugs at all times

    By Savana Robinson

    I am on a cocktail of drugs at all times, and a new flavor was recently added to the mix. Meet methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin: the stimulant used to treat ADHD. There’s only one problem, but it’s a big one. Having bipolar I and schizophrenia, taking this medication puts me at risk for having a manic episode.

    Besides Ritalin, I take three medications: Vraylar, Vistaril, and Wellbutrin. They all work well together. Vraylar keeps me at a good baseline, Wellbutrin helps keep the lows from being too dramatic, and Vistaril helps keep my paranoia from spiking. Adding this new medication is supposed to help me stay focused on tasks for longer periods of time. To me, this sounds like the perfect plan. I’ve got something to keep me stable, something to keep me happy, something to keep me calm and now, something to keep me focused.

    So far, it’s working out well. I still struggle to get started with tasks but once I get going, it’s easier to keep up the momentum and not get distracted. I’ve only had a couple of moments where I’ve needed to be mindful of how fast I’m talking, but I haven’t had any other symptoms of oncoming mania.

    Other than my medication, my support system is my biggest helper. I have a great team of people who care about me and know when I’m not myself. If I’m ever not acting like myself, they tell me and I can do something about it. 

    I do want to leave you with one thing. Medication is not a cure; think of it as a tool. It can help you achieve your goals, but only if used correctly.

  • Trans acceptance falls short at the Vatican

    Trans acceptance falls short at the Vatican

    By Alexandra Berrocal

    According to AP News, on Monday the Vatican blasted gender-affirming surgeries as against the will of G-d. They are now on par with abortion and physican-assisted suicide in Catholic doctrine. This is a mistake. The document recently released by the Church says that biological sex cannot change, that G-d made the sexes different, and that people shouldn’t tinker with it or play G-d. According to AP, what Pope Francis said is that gender-affirming surgeries threaten the unique dignity of a human being. He distinguishes between gender affirming surgeries and “abnormalities” present at birth or which become present later, which the Church supports medical intervention for.

    Well, if gender affirming surgeries are an affront to human dignity, is dying not an affront to that dignity? According to Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, the suicide rate among trans people is 32% to 50% across the world. Trans people experience bullying, violence, discrimination, being rejected by their kin and friends, harassment from the police and the public, and ill treatment in the health care system. Those are just a few of the problems that trans people face. Rejection of gender affirming care doesn’t help.

    The conservative Catholic church has attempted to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ community in recent years. The conservative church now blesses same-sex couples, or so I hear. This is a step in the right direction. However, this step by the church feels like an attempt by the church to have its cake and eat it too. Some churches are more welcoming than others. This opinion doesn’t represent the more welcoming churches out there. The conservative church wants trans people in their congregations, but at the same time they don’t want them to authentically exist as members of the gender of their heart. You can’t have it both ways. Either you reject trans people, or you accept them for who they are; there really is no middle ground. Expecting them to live and function as members of their birth gender in the church, while tooting your own horn at how accepting you are of trans people, is sickening. It is bigotry, while pretending it is the opposite. Catholicism has to oppose this sort of spirit. It corrodes the dignity of a person, and it corrodes the dignity of the church. The Vatican has to be better than this. The document at least focuses on human dignity. The section on trans people just takes a tragic step backwards.

    Alexandra Berrocal is an asexual Lumberjack reporter that attends Cal Poly Humboldt. She is a Unitarian Universalist. They attend the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship semi-regularly and take inspiration from Buddhism in their religious practice.

  • Jasmin’s corner; what-ifs

    Jasmin’s corner; what-ifs

    Hello Jasmin, 

    I have this special person with whom I had a long standing relationship with. Going to college sort of brought an end to things and we came to a mutual understanding, so the breakup wasn’t bad at all and we’re still friends. It’s been 3 long hard lame ass years and she still pollutes my mind – it’s ridiculous. I can say I’m over the emotional heartbreak, but I still think I’m hung up on the idea that something might come of the future when I’m making big money and able to support that type of relationship. I saw them recently after a year or two of not talking and they seemed interested, though maybe I’m delusional. What’re your thoughts on revisiting relationships and do you think it’d be a good idea to try and pick up the pieces, or should I continue on as is? 

    Friend, you’re not over the emotional heartbreak or the girl. Leaving for any reason besides losing feelings or realizing your partner was actually a bum the whole time is always going to leave you with unresolved feelings and daydream-ey what-ifs. 

    If you think she’s interested, I don’t see why you wouldn’t at least try – especially if you’re not long distance. If you are, consider where you might both be in the future before you get too excited. No one should have to suffer through a long distance rekindle with an ex. You very obviously are holding out for this girl, so I definitely recommend not seeking anyone else romantically until you figure out your feelings and what to do with them. We don’t want anyone else getting their feelings hurt. 

    I don’t know the reasons behind your breakup, but I do insist that you reflect on the bad parts of your relationship and not only the warm, fuzzy memories. I will never tell you not to follow your heart – I actually encourage it. If you don’t think the timing is right, you’re right – it never is. We’re given the cards we’re dealt and have to figure out how to play them accordingly. You can show your love without having a big money job. The future isn’t promised and we have to act while the people we love are still around us. Just try to not be too aggressive or forthcoming with it.

    All in all, the only person that can tell you what to do is you. Would you rather suffer through the what-ifs or just find out for yourself? Is finding out for yourself worth the potential let-down of a second breakup? You tell me. 

    xoxo,

  • To fuck or not to fuck… your co-workers

    To fuck or not to fuck… your co-workers

    By Christina Mehr and Andres Felix Romero

    To fuck:

    Do you like making money? Do you like making love? Well, why not combine the two?

    I believe in messing around with the people you work with. The dating pool in Humboldt is already limited, so you have to take them where you can get them. If you’re already spread so thin between classes, homework, and work, why not get spread by someone you are literally getting paid to see? It’s the best of both worlds. 

    There’s plenty of benefits to being in cahoots with your coworkers, like getting to flirt with them in passing, sharing rides to work if you share the same schedule, or sneaking away together on breaks. On the plus side, if your work is getting overwhelming, you can turn that into sexual frustration towards that coworker. It creates some fun and exciting drama in an otherwise boring workplace. Having a work crush is amusing and gives you some more motivation to actually want to go to work. 

    However, I understand the opposing side of, ‘what if we break up or get in trouble?’ or whatever, but honestly if you’re at a minimum-wage college job, just go ahead and do it for the plot. 

    To not fuck:

    Workplace romance – it’s fun and exciting, but also a potential threat to you and your emotional wellbeing. I’m not disagreeing that a romance in the workplace isn’t a bit of a thrill, but from another perspective, you might be walking into a game where everybody can lose. 

    Obviously, things can get awkward if the passion fizzles out. Breakups hurt and can be as devastating as losing a loved one. Sometimes, breakups can be amicable. However, how many of you have had those relationships (or situationships) end with your gut feeling like it’s been poisoned? The lovely person who once made you smile suddenly turns into a bitter and painful relationship? 

    Want to know the cherry on top of the heartbreak cake? Imagine losing someone you care deeply about, then seeing them when you walk into the place that pays your bills, and seeing customers flirt with your former beloved. Jealousy is a poison, and it’ll infest your workplace and create tensions and conditions that are toxic and unbearable.

    Now, flirting in itself is a whole other beast of ethics, however the general rule is to back the hell off when someone isn’t showing interest or signs that they’re uncomfortable. At a bar or party, it’s easier for someone who isn’t interested to get some distance from your flirting skills. At a workplace, your crush is probably stuck with you. Do you really want to risk making your crush uncomfortable? Do you really want to make it awkward when y’all work together? Do you really want to go to human resources (HR)?

    If you have a little crush, it’s not the end of the world. A lesson I’ve learned is that it can be harder to control our feelings, but we are in control of our actions. I agree that the rush can be fun, but all highs have to come down when we come back to reality. It’s like a bong rip just before a morning class. It sounds great, and for a while, you feel like you’re walking on the clouds doing something you really shouldn’t be doing.

  • From the psych ward to the newsroom

    From the psych ward to the newsroom

    By Savana Robinson

    March 8, 2023, I was released from a psychiatric facility with two diagnoses: schizophrenia and bipolar I. A year later, I’m doing better than ever. I’ve got a nice job as a multimedia journalist, I’m close to graduating, and I have a great group of people who care about me. Getting here wasn’t easy – I had to reconstruct myself as a person. It took a lot of support, therapy, and medication, but I did it.

    I went back to the fundamentals of me. I left Humboldt and moved back into my childhood bedroom in Redwood Valley. The pink walls with pastel butterflies and flowers, my rock collection, and my numerous stuffed animals helped gently bring me back to where I needed to be.

    The first few weeks of being back in the world were scary. I wasn’t in psychosis anymore, but the paranoia and hallucinations of onset schizophrenia were still present. I had been started on medication for it a few days before I was released, but it still took some time and help to be manageable. I’ve been in therapy since the day I got out of the facility, which has helped tremendously. Of course, I chopped off my hair. Some people believe that hair holds on to memories, so I got a bob. I loved it for a while, but I eventually mourned my long hair. 

    Per my routine-abiding father’s suggestions, I started by waking up early, making my bed, walking the dogs, and making breakfast. I took it one day at a time and eventually, I was thriving. I had to drop advanced photojournalism, and I couldn’t use the school’s camera anymore, but I love taking photos, so I bought my own. 

    Photography is another form of therapy for me. It’s relaxing and lets me express my creativity. I got a job doing photography and blog writing at a mini golf course in Ukiah. I continued with a few of my classes from home, doing online work when I wasn’t taking pictures. I finished out the semester and by the summer, I felt that my medications had leveled out enough to feel “normal.” I didn’t feel like I was moving through jello anymore.

    Halfway through the summer, I decided that I wanted to go back to Humboldt, despite my parents’ protest. I found out my friend had a vacant room, so I moved back to Arcata and went back to school in person. I was a bit nervous, but I was confident that I would be fine. I worked on The Lumberjack and continued to take photos. I started doing sports photography and made some money doing it. I even did my first wedding photography gig. In January, I got my job at Redwood News. I’m just getting started in my career, but I’m optimistic for the future.

    After being released from the psychiatric facility, I had no idea where I’d be in a year. I was hopeful that I’d be somewhat successful, but I didn’t expect to be working as a professional journalist. If I had to do my year of healing all over again, I’d do it the same, because I’m very happy with how I turned out.

  • It’s a small world, after all

    It’s a small world, after all

    By Carlina Grillo

    ‌These days, there are multiple forms of sightseeing. There’s the typical guided tours, pub hopping, gift shops, and getting lost. Then, there’s Tinder.

    ‌Using Tinder abroad took sightseeing to a whole new perspective—that perspective being from the depths of the dating pool.

    I am writing to you from across the pond, all the way from Ireland, where I am currently sitting on a bus on my way to Cork.

    ‌Besides writing for The Lumberjack and watching raindrops roll down the bus windows, there are limited activities for these long travel days.

    ‌Social media is pretty boring when most of my mutuals are still sleeping. The seven hour time difference means when I’m sipping on my morning cappuccino, or on my mid-day bus ride, the only people up are the night owls and insomniacs.

    ‌That’s when I switched to Tinder, social media for the single and bored. I’ve noticed two things about Irish Tinder: half of the men are named Seán (or some other variation of Shawn) and 99% of Tinder cover photos are group photos. When you figure out who in the group the profile belongs to, it’s never the one you had hoped for. It’s especially difficult when the European men are friends with people who look exactly like them. I can go through an entire profile never knowing who’s who.

    ‌So, here I am, scrolling on Tinder as I’m leaving Galway, and I see another familiar face. This person however didn’t have a group photo, didn’t have a stereotypical European profile and what caught my attention the most was a photo from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This man is either a tourist in Galway or has been a tourist around my stomping grounds. Either way, there’s some commonality.

    ‌I swiped right and it was a match. Immediately, I asked if he was from Ireland.

    “Yes! I lived in America for a good while… didn’t we go to school together?” He asked.

    ‌Then it all clicked. His face was familiar because we attended the same small town high school in the Santa Cruz mountains. Turns out, he moved from Ireland to California, and then back to Galway. What are the odds?

    ‌And maybe this coincidence wouldn’t have blown my mind so much if it was my first encounter within this teeny tiny world.

    ‌What I failed to mention was my plane ride to Ireland from SFO. I sat in the terminal with my friend waiting to board our Aer Lingus direct flight to Dublin. From the corner of my eye, I see another familiar face. Sure enough, I wasn’t the only Cal Poly Humboldt student who had traveled from Arcata to SF to Dublin for Spring break.

    I felt a sense of déjà vu as a classmate from my women’s studies lecture sat right down the row, just like we had done in the classroom 48 hours prior. I wasn’t completely sure it was them until 11 hours later when we caught the same bus into town. It was clear we caught each other by surprise, experiencing our first moments in Ireland together. Again, what are the odds?

    ‌Needless to say, my first time abroad, from one rainy city to another, I’ve been feeling right at home and  as the Irish say, céad míle fáilte – or one hundred thousand welcomes.

  • Jasmin’s Corner; making friends

    Jasmin’s Corner; making friends

    Dear Jasmin,

    i’ve struggled since elementary to make friends, and i’m having the same trouble in college. i’ve developed bad social anxiety from bullying and a stutter when talking to people as well, which is a stark contrast with making friends online, as i’m loud and over excited when behind the screen. i know the answer isn’t just “go outside more” because i’ve been trying that for years, is there any advice you have?

    While i may not have much advice that you haven’t already heard before, I can offer some comfort and solace in the fact that I’ve heard this same complaint from a number of my friends, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s almost as if being in isolation for damn near three years took a toll on everyone’s social abilities. 

    If you’re comfortably active online, there are various communities on different platforms, such as Discord, Instagram, even YikYak, where you can perhaps find someone locally to form a strong enough relationship online that it can be transferred to a physical friendship. obviously, when it comes to making friends on the internet, you have to be really careful about what information you give and who you give it to, but I have so many online friends that I’ve had since I was 14, that I’m still close with at the age of 21, so there are definitely good people out there.

    If you’re a Humboldt local, I know the Humboldt discord is regularly and actively used. you could also find communities with similar interests on Instagram by looking up keywords relating to your hobbies. Rock climbing, skate night, Dungeons and Dragons – those are just a few activities in the community that I know for a fact gather frequently. 

    The most important thing you can do, and I know you’ve heard it before, is put yourself out there in those positions to meet people. However, if meeting people online comes easiest to you, try to find a local online community that you could potentially feel comfortable meeting with in person. 

    xoxo,

    jasmin

  • Jasmin’s Corner; getting back into dating

    Jasmin’s Corner; getting back into dating

    Dear Jasmin,

    I’ve been single for a little over a year now and I’m starting to want to date again, but I’m having a hard time meeting people here. I don’t like parties, I don’t really like online dating, and I’m terrified to just walk up to someone and start a conversation. What should I do?

    You are in one of the best and worst positions of your life right now. The world is your oyster, but the oyster has parasites – the oyster being the dating pool. 

    While you have taken the time to become emotionally available, we unfortunately live in a society that feels like it prides itself on being lonely. There’s a whole bunch of new rules and games that seem to have appeared out of nowhere. The 3-6-9 rule, not texting back too fast, icks; every little move is analyzed and implies something. It can be hard to maneuver back into, but as long as you keep your heart open and don’t compromise your standards, the right person will stumble across your path. 

    Getting back into dating is more about practicing being out of your comfort zone than anything. I hate dating apps too, so don’t even bother. It’s a cesspool everywhere filled with poor intentions, but Humboldt especially has a heinously limited amount of profile swiping before you’ve completely lost hope in the dating pool around here. 

    Try talking to some people in your classes, joining a club either on or off-campus, or posting on the Humboldt Craigslist missed connections section. That’ll for sure get you some kind of response, though it may be a phallic photograph. 

    When you do approach someone new, or when you are approached, try thinking of it as making a new friend instead of meeting your future partner. This might help with the anxiety of striking up a conversation. Find something of theirs to compliment and feel out the vibe. More often than not, you meet your person when you’re least expecting it. 

    xoxo,

    Jasmin

  • I love bagels, but not these ones

    I love bagels, but not these ones

    By Zack Mink

    I love bagels. Fresh, warm, crispy, chewy, and loaded up with toppings. There’s really nothing like a bagel on a Saturday morning, or a bacon egg and cheese on an everything bagel.

    That being said, I have very strong opinions when it comes to bagels. I don’t like sweet bagels – no cinnamon raisin, no chocolate chips, and especially no blueberry. I also don’t think those flavors should be mixed into cream cheese.

    Recently, I went to a local bagel shop to get my classic order. An everything bagel with cream cheese, lox, tomatoes, capers, and green onions. The perfect blend of savory, salty, squishy, and crunchy, topped with that final half of a freshly toasted bagel. I ordered with difficulty as they looked at me with confused eyes. They questioned my order as if it was a long math equation, wondering how to make my bagel as a sandwich. 

    I waited despite the line being long, only to discover that my bagel was served to me with all of my toppings on one half, and a completely plain, dry, other half. No cream cheese, no butter; nothing. This made me question myself. Was my order complicated? Is a bagel sandwich a crazy thing to order? 

    I ate my unsatisfying bagel with these thoughts running through my head, finally coming to the conclusion that no, I’m not crazy. Bagels are sold all over the country, and the world typically, as a sandwich with both sides encasing the toppings. This open-faced, half-filled with toppings, half-plain bagel was in fact not the status quo. 

    Not only was I not satisfied with this bagel, but the bagels in Humboldt generally do not satisfy me. Coming from Los Angeles and the Bay Area, I’ve had the privilege of eating a truly fantastic bagel. Crunchy on the outside, fluffy and chewy on the inside, light yet filling, served as a sandwich.

    My opinion is that bagels in Humboldt don’t hit the same. Maybe I have high standards, or maybe something is just objectively not as good as it could be. Either way, my search for good bagels continues. Maybe I’ll learn to make them myself and go above and beyond, or maybe I’ll find that one bagel that just really hits the spot.