By Mia Costales

Say goodbye to hot wax, lasers and razors. Forget spending hours in the shower trying to get that perfect landing strip — you can finally stop shaving your bikini line raw everytime you want to wear a bathing suit. Instead, allow me to present: full bush in a bikini, the newest TikTok trend amongst Gen-Z creators. 

The trending phrase started after TikTok creator, Sujindah, uploaded a video of them chanting “full bush in a bikini” with increasing excitement. They went on to explain that they were radicalized by an Etsy review of a woman sporting a ‘full bush’ in a bikini. The video currently has over 15 million views and has sparked a new pubic hair trend in Gen-Z favoring a more au-naturel look. 

This trend has presumably picked up some traction in response to Trump’s return to office, in an attempt to advocate for bodily autonomy and subvert traditional beauty standards. Brooke Stafford, a junior geology student at Cal Poly Humboldt, weighed in on this trend.

“The times I did shave, it was never for me. It was always as a service to whoever I was with. I don’t think I fully understood that I wasn’t doing it for me, and when I did, I stopped shaving,” Stafford said. “I think shaving culture is quite harmful. Hair is there for a reason and removing it can potentially cause negative health effects.” 

Stafford also attributed her decision to keep her hair to her belief that you shouldn’t conform to your partner’s preferences.   

“I also think it’s slightly strange that some people have a preference for hairless partners. Humans naturally have hair and to have an issue with that is, in my opinion, questionable,” Stafford said. “Not shaving has been awesome, it has helped me accept who I am, not who others want me to be.” 

A prominent reason in feminist circles for keeping body hair is the refusal to participate in harmful patriarchal practices, such as the infantilization of women. Many feminist scholars have theorized that pornography plays a large part in pubic hair trends and helps determine what an attractive, sexually desirable woman looks like at a specific moment in time. Unfortunately, there is a disturbing correlation between sexually desirable traits in a woman and that of prepubescent children, namely submission, higher-pitched voices, and hairlessness. 

“If the choice to remove body hair is to serve the needs and expectations of anyone else except for the individual’s choice, then it can contribute to ideas like infantilization,” Paul Michael Leonardo Atienza, assistant professor in the department of critical race, gender & sexuality studies said. “Infantilization relates to seeing a person like a child, unable to make their own responsible choices about their bodies. To be sex-positive, we must value all the different forms of bodies in the world, and reflect on how our wants and desires are informed through systems that police and surveil each other.” 

However, we are starting to see this beauty standard get turned on its head as the decision to keep body hair is getting more and more popular. In a recent poll by Substack author, Jessica Defino, 50 percent of men out of over 14,000 people reported to have no preference for their partner’s pubic hair. Over 71 percent of men reported that they had never been turned off by their partner’s pubic hair. While these percentages may be an assurance to let it grow, most have stopped shaving for themselves.  

“I used to hate my body hair because I was taught from a young age that it was bad to have body hair, especially while I was swimming competitively,” Valeria Reggi, a senior environmental science major said. “The pandemic hit and cut the last few months of my season short and I decided I was gonna see how long my shit could grow.. It’s also helped me out a lot in exploring my gender fluidity. I learned that I actually didn’t hate my body hair, it was just everyone else that did.” 

By Griffin Mancuso

My regular coping skill when faced with a potential looming dictatorship is to keep moving forward and find joy in the little things, but I can’t seem to escape reminders of that orange fuckwad. My dog sport club scrambled to buy all the equipment we might need for this year before the tariffs kicked in, my doctor stockpiled my medication just in case and my dad received emails trying to scare people into quitting their federal job.

I haven’t felt this level of despair since I was a teenager loaded up on Zoloft. Fear clings in the air like an overpowering Febreze air freshener. Everyone is overwhelmed and afraid. 

The devil works hard, but fascism works harder. We must remain vigilant and strike a balance between staying informed and not letting Trump’s “shock and awe” tactic overpower us.

Trump’s Use of The Shock Doctrine

Naomi Klein explains in her book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, how political figures use times of crisis to push unpopular policies promoting corporate interests and leaving marginalized groups too overwhelmed to organize and resist. While some critics believe the book makes assumptions and oversimplifications of capitalism and its impacts, this idea of economic “shock therapy” mirrors Trump’s onslaught of executive orders.

Within his first couple weeks of office, he signed dozens upon dozens of executive orders, which impacted everything from access to gender-affirming care, immigration and citizenship, climate change, medical research, and more. In other words, throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks. Executive orders, along with memos and proclamations, are ways for the president to shape government policy without going through the legislative process. 

Executive orders are not laws, and they cannot be enforced in the same ways as laws. However, they do encourage change in the way federal employees interact with the public, resulting in inconsistent enforcement and further confusion. Executive orders also cannot be overturned or require approval from Congress. However, Congress can block some executive orders if they are considered to be unconstitutional or outside the president’s authority.

Power in Paranoia

Historically, fascism caters to the dominant cultural group and sells them the idea of victimhood and supposed loss. Trump tells his followers — many of them white, fundamentalist Christians — that immigrants, queer people, and liberalism are a threat to their way of life. By selling the narrative of oppression, he is able to foster a collective rage and fear against an imaginary enemy. The Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol are a result of this method. While he is generally a stupid, bumbling oaf, he’s unfortunately somehow managed to create a charismatic persona that allows him to sell the false promises of fascism.

Fascism cannot be sustained by one person or one oligarchy, but relies on the establishment of a panopticon. Citizens become their own enforcers, and citizens then behave as if they’re always being watched. On Jan. 22, federal employees received an email from the Trump administration requiring them to report any secret Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in their agencies, or face potential consequences. DEI offices in federal agencies exist to prevent discrimination in the hiring process and in the workplace, provide accommodations, host trainings, and more. Their services benefit everyone from LGBTQ+ employees to veterans. Fascism’s reliance on fear extends not only through the general public, but the employees within its government. With the removal of DEI in federal agencies, many Trump voters will realize that they were not a part of the dominant cultural group that Trump was catering to. They will be left in the dust.

How to Resist and Persist

Fascism has caused a lot of harm throughout history, but many fascist regimes have also fallen. We must continue to look out for one another, know our legal rights when interacting with federal employees and law enforcement, and promote the truth in the face of consequence. Truth is the foundation of democracy, and we need the truth in order to live as independent citizens.

It is nearly impossible for one person to keep track of all of the legislative changes happening right now, which is why it’s so important to share this burden with your community. Keep tabs on a handful of issues you really care about and exchange information with others. Take advantage of the resources available on campus, such as the Queer Resource Center or El Centro.

No one should expect you to find a silver lining right now. You don’t need to remain optimistic in the face of fascism, but you need to remain alert and prepared. It’s okay to feel upset or distraught or full of unadulterated rage. You can remain alert of all the what-ifs while still taking care of yourself. Apathy and passivity may seem like the easier option, but that is the poison to progress. Keep going and stay safe. There are people around the world cheering us on.

Griffin Mancuso is a journalism major and managing editor for The Lumberjack. He has written for every category in the paper and is an award-winning graphic designer. His goals with his writing are uplifting marginalized communities, keeping the public informed, and helping people see the light at the end of the tunnel.

By Eli Farrington

Since the birth of our nation, the United States of America has made one mistake after another, in what I like to view as a grand symphony of fuck-ups and bullshit. With each new cycle around the sun, I look back and think to myself, ‘Wow, what a truly horrible year. There’s no way the next one could get any worse!’ And every year, I eat those words. 

So this year, as the beginning of 2025 ushers in a new era of darkness, I have come to the conclusion that there must be a reason that all this terrible shit keeps happening — some sort of divine power that’s controlling it all, some sort of unseen force pulling the strings from behind the curtains. This force of darkness, this conduit of evil, this sinister vessel of untamed power and ungodly wickedness, is Groundhog Day. 

No matter what direction that grubby little fucker looks when he pokes his dumb little head out of his hole, something bad ends up happening. So, why the hell does it even matter whether or not we’re getting six more weeks of winter if the planet’s just gonna keep getting warmer? If you ask me, a groundhog predicting the weather makes about as much sense as a sewer rat betting on the Superbowl, but hey, I’m just a journalism major at a school for potheads. What do I know?

America is a total shit show, the planet is dying, and there are a million other batshit crazy things going on in the world, but apparently Groundhog Day is sacred and we must celebrate it every year without fail. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. I firmly believe that our country’s obsession with Groundhog Day is unhealthy, and that the holiday itself is foolish, dimwitted, and downright nonsensical. If you don’t believe me, here is a list of facts to show you just how incredibly bonkers it really is. 

First and foremost, this year marks the 11th anniversary of former New York Mayor Bill “Butterfingers” De Blasio dropping, AND KILLING, Staten Island Chuck, who was New York’s official “groundhog meteorologist” at the time. Yes, this actually happened, yes the groundhog really died, and yes, that was actually its job title. Apparently, the Staten Island Zoo even tried to sweep the whole thing under the rug, which created a huge scandal. Don’t believe me? Look it up. 

Still not convinced? Well, try this one on for size. Groundhog Day is more than just a quirky piece of American Folklore. It was brought to America in the 1700s by Germans who settled in Pennsylvania. The official Groundhog Forecaster, a Pennsylvanian groundhog by the name of Punxsutawney Phil, is allegedly 138 years old, and according to his “inner circle” — which is basically just a bunch of guys in top hats — the secret to his immortality is a magical punch known as the “elixir of life.” Give me a fucking break. I predict six more weeks of bullshit in the forecast.  

Here’s another one for you. Punxsutawney Phil’s full name is “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.” I swear, if I were an alien and I came down to earth on Feb. 2, I would think that Punxsutawney Phil was America’s God. The ancient Greek god of weather was the mighty Zeus. The best we could come up with was a goddamn woodchuck from Pennsylvania. I hate it here. 

If none of this convinced you that Groundhog day is a dumb holiday, then let’s take a look at it from a statistical standpoint. Punxsutawney Phil has an accuracy rating of only 35%, which means that you would literally have a better chance of predicting the weather by flipping a coin. 

We’ve got bigger fish to fry, America. I’m all for fun traditions, but this is straight-up ridiculous. Leave the groundhogs in the ground, and the weather in the sky.

Eli Farrington is a highly intelligent human life form working as the opinion editor for The Lumberjack. In his free time, he enjoys analyzing the complexities of the human condition. His passion for journalism knows no boundaries and exceeds time and space itself. 

By Noah Pond

Ahhh, Trader Joe’s. What wouldn’t I do to have one here in Humboldt? Can you afford the food that you buy here in Arcata and Eureka? I cannot. Money isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to come by as a full-time student, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to get delicious grub-grub for affordable prices.

Trader Joe’s is ridiculously good for so many reasons. It has cheap frozen meals that are actually so buss and are ready in just minutes. I know most of you are not tryna come home after a long day at school or work, make rice for 30 minutes and then fry it with veggies or chicken for another 15-ish minutes. You could just buy a bag of that stuff from TJ’s for $2.99 — like, what? Some of you are spending so much on a different kind of bag when you could have a whole damn meal for three bucks.

Not to mention the liquor section goes dumb — like a 6-pack of IPA for $5.99 is insane. That’s a dollar a beer. That’s the way beer was intended to be. At Safeway, which is where I see most of you loading up on booze on Friday and Saturday nights, a 6-pack costs $12.99. What if you want some shots? You stand at the alcohol aisle for like 8 minutes trying to figure out what the cheapest vodka is and you just settle on a 750ml bottle of Tito’s like always and pay $18. On the other hand, if you went to TJ’s, you could get the same size bottle 10 times distilled for only $9.99.

I feel like I should be getting paid to write this because this jawn is sounding like an ad. My point is Trader Joe’s is blowing the other stores out of the water with their prices. 

Another thing TJ’s does that no other grocery store can do is product mashing and entertaining package designs. They make things that you never knew could go together, and these fusions go together better than you ever could have imagined. The pickle-in-a-chip potato chips, pizza ranch salad kit, and their crispy potato & poblano pepper tacos are just a few great examples. 

Also, think of how many job opportunities it would create up here. I have two roommates running all around Arcata and Eureka right now passing out resumes with no luck. 

I know that Trader Joe’s is not the best company, and like any other major corporation they cut corners. But how can you get those sweet, sweet deals without a little rat shit in your wine? 

The options in Arcata are The North Coast Co-op, Wildberries, and Safeway. The Co-op is lit, dude. If I was rolling in dough, I would go there constantly. Sadly, that is not the case, so I only drop in for the occasional sandwich when I’m feeling frisky. Wildberries is cool, I guess. Their breakfast sandwiches are pretty convenient, but it’s just as expensive as the Co-op, and don’t try to steal from them or you could probably be assaulted by a manager, which has happened before as reported by The Lumberjack in Feb. 2023. That leaves Safeway, which I know all you mofos are stealing from, so that makes it the cheapest option. At the Co-op and Wildberries, there is a little bit of a sense of community with all the nice dread-headed white people. I remember going to Trader Joe’s as a kid and looking all over the whole damn store for the little monkey or whatever other stuffed animal they had hidden. Getting the kids involved probably makes such a difference for the parents when shopping. 

I don’t think union busting or denying the rules the labor board has laid down are right, but I also don’t have money to shop locally everytime I shop, and I know a lot of you are in the same boat. Trader Joe’s would take some pressure off my pockets at least while I’m in college. I have the whole rest of my life to shop locally and spend $20 on a half-pound of steak whilst I march around in my Birkenstock Bostons. 

Noah Pond is a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt and the managing editor of the Lumberjack. In his free time enjoys fine wine, his skateboard, and discovering new ways the world works never seen before.

By Griffin Mancuso

Trader Joe’s appears to encapsulate everything the average Humboldtian wants — a variety of produce, healthy foods and snacks, dozens of vegetarian alternatives, cheap booze, casual conversation with hot cashiers — all at an astonishingly low price. Everything down to the hand-drawn labels makes the store feel like a local farmer’s market, but that is what makes it so dangerous. Trader Joe’s quirky, laid-back aesthetic lulls you into a false sense of security and makes you forget that shopping there is no different than a Safeway or an Albertsons.

Everyone and their grandmother wants a Trader Joe’s in Humboldt. At one point, that hope was so strong that the student body believed a satirical Dumberjack article claiming a Trader Joe’s was opening in the Depot. I once chose to extend a road trip by two hours just to stop in Redding and get food from Trader Joe’s. I love $4 wine as much as the next guy, but having a Trader Joe’s in Humboldt would ultimately leave destruction in its wake.

We all know how large companies monopolize local markets and squeeze local businesses out of the picture. After the pandemic, this problem has only been exacerbated and many local businesses were forced to shut down or lay off workers. Stores in Arcata vanish soon after they arrive due to not being able to keep up with rent costs.

As a result, if Trader Joe’s comes into the picture, local grocery stores like the North Coast Co-op and Eureka Whole Foods will be slowly suffocated. The allure of affordable chicken wraps and multigrain chips will result in the loss of jobs and access to locally-sourced produce. We will lose the places that add character to Humboldt and help connect us with our community. With apathetic billionaires soon to be in charge of our country, I’m not keen on giving large corporations more of my money.

Beyond the oversaturation of grocery store chains, it is impossible to buy cheap food products without corners being cut. One of Trader Joe’s cheapest options for alcohol is their famous Charles Shaw wine, known as the “Two Buck Chuck” — although it is no longer $2. Bronco Wine has been able to keep production costs low with the location of their vineyards, using cheaper bottles and cartons, making a whopping 90 million gallons of wine a year, and fully automating the harvesting process with machines. 

Selling wine at such a low price only reveals more questions and concerns about liveable wages for employees and where other cuts are being made. Large-scale wine production leaves more chance for potential contaminants in the wine, such as animal matter. 

In response to these concerns, former CEO and creator of Two Buck Chuck Fred Franzia told CNBC, “If you worry about things like that, you shouldn’t eat anything, you shouldn’t drink anything. When the wine’s fermenting, they’re going to eliminate anything that’s possibly there.” 

This apathetic and vague response does not reassure me about the possible presence of bird shit in my wine, or the ethics of the company in general. You’ll be getting what you pay for.

This apathy is also present in Trader Joe’s company ethics as a whole. Last year, Trader Joe’s along with several large corporations like Amazon, Starbucks, and SpaceX sought to have the National Labor Relations Board declared unconstitutional. The NLRB is an independent federal agency that seeks to protect workers in the private sector and address unfair labor practices. Is the frozen orange chicken worth supporting union busting?

I am well aware of how expensive shopping at local businesses is. My trips to my local co-op are infrequent and slightly painful for my wallet. It’s not realistic to only shop local, but even an occasional trip can contribute to our local economy. More importantly, your money will be going to people who live here and care about our community enough to deal with the hassle of owning a grocery store.

Any potential benefits of a Trader Joe’s are not guaranteed and risk many people losing their jobs and businesses. The cost of items at local grocery stores reflects the care and effort of everyone involved. The money spent at a Trader Joe’s will just funnel up to Theo Albrecht Jr. and his family, who have a net worth of $14.2 billion. They do not need your money, and we do not need a Trader Joe’s.

There is no ethical consumption under capitalism, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. The 597 Trader Joe’s locations will still be waiting for you when you travel out of town. Our local grocery stores only have one location, maybe a few if they’re lucky, so we should try to appreciate what they have to offer. They have an inherent knowledge of our community and you can take comfort in knowing who your money is going to. You can enjoy browsing through local produce and food products that you won’t find anywhere else. Trader Joe’s can’t replace that. 

If you really want to shop at a grocery store with ethical issues and evil owners, you don’t have to look very far.

Griffin Mancuso is a journalism major and managing editor for The Lumberjack. He has written stories for every category in the paper, but particularly enjoys writing human-centric stories. He has also freelanced for the North Coast Journal and News Decoder.

By Noah Pond

You ever pull up to a stop sign in Arcata and it just feels like a four-way duel from an old western movie? You got like three other cars and no one really knows what’s going on.

It’s a mix of a couple of things; First off Humboldt County was ranked first in worst counties for drunk driving fatalities in a study done by an east coast law firm published by ABC 7 KRCR. Secondly, the studies show you mf’s suck at driving. 

There are three types of drivers in Arcata: 

The ones who use the stop signs properly, who are extremely chill — like, shout out to you for knowing the rules of the road and obeying them. You come to a complete stop and wait the extra 5 seconds before you get on with your day. I applaud you.

Then, you have the bruhs who do not stop. Like, literally will just roll through the jawn no matter how many people stopped before them — this may be due to the third type of person. I saw one of these people hit a biker at the Sunset Ave nine-way stop a couple months ago and bro just kept rolling, as they do. The biker was fine, but got up quickly and cussed out the driver. 

The third type are the ones who stop until every other person has gone through the intersection. I think these people might be the worst of the bunch. You’ll stop and they will already be stopped and so you wave them on and then they wave you on back. You kinda just slowly roll past them in confusion. How high do you have to be to just chill at a stop sign all day? From my analysis, these people are mostly locals and Subaru Outback drivers. 

Earlier this week, I was driving up G St. and stopped at the 11th St. stop sign, as one does. I came to a complete stop as a pedestrian stepped out into the crosswalk and I suddenly realized it was a blind woman with a service dog — sadly, I was the only one who seemed to realize this. Everyone else did one of those three things that drivers in Arcata do so well. She stopped like four or five steps into the crosswalk and pointed across the street in the direction she was trying to cross. 

These types of people make driving through town an absolute challenge, and it really shouldn’t be. There is a stop sign damn near every other block in Arcata, but I guess all you city slickers are just used to stop lights. 

If you have ever driven in Arcata, you know you’re gonna have to use a damn stop sign — they’re everywhere. The question is, how will you choose to use it? Which kind of Arcata stop sign user are you? I hope you think of this article the next time you pull up to a stop sign and act accordingly. 

by Emma Wilson

Beginning at the end 

From a complicated messy storm 

I begin to bend 

My forever pondering mind 

From east to west 

Controlled by an everlasting grind 

I must never think I’m the best 

For I’m just a little spec in the ash 

Born at the beginning of the century 

I begin to fear of the last bash 

We are now forming exponentially

That forms as I hear the world roar

Through and through the dead 

Feeling decomposed isn’t a bore 

I get caught in the existential dread

Living to feel wild and free 

Forced to be content

I break out of the sea 

And become one with the cement

Through hope and love 

I find myself uncomfortable 

Facing the realities of a sticky glove 

I often struggle 

To find the meaning behind it all

Within those I surround myself with

I know for sure it will fall

But I must listen to the myth

Through all this time 

I begin to wonder 

With a flip of a dime

Through the roars of thunder 

And tears which told  

I learn to go with the flow

With endless water our earth can hold 

Learning how the world can grow

While questioning the never endless mold

Hearing the truth of corporate oath 

Makes my stomach churn 

In the end, I must lay within my outgrowth

For in the end, I must lay and learn 

That I am whole

And steady

Instead of being blind like a mole 

I am forever ready

to live within this chaos 

And to be ok with the beast that’s steady

Within the wrath of loss 

Redefining success: The college journey that changed my perspective

This past week, I found myself cleaning up my room in an attempt to avoid working on the massive amount of homework I have to finish before the end of the semester. I ended up coming across a letter that I had forgotten about that was tucked away in my desk drawer. The letter was part of an assignment in a seminar class I took my first semester at Humboldt almost 8 years ago. The assignment was simple; write down your goals for the semester, five years from now and ten years from now. 

I wrote that 8 years ago. In all honesty, it was difficult to look at what I thought my life was going to look like when I was 18 and what my life is at 26. If my life went exactly like I had hoped, I would have graduated several years ago, become a licensed engineer, got engaged, and  already bought a house. Instead, I am in a completely different major, I am with a different partner, and have lived in the same apartment for 7 years. 

The college experience has been rough for me. It has involved failed classes, a major change, a two-year break from school, and a stint at College of the Redwoods. For a long time, I felt like a failure. I was stuck in a cycle of feeling like I had disappointed my family and I carried a lot of shame around my inability to be a college graduate. It felt like every time I opened up Instagram, I was watching an old friend from high school graduate or accomplish things that I envisioned for myself.

I was obsessed with obtaining my goals and thought that you had to get to them by any means necessary. I remember reading a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson in high school and thinking how wrong it was — “It’s not the destination, It’s the journey.” I thought that it was pointless to go on the journey if you did not reach where you wanted to go. By this definition, I have not lived a successful life.

I realized during this process that my definition of what makes someone successful and living a fulfilled life has shifted. While I have yet to reach many of the goals I set for myself and left some of them behind, I am so happy that I have gone on this journey to be where I am today. I have gotten to attend Democratic Party Conferences, participate in Model United Nations, and met so many wonderful people throughout my time in college. I never would have thought I would be writing for a newspaper, but I somehow stumbled into that opportunity too.

My college journey has not been easy. I refuse to sugarcoat my challenges because it diminishes my story. I want you all to know that the struggles you may be going through during your schooling and your early adult years do not define you. I had started to think I would never graduate from college, but in three weeks I get to officially cross that off the list. 

As many of us look to the new year and begin to think about what we want to accomplish, do not be afraid to change your goals or put some on hold. We are at a time in our lives where our problems can seem insurmountable, but one of the important lessons I learned through my struggles with school is that we are often more capable than we give ourselves credit for. We all go through various challenges and hardships and we should not diminish those as we seek to become the people we want to be. Your college life is about learning how to confront some of these challenges and that no one is expected to be perfect. 

Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Success is subjective, so allow yourself to enjoy the journey. 

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

Familial Bonds and Political Boundaries: Why you should prioritize yourself this holiday season

By Jordan Huber

Fall break is almost here. In a few days, many of you will make your way back home, or spend the break with friends, and get some much needed rest. Unfortunately for some of you, that might mean dealing with some family members who are going to loudly and proudly state that their guy won the election. As much as the rest of the family might groan and try to change the subject, Uncle John will keep saying how great the next four years are going to be and how the country is back on track. You could decide that it’s time to stop dealing with years of his incoherent ramblings and that you are ready for holiday festivities to be a shot-for-shot remake of the Christmas episode in the show The Bear. If that situation applies to you, you might be wondering: is it worth it to spend the holidays with people who voted differently than you?

I am excluding Green Party and Peace and Freedom Party voters in our scenario. I think most of them voted with good intentions, also despised Trump, and had some real criticisms of Harris that we could agree on. So, we can be trusted to not throw carving knives at each other.

You are valid for feeling like you should distance yourself from people who voted differently than you if you think it is going to be detrimental for your mental and physical well-being. These feelings are even more intense for those who know that a Trump presidency means their rights are now in jeopardy. Reproductive healthcare, mass deportations, and marriage equality are all threatened now. For those who identify with communities that face that level of harm, I do not think that wanting to avoid people who support a man who is going to try to take away your rights is something you should dismiss. You do not need to play nice with the family for the day with folks who support a man found liable of sexual abuse. You have the right to look out for yourself and take the time to digest what has transpired. 

To give you some background on my extended family, one of my family members has openly been a part of the LGBTQ+ community for decades. They found the love of their life with someone who was the same sexual orientation as them. They spent a lifetime with a partner, who has sadly since passed, in a country that did not allow same-sex marriages nationwide until 2015. Never would I consider voting for someone who has nominated Supreme Court Justices that treat my family member’s marriage as second-rate to straight couples. My great-grandfather flew 73 missions in a B-26 bomber in World War II. To vote for Trump, who exemplifies similar traits and policies as the same authoritarians who my great-grandfather risked his life 73 times to try to stop, is the ultimate dishonor to his memory. I cannot understand why people in my own family have voted for Trump not once, but multiple times. 

I do my best to try to put aside these feelings of anger, to put on a brave face in spite of all the things I would like to say to them. I do not think it makes you weak or cowardly to choose to distance yourself permanently or to put them on timeout for a few months. If your family cannot understand why you are choosing not to participate in holiday celebrations with them, that speaks far more about them than it ever could about you. 

Take care of yourselves and be mindful of other people that you think are struggling the next few weeks. If you are in distress and are in need of help or a community, look to some of these on-campus resources: the Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence, the Women’s Resource Center, or the Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Center or the Counseling and Psychological Services. There is a community of people out here to support you, and sometimes that is the family who truly are worth spending your holidays with. 

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaFamilial Bonds and Political Boundaries

By Eli Farrington

Are you a bummy little college kid with an addictive personality and zero self control? Do your eyebrows cartoonishly perk up at the thought of a drunk ciggy? Or, perhaps your mouth begins to water as the scent of a Miami Mint Geek Bar wafts into the room. If you answered yes to any of these questions, I’m afraid you may be addicted to nicotine. 

I know that might be a hard pill for some of you to swallow, but trust me when I say that all hope is not lost. Fear not, fiends, for I once stood in your shoes. I hereby present to you my extremely unorthodox, somewhat fried, highly foolish, and yet surprisingly effective method that helped me to quit nicotine twice. Beware, that does not mean it will work for you.

Phase one: I had a couple of drinks. I don’t support binge drinking, or abuse of any substance for that matter, but I guess the whole technique sort of depended on this first step. The next day, I woke up with a nasty hangover, and the absolute last thing that I wanted was to consume nicotine in any form. I spent the rest of the day taking it easy, and before I knew it, I’d gone a whole day without nicotine. 

Phase two: When I woke up on day two, I was feeling pretty good. The thought of nicotine did pop into my head a few times throughout the day, but I used the power of free will and self control to curb my cravings. I stayed home, watched some movies, and avoided hanging out with anyone that I would usually smoke with. I also intentionally avoided putting myself in stressful situations. 

Phase three: Day three was the real challenge. By this point, I would have bummed a cigarette from a soggy pile of dirt if given the chance. To get through day three, I basically did a lot of research. I always knew how bad smoking was for me, but it was so easy to ignore all the research. I did as much research as possible, to the point where I was able to convince myself how much I hated being addicted to nicotine. I convinced myself how much better my life would be without it, and that’s what got me through day three. 

Once I got through day four, I got myself to a week. From there, I knew I was over the hump. I’m now writing this after almost two weeks, which is around the same time that my cravings stopped last time I did this, about a year ago. I’m not saying that you should try this method yourself. All I’m saying is that it’s worked for me both of the times that I’ve tried it, and after completing it for a second time, I can confidently say that I’m never looking back. 

Eli Farrington is a junior journalism student and the news editor for The Lumberjack. He enjoys foiling secret plots, keeping his finger on the pulse, and getting to the bottom of mysteries in his free time.  

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This week has been a solemn, hard week for many people. I remember being 14 in an Applebee’s when I witnessed the live results showcasing Trump’s win. I’ve been a Bernie Sanders supporter since I first started getting into politics, and I remember feeling crushed when he wasn’t chosen as the 2016 Democratic nominee. Nonetheless, I had faith that we as a country would prevent a Trump presidency. I’m 22 now, feeling 14 and helpless again. 

A lot of us know people who voted for Trump this year, but some are in relationships with those people. My question to you is, why? Not only why, but how? How can you stay in a relationship with someone who willingly — happily, even — casted a vote against your rights? Against women’s rights? Someone who has actively called for the removal of birthright citizenship, who has invited speakers onto his platform to trash minorities, whose VP actively supported the claim that Haitians were committing vicious crimes against their neighbors, a claim that was debunked over and over again by various news outlets. 

I want to clarify that this isn’t a dig at people who are in relationships in which they are dependent on their partner, whether financially or otherwise. This also isn’t for people who voted for Trump; that’s a whole different type of nut that needs a lifetime of self-reflection and cannot be cracked at this time. This is specifically aimed at people who are capable of leaving their relationships, but choose to stay with someone who doesn’t respect them or their rights. 

There was a trend on TikTok recently, something about canceling out the vote of someone in their life. Many people exposed their partners for voting for Trump, but ultimately stayed in the relationship. To be so aware of the lack of care your partner has for anyone but themselves, just to stay in the end? I need you to look in the mirror and contemplate if the child in you, the one who dreamed of the perfect partner, one that would protect them and defend them through and through — would that child be proud of your choices? Is the person you’re dating — the one that voted for a man who was found liable for sexual abuse — someone you would want around little you?

I just can’t fathom how you can continue to love someone who so obviously does not love you.  If you voted for Harris to cancel out your partner’s Trump vote, you need to stand by your morals and leave them. You deserve better. You deserve someone who will stand up for you and for others, too.

By Julia Kelm

Imagine you and your friends are out on the town — the vibes are chill, that cheap beer you always buy tastes a little better than usual, things are simply going great. 

Then out of nowhere, someone pipes up.

“Hey, what if we went to Taco Bell?” 

You all freeze, and stare in absolute awe at this person who just made one of the most beautiful requests you’ve ever heard.

So you all pile into the car, blaring music, and make your way to the Taco Bell in Eureka. It’s almost 1 a.m., surely nobody will be there… right?

Unfortunately, you are then met with a drive-through lane over an hour long. Your night is ruined, morale is at an all-time low, and then someone sitting next to you says, “There’s no line at Burger King.”

The fact there are only two Taco Bells in the vicinity of Cal Poly Humboldt is a travesty. However, the lack of Taco Bells isn’t the only issue — the wait time at these restaurants is truly insane. 

I have personally walked into the Eureka Taco Bell, coming in around 6 p.m., ordered my food, and then proceeded to wait a full hour for two chicken quesadillas, two bean burritos, and three Baja Blast Freezes. The worst part is that they didn’t fill the cups all the way, AND they were the wrong size — smaller. It’s safe to say I was losing my mind.

Don’t believe me? Here are some reviews from Yelp that share my lousy experience:

 “Just don’t come here. Unless you want to wait all day. Spare yourself the disappointment,” Tanner R. said.

“They’re so slow they should just fire the whole crew and start over. It’s ridiculous in LA where I get Taco Bell you hand them your card they swipe it before you can put your card back in your wallet. You have your food almost in your face. I know it can be faster. These people suck,” Greg C. said.

“This is the worst Taco Bell on earth. Humboldt County deserves much better! I spent about 40 minutes in the Drive-Thru this evening. No empathy, no apologies,” Marcus R. said.

These are all one-star reviews, by the way. It is quite evident that I am not alone in my disappointment with the Taco Bells in this area. 

However, I think it’s important to mention that fast food places like Taco Bell have only one or two employees working late hours. So if anyone should be blamed, it’s the managers and owners that have these poor employees trying to feed the masses. 

As Marcus R. put it so eloquently, Humboldt County does deserve so much better. So, take this column as a plea to whoever decides where Taco Bells go. Please put one in Arcata, or at least a few more in Eureka. It would make me, and probably a lot of other people very happy. 

Julia is a journalism major at Cal Poly Humboldt. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. To quote Robin Williams in her all-time favorite movie, Dead Poets Society, “The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

By Jordan Huber.

Note: Jordan Huber is an election worker. The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Humboldt County Office of Elections.

So, the nightmare scenario has begun. Trump’s second successful presidential campaign might not be as much of a surprise as his first. What certainly was shocking was how fast the race was called. Harris’s campaign, built on a positive outlook for America and propelled by Gen-Z social media interns, ultimately was unable to win a single swing state. The Senate has also fallen under control of the Republican party, with the House of Representatives close to being called for Republicans as well. 

I spoke about hope last week, and I still have that hope after one of the darkest days that I can remember. However, I cannot say that this hope has been unwavering. While laying awake at 3 in the morning on Wednesday, I did something I had never done since I started studying political science. I questioned why I was even learning about political science anymore. Most major polling organizations had Harris in the lead. All the data and indicators pointed towards, at the minimum, a neck and neck race. So, how in the hell was this race an electoral blowout? What is the point in putting your time into a major if it will fail to predict the winner of the most important position in the country? Are there even going to be opportunities in my field in Trump’s America?

Question after question rang in my ears about what this election means for my future and the future of everyone else. I could not even begin to imagine any answers in the following 48 hours that Trump became the president-elect. I walked onto campus on Wednesday morning and you could feel the air sucked out of school. No one had answers, only grief and sadness. Classrooms became therapy sessions where even professors could not find the words to help people process what happened and what is to come. 

All of the conversations I have had in the week following the election have shown me that we cannot allow despair to swallow us whole. Students I have spoken with have commented that right now, the study of politics and political mobilization is at its greatest demand in our lifetimes. We need to know why alt-right conservatism, spearheaded by Trump, attained power once again. More importantly than the why, we need to know how to fight back. 

I do not think this is solely up to any one major or group of students. Journalism majors must rally and fight every day through the media to make sure that free speech is not limited by Trump’s revenge tour against news publications. Environmental science students need to know how to mobilize and educate the public on the dangerous “drill baby drill” strategy of Republicans that is going to devastate our world. Business majors will be forced to explain what a tariff is over Thanksgiving dinner and teach their loved ones just how backwards an economic policy is to claim that tariffs will help everyday people. 

I urge you all to take the next two months and prepare for the battle that is going to take place. We are going to need each other more than ever if we want to ensure that our democracy and that our loved ones remain unharmed for the next four years. Learning across academic disciplines will only strengthen our voice. Push yourself to take a class in national politics. Explore environmental communications. Learn about media law. Take a course on economic sustainability. You will find that there are so many others at Humboldt who are all working towards a better world, and our combined efforts are what will sustain us through the next Trump presidency. 

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

By Alina Ferguson 

Board games used to be a staple in homes. Game nights were a common phrase in the vernacular. Now, it seems digital games have taken that spot in homes. 

I remember my first experience playing a board game. It was actually Candyland. I really wanted to be the ice skating princess because she was pretty. The board itself was so beautiful, and since then, there have been many modern variations of it. I was still new to the states and to my family, and this was the perfect time to gauge them as people. 

I will admit, I was not very good at losing at this time, I was 6 and really wanted to win, so if I did lose, I would either flip the board or huff and puff. My family claims they started cheating to let me win. This may or may not be true — there is no substantial evidence to support their claims. What I know is that I grew out of this habit. I learned that a game is simply that — a game. I did not need to take it so seriously, especially when I had people in my corner. 

Video games are more immersive and the world building is insane, but board games are meant to keep you in the present. They are meant for you to interact with the people playing with you. Yes, the game is important, but it is more of an intermediary to bring people together, whether it be friends, families, or people in between. 

Yes, connecting with others online is great, but in our quest to make connections that reach beyond our borders, we have lost the ability to connect right here at home. 

Cheating in video games is easier; you can have a mod that overpowers your player, which may make it fun for you, but not for others. You can just buy a whole ton of buffs, weapons, coins, or anything else to help you level up. 

You don’t need wifi to play board games. You can play inside, outside, or anywhere, really. You can pack the game into a bag and play on the go. People can play video games on the go, but again, they are stuck in their phones. While they are living in the world in the game, they are not living in the world they are in now. 

My all-time favorite board game is Clue. It is a murder mystery, and you play as suspects in the murder. You have little potential murder weapons. Gosh, it is such a fun game. Then, you get to look at other people’s cards to tick off possible rooms of the murder, suspects, and weapons. You have to use deductive reasoning to solve the murder. You can play as the characters, or you can just play as you. 

I used to do irregular game nights with my family. They apparently only played because I liked playing, but at some point, they stopped. Maybe it is because I got older and they figured I did not need them anymore. 

No one, it seems, likes board games anymore. They are becoming much like DVDs, VHS, and CDs — a thing that makes you say, “Oh, yeah. I remember that, back in the day.” I feel old. 

Playing a board game is a good way to pass time, connect with people, and have fun in low-stakes competitions. You don’t have to spend money in-game and you do not have to devote years, hours — unless you’re playing Monopoly or Uno — to still get fulfillment and enjoyment out of it. 

So, get a glass of wine, a cup of tea, a cheese board, or a snack. Sit down on the floor, pull out your game of choice and gather with your trusted few to solve a murder, buy and trade properties, or whatever you choose to do. Just have fun. 

Alina Ferguson is a journalism and anthropology major at CalPolyHumboldt. She hopes to be a writer for anthropology to bring science to life in a way that everyone can consume..

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2016 to 2024: Holding on to hope in a divided America

By Jordan Huber

Disclaimer: Jordan Huber is an election worker. The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Humboldt County Office of Elections.

The 2024 election cycle has been an exhaustive 24/7 news frenzy. Millions upon millions of dollars were spent on advertisements ranging from local issues in Humboldt County all the way to the Oval Office. With the polls closed as of yesterday, I find myself in the peculiar position of writing without knowing the outcome. I will not be trying to write into existence what I think is going to happen. For all I know, the winner has already been announced, or it’s possible we will not know the winner for days after the election. Instead, I want to talk to you all about my first presidential election and how that night still lives with me.

I was a first-year student at Humboldt State during the fall of 2016. The drama of the election was coming to a close as I sat in my room trying to study for an engineering exam while I had election coverage playing in the background. I had proudly dropped my mail-in ballot off at the post office and was celebrating the fact that I had voted for the first time. Everything I read told me what the outcome was going to be, so I was not too worried about what would happen that night. Many of my friends and family were convinced that the race would be called for Hillary Clinton in the late evening, so we could rejoice, and then sleep peacefully. It ended up being anything but that.

The race steadily tilted in Trump’s favor as the hours ticked by. As he pulled further and further away from Hillary, I ended up completely ditching my studying to stare in disbelief at my laptop. An electoral map I expected to be covered in blue was instead stained in blood red. I watched as an assured victory turned into stunning defeat. I heard students outside of my dorm room in Sunset Hall gathering in anger and confusion. Further down my hall, students were shouting racial slurs out of their windows. RAs raced to my hall on the third floor to reach those hurling these shameful phrases as the rest of the hall gathered around to figure out who was saying such disgusting things. Suddenly, the shockwave of Trump’s election by voters thousands of miles away from us rippled all the way to our campus.

My spirit was broken. I was numb. I was scrolling through social media, watching the world come to terms with what just happened. I stumbled upon a video of President Obama that was posted during the midst of all the mayhem. It was filmed before election night. He highlighted how America has always had a wild streak when it comes to our elections, but in the end, we would endure. One line on the outcome of the election stood out to me, and its meaning has changed for me as time goes on.

“No matter what happens, the sun will rise in the morning,” Obama said.

At the time, it did not feel that way. I needed reassurance that we’d be alright, that we could move forward. His message did just that.

Eight years later, I find myself offering a twist to President Obama’s message: “No matter what happens, democracy does not die unless you believe it is dead.” Many of you may feel strongly that if Trump is re-elected, it will result in an effective end to the United States as we know it. They see the democratic processes crumbling and having an authoritarian structure built by Trump upon the rubble. I do not doubt that his actions will put us on the brink of catastrophe, but I have too much faith in all of you to let us be led down a path that we cannot return from. Even if the nightmare scenario you have told yourself could never happen again, I know that there will be those who stand in defiance. Almost half a million people took to the streets of Washington D.C. for the Women’s March the day after Trump’s inauguration in 2017. It will take herculean efforts from those willing to mobilize, showing that people stand with democracy even in our most dire moments. Maybe Vice President Harris wins, and this issue does not come to pass. I do not know. What I know is that even if my candidate loses, you will not see me shell-shocked for the next four years. Whatever this election brings, I am certain of this: democracy endures through us, and I will be right there, pressing forward to keep it alive — and I hope you will, too.

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

Trying to self Heal in a Time of a lot 

By Alina Ferguson

Hey you, 

So… you’re not a Superhero or a world famous writer. You’re not really anything, you just sort of exist? 

You’re sort of a smart-ass, but don’t worry, life puts you in your place. Let’s be real though, you will always be a smart-ass. You don’t dance anymore. Don’t worry, that was never really your dream and you said it yourself you’re not really good at it, but you sure do miss it. 

In fact, most of your dreams have not panned out yet. You’re 25 and you haven’t discovered you’re actually a secret witch and so, to protect yourself you have to run away with a handsome vampire — nor have you discovered a rare treasure.

Get more involved. You live so passively. Don’t be afraid to do things. Whatever interests you, go out there and just do it. You can’t live your life if you are just watching it passively. You discover many things later on in life, that you could be good at if you tried earlier. 

You have new dreams now, ones you would not have even thought about at your age. These are realistic dreams, ones you can actually accomplish. 

If you think being nice to yourself is a lot of work, healing from the self-hate is so much more work. 

You need to make sure you build a backbone. Being a nice, friendly person is NOT a personality and it is NOT the job of your friends to grow a spine for you. Lucky for you, you have amazing friends and they will be there for you while you grow the backbone. 

I know I sound cynical and sad, but I am not.
I have seen so much beauty, pain, joy, sorrow. You will laugh a lot, cry a lot, and have very low opinions of yourself. You will think you are not a writer, that you’re not meant to be because so many people are better than you. But, you will be you, and you will celebrate them and be happy for them, while inside, you are being your biggest hater. 

You have learned so much, things you never thought you would learn. You have explored the world, explored yourself. Maybe explored some fun substances.

You are you and that is honestly such a gift. You have really grown. You do not think you are better than everyone else. You have more confidence than you did, and it grows more everyday. 

You can keep going and you will. It’s a bit hard right now — I am writing to you in my senior year of college, which is wild — but it will improve because you want it to. 

Sincerely, 

You in the future 

It’s time to jump your situationship

By Jasmin Shirazian

I usually answer questions from my lovely readers in this column, but I’ve gotten a few very similar ones that I wanted to make a general comment on. I want to put it very clearly; situationship, bitch-uationship — that shit is not real. You are either talking, dating, or in a clarified relationship with set boundaries. There’s only one person standing in the gray area of situationships, and it’s the person that calls it situationship. 

I get it, you like this person, you’ve invested time into your relationship, but you haven’t clarified where you stand. The fear that comes with the dreaded, “What are we?” is something many people have to face. Well, you have to ask; what’s stopping you? If you know you’re going to get an answer you don’t like, then why are you there in the first place? Why waste your time and energy on someone who doesn’t care enough for your company to make a space for it in their life? 

And I think it usually boils down to not wanting to be alone. We’re social creatures, sure, but I think the emphasis put on having romantic relationships, especially from a young age, doesn’t help. But who doesn’t love love? And I know we’re sick of hearing the whole, “You have to love yourself to be loved by others,” blah-blah-blah, because that’s not particularly true – plenty of people can love you in any state, but it’s a matter of what love you’re accepting when you don’t love yourself. If you aren’t enjoying your own company and you don’t enjoy yourself, you will allow other people to treat you the same way you treat yourself. Because, I mean, what else do you think you deserve? I don’t think you deserve that, but you set the bar for the love you accept. 

Love isn’t supposed to be hard. That’s not to say you won’t go through hard times with your partner, or that you won’t fight or make mistakes you have to overcome, but you’ll still love each other nonetheless. If someone wanted to be with you, boast about you as their partner, they would. 

Again, there’s only ever one person in a situationship — the other person usually just calls it their roster. The real problem here is a lack of communication. You can date someone and also date other people, you can be in a talking stage that’s exclusive, but a situationship is really just an unfortunate situation where one person wants to communicate and the other doesn’t. 

Jump your situationship; refocus your love and energy into the relationships in your life that are proud to have you in theirs. 

xoxo, 

Jasmin Shirazian is the curly-haired head copy editor and social media manager for The Lumberjack. She is a TV show enthusiast and a cat lover. 

Voting your conscience or playing it safe in 2024?

By Jordan Huber

We are officially less than two weeks away from election day. Hopefully, all of you have been thinking about a plan to get out and vote or return your mail-in ballot. Even with the bait and switch of President Biden for Vice President Harris, there remain legitimate questions on who you should support on Nov. 5. To be abundantly clear, this is not a Trump vs. Harris debate. The question is: should I vote for VP Harris, or should I be supporting Green Party Candidate Jill Stein, or one of the many other names I see on the ballot?

Everyone is just going to vote for either Trump or Harris anyway right? 

Surprisingly, only 53% of voters between the ages of 18-29 are registered Democrat or Republican. Voters are moving away from being linked to establishment parties, so the door is open for outsider candidates to take more away from Trump or Harris. 

Does it even matter if I vote for a third-party candidate? 

In California, no. If you vote in a swing state, it is possible. Georgia came down to 12,000 votes. Arizona had a 10,000 vote difference. The difference can come down to a few select voters in these states. The Democratic National Committee thinks it matters. They have begun releasing attack ads on Jill Stein. 

Is it moral to vote for Harris?

Harris’ tenure as VP has seen a rise in domestic oil production and a lack of definitive action in the Middle East. It is absolutely worth criticizing her over. Activists need to be willing to push the establishment when the establishment is failing. Politicians need to be earning people’s votes and not just relying on their party affiliation to carry them to victory.

Is Jill Stein the right candidate?

I caution everyone from jumping right into the arms of like Jill Stein though. She is 74. She did not know how many people are in the House of Representatives (it is 435 by the way). It is valid to question if she is a serious candidate in this race. She has turned herself into the Pro-Palestine candidate. I do not know if this is genuine myself, or if she is just pandering to get votes from disgruntled leftists.

What do I recommend?

In non-swing states, I do not see an issue with supporting a third-party candidate. I think it is more valuable to vote for outsider candidates in local elections rather than national elections, but I will not push back on it. Swing state voters. I urge you to be cautious. Every poll is screaming that this race will be closer than any other in our lifetime. Every swing state is not only within the margin of error, but many are within a single point. I know political polls are not trusted like they used to. I can tell you from every polling report I have subjected myself to that this race is impossible to fully predict at this point. Voters need to make a choice. Are Trump and Kamala’s policies really so similar that you cannot fill in the box next to her name? Almost three-quarters of third-party voters were white in 2016. They have less to lose in these races than historically marginalized groups. Is the moral high ground worth the risk?

Disclaimer: Jordan Huber is an election worker. The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Humboldt County Office of Elections.

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

By Alexandra Berrocal

I asked him if he wanted to build life

Not a baby, just a life. I asked her

If she wanted to be my life partner

He said he was considering moving

I ask you, what about the Philippines

Is so goddamn attractive to the dude

And she didn’t respond to me at all

However, he said if he were to go

He would want to meet me in-person first

And I was able to have a deep talk

About bipolar mania with her

She didn’t shy away or anything

I count that a win. My friends are still my friends.

By Jasmin Shirazian

I take it all back — well, some of it. A couple years ago, I wrote a scathing opinion piece regarding the absolute lack of ethnic food dining options in Humboldt County, and for the most part, it still stands true. But, the new Susukino Ramen Bar that just opened up on G St. has me eating more than just my words — they have single-handedly fueled me with hope for the future of restaurants, at least in Arcata. 

I’m a middle eastern girl from Southern California, meaning I was blessed to have an abundance of culinary options at every corner on every street. This place damn near makes me feel like I get transported to my local ramen bar in SoCal, which makes it not only delicious, but also nostalgic. 

They are open for lunch and dinner, and so far, I’ve only been able to go for the latter. I love eating food by myself, particularly in front of a TV or tablet where I can also watch my favorite shows. Call me an iPad baby, I don’t care — I grew up eating meals on the coffee table with my brother while watching It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Family Guy or some other off-beat comedy. So, I like to sit at the bar, place my order, watch the chefs do their thing in that tiny, hot kitchen, get my TV show ready to watch on my phone and wait for my food to come out. 

I’ve had the fried chicken, fried rice, and the miso ramen, and each was special in its own way. I think the chefs and wait staff could literally hear me moaning with each bite I took. The first time I went, I literally could not help but physically express how good the food was. The fried chicken was battered and fried to crisp perfection, without a single bite of the weird, chewy tendon that often occurs in chicken nuggets or tenders that can easily put off a person who is sensitive to textures – aka, me. The fried rice was rich in flavor, but kind of a small serving. However, it was literally 5 dollars and I ate every single grain of rice, so I refuse to complain about it. The miso ramen, which had chashu pork, had depth in the broth and left joy in my heart. 

I haven’t stopped raving about Susukino since I was able to go and try it for myself. The food was so good, it inspired me to write about it. I keep meaning to go for lunch, specifically to try the pork bao buns, but I somehow — I know how — keep missing the open hours.

All in all, I really think restaurants like this are so much more to the community than dining. The more diversity we have in our food options, the more places people can go to either try something new, or get a taste of home in Humboldt. As a brown girl with limited Middle Eastern food options out here, I’m thankful to have the ability to cook whatever I can’t find, but it’s always nice to not have to cook for myself and have the option to taste my roots. I hope Arcata — and Humboldt County in general — gets to see more restaurants as good as Susukino. 

By Mario Orozco

To escape from the stress of reality, you take a job as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. This week’s edition of Mar’s Gaming Garage will focus on Firewatch, an indie game recommended to me by a psychology major. Firewatch had its share of ups and downs throughout my play through.  

One of the strongest moments was the opening scene of the game. It started with a devastating dialogue sequence that showed key moments in the main character Henry’s relationship with his wife Julia, and the effect her deteriorating mental health had on them both. This introduction got me hooked immediately and it felt reminiscent of the intro to the movie Up.

Firewatch also presents fantastic voice acting performances. In the game, you are completely isolated with the only real interaction being walkie-talkie communications with your boss, Delilah. The chemistry between Henry and Delilah felt so genuine and natural, as if their voice actors had known each other forever. Their performances carried the majority of this game and were my favorite part of the entire experience.

The art style of Firewatch is another exemplary aspect of this game. It was filled with stunning visuals. Everything looked amazing, from the trees in the forest to the random items in your office. It looked like a 2-D style of shading in a 3-D world. The artwork was done flawlessly and the game obviously took inspiration from the style of art used in national park posters.

The genre of Firewatch felt like it jumped around a lot throughout the game. It started off feeling like a drama game, transitioned into adventure and then finally became a mystery/thriller, while still keeping some really tragic drama aspects to it. I personally loved this transition; the isolated environment of this game lends really well to a thriller experience and it makes you feel like something — or someone — can jump out at you at any moment.

There are a few negatives that I don’t particularly like about this game. The first is how the game sort of ends very abruptly, without a real payoff to the story that you just spent hours investing in. It didn’t tie uppay off the story between Henry and Julia or the story between Henry and Delilah, which takes the game down a few notches. 

Firewatch also loses some more points through the amount of backtracking you have to do. It’s pretty easy to get lost in the game and have to backtrack through the same areas multiple times, which can be frustrating. The game does provide a map and a compass to help out, but the map is annoying to use and I had to constantly stop to make sure I was going the right way. 

Overall, Firewatch was a fun experience with an interesting story. It took me a total of 4 hours and 12 minutes to complete. While I enjoyed a lot of different aspects of this game, the ending took the wind out of my sails and took the game down substantially. I give Firewatch a 3.2 out of 5. If you own an Xbox Game Pass and can get this game for free, then I would definitely recommend it to you. If not, then you would probably be better off just watching a playthrough on YouTube. 

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.

By Jasmin Shirazian

What do you do when you and your best friend both have gray area feelings for each other sometimes, but you know a romantic relationship wouldn’t be the best route, but you’re also scared to talk to other people in fear of losing the relationship you have with said best friend?

This is gonna seem harsh, but you guys need to get over it. Either over each other and under other people without getting upset, or over the whole, “it just wouldn’t work,” mindset. Personally, I think you should go with the latter.

What exactly are “gray area” feelings? Feelings should be full of color. If you’re confused on how you feel about each other, which is what I could understand as a gray area, you should sit down and talk about what is making it so confusing. Do you like each other or not? If so, why wouldn’t it work out?

It’s pretty hard to know if something would or wouldn’t work out unless you try it. If you want to work, you work things out — that’s just kind of how all relationships work. Work, work, work. 

And if you try, and things don’t work out, maybe you’ll find it’s easier to be friends who love each other, and want the other to be happy. You’ll forever be pining for them if you don’t take the risk, and there is nothing worse than being in a relationship with someone while desiring someone else. Except, probably, being the person whose partner is secretly in love with their best friend. 

If you love something, go after it. Whether it works out or not, you know you tried.