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Artists of NPHS: Local artists and art-enthusiasts work to preserve physical media amidst rising artificial intelligence
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If OpenAI had existed when Leonardo De Vinci or Vincent Van Gogh were alive, would the Mona Lisa or the Starry Night have ever been created? If Pablo Picasso asked ChatGPT to paint him, how would the culture of creative, abstract, emotional expression have developed? Artificial intelligence [AI]’s rapid developments in creative spaces prompt…
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Transgender Americans face legal threats to human rights
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“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are the unalienable rights listed in the Declaration of Independence, highlighting the American value of freedom from government tyranny and the opportunity to act freely and seek success and personal fulfillment. For transgender Americans, such foundational rights are threatened by anti-transgender policies, legislation and disinformation, which violate…
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Warm weather escalates rattlesnake season
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The mountains of Conejo Valley have many scenic trails enjoyed by local hikers, bikers and nature enjoyers. Local trails are shared not only by neighbors, but by wild animals who call the trails their home. Rattlesnakes in Thousand Oaks are most active between April and October, and amid recent bites making headlines, the community…
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Late-stage capitalism fails our youth
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Capitalism has failed our youth, and discussions with my most educated friends reflect fear, hopelessness and disdain for America’s economic system. Capitalism is the economic system based on private ownership of the means of production. It is observable that Generation Z has begun to open their minds to communism, with numerous of my peers…
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Newbury Park observes Ramadan during challenging times
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From the evening of Feb. 17 to March 19, Muslims around the world observed Ramadan. Widely regarded as the holiest month in Islam, Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. In this month of religious dedication, many Muslims fast from food and drink during sunlit hours and participate…
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Thousand Oaks prays, plays and parades for Purim
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As the sun shone bright between tall oak trees lining Hillcrest Drive, the Purim Carnival hosted by Temple Adat Elohim on March 1 was a warm, whimsical celebration of community and perseverance. Children played in bouncy houses, a petting zoo, and a variety of game setups, wearing costumes ranging from classic biblical figures to…
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The life of a Buddhist warrior monk calls me
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I am not what I do. I am not the articles I write, the assignments I turn in, the sports that I play or the parties I attend. And yet, all of those things are, and I am. Since reading a variety of books on Buddhist lifestyles, most notably “Saltwater Buddha” by Jaimal Yogis…
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Ventura Community celebrates Chinese New Year
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As an orange gets tossed back and forth between the Chinese lion dancers, high-energy music fuels the performers, eventually leading them off the stage and into the audience. Weaving through rows of families, high school volunteers and other performers in the cultural showcase, the lion dance set the joyful tone for the rest of…
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ICE actions reflect a change in intentions
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ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] was designed to keep America safe, but today, it works nearly unregulated, endangering American citizens and non-citizens alike. Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet and U.S. citizen, was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 7 while leaving a protest. On Jan. 24, ICE agents shot and killed…
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Thou shall debate about Shakespeare
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Bruno Shapiro: Reading Shakespeare’s works is, as he described life in “King John,” “as tedious as a twice-told tale, vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man,” or, plainly, repetitive and boring. The California Department of Education requires that public high school students learn to study and analyze a variety of Shakespeare’s works as…