opinion

  • The Oscars devalue animation

    The Oscars devalue animation

    Every year since 2002, the Academy Awards have recognized animation in a separate category, beginning with “Shrek” in 2002, all the way to this year’s ceremony where Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pinocchio” took home the little gold statuette. In his acceptance speech, Del Toro said something the academy seems to disagree with; “Animation is cinema.…

  • The 95th Oscars had some surprising winners

    The 95th Oscars had some surprising winners

    I am not an expert on movies, but I do enjoy watching them. I enjoy the drama, costumes and emotional lines that make movies memorable, and I especially enjoy the movies I love getting recognition at the esteemed award show, the Oscars. The 95th Oscars took place on March 12, and after years of…

  • Bail should be based on crimes

    Bail should be based on crimes

    The bail fairness has often been a trait Americans work for and, in some regards, have been praised for, but that is far from reality. There are many problems with our government, but one that never ceases to amaze me is the flaws within our justice system. One issue I’ve found to be especially…

  • The faults of tipping culture

    The faults of tipping culture

    These days no matter where you go, you’re asked to tip the workers. It used to just be for servers at restaurants, but now it’s for baristas at Starbucks, too. With the recent financial tensions experienced by average Americans, people are asking how much we should really be tipping, and why we became used…

  • Restore the integrity of Super Bowl commercials

    Restore the integrity of Super Bowl commercials

    The year is 1984. Two of the most famous and effective advertising campaigns have just dropped during Super Bowl XVIII, those being Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef” commercial, as well as Apple’s “1984” commercial. When initially brought into the public zeitgeist, these were immediate successes. They had achieved the ultimate goal of any Super Bowl…

  • Programs distort reasons for reading

    Programs distort reasons for reading

    Developing independent reading habits in elementary and middle school students positively impacts society in an unquantifiable way. This is the pretense that the Accelerated Reader (AR) program from the company Renaissance was introduced to my elementary and middle school in Ventura. In the CVUSD, the “Reading Counts” program by Scholastic is used by elementary…

  • PETA euthanizes more animals than it helps

    PETA euthanizes more animals than it helps

    People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is full of contradictions. They represent a fight against animal abuse, while actively harming animals. PETA has a shelter in Virginia that euthanizes more animals than it helps. PETA owns and operates an open admission shelter in Virginia. According to PETA’s own website, it is a…

  • Mercado Guadalajara takes home the best burrito in town

    Mercado Guadalajara takes home the best burrito in town

    After trying the signature burrito from six Mexican restaurants in Newbury Park, I have come to the conclusion that “Mercado Guadalajara” takes the throne. I can attest that burritos are not just food, but can fix life issues. No-one should be eating a mediocre burrito, and “Mercado Guadalajara” delivers quality burritos. In my hunt…

  • Cypress Elementary strides towards global standards

    Cypress Elementary strides towards global standards

    Cypress Elementary recently took charge in the district and declared its campus an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, taking the first step in aligning our community’s educational practices in Newbury Park with that of the rest of the world. Under the special IB Primary Years Programme, elementary school students will partake in one hour of…

  • Nostalgia does more harm than good

    Nostalgia does more harm than good

    As the years pass and we grow as human beings, the perhaps scary but ever so prevalent trend is made clear: change is imminent. Change is the propeller that keeps life going but change often presents a sense of fear within people. No one wants to lose something good but nothing good lasts forever.…