AMBUSH! Arts & Culture
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”
― Émile Zola
― Émile Zola
Yule Love This!by Alizay Chavez '21 Yule also known as Yuletide is a festival celebrated by the Pagan religion. Yule begins on December 21. Some Pagans and Wiccans have a story that they share about the Oak King and the Holly King. The Oak King represents the light of the year. The Holly King is the symbol of darkness. Modern Pagans still have a tree, lights, presents, and dinner like most people do. They mainly focus on the changes of the Earth (Haskell,2010). There are many ways to celebrate Yule. One way is to decorate your home with sacred plants that represents the Winter Solstice. Some sacred plants are holly, evergreens, mistletoes, and other plants. Another way is to put up lights to represent the Oak King (Fox, 2017). Both the Holly King and Oak King represents the battle between the light and the dark. The Oak King is the strongest during Litha and the Holly King is the strongest during Yule. Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the sun also know as, the Oak King. According to Pagans the reason why we hang up holly is for the Holly King’s day. The Holly King is represented like a version of Santa Claus (Wigington, 2017). Yule is also the celebration of Sol the goddess of sun’s longest trip. She guides the sun around the Earth. She rides her chariot around the earth alongside her sister Mani the goddess of the moon. In some theories Sol and Mani were chased by wolves (Hijuki and Bil) and follows them in Heaven. http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/113242/how_to_celebrate_yule_with https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/celebrating-the-seasons/13-ways-to-celebrate-yuletide https://www.thoughtco.com/holly-king-and-the-oak-king-2562991 So What is Cosplay?by Alizay Chavez '21
There are cosplayers who are called fanservice; these cosplayers will do anything for their fans from yaoi to yuri and many other things. Yaoi is a slang term for boys love or homosexuality. Yuri is almost the same as yaoi, but it applies to female homosexuality. There is also the attention seeker. They do anything for attention. We all know someone like that. There are cosplayers that create their own costumes or create their own costumes; they are known as costume cosplayers. There are also the destroyers; they “destroy” every character they try to cosplay as (Cosplay Cantabile, 2014). There are so many more types of cosplayers in the world. Linny L’a Vante is a cosplayer that I just recently met. I asked her a few things regarding cosplay. The first thing that I asked her was how people react to her cosplays. Her reply was that most people are “kind and respectful” about it. They are curious about the way she makes her costumes and likes to take photos with her. The next thing that I asked her was if she got any negative comments and what are some of them. Her reply was that many people think that she doesn’t have the right body for the characters that she likes to cosplay as. I also asked her how long it takes for her to dress up and she said that it takes her about 1.5 hours to about 3 hours. This includes makeup and hair. It really depends on the cosplay. Since Linny makes her own costumes I asked her how long it takes for her to make her own costumes. She said that for less complicated costumes it takes her 80 hours to 100 hours. For more complicated costumes it takes 150 hours to about 250 hours. The last question I asked her was if she had any advice for beginners. Her reply was for beginners to “just start with the basics and try new things every time. You will make a lot of mistakes and maybe throw away a pin pillow at some point, but if wearing a self-made cosplay is making you happy just keep going.” She is such a great cosplayer. From the pictures of some of her cosplays you can see the effort she puts into it. You can also tell that she loves what she does. How Does Drama Warm Up Before a Show?by Sage Addington '18 Before a performance, warming up your voice and getting out those pre-stage jitters is essential as a drama kid. The following video is the cast of Tracks warming up on their second show night. WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!Last week we asked Ambush! Readers if they knew about drag kings before reading our article and 75% said they sure did while the remaining 25% said they didn't.
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Are You Naughty or Nice?by Angelic Lopez '19
https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/pictures/kylie-jenners-cosmetics-2017-holiday-collection-topshop-lip-kits/tk-108/ Don't Be a Drag: Male Illusionistsby Alizay Chavez '21
The first question I asked him was if there was a difference between male illusionists and drag kings. Saine replied saying, “I say male illusionist because more people could understand what it means more than drag king. Drag Kings aren’t so commonly known, so sometimes the term drag king is confusing. Male illusionist brings people more to the point.” It is true that most people don’t know what drag kings are. The next question I asked him was why he decided to become a male illusionist. He said that he is “bi-gender.” Bi-gender is a person who identifies as a female and a male. He also has a degree in theatre. He enjoys to entertain others. Being a male illusionist gives him the opportunity to show off his masculinity and to entertain others at the same time. The next question I asked was about chest binding. Drag kings more than often have to chest bind to make their breasts appear flat like a male's chest. Saine said that he uses a chest binder in a size C. A chest binder is sort of like a super tight sports bra or shirt that compresses the chest; because it compresses, it shouldn't be worn for extensive periods of time or while exercising because it can cause damage to the ribs (such as cracking). Saine purchases his binders from www.underworld.com He also tape binds, but he said that it is not safe to do. Chest binding with tape can be dangerous because it can cause chafing and sometimes tear the skin. One method of chest binding that should always be avoided is the ace bandage. Ace bandages are hard to bind with because it comes out uneven and can cause damage to the ribs. https://llderp.deviantart.com/art/FTM-comic-Bandages-V-S-Binder-365555793 https://llderp.deviantart.com/art/FTM-comic-Binder-Tips-467642589 I also asked him about packers. A packer is a silicone penis with balls that is placed in the pants to give the appearance of a bulge. Saine does use packers and named his Fernando. By wearing a packer it makes him “feel more like a man, but it also changes [his] walk to be more masculine.” After that I asked about the way he has to change his body movements. He said that males are more opened (meaning their feet are often more spread apart than a females) and they take up more space. Justin Saine performs at least one to three times a week. Below is a video of drag king Spikey Van Dykey. Movie Review: Justice Leagueby Rocco Addington '20
The main problems that lie within this movie are due to the cuts made by Warner brothers. What we got in theaters was a highly condensed cut of the original film. The movie constantly cuts to big moment, to big moment, to big moment. I felt like this movie would have been way better if they just released the full version, so my hopes are high for the extended cut. Much like the other DC films they made everything look like it was made in a computer, usually I don’t have a problem with this but it took me out of the action completely. This fake looking cinematography is a result of Zack Snyder's film style. One of the things that made me personally like the movie less is the problems with Batman and Superman starting with Superman; the way they brought him back is probably my least favorite part of the movie. It felt rushed and half-assed. They killed him off then immediately brought him back, there was zero shock value at all. Superman overall was just super out of place, and was brought back in such a sloppy way. Batman is my least favorite part of this movie, he was kinda useless. In Batman v Superman he was ridiculously awesome, but in this movie he was just there, he didn’t really do anything. They made him more like tony stark than Batman. The Batman that we got in the previous movie, that Batman was brooding, smart, and a fighting machine. The Batman we got in this movie was a joker, he was used more like comic relief than anything. I really wished they did more with him. Being a Batman fan this pissed me off a lot, but it doesn't really matter in the full scheme of the movie. Despite all the problems with this movie this doesn't change the fact that this is a good movie. From the moment it started to the moment it ended I wasn't really disappointed with the movie, in fact I left the theater wanting to see it a again. One of the best parts of this movie is the jokes, me along with the theater were laughing and cheering the whole time. The jokes we great and funny, and their delivery was spot on. Unlike Thor: Ragnarok there was not a joke where I felt like it felt flat, and even though there was a lot of jokes it didn't throw the tone of the movie off. The characters in this movie were a huge upside, there was a lot of character development to all of the characters. For example Cyborg and flash, those two charters were by far one of the greatest parts of his movie. They did Cyborg perfectly, he was portrayed as a man who is ashamed and also afraid of what he has become, and throughout the movie you'll see the brilliant character development and his journey to acceptance. The flash was so good, I had low expectations after I saw how he looked in Batman v Superman, but after this movie I was super happy with how he turned out. I love how they developed his character, they made it clear right of way that he is a nerdy, caring and a heroic person. They portrayed him as a young man coming to terms with his mother's death and also finding out ways to help people with his powers. This movie had a ton of great references to the comics, some were inside jokes, lines of dialogue, and in the background. There are so many I cannot list them all, so I'll just chose the green lantern one. I choose to do this one because, it's not a spoiler and it doesn't take away from the actual movie. I'm so happy how they added this in, the green lantern was not even on screen for a few seconds, but that's what makes it great. It was great because it didn't take away fro the scene, but also gave us enough screen time to make DC fans jump for joy. Overall, this movie had some problems, but most of us can agree that this wasn't a bad movie by any means. This movie wasn't boring and confusing like Batman v Superman, or unfunny and sloppy like suicide squad. This movie was action packed and filled with great moments and personally I can wait to see it again. Once you can look past the bad CGI, the cuts made by Warner Brothers, and the change in directors you'll see a great movie. Much like wonder woman this gave me hope for the Future of the DCEU and gave me high hopes for all of the upcoming movies. This is definitely a movie I would recommend to everyone. What the Heck is a Vulva?by Sage Addington '18
External Collectively, the external organs of the female reproductive system is known as the vulva. There are six parts to the vulva: the clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, mons pubis, and urethral opening. Clitoris
The clitoris is only partially visible as it is actually almost four inches long and is mostly hidden from view within the female body; it is behind the labia and surrounds the vagina. The clitoris is made up of the clitoral head, the hood, the clitoral shaft, urethral sponge, erectile tissue, glands, vestibular bulbs, and clitoral legs. Externally you can only see the head and the hood of the clitoris. When aroused it is the bulbs and legs that become swollen and throbby. Labia majora The labia majora is basically the outside of the vulva. The labia majora consists of two large folds of fatty tissue that runs the lengthways of either side of the mons pubis to the perineum (the skin between the vulva and anus). Labia minora Like the labia majora, the labia minora consists of folds. The labia minora consists of two smaller folds within the labia majora; they surround the clitoris and form the hood that protects it. When a girl is aroused, the labia minora can fill with blood, swell and become erect. Mons pubis The mons pubis is a pad of fat that lies protectively over the pubic bone. After puberty, it is covered in hair. Because hair grows on the mons pubis people often “trim the hedge” or “mow the lawn” to keep things tame down there, but interestingly enough doctors at the University of California, San Francisco, have reported the frequent removal of pubic hair is associated with an increased risk for herpes, syphilis and human papillomavirus. Out of 7,500 men and women aged 18 to 65, people who have removed their pubic hair at least once in their lifetimes were nearly twice as likely to say they have had an STD at least once. “Extreme groomers,” meaning those who have removed all their pubic hair more than 11 times a year, were more than four times likely to say they have had an infection. Those who groom their pubes ever few months fell between the spectrum and were three times as likely to say they have caught something before. Unfortunately, the study on how grooming links to STIs is a bit limited; studies have failed to include whether or not people were having safe sex or getting vaccinated for HPV, and whether they were diagnosed with a STD before they started grooming. Pubic hair is likely there for a reason and acts as a mechanical barrier like eyebrows; it traps bacteria and debris. You can remove it, but be aware that there may be a correlation between a lack of pubic hair and STIs. Urethral opening My friends, male and female, didn’t realize that women don’t pee out of their vaginas. The opening of the urethra is located between the vagina and the clitoris. InternalCervix The cervix is the narrow neck of the uterus that opens into the vagina. The cervix is typically the width of a pencil and allows sperm and period blood to pass through. During childbirth the cervix dilates and allows the passage of the baby. To determine how soon childbirth will begin after labor when one is pregnant, the dilation of the cervix is measured. Fallopian tubes The Fallopian tubes are very narrow tubes that connect the uterus and the ovaries; the tubes open at the uterus and gradually get wider as they extends towards the ovary. Fallopian tubes transport male sperm cells to the egg, provide the environment for fertilization, and transport the egg from the ovary to the uterus. Since the fallopian tubes are connected to the uterus, the tubes contain many of the same tissues as the womb. The outermost layer is called the serosa and is very thin, the second layer is the deep serosa, and the innermost layer is the mucosa. The serosa consists of a serous membrane and therefore secrets thin serous fluid from the serosa and lubricates the fallopian tubes, protecting them from friction with neighboring organs. The deep to the serosa has a muscularis layer the contains the visceral muscle tissue that allows the movement of the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes also contain cells that have hairlike structures called cilia. Cilia helps move the egg and sperm cells through the fallopian tubes through it’s swaying motions and the muscular contractions of the tube’s walls work in a rhythmic fashion. Fertilized or not, it takes three to four days for an egg to reach the uterus. Ovaries The ovaries are connected to the fallopian tubes and play two major roles in the female reproductive system. The ovaries act as glands and gonads, producing estrogen other various female sex hormones. Estrogen is the hormone that controls the changes of the mammary glands and uterus during puberty, and stimulates the development of the uterine lining during a menstrual cycle. When a woman is born her ovaries contain approximately two million eggs; women are born will all the eggs they are ever going to have. Although women are born with approximately two million eggs, thousands of them die every month prior to puberty. Around the middle of the menstrual cycle an egg is released and carried through the fallopian tube and to the uterus. Uterus The uterus is a pear-shaped organ that is connected to the cervix and vagina. The upper portion of the uterus is a wider region and is called the corpus, or body, and is superior to the narrow area called the cervix. The corpus of the uterus is where a fertilized egg can attach itself and develop during pregnancy. Superior to the body, a domed region known as the fundus is above and connects to the fallopian tubes. When a woman gets closer to ovulation, the uterus builds a layer of vascular endometrial tissue in preparation to receive a fertilized egg cell. If an egg cell is not fertilized by the time it reaches the uterus, it will pass through the organ and trigger the blood vessels of the endometrium to shed. Menstruation, or period, is the shedding of the egg cell and uterine lining. The uterus sheds its lining approximately every 28 days after a girl has hit puberty. If an egg is successfully fertilized, it will implant itself into the endometrial lining where it will develop into an embryo and eventually a fetus. As the embryo develops into a fetus, a change within the endometrium is triggered, leading to the formation of the placenta. The placenta provides vital nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetus. At the end of pregnancy and prior to delivery, hormones are released that trigger waves of “smooth muscle contraction.” At the same time as that, the cervix begins to dilate; the cervix dilates from less than a centimeter to around ten centimeters. Once the cervix is fully dilated, the uterus contracts drastically until the baby can be pushed out of the uterus, through the vagina, and out of the woman’s body. Vagina Last, but not least, there is the trusty vagina. The vagina is a muscular neck that leads from the vulva to the cervix. It serves as a passageway for menstrual blood to come out once a month after puberty, forms part of the birth canal during labor, and is typically the sight of penetration during intercourse. During sexual activity the blood vessels in the walls of the vagina fill with blood and swell. http://www.innerbody.com/image_repfov/repo03-new.html http://www.womens-health-advice.com/female-reproductive-system.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3771189/Do-know-vulva-vagina-Half-women-t-identify-reproductive-parts-diagram.html https://www.huffingtonpost.com/pamela-madsen/12-crazy-amazing-facts-about-the-clitoris_b_7501188.html https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/12/06/504540192/going-bare-down-there-can-boost-the-risk-of-stds https://www.britannica.com/science/fallopian-tube WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!Last week we asked Ambush! Readers if they were sad about Warped Tour ending and 100% of survey takers said yes.
Wrapping up Warped Tourby Alizay Chavez '21
Sum 41, Simple Plan. MxPx, New Found Glory, and Good Charlotte.” There are so many bands who had the chance to perform on the Vans Warped Tour stage. Lyman got to witness the birth of the emo culture with bands like, “Thrice, Thursday, The Used, Taking Back Sunday, The Starting Line, Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eats World.” Lyman also said that “Warped Tour helped launch the careers of Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Avenged Sevenfold.” These bands are pretty famous now. According to Lyman he has seen over a thousand bands perform over the last 23 summers. He hopes that Warped Tour will continue to inspire creativity and ambition. He is also proud of the community he has created and wanted to thank all the people who come out each year. He also wanted to thank the amazing crew has worked hard over the years. You can view the final tour dates at http://vanswarpedtour.com/dates/ http://vanswarpedtour.com/2017/finaltour/ Drama Club Presents Tracks!by Sage Addington '18
Glitter and Facial Hairby Angelic Lopez '19
https://mic.com/articles/129787/here-s-how-to-style-your-beard-for-the-holidays-according-to-the-gay-beards#.LzrDQ8NmT Movie Review: Ragnarokby Rocco Addington '20
I found this movie to be such a filler movie. This movie just tells you what's happening with Hulk and Thor while a civil war going on. Now this isn't a spoiler but if you didn't watch the trailer and want the movie to be as shocking as possible skip to the next paragraph. If you haven’t left yet, good. So Thor’s hammer gets destroyed, big shocker right? Wrong if you guys have seen the behind the scenes on the upcoming movie Avengers Infinity War. In one of the screen shots what do you see? Thor’s freaking hammer!!! This is one of my complaints with the entire Marvel cinematic universe, they are no consequences. This just made all of the shocks in this movie pointless to me. But if you’re a casual watcher then this is no big deal, but if you’re a fan then this should be a huge disappointment. Excluding spoilers, those were my biggest problems with the movie. Now, time to be more nit picky. During the fight scenes you can notice the drop in quality. It looked like a pre-rendered video game trailer and I wouldn't be talking about it if it didn't take me out of the action. Over all it is a great movie with some minor flaws, but that can be expected in every superhero movie. If you haven't seen it already, I recommend you do. WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll!Before Thanksgiving break we asked Ambush! Poll takers if they were celebrating Thanksgiving and 50% said yes while the other 50% said just the food eating part.
Rapper Overdoses on Xanax at 21by Sage Addington '18
Lil Peep was born Gustav Ahr in Long Island on November 1, 1996. The rapper had a definitive sound, being able to smoothly blend the elements of contemporary hip-hop and the sentimentality of the emo genre. The rapper had first started out by posting his music on YouTube and SoundCloud until his following began to grow. Ahr used his childhood nickname, given to him by his mother, as his stage name. Dating back to his teenage years, the young man struggled with drug use and suicidal impulses, but channeled his emotions into his music. Sarah Stennett, chief executive officer of First Access Entertainment, claimed to be “shocked and heartbroken.” Stennett had said, “I do not believe Peep wanted to die, this is so tragic. He had big goals and dreams for the future which he had shared with me, his team, his family and his friends. He was highly intelligent, hugely creative, massively charismatic, gentle, and charming. He had huge ambition and his career was flourishing.” Native Lives Matter, Middle Schooler Killedby Sage Addington '18
You have to be wary of the language used in police reports because how you tell a story determines how a situation is treated. The police report said the middle schooler lunged at the police with a knife, but in the words of Jason’s mother, “I know that lunging could also mean taking a step. It’s all on what words they want to include in their report.” In the statement the Jason is not called for what he was, baby faced with a boy’s voice; he is almost depicted as a man because the statement purposefully left out his age. The eighth-grader was part of his school’s drumming circle and often wrote poetry. On his last day alive the boy had left school early because he felt ill; his family thought he may have contracted the flu. Alan Pero, Jason’s grandpa, shared the account of Jason’s uncle, saying, “When he got home he went to the fridge, got a 7 UP, went to get his blanket as kids do, and then was watching TV.” Alan not long after received a call saying Jason had been shot in front of the house. Curtis Redbird told station KBJR, “Baby Jay, he was a real sweet kid. He always had a smile on his face. Nobody can believe that this happened to him because of the way he is, the way he was.” Jason's grandpa said, “He was a good kid, a happy kid. He loved being around family and friends. He was a jokester. His teachers loved him. Quite a bit of teachers came to the funeral and wake.” Unfortunately, the fourteen year old is not the only native victim to be killed by law enforcement. According to CNN’s review of CDC data broken down by race, for everyone 1 million Native Americans, an average of 2.9 of them die annual as a result of “legal intervention.” The majority of those deaths are caused from police shootings, but a few other cases are attributed to manhandling. Many deaths in police encounters are likely under-reported because a large amount of natives are “not on the grid.” Native American mortality rates were under-reported by an estimated 21% because of inconsistencies in identifying natives on death certificates, according to the CDC. It doesn’t feel right that victims of police force are never-mentioned or brushed under the carpet. It can be hard to create/sustain attention for Native American cases, partially because many of the cases take place in small communities or remote areas, but the amount of deaths need to be called to attention. http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/13/us/wisconsin-police-kill-native-american-teen/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/10/us/native-lives-matter/index.html WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!Last week we asked Ambush! poll takers if they were interested in going to the student poetry slam at the ART123 Gallery on December 1st and 50% said they are interested in going, while 25% said they are thinking about it, and the remaining 25% said nah.
Student Poetry Night at ART123 Gallery!
ART123 and Gallup Poetry are having a student poetry night on Fridat December 1st at 6:30 PM-8:00PM. All students are eligible to sign up and contribute their work!
Emergency State, Extreme Radiation in Red Shirt
by Sage Addington '18
Uranium and other types of mining are the cause of the radiation in Red Shirt. Uranium is a naturally-occurring element and doesn’t really pose a threat when it is left in the ground, however, when it is mined it releases dangerous levels of radiation. Radiation dosages are not measured in terms of absolute amounts, instead a dose is measured by its effectiveness. Radiation dosages are measured in millisieverts msv (a thousandth of a sievert); msv measures the effectiveness of a radiation dose rather than the exact unit size because different types of radiation have different effects.
In an article by The Guardian titled “Radiation exposure: a quick guide to what each level means,” the article breaks down the different radiation levels in reference to the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The threat of radiation is not just in Red Shirt, it is all along the Black Hills. According to https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/, they have held Azarga/Powertech Uranium off since 2010, but the Azarga/Powertech Uranium is threatening the Black Hills by planning on drilling 4,000 in situ leach wells when the original plan was to drill 1,500. The toxic in situ wells would be drilled into the Iyan Kara aquifer on the southwest edge of the Black Hills, poisoning the drinking water used by families in the area; after mining, the company also plans to pump uranium mining waste back underground into the Minnelusa aquifer. The other aquifers at risk are Unkpapa/Sundance, Fall River, Minnekahta Limestone, and the Chilson. We know that water is life, so why are companies so willing to pollute the livelihood of thousands of people?
To learn more about clean water and find ways to take action, check out https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/take-action/. https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/mar/15/radiation-exposure-levels-guide http://www.culturechange.org/cms/content/view/336/65/ https://science.howstuffworks.com/radiation-sickness2.htm http://www.lakotacountrytimes.com/news/2017-07-27/Headlines/Oglala_Lakota_Receive_Radiation_Monitoring_Trainin.html https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/ WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!
Last week we asked Ambush! Poll takers if they feel safe walking around Gallup and 50% said most of the time, 33% said no, and 12% said yes.
Sexual Harassment and the #MeToo Campaign
by Sage Addington '18
There are many variations of the original post, but this post on Twitter reads:
Within no time thousands of people, men and women, had retweeted and responded to the post, sharing their hollowing experiences. With the rise of the campaign, many are left wondering how we can improve the situation. I unfortunately don’t have any advice on how to stop sexual harassment completely, but there are five crucial things to remember when discussing the topic, so let’s go over them.
1. It is NOT the victim's fault
Unfortunately blaming the victims of sexual harassment occurs often and makes it discouraging for victims to come forth about their experiences.
2. It is NOT just harmless fun or flirtation
“Harmless fun or flirtation” should not leave someone feeling disgusted, offended, scared, or sad.
3. It is NOT normal sexual attraction
Normal sexual attraction shouldn’t include aggressive pressure or intimidation. Period.
4. It is NOT just something made up by men and women who are cold, unfriendly, or no fun
Saying someone made it up because they are cold, unfriendly, or no fun is another reason why victims of sexual harassment choose not to come forth.
5. Women and men do NOT "ask for it" by being attractive
Saying men and women “ask for it” by being attractive is like saying someone is asking to be robbed because they’re in possession of a wallet.
Artist Appreciation: Dariona Smith
by Alizay Chavez '21
Op-Ed: Gallup Girl's Guide to Walking Alone
by Sage Addington '18
In the past I’ve been followed by a car, by someone on foot, and through shopping centers while I was alone. As a young female I find it’s hard not to feel threatened or intimidated when I walk on my own because at the age of seventeen I’ve already been in many risky situations; I imagine it freaks out anyone of any age or sex. The advice in this article is all based purely on what I have learned through my own experience.
Have a general idea of where you are going
I’m guilty of having roamed around before with no destination because I got bored, adventurous, or just in my head, but that can put you at risk if other people can sense that you don’t have a particular destination. Having an idea of where you are going can keep you safe because it seems you know where you are going and don’t want to be bothered.
ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings!
You may feel shady for looking around a lot, but it’s the best way to insure that you are aware of your surroundings. In a rural area like Gallup there’s lots of plant life and I’ve witnessed people crawl out of bushes before, so don’t assume anywhere is safe! Make sure not to get too into your phone, even if it’s Piano Tiles, and check your surroundings periodically.
Part of being aware of your surroundings is making sure you can hear; so although we all love to drain out the world for just a few minutes, make sure the volume is at least low enough so that you can hear oncoming cars and other pedestrians. ALWAYS listen to your gut
You know that feeling in your gut? That would be your instincts; you need to listen to those. If you feel like someone has been watching you, that you have seen that person pass you more than once, or that something just isn’t quite right, trust yourself; If you feel like something isn’t right DON’T IGNORE YOUR FEELINGS for Pete’s sake.
IGNORE catcallers and random people who shout out you
If you give them attention, they will proceed to give you more wanted attention so it is best to just keep walking.
Get serious when a creep approaches you
When a creep approaches you and you get nervous, you need to get serious and show them their company is unwanted. Avoid showing any signs of comfortablity through actions like laughing or smiling; it’s harsh and you shouldn’t have to change how you act so people can get the message, but it helps guarantee your safety.
If you are being followed, there are a few things you can do depending on scenario…
If you are in an area where there are stores, duck into a store and if they follow you inside tell someone, talk to the store clerk, or get prepared to dial 911.
If you are in a neighborhood and can’t just duck into a house real quick, take out your phone and get prepared to dial 911. If you get approached and the person is threatening, DON’T be afraid to call 911; you have every right to be scared! If you don’t know what else to do… Run. Running has gotten me out of three incidents where I have been followed, so… Haul a**. WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!
Last week we asked Ambush! Poll takers if they carved a pumpkin for Halloween and 40% said no, 40% said they wanted to, and 10% said they did.
Op-Ed: Racist Halloween Costumes, Let's Talk About Itby Alizay Chavez '21 Halloween is just around the corner. Do you know what you are going to be? When figuring out what costume you are going to wear stay away from the following costumes, they are considered to be racist. Most people don’t know that most of the following costumes are racist.
While picking out your costume this Halloween make sure that it is not racist or insulting another person's culture or religion. Keep in mind other people's way of life. You wouldn't want someone insulting what you believe in by wearing a costume that is culturally inappropriate. Be safe this Halloween and have fun. https://www.thoughtco.com/avoid-racially-offensive-halloween-costumes-2834949 https://www.bustle.com/p/8-halloween-costumes-that-are-actually-racist-even-if-you-might-not-realize-it-2917396 https://iamaileen.com/understand-japanese-geisha-geiko-maiko-define/ http://www.wweek.com/culture/2017/09/25/its-almost-october-which-means-we-need-to-talk-about-racist-halloween-costumes-again/ WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!Last wee we asked Ambush! Poll takers what their favorite candy is and 50% said Recess's Cups while 25% said candy corn and suckers, and 25% said Jolly Ranchers.
Dia De Los Muertosby Meche' Williams '19 Dia de los Muertos meaning the Day of the Dead, it’s a holiday strongly associated with Mexico. In Mexico they honor their deceased loved ones with festivals that usually start October 31st to November 2nd. The name of the festival may have you thinking that it’s a sad time for all the people and their won’t be much colors, but it is quite the opposite it’s full of smiles, sharing good funny moments with one another, and it’s how they cope with gone loved ones.It was considered an insult to the deceased loved ones to mourn them or be sad so, instead they celebrated their lives by decorating the grave site using marigold because it leads the departed back to their home and the scent is said to attract them as well. Another way to celebrate the departed is to bring the deceased favorite food, drink, and flowers to the altar. A lot of people will get dressed up and paint their face to look more like skeletons with cool designs or only paint half of their face it’s their preference. Crafts are also a big part of the festival they make paper mache skeletons from small to big or skull candies that are sweet. It's definitely a new experience and if you get the chance you should check it out in person! Below are some photos taken from the festival in 2015: Day of the day is a huge deal in Mexico and attract a lot of people who come to Mexico City for the experience. http://www.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/RTX1UB65.jpg There are a lot of people who enjoy and want to participate in the festival. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead https://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/dia-de-los-muertos/ https://www.tripsavvy.com/top-day-of-the-dead-destinations-1588707 http://www.unm.edu/~htafoya/dayofthedead.html Gallup High Artist Featured in ART123 Galleryby Alizay Chavez '21
Sage Addington on Her First Art Exhibitby Sage Addington '18 Oh, boy I feel arrogant having done this piece, but I wanted to let you guys in on some of the technicalities behind displaying your art in a gallery. Movie Review: Death Noteby Rocco Addington '20
Now if you know anything about Death Note, it's probably because you watched the popular anime by the same name. If you went in this movie expecting to find the same story, then you will be severely disappointed. This movie has little to nothing in common with the source material. The only thing similar is the core concept. For example they changed the characters personalities completely; the characters that are loved by fans are now completely different. They changed Light from this genius that always has a plan, to a whining brat. The detective known as L is almost completely different as well. The always cool and collective detective is now an irrational baby. If it wasn't for the name you'd be asking yourself who is this guy. But that wouldn't be a problem if the movie could stand on it own, unfortunately it cannot. Between the bad acting, the unnecessary gore, and the plot holes, this movie is just aggravating to watch, especially if you were a fan of the anime. I feel like if Netflix took the time to make their remake into a show, then it would have been way better. Overall this movie has bad pacing, plot holes, and a disappointing story. Artist Appreciation: Kiana Jonesby Alizay Chavez '21
Question: Why do you draw? Jones: It's fun. It helps me relax. Question: Does anything influence your drawings? Emotions? People? Media? Jones: I guess if I feel kinda sad, or I'm listening to something sad it [her artwork] kinda turns out sad. Question: What art do you most identify with? Jones: Realistic art. Question: What supplies do you use the most? Jones: Pencils and scratch papers. Question: What is the hardest part of drawing? Jones: For me it’s following through after messing up. Even though, this interview was short, Kiana Jones had quite a bit to say about what she does. She does not want to be artist, but she still likes art. It’s fun and helps her relieve stress and helps her stay calm when she is nervous. WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!Last week we asked Ambush! Readers if they think Columbus Day should be celebrated and 75% of poll takers said no while 25% said they were indifferent.
What's Cooking in Culinary?: Chocolate Angel Food Cakeby Meche Williams '19 Ingredients: -Cocoa powder, alkalized (20oz.) -Water, warm (30 oz.) -Vanilla extract (2 tsp.) -Granulated sugar (11.50 oz.) -Cake flour, sifted (3.5 oz.) -Salt (¼ tsp.) -Egg whites (egg foam) (1 lb. or 16 whites) -Cream of tartar (2 tsp.) Procedure:
Once the angel cake of cooled off you can add your favorite frosting, along with some sprinkles. There is many ways to decorate the cake but that's where you can bring into play your creative side!. If you do decide to do this recipe let us know how it went, if it was tasty, and submit a picture of your creation at [email protected] we look forward to seeing your masterpiece! The Origins of Halloweenby Shawn McCraith '18
Doors would be left open with hopes of the kind spirits to join the dancers. Celts wore animals skins and tried to tell stories or fortunes of each other. Animals would be sacrificed and crops were burned, this was to “entertain” the spirits and they would find a body to possess for the new year. In order not to be possessed the people dressed like evil beings. Romans had interfered with Samhain and in a festival called Pomona it was symbolized as an apple which is is most likely the root of bobbing for apples. The Roman Catholic Church attempted to substitute All Saints’ Day but instead All Souls’ Day was incorporated in a French monastery in 938 which would be more commonly known around Europe at that time. Modern Halloween came from Europe by immigrants, mostly the Irish, the potato famine in 1846 pushed out the Irish and to the United States. Irish and English traditions combined which started the trick-or-treat tradition and was mostly centered on communities.Halloween was then changed to a holiday for everyone to keep younglings from vandalizing and has grown into what Halloween is today. What Students Think of Columbus Dayby Sage Addington '18 With Columbus Day becoming such a controversial topic in recent years, we at Ambush! wanted to know what students think of Columbus Day. I sat down for five quick interviews to gather some opinions. Do you know what students at Gallup High think of Columbus Day? The Creative Process You see the the meat and skin of an artwork covering the bones of the creative process, but hardly do you get to see said process. You often don't see the accidentally spilled paint, the basic shapes underneath forms, the erased smudges, or the wedging before throwing clay. The process of making art is just as important, interesting, and amazing as the finished masterpiece itself. For this photo essay I wanted my writers and I to show the supplies/tools available and the environment surrounding an artist that contributes to their creative process. Sage Addington '18
Art teacher Mrs. Thomas fires as many clay pieces as she can in a sitting. Shawn McCraith '18
Meche Williams '19A variety of tools needed for specific types of welding.
Dartainia Thomas '21Students drawing a tree stump. Mariah Tso '21Work desk of Gallup High art teacher Deborah Thomas. WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!Last week we asked Ambush! Poll takers if they are excited for Halloween and 50% said very because it's their favorite holiday, while 25% said they were looking forward to it, and 25% said they were indifferent.
Movie Review: Singby Shawn McCraith '18
The comedy is perfectly timed and can be understood by the audience. The length of the film is not too terribly long and may be just the right amount to anyone who would want to watch a movie about singing. The music and song choices that were selected will make you want to sing along because of the character’s voices. There are many well-known actors in the film with Matthew McConaughey being the main character along with Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Seth MacFarlane, and Taron Egerton as supporting characters. Sing is a wondrous sensation of sadness and buzzing joy that can be felt by anyone who watches, which makes this movie a must-see. A moderate pace with downright hilarious scenes throughout the movie and scenes that make you soggy-eyed from the actions of other characters makes the film seem like it is more than just singing animals. Petrifying Poetry Contest!by Sage Addington '18 Are you a poet or amateur writer? We at Ambush! want to read your poems! For the month of October the Arts & Culture section will be sponsoring a poetry contest with three prizes for the top three poems. The contest will be held until October 27th and the prizes will be various mystery Halloween goodies bags. The winners of the poetry contest will be announced Monday, October 30th. Everyone is encouraged to enter a poem as the contest is not limited to just students, but goes out to staff as well. Show us what you got and hopefully you'll leave us scared out of our socks and walking away with your own Halloween surprise! Movie Review: Coleman Richard Hellby Meche' Williams '19
When I hear “2 Heads” come on I feel energetic, my mood completely changes and sky rockets to wanting to get up and start dancing and sing along with Coleman Hell. The reason he wrote “2 Heads” was to help others going through a difficult time, whether that be a break-up or other personal problems, he wanted his music to have an impact on others. It gave him pleasure to know that the response and comments on his song was positive, saying it changed their lives, making them feel good, and how the beat makes them want to dance. If you haven’t heard of Coleman Hell or listened to one of songs yet, I suggested you check him out and see if his music is something you can enjoy. WEEKLY POLLLast Week's Poll Results!Last week we asked Ambush! Poll takers which street painting they liked the most and 50% said the juniors, 33% said sophomores, and 12% said the freshman.
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Associate EditorDerek Curley '19
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