Author: Maddy Lakin

Categories
Magazine News Opinions Volume 69, Issue 8

Sold on Shein?

Graphic by Christy Knudson

Shein is a fast fashion company known for their trendy designs and shocking low prices compared to other worldwide retailers. Everything from accessories, swimwear, shoes, and clothes; prices range from one to forty three dollars. You could conveniently get yourself a new wardrobe without breaking the bank. That being said, because Shein is a fast fashion company, causing the prices to be low, the quality is not the best. I placed an order off of shein and when the items arrived some of the shirts appeared different in person than on the website, the material used was quite janky, white shirts were practically see through and even though everything was a small size it varied in size and measurements. To my surprise, the swimwear was a big hit. Normally with swimsuits you pay an obnoxious amount to only wear them for a season or so. Most of the swimsuits range from ten to twenty dollars for a set which is not that bad, the quality is standard swimsuit material. The swimsuits are not going to fall off and most of the tops come with removable pads so you can switch it up if you want. Most of the styles are very trendy and can buy them as individual pieces, a set, or you can get a one piece. Sizing is limited to three options: small, medium and large. This could cause some problems if you are inbetween sizes or they do not carry a size that is suitable for you or can cause uncertainty if you don’t know what size to order. I found that the swimsuits that tied at the sides were easier to buy because I can adjust the waist size to fit me no matter what size I ordered and the styles I ordered that did not tie at the sides, that were a fixed length did fit a little tighter or I just did not like the style. Shein is “an international B2C fast fashion company” and claims to support ethical fashion but is still considered “fast fashion” so make sure to be conscious of the environment when purchasing from this site. Most of the products are hit or miss, but they do offer returns on most items.  

Categories
Magazine News Volume 69, Issue 8

Testing Sites in the Bay Area

With COVID-19’s rapid growth in the Bay Area, one can only wonder if and where they can get tested if they have symptoms. Since testing is limited at this point in time, most testing sites require potential patients to meet specific criteria such as: exposure to someone with a confirmed case, being sixty years of age or older, having chronic medical conditions, finding it difficult to breathe, experiencing pressure or pain in the chest, and/or bluish face or lips. Hopefully, access to more testing kits will become available so more people can get tested in the long run. Most COVID-19 testing sites require a call in before arrival so they can be prepared to test you.

Some  current sites are: the Urgent Care at Sonoma Valley Hospital (347 Andrieux Street , Sonoma 95476 CA), John Muir Health – Brentwood (2400 Balfour Rd , Brentwood 94513 CA), Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (2500 Alhambra Avenue , Martinez 94553 CA), Carbon Health – Oakland Urgent Care (411 Grand Ave , Oakland 94610 CA), Alta Bates Summit Med Ctr-Summit Campus-Hawthorne (350 Hawthorne Avenue , Oakland 94609 CA), Kaiser Permanente – Hayward-Sleepy Hollow Urgent Care(27303 Sleepy Hollow Ave S , Hayward 94545 CA), San Leandro Hospital (13855 East 14th Street , San Leandro 94578 CA) and, Valley Memorial Hospital – Livermore (1111 E. Stanley Boulevard , Livermore 94550 CA). To prevent COVID-19’s spread please remember to wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, get your flu shot, be mindful while sneezing or coughing, carry hand sanitizer if you have to go out and remember to stay at home when it’s not essential. We can only get through this together if we work together.

Categories
Features Magazine News Volume 69, Issue 7

Coronavirus: A Senior’s Perspective

When I texted my mom everyday to convince her before lunch to excuse me from my sixth period statistics class, not going to school and moving to online is not what I meant. May first is when school is supposed to restart, many are unsure about what will happen, the possibility of school resuming after that  is slim but not none as new information about coronavirus comes out daily. 

Senior Kate Cashion said, “The coronavirus has made me feel very anxious about making the most out of my senior year. I feel like I’m going to miss out on a lot of memories with my family and friends.” 

As most of us are practicing social distancing and self isolation, we have not been able to have normal interaction with our friends and extended family. I imagined this part of my senior year filled with good memories and spending time with my friends and family that I won’t be able to have within the next four years, but once we are off a quarantine the times will be short but will make up for all the time spent apart. Activities like Ball and Graduation are coming up and I would hate for these events to be cancelled or moved to a later date because I want to have these memories with my friends before it’s too late to move to the next chapters in our lives, but of course everyone’s health is and should be the first priority. With the possibility of the rest of the year being canceled this brings a lot of anxiety to all students and parents especially those who are preparing to make college decisions. Emmi Farell, a senior at Las Lomas, had plans to visit colleges over spring break to help her make a decision but now she can’t. I had a trip planned to New York to meet students and maybe a few roommates in late April but the hotel canceled our reservation due to the severity of coronavirus in New York City. Most schools have pushed back the decision deadline from May first to June first to relieve some stress so hopefully the spread of this virus can get under control so people can travel and choose where they want to spend the next four years. We can only hope coronavirus gets under control so we can have the things we’ve waited four years for; the senior barbecue, reflections, ball and walking across the stage in a cap and gown to get your diploma then finally flipping the tassel, because let’s be honest a zoom graduate wouldn’t feel all that special. 

Categories
Entertainment Issue 6 Magazine

National PI Day Recipe

Chocolate Cream Pie

Ingredients: 

Crust:

25 Oreo cookies, with filling 

5 tbsp/ 60g of melted butter 

Filling:

¼ cup/40g cornflour/cornstarch 

2/3 cup/145g white sugar 

pinch of salt 

2 cups/500 ml milk (not fat free)

1 cup/250 ml cream 

4 eggs yolks 

2 tbsp melted unsalted butter 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

150g/ 5 oz 70% cocoa or bittersweet chocolate, broken into

pieces or chopped 

75g/3 oz milk chocolate 

Topping:

1 ½  cups/ 375 ml thickened heavy cream 

 2 tbsp sugar 

½ tsp vanilla extract 

Your preference chocolate (for shaving)

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

Cut a round piece of baking or parchment paper (the size of the pie dish)

Crust: 

Place the Oreos in a food processor and break them into crumbs. You can also place them in a Ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin or    

a heavy object. Pour into a bowl, then add butter and mix. 

Pour into a 9 inch pie dish, and spread crumbs out across the base. Use a wooden spoon to press down & into sides.

Bake for 10 minutes then allow to cool. 

Filling:

Put cornflour, sugar and salt into a medium saucepan. Whisk until combined. 

Add milk, cream and yolks then whisk until evenly mixed.  

Turn heat on medium-low and whisk occasionally (but not constantly) as the mixture warms up. 

After 3 minutes the mixture should thicken.

Whisk constantly.

When the mixture starts bubbling (which should  be about 4 minutes) whisk constantly for 45 seconds, and then take it off the stove. 

Whisk for another minute, add butter, chocolate and vanilla. Whisk until the chocolate melts and the filling is smooth. 

Assembling: 

Pour filling into the pie shell and smooth the surface. Gently place the round baking paper on the surface and refrigerate for 12+ hours

After 12 hours, remove the paper, poke to ensure it is set (should feel like custer) 

Whip the cream and spread it over the top of the pie. 

(optional: use a knife to make chocolate shavings, or grate the chocolate directly over the top of the pie). 

Serve!

Categories
Entertainment Issue 5 Magazine

Torsap Thai Review

When you first walk in to Torsap Thai Kitchen, you are greeted by friendly staff that will seat you right away and give you menus, then they give you plenty of time to look over their lengthy menu. Their menu is filled with various starters, refreshing salads, soups, wok and grilled goods, noodles, rice, and many sides.  The atmosphere has transformed from the previous eatery, Sunol Ridge, to the modern yet traditional look of Torsap Thai Kitchen.

After looking over the menu I was unsure what to order, so I asked the waiter. He recommended the Vegetable Crispy Roll, Mixed Vegetables, Yellow Curry, and a cup of Tom Yum Soup with Chicken. The Vegetable Crispy Rolls came first, priced at $12. The flavor of the rolls burst, as they melt and crunch in your mouth when paired with the sweet and sour sauce. The  rolls are filled with glass noodles and shiitake mushrooms, wrapped in rice paper, with lettuce and sweet and sour dip on the side. $12 is a little expensive for the portion size as you get 8 pinky-sized rolls. Also priced at $12, the mixed vegetables are served with a side of jasmine rice. The flavor is nothing special, as they are just sauteed in oyster sauce.  The Yellow Curry, priced at $13 and also served with a side of jasmine rice, had good flavor and wasn’t too thick or watery, which I liked, but the potatoes were a little too much for me, as I was fishing to find the chicken. It was yummy to combine the mixed vegetables with the yellow curry and rice. Lastly, the Tom Yum soup arrived and I was surprised to find that I actually liked it. I do not like soups with fish, but this one priced at $8 had a hot and sour base with lemongrass, galangal, mushroom tomatoes and added prawns to my excitement. The soup was very flavorful, both sour and sweet. The cup was pretty big, compared to cups of soups found at other restaurants for the price. 

In the end, the portions sizes were a little overpriced, but everything from the service to the quality and presentation was splendid. The atmosphere for the restaurant was fitting and versatile for anytime of day you choose to go. They played pop hits, and although it was a little loud for the amount of people in the restaurant, it fit the large bar that they have. Overall, I would dine in or take out Torsap Thai again.