LA wildfires eviscerate communities, become center stage for increased identity politics
Los Angeles investigators are still on the search for the origins of the Palisades fire, which has destroyed over 5,000 homes and businesses, along with the lives of 25 people, as of the release of this article.
Members of the public actively mourn the loss of life and home, while news outlets report a combination of safety updates, as well as speculation on the qualifications of LA officials charged with carrying out public safety.
From sentencing to swearing in: Trump’s felony conviction doesn’t keep him from the White House
Within a week of this article, President-Elect Donald Trump will have been formally sentenced for his 34 felony count conviction, in which a guilty verdict fell down on him like a hammer for paying off a porn-star, and he will also be inaugurated as America’s 47th president, serving two non-consecutive terms; a feat that only President Grover Cleveland accomplished.
Rebecca Yarros and the rise of “Forth Wing” in an era where fan opinions are so loud
Rebecca Yarros, a traditional contemporary romance writer who’s been in the industry a decade publishing books for the common hopeless romantic, took on a new genre with a groundbreaking romantasy series in early spring of 2023. That May, “The Emperyan” series was born.
The release of the debut novel, “Fourth Wing”, was closely followed by its sequel, “Iron Flame”, which was released in November of the same year – only five months after its debut. It instantly captured the hearts of a generation with 1.1 million copies of the first two books sold within 13 months of release.
Sports fans have to be better about inclusivity
Sports are evolving, but sports fans have been resistant to growing alongside it. As fans of the game and the culture, sports fans must actively work to cultivate an inclusive environment and fight against bigotry for future sports fans and sports as a whole.
The Philadelphia 76ers were looking rough to start the 2024-25 season. Despite having lots of talent on the team such as league MVP winner Joel Embiid and All Star Tyrese Maxey, success has been hard to come by for this team.
The Thunderword has a Podcast!
Welcome back from break Thunderbirds! With the new quarter here, we have a new way for you to get your information – on the go.
Over the break two of our very own Thunderword student editors, Cam Lyons and Mavrie Durham, with the help of Faculty Advisor Kara Stuart, started a podcast, aptly named “the ThunderPod.”
Campus
As students return to Highline for the winter quarter, they may notice some construction zones on campus. While these projects might cause temporary disruptions, they are part of a larger plan to enhance campus infrastructure and improve facilities for years to come.
From updating aging storm and sewer lines to adding new security features, these efforts are designed to keep the campus running smoothly and safely.
The Discovery Fair is one of the events during ThunderWeek that helps students discover campus resources available to them as well as student clubs.
ThunderWeek is a week of programs held by Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) and the Center for Cultural and Inclusive Excellence (CCIE). Its main goal is to welcome Highline students to the campus.
As Highline opens up its doors to 2025, its students are primed to take on the next chapter of their education with the kind of vigor you’d normally find with elite sports teams or characters from the Avengers.
Superheroes are not the only ones with academic, social, and personal excellence, however; for that, you don’t have to look further than Highline’s own campus.
Welcome back from break Thunderbirds! With the new quarter here, we have a new way for you to get your information – on the go.
Over the break two of our very own Thunderword student editors, Cam Lyons and Mavrie Durham, with the help of Faculty Advisor Kara Stuart, started a podcast, aptly named “the ThunderPod.”
The Highline College Wellness Center, a hidden resource available on the first floor in the biology building (Building 26), offers a wonderful space for exercise, to de-stress, and connect with other members of the community.
The Wellness Center offers a wide variety of equipment and hours, providing the Highline College community with a dedicated space to improve cardiovascular health, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, and flexibility.
As we wrap up Highline’s fall quarter of 2024, the Thunderword would like to take a few steps back to highlight the memories made, events attended, and wonderful community the campus has fostered.
As fall brought in its crisp breeze and cooler temperatures, Highline College brought along some special events and info-packed activities.
Community
Los Angeles investigators are still on the search for the origins of the Palisades fire, which has destroyed over 5,000 homes and businesses, along with the lives of 25 people, as of the release of this article.
Members of the public actively mourn the loss of life and home, while news outlets report a combination of safety updates, as well as speculation on the qualifications of LA officials charged with carrying out public safety.
Within a week of this article, President-Elect Donald Trump will have been formally sentenced for his 34 felony count conviction, in which a guilty verdict fell down on him like a hammer for paying off a porn-star, and he will also be inaugurated as America’s 47th president, serving two non-consecutive terms; a feat that only President Grover Cleveland accomplished.
Did you know that there are at least 24 known New Year’s traditions from around the world, and all of them have some different meaning or superstition attached to them?
The most popular tradition in the United States that millions gather to watch, is the annual ball drop in Times Square. According to Times Square, this tradition started in 1907 when the first New Year’s Eve ball, made of iron and wood and adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds.
Washington State, known for its dreary, gray weather and depressing atmosphere, ranks highest in adults, 18 years of age and older, who feel symptoms of depression, anxiety, loneliness, or just feeling down.
Although, Washington is at the tops in these statistics, it may surprise readers that the states inhabitants don’t score that much higher than the rest of the country when it comes to depression amongst adults and suicide rates.
Sports
Sports are evolving, but sports fans have been resistant to growing alongside it. As fans of the game and the culture, sports fans must actively work to cultivate an inclusive environment and fight against bigotry for future sports fans and sports as a whole.
The Philadelphia 76ers were looking rough to start the 2024-25 season. Despite having lots of talent on the team such as league MVP winner Joel Embiid and All Star Tyrese Maxey, success has been hard to come by for this team.
While Highline’s campus was closed for winter break, Highline’s men’s basketball team has been busy in the gym. The Thunderbirds have played 10 matchups over their break, winning eight of those and achieving a five game win streak.
Highline currently holds a 12-4 overall record.
Despite the Seahawks season coming to an end with no playoff appearance, this season has been nothing short of exciting for the young team. The Seahawks ended their season with a 10-7 record, and ended up second in the NFC West division.
With a new head coach, Mike Macdonald, a young team, and a challenging schedule, the Seahawks have pushed through this season with grit. With the highs and lows this season brought, the playoff hunt has been exhilarating.
A cold winter break didn’t stop Highline’s women’s basketball team from continuing their grind on the courts. Over the break, the Thunderbirds participated in four matchups – a highlight was playing in the SWOCC Crossover in Coos Bay, Ore.
These ladies had some hard matchups over the break, and sadly did not win any of their matchups. However, they continue to show grit in their playing style.
Arts
Rebecca Yarros, a traditional contemporary romance writer who’s been in the industry a decade publishing books for the common hopeless romantic, took on a new genre with a groundbreaking romantasy series in early spring of 2023. That May, “The Emperyan” series was born.
The release of the debut novel, “Fourth Wing”, was closely followed by its sequel, “Iron Flame”, which was released in November of the same year – only five months after its debut. It instantly captured the hearts of a generation with 1.1 million copies of the first two books sold within 13 months of release.
Blending heartbreak with beauty, and humor with tragedy, dark themes in literature captivate by breaking traditional storytelling boundaries. Through tales of forbidden love, moral ambiguity, and raw emotion, these stories reflect the messy, imperfect realities of life that allure its audiences.
Yet why do we find ourselves drawn to stories that explore the forbidden, the tragic, and the macabre? From stories of doomed romance to jokes born out of despair, literature’s darker themes strike a chord with readers who crave more than just happy endings. But what is it about these themes that fascinates their audience?
I know everyone says to not judge a book by its cover, but “The Roommate” by Rosie Danan is not a book that I would usually pick up, with its pink, frilly, heart-covered cover.
I still have no clue what provoked me to buy this book, I was even low on money at the time and put back a much different book that I believed I would have preferred.
This book embodies a Hallmark™ movie and I have grown to love that about it the more I read it. Yes, I’ve read it more than once – I’m pretty sure I’m re-reading it for the third time.
Most people have heard of Gundam at least once. It’s a powerhouse that rivals franchises like Star Wars and Halo in terms of popularity. After all, you can’t say it hasn’t had an effect when size accurate statues exist in not just Japan, but China as well. Gundam is a long running series with a legacy that seems intimidating, but it’s surprisingly easy to get into.
Created by screenwriter and novelist Yoshiyuki Tomino in 1979, the first Gundam series, “Mobile Suit Gundam”, is a tragic war drama set far in the future known as the Universal Century.
Science & Technology
The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet, but we’ve only explored about 5%. Beneath the surface lies a mysterious, unexplored world scientists are just beginning to uncover.
The deep ocean, stretching beyond 200 meters, is a place of crushing pressure, freezing temperatures, and complete darkness—a perfect hiding spot for nature’s strangest creatures secrets.
In a fantastic moment for technology and art, Ai-Da, the world’s first lifelike robot artist, sold a painting for over $1 million at a Sotheby’s auction.
The artwork, “A.I. God,” is a portrait of British mathematician Alan Turing, known for his important work in computer science and breaking codes during World War II.
Opinion
When I was 11 years old, myself, my closest cousin, our grandmother, and her mother all lined up outside Martha Berry Square Mall at 3:30 a.m. to catch the Justice 75% off sale the company was holding. The entire store, whole outfits, and all the sequins we could dream of for a few dollars apiece.
This year, I stayed in. I didn’t go shopping, avoided any plazas, and kept my wallet closed. Cyber Monday came and went, and yet not a dollar was spent. That’s because the Black Friday I remember does not exist anymore.
The long-fought war between dog and cat lovers is still ongoing. Dog people claim dogs as “man’s best friend”, while cat lovers claim loving cats requires a certain appreciation for individual autonomy. While these paradigms are a couple ways to look at the issue, there is also the extroverted dog versus introverted cat debate. Regardless, all animal lovers can agree that animals improve our lives.
According to Forbes, 66% of households own pets, and of those 66%, 46.5 million households have cats. While dogs beat them out for the majority, 46.5 million is no small number.