The PCS Roar

Rise of Anti-vaccinations in the United States

Kai Brandt-Templeton, Natalie Walker, Kirin Hopper, Carina Raffaeli

October 1, 2019

Anti-vaccination is a growing public health issue in the United States. Vaccines are substances used to stimulate the production of antibodies to improve the immunity against harmful pathogens. Pathogens are covered with molecules known as antigens that can trigger certain immune responses. Vaccinations expose the body to antigens similar to those found on these pathogens. This then allows the body to create memory B and T cells in order to initiate a faster and more intense immune response, which allows the body to kill off a pathogen before it can physically affect an individual. The danger behin...

Takara Restaurant Review

Luke Sangster

March 12, 2019

Located just outside the Capitola Mall, Takara is a Japanese restaurant serving a diverse range of sushi along with a large happy hour menu. Rather large and offering two bars, one with drinks, and another up close to the sushi chefs, the restaurant offers a variety of sitting areas. I typically order the California Roll, along with a few appetizers—usually a Miso Soup and some Edamame. Good service is a rare commodity in most Santa Cruz restaurants, but at Takara, the servers are attentive. Food usually arrives within 45 minutes. The decor is pleasant, and at the entrance to the bathrooms, there are curtains ado...

Caffeine: The Socially Acceptable Psychoactive Drug

Sylvie Fraley

March 12, 2019

Here at PCS, caffeine is a big part of pretty much everyone’s lives, students and staff alike. The FDA says that at least 80% of adults consume caffeine daily, and 75% of teenagers. As a fervent latte-drinker myself, I’m not here to argue against it. But I am here to argue that if you consume it, you should understand it and the effect it has on your body. Caffeine’s physiological function that gives us the effects we all like (such as decreased drowsiness and improved mood) is actually quite simple. It all has to do with its relationship to adenosine receptors. Basically, adenosine is created in the brain a...

Environmental Consciousness

Sylvie Fraley

October 25, 2018

The environment is our single biggest and most valuable resource, and we need to do everything we can do to protect it. The fact is, the environment has been depleted and destroyed by humans at a staggering rate, a rate that is not sustainable. Humans are going to continue to exist here, in growing numbers, and if we keep treating the natural world the way we are, not only will we fully destroy beautiful animals, plants, places, but we will also be severely limited in our resources, opportunities, and quality of life. We depend on the environment for everything we have: our food, our shelter, our jobs, our health, our lives...

2017-2018 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings

October 16, 2017

2017-2018 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings Aneesh Medhekar William Peters Here are some of the teams and storylines that have stood out to us so far this season. The Kansas City Chiefs sit at the top of the power rankings because of their strong start to the season. They show no signs of slowing down and with Alex Smith having a career year, we predict the Chiefs have a sho...

Vu’s Views: Math at PCS

October 16, 2017

One day, I got frustrated at a math problem that I should have known how to do. Instead of figuring out how to do it, I wrote this to vent frustration. Then I solved the problem. Pre Algebra Welcome to Pre Algebra. We’re going to let “x” be any number, and you have to figure out what it is. It could be anything from 1.3512982 (my GPA) to 450 (my SAT score) or anything between...

Vu’s View: Back in My Day…

January 27, 2017

Sometimes, when life seems to be dragging us to new places where we don’t want to go, it can be fun to remember old times. Do you remember 7th Grade? I remember some pretty weird things. Back In My Day... - We had advisory instead of this new-fangled seminar stuff. - Sevies had giant planners the size of a sheet of paper. - Instead of getting lost on the first floor and second floor, we got...

Social Media Disrupts Traditional Politics

January 27, 2017

In 2006, the tweet was devised by Twitter’s founder, Jack Dorsey, as a way for friends to keep tabs on each other using brief status updates—like public text messages. Since then, it has become a staple of modern communication. Though we continue to use Twitter as Dorsey first intended, it has also expanded, filling roles far beyond the scope of its original purpose. Tweeting has enabled the discov...

Concessions

January 19, 2017

I will be joining the walk out. Here are some opinions that I wanted to personally offer. They do not represent anyone’s opinion except mine. They are subjective and could be entirely wrong. If you do not join us, you are not an inherently bad person. If you entirely disagree with the protest, and support Trump, you are not an inherently bad person. This is not an “us vs. them” political ...

The Greatest Instrument Ever Played

December 9, 2016

The Greatest Instrument Ever Played When you think of orchestral music, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Mozart? Violins? Music that makes your eyelids feel like they weigh more than a tuba? The only way for the far too common negative associations with orchestral music to disappear is for a new section to be introduced to the orchestra, a section consisting of the greatest instrument ever...

Vu’s Views: Frequently Asked Questions about the Violin

December 9, 2016

Dear Reader, I get a lot of questions about violin in general, so I figured I would make a FAQ for the violin. Q: Should violinists sacrificially kill their cat for strings, or will any cat killed in any method suffice? A: Although traditionally, cats have been sacrificed in an ritual for their guts, in modern times, usually any cat killed in any way will work. I personally recommend 100% Gras...

Trump’s Plans If/When He Loses the Election

October 21, 2016

(Note from the editor: This was written before the election) Depending on which polls you believe, it looks as though Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is either going to cruise to victory on election day or squeak past Republican nominee Donald Trump with a narrow margin. So, what happens to Trump when the former reality TV host loses his presidential bid? Will he just go back to pl...

Vu’s View on: Getting Your Driver’s License (A Satire)

October 21, 2016

DMV Expectations (Read this in the voice of a narrator): Make an appointment at your local DMV office to start becoming a driver. Complete the Driver’s Education Course, which will teach you all of the necessary fundamentals to learning how to drive safely. You will learn about: red lights, green lights and how they function speed limits, stop signs, and right of way rules addi...

Gifs to Get You Through Second Semester

April 12, 2016

Don't worry. Here are 25 gifs to help you relax. ...