ISSUE 972 March 1, 2021

TORRANCE NEWS TORCH

Lighting the Way to Torrance High School Since 1922

RCH

BRINGING LOVE INTO THS

ORIGINS OF VALENTINE’S DAY BY ANDREW GERGES Club Writer

Although the Breezeway is not filled with the regular nervousness, roses, Pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was celebrated on February 15th and and awkward gift exchanges, Valentine’s Day remains special for many Tartars was to honor the Roman gods of agriculture and fertility as well as Rome’s despite social distancing. mythical founders, Romulus and Remus. Although February has long been celebrated as the month of romance, Members of the Luperci Order would sacrifice a goat for fertility as Valentine’s Day officially began in 3rd Century Rome. Although there are many well as a dog for purification in the caves of Rome and would then go to the versions of the legend, the most popular one belongs to one of the men named streets and slap the women with dipped-in-blood goat hides, a ritual believed to Valentine who was killed by Roman emperor, Claudius II. Gloomily, there were three grant fertility in the coming year. The women would then use that blood to write men named Valentine who generally contributed to the legend and were also killed their names on an urn (an ancient pot or vase) and men would randomly pick a by the tyrant-emperor in the same month, February. name for consummation that night. The story begins when Claudius II decided that bachelors made better Nonetheless, Valentine’s Day was canonized in the 5th century by soldiers than men who were married, so he outlawed marriage all together. But a Pope Gelasius and was popularized in the 15th century when Charles, the Duke Christian priest named Valentine continued performing marriage ceremonies for of Orléans, was imprisoned in London and would write love letters to his wife in young adults in secret. When Claudius II discovered this, he ordered Priest Valentine France, citing the notes of St. Valentine. Many English and French nobles to be swiftly put to death. adopted the practice and it spread quickly. Other versions of the legend focus on Valentine being beheaded because Today, Valentine’s Day is nationally celebrated in the United States, he had helped Christian men escape the harsh Roman prisons by sending “Valentines” Britain, France, Canada, Mexico, and Australia as well as by Roman Catholic to the women outside the cells and also because he spread Christianity to the Pagans Christians everywhere. Of course, it is also celebrated right here at Torrance High of the prisons. School as an homage to young love. Other sources state that Valentine’s Day originates from the 4th century February 12 marked the beginning of the Year of the Metal Ox. PREDICTIONS FOR WINTER Photo courtesy of CNN BY AHSLEY MERCURIO Club Writer

Groundhog Day is a tradition observed every February 2nd in North America since the late 1800s. The tradition originated from the Roman Christian holiday “Candlemas” where they used a badger to predict if there would be six more weeks of bad weather. Candlemas was eventually introduced to Germany who used hedgehogs then German immigrants introduced it to America where they chose to use groundhogs. The start of this American tradition began in Punxsutawney, Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume Pennsylvania by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club after Clymer Freas, a local holding Punxsutawney Phil, the weather newspaper editor, prompted the idea to its members. The first groundhog that was predicting groundhog, as the 135th used to predict the weather was called Phil and since then, every weather-predicting Groundhog Day Celebration on groundhog in that ancestry line has promptly been named Punxsutawney Phil. Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. This year was the 134th anniversary of Groundhog Day and because of Pennsylvania on February 2. the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the on-lookers wore masks to the event for the Photo courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer first time. Unfortunately, when Punxsutawney Phil crawled out of his burrow, he saw his shadow and crawled back in. That’s six more weeks of winter for us!

x YEAR OF THE OX BY MIKI IGNACIO Staff Writer

While some people celebrate the new year luck and fortune, and red envelopes represent that wealth on January 1, China and a plethora of other Asian and prosperity is on its way to the receiver. countries celebrate the Lunar New Year. On February According to China Highlights, other 12, the Year of the Ox finally made its way around the traditions involve eating reunion dinner, the dragon and twelve-year cycle, and many were excited to welcome it. lion dances in public spaces, and setting off fireworks. As the name implies, the Lunar New Year is However, the coronavirus prevented many from determined by the lunar calendar. Britannica states the celebrating the Lunar New Year as done before in specific date for the new year lies on the first new moon previous years. NBC News reports “major cities have of the year between January 21 and February 20. Each canceled parades, festivals and fireworks displays that year is assigned an animal, and this year is dedicated to typically draw large crowds.” the Ox. Despite the restrictions, it did not stop There are twelve Chinese zodiac animals the people from celebrating; Asian Americans in New Lunar Year revolves around: the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Jersey held performances over Zoom and “drive-thru Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, celebratory meals” (reports USA Today). People on and Pig. The origin of this precise order traces back to multiple social media platforms around the world unite the story of the Heavenly Gate Race, where the Jade as they unite under the shared festive spirit. While emperor issued a race for the first twelve animals to be maintaining social distancing and COVID-19 protocols, his guards. The first to win the race was the intelligent people are able to upkeep the liveliness of the new year. Rat, while the last being the Boar. Although the world is currently at a stage of As an abundance of Asian countries social disconnection, people welcome the Year of the Ox celebrate the Lunar New Year, there are a variety of in collective unity. Nothing beats the tradition passed customs and traditions held only in specific countries. down from generations, and a pandemic is not enough to One of the most well-known traditions is the giving of stagnate it one bit. Perhaps the luck stored in the red red envelopes (hóngbāo) filled with money. In China and envelopes will manifest into a hopeful new year. other Asian countries, the color red symbolizes good

News 2

STOCK TRADERS LOSE ON GAMESTOP BY JOSHUA FLORES Staff Writer

Last month, several people losses. invested into a company called GameStop. This left investors with millions These people bought part-ownership of the of dollars in stocks they had bought at a company by buying stock. Companies sell high price, which they then had to sell at an a portion of their business to investors to equal or higher value to make a profit. acquire needed capital. The investment According to S3 Partners, a financial data will either increase or decrease, depending company, by January 27, short sellers had GameStop store logo on 14th Street located at union Square. on the profitability of the business. Some lost $23.6 billion on Gamestop in January. Photo courtesy of ABC News make good and some do not. It is a gamble. The antecedent for the price Professional investors increase of GME is the reddit community subjected Gamestop to a “short selling,” r/wallstreetbets, or WSB. Reddit is a social which is when investors “borrow shares of news website and forum. Traders on the stock to sell and then buy back later so they reddit community WSB decided to invest can return them, which lets them pocket the in GME, which drove up the price of the profit if the stock price goes down,” stock. This caused short sellers to buy more according to nbcnews.com. Essentially, shares, which caused them to lose a large they were betting that Gamestop would amount of money. fail. Unfortunately for WSB Gamestop was then subjected investors, GME stocks fell from $347.51 a to a “short squeeze,” and their stock prices share on January 27 to $51.10 as of rose sharply. This forced some investors to February 11. This means their success in buy more shares, but because several beating Wall Street at their own game was investors bought GamesStop stocks, or unfortunately short lived. Any good GME, at a concurrent time, there were no gambler knows when to fold or walk away. more shares for them to buy to cover their.

GameStop’s stock-value movement demonstrates its jump in value during the month of January. Photo courtesy of Insider TRIBUTE TO BLACK HERITAGE BY PHOEBE LIN New York Nets players sport Black History Club Writer Month shirts prior to a game. Photo courtesy of Every year from February 1st to March activists, Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. 1st, Black History Month takes place. Also known Eventually, this week-long affair turned into a as African-American History Month, it is to pay month-long obersvance, and by 1976, Black tribute to the past generations of African- History Month was officially recognized by Americans for their fight against oppression and President Gerald Ford. towards freedom. Once February was officially About 50 years after the abolishment of recognized in 1976 as Black History Month by slavery in the United States, Black History Month President Ford, a theme has been established every began in 1926 as actually a week-long observance. year since then. This year, the 2021 theme is “Black During that year, Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity”, Moorland sponsored a national history week. It was and the celebration has also reached various other Participants in a Black History Month chosen to occur in the second week of February to parts of the world outside the US, including Canada celebration marched alongside one another at Marina Park, Long Beach on February 21 to correspond with the birthdays of famous civil rights and the United Kingdom. commemorate African-Americans’ role in shaping America. Photo courtesy of Talon Marks

ROAD TO COVID RECOVERY BY VERONICA GARZA Editor-in-Chief

President Joe Biden’s campaign promises bill has proven to be controversial concerning the of investing $25 million in a vaccine manufacturing issue of minimum wage, as some Democrats and distribution plan, and implementing nationwide would like to “double the minimum wage to $15 an House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., mask mandates are being put to the test as the U.S. hour,” details PBS. Republican senators such as Tom salutes President Biden for his American Rescue Plan before Congress votes on the works towards COVID recovery. House Democrats Cotton and Mitt Romney, on the other hand, $1.9 trillion COVID aid package. look to pass their $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill by “unveiled proposed legislation Tuesday that would Photo courtesy of USA Today February 26, and according to CNBC, the Senate gradually raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour by “aims to approve the package and get it to Joe Biden’s 2025,” as per Vox. desk before March 14,” the expiration date for many President Biden continues to work toward unemployment programs. accomplishing his goal of distributing 100 million This stimulus package would allow a third vaccines within his first 100 days in office, as 66.5 round of payment to impacted taxpayers, and children million doses have been given. The previous week and adult dependents would become eligible to alone provided 1.3 million shots to citizens receive a check for $1,400. The adult dependents throughout the United States. As recorded by “including disabled adults and college students, Bloomberg, the U.S.’s “latest vaccination rate is weren’t eligible for the first two rounds of checks,” 1,295,639 doses per day, on average.” If the nation as reported by The Wall Street Journal. This were to continue on this path, it would take about 11 President Biden arrives to address the installment of payments would amount to $422 months to give two-dose vaccines to 75% of the nation concerning the impending COVID billion. Additionally, with the expiration of enhanced population. stimulus package. employment benefits approaching, the House The journey to America’s COVID Photo courtesy of Politico package would provide services through August 29 recovery remains somewhat uncertain, but hopefully and increase the weekly amount from $300 to $400. more advancements can be made this upcoming Other forms of financial assistance will be Friday. Until then, everyone is advised to continue promoted as well, such as tens of billions of dollars following existing health precautions, namely on vaccines and testing and more than $70 billion to wearing masks and maintaining safe distances. aid in the manufacturing of vaccines. However, the

Student Life 3

BLANKET WITH BENEVOLENCE BY MIKI IGNACIO Staff Writer

The Service with a Smile club held goal a reality, according to epath.org. a blanket drive at Torrance High School “Since this was my first time from 3-5 pm on February 9 and 10. Warming hosting a drive, I believe that this drive was items, canned foods, and hygiene items were amazing!” S.W.A.S. President Beverly successfully collected along with new and Gonzalez remarked. “It was wholesome unopened blankets to provide warmth to seeing people come together to assist in people in need this season. picking items and dropping off donations.” Eighty-seven items were collected As her last year of being a Tartar, Beverly is during the event, including thirty-eight non- content on making a difference for the perishable foods, thirty-one hygienic benefit of others. supplies, and eighteen blankets. Students, If you missed the opportunity to faculty, and parents dropped off their drop off any donations, it is never too late; donations at the student parking lot, and all the PATH LA organization is still open for transactions were handled according to charity. An appointment must be made COVID-19 protocols. online through a form on their website, so go All donations were given to the to epath.org for further information. People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) Despite the ongoing pandemic and organization in Los Angeles. The PATH its restrictions, the Service with a Smile club organization aims to end “homelessness for is grateful for everyone’s benevolent efforts Service with a Smile members advertise their blanket drive individuals, families, and communities” in helping those in need. This is undeniably drop off in the student parking throughout California by “building a rough year for all of us, but when we all lot, February 10-9. affordable housing and supportive services.” unite and face the hardships together, we as Photo courtesy of @ths,swas Every donation—no matter how small—will a community are able to pull through, no aid the PATH organization in making its matter what.

PSAT EXPERIENCE BY JOHUA FLORES Staff Writer

On January 26, Torrance High School Juniors went behind students opting out was concerns about the to the campus in person to take the PSAT, or Preliminary coronavirus. Despite this, new students were added to the Scholarship Qualifying Test. This test acts as a precursor to registration all the way up to the night before the day of the the SAT and helps students prepare for that high stakes test. exam. The tests are similar, but the PSAT is not only easier, but it Mr. Glavich also said the final number of students also has fewer questions. who took the PSAT was 70, which is lower than usual. According to Junior Rebecca Lee, it “was Information about taking PSAT was sent through Naviance interesting to be at school again after so long.” Rebecca also email notifications by Ms. Mendoza, the THS College and mentioned the several safety measures used were good so Career Counselor. A series of emails and surveys concerning she “didn’t have to be as scared that I’d get sick.” Students the PSAT were sent to students in the beginning of safety regarding the coronavirus was the main priority when December. Additional information was posted on the THS it came to taking the PSAT. website and in the school bulletin. Although safety was of the highest priority, many Because of a tumultuous year, many students did students opted out of registration in the days leading up to not or were not able to take the PSAT. Hopefully a renewed the PSAT, according to Mr. Don Glavich, our school’s interest in the PSAT will be present this time next year Social Science Department Chair, GATE Coordinator, without a global pandemic being in the way. Webmaster, and Head Varsity Softball Coach. The reasoning

Five Quarry Lane students named 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists. Photo courtesy of patch.com 4 Special Interest

DISNEY NEW-IMOS BY KARA SERAFIN Staff Writer

Disney nuiMOs (pronounced new-ee-MOES) Style, Loungewear, Day to Night, and A Day at Disney arrived in Europe and North America on January 19 with the Parks. slogan “small friends, big style.” Their name comes from a Disney also co-branded with Loungefly, Spirit blending of the Japanese words nuigurumi meaning “plush” Jersey, Ashley Eckstein, and more. The nuiMOs characters and moderu meaning “model.” retail for $17.99 USD each and the outfits and accessories Originating in Japan and China, the nuiMOs come sets start at $12.99 USD each. The collections are easy to in a variety of characters including Mickey and Minnie mix and match, so collectors can have fun dressing the Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, along with Stitch and Angel. nuiMOs with creativity. Additional attire can be purchased separately. The nuiMOs are portable, so they can be carried to Interested buyers can choose a “Woody Cosplay” set, or go Disney theme parks, the malls, on vacation, and pretty much for a more unique style with an “Animal Print” set. There are anywhere. The cute figures are appropriate for any age. They many outfits to choose from, and new outfits, accessories, and can be found on the websites shopDisney.com and plushes will be released on the first Monday of each month shopDisney.co.uk and in any Disney stores. after the February start date. LaughingPlace.com stated that the nuiMOs “are Celebrity stylist and designer Maeve Reilly, who is meant to be an extension of one’s self with the flexibility to known for styling Hailey Beiber, put together outfit change their looks to suit one’s unique personality and taste.” combinations for the adorable plushies. She commented that You can express yourself through nuiMOs fashion or enjoy “it was so much fun to style and create these looks” and that having a lovable companion during these lonely quarantine she has “a huge love for accessorizing.” times. New items will be announced every month, so be on Reilly created looks she titled Tokyo vs LA Street the lookout for them!

TOMMY TARTAR’S SWEET DILEMMA BY MIKI IGNACIO Staff Illustrator

Mickey and Minnie Mouse nuiMOs. Photo courtesy of allears.net

Disney nuiMOs display at Downtown Disney’s World of Disney. Photo courtesy of touringplans.com

5 Entertainment March 1, 2021

BRADY LEADS BUCCANEERS TO VICTORY BY VERONICA GARZA Editor-in-Chief

The Vince Lombardi Trophy returned Tesfaye designed the stage to resemble a to Tampa Bay for the first time in eighteen years as heightened version of the Las Vegas strip and the Buccaneers claimed their second championship featured “a dancing choir wearing helmets title, a feat achieved with the leadership of seven- identical to the ones worn by...Daft Punk,” Vanity time champion and quarterback Tom Brady and Fair reported. For the first time in history, a stage tight end Rob Gronkowski. The Tampa Bay was built in the stands of the arena. Confetti soars over Raymond James Stadium following the Buccaneers converged on the Kansas City Chiefs Brady and Gronkowski became “the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ victory over the Kansas City in a decisive 31-9 victory in Super Bowl LV. duo with the most touchdowns in postseason Chiefs. The Chiefs failed to score a single history with 14,” Fox News detailed. Two of Photo courtesy of touchdown. Patrick Mahomes, quarterback and Brady’s three touchdown passes were thrown to 2019 NFL MVP, finished the game “with 2 Gronkowski. Both players joined the Buccaneers interceptions and went 26/49 for 270 yards,” in the offseason, Brady signing a two-year, $50 whereas Brady surpassed his own record for the million contract in March while convincing oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl when he Gronkowski to come out of retirement to join him. “threw for three touchdowns and went for 201 Before their victory had even been passing yards, going 21/29,” and was named Super declared, the Buccaneers were making football Bowl MVP, according to CBS News. history. NFL.com records them as the “the first Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as team in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl hosted The Weeknd, headlined the halftime show in a at their home stadium.” Tampa Bay celebrated this performance that included songs from his highly once-in-a-lifetime event with a boat parade lining publicized greatest hits collection, The Highlights. the Riverwalk.

Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady relishes in team’s success amidst clouds of confetti. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times WANDA’S WESTVIEW WORLD BY KARA SERAFIN Staff Writer

The highly anticipated WandaVision television series Industries, and people have speculated that the promotions may has landed on Disney+ with a bang. The series is ’ have ties to Wanda’s childhood trauma. The commercials pair first to stream exclusively on Disney+. nicely with the episodes and also reflect the aesthetic of The show has been releasing one episode every Friday each decade. since January 15. While some fans may be disappointed that it While the sitcom scenes are entertaining, as the series will most likely only be one season (with the storyline possibly continues, viewers are introduced to familiar Marvel characters being continued in the Marvel films), they can look forward to outside of the sitcom and learn the sitcom is not as amusing as it the next two episodes that have not been released yet (adding up appears to be. Episode seven is the first to include a post-credits to a total of nine episodes), especially since at least one of those scene, as Marvel is known to include at the end of its films. It is episodes is rumored to be of a greater length than the others. strongly recommended to watch or rewatch Marvel Universe Disney+ describes WandaVision as “a blend of classic movies like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda War to fully understand the series since it includes references and Maximoff and … begin to suspect that everything is not as previous Marvel characters, but it is not required. it seems.” The show features a sitcom starring Wanda (played by WandaVision has earned an overall score of 92% on ) and Vision (played by ), with each with an 80% average audience rating. Some episode set in a different decade. The first two episodes are in Marvel enthusiasts may be displeased with the lack of action black and white, while the episode titled “Now in Color” scenes that are usually present in Marvel works, while other transitions to a more vibrant theme. Each episode stylistically fits spectators may appreciate the artistic design of the show and the the era it represents and has influences from such as The sitcom parodies. Everyone has different preferences, so people Brady Bunch and Family Ties. can give WandaVision a try and see if it’s the show for them. WandaVision To top off the sitcom, WandaVision features While WandaVision will be ending soon, there are promotional poster, humorous commercials that many believe contain a deeper still two episodes left to uncover the secrets of the fictional town released December 20. meaning. Fans have noticed that the advertisements feature the of Westview, New Jersey. There is no telling what Wanda may Photo courtesy of same man and woman in each, with the exception of one. There have up her sleeve. marvel.com are also Marvel references such as a toaster made by Stark

GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS BY RACHEAL UGWUALA Club Writer

Award shows have changed significantly and the Golden Globes in the movie categories for Emma and on the TV side for The Queen's Gambit. are no exception. Hostesses Amy Poehler and Tina Fey will return, this time Sacha Baron Cohen was also a double acting nominee. He was recognized for broadcasting bi-coastally on NBC on February 28 with Fey in New York and two very opposite roles for Borat Subsequent Movie film and The Trial of the Poehler in Los Angeles. The 78th Golden Globe Awards will honor the best Chicago 7 as a Borat producer. He picked up a third mention. of American television and movies in 2020 and early 2021. With Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Gary Oldman in All nominees deserve to be recognized for their hard work. Mank, Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal, and Anthony Hopkins in The Father all Entertaining amid a pandemic is not only replete with pressure but also a risk nominated, the best actor in a drama category represents a large variety of of COVID contagion. It is difficult to produce any type of show during normal actors over a span of many genres. Frances McDormand in Nomadland will circumstances. contend against in Promising Young Woman, Davis in Ma Because of stay-at-home orders, Netflix, Amazon, and other Rainey's Black Bottom, Andra Day in The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday, and Vanessa streaming services dominated the list of nominees. Some movies, like One Kirby in Pieces of a Woman within the drama group. Night in Miami would not have relied on open movie theaters to find viewers; Blurring the lines between actors from film and television, Olivia others, like Aaron Sorkin's The Trial of the Chicago 7, were purchased from Colman joined Taylor-Joy in being nominated for both mediums. For her roles traditional studios by the streaming companies. Almost every film in question in The Crown and her supporting role in the feature drama The Father, was released digitally or is still awaiting a theatrical release. Colman, a three-time Golden Globe nominee, received praise. The black-and-white Mank, a story of Old Hollywood, led the The Golden Globes is an event shining light on and celebrating nominations with six in competition with The Trial of the Chicago 7, cinematic artists and their curated craft. Congratulations to everybody Nomadland, The Father, and Promising Young Woman for the best drama title. nominated for a job well done, and their art worth experiencing! Acting nominees included the fast-rising Anya Taylor-Joy who was honored