It’s Raining Are You Top 10 Whale Already A Rom Coms Member? Part 1

Volume 1 Issue 1 www.UCastStudios.com Is YouTube Bigger Than Television? by U Cast Studios When someone thinks about YouTube, depending upon their age group and how much time they spend online, they might have different views and interpretations of the platform. Is it a media company? Is it an ad agency connecting businesses to potential consumers? Is it a place where people post funny videos about animals and babies? Is it home to the largest assortment of podcasts on the planet? Is it inundated with large media companies’ shows (i.e., late-night shows)? Is it an advertising platform? Yes, to all of those. YouTube is home to the largest collection of posted videos on the planet and contains all kinds of videos; from the bizarre One of the keys to understanding YouTube is to think of it as television, and not a website. like ‘Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared,’ to movie reviews like the kind that to viewership, the numbers the platform on a daily basis, RedLetterMedia produces, and are shifting more and more in and 71% of people aged 26-35 political commentators’ videos Are You Already A YouTube’s favor. years old used the platform on like the ones that Tim Poole a regular basis. Member? posts. Over the years, YouTube According to Marketing Charts, has amassed an enormous in Q3 2018, television viewership One of the keys to by Turner Stephens library of content, and due to time per day for 18-34-year-old understanding YouTube is to Co-ops are often thought of its rise in popularity, it has run Americans dropped by 17.2%. think of it as television, and not as small grocery stores that into direct competition with This translates into an average a website. You do not think of primarily sell organic and television. of one hour and fifty-one television as delivering content vegan foods. In 2019, the 200 minutes per day of watching from just one station or source, According to Statista, in 2019, co-op natural foods stores sold television, which is nearly you think of it as a medium, YouTube’s global advertising $2 billion, while total sales of all four hours less than the 50- from which content is delivered revenues amounted to $15 40,000 food stores nationally, 64 age group, and five hours via multiple channels or billion, up from $11 billion in was $682.86 billion. This $2 less than the 65 and up age sources. YouTube is essentially the preceding fiscal period. billion is only 0.29 percent of group. Additionally, traditional the same thing; a platform for According to MediaPost, total all grocery sales. That is a huge television only reached 73% of content from many sources. T.V. advertising in 2019 was difference in revenue! 18-34-year-olds. Conversely, If you look at YouTube as a $76.1 billion, which is down according to Hootsuite, website, it is the second most So, if there is so much from $79.3 billion in 2018. YouTube is the second most- visited website in America, only competition, why do people Now, there are no comparing watched platform for watching behind Facebook, and if you form and support cooperatives? revenues between these two videos for 18-34-year-olds look at it as a search engine, it The goals of cooperatives are media – television makes far (after Netflix), with over 81% of is the second-most used search better service, better value more money than YouTube, at all Americans aged 18-25 using engine in America, only behind (lower cost of goods and least for now, but when it comes Continued on page 8 Continued on page 2 Business The Perfect Grilled Cheese by Roberta Nadler What do creating a mouth- For example, The Lazy Dog which consumers care. Most in the creation of a strong, long- watering, not-to-be-forgotten Restaurant caters to dog long-standing local service lasting business. It is worth the grilled cheese sandwich, and lovers. Their ideal customer businesses support nearby time to think it through. Don’t creating a successful business loves dogs and great food. community organizations, and you agree? have in common? Quite a lot. Understanding your target non-profits — assisting youth, Each requires careful thought, audience guides you with the seniors, healthcare, Rotary, attention, and vision to make it choice of words, pricing, style, Toastmasters, and more. It is all work. Reality is — it is all about and what you offer. And, how part of the presentation of your carving out the all-important you offer it – via Zoom, eBay, memorable, never forgotten niche. Esty, a website, a delivery truck, sandwich. It helps create a loyal Following are three elements or a retail location? Focusing following, a brand, a niche. to business to consider: on your best customer helps A unique niche is the first step business owners stretch 1. What is unique about your marketing dollars further Business? Like the sandwich, because the communication Member, continued from page 1 what is your special sauce? is directed to a specific target Think of In-And-Out Burger, services, or to make available 5,500 are federally chartered audience. A narrow audience, goods and services that cannot credit unions and they provide known for their special sauce for many service businesses, and secret menu. For many be obtained otherwise), and quality financial services can be a geographical location. democratic ownership. including 30,000 surcharge- service businesses, branding And for other businesses, the is primarily about the owner. That sounds okay, but is it free ATMs in all 50 states and narrow target audience can be 10 other countries. What is your area of expertise? worldwide. For example, t-shirts impressive? Well, by putting Or, have you created a whole with Huskies doing funny things these principles into practice, People who live in large new service that did not exist can be sold to Husky owners all 65,000 cooperatives exist today metropolitan areas take before? Think Instacart; fine- over the world. in the USA. They are in various electricity for granted. Yet, in tuning the grocery home industries and service sectors rural areas, large utilities have delivery business. Your logo 3. Finally, what does your brand and one in three Americans is found it unprofitable to provide and visual communication stand for? What does the chef a member. Many people do not services at reasonable rates. are only part of the branding creating the sandwich care even realize they are a member Currently, there are 900 rural experience. Branding is the about? While food service and of a co-op or when they are electric cooperatives and public entire experience, from start to fair pricing are important, more buying a product made by one. power districts providing retail finish. is needed. What your business electric service to more than stands for, and cares about What do Sunkist citrus fruit, 2. Who is your ideal target Land O Lakes butter, Ocean 42 million consumers--that’s is an essential part of your 18 million homes--in 47 states. client? Who is going to niche. It is extremely important Spray cranberry juice, Organic enjoy the sandwich? Seniors, Valley milk, Sun Maid raisins, This comprises 33% of the U.S. for most consumers. For electric utility industry. students, foodies? Having a example, the Patagonia brand Welch’s grape juice, and narrow target audience does stands for safeguarding, and Florida’s Natural orange juice Urbanites have easy access to not mean others cannot use, appreciating the environment. have in common? They are mobile phone service and the or will not use your business. That is something, about made and marketed by co-op Internet. But people in rural member farmers. The majority areas have had to work hard of 2 million US farms are to get these. Because of their members of one or more of efforts, more people in very rural Publishing Credits the 2,100 farm cooperatives. areas have access. Although Without co-ops many farmers 260 telecommunications U Cast News is a once a month physical newspaper, and are forced to sell to larger farms cooperatives serve less than an extension of U Cast Studios. The U Cast Studios website or land developers. Worse, 5% of US telecom subscribers, will house all the articles written for U Cast News. many go broke and leave these 5% live in an area that their land. Four million farms covers over 40% of the nation’s U Cast News prints 10,000 copies a month, and is distributed went out of business between landmass. to Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, 1948 and 2015. One-hundred Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark, and Chatsworth. There are various other types thousand farms were lost of cooperatives but all co- U Cast Studios is a collaborative YouTube between 2011 and 2018 alone. ops are formed to address channel/podcast network. Farm debt, at $416 billion, is the one or more of these needs: Publisher/Editor-in-chief – U Cast Studios/U Cast News highest it has ever been. The increase member income, Editor – Novin Shakiba 2013 drop in commodity prices increase bargaining power Layout & Production – Debi Aquino for many foods has continued so members pay less, obtain Accounting, Billing/Invoicing – Larry Nielsen to fall, caused mostly from products or services otherwise Graphics & Illustrations – Robbie Eich the growth of large corporate unattainable, expand market Writers: Daniel Bavi, Mariah Jeffrey, Jane Miller, Alec Moore, farms and global competition opportunities, improve Chris Carnicelli, Dustin Brewer, Isabella Giotis, John Tolson, from farms in other countries. product or service quality, and Marcella Wilroy, Novin Shakiba, Turner Stephens. The US Census estimates that lower operating costs. The Email – [email protected] in 2019, 329 million people cooperative model of business Messages – 805.551.5691 live in this country, of which has proven to be a successful Although every effort is made to insure accuracy in this 209 million are adults, 18 years business model for groups publication, the publisher, its officers, agents or employees and older. The approximate of consumers, producers, or do not assume responsibility for statements or claims made 7000 Credit Unions in the US workers to join together to by the manufacturers, authors or other contributors, including have 110 million members- improve their lives. without limitation: claims for liable, violation of right to privacy, -more than half of the adult copyright infringement or plagiarism. population--and hold over $1.45 trillion in assets. Of these,

2 — August 2020 / U CAST NEWS Business Re-Training Your Brain with Neurofeedback Therapy by Jane Miller When I first heard about 76ers, uses neurofeedback for that will ‘tell’ your brain that meditation in one hour.” That neurofeedback therapy, also 45 minutes every day while something is out of balance sounded great to me, and also, known as EEG biofeedback, he is on the road, according and must be adjusted. well, a little… too good to be I was immediately intrigued. to ESPN.com. NASA uses As I myself experience a true. Despite a bit of skepticism, Neurofeedback is a method neurofeedback in astronaut lot of anxiety and trouble I was game to try it to reduce of re-training your brain to training as a method to improve concentrating, I thought this my anxiety. more effectively distribute astronauts’ focus and mental was something I wanted to try I found a treatment center near electrical energy, basically acuity. for myself. I also love trying new me that does neurofeedback. helping your brain become A neurofeedback session things, especially if they are Unsurprisingly, Los Angeles is more effective and balanced. generally lasts anywhere from related to personal growth and filled with them. For a period of Neurofeedback is used to treat 30 to 45 minutes, and most wellness. One of my best friends several months, I did 45-minute a variety of conditions from patients have anywhere from also encouraged me to try it by sessions of neurofeedback anxiety, and depression, to 20 to 40 sessions if they want describing her experience with therapy, twice a week. I sat post-traumatic stress disorder to experience the desired neurofeedback. She said, “It’s in a comfortable chair (feels (PTSD). In addition to treating benefits. The sessions are non- like doing a hundred hours of like a Laz-E-Boy lounger) as conditions, it can also simply invasive, and involve electrodes Continued on page 13 be used to boost effectiveness placed on your scalp to measure in a particular area such as brain wave activity. The brain concentration or creativity. waves are translated into audio, Let our hands heal & relieve your pain! Organizations including and video sounds, and images NASA, the US military, and which you can watch. When Services: many pro-athletes are fans of your brain-wave produces Foot Detox & Massage the performance enhancing an undesirable pattern, you Full Body Deep/Swedish Massage neurofeedback. 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U CAST NEWS / August 2020 — 3 Sports MLB Confirms Red Sox Cheated, then Let Them Get Away With It by Dustin Brewer set a standard to help prevent punishment After the Houston Astros these types of scandals from was handed cheating scandal rocked reoccurring, the league failed out, the Red Major League Baseball, once again. Sox quickly it was announced almost For their sign-stealing scandal, parted ways immediately, that the Red Sox the Red Sox punishments were with him. were being investigated on as follows: But with no additional similar accusations. The dots • Loss of a 2020 punishments between the two clubs were 2nd-round pick. easy to connect: Red Sox for a repeated • Suspending replay operator manager, Alex Cora, had been o f f e n s e , J.T. Watkins for the 2020 with the Astros the previous for which he was previously playoffs and 2021 season. suspended, which culminated season, in which, the Astros only culprit in a major cheating in winning baseball’s biggest had undeniably cheated. Yes, you read this right; that scandal. was the full extent of the prize with his new team, Cora After a lengthy investigation, Either it is indicative that sign punishment that MLB imposed likely will not have a hard time Major League Baseball levied stealing, and other scandals, on a team that cheated during finding a job in the future. The incredibly soft punishments are a bigger problem than a season in which they won a Red Sox cheated their way to a on the Astros, including no the league is letting on, or the suspensions for any of the World Series. title and the only person who received a punishment is an powers that be simply do not players involved. Despite Former manager Alex Cora unknown replay operator. It care that two of the last three being heavily criticized, and was suspended for the 2020 seems a little odd that a non- titles in their sport have major given another opportunity with season for his role in the 2017 uniformed employee would asterisks. the Red Sox investigation to Astros scandal, and after that be the biggest ringleader or Either way, yikes.

Reexamining What Should Make a Baseball Hall of Famer by Alec Moore

The 2020 Baseball Hall of Gooden, Orel Hershiser. just 3.2% of the Hall of Fame the bad luck to get hurt? Fame Induction Ceremony You know what else all those vote in 2013 and was thus I would argue that if you has been postponed to guys have in common? They dropped from the ballot. were one of the best there July of 2021 due to the were much better players Players like these guys ever was for a period of COVID-19 pandemic, so we than Harold Baines. And won MVPs and Cy Young five years, you made a will have to wait another year do you know which of them Awards and were for a time mark that deserves serious to see Derek Jeter enter are Hall of Famers? consideration for the Hall of the Hall. In the absence of None. Here are I would argue that if you were Fame. Bill Mazeroski is in the a ceremony, the next best some other players Hall of Fame despite a .299 thing is clearly a debate over who are not in one of the best there ever was career on-base percentage. what should qualify a player the Hall, but who He was an excellent for entry. I attended last were dominant for a period of five years, you defensive second baseman, year’s ceremony to see the for a number of but the reason his name made a mark that deserves obviously deserving relief years: Tony Oliva, was even famous before his pitching legend Mariano Kenny Lofton, serious consideration for the election is that he won the Rivera get inducted, but that Johan Santana. If 1960 World Series with one meant I also watched the far the Hall of Fame Hall of Fame. of the most famous home less obviously and arguably is to celebrate the runs in baseball history. If wildly undeserving Harold legends of the game, well, recognized as the best in the one great moment can help Baines get inducted. Baines these guys are all legends. game at what they do. Many snag a spot in the Hall of was a very good player for Oliva was twice runner up of them had their careers Fame, surely five great years a very long time and seems for MVP and won three shortened or lessened after should. While fame alone like a good guy, but at no batting titles for the Twins. a time by injuries. Well, does not merit putting one point was he one of the best Lofton led the league in perhaps you’ve heard this in the Hall of Fame, it does players in the game. For stolen bases five times, had phrase: “Injuries are part of seem rather incongruous Baines, Hall of Fame is also the best WAR in the AL in the game.” If that’s the case, to enshrine lesser players a misnomer, as he wasn’t 1994, and actually finished then why punish some of who weren’t that famous, very famous. his career with a 68.4 career the game’s brightest stars while leaving out some of Here are some of Baines’ WAR, which is nearly as for having not been able to the most famous stars who contemporaries who were high as the average Hall of shine brightly for quite so were rightfully celebrated more famous: Dale Murphy, Fame center fielder WAR long as some other players in their primes. Don Mattingly, Dwight of 71.3, yet Lofton received simply because they had

4 — August 2020 / U CAST NEWS Sports What is a Sport, Anyway? by Daniel Bavi for pleasure, and that require element of defense wherein sounds fun, but, in fact, is not. “The most crucial element physical effort and skill, and the bakers could sabotage their Basketball to defining what constitutes are performed in special areas competitors — steal their butter, according to fixed rules. But disable their ovens, replace LeBron James, indisputably one a sport vs. a competitive of the greatest players in NBA activity is not skill, physical sports, they are not. their sugar with salt — one could then justifiably argue that histor y, has as his defining career exertion, organizing principles This is because the definition moment a come-from-behind or pleasure. The most crucial provided in most standard the show is a sport. Similarly, if golfers could impact their block on Andre Iguodala to element of sport is defined by dictionaries, and therefore secure his third championship. one word: defense.” the one widely understood opponent’s score by taunting so as to throw off their swing, A defensive play. Nothing else It is an irrefutable truth that the and accepted by the masses, need be said. is incomplete. The most or intensifying wind conditions topics of religion and politics to alter the ball’s trajectory, Verdict: Sport. are best avoided in polite crucial element to defining what constitutes a sport vs. a this would make the game of Swimming company. Surely, nothing sours golf sport eligible. But, alas, competitive activity is not skill, Michael Phelps might be the a Saturday evening soiree more neither golfers nor bakers have physical exertion, organizing most decorated Olympic quickly than a soused, and surly any control over how well their principles or pleasure. The athlete ever, but at no time in the someone vehemently arguing competitor’s fare. that Neville Chamberlain’s geo- most crucial element of sport is pool did he gain a competitive strategic policy when signing the defined by one word: defense. Now that it has been established advantage by swimming into an Munich agreement was sound Defense, or the actions taken that the defining characteristic opponent’s lane and disrupting (Don’t be that someone). Much to directly deter the opposition of a sport is defense, we can their progress. apply this logic to determine better to avoid controversy and from accomplishing their goal, Verdict: No Sport. potential hostility by sticking is the sole distinction between whether something is a sport or Tennis to subjects of levity and fun at a sport and a mere competition. not in a delightful game called social gatherings; things like Some might be inclined to insist “Sport or No Sport.” Defense in tennis looks an awful basket weaving, horticulture, that our previous two examples Keep in mind that if one were lot like offense when you’re bird watching, or, in the right are sports due to their high to decide to propose this game watching it on TV, but taking crowd, existential motifs in degree of difficulty and the at their next Saturday soiree, a good defensive stance and contemporary reality television. skill required to compete at the evening could devolve into anticipating where and how to Of course, if none of these strike the professional level, but the a hellacious hullabaloo, which return a ball to your opponent your fancy, there is always that fact that that a golfer or surfer old stalwart of spirited barroom cannot impede their fellow Continued on page 6 philosophizing: sports. competitors’ path to victory The issue of radical fandom through direct action, means One Year Later: Re-Evaluating notwithstanding, sports has the that neither are accurately ability, perhaps more so than placed in the realm of sport. The Anthony Davis Trade Some might take offense and any other societal element, by Dustin Brewer to transcend the divisive lines assume that this is an attempt that render other subjects that to denigrate or disparage, Last off-season, the Lakers Ingram was an All-Star in his first similarly stir the passion’s unfit but that is not at all the case. finally decided to push their season with the team, and Lonzo fodder for civil discourse. Or so Both golfers and surfers are chips to the center of the table Ball perfectly complements the it does until an inquiring mind remarkable athletes, and their and scream style of play asks a simple, yet incendiary feats and accomplishments “All In” at coach Alvin question: what, really, is a are worthy of adulation. But the top Gentry wants sport? the plain fact remains that a of their to run. competitive game or activity The most basic definition, lungs. After On the that does not allow for defense months of as offered by the Oxford to be played is no sport. Lakers’ end, Dictionary, states that a sport rumors and some thinly-veiled Anthony Davis and LeBron is an “activity that you do for Before attempting to create a tampering on both sides, James are both the best player pleasure and that requires definitive list of what qualifies the Lakers and the Pelicans that each has played with physical effort or skill, usually as sporthood, and what does reached an agreement that throughout their respective done in a special area and not, consider that while all sent Pelicans’ franchise star careers. LeBron has jumped to according to fixed rules.” By this sports contain elements Anthony Davis to join LeBron another level as a playmaker logic, golf, which many deem a of competition, not all James, and the Lakers. with Davis running alongside pleasurable activity, played on competitions are considered The terms of the deal: him, and the spacing each sport. For example, nary a a special course with special Lakers Received: F Anthony Davis creates for the other and their rules, is a sport. So, too, does person alive would claim that teammates have translated to Pelicans Received: G Lonzo Ball, surfing, an incredibly exciting, The Great British Bake Off is a wins much faster than anyone G Josh Hart, F Brandon Ingram, and skill-based oceanic sport, and yet, it meets all of the could have predicted. criteria in our earlier definition: Three First-Round Picks pastime, meet the criteria for With how disjointed the season sporthood. Some who read baking is pleasurable and While the move was quick to requires skill and effort, it is has been, it is easy to forget this might now be wondering put the Lakers back into the just how fortuitous this trade where the problem lies. I will done in a special area and has playoffs and instantly make specific rules. But The Great has been for both teams. The say precisely, and without a them a favorite to win the title, Lakers enter this NBA restart hint of irony or sarcasm, that British Bake Off, and other it is impossible to ignore the similar food-based programs, as the favorites to come out of the problem, dear reader, is wonderful position the Pelicans the Western Conference and that neither golf nor surfing are considered competitions, have landed in. Now led by GM not sport. Hypothetically, if the contend for this year’s title. But is a sport. They are, indeed, David Griffin, the Pelicans are with proper development, and activities that many pursue producers for The Great British currently the 9-seed, they have Bake Off were to introduce an their AD haul, the Pelicans may a new franchise cornerstone become a force to be reckoned in Zion Williamson, Brandon with before we know it.

U CAST NEWS / August 2020 — 5 Sports The Teams Most Likely To Play Spoiler In The NBA Playoffs by Dustin Brewer With the NBA embracing a new sustained run, and wins NBA’s back of the 8th seed) format to help them finish a COVID-cup title (not an official The NBA should COVID-19 interrupted season, name) is slim, there are still a probably go ahead there is a greater chance few teams that could shake and rename this the than normal for something things up. Here are my top “Zion Williamson unexpected to happen. spoiler prospects: Tournament,” While no one can fault the NBA Washington Wizards (5 games because it is safe to for trying to make the best of back of the 8th seed) Will John say that this all exists to get more Zion a bad situation, and find a way Wall return from a two-year can get their depth back, there television air time, and hope to finish a season that made absence to finally offer Bradley is no fringe team that the West to get him into the playoffs, owners, fans, and players all Beal some help? No one quite should be more concerned and a 1st vs 8th seeds matchup unhappy, calling their solution knows, but even if Wall remains about than the Blazers. Dame against LeBron James and the “complicated,” would be a on the shelf, the Wizards are and CJ McCollum are always Lakers. Their schedule (Kings massive undersell. Twenty-two currently holding the 9th seed, threats to go off for 35-plus twice, Grizzlies twice, Jazz, teams will travel to Orlando, and would only need to make points in any game, Carmelo Spurs, Clippers, and Magic) is and play eight “regular season” up a one game difference Anthony has had a resurgent much easier than the Grizzlies games to give teams within six to play the Orlando Magic return to the league, and adding (Blazers, Jazz, Spurs, Thunder, games of the 8th seed in each for the 8th seed. Depending Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins Bucks, Pelicans twice, and conference a chance to make it on how Orlando comes out back to the rotation should be Celtics), and you would have to into the playoffs. If the 9th seed of their surprisingly tough enough to keep other teams, like their chances in a must-win ends up within four games of schedule (Pacers, Kings, Nets even the 7th seed Mavericks, series vs the Grizzlies. the 8th seed, the two teams twice, Pelicans, 76ers, Raptors, on edge. will play each other with the Lakers/Blazers), there is a great Portland Trail Blazers (4 games The next few months are going 9th seed needing to win two chance that the Wizards are the back of the 8th seed) One to be every NBA fan’s dream, games and the 8th seed only team to take advantage of the name: Damian Lillard. Portland but for some teams, it may just needing to win one. formatting and sneak their way was set to get a few key players be a nightmare. While the likelihood that one in, with or without John Wall. back from injury before the of these fringe teams makes a New Orleans Pelicans (3 games pandemic, so assuming they

What is a Sport, Anyway?, continued from page 5 are critical elements that players been a disastrous last game Astros went ahead and added you’re taking. From a human like Serena Williams and Novak in a storied career turned into banging on trash cans and perspective, competing in a Djokivic have mastered to storybook victory thanks to his wearing sign-stealing devices fishing tournament doesn’t reach the pinnacle of the sport. teammate, Von Miller leading under their jerseys. Do they get necessarily allow one fisherman Verdict: Sport. the charge in one of the most credit for their innovations? No. to directly impact another’s dominant defensive displays in Verdict: Sport. ability to snag a fish, unless you Hockey and Soccer: the history of the sport. reason that one person making Boxing/MMA Both hockey and soccer Verdict: Sport. a catch prevents another feature an entire position fully Floyd Mayweather achieved a person from making that catch, dedicated to protecting a goal eSports record of 50-0-0 in his career which is faulty logic at best. to prevent the other team from It’s in the name, right? It might by being one of the greatest However, if you look at it from scoring. This one is a no brainer. seem silly to suggest that defensive fighters of all time. the perspective of a fish, it could Verdict: Sport. competitive video gaming is Verdict: Sport. very well be a sport. Racing a sport, but games like Call of through a veritable sea of bait Track & Field Duty, Super Smash Bros., and Bowling and hooks to see who can reach Track and field attracts some of League of Legends all very Unless a player is willing to safety first, maneuvering and the world’s finest athletes who clearly have defensive tactics. sprawl out in the middle of a bumping your gilled opponent push the human limits when it Try winning a competitive waxed lane and block their to force them into a trap. But, comes to running, jumping and Super Smash Bros. tournament opponent’s ball from hitting since this is an article written by throwing. Unfortunately, there without using a shield, roll or air the pins with their body, this a human and presumably for was nothing Yohan Blake could dodge. Just try it. I dare you. one is pretty clear. an audience of other humans, have done to stop his fellow Verdict: Sport. Verdict: No Sport we’ll stick with the former countryman Usain Bolt from perspective. beating him at the 100-meter Golf Poker Verdict: No Sport. race in the 2012 Olympic This was already settled in the Can wearing baseball caps Games. It’s all about personal preceding paragraphs, but just and sunglasses indoors be preparation, perseverance and to make it official: golf is not a considered playing defense? I raw, God given talent. sport. Sorry. say yes. Intimidation, deception Verdict: No Sport. Verdict: No Sport. and bluffing can all influence what an opponent does with Football Baseball their hand. In the 2016 Super Bowl, There was a time when defense Verdict: Sport Peyton Manning threw 141 in baseball was all about yards, zero touchdown passes, pitching and controlling the Fishing had an interception, and a field with strategic spacing The answer to this one differs fumble. What could have and fielding, but then the depending on what perspective

6 — August 2020 / U CAST NEWS Gaming Cloud Gaming: Google Takes It To A New Level by Isabella Giotis Less than a year ago, an online Chromecast Ultra, your phone, contains some quality games, The service is currently offering service debuted that had some or your laptop. You then add a some lesser-known ones, and a deal that gives you the first thinking that the Netflix of controller of your choice; it can some created exclusively for two months of service for free, gaming had finally arrived. be Google’s Stadia Controller, Stadia’s platform. It competes and $9.99 a month thereafter. While it has not exactly turned an Xbox One controller, or a against Nvidia’s GeForce Now, Some industry observers say out what way, some people PS4’s DualShock4 gamepad. Microsoft’s Project xCloud, that there has been a surge in the gaming industry think One of Google Stadia’s and Sony’s PlayStation Now in signups for the service that Google’s Stadia service hallmarks is its capability of services. because of a combination of could be a power player in streaming video games up to Google also launched Stadia the relatively cheap deal, and the field. In a nutshell, Stadia 4K resolution at 60 fps (frames- Games and Entertainment, a the coronavirus crisis. is a Cloud gaming service that per-second), with support for division focused on developing To be clear, Stadia is not gives users access to a digital HDR (high-dynamic-range). new games exclusively for the like Netflix, which offers a gaming library, and allows you One of the concerns with service. Some of the recognizable seemingly unlimited number of to use it on the go, on different Stadia is the way in which it names include, “PUBG,” “Red titles for a set price. Instead, it platforms, from home PCs, links to your internet service. Dead Redemption 2,” and offers a catalog of free games, to smartphones, and tablets. If you have 100MPps internet “Mortal Kombat 11.” with the option to buy more. It is currently only available speeds, Stadia can perform Players can start games without While it offers some games on certain phones, such as very well. But, if you have a having to download them onto for free, including a growing Pixel smartphones, supported slower connection or a cap on their devices, and can also catalog of its custom games, Samsung phones, OnePlus, your data service, it can burn stream, or even record their the platform also sells some Razer, and Asus. Stadia has the through it rapidly. sessions on YouTube. The of the big-name games. So, ability to run on any desktop Google launched Stadia in StreamConnect function allows instead of comparing it to Chrome browser, so no 2019, with just over 20 games, gamers to play the games Netflix, it is perhaps closer to additional software is needed. with plans to add 120 more in together with friends, using a an online GameStop which tries There are different ways of 2020. Gamers say the catalog picture in picture function. to position itself as a one-stop- using the service. You can use a shop for gaming.

In 2017, Tostitos chips created In WW1, German, and Russian a bag o’chips that came with troops (enemies to each other) a built-in ‘breath’o’lizer’ to tell teamed up to stop the attacks whether or not you have been of packs of killer wolves. It drinking. sounds like a movie plot. America clocks in with the At Google HQ there is a rule: most vending machines in the no office can be more than150 world; over 6.9 million. by Chris Carnicelli feet away from some kind of food. In his career, Elvis Presley only endorsed one single product, Male hippopotamuses fling In the 15th Century, convicted Birds cannot detect the heat a little store called Southern their poop around with their tail murderers in Ireland were given off by chili flower or Made Donuts, his favorite go- to impress the females. handed over to the deceased plant. to place for eats. families as either slaves or In 1912, a Paris orphanage 96% of people can tell the victims to be killed. The online company “AndVinyly” difference between hot and held a raffle to raise funds. The is unique. They will bake your cold liquids being poured into Orville Redenbacher paid an prize? The orphaned children. cremated ashes onto a vinyl a glass. advertising company $13,000 What is the longest war ever? album for a price. to name his world-famous It is the 335 Year War between How do you tell identical twins popcorn Orville Redenbacher A recent survey shows that the Netherlands and the Isles apart? Easy! Look at their belly Popcorn. Yeah, money well California takes the most of Scilly. buttons. They are all different. spent. “selfies while driving.” No surprise there! When Democrat President Harry S. Truman went to Tom Harrison completed Disneyland in 1957, he refused the London Marathon while to ride the Dumbo Flying Thirsty for New Business? dressed as a gorilla. Elephant ride. Why? Because the elephant is a symbols of the • Consultation To cure hearing loss in 1550 Republican party. B.C., Egyptians injected olive • Email Marketing oil, liquid lead, ant eggs, and Pink is for girls, and blue is for • Promotional Products goat urine into their ears. Icckk!! boys. When did that all start? • Text 760.844.4974 for Why, 1918, of course! Since 1969, singer Willie your No-Charge 20 minute ZOOM Marketing Consultation Nelson has played only one The rough-skinned newt emits guitar. It is old, beat-up, and a poison that is 10,000 times Offer expires 9/1/20 is named Trigger (after Roy deadlier than cyanine. Roger’s horse). ConnectTheDotsAdvertising.com Promoting the Power of Connection

U CAST NEWS / August 2020 — 7 Business Resilience. Re-Invention... Relax, You Got This! by John Tolson This is for business owners. was a phone operator? Or a together, and move forward. Maybe, maybe not. Will it be Remember back in the day when Blockbuster? At the time, you You have access to the easy? Probably not. But you are you were a new entrepreneur would have never guessed internet. There may be forums better equipped now to tackle with boundless optimism, those would go away. Then of business owners, who like the challenges of Covid-19 and enthusiasm but ZERO along comes Covid-19: a you, are struggling or starting than when you first started. experience? You tried a myriad worldwide pandemic. A true over. You can throw out ideas. Imagine five years from now; of ways to generate business. setback. A kick in There are ways to use you will be able to say “I started Some worked, while many the gut, and the social media to tell my business in the middle of a failed miserably. However, you pocketbook. For your story. You can worldwide pandemic!” did not let those failures stop many business record a video Congratulations. You can do this. you from getting up and trying owners, it means and post it using Go for it. Keep on keeping on! again; you pressed on. Over having to start your cell phone. John Tolson is the Director of time, you learned what worked all over again. Need to learn a Marketing and Membership in your business and what did new skill? You can But luckily, you for the Simi Valley Chamber not. You developed systems go to a learning site have so much more of Commerce, where he has to streamline processes and like Lynda.com or YouTube than when you originally been for 10 years. He also has outsourced tasks as you saw fit. and watch professionals teach started your business. an independent insurance You began to hire employees, your topic of choice. Need to You have expert industry business, where he is a Broker and learned the value of a watch it again? Go right ahead. knowledge. You have credit. for many home and auto positive, hard-working team. Experts in just about any field You have built relationships. carriers. Currently, he is also You learned that training can easily be reached via You have a customer base with a Planning Commissioner for and ongoing learning are Twitter and Instant Messenger, contact information. You have the City of Simi Valley. He can important, as your industry and and are willing to answer your resources beyond measure, be reached at john.tolson@ technology constantly evolve. questions. and the confidence and know- goosehead.com Who remembers when there how to put all of these things Will life be the same as before?

YouTube, continued from page 1 its parent company, Google. of channels on YouTube that So why is YouTube growing produce that kind of content. in viewership and television Is television going to be around is on the decline? There are a ten years from now? Most likely, variety of reasons why this is yes. Will YouTube be around the case. For one, YouTube is ten years from now? Unless the free, (television subscriptions world turns into Mad Max, the can cost anywhere from $24 answer to that question is an to $100 a month, according to unequivocal, yes. Techwalla). Large corporations As more time passes, YouTube’s have emphasized moving their daily viewership and time “WE’RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS” expensive/high-quality shows spent on the platform is going onto their streaming services to dwarf television’s by such (or are preparing to do so), a large amount, that future Community Radio Announcements and the content on YouTube college student will be writing is a lot better than the content papers on how there used AFFORDABLE RATES! on television. YouTube has to be a time when a band of something for virtually every suits in high-rise buildings We’ll do the work - you make the call! audience on the planet. If a was deciding what Americans person likes politics, there wanted to watch, instead of the are thousands of channels Call Thomas Herdering at 805-285-2050 paradigm where Americans on YouTube catered to that choose what they watch, and audience. If someone would by whom, and what they want rather listen to basketball talk to see is individualized content and analysis, there are dozens produced out of bedrooms. of channels on YouTube that REBUILDING TOGETHER discuss nearly all aspects To continue reading this story, of basketball (including the please scan the QR code in this YouTube channel Dom2k who article. BETTER THAN EVER! hosts a show on our podcast network, U Cast Studios), or if someone likes creepy stories Download The App read to them in a manner that Listen Now! 99.1 FM or will give them goosebumps, Online at 991TheRanch.com they are in luck, there are plenty

8 — August 2020 / U CAST NEWS U Cast Studios Podcasts

U Cast Studios is a collaborative podcast network that features a variety of content creators. Our goal is to bring different channels together to form a collaborative network. These are the shows that compromise our network:

The Domcast Do you like basketball talk? If so, you’re in luck! The Domcast is a weekly basketball show hosted by Dom2k. This is the show for you. In Dom’s recent episode, he covers the NBA’s return and all of the dynamics associated with it.

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U CAST NEWS / August 2020 — 9 World & Environment A Living Greenland Shark as Old as America by Novin Shakiba One of the most fascinating essentially bore witness to things. Interestingly enough, also unveiled the oldest aspects of nature is that so much almost all of American history. thermonuclear bomb tests known living vertebrate, a 16- of it is ancient compared to Scientists use lines formed in that became prevalent in the foot female Greenland shark, humans’ lifespans. Some giant bones over time, much like 1950s deposited radiocarbon estimated to be approximately Sequoias are known to have rings in trees, to determine the in the marine environment, 392 years old. How amazing is been standing for thousands age of most vertebrates. But which resulted in higher levels that? Here is a fish that was alive of years. But when it comes to because Greenland sharks are of radiation inside the lens throughout most of American living vertebrates, none have cartilaginous, meaning they have of all marine life, including history, from the pilgrims to been known to live longer than soft cartilage instead of bone Greenland sharks. This spike the Civil War, the industrial the Greenland shark. structures, determining their age in radioactive levels is referred revolution to the technological Until recently, the oldest requires applying another method to as the “bomb pulse.” So, revolution, and everything in known living vertebrate was called radiocarbon dating. in 2016, marine biologists between. That is quite the life. the Bowhead whale, native Forensic scientists have long been capitalized on the bomb pulse The idea of living for 400 years to Arctic waters. One specific able to carbon-date the proteins and tested the radiation found seems superfluous. If asked, specimen was estimated to be inside the eye lens of humans in 28 Greenland sharks that most people will likely be 211 years old. But a scientific to determine their age. Lens were tagged and surveyed content with 80. In contrast, study of Greenland sharks in proteins are unique, in that they between 2010 and 2013. the Greenland shark has yet 2016 revealed one particular do not degenerate. Once they are The results were astonishing. to reach sexual maturity at the shark, tagged off the coast formed during the prenatal stage, Only the smallest, thus century mark, with the prime of Greenland, to be around they retain their original profile youngest sharks, showed of its life still ahead. At 100, it 392 years old. A living shark throughout the person’s lifetime. residuals of the bomb pulse has so much yet to see and do, whose birth likely coincided By carbon-dating these proteins, inside their lens. This dates and so much of human history with the Mayflower arriving scientists can determine the age them to the early 60s, roughly to behold. These gentle giants in America. Imagine that. To of the person. 60 years old. Radiocarbon may hold the secret to longevity. put it in perspective, when the Much like the human eye dating of the larger, pre-bomb But for now, we can only take a pilgrims first settled in the New lens, the Greenland shark’s sharks suggested they reached pause in time and appreciate World, this shark was roaming lens contains carbon-14, a sexual maturity at around them for the biological wisdom the north Atlantic waters. This slightly radioactive form of 156 years, with a lifespan of they bear. particular shark, alive today, carbon that exists in all living at least 272 years. This study It’s Raining Whale by Novin Shakiba It was an unusually sunny day on It was now Thursday, November happened to be a military oohed and awed were now sent November 9th, 1970, along the 12th. By noon, the morning veteran with explosive training, scrambling for safety. Murphy’s central Oregon coast. The small gloom had mostly dwindled and pointed out that the nearly Law was in full effect, and what beach town of Florence, which made way for a bit of sunshine one-thousand pounds of could have gone wrong, indeed sits at the mouth of the Siuslaw to warm the air. The Highway dynamite were far too much. went wrong. River, began its seemingly Division had sought the His expertise was ignored, and The aftermath of the blast left routine Monday preparing for expertise of George Thornton, at 3:45 pm, with television news most of the whale carcass intact. the work week ahead. But all an engineer, who by his crews, experts, enthusiasts, What was sent into the sky was not what it seemed. In the admission, did not quite know and skeptics on hand, the landed on people, buildings, darkness of the previous night, how much dynamite would be explosives were discharged. and left several cars in nearby a dead sperm whale, 45 feet needed to achieve the safe and KATU-TV’s live broadcast parking lots damaged. A few long, weighing an estimated successful detonation of the caught the countdown and cars had their roofs caved eight tons, had washed whale. Appearing irresolute subsequent blast on film. The in by larger blubber chunks. ashore. Within three days, in a television news interview massive explosion disintegrated Luckily, no one was hurt, except the unsuspecting residents just before the scheduled the whale carcass, launching perhaps the Highway Division of Florence would witness an discharge, Mr. Thornton massive chunks hundreds of and the lead engineer’s egos. event that would forever etch conceded that he was chosen feet into the air. In the footage, Frightened by the blast, the their beloved town’s name in to carry out the fateful blast which, according to a BBC seagulls were nowhere to be the pages of absurd history. because his supervisor was out study, is the most-watched seen. The Highway Division As the eastward ocean breeze hunting, and unavailable. The TV news report of all time on was left to swallow its pride picked up by early Monday stage was set for everything to the internet, spectators can and muster the effort to clean morning, a burgeoning, rancid go wrong. be heard cheering in the first up the mess they created. stench sheathed over Florence. In the three days that followed few seconds following the Nearly half a century later, in By mid-morning, the Oregon the discovery of the carcass, the explosion. But what went up, June of 2020, Florence, Oregon Highway Division, which at the otherwise monotonous small eventually came down, and opened its doors to Exploding time had jurisdiction over the town had something to talk in the ensuing moments, the Whale Memorial Park. A park beaches, was notified of the about. Word of the whale blast legend of the Exploded Whale dedicated to the memory dead whale. After consulting had spread all across Oregon. was born. The detonation had of the most infamous day in with the US Navy, a decision Portland’s KATU-TV even sent not gone as planned. The whale Florence’s history. It offers was made to detonate the a news crew to document the carcass did not fully disintegrate. views of the Siuslaw River, the whale. The idea, and hope, was blast. Folks from nearby towns Large, heavy chunks of rotting dunes on which the Exploding that the eight-ton whale would migrated to Florence to bear whale blubber rained down Whale once laid, picnic tables, disintegrate, and seagulls, witness to what promised to on bystanders, rooftops, and and a great conversation piece crabs, and other scavengers be a spectacular event. One cars as far away as a quarter of for its patrons. would then clean up the particular bystander, who a mile. Spectators who initially remnants.

10 — August 2020 / U CAST NEWS World & Environment Worldwide Lockdown Brings Roaming Wildlife by Novin Shakiba While most of the world has water clarity before and after those that have wandered into deeper into human territory and been under lockdown, the the lockdown. town from nearby temples. stayed longer during the global advent of Covid-19 has given In India, one of the most densely Here at home in America, we lockdowns is indicative of how animals all over the world the populated countries on the have also encountered our fair impactful our encroachment freedom to roam and explore. planet, videos of a critically share of rare wildlife sightings. on their habitat can be. It is Cities across the globe that endangered civet crossing a Wild turkeys have been spotted also worth noting how in such would otherwise be robust with barren street surfaced and went roaming desolate streets a relatively short time, the human activity are now barren viral. The nocturnal cat-like coast to coast, from Boston negative impacts of our routine and empty. The noise from mammal was seen ambling on to Oakland. Emboldened behaviors can be reversed. cars, trucks, trains, plains, and a crosswalk in broad daylight. by the dearth of human As we prepare to open up streetcars that have become Authorities believe the animal activity, a pride of mountain across the globe and return to commonplace in many corners must have wandered from far lions was photographed, normalcy, we can appreciate of the world has now faded distances into town, as such casually strolling through a how quarantining ourselves under an unprecedented global sightings are extremely rare. neighborhood in Boulder, from nature has meant cleaner quietude. The social distancing air, clearer waters, brighter stars Thailand’s tourism industry, Colorado. Mountain lion orders this pandemic has sighting is extremely rare, in the night sky, and roaming necessitated, have curtailed which accounts for a large wildlife where they otherwise portion of the nation’s as the large predatory cats human infringement on nature, are generally timid and would dare not roam. Even if and wildlife is reaping the economy, has been one of the only for a brief moment. hardest hit due to coronavirus- avoid human contact. Here benefits and reclaiming its in California, bears, coyotes, habitat. related travel restrictions. With far less human activity on and deer have In Italy, one of the first countries the streets, native macaque parlayed human to impose a nationwide monkeys, which are notoriously social distancing lockdown, jellyfish were territorial, have taken over. A and quarantining observed wading the turquoise recently surfaced video on into exploring and waters of the Venice canals. social media shows over one reclaiming some of Although images of dolphins hundred of them brawling in the their lost habitats. swimming in Venice have also street over food. Interestingly While human and circulated on social media, they enough, some locals believe animal interaction have since been debunked. the monkeys have actually is not uncommon, Nonetheless, satellite images formed rival gangs between the fact that animals show a distinct difference in those that live in the city, and have wandered Lifestyle What Is Dopamine Fasting and is it Legit? by Jane Miller Unless you are part of a certain your recent post, or the rush us a dopamine hit like it used to dopamine fasting? Or, the trend circle of tech folks in Silicon of pleasure you get when your pre-electronic gadgets. of ‘Dry January,’ when many Valley, one of the newest phone dings with a text from Essentially, dopamine fasting people abstain from alcohol lifestyle trends you probably your crush. Well, you can thank is about re-setting your brain’s for a month after the New Year have not heard of, is called dopamine for that happy feeling. reward pathway by reducing begins? dopamine fasting. I first heard What is wrong with dopamine, over-stimulation. Consider it Is there any true science to about it from a New York Times you might ask yourself, and why like a juice cleanse for your dopamine fasting? article titled “How to Feel would one want to fast from it? brain. When doing a dopamine According to Dr. Peter Nothing Now, in Order to Feel Fasting from pleasure seems a fast, the hope is that by limiting More Later.” I was intrigued, Grinspoon, a writer for Harvard bit extreme, especially in a time activities that release dopamine Health publishing, “While as it sounded like something I when we are already restricted for a certain period of time, you would want to try. dopamine does rise in response in many ways. Well, the problem can get dopamine from the to rewards or pleasurable Dopamine is a neurotransmitter seems to be from the excess everyday activities in life. activities, it doesn’t actually that is involved in making us feel of electronic stimulations – Dopamine fasting can be decrease when you avoid good, and is part of the brain’s those we get from our phones, different for everyone. Some overstimulating activities, so a system for reward, pleasure, and computers, etc. We are rarely ways to dopamine fast might dopamine “fast” doesn’t actually motivation. Imagine the feeling away from our devices, and be abstaining from checking lower your dopamine levels.” you get when you check your perhaps constantly getting small social media, going online, Sure, it probably is worth Instagram account and find out dopamine hits every time we seeing friends, watching you’ve gotten tons of likes on get a notification is a problem. taking a break from things movies, etc. The length of time that bring us those dopamine That is because one dopamine fasts can be our baseline ‘hits’ to appreciate their Essentially, dopamine fasting anywhere from several hours to worth. However, I am not for pleasure a full 24 hours, or even longer. is about resetting your brain’s becomes convinced we need an official In my opinion, dopamine name for something that is reward pathway by reducing higher, so simple joys, fasting seems like a fancy name essentially the reward we feel over-stimulation. Consider it like seeing a for a simplistic idea that has from momentarily restraining been around since the dawn ourselves from something we a juice cleanse for your brain. beautiful flower, might not give of time. Isn’t Lent kind of like enjoy. U CAST NEWS / August 2020 — 11 Lifestyle Artemis Fowl Movie Review by Chris Carnicelli Based on two of the more the Earth, is Wakanda… I mean, Conor McPherson (The Eclipse) it shows. Fortunately, he does popular 2001 book series by Haven City, the super-advanced and Hamish McColl (Johnny not take up too much screen Eoin Colfer, this movie, adapted techno-city that is home to every English Reborn) are actually time, and his co-stars fare much by the Disney machine, has fairytale creature imaginable, 10-year-olds and like to write better. The impressive Lara fans of the books crying foul and policed by elves, and fan-fiction for school, and McDonnell makes the best of ever since the trailer dropped. their commander, Julius Root, their friends. This simplistic, the ridiculous dialogue written Apparently, the Harry Potter/ played by a gravelly-voiced badly paced, and horribly for her. I cannot imagine what Spy Kids/Men In Black spin isn’t Judi Dench. Root assigns childish dialogue could not Dame Judi Dench, the high- sitting well with people who recon officer Holly Short (Lara have been written by adults. priestess of cinema, was know the character and subject McDonnell) to investigate the They essentially combined the thinking when she signed on matter. Welcome to Hollywood! human world for that Aculos, first two books, cut, chopped, to do this lame film. Money? A I have never read any of the despite Holly’s checkered past. dissected, and eviscerated favor to Branagh? Blackmail? books, so I cannot make any After a confrontation with a troll, the story into something Let’s also not forget that she comparisons, but this is one bad Holly is caught, and captured abominable, and the result was in the Cats movie that came movie adaptation. Narrated by Artemis, Jr., and his loyal is two complete full-length out around Christmas of 2019. by an oversized dwarf named butler/bodyguard, Domovoi movies, badly edited to make One saving grace in this whole Mulch Diggums, we are quickly “Dom” Butler (Nonso Anozie). a 95-minute flick. Nothing debacle was Josh Gad. As the thrust into the life of Artemis Having a captured elf is makes sense, the plot holes narrator and comic relief, he Fowl (Colin Farrell), who is dangerous to the other world, themselves, have plot holes, knew how to play his character; either an international art thief, so Root calls out a huge tactical scenes start and end for no throw out the script, and or a really good businessman. elvish SWAT team to rescue reason, dialogue that makes no improvise his lines. At least, His 12-year-old son, Artemis, Jr. Holly. But after getting their butts sense whatsoever, and worst that is how it seems. He was the (Ferdia Shaw), is a super-genius, kicked by a kid and a butler, Root of all, Artemis, Jr. is hardly the only shining light in this whole and like his father, believes in decides on shrewd diplomacy main character. wretched waste of time. This all the Irish folk tales, which is instead, and calls in her ace- Director Kenneth Branagh movie is currently streaming good, because dear ‘ole dad in-the-hole, the incarcerated (Thor, Murder on the Orient only on the Disney+ platform, just got kidnapped by Opal Mulch, to spring the captured elf. Express), at least tries to make and not in any theaters… yet. Koboi (Hong Chau), an evil pixie, But by now, Artemis and Holly this movie look good with This is both a blessing and who demands the McGuffin… I have bonded over their missing impressive CGI and whiz-bang a curse, I guess. A blessing, mean, the “Aculos”, a gizmo of dads, and become friends. SPFX, but this is nothing less because I did not have to pay to untold power. How convenient! The Aculos is than Harry Potter/Percy Jackson watch it, but a curse, because it But where is that Aculos then located, a big action piece meets Men In Black. It also does was 95 minutes I will never get hidden? Only Fowl, Sr. knows, ensues when Professor Quirrell not help that the lead, newbie back. Oh, and a sequel, as it and it is up to Junior to figure yells, “There’s a troll in the castle,” Ferdia Shaw, has all the charm alludes to it in the end? I don’t it out, and save his pops. That and the movie ends, defying and charisma of a bag of rocks. think so. is the A-story. Meanwhile, we what has already been shown on He has never acted before, and also have the B-story running at the screen. Wait, what? the same time. Hidden deep in I have a theory. Screenwriters The Origins of “Dank” by Marcella Wilroy What is dank? Well, a lot of to state, so does the culture Neurofeedback continued from page 4 things are dank… really. When that comes along with it. electrodes were applied to my appropriate, if not completely thinking back to some of the Growing up around this kind of scalp, aided by the use of a accurate. After leaving a slang and colloquial terms community, one will have heard headband. I also held a mouse session of neurofeedback, I spawned from the past several several terms thrown around, in my hand, and sat in front of a never felt like I just did 100 decades, a few well-known like bomb, dope, sweet, and monitor. The monitor displayed hours of mediation (but then words come to mind. I am sure hella. Over the last few years, as what looked like a series of again, I have never done 100 we are all familiar with terms like I have observed dank make its kaleidoscopic images, much hours of mediation, so who gnarly, wicked, sick, and maybe way into several walks of life, it like fractals, and I watched as is to say), but I did feel more even totally radical, dude. These begs this question: Where did the colors, and lines twirled focused. At the end of my time are all phrases most of us have dank come from? This word has around on the screen. When doing neurofeedback therapy, probably heard. Whether it was been around for well over just a I lost focus, I heard a weird, I did feel a slight reduction in from the mouth of your local few centuries and with several somewhat uncomfortable tone my anxiety levels. I was not as neighborhood surfer, or not, different meanings. The word’s in the headset I was wearing, easily rattled, and it took me plenty of us have had exposure exact background is unclear, which I suppose was re-training longer to react negatively to to surf culture in films like Fast though its usage in almost all my brain to stay focused on distressing situations. During Times at Ridgemont High, forms has been dated back to the images. It could get kind the time I tried neurofeedback Lords of Dogtown, and possibly around 1400. of boring and monotonous therapy, I was also doing even Lilo and Stitch. Like all of According to the Oxford English at points, and on days when traditional talk therapy, so it these wonderful and outdated Dictionary, dank refers to I felt particularly antsy, it was is hard to say which variable surfisms once did, dank is something that is wet or watery, frustrating to sit in a chair helped my anxiety the most. It starting to gain popularity with as in rain, clouds, or dew; though, and watch images of fractals is also hard to say if I perhaps the young adults of Southern this application is probably float across the screen for 45 experienced the placebo effect. California. rendered obsolete these days. minutes. Regardless, neurofeedback is Whether growing, or consuming Dank, as I know it, living in a very interesting method of The meditation analogy my weed, the West Coast has been Southern California, is now used potentially helping our brain friend shared with me about a popular hotspot for marijuana to convey something satisfying operate optimally. neurofeedback turned out to be culture. As the legality of cannabis spreads from state Continued on page 15 12 — August 2020 / U CAST NEWS Lifestyle Top-Ten Rom-Coms from the 90s and Beyond (Part 1) by Daniel Bavi emissions? The answer, for Prestige and The Illusionist. consider to be “perfect”), which most people, is many, many The subgenre of teen-rom- expertly hits all of the beats of Is it an exaggeration to say that things. But with The American coms had its own brush with a movie dealing with the teen the decline of the romantic- President, Reiner, Sorkin, and a this phenomenon in 1999 with experience – first love, angst, comedy in the late aughts and top-notch cast manage to pull the release of She’s All That the perils of popularity, the early 2010s is directly correlated off a cinematic juggling act by and Ten Things I Hate About confines of conformity, prom, to the decay of decency, civility, combining earnest romance, You. Both films are based and the pressures of plunging and genuine human empathy sharp, if slightly partisan, on literary source material into the precipice of adulthood exhibited by so many in our political drama, and genuine (Pygmalion and Taming of the that every graduate feels at contemporary, twitter-obsessed wit to form an undeniably Shrew, respectively), and both some level – without pandering culture? Maybe. But still, every entertaining package that still plots revolve around a bet or or over-simplifying. These time I sit in the dark sanctuary resonates 25 years after its transaction, which leads to are complex characters in a of the movie theatre (remember initial release. deception, which inevitably complex story, and that alone those?) and watch cartoonish, leads to romance because, puts it in the upper-echelon of caped characters clashing over The story centers on the president of the United States, well, movies. But what is it that the genre. But when you add the fate of the known universe, I elevates Ten Things I Hate About iconic moments like Heath cannot help but yearn for those Andrew Shepard (Michael Douglas) – a recent widower who You above its contemporaries, Ledger serenading Julia Styles faraway days when a movie’s and pretty much every other with Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take climactic moment could just be narrowly eked out an electoral victory and now enjoys a 63% teen rom-com ever made? My Eyes Off You,” and Larisa a girl, standing in front of a boy, Oleynik’s character Bianca asking him to love her. approval rating heading into Maybe it’s the charisma of a an election year – and newly fresh-faced Heath Ledger and punching the antagonistic Not being a fan of playground hired environmental lobbyist Julia Stiles, whose performances underwear model Joey Donner politics or the outdoors, I spent Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette transcend the typical tropes of (played by Andrew Keegan) in most of my adolescence inside Benning). Their auspicious a teenage love story. Maybe the face on the middle of the watching rom-coms with my meeting at the White House it’s the well-crafted script prom dance floor, you get one mom. From Moonstruck to begins with Sydney criticizing written by Karen McCullah of the best movies of a year Pretty Woman to Meg Ryan’s Shepard’s political track record and Kristen Smith (who went many consider to be the best in entire 90s oeuvre, rom-coms on environmental issues and on to write Legally Blonde, movie history. provided texture and color to ends with Shepard, obviously one of a handful of movies I the unrealized passions and bewitched by her passion and unattainable dreams of 10- beauty, asking Sydney if she’d year old me. So what if they “like to get a donut.” This spark Drive-In Movie Event are clichéd? So what if they of attraction leads to dating, are a tad formulaic? Life is which leads to controversy, by U Cast Studios chaotic and unpredictable and which leads to tanking poll On July 9th, 10th, and 11th, a Over the three-night event, painfully deficient in so many numbers and fervent debate drive-in movie event took place the films ‘Field of Dreams’, ways, we need a little formulaic about what is and is not the in the lot behind the Junkyard ‘Captain Underpants’, and ‘The magic every now and then. And business of the American public Cafe in Simi Valley. The event Karate Kid’ were played on despite being declared dead when it comes to a president’s was put on by Definite Media consecutive nights. by the Hollywood Reporter in personal affairs. and the company’s owner, During these unprecedented 2013, the genre has made a Scott Juceam, the Simi Valley comeback in recent years, and While all of that sounds a bit times, families throughout our heady for a fun rom-com, it’s Soroptimist group, and the area are desperately looking just in time. Junkyard Cafe. the chemistry of the ensemble for something, anything to do, Romantic-comedies at their cast (which include such Families purchased their tickets and this movie event gave them best can serve as a beacon of notables as Michael J. Fox and online at SavingSimi.com. an outlet to have some fun, light in times of deplorable Martin Sheen) and the unique, while still adhering to darkness, so follow along as rhythmic magic of Sorkin’s social distancing rules I count down my personal dialogue that provides an air and protocols. favorite romantic comedies of effervescent charm and Definite Media is released since the year 1990. catapults this movie onto my exploring doing Why 1990? Because this is list. additional drive-in my list and I arbitrarily set the movie events in the Ten Things I Hate About You parameters. Also, since my two near future. favorite examples of the genre Director: Gil Junger were released prior to 1990, I Writers: Karen McCullah, wanted to set those aside for Kirsten Smith future articles to give them My favorite phenomenon in all the appropriate spotlight they of filmdom is the one where Pain Relieving Patch deserve. Now, let’s get into it. two movies are released in for Heavy Swollen The American President the same year with strangely Venolite Director: Rob Reiner similar settings and stories. You Restless Legs Writer: Aaron Sorkin know what I’m talking about, from excessive things like 1997’s twin volcanic What screams romance and eruptions in Volcano and standing, comedy more loudly than Dante’s Peak¸1998’s asteroid- walking or exercise the story of a president, an striking-the-Earth-movies environmental lobbyist, and Armageddon and Deep a Congressional bill calling Impact, and the fantastical, for a 20% reduction in carbon magical stylings of 2006’s The Look at our 5-Star Reviews on Amazon.com U CAST NEWS / August 2020 — 13 Health Preventing Brittle Bones As Easy As Changing Your Diet by Dr. Harpreet Bawa/Adventist lifestyle changes to improve our The key is keeping calcium in Health Simi Valley bone health. It is easier to prevent our bones. Mineral loss in bones Tips to Prevent When it comes to osteoporosis, osteoporosis than to treat it. But comes from a combination of Osteoporosis milk does not always do a body first, we need to understand genetics, diet and lifestyle factors. good. the primary functions of our In general, to retain calcium, Increase: bones. They, of course, provide it’s best to avoid salt, caffeine Exercise That is the news from a Harvard support and protect our organs; and tobacco, while increasing University study that followed but they also store essential physical activity and exposure to Exposure to sun more than 77,000 women for minerals, including calcium. It is the sun. Fruits and vegetables more than a decade. Researchers calcium that makes it possible for found no reduction in the risk of Another thing to avoid? High Avoid: our heart to beat, our muscles animal protein diets. Salt an arm or hip fractures in women to contract, and our nerves to who drank three glasses of milk conduct impulse. When we do Diets high in animal proteins, Caffeine daily. not have enough calcium, our including eggs, lead to a greater Tobacco As an orthopedic surgeon body pulls from those stockpiles excretion of calcium in our urine. Diets high in animal fats who practices at Adventist in our bones. That is okay As a result, there’s a strong Health Simi Valley, I hear it from occasionally, but it can lead correlation between animal Combining a healthy diet with patients frequently: “I can’t have to osteoporosis when it protein diets and exercise can be a powerful tool in osteoporosis. I drink plenty of happens frequently. fracture rates decreasing risk. Walking, jogging, internationally. hiking, and climbing stairs help milk.” It is one of the greatest Osteoporosis is keep our bones strong, as does perpetuated myths when it often thought M e a n w h i l e, strength training with weights. comes to bone health. of as a geriatric eliminating Osteoporosis is a painful and disease. It animal We know some people gripe devastating disease caused by is not. It can proteins from about eating vegetables, but calcium deficiency and aging, affect people our diet cuts dietary calcium has not been that leaves bones more porous of all ages, and calcium losses associated with any elevated risk and fragile, increasing the risk of women are twice in half, according of heart attacks. to a report in the fractures. as likely to develop the As for the milk? Drink up – but American Journal of disease as men. it is not going to prevent brittle Nearly 33% of women and Clinical Nutrition. about 20% of men over the age The risks are devastating. bones. So, just changing our diet to of 50 will suffer an osteoporotic Dr. Harpreet Bawa is a fellowship- Roughly 20% of all those who incorporate more fruits and fracture annually, according to trained joint replacement break a hip die within the same vegetables could be part of the International Osteoporosis surgeon with the Southern year. More than half of those the answer to decreasing our Foundation. Women are at California Orthopedic Institute who develop osteoporosis in osteoporosis risk. Try eating higher risk due to natural who specializes in knee and hip old age lose their independence broccoli, Brussels sprouts, hormonal changes that take place replacements. He practices at and must enter a skilled nursing collards, kale, mustard, and throughout their life cycle. Adventist Health Simi Valley. facility. greens that are loaded with Oftentimes, we can make simple So how do we prevent it? absorbable calcium. “Fitting In” and Why You Should Not Do It by Mariah Jeffrey Why try so hard to fit a narrative schools, and cities after a year, friends to sit with at lunch. I won I think life, and the people in it instead of being the person you just in time for Middle School. the middle school pie-eating can be very judgmental. A lot are meant to be? Unsurprisingly, these were contest in front of the whole of acquaintances, and friends, I have lived my life trying to not the best years of my life. I school, against a boy. I ran six- with whom I have associated be someone else, because I tried to make any friends that minute miles in P.E. because I throughout my life, have proven did not make the cut in other I could, and did not care to me that they do not want you people’s eyes. At eleven years soon enough, to be one of to be better than them. You old, during the recession in I had a clique. the “cool kids” may think they want the best 2008, my family and I made a However, the in the back. I for you, and they probably think huge move from Michigan to girls that I knew what I they do, too. But this is only the California hoping to start a new rounded up was good at, case when what is considered life. I left my Grandma, cousins, only wanted and I made the best, is not above them. aunts, uncles, and friends. It to change me. the most of it. Some may tell you things that was not easy to do, but I was First, it was I did not like may get to you, or make you just a kid, and the wind blows, “don’t talk like cussing or think differently. Some may Mariah. that,” then, vulgarity, and question your abilities, beliefs, “don’t dress I did not even or preferences. Do not listen to California is an amazing place. like that,” and finally, “why are shave my legs until the eighth them. If you believe in yourself, It is full of diversity, it has you doing that?” They told me grade, until someone pointed it and know who you are, you do great food, the best weather, they just wanted to help me, out. I questioned authority, and not need others’ approval, nor clean beaches, and a sea of they wanted me to fit in. anyone who would take it upon want their opinions. opportunity. When I started themselves to tell someone school in San Clemente in I had a Midwest accent, I If something is right for you, dressed like a mismatched what to do and how to do it. you will know. Keep doing the fifth grade, I realized I There are a million ways to do was different. I did not know hippy, and all I could remember you, and do not care about was not listening to them. I things, there are a billion ways what anyone thinks, including anybody, and I definitely stood to live your life. Why settle to out. I made one great friend, did not care about fitting in. your friends, and family. If you All I cared about is that I had live the same life everyone else but unfortunately, had to switch is living? Continued on page 15 14 — August 2020 / U CAST NEWS Lifestyle The Reseda Country Club – Having a relationship issue? Is your The Valley’s Other Legendary significant other causing you problems? Music Venue Doc Lovelace can help. Look for a monthly relationship column coming soon... and she’s looking by Adam Papagan for submissions. If you have a question, relationship If you think of a legendary After Rissmiller’s departure, situation, or if you’re seeking advice, please send an music venue in the Valley, it is Landis pressed on, booking email to [email protected] probably The Palomino, the more hard rock and metal acts. Country and Western, and later When they did not have music Punk and New Wave club that on the bill, the Country Club hosted everyone from Jerry doubled as a venue for boxing “Dank,” continued from page 13 Lee Lewis, to The Flying Burrito matches featuring future and even enticing. A great they still retain at least a small Brothers, and The Red Hot champions like Michael Nunn example of this is: “dank pizza is amount of their moisture. and Terry Norris. on its way!” This usage of dank Think dried fruits like mango This continued until has become so widespread, and pineapple. None of these 1998, near the end of Cambridge Dictionary has dried fruits are completely the club’s run. included this more recent brittle. They each have some The Reseda Country application of the word in their give, because although they Club was also list of definitions. Cambridge are mostly dry, they are still a frequently utilized Dictionary simply defines dank bit moist. Perhaps this is a more as a filming location. as something “of good quality.” general, agricultural slang term, The music video for It is that simple. Dank is the considering its application to Mick Jagger’s 1988 optimal, best quality, hence, a a variety of plants. Either way, song, “Throwaway” better version of something. most people do not want a featuring Jeff Beck But how did this word go from drier, less flavorful, and potent was filmed there. The describing anything damp or product. club can also be seen wet to describing something “of Chili Peppers. But beginning in Dank can be heard anywhere in the movie Boogie Nights good quality?” there are young adults on the 1980 The Reseda Country Club standing in for the fictional was home to some of the most When looking back, it is West Coast. From coffee shops club Hot Traxx. The seedy, yet documented that century after to breweries, this word can be raucous shows north of Ventura comfortable vibe fit perfectly Boulevard. century, this word has to do heard used in all kinds of ways. with the film’s aesthetic. with describing dampness. Although, I would not throw The building, which still stands As the years went on, the club’s Most herbs, whether they be dank around the office. Your at 18419 Sherman Way, was fortunes fell, and it eventually medicinal or culinary, are most boss might not like hearing: originally built in the 1950s as closed around the turn of the potent and flavorful when “That meeting was dank, sir.” a Sav-On drugstore. Following century. While some blame the success of his legendary the downfall of the club on nightclubs Largo and The Roxy, the changing tastes in music, empresario, Chuck Landis and entertainment, years of Fitting In, continued from page 14 purchased the property and neighborhood complaints enjoy something in life, if you opinions, and do not change. converted it to The Country of noise, crime, and rowdy are good at something, or, if You are the way you are for Club around 1980. The club concert goers, may ultimately you truly love someone, you a reason, and you will add to was initially slated to cater have been the biggest reasons. do not need to explain it to this world because of it. If you exclusively to country music, Today, the building serves anyone, or try and force anyone change just because others hence the name, with Merle as the home for the Spanish- to understand it. If they do not tell you to, you will lose sight of Haggard and The Strangers language church Restauración get it, you will find someone yourself, you will stop trusting playing one of the first concerts Reseda. who does. For now, direct your your own instincts, and you will at the venue. energy toward your passions, start becoming miserable. The If you are looking to relive and do not let anyone put you sooner you start believing in However, with the surging the glory days of The Reseda into a box. Because who cares your abilities, understanding popularity of punk music at Country Club, you can find if you do not “fit in?” There is your strengths, and being the time in Southern California, many full concerts at the no one for whom it is worth more resilient to negativity, the a reputation for the club venue on YouTube. These lo-fi changing. sooner you will end up happy, was building. From 1981 to camcorder videos capture the and on your way to reaching 1984 promoter Jim Rissmiller sense of the frantic energy and My advice to you is, be yourself, your full potential. began booking a more varied immediacy, for which the club do not listen to people’s calendar of up and coming, was famous. Better yet, next and established rock acts. At a time you are cruising down thousand-person capacity, the Sherman Way, stop by the big Digital Marketing… Simplified venue was ideal for newer acts brown building at the corner like Bad Religion, and Fear, who of Canby Avenue, and think had outgrown smaller clubs, of all the music legends who as well as older acts like James passed through the doors of Brown, and B.B. King, who could this humble club in the Valley. still attract a sizable crowd. U2 played their first concert Adam Papagan is a historian, in Los Angeles at the club in tour guide, and occasional March of 1981. This era also consultant to The Valley Relics saw performances by Iggy Pop, Museum. He is also host of the Dedicated to Your Financial Success Roxy Music, Captain Beefheart, YouTube series “Rock and Roll Roy Orbison, and Fugazi. Party!” fourchord.com

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