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Flock Your Friends for a Cure

Kaylynn Clark

Have you ever wanted to play a practical joke on a friend?
This would be the perfect thing to do while helping out the American Cancer
Society! Taft College is planning to “Stop Cancer in its Tracks” by inviting
Bakersfield and Taft areas to flock your friends!

The proceeds will
directly benefit Relay For Life, and only costs twenty-five dollars to “flock”
a friend’s front yard with plastic pink flamingos from 5am to 5pm. As well, you
can anonymously flock or leave a message at your friend’s physical address.

To receive more info, please contact Jill Brown at
661-763-7812 or 661-428-8385.

How to Do Summer Break On a Budget

By Kaylynn Clark

You see a bunch of college kids on TV on a beach in Cabo or Hawaii,
and wish you had that type of money to spend. Truth is, you are not alone. Many
students in college do not have the opportunity to buy pricey plane tickets,
book a hotel room, and party their tension headaches from Final Exams off. Truth is, there are many things to do on a local level during Summer Break that are definitely a lot more budget
friendly. I have compiled a list of ideas that you can during your break
without breaking your bank!

1. Go target shooting. Turns out, Kern County as a
   wonderful array of firearms dealers that also have shooting ranges on their
   premises. This is a definitely a great activity for thrill-seekers and
   competitive friends alike.  Go to lunch
   after and discuss who hit the target the most and it will make for a great
   time.
2. Explore Kern County. There are many places in
   Kern County that go unexplored by even the most familiar people to the area.
   Try going to the Kern County Museum for a minimal price, or go to that one
   Basque restaurant you have never tried.
3. Take time to unwind with a movie night at home. Summer
   doesn’t always have to be about doing something or going out, especially in the heat. Many
   overwhelmed college kids feel the most refreshed after being able to just spend
   the day at home before Fall semester starts. Invite a few friends over and ask them each to bring a movie and a snack to share. Your wallet will thank you.
4. Go out for Ice Cream. It’s hot outside, but your wallet won’t feel the heat. Ice cream is an affordable option that still makes you feel like you’re indulging!

Lunar Eclipse

Blood Moon

by Juan Ochoa

On the night of April 14^th, Bakersfield had the opportunity to witness a lunar eclipse. The event started around ten p.m when the Earth’s penumbra started touching the moon. By 11:00 the moon had been covered in shadow and starting to turn red. The moon stayed completely red for about an hour, and by 2:00 a.m. the red shadow faded and the moon was turning back into its white color. The lunar eclipse ended at approximately 3:30 a.m.

What Mac & Cheese Can Bring to a Community

By Michael Clites
While California State University of Bakersfield hosts numerous events on their grounds, there is always one that seems to sell out every year. This Bakersfield event is none other than the Mac & Cheese Festival. The festival took place on Saturday April 12; where there were 18 restaurants participating in the festivals contest for “Best Mac & Cheese.”  From deep fried to soup form, it is safe to say that the festival didn’t lacked in creativity. Café Med (a restaurant located in south east Bakersfield) took home the grand prize for having the best macaroni and cheese plate. A dish that was all to cheesy so resist, Café Med had managed to make a deep fried macaroni and cheese plate that surprised many at first, but after tasted, the skeptics were convinced.

But this festival isn’t just about the fabulous mac and cheese. A total of 16 wineries and breweries were also in attendance in which wine was given for sampling and beer was mostly given to refresh those walking around in the sun all day. And while the adults were being entertained by these things, there was plenty to do for the children and family! From a corn hole tournament, to a potato sack hopping contest, children of all ages had smiles on their faces.

But what is the purpose to all this delicious fun? The objective of the festival is to raise funds and awareness for 170 of the member Children’s Hospitals across North America. “The attendance is always outstanding, but never overwhelming every year that I come,” says a spectator at the event, “My family and have followed this festival all over California and it never seems to disappoint because my wife, daughters, and myself are entertained by the food and events here.” By selling out for the second time in its existence, the 2014 Mac & Cheese Festival raised over an estimated five thousand dollars for Children’s Miracle Network.

Yes, the festival seems to be getting better and better every year with more sponsors and participants gaining interest. Hopefully, this event can continue to sell out and raise the funds and awareness for the children’s hospitals nationwide.

The College Kid’s Guide to Less Stress

By Kaylynn Clark

Stress. It’s understandable when you have courses that are
very taxing, figuratively and literally. There are many things that can help
you to perform better in that one hard class or just help you to concentrate
better during your school week. Here are some solutions to the common problems
college student have.

The issue: skipping meals

The solution:  We are
all guilty of doing this at some point in time during our time in school. Many
classes are offered during regular meal times, like 8am (breakfast), 1pm (lunch),
or 6pm(dinner) .  This can be challenging
and can make it hard to focus during class, causing your stress levels and
cramming to go up. Try to pack a snack or portable meal to eat during a break
from class or get to school early so you can enjoy a meal right before you have
to report to class. There are also many options available at the Taft College
Cafeteria during school hours.

The issue: lack of sleep

The solution: Try to set a regular sleep schedule to follow,
no matter what is going on in your classes. The truth is, the amount of sleep
required to function normally is 8 hour, so try to get at least that. You
could also try to nap between large gaps between classes to refresh.

The issue: no personal time

The solution: There are many things that can help with this
situation. A lifesaver to many college students is their daily planner, and I
am no exception. A daily planner can help you to manage your time effectively,
as well as making time to enjoy yourself. Also, changing your mindset about school
can help with any anxiety. Remember, it is only 16 weeks per semester, and you
will always have plenty of time to relax at the end!

So You Got Into a University. . . What’s Next?

ByKaylynn Clark

1. Get your final transcripts from your junior
   college and submit them for review.
2. Contact your future school for a counseling
   appointment as soon as your final transcript is sent.
3. Go for a tour of the campus, if you haven’t yet.
4. Register for classes!

Professor Dyer’s Creative Writing to Read at Black Gold Café

By Kaylynn Clark

Taft College’s very own creative writing students will be
reading original pieces from their final collections on May 15^th,
2014. It is a great opportunity to listen to some great pieces of literature,
spanning many different genres. More information will be posted closer to
event.

Mac and Cheese Festival

By Kendyl Chavez

Bakersfield’s 2014 Mac and Cheese Festival was held on Saturday, April 12^th at Cal State University of Bakersfield. This event lured in three thousand people, eighteen participating restaurants, and thirteen local breweries and wineries. Not only were beverages and mac and cheese served, there was also live entertainment, games, and vendor booths serving treats such as kettle corn and snow cones. The goal of this festival is to help bring communities together and raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and to establish who has the best mac and cheese in town!

This year, there were eighteen participants who served creations such as chili-mac, mac and cheese flautas, and bacon mac and cheese. Every vendor had a unique spin on mac and cheese, but it was up to the people to decide who had the best. This year’s top three chefs were from Café Med, Steak and Grape, and the Crystal Palace.

The Mac and Cheese Festival is a fun event for people who are 21 and older to get together to enjoy food, drinks, and live entertainment!

Noah Movie Review

Noah Movie Review

By Alejandro De Alba

The movie Noah was released on March 28, 2014. It was the number one movie of its opening weekend making 44 million dollars. The movie stars Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, Jennifer Connelly, and Anthony Hopkins.

Noah, the last descendent of Seth the son of Adam and Eve, is played my Russell Crowe. Noah is a strong and sensible man that lives off of the land and never takes more then he needs but would do whatever is necessary to protect his family from other people that were not so sensible and that would kill them for anything they had of value.

One night when Noah (Russell Crowe) is sleeping, the Creator comes to him in his sleep with a vision of a giant flood that will kill every living person on the earth. He wakes up and his wife Naameh, played by Jennifer Connelly, asks what is wrong, and he tells her that he had a vision from the Creator and that he must go see his grandfather Methuselah played by Anthony Hopkins.

On his was to see his grandfather, he comes across a small girl that was badly injured and takes her in and adopts her. She is named Ila and played by Emma Watson.

Once he arrives to his grandfather’s mountain, he speaks with him, and he finally realizes what he has to do and that is to build an ark.

If the viewers read the story or seen other movies about Noah and his ark, then, they will get the gist of the movie. But, they have never seen a Noah’s ark movie like this before, the special affects are what make the movie good along with great acting; it is a great movie and a must see.

John Louis Stotts’ Geology Collection

By Juan Ochoa

John Louis Scotts Geology Collection

On March 28^th, the John Louis Scotts Geological collection was unveiled to the friends, faculty, and members of Scotts’ family for the first time at the Taft College S.T.E.M. Lab.

According to Robert, John’s  brother, explains John went around the world teaching, learning, and collecting precious stones. His parents emphasized one value and foundation – – education.

The five crates were opened by faculty and family. The contents of each crate were meticulously packed and well protected. Each crate held  precious stones. Taft College’s geology instructor went around examining and describing each piece.

John retired from work in 1999. He passed away in 2014. His brother Robert told the audience what he wanted everyone to remember John by as a “very great geologist.”