Image sourced from theplanetd.com At times, I struggle with the key question of life’s purpose. Life makes me question the point of striving and existence in any activity I do. I end up going down a deep rabbit hole of thoughts and emotions. In these moments, which occur more often than they should, I choose to step away and embark on a journey of just existing: I interrupt my everyday routine, seizing the day with a simple act of existing – nothing more, nothing less. It w

Photos provided by Multnomah County Library Libraries are far more important now than ever, with the dying amount of so-called “third places” (aside from home and workplace) for people to go to. While many communities across the country have started reducing funding for, or abandoning, public libraries altogether, Multnomah County is currently working on building a massive new library for all Gresham and East County residents to use. The new East County Library will be a near

In its special section on AI (artificial intelligence) published on Nov. 3, The Advocate limited the debate around AI to the theft of work (especially of artists), and privacy. The problem with this framing is that generative AI will take work away from many people who are not “artists.” It could take jobs away from artists, writers, and journalists – jobs a chatbot cannot replace because chatbots excel at producing persuasive nonsense, not the truth. There is a better way to

Photo by Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images There is nothing more American than eating a huge turkey dinner (covered in gravy, I might add) before shopping like a maniac the next day. Black Friday has been a part of the “American Way” since the dawn of time, or I guess since 1869, but that’s basically the same thing. There is something about the draw of “Cheap, low prices for one day only!” Seems more like a marketing scam to me, and maybe it is? Retail experts have reporte

Before I enrolled at Mt. Hood Community College, I knew I needed to find a major that would yield me a good-paying job. I have a career background in IT and Web Development, so when I discovered that MHCC has a Cybersecurity program I did not hesitate to enroll and choose that as my major. One morning, while sitting and waiting for a class, I happened to see Jeff Sperley, who is a Cybersecurity & Networking Instructor, walking on campus. Out of excitement, I called out, “Jeff

Every spring and fall, the hands of time dance forward and backward with Daylight Saving Time – a divisive tradition that has us all wondering, is it time for a permanent change? DST is a phrase that most people groan at. Over the years, there has been a debate on the usefulness of DST, and if we need it. The idea of Daylight Savings was brought up in a satirical essay by Benjamin Franklin. While he did not invent the idea of DST, he suggested that Parisians change their s

This September, thousands of students rushed to Mt. Hood Community College, both new and returning. We all need food and beverages to keep us going through long days and nights of studying. So one would think the college would have ample food options for those studying and working here. The college has always needed food options to keep students and faculty members productive and healthy. But since the closure of the on-campus Vista Dining Hall restaurant a few years ago, it

Mental Health, something that was once a “taboo” subject, has become a commonality amongst college students. According to Dr. Blaco in a 2008 study, 1 in 2 (50%) of college students struggle with severe anxiety and depression, while only 25% receive care. 3 out of 5 adults (60%) also struggle with anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, these numbers have not improved since the study, and have gradually become worse since the 2020 lockdown. Fortunately for today’s society, r

Photo by Denis Kuvaev About two months ago I started a job as a live-in nanny. At first, I was not even looking to be any such thing. But a friend gave my name to her good friend, and here I am, two months in, and I love it! This job has been a wakeup call though on how to be an adult, how to better organize my schedule and time. This job has been amazing – stressful like any other job – but it has been such a blessing to work with and for this family, and I am honored to be

When I was a kid, I loved, loved, loved the Scholastic book fair. It was a place gleaming with the magic of choices. So long as I had the cash I could pick out anything I wanted without my mom, or anyone else’s help or say so. One year, my sister and I set out early, speed-walking to the library before school so we could be the first in line to get our hands on a book we knew would be selling fast: a special type of novel written by the genius Jeff Kinney himself, and – get t

If you have ever taken an online class, you are probably familiar with the formula: Create a Journal entry, make a discussion post and respond to two others, and other similar things. Personally, I think some of you – like me –believe that online-only classes are not the best way to learn. Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages While online-only classes are a great option for those who need flexibility and can’t commit to a time slot to physically come into class, I think in-

Over the last handful of years, you surely have noticed the houseless communities in Portland – and may have wondered how individuals there can be truly helped. Will Portland’s next mayor – since incumbent Ted Wheeler announced he won’t seek re-election – have any good answers? According to Portland.gov, between 2015 and 2023 homelessness increased by 65% (from 1,887 to 6,297 known individuals). Summers of wildfires displacing Oregon residents, decriminalization of drugs and

In recent times, several independent unions have engaged in protracted battles, seeking improved wages, enhanced benefits, and greater job security for their members. For one, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood writer and production studios. This agreement aims to augment writers’ residuals, which are the earnings they receive when their shows are viewed or broadcasted, increase the minimum weekly pay for writers by 12.5% over

Mt. Hood Community College’s website continues to go through a redesign process – although it may not bring all the major changes needed. According to the Megan Nugent, associate vice president of marketing and communications for MHCC, the website upgrade should launch in the fall, but that launch window remains subject to change. Many improvements will be made to the website, including a new, modern layout. They include accessibility features to help every user, including th

Picture this: it’s a beautiful, warm day in Salem, Oregon. The sun is shining, the trees are blooming, and college students determined to facilitate change for the betterment of ourselves, our state, and our nation are gathered at the state Capitol Park in front of Salem’s historic Capitol building to protest budget cuts against higher education. Knowing that an updated two-year state revenue forecast was set for release to state legislators on May 17, the Oregon Student Asso

In 1974, in a small city in Wisconsin, what could be considered the world’s most well-known tabletop game was born. For a few years, Dungeons & Dragons was an instant, then expanding hit, but after the rise of digital games, it seemed to disappear. That is until 1996, when Wizards of the Coast relaunched the role-playing game. Today, D&D has moved from being a tabletop game that only the coolest of nerds played, to a global hit that nearly everyone has heard of. And in late M

As a college student, I have a lot on my plate. I need to go to class and do homework for 16 credits’ worth of classes, go to work to pay for those classes, and take care of myself. The way the Associated Students of Mt. Hood Community College (ASMHCC, the college’s student body government) is operated, I would never be able to participate in many of its positions due to the current requirements. As you will see, the time commitment is more than I and many other students woul

Not so long ago I was shopping at stores in the mall and through online companies that contribute to “fast fashion” – the mass production of clothing items usually considered low-priced but that uses cheap textiles and materials. I enjoyed that time, while it lasted. I would buy items from collections that were never to be seen again, so long as I looked only in the clearance section with clothing racks full to capacity. However, what brought me the most concern about fast fa

Going to community college as a high schooler can seem like a very daunting and intense challenge. It may seem as though the courses will be much harder than high school, and that you will be drowning in the amount of homework you have to complete. Some say that college teachers are much stricter with how they operate their classes and that you will be on your own for getting your work done. While that may be true for some, that is sure not what I have experienced going to Mt

Crop tops made their debut in the 1980s, the trend of the decade that was brought on by the artist Madonna after her music video for “Lucky Star” dropped. In the video she wore a cropped mesh top, and the trend began. The midriff-showing trend has now come back, to the point where nearly every shirt in the women’s section has the same amount of fabric as a baby’s onesie and shows one’s belly button, and occasionally some under-boob, even when wearing a pair of high waisted pa