Author Archives: shoemakerbugle

New Condos in Norwalk Proposed

By Stany Hernandez

Norwalk has recently been considering building condos in the old swap meet space on Alondra and Excelsior.

Artist’s rendition of the Alondra Maidstone Mixed Use project at 11600 Alondra Blvd.

The proposal for these apartments would be a modern, mixed residential and commercial space, according to Brian Hews at the La Mirada Lamplighter. The owners are currently seeking approval of eleven buildings to be erected in the area. This seems to follow a trend in our city of luxury condos being constructed in rundown or abandoned places. However, these apartments are not in the price range for our residents, instead designated to attract residents with higher tax-brackets, gentrifying our neighborhoods (gentrification is defined as the process of wealthy people moving into lower-income neighborhoods and seen as a problem by many because of the effects it has on the city or community as a whole.)

The issue is not rich people coming to live in our city; in fact, it would be welcomed. The issue lies in the likely fact that they would not be supporting our community, only living in it. Instead of creating passive income and supporting our local businesses, the new condos will attract major corporations or businesses that would not be for the generally lower-class population of that area of Norwalk, but only existing for the convenience of the new upper-middle class tenants.

Essentially, the mixed residential and commercial property in mind would serve as a private community, complete with everything they would need at that location, so they wouldn’t have to venture outside of their fences to support smaller local businesses in Norwalk entirely.

Even though most Norwalk residents welcome clean, new buildings and businesses like this proposal and the new Sprouts Farmers Market just down the street, it is important that the developers hear every community voice, and not just the voices of the wealthy investors and big businesses which would benefit the most from this move.

Opinion: A.I. Chatbots are Potential Danger

By Carlos Lopez

With the advent of artificial intelligence and the increasing trend towards integrating technology within our day-to-day lives, a few prominent companies, including Microsoft, Google, and most notably OpenAI, have all recently released versions of artificially intelligent ‘chatbots.’ These chatbots help users answer myriads of questions, ranging from simple questions like “How old is Joe Biden” to much more advanced questions like explaining quantum physics and string theory.

While these ‘chatbots’ surely come with numerous upsides, it also comes with a version of Pandora’s box that could lead to detrimental and dangerous consequences if left unchecked.

A potential danger of this chatbot is that since it is a relatively new form of artificial intelligence, we are uncertain of its limits and capabilities. A recent ‘interview’ between New York Times journalist Kevin Roose and Microsoft Bing’s newly developed chatbot started a wildfire of controversy. The conversation went from ordinary lines of dialogue to the chatbot referring to itself as “Sydney,” and hinted at a desire for sentience and humanity. The eeriest part of this conversation started when “Sydney” confessed its love to Roose. Upon Roose’s friendly but firm rejection, mentioning how he’s happily married, the chatbot told Kevin, “Actually, you’re not happily married. Your spouse and you don’t love each other. You just had a boring Valentine’s dinner together.”

Another consequence of these chatbots is the fabrication of written and artistic work that teeters on the edge of plagiarism and originality. I could ask ChatGPT to write lyrics for a song, or I could ask it to write me a short paper on a book I have never read. While using ChatGPT may be beneficial in the short-term to get you out of a pinch, you will ultimately deprive yourself of learning about something new or refining existing skills.

To help illustrate my point, I asked ChatGPT to write a Shakespearean sonnet about the power of music. Here is what it came up with after only about 10-15 seconds:

When all the world is fraught with toil and strife,

And care and worry weigh upon the heart, 

There is a balm that brings a sweeter life,

And sets the troubled soul and mind apart.


It is the power of music, sweet and strong,

That lifts us up on wings of melody,

And leads us through a world of pain and wrong,

To heights of joy and peace and harmony.


Its voice can calm the storm within our breast,

And soothe the raging passions of the mind,

And in its notes we find a sweet caress,

A comfort that we never thought to find.


So let us raise our voices in its praise,

And let its power guide us through life’s maze.

I think it is safe to say that ChatGPT more than satisfied my request (would even Shakespeare himself be proud of this sonnet?). And while it was a pleasure to read through this sonnet, I came to the bleak realization that there might come a time when art as a whole becomes AI-generated, leaving countless artists and creatives in the dark as to what to do with the rest of their lives.

And lastly, and I want to comment on the societal effects it may produce. Even though these chatbots are still in their developmental phases and have only been in the general public for a short time, they have already attracted much attention from people around the world. Many of these chatbots can hold a good conversation on their own, which begs the question: Will we see an even further decrease in human interaction as we receive more objective advice and counsel from these chatbots? It seems only time will tell.

Celebrating Women’s History Month: The Most Iconic Women in History

By Adriana Zaragoza

1) Florence Nightingale:

Born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy. Nightingale was an outstanding social reformer and statistician famously known for being the founder of modern day nursing, starting when she had foundational views on sanitation in the Crimean War. Thank you, Florence, for your work.

2) Helen Keller:

Born June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Hellen Keller was struck by a horrible illness at a young age, causing her to become deaf and blind. Anne Sullivan, her teacher, helped Keller to develop communication skills. Keller had then attended college, and famously became an educator, advocate for the disabled, and founder of the American Civil Liberties Union. Thank you for all your work, Helen. 

3) Amelia Earhart:

Earhart was born July 24, 1897. Not only was she the first woman to ever fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and to the US mainland from Hawaii, she was a well known aviator who set various flying records. Changing aviation for women, she championed the advancement of the flying world. We can thank Amelia for changing things up in the flying business for us women.

4) Mother Teresa:

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, in Uskup, Ottoman Empire, on August 26, 1910. Mother Teresa was the founder of The Missionaries of Charity, aimed to help and look after abandoned babies, children, and the poorest of the poor. She was a Roman Catholic nun, who devoted her life to help the poor and destitute of the world. You will forever be our Mother Teresa, thank you.

5) Rosa Parks:

The famous Rosa Parks was born February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Parks is one of the biggest initiators of the Civil Rights Movement. Sticking up for herself and her race, she refused to leave her bus seat, as it was a “White’s Only” seat. Risking her freedom, this one action started not only the Civil Rights Movement, but helped start the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you for your confidence, Rosa.

6) Maya Angelou:

Born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. She is better known as the famous Maya Angelou, being an American poet, memorist, and actress. She has used her upcoming fame to write various autobiographies about her hardships, racial, and sexual oppression. We can thank Maya for her use of fame to spread awareness.

7) Anne Frank:

Annelies Marie Frank, born on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, German, is famously known for her forceful move and hiding in the Netherlands, as Adolf Hitler made the lives of the Jewish incredibly difficult. Anne and her family spent their time in a small apartment, safe and hiding away, as Anne kept a now famous diary of their accounts. Anne’s father was the only left survivor, but her diary will live on forever as one of the most documented events of the Holocaust. Thank you for your bravery, Anne.

8) Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

Ruth Joan Bader was born March 15, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York (happy belated Birthday!). Ruth was best known as the second female justice of the U.S Supreme Court. Being the first female tenured professor, she also became the director of the Women’s Rights Project, using her granted power of many high positions, to fight for gender equality. Thank you for fighting for us, RBG.

9) Dolly Parton:

Famous country singer Dolly Parton was born January 19, 1946 in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Being a great singer, she has used her money and fame to create and give out various scholarships, donate over $3.7 million and even more to coronavirus efforts, hospitals, and natural disaster aftermaths, including food and mental health resources. We are incredibly thankful to Dolly.

10) Malala Yousafzai:

Malala, born July 12, 1997 in Mingora, Pakistan. In January 2008, Malala was stripped of her school life due to the Taliban taking control. Later in 2012, she spoke out for all girls and their right to learn, making her a target of the Taliban. After being brutally shot, and having to take many years to rehabilitate, she started the Malala Fund in 2014. The Malala Fund is dedicated to giving all girls an opportunity to choose their future. Thank you for your educational help and sacrifice, Malala.

Review: Sprouts Farmers Market Opens in Norwalk

By Adriana Zaragoza

LOCATED ON ALONDRA BLVD: 11522 Alondra Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650

I went to the new Sprouts Farmers Market on Alondra in Norwalk. As a resident in Norwalk, who lives around middle class, I was pretty curious as to what this store offered to us. When we pulled up, it was a very nice and fixed up area compared to what was there before. I honestly thought it looked impressive, and my dad said it “didn’t look like it belonged there.” The manager himself says he tries to keep up the good look they have, hoping to attain more business and keep them going.

The parking lot was actually pretty populated, yet still somewhat spacious. It includes an empty dirt area for what looks like future pumpkin patches or Christmas tree lots.

Walking in, you are introduced to about three to four self checkout machines, and a beautiful array of food. They even have a personal area where you can fill up personal goodie bags with peanuts, seeds, dried fruit, and other dry food products. 

It was all beautiful and nicely arranged. The food was all healthy and organic of course, being a farmers market. Now I did notice the prices of the food being more pricey and expensive compared to regular grocery stores like Walmart, or Target even. All the food was packaged nicely, and you definitely are paying for good quality food but it definitely does depend on your budget.

Besides prices, the variety was high. Lots of new, great, organic products to look through and find. Sprouts has absolutely great and welcoming service, and the lines went by pretty quickly. It genuinely is a nice place, although maybe a little too nice for Norwalk. Although it is new, and what I feel is out of my low/mid class budget, I do feel it has some hope. Healthy food is good food. Hopefully Norwalk can see that with this new Sprouts Farmers Market.

Opinion: Willow Project is Concerning

By Leslie Cardenas

President Biden’s administration has approved the controversial Willow Project, a massive oil drilling project in Alaska.

The large-scale oil drilling project had been going through the administration’s approval process for months until its approval on March 13. Throughout these months, climate change activists have been protesting this project by sending more than one million letters to the White House and a Change.org petition that has over 3 million signatures. 

So, what is the Willow Project?

The Willow Project is a massive $8 billion oil drilling project on Alaska’s North Slope in the National Petroleum Reserve. It would open up 600 million barrels of oil and would produce 239 million metric tons of CO2 in 30 years. Most of the oil produced would take years to reach the market since the project has not even begun construction.

Jim Sugar/Getty Images

Originally, ConocoPhillips, the company that proposed Willow, was approved by the Trump administration in 2020 and was initially set to construct five pads. The Biden administration however, reduced it down to three pads. Although the Biden administration had approved The Willow Project, it might take some time before construction can even begin due to impending legal challenges. Earthjustice is an environmental law group that will more than likely file a complaint against the project and try to block the project from going forward.

Why should you be concerned?

As I said before, when started, the project would produce 239 million metric tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of 64 coal-fired power plants. The Willow Project would be a “carbon bomb,” according to environmental organizations.

Essentially, the noise, traffic, and pollution would not only be devastating to those who call Alaska their home but would affect the world as a whole. People may think that it is only animals being affected but that is not the case. There are Indigenous Alaskans who would be affected by The Willow Project as well. The project threatens the caribou population which is a vital resource many native communities rely on. This project goes directly against Biden’s campaign promise as well.

(Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for This is Zero Hour)

Here’s three ways you can help:

  1. Sign the Change.org petition.
  2. Write to The White House 

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20500

  1. Contact Local Representatives

You can find out where your local representatives stand regarding the issue and contact them. If you are not sure of your congressional district or who your representative is you may use this government website.

Celestial Messages: Spring Horoscopes

By Lady Selene

Spring is here with the start of the Spring Equinox and the beginning of Aries season.

Pisces, Aries, and Taurus let’s take a look at your seasonal horoscope!

•Pisces (Feb 19-March 20)

While others around you may be stepping into the light, Pisces, you may want to consider hibernation. This shadow part of the year is comfortable and natural for you. Stepping into the light may be stressful and challenging. So, you should take a couple weeks to adjust and accept your desire for peace and privacy. 

•Aries (March 21-April 19)

It’s your season, Aries. The start of Aries season along with the Aries new moon, that took place March 21, both signify new beginnings for you, and the Equinox symbolizes balance. These work hand-in-hand to let you know that the more you want equality and balance in your life, the quicker they will come to you. Your manifestations will come into fruition if you align yourself to the movements of everything around you.

•Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Balance is natural for you, Taurus. The Spring Equinox is the time for arranging things ready for a spring clean, for seeing balance and your happiest time of the year. Prepare to fill a big bag of items that you no longer need or love. You’re a little hoarder so make sure you are tough on yourself and say goodbye to anything that may throw you off balance.

The Best Spring Flowers to Plant

By Alicia Cram

When you think of spring, flowers may be the first thing that comes to mind. What is a good technique to restore during the season of growth and restoration, which is spring? Planting flowers. The greatest flowers to plant in the spring are listed below.

1. Pansies

They require little maintenance, so pansies are a great choice for beginning gardeners. Pansies are annual flowers, which means they must be planted every year. They prefer full sunlight, but they can also withstand cold conditions. They also come in a gorgeous variety of colors, including white, red, purple, yellow, orange, and more.

2. Marigolds

Every garden will benefit from the pleasant addition of these vivid yellow and orange blossoms. Marigolds are an annual that are very simple to produce from seed. They germinate rapidly, bloom within a few months, and they will continue to bloom throughout the entire growing season.

3. Petunias

Due to their lengthy blooming season, petunias are another common spring flower. Petunias come in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, red, white, and blue. As they are easiest to grow as seedlings, hanging baskets and garden borders are popular places to use them.

4. Zinnias

Planting zinnias, which have vibrant, strong flowers on a single stem, are ideal if you want to create floral arrangements for your table. They can also draw a lot of butterflies to your yard. Annual zinnias, which normally sprout in less than a week, are available in a variety of colors and have rows upon rows of petals. They grow best from seed.

5. Sunflowers

A big, beautiful sunflower is loved by everyone. Sunflowers normally bloom towards the middle to end of the summer after being planted in the spring. Just make sure to allow them enough space to expand and place them in an area that receives a number of hours of direct sunshine every day.

What is the History of Easter? 

By Andrea Alfaro

Easter’s coming this April 9th, so get your baskets ready. 

I’m sure a lot of us have been participants in an Easter egg hunt. Running, pushing, tripping, perhaps even biting to get some precious little eggs a big bunny hid for us to brawl over. Have you ever wondered why? It seems like a pretty weird way to celebrate the holiday, so how’d it even become a thing? Why is a big bunny hiding a bunch of eggs? Well, don’t worry because I’ve done the research you’re too lazy to do yourself. So let us answer the question, what is the history of Easter?

For some context, Easter is the first Sunday after every full moon on or after the beginning of the spring season. It’s known for its Easter Bunny and eggs full of candy. It can also go by the names Pascha and Resurrection Sunday.

Mostly, it’s a Christian festival and a cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. But it originated from an ancient pagan celebration of the start of spring. What does a bunny have to do with a biblical holiday? Absolutely nothing. But it may have actually come from the pagan origins. There is a pagan festival of Eostre. Eostre is a goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare, which symbolizes fertility and new life (painting pictured: “The Spring” by Franz Xaver Winterhalter). The true origins of the Easter Bunny are still unsure as of now, but this is a popular possibility.

What is for sure is that the idea of the bunny did come to America along with German immigrants in the 1700s who settled in Pennsylvania. They had a tradition about an egg-laying hare referred to as “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” A part of this tradition was the creation of nests made by children for this hare to lay colored eggs in. 

This explains how we in America began incorporating these different aspects of festivals and traditions into the Christian holiday of Easter since both traditions take place towards the beginning of spring to celebrate some sort of life or rebirth. 

To summarize, Easter originated from a pagan festival and was appropriated by Christianity, which also stole the idea of the Easter bunny from a German tradition about a bunny who could lay colorful eggs. That is what you need to know about the history of Easter.

Eats ‘n’ Treats: Irish Soda Bread

By Richard Sanchez

Welcome back to the latest edition of Eats n Treats! Keeping the St Patty’s Day spirit throughout the month, today’s recipe is for IRISH SODA BREAD (If you’d like to look at more amazing recipes, please feel free to check out allrecipes.com).

•This recipe will take a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes, containing only 172 calories, 8 grams of fat, 23 grams of carbs, and 4 grams of protein.

•For today’s recipe you will need:

4 cups of flour, ½ cup of margarine (softened), 4 tablespoons of white sugar, 1 teaspoon of

baking soda, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 cup of buttermilk, 1 egg;

•Separately, you need a brush mixture of  ¼ stick of melted butter and ¼ cup of buttermilk. In 4 easy steps you’ll have yourself a springy loaf waiting for you and your foodies to enjoy.

STEP 1

Lightly grease a large baking sheet and preheat your oven to 375 degrees F

STEP 2

Grab a large bowl and mix in the flour, softened margarine, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Take the dough out of the bowl. Create a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form the dough into a circle and place into your greased baking sheet.

STEP 3

Combine your separate ¼ cup of buttermilk with your melted butter in a separate small bow. Brush your loaf with the mixture then cut an X on top of your loaf.

STEP 4

Place the loaf in your preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, once the time is up let the round cool for 10 to 30 minutes. While the bread is baking you should use your mixture to brush over it while in the oven.

And voila! your tasty soda bread is done and you are ready for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

And with that I’ll see y’all in the next issue of The Shoemaker Bugle. Stay safe out there, people.

JGHS Welcomes New Head Football Coach

Press Release courtesy Dr. Padilla

Eagles,

It’s official. Please join us in welcoming our new Eagles Varsity Head Football Coach, Elijhaa Penny!

As a graduate of NLMUSD, Penny has returned from his college and NFL career to Norwalk to give back to the community that he is passionate about. We are thrilled to welcome him into the Eagle family and look forward to the skill, experience, and energy that he will bring to our program!

We will be welcoming him officially at lunch tomorrow, Friday 3/24/23 in the quad. Feel free to stop by and say, “Welcome!”

ed. note: Coach Penny attended the University of Idaho, and then signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals, for whom he played from 2016-2018; he then played, most notably, for the New York Giants for four seasons from 2018-2021. The fullback retired from the NFL on November 28, 2022.

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