Packing essentials for any good UC Berkeley student

Zainab Ali/Senior Staff

While week two designates that the semester is well underway for the greater UC Berkeley population, there are many who are taking their studies abroad this semester. However, going abroad for an entire semester, or even a year, means that you have to face some struggles of your own – namely trying to pack your life into a couple of suitcases. If you do happen to find yourself in what is really quite a pleasant predicament, then sit back and relax because the Clog has got you covered.

Don’t forget your textbooks!

Just because you’re journeying around the world for a few months, visiting beautiful sites, tasting exquisite food and learning eye-opening history, doesn’t mean you get to forget about the academic struggle that your fellow Golden Bears are enduring at home. As a UC Berkeley student, it’s essentially your responsibility to stay true to your 4-year commitment, and really put the “study” into “studying abroad.”

We at the Clog highly recommend that you pack your textbooks and readers so that you stay up to date on your studies pending your arrival at your host university, and even for your return back to campus. We understand that these unnecessarily large books take up a lot of space (and weight) in your luggage, so we recommend switching out some clothes (pajamas are should be the first to go) to make space. With all your studying, you definitely won’t be sleeping, so what’s the point of bringing things you won’t use?

Bring an umbrella

If you’re a UC Berkeley student, you’ll understand the requirement of bringing an umbrella with you wherever you go—this includes abroad. Even if you’re going to the Dry Valleys in Antarctica where the average rainfall is zero millimeters per year, it’s in your best interest to pack a sturdy umbrella. You really never know when rain will choose to fall, but it always seems to be on the day you’ve decided to leave your umbrella at home. Play the rain at its own game and be ready for anything it throws at you—including water.

Layer up

Similar to the previous point, Berkeley students have mastered the art of layering their clothing due to extremely unpredictable weather. While chilly and foggy mornings require several jackets, the afternoon heat calls for more summer-esque clothing, even in the middle of November. Use what Berkeley has taught you as you venture into the real world (literally) and pack a variety of clothing for your travels. This ensures you’ll never be caught off guard wherever you choose to visit next during whatever season it happens to be.

And while a thin cardigan may seem like an unnecessary piece of attire for your Antarctic expeditions, global warming (which happens to be a very real and necessary problem to tackle) will ensure that that cardigan will come in handy when you need to take off your polar parka on those hotter days. You’ll thank us later.

It’s really not all fun and games when it comes to figuring out packing essentials for your six (or twelve) month journey away from home. Add in the limited space of your suitcases and you’ll be wondering if it’s even possible at all. Then again, traveling around the world for a semester is well worth sacrificing a few days of cursing at your suitcase as you try to pry it shut.

Contact Jenisha Sabaratnam at jsabaratnam@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

For the love of rain boots

Maya Shen/Staff

Dearest Rainboots,

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and height of the deepest puddle

When on rainy days, under umbrellas we all huddle

For brave protection from a cold winter’s day.

I love thee for saving pinkie toes from sorrow

In times of need, be it downpour or hail.

I love thee freely, for you never seem to fail.

I love thee purely, walking from VLSB to Barrows.

I love the with the passion put to use

On UCBMFET and in celebration of game day.

I love thee with a love that frats feel for booze

So help their livers. I love thee more than I can say,

Converse forgotten, you are my favorite shoes

I love thee when it rains next Thursday.

Contact Amanda Chung at achung@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

In-between weather essentials

Karen Chow/Staff

For those of you new to NorCal, the current weather may be confusing to you. One day, it’s hot and sunny, the next, rainy and windy. We at the Clog consider ourselves Berkeley weather experts, and thus we have put together this list of weird-weather essentials. Keep these items in your backpack, and we guarantee that you’ll be prepared for any weather situation.

An umbrella

You may think this item seems obvious, given the fact that it often rains in Berkeley. However, we at the Clog recommend an umbrella as a form of transportation: open it up to catch the breeze, and drift down the hill to class.

An inflatable raft

On days when the rain won’t stop falling and the gutters are swiftly overflowing, an inflatable raft is the perfect solution. Hop in and float on down to class on a rainy day. This vessel will not only provide rapid transportation but also can help keep your feet dry. Don’t forget the paddle!

Birkenstocks/sandals

Some days start dreary and cloudy, but by midday the sun breaks through and the temperature rises. On these days, spare shoes come in handy to transform rainy-day styles. While you’re at it, you may as well pack up an entire outfit change, just in case.

A large tarp

A large, waterproof tarp can be one of the most versatile items in your backpack. On suddenly rainy days, wrap yourself in the tarp to stay nice and dry! Conversely, the tarp can also be employed on sunny days as a picnic blanket for spontaneous Memorial Glade lunches.

Scissors

When it heats up fast, sometimes you can be completely surprised. If you don’t have any of the other warm-weather essentials (an entirely new outfit, the tarp, etc.), a simple pair of scissors is all you need. Just cut everything you’re wearing shorter. Wearing jeans? Pause for a second and whip up some custom Daisy Dukes. Sporting a sweater? Slice the sleeves off and crop it for that transitional look. Finally, if you have long hair, give yourself a quick haircut to get your layers off your neck.

While the next few months may be a guessing game in terms of the weather, this list will make sure you’re prepared for anything. Shine on, Bears!

Contact Jamie Campbell at jcampbell@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

How to beat the summer heat

Xinyu Li/Senior Staff

It’s no hidden issue that this summer has arguably been one of the hottest summers we’ve had, even though it may not be the hottest (2015 and 2016 take the cake.) But summer 2017 is still HOT, so we at the Clog have brought you another one of our very useful guides on how not to melt into a puddle of sweat and burned skin.

1. Go to the pool or beach

The oldest trick in the book to staying cool is dunking yourself into a bunch of liquid, most of which is hopefully water. Though crowds, splashing kids, potential of looking like a real lobster and sand where you’d rather not have it may get you down, just tell yourself you’d rather wallow in others’ body fluids than only your own.

2. Eat some ice cream

The foolproof way to remain in solid form! Ice cream is everyone’s best friend in summer, except those who are lactose intolerant (sorry, guys). Don’t be a basic ice cream indulger – check out our other edgy article about the top ice cream flavors to try this summer and expand your horizons beyond vanilla.

3. Carry around a portable fan wherever you go

As inconvenient as it seems, a portable fan does its job. So what if you get a few stares? They’re just jealous. If you’re rocking long hair, be super careful about getting your hair caught in it. From personal experience, that is one road you do not want to travel down.

4. Invest in an A/C unit

Maybe the outdated technology of fans just isn’t up your alley, but the cold, sweet mechanical hum of an A/C unit just happens to tickle your fancy. How weird is it that many houses in California don’t have one? We have heaters, but pshhh, who needs that when you can be nice and frosty all year round with A/C?

5. Stay in California

If you don’t want to put in all the effort or the green to get an A/C, you might as well just stay in California and enjoy the cool weather all year round. Do NOT go to the East Coast. We repeat, DO NOT go to the East Coast in summer or you. will. regret. it. Well, unless you like both hot and humid weather with scattered thunderstorms. Enjoy being a sticky, soggy mess.

6. Descend into hell because it’s already like that outside anyway

Satan himself wouldn’t want to come up to the surface (and that’s for more reasons than just temperature if you get our drift). 

7. Climb into the freezer aisle of a store

If all else fails, well … just tell the assistant manager you’re out of options. We’re sure Safeway and its frozen peas and carrots won’t mind.

Just remember that we do not need a “big fat dose” of global warming and we wish you good luck in beating the heat!

How to beat the summer heat

The Daily Californian

Berkeley ranked 5th best city to live in nationwide

Daniel Kim/Senior Staff

Berkeley is the fifth-best city to live in America in 2017, according to a recently published ranking by Niche.

On the list, titled “2017 Best Cities to Live in America,” the city ranked just below Ann Arbor, Michigan; Naperville, Illinois; Arlington, Virginia; and Columbia, Maryland. Other cities that also made the top ten include The Woodlands, Texas; Plano, Texas; Overland Park, Kansas; Boulder, Colorado and Irvine, California.

The grading was based on an A-F system for each criterion, with Berkeley scoring A’s in almost every one — public schools, nightlife, good for families, diversity, weather, health and fitness, outdoor activities and commute. The city, however, scored low in housing and crime and safety, with a C in both areas. Cost of living received a D.

Both the percentage of residents that hold graduate degrees or higher and those that hold bachelor’s degrees exceed the national average, according to data shown on Niche’s website. Berkeley experiences twice the number of robberies and motor vehicle thefts than the national average annually.

Niche’s ranking method is complex; it considers various factors such as the education levels of its residents, the consumer price index, home values and the number of students served by the public school system for the overall ranking of its cities.

“This grade takes into account several key factors of a location, including the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics, and access to amenities in an attempt to measure the overall quality of an area,” the website’s methodology page states.

Niche says it uses data from places such as the Department of Education, U.S. Census and the FBI, according to its website. In addition to public data sets, Niche analyzes more than 100 million reviews and survey responses.

Berkeley also ranked fourth on Niche’s list of “Healthiest Cities in America” and fifth for “Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America.”

Berkeley resident Jennifer Rubin, who has now lived in the city for almost a decade, said she likes both the uniqueness and accessibility of the city.

“It’s a nice balance between feeling like you’re outside in the city but you can still walk to everything. I (also) like how all the houses look beautiful and unique,” Rubin said. “I feel proud that it’s number five.”

Christine Lee is an assistant news editor. Contact Christine Lee at christinelee@dailycal.org and follow her on Twitter at @christinejlee17.

The Daily Californian

Why Berkeley being close to San Francisco is both a blessing and a curse

Zainab Ali/File

The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Battery Spencer

To many, Berkeley is the promised land. It has food, shelter and a university campus. Perfect.

But there’s one thing that elevates its status ever so slightly among other basic college towns: It’s near the great, bustling city of San Francisco, California. Whether or not this is a good thing, we’ve explored both sides of the issue!

Blessing #1: Berkeley is close to San Francisco

This one is a no-brainer. SF is a compact town with something to do on every corner. It has more food options, jobs, shops and attractions. It’s like here, but on steroids (as is every big city compared to smaller, local ones). If you’re ever bored in Berkeley, just head over to SF to instantly turn the volume up to 11. It is right across the bay, after all.

Blessing #2: San Fran is close to the bay, and Berk is close to San Fran; therefore, Berk is close to the bay

Aka, it’s close to the waterfront. Think about it that way. You get prime access to the San Francisco Bay and its cooling weather technology. If you remember what you learned in bio/chem, you’ll know that the amazing properties of a large body of water keep temperatures pleasantly in the 50- to 70-degree range all year round. Science.

Blessing #3: SF makes for a great view

If you go up to the Berkeley Hills (or even to the sororities/frats), you can get a great view of the iconic bridges and skyline on one of those rare fogless days. Enjoy it in the short time that you can.

Curse #1: Fog

San Francisco is notorious for its excessive fog. Unfortunately, Berkeley is right in the Bermuda Triangle of the Bay Area. Every night, we watch the fog roll in from the west and rain down on us. Sometimes we’re greeted with the pleasant surprise of the fog sticking around well past the next morning (and its welcome).

Curse #2: It’s cold

Berkeley? More like Brrrrrkeley. Well, not really, but we just had to use that pun. Winters here are ideal, but summers rarely go above the mid-70s. Berkeley sometimes even experiences temperatures in the low 60s smack in the middle of summer. A warm afternoon can easily give way to a low-50-degree night. Hey, we’re just used to lukewarm weather; don’t judge us, rest of America.

Curse #3: No matter where you go, something will smell like pee

Whether it’s the BART station or the sidewalk outside of a restaurant, the familiar stench of urine is slightly present in both cities. Is it from dogs? Cats? People? Probably a combination of all 3, with an occasional messy baby thrown in there somewhere.

Berkeley and its proximity to SF has its ups and downs, but we love it anyways, don’t we?

Contact Pooja Bale at pbale@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

The challenges of working in the San Francisco Financial District

Rachel Feder/File

Many UC Berkeley students land internships and even full-time jobs in the neighboring city of San Francisco, and oftentimes, the Financial District is the go-to spot. This nifty neighborhood has the largest concentration of banks and businesses, with a wide variety of companies. When one walks down Market Street alongside shiny skyscrapers and people dressed in suits and pencil skirts, the Financial District may seem like the ultimate entry into the professional workforce. While there’s truth to this perception, working in such a fast-paced environment has its challenges too.

The traffic

Everyone knows how horrendous the traffic in San Francisco can be. The rollercoaster-like hills, confusing one-way streets and nonexistent parking spaces aren’t much help. The Financial District is no exception.

Dressing professionally (or trying to)

When you’re surrounded by tech moguls and bankers, you’ll feel the pressure to look the part. While you’d feel spiffy in your expensive dress suit and you locked down your new Gucci handbag, navigating the city can be a real pain when you’re dressed in heavy office attire.

The weather

San Francisco weather is known to be fickle at best. Commuting to work in heavy rain and wind makes everything worse — a lot worse. The one time you decide to wear a raincoat and boots, the sun could come out at the very last minute, but when you underestimate how much it will rain during the day, you might arrive to work soaked with a dripping umbrella. So be prepared to have that occasional walk of shame when the weather gets the best of you, rain or shine.

Waiting forever for an elevator

If you work in the Financial District, there’s a high possibility that your office is located in an enormous building. This means that when you’re on the ground floor and have to get to the 32nd floor, you’ll probably need to arrive to work early enough to account for the time it takes to get an elevator.

The long lines for coffee and lunch

Right across the street from First Republic Bank sits a row of restaurants and cafes where people like to grab lunch or a quick caffeine fix to get through the 9-to-5 workday. So if you’re hungry or feeling drowsy, be prepared to spend a good chunk of your break waiting in line at Peet’s or Sushirrito.

Rush hour

In the Financial District, basically everyone gets off work at 5 p.m. So once you clock out, I’d suggest speedwalking to the BART station before it gets hounded by a hundred people.

Nevertheless, don’t let these challenges discourage you from working in one of the best cities in California (perhaps even the country?). Plus, there’s no better sense of accomplishment than when you survive the day in the Financial District and snag that available seat on BART on your way home.

Contact Claudia Marie Huynh at chuynh@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Students with pre-existing conditions must be informed of effects of fire

Willow Yang/File

The news article by Harini Shyamsundar and Ashley Wong reported that the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for California in part due to dry conditions. Considering the recent critical weather conditions as a result of the North Bay wildfires, I think it is important to inform the community on what precautions we should take in order to avoid adverse health effects from pollutants in the air.

Our UC Berkeley student community is currently at risk because of the excessive amount of exposure we have from walking to classes every day and relying on public transportation to get from place to place. As an undergraduate student, I have witnessed firsthand how dry conditions are affecting the community but was disappointed by the lack of response from community health advocates.

Students who already have pre-existing lung conditions or asthma may start to notice some complications with breathing; smoke inhalation combined with excessive physical activity allows even more pollutants to enter our system and cause shortness of breath. Other community members are at risk as well: mail carriers and security guards are seen wearing face masks to protect them from exposure.

Moreover, the Tang Center has been responsive by selling face masks to reduce exposure. It was not greatly publicized, however, and the campus has not addressed students on what precautions or resources are available. Bringing awareness to the adverse health effects of these wildfires can help remind vulnerable students to check in with their providers and assess their health needs.

Neyat Tefery is a UC Berkeley student.

The Daily Californian

Emergency items to keep in your backpack for the Berkeley weather

Elizabeth Klingen/File

No matter how long you’ve been a student here at UC Berkeley, whether it be four years or only a few months, you’re probably aware of the fact that Berkeley weather has quite the mind of its own. One day it’s pouring rain and humid, then the next it’s 99 degrees and bitterly dry outside. And oftentimes, we experience various climate and weather patterns all within the very same day. But, even though the weather may be overwhelmingly unexpected throughout the day, we at the Clog have learned to carry a few essentials in our backpacks at all times to make sure we’re prepared for whatever the Berkeley weather will be throwing our way. Without further ado, here’s our list of emergency Berkeley weather essentials to hold onto at all times. Get your backpacks ready, Bears!

1. An umbrella. Last month, it rained while it was sunny and humid out, only the day after one of Berkeley’s hottest heat wave in years. So you really never know when water will be coming your way.
2. A rain poncho. Just because it rains doesn’t mean it’s only going to lightly drizzle. Expect powerful monsoon-like showers every now and then that require a poncho large enough to cover your entire body and backpack (to protect your belongings).
3. A fan. This one is for the days when it gets so unbearably hot that the only way you’re able to survive is by being that person in your lecture blowing a portable fan over your professor’s voice.
4. A water sprayer. On a hot day, sometimes we’d simply rather spray our faces and bodies with a cool mist of water instead of directly hydrating by drinking it. We know, we’re extra like that. But, think of trying it, because it definitely helps (and it’s just fun to do).
5. A snowsuit. Say what? Yeah, we know it doesn’t snow in Berkeley. But we’re at the point where pretty much anything could happen, so better safe than sorry.
6. A foghorn. As Berkeley students, we often enjoy crossing streets when we’re not supposed to. When we’re crossing the street, what better way to warn incoming traffic than with a loud, blaring foghorn? Nothing, honestly.
7. Ice cream. While this would unfortunately require you to carry an ice chest in your backpack as well, sometimes there’s nothing that revives us more on a hot day than a quick scoop of ice cream. But hey, we promise it’ll be worth it.
8. Sunscreen. Whether it’s pouring rain and still sunny out or simply so hot out that you can feel the sun’s rays seething into your skin, sunscreen will forever and always be your friend. We know we sound like your mom, but you’ll thank us later.
9. A can of beans. Beans, beans, the magical fruit, they’ll save you when there’s no more loot. Sometimes it’s so windy that it knocks the power out for a few hours, making it too dark and sketchy to go outside, while other times it’s so hot that stores’ refrigerators and freezer stop working. This is where the beans come in. Yeah, they’ll make you toot, but at least you won’t be hungry.
10. A tent and sleeping bag. Often times it can get so cold inside that you almost need to create a whole new room insulated with warmth. This is where a tent and sleeping bag come in. Whether you’re cramming for your midterm in Main Stacks or taking a relaxing break in your own dorm or apartment, set up these items and you’ll immediately feel ten degrees warmer (and you’ll be able to get some major alone time too).

While we at the Clog sadly can’t predict the weather for you, we hope these essentials will help make the climate a bit more Bear-able.

Contact Chloe Lelchuk at clelchuk@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

How to stay warm in your apartment if you’re too cheap to turn the heat on

Nishali Naik/File

Winter’s coming. Literally.

Only three weeks ago, we were all nearly melting from the sweltering heat wave, but now it’s a completely different story. With bouts of rain heading our way and temperatures dropping into the fifties, the weather — and our very own dwellings — are simply becoming too cold to bare. And, not only are we now living in what feels like the inside of a freezer, but we’re also broke college kids. If there’s one thing we never want to do, it’s succumb to the pressures of turning the heat on and having our PG&E bills shoot higher than the Campanile. We at the Clog are in the same boat as you and are here to help. So, without further ado, here are our tips and tricks to stay warm when you’re just too chap to turn the darn heat on.

Add at least three heavy extra layers

Sweatshirt? Check. Bathrobe? Check. Heavy parka? Check. It’s this quintessential trio of cold weather items and pure extra-ness that will ensure that you stay toasty warm and that your poor, freezing fingers never reach the heater dial. You may look ridiculous and slightly resembling of the Michelin Man, but this isn’t a fashion show, this is survival.

Enjoy a warm cup of tea

If you can’t warm yourself up from the outside, try doing so by warming your insides first with a nice cup of hot tea. Your body temperature will soon begin to rise and your shivers will soon decrease. If this fails, simply pour the drink over your body instead. That should do the trick (do this, however, at your own discretion).

Utilize your desk lamp

Desk lamps are usually bright, which means that if you’re close enough and remain under one long enough, you may start to warm up. Simply point your desk lamp in the region of your body that’s feeling the coldest and leave it under the lamp for an indefinite amount of time. If your whole body has the chills, curl up on your desk and remain there until you feel like this technique might be doing the job. Be careful not to fry your skin.

Bake some cookies

Whisking together some ingredients and popping some good old chocolate chip cookies in the oven is the perfect way to keep yourself warm and take your mind off how cold and miserable you are inside the comfort of your own home. The heat from the oven will help heat up your kitchen and fill your nostrils with that warm, chocolatey goodness. Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly baked cookies?

Participate in an intense workout

We’re talking HIIT-level stuff here, not lazy crunches and half-witted jumping jacks. In order to raise your body temperature, you need to go for high intensity, fast movements. And what better way to do that than to antagonize the apartment-dwellers below you by doing several sets of burpees and lunge jumps? Several things, honestly, but this method is one of the fastest (and sweatiest).

Cuddle

We can feel your eyes rolling now. If you’re lucky enough to have a significant other, or even just run-of-the-mill friends to cuddle with, utilize them for what they’re really there for — body heat! If not, you’ve always got yourself and some pillows to use instead. Simply take a pillow from your bed, clutch it to your stomach and curl up into a ball (and then cry yourself to sleep). Yep, we’re pros at this one.

Give up and leave

If all of these methods fail to defrost you, don’t succumb to turning the heat on yet! Oftentimes our humble abodes are colder than the outdoors, so if you’re looking to warm up, step outside for a few minutes. Then, realize that that was a terrible idea and crawl back into your bed, which is the only semi-warm place in your apartment.

It’s not a winter wonderland until we can enjoy being in the cold. Good luck on all your endeavors to resist turning that wretched heater on.

Contact Chloe Lelchuk at clelchuk@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

The art of layering: How to dress for Berkeley weather

Nikhar Arora/Staff

One second it’s hot and you’re sweating through your favorite top and the next minute you’re shivering and hating yourself for leaving your jacket at home. What is this weather and how can you save yourself from discomfort? The answer? Layer, layer, layer!

Mark Twain once famously said, “The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.” For those not accustomed to Bay Area weather, this quote rings true. When you leave for class early in the morning, the cold is biting. As 10 a.m. approaches, it gets nice and warm with a little breeze. Then at noon it’s uncomfortably hot, and in the evening the weather reverts back to the cold and you’re left in utter confusion about how you’re supposed to dress.

Wear pants or longer skirts.

If you’re going out at midday, it’s tempting to throw on that cute romper you got during Black Friday. But if you’re staying out till late, you might want to switch into a pair of longer pants or a long skirt just because they’ll keep you a little warmer when the wind picks up in the evening.

Always carry a jacket or cardigan in your bag.

This is ESSENTIAL. Almost nine times out of 10, you’ll need that jacket when that odd gust of wind blows by or when you’re walking back home after a night class or meeting.

Tank-top-under-sweater technique

If you’re a sweater fanatic like us here at the Clog, this one can be difficult to navigate. Now that the weather is consistently warm, wearing sweaters can get pretty uncomfortable by midday. Wear a thin T-shirt underneath so you can take off your sweater when it starts to get hot.

Flannel

Flannels are actually a great way to layer up, stay warm and look pretty cool. Pair up your favorite flannel with a simple tee and leggings to be comfortable all day!

Canvas shoes over chunky boots

OK, so this isn’t really layering, but now that it’s officially getting warmer, those thick boots are probably not the way to go. Instead, opt for canvas shoes, which are easy to wear and walk in!

We at the Clog hope you can use some of these tips to stay weather-appropriate as we enter springtime!

Contact Ananya Sreekanth at asreekanth@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Clog report: Midterms causing climate change

Maya Valluru/File

Whether you’re an Al Gore fan or not, you can’t deny we had some pretty great weather last week. It was great to leave our sweaters at home, but that shouldn’t distract from the fact that it was unseasonably warm for February. Yet this week, there was a sudden change.

Hopefully you were able to enjoy the sunshine while it lasted, because it wasn’t long before the clouds moved in and the temperature dropped. You may find yourself disappointed by this appropriate winter weather, or you may be questioning what sparked the sudden change.

After several days and very long nights of research, we at the Clog have discovered the cause of this abrupt change in weather — midterms.

After decades of exams, research papers and presentations, midterms have finally obtained the power to cause climate change. “How could this happen,” you ask? It’s simple science. The stress on the environment can be traced back to three main causes: professors printing too many exams, students using too much electricity and the internal stress among students causing an increase in flatulence.

As professors began preparing for their joyful hours of torturing students, they printed more exams than ever before at this early stage in the semester. This overuse of paper and power by the printers released extreme amounts of carbon dioxide.

At the same time, students commenced studying, which required them to charge their computers all night as they struggled to finish their papers and study guides on time. The abuse of outlets raised energy bills and the levels of harmful toxins in the air we breathe.

Our oxygen was further polluted as students began to neglect their mental and physical health. Eating healthy was no longer a priority. That, in combination with the high amounts of stress, caused an increase in upset stomachs. Ultimately, this led to increased flatulence, which in turn polluted our somewhat clean air.

Of course, this abuse of energy and resources typically would result in warmer weather. That’s what we thought, too. However, there is a new phenomenon, deemed “Bool Chet,” which occurs in the stratosphere as the Earth begins to overcompensate for warmer weather by forming excessive amounts of clouds in an attempt to block ultraviolet rays and thus cool the earth.

Whether you’re a fan of cloudy weather or you prefer the sun’s warm rays, these are issues that must be addressed. The most plausible course of action is to address the university and demand midterms be banned, as they are obviously harmful to our planet.

It is up to us to ensure that the generations of tomorrow have clean air to breathe and appropriate weather for respective seasons.

Contact Hailey Johnson at hjohnson@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Cal lacrosse drops pair of matches in frigid East Coast weather

Lianne Frick/File

Mother Nature was the MVP of the Bears’ weekend trip to New England. Cal lacrosse found her to be its toughest matchup in its games against University of Connecticut and University of Massachusetts Lowell.

In both their loss to UConn in freezing temperatures and their rain-soaked victory against UMass Lowell, the Bears’ common opponent proved to be the weather.

“(Playing against UMass Lowell) was definitely a difficult game,” said redshirt freshman Lauren Hickman. “It was wet, our sticks were wet, our gloves — we’re not even used to really wearing gloves — were wet.”

Adverse conditions or not, the midfielder out of Frisco, Texas handled herself perfectly well. Hickman recorded a hat trick, the first of her career, to help propel the Bears to a 9-5 victory over the River Hawks.

Redshirt sophomore Kirsten Swanson tallied three goals — just another day at the office for the attacker, who has now recorded 13 goals on five games this season.

The messy setting defined the game.

“It was really hard to handle the ball and feel it in our sticks,” Hickman said.

The Bears’ 27 turnovers in that game make up nearly a third of their season total.

“(Sunday) was really more about grinding it out and getting through inclement weather while focusing on play-by-play and letting the mistakes go,” said Cal head coach Brooke Eubanks.

Cal got ahead early and steadily pumped out goals for the duration of the match. The River Hawks tested the Bears with a few scores of their own but were never able to take the lead.

Though Cal was able to tough out the deluge in Lowell, they couldn’t shake the cold in Storrs, Connecticut on Friday.

Against the Huskies, temperatures reaching the depths of 34 degrees added to the home team’s advantage.

“Obviously we’re not used to that out in California,” Hickman said. “A lot of us had all of our cold gear on, and coming in and out of the field, we would have hand warmers.”

Immediately out of the gate, Cal notched the first two goals of the game. But the Huskies snuffed out the Bears’ streak and then some by stringing together five of their own goals. As the half winded down, Cal managed to tighten it up to 5-3.

Despite the competitive score, the Bears fired problematically fewer shots in the first half than the Huskies, giving up 17 while only shooting nine themselves. The discrepancy continued in the second half, with Cal again being overwhelmed by UConn in the category.

“I think the positive about that game is we were able to execute and finish on the opportunities that we did have,” Eubanks said. “But unfortunately, we had a ton of unforced turnovers. That’s what hurt us — we didn’t get as many chances to get quality shots off.”

Limited opportunities to score ultimately unraveled Cal’s chances to win, and the Bears fell, 8-12.

“It’s definitely a hard trip, coming out all the way to the East Coast for four days and having to get two games in with the weather and all that,” Eubanks said. “But ultimately, we do that so that when we achieve our goals of playing in the NCAA tournament, we’re prepared.”

Armen Aprahamian covers lacrosse. Contact him at aaprahmian@dailycal.org. Follow him on Twitter @armnhammer_.

The Daily Californian

A love letter to our beloved, turbulent Berkeley weather

Amanda Burke/File

Dear Berkeley weather,

There aren’t enough words to express our love for you. You’re extremely emotional, but that’s what we love most about you. You’re the love of our lives, and we don’t know what we’d do without you. We love your constant mood swings. One week, you could be fine, sunny as ever. The next week, you could be the complete opposite: gray and crying your eyes out. On special occasions, we get to experience your multiple mood swings all in one day! Sometimes you’re gloomy in the morning, bright in the afternoon and hailing at night. We just adore you for it.

We also love you in the mornings. We love walking to our delightful 8 a.m. classes with you by our side. We love the fact that even though we wear our coziest sweaters and comfiest sweats, we can still feel you bracing our entire bodies with your cold, cold hands.

Although you may be cold in the mornings, you warm up in the afternoons. Your smile shines brightly at us as we continue with the rest of our days. But we have to admit: Sometimes, you’re too sunny for us. We’re prepared to bear your coldness in the mornings, but your unexpected happiness in the afternoon surprises us, and we’re often not ready for it. However, we still love you for who you are and for all your little surprises.

We also love the way you cry. You express yourself in ways that we’ve never seen before. It’s quite amazing. We love your sudden outbursts of tears. You could be the happiest we’ve seen you all week but then suddenly begin to cry out of nowhere. It may be unexpected, but our love is everlasting, and thus, it endures.

Your family, dispersed all across California, is known to express the most beautiful of emotions. Though everyone always raves about your sister, Los Angeles weather, and how she is the most stunning of the family, we believe they’re wrong. Berkeley weather, you’re gorgeous, charming and enchanting. There isn’t any other place with a climate that we’d pick over yours. You’re just perfect. We love you, Berkeley weather, and all your emotional baggage.

Love,

The Daily Clog

Contact Kelly Fong at kfong@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

The world’s out to get your laptops: Laptop blown away at Caffe Strada

Ketki Samel/File

Winds have picked up in Berkeley during the past few weeks, adding another layer of unpredictability to the already volatile weather. The weather has taken many dramatic turns, bouncing between roasting hot and freezing cold day by day, along with intermittent bursts of rain or even hail.

“Sometimes the bloody wind starts up again, and it seems to just drop 10 degrees,” said Berkeley resident Benjamin Sterling. “I really don’t need the weather to match my mood swings.”

The increasing winds have also led to other problems besides subjective temperature changes. On Friday afternoon, a student studying at Caffe Strada had their laptop blown away in a gust of wind.

“Well, I’m glad it wasn’t a laptop theft,” said Lt. Austin Oski of the Berkeley Police Department. “We’ve already had way too many of those.”

A string of laptop thefts occurred in January, when laptops were snatched from various cafes around Berkeley.

“Well, I’m honestly mildly relieved my laptop was only irreparably damaged,” the student said. “There would be all sorts of complicated security issues if it was stolen. This way, I might even have an easier time claiming insurance!”

Experts have confirmed that the unpredictable nature of Berkeley weather would classify this unfortunate loss as an “act of God” scenario under most insurance policies.

The laptop reportedly flew more than a block away before falling and shattering in the middle of the sidewalk off Haste Street.

Unconfirmed sources say nearby students were completely unfazed by the sudden small explosion of glass and metal, likely because of already being “completely done” with the semester.

No one was reported harmed in the incident.

“It was fortunate that the tables at Strada were already bolted down into the floor,” Oski said, referring to precautions put into place after a table was stolen in addition to a laptop in March. “Otherwise, the tables would have been in serious risk of flying away as well.”

At press time, the winds were reported to have picked up even more; the customers, and maybe even Strada itself, were at risk of being blown away as well.

The tables, of course, would be fine.

This is a satirical article written purely for entertainment purposes.

Contact Jonathan Lai at jlai@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Ouch! 10 things that are less a-peel-ing than sunburns

Olivia Staser/Staff

We’re already about a month into summer break and we bet many of us have experienced the ache and burn of sunburns – man, do they suck. The burning sensation and complete redness not only makes us look like amateur sunbathers but lobsters as well. Here are 10 things that are even worse than becoming a red lobster this summer.

1. Your grades

Isn’t the saying “C’s get degrees”?

2. Grade deflation

There’s nothing better than working hard for an A but being pulled down to a B. Wild.

3. Dressing wrong for the weather

Berkeley weather really knows how to trick us! If it’s bright and sunny in the morning, expect a rainstorm by the afternoon.

4. When your favorite boba place runs out of boba

Berkeley running out of boba? That is an actual nightmare.

5. When your favorite boba place is closed

Nothing hurts more than craving a nice, refreshing boba drink and then seeing that it’s closed at 1 a.m. Aren’t we in Berkeley? Where is the 24-hour boba at?

6. When you have back-to-back finals or midterms

There is a sense of calm when you finally finish your midterm or final, but then you realize you have 10 minutes to study for the next one you have. RIP.

7. When you have an 8 a.m. final

There’s nothing worse than having a schedule where your earliest time is 11 a.m. and then seeing the finals schedule and realizing you’ve been smacked with an 8 a.m. at one of the farthest buildings on campus.

8. Hangovers

Is a great night of partying really worth the morning after? Hell yeah!

9. When your crush doesn’t like you back

Okay, so this isn’t exactly the worst thing, but it still stings when you shoot your shot with your study buddy and get rejected.

10. Stanfurd students

Go Bears!

We hope this relieved some of your burn. Remember, you are a Golden Bear, not a burnt one.

Contact Kelly Fong at kfong@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

The most breathtaking spots you have to see in Oahu

Flickr/Creative Commons

Composed of eight islands and surrounded by the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is a beautiful vacation destination for those wanting to escape to the tropics and experience the year-round sunshine. If you find Berkeley’s constant battle between heat wave and frigidity to be tiresome, Hawaii always delights with a consistent 80-degree weather forecast and rainbows galore. While there are several wonderful things about island life, from the food to the culture, nothing beats the all-encompassing nature. Having grown up on Oahu, the most populated of the eight and home to Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, here are some breathtaking sights you must see if you find yourself visiting in the near future.

Makapu’u tide pools

Getting to the tide pools is a treacherous journey not cut out for everyone, but once you find yourself magically floating atop the salty seawater, you’ll instantly feel a sense of gratification. However, if you’re looking for something a little less risky, there is an abundance of equally excitable adventures for you to embark on within the area. Take the light Makapu’u hike up to the lighthouse for a bird’s eye view of the shoreline and Mānana Island, or Rabbit Island (appropriately nicknamed because of it resembles a rabbit head).

Manoa Falls

Located at the end of the Manoa Falls hiking trail, this 150-foot waterfall is quite the spectacle. It’s essential to bring proper footwear since the path is a muddy one, but the serene sound and lush atmosphere of the falls will make it all the more worth it. If you aren’t the ultimate hiker, no need to fret. The trail is considered relatively easy, taking about an hour to complete.

Lanikai Beach

Easily one of my favorite beaches, Lanikai Beach features calm, azure waters and soft, white sand to make your time spent there relaxing as can be. Far away from the touristy and overcrowded Waikiki Beach, Lanikai is a nice alternative situated in the residential area of Kailua, perfect for browsing your favorite magazine while you sunbathe. After your moment of repose, head over to the Lanikai Pillboxes hike if you’re prepared for a workout. The steep trek provides a panoramic view of the scenic ocean, which includes a look at the famed Na Mokulua twin island peaks, also known as the “Mokes”. Sunscreen, swimwear and your camera are musts!

Hanauma Bay

If snorkeling is a lifelong dream of yours, check one more wish off your bucket list by heading to Hanauma Bay for a swim. Located on the south shore of Oahu, Hanauma Bay is the state’s nature preserve home to a vast marine life ecosystem with more than 400 species of fish and many sea turtles, called “honu” in the Hawaiian language, inhabiting the area. Enclosing the crescent-shaped bay is a stretch of sand for you to lie on beneath the palm trees, basking in the sun with a light breeze to cool you down.

Waimea Bay

Whether you like to plan your trip itinerary in great detail or prefer to go with the flow when it comes to how you spend your vacation time, make sure to allocate a day for Oahu’s North Shore. Waimea is one of the many great spots located in the town of Haleiwa on the North Shore. Notorious for the Eddie Aikau surfing competition with open ocean swells reaching heights of 40 feet, Waimea Bay is not the most fitting of beaches for leisure swimming. However, it’s still fun to watch the impressive waves and wade in the waters close to the shore. In the summer season when the waves are smaller, you can catch locals jumping off the famous 10-meter tall monolith into the pristine ocean. If you’re willing to unleash your inner daredevil, Waimea’s rock jumping is the perfect way for you to make a massive splash in your summer.

While on Oahu, be sure to take advantage of the wondrous landscape by spending ample time on its renowned beaches and gazing at its captivating views. Amid the multitude of hotels and rapid commercialization in the city region, it’s important to remember that the natural charm of the island is what makes Hawaii the one-of-a-kind paradise that it is. If you’re in need of an ideal getaway this summer (or even in the wintertime), hit up the shores of Hawaii for a fitting remedy against the pressures of school and work.

Contact Erika Lee at erikalee@dailycal.org .

The Daily Californian

Useless things to learn over summer with your free time

Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons

Even for those of us with full-time internships over summer, there’s an odd sense that we’re somehow doing less than we are during the semester. With a little more than a month left to go this break, here’s how to spend that extra time needlessly stressing yourself out by learning the most pointless things that you will, in all likelihood, never have to use ever again.

A crueler soul might suggest that summarizes all of academia.

The commute to your internship

Remember the long, arduous first journey to your new workspace, filled with worries that you would somehow miss the BART and be late for your first day? If you haven’t already, these last few weeks before school starts should be your time to finally get used to that commute, to memorize the exact route so you don’t need to spend the entire trip double-checking your phone and praying Google Maps is still your friend. Of course, that won’t help you one bit once the semester begins, but we’re here to learn, right? At the very least, it’s good to have some basic experience with public transportation. 

Netflix release schedules

With the abundance of free time also comes the abundance of time wasted just scrolling through whatever’s on Netflix or Hulu. And with that time comes the inevitable curiosity about when the next set of potentially binge-worthy shows or movies will come out, and from there is the slippery slope of somehow memorizing what dates everything will come out over the next few weeks. Next six episodes coming out at the end of the week? Well, guess we all know how you’ll be spending Friday night.

Magic tricks

Learn some fun card tricks while you’re bored this summer. You can even set up shop on Telegraph Avenue and con some money, like how the UC system cons us out of money for tuition every year! Or wow your classmates in the fall during the icebreaker sessions that we all dread.

Where the best seats in Moffitt are

Legend says that summer sessions are when there are few enough students on campus that it’s actually possible to find seats in campus libraries. While practical experience leaves us less than persuaded, in theory, this is the best time to find which spots have the best view, the most table space and the most comfortable chairs. This new, valuable information will then go to waste as the semester begins and it’s back to the struggle of just looking around for somewhere to sit, giving up and then sitting on the floor.

What sunlight feels like

Now is the time of the year in the Bay Area when noon comes around and we aren’t completely blown away to see the sun out in the blue, blue sky. In this season of summer, we can finally experience what’s considered to be a cold day in SoCal and see what Berkeley looks like under the light of day. Of course, that lasts until sunset when the temperatures obviously take a plunge back into the depths of Berkeley normality.

Coping with boredom

We look forward to break when the semester is still ongoing, dreaming of the time when we wouldn’t have anything to do. That sounds good, but actually experiencing the sheer monotony of having absolutely nothing to busy yourself with is painful. So we all learn how to deal with that, building up little habits to keep ourselves occupied. Maybe we pick up a book for the first time in years or maybe we start going to the gym. While not objectively useless, are you really going to keep it up once the semester begins?

So there you go, Bears. Completely useless things to learn over the remaining time of sweet summer. Have fun wasting your time!

Contact Jonathan Lai at jlai@dailycal.org .

The Daily Californian

Editor’s Note: Outside Lands 2018

Isabella Schreiber/Staff

Isabella Schreiber / Staff

With a decade under its belt, Outside Lands 2018 knew what it was doing. Repeating multiple artists from its first lineup — such as Beck, Broken Social Scene and Bon Iver — while also finally managing to have female headliners, the festival neatly divided its crowd between the Twin Peaks and Lands End stages each night.

In characteristic San Francisco fashion, each day experienced its own unique weather, too. Friday was so cold that The Weeknd could hardly feel his face, while Saturday left fans with sunburns that rivaled the red of Florence + the Machine’s iconic hair. Sunday’s fog meant the stage lights of sets early in the day were almost as brilliant as those that would illuminate Janet Jackson’s performance that night.

But if the six biggest acts resembled the weather — inconsistent and not always pleasing — the talent that came before them was often stellar. While many attendees came late, the early sets of local artists such as Caleborate and Shannon and the Clams were well worth the hefty ticket price.

And although the age gaps between attendees remained as awkward as ever — couples in their late 40s drunkenly danced to indie rock as 14-year-olds Snapchatted and snickered — Outside Lands continued to push outside the box.

Caroline Smith is the arts & entertainment editor. Olivia Jerram is the assistant arts & entertainment editor. Ketki Samel is the managing editor. Contact them at arts@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

As ‘September Fades,’ pop powerhouse Ralph emerges in full force at Rickshaw Stop

RALPH/Courtesy

The Rickshaw Stop was decently full for a Thursday night. After the bass-heavy, lamenting melodies of opener Somme, the audience was in mixed stages of conversation and anticipation. Over the speakers, vaguely familiar pop and hip-hop hits fell on seemingly inattentive ears — the audience loosely crowded around the stage. There was a subtle buzz in the room, and it was becoming increasingly clear that the crowd was ready for something magical to happen.

Cue Ralph.

The Toronto-based artist walked onto the stage, bathed in a mix of pinks and blues, with a three-piece band: keyboard, percussion and bass. Performing with a mixture of track and live instruments gave Ralph the ability to harmonize with herself. And while this had the potential of being a watered-down performance, the mix of live and prerecorded music proved to be perfect for the small venue. As an opener for headliner Flint Eastwood, Ralph’s first time in San Francisco was met by a surprisingly eager audience.

The intimate Rickshaw Stop crowd thickened over the course of Ralph’s set, and if the audience wasn’t won over by her nostalgic pop anthems, it was her adorable conversation that did the trick. As an entrance to “For Yourself,” Ralph gave the audience words of encouragement, echoing the song’s core themes of self-love. It was not only endearing, but also proved to be a prevailing theme over the course of the night.

Ralph treated the crowd to the entirety of her recent album release, A Good Girl. Almost every song was preceded by a little bit of background on its inspiration. Her charisma was infectious, and audience chatter between her numbers was telling of the crowd’s appreciation for the up-and-coming artist.

Ralph was like a cool older sister, and her lyrics were relatable and engaging. By the middle of her set, there was a pleasant familiarity in Ralph’s presence. But this extended past the audience’s acquaintance with the songstress.

Even her aesthetic was a quintessential blending of Ralph’s own style and nostalgia. From the moment Ralph took the stage in a leopard halter, coral cargos and platform sneakers, it was evident that ‘90s and early 2000s pop influence would take a front seat in the show.

While her songs were often simple and reminiscent of pop royalty such as the Spice Girls, her spin on the pop genre puts her in league with heavyweight contemporary artists such as Carly Rae Jepsen. She’s one with those who are leading the charge on the genre’s resurgence.

Ralph’s music was more than the melody you’ve heard on the radio a million times before. Over the course of the night, her sound proved to bring nuance to the often formulaic genre – an upbeat coalescence of nostalgia and Ralph’s own unique musicality. Ralph has described her sound as synth-pop-disco-soul. This is an ambitious blend that she accomplishes with ease. With songs such as “Gimme,” Ralph defines her sound as one prone to subtle diversity and makes listening to not only A Good Girl but the whole of her discography a new and enjoyable experience each time.

In a night filled with powerful women and strong performance, Ralph’s set was one of danceable hits that could appeal to even the most stoic person’s desire to move. And move they did. From gentle swaying in more solemn numbers such as “September Fades” to trying to emulate the band’s choreographed moves during “Tables Have Turned,” the audience was engaged. Among the palpable chemistry Ralph shared with her band, her ability to connect with her audience and her consistent and evident talent, it was clear she loves what she does.

Ralph was a refreshing addition to the night’s lineup — her tunes were evocative of the ease of a summer night and were the perfect punctuation to the slightly warmer than usual temperatures that have been filling the Bay Area of late. Ralph’s “Weather” asks, “Who knows, who knows what happens come October?” and her performance was the perfect answer. With a demonstrated command of pop music, Ralph is making a name for herself as a titan of up-and-coming pop.

Contact Areyon Jolivette at ajolivette@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian