The Oak Leaf Fall 2019 Magazine

In the 2010s, we saw many new classics by directors ranging from old masters to emerging talent. From the rise of commercial LGBTQ films to the wider acceptance of minority-directed films, it’s never been easier to see yourself on the silver screen. Here are 10 iconic films that feature supreme technical skill and impactful storytelling 2010 “The Social Network” dramatizes the creation of Facebook a...

I had tears streaming down my face and my hands were shaking — I feared what would come next. Healdsburg was under mandatory evacuation. I wondered if it would burst into flames and if I would return to a pile of ash instead of my hometown. The Kincade Fire started at 9:27 p.m. Oct. 23 near Geyserville and soon grew into one of the largest fires ever in Sonoma County, one that caused the histor...

The rules: my digital diet will last 24 hours, during which time I will forgo cell phone, laptop, internet, debit/credit card and electronic key-fob usage. I will, however, use analog technology as usual, including clocks, my truck and a pay phone — if I happen to come across one that works. Preface The first cell phone I ever owned was an iPhone 4, which I purchased in 2011. I waited that long to ...

Overview by Zane Zinkl High winds, dry brittle ground and low humidity combined on the evening of Oct. 23 to ignite the Kincade Fire in northeastern Sonoma County near Alexander Valley. During the next two weeks, the fire burned 77,758 acres, destroyed 360 structures — 174 of them homes — and forced the mass evacuations of the homes of 180,000 people. More than 1 million people across Calif...

Only one of the following stories is true. Can you pick which one?   A. Decatur man discovers bride is ‘his own granddaughter’; no plans for divorce A 68-year-old man from Decatur in Northern Alabama has reportedly had a “terrible shock” after discovering his new bride, a 24-year-old woman from Montgomery, is actually his own biological granddaughter. The man and his 24-year-old bride, ...

The dim light from her phone screen highlighted Solangel Rostran’s face as she scrolled through her Tinder feed. Sitting in the comfort of her living room, her face changed as she read messages from her matches. “So fine wishing I could kiss you LOL.” Another one wrote, “You are absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful.” A third asked, “What’s good chula?” adding a tongue-out emoji. Rostran, 2...

When Isaac Young opens Instagram, he scrolls through the daily feed perfectly tailored for him by his following list and the app’s own algorithm. He views the pages of artists he follows, stays up-to-date on the happenings of friends and tries to kill time. On the occasion that he posts, it’s a piece of his life, of himself, that is added to his digital gallery. A selfie, a goofy photo, a trip...

Winning was the last thing on Gina Stahl-Haven’s mind as she stepped on stage for the finals of the San Francisco Comedy Competition. In her mind, she had already won. “Once I was in, I was like, ‘I’m in. I got the Ph.D. now. Who cares?’” she said. Jokes come naturally to Stahl-Haven. As she stepped onto the stage, all of the potential jokes swirled around in her brain and bounced off th...

Baseball was once known as America’s national pastime, yet the once innocent sport has become known for performance-enhancing drugs (PED) and most recently, questions about juiced baseballs. The juiced baseball theory suggests Major League Baseball (MLB) has altered the baseball to increase scoring. The difference between a regular baseball and a juiced ball is the density of the core. The core...

Football constantly changes on both sides of the ball. Tackling mechanics have changed how defenses play, and a shift away from the run game has changed offensive philosophy. As the game evolves, players and coaches are forced to adapt or get out. Research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and other brain injuries caused an in-depth look at tackles. Less than a decade ago, helmet-to-helm...

A psychedelic retreat. A 75-milligram dose of ketamine. Intramuscular injections. Eve laid on her mat with her trip-sitter beside her. She felt it coming on. Then, whoosh. “I don’t know if there was a windy noise, or it was just inside my head. The tumbling, turning, kaleidoscope effect came on, and I was pushed along into a place of distortion and loss of ego. Things continued turning and pour...

Fires. Floods. Power outages. Sonoma County residents live with them all. It’s not whether these events will strike, but when. How does one best deal with forced evacuations during high-stress situations? Consider assembling a bug-out bag (BOB). A BOB is a backpack prepacked with items that will keep you alive in an emergency situation. While BOBs should be customized to individual needs, we list a...

What’s the biggest single change you have seen at the JC? Chong: More students of color, more diversity in the workforce. I’m the first non-white male president in the history of the college. I’m only the fifth president, so I came up here to really serve all students, but I do feel like students of color and DACA students and LGBT students really need to have an opportunity to shine and to...

The scene: 2020–2030 CE Climate change grips the world and its effects are felt everywhere. Years of seasonal wildfires and drought take their toll on Santa Rosa. The northern and eastern edges of the city burn down in successive years, causing the homeless population to explode. The regional, wine-based monoculture economy collapses due to overall environmental degradation. An out-migration be...

Branden Carrell and his bandmates watch where they step in their makeshift recording studio. The former garage, once a photo studio, now serves as Carrell’s grandmother’s bedroom. Carrell’s band, Incredulous, chose the room for its acoustics, despite needing to squeeze a drum kit and guitarist Forrest Giuletti’s recording equipment around Grandma’s bed. Guitar amps are tucked into awkward a...

The first time my mom was incarcerated — for vandalizing public property — I counted the approximately 730 days until she’d get out. Every weekend I got used to the dehumanizing routine. I checked my pockets for contraband, made sure my clothes followed the dress code, walked into the crowded waiting room, lined up and passed through a metal detector. Then, I entered a labyrinth of corridors a...

The statistics are alarming. In a 2019 survey of Santa Rosa Junior College students, 85% reported they felt overwhelmed, 64% said they felt overwhelming anxiety, 54% felt hopeless and 45% said they had been so depressed it was difficult to function. As students grapple with financial, emotional and educational stress, SRJC officials responded with a newly reformed rapid-response team to deal wit...