The School Newspaper of Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Arcade Encarnacion

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist

Hey, I'm Arcade and I'm thrilled to be this year's designated Cartoonist! I like drawing and making jokes about current events.

All content by Arcade Encarnacion
META MIND CONTROL

META MIND CONTROL

Arcade Encarnacion, Editorial Cartoonist
March 7, 2024
Meta is often blamed for poor parenting.
Third Wheel, Third Party

Third Wheel, Third Party

Arcade Encarnacion, Editorial Cartoonist
February 29, 2024
It can be difficult choosing a candidate when neither stands for what you believe in.
Over 40 million tons of plastic waste is generated by the United States each year, with more than three-quarters of the trash winding up in landfills. After their short lifespan has concluded, low-quality goods from Temu are likely to be quickly forgotten.

[Photo] Stop Temu: Don’t Be Consumed by Consumerism

Ethan Bull, Opinion Editor
February 23, 2024

Over 40 million tons of plastic waste is generated by the United States each year, with more than three-quarters of the trash winding up in landfills. After their short lifespan has concluded, low-quality...

George Santos: The Spectacle

George Santos: The Spectacle

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
January 24, 2024
Santos' blatant displays of greed and deception are overshadowed.
Grateful for Discounts

Grateful for Discounts

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
December 12, 2023
After being thankful for what you have, don't forget to shop early for those holiday deals!
With four seconds left in his 40-second speech, senior Josh Burgos makes his final statements to confirm his place inside of Communications teacher Henry Evans’ Popeyes apocalypse bunker. Before presenting their speeches, students had challenged each other to earn extra points. “Honestly, I was pretty confident going into it because in order to get our extra ums and uhs, we had to do an arm wrestling challenge and you already know I [beat] everyone in that challenge,” Burgos said. “It helps us build our speech skills without using any filler words. I need to get more consistent with it and nail it down and keep that same level of performance that I’ve gotten myself to.”

An Hour In … Com 101

Gray Barranco and Arcade Encarnacion
December 5, 2023
As a challenge, COM 101 students are asked to give a short speech without using any filler words.
Formula 1 Takeover

Formula 1 Takeover

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
November 30, 2023
In wake of the F1 races, many locals were concerned with the increase of traffic, the uprooting of trees, and the blocking of walkways.
Ramaswamy VS Young American Citizens

Ramaswamy VS Young American Citizens

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
November 6, 2023
Ramaswamy's proposal to increase the voting age fails to acknowledge citizens under 25 years old who pay taxes or are unable to join the military service due to mental/physical disabilities.
Playboi Carti’s label, Opium, released in 2019. It is composed of rap duo Homixide Gang, and rappers Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely.

[Photo] IS PLAYBOI CARTI’S REIGN OVER?

Ayma Malik, Editor in Chief
October 9, 2023

Playboi Carti’s label, Opium, released in 2019. It is composed of rap duo Homixide Gang, and rappers Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely.

Books disappearing off the shelves for youth

Books disappearing off the shelves for youth

Arcade Encarnacion, Editorial Cartoonist
October 3, 2023
Taking away and banning books from the youth impedes on the potential of learning experiences from controversial material and exposure to hard topics. You can't shelter your children from the world forever.
Hot Property Values in Your Area

Hot Property Values in Your Area

Arcade Encarnacion, Editorial Cartoonist
September 18, 2023
Many Maui residents are disgusted and shocked by the insensitivity from out of state realtors and developers, as they take the opportunity to purchase their land.
Sleepy Joe Sleeping On Climate Change

Sleepy Joe Sleeping On Climate Change

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
April 5, 2023
Biden’s promises on carbon emission reduction and fighting the environmental crisis gave hope for a better future for our planet. The Willow project, which will allow oil drilling Alaska, shows otherwise.
The Danger of Feminist M&M’s

The Danger of Feminist M&M’s

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
February 16, 2023
The Daily Mail’s arcticle on M&Ms “woke female-only special edition candy” is raising many eyebrows.
Ai Art is Amateur

Ai Art is Amateur

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
January 25, 2023
With the recent popularity of AI art on TikTok, many people think it will replace real artists in the future.
Facing public backlash and bankruptcy, Twitter’s new management may have gone too far to keep their vision of the platform alive.

[Photo] Elon’s Twitter Acquisition Is Not What We Were Promised

Ethan Bull, Staff Writer
January 27, 2023

Facing public backlash and bankruptcy, Twitter’s new management may have gone too far to keep their vision of the platform alive.

Qatar Is Crushing It

Qatar Is Crushing It

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
December 12, 2022
Though Qatar promoted fair working conditions, they shoved their workers into labor camps and took their passports.
Swifties Do Not Accept Defeat

Swifties Do Not Accept Defeat

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
November 13, 2022
The Swifties are at it again ever since Taylor’s new album, Midnight, and the new tour dates were released. It's surprising that the cell towers haven't overloaded this past month.
BTS: Light It Up Tour

BTS: Light It Up Tour

Arcade Encarnacion, Cartoonist
November 2, 2022
BTS, the international K-Pop sensation, is temporarily disbanding to serve their mandatory military service for two years.
Sanity Testing

Sanity Testing

Arcade Encarnacion, Comic Artist
October 19, 2022
Whenever state testing rolls around, you can faintly hear the internal screams of millions of students across the country. Why is it that the fate of their future rests on them at such a young age?
Despite calling women lazy, Tate has multiple housekeepers and maids that clean and perform basic tasks for him.

[Photo] COMMON TATE L

October 10, 2022

Despite calling women lazy, Tate has multiple housekeepers and maids that clean and perform basic tasks for him.

Despite calling women lazy, Tate has multiple housekeepers and maids that clean and perform basic tasks for him.

[Photo] COMMON TATE L

Ayma Malik, Opinion, A&E Editor
October 10, 2022

Scientific Mermaids

Scientific Mermaids

Arcadia Encarnacion, Cartoonist
October 10, 2022
Many people have criticized the new "Little Mermaid" for not being "realistic" because of the color of the main actresses' skin.
TrumpCore 2022

TrumpCore 2022

Arcade Encarnacion
September 14, 2022
The hypocrisy of politicians is baffling.
Anatomy of an Average Vegas Kid

Anatomy of an Average Vegas Kid

Arcadia Encarnacion
April 11, 2022
Suburban life in Vegas may seem like every other suburbs, but there are some hallmarks of being a kid here.
A Day In Life With…

A Day In Life With…

Arcadia Encarnacion
March 24, 2022
Students who come from low-income households tend to focus on taking care of their siblings or finding their next meal, rather than academics.
Shark Cuban vs. Big Pharma

Shark Cuban vs. Big Pharma

Arcadia Encarnacion
March 7, 2022
Mark Cuban (investor and personality on Shark Tank) has founded a drug company that cuts the prices of basic OTC drugs, making them available for a wider range of people.
PODCAST: Normal People Scare Me

PODCAST: Normal People Scare Me

Arcadia Encarnacion and Gray Barranco
February 21, 2022
Labels often lead to stereotypes, we talk about how emos don’t always follow the cliché.
A Valentine Of My Own

A Valentine Of My Own

Arcadia Encarnacion
February 14, 2022
Valentine’s Day is the day when we celebrate love. Though giving flowers and exchanging chocolate or cards to loved ones is nice, treating yourself and showing yourself love is even better.
Live Music, No Money

Live Music, No Money

Arcadia Encarnacion
February 11, 2022
Despite having opportunities to go to different venues and concerts, Vegas locals can’t lavishly spend as much as tourists do.
Action Movie IRL?

Action Movie IRL?

Arcadia Encarnacion
January 24, 2022
Seeing the capitol riot on the news felt so out of place. How could something totally outrageous be real? The event itself was completely bizarre, and on the one-year anniversary, still is.
Words Fail

Words Fail

Arcadia Encarnacion
December 10, 2021
Coding is difficult sometimes.
Eve of December 1

Eve of December 1

Arcadia Encarnacion
December 10, 2021
Christmas is "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," right?
When Group Work Doesnt Work

When Group Work Doesn’t Work

Arcadia Encarnacion
November 4, 2021
Group work can be frustrating when the person who did the least amount of work is the most critical of it.
Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin Carving

Arcadia Encarnacion
October 28, 2021
Halloween's approaching and what better way to celebrate than carving pumpkins?
Homecoming to the Office

Homecoming to the Office

Arcadia Encarnacion
October 23, 2021
Bringing pride flags is bad enough for someone to get RPC'd and even expelled. During another Nevada high school's homecoming, a student brought out a pride flag and made a speech after being selected for homecoming royalty. They were then taken to the office for "campus disturbance".
Animation I students are designing their own flip books. Students have creative freedom to do what they want, but they may face a few problems.  There are some students that are a little less comfortable with drawing, so theyre gonna have a little bit more of a struggle and try to get hung up on it not being perfect, but perfection is not what youre going for, Animation teacher Monte Carman said. Photo Credit: Arcadia Encarnacion

Animation I students dive into their creative drawing skills

Arcadia Encarnacion
September 29, 2021
Students in Animation 1 put their skills to the test to make their own flip books.
Breaking the Ice

Breaking the Ice

Arcadia Encarnacion
September 28, 2021
During the first day of school, the same four to five questions are asked as “ice breakers.”