Monthly Archives: December 2020

Books/Art, National

The story behind the Utah Monolith

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By: Caden Ligman

On November 18th, the Utah Department of Public Safety was conducting a routine count of bighorn sheep when they came across the tall, metallic structure. They had no idea what, or where, this mysterious structure came from. Pilot Bret Hutchings, who was flying the plane that spotted the monolith structure said, “It felt like a scene right out of the Stanley Kubrick ‘2001: A Space Odyssey.'”

With so many questions floating in people’s heads, the biggest one was, why put a structure like this in a place so remote?

As soon as the monolith was reaching its peak of internet fame, it disappeared. The disappearance of the monolith was just as strange as the discovery. The disappearance occurred only nine days after it was discovered leaving civilians and the government questioning where this thing came from.

Not surprisingly, one of the most popular theories for why this monolith came and went so quickly was: aliens.

As strange as the monolith is, the idea of aliens is quite facilitating. This theory circled the internet, becoming a meme among social media users. Even the San Juan County Sheriff’s department poked fun at the ideas, posing on their Twitter a collage of aliens, captioned, “If you recognize anyone from this lineup provided as being in the area of the strange structure on the night of November 27, please let us know!”

While the idea of aliens is entertaining, a more realistic explanation for this monolith is that it was a piece of art. Many people believe the monolith to be the work of the minimalist sculptor, John McCracken. McCracken’s style of art matched the Utah Monolith perfectly.

The majority of people close to McCracken, however, do not believe that he would leave his work in a desert. His son, on the other hand, recalled a conversation he had with his father in an interview with the New York Times. He told reporters, “We were standing outside looking at the stars and he said something to the effect of that he would like to leave his artwork in remote places to be discovered later.”

There are many theories circling the internet of where this mysterious structure came from and why it vanished so quickly.

What was the purpose of this monolith? And why was it placed in the middle of the Utah desert? These questions are what has kept the internet buzzing. What do you think the real story behind the monolith is?

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Editorials/Student Voice

Are Christmas cards becoming less popular?

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By: Jimmy Somerville

I’m asking the question today, are Christmas cards becoming less popular? More specifically, the type of Christmas card I put an image of above, where you and your family select photos of your family together, and maybe some other pictures of the family children.

Some Christmas photos also give a quick explanation of said family, and most Christmas cards share the age of each of their children if they have any. Also, most family Christmas cards have a small phrase that usually goes with the Christmas theme such as the one above; “Simple Moments Bring Great Joy.” Christmas cards are also sent through the mail and arrive at your front door in envelopes usually.

As I’ve noticed through the last couple of years though, I feel like I haven’t seen as many Christmas cards around the house which, weirdly, greatly satisfied me; I enjoyed them. I liked reading and looking at them, and it’s funny because half the families I see, have no idea who they are. So, I’m basically just learning about new families that my parents know.

Now, to answer my question, are Christmas cards becoming less popular? I’d say yes, as you can already update your friends, on your life, on social media, and they can also update your families and other families on their lives on social media.

Christmas cards were used to update your old friends and family, as social media wasn’t always around. This was a good way to see your friends and family at least once every year. You get to see how big, how tall, how old, and how different your friends and family look by looking at the Christmas cards.

When you are following your friends on social media, you are already updated on their lives pretty much every day, so this sort of defeats the purpose of a Christmas card, but I think we should still use them for the tradition.

I couldn’t find any statistics of if Christmas cards were becoming less popular, but I did find an article, in the Chicago Tribune, asking the question “Are Christmas Cards a thing of the past?” It seems as if they were answering with “yes” to this question.

I say Christmas cards should still be just as popular as they always have, as I believe it is a great and fun tradition.

-Jimmy Somerville
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National

Charities on COVID frontiers

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By Olivia Kendle

Many charities and organizations are helping with gathering resources for the front line workers, while the government struggles to manage tests and keep COVID steady and at bay.

Donating important supplies, and helping people in need in these times, takes a lot of work off the government’s hands, so they can focus on the COVID and death rates and come up with a successful plan. Here are some of those companies.

  • The very iconic Red Cross, which helps with donation of blood made by volunteers from the area.
  • Oxfam America, which works to help give clean water and supplies to refugees or other vulnerable people.
  • A very important one, Doctors Without Borders, which helps countries that are affected the most by COVID. They establish safety and contamination controls which have helped over 70 countries over the world.
  • The World Health Organization, which helps people with COVID, and also tries to control its spread across the world.
  • And finally, Feeding America, which has made a fund in response to COVID-19 to provide food, for those in need, especially for children who relied on school for food.

There are many more charities and organizations that are also doing their part during this time but these are some of the larger and well-known ones.

There are also some stores that are helping people in need. For example, Walgreens is a very popular place that many people go to for help or supplies. Some others are: Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Target, and Kroger, which are only a few out of the many stores that provide time, especially for seniors.

Other small companies provide resources like masks, or food, or even medicine, and you are also available to donate to them. Some companies like, Perfect Strangers, donate medicine and foods, and even clothing brands, like Paradised, donate masks and protective medical supplies to hospitals or the community.

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Advice/How To, Travel/Food

5 teas that help with stress and anxiety

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By: Joxery Mezen Camacho

An easy way to relieve stress and anxiety is by drinking tea! Making tea is generally a simple thing to do, and the benefits from it can be astounding. So, here are 5 teas that will give you the most benefit when it comes to stress and anxiety.

Chamomile tea:

Chamomile tea is an herbal tea that has a caffeine-free version. This version allows the avoidance of rising anxiety levels. This tea is good for any time of the day. It helps raise serotonin (a hormone in the human body that helps stabilize your mood) and melatonin (a hormone in the human body that has effects that lead to reduction of anxiety) levels. 

Lemon balm tea:

This tea is made by a well-known calming herb that helps with stress and anxiety. It also contains a rosmarinic acid that helps with GABA (an amino acid in the brain that regulates nerve transmissions) receptors. This is all done while also helping by relaxing muscles and reducing headaches, muscle cramps, and helps the digestive system. 

Peppermint tea:

Peppermint tea is able to help your body and your mind relax. It helps by giving an energy boost that also causes you to feel calm. Along with this, it can help against stomach issues caused by stress, as well as headaches. This tea can be consumed hot or cold which makes it nice in the summertime.  

Lavender tea:

Lavender tea helps alleviate tension and stress by helping subdue tense muscles and nerves. This can also aid against muscle pain and annoying headaches. The tea also helps the digestive system by being anti-inflammatory. The scent itself is also popular when it comes to soothing stress and anxiety levels. 

Green tea:

This tea has many antioxidants (molecules that fight against free radicals), which helps avoid chain reactions that could harm the body, as well as the stress and anxiety induced feelings. It can also lead to better sleep and minimizing lack of energy or tiredness; this is all thanks to an amino acid called L-theanine. 

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Advice/How To

Local shopping

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By: Lizzy Woxland and Anna Hisle

With the holiday season now in full swing, it is the biggest shopping season of the year.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to give some attention to, and consider, shopping at small businesses this year. It’s no secret that COVID-19 has impacted our country’s small businesses drastically.

From trying to manage new COVID restrictions, to dealing with a lack of business throughout the pandemic, small businesses are in need of attention.

Whether you’re shopping in person or online, here is a list of some small businesses located in the Twin Cities.

I Like You

I Like You has store locations in both Minneapolis and St. Paul and showcases local artists. Collaborating with over 200 artists, I Like You has something for everyone. Their stores are currently open in person and online (https://i-like-you-minneapolis.myshopify.com/).

Minnesota Makers​ ​

If you like art, this is a great shop for you! Minnesota Makers has a couple of store locations, with one in Minneapolis and one in Excelsior. This business has art from over 120 Minnesota artists. They sell soaps, home decor, paintings, ceramics, and so much more. This shop has great gifts and such a variety, you can find something for everyone (https://minnesota-makers.square.site).

Minnesota Nice Gifts

The online shop, Minnesota Nice Gifts, makes themed gift boxes for all occasions. These boxes contain products created by local artisans including Minnesota Nice Spice. This business’s proceeds go to a local non-profit organization for artists with disabilities (https://www.nicegifts.shop).

Arlee Park

Arlee Park is a second hand store, located in Minneapolis, run by twin sisters Ashley and Jamie. Arlee is great for vintage and secondhand lovers. Secondhand shopping is not only better for the environment but also a great way to see a variety of things in one place. Arlee Park is open in person and online (https://arleepark.com/).

Electric Fetus
Electric Fetus is a record shop with two locations; one in Minneapolis and one in Duluth. Not only does this shop sell records but also unique gifts which are perfect for the holidays (https://electricfetus.com).

Awakenings

Awakenings is a gift and guidance store, located in South Minneapolis, and has a variety of gifts that can fit anyone’s wishes. Our personal favorites from their shop are their candles and crystals. Awakenings is now open both in person and online as well (https://www.awakeningsmn.com/).

Artscraps

If you’re looking to get crafty this year, Artscraps is the way to go. Artscraps is a non-profit arts organization that sells original art from local artists and sells reused art supplies. Not only is this store eco friendly, but it helps provide arts education for both adults and children. Artscraps is open both in person and online (https://www.artstart.org/).

Mother Plants

If you, or anyone you know, is looking to get more plants, this is the perfect store. Located in Minneapolis, this store has everything from plants to home accessories. You could find the perfect gift here. This plant shop has cacti, large plants, as well as tropical plants. The plants located here are brought in by collectors and growers from the Twin Cities. Not only are there plants, but there is a large variety of pots, and sustainable accessories, and home goods (https://mother-plants.com/plants).

Mischief

Mischief is a toy store for all ages and all types of people. With cool games, candy, drinks, toys, books, crafts, accessories, and other random finds, Mischief is a store for everyone. Our favorite things from Mischief are their super cool pins and their selection of Japanese candy and drinks. A very quirky store with lots of good finds. We are sure you can find a great gift for anyone (http://www.mischieftoy.com/).

Now that you know about all these small businesses and shops, go check them out! You can find the perfect gift for anyone from any of these shops.

Stay safe and warm during this holiday season.

National

Biden-Harris hires all-female senior communications team.

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President-elect Joe Biden, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, have announced who will fill the top communication jobs at the White House, and they are all qualified women. An all-female White House communications team would break the barriers and mark the first time that women will hold top communications jobs at the White House. 

Kate Bedingfield, who recently just served as deputy campaign manager for Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, and who also served as his communications director when he was Vice President, will take over the job as the White House Communications Director.

Jen Psaki, who took on several senior roles during the Obama-Biden Administration, and who also spoke for the Department of State, will serve as President Biden’s White House Press Secretary.

Jean Psaki will serve alongside Karine Jean Pierre, who will serve as the principal deputy press secretary. Karine Jean-Pierre was a senior adviser to Joe Biden, and chief of staff to Harris during their presidential campaign. She will also be the first Black, and gay, person to take on this role. 

Symone Sanders, who recently served as a senior adviser to the Biden-Harris campaign, will be getting the job as the senior adviser, and chief spokesperson, to the Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. 

Ashley Etienne will get the job as communications director, and senior adviser to the Vice President. She will be the first woman of color to get this role.

Biden is soon expected to nominate Neera Tanden, whose parents immigrated from India, to serve as the chief executive of the left-leaning Center for American Progress. Giving her this role would make her the first woman of color to supervise the agency.

Cecilia Rouse will serve as chair of the three-member Council of Economic Advisers. Rouse will be the first African American to take on this role.

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Science/Nature

The journey of humankind

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By: Irene Cohen and Ellie Mulvaney

Since the beginning of the earth, from the first single celled organisms to modern species, evolution has developed life as we know it. We see variance in this evolution all around us in the diverse animals that span our environment (for example, the genus canis includes the species: wolfs, dogs, jackals, and coyotes).

With many examples in nature such as this, a frequent question refers to whether or not modern day humans (genus homo) have separate species. Race, though sometimes believed to be, is not a difference in species. Humans everywhere are Homo sapiens, no matter the slight phenotypical differences between them.

To understand this, we have to go back in time to the earliest humans. According to Britannica, ape-like species, around 16-5.3 million years ago (also known as the Middle and Late Miocene Epoch), lead to the first humans. Based on genetic information, scientists are confident that, more specifically, they existed in the later years (11.6-5.3 million years ago).

These primates from Eurasia and Africa are assumed to have become the first Hominins, or the beginnings of human lineage, in the Pliocene Epoch. Among the species that were developed in that era, Graecopithecus, prevailed as ancestral to the following: Australopithecus, Parenthropus, and Homo of the human lineage, while some additionally believe that great apes such as Pan (chimpanzees and bonobos) and Gorilla also came from the species Graecopithecus.

The catalyst for the aforementioned Hominins, was the climatic changes in the Miocene Epoch, as told by BBC.. Forests were replaced by open plains and prairies, which benefited terrestrial life. This meant walking creatures had advantages over terrestrial, or tree-living, creatures, which was a defining factor in the development of bipedalism (the trait of walking on two feet).

Bipedalism is a defining feature of humankind, and though it is not exclusive to humans, we are the only mammalian bipeds to solely use it, while others combine jumping and waddling. Humans advanced further and further into this bipedalism to survive, being able to run away from predators and quickly find food.

As reported by Nature.com, the species Homo sapien, as we now know it, evolved in Africa 315,000 years ago. At the time, Homo sapiens lived alongside Neanderthals and Denisovans (both of which were branches of humanity that are now extinct), and also occasionally interbred, resulting in Neanderthal DNA in most humans excluding those originating from Africa.

The fossils of this species have been found in Europe and West Asia, while the less common Denisovan fossils have been found in Eastern Asia, just 12 years ago.

Neanderthals were defined by their large noses and prominent brow ridges. In stature, they were short and stocky, and had a long, low skull. Overall, they were more compressed and ape-like than humans today, weighing in at anywhere between 64-82kg. They had large front teeth for tough food, and a weak chin, alongside a wide nose, which is theorized to have helped internally warm and moisten the air in their colder environment.

While there is not enough fossil evidence to recreate the appearance of Denisovans, the genetics that we have received lead many scientists to agree on some key features. They may have had a wider jaw and skull, and are theorized to have large molar teeth. This was concluded from a Denisovan jaw bone that was found sporting a high dental arch that suggested the adaptation.

These species went extinct through a pure example of survival of the fittest. Natural selection ran its course as population increased, and, consequently, so did competition.

As mentioned above, climate conditions changed and food became more scarce, leading to a higher death rate. By chance, the random variation that made homosapiens unique, were well suited to these changes and they survived over their counterparts.

Overall, humans did once have multiple species, but one has reigned successfully to become the sole remaining Homo sapiens.

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Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Supernatural’ finally made Destiel canon

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By: Teah Henry

Spoilers for ‘Supernatural’ below! 

On November 5th, the internet exploded. The election was happening, there were rumors Putin was resigning, and Destiel was confirmed canon. 

Destiel is the ship between the characters Dean and Castiel from the show ‘Supernatural’. Castiel was introduced as the angel that brought Dean out of Hell in season four. He was only supposed to be in a few episodes, but he quickly became a fan favorite and ended up sticking around until the show’s final fifteenth season. 

The reason the ship becoming canon is such a big deal is because ‘Supernatural’ has been notorious for queerbaiting. Queerbaiting is when a piece of media, usually T.V. shows, hint at their characters being LGBT+ without ever planning to make it explicitly clear whether they are or not. This is to attract queer audiences while also not upsetting more conservative fans.

Queerbaiting is not a good practice. It treats the LGBT+ community more as a spectacle than actual people who do exist, and it’s a pretty cruel trick to play on a community that rarely gets representation. 

‘Supernatural’ has been accused of queerbaiting due to their hinting at Dean being bisexual, and that him and Castiel have unresolved romantic feelings for each other. The hints are just enough so some viewers will pick up on it while others might not, and the fans that did pick up on it have been wanting ‘Supernatural’ to have their characters be openly queer so there’s more representation on screen. 

‘Supernatural’ has been losing fans throughout the years (mostly due to its long run and increasingly bad writing). A lot of previous fans had moved on by 2020, and gave up on the show making Dean bisexual or Destiel canon. Even Tumblr, which was known for being mostly used by fans of ‘Supernatural’, became less focused on the show and users moved on. 

However, on November 5th, the second to last episode of ‘Supernatural’ aired, and Castiel confessed to Dean that he loved him.

The internet went crazy.

Destiel was trending on Twitter, and Tumblr became full of Destiel posts. Many users joked that their dashboard was only posts about ‘Supernatural’.

Not only that, but after Castiel confessed, he was dragged to The Empty, deemed by fans as Mega Hell, which is where angels go when they die. Many people saw the homophobic implications of being sent to Hell after having a gay love confession. There was a small line in the finale that Castiel was dragged out of The Empty, and made it to Heaven, but we never see him again. 

Anyway, I don’t think we should praise this show for finally going through with their years of queerbaiting. The confession wasn’t even enough, many fans denied it was a love confession and claimed it was platonic.

Not only that, but Castiel doesn’t show up again for the last two episodes. Dean doesn’t even talk about him. He confesses his gay love, gets dragged to Hell, and then we never even hear Dean’s feelings on it. It’s not a victory for queer representation. 

Despite that, it was fun to be on the internet and witness all the reactions to Destiel becoming canon. I think ‘Supernatural’ has left a big footprint in internet history, and rests as a good example of what not to do with queer characters. 

COVID-19, National

When will the U.S. open back up after COVID-19?

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By: Aisha Dirie

Throughout the pandemic there have been many different restrictions, in many different states. These restrictions have been going on since mid-March, when the pandemic first hit.

There are a lot of questions surrounding when certain countries, specifically the U.S., will open back up. This isn’t very clear since the U.S. is spiking in COVID-19 cases as of now. But, many states are implementing stricter mandates.

Although we do not know when the U.S. will open back up officially after COVID-19,  there is a way we can predict around what time the country will open back up. 

According to the New York Times, there are eight states that don’t have a mandatory mask law. Among these eight states, Idaho, Georgia, and Wyoming don’t have mandatory mask mandate as of early December.

Also by the New York Times, 2 out of 50 states have a stay-at-home order or curfew. These two states are California and Ohio.

There are also states being monitored to see if they need to go into lockdown. Even before Thanksgiving break, there were cases of spiking all around the country. In the weeks following Thanksgiving there is expected to be an increase in cases again. This is because of holiday traveling.

There are many clinical trials being done, as stated by the CDC, for a vaccine. Late in November, the CDC put out an article talking about the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. We know that we are close, or somewhat close, to the development of an effective vaccine to treat and prevent COVID-19. Late in December is the earliest a vaccine could be widely distributed. There are countless sources about when a vaccine should be out.

Although it’ll be a big breakthrough for developing a COVID-19, the vaccine has to be widely distributed. The vaccines will probably go to the people most at risk, i.e. healthcare workers and the elderly, first. 

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Advice/How To

The most effective way to clean your bedroom

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By: Olivia Knafla

A common issue with distance learning that I’ve noticed, in both my life and the lives of others, is having a messy room. You would think that since we spend so much time in our rooms now that they would be cleaner, but sometimes the opposite seems to be true.

I believe that having a clean space to work, and think, is a great first step to making distance learning, and homework in general, a bit easier. So, in this article I will be sharing the ways that I have found to be the quickest, and most effective, when it comes to cleaning up my room.

1. Make your bed. Considering your bed is often the focal point of your room, making sure that it looks neat and orderly makes all the difference. Start by taking off your sheets and blankets (and washing them if necessary) and then put them back on in a way that looks organized. After that, add your pillows, or whatever else you like to put on your bed, and your room already looks ten times better.

2. Pick up clothes from off the floor or other surfaces. I can’t speak for everybody, but I know that when my room gets messy, more often than not, there’re clothes all over the floor. If you can relate to that, start by picking up the clothes that you know are dirty and putting them in some sort of pile or bin. When you have enough, you can wash them (and if not, you can at least have them separate from your clean clothes).

After you have picked up your dirty clothes, take your clean clothes and hang them up or fold them (depending on how you organize your clothes). Once your clothes are all put away, you’re ready for the next step.

3. Get rid of food or drinks. If you have snack bags, plates, water bottles, or any other related items piling up in your room, this step is essential. Depending on what you actually have to put away, take care of it appropriately. For example, take old plates and cups to the dishwasher or sink, and take snack bags or leftover foods to either be thrown away or put back in their place.

4. Clean up trash. For all the food wrappers, old papers, napkins, and other disposable items in your room, get yourself a plastic bag, or a garbage bag, and get to work. If you have recyclables in your room as well, separate them from the trash and dispose of them as you normally would once you have collected all of it.

However, don’t get rid of that trash bag just yet. I’ve found that keeping it until you’re sure you’re finished cleaning your room helps avoid extra trips to your nearest trashcan, which means you can clean much more efficiently.

5. Put back misplaced items. Do you have school supplies all over your desk? Do you have random items from around your room scattered across your floor? If that’s the case, now’s the time to put them back in their spots.

Personally, I like to go around my room in quadrants, focusing on one section at a time so that I know everything is cleaned thoroughly. I also find it’s easier for me to focus on one section as opposed to an entire room.

6. Vacuum or sweep the floor. By now you should have your floor cleared enough to be able to clean it, and that’s exactly what you’re going to do. Of course, the way in which you do this will probably differ depending on if you have a hard floors versus carpet, but the idea still remains the same.

Even after picking up and putting away the bigger things, little crumbs or tiny pieces of trash are easy to miss, and on top of that, hard to pick up with your hands. It’s crazy how much of a difference this seemingly little step can make, but I promise that it can make worlds of difference.

7. Wipe down surfaces. You’ve reached the final step! Yay! To finish everything off, take a wet paper towel, or some sort of disinfectant wipe, to clean off the surfaces in your room. This step is especially important in the midst of the pandemic, so make sure that you’re disinfecting your room as regularly as you can manage.

If you want to take it a step further, you could always dust or clean your windows to make your room look that much better. Once you’re satisfied, sit in your room and admire your hard work! Maybe grab a snack or drink some water! You earned it.

This has been my complete guide on cleaning your room quickly and efficiently Of course, everybody’s room or living space is different, but I feel like this is a decent baseline when it comes to organizing your life. Now, go clean get your room cleaned!