Monthly Archives: December 2020

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!

Science/Nature

Oceanic exploration 

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By: Grace Helmke

The ocean is a great mystery. It is the alien world that exists on earth. It houses life so captivating we can’t help but stare at its beauty in awe and fear. Although this great expanse of saltwater accounts for most of our earth, we don’t know a lot about it. The deepest depths of the ocean, where unusual and interesting life resides, remains largely unexplored. However, the few that have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of oceanic discovery, have explored some of the most interesting places on our earth, and have discovered some of the most frightening and enlightening things.  

What is ocean exploration?

Ocean exploration is a process that focuses on discovery. It is the observation and recordation of new species or geological features within these bodies of water. It is not random wandering in hopes of finding the kraken. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ocean exploration “Is disciplined and organized and includes rigorous observations and documentation of biological, chemical, physiological, geological, and archaeological aspects of the ocean.”

Most of the ocean and its species residing on the continental shelf (the area in the ocean that is shallow, but still submerged), have been discovered, so most of the ocean exploration that goes on today revolves around the deep ocean. 

Current Exploration Missions

The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) currently have a few missions in place.

The first is the E/V Nautilus field season. Professionals will pilot the Nautilus (an exploration vessel) to explore the coast of North America – starting at the west coast of British Columbia, and moving to California.

Another mission in place is the “Bioprospecting for Industrial Enzymes and Drug Compounds in an Ancient Submarine Forest.” Scientists working for the NOAA are hoping to discover new compounds, found within this forest, that will be used for medicine and biotechnology.

Of course, there are many more missions going on around the world, but these are the most significant projects that are funded by the United States. 

What are some of the most interesting things that have been discovered in the ocean?  

1. Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence is the production of light by an organism. There are examples of this throughout all depths of the ocean, but the most common place that bioluminescent organisms reside, is the deep sea. Because the depth, where so many organisms live is completely pitch black, it has been discovered that light is a form of communication between deep sea dwelling organisms.

According to ‘Smithsonian,’ bioluminescence may be the most common form of communication on the planet because of the fact that there is such an abundance of life in the deepest regions of the world. 

2. Deep sea gigantism

Organisms in the deep sea have an inexplicable tendency to grow WAY larger than their family members on the continental shelf, or in the more shallow areas. Of course, there are some animals that reside in the deeps that are of regular size, but there is a large portion that has evolved to become incredible monsters of the deep.

The Oarfish is a great example of this. Their relatives, the ribbon fish, reside in shallow areas, and can reach about 18 inches. However, Oarfish reside in the deep depths of the ocean, and can reach over 50 feet.

Another example of deep sea gigantism is the giant squid, the largest invertebrate on earth. They can reach over 33 ft, and weigh over 440 pounds. This is comparable to squid of the shallows that only grow to about 2 ft. 

3. The Mariana Trench 

An underwater trench containing a pit, that has now been declared the deepest part of the ocean, and subsequently the lowest point on earth, has been discovered in the Pacific Ocean east of the Mariana Islands.

The trench itself is crescent shaped and stretches 1,584 miles on the ocean floor. The pit has been named Challenger deep, and sinks to a depth of 35,800 ft below the surface. 

4. The Immortal Jellyfish 

Only one organism has ever been discovered to have the ability to live forever. That is the Turritopsis Dohrnii, a jellyfish originating in the Carribean and Mediteranian seas. When threatened, they are able to revert back to their juvenile form and start the process of growth all over again.

Essentially, they age in reverse.

Because this is the first of its kind on earth, scientists have speculated that they hold secrets that may provide incredible insight in the medical field. Some even believe we may learn the secret to immortality, however, that speculation is not backed up by any scientific evidence, so it’s likely untrue.  

Our planet is home to some amazing creatures and features, most of which reside in the most foreign place on earth: the oceans. Countless individuals have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of discovery within these bodies of water. It is their mission to understand the mystery that is our oceans, and discover what has yet to be unearthed.

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Music/Concerts

Top rappers heading into 2021‼

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By: Khadar Greer

10. Megan Pete aka Megan Thee Stallion: Born in 1995, from Houston Texas.

She has been doing great in the rap industry going back, to back, to back, on the charts multiple times this year, including the Billboard Top 200, with the song “Savage, WAP” going number 1.

She’s had a lot more songs, and she’s having a fantastic year so far with the amount of views she’s having on YouTube, averaging 30 mil every month, or more.

9. Tione Merritt aka Lil TJay: Is only 18, but is reaching the charts and working with great rappers such as: Polo G Pop Smoke, A Boogie with da Hoodie, and many more artists.

He has been doing fabulous on the charts with songs “FN, Brothers,” and more fire songs. The craziest thing is, he’s come from a rough environment, coming from Brooklyn, New York.

8. Herbert Wright III aka G Herbo: The 25-year-old came from the South Side of Chicago and had an album called ‘PTSD’ that ended up on the charts at #15.

7. Dayvon aka King Von Bennett: The 26-year-old came from the most dangerous place in Chicago called “OBLOCK” and has only been rapping for 2 years. He has 2 albums that were platinum, but was sadly was killed November 6th. He had a really bright future.

6. Jonathan Kirk aka Dababy: A 28-year-old from North Carolina.

He is best known for his successful debut studio album ‘Baby on Baby.’ In 2020, he went 3-for-3 on the Billboard Top 100.

5. Derrick Banks aka Lil Durk: The 28-year-old grew up in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago’s South Side.

The rapper/singer started issuing mixtapes through his collective OTF (Only the Family), and then suddenly became a hit maker. “Laugh now cry later,” “All love,” and much more. Can’t wait for more songs.

4. Dominique Jones Lil Baby: The 25-year-old was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

He rose to attention and acclaim in 2017. He is known for the albums: ‘My turn,’ ‘Harder than Ever,’ and most importantly, ‘Drip Harder’.

3. Symere Woods aka Lil Uzi Vert: The 26-year-old was born in North Philadelphia.

He is best known for his albums ‘Eternal Atake,’ ‘Lil Uzi Versus the World,’ and ‘Lil Uzi Versus the World Two’ with a tribute to the late great Kobe Bryant on that album.

2. Taurus Bartlett aka Polo: The 21-year-old was born on the North Side of Chicago.

His earliest songs appeared online in 2017, but it wasn’t until his first hot song, “Finer Things” that the rapper began to really go superstar status. The albums, ‘The Goat’ and ‘Die A Legend’ were huge successes.

1. Kentrell Gaulden aka NBA Youngboy: He was born in 1999 and grew up in the toughest city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In 2016, his first hit song ‘Outside Today’ went viral, and he instantly became a superstar with having 5 albums hit Billboard’s Top 100 in 1 year.

Can’t wait for more fire music!

Science/Nature

Magnetar formed a dying star

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By Olivia Kendle

Magnetars are neutron stars that form into magnetars themselves. Neutron stars are created when a huge star emits nuclear fuel and explodes, which is then a supernova. The outside layers are released and the very dense core is left which is called the neutron star.

Most cores measure around 14 miles across but weigh more than the Sun because of its density. 90% of the time, those neutron stars are what are called “pulsars,” which spin at a very high rate and shoot off jets of radiation. Only around 10% of those neutron stars turn into magnetars.

Magnetars are surrounded by magnetic fields that are way more stronger than Earth’s magnets,
and they are so magnetic that they could break away at the appropriate atomic level, to any traveler too close.

So far, there have been 29 magnetars discovered in the Milky Way.

Scientists and astronomers have found that magnetars are the main source of FRBs. These blasts of radio wave energy are shot out in less than a millisecond. Astronomers have been confused about magnetars producing FRBs for years, since 2007.

FRB stands for: Fast Radio Burst. Astronomers guess that the FRBs release the same amount of energy as the Sun does in 3 days. FRBs are a short radio pulse of length that is estimated to be a fraction of a millisecond, to a few milliseconds, fast. They are caused by a high-energy astrophysical process that is still a mystery to astronomers.

In April of 2020, astronomers detected, and discovered, with several media telescopes, a magnetar releasing FRBs by the center of the Milky Way. The magnetar was named SGR 1935+2154.

Some FRB rays were too far away from the Milky Way to find the FRB source, but this magnetar was close enough that astronomers were able to track its activity.

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Movies/TV/Theaters

A review of ‘Brothers’

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By: Hayden Fitzsimons

‘Brothers’ is a 2009 film, by Jim Sheridan, starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman. ‘Brothers,’ as one may suspect, is a film about brothers Sam and Tommy played by Maguire and Gyllenhaal respectively. Sam is a respected marine returning to duty, whereas Tommy was just released from prison after serving for a robbery. In Sam’s absence, Tommy steps in to take care of Sam’s wife Grace, played by Natalie Portman, as well as their two daughters.

The film follows the arcs of all three characters, as both Tommy and Sam change drastically over the course of the film, almost in polar opposite directions.

Sam’s helicopter crashes whilst in Afghanistan, and he is presumed dead. This causes great unrest within the family, greater than there already was. However, Sam survives and is captured by the enemy.

Sam goes through severe hardships while captured, and it changes him nearly completely.

Meanwhile, Tommy and Sam’s family are getting far closer, and everything seems to be going well despite their belief of Sam’s passing.

To go further would likely spoil the film, so I’ll simply state that from here, the emotional turmoil is heightened even further.

Simply put, ‘Brothers’ is deeply emotional, as it follows the cruel effects of war and also the difficulty of family. Nearly every character in this film has their own unique arc which develops them into something they largely weren’t at the start. This heartbreaking writing is one of the film’s strongpoints.

Out of anything in the movie, dialogue, and the way that it is delivered, shines above. For the most part, it’s much of what the film has to offer.

Gyllenhaal and Maguire both deliver far above expectations even if they are both already known for their tear-jerking performances. Both actors complement each other perfectly and are able to bring out the best in one another in addition to Portman’s excellent performance. These performances are awe-inspiring and are the main focus of the film. This leads to the film feeling very natural, realistic, and touching.

However, while the writing and performances are top notch the rest of the film lags behind. Cinematography, score, and most other elements of film, apart from the two previously mentioned, are incredibly bland and/or lacking. The thing is, most viewers will not have a large problem with this, and the film does well enough solely through the acting’s power. Due to this imbalance ‘Brothers’ delivers on its intentions, however it feels held back. It’s almost as if there was much more to this film that wasn’t fleshed out and was simply glossed over.

In all, ‘Brothers’ is quite the good film with some legendary performances and with a riveting and stirring story. ‘Brothers’ reaches the point it most likely intended and would leave most, including myself, both satisfied with the film and emotionally affected.

For those more acquainted with film, ‘Brothers’ has much of the same effect, but is slightly disappointing as it just barely misses out at being an incredible film and has to unfortunately suffice with being a really good film, which most filmmakers would be more than happy to achieve.

World

North Sentinel Island

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By: Jalalaisa Geleto

North Sentinel Island is an island off the south east coast of India. Even though it is close to India, the inhabitants of the island have been isolated from the outside world for 60,000 years.

They have been visited by multiple people in the modern era, but most attempts end in failure. The people of North Sentinel Island the “Sentinelese” hate foreigners and have attempted to kill any foreigners within their arrows range of the island.

Many times the Sentinelese succeed in killing those who visit them.

People believe the reason they are so violent towards foreigners is because of what happened the first time they contacted outsiders. In 1856, the British visited the island and kidnapped two Sentinelese. They decorated the Sentinelese with fancy clothing and gifted riches to them. They did this to convince the two Sentinelese to hand them over the island.

There were problems with this. The Sentinelese were extremely primitive and they don’t have immune systems that can deal with outside diseases. So, when the British returned to Sentinelese, they died immediately from disease. Ever since that first encounter, the Sentinelese seemed to have a burning hatred for all outsiders.

The Senetinelese are a mysterious people because of their xenophobia. We don’t know their language, culture, population, food supply. The little we do know is that they might have forgotten how to start fires. It seems like they wait for lightning to strike some wood, then they try to keep the flame going for as long as possible.

Their population is a mystery. There could be 20 – 400 Sentinelese on that island. They are a very rare special group of people so they are under the official protection of the Indian government.

A group of people who are from a distant past is quite remarkable and hopefully we can learn more about these strange and ancient peoples.

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Advice/How To

Tips for meditation

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By: Joxery Mezen Camacho

Meditation is one of many ways that people are able to relieve stress. Daily meditation helps lead to a clear and energized mind. So, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of meditating! 

Be open-minded.

When you go into meditation, it may take a while for you to find what works for you. There are different types of meditation, with different types of positioning, or sometimes even movements. Try to stick with what makes you comfortable. 

Be patient. 

One of the hardest things to do is to stay patient. It may take time for you to truly begin to feel as though you’re benefiting from meditation. This is normal, and expected, because you can’t always get everything perfect from the get go. 

Slowly ease into it.

In order to get the best out of your meditation session, try to slowly relax into it. This will raise relaxation and allow you to focus better as you meditate. You can try to relax into it by taking a few deep breaths to wind down your body. This will cause your body to feel safe, secure, and ready for meditation! 

Limit your movements.

As you are meditating, try not to move too much. Moving may be distracting and can take away from your experience. If it’s your position that is making you restless, you can try readjusting it and get comfortable. But make sure not to let your position become too much of a distraction! 

Acknowledge thoughts and feelings.

Meditating can help you get a good grasp on, and better understand, your thoughts and emotions. So, when you’re meditating you can acknowledge that you are having these thoughts and then try to bring your focus back to your breathing. 

Ease back into your day. 

At the end of your meditation, try to slowly get back to your day. Slowly begin with moving your fingers, toes, and then your hands and feet until you’re able to get up and move about. Easing back into your day will help you feel better throughout the day. 

Lacrosse

The face off position in lacrosse

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By: Jimmy Somerville

I’m here to tell you about the sport of lacrosse; specifically, the face off in lacrosse.

The face off is basically a battle for possession of the ball, where you and your opponent line up at the midline, and place your sticks on the line. The ball is then placed in between the heads of your sticks (the head is the part of your stick where you catch and throw so the end of it).

Once the ball is set, the ref gives the cadence of “down, set, whistle.” On the whistle, you and your opponent, as quickly as possible, attempt to clamp the ball – this means to push your stick (more specifically, the head of your stick) over the ball as fast as you can.

If you get the clamp, you then pop the ball out of your stick into your stick again. If you are able to do that successfully, that means you won the face off and you got possession of the ball for you and your team.

The face off happens at the beginning of every quarter, and after every goal, so it happens quite often.

Possession in lacrosse is relatively hard to get, so the face off is very important, as having possession leads to scoring goals.

I take the face offs for my lacrosse team and I FOGO (face off get off), which means that after the face off, I get off the field.

I enjoy these competitive 1 vs. 1s for the ball, as it’s a test of quickness, hand speed, athleticism and determination.

A FOGO is nowadays almost always a position on high school lacrosse teams, college lacrosse teams and pro teams. It is a very unique and interesting position that is also very fun and competitive. I hope to earn a scholarship for lacrosse being a FOGO.

National

How did Joe Biden win the 2020 election?

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By: Grace Blumer-Lamotte

According to the Associated Press, Joe Biden won the 2020 election on November 7th, 2020. Biden won the most electoral votes against Donald Trump. Biden ended up with 290 votes and Trump ended up with 232 votes. It was a head to head race against the two. Many people admitted to it being the most “anxiety-inducing” election because it was so closely matched.

The election was very close up until the last day when Biden took the lead. Biden didn’t win the most states but he won the most electoral votes, by 58 votes.

Biden had also flipped a couple of states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan. He stayed stable in Minnesota, Nevada, and New Hampshire. The states that he lost were Florida and Iowa. Trump won North Carolina, Alaska, and Texas. 

Everyone keeps asking the question, “How did Joe Biden win the 2020 election?”

He did it by constantly campaigning with his vice-president, Kamala Harris. Having a woman as a vice-president can either benefit you, or hurt you. In this case, many people liked having a woman, especially a woman of color, in a government leadership position.

Another advantage Biden had in the election was addressing people’s concern about certain topics. The topics that he addressed were climate change and the BLM movement. 

One of the biggest reasons that Joe Biden won was because he gained votes in metropolitan areas, mainly the suburbs. According to ‘The Guardian,’ “Of the 436 large metropolitan counties, 71% saw increased support for Biden in this election compared to 2016.” Biden has also made many gains in college-educated areas.