All posts by HPSH Plaid Line

Science/Nature

Environmental taxes and their effects on air pollution

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By: Abdihakim Mohamoud

Environmental taxes, also known as carbon taxes, are fees companies are charged for every ton of emissions they produce in hopes of lowering emissions. The first country to implement these taxes was Sweden in 1991, and they have been very successful in doing so.

After countless studies and investigations about the impacts of environmental taxes, data shows that environmental taxes have positive effects on reducing emissions among companies. Research from Sciencedirect.com stated that sulfur dioxide, dust, and nitrogen oxide were significantly reduced from fossil fueled power plants when the environmental taxes policy was implemented.

After China implemented the Environmental Protection Tax law a few years ago, research began estimating the effects of environmental taxes and air pollution in China’s provinces. Compared to the pollution discharge fee policy (which was the previous law in place), pollutants decreased by 4.8 tons after the new policy was introduced.

While having a positive effect on city-level pollutants, environmental taxes were proven to have limited effects on larger, state-owned coal power plants. While the implementation of them may be beneficial for local firms, it is recommended that local governments seek other measures.

The main reason for environmental taxes being controversial is that individuals against them claim they would hurt countries GDPs. Although the tax would come back to consumers in the form of lower income taxes or a reimbursement check, others argue it would benefit bigger businesses rather than lower to middle class people.

In the end, multiple data statistics show environmental taxes having positive effects on a global scale. However, heated debates and controversy about what to do with tax revenues are still prominent. This leaves us with some questions—Should environmental taxes go back to the consumer? Or should it help us progress towards a bigger economy? These questions are yours to ponder upon.

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Science/Nature

Turner syndrome

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By: Ava Bleifuss

What is Turner syndrome?

Turner syndrome is a genetic condition that only affects females. According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, over 70,000 women and girls in the United States have Turner syndrome, which is about 1 in 2,500 female live births.

How does someone get Turner Syndrome?

Turner Syndrome occurs when one or part of an X chromosome is missing. An X chromosome could be missing from all, or only some, of a female’s cells. In a normal situation, a female child receives one X chromosome from the mother and one X chromosome from the father, meaning she would have all of the genes needed. However, since people with Turner Syndrome are missing part, or all, of the X chromosome, some of their genes are missing. Usually after finding a chromosomal error the body would not allow that cell to continue in the process, but in very rare situations somehow the cell does continue and eventually leads to Turner Syndrome. 

What are the symptoms of Turner syndrome?

The majority of babies with this syndrome are lost to miscarriages or still births. However, some babies with Turner Syndrome do survive. For them, the symptoms of Turner Syndrome are physical features revolving around development, because some of the genes are missing from the DNA, which is the genetic makeup of humans. People with this have slowed growth as well as developmental problems. Studies have often shown that people with Turner Syndrome have heart problems or if they don’t, have higher risk of heart disease. 

What is the history of Turner Syndrome? 

Turner Syndrome was first discovered by Dr. Henry Turner who was a physician based in Oklahoma. Turner was a pioneer endocrinologist who spent his whole life studying endocrinology. It was first described in 1938 in his manuscripts, but the cause was not identified until 1959. He presented his observations describing seven patients with the same developmental and physical features. These symptoms had never been reported before. Turner later wrote over 30 publications discussing Turner Syndrome. 

What is the treatment for Turner Syndrome?

While there is no cure for Turner Syndrome yet, there are ways to help control the symptoms. Turner Syndrome affects a lot of the body’s growth. Most of the treatments are there to help make up for what was lost. Common things to use as treatment are growth hormones to help with height, and estrogen therapy which helps with starting puberty. Surgeries and medications are also common treatments for Turner Syndrome, but only when needed or a problem occurs. 

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Editorials/Student Voice

Why I think the death penalty shouldn’t be abolished

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By: Abdirahman Ege

I believe that the death penalty should not be abolished worldwide because some people just deserve it.

The death penalty is completely justified if someone commits a crime like murder, however, I believe that if someone does a little crime such as robbery, I believe prison time is reasonable.

The death penalty can ensure that justice is being served.

The death penalty can also be tricky because some people could be completely innocent but still face the death penalty. Since 1973, 186 death row prisoners have been wrongfully convicted which put them on death row in the United States.

According to deathpenaltyinfo.org, Carlos DeLuna was convicted in 1983, and was executed in 1989. A ‘Chicago Tribune’ investigation released evidence in 2006, that Texas may have executed an innocent man. The evidence that the ‘Chicago Tribune’ released pointed towards another man, Carlos Hernandez.

This is why I think there should be increased measures to regulate and restrict the sentencing of the death penalty. The decision should be made on hard concrete evidence and a confession.

The death penalty can also act as a sense of fear into potential criminals. They might not want to do the crime after they know they can receive the death penalty for their actions.

Some people argue that giving the death penalty as a punishment, isn’t a punishment at all, but instead, it is giving them a sense of escape with no time to reflect. Since I’m a person of religion, I believe that they will not escape, but will also pay in the afterlife.

Getting To Know/History

What is genetic counseling?

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By: Grace Blumer-Lamotte

According to JACC Journals, genetics counseling is “The process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease.”

The mode and risk of inheritance is clinically assessed with the family history. Some diseases may be genetic while others are not. According to JACC Journals, “Establishing the mode of inheritance identifies relatives who are at risk of disease development. Most CMPs are typically inherited as an autosomal dominant trait as a result of a single gene defect capable of causing the trait (i.e., monogenic origin). Thus, there is a 50% risk for first-degree relatives to be affected by the same condition.”

Genetic counselors help by identifying families that could be at a possible risk of a genetic condition. They provide a space for families to understand and analyze family history/inheritance patterns. They also assist with making the hard decisions. 

If you are interested in becoming a genetic counselor out of high school, you have to complete an accredited master’s program in genetic counseling. You also need to have a masters degree in genetic counseling. According to FNU, “To earn a master’s degree you usually need to complete from 36 to 54-semester credits of study (or 60 to 90 quarter-credits). This equals 12 to 18 college courses. Students typically spend between two and three years studying to earn a master’s degree, but it is possible to earn some degrees in just one year.” The master degree’s program is definitely harder than getting an undergraduate degree. 

There are also many influencers that have gone through genetic counseling. They may not openly share their experiences with their followers but some promote it. A certified Genetic Counselor that’s on Instagram @ dena.dna. I have explored her page a bit and it is very educational and purpose filled. Dena DNA has 2,720 followers. Another person that has gone through genetic counseling is a person on Snapchat. Their Snapchat is called, ‘Born Different’. They have 6.50 million followers.

One thing I learned from the dena.dna Instagram page is answers to commonly asked questions. Such as, “When should I start colon cancer screening?”. This is answered in her most recent post. There are also a lot more posts answering questions about genetic counseling.

‘Born Different’ is about people as they challenge stereotypes, break down barriers and battle to prove they have what it takes to succeed. The stories are all about how they have overcome something that some people didn’t think is possible. There are 23 seasons, with around 10 episodes per season. One of the most recent stories (March 21st, 2022) is about how this girl’s boyfriend helped cope with her severe Tourette’s. I have watched a couple of episodes myself, and I find them very breathtaking and addictive to watch.

Getting To Know/History

Lin-Manuel Miranda bio

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By: Mila Hart

Lin-Manuel Miranda was born on January 16, 1980 in New York City. His parents immigrated from Puerto Rico. He grew up in a Hispanic neighborhood in northern Manhattan called Washington Heights.

Lin-Manuel went to a public high school around Washington Heights, and it was in high school where he found his love for theater arts. All throughout high school Lin-Manuel was a part of his school’s plays and musicals. In high school he started to write the play ‘In the Heights’ at the age of 17. Later he went on to go to a very prestigious college for theater arts called Wesleyan College.

In 2002 Lin-Manuel worked with other directors and playwrights to put on ‘In the Heights’. After premiering in Connecticut, in 2005, and opening at the 37 Arts Theater off-Broadway, in 2007, ‘In the Heights’ went to Broadway in March of 2008.

After performing ‘In the Heights’ on Broadway, the musical went on a North American tour from 2009-2011, and later went on to be performed all around the world. In 2018 Warner Bros acquired the film rights for ‘In the Heights’ and set a release date for June 26th, 2020. For the next year, actors were casted and filming began in June of 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the film was not able to be released until June 10, 2021.

Aside from ‘In the Heights’, Lin-Manuel Miranda has worked on a number of award winning projects and movies. Lin wrote, composed, and starred in the ever so popular broadway musical ‘Hamilton’. It’s the story of Alexander Hamilton and his contributions to history, told through the music styles of rap and hip hop. It has won numerous awards including a Tony, Grammy, and the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Lin wrote the music for the latest Disney hit ‘Encanto’. The song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” has broken records including becoming the first Disney track to top the U.S. chart since ‘Aladdin’s’ “A Whole New World” back in 1992.

World

Russia vs. Ukraine

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By: Abi Hernandez Castillo & Thalia Pliego

There have been many questions relating to why Vladimir Putin is invading Ukraine, however, it’s no secret why he is invading the independent country of Ukraine. According to ‘Vox’, Putin says that Ukraine isn’t a “real” country and claims that Ukraine is “fiction” that was created by communist Russia. 

According to ‘India Today’, the beginning of the formation of Russia and Ukraine starts in 1654 when it first tried to unite Kievan Russia under one ruler. A treaty was signed in March of 1954 between Russia and Ukraine in which Ukraine became an autonomous country, but foreign and defense matters remained with the Russian regime. However, this system lasted until 1782 when Russia had merged Ukraine into itself. The treaty was only signed to not only save Ukraine but to also save Russia itself. 

The Russian Empire was afraid of the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth Empire and the Turkish Empire so Russia wanted to keep Ukraine close. When the Soviet Union broke up in the 1990s, Ukraine had the third-largest atomic arsenal in the world. The United States and Russia worked with Ukraine to denuclearize the country and eventually Kyik, Ukraine gave hundreds of nuclear warheads back to Russia in exchange for security assurances that would protect Ukraine from a possible Russian attack. In 2014, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and these assurances were tested.

This brought the relationship between Russia and the West to a very low point. Now we know that Russia and Ukraine have a bad relationship but why invade now? According to ‘INSIDER’ Russia is concerned with NATOs eastward expansion. NATO is a political and military alliance that was first formed in 1949. Putin has criticized NATO for expanding eastward since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

As stated earlier, back in the 1990’s Ukraine had to be convinced to denuclearize the country and because of this Russia also feared that Ukraine had the knowledge and desire to obtain nuclear weapons, and this was a threat to Russia. Although it wasn’t proven that Ukraine had nuclear weapons ready to go to Russia, Putin still felt threatened. 

Currently, there have been many updates since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. According to ‘The New York Times’, the Russian shellings have blocked any efforts into creating safe exit corridors for civilians. There are many who are trapped due to blocked off corridors and are left without food, water, and medicine. The bombs that Russia has been dropping also destroyed a maternity hospital on Wednesday, March 9th. 

This war between Russia and Ukraine has not only impacted these two countries but as a result, the United States has also been affected economically. According to ‘The Wall Street Journal’, the inflation levels that are experienced on both sides of the Atlantic are levels that have not been seen in decades. Recently, there has been an increase in oil prices. Russia is one of the main providers of oil for Europe and due to the war, the oil may not be available for the United States to obtain, and to preserve what is left, the prices become higher. 

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘The Batman’ – movie review

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By: Salman Said

After a lengthy production, casting, and director changes, the latest DCEU film ‘The Batman’ has finally arrived. To say that this film lived up to expectations is an understatement. Robert Pattinson, who recently returned to starring in mainstream films, is playing Bruce Wayne/Batman. Previously, Ben Affleck was supposed to direct and play Batman in a highly anticipated solo film back in 2016, but the project fell through after he dropped out due to personal issues and creative differences. 

Director Matt Reeves decided to pick up the project. Reeves had a vision of a more inept Batman, struggling to let go of the psychological trauma he carried after his parent’s murder. Fighting crime in an unforgiving city; rife with corruption, drugs, and poverty. Reeves decided to have this film be disconnected from the DCEU and its characters; branching out in an entirely new world with new actors and a more realistic, thriller take on recent superhero films. This turned out to be a brilliant and refreshing decision.

**Spoilers if you haven’t seen the film yet**

The film begins on Halloween night and takes place over the course of six days. This could be a reference to the biblical verse that God created the earth and heavens in six days. During act one, the public is shown to have an innate distaste for Batman and vigilantism in Gotham entirely. During his first scene, we see Batman save an innocent man from an attack, and as he tries to assist the man, the man begins to cry out, “Please don’t hurt me.”

 The public’s opinion completely shifts by the end of the final act. When Batman saves a woman, she latches onto his arm and refuses to let go, preventing the paramedics from carrying her to safety; as a result, Batman’s perspective shifts. During his final monologue, Batman addressed how he used to believe he needed to enact his vengeance on behalf of the city; on the crime that permeated it. But he now believes that he must be their hope, not their vengeance.

“On the seventh day, God finished his work and rested”. Even before the film ends, we see that Batman isn’t finished. He hasn’t reached his seventh day yet, and Gotham is facing new threats. In Arkham Asylum The Riddler is making more maniacal friends than himself, Gotham lacks a district attorney and a police commissioner, and The Penguin is looking to take over the Iceberg Lounge and the rest of Carmine Falcone’s assets. Batman enters a new phase in the next movie, with hope for that 7th day.

This Gotham is the most realistic and grimey version of Gotham we’ve ever seen. Batman’s introduction monologue; how criminals view Batman as a shadow constantly lurking upon the sins of man; and characters like Penguin and Jim Gordon all bring an authenticity that Batman movies lacked before. This all on top of the fact that we receive an amazing acting performance from Colin Farrell’s Penguin and Paul Dano’s Riddler.

The film made numerous references to potential villains in future films. Carmine Falcone assassinates a reporter named Edward Elliot during the second act. This could be the father of Thomas Elliot, a well-known Gothamite, surgeon, and Bruce Wayne’s long-time friend. In the comics, Elliot was the son of a wealthy, abusive father who frequently beat Elliot in front of his wife. Elliot had enough of his mother and father and cut the tire on their car, causing his father to be killed in a car accident. But after an intensive surgery, Thomas Wayne was able to save Elliot’s mother. 

Elliot becomes the villain Hush, in order to exact revenge on the Waynes for saving his mother. He murders innocent people and steals their identities. He then grafts victims’ faces and fashions them to look exactly like Bruce Wayne’s. The word “Hush” appears in the film, written in red letters after we see the article about Edward Elliot’s death.

This was one of the more popular references fans were able to spot, but other ones were seen. During the final act, Batman injects a green serum into his leg; this could be the highly-addictive muscle stimulating drug, Venom. This hints to the villain Bane, who also uses the same drug in the comics; (Paralyzing Batman). Gotham also has an empty spot for District Attorney; this possibly could be filled by Harvey Dent. Finally the Arkham Asylum patient who spoke briefly with the Riddler; many believe it’s either Joker, Two-Face, or possibly Hush. All characters that have noticeable face deformities. 

We have a lot to look forward to in the near future, and this movie quite possibly brings DC back into the conversation for best superhero cinematography out right now. It’s been a while since DC was able to beat Marvel in the box office. We might see a change in that in the near future.

Music/Concerts

The formation of BTS

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By: Musab Mohamud

The Korean Boy band called BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, was formed in 2012 following a series of auditions carried out by Big Hit Entertainment. They immediately rose to Korean superstardom following their first album, ‘2 Cool 4 Skool’. The young members consisting of – Jin, Rap Monster, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook started to capture the hearts and attention of fans across Korea. The Korean superstars have replicated a blueprint used by many successful boy bands. Their defining feature is the continuous success that they still enjoy to the present day. 

Their formation is reminiscent of many other successful K-Pop bands, with their auditions being carried out by a record label. The band was composed of young undiscovered stars and Korean singing competition participants. Each member had their own gimmick and role.

The group was formed around Kim Nam-Joon (Rap Monster), the first and oldest member. The next gem found was Min Yoon-gi who became known as SUGA, the other rapper of the group. Jung Ho-seok was the next to be recruited, he had a burning passion for dancing; he was signed as the group’s dancer and became known as J-Hope.

Kim Seok-jin wasn’t a singer or dancer, however he was a very attractive actor, when he joined Big Hit to further his acting career he was convinced to learn how to sing and dance. Following his quick learning he became known as Jin and joined as a vocalist/dancer.

Jeon Jung-kook was the fifth and most popular member of BTS. He was recruited straight out of a Korean singing show; he kept his name after joining the group. Kim Tae-hyung was the son of a farmer in a rural area of Korea. He adopted the stage name V, short for victory. The final member of the group was Park Ji-min, he was recruited as a star dancer; he was the final addition to a group that no one predicted would reach global prominence and win countless awards as the greatest K-Pop group of all time.

Baseball

Everything you need to know about the MLB lockout (aside from the fact it’s over)

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By: Abby Altman

What is a lockout?

There are basically 2 kinds of labor stoppages. A lockout and a strike. A strike is a stoppage initiated by the Union side; in this case, the player’s union. A strike would revolve around the player’s union refusing to work.

A lockout is when the stoppage is initiated by the management; in this case, the team owners. Basically, the MLB owners were refusing to allow work to be done, or games to be played. 

In a baseball sense, a lockout means that games and practices can’t be held, trades can’t be made, and free agency is put on hold. 

The lockout already put a halt to spring training, and regular season games have been canceled through April 7th by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. This is the first time the league has lost games due to a work stoppage since the 1994-95 players’ strike.

The MLB Players Association (MLBPA) had its main focus set on getting more money for younger players. They were asking to increase the minimum wage pool, and install a pre-arbitration bonus pool. They were also attempting to curb anti-competitive strategies. 

On the other side of the lockout, the league and team owners were looking to expand the postseason, to either 12 or 14 teams. The 2 sides remained in disagreement over tax balance thresholds, the increase in minimum salary, and the size of the pre-arbitration bonus pool. 

Early in negotiations, 3 major changes were made to the league. 

The first change, and perhaps the smallest of the 3, is an increase in base size. The league has agreed to change the base sizes from 15 square inches to 18 square inches. The increase in size will likely reduce injuries, as the larger the base is, the more room runners have to slide around the fielder, avoiding more collisions. The MLB is also hoping this will lead to an increase in stolen bases. 

The 2nd confirmed change is the installation of a pitch clock. One thing fans and non fans can agree on is that baseball is not a quick moving game. The addition of a pitch clock is an attempt to speed up the game, estimating it can bring the game from an average of 3 hours, all the way down to 2:40. MLB’s plan includes a 14 second timer between pitches with empty bases, and a 19 second timer with runners on. 

By far the most significant and most protested change is the banning of shifts. The MLBPA and the MLB have agreed to ban defensive shifts. Shifts are one of the most analytical parts of the game, making it possible for a hard hit ball between first and second base to result in a routine ground out. 

Left handed batters are by far the most shifted on batters, with big names such as José Ramírez, Joey Gallo, and Max Kepler facing the shift over 90% of their at bats. While banning the shift will allow for more hits on offense, it is a large part of the defensive game, and will change the way defense is played for many. 

Edit** following the writing of this article, the 2 sides reached an agreement, and baseball is scheduled to resume on April 7th. 

The MLBPA and the MLB have agreed on several more changes to the game of baseball. This includes a 12 team expanded postseason and a universal designated hitter. This means that pitchers will no longer bat in the National League, and all 30 teams will hold a designated hitter position in their lineup.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Hawkeye review

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By: Eva Olson

In the new Marvel TV show, ‘Hawkeye’, a new character is introduced into the MCU, Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. She and Hawkeye must team up to defeat a villain trying to kill Kate because she was forced to wear the Ronin suit from ‘Avengers: Endgame’ to stop an attack.

I loved how sarcastic and witty Kate was with Clint and other characters. Kate and Clint had a really funny dynamic. Her backstory was very interesting and I liked how it was tied back to previous movies.

It was interesting how a character from the Marvel TV show, ‘Daredevil’, was incorporated into the show. I liked all the plot twists and unexpected turns in this show. It really kept you intrigued because you couldn’t binge watch it when it came out considering its episodes were only released once a week on Wednesdays.

To watch this show you do need to have watched some Marvel movies, especially ‘Black Widow’, ‘Avengers: Endgame’, and ‘The Avengers’. A character from ‘Black Widow’ makes an appearance and this show finishes off the cliffhanger in the ‘Black Widow’ post credit scene. There are also many references to these movies.

I would also recommend watching this sometime around Christmas, because Christmas is integral to the storyline. They did a good job of making it festive but not completely revolving around Christmas.

This show did a great job of showing how Clint is doing after Natasha’s death. It gave Clint and his family more screen time which was fun to watch.

Overall, I really liked this show and would recommend it to Marvel fans. It was really entertaining and I loved all the new characters. I would give it a 9.5/10 rating. You can watch this show on Disney+