Highlander Magazine Volume 15, Issue 2

JANUARY 2024

VOLUME XV, ISSUE II

CARLMONT HIGH SCHOOL BELMONT, CALIFORNIA

CONSPIRACIES TRYING TO MAKE THE PIECES FIT read it on page 19

CARLMONT MEDIA Carlmont Journalism is a nationally renowned media arts program run by the students of Carlmont High School. Our staff works to deliver the latest news to our student body, their families, and the community.

We are committed to delivering information, current events, and thought-provoking ideas to our audience through storytelling. In our magazine, you will find the passions of writing, intricacies of design, and action of photography all on one page. We hope that the Highlander helps you engage with information in a new way and broaden your perspective on local topics.

Keep it on a shelf, in your bag, or under the bed for years to come—our magazine is timeless.

HIGHLANDER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lucille Sanders HIGHLANDER MANAGING EDITORS Clementine Cunningham Inaaya Omer HIGHLANDER EDITORS Serenity Corbett-Richardson Samantha Crowther Elaine Jiang Kara Kim Alice Lan Sienna Reinders Daniella Smit Isabella Zarzar Katherine Zhang SCOT SCOOP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gabrielle Shore SCOT CENTER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sydney Tao

STAFF Rei Baxter Audrey Burnley Alexandra Chan Serentiy Corbett-Richardson Elizabeth Cruz Piper Diehn Audrey Finigan Emma Goldman Myles Hu Nicholas Lee Alexander Menchtchikov Stella Pavao Adelaide Reinshagen Benjamin Romanowsky Jasneh Sasan Sophia Schreiber Abigail Sinarle Aimee Teyssier Emma Yin

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Piper Diehn FACULTY ADVISER Justin Raisner

advertising inquiries: carlmontads@gmail.com other inquiries: highlanderscotscoop@gmail.com

DEAR READER, While you will find your fair share of games including crosswords, puzzles, and games in this issue, what we're really delving into here is why. Why we are so interested in puzzles, why patterns appear in our society, and why we try to solve unsolvable things.

Even in our personal lives, we observe and adhere to patterns.

Between the routines we have, morning crosswords we solve, and conspiracies we do or don't believe, there are puzzles everywhere.

There are three main principles to a conspiracy theory, but there is one that sticks out: everything is connected.

Now, this doesn't mean we should trust that birds aren't real or that Elvis is still alive, but in a non-conspiracy sense, maybe this sentiment means that we are all connected. That we owe kindness to one another, we should listen to one another, we should try to understand one another.

Maybe, our resolution in the new year should be entrusting that, in some way, we function as a collective.

As cliché as it sounds, conspiracies rely on the fact that we are all in this together, and maybe we should too.

After all, everyone is just trying to make the pieces fit.

Warmly,

CONTENTS

19

Moments 01 Nature's Tapestry

Local nature and garden blooms

03 Community highlights

The latest Carlmont community activities

Community 05 Behind the counter

A day in the life of Carlmont's cafeteria staff

07 Out with the old

New clubs thrive at Carlmont

09 Caffeinated Q & A

The Bay Area's quintessential coffee culture

Arts & Culture 13 Carlmont clues

Test your Carlmont knowledge with a crossword puzzle

14 Rolling the dice

Students' favorite board games

15 From butts to beauty

Art-o-mat turns cigarette vending machines into artist havens

17 Carlmont New Year's resolutions

Scotlight 19 Unravelling the psychology of modern paranoia Why we love conspiracies

21 Famous conspiracy theories

Are birds real? Did the moon landing really happen?

23 The pervasive influence of conspiracies Twisting the facts to satisfy our truths

Student and faculty goals for 2024

18 What should my resolution be?

Take a quiz to find your perfect resolution

Opinion 25 Highlighting thrifting culture perspectives To thrift or not to thrift?

27 'What I Eat in a Day' videos serve harm Viewers are subject to the harmful nature of diet culture

28 American politicians should stick to bingo Satire: Politicians are getting too old to make decisions

07

Features 31 Games for gray matter

How do games impact the progression of cognitive diseases?

01 MOMENTS JANUARY 2024

Nature's tapestry

A bee flies around a vibrant red bottlebrush bush in search of pollen. The bottlebrush flowers from late November through the end of February. They can get six to 12 feet tall and prefer to be planted in warm conditions, allowing them to thrive in California.

Photo by Sophia Schreiber (1) A Tibouchina Urvilleana bush blooms with a vibrant purple flower. Also known as “Princess Flower,” or “Glory Bush,” this plant thrives in the garden and the home. A full sun lover, this plant is best grown in moist, fertile, and well-drained soils.

Photo by Sophia Schreiber (2) A white flower blooms brightly, contrasting the dark green foliage of the shrub.

Chinese abulia is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family.

This plant blooms in the spring and summer while its fragrance attracts butterflies.

Photo by Sophia Schreiber

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2

JANUARY 2024 MOMENTS

02

(1) Aidan Pechnik, an employee at Ladera Garden and Gifts examines a plant for a customer. Pechnik often assists customers with plant-related queries. “I usually take on customer support when I work, so I have to always stay educated on the plants that we sell there,” Pechnik said.

Photo by Alexander Menchtchikov (2) Ladera Garden and Gifts sits behind the Carlmont Village Shopping Center and provides gardening supplies and plants for the surrounding Belmont community. “It’s a very welcoming environment and we try to reciprocate that and push it out onto our customers,” Pechnik said.

Photo by Alexander Menchtchikov

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2

Tim Krassiev rakes leaves as he cleans up Ladera Garden and Gifts. “This is a great job for me because it allows me to have hands-on experience with what I’m learning in school,” Krassiev said. “I came in not knowing much about plants, but after a while I picked up this base of knowledge that I didn’t expect to get so quickly.” Photo by Alexander Menchtchikov

03 MOMENTS JANUARY 2024

Community highlights The Carlmont community actively participates in activites including sports, choir, and more! Students look forward to the winter season and what it will bring.

Sophomore defender William Stanton sprints down the field in the third quarter, trying to recover the ball from the opposing team. “I think that this game allowed us to discover their weaknesses for the next game," Stanton said. "We’re just going to keep fighting the rest of the season.”

Photo by Sophia Schreiber

Senior full-back Nicholas Fromm looks out upon the field as the game comes to a close in the fourth quarter. The Scots played a hard-fought game, and aren't ready to let their loss discourage them. “Despite the tough game, I’m ecstatic about reuniting with my soccer team and eager for the next chance to play together, win, and improve our game,” Fromm said.

Photo by Sophia Schreiber

JANUARY 2024 MOMENTS

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(1) Casey Shea, a senior at Carlmont, captivates the audience as she sings “When She Loved Me” from the movie Toy Story 2. Choir has been a big part of Shea's high school experience. Although she doesn’t know if she will continue with choir after high school, Shea said she is “definitely going to continue singing, whether it’s performing somewhere or simply singing in the car.” Photo by Kian Bhatt (2) Kiana Beigi and Soniya Kamatkar, seniors at Carlmont, sing a lively rendition of “The City of Stars,” from the movie La La Land. Beigi and Kamatkar look forward to choir each day. “My favorite parts are collaborating with incredible people, the fun songs we get to sing, and the bond formed through a shared passion for singing that you can’t get anywhere else,” Beigi said. Photo by Kian Bhatt (3) Gabi Asmar sings “Santa Fe” from Newsies by Alan Menken. “It was super exhilarating. I’ve done Cabaret for three years, and it never gets old,” Asmar said. “It was amazing to have all of the hard work that I put into Santa Fe pay off when I heard the audience cheering.”

Photo by Inaaya Omer

05 COMMUNITY JANUARY 2024

Behind the counter: A day in the life of Carlmont's cafeteria staff Cafeteria worker Gail Horn (right) helps her co-worker Ruth Castillo (left) to carry the prepared trays of pizza so they can be set up for lunch-line distribution.

In the morning, food is prepped to serve and stored until lunch so it’s kept warm. “We prepare everything ourselves, and serve about 1,000 students a day. Pizza days are the busiest,” Castillo said.

Photo by Elizabeth Cruz

Cafeteria worker Dolores Reyes takes inventory after the daily lunch rush, counting persimmons and plums. The workers keep track of how many meals are served each day using a pin pad system. With their meal, students can choose to take a fruit or vegetable as their side, but not all choose this option.

Photo by Elizabeth Cruz

2 JANUARY MONTH 2024 2023/4 COMMUNITY SECTION 06

Patricia Molina smiles behind the mask she uses to keep herself and other students safe while preparing and distributing food.

Photo by Elizabeth Cruz

ABIGAIL SINARLE

B

y the time most students arrive at school, the preparation for upcoming meals has already begun. Some days, it begins as early as 7:45 a.m.

Before the first period starts, the Student Union opens its doors to provide students with their first meal of the day. This meal is often prepared beforehand to create a more efficient system in the kitchen.

Patricia Molina is usually behind the counter, smiling as she serves the students. She arrives at Carlmont at 8:30 a.m. and starts her day by ensuring the front is in good condition.

She counts the milk to ensure there is enough for everyone and then helps where possible.

After the first period begins, Molina and the rest of the staff focus on

preparing the next meal.

“Today, we had extra time, so I prepared the food for the next two days,” Molina said.

Before working at Carlmont High School’s Student Union, Molina worked at Safeway. After wanting more time with her family, she began to look for jobs that would allow her to spend more time at home. When Molina discovered the position at the Student Union, she made the switch. She has now worked at the Carlmont cafeteria for 12 years.

Depending on the day and if lunch is already ready to get served, the staff begins front-loading for the coming days.

“Every day is different,” Molina said.

From pizza to salad, chili to Mediterranean dishes, the variety of cuisine keeps things interesting for both

students and kitchen staff.

Molina gave an example of a typical spaghetti day, saying she “cooks the pasta, adds the sauce, and adds veggies on the side” before sealing the meal.

When the bell signaling lunch rings, a rush of students crowd the halls leading to the Student Union to get their second and final school meal. Molina and her coworkers serve students until the line ends. Once the doors close, lunch is no longer available for students, and preparation for the next day continues.

While some workers stay past 1 p.m. to clean up, others head home to rest and get ready to do it all again.

“I like that it is part-time so I can spend time with my family,” Molina said.

“And I like to come and serve students.”

07 COMMUNITY JANUARY 2024

Out with the old: New clubs thrive at Carlmont

Seniors Olivia Long and Samina Ginwalla share a laugh while eating their bagels. “I love bagels and enjoy trying a new type of bagel every week. I feel super happy getting free and delicious bagels and love the environment,” Ginwalla said. Photo by Elizabeth Cruz

STELLA PAVAO

F

rom business to beach cleanups to bagels, there is seemingly a club for everything and everyone at Carlmont.

This year, Carlmont’s Associated Student Body (ASB) approved 66 new student-run organizations to the official Carlmont ASB Clubs List, bringing the final tally to 159 clubs.

“The number has been growing every year,” said Carlmont Activities Director James Kelly III. “I think that one of the reasons is that we just have more and more students at Carlmont that really want to be involved, and they want to have leadership experience.”

To start a club at Carlmont, students need to file a club charter and obtain a faculty advisor. Because there are minimal prerequisites, the quantity of clubs has grown significantly in recent years. Not only are clubs more abundant, but they are becoming increasingly diverse.

“There are educational clubs, there are clubs that are related to specific careers, there are arts clubs, it's all over the place,” said Kelly.

Two of the most established clubs at Carlmont are Key Club and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA).

In the years that these club chapters have been present at Carlmont, many students have participated in these institutions and their initiatives.

“Key Club has been a great way to get involved with the community with my classmates,” said Carlmont Key Club member Jennifer Luo. “I always love volunteering in San Carlos. There's always a bunch of events there, and it's a fun way to gain service hours while still actually enjoying the event.”

But in a growing competitive education system, many students hope that breaking away from the traditional clubs

JANUARY 2024 COMMUNITY will appeal to universities in their applications.

According to the Princeton Review, starting a club is a beneficial method to display strong communication and leadership skills to universities.

Luo, a junior at Carlmont and member of DECA, along with Key Club, has noticed many of her classmates opting not to join the established clubs and instead venturing to start their own organizations.

“I feel like a lot of people start clubs just because they want it on their college apps or whatever,” Luo said. “But I feel like joining established clubs is more attractive. Because those clubs actually do things that aren't just there for college apps.”

For some clubs, the incentive for college applications has become so well-known and accepted that it has become a means to advertise the club.

In an introductory Instagram post for the newly founded Carlmont Bagel Club, Club Co-President Elizabeth Dubinsky said, “Really praying this does something for my college apps.”

“College applications are definitely a plus that our club members take advantage of, but it’s all pretty lighthearted,” said Bagel Club Co-President Sachith Vissapraganda.

From an administrative point of view, the separation between clubs founded for a resume boost and founded out of genuine interest has become blurred.

“It certainly looks good on a college resume,” Kelly said. “But you don't have to start a club to put it on your college resume. There has never been a college that has called me and said, ‘Is this club legitimate?’”

Whatever motivations are behind a club, the administration and club leadership continuously prioritize a positive student experience.

“There was definitely a benefit on my resume,” said Vissapraganda. “But our priority is to create an environment for students to destress and have a good time with their friends.”

08

Freshmen Eli Block, Jone Ng, Keegan Marlatt, and Nikhil Nunna attend Key Club meetings so they can get involved at Carlmont. “I joined because I want to help out my community and I like it a lot,” Ng said. Photo by Elizabeth Cruz

22.5%

of clubs fall under the social category.

This includes the Bagel Club, Chess Club, and Foodies Club.

6.3%

of clubs fall under the business category.

This includes the DECA Business Club, Money Club, and Shark Tank Club.

2.5%

of clubs fall under the service category.

This includes the Key Club, Interact Club, and Helping Hands Club.

Source: Carlmont's Club List

09 COMMUNITY JANUARY 2024

Caffeinated Q&A

The Bay Area cultivates a quintessential coffee culture which the community participates in on a daily basis. From chains to local cafes, residents are always up for a trip to their go-to coffee shop, no matter the time of day BEN ROMANOWSKY

Groovy Goose employees work to take and fulfill orders for customers, making sure all products are at the best quality. The colorful interior, modern aesthetic, and disco decor draw customers in. On top of the welcoming environment, the top-notch food and drinks attract the community. Photo by Elizabeth Cruz

T

he aroma of coffee beans wafts through the air, seamlessly blending with the background of Zoom calls and casual conversations that characterize the coffee shop atmosphere.

In the Bay Area, coffee shops are more than just places to grab a quick caffeine fix. They are cozy havens where you get welcomed by friendly baristas, surrounded by relaxing music, and embraced by a chill environment.

Coffee culture in the Bay Area is more than just a drink, it's a lifestyle. Some strongly commit to this way of life. For example, the regulars who know precisely how they like their brew—a dash of almond milk, an extra shot of espresso, or perhaps a singular pump of simple syrup.

For others, a coffee excursion may be more of a treat, a satisfaction they reserve for special moments. They might take a detour from work or errands to savor the flavors of handcrafted coffee. Coffee can be easily seen as an essential part of their day.

No matter how frequently coffee lovers splurge on a drink, each time, they are participating in the culture the Bay Area has cultivated.

The diversity of coffee options caters to individual tastes, and each cafe has a unique vibe, making the experience more than just a cup of coffee. Whether it’s a well-known chain like Starbucks or a local cafe like Groovy Goose, coffee lovers flock from all over to get their fix, no matter the time of day.

JANUARY 2024 COMMUNITY

Q: What do you value most about the coffee shop experience in San Carlos?

A: “I think it's a good place to be allowed to sort of ruminate on whatever thoughts you might be thinking of or have some space to be creative. And also to be alone, but in a community sort of environment,” said Dustin Underger, a broadcast journalism teacher at Bowditch Middle School in Foster City.

Q: Do you think coffee shop culture in the Bay Area has impacted your daily life or social life?

A: “Yeah, well, I'm a parent. I have a 7-year-old son. So when you reach that phase of life, the coffee shop experience changes a little bit and it becomes more of like a family meeting place. But prior to that, I've always enjoyed the atmosphere of coffee shops. I like that the coffee shops sometimes are venues for musicians and a place where you can go to find out about cultural events and things like that.

Even though we're in Peet’s coffee right now, I tend to prefer mom-and-pop shops,” Underger said.

Q: In what environment do you feel the most productive?

A: "I definitely am the most productive at a coffee shop. There’s more energy at a coffee shop than at my house with just me. I really like having the background noise and seeing the constant movement of people around me. Also, I feel like I can’t actively procrastinate as much because the other cafe-goers will be aware, which forces me to get more work done,” said Sonya Kothari, a junior at Carlmont.

Q: How does the cafe itself play a role in your coffee-drinking experience?

A: “It is all about the ambiance. Most people in this Starbucks have coffee, but the vibe of it is what makes people stay and sit. Though Starbucks does a good job at creating a welcoming environment and having plenty of places to sit, I would prefer to be at Copola, a French bakery near my house. In there, there is calm music playing, aesthetic lighting and paintings, and a lot of seating,” said a customer waiting for her coffee at a Starbucks.

Q: Given there are two major chain coffee places in San Carlos, what do you think attracts the community to an independent, local cafe?

A: “I think people come to Groovy Goose because there isn't a lot of craft coffee in San Carlos. There are a lot of chain cafes. So, the quality of coffee that you get here is a little bit higher than you would get at a chain. I think that keeping an upbeat environment is felt by the customers, and us being happy and playing good music plays a big role in people enjoying spending their time here,” said Alexa Gomez, a barista at Groovy Goose and Carlmont graduate.

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13 ARTS & CULTURE JANUARY 2024

Carlmont Clues

Test your Carlmont knowledge with this crossword puzzle PIPER DIEHN ACROSS 2. The _____ program offers a series of dual-enrollment, biotechnology courses, and science-themed English and social studies classes to students at Carlmont 6. Students use the Infinite _____ app to view their transcript 8. Mr. Steunenberg and Mr. _____ are the Administrative Vice Principals at Carlmont 9. Basketball, wrestling, and _____ are the three winter sports offered at Carlmont 11. The Varisty Boys _____ won the CCS championships this past spring 12. Seniors will graduate in the month of _____

DOWN

1. Carlmont's mascot name 3. On ____ students usually have first, third, fifth, and seventh periods 4. A website that students use for tutoring services 5. Blue and ____ are Carlmont's school colors 7. ____ Pfeiffer starred in 'Dangerous Minds' 10. Twice a week, students sign up for _____, a 30-minute study hall period in the class of their choosing

Art by Audrey Burnley

JANUARY 2024 ARTS & CULTURE 14

Rolling the dice on students' favorite board games PIPER DIEHN Whether it’s an elderly couple, a family, or a group of high school students, playing board games is a fantastic way to connect with others, laugh with friends, and engage in friendly—or not-so-friendly—competition. From strategy to social bluffing games, each student’s favorite tabletop game reveals a unique aspect of their personalities. Dylan Kosh, a junior at Carlmont and president of the Tabletop Club, brings students together every Friday to teach them a new game or play an old favorite. Mia Chklovski, a freshman, enjoys playing board games with her friends and family and is especially nostalgic about the classic games she played when she was younger.

"The friendly competition makes it easy to bond with the people I love."

MIA CHKLOVSKI, FRESHMAN

Can you tell me about your all-time favorite board game and what makes it special to you?

Kosh: I really like to play Cockroach Poker. Ilike how it's a very social game. Really, the whole component is you. In the game, players have to say whenever they think you're telling the truth or a lie. And that's the entirety of the game. What's so much fun is just the ridiculousness of the game.

Do you have any strategies or tips for playing this board game that you'd like to share with others who might be interested in trying it?

Kosh: There's just one loser in the game, which means if you really want to win, just get a big group together. But honestly, I don't think it's a big deal whether you win or lose the game.

It involves a lot of luck.

When did you first become interested in playing board games?

Chklovski: I first started playing board games as a really little kid. I would play with my parents and sister, and we would play all types of games. Uno, Monopoly, Life, and Candyland were some of our favorites.

What is your favorite part about board games in general?

Dylan Kosh enjoys a round of Cockroach Poker with members of Carlmont's Tabletop Club. Photos by Audrey Burnley

Chklovski: My favorite part of playing board games is hanging out with my friends and family. The friendly competition makes it easy to bond with the people I love.

15 ARTS & CULTURE JANUARY 2024

Art-o-mat takes cigarette vending machines from butts to beauty ADELAIDE REINSHAGEN

C

afes and bars that once housed cigarette vending machines now host Art-o-mat art dispensers, which repurpose the old machines for the distribution of art from artists.

Art-o-mat started when artist Clark Whittington found a way to recycle old cigarette vending machines that were getting banned near him. After brainstorming places for people to easily access art, he landed on his current Art-o-mat machines.

He opened the first Art-o-mat machine with just him and his friend's art at a local coffee shop.

"It was one of the 13 pieces in an exhibit when I first moved to town. Once it was in the coffee shop, the owner didn't want to me to take it, so we started expanding," Whittington said.

Since its beginnings in 1997, Art-omat has expanded to having over 200 art dispensers in five countries, with around 300 artists that contribute to the dispensers. One of those machines is located in the local community at the San Carlos Library.

At just $5 for every art piece in the dispenser, Whittington has created an accessible, easy way for everyone to own and sell art. Through the art dispensers, he created a place where anyone from beginner artists to seasoned professionals can be involved in art.

"We have people who follow art, and

we have people who have never been in a museum before. We have artists who are well-established, and we have artists who maybe have never shown their work before," Whittington said.

We have people who follow art and we have people who have never been in a museum before."

CLARK WHITTINGTON, CREATOR OF ART-O-MAT

The Art-o-mat machine dispenses art from photographs to mini canvases, jewelry, and any other piece of art that can fit into a cigarette pack-sized container.

Whittington's art dispensers offer the opportunity for many artists to have their work sold in locations from museums to bars.

“I love being an Art-o-mat artist.

Honestly I'm the real winner in the situationI am completely addicted to the process and love being able to constantly create," said Beth Murray, an artist who has been selling her art with Art-o-mat since 2018.

The machines allow artists to contribute to the dispenser's art collection. After one artist's pieces run out in the machines, the art is switched out and either replaced with new works of art from the same artists or a new artist's work.

The growth of Art-o-mat dispensers worldwide has fostered a sense of togetherness within the art community.

It gives hundreds of artists a simple way to sell their work and creates an easy way for people to be introduced to the art community.

Art-o-mat's diversity of locations in communities has created a space for everyone to get involved in the process.

Art, particularly accessible art, is everimportant.

"We've had groups, we've had classes, we've had individuals (get involved). What we need is content to keep the machines filled and artists that agree with what we are doing," Whittington said. "We need art."

1

JANUARY 2024 ARTS & CULTURE

16

Art by Audrey Burnley

Cigarette vending machines proliferated nearly every public space in America in the 1970s and 1980s.

However, these machines started to become outlawed by state legislation, with the first ban coming from Utah in 1989. Currently, these machines are only in commission in exclusively adult facilities, in accordance with FDA guidelines.

17 ARTS & CULTURE JANUARY 2024

Carlmont New Year's resolutions Read about the New Years resolutions of some Carlmont students amd staff, then take the quiz to get suggestions for your own.

AIMEE TEYSSIER

A

s 2024 begins, the Belmont community embarks on a new journey of accomplishing New Year resolutions. Whether to actively work toward accomplishing them or simply to acknowledge possible life ameliorations, these goals mark the beginning of the new year.

Rohan Haldankar, senior at Carlmont: “I want to stay alive at the Playboi Carti concert and win at fantasy football next year.”

Emerson Elyse Barajas, sophomore at Carlmont: “I want to have a more positive mindset toward my goals for school and sports. I usually only keep working toward my resolutions for January and February though.”

Connor Fenech, history teacher: “My resolution for next year is to stay on top of grading and go on more hikes.”

Sara Calvin, English teacher: “I have two ongoing goals: making balance a priority, specifically work-life balance, and managing stress and being overwhelmed mainly by leaning to gratitude."

Art by Audrey Burnley

JANUARY 2024 ARTS & CULTURE

18

What should my resolution be?

AIMEE TEYSSIER What do you typically do right after getting home from school?

A. Go on my phone B. Take a nap C. Eat a snack D. Start my homework If you could only have one of the following memberships, which would you pick?

A. HBO Max B. Netflix C. Apple Music D. Spotify What does your average weekend look like?

A. Stay home and catch up on Netflix B. Go out with my friends and stay out as late as possible C. I can’t even remember what I did yesterday D. Catch up on homework and study for tests Pick the artist that speaks to you most A. Taylor Swift B. Cigarettes After Sex C. 21 Pilots D. The Beatles What area of your life would you like to improve the most?

A. Time management B. Mental and physical health C. Grades D. Personal development and knowledge Which quote resonates with you the most?

A. “Just do it!”

B. “Life is better with friends and family.”

C. “Nobody will remember this by tomorrow.”

D. “Knowledge is power.”

If you picked mostly letter A’s: I will try out a new hobby (instead of my phone), like reading, knitting, finding a new artist to listen to, etc.

If you picked mostly letter C’s: I will clean my room more consistently, starting out by making my bed every morning.

If you picked mostly letter B’s: I will work on getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night.

If you picked mostly letter D’s: I will relax more! De-stress by watching a movie, or taking a nap.

19 SCOTLIGHT JANUARY 2024

PUZZLING conspiracy theories

JANUARY 2024 SCOTLIGHT 20

UNRAVELLING THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN PARANOIA ARIANNA ZHU

I

n the chaos of the modern world, many people strive to explain life’s mysteries. Conspiracy theories prey on that desire.

“Conspiracy theories are mental constructions. They are a product of the mind rather than something that has an empirical existence,” said Michael Barkun, a professor emeritus of political science at Syracuse University and author of the book “A Culture of Conspiracy.”

But what exactly makes conspiracy theories attractive?

“Research suggests that people are attracted to conspiracy theories when one or more psychological needs are frustrated. The first of these needs is epistemic, which is related to knowing the truth and having clarity and certainty.

The other needs are existential, which is related to the need to feel safe and to have some control over things that are happening around us, and social, which is related to the need to maintain our self-esteem and feel positive about the groups that we belong to,” said Karen Douglas, a professor of social psychology at the University of Kent who specializes in the psychology of conspiracy theories.

Additionally, many people believe in conspiracy theories because of their unconventional nature.

“Conspiracy theories often claim special knowledge about the world that others don't have. Those who believe in conspiracy theories think that they form an elite group who have an understanding of the world that is superior to the general population, and that is a major attraction,” Barkun said.

From theories that explain a paranormal event to theories providing an alternative story behind wars, diseases, or deaths, it is safe to assume that there is a theory out there for everyone.

“This perspective essentially means that anyone can fall into conspiracy theories if they have needs that are not being met at any particular time. This is perhaps one explanation

why we tend to see many conspiracy theories when things happen like the sudden deaths of celebrities or during pandemics,” Douglas said.

While many possess the belief that conspiracy theorists and those who believe in conspiracies are simple-minded people who might be mentally unwell, it is important to note that, often, this is not the case.

“People are looking for ways to understand what is happening and try to cope with difficult circumstances. A simple explanation is often not very appealing in such cases.

People assume that a big event must also have a big or more sinister cause, which is why conspiracy theories can appeal under these circumstances,” Douglas said.

However, for others, the simple explanation that conspiracy theories offer makes them alluring.

“Conspiracy theories take complicated situations and make them appear simpler. They claim that complicated events or situations have a clear, simple cause and can be easily understood. That’s one of the main attractions that conspiracy theories have,” Barkun said.

In the past, conspiracy theories were hard to come by— people had to actively search for them if they wanted to know what they were. This has since changed as conspiracy theorists have found the perfect way to disseminate information: the internet. As the spread of information through technology becomes more normalized, it is important to distinguish between true and false, according to Barkun, and Identifying a conspiracy theory is becoming an increasingly valuable skill.

“If you want to identify a conspiracy theory, know that, in general, conspiracy theories reflect three major principles. One is that nothing is as it seems. Two is that nothing happens by accident. Three is that everything is connected,” Barkun said.

“By and large, those three principles can be found in most conspiracy theories.”

21 SCOTLIGHT JANUARY 2024

1969 Moon Landing AUDREY FINIGAN

The United States landed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon in 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission. Many people, however, believe the entire operation was a sham. The conspiracy started with Bill Kaysing, a former U.S. Navy officer who worked for one of the rocket manufacturers for NASA’s Apollo missions. Kaysing claimed to have inside information proving that the Apollo 11 mission did not land men on the moon.

Opponents of the mission use evidence from the moon landing videos to legitimize their claims of falsity. One example is that many people pointed out that the flag planted on the moon

appeared to be rippling in the wind, even though there is no wind on the moon. NASA credited the flag’s odd appearance to the metal rod designed to keep the flag upright in the absence of wind.

The moon landing conspiracists also describe possible motives for the government to fake the landing.

According to the Institute of Physics, common explanations given by the moon landing deniers include that the government wanted to win the space race against the USSR during the Cold War or that the government needed to distract the public from what was happening in the Vietnam War.

FAMOUS CONSP Flat Earth AUDREY FINIGAN

Flat Earth is one of today’s most wellknown conspiracy theories. As described by the name, the theory suggests that the Earth is not round but flat. The Flat Earth Society is the leading group behind this theory. According to Flat Earthers, the world is on a two-dimensional plane with no end, rather than a globe, and the sun and moon orbit the Earth.

Various theories to explain Flat Earther’s claims have surfaced over the years; however, scientists continue to discredit most ideas. One of the Flat Earth Society’s most prominent theories is that if the Earth were a globe, the horizon would be curved, but it appears flat, meaning the Earth is flat. This, along with some of their other theories, can be

discredited by NASA’s many pictures from space that show the Earth’s curvature.

After NASA published the photographs of the Earth from space, flat Earthers began to distrust NASA and other government organizations.

They believe the government has falsified these images of a spherical Earth. According to the Flat Earth Society, some possible motives for faking the images would be to maintain the legitimacy of the 1969 moon landing–which many flat Earthers also think is fake–and for politicians to use and profit off of the government’s space budget.

Art by Sienna Reinders

JANUARY 2024 SCOTLIGHT 22

Area 51 ARIANNA ZHU

The Area 51 conspiracy theory is based on the highly classified U.S. Air Force facility at Groom Lake, Nevada.

Believers claim that government scientists reverse engineer alien technology at Area 51 and that innovations like the stealth fighter were from aliens. Because of many alleged UFO sightings around the facility, many believe that the remains of crashed UFOs are stored there as well.

Bob Lazar, a former government physicist, is said to be the whistleblower for the theory. Lazar came forward in 1989 with his personal account of reverse engineering alien technology for the U.S. military. He claimed that he was given access to

alien materials that were gathered from a UFO that crashed in Roswell, New Mexico.

Dubbed Dreamland or Groom Lake, an extension of the Area 51 theory claims that, in addition to alien technology, Area 51 also studies time travel. As for the government’s response to this theory, they continue to stick with their official description of the military base, saying “details of Area 51 are classified for purposes of national security.” However, according to conspiracy theorists, this explanation only adds to the evidence that confirms the Area 51 theory is true.

IRACY THEORIES Birds Aren't Real ARIANNA ZHU

A Generation Z conspiracy theory, Birds Aren’t Real, is not quite what it seems. Claiming that the government replaced all birds with surveillance drones in the 1970s, this theory seems like one of the most farfetched ones out there. Although there is variation in defining the theory, the general consensus is that birds perch on power lines to charge, poop on cars as a tracking method, and United States President John F. Kennedy was assassinated because he was reluctant to exterminate birds.

Peter McIndoe created Birds Aren’t Real on a whim in January 2017. After seeing Trump supporters

counter-protesting the 2017 Women’s March in Memphis, Tennessee, McIndoe spontaneously wrote “Birds Aren’t Real” on a poster and improvised the conspiracy. Footage of McIndoe went viral, and Birds Aren’t Real was born.

However, McIndoe revealed in 2021 that he and the Bird Brigade — the name for followers of the theory — do not believe the theory. McIndoe described the theory as a “mass coping mechanism” for Gen Z. As of 2023, the Bird Brigade has amassed over 401,000 followers on Instagram. Members can often be found at heated protests hefting “Birds Aren’t Real” signs.

23 SCOTLIGHT JANUARY 2024

THE PERVASIVE INFLUENCE OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES AUDREY FINIGAN

In 2002, conspiracy theorist Bart Sibrel confronted Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, outside of a hotel in Beverly Hills, according to History.com. He verbally berated Aldrin, calling him a liar, and in response, Aldrin punched him in the face.

Today, it is easier than ever for people to fact-check things they hear or read online. Websites like Snopes fact-check sites to ensure media outlets are telling the truth, and this ability to fact-check can reduce the impact of conspiracies on society. However, if people do not use objective sources, the misinformation continues to be propagated.

“On every issue, there needs to be reputable reporting and reputable information, so people know what the facts are,” said Izz LaMagdeleine, a National Science Foundation (NSF) fact-checking fellow at Snopes.

The Sibrel incident is part of a broader context involving conspiracy theories and their societal implications. While many view conspiracy theories merely as speculative notions, some individuals take them to extreme levels.

As a hoax in 2020, Matty Roberts created a Facebook invitation to “Storm Area 51.” According to Vox, over 2 million people RSVP’d. However, the actual turnout was minimal, indicating that, for this particular conspiracy, people may have treated it as an online joke rather than a genuine call to action.

It is often difficult to discern genuine conspiracy theorists from people who are joking or want attention. This is evident in the Birds Aren’t Real conspiracy because the theory’s creator admitted to starting it as a joke.

Misinformation is not the only factor that plays into conspiracy theories. While many of the most well-known conspiracies are relatively harmless, some exist to spread messages of hate and instigate violence, such as the great replacement theory, which claims that Jewish people are plotting to oust white people as the majority population in the United States through immigration and high birth rates in nonwhite populations.

This theory gained attention in 2022, when a shooter in Buffalo, New York, killed 10 people, all of whom were black, according to National Public Radio (NPR). The suspect had

previously posted a racist document online filled with similar ideas to the great replacement theory.

The shooting in Buffalo serves as an example of how conspiracies can spread to create extremist groups and ideas, affecting the safety of American citizens.

“We cannot change people’s minds. You just have to give people the facts and information and go from there,” LaMagdeleine said.

On every issue, there needs to be reputable reporting and reputable information so people know what the facts are."

IZZ LAMAGDELEINE, NSF FACT-CHECKING FELLOW

25 OPINION JANUARY 2024

Thrifting culture undermines underprivileged consumers MYLES HU

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hrifting continues to make its way into mainstream fashion; however, its modern adaptations now come at the expense of lowerincome consumers, the demographic who made thrifting trendy in the first place.

Thrifting originally became popular in America during the Great Depression of the 1930s, when struggling families turned to thrift stores for affordable clothing. Recently, the thrifting industry has seen a huge popularity boost, especially as wearing vintage clothing has become a huge fashion trend among Gen Z. Today, approximately 16% to 18% of all Americans shop at thrift stores, almost matching the 21.3% that shop in major department stores, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Correlating to this pattern is the similar growth of resale culture, a subset of thrifting where people buy things for cheap from secondhand stores and then resell them for higher prices, often online. However, lowerincome consumers are one crucial demographic being negatively impacted by increased mainstream thrifting.

According to Zipdo’s Essential Thrift Store Industry Statistics in 2023, thrift store items are, on average, priced at 36% of their original retail price. In this regard, thrift stores cater to the underprivileged community, as shown by the direct correlation between a

city’s number of thrift stores and its homelessness rate. For example, Denver, Colorado, has the most thrift stores per capita in the U.S. and the 10th-highest rate of homelessness, according to the 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report.

Overall, we cannot deny that the increase in thrifting among middleclass Americans has shown no signs of slowing down. In a way, however, thrifting promotes fast fashion, or the mass production of cheap clothes based on current short-lived trends.

Many ordinary Americans purchase secondhand clothes in bulk at the thrift store “bins,” which hold heavily discounted items sold by the pound.

But these clothes are quickly thrown away at the first signs of wear and tear, so consumers then return to the bins to purchase their next bundle. The resulting cycle prevents people who actually need secondhand clothes for survival from getting them, limiting their options and forcing them to settle for less practical or comfortable clothes.

In addition, the patterns emerging from resale culture clearly exemplify the negatives of this ongoing trend. The growth of secondhand clothing shops and sites, such as Depop, exhibits the rising popularity of the resale business.

Depop has over 35 million users, 90% of which are under 26, according to Business of Apps. By using Depop and similar sites, resellers, whether they are full-time or simply young adults trying to make some extra money, are effectively taking cheaper consumer goods out of thrift stores.

Some Depop sellers solely resell clothes they no longer wear, not contributing to the exploitation of thrift prices, but others buy articles of

clothing straight from the bins and sell them for double or triple the price they purchased them at. This exhibits the issue of how resellers capitalize on low prices just to make a few extra dollars when these clothing items could go to disadvantaged people in need of cheap clothes.

Thrifting’s rise in popular culture likely won’t recede for many years.

However, thrifters and secondhand shoppers need to be careful not to buy too many items in bulk or resell these items for multiple times the price they purchased them at. We can mitigate the negative pattern that thrifting and resale culture have taken by consciously moderating the number of items we thrift, allowing lower-income consumers to have a plethora of options when purchasing the clothing necessities that were targeted for them in the first place.

Art by Emma Yin

JANUARY 2024 OPINION 26

Thrifting culture doesn’t harm the underprivileged: It’s personal choice REI BAXTER

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s thrifting, secondhand shopping, and resales become more trendy, many are upset that they take away resources meant for the underprivileged. However, the basis of this argument has its flaws.

Of course, reselling thrifted clothing at a much higher price than first purchased is unethical. But, when it comes to thrifting and secondhand shopping, this poses no threat to the supply of affordable clothing for impoverished people. For one, there is

no shortage of secondhand clothing.

Just because more people start to thrift does not mean that less cheap clothing will be available for people who need it.

According to the annual report in 2021 for Goodwill Industries, there was a 39% increase in donors since 2020, with around 1 million individual donors counted. Of course, this number is relatively small compared to the 37.9 million Americans living in poverty, according to the 2022 US census data.

However, the Goodwill report only accounts for the number of donors, not how many clothes each person actually donated. A 2020 report accounted for 40 million pounds of clothes. That number translates to hundreds of millions of clothes, maybe even billions.

People may argue that opportunistic thrifters take clothes out of the store to resell them at a much higher price, depreiving the underprivileged of them.

However, those people hardly make a difference to a thrift store's clothing stock. Out of a dozen or more thrift stores in the Bay Area alone, there will be thousands of clothing items in a single one.

Furthermore, many argue that an increase in thrifting culture promotes fast fashion, which is just incorrect. The definition of fast fashion is “inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by massmarket retailers in response to the latest trends,” according to Oxford Languages.

On the other hand, thrifting consists of secondhand clothing that usually was once bought from quality stores and then worn down and sold used, not new. In a way, it is the opposite of fast fashion—I would argue that it is slow fashion, literally and figuratively.

Slow fashion promotes ethical

production and sustainability. Thrifting already encapsulates this definition by its general environmentally friendly nature. Since thrift stores sell used products, less energy is needed to produce new items, and therefore less pollution is created. It is also better for people to donate their unwanted clothes to better use rather than throwing them away and harming the environment.

Other than the underprivileged community, teenagers are the people that thrift the most. The difference between the underprivileged community and an average teenager is the quantity of clothing a person buys at a thrift store and the reason for thrifting.

Most teenagers don’t thrift because it's easier to get cheap clothes but because thrift stores have timeless pieces that intrigue them. If every teenager’s goal in a thrift store were to find vintage clothes that suited their style, secondhand clothing would be a small fraction of their closet. In this way, financially comfortable people who still thrift make only a minor dent, if even one, in the available and affordable resources for underprivileged people.

All things considered, if a person who can afford more expensive items decides to thrift, there still wouldn’t be a detrimental impact on the underprivileged community's resources.

Not only is there an abundance of used clothing in thrift stores, but most teenagers, who are the majority of financially comfortable thrifters, only buy a few items from thrift stores if they find what they like. Taking a few articles of clothing out of millions to billions of secondhand clothing does not have any substantial effect, so people should be allowed to thrift however they like.

27 OPINION JANUARY 2024

‘What I Eat in a Day’ videos serve harmful effects to viewers and other healthy adults in the United Kingdom, finding that even after their test subjects ate identical meals, their levels of blood triglycerides varied by 103%, glucose by 68% and insulin by 59%. Changing one’s diet to look or feel exactly like another person can be harmful because the food that fuels them won’t have the same effects on another body or lifestyle. hree delicious-looking meals are Some may argue that these videos shown in perfect lighting and are harmless because influencers make set to a catchy beat; what’s not them for entertainment. While this enticing about that? can be true, the videos showing the While scrolling through social media, number of calories in each dish or the one might find someone's "What I Eat in time of day they’re consumed can send a Day" video. Realistically, these videos viewers mixed messages about what don’t always represent what someone constitutes being healthy. eats every single day and can have According to Cambridge University, harmful effects on viewers. seeing contradictory information Many of the “What I Eat in a Day” about carbohydrates and dietary fats videos I’ve watched begin with the increased an individual’s confusion creator showing a clip of what their around nutrition, while exposure to body looks like, most of them being fit credible health recommendations for or lean. That image can influence people non-dietary behaviors didn’t. to believe they’ll look like the person if Thus, it would be helpful if the they eat the same meals but lead them creators prefaced their videos by stating to be disappointed when they still look in the beginning or caption that they the same. Ultimately, food affects our were craving more or less food that day bodies in different ways. or that they don’t eat like this daily, so According to the National Library viewers are more inclined to take what’s of Medicine, researchers conducted a shown with a grain of salt. study involving 1,002 twins People will post whatever they want, whether for informational purposes, like sharing a recipe, or for documenting purposes to keep followers updated on one’s personal life.

According to the National Library of Medicine, about 13% of young Art by Emma Yin

ALEXANDRA CHAN

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people experience an eating disorder by the age of 20, and 15-47% engage in disordered eating habits when exposed to social media content that promotes a thin body.

It would be too extreme to wish that all “What I Eat in a Day” videos didn’t exist based on the notion that they can perpetuate disordered eating or body dysmorphia. Many do actually show a varied and balanced diet.

The danger is how the viewer acts upon what they watch. When I first went vegan, I turned to the internet to learn how to make different plantbased dishes. Naturally, as I engaged with all this food content, many vegan influencers appeared on my Instagram explore page. The videos I watched were helpful and taught me how to cook with new ingredients, as well as make recipes I would never have thought of trying.

However, when I watched a vegan’s “What I Eat in a Day” video and started thinking that I needed to cut out carbs or avoid using oil, I realized that I was restricting my eating, so I made sure to stop watching it altogether to prevent a mental spiral of unhealthy comparisons.

I still love watching what people are cooking up, but I’m using it as meal inspiration rather than taking what someone consumes on a particular day as a step-by-step meal plan to follow daily.

As we savor these snapshots in the captivating realm of “What I Eat in a Day” videos, let’s stay aware that everyone’s journey with food is different.

After all, the most enticing recipes are often the ones we create for ourselves.

JANUARY 2024 OPINION 28

Satire: Why America's old politicians should stick to bingo nights JASNEH SASAN

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n age-old question: how old is too old for political office?

For Americans, the answer is simple: the sky is the limit. Literally. Just visit the United States’ most glorious nursing home, Capitol Hill. Most of the politicians there may as well have lived through the American Revolution.

While the French started their millionth revolution after the French government raised the retirement age from 62 to 64, American politicians may start one if there were an age limit for political office.

President Joe Biden, the leader of the free world, is 81, and he is still a decade younger than the oldest senator, Charles Grassley of Iowa. According to the Pew Research Center, the median age in the U.S. Senate is 64, with over 50 of the 100 senators being over the age of 65. I wasn’t aware that the term “senator” was shorthand for “senior citizen.”

When asked about pressing world issues, Biden turns to profess his undying love for “chocky chip

ice cream.” You know things are getting really bad when the White House has to release statements confirming that the President did not, in fact, agree to exterminate millions of civilians on national television. He simply could not comprehend the interviewer’s question.

Biden, if reelected as president, would start his second term at the bright, young age of 82 and possibly end at 86. His opponent, 77-year-old former-president Donald Trump, isn’t much younger. Luckily for him, his age happens to be the least of his concerns.

Apparently, the 2024 ballot will be a game of “who is least likely to be taken out by a semi-strong gust of wind?” This may be the first election in American history where the vice president will have to do more than just smile, or in Kamala Harris’ case, cackle for the camera.

Despite this, Biden may not even be the worst case. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has appeared to visibly freeze for extended periods of time during press conferences. When asked about his plans for retiring, the Senator confirmed that he does not plan to step down from his position until the 2026 election.

Former senator Dianne Feinstein, who passed away mid-term this year, had no plans on stepping down from her seat in office before 2024 despite growing concerns about her physical health.

Honestly, I respect the grind.

Workaholism is a uniquely American trait; it seems that Americans will latch onto their jobs forever or literally die trying.

Nevertheless, if you’re searching for the key to immortality, the first place to look would be the White House.

Apparently, eating ice cream for breakfast adds an extra 20 years to your life-just ask Biden and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Jokes aside, however, this is a grave matter. As much as I’d love to sit in on Senate bingo nights, it is imperative that American leadership is representative of the American people. It’s time to start looking for candidates with social security numbers that aren’t in the single digits.

Art by Emma Yin

31 FEATURES JANUARY 2024

Games for gray matter How do games impact the progession of cognitive diseases?

EMMA GOLDMAN & HAILEE BYUN

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ccording to the National Safety Council, it's the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

One in five women and one in 10 men will suffer from it. Nationwide, 5.8 million people are afflicted with it. It has no cure.

Although often overlooked, it is none other than Alzheimer’s disease—a progressive disease characterized by memory loss as well as other important mental functions according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to Harvard Medical School, between 30% and 40% of adults suffering from Alzheimer’s reside in nursing homes, while the remaining may live with family or at home.

Regardless of where they reside, many adults with memory impairment are encouraged to play games, either in memory care facilities or even by family members.

As such, many facilities designate positions to specialize in game engagement for their residents.

Director of Activities Kathleen Sullivan at San Carlos Elms, an assisted living facility, mentions the importance of games and their benefits for residents. They enjoy word

Photo by Nicholas Lee

games in particular.

“We play a game called word challenge. You start with one word then try to come up with as many words or phrases or words within that word or phrase. And that one keeps the mind occupied and the brain engaged. Separately, for our memory care, we make it a little bit easier where we'll say, ‘Name things that

JANUARY 2024 FEATURES 32

start with the letter C, or name things that are orange,’ to keep their minds working and our residents just love it,” Sullivan said.

John Solano, an administrator at Gordon Manor in Redwood City, stresses that besides helping with brain function, games help boost residents’ confidence.

“It helps with self esteem and works off depression. We see very early on that when people start to lose a word or they can't remember something, it becomes very frustrating, so giving them something to accomplish or creating some self confidence is good for emotional health. We're trying to give them the tools to succeed because it makes them feel better about their situation. It’s quality of life things,” Solano said.

Eric Widera is a professor of Clinical Medicine in the division of geriatrics at the University of California San Francisco. He emphasizes the importance of

acknowledging the individuality and differences of dementia patients.

“One word of advice is to find authentic ideas that are of interest to the individual with dementia. You also want to tailor these activities of the individual with dementia,” Widera said.

According to Sova Healthcare, games engage patients and maintain close relationships.

Mental stimulation such as games can also be used as a preventative mode to lower the risk of dementia in the future. According to Dementia Australia, adult literacy activities reduce the risk by 11%, mental activities such as crosswords reduce the risk by 9%, and arts and crafts can reduce it by 7%.

“Any kind of game is so important. Even doing a word search a day or sudoku helps the brain. It’s all about making sure the brain isn’t idle. You want a brain that is constantly working,” Sullivan said.

Peter Tao, MBA

International President’s Circle l 650.504.7588 Cell DRE 01348092 peter.tao@cbnorcal.com petertaoproperties.com 580 El Camino Real San Carlos, CA 94070 REALTY