VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 2
Advice Index Advice
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Letters from the Editors
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Glenforest
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Glenforest Gets A Makeover
Community
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Top 5 Things to do in Toronto this Summer
National
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Unfolding the SNC-Lavalin Controversy Students across Ontario walk out to protest Ford government changes Ford Government's Changes to Autism Program Will Hurt Many Families Across the Province
Global
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Have You Ever Seen A Black Hole? Anti-Abortion Laws Abolished in South Korea Notre-Dame Fire Explained Kyle Unger's 'Murder' of Brigette Grenier Operation Varsity Blues
Culture
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The Chilling Exorcism of Anneliese Michel Who is BLACKPINK: Their Global Impact Fall Out Boy's Legacy: The Youngblood Chronicles Nipsey Hussle: Remembering the Rapper
Science
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Understanding Depression in Artificial Intelligence Through Different Perspectives Why People Conform Remember their names: Three iconic women
Mathematics
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Can a Unicellular Organism Solve the Traveling Salesman Problem?
Editorial
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Toxic Masculinity: A Media Influence To Buy: Milk, Eggs, and Joy
Lifestyle
"My older brother's going away to university this September! As proud as I am of him, I really don't want him to go, because I'm going to miss him so much! What can I do to cope without him?
Credits
Teacher Supervisors
Mr. Gordon & Ms. Axon
Editors in Chief
Eric Zhang Anushka Goyal Continued on Pg 24
Co-Editor in Chief
Response 2:
Response 1: Hey there, First of all, it’s very common for the younger sibling to miss their older sibling when they go away for college/university. It’s something that I’ve personally gone through myself. Siblings generally share very close bonds with each other, no matter the age difference. Separation can may surely cause both of you feel lonelier for a period of time. However, this can be circumvented by simply keeping in contact with each other. You can easily reach your brother through a call or text. Establishing a general time for when you can both call each other is the best thing to do, as you won’t be bothering him when he doesn’t have free time, or vice versa. However, text messages can be read whenever, so feel free to send those to your brother at any time--just try not to send messages to him during class. Another thing to take into account
would be exam season. It’s important to let your brother have his space during that time, as he would most likely be stressed just as you wouldn’t want your studies interrupted either. For the first week or so, you may feel lonely without your older brother. However, this will change soon, as you continue living the way you have been. With your brother away from you for now, this is a good opportunity to go out and enjoy yourself with friends. When your brother comes back from school, it’ll be a good opportunity to go out to do something you enjoy with him. But for now, just try to have fun with life as it is. Good luck, Talon Times Advice
Hi! I just want to start off by saying that having siblings leave for university is not supposed to be easy and that many people are going through the same thing. So your feelings are completely valid… but it might not be as bad as you’re imagining. For the first few weeks, it might be tough, but keep in mind you can always video call or text if you need to talk. If you’re worried about losing your connection with him, be persistent and make sure you stay in contact. Maybe you guys could agree on a specific time to video call to ensure that you stay close. Other than staying connected online, remember that your situation is temporary. University doesn’t last forever and I’m sure those few years will fly by. Additionally, your brother will most likely come home for the holidays or when he is on break. Now, focusing on you: If you want to elimi-
nate as much loneliness as possible, surround yourself with people who you genuinely love to be around. This will not only keep you busy and distracted, but it will also help fill the gap left by your brother.
Response 1: YAY! Congratulations on your acceptance! Even though there are many things that might seem scary, university is one of the best times of your life--you’re finally adulting! Making friends has not always been the easiest for a lot of people, but the best thing you can do is join a club or a community in the university that you like. That way, you can connect with people who also have similar interests as you, and the whole task of finding friends to share common interests with will seem less daunting. Also, try and get to know some people in your classes. That way you’ll
Anushka Goyal Talon Times Co-Editor in Chief
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- Anonymous
Getting your grades up is also another responsibility you will have. You are going to school for education and even though being a socialite can be very fun, you should not forget the main reason you are in school. Before making any plans with your new friends, make sure all your assignments, tests, and studying is being taken care of. I suggest using an agenda. It may seem very old fashioned and tedious, but when you are recording your duties and tasks every day in the agenda, you are slowly training yourself to be more organized and efficient. When you know what to do and set aside time to finish that To-do list, you will take off
Cheers to a successful 28th volume, and to the many more to come!
Stay in there, Talon Times Advice Columnist
“My best friend and I had a small argument a little while ago, and I thought it was going to be okay in some time because it was a petty issue, but it's been a month and she refuses to speak to me! What do I do?”
have someone to talk to, and you’ll be able to establish a study group with some friends; something that will benefit you during the stressful exam season and something that’s always great for those quick snack runs. Making friends does not have to be as scary and as intimidating as everyone makes it out to be so, honestly, be yourself and explore your likes and dislikes and you’ll make some amazing friends along the way. Remember, you can’t please everybody and if someone doesn’t like you for the person that you are, there will always be someone else who does!
I would like to thank Mr. Gordon for being there and supporting the entire team throughout the year - I’m not exaggerating when I say that none of this would be possible without him. His constant encouragement, help with editing and publishing, and reassurance and help during times of conflict are major factors that have led to the successful publications this year. A big thank you also to Mr. Vitols and Ms. Axon, who also helped edit the newspaper and ensure that what we were publishing was sensible and well-worded. As well, thank you to my co-editor in chief, Eric, who handled the layout for each edition and made it look as great as it did. A final thank you to the entire team, without whom there would be no purpose, for cooperating and working so hard on each edition!
Overall, having your brother out of town may be harder, but it does not mean that you won't still be able to talk, support, and love each other. Keep in mind that this is a great opportunity to take more time for yourself.
Dear Talon Times,
Hey New Chapter,
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vividly remember the day, three years ago, when I picked up an application to be a copy editor on the Talon Times team. I remember handing it in very nervously, hoping dearly that I would get the position, because it had always been my dream to work for a school newspaper. I remember being absolutely ecstatic when I found out that I’d gotten the position. Being a part of the team as a copy editor and journalist for two years not only allowed me to publish my own and genuinely read other journalists’ writings, but also to meet many like-minded individuals. When I was given the opportunity to be the editor-in-chief for this school year, I knew it was one I didn’t want to pass up. Being the editor-in-chief of Talon Times this year has been a challenging yet very rewarding experience for me. It definitely wasn’t easy trying to balance schoolwork, other extracurriculars, and trying to make sure everyone was meeting the deadlines, but with a lot of support and motivating words from my friends, I was able to make things work. Making sure that each edition published met the high standards set by the previous years’ teams definitely added pressure, but the confidence and leadership skills that I developed definitely made the stress worth it. I am really grateful for this experience, and look forward to all that is offered in the years to come.
- Sibling Woes
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The Night Owl's Guide to Catching Worms How to Survive the Last Few Weeks of School Sleep Myths Damaging Your Health McDonald's vs. National Obesity Summer Reads 2019: 5 Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down A Beginner's Guide to Boba
Letters Letters from from the the Editors Editors Anushka Goyal
Dear Talon Times,
the stress and make studying a bit easier. When things get hard, be sure to find a stress reliever that helps you cleanse your mind so that you can go back to a relaxed state. In the end, just always remember one thing: Good health is always your top priority. You can take it however you interpret that, but make sure your mental and physical health is at its best with everything you do. Do not commit to anything you are not able to and do not try to conform to someone’s expectations. This is your life and you have to live it to the fullest, with no regrets. Best of Luck! Talon Times Advice
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 32
was immediately interested when I read my first issue of Talon Times back in ninth grade. I was amazed that a school club could produce something that looked so legitimate! I was especially captivated by the amazing graphic design work that has gone into each issue. That ultimately was what inspired me to apply for this club as a graphic designer. I remember being pleasantly surprised when I received an acceptance to be a layout designer two years ago. I had no graphic design experience, nor any idea of how to do layout designs. But fast forward to today and with a little help, I now stand as one of the co-editors in chief and much more skilled in graphic design than two years ago. Talon Times is something that is both valuable and integral to our school. It is also a medium of expression for students to express their individual ideas, content, and opinions. I can tell you that there is nothing more satisfying than to see someone else reading an article or comic you created. It also offers a unique student perspective into the world around us and is tailored to talk about subjects meaningful to us students. It is truly a newspaper “for the students, by the students”. I would like to thank Mr. Gordon for supporting this club and our team despite of the internet and all the technology around us. This club would be nothing without him and I am grateful for his constant support and help with printing our newspapers. A big shout out to Mrs. Axon as well as Mr. Vitols for editing our articles and maintaining the professionalism in our newspaper. Thank you to our journalists, copy editors, advice columnists, photographers and comic artists. Without all of your hard work, there would be no paper to publish. Finally, a big thanks to my co-editor in chief Anushka, who was amazing working with the journalists and advice columnists to produce so many amazing articles this year. We couldn’t have done this without her. Toodles to an amazing 28th volume this year, and hopefully more in the future! Eric Zhang Talon Times Co-Editor in Chief
Eric Zhang
Co-Editor in Chief
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 4
Glenforest
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Community
Photo: TripCentral
Photo: Zoomer Radio
Photo: To Do Canada
Photo: Toronto Life
Photo: To Do Canada
Top 5 Things to do in Toronto this Summer By: Aliza Lallani
A Photo: Eric Zhang
Glenforest Gets A Makeover By: Mateja Perc
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lenforest was constructed in 1968, with a 2016 blueprint of the school overlaid on top. In 2016, it was announced that Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School (GGMSS) was shutting down due to low pupil involvement. Because of this upcoming closure, the school’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Vocational (VOC) programs are being moved to Glenforest.
In order to accommodate the influx of new students, the Peel Board has approved an expansion of our school to include a new 13,000 sq. ft. addition to the existing building. This will come in the form of new classrooms next to our current south parking lot. Renovations to 23,000 sq. ft. of the current building are also planned, including fully renovated teaching kitchens, as well as cosmetology and landscape program classrooms. These changes will be made to accommodate the new ASD and VOC
programs. The expansion and renovations are well welcomed in our school, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Although it has seen renovations in those 50 years, there are currently many renewals needed of basic utilities, like plumbing and ductwork in the building. According to the board’s School Information Profile of Glenforest, as of April 2016, there were almost 15 million dollars ($14 693 760) worth of these renewals projected for the
next 5 years. 91.4% of these were listed as “urgent/ high need”. However, whether or not the expansion will include some of these utility updates is not clear. Either way, it goes without saying that the expansion itself is needed for the school. The same 2016 report on Glenforest announced that utilization of the school was at 127%, and there was a shortage of 280 pupil places. The addition of new students will likely make this situation even worse.
Because of this lack of space, the students at GGMSS have stayed on site, now being referred to as Glenforest South. It is still unclear when a full integration of the students into Glenforest will occur, as the expansion has continually been pushed back, from the initial start date of summer 2017 to the current expected start date of summer 2019. It has been announced that the changes will not be finished in time for the beginning of the 2019 – 2020 school year,
which might mean that the integration won’t happen until early 2020 (second semester) or fall 2020 (first semester of the following year).
fter a long year of freezing rain, turbulent winds and seemingly never-ending snow storms, it is safe to say that summer break is eagerly awaiting. And while some may be planning to travel abroad, there is no shortage of activities to do in the city. From action-packed festivals to breathtaking performances, here is just a sample of the many ways you can make the most of your summer in Toronto:
from July 5 to 21. Established to showcase the city’s diverse cuisine and fine-dining experiences, this event offers three-course lunch and dinner menus, promising a flavorful start to the summer season. With over 200 restaurants involved, there is sure to be something for everyone.
Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) Boasting a wide variety of amusement park rides, food and shopping experiences, it is no surprise that the CNE remains one of North America’s largest fairs. Spanning the Summerlicious Calling all foodies! One weeks of August 16 to Septemof Toronto’s most popular cu- ber 2, the event also presents linary celebrations returns a working farm and celebrity
children and adults.
chef demonstrations, ensuring a unique and unforgettable experience. And for those who prefer to sit back and relax, enjoy the live entertainment, including concerts and a 3-day air show.
icated supporting people with epilepsy and their families. Admission is granted by donation, and proceeds go towards helping the tens of thousands of people living with the disorder in Toronto.
International BuskerFest Featuring one-of-a-kind entertainment, the Toronto International BuskerFest has comedy, magic and everything in between! Beginning on the 30th of August, the festival welcomes a wide range of performers including fire jugglers, acrobats, beat boxers and even sword swallowers. The best part? The annual event is the largest fundraiser for Epilepsy Toronto, an organization ded-
Toronto Islands With all the hustle and bustle of the city, it is common to long for an escape every once in a while. An exotic vacation. An island getaway. It all sounds so refreshing! However, this also means high costs. Toronto Islands offers a more feasible and affordable break from the downtown area. Only a short ferry ride away from the city, the Island extends a variety of activities for both Music Festival
Paddle boats, canoes and kayaks are all available for rent. Bicycles are accessible as well, and a quick ride or walk can take visitors to one of four sandy beaches – Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point, Gibraltar Point and Ward’s Island. Large grassy fields also span the mass, making it an ideal location for picnics. Other popular sites include a theatre, nature paths and an amusement park. Not to mention, the Island is home to several restaurants, cafés and food stands, many of which offer some of Canada’s very own delicacies!
As one of the city’s top summer music events, the Toronto Summer Music Festival unites world-renowned artists for a stellar lineup of performances. For its 12th season, Toronto Summer Music presents a “beyond borders” theme, celebrating the cross-cultural influences that have pervaded classical music. The festival also offers masterclasses, lectures, interviews and workshops, focused on enhancing performance skills and educating the public about classical music.
Perhaps it is fitting that Glenforest will be getting such a major update exactly 50 years after its construction. One thing is for sure, it’s sure to be well welcomed by both the current and future students of our school.
Photo: Square One
Square One’s Food District By: Ruth Zelleke
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Photo: Mississauga News
n April 4, 2019, Square One gladly announced its new opening in one of the sections of the mall. Food District is a large market-like space that consists of delectable food spots for shoppers and food fanatics. From heavy barbeque dishes to sweet and light macarons, Food District has options for everybody’s palette.
Prior to opening, the mall had funded many culinary artists to showcase their talents through small games and events that gave a sneak peak to the district. There was even a red carpet for chef Michael G, and people were offered free cooking classes. On the opening day, Mississauga's very own Bonnie Crombie and Hazel McCallion attended their version of ribbon cutting. Prior to the officially opening, they joined two other significant figures to smash open a
Food District cake. Additionally, the district was offering a free Chopping bag, a 2-in1 bag and apron, as well as a gift card that was valued from $10 to $50 to the first 100 people who attended the Grand Opening. One of the food spots I had the opportunity to try was Black Jack’s BBQ. The menu was not as big as other restaurants considering it is a part of a food court, however the prices were fairly reasonable.
There was buttermilk fried chicken that was served with fries and three sauce options. The chicken was very tender and gave an incredibly hot and spicy sensation. The waiters were very friendly and the decor resembled a very industrialized Southern ambiance. Aside from the actual district, there was another opening worth mentioning. The Rec Room is an adult lounge that has games, food, and lounge spots that give an op-
portunity for shoppers to hang around. This lounge opened a few weeks before the Food District, however, it did not get any less attention than its competitor. Overall, I think Square One is really emphasizing the importance of the food culture and is aiming to share the talents of many local and international brands to the general public. The new opening is a great move for not only the mall, but also Mississauga.
It has enticed many foodies and critics to come to the city and be a part of the community, and its new additions are most definitely places that you should check out.
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 6
National Unfolding the SNC-Lavalin Controversy
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National
Photo: TVO
Photo: Post Media
By: Rehana Lalani
criminal allegations were deJanuary 14, 2019: Jody termined to result unemploy- Wilson-Raybould is shuffled ver the past few months, ment for millions. to the Veterans Affair departthe Canadian government and Trudeau is criticized ment has undergone absolute November 2, 2015: After for demoting her by the pubturmoil, due to the ongoing the Liberals won the federal lic. controversy surrounding the election, Jody Wilson-RaySNC-Lavalin Affair. Every bould is named Minister of February 9, 2019: Globe move of those involved, in- Justice and Attorney General and Mail newspaper reports cluding Canada’s Prime Min- of Canada. She is the first In- that Trudeau and his aids atister Justin Trudeau, Jody Wil- digenous woman to hold this tempted to press Wilson-Rayson-Raybould, and Michael position. bould on the SNC-Lavalin Wernick, has been plastered matter. Reports have stated across the Canadian media. September 17, 2018: Jus- that the reason Trudeau reloThere has been speculation tin Trudeau and Jody Wil- cated her was due to her lack of from international politicians, son-Raybould discuss the cooperation and her misalignfederal parties, and the general SNC-Lavalin case at length. ment of ideals with the Liberal public as to what the Liberal Wilson-Raybould has the op- parties on the case. Trudeau government’s future will look tion to overrule the prosecu- denies misconduct, and soliclike in Canada. Below is a tion and instead focus on a itor-client privilege prevents timeline outlining the crucial settlement with the company. Wilson-Raybould from speakevents throughout this nation- The prosecution confirms that ing on the matter. al affair. it will not negotiate a remediaFebruary 12, 2019: Jody tion agreement with SNC-LaFebruary 19, 2015: valin, and this is still being Wilson-Raybould resigns as SNC-Lavalin, a Montre- challenged by the company in minister of Veteran Affairs. al-based engineering, con- Federal Court. struction, and technology February 19, 2019: Wilcorporation is charged with son-Raybould attends a conOctober 10, 2018: corruption. They allegedly SNC-Lavalin’s shares fall fidential Liberal cabinet meetpaid $44.7 million dollars in 14 percent and close on the ing where Trudeau invited her bribery money to increase Toronto Stock exchange at to speak. She did not discuss business in Libya between the $44.86. the events of the meeting to years of 2001 and 2011. These the media, stating that she was
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unsure what she was legally al- sion on SNC-Lavalin. She felt lowed to say to the public. that that the purpose of many discussions with Trudeau and February 21, 2019: Clerk Wernick “put extraordinary of the Privy Council, Michael pressure on her to change her Wernick, defends the Liberal mind”, however, she could not government’s handling of the clearly reflect their intent. She SNC-Lavalin case, denying stated there was a “consistent any impropriety and govern- and sustained effort to politment misconduct. ically interfere” in the matter, and when she questioned the February 27, 2019: Jody political involvement, PMO Wilson-Raybould testifies at Senior Staffer Bouchard told the justice committee, solid- Wilson-Raybould that they ifying her stance on the issue “need to get re-elected”. and mentioning a number of key points. Wilson-Raybould The SNC-Lavalin controstated that she received ‘veiled- versy continues to unfold, with threats,’ both in person and via opposition remarks from both text and email about her deci- New Democratic Party Leader
Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer. The future of Canadian politics is uncertain, as Trudeau and the Liberal party continue to receive backlash from citizens who were once their supporters. The next Canadian federal election is slated for Monday October 21st, 2019. Only the results of this election will show if the SNC-Lavalin affair has really eliminated the Liberal Party of Canada from its majority seating.
Ford Government’s Changes to Autism Program Will Hurt Many Families Across the Province E
Photo: TVO
Photo: Press Progress
Students across Ontario walk out to protest Ford government changes By: Tehreem Iqbal
from the Canadian Charter protest--some even included of Rights and Freedoms, and puns and catch phrases to inwalked out on April 4, 2019 crease effectiveness. n June 7, 2018, Doug at 1:15pm to peacefully proMain concerns came Ford of the Progressive test. from those in school as larger Conservative Party of Ontario class sizes would put children Over 675 schools particwon the province’s election in at a great disadvantage, comipated to say no to mandatory search for their new premier promising safety and fueling online courses, increased class with 76 seats out of 124, and the slogan “For the people”, prom- sizes, major cuts to the autism inadequate learning, instead ising gas price-cuts, tax-cuts, program, job cuts of almost of teaching resilience. Enforcand lower hydro rates. Howev- six thousand teachers, the cell- ing such rules would make er, earlier this year, the provin- phone ban, cuts to arts pro- evacuation and stay-in-place cial government announced grams’ fundings, and OSAP instances extremely difficult cuts to the education system, cuts for low-income families and dangerous as keeping leaving citizens worried, and with the argument that the track of a large number of sparking the beginning of the cuts are unjust and take away students is surely challeng#StudentsSayNo movement. the human right to education ing, especially when there is a As a response to the numerous for many. Many even wrote broad range of individuals in concerning changes being im- letters and sent videos to show the room with different capaplemented, students practised their dissent. On the day of bilities. Additionally, making their freedom of peaceful as- the walkout, students put their sure every student is learning sembly, freedom of expression, creativity out on paper and and performing to their fullest and freedom of association came out with large signs to potential will become more of
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a challenge than it already is, resulting in students receiving insufficient attention and assistance both in and out of class hours. On the contrary, with cuts for arts programs, many elective classes are put at risk of being cancelled and because of a greater workload put on faculty, extracurriculars will also be cut, leaving the arts and creativity behind. With a decrease in autism funding, children would be put at risk, receive poor aid, and be put in the same classroom as students of differing abilities, creating a recipe for disaster. The wide variety of students (mental health needs, anxious, ones needing of extra assistance) will not be getting the education they deserve. Online courses are not
believed to be a solution for increased class sizes, as it does not make up for a suited learning environment, not to mention, factors like unaffordability, unavailability of resources, and ineffectiveness of schooling come into play. With these points in mind, thousands of students walked out to stand up for themselves and others, knowing everyone deserves better, and that their education, a human right, must not be taken away. Adults may not take students seriously, but the whole walkout was organized entirely by students, proving the upcoming generation is stronger than ever. “The students of today are the doctors, teachers, engineers, writers, and artists
of tomorrow, if we do not have the correct resources for learning then we cannot grow to our full potential,” said the students behind the St. Edmund Campion Catholic Secondary School walkout, effectively showing the students today are the future, and determined to make a powerful one. With the aid of technology and passionate students determined to make change, word about the walkout spread immediately, allowing them to put their differences aside to unite as one, in hopes of reaching one common goal: to send a message that their basic rights to education cannot be cut.
By: Khyathi Rao
ver since Doug Ford swore in as the Premier of Ontario, he has been proposing changes to several programs and procedures so much so that news about these changes have become a routine to the residents of Ontario. Mainly consisting of funding cuts or cancellations of much needed services and programs, Ford’s changes has not progressed the average Ontario individual’s welfare; instead, he has put it in a seemingly worsening state in all aspects, including the quality and quantity of the governmental services provided. Among a few of these controversial changes were cuts to education, increasing average class size, changing policies regarding international OHIP coverage and reverting back to
Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS
the 1998 sex-ed curriculum. Along with the changes to the education system, the cuts in funding to individual members of the Ontario Autism Program has been highly debated upon. The province saw dozens of protests and rallies from teachers, students and concerned parents in support of changing back to the old policies of the education and Autism support program. The ‘old’ Autism program functioning under the Former Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, gave parents of autistic children the option to visit government-funded services or receive help in funding to pay for private institutions for therapy. However, this, as the Ford government was quick to point out, created a waitlist that just grows on and on,
without providing a solution to the many families that remain on it for as much as 31 weeks in hopes of getting just a consultation to see if their kid is eligible for government support. Echoing Ford, Lisa MacLeod - Minister of Children, Community and Social Services - stated how she “[had] heard how the autism program isn’t working for the families who need support for their children”, and is working towards making it more accessible to all the families that rely on it. Talking about the Ontario Autism Program before the changes were announced, Megan Ball Riden, a mother of two autistic children says it is very frustrating to see children referred back in December 2016 getting accepted into the program three years later. However, parents
like Ball Riden say they will not put high hopes on the new changes proposed by the Ford Government either, because “it’s just going to be like the past”. As per the changes being talked about, families that are eligible will receive up to $140,000 in total lifetime funding for a kid with autism. However the funding quota gets lower as the kid grows older. From two to seven years old, kids receive up to $140,000, but each year after that, only a maximum of $5000 will be given in treatment support. This price range does not align with the statistics released by the Ontario Autism Coalition, which says that a kid with autism that requires intensive care and therapy will require anywhere between
$50,000 and $80,000 annually. For many families across Ontario, it is a price far beyond what they can afford, and for those with two or more autistic children like Ball Riden, it is nearly impossible. Minister Lisa MacLeod claims that these are just few of the changes being proposed to achieve their goal of getting as many families off the waiting list as possible. According to a recent survey, only a third of the families that require assistance and therapy for their kids are actively taking part in therapy services. The other two-thirds is still on the waiting list, awaiting for an assessment. MacLeod believes the slow assessment process to be a contributing factor to the growing wait-lists and says the government is planning to
invest $2.75 million annually in diagnostic hubs to revamp the process and make it faster. This is a step towards getting younger kids into the program as quickly as possible, says MacLeod who says early intervention is important and effective. Along with the funding changes, the Ford Government has planned to take 14 out of 19 improvements put forth by the Ontario Autism Coalition into consideration. Government officials say they are bracing for protests and criticism, but know that their plan changes is the right way to go - to ensure a more equitable and effective process for eligible families.
VOLUME 28 , ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 8
Global
Have You Ever Seen A Black Hole? By: Mateja Perc
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n Wednesday, April 10th, 2019, it was announced that the Event Horizon Telescope had managed to capture the first real image of one of the most mysterious objects in our universe. “Today, EHT researchers reveal the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole and its shadow,” stated officials from the National Science Foundation. The black hole is located at the centre of the Messier 87 galaxy, with a mass 6.5 billion times that of the Sun. It would fit snugly into our entire solar
system, spanning about 38 bil- etry, treating individual telescopes spanning large distanclion kilometers across. es as “points” of one very large Despite this, snapping an dish. Algorithms are then used image of it has been the hard- to stitch together the data and est task astronomers have ever infer what it would look like if been faced with. The sheer dis- the dish was that size. tance between the hole and the The EHT is precisely Earth – 55 million light-years – would make it impossible to that: a planet-scale array of see with regular telescopes. In eight ground-based radio telefact, a telescope with a dish the scopes, giving it a resolution size of the entire planet would which would allow us to see be required. With the physi- a fly on the moon. Even with cal impossibility of this task, such a large telescope and resresearchers found a work- olution, the image is blurry, and one can only make out around. very big elements of the strucThe technique is called ture. very long baseline interferom-
By: Benjamin Mah
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n a long fight spanning over decades, South Korea’s Constitutional Court has finally decided to end the ban on illegal abortions. Huge roars and cheers of happiness erupted from protestors on the streets as a monumental decision had been made for the country of South Korea. Women’s rights activists, as well as feminists (both medically and scholarly) supported this choice, and celebrated it as a victory. However, many others, including Christian evangelical groups, strongly disagreed with the lifting of the ban. According to the previous laws, a doctor who performed abortions could face up to two years in prison, while wom-
It might not seem like much, but this image is the first visual evidence of black holes–and that’s a very big deal. More than just being proof, this data can be used to learn about these mysterious objects, and bring us one step closer to understanding our universe.
Photo: Jean-Pierre Luminet
en receiving the termination could face a maximum of one year in prison and a fine of two million won ($2325 CAD). But because of the end of this ban, women are allowed to receive abortions without breaking any laws.
be lifted. It is estimated that around 169,000 illegal abortions were performed in 2010, which means the number in 2016 could have been as high as 500,000.
tion ban limits women’s rights to pursue their own destinies, and violates their rights to health by limiting their access to safe and timely procedures.” “Embryos completely depend on the mother’s body for their survival and development, so it cannot be concluded that they are separate, independent living beings entitled to rights to life.”
Many big names are having thoughts on the decision on the ban. Moon Jae-In, the South Korean president (who is himself Catholic), did not comment on the issue, but has This has been a turnshown support for the couning point of South Korea’s The court has made the try’s #MeToo movement. anti-abortion laws that were decision that they will try to Numerous amount of introduced in 1953, and are terminate the ban completely by 2020. This could have been effort has been put into this finally being considered to be abolished in 2012, when 4 issue. In 2017, a doctor chal- lifted. It has been a significant seats were in favour of the ban lenged the ban to court, after victory for the women’s rights while 4 seats were against. A he was prosecuted for per- of South Korea, and despite survey conducted by the Korea forming around 70 illegal the groups that continue to oppose this decision, the maInstitute for Health and Social abortions in the same year. jority of the country is satisfied Affairs discovered that 75% of women between the ages of 15 According to a statement with what should have been to 44 believed the ban should issued by the court, “The abor- done decades ago. South Korea is still one of the very few developed countries that opposed abortion, except in cases of incest, rape, genetic disorders, or potential harm to the mother.
O
n April 15, 2019, the world was shocked. What had been a national symbol of France and an icon to the world was up in smoke--a massive fire had broken out beneath the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. At approximately 19:00 CEST, smoke and flames were spotted from miles away, and the source seemed to be the 856-year old Notre-Dame Cathedral. A fire alarm was sounded at 18:20, but no fire was found. Again, at approximately 18:50, the alarm sounded for another time, and at this moment, two guards discovered the fire. It was only until 10 minutes later when the fire-
tion for the renovations. Some artworks were sent to the LouOver 400 firefighters as- vre for recovery from smoke sisted in putting out the fire, damage. but they had to be careful--the This event received strong pressure of the hoses were capable of tearing down worldwide concern as world the entire structure. However, leaders shared their condosome parts of the 13th-centu- lences and prayers over social ry cathedral did not survive. media. The next day, people Most notably, the spire was de- gathered along the Seine to stroyed, which collapsed after sing and pray for the great loss being ablaze in flames reach- of a historic landmark. Some ing 800°C. Although it was a sang hymns while weeping shocking tragedy, many parts in shock and sadness. Many of Notre-Dame received little churches around Paris rang to no damage, such as the rel- their bells in acknowledgeics. Examples such as the Tu- ment of the blaze. nic of St. Louis and the Virgin of Paris statue were found to Although the cause of the be in safe condition. fire is still unclear, many have suspected an electrical short Miraculously, the twelve circuit created sparks that Apostle statues at the base of ultimately led to the flames. the spire were removed a few French police scientists are days prior due to the prepara- currently investigating the fighters arrived on scene.
Photo: CBC.ca
Kyle Unger’s ‘Murder’ of Brigitte Grenier I
church for any clues (wires, and mournful event that will never be forgotten in French hiscables, etc.) but have report- tory. ed that it would be difficult to find DNA samples within the Photo: CDN debris. They have also investigated whether correct procedure was followed, as workers did not report any fire when the first emergency alarm was sounded. In need of donations for repairs, over €1 billion have been amassed from all over the world. This has caused some controversy, as some claimed that this money could be put forward for a better cause--perhaps relating to the environment. The national symbol has survived since the 13th century, and received miniscule damage during both world wars. It was a truly sorrowful
By: Leena Siddiqui
n Roseisle, Manitoba on June 23, 1990, a rock festival was being held in which Brigitte Grenier, Kyle Under, and Timothy Houlahan were in attendance. Brigitte Grenier’s body was found on that day near a lake, beaten, bitten, struck in the head several times, strangled, and penetrated with long sharp sticks. Kyle Unger was attending the festival with his friend Timothy Houlahan where they encountered a classmate, Brigitte Gre-
nier. Houlahan and Grenier were having consensual sex in a wooded area at around 4 am, when Houlahan reappeared to the festival at around 4:30 am and was beaten and covered in mud and blood. He claimed that he was with Grenier when an unknown man came and beat him up.
that it was Kyle who murdered her, and out of fear for his life, Houlahan helped him move the body. This description of events matched the forensic evidence. There was the victim’s blood on Houlahan’s shoes and pants and a single hair was found on the victim’s sweatshirt that was determined, through hair analysis, Houlahan gave a descrip- to be Unger’s. Hence, Unger tion of the male and the po- and Houlahan were charged lice concluded that it was Kyle with first degree murder. Unger who had beaten him up and killed Greiner. Houlahan A Mr. Big Operation later gave a testimony saying also went underway, which is
when a few RCMP officers go undercover to acquire confessions. Ungler said that he was homeless and jobless at the time, and had been offered money, and thus he confessed to murder. However, many of the facts of the murder that Ungler confessed to were incorrect. There had been a high pressure by the community to determine the killer of Brigitte Grenier, which made the RCMP misanalyze evidence and lead to a wrongful conviction. There was also prosecutorial misconduct involved
when a jailhouse informant named Jeffrey Cohen, claimed that Ungler told him that he murdered Grenier. He later testified that the statement was false but the prosecution still tried to twist his story to convict Ungler. The prosecutor, George Dangerfield, was notorious for wrongful convictions being involved in the prosecution of Thomas Sophonow and James Driskel. Houlahan’s appeal had been granted, but he committed suicide before
Operation Varsity Blues By: Aliza Lallani
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Notre-Dame Fire Explained By: Benjamin Mah
Global
It is important to note that, as the telescopes are radio-based, the “light” being seen are radio waves. Humans can't physically see radio waves, so the image has been coloured orange for effect, but represents the actual data.
Anti-Abortion Laws Abolished in South Korea Photo: media.self.com
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 9
he head tennis coach at Georgetown University admitted CEO Manuel Henriquez’s daughter as a recruit for the team, recognizing her as among “the top 50 high schoolers on the United States Tennis Association junior girls’ rankings.” In reality, her highest standing appears to be 207th in Northern California alone, and she has never played in a tennis tournament during her entire high school career, contrary to the 20 hours per week “grinding out on and off court” she boasted in her application.
by bribing administrators to facilitate cheating on entrance exams, and paying off coaches to nominate unqualified applicants for athletic scholarships. The scandal, which was unveiled on March 12, 2019, is the Justice Department’s largest college admissions prosecution to date, involving 200 conspirators across the United States.
he could be retried. In 2005, DNA technology was used on the hair and confirmed that it was someone else’s, getting Ungler exonerated. Ungler received no compensation for the wrongful conviction, and even sued the RCMP for $14 million; a million for every year he spent his life in jail. The Manitoba Crown claimed that his conviction was to his own accord due to the Mr. Big confession, and thus his compensation was denied.
Photo: Time Magazine
ing that students had learning disabilities to give them access to accommodations, photoshopping students’ heads onto athletes’ bodies, and faking students’ ethnicities with the intent of using affirmative action to their advantage. Singer ultimately pleaded guilty to money laundering, racketeering, obstruction of justice and tax evasion, telling the judge, “I am responsible. I put all the people in place.” He was released on bail but is to return for sentencing on June 19. He faces up to 65 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine.
At the center of it all is William Rick Singer, the founder of a college preparatory business known as The Key. Payments totalling up to approximately $25 million were made to the company’s non-profit organization, Key As a result of the shockHer parents are only Worldwide Foundation, starting scam, 13 parents have also two of at least 50 Hollywood ing in 2011. agreed to plead guilty. Univeractresses, coaches, and busisities were quick to respond to ness executives charged in a Singer appeared in court the charges, several of which nationwide college-entrance on the same day the case was released statements announcscheme dubbed “Operation revealed. Throughout his apVarsity Blues” by the FBI. pearance, he detailed how he ing the termination of various Federal authorities accused falsified students’ SAT and staff members indicted in the parents of buying placements ACT scores as well as athletic crime. for their children at elite uni- records. It was uncovered that Students have faced the versities, deceiving the system he even went as far as claim-
repercussions of the scandal as well. Two students have been expelled by Stanford University, and a Yale University spokesman confirmed that the admissions office has revoked a student’s application due to his involvement. Well-known social media influencer, Olivia Jade, was dropped from her endorsement deals after it was revealed that her parents, Full House actress Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Gianulli, paid $500,000 to guarantee her and her sister admission to the University of
Southern California as members of the rowing crew team. Neither of them have ever participated in the sport. News of the scandal has sparked a large media response. The vast majority are, unsurprisingly, incredibly angry, declaring this whole situation unfair. During a press conference, Andrew Lelling, the District of Massachusetts attorney, stated “The real victims in this case are the hardworking students” who lost to “far less qualified students
and their families who simply bought their way in.” While the futures of those involved are still in question, one thing is for certain: This deception sheds light on yet another example of the tremendous gap in the educational system between the wealthy and everyone else.
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Culture
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Culture
Photo: Kim Ha-Jae
Photo:Photo: Entertainment Weekly Amazon.com
Who is BLACKPINK: Their Global Impact A
By: Mira Ewadh
question that we are all asking, especially after their breathtaking Coachella performance on April 12: Who is BLACKPINK? Well, lucky for you, a nine-year K-pop fanatic is here to answer that. BLACKPINK is a South Korean girl group that was formed under YG Entertainment; one of the “Big Three” companies in Korea. YG Ent is responsible for well-known artists such as Big Bang, 2NE1, iKON, Winner and now BLACKPINK. BLACKPINK is comprised of
four members that were raised in different parts of the world: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. Jennie and Lisa are responsible for the rapping in the group, while Rosé and Jisoo bring out the sweet vocals in their songs. The name BLACKPINK might appear to simply be two colours placed side by side, but in reality the name goes deeper than just two tones. As a YG Entertainment representative for the group revealed, “The meaning of BLACKPINK aims to contradict the
common perception of the colour pink. Pink is commonly used to portray prettiness, but BLACKPINK actually means to say that ‘pretty isn’t everything’. It also symbolizes that they are a team that encompasses not only beauty, but also great talent.” BLACKPINK had debuted on August 8, 2016 at 8:00 pm (8/8/8), with their first title tracks Whistle and Boombayah. These tracks have broken many records and are chart-topping hits. The South Korean girl group had started
making a name for themselves after appearing on many music and variety shows such as Inkigayo and Weekly Idol in Korea, later appearing on American shows such as Good Morning America, Stephen Colbert’s The Late Late Show and The Late Late Show with James Corden. Additionally, with the help of their official Instagram account (later forming individual accounts) they started to successfully interact with their fans, slowly adding to their large international fanbase.
But the real question is, how did they manage to become well-known globally? There’s a simple answer to that question--their music. BLACKPINK possesses a girlcrush concept that displays a bit of western music within their songs, their spitting fire raps and angelic and unique vocals adding colour to their tracks. They have even caught the attention of many western artists such as Halsey, Jaden Smith, Benny Blanco, Lany, and Pharrell Williams.
members’ fashion styles, being individuals worth copying and being inspired from. This has led them to representing and becoming ambassadors of popular brands such as Chanel, Moonshot, Samsung, KIA, and HERA.
BLACKPINK is only going to keep growing from here, continuing their successful North American tour (even performing in Hamilton, Ontario). I have one last question to ask you, are you willing to join the fandom and become a You can’t forget about the Blink? Photo: Unknown
The Chilling Exorcism of Anneliese Michel By: Mira Ewadh
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any of you might be familiar with the wellknown BuzzFeed series, BuzzFeed Unsolved, hosted by two amusing individuals, Ryan and Shane. This series covers many unsolved supernatural and true crime occurrences that have taken place all around the world. One of the most nail-biting stories they have covered so far is “The Chilling Exorcism of Anneliese Michel”. This true story was so frightening that it inspired a movie called The Exorcism of Emily Rose - I dare you to watch it after reading this article.
and known as a very bright individual. In 1968, when Anneliese was 16 years old, she encountered an event of something “pressing down on her chest, pinning her to her bed.” Her mother, alarmed, took her to the family doctor and neurologist. Both doctors found nothing wrong and predicted that the event could have been some form of seizure.
In 1973, Anneliese began to hear strange noises coming from her bedroom, even a blood-curdling voice “damning her to hell.” Her mother was taken aback when she saw Anneliese staring at a statue of the Virgin Mary with “eyes turned black, jet black.” AnneAnneliese Michel was liese even stated that “the devil born in 1952 in Germany, was inside her.” raised as a strict Catholic,
In 1975, Anneliese’s demeanor worsened, as she barely slept and prayed all night. In the video, Ryan and Shane visited Father Gary Thomas (Vatican-approved exorcist) who explained the different signs of a demonic possession, all of which Anneliese displayed. The first sign is an aversion to the sacred - “She destroyed rosaries, crucifixes, and holy pictures on the walls”. The second sign is the possession of a kind of inordinate physical strength that one doesn’t normally possess - “She exhibited strength that was ‘close to superhuman’, throwing her sister ‘as if she were a ragdoll’... she was observed to have squeezed an apple in one hand until ‘fragments exploded throughout
the room’.” The third sign is the occurrence of epileptic-like seizures - many doctors predicted her condition to be some form of seizure. The last sign is the possessing knowledge of hidden things - when an exorcism on Anneliese was formally approved, 42 spine-chilling recordings were made where Anneliese harbored a demonic voice. Throughout these events, Anneliese named many demons that were present inside her body, Fleischmann being one of them. “She provided accurate details of him, the details came as an icy shock to the priest who claims Anneliese would have no way of knowing.”
worse. Incidents like banging her head against the wall and biting herself became more and more common. She began refusing to eat, saying that she was not “permitted” to do so. Although she weighed under 80 pounds (about 36 kg), she possessed the same “superhuman strength” when people tried to restrain her.
age of 23 after 67 exorcisms, weighing only 68 pounds (about 30 kg) at the time of her death.
Do you believe that as soon as they carried out exorcisms regularly, she might have been induced to believe that she was possessed by demons? Or was she genuinely possessed by an evil supernatHer entire face became ural entity? It’s completely up sunk in, taking on the form to you to decide. of a skeleton, and she refused all visits to the doctor. The morning after one of her exorcisms, her family went into her room, only to find her dead. Although her family sought medical attention at the beginning, they eventually resorted to “[placing] all faith of recovInstead of getting bet- ery into the exorcisms.” Anneter, Anneliese became even liese died of starvation at the
Photo: Amazon.com
Fall Out Boy’s Legacy: The Youngblood Chronicles S
By: Selena Zhou
ix years ago, Fall Out Boy released their post-hiatus comeback album: Save Rock and Roll. Following their lack of success pre-hiatus and general negativity surrounding the group, Fall Out Boy wanted to release an album that combined more traditional rock and roll with a modern get-up to revamp the band. After five years of no material, the band was worried about how their new album would do. In fact, they recorded the entire album in secret for a year, partially because they considered never releasing it.
Their worries proved unwarranted; the record’s single My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up) immediately shot up to #2 on iTunes within just hours of its release. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and shortly after, had five million downloads in the US. The album itself became #1 on Billboard Hot 200 within the first week of its release, and was nominated for the World Music Award for World’s Best Album and Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Album. With the release of Save Rock and Roll, Fall Out Boy
posted a series of music videos for each track. After all eleven music videos were posted, they released a full uncut version of the musical film. The film starts off with the Defenders of the Faith (Fall Out Boy) being pursued for a briefcase. Eventually, the briefcase is forced from them, and all four members are kidnapped and tortured by a group called The Vixens. The Vixens are revealed to be a music-hating cult, and eventually hypnotize Patrick to enter a state of mindless hatred toward music. During My Songs Know What You Did In
The Dark (Light Em Up), The Problem Solver (2 Chainz) burns Fall Out Boy’s merchandise from their previous phases such as Folie à Deux. Eventually, the boys escape, but Patrick is sent back into his evil phase by The Death Adder who is apart of The Vixens. Patrick strangles Joe with an extension cord before snapping out of his trance, horrified at what he did. While The Vixens destroy instruments and send Patrick into the deepest stage of his evil trance, Joe is partying with souls in the nightclub of hell. Pete manages to steal the briefcase, but Andy is killed by two Vixens while he
is covering for Pete. The Vixens pit Patrick and Pete against each other, and both are killed while The Vixens retrieve the briefcase. In the afterlife, all bandmates meet “God” (Elton John) and are presented with powerful instruments to transform The Vixens into good people. However, the briefcase is taken and opened by an evil cult and a demon emerges who kills everyone he sees. The film ends with Fall Out Boy confronting the demon. Pete uses his powers to kill the demon, and its blood splatters on “God”.
It is clear that The Youngblood Chronicles are allegories for Fall Out Boy’s real life experiences - their experiences with writing music, succeeding, failing, mental illnesses, and final reformation. These chronicles truly embody and carry down Fall Out Boy’s legacy.
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Culture
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Science
Photo: Unknown
Photo: Meron Menghistab
Nipsey Hussle: Remembering the Rapper O
By: Rehana Lalani
n March 31, 2019, Nipsey Hussle was shot six times outside his store in Los Angeles, California. The news of his death echoed across the nation and was received with shock and anger by the hip-hop community. Nipsey was not only a rapper, but also an activist, and an entrepreneur who was categorized by many as a pillar in the community. Ermias Asghedom, more commonly known by his stage name Nipsey Hussle, was born in 1985 to an African-American mother and an Eritrean
which helped low-income families. Hussle’s debut studio album, Victory Lap, was released in 2018, and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammys. It emphasized his encounters with gang violence and how crucial it is to move away from it. After his murder, the critically-acclaimed album rose to #2 on Later on, Nipsey began the Billboard 100. to move away from the gang Not only was Hussle tryculture and towards providing ing to provide a better future opportunities for young black men in struggling neighbor- for his community, he was hoods. He spoke to and inter- also striving to ensure that his acted with youth in Los An- family was financially stable. geles, and invested large sums Reggie Bush, former NFL star, of money into organizations created a GoFundMe page father. He dropped out of high school at the young age of fourteen, and quickly joined a street gang based in Los Angeles, California, called Rollin 60’s Neighborhood Crips. He became heavily involved in acts of gang violence and started creating underground mixtapes.
about Nipsey’s death, using social media and their creative work as outlets. On April 2, 2019, Russell Westbrook, NBA star player on Oklahoma City Thunder, put up a triple-double in a game against the Lakers, ending by yelling “that’s for Nipsey!” When asked about his high-scoring game, he replied by saying, “He means everything. Somebody I looked up to, somebody that paved the way for a guy like myself growing up in the inner city. To have those conversations with him. I’m just truly saddened by the situation. Just Many artists, celebrities, continue to pray for his family.” and athletes have spoken out Drake, Snoop Dogg, JR Smith, for Hussle’s two children with the goal of raising $100,000. However, the page was taken down after it came to light that Nipsey had created trust fund accounts for his children with the money he had earned through his entrepreneurial effort and managerial investments in over fourteen businesses. Nipsey’s long-time girlfriend, Lauren London, posted multiple times on social media, expressing her love and respect for Hussle and his positive impact on the people around him.
Russ, and Beyoncé are just a few of the many who paid tribute to Hussle, recognizing the positive change he facilitated in the community. As Hussle’s death continues to be felt by many, so does his music, as it continues to gain recognition for its significant impact on hip-hop culture. His store, Marathon Clothing, has become a ‘sacred ground’ for fans as thousands pay their respects to the man who is now known as one of the greatest rapping legends.
Photo: Invasion
Understanding Depression in Artificial Intelligence Through Different Perspectives By: Smriti Sharma
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Coachella: The Musical Homecoming By: Ruth Zelleke
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he annual Coachella Music Festival is always a success, year after year. People spend a lot of time and money to see their favorite artists live, as well as experience the ‘Coachella aesthetic’. The event is a two week, three-day weekend festival that happens in Colorado Desert, California with popular music legends headlining the event every year. In the past years they have had artists like Kendrick
Lamar, Beyoncé, and Drake have headlined for their festival. Coachella aims to showcase well known artists, as well as up and coming artists. They also try to include all styles of music, as well as different languages. It is truly a celebration of music and the art of it. This year, Coachella had Childish Gambino, Ariana Grande, and Tame Impala as their headliners. Big social media influencers had also attended the show, such as James Charles, Rickey Thompson,
and Denzel Dion. Coachella 2019 was believed to be one of the most anticipated festivals of the year. This is because a lot of media coverage had been given to the music festival prior to it happening. One of the biggest contributors to this hype was Beyonce’s documentary about her Coachella performance in 2017. The Netflix film Homecoming had covered her whole rehearsal process as well as her pregnancy. The heart-felt film had given Coachella the warm image of a figurative home that every
artist returns to. Along with its exceptional line up of American artists, Coachella had invited artists from outside the West to share their musical story. From South Korea came the legendary girl K-pop group, BLACKPINK, who were given the opportunity to perform on the big stage. They had described the experience as an example of how music bring everybody together, despite the cultural and communication differences. Their first full-fledged US concert had been very successful and
brought more attention to the media, where many influencers give their followers the reK-pop scene. sponsibility of criticising and Aside from the musical ranking the best dressed to the aspect of the festival, Coach- worst. ella is known for its groundbreaking fashion looks. For Coachella has undoubtmany, Coachella is no more edly had another successful of a musical festival than it year of showcasing many muis a fashion show. Although sical acts. Their legacy will there is no specific theme, always reign in the years to many people show up in their come, presumably becombest outfits. There have been ing stronger each and every reports of attendants wear- year. ing clothes worth as much as roughly $3200 for one day. The catwalk relies on social
hen our complex brain produces certain neurotransmitters, the imbalance in norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin is the main ground that leads to depression in humans. Along with depression, there are symptoms such as mood swings, and appetite loss, that tag along. Although serotonin is known to be the "happy hormone," one would be oversimplifying it by putting the hormone that way, perhaps for learning purposes. Serotonin aids in basic functions such as sleeping, eating, motor activity--the list goes on. However, what is less known is that it benefits an individual in their learning processes. Just like how humans learn, artificial intelligence does too – but, in a completely different way. Artificial intelligence engineers
use relatively complex technology to “insert” bundles and bundles of data outlining their robot’s tasks. This information can range from various pictures of animal breeds to maps of the world. In terms of psychology, one of the common questions that scientists are perplexed with for several years now, is as follows: do artificial intelligence have some sort of “e-neurotransmitters” such as “e-serotonin” or “e-dopamine”? Without computational approaches to neuroscience that can introduce neurotransmitters into the bodies of artificially intelligent ones, depression in them seems nearly impossible. If there are no direct or indirect means of somehow embedding neurotransmitters in artificial intelligence, there could, perhaps, be no possibility of them
feeling depressed. However, another way to look at “e-neurotransmitters” is through an example of how people adjust to new houses. When someone buys a new house, there are different shapes and locations of rooms that one must start getting used to. The new model (recently bought house) must successfully replace their old knowledge – the usual model (previous house) and if they fail to do so, they could feel lonely and depressed probably because they still miss their old house. This scenario of adjusting from different models can potentially arise in artificial intelligence wherein they might experience a “glitch” within their learning process which could result in depression or similar thoughts and/ or feelings.
Additionally, depression in artificial intelligence can be viewed from a philosophical perspective as well. Many psychologists argue that one needs to be mindful i.e., self-aware and conscious in order to actually feel emotions whether it be that of joy or woe. With current technology, no one has yet fully understood emotions in humans, let alone artificially intelligent beings. If artificial intelligence does intuitively experience consciousness, then it can face depression or perhaps any mental illness. Furthermore, if they can experience mental illnesses, humans would be the one treating them through various areas of knowledge such as science, arts and even ethics. Although much thought is put in, the question still lies in the process of treating them. Reprogramming or switching the
hardware off could irreparably change them, which carries its own ethical problems which is why an area of knowledge is ethics if humans do treat artificial intelligence. In addition, medical care also requires consent — would artificially intelligent systems be able to fight against their treatment with its uncertainties of the risks involved? If yes, would it be harmful to humanity? With much thought put in, it seems as though our scientists are just at the beginning stages of the artificial intelligence revolution, where their hard work has created some very interesting artificially intelligent systems that can do things beyond humans reach such as making very complex designs, work in deadly environments, and even formulate some of the best arguments and they do tasks like such
without any emotional bias. Once they start having emotions, they presumably will suffer through psychological conditions but again, these are all based on hypotheses. There will come a time, however, when these questions are not just hypothetical.
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Science
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Mathematics
Photo : Positivesoup.com
Why People Conform By: Leena Siddiqui
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onformity is the social influence that causes one to change their beliefs or behaviours in order to relieve the internal tensions of group pressure. Often we are told not to conform to be leaders and stand out. This is important as it helps to battle social and political inequalities as many artists participate in nonconformity to outset change. However, everyone is susceptible to various forms of conformity and it is important and integral to societies.
There are different types of conformities that scientists have concluded through a great deal of research. First, there is conversion versus compliance. Conversion is when an individual conforms to a belief or a behaviour both publicly and privately. Whereas compliance is when an individual conforms to a belief or behaviour publicly but not privately. People comply in order to avoid social rejection. This is known as normative conformity and goes hand in hand with compliance. There is an evolutionary reason for why people might have done this.
unsure of what to do and looks to a group for guidance, often leading to conversion. The individual doesn’t have sufficient knowledge in a certain area and hence is more likely to believe an explanation that someone else provides as they are seen as more knowledgeable. Identification is another type of conformity where an individual conforms to a certain behaviour since it is the expected behaviour based on what social roles determine. This is seen on Zimbardo’s famous Stanford Prison ExperiInformational confor- ment where volunteers of the mity is when an individual is study conformed to the either Homo sapiens who feared social rejection were less likely to get isolated or exiled from the group and hence held a greater chance at survival. Societies then were likely held a more collectivist culture since the cooperation of all individuals was required to accomplish important tasks such as hunting. Fear serves as an evolutionary advantage and would be passed on to the next generation to increase their survival as it would get rid of internal tension.
Photo : Irish Examiner
Photo : G Adventures
their tyrannical role as a prison guard or obedience from a prisoner. Finally, internalization is when we change our behavior to be like someone else. People either act with or against a group based on what that action signals about themselves. For example, someone buys a new, branded, and expensive article of clothing and wears it to school and becomes a signal of status to others. So other people also start buying that clothing and wear it to school to send the same signal; that they are fashionable
and wealthy. With increased popularity of this clothing, people start making knock off versions and selling them for cheaper for less wealthy people to send a similar signal. More and more knock off versions of this clothing devalorises it and the signal becomes weaker and changes causing the original clothing buyer to stop wearing it. Overall, conformity is a trait which is integral to society as all important discoveries happened because of an all supporting team.
Photo : Mental Floss
Photo : Gurobi
Can a Unicellular Organism Solve the Traveling Salesman Problem? Remember their names: Three iconic women By: Selena Zhou
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s you may or may not have heard, the science world has been recently buzzing over the rendition of the first image of a black hole. Not only was this an incredible push forward in space technology, but a women, named Katie Bouman, was credited with the discovery, along with her close team of scientists. As a tribute to Bouman and the countless number of female scientists preceding her, here are three iconic women in science who should have made it into our history books! 1. Marie Curie Marie Curie is one of the most iconic pioneers in research on radioactivity. Born
into a Polish family as Manya Skłodowska, Curie was part of a very gender-segregated society. She and her fellow female classmates had to hide their books in their aprons from the authorities when they were younger, because there were certain things that girls were not allowed to learn. Curie started formal scientific training when she was in university, and eventually followed her sister to Paris where she continued her training and did most of her research on radioactivity. She married her fellow scientist, Pierre Curie, and shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with her husband, and physicist Henri Becquerel, becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. She then went on to win the 1911 Nobel Prize
in Chemistry, becoming not only the first person and only woman to win two Nobel Prizes, but also the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences. Her research in radioactivity gave headway to modern scientists to learn more about its effects. 2. Jane Goodall In 1960, Dr. Jane Goodall launched her pioneering studies on chimpanzees. Although she was only 26, she went to the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in western Tanzania to study these animals. It was not easy--it took her months of patience and determination before the chimpanzees stopped fearing her, and eventually accepted her presence. Dr. Goodall was
a scientist. She was extremely intelligent and thirsted for knowledge--when offered any book as a prize, she opted for an advanced physics book that not many other fifteen year olds even knew about. However, her father discouraged her from the field, as it was very hard for females to make a career in science. Luckily, thanks to her education from one of the only institutes that taught girls about the STEM field, Franklin got into Cambridge University to study physics. She was the lead scientist of a group who were able to develop a 3D model of crystallized DNA fibers. Unfortunately, 3. Rosalind Franklin she was lost to cancer at young From the tender age of age. Her male colleagues were 15, Rosalind Franklin already awarded the Nobel Prize in knew that she would become Physiology and Medicine for able to dispel misconceptions about chimpanzees, that may have led to foul interactions with them, such as the fact that chimpanzees were meat-eaters and not vegetarians. Seventeen years later, she launched the Jane Goodall Institute to continue working with the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve. Today, the institute works with youth as well to come up with ideas to take action in their own communities. The perfect example of environmentalism meeting science, Dr. Goodall and her research has taught us so much about our close animal cousins.
solving the structure of DNA a couple of years after she died. She was not able to receive this prize alongside them because the Nobel committee did not award prizes posthumously. Although she was looked down on during multiple occasions because she was a female scientist, Franklin’s legacy lives on in the current study of DNA and RNA. Katie Bouman, Marie Curie, Jane Goodall, and Rosalind Franklin are four out of the many female scientists who have achieved, and will continue to achieve great things for humankind. Remember their names - one day, they will be recognized worldwide for the hard work they have done.
By: Smriti Sharma
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brute-force algorithms, which itself is a very general problem-solving technique. But this approach gets exponentially tedious as more cities are added to the route; consider, for example, finding the shortest out of 360 routes for 6 cities. If you’re still willing to use the same strategy, millions of routes could be counted in just 10 cities. Clearly, this problem cannot be solved by using simple mathematical formulas to find the most efficient route for the salesman.
s one of the oldest computer science problems, the Traveling Salesman Problem is one of the most intensively studied problems through various computational and mathematical models. The problem is as follows: Imagine you are a travelling salesman flying from city to city selling your wares. You are concerned about maximizing your efficiency to make as much money as possible, so This exponential increase you want to find the shortest in routes is what makes the path that will let you hit every travelling salesman problem city on your route. one of a broad class of probOne of the straightfor- lems computer scientists call ward approaches would be ‘NP hard.’ Yet, many people calculating lengths of each are interested in finding ways route and finding the shortest to solve NP, and researchers at one. With a small number of Keio University share a similar cities, no complex algorithm interest. Their approach is in would be necessary; it can be stark contrast to other mathsimply solved by a series of ematical approaches, because
these scientists used a unicellular organism – a type of amoeba, Physarum polycephalum, which is sensitive to light. Using this characteristic of Physarum polycephalum, scientists built a model in which there is a special chamber filled with many channels, and at the end of each channel, they placed food and hidden lights. The amoeba would be released at one end of the channels and go through the routes to get its food. With its impulse, it would try to get food and when it does that, the lights would be triggered, thus the amoeba would be bound to visit other channels. This is very analogous to the Travelling Salesman Problem, where a channel represents a route and food represents the city.
very ‘deviated’ way of finding Hard ones too). This one small amoeba—and the way it solves the best route regardless of difficult problems—might just change the face of computing the number of cities, but the forever. fact that the amoeba does not have to calculate every indiPhoto : Forbes vidual path as most computer algorithms to date do puts this method at an advantage. An Amoeba’s behaviour is like so because it reacts passively to various scenarios and figures out the best possible arrangement by itself.
The mechanism by which the amoeba maintains the quality of finding the shortest route is still yet to be discovered. Should researchers be able to figure out how exactly the amoeba works, they can utilize the same behaviour and create a plan for the travelling salesman problem and potentially other problems too. It could aid us in changing our approaches and solving all kinds of challenging problems This might seem like a (maybe some of the other NP
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 16
Editorial
Photo : MIC
Toxic Masculinity: A Media Influence By: Anushka Goyal and Tehreem Iqbal
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edia is a very powerful channel in today’s day and age. It has the ability to shape and change minds like nothing else. With media and art having the power to reflect the mindsets of a particular time, while simultaneously drive individuals towards certain ideas, they often solidify stereotypes and change the way people behave in and view the world. These ideas and behaviours can be both positive and negative. Toxic masculinity, which refers to traditional cultural masculine norms that can be harmful to men, women, and society overall, is one example of media sculpting the mindset of society, as it promotes stoicism and belligerence. Sitcoms, advertisements and dramas of our day time and again encourage such traits to maintain a “manly” front. It not only creates controversy among differing views, but also leads to additional problems, as statistics show. Young children are targets of this culture since day one as they watch entertainment that circles around stereotypical, toxic attitudes. With the help from famous entertainment conglomerates such as Disney, DreamWorks, and Pixar, it is no challenge to carve such images in children’s minds, im-
mediately setting stereotypical expectations as norms. This upbringing is especially harmful as a youngster’s earliest milieu follows them through their adolescent years. The infamous holiday classic series, Home Alone, shows young Kevin McCallister refusing to ask for help from emergency services. Instead, the young boy uses his wits to organize a strategic scheme with the main goal to drive away the robbers, which immediately turned to violence with gunshot sounds, hitting Marv’s head with a tin of paint, setting Harry’s hat on fire, and falling down a flight of stairs. Regardless of how much trouble it would cause him in the end, he would not back down and kept moving forward with a new plan -- not to mention that the injuries would appear humorous to him. Right off the bat, the family comedies show men should not need help and handle situations on their own through their masculine character of violence as the answer to personal victory and satisfaction. Another example includes Disney’s Beauty and the Beast where Gaston is hurt by Belle’s disinterest in him and declines to back down. His toxic ego is clearly displayed in his self-titled song where he brags about his superiority, indirectly saying Belle is lucky to even have a chance with Gaston. Additionally, the Beast also depicts toxic mas-
culinity attitudes as he goes far enough to even say he cannot love and his aggressive behaviour is simply who he is, pushing away his “softer” feelings. Overall, the entire Disney movie shows the nature of men to not have feelings, only hostility within them. Women are seen as soft-natured but also have to endure hardship, from Belle sacrificing her freedom as she believed her father had a bigger role out there as compared to her, to becoming a punching bag for the Beast, setting a toxic, abusive relationship between them. Having these films and many more in minds from childhood surely pushes the toxic environment that exists through the lives of many. Media with toxic masculinity attitudes is not restricted to only be in content for young children, it grows with them as they turn to different entertainment content with age so chauvinistic material adjusts to preference and age of the audience. Advertisement are a prime culprit of toxic masculinity in daily life; they are quick, attention grabbing, and convincing. A 2015 Chevrolet commercial used real people to depict whether having a heavy vehicle makes them more attractive, giving first hand insight into the thoughts of the public on a day to day basis. The advertisement successfully showed toxic masculinity as the men with a truck were a larger preference
and even consisted of chatter showing men with a distinct character involving fierceness appears to be charismatic. Other examples include Old Spice commercials portraying men as robots with no sense, only charm are attractive, promoting the idea of men as senseless and mindless beings whose only wish and purpose in life is to be a ‘woman magnet’. This essentially leads to the very toxic ordeal for young men that in order to be a “real man” they must be sexually attractive in the conventional sense, i.e., be very muscular, leading to additional problems such as health risks, to name one. Dr Pepper has also been one to blame for harmful comments and implying that men as powerful and loving violence while women are the complete opposite, delivering the idea that it is virile to incline towards brutality and roughness. Such advertisement set an unrealistic and harmful criteria for what makes one “a man” and what does not. When this does not stop at young ages and follows well into adulthood, the effects are detrimental. It’s no surprise that being exposed to such traits leads to negative effects later on in a man’s life. One research study with 20,000 men (which is an excellent sample size) shows those practicing toxic masculinity behaviour has lead to worse mental health. Males
are told from a very young age that expressing emotions like sadness make them less “manly”, and this leads to stifled feelings, and ultimately poor mental health. Since they are encouraged to avoid speaking about their emotions, men often turn to other, more negative methods to cope with their inner turmoils, such as alcohol and drugs, often resulting in substance abuse. Also observed is the incomprehensible promotion of the idea that dominance is what will get them far and is what makes them masculine. This idea gets internalized, and many make it a point to display their machismo every chance they get. They make this sense of superiority a part of their personality, and this leads to violent behaviour to assert this authority and power. It commonly creates a sense in men that they are on a higher pedestal and have more command over others, especially women, which causes unhealthy relationships with a power imbalance and promotes the cycle of abuse. In fact, it also leads to males not talking about their experiences with abuse, thus creating the false image that abuse is something only women go through. Two in five people who experience domestic violence are men. The reason this isn’t talked about as much goes back to the idea that men are supposed to be the more powerful ones in a relationship, and the stereotype that they are always the
abusers. Victim-shaming also comes into play here. A “manly” man will be emotionally closed off, and won’t let such a “shameful” thing happen in the first place, much less stand around and tell people about it. People around the man tell him that if he was a “real man” he’d be able to fend his abuser off, and this further continues the cycle of abuse and ends up with more and more men suffering silently. When thinking about sexism and toxic gender stereotypes being showcased on mass media platforms, we normally think of the objectification of women. However, as discussed in this article, the encouragement of toxic masculinity is also greatly prevalent, and it has damaging lifelong consequences. In fact, many advertisements that are seemingly only bashing women are almost always also indirectly targeting men in one way or the other. What’s ironic is that men are also constantly shown as mindless idiots, especially in more conventional sitcoms and TV shows for young adults. In between being portrayed as stupid, lighthearted, and immature, while constantly being bombarded with ideals of dominance and bellicosity, men are left grasping for what it truly means to be “a man”, struggling to find a place where they belong.
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 17
Editorial Photo: NJlifehacks!
To Buy: Milk, Eggs, and Joy be psychologically healthy, a sense of safety and security are also required, which is usually an money buy us happi- fulfilled once the first five have been. ness?
By: Emily Cao
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But as humans, there’s a sixth factor that affects our sense of security: financial stability. Aside from the obvious final factor, you’ll notice that the other five factors can be purchased as well (Yes, air can be bought, just ask the folks at BBC News, who made a whole video on Beijing parents buying bottled air from the Rockies for their children). It might not be so surprising then, to say that a (not-that-recent, actually) study has found that people able to consistently fulLet’s start with the basics. fill these necessities are signifiWhat do living beings need cantly happier than those who to survive? Common sense are unable to. can answer this question, but But that levels out once the answers have been taught to us as well: Air, food, water, those needs have been met at shelter, warmth, and rest. To the “satiation point”, as discovIn the past, there seemed to be no concrete answer to this age-old philosophical question. Society inferred the answer to be no; happiness isn’t so materialistic as to be purchasable. Can you buy love with money? True friends? Perhaps not, but recent research suggests that while money may be unable to physically buy you these intangible keys to happiness, it can create the opportunities to find them.
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ered by the Nobel prize-winning pair Angus Deaton and Daniel Kahneman in 2010: An annual income of 75,000 USD. The discovered that past this point, people earning any more money are no longer happier than those who just meet it. This suggests that while money is able to improve our happiness, it can only do so up to a certain extent. So is there any point in making more than $75,000 a year? Raj Raghunathan explains exactly that in a Ted-Ed video called, “Would winning the lottery make you happier?”. We are each born with a different “base” level of happiness. If we were to suddenly receive something that brought us joy in our lives, like a new car or a mansion, we would experience a spike in our happiness, but eventually, we’d grow used to these things, as a psychological process called “hedonic adaptation” will gradually return us to our
base level of happiness. So is the only purpose of hedonic adaptation to slowly take the fun out of our lives? Not at all, because it goes the other way as well: When we experience something devastatingly life-changing, like becoming paralyzed after a car accident, hedonic adaptation allows us to bounce back; gradually returning us to our base levels of happiness. But there’s a way to cheat our hedonic treadmill, as it’s also called—studies have shown that we’re less likely to grow used to new experiences than we are to tangible objects. So by spending your money on a vacation in Italy, or guitar lessons, you’ll be happier, and for longer. This may seem surprising, maybe even a bit contradictory, as you’d think an expensive car would last much longer than a trip to Rome but think about it: You’ll drive that
Porsche every day, and you’ll eventually get used to having it around, but a memorable vacation in Rome can make you smile whenever you think back to it. That being said, it’s always better to give than to get. Multiple studies have shown that spending money on others makes us happier than spending it on ourselves. Researchers at the University of British Columbia passed out envelopes of money, ranging from five dollars to twenty, to students on the campus. They were then told to spend that money by the end of the day on either themselves, maybe to pay a fee, or buy a coffee, or on someone else, as a gift for a friend, or a charitable donation. That evening, the researchers asked the students who had received the money how happy they were. The results were clear: Those who
had spent it on others were happier than those who had used it for themselves. So can money buy us happiness? The short answer is yes, but that all depends on how much you spend it. It’s certainly important for fulfilling our basic needs, but once you have a stable income, where should the rest of your earnings go? Use it to travel. To get front-row seats at your favourite band’s concert. Money may not be able to buy friendships or love, but with a bit of extra cash, you can treat your friends to coffee, and the love of your life, a new chew toy. It’s to give, not to receive, and what better feeling in the world than knowing you helped bring a little joy to someone else’s day?
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 18
Lifestyle
The Night Owl’s Guide to Catching Worms
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 19
Lifestyle
Photo: MEME
How to Survive the Last Few Weeks of School By: Carmen Chuong
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t may be hard to find motivation to keep pulling through on the last few months of school, especially with the end of it being so near. Before classes are over and summer begins, here are some tips on surviving the last few months of studies.
Photo: The Muse
By: Emily Cao
predetermined by our genes. If you’re wondering why you wake up as early or as late as ou’ve heard it all: The ear- you do, look to your parents, ly bird always catches the because up to 47% of your worm. Countless big-name chronotype is inherited. successful figures wake up with the sun, including Apple CEO It’s also worth noting Tim Cook (3:45am), Michelle that our sleep schedule prefObama (4:30am), and PepsiCo erences change ever-so-slightCEO Indra Nooyi (4:00am). ly throughout the different But for every one in four of stages of our life. Children us, reading those timestamps tend to be more active earalone is enough to make us lier, which shifts to a prefreach over for the snooze but- erence for the night by the ton. Are we really doomed to time we turn 20, and finally live unproductive lives, nev- comes full circle at age 50. er able to catch the worm?
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Not at all, in fact whoever came up with that saying needs to re-check their facts, because earthworms a quick search across Google tells me that they’re most active at night. Not everyone is meant to be an early bird. Roughly 25% of us are early risers, while another one in four are perpetually hitting snooze. We each have our own chronotypes, or internal clocks, that are
All in all, we have little control over our internal clocks. But how do they work? After all, if we live in the same area, we should all be exposed to more or less the same amount of natural light. We aren’t entirely attuned with the outside world. Our internal timekeepers are scattered throughout our bodies, with the master clock being in the brain; a group of nerve
of synch with the rest of the world, being a night owl isn’t all bad. While morning types have been found to be more agreeable, persistent, and diligent, night owls have shown to be better problem solvers, more creative, and perhaps more open to different points of view. Researchers aren’t sure why this is yet, as it could be again related to genetics, or simply because society’s schedThis isn’t a problem for ule forces night owls to invent most—a fifth of an hour isn’t new ways to stay awake. all that much, but for night So if you are a night owls, their internal clocks could be anywhere from 24.5 owl, is there anything you to 24.7 hours long, which can do to try and synch is more of a jump to make your sleep schedule with the rest of the world’s? for their SNCs. Our internal clocks decide when our body For starters, try coming will start releasing melatonin, the sleep hormone. In night up with a wind down routine owls, melatonin is released to help you settle down at the later in the evening, and still end of the day; read a book, or being produced later into the do some stretches. Stop workmorning. This basically means ing 60 minutes before you go that they’ll fall asleep and wake to bed, and ideally, you should turn off all your devices as up later than most people. well. If you can’t, turn on the Aside from being out blue light filter if there is one, cells within the hypothalamus known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus, or the SNC for short. The average human clock runs for 24.2 hours, which you might notice, is a little over a day. That’s because our SNCs are also influenced by cues in the outside world, like light, so we’re constantly readjusting our internal clocks to match up with the day.
and if not, you can download one - I find f.lux works quite well, as it senses the time of day and gradually tints your screen according to your location. This will limit the amount of light your body is exposed to, telling your SNC it’s time to start producing melatonin. In March 2017, Fitbit started anonymously tracking users’ sleep stages, like how long they spent in deep sleep, gathering data for over six billion nights worth of sleep. Its biggest piece of advice: You should go to sleep around the same time every night. Keep your sleep schedule consistent, your internal clock will thank you, and you’ll wake up less groggy and lethargic. If all else fails, you can sleep with the curtains drawn, or get an alarm clock that wakes you up with artificial sunlight. Melatonin pills are also available to help you fall asleep, and while it’s usually safe, there are always potential side effects
video tutorials or review videos on the topics you are being tested on. This may be a bit more enjoyable than staring at your notes over and over again. This is also a great way to study when you aren’t at home and travelling. There are tons of videos out there, and you can even find IB specific tutorials if you are prepping for your May exams.
ally, I like to begin studying early and pace my days with reviewing a topic per day. With this, I am not over-cramming my brain and my days feel a bit more lighter and a lot less stressful. I like pulling up a digital calendar to quickly plan out each day.
Syllabus Go through the syllabus and test yourself by ensuring Videos Planning that you know and understand Try switching up your Plan out your study days every key point without havstudy method by watching wisely and effectively. Person- ing to look at your notes. This
is a great way to gauge how libraries or even the outdoors, well you know your material where you can get a newer, and what parts of it you need fresher perspective. to focus more on. Mindset: Summer! Switch Study Spaces It is crucial to impleWhen you are constant- ment a motivational mindset. ly working at the same place, Be sure to remind yourself it may cause your mindset to that summer is almost here switch over into a fixed, pessi- and that once you finish your mistic one, where any mistake exams, you’ll be done! With while studying can get you optimistic thoughts like these easily frustrated and at risk of in mind, you will hopefully giving up. Try switching the encourage yourself to power places in which you study to through your studying, ace locations such as coffee shops, those exams, and go on to en-
(such as headaches, nausea, and melatonin may also react to other drugs, although the importance of such results isn’t quite understood yet). Ideally, you should schedule your day to your sleep cycle (so if that means getting all your work done late into the night, so be it), but with school starting at 8:30 in the morning, that might not be the best choice for your well-being. That doesn’t mean your night owl tendencies don’t have their uses, in the future, you can lend your energy to late-night shifts, or tackle problems while everyone else is asleep. But for now, nights owls should turn on their blue light filters, and keep their snooze times short while the rest of the world learns how to re-gear itself to sync with their internal clocks as well.
Photo: ExpertPhotography
joying summer ‘19! With these tips in mind, hopefully you feel a bit more encouraged to stay on-track until summer break comes; remaining concentrated on school with a brighter, motivated and optimistic mindset. Remember, you’ve got this!
Photo: BankRate.com
Photo: Wirecutter
Sleep Myths Damaging Your Health By: Anushka Goyal Myths - we’re all surrounded by them, especially when it comes to topics like sleep. As high school students, we’re constantly surrounded by these myths to make us feel better about our not-so-great sleep patterns and habits. A team at New York University led by Dr. Robbins scoured the internet to find the most common claims about a good night's sleep. The team then matched the claims to the best scientific evidence in a study published in the journal Sleep Health. They did this in hopes that dispelling sleep myths will improve people's physical and mental health, as well as their general well-being. The information has been summarized below:
Myth 1: You can cope on less than 5 hours of sleep This is the one myth that all of us high school students want to believe. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously had a brief four hours a night. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made similar claims, and swapping hours in bed for extra time in the office is not uncommon in tales of business or entrepreneurial success. Yet the researchers said the belief that less than five hours of shut-eye is healthy is one of the most damaging myths to our health. "We have extensive evidence to show sleeping five hours or less consistently, increases your risk greatly for adverse health consequences," said researcher Dr. Rebecca Robbins. These included
cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, and shorter life expectancy. Instead, she recommends everyone should aim for a consistent seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
plotlines that hardly leave us relaxed. The other issue with TV--along with smartphones and tablets--is they produce blue light, which can delay the body's production of the sleep hormone melatonin, thus further messing up our sleep Myth 2: Watching TV in schedules. bed helps you relax Have you ever thought Myth 3: If you’re strugto yourself that in order to gling to sleep, lay in bed wind down before bed, you You've spent so long tryshould watch some television? ing to nod off you've manWell, that’s probably not the aged to count all the sheep in best activity to do before you New Zealand-- that's about 28 sleep. Dr Robbins argues: "Of- million, by the way--so what ten if we're watching the tele- should you do next? The anvision it's the nightly news… swer is not to keep trying. "We it's something that's going to start to associate our bed with cause you insomnia or stress insomnia," said Dr Robbins. right before bed when we're "It does take the healthy sleeptrying to power down and er about 15 minutes to fall relax." Let’s be real, most of asleep, but much longer than the shows we watch have in- that… make sure to get out of tense twists and turns in the bed, change the environment
and do something that's mind- "Sleep is one of the most imless." Her tip: Go fold some portant things we can all do socks. tonight to improve our health, our mood, our wellbeing and Myth 4: Hitting the our longevity." Sleep is necsnooze button essary to ensure that the conWho isn't guilty of reach- stant physical and mental ing for the snooze button on stressors in our lives don’t take their phone, thinking that ex- heavy tolls on our mind and tra nine minutes in bed is go- body. Now that these common ing to make all the difference? myths have been debunked, But the research team says that let’s hope that the summer when the alarm goes off, we break and the new school year should just get up. Dr Robbins brings every student healthier said: "Realise you will be a bit sleep schedules! groggy--all of us are---but resist the temptation to snooze. Your body will go back to sleep, but it will be very light, low-quality sleep." Instead the advice is to throw open the curtains and expose yourself to as much bright light as possible. Dr Robbins concludes:
Lifestyle
VOLUME 28 , ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 20
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Lifestyle
Photo: McDonalds
Summer Reads 2019: 5 Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down
McDonald’s vs. National Obesity By Valerie Molodtsova
tioxidant that allows the oil to remain fresh. Note that TBHQ is a petrol-based chemical, merica is currently meaning that consumers are plagued with the worst likely ingesting the same prodobesity epidemic in history. uct their car does. This is no laughing matter; fast-food is a large contributor Fast-food may cut down to this growing issue, specif- on gas consumption, a major ically the billion-dollar Mc- economic issue, with all the Donald’s franchise, and what home deliveries being made; it encompasses. From portion however, the choice to not get sizes to drive-thrus, it’s time up and go to the store countto explore how the fast-food er yourself adds to the growindustry impacts national ing issue that nothing is behealth. ing done to combat national obesity. The numbers on the Since the McDonald's scales across the country keep fast-food chain first opened in rising, but the population that 1955, the restaurant portion suffers does nothing. If anysizes have increased drasti- thing, these home deliveries cally. At that time, a custom- are an example that the faster ordering fries would only food industry isn't pushing see one size on the menu - 2.4 us towards a healthier future. ounces, according to Buzzfeed. Drive-thrus add to the issue The smallest fries McDonald's as well; although they are effioffers today is 2.6 ounces, 0.2 cient for those rushing to get ounces bigger than that of a quick meal before an event, 1955. Although at first glance they encourage others to drive it doesn’t seem to be a big deal, instead of walk. The amount it does serve as foreshadow- of times people who live near ing as the sizes get bigger: the fast-food restaurants use their largest serving of fries at Mc- drive-thrus is ridiculous. If Donald's is a whopping 5.9 they're going to be consumounces - a filling 510 calories. ing hundreds of calories, they An even bigger shocker; Mc- might as well get a head start Donald's fries contain nearly on burning them by walking 20 ingredients. There are some to their burgers instead of conventional ingredients like driving. potatoes, vegetable oil, and salt, however, the more adEvery time the Toronvanced ingredients include to Raptors score 12 or more several preservatives, such as 3-pointers in their games, sodium acid pyrophosphate to McDonald’s gives out free keep the potatoes from turn- medium fries the following ing gray, dimethylpolysilox- day. It is unclear whether this ane to reduce foaming and oil is an incentive for Toronto splattering, and TBHQ, an an- Raptors players to win, or for
A
Raptors fans to spread word of their game, and perhaps, victory. That being said, this “free fries” movement is rather ironic - filling people up with calories as a way of congratulating athletes who recently burned thousands. It's no surprise that numbers on the scale have gone up as portion sizes have grown, drive-thrus have been added, and incentives have been promoted. As early as 1960, the average American man weighed around 166 pounds, while in 2010, that number has increased to almost 196 pounds. This thirty pound gain is simply the average--you can only imagine how bad it can really be. Though McDonald's is being seriously criticized, there are some healthy picks from the menu that did not exist when the franchise first started. Items like oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, breakfast muffins, and low-sugar bakery goods guarantee a lower caloric intake and a healthier meal. Salads are still controversial, however, based on the fact that the dressing itself is full of calories, but without it, the McDonald's salad is just as healthy as one made at home. McDonald's has already added calorie counts onto their store menus to inform customers about the food they are consuming, and the franchise plans to make Happy Meals healthier for kids by 2022.
Photo: SWNS Stories Photo: Pe.com
By Valerie Molodtsova
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seem like a put-together cliché high school brat, the third most popular girl in school, kept on a leash by the first, but on the inside, she's made of spider stew. A mess disguised in lip gloss, blonde hair, and a social status. But when a boy who lacked any and all social skills just years before comes riding into school on a motorcycle, Anika decides to throw away her social safety for the troubled enigma. The story will pull readers in only to drop them in the face of a tragedy that will break their heart.
s summer nears and the temperatures grow, so should your summer book list. With a little over two months of no school and no homework, everyone should have plenty of time to grab a book, and indulge themselves in the lives of a fictional character they have never met, opening themselves up to a brand new world. Whether you're spending your summer on the beach, at the pool, at a cottage, or simply at home, a book should always be in your presence, and the following five books Girl on a Plane by Miriam Moss are more than perfect. After spending the summer with her family in BahAnatomy of a Misfit by Anrain, fifteen-year-old Anna is drea Portes Anika Dragomir might on her way back to boarding
school in England. Boarding the plane, she travels alone, sitting next to two other children in the same situation she is in. Only minutes into her flight, the plane is hijacked by Palestinian guerrillas, armed with guns and bombs. Inspired by the author's own experience in a plane hijacking, the story follows Anna's courage and survival as a hostage. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven Libby Strout, once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen,” is overlooked. Following her mom's death, she's been living in grief in the privacy of her home, but the time has come to return to high school. Jack Masselin, the popular schoolboy, surrounded by swagger, is overlooked. He
During one of his attempts on the ledge of the bell tower at school, he meets Violet Markey, a girl living for the future and counting down the days until graduation. It is unclear who saves who on that bell tower, but as the two heroines spend time together, Violet lives her days instead of counting them, while Finch participates in quite the opposite. A story of twists and turns, the All the Bright Places by Jen- ending is sure to tug at the reader's heart. nifer Niven In another novel written by Jennifer Niven, two Seven Ways We Lie by Riley opposites find themselves in Redgate Just like any other high an unlikely situation where they rely on one another to school, Paloma High School live a better and happier life. has its cliques, rumors and Theodore Finch is obsessed standards. And just like at with death but each attempt any other high school, each at killing himself is stopped student has a secret to hide. by something small and good. Little do seven students with suffers from prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, meaning he cannot recognize faces, even his own, but convinces everyone otherwise. When the two get tangled in a cruel high school game, both are forced to attend group counseling, where they find out that the more time they spend together, the less lonely they feel.
With these five books in mind, it's best to head on over to your nearest library and gather the essentials. Once you're settled in a comfy chair, sofa, or simply seated against a tree, make sure you've got everything you need for the next couple of hours because these books are ones you won't be able to put down.
Photo: GoodReads
Photo: GoodReads
Photo: GoodReads
seven secrets know that their sins are all intertwined, that their futures all hold the same consequence. As rumors of a student-teacher affair surface, everyone starts hunting for someone to blame, and ordinary allies form to create extraordinary change.
Photo: GoodReads
Photo: GoodReads
VOLUME 28 , ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 22
Lifestyle
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 24
Horoscopes
Zodiac Signs: Cities
A Beginner’s Guide to Boba
Johannesburg, South Africa
By: Carmen Chuong
chains. Here is a run down however there is one in Meadof a few of the places I have owvale Town Centre. Their n recent years, bubble tea personally tried in Mississau- pricing and tapioca are quite (also known as “boba” by ga: average, however, I think that connaisseurs) has become a their milk teas run too milky huge phenomenon, capturing Ten Rens and heavy. From personal exthe hearts of people of all ethTen Rens, found in perience, I was barely able to nicities. Yet, there still seems Square One, Mississauga, is finish a milk tea because of the to be some people who are considered more of a high end heaviness of the cream. confused as to what the drink bubble tea chain. Their tea is and the reason for its im- bases are high quality, how- Bubble Republic mense popularity. If you are ever, I have experienced some Bubble Republic is one one of those people, look no inconsistencies with their tap- of my personal favourite bubfurther, as here is a Beginner’s ioca. They tend to be either ble tea places. They have daily Guide to Boba to answer all of very soft and chewy or much specials and their slushes are your questions! more solid. stand out drinks for me! You can also purchase meals and What is Bubble Tea? Chatime enjoy a sit down meal with Bubble tea is a drink that Chatime is an extremely bubble tea and dinner with originates from Taiwan, and popular chain and is very out- your friends! has a plethora of flavours and going with their flavours. For options, from different tea bas- example, they recently sold Cocos es, flavours - taro, honeydew, durian milk tea, which was Now, for my personal passionfruit, mango, etc. - tex- both enjoyed and detested by favourite chain: Cocos! Their tures - slushies or milk teas many. Personally, Chatime is tapioca is extremely soft and - and toppings - tapioca, red a mid-range level chain with chewy, their flavours are great bean, jellies, etc.. Bubble tea average pricing, however, their and most importantly, their is most commonly consumed creativity definitely makes price is right! Cocos holds a with tapioca pearls, which are them stand out (be sure to promotion very often and you the black balls found on the pick up a reusable bubble tea are able to buy a great drink bottom of the drink, giving straw)! Chatime is located in for an affordable price. the drink a pleasant sweet and many places, and if it’s near- I Don’t Know What to Orchewy texture. Few know this, by, you surely won’t regret it. der! but it is a common miscon- However, make sure to avoid For beginners, you can ception that the name bubble any of their taro flavours, as it never go wrong with a classic tea comes from the tapio- tends to have a powdery tex- roasted pearl milk tea! I highly ca pearls. The name actually ture. recommend the roasted pearl was inspired by the froth that milk tea from Cocos and Chaserved as the top layer of the Real Fruit Bubble Tea time. I also recommend the drink from vigorous shaking. Made with real and fresh taro slush from Bubble Repub“Boba” is actually a slang term fruit, Real Fruit Bubble Tea lic, and if you go on Tuesday’s, developed from the spherical stands out for being fresh. you can get it for a discounted shapes of the tapioca pearls. However, I think that their price! I also like the passionpricing is not worth the qual- fruit and mango slush from Cool, Now Where Can I Buy ity, seeing that from personal Cocos, as well as their matcha it? experience, their tapioca isn’t red bean milk tea with tapioca. Even though I consid- the softest. However, if you A word of advice: always order er myself a boba enthusiast, I want a fresh and fruity drink, milk teas and teas with less can’t speak for all bubble tea definitely go for a smooth- ice so your drink isn’t watered locations, and everyone has ie! down! their own personal preferences, but I have tried popular I Heart Boba chains, high-end chains and I Heart Boba is less of a even underground food-court known international chain,
I
Aries MAR 20 - APR 19
Ever the daredevil, the adventurous Aries loves to live life on the edge. So why not scale the edge of a beautiful mountain, go on a safari and play with the the lions, or dance the night away at a jazz club in the beautiful city of Johannesburg?
Copenhagen, Denmark
Libra SEPT 22 - OCT 23
Bordeaux, France
Photo: BlogTO
Taurus APR 20 - MAY 20
Taurus has an unquenchable thirst for all the finer things in life. You want to be treated like royalty and live in a beautiful chateau surrounded by breathtaking art, scenic greenery, and amazing food. Bordeaux has all that and more with its amazing collection of galleries, historic chateaux, Michelin-star restaurants and more.
London, England
Scorpio OCT 24 - NOV 21
Photo: TheMalasianTimes.com
Gemini MAY 21 - JUNE 20
Sagittarius NOV 22 - DEC 21
Cancer JUNE 21 - JULY 22
Capricorn DEC 22 - JAN 19
Photo: Zomato
Leo JULY 23 - AUG 22
Aquarius JAN 20 - FEB 18
Photo: TripAdvisor
Photo: GTARestaurantGuide
Photo: TripAdvisor
Virgo AUG 23 - SEPT 21
Aquarius, you're curious by nature, imaginative and optimistic. You're a bit of a wanderer, your perfect city is one where there is something new to discover every day. You’ll love the beautiful architecture, the dazzling culture, and the flavourful food of this eccentric city. Maybe you’ll even find the time to learn a new language (or five!) in the diverse cultural hub of India’s largest city: Mumbai.
Playa Rincon, Puerto Rico
Vancouver, British Columbia Virgos are earth signs, harmonious and grounded but bustling with energy. Virgos love the great outdoors, but they also love the hustle and bustle of the city! So listen to the sounds of nature: the lush deciduous forests, rolling green hills, and snowy Rockies of Vancouver, BC are calling your name!
Capricorns are bright, strong-willed people with colour-coded planners and alphabetized bookshelves. Your meticulous nature will help you to not only survive, but thrive in the cutthroat competition in the city of strong will and ambition. You belong in the city that never sleeps: you don’t take naps when you’re so attached to the hustle. So book a ticket to NYC, this concrete jungle will have to quicken its pace to keep up with you!
Mumbai, India
Barcelona, Spain The bright and energetic Leo needs a city as youthful and vibrant as its soul. Dance your nights away in a beautiful, bohemian, Spanish city where mid-day naps are an essential cultural staple to prepare for the endless nights. Your sunny personality and positive carefree vibes will fit right in in the summer-y city of Barcelona.
Sagittarius is a wanderer by nature. You yearn to backpack through Central and South America, your world map is dotted with pushpins on all the world’s big cities; you are an individualistic soul with a thirst for adventure and a deep desire for travel. Throughout your life you’ll want to call a dozen different cities home, but what better place to settle than, the beautiful city of Paris. Full of culture and adventure, Paris is a stunning city bustling with other bold individualists such as yourself.
New York City, USA
Honolulu, Hawaii
Cancers are chill, beach-loving water signs. Your loving, spiritual personality needs a place where you can be free. Swim in hidden waterfalls, hike through the lush jungle forests and ride a sick wave on your new surfboard. At the end of the day, you can lean back to watch a beautiful, blazing red sunset dip beneath the Pacific Ocean on the beach in the beautiful island of Honolulu.
A strong-willed Scorpio loves to be challenged. Your braveness and determination gets you far in life, your ambition and drive propel you even further. So the bustling city of London is the perfect place for you to find your calling as you immerse yourself in the cultural hubs of Southall, Kensington, Buckingham and more. Though, you would need the Scorpio ambition just to find an affordable place to live.
Paris, France
Rome, Italy
This ancient city has an astounding amount of history behind its name. It’s full of stunning architecture, vibrant cultures, chic marketplaces and incredible food. The versatile Gemini needs a city like Rome to quench their thirst for knowledge and satisfy their impulsive and seemingly shallow needs, bringing out your youthfulness and providing food for thought for your old soul.
Libras are sophisticated urbanites with a kind and easygoing nature. You'll feel right at home in the playful but sophisticated city of Copenhagen. Denmark’s high end city of luxurious fashion and delectable gourmet cuisine will satisfy your taste for the finer things.
Pisces FEB 19 - MAR 20
Pieces! You’re a chill and laid back water sign that just likes to take things slow. You love to relax, bask in sunlight on a summer day, and eat fish tacos until you’re stuffed. The quaint beach city life would work for you, especially a small, beautiful town like Playa Rincon in Puerto Rico.
VOLUME 28, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2019 PAGE 24
Comics
By: Uzma Sahi
By: Alice Guio
By: Victoria Shyshkin
By: Jillian Xu
Credits: Continued:
Layout Designers
Jessica Li Dhanya Kalaiselvan
Copy Editors
Albert Zhu Khyathi Rao Valerie Molodotsova Selena Zhou Emily Cao
Photographers
Tarek Alkorani Samiksha Babbar Rachna Venkatesh Deepasri Dattaraghava Aya Barakat Roop Sanghu Dhanya Kalaiselvan
Journalists
Rehana Lalani Mateja Perc Tehreem Iqbal Ruth Zelleke Carmen Chuong Smriti Sharma Benjamin Mah Aliza Lallani Leena Siddiqui Mira Ewadh
Cover Designer Eric Zhang
Advice Columnists
Ruth Zelleke Jessica Li Sonika Nangia Alex Truong Nicole Brzozowski