CURRENT AFFAIRS IN A WAY YOU'LL LOVE
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Vrinda Gandhi
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lifestyle co-director
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editing co-director
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meet the directors Aathmika Radhachandran public relations co-director
@theaffairmag theaffairmag@gmail.com Published monthly by The Affair. All Rights Reserved. cover photo edited by yaj jhajhria & sahithi lingampalli
COVER PHOTO BY INCHARA J
Yaj Jhajhria
podcast co-director
Lauren Yi
marketing director
Evelyn Chen
artwork co-director
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meet the staff
WRITERS: Anvitha Mattapalli Ashmita Annamalai Ashna Ahmed Geethikaa Tarra Hafiza Samath Kavya Gurunath Jacob Ricketts Juninho Paniouchkine Maya Krolik Nivi Chozhan Neve Walker Sahithi Lingampalli Samita Pandit Sanjna Mootakoduru Sharon Pan Shrawani Pradhan Sierra Tan Taruni Manam Thejo Tattala Vanathi Kanth
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EDITORS: Aarav Navani Anvitha Mattapalli Arushi Patil Cindy Zhang Harvi Karatha Jeet Parikh Jessica Laws Kavya Gurunath Manushri Bapat Myint Myat Theingi Natasha Matta Neve Walker Sahithi Lingampalli Samita Pandit Shabdika Gubba Shoffana Sundaramoorthy Taruni Manam Uday Lingampalli ARTISTS: Cal Shin-Koh Evelyn Chen Mia Kim Sahithi Lingampalli Sanjna Mootakoduru Sharon Pan
PODCAST: Ashmita Annamalai Geethikaa Tarra Inchara J Shabdika Gubba Sierra Tan Yaj Jhajhria Saige Cooke LAYOUT DESIGNERS:
Arushi Patil Inchara J Karen He Leesha Pillai Natasha Matta Nivi Chozhan Sahithi Lingampalli Shoffana Sundaramoorthy Tristan Castro PUBLIC RELATIONS: Aathmika Radhachandran Abigail Manuella Ashmita Annamalai Nivi Chozhan Sahithi Lingampalli
contents
CONTENTS
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ART & MEDIA
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MISSING MUSICAL MEANINGS
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BEHIND THE BILLIE EILISH CRAZE
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THE K-WAVE
49 A NEW COVID VARIANT SPARKS CONCERN 51 WHAT EXACTLY IS "TIME"? 53 THE SCIENCE BEHIND NEW
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POLITICS
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THE CAPITOL RIOTS
57 LIFESTYLE
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GLOBALIZING THE COVID-19
59 WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THE
VACCINE 23
JACINDA ARDERN
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TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
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BLACK WEST PAPUANS LIVES MATTER
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TECH & DESIGN
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TRUMP + TWITTER
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3D PRINTED HEART
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2021 RESOLUTION TECH
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NET NEUTRALITY
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SCIENCE
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TRICKING YOUR BRAIN TO
YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
COVID-19 NIGHTMARE COMES TO AN END 63 THRIVING IN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 65 TRADITIONAL KHEER RECIPE 67 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS 71 OPINION 73 REFLECTIONS ON THE DONALD TRUMP ERA 77 SHOULD BILLIONAIRES EXIST?
ALLEVIATE PAIN
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arts and media
missing musical meaings
behind the billie eilish craze
An article about how music has lost its meaning over the past few decades.
A look at how the famous popstar became who she is today and why she has gained so much popularity worldwide.
the k-wave The late 2010s to early 2020s are the years that Asian artists have begun to shine in the western entertainment industry. With K-pop having a massive influence in pop culture and K-dramas setting trends in the western world, this article dives deep into how Asians are taking over an industry that used to discriminate against them.
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missing musical meanings
page 7-8
behind the billie eilish craze
page 9-10
the k-wave
page 11-13
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missing musical m
disclaimer: please keep in mind this is the author's opinion on this topic The lyrics of a song were once the result of heartfelt expression poured straight from the heart of the songwriter that truly captured the beauty of emotion. They provided the songwriter a platform to be free and share their story for all to hear and relate to. The song you hear on the radio started off as a page of lyrics, the backtrack and voices were later chosen to fit the lyrics, and so ultimately, without the lyrics, there wouldn’t be this song. But as decades have passed, we shifted our focus away from emotive lyrics and we have instead created a new definition for what it takes to be a good song. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the band Queen, once said “there will be a time when technology becomes so advanced that we will rely on them to make music rather than raw talent. Music will lose its soul.” It’s startling just how true his statement -- made back in the 1980s -- is today.
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Two years ago, I attended an Ariana Grande concert. I was mesmerized by her outfit and props as she performed the choreography with her dancers. The background track blasted louder than her own auto-tuned voice, which skipped over half the lyrics so she could catch her breath and dance. I can’t say that I remember how her voice sounded or how I felt listening to the song. I only remember her glittery dress, neon lights, and the over-the-top car prop. Grande had compromised her singing for the technology and fancy elements around her and because of this, I failed to recognize her talent and music. Now what about TikTok songs like “Say So” by Doja Cat? When people hear this song, almost all of them are prepared to belt out some choreography when the TikTok viral ten second reel plays. However, most are unable to accurately state the lyrics of this viral reel.
meanings We’ve started to associate these songs with their corresponding dances over their songwriters, singers, and lyrics. These songs eventually reach billboards and become famous simply due to their famous dances and not the talent of the team who produced the song. The reason why we have put aside lyrics for extravagant elements boils down to attention span and effort. At first listen, you can hear the background track and your feet tap in rhythm to the beat. At first glance, you can see the choreography and props, so you begin to focus on those. Listening specifically to the lyrics and analyzing each line requires more effort and time, and therefore, only a few of us decide to do so.
It’s important to recognize and form opinions on a song with all aspects in consideration. Give your tapping feet a rest and think about the lyrics. They may hold meaning and passion that don’t deserve to be overlooked.
written by anvitha mattapalli edited by manushri bapat & shoffana sundaramoorthy layout by inchara j. art by evelyn chen
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Behind the Billie Ellish Craze 15 billion streams. World famous. Neon green hair. 73 million instagram followers. Did you guess who it is yet? Her name is Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell, more commonly known as just Billie Eilish, the world famous singer and songwriter. While many of us know her, not many know about the story to the rise of her fame… When she was young, Eilish was homeschooled, and as some may know, a huge superfan of Justin Bieber. At only 12 years old, she wrote her first song, “Finger’s Crossed”. It was about an unexpected romance during a zombie apocalypse. The song got thousands of streams at the time, which was quite marvelous, although looking back, feels otherwise.
written by Geethika Tarra edited by Manushri Bapat, Uday Lingampalli, & Myint Myat Theingi layout by Shoffana Sundaramoorthy art by Sahithi Lingampalli
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Billie Eilish’s brother, Finneas, also started as a young musician whom Billie looked up to. Finneas was part of a band and produces, as well as sings, his own music. Billie Eilish’s breakthrough song that put her on the map was “Ocean Eyes”, which was a collaboration with her brother. He was experimenting with this song, alongside his band. While Finneas originally wanted it to be about his feelings, he thought a girl’s voice would better suit the song. Billie then decided to help out her brother when she overheard the band and Finneas working on it. Billie worked on it nonstop until it was finally polished and the siblings could post it on SoundCloud. Little did the two know what awaited them next… The song got thousands of streams within a day. While Billie expected support due to her famous acquaintances promoting her work, she did not expect getting so much attention. Fast forward 4 years and Billie Eilish is working on music with Khalid, has her own EP’s and has millions of streams for “Ocean Eyes” as well as her other songs. She gained millions of followers seemingly overnight and was even able to meet her idol, Justin Bieber.
But with this spotlight on Billie came the haters, the judgers and the shamers. Being an artist at such a young age, Billie wore baggy clothing in fear of being sexualized. During an interview with Vogue Australia, Eilish stated, "It kind of gives nobody the opportunity to judge what your body looks like. I want layers and layers and layers and I want to be mysterious. You don’t know what’s underneath and you don’t know what’s on top."
Elite Daily claims, “As a young woman who's still a minor, Eilish said that she feels like fans have come to expect the looser style of dress and that she doesn't want her own more modest style to be an avenue for people to shame other women who do choose to show off their bodies.” While this popstar feels comfortable in baggy clothing, and is aware of the hate she may receive from wearing more fitted clothing, she knows that her body is hers, and she can wear whatever she wants!
One day, a fan caught Eilish wearing more form-fitting clothes and took a picture that went viral. When Billie saw the image she said, "My boobs were trending on Twitter! At number one! What is that?! Every outlet wrote about my boobs!"
Eilish has been a tremendous role model for many young girls and boys around the world in terms of body positivity, self love, and being confident. Her music has inspired many and continues to do so. Congratulations to Billie Eilish on everything she has accomplished and all her success!
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THE K-
written by Sharon Pan | edited by Kavya Guruna layout by Leesha Pilla It is very likely that you have seen or heard some Korean over the past few weeks, whether browsing over shows on Netflix or on an ad while you listen to Spotify on your phone. Or maybe you have seen some Korean singers smiling in advertisements, frozen on the pages of a magazine, or looking fresh on your TV. Korean culture and entertainment seem to be on every entertainment platform nowadays. However, Korean influence on the Western Hemisphere has actually been prevalent for decades past. Known as Hallyu or the “Korean Wave”, the popularity of Korean music, movies, and fashion started around the early 1950s with the Korean War, but became much more established during the 1990s and 2000s through the crossover of Korean music into mainstream America. Wonder Girl’s 2009 hit, “Nobody” and Psy’s unforgettable sensation “Gangnam Style”, were some bridges that allowed this crossover to happen in the early 21st century. This style of music – as in, music made by South Koreans – is known as “K-pop.”
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Now, when one says “K-pop”, what comes to your mind? Well, none other than the world-famous BTS, otherwise known as the Bangtan Boys. Ever since their debut in 2013, the seven-member boy band had been popular, with their millions of fans – named ARMY – growing with each passing year. Without a doubt, BTS is one of the most, if not the most, popular K-pop groups to ever be formed. However, the K-pop craze does not only limit itself to BTS. K-pop girl groups, notably Blackpink and Twice, have also broken this cultural barrier, along with the multi-cultural group EXO and solo artist BoA, among others. Outside of music, the television industry also immersed itself in the plethora of South Korean television shows and movies, dubbed “K-dramas” and “K-movies,” respectively. Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, is one of these breakout movies, an outlier among the rest. When released in the fall of 2019, Parasite had been hailed as a genius film, with stunning cinematography and a riveting storyline. In fact, the comedic thriller actually won Four Academy Awards at the 2020 Oscars,
-WAVE
a t h , M a n u s h r i B a p a t , & S h o f f a n a S u n d a r a m o o r th y | art by Cal Shin-Koh
becoming the first foreign-language film to claim Best Picture. K-dramas, although not having as much wideacclaimed success as Parasite, still have their fair share of influence: many streaming services, such as Netflix, offer Korean dramas to their viewers. Some of the more popular dramas include Crash Landing on You and It’s Okay to Not be Okay.
Not only has entertainment been showing up in Western culture, but Korean fashion styles have also grown popular. Although there is no one definite Korean-style fashion, there are still a number of noticeable trends. Clothing looks are usually puttogether, neutral-colored, and stylish. Different aesthetics include business casual: a common outfit consisting of a blazer and slacks paired with a t-shirt; streetwear: with oversized clothing, sweatpants, and perhaps a statement jacket or hat; and minimalism: a simple shirt, pant, and jacket all in a similar
color scheme. Online stores, such as Yesstyle, Stylenanda, and Chuu, have established themselves as trendy places to shop. Yesstyle especially has been making a statement, with hundreds of Youtubers making try-on hauls and reviews of its clothes and accessories. South Koreans are masters of beauty, so it makes complete sense for K-Beauty to be influencing Western makeup. Koreans value simplicity, so their beauty products are ones that enhance the natural aspects of the face. Glittery nude, brown, or pinkish eyeshadow is applied around the eye to brighten it and make it look bigger. Lip tints and glosses are used strategically–darker colors near the inside of the lips and buffed out near the edges–to produce an effect that makes the lips seem plump and juicy. And to achieve the youthful, dewy face, Korean skincare products are famed to be the best of the best: light and hydrating, perfect for reviving and protecting the skin.
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Putting aside the visual media, clothes, and makeup, let’s talk about the food. Who doesn’t love food? Fried, spicy, and flavorful, Korean street food is not only perfect for a filling snack but also popular as food items in mukbangs. Mukbangs, which started off with live-streaming and online broadcasts, which are essentially eating shows where the mukbangers would talk to their viewers while eating a large amount of food. Mukbangs, which started off with live-streaming and online broadcasts, which are essentially eating shows where the mukbangers would talk to their viewers while eating a large amount of food. This method of vicarious entertainment started to be prevalent in South Korea during 2010 and only became prevalent in mainstream American culture beginning a few years ago. Now, we see many Western influencers making mukbangs, with some of the more well-known ones being HunniBee ASMR, Zach Choi, and Stephanie Soo.
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Whether through music or television, beauty or food, the past few years have made it evident that the influence of Korean culture on the Western world is not going anywhere anytime soon. So for now, let’s just enjoy the ride.
references missing musical meanings Bounkhong, T. (2011, February 21). Music has lost its meaning. Retrieved from https://www.harberherald.com/opinion/2011/02/21/music-has-lost-its-meaning/ Harrill, K. (2019, March 20). Music Has Lost Its Soul–Where'd It Go? Retrieved from https://nfhsraiderwire.com/showcase/2019/03/20/music-has-lost-its-soul-whered-it-go/ Winston, C. (2017, November 15). Why Do Lyrics Matter? NRG Recording Studios. Retrieved from https://www.nrgrecording.com/post/why-do-lyrics-matter
behind the billie eilish craze Wallis, A. (2020, January 27). Who is Billie Eilish: 9 facts about the Grammy winner. Global News. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/6466984/who-is-billieeilish/#:~:text=Her%20full%20name%20is%20Billie%20Eilish%20Pirate%20Baird%20 O'ConnellRoshanak. (2019, June 21). Inside Billie Eilish's Fascinating Real Life Story. AmoMama. Retrieved from https://eng.amomama.com/157363-inside-billie-eilishs-tragic-real-life-s.html Walsh, L. (2019, September 7). The Reason Billie Eilish Wears Baggy Clothes Is Actually Really Upsetting. Elite Daily. Retrieved from https://www.elitedaily.com/p/the-reason-billie-eilish-wears-baggy-clothes-is-actually-reallyupsetting-18734053
the k-wave KAANET. (2017, November 23). Korean Culture And Its Effects On The United States. KAANET. Retrieved from https://www.kaanet.com/korean-culture-and-its-effects-on-the-united-states/ Korea.net. (n.d.). Hallyu (Korean Wave). Korea.net. Retrieved From https://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Culture-and-the-Arts/Hallyu MacDonald, J. (2019, July 14). Deciding Which Korean Dramas Will Appeal To U.S. Viewers. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2019/05/17/deciding-which-koreandramas -will-appeal-to-u-s-viewers/?sh=660c779f51e6 Romano, A. (2018, February 26). How K-pop became a global phenomenon. Vox. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/2/16/16915672/what-is-kpop-history-explained Dove, S. (2020, February 10). Parasite Wins 4 Oscars and Makes Oscar History. ABC. Retrieved from https://oscar.go.com/news/winners/parasite-wins-4-oscars-and-makes-oscar-history
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POLITICS & WORLD EVENTS
capitol hill riots An analysis into the causes and reasons that many supporters of Donald Trump came into Washington DC on January 6 and stormed the United States Capitol.
globalizing the covid vaccine The process of spreading the vaccine around the world and several politicians input in doing so.
black west papuans lives matter feature on jacinda arden Feature on the Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand to focus on her response to Covid-19 and the future of the Labour Party in New Zealand
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West Papua has been fighting for its independence from Indonesia for some time now. However, the ongoing Papuan genocide shows that the country is far from achieving independence from the Indonesian government.
THE CAPITOL RIOTS GLOBALIZING THE COVID-19 VACCINE JACINDA ARDERN TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT BLACK WEST PAPUANS LIVES MATTER
page 17-20
page 21-22
page 23-24
page 25-26
page 27-29
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C A P I T O L H I L L RIOTS
On Wednesday, Jan. 6, a large group of Trump Supporters aiming to overturn the election results of the United States 2020 election stormed the United States Capitol in an attempt to get their voices heard. The Capitol Hill Riots, now commonly being called an insurrection by many United States government officials, was started when the President announced on his nowsuspended Twitter account, “Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!” Trump’s Twitter statement spread throughout his fans on social media platforms, spread by President Trump and several pro-Trump representatives including representative Mo Brooks. Trump encouraged his supporters to “march down Pennsylvania Avenue” and to “fight like hell.” Although first peaceful, the protesters turned into rioters when they were able to breach Capitol police lines that were defending the Capitol building. Rioters were seen breaking into the senate chambers and taking pictures. Along
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with a notable picture of a m carrying away Nancy Pelosi’s podi and another sitting on her desk with feet up. Controversially, Trump had releas a video telling his supporters a rioters to “go home”, and that he “lov them.” The Video turned i condemnation from many politician the United States. By the presid saying he had “loved” the rioters it w only showing in their opinions, that had supported what they had do and showed no remorse for taking p in the storming of the Capitol. In the aftermath, the House Representatives and Sen reconvened later that night a formally certified Joe Biden a Kamala Harris as the next presid and vice president of the United Sta of America. Besides the certificat the FBI and other police organizati have been releasing pictures of violent protesters on the internet order to find more information ab them, and bring them to custody
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where they would face charges. Along with many private airline companies putting people that participated in the riots on their no-fly lists, often refusing to seat them on their planes.
HOW THE CAPITOL HILL RIOTS COMPARE TO BLM PROTESTS
Many Republicans argue that the riot of Capitol Hill is the same as the protests of the Black Lives Matter protests, but that is just not true. The Black Lives Matter protests were against systemic racism that occurs in the police system and against police brutality. The Black Lives Matter protests were protesting for people's lives. They were in the streets, throughout cities. By having protests in high-density areas, more people will join in and want to take a stand. The
Black Lives Matter protests were highly important for America to have, because we needed to have a reform our police system, have de-escalation training, and hold police accountable for their actions. America was born by the colonists making a stand against Britain and starting a revolution. People during that time threw millions of dollars worth of tea into the Boston harbor as a protest against the tea tax made by the British. The civil rights movement started as protests against segregation and for the liberation of black individuals. Our country is full of people fighting for their cause, but there is a line between protesting for a change and domestic terrorism. The Capitol Hill riots were an act of domestic terrorism. Trump supporters were upset that Trump lost the elections, and after a rally where Trump told them to storm congress, they did just that. They convinced themselves that going to the congressional building and attacking it, causing the congressmen and women to go into lockdown and causing
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millions in damage was an act of patriotism. It should not be said that attacking American democracy is not a form of patriotism, but it does when it comes to Trump supporters. There were even numerous confederate flags, which is technically another “country’s” flag.
There have been many comparisons to how the police responded to the BLM protests and the Capitol Hill riots. During the BLM protests police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas, but with the Capitol Hill riots police just let them in. There is even a video of a policeman helping a woman walk down the stairs. It's safe to say that if these rioters were anything but white, they would be shot and killed by the police. It's sad to think that it is easier and safer to attack the Congressional building than it is to fight for people's rights and safety.
EDITED BY AARAV NAVANI 19
WRITTEN BY NEVE WALKER & JACOB RICKETTS
LAYOUT BY SAHITHI LINGAMPALLI
ARTMIABY KIM 20
Globalizing the COV The longest and most excruciating year has ended on a positive note. The development of a vaccine one year after the beginning of a global pandemic is both unheard of and an amazing feat. The COVID-19 vaccine will be available to all, not just the first world; but also third world countries in a matter of few months, if not weeks, thanks to COVAX, the prime mechanism in globalizing the COVID19 vaccine launched by the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
COVAX will lead the release of 2 billion doses, along with 245 million treatments, and 500 million tests, by the end of 2021. A primary challenge that the mechanism will continue to battle over the next few months, is the distribution of the vaccine to diverse communities, demographics, etc. It has been confirmed that the vaccine must be distributed to every single person in order to fix problems relating to trade, commerce, and the economy that the pandemic has created.
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WRITTEN BY SHRAW Several of such countries have promised to donate their excess supply of vaccines to 92 of the world’s low to middle-income countries, which is ensured by the Gavi/COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Mechanism. However, such a goal can
VID-19 VID-19 Vaccine Vaccine WANI PRADHAN only be made possible if the manufacturers sell the vaccine doses at an affordable cost. However, all of these combined costs are minuscule compared to the UN-estimated $375 billion loss to the global economy, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thankfully, international donors have contributed $2 billion, and the United States has allocated $4 billion in its second COVID-19 relief package for Gavi. Of course, there are challenges such as the public’s accessibility to vaccine and treatment centers, and the affordability of the vaccine, however with international support, globalizing the vaccine an arm’s length away.
EDITED BY Natasha Matta & Uday Lingampalli LAYOUT BY Nivi Chozhan ART BY Cal Shin-Koh 22
FEATU
Jacinda As a social warrior for progressive change in New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has pushed the envelope of politics as the world’s youngest female head of state. In October 2017, Labour Leader Ardern formed a coalition government with the New Zealand First and New Zealand Green Party to establish her premiership to be defined as progressivism, democratic socialism, and fervent feminism. Ardern won her second term in 2020, and gained Labour landslide victories across the nation—particularly associated with her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic. Again, Ardern earned worldwide recognition in March 2019 for her organized national response to the Christchurch Mosque Shootings where fifty-one victims were murdered with forty others injured. Ardern’s administration pushed for a stark rebuke of far-right politics on the islands through a serious investigation into the attacks. After being notified of the attacks, Ardern
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written by Juninh
edited by Aarav Navani, Ne
left a school climate strike and boarded for Wellington to order an immediate heightening of antiterrorism protections around New Zealand. Her popularity only began to soar again. Through a legislative lens, Ardern’s administration has pushed for strong Labour policy in acts such as her Families Package, where families with newborn babies born after July 1 2019 are eligible for NZ$60 a week for the child’s first year of life. In a virtual speech to Parliament from her home, while breastfeeding her baby, Ardern noted that the Families Package was the proudest achievement of her administration on a domestic platform and wished to make New Zealand “the best country in the world to raise a family.” Ardern has also been warmly received on the world stage by providing a strong contrast to previous New Zealand Prime Ministers who were criticized for their treatment of East Asian neighbors,
layout by A
art by M
URE OF
ho Paniouchkine
eve Walker, & Harvi Karatha
Arushi Patil
Mia Kim
Ardern Australian and New Guinean allies, and the indigenous Māori population. Ardern’s premiership became renowned for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and by late 2020, the country was declared “virtually covid free.” New Zealand tackled the pandemic with flying colors and worked with other world leaders to focus on vaccine production, testing organization, and strong lockdowns to return to normalcy in 2021. At the end of her first 3-year term, Ardern led her party in October 2020 to landslide victories around the nation in small provincial legislatures culminating in a large leadership win for the nation’s Parliament. In her address to New Zealanders, she first spoke of victory in the Māori language before stating that the nation showed its support of the Labour party in New Zealand history.
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Trump’s Impeachment Trial written by Neve Walker
Image Credit: Jon Cherry
Donald Trump has become the first president in American History to ever be impeached twice. Because of what he said during his rally on January 8th, Donald Trump is being charged with “incitement of insurrection” to the Congressional Building, causing millions in damage and causing senators, who were counting the electoral college votes confirming Biden’s victory, to go into lockdown. The House of Representatives has accused Trump of encouraging violence with false claims of election fraud. Trump urged his supporters to “peacefully and patriotically '' make their voices heard, but he also said to “fight like hell” against Capitol Hill and the seat of US
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Congress. Because of Trump's remarks, his supporters broke into the Capitol, which forced lawmakers to take shelter and suspend the certification of the results of the election. The building was placed on lockdown. Five people died because of these riots. The article of impeachment stated that Trump ``repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the presidential election results were fraudulent and should not be accepted.” The article of impeachment also said he repeated these claims and “willfully made statements to the crowd that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in lawless action at the Capitol.” These statements lead
to violence and loss of lives. Because of Trump and his supporters' actions, time of Trump’s Republican party voted in favor of impeachment with the Democrats, making the vote 232-197. Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, said on the House floor, "The president of the United States incited this insurrection, this armed rebellion against our common country. He must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love." Julian Castro, a Democratic congressman, called Trump, "the most dangerous man to ever occupy the Oval Office" Impeaching Trump now, even though he's not in office anymore, means that he could not rerun or hold any office in the American Government. This would mean that Trump 2024 could not happen. Now,
because of Biden’s inauguration, the impeachment trial has been delayed to February 8th. This gives Biden “breathing room” and an opportunity to fill his cabinet and work on his agenda before the trial. The delay also gives Trump time to ready his defenses. Overall, this election has brought out the worst in ourselves on both sides. The Trump era divided America deeply, and it is best that we move on and focus on the future and potential for better candidates, instead of hyper focusing on one. Throughout our independence, we have had bad and controversial presidents but we have always pulled through and improved. We are America and we are more than just one bad leader. Hopefully, after the trial, we can just forget this ordeal has even happened and make the next 4 years better than the last.
OGRESS Image Credit: Lea Millis
layout by Tristan Castro
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BLACK BLACK WEST WEST PAPUANS PAPUANS LIVES LIVES MATTER MATTER written by Hafiza Samath | Edited by Aarav Navani, Harvi Karatha, & Neve Walker Abdoulaye Wade, the President of Senegal, is the first African leader to publicly support West Papua‘s fight for independence:, he states that ‘West Papua is now an issue for all black Africans’. [President of Senegal – “West Papua is now an issue for all black Africans”, 2010] The black indigenous community in the West Papua province of Indonesia have been fighting for their independence for more than half a century. In Indonesia, the movement brought attention to the discrimination faced by Papuans who are of Melanesian origin. Melanesians identify as Black; they live in neighboring Papua New Guinea and Pacific island nations like Fiji and Vanuatu. However, Papuans constitute just a small part of Indonesia’s population. [Gunia, A. 2020]
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The region was annexed by Indonesia in 1969. The annexation was deemed controversial. This is because the Dutch, who had colonized this region, considered West Papua geographically, ethnically, and culturally different from Indonesia. [Blades, J. 2020] Hence, West Papuans prepared the region for its independence throughout the 1950s, yet this never happened when Indonesia took over in 1962.
According to human rights reports, over 500,000 people have been killed in the fight for independence. Thousands have been tortured, raped, imprisoned, and have disappeared after detainment. [Waweru, N. 2020] These abuses include violence and rape, resource exploitation, relocation and destruction, forced labor, and displacement of the Papuan race. [Samath, H. 2020]
Indonesia maintains its military presence in West Papua. Human rights activists say hundreds of thousands have been killed since the 1960s by Indonesian security forces. [Samath, H. 2020] Access restrictions on international and local media, human rights observers and internet blackouts make it increasingly difficult to determine an accurate count of the number of killings in West Papua by the Indonesian armed forces. [Gunia, A. 2020]
The issue of human rights in West Papua has attracted increasing attention within Indonesia and internationally. The Black Lives Matter movement has sparked a new discussion about West Papua and helped campaigners reach more people than ever.
layout by leesha pilla | art By Sharon pan
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In 2017, West Papuan independence campaigner—Benny Wenda— presented a petition to the United Nations’ decolonization committee to seek the independence of his homeland. [Waweru, N. 2020]
Nearly 2 million signatures of West Papuans were obtained: West Papuans have put their lives in danger by signing it. The document was then banned by the Indonesian government, yet it found its way to Wenda who presented it to the UN. West Papuans willingly carried it between villages to “smuggle” it from one end of Papua to the other. [Waweru, N. 2020]
The struggle continues to this day: Black West Papuans voices must be amplified until justice is served.
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R E F E R E N C E S
CAPITOL HILL RIOTS
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://www.newsinenglish.no/2021/01/21/norway-wishes-biden-the-best/ Rep. Lee, Congress Certify 2020 Election After Failed Violent Extremist Insurrection at Capitol. (2021, January 07). Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://susielee.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-lee-congress-certify-2020-election-after-failedviolent-extremist
GLOBALIZING THE COVID-19 VACCINE Okonjo-Iweala, N. (2021, January 8). Globalizing the COVID vaccine. Brookings. Retrieved from: https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/globalizing-the-covid-vaccine/ Ahmad, L.T., & Cousens, E. How to distribute Covid-19 vaccines fairly around the world. CNN Opinion. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/28/opinions/covid-19-vaccine-world-distribution-ahmadcousens/index.html
TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
Fandos, N. (2021, January 23). Senate Leaders Agree on Impeachment Trial Delay, Giving Biden Breathing Room. Retrieved January 31, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/us/politics/senate-trump-impeachment-trial-delay.html Trump impeached for 'inciting' US Capitol riot in historic second charge. (2021, January 14). Retrieved January 31, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55656385 Warrington, J. (2021, January 13). Donald Trump becomes first US president to be impeached twice. Retrieved January 31, 2021, from https://www.cityam.com/donald-trump-becomes-first-us-president-to-be-impeached-twice/ World, T. (2020, January 23). Two days into Trump trial, Republicans appear unmoved. Retrieved January 31, 2021, from https://headtopics.com/us/two-days-into-trump-trial-republicans-appear-unmoved-10872294 Donald Trump becomes first US President to be impeached twice. (2021, January 14). Retrieved January 31, 2021, from https://www.bolnews.com/international/2021/01/donald-trump-becomes-first-us-president-to-beimpeached-twice/
WEST PAPUA
Gunia, A., ( 2020, December 15) A Racial Justice Campaign Brought New Attention to Indonesia’s Poorest Region. Will It Translate to Support for Independence?, TIME. Retrieved From: https://time.com/5919228/west-papua-lives-matter-independence/ Waweru, N., (2018, June 18) How the black indigenes of West Papua are still fighting for independence since 1969, Face To Face Africa. Retrieved From: https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-the-black-indigenes-of-west-papua-are-still-fighting-forindependence-since-1969 Samath, H., (2020, November 24) Towards the Independence of West Papua: Papua Merdeka!, Doorstep News. Retrieved From: https://doorstepnews.wixsite.com/website/post/towards-the-independence-of-west-papua-papua-merdeka President of Senegal – “West Papua is now an issue for all black Africans” (2010, November 10) West Papua Merdeka. Retrieved From: https://westpapuamedia.info/2010/12/20/president-of-senegal-west-papua-is-now-an-issue-for-all-blackafricans/ Blades, J. (2020, May 20) West Papua: The Issue That Will Never Go Away For Melanesia, Lowy Institute. Retrieved From: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/west-papua-issues-wont-go-away-melanesia
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TECH AND DESIGN
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TRUMP + TWITTER
FIRST 3D PRINTED HEART
How following the Capitol Hill Protests, misinformation from the country's 45th president is finally catching up to him on various social media platforms.
Background on the technology involved in 3D printing human tissues and organs and information about one of the greatest strides humanity has made in this technology thus far: a 3D printed human heart.
2021 RESOLUTION TECH
NET NEUTRALITY
List different apps and technology that could be useful in helping you start and maintain your new year's resolutions!
An update on net neutrality post COVID-19 and a look back to how the whole discussion started, and the election's impact on net neutrality.
TRUMP + TWITTER
page 33-34
FIRST 3D PRINTED HEART page 35-36
2021 RESOLUTION TECH page 37-38
NET NEUTRALITY
page 39-41
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TRUMP + TWITTER WRITTEN BY MAYA KROLIK EDITED BY ANVITHA MATTAPALLI & JEET PARIKH LAYOUT BY SAHITHI LINGAMPALLI ART BY SHARON PAN In lieu of the insurrection at the Capitol, former president Donald J. Trump has been facing repercussions for his word choice and activity on social media. As of date, he has been removed indefinitely from Facebook and Instagram as well as permanently suspended from Twitter, his notoriously favorite platform. The main question that many people are asking is:Â why now? Trump has been a long term Twitter user with an impressive 88 million followers (Nitasha 2021). His frequent use of this service to address his supporters amplifies the significance of the ban. In the weeks leading up to the insurrection at the Capitol, he repeatedly propagated misinformation
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regarding the election results, which Twitter tagged one by one as disputed information. Twitter’s rules and policies have been updated to display the following message: When determining whether to take enforcement action, we may consider a number of factors, including (but not limited to) whether: the behavior is directed at an individual, group, or protected category of people; the report has been filed by the target of the abuse or a bystander; the user has a history of violating our policies; the severity of the violation; the content may be a topic of legitimate public interest. (Twitter 2021)
Usually, politicians and celebrities receive more leniency in terms of what they can get away with on any social media platform, leading to issues, such as where to draw the line. We effectively censored the reactionary right from having power in the United States. And while at the moment this does not seem so detrimental, think of the precedent this sets. How much control do private institutions have in monitoring content? Apparently, a tremendous amount, as shown by the relentless shutdown of the social media app called Parler due to its central role in planning the Capitol insurrection. Parler was removed from Apple and Google Play and from Amazon Web Services, the largest provider of web-hosting in the world (Nicas and Davey 2021). These actions have raised concerns internationally. Notable figures such as German chancellor Angela Merkel have described this situation as “problematic� regarding what this means for the future of social media (Moore 2021).
Social media companies are private, and they own all rights to the content. Choosing which content to mark as illegitimate or dangerous is an Orwellian situation that society has to face. Is this the future of politics? The power of the largest companies left unchecked, effectively allowing their followers to live in alternative realities? The international community has a lot of self-reflection to do. Words, both spoken and withheld, are to be reconsidered as we begin to understand the magnitude and importance of what the powerful say. May we only come out of this in one piece.
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First 3D Printed Though technology and surgery have progressed so incredibly that doctors are able to save a person's life by giving them a replacement organ for their defective one, there remains a significant and unmistakable shortage of these vital organs. There simply aren’t enough available organs to go around. According to the American Transplant Foundation, there are around 114,000 people in the U.S. who are currently waiting on a list to get an organ transplant, and a new name is added to this list every ten minutes. Twenty people die every day waiting for an organ they desperately need but will never receive. But as we know, humanity likes to come up with eager solutions to tricky problems. Researchers and Scientists have been attempting to create artificial organs for years now, and have even managed to create things like artificial thyroid glands and tibia replacement, but every time anyone’s attempted to create a human heart, it’s either been too small, too rigid or fails to meet other criteria on the seemingly never-ending list of intricacies the human heart.
Until now, that is. 35
d Human Heart written by Anvitha Mattapalli & Sanjna Mootakoduru Scientists have taken these past discoveries to another level by inventing the first 3D printed human heart. In 2019, to create the heart, researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel, separate the fatty tissue of a patient into cells, and the extracellular matrix the cells rest on. This matrix becomes the heart ventricle. Ink flows between the cells to separate them, and create channels. After three to four hours of printing, the matrix hardens while the ink melts for blood to flow between the channels.
However, the 3D printed heart didn’t not beat like a human heart typically did. Each cell in the 3D printed heart beats individually, but the cells as a whole didn’t beat in synchronization, which is essential for proper and efficient pumping of blood. Now, scientists hope to continue improving this heart. Currently, it is only about the size of a rabbit’s heart. The expenses, materials, and time required to create a human-sized heart pose several challenges as the cells would not be able to survive the months of printing. Regardless, this is a promising discovery and a revelation in the medical field which, with further testing and improvements, could have significant benefits for humanity.
edited by This 3D printed heart now has blood vessels and four blood chambers like a real human heart, but it does not beat. The researchers grew the heart with oxygen and nutrients, and within the next few days, the heart started to beat.
layout by art by
Natasha Matta, Jeet Parikh, & Sahithi Lingampalli Nivi Chozhan
Evelyn Chen 36
2021 Resolution Tech written by Sahithi Lingampalli & Ashna Ahmed
edited by Aarav Navani
’
Here are some apps that will help you in keeping your new year
I want to journal more!
Journey Freemium Available on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux and Online Journey is an online diary that lets you type, log your feelings, mark wherever you are at the moment, and much more! It has a website and is available on almost every device, so you can journal anywhere, at any time. Their website offers a list of comparisons, comparing Journey to other popular journaling/tracker apps, such as Daylio or Penzu! You can personalize the app however you want, including changing the colors, fonts, etc.! They also offer a premium version for more personalization options, but many of the basic journaling features are free!
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s resolutions!
I want to exercise more!
PEAR
Personal Fitness Coach
Freemium Available on Android and iOS
PEAR Personal Fitness Coach gives you guided workout videos for all fitness levels from beginner to advanced! The intensity of the workouts changes based on your workout performance. It’s also compatible with a huge selection of workout devices, which can help personalize your workout. They can also sync your workout progress to different apps. The app’s free version includes limited, set workouts, but you can gain unlimited access to all the workouts with the premium subscription!
layout by Tristan Castro
art by Mia Kim
image credits to Apple App Store
I want to stay more organized! I want to stay more productive!
Google Calendar
Forest Google Keep
Free Available on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux and Online Google Calendar is a timemanagement and scheduling calendar by Google. It links directly to your Google account, which makes it easier for someone like your manager to schedule meetings! It’s easy to use and navigate, and also connects your Google Calendar to your default calendar on Android! Google Keep is an organization app for notes with easy labeling and the ability to pin your most important notes! It is quick to pull up any of your notes, the app color coordinates, and you can collaborate with your colleagues! It also allows you to insert images and/or files, and has a limit of characters (excluding title) of 19,999!
Freemium Available on Android, iOS, and Chrome Webstore Finally, Forest is an app that is vital amidst the COVID-19 pandemic! It is a convenient productivity app that assists in minimizing your screen time! Its goal is to get you to spend less time on your device, and by doing that, you will be able to plant your own virtual trees which could turn into forests! Not only do you grow virtual trees, but by earning coins (which you receive for how long you’ve been off the device), you could use them towards planting real trees around the world. It is a great app that does not only benefit us but the environment too! Forest also includes ‘Deep Focus’, which prevents your tree from dying even if you’re not on the app!
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With internet traffic surging during the COVID-19 pandemic, the internet now offers a unique opportunity for policymakers to examine the successes and failures of the nation’s broadband system (Brake, D. 2020). The stay-at-home orders, business closures, and social distancing necessary to fight transmission of the coronavirus generated a considerable increase in broadband traffic. The increase in demand saw peak traffic roughly 20 to 40 percent higher than before the pandemic (Brake, D. 2020).
While some scholars believe that the pandemic should vitalize policymakers and civil society to shift the conversation toward productive gap filling, instead of continuing the debate around the net neutrality issue. Others believe that instead of rendering net neutrality obsolete, the Covid-19 crisis shows why it’s such an important principle. (Finley, K. 2020)
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More people are now relying on the internet, so they should be free to choose the video conferencing tools, academic sites, or entertainment they prefer, rather than letting broadband providers decide for them. This would indicate that even in critical circumstances, internet companies can provide a neutral network (Finley, K. 2020).
During the Bush-era, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took the first pass at antidiscrimination rules for the internet in a policy statement in 2005. It prohibited internet service providers from blocking legal content or obstructing customers from connecting their preferred devices to their internet connections. Based on this policy, the FCC ordered Comcast to stop slowing connections that used the BitTorrent software. This is used for digital piracy but also has legitimate uses. Comcast then proceeded to sue the FCC. It argued that FCC had overstepped its bounds. A federal court was in favor of Comcast. Looking back at the history of net neutrality, Columbia University law professor Tim Wu coined the term "network neutrality" in his 2003 paper on online discrimination (Finley, K. 2020). Wu’s concern was that broadband providers intended to restrict new technologies, which would hurt innovation in the long run. Subsequently, he called for antidiscrimination rules to be formulated.
Fast forward to the Obama-era, FCC passed a more detailed net neutrality order hoping that it would withstand legal scrutiny (Finley, K. 2020). Unfortunately, the hope was short-lived when the same court ruled that FCC did not have the authority to impose net neutrality regulations on services that weren't considered common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act.
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The FCC passed its net neutrality order in 2015 and was again sued by telecommunications firms. The same federal court that shot down the FCC’s previous attempts at net neutrality rules finally sided with the agency, ruling that the 2015 rules were legal. (Finley, K. 2020)
With Biden’s presidential win, a Democratic Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is confident to restore net neutrality rules and move aggressively to expand broadband subsidies amid the pandemic. (Newton, J. 2021)
Democrats are also to expand broadband aid through the E-Rate program, a program that pays for high-speed internet connections to schools and libraries. (Newton, J. 2021) FCC will likely allow E-Rate funding to be used to subsidize Wi-Fi hotspots, laptops, and other connected devices to assist with remote learning.
In December 2017, the FCC, which was controlled by Republicans, (Finley, K. 2020) ruled that internet providers will be banned from blocking, throttling, or discriminating against lawful content. This order reversed the Obama-era FCC's decision to characterize broadband internet providers as "Title II" common carriers. This is similar to traditional telephone companies, leaving the agency with less authority to regulate broadband providers during emergencies like the pandemic.
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written by Hafiza Samath edited by Jessica Laws & Sahithi Lingampalli layout by Karen He art by Sahithi Lingampalli
REFERENCES TRUMP + TWITTER Amazon, Apple and Google cut off parler, an app that drew Trump supporters. (2021, January 13). The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/technology/apple-google-parler.html Canales, K. (2021, January 8). Facebook suspends Trump until the end of his presidency. Business Insider Australia. https://www.businessinsider.com.au/facebook-has-blocked-president-trump-indefinitely-2021-1 Community standards. (n.d.). Facebook - Log In or Sign Up. https://www.facebook.com/communitystandards/ Conservatives are flocking to a new 'free speech' social media app that has started banning liberal users. (2020, July 3). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/conservatives-flock-free-speech-social-media-app-which-has-started-n1232844 Tiku, N., & Romm, T. (2021, January 8). The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/08/twitter-trump-dorsey/ The Twitter rules. (2020, June 9). Help Center. https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-rules World leaders speak out against Twitter suspending Trump’s account. (2021, January 12). New York Post. https://nypost.com/2021/01/12/merkel-world-leaders-speak-out-against-trumps-twitter-ban/
FIRST 3D PRINTED HEART Pesavento, D. (2015, October 20). Facing Organ Donor Shortage, Patients Forced to Get Creative. Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://www.livescience.com/52526-rarity-of-organ-donations-forcing-patients-to-get-creative.html Saplakoglu, Y. (2019, April 17). How Scientists 3D Printed a Tiny Heart from Human Cells. Retrieved January 23, 2021, from https://www.livescience.com/65257-3d-printed-heart-human-tissue.html https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org/about-transplant/facts-andmyths/#:~:text=Almost%20114%2C000%20people%20in%20the,of%20available%20organs%20for%20transplant.
2021 RESOLUTION TECH no one cited also the sources are not exactly sources what do i put here
NET NEUTRALITY Brake, D. [ 2020, July 13]. Lessons From the Pandemic: Broadband Policy After COVID-19. Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. Retrieved from: https://itif.org/publications/2020/07/13/lessons-pandemic-broadband-policy-after-covid-19 Finley, K. [2020, May 4]. The Covid-19 Pandemic Shows the Virtues of Net Neutrality. Wired. Retrieved from: https://www.wired.com/story/covid-19-pandemic-shows-virtues-net-neutrality/ Newton, J. [ 2021, January 7]. FCC Democrats Set to Move on Net Neutrality, Broadband Subsidies. Bloomberg Law. Retrieved from: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/fcc-democrats-set-to-move-on-net-neutrality-broadband-subsidies
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SCIENCE
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Tricking Our Minds to Alleviate Pain
A New Covid Variant in San Diego
When in severe pain, talking to your brain and comforting it can trick it into thinking that the pain is not present, causing it to manage and alleviate the pain more efficiently.
A new, highly contagious strand of Covid-19 has been found in San Diego a couple days before the new year.
What Exactly is "Time"?
The Science Behind New Year's Resolutions
The constant of time is not what many people think it is. This article will explain the different meanings of time.
This article will go into the psychology behind New Year’s Resolutions, why we create them, and whether they can actually be accomplished.
Tricking Our Minds to Alleviate Pain
page 45-48
A New Covid Variant in San Diego page 49-50 What Exactly is "Time"?
page 51-52
The Science Behind New Year's Resolutions page 53-55
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written by Ashmita Annamalai edited by Kavya Gurunath, Jeet Parikh, & Jessica Laws
Tricking O to Alleviate In today’s world, drugs and medications are able to vanquish pain within just minutes. Yet, they may bring forth a pile of side-effects that could spark unfavorable reactions. Thus, relying on psychology and neuroscience to discover a more appropriate solution to manage pain seems advisable. The brain perceives pain in accordance with how it is told to perceive pain. Shifting the perspective of the brain and altering its expectations can alleviate physical pain. Pain perception can be defined in various ways, one of them being the “bottom-up” approach, meaning data travels up to the brain from the body, alerting the brain as to what is happening. However, this concept of pain perception is rapidly becoming outdated and the Bayesian Model is taking its place. This novel theory suggests that pain results from the brain’s prediction that something should hurt, based on past experiences, memories, contextual cues, and sensory input. The brain creates a hypothesis about what it expects the world to be like and what things might cause pain. This
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ur Minds e Pain
layout by Inchara J.
hypothesis helps to outline how the brain interprets what is happening in reality. If there is a mismatch between what the brain is expecting and what is occurring, then the brain will alter its hypothesis (Parks, 2020). For instance, if an individual was startled by a piece of fuzz that they first thought was a spider, their brain would have already had a hypothesis in place. Not everyone would react to the fuzz by jumping, but if a person’s brain is more vigilant of a spider threat, it will see one. Likewise, if an individual expects pain and discomfort when executing an activity, then that is what they will most likely experience. The ambiguous cues of the peripheral nervous system are now framed within a threat by the brain’s hypothesis that something is wrong. The brain predicts that a problem will occur and thus puts the entire body into preparatory action for the threat. Consequently, the brain will produce pain in order to protect the individual. If this framework is changed and the brain views the situation from a different perspective, it could alleviate the pain that is automatically produced (Parks, 2020).
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Currently, several methods efficiently alter the brain’s instinctive perspective on negativity and pain. Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can transport the mind to a spiritual environment that shields any perceptions of pain. Eliciting the relaxation response serves as an antidote to the stress response, which pumps up heart rate and puts the body's systems on high alert. On the contrary, the relaxation response turns down your body's reactions (Harvard Publishing, 2015). When people focus on their thoughts and tiny, imperceptible feelings during meditation, they can control their bodies' responses to external stimuli. So, when struck with sudden pain, individuals are able to keep their brains calm and non-responsive (Fishel, 2015). Thinking about something else or actively participating in an engaging activity can also distract the brain. The brain filters determine how, and to what extent, you feel pain. So, in order to control what you feel, you must manage what exactly your brain’s sensors pick up. Attempts to ignore
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feelings and senses cause lowfrequency rhythms (which do the blocking of the sensations) to increase, not only in the area of the brain that deals with a certain body part in question, but in the area of the brain that ignores distractions (Fishel, 2015). Finally, positive thinking helps the brain understand that it should not expect something unpleasant, and thus the body should not get prepared for it When you're feeling nothing but negativity, such as fear and insecurity, you create the perfect breeding ground for pain. The "weaker� your mind is, the more you feel the full effects of whatever is ailing you. Conversely, when you feel safe, secure, and comfortable, you respond with less physical feeling. Just as pain can build over time and make you feel even weaker, positive thoughts grow and compound as well. The more you tweak your perspective and focus on the positive rather than succumbing to your negative tendencies, the stronger your emotional resiliency becomes (Fishel, 2015).
Using these various strategies, you can teach your brain to filter out the pain. If you want to train your brain to forget about the pain, you need to become familiar with the sensations so your brain recognizes them. Much like the familiar habit of snapping rubber bands or pinching wrists to break habits, the more of one kind of pain you encounter, the less it will hurt (Fishel, 2015). So, the next time you are crumbling under pain’s kingdom, make sure to relax your body, distract your mind, and stay positive instead of swallowing bitter pills and choking down the grape-flavored medicine that we all prefer to avoid.
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AA NEW NEW COVID COVID SPARKS CON Just as our quarantined world slowly peeps out of its hiding place and settles in for the holiday season, another Covid-19 variant seems to have emerged, setting up the new year ahead. Supposedly originating in the United Kingdom, the variant, named B.1.1.7, has spread to the United States and various other parts of the world. The mutations of the new strain are causes for more concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the new variant is believed to have developed in southeast England in September and circulated in shallow levels until midNovember (CBS News 2020). However, another theory states that the variant may have originated elsewhere and was introduced into southeast England. Possible locations could be Nigeria and South Africa since similar strains were reported, such as the B.1.351 strain from South Africa. This new variant has spread to the U.S., plopping on top of the piles and piles of domestic situations and not only forced new lockdown orders in England but has now been detected in both Colorado and San Diego
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written by Ashmita
County, California. In California, the pandemic crisis is growing as it hits record deaths. The hospitals are filling up rapidly and have “no intensive care capacity to treat patients suffering from the coronavirus� (CBS San Francisco 2020). On top of that, at least two dozen countries have been affected by this new strain. As of December 29, at least 26 countries and Hong Kong have reported cases of the new variant (Vera 2020). So, why exactly is this new strain stirring up so much concern amongst health officials? The coronavirus is an RNA virus and RNA viruses thrive by mutating. It appears from the U.K. reports that this particular mutation does make the virus 70 percent more efficient at transmitting from one person to another, increasing susceptibility to the disease. Namely, it can bind with the receptors on cells proficiently, allowing it to spread with ease. While it is more transmissible, there is no evidence that it is more virulent. However, Scientist Neil Ferguson says that “there is a hint that (the variant)...has a higher propensity.
VARIANT VARIANT NCERN
a Annamalai
variants are in the site targeted by the vaccines, or the spike proteins. But changes in the spike protein of these variants do not necessarily mean that it is going to undermine the vaccine. Vaccines tend to be robust against evolutionary change. Thus, the hope is for the vaccine protection to be robust (Kennedy 2021).
to infect children," though he cautioned that more data was needed. Severe illness due to COVID-19 is still relatively rare for children (Vera 2020). The vaccine for the original virus strain came out very recently and this new variant is raising questions about the efficacy of the vaccination on this mutant. There are no signs yet that the current vaccine will not work against this new variant, experts and drugmakers have said. The companies behind the first two vaccines to gain authorization in the United States (Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna) are testing their shots to double-check that they're effective against the variant. The coronavirus has mutated before, and both firms say their vaccines worked against other variations of the virus. Some U.S.based scientists have said the new variant might, to a small extent, undermine the vaccines. (Vera 2020). Part of the concern about these new variants is that there might be an evolution of resistance to the vaccines. A lot of the mutations in these new
The new coronavirus variant, slowly spreading internationally, is causing healthcare professionals and concerned individuals to pose questions about how countries are going to progress with another strain permeating the nations. Hopefully, the steps our world took forward with the vaccine are not taken back by the new mutant. Society can help out by taking the necessary precautions and remaining in a state of composure and maturity. Yes, our quarantined world is slowly peeping out of its hiding place, but let us take the right actions to prevent the virus from finding us in this game of hide-and-seek.
edited by Aarav Navani, Shabdika G, & Jeet Parikh layout by Nivi Chozhan art by Mia Kim 50
Time is used to describe the duration of an event. It is defined as the sequential and constant relationship that every event has relative to one another with the past, present, and future. However, time is still abstract and is one of the more unknown aspects of our world, especially with ideas such as time travel. As a result, there are several different ideas behind the definition of time. One of the biggest unresolved mysteries is the question of why time is irreversible, which can be explained by the laws of thermodynamics. As per the second law of thermodynamics, within a closed system, the entropy, or the measure of the disorder within a system, will always increase. Assuming the universe is a closed system, the entropy must increase. Because of this, time must move forward. This provides difficulty in researching time since unlike most items that remain fixed in the spatial dimensional world, time is constantly moving forward. Time lost can never be retrieved.
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what ex is "ti According to astrophysicist Ethan Siegel, “Time is just as good a dimension as space is because we're always moving through it.� When noting the details of a past event, one needs to know not only the spatial coordinates but also the time the event occurred. Spatial coordinates are acquired through the threedimensional world we live in. Therefore, to draw a line of correspondence between space and time, time is considered a dimension. However, this interpretation of time as a dimension brings up many unanswered questions. Over millennia, we have measured time in minutes, hours, days, years, etc. If time were to be a unit of measurement and a dimension, one should have the ability to note a past event as occurring 4 years ago and 380,000,000 miles ago interchangeably. We cannot measure time with our traditional units of length, which creates problems with this interpretation of time.
xact y ime"? Even on the smaller scale of the world, time is viewed differently by various groups of people, as seen by the existence of linear time and multiactive time. With linear time, time is money and a scarce commodity especially in profit-oriented societies where people must move fast with time to benefit from it. In multi-active time, time is viewed with significance to the present reality rather than appointments, which would be prominent in linear time, and human conversation is the best way to invest time. In other parts of the world, cyclic time is observed where time is viewed as unlimited.
Seeing the relationship between time, the known laws of the world, and the different views of time worldwide show how time truly is an abstract concept that can only be represented by the change around us. So, as far as research today, there is not a definite answer to the question “What is time?� but research into time can hopefully help us reach a more concrete answer in the future with the fragments we have today.
written by Vanathi Kanth & Anvitha Mattapalli edited by Aarav Navani, Kavya Gurunath, & Jeet Parikh layout by Inchara J. art by Evelyn Chen
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The
SCIENCE written edited
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Finally, 2020 is over! I don’t think I have ever been more excited for a year to end. Hopefully, 2021 will be a much better year. A new year means New Year’s resolutions. This article will go into the science behind creating and following New Year’s Resolutions, and how you can use the science to your benefit.
Start from Scratch What is it about New Year’s Day that causes people to want to better themselves? According to Dr. Dennis Buttimer, New Year’s gives people a “blank slate”, or a chance to start from scratch. A chance to erase all the mistakes and lost opportunities of past years and improve themselves for the new year. Psychologically, New Year’s brings about a sense of optimism (Miller). A new year offers us 365 new days, and 365 fresh chances to improve ourselves. New Year’s is really a random date that is there to allow us to set goals and plans and get excited to improve ourselves.
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Patil
Shin-Koh
Mental Exhaustion About 80% of people who set New Year’s Resolutions end up failing at them (Tabaka, 2020). Why is it so hard to accomplish our New Year’s resolutions? The reason is humans can’t maintain a strong level of motivation for long periods of time. This is because of homeostasis. Homeostasis is our body’s normal, balanced state. Every minute, your body works to maintain homeostasis. For example, when your body is overworked, it will alert you by making you tired. You will make a choice on whether to lay down and rest or keep pushing. A similar thing happens with motivation. When we first start to accomplish our resolutions, the neuro-hormone dopamine is triggered. Dopamine controls the reward and pleasure centers of your brain. However, as time goes on, dopamine levels in your brain start to drop, causing you to lose your motivation. Staying motivated and forcing yourself to keep pushing
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forward causes mental exhaustion. Your brain’s motivational resources will be depleted. This causes you to lose motivation and ultimately give up.
Better Resolutions Creating resolutions may seem hard or futile. However, this may be due to the fact that your resolutions aren’t specific or realistic enough. People often seek extreme solutions during turnarounds, such as exercising six times a week for several hours (Hoffman, 2015). In spite of that, they still end up at a roadblock due to intimidation and lack of motivation. While setting “stretch” goals is important for personal growth, goals should also be realistic and be based upon individual capability and practicality. So, how do you make it easier to achieve your New Years’ resolutions? Firstly, goals should be slowly worked towards. For instance, instead of planning to read 100 pages in a night, set the smaller goal of 10 pages a night or 100 pages a week. The incremental progress will sustain your motivation to reach the final goal because the interim goals can be achieved. Many decisions we make are influenced by the options that surround us. Scientists refer to the impact that environmental “defaults” have on our decision making as “choice architecture” (Clear, 2020).
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Whether or not you achieve your goals and resolutions in the long term corresponds to the influences you choose to surround yourself in the short term. Thus, it is often hard to produce positive results for your goals in a negative environment.
How do we fix this? Let’s start with the root cause. Asking yourself the question “Why do I do this?” could help you to find the root cause of what’s stopping you from achieving the goal itself. A sample resolution: eating fewer snacks throughout the day. Why do you eat snacks in between meals? Perhaps it’s due to the fact that you feel hungry. Why are you hungry in the first place? Maybe you ate too little for lunch or an unfilling meal. Thus, you could try eating more filling foods during meals, such as foods that contain more protein. Hopefully, you’ve learned that your resolutions are 100% achievable, and we believe that you can hit your goals this year! From all of us at the Affair Magazine, happy new year, and here’s to a better 2021!
REFERENCES Tricking Our Minds to Alleviate Pain Fishel, H. (2015, November 4). How To: Trick Your Brain into Not Feeling Any Pain. WonderHowTo. Retrieved from https://mind-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/trick-your-brain-into-not-feeling-any-pain-0164659/ Harvard Health Publishing. (2015, April). 6 ways to use your mind to control pain. Harvard Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/6-ways-to-use-your-mind-to-control-pain Parks, E. (2020, July 25). Talk to Your Brain to Manage Your Pain. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/pain-rehabilitation/202007/talk-your-brain-manage-your-pain
A New Covid Variant in San Diego Okonjo-Iweala, N. (2021, January 8). Globalizing the COVID vaccine. Brookings. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/globalizing-the-covid-vaccine/ Ahmad, L.T., & Cousens, E. How to distribute Covid-19 vaccines fairly around the world. CNN Opinion. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/28/opinions/covid-19-vaccine-world-distribution-ahmad-cousens/index.html
What Exactly is "Time"? Aperture. (2018, June 22). What is Time? [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P3Ous2IjiQ Helmenstine, A. M. (2019, November 26). What Is Time? Here’s a Simple Explanation. ThoughtCo. Retrieved From https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-time-4156799 Lewis, R. (2015, June 19). How Different Cultures Understand Time. Business Insider. Retrieved From https://www.businessinsider.com/how-different-cultures-understand-time-2014-5?international=true&r=US&IR=T Siegel, E. (2016, November 26). Ask Ethan: Why Must Time Be A Dimension? Forbes. Retrieved From https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2016/11/26/ask-ethan-why-must-time-be-a-dimension/?sh=71825c4d7d57 Siegel, E. (2019, August 27). This Is Why Time Has To Be A Dimension. Forbes. Retrieved From https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/08/27/this-is-why-time-has-to-be-a-dimension/?sh=494262083646
The Science Behind New Year's Resolutions Clear, J. (2020, November 11). Goal Setting: A Scientific Guide to Setting and Achieving Goals. James Clear. Retrieved From https://jamesclear.com/goal-setting Hoffman, B. (2015, December 18). Why Is It So Darn Hard to Keep New Year’s Resolutions? Psychology Today. Retrieved From https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/motivate/201512/why-is-it-so-darn-hard-keep-new-year-s-resolutions Miller, G. (n.d.). Why We Make New Year’s Resolutions, and Why We Should. Glenn Miller, MD. Retrieved From: https://glennmillermd.com/why-we-make-new-years-resolutions-and-why-we-should/ Piedmont Healthcare. (n.d.). Why Do People Make New Year’s Resolutions? Piedmont Healthcare. Retrieved From https://www.piedmont.org/living-better/why-do-people-make-new-years-resolutions Tabaka, M. (2020, February 6). Most People Fail to Achieve Their New Year’s Resolution. For Success, Choose a Word of the Year Instead. Inc. Retrieved From: https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/why-set-yourself-up-for-failure-ditch-new-years-resolution-do-thisinstead.html#:%7E:text=Seriously%2C%20you%20are%20rare%20indeed,is%20in%20the%20tradition%20itself.
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LIFESTYLE
what to expect when the covid-19 nightmare comes to an end How schools, society, and places around the community will have changed after the Coronavirus pandemic and how to best prepare yourself for the new environment..
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new year's resolutions What to Achieve this year, ideas for new years’ resolutions to make yourself a better person.
how to handle competitive environments
traditional recipe for kheer
Tips and advice for students on how to remain positive and not get stressed when in competitive environments like highschool.
How to make a sweet and widely popular Indian dessert, with cooking tips.
What to Expect When the Covid19 Nightmare Comes to an End
page 59-62
How to handle being in a competitive environment
page 63-64
Traditional Recipe for Kheer
page 65-66
New Year's Resolutions
page 67-69
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WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THE
COVID-19 NIGHTMARE COMES TO AN END
By Ashmita Annamalai & Taruni Manam Edited by Anvitha Mattapalli, Uday Lingampalli, & Samita Pandit Art by Sharon Pan Layout by Sahithi Lingampalli
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What used to be a tiny world with blinded happiness and ca habits has now evolved into a so that has ripped its blindfold overflowing with mindful actions COVID-19 pandemic, which effort swept through a myriad of countrie remolded society, mostly for the b The human race is now more aw the numerous issues the produces, including pro surrounding health, education, technology. We have learned wha world has to offer and how to eithe it to our advantage or prevent it creating further troubles. Yes, pandemic has chopped down the of leisure from the ground, but place, new seedlings are spro Seedlings that will soon bloom i forest of knowledge.
d filled refree ociety d off, s. The tlessly es, has better. are of world blems and at the er use t from , the trees in its outing. into a
After remaining in isolated environments for almost a year, society is eager to thrust open the cage and attempt to retreat to what was a “purer� time. Post-pandemic, a dramatic rise in leisure activities and collective gatherings may occur, including live music concerts and sporting events (Bower, 2020). However, this rise will descend with time and the true impact of the pandemic will kick in. Social behaviors that were once taken for granted, such as handshaking and hugging, may not endure for much longer. People will be more aware of their surroundings and take necessary precautions to prevent any future harm to their lives, such as washing their hands for long periods, applying hand sanitizer often, and distancing themselves from others. After the initial ascend of social interaction, public places will be less occupied and the closing of shopping centers, restaurants, and other community areas may be prevalent. Yet the behavior of humans, as always, is unprecedented. New ways to physically interact with one another, without putting any lives at stake, may be developed. Since technology is slowly permeating the world, we will use its resources to its advantage, refusing to give up on living our lives.
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One of the greatest changes that people around the world had to experience is online meetings. Whether we want to catch up with friends, attend school, or do anything that cannot be done freely in person, we need to rely on platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet to talk face-to-face. Particularly with school, meeting up with teachers has become a lot easier. Sociologist Anna Mueller states that “online teaching can be a tool that makes the classroom more accessible, particularly for students with disabilities.� (Bower, 2020). Before the pandemic, students with disabilities had trouble asking for help in a classroom, either due to anxiety or physical pain. Now, students can easily tune into a one-on-one zoom session with their teachers (Bower, 2020). Additionally, many free and new educational resources have been implemented in online education to help students all around the world. Kids from areas of lower-income are now able to receive the same education as those from privileged areas if they have access to a computer (Raj, 2020). Along with online school, online work may become a viable option in the future, as employees will have comfortable options to work from home. Many employees will also receive proper sick-leaves, health insurance, and a flexible work schedule. Furthermore, the pandemic contributed an increase to the world’s medical and scientific knowledge, which will continue for some time. Political agendas will include more scientific headlines and biomedical research to educate the public about viruses and their prevention.
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The switch from attending multiple Zoom calls for hours to wearing appropriate pants and being indoors with multiple people will not be easy. Once the pandemic is over, one might still be in the habit of asking questions like, “Are we six feet apart?” or “Should I wear a mask?” As cliché as it sounds, no one knows what the future holds because no one knows when the pandemic will come to an end. However, people can try to handle the situation in a way that will protect their mental and physical health. Individuals can keep in touch with friends, family, and hobbies developed over the past year. Being consistent is something that everyone needs right now, so keep up with part of your past daily routine. To prevent catching and transmitting the virus, exercise for at least 40 minutes a day, practice yoga, and wash hands frequently. Finally, it is important to remember that even when the pandemic comes to an end, the habits developed along this arduous journey should be implemented in everyone’s lives. Let us not trample over the new seedlings but instead water them, helping them grow into a forest filled with awareness, advancements, and renewed lifestyles.
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thriving in a competitive environment written by Geethika Tarra
Have you ever felt like school was a competition between you and your classmates? Have you ever felt like your grades were not good enough compared to your friends? Unfortunately, being in competitive environments like such is unavoidable:, whether you are a student in high school, university, or an employee at a company. Although being in a competitive environment may be tough and scary, there are ways to conquer and thrive in these situations.
The first and foremost way is to give it your all! While this phrase is cheesy, it remains true. Being in a competitive environment can push you to try your very best: a level you may not be able to pass yet. Pushing yourself to do so will ensure you have completed your work to the best of your ability. While your 100% may not be perfect, it is better than stressing out and only giving your 50%.
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Everyone has had a test that they had not done too well on. You may have even asked a friend what they got on it, only furthering your sorrow when you discover that they had done significantly better than you. Rather than sulking, the best thing to do is to forgive yourself and learn from the experience. Accepting your mistakes and knowing that you can do better is an important part of life. When looking at the bigger picture, it is evident that a few small mistakes you make now will not drastically affect your life in the future and in fact will probably teach you more than you would think.
It is important for students to understand that academics is not and should not be what your life revolves around. Being in a competitive academic environment can make you feel like you have to be perfect to get into your dream college. But guess what? Colleges, employers, and others are not going to care if you won first place in a math competition. They are going to care about you as a person, your ethics, your life goals, and the effort you give. Do not allow your grades to cause you stress to a point where you are not eating or sleeping. Do what you love and enjoy! Chances are that being happy with your life outside school will help you academically and throughout life more than you know. BEWARE: Do not compare yourself with others. Everyone is different in their own way, and are experiencing their own problems. You do not have the same exact talents, personality, and interests as all your peers. Instead, focus on maintaining positivity in your life. Any amount of negative self-talk takes more effort than believing in yourself, and is almost always not going to help. So, there you have it! This is your guide to surviving and thriving in any competitive environment. Remember that there is a whole world outside of your work or school and that you only have one life to live and experience. So, do what makes you happy!
edited by Jessica Laws, Samita Pandit, & Harvi Karatha layout by Natasha Matta art by Cal Shin-Koh
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TR
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Kheer, also known as “rice pudding”, is a pleasant, flavorful, and widely popular Indian dessert made with a combination of many different spices. Rice is one of the most famous foods in Asia and is also a fundamental part of many meals. Traditionally, kheer is made with only rice, sugar, and milk, which were ingredients accessible to all citizens, regardless of their social class. Kheer has a religious significance in Southern Asia and the Middle East. In Hinduism, Kheer is believed to be a favorite food of the gods and is often served on religious festivals. In Buddhism, it is believed that a woman named Sujatha offered Kheer to Buddha, causing the end of his 7-year fast and paving the path for Buddha to reach enlightenment. Kheer is often made during the Buddhist festival, Buddha Poornima, on April 8, the day Buddha was born. Most importantly, kheer is a simple, easy to make, homely dessert which can be cooked any-time with only 3 ingredients. Let’s find out how!
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written by Thejo Tattala & Samita Pandit
Ingredients ¼ cup rice (basmati rice is most commonly used) 1 liter whole milk* ⅓ cup sugar ( add more according to your taste) 1-2 teaspoons butter or clarified butter ¼ teaspoon of cardamom powder (or about 4 cardamom pods) Optional: ½ cup of finely chopped nuts/dried fruits (cashews, almonds, pistachios, raisins) Optional: a few strands of saffron
Materials: Pot (preferably heavy bottom to avoid burning, or nonstick pots that are easier to clean) Measuring cups Measuring spoons
Procedure: 1. Wash the rice once or twice and soak in warm water for 20-30 minutes. 2. On medium heat, add 1-2 teaspoons of butter to grease the bottom of the heavy-bottom pan. This will help prevent the kheer from burning. 3. Now, add the finely chopped nuts, if using, and toast it until the color turns to golden brown (do not add the raisins). Also, add the cardamom pods, if using, or wait if using cardamom powder. 4. At medium heat, add 1 liter of whole milk to the pot and let it come to a boil. Stir once or twice every 5 minutes. 5. Then, add the soaked rice and keep stirring continuously at medium-low heat until the mixture starts to thicken. This can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. MAKE SURE THE RICE DOES NOT BURN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POT. 6. Once the rice is soft and wellcooked, add in the sugar, and mix thoroughly. 7. Mix in the cardamom powder, saffron strands, and raisins, if using. You can also add any flavoring you would like, such as rose syrup, but I prefer to keep it simple with cardamom powder. 8. Once the ingredients are distributed evenly, and the kheer is well-mixed, turn off the heat and let it cool down. If your mixture is still liquidy, letting it cool will allow the kheer to thicken.
9. If you prefer to have it cold, cool the Kheer completely at room temperature before placing it in the fridge for 1-2 hours; however, Kheer can also be served warm. 10. Optional: To serve the Kheer in a simple but elegant way, garnish it with nuts, raisins, and saffron strands. Enjoy!
Substitutions: To make a sugar free version, you can use ½ a cup of powdered jaggery instead of sugar. (Jaggery is made up of a combination of cane juice and palm/date sap.) *Vegan Kheer: To make this recipe vegan, substitute the milk for any non-dairy milk (almond milk would be a great option.)The nuts can be dry roasted with vegan butter or can be roasted dry (just be extra careful that the rice does not burn at the bottom of the pot).
urunath G a y v a yK edited b Theingi t a y M t & Myin hi Patil s u r A y layout b Chen n y l e v E art by 66
written by Thejo Tattala & Ashna Ahmed edited by Taruni Manam, Shoffana Sundaramoorthy, & Arushi Patil In the past year, humankind has been challenged with numerous obstacles. We were compelled to deal with an adverse pandemic, overcome the deaths of our loved ones, cope with technological advancement beyond our imagination, and do things that were never imagined. However, countless people have failed to find the time for the most important task of all: keeping peace with themselves. These resolutions will help you focus on yourself and transform into a better person. A common trait that we all own, yet despise, is pride. Pride is a quality that prevents us from being humble and forces us to become difficult people to interact with. It challenges our relationships and attitudes. To overcome ego, we must learn to say sorry when needed. Apologizing does not make you weak or incapable, in fact, it makes you stronger. Saying sorry will heal the wounds in
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relationships while freeing you of the guilt of making a mistake. We must also learn to ask for help when necessary. Challenging yourself to solve problems and breaking barriers on your own is an admirable quality and a stepping stone to success. However, when important issues or problems are too complex to solve, the best initiative would be to stop and ask for help. There is no shame in asking for help as it will aid you in being productive and discover how to solve problems on your own next time. Winston Churchill once said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Accepting defeat is a perfect method to diminish your pride. We cannot win at every task we attempt to do, but we can gracefully accept defeat and view failure as a tool to help us achieve success. With the right attitude, anything is possible. This resolution isn't new, but recurring. As generations pass, we find
it harder to do the deed that should be common to us: loving ourselves. Loving every part of ourselves, from how we look, to the things we do. Be confident in yourself and your interests. Even if someone doesn’t like the same things as you, that’s okay! If you don’t have curves or if you have a little tummy, it’s normal! There is no “perfect’ or “ideal” characterization we fall under, we can be anything we like to be! Don’t compare yourself to others, you’re doing the best you can and that’s enough. Comparing yourself only brings down your confidence, and we all have our own places of strength and weaknesses. We’re perfect imperfections. To work towards loving yourself, you need to be present in your own life. Sometimes, we zone out, imagining a fake reality or reliving the past too much that we forget to live in the moment. Even if your past wasn’t as great, we should focus on building a better future by being present right now! A commonality humans have is that we aren’t so honest with ourselves. Stay true to yourself and others. Lastly, an important act in truly
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oving yourself is to always forgive. Forgive yourself because you’re doing your best. We all make mistakes and that’s what makes us human. We can’t be perfect all the time, therefore, we should learn from set mistakes and improve ourselves. “I have many faults and I have many fears, but I am going to embrace myself as hard as I can, and I’m starting to love myself, little by little.” - Kim Namjoon from BTS. Patience is an attribute that can only develop with practice. To practice being patient, start meditating. Meditation is a calming activity which is not necessarily done with an intricate yoga routine. Meditation is just simply taking 5 to 10 minutes a day to spend time with yourself. Meditation is breathing deeply, controlling your thoughts, and being present in the moment. When we are angry, we tend to easily lose our peace and make harmful decisions. Meditating helps you to maintain tranquility, even in moments of anger, and start acting rationally. You can practice controlling your mind, so that you have control over yourself even when others do not. New year’s resolutions are common goals that have different impacts. We hope you reach your goal!
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layout by: tristan castro
art by: mia kim
REFERENCES What to Expect When the Covid19 Nightmare Comes to an End Fishel, H. (2015, November 4). How To: Trick Your Brain into Not Feeling Any Pain. WonderHowTo. Retrieved from https://mind-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/trick-your-brain-into-not-feeling-any-pain-0164659/ Harvard Health Publishing. (2015, April). 6 ways to use your mind to control pain. Harvard Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/6-ways-to-use-your-mind-to-control-pain Parks, E. (2020, July 25). Talk to Your Brain to Manage Your Pain. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/pain-rehabilitation/202007/talk-your-brain-manage-your-pain
How to Handle Being in a Competitive Environment
Karl, S. (2018, November 2). 10 Tips for Stressed Students in Academically- Competitive Environments. College Magazine. https://www.collegemagazine.com/10-tips-for-stressed-students-in-academically-competitive-environments/
Traditional Recipe for Kheer
Chauhan, V. (2020, December 14). Gur ki kheer. Greenbowl2soul. Retrieved From: https://greenbowl2soul.com/gur-ki-kheer/ M. (2019, May 21). Rice Kheer (Indian Rice Pudding). Cook With Manali. Retrieved From: https://www.cookwithmanali.com/rice-kheer/ S. (2020, June 16). Kheer recipe | How to make rice kheer. Swasthi’s Recipes. Retrieved From: https://www.indianhealthyrecipes.com/rice-kheer-recipe-chawal-ki-kheer/ Siciliano-Rosen, L. (2019, October 7). Kheer | South Asian dessert. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved From: https://www.britannica.com/topic/kheer
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reflections on the donald trump era
opinion
should billionaires exist?
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reflections on the donald trump era
page 73-76
should billionaires exist?
page 77-79
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reflections on the what cindy
zhang has to
say:
The image of the United States Capitol being raided and ransacked by a group of Trump supporters is perhaps the only thing you need to see in order to understand what the Donald Trump era will be remembered as: an era of selfishness, hypocrisy, and shamelessness. The word “patriot” belongs nowhere near Donald Trump. When our posterity crack open their textbooks and read about the era of Donald Trump, they will ask themselves, “How did our predecessors let this happen? Why did this happen? How could this happen?”
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They will laugh at us— and they should. In just one term, Donald Trump has managed to become arguably the most damaging president in modern US history. In just 2020 alone, he has failed to keep the coronavirus under control, refusing, again and again, to encourage compliance with basic precautions, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of American lives (The New York Times, 2021) (Cillizza, 2020). When an uproar of cries for justice and systemic change on behalf of African Americans arose in the nation, instead of listening to the words of protestors and using his position to better our society, Donald Trump labeled these protestors as “anarchists” and sent a police force into Portland (McEvoy, 2020)(Hughes & Schnell, 2020). When Americans clearly signalled their desire for a new president through a democratic election, Donald Trump went on a legal and rhetorical tirade, repeatedly claiming that the election was a fraud, poisoning faith in our democracy in order to stay in power (Williams & Rada, 2020).
layout by: inchara j.
donald trump era
And what do we have to show for it?
A tainted international reputation? A deeply bruised national identity? A raging, uncontained virus? A president who only paid $750 in taxes in 2016 and 2017 (Zurcher, 2020)? A group of Republicans who firmly stand behind this president? There is nothing that can save this era from the critical eye of history. There is nothing that can save the selfish, undemocratic, and unempathetic character of Donald Trump from the jeers of scholars in the future. There is nothing that can save the hypocritical, calculating, and cowardly members of the Grand Old Party (GOP) who enabled and supported Trump every step of the way from the disgust of our posterity. We are fortunate that democracy has afforded Donald Trump only four years’ time to destroy the fabric of our country instead of eight. However, it would be naive to say that this “chapter” has been closed— the raging volcano has indeed erupted, but its ash still clouds the sky. Despite the events of January 6, 2021, six congresspeople still objected to the democratic election.
art by: sanjna mootakaduru
Despite the events of January 6, 2021, most House Republicans still refused to vote in favor of impeachment. Despite the events of January 6, 2021, senators like Lindsey Graham still refuse to hold Donald Trump accountable and impeach him. The next administration entering office will not magically erase the legacy of the Donald Trump presidency— in fact, it will feel the worst effects of it. Perhaps the people with the greatest responsibility of comprehending the past four years, however, are us, the American people. If we don’t make sense of what happened to our country and do not actively fight to change it, we cannot be surprised when the next January 6, 2021 occurs. We cannot be surprised when the next Donald Trump takes office. We cannot be surprised when history jeers at us. Apathy is not an option.
edited by Uday
Lingampalli,
Shoffana
Sundaramoorthy, &
Jessica Laws
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what hafiza
samath has
to say:
The presidential election of 2020 is sure to go down in history. In 2008, the election of Barack Obama signaled an interesting paradigm shift in American politics [Taveira, R, 2016]. On the other hand, the election of Donald Trump—an outsider to the political process and someone who is the polar opposite of Obama and all of his policies—showed a wild pendulum swing in American politics. [Taveira, R, 2016]. Trump’s presidency is often deemed as being too offensive, ignorant, and dangerous. However, this interpretation misses how American popular culture cultivated the conditions for Trump to triumph in the presidential selection process.
What is exceptional is that American politics tends to be more pretentious and has a greater sense of self-importance than politics elsewhere. Trump’s faux politeness with a foolhardiness made American politics seem like that of Westminster parliamentary politics with its namecalling and swagger. [Connor, B, 2019] Trump took the worst lessons from popular culture and used them to his advantage. This can be seen when Trump attempted to avert attention from the Access Hollywood tapes with an attention-grabbing stunt at his debate with Hillary Clinton. [Connor, B, 2019]
The Trump era is politics incorporated by popular culture. He lived by the pop culture dictum that you can get away with anything if you’re not boring: the nicknames like ‘Little Marco’ and ‘Crooked Hillary’, stadium rallies, and merchandising with the famous MAGA hat are proof enough of his use of pop culture. [Bryant, N, 2018].
edited by Harvi
Trump’s campaign was catching up with popular culture. He embraces the worst parts of pop culture, and his narcissism, bullying, misogyny, racism, and populism is all too commonplace. [Connor, B, 2019].
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Karatha, Shoffana
Sundaramoorthy, &
Cindy Zhang
what neve walker
has to say:
From an outside point of view, Donald Trump made us look bad. We elected a former reality TV star who has gone bankrupt six times into the most powerful position in America. Even though we impeached him, his supporters still fought back against a “rigged election” in 2020. What these supporters fail to realize is that Donald Trump has the lowest approval rating of any president going into an election, and he had also lost the popular vote in 2016. It does not come as a surprise when the most hated person in America right now was not reelected as the president of the United States. The evidence proving that this election was fraud has failed to come up. Donald Trump had his hold on America for 4 years, and he still does. He convinced his cult-like followers that it would be patriotic to attack and break into Capitol Hill, causing Congress to go into lockdown. The world around us views us as a joke— a divided country with an incompetent, power-hungry leader who makes mistake after mistake and says offensive things. Even though the vast majority of Americans know Donald Trump is a horrible president, some are still convinced that he is the messiah.
It’s still hard to believe how many people support Trump, even before he incited riots at Capitol Hill. He gave the free pass to be racist, sexist, homophobic, and xenophobic, and people jumped at the chance. It’s still hard to imagine that the President of the United States of America had relations with a pornstar, and people don’t judge him for it. Donald Trump has failed at leading this country and we need to move on. We gave an unconventional president a try and it didn't work out. America needs a level headed vanilla president for the next four years so we can rebuild our reputation and combat COVID-19. Many people dislike Biden and say that people only voted for him because he is not Trump, and to be honest, that is completely true. Biden is normal, and that is the relief we need for the next four years. Even though Trump’s presidency brought out the worst in us, there was some benefit. People who never focused on politics or even registered to vote educated themselves during this election. It takes a special person to convince Trisha Paytas to register and vote, and that person was Donald Trump. Overall, whether you like him or not, Donald Trump has had an undeniably lasting impact on America.
edited by Uday
Lingampalli, Arushi
Patil, & Cindy Zhang
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Should Billion No, by Neve Walker Bernie Sanders is one of the biggest figureheads against billionaires. While his proposed tax bill doesn't necessarily eliminate billionaires entirely, it helps distribute wealth to people in need. The richest family in the world who Bernie Sanders has consistently mentioned is the Walton Family, which has a net worth of over 215 billion dollars. To put into perspective how much money this is, fixing the Flint Michigan water crisis only costs 350 million dollars, which is 0.0016% of the Walton Family’s net worth. The Walton Family owns more wealth than the bottom 40% of America (PolitiFact). Owning this much wealth should not even be possible. While the wealthy sit on this obscene amount of cash (reword if needed), there are people dying from not having access to food, healthcare, or a job. Additionally, it would cost 330 billion dollars to end world hunger by 2030. According to Forbes, the top 1% wealth combined owns 34.2 trillion dollars. The bottom 50% has a combined wealth of 2.4 trillion dollars. This wage gap needs to be mended.
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Because of capitalism, the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Many people say that all you need to do is invest the right money to the right places, but what they don't understand is that not everyone has the budget to invest. The rich can easily spend their money on investments and get more money, but poorer people have to use their money for necessities like food and water. The rich keep making more money because they are able to buy basketball teams or Tesla stocks, but the poor don't have this chance. They don't have the availability to spend their stimulus check; they could only use it to pay the bill. Because of this, families like the Walton Family are able to take more and more of America’s wealth while the rest are unable to catch up. Mansa Musa is a famous historical example of the dangers of hoarding wealth. Musa was a political figure of the Mali empire, and is known as one of the wealthiest people to ever exist. He acquired his wealth by taxing merchants and travelers gold just to come to the kingdom of Mali.
naires Exist? Hyperinflation and economic devestration ensued when Mansa Musa went on his hajj, a traditional Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and gave out alms, devaluing gold. Having wealth flow throughout the economy freely is the best way for an economy to run and helps people who are not billionaires.
Overall, there are too many people who can't afford clothing, shelter, food, water, or healthcare for there to be billionaires who acquire their wealth from exploiting the lower class. It is unethical for billionaires to exist.
Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI are perfect examples of why billionaires should not exist. During this time period, France was broke: many people were starving. Like most extremely rich people in power, Marie Antoinette and King Louis spent their money not on their people: but on lavish hair styles, clothing, and jewelry. The people of France eventually revolted against them, and the king and queen were beheaded (in-text citation). Many people say that if they were rich, they would donate most of their money or help people. However, having all of that money changes a edited by person. If you have more money than Anvitha Mattapalli, Harvi you can spend, it becomes normal for Karatha, & Cindy Zhang you to never think about money or the people needing it to live. layout by
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No, by Sahithi Lingampalli have In short, no, they shouldn’t. I agree that many self-made billionaires have worked diligently for the money they have, but I believe there should also be a set percentage on how much they must donate to those who are in need. Are they allowed to exist if they donate the required amount as well?
America runs on capitalism, meaning that all trade and industry within the country are controlled by private businesses as opposed to the state. These businesses are free to set their own prices, and in return, ignore society’s needs in order to make profits. As these businesses begin to collect their profit, the people running the companies gain money as well. Despite the pros of capitalism, such as promoting innovation in a free market economy and being self-regulatory, it also results in wealth inequality and impedes equal opportunity (Parlia 2021). While the rich hold onto their wealth, people are scraping pennies together in order to pay their rent. Additionally, those born into wealth
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easier access to higher education and better living standards, whereas people born into poorer families do not have access to these same resources. CEOs of companies have exploding growth metrics in their net worth, including Elon Musk’s (CEO of Tesla, Inc.) $140 billion increase in 2020, followed by Jeff Bezos’s (CEO of Amazon, Inc.) $72 billion increase (Huddleston, T). However, there are around 3.3 million permanently unemployed Americans as of December 2020, and as company owners continue to earn millions a day, it’s hard to not see the irony of our situation (Congressional Research Service 2021). There are solutions to this problem, however, including having richer people pay higher taxes, as well as having them donate a set percentage of their annual incomes to charitable causes. A little over 500 people in the United States are billionaires, and together hold trillions of dollars (Hallman, C 2020). Most of this wealth is being constantly saved up and is never recirculated back into the system. As such, the wealthy should give back to the world that has already given so much to them.
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references reflections on the donald trump era
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What are the pros and cons of capitalism? (n.d.). Parlia. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.parlia.com/c/pros-cons-capitalism Jr., T. (2020, December 21). These 5 billionaires added the most to their net worths in 2020. CNBC. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/21/billionaires-who-added-the-most-to-their-net-worths-in-2020.html Unemployment Rates During the COVID-19 Pandemic: In Brief. (2021, January 12). Congressional Research Service. Retrieved January 16, 2021, from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R46554.pdf Hallman, C. (2020, May 27). What Are Your Odds of Becoming a Millionaire? [Infographic Article]. TitleMax. Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://www.titlemax.com/discovery-center/personal-finance/your-odds-of-becoming-a-millionaire/ Bloomberg. (n.d.). Bloomberg - Are you a robot?. https://www.bloomberg.com/features/richest-families-in-the-world/ Covington, R. (2006, November 1). Marie Antoinette. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/marie-antoinette-134629573/ PolitiFact - Bernie Sanders says Walmart heirs own more wealth than bottom 40 percent of Americans. (n.d.). @politifact. https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2012/jul/31/bernie-s/sanders-says-walmart-heirs-own-more-wealth-bottom-/ Should billionaires exist? | Bradley Thomas. (n.d.). Mises Institute. https://mises.org/wire/should-billionaires-exist Beer, T. (2020, December 15). Top 1% Of U.S. Households Hold 15 Times More Wealth Than Bottom 50% Combined. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/10/08/top-1-of-us-households-hold-15-times-more-wealth-than-bottom-50combined/?sh=48b5c4c15179 Peters, A. (2020, October 15). It would cost just $330 billion to end global hunger by 2030. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://www.fastcompany.com/90564107/it-would-cost-just-330-billion-to-end-global-hunger-by-2030
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