November 2020 by The Affair Magazine

CURRENT AFFAIRS IN A WAY YOU'LL LOVE

NOVEMBER 2020

CAN TRUMP STEAL THE ELECTION? OVERCOMING THE STRESS OF UNCERTAINTY

DATE FOR DEMOCRATS

EVIDENCE OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES?

VOL 1 // ISSUE 5

SHOULD WE INSTITUTE TERM LIMITS ON THE SUPREME COURT?

Sahithi Lingampalli

Shivanshi Sharma

Vrinda Gandhi

founder tech director

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Taruni Manam vice executive lifestyle co-director

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Samita Pandit lifestyle co-director

Aathmika Radhachandran

Harvi Karatha

Uday Lingampalli

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editing co-director

Shabdika Gubba

Kavya Gurunath

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COVER ART ~ HALA ABDELQADER

Manushri Bapat art & media director

Yaj Jhajhria

Shrawani Pradhan

podcast co-director

communications director

meet the staff

everyone who helped with issue 4!

WRITERS: Archini Desi Cindy Zhang Hans Yang Kavya Gurunath Inchara J Manushri Bapat Maya Krolik Neve Walker Nivi Chozhan Riona Carrington Sahithi Lingampalli Samita Pandit Sanjna Mootakoduru Shivanshi Sharma Shrawani Pradhan Thejo Tattala Yaj Jhajhria

EDITORS: Arushi Patil Cindy Zhang Hans Yang Harvi Karatha Kavya Gurunath Inchara J Manushri Bapat Riona Carrington Sahithi Lingampalli Shabdika Gubba Taruni Manam Uday Lingampalli ARTISTS: Evelyn Chen Hala Abelqader Nivi Chozhan Pahel Srivastava Sahithi Lingampalli Sanjna Mootakoduru Thejo Tattala Sharon Pan

PODCAST: Shabdika Gubba Yaj Jhajhria LAYOUT DESIGNERS:

Aathmika Radhachandran Inchara J Nivi Chozhan Sahithi Lingampalli Vrinda Gandhi PUBLIC RELATIONS: Aathmika Radhachandran Ashmita Annamalai Manushri Bapat Vrinda Gandhi

contents

CONTENTS

ARTS

COMMEMORATING ALEX TREBEK

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND POLITICAL COMMENTARY

NJ VOTERS CHOOSE AN ART TAX

THE FUTURE OF FILM

POLITICS

IS IT POSSIBLE FOR TRUMP TO STILL STEAL THIS YEAR’S ELECTION?

UAE - ISRAELI TENSIONS

THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS HAPPENED TOO!

INDIA'S DEFINING BORDERS

HOW ARE WORLD LEADERS HANDLING THE PANDEMIC

TECH & DESIGN

SWIPE RIGHT

HOW TO HACK A POLL BOOTH

RIDESHARE APPS VS. CORONAVIRUS

51 “ZOOM FATIGUE” ACTUALLY EXISTS 53 THE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIVING IN SPACE 55 MEDICAL ETHICS SURROUNDING COVID-19 59 LIFESTYLE 61 HOW TO DE-STRESS OVER THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THE WORLD 63 I AM GOING TO REACH THE TOP 65 HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL 67 FRENCH VANILLA MACARONS 71 OPINION 73 SHOULD WE INSTITUTE TERM LIMITS IN THE SUPREME COURT? 75 SHOULD WE ABOLISH THE SENATE? 77 SHOULD GUNS BE ILLEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES? 79 SHOULD VOTING BE MANDATORY?

VANCOUVERISM

SCIENCE

82 G4M3 P14N35

EVIDENCE OF PARALLEL

84 SELFIDENCE

UNIVERSES?

86 PROJECT MARKETIER

arts & media Elizabeth Turk’s Social Distanced Structure

Rare NASA Photos Sold

The White House’s New and Historic Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi

“The Mandalorian” and its Spiritual Implications

Ken Jennings Named New Host of ‘Jeopardy!’

What can “The Crown,” Offer to the World?

headlines we couldn't cover

commemorating alex trebek page 7-8

contemporary music and political commentary page 9-10

nj voters choose an art tax page 11-12

the future of film

page 13-15

commem alex t It is with great sorrow that we commemorate the passing of the beloved Alex Trebek, who died at the ripe old age of 80. Though the host of the popular game show “Jeopardy!” passed during the early hours of Sunday, November 8, in the company of friends and family, he will always remain an inseparable part of the heart of America. Before his passing, Mr. Trebek served families across America through his game show: he hosted 8,200 episodes over 37 seasons and brought millions of families together to enjoy his charming character and sharp wits along with his everlasting kindness and sincerity. He began his career as a journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. before later pursuing a hosting career in the mid 1960’s and later finding his home in the then new “Jeopardy!” in 1984 (CNN, 2020). His amiable personality earned him the Daytime Emmy Award seven times over.

morating trebek written by edited by layout by art by

Maya Krolik Manushri Bapat & Uday Lingampalli Vrinda Gandhi Sanjna Mootakoduru But what Alex Trebek will go down in history for, is his perseverance. In 2019, he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, yet insisted on continuing his career. Following his diagnosis, the entire “Jeopardy!” community expressed their concerns and best wishes. The whole movement showed the true strength of the community that has fallen in love in the same things as Mr. Trebek; the pursuit of knowledge (USA Today, 2020). Whether you knew Alex Trebek or not, he was the epitome of what it meant to be kind and to encourage learning in others. Mr. Trebek was a teacher, a friend, an example and a legend. So to our dear Alex Trebek, we answer our final question. A question already asked by millions, even on stage (Legacy, 2020). What is we you Alex?

♥

Disclaimer:

This article comprises mostly of the author(s) own interpretation and opinions.

& c i s u M y r a r o p m e t n o C

This is America:

This is America, by Childish Gambino, takes a stance on the political system in America, and the systematic racism that takes place in this country. In his music video, he guns down a church choir, and while chaos surrounds him, Gambino continues dancing. This could signify how many black churches are victims of hate crimes, and even while this happens, nobody does anything to stop this from happening. This can also signify that hate crimes happen so often that he is desentized to the violences and discrimination that come with being black in America. After he guns down the church choir, he walks away past a police car. This symbolizes the racial prejudice that allows white people to get away with more crimes, or get a lesser sentence, even with hate crimes. Throughout the chaos and violent atmosphere, kids dressed in school uniforms dance with Gambino. This could mean many things. The kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dancing acts as a distraction from what is really going on.

This represents that although police brutality and racism still exists, we are distracted from it. This represents that although police brutality and racism still exists, we are distracted from it. A lot of people aren't affected by the systematic racism in America, and because it doesn't affect them, they don't feel a need to do anything about it. Another way the school kids dance could be interpreted as is how violence and guns have surrounded the kids for so long, that they don't even notice it any more. They are so numb to the chaos and violence that they continue dancing even after being gunned down. In the last few minutes of the music video, Gambino runs away from people in a dark hallway. During this scene, the line â&#x20AC;&#x153;You just a Black man in this world / You just a barcode, ayyâ&#x20AC;? is sung. This symbolizes him running from people that want to kill him. Throughout history in America, racism has been prevalent. With past incidents of slavery, segregation, and the KKK, and events of the present,, African American people still fear facing discrimination. Just this month, a 15 year old boy was killed because of his race; he was a victim of lynching.

& Political Comm entary Wap:

In modern society, music is a part of daily life. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why what we listen to is so important, because it not only affects how we view ourselves but how we view the world. Hence, there is a lot of backlash regarding different genres and certain artists for their portrayal in media. The topic of discussion is the popular song â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;WAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Cardi B. The song was made to empower women and showcase female talent within the industry. Honestly, though, the song is just a vulgar illustration of women. Parents should be concerned if their child listens to music like that. The song speaks about female genitalia in a derogatory and degrading manner. It makes people see women as just sexual objects to be used. A feminist may say otherwise, but empowerment of the mind has nothing to do with depicting sexuality as something that can only be attained if you are being explicit and obscene. The song merely makes women out to be objects, and if I could get something that is cheap, why would I pay more for it, right? This message will lead to young girls associating power with being sexual and not focusing on their education.

Without an education, you can only hope that someone will take care of you, but if you have one, no one can take advantage of you. I like music too, but the meaning of the song should be epitomized before liking a song. Understand what this person stands for and if it makes a correlation to their work. Hence, you can isolate the good from the bad and decide what you want to let guide your mindset. In conclusion, we must be mindful of things we let into our lives. Music is good, but making sure that the lyrics are positive should be most important.

written by edited by layout by art by

Neve Walker & Riona Carrington Kavya Gurunath & Manushri Bapat Inchara J. Sahithi Lingamapalli

New Jersey Voter C A Heavy Blow As coronavirus spread throughout the globe, people lost their money, their homes and their jobs. Some lost more than others, and the art community took a heavy blow. Theaters, concerts, museums and art galleries were shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As people were given stay-at-home orders, lots of artists lost their money and their jobs. The pandemic also caused economic burdens on many cities. Jersey City was no exception. The city faced many financial difficulties while combating the pandemic, in addition to dealing with the stress of the 2020 election, yet they managed to pass a referendum that provided funding for the arts.

A Stream of Money 64% of voters have agreed to pass this non-binding referendum. It will produce a stream of money for the arts, that is unaffected by budget negotiations, where leaders of the city decide how to use the budget for their city. In these negotiations, art is often the easiest to cut out of the budget. Passing this referendum will add a property tax on the people, and that money will go toward funding the arts.

The government will probably levy a tax of ½ cent per $100 of property value. The money that comes directly from the tax-payers isn’t part of the city budget, making sure that the money is unaffected by budget negotiations.

A Long Struggle Passing the bill was a long struggle. The city’s art leaders started championing the funding of art a decade ago. By 2018, they declared they wanted a portion of the budget to be dedicated towards art, but Mayor Fulop said that the portion would just end up being cut. He suggested a fund using money from taxpayers, which is how the idea of this referendum came into existence. The referendum finally managed to get on the 2020 ballot, but was almost taken off when Mayor Fulop thought people wouldn’t support it due to the economic effects of the pandemic. Art leaders needed this bill, because they were impacted heavily by the pandemic. They polled 400 people on whether they would support the bill, and the majority said yes. This convinced the mayor to keep the bill on the ballot.

Choose an Art Tax A Sense of Relief This referendum will generate between $1 million to $2 million each year. Though this is still not enough, the majority of the art community finds the passing of this bill important, as it proves to them that they are considered a valuable part of society. The money will be distributed to individuals or organizations who are approved by a committee. Timing was key with this billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passage. If they had waited another year, many artists would have left the city, causing art organizations to collapse. The funds have brought a sense of relief to art organizations that were struggling due to the pandemic.

A More Hopeful World For years, the arts have suffered. They were always the first to get cut, whether in an art class at school or funding for art organizations in the city. Art is an essential part of life. It allows us to express, create, and watch others do the same. Art inspires us. It moves us. It changes us. It helps us escape. It is part of human nature. Think about how different life would be without movies, songs, paintings, plays, TV shows, etc. Art can provide hope. Other cities need to follow the lead of Jersey City to fund the arts, in order to help create a more beautiful, hopeful world.

written by Kavya Gurunath

edited by Uday Lingampalli, Manushri Bapat, & Taruni Manam

layout by Aathmika Radhachandran

art by Sharon Pan

the future o

WRITTEN BY MA Film and big-picture culture is a major defining part of the entire American identity. The 1960s-era’s picturesque aesthetic of cars pulling up to the drive-in movie spot (much to the dismay of parents). The indoor cinema experience: overly buttered popcorn spilling out onto the squeaky, dirty foldable chairs, pasting movie tickets into scrapbooks and photo albums, movies and the theatrical emphasis placed on going to see movies were a way to connect with friends and loved ones.

Considering the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected American economics and celebrity culture, the entire industry may see significant changes for years to come. It has had to adapt to the ongoing challenges, but these changes pose a threat to the industry’s already unstable future -- previously changed through the rapid emergence of offcable and on-demand platforms.

The industry attempted to curb the limitations placed on the moviemaking process throughout the early stages of the pandemic; for example, relying heavily on computer generated technology compared to live action acting. Number of people involved in the typically team-intensive activity of filming have also been tweaked in order to ensure safety: the set and production team now consist of a smaller group of people, and the position of “extras” has basically been removed (replaced by key figures on the production team).

of film

ANUSHRI BAPAT Some anticipated movies impacted by COVID-19: Antlers (release Feb 19, 2021) No Time to Die (release Apr 2, 2021) The Artist’s Wife (release TBD) A Quiet Place II (release Apr 23, 2021) The Beatles: Get Back (release Aug 27, 2021) Black Widow (release May 7, 2021) Cruella (release May 28, 2021) Escape Room 2 (release Jan 1, 2021) Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Jan 22, 2021) Greenland (release Dec 18, 2020, available for rental purchase) Halloween Ends (release Oct 14, 2022) The Flash (release Nov 4, 2022) Godzilla vs. Kong (release May 21, 2021) The Matrix 4 (release Dec 22, 2021) Shazam! 2 (release Jun 2, 2023) Tom & Jerry (release Mar 5, 2021) Tomb Raider 2 (release TBD)

Wicked (release TBD in 2021) Wonder Woman 1984 (Dec 25, 2020) The Woman in the Window (release TBD) The Tomorrow War (release Jul 23, 2021) Thor: Love and Thunder (release Feb 11, 2022) Star Wars (release Dec 25 every other year starting from 2023)

Some movies moved to a streaming service: Artemis Fowl (Disney+) The Lovebirds (Netflix) My Spy (Amazon Prime Video) Greyhound (Apple TV) Happiest Season (Hulu) Coming 2 America (Amazon Prime Video) The One and Only Ivan (Disney+) Mulan (Disney+) Soul (Disney+, Dec 25, 2020) Working Man (release May 5, 2020, on demand)

Film and big-picture culture is a major defining part of the entire American identity.

Cinemas and the film industry have made up a key part of the American “identity.”

Although at the moment the future of film seems unclear, going forward, time will tell what is to become of the once cherished retro cinema experience: whether it may see a transformation or a cultivation of that of the previous and defining years. It may transition into that of the much more convenient couch-based streaming services and on-demand platforms. Whatever the case may be, COVID-19 has taught the film industry that it can’t rely on decades of success to ensure positive future indications.

It’s ironic how an industry holding major influence over American dayto-day life isn’t immune to global changes after all. It too, has to stoop down from its so-high-up and extravagant celebrity status level down to the likes of the mundane. It too, has to adapt.

EDITED BY HARVI KARATHA & HANS YANG LAYOUT AND ART BY NIVI CHOZHAN 15

references commemorating alex trebek -Lowry, B., Andone, D. (November 9, 2020). Alex Trebek, long-running 'Jeopardy!' host, dead at 80. CNN Entertainment. Retrieved From: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/08/entertainment/alex-trebek-jeopardy-host-death-trnd/index.html Keveney, B. (November 8, 2020). Alex Trebek of 'Jeopardy!' dies at 80 after pancreatic cancer battle. USA Today. Retrieved from: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2020/11/08/jeopardy-host-alex-trebek-dies-after-long-multiple-emmycareer/1885204001/ Legacy Staff. (November 8, 2020). Alex Trebek (1940–2020), beloved ‘Jeopardy!’ host. Legacy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/alex-trebek-1940-2020-beloved-jeopardy-host/

contemporary music and political commentary Gajanan, M. (May 8, 2018). An Expert’s Take on the Symbolism in Childish Gambino’s Viral ‘This Is America’ Video. Time. Retrieved from: https://time.com/5267890/childish-gambino-this-is-america-meaning/ Harrison, I. B. N. (November 11, 2020). Death of 15-Year-Old Black Teen In Louisiana Raises Suspicion of Lynching. Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved from: https://atlantablackstar.com/2020/11/10/death-of-15-year-old-black-teen-in-louisiana-raises-suspicion-of-lynching-photoseerily-similar-to-emmett-till-images/

nj voters choose an art tax Jacobs, J. (November 6, 2020). Voters in Jersey City Embrace a New Tax to Finance the Arts. The New York Times. Retrieved From: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/arts/jersey-city-arts-tax.html

the future of film Editors, V. (2020, October 28). Here Are All the Movies Delayed Because of the Coronavirus. Retrieved November 22, 2020, from https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/here-are-all-the-movies-and-tv-shows-affected-by-coronavirus.html Guerrasio, J. (2020, November 19). Movies still coming to theaters in 2020 and what's been delayed to 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2020, from https://www.insider.com/movies-coming-to-theaters-this-year-titles-hurt-by-coronavirus-2020-3 McCarthy, T. (2020, May 08). How the film industry will look different after COVID-19 and what Hollywood is doing to prepare. Retrieved November 22, 2020, from https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/how-film-industry-different-covid-19-hollywood-prepare Whitten, S. (2020, June 12). How movie industry execs see sets changing as filming resumes during coronavirus pandemic. Retrieved November 22, 2020, from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/05/coronavirus-will-change-how-film-sets-operate-four-experts-explain.html Written by Stefan Hall, P. (n.d.). Can there be a happy ending for Hollywood after COVID-19? Retrieved November 22, 2020, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/impact-coronavirus-covid-19-hollywood-global-film-industry-movie-theatres/

politics & world events Covid-19 Pandemic The pandemic is raging once again, as the holiday season approaches, with the highest daily case rate ever this month.

Terrorist Attacks in Western Europe An increased number of terrorist attacks in Western Europe is prompting more security measures to be taken.

Voter Turnout Voter turnout during the 2020 Presidential Elections was at a historic high, with over 66% of the population voting.

Covid-19 In Northern Denmark

President-Elect Bidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Administration

Mink Fur is spreading a mutated version of Covid-19, so the entire region of Northern Denmark is on lock down.

President-Elect Bidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plans

President-Elect Biden has begun choosing people for his administration, and many of his choices are making history.

President-Elect Biden has outlined his plans for his presidency, including handling the Covid-19 pandemic and tackling climate change.

headlines we couldn't cover 17

can trump steal the election?

page 19-20

uae + israeli tensions are rising the 2020 congressional elections so far

page 21-24

page 25-26

defining borders: indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long term goal

page 27-28

how world leaders are handling the pandemic page 29-31

can trump steal the election?

written by neve walker & shivanshi sharma edited by uday lingampalli, inchara j, & harvi karatha art by evelyn chen layout by sahithi lingampalli

This year has been a lot f Iran and United States intensifying to “World War Th COVID-19: it has been a tough be a president. That being s hard to excuse our president’s —from the remarks he makes room talk”) to the fact that he publicly denounce white supre was a breath of fresh air whe won the presidential electio the last four years, it was obvi Donald Trump was not quali the job. It was very apparent e that he was a non-tra president. Part of his appeal w he was a businessman, and w see that with his excessive fir cutting down of expenses. S these funding cuts hurt Amer the defunding of the pa response team). He had a persuading people and getting to follow him. Even now, in 20 followers still listen to every wo

Even though Donald Trump popular vote in 2016 and h lowest approval rating o candidate in an election, believes that the election wa against him...even though h Even before 2016, Trump was the conspiracy theory abou fraud which intensified dur pandemic. The Trump camp now harassing its support donations to support and debts for his failing election law

from the conflict hree”, to h year to said, it's s actions (“locker e cannot emacy. It en Biden on. Over ous that ified for early-on aditional was that we could ring and Some of rica (like andemic way of g people 020, his ord.

lost the had the of any he still s rigged he won. building ut voter ring the paign is ters for pay off wsuits.

Attorney General William Barr had called federal prosecutors to examine allegations of voter fraud even before the final results were certified. To this date, no evidence was found to support his claim.

One of the main arguments Trump used to support his claim of voter fraud taking place was that thousands of ballots would appear “out of nowhere”. What they don't take into account is that every county counts the ballots themselves. After a county counts all the votes, they share their results with the governors of their state. 100,000 votes for Biden do not magically appear, it is the country turning in their votes. Another argument the Trump supporters used is that there are more votes in Wisconsin than registered voters, but the statistic they are referring to is misleading. The number of registered voters during the midterm elections in 2018. Because 2020 is an election year and this election is very important, millions of people have registered. Trump got the most votes a candidate has ever gotten— disregarding Biden, of course.

Because of the lack of evidence legally, Trump cannot win this election. The problem is that Trump has said he will not concede, and his cult-like followers are not backing down. It seemed like calling voter fraud was all in Trump’s plan. He had told his followers to vote in person and not mail in. Since most people who voted using mail in ballots were voting for Biden, it was the perfect opportunity for Trump to cheat his way to win. It was as if he was warning his. followers.

written by yaj jhajhria edited by uday lingampalli, harvi karatha, & hans yang

UAE + I TENSIONS A

POSSIBLY MARKING A NEW

round the world, the United Arab Emirates is a nation seen with awe and reverence, having crafted itself an exclusively Emirati brand of elegance and luxury. The Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, world-class luxury hotels and malls, and countless futuristic technologies everywhere define the nation’s cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to the world as the land of the next generation. It isn’t even surprising anymore when news comes that they have built the next crazy thing, whether it be an indoor ski resort in the middle of the desert or the world’s largest picture frame.

For Emirati cit red, green, and bla something much sinister. Forced di torture, minimal fr executions of unpunished sexua violation of migra rights are not extre life for the people Gulf state home. Ev been subject to and methods of ex such as kissing in p insulting their emplo These often-ob in the country hav hidden for the entir

SRAELI ARE EASING

layout and art by sahithi lingampalli

W ERA FOR THE EMIRATES

izens, however, the ack flag stands for more cruel and sappearances and eedom of speech, homosexuals, l abuse, and the ant workers’ basic emes- but a fact of who call the small ven foreigners have cruel punishments xecution for actions public, drinking, and oyers online. bscured facts of life ve largely remained rety of its nearly

40-year long history. However, if 2020 has shown us anything, it’s that no matter how much something seems to be unchangeable it can be undone just like that. On November 7th, the nation unexpectedly announced reforms in its laws on cohabitation, family Sharia courts, drinking, and the criminalization of honor killings of family members (Debris, 2020). To understand why the UAE would suddenly begin to consider granting more human rights to its people, the bigger picture must be examined. A few things have happened recently that have changed the scenario for the UAE—the most well-known of which was the normalization of

diplomatic relations with Israel. On September 15, 2020, the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement was signed in the White House Rose Garden by Emirati Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and U.S. President Donald Trump (Federico-O'MurchĂş, 2020). The agreement, among other things, made the UAE formally recognize Israel as a sovereign state and returned the status between the two long-hostile nations to that of any other pair of neutral countries. This development in Emirati foreign affairs represents their awakening on trying to be a more modern country,in

an age past the era living in. Israel and players emerging technology and accelerating their G year. Moving pa barriers of relig themselves and e commerce, and bu criticism from mos Muslim world wit calling the UAE Muslims and igno peace and stability This starkly cont governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willin this decision and forward, which high

a in which they are the UAE are major in the world of innovation, both GDPs greatly every ast the frivolous gion created for engaging in trade, siness is a leap for st countries in the th many nations traitorous to all oring the goal of in the Middle East. rasts the Emirati gness to stay with continue to move lights an otherwise

subtle difference in the way that they are approaching foreign and judicial matters compared to their neighbors. The Emirates might have finally caught up with the fact that in order to be a beacon for the future, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to take more than just building another new, shiny tower.

Everyone is aware of the 2020 Presidential Elections due to its popular coverage in the media. However, another vital political event, the Congressional elections, was also occurring alongside the presidential election. This is where a total of 470 seats—35 for the Senate and 435 for the House of Representatives— are filled. This year has been full of surprises like the election of a diverse and exciting group of new members of Congress. Some exciting new names are entering the Congressional playing field, including ones that will have a great impact on of U.S. history. The first is the New York Democrat Mondaire Jones (won New York 17th district), who made history as the second openly gay black man who was elected to Congress. The first openly gay black man elected to Congress is Democrat Ritchie Torres of the Bronx. Corey Busch, a nurse and Black Lives Matter activist, has become the first black woman elected to Congress in Missouri. Republican Madison Cawthorn from North Carolina takes the title of the youngest member of Congress from Alexandria OcasioCortez at 25 years of age. New Mexico is the first state to have elected an allfemale delegation: Democrat Debra Haaland, Democrat Teresa Fernandez, and Republican Yvette Herrell.

the 2020 co election The first openly transgender Senator was also elected in Delaware: Sarah McBride of the Democratic party. Now that we’ve discussed these exciting details regarding a new era of representation in terms of ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender, let’s talk about the statistics of things. So far, Republicans have done extremely well in the Congressional elections, and Emily Tamkin from NewsStatesman writes that this Republican victory was largely unexpected because the Democratic party was initially performing well in the Congressional races. According to her, it is possible that many people voted for Biden in the presidential election, but voted for more Republicans in the Congressional race with hopes that they would keep Biden in check.

ongressional s, so far It isn’t too late for the Democrats, since they still have a chance to claim the Senate if they win two runoffs in the special election early in January. Regardless of the outcome, we are sure to see an eventful series of events unfold in these upcoming months. It has been incredible to see so much representation in the U.S. government , and we can’t wait to see how it will evolve to tackle problems like COVID-19, rebuilding the economy, decreasing unemployment, and other socio-political issues. In these times of need, we need all hands on deck to work to solve our country’s problems.

written by sanjna mootakoduru edited by inchara j, harvi karatha, & arushi patil layout by inchara j art by hala abdelqader

Defining Borders: India's Long Term Goal written by edited by

Shrawani Pradhan Uday Lingampalli, Cindy Zhang, Harvi Karatha, & Hans Yang

layout by art by

Vrinda Gandhi Sahithi Lingampalli

India has been an independe country for the past 73 years, but still does not have completely seale borders. Well, that is about to change

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Sing confirmed this. The country is set o sealing its borders with Pakistan an Bangladesh. Terrorism and illeg immigration are said to be the ma motivator; both of which have prove to be major obstacles for India. Abo 15 million illegal immigrants are said be living in India from Bangladesh rig now.

There are major challenges th come in the way of sealing th borders. India shares its borders wi six countries. Illegal immigration fro Bangladesh and the disputed territo of Kashmir are clear hindrance Kashmir has been an area of confli since 1947. K.S Dhatwalia, Indian Hom Ministry spokesman, informed CN about the government planning to se the â&#x20AC;&#x153;line of control,â&#x20AC;? the bord between India and Pakistan in Kashm Tensions between countries are n the only challenge. The terrain is ve difficult to work with so securing th borders is nearly impossible. Pakistan side faces heavy snow, wh Bangladeshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side is filled with rive and marshlands.

ent it ed e.

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90% of the border has already been fenced and secured, the remaining 10% is the real challenge. As mentioned before, the landscape makes the job not only difficult but nearly impossible. Bharat Karnad, a national security expert at the Delhi-based think tank, The Center for Policy Research, stated, "These are permeable borders, you cannot seal them off no matter how hard you try, no matter what high technologies you try to import." (CNN) The sealing issue is a problem, but other security measures have been taken. India constructed an iron fence along its “line of control in Kashmir” after signing a ceasefire with Pakistan in 2003. This was meant to cut down the flow of illegal immigrants and possible terrorists. The Indian Border Security Force which monitors the ‘line of control’ consists of 250,000 troops, making it the largest border security force in the world.

Infiltration, illegal immigration, and terrorism continue to be major problems, but sealing off the border is predicted to increase national security. The Indian government’s long-term goal of having secure and legit borders will finally be achieved.

How are world leaders New Zealand: When thinking of countries that have effectively handled COVID-19, New Zealand usually comes to mind. Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, has swiftly combated COVID-19 and has declared the pandemic over within 100 days. New Zealand has had 2,001 total cases and 25 deaths. Some may argue that the reason why New Zealand has so few cases is that New Zealand doesn't have a high population density. New Zealand's population is 4.886 million people, and New Zealand is 103,486 square miles. If we compare New Zealand with Wyoming and Hawaii (two American states), we can see how different presidents have handled COVID-19 and how it affects the people. In Wyoming there have been 21,881 cases: over 10 times the amount of New Zealand. Wyoming has a population of 578,759, which is around one eighth of New Zealand's population and is 97,818 square miles

Even though Wyoming has less people per square mile, their cases are way higher than New Zealand. To give a fairer comparison, let's compare New Zealand to Hawaii (an island state). Hawaiiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total cases is 16,619 casesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; more than 8 times the amount of New Zealand. Hawaii has a population of 1.416 million and is 10,931 square miles. Both Wyoming and Hawaii have way higher cases than New Zealand. Through this comparison we can see how government management affects how quickly COVID-19 spreads, its devastating effects, and how effective New Zealand is compared to these states

handling the pandemic? Germany: Some countries are having thousands of new cases daily unlike New Zealand. New Zealand had only two cases in late June. February 2 was the first day someone died from COVID-19 outside of China. New Zealand stopped travel to and from China immediately afterward, and any New Zealander coming from China had to isolate for 14 days. As the virus spread globally, New Zealand's flight ban spread to Iran who transported New Zealand's first COVID-19 case. On the 16th of March, everyone who came into New Zealand had to isolate themselves for 14 days. After a few days, Ardern closed the borders to non-New Zealanders. New Zealand's aim was to do a strict lockdown right away to eliminate the virus, and it worked. A World Health Organization (WHO) report on the success of Wuhanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lockdown in late January showed the world that New Zealand's approach is successful.

In Germany, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier are adequately handling the pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, the country has only had 5,094 deaths which is only about a third of French deaths and a fifth of the Italian deaths. Therefore, it can be said that with an effective government the pandemic can be controlled and ultimately stopped if the necessary measures are implemented. The Chancellor and President had lockdowns but allowed the population to have the freedom to indulge in eating out.

They had protocols and were able to enforce them without resistance from the people because of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trust in their leadership. However, in France, the pandemic was not taken as seriously by the populace. The people did not abide by the protocols, which caused thousands of deaths. The government had to set fines and raise them because it was not taken seriously by the people; there are still petitions to raise them even further. and donate the money to the healthcare workers. On the other hand, Germany has a President who came to instill emotional strength during the pandemic by addressing the nation aside from his yearly Christmas speech for the first time in history.

Written by Neve Walker & Riona Carrington

Likewise, Italy learned its lesson and decided to be more strict with their enforcement of COVID-19 regulations. Now, they are one of the countries with the lowest case counts in Europe and internationally. Therefore, it shows that if governments are serious about making a change and protecting the society, it can happen. For example, Merkel has been undergoing quarantine and has been continuously tested for the virus for which she was negative. We all know the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lead by example.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hence, Germany is doing well because they understand that government officials are not exempt from regulations. Merkel has taken multiple tests and will continue to do so since she has many meetings to attend. She has to meet with world bodies and needs to protect herself and those around her. Contrarily, Merkel says that imposing social restrictions has been the hardest task of her career because she felt that people should not have to be separated from each other.

Edited by Uday Lingampalli & Harvi Karatha

Layout by Aathmika Radhachandran

Art by Sanjna Mootakoduru

In conclusion, it takes the government to make and oblige its citizens to be safe during this pandemic. Hence, it is good to be prudent from the start, like Germany was.

references can trump steal the election? (November 12, 2020). US election 2020 summary: Trump reaction to Biden President-elect | 11 November. as. Retrieved from: https://en.as.com/en/2020/11/11/latest_news/1605086459_459723.html Rutenberg, J., & Corasaniti, N. (November 15, 2020). Behind Trump’s Yearslong Effort to Turn Losing Into Winning. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/us/politics/trump-voter-fraud-claims.html Bazelon, E. (November 13, 2020). Trump Is Not Doing Well With His Election Lawsuits. Here’s a Rundown. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/us/politics/trump-election-lawsuits.html

the 2020 congressional elections so far (n.d.). United States Congress elections, 2020. Ballotpedia. Retrieved from: https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Congress_elections,_2020 Tamkin, E. (November 16, 2020). Why did the Republicans perform so well in the US Congressional elections? NewStatesman. Retrieved from: https://www.newstatesman.com/world/2020/11/why-did-republicans-perform-so-well-us-congressional-elections CBS News. (November 4, 2020) Democrats, Republicans Make History in 2020 Congressional Elections. Youtube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RxKv4Q6lMo

uae + israeli tensions are rising Debris, I. (2020, November 7). UAE announces relaxing of Islamic laws for personal freedoms. Associated Press. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://apnews.com/article/dubai-united-arab-emirates-honor-killings-travel-islam-bce74c423897dc77c7beb72e4f51a23a Federico-O'Murchú, S. (2020, August 13). Read the full statement by the US, Israel and UAE on normalizing Israel-UAE relations. Cable News Network. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/13/middleeast/mideast-trump-full-statement-uae-israel-intl/index.html

defining borders: india’s long term goal Wu, H. (March 29, 2017). India wants to seal its borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. CNN. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/28/asia/india-pakistan-bangladesh-borders/index.html Nic, D . (Nov 12, 2020). India wants to seal its borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Medium. Retrieved from: https://medium.com/@demega3389/india-wants-to-seal-its-borders-with-pakistan-and-bangladesh-cc00d8dca3dd

how world leaders are handling the pandemic Berlinger, J., McKeehan, B., Kottasová, I., Upright, E., Wagner, M., & Macaya, M. (July 10, 2020). July 9 coronavirus news. CNN. Retrieved from: https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-07-09-20-intl/h_92797f2b07edce8fc90a27a4bea47e8c Horowitz, J. (July 31, 2020). How Italy Turned Around Its Coronavirus Calamity. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/world/europe/italy-coronavirus-reopening.html MacDougall, J. (March 23, 2020). How France handles the coronavirus pandemic. healthcare-in-europe.com. Retrieved from: https://healthcare-in-europe.com/en/news/how-france-handles-the-coronavirus-pandemic.html Suliman, A., & Eckardt, A. (April 23, 2020). Germany's Merkel cautions this is 'beginning' of coronavirus pandemic. NBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/germany-s-merkel-cautions-beginning-coronavirus-pandemic-n1190241 (2020). Germany’s president calls for patience, solidarity in face of pandemic. DW. Retrieved from: https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-president-calls-for-patience-solidarity-in-face-of-pandemic/a-53095804 Jones, A. (July 9, 2020). How did New Zealand become Covid-19 free? BBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53274085

Tech &

DESIGN Apple's New Products Apple unveiled new products: iPhone 12 Pro/Mini/Max, HomePod Mini, new MacBooks with the brand-new M1 chip, and much more!

98" TV Samsung has a new 98" TV, that was $50,000 down during Black Friday sales!

Black Friday Drawbacks

Due to the influx of Black Friday shoppers, the digital footprint they are leaving behind is enormous.

Cockroach Emoji Proposal? The selling point? In case cockroaches survive a nuclear war, they would have an emoji as well!

TikTok Sale Extension ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has received an extension from the US government regarding the sale of TikTok

Playstation 5 Sony has released the newest version of the Playstation, with a new, futuristic design!

headlines we couldn't cover 33

DATE FOR DEMOCRATS

page 35-36

HOW TO HACK A POLL BOOTH

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RIDESHARE APPS VS. CORONAVIRUS

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HOW VANCOUVER MADE THE MOST LIVABLE CITYSCAPE, AND HOW IT COULD BE USED ELSEWHERE

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By the time this article is being written, the presidential election is over, and Joe Biden is the confirmed president elect of the United States. But, it took a lot to get those 306 electoral votes to win. Pennsylvania, a battleground state, was part of the reason Joe Biden was able to win — and that too, very narrowly. Biden secured 1.1% more of the votes from Pennsylvania — 3,425,599 votes compared to contesting, current president, Donald Trump’s 3,358,254 votes — giving him a leg up in the race with 20 electoral votes.

date for democrats

As you can see, these battleground states are what can make or break a candidate’s win, and much of Biden and Trump’s campaigns were focused in these areas. Aside from their campaigns, however, there were many people trying to convince undecided voters to vote for their candidate, whether it was through phone calls, texts, independent rallies, television ads and much more. Recently, dating apps have been added to the mix, and the impact they have made on undecided voters is all thanks to Molly Kawahata!

HOW DATING APPS ARE BEING USED TO INFLUENCE VOTERS IN SWING STATES! 35

Molly Kawahata, 30, worked on Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and served in the White House during Barack Obama’s presidency. She came up with the idea of using the dating app Hinge, to influence voters. Hinge is unique from other dating apps, in that you can manually select your location. Other popular dating apps, such as Tinder and Bumble, use GPS to automatically select your location, and require premium membership for manual selection. People like Kawahata, who want to spread political awareness in battleground states, can easily set their location to one of those states, match with people and ask them about their voter status. Kawahata supported Biden-Harris from the Democratic Party, during the election, and matched with other voters to try to convince them to vote for Biden-Harris as well. This is her plan for using dating apps to convince voters, posted on her Instagram page: 1) Trump Supporter? Unmatch, respect their decision, and move on. 2) Biden Supporter? Ask them for their voting plan, encourage early voting, and direct them to iwillvote.com. 3) Undecided? Connect with them on a personal level, and tell them why you are voting for BidenHarris! She started a hashtag, “#DateSaveAmerica,” to try and promote this use for dating apps. Even though the exact numbers are not

identifiable, Kawahata estimates hundreds of people are using dating apps to influence voters, judging through her Instagram DM’s, tags, texts and calls, according to CNN. However, the influence it will have in the future will definitely be huge. In her interview with Vogue, Kawahata says, “We’re seeing that things are really personal in the political space, just like they are in the dating space, and there are so many opportunities there.” Prior to her idea, dating apps were used only for either meeting new people or catfishing — however, now, a whole new world of marketing, promoting and influencing is opening up, when the app is used right. What are you waiting for? Swipe right! by Sahithi Lingampalli edited by Shabdika Gubba & Uday Lingampalli layout by Vrinda Gandhi art by Sahithi Lingampalli

Despite the recent passing of the election, the topic of elections and ballots and the accompanying political debates seem far from over. Specifically, accusations regarding the validity of mail-in ballots and individual state handling of votes have crowded news feeds for the past week (as of the writing of this article) relentlessly. But is it possible to “hack” a poll booth? How hard is it to infiltrate the very foundation of our democratic system, and how effective are the results in disturbing the fabric of democracy? To start off our journey, we may very easily begin in the wonderful (and 100% reputable) source that is YouTube. Just search “hack poll booth” and a whole list of different people will demonstrate in under a few minutes how to infiltrate a poll booth and expose its delicate intricacies to your manipulative disposition. But how realistic are these methods and what are the steps to accomplishing the forbidden? The first step in hacking a poll booth is to give yourself a motive. Maybe you are an anarchist, or, maybe you really just don't like a candidate. In both cases, this would be the point at which most sane people stop and realize that they are in no position to

deem their opinion greater than others. If you do not belong to the aforementioned category, read on! Step Two involves selecting your method of infiltration on your local model of poll booths. In one instance, this may be as simple as inserting a specially programmed card that fools the machine into thinking the next person in line is voting (CBS, 2016). Or, you can go the more tech intensive way, and physically take apart the booth (as if you were to perform maintenance on the machine) to reach the guts of the machine, directly plug in your computer, and hack away. It is important to note here that some levels of computer science will be necessary, as well as an understanding on data storage, encryption, and other fancy words regarding measures that aim to stop hackers like you. Assuming that you succeed and do not get caught smuggling suspicious wires, cards, or entire laptops, then congratulations! You just hacked a poll booth. But just how much did you really accomplish? According to CBS, in 2016, around 70% of all voting occurred on these electronic poll booths, a number that surely declined with the onset of this year’s pandemic. This means that your hacking is already limited. Even if you (or your team) do infiltrate a couple poll booths, someone will likely catch

how to hack a

A POLL BOOTH

WRITTEN BY MAYA KROLIK *Note: elements of sarcasm are present, do not take advice seriously.*

you, or an irregular pattern in the reporting. In the end, you are better off skipping the actual poll booth, and attacking the servers that hold all of the data (Politico, 2020). Even within the recent election, server outages and other non-human induced technological issues arise, masking your malicious attempts to destabilize our democracy. So, the next time you are bored out of your wits, or just want to see a change in the world immediately, here is your debrief on your options!

EDITED BY SAHITHI LINGAMPALLI, SHABDIKA GUBBA, & TARUNI MANAM LAYOUT BY SAHITHI LINGAMPALLI ART BY HALA ABDELQADER

RIDESHARE APPS APPS RIDESHARE

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As of the summer of 2020, services such as Uber and Lyft were experiencing decreases in ridership by around 75%, with other services refusing to disclose influences from the pandemic all together (Siddiqui, 2020). The data is predominantly representative of ridership in large cities, like San Francisco and New York City, that have been hotspots for the virus and are likely to observe spikes and drops in cases as the months change.

Throughout our ongoing battle with COVID-19, millions of both brick-andmortar and non-conventional businesses have been strained, while trying to keep customers and adhere to COVID-19 spread prevention methods. In particular, rideshare services are one of the businesses that have been hit the hardest, with customers dwindling due to COVID-19 restrictions and worries over sanitary conditions within vehicles. Such circumstances continue to ring true in America, where COVID-19 cases continue to rise, largely being uncontrolled in each of the 50 states. With no guaranteed redemption for these services, long-term investors and customers are becoming increasingly worried for future prospects (Conger, 2020).

These cities had a full brunt of losses that was felt in the spring and summer, with shares having fallen more than 50% and companies being forced to stop recruitments (Hawkins, 2020). Whether or not the services will see a bounce back in the U.S. anytime soon is unclear, but staff continue to uphold precautionary measures in hopes that the COVID-19 situation will improve.

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VS VS CORONAVIRUS CORONAVIRUS In response to the uptick of cases, there is also more hesitation on the part of employees, who are uncertain about whether working again will be worth the risk. Many drivers express worry that passengers travelling to and from large gatherings, such as churches, parties, and funerals, may spread the virus to them and their families (Siddiqui, 2020).

Despite these concerns, there still stands a number of long-standing drivers and customers that have faith in companies to implement the right guidelines and protect their passengers and employees. It also seems that rideshare services are recovering faster than traditional taxi services, which provides more hope for the future (Conger, 2020). Once COVID-19 starts to ease in the U.S., it is likely that these apps will fare much better, but for the time being there still lies a great struggle to survive throughout the winter months.

written BY YAJ JHAJHRIA EDITED BY hARVI kARATHA, SAHITHI LINGAMAPALLI, & HANS YANG

LAYOUT BY INCHARA J. ART BY EVELYN CHEN

references date for democrats

Yurieff, K., Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, S. (2020) Swipe right. People are using dating apps to reach voters in swing states. CNN Business. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/02/tech/hinge-voting-election/index.html Specter, E. (2020) Meet the Women Using Dating Apps to Reach Undecided Voters in Battleground States. Vogue. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from: https://www.vogue.com/article/dating-apps-undecided-voters Kawahata, M. (2020) Instagram. Retrieved November 16, 2020 from: https://www.instagram.com/mollyykayy/?hl=en

how to hack a poll booth (2016), Hacker demonstrates how voting machines can be compromised. CBS News. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rigged-presidential-elections-hackers-demonstrate-voting-threat-old-machines/ Geller, E. (2020). The voting technology problems that could trigger panic at the polls. Politico. Retrieved from: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/02/voting-tech-problems-433748

how vancouver made the most livable cityscape, and how it could be used elsewhere

Huffington. (2010). Vancouver The Most Livable City In North America: Economist (PHOTOS). HuffPost. Retrieved November 17, 2020, from https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/28/vancouver-most-livable-city-economist_n_3830039.html Mack, B. (2020). The 11 most expensive cities to live in around the world in 2020. Insider. Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://www.insider.com/most-expensive-cities-to-live-in-2020-1

rideshare apps vs. coronavirus

Siddiqui, F. (2020). Uber ridership has cratered and no one knows when it'll come back. Washington Post. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/10/uber-coronavirus-lockdowns/ Hawkins, A. (2020). Uber is doing 70 percent fewer trips in cities hit hard by coronavirus. The Verge. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/19/21186865/uber-rides-decline-coronavirus-seattle-sf-la-nyc Conger, K. (2020, April 17). Uber and Lyft Are Searching for Lifelines. NY Times. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/technology/uber-lift-coronavirus.html

science SpaceX May Help Clear Space Junk Apple unveiled new products: iPhone 12 Pro/Mini/Max, HomePod Mini, new MacBooks with the brand-new M1 chip, and much more!

Plastic Pollution Has Spread to Mount Everest. Due to the influx of Black Friday shoppers, the digital footprint they are leaving behind is enormous.

COVID-19 Vaccines are 95% Successful ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has received an extension from the US government regarding the sale of TikTok

CDC Discourages Thanksgiving Travel

Scientists Happy with Bidenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plans

US COVID cases hit an alltime high, which will only worsen with the surge of Thanksgiving travel.

Scientists are relieved that President-elect Joe Biden will place an emphasis on science, such as climate change, during his term.

headlines we couldn't cover 45

evidence of parallel universes? page 47-50

"zoom fatigue" actually exists page 51-52

the side effects of living in space page 53-54

medical ethics surrounding covid-19 page 55-57

by inchara j edited by kavya gurunath, hans yang, & riona carrington

layout by sahithi lingampalli

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parallel u What is a parallel universe? In fiction, it is the concept of having another universe, parallel to our own, with core similarities and minute, yet impacting differences. In quantum mechanics, parallel universes are a theory, in which a universe breathes alongside ours, but is unnoticeable by humans. Until a few months ago, when NASA discovered compelling evidence that may prove the formerly fictional idea a reality. The evidence came from a study that began a few years ago when a balloon-based experiment was launched. The Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna, or ANITA, detected some rather interesting phenomena. The subatomic particles in Antarctica were behaving oddly, sparking scientistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interests everywhere. As scientists do, they started trying to find an explanation for this oddness.

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theories was the allel universe. As the fiction everywhere, t fire and spread bs. s are often used as capegoat. It’s used when there happens ational one. Some er to it as a re each universe t world, where each d didn’t pursue in s in another. With could be multiple ay be possible that scovered one. Or

n “exotic” mission. oa, Hawaii, it was e radio waves from h are subatomic credibly difficult to

catch hold of. When the data was collected, in 2016, scientists stated that it looked as if cosmic rays were escaping from the ice. This led to many different conclusions, some being that neutrinos passed through Earth’s core and came out of the ice in Antarctica. It could be dark matter, or possibly even a “fourth neutrino”which would be a new, unprecedented discovery, or just something completely new and unique to astrophysics. Scientists, still searching for the ever-elusive explanation and failing to find one, concluded parallel universes. But the scientists had an explanation. Time. Time is a constant in the everyday life of humankind. A clock is a mechanism utilized to record the quantity of that very constant. 24 hours a day. 365 days a year. Including its practical purpose, it also serves as

a panic inhibitor in high school students, condemning them to their deadlines of 11:59 pm for their biology homework. Imagine if time, instead of going forward, traveled backward. In theory, this would imply that the “other universe” has gone through coronavirus and is heading into what was our 2010s, which seems like a beautiful place. But the theory is irrational and there’s no solid evidence backing this up. Traveling back in time is not possible. Or at least it isn’t possible as of the date this article is being written, November 11, 2020. The subatomic particles in Antarctica seemed to be traveling backward. According to Forbes, this could mean that the Big Bang created two universes, not one. One that went forward in time and the other that went backward. Forbes also states that the theory has no

evidence whatsoev of the moment, we evidence that thes Meaning we should up. After closer obs in Antarctica, sc another conclusio universe did not ex was cosmic energy firn of the Antarctic do not know, firn that isn’t quite ice cosmic rays trave and they’re powerfu extremely noticeab making it look like a neutrino, it was a pr one, and pretty n energy. Parallel univers might not. No one people care very m their existence, they

er, meaning that, as e do not have solid se universes exist. dnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get our hopes servation of the ice cientists reached on. The parallel xist. What did exist y, and it was in the c ice. For those that is the layer of ice e nor snow. When el through the ice, ul, they send out an ble call to scientists, a neutrino. But for a retty strange acting normal for cosmic

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can we escape our universe and go to the other one? question to todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society. Can we escape our universe and go to the other one? The short answer is no. Humanity has one chance and one planet, and as of the current day, scientists (and hopefully the reader) know that parallel universes do not exist. So instead of escaping, mankind should save the planet it inhabits now. But if parallel universes do exist, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a nifty thing for scientists to explore and would be a breakthrough for science everywhere.

"Zoom Fatigue" For children and adults from around the world, it seems that COVID-19 has continued to take over major sectors of normal life. From the way we socialize, to the way we conduct school classes and work tasks, our societies have faced the challenges of going virtual, and adapting accordingly. Nowadays, most of our time is spent being glued to the computer, tablet or phone screen. Adverse effects seem almost unavoidable, with students and adults discussing the phenomenon of Zoom fatigue. At a surface level, Zoom fatigue seems to encompass feelings of burnout and anxiety due to the overuse of virtual communication (Lee, 2020). Emerging psychiatrists are trying to explain the phenomenon, with signs now pointing to social, audio, and visual disruptions. Social disruptions specifically pertain to how our modes of communication and behaviors have experienced a complete one-eighty. Normal cues during in-person conversations such as eye contact, body language and physical proximity are the fundamentals of how we engage in communication (Sklar, 2020). Over Zoom calls or Google Meets, these cues are extremely difficult to pick up on, hindering proper social interaction.

WRITTEN BY A Many students and workers end up attending video calls with up to thirty others, with little to no opportunity to make eye contact, or opportunity to speak directly to others. These virtual discussions donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provide the close proximity between peers or coworkers favorable for having more meaningful conversations. This lack of traditional social interaction inevitably leads to disjointed conversations, and can be quite overwhelming for most, causing others to stray away from virtual discussions entirely (Callahan, 2020). As for audio and visual disruptions, experiencing delays, and the format of communication services themselves contribute to overall displeasure from users (Lee, 2020). Dozens of different people being portrayed on a screen overwhelms our sense of focus, causing our attention to be diverted across many different factors while also listening to the main speaker.

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Seeing your video feed on the screen can also cause some to feel drained as they focus on monitoring themselves, and making sure their appearance and body language is being conveyed accurately (Callahan, 2020). Aside from the visual aspect, audio can be particularly disorienting, through technical difficulties or delays in the time that it takes to be heard on your computer (Lee, 2020). Not only are the difficulties frustrating, but can subconsciously lead to a negative perception of others on the same call. Like our negative perception, much of what we experience on a day to day basis may be unknown to us, until they accumulate into noticeable effects.

In light of this, psychiatrists and mental health experts are advocating for digital breaks, along with more mindfulness over our actions both outside of and during virtual meetings. Mindfulness can be anything from listening to your own body and emotions, or focusing on certain behaviors that improve your overall health. For instance, some express more importance for reducing multitasking during video calls to help ease our already diverted attention, while others encourage more use of the hide video feature on these platforms (Fosslien & Duffy, 2020). Prioritizing one's own mental and physical health during these times is especially important, and being mindful of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own feelings and behavior can help improve our days for the better. EDITED UDAY

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the side effe in s On October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union, was the first-ever artificial satellite sent to space. Approximately four years later, 22-year-old Soviet Air Forces pilot and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, became the first human to orbit the planet that we call home. He traveled around Earth for an astonishing 108 minutes and reached an altitude of 202 miles. Space travel has always intrigued humans from it’s mythical conception as an idea. Scientists came across a pair of astronautsa golden opportunity to discover the side effect of living in space. Identical twins have the same DNA, making it easier for scientists to study their differences. On March 27, 2015, the Scott brothers, identical twins, who took part in the Twins Study. The experiment involved one twin, Scott Kelly, staying aboard the International Space Station, while the other twin, Mark Kelly, was located on Earth.

Both twins were closely monitored for scientists to understand the impact space truly has on the human body. After about a year of closely observing the two, scientists noticed how Scott's body had a decline in gene expression. Gene expression is the genetic makeup of how the body reacts to the changes in the environment. This abnormality occurred to “...only 7 percent of the gene expression that changed during spaceflight that had not returned to preflight after six months on Earth” (Edwards 2018). After the study had been executed and results had been recorded, scientists concluded that spaceflight is associated with oxygen deprivation stress, increased inflammation, and dramatic nutrient shifts affecting gene expression. They also noticed that Scott’s telomeres, the endcaps of a chromosome that decreases in size as the individual ages, became significantly longer in space.

cts of living pace But upon his arrival, nearly two days later his telomeres returned to their standard size. Upon landing safely back on Earth, scientists determined that 93% of Scott's genes had returned to their normal state, while the remaining 7% supports the conclusion that there might be some long-term changes to one's health. They discovered that Scott's immune system, DNA repair, bone formation networks, hypoxia, and hypercapnia had slight changes when compared to his identical twin. Additionally, Scott had a decrease in cognitive abilities and reaction speed. While on the ISS Scott took cognitive tests to test his coordination, on Earth, Mark was informed to take the same test. After Scott safely landed and adjusted to Earth, he showed signs of a decrease in hand eye coordination and solving simple problems, but even afterwards he found it difficult to do any movements that involved hand-eye coordination. Scientists also found abnormalities in Scott's chromosomes, alteration to his

DNA, and as stated earlier, a difference in his gene expression, and changes to his retinas and carotid artery. Additionally, Scott's gut microbiome had shown some shifts when compared to his twin brother. All of these conclusions have left scientists shocked at the greater impact living in space has on humans. Could this study's results have an impact on our mission to Mars? Or will it help us advance technologically and lead us to many more amazing adventures?

written by Nivi Chozhan edited by Hans Yang, Inchara J, & Shabdika Gubba layout by Inchara J. art by Sharon Pan

medical ethics surrounding The genesis of the pandemic heralded a new, deeper challenge for healthcare professionals and immunologists alike: an urgent need for an effective treatment to the severe respiratory disease that is currently the scourge of humanity— the COVID-19 respiratory virus.

COVID-19

Upon facing this daunting task while lives are trickling through the hourglass like grains of sand, multiple institutions devised methods in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

One of these institutions was the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The NEJM took interest in a drug called “remdesivir” developed by Gilead Sciences, a major pharmaceutical company. Remdesivir is an antiviral medication that is transferred into an organism through injection. In simpler terms, it prevents virus reproduction in the body: effectively halting the symptoms and effects of a virus.

To experiment with the effects of the drug, an elite NEJM group named the ACTT-1 Study Group conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebocontrolled experiment to test the potential treatment. The experiment was executed on patients that allowed them to continue with their study but could cancel and withdraw at any given time.

written by Hans Yang edited by Kavya Gurunath, Harvi Karatha, & Manushri Bapat

layout by Aathmika Radhachandran art by Sahithi Lingampalli

may kill them. The study conducted does not provide that information. During studies like these, specific adverse events due to drug reactions are completely possible. For instance, “fifty-two patients had remdesivir treatment discontinued before day 10 because of an adverse event or a serious adverse event other than death and 10 withdrew consent.” (Strassle, 2020).

1162 patients were categorized into different levels of symptom severity— Level 1, a COVID-19 infected patient who is perfectly healthy with unrestrained mobility to Level 10, a hospitalized patient infected with COVID-19 who is sustained on life support. After undergoing categorization, the patient pool branched into two randomized groups: a placebo group and a treatment group. To ensure accuracy and credibility, the process was unbeknownst to the patients as standard procedure in a double-blind study. This is where the initial flags arise: humans derive safety from knowing what will hurt them or

These results consist of numerous factors, and the adverse event may not be caused directly by the drug itself. In fact,“seventy patients discontinued placebo before day 10 because of an adverse event or a serious adverse event other than death and 14 withdrew consent” (Strassle, 2020). The placebo group suffered additional adverse events compared with the study group, perhaps contradicting the earlier argument that the potential drug had caused the events. However, remdesivir may only react harmfully with a selective population of patients, or the reason the placebo group had more fiascos was that the placebo drug was volatile.

As the cases of COVID-19 explode in correctional facilities all across the United States, major universities are considering a case study. “...Health experts from the schools of medicine at Yale, Johns Hopkins and the University of North Carolina asked DHHS to consider if a Phase 3 vaccine trial for COVID-19 might meet the criteria for study of a condition “particularly affecting” prisoners” (Critchfield,2020).

These are the problems with tests on humans. Evidently, the final goal is to seek a useful drug to treat COVID-19 with the least seen side effects while utilizing a moderately large human population to ensure proximity to actual results. Despite the good intentions, testing may unknowingly take lives through mysterious trials, in which so many events may happen to the patient that it can seem like the testers know nothing about the drug. Similar studies involving other potential treatments, such as Dexamethasone or Convalescent plasma, use a study model much like the one described above. Furthermore, an even bigger ethical question remains in another strand— the topic of using incarcerated prisoners as test subjects to replace the need of subjects stemming from the general population as a model.

Despite massive restrictions on incarcerated case studies from past events, some being when “prisoners were paid hundreds of dollars... to undergo studies involving everything from the toxic substance in Agent Orange, dioxin, to Johnson & Johnson bubble bath products (which reportedly led one prisoner to break out in painful blisters) to skin viruses like herpes.” (Critchfield,2020) The study may be carried out as planned with vaccines applied to a designated prisoner population. All in all, the search for the mythical vaccine will require extensive studies and casework, as well as the respect for the moral codes and ethical rules that society has regulated. There was a painful decision between one thousand lives lost from the virusand fifty lives lost because of the study experts conducted. As we continue to hack away at the scourge, humanity will have to keep hoping for the best for a reliable result to be delivered.

references evidence of parallel universes? Carter, J. (11 June, 2020).Scientists In Antarctica Didn’t Find A ‘Parallel Universe.’ Here’s What They Did Find. Forbes, Retrieved From: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2020/06/11/scientists-in-antarctica-didnt-find-a-parallel-universe-hereswhat-they-did-find/?sh=76d0a355523a. Petrakou, E. (6 October 2020). How a balloon flying over Antarctica made parallel universes tabloid fodder. Massive Science. Retrieved From: https://massivesci.com/articles/anita-experiment-physics-neutrinos/.

“zoom fatigue” actually exists Lee, Jenna, (November 17, 2020) “A Neuropsychological Exploration of Zoom Fatigue.” Psychiatric Times. Retrieved from: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/psychological-exploration-zoom-fatigue Callahan, M. (May 11, 2020). 'Zoom fatigue' is real. Here's why you're feeling it, and what you can do about it. News@Northeastern. Retrieved from: https://news.northeastern.edu/2020/05/11/zoom-fatigue-is-real-heres-why-youre-feeling-it-and-what-you-can-do-about-it Rasmussen, P. (April 24, 2020). 'Zoom fatigue' is taxing the brain. Here's why that happens. National Geographic. Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/coronavirus-zoom-fatigue-is-taxing-the-brain-here-is-why-thathappens/ Fosslien, L., & Duffy, M. W. (August 14, 2020). How to Combat Zoom Fatigue. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2020/04/how-to-combat-zoom-fatigue

the side effects of living in space Mars, K. (2018, January 31). NASA Twins Study Confirms Preliminary Findings. NASA. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-twins-study-confirms-preliminary-findings Gagarin, Y. (2020, November 18). Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin Mars, K. (2018, August 28). Fun Facts and Shareables. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/twins-study/fun-facts-and-shareables Zuckerman, C. (2019, April 11). One-of-a-kind study of astronaut twins hints at spaceflight's health effects (1067546419 812832056 B. Ingalls, 1067546420 812832056 M. Sowa, & 1067546421 812832056 R. Markowitz, Eds.). National Geographic. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/04/study-of-astronaut-twins-hints-at-spaceflight-health-effects/

medical ethics surrounding covid-19 Beigel, J. H. (5 Nov. 2020). , et al. “Remdesivir for the Treatment of COVID-19 - Final Report: NEJM.” New England Journal of Medicine., New England Journal of Medicine , 5 Nov. 2020, Retrieved from: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2007764. Critchfield, H. (4 Sept. 2020) Should COVID-19 Vaccines Be Tested on Prisoners? North Carolina Health News. Retrieved from: www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2020/09/04/should-COVID-19-vaccine-testing-be-done-on-prisoners/. Goldman, A. Bruce, et al. “(4 July 2020). How Remdesivir Works, and Why It's Not the Ultimate Coronavirus Killer.” Scope., Stanford University School of Medicine Blog, 4 July 2020, Retrieved from: scopeblog.stanford.edu/2020/06/29/how-remdesivir-works-and-why-its-not-the-ultimate-coronavirus-killer/. Strassle, C. (5 Nov, 2020). COVID-19 Vaccine Trials and Incarcerated People - The Ethics of Inclusion: NEJM. New England Journal of Medicine., Retrieved from: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2025955. Tran, J. ( 23 Oct. 2020). COVID-19 Treatments: An Updated List of Drugs and Medications in Development - GoodRx. The GoodRx Prescription Savings Blog. Retrieved from: www.goodrx.com/blog/coronavirus-treatments-on-the-way/.

58 32

Lifestyle 59

Overcoming the Stress of Uncertainty

I am Going to Reach the Top

How to be Professional

French Vanilla Macaron Recipe

Overcoming the Stress of Uncertainty

page 61-62

I am Going to Reach the Top

page 63-64

How to be Professional

page 65-66

French Vanilla Macaron Recipe

page 67-69

Overcoming the Stress of Uncertainty 61

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ver the course of this year, f us have had to deal with the of uncertainty during the virus Pandemic. Whether it be ms of finances, job loss, the of a loved one, or adjusting to w virtual world, this unique and nt situation has put millions of around the world under e. While we may not be able to the uncertain, there are ly a few things that we can be of to help relax ourselves for the me.

ne thing we can all do as we out into this new world is to be ourselves and understand our . As this is a completely new n, it is understandable that we e stressed about everything us. Productivity or tolerance may be low but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s totally As human beings, we need to r minds understand that this is mething we are used to and that ed to take life step by step. may be times when we are ointed in ourselves, but as long ry to make the best out of the n, we should be proud of how far we have come in the world. Do not beat yourself up if ing does not go the right way. , take a step back and tand your feelings, and ly, next time, you will take it a rther. Give yourself credit for you have come!

Another idea would be to incorporate a break or two in your day. Whether that break is an hour long or just five minutes, it could be extremely beneficial to take a break from everything and relax. This could also be the perfect opportunity to incorporate your hobby into your break. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drawing, listening to music, cooking, exercising, or even lying down and thinking about the positive times in your life, it could be extremely helpful to dive into your interests and forget about the stressors of life. In addition, it is important to not think about or dwell on the things that were completely uncontrollable. The pandemic has put many of us in situations where we do not know how to move on. Was the situation really something that could have been avoided? In many cases, it most likely was not, and thinking about those ideas can only harm our mental health. Therefore, we should refrain from completely stressing ourselves out, and keep control of what we can control and manage. There is nothing that can be changed about the past and so we should avoid looking back.

written by edited by layout by art by

Samita Pandit Taruni Manam & Harvi Karatha Vrinda Gandhi Nivi Chozhan

"I don't want to produce a work of art that the public can sit and suck

aesthetically... I want to give them a blow in the small of the back, to

”

scorch their indifference, to startle them out of their complacency.

- Ingmar Bergman

I AM GOING TO REACH THE TOP BY RIONA CARRINGTON EDITED BY ARUSHI PATIL, KAVYA GURUNATH, & TARUNI MANAM LAYOUT BY SAHITHI LINGAMPALLI ART BY HALA ABDELQADER

I think it's safe to say most people want to be successful. Some believe that success is at the expense of other people, but Bergman wants these people to come “out of their complacency.” I also think it is the right thing for us to do so. We should want to be so successful at what we do that it makes us work hard enough to reach our goals. The goal should never be to destroy everything in our way to get what we want, like Thanos, though Thanos was great in his own right. I think we often associate wealth with happiness, but the time has come to redefine this spectrum and make things right. Most times, students like us feel inadequate when we don’t get the A or get the internship that we really wanted, especially if it would make our parents happy. In this instance, you need to focus on your mental health, more than focusing on what your parents are saying if it hurts you. We all need to take breaks and find ourselves, and doing this may mean blocking out some negative criticism. Indulge in the things that you love and become better at them. I am not saying that you should go do some crazy thing and not ensure that it will bring stability to your future. I am saying to have a balance. That level of accomplishment does

not mean the end of capitalism. I don’t think that will ever end, but if we learn to embrace our differences instead of hiding them, we will be on our way. Capitalism measures many things such as success and the ability to persevere. Contrarily, to many people capitalism has only been seen to do bad things but it has caused a multitude of competition which in turn produced great work and innovation. However, understanding that in building an empire, it is the person who owns the empire that is most powerful. You cannot give responsibility and power to an illiterate person, it just does not make sense, because they will not deliver results. Hence, we must encourage those with the competitive and driven personalities to get into fields that will help them harness their qualities. Lastly, to sum all of this up, I hope that you take all your abilities into consideration when picking your career path. Sometimes, things change and put you on a different trajectory and that is good. Embrace differences and remember that “reaching the top” is diverse and distinct for everyone. Everyone is born with a purpose and walking in a purpose that fulfills you adds value to the life of others, whether or not you choose to sit at the top of your empire.

How to be

Professional

In today’s world, it pays to be professional. Once you can have a cordial conversation you are halfway there. Therefore, it is a skill that we should learn at a very early age. We are expected to plan our lives by the time we are finished high school. Hence, I think we should also place emphasis on learning how to communicate professionally. So here’s a list of a few things to keep in mind.

1. Be respectful Everyone has boundaries and you need to be mindful of them. We all would like to know that someone is not going to treat us differently because of our boundaries, and hence we need to show them that we first acknowledge and consider them by maintaining those boundaries. Those chasms not only protect you but the person as well. Then you can both have fun, without stepping on any toes.

2. Have a positive outlook on things No one wants to have a negative Nancy around. Whilst being logical is good, being perceptive and emotionally intelligent can go a far longer way. Be assertive even when you feel uncomfortable, but remember, your emotions don’t control you. You need to speak up while still remaining optimistic about the end result, especially if things are not looking as good as they should.

3. Be truthful

5. Avoid drama

Most people will not say it out loud, but it’s an unspoken rule that you need to tell the truth. Fables and tales are only good for a good laugh but when things need to be serious, you need to be truthful about how hard you work. Honestly though, share as much as you would like but don’t lie about anything because if you forget, that would lead to a catastrophe.

I don’t like drama and I am sure you don’t as well. Therefore, be kind to your colleagues, so that they will be kind to you. Many of us understand that gossiping can be hard to resist, but it is better to say something nice than to say something unkind. Additionally, you never know how successful this person can become, and because of your attitude, you might miss out on an opportunity later in life.

4. Be organized You need to sit down with yourself and make sure your workspace and thoughts are organized. We have all heard at some point the phrase ‘tidy house, tidy mind’. Hence, I encourage you to keep both clean so that life would be easier without the forgetfulness. If you forget, people will view you as irresponsible and that is not a good look, because it makes it harder for people to trust you.

written by Riona Carrington

edited by Uday Lingampalli, Manam, & Inchara J.

Taruni

layout by Aathmika Radhachandran

French Vanil M

ingredients

For the Macaron Shell:

¾ cup almond flour 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 large egg whites, at room temperature ¼ cup granulated sugar ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Vanilla Buttercream Filling: ¼ cup unsalted butter ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1 teaspoon milk ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

directions

WRITTEN

1. Combine the dry ingredients. Combine almond flour and confectioners' sugar in a bowl and whisk together. Pass mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing down on clumps.

2. Beat eggs. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites using a hand-mixer or stand-mixer on medium speed, for 2 minutes until soft peaks form. Add the granulated sugar and beat on high for 2 more minutes until stiff, glossy peaks form. Add vanilla and beat on high for another 30 seconds. DO NOT OVER WHISK THE EGG WHITES. 3. Fold in dry ingredients. Gently fold in dry ingredients and repeat until mixture is smooth and shiny (with no visible dry ingredients), that has a lavalike consistency. Do not overfold.

lla Macaron Recipe BY NIVI CHOZHAN & THEJO TATTALA 4. Pipe the macaron shells. Take a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch round tip and fill with the batter. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and pipe batter into 3/4-inch round circles, 1 inch apart. Tap the baking sheet firmly against the counter to release any air bubbles. 5. Allow macarons to form a skin. Let macarons stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, until they form a skin. 6. Bake the macarons. Preheat the oven to 325â&#x201E;&#x2030;. Bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating halfway, until cookies have risen and just set. The cookies should be able to just come off the baking sheet when you try to lift them. Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. 7. Prepare the vanilla buttercream.

french buttercream 1. Cream room temperature butter, with a hand mixer using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, or a wooden spoon until smooth and fluffy. 2. Gradually beat in confectionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sugar until fully incorporated. 3. Beat in vanilla extract. 4. Pour in milk and beat for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. 5. Optional step: add food coloring, if using, and beat for thirty seconds until smooth or until desired color is reached.

assembly Transfer the buttercream filling into a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe a swirl of filling on half the cookies. Sandwich cookies together with the remaining halves.

tips 1. Ingredients are very important, do not substitute or exchange the ingredients, or you may not get the perfect macaron.

5. All equipment should be grease-free, so that the shells come out correctly. (If there is grease on the mixer while mixing egg whites, the grease will prevent the stiff peaks from forming).

2. Over-whipping the egg whites can cause too many air bubbles and result in cracked or deflated macarons. However, when the egg whites are not whipped enough, the macarons become flat.

6. The egg whites should not have any trace of egg yolk, so they get to stiff peaks. If this is difficult to do manually, directly using cartons of egg whites will help.

3. Electric mixers give the best results when whipping the egg whites.

7. Parchment paper or silicone mats will easily release from the macaron shells after baking.

4. Sifting the dry ingredients such as powder results in smooth shells and smooth buttercream.

8. Tapping the pan which holds the macaron shells BEFORE baking lets the air out from the macaron batter, so the shells are not cracked or lumpy. 9. Let the macarons cool completely before peeling them off of the mat. 10. Macarons taste the best when they are eaten within a day or two after baking them. EDITED BY ARUSHI PATIL, KAVYA GURUNATH, & TARUNI MANAM LAYOUT BY NIVI CHOZHAN ART BY SAHITHI LINGAMPALLI

references French Vanilla Macaron Recipe

Hu, S (2020, November 05). (November 5,2020). Classic French Macaron with Vanilla Buttercream Filling. Retrieved (November 20, 2020) from https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2017/02/classic-french-macaron-with-vanilla-buttercream-filling/ Quick and Almost-Professional Buttercream Icing. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2020, from https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/174347/quick-and-almost-professional-buttercream-icing/ Veena A. (October 31,2020). Perfect French Macarons - 20 Tips (recipe included). VEENA AZMANOV. Retrieved from https://veenaazmanov.com/20-tips-perfect-french-macarons/

OPINION

Should Voting be Mandatory?

Should we Abolish the Senate?

Should Guns Be Illegal in the United States?

Should we Institute Term Limits in the Supreme Court?

articles in this section 71

SHOULD WE INSTITUTE TERM LIMITS IN THE SUPREME COURT?

page 73-74

SHOULD WE ABOLISH THE SENATE?

page 75-76

SHOULD GUNS BE ILLEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES?

page 77-78

SHOULD VOTING BE MANDATORY?

page 79-81

should we institute T E R M

L I M I T S

on the supreme court? B E C A U S E I S O F

S U C H T H E

T H E A N

I M P O R T A N T

J U D I C I A L

D E M O C R A C Y I S

I N

N E C E S S A R Y

T E R M

S U P R E M E

C O U R T P A R T

S Y S T E M

A M E R I C A , T O

A N D I T

I N S T I T U T E

L I M I T S .

The way that the presidents, congress, and governors are appointed is through an election. Since we live in a democratic republic, the voices of the people need to be heard and represented. The Supreme Court deals with America’s biggest issues relating to social justice and human rights. As American citizens, we should have the right to vote for our Supreme Court Judges and decide if a Supreme Court Justice can remain one. Recently, Amy Coney Barrent has been appointed a Supreme Court Judge. She has a history of being antiLGBTQ+, anti women’s rights, and an extremist when it comes to gun policies. She was rushed through the process of being appointed in order for her to become a Supreme Court Justice before the election. She was

appointed a week before the election. This type of malpractice is exactly why there should be a referendum on whether or not she should become a supreme court justice, so the public has an opportunity to have a say on a new Supreme Court Justice. The people of the United State of America should have the right to vote for who the next supreme court justice is, especially if one is being appointed that close to a presidential election. Amy Coney Barrent has only three years of experience judging, which seems very short considering she was just promoted to America's highest level court. In America, we are evolving and changing as time goes on. With POC rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights it's important for the Supreme Court to be evolving and changing along with America. If the same Supreme Court Justices remain for 30 years, the Supreme Court will not modernize and reflect the changing public opinion. Even now, two Judges are against same sex marriage. We shouldn't be going back in time and start restricting rights that were

fought for in the Supreme Court. That is the very reason the Supreme Court Justices should have an election. These Judges that aren't progressive and are stuck in old times when racism and sexism was normalized restrict America from moving forward as a country. Under the Trump campaign, an attempted rapist and an anti-women and anti-LGBTQ+ Judge was appointed. If we had an election, this would never happen. The President of the United States should not have the right to appoint a Supreme Court Justice without an election. We live in a democracy, and we should have the right to vote on a New Supreme Court Justice. Furthermore, the President should not have the right to take shortcuts on the process of appointing a Supreme Court Justice a week before an election. When considering that Trump has the lowest approval rating a candidate has ever had going into an election, and every major news station predicted Biden was going to win, this should not have happened.

N E V E

W A L K E R edited by

C I N D Y H A R V I

Z H A N G

K A R A T H A

layout by S A H I T H I

L I N G A M P A L L I

artwork by

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et’s suppose you are injured with a broken leg and need crutches to support yourself. While you’re injured, the crutches work great! They help you stand while your leg is healing and walk around to the extent that you need. Without them, you couldn’t do these things. But in a couple weeks, your injury is healed and your legs can reclaim their job of being your source of balance and transport. You don’t need the crutches anymore: you’ve outgrown their assistance, so you dispose of them. You see, this is how it should be with the United States Senate. As Jay Willis from GQ puts it, “The United States Senate exists today because the Constitution's framers did not trust America to function without it” (Willis, 2018). However, like unneeded crutches, America may not need the Senate to function.

by Sanjna Mootakoduru

should we aboli The U.S. Senate is part of the legislative branch of government and is responsible for initiating revenue bills, impeaching federal officials, and electing the President if the electoral college comes to a tie. Willis notes that the Senate was aimed to be a dignified group of people who would do what they could to hold back the “fury” of democracy. The problem is, the Senate is highly anti-democratic and, as put by RJ Eskow, “30% of the population controls the agenda for the entire country” (Eskow, 2018). Another factor that makes the Senate unreasonable is the representation by state. While California, the state with the largest U.S. population, has 39,747,267 people in need of representation, Wyoming, the state with the lowest U.S. population, has 567,025 people in need of representation (AJ+, 2020). Despite this major difference in population size, both states have an equal number of senators: two. All U.S. States are represented by two senators, which means California, which has the same population as 22 certain U.S. states, only has two senators, while the 22 states have a much larger, and much more influential 44. This unfair reality has a shocking revelation: Americans are not being properly represented by our broken Senate.

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art by Pahel Srivastava

should guns be united s

written by Nivi Chozhan & Neve Walker edited by Taruni Manam, Cindy Zhang, & Hans Yang

YES Guns have caused mass death and devastation. When guns were first invented, they were used to kill and invade other societies. For example, in the time of the Inca empire, Spaniards invaded Inca with only 260 soldiers. Even though these Spaniards were against 40,000 Inca soldiers, the Spaniards killed all of them without losing a single soldier solely because they had guns (Cartwright, 2020). Mass shootings are a prominent issue in America. According to CBS News, there were 419 mass shootings in 2019. That's more shootings than there are days in a year. As time goes on, it seems like the flags are at half mast 24/7. In 2019, 15,381 people have died from mass shootings and 29,568 have been injured (Silverstein, 2020).

School shootings are also a big issue. No one should have to go to school worried that they might get shot, but the truth of the matter is it's common for a school to get threats, go on lockdown, or prepare for a shooting. Gun violence is common in America. According to Pew Research, nearly 40,000 people died of gunrelated violence in the United States in 2017, counting suicide and murders61% of gun related deaths are related to suicide, 35% are homicides, and about 1% are preventable or accidental deaths (Gramlich, 2020). Even though suicide is a very common death in America, it is easier to buy and obtain a gun then get help. As of right now, the age when you can buy a gun is eighteen (Wheeler, 2018). It's perplexing that you can buy a gun legally before you can rent a car. Following a mass shooting in a New Zealand mosque, stricter gun regulations were implemented almost immediately. Yet, even after countless mass shootings in America, nothing has been done.

e illegal in the states? layout by Aathmika Radhachandran art by Thejo Tattala

It is now normal to send “prayers” after a shooting on your Instagram or Snapchat, but, in reality, that does nothing. Prayers won't help the people that were injured, bring people back from the dead, pass bills increasing gun control, or prevent another shooting. It is up to us to fix the situation. We are Americans and we are capable of anything. Gun violence is a very pressing issue, if we work together, we can prevent more unnecessary deaths due to it. Therefore, it will help our community feel safer and matters like these will not occur.

no Since the beginning of American history, firearms have played an important role in American culture: they have revolutionized America and have helped the nation in numerous important wars, such as the American Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and World Wars. Throughout the course of history, the question “should guns be illegal in the US,” has been proposed on various occasions.

Guns become a hazardous weapon only when used with malicious intent. Additionally, having guns is a human right. Under the US Constitution, the second amendment guarantees any individual the right to have and bear arms under their possession. It was ratified so US citizens have a form of self-defense at home. According to Pew Research Center, 42% of people live in a household with a gun and 11% of people don’t currently own a gun but live with someone who does. Moreover, in the US about half a million to a million people use a gun for defense each year (Gramlich, 2020). This clearly displays how people feel unsafe in the proximity of their own home. America is the nation that should provide everyone with a sense of safety, but most citizens don’t feel that way, which poses another question if Americans feel safe. Although some may oppose the idea that guns cause harm and are involved in most killings, it is important that the guns are placed in the right hands. As long as the individual possessing the gun is responsible, it would decrease the problem our society faces on a daily basis.

should voting b yes With the election over, many people are wondering whether voting – the process of casting your approval or disapproval for someone – is even necessary or not. In our case, the presidential election was a conflicting topic for many. With the nation conflicted on whether they should vote blue or red, many citizens simply decided not to vote. Is this a good or bad thing? Should voting be made a compulsory action for all citizens? Personally, I think that voting should not be mandatory. Whether it be for moral reasons or practical reasons, mandatory voting in the United States does not seem like an ideal policy. To begin with, for moral reasons, forcing a person to vote against their will simply seems irrational and cruel, a juxtaposition to the principle of democracy itself. Voting is a matter of opinion, so when one is at odds in their head about who and what to vote for, they should be able to choose to participate. To add to this, many people in the United States of America are politically inactive—not caring enough to vote. Forcing these people to cast a ballot for candidates, which they know nothing about, only harms democracy.

To deal with the practical side of mandatory voting, the straight truth is that not everyone in the United States is educated. For instance, Jack is popular in areas that stress deeply on education: thus acquiring votes there.

Meanwhile, Jill is more popular amongst those who care deeply on other passionate, but polarizing, matters, such as race or gender: thus acquires votes there. Jill gains the “uneducated” vote, and assuming this vote is in the majority, she would have won. However, the “uneducated” vote in a scenario with mandatory voting would have a higher concentration of voters who otherwise would have stayed home.

be mandatory? As one can see, this vote is incredibly problematic since the people who voted for Jill either did not know or care about Jack’s side or anything outside of their sphere of concern. Thus, the vote is, in a way, manipulated, since the individuals who did not know about the other side could not vote for them. The 2020 elections were staggeringly close and a disappointment to many voters. Following the reasons given on practicality, one can map out which states voted for who pretty accurately simply by observing their activeness in politics, their views on specific topics, and their interest in candidates. If people from given states do not feel the need to vote, they should not. Contrastingly, I see where the people calling for mandatory voting are coming from. With voting being obligatory, there would be a fairer election on paper. More people would pay attention to what they are voting for and having everyone vote would bring a new meaning to “everyone’s vote counts.” Although, in practice, this might not be the case.

Regardless of whether voting should be mandatory or not, it is undoubtedly very important. The presidential election would be nonexistent without voters doing their civil duty, and this applies to many other events as well. Voting is an important and necessary action to fulfill the meaning of democracy. If we want to succeed as a peaceful and working democracy, equal votes are incredibly important, and everyone should want to and proceed to vote. written by Inchara J.,Yaj Jhajhria, & Cindy Zhang edited by Arushi Patil, Harvi Karatha, Uday Lingamapalli, & Riona Carrington layout by Inchara J. art by Nivi Chozhan

Following a disappointing voter turnout in 2016, as of November 16, 2020, the United States of America has shattered its voting records, bringing wave after wave of impassioned voters to the polls. As a consequence, president-elect Joseph Biden has already made history as the candidate with the highest popular vote in American history, with almost 79 million votes to his name (Lewis, 2020). With such unprecedented civic engagement from an electorate previously perceived to be passive and apathetic, many are wondering if it is possible to replicate this kind of engagement in 2024 and the years to come. While I ally myself with those who respond to this question with a “yes,” I do not agree with the idea of making voting mandatory as a means to achieve that goal— at least, not yet. Before America can even think about making voting mandatory, it is my opinion that our nation must first work to remove barriers to voting and eliminate its voter suppression issue. According to the ACLU, or the American Civil Liberties Union, countless laws and subtle roadblocks still remain that prevent voters— most notably, minority voters— from participating in elections. Such roadblocks include voter ID laws that require citizens to incur mounting expenses to vote, the barring of exfelons from submitting their votes, and partisan gerrymandering, a process by which a state’s district boundaries are deliberately drawn in

Ingraham, 2015

an unrepresentative way purely to favor one party, as shown in the graphic below (ACLU, 2020). Before America can even think about making voting mandatory, it is my opinion that our nation must first work to remove barriers to voting and eliminate its voter suppression issue. According to the ACLU, or the American Civil Liberties Union, countless laws and subtle roadblocks still remain that prevent voters— most notably, minority voters— from participating in elections. Such roadblocks include voter ID laws that require citizens to incur mounting expenses to vote, the barring of exfelons from submitting their votes, and partisan gerrymandering, a process by which a state’s district boundaries are deliberately drawn in an unrepresentative way purely to favor one party, as shown in the graphic below (ACLU, 2020). Our democracy is in need of repair — that much is obvious. However, a mandatory voting policy is not the solution. Instead, I choose to invest my faith in grassroots organizations dedicated to enfranchising, motivating, and mobilizing voters to the polls.

OPINION

should we institute term limits in the supreme court? Buchanan, M. (n.d.). The Need for Supreme Court Term Limits. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/courts/reports/2020/08/03/488518/need-supreme-court-term-limits/ Federal Judicial Center. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.fjc.gov/history/exhibits/graphs-and-maps/age-and-experience-judges Supreme Court Procedures. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activityresources/supreme-1

should we abolish the senate?

Willis, J. (October 16, 2018). The Case for Abolishing the Senate. GQ. Retrieved from: https://www.gq.com/story/the-case-forabolishing-the-senate https://www.gq.com/story/the-case-for-abolishing-the-senate Eskow, RJ. (December 17, 2018). Abolish the Senate! YouTube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8RXajFkefU AJ+. (October 14, 2020). Why Wyoming Has More Power Than California in the Senate. YouTube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM56b1OFk9g (2020). US States - Ranked by Population 2020. World Population Review. Retrieved from: https://worldpopulationreview.com/states

should guns be illegal in the united states?

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. (2020, November 15). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution Gramlich, J., & Schaeffer, K. (2020, May 30). 7 facts about guns in the U.S. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/22/facts-about-guns-in-united-states/ Cartwright, M. (2020, November 15). Pizarro &amp; the Fall of the Inca Empire. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.ancient.eu/article/915/pizarro--the-fall-of-the-inca-empire/ Silverstein, J. (2020, January 02). There were more mass shootings than days in 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mass-shootings-2019-more-than-days-365/ Wheeler, L. (2018, February 23). What are the legal ages for buying guns? Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://thehill.com/homenews/politics-101/375154-what-are-the-current-age-restrictions-on-guns

should voting be mandatory?

Lewis, S. (2020, November 25). Joe Biden breaks Obama's record for most votes ever cast for a U.S. presidential candidate. CBS News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-popular-vote-record-barack-obama-us-presidential-election-donald-trump/ ACLU. (2020, February 3). Block the Vote: Voter Suppression in 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/block-the-vote-voter-suppression-in-2020/ Ingraham, C. (2015, March 1). This is the best explanation of gerrymandering you will ever see. The Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/03/01/this-is-the-best-explanation-of-gerrymandering-you-will-eversee/ Uggen, C., Larson, R., Shannon, S., Pulido-Nava, A. (2020, October 30). Locked Out 2020: Estimates of People Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction. The Sentencing Project. Retrieved from: https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/locked-out-2020-estimates-of-people-denied-voting-rights-due-to-afelony-conviction/

g4m3 p14n35 by Maya Krolik | Layout by Sahithi Lingampalli

cr055w0rd Use the clues below to fill out the cr055w0rd puzzle! Answers for the puzzle can be found throughout the magazine in the corresponding article!

ACross

DOWN

4. An uncommon yet rising romantic media for influencing voters 5. Tiredness, possibly from too much screen time 9. Acting proper and respectful 10. A french sweet 11. Apps that allow users to carpool 13. Non intersecting planes or universes 15. A quality of many head politicians around the world 17. To infiltrate digitally usually without explicit permission 18. A non-pausable object that one strives to “reach” 19. A layout of a metropollis

20. Art

1. Last word in the three letter acronym for a middle-east nation 2. A democratic process involving voting 3. Entertainment industry in motion pictures 4. A strategy in testing drugs in which participants do not know whether they got the drug or a placebo 6. Part of legislative branch of US gov. With 2 members from each state 7. A pause in one's work to allow for distressing 8. Last name of author of “This is America” 10. Enforced by law 12. __ limits, as proposed on the Supreme court 14. Popular game show with answers given in a question format 16. Something that has been shown to be altered in space in humans 18. firearms 20. Recently given support in NJ for practitioners of this

1. Emirates 2. Election 3. Film 4. double-blind 6. Senate 7. Break 8. Gambino 10. Mandatory 12. Term 14. Jeopardy 16. Health 18. Guns

4. Dating-apps 5. Fatigue 9. Professional 10. Macaron 11. Rideshare 13. Parallel 15. Leadership 17. Hack 18. Goal 19. Cityscape

Answers! Across:

Down:

We are SELFidence, a non-profit, youth-led organization empowering all the youth around the world to have confidence and believe in themselves. We are thriving to raise awareness in the importance of confidence and the impact it has on our mental health! Our main platform is Instagram and sharing information through posts. We have recently hosted our first leadership workshop and will continuously try to spread awareness in our society by hosting workshops, webinars, and opening projects. With about 850+ followers and a constantly increasing audience, we hope to empower all the youth struggling with their selfconfidence! We have an Outreach, Research, Social Media, Website, and Graphic Design (website) department who helped to spread our initiative.

Jimin Founder of SELFidence Contact: contactselfidence@gmail.com Instagram: @self_idence Founder Instagram: @jim_jim.12

Picture of their First Director Meeting

Contact: projectmarketier@gmail.com Instagram: @projectmarketier

The COVID-19 crisis has changed the very world we live in. Parents are losing their jobs, nurses are being forced to choose between who lives and dies, and small businesses are being forced to close. During these unprecedented times, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to remember what brought light to our lives before this pandemic, small businesses. Whether it be the local coffee shop, daycare, or even tutoring service, small businesses play an integral role in the identity of a community. According to CNBC, â&#x20AC;&#x153;3.5 million small businesses [could] close permanently in the next two months, and 7.5 million over the next five months, according to Main Street Americaâ&#x20AC;? (Lacurci 2020). Luckily, the Small Business Administration, as well as other government subsidies, are providing small businesses with loans to stay afloat during this pandemic. However, loans might not be enough to preserve the cultural landscape small businesses provide to America.

Post COVID-19 is going to be a changed society and it is crucial to stand in solidarity during this difficult time, and it is vital to remember this crisis will have long-lasting impacts that must be addressed, starting at the community level. The main problem small businesses will face in the coming months with the country reopening is bringing in customers in a world of lowered demand for goods. The small businesses hurt by COVID19 have inspired Pallavi and I to create Project MarkeTier. Project MarkeTier's mission is to create marketing plans for small businesses and other organizations in order to make a tangible impact and help these businesses and organizations achieve their marketing goals. At Project MarkeTier, we have created over 30 individual marketing plans, and worked with a variety of business types and owners such as boutiques, bakeries, magazines, student authors, and more. We can't wait to continue to make an impact on local and other nationwide businesses or organizations.

Regards,

Sofia DiFulvio Pallavi Vemuri Co-Founders and Executive Directors of Project MarkeTier

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November 2020

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