VOL . 3, NO. 1
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
THE YELLOW PAGES BASIS Independent Fremont Journalism Club
MAUI WILDFIRES
these wildfires, because the warning system was designed to alert the residents from tsunamis, county officials decided against sounding the alarm, thinking people would head toward the hills and mountains and directly into the flames. The decision turned out to be tragic — with no audible warning, people remained in their homes only to become aware of the raging inferno through the smoke and heat they could actually smell and feel. This delay resulted in many residents becoming aware of the fire too late.
By Chris C. , Pooja K . , and Tycho Y. On August 8th, an emergency declaration was signed. By August 9th, the Hawaii state government issued a state of emergency. By August 10th, Joe Biden, the president of the United States, issued a federal major disaster declaration. What caused all of this? In early August of 2023, a series of wind-driven wildfires broke out in Hawaii, primarily on the island of Maui, causing fast-moving destruction and damage throughout the state. The wildfires have led to over a hundred deaths and an estimated six billion dollars in economic damages. With controversy surrounding every aspect of the wildfires and blame directed at the government and utility companies, the disaster lends us insight into the dangers that fires and a rapidly changing climate pose on our modern society.
ROOT CAUSES
In the early morning of August 8th, a fire was caused by Hawaii Electric, Hawaii’s most popular utility company. Within hours, firefighters declared the fire contained and left the scene, but only hours later, a second, more devastating wildfire broke out in Lahaina. Hawaii Electric claims that power lines had been inactive for hours prior to the second fire. Citizens are suing the company for leaving power lines active initially, and while the company acknowledges the incident, they claim the initial fire is unrelated to the devastating wildfires that occurred later that day. Despite the fact that the company and the larger Maui wildfires are supposedly unlinked, citizens add that Hawaiian Electric’s equipment was not built strong enough to withstand heavy winds and that there were many measures that could have been taken to prevent the disaster from worsening. Such measures included completely switching off power when high wind speeds threatened to damage elec-
trical equipment. Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm that raged across the Central Pacific, also potentially had an effect on the wildfires. Despite the storm remaining several hundred miles away from the island, some experts say that the winds propelled the wildfires across the state. The strong winds paired with a warming climate and dry vegetation created the perfect scenario for a wildfire to grow and spread.
SPREAD AND DESTRUCTION
IMPACT AND DAMAGE
The single most permanent effect of the wildfire was the many lives lost in the wildfires, both first responders and regular citizens. Many people perished in their cars, unable to evacuate in time. The Maui Wildfires took the lives of at least 115 people, making it the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. The wildfire’s effects are most noticeable in the once beautiful tourist town of Lahaina which has now burned to the ground. Though it may seem that these
setbacks are temporary and that it will only be a matter of time before Lahaina rebuilds, the Maui Wildfires has caused irreversible damage to local communities. Lee Akamichi, a studio art instructor born and raised in Lahaina, somberly notes: “So many of the things that added to my childhood memories are gone forever. The neighborhood I grew up in, the school I attended, the historic courthouse my father worked in and all of the landmarks that made Lahaina a place people from around the world visited are gone forever.” The Maui Wildfires have greatly affected the island’s wildlife, destroying the beautiful forests and unique plants native to Maui. The tourism industry has also largely been shutdown by the disaster, and community members are now deciding how the rebirth of Lahaina should proceed. The two schools of thought are: to design the town to be a new, modern tourist attraction or to rebuild with the guiding vision of trying to recapture the magic and the beauty of what made Lahaina so historic and special but with contemporary safety standards. “My family hopes it will be the latter,” says Akamichi.
How does a wildfire go from a small spark to a blazing inferno with a death toll of over a hundred, while also displacing thousands of residents and tourists? High speed winds pushed about by Hurricane Dora led the wildfires to spread at a blistering pace, moving at close to 60 mph. In the populated towns of Maui, this was devastating, as the fires were moving faster than one can drive on most roads. Furthermore, as many sought to evacuate the wildfires by car, major roadways were congested making escape from the raging inferno difficult or even impossible. Another element adding to the calamity was the lack of a timely warning. The state of Hawaii possesses the most elaborate early warning system in the US that can be heard throughout each major island and town. But in the case of
When it comes to athletics, he has a to transform their communities. tery-powered car he built from scratch HUMANS OF certain drive that goes well beyond taThese fundraisers are merely a step in with his groupmates, and plans to add tennis, encompassing basketball and the right direction. Revant’s larger goal further renovations in the future. BASIS: METHOD ble running; and while he may not know it, is more ambitious: he hopes to study “He was probably the one who put the dedication he has for these sports has economics to help solve generational the most dedication into the chemisTO THE MADNESS garnered admiration from many of his problems of poverty and homelessness. try project,” recalls Ajay. “By the end of
By Kevin Weng
Suppose it’s Saturday morning and you’re craving a bag of Doritos. You waltz into Walmart in your PJs, expecting a quick trip, before freezing in your tracks at the sight of Revant in his trendy blue vest ringing up customers. That may sound strange — it’s hard to imagine him working as a cashier, instead of, say, as a zombie actor in a haunted house, or as a professional pet food taster. The long hours at Walmart all go towards his table tennis tournament fund (as a nationally ranked player, tournament fees rack up quickly). Out of all his interests, table tennis is perhaps the one most flamed with passion.
“It’s really fun putting a lot of effort into something you care about,” explains Revant. “Beating top players and winning medals at nationals is pretty cool. Representing the US at the international stage is also, you know, pretty cool. You have to have respect for the racket, respect for the ball, respect for the opponent, respect for your coach, and most importantly, respect for yourself.”
friends. “Besides his personality, what I admire most is his dedication and tenacity,” said Ajay, a longtime friend and classmate. “I think he’s running a marathon this weekend, actually. He’s been training consistently for a long time, in hopes of qualifying for the Boston Marathon.” Revant’s love for sports is perhaps rivaled only by his passion in fighting for gender equity. Fueled by his greatest inspiration, his grandmother, Revant has grown to love supporting his community. “At 13 years old, when most kids would be playing around at school, my grandmother got married,” said Revant. “And then at 22, when people would be in school or in the early stage of their careers, she lost her husband. In India, widows aren’t allowed to remarry, so she had to raise two children and battle against social stigma without even a formal education.” Revant channeled these motivations into his club: Generation Empowered, a student-led organization that works to raise awareness and enact change surrounding gender-equity issues. If you get lost during lunch, you may stumble into the classroom where he holds his meetings — you’ll be able to tell by the zoom meeting on the whiteboard, where a guest speaker is discussing their experiences being a woman in power. It’s also hard to miss their colorful flyers plastered throughout the hallways advertising their new and improved schoolwide donut fundraiser (yum!). All the proceeds were designated for RiseUp, a gender equity initiative that provides training and funding to women looking
“I saw this guy on Skid Row, a famous homeless area in LA, who said there were no dreams there. That really struck me,” he reflects. “ The wealthy and homeless are so separated that we fail to see the other side and provide them with bare minimums like housing and education. It’s something we really need to work on, and a problem I’d love to help fix.” If he’s not at club or work, you’ll certainly be able to find Revant in the band room. While not a “band kid” (in all aspects involving the stereotype), he is certainly a band kid, having taken band every year since fourth grade. Funnily enough, he even chose to take band in his senior year, the year when students are supposed to take two-trimester capstones instead of full-year classes. Eventually, the staff found out, and he was forced to drop the class. It’s moments like these where you aren’t quite sure if he signed up as a joke — but realize that beneath the humor, he simply enjoys music. “ Trombone is probably my greatest non-academic accomplishment — I’ve been playing for over seven years by now, and have been in some really awesome groups, such as the Mission Peak Quinn Symphony,” explains Revant. “It’s cool to perform for people, and to be part of the creative process. Recently, I’ve also been experimenting with making my own music — mostly lofi and math rock.” Revant’s passions span well beyond his evident love for music (remember his obsession with band?). He poured hours into his AP Chemistry final project, treating it as a passion project rather than a required assignment. To this day, he still has the chassis of the bat-
the year, most people were burned out and slacking off, but he really cared. He pushed everyone in our group to create this really cool project from scratch, which I had a lot of fun helping with.” Moving beyond everything — his aspirations, passions, activities — what jumps out the most is his unique personality. If there’s one thing that all of Revant’s friends agree on, it’s that Revant is always there to lighten the mood. “As a friend, he’s really easy to talk to and is always there when you need him. He’s always making jokes, telling stories, moving the conversation along,” says Krish, a close friend. “He’s super nice and funny, and helps bring the mood up. It’s much more lively when he’s around.”
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SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
TOLLS OF STANDARDIZED TESTING By Vera Lin
Debates around standardized testing have been circling for as long as standardized test scores have been part of education in the United States, yet during the past nine decades, arguments about the value of the SAT have yet to dispose of these tests. The College Board first introduced the SAT at Columbia University in 1926 and was initially administered in the hope of measuring a student’s aptitude for learning. However, as people discovered that students could increase their scores by studying, the SAT was adapted to “show colleges what students knew and how well they could apply that knowledge” (College Board). Proponents of standardized testing argued that the SAT was a single, fair test that helped a national education system better compare students from different backgrounds using an exam outside of school curricula. This standard for education simplified the process of evaluating and ranking students. By this logic, students are being judged on the basis of tests that, in some cases, are not correlated with their learning ability. Students are resultantly psychologically and physically taxed. Over the last twenty years, the unintended anxiety of standardized testing has hurt students more than it has actually helped them. Psychology professor at the University of Kansas Nancy Hamilton claims that students have become so preoccupied with test anxiety that, for a period of time, they live in a vicious cycle of increasing anxiety levels and a kind of existential dread. This entails unhealthy diets, dysregulated sleep pat-
By Esha Bansiya
terns, and other cascading problems that ultimately wreak havoc on how well a student performs on the exam. A study in 2015 at the lab at Texas A&M University documented a 35% rise in students’ levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the week when high-stakes standardized tests were distributed. Spiking cortisol responses were associated with lower performance levels. Unfortunately, there is a disproportionate amount of students who internalize their numerical scores on the SAT. They constantly put themselves in a negative light. They destroy components such as love of learning and self-esteem. They devalue other crucial aspects of intelligence such as creativity and imagination. Meanwhile, colleges around the United States have begun to reconsider the need for standardized testing. In 2021, all ten Universities of California dropped standardized testing scores from its admission process. With colleges themselves beginning to question the validity and necessity of standardized tests, the decline of these tests may be seen in the near future.
THE RESURGENCE OF LABOR UNIONS
By Angela Cao and Sarah Wu
Over the past month, the nation has seen a dramatic increase in labor strikes. Workers have been walking out on their jobs left and right, from Starbucks employees, to autoworkers and Hollywood writers. A recent strike by United Auto Workers (UAW) workers against a GM manufacturing plant in Detroit has garnered attention nationwide. “No Deal, No Wheels” is now widely projected and considered the UAW’s new worker’s motto. Negotiations between factory workers and their corporations are at a standstill due to continued layoffs and low pay. So, what protects these workers? Historically, labor unions were created to protect workers rights during the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution came with the rise of factory jobs and the emergence of labor unions demanding higher pay, better hours, and safer working conditions — beginning in 18th century Europe and eventually reaching the US. The first US labor union was the National Labor Union, which was dissolved after seven years but set the stage for more development in workers’ rights. The Knights of Labor, along with many others, were established in quick succession. The US Department of Treasury said that by the 1950s, one-third of the US workforce belonged to a union. Today, that figure has plummeted to just 6 percent. The fall of American participation in labor unions is highly correlated to a popular trend: lack of participation in civil society. But that isn’t the only factor. Anti-union violence destroyed gen-
HUMANS OF BASIS: COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
eral public opinion surrounding unions. The federal government also played a significant role in the decrease of union popularity. In 1947, Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act, which heavily restricted the power and activities of labor unions. Jurisdictional strikes were outlawed, campaign expenditures were banned, and people in unions had to give an 80 day notice before striking. This heavy inconvenience was, to many, the driving factor for the mass withdrawal. Currently, approval of US Labor Unions is the highest it’s been since 1965. Why is this? The pandemic revealed systemic issues plaguing the US. Essential workers were forced to work without the appropriate health and safety measures and for less pay than others working from home. Employees are beginning to see the need to join a community to defend their fundamental rights. These strikes ignite a domino effect as many more workers are encouraged to join — most employers’ worst fear. Most of these strikes barely last a week, but the broader societal effects outlast the strikes themselves. Strikes can dramatically improve working conditions and increase wages. Although the labor movement has drawn more attention, especially in the private sector, it has failed to reach its previous heights. Workers are struggling to come to an agreement with employers. The current UAW strike has shown a shocking lack of progress, and with union activity being actively punished through job loss, this wave of labor strikes may soon subside.
Gossip girl here. We’ ve got a couple of secrets Isha Singh has never told. Somewhere amongst the vicinity of BASIS, you’ll find her eating lunch at Starbucks, rewatching her favorite episodes of Gossip Girl, or coding vigorously (Data Structures assigns a lot of homework). Once you do find her, you’ll be welcomed by a contagious warm smile and an eager “Hello!” She can talk about anything with anyone and is always eager to chip in on any topic. Her amiability is precisely what makes her an informed Student Panel representative. In addition to forging memorable friendships, Isha finds that being in Student Panel has allowed her to work with a lot of different personalities and compromise with underclassmen’s distinct ideas. Her teamwork was best reflected in one of her most rewarding Student Panel projects, where she, along with the rest of the Prom committee, worked together to bring an unforgettable Prom to life. “Isha played a really pivotal role,” notes Heeya Das, the co-director of Student Panel. “She organized entire seating charts and activities. She provided most of the insight on the celebrity look-alike presentation to make sure everyone had an interesting and relatable comparison.” Prom was lavish: special invitation for each student, professional photographer on campus and at the venue, red carpet, all-night photo booth, threecourse meal, succulent party favors, senior memory box, and future reflection notes; it became the highlight of the year for many juniors. Isha’s expertise is no surprise. She’s been a youth representative of the Union City Youth Commissions Group for five years, where she organizes events and advocates for teens. Last March, Isha helped the Youth Commission Group plan its first solo event: the Cultural Fest. The fest featured numerous performances from smaller cultural groups, such as Indian traditional dancing, Chinese dance groups, and James Logan’s Spanish ballet folklórico group. Residents gathered around the performers, cheering them on, while munching on a snack from the Filipino and Mexican food trucks. Isha spent hours researching and reaching out to food trucks and restaurants to bring a wide range of cultural foods to the event. The group also leads the Kennedy Youth Center, a space equipped with a computer lab, game room, and outside seating area. Isha helps pitch ideas for
the center’s monthly events, such as gingerbread house decorating, movie nights, and video game competitions. “It’s good to bring people together. At the youth center, there are so many more people you can interact with. It’s a nice place to get people out of their house and make new friendships. I’ ve seen people bond over just a couple hours of knowing each other.” Beyond organizing community events, she also works with her commissions group to advocate for stricter tobacco policies at city council meetings and draft legislation with the Alameda County Public Health Department. In doing so, she spoke with a multitude of community members—parents, residents, and students, who all told anecdotes of the growing smoking and vaping culture amongst teens. Even though smoking doesn’t affect her direct community, it’s a problem she’s dedicated to solving. “I know we at BASIS don’t see it a lot, but it’s a huge issue at other public schools, like James Logan. Our commitments are finally making progress. We proposed the legislation change two years ago, and they have finally begun drafting the legislation. Although it is taking a lot of time, we know the legislation will help reduce substance abuse for teens and even adults.” Aside from her local work in Union City, Isha also played on her local soccer team in middle school. Although she doesn’t play anymore, she still keeps up with the games—recalling staying up at 3 am to watch the Men’s and Women’s World Cup. As a supporter of both leagues, she hopes the stigma against watching the Women’s World Cup will decrease. “Some people don’t even give it a chance. They base it off of one clip where someone messes up, and assume women’s soccer isn’t as skillful. The men have messed up quite a few times, but people don’t focus on that as much.” Isha hopes to encourage more of her friends to tune into the women’s World Cup and support the issues they find important. When asking Anjali Prabhu, her best friend for thirteen years, for a simple short reason why she loves Isha, she proceeded to send us a two-page essay. Although we cannot attach it all, the effort and thought just goes to show the phenomenal friend Isha is to all her friends. Now you know all of Isha’s deepest darkest secrets — a pure selfless individual who gets joy from bringing light to others. Signing out, XOXO gossip girl.
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VOL . 3, NO. 1
MARK DICKEY RESCUED FROM TURKISH CAVE By Abheek Batra and Nick Lin
Mark Dickey — American cave explorer, rescuer, and expert from New Jersey—was rescued on September 11th from Morca cave — Turkey’s 3rd largest cave, in the depths of the Taurus mountains. With a team of 200 volunteers, this daring rescue occurred more than nine days after the 40-year-old suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding while on a research expedition to map the winding paths of Morca Cave.
THE MORCA CAVES
The Morca Caves, embedded in a mountain range made almost entirely of limestone, have an entrance over 300 meters in altitude, narrow passageways, and temperatures near freezing. It’s an expedition that extremely few attempt, with the exception of Mark Dickey and his team, who were there on a research expedition.
MARK DICKEY
Dickey is an accomplished cave explorer who has been working himself at the National Cave Rescue Commission and the European Cave Rescue Association for the past 20 years and has been teaching young people about cave rescues as the executive director at the Caving Academy. He was born in 1983 in New York and began his cave exploration journey at just ten years old. Since then, he has been traveling worldwide to explore numerous caves, having traveled
TRUMP ARRESTS: TIMELINE AND SUMMARY By Anjali Prabhu
On Thursday, August 24th, 2023, former President Donald Trump was arrested at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta — his fourth criminal charge this year. The first president in US history to face criminal charges, he was arrested for 13 charges, including election interference, fraud, and racketeering during the 2020 presidential race — but specifically, for his activity in Georgia. First, let’s understand his previous indictments (formal charges or accusations of severe crimes), for which he awaits trial. Trump’s March indictment in New York comprised several felony
to more than 20 US states and 10 countries. Recently, Dickey and his team decided to embark on a mission to map the complicated underground of the Morca Caves — where he unfortunately became ill 3400 feet below the surface.
THE PROCESS
Dickey’s hardships began on September 2nd when he first suffered severe stomach bleeding in the deep cave pits. Dickey knew the complications that might come with his passion, but he feared that he might die after his internal bleeding. On the other hand, rescuers feared that he was already dead, “But fortunately, he was in better shape than I was expecting,” said Hungarian doctor Zsófia Zádor. He was soon brought 180 meters above on a stretcher by a team of diverse first responders and after days, he finally reached the surface and was subsequently moved to the Turkish Caving Federation camp. Dickey stayed there for about a week before being rescued in what the federation called “one of the biggest cave rescues in the world.” While Dickey was still trapped, doctors worldwide came to his aid, administering IV fluids and one gallon of blood. During the perilous journey upwards, the team faced numerous challenges, including long stretches of vertical ground and cold, wet, muddy areas. In addition to being physically exhausting, the voyage also contained physiological risks from being stuck in a dark area for too long. Rescue workers set up camps along the sides to give Dickey a place to rest whenever he needed it. This rescue was highly successful, and Dickey is now much more stable and will be back on his feet soon.
counts for attempting to conceal hush money payments to women who made statements against him during the 2016 election. In June, he faced similar charges for concealing classified documents at his Mar-A-Lago Florida resort home, after the FBI raided his home last year to turn up dozens of them. Harboring these documents and Trump’s subsequent refusal to “return national security documents upon request” violated the Presidential Records Act and Espionage Act (Politico). In what is now called domestic terrorism, the January 6th riots meant to stop the “election steal” have also led to accusations against the former President for conspiracies to defraud the nation and obstruct an official proceeding by preventing the election certification. Finally, his most recent arrest came from violating the Racke-
Some also had grievances with the fact HALT! THE that the BIFU campus has six grades, yet such a small campus, and claimed HALLWAY SYSTEM has that students should not be forced to
By Julee Jiang and Olivia Ma
To most BASIS students, the image of students clamoring in hallways, tripping over feet, and risking their lives squeezing through unstable crowds of peers is remembered all too well. After two school years of complaints from parents and students alike, BIFU administration decided to begin testing a new hallway system, where students could only walk in one direction regardless of where their lockers or classes were. Each passing period, teachers and faculty members would be stationed in their respective hallway spots, directing and regulating student traffic. While created with good intentions, this new system has become somewhat of a contentious issue. From the moment this policy was implemented and enforced, students raised several questions and complaints rooted in the newly complicated passing period routes. Because students were not allowed to switch directions in the hallway, many who could once go to their lockers, classes, and bathrooms in one or even half a round trip were instead forced to take two to complete the same tasks. “I think it can get a little frustrating when you need to get somewhere, but you have to go a different way,” said Samhita Mirmira (11th), “especially when it is not crowded at all.” Other students found inconvenience with the nitpicking that came with the new policy. With so many students to manage, teachers and staff in the hallway had little space for exceptions, meaning that students were often unable to turn around and reach classrooms that were right in front of them. “ They shouldn’t stop kids from going to class when they’re two steps away from the door,” expressed Katherine He (10th). While stopping students just steps away from their classrooms may have been frustrating, it wasn’t the only aspect of the new hallway policy that had students questioning its overall usefulness. It may have seemed like traffic lessened, but as many students voiced, less traffic came at the price of several impracticalities. “I don’t like it because it causes more problems than it solves,” argued Krish Mangrolia (9th), “and it hasn’t been implemented at all this past week.” teer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act as he attempted to overturn the Georgia election. Georgia election officials faced death threats from Trump supporters and harassment from Trump himself after being falsely accused of fabricating results. At the same time, Trump also made phone calls to Georgia’s Secretary of State to “find enough votes for him,” (11,780 to be exact), considering Georgia has been a crucial swing state in recent elections (AP). The US government brought forth the classified documents case and the January 6th insurrection charges, making them federal charges, while the other two are state charges. This may influence the trials in many ways, as Trump can pardon himself for the federal charges if reelected, and the federal trials will not be televised. Trump has been arrested for all his charges (each carrying multiple felony counts). Each time he surrendered, pleaded guilty, and was released, with the trials for his first three charges scheduled between March and May next year. His trial date for his most recent arrest has yet to be set, as a Georgia judge recently ruled he will not be tried in October. As a result, Trump will likely be tried after the Republican nominee for the 2024 race has already been decided. Pushback to his arrest has been strong. Among the many protesters was Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who remained steadfast in her support for the former president. At the same time, Trump himself posted his mugshot on X, captioning “ELECTION INTERFERENCE” and “NEVER SURRENDER!.” At the same time, a “bomb threat was made at the Atlanta courthouse where Trump would stand trial,” which the Fulton County officials promptly responded to and handled (CNBC).
go through such trouble to get to class. “Honestly, with that many 30k’s a year, they should just get a bigger campus,” remarked Anruo Zheng (10th). Nevertheless, not all students felt so negatively about the change. There is no denying that bump-ins and crashes lessened, and that students made it to class without tripping and falling while trying to squeeze through crowds. “I am actually okay with them because the system seems to be working for the most part, and I feel it’s the best solution we have,” countered Anjali Prabhu (11th), “I think it’s good when some teachers give concessions like if the class is in the c11/c12 area I feel some flexibility should be allowed.” On September 22nd, 2023, just over a month after the hallway system had been implemented, students were faced with what had once been arrows on the wall directing traffic, taped haphazardly in various directions. Upon further inspection, many were happy to learn that the disputed policy had been abolished. So for now, as BIFU students return to their regular and beloved walking routes, they must also return to the familiarity of traffic jams, crashes, and, once again, tripping over feet and backpacks.
There are a few aspects that set the Georgia case apart. This is the first instance of a presidential mugshot being taken. It has become iconic — it is his new, rebranded campaign symbol and a meme, although it seemingly has had little impact on his personal or political image. In his defense, some Trump supporters have gone as far as “drawing analogies with Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ,” who also had mugshots taken during their arrests (BBC). Additionally, because his Georgia trial will not occur in a federal court, it can be televised. As mentioned before, a pardon is highly unlikely for him — even as he cannot pardon himself for these state charges, Georgia’s law prohibits pardons by the governor too. Trump’s Georgia indictment also names 18 other co-conspirators, whereas in most other cases, he is the sole defendant. If convicted, Trump could face anywhere between 20 to 55 years in prison for each indictment — although for most, fines are likely expected instead. None of these charges prevent him from rerunning for president and potentially getting reelected.
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SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
PERSPICACIOUS PAPARAZZI “READY TO BE, TWICE!”
By Thanisha Thambidurai “I want it all and I ain’t gonna ever settle, even if all of this is just a fantasy.” TWICE, “Set Me Free” On June 12th and 13th this summer, the globally renowned K-pop sensation, TWICE, performed at Oakland Arena to a nearly sold-out stadium of excited fans as part of their 5th world tour “Ready to Be.” The group also toured in Seoul, Sydney, Melbourne, Osaka, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Toronto, East Rutherford, Atlanta, Singapore, London, Paris, Berlin, Bangkok, and Bulacan. In the coming months and into the early part of next year, TWICE will perform in Melbourne (again!), Jakarta, Mexico City, and Sao Paulo. Due to heavy congestion around the arena, the show, originally set to begin at 7:30 P.M. , started at around 8:00 P.M. Despite the delay, TWICE exceeded all expectations with their dazzling show, full of special effects and incredible talent. Adding to the excitement, it was member Tzuyu’s birthday on the day of the concert, leading to a shower of gifts, ranging from a stuffed Yoda toy to multiple party hats and a flower bouquet. Fans had the opportunity to witness not only a spectacular performance but also the sweet friendship among the members. Let’s review some of the best moments from TWICE’s concert, ranked!
2. GO HARD
“Go Hard” wowed concertgoers with its well-planned visual effects and coordinated dancing. To ensure everyone was visible, the idols were separated into two sections, and the lights were strategically modified during parts of the song so only the silhouette of TWICE would be visible. The song concluded with a fiery red background and fists raised, which was fitting for the empowering single.
HAILEY AND JUSTIN BIEBER’S “UNMATCHED” STYLES
By Josh Peter
In a recent brand launch event that drew attention from both fashion enthusiasts and the general public, the charismatic power couple, Hailey and Justin Bieber, showcased their distinct fashion sensibilities. The highly-anticipated event served as the perfect platform for introducing Hailey Bieber’s new brand, revealing a pronounced contrast in their styles and creating a unique blend of fashion statements. Hailey Bieber, known for her chic and
1. MOMO’S SOLO
Without a doubt, Momo’s cover of “Move” by Beyoncé was the most eye-catching performance of the whole night, earning many screams from fans. Years of hard work and dedication paid off in her gorgeous dance. Momo displayed elegance and grace in her movements as she pole-danced to the track, solidifying her position as one of the best female dancers in the K-pop industry. Her gestures corresponded wonderfully with “Move,” making the audience want to move along with her. At the beginning of the song, Momo was wearing a varsity-style jacket embellished with her name and birthday stitched onto it, along with a shirt and shorts. However, as the pole-dancing portion of the song ensued, she gracefully removed the jacket.
daring style choices, arrived at the event in an outfit that could be described as a “tomato girl aesthetic.” This ensemble garnered numerous compliments for its audacious flair and confident portrayal of a vibrant aesthetic. However, in the aftermath of the event, some critics voiced concerns that the outfit might have been slightly too extravagant for the laid-back setting of a casual donut chain where the launch took place. Conversely, Justin Bieber, a style icon in his own right, made an appearance in an outfit that some observers perceived as less prepared or even underwhelming for the event. Nevertheless, it’s essential to note that Justin is no stranger to bold and unconventional wardrobe choices. Throughout his career, he has often been spotted embracing unexpected color combinations, unique accessories, and avant-garde pieces. His willingness to push fashion boundaries has earned both praise and critique from the fashion community and the general public. After the event, however, Justin Bieber was seen sporting a sweatshirt that prominently displayed Hailey Bieber’s brand logo. This choice not only demonstrated his support for his wife and her brand but also illustrated a sense of unity and shared values within their relationship. The event and its aftermath have sparked lively discussions and diverse opinions regarding the appropriate attire for such occasions, emphasizing the inherently subjective nature of fashion. The juxtaposition of Hailey and Justin Bieber’s sartorial choices at the event has provided an opportunity to explore the nuanced world of individual style and event-appropriate dressing, further igniting conversations within the fashion sphere and beyond.
T. SWIFT FALL CHAI COOKIES By Alicia Peng
5. SET ME FREE (ENG. VERSION)— OPENING ACT TWICE made a stunning opening with the English version of “Set Me Free,” the lead single of their latest comeback, Ready to Be (2023). As she sings the first lines, Jihyo radiates energy, and the other members maintain this brilliant energy throughout the song. The stunning choreography truly set the concert off to a great start.
4. JEONGYEON’S SOLO After the tour, Jeongyeon’s cover of Lizzo’s “Juice” became somewhat iconic, earning her widespread praise and amusement, even among people who did not attend the show. The idol sported a bright pink ensemble with a white beanie for the memorable solo; as she sang, the screen displayed the song’s lyrics, accompanied by the caption “Jeongyeon News.”
3. WHEN WE WERE KIDS Towards the end of the show, TWICE performed the track “ When We Were Kids,” which focuses on the members’ desire to go back to the time when they were innocent and pure, unaware of the complexities of life. To accompany the song, endearing photos from TWICE’s childhood were shown. Though all of them looked cute, Mina looked especially posh with her little beret and beige coat.
In conclusion, the concert was a blast, as evidenced by the loud screams of “I love Chaeyoung!” and “Sana, look at me!” that echoed throughout the event. TWICE’s combination of intense dance choreography, melodious tunes, and a family-friendly atmosphere sets them apart from other K-pop groups. Neon lights, pink streamers, rows of devoted fans cheering as they waved their Candybongs (TWICE’s lightstick), and breathtaking special effects made for an unforgettable night of fun and thrills at Oakland Arena last June.
Taylor Swift is renowned for her award-winning music, poetic lyrics, world tours, and occasionally political advocacy. What some people don’t know, however, is that Swift has a killer cookie recipe. Adapted from Joy the Baker’s 2009 Giant Vanilla Sugar Cookies recipe, Swift provides her own twist by adding a packet of chai and cinnamon icing on top. She baked these cookies for her fans during the 2014 Secret Sessions, a series of exclusive gatherings at Swift’s homes nationwide. She posted the cookies on Instagram and the recipe on Tumblr. Almost ten years later, I put on Swift’s album Red, took the recipe into my kitchen on a chilly, windy weekend, and decided it was time to embrace my Taylor Swift autumn. The recipe calls for a mixture of butter and vegetable oil and granulated and powdered sugar, resulting in a softer, chewier cookie reminiscent of a cake. The cookie is tender without crumbling immediately and evolved into a lighter cookie that’s easier to eat. In Taylor’s recipe, she uses a chai tea packet to flavor the cookie’s base. In-
stead of a packet, I used a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, cardamon, and a pinch of black pepper—a smell that feels like fall: spicy and cinnamony. The scent wraps around me in a warm hug. I get started on the icing while the cookies are in the oven. It’s super simple—powdered sugar, milk, cinnamon. I take a few TAYblespoons of powdered sugar and watch it dissolve in milk as it forms a thick paste. To this, I add a heavy amount of cinnamon. Cinnamon is one of my all-time favorite spices. It’s delicious in brown sugar cinnamon pancakes, warm apple cider, and apple pie. It’s the perfect autumn spice. When the cookies come out of the oven, my entire house smells like cinnamon, and I open the window and let the cool airflow into the house, reinforcing the sharp, crisp essence of autumn. I highly recommend these cookies. They are absolutely delicious and delightfully capture the essence of the season. It’s sugar, spice, and everything nice in one cookie. If you ever find the time to make these life-changing cookies, try it out!
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VOL . 3, NO. 1 stood out to me because of how personal yet engaging the mesOLIVIA RODRIGO immediately was. Rodrigo sings in the second verse, “And I try to ignorе it, but it’s SPILLS HER GUTS sage everythin’ I see / It’s on the poster on the wall, it’s in the sh*tty magazines”, IN GUTS (2023) emphasizing how these standards and
By Aarna K . , Selena P. , and Ailsa W.
Two years after the release of her hugely successful debut album SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo is back with her sophomore album, titled GUTS! SOUR was an undeniable success, winning three Grammys, seven Billboard Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and more. The album skyrocketed her career and changed the public’s perception of Rodrigo, from being known for roles in the Disney Channel shows Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series to a world-famous pop star. Many fans wondered if her second album would live up to the sensationality of SOUR. In an interview with Apple Music, she expressed that she felt a lot of pressure and expectation when writing this album as compared to her first. “I wasn’t going through my first 17-yearold heartbreak and I think that it forced me to be maybe a little bit more creative in the way that I write”, Rodrigo told Zane Lowe of Apple Music. Her creativity was indeed evident, as GUTS is not only incredibly diverse in sound, prominently featuring pop-rock style songs, upbeat pop songs, and softer sounding ballads, but also impactful with the messages that it delivers. Here are some of our favorite songs from the album: Ailsa: Track 11 of GUTS, titled “pretty isn’t pretty”, is an upbeat yet emotional recounting of Rodrigo’s experiences with insecurity and the societal expectations of feminine beauty. This track
ideals are everywhere around us, and how aware we can grow to be of them. While the title of the song may seem a bit contradictory at first, the chorus contextualizes what “pretty isn’t pretty” actually means. Rodrigo sings about the amount of effort that she has tried to put into her appearance, saying that she could “change up [her] body and change up [her] face” to become prettier, yet still feels like she isn’t pretty enough. The line emphasizes the pointlessness and repetitiveness of constantly trying to keep up with ever-changing beauty standards, but how she does it anyway just because everyone else does. This song shares a similar sentiment to “jealousy, jealousy”, a song on her first album, in that the root of Rodrigo’s insecurities seems to be the constant comparison of herself to other people, mostly on social media, and both songs warn about the dangers of letting comparison take over your life. Aarna: “Lacy”, a pop ballad that seemingly sticks out compared to the rest of the album, was met with various interpretations from fans. The song discusses Rodrigo’s perception of herself as she compares herself to a beautiful woman named “Lacy.” While many focus on the message Rodrigo sends about her feelings of inferiority and insecurity in comparing herself to others, most of her avid listeners seem intent on discovering the identity of the anonymous woman mentioned throughout the song. Many believe the woman is Taylor Swift, whom Rodrigo has been rumored to be feuding with. The two, who were previously known to be good friends, have stopped mentioning one another in interviews, and many feel as though the descriptions of Lacy in the song match that of Swift. “Lacy” is heavenly and it’s absolutely about Taylor Swift. Idolizing Taylor was a nightmare dressed like a daydream,” said an X (previously known as Twitter) user. “She is just too popular. Olivia couldn’t stand the constant media scrutiny and comparisons anymore.” Some also believe the song refers to Sabrina Carpenter, her “rival”, due to stark similarities in the physical description of Lacy and Carpenter, while many others seem convinced the song relates to Gracie Abrams, Rodri-
THE HOT NEW CELEBRITY COUPLE: AN ACT OR A FACT? By Katherine He
It’s no secret that celebrity couples are often seen as toxic and attention-seeking, given that so many have turned out to be abusive or nothing more than PR stunts. Despite these stereotypes, yet another couple has decided to come out in the public eye and break several news outlets. On September 2nd, entrepreneur/ influencer Kylie Jenner and actor Timothee Chalamet were spotted up in each other’s arms, paying no mind to any watching eyes, not even as Travis Scott, Kylie Jenner’s ex, happened to be in the same Beyonce concert. Nevertheless, most fans have been suspicious of the integrity of the duo. One bystander states, “I think this is a publicity stunt, for sure.” 8 days later, on September 10th, Jenner and Chalamet were seen together yet again at the US Open, where their intimacy had grown even more. However, the surprisingly short time period between the two outings raised further suspicions that the couple’s cuddly moments were merely publicity stunts.
On the other hand, neither Jenner nor ChaLamet are losing popularity, possibly eliminating any reason to seek public attention. In fact, Chalamet’s unsavory acting in the Wonka trailer had received loads of backlash, making him a trending internet meme for weeks. Furthermore, Jenner’s reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, has recently announced a new season coming out this month, bringing back tons of fans. Dating rumors between the two have been circulating since April of 2023, and these dates only confirm them. For Timothee Chalamet fans, the news may be heartbreaking, but the overall consensus is neutral. For the time being, any new updates will likely come from more hot moments between the two doing their usual PDA, or an official statement regarding their relationship. All in all, this fiery relationship was bewildering when news of it first came out, and continues to spark controversy and shock.
go’s close friend. “Rodrigo sings that her muse ‘wears ribbons in her hair,’ as Abrams often does, and ‘got the one thing’ that she ‘wants,’ which could refer to Abrams’ friendship with Swift and the fact that she was tapped to open for the pop superstar’s blockbuster Eras Tour,” said an article on Page Six. Many believe that Rodrigo’s seemingly strained relationship with Taylor has generated feelings of jealousy towards Gracie, who has recently grown closer to the pop star. This theory gained more popularity as avid listeners of both artists discovered similarities between “Lacy” and “Amelie, a song by Abrams, and noticed that the name ‘Lacy’ rhymes with ‘Gracie’. While all these theories of Lacy’s identity have been the center of debate since the album debuted, many believe that the song, rather than being about the jealousy of a nameless woman, is about Rodrigo’s feelings for her. The last line of the song, “And I despise my jealous eyes and how hard they fell for you”, has led many fans to believe that “Lacy” is Rodrigo’s way of coming out to her listeners. While fans continue to speculate about the song’s true meaning, few seem to fully appreciate the contrast of “Lacy” to the rest of Rodrigo’s album. The song, some say, seems almost out of place when compared to the tone of many of Rodrigo’s other songs, with
softer music and vocals—the beautiful harmonies of the song almost seem to make listeners forget about its deep complexity and hidden meaning. Selena: “ Teenage Dream” is the last track on GUTS and is a slow ballad that picks up and turns into a rock opus. This track expresses Rodrigo’s fear of growing old and never being able to live up to the fame of her teenage years. Rodrigo starts off the song by questioning how age changes others’ perceptions of her: “ When am I going to stop being great for my age and just start being good?” She goes on to reveal her fears of plateauing as an artist and the possibility that she may never improve. “ They all say that it gets better, it gets better the more you grow / Yeah, they all say that it gets better, it gets better, but what if I don’t?” Her debut album, SOUR, had received immense praise and success. For Rodrigo, this previous achievement had set a wildly high standard for her not just to reach, but to top. In an interview with WIRED, Rodrigo stated that she “was really nervous that [she] was going to be a ‘one-hit wonder.’” This track definitely addresses these concerns in the lyric “but I fear that they already got the best parts of me.” Due to the nature of the song, Teenage Dream is the perfect ending to Rodrigo’s album GUTS!
LIT MAG ART CONTEST!!!
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SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
recommends studying for exams through these, no matter your grade long assignment due in a week, but you at least 3 days in advance to make sure or your age, so here are some emo- know you’ll be busy after today; work BACK-TO-SCHOOL She you’ve learned and retained the mate- tional and personal tips that’ll help on it for a while, then finish it up in you get through the school year in one small bits throughout the week. Time ADVICE COLUMN rial properly. A factor that affects both your piece. Let me introduce to you management is what makes the balance academics and emotional the very important balance of of school and life possible, and it helps FOR 6TH GRADERS well-being is sleep. “Manschool and fun. Vera (11th) you avoid uncomfortable situations
By Emma Ma
Summer passes, and now a new school year is upon us. This year is no different from others, as a fresh wave of students has joined us on the Upper Campus—the 6th graders. It hasn’t been too long since I’ve been in your shoes, so I can imagine some of your emotions: anticipation and excitement from the new campus and classes, stress from the higher expectations, and nervousness from just being in a completely different environment. We’ve all been there and felt the same way, which is why I’ve gathered advice and tips from a variety of students here at the BASIS Upper Campus to help you navigate through this challenging experience. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Basis? I immediately think of a school that places a strong emphasis on academic achievement. The stress begins in middle school, with your first Comps and PreComps, as well as an increase in your amount of schoolwork. With all of these new additions to your schedules, I have collected helpful advice that could assist you with keeping up. One of the biggest factors that play a part in deciding your academic success has to be procrastination and productivity. Alyssa (8th) says, “Don’t procrastinate— it leads to multiple consequences that you don’t want to go through.” She refers to sleep deprivation, cramming, and unnecessary stress. An accumulation of these alone can lead to missing assignments, failed exams, and overall low grades. Kayla (8th) shares her own experience: she put off studying for her math test until the day before, and the only result was a not-so-great score.
age a good sleep schedule,” recounts Kushi (9th). I’m sure you’ve heard about how important sleep is and how much of a necessity it is. I’m here to confirm it. Sleep causes fatigue and can make you inattentive during school, which isn’t favorable considering you need to be awake and focused to properly learn. I’d recommend sleeping between 10 or 11 pm to 6 or 7 am, as it not only gives you enough rest to power through the school day, but it also gives you sufficient time to complete homework, study, and attend extracurriculars. Helena (8th) notes, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and communicate with your teachers.” This leads into my last key tip for academic success, which is communication. Communicate with your teachers, your peers, your parents—everyone. I full-heartedly agree with Helena’s statement. There are many useful resources around you. If you’re not sure about a topic or want to review, you can always go to your teacher’s office hours or ask your friends or parents to help. Many times when I’ve forgotten something at school, I’ve texted a classmate or friend to send it to me so I can get my work done. Use every resource to your advantage—they’re there to help you. Moving on from academics related advice, it’s no surprise that school affects us personally on many levels, especially our mental health and well-being. Things like academic stress, social problems, and other similar issues all influence us internally. Everyone goes
SEPTEMBER ISSUE CROSSWORD PUZZLE
explains, “Maintain a work-life balance—work hard, but also play hard because right now you still have the time to enjoy yourself before you’re bombarded with the stress brought by duties such as having a job and applying for college.” Elysse (12th) adds on to this saying, “ Try things out and experiment. Since you’re young, you have the space to do so.” This is the perfect time to have fun going into different things, because after a few years, you might not have the freedom with all the work that’ll be piled onto you. As an 8th grader, I can definitely tell the difference from when I was a 6th grader and now, even though it’s only been 2 years. There’s more stress and more work to do—I can only imagine how much the high-schoolers have to deal with. So get out there and explore activities out of your comfort zone as you might regret not doing so later on. You don’t want to neglect school, but at least try to have a little bit of fun while you’re at it. Priyanka (7th) says, “Sometimes it feels like you have way too much homework, but if you manage your time you’ll be fine.” Time management is key to a perfectly balanced life. It’s the reason why so many people have the time to do everything—it looks like magic, but really, it’s just a planned out schedule for your day. Let’s say you receive a
that could potentially lead to stress. Mihika (8th) mentions, “Don’t get too stressed out by the workload.” Stress can occur in multiple ways, and different people deal with it differently as well. It can lead to both mental and physical problems, such as anxiety, panic attacks, headaches, and exhaustion. Personally, I get a lot of stress from my classes, my homework, my exams, my out-of-school life—almost anything. It’s especially easy to become overwhelmed by school, so remember that you can push past it. Don’t worry too much if you get one or two bad scores, there are always chances to improve your grade—don’t be too harsh on yourself. Overall, stress is dreadful and incredibly taxing, so don’t let it devour you. After having gathered all of the advice from students at the BASIS Upper Campus, I noticed that most of the suggestions could be split into two groups— one for more academic related advice and the other for emotional advice. Both are extremely vital to maintaining a healthy life, inside and outside of school. Procrastination, sleep, communication, time management, and stress are all topics that were touched on multiple times by different students, all in separate grades. As I’ve mentioned, those are not uncommon experiences whatsoever, so please take the advice that we’ve given you today and store it in the back of your mind for when you need it. I wish you the best of luck for your first year of middle school!
ACROSS 2. “___________________ Dream” by Olivia Rodrigo 5. Revant Kasichainula’s current employer 8. ______________________ Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act 10. TWICE’s lightstick 11. Mark Dickey was saved from the _____ caves 13. ______________ oil acts as a repellent against yellow jackets. 14. “No Deal, No ________” — United Auto Workers strike 15. Hailey Bieber’s latest styles kickstart a new “___________ girl aesthetic”
DOWN 1. one of the major tourist towns significantly impacted by the Maui Wildfires 3. Hurricane _____ most likely magnified the effects of the Maui Wildfires 4. Session 3 of the G20 summit — “One _______” 6. “Digital = _____________” 7. Isha Singh is a youth representative of the Union City Youth _________________ Group 9. Timothy Chalamet’s most recent acting project — “_________” 10. _________ is often released in the human body when stressed 12. Allows healthcare providers to analyze, diagnose, and treat patients remotely
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VOL . 3, NO. 1
STRESS: CAUSES, EFFECTS & SOLUTIONS
By Krish Mangrolia
Stress — it’s one of the most relatable emotions. Wait a second…is stress even an emotion? Is it some sort of change to your brain? Or is it a reaction to your environment? Even though many know the general feeling of stress, only a few understand what stress really is and how it works. If you don’t know what stress feels like, here are a few examples that might give you a hint. You’ll get stressed just before you go to school after knowing you only did half your homework. You’ll get stressed on the day before your AP exams or Comps, even if you studied a lot. You might even get stressed the day you get your class schedule, realizing you’ll have to spend half your classes without your friends. (Trust me, I have experience.) The technical classification of stress is the following, as per the World Health Organization: “Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.” Based on this definition, stress is less of a feeling and more of a mental state dependent on circumstance. So, instead of stress being something you feel, it can be more aptly defined as your reaction to the current circumstance. According to Maureen Killoran, famed reverend, “Stress is not what happens to us. It’s our response TO what happens. And RESPONSE is something we can choose.”. To delve deeper into how it works, it’s important to focus on the neurolog-
TO THINE OWN SHELF BE TRUE
By Sheil Mody and Vincent Yang
DIGITAL = CRIMINAL
In our day and age, digital technology has taken the world by storm. Every direction you look, every household you enter, even the device on which this article is being written. All. Digital. This new Golden Age of technology also entails what we use to study every day: e-textbooks. These have risen in popularity but not without many consequences. Some people believe that the introduction of these modern studying methods invalidates the importance of physical textbooks and although there are certain benefits to supporting ebooks, the significance of material texts is still relevant, and superior, to digital ones. Annotating and interacting with the text is such an important feature of active learning, the optimal category of assimilating with the knowledge in the textbook. Physical textbooks excel in this element of learning as one isn’t restricted by the bounds of technology. For example, when reading a literary passage, technology only allows one to simply highlight, and at its greatest, maybe use a digital sticky note, restricting the methods a reader can use to understand a text and passively
ical aspect of stress by asking a question: “How does brain react to stress?” There are two main categories of stress, which affect the brain in different ways: short-term and long-term stress. Let’s start with short-term stress. This form of stress, which includes some examples I mentioned earlier, has the possibility to affect pathways of communication between the brain and the cell. A study published in ScienceDaily states, “Short-term stress lasting as little as a few hours can impair brain-cell communication in areas associated with learning and memory, researchers have found.” On the other hand, long-term stress has far more pronounced impacts on the brain. Premier Neurology Center states that long-term stress can permanently alter the brain’s structure and even kill brain cells. Chronic stress has been known to have impacts associated with cognition, mood, anxiety, and decision-making. But how does all this translate to our daily health? There are various impacts of stress on people’s bodies and minds, many of them relating to anxiety and mood. RevereHealth lists issues like tiredness, insomnia, headaches, and change in appetite as bodily effects of stress. Behavioral impacts of stress include drug/alcohol abuse, outward anger, and violent mood swings. Stress also increases one’s risk of physical and mental health issues like depression, heart disease, blood pressure, and memory impairment. Stress clearly has lots of negative impacts on our lives, bodies, and minds, but how can we reduce or remove stress in both the short term and long term? Stress is, after all, a natural response, and everyone experiences stress in some
form. However, there are a few methods of reducing stress, mostly related to adjusting workloads or commitments. One main tactic to try is to time-block, using a planner or calendar to schedule your day. This is especially useful if you’re feeling time-bound stress. After school, set either a reasonable fixed time or routine to just do homework, extracurricular work, or any other tasks you may have. Another method is to just take breaks and relax for short periods of time. Only working for an unreasonable time period is known to cause more stress and unhappiness. Taking a break from work every so often will help both performance and mental health. It might even be helpful to schedule or
plan these “downtimes” into your day. For flexible time commitments, either learn to say ‘no’ if they conflict with or jeopardize your fixed commitments. Taking on more work than you can handle will only increase stress, and it’s incredibly important to recognize your limits and stick to them. Stress seems to have an almost infinite list of negative effects, but it’s still a human response everyone feels (even your peers). Stress is natural, but too much stress can change both the body and mind in drastic ways. It is crucial for everyone to take steps to reduce stress — arranging schedules, allocating time to relax, and alleviating one’s workload as much as possible.
imbibe the information. On the other hand, there are a myriad of annotations one can make, such as highlighting, underlining, notes on the side, and comprehensible symbols that the reader can make use of to engage themselves with a physical text. As AP Literature student Allyson Wong (11) expresses, “It’s easier to retain info because you can physically highlight and physically track the progress of the number of pages that you read, which is more motivating to continue.” Several other students such as Sahiti Bulusu (11) and Sakthi Thayumanavan (11) agree with this statement wholeheartedly, pointing out that with a physical book, one need not rely on a device being charged. Along with the benefit of active studying, physical textbooks surpass digitized works in multiple other scenarios. Everyone’s been told that “too much screen time isn’t good for you”, which is in fact, true. Staring at a computer screen for hours at a stretch will strain the eyes and lead to tiredness. The blue rays emitted from the screen often lead to one being tired and therefore losing focus in the text of interest, which is very counterintuitive to studying using textbooks. Physical textbooks are able to draw the reader’s attention with high-quality images and an experience that won’t put you to sleep. A physical textbook combats this problem and keeps the reader’s attention with active studying and no blu-rays.
Some might argue that digital textbooks are much more accessible and easier than carrying around pounds of textbooks. Although this is true, there are still downsides to it. The age-old quote “Never put all your eggs in one basket” sums up one of these major issues. Sure, it’s all convenient and great but what happens when you have a world history test the next day and a power outage strikes home? What happens when you spill your glass of water all over your computer and the hundreds of dollars spent on the online textbooks are all gone along with your learning material? There are also many technical issues that prevent accessibility and thereby pause education for hours at a stretch. Why bother yourself with all the complications of modern-day digital textbooks when you can rely on good ol’ fashioned textbooks that we’ve used for centuries.
ter, surely cleaves out a sizable portion of our available water resources. Now, book lovers may be dismayed at this revelation, but with the introduction of ebooks, this problem is, in fact, no problem at all. These devices allow for a book to be read while foregoing the need to create a physical copy of it, and thus reduce the book industry’s effect on the environment. By choosing electronic books over crusty printed books, a reader can help preserve our planet a page at a time. In addition, digital books offer a much higher degree of convenience in comparison to printed books. Imagine a library: the two-story building is filled with bookshelves, and each bookshelves is filled to the brim with books. Now imagine that each and every one of these books was condensed into a pocket of information within a small tablet—your e-reader. Indeed, an ebook reader keeps your entire library at your fingertips anytime, anywhere, without any of the maintenance required of smelly old physical books. This resolves the storage and transportation limitations of book reading and allows one to enjoy their books without worrying about carrying bulky masses of paper everywhere. According to Theodore Chen (11), who has scrutinized many pages of many books in his lifetime, “Ebooks are simply more accessible. Having the convienience to access a single book from multiple devices and mediums can’t be compared to having a single, paper, location-bound book.” Moreover, ebooks address the issue of accessibility needs: adjustable fonts and text-to-speech options make the joy of reading books available to even those afflicted with conditions such as vision impairment or dyslexia. Justin Ely (11), an AP English Language and Composition student, puts it in succinct terms, stating “Ebooks allow more people to access scripture,” indicating that people who may have previously not been able to read books can now partake in the activity. Now, some individuals may argue that ebooks will strain the eyes and eventually degrade them. While this is a valid concern for computer screens and the like, which use back lights to emit light, proper e-readers such as kindles use front lights, which put less strain on the eyes even compared to printed books, especially in unideal lighting conditions. In the end, the advantages of the digital book are undeniable, making reading a personalizable and annoyance-free experience, as well as one that places far less strain on the natural world.
PAGES = MIDDLE AGES In 15th century Europe, the printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenburg. The device, which functioned by pressing paper against inked movable type materials, revolutionized the spread of information, eliminating the need to handwrite copies of written books. At the hands of this brilliant innovation, knowledge and messages were purveyed throughout civilizations at speeds never seen before. However, in the present day, even this once-miraculous technology has been rendered obsolete. Now, instead of paper as a medium for the transmission information, cables composed of optical fibers laid across the bottom of the ocean that can send data to one end of the earth to the other at the speed of light are used, and technology has emerged that allows us to store the data contained within an uncountable number of books within the guts of a single pocket-sized device. With the emergence of the internet and digital books, the need for physical copies has all but disappeared. From convenience to ecological friendliness, ebooks truly outdo their printed counterparts in nearly every aspect. Are you environmentally conscious? If so, you should know that ebooks have a clear edge over printed books on the topic of sustainability. The production process of physical books requires a colossal supply of paper and ink; as a result, the mass production of books leaves a severe carbon footprint in the form of boundless deforestation and exploitation of natural resources. In addition, water is vital to the formulation of paper, and the creation of millions upon millions of copies of books, each of which takes on average 8 liters of wa-
8 TELEHEALTH: IS IT RELIABLE? By Pranesh Saran
When was the last time you went to the hospital? It could have been for something minor, such as an annual check-up or a vaccine, or maybe you had an injury that required treatment. But the COVID-19 pandemic made us realize something. Prior to the pandemic, if you wanted to address a medical issue, or have a checkup performed, you usually had to go. In-person. To the hospital. Partly due to this—namely, the lockdown, which meant you couldn’t go outside—and due to its effects—according to CNN and the New York Times, the influx of COVID-19 patients meant other surgeries, check-ups, and the like had to be delayed—many patients had trouble getting the medical care they needed.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? This led to the emergence of something called telehealth. In fact, you may have already tried this out yourself; when you call your doctor over the phone to get results for a test, or even just check in with them about your condition, you’re technically practicing telehealth! However, telehealth, in its full capacity, is a broad topic. Essentially, it allows healthcare providers to analyze, diagnose, and treat patients remotely. Instead of having to book an appointment at the hospital— and sometimes taking a leave from school or work in order—you can now be treated from the comfort of your own home, on your schedule. But how exactly does it work? Due to advances in medical and biological technology, telehealth need not be administered with expensive equipment and specialized procedures; in fact, you can practice telehealth with just your smartphone and a few at-
YIKES! THE BIF YELLOW JACKET PROBLEM By Sachit Parekh
We all know and love our school mascot, the Yellow Jacket. But what if you saw a live yellow jacket hovering around you, threatening to sting at any moment? As our very own Yellow Jacket students returned to school this August, they were met with an unpleasant surprise: yellow jackets (the insects) threateningly hovering around the quad area. Many students have encountered these creatures flying alarmingly close to their food during their lunch and AE periods, with reactions ranging from loud shrieks of terror to none at all. At least three people have been stung, with many more cases potentially being unreported. The origin of these yellow jackets has been traced to an underground nest in the outside field near the lone tree by the red wall. The discovery of this nest prompted a closure of the field on September 8, and the nest has now been marked with a large cone covering it. Students who play on the field have been advised to always remain aware of their surroundings, to expose the nest, and always heed the warnings of lunch supervisors. Our school’s Associate Head of Operations, Ms. Redington, is part of a team of faculty who are incorporating various measures to combat this pervasive issue. So far, the team has installed several specially-designed yellow jacket traps around the quad area. Within a span of only two weeks, dozens of yellow jackets could be seen trapped inside each container. “ We sprayed the nest area with some sort of anti-yellow jacket substance, and sprayed other surfaces such as tables with peppermint oil,” said Ms. Redington. The peppermint oil is meant to act as a repellent for these insects. In addition, a pest control company recently visited the campus, and “told [the faculty]
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 tachments! The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering has funded some of these telehealth initiatives, ranging from smartphone-aided devices that can scan for infections or blood conditions, to knee braces that can help personalize therapy for arthritis.
Credit: Ralph Weissleder and Hakho Lee/ Massachusetts General Hospital.
THE GOOD & THE BAD But is this really necessary? Why can’t we just continue going to the doctor? After the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has still remained prevalent, and for good reason, but there are still some disadvantages. First, and most obviously, you can’t see the doctor and the doctor can’t see you. With an extra layer of separation between you and your doctor, although they can view you and collect information remotely, they may not be able to perform all of the procedures they wish to, especially if you do not have the equipment necessary. Despite the numerous advances we’ve seen in medical technology, that doesn’t mean the cost has gone down for many of the advanced procedures required for serious problems. Secondly, there might be privacy concerns involved with the tracking of your vital signs and medical data. With some conditions, it might be helpful to track, say, your blood sugar levels frequently, so you can be notified as soon to keep doing what [they’re] doing.” The complete mitigation of our yellow jacket problem will take a few more weeks, and we can deal with this problem by taking various measures. Ms. Redington says that the colder autumn weather will eventually cause these yellow jackets to return to their nest. She advises students eating in the quad to cover any food not currently being eaten since these insects are drawn to it. Also, she urges students to dispose of food scraps in the proper garbage cans and not leave them on the ground or tables. In addition, rooms have been opened for indoor eating during the lunch period—middle schoolers can have lunch in room C13, and high schoolers can have lunch in room 130. For now, however, we need to learn how to coexist with the yellow jackets and treat them responsibly. To reduce the risk of getting stung, students are advised to stay calm and still—yellow jackets find abrupt movements threatening and are more likely to sting someone in such circumstances. After all, the home of us Yellow Jackets is also home to yellow jackets, and we need to learn how to share the space with them so that we can all stay safe.
as possible when a possible crisis might occur, and take steps to prevent it before it gets worse. While it seems innocent at first, this data collection may become more pervasive, as we tend to trade privacy for convenience in our daily lives.
WHAT DO I THINK?
Therefore, I believe that telehealth, as an overall practice, should not be fully adopted in our daily lives, not with the needs of our current situation. We don’t yet need the kinds of sweeping diagnoses that telehealth can provide, or the easy convenience with which simple procedures can be administered. However, this does not mean that telehealth doesn’t have its advantages. It can easily allow doctors to follow up on patients after a visit, or perform routine check-ups, using fairly simple software and hardware that shouldn’t be too difficult for patients to procure. Additionally, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, many insurance providers are willing to start, and have already started, insuring simple telehealth services. This means that they can at
THE G20 SUMMIT By Shubh Bachkethi
Every year, the leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies meet to discuss the state of the world in a meeting known as the G20 summit. The G20 summit was established in 1999 and has been meeting since. This year, the summit was held in New Delhi, India, from the 9th to the 10th of September to discuss our world’s biggest crises. Not all country leaders were present. The president of China, Xi Jinping, was absent due to economic and defense tensions with the US. Additionally, President Putin of Russia avoided traveling to the G20 summit due to the arrest warrant issued to him by the International Criminal Court for atrocities the Russian government committed against Ukrainians. Finally, the Mexican president chose not to go to G20 allegedly because of his dislike for long-distance airplane travel and his greater focus on regional issues instead
least partly cover the cost of purchasing technology to facilitate telehealth services. It’s also great for monitoring you in real life; as mentioned above, a real-life situation is to help diabetics realize when they are going into diabetic shock (a complication arising from low blood sugar levels), and mitigate the problem before it becomes serious. While it is not technically that invasive, for the time being, I believe that this type of monitoring should be kept to situations where it is necessary (such as for diabetics or people with chronic health conditions), until its effects can be properly gauged. It’s also good for procedures that are predictable and only need general instruments (such as the aforementioned follow-ups or check-ups, which mostly require an evaluation of vital signs, as well as some minor analysis of more complex data like blood composition), as opposed to situations that require specific instruments. In general, while telehealth isn’t harmful to society, it’s a good idea to keep it in check until we fully realize its benefits and drawbacks.
of global ones. However, those who participated found themselves discussing a plethora of issues over the course of three unique sessions. Session 1 was “One Earth,” Session 2 was “One Family,” and Session 3 was called “One Future.” These sessions discussed issues spanning the Russian war with Ukraine, climate change, food insecurity, and South Korea’s concern over North Korea’s stockpile of nuclear weapons. They also brought up other critical topics such as reducing poverty, lowering plastic pollution, as well as whether to add the African Union (AU) to G20 meetings, due to the more prominent role African countries have begun to play in world affairs. The meeting ended successfully when PM Modi passed on a ceremonial gavel to Brazil’s president, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. Brazil will become the next country to preside over the G20 summit, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 12-14th 2024 — meaning many more years of G20 are yet to come!
STAFF MEMBERS: Editors-in-Chief: Christopher Chen, Julee Jiang and Olivia Ma Editors: Esha Bansiya, Vera Lin, Alicia Peng, Anjali Prabhu, and Alan Xiao Staff Writers: Aarna Kamath, Abheek Batra, Ailsa Wu, Angela Cao, Ayush Swarnakar, Emma Ma, Josh Peter, Katherine He, Kevin Weng, Krish Mangrolia, Pooja Kanthala, Pranesh Saran, Sachit Parekh, Sarah Wu, Selena Peng, Sheil Mody, Shirley Fan, Shreya Sadhwani, Shubh Bachkethi, Thanisha Thambidurai, Tycho Young, Vera Lin, Vincent Yang, Zuoyi Nick Lin Graphic Design: Christopher Chen, Ada Costiniano Thank you for reading the very first issue of the third volume of The Yellow Pages! We hope you enjoyed reading the issue as much as we enjoyed the process of creating it! If you have any comments, suggestions, questions, or notice any mistakes in our newspaper, please contact bifyellowpages@gmail.com. We will include corrections for our errors and typos in the following issue.