VOL . 3, NO. 3
NOVEMBER 30, 2023
THE YELLOW PAGES BASIS Independent Fremont Journalism Club
NOBEL PRIZE 2023 By Shubh Bachkethi
Every year, the Nobel Prize committee, composed of the Karolinska Institute, the Swedish Academy, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and the Norwegian Nobel Committee, awards the Nobel Prize in the fields of physics, chemistry, economics, physiology/medicine, literature, and peace. This year, many exceptional individuals were recognized for their efforts to improve the world through innovation and unwavering commitment to their respective fields of specialty. Here are some of the notable laureates: First, let’s highlight the Nobel Peace Prize, the only prize awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. This year, the winner was an Iranian woman named Narges Mohammadi. She was honored for her commitment to advancing women’s rights in Iran and her advocacy for fundamental human rights. She is currently imprisoned in Iran, serving a twelve-year sentence. Mohammedi’s win follows in the footsteps of Shirin Ebadi (2003) as the second Iranian woman to win a Nobel Prize. She also joins a group of Nobel laureates who were incarcerated while they were honored, including Ales Bialiatski (2022), Liu Xiabo (2010), Aung San Suu Kyi (1991), and Carl von Ossietzky (1935).
THE FALL OF GAZA’S HOSPITALS By Tycho Young
Note from Yellow Pages Editors: We do not equate the Palestinian people with Hamas or Israeli people with the Israeli government. As student journalists, our obligation is to write as objectively and unbiasedly as possible with adequate research from reliable and accessible media. Our hearts go out to everyone on both sides who has been affected by this longstanding conflict. Finally, please note that none of the writers or editors of this piece are Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, or Muslim, and the article was derived from research and review from third parties. While many disagree on the morality and justification of the Israel-Hamas war, the amount of damage dealt and people hurt is unequivocal. The conflict has caused a growing number of deaths and injuries on both sides, and hospitals act as a place for the hurt to seek refuge. Hamas, a terrorist group that currently forms the government of Gaza, says that the death toll is now over 11,000
Next, let’s turn to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. This year, there were not one, but two recipients of this Nobel Prize: Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman. Weissman and Karikó were awarded the Nobel Prize for making discoveries instrumental to the development of COVID-19 vaccines, which have saved countless lives. Their work is estimated to have prevented approximately 120 million infections. Hats off to them for protecting so many people! In the field of literature, the Swedish Academy awarded the Nobel Prize to Jon Fosse. He received this honor for giving “ voice to the unsayable” (AP News). His work touches on profound feelings that are rarely addressed, such as the themes of anxiety, complexities of life, and even death. He is the fourth Norwegian writer to win the Nobel Prize and the first to write in Nynorsk, one of the less commonly used styles of Norwegian. Therefore, it was a historical day for Norway when his name was announced as the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. The final Nobel Prize laureates that are to be mentioned are those in the fields of physics, chemistry, and economics, all awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The Nobel Prize in Physics was jointly awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of
light for the study of electron dynamics in matter (nobelprize.org). Their discovery can be used to take pictures of the processes in atoms and molecules, which will increase our understanding not only in the field of physics but also in chemistry. Speaking of chemistry, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus, and Alexei Ekimov ‘for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots’ (nobelprize.org). Quantum dots are used for many experimental purposes, often with light. Finally, the last announced award was the Sveriges Riksbank Prize
people. The Israeli government claims that Hamas is based within and underneath the hospitals and is using Palestinian civilians as a shield. Following the brutal October 7th massacre of 1400 Israeli civilians, the Israeli government has expressed its goal to eradicate Hamas and free the nearly 240 hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza. However, as airstrikes launched by Israeli forces destroy more Palestinian homes and the number of Palestinians killed continues to grow, Gaza’s hospitals are entering the front lines of the war. With every bombing of a building, dozens of injured enter the hospitals, with others dead. Doctors feel the overwhelming pressure of the war when they see children, pregnant mothers, and families die. With limited supplies, they are often forced to decide between saving one life or another. Gaza doctors and medical staff offer a unique insight regarding the Israel-Hamas war, as they witness the human impact of the war: the deaths, injuries, and suffering. In The Daily, a podcast hosted by Sabrina Tavernise of The New York Times, Tavernise interviews many doctors who work in the hospitals that suffer from the attacks of Israeli forces and highlights the pain of those inside. Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a British-Pal-
estinian plastic surgeon working in the operating room at Al Shifa Hospital, shares his story as a child cries in the background. “She needs an amputation for her right foot. She’s 6. Taken from underneath the rubble”, says Abu-Sittah. He says that there are around 16001700 patients waiting to be treated, “But the hospital capacity is 600. So you can only imagine.” Israeli forces’ repeated air strikes removed people from their homes and turned the Al Shifa complex, one of Gaza’s largest hospitals, into a refuge, housing over 60,000 people, Tavernise reports. “If you walk through the hospital, it’s turned into a tented city. On the floors at the entrance, families are sitting. There are patients in the corridors, patients on mattresses and the floors, patients on trolleys, patients in the emergency room. It’s just, it’s just surreal… It’s miserably grim.” Thousands of Palestinians are displaced from their homes by the Israeli forces in the name of counter-terrorism. Many patients are suffering from burns across their bodies because of the airstrikes. “ We had a mother with burns to her legs and to her arms. We had a seven-monthold with burns to his legs and arms, but we also had this child with facial burns yesterday, who doesn’t look like he’s going to do well… burns to his face, to his hands, to his legs. He’s thirteen, twelve, thirteen. He was just whimpering.” Dr. Abu-Sittah tells the story of how children, some not even a year old, are severely hurt by the attacks on Gaza, and how many of the children he treats were pulled out from under the rubble of their own homes. Thousands of families take refuge in the hospitals, and people are sleeping everywhere, just trying to escape from their nightmarish reality. As the war wages onward, Israeli forces continue to push deeper into Gaza. Reporters lost contact with the region for two days. Their internet, electricity, food, and water were gone, causing many deaths. A courtyard and an ambulance were hit by airstrikes. The Israeli government justifies these attacks, stating that Hamas actively maintains a military compound within and underneath the hospital and that Hamas is hoarding fuel. Israel states that the ambulance that was attacked was being used to transport Hamas fighters. Hamas denies this. Many, including doctors, do not believe these claims, stating that they are just a narrative to justify the attack on the hospital, while others maintain
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in Economic Sciences, given to Claudia Goldin for her work in constructing a comprehensive report of women’s employment and earnings over the centuries. This report makes it easy to see how fast women’s rights are increasing and understand their increasing role in the labor market. Unfortunately, October 9th marked the last day Nobel Prizes were announced, so no more prizes will be awarded in 2023. However, there’s always next year, when we will celebrate more individuals who have helped humanity and left a lasting mark in history.
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more neutral viewpoints, distancing themselves from political stances. However, the bodies of 2 Israeli hostages — 19-year-old Israeli soldier Noa Marciano and 65-year-old Yehudit Weiss — being found near the Al-Shifa hospital on November 16th have further fueled suspicions held by the Israeli government that Hamas is operating in or near the hospital (CBS). The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have also allegedly found weapons and evidence of an “operational tunnel shaft” inside the hospital, and according to BBC News, the IDF claimed that a clip of CCTV footage showed two hostages being brought into the hospital on October 7th. There is no conclusive evidence of these reported findings. Due to the Israeli forces’ ground invasion of Gaza, many utilities have been disabled for the already struggling hospitals. CNN reports that many hospitals are running out of clean water, food, and medicines used to treat patients in critical condition. Additionally, both electricity and fuel are scarce, and according to NBC News, three babies have died in Al Shifa as of November 12th. In a recording released by Doctors Without Borders, Dr. Mohammed Obeid states, “ The situation now is very bad… there’s a sniper who attacked four patients inside the hospital. One of them has a gunshot wound directly in his neck, and he is a quadriplegic [patient]. And the other one [was shot] in the abdomen.” Many doctors are all facing the same struggle in Gaza, and even as they try their best to heal and treat, the casualties grow too high for them to handle. As resources run out, doctors have to make decisions nobody should have to. When Tavernise prompts about Hamas’ presence under the hospital, Suhaib Alhamss expresses his frustration, “ They destroyed everything. I’m angry. I am exhausted. This is a bad dream. I hope I [wake up] from it.”
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NOVEMBER 30, 2023
THE BIG QUESTIONS...
WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR ECONOMY?
By Krish Magnolia
For many people, the definition of success is money. But having money is becoming less of a goal and more of a necessity, especially in the Bay Area. Why has so much of our focus in life shifted towards obtainment of this fiat currency, not just for success for also for survival? In recent years, the American economy has been extremely unstable due to events such as COVID and its aftermath. The pandemic brought about national and global changes to individuals and corporations, which led to significant struggles for both these groups. COVID significantly altered the business model for companies, leaving many jobless and causing financial struggles for thousands of families nationwide. As a result, financial security became a goal for all of COVID-19 America. As Wikipedia reports, the wealth held by billionaires increased by 70% during COVID, marking the steepest increase globally. The wealth inequality gap is also a pervasive issue. As the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Inflation, especially during and after COVID, has only added to the mix. The cumulation of these problems makes it increasingly difficult for lower-class families to afford basic necessities. This underscores the problem of disparities in our economy, where actors like joblessness, wealth inequality, and inflation elevate the risk of homelessness and economic insecurity for lower and middle-class individuals. This is also why such emphasis has been placed on financial security and stability
WHO CONTROLS MORALITY? YOU!
By Pranesh Saran
What do you think is right? What do you think is wrong? For that matter, who or what decides what you think is right or wrong? What if you simply go with what society thinks is right? Or, what if it’s coded in your genes? For a long time, many psychologists believed that one’s moral compass is heavily influenced by the culture they grow up in, but it appears that morality may not be so simple after all.
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FIRST OFF, WHAT IS MORALITY?
Imagine a society without morals. Anything is fair game as long as it abides by the law. Take a second to absorbs the implications of that. Why? Well, such a society might not even function properly! Morals aren’t just unwritten agreements between individuals; in many instances, they are written into the laws of our cities and countries. Let’s go back to the anarchic society mentioned above: if you left your bag out in public, it could very well be stolen in the blink of an eye. The thief may not think they’re doing something wrong; they’re just acting in their self-interest. However, it has very clearly led to the loss of your personal possession and maybe some money you had on hand. The basis for morality, then, is not necessarily what we think to be (or what is) right or wrong, but what we can and cannot “get away with.” As Erik Nygren explains in his 1996 final project at MIT, it is important to note that morals fundamentally arise from independent human beings com-
for domestic households. The issue can also be looked at from another point of view: the younger generation. Student loans have been an increasing problem. People fresh out of college have had a far harder time due to piles of student loans. Additionally, going to college has transitioned from being an option to a necessity for securing high-paying jobs. As a result, the pressure on students to go to college, and even after college, has drastically changed. It seems as if the education system post-high school places a greater emphasis on financial means, making it much harder for low-income households to access high-salary jobs and generate wealth. This fact is even more evident when contrasting modern America with earlier America, such as WWII America. During that time, securing a decent job in an industrial field like manufacturing wasn’t as difficult. As a result, living a decent life (with a decent home and financial security) was achievable without even going to college. This means that the wealth gap and the barrier to financial stability was far lower than it is today. Now, the rich control an insane amount of America’s wealth, and the financially unstable are stuck in a predicament they can’t get out of. With all of the modern events impacting our economy, it may seem difficult to realize or actualize the solution to this problem. Some proposed solutions, such as addressing wealth inequality through wealth distribution(maybe via taxes), are either unfeasible at a large scale or haven’t worked in the past. For example, while stimulus checks during COVID were definitely helpful to low-income households, they were unsustainable and didn’t work as well as expected. A solution that may work could involve more
government intervention in the capitalist market. Many of the issues mentioned above can be rooted in capitalism: the high cost of college, the accumulation of wealth by the rich, and more. Promoting job creation and incremental wage growth can provide a meaningful impact in solving these problems by fostering economic opportunities for low-income individuals. Additionally, social safety nets, social security measures, and even stimulus checks should be implemented in a more permanent matter. Focus should be placed on longterm sustainability so that low-income individuals can have at least some sort of financial security in the surprisingly common tough times. Finally, financial
ing together to form a larger society. We cannot merely act in our self-interest; we have to make some compromises that satisfy everyone to the extent that is most possible and practical. He argues that morality is split into two “agencies” of our mind: the empathic response agency, which prompts us to act to help others, and the moral restraint agency, which prevents us from acting “immorally” and suppresses such thoughts. You may ask, where do these morals come from? Some are decided by your family upbringing and genetics, but you also absorb the moral values of the society you live in. Nevertheless, beyond this consensus, you cannot force the majority to live by individual moral standards. Therefore, groups of people with shared beliefs usually take it upon themselves to persuade others to behave with propriety and morals. Common forms of such groups are governments and religions. Just as the law motivates us to act legally using the threat of punishment, religion uses the power of God, or some higher authority whom we are at mercy to, to help police ourselves beyond what the law can possibly demand of us.
that people should abide by when making decisions and judgments. But, even ethical people are tempted to act unethically. As mentioned before, the moral restraint agency both prevents immoral actions and suppresses their precursory thoughts. However, it’s often harder to completely eliminate such thoughts, so the moral restraint agency is more focused on preventing those behaviors from manifesting. Nevertheless, if your friends regularly use drinks or drugs, you’re more likely to think that such behavior is allowed–they’re people you trust! This example is one reason of how the people we choose to be friends with reflects in and shapes our own personalities; that is, not the morals we believe in, but the qualities that we exhibit, whether or not they abide by our moral code. Although you and your friends may like different things, if your perceptions of right and wrong are vastly different, the person with the stricter moral code will most likely get annoyed at the other person.
WHAT DO WE LEARN MORALITY FROM?
It makes intuitive sense that you would learn what you can and cannot do from the environment around you. As you explore the world and allow your curiosity to guide you through new things, people will tell you when you cross certain limits and instruct you to stay behind them, thereby informing you of society’s–and sometimes their own–moral limits. If enough people practice the same set of beliefs, your brain absorbs the limit and unconsciously steers away from such “immoral” behavior in the future. Similarly, as we grow up, our parents guide us on what they perceive as the right path and instill in us some of their own values. We see how others around us act and which actions lead to the best “rewards.” In addition, as mentioned before, the law and religion are also crucial sources that help structure our moral compass as we grow up. “Nobody is above the law,” and everyone is seen as equal under its sword of justice; similarly, religions usually have some sort of commandments or ethical principles
literacy and financial education must be prioritized as common domestic values. For many families, the opportunity to learn how to manage and grow wealth over long-term periods is essential. The lack of access to financial literacy keeps them in the seemingly bottomless pit of financial instability. The problem in America’s economy today is the insane wealth inequality, leading to lower-class families struggling to afford necessities. In recent years, factors like COVID and inflation have only added to the mix. While potential solutions can seem impractical or unreasonable, the key lies in prioritizing longterm financial stability over short-term adjustments that won’t be sustainable.
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WHERE DO OUR GENES COME IN?
While it may be shocking at first, the truth is that not only are factors like our appearance and build dependent on our genes, but even some of our behaviors and strategies! It turns out that such things as disorders, mental illnesses, and sexual orientation are influenced partly by our genetics. In other cases, our genetics don’t directly code for traits, but rather augment or make more viable the presence of that trait. Someone who is physically strong and large in build would be more likely to successfully
get what they want through aggression, and therefore would consider it moral. Those who are not as strong or physically built would often be the targets of such aggression, or would not succeed through aggressive tactics, and therefore would advocate against aggressiveness, considering it to be immoral. Studies done by Annika Karinen and colleagues, as well as researchers from Penn State, highlight that moral positions–such as approval of drug usage and conscientiousness within a society–are often initially decided by our genes. Think of your genes as “setting the tone” of your behavior and actions; as you’re exposed to different environments and situations, these behaviors change accordingly. Jenae Neiderhiser, a professor at Penn State, explained that although parents’ approaches to educating and nurturing their children still do have a large effect on how the latter’s disposition, it is often the case that parents parent positively because they are naturally inclined to do so due to their genes, and pass on these “positive” genes to their posterity.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Personally, I believe that your behavior is fundamentally molded by your environment, although your genetics may decide your initial morals. However, it’s important to understand that, whether or not your behavior is influenced by your upbringing or your genes, you can still adjust your moral compass as you see fit. Although it may be more difficult once the initial foundation is laid out, you don’t need to follow the morals of your parents, friends, and other peers just because they do.
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VOL . 3, NO. 3
POLICE BRUTALITY AND DISCRIMINATION: ELIJAH MCCLAIN By Thanisha Thambidurai
On August 24, 2019, 23-year-old Elijah McClain was confronted by three police officers in Aurora, Colorado, while walking home from a convenience store carrying iced tea in a plastic bag. The police had received a call from an Aurora resident, who reported an unarmed, sketchy person. Body camera footage shows the three officers—Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema—holding McClain to the ground, with Woodyard applying a chokehold twice. Afterward, paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec arrived at the scene and administered an excess amount of ketamine to sedate McClain. McClain went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and was declared brain dead three days later in the hospital. He was eventually removed from life support on August 30, 2019. Four years later, in 2023, a Colorado jury found Woodyard, the officer who arrested McClain, not guilty of all charges related to McClain’s death (reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide), just as Woodyard had pleaded. Officers Roedema and Rosenblatt underwent a conjoined trial at the beginning of September this year, resulting in Roedema being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, while Rosenblatt was acquitted of his charges. Woodyard’s trial, spanning from Oc-
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THE PROBLEMS WITH MODERN REPORTING By Olivia Ma In today’s rapidly changing world, new conflicts, situations, deaths, and triumphs constantly arise. Although many events share the same degree of importance and impact, only a select type seems to be reported by mainstream international media — western affairs. On July 8th, 2022, former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was assassinated at a political gathering. As most can imagine, the sudden loss of such a key member of government was a national emergency that sent shockwaves through Japan. But for some reason, it caught very little international attention. When a group of juniors were informed of Abe’s death earlier this month, over a year after his assassination, they were surprised and confused. Just a couple of months after Abe’s death, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom’s passing quickly took over headlines and reached every single corner of the world. Japan’s recovery and
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tober 17 to November 6, included testimonies from other Aurora law enforcement officers and doctors aiming to identify the cause of McClain’s death. Upon reviewing McClain’s autopsy, Dr. Roger Mitchell asserted that there was a “direct causal link” between the officer’s violence and McClain’s demise, through his statement “complications following acute ketamine administration during violent subdual and restraint by law enforcement, emergency response personnel.” (Source: CNN). While the prosecutors proclaimed that the excessive use of force by the officers led to McClain’s death, the defense argued that the force was necessary to restrain a resisting McClain. Woodyard’s defense attorneys shifted the blame to the paramedics who issued an unnecessarily large amount of ketamine. The use of the drug ketamine was also under analysis. Colorado paramedics can legally administer ketamine to treat a condition called “excited delirium,” which is a subject of ongoing debate regarding its legitimacy. The replacement of Abe’s key role in their federal government was overshadowed, with popular media sites opting to report on the Queen’s death instead. In a more long standing conflict, the Syrian Civil War began in 2011 due to the Ba’athist government’s brutal crackdowns on pro-democracy protests. As the war grew, the government, various opposition forces, ISIS, Kurdish forces, and other international actors became involved in the conflict. The results of the civil war have been devastating, marked by desperate refugees, the deaths and killings of innocent civilians — children, adults, and elders alike — and the destruction of infrastructure. However, the Syrian Civil War has similarly been overshadowed by other happenings, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and political conflicts between countries such as Russia, China, and the US. While such events also do bear great significance, the Syrian conflict is too often placed on the back burner, with minor reports coming up only once every few years. The G20 summit, a meeting between the world’s leading economic leaders, is arguably one of the most significant political gatherings in the world. In September 2023, New Delhi hosted the
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two EMTs suspected McClain of having “excited delirium,” a symptom that involves extreme agitation, violent behavior, physical strength, and hypothermia. Cooper and Cichuniec estimated him to be 100 kilograms (while he was actually 64 kg) and administered 500 milligrams of ketamine, 180 milligrams more than necessary. The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the World Health Organization do not recognize “excited delirium” as a condition, much less one that requires ketamine. Other medical professionals, such as Carl Takei and Paul Appelbaum, agree that “excited delirium” is not a scientifically valid concept. Cooper and Cichuniec pleaded not guilty and will go on trial soon. Sheneen McClain, McClain’s mother, provided a statement to CNN about her disappointment in the United States justice system after Woodyard’s trial. “It’s just unfortunate that the people that stopped my son, brutalized my son, tortured my son, get away with murder, and their passing on what they did to the medical professionals that still were supposed to do their job,” she said. “Nobody did. So it’s just unfortunate that they are placing the blame and passing the buck.” (Source:
CNN). Sheneen McClain and activist MiDian Holmes raised their fists in the air after leaving the trial at the courthouse. In the long run, what do McClain’s death and Woodyard’s trial mean for the future of America’s judicial system? Police brutality, specifically towards racial minorities, has become concerningly prevalent in our world, as seen in cases like Tyre Nichols earlier this year and the death of George Floyd in 2020. Elijah McClain, an innocent man who simply wanted to buy tea, had his day end with him in the hospital after being beaten by police officers and getting overdosed by paramedics. The final goal of both these professions should be to help create a safer, more peaceful society for everyone to enjoy, rather than harming innocent civilians. People will protest and advocate for what they believe is just— but where is the final result? Where are the signs that the United States is becoming what it always should have been—an innocuous nation of equity and equality? Ultimately, the visions of fair-minded individuals are unable to come to fruition simply because of the intense amount of prejudice laced into every stage of America’s society and justice system.
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G20 summit for the first time in India’s history. While an extremely significant milestone for the populous and rapidly developing country, there was little to no buzz on the event. Even now, searching “G20 New Delhi Summit 2023” only generates a few results from sources that are quite reputable, such as AP and Reuters, but are not not flashy and captivating to the everyday viewer relative to networks, such as Fox and CNN. On the other hand, searching up “ Trump Inflating Assets” or “ Trump Fraud Trial” itself brings a fountain of reports from popular sites such as Forbes, Politico, CNN, Times, PBS, etc. So the question must be asked: Why do some events take priority in the news over others? Western-related events often take priority over Middle Eastern and Asian news in mainstream media. Western countries, especially the US, have a more powerful economy and global in-
fluence and thus tend to have a say in everything to begin with , so they are seen as number one by not only other countries but themselves. Because of this, news sites associated with the West (which are often the most popular internationally) almost exclusively report Western events, with one exception — if Western countries (namely the US) become involved in something in the East. Another reason many media outlets fall victim to limiting their scope of reporting in this fashion is due to their need for profit. The prominence of Western countries in the political scene means that such headlines will attract more viewers, and thus more membership/advertisement revenue and increase in the worth and popularity of the network. Events in the Middle East and Asia, especially those relating to a small country or minority, are far too often ignored by influential and popular platforms, leaving those affected without a voice.
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NOVEMBER 30, 2023
HUMANS OF BASIS: NOVELLING THE WORLD By Esha Bansiya Ruoqing, a globetrotting, socially conscious adventurer and creative extraordinaire, unwittingly embarked on an eye-opening global expedition through a couple clicks on her keyboard. A quick journey into social media led to her meeting a diverse group of people.These individuals helped introduce Ruoqing to the true extent of disparities in quality of life between developed and developing countries. “I didn’t pay that much attention to wealth inequality until I had friends dealing with it,” confesses Ruoqing. “ They are ordinary people with struggles beyond the numbers. I want the rest of the world to relate to and empathize with them. Right now, I can only make a difference to the people around me, which is why I am publishing this video. I want people to care.” Her interest in learning more eventually led to a new personal project. Her first step of raising awareness of wealth inequality: publishing YouTube interviews with her new friends, and has so far compiled hour-long interviews with 8 individuals. “I started these conversations to try to understand how people in other countries live. People only talked about issues in the US, and I wanted to learn more about issues in other countries,” said Ruoqing. “So by listening to the voices of ordinary people from that country, people can see them as ordinary humans that they can relate to and empathize with. Ruoqing has conducted numerous conversations with individuals from every continent, including countries like Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and Egypt. Although it isn’t the most scientific way to meet people — most of her interviewees are in their early 20s and have access to the internet — it’s a start to opening dialogue about global wealth inequality. This project highlights the intersectionality between Ruoqing’s two main academic interests: economics and psychology. By putting people in front of the numbers, she hopes to highlight the real experiences and stories that create the statistics. Her interest in psychology not only supports her involvement in economics but also extends to writing — un-
derstanding people and how they think is essential to creating complex, yet realistic characters and narratives. One of Ruoqing’s proudest achievements was finishing her first novel, “ Towards the Rising Sun,” after close to a year of intense brainstorming, drafting, and finalizing. The fifty-five thousand word novel, a dramatic WWII romance entwined with a thorough examination of the consequences upon Japan following the Second Sino-Japanese War, offers a distinct anti-war perspective, with emotional observations of the war crimes in China. Ruoqing has always been fascinated by WWII because of its complexity as well as its relevance to our world today. For her historical fiction novel, Ruoqing did a great amount of research on the Pacific Theater of WWII — from collecting tiny details from dense books to googling specific facts to ensure her novel is accurate. For Ruoqing, story writing seems to come naturally. “ When you have a certain kind of mind, something just inspires you to write a story — to explore this idea or kind of person. You can see everything unfold in your head, and you feel these distinct emotions. Maybe you want other people to feel the same.” Along with writing, Ruoqing also enjoys the art of cooking and baking. She cooks for her family and friends and enjoys seeing her food touch people’s souls. Ruoqing also enjoys how practical the chemistry of cooking is. “I like seeing the chemical processes that create air bubbles that make your bread light and airy. Understanding chemistry gives you a better instinct for cooking. You know which substitutions are fine to make and which aren’t. You know what the ingredients you’re adding to your food are actually doing.” In the near future, she hopes to get better at making candy — particularly caramels and nougats. Another art that Ruoqing dabbles in is costume design — for the past few years, she has been hand-making and sewing her own Halloween costumes and capes based on different books, video games, and animes she is interested in. “I like exploring many different mediums of art and creation. I did some wood carving recently for a
costume, and that was really fun. I am able to become any character I really like.” Ruoqing has dressed up as Levi Ackerman from the anime Attack on Titan, Zed from League of Legends, and Vin from Mistborn Trilogy over the past three years respectively. Her impressive costumes have earned her the first place prize in the BASIS Halloween catwalks. Ruoqing donned one of her selfmade capes on her climb up HalfDome. Wearing the cape made Ruoqing feel like a superhero while hiking the 7-mile mountain path. Reflecting on the difficulty of the hike, Ruoqing said, “I’d say the part right near the top is quite difficult. There’s a very steep part where you climb up using cables. The rest of it is actually fairly easy if you’re moderately athletic.” Ruoqing herself has been rock climbing for a while and is, there-
THE AMC 12A LEAK By Christopher Chen and Julee Jiang
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with an exciting opportunity to engage with their subjects of interest while being able to easily quantify their learning progress. STEM Olympiads have also become a somewhat valuable component to students’ college applications, helping to demonstrate significant engagement and proficiency in their fields of interest. Yet, the most recent AMC 12A leak calls into question the integrity of STEM Olympiads as a metric to measure a student’s achievement and interest in a particular subject. With scores and accolades becoming more important than the learning experience itself, cheating may continue to proliferate throughout the competitive space. Contestants who haven’t put in any effort or time into a subject may end up with higher olympiad achievements than those who have committed years to olympiad training. Though the future may seem unpromising for those currently taking or planning to take STEM Olympiads, ultimately, it’s the learning and competition experience that makes STEM Olympiads fruitful for students. A passion for learning and problem-solving will be far more valuable in the long-run than any Olym-
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7,000 top-scorers from the AMC 10 and 12 are invited to the next level of competition, the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), so a few hundred cheaters already constitutes a large percentage of these qualifiers. If MAA takes no action, it is likely that the cutoff score for AIME qualification on the AMC 12A will greatly increase to ensure that a consistent number of students qualify for AIME, leading to cheaters taking the place of other students originally expected to qualify. Many contestants have voiced their concerns, stating that this leak not only undermines the potential achievements of students who have invested a great deal of time into studying for the AMC but also diminishes the spirit of academic competition. STEM Olympiads have grown in popularity, particularly in the Bay Area, with more and more students every year participating in an alphabet soup of competitions — USA Biology Olympiad (USABO), US National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO), USA Computing Olympiad (USACO), USA Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad (USAAAO), the list goes on. These contests provide students
piad award or honor. As of now, there are various speculations as to how MAA will restructure the AIME cutoff. The main theories are as follows: the test will be graded normally, leading to a higher cutoff or the cutoff will be lowered to not vary too much from previous years, ensuring that the students who did not cheat still have a chance at qualifying for AIME. Although the official cutoff is yet to be released, the MAA has made an official announcement regarding the leaked test, stating that they have disqualified the testing center that leaked the test from participating in the AMC in the future. Additionally, they will utilize human resources and AI to detect broad and individual anomalies and to aid in disqualifying those who are found to have violated their rules.
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The American Mathematics Competition or AMC is a prestigious math contest — the first of three exams used to select the six best pre-collegiate math olympians to represent the U.S. at the International Math Olympiad. Hosted by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), the 25-question test is one of the most popular contests in competitive STEM. Every year, roughly 300,000 students take the AMC 8 and AMC 10/12. A few days before the 2023 AMC 12A test day on November 8, the test paper was leaked and distributed throughout various social media apps like Xiaohongshu, Discord, and Art of Problem Solving (AoPS). It is no rare occurrence for questions from the AMC test papers to get leaked before the exam date, but in previous years, those leaks have mainly been limited to Chinese social media websites and apps. This year, the test paper was leaked on an AoPS thread, where it stayed up for about two hours before it was taken down. On a different AoPS thread regarding the leak, a commenter reported, “At any given moment, I saw 50+ people on the thread, and those people kept changing.” Based on how many people viewed the test on AoPS, Discord, and Xiaohongshu, it is estimated that several thousand people saw the test before administration. Considering the many people who saved the test and continued to distribute it, one can assume that at a minimum, hundreds of people actually analyzed the leaked problems and solved them. Every year, the ~6,000-
fore, more than moderately athletic. Ruoqing enjoys the problem-solving of rock climbing — how to strategize your climb up and improve through understanding your own capabilities. “Rock climbing taught me that exercise doesn’t have to suck. It’s a way for me to enjoy myself and stay healthy.” Ruoqing truly enjoys her diverse hobbies, from climbing rocks to writing books. Ruoqing believes that life is what we make of it and that we should do the things that make us happy, not the things others tell us to do. What brings Ruoqing the most happiness is making a positive impact on the world around her through her art and hobbies. “I would like to improve society and the lives of others in some ways because living in this world, your well-being is so dependent on others. We’re all human, right? I want to make the lives of others a little better.”
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VOL . 3, NO. 3
PERSPICACIOUS PAPARAZZI
WILL AND JADA SMITH’S TUMULTUOUS RELATIONSHIP
TAYLOR SWIFT’S 1989 (TV): STRAIGHT OUT OF OUR WILDEST DREAMS!
After over 2 decades together, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have become a household name in Hollywood. The couple first went public in 1995 and got married only two years later in Baltimore, Maryland. Subsequently, they had two children, Jaden and Willow Smith, together. Presenting themselves as a power couple, the two maintained one of the longest-standing Hollywood relationships and won many accolades in their years together. Well-known for their candid and open nature concerning their relationship, the couple garnered significant attention after Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars for making a supposedly insulting joke towards his wife. However, upon the release of her memoir, Worthy, Jada Pinkett shocked the internet with new information about her seemingly ideal relationship with Will Smith. To promote the release of her new memoir, Jada appearedon NBC’s “ Today Show” for an interview with Hoda Kotb. Kotb brought up the shocking revelation she had read in Jada’s memoir: she and Will had been separated since 2016. Though Jada confirmed that the two were not legally divorced, she nonetheless referred to their separation as a divorce and verified that they had been living separate lives for seven years. When questioned about what caused the relationship to end, she explained to Kotb that both she and Will endured many
Taylor Swift, the 12-time Grammy winner, has released her version of the pop hit album 1989! Her recent albums, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and Midnights, were a huge hit, and her newest album did not disappoint. The re-recorded album comprises sixteen tracks from the original 1989 Deluxe Edition and five brand-new songs! This marks her fourth re-recorded album, following the undeniable success of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Swift has been re-recording her music since losing her first six studio albums. Swift’s first six albums were acquired by the infamous talent, Scooter Braun, a music executive, when he bought Taylor’s previous label, Big Machine Records. Swift signed with Big Machine Records in 2005 when her historic career began. Her contract with Big Machine Records ended in 2018 but not before she performed at many sold-out stadium tours. Scooter Braun, having acquired the master’s to Swift’s mega-pop hits, later sold them to another company, Shamrock Holdings, for around $300 million, a year after her contract with Big Machine Records ended. Braun, known for managing many other music celebrities like pop singer Justin Beiber, continues to profit from Swift’s original versions every time a person listens to them. Through re-recording albums, Swift is reclaiming the rights to her songs and regaining what Braun stole from her. The five new songs on the album are “from the vault,” as they were written for the original album but were not released. Each vault song introduces something new to the audience with every re-recorded album release. This album did not disappoint, with her song “Is it Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” charting first on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week, along with other vault tracks such as “Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” in second. Here are some of our favorite tracks from the album: Selena: On the Deluxe Album, Track 22, titled “Bad Blood (feat. Kendrick La-
By Pooja Kanthala and Selena Peng
By Aarna Kamath and Ailsa Wu
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problems in the relationship, acknowledging that they were both still “stuck in a fantasy of what [they] thought the other person should be.” However, in a separate interview with Today a week later, Jada told Kotb that she and Will are working to bring their marriage back together again. This isn’t the only turbulence their relationship has faced in the past years. Jada’s connection with late rapper Tupac Shakur is no secret to the public; however, she claims that though she considers them to have been “soulmates”, their relationship was purely platonic. However, this isn’t the case for Jada’s “entanglement” with rapper August Alsina, which came to light in 2020 when Jada fully admitted to having a relationship with the rapper in front of Will on her talk show “Red Table Talk”. So, what has Will said about their supposed separation? Recalling the infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars in which Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock across the face for making an insensitive joke about Jada, it appears that the two had already been split for six years at the time of the incident. In light of this new information, users online have expressed curiosity for Will’s side of the story. His only public response to the exhumed information seems to have been in an email to the New York Times, where he wrote about his “emotional blindness” and “lack of sensitivity to [Jada’s] hidden nuances and subtle beauties.” This response, coupled with Jada’s statements from her interview, could indicate that these two may be in a good place for now.
LE SSERAFIM X OVERWATCH 2 COLLABORATION
more than the skins, they are also given in a package with LE SSERAFIM-themed dance emotes. Additionally, after completing in-game quests, players can unlock a legendary Junkrat skin free of charge.
Amidst a whirlwind of excitement, Overwatch 2, a free-to-play team-based shooter video game, unveiled its highly anticipated collaboration with the sensational K-pop group, LE SSERAFIM, on November 1. This event introduced a dazzling array of new content, including a limited-time 3v3 Concert Clash Capture the Flag (CTF) mode, intricate FEARNOT-themed skins for select heroes, dance emotes, and even a legendary Junkrat skin (unfortunately). The limited-time 3v3 Concert Clash CTF mode showcases an electrifying combination of traditional CTF mechanics and a pulsating musical vibe. With its unique gameplay and character selection, players are immersed in a never-before-seen gaming experience in Overwatch. The crown jewels of this collaboration are undoubtedly the meticulously designed FEARNOT-themed cosmetics. Players now have the chance to acquire a collection of breathtaking skins for heroes D.Va, Kiriko, Sombra, Tracer, and Brigitte. These resplendent designs pay homage to the LE SSERAFIM group and its fans, delivering a fresh persona for these characters. If you are interested in
However, the event has also sparked controversy, as many players are raising their voices against the event’s pricing. To unlock the tantalizing new content, players must spend a significant amount of in-game currency or real money. One skin is purchasable at an amount of ingame credits (that are very difficult to earn without paying money) worth 20 U.S. dollars. This pricing has ignited a fierce debate within the Overwatch community about whether the event’s opulent offerings are truly accessible to a wide range of players or are predominantly aimed at those with deep pockets. Overwatch 2’s LE SSERAFIM collaboration event is a spectacle to behold, offering a plethora of limited-time cosmetics and experiences that exhibit the game’s dedication to providing distinctive experiences to its player community. Nonetheless, the controversy surrounding the event’s cost highlights the imperfections in the affair, and eyes will be on Blizzard Entertainment to see how they respond to player feedback and whether they will make adjustments to appease the concerns raised by their community.
By Josh Peter
blizzard entertainment
spotify
mar) (Taylor’s Version),” features a collaboration on the original song “Bad Blood” with additional rap lines sung by Kendrick Lamar. This collaboration is a fan favorite because one of Kendrick’s lines, “You forgive, you forget, but you never let it go,” is included as a fan chant when Taylor sings this song on tour. The re-recording of this collaboration made many fans ecstatic! It is heartwarming to see the consistent support from Kendrick for Taylor in reclaiming her masters! Pooja: Track 21, titled “Is It Over Now (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault),” took the world by storm. This song is ranked number one on multiple song charts, including the famous Billboard Hot 100TM. “Is It Over Now” delves into the brief romance between pop stars Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. In the song, Swift talks about Styles’ wandering eye during their relationship and the on-and-off nature of their romance. There are multiple hints throughout the song that hint towards the song being about Styles. For example, a lyric mentions wearing a blue dress on a boat. This line probably refers to the paparazzi photos representing the lyric of when Swift left Styles’ Virgin Islands vacation house amid breakup rumors. Swift was quite blunt about their relationship in the song, surprising many fans.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO: NO ONE ABOVE 25 OR TRUE LOVE?
By Katherine He
Since his big break in 1997 with the role of the romantic, ill-fated passenger, Jack Dawson, in Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio has worked on other several immensely popular movies, including Inception (2010), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and many more. Despite his versatility and portrayal of diverse and challenging roles, he was most wellknown in his prime as a teenage heartthrob and dated several women during that period. However, none of his many relationships were successful. Luckily for him, DiCaprio stayed strong and continued to date many women from 2000-2023. Following this, the public soon noticed an eerie pattern—all the women he dated were in their 20s, even as he gradually aged through the years. Needless to say, his fans and many other bystanders were quite worried about what they were witnessing. The question loomed: Does Leonardo DiCaprio only date women 10 to 20+ years younger than himself? The first signs of this pattern started with Kelly Rohrbach and Nina Agdal, both of whom DiCaprio dated briefly when he was in his early 40s and broke up with when they were at the age of 25. Even after entering his 40s, DiCaprio continues to go for women in their 20s, some of whom include Camila Morrone and now his current girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti. Vittoria Ceretti is a successful 25-year-old Italian supermodel who was scouted after winning the Elite’s Model Look contest at the age of 14. This detail may seem irrelevant, but a closer examination reveals that DiCaprio may have a type: young, European supermodels. One example being the incredibly successful Gisele Bundchen. This revelation
furthers the theory that DiCaprio prefers women in their 20s. However, all of these claims could just be a coincidence, because what if all these relationships were born out of true love? However, true love still requires passion in both cases. DiCaprio’s longest relationship was with Gisele Bundchen and lasted 6 years but was constantly on and off. To sum it up, based on all of DiCaprio’s past endeavors, the majority of the public believes he specifically seeks out women under 25. While the general consensus might change if this pattern were to be broken one day, including his relationship with Vittoria Ceretti, he does not seem to be breaking any molds for the time being.
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NOVEMBER 30, 2023
THE FOUNDATION BEHIND GOOD UNFORTUNATE LEADERSHIP: STRONG RELATIONSHIPS SKILL ISSUE
By Pooja Kanthala
The backbone to good leadership stems from maintaining strong and healthy relationships. There are many factors that go into having and maintaining good relationships — whether it be with a boss, classmate, or close friend. The most important factor is the understanding and demonstration of ethical principles. So what are these ethical principles, and what do they actually mean? According to DECA Direct, there are eight main ethical principles, each of which are integral and crucial to a good and healthy relationship. These eight principles include: Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Transparency, Fairness, Respect, Rule of law, and Viability. Integrity is characterized by acting with honesty and having good morals. Integrity also allows for relationships to be built off of trust. For example, consider a scenario where a student forgets to complete a homework assignment, and the teacher asks if the student has their homework assignment with them. If the student answers truthfully and with integrity, the teacher can guide the student in avoiding future mistakes, ultimately strengthening trust between the student and the teacher. Conversely, if the student does not answer truthfully, this lack of truthfulness can lead to more serious consequences and ultimately weakens the trust between the student and the teacher. Trust is a concept where good relationships depend on reliability and truth. Trust and integrity go hand in hand with each other, as both depend on the other. Accountability is when a person takes responsibility for their actions and more importantly, their mistakes. A person who demonstrates accountability shows others that they are not afraid of their mistakes and forms a sense of trust in relationships with others and one’s self. For example, consider a scenario where you borrow a shirt without asking your friend, and your friend confronts you about the shirt. If you own up to your mistake, you demonstrate accountability, thus leading to a solution and strength-
By Sheil Mody and Vincent Yang
ened friendship. Holding yourself accountable for mistakes increases the strength of friendships. Being transparent about mistakes essentially means demonstrating accountability and a sense of integrity. Fairness is defined as treating everybody in a fair and equal way. Treating others in a fair and equal way paves the way for more enjoyable experiences and overall positive relationships because each person is viewed as an equal, and no one is “above” the other. Treating others with fairness allows for better responses from others, and as mentioned earlier, more enjoyable moments. Respect is when a person honors and acknowledges the property and rights of others. Respect and fairness are closely intertwined, as both underscore respect for others in any relationship or friendship, thus promoting fairness in relationships. Mutual respect is important in any relationship because, as mentioned before, each individual in that relationship or friendship views one another as equals. A respectful person is usually a fair person and vice versa. Rule of Law is important for any relationship and is defined as following rules and regulations with spirit and respect. In terms of relationships, rule of law is shown by respecting a friend’s or person’s boundaries. By acknowledging and respecting a person’s personal boundaries, a sense of mutual trust and respect is built, thus strengthening the relationship. Viability is a concept where a person starts a relationship, friendship, or even an accord with long-term growth and happiness in mind. With any relationship or friendship, pursuing a sense of enjoyment and a strong bond is important. Overall, the general ethical principles are essential to maintaining healthy, long-term, and stable relationships with others. All of these principles combine together to create a perfect mix of qualities that are important in all individuals whether they are leaders or not.
LAME DUCK LUCK
Amidst the ever-changing dynamic of the world, individuals equipped with a more diverse skill set are better able to traverse through life than those simply wielding increased luck. Although luck can be a large benefit when it comes to life, having a confident skill in any category outweighs the supremacy of luck any day. When was the last time someone said, “ That’s so skillful!”? People overvalue the role that luck plays in the eternal scheme of life and underestimate how valuable having skill is compared to the slight benefits of luck. In the context of consistency, skill comes out on top as luck is, obviously, more chance-based and may not provide consistent, fruitful outcomes. Having increased luck is always a beneficial trait, but when it comes to consistent tasks like schoolwork and tests, luck may prove to be inferior to skill. For example, when taking a test, it’s better to completely understand the concepts and content of the exam rather than running blindfolded, putting the fate of your grade in the hands of Lady Luck. Luck can be crucial when it comes down to the wire and you need to guess in the nick of time, but having skill can guarantee an overall higher score. The presence of good fortune is always welcome, but when attempting to increase mastery levels in a specific field, having an increased skill helps provide the greatest net outcome with lasting effects. Skill is typically associated with sustained success over the long term. Honing skills in any specific field allows individuals to adapt to various situations and challenges, contributing to enduring success, whereas luck brings shortterm gains but not very much sustained success. Fellow BASIS students agree with this claim, “skill lasts forever, while luck is only temporary,” says Jaithra Patel (11). Luck may prove to be parallel to skill during certain endeavors, but overall, skill plays a more important role and is more dependable than the force of luck.
THE DEFT ARE BEREFT
In the grand arena of life, where we
humans are constantly engaged in the chaos of success and failure, we find ourselves pondering the eternal question: Is it skill, honed through years of diligent work and practice, that leads to triumph? Or is it, perhaps, the whimsical lady called Luck who holds all the cards? Many would scoff and discard the idea that their lives are dictated by chance and happenings beyond their control, but to do so is simply turning a blind eye to reality. In life, the one favored by fortune will find themselves a leg up on the one with expertise. Why is possessing luck preferable compared to skill? Imagine it like this: having skills is comparable to having a finely-tuned vehicle—the car is cool and all, but you still have to navigate the treacherous terrain of life, filled with potholes and traffic and banana peels galore. Now, consider luck, which would be synonymous with receiving an airlift directly to your destination. With luck, one can easily achieve what others with skill toil away for years to achieve with minimal time and effort; for example, being born into a wealthy family can catapult one to heights that are simply not achievable through ability alone. What contributes most to the wealth of the billionaire is not skill, but the good fortune afforded to them when born into well-off families or serendipitous encounters upon lucrative opportunities. While skill indubitably plays a role in capitalizing on these fortunate circumstances, luck provides all the initial stepping stones that pave the way to prosperity. Moreover, luck is an omnipresent force that persists throughout the seasons of life, unlike skill, which will fade with time. One could be endowed with unparalleled mastery over every subject and still find their aspirations dashed against the rocks if they are dealt an unfavorable hand. Sudden health crises or unforeseen tragedies can negate years of hard work and improvement of skills in the blink of an eye. It is through the observation of these moments that luck is established as the most salient force in determining one’s experience in life. The poignant quote, “Luck is more important than skill,” by Anthony Tong (UC San Diego) perfectly encapsulates the overwhelming power of chance. In conclusion, while skill is undoubtedly a contributor to success, luck is the true catalyst that will turn the tides in one’s favor.
OPINION: WHAT HAPPENED TO ROCK MUSIC?
By Sachit Parekh
Rock music, the epitome of pop culture from the 60s all the way to the early 00s, has experienced a dramatic fall from popularity over the past few decades. When the average person thinks of the genre, they likely think of men with absurdly long hair yelling into the microphone with an inaudible backdrop. However, the genre is extremely diverse, with sub genres ranging from heavy metal to indie rock. Rarely do any rock songs ever reach the Billboard 100 nowadays, and the top rock albums on the Billboard 200 remain classic albums from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. So, what happened to rock music, especially new rock music? What caused the decline in its popularity, and what does the future hold for the genre? The genre’s original roots can be traced back to the legendary Elvis Presley, who took the United States’ music scene by storm during the 1950s. A de-
cade later, the Beatles achieved international fame during their 10-year, 12-album run, and set the stage for a vibrant scene of rock music, from iconic artists such as Jimi Hendrix to legendary bands such as Queen. During the 1970s, popular music consisted mainly of rock, R&B, and disco, as bands like Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin dominated the scene. The 1980s saw an increased assimilation of rock with what we now know as 80s pop, although proper rock bands still persisted. The meteoric rise of Nirvana brought grunge, a metal-esque subgenre, into the spotlight during the early 90s. The late 90s and 00s saw the development of post-grunge (in bands such as the Foo Fighters) as well as pop-punk, which was spearheaded by Green Day and Blink-182. The 2010s had some bands such as Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy shift to a more pop-oriented style
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in an attempt to stay relevant, but other artists who somewhat maintained their style fell out of mainstream prominence. The decline of rock music can be attributed to the growth of more electronic-based music starting in the late 90s, as hip-hop and modern pop grew in popularity, coupled with a surge in EDM in the early 2010s. This factor can be combined with the lack of diversity in rock as a genre, with an overwhelming majority of mainstream bands consisting of middle-aged white men. Especially now, people tend to gravitate toward artists they can share some sort of connection with, and the lack of women and minorities in the rock scene really does not add bonus points for inclusivity. Women who have entered the mainstream rock scene face constant discrimination and harassment, such as Hayley Williams, the frontwoman of Paramore, one of the most influential pop-punk bands of the 2000s. She has spoken of her experiences as a woman in a genre full of men, from facing constant harassment online to mistreatment by record labels. Another possible component includes the lyrical content of the genre. Compared to pop songs, modern rock music
has lyrics that are noticeably more serious (covering topics like mental health), with lyrics that are open to interpretation from the listener, compared to mainstream pop music. The lyrics of your average pop song are much more carefree and allow the listener to simply have fun with listening, and when presented with the stresses of the modern world, this sort of escape is especially desired. If there are serious lyrics in pop music, they are generally more direct and easier to interpret. Although rock has had its glory days, I believe that it is time we bring forth a more diverse scope of popular music— including hip hop, R&B, and pop—putting a range of more diverse artists in the spotlight. Rock music still remains alive, with many famous bands such as Metallica, Paramore, and Blink-182 releasing albums that have garnered moderate success this year alone. Rock music has become more diverse than ever, despite not having as much mainstream success as two decades ago. The increased presence of streaming services like Spotify in our daily lives will further the promotion of underrepresented artists in the genre.
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VOL . 3, NO. 3
THE RISE OF BLIND BOXES
By Emma Ma
Imagine you walk into your local stationary store, and you see a tiny cardboard box with colorful illustrations drawn all over it on a shelf. Curious, you walk over and pick up the box, stopping abruptly when you notice the price tag—20 dollars. You can’t help but wonder, what could this tiny box hold that justifies such a price? These products are known as blind boxes or mystery boxes–sealed packages that contain a randomized product. The products offered usually range from small trinkets like figurines and miniatures to more valuable items such as electronics. Buyers are informed of
the possible items inside the box but don’t know which one they’ll receive, adding an element of mystery to the normal activity of buying a toy. The concept of blind boxes can be traced back to 1980s Japan when fukubukuro (“lucky bag”) and gashapon (coin-operated toy vending machines) first became popular. Over the years, mystery boxes have become a global phenomenon, with both international and local companies benefiting from its growth. In China, the company Pop Mart has risen in the toy industry by selling their trademark ‘designer’ collectibles in the form of blind boxes. Brands such as Disney and Line Friends have followed suit, popularizing these products in the United States. The question arises: why are blind boxes popular in the first place? Why are
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NOT AGAIN, IT’S ONE OF THOSE STUPID AMERICANS! By Angela Cao and Sarah Wu In the last 50 years, Americans have become universally notorious for their lack of worldly knowledge. Viral clips featuring Americans unable to distinguish continents between countries constantly resurface on social media. How has America’s post-World War II reputation declined so dramatically? How did the US become a global laughing stock if it has the highest GDP and the best educational institutions in the world? A primary reason for this perception is the prevailing image of the US as a powerful country, largely due to its past dominance and continued influence in international affairs. However, for a G7 country, the education seems to be especially sub-par, with only 79% literacy among America’s adults. It turns out that as mighty of a nation as the US appears to be, we are not as greatly esteemed as we hope to be. So many Americans believe in the US’ efficiency that common misconceptions such as the US having the highest GDP per capita have become widespread, when the honor really falls to Luxembourg. Americans also seem to be more disconnected from the rest of the world. For instance, the average American speaks far less languages than the average European. More than half of Europeans are bilingual, while only 1 in 5 Americans can speak another language fluently. Viral clips have exemplified this reputation further and brought it into greater public view. In 2010, a video published by Jimmy Kimmel titled “Can You Name A Country?” consisted of street interviews asking Americans whether they could locate any country on a map. Many struggled to point out even a single country, and some even failed to identify their own country. As more and more people struggle to name any countries, the viewer can’t help but reflect on the irony and hopelessness in the situation. One can’t help but wonder whether Americans are truly this ignorant or if the whole video is some sort of joke. At the end, a little boy who can locate many countries comes up. His knowledge is meant to impress the audience, yet it is important to reflect on whether this piece of common knowledge truly warrants admiration. These kinds of videos are not rare at all. Americans are commonly depicted in popular culture as ignorant in geographical
awareness. Although the media should be taken with a grain of salt, especially since videos could be edited to remove people disproving their claims, the very existence of so many people across the country who fail at basic geography should be a call for us to reflect as a country on if the American culture and education system fails us. To understand the cause, we must go back nearly a century to the Second World War. With the US’s significant involvement in the global conflict, citizens were actively involved in the news through the papers and television programs, giving them a general sense of history and geography even if it wasn’t taught in school. The widespread interest in the war proved highly beneficial, as many had family members fighting in areas all around the world, whether it was in the Pacific Theater or in Europe and Africa. After the Allied victories in 1945, the US solidified its reputation as the most powerful country by both the demonstration of military might and the representation of well-educated citizens. The decline initially started with the Cold War. Cold War America featured very insulated media, as government officials were beginning to grow paranoid about allowing outside influence from other countries. Individuals like the notorious Aldrich Ames, who betrayed the US government by divulging valuable information about spies to the Soviet Union, further contributed to the paranoia and filled the minds of many with espionage. Though the US was involved in the Vietnam War, there was very little media coverage because of the bloodshed and America’s ultimate failure in triumphing in the fight against communism. The second most popular show during the war followed Gomer Pyle, a US Marine Corps private, yet it mentioned nothing about the Vietnam War. The general isolation culture throughout America’s baby boomer era proved to significantly impact the culture of newer generations raised after. This lack of exposure has caused a trend in increasing lack of interest throughout the US in foreign affairs. According to the Statistics Research Department, only 42% of the US population owned a valid US passport in 2017. The disregard for cultures outside their own means less international communication and
so many people willing to empty their wallets for a few random pieces of plastic? The answer lies in the experience of gaining these pieces. While what lies inside the box still matters, the unique charm a blind box has is due to the process of choosing, purchasing, and opening it. The feeling of anticipation and thrill that builds up every moment you hold that box in your hands—that’s the kryptonite that wins people over. It doesn’t matter if you get the design you want on the first try or get the same one three times in a row; the joy from opening it will have you coming back time and time again. Blind boxes are
addictive and use the art of gambling to ensure customers are happy and willing to spend more. This trend is the reason why blind boxes are as pricey as they are—companies know that although their prices tend to be high, people are still purchasing their products with no complaints. In conclusion, blind boxes are a fun way to collect cute figurines, but they also attract you to spend large sums of money unknowingly. They’re a double-edged sword—on one hand, you experience exhilaration and suspense, but on the other hand, you can easily become addicted. Would you buy one?
exploration through travel, resulting in the deterioration of American tolerance and cultural knowledge. Even with the introduction of the internet, the general lack of interest in international affairs has rendered the vast collection of online resources useless for most. However, this generalization cannot be applied to all. The US harbors some of the best educational institutions in the world. Ivy Leagues and other top-tier private schools like Stanford are famous for their abundant resources and selectiveness when it comes to possible candidates. Through some education programs, the US has also produced some of the most respected entrepreneurs, scientists, and authors. As it turns out, America has both extremes of the spectrum. When evaluating the global awareness of the US population, the large socioeconomic gap and wealth disparities must also be considered. Not everyone has the economic security to get access to proper education. However, the stereotype is further exemplified by our international representation. When it comes to the reputation of Americans and their perceived intelligence, political coverage is a major influence. In the past decade, the international media coverage of the US has become progressively negative. Embarrassing events like the 2013 IRS scandal, often heavily associated with Obama’s re-election, and January 6th surge on the Capitol immediately made international headlines. Our presidents are also commonly made into objects of ridicule. Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden are often mocked on social media: Obama for his heavy reliance on teleprompters, Trump for his comments on Twitter, and Biden for his elderly age and slurred speech. When it came to geography, news sources were quick to
pick up on their mishaps. On a talk show in 2013, Obama appeared to flop when it came to basic US geography. When asked about how partisanship became an issue when it came to reconstruction of infrastructure, Obama began to talk about the Panama Canal and the economic consequences in the Gulf of Mexico of losing the ports. However, he mentioned cities Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, all cities with ports on the Atlantic Ocean. The Washington Examiner went as far as to say, “See what happens when Obama speaks without his trusty teleprompter?”. This wasn’t Obama’s first majorly embarrassing geography mishap. On his 2008 campaign tour, he once told a crowd of people that he visited 57 states and had “one left to go”. Such incidents have caused skepticism among many regarding the education levels of average citizens under the government. After all, if the President can’t identify the bodies of water where major cities in the US are located, what does the average Joe know? When presented with loads of media evidence of Americans being ignorant and not possessing what is considered to be basic geographical knowledge, it is only fair that some begin to fall for the stereotype. Sure, going around the streets of Los Angeles might not be the best way to determine the “smartness” of the general population, but it sheds light on an important truth: the US is falling behind its international counterparts and is no longer considered as glorious as it once was. The apparent stupidity of Americans is largely a result of years of negative media portrayal. Although there certainly is some truth to the stereotype, it is important to remember that what is portrayed in the media is not necessarily representative of the rest of the diverse US population.
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costumes to the school as they strolled down a red carpet with their HALLOWEEN 2023 their friends. The red carpet was graced
By Alicia Peng
Halloween is the one day of the year when you can transform into anything. People can dress like their favorite cartoon or movie characters, their pets, pickles, or giant inflatable dinosaurs. In our BIFU community, Halloween is met with much enthusiasm each year, marked by a schoolwide celebration of the holiday. Before the event, Student Panel members and seniors gathered outside to help set up the red carpet for the Catwalk, as well as the ghosts and spiderwebs, in anticipation of the schoolwide celebration. The entire school gathered outside to play the various games on the blacktop. However, the star of the show was the Halloween Catwalk and Costume Contest organized by Student Panel. Students were encouraged to show off
AN ANECDOTE TO MY FELLOW BASIS STUDENTS By Abheek Batra
A rigorous schedule. Sleep deprivation. These phrases sound quite familiar to the average BASIS student. Your day starts early in the morning as you rush to get to school. After arriving, you endure eight long periods until 4 p.m. , with each class assigning homework regularly. Sometimes, even recess transforms into a study session for one high-stakes exam. But that’s not the end of the academic challenges. As soon as school ends, the creature lurking backstage comes forward — extracurriculars. Sometimes, school clubs demand even more time, leading to an even more jampacked schedule. From advanced math to sports and music, people often fail to realize that whatever they do is enough. BASIS’s curriculum is quite advanced, at least a year or two ahead of the standard school curriculum. The difficulty of the school work is directly related to the amount of homework, as you need more practice for harder concepts. Comprehensive tests that cover the entire curriculum add an additional burden, whether you are a middle schooler or a high schooler. With pre-comps and comps for middle schoolers and APs for high schoolers, these comprehensive examinations require dedicated studying. When we finally get home, sometimes late, the first thing on our mind is studying, which sometimes extends late into the night. BASIS is designed to make you spend hours processing each subject and
by inflatable sharks, pickles, Katniss Everdeen, Strawberry Shortcakes, and more, with Mr. Mariscal orchestrating the music to match. Seated at the end of the runway, Mr. Betcher, Ms. Davis, Ms. Apra, and Mr. Danny assessed each costume and gave their ratings. Through vigorous competition and deliberation, three winners were announced: Levi Ackerman, Ursula, and Two-Face. During the Halloween celebration, our very own BIF Environmental Club hosted a pumpkin patch featuring numerous orange and white pumpkins, perfect for kids to decorate their homes in the Halloween spirit. Besides the pumpkins, the Environmental Club also set up an adorable background for photos and good memories. Halloween was a lot of fun, and we can’t wait for next year!
to encourage thinking outside the box. This teaching style can spur great success in a competitive world where such thinking is valued over average, common ideas. As a result, teachers try their best to push us into successful mindset, but at times, it becomes overwhelming. Unfortunately, all of this creates stress. Stress, defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation,” is induced in many students due to concerns about grades or competition among peers. Stress leads students to commit to one thing after another without a break, thinking that they aren’t doing enough. At other times, life happens — perhaps your device ran out of battery or your family scheduled another event on the weekend — and we get freaked out by the unknown, not knowing what will happen but defaulting to the assumption that it is negative. Our mind automatically anticipates a negative result when we do not know what will occur, all of this creating even more stress. This article, fellow BASIS students, serves as an ode to all your hard work, time, and effort. It’s a reminder that you are enough — your grit and your grind to perform at a high level, to secure your future, spending most of your conscious time learning, because you know what’s to come next. Acknowledge that what you do is extraordinary, even if no one else does. Remember, there are many people out there to support you even when you feel like there are none. Stay steadfast in your goals, and the world will reward you accordingly. Stay strong, BASIS students, and good luck in your future endeavors.
IYTC: HELPING TEENAGERS BECOME TOBACCO-FREE By Sheil Mody
The International Youth Tobacco Control, or IYTC for short, is a nonprofit organization that helps inform children and teenagers of the danger of tobacco usage. They have hosted many events, fundraisers, and meetings to help spread awareness of the tobacco plague since the founding of the organization a little over six years ago. IYTC has branches all over the world in countries like the US, Canada, China, Japan, and more. Their mission is “to bridge the social inequality across the globe in legislation and education related to teenage smoking” and has positively impacted 57 million children worldwide by educating them about the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use. Luckily for BASIS, Samhita Mirmira (11) is the president of the Northern California division of the IYTC, actively leading local efforts to combat teenage smoking and promote a healthier future. She has graciously agreed to provide a statement regarding IYTC, stating, “IYTC North Cal hopes to make an impact in our region by reinforcing the idea that we are part of a collective effort to combat substance abuse and promote healthy lifestyle choices in teens.” By now, most have probably heard of
the negative impacts of tobacco — tens of millions of youths suffer from its addictive effects. Big corporations, with the sole purpose of obtaining money, market these tobacco products in ways that attract young customers, such as developing e-cigarettes with different attractive flavors. Smoking of any kind can increase the chances of cancer or cardiovascular disease. Nicotine, present in tobacco products, can cause excessive mood swings, anxiety, and other issues with the brain. Nicotine is also an addictive chemical, and corporations use this chemical to exploit the youth into consistently purchasing their products. IYTC hopes to prevent this addiction before it begins by educating youth and teenagers around the globe, potentially saving thousands of lives. Through funds raised by their global chapters, IYTC spreads awareness of this ever-growing issue by hosting events in all of their branches, such as the event that the BASIS IYTC branch held this past week, Red Ribbon Week. With branches across the world, IYTC’s united efforts during Red Ribbon Week showcase their dedication to bridging social imbalance in legislation and education related to teenage smoking.
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: Ada Costiniano, Christopher Chen Vol. 3, No. 2 Corrections: Hamas Attack on Israel (Pg. 1) Title changed to “Conflict in the Middle East”. Again, our hearts go out to civilians on both sides of this conflict. How Do I Manage My Money? (Pg. 6) “One oOther ways . . . isare to track your spending habits.” => “One of the other ways. . .is to track your spending habits”
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Thank you for reading the third 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.