Issue 7: "Learn From Our Words" by Rebecca O'Connor

TREASURE TROVE LEARN

FROM OUR WORDS

Reach for the stars on p.___ with Avery Berquist's piece on astronomy!

Lucy Worcester fights for equal opportunities for all ability levels on p. ___

Jamie Pierson explores unique nature: the aspen tree on p. __

Carolyn Estrada takes on the battle for women's rights on p.___

ISSUE

MARCH 2023

Hello Treasure Trove readers,

Thank you all for reading this magazine! This issue of the Treasure Trove has been professionally put together by our amazing Louisville Middle School staff and writers. Our writers have performed true journalism this issue, interviewing professors at top universities around the world, professional athletes (including Simone Biles!), and extraordinary LMS teachers! In addition, we have included voices from our community through mentoring students from the Intensive Learning Center and working with our budding, young journalists in the Young Writer's Spotlight.

It has been an honor to be the Editors-in-Chief of this issues exemplary magazine.

Lucy Worcester and Melanie Bliss

Editor-in-Chiefs

Our Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFS LUCY WORCESTER MELANIE BLISS

BUSINESS MANAGER CASHIN FEJER

EDITORS

Liv Takach

Lily Van Horn

Jack Fisher

Lucy Worcester

Cashin Fejer

Johnathan Deneau

Savannah Barthen

Leah Deal

Carmen Hander

Norah Durbin

Gabe Timberlake

Darby Merkel

Avery Sherr

Stella Smith

Josie Todaro

Mel Bliss

Dylan Scholtes

Andres Patrick Cisneros

DESIGNERS

Stella Smith

Charlotte Lumpkin

Lily Van Horn

Johnathan Deneau

Josie Todaro

Leah Deal

Paloma Davol

Sage Kelley

Rosie Stone

Jack Fisher

Avery Sherr

Amelia Holm

Addi Horn

Violet Rini

Mel Bliss

Kate Clasby

Eva Minshaw

Liv Takach

Emerson Hebler

Macy Beckwith

Norah Durbin

Lucy Meyer

Carmen Hander

Madeline Yoho

Cashin Fejer

Fia Madigan

Jane Meyer

Avery Bergquist

Cover artwork: Ariks Pukitis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HOBBIES

Stocks: The Secret Strategy

by Skyler Caleb Holmberg

Have you ever looked at a dollar bill and wished you could make it a $20 bill? Now you can. Welcome to the world of stocks. According to Inyoung Hwang, a futures and options editor at The Wall Street Journal, the stock market was created in 1611 by a Dutch East India Company which wanted to raise capital, so they sold shares (a piece of the company) to investors, who would receive the dividends. That started the revolutionary stock market that exists today. But now you may be thinking, “Well great, I’ll put fifty bucks into a popular company and it will be worth hundreds in a few weeks.” Not so fast. Stocks are a lucrative investment, but you need to be smart about which stocks you choose, and the amount of money you put into them. Additionally, getting the advice of an experienced stockbroker can be extremely helpful on your path to success.

Choosing a Stock

There are many different types of stocks, all having different pros and cons that you need to weigh when deciding which ones to invest in. Jeff Sommer, a business strategies expert states, “As long as you can withstand some short-term losses, then broadly diversified, low-cost index funds are a good way to invest in the total stock market. That approach eliminates the risk of holding the wrong specific stocks at the wrong time.” In other words, investing in index funds is a way to ensure you don’t put all of your money into the same company, which could result in losing the majority of your money if that stock crashes. For example, if you were to have bought one stock of Mcdonald's in February 2020, it would have been worth $216, but one month later in March, it would then be worth $150 due to Coronavirus. On the contrary, one stock of Amazon in February 2020 was worth $100, but in August 2020, it was worth $170. Investing in one company is extremely risky, but can be rewarding if you choose the right company at the right time. In order to become a successful investor, you need to have a strategic plan for your money.

Defining Your Investment Rate

One of the best ways to invest in stocks is by choosing a percentage of your yearly income to invest. Joey Bocci, a local stockbroker, states, “My general recommendation is that people save 15% of their income generally in stocks after they are out of debt.” Doing this consistently will result in building up a great deal of money, with more gains each time the fund has a spike. Putting that into perspective, let’s say you make $80,000 a year and you invest 20 percent of that into the S&P 500, a popular index fund that averages seven to twelve percent annual growth. That means you put $16,000 a year into the fund. If it grows 10 percent that year, you will have $17,600. That’s $1,600 in profit! But be careful: the stock market is like an earthquake, unpredictable and potentially devastating. So it’s imperative you get the advice of a stockbroker before investing.

Best Overall: Fidelity Investments

Best Broker for Low Costs:

Fidelity Investments

Best Broker for Beginners:

TD Ameritrade

Best Broker for Mobile: TD

Ameritrade

Best Broker for Advanced

Traders: Interactive Brokers

Best Broker for Options:

Tastyworks

Selecting a Broker

There are many different brokerage companies, but some are better than others. Michael Sacchtello, a professional at macro market research, institutional trading desk, and trading education experience puts these brokerage companies in order. These are the “best” because they provide a wide variety of investment options, modern trading tools, and have excellent customer service.

Time to Invest

Now that you have a basic understanding of how stocks work: choosing a stock, choosing a percentage of your income to invest, and deciding on a broker, you have the tools to start thinking about investing. It’s a risky business, but stocks also have serious potential if you are wise with where you put your money. So now that you see the power of stocks, maybe it’s time to skip the savings account and contact a stock broker instead.

A World of Words

by Dylan Scholtes

Many people do not know the challenges and processes writers go through to get a book published, such as writer’s block, the writing process, and getting a book published. Authors have to write their ideas on paper, transform their writing to make it better, and get it accepted by publishers while enduring many challenges. The system of having an idea to seeing a book on shelves is lengthy and tough. Authors have to use the writing process, overcome writer's block, and go through the procedure of getting a book published.

The Process of Creating Worlds

The writing process is a vast sea of storms. You will encounter many different obstacles and bumps along the way, leading to a finished, publish-ready book. Rebecca O’Connor, a professional writer, and teacher at Louisville Middle School, stated that the most important part of the writing process is drafting and revising. She explains, “A first draft should never see the light of day. It's in the revision, rewriting, and sculpting that a written work comes to life and achieves significance. The most exciting part of the writing process is the idea clicking in the brainstorming phase--that perfect idea and a blank page.” The first draft is one of the most important parts of the writing process. You can always improve your first draft and you need to revise, rewrite, and sculpt the work to create a more elaborate and polished masterpiece. When drafting and using the writing process, you will encounter many challenges, such as writer's block. Writer’s block is when you are writing away and you suddenly can’t figure out how to write the next part. You’re stuck and you don’t know what to do. As stated by Rebecca O’Connor, “I use the stream-ofconsciousness method. I just start rambling--allowing myself to be a ‘bad writer,’ just to get loosened up and going. Then, all of a sudden, I find my direction!” When you experience writer’s block, you can start writing on and on even if it’s not good, and then you just have to come back later to polish it and make it sound better. When you have endured writer’s block, and have a finished writing piece, you are ready for publication. Publishing a book is when you get your story printed by a company and it gets sold as a printed book.

According to Rebecca O’Connor, “The most difficult part of getting a book published is finishing a book. It takes a daily commitment to writing, to make a full book happen. Also, having a writing community for giving and receiving feedback is crucial to producing a book worth reading. Finally, getting noticed in a ‘slush pile’ is tricky. When you pitch your book to a publisher, it often takes having connections or knowing someone on the inside to stand a chance.” To get a book published, you need to be committed to writing your book. If you write half of a book and stop, you won’t ever get to publishing it. After getting your book finally published, you are finished with the writing process.

Why We Write

All in all, writing is a vast world, waiting for you to explore it and overcome the challenges and hardships to publish a book.

Books are a casual pastime for many people and without the author pouring out their soul into their book, people wouldn’t be able to enjoy reading. Throughout our history, the power of writing has been a part of our lives that millions of people enjoy, and we will continue to write our worlds for centuries to come.

ALCOHOL-BASED ALCOHOL-BASED ALCOHOL-BASED MARKER MARKERART ART MARKER ART

BY JACK LARSON

Art Markers; A Must-Have in any Artist's Tool Box

Do you remember coloring with markers as a kid? The vibrant pictures you created. They've evolved over the years. From beginners to professionals, they are a must-have tool in any artist's toolbox. There are many different art marker mediums, such as alcoholic-based, water-colored-based, acrylicbased, permanent-based, and more. They come in many other brands, tips, sizes, and shapes if you want to learn about the best ones for your art style.

What Are Art Markers

There are many reasons to try art markers. They are easy to use and portable. Whether you're drawing or traveling, it's effortless to grab a handful of markers and put them in your bag. They give brilliant color that makes your art shine. What artist doesn't like that? Maria Woodie from Artists Network discussed that, “Art markers are fast-drying and waterproof.” For a marker to work like this and blend is incredible, plus there's no cleanup.

Brands and Materials

Now let's get down to business. Through my personal experience and research, this is what I have learned to get you started creating your next masterpiece with marker art. The top two best markers for a great budget are Ohuh and Caliart. They are great for beginners wanting to learn and experiment while still achieving remarkable results. The top two best quality, but more expensive, are Chameleon and Copic. Copic takes the cake. Tylon, an art student at the Fashion Institute, states, “I think there is no debate in saying that Copic markers are the best quality marker, but the Chameleon markers would be close up there as well for their uniqueness.” They are refillable, you can change the tips, and they blend beautifully. You will need the right paper to bring out the best quality your maker offers— preferably 80 pounds plus and smooth to prevent bleeding and facilitate blending.

How Do I Use an Art Marker?

Here are some tips, tricks, and skills to learn if you want to master this talent. As stated by Copic, there are many different ways to use alcohol markers, but when drawing or coloring, it’s best to go from lighter to darker. This is important, so your colors don’t blur and the lighter colors appear. When coloring, try to color like a wave; rather than scribbling because the smooth texture these markers make might look messy and uneven. Also, use less of the tip for smaller lines, or press not as hard. If you want a line that goes thicker to smaller, push harder, then softer. This is good for hair. When blending, pick one base of color and use different shades of that color. To find the right colors: the smaller the numbers on the cap, the lighter the colors.

Finding the Future for Art Markers

See how fun these markers can be and why they have become popular. Marker art is just starting with its capabilities. The inky drawings will evolve to fix the classics. Imagine the Mona Lisa in marker art. The importance of art markers is immense. They’re loved by illustrators, cartoonists, designers, professional artists, and beginners like you. I hope I have inspired you to have fun on your creative journey with markers, just like you did when you were a kid.

The Art of Drumming by

Lucian Buffo

Darkness, and then the stage lights turn on. The blinding light makes you feel like your by yourself. Then you realize you're not alone, People are cheering you on! And then, the music starts. That's what being a drummer feels like. Drumming is not an easy thing to do. It takes time and effort. To be a great drummer requires proper equipment, lots of training and practice and learning from other experienced drummers.

The Early Bang Bonging

Drums have been around since early times but they have become much more advanced in the past 200 years. Charles Burchell from Soundfly states that our modern drums were created “completely by accident” and that they are “a result of cultural mixing.”

In the 1860s, the idea of a bass, snare and cymbals together came from wanting one person to make sounds that a marching band would make.The rack tom of which we have today was an idea from China and Japan. Zildjian cymbals were made in the 1930s and 40s by a Turkish immigrant named Avedis Zildjian III, who came to America to continue his family business which started in 1618. Jazz drummers were the first to start using basic drum sets, which had a kick, snare, one rack tom, one floor tom, and as many cymbals as they wanted. Modern drumsticks and mallets made in the 1960s by Vic Firth who was frustrated with the poorly made sticks he used in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Also in the 1960s, Remo began making drum heads out of mylar (polyester) instead of the traditional calfskin. As rock ‘n’ roll became more popular in the 60s and 70s, companies started making more complex drum sets and drumming styles became more technical. Electronic drum machines and drum sets started in the 1970s. Having the right equipment is just the start to being a drummer. However, there are other factors that go into playing drums as well. Good drummers learn from other experienced drummers, from practicing,playing and performing and from other band members.

Drumming 101

Bill Buffo, my uncle, has been drumming since he was young and was in a band that played shows and recorded albums. When asked what his most memorable performances were, he stated: “That's a tough one because there were so many milestone shows we played. There are two shows that really stand out to me though. The first being when we headlined Herman's Hideaway in Denver. For a long time, we worked really hard to pull crowds and show the venue we were worthy of the prestigious spot. It really pushed us through to the next tier of bands in the area. The other show was our first show together at Centaurus High School. It was for a science class so we had to talk about how our instruments worked, but it was important because it was our first time playing in front of people and it confirmed we could do it!” Growing up, Bill looked up to several drummers including Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and his father Ron. He didn’t like jazz music much but he admired the way in which jazz drummers played. The grunge music era was important to Bill and he modeled some of his drumming off of bands like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Bill advises to practice drumming every day and to work through the hard things. He also thinks it’s really important to work well with the basset because both musicians provide the backbone to the beat of the band. He encourages drummers to be a part of the creative process and never lose sight of the fun, love, and passion.

THE DRUMMING GOAT

Given that advice, it makes people think how they might become the greatest drummers of all time. Throughout history, there have been a lot of drummers, but some of them really stand out from the rest. I’ve been looking at lists of the best drummers in history and I can’t help but notice that John Bonham is in the number one spot every time.

One reason that he was what I consider to be the greatest drummer was that he had style. Another reason is he had tremendous speed. And finally Bonham played with the exquisite band in history, Led Zeppelin. According to Tyler Golsen, writer for Far Out Magazine, “Part of the reason why is because of Bonhams mixed and varied techniques with uniqueness." Bonham was known for his incredible drum triplets on ‘Good Times, Bad Times’ with a “hiccup” bass drum part.

To conclude, being a great drummer requires proper equipment, lots of training and practice and learning from other experienced drummers. I love drumming and would like to be a great drummer some day.

THE BLOCKIEST PLACE IN THE THE BLOCKIEST PLACE IN THE THE BLOCKIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD WORLD WORLD

by Kayden Shawn Hansen Valdez

Minecraft is one of the most famous games ever and helps people escape reality to build their world. It has infinite generating worlds and infinite ideas. Also, new updates with new mobs or new blocks and cool places you can spawn in, including a Mansion (very rare), a Village, an Outpost, and other places. You can even make your own house.

This game called Minecraft is a fantastic game that updates every once in a while, and the wait is worth it. The newest update is currently cave and cliffs, which introduces the Warden, one of the scariest mobs in the game. Other cool updates include Axolotls and Allays. In this game, however, there are two Editions currently available, Bedrock Edition and Java Edition, but four if you count the Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends.

Java, the Original Place

In Java, Edition Mods are available to play to customize the game

Even BeckBroJack, a really big Minecraft YouTuber, said “Some of the best mods were made for 1.7.10, like Orespawn, Twilight forest, the betweenlands, superhero mods, and a lot more."

This Edition is perfect if you like to add cool things that are not in the regular edition. It can make the game fun if you want and it has some different features than bedrock. For example, parkour is way better for Java and Minecraft YouTubers mainly play on Java.

In addition

The Bedrock Way

In Bedrock Edition, to make a skin or get modded maps, you need Mine Coins. Minecraft uses Mine Coins to get items on it, like fan-made maps and skins. The Noxcrew, a website that gives information about Minecraft, stated "Minecoins are the Minecraft Marketplace's virtual currency, which can be used to purchase content from the store, rather than paying directly from your credit or debit card. Coins are tied to your Xbox Live account and kept safe in a virtual wallet, available for use on all Bedrock devices." These mine coins are very useful and can buy you a lot of other things like customizable items. Sometimes, you can claim free items during Christmas and you can build bridges faster.

However, we still need to talk about Minecraft mobs and how different they are in the two editions. Even if they are different editions, they still use the same mobs but different things about them. Even SportSkeeda, a website that gives out information about wrestling, e-sports, and gaming said, “In Minecraft, many mobs have their baby variants. Compared to Java Edition, Bedrock players can find baby squid and baby dolphins in their worlds. Like other baby mobs, these two look the same as their adult versions, but have smaller bodies (September 6, 2021).” This is annoying but cool at the same time the annoying part is Java and Bedrock have different ways of mobs how however there are also two other editions one is coming out and the other is an arcade game.

Legends and Dungeons

Why Legends is coming out is explained by Minecraft. “Inspire unexpected friends to form valuable alliances and lead them in strategic battles to protect their home.”

It's time to move on to the end of our Minecraft Journey.

All in all, In Minecraft's four editions, it's cool in different ways: Mobs, skins, and mods. This game was made to escape reality and make creative ideas come true. People get different experiences depending on how they play. It will get a lot better in the future and I think this game could get a lot better as well. Even BeckBroJack thought this when he said “The later updates have been great, and I like where the game is heading."

HALF THE STORY OF PACMAN

BY NICHOLAS BURROUS

Pac-Man is one of my favorite franchises because it is popular, unique, and fun. Pac-Man was created in 1980. He was recognized around the world as one of the most popular video game characters. Pac-Man also has a sequel, Ms. Pac-Man. Ms. Pac-Man was released for the Atari 2600. Two years after Pac-Man was released, he married Ms. Pac-Man. People liked this game more because it had new mazes, speed, and it was more fun.

Pac-Man also has friends such as Mario, Sonic, and Mega Man that he met in Super Smash Bros. Pac-Man is older than Mario, Sonic, and Mega Man. He is also great friends with Kirby (Japanese: "Kabi") and many other characters.

Pac-Man is not just one game, it is a series of games, and I even have a Pac-Man board game. There is a lot of Pac-Man merchandise such as hats, books, lunch boxes, and sheets. Plus, there is even a live-action Pac-Man movie in development. I think Pac-Man is a-MAZE-ing!

artbyAriksPukitis

Environment

Erupting in the Flames

by Addison Horn

“Hurry, we need to leave. NOW!” my mom shrieks. We need to evacuate our town. Will I ever see it again?

Wildfires are a danger to the world. They can come on the nicest days, but then disaster strikes. Wildfires are deadly and can start by people (by accident), and can also start by natural causes. Wildfires can start in many different ways. They grow and grow until so much damage is done.

How Wildfires Rise

Studies show that there are so many different ways wildfires can start. Recently, I interviewed Ingrid Lechner, a retired firefighter, about the most common ways wildfires start. “Wildland fires are most commonly started by humans not properly putting out a campfire, not listening to warnings about fire danger, smoking cigarettes, even a car pulled over on the side of the road.”

All because of our forgetfulness to put out fires, extinguish cigarettes, and turn off cars, we can destroy so many lives and homes. For many fires, including the Marshall Fire, we do not know the cause of how they started.

Wildfires can start from a little action of not putting your campfire all the way out. This little mistake could cause so much damage.

For Years and Years We Fight

The worst fires in history started in Russia, Australia, and Canada, and the years vary. According to Idaho Firewise, the worst fires were: “2003 Siberian Taiga Fires (Russia) – 55 million acres, 1919/2020 Australian Bushfires (Australia) – 42 million acres, and 2014 Northwest Territories Fires (Canada) – 8.5 million acres.” All of these places are in many different areas of the world.

Everything Stops Burning

All in all, wildfires can start from the smallest actions and then destroy so much.

Wildfires are very strong and dangerous; they destroy homes, properties and so much more.

Wildfires are worth looking into and very interesting.

Who knows, by turning off your car or making sure you put out your campfire, you could prevent a fire.

One Car Ride Home, One

Glacier Lost

by Macy J. Beckwith

Paws thump across the soft ice. Snowwhite fur races across the tundra plain, destruction and chaos in her wake. Will she make it? A sight in front of her makes the polar bear come to a screeching halt. There is no ice left to run on, just an all-consuming ocean that has already destroyed her home. The northern and southern ice caps have been home to many different kinds of animals for centuries, but now, thanks to global warming, they are melting and bringing down those poor, helpless animals with them. Climate change is causing animals to lose their homes, and the ice to melt at faster speeds, yet its cause and fix are known.

Animal Habitats: Gone?

Due to climate change, wild creatures worldwide are silently losing their homes and hopes. Because of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the ice caps are going “extinct.” slowly melting, the ice caps are bringing an unexpected threat; all polar life going extinct. World traveler and polar skiing guide Ryan Waters explains, “There are different animal habitats on each of our globe’s poles. Polar bears, seals, and the occasional arctic fox are all losing their habitats there due to climate change.” When will this extinction occur? How long do we have to make a difference?

How Fast is it Melting?

Plop! There goes another chunk of glacier into the Atlantic Ocean. According to the World Economic Forum: “Both the North and South pole have recorded abnormal temperatures for their respective seasons. As the Arctic enters its spring, it is 50 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than usual; as the Antarctic approaches its autumn, it is 70

degrees Fahrenheit warmer than average. Due to the climate crisis, the Arctic is already warming 2-3 times faster than the global average.” This was written on March 25, 2022! Who knows how much higher the temperatures have risen since then? And quoting Ryan Waters when asked the question, “When you visit the Poles, how much do they seem to melt in between your trips there?” he replied, “At the north pole, it is more dynamic because the ice is very thin always, so in recent years, say the last 50 years, with satellite photography from space, we know that the amount of old ice which stays thick is shrinking around the North Pole, and you do see more open water than you used to years ago, so it is more evident near the North Pole. As for the South Pole, you cannot tell with the naked eye any changes because there are almost two miles thick of ice sitting on top of the Antarctic continent. So you do not see changes, but along the coast of Antarctica is where there is measurable ice melting and calving off of glaciers and ice shelves.” These are big changes, and if this goes on, the polar ice caps could melt and submerge our Earth under a vast ocean of water much sooner than we think.

What's Making it Happen and How to Fix It

Put, put, put, vroom! Vroom! That is the noise a big contributor to climate change makes, any guesses? As professional mountain guide Ryan Waters explains, “The main problem of the melting is because there is too much CO2, or carbon dioxide, being released in our atmosphere. The best way to cut back on this carbon catastrophe is to release less of it into the air. One example of how to do that is to ride in the car as seldom as you need to, by biking, walking, riding the bus, etc. This way, you are using way less CO2, and therefore saving millions of innocent animals’ lives."

All in all, global warming has caused animals to lose their homes, and the polar ice caps to melt faster. This problem is affecting our future generations, both human and animal. It’s clogging our precious air and polluting our natural habitats. To help stop these problems, you can walk to school, bike to work and the next your parent asks to give you a ride in the car, just yourself, refuse it, and take a stroll instead.

Deforestation: One Of Humanity's Major Mistakes

By Ella Welch

SNAP!! That’s the sound of a tree being cut down. Maybe you know that sound from a person trimming or cutting down a tree in your neighborhood, but that sound is especially familiar in the rainforest where about 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are cut down each year. Deforestation is when people cut down trees to use wood for various things, causing fewer trees to be available to absorb carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Deforestation is also the reason so many animals lose their homes. Some people estimate that four to six thousand rainforest species go extinct each year. Deforestation has a huge impact on people and the planet as well. Deforestation is a crucial part of climate change. However, there are still things to do, things that will slow down or even stop deforestation.

How Deforestation Impacts Animals

Deforestation has a major impact on animals. According to Earth.org, “From the Boreal Forests in the northern hemisphere to the famous rainforests in the tropics, these forests are thought to provide habitats for 80% amphibian species, 75% bird species, and 68% of mammal species, but these forests are being destroyed at alarming rates.” Deforestation is one of the main causes of climate change and animal extinction. One of the animals whose population is going down at a vital rate is the Amur Leopards. In 2022, it was recorded there were only an estimated 70 Amur Leopards left in the wild. The Orangutan is another animal whose population is decreasing rapidly; only about 120,000 orangutans are left in the world.

How Deforestation Impacts Climate Change

Deforestation is also a big participant in climate change. It is affecting climate change dramatically. It destroys weather patterns leading to food shortages for animals and even demolishing entire ecosystems and negatively affecting animals and their habitat. According to Ecologi.com, deforestation contributes to 15% of global greenhouse emissions because when forest trees are burned and cut down the carbon that they were storing gets released into the atmosphere.

How Palm Oil Affects Deforestation

Palm oil plays a huge role in deforestation. It needs a rainforest climate with constantly high humidity. A majority of the palm oil plantations are established at the expense of rainforests when rainforests are cleared to make way for palm tree plantations. About 90% of the world's palm oil is currently being produced in Malaysia and Indonesia and is destroying the habitat. So overall, you really shouldn't buy products that contain palm oil because palm oil extraction is a big part of deforestation and is wrecking species' homes that are already endangered.

Deforestation might not end completely, but there are a number of ways we can slow it down; don't eat as many foods with palm oil, buy recycled products, raise awareness in the community, support the products of companies that are committed to reducing deforestation, and don't buy things that you aren't going to use or can’t reuse. In conclusion, if we take action as a community, we just might be able to help rebuild those beautiful forests that we have destroyed so vehemently.

DISASTER STRIKES: THE MARSHALL FIRE

by Leah Kay Deal

Cities Covered in Smoke

The powdery residue of matter from the hot, red, crackling fire makes the sky orange with a hint of red, and a gush of gray and black from the smoke. The Marshall Fire is a fire that impacted parts of Boulder County, including Superior, and parts of Louisville and Broomfield Colorado. The way the fire was moving was like a swing swaying in the wind of a hurricane. The Marshall fire, with topics of the destruction, how it happened and started, and more.

The Devastation of the Flames

Why did this fire do this destruction, this pain to us and everyone who saw the devastation?

According to Boulder County, “Marshall Fire swept through the City of Louisville, town of Superior, and unincorporated Boulder County, destroying and damaging more than 1,000 homes and over 30 commercial structures.” Boulder County was so much help to our cities and our state. Furthermore, to know that Boulder County would help and say something about this topic is extraordinary. This havoc has affected us all in many different ways. Over 1,000 animals and possessions were lost, but thankfully the death count was low, with only two people dying.

It Started With Grass

On the morning of December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire ignited south of Boulder, Colorado. Local law enforcement is still investigating, so the cause of the fire is still unknown. Pushed by winds gusting well over 40 mph, hurricane strength in some areas, it burned through subdivisions destroying 1,056 structures. PBS quotes from Governor Jared Polis, “As we look back on the one-year since the horrific Marshall Fire, we remember a painful day of destruction and loss for our

community. It has been a long and hard recovery, and there is still more left to do, but each day I hope we get closer and closer to rebuilding some of what was lost." Looking back, what that tiny grass fire did is heartbreaking. It did a lot of damage physically and emotionally. Those who lost their homes were, and still are, devastated.

Becoming Whole Again

While much of what was destroyed in the Marshall Fire was unrecoverable, the cities have already begun to rebuild. New houses and buildings are being built in place of what was lost. While nothing can replace what once was in Boulder County, the communities have been coming together to rebuild in the aftermath of the destruction. “One community together. We will recover and rebuild.” A quote from Louisville, Broomfield, and Boulder County. On Louisville Rebuilds website, they state, “We will dedicate the necessary resources to manage the increased workload and expedite installation of streets, sidewalks, and utilities. We are working hard to make this happen and will do everything we can within our capacity to meet this goal. We will recover and rebuild together.” A year has gone by and progress has already been made.

The Answer

All in all, the Marshall Fire had the destruction, how it happened and started, with becoming whole again and more in relation. In the end, many people went through tragic times as a result of the disaster in Boulder County: the Marshall Fire.

POLLUTION: POLLUTION:

POLLUTION:

HOW YOU PLAY A PART IN IT

BY JONAH MCHARDY

Pollutionaffectsallofus.Wecreatepollution,andwesuffer fromitaswell.Weusesingle-useplasticsthatgetbackintothe environmentandwegeneratewastewaterfromourday-to-day activities.Morethan80percentofwastewatergetsbackinto streamsandreservoirsthatwedrinkfrom.Pollutionisineveryday life.Plasticspileupwhilewaterpollutionhurtsthehealthofpeople everywhere.

Single-useplasticsareunavoidable.Theycomewithfood,in packaging,andeverywherewelook.Inarecentinterview, Mayor DennisMaloneyofLouisvilleColoradosharestheanswertowhat thekeytoreducingthenumberofplasticsis."Ibelievereducing thewastefromanyandallsingle-useplasticbagsisimportantto reducewasteandpollution.Itishoweveronlyonestrategyina broadercontextofencouragingachangeinhabits."States Maloney.Thisillustratesthatweallhavearoletoplayinthe creationandpreventionofsingle-useplastics.Furthermore,weas citizensneedtoassistinloweringthepollutioncreatedbyplastics. However,plasticsarenottheonlycriminalinthepollutioncrime. Waterpollutantsplayalargeroleinitaswell.

Almostallofthechemicalsusedandwastewater createdmakesitbackintowaterwaysanddrinkingwater sources.AsarecentarticlefromColoradoStateUniversity onwaterpollutioninColoradostates, "Examplesofcommon waterpollutantsinColoradoincludemetals,nutrientssuch asphosphorusandnitrogen,ammonia,pathogenslike disease-causingbacteria,sediment,andsalinity."Asthe evidenceexplains,therearecountlesswaterpollutantsin riversandlakes,mostofwhicharecausedbyhumans.The atrociousamountofmorbidwastemakingitswayintoour ecosystemisdisgusting.

Allinall,pollutionisineverydaylife.Bothplasticpollution andwaterpollutionaffectpeopleeverywhere.Pollutionis drasticallyaffectingandchangingourenvironmentandhow welive.Fromwaterpollutiontoplastics,Ifwedon'tdo anythingtostopitthelovelywildlifeinColoradowillbe destroyed.Wecanhelpinreducingpollution.Nexttimewe gotothestore,insteadofbuyingplasticbagsandthrowing themout,wecanbringourown.Wecanbringreusable takeoutcontainerstoarestaurantinsteadofusing styrofoam.

"Itishowever onlyone strategyina broadercontext ofencouraging achangein habits."

Will There be Aspens Left for Your Children?

by Jamie Ellen Pierson

The thick, white arms of an aspen are blanketed with round golden leaves that dance to the ground. These eye-catching aspen trees pose as one of nature's many wonders. Aspens are complex organisms that survive in harsh conditions for millions of years; they are the most widely distributed tree in North America. They are known for their brightly colored leaves that attract many tourists in the autumn. As gorgeous as these trees can be, they also have a lot of science if you dig deep enough. Aspens have a unique way of reproducing, and aspens are still very much endangered.

Aspen’s Plan to Survive Conservation

Aspens are resilient because they can reproduce in multiple ways. According to the US Forest Service, aspens survive by reproducing. There are male and female aspens. Every spring they create seeds. The aspen tree sends out catkins which are fuzzy flowers around three inches long. The catkins contain pollen. Pollen from the male tree blows to the female tree and pollinates it. Then the female tree grows a small fruit with aspen seeds. Unfortunately, most of the time this process does not work out. The seeds spread but do not sprout often because they didn’t land in the right habitat. So, aspens also rely on their roots to reproduce. Aspens send out roots called suckers to reproduce other trees with the same genetics, these trees are called clones. Even though a single tree might have a life span of 150 years, the clones it creates may keep reproducing and last for thousands of years. The largest aspen grove in the world is located in Utah at Fishlake National Forest. This aspen grove weighs around 14 million pounds and is estimated to be 80,000 years old. That makes it the oldest living organism on the planet.

Since 2007, 13 percent of Colorado’s Aspen trees have died. According to the U.S forest service, there are several reasons for this “sudden aspen death." Colorado has been in a severe drought for ten years. This is likely due to global warming. For aspen trees, this means that they don’t have enough water, and are more prone to disease from fungi or bacteria. Additionally, aspen trees do well in forest fires and are the first species to come back. However, in these circumstances, too many fires and not enough water weakens the aspen trees and they cannot regrow well again. People are also causing a more direct problem. Many people enjoy leaving their mark where they go by carving into the aspen bark. This leaves a permanent scar. As the U.S Forest service stated, “Tattoos are not meant for trees.” It is illegal to carve aspens, in all U.S national forests and parks. When people do this, the aspen tree is permanently damaged. The bark of the tree is like a layer of protection much like skin for humans.

Carving into the bark allows bugs and other bacteria to crawl in and cause infection which can kill the tree. As stated by the National Wildlife Federation, a unique and terrible thing about carving into aspen trees is that it damages the tree's photosynthesis. That’s why their bark is white and why it is so important to protect.

Conclusion: Why We Should Care

These trees wow us with their beauty and their resilient ways of reproducing. Even so, they continue to struggle and decrease in surprising numbers. So answer this question: will there be aspens for your children?

Climbing for Change Climbing for Change

by Chloe Mathieu

Humans have been ruining the earth for hundreds of years. In a matter of time, the world will be an asteroid, when the sun explodes, then turns into a black hole wrapping dark arms around the stone-cold earth. But, you have a chance to save it.

What do Climate Activists do?

As stated by Richmond Vale Academy, “Environmental activists work to protect the natural world from destruction and pollution.” Imagine a world without humans, a sea as clean as your indoor pool, grass as green as algae, and fresh and crisp air. Climate action is real! But what is it? And what's causing it? How do we end It?

Climate change and what it is.

As the United Nations states, “Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.” This is because of human activity, cars, and gas stations. According to the Environmental protection agency, “Human activities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.” The greenhouse effect traps gasses high up in the atmosphere, like a blanket trapping your body heat. Climate change hurts animals so If you're an animal lover, get out there and get your voice heard about what you love. What is causing climate change?

What is causing climate change?

NASA explains, “Scientists attribute the global warming trend observed since the mid20th century to the human expansion of the -Greenhouse Effect — warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth towards space.” Humans have ruined the earth, but we can fix it. We can make a real difference.

How can we end climate change?

As stated by NORR, “ While we cannot stop global warming overnight, we can slow the rate and limit the amount of global warming by reducing human emissions of heat-trapping gasses and soot.” We can stop global warming and climate change by slowing down the rate by protesting, giving speeches, and joining local Climate Action Clubs. Now get out there and let your voice be heard!

All in all, climate action is real! Saving the earth is hard, but keep that dream in your head of a safe clean world. Try to volunteer in activities to help the environment. It could be anything as simple as planting trees or picking up trash.

Grow Up !

Yukiko Ferguson

Have you ever heard of a plant that doesn't need soil? Well, air plants don’t! Air plants, also known as Tillandsia, don’t need you to do anything but water them. Now, what are these plants, how can you help them thrive, and why would anyone care?

Tillandsia, What Is It?

Tillandsia is the scientific name for air plants. According to BioCity Since, "This plant was named Tillandsia after Dr. Elias Tillandz for his contributions to the study of botanics." This is an incredible achievement for Dr. Tillandz. Tillandsia gets the needed nutrients and perspiration from the air by small parts in the plant called trichomes. This allows the plant to thrive and grow.

How Would You Keep This Plant Alive?

As recently discussed on The Spruce, to take care of your air plant, you will need to place it in indirect medium light. Plus, if you live somewhere dry, such as Colorado, you will need to spray your air plant every two to three days, or once a week. If you are in a dry or moist climate, you will need to give your air plant a “bath." To give your plant a bath, you will place your plant in a “bath” of water and let it soak for about 30 minutes. These plants are beautiful when displayed properly. Many people prefer to place their plants in an open terrarium, and these look excellent hanging with a few rocks or other air plants together.

So What?

According to Air Plant Canteral, air plants can also attach their roots to other things. This can ruin what they have attached to. The flowers on air plants only bloom once in one to two years! Now, although they do have a downside, they have a much larger upside. Air plants remove chemicals from the air, which means it improves your air quality. It is essentially a natural, pretty air purifier.

Charming the Plant

These plants are cool and pretty, and all you need to do is water them. These plants can be the new succulent, but better! They are low maintenance and very charming!

WHAT'S UP? CO2 LEVELS!

BY ARTHUR TOWBER

Global warming is caused by the release of CO2, and causes the warming of the atmosphere. Some of the problems global warming is caused by, among many others, are war causing natural disasters, as well as meat farming. War is a big producer of greenhouse gasses, between smoke bombs and atomic bombs, a ton of greenhouse gasses are emitted.

According to The Guardian, “...using just a thousandth of the weaponry of a full-scale nuclear war, would cause up to 69m tonnes of CO2 to enter the atmosphere…” If we were to have a nuclear war, then 69 billion tons of Carbon Dioxide would be emitted, now this is full scale. Then think about some of the conflicts we have had in the past, and consider the enormous amounts of CO2 emitted from them.

In addition, more than just what it does to nations, it also affects people with nothing to do with it. Pollution, is often indirectly, or not at all, caused by some of the people, but can affect us either way. Subsequently, by polluting the air, natural disasters will occur. Teddy Hafer, a LMS student and victim of a tragic fire relay, “ I think the Marshall Fire grew to a dangerous point because we were in a drought and there wasn't precipitation to aid the firefighters.” Teddy Hafer's point is that global warming has caused a drought in Colorado. That was probably not his fault, but it still affected him in a tragic way; loosing his house.

Another way natural disasters are occurring is meat farming. Meat farming is another way of getting greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and the worst thing is that almost nobody is aware of it. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, meat farming releases 7.1 gallstones of CO2 a year. That’s equivalent to 15,620 million pounds! The meat farming industry is emitting huge amounts of CO2, and they do it by repeatedly burning down forests to make way for animals to graze. After that, they breed their animals until they are too tired to continue, and the new offspring emit CO2 (cows). Lastly, they are slaughtered and packed up in plastic. Shipped off. Then bought, increasing the demand, and repeating the cycle.

Theodore (Teddy) Hafer, also explains his consideration of the meat on his plate, “I have never really questioned how the meat on my plate got there. So it doesn't necessarily affect me.” However, as we can see, Teddy was affected by his diet, by eating more meat, however slightly, he influenced how his home was affected. To be clear, I’m not saying that we should all become vegan, but eating less meat is definitely feasible for most of us. Now you may think that eating less meat will make no difference at all in the grand scheme of things, but if you think about it as voting, then you may have a different perspective. Think, have you ever had the tie breaking vote in a national election? If everyone takes action, then we can make a change!

All in all, by reducing our carbon footprint, then we can start to prevent natural disasters, the heating of the atmosphere and mass murder of cows. If we don’t take action, then we will be in for a very twisted future, with a smaller Antarctica.The average temperature being much higher than today’s, and hot days and droughts will become regular.

SCIENCE

Pretty Petals

Flowers and their important uses in our world

We all know about flowers. They are sweet and have fresh smells, with their beautiful and lush dainty petals. But aside from the stunning looks and lovely manor, how are they used in our world?

Flowers are much more important than we may think and are nearly essential in our life. Flowers play many important roles in our world. From attracting our pollinators to soothing us with their smells, flowers play a vital role in our society.

Pollination

Flowers are important users on the web of pollination.

According to the latest from the Smithsonian Gardens, “Pollination is an essential part of plant reproduction. Pollen from a flower’s anthers (the male part of the plant) rubs or drops onto a pollinator. The pollinator then takes this pollen to another flower, where the pollen sticks to the stigma (the female part). The fertilized flower later yields fruit and seeds.”

This proves just how important flowers are. Without them, the pollinator would not be able to spread pollen and flowers could not reproduce.

Eventually, without flowers, the world would rapidly lose its greenery and eventually would pave the way to the birth of a world with no living organisms. Not only do flowers help the ecosystem, but these multipurpose blossoms help our well-being.

Wellbeing

As told by Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University and the director of its Human Emotions Lab says, “Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All study participants expressed “true” or “excited” smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups. Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction. Flowers make intimate connections. The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.”

From their comforting scents and pleasant company, flowers can help freshen up a gloomy day or calm our nerves. As said in this article, flowers can increase our happiness and decrease our stress. They are also used for medicinal purposes and have contributed to many skin and hair care uses.

Blooming Forward

All in all, flowers have many important roles in our world. From attracting our pollinators to soothing us with their smells, flowers play a vital role in our society. Flowers can show love, celebrate something big, and bring us bliss in hard times. As we step back and look at them, we see how strong each flower is and how they are all powerful beings in our world.

ALYSSAWHITTON

THE BLOCKIEST PLACE IN THE THE BLOCKIEST PLACE IN THE THE BLOCKIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD WORLD WORLD

by Kayden Shawn Hansen Valdez

Java, the Original Place

In Java, Edition Mods are available to customize the game. Even BeckBroJack, a really big Minecraft YouTuber, said, “Some of the best mods were made for 1.7.10, like Orespawn, Twilight forest, the betweenlands, superhero mods, and a lot more." This Edition is perfect if you like to add cool things that are not in the regular edition. It can make the game fun if you want and it has some different features than bedrock. For example, parkour is way better for Java and Minecraft YouTubers mainly play on Java.

The Bedrock Way

In Bedrock Edition, to make a skin or get modded maps, you need Mine Coins. Minecraft uses Mine Coins to get items on it, like fan-made maps and skins. The Noxcrew, a website that gives information about Minecraft, stated, "Minecoins are the Minecraft Marketplace's virtual currency, which can be used to purchase content from the store, rather than paying directly from your credit or debit card. Coins are tied to your Xbox Live account and kept safe in a virtual wallet, available for use on all Bedrock devices." These mine coins are very useful and can buy you a lot of other things like customizable items. Sometimes, you can claim free items during Christmas and you can build bridges faster.

Legends and Dungeons

There are two different regular editions, but we also have the arcade game and the upcoming game. Minecraft Dungeons is an arcade game that you can play at home, too, on a gaming console. The reason it exists is explained by Mashable. "We wanted to make a new Minecraft game,” Olson said. "We wanted to make sure that experience was something that you could not get in the core version of the game. That's not exactly easy to do with Minecraft's variety of modes: Creative, Survival, and Adventure (May 22, 2020)." Why Legends is coming out is explained by Minecraft. “Inspire unexpected friends to form valuable alliances and lead them in strategic battles to protect their home.” It's time to move on to the end of our Minecraft Journey.

All in all, in Minecraft's four editions, it's cool in different ways: Mobs, skins, and mods. This game was made to escape reality and make creative ideas come true. People get different experiences depending on how they play. It will get a lot better in the future and I think this game could get a lot better as well. Even BeckBroJack thought this when he said, “The later updates have been great, and I like where the game is heading."

Cancer Takes Loved Ones

by: Eva Minshaw

CancerTakesLovedOnes

“She has cancer,” my cousin said. Her face looked like she still couldn’t believe it. My whole family was in disbelief. I ran up to my room, slammed the door, and didn’t talk to anybody for the rest of the day. My grandma had cancer…again. This happens to households every day. Cancer has impacted numerous families. Cancer has been going on since it was found in Egypt and dates back to around 3000 BC. Cancer comes like a sinking rock, as soon as it hits the water, it sinks in and you realize that it will never float back up, you must take it out.

WhatisKidneycancer?

There’s a way to help give kids, and even adults a chance to survive. Christina Hubbard, who is a Health Information Specialist, and works at MD Anderson told me the best way to donate is to go to the MD Anderson Cancer Center

Kidney cancer is a disease of the urinary tract. Most patients are caught when the thriving treatment is highest before the condition extends to a distant part of the body. Kidney cancer's five-year survival rate is about 75%. Kidney cancer stems from microscopic tubules. The disease usually grows as a single tumor within the kidney, in rare cases, a kidney may contain more than one tumor, or tumors may be found in both kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. There are several subtypes of RCC based on the genetic changes in the cancer cells. These include clear cell, papillary, chromophobe, and collecting duct carcinomas, among others. Clear cell carcinoma accounts for 80% of all RCC cases, and most treatments are focused on this type.

There are various types of cancer, not just kidney cancer, and various types of medication to help try and stop these cancers from taking more loved ones.

DifferentTypesofCancerMedication

MD Anderson uses the Moon Shots Program. Moon Shots Program is an outstanding, comprehensive assault to greatly reduce cancer deaths and change cancer care. Moon Shots teams pursue creative projects prioritized for the greatest patient influence, including clinical trials of new cancer immunotherapies, targeted therapies, and combinations.

ToWrapItallUp

All in all, cancer can affect families from all around the world. People die every day because scientists are still trying to figure out the medications for every last cancer there is. Cancer has affected many people that I know. I want to know more about what you can do to help make better medications for all these cancers. If they figure out all these medications, maybe cancer will take away fewer lives, and people that you care about and are important to you will stay.

Cancer: Let’s Dig Deeper

By: Ainsley Edrington

A run to the hospital is always bad, but it can always be worse. Around 609,360 people die from cancer every year in the United States. You can never really appreciate someone until they’ve been taken away from you. Losing a loved one can hurt, and the journey through rough times is just as hard. Cancer is a sickness and is one of the most common causes of death. There are many types of cancer and many different treatments to treat them.

Types of Cancer

To start, there are many different types of cancers. According to the latest from Cancer.net, the most common types of cancers are bladder cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, oral and oropharyngeal cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and uterine cancer. For instance, there are over 100 types of cancer and the ones listed are just the most common. However, not all cancers are alike. For example, cancer can be located in different parts of your body or affect you in different types of ways. Furthermore, there are many types of cancer and who knows if we’ve found them all.

Treatments

In addition, just like types of cancer, there are many types of treatments. According to NCI (National Cancer Institute), the most common treatments are biomarker testing for cancer treatment, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, hyperthermia, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, surgery, and targeted therapy. Overall, different types of cancer call for different types of treatment. However, most cancer is treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. To elaborate, chemotherapy uses oral and IV medications that kill cancer. Whereas, radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Also, surgery can be used to remove cancerous masses. In the end, there are many treatments for all types of cancer; who knows what treatments we’ll use in the future?

Conclusion

All in all, there are many types of cancer and many types of treatments for them. It's essential to get the correct diagnosis and the proper treatment so you can get the right outcome. Many people devote their lives to the research of cancer but there is yet to be a cure. Many have tried and many have failed. Research continues and everyone wants to believe that someday soon there will be a “cure” to cancer.

TheTruthof AncestryDNA

byLucyMeyer

DNAtestsaremadetoconnectpeopleto somethingalotbiggerthanthemselves;theyreally helppeoplefeelapartoftheirpastand,maybe, understandtheirfutures.WithoutDNAtests,you couldonlyunderstandsomuchaboutyourfamily, past,andheritage.YouonlyknowwhatyourgreatgrandmastoldyourMomandDad,andwhatthey toldyou.Butthereissomuchmorehistoryinyour familythatcanbeunlockedthroughDNAtests. DNAtestshelpyouunderstandwhatyourfamily's historyis,learnaboutyourlong-lostrelatives,and much,muchmore.It’samazingthatyoucanfind allthesethingsoutbyjustswirlingacottonswabin yournosethreetimes.Todayyouwilllearnhow DNAtestsunlockyourheritageandsomeother reasonswhyancestrytestsareuseful.

HowDNATestsFindYourHeritage

ADNAtestisdesignedtofindyourancestry, buthowdotheyfindyourheritage?Well,The TechInteractive-HowdoAncestryTestsWork letsusknowhowtheywork:“They’llextractyour DNAfromthecellsinyoursalivaandthenlookat what’sinyourDNAathundredsofthousandsof places.”

AftertheylookatallofyourDNA,the computerscomparetheresultstoadatabasewith thousandsofpeople'sancestrydatathatisalready known.Subsequently,computerscompareyour DNAwithothersuntilmatchesarefound.

WhyAncestryDNATestsareUsed

ADNAtestisusedtodescribeindepthyourpast andyourday-to-daylife.Forexample,Genetic AncestryTesting:WhatisitandWhyisitImportant says,“Geneticancestrytestingcanprovideinsightson thegeographicoriginsofanindividual's

ancestors,aswellassomeinformationthatcanaid inassessmentofriskforsomeheritableconditions.”

Furthermore,DNAtestscanfindoutwaymore thanjustwhoyourgreat-auntis.Forinstance,a DNAtestcanfindoutifadiseaserunsinyour family,whatyourhistorywas,andwhereyour familywasoriginallyfrom.DNAtestscangivethe giftofknowledge.

HowDNATestsareImportantin YourLife

Asyoucansee,DNAtestsareascientific wonder.DNAtestscanconnectlostrelatives,and helppeoplefeelapartofsomethingbigger.By takingaDNAtest,youcouldfindyourtwinsister, fromwhomyouwereseparatedatbirth.Youcan fillacraterinyourheartthatyouneverrealizedwas thereinthefirstplace.Allinall, DNAtestsare veryimportantinourday-to-dayworldandare changingthewaywecanunderstandourselvesand ourpast.

Stars The Jewels of the Sky

What Are Stars?

As you stare at the sky, speckled with a myriad of stars, you feel overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of how small you are compared to this glittering empyrean. But a question nags at you. What makes a star? Stars are burning masses of hydrogen and helium. Their average life span is 50 million to 20 billion years old. They are also what keeps us alive. Stars are born in various ways, there are many types of stars, and their deaths are extremely important to astronomers. Stars have uniqueness in them already. But there is way more.

Emerging from the Nursery

A star appears out of the fading mist, glowing with its new energy. A star has been born. As NASA has recently discovered, star birth is incredibly complicated. Stars are born in clouds of gas and dust. But how do these ordinary clouds become star nurseries? Nearby supernovae can stir up the cloud, like a windstorm in deep space. The moving gas and dust clumps in some areas. Furthermore, the gravitational pull of that clump attracts more matter; and is eventually on its way to becoming a star. Subsequently, the star turns into a protostar, which is a contracting mass of gas in its early stages of becoming a star. The protostar then heats up and turns into a star like our sun. This information shows that stars are immensely complicated celestial objects. This is because of how long it takes and how complicated the process is before stars become like our sun. Yes, we have a star that is fundamental for our survival. But stars aren’t all yellow. They are a variety of colors and sizes.

by Avery Bergquist

A Rainbow of Stars

You stare into the sky, marveling at the white stars. But as you look closer, you notice that there are blue, red, yellow, and brown stars. According to the Warwick Knowledge Center, there are six main types of stars. For example, a solar-type star is the most common type of star, and it has the yellow glow that we ascertain with stars. But that is not all. Blue stars are extremely hot, so we can see many of them from the ground. Red Dwarfs are stars that are a lot cooler than the Sun, and smaller too. When a star is close to running out of hydrogen, they turn to burning hydrogen outside of the core. They then turn into a red giant.When a star like our sun has used all its hydrogen, it will fade into a white dwarf. If a star is 8 times bigger than the sun, then it will collapse dramatically into a supernova and then turn into a black hole. As nationallyranked local physicist Jim Bergquist explains, “Black holes are extremely hard to see because they suck all the light into them. We can only see them with LIGO, which stands for Laser Interferometer Gravity-Wave Observatory. It can detect extra weak gravity waves.” This information shows that there are many different types of stars, and they are exceptionally different. Like everything in our universe, stars have to die. Stars die in different ways. They either explode or evaporate.

A Dramatic Death

A burst of light flares in the distance, adding another touch to the sky. A star is ending its life with a massive explosion, one that can last for weeks on end. According to Space.com, smaller stars live longer because they are burning less hydrogen.

Bigger stars explode faster because they are burning through so much hydrogen. The star collapses and sends out a burst of energy. It is more energy than the sun will expel in its whole 10 billion year life. An extraordinary amount of elements are released. It releases a shockwave so powerful that it disrupts the nebula, and even sends material out of the galaxy itself. Medium sized stars expand dramatically into giants. After a few million years, these giants will start to convulse, launching out material. Then it will eject all of its material, creating a planetary nebula. Stars have violent and calming deaths, and nothing in the universe lasts forever. Stars are amazing celestial objects, and they give us our life. Without the sun, there would be no light, heat, or life.

A Never-Ending Universe

All in all, stars have an amazing life. They come to life in a cloud of dust and gas that has been disrupted by a supernova. There are many types of stars, and each one is special. Stars die in dramatic explosions or expand dramatically. They give everything light. Without them, there would be no life. With no plants, herbivores could not feed off them, which means predators could not get any food. There would be no trees to provide us with oxygen. There would be no food. Studying stars through telescopes has helped us get to know some things; but there are still many things that remain a mystery. As technology advances, we could go visit the closest star to Earth. We could learn so much more about the jewels of the heavens.

Athletics

Soccer Now, Soccer Then, Soccer Everywhere

bySamIlfrey

You’re in the locker room. You can still hear the crowd roaring. This is the biggest game of your life. If you win, the whole country will love you if not everyone will be against you. This is soccer, the most popular sport in the world. Soccer has heartstopping moments in tournaments, amazing players, and a packed history.

Tournaments

There is a great deal of amazing tournaments in the world, but the FIFA world cup, and the UEFA champions league, are probably the best according to Rookie Road, the viewers, sources, and just fans in general. But soccer fans believe that the FIFA World Cup is better because different nations come together to play 64 games and one country will be proud for 4 more years. The first world cup was in Uruguay in 1930 and Uruguay also won it, dominating the tournament by winning every game. John Kerr the head coach of duke soccer says he believes that the world cup is better because they have millions more viewers. Therefore, the world cup is probably better than the Champions League.

Soccer has a packed history. According to Soccer90 Starting before medieval times when one little village in England came up with a game where they kicked a ball around their village. Little did they know this would become the most popular sport in the world. However, they kicked the ball around before medieval times; the modern game originated in the 19th century. This league was called the EFL which was made up of 72 different teams.

History Players

There have been many astonishing players in the past and present, and we are seeing new faces who will be the future of the game. In the past, there were amazing players like Pele, Maradona, and Johan Cruyff. But a popular opinion is that Messi and Ronaldo are the best players ever. With the most trophies and medals won, therefore, they are considered the best. There has always been a question in everyone's mind: “Who is better, Messi or Ronaldo?” The head coach of Duke men's soccer John Kerr says that he thinks Messi is better than Ronaldo because Messi has won everything and more than Ronaldo has won. But who knows, maybe there will be a new question in everyone's mind soon.

Wrapping It Up

All in all, soccer has a packed history, outstanding players, and stunning tournaments. Fans like a tsunami of cheers when their team scores, with a history longer than the Nile River, and tournaments more exciting than waking up on Christmas day.

GameofthePalm

by Maxwell Ludke

As Roger Federer said, “When you’re good at something, make that everything.” Tennis is a sport loved all around the world. It is a sport that needs skill, endurance, and a lot of training. Tennis also helps you improve your skills for other sports. For example, your performance and your hand-eye coordination. Tennis also helps with your body awareness and control. All of these things you can do individually or with a partner, which makes tennis a really exciting sport to play. Tennis has an interesting history and dates all the way back to 1873. Plus, once you get to know the rules, they are easy to follow.

Tennis: How It All Began

Tennis has an interesting and distinctive history. According to Britannica Encyclopedia, “Tennis originally was known as lawn tennis, and formally still is in Britain, because it was played on grass courts by Victorian gentlemen and ladies. It is now played on a variety of surfaces.” The history of tennis can be traced back to the 12th–13th century. A French handball game called jeu de paume (“game of the palm”), which was created from a difficult and hard to follow indoor racket-and-ball game, is what we now call tennis. Tennis has evolved over the years and the rules have changed. The rules are easier to follow. This is why the game of tennis is so enjoyable.

15, 30, and 40: The Rules of Tennis

Tennis is a unique sport all around the world and the rules have gotten pretty easy to follow. According to the International Olympic Committee, “A player or team has to win four points to win a game. Any game starts at 0-0 and the zero point in tennis is called love. The progression of points occurs as follows: First point: 15. Second point: 30. Third point: 40. Fourth point: Game.” Players stand on opposite sides of the net. They use a stringed racket to hit the ball back and forth to each other. Once a player wins the point, that player gets a point. The first point is 15, second: 30, third: 40. If both players are at 40, then it goes to deuce and you have to win by two points.

All in all, tennis is an exciting sport, the history is interesting to learn about, and the rules are pretty simple. Tennis has thrived over the years and now we can watch it on TV or in the stands, but the excitement that it gives people just might make you want to play. So grab a racket and get a friend to play some tennis.

Dive In!

by Madeline Yoho

Work it Out

Grab your swim cap, swimsuit, goggles, and towel. These are all the items a swimmer needs to have when going to practice. This sport has you swim like a fish. Swimming has been around for thousands of years. Many techniques have been used in various places like lakes and oceans. But nowadays, when competitive or practicing swimming, pools are generally used. Swimming involves knowing the basics to swim, but with a great coach who wants you to be the finest, it should be easier and more appealing. Moreover, after all the hard work, swimming will make you stronger with its benefits for your health.

Swimming 101

In swimming, there are strokes and techniques. According to Topend Sports, swimming is usually performed in a 25 or 50-meter pool with four main strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. When swimming a relay or medley, all strokes are required. This pool length is tremendously long. In a similar manner, 25 meters is the same length as two volleyball courts, and 50 meters is the same height as the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. Furthermore, these long pools bring hard work to the body, but with the right coach, it can get easier.

Lead a Team

Coaching or volunteering on a swim team is a great way to be involved in the sport. As The University of Colorado Coach Kimberly Goodell states about starting her career, “A good coach can have a huge impact on an athlete's sense of identity and enduring interest in a sport. I've had some excellent coaches in the past that have inspired me to pass on what I've learned with the same enthusiasm.” Coach Kimberly Goodell has had an amazing passion to coach a big swim team with over 100 swimmers. She loves her job and is happy to share her skills with swimmers. Additionally, here is what Coaches Tricia and Wolfgang from the Flatiron swim team have to say about their career: “It is really fun and rewarding coaching all the great young swimmers on Flatiron Swimming! It’s inspiring to us to watch our swimmers develop into confident, happy, and well adjusted young people who are proud of their hard

work and dedication to the sport.” Coaches Tricia and Wolfgang are passionate about their careers. This passion is evident through their teaching, their devotion to swimming, and how they prepare students for success! Furthermore, after a hard swim session with a coach, swimming can help your body stay in good condition.

Stay in Shape

Swimming hard can be rewarding with its health benefits. The Better Health Channel states that swimming can keep your heart rate up, build your strength, help you maintain a healthy weight, and since you use nearly all your muscles during swimming, it provides a workout for your entire body. Since swimming does so many fantastic things for your body, you could be in better shape when you’re older or live a longer life!

Finish Strong

In short, basics are a great way to start swimming, as well as having the right coach to accompany you on your journey, and as soon as you try hard you’ll be healthier too! Swimming is a great way to get in the water, have fun, apply yourself, and do your best. It has always been around, and we have progressed in many ways. In the next generations, we’ll be able to determine better ways to swim too!

Champions are Made, not bornbyScarlettVanSteenberg

The ref blows the whistle, I watch the ball stay in my possession. I run down the field with sweat pouring all over my face, I take a shot, everything gets loud. My heart pounds like a drum being hit a million times. I see the ball roll in and the crowd cheer. My coach has taught me well once again. That right there is a hard working coach.

Taking risks

Soccer has been around for a while and people have taken that success for granted. They train every day and night so they can show the world their skills to win and want to make an impact and take chances.

Popularity of coaching

However, soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. The passion and rising popularity of the sport offers vast untapped potential. According to FIFA.com, Each and every coaching style of soccer falls under many different categories, democratic, autocratic, and holistic.

Benefits

In fact, each style has benefits and it's important to know all of them if you want to be a better player on and off the field.Soccer isn’t easy. You have to put all your hard work into one place and you might get far, but often if you do the right work you will get far.

According to my interview with David R Morgan, WIth my question of “What's the hardest part of coaching?” He responded with, “The hardest part is coordinating all the scheduling throughout the year. Both academic and athletic.”

Advice for soccer players

Paul Wright, a very well trained soccer coach has said a nourishing quote that has provoked fans and players all around the world. “All too often this is true, Players who want to make an impact can't be conservative. Players who want to advance must take chances.” Players and coaching shouldn't be afraid to fail. Success doesn't just come to you, you have to attack and not wait for your goals.The game will come to you.

All in all, coaches are to facilitate our learning, offer advice, and analyze the individual, to identify weaknesses and strengths. As a coach, your players are supposed to trust you and you are a role model. The coaches rule is to see what each player is meant for.

FACTS ABOUT CRISTIANO RONALDO

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous soccer players in the world, people love him and he inspires people all around the world. Like me, I want to be like him one day. If you don't know who he is, he is a 37-year-old, ex-soccer player, he played in Al-Nassr soccer player, he is from Funchal, Portugal, and he is a great soccer player. He has four kids and is married.

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most idolized soccer players worldwide. Soccer is one of the most famous sports around the world and we are going to learn how he became famous.

We Will Always Love You

CR7 (Cristiano Ronaldo)

As I said before Cristiano Ronaldo is an ex-soccer player he played in the last 2022 world cup, Portugal vs Suiza winning 6 to 0 that was one of the 5 teams he played against he is a star we all love him and admire him, I asked Mrs.Oconner C.I.S.M. Team USA Player, how he became famous and this is what he had to say, “Ronaldo will always be one of the most famous players ever to play the game. His ability to score in any situation during his prime was incredible. His athleticism and dedication to the sport truly made him elite.” As he said, CR7 (Cristiano Ronaldo) will always be one of the most famous players in the world.

by Jose Torres

How Did Soccer Become so Famous?

Soccer is one of the most famous sports around the world. According to T.J. O’Connor, C.I.S.M. Team USA Player, soccer became one of the most popular sports because, “You only need a ball to play. The rules are fairly simple and you don’t need to much equipment like other sports to play.” Shown above, that soccer is one of the most played sports around the world because it is only played with your feet, single ball, team vs. team.

People love the sport soccer because only need the following thing to play it. Soccer ball, feet, a team, and another team to play against and you could plate it wherever you want.

Cristiano Ronaldo is admired by a lot of people, especially me. I love him and I love how he played soccer I want to grow up to be like him one day, people call him CR7 because of his name Cristiano Ronaldo and the number of his shirt number 7. Cristiano Ronaldo’s favorite number is 7, that's why he got the number 7 on his shirt that is how people came up with the name CR7 for him CR stands for Cristiano Ronaldo and 7 is for the number on his shirt.

VOLUME II LARANA MAGAZINE 16

DAMAR HAMLIN: ARE YOU COMING BACK?

BY JAYDEN DUROCHER

Boom! Damar Hamlin falls to the ground and suffers Commotio Cordis; everyone rushes to him, falls on their knees, and prays. It was January 2 on Monday Night Football in the first quarter, when Damar Hamlin suffered Commotio Cordis, leading to cardiac arrest when your heart suddenly stops and no longer pumps blood throughout your body. Damar Hamlin may be famous for his life, or near-death experience, but he has proven himself as a top NFL player before this event. Who knows what his future holds now?

Damar suffered an injury. In a recent interview, this is what Clay White has to say about the event, “I think his immediate future is continued rehab and getting himself back to where he was before the injury; Commotio Cordis (which is what Hamlin suffered on the field) leads to cardiac arrest, which is when your heart suddenly stops and no longer pumps blood throughout your body.” The interview suggests that Damar Hamlin suffered Commotio Cordis on the field, leading to cardiac arrest. Coach White also said that cardiac arrest is when your heart suddenly stops and no longer pumps blood throughout your body. Before this event, barely anyone knew who he was.

You might not even know who Damar is. In a recent NY Times article, they said, “Hamlin is from McKees Rocks, and went to college at nearby Pittsburgh. He was a sixth-round draft pick in 2021 and became a starter for the Bills in September 2022.” The Article suggests that Damar is from McKees Rocks and said he went to a college nearby Pittsburgh. The article also states that he was a sixth-round draft pick in 2021 and became a starter for the Bills in September 2022, which is insane for a football player. Most sports experts do not know Damar’s plans for the future.

Damar Hamlin's future is unknown.

Clay White's opinion is, “What most doctors are saying if you read about the whole situation is that the goal is to get him back to being an independent, functioning adult again. Most people assume that he will never play football again but he is a professional athlete and I wouldn't put it past him. Rumors are that he will be at the first Bills playoff game this weekend and that would be a really cool aspect of your story.” The interview suggests that Damar Hamlin will play again and eventually be a functioning adult soon, but sadly, he did not play in the first Bills playoff game.

Many football players recover from injuries and live everyday lives. All in all, Damar will be known by many people in the world for his near-death experience. Many football players have injuries, but very few have near-death experiences. Looking to the future, many people are concerned about football players' injuries.

CARTWHEEL INTO COACHING

BY: VI FOWLER

You know those people you see on TV doing crazy flips? How do they do that? Well, obviously they have practiced a lot, but mainly it’s because of their coaches. If we gymnasts didn't have coaches, gymnastics would likely not exist and if it did, gymnasts would hurt themselves. Gymnastics coaches push you to your full potential. They're also there to help protect you from hurting yourself. It’s important to know the different levels of gymnastics coaching, but also what it’s like to be a coach.

LEVELS TO COACH

Kelly Kingsbury, a coach at Mountain Kids

Gymnastics in CO, explains in an interview, “My favorite levels to coach are our pre-team levels.” Working with these beginner gymnasts gets her excited because “At this stage, the kids are just starting to learn the fundamentals of gymnastics and they pick up skills really quickly. They also have so much enthusiasm to learn and do gymnastics.” Not only is it important to know the level of kids you enjoy working with, but also what it's like being a coach.

ADVICE FOR YOUNGER GYMNASTS

Younger gymnasts watch the Olympics and picture them selfs there in just a few short years. I had the privilege to get a video interview from Simone Biles and she said, “Dream big, and dream bigger after that cause you are so capable and your mind is so strong and you’ll never know what you’ll accomplish.”

All in all, we discussed the different levels of gymnastics coaching, and what it’s like to be a coach. Gymnastics Coaches are the people who teach you to follow your dream. It's not all about teaching, it's about having fun and ensuring everyone feels safe. Above all others, gymnastics coaches deserve the most appreciated because they have to teach many different levels, and they have to ensure everyone feels safe and is having fun.

Athletes Giving Back: Time, Not Just Money

Cashin Fejer Struggle

I look into my pantry and see no food. That is what millions of people across the United States deal with. According to Tom McCartney, Fairview High School football coach, “Athletes give back because they care and they have the resources to help others.” But these athletes including LeBron James, Calais Campbell, and Stephen Curry are giving back to the world, trying to get this and other community issues solved.

LeBron James

LeBron James' I Promise School is incredible, and that’s the only way to put it. LeBron James has raised and given 100 million dollars to his LeBron James Family Foundation. According to the official, I Promise school website, “All of the LeBron James Family Foundation’s work is rolled into the I PROMISE School, an Akron Public School dedicated to those students who are already falling behind and in danger of falling through the cracks.” Every single kid attending the school gets the privilege of having tuitionfree education that is completely paid for by LeBron and his sponsors. Additionally, the I Promise School has a giant snack cabinet so that kids won't go hungry throughout the day. LeBron James has really given back to the world in a powerful way.

Calais Campbell

Another person of true greatness is the Baltimore Ravens Defensive End; National Football League 2019-2020

Walter Payton man of the year award winner Calais Campbell. Campbell is the light leading troubled kids out of the tunnel. According to the National Football League, “Campbell spent all of his free time trying to make the

the world a better place. Including working with kids, and doing youth football programs. Calais Campbell also hosted two editions of Christmas with Calais, a holiday shopping spree for local kids who have achieved extracurricular lessons of financial literacy.” With the work that Calais has put in he has put smiles on thousands of people this athlete has done so much for the world truly making it a better place, and so has our next Athlete. Stephen Curry.

Stephen Curry is a tremendous basketball player. For example, Curry has the all-time three-point record in the National Basketball Association. But thankfully, Stephen Curry is also a stunning donor as well. According to Stephen Curry’s 'Eat. Learn. Play.' Foundation, “Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation is committed to unlocking the amazing potential of every child by fighting to end childhood hunger.” For instance, within their foundation, Curry gives away 15 million meals throughout Oakland each year. Additionally, the Currys give away 500,000 books each year. Curry has done so much for the world and will continue to change it.

The Dream

Now I look into my pantry and see food. Now I wake up on Monday and go to school. Now I look on the shelf and see books to read. All of these wonderful things are because of Athletes like LeBron James, Calais Campbell, Stephen Curry, and many more gracious athletes. So next time when you see a social issue occur, Ponder it, try and solve it. Then eventually… Change it.

8 More Donors

Jaire

.Lamar JacksonBlessing in a Backpack Alex MorganUNICEF Kid Power Team Ja MorantBoys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis Candice ParkerMamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation AlexanderJaire Alexander Family Foundation Julio JonesHuddle up for Miracles Serena WilliamsUNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Justin JeffersonChildren Minnisota Stephen Curry

A Women’s CU Basketball Coach

by Bella Marie Barajas

The ball pounds against the glazed wood court. I hear the whistle echoing off the brick wall; game time. Basketball has been around forever. The first basketball game was played on January 20, 1892, and was famous for being a sport.

In the game of basketball, you need to know what the coach's history with basketball is, how basketball works for the coach, different ways to play basketball as a coach, and lastly, some tips.

Has Shelley Sheetz Always Wanted to Be a Coach?

I have always wanted to be a CU basketball coach, and Shelley Sheetz has inspired me to follow my dream. In an interview with Shelley Sheetz, she said, “I have always wanted to be a college coach. From the time I picked up a basketball in second grade I told everyone I wanted to play college basketball, then be a professional basketball player and then coach at the college level."

Shelley Sheetz was the one that made me put my mind to basketball, and what she has to say is valueable.

How Does Basketball Work as a Coach?

Shelley Sheetz told me, “Being a college basketball coach consumes a lot of your time, time away from family and friends. You miss a lot of birthdays, holidays, and sometimes other special moments, but in the end the memories and relationships that you gain from being a college coach are very special. Our yearly schedule is set for us, practice, games, and recruiting is all set in our calendar. We only get certain times a year to take a vacation, based off that calendar."

A Typical Day as a CU Basketball Coach

According to Shelly Sheetz, "A typical day for a coach is the same once the season starts. Practice for three hours, watch film, meet with players, coaches meeting. During our playing (game season), we have really long days and very few days off. Being a college basketball coach is VERY rewarding. We get to coach a sport we love, we have 13-15 players on our team, and they are extremely smart academically and fun people to be around."

Looking to the Future

Shelley Sheetz explained, “Be the best player you can be, be able to develop relationships with people; that is key to being a good coach. You are able to talk to other coaches you have never met and be able to talk with future players. Developing relationships is really big in being a good college coach. Come to games and watch the current CU women’s team. That will give you a good idea of that atmosphere, meet us coaches, players, et cetera."

Shelly Sheetz is an amazing coach and I would love to try to strive for that as she did. I would love to accomplish my dream as she did. She believed in herself and she made it to where she is now.

ClimbingtoSafety

byOwenWalkerFogdall

Youlookupandwonderifyoucanmakethis.Youtouchtheraggedrock.Youseeapuff ofchalk.Yourhandsaresufferingfromthepain.Butyourfootslides.Thenyouslip!You fall.Theairrushesinyourear.Youtrytograbthewall.Yourhandslipsandyoucutyour hand.Youfeelthewarmliquidgodownyourarm.Thenclank!Theequipmentsavesyou. Thenyoulowerdown,fallslowlyandcontrolled,justlikealeaf,andyouland,petrified.

Rockclimbingisanextremesportthatpeopledoforfun.Therearemanytypesof climbing.Rockclimbingiswhereyoutrytoclimbwallswherethereareholdsifyougo climbingindoors.Butifyougooutdoorsyouclimbnormalcliffs,treesormorelikeice.

TherearemanytypesofclimbingSo,inthispaperwewilllearnwhatspeedclimbingis andwhatequipmentyouneedtostaysafe.

So,WhatisSpeedClimbing?

Speedclimbingiswhereyouareclimbinginacompetitionandyouareclimbing againstsomeoneandthenwhoeverclimbstothetopfastestwins.Ifyouaregoingtoa speed-climbingcompetition,youneedtoknowwhattofocuson.

Andthisiswhatonepopularspeedclimberdoes.JohnBroslerstates,“Inthedays leadinguptoacompetition,Itrytokeepapresentmindset,andIactuallydon’tthink aboutthecompetitionverymuch.Iliketofocusonrelaxing,eatinggoodfood,and hangingoutwithteammatesifwe’realltravelingtogether.”Andthisiswhathedoeswhen heisgoingtothedayofthecompetition.“Whencompetitiondayactuallycomes,Itryto approachitthesameway-bykeepingapresentmindset,andbyfocusingonjustonestep atatime.”

So,inall,whatyouhavetodowellinacompetitionistofocus.Butwhathappenswhen youfall?Yourequipmentsavesyou!

TheEquipmentPiecesThatareMostImportant

Sowhatarethemostimportantequipmentpieces?Well,Ibetyouknowthisfirstone, theharnessandrope.Thereasonisthattheykeepyoufromdyingwhenyouslipbutalso, yourshoeskeepyoufromslippingsomuch.ThisiswhatJohnBroslerthinks.“Ithinkyour harnessandclimbingshoesarethetwomostimportantpiecesofequipment.Because yourharnessisyourlifeline,it’simportanttohaveonethatyou’reconfidenttakingfalls in,andcomfortableenoughthatyoucanalmostforgetthatyou’rewearingonewhileon thewall.Agoodpairofshoeswilldothesamethingforyou,andallowyoutoconfidently useanypossiblefoothold.“

Conclusion

Inall,juststayfocusedandmakesureyouhavegoodequipmentsoyoustaysafe.

Soyou'reprobablylikewhydidyoumakethispaperandwhyisitbecausemakepeople tryitandifyouarealreadyclimbingIwanttoknowhowtoclimbsafely!

Seconds to Death

By Miles Bowen

His eyes rolled to the back of his head. Thump. The crowd was silent, and all you could hear were the sirens that were sitting next to the limp body.

Damar Hamlin fell to the ground at Cincinnati field on February 2nd because of a cardiac arrest. What happened on that day? Where is he now?

How did Damar Hamlin get injured?

What really happened on February second, 2023? Damar Hamlin fell to the ground because of cardiac arrest. Local football coach Clay White stated, “Cardiac arrest is when there is a blow/blunt to the chest during a specific time during a beat of the heart.” That is a tough injury, but it is also very rare.

So Where is Damar Hamlin now?

Will he ever play for a team again? It all depends on if he wants to play but most of all it depends on the doctor. After Damar Hamlin was hit, he was not breathing and his heart stopped for 9 minutes. He is now continuing to recover at his home.

So how can we help going forward?

For this purpose, If you want to help, you can be more careful with your bodies and donate to Damar Hamlin's charity.

The G.O.A.T.: Number 30!

by Angel Santana

The leather ball dribbled down the sparkly wooden court. It’s either Stephen Curry or Michele Jordan but for many, it can be both. Davidson College has an interesting back story because Stephen Curry attended that college and Is now one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Player number 30!! Steph Curry is ballin' with success and fame.

About Curry

As previously mentioned, Stephen Curry Is one of the greatest and he is part of the NBA all-star roster. According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, he led the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association to championships In 2015,2017,2018, and finally In 2022! And to the best regular-season record In league history In 2016! Curry isn't only a great basketball star he is also a great person.

TheCurry

Hobbies

Curry is not only an awesome NBA all-star, he always has time to help people in need and make people's lives better. He always puts fans and family first even when he Is playing on the court! He has made sure to contribute to society. According to Britannica Encyclopedia, one of his most extensive works when It comes to charity will be his Eat.Learn.Play Foundation. A foundation he founded with his wife In 2019. The Golden State Warrior star has made sure to provide children with food, water, education, and every other basic needs.

Curry Going Home

The season Is now over. Stephen has done It again! I hope we all get to see his great work and humble heart next season. In the future, next is the hall of fame. Never stop dunking for success.

"Viva Futbol!"

By Arik Pukitis

World-class soccer star Lionel Messi said, “I start early and I stay late, day after day, year after year, it took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.” Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with over 3.5 billion followers and is played in about 150 countries. Soccer is a simple game that doesn’t require much to play, has a rich history, and has many players who have mastered it today.

What is Soccer?

Soccer, or better known as football to the rest of the world, is played on a rectangular field with nets on either end. Two teams try to drive the ball into the opposing net, without using their hands. The goalkeeper defending the net is the only player in the game who’s allowed to use their hands and has to be sharp to get to the ball quickly, like a lion pouncing on its prey. The team that scores the most goals, wins the game. According to Britannica soccer is “simple in its principal rules and essential equipment, the sport can be played almost anywhere, from official football playing fields (pitches) to gymnasiums, streets, school playgrounds, parks, or beaches.” Now that we know the fundamentals of the sport, let’s learn more about the sport’s history.

History of Football

The game of football dates back to Medieval Times and was first thought to be played with a rock. Modern football began in Britain in the 19th century and slowly developed official rules as the game spread across Europe with more teams being formed. FIFA (Federation International De Futbol) started in 1904 with seven countries and is the international governing body of football. Today hundreds of leagues and teams across the world compete at all levels.

Top Players

Pelé, Maradona, Ronaldo, Messi, Beckham and Mbappe. What do all these players have in common? Greatness. Greatness in the form of awards, trophies, and even World Cups. But, greatness can also be overcoming challenges. David Beckham, England national team player, and one of soccer’s greats said, “At 12 years old I was told by an England youth coach that I’d never play for my country. They said you’re too small, not strong enough. 30 years on, I made 115 appearances for my country, was captain, played at 3 World Cups and had a good career.” The lesson here is to never give up.

Never Stop Believing

In summary, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Soccer is a sport for everyone. Everyone can root for their team, and support their country. What is my soccer dream? I want to practice more, develop my skills and play competitively. I can just imagine someone like me getting to play for my country. It just seems amazing. T.J. O’Connor, CISM World Military player for Team U.S.A. says, “My favorite part about soccer is its ability to unite people from all walks of life. It transcends cultural, religious, and political differences. Every four years more than a billion people across the globe tune in to watch the World Cup and root for their national teams and favorite players on the biggest stage. I have so many fond memories of staying up late as a kid watching games in different time zones with my friends and family, dreaming what it must be like to represent your country at that level.”

Skiing: How It All Started

by Amelia Holm

With the crisp sound of your poles slicing through the snow, you climb up the hill, ski by ski. When you get to the top of the mountain, you see the glinting snow like a thousand tiny pieces of glitter. Cross-country skiing is a winter sport where athletes propel themselves forward on snow using skis and poles.

Cross-country skiing has an ancient origin but eventually became the modern sport it is today.

Origin of Cross-Country Skiing

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, there’s evidence that people used skis for transportation across the snow as early as 8,000 BCE. The word ski, as defined by Merriam-Webster, comes from the Norwegian word skith. It’s thought that the Sami people invented skiing. They lived in Scandinavia, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of Northern Russia. The armies of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, and Russia used skis throughout the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, note researchers at Emory University.

Ski troops who fought in World War I and World War II helped promote skiing as a sport after they returned to their civilian lives, especially those who fought in World War II. Those veterans helped make skiing a well-known sport.

For the Sport of It

In the 18th century, Norwegian army units started to ski for sport and prizes instead of just for work. Soon, it became popular to ski just for the sport. The first cross-country ski race on record was in 1842 in Norway. According to NBC Olympics, cross-country skiing made its Olympic debut in 1924 in Chamonix, France. That first race was just for men. Then, the first women’s event happened

in 1952 at the Oslo Olympic Games in Norway.

Norway, Sweden, and Finland have won the most Olympic medals in crosscountry skiing ever. The United States women’s national team has made history many times in recent years.

Present Day

In the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, China, Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins won the women’s team sprint. It was a historical moment and the first Olympic gold medal in crosscountry skiing for Team U.S.A.

“In the finish, I let out a bunch of awkward and loud yells and then tackled Jessie. It was such a supreme feeling of satisfaction to finally achieve something that often seemed out of reach and had taken such a long time to accomplish,” said Kikkan Randall, retired U.S. Olympian, describing the historic moment. “It was so fulfilling to know the medal had come in a team event that had taken the collaborative work of so many people. The win was the reward to everyone who had contributed and believed.” The U.S. cross-country team continues to have success in racing and building a team.

All in all, cross-country skiing has a long and interesting history. The sport of skiing is known worldwide. Furthermore, there are many different levels of skiing from the professionals to the beginners and anywhere in between. This sport would be a fun family activity to try this winter. Grab your skis and poles, and find a snowy trail to ski on!

TheManWhoDoubledtheJerseySales byCavanCole

“ErlingHaalandhasscored9.”Theannouncerbooms!Themostgoals scoredbyaplayerinaU20WorldCupmatchever.ErlingHaalandisastriker forManchesterCityandtheNorwegianNationalTeam.Soccerplayershave threecategoriesthatmakethemincredible.Theirimpact,theirstyleofplay, andwhattheyaccomplishthroughouttheircareer.

Haaland:TheNorwegianSensation

ErlingHaalandisoneofthemostelitesoccerplayersintheworld. Furthermore,UEFAChampionsLeaguenamedHaalandthe,"strikerofthe competitionandthetopgoalscorertwice."Atayoungage,Haaland overtookthefootballworldandworkedharderthananyoneelse.Haaland explainsinaninterview,“IworkashardasIcantobecomethebest footballerintheworld.”ErlingHaalandhashadasignificantimpactonthe gameofsoccer.Furthermore,hisstyleofplayisincrediblyunique.

UnpredictableSkills

Everygreatplayerhastheirownuniqueplaystyle.GarrettCole,Premier Leaugefangiveshisopinionsaying,“Heisawickedcomboofsize,strength, andspeed.SecondlyIthinkhehasincredibleinstincttoalwaysbeinthe rightplaceattherighttime.”Haalandissuperathleticandhasagreat knowledgeforthegame.Haaland’sstyleofplayisphenomenal,aswellhis careeristrulyonetoremember.

OneFortheHistoryBooks

Haaland’scareerhasalreadybeensensational,butitisjustgetting started.Goal,aonlinesoccerwebsite,explainshowErlinghasalreadywon twoleaguetitlesandtwomajorcupcompetitions.ErlingHaalandmay becomeoneofthebestplayerstosteponthepitch,andwillwinmanymore cuptitles.

TheNextChapter

Allinall,Haalandhasmadeanimpactonlegionsofpeople'slives,hasa specialstyleofplay,andhasoneofthemostlegendarycareers.Soccer playershavesomeofthemostdedicationwithoutquestion,working overtimetoinspireyoungkidsacrosstheglobe.AlthoughMessiorRonaldo mightbethegreatest,thereisanextchapterofsoccerplayerstolookout for.

HISTORY

TheTitanic:Deathand Devastation

by Emeryn Sieveke

The “unsinkable” ship sliced through the dangerous waters, icebergs lurking in the distance. None of the 2,200 passengers knew what they had gotten themselves into.

According to National Geographic, the Titanic left Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912. It was heading for New York City. The Titanic was a large ship with many rooms, the construction took a lot of work, and what happened was a terrible tragedy.

AbouttheShip

The Titanic contained many areas for relaxation. According to the British Titanic Society, this massive vessel included dining rooms, a library, swimming pools, and a lounge with a piano. However, the Titanic unfortunately only had 20 lifeboats. This shows that the Titanic would have attracted lots of people, for the Titanic was an elegant, new ship that anyone would have wanted to get on. With all these rooms, building the Titanic must have been a lot of work.

The

Construction Building the Titanic took lots of work and effort.

According to the Molly Brown House Museum, the construction began March 31, 1909. 14,100 men labored on this huge project and it took them three years to complete it. To build the Titanic, large steel plates were riveted to the frame. It took more than three million rivets to hold the steel in place! In addition, the hull contained 29 boilers and 159 furnaces, which is what powers the ship. Furthermore, when the ship was completed, it was the largest man-made object ever to be built. According to Aidan McMichael, from the Belfast Titanic Society, it was also the most advanced ship of its kind in 1912. The ship was designed with a new method, which included five watertight compartments in the hull. If one compartment filled with water, the water couldn’t enter the second compartment, or the third, fourth, or fifth compartment. This was why the Titanic was believed to be unsinkable. This shows that the workers and designers put lots of effort into building a safe and comfortable ship and actually believed that their work paid off. But no one would have thought that it would all go to waste.

WhatHappened

On the morning of April 15th, the world was shocked to learn about the loss of about 1,500 lives and that the Titanic had been swallowed by the ocean. According to National Geographic, just four days after setting sail from Southampton, the Titanic struck an iceberg and tore a 300-foot gash in the hull, like a lion tearing up its prey. As it started to flood, the panicked passengers loaded into lifeboats. But there were only so many–and only about 700 people would survive. According to Aidan McMichael, from the Belfast Titanic Society, because the hole in the hull was so long, water filled each of the watertight compartments, and the weight of the water began to pull the ship underwater. Consequently, the Titanic would sink in less than three hours. Unfortunately, the luxurious vessel’s end came sooner than anyone expected.

TheTitanic

The Titanic was a gigantic watercraft, building this took lots of time and effort, and what happened to it was a horrible disaster. I find learning about the ship, the construction, and what happened to the Titanic very interesting. People, who even have basic knowledge on the Titanic, should know this tragedy that occurred in world’s history and how this luxurious vessel went down.

Paying for Learning?

by Sadie Fox

It’s ironic how much money is spent on education each year. Parents, teachers, and other staff contribute to the money that is needed to keep education alive, but education is no longer free. Extra curriculum and field trips come with all different kinds of fees. The cost of education is rising as the years go on; there is a price to everything. Money doesn’t magically appear, and school supplies are extremely costly per child.

Even with school fundraisers, the rest of the money has to come from somewhere.

As stated on U.S. Department of Education, “About 92 percent of the funds for schools will come from non-federal sources.” That 92 percent of funds is where schools receive money, which goes toward anything the school needs. However, with 92 percent of funds, schools still reach for all the extra money they can get. If schools, and school districts, had more money, it would be a huge help to everyone.

“An extra $1,000 per year would be a huge help towards covering classroom expenses, as well as additional training,” explains Rachel Paradis, a private school teacher. “If schools had more money, I think reducing class sizes (which primarily involves hiring more teachers), would be a very important way to spend that extra money. Classes are way too big these days in public schools, especially at the elementary level, but really at all levels. Students would be much more better served if teachers weren’t overwhelmed by the large numbers of students they are trying to reach at the same time,” Paradis continues.

Even with all the money from state and local governments, families still have to purchase school supplies.

An insane amount of money is spent on school supplies for students. In 2022, Governor Whitmer of Michigan proposed suspending the school supplies tax.

A fourth-grade teacher at Gull Lake Community Schools, Alex Bohr, said, “I spend about 500 dollars out-of-pocket a year on supplies for my classroom, and that’s a big challenge for me as an early-career teacher with low wages.” This explains the challenges earlycareer teachers with low wages experience when a new school year is starting up. In other words, teachers and parents are having to pay loads of money for one year’s worth of school supplies, with wallets roaring in anger. “All of these costs accumulate and become a substantial financial burden, both for educators and parents. Governor Whitmer’s proposal for a school sales tax holiday will help educators and families keep a little extra money in our wallets, so we can afford other basic necessities,” said Bohr. This illustrates that the cost of school supplies is becoming a substantial financial burden to families and educators. With the help of Governor Whitmer’s proposal for a school sales tax holiday, school supplies will be more affordable. With this proposal, hopefully, other schools and districts can take action and follow this proposal.

All in all, the cost of education is outrageous, there is a limited amount of money per pupil, and school supplies are insanely pricey. It is important that each and every student is getting the education they need to succeed without having the cost effect. Looking to the future, education should be free; children and parents should be able to enjoy school without all the fees and payments coming at them.

The Nutcracker: A Magical Tradition

by Olivia Takach

Did you know that the Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu is made of seven layers of tulle? Did you know that each candy cane costume has 144 jingle bells? In the magical New York City Ballet, The Nutcracker, there are many intricate details and people that work to make this ballet special. The Christmas tree in the Party Scene grows to be 41 feet tall and weighs two thousand pounds. And Mother Ginger’s skirt is supported by a forty-pound metal frame. The Nutcracker is a magical performance, bringing life to the stage, and sharing Christmas spirit. The Nutcracker was first composed by Tchaikovsky, and first performed in Russia. The ballet is performed around the world, and companies are constantly slightly changing it up.

Who Wrote The Nutcracker?

The Nutcracker was written by one of the most famous Russian composers. As recently brought up in Britannica Encyclopedia, E.T.A Hoffman wrote a story called The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, but darker and scarier. Tchaikovsky changed the story and made a fairy tale ballet, with incredible music. Tchaikovsky, a famous Russian composer, also wrote another ballet. Tchaikovsky’s composing is most well known for by Sleeping Beauty, and Tchaikovsky is the man behind this spectacular ballet, but where did it take place first?

Where Did The Nutcracker Originate?

The Nutcracker has traveled here all the way from Russia! As recently mentioned on World Atlas, The Nutcracker ballet was written by Tchaikovsky and premiered on December 1892, in St. Petersburg, Russia. When it premiered, people did not enjoy it; they thought it was boring.

Even though the initial performance was not very successful, The Nutcracker today has become one of the most popular ballets. Despite the first failure, now we have a classic ballet performance that happens once a year. Now, this show slowly changes slightly over time.

How Does The Nutcracker Change Over the Years?

In a recent interview with Boulder Ballet’s school director, Andrea Basile, states, The Nutcracker has changed over time depending on where it is performed and who the choreographer is. Over the years, classical companies have kept the story and the music consistent but have always updated the choreography, the costumes, and the sets. As recently mentioned at The New York City Ballet, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker has been popular every year as a Christmas tradition. As we watch The Nutcracker in the audience, we don’t usually think about the choreography or all the effort that was put in to make the performance possible. The Nutcracker is truly magical.

All in all, The Nutcracker is Christmas magic written by Tchaikovsky and premiered in Russia in 1892. The Nutcracker is a ballet slowly changing over the years. This is a show that will go on for many years to come. So come! Come to the next Nutcracker near you and watch an amazing performance. You can even audition for The Nutcracker, to be a part of something incredible.

TeachingYoungAmericansAbouttheTragic Event:9/11

by Weston Dunning

“We are getting reports that a Boeing 737 just hit the North tower of the World Trade Center,” the radio echoes. Tragedy has struck.

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack began. At first, people thought it was an accident that a plane hit the North tower. This could not be farther from the truth. A group of terrorists were attacking America. This was one of 4 planes on target to destroy the U.S. Only one plane would miss, leaving the rest giant bombs. This day would go down to be one of the most tragic in history. More firefighters died on 9/11 than on any other day in American history; so many innocent lives were lost.

Who Were the Terrorists and Where Were They From?

The terrorists were definitely not American. In fact, they were trying to attack America from the inside. History states that the terrorists were Islamic, from Saudi Arabia, and several other Arab nations. The terrorists took off from Logan International Airport in Boston, Dulles International Airport in Washington, and Newark International Airport in New Jersey. A few came to America months before to take piloting lessons, others came weeks before to be the muscle of the operation. These terrorists were really horrible people, but then the question arises. Why did they do it?

Why Did it Happen, and Why Would Someone Do This?

Affect and Recovery

New York after this event was not the same, and it will never be the same. But, they recovered, though it took a long time to happen. Tanya Abedeen, a citizen living in New York at the time, witnessed the whole thing by looking out her window on the other side of the river. It was incredibly scarring and traumatizing. Tanya says, “It was an evolution of confusion, unimaginable shock, and then sadness.” She saw our city fall and crumble to the ground, the sad aftermath of this horrific event.

Following the attack, New York City was mostly closed. Also, for weeks, there were fully armed military and police all around the city. In addition to the collapse of the Twin Towers, other buildings fell to the ground as well, killing more people. These are some of the tragic things that happened on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

Wrapping it Up

All in all, this event was a horrific day that took so many innocent lives. Taken as an act of retaliation, 9/11 is a day in American history with so many tragic moments, that traumatized so many. I believe 9/11 will remain a very well-known event, but I want to make certain that people are not only aware of the event, but also of the facts and information about this day.

You may be wondering why this happened. It is a very surprising act that put the whole world into shock. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum explains that the terrorists most likely were acting in retaliation for America helping Israel with its participation in the Persian Gulf War. Plus, our continued military presence in the Middle East. This suggests that they thought of America as overpowered and controlling, resorting to attacking America from the inside. With this, they killed in total a shocking 2,996 people, and forever left a mark in New York City.

Now you can see the true horrors of 9/11. But you may still have questions about what happened to the community after this event.

LESSONS LEARNED

BY JULIANA LEE

Sometimes in war, lives can be needlessly lost. Bans, restrictions, and confiscations can sometimes also be put into place. Valuable and priceless stories and information can be forever lost. In war times, whether we like it or not, these can become tragic truths for many of those involved and have lasting impacts for many generations to come. The number of Jewish lives and literature lost during WWII is almost unthinkable… Members of the Jewish community were brutally tortured and manipulated by German soldiers and some German citizens. All aspects of their lives including their work, their studies, and their day-to-day lives were completely controlled by the Nazis. Some Germans were determined to help eradicate Jews and cleanse the world of “the others”.The formation of World War ll book banning was meant to restrict the sharing of information, limit ideas, and cast political control over a specific group of people. Ultimately, the burning of books represented an element of harsh censorship and manipulation. Furthermore, there were also extreme punishments doled out to those that opposed book banning and book burning.

The Thinking Behind Banning JewishAuthored Books

What was some of the thinking behind establishing the laws banning Jewish-authored books and literature? As discussed in the Holocaust Encyclopedia, book burning is described as the ritual of using fire to destroy written context and materials. Furthermore, these burnings were usually carried out in public for all to see and witness. Therefore burning of books demonstrated elements of censorship, control, and intimidation. Under most circumstances, it was done for cultural and menacing purposes. However, in other instances, it was done with religious motivations. These harsh book burnings were carried out by German citizens and German soldiers alike. This was done to limit thoughts, provoke the citizens, and keep them from sharing ideas with others. Though, these are only some of the tactics used for reading.

Punishments for Helping Jewish People

We all know that Nazi punishments were harsh towards Jewish citizens specifically. As noted in Polscy Sprawiedliwi's article, helping Jewish people was not liked one bit by the Germans. Having to hide to survive was also forbidden. Penalties that could be the result of helping Jewish people varied, such as beatings, property confiscation, prison, forced labor, concentration camps, and possibly even the death penalty. However, German authorities’ laws varied depending on the place, time, and type of offense. Germans could hand out penalties, and judgments with or without a trial. Sometimes those who were arrested were allowed to go home, but in most cases were severely punished.

All in all, book banning is a form of censorship. Helping Jewish citizens also came with responsibilities and punishments from the Germans and their political agendas. This topic is important to discuss today so that we never forget what happened in the past and make sure that we as individuals, and as a country do not repeat those mistakes.

Halloween in a Different Perspective

by Jonah Litsky

What’s your favorite holiday? Is it Halloween? Well, it's my favorite holiday. Do you want to know why? If you celebrate Halloween you would typically dress up and go trick or treating. Have you ever wondered when Halloween was founded, and what the most popular costumes and candy are?

When Halloween was Founded

Halloween was Celebrated Back in the First A.D. With the Romans. According to Distracify by Anna Garrison, Halloween was founded 2000 years ago. Halloween was not the same in the first A.D. They did not wear plastic masks and did not ask their neighbors for candy. It’s so cool how we have evolved. While the history runs deep, the costumes will blow your mind!

Most Popular Costume

According to CNN, a witch is the most popular costume. There are a lot of different movies that have witches in them like Hocus Pocus 2. The witch won the coolest costume, but let's see who would win the tastiest candy.

Most Popular Candy

According to the U.S.A. Today, the Reese Peanut butter cups are the most popular candy. According to Insider, “America spends way more on Reese's Peanut Butter Cups than any other candy, according to the latest data from Nielsen.” $52 million to be exact.

Wrapping Things Up

All in all, Halloween was founded 2000 years ago! The most popular costume being a witch out of the many costumes is just so cool. The candy too, the Reese Peanut Butter Cups came out on top. Wow. Looking forward to next year. When Halloween comes back, you will know the origin of Halloween.

D-day: Hope by

Jack Fisher

Over 9,000 dead. More wounded.This is the bloody beach of Normandy on June 6th, 1944.

What is D-day?

Operation Overlord, or D-day, was a major event that swayed the war in the favor of the Allied Forces, pushing back the Germans to their hometown of Berlin. D-day gave the Allies hope that allowed them to push through the hardships, going deeper and deeper into the core of World War II.

Planning

Planning on D-day was crucial. For example, the leaders of the Allied Forces ed the Nazis to believe that the operation would take place at Calais, the shortest part of the Channel, which is over 200 miles away. According to Prof. Thomas Zeiler, "Preparation was critical because the Germans had built up a nearly impenetrable Atlantic Wall in Normandy; the Allies would have to be ready to sacrifice a lot to succeed.” According to Prof. Thomas Zeiler of Colorado University, “Tens of thousands of troops arrived in England, after leaders like Eisenhower had coordinated where the landing would take place and how to build up troops. They used George Patton, who the Germans believed to be their most formidable opponent, to fool the Nazis by pretending he was leading the forces – but he only was in England to pose as the leader. Preparation was critical because the Germans had built up a nearly impenetrable Atlantic Wall in Normandy; the Allies would have to be ready to sacrifice a lot to succeed.” Preparation was extremely important; if the Allied Forces didn’t push the Nazis out of Normandy, thousands more lives would be lost. Hours were spent forcing Hitler to retreat and turn to desperate Hail Mary ideas that would never work. To this day, people believe D-day could have been avoided, or casualties could have been minimized.

Could D-day Have Been Avoided?

The amount of lives lost on D-day was staggering. Casualties had been minimized to a large extent, but were still immense. As Professor Thomas Zeiler from Colorado University explains, “D-day likely could have been avoided. Operation Dragoon was planned, and took place, in the south of France. The Russians were coming in from the east. Some think that the Normandy landings were unnecessarily risky and caused too many casualties. But it was the most direct route, and the Germans were tricked into thinking it would occur at Calais, the shortest route across the Channel. That helped with casualties. Better planning, such as not weighing down American soldiers with heavy packs, should have happened as well.”

Operation Overlord had the most direct path to liberating France and other Nazi occupied countries, but was a highly fortified position. Operation Dragoon would have been easier to invade but would take time that the Allies didn’t have. So what happened after D-day?

The Aftermath

As expert Historian and University of Colorado Professor Thomas Zeiler states, “D-day created a second front to pinch the Germans from the west, while the Russians came from the east. So, it forced the Germans to fight a two-front war. That, and the strategic bombing campaign, and Atlantic war over shipping, ended things for Hitler.“ After D-day, the Nazis were fighting a two-front war with the Allies coming from the West and the Russians coming from the East. Allied bombing campaigns and the naval battles of the Atlantic reduced the ability of the Nazis to fight the war. It was inevitable that the war would end soon. As the famous poet Emily Dickenson once said, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes without the words – and never stops at all.”

Recapping D-day

War is like a chess game. And after D-day, there were only a few more moves until checkmate. D-day swayed the war in the favor of the Allied Forces, protecting the citizens of multiple countries, all thanks to the brave men and women that fought to have a world of freedom. Freedom is worth fighting for, and if you don’t fight for it, freedom will not exist. Without freedom, you will eventually lose hope. And with no hope, the thing with feathers will stop perching on the soul, and will stop singing the tune of hope that exists in everybody.

INSIDE THE TOMBS

BYAVERYSHERR

King Tutankhamun significantly impacted ancient Egypt because he restored the Egyptian beliefs of multiple gods. When he died, he left behind a sea of treasures in his tomb. From the pyramids and beyond, ancient treasures and deceased pharaohs have helped us learn more about ancient Egypt’s culture - what was buried with Egyptians, tells us about how they lived. From the Pyramids to the Valley Pharaohs were first buried in pyramids, but later on, were buried in the Valley of the Kings. Mr. Travis Rupp, a teacher at The University of Colorado in Boulder, says, “Many pyramids after the 4th dynasty were poorly or cheaply built due to lack of funds.” He also states that building pyramids grew to be unpopular and was considered arrogant. In the Valley of the Kings, tunneling, or digging below ground, “Provided far more longevity and permanence.” This shows that pharaohs wanted their tombs to be preserved and protected. There may have been additional reasons for this transition to the Valley. Dr. Salima Ikram, the head of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, believes that the Valley was a religious and possibly political center. In summary, the pharaohs moved their burials to the Valley of the Kings for religious and possible political reasons, as well as to ensure the safety of their tombs. But what treasures were these pharaohs buried with – wherever their tombs might be?

Ancient Treasure

A pharaoh’s tomb usually had everything they needed to enter the afterlife. According to a recent article from The Travel, jewels, food, boats, and more were often buried with them. In addition, “Objects of daily life and images of gods” were buried in the tombs, says Dr. Ikram. This shows that the Egyptians believed the dead needed to be well prepared in order to get to the afterlife safely. Adding on to this, Mr. Rupp states that, “Individuals would often be buried with food and drink like beer and wine. They would also be buried with ceremonial chariots, statues of divine protectors, and later in Egyptian history a wealth of little statues called shabtis.” Shabtis were figures carved out of stone or wood. They were designed to carry out heavy manual tasks and serve the deceased in the afterlife. Rupp also states, “The more you could pack into your tomb, the better your life in the next realm would be.” This evidence shows that the Egyptians believed the dead not only needed to be well prepared, but they also needed lots of help to get to the afterlife. But who was buried with this abundance of treasure?

Mummification

When their deaths came, the rich and powerful underwent mummification. According to Sciencing and HowStuffWorks, mummification took 70 days to complete and was done by priests. The priests removed all organs except the heart, which they believed did the thinking. Then the deceased Egyptian was dried and their body was covered with resin. Lastly, the body was wrapped in a blanket called a shroud, and covered in linen bandages. Over the years, as the body decomposed, the bandages kept it together. This shows that Egyptians wanted the dead to be preserved for a long time, and worked hard to ensure it happened.

Discoveries Remain

From the pyramids and beyond, ancient treasures and deceased pharaohs have helped us learn more about ancient Egypt’s culture. Pharaohs were moved from the pyramids to the Valley of the Kings, buried with beautiful treasure, and underwent mummification to preserve their bodies. It is fascinating to imagine Ancient Egypt, a culture before our own. Many artifacts are in museums, and more tombs are underneath the earth, just waiting to be discovered.

FUN WITH FUN WITH FUNGI! FUNGI!

Tiny but Mighty: The Mushroom!

by Stella Smith

The mushroom: One of the world's greatest healers. The moist ground, the sunlight beams dancing around the green leaves, a mushroom grows steadily out of the compost. These tiny but mighty fungi can prevent diseases including cancer and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as announced by UCLA Health.

From how they grow to where they grow, and how they can help your wellness, mushrooms are there to keep you happy and healthy.

How Do Mushrooms Grow?

Mushrooms have a distinct and fascinating way of reproducing and growing. North Spore, an online store and blog for mushrooms states, “While all flowering plants grow from seeds, mushrooms grow from either spores or tissue culture. Every mushroom releases thousands of spores into its environment, each carrying genetics unique to that spore.” This evidence shows that spores are seeds for mushrooms. When a spore lands in the right environment, it will germinate and send out a hypha, a small filamentous thread. The fungi grow from the tip of the hypha, like a bud. Furthermore, once the mushroom erupts from the surface it absorbs nutrients from the area around it and grows until it’s ready to be picked and eaten, but always bear in mind not all mushrooms are choice edible varieties.

Mushrooms have a complicated and unique structure when growing, and they can be picky about where they need to grow to get the correct amount of nutrients.

Where Do Mushrooms Grow?

Mushrooms need a secure and safe place to collect nutrients.

According to R&R Cultivation, “Mushrooms grow in a wide range of temperatures, from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. They may begin growing in spring when temperatures are colder, but they thrive in a climate where temperatures hover around 70 degrees. Moisture is also important for mushroom growth. Because mushrooms have no skin, it is difficult for them to retain moisture. This means they must grow in a moist environment to prevent the fruiting bodies from drying out.” This evidence shows that mushrooms can be picky where they need to grow, which is why you will find most mushrooms on a forest floor in partial shade. Additionally, there are types of mushrooms that can live and grow in full sun and you can find them on the side of trees, in manure fields, and in other places that are higher in temperature.

Mushrooms have specific ways to grow, and on the way, they collect minerals and vitamins that can help your wellness.

How Can They Help Your Health?

Mushrooms are a hearty and helpful way to keep you healthy. UCLA Health states, “ Mushrooms contain macronutrients that support a healthy immune system. According to the Mushroom Council, your immune system will benefit from mushrooms whose nutrients include: Selenium,... Vitamin D,... Vitamin B6,... Researchers continue to study the effects of eating mushrooms on mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI causes memory and language difficulties and is often a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.”

According to Shaun Smith, an aquaponics expert, “Mushrooms have impacted my life with better health all around. There are several medicinal mushroom varieties that I use starting with the humble Shiitake to the Lions Maine, Cordyceps militaris, Reishi, and Turkey Tail. All these mushrooms help maintain our health.” This shows that mushrooms are a great source of numerous vitamins that can improve your health, including preventing cell damage, boosting immune function, and reducing inflammation. They can benefit your health.

Mushrooming Forward

All in all, from how they collect nutrients to how they grow, mushrooms are a superfood. It's amazing that just in a few months of eating them daily, your health will change. They’re tiny, but mushrooms are one of the best doctors in the world. It’s crazy that in a tiny little plant, there could be so many benefits.

Who knows? One day mushrooms might cure cancer, but in the end, mushrooms can save lives with their amazing healing powers. Why not start today? Adding mushrooms to your diet is simple, tasty, and effective.

Mushrooms: The Glue That Holds Us Together

by Lila Schuchman

Mushrooms: Accessory or Specimen?

What do you think when you hear the word mushroom? Do you think of fungi buried deep within the Amazon; deadly to the touch? I doubt it. Most likely, you think of mushrooms as a graphic on your sweatshirt, or a topping on your pizza. Numerous people think of mushrooms as a mere accessory; little do they know mushrooms are changing our lives on a regular basis.

Mushrooms fall under their own category: fungi. They’re what some call “flowers” atop a fungus called mycelium. Mycelium connects mushrooms all over the world, from the deadly cap of the Lilac Bonnet to a harmless Button Mushroom.

Mushrooms are fascinating for two reasons. Those reasons are the importance of mushrooms to our environment and a mushroom's life cycle.

The Importance of Mushrooms to Our Environment

Without mushrooms our world would fall apart. As stated by mushroom expert, Shaun Smith, “The impact on our environment with the loss of all mycelium would be catastrophic. Mycelium is responsible for so many functions of our soil health and can be found in almost every environment. The main impact on our environment would be the loss of fungi converting dead organic matter into biomass, carbon dioxide, and organic acids.” Mycelium is vital to our Earth and does not require primitive living conditions. “Many species of fungi possess the ability to act as an effective biosorbent of toxic metals such as cadmium, copper, mercury, lead, and zinc, by accumulating them into their fruiting bodiesmushrooms! Yay! Also not to forget. How sad it would be not to have choice edible or medicinal mushroom superfoods in our diet,” Shaun Smith explains. Mycelium holds a high position in our soil and food chain. Mycelium is vital to soil and animals, but how is such a fungus grown?

Life Cycle of a Mushroom

A mushroom's life cycle is as intriguing as it is complicated. According to Natura Mushrooms, “The life cycle of a mushroom can be broken down into five stages. Spores, hyphae, mycelium, hyphal knot, and the mature mushroom.” Spores shoot out from the underside of a mushroom known as "gills"; once they land in favorable conditions they will grow. Growing from spores are hyphae: the second stage. Hyphae are branches of fungi fiber but are not developed until two different sexes of hyphae form mycelium. However, the "root" of the mushroom has been fully grown, but the mushroom does not exist yet. We need a hyphal knot. A hyphal knot occurs when the mycelium bands together in a knot underground causing a primadoria to emerge (baby mushroom). Subsequently, the primadoria will have grown into a mature mushroom. Every step in a mushroom’s life cycle is crucial to delivering the famous mature mushroom. Yet, scientists continue to explore new things about it each day.

The Saviors of Our Universe

Mushrooms continue to fascinate biologists and environmentalists alike as they discover: New things about the importance of mushrooms to our environment and the life cycle of a mushroom. You’re probably tired of hearing this, but mushrooms are the glue holding our Earth together. Without this glue, everything we know would vanish before our eyes. This is why we must never take mushrooms for granted. Years from now, though mushrooms will remain an accessory, maybe people will look at them as the savior of our world too. Who knows? Maybe you will discover something that ensures their glue never loses stick. Or you become an environmentalist.

W MEN'S RIGHTS

Previous Unfair Pay in Professional Women's Soccer

by Josie Todaro

Sexism is declining, except for pay for U.S. Women's National Soccer players. There were many women who encountered difficulties because the pay was low.

For many decades, women on the U.S. National team had unfair pay. For these women to get paid the same as men, them and others had to work day in and day out.

How It Was Before They Changed Unfair Pay in Professional Women's Soccer

Before they changed pay for women, the women got paid zero dollars if they lost a game to a bottom-tier team.

According to ESPN, “The top end and low end of the bonuses are both significantly higher for the men. The highest friendly bonus for the men, 17,625 dollars for beating a top-tier team, is more than double the women's highest bonus, 8,500 dollars for beating a top-tier team. The men each get a bonus of 6,250 dollars just for tying a bottom-tier team, while the women get zero dollars for the same thing.”

Due to this lack of pay, our women's national team had to make ends meet.

However, change can not be made without people calling, chanting, and demanding improvement.

Who Collaborated in Changing Unfair Pay in Professional Women's Soccer

The women needed the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to be signed. (The CBA is the agreement that pays women and the men equally).

According to Just Women's Sports, “Now that the parties’ agreements on equal pay and working conditions have been set forth in comprehensive contracts, the CBAs will be signed post-game on the field on September 6 by USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone,

USWNTPA officers Becky Sauerbrunn, Crystal Dunn, Samantha Mewis, Becca Roux, and representatives of the USNSTPA. Several members of the United States Congress and other dignitaries are expected to attend the historic event.”

At this point, these people signed off the CBA, which is why U.S. women national players are paid the same as the men. All of these people worked so hard for decades and now pay is equal.

How They Changed Unfair Pay in Professional Women's Soccer

After three days of mitigation, they did not come to an agreement. They had to restart because the court dismissed their case.

According to Cindy Parlow Cone, from Just Women's Sports, “There were so many ups and downs. It was like a roller-coaster ride. I [would] think we were getting close to a deal, and then it feels like it’s falling apart, then we’re getting closer to a deal and it’s falling apart.”

The CBA was signed on September 7, 2022, and as president of USSF, Cindy Parlow Cone pushed equal pay through. Because of all of this hard work, now the women on the U.S. National team are paid the same as the men.

The Future of Soccer

All in all, for many decades women on the U.S. National Soccer team had unfair pay. These women and others had to work day in and day out to change how they got equal income.

This is just the first step in all women getting paid the same as the men around the world. Not only in sports, but in the regular occupations that are incorporated in the day to day life of a normal person.

In the future, countries will follow and pay the women the same as the men, not just in soccer but in all occupations.

The Fight for Women's Rights by

Ainsley Allen

When the founding fathers drafted the U.S. Constitution, they neglected to give women the same “inalienable rights”: "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Since the birth of this county, women have fought for equal rights. Though there has been much progress, they continue to fight.

The Women's Suffrage Movement had its victory on August 26, 1920, when the 19th Amendment was passed, giving women the right to vote. The National Archives' recent article on the 19th Amendment states, “The 19th amendment legally guarantees American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle— victory took decades of agitation and protest. Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of women suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change of the Constitution.”

(National Archives 2022) This explains that the idea of suffrage was not initially popular, even among women. With time and hard-working women like Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, the movement grew. Without women winning the right to vote, they wouldn’t have been able to change laws or pass acts that impacted them later on.

When men went to war in the 1940’s women started to work outside of the household. The Labor Board advocated for women to receive equal pay. But The Equal Pay Act wasn’t passed until 1963. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica’s article on equal pay for women,

“The EPA requires, as a general rule, that men and women who work in jobs that are substantively equal in terms of skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions shall receive the same pay. The original bill that was proposed required equal pay for “comparable work.” However, this stipulation was changed before the passage of the bill to “equal work.” The EPA permits differences in wages based on seniority, merit, quality, or quantity of production, or other differentials not based on gender.” (Britannica 2022) This is meant to assure that men and women performing the same job with equal experience would be paid the same. But though this bill was placed women are not always receiving equal pay.

Women wanted to be paid equally for their work but they also wanted to be able to study, and receive degrees in fields of their choosing including maledominated

professions. Women were told they couldn’t have certain professions based on gender stereotypes. Title IX bans federally funded educational programs and activities from sex-based discrimination. Title IX was signed into law on June 23, 1972. Britannica’s article on Title IX states, “At the time the legislation passed, female students were habitually marginalized or steered toward courses based on gender stereotypes. At the K–12 level, girls were often segregated into home economics or other “softer” classes, and many pregnant students were forced out of school altogether. Girls made up just 7% of high school athletes, and women earned an astonishingly small proportion of degrees in science, engineering, and technical fields.” (Brittanica 2022) Women were seen as too emotional and meant to be at home taking care of household duties and children. They were not seen as having the emotional capacity to work in male-dominated professions.

In history and today, women fought and continue to fight for their rights. The Women's Rights Movement changed the world. It gave women the right to vote, the ability to file for divorce and take custody of their child/children, the right to live free from discrimination, to earn equal pay, and much more. While significant progress has been made, more work is needed. There is still inequality in the workforce, and in the world of sports, and there are more male political figures at all levels of government. To make changes women need to continue to vote, and to run for office so that they are represented in the highest levels of government where changes are happening.

A Rising Rev lution

Norah Durbin

Denied!Isolated!Enclosed.Afghanwomenarelockedintheirhomes,unabletodoanything,goanywhere,evenjust bethemselves.Notonlythat,butyounggirlsinAfghanistanaredeclinedtherighttoeducation,therighttogotoschool pastsixthgrade.AsixthgradegirlinAfghanistanwouldbecherishingherlastmonthsofschool,andoldergirlswouldbe relivingtheirmemoriesoftheclassroom.

AccordingtoUnitedNations,OfficeoftheHighCommissioner,“Rightsapplytoeveryone;”althoughwomen’srights aroundtheworldarecurrentlyignored,dismissedwithawaveofthehand.Likewise,someplacessuchasIranand Afghanistanhavethrownthegenderequalityscaleoff-balance.EventheUnitedStateswasn’texactlyfairfromthe beginning.Accordingtomyrecentinterviewwithmygrandmother,shestated:

“Havingsaidthat,thenorm/traditionduringthe50swasthatthemanofthehousewenttoajoboutsidethehome andthewoman(usuallyamom),stayedhome,tookcareofkids,andthehouse.Itwasnotseenbythemajorityofmen andwomentobewrong,evenifwelookatittodayasdiscriminatory.Additionally,thehighschoolyourdad,aunt,and uncleattendeddidnothaveagirls’soccerteam.”

Women’srightsaroundtheworldarecurrentlyneglected,butcertainplacesaremakingheadlinesforextremecases: likeIranandAfghanistan.Butfirst,doesyourgenderrestrainyou?

Gender:DoesitDetermineYourRights?

Genderinequityisanabsurdwayofunitingpeoplewithhigherpower.AsreportedbytheU.S.Government AccountabilityOffice,“Someissuessuchascaregiving,maternalhealth,sexualharassment,andviolencemayaffectone gendermorethanothers.Womenandgenderminoritiesareprotectedunderfederallaw,yetinequalitiesexistin education,retirement,healthandotherareas.”Becauseofourpastbeliefthatwomencan’tdothethingsmencan, higherprivilegesaregiventomenthanwomen,evenintoday’smoreadvancedworld.Giventheinequityinrights,itis nosurprisethatsomecountrieshaveenforcedstrict,andagreatdealmoredire,consequencesagainstwomen.

Iran:Women’sRights

Iranianlaws:eliminatingwomenfromtheirsociety.UnitedNationsWomenreportsthat,“...22–yearoldMahsaAmini diedinthecustodyofIranianpolice.Shehadbeenarrestedthreedaysearlierforanallegedviolationdescribedby authoritiesasan“improper”hijab,astrictdresscodeimposedbylawonIranianwomen.[‘...Iranianwomenandgirls can ’twearwhattheywanttowear,’IranianAmericanfeministactivistManaShooshtarirelaystoUnitedNations Women.'Theycan’tsaywhattheywanttosay.’]...Morethan300protestorshavebeenkilledbyIranianauthorities,and thousandshavebeenarrested.”TheclothesyouputonyourbodyinfluencelifeordeathinIran.Yourscarf,yourdress, anything;andyoucouldbearrested,facingdireconsequences,themostbrutalbeingdeath.Becauseofoneslipup,your lifecouldbeputontheline.Additionally,Afghanistanisgoingagainsttheirownfemalecitizens.

Afghanistan:Women’sRights

Afghanistanlegislation:unfair,unjustandcompletelyuncalledfor.AccordingtoarecentarticlefromCNN,“The TalibanreturnedtopowerinAfghanistanasofAugust2021,aftertheUSwithdrewtroops.OveramillionAfghanshave reportedlyfledsincetheTalibanregainedcontrol.Womenandgirlsarefacingbansoneducationafteraseriesofdecrees steadilyerodedtheirrightsinalmostallaspectsoflifeandupendedthegainstheyhadfoughttirelesslyforoverthepast twodecades.”

Therighttoyoureducationcouldbestrippedfromyou,learningatadeskonedaybutthrownintoyourhomeand shutoutfromsocietythenext.

SilenceDoesn’tConstrainUs

Daily,womenareincarcerated,heldbackfromopportunities,andoverlookedforjobs.Ihopethatsomedaywecan holdharmonyinaworldthatacknowledgesallpeople.Womenwillnotbesilencedanylonger,andwewillriseandshow everyone:wecandoanythingyouthrowatus.Wemustactnow,beforemorewomenarekilledforwhattheywear. Whattheydo.Whattheychooseisrightforthem.

Wizard of Rights: Emma Watson

by Molly Chapman

"The more I talk about feminism, the more I’ve realized fighting for women's rights becomes synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, this has got to change.” The words of Emma Watson from a 2014 UN speech.

Emma Watson is a British actress and a women's rights activist. She is known for her role as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter starting from age 9 to 21.

Emma Watson was a child actress and powerful women’s rights activist!

Child Acting

Child acting isn’t as exciting as it may sound. According to Alyssa Bailey, when Emma Watson took the job of Hermione Granger, she became one of the most famous child actors in Hollywood. Emma Watson was terrified to become so famous. She often found it really hard to separate Emma from Hermione. In fact, she almost quit after Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire but couldn’t bear to see another actress do it.

Reporters often asked her “Who are you?” That question was really hard for her to answer. She always idolized kids who knew what their favorite color or animal was because she never did. Until she got to go to Brown University in 2009 when she finally had the time to figure out who she was.

Women's Rights

After Emma Watson graduated, she found something more important than acting. She decided to start a women’s rights movement.

“HeForShe” is a program that tries to send the message that women’s rights are everyone's problem. They invite men and boys to join the fight. Powerful, right?

I interviewed friends and family with the question, “When I say Emma Watson, what do you think of?” The answers I got were… pretty, a model, Hermione, a wizard. This has made me realize how hard it is to create a personality for yourself when you're so famous. I also noticed that out of all the people, I talked ONE person who knew about “HeForShe”.

According to Emma Watson herself, “HeForShe” started in 2014 with the dream of gender equality. Emma Watson made a speech for the UN. She talked about some powerful subjects, like how lucky she felt to even go to college.

Gender inequality starts at such a young age. Like a flower trying to grow but constantly getting picked on by the world around it. Except the flower is a girl and the world is society. Emma Watson remembers when she was younger being called “bossy,” just because she wanted to direct the plays, but the boys were never called names. Her girlfriends stopped doing sports so they weren’t too masculine. And boys wouldn’t show emotion because it was girly. This is why her movement is about getting boys and men to join the fight!

The Future

Emma Watson was a child actress and a powerful women's rights activist.

It is incredibly important to know how being a child actor can change your life so much! Also how gender inequality affects us ALL!

In the future, I hope we all make Emma Watson's dream of gender equality a reality! We all want our kids to grow up in a world where women are never thought of as incapable or lesser. But simply equal.

Women's Rights: The Future is Female

BY MEL BLISS

"In the future, there will be no female leaders, there will just be leaders." -- Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Meta).

Women's rights are one of the most important issues of our time. It stretches from the tips of the earth and back. Women need rights. Throughout history, women have fought for rights, and now that fight continues, not only in the US but in the Middle East.

History of Women's Rights

Women have struggled for their rights throughout history They have fought for many things like equal pay and equality in the workplace, but, “The vote was perhaps the most obvious,” a recent article from Maryville University states. From an article in the US History and Art Archives, “The first attempt to organize a national movement for women’s rights occurred in Seneca Falls [New York].” This small town hosted the building blocks for the movement and inspired the women of today to fight for our rights. On March 3, 1976, women marched in Washington, DC. Their fight was for equality in the workforce. Anne G-West, a science teacher at Louisville Middle School, attended the march as an infant with her mother. She weighs in on the protest for equality in the workplace, “We just want equal pay for doing the same jobs that men are doing and we want the ability to do it.” G-West's mother was a scientist at the NIH (National Institute of Health). She had a Ph.D. in neuropharmacology and later worked as a professor at Yale University, teaching Ph.D. candidates. This was personally important for G-West's mother as she was one of the few scientists in the neuropharmacology field. GWest’s mother and thousands of similarminded women laid the building blocks for the movement. The women of today continue

to fight for rights in all aspects of life.

Modern Women's Rights

The absence of rights for women is not just a thing of the past but a current issue we face today. G-West further explains how now women’s rights are not as simple as they were in the 1960s, “...There may be somebody that's standing up there with a megaphone shouting something and you're sitting there going, 'I don't agree with what they're saying.'” Today there are countless branches of the movement and it is not organized, so women don’t come across as united. We come across like we aren’t sure what we’re fighting for. This is extremely problematic because we will not get rights if the people in charge think we don’t know what we want. A recent National Geographic article stated, “It's time for women to reject inferior status, demand equality, and unapologetically revel in their ambition and success.” To achieve this we must stand as a united front and demand rights, not ask. Women need leaders to come together and unite the movement with a common goal. Women’s rights leaders are not only required in the United States but worldwide; especially in areas where the oppression of women is the law, as is the case in the Middle East.

Women's Rights Struggles in the Middle East

The women’s rights movement is currently exceedingly apparent in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan. GWest states, “It is such a male dominant culture in the Middle East.”

This male dominant culture can be a very large uphill climb for women. But the

views of women being beneath men die out with the older generations. Unfortunately, in Afghanistan, when the US pulled all troops from the country, the Taliban took hold again. With this extremely oppressive system, women will need lots of support from countries like the US where women have basic rights. Joanie Carew, a math teacher at Louisville Middle School, states, “We have to remember that people are resilient and hope that change is going to come.” Hope. However, we must go further than hoping that change is coming. If all we do is hope that change will come, it will not come. We must support countries that still have a very hard fight.

Overall, women have been fighting for their rights for over 100 years, and we have made progress, but the issue is still around today. The problem isn’t only in the US, it's in the Middle East too. Women need their rights, so we as a collective planet can work to end all oppression, one country at a time. Together we follow in our mother's footsteps. We must outreach to women in tyrannical societies. We must unite under a cohesive goal. We are all human.

Sexism I War Between Women, Men, and Society

by Rylie Jensen

Sexism is the discrimination between genders: saying only one gender can do this and only the other can do that. But it isn’t true, no one should say what you are and especially what you are not because of a person's gender. Since humanity, we have been engaged in a battle against sexism, though we were simply unaware of it at the time because it was a part of life. Although our evolution has altered the ways we think. Picking at scabs, leaves scars imprinting the past and the pain. Abusing women leaves scars on our world and our minds. There is a wide variety of different types of sexism, but all these different types of sexism have similar effects on the victim and they all do damage, whether it is physical or mental.

Attitudes and Beliefs:

Sexism is an eminently dangerous way of thinking, meaning it is a risk factor for sexual harassment and gender-based violence. People who perpetuate sexism want to preserve men’s dominance over women and people of other marginalized genders. As recently discussed on Medical News Today, “Women who don't comply with these traditional [gender] roles are perceived as a threat to men's dominant position. Hostile sexism overtly keeps women in a subordinate position and is even a precursor for sexual harassment and violence toward women.” Although it is easy to find ways in which conventional gender roles were applied, men frequently treat women like they are their servants. This is clear from how people perceive women and how women always prioritize appeasing males over defending someone’s own interests.

How Sexism Affects Social and Educational Life

Research has consistently found significant disparities between educational paths with more traditional gender beliefs and a larger frequency of sexist attitudes. This is related to ideas on gender beliefs and attitudes. Although prejudice can take many different forms, intergroup relationship structure makes gender bias unique.

An expert in biotechnology, who currently works for the National Library of Medicine describes, “Sexism causes a lot of symptoms young women are struggling with. Internalized wrath can lead to self-destructive behaviors as well as mental health problems. Teachers notice certain female students are more reticent in class and hesitant to talk, particularly in settings when there are both men and women present.”

Sexism changes how the mind thinks and reacts to different or the same situation. Ending results can be sick and dangerous.

Sexism Around the World:

Religion underscores the importance of analyzing the factors leading to sexism and sexual prejudice in order to avoid the wide-ranging negative impacts of these beliefs, from mental and physical health challenges to economic and educational inequities. Chana Etengoff, Ph.D., assistant professor in Adelphi’s Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, found the actions of young women and began to see that Religion was part of the sexiest problem. She resulted in: “Religiousness can predict both sexism and sexual prejudice, the impact of individual differences and social attitudes plays a defining role. Social conservatism—a preference for stability, and conformity—which is often a key trait of religious experience, is a greater predictor of these views.” In the continent of Africa, many countries still believe that women should not be treated as equal only because it is not their “job”, they should clean or cook or take care of the kids because they don't have what it takes.

In conclusion, sexism is a social and global issue because it announces those who think they have the power to discriminate against those with “lesser power”, and silences their voice. The mind is what is judged and the mind can learn.

Women's Rights: We're Human Too

Charlotte Lumpkin

Imagine being hidden under a veil your whole life; imagine not being allowed to go to school; imagine not being allowed to vote or own property just because of your gender. Women have been denied basic human rights for centuries, and even though we may be getting better in the field of equal rights, some things aren’t getting better, they’re just changing. For example, the issue of reproductive rights has been going on for decades in the U.S. But very recently, in 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned and in many states women are once again being denied the right of choice about their own bodies. Trying to be pretty constantly haunts many Women, and may continue to for many years, as it has for countless years in the past.

The History Behind It

The absence of women’s rights and the activism around it has a long history. According to the United States House of Representatives, in the 1800’s, the movement for women’s rights began. At the time, women were not allowed to vote, and before that had been denied other rights like going to college which, in some countries, is still a problem. The first endeavor to try to gain equa] rights for women began in 1848, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. However, no laws were changed until the 1880’s when many more women began to speak out against the denial of their rights. In 1890 the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) was founded, led initially by Stanton as well. Women already had voting rights in Wyoming by 1869, but it took another 24 years before they gained rights in any other states. In 1893 the campaign won over Colorado, and by 1920 women had the right to vote in all U.S. states.

Reproductive Rights

The overturning of Roe v. Wade affected many people in our country. According to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, one in three women lives somewhere in the U.S. where abortion is not legally available. In the 1800’s politicians began to consider banning abortion. By the 1900’s abortion was illegal in all states. In 1973, the Supreme Court recognized the rights of women when the ruling Roe v. Wade case made abortion legal in all states. Less than a year ago (as of January 2023) legal access to abortion was called into question. The U.S. when the Supreme Court effectively overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, access to a safe, legal abortion has been restricted or completely taken away in 18 states, and many more are striving to ban it.

Taking away legal access to abortion in the U.S. also caused much disruption. People lost jobs and families were torn apart due to the “criminal activity” of using abortion. Not using abortion can also cause the death of the mother or the baby. The mother could be in a harmful situation and not be allowed to use abortion or the baby could have severe medical problems and die anyway. Alice Srinivasan, a former employee of Planned Parenthood and women’s rights activist states, “The circumstances surrounding an individual pregnancy are just that, individual. There are many different reasons why it may or may not be wise, safe, or healthy to complete a particular pregnancy and give birth.”

Society's Expectations

Even though women are no longer denied the right to vote, many of them are still pressured constantly by society; continually being told to be ladylike or pretty. Ainsley Allen said, “I have been brought down by a ton of people because I don't behave like a girl. Or that I am not pretty enough.” Women are always pressured to be prettier or 'better' a form of inequality that many don't know.

Women have been denied rights for years and may continue to be denied rights for many more years to come unless we continue to fight for them. They don’t have the freedom of choice about their own body’s and trying to be pretty constantly haunts many of them. Even though we may be getting better in the field of equal rights, some things aren’t getting better, they’re just changing.

ChangingtheWorld,One StepataTime

by Carolyn Estrada

Imagine you work hard all day, and some one who's doing half the work you do gets paid way more. How would you feel? Bad, right? Well this is just one of the challenges women have to face. The Women’s Rights Movement has been going on since 1869, when Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony opposed the 19th amendment. Since then its been a huge deal, and it’s still an issue today. Women’s rights have a crucial history, and a full future, because of the significant figures that got us where we are today.

Women Without Rights

The fight for Women’s Rights has been going on for decades. CU Boulder Gender Studies professor, Julie Carr states, “The most important event was on June 4, 1919, when the congress passed the 19th amendment, which gave all women the right to vote.” Furthermore, this means that before this amendment, women couldn’t have a say for what was chosen for their country. Because of these brave women, so much has already been done. However there’s still so much left to do.

Will the Fight for Rights Continue?

The future of Women’s Rights is huge. Many things could happen. Edith Kalela with Equality Now explains, “Many challenges still remain, including discriminatory laws, violence, early marriages, etc. However, I am very hopeful that through the work organizations have done, we can break these barriers.” For example, she explains a lot of tackles still have to be done, although there’s hope for an equal world. So much has happened in the past and will in the future. There’s also many vital people who spoke up to change the world.

Women that Changed the World

Many people have played an exceptional role in Women’s Rights. Moreover, who are some of them? According to Robin Hamilton with Around Robin, “Susan B. Anthony is one of the best known activists. She eventually presented the 19th amendment allowing women to vote.” As an illustration, Susan B. Anthony is a sheer determined person in the Women’s Rights movement. She did extraordinary things for gender equality that the 19th amendment’s named after her. Susan B. Anthony is like a brick wall. Nothing will go past her.

Will the Battle Come to an End?

In conclusion, Women’s rights have a history that no one can compare to, a huge future, and legions of figures. This gender battle continues to be giant. Women and men should always have had equal rights. Without these brave women that decided to speak up, nothing would have changed and everyone would be living in an unfair world. There are still lot’s people without rights because of their gender. However, there are a great deal of organizations helping, and you can too!

We're All Worthy: We're All Worthy: Accept It! Accept It!

Paige Duff

“A lot has to be done with male-representing individuals because they uphold these systems that benefit them!” says Hannah Carmichael, a middle school theater teacher. Women’s rights have been juggled around for years, as it wasn’t until July 1848, that people began fighting for rights. These people around the world are fighting for the right to be paid equally, and to have equal rights overall. Women’s lack of rights is a problem, but we can’t solve it if we don’t team together and be one step ahead of the haters. The past: how we got here. The present: why is it still an issue today. And the future: how do we show the world everyone’s human.

What happened? How did we get to the point where we are?

Women’s rights have always been a problem that began in the past. As stated by the National Parks Service, "The first act of the women’s rights movement was in 1848 in New York, when 300 people attended a meeting where 68 women and 32 men signed the Declaration of Sentiment causing the movement to spread throughout the world.” This evidence means that we have been fighting for these rights for nearly 200 years and we still are fighting for them. Notably, this sluggish speed of a snail isn’t sufficient, and the fact that at that meeting only one third of the people who attended the meeting actually signed the petition is daunting. The past is in the past, but we can’t forget about it. This is how we got the place we are when it comes to women’s rights and how we grow stronger. Without this important event, we could never be where we are today.

The future is immeasurable, let’s get a step ahead. Hannah Carmichael, a middle school theater teacher says, “I see women's rights in future years growing and becoming more intersectional. Hopefully, in the US, our government reflects that growth within its laws and systems." I agree with this quote because I think the world needs to support female voices, and embrace that we are all human. Although, I think this is a topic the whole world needs to work on.

All in all, we can’t solve the issue if we don’t understand the present. By doing this, we can improve the future. Women’s rights are significant so we can all be equal in the near future. A future where everyone is treated equally sounds more jubilant, so let’s get there!

WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?: THE FIGHT

FOR FREEDOM IN IRAN

by Darby Merkel

Rage fills the air, stronger than the thick smoke billowing from the pile of burning hijabs on the street. Women and men are ripping down signs and chanting “Women, Life, Freedom!” Girls stand on top of parked cars and cut their hair; people raise their fists to the sky. But why?

These types of protests have been happening all over Iran since September 16th, 2022, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested by the Iranian morality police for “improperly” wearing her hijab. She died three days later in custody. The police claimed that she died of a heart attack or a pre-existing condition, but other people say she was beaten. Her death has ignited a new fire for change, a fight for women’s rights.

A Confusing History

Almost a century ago, women wore jeans and Tshirts like we see every day in western culture. They went to parties with friends of all genders and were educated, typical activities that we often overlook as a privilege.

The Iran Primer of the United States Institute of Peace, says that for 53 years, between 1925 and 1978, girls were allowed free education, and in 1936, Tehran University opened its first mixed-gender school. In 1963, women had the right to vote, run for parliament, divorce petition, and gain child custody. While still a young age by western standards, the marriage age for girls escalated from 13 to 18, and a man needed the court’s permission to get another wife. By the year 1978, right before Iran’s revolution, there were 22 women in parliament, 333 women served on locally elected councils; one-third of university students were female, and two million women were in the workforce.

What Happened?

In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini came into power, and the Iranian revolution took place, protesting a new tyranny that undid nearly five years of progress in women's rights. Women were fired from government positions, all girls were required by law to cover their hair, and family laws were abolished.

Ruhollah Khomeini, or Ayatollah Khomeini, meaning ‘a leading Shia scholar’, assured control, in January 1979, after the shah’s, meaning ‘king’s’, government fell and Khomeini ran to exile. But on February 1st, Khomeini returned to Iran and was declared an Islamic republic, being appointed Iran’s political and religious leader for the rest of his life and therefore introducing the laws that women today are still fighting.

In simple terms, women were seen merely as objects to control rather than humans with hearts and minds.

Now, people all across the world are showing support for women and men in their journey to freedom.

Women, Life, Freedom!

Women’s rights in Iran took a massive step forward when the Iranian soccer team refused to sing their national anthem during the World Cup. As recently discussed on BBC, the players simply stood in silence with their arms linked together while the crowd shouted “Women, Life, Freedom!” in the background. BBC author Shaimaa Khalil states, “Cheers for the Iranian side were loud and relentless. ‘Iran. Iran’ sounded with the beat of a drum, adorned with the colours, the name and map of the country painted on it. Women with their hair fully on display were wrapped with the Iranian flag, and screamed every time their team got close to the net. It was a lively football game, but it was much more than that.”

Other examples of protest include community protesting on the streets in Iran and the development of apps like “Gershad”, which helps Iranians avoid locations with morality police. Movements are even happening online.

Masih Alinejad, the founder of My Stealthy Freedom, an online movement against the mandatory Islamic dress code, is also fearlessly posting videos and pictures of Iranian women without headscarves or dressed in all white as a symbol of protest. She posts them with the hash #whitewednesdays. Though her actions have come with a price. “Alinejad, who lives in self-imposed exile in the US, has not been to Iran since 2009, and at the moment cannot go back to her home country for fear of arrest,” says BBC author Nassim Hatam, who interviewed Alinejad.

The fight for women in Iran is a fight for women all over the world. Geography shouldn’t dictate freedom. Struggles like this aren’t just happening in Iran. In Afghanistan, women can’t even show their faces, and in Qatar, workers have to ask their companies to leave the country, or open a bank account.

So, Where Are the Women?

All in all, women in Iran are fighting for freedom by protesting on the streets and fearlessly showing their faces after being hidden for so long before, and as barriers are slowly being broken, rights are slowly being regained.

ACTIVISM

The Extreme Problems With the U.S. Healthcare

by Dennis Shon

Healthcare is, without question, one of the most pressing problems in America. The government has passed many bills to try to address the problem, and even though these are big bills, there are still multiple problems. The government will still need to be aware to fix and focus on some of the main problems. Some include: what the government-passed bills mean for the workforce, poverty caused due to the cost of healthcare, and America’s, as well as other countries', healthcare.

What Do The Bills Do?

Many times, a bill is passed to fix or help healthcare costs. With these bills being passed, what could it mean for the workforce?

The Commonwealth Fund sheds some light on what these bills could do to the workforce, “It will mean less health insurance for individuals; less coverage for elderly and poor Americans; less revenue for doctors, hospitals, and myriad health care businesses; and, quite possibly, a lesshealthy, less-productive workforce.”

In conclusion of that statement, if bills can’t fix the problems with healthcare, what can? In the end, this is going to be a major problem for much longer. The United States has dug itself a hole and can’t put down the shovel, causing even more major problems. These are situations like poverty due to healthcare and much more.

Poverty Caused by Cost

With poverty and homelessness on the rise, something should be done to reduce the cost of healthcare.

According to statistics in Washington D.C., over 112 million people, or 44% of the adult population, struggle to pay for healthcare. This problem won’t be fixed until the United States starts taking some pages out of other countries' books, in order to ease the burden on the population. This is because healthcare is given through the employer and is not publicly funded. This almost makes America’s healthcare system outside of human rights. American healthcare is different, but how does it compare with other countries’ healthcare?

The Difference in Systems

In many discussions about the American healthcare system, it is often compared to other countries. Americans pay more for healthcare than other countries, and there is more innovation in the treatments. But, this is not always accessible to most people. Innovation might seem like a good idea, but it shows that other developed countries do better at caring for their populations.

Some Americans fear spending too much will increase the U.S. national debt, but the cost of healthcare, especially compared with military costs, seems like a smaller price to pay.

Conclusion

The government should still focus on healthcare and at least try to expand healthcare to more people, hopefully at an affordable cost, in order to help the workforce. They should also decrease the amount of poverty caused by healthcare costs, and improve outcomes compared to other countries' systems of healthcare.

Poverty won’t be fixed until the U.S. starts to reference its peers for ideas. America needs to reduce the cost of healthcare to more people. The government won’t budge until the citizens of America call for action and push for a better future.

The Beaten, The Brutal: Police Brutality by Lucien Martinez

According to the Washington Post, 1,110 people died from police brutality in the past twelve months alone. Little to no police officers have been convicted and stripped of their police licenses in the past. To this day, police officers continue to break the rules and do exactly what they’re supposed to prevent. These officers of law end up being the killers of about a thousand people every year. We need to find ways to prevent this and stop these killings before it’s too late.

Cops: Heroes?

Kids have this unalterable idea that cops are these heroes of justice that protect all. But sadly that is far from the honest truth. Fourteen percent of the U.S. population is black, but they’re targeted and killed twice as much as white people. Latinos and African Americans are the most targeted when it comes to police brutality and shootings. It proves that the fantasy of cops in little children as "heroes" isn’t true. Another fact that's interesting when it comes to police brutality is that most of the targeted victims are young; only between twenty and forty years old. While there is a reason for shooting someone when they're too dangerous, officers are too fast to judge and forget entirely the other various items they could use to take someone down without killing them.

Police Immunity

The court of law didn’t punish police brutality before. Josh Kivlovitz, a social worker, agreed to weigh in for this article. He said, “One of the legal concepts that protects officers is called qualified immunity, which essentially states that police officers can't be convicted of crimes they commit while doing their job so long as they do it in good faith."

In a graph from FiveThirtyEight's "Why It’s So Rare For Police Officers To Face Legal Trouble," eight police officers were convicted on accounts of manslaughter in 2015. What’s really disturbing about this is the ten other accounts of police manslaughter did not end in conviction. In the past police officers rarely received legal trouble. As time’s gone on, that’s changed, but only at the cost of many lives. In January of 2023, a man by the name of Tyre Nicholas was killed.

The Murder of the Innocent

The Washington Post had much to say about Tyres’, gruesome, undeserved death in this wellthought-out quote: “As Memphis police officers attacked Tyre Nicholas with their feet, fists, and a baton, others milled around the scene, even as the 29-year-old cried out in pain and then slumped limply against the side of the car.” Notably as a result of people standing around, and other officers and emergency response workers failing to follow their training, Tyre Nichols was grasped by the cold hand of death on the unfaithful day of January 10th, 2023. The exact same thing happened during George Floyd's killing as Derek Chauvin kneeled on George’s neck while three other officers failed to intervene and stop the death of an innocent man . A Solution

For the final bit of this article, Josh Kivlovitz relayed what he personally thinks about police brutality: “I believe that police brutality is a long part of US history and is a painful symptom of a broken system that we live in. Police brutality harms our communities, particularly our most vulnerable and marginalized community members. Personally, I don't believe the police as we know it should exist.”

Police in the past were almost never convicted and even today that’s still sometimes a problem. And even to get it to this still somewhat not perfect state, hundreds of people have had to die or suffer because there’s a false hope that all police will follow their training and interve when necessary. People need to spread awareness in communities about these horrible kills happening and stop them. As a team, community, and alliance, we need to stop The Beaten, The Brutal: Police Brutality.

Attention to Abuse

by Norah Burns

A Russian figure skating phenomenon retires at 17, but why? The ice skater who first entered the Olympics at just 15 was forced into early retirement after the harsh abuse she had to endure from her coaches. Abuse within the minor sports industry has recently been in the spotlight after more than 5 Olympians came out and told their story, but do minors want to be pushed this hard, and how common is this egregious act from coaches?

Why do coaches push their players so hard?

Abuse within sports has become an issue after many ex-Olympians came out and told their stories. As more and more stories came out, I wondered, "do the coaches like degrading kids so they can feel powerful, or is there something in it for them?" Many people in the Olympic ice skating community have called out coach Eteri Tuteridze for abusing her skaters. The reason she pushed them to their limit was for fame. One thing most abusive coaches have in common is that they are in it for themselves and not their kids. Even if a child knows that they will be pushed extremely hard, they still didn't sign up to get abused. How many kids sign up for a sport just to be degraded and abused?

According to the CDC, about fifty percent of children are playing sports and out of the 13 million kids, 40% of them get abused in their sports. This can range from name-calling to even hitting children. Do kids want to be pushed to their limit to exceed their goals, even if that means getting physically and mentally hurt? After talking to many professional athletes I figured out that most did not know what they were getting themselves into. They just wanted to be good at their sport. My sister, who has been doing 5+ hours of gymnastics per day, has said that she had no intention of getting yelled at for 4 hours every day when she got into competitive gymnastics at age eight. But it's not just people in competitive sport environments who get abused.

More and more controversial stories come out about abuse, which has led me and others to believe that abuse only exists in high-level sports, such as a Junior Olympic team. Could it be that children abuse within sports is everywhere, at every level? I sent ten people a google form and got 7 answers back, and 64.2 % said yes.

About 85.7% said they had experienced or seen emotional abuse. One individual witnessed both physical and emotional abuse. They accounted that they heard a coach body shame a girl on her team. “The coach would tell her to ‘look at all of the picture-perfect girls.’ (pointing to the team.) ‘you will never be like them.'" She also recalled that he would say, "You can't be as flexible as the other girls, you're too fat.’ to my teammate.” These horrifying experiences are not a one-in-a-million chance, it is more like a one-in-two-hundred chance. This evidence highlights that abuse within sports is more common than I and many others think.

After countless Olympians came out and shared the abuse they endured, I thought, do minors want to be pushed to the point of abuse? We were left to wonder, "how common is this?" We need to act and help kids who feel trapped in their sport due to abuse. After the tidal wave of athletes shared their stories, the attention on kids' sports has shifted to abuse. But people are just reading articles and then forgetting about it thirty minutes later. Looking into the future, you need to know if your child's coach is safe, and do research about the organization. This will help keep your child safe within their sport. We need to take action.

TREASURE TROVE

“I used to have a peaceful life and live in my amazing home in Dera’a. I enjoyed the nature around my house and the food coming from the land. I woke up every morning to the sound of birds singing. The brutality of the civil war forced my family to leave this house and to start the journey to be refugees. I am also really sad because of the unknown future waiting for me. Every day I wonder where I will be tomorrow.” Shafaq and her family involuntarily left their home due to war in Dera’a, Syria. Shafaq is just one of the millions who left their normal life for an uncertain future. Most leave without a destination and just hope for the best. Refugees come from various places aroundtheworld,andmanyendupinrefugeecamps.

COMMON PLACES TO FLEE FROM

ThetopthreemostcommonplacestofleefromareSyria, Venezuela,andUkraine.TheUnitedNationsHigh CommissionerforRefugeesdescribesthehighnumberof refugees.InSyria,thereare6.8millionrefugees.In Venezuela,thereare5.6millionrefugees,andinUkraine, thereare5.4millionrefugees.Thesethreecountriesmake upoverhalfofthetotalrefugeepopulationworldwide.But whatishappeninginthesecountriesthatmakesthemso unsafe?

AccordingtoUnitedNationsChildren'sFund,after12 yearsofconflict,theSyrianrefugeecrisisremainsthelargest displacementcrisisintheworld.Theconflictescalated quickly,thenthecountrydescendedintoacivilwarthat forcedmillionsofSyrianfamiliesoutoftheirhomes.As specified,thiscrisisiscurrentlythelargestdisplacedpersons crisisintheworld.Now,morethanhalfthepeopleinSyria aredisplaced.

TheInternationalOrganizationforMigrantsfoundthat thereasoningforthecrisisinVenezuelaisdifferent,“More than6.1millionrefugeesandmigrantshaveleftVenezuela togotoothercountriessuchasColombia,Peru,and Ecuador.Thisisaresultofthepoliticalturmoil,socioeconomicinstability,andtheongoinghumanitariancrisis.” ThepeopleofVenezuelaareleavingduetounstableliving conditions.

BY EMERSON HEBELER

Another organization, the International Monetary Fund said, “The COVID-19 pandemic compounded the country’s economic and humanitarian crisis, and in 2020 more than 95 percent of Venezuelans were living below the poverty line.” This implies that even though Venezuela isn't at war, there are unstable living conditions and the recent pandemic has had a significant impact onthesituation.

Finally, we have Ukraine. In February 2022, Russia came to Ukraine to " demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine." This started a war between Russia and Ukraine. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stated, “Approximately 13 million people are estimated to be stranded in affected areas or unable to leave due to heightened security risks.” Even though some can leave Ukraine safely, millions of people end up stranded. These Ukrainians are stuck in an unsafe living situation. Some of those whocansafelyleavefindthemselvesinrefugeecamps.

REFUGEECAMPS

Refugee camps are places that provide the necessities to those displaced. People can spend years to decades in camps. In some cases, kids are born and raised in these camps. April Palmbos, the Executive Assistant at International Association for Refugees weighs in on refugee camps, “Refugee camps are difficult places thatservetheimmediatepurposeofprovidingfood,water,shelter, basicmedicalcare,andsecurity.Ipersonallybelievethatthepolicy of long-term encampment is inhumane and leads to further trauma.” This evidence highlights that refugee camps can serve immediate needs such as shelter, food and water. However, these camps' long-term effects on people are incredibly traumatizing. Most refugees that grow up in refugee camps don't get a proper education.Refugeecampscanbeaplacetolandforrefugeeswho havenowheretogo.

All in all, refugees can come from anywhere worldwide, and refugee camps are where most end up. Refugee numbers are skyrocketing and, even though we might not realize it, these refugeeshaveanimmenseimpactonourlives.

2023

March

Gun Violence: America's Biggest Problem

by Eliza Nickerson

The sirens go off; the speaker announces, “This is not a drill. Again, this is not a drill.” The class hid under the desks, dead silent. They all heard a gunshot. It was too late to run now. This is what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. 28 people died. 2 people were injured.

According to The Times, “For the first time ever, guns are the leading cause of death for kids and teens in America.” Our country has a controversial history with guns, which is why we need stricter limitations for gun access today.

History of Guns in the US

The history of guns in America is messy, however they remain legal.

In the constitution, the second amendment states, “The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” The second amendment was written in 1791, which was 232 years ago. The second amendment was for safety, right?

Yes, it was, but that's what they thought 232 years ago. People didn’t have automatic guns back then. People did not have magazines* back then. We the people are taking advantage of having the right to own a gun.

Owning a gun is why we have mass shootings. What would happen if we had gun limitations?

Gun Limitations

In gun control, the thing we need is stricter limitations for gun access. According to the Center for Disease Control, “There were a total of… 213,175 homicides gun deaths between 1999 and 2016… Guns were the leading cause of death by homicide (67.7%).”

In Fort Collins Colorado, there are 166,788 people, which is 78.2% of the people less than the people killed from 1999 to 2016.

Imagine the moms, dads, friends, family, and work employees; imagine their faces when they hear the news. Imagine if you have a loved one that died this way. Imagine.

All in all, even though our country has a controversial history with guns, we always need stricter limitations for gun access the more and more we set aside the matter of gun violence. Gun violence is a topic that everyone knows something about, but if you take a step back you can really find the importance of this topic. Looking into the future, the murders of children and people must stop. The early ages of life is just the beginning, not the end.

*It is a place that stores the ammunition that has not been fired

The Problem We Face

"Adisabilitydoesn’tdefineapersonandIcouldseehow muchofanimpactpeoplecanmakebyjustbeingtherefor thosewhohavespecialneeds,”statesMatthewDeVos,the IndependentLearningCenterteacheratLouisvilleMiddle School.Peoplewithdisabilitieshavebeendiscriminated againstforbeingdifferentfromable-bodiedpeople.Ableismis thediscriminationofimpairedhumanbeings,leadingto disadvantagesinbusinessopportunities.Thisisaproblemthat weneedtoworktogethertosolve.

WhatistheMeaningofAbleism?

Peopleneglectanddiscriminateagainstdisabledcitizens forbeingdifferentfromthemajorityofthepopulation. AccordingtotheNationalLibraryofMedicine,“Ableismcanbe definedaspracticesorpoliciesthattreatpeoplewith disabilitiesasiftheywereinvisible,disposable,andlessthan human.”Peoplewithvisibledisabilities,aswellasmental disabilities,arediscriminatedagainstandignoredbecause theyareunique.JayDolmage,theprofessoroftheCanadian JournalofDisabilityStudiesattheUniversityofWaterloo, explains,“Everydisabilityandeverydisabledpersonissortofa surprisewithinanableistsociety,whichisridiculous,because atleastoneinfivepeopleisdisabled.”Thissuggeststhat althoughmanypeopleinourworldaredisabled,oursocietyis stillunawareofhowtocreatesituationsthatmeetpeoplewith thesupporttheymayneedtosucceed.Itshouldn’tcomeasa shocktousthatpeoplearedifferent.Weneedtotakeitinto considerationthateveryoneisdifferent,andthatdiversityis whatmakesourcommunitywhole.

Ableism:ADisadvantagetoOccupationalSuccess

Thediscriminationofpeoplewithdisabilitieshasledto disadvantagesinjobopportunities,aswellassocietyin general.SacredHeartUniversitystates,“Manyemployersfailto recognizethepotentialofcandidateswithdisabilitiesand judgethembasedsolelyontheirdisabilitywithoutconsidering thingsliketheirexperienceorqualifications.”Thisevidence conveysthatemployers,andpeopleinsociety,acknowledge thepurposeofpeoplewithspecialneedsbasedontheir disability,ratherthantheirfullpotentialasanemployeeor person.Mr.DeVosstates,“Oncewerealizethatweallshare similarthoughts,feelings,andhumanstruggles,itbecomes easiertoseethattheirdisabilityisnottheiridentity,butonlya smallpieceofwhatmakesthemwhotheyare.”Toelaborate, peoplewithdisabilitiesshouldn’tonlybeknownandjudgedin theworkforcebywhattheycannotdo,butalsoknownforwhat theycando.Eachpersonhasstrengthsandweaknessesand justbecausesomeoneislivingwithadisability,doesn’tmean thattheyhavenovaluableskillstooffer.Theyshouldbeknown fortheamazingpeople,andworkers,thattheyare.Intheend, weneedtofighttochangethesefalsejudgments.

by Lucy Worcester

TakePartintheFightAgainstAbleism

Humansexperiencingableismisaproblemin societythatneedstobesolved.AccordingtoProfessor JayDolmage,“Weshouldbearguingthatweareall invested,thatweshouldallcare,becausethat inhospitableculture,thatinaccessibility,it’sgoingto hurteveryone.”Toclarify,allofusintheworldshould startcaringaboutprovidingforthosewithdisabilities thatneedit,tocreateahospitableearth.Toadd,Mr. MatthewDeVossays,“Simplytreatthosewith disabilitiesasyouwouldanyotherpersonandstandup forthemwhenyouseeothersthataretreatingthem differently.Talktothemasafriend,invitethemtojoinin foranactivity,orspendsometimedoingwhatthey enjoy.”Forinstance,stepoutofyourcomfortzoneand gettoknowsomeonewithadisability,evenifitfeels uncomfortable.Theycanchangeyourlife,inafantastic way.Weneedroomintheworldfordiversity,sothatwe cancreateanaccepting,kindcommunity.Everyperson isvaluableandeverypersondeservestobetreated withhospitality.

Myyoungersisterhasdisabilities,andIwouldn’tbe thesameifshewasn’tapartofmylife.Herheartis powerfulenoughtomakeawholecrowdsmile.Being hersisterhastaughtmethatwhatweseeonthe outsideishowweperceivepeoplewithdisabilities,but theyarecapableofachievinganythingtheyputtheir mindsto.

Ableismiswhenpeoplewithdisabilitiesaretreated likelessthanhuman,whichcreatesdisadvantagesin jobopportunities.Weneedtojointhefighttocreatea communitythatwecancallaccepting,andthatpaves apathforallabilities.

How Can We Stop Gun Violence?

By Lucy LeCuyer

A gunshot. A scream. Students flood like a river out of the building as more gunshots ring out. Every day in America mass shootings and in-home violence impact students, parents, and citizens of all kinds. Exemplary people research gun violence, encounter solutions, and fight back.

The Effect of Gun Violence

The effect of gun violence impacts people from all backgrounds and communities in America. Peren Tiemann from Students Demand Action states, "It is important to remember that mass school shootings make up less than 1% of gun violence." Also, according to Tiemann, and verified by the Centers for Disease Control, gun violence in America serves as the #1 cause of teen and child death. As the CDC reports, in 2020, firearms resulted in the death of over 4000 children in the US. From this, we can infer that different types of gun violence exist, and mass school shootings are only one among the many. Furthermore, this also proves that gun violence is especially harmful to children and teens in America.

Solutions

While gun violence still stands to be harmful and wrong, it is important to stay positive and find solutions. For example, “Red Flag'' Laws or Extreme Risk Laws are one solution to preclude gun violence, especially in homes and neighborhoods. According to EveryTown for Gun Safety, a non-profit organization in America, “Red Flag” (Extreme Risk) Laws allow family and government to intervene in a dangerous situation by temporarily removing access to guns. As a result, Red Flag Laws can help prevent violence in homes. Red Flag Laws could even impact you in your home if you were threatened or harmed. Additionally, background checks on every attempted gun purchase are another effective solution. Also according to EveryTown, we can ensure legal gun purchases using background checks on all purchases. Consequently, background checks can preclude people with criminal records involving guns from purchasing firearms. By preventing gun purchases that could lead to harm, we can reduce the amount of gun violence in homes, schools, grocery stores, and much more all over America.

Conclusion

In the end, people from organizations like EveryTown and Students Demand Action will continue researching gun violence, finding solutions, and fighting back. Without question, gun violence is harmful, but we must continue trying to fight back with Extreme Risk Laws, background checks, and many more viable solutions. Gun violence in America affects every citizen, even if we don’t realize it. We can be affected just by reading about a school shooting in the newspaper and getting scared. To make a change, we can support organizations fighting for our safety, and support elected officials who put Extreme Risk Laws and background checks into action.

The Pull of a Trigger

By: Kate Clasby

I, an eleven year old, should not have to worry that somebody will come into the grocery store where I am shopping and shoot me. Kindergartners should not have to beputthroughdrillsincaseanactiveshootercomesintothe building.Guns:themurderousweaponsthatareavailableto far too many Americans. The right to bear arms leads to more people having access to pull the trigger. ABC News reports more than 6,000 children were killed or injured by gun violence in 2022. Truth be told, each year, gun death ratesinAmericasurpasstheyearbefore.Gunviolenceinthe UnitedStatesishigherthanever.(BBCNews)Gunscanbe very damaging – not only to the victim, but to their families and communities. There are many other ways to defend ourselvesbesidesusingguns.

How are Guns Harmful?

Guns can severely injure or kill someone. Your life can go as quickly as a train speeding across the tracks. In a recent interview, Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor, shares, "A gunshot impacts not only the victim but a much larger community of family, friends, and neighbors. Loved ones are called upon to care for a gunshot victim, if not mourn for them.” Parents lose their children, sisters lose their brothers, friends lose their best friends. People are unabletofunctionaftertheyexperiencethedeathofaloved one. Guns are unfavorable, and we need to use something elsetohaveasenseofprotection.

What Are Other Ways to Defend Ourselves?

Gunsareharmfulinawaythatisirreplaceable.Inarecent interview, a survivor of the Parkland High School shooting, Delaney Tarr, states, "How can we create a world that isn't builtoffofthefearofdeath,ofmurder?

It's a question I ask myself a lot. Perhaps there are other ways to ‘defend ourselves,’ but what from? Why must we defend? Instead, I hope one day we can stand hand in hand.” Delaney Tarr hopes that one day we can have a peace-filled world full of love. Delaney Tarr is wondering why the world can't be peaceful, but Professor Adam Winkler has some ideas of what physical things we can use.

How Can We Prevent Burglary?

Although many use guns to defend themselves, there are differentwaystoprotectyourselffromharm.UCLAprofessor Adam Winkler replies to an interview by giving some other optionstopreventburglary."Armedself-defenseisonewayto protect oneself from violent attack, but it isn’t the only way to staysafe.Yourhomecanbeprotectedwithaburglaralarmora dog, both of which can scare away some criminals." Adam Winkler is stating his thoughts about how to protect oneself from an attack. You can use other methods to fight back againstacriminalbesidesagun.

Looking to the Future

All in all, the United States had very high gun violence numbersin2022,comparedtothepasttwentyyearsofdata. (BBC News) “Gun violence is an issue that requires preventative action. It can't be about responding to mass shootings and tragedies, because by then it's too late. What we need is work that keeps those tragedies from ever happening. It's not an issue of politics. It's life or death, and it's something we all face. Americans deserve to live free of thefearofgunviolence,”DelaneyTarrsaidinaninterview. She shows how we must act before these tragedies can ever happen. If we, Americans, are unable to stop gun violence, we will be fighting against ourselves. We will become a weakernation.

(Incidents where four or more people were killed: BBC News)

WhyDoesThisKeepHappening?HowManyMoreWillitTake

January21,2023.California.MontereyPark.122wGarvey Ave.12killed,nineinjured.Whydoesthiskeep happening?Therehavebeen25massshootingssince January8th.Ourlawsarethereasonforthis.Shootings havebeenreoccurringwaytoomuch,whetheratthe store,inthepark,orevenatschool.Ourlawsneedto change,andtheyneedtochangefast.

SchoolShootings

Kidsshouldn'thavetogotoschoolworriedabout gettingshot.Morethan70%of7thgraderswhoattend LMSagreethataschoolshooteristheirworstfearwhile inthebuilding.From2021through2022,therewerenearly quadruplethenumberofschoolshootingsthanin2013. Thisshowsthatthenumberswillonlyriseifwedon't changethelaws.EverytownResearchmouthsthat,“In 2022alone,therewere193schoolshootings,and600 massshootings.”(Amassshootingisdefinedas4or morepeoplekilledorinjured.)Honestly,ifwedon't changethelawssoon,schoolandmassshootingswill becomeanormalthing.LorenzoPrado,aParkland schoolshootingsurvivor,articulatesthat,“Toletthese victims’livesbetakenwithoutanychangeinreturnisan actoftreasontoourgreatcountry.Whatwemustdo nowisenactchangebecausethatiswhatwedoto thingsthatfail:Wechangethem.”Weneedtochange ourgunlawsbeforeanymorehorribleoccurrences happenagain.

Howwillwelimitandrestrictgunsbychangingour laws?

Mostpeoplewouldarguethattheyhaveagunfor protection,andthatonly.Itshouldbefairtoownagun forprotection,butoneshouldhavetogothrough extensivevettingtoseeiftheyarereliable.KellyDuda,a physicalandmentaltherapist,states,“Peopleshould havetogothroughthemoststrictbackgroundcheck anditshouldatleasttake90daystogetagunpermit.” Basically,thisquoteisstatingthatitshouldbeway hardertogetagun.Peopleshouldhavetobeoverthe ageof21andhavetogothroughaseriouslyfirm backgroundcheck.RightnowintheUS,youhavetobe ages18andoldertoaccompliceagunandhavetogo throughabackgroundcheck.However,only40%ofguns soldintheUSaretransmittedthroughafederally licenseddealer.Inmostcases,salesatgunshows,flea markets,andprivategunsalesarenotsubjectedto regulations.

Itsoundssoeasytochangethelaws,sowhy shouldn'twe?Well,it’sdeeperthanthat.Pew ResearchCenter,awell-trustedorganization, explainsthat,“Almosteverygunowneragrees thatthelawsshouldnotbecomeanystricter, whichbearinmindisabout40%ofallUS adults.”Weneedtoconvincegunownerstoat leastgetastricterbackgroundcheckand affirmthattheycanownagun.Beverly Kingston,aprofessorattheUniversityof Colorado,explains,“However,thereare currentlysomanyweaponsavailablethatitis easyforsomeonetoobtainoneforcriminal reasons,”Thisissignificantbecausewewon't beabletochangeourlawswithoutgetting controlunderalmostalloftheguns.Ifwecould limitchildren'saccesstoguns,restrict concealed-carrypermits,andrestrictthe "Standyourground"policy,thenwecouldcut backonabout30%ofallgunsThismeansifwe didabetterjobonhidingornottellingachild aboutagun,andrestrictingfirearms, concealedornot,couldverywellcutouta largenumberofgunsintheUS.

Shootingsarerecurringmuchtoooften, whetheratthepark,thestoreorevenatschool. Ourlawsarethereasonforthis.Kidsshouldn't havetogotoschoolworriedaboutgetting shot.Nobodyshouldletthissiteasy.Itcouldbe youoryourfamilyinoneofthesesituations.If wecanmakeourlawsstricter,andcutdownon theamountofgunsintheUS,wecanmakea change.Wewon'tbeabletogetitdoneunless weallstepin.

BYHAWKWERNER

by Ayla Rose-Knight

There is always some fear lingering in the back of your mind. For a majority of Americans, that fear is an object. An object that has the power to end one's life. America is unique, but not for a positive reason: for their gun use. A great deal of Americans die from gun related injuries per year. Enormous amounts of children are killed by a firearm in the U.S, including the 1999 Columbine High School Shooting.

A great deal of Americans die from gun-related injuries per year. In fact, recently discussed by the Centers for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), “45,222 people died from gun related injuries in the U.S, during 2020.” That number will likely rise throughout the coming years. We encounter difficulties. Gun violence will likely never end in America. The Second Amendment protects the use of carrying and owning a firearm. The Constitution of the United States will presumably never be changed, due to its challenging two-stage process.

Adding onto the fact, a gigantic number of children are killed by a firearm in the U.S each year. Based on information from the New England Journal of Medicine, the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation notes, “Each day 12 children die from gun violence in America. Another 32 are shot and injured.” That is 4,380 children killed per year by a firearm. Gun violence is unique to America, especially against children.

Looking back on the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, According to CNN,

“12 students and one teacher were killed by two students,” In the Columbine High School Massacre. In addition, 23 students were wounded, but not killed. This was just the beginning of tragic school shootings in the United States. Steven Rose, an Associate Director of Education Abroad at University of Colorado Boulder, shared his input on what school shootings look like abroad. According to Steven Rose, he noted that, “Thankfully in the 12 years that I've been in education abroad, I can’t think of any school shooting that has happened.” To add, he shared, “I think I've only seen three or four shootings abroad that would’ve even minimally impacted CU Boulder students, because they were in the same country at the same time. One was in New Zealand, and Munich, Germany. And then there were two terrorist attacks where guns were involved, one in Paris, and one in Denmark. It is almost unheard of that CU Boulder students would experience gun violence abroad.” It’s clear that gun violence happens rarely outside of the United States at such a high level. Truth be told, the United States is still constantly fighting against school shootings, but not significantly.

A great deal of Americans are killed by injuries involving guns every year. Many young kids are killed by a firearm in the U.S, as seen in the Columbine High School Shooting. Gun violence continues to be a problem in the United States. Not only for adults, but sadly enough, for children too. Whether they’re in their homes or neighborhood, or unfortunately at school, children face a realistic threat of gun violence.

THE RAINBOW RIGHTS ARE STILL UNJUST

by Alex Trendler

“The suspected gunman accused of killing five people in a mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, last month has been formally charged with 305 counts, including charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault, and biasmotivated crimes causing bodily injury.” (BBC 2022). A great deal of people have been segregated for the past century just because of their sexual orientation. LGBTQIAP2+ rights as they’re now called have been violated. People have been killed, harassed, and terribly injured just because they were who they were. In this article, you will learn about the history of Queer community rights and the egregious abuses that have happened, as well as people's thoughts and feelings about being discriminated against.

The history of Queer discrimination and segregation goes all the way back to 79 A.D. in Pompeii. According to The Time Magazine article, “The roots of the Nazi persecution of gay people are deep. Since German unification in 1871, a section of the country’s criminal law widely known as “paragraph 175” had said that men who engaged in acts of “unnatural indecency” could go to jail. In 1877, the German Supreme Court of Justice clarified that to mean evidence of an “intercourse-like act.” But the law was only enforced sporadically. And the fact that it was almost impossible to convict anyone unless he confessed to such a crime in court meant that police just kept a watchful eye on gay bars and events. The pink triangle was worn upside down directly on the heart about half a foot wide and half a foot tall.”Many people in the Nazi Army that were homosexual were forced either into jail or took medication to stop it. Now the pink triangle is worn more out of pride.

Furthermore, it's still going on today and has only gotten slightly better. Because of past abuse, many people have been petrified from bullying. J.B. Hafer has expressed concern over it themself. According to Mx. J.B. Hafer, a student at Louisville Middle School, weighed in on being bullied. I wondered what stress society put on them to change, and how that change affected them today?

"Have you ever been afraid that you were going to be bullied?"

“Yes. Many of the students at this school are people that would pick on or have picked on people in the queer community, so the fear of being bullied is pervasive.”

"What stress did society put on you to not be yourself?"

“I have found that most people don't care about others enough that they don't find using someone's preferred pronouns important enough, so that causes lots of stress.”

"How has your change affected your life today?"

“My change has not affected my life very much. The biggest thing of note is that I have to be more careful of whom I associate with.” Many other people would agree with Mx. Hafer that they are in a constant state of distress and have to choose whom to trust and who not to. But many other people aren't worried about being bullied because they feel safe being them, showing the strength of numbers.

Then again, the queer community's rights have still not been changed significantly. All in all, the history of Queer community rights, the egregious abuses that have happened, as well as being discriminated against, are still problems today. So, if you see someone that is different being discriminated against, stand up for them. Because we can all use a friend by our side.

BY QUINN SARTELL

Agediscriminationisanextremepredicamentthat spreadthroughouttheUnitedStates,knockingatthedoor.

“Ageismisaprejudiceagainstourownfutureselves.”AshtonApplewhite.Peoplehavebeenpersecutedagainst, formanygenerations,asaresultoftheirage.Whetherit’s throughtheworkplace,receivinghealthcare,orthroughthe media,ageismisallaroundus.Discerningpeoplefortheir ageisasocialconstructthatwasman-made.Itwithholds thecareolderpeoplerequireforproperhealth.Ageism confiscatestheopportunityforelderstosucceedinthe workforce.

Ageismnevergraduallybecamepartofsociety.Age prejudicewastitled,andmaturedintoadeliberatelymade concept.Foremost,asrecentlydiscussedonAoascc.org,“In 1968Dr.RobertButlercoinedtheterm‘ageism’todescribe thesystematicdiscriminationagainstolderpeople.He equatedittoracismandsexismduringtheCivilRights movement.”Notably,Butlerexplainedthatageismis equivalenttoracismandsexism,whicharebothincredibly ampleissuesinoursociety.Thesamegoesforageism. Peoplefailtoseeagebias,albeititistwirlinginthespotlight. Toadd,ageismexistsinacademicsettings,theworkplace, healthcare,andmanyothermajorenvironmentsinour communities.Peopleshouldtakeaction,andstopageism. Finally,ageismisnotjustanissueinhistory.Agebiasis happeninginmoderntimes,righthere,rightnow,allaround us.

Healthcarediscriminationisacolossalnotionofageism.For instance,elderlypeoplearelackingproperhealthcare,just becauseoftheirage.Doctorsarenotprovidingadequate treatments,vaccines,screenings,etc.,beingthatthepatient mightbeclosertotheendoflife.Asrecentlystatedby aging.columbia.edu,“60percentofadultsover65donot receiverecommendedpreventiveservices,and40percentdo notreceivevaccinesforfluandpneumonia.Theyreceiveeven lesspreventivecareforhighbloodpressureandcholesterol.” Therefore,insteadofkeepingtheoldergenerationshealthy andallowingthemtopursueahigherqualityoflife,doctorsare focusingoncarefortheyoungergenerations.Inaddition,a numberofseniors’treatmentsarelikeaglassofwater;only half-brimmed.Healthcareinequalityisextremelyunjustand nomattertheage,humansshouldhavetherighttoobtain propercare.Ultimately,ageismispresentinvarioussettings beyondhealthcare.Agebiasalsooccursinsituationsinvolving mediaandacademics,butitprimarilyoccursintheworkforce.

Theworkforceisaprincipalcircumstancewhereage discriminationisprevalent.Someemployersdon’tacceptolder staffandwantthemreplacedwithyounger,morevigorous, employees.Forexample,asaformerlong-termmemberofthe healthcareindustry,MarkSartellofferedhisinsightsregarding inequalityinthehiringprocess,“applyingfornewjobsbecame moredifficultbecauseofmyolderageatatimewhen employersaremorefocusedonhiringyoungeremployees who,hopefully,wouldremainwiththeorganizationlongerand beabletocontributeinamorevibrantwaylongterm.”This experiencesupportsthatageismisexceedinglyprevalent. Despitetheiradvancedage,thisdoesnotimplythattheywill unequivocallyfailattheirposition.Additionally,elderscan contributetothecompanyinahigh-spiritedmanner,evenifit isforashorterterm.Furthermore,acompanyneedsavariety ofskillsetsandexperienceinitsworkforce.Thiscouldinclude employeesofallages.Overall,agediscriminationisprevalent inbothobtainingandsustainingemploymentforseniors. Whetheritisthroughhealthcare,orworksettings,thehistoryof agediscriminationseemstobecontemporary.Unscrupulous behaviortowardspeoplebasedontheirageshouldhaveno toleranceincivilization.Ageprejudiceshouldberecognizedas agreaterissue.

Allinall,classifyingpeoplefortheirageisacontrived,social construct.Itreducessomeessentialtreatmentthatseniors requireforproperhealthandqualityoflife.Ageismalso confinestheopportunityforelderstosucceedintheworkforce Humansdeserveequalrightstohealthcareanda proportionateopportunitytothriveintheirwork,regardlessof theirage.Agediscriminationwasmadetoemphasizeinequity amongmankindandthatpeople,principallyseniors,shouldbe treateddifferentlyinsociety.Furthermore,agebiasshouldbe recognizedasagreaterissueinourcommunitiesand somethingthateveryonecouldinevitablyfaceifleft unaddressed.Intheend,ageismmaybethepresent,butit doesnothavetobethefuture.Ageismneedstostop,and humanshavetheabilitytodoso.

Small Treat, Big Flavor

by Zoey Zawistowski

A crispy, crunchy, colorful cookie, filled with buttercream as light and fluffy as a cloud. This makes it a macaron. The macaron is a popular, delicate, and complicated dessert. When you try them, they burst with flavor.

Macarons were first invented in the 1830s, and have continued to be made for years and years. The amount of flavors continue to grow with amazing, delicious combinations. Years after the macaron was invented, the macaroon was first made in 1931.

Small Treat, Big Flavor

The history of the macaron has evolved over the years. According to Miss Macaroon: Baking a Brighter Future, The dessert was first made in Venetian Monasteries. Macarons were brought to the world by Queen Catherine De Medici. As the years went by, macarons gained popularity. Since the pastry was made, a great deal of flavors have been created.

Most Popular Flavor

Out of all the flavors, only one can be the most popular. According to Heather Carpenter, leader of Bella Macarons, The most popular flavor at her shop is birthday cake. Even though birthday cake is the most popular flavor at her shop, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry stand above all the other flavors. Unlike the crispy, crunchy, colorful macaron, there is also the macaroon.

Macaron vs Macaroon

Even though macarons and macaroons sound similar and are spelled almost the same, they are two VERY different desserts. Both macarons and macaroons are descendants of an Italian cookie made with egg whites, almonds, and sugar. A macaron is an almond flour-based cookie. It is usually filled with a substance, such as ganache, jam, or buttercream. A macaroon is a drop cookie made with shredded coconut, egg whites, and sugar.

Brighten Your Day With a Tasty Treat

All in all, macarons have an interesting history and there are many popular flavors. Although macarons and macaroons sound similar, they are two very different pastries. Without macarons, the world would be lacking a colorful and delightful dessert. As long as you are patient, and have time, you should try and make some macarons today.

by Rosie Stone

TASte Of Culture

Food is not just what we consumetosurvive.Itisnotjust a sum of the simple ingredients that make it up—at least not good food. Good food is like a language.Likeanartpiece.Good food has culture, history, and memories.Itisalwaysmadewith love.

Culturesoftendevelopspecific cuisines.Asia,Mexico,andAfrica are examples of cultures with distinctcuisine.

AsianCuisine

AccordingtoTasteAtlas,Pho is a popular 19th-century Vietnamesenoodlesoup.Itsmain ingredients include rice noodles, broth, and some kind of meat or seafood.Accordingtoarecipeon All Recipe, Pho takes approximately8andahalfhours to make. Fun fact: Pho is Vietnam’snationaldish.

Chow mein is a diverse, stirfried noodle dish that is indigenoustoChina.Thenoodles are boiled and then fried until crisp on the outside, but soft on the inside. Then they are tossed with meat and sauce. According to sanjay.com, Egg noodles are traditionallyusedforchowmein.

Samosas are a popular Indian snack, often filled with vegetables and sometimes meat. These crunchy foods are great snacks. Fun fact: According to a recipe on Insanely Good Recipes, samosascanevenhaveapple.

ChapssaltteokisaSouthKorean dessert made with rice flour. Quite like its Japanese counterpart, mochi, it has a sticky,squishytexture.

MexicanCuisine

According to Taste Atlas, Esquetes is a street food made primarily from grilled corn and is topped with various options including cotija cheese and chile peppers. It is typically served in smallcups.

Chilaquiles are a savory breakfast food, common in many parts of Mexico. They are composed of fried tortilla chips, salsa (usually green), and sometimes meat, vegetables, and cheese.Chilaquilesareagreatway touseupstaletortillas.

Mole is a popular Mexican sauce. This chocolatey sauce is savory, although it can be spicy. Mole is quite pervasive across Mexico and is often paired with manydifferentdishessuchasmeat andrice.Therearevarioustypesof mole, such as mole negro, mole poblano, mole blanco, and mole amarillo. Fun fact: Mole means lunarinSpanish.

Tres leches is a sweet, dense dessert consisting of sponge cake and three types of milk: condensed,evaporated,andwhole. Tres leches is popular throughout the Americas. Fun fact: The name tres leches translates to “three milks.”

AfricanCuisine

AccordingtoTasteAtlas,Shakshuka isanAfricaneggdish.Thisdishincludes poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce. Funfact:ThisdishoriginatedinTunisia.

Bobotie is a South African casserole made with lamb or ground beef, egg custard, and spices. Bobotie is so popular, that it is often the centerpiece ofSouthAfricancelebrations.

Potjiekos is a South African stew madebylayeringmeat,starches,anda tomato-based sauce. Potjiekos is never stirred during the cooking process in order to let steam build up. Making potjiekos is often a social activity, as it takesaroundthreetosixhours.

Bakalawabiljibnaisadessertfrom Libya. It is a rosewater and cream cheese-filled pastry. It is glazed in a sweetlemonsauce.

Wrapping Up

All in all, food is a wonderful and diverse art form to be enjoyed. It is importantbecauseitisagreatwayto show love and emotion. It ties people together within their own culture and withthatofothers.

Food and cooking are always growinganddeveloping,changingand shifting. Every day, new restaurants open,newrecipesarewritten,andnew chefs are finding their passion for cooking.Thereisnotellingwhatgreat foodinventionswillcome.

The Best Cup

by Logan Zawistowski

When contemplating a coffee, ambiance, taste, and price are all factors. What is the best coffee shop in downtown Louisville Colorado? I'm sure you have a favorite coffee shop, but which one is the most comfortable, has the most bang for your buck, and is the best tasting?

Price

Furthermore, I looked at the four most popular coffee shops in downtown Louisville. Ziggi's, Giovannitti's, Bittersweet, and Moxie. I ordered a 12-ounce Mocha from all four coffee shops and I found out that Giovanetti’s was the most cost-effective at $5.15. Followed by Bittersweet at $5.50, Moxie at $6.00, and Ziggi’s at $6.25. I looked at online and in-person menus at all of the coffee shops to find up-to-date information. When you go to get a coffee you want the cheaper coffee while not sacrificing the taste. Some of these drinks are expensive but the taste will be well worth it.

Best tasting

I went to all of the coffee shops: Ziggi’s, Giovannitti’s, Bittersweet, and Moxie. I found that Bittersweet had the best drink, because it had the richest flavor with the fastest service. Without a question it melted in my mouth. On a scale of 1-10, I rated Bittersweet 9/10, Giovannitti's, 7/10, Moxie, 7.5/10 and last but not least,

Ziggi’s at 7.1/10. I took anecdotal data and statistics to determine which one was the best. I also interviewed former Louisville Colorado Mayor Ashley Stolzmann, and current Mayor, Dennis Maloney. They both said Pauls's coffee was the best which is located off McCaslin and Cherry. Unfortunately, Paul's coffee is not in downtown Louisville, so I could not include this on my list.

Best seating

Each shop I visited had a wonderful indoor and outdoor experience. I looked at Ziggi’s which had a nice couch and high chairs. Moxie had no indoor seating but their outdoor seating was expansive. Giovannitti's had high chairs and nice outdoor seating in the summer. Finally, Bittersweet had an immensely welcoming interior and the best outdoor seating by far.

The Best.

Which Downtown Louisville Coffee shop is truly the best one in the end? I looked at price, the best tasting, and the best indoor, as well as outdoor seating. Bittersweet won in two out of three categories. Bittersweet has the best seating, and the best tasting coffee.

So, Bittersweet won two out of three categories but truth be told all of these coffee shops know how to make a pretty good cup of coffee, so if you haven't already, go and check these extraordinary coffee shops.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, a Fun Fall Twist by Liam

Let the roll, light as a feather and as flavorful as can be, dance through your mouth like a ballroom dancer. Pumpkin and cinnamon slide throughout, to make one excellent bite. According to thesussexkitchen, the cinnamon roll has been a popular breakfast since 1920. This is a fall spin on the traditional recipe. The pumpkin cinnamon roll is characterized by three components: the roll, filling, and glaze.

Here's How to Make the Dough for the Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll

A very important part, if not the most important part of the cinnamon roll, is the roll. To make the roll, we use an adaptation of Sally's Baking Addictions original recipe. First, combine ⁄ cup of milk and two tablespoons of butter in the microwave until about 110 degrees Fahrenheit. While that’s warming, mix ½ cup of pumpkin puree, ¼ cup of white sugar, and ½ teaspoon of pumpkin spice.

Furthermore, add in the warmed milk and butter, one egg, and a packet of yeast (2 ⁄ teaspoons) until combined. Using a dough hook, mix in one cup of flour. Mix for 45 seconds, scraping down the sides if needed, add 1 ⁄ cups flour, and knead for two minutes and 30 seconds. Let it rise in a lightly oiled bowl covered with a damp kitchen towel for an hour.

Next, you will make the filling and roll them into spiraling circles.

Brown

Here's How to Make the Filling

First, punch the dough while it’s still in the oiled bowl. Next, take out the dough from the bowl and flour your work surface. Roll out your dough to a 9 by 15 rectangle. Now, let it rest for another 10 minutes. 10 minutes later, add your filling of four tablespoons of softened butter, four tablespoons of brown sugar, and just enough pumpkin spice to cover the rectangle. Roll the dough up and cut the log into rolls that are about one inch long. Place these in a lightly oiled 9 by 13 baking dish and let it rise for an hour.

But what’s a cinnamon roll without a glaze?

Cooking Time and Glaze

According to my trials, you should bake the cinnamon rolls for 20 to 25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.

Once the rolls have set for an hour, bake the rolls at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 Celsius), for about 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Bear in mind that the main thing you want to look for is the golden brown tops. Once the rolls are in the oven, make the glaze by combining four ounces of softened cream cheese, four tablespoons of milk, ⅔ cup powdered sugar, and about ¼ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice (optional are minced pecans). Once the rolls come out of the oven and are golden brown, take a spoon and drizzle the glaze over them.

Conclusion

After the dishes are washed, the cinnamon roll is characterized by the glaze, the filling, and the roll. This recipe is a fun fall treat that will fill the hearts of your friends, family, and their stomachs.

While you are enjoying your cinnamon rolls, I'm working on the next recipe for you to enjoy.

Top Nine Best Birthday Freebies

by Anna Gintchin

“Happy Birthday!” I grabbed my double chocolate drizzle mocha and took a big sip. The sweet chocolate flavor seeped into my tongue like snow melting from the sun. The best part: it was free! Birthday freebies are offered all over the US on the day you were born; just to make the celebration extra sweet. All sorts of birthday freebies are given out, like drink freebies, snack freebies, and dessert freebies!

Drink Freebies

Two popular shops offer drink freebies. Hey It’s Free says, “Cinnabon gives a free 16oz. Cold brew drink.” That’s a great pick me up for all that partying on your birthday! Also, as stated by The Real Deal, “Register a Starbucks prepaid card with My Starbucks Rewards and start earning your way to all sorts of perks. Register at least 30 days ahead for a free drink or treat on your birthday. You’ll get an email two days before your birthday regarding your free birthday drink or food item.” What a sweet, delicious treat! You’ll probably want something savory to snack on to go with that drink.

Snack Freebies

Two other locations give snack-specific freebies. According to The Real Deal, “Become a member of My Pretzel Perks, download the app and you’ll get a tasty reward on your birthday: a classic Auntie Anne’s pretzel.” Nothing can beat the classic Auntie Anne’s pretzel for a salty birthday treat! Furthermore, Hey It’s Free says, “AMC Theaters gives a free bucket of popcorn on your birthday.” A great deal of people go to AMC Theaters for their birthdays, so this is amazing for them! After you’ve eaten all that, it’s time for dessert!

Dessert Freebies

Five more shops offer the best kind of freebies: desserts! As stated by Hey It’s Free, “The Cheesecake Factory gives a free birthday sundae with a small scoop of ice cream and fudge.” A whole free sundae on your birthday. How nice is that? Additionally, The Real Deal notes, “Receive a buy-one-get-one-free Blizzard coupon on your birthday by signing up for the Blizzard Fan Club.” This is also a good deal for a full Dairy Queen Blizzard. On top of that, Hey Its Free states, “Crumbl Cookies gives you a free cookie of your choice on your birthday.” Fellow Louisville Middle School student, Emma Givens says, “Crumble Cookies are my favorite birthday treat. I love getting a free cookie on my birthday!” Furthermore, according to Hey It’s Free, “Nothing Bundt Cakes gives a free Bundtlet, which is a small bundt cake.” You always want seconds of your birthday cake, so how about thirds when you get the free Bundtlet? Lastly, The Real Deal says, “At Baskin Robbins with the Ice Cream Chain’s Birthday Club, members get a free scoop of ice cream on their birthday, plus a special discount on a birthday cake.” Mmm, a nice cold treat–and a cheaper birthday cake!

What’s Next?

All in all, birthdays are worth celebrating–especially with drinks, food, and desserts, free of charge. Each birthday is exceptional, and fellow Louisville Middle School student Emma Givens agrees, “I love getting birthday freebies. It feels nice to be appreciated.” Birthdays, celebrations, and free goods are special. So when all are combined, it throws people over the moon, and more and more stores will start giving out freebies.

Spotlight

LA vs. Jacksonville by Jackson Mihaly, Age 6

The kick-off starts, LA wants a touchdown. LA runs. Ouch!

Jacksonville tackles LA. When LA played Jacksonville on January 14th, 2023, Jacksonville came back to win.

Trevor Lawrence, QB of Jacksonville, ran 8 yards in the game in just 1 play. Trevor has to be smart and skilled to do that.

Also, Trevor Lawrence passed for 288 yards in the game and threw 4 interceptions and 4 touchdowns! Trevor Lawrence was not smart in the first half, but in the second half he was smart.

The Jacksonville Kicker scored a field goal with 3 seconds left. The Jags came back from down 27-0.

In the end, this game mattered because Jacksonville has not been to the playoffs since the 2017-18 season. In the 2020-21 season they were 1-15 and in the 2021-22 season they were 3-14. This is why the win mattered so much to Jacksonville.

T-Rex: The Amazing Dinosaur That Once Ruled the Earth

by Micah Bergquist, Age 9

The jungle is alive with roars. The king of the late cretaceous period crashes through the jungle, instantly devouring a small raptor. Have you ever wondered what the name Tyrannosaurus means? It means “tyrant lizard.” The amazing Tyrannosaurus rex lived 66 million years ago in the late cretaceous. It was found by hunter Barnum Brown. But why is the T-rex the best known dino? What was its life like?

These large dinosaurs were on Earth for not a long time, but they had a big impact on people's understanding of dinosaurs. T- rex was named by a person named Henry Osborn. He was a paleontologist. Its North American past probably is why it is the most famous dinosaur. T-rex is also very famous because it was the first big carnivore to be discovered. The T-rex is also so popular because it is so big and amazing! But what did the T-rex eat? And what was its life like?

The T-rex had strong thighs and a powerful tail. T-rex could probably run 10-25 mph. Its arms were small, so the T-rex couldn’t use them. It probably killed food with its bite. The T-rex needed strong neck muscles to hold up its large head and power its big bite. It had the most powerful bite of all dinosaurs! This dinosaur's bite could bring up to 12,148 pounds of force!

This dinosaur is amazing! It is the most well known dinosaur, one of the biggest, and has the most powerful bite force! This dinosaur is an incredible creature and it had the right to be the king of the dinosaurs!

Pugs, Pugs, Pugs!

by Dean Takach, Age 8

Did you know Chinese Emperors treated pugs like royalty? Pugs are a wild, fascinating breed that are interesting to learn about.

One of the oldest dog breeds is the pug. Pugs trace back to 400 B.C. China. That means pugs were bred over 2,400 years ago!

In 2004, a pug won the world dog show! This is one of the most difficult contests for dogs to win.

You need a lot of patience to train a pug. Pugs get easily distracted and get bored with tasks. But with their adorable face, pugs are a dog that is a must to own.

All in all, pugs are unique dogs who are special in many different ways. Pugs are a dog who you can snuggle whenever you want and keep close to you. Get a pug today!

Our Earth

By Jade Kelley, Age 8

Our earth, if you look around what do you see? Simple answer: pollution. Pollution is harming the earth, the animals are losing their homes. Mother Earth gave us life, and a home. Now look at what we gave her back, pollution. Look around trash thats all you see. We need to do something. Every day you see trash and pollution. We see it on hikes and walks all through the earth. Let me ask you a question: do you like seeing trash every day? Even when you go out in nature! This is affecting the way we live.

How it Effects Us There's so many things such as people and animals that pollution has done to our earth. So do you want to live? If you do then you should clean up trash, You are not only saving yourself but everyone around you.

How to Save our Earth If you want to save the earth and yourself I recommend that you use electric cars. Because if you are using a car that takes gas that is also polluting our earth. Forests are being cut down, and wildfires are being made. We get our oxygen from trees and we are cutting them down to build houses. Eventually the whole world will turn into a desert if we don't do something.

Do you see now that we need to save our earth and animals?

Space

CAN WE LIVE ON MARS? WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE ON NEPTUNE? IS PLUTO BACK AGAIN? FIND OUT IN THESE AMAZING ARTICLES!

What Happens in Space?

by Johnathan L. Deneau

Have you ever wondered how rovers work? According to NASA, the perseverance rover has a mini nuclear reactor on its back! What about space junk? Will that affect any space travel? Probably! Space is a dark, cold, but beautiful place. We still explore and find new things. While doing that, much space junk is made. Rovers designed to travel to new places have never been seen before by humans.

Rovers: Finding New Evidence

Mars rovers found new signs of life on Mars. As NASA discusses, “Rocks examined by NASA's Spirit Mars Rover hold evidence of a wet, non-acidic ancient environment that may have been favorable for life. Confirming this mineral clue took four years of analysis by several scientists.” Rovers have been sent to planets other than Earth and the moon and found potential life! When did life exist on Mars? What grew there?

Trash in Space?

There’s trash in space? Yes, and there are almost 27,000 pieces of space junk in orbit of planet Earth. Ranging from thermal blankets, stages of rockets, and tiny paint chips. This space junk can affect a mission and even destroy rockets. As NASA discussed, “More than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris, or ‘space junk,’ are tracked by the Department of Defense’s global Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensors. Much more debris -- too tiny to be tracked, but large enough to threaten human spaceflight and robotic missions -- exists in the near-Earth space environment. Since both the debris and spacecraft travel at extremely high speeds (approximately 15,700 mph in low Earth orbit), an impact of even a tiny piece of orbital debris with a spacecraft could create major problems.” Space junk can affect missions. And, the International Space Station (I.S.S) has maneuvered 32 times to avoid space junk. That's moving a 1 million-pound spacecraft (500 tons) 32 times!

All in all, Space is a beautiful place. We’ve explored many miles of it. Whether that's rovers or satellites, space junk can affect their mission.

TheMoon:

byAlexVanReeth

Haveyoueverwonderedwhatitwould beliketoliveontheMoon?Can humanityliveontheMoon?Ibelieveso. Therewillbechallengesofcourse,but scientistsandtheArtemisMissionare tryingtosolvethesechallenges.

Challenges

Herearesomechallengesthat inhabitingtheMoonwillpresent: growingfoodandoxygentobreathe. AccordingtotheInstituteofPhysics, scientistshavediscovered,“thelunar soilis42%oxygen.”Theoxygencanbe extractedbyrobots,usingheatand electricity.

“Already,NASAhasdevelopedand fieldtestedprototyperobotsonEarth capableoffulfillingthisrole”.Growing foodwillalsobetrickyconsideringthe lunarsoilislikeaveryfineandtoxic sand.Scientistshaveexperimentedand foundasimplesolution.

“Addinghumanmanurebindsthe toxicmetalsandcompounds,adds nutrients,andhelpsretainwater.” Furthermore,earthwormsaren’tjustfor fishing,they’regoingtobeastro-worms. Accordingtoscientists, “thesewormsrecycleorganic matterandimprovesoilstructure, makingthempivotalincreatinga sustainablelunaragricultural ecosystem.”Asyoucansee,theMoon willpresentobstacles,butscientistswill overcomethesechallenges.Another wayscientistsareattemptingthisis throughtheArtemisMission.

TheArtemisMission

HaveyouheardofArtemis,theGreek GoddessoftheMoon?Wellshe’sgoing toguideusTotheMoon.NASA’sArtemis Missionisanattempttoflyhumanityto theMoon.AccordingtotheNational AeronauticsandSpaceAdministration, "Artemisisthefirststepinthenext eraofhumanexploration.Togetherwith commercialandinternationalpartners, NASAwillestablishasustainable presenceontheMoontopreparefor missionstoMars”.TheArtemisMissionis designedtoestablishalunarpresence. InaninterviewwithDr.JackBurns, ProfessorofAstrophysicsatColorado Universitystated,

“TheMoonwillbearesearch station,calledtheArtemisBaseCamp, bytheendofthedecademuchlikethe Antarcticisasciencestationatthe SouthPole.Inthefuture,weexpectto seeprivatecompaniesminingminerals andbuildingoutinfrastructure–maybe evenhotelsforvisitorstotheMoon!” Thismissionisimportantbecauseit wouldgivehumanstonsofoutofthis worldresources.

Conclusion

Allinall,Ibelievehumanitycanlive ontheMoon.Therewillbechallengesof course,butscientistsandtheArtemis Missionaretryingtosolvethese challenges.Thiswouldbeabigdeal becausehumanswouldhaveatonof resources.Imean,whowouldn’twantto liveontheMoon?Ifwefindawaytoput peopleontheMoon,thenmaybewe cangetpeopletoMars.

Our Eminent Future on Mars

by Aidan Lucky

“Terraforming Mars will be a monumental achievement beyond anything humanity has achieved so far!” According to Eryn Cangi, a graduate student at the University of Colorado, who studies astrology and Mars.

Mars, the red planet; the fourth planet from the Sun, might be a habitable planet for human life. Although it’s as cold as dry ice and almost half the size of Earth, Mars is still the most habitable planet in the solar system besides Earth. However, the trip to Mars, colonizing Mars, and the health concerns are hefty problems to address.

Blast Off to Mars

The trip to Mars will not only be difficult but a costly one too. Eryn Cangi asserts that a big problem is how much energy is required to escape Earth’s gravity. Therefore, the more mass you launch, the more energy it takes, and the more money it costs.

The National Science Teaching Association, or NSTE further states, “Every 26 months the Earth and Mars are in orbital positions around the Sun that allow for a trip to Mars.” This is called the “launch window” and it’s when Earth and Mars are in orbital positions around the Sun, where Mars is close enough to attempt sending a rocket there. Great, so we can go to Mars, but what about when we get there?

Mars–Home Sweet Home?

Humans would have to live in extremely sheltered environments to protect themselves against the brutal radiation on Mars. One theory about the shelter is from Kurzgesagt. It reads, “Habitats need to be pressurized and filled with an artificial atmosphere… Corners and flat walls are weak points so the habitats would have rounded and smooth shapes to handle the stress of great pressure differences.” Thus the habitats would need to have a constant pump of nitrogen and oxygen, and be rounded to handle pressure differences from the inside and outside of the shelter.

Adding to that, Kurzgesagt further explains that we could shield our habitats with a thick layer of frozen carbon dioxide that could be harvested directly from the atmosphere. In addition, covering the dry ice with a meter of dirt would further increase the protection against Mars’ radiation. This would greatly protect the colonists. However, they would still be extremely exposed to it; more than anything seen on Earth.

Safety First

The low gravity and radiation on Mars would be extremely hazardous to the colonist’s health. According to NASA, “Increased exposure to radiation would risk cancer and degenerative diseases, such as heart disease and cataracts.”

Furthermore, as Eryn Cangi also explained, “Low gravity can affect our blood circulation, bone density, muscle definition, and even our eyesight.” Both Eryn Cangi and NASA agreed that the gravity difference and radiation would affect bodies in various detrimental ways.

The Leap for Mankind

Although we still have far to go, we can overcome these obstacles with people actively working towards this goal. Whether it’s the trip to Mars, health hazards, or colonizing Mars, we’re humans, and we’ll work towards the goal until we reach that goal. Humans historically wouldn’t just give up because one attempt was fruitless. People all around the world are coming together to make progress toward this goal. Whether it’s creating parts for the rocket or being the first person to step on Mars, everyone is contributing their part. When technology has advanced and humans have grown, one day in the future, there will be another, “One small step for man, one bigger leap for mankind.”

Travel

Why Is Arizona So Hot?

by Sophia Ludke

Have you ever wondered about Arizona and why it's so hot? First of all, Arizona is a hot state with great history, many cacti, desert shrubs, amazing national parks like the Grand Canyon, and multiple deserts.

Arizona's History

As discussed by History.com, “Arizona is known as the Grand Canyon State and was claimed by the Spanish and given to America in 1848 and fully separated in 1863. The Spanish and the Americans were at war to see who would claim Arizona and other States.” Like I said, in 1848, Mexico lost and gave Arizona and some other States to the United States of America. Arizona is a fun state to be in and we are going to find out the adventures it will bring!

Heat

Why is Arizona so hot? As shared by Amy Ludke, “Arizona lives close to the equator, so really close to the sun, and there are few rivers and lakes and it hardly rains.” When it does, it is like a drop of new life sprouting on the dry land. Arizona can be called "the state of pools." Arizona has five hundred and five thousand pools, isn't that crazy? But even though Arizona has a lot of pools, heat is still a problem. We all have trouble with the heat.

What is Arizona and its vegetation?

According to Britannica, “Arizona is the sixth largest state in terms of area; they have plenty of desert shrubs and cacti.” While the plants strive to survive in this hot climate, inside we are cool and refreshed with air conditioning and outside we are able to swim in pools. It is hard for green grass to stay alive and types of animals because it's blazing hot. The plants and animals that do live there, like cacti, lizards, and road runners are able to survive because it is their natural habitat.

All in all, maybe you do not want to visit or live in Arizona but you might want to get the experience of wearing shorts year-round and taking a splash in the pool. As I said, maybe you will not even want to visit because of the heat. I would give Arizona a try because it is probably more fun than you think!

Iceland: A Solitary Sanctuary

by Lily Van Horn

Welcome to Iceland

You walk outside. A crisp, sharp breath of oxygen fills your lungs like a balloon. You look up into the sky: the northern lights glow a bright, luminescent green. The alluring night sky of Iceland.

Iceland is a Nordic country in northwest Europe, and not only is it Europe’s westernmost nation, but it is also home to the world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik. Furthermore, it is one of the most sparsely populated countries, with a population of 372,520 as of 2021. Iceland is a beautiful country that is not only incredibly safe, but also filled with stunning cuisine

Iceland: Safe and Sound

Iceland is the top country in terms of safety levels. In fact, according to TrippSavvy, Iceland has been first place on the GPI (Global Peace Index) every year since 2008. Some contributing factors to this are the scarcity of robbery, pickpocketing, and violent crime. This shows that Iceland has extreme safety levels, because being the safest out of 163 ranked countries is almost impossible to achieve. Notably, Iceland has maintained its spot at number one for the past 14 years. Whether you are relaxing in hot springs or traveling through town, there is no doubt that feelings of worry or fear will wash away. Not only does Iceland have unbelievable safety levels, but also comes with a side of incredible cuisine.

Iceland: Flavors and Food

Iceland has incredibly diverse and interesting cuisine. According to Egill Halldorsson, co-owner and tour guide of the Reykjavik Food Walk, on Vogue, “Our fare has always been very simple because of our climate limitations and isolation from the world. Icelandic food is, in its simple form, uncomplicated, elegant, and natural.” This shows that Icelandic food is like a cold, refreshing new snowfall because it illustrates the simplicity, beauty, and elegance of the cuisine. Consequently, this part of Icelandic culture is one of the most incredible and definitely worth experiencing.

In addition, according to Vogue, one of the most popular Icelandic dishes is the sausage-like delicacy, pylsur. Pylsur is a blend of beef, pork and lamb. It can be eaten with all sorts of toppings, such as raw onions, deep fried onions, sweet brown mustard, and creamy remoulade. Being one of the greatest dishes, pylsur will fill your mouth with a myriad of delicious flavors, leaving your mouth watering for one more bite.

Iceland: Wrapping Up

As you can see, Iceland is a beautiful country that is not only incredibly safe, but also filled with stunning cuisine. Iceland is one of the greatest countries in all aspects, such as food, safety, and more! Consequently, it provides a great dive into Europe’s 44 nations, and is somewhere worth vacationing. In the future, Iceland may be a more popular tourist destination, which would help spread the incredible culture of the country and its people.

PEOPLE WITH PURPOSE

Who is Sophia Smith?

by Leighton Buckley

“She lifts her foot up, she swings. She kicks it, and she scores! The crowd goes wild!” This soccer player is young with a great deal of skill and potential. Sophia Smith is one of the top forwards for the US Women's National team, and, with no question, will be one for a long time! She is a professional soccer player who plays for the Portland Thorns and the US Women’s National team. She joined the US Women's National team on March 31, 2017. She is currently 22 years old. Sophia Smith is an idol and role model for young soccer players.

Professional Career

Sophia Smith was a talented soccer player as a kid, but it didn’t stop there! She is having a fantastic professional career and it is likely that it’s going to get even better! In fact, on 9NEWS, Sophia Smith was named “USA’s 2022 Soccer Female Player of the Year.” That alone shows exactly how skilled she is! She was the youngest player to win that award since Mia Hamm!

Furthermore, in an interview with 9NEWS, Sophia Smith said, “It’s been a very exciting year, and certainly there’s been some challenges. Just being able to grow and develop in the environments with the National team and the Thorns, and being surrounded by such amazing players, players that I have looked up to for so long, has pushed me to become a better player and person.”

Likewise, Sophia Smith was also named National Women's Soccer League Most Valuable Player, after scoring 14 goals in 18 regular-season matches. She also scored for the Thorns in the league's title game, which they went on to win and become the NWSL Champions!

“This was a big year for Sophia, and she deserves this recognition, but I’m just excited about where she can take her game from here,” US Women's National

team Coach

Vlatko Andonovski stated. “She is a special player with special qualities, but the best thing is that she has the humbleness, work ethic, and drive to keep developing all aspects of her game.”

Childhood

Sophia Smith has worked hard to reach her goal ever since she was a kid. According to Richard Laverty, she grew up in Windsor, Colorado with two older sisters, Gabrielle and Savannah. She started playing rec soccer at age four. In fact, when Sophia Smith played rec soccer, she was teammates with one of her future US National teammates: Jaelin Howell! After rec soccer, she began playing club soccer with Arsenal Colorado and Real Colorado (club teams in Colorado).

Meanwhile, she played more sports than just soccer. She did track and played basketball. Her dad even played basketball at the University of Wyoming!

Eventually, when it came time for her to choose one sport, it was easy. She chose soccer. As she got to high school, she started to receive lots of scholarship offers. She eventually chose Stanford. While she was at Stanford, she won the National Title.

Furthermore, her college coach at Stanford, Paul Ratcliffe, said, “Sophia was able to separate herself in college by doing extra training. Sophia worked very hard on her fitness, one versus one dribbling, and finishing.” Finally, her work paid off, as she was the number one draft pick in the NWSL by the Portland Thorns!

Conclusion

All in all, most soccer players and fans would be delighted to meet Sophia Smith. She has worked so hard, for a long time, and has earned lots of respect for that. Soccer players like Sophia Smith have put in work every day since they were a kid. She sacrificed things like hanging out with friends or going to fun places for practice and games, so that she could get to where she is now. Many young soccer players look forward to seeing her play in other big games. Her college coach Paul Ratcliffe even said, “I definitely think Sophia will play in the Olympics. She has the determination and skills necessary to play at the highest level. I regard Sophia as one of the most impactful players on the USWNT.” That is why Sophia Smith is such an amazing soccer player and deserves her spot on the Thorns and National team.

Analyzing Alexander

by Eliana Larson

Dust was kicked up as Alexander Hamilton's men retreated back like a wave racing back to the sea as the cannonball came closer and closer. Alexander Hamilton was on a path to rise up: fought in the revolutionary war, became a lawyer, and became secretary of the treasury. Alexander Hamilton worked hard to become successful which came with sacrifices and many unhealthy relationships. How did he Become Successful?

Hamilton was a brilliant person, which helped him reach the top. But, he was also usually in the right place at the right time. For instance, History teacher Justin Abbott at Monarch High School states, “Hamilton was very driven to succeed. He was naturally smart and used his brain power to his advantage.” He was unafraid of hard work and took on many challenges that others were afraid to face.

Hamilton's Sacrifices

This drive to succeed came at a price. Hamilton encountered a great deal of difficulties, and he had to make hard decisions. He had to sacrifice his home, job, wife, kids, and life. According to Monarch History Teacher Justin Abbott, “Hamilton’s job as secretary of the treasury during George Washington's presidency took a lot of his time. He also sacrificed other personal relationships for the purpose of furthering his career.” Alexander Hamilton had to make sacrifices to stay on top.

Hamilton's Relationships

As part of that, Hamilton was often the smartest person in the room, and that was usually a good thing, but it also helps him make some enemies such as Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. According to Monarch History Teacher Justin Abbott, “Hamilton was often the smartest person in the room, and he knew it. This often caused him to give off the vibe of being better than everyone else. He also used his wit to roast people he didn't like. He would say funny, but humiliating things about them in speeches, in newspaper articles, and to other people. This made him rather unpopular with many people.” Hamilton was extremely smart and was often seen as annoying or self-absorbed by his peers.

Looking to the Future

Alexander Hamilton worked hard to succeed, which came with hard dissections and sacrifices along the way. Consequently, he ruined many healthy relationships he could have had.

Hamilton worked hard to set this country free and to keep it stable. If it weren't for him we would be falling apart.

If Hamilton had seen our country today, would he be proud?

The Next Alex Morgan

JaneMeyer

Who is Sophia Smith?

Sophia Smith, the youngest player to join the U.S Women’s Soccer Team since Mia Hamm! You can hear the crowd's screaming as a dog barking at a cat when she scores a goal. Sophia Smith joined the U.S Women's Soccer Team on March 31, 2017. She was the first person born in the 2000’s to play. The amazing soccer player has played in multiple games, scoring goals almost every game, showing the world that she's earned that spot on the U.S Women's National Soccer Team!

Sophia Smith worked her hardest to get better and better to go to an exceptional college, to enhance her soccer career. Over the years she became noticed by an impressive number of college coaches. She also got offers for her speed and abilities too! According to Stanford Daily, "She chose Stanford, then after a couple years she got drafted for the U.S Women's Soccer Team." She worked her whole life for this. If you want to get onto the U.S Women's Soccer Team you need to put in the effort.

What does Sophia Smith do?

As stated from Maddie Schlotfeld, one of the head leaders of the American Outlaws, “Sophia Smith is a soccer player on the U.S Women's Soccer Team. She's an amazing soccer player. People look up to a person like Sophia Smith.” Players like Sophia Smith with all of the other athletes are people's idols and kids look up to them, she also shows everyone that you have to put in hard work to get to your dream.

All in all, Sophia Smith is a well known U.S Women's soccer player, loved by all her fans. She represents her amazing skill and proves day in and day out that she is on the U.S Women's National team for a reason.

TheManWhoDoubledtheJerseySales byCavanCole

Haaland:TheNorwegianSensation

UnpredictableSkills

OneFortheHistoryBooks

TheNextChapter

World Record Achiever Max Park by

Wayland Weiss

“Don’t think, just cube” says speed cube solver Max Park. Park is an inspiration to many across the world. At an early age he was diagnosed with autism but grew to become a world record rubik's cube solver. The unusual life of Max Park was greatly influenced by his autism but ultimately led him to becoming a world speed cubing champion.

Max Park’s life was difficult and fun. Even though he was born with Autism, he is highly skilled at cubing! According to GOCUBE, “Max Park is a Korean-American speedcubing champion, who has been a role model for many people. He was diagnosed with autism when he was just two years old, and holds multiple world records for solving different Rubik’s cubes quickly.” This shows that at an early age he had many struggles but he overcame them with cubes. His first competition was “Nisei week 2012” when he was just 10 years old. Park studied hard for this and learned many algorithms, which are moves that are needed in different scenarios to solve a cube. His cubing skills were driven from his special needs.

Max Park was intrigued with rubik's cubes the moment his mom, Miki Park, introduced him to one. Having autism is a very hard experience for him and his family. According to Guinness World Records, “When he was very young we were always looking for situations or opportunities to do therapy. In the world of autism, you're really primarily working on one thing which is socialization, and in order to do some socialization you need someone around to socialize with. So, with Max we're always looking for opportunities where we can introduce him to socialization and opportunities. That's how we got into cubing, purely for that reason.” Max and his mom worked through many struggles for him to have a better life. When Park cubes, it makes him feel free. Autism opened his world to cubes leading him to perseverance and the reward of world records.

After many years of hard work, it paid off for him with 11 world records. This has a huge significance because it sets a goal for future cubers to beat. According to Guinness World Records, “Max Park (USA) is a Rubik’s Cube speed solver with numerous Guinness World Record titles including the fastest time to solve cube sizes from 4x4x4 through to 7x7x7 and the fastest average time to solve a Rubik’s Cube one-handed.” His titles mean a lot to him and the world. Max Park still wants to get more cubing records and aspires to keep learning through his autism.

Through his life with disabilities, Max park solved many cubes to earn multiple world records. The people around him had a great influence on his life, especially his mom. He never gave up despite his struggles and showed the world that you can do anything. He is a teaches future cubers to never give up in life.

Masked Wolf: the Australian Rapper

by Sage kelley

Words fly through the rhythm as you hear fast, loud music in the background. This is rap music. Rap music has come a long way from just talking fast, in fact, there's more to it. One of the rappers who knows the rhythm is Masked Wolf. This is how Masked Wolf became the rapper he is today. Masked Wolf has many engaging, top hit's, and he is highly recognized in the world of rap music.

His Top Hits

According to Masked Wolf's Biography, in 2018 Masked Wolf released his first single "Speed Racer." After 2 years, "Speed Racer" did not reach the expectations he wanted. In fact, the song was not a hit at all. According to the story on Song.com, it led him to create his top hit song, "Astronaut in the Ocean." According to NME, 2021, he came out with his first album, Astronomical, and is now touring Australia and Europe. Furthermore, in an interview with his manager, it was said he is coming to America to meet his growing list of followers.

How He is Recognized

Masked Wolf has over 220k followers on just Instagram, which is a huge amount. At first, when he released his first song, he was barely even recognized. After he released his song, "Astronaut in the Ocean", his career skyrocketed to more than 220k followers on social media. One of the reasons he has gotten popular is that he is not corrupted by fame. I learned from my interview with Masked Wolf's manager that he isn't just in it for the money; he wants to express himself with his music. For that reason, I have a deep respect for my all-time favorite rapper, Masked Wolf.

Conclusion

Masked Wolf has been making music for 5 years. After his song, “Astronaut in The Ocean.," was released, Masked Wolf has whirled in fans just like a tornado. He has made an amazing impact on me and 220k people, with his amazing top hits and with his new album Astronomical. Even struggling with anxiety, his ability to express himself through his music is amazing. This is what I love and admire about his music, and him as a rapper.

100

Sir Francis Drake: A Hero or a Villain?

BY AMBRE MATHIEU

You see a large ship on the horizon. You recognize it immediately. Sir Francis Drake. Sir Francis Drake was seen as a hero for England, but a demon for Spain. He is responsible for England being this powerful. But he also caused Spain to be the way it is. Was he a knight, a pirate, or both? Sir Francis Drake had a significant role in history. It’s hard to say whether he could be good or evil. Follow me through the story of Drake’s Early years to his end.

What is Sir Francis Drake’s Role in History?

As previously stated, Sir Francis Drake made England one of the most successful places. According to Laurence Bergreen, the author of the book In Search of a Kingdom: Francis Drake, Elizabeth I, and the Perilous Birth of the British Empire, “Drake affected the modern world by laying the groundwork for the British Empire. As a result, England evolved from a second or even third-class nation to a world power.” In other words, Sir Francis Drake made England a prosperous country by bringing riches from Spain. He made Modern England a mighty place. Drake is an important figure in the history of England. Now that Sir Francis Drake’s part in history is covered, You may be wondering If Drake was a villain or a hero. After all, he is, in a way, both.

Was Francis Drake evil or Not?

According to Laurence Bergreen, “It’s hard to understand whether or not Drake is evil. Incidentally, he rarely killed his enemies. He treated them well, and made them feel it was almost an honor to have been raided by Drake.” Furthermore, Drake may have raided Spanish ships and brought Spanish wealth to England, but oddly enough, he never killed the people he raided, and helped England a great deal. He has done lots of rule breaking, although he may generally be nice. Now you can wind down and read about the story of his life.

The Life of Sir Francis Drake

Drake started as a pirate and ended up as a knight. He died with honor. As previously stated by Laurence Bergreen, “In general, he started out breaking the rules, and then once got inside the system, he benefited from his newfound status mainly because he knew how to play Queen Elizabeth I like a fiddle, so to speak.” Sir Francis Drake raided Spanish ships. He was a storm; rampaging shores, and taking things away. He was brought to the attention of Queen Elizabeth I after more successful raids. Queen Elizabeth knighted him. He did the first successful circumnavigation of the globe and died of Dysentery, a disease. He was buried in full armor at sea. Drake did many cruel things but evened them out with good actions. He died and was buried with his story.

Conclusion

All in all, Drake had an important story that changed the world, and it isn’t easy to know if he was good or not. Sir Francis Drake had an extremely unrepeatable life. Drake made England a better place and made Spain the way it is. Imagine going back in time to meet him! Would you fear him or have him sign his name on your forehead? Your life would be at least different to some extent if Drake didn’t exist. He set out a new doorway for England, and one day, everyone will acknowledge him.

101

Animals

102

Lions:Strivingor Suffering?

by Liam Sweeney

There are two eyes that glare out at its delicious dinner. The zebra walks slowly through the grasslands. The lion waits just a few seconds and pounces on it. Don’t be surprised by the mammals that are majestic but vicious. Lions are skillful and beautiful, but they are also deadly. Today, we still continue to learn about how lions hunt, and how many lions are left in the wild.

Hunting:WiththeLions

A group of lions are known as a pride. Prides can have three to 40 lions. In a pride, females do most of the hunting, and cub raising. Furthermore, lions usually hunt in groups of two to three lions. This means that most of the stuff they do together; hunt together, eat together, and defend themselves together. According to National Geographic kids 2015, These skillful lions are sadly becoming extinct.

ExtinctionCanChange, WithSomeHelp

Extinction is becoming a bigger problem as the years go by. According to Austin Hill from the Wild Life Animal Sanctuary, “Sadly, about 75% of lion populations are in decline – due to habitat loss and conflict with humanity.” It’s estimated that there are 23,000 lions left in the wild. For instance, that's about a third of the seats at Bronco Stadium. 75% of lions have died from habitat loss.

¾ of all the lions have had their habitat torn apart like a house in a hurricane. As stated from Austin Hill From the Wild Life Sanctuary recently, "The world has lost a vast amount of lions."

LeavingthePride

All in all, we still continue to learn about how lions hunt; and how long we will have lions on this planet. These mammals have lost 75% of their own species because of us and habitat loss. We need to fix this problem because there may not be any more lions. Looking into the future, lions may become extinct. But that could change with some help and awareness of the challenges that lions face today.

103

Deciding the Debate: Dogs vs. Cats

by Jackson St. Ores

Have you ever wanted to hold a fluffy ball of fur with shiny eyes that you want to hug? Like a baby grabbing a toy? Can you not decide between a dog or a cat? Dogs and cats are a human's best friend, and they are usually house pets but sometimes not. Dogs and cats have pros and cons like popularity and price.

Popular Pets

Popularity plays a vast role in getting a pet because you want to know what others think. According to Statista, the percentages of dog owners just beat out cat owners with dog owners at 51% and cat owners at 49%. Most of the dog and cat owners say they are happy with their decision and some wish they had chosen the other. Popularity might not matter to some people as much as others but money will matter to all.

The Price of a Pet

The price of a pet can vary from extremely expensive as a house to as cheap as a cardboard box. According to Visions Federal Credit Union, a dog can cost from $1000-$3000 a year and a cat can cost from $300-$1000 a year. This covers all of the food and vet expenses. That shows that dogs are more expensive than cats, so if you want to spend less money on a pet then a cat is your jam.

All in all, dogs and cats have pros and cons like popularity and price, so if you want a pet then you can keep those two in mind when you are getting one. Even

104

ChattingAboutChinchillas!

byEvelynCavanagh

RollinginHistory

Smallcrittersscamperaround;smallpaws, bigears.Smallwoodentoyslayonthe ground,rollingaroundinthedust.Chinchillas runandplaywitheachother.Accordingto theCheyenneMountainZoo,chinchillashave beenaroundforalmost41millionyears.These furryrodentsliveontherockyslopesofthe AndesMountains.Also,accordingtotheSan DiegoZoo,theirfurisproclaimedthesoftest intheworld.Aboutfiftyhairsgrowfromone follicleonachinchilla.Chinchillasare mysteriousrodentswithspecificdietsand habits,butdespiteourloveforthesecute critters,predators,people,andtrashare clawingtheirwayintothechinchillas'habitat, killingmanychinchillas.

ChinchillasarenotGremlins

Chinchillasneedspecificdietstosurvivein thewildandinyourhome.Accordingtothe NationalChinchillaSociety,chinchillasneed low-calciumgrasshay,suchasTimothyhay, oathay,orchardgrass,ormeadowhay. Avocadosandbroccoliaretwothings chinchillascannoteat.Chinchillascannoteat broccolibecauseitcausesbloating;chinchillas haveahardtimebreathingwhenbloated,so thiscouldleadtodeath.Avocadoscanalso createmuchpainforthechinchillaand digestivetractissues.Ifyouwantahealthyand thrivingchinchilla,Isuggeststickingtograss hayandnotfeedingyourchinchillabroccolior avocados.However,avocadosandbroccoliare nottheonlythingskillingchinchillas.

Savethesefurryfriends

Predators,people,andtrashhavekilled manychinchillas,causingamassive declineinchinchillas'life.Accordingtothe SanDiegoZoo,chinchillasarebeinghunted tomakechinchillafurcoats.Many predatorssuchaslargebirds,snakes,and skunksarekillingthemaswell.Some humanseveneatchinchillaswhichisvery heartbreaking.Onewaytosavethesefurry animalsistothrowyourtrashawayandnot litter.Also,youshouldnotbuyfashionitems madeoutofrealfur.Thesearejustsome waystopreventchinchillasfrombeing killed.Thefuzziesaredyingatarapidrate soIsuggestweactnowortheycouldgo extinctinthewild.

LongliveChinchillas

Allinall,chinchillascaptivatepeople withtheirmajesticfurandtraits,butwe muststoptrashingourplanettopreserve thefuzzies'existence.Chinchillasare puzzlingrodentswithweirddietsand specifichabitatsbut,despiteouraffection forthesecutefluffballs,predators,people, andtrasharemakingtheirwayinto chinchillaterritory.Wemustsavethe fuzziesfromthesedangersnow!

105

Two Animals, One Life

by Emma Givens

Have you ever wanted to mix two completely different animals? Like a cow and a sheep? Well turns out there are a ton of hybrids like that in the world! Not completely different animals, but it still counts! Like the smooth, silky scales of a snake and the sharp beak of an eagle.

Hybrids are offspring resulting from two genetically different species or organisms through reproduction. A new study has revealed that 4,500 years ago the ancient Mesopotamians were the first to create a hybrid animal, by producing an entirely new species by mating two different breeds. The mating process happened in Syria for boosting biodiversity. A hybrid blends together like two fruits into a smoothie. Who doesn’t love a strawberry-banana shake?

The depths of these topics will soon be uncovered; 5 different examples of hybrids, a new human-animal combination, and domesticwild animal hybrids.

5 Examples of Hybrids:

Ligers and Tigons

A Liger is a combination between a male lion and a female tiger. A Tigon on the other hand is a combination of a male tiger and a female lion.

Mules and Hinnys

Mules are combinations between a male donkey (Jack) and a female horse (Mare). A Hinny on the other hand is a combination of a male horse and a female donkey.

Wholphin

Wholphins are combinations between a false killer whale and a bottlenosed dolphin.

Beefalo

Beefalos is a combination between a cow and an American bison.

Geep

Geeps are a combination between a goat and a sheep.

(As said on the A-Z Animals)

This shows that there are many hybrids in the world. Lindsey Levine from My Nature Lab states, "I would not create any hybrid, even if given the chance. Hybrids of natural species are often riddled with congenital diseases and would not fare well in the natural environments of the species that were hybridized. Over evolution, animals have become incredibly adapted to their specific niches in the wild. Hybridization is a human action that messes with the natural balance of life on Earth."

Enough of Animals, What About Human Hybrids?

Does a Human-Animal Hybrid Exist?

The answer is yes, but do they roam around on the earth now? No. Scientists created the first pig-human embryo. They injected a pig embryo with human cells early in its development. The embryo lasted 4 weeks, which may not seem like a long time. The project proves that you can introduce human cells to a host animal. The human cells can survive and even grow inside the host animal, In this case, pigs.

This discovery could lead to something unique, not just the first human-animal hybrid. Scientists also discovered something else. In a lab, they discovered human blood can filter through pig lungs. Which could mean that custom pigs' lungs could become donor lungs, as stated by National Geographic.

What About Tamed Animals and Wild Animals?

Yes! Domestic and wild animals can breed, commonly if within the same genetic family. A common one is a Canid hybrid. Canid hybrids result from an interaction between different species of the canine family. The canine family includes the wolf, the dingo, the domestic dog, the coyote, and the jackal. An example is a wolfdomestic dog hybrid. These canines have 78 chromosomes, which allows them to mate and create hybrids freely. This could also result in fertile offspring.

Raccoons are about the same size as domestic cats. Male raccoons will voluntarily mate with female domestic cats. There has been no real evidence of live offspring of a cat and a raccoon but there have been claims of sightings of cat-raccoon hybrids, as said on Bionity. There can be hybrids of wild animals and domestic animals, just rarely. Can you imagine a world with diverse animals, ones that we rarely see, roaming about with the current animals of our time?

Well, with these hybrid animals, the species and us as humans are creating new life forms everywhere. Humans are discovering ground-breaking technologies that could lead to pigs becoming our new lung donors. Just think, people in need of organs not having to wait for a willing human donor whose is also a match.

106

Dogs vs. Cats; What Furry Friend is Better

By Ty Erickson

Hanging out with cats and dogs can be a fun way to connect with a furry friend. You can look forward to either having sloppy kisses from a dog, or soft purring from a cat. Which is better dogs or cats? There are many activities and hobbies to do with your cat or your dog; however, there are many differences between your kitten or your pup.

Activities With Them

WOOF! WOOF! There are multiple activities you can do with your dog. According to Campus Pets and Vets, “You can get exercise by taking your dog for a walk.” It will help your heart, lungs, and leg muscles get stronger. You can also do some of your hobbies with your dog to keep them entertained and also keep you entertained. For instance, when you take a walk with your pup, you may enjoy bird-watching at the same time.

MEOW! MEOW! As for cats, they can be fun too. Campus Pets and Vets said, “You can keep your cat interested by playing with toys.” For instance, fishing poles with a feather can make your cat jump up for it. Additionally, you can create forts for your cat to have fun with and explore. Therefore, if you are more of an outdoor person, a dog could be the pet for your household. But, if you are more of an indoor person, a kitten might be the pet for you.

The Many Differences

People who are thinking about getting a dog or a cat need to understand that they are veritable different animals. According to Hills Food Corporation, “During the day, your dog will probably be active and playful. While he may take an occasional nap, he prefers being at your side. A cat, on the other hand, sleeps away much of the daylight hours, preferring to jump into turbo time right before you jump into bed. Cats are more playful in the evenings, but there are many cats who make time for their pet parents during the day. A routine helps get your cat more on your schedule.” You also have to think of the price of the pet. If you decide to purchase a purebred dog from a breeder, you can expect to spend $500 to $2000. Adopting from a shelter or rescue can cost as little as $50 to $200. As for cats they can be $340 to $405.

You see, if you are into more of an active pet, a dog might be for you. But, if you’re more into indoor play, a cat might be the pet for you.

In The End

In the end, there are multiple things to do with dogs and cats. As well as, the many different activities to do with your pup or kitten.

107

Helping Animals: One Paw at a Time Helping Animals: One Paw at a Time

by Addison Stites by Addison Stites

According to the Humane Society of the United States, “Each year, it is estimated that more than 50 million dogs, cats, monkeys, rabbits, rats and other animals are forced to endure painful experiments in the U.S.” Animal rights groups advocate for animals who are used to test drugs and are treated cruelly. Modern drug testing is stronger and causes more distress. The harmful treatment of animals varies depending on whether the animals are in a lab or a zoo. Conservation centers help animals by providing a natural habitat.

Animal testing has been an issue for many years and for countless animals. As President Mason Liddell of the Colorado Law Animal Legal Defense Fund explains, “Animals are often treated cruelly and their interests are completely ignored. In most cases, cosmetics especially, animal testing is completely unnecessary.” With Liddell’s words in mind, a current example is Elon Musk’s Neuralink. He’s responsible for torturing more than a dozen monkeys and more than 1,500 other animals to death. His purpose is to connect brains to computers through an internal chip. This harsh testing may seem dreadful, but animal cruelty is also happening in local zoos too.

Zoos are making money and harming animals by not providing a natural habitat and putting animals in cages for people to look at. According to the latest from Animal Equality, “Animals suffer in zoos. They get depressed, psychologically disturbed, frustrated, they harm each other, become ill, go hungry, and are forced to endure extreme and unnatural temperatures.” This evidence proves that zoos are lousy and atrocious, while also highlighting how many animals die. Although this is not causing egregious behaviors, zoos have to start caring for their animals. If you want to go somewhere to see animals, go to a wildlife sanctuary; don’t opt to go to your local zoo. In addition, wildlife conservation is an organization that helps endangered species not become extinct.

Wildlife conservation has been decreasing, and although countless species are getting saved, we humans aren’t helping either. In a recent interview, Director Jack Murphy of Urban Wildlife Rescue explains, “We need to conserve wildlife from the onslaught of what humans have done to them. But that also includes conserving habitat and the earth.” Conserving wildlife isn’t as simple as preventing an animal from becoming extinct and caring for it, it's also conserving the animal’s habitat. For example, in China, people are trying to save the panda. The pandas eat bamboo. Fellers, or people that cut down trees, are clear-cutting the bamboo forest. Even though the panda population is growing in a wildlife sanctuary, the natural habitat is being destroyed. Pandas could not be put back into the wild without bamboo. Wildlife conservation helps animals. You can also help by cleaning up and protecting the environment by picking up litter, and reducing, reusing, and recycling.

All in all, the way we are treating animals has to change. Animals are not being treated fairly in labs and zoos. Wildlife conservation is working to repopulate species. Animal rights are important because there are too many animals around the world suffering from being used for exotic pets, entertainment, food, medicine, and fashion. Animals don’t have voices; we have to stand up for them and give them one.

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Where Do Dolphins Live?

Look for small, dark shapes emerging from the water, like an extra big wave in a stormy sea. You may be seeing a dolphin. Mostly, dolphins live in tropical waters. However, the orca lives in arctic and antarctic waters. Some dolphins live closer to the coasts, some prefer shallow areas farther from shore. The latest of Whales.org states, “Some dolphin species prefer to live in coastal areas, others like shallow water but prefer to live away from the coast." Furthermore, the construction of dams has impacted river dolphins. Dolphins also get caught in fishing nets, causing them to drown. Dolphins have a wide range of places they live, and also an extraordinary communication system!

How Do Dolphins Communicate?

Dolphins communicate using a series of different clicks, whistles, gestures, and movements. Dolphins also use clicks for echolocation which makes them able to figure out where they are without seeing anything. In addition, each dolphin produces its own signature whistle. They learn the signature whistle communicated from all of their friends to know if their friends are calling them. According to the Dolphin Communication Project, “Dolphins appear to be able to produce their own signature whistle quite reliably, but also the signature whistle of their friends. Isolated or lost dolphins appear to frantically produce signature whistles, apparently calling out to their friends.” In addition to signature whistles, they have an entire language made only with whistles and clicks!

Conclusion

All in all, dolphins are astonishing animals with a large diet, habitat, and a unique communication system. Some species of dolphins have become endangered because of human activity in their habitats. If more people learn about dolphins, they will be more likely to try to help them. If you help save the oceans, you will help save the dolphins!

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THANKYOU FORREADING

-TheLouisvilleMiddleSchool

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TreasureTroveStaff