The Viewpoint January/February 2020

The

Viewpoint “We didn’t crumble after 9/11. We didn’t falter after the Boston Marathon. But we’re America. Americans will never, ever stand down.

We endure. We overcome. We own the finish line.”

-Joe Biden, Brainyquote

“Keep America Great!”

- Donald Trump, Fox News

“I’m a conservative.

I’m running because Donald Trump is not who we are.

He’s the worst of who we are.” -Joe Walsh, NYT

“We should stop asking our military to solve problems that cannot be solved militarily.”

“A wealth tax makes a lot of sense in principle, the problem is it’s been tried in Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden and all those countries ended up repealing it because it had massive implementation problems...”

– Andrew Yang, CNN

- Elizabeth Warren, CNN

Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Road Stafford, VA 22556

STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 14 ISSUE 4 January | February Check out pages 12 and 13 to learn more about the 2020 presidential candidates

“When we talk about a rigged economy, it’s not just the grotesque level of income and wealth inequality. It is also the fact that in sector after sector, whether it is Wall Street, where you have six banks that have assets equivalent to half of the GDP of the United States.”

-Bernie Sanders, The Washington Post

Wildcat Salon and Barbershop

Open Thursday 8:00 a.m.~ 5:00 p.m.

Call (540) 658-6840 x2213 x2704 Now offering Keratin Express Smoothing System for $75.00 (includes full size shampoo and conditioner)

Permission slips available online, in the cosmetology department and main office.

418 Garrisonville Rd. Stafford, VA 22554 Call: 540-657-0006 Website: Danscare.com Store Hours: Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Sun: Closed

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Index 01 Front cover 02 ADs 03 Index 04 Briefs 05 Waters rising 06 Money/problems 07 Money/problems 08 Celebrity presidents 09 Daily vitamins 10 War of the elements 11 Puppy dog eyes 12 Political heartthrobs 13 Political heartthrobs 14 Se caen la casas 15 ADs

Editorial

What president--past, present, future, or candidate--has the key to your heart?

The journalism room has been pretty heated with political debates on this issue. When asked who their presidential Valentine would be, the staff had a lot to say.

Everyone but Jules and Claire picked a former president. Jules said, “There may be no future of Ellen DeGeneres becoming our president, but I do think she would make a good world leader. She reminds us, ‘Be kind to one another.”

Claire chose someone with a fair chance at actually becoming our next president: Bernie Sanders. She simply said, “Bernie Sanders, baby!”

Following the trend of current prominent figures in American society, Catelynn, JoJo and Aisha named Obama as their favorite president. JoJo named him for a groundbreaking, historic reason. “He’s the first black president which is so cool,” said JoJo. The rest of the staff members reflected on the history of this country when trying to come up with a suitable president to be their Valentines. In the end, Theodore Roosevelt came out a favorite as he took the hearts of Sean, Lexi, and Bella. Sean said, “Theodore Roosevelt is the love of my life. He is a man’s man. Not only did he make nature conservation cool, but he would go out of his way to challenge the world boxing champion in a match in the White House.” Bella, on the other hand, only expressed her affection due to their mutual love for trees.

A few others were Abraham Lincoln, chosen by Ceci; JFK, Caroline’s pick; and Thomas Jefferson, chosen by Dan. While everyone completed the task of choosing a Valentine, the debates continue as new possible candidates enter the ranks, also known as the primaries.

Read more on the possible candidates on pages 12 and 13.

Feature Figure

by Ceci Alvarez

Although this is her first time being an assistant principal, Brenda Russ has a lot of experience under her belt and is ready to make a difference at Mountain View.

Russ was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and is a Navy daughter. She lived in 17 Presidential crossword Virginia until she moved to Barranquilla, Puerto Rico and attended grade school there. She later moved back to Virginia where she finished middle and high 18 Spring shoutouts school. Russ then went to Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico for her Bachelor’s of Arts and Education. She earned her Master’s from George Mason, 19 Spring shoutouts and an Education Specialist Degree from Old Dominion University. She is currently working on her Doctorate from Virginia 20 Decade of memes Tech in Social Justice and ESL, English as a second language.

21 Decade of memes High school is Russ’ area of expertise.

Before coming to Mountain View, she was 22 Presidential zodiac the ESL coordinator for Chesterfield County and 64 schools. She was also in Prince 23 Add a little green William helping instructionally for the ESL program. She missed the daily interaction 24 To do: vote with students, so she came to Mountain View.

“I really do care about all of my students. I would go out to bat for all of them,” Russ said. Russ considers herself to give tough love and is very genuine.

Some of Russ’ hobbies include reading of any genre, going to Virginia Tech games on the weekend, and spending time with family. “It’s in the Puerto Rican culture to be together and spend time with family,” she said.

Her goals are to embrace adversity, make sure all students have access to advanced classes and a challenging curriculum, and to have a good relationship with students and teachers.“I really want to embrace the IB school that we are, and embrace the adversity in curriculum we have here at Mountain View,” Russ said.

Indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, hip hop dancing and Latin ballet are some of the hobbies Russ enjoyed in high school.

Some quotes Russ lives by are, “Clear is kind and unclear is unkind;” “Integrity over comfort;” and “Do as you want others to do for you.”

The Viewpoint JAN/FEB 2020 VOLUME 14 ISSUE 4 Managing Editors Isabella Roeske Danielle Piper Extra Editor Caroline Pollock Social Media Editor Javonna Brigham Photography Editor Jules Torrice Briefs Editors Aisha SantiagoBurgos Lexi Jackson Adviser Trisha Strahl

The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body of Mountain View High School. It is a forum of expression published

by Staples. Letters and art to the editorial board are welcomed and should be submitted to room 503.

16 Coronavirus

Staff Writers Catelynn Aiman, Ceci Alvarez, Javonna Brigham, Aisha SantiagoBurgos, Lexi Jackson, Sean Jones, Danielle Piper, Caroline Pollock, Isabella Roeske Jules Torrice, and Claire Watkins Front Cover Isabella Roeske Danielle Piper 2014-2018 International Quill and Scroll First Place Articles 2014-2018 VHSL State Championship First Place Award 2013, 2014, 2015 Free Lance-Star Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556

Crossword Puzzle Answers: 1. Hayes

index u january | february 2020u the viewpoint u 03

2. Obama 3. Kennedy 4. Reagan

5. Washington 6. Jefferson 7. Lincoln

8. Jackson 9. McKinley 10. T. Roosevelt

What's new at the View? #RedforEd by Caroline Pollock | photo by Nadra Nittle Red for Ed is the movement of educator activism throughout the nation fighting for more investment in education by lawmakers.

As said in the official site, “We’re joining together to demand the public schools our students deserve. We are Red For Ed.” This movement is striving to make changes for students, educators and communities.

Stafford’s Education Association representative Theresa Gaddy said, “Many teachers from Stafford County went to Washington, D.C. on January 27 to march and to advocate for teachers’ salaries. We are fighting to increase our salaries that are ranked at 40th in the country. This helps to unify the state and create one voice to be more effective.”

For students, this organization is working towards classrooms that are more conducive to learning, greater accessibility to human resources and educators who know students by name.

For educators, Red for Ed is striving to have a voice in shaping education policy, salaries that do not force educators to work another job and have opportunities to learn and lead.

Lastly, for communities, they are fighting for opportunities for all individuals and schools that bring together academics and all related communities.

Math teacher Robin Hayes said, “We wear red to unite as one. This unity helps us show the school board our fight to increase salaries to the profession that is paid less than others and while many teachers have been doing this for a long time.”

Red for Ed has numerous ways that anyone can help the movement. First, wear red every Wednesday to support. It is also encouraged for educators to send in the receipts of all of the school supplies they have paid for out of pocket to make a national tally of what educators have spent on school supplies out of their own wallets. Furthermore, anyone can send a digital postcard to show their support of everyone involved in the fight for better public school funding.

Freshman Night by Catelynn Aiman Rising freshmen were invited to Mountain View High School on January 23, 2020, to look and experience what high school will be like and to start signing up for clubs.

Before they were allowed to roam and check out clubs, they went to the auditorium to watch some of Mountain View’s performance groups, and a video about what to expect from high school. The Marine JROTC presented the colors while the National Anthem played. After that, the Madrigals performed the Alma Mater. Then JROTC appeared back on stage with the Drill Team.

The last performance of the night was by the Step Team.

After all of the performances, the counselors played a video that explains what goes on in high school.

Tiffany Finder, the counselor responsible for organizing Rising Freshman Night, said, “The turn out in terms of rising freshman families was amazing, it was standing room only in the auditorium. The amazing participation of our sports, clubs, and activities throughout the evening was instrumental to the success of the evening as well!”

After the conclusion of the presentation, the rising freshmen could either go on tour around the school, or they could visit clubs and sports teams.

Candenc Opoku-Mensah, rising freshman, said, “I was looking at joining the book club.”

On the way out, parents and students could purchase Wildcat gear and schedule a meeting with their counselor about scheduling for next year.

Widewater State Park Cleanup by Lexi Jackson On the first Saturday of every month, there is a river cleanup at Widewater State Park from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Volunteers help in keeping the shoreline clean for our animals and the environment. The environmental science club at Mountain View went to the park on October 5, 2019 help pick up trash.

Sarah Pacheco, science teacher, said, “We are just going around picking up trash and plastics.

The biggest thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that the plastics are really small pieces that are broken down and it’s not so easily picked up. As far as the environment as a whole, it’s great that we’re cleaning stuff up for the things that live there and we’re making it look nicer and prettier. Ultimately, it’s healthier for everything that lives there.”

According to the Fredericksburg website, park rangers will sign students’ forms for community service hours. So if you are in need of community service hours and want to help keep our environment clean, the Widewater State Park cleanup might be for you.

Junior Grace Kirkpatrick said, “We picked up [trash] on the shores of the Potomac River and we were mostly finding micro plastics. Although it was fun, it was very sad to see the amount of tiny plastics and how prevalent they were.”

The river cleanup is open to the public. It’s a great opportunity to get outside and with your family and help the environment.

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Waters rising Find out what is going on in Indonesia

by Aisha Santiago | pictures from flickr

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ndonesia has been experiencing tragic flash floods that have taken the lives of 43 people and destroyed the homes of thousands. The capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, has been experiencing this tragedy since New Years Eve. Jakarta is one of the world’s fastest-sinking cities, according to Joshua Berlinger and Isaac Yee. “At least 74 districts in Indonesia have been experiencing floods since the beginning of 2020,” according to CNN. ue to where Indonesia is located geographically it gets one of the most devastating flash floods in the world. Indonesia is located between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is also an archipelago country located in Southeast Asia. Indonesia is made up of 18, 307 islands and has 139 volcanoes.

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“How said it is to see such a beautiful country end up hidden under murky water.” -senior, Sydney Bledsoe “ I think it’s sad that people lost possession of some of the things that they held dear to them.” -junior, Russell Gerald “ I think it’s heartbreaking seeing children and families losing there homes and having to leave because of all the flooding.” -senior, Anthony Olivo

Death toll: As of January 14th 67 people have died as a result of the flooding Displaced: 400,000 people Evacuated to temporary shelters: ~192,000 About 40 percent of Jakarta lies below sea level Population: 264 million Landslides and flash floods have displaced more than 36,000 More than 1,300 homes have been heavily destroyed 74 districts across Great Jakarta have been flooded 19 schools have been damaged North Jakarta is sinking by 6-10 inches a year

T

he government can help Indonesia in so many ways, such as helping them with their humanitarian needs, including food, shelter and water. Other things that they need to help the citizens of Indonesia with are health services and emotional support. They need help with health services because the flooding caused a lot of chemicals to go into the water and will eventually come into contact with people. The citizens of Indonesia need emotional support because a lot of them have lost loved ones, houses, and even cars. The government needs to improve Jakarta’s flood defenses to prevent the loss of any more people or property. news u january | february 2020 u the viewpointu 05

More Money, More Problems Democracy or Dollaracracy by Ceci Alvarez

How the funding works At the federal level, campaign finance law is enacted by Congress and enforced by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), an independent federal agency. Although most campaign spending is privately financed, candidates can get public funding if they are eligible. Eligibility requirements must be fulfilled to qualify for a government subsidy, and those that do accept government funding are usually subject to spending limits.

According to the FEC, in 2008, candidates for office, political parties, and independent groups spent a total of $5.3 billion on federal elections. The amount spent on the presidential race alone was $2.4 billion.

Over $1 billion of that was spent on the campaigns of the two major candidates: Barack Obama who spent $730 million in his election campaign, and John McCain who spent $333 million. In the 2010 midterm election cycle, candidates for office, political parties and independent groups spent a total of $3.6 billion on federal elections.

To receive subsidies in the primary, candidates must qualify by privately raising $5000 each in at least 20 states. During the primaries, in exchange for agreeing to limit his or her spending according to a statutory formula, eligible candidates receive matching payments for the first $250 of each individual contribution (up to half of the spending limit). By refusing matching funds, candidates are free to spend as much money as they can privately raise.

Where the money comes from

pbs.org

The most generous contributions each year have always come from the financial sector, which includes such powerhouses as the insurance industry, banks, investment firms and real estate. These groups understand big investments the most. Whether the issue is health care reform, banking regulation (and bailouts) or oversight of Wall Street, the financial sector speaks with the loudest voice in Washington, both in campaign contributions and through lobbying.

Big oil to big labor, pharmaceutical companies to cable TV operators and a full spectrum of ideological groups from the Sierra Club to the National Rifle Association are major organizations that, through funding politicians, persevere to get their way. The money they deliver to politicians, year after year, is what pays the biggest part of the bill for American elections.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in January 2010 changed the game drastically. In a 5-4 ruling in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the court overturned a ban on corporate and union involvement in federal elections that had been in effect since the early 1900s. This resulted in allowing corporations, unions and other organizations to use money at their discrepancy to fund advertisements that help the election of specific candidates. This means to an extent: if you have the money, you choose who is in power. Corporations will typically advocate for politicians who make decisions in the company’s favor rather than a politician who is best for the people.

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These supporters give money to politicians every election cycle. A politician who’s received contribution after contribution from a political patron is much more likely to entertain his or her concerns during a time of political or even personal need.

A politician who’s accepted many donations and contributions from a big corporation will typically entertain their ideas and concerns in order to keep the money flowing.

Money often equals access, and access equals action. Indeed, the love that comes with campaign contributions is a two-way street.

bloombergopinion

How this affects our politics

Brian Eanes, history and personal Finance teacher, says,” I think we need to look more at a candidate’s stance and what their priorities and policies are going to be, not where they got their money from.”

While this is a common interpretation of campaign funding, some people see it differently.

Jonathan Flavell, senior, says, ”It sounds a lot like bribery to me. It doesn’t go along with the Constitution in my opinion, but I also believe there really isn’t a way to stop it.”

Others have even simpler opinions on it:

”We don’t need to know where the money comes from,” says Austin Rupertus, junior.

The “beauty” of the campaign finance system, if you’re trying to use it to influence the actions of public officials, is that nobody ever has to break the law for it to work. If you hand over money secretly to a member of Congress to get something done, that’s a bribe. However if you contribute year after year to the member’s campaign committee, then lobby that lawmaker whenever your issues come before Congress, that’s fine. This is why the cycle keeps going. It’s only human to try to do favors for people who’ve done favors for you.

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celebrities as presidents Politics doesn’t have to be boring; check out these celebrities who I think would make an effective president by Javonna Brigham

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Not everyone closely follows politicians as closely as they do celebrities. Many celebrities jokingly announce their desire to be president, but they’ve never seriously taken action. These are fun suggestions, but the true election needs to be taken much more seriously. Make sure to do your research and make an informed voting decision. Check out pages 12 and 13 to see our real candidates in a fun way. If you’re old enough, please remember to register to vote for the next election, and head out to the polls when the time comes!

~ Sandra Bullock~

~Dwayne Johnson~

I would love singer Harry Styles to run for president. Even though he’s from England, and could never seriously become president, I believe he could run our country well. Styles has never found himself in controversy; therefore, we know he has very unproblematic vibes. He is an activist for Black Lives Matter and women’s rights. Harry has been known to be a genuine human being, from both fan and other celebrity accounts.

Sandra Bullock was named the highest-paid actress of 2014. In 2010, she was also listed in Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. Sandra happens to be a philanthropist, meaning she naturally cares about the well-being of others. Because of her caring nature, she seems as if she would take good care of our country. “I feel like she’s not inclined because she’s not into politics,” said senior Emily Short.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson seems like he would be a great president. He comes off as a fun and caring person. He attended Democratic and Republican conventions in 2000, and created a slogan with the World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.’s “Smackdown your vote!” campaign to increase young voter turnout, according to Kaitlyn Schallhorn of Fox News.

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~Harry Styles~

~Morgan Freeman~

~ Anderson Cooper~

Everyone loves Morgan Freeman… Duh! He’s just the sweetest old man. The world has never had problems with him. His voiceovers are incredibly soothing. Freeman also was in the Air Force after he graduated high school, so his love for our country is undeniable. “He’s a man of the people who would work for the people,” said senior Diana Amaya.

Anderson Cooper is the most politically involved person on my list. As the head anchor for CNN, we can be assured that he keeps up with politics and the current events of the world. Anderson Cooper once reported on the Orlando shooting, getting emotional as he was speaking the names of the victims.

This shows his care for others and problems with the world. “For moments, viewers around the country heard only silence, and then the sounds of the anchor struggling to compose himself,” said reporter Michael Grynbaum of the New York Times.

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~Oprah Winfrey~ Oprah Winfrey has already shot down the idea of becoming president, saying the thought doesn’t interest her. That doesn’t mean she wouldn’t make a great one. She is an open activist for children’s rights and has worked with them her whole career. “She is a strong and powerful woman, but I don’t know how well she could perform in the role of president,” said senior Maddie Baylor.

Your Daily Guide to

Vitamins

Check out this guide to gain more insight about vitamins and what they do for your body and mind

by Caroline Pollock

Vitamins are essential to sustaining life. Each individual has different requirements when it comes to vitamins, and each vitamin has a different role and is needed in various quantities. For example, a fun fact is that humans must get vitamin C supplements from either food or other sources, but dogs do not. Dogs produce the amount of vitamin C that is needed to meet their own needs, while humans are not able to do so. “My parents have made me take vitamins every day since I was born. I used to think they gave me superpowers,” said freshman Taylor Lowe. Vitamins may be small in size, but they have a huge impact on our bodies.

A

B B2 B3 B5

B6

Chemical name: Retinol Deficiency of vitamin A can cause eye problems: night blindness or keratomalacia, a disorder caused by a dry cornea.

Important for vision, immune systems and reproduction.

Sources: carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, butter, kale, spinach, pumpkin, collard greens, some cheeses, eggs and milk.

Chemical name: Biotin Helpful in hair loss, brittle nails, nerve damage and many other conditions.

Deficiency of vitamin B7 can cause dermatitis or enteritis, inflammation of the intestine.

Sources: egg yolk, liver and some vegetables.

Chemical name: Thiamine Deficiency of vitamin B can cause beriberi, which affects the heart and circulatory system, and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a neurological disorder.

Important for keeping the body’s nerves and blood cells healthy, and helps make DNA and genetic material in cells.

Sources: yeast, pork, cereal grains, brown rice, asparagus, kale, cauliflower, potatoes, oranges and eggs.

Chemical names: Folic acid or folinic acid Deficiency of vitamin B9 during pregnancy can be linked to birth defects. Sources: leafy vegetables, liver, baker’s yeast, some fortified grain products and sunflower seeds. Several fruits have moderate amounts.

“As an athlete, I really try to get all of the necessary vitamins that I need through my daily diet. If I start to feel that I do not get enough nutrients in my diet then I take vitamin supplements,” said freshman Joe Gregorie.

Chemical name: Riboflavin Deficiency of vitamin B2 can cause ariboflavinosis, followed by skin disorders.

Important for breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

It plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s energy supply.

Sources: asparagus, bananas, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt, meat, eggs, fish and green beans.

Chemical name: Ascorbic acid Deficiency of vitamin C can cause megaloblastic anemia.

Boosts immune system, helps with skin (reduce wrinkles and prevent skin disease) Sources: fruit and vegetables. The Kakadu plum and the camu camu fruit have the highest vitamin C contents of all foods.

One of the safest and most effective vitamins and is destroyed by cooking.

Chemical names: Niacin or Niacinamide Deficiency of vitamin B3 can cause pellagra, with symptoms of diarrhea, dermatitis, and mental disturbance.

Niacin may help lower cholesterol, ease arthritis and boost brain function, among other benefits for the entire body.

Sources: chicken, beef, fish, milk, eggs, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, carrots, nuts, whole-grains and mushrooms.

Chemical names: Ergocalciferol or Cholecalciferol Deficiency of vitamin D can cause rickets and osteomalacia, or softening of the bones.

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption. Exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) through sunlight or other sources causes vitamin D to be produced in the skin.

Sources: Fatty fish, eggs, beef liver and mushrooms.

Chemical name: Pantothenic acid Deficiency of Vitamin B5 can cause paresthesia, or “pins and needles.”

Sources: meats, whole-grains, broccoli, avocados and royal jelly.

“Because I am a strict vegetarian, I take vitamin B supplements to get those nutrients that I lose by not eating meat,” said senior Isabel Lokia.

Chemical names: Tocopherols or Tocotrienols Deficiency of vitamin E is uncommon, but it may cause hemolytic anemia in newborns, a condition where blood cells are destroyed and removed from the blood too early.

Sources: Kiwi fruit, almonds, avocado, eggs, milk, nuts, leafy green vegetables, unheated vegetable oils, wheat germ and whole-grains.

Chemical names: Pyridoxine, pyridoxamine or pyridoxal Deficiency of vitamin B6 may cause anemia, peripheral neuropathy or damage to parts of the nervous system.

It is significant for metabolism.

Sources: meats, bananas, whole-grains, vegetables and nuts.

When milk is dried, it loses about half of its B6.

Chemical names: Phylloquinone or Menaquinones Deficiency of vitamin K can cause bleeding diathesis, an unusual susceptibility to bleeding.

Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and bone metabolism.

Sources: leafy green vegetables, avocado, kiwi fruit, fish, meat, eggs, cereal and parsley.

B7

B9

C

D E

K

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war of the elements What covers more area than a European country?

The Australian fires by Claire Watkins

“The Australian wildfires are a hard fact to face. It’s disappointing that it’s taken this long to get the attention this kind of problem deserves.”

Katie Hasenecz, 11

O

n Wednesday, January 15, heavy rain brought flash floods to Melbourne, and the next day, rain fell in Sydney. Pollutants such as sludge and ash from the fires have contaminated the water and rain.

Wildlife has also been affected. Many fish have died due to the excessive pollution in their habitats. Australia has experienced one natural disaster after another. Australia’s capital, Canberra, was declared under a state of emergency by NASA on January 31st.

Although the fires have stopped, it is unlikely Australia will ever fully recover from this season’s terror. To put into context of just how much Australian land has been destroyed by these fires, in 2019, 100,000 hectares of land burned in California-- one hectare is equivalent to 2.47 acres-- and seven million hectares of land burned in the Amazon rainforest. This season of fires has burned 8 million hectares of land in Australia.

That’s over twice the amount of

land in Belgium.

NASA stated that smoke produced from the Australian fires are expected to circle around the globe before returning to Australia. The smoke has already traveled across the Prime Meridian to South America. A big factor in the spread of smoke is pyrocumulonimbus events, or fire-induced storms. These storms clear a pathway to the stratosphere for the smoke to infiltrate and spread easier to other parts of the world, possibly even areas near here.

Many people have different thoughts regarding why this season’s fires are the biggest and most destructive on record. A common speculation regarding the intensity of these fires is a product of global warming.

Going forward, global citizens can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they use daily by reducing plastic use and cutting back on single waste items.

“This is a wake-up call. I’d hope that we could come together to solve this global issue,” said Jenna Wilsher, junior.

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his year, Australia has experienced a scorching hot welcome to their summer... literally. 2019 was the driest year on record for the country, as stated by the Australian government’s Annual Climate Statement. The continent’s average temperature rose 1.52 degrees Celsius (34.74 degrees Fahrenheit) and the nation’s rainfall was 40 percent lower than average at 27.76 centimeters for the entire year.

Due to the dryness and heat, Australia’s fires have taken a larger-than-ever toll on the land. Since the fires started in late July, they have killed one-third of the koalas in the state of New South Wales. New South Wales is the largest and most affected state out of the six states in the country. The fires throughout Australia have also killed a total of 32 people as of January 24, according to The Guardian.

Many Australian citizens believe the reason for the increased intensity of the recent fires is climate change.

Protests have taken place across the country by citizens demanding action to this climate change. Australians have also criticized their prime minister, Scott Morrison, who took a vacation to Hawaii while the country was burning. In an effort to help, however, Prime Minister Morrison deployed troops of the Australian Defence Force to provide search and rescue for victims of the bushfires. Many civilians have taken to volunteering in the fire departments, as well, to provide aid for victims.

Ben Carthron, senior, said, “The Australian wildfires are because of increased pollution, severe drought and climate change.”

Look At Those Puppy Dog Eyes The number of dogs that are left abandoned and unwanted is incredibly high; adopt before you shop by Catelynn Aiman

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fter Christmas, dogs are left unwanted. They end up in shelters or on the side of the road because families who thought a dog would be a great holiday gift changed their minds. Taking care of the new family member might have just been too much work; puppies and rescued dogs need house training, and more energetic breeds require a lot of attention. All dogs also need consistent grooming, feeding and exercise, and if a child who received this new responsibility is not up to the task, the parents first choice might be to get rid of it Dogs have a lot of energy and can get playful, but if it is not taught how to play right, the dog can think that biting and scratching is a form of play. As a result, dogs who aren’t taught how to properly play can be a danger to themselves, their owners and other pets. If an incident occurs, the dog can get disowned. During the holiday season, a lot of families go on vacation. According to Holidogtimes, people go on vacation after the holidays,so when they are on the road they will drop their dog off at a shelter.

According to Care, being locked in a cage for an extended period of time, and not being able to run and explore can make a dog scared of going outside. “That’s horrible and sickening,” said Gabby Garcia, junior. They will begin to think that the cage is their world and the outside is a place they do not want to be a part of.

Being scared, confused and not going outside will lead to both aggression and depression. Aggression in dogs is characterized by the dog being territorial, fighting with other dogs, barking and/or not letting anyone come near them.

Depression in a dog is characterized by the dog laying around all day, whining, sitting and staring and/or not eating.

According to PetsTech, some people do not even take their dogs to a shelter. They leave their dogs outside for the “survival of the fittest” mentality to take over. When dogs are chained to trees and locked in backyards, they can’t get the resources they need to survive “Why would you [leave a dog on the street]? what made you think that was okay?” said Anni Rook, sophomore.

If survival of the fittest does not kill them, a car will. Over 1.2 million dogs are killed each year from a car. Roadkill can be any animal that was hit and killed on the road, so if a dog was trying to cross the street, it can get hit.

According to Nolo’s website, it is illegal to leave your dog on the side of the road. You can go to jail for 30 days, and will be fined no more than $500.

About a sixth of the 1.2 million get help, and this number needs to go up. Stafford’s Local Humane Society, 540-658-7387, will pick up dogs who were left abandoned on the road and bring them to a shelter.

In Stafford you can go to Stafford County Animal Control or Stafford SPCA, to adopt a dog.

Dogs find their way in shelters everyday. They end up alone and sad, so it is better to adopt from a shelter before you buy a dog.

“If you abandon your puppies then you are a really bad person because they are innocent.”

-Zachary Roland, freshman

opinionujanuary | february 2020 uthe viewpointu11

Political heartthrobs

Find out which presidential candidate is your match

by Bella Roeske and Danielle Piper

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Make sure to educate yourselves on the facts and not just what mainstream media sources feed the public. This article was written as satire and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the journalists.

Schedule of upcoming Primaries, Caucuses and conventions

incumbant Republican

Second Republican with a Liberal Arts degree Former Obama-endorsing Libertarian “Europe has its cathedrals and monuments; we have our mountains, canyons, valleys, rivers and streams — and we had damn well better take care of them.”

joe walsh Republican

tom steyer

First Republican with a Liberal Art Degree LGBT stands for Liberty, Guns, Babies, and Troops “I have a right to call Obama a Muslim and call Trump a thin-skinned ego maniac. That’s America. Get off my lawn.”

12 u the viewpoint u january | february 2020 u feature

I’ve never met those women in my life Very stable genius CEO of golfing when I should be stopping WWIII #covfefe “I believe that this president has changed how we view the Republican Party (...), it has changed to one that lies to advance itself.”

- Andrea Amihere, junior

Democrat

Wikimedia Commons Flikr

Republican

Wikimedia Commons

former gov. bill weld

Wikimedia Commons

Feb. 29 SC March 3 American Samoa, AL, AK, CA, CO, ME, MA, MN, NC, OK, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA March 10 ID, MI, MS, MO, ND, WA March 12 Virgin Islands March 14 Guam, Northern Mariana, WY March 17 AZ, FL, IL, Northern Mariana, OH March 24 American Samoa, GA March 27 ND March 29 Puerto Rico April 4 AK, HI, LA, WY April 7 WI April 28 CT, DE, MD, NY, PA, RI May 2 Guam, KS May 5 IN May 12 NE, WV May 19 KY, OR June 2 DC, MT, NJ, NM, SD June 6 Virgin Islands June 7 Puerto Rico

President donald trump

The only billionaire against unlimited spending in politics #abortionishealthcare “In order for this to be a successful election we don’t need to just beat Donald Trump – we need a broad mandate for change.”

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

I am the Martha Stewart of politicians I want to cancel student loan debt but still can’t make the time to properly apologize to indigenous peoples #IusedtobeaRepublican Pelosi Lite™

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mayor Pete Buttigieg

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sen. Bernie Sanders

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Socialism is my name Heart attacks are my game “He has a history of fighting for women’s rights and minority rights. I worry that his health is going to get in the way of being president.” - Carleigh Lamborn, senior

Shoutout to Chasten I can blend in with the Republicans - check my camo “(S)ince he’s younger, he’s more willing to work with climate change because he knows he’s going to see the effects.”

- Luísa Castro-Meirelles, senior

here lie the 2020 presidential candidates who dropped out of the race before the nevada primaries

Flikr

Things were easier with Obama around CEO of the middle-aged vote Just another old white man “ I think he’s using his vice-presidency from the Obama administration to guide him in this race. Uncle Biden needs to stop touching women.” - Andrea Amihere, junior

mayor michael bloomberg Democrat Have you seen my latest ad?

CEO of trying to appeal to the middle class as a billionaire Last Michael left in the race Stop and frisk. Enough said

Democrat Flikr

John Delaney Beto O’Rourke Sen. Kamala Harris Sen. Corey Booker Marianne Williamson Former Secretary Julián Castro Gov. Steve Bullock Joe Sestak Mayor Wayne Nessam Gov. Mark Sanford Rep. Tim Ryan Mayor Bill de Blasio Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Rep. Seth Moulton Gov. Jay Inslee Gov. John Hickenlooper Sen. Mike Gravel Rep. Eric Swalwell Richard Ojeda Former Gov. Deval Patrick Andrew Yang Sen. Michael Bennett

Ms. Minnesota Nice Fourth in news coverage but first in actually planning for presidential policies I’m the first woman Kavanaugh has ever apologized to #bipartisanvote

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Democrat

sen. Amy klobuchar

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former Vice pres. joe biden

rep. tulsi gabbard Democrat Did you know I’m in the military?

Less than one percent of support, but I’m still hanging on “(T)here is no one in our government, at any level, who has the right to tell any American who they should be allowed to love or who they should be allowed to marry.”

feature u january | february 2020 u the viewpoint u 13

Se caen las casas Houses are falling, find out what is going on in Puerto Rico

by Aisha Santiago

La isla del encanto

“ I think it’s a tragedy that many of the victims will have to recover from.”

- junior, Kelly Cruz “ It’s sad that people have lost homes and lost irreplaceable things to these catastrophes. Relief efforts should be put in place if they’re not already.”

- junior, Nicolas Rodriguez “ No matter what they go through Puerto Rico always finds a way back.”

- senior, Carla Rodriguez

Nearly one million people have no power Hundreds of thousands of people with no water 2,000 people in shelters The island of Puerto Rico never fully recovered after the devastating hurricane that ripped through the island in 2017. The island then began experiencing seismic activity towards the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020. The first earthquake on January 7 that started the pattern of frequent earthquakes had a magnitude of 6.4 with a depth of 10 km. When this earthquake hit, it took one life and left dozens of homes and buildings destroyed.

300,000 people were left with no water and two-thirds of the island was left without power.

Due to the way Puerto Rico is geographically located, it lies on a tectonically-active region where earthquakes have been happening for centuries. Considering the islanders have not experienced an earthquake of this magnitude since 1918, it took them by surprise due to the catastrophic impact on the island and its people. According to the United States Geological Survey, “...about 7,500 people have left homes for other kinds of shelter, including cars and tents.”

According to FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency,, “... there has been significant progress in power restoration.” After Hurricane Maria back in 2017, the island lost a lot of money, and not everything is fixed yet. There are still many houses and buildings that are damaged beyond repair. Due to all the pressure, the island is losing more money because all the damage done with houses falling on cars and buildings crashing down.

According to USA Today, “More than 950 earthquakes and aftershocks have been recorded since December 31st of 2019.” Over 500 of those 950 were felt because of their magnitude of two or higher. The others were not felt because they had a weak magnitude. Due to the many earthquakes that happen to this island in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico has a possibility of experiencing a tsunami.

The possibility of a tsunami is because of the Puerto Rico trench north of Puerto Rico, it is an undersea fault zone, but since the North American plate is sliding under the Caribbean plate there, leading to the conclusion that Puerto Rico could experience a tsunami.

2 uuthe 14 theviewpoint viewpointuuaugust january | september | february 2020 2019 u news type

typeuaugust | september 2019 uthe viewpoint u3

advertisements u january | february 2020 u the viewpoint u15

coronavirus Take a look into the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the international impact of the disease

“

by Caroline Pollock

Prevention tion Preven

Symptoms ms Sympto

Symptoms of the Coronavirus may appear anywhere from two days to 14 days after exposure to the virus. The symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, fever and difficulty breathing. This virus, in severe cases, may lead to pneumonia, kidney failure, severe acute respiratory syndrome and possibly death.

After discussing the difference between influenza and the coronavirus, nurse Paula Horton explains that there is more concern and anxiety about the Coronavirus because it is new, there has not been enough time to develop a vaccine for this virus and it was not initially known how fatal it would be to humans after being transferred from animals.

Freshman Carlie Santiago said, “This reminds me of the Ebola epidemic because of the extensive news coverage of it. Also, it is pretty frightening that entire cities are being quarantined and millions of people cannot leave those cities.”

Nurse Paula Horton said, “The most effective way to avoid contracting any virus, including the Coronavirus, is through hand washing and maintaining good overall health, particularly adequate hydration and rest. Many people rely on hand sanitizer, but there are viruses that are not killed by hand sanitizer but are killed by soap and water.”

Regularly washing your hands, covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces or objects are common, yet very important, ways to prevent getting sick. Other actions include thoroughly cooking meat and eggs, and avoiding unprotected contact with farm animals or wild animals because the virus originates in animals.

Due to previous outbreaks of other strands of the virus in previous decades, there is a high possibility that the transmission of this virus is through droplets and contact with those that have the virus. Therefore, avoiding close contact with those showing symptoms of respiratory illness is an important factor when preventing the virus.

16 u the viewpoint u january | february 2020 u news

News News

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a part of a large family of viruses. The other viruses in this family range from acute diseases, such as the common cold, to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). SARS-CoV was an outbreak in 2002 and MERS-CoV was another outbreak in 2012.

Josie Modd, junior, said, “I have been keeping up with the news of the spread of the Coronavirus in case I have to start worrying if the people around me are starting to be infected.”

This virus is transmitted from animals to humans, meaning it is zoonotic. It is transmitted from animals such as camels, cattle, cats and bats. In the past, SARS-CoV was transmitted originally from civet cats, and MERS-CoV originated in dromedary camels.

“

About About

The Coronavirus is actually not worse than the common flu. Only two percent of cases of the Coronavirus have resulted in death and most of those were people with weakened immune systems, while during this flu season of November 2019 to the present, there have been 8,200 deaths.

-Nurse Paula Horton The first identified case of the Coronavirus was identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Not long after the first case was identified, there were hundreds of confirmed cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, “The initial confirmed cases had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread.” This market sold many species of camels, cattle and cats which are the animals that may carry this virus, but no bats were sold at this market.

The first case in the United States was announced on January 21, 2020 in Washington state. As of February 19, 2020, there have been 15 confirmed cases in the United States. These cases have been located in the states of Washington, California, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona and Massachusetts.

As of February 18, 2020, 25 countries have reported confirmation of the Coronavirus. Due to the number of nations that have confirmed cases, this virus could soon be considered a pandemic. There have been 73,332 confirmed cases globally; 72,528 of these cases are in China. Out of these cases in China, there have been 1,870 deaths and there have been three deaths outside of China. These three deaths were in the Philippines, Japan and France.

After a single case of 2019-nCoV was confirmed aboard the Cruise Ship Diamond Princess, Japanese National Health Authorities issued a quarantine of all passengers and crew until February 19, 2020. All of those aboard were then tested and as of February 9, 2020, 64 individuals were found to be infected with the virus. The ship is currently harboured in Yokohama, Japan and the 64 individuals have been disembarked and taken to infectious disease hospitals in the Yokohama area.

Close contacts of the infected passengers have been asked to remain in quarantine for 14 days from last contact with a confirmed case.

“International community has launched a $675 million preparedness and response plan from February to April 2020,” according to the World Health Organization. Travelers from Wuhan, China in the last two weeks and have developed a fever, cough or breathing difficulty have been advised to seek medical attention immediately. These people should call ahead before going to a doctor or emergency room so the hospital has time to prepare a quarantined area.

This disease has spread very quickly and is continuing to infect hundreds. Stay up to date on the news for information about what locations the coronavirus has spread to. Also, be sure to always take care of your body; it is easier to prevent disease than it is to treat a disease.

Pr e s i d e n t i a l c r o s s wo r d Stimulate your brain by filling in this crossword puzzle about presidents

by Lexi Jackson

1.

2.

6.

3.

4.

5.

wikipedia.com

wikipedia.com

6.

wikipedia.com

8.

9.

10.

Across

Down

1

This president was a Republican born in Delaware, Ohio. He was responsible for ending Reconstruction by removing federal troops from the south. According to the History website, following his presidency, he joined several abolitionists campaigns.

3

This president was a member of the Democratic party and was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was in favor of the Civil Rights Movement and in mid-1963, he proposed a new Civil Rights bill to Congress. However, he did not get to see the end of segregation as he was assassinated on November 21, 1963.

4

This president was a member of the Republican party and was born in Tampico, Illinois. Before becoming president, he was a Hollywood movie star and radio sports announcer. He survived an assassination attempt a few months after his inauguration. Additionally, he contributed to the end of The Cold War.

5

This president was not a member of any party. He was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He fought in the French and Indian War under British command. Then, he went on to serve as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

7

This president was a member of the Republican party. He was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. In 1863, he delivered the Gettysburg Address following the Confederacy’s defeat at Gettysburg four months earlier. Just a year later, he was assassinated in Ford’s Theatre.

2

This president is a Democrat born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He signed the Affordable Healthcare Act to increase the number of Americans covered by healthcare. He also supported the federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

6

This president was a Democratic-Republican born in Shadwell, Virginia. He wrote the famous Declaration of Independence, declaring America freedom from England. While he was president, he doubled the size of the U.S. through the Louisiana Purchase from France.

8

This president was a member of the Democratic party and was born in Waxhaws, North Carolina. During the War of 1812, he led the U.S. to victory at the Battle of New Orleans. He was responsible for the forceful removal of Native Americans from their homes known as The Trail of Tears.

9

This president was a member of the Republican party and was born in Niles, Ohio. He was assassinated just six months after he began his second term as president. Under his administration, the U.S. won the Spanish American War. This president was a member of the Republican party and was 10 born in New York City. According to the National Park Service, he is known as the “conservationist president” because he made wildlife conservation a national issue. In 1906, he was the first American to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

featureu january | february 2020 u the viewpointu17

g n i pr

S To: Ceci Alvarez

Shout Outs

From: Edgar Rivera Hope you had a great Valentine’s Day, and I’ll see you on Saturday :) To: Ronan Dickinson From: Danielle Dickinson You’re a nerd. Yes, I spent a dollar to do this.

To: Jordan Basenback

To: Cody Black

To: Jennifer Ortiz/ Marna

From: Lenny, Josh and Jayden

From: Monique Castaneda

Dear Codypoo, have a nice

Thank you for always checking on me,

Valentine’s Day playing on

feeding me, and giving me advice. -

your Nintendo Switch.

Love you both.

From: Anonymous

To: Jordan Basenback

#BasenGod #LordoftheQuarterZips

From: Anonymous

#BasenGod #LordoftheQuarterZips

To: Stacey Williams

To: Pam Beebe

From: Monique Castaneda

From: Monique Castaneda

Thank you for always lending an ear even at the busiest times in

Thank you for all your kind words &

our day. It’s rare I find a friend I can feel comfortable in ex-

your calmness. It always makes me feel

pressing my true feelings with. You mean a lot to me. Love you

better, especially when I feel my world is flipped upside down. - I love you.

To: Administrative Assistants, Security, Maintenance & Custodial From: Wendy Drogo LOVE OUR SERVICE STAFF AT MVHS AND ALL THEY DO EVERYDAY!!

To: Cheer Team From: Coach K

To: Kelly, Paige, Amy, Paula, Penny, Deputy Richmond, DeDe, & Jen Russ From: Monique Castaneda

for another successful year! You

Thank you for checking on me and covering for me. It meant/means

inspire me and I am the luckiest

everything. Love you To: Jordan Basenback

Thank you to our cheer athletes

coach in the world!

From: Anonymous

#BasenGod #LordoftheQuarterZips

To: Jordan Basenback

From: Anonymous

#BasenGod #LordoftheQuarterZips

To: Trisha Strahl From: Steve Watkins

To: My Music Colleagues

There once was a teacher named Strahl,

From: Bonita Keene

Adored by her peers one and all.

I love the work you do to help students find beauty

A pedagogical genius.

and meaning through music. Good luck at Assessments!

Students said, “Never mean to us!

Might be short but in the classroom stands tall.”

To: Jordan Basenback

From: Anonymous

#BasenGod #LordoftheQuarterZips 18u the viewpoint u january | february 2020 u shout outs

To: Jordan Basenback

From: Anonymous

#BasenGod #LordoftheQuarterZips

g n i pr

Shout Outs

S

To: Meg Athing

From: Monique Castaneda My partner in crime and confidant. Thank you for caring for me, listening to me, and always helping me when I need it most. You’re so sweet and patient with everyone you encounter and always carry a smile . You’re a true blessing, - XOXO Love you.

To: Jordan Basenback From: Anonymous

#BasenGod #LordoftheQuarterZips To: The Book Club From: Trisha Strahl Tuesdays are now highly anticipated! Thanks for the laughs and clever team names :)

To: Wendy Drogo From: Monique Castaneda I thank you for your kindness, positivity, patience in understanding, and gratitude. I always feel appreciated by you and you lift me up with appreciation sometimes when I need it the most. Thank you, it means the world. - Love you.

To: Charlie & Ian From: Dylan Tolley Thanks for being total dudes, bro.

To: Jansen, Kai & Bentley From: Mom Wishing a Happy Belated Valentine’s day to my 3 favorite Valentines!

To: Olivia From: Olivia ;) To: Shannon Swerchek From: Monique Castaneda Thank you for everything, you are such a kind and caring friend. Thank you for all your kind offers and for always being there when I needed you the most. Always giving sound advice and always doing it with such professionalism backed by an open hand and heart. - Love you

To: Cat & Adrian From: Adrian & Cat A: Thank you for being my best friend! C: I am forever lucky to have you in my life! A: Me too! C: #ShoutouttoMrsMcCamy To: Lanesa Estes From: Zachary Roland Thank you for being my best friend. I wish you all the love and happiness you deserve (which is a lot!)

To: Linda Hale From: Monique Castaneda Thank you for checking on me. Thank you for opening up to me and helping me find sanity in my crazy world. May we be blessed with continued friendship for years to come. Love you

To: Jordan Basenback From: Anonymous

#BasenGod #LordoftheQuarterZips

Saturday, March 7

To: My Crew From: Lexi Jackson Happy Belated Valentine’s Day to my crew Lisa, Eva, Avery, Stusse, Avery, Jules, and Ana.

@ Stafford House of Yoga

Starts at 1 p.m.

Only $5

Join The Viewpoint for Yoga 971 Garrisonville Rd, Stafford, VA RSVP by filling out this Google Form before March 4 Go to the following link: https://tinyurl.com/viewpointyoga or Scan the QR code: shout outsu january | february 2020 u the viewpointu 19

A decade of memes

layton Williams, junior - “They have just made me happier. I just think of one... and it just makes me feel better.”

2013

2012

The Bottom Text era

2011 brought in one of the most recognizable memes of the decade: “Nyan Cat.” There is something about the rainbow trailing behind its Poptart body. The annoying, and yet catchy tune that plays along with the video is something that’s etched into the minds of many young people. People would watch for hours as the cat-like head bobbed up and down, the tail wag and its paws moved to the beat of the music. But other than that, 2011 was kinda boring. “Rage comics” and bottom text memes were going strong, but didn’t add much to the year. 5/10; the year wasn’t that good.

2013 would’ve been just as bad as 2012 if it wasn’t for one thing: Vine. Vine literally saved 2013 from being the worst year. But with instant classics like “psst...what,” and “Ryan Gosling won’t eat his cereal,” it was hard not to give it a higher rating. Yeah, the Vines would get better the longer the platform was up, but it’s always nice to see the classics. Vine would start a trend of compilations being on YouTube and pave the way for other platforms in the future.

But other than that, 2013 is one of the worst years for memes. It doesn’t have any other memes to help really make it good.

Yeah, Vine saved it from being the worst year, but couldn’t make it good enough to break even. So it gets a 5/10, Vine tried it’s best, but couldn’t make it good.

Aeris Goemmer, junior- “[Memes have] absolutely destroyed our sense of humor.”

20 u the viewpoint u january | february 2020 u opinion

Now, I know I’ve been pretty critical to memes, but I promise I’m not going to trash on anymore years. 2014 came with “Doge,” a meme so popular it is still used today. But “Doge” didn’t reign alone; our lord and savior “Shrek” would also make his mark in the meme community. And while “Doge” and “Shrek” ruled over the end of the bottom text era, the Lenny face also dominated internet culture. So memes were on the rise, “Lenny face” would see wide use and Vine was on the up and up. It is also worth noting that this would be the end of the true bottom text (Impact font) memes. So I would rate, I dunno, 6.5/10?

Good, but not as good as what’s to come...

2014

Okay, I’m just going to say it: I don’t like “Slenderman.” It wasn’t a good creepypasta then, it’s not a good one now. The only reason it was popular was because YouTubers would play the game about him. For the people who don’t know what a creepypasta is, it is basically the internet’s version of a scary campfire story. I believe there are much better creepypastas out there.

“Smile Dog,” “Ben Drowned,” and “Lavender Town Syndrome” are all better examples of creepypastas. “Slenderman” is just a joke by now, and wasn’t really scary unless you were an 8-year-old watching PewDiePie. 2012 was a boring year for memes, but I’m going to give it an extra point because we all thought the end of the world was going to happen. 2/10, get better creepypastas internet.

Ah, 2010: the year that started it all. Bottom text memes and rage comics were the craze and people were looking at meme pages on Facebook. While some,if not most, bottom text memes from the beginning of the decade have not held up well, bottom text memes are the grandfather of every modern meme (except for some video memes). The idea of the beginning hook of a meme on the top of an image, and the punch line being on the bottom has been used for years. While rage comics died after a while, they did hold a different purpose of being made fun of later on. So overall, 6/10, only because it set the foundation for the rest of the decade.

2011

2010

A time-line of some of the most remembered, loved, hated and cringiest memes of the decade

By Sean Jones

Tyrese Lucas, junior- “It helps a lot when me and my brother argue and then ten minutes later we show each other a meme and we just get back together. ”

Over the last few decades the internet has evolved and changed, and the 2010s were no different. Gone are the days of the freshest memes being found on Facebook, 4chan and Reddit. Now you go to Tiktok, Instagram and…Reddit. Well, I guess some things don’t change, but the memes have. While this is a retrospective on how memes have changed, I will also be rating them based on the memes that were started in that year, the quality of them, and how they helped to mold meme culture now and/or how long they have lasted. So, let’s go on a nostalgia trip through the 2010s and look critically on the internet phenomenon that are memes.

Okay, 2017 gave us “Distracted boyfriend.” Not going to lie, this one is a favorite of mine. However, that’s not the one we are going to focus on. No, we have more important fish to fry. That’s right, the meme that got people to say things like “Do you know da way?” and “My queen”: “Ugandan Knuckles.” “Ugandan Knuckles” was such a stupid and yet fascinating meme. He is still going strong today, albeit only really being relevant (and funny) in “VR Chat” now. Is it as good and versatile as “distracted boyfriend?” No. But, you can’t deny how important it was to the year. So like, 9/10? 9/10.

2019

Now if the era pre-2015 was “The Bottom Text Era,” then 2015 would be the start of “The Dank Memes Era.” I like this year because it started one of my favorite memes: the Drake format. But even though I think the “Drake format” is the best meme and can be used for (virtually) everything, it’s not the reason it starts “The Dank Memes Era”. This era was started by one meme and one meme alone: “Pepe.” “Pepe” was used for so many different things, although he originally debuted in 2005 in the comic “Boy’s Club,” “Pepe” peaked in this year. He’s simple, but complex; easy to understand, but hard to comprehend; he is an enigma that represents anyone the memer wants him to represent. 10/10, 2015 is the best year for memes, change my mind.

Alright, 10/10 for 2018? Like seriously, I don’t think I have to explain myself. “Surprised Pikachu,” “You Know I Had to Do It to Em,” “Big Chungus,” “Loss’ 10th anniversary,” “Markiplier E,” “Is This a Pigeon,” “The Car Salesman” (also known as: this bad boy can fit so many _____ in it), so many good and quality memes came out of this year and it’s perfect. 10/10, nothing else to say on the matter.

2018

2016 was a sad year for memes, “Harambe” and Vine died. While “Harambe” is the more memeable of the two, Vine “dying” really was felt by the online community and led to people creating Vine compilation videos on YouTube. But in its place came Musical.ly, which wasn’t as good, but it helped to lay a foundation for an app to come later in the decade. “Harambe” was the meme of the year for 2016. He started out as a small news story and transformed into a deity in the eyes of the internet. He was worshipped then and he’s still being worshipped now. But other than that, it was a bit of a stale year. 7/10, were they quality memes? No. Did I enjoy them? Yes.

2017

2015

2016

The Dank Memes era

2019, so recent, but so old. Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way: TikTok. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s popular and is here to stay (for now). It has birthed whole new subcultures, and it really has changed the meme landscape.

But let’s be real, TikTok isn’t the only thing to happen this year. Area 51 was just such a fun meme, and I’m sad to see it die, but all good things must come to an end. I love Baby Yoda and can’t wait to see him more.

And the girl screaming at the cat is such an instant classic and will live on for years to come (maybe). So the last year of the decade ends in a bang with a perfect 10/10.

opinion u january | february 2020 u the viewpointu 21

Presidents Zodiacs The presidents were born under a sign just like you were by Catelynn Aiman

At least two presidents throughout American history have been born on dates correlating with each zodiac sign. According to Business Insider, each president held specific characteristics of their sign. See which presidents fall under your zodiac sign.

Aries: Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence John Tyler, the first to serve in office without a Democratic election

Taurus: James Monroe, the author of the first foreign policy Ulysses S. Grant, established the National Park System and was a war hero for the Union Harry S. Truman, authorized the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan initiated American involvement in the Korean War

Scorpio: John Adams, author of the Massachusetts Constitution; James K. Polk, conquered California and Oregon Warren G. Harding, appointed friends to the office which caused a scandal; James A. Garfield, ended a small amount of political corruption Theodore Roosevelt, won a Nobel peace prize and was the first President to leave the country during his term in office. “Oh I like him,” said Maya Sbinati, senior, referring to Theodore Roosevelt who shares a zodiac with her.

Sagittarius:

Gemini:

Martin Van Buren, first to be born in America Zachary Taylor, a hero from the Mexican-American War Franklin Pierce, signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act

John F. Kennedy, known for keeping America calm during the Cuban Missile Crisis George H. W. Bush, led America during the Persian Gulf War Donald Trump, currently building a wall in Mexico

Capricorn: Millard Filmore, wanted peace during his term Andrew Johnson, first president to be impeached Woodrow Wilson, created the League of Nations and led America through World War I Richard Nixon, the only president to resign from office and was held responsible for the Watergate Scandal

Cancer: John Quincy Adams, first to live in the White House Calvin Coolidge, signed the Indian Citizenship Act Gerald Ford, the first president to not have government experience before becoming president George W. Bush, overthrew Saddam Hussein and was in office during the devastating attacks on September 11

Leo: Benjamin Harrison, grandson of former president Harrison and welcomed the north west area of America Barack Obama, reformed health care and became the first African American.

Herbert Hoover, made the star spangled banner the national anthem and donated his salary to charity Bill Clinton, held the longest peacetime in economic expansion

Virgo: William Howard Taft, established the Federal Tax system Lyndon B. Johnson, signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Libra: Rutherford B. Hayes, the first to host the annual Easter Egg Roll and fought for the rights of all races Chester A. Arthur, funded the Navy and the education for Native Americans Dwight D. Eisenhower, a commander and general in World War II and became president afterwards Jimmy Carter, created the Department of Energy and the Department of Education

22u the viewpoint u january | february 2020 u astrology

Aquarius: William Henry Harrison, who held the shortest term because he passed after only one month due to pneumonia William McKinley led America through the Spanish-American War Franklin D. Roosevelt, who is considered responsible for getting America out of the Great Depression and led the country through the start of World War II Abraham Lincoln, who led America through the Civil War, was the tallest president and signed The Emancipation Proclamation.

“[Abe and I] both think of the right things to do,” said Leslie Rodriguez, senior.

Pisces: George Washington, the father of our country and military general James Madison, chief author of the constitution Andrew Jackson, the founder of the Democratic party Grover Cleveland, only one to serve a nonconsecutive term

ADD A little green Bring a touch of green into your life by getting one of these easy-to-care-for house plants

by Lexi Jackson

“I know aloe vera is known to be really good for your skin and helps with hydration and nourishment,” said senior Caronline Ford.

Aloe Vera Aloe vera is a succulent that can be used in food, cosmetics and herbal remedies. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, “The aloe vera plant is an easy, attractive succulent that makes for a great indoor companion.”

-It’s important for the aloe vera plant to be placed in a room with bright, indirect sunlight.

-Instead of using soil, use a well-draining potting mix that absorbs water better -Test the dryness of the soil with your finger before watering. If the soil feels damp, wait to water until it dries out.

-Repot aloe vera into a larger pot after about a year.

-To harvest the plant, remove a mature leaf and cut it vertically. Then, scrape the aloe out using your fingers or a tool.

According to a study published the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, the aloe vera plant contains antioxidant properties which protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. When applied to the skin, aloe can be used to provide pain-relief from second-degree burns.

Along with providing medical assistance, the aloe vera plant is a super easy succulent for beginner green thumbs to take care of.

Jade Jades are simple plants that require very little in-depth care.

According to the Houseplants Expert website, the jade plant should be potted in a well-draining soil normally sold for cacti and succulents.

-Depending on the humidity and amount of sunlight, watering frequen cy may vary. The best thing to do is to allow the soil to dry before watering.

-Avoid the rotting roots by not letting too much water sit at the bottom of the pot.

-Repot when the plant becomes root bound which stunts plant growth.

-It’s preferable that the pot that the jade plant sits in is solid and heavy because the plant is top heavy.

In many Asian countries, the jade plant is seen as a symbol of good luck. It is also used as a medicinal plant to treat skin warts. The jade plant’s juice is applied to the wart and left on overnight for around three days.

Additionally, it absorbs carbon dioxide which betters the air quality. The jade plant is not only used for adding a touch of green but it can improve your quality of life.

“[Cacti] are pretty chill. They aren’t very high maintenance and they’re prickly but cute,” said junior Nicholas Kennedy.

“[Jade] are relatively low maintenance and through Asian and Hindu culture, have been used as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune,” said junior Isabella Kulstead

Cactus Cacti are low-maintenance plants and beneficial to health.

-Like succulents, cacti should be potted in well-draining soil.

-This plant should be placed in a room with a lot of natural light.

-Some types of cacti can tolerate direct light but they should be gradually assimilated to the light.

-If a cactus is planted in a pot with drainage, water once a week, however; if it’s planted in a pot with no drainage, allow the soil to dry before watering.

-If too much water sits at the bottom of the pot, the roots will rot.

According to NCBI or National Center for Biotechnology Information, Nopal cacti have high levels of antioxidants and are able to reduce oxidative stress when you consume them. However, the cactus must be old enough and tough enough before using it in food or for medicine. Cacti may also be able to lower cholesterol levels with fewer side effects than other medicines due to their antioxidants. It was also found to have neuroprotective properties which help prevent damage or loss of function of nerve cells. Cacti are easy plants to take care of in addition to having many beneficial properties.

featureu january | february 2020 u the viewpointu 23

To do : vote

How and why to vote by Bella Roeske and Danielle Piper

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here really is no excuse to not register to vote in this day and age. If you are a citizen, have a social security number, and a driver’s license, it’s as easy as a few clicks on the computer. Go to https://www.usa.gov/ register-to-vote and get to it! or future reference, in the state of Virginia, if a 17-year-old turns 18 by a general election, they are eligible to register to vote and vote in any primary election. Remember that your vote does matter and it is our right and privilege as citizens of the United States of America. No matter who you are voting for, make sure you are educated and have faith in your candidate. If you were happy about the 2016 election, vote! If you were discouraged by the 2016 election, now is the time to speak up by voting!

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Reported 61.4 percent of eligible Americans voted (United States Census Bureau, 2016)

“I think local elections are much more important than national. Your local politics is what hits home literally and figuratively…Those are the things where you should be more active and you should care more,” said Rebecca Kowalski, social “Voting studies teacher.

matters because it all adds up to something. If nobody does it, then it’s useless...Everybody should voice their opinion.”

-Keifer Vogner, junior

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The U.S. Constitution has 15 amendments trailing behind the original 10 Bill of Rights.

All of these were a component of the ongoing battle for political rights, including the vote. Luckily for citizens today, the right to vote is at its most evolved version, and it is every American citizen’s responsibility to use it. Citizens, especially young adults, need to use their voice to create change they want to see in the present and the future, and base their voting decisions off personal research and deliberation.

“It’s a good thing that people get to vote.

I think it does somewhat affect change and political stuff, but there are also other factors that could inhibit your vote from mattering,” said Jya Johnson, senior.

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t’s been said before, but it’s no lie that every vote counts. “Why Every Vote Matters — The Elections Decided By A Single Vote (Or A Little More),” published by NPR in 2018, cites more than

a dozen elections in the last 20 years that were decided by just one vote. Even the last presidential election was close to 50/50 and could have had a different outcome if more voters turned out.

According to “How we voted — by age, education, race and sexual orientation,” by NPR, only 46 percent of 18-29 year olds voted in the 2016 presidential election. This means 18-29 year olds made up only 19 percent of voters. Out of those 18-29 year olds who did vote, the majority voted for the same candidate. If they had participated, who knows who could have been elected president? oday, answers are always just a click away, especially for younger voters. This makes political research easy, and there is no reason for any voter to be ill-informed. That being said, watching sources is a huge priority. Twitter feeds, Instagram threads and YouTube ads aren’t always reliable; make sure to take any information with a grain of salt. Some websites that offer bi-partisan and in-depth political information are ProCon.org and isidewith.com.

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news u january | february 2020 u the viewpoint u 24