What are people really doing to help climate change? By: Marianna Daley February 16th, 2024
By now, most have noticed how the alarming effects of climate change are starting to hit close to home. Some days, 73 degree weather will require shorts and t- shirts, but the next we take out our snow boots and winter jackets. But what’s really causing this, and why does it seem like nothing has been done to fix it?
According to The Environmental and Energy Study Institute, “Fossil fuels—including coal, oil, and natural gas—have been powering economies for over 150 years, and currently supply about 80 percent of the world's energy.” Other sources even state that we have been burning coal for thousands of years. This may seem like a harmless act, but the long-term effects of burning fossil fuels is one of the leading reasons for global warming. Every year, humans release 34 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. That’s more than 100 million African elephants. Of that 34 billion, 75-80% comes from fossil fuels. This means gas operated cars, trucks, buses, boats, trains, ships, planes, and even some bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Mindless activities that we do everyday is what is causing the air we breathe to become toxic.
Every year, roughly 15 billion trees are cut down. These trees are used for timber, paper, and sometimes even food. Palm oil is one of the lesser known causes of climate change. Many grocery store products, such as Nutella, use palm oil as a main ingredient in their food. The issue with this is how damaging palm oil production is to the environment. In 2022, 47,000 acres worth of trees were cut down in Indonesia and replaced with palm oil plantations. The scariest part about all of this is how misleading food labels can be. According to the World Wildlife Fund, “Many products that use palm oil aren't clearly labeled. Palm oil and its derivatives can appear under many names, including: Vegetable Oil, Vegetable Fat, Palm Kernel, Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Fruit Oil, [etc.]” Companies continue to use palm oil and cut down trees, even though there are a number of great alternatives, such as canola oil and sunflower seed oil.
Trees help remove carbon dioxide from the air, leaving us with cleaner and fresher air. Have you ever noticed how the air on a hike seems to be fresher and crisper than the air in your backyard? Well, there's a reason for that. Deforestation is one of the leading causes for climate change and global warming. As the world chops more and more trees, the air we breathe becomes more toxic for our lungs to breathe. A lack of trees in urban environments has a significant impact on the air quality its civilians are breathing. Many companies, such as Ecosia, Tentree, and Woodchuck USA help plant trees in areas that don’t have as many. Ecosia is a search engine that operates by planting trees based on the number of searches made by clients. Ecosia uses 100% of their profits for the greater good of the planet, unlike other brands that just claim to help. Tentree plants a tree for every piece of apparel bought. This company alone has planted over 100 million trees across the globe. According to Woodchuck USA, “WOODCHUCK USA manufactures technology-driven wood products and specializes in customization. WOODCHUCK USA was founded with a simple mission: putting nature back into people's lives. We are meant to have a deep connection with the Earth.” These companies have done their part to help the planet. Supporting them as a business not only helps them create change, but it also helps you create change.
Most people know the main causes of climate change. Fossil Fuels, Fast Fashion, Deforestation, the list goes on. But what most don't know is what people are actually doing to help. One program that NASA is currently using is the Earth System Observatory. This project shares images of climate change's alarming temperatures, articles on the environment, and new discoveries about our ever changing planet. Most people aren't aware of how damaging climate change can be. NASA is helping to shine a light on climate change, and inflict real change on the issue through the Earth System Observatory. According to NASA, “NASA is currently developing the Earth System Observatory (ESO). The core of ESO is five satellite missions that will provide essential data on climate change, severe weather, natural hazards, wildfires, and global food production.”
It can seem like this whole thing is out of reach, but there are things we can do to help save our planet. There are many organizations helping with the Climate Change epidemic. NASA, World Wildlife Fund, EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, etc. Supporting these companies will later pay off in the long run and save our planet from its fated decline.
As the years go by, we are getting further and further away from our goal of less than 2℃. But researching these issues and supporting climate change-based companies will help us gradually change the world for the better. If you are fortunate enough to make a change, then do.
Groundhog Day! By Maddie Sturgis-Abbott!
Groundhog's day is a big part of history. Groundhog day is on February 2. Many towns celebrate by waiting to see if a groundhog sees his shadow. If he sees his shadow then six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow then it is an early spring. The first groundhog day was celebrated on February 2, 1887. In 1887 the groundhog saw its shadow. Clymer Freas was the “father” of Groundhog day. Clymer Freas worked as a city editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit Newspaper. Clymer Freas was born in 1867. He died in 1942. Fun fact there are at least six grounghogs that Predict the weather. Now the moment you have been waiting for. The part where I tell you if it is early spring or six more weeks of winter. It’s……… EARLY SPRING!!!
A History of Thanksgiving By: Maddie Sturgis-Abbott
Thanksgiving has been Celebrated Since 1863. It’s about time we learn more about it. The Puritans ( the Pilgrims) were people that did not like King James I’s rules about Religion. So, in 1620 the English merchants gave them money to go to the new world. They took the Mayflower, a small boat. The Mayflower had around 30 kids, 19 women, and 74 men.
It took the mayflower 66 days to reach America. One baby was born on the trip. Sadly one of the 102 people on the Mayflower died. The Mayflower landed in what is now Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
As they got ready for winter they would gather anything they could find including Wampanoag supplies. The Wampanoag were a tribe of Native American that lived in Cape Cod at the time. One day, Samoset, a leader of the Abenaki people, came with Tisquantum (Squanto) to visit the Puritans. Tisquantum knew English. Tisquantum soon started helping Puritans by growing corn with fish.
After a lot of talking, in March 1621, they made an agreement to Protect each other from other tribes.
Soon it was time to Celebrate. Three Puritans were sent to get some meat for the fest. The Native Americans heard gunfire and went to see if the Puritans were starting a war. But they were just hunting. Soon it was time for the fest. The fest lasted for three days! They danced, ate and had fun.
True Conspiracy Theories Have you ever heard crazy conspiracy theories before? Have they ever turned out to be real? Although a majority of the conspiracy theories people say are fake, there are some pretty weird theories that are actually true…
1.Government Steals Dead Bodies..? The U.S. government had a massive study to study the effects of nuclear fallout on the human body. Conspiracy: The government was stealing dead bodies to do radioactive testing Truth: The government hired agents to find recently deceased babies and children to take samples and limbs. They didn’t get permission from more than 1,500 grieving families.
2. Poisoned Drinks..? Conspiracy: During Prohibition, the government poisoned alcohol to keep people from drinking Truth: Manufacturers of alcohol had mixed their products with dangerous chemicals for years before prohibition. But between 1926 and 1933, the government pushed manufacturers to use stronger poisons to prevent people from attempting to drink alcohol. People still kept illegally drinking alcohol, and by the end of Prohibition, more than 10,000 Americans had been killed by the alcohol
3. Government Mind Control..? Conspiracy: The CIA was testing LSD and other drugs that cause hallucinations drug on Americans in a top-secret experiment on behavior modification. Truth: The program is true, and was known as MK-ULTRA. The CIA used volunteers, but the program soon began dosing people without them knowing, leaving many volunteers mentally disabled. This study is why the idea for the tv show, Stranger Things was formed
4. The Government is Spying on You..? Conspiracy: With the new technology, the government is using it’s vast recources to track citizens Truth: In 2016, government agencies sent 49,868 requests for user data to Facebook, 27,850 to Google, and 9,076 to Apple.
The History of Saint Patrick’s Day By Claire Guiney - 3-6-23
March is many things; Women’s History Month, February (the sequel), the start of spring. It’s also when Saint Patrick’s day is celebrated. While many people remember the pillars of the holiday (wear green, pinch people not wearing green), Saint Patrick’s day has a rich history and many traditions we often forget. For example, the holiday itself celebrates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and Irish heritage. Many places in the world celebrate Saint Patrick’s via Parade, especially big cities like New York and Boston. But what is the true story behind this holiday? And what are some traditions that we often forget about? We often forget about the name behind Saint Patrick’s day, and the story.The legend of Saint Patrick, otherwise known as the patron saint of Ireland, goes like this: Saint Patrick was born in Roman Britain and is kidnapped at 16, being brought to Ireland to be a slave. He escapes, then goes back to teach the Irish people about Christianity. One reason that the shamrock is such a common motif of Saint Patrick’s day is because it is rumored that Saint Patrick used a native Irish shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Saint Patrick’s Feast has been celebrated since the 9th or 10th century. In 1601 (in what is now modern-day St. Augustine, Florida), there was the first recorded Saint Patrick’s parade, organized by an Irish man living in the Spanish colony. Many places today, in America, Ireland, and other parts of the world, still come together to celebrate their Irish heritage. Here are a couple more facts about Saint Patrick’s Day:
Along with its religious meaning, the shamrock was also used as a rebellious symbol by the Irish people to protest British oppression.
Along with green, it is also acceptable to wear blue on Saint Patrick’s day and not get pinches
Every year, the Chicago river is dyed with 40 pounds of green vegetable dye to celebrate.
Corned beef is used in the traditional Irish meal because immigrants in New York used it as a substitute instead of Irish bacon.
All in all, Saint Patrick’s day definitely has a history that we should learn about and honor. From traditional meals to parades to the celebration of a man who brought religion to the Irish people, it is certainly a holiday to celebrate.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: What Happened? By Beckett Meda
Sometime around 140 BCE Antipater of Sidon wrote a list of seven man-made structures in the form of a poem. These are known today as The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though the original list was most likely composed by Philo of Byzantine, the list was made most popular by the poet. But besides the author, there was something else important about this list, which was, of course, the seven wonders themselves! The list consisted of… The Great Pyramid of Giza, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Statue of Zeus, The Temple(s) of Artemis, The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, The Colossus of Rhodes, and The Lighthouse of Alexandria. Now, these were all must-see structures in the ancient world, but today… all but one of them are gone. So, what happened to these wonders of the world? Was it a natural disaster? Human disaster? Did they even exist? Well, all these questions shall be answered here. The first up is the survivor, The Great Pyramid of Giza. The pyramid is the only of these wonders that are still standing today. Being the largest of Giza’s three pyramids, a tomb for the great and mysterious pharaoh Khufu, and the tallest man-made structure for around 4,000 years meant this pyramid was a wonder. It was made with lots of blood, sweat, and tears with over two million blocks of granite (each weighing around 3 tons). We are very lucky to have the chance to view this beast, which is more impressive than most modern buildings we make today. The Second is The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The question of all of the wonders existing is targeted at this one. Compared to the other wonders, this garden has little evidence of ever existing, and the apparent fact that it was meant to be lush with plants and waters (even apparently having waterfalls!) disproves it even more, as Babylon was in a desert. But assuming it is real, the gardens were built by Nebuchadnezzar II, because his wife missed the lush greenery of her home. Continuing the assumption of its factuality, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were either destroyed by an earthquake or war. The third is The Statue of Zeus, after being sculpted by Phidias, a Greek sculptor, The Statue of Zeus was placed inside The Temple of Zeus in Olympia. The sculpture held a staff with an eagle on top and was accompanied by the Greek goddess of victory, Nike. As the statue sat on its throne it oversaw the ancient Olympic games. The Statue of Zeus ended up being burned in a large fire, but people still argue about where it was destroyed, some historians say it was destroyed along with the temple, which was destroyed because Rome had become a Christian empire, meaning Zeus and other things related to Greek mythology no longer had a place in Rome. The other theory is that it was moved to Constantinople (known today as Istanbul), and eventually burned there. Next is The Temple(s) of Artemis. Now, I say Temples because there were 4 different Temples of Artemis! Of course, we’ll start with the first one. The original Temple of Artemis is believed to have been very old, going back all the way to the Bronze Age! Though the temple was unfortunately destroyed by a flood. The second temple is the one which was listed as one of the wonders and was the most famous of the 3, it was built around 550 BCE, construction being paid by the king of the Lydian Empire - Croesus. Its destruction was caused by arson, committed by Herostratus, who was hoping to gain fame by burning the structure. Though he got the fame he wanted, he also got a death sentence along with it. The day of the temple’s destruction also happened to be the day Alexander the Great was born. Speaking of the devil, Alexander the Great wanted to pay for the third rendition of the temple, though the Ephesians refused. Destroyed by a raid from the Goths, number 3 was gone. Despite the inevitable destruction of the temples seeming to always be ready for when the next would be constructed, the Ephesians persisted and built a fourth, then all hard work went down the drain once again as everyone began to convert to Christianity. So, just like the Statue of Zeus, the (final) Temple of Artemis was destroyed by its own people. Now, we have the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. After the death of Maussollos, the king of Carnia, his wife (who was also his sister) ordered the construction of the mausoleum in his honor. Not only was it magnificent in looks with a height of around 130 feet and even a marble chariot to top it, but it was also resilient! It survived Alexander the Great’s raid, and pirate attacks, and stood for over 15 centuries! Though it sadly met its end to a series of strong earthquakes. The sixth on the list was the Colossus of Rhodes. After being able to survive an attack from the Ptolemaic Army, the people of Rhodes decided to build a statue of the sun god, Helios in celebration. The statue is mainly depicted straddling over the harbor entrance of Rhodes, though because of the height of the statue and the width between the 2 platforms historians believe this is highly unlikely, as it wouldn’t have stayed up for much time like that. It’s more likely that it stood with both of its legs together. The statue was destroyed by an earthquake and was never rebuilt, the Rhodians believed that Helios disliked the statue and destroyed it on purpose. Though never rebuilt, the remains of the statue weren’t cleaned up, and remained an attraction of their own for around 8 centuries, until eventually cleared. Finally, we have the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Now, if you’ve never heard of this lighthouse, then you’d think there is nothing special about it. It's just a lighthouse after all. Well, this lighthouse was magnificent, standing on the island of Pharos with 3 sectors (rectangular bottom, octangular middle, and a cylindrical tip), it was a beast. And unlike the other wonders, it wasn’t just some attraction to look at, it had a true (non-religious) purpose! Now, being a lighthouse it did what a lighthouse would normally do - guide ships to the harbor. But being constructed before the common era, and being the second tallest man-made structure at the time (behind the Great Pyramid), this was quite the feat! Inside there was a dumbwaiter of sorts, and it would transport firewood to the cupola, which had a mirror that would reflect light. During the day the light source was the sun, but during the night was when a fire was lit. Thankfully this wonder did not immediately go to waste! Out of the rest, it was the wonder that survived the longest (other than of course, the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is still standing today). Throughout its years it had been damaged by earthquakes, but it couldn’t handle a series of earthquakes that caused its downfall sometime between the 13th and early 14th century. It’s a shame that we can’t see all of these today, as we only have artist depictions of them and we’ll never know what they truly look like or if they even existed (specifically the Hanging Gardens of Babylon). Was it all some big joke the world decided to play on the future? Who knows. But in the end, if you ever have a plan for something that could be considered a wonder of the world, make it fire-proof, and place it in an area that isn’t prone to earthquakes.
The Complete Pancake History (With recipes) or Pancakes 2.0
By: Jack Pachal Pancakes have been the staple of breakfast for over 2000 years. There are countless recipes, but some people wonder about their history. Why are they called pancakes? When were they invented? Why were they invented? Well question no more, because I am here to tell you about the entire history and culture of pancakes.
Pancakes were invented over 2800 years ago in 800 B.C. in Ancient Greece. It was invented by a poet who served them at a royal ball. They disappeared when Athens was destroyed but reappeared in the roman empire around 50 B.C. The Christian/Jewish followers became enticed by the soft, well-cooked breakfast. Jesus claimed to have eaten pancakes while he was alive, and pancakes came to symbolize Christian faith, in fact, in 1445 the church created national Pancake day, which is celebrated on February 21st. The condiment made for Pancakes, syrup, was invented in 1557.
Thanksgiving Naya Facto
Thanksgiving is a time to give your thanks. But there are also a lot of other common things that people do during Thanksgiving like, eat different foods, and get together and share meals with family and friends. Some different kinds of foods that are common to eat on Thanksgiving are, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and last but definitely not least, turkey. Why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving? Well it is often assumed that we eat turkey because that is what was served at the “First Thanksgiving.” But according to the article “Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving,” by Britannica “There is indeed evidence of a meal shared between the pilgrim settlers at Plymouth colony (in what is now Massachusetts) and Wampanoag people in late 1621, on the very first Thanksgiving. But there is no real evidence that turkey was served. For meat, the Wampanoag brought deer, and the pilgrims provided “fowl.” People speculate that the “fowl” is the turkey which is native to the area, but historians think it may have been geese or ducks. Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving in the first place? We eat all this food, and hang out with our friends and family, but what is the reason for this tradition? Well, according to National Geographic, “The First Thanksgiving” was declared by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. He stated that it would be on the 4th thursday of every November. Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official holiday because he was looking for a way to “heal” the country after the Civil War. But in actuality this only applied to the “White people” or European descendants in the country, for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a national day of mourning. Though there was an actual dinner with the “Pilgrims,” Eventually the Europeans betrayed the Native Americans and many of them died from war and disease.
All About Pancakes By Jack Pachal Pancakes are one of the most iconic and of course, delicious, breakfast cuisines. But how much do you know about pancakes?
History The first mention of pancakes comes from ancient Greece, 600 B.C. by two poets named Cratinus and Magnes that mentioned warm pancakes in one of their works, specifically calling them τηγανίτης. In 1100 A.D. Shrove Tuesday, (It’s not always a Tuesday) September 26th, was declared National Pancake Day.
From Weird to Wack: Holidays By Beckett Meda 5/20/22
We live in a world with a lot of celebrations whether it’s birthdays, weddings, moving parties, baby showers, or holidays. Holidays are everywhere, and they may differ depending on your religion, nationality, etc. Some are major where we even get days off like MLK day or Christmas. But there are other days that are celebrated but are in the shadows, days that can be obscure and seem unnecessary like, Haunted Refrigerator day. And those are the days that we are covering. So get prepared, maybe get a Gorilla costume for Gorilla Suit day or grab your dog for a mighty debate on Dogs in Politics day because we are entering the world of weird and wacky holidays. The order we’ll be going in is from January 1st to December 31st and we have ten holidays to go through, starting with Gorilla Suit Day. Gorilla Suit Day January 31st Every year on January 31st we honor the great art and activity of wearing Gorilla suits, we honor Carlos Cruz Gemora and his realistic gorilla suits, and we of course honor the masterpiece of a story, “Don Martin Bounces Back”. In 1920 Carlos Cruz Gemora created the first realistic gorilla suit with his gorilla and makeup knowledge. Before Gemora’s creation, gorillas in movies were too weird, too bland but Gemora caused change. Many movies would use his suits before special effects and CGI were very good. And to honor this. the “MAD” magazine’s “maddest artists” Don Martin made a joke comic, it’s about a character who makes fun of the fictional holiday Gorilla Suit Day and then proceeds to get attacked by gorillas and people in gorilla suits. And though this holiday was a joke, fictional fans have gone on to celebrate it every 31st day of the year. Annoy Squidward Day February 15th One of the episodes of “Spongebob Squarepants” that aired in season one was “Employee of the Month” , an episode about Spongebob wanting to earn his 27th employee of the month award in hopes of showing how hard he works. In the episode Spongebob annoys Squidward to the point where Squidward declares it “Annoy Squidward Day”. To add to Squidwards frustration Spongebob pointed out that it was February 15th making the date of this holiday sensible. Ever since fans of this show caught on they have turned this into a real national holiday that they celebrate every February 15th. Sock Monkey Day March 7th Sock monkeys are little stuffed monkeys made with sock fabrics. They tend to be made with Rockford Red Heel socks and can range from adorable to creepy, really depends on who you ask. Though the date of the creation is unknown and disputed some think that it originated in the 1930s which is when the Rockford Red Heel socks were created by the Nelson Knitting Mills which is why it is also called the home of the sock monkey. Others think it was the 1950s as Helen Cooke got to Patent them in 1953. Don’t Wear Your Pants Day May 6th (this year) This is probably the most ridiculous of the days on this list, and the grossest. It’s on the first Friday of every May so this year it was May 6th and next year it’ll be May 5th. And if this seems like a joke, it was. WAS. This day really just started as a college prank by a texas school club to celebrate the end of the semester. It was also inspired by a man who left for an important meeting but forgot his pants and had to pretend his outfit was completely normal since he was running late. But as time went on it became an actual celebrated day throughout the U.S and even the world! Places like Australia and Britain have been participating in this event too! And in 2002 an improv group created a similar day where they didn’t wear their pants on the subway to see how people would react! I wouldn’t be surprised if this day and others got even weirder. Lost Sock Memorial Day May 9th Lost Sock Memorial Day, a day to remember your fallen and lost socks. We’ve all lost socks, you know when you have a perfect pair of socks that you wear whenever they're clean and then one day you do the laundry and now you only have one sock, well this day is to remember sad miserable days like those. Although this day has unknown origins it’s still a fun day to think about! Well to some not fun, no one wants to think about that one sock that isn’t a pair anymore. Wiggle Your Toes Day August 6th This is the one that probably confuses me the most. Why would we have a day dedicated to wiggling toes? Well honestly we don’t know, since there's no clear reason to why this day exists, but we know that this day is to just let your toes breathe, stop wearing your tight shoes, where your open ones, or even go barefoot! Appreciate your toes! They keep you balanced, can grip onto things, and make a human walk “normally” so though this day may seem ridiculous maybe, we should try to look for the beauty in it instead.Haunted Refrigerator Night October 30th Everyone always overreacts in horror movies, halloween, etc. Screaming acting like they’re about to die when it’s all fake! But clearly they have never felt true fear because they have not met the horror of MOLDY AND EXPIRED FOOD! But the scariest part, in your refrigerator! That thing is supposed to stop that from happening, so the only clear explanation, refrigerators are haunted. And that’s what this day is all about. A much more horrifying day than Halloween could ever be. This traumatizing night (not day) was created by American Actor Thomas Roy and his wife who needed an excuse to clean out their fridges. Wait no, I mean they needed a specific day to clear all spirits and messes from their refrigerator! Since it’s the night before Halloween and close to the Day of the Dead, spirits are bound to be lurking in them! And they must be bad, because just look in the fridge! Who else could’ve caused the mold, mess, and expirations! I highly recommend you participate in this day before your fridge and possibly your whole house is consumed by these spirits. Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day December 18th This incredibly obscure day was created and mainly celebrated by Ex-Bounty Hunter Vern Halsey and his pet Komodo Dragon (which you should never keep as a pet, they could and will kill you), they celebrated alone when the day occurred until it gained some popularity on social media. Is there a reason to participate in this day? No. Is there a reason to not participate in this day? NO! So go ahead where that plunger proudly. Like I said there’s no reason not to! Dot Your I’s Day December 20th Though like other days on this list origins are not clear, it seems to stem from the saying “Dot your i’s and cross your t’s!” which was a saying for careless people who would never write t’s and i’s correctly in cursive and just forget to do the dots and crosses. But as time went on and cursive became less prominent, the saying had a new meaning. It became a metaphor that meant, do your jobs neatly and thoroughly! And while that may make the day seem less weird and slightly more normal, then think about what I said earlier, since the origins are unknown this day might’ve at first meant to literally dot your i’s and cross your t’s! But that's just up to how you see the world. Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute December 30 Though it has “festival” in its name it’s not a festival it's just a day. And just like the other origins are unknown so take the liberty to create your own! This is the day to realize the New Year’s Resolution and all the things on your bucket list that you procrastinate on, and it’s also the day to realize that you only have 2 days left to do all of it. But instead of being a day of stress it was turned into a holiday to make it more fun and as a reminder of how much you didn’t procrastinate on! You didn’t go to the gym? Go now! It’s the end of the year and it won't be that busy. Didn’t read a book? Go get a My Bob Book, you can finish that in a minute! Didn’t get a pet Elephant? Get it now, there’s plenty of stuffed animals at the toy store (never get a real one)! See not that hard. And now the strangeness ends (unless you want a weird conclusion). It was lots of fun looking into these days and honestly though many have passed, there's still a lot to participate in that I’ve covered and lots that I didn’t (I needed to cut a lot of holidays)! Open up to the ridiculous and put a plunger on your head, then put your Gorilla Suit on as you clear out your haunted fridge! Don’t forget to dot your i’s and cross your t’s so you won’t have to deal with it at the end of the year, and from me and my sock monkey: Have a wacky day!
Gender Equality Now By Alex Renard 5/20/22 1839. The year in which the first state gave women the right to own property. 1848. The first attempt was to organize a national movement for women's rights. 1920. Women getting the right to vote. These are all great milestones in the fight for gender equality. Gender equality is important for Congress to vote on because many countries don't give women the same rights as men, gender stereotypes are introduced at a young age, and most importantly girls around the world aren't getting to go to school. To begin with, gender inequality should be addressed because many countries don't give women the same rights as men. For example, in some parts of Zambia, women can't paddle their own boats because it's considered a bad omen. Did you know that in some countries women still can't formally own land? In the video, Gender Equality Now by WorldFish, states, “Rural women play a major role in agricultural development.” But, without land, they can't invest in their businesses or farms. Also, agricultural development can only go so far. With no women farming, this can lead to hunger and poverty. WorldFish states that “Communities need to support women as farmers and leaders.” Another reason why gender inequality should be addressed is that gender stereotypes are introduced at such a young age. In the text, gender stereotypes are learned at a young age, a global study says, by Agence France-Presse, it stated that “Gender stereotypes are firmly rooted in today's youth by age 10.” This proves that kids can think they are better or worse than each other just because of their gender. These stereotypes layout the way girls and boys think of themselves. They tell them certain ways to act, think, and look. This can cause depression, suicide, violence, and HIV. “We see billions of dollars around the world invested in adolescent health programs that don't kick in until they are 15," Says lead researcher Kristen mmari "By then it's probably too late to make a big difference."
Most importantly, gender inequality should be addressed because girls around the world aren't getting to go to school. For example, in the text, New freedoms of Afghan women under threat, it states: "She never went to school, and spent her life raising seven children." This shows how a lot of people don't want girls to succeed in life. Shahgol Shah, the woman mentioned in the article, was just 11 when she was married to a man she didn't know, by her family. Then she had to give up her future and education for kids she didn't want. In Afghanistan, the Taliban did not allow girls to go to school. Right now, about three million girls go to school. Still, that's only forty out of a hundred school-age girls.
Some people may argue that gender equality is just for women, but that's not true. In a lot of countries with gender equality men actually live longer. Why? Because a lot of men think that they have to act a certain way too.Liz Plank writes “ The more a man associates with traditional and inflexible ideas about masculinity, the less likely he is to seek counseling.” This can lead to mental health problems, addiction, and in some cases, suicide. In Iceland, the number one ranked place for gender equality, men live longer because there's less risk of suicide. So, as you can see, gender equality benefits everyone.
All in all, gender equality is important for Congress to vote on because many countries don't give women equal rights, gender stereotypes are introduced at such a young age, and above all girls around the world aren’t getting a good education. Companies need to invest in programs that promote gender equality. Also, we need to increase women's access to resources. Every day women and girls fight for their rights. To get a good education. To diminish the gender norms, for a better world tomorrow.
Weirdest Phobias Bea Lombardi What is a phobia? A phobia is an anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. Did you know that there are over 400 phobias in the world! Here is a list of the weirdest phobias ever:
Oikophobia - The fear of houses, being in a house, home surroundings and items in a house
Arachibutyrophobia - The fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth
Xanthophobia - Fear of the color yellow
Globophobia - Fear of balloons
Omphalophobia - The fear of belly buttons?
Pogonophobia - The fear of beards
Deipnophobia - Fear of dining with others
Phobophobia - Fear of phobias!
Autism: Why the Puzzle Piece Needs to Stop. By Norah Hershey
Autism is represented by a puzzle piece- but why?
The Autism Society explains the reason behind the puzzle piece. “The Autism Awareness Ribbon…the puzzle pattern reflects the complexity of the autism spectrum. The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with the condition.” But to fully understand the meaning, we must go back to the original source of the puzzle piece. In 1963, the colorful puzzle piece symbol was invented to represent Autism. Since then, many organizations have worshiped the symbol- including Autism Speaks, which I’ll return to later. However, there are many flaws in this definition. First of all, families of Autistic people are not part of the community. Respecting and assisting people who need it is not special devotion- it’s the bare minimum. Families of Autistic people often flock to the sentiment that they are somehow special for helping their children; this is hardly the case. Autism is an identity that is possessed only by the person themself.
On top of this, since when have diagnoses from sixty years ago been reliable? In the 1910s, cocaine was used as a medicinal drug. So, if we dig deeper into the history of Autism, you can find exactly how messed up theories on the disorder were in that age. Applied Behavior Analysis explains that “Bruno Bettelheim at the University of Chicago was one of the first scientists to develop this theory in the 1950s, stating that autism is a psychological disturbance caused by apathetic mothers who were uncaring towards their children.” Just ten years before the puzzle pieces were invented, scientists were convinced that Autism is caused by parental neglect. Not only does this state Autism as a disturbance, but that it’s developed by negative interference. Autism is simply a diversity in physiological activity- not a weakness or curse to be developed like disease.
Even in present times, ignoring Autistic people’s input on the subject has never succeeded. While allistic (non-Autistic individuals) people worship the puzzle piece symbol, many Autistic people express their discomfort with the glyph. The website In the Loop About Neurodiversity states that “The puzzle piece symbol used without input from the Autistic community,” as well as “...despite overwhelming opposition for the puzzle piece symbol by autistic people.” Not unlike the majority of research done on ASD, Autistic people were not considered. The same website also provides information that the symbol was used because Autistic people “...suffered from a ‘puzzling’ condition, so they adopted a logo of a puzzle piece with a weeping child, displaying the notion that Autism is a tragedy that children suffer from.” Now, it speaks for itself that Autism is not suffering or a tragedy. It’s a different way of a brain working. And, once again, no actual Autistic people were involved in this research. Finally, the website adds that “‘Increased awareness of Autism, and through early intervention,’ (used in explanations of the puzzle piece glyph), usually means through increased research of cures and treatments for Autism, and through early interventions, that seek to “correct” Autistic behaviors by forcing Autistic people to mask their autism.” Now it’s clear that the reasoning behind the puzzle piece is completely false and not in the favor of actual Autistic people, let’s see how it was spread. The symbol was primarily utilized by Autism Speaks, an organization favored by predominantly allistic people. Well, turns out the organization was scarcely helpful to the community. A post on the blog austisticmama (curated by an Autistic woman with five neurodivergent children), states that “Only 4% of their huge budget goes towards actually helping individuals with Autism and their families with their family grants. Autism Speaks is arguably the largest autism organization in the country, and yet they really aren’t focusing at all on helping families who actually experience autism.” Autism Speaks writes on their website that “In 2018, we raised $94.5 million.” Just to put this into perspective, for every million dollars they raised, they only donated forty thousand to their cause.
Later, the same author explains “Autism Speaks has the ultimate goal of ending Autism, by any means necessary. The majority of their funding goes towards Autism ‘research.’ Not research for improving therapies and equipment that helps individuals with Autism, but research for a ‘cure’ for Autism. They are also trying to find a prenatal test for Autism, similar to the one that they have for Down Syndrome so that mothers will no longer have Autistic babies. As a mother of a child with Autism, I wouldn’t change a hair on his head.” The website - and the main supporter of the puzzle piece icon, I might add - sees Autism as something that must be cured. A flaw. As an actual Autistic woman states, it is a gift and she would never want to change herself or her son. Autistic people value the disorder as a part of their identity, and are most certainly not in need of being eradicated. An Autistic person on the website Autism.org adds that “I don’t like the symbol of the puzzle or blue lights. They remind me of loneliness, sadness (blue), and isolation (missing piece.)” Finally: what can we do better? Well, a new symbol has arisen. The website altogetherautism.org suggests “Autistic people tend to use a rainbow infinity symbol, as connected to neurodiversity.” An infinite rainbow symbol logically represents diversity, taking light to the infinite variety to Autistic people and their capabilities. There is no section missing or incomplete; no need for fixing or cure; only the achievements that Autistic and neurodivergent people can reach if only they’re given the opportunity. And, most importantly of all, the symbol was chosen by people in the community.
In final review, the puzzle piece is negative. It is used to infantilize Autistic people, suggest that they are wrong or in need of fixing. Its history is dark and inaccurate, and was popularized by false information and organizations that neglect research or providing help to their audience in favor of profit. If the voices of Autistic people are not drowned out, the ableist history - and ways to evolve from such - rise to the surface.
What is Cryptocurrency? By Jack Pachal
Back in the early 2000s, mining cryptocurrency was easy, get a few computers mining crypto on the side and you’re set for life, assuming that you’re mature and patient enough. Now, in January 2022, bitcoin has become so widespread and popular that there are so many people mining bitcoin right now that it isn’t nearly as profitable. To be as profitable as how it was back when it was at its peak. You would need a full warehouse of computers all mining bitcoin. But bitcoin isn’t the only cryptocurrency, and as it becomes less and less profitable, there are better options. But first, we have to understand what mining cryptocurrency is. Mining crypto is the process of using computational power to generate a winning code before anyone else in order to be selected to add a new block to the blockchain. For that, the miner is rewarded with what we know as crypto. This type of blockchain validation system is known as proof of work. (That was highly oversimplified) Now not any computer can mine bitcoin. It will slowly destroy your computer. There are specially designed machines that are made for mining crypto. Also your parents probably won’t be happy when the electrical bill comes in. It takes a lot of energy to mine crypto. Profitability calculators, like those onNicehash, help you determine whether you are likely to make or lose money. Bitcoin and Ethereum are the most profitable. A website that mines crypto for you is Salad. WARNING: Mining crypto currency too much or too often or with a terrible device, (like a school chromebook) might destroy the device you are mining on, mining crypto will also increase your electric bill. As a kid you don’t really have to worry about making money, but It’s fun to know. Picture by CNBC.Com