May 2020 |
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by Lilly Kersh For many, the ways our world is changing during the pandemic is frightening. Without a routine of school and work, everything we were used to has been altered. Our only hope, it seems, is that at some point ‘this will all be over.’ Everything will be back as it should, and the months we spent in quarantine will be nothing more than a small diversion in the scheme of things. This idea is unrealistic for many reasons. First of all, a group of Harvard researchers from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health predicts that social distancing may continue into 2022. Second of all, the economic repercussions of the past month will likely reach for years to come. McKinsey, a management consulting company, predicts that if the virus is not controlled by the end of the summer, the GDP may take over two years to bounce back. Lastly, for seniors, things will never go back to normal since March 12 was effectively their last day of high school. If the fall semester is not altered, most DSA seniors will become freshmen at universities all over the country, and their time at DSA will be unceremoniously finished without so much as a goodbye. Obviously, this is not the main concern in our world. People are dying and risking their lives because of COVID-19, and it is our responsibility to flatten the curve of coronavirus cases and stay home. But in the lives of seniors and everyone affected indirectly by the pandemic, it is a bittersweet duty. “I feel like something got taken away and we’ll never be able to get it back,” says class of 2020 valedictorian Lily Nittler. From many student’s 8th grade year or earlier, there is an excitement surrounding senior year; senior week, dressing up as a favorite teacher, having your parents decorate your locker, going to prom, and celebrating everyone’s accomplishments at honors night or graduation are all important milestones that seniors will miss. Many may think it is selfish to be upset about losing these milestones when some people are losing their family members. While these two things cannot compare to each other, many still empathize with the class of 2020. Chris Dier, Louisiana’s 2020 teacher of the year, shared the experience of his senior year in an open letter to the class of 2020. “I, for one, will not downplay [the loss of your senior year] as it happened to me. Hurricane Katrina devastated my community when I was a high school senior. I remember leaving my school on a Friday afternoon with my buddies only to never return to that school… I stayed in a shelter and finished my high school in a different state,” the educator wrote. “There’s nothing I, or anyone, can say to make up for that time you are losing in what is supposed to be one of the best years of your life.” While seniors can no longer look forward to the end of high school, many are looking forward to the beginning of college, even if that is delayed as well. On the @dsaclassof20 instagram page, many students are featured announcing their plans for the fall. Senior Sydney Levy is taking a gap year with Young Judea, where she will volunteer for one semester and spend the other semester taking classes centered around Israel and Judaism. Tre’sure Trotter was accepted into 23 schools, and made the decision to attend Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) to major in Dual Degree Mechanical Engineering. She announced the decision to her friends and family by cutting into a cake that revealed XULA’s school colors. Chris Jordan said he “was fortunate to get into one of his top choice schools” and has committed to the University of California Los Angeles, or UCLA, to study film. There has been more uplifting news for seniors: their last day of online school is May 8. While underclassmen still have assignments up until the 15th, May 11-15 has been made a ‘virtual senior week’ by the county to celebrate the class of 2020 online, and June 22-27 is the tentative rescheduled week for graduation ceremonies. Sydney Levy shared that “SGA is also working on ways to make decorating [ceiling] tiles and making stars for teachers happen… Luckily, we have social media and zoom to do things like senior speeches and college reveals.” DSA’s top 10% recipients were announced, in alphabetical order, as Faith Anderson, Nathaniel Ellis (the class of 2020 salutatorian), Lily Huff, Lilly Kersh, Lily Nittler (the class of 2020 valedictorian), Katie Stone, Sara Kathryn Wierwille, Penelope Williams, and Rebecca Wu. The class of 2020 leaves DSA like never before, but they have some parting words of wisdom for future seniors. “Look for peace in what you are doing,” advises Lily Nittler. “That something can only be done by you in that moment, and will be different from everyone else. Take pride in your individuality.” Chris Jordan advises underclassmen to “keep [your] grades and work in check at all times and try not to wait until the last minute to get [your] assignments done or to get [your] grades up.” Sydney Levy says, “to all the underclassmen, don’t take any DSA experience for granted… stop every once in a while and remind yourself of why you are at [DSA].” As the class of 2020 has learned, you never know what day might be your last.
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Your May Horoscope4/30/2020 Horoscopes by Rachel Sanchez
Taurus- Dear Taurus, your poor soul must celebrate at home. Your loyalty deserves a proper birthday, however, be sure to safely gather your friends for the celebration you deserve, whether that be through letters, FaceTime, Zoom parties, or picnics (six feet apart). Gemini- Press the Bored Button at https://www.boredbutton.com/ to generate an entertaining website and feel more connected to the world! This is a great way to waste a lot of time, which is perfect for you. Cancer- Moonchild, in order to stay connected to your emotions watch a good old fashioned rom-com. It does not matter whether it is one you have never seen before or one you are watching for the millionth time. Stay positive! Leo- You already know what to do, sweet Leo! Log on to Tik Tok and show the world your amazing dances, humor, or talent! Virgo- Virgo, if you have not already, this is a great time to completely reorganize your room! Tune into Netflix’s “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” and go crazy! Libra- Lovely Libra, you really need to investigate yourself. Get out a piece of paper or journal and use a page or two to write down everything you feel. Big or small, get these feelings out. They are not to share with anyone, but just for yourself. Scorpio- Bubble bath it up Scorpio! If you are not the bubble-type person, you can go with bath salts, bombs, or whatever suits your fancy. If you do not have bubbles at home, pouring shampoo in against the running water works just as well. Sagittarius- Sweet Sag, do not let the day-to-day monotony drive you insane. Take a walk around your neighborhood, going a route you have never gone before, and discover something new. Capricorn- To settle any tensions or annoyances between family members, bring everyone together to play a board game you've never played! Aquarius- Do your homework, sweet Aquarius! Even if you can’t see the benefits now, the knowledge will help you in the long run, even if you don’t need the grade. Pisces- Give yourself, and maybe even your family members, much needed manicures! Break out the hand lotion, polishes, and file and go crazy! Remember to not cut your cuticles, simply push them back, as cutting them exposes them to bacteria and infection. Aries- Aries, it is a great time to look ahead! Plan for what you would love to accomplish this summer, whether we are out of quarantine or not. Get excited and informed about what you want out of the next year, so you have time to prepare for it!
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Article by Eliza Mitchem The Covid-19 pandemic has undoubtedly caused negative impacts for society, but it has also been creating positive effects on the environment. The planet is seeing its first fall in global emissions since the 2008-2009 financial crisis. This is partially due to the travel bans. Because of travel bans, air travel has hit its lowest point in ten years. Airlines have reduced their capacity by about 56% and passenger counts are down about 92%, according to Airlines for America. The few planes that are still in the air are mainly for transporting cargo to satisfy government requirements linked to the stimulus law (the two trillion dollar covid-19 aid package). Another reason air pollution is down is because cities and factories around the world have halted. In China, the world’s largest carbon user, emissions have gone down about 18% and in the US, vehicle traffic has fallen by nearly 40%. In the U.K, vehicle traffic has fallen more than 70%. Noise pollution has also gone down. Noise pollution- mainly caused by machines and transport- is the harmful impact that sound has on human and animal activity. Research has shown that noise from ships and other maritime traffic can increase stress-hormone levels in marine creatures, which can affect their reproductive success. Since cargo and cruise ships have been pulled from the ocean, seismologists have reported a silence in the ocean like never before. According to Michelle Fournet, a Marine Ecologist at Cornell, “This will be the quietest entry that humpback whales have had in southeastern Alaska in decades.” Because of this quietness whales have begun playing close to the shore. In Vancouver and Marseille whales have been spotted in places they have never been known to appear. Animals have been appearing elsewhere as well. The canals of Venice are the clearest they have ever been in 60 years. The waters are so clear that people have reported seeing fish and even jellyfish. Leatherback sea turtles, the largest living sea turtles, have made a comeback on Juno Beach Florida. This year the marine center has counted 71 nests, nearly all leatherback sea turtles. Thailand is experiencing the same boost for leatherbacks, as its beaches are also empty of tourists. The species is endangered from environmental changes and hunting. However, not all of the environmental impacts have been positive. In the U.S. some cities have halted recycling programs as officials worry about the risk of spreading the virus in recycling centers. Most businesses have also started using more single-use packaging. For example, Starbucks recently announced a temporary ban on using reusable cups. There has also been a surge in medical waste and chemicals. In Wuhan, hospitals produced an average of over 200 tons of such waste per day during the outbreak, up from its previous average of less than 50 tons. Officials In the U.S predict a similar increase and industry leaders fear that such a flood of medical waste could result in infections among their workers. “The ones that are celebrating the environmental improvements during the Covid-19 crisis are shortsighted,” said Li Shuo, senior global policy adviser at Greenpeace in Beijing. “Pollution may temporarily decline, but this is hardly a sustainable way of cleaning up our environment. Meanwhile, the virus crisis brings other environmental problems that might last for a longer time.
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by Iyonna Johnson Signed on April 23rd of this year, Governor Kemp passed an executive order that waiced the road test requirement for almost all eligible permit holders in Goergia. This road test waiver is set to stay in place until the Public State of Emergency is lifted. The executive order came as a shock to students and parents, and many people are concerned about the safety of the order. All drivers ages 16-18, who have had their Class CP license for a year and a day, can upgrade to a Class D license by simply paying for the renewal and affirming key information. In addition to this, over 18 permit holders can upgrade to a Class D license with the same process. Georgia is the only state that has allowed their residents to get a license without taking the road test. Over 20,000 teenagers have already received their new licenses. This executive order also mentioned the lessening social distancing measures the state is taking against the advisory of both health institutions and other states. Most health officials are stating that Georgia should not have begun reopening until June 22nd, a statement that Kemp has already ignored. Kemp recently opened all gyms, movie theaters, nail and hair salons and more in the past week. As Coronavirus testing numbers fail to rise in Georgia, the crisis seems to be far from over.
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Grocery Shopping Under Quarantine4/30/2020 by Rachel Sanchez Due to stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders, most people refuse to leave their house. Some places that always get business, however, are grocery stores. Since the start of the pandemic, people have feared that they would not be able to get their necessary groceries in a safe way. With newer updates, the grocery problem has evolved, but precautions to ensure everyone’s safety and health are necessary from both sides: the store and the customer. There are many precautions that can prevent the spread of coronavirus in and out of grocery stores. Look for stores nearby that have limits on how many people can go in the building at a time. Walmart is one of these, although their associate said she was “not sure how many [people]” and that they “only know at the front door.” Kroger has not yet set this precaution into place, although their aisles are one-way only. The safest grocery store option seems to be Whole Foods 365, if shoppers are willing to spend the extra money. They are only letting in 35 customers at a time to their stores, minimizing the chances of interaction. No matter which specific store customers head to, there are basic things to remember during and after shopping. The CDC advised that everyone wear masks or cloth face coverings when going out in public. Shoppers should go to stores alone, as opposed to bringing their families, advises Vanderbilt, to minimize the risk of someone getting exposed to the virus. Other easy precautions are to sanitize the handles of carts or baskets, avoid touching your face or using your phone until after you have washed your hands, and avoid using cash. Shoppers do not need to wear gloves, which are ineffective since they touch the same products hands would. Shoppers also do not need to sanitize all their groceries, as someone with coronavirus would have needed to cough onto the groceries for them to be contaminated. If people wash their hands after unpacking groceries, before cooking, and before eating, it is unlikely that the virus will spread through physical groceries. Using grocery delivery apps are the best way to keep from contaminating yourself and others. Although they can be a bit more expensive, the apps eliminate almost all risk of contracting COVID-19 while shopping. The easiest and cheapest option for this is an app called Instacart. Instacart allows shoppers to choose from nine nearby stores including groceries, wholesales, health foods stores, pet stores, and even pharmacies. It is usually only $4 for delivery, not including tip. The app Shipt is another good option and better for people who plan to online grocery shop after the pandemic or predict the pandemic to continue. Instead of paying for delivery per trip, Shipt allows customers to pay for an annual or monthly membership for about $8 per month but they have less store options than Instacart. A final option for people who prefer to stay inside is to order delivery straight from the Kroger app. It is $10 per delivery, but offers the security of knowing Kroger employees are picking out the food, and the stock is more frequently updated on the app. All three options are safer than shopping in person.
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Trending Quarantine Albums4/30/2020 by Taylor Hakimi During quarantine, popular artists have taken the opportunity to start working on new music and drop music they have been keeping hidden. With majority of the United States staying home, it is the perfect time to find new music to keep entertained. Here is a list of eight new album droppings since quarantine began. 1) After Hours - The Weeknd This album drop is an evolved version of The Weeknd, featuring 14 songs that are solely R&B and soul. While the Weeknd is a very prominent R&B artist, his music usually steers towards pop and hip hop. The Weeknd expressed this album as being "bacchanalian excess, loneliness, and using women to rehabilitate his poor little life." The album has been rated an 80% overall and his fans are obsessed with the album. 2) 3.15.20 - Childish Gambino Donald Glover took a major turn in his music career by changing the entire style of his music to Neo-Soul and R&B by releasing this album. The album consists of a total of 12 songs majority of the titles being what appears random numbers. Many fans have debated the meaning behind the numbers between the length of the song to the date he created the song. The album was rated an overall 79%, but still sweeped many listeners social media platforms. 3) LUV vs. The World 2 - Lil Uzi Vert There has been a huge controversy between fans who believe that LUV vs. The World 2 was an entire copy and paste of the original Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World and those who believe this is Uzi's best album to date. Many state that it has brought them a nostalgic feeling and they would expect nothing less from Uzi. The album was rated a 60%. It has 32 songs and is all trap/rap featuring many different artists. 4) Heaven or Hell - Don Toliver Many DSA students recognize Don Toliver from the famous app Tik Tok, where his song "No Idea" went viral. Since his big break, he released the album, “Heaven or Hell.” The album consists of 12 songs that are half R&B and half trap music. A fan states, "The... singer from Houston has received plenty of hype in the first quarter of 2020... he proves he can live up to it [with the album]." Many fans believe that Toliver copied Travis Scott's style, but still enjoy the album with a rating of 66%. 5) Blame it on Baby - DaBaby Half of DaBaby's fans are pleased with the new album drop, while the other half are tired of the same "re-used beats and verses". The album has 13 songs and all of them are all trap music. Despite the claimed "overused" music it was rated a 70% and the artists career is only further propelling to a bigger career. 6) Future Nostalgia - Dua Lipa Dua Lipa has easily climbed her way to the top of the Pop kingdom and made a permanent spot for herself. Future Nostalgia has three different types of pop infused into it: dance, electro, and disco. In an interview Lipa states, "I wanted to album to have themes of moving on, empowerment, equality and emancipation." The titles of each song come from using music taken from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. The album has been rated a solid 86% and a definite must listen for 2020. 7) Every Bad - Porridge Radio For fans of post-punk and indie rock music, this is a must hear album. The Exclaim Critic Company states, "It's a thorny and ferocious record that beats emotional complexities into their most elemental form, each simple mantra or thunderous guitar containing mountains of unspoken meaning." The album has 12 songs with all one-word titles. Every song has a different beat and style which is what many fans enjoy about the band. 8) Saint Cloud - Waxahatchee Waxahatchee is an indie singer who took her newest album in the direction of rock and country music. The album has a rating of 87% and has 11 songs, all mainly three minutes long. The idea behind the album was to express the world’s need for wanting to fit into society and how to break free from it. Many people are surprised that a woman can pull off such delicate music in the style of rock, but they are not disappointed.
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Things to do When You Are Bored Inside4/30/2020 by Orly Morris
Time passes differently in quarantine. The masses are no longer ruled by the numbers on the clock reading nine to five. This disarray of daily life has launched many into confusion, procrastination, lack of motivation, and in extreme cases insanity. In order to retain a clear understanding of what day it is many are looking for ways to fill the listless hours. Fortunately the internet is blossoming with new challenges to try, viral dances to imitate, and stay at home competitions to compete in. In our very own backyard, the Quaranteen Film Festival was established by Zahra Ahmed and Lola Beall, both students at Dekalb School of the Arts. They planned and recruited artists to make short movies following a prompt provided in merely forty eight hours. Part of the goal of the project was to “give people something to focus on for a few days,” in the words of Ahmed and Beall. All nineteen of their participants were given a respite from boredom for those two short days. On a larger scale the Quarantine International Film Festival (QFF) went on, accepting any movies from those willing and able to partake on the condition that they stay inside and use their tools at hand. QFF and other projects like it give a handy task to a bored artistic mind and are providing massive virtual platforms to show off their work and talent. Not unlike the renowned group of guys from the youtube channel “Yes Theory” who started a competition called “Living Rooms Got Talent” with a monetary prize attached. After all the submissions were filtered by Yes Theory, followers could vote on their favorite. The top seven received five thousand dollars for personal use, and the same amount for their local food bank. They had a massive amount of participation from people in over a hundred different countries, even for those who weren’t chosen it was a great opportunity to showcase their talents and do something in their living room besides binge watching Tiger King. One of the most notable apps of this year, Tik Tok, cannot go without mention. It is consistently more viral than a virus, seeping into multiple social media platforms outside its origin—specifically the dances. The dances are copied and repeated by hundreds of thousands on the platforms. Some of the most popular are “Renegade”, “Savage”, “Captain Hook”, “Get Up”, and “Say So.” Tik Tok has 800 million active users with more than 33 million downloads of the application. Suffice it to say, the platform is keeping many busy with an activity that is as portable as a phone camera—no need to break quarantine. All around the world people are stuck in their homes furloughed and bored with the endless hours and no deadlines. Turning to the internet for exciting challenges and new objectives has become an extremely popular way of warding off brain dead Netflix binge watching from dawn till dusk and back again. For links to some of the aforementioned challenges see below. |