Jessica Stiehm News Editor The death penalty is an outdated practice rapidly falling into decline only increasing in its brutality. Most of the industrialized world has abolished the death penalty, leaving the U.S, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan as the exceptions. The European Union (EU) specifically attempts to inhibit the these countries, including the U.S, from continuing the practice. All of Europe, sans Belarus, the commonly characterized dictatorship, has banned capital punishment. The EU has long championed for human rights, but they’re actually hurting more in the short term than they are helping more in the long term. In an effort to terminate the death penalty in the United States, the EU “specifically blocks the export of drugs that could potentially be used in executions”. Hospira, drug company that manufactures certain drugs that can be used for lethal injections, was pressured into halting their production because the U.S was using their products for the sinister practice. Similar companies have followed suit, either for ethical reasons or similar pressures. Carlee Lewis Staff Writer A Vancouver woman, Terra McCabe, had her dog stolen in early 2013. McCabe left the dog, Daisy, tied up outside a local grocery store to make a quick stop. When she returned to pick up Daisy, she was gone. Daisy had been stolen. Almost three years had gone by, and there was no sign of Daisy. Daisy managed to find her way to an animal shelter who realized that she had a tattoo in her ear. They used the tattoo to track down McCabe. Leland Gordon of Winnipeg Animal Services stated, “She was very lucky that there was an old tattoo associated with this dog, and through a lot of work, through the veterinary community and through animal services, we were able to work as a team and get this dog back to its owner.” Patrick LaLiberte Staff Writer Giant nets with fine mesh are being used to catch and condense fog into drinking water in southwest Morocco. Moisture from the air is gathered on the nets and combine to form liquid water, which then falls and flows into a reservoir. The project, which is run by a Moroccan woman named Dar Si Hmad, spans six hundred square miles, making it the largest functioning fog collection project in the world. It provides water for over five hundred people between five different villages. The villages have recently been hit by severe droughts, so the water gathered from the fog catchers will be of great value to the villagers. If not for the giant nets, the people of the villages would have to walk for up to three hours every day to wells which were often depleted of water. Condensing fog to make drinking water is not a new practice as it began in the 1980's. There are several active fog harvesting projects in places such as Chile, Peru, South Africa, and even California. Efforts to bring a fog harvesting project to Morocco began ten years ago, but the project did not launch until 2015 after roughly four years of testing. The project was a huge success as the nets in Morocco collect about 6,000 liters of water a day, and the water is then filtered and sent to the homes of the villagers through nearly five miles of piping. The project received much praise and was even awarded the 2016 United Nations "Momentum for Change" award. The plan over the next two years to is to expand the project to eight other villages, aiding over five hundred more people. Dar Si Hmad also plans to bring fog-catching nets to other parts of southwestern Morocco to provide clean drinking water to a wider variety of people. Andrea Tyson Staff Writer Everything that we learn and see, the people who surround us, and the toys we played with as children have shaped our identities. You could take one look into a child's toy box and see what his or her interests are. Imagine this: as the little girl or boy you once were, you are walking into the toy store and Mom or Dad tells you that you can pick out one toy, and your face lights up. You make your way to the doll section, and your face falls flat. In 2016 retail stores saw the debut of several new types of dolls, specifically Barbie dolls. For years parents looked at the typical doll and saw a problem with body image for their young children. Barbie was tall, blonde, and perfectly proportioned, but the reality is-- ninety-nine percent of women don’t have a body like this. With a new demographic, constant criticism, and a need for change, Barbie got a makeover. There are now tall, short, and curvy Barbie dolls. New hair and skin colors were also introduced. Now all the problems are fixed, right? Wrong. There are still young girls and boys who walk into the toy shop and have to ask “Why don’t any of these dolls look like me?” Amanda Dybal Staff Writer Many everyday chemicals and household items can be are harmful when they are near or are combined with other chemicals, gases, or water. Some examples of these are batteries, laundry detergent, paint, air fresheners, insect repellents, etc. In Amarillo, Texas, four children died due to a toxic gas reaction. This reaction occurred when a previously applied pesticide, aluminum phosphide, was mixed with water that made a toxic phosphine gas. “There were 10 people inside the mobile home at the time. Crews arrived at the scene just after 5 a.m. after receiving a call that something was wrong and that people at the address were sick,” John Newsome and Shawn Nottingham say. The four children that passed away were between seven and seventeen years old. The substance aluminum phosphide is used to kill insects and rodents and is listed in the Toxicity Category 1 by the EPA; Toxicity Category 1 is the most toxic category. Aluminum Phosphide is only one of the chemicals found around houses that can harm humans. Andrea Tyson Staff Writer If you would include yourself in the makeup-obsessed population of teenage girls and boys (that includes me), then I am sure you have heard of the Beauty Blender. The iconic pink sponge that is loved by celebrity makeup artists and the average users alike. The sponge is widely known to be the best in the business for flawlessly blending liquid, cream, and even powder products. In recent history however, the sponge we know and love has been under fire after some consumers have found bugs and mold living in their sponges. The Beauty Blender may have met its match. Some are calling this new blending tool “the next Beauty Blender” Who is the Beauty Blender up against in this round? The Silisponge. Amelia Borger Staff Writer ● Before you begin traveling, make sure the car you’re traveling in is in good condition. This is important especially if you are traveling up north, where states are getting their fair share of rain and snow. Be flexible when planning your trip. If you can, plan to leave in the earlier hours of the morning, or plan to leave according to peak traffic hours. Traffic can increase the time of the trip, and depending on the trip, can make you late. ● Always stay alert when driving. You should take a break at least every two hours to stretch, get gas, use the restroom, etc. Forty-one percent of all fatal traffic accidents are single vehicle accidents, and are usually due to fatigue, are late at night, or early hours of the morning. If need be, stop at a hotel or motel overnight to catch up on sleep. ● Snow and ice can be a big issue, especially if you are traveling up north this year. Be sure to check the weather surrounding your travel route, and if weather calls for snow in the area, delay your trip. Just like rain, snow when it is just falling can be just as dangerous. Travel during the day when it is warmest. Be careful of ice, which is dangerous at any time of the day. It can be seen at some times during the day, which makes it look clear. Generally, what you should do is do as little as possible. Try to keep the steering wheel straight, and avoid touching the brakes; stopping can cause your car to skid or spin out. Instead, ease off the gas pedal. ● Traveling for the holidays and seeing your family is a great thing to do, and we want you to be safe while doing so. Be sure to drive according to the speed limit, don’t drink and drive, and have fun this season! Rhea Sodem Staff Writer This is a question that most people do not usually ask themselves. Everyone remembers that when they were young, they used to pay to sit on Santa’s lap at the mall and tell him what you want for Christmas, but does anyone know how Santa makes it to the mall? There is actually a college class for these Santas that is taken very seriously, where they learn how to make their beards pearly white and make sure they have their red coat ready to go. When asked what their perception of the ideal Santa was, people named similar answers. They told they liked jolly, big, rosy cheeks, and white hair with an overall grandfather type of personality. At malls they try to imitate the perfect Santa, but everyone is not the same, so that’s why they have the class to make sure everyone’s experience is pleasurable. Ashton Baysden A&E Editor With Christmas comes a profusion of decisions to make like deciding what to get your family for Christmas or deciding if you want ham or turkey for your Christmas dinner. However, there is one decision that can weigh on people more than anything else: which tacky Christmas sweater should I wear? Tacky Christmas sweaters are a staple for the holidays. What is gift shopping or gingerbread house decorating if you don’t have a cheesy holiday sweater to do it all in? Picking one out for yourself can be difficult given the plethora of options the world has to offer. Lucky for you, here is a guide on how to pick out the perfect Christmas sweater for yourself. Amanda Dybal Staff Writer As a high schooler, your schedule may be rigorous. With final exams, winter break, sports, and other extracurricular activities, time is hard to manage. For many students, it’s crunch time. Senior Anna Credle is overbooked with club and high school gymnastics, Key Club, National Honor Society, and to top it all off, college applications. Already studying for her calculus exam, she has no extra free time these days. “I have to use a lot of time management in order to fit school and athletics into my schedule,” she says. According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, high school students should get between nine to nine and a half hours of sleep. The average amount of sleep teenagers get are between seven to seven and a half hours of sleep. Sophomore Michael Davis explains that all he wants to do over winter break is catch up on his sleep. Academics make it hard for teenagers to get enough sleep. A study founded by the National Sleep Foundation states that during a test they had performed, only 15% of teens get the amount of sleep they need. With school starting at 7:25 in the morning, most students have to wake up around six in the morning, and getting the necessary nine hours of sleep would mean going to bed at nine at night. This is hard to do with tons of homework and extracurricular activities. |
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