By Aarna Mishra, Libertyville High School

Infographic by Hayden Ries, Henderson County High School

There’s a stranger in my bed / There’s a pounding in my head / Glitter all over the room / Pink flamingos in the pool…

Since its release in 2010, Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)” has been streamed over 1 billion times on Spotify. Whether in the car, at parties or alone in the comfort of one’s room—myself included—this fun, catchy anthem has been a cultural staple. But while Perry succeeds in capturing the thrill of letting loose at the end of the week, each stream contributes to the romanticization of the “hookup” culture, as portrayed in this song.

Casual sexual encounters have existed for generations. As birth control progressed, feelings of attraction without emotional intimacy became more common; however, psychologists like Dr. Mark Travers, who holds degrees from …
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By Samantha Franco, Park Vista Community High School

Infographics by Danielle Ashby, Floyd Central and Emlyn McKinney Clarke, Central High School

I am my own ruler. I am not meant for a dictator. My skin is my own, my language is not yours to call uncivilized. This country is a land of freedom and democracy, or so you say. So, why is it that you will vacation to my native land, my country, you will eat my food and take in my culture as if it is some party for display? You will respect what you can gain, but you will not respect me or my family, everything that makes me, me. Why are you so scared of diversity?

I was in Arlington, VA on ‘No Kings’ Day. I saw protesters filling streets and my godfather honked at protesters as we passed bridges. …
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Infographic by Coco Meng, William Mason High School

Female athletes in general are underappreciated. Cheerleaders in the NFL have historically been treated as an accessory to the game rather than professionals in their own right. 

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC)  have been a beloved part of the Dallas Cowboys organization for many years. While they exhibit athleticism, they are also a symbol of femininity and embody American football culture. Their presence at NFL games reflect the idea that sports in the U.S. are a full on entertainment experience.  It was not until recently that the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ contributions to the organization were shown in their pay. 

The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world, worth over $9 billion. They owe part of that image and brand power to their cheerleading squad. These women appear in advertising, travel internationally …
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Infographics by Allison Springer, Homestead High School

TikTok haul videos push the agenda that the more you buy, the better. Typically coming from companies like SHEIN and TEMU, this style of content appeals primarily to teenage girls. 

With the affordability aspect of SHEIN, the desire to buy large quantities is greater. This is especially noticeable during the shift of seasons or around holidays. 

Initially, I was fully on board with these videos. I grew up in a time when YouTube Christmas haul videos went viral every year, and the recent videos gave me a deep feeling of nostalgia. 

After taking a step back, however, I realized the problematic systems behind companies like SHEIN. Sure, buying new clothes is an easy way to get a dopamine hit, but it also has detrimental effects on the Earth. This is true to the extent that the industry …
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“Woman is the Other; she is defined and differentiated with reference to man and not he with reference to her ” said Simone de Beauvoir, in “The Second Sex”. Throughout history, women’s stories have been told with very apparent undertones of insignificance, women’s place and role as historical figures has always been demerited in some way or another, by simply being reduced to placeholders for male achievement. The purposeful ignoring of women as a whole, and to disregard them of any actual significance has opened up a space and initiated a pattern of patriarchal storytelling, furtherly embedding sexism into our culture, and more importantly history.

This cycle of erasure continues to haunt our culture and can be seen through the misattribution of accomplishments, as was the case for Sofonisba Anguissola, one of the most astonishing Italian renaissance painters whose work got …
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Wearing sunscreen is crucial when trying to maintain your skin’s health. Just applying the recommended amount of at least one ounce of sunscreen covering your body from head to toe, according to the FDA, by applying every two hours can help prevent long-term damage. Sunscreen serves as a barrier that absorbs harmful UV rays. By wearing sunscreen, you reduce your risks of sun damage significantly. 

Sunscreen also helps prevent sunburns which increases the risk of developing skin cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. When it comes to maintaining your  health, it’s so important, not just for your insides but for the overall health of your skin as well. 

Some of sunscreen’s  other benefits are that it helps with hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and even helps prevent crepey skin. The sun may also promote …
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By Devin Hodge

If you’re a cat  lover and want to attract these adorable feline creatures towards you just read this and you’ll be a master cat whisperer. There are tons of ways to help create an incredible environment for those fuzzy creatures. While cats have their own unique personalities and preferences , here is some general information to 100% attract them.

Give the feline some food and water because cats are naturally drawn to places where they can find any substances like chicken nuggets. From my experiences with attracting wild cats I’ve used McDonalds chicken nuggets and it never fails. Multiple times me and my friend would walk down the streets with chicken nuggets and all the cats in the area would follow us. Just the smell of one nugget is enough to encounter at least three cats.

Devin Hodge …
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In the era of Kim Kardashian, Trisha Paytas, and Alix Earle, many celebrities these days are simply famous for being famous, no talent required. But why is this now getting normalized to not only adults, but kids as well. Being famous is not a talent, and being famous for being famous is ridiculous.

First, it sets an unbalanced standard. When fame prioritizes notoriety over accomplishment, it sends a message that anyone can be admired, regardless of what they contribute. This overshadows the hard work and dedication of those who earn recognition through genuine talent or acts of service. Especially with the introduction of reality TV shows like “Jersey Shore” or “Love Island.” Although those shows may be entertaining, the “stars” gained their fame for being ridiculous.

Second, momentary fame can be a recipe for disaster. People’s image of fame can crumble quickly …
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The debate between physical books and eBooks has gone on for years since the first e-reader came out in 1998, however, it has never come to a clear answer as to which one is truly the better choice. Books have been around for centuries and have only evolved more and more from when they were being printed onto rocks.

Personally, physical books are much more appealing than the alternate choice. They have many more advantages than eBooks do in several ways. 

In a study posted in The Guardian, they found that “readers using a kindle were significantly worse than paperback readers at recalling which events occurred in a mystery story.” As well, an article in Classical Conversations reported that physical books will more likely train you in the skill of deeper reading, giving them an upper hand to eBooks. 

While owning physical copies …
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Bright blue sky. Blustering wind. Beautiful Arizona desert. And an explosion,

ripping up through the land above. The sight is so absurd it could be mistaken for CGI, but none of what you’re about to see is fake; far from it. 

“American Scar” is a mini documentary just over 13 minutes long. Released on April 30, 2022 and directed by Daniel Lombroso, it details just how bad Trump’s wall is for the wildlife living there. Testimony from conservationists is interspaced with drone footage from photographer John Kurc, and the film bears witness to the natural beauty marred by the 458-foot-long, 30-foot-tall wall of steel bollards. 

A frame from “American Scar”. It depicts the wall, and the canyon blasted into the mountain for its path.

More than seventy different species of animals and plants are endangered by this wall. In the film, there’s …
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