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Why You Should Rubber Duck Debug to Solve Mistakes in Code or Other Work

youthareawesome
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It’s uncommon we get the opportunity to sit down and have a calm conversation with a rubber duck. However, in software engineering, rubber ducking is a simple, quick fix to this conundrum! Commonly used to debug code, this practice is an effective method to identify mistakes in a methodological manner. However, rubber ducking is useful outside of computing for working through general issues step by step.

How to Rubber Duck for Rubber Ducking

  1. Firstly, acquire a rubber duck (by any means necessary)
  2. Second, from start to finish, talk to your silent friend line, explaining your code line by line
    • (Go in depth so your duck pal can understand)
  3. Third, hopefully find a solution or at least one of your mistakes!

Why Rubber Duck

You’re forced to vocalize your thoughts. If you have an idea that sounds good in your mind, but not aloud, this is the time to catch it. By rubber ducking, you mention how you want your code to run, and you’ll eventually find where you’re missing that code. 

If you don’t have a rubber duck, you can substitute it for another inanimate object, a friend, or a disgruntled stranger. I carry around a small octopus plush in my backpack as my honorary portable duck. 

Rubber Ducking Outside of Computing

Let’s say you don’t code, but you still want to rubber duck. If you run into a mistake in math, chemistry or physics, you can go step by step through your problem. Many equations in these fields have a distinct procedure (at least at the high-school level). The procedure forces you to explain in layman terms. Therefore, you’ll realize if you don’t understand a concept or see any discrepancies between the formula and your work. Then, if you don’t fully understand a concept in depth such that you cannot explain it simply, you can go study it further.

I sometimes also use rubber ducking for my untimed essays to remove unnecessary lines or ensure that my writing makes sense.

If you don’t want to rubber duck, you should get a rubber duck anyways. From there, you’ll always have a friend. 

 

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Feature Image: 1

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The World Is Full of Externalities: Here’s How Governments Solve Them

David Shao
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It’s easy to picture how someone’s personal interests can go against the social good. Just consider a noisy conversation in a library that makes it difficult for everyone to concentrate. Think about how secondhand smoke negatively impacts others—it doesn’t just affect the smoker. Even driving in congested areas isn’t particularly helpful to society since it only worsens the problem of traffic for everyone else.

Depending on how you might view them, these instances can range from “immoral” or “lacking common decency” all the way to them being just another fact of life. Indeed, it’s natural for humans to act selfishly—for our own interests—in certain ways. But this isn’t very helpful for society as a whole. We care about silence in libraries and our health and traffic in our cities and so on.

The Externality

To economists, all of these are examples of negative externalities. Essentially, these are just costs that society bears due to the actions of individuals.

The classic example of a negative externality is pollution: an individual—or firm—might do something that pollutes. Say, for instance, someone drives to work each day and their car releases greenhouse-gas emissions. The private cost, which the individual pays, is merely the price of gas for their journey. However, society has to pay an additional social cost—namely, the negative impacts of the pollution on the environment.

The noisy library conversationalist—if they’re self-interested, as economists often like to assume—wouldn’t care about other people’s reading or studying. Their private cost is nothing, while there is a social cost that everyone else bears.

Driving during rush hour is costly to the driver (the journey takes longer), but there’s also a social cost that comes along with it. That is the social cost of adding one extra car to the traffic, making it worse for every other driver on the road.

Thus, a more precise definition of a negative externality involves a cost that an individual does not “internalize”. That means the private cost, on which individuals and companies base their decisions, doesn’t include the social cost. And this is problematic because there’s no incentive for people to change their behaviour for the good of society as a whole.

Why a Tax?

So negative externalities come from social costs that an individual or company doesn’t have to pay themselves. The solution, then, is often just making people pay the social cost through a tax. This is what economists call a Pigouvian tax.

Common examples are carbon taxes and congestion taxes, which each respectively deal with carbon emissions and excess demand of public goods (like roads). Pigouvian taxes can also be sin taxes, where governments tax tobacco, alcohol, and certain foods, for example.

These all work by making people pay for the additional social cost that their actions incur, resulting in two benefits. First, the higher price after the tax discourages the activity. Second, the government gets extra revenue that can compensate for the problems caused by these activities.

And it’s clear that many of these measures are working. British Columbia has seen an estimated 5–15% decrease in fuel consumption and emissions in recent years. Likewise, the congestion charge in Central London meant that three years after its introduction, congestion had fallen by 30%.

What Else?

Beyond just the normal “externality”, economists have proposed the idea of an “internality“, which focuses not on social costs but indirect, long-term private costs. In this view, polluting is also an internality because the long-term costs of pollution do, in fact, affect the individuals or firms choosing to pollute. A Pigouvian tax could also serve to make this cost more apparent.

This sort of solution, however, has received its fair share of criticism as well. Some see taxes as a “half-solution” to bad behaviour, instead pushing for direct regulations on externalities. This could involve directly capping emissions or traffic levels in cities, for example.

On the other hand, positive externalities also exist. Vaccines are a great example: the private benefit from getting a vaccine doesn’t include the benefit that you provide to society by protecting others.

In the end, it is clear that thinking about problems that society faces from an economic perspective can shed light on and give us the tools necessary to approach them. And that is something worthwhile.

Image Sources: Featured/1/2

Welcome to the Class of 2024!

Steven Dong
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After an emotional goodbye to my brother a few days ago, I wanted to relive my experience of him getting into his dream school last December, so here it is! I hope you enjoy!

 

My stomach dropped in anticipation of the news as if I were in a high-speed rollercoaster, though this was his ride, his destination—not mine.

“Whatever the result is, we know you tried your best. We are so proud of you,” my mother murmured, tears almost welling up in her eyes. Oh, my poor mother. How she believed in him, worried for him during all his sleepless nights spent chasing his dreams. I didn’t know who would be more devastated—Alex, or Mom—if he got rejected. 

My father simply stood erect at the back; his face, cold as stone, unreadable as usual. But wait, this time was different; I noticed his palms rubbing together, his dilated pupils fixated on my brother’s laptop screen, as if entranced by an optical illusion. For an ephemeral moment, I saw a hint of eagerness creeping onto his face. Was he smiling?

Though it was the middle of December, the room’s temperature skyrocketed from the heat radiating off our bodies. I could practically hear the heavy thumping of my brother’s heartbeat.

“I am opening it now,” Alex whispered anxiously at last.

Through his tone, it was indistinguishable whether he was dying to know the result or didn’t want to know his fate. Probably both. Ugh, hurry up already.

Finally, he pressed the login button on his portal. Unexpectedly, a video popped up and before any of us could react, it played a cheer. The background music, resembling Christmas music, was ironically upbeat, for I knew how many dreams would be utterly crushed after watching this introduction. Hopefully not his.

As the video screen turned dark, reflecting the starless night outside, a period of utter silence ensued as four pairs of eyes waited agonizingly for what was to come. The hands of the clock seemed to move in slow motion. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it came. His dream—the final moment after years of his hard work—had arrived. It was time to see whether it was worth it. I had barely processed the unassuming white letters etched on the digital black canvas before the room exploded in ecstasy.

“Welcome to the **** Class of 2024!”

My brother sprung like a kangaroo from his chair, and for a brief moment, gravity turned itself off to honour his moment, granting him flight with his newly formed wings. His beatific facial expression, his beaming smile, his wide-eyed look of pure radiance and pride—I have never before seen him like that. Even my father screamed.

But as ecstasy shone in his eyes, tears shimmered in mine. Tears that formed from dark, twisted emotions expanding from deep down in my gut: concern, anxiety, queasiness.

Image source: 1

5 Tips for Starting Highschool

Kassidy Thompson
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CONGRATS!! You’re transitioning into high school. You’re about to gain a little more freedom.

  • Make a good impression

Go out of your way to show your classmates and teacher how kind you are. Stay engaged in class and try not to speak out of turn. Being kind from the get-go will help you develop a strong, honest and respectful reputation. This will make high school a more interesting experience.

  • Be Organized

It’s important to stay organized in high school as it can be very fast paced at times. Write down test dates, due dates and homework. Clear out your bag often so that old papers don’t take up space. Always have extra school supplies like pencils, erasers and highlighters.

  • Be Friends With A Bunch Of People

It’s good if you found a group of people that you’re comfortable and enjoy being around. But try not to only latch onto them, keep an open mind and be willing to interact with other people. If you keep to yourself, or one particular group you may limit your high school experience. If you struggle to make friends, try to find people with similar interests as you. Joining extra-curricular activities is an amazing and easy way to do this.

  • Show Up On Time

Showing up late to class is a silly reason to be in trouble. Write down your locker combination as its easy to forget. If for whatever reason you don’t know how to open a locker, don’t be shy to ask a teacher or student. Figure out how to get to class ahead of time and if you’re not sure, ask a teacher or upperclassman.

  • Try to Get Enough Sleep

I know that it’s tempting to spend an extra hour or two on your personal device. It’s not worth it. Trust me. It’s easier said than done but try to get at least 8 hours of sleep.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*   *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧  ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ :*  *:･ﾟ✧  *:･ﾟ✧✧ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ :*    *:･ﾟ✧*: ･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*   *:･ﾟ✧*:*: ･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ:

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Take Care of Your Eyes!

The Enduring Mystery Of Miraculous Ladybug

Hostile Takeover: Afghanistan and Women In STEM

Lara Mylde
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“When the girls came back [from Washington] there was a huge movement — the leaders, the communities, the families, everyone was changing their views on women in science and technology. They became an example of hope, happiness, and a sense of pride for the Afghan community.” In 2018, these were the words of Roya Mahboob, the first female CEO of a tech company in Afghanistan, as she spoke of an Afghan all-girls robotics team (which she had sponsored as its founder and leader).

The girls became symbols of hope and national and feminist pride after winning a silver medal for their ball-sorting robot, built to distinguish between contaminated and clean water, in an international robotics competition held in Washington D.C. in 2017. Since the end of Taliban rule in 2001, more and more girls had been able to get educations and access opportunities for growth where they had previously been confined to the house and otherwise oppressed. It was far from easy or perfect, but real progress was made over two decades.

Now, however, among the chaos of the Taliban’s more recent Afghanistan takeover, fears over what comes next for Afghan women and girls in STEM fields have rapidly taken root.

Women Are Underrepresented in STEM

It’s a well known fact that women are underrepresented in STEM fields worldwide—in developed and developing countries both.

For example, in Australia, women accounted for just 27% of workers in STEM-qualified industries in 2019. Furthermore, Australian women in STEM made an average of $35,000 CAD less than their male counterparts.

In Canada, meanwhile, women are less likely to enter and more likely to leave STEM fields than men—and despite the fact that more women are getting bachelor’s degrees than men, they are still underrepresented in STEM fields. Those who do make it through are far less likely to make top-earning positions, and even then they are paid less than men.

Society is taking strides in a positive direction, and increasingly so over the last few years. But given the pay gap, there’s clearly still a long way to go all over the world.

In Afghanistan

Following the Taliban takeover, there’s a distinct lack of trust for promises that women’s rights will be upheld and respected. Specifically regarding education, reports have been coming in across the country of women burning their diplomas and certificates to avoid persecution by Taliban soldiers. Meanwhile, Taliban spokespeople have been urging women to stay home as their soldiers are “not trained to respect them.”

None of this bodes particularly well for the continued access of women to the education they should be entitled to. Educating women in all fields not only contributes to breaking the cycle for impoverished women and raising individual income and quality of life. It also contributes to social development, gender and socioeconomic equality, and raising a country’s GDP.

The Girls’ Robotics Team

Hearing of the impending fall of Kabul, the Afghan girls’ robotics team (originally from the city of Herat) managed to secure travel visas from the Qatari foreign ministry. After touching down a few days ago, they are now safe to continue their educations—in fact, several universities across the globe have offered them scholarships to do so. But what of the countless girls left behind? The education of women is more important now than ever.

The girls of the robotics team recently spoke out about the Taliban takeover in an interview with Al Jazeera. They want to return to serve their people and their country and expressed their desire that all girls in Afghanistan must continue their education.

Mahboob said in the same interview that there must be communication with the Taliban to ensure that this is possible.

“We have to make sure that our younger generation has access to the tools and guidance to making a better Afghanistan—to become the next scientist, entrepreneur, and technologist. This is what we needed for Afghanistan and this is our wish for Afghanistan.”

 

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

The Truth of Teenage Love (a short poem)

Laiba Nasir
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A small preface:

I think teenage heartbreak is one of the most abstract things in the universe, it doesn’t really make sense that it occurs, since we aren’t trying to love for the long term, and yet, it often hurts more then what we feel when we grow up. The formable parts of years are then spent in the fear of love, instead of embracing it. The truth of love, in my opinion, is that in our teenage years we have to get hurt. We need to feel the pain of a heartbreak to grow past it and develop an understanding that we then have in our adult years.

The Truth of Teenage Love

my heart was a paper mache pinata

made of the thinnest strips of newspaper

with watered down glue keeping it together

 

your heart was a baseball bat

contempt on breaking mine open

taking the contents like a child taking candy

 

my paper mache heart is so easily crushed

so i protected it

but it was different with you

 

i handed you the paper mache

i trusted you to hold it

 

you hung it up

and broke it with yours

 

Featured Image: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/science-proves-you-can-actually-die-of-a-broken-heart-5422034/

The Enduring Mystery Of Miraculous Ladybug

Lara Mylde
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Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir can only be described as completely baffling. Known within its (extensive, as in ostensibly millions strong) fandom as Miraculous Ladybug, Miraculous, or simply MLB, it’s a French 3D animated show aimed primarily at a middle grade audience (kids ages 7-12) about two superheroes and, eventually, their classmates and other superhero friends. But as the show enters its fourth season, that the show has a massive fanbase made up of teens and young adults is evidenced by the artists, fanfiction writers, and TikTokers creating more and more content for it. So what’s the deal?

The 4-1-1:

The premise of the show is simple. Marinette is a clumsy baker’s daughter. Adrien is a teen model and the son of one of the world’s premier fashion designers. One day, a mentor figure named Master Fu decides that they (as in, two fourteen year old children) are the fated saviours of their home city of Paris, giving them magical jewels imbued with the respective powers of creation and destruction. She receives the former; he receives the latter, and together they form the miraculous duo Ladybug and Chat Noir. As heroes, Chat is in love with Ladybug. As civilians, Marinette is in love with Adrien. Neither knows the other’s secret identity. Shenanigans ensue.

As for the show’s antagonist? In a classic case of Evil Adult vs Literal Children(TM), enter Hawkmoth—a fully grown man of initially indeterminate identity (no spoilers, shhhhh). He wants to steal Ladybug and Chat Noir’s magical jewels (dubbed the “miraculous”) in hopes of gaining a loosely described “ultimate power.” Good ol’ Hawky does so not by emerging from his extremely sketchy basement lair—which somehow also has a window overlooking all of Paris—and beating up said fourteen year olds himself, but by “akumatizing” a person who’s experiencing negative emotions and turning them into his lackey, feat. quirky costumes and powers that look straight out of a child’s colouring book. The akumatized victim is almost invariably someone with a personal relationship to Marinette or Adrien, and only one person in the city of Paris (pop. 2.1 million) is allowed to have negative feelings at a time. But we don’t talk about that.

The Appeal?

As someone who’s been (with guilt) watching this show since the seventh grade, I’ll admit, I’m attached. There’s nothing I want more than to see these two finally figure out each others’ identities. But the fact is that the show itself is ridiculous, and as it departs more and more from its simplistic original formula by introducing new heroes, new powers, and new antagonists as any show is wont to do, one look at any Miraculous-related comment section will give you a sense for the real feelings of the fandom towards the show. Namely, that most of them hate the show to varying degrees, particularly the new season. And yet they keep watching, keep consuming content for it, and keep creating fanworks.

In my opinion, the appeal isn’t that difficult to see even for people who would personally never partake. The writing has its problems, but the animation is pretty (most of the time—thanks, SAMG Animation), and the show features a strong (if heavily caricaturized) female lead who isn’t afraid to enforce that consent is important, an interesting and moderately diverse supporting cast with fun interaction, and let’s not forget the entire existence of Chat Noir (although, PSA, stop sexualizing minors. It’s not cool, even if they’re completely fictional).

Most importantly, I think, the large existing fanbase perpetuates itself—fans beget fans. This is true of most fandoms, and I’m willing to bet a lot of Miraculous content creators and fandom members are in fact staying because of the emotional attachment derived from exposure to fanworks rather than the show itself. If we were all watching in a vacuum, there’s a chance that many of us would have dropped it as fan-favourite character arcs got scrapped (looking at you, Chloe). And the fact is, the love square and interesting character interactions set against the backdrop of colourful and cartoonish villains-of-the-week and levity of the plot in general make it prime fanworks material.

It Goes Beyond Just This Show

Regardless, the success of the show raises some interesting questions about the willingness of consumers (particularly millennials and members of Gen Z) to consume potentially problematic or “bad” media for a quick and easy rush. Is it really about the quality of the work? Or is it really all about nostalgia, emotional investment, and the catharsis of watching a story play out? Furthermore, is recent generations’ enjoyment of children’s television and similarly structured pieces of media, as well as of fanworks posted on platforms like Instagram, AO3, Tiktok, or Tumblr, a symptom of our decreasing attention spans? Is it perhaps the cause or a contributing factor?

These are all big questions—definitely too big to be answered by a sub 1000 word article about a middle grader’s superhero cartoon. But they’re definitely worth considering, especially since the Internet and quick and easy ways of communication and sharing media are going to be defining traits of the way recent and upcoming generations learn, live, and work from start to finish. In the meantime, consider watching an episode or two, and share in my pain over this show which, in its fourth season, is finally demonstrating some signs of real plot development.

For more about the online world and media today, check out fellow blogger David Shao’s post on digital privacy. Or, if you’re looking for your fiction fix in a more ink-and-paper format, check out this post and this post on recent Young Adult book releases for every mood.

Until next time!

20 Jokes to Brighten Your Day.

Bhavani Potdar
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Here are 20 jokes to brighten your day!

 

1.They all laughed when I said I want to be a comedian. 

                                Well, they are not laughing now! Wait…

2. What’s the best thing about Switzerland?

                               I don’t know but the flag is a big plus.

3. I invented a new word.

                              Plagiarism!

4.Why do scientists not trust atoms?

                              Because they make up everything!

5.What do you call a fake noodle?

                              An impasta.

6.What’s an astronaut’s favourite part on a computer?

                             The space bar.

7.Why did M&M go to school?

                            It wanted to be a Smartie. 

8.How do you throw a space party?

                           You planet.

9.Two artists had an art contest. 

                           It ended in a draw. 

10.Why are skeletons so calm?

                         Because nothing gets under their skin. 

11.Why couldn’t the leopard play hide and seek?

                         Because he was always spotted. 

12.Why shouldn’t you trust the stairs?

                        They are always up to something. 

13.Why is Peter Pan always flying?

                       Because he Neverlands. 

14. You hear the rumour going around of butter?

                        Never mind, shouldn’t spread it. 

15.Where should you go in the room if you are feeling cold?

                        The corner- they are usually 90 degrees. 

16. I saw Usain Bolt sprinting around the track shouting “why did the chicken cross the road?!”

                       It was a running joke. 

17.Why did the giraffe get bad grades

                      He had his head stuck in the clouds. 

18.Why is England the wettest country?

                     Because so many kings and queens have been reigning there. 

19. How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?

                     Ten tickles.

20.Why does Humpty Dumpty love autumn?

                     Because he had a great fall. 

Featured Image

Sources 1/2/3

Butter Chicken: A South Asian Delicacy

Zainab Majid
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Butter chicken is probably my favourite dish to make when I have some time on hand. It’s easy to make, and although it’s not a quick dinner, it’s worth the time. It involves cubes of boneless chicken submerged in rich curry sauce. It’s usually eaten with naan (a type of bread) or white rice.
                                                                                                                Recipe:

For the chicken marinade:

  • 28 oz (800g) boneless and skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger (or finely grated)
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon of salt

For the sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons ghee (or 1 tbs butter + 1 tbs oil)
  • 1 large onion, sliced or chopped
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, minced or finely grated
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 14 oz (400 g) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to your taste preference)
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
  • 1 cup of heavy or thickened cream (or evaporated milk to save calories)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)

Directions:
1. In a bowl, combine chicken with all of the ingredients for the chicken marinade; let marinate for 30 minutes to an hour (or overnight if time allows).

2. Heat oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. When sizzling, add chicken pieces in batches of two or three, making sure not to crowd the pan. Fry until browned for only 3 minutes on each side. Set aside and keep warm. (You will finish cooking the chicken in the sauce.)

3. Heat butter or ghee in the same pan. Fry the onions until they start to sweat (about 6 minutes) while scraping up any browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan.

4. Add garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, then add ground coriander, cumin and garam masala. Let cook for about 20 seconds until fragrant, while stirring occasionally.

5. Add crushed tomatoes, chili powder and salt. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and becomes a deep brown-red colour.

6. Remove from heat, scoop mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. You may need to add a couple tablespoons of water to help it blend (up to 1/4 cup). Work in batches depending on the size of your blender.

7. Pour the puréed sauce back into the pan. Stir the cream, sugar and crushed kasoori methi (fenugreek leaves) through the sauce. Add the chicken with juices back into the pan and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and bubbling.

8. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with fresh, hot garlic butter rice and fresh homemade Naan bread!

As you can see, it’s a long process with many ingredients, but trust me, it’s worth it. If you make it, let me know how it goes!

Sources: 1 (recipe and image credits) 

The slave trade: revisiting our dark path to civilization

Zainab Majid
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This year, I learned about the slave trade in social studies. It was such a dark time in our history, and the effects are still lasting today. The trauma hasn’t been erased, which is why I think it is important to revisit the incident so we don’t repeat the same mistakes. The Atlantic slave trade was a dark chapter in our history that lasted from the late 15th to the early 19th century (more than 300 years!). It involved 3 continents: North America, South America, and Africa. This horrendous event forcibly brought more than 10 million Africans to the Americas. The trauma was passed down through generations, and it had a lasting impact on the economies of many countries.

It all started when Europeans began to grow crops like sugarcane, tobacco, and cotton in the new colonies. They required a lot of labour, and there weren’t enough people to cultivate the crops. Although some American natives were enslaved, they died from diseases and others refused to work. African slavery had existed in many forms before this incident, where some could buy their freedom and others even had chances to rise to a higher status in society. When Europeans offered valuables like manufactured goods, weapons, and rum to African kings and merchants in exchange for slaves, they were ready to make the deal. They justified their decision by viewing the people they sold as criminals or prisoners of war.

The trade was the third part of the triangular trade, in which arms, textiles, and wine were shipped from Europe to Africa, and then slaves from Africa to the Americas (A.k.a. the middle passage), and sugar and coffee from the Americas to Europe. African leaders began getting rich, and started looking for new ways to capture more slaves to meet the Europeans’ demands. It came to a point where war became a reason to capture more slaves and other criminal sentences were replaced with slavery. This destroyed societal values, negatively impacted the economy, and broke families across the continent.

The slaves themselves faced unimaginable brutality. Many people died because of the terrible conditions aboard the ships, which included cramped spaces, little to no food, and poor hygiene. If anyone was suspected of being ill, they were thrown overboard, and if anyone disobeyed the commands of the crew, they were thrown overboard as well. Women and children were sexually abused and were forced to comply with the wishes of the captain. Sometimes captains cut off the ears of the people they captured as proof of purchase. Those that managed to survive the journey faced even worse situations in the Americas. They were shaved and cleansed, and then they were oiled to appeal to buyers. They were sold in markets like meat was sold in shops. This, among many other things, continued for several years until people started taking action against the injustice.

The slave trade eventually ended in America in 1808, after congress prohibited the foreign importation of slaves into the United States. In 1807, the British government passed an Act of Parliament abolishing the slave trade throughout the British Empire. Despite this act, slavery continued in the British colonies until its final abolition in 1838.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

The Rise of Social Impact Marketing

Laiba Nasir
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In order to gain political ground, a lot of campaigns attempt to use something called ‘Social impact marketing’, it’s a strategy in which you market off the basis of the current world problems. This occurs not only in political campaigns but even in marketing of products in general. For example, Gillete’s slogan about being “the best man you can be” and much more. I think that in our current age, we need to identify that companies and campaigns trying to use a play on social issues and the play on what people currently think is import, is extremely detrimental to our society and to the human condition in general.

 

We see this in grand scales during pride month, where all companies suddenly become LGBTQ ambassadors in hopes of seeking profit through those communities and making themselves look good. A lot of companies do it so they can donate to LGBTQ organizations, but a large majority just decide to use it as a marketing ploy regardless of their own opinions. This is extremely wrong. I think that there’s a certain principled justification to wanting to profit off these issues, but I don’t think its a very good justification.

 

When we allow companies and political platforms to gain votes because of social issues and the promotion of helping them, even though they are doing nothing, we view this as counterproductive. We put out the values that we want to see being helped and instead of them being helped they turn into a martyr in the grand scheme of business ideals.

 

This in general, just shows you why it’s so easy in the status quo to try and push for advocacy and have it flipped as purely a means to capitalist gain. Social impact marketing shows us exactly why no matter what humans do, most of the time, their goals stay the exact same. Money and power. This is the kind of greed that rules our society and lets people diminish issues into nothing more than a singular ant that can be stepped on and never spoken about again.

 

Delegitimizing issues in the eyes of the public and in the eyes of the corporation is not something we can push. It’s purely inevitable when people think that buying a product is what’s gonna fix the inequalities LGBTQ people face, or that reposting a story is what’s going to help save afghanistan. We as the people have the power, and we need to actually use it, before we all turn into the squashed ant under the shoe of corporational greed.

 

Featured Image: https://marketoonist.com/2021/03/metrics-everywhere.html

Take Care of Your Eyes!

Shreya Ivaturi
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I have struggled with poor eyesight for most of my life. Like I mean above -6 kind of struggle. For those of you who don’t have glasses, my prescription is basically how you assume most people with glasses see. In other words, without my glasses, no, I cannot see what that sign says and, no, if you stand a few meters away I can’t see how many fingers you’re holding up. 

Like much of Gen Z, thanks to our “lovely” addiction to devices, I have myopia. This is when you are extremely near-sighted (can’t see far away). Except, my myopia is pretty severe. I know that compared to other eye conditions out there, myopia isn’t as acute, but it’s quickening popularity among our generation makes it a pressing issue. Sometimes I think of the severity of my myopia as allowing me to see into the future. Although it’s mostly due to genetics, I feel like the Ghost of Christmas Future for many teenagers resulting from their habits related to screen time, diets, etc.  That’s why I wanted to give a few tips and tricks to help maintain proper eye health and ways to incorporate them more easily into your day to day lifestyle.

20-20-20 Rule!

Hopefully most of you all know this rule by now, but for those of you who don’t, here it is: after using a screen for 20 min, take a break and look at something 20 meters away for 20 seconds 1 . Make sure you do this as often as possible to reduce strain on your eyes! This rule is constantly being encouraged to me  by my optometrist for my myopia!

Omega-3!

Many studies have shown that Omega-3 can support eye health by strengthening the retina using DHA (AKA fatty acid) 2. The retina is where the image of our surroundings is formed, thus, it’s incredibly important.  Myopia unfortunately increases someone’s risk for retinal detachment (when the retina detaches from blood vessels that provide it with essential nutrients and oxygen), making maintaining proper retina health even more important 3!

Omega-3 can be incorporated into your diet by consuming nuts and seeds, plant oils, and fish or seafood 4. My favorite source of Omega-3 are avocados! Yum! If eating these foods are difficult, you can easily purchase Omega-3 supplements from any drugstore or pharmacy!

Vitamin A!

“Vitamin A plays a crucial role in vision by maintaining a clear cornea, which is the outside covering of your eye,”(5) and it’s super easy to get your hands on. One infamous example: Carrots! Those crunchy, flavorful snacks aren’t the only great sources of Vitamin A, though. “Red, yellow and green (leafy) vegetables,”(6) are great sources! Sounds like it’s time to start making salads! Now you have another reason to be “that person” and live a healthy, aesthetic lifestyle. Again, if it’s really necessary, Vitamin A supplements are always an option. 

Exercise!

I think this one is pretty obvious, but we know that oxygen is pumped throughout the body when we exercise. This ensures that oxygen and other nutrients are transported properly to the eyes, maintaining overall eye health 7. 

Eye health is something we often neglect so I hope this post  was a good reminder for you all! These were just a few tips out of many out there, so feel free to do some more research! If you’ve been on your device for more than 20 minutes, remember the 20-20-20 rule! I have my eye on you (bad pun intended)! Goodbye and stay safe!

The Alzheimers Drug

Samarah Kanji
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Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia impacting language, memory, and the brain’s control.  According to Statistics Canada, over 500,000 people in Canada have dementia and over 76,000 are diagnosed with it each year. The World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed that  50 million people in the world live with dementia with 60-70% of it being Alzheimer’s. There are at least 10 million cases a year and 82 million cases are expected in the year 2030. A new drug, aducanumab, (made by Biogen) has been approved by the FDA in the US to help people living with Alzheimer’s disease; however, some people believe it is too soon. Here is some more information and perspectives on the drug:

What is this drug?

Aducanumab is a monoclonal antibody designed in the lab indicated to treat Alzheimer’s disease. It is meant to target the plaques formed in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s. The plaques are what damage the brain cells causing tangles that would kill the cells in the brain. The objective with this drug is that brain cells will stop dying and cognitive related issues will decrease. Marketed as Aduhelm, it has been approved under the accelerated pathway, a program to help give earlier approval to drugs.

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How is the drug administered?

The drug is administered through infusions every four weeks for the rest of a person’s life.

What are the side effects?

According to Harvard Health, 30% of people that have taken the drug had reversible swelling and more than 10% of people had small brain bleeds. Taking a drug like this requires close monitoring in the event that it has to stop. Some experts believe that taking this drug needs to go through thorough consideration as it is not guaranteed this drug works.

The Controversy behind Aducanumab:

Many neurologists and dementia experts have become more skeptical about the drug. The findings of the studies also showed that there was no evidence that the symptoms decreased and the benefit of taking the drug was small. The FDA also asked Biogen to start another trial where if it failed, the FDA would revoke the approval. Studies also found that the reduction of plaques in the brain was not clear. Many doctors are also criticizing how the FDA approved the drug and do not feel comfortable prescribing the drug. To the patients, the ones that are willing to risk it are considering going to other doctors if they do not have access to the drug.  In Canada, the drug has not been approved right now by Health Canada and it is expected that they will not follow the FDA’s approval as the process is stricter.

With a new drug, there is hope that we are getting closer to finding a cure for this disease. While it is not certain that this drug works, research will continue to help improve the drug in clinics helping many people around the world.

 

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The “OG Environmentalists”

Shreya Ivaturi
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The earth’s fragility is well known by now. Thus, there has been an increase in countries attempting to implement policies to help combat climate change. For example, the infamous Paris Agreement has made an effort to set ambitious but necessary goals to help combat environmental issues, more specifically for climate change. The environment has not only impacted the way global politics now operates, but it’s influenced our everyday habits. 

Metal straws, compostable dinnerware, reusable water bottles. Products like these made an appearance in common western shopping stores. Major store chains are able to take advantage of the world’s environmental crisis, but can you blame them? What we are failing to realize is that the environmentally friendly habits newly exhibited in the West and European areas have actually been habitude for many cultures for hundreds of years. That is what I wanted to focus on in this article and why India and North American Indigenous groups are just some of the cultures I consider “OG environmentalists.”

India

Although India may not currently be in the best shape, it’s undeniable that sustainability was constantly rendered.  Banana leaves as plates, bucket baths, hand, hand drying dishes, bidets, and  sun dried-clothing are just some common practices that widely exhibit this. Other behavioral habits such as in-tolerance of wastefulness (something kids living in Indian households are definitely familiar with) also make sustainability commonplace. Many of these habits have become apparent during the pandemic and continue to hold their influence even now. When we compare these old, some even ancient, practices to the Western world up until a few hundred years ago, it is clear why I think Indians were “OG environmentalists”.

Evidently though, India has accounted for about 6.3% of the world’s global emissions (though, mostly from the wealthy class), so it would be false to claim that they are, like they once were, the model country for environmentalism. But, we can still observe their habits (like the ones listed before) and apply them to our daily Western, often materialistic, lives in a respectful manner to gradually combat environmental catastrophes. 

Indigenous Groups

Next, I want to discuss Indigenous cultures in North America such as the Metis, Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and others. They are the most quintessential example of ideal sustainability. One common principle held by all these groups is called the Seven Generations Principle. It means that, “the decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future.(footnote)”. One of the most recurring points I have seen politicians and world renowned environmental activists make is that we should care for future generations and worry about the livelihoods of our children. Sounds familiar right? 

Another belief is to take only what is necessary, or in other words, reducing. Many western philosophies we have about the environment clearly aren’t so new, as they have been practiced by Indigenous groups for centuries. Unlike the colonizers who destroyed the culture and livelihood of countless Indigenous peoples, we need to appreciate how delicately the Indigenous have treated the land we stand on and apply those habits to our daily lives.

 

Overall, we need to take a deeper look  into other cultures and observe the functional practices. Without collaboration and open-mindedness, we’ll see little to no improvement. And right now, the environment isn’t being lenient with our options.

I hope you all enjoy the last few weeks of summer break! Bye for now!

Sources:

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4 Movies You Should Watch

Bhavani Potdar
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The Truman Show 

“ You never had a camera in my head”

The Truman Show is a science fiction/ drama movie. Its main character is Truman Burbank, whose whole life is a Reality TV Show called The Truman Show. From birth, Truman was being telecasted 24 hours/7days a week on television, and his whole world around him was based on scripted characters. In the end, Truman eventually figures out that he had been living in a ‘fake’ world, and tricks the TV producers to attain his freedom. 

The Titanic

“The Ship of Dreams”

The Titanic is a movie of the drama genre that follows the story of Rose and Jack that fall in love aboard the titanic ship. It explores their romantic relationship set against the infamous voyage of the titanic. Simply beautiful. A truly classic movie. 

Dead Poets’ Society 

“Carpe Diem, Seize the Day”

The Dead Poets’ Society is an inspiring movie that explores the story of John Keating, a progressive English teacher that teaches the students to break out their shells (‘the norm’), pursue their lives’ dreams unapologetically and ultimately seize the day. This movie is a masterpiece; there are no words to describe how amazing this movie really is. 

The Giver

“If you can’t feel what is the point.”

The Giver is a science-fiction/drama movie. It is set in a seemingly idealistic world that is in reality a dystopia. When Jonas is assigned to become the keeper of memories, he begins to meet ‘The Giver’ (an old man that stores memories of the world). Soon, he starts to understand the realities of the world he lives in, and realizes he should escape in order to protect his family and friends, and make his world humane again.

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