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Slice of Life: Christmas confuses me: learning not to be the Grinch
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From the moment Halloween ends and we turn our calendars to November, my neighborhood is decked out with twinkling red and green string lights and pine wreaths. Christmas meets Thousand Oaks as quickly as gossip meets my bubby and as enthusiastically as Manischewitz wine meets a 13-year-old on his Bar Mitzvah day. Being Jewish…
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Politics has turned into reality TV
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Workplaces and school settings have an expectation of professionalism, respect and decorum. One would think that this would carry into the political sphere, especially with our current administration constantly preaching a new wave of “common sense.” However, it seems that civility has been thrown out the window and replaced with incompetence and hypocrisy. What…
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Cutting SNAP benefits harms America’s working class
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Imagine your Thanksgiving table. Can you smell the turkey, the mashed potatoes, the stuffing? Can you hear the laughter and buzz of conversation on America’s most food-centric holiday? This scene might not be the Thanksgiving experience this year for the 42 million Americans who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] benefits to supplement…
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Let’s not artificially teach intelligence
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As with many other people in this world, I have had a difficult time accepting the nature of artificial intelligence [AI]. I am constantly told to accept the changing times, that AI has many benefits for all ages, that it is a way for jobs to get easier and one less thing to worry…
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Identity isn’t just black and white
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The straightener on my countertop bears a painful reminder of my past. The cord is worn and frayed, the metal clamp overworked from years of hard work. I have spent years trying to smooth over the roughs, every pass over my hair inadvertently reminding me that most of my effort was spent trying to…
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Modern advertisements reflect the shift of modern values
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Societal desensitization ebbs and flows for dozens of factors and reasons. From media saturation to political power and ideologies, what we deem as “okay” or “normal” has never been linear. Ever since the 2000s, hyper sexual content and outrage marketing have been used as a marketing play to increase product sales; it has not…
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Sportsmanship is on the decline in professional sports
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Imagine yourself as a professional athlete, fueled by encouragement and cheers from fans. Now imagine thousands of people booing you, rendering you weak and discouraged. Being degraded is soul crushing and can ruin potential. Good sportsmanship from opponents, team mates and fans is essential for athletes to succeed. Sportsmanship differentiates sports from simple competition.…
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Activism is worth more than a like or repost
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Instagram was previously used as a platform for people to share the highlights of their lives with friends and family. Recently, instead of being uplifting, social media has become filled with heavy topics, leading to conflict and heated arguments outside of the app. While it is important to share your beliefs, to me, social…
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Energy drinks cause more harm than good
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At school, I can see my peers drinking energy drinks in almost every classroom. However, energy drinks are addictive, artificial and can cause many health problems. I remember the first time I made coffee; I was surprised how the bitter coffee beans turned into a tasty caffeinated beverage. Unlike coffee, energy drinks have no…
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How to win the war with yourself
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Everyone is fighting a silent battle, whether they realize it or not. A gory, bloody, merciless battle with their greatest opponent: themself. When I was a little girl, I had a recurring dream: a twisted, demented, recurring dream. My slumber revealed to me my truest and most vulnerable wish. I wanted to completely change…