By Kyle Shisbey Valentine's Day was on Tuesday, February 14th. Also referred to as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, Valentine’s Day originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine. It has been observed for over 1500 years. Valentine's Day is normally celebrated with you and your significant other. People will buy each other heart shaped chocolates, or other candies. Gifts and flowers are very common for this holiday. This day is all about you and another showing your love and gratitude for each other.
According to CNBCTV 18, to celebrate Valentine’s Day you can try the 7 Days of Valentine’s Day.
The 7 Days of Valentine’s Day is a very popular activity for couples. There are other activities you and your partner can do together. For example, you can give one another chocolates and all types of sweets or cook breakfast for them in the morning. These are small things to do for your loved one on Valentines Day, but it is still important to show your affection towards your loved one. But not just that, but it’s the small things that matter the most and these can strengthen your relationship with your partner.
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By Manny Villa When we walk on the sidewalk or in our house, we only really realize what is directly below us, either the concrete, or floorboards. However, there’s more to what is under us than just what we can see. Thousands of miles below the floorboards and concrete there are layers of the earth, with each layer increasing in distance. The earth is made up of 4 main layers, the crust, mantle, outer core and inner core. Each of these layers spins in unison with the earth despite the inner core which has naturally spun faster. According to new research it has stopped doing this. To understand why the inner core spins faster we need to understand what the inner core is. The inner core was discovered by scientists in 1939 by studying how seismic waves from earthquakes travel through the various layers of the earth. The inner core itself is about 7000 kilometers wide and is made up of mostly iron and other metals. The inner core rests inside of an outer shell that is made up of liquid iron. Because of this liquid iron surrounding the inner core it essentially separates it from the rest of the earth allowing it to spin freely on its own.
According to recent research the core has stopped rotating and hasn’t rotated since 2009. Research also says that the earth could even start to rotate the opposite way which could decrease the length of days. By Diego Campbell Paris. The city of love, the Eiffel Tower, and the bread with the funny name. But under the surface, Paris’s history comes alive. Or rather, the dead-on display. Welcome to the Paris Catacombs, a series of tunnels winding underneath the city. The Paris Catacombs are filled with the bones of Paris’s late citizens over the centuries. Why was this created? How long were bones being piled up in here? Who lurks down there today? All these questions will be answered, as long as you heed the warning that hangs over the public entrance: “Arrête! C'est ici l'empire de la Mort.” “Stop. This is the Empire of the Dead.” Origin and History The Paris Catacombs didn’t always hold the remains of past Parisians. They were originally quarries that had been abandoned by their miners. But in the late 18th century, they found a new purpose. Health crises and lack of space led to graveyards at full capacity; there was nowhere to put the growing pile of deceased. The decision was made to transfer the bones into the quarries under the cover of night. This was done in order to avoid hostile reactions from the remaining Paris population. The man in charge of these operations was Charles Axel Guillaumont, an inspector at the department of General Quarry Inspection. The first evacuations were made in the Saints-Innocents Cemetery from 1785 to 1787. The bones were brought to the quarries and were placed into galleries. “Galleries” typically means “places that display art.” Knowing this, it’s not surprising that the workers arranged the bones in strange configurations in the walls that are an art in their own right. The new home of the bones was officially recognized on April 7, 1786, as the “Paris Municipal Ossuary.” However, due to its somber nature, and the similarities it shared with ancient Romans, the public was quick to give it the nickname “Catacombs.” After the French Revolutions, the bodies were stacking up. Transfers and evacuations continued up until 1814, began again in 1840, and happened one more time during the Haussmannian Reconfiguration of Paris (1859-1860). The catacombs were opened to the public in 1809, and became popular tourist attractions when famous people at the time, such as Napoleon III, entered the tomb, dead or alive.
Present Day Flashforward to the 21th Century, and it’s still possible to visit the catacombs. Even though many of the tunnels are potentially dangerous, a 1.5 km passage is still open to the public. However, secret entrances to the catacombs still exist around the city. Some of the best stories come from when these entrances are used.
In a place as impressive as it is historic as the catacombs, there’s bound to be a few good stories and a few lost explorers that will chill you to the bone. Conclusion I first heard about the Paris Catacombs when I read a book called “The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones.” It was a good read (most books by Rick Riordan usually are), but I forgot about the Catacombs until recently. A series of deathly cold tunnels under a vibrant city like Paris definitely sounds like the setting of a great adventure story. (And movies such as "As Above, So Below" use it just like that.) It’s the home of millions of dead Frenchmen, each with their own untold tales lost to time. Who knows what other adventures and stories are waiting down there? They say, “Dead men tell no tales,” but this place has an empires-worth of legends left to be told. By Gabrielle Born There are 2 types of solids: Crystalline and amorphous. Crystalline solids have fixed, uniform edges and sharp melting points, while amorphous solids have curved or nonuniform edges and have a wide melting point range. Amorphous ice is an amorphous solid form of water. Where can amorphous ice be found?
There are different densities of amorphous ice. Medium-density amorphous ice, which appears like a fine white powder, could exist inside the ice moons of the outer solar system. Low-density amorphous ice is usually formed in laboratories by water vapor molecules accumulating onto a smooth, metal, crystal surface under -244°F. Amorphous ice is mostly found in outer space. It is found especially on icy moons (moons consisting mostly of ice). In outer space it is expected to be formed in a similar manner on a variety of cold substrates, such as dust particles High density amorphous ice (HDA) can be formed by compressing ice Ih at temperatures below ~140 K. How is amorphous ice different from regular ice? Regular ice is made from crystalline matter. Amorphous ice is made from amorphous matter. Common ice is a crystalline material wherein the molecules are regularly arranged in a hexagonal lattice, whereas amorphous ice lacks long-range order in its molecular arrangement. Is it okay to consume? Yes, it is. Amorphous ice is okay to consume because it is water--H2O. Since H2O is edible, then amorphous ice is okay to consume. By Alexander Cobbs October 15, 1966: On this very day, a legendary movement was founded in Oakland, California. The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary organization created by African Americans. The main reason for the movement was to fight back against police brutality. How the founders proposed to do so was by patrolling black neighborhoods and making sure the police never stepped out of line. It wasn’t long after its founding that the party would gain its popularity. Later on, the party grew larger and was labeled by white people as a “Marxist Group” because the movement’s political and economic beliefs were a lot like those of the philosopher Karl Marx. The Black Panthers wanted the arming of African Americans, the releasing of all Black prisoners, and the financial compensation for centuries of exploitation upon blacks. However, they were also acknowledged for their non-controversial programs such as setting up medical clinics and providing breakfast for black children. The Movement was founded by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton. They named the party the “Black Panther Party for Self Defense in Oakland, California.” They later Shortened the name to the Black Panther Party. They believed in “Black Power,” an idea which they got from Black nationalist leader Stokely Carmichael. Carmichael founded a political party in 1965 that had the emblem of a black panther on it. This image was adopted by the Black Panther Party. Newton and Seale also adopted the famous slogan of Malcom X, “Freedom by any means necessary,” and made the slogan their own. The Black Panther Party is so significant because of how big of an impact it made on Black Empowerment. It helped spark powerful movements today such as the “Black Lives Matter” movement. But that isn’t all. The movement inspired more than just African Americans. It inspired groups around the world facing discrimination to stand up and protest their own issues. Because of its members' will to fight for what’s right, the Black Panther Party will forever be recognized by the African American community.
By Kyle Shisbey Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. This month is now celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland, and the United Kingdom it is observed in October. The idea of a Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week." This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and that of Frederick Douglass on February 14, both of which dates Black communities had celebrated together since the late 19th century. When it was first established, Black History Month sparked some debate. Those who believed that Black History Month was limited to educational institutions questioned whether it was appropriate to limit Black History Month to one month, rather than integrating Black History into mainstream education throughout the year. Another worry was that, in contrast to the original motivation for Black History Month, which was a desire to correct the way in which Black historical figures in American schools were not represented as anything other than slaves or colonial subjects, Black History Month could simplify complex historical figures to the point where they become objects of "hero worship." Others describe the celebration as being racist. With new times, civilization progresses and adopts and takes the custom of more and more ideas. Black History is proof of progression and adaptation to new and better times. Black History Month was first proposed as a national celebration by Black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State a year later, from January 2 to February 28, 1970. After President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial, it has been celebrated all across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture, and community centers, both large and small. Ford urged Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history." Since then, Black History Month has been met with enthusiasm in the Black community, prompting the formation of Black history clubs, an increase in interest among teachers, and interest from progressive whites.
By Lucas Fredette and Noah Buchanan Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the killing of the cinematographer, Halyna Hutchings, 42. The investigation has been ongoing for a year. Alec has been defending himself against the suggestion that he is responsible for the fatal shooting of the cinematographer on the set of “Rust,” a low budget western he was filming in the outskirts of Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Baldwin told detectives he had been assured the gun he was rehearsing with that day did not contain live ammunition. Baldwin later sat down for an extensive television interview. He then sought indemnification from financial liability in the case and then sued crew members on the film, claiming that they were responsible for handing him a loaded gun. Baldwin claims no financial or judicial responsibility. Baldwin and his lawyers argue that the people responsible for Hutchings’s death are the people who were handling the gun. Hutchings family filed a lawsuit nearly a year ago claiming that Alec Baldwin and the producers recklessly handled the gun and entire situation. Baldwin’s filing states that “an actor cannot rule that a gun is safe,” and “that is the responsibility of the other people on the set.” A lawyer for Mr. Hutchings, Brian J. Panish, said in a statement that he agreed with the decision to bring criminal charges. “It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law,” Mr. Panish said. “We support the charges, will fully cooperate with this prosecution and fervently hope the justice system works to protect the public and hold accountable those who break the law.” It will now be up to the courts to decide who is responsible for Hutching’s’s death: Alec Baldwin or someone else. By Gabrielle Born Groundhog Day falls on February 2nd every year and the most famous celebration takes place in the city of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The tradition started in 1887 when the Pennsylvania Dutch in Punxsutawney believed that a groundhog could predict the weather depending on whether it saw its shadow or not. If it saw its shadow, then there would be six more weeks of winter. If it saw no shadow, then spring had arrived early. The groundhog in question is named Punxsutawney Phil, and it lives in a burrow at the summit of Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. Phil has been alive since the late 1800s because he drinks a magical elixir that gives him seven more years of life every time he drinks it.
What do people do on Groundhog Day? In Punxsutawney, they gather at Gobbler’s Knob summit and wait for Punxsutawney Phil to emerge from his burrow. Some people around America celebrate Groundhog Day by consuming potato-based foods, such as mashed potatoes or french fries. However, the groundhog is not very accurate at predicting the weather. Data from Stormfax Almanac shows that Phil has only predicted the weather correctly about 39% of the time. Even if Punxsutawney Phil is inaccurate most of the time, it is still enjoyable for many Americans to observe this tradition of letting the groundhog predict the weather. By Jacob Swan 2023 started off with a devastating sight, as a six-year-old attending Richneck elementary school in Newport News, Virginia, brought and shot a loaded gun at his teacher. The child walked into school and during an instructional period, pulled out the firearm, and fired it at the teacher. The teacher went into a defensive position putting her hands up, and the bullet traveled through her hands and into her upper chest. After little investigation, the police labeled this shooting as intentional. Many argue though, how can a six-year-old have that intent. After the teacher, Abigail Zwerner, got shot she was taken to a hospital and, after some medical care, was released back to her house, where she is recovering. While this was happening, many local leaders have been stirring about changing their laws on gun violence and gun safety. Newport News Mayor Phillips addressed the situation January 6th saying “it is almost impossible to wrap our minds around…” While parents are full of concern for their kids, local leaders discuss what they should do. After this disturbing incident, many repercussions have occurred. First a discussion on figuring out what the parents' responsibility was. The gun was supposedly secured by a trigger lock and was located on the top shelf of the shooter’s mother’s closet. Everyone is still wondering how the six-year-old was able to manage this task, stating that the shelf was well over 6 feet high and also was secured by a lock needing a key similar to a bike lock. After further investigation, the family began to speak out about their son's “acute disability.” One of the parents would usually accompany the boy to days at school and that week neither did. Information hasn’t been given on what disability the six-year-old has and what kind of care the parents provided when accompanying him to class. Many teachers after the incident said they had shared their concerns for the son's behavior on earlier occasions, but their fears had been downplayed. Before this incident, the child had demonstrated reckless behavior throwing furniture, barricading classrooms, and even at one point writing a death note to Ms. Zwerner saying he wanted to set her on fire and kill her. After presenting the note to administrators, Ms. Zwerner was told to drop it and not worry about it. Even during the class periods, there were many signs of this potential danger, but administration showed no concern. Reportedly, the day of the shooting, the boy was checked at 12:30pm by a teacher who thought he was carrying a gun in his backpack. She didn’t find one but told an official he might have put it in his pockets. The official nonchalantly replied, "He has little pockets.” Then, at 1:00pm, it was said that the student showed another kid a gun and threatened him if he snitched. Finally, another employee asked to search the boy's bag but was told to wait till the day was over. These events all foreshadowed the tragic disaster that happened at 2:00pm that day while the administration did nothing to help. Many officials at this time have stated their opinions on this situation showing their concern and fear. The principal at Richneck Elementary said, “My heart is aching for our school community.” Dr. George Parker superintendent for the Newport News public schools said, “I’m in shock, and I’m disheartened,” and “We need to educate our children and we need to keep them safe.” These were some of his last words before getting notice that not only has he been fired but also Zwerner is pressing charges against the school district. Everyone at this time is sharing their concern and sympathy for this teacher and her students. Actions must be taken to prevent these things from happening in the future
By Manny Villa On January 16, 2023, a high-profile Italian Mafia boss, Matteo Missino Denaro, was arrested in Sicily, Italy after 30 years on the run from authorities. At the time of his arrest, Denaro was reportedly receiving cancer treatment in a private clinic. The authorities had had very little information on how Denaro looked or how he sounded, which made him difficult to find and caused dangerous confusion. In 2021, a man was arrested and held at gunpoint because authorities thought he was Denaro, but he was in fact not. The arrest of this high-profile criminal after many years of trying to catch him has restored the Italian people’s faith in law enforcement. However, even with this victory, it does not mean that the Mafia is defeated, as stated by the Palermo prosecutor general Maurizio De Lucia.
Denaro was an alleged boss of the Cosa Nostra Mafia and was also supposedly a protégé of the Corleone Clan leader Toto Riina, who was arrested in 1993 after being on the run for 23 years. In 2002 Denaro was sentenced in absentia to life in jail for a handful of murders, money laundering, drug trafficking, and other crimes. Authorities say that he holds many secrets on many high-profile crimes. Over the past decades the authorities have tried to catch him but with no avail; so, they decided to go after those closest to him instead. They arrested his sister and other associates along with seizing many valuable businesses from him. Now that he has been captured, Denaro faces multiple life sentences in an Italian prison. |
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