FEATURES

The Taj Mahal

By Melissa Gomes

The Crown of Palaces, mostly known as the Taj Mahal, is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna, the second tributary of the Ganges. The palace was built in 1631 by the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shan Janan, in memory of his lovely wife,  Mumtaz Mahal, who died on 17 June of 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child, Gauhara Begum, one of the four Mughal princesses. 

The Taj Mahal, one of the world's architectural wonders, is a sublime expression of the love between the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shan Janan, and his beloved. The grandeur of this monument transcends time, reflecting not only the extraordinary architectural skill of the era but also Shan Janan's dedication to every aspect of the site. While exploring the Taj Mahal, one can glimpse the meticulousness with which the emperor supervised every detail, from intricate marble patterns to the careful arrangement of structures. Each dome, minaret, and garden was conceived with a purpose: a lasting tribute to the eternal love between Shan Janan and his dead wife. The poetic inscriptions adorning the walls bear witness to the depth of feelings, transforming the Taj Mahal into more than just a mere construction but a living testimony to the emotional connection between two hearts.

Some might argue that the Taj Mahal's proximity to the Yamuna River poses environmental challenges, given concerns about pollution and degradation of the river over time. Critics might also contend that the site's popularity as a tourist destination has increased human impact and potential harm to the surrounding ecosystem. Additionally, discussions could arise about the conservation efforts required to maintain the monument and its connection to the riverine landscape amid ongoing environmental issues. It is essential to consider diverse perspectives when examining the complex relationship between the Taj Mahal and the Yamuna River. 

While this might be true, the proponents of the Taj Mahal's location argue that steps have been taken to address environmental concerns, such as restoration projects and pollution control measures. They might emphasize the site's cultural and historical significance, suggesting that efforts should focus on sustainable practices to preserve both the monument and the surrounding natural environment. 

Devices Are Ruining Kids 

By Jordana Danielpour

Introduction

I am sure you are all familiar with the modern devices and electronics in today's time. To many people, it is exhilarating or extraordinary that we have progressed and evolved as civilizations and countries. However, many people have not noticed or acknowledged the dangers of devices and how they affect today's society and future generations. 

Causes of Addiction

Many are not aware how children these days can get addicted to electronics so quickly with all the different social media games and entertainment that are profoundly affecting our children's lives and behaviors. An example of how devices affect our children's everyday lives is impulse control and the inability to watch or listen to something for a while or getting aggravated or frustrated easily at your family, friends, classmates, or teachers. Impulse control can occur in school and is sometimes the motive and reason why some students misbehave or act out due to the overuse of electronics or devices. 

In the Past

Now, if we travel back to early times in life, such as the 1980s, something like device addiction would only be possible and taken somewhat seriously. Moreover, in the 80s, many children did not watch TV or watch shorts on YouTube. They would go outside, dance, and walk when bored, and Evan went on occasional adventures. Not only did the 80s allow for more creative and productive children, but it also allowed for more survival skills and independence. Due to the many devices and modern technology we have today, children are encouraged to be more independent and self-reliant. 

An example is Stand by Me, an extraordinary movie and film in the 80s about four boys who were best friends. They had a specific goal they wanted to achieve. They walked across their town with little water, food, and barely any money, but they did not let that stop them from conquering their quest. 

They started to admire their adventure, which allowed for excellent bonding skills, self-reliance, and trust between friends; it did not matter what danger they went through or what hunger they could have suffered. It mattered about the authentic experience, so next time your parents are talking about the struggles they went through or how they had to survive in life as a minor, you better believe them because we know now the struggle yet crucial experience they lived through without extreme devices or electronics but with friendship, bravery, independence, and most importantly true authentic happiness.

All About Figure Skating

By Melissa Gomes

Figure skating is a form of ice skating performed on ice rinks. It involves people performing intricate and complex movements, spins, jumps, and lifts on ice. The sport requires a lot of skill, balance, agility, grace, and artistic expression. Skaters must control their movements with precision and finesse while maintaining balance, speed, and momentum. Figure skating is rooted in ancient Scandinavia, where people glided on frozen lakes and rivers for transportation. In the 19th century, sports became popular in Europe as entertainment and artistic expression. It was not until 1908, however, that figure skating was officially recognized as an Olympic sport, making it one of the most prestigious winter sports in the world.

Figure skating is a fun and exciting sport to watch and participate in. For spectators, it is a beautiful and graceful display of athleticism and artistic expression. The intricate movements, spins, and jumps performed on the ice mesmerize, and the music adds an extra layer of emotion and drama to the performance. It is also fun because it allows skaters to express themselves creatively and artistically. Skaters can choose their music and choreograph their routines, enabling them to showcase their style and personality on the ice.

Private or group figure skating lessons are excellent if you have skated a few times and are ready to take it to the next level. You may ask yourself: "How do these classes work? Where can I take them?" Figure skating lessons can always be found at your local rink, both outdoor and indoor rinks. A significant first step is to head to the rink's information desk and ask for details about their skating programs. The staff there can give you all the information you need to get started.

E-Bikes Have Changed Transportation 

By Ashton Amirianfar

There are many e-bikes, including electric dirt bikes, electric motorbikes, pedal-assist e-bikes, and more. Let us start with electric dirt bikes; the most popular manufacturers are Surron, Talaria, Segway, Rawrr, and E-Bike. There is a new electric dirt bike company called E-ride, which is better than Surron. Talarias does not listen to the customers, but E-ride does! The e-ride Pro is faster, better, and cheaper than a Surron! The E-ride Pro SS is $4900, which is more pricey but better than Talaria. 

People do all kinds of tricks on these bikes, like jumps, wheelies, combos on wheelies like knee knock, double knee knock, seat stander, hand drag, foot drag, criss-cross, one hand, etc. Once e-ride Pro gets a big aftermarket, they will take the crown from Surron on electric dirt bikes; the only reason Surron still has the crown on the best e-dirt bike is because of their aftermarket.

Talarias are good bikes; they are affordable and of good quality. Talaria's cheapest bike, "Talaria XXX," is 3250 and is an okay bike; the suspension is wrong, but besides that, it is a good quality bike. Talaria XXX uses an RFID push to start, which is good, but I prefer the critical start like on the other e dirt bikes. The other salaries use key starts like Surron and E-and-Ride.

Segways are good bikes, but they are overpriced. The Segway x160, the mini version of Surron, is 4500, and the Segway x260 is 6500, even though it is the regular Surron. Surron manufactures Segway dirt bikes. The Segways are the same bike, but they come in different colors, which is rare for Surron, and they have an app to control the whole bike, which is why they are more expensive than Surron. Surrons has created this entire universe for these bikes and is slowly dying because the owners have not released a new one and are not listening to customers. Besides, Surron's are good quality. 

Victoria's Secret Runway Returned in 2023!

By Melissa Gomes

From 1995 to 2018, when the last annual runaway occurred, Victoria's Secret used the show to market its goods in high-profile fashion. The Models under contract by the brand, mostly known as Victoria's Secret Angels, were the principal attractions at the annual runaways and the TV show. The fashion show was canceled in November 2019. It was officially announced that the event was canceled for an undetermined time. The CEO of the brand pronounced himself saying that the cancellation of the event was "To spend time in evolving marketing and figure out how to have better communication with the customers" since the brand was receiving intense criticism due to the lack of different body stereotypes, for example, transsexual models, overweight models, or LGBT models. 

All started a year before the event cancellation when Ed Rezek, Victoria's Secret marketing director, answered in an interview with Vogue, "I do not think shows should have transsexual models because the show is a fantasy. It is a 42-minute entertainment show", a couple of days after he apologized and said: "To be clear, of course we would hire a transgender person for the parade. We have had transgender models at casting… Moreover, like many others, they did not succeed… However, it was never a gender issue. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they are. "Whoever, I can say that the "polemic" was already too well-known by the community, and apologizing will not decrease the insults at the brand. At the same time, Rihanna's lingerie brand, Savage x Fenty, proved Victoria's Secret's marketing director by doing a sexy and impressive but inclusive runaway.               

Savage x Fenty runaways included all types of bodies and genders, like queer, trans, non-binary, and L sizes. Since the brand release, Savage X Fenty has expanded significantly. Rihanna is expanding her fast-growing retail empire by bringing Savage X Fenty to brick-and-mortar. The lingerie brand announced that it will open its first-ever actual location in Las Vegas, and it also has plans to launch forthcoming stores in four additional markets early this year. According to Savage X Fenty's official site, the shops are slated to open in Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Victoria's Secret's official site said: "The company reported a net loss of $71 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023. This result compares to net income of $24 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2022. The third quarter of 2023 operating loss was $67 million compared to the operating income of $43 million in the third quarter of 2022."