Summer edition

Top 5 places To Visit In 2022

Wylan (7th)

These are my picks of the best places to visit in the summer. Please be advised that none of the prices are present. This article is brought to you by the newspaper club, safe travels!

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a city located in Southern California and is a 6-hour drive away from the bay area. In LA, you can find many famous landmarks such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Zankou chicken, and the Griffith observatory. If you are feeling a little classy, be sure to go to the Beverly Hills area and also make sure to go to Rodeo Drive. While there, you can shop for expensive fashion brand products.

St. John - USVI

St. John is a beautiful tropical paradise in the Caribbean. This island is a part of an island chain known as the USVI (US Virgin Islands). Warm waters surround the coast and colorful reefs border the island. Expensive Catamaran yachts usually moor on its many wonderful beaches. Colorful fish such as the parrotfish feed off the algae and create an ecosystem for you to explore.

Greece

Athens is the capital of Greece and offers many historical landmarks. This includes the Parthenon, Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, Home of Physiology, and The Agora. Make sure NOT to touch any historical monument/artifact as there would be consequences. I recommend the Acropolis because of its many famous landmarks. It contains the temple of Athena, the Parthenon, and other well-kept sites.

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Enjoy sunny beaches and the boardwalks of Hermosa beach. The food there is awesome! In Rosmead, there is a restaurant called Summerrolls. They have fresh Vietnamese rolls and other types of food. There are also many great seafood restaurants on the boardwalks of Hermosa. If you are looking for an island experience, visit the channel islands. One special mention will be Catalina. It has a quaint little town and the clearest water in all of California! The Garibaldi is one of the many beautiful fish which inhabit this island.

But remember, always wear reef-safe sunscreen and never touch the corals. You can also rent a small boat from Low Key watersports. Make sure to rent a jeep because of the unpaved roads and small streets. It also takes some time to get to your destination even though the island is small. You can also snorkel in Scotts Bay where you can find the beautiful purple Flander. Some food spots include the Island Breeze restaurant located near Cruz Bay. The oxtail there is delicious and the service is excellent. The only problem with St. John is actually getting there. From here, you will have to take a short 3-hour flight to Houston and then a short 4-hour flight to St. Thomas. There, you will need to take a 30-minute ferry, and depending on the weather conditions, it may take longer. A good hotel I recommend is Gallows Point.

Make sure to bring water, the hike up will be hot and long. Random people on the streets will try to force you to buy a flower. Please do me a favor and ignore them. Ok back to the fun stuff! The islands in the Aegean sea are probably my favorite place to go! Personally, I recommend Naxos. It is a very relaxing island with crystal clear water, large beaches, and the best food you will find in Greece. If you are looking to take that famous picture of the Greek Orthodox Church, just go to Santorini. There are also the famous jagged cliffs on which the large city sits. Originally, Santorini was actually a volcano. If you rent a small boat you can find many hot springs. Trust me, you will be amazed by the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea.

Vancouver

Are you looking for the best place to escape from the summer heat? Well, I got the best place for you; I introduce you to Vancouver, Canada! Vancouver is my all-time favorite place to visit, from its stunning mountain view to its large city lifestyle. Vancouver also offers many parks where you can bike.

Australia

Australia is a country located near the Oceanic regions of the Pacific Ocean. There are three cities that I recommend you visit, one of them is Sydney. It is a large city south of Brisbane. There are many famous attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Darling Harbor, and the Botanic Garden of Sydney.

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And oh boy, Vancouver sure has A LOT of bikes. Vancouver also has its own little island called Granville Island. There you can shop for different types of seafood and vegetables. You can find art galleries that are located in converted warehouses. If you are looking for a place with Chinese culture, you can go to Vancouver's Chinatown. There are Chinese-themed restaurants, shops, and buildings. There is also the Sun Yat Sun 四合院（Traditional Chinese Garden). Finally, there are the famous Brockton Totem Poles. They are located in Stanley Park. You will be blown away by the greenery of Vancouver.

As of now, I believe the Sydney Opera house is only open for Operas but you should pay a visit. The nightlife in Sydney is spectacular and you will find restaurants with the best food ever! The next city is Hamilton. I would not really say that this is a city but you have to go there! Hamilton has the CUTEST animals in the world, including the wallabies. Just imagine a kangaroo but downsized and with bigger eyes. There are also kangaroos that normally hop around your lawn. Another thing is that only golf carts can be ridden. The island is so small that bigger trucks are only allowed for certain people. After a cruise ride from Hamilton, you will find the best beach in the world (Actually). This beach is called the White Sunday Beach. The sand here is so pure that when stepping on it, it will produce a Squishing sound. The Sand also swirls around in beautiful patterns. You need to go here! Finally, there is Cains. Although the city is marvelous, the main attraction is the great barrier reef. Most people believe this to be a weird place to swim because of the deep drop-offs. But in reality, the water is so shallow that it is nearly impossible to dodge all the corals. So if you do end up going here please dive into deeper spots.

Where are the 8th Graders Going?

Ryan & Connor (7th)

Please keep in mind, this list doesn't include all of the 8th graders.

History of 4th of July

Alia B (7th)

The 4th of July is a federal holiday where we celebrate America becoming independent from Britain. During the revolution, many colonists grew in favor of independence. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee’s motion calling for the independence of the colonies. That day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2nd would be celebrated as “the great anniversary Festival”. On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence (most of which was written by Thomas Jefferson). Although the vote for independence took place on July 2nd, from that day forth July 4th was celebrated as the birth of American independence.

The Effects of Sunscreen

Remy (7th)

Sunscreen protects against a range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation eminating from the irradiance of the sun. This range is referred to as Ultraviolet (UV), having a higher frequency than visible violet light. The UV light has energy units called quanta. Upon the photon’s impact on electrons within atoms of a human body, the energy could knock the electron off the atom; that atom is now missing an electron, and wants to rip an electron off a neighboring atom, causing damage. There are 3 classifications of UV. UVA, B, and C; from lowest to highest frequency. UVA causes degenerative aging of the skin, UVB leads to the familiar sunburn. UVC is more obscure in the public consciousness due to its literal obscurement by the Earth’s atmosphere. There is a UV index to display the energy of the sun ranging from 0 to 10. Anything greater than 2 is an imminent threat to your wellbeing. (Click the arrow to read more)

There are various terms used to describe sunscreen. Sunscreen protection is rated using SPF. SPF is only tested for its UVB protection. It is not a linear scale, rather a logarithmic scale. This means the higher the SPF, the less the actual sun protection percentage grows. The most common ratings are 15, 30, and 60. The protection values are as follows: 15, 97%; 30, 98%; 60, 99%. There is another scale called UPF. UPF is specifically for protective fabrics. The protection values are identical. Although UPF is tested for both UVA and UVB. “Broad Spectrum” refers to the sunscreen having the capability to block both UVA and UVB. Those are the only terms regulated by the FDA; other terms are immaterial and unregulated. Always look out for these terms when buying sunscreen.

There are two types of sunscreen; mineral and chemical based. Mineral based sunscreen active ingredients include Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. These sunscreens form a physical barrier against photons. They tend to be whiter, viscous, and offer greater protection than the alternative. Chemical based sunscreen absorbs the photons from the sun. Common ingredients include Tinosorb S and M, Mexoryl SX, Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Avobenzone, Homosalate, et alii. The chemicals in chemical based sunscreen are not as water resistant as Mineral based sunscreen; it is not recommended to use them in the water, as they could come off and contaminate the water.

In conclusion, select a sunscreen with at least SPF 45, broad spectrum, and mineral active ingredients to protect you from the sun’s irradiance in most circumstances. More than 45 SPF is better, but is usually not worth the price.

NFL news and information

Jasper (7th)

With the NFL draft ending and the season about to start in August, teams have made many trades and drafts to maximize their chance to win the Super Bowl. The biggest trades have been:

Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for $120,000,000 contract with the Miami Dolphins, including a $25,500,000 signing bonus, $72,200,000 guaranteed, an average annual salary of $30,000,000, and a $100,000 workout bonus

History of Yemen

Ethan (7th)

The early 17th century initiated the Ottoman Empire’s gradual downfall. As adjacent countries developed and modernized, The Ottoman Empire failed to advance, due to its internal problems (civil wars, severe inflation). After many invasions from Russia, Bulgaria, France, Italy, and others, the Ottoman Empire lost a large portion of its land in Europe and Northern Africa. Finally, in 1914, the Ottomans sided with the Germans in WWI. They Were defeated, and lost most of their land; remaining only in Turkey.

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Russell Wilson to the Broncos for 3 years, in his 4th year he will be an unrestricted free agent. Wilson will have a base salary of $19 million and a roster bonus of $5 million, his max salary cap will be $24M
Juju Smith-Schuster signed a one-year $3.25 million contract with the Chiefs. For a cash-strapped franchise, the $2.89 million cap hit was a bargain.
Von Miller signed a 6 year, $120,000,000 contract with the Buffalo Bills, including a $18,525,000 signing bonus, $51,435,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $20,000,000. In 2022, Miller will earn a base salary of $1,120,000, a signing bonus of $18,525,000, a roster bonus of $225,000 and a workout bonus of $100,000, while carrying a cap hit of $5,150,000 and a dead cap value of $45,000,000.

“Based on projected win totals, the Kansas City Chiefs have the hardest strength of schedule for the 2022 NFL season. The next hardest schedules, in order, are the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers,” says Sharp Football Analysis. The easiest schedule in the NFL is going to be the New York Giants, their projected win total is going to be 7.1. The hardest schedule will be the Kansas City Chiefs with a projected win total of 10.55. According to Sharp Football Analysis, the team with the highest win projection is the Buffalo Bills at 11.65 and the team with the lowest win projection is tied between the Houston Texans and the Atlanta Falcons at 4.45.

Over the course of this time, southern Yemen was under the control of the Brits, whereas North Yemen was a part of the Ottoman Empire. When the Ottoman Empire fell, North Yemen became an independent monarchy, where their king would rule until 1962, when he was expelled from his position for a new democratic government. Meanwhile, Southern Yemen, kept being ruled by Britain until 1967. Because of contrasting government styles, North and South Yemen’s relationship was volatile, with wars, and peace agreements, back and forth. In the late 1980s, ample amounts of oil was found in the vicinity of the border between North and South Yemen, and in 1990, instead of fighting, the two sides of the schism decided to unite, and share the oil.

(Not that) fun fact: As well as conquering jerusalem, Saladin sent turan-Shah to conquer yemen in 1174. Other (not that) fun fact: Amar is the 484th most common name in Yemen.

Why Summer & Winter Have Longer Days

Remy (7th)

We all live in a special moment in Earth geological and astrophysical history. The Earth’s perihelion coincides with the forward tilt of the Earth’s axis in the course of the solstices. This causes a solar day to be 20-30 seconds longer than the average 24 hours day. There are at least 2 commonly accepted definitions of a day, solar and sidereal day. A sidereal day measures the revolution of a meridian relative to the distant stars. Solar days measure a meridian relative to the sun. This causes solar days to be slightly lengthier than a sidereal day because as the Earth orbits around the sun, the sidereal vector is no longer congruent with the solar vector. It then has to rotate more to consummate a solar day. During winter, the Earth has its perihelion, making it closer to the Sun. The pull of gravity intensifies, leading to a faster orbiting earth. This elongates the angle θ in the diagram to the right. More rotation takes more time, about 8 seconds more time. But this is not the sole day protracting phenomenon. The other is the axial tilt of the Earth. During the solstices, when the maximum axial tilt is in effect, the poles of the Earth are aimed at the sun. The poles are where the meridians converge, so a narrower stretch of the sky can be aimed at the sun, therefore more rotation has to be completed to orient your meridian.

Perks of Taking a Road Trip

Jax (7th)

Nothing more relaxing than vacating away from home, and discovering a new place. On the other hand they tend to be expensive, take a large amount of planning, and stress. A good alternative is to go on a road trip! A high-class rental RV can cost anywhere between $ 175 to $275, which is practically half of what some vacation houses can cost at night. On a roadtrip you can spend time with family, visit landmarks, national parks, and museums. And you can take beautiful pictures while the cost can remain low if you plan well, and do a bit of research. You can start with just a car, and a tent or two, or you can go for something more luxurious and rent a camper van. Make sure to remain respectful of the nature around you if you travel. You can go with a more rural approach, or you can go through the major cities of the US while on the road. A good circuit road trip could be the image supplied above, but it really depends on what you are looking for. You could go for a mix, and go to Zion national park, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, (Mix in a little stay at Las Vegas) and Yosemite, and that could be your road trip. (This is an example, in no particular order.) And just remember, be reverent of the space around you, and always have fun!

Last Laugh
Mateo (6th)