Social and celebratory events can often include drinking. According to a 2019 national survey, 85.6% of people 18 and older reported that they have had alcohol at some point in their lifetime. But over the holidays, the amount of friend and family gatherings increases exponentially, especially with the extra free time associated with the season. On average, Americans will...
The first two weeks of the new year have brought strong winter rain storms to California. The bomb cyclone, that caused mass destruction across the state during the first week of January, has only been followed by more storms and record breaking rain. These large periods of rain are a positive sign for California's drought problem that is currently...
The traditional expectation of first dates for heterosexual couples is something that appears to be shifting in a way that makes getting the check at the end of dinner more awkward and uncomfortable. While men are often expected to foot the bill, the belief this is an unfair expectation is increasing. Overall, a 2019 survey found that approximately 63%...
As I watched shoppers browse clothing racks at my local mall this holiday season, I noticed that only a few people wore masks. It was a stark contrast from the past few years, defined by blue hospital masks, six-foot social distancing and constant hand sanitation. Observing peoples’ abandonment of masks during one of the busiest times of the year...
ChatGPT is a relatively new AI software from OpenAI originally developed as a language software designed to engage in conversations and has the capabilities to answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate questions. By recognizing and understanding human conversation patterns, ChatGPT is able to respond to questions posed by humans in a realistic way...
Telling someone to, “just go to therapy” seems to be a common refrain these days. After all, therapy no longer has the extreme social stigma it used to for many communities, and more people are now accepting it as a helpful tool to better one’s mental health. There is a tendency to treat therapy as a cure-all for one’s...
After almost six weeks of striking, the University of California graduate students and academic workers have agreed to negotiations with the UC system and have signed a new contract. The strike which disrupted most undergraduate curriculum across the nine UC campuses, and was described as “the biggest work stoppage ever at a U.S. institution of higher education,” has ended,...
The glitz and the glam of the new year brough sparkly appearances from those looking to impress others and feel their best going into 2023. When getting ready for the last party of the year, most people wearing shimmery glitter looks probably failed to stop and think about how their beauty products were manufactured. The mineral mica is found...
Across all nine University of California campuses, the academic student worker union, UAW 2865, has now been on strike for a week as contract negotiations occur with UC administration. UAW represents more than 19,000 teaching assistants, graduate student instructors, tutors and readers across the UC system. These student workers are asking for cost of living pay increases, child-care subsidies,...