A new form of discourse has entered American politics: domestic terrorism. Researchers agree that instances of political violence are on the rise, with no signs of stopping. Attacks like the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, and more recently, the New Mexico election shootings are inevitable byproducts of hateful political rhetoric coming from the United States’ rightmost extreme. The only...
On Tuesday, January 10th, 2023, Temecula City Council declared it will no longer recognize federal heritage months that celebrate and encourage cultural diversity in an attempt to “not exclude people.” Councilmember Jessica Alexander opposed the recognition of Pride month, arguing that conversations of individuals’ sexual orientations would be “dishonoring her god” and do nothing valuable for the running of...
There is yet another great divide among U.S. citizens when it comes to borrowed money. Although there are other forms of debt, student loans are often one of the primary topics that come up. While the issue is highly complex and requires multiple perspectives to understand what can be done to help those enduring the hardships being debt-ridden, most...
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,...