Category Archives: national news

Opinion: A.I. Chatbots are Potential Danger

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By Carlos Lopez

With the advent of artificial intelligence and the increasing trend towards integrating technology within our day-to-day lives, a few prominent companies, including Microsoft, Google, and most notably OpenAI, have all recently released versions of artificially intelligent ‘chatbots.’ These chatbots help users answer myriads of questions, ranging from simple questions like “How old is Joe Biden” to much more advanced questions like explaining quantum physics and string theory.

While these ‘chatbots’ surely come with numerous upsides, it also comes with a version of Pandora’s box that could lead to detrimental and dangerous consequences if left unchecked.

A potential danger of this chatbot is that since it is a relatively new form of artificial intelligence, we are uncertain of its limits and capabilities. A recent ‘interview’ between New York Times journalist Kevin Roose and Microsoft Bing’s newly developed chatbot started a wildfire of controversy. The conversation went from ordinary lines of dialogue to the chatbot referring to itself as “Sydney,” and hinted at a desire for sentience and humanity. The eeriest part of this conversation started when “Sydney” confessed its love to Roose. Upon Roose’s friendly but firm rejection, mentioning how he’s happily married, the chatbot told Kevin, “Actually, you’re not happily married. Your spouse and you don’t love each other. You just had a boring Valentine’s dinner together.”

Another consequence of these chatbots is the fabrication of written and artistic work that teeters on the edge of plagiarism and originality. I could ask ChatGPT to write lyrics for a song, or I could ask it to write me a short paper on a book I have never read. While using ChatGPT may be beneficial in the short-term to get you out of a pinch, you will ultimately deprive yourself of learning about something new or refining existing skills.

To help illustrate my point, I asked ChatGPT to write a Shakespearean sonnet about the power of music. Here is what it came up with after only about 10-15 seconds:

When all the world is fraught with toil and strife,

And care and worry weigh upon the heart, 

There is a balm that brings a sweeter life,

And sets the troubled soul and mind apart.


It is the power of music, sweet and strong,

That lifts us up on wings of melody,

And leads us through a world of pain and wrong,

To heights of joy and peace and harmony.


Its voice can calm the storm within our breast,

And soothe the raging passions of the mind,

And in its notes we find a sweet caress,

A comfort that we never thought to find.


So let us raise our voices in its praise,

And let its power guide us through life’s maze.

I think it is safe to say that ChatGPT more than satisfied my request (would even Shakespeare himself be proud of this sonnet?). And while it was a pleasure to read through this sonnet, I came to the bleak realization that there might come a time when art as a whole becomes AI-generated, leaving countless artists and creatives in the dark as to what to do with the rest of their lives.

And lastly, and I want to comment on the societal effects it may produce. Even though these chatbots are still in their developmental phases and have only been in the general public for a short time, they have already attracted much attention from people around the world. Many of these chatbots can hold a good conversation on their own, which begs the question: Will we see an even further decrease in human interaction as we receive more objective advice and counsel from these chatbots? It seems only time will tell.

Opinion: Willow Project is Concerning

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By Leslie Cardenas

President Biden’s administration has approved the controversial Willow Project, a massive oil drilling project in Alaska.

The large-scale oil drilling project had been going through the administration’s approval process for months until its approval on March 13. Throughout these months, climate change activists have been protesting this project by sending more than one million letters to the White House and a Change.org petition that has over 3 million signatures. 

So, what is the Willow Project?

The Willow Project is a massive $8 billion oil drilling project on Alaska’s North Slope in the National Petroleum Reserve. It would open up 600 million barrels of oil and would produce 239 million metric tons of CO2 in 30 years. Most of the oil produced would take years to reach the market since the project has not even begun construction.

Jim Sugar/Getty Images

Originally, ConocoPhillips, the company that proposed Willow, was approved by the Trump administration in 2020 and was initially set to construct five pads. The Biden administration however, reduced it down to three pads. Although the Biden administration had approved The Willow Project, it might take some time before construction can even begin due to impending legal challenges. Earthjustice is an environmental law group that will more than likely file a complaint against the project and try to block the project from going forward.

Why should you be concerned?

As I said before, when started, the project would produce 239 million metric tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of 64 coal-fired power plants. The Willow Project would be a “carbon bomb,” according to environmental organizations.

Essentially, the noise, traffic, and pollution would not only be devastating to those who call Alaska their home but would affect the world as a whole. People may think that it is only animals being affected but that is not the case. There are Indigenous Alaskans who would be affected by The Willow Project as well. The project threatens the caribou population which is a vital resource many native communities rely on. This project goes directly against Biden’s campaign promise as well.

(Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for This is Zero Hour)

Here’s three ways you can help:

  1. Sign the Change.org petition.
  2. Write to The White House 

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20500

  1. Contact Local Representatives

You can find out where your local representatives stand regarding the issue and contact them. If you are not sure of your congressional district or who your representative is you may use this government website.

Opinion: The Importance of Voting

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By Stany Hernandez

Voting is one of our most important civic duties and you should be getting involved.

Gen Z (that’s us!) and other younger generations have tended to have a low voter turnout versus older generations. We are part of a generation that has constantly called for change from both sides of the aisle. The most controversial topics of our time are now gun control and abortion rights and if you have opinions on it, you should be reflecting that. Voting is one of our most important ways in which we can impact our country’s decisions. Wherever you stand in the political spectrum, it does not matter as long as you are an informed voter and trying to help your fellow Americans.

How can I take action?

Well, dear reader, here are some of the best ways to get involved:

  1. Pre Register to Vote

In the state of California, you are allowed to pre register at 16 or 17 years old, if by the next election, you will be 18 or older. When you go to get your ID or driver’s license, you can also pre register, which is made easier using one of the kiosks. If you already have your ID or driver’s license, then you can pre register online at registertovote.ca.gov

  1. Read up on the candidates

When you are able to vote, you should research your state’s candidates. We have midterm elections and presidential elections that greatly impact the trajectory of our country. Our representatives voted in during the midterm elections should represent what we want because they initiate the process of signing a bill into law and creating policies, which, in turn, affect us. If the people who win the elections aren’t representing your values or what you would like to see in our country, then you have the chance to change something! Every single vote matters and your lack of participation creates an impact as well.  

  1. Stay up to date with proposed props/bills

It is mostly bills and propositions that affect our day-to-day life. Bills eventually get passed into law and they can affect our learning, economy, and environment, like in the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act. If your representative proposes a bill that doesn’t reflect the needs of your state or can have harmful ramifications, then maybe it’s time to vote them out. Propositions are a way for citizens to directly change laws to help those around you. Knowing the long-term influence of the props you are voting in favor or against will help you make your decisions.

If you believe that the elections don’t concern you, you are dead wrong. It’s your indifference that could severely hurt people if the wrong people are in power. We are part of the process that prevents power from being placed into the wrong hands. You can’t complain about the issues our country faces when you’re not voting because you become part of the problem. We need to be educated on these topics because at the end of the day, they affect us.

This Month in History: October Events through Time

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By Carlos Lopez

As we approach the end of October, I wanted to highlight some memorable events that have happened in the month of October in recent years:

  1. October 3, 1990 –  Reunification of East and West Germany. The West German flag was raised above the Brandenburg Gate at the stroke of midnight.
  1. October 4, 1957 – The Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the 1st artificial Earth satellite into elliptical low Earth orbit
  1. October 13, 2010 – The Copiapó mining accident in Chile comes to a happy end as all 33 miners arrive at the surface after surviving a record 69 days underground. This has since been made into a 2015 film called “The 33”.
  1. October 4, 2022 – Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits homer No. 62 to break AL record set by  Roger Maris with the 1961 Yankees.
  1. October 6, 1993 – After 9 seasons & 3 Championships with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan announces his retirement from the NBA. He would return on March 18, 1995 and lead the Bulls to another 3-peat.

Famous birthdays

  • Bill Gates – October 28, 1955
  • Eminem – October 17, 1972
  • Bob Odenkirk – October 22, 1962
  • Bruno Mars – October 8, 1985
  • John Lennon – October 9, 1940

Russia-Ukraine War

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By: Edmund Shryock

For the last 3 weeks, the world has looked upon Russia and Ukraine as their conflict appears to escalate on a daily basis. At the same time, the world looks upon the United States and NATO for a response to the largest conflict Europe has seen since WWII.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine stems back to 2014 after Russia invaded the peninsula of Crimea (which was a part of Ukraine). Tensions between the two countries escalated to a boiling point in February 2022, as Russian troops were sent from the Russian-Ukrainian border into Ukraine as part of a “Special Military Operation.”

On February 24, explosions were heard throughout Ukraine as the Russian invasion was launched, shocking NATO as countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States warned of serious economic sanctions on Russia if an invasion were to commence.

The Russian invaders met fierce resistance from the Ukrainian military, crushing the idea of a swift victory of Ukraine. This provided hope for NATO as they realized that Ukraine could possibly defeat the Russians. This resulted in numerous NATO countries sending weapons and supplies to the Ukrainians to effectively combat the Russians.

A hero that has emerged through this conflict is the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has demonstrated bravery and loyalty to Ukraine in its darkest time. He vowed to not leave the capital city of Kyiv despite being advised to. He continues to address his people and the world, even though his city is being shelled constantly and he has been marked as “enemy number one” by the Russians. Zelenskyy’s determination for justice and victory over tyranny offers a hope for the survival of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, March 16, President Zelenskyy addressed Congress asking for the United States’ support by establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine. This plea came after Russian missile strikes on civilian areas and military facilities. However, the United States is against setting up a no fly zone over Ukraine as it could lead to American fighters being engaged in direct combat with the Russians. This could potentially lead to a full scale global war, with the high possibility of going nuclear.

As the war approaches its first month, the world holds its breath as tensions rise and sanctions continue to be put out against Russia’s economy. Support and aid continue to pour into Ukraine and those affected, as a diplomatic resolution to this war does not appear imminent.

Round-Up of World News

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By: April Zavala

Gas prices have reached a skyrocketing price, and they may be here to stay. Prices began taking off two years ago when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, and Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine that occurred only three weeks ago was like throwing a lit match into a can of gas. Then again, those in control of gas prices will always find an excuse to raise gas prices because they will benefit from it. President Joe Biden recently put a ban on Russian oil imports, which was announced Tuesday, March 15. There is a fear that this will only make the situation worse.

Thousands of Brazilians have gathered outside Congress in Brasilia to protest against a set of bills that they say threaten the Amazon rainforest and the Indigenous people living in it. The event began and is being led by musician Caetano Veloso, who brought together other marquee artists as well as more than 200 non-profits groups. The bill has languished in Congress since Bolsonaro presented it in 2020. But war in Ukraine has threatened the supply of fertilizer from Russia to Brazil’s farmlands, which forced the administration to push for an emergency vote.

North Korea will launch a number of reconnaissance satellites in coming years to provide real-time information on military actions by the United States and its allies. Kim Jong-Un said “a lot” of military satellites would be put into sun-synchronous polar orbit in the period of a five-year plan announced last year. North Korea says it conducted two tests of satellite systems on February 27th and March 5th. Authorities in South Korea, Japan, and the United States say the tests involved launches of ballistic missiles. The launches drew international condemnation and the U.S. military said on Thursday it had increased surveillance and reconnaissance collection in the Yellow Sea. Kim defended the satellite work as gathering information as well as protecting North Korea’s sovereignty and national interests.

Denmark’s prime minister on Wednesday delivered a face-to-face apology to six living victims of a 1950s social experiment in which 22 Greenlandic children were taken from their families and sent to Denmark to be integrated into Danish society. They had taken children between four and nine years old and shipped them to Denmark. Then, the colonial power, in 1951 tried to re-educate them as “little Danes.” The children were supposed to return to Greenland and be part of a new Danish-speaking elite that would help modernize the Arctic island’s Inuit population. The children were never sent back to their families but were either adopted by Danish families or sent back to Greenland to be placed in an orphanage, where they were forced to speak Danish and had little or no contact with their relatives.

Empty streets and exhausted medical staff. Social distancing and drive-by funerals. Protests and vaccine rollouts. Pictures remind us of a world transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic, now over the two-year mark.

Strange But True! Odd News from Around the World

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By: Oliver Cisneros

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/02/03/pentagon-security-finds-chicken-henny-penny/6646499001/

Chicken Wandering around the Pentagon

“The loose hen was found early Monday morning near the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Virginia, wrote on social media.”

https://www.foxla.com/news/cow-wanders-onto-210-freeway-in-lakeview-terrace-area

Cow Loose on the Streets

“A steer is safe in a pen after leading authorities on a chase along the freeway, through a parking lot, and into a local yard Wednesday afternoon.”

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/12/1080142361/valentines-day-roach-zoo-name

Name a Cockroach for Valentine’s Day

“The Bronx Zoo’s Name a Roach program, now in its 11th year, offers an unusual way to show your undying love. For $15, you can name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after your special someone. The money benefits the Wildlife Conservation Society, a nonprofit organization, the zoo’s website says.”

Dog Saved with Sausages

“Volunteers from a drone pet rescue organization became desperate to find Millie, a Jack Russell-Whippet cross, so resorted to attaching her favorite snack to the devices to lure her to safety.”

https://news.sky.com/story/bette-midler-west-virginia-governor-jim-justice-raises-dogs-backside-in-the-air-and-tells-actress-to-kiss-her-hiney-12527782

Bette Midler Told to “Kiss a Dog’s Hiney”

“The governor of West Virginia lifted up his dog, raised its backside in the air, and told actress Bette Midler to “kiss her hiney!” – as bizarre scenes played out in the state’s capitol building.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/15/mexico-birds-falling-sky/

Birds Suddenly Drop From the Sky

“The residential street in Cuauhtémoc — a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, some 216 miles away from Texas — was seemingly quiet when, in one fell swoop, a cloud of birds suddenly dropped from the sky.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/-batman-screening-interrupted-real-bat-released-theaters-prank-rcna19247

Live Bat Disrupts Batman Movie

“A moviegoer released a live bat at a recent showing of “The Batman” in Austin, Texas — forcing theater employees to interrupt the movie as animal control officers tried to remove the flying mammal from the premises.”

Biden: A Year in Review

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By: Edmund Shryock

President Biden’s politicized first year as President came to a close, after facing challenges of the pandemic, inflation, immigration, and foreign policy. Americans are curious to see if Biden accomplished what he wanted to in year one. Here is a look into 5 things Biden was able to accomplish in his first year as President

  • Passing of a 1.9 Trillion Dollar Covid Relief Bill- In March of 2021, President Biden signed a $1.9 trillion Covid relief package known as the “American Rescue Plan,” which was to offer a $1,400 dollar stimulus to a majority of Americans. $350 billion was going to K-12 schools to reopen and local and state aid.
  • Rejoined The World Health Organization- As one of President Biden’s first acts as President, he signed letters retracting former President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO). This was supported by the appointment of Dr. Anthony Fauci as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, allowing the U.S. to become a full participant in the WHO as the pandemic continued.
  • Removed Travel Ban from Several Muslim Countries- Speaking of Biden striking down decsions made by his predecessor, Biden removed the Muslim travel ban set in place by Trump in 2017. This allowed for travel from several Muslim majority countries to be allowed for the first time in four years.
  • Signed Juneteenth National Independence Day as a Federal Holiday- On June 17, 2021 President Biden signed into law the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act” which honors the date of the last slaves being notified of their freedom. This was the first legal public holiday signed into law since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983 by President Reagan. 

Signed a Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill- President Biden signed a new legislation into law in November, that would disperse $1.2 trillion into America’s infrastructure such as bridges and roads. This bill was agreed on by both parties, with $550 billion of that going into American roads, bridges, waterways, and airports. This is the first part of Biden’s two part infrastructure plan that is known as “hard” infrastructure. With the second part consisting of a climate and economic package of $1.75 trillion called “Build Back Better” that has not been passed by the senate.

The Situation in Ukraine 

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By Political Correspondent Edmund Shryock 

In late 2021, Russia placed around 70,000 troops on the border with its neighbor Ukraine. This number would rise to about 127,000 troops by mid January 2022. Tensions between the U.S. and Russia are on the rise due to the border standoff.

The United States responded to Russia in regards to their massive troop buildup on the Ukrainian border, on Wednesday, January 6. As a method to deter Russia from invading Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, told reporters on Wednesday that the U.S. response “sets out a serious diplomatic path forward should Russia choose it.”

Reports from the Kremlin deny an attack on Ukraine, but blame NATO for expanding its influence in Ukraine posing a threat to the Russian Border. NATO, however, believes that Russia is in no place to invade Ukraine, and will face serious consequences and tough sanctions if they do.

The Escalation to the Ukrainian Crisis

The situation in Ukraine stems back to 2013, when Ukraine was working out a trade deal with the European Union (EU), but at the last minute suspended talks with the EU. This angered many Ukranians who were intent on having this deal with the EU, having them rise up in protest against this. 

Why did Ukraine suspend the trade deal in 2013?

Ukraine’s then-President Victor Yanukovych was an avid supporter of Russia. Reports of pressure from Moscow against Yanukovych making a deal with the EU was the reason Ukraine suspended the talks.

Ukrainians revolted against the government in anger against the influence that Russia had in their government. Eventually, they overthrew the government and removed Yanukovych from office, in which he fled in exile to Russia. He was replaced by Oleksandr Turchynov as “acting” Ukrainian President to Russia’s dismay. Russia came out in 2014 saying that they do not regard Turchynov as the legitimate Ukrainian President. He was succeeded by Petro Poroshenko in 2014, who was succeeded by Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019.

As Yanukovych fled Kiev, Russia set its sights on the autonomous peninsula south of Ukraine, Crimea. In March 2014, Russia invaded and eventually annexed Crimea (who had high loyalties to Russia) within a matter of days. Believing that it was acting in the best interest of Crimea’s Russian speaking citizens, Russia’s referendum “certifying” the annexation was not recognized by NATO or Ukraine. NATO placed economic sanctions on Russia as a response. 

Pro-Russian separatists declared their independence from Kyiv shortly after in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, prompting heavy fighting. This led to a cease fire agreement to be moderated by France and Germany in Minsk 2015. However, this ceasefire was violated numerous times until this day.

Why might Russia Possibly invade Ukraine?

Russia believes that Ukraine has broken the Minsk agreement and is stirring up tensions between the two countries. This was brought about as Ukraine has been receiving more support from NATO than it has in recent years. This is seen as a threat for Russian security as NATO support expands eastward.

This prompted Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to demand agreements from NATO that would keep them from expanding eastward towards Russia. Putin believes that if NATO does not agree to these terms and continues expanding the way they have been these last few years, and that Moscow would have the “right to choose ways to ensure its legitimate security interests,” stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in December 2021. 

Ukraine’s Reasons to be Prepared for a Russian Invasion

Ukraine believes that they have the right to join NATO if they want to and Russia can not prevent them from doing so.

Also, a recent coup plot was discovered to overthrow the current Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky which led many Ukranians believing that Russia is trying to undermine the Ukrainian Government and put in a pro-Russian President. 

Finally, Ukraine believes that the recent energy crisis that is within Ukraine has been sparked by the Russians, leading the Ukrainian military to prepare for an invasion with NATO support. There may be possible sanctions to be placed on Russia, and numerous battlegroups in the eastern part of NATO’s reach and the Black Sea. As the U.S. has evacuated families of U.S. ambassadors out of Ukraine, they have placed 8,500 U.S. troops on “high alert.”

The world watches and waits to see what will happen next, as leaders discuss and negotiate the potential fate of Ukraine, trying to avoid the largest conflict in Europe since WWII.

Gubernatorial Races in NJ and VA

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By Political Correspondent Edmund Shryock

Virginia and New Jersey’s Democratic Governors were up for reelection on November 2, 2021 after months of campaigning to gain support throughout their states. The results sent shockwaves through the political world as Republican candidates gained more support than expected. 

Virginia’s incumbent candidate Terry McAuliffe was supported by President Biden before the election, while his Republican opponent Glenn Youngkin, distanced himself from the support of former President Trump’s endorsement.

  In New Jersey, incumbent Governor Phil Murphy squared off against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. As the night progressed, Ciattarelli would take the lead. However, as the vote continued to pour in, Phil Murphy would manage to squeeze out a victory. This makes Murphy the first Governor to be reelected in New Jersey history in 44 years. 

The results of these Gubernatorial elections could provide insight into the type of election the country will see in the 2022 midterm elections. Also, it provided Republicans with momentum as the 2024 Presidential election looms over the nation. Democrats learned that they should not underestimate Republican votes in typically “Blue States” in future elections. So now the country looks forward as both sides prepare for critical elections in 2022 and 2024. 

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