6. Tigers 2024

The Separation of Powers “Separation of powers” is a phrase that we likely have all heard of either through our history classes or the media. To define it, separation of powers is a model that “divides the government into separate branches, each of which has separate and independent powers” (“ Separation of Powers ”). Generally, this consists of the three branches we know: the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch. An evident example of separation of powers being used in a government is, of course, the United States. “Separation of powers” is also known as “trias politica,” and was originally devised from Baron de Montesquieu, an Enlightenment philosopher. Monstesquieu claimed that “to most effectively prompt liberty, these three powers must be separate and acting independently” ( Separation of Powers: An Overview ). The Founding Fathers of the United States were also influenced by Mostesquieu’s idea of “trias politica” and incorporated it into one of the mo...

The hit PlayStation video game franchise God of War by Santa Monica Studio tells the story of Kratos, a warrior and captain of a battalion in the Spartan army. In an intense, extremely one-sided battle, Kratos calls upon the Greek god Ares to prevent the complete obliteration of his battalion. After granting him his requested power by fusing his arms with the blades of chaos, Kratos goes on a murderous rampage, killing anyone standing in his way. Achieving victory for Sparta, Kratos is manipulated by Ares and continues his rampage, eventually leading him to an ancient temple where he brutally eliminates the temple’s worshippers. Blinded by his rage, he unknowingly murders his own wife and daughter. After realizing he was deceived, Kratos is consumed by extreme depression and is overrun with a desire for revenge. Kratos avenges his family by killing Ares and takes his title as the God of War. Fearing that his son would overthrow him, Zeus turns Olympus against him and murders Kratos. Af...

Smooth jazz when I'm studying. Rap when I'm working out. R&B when I'm on a late night drive. There's a genre of music for almost all the activities in my life. But most of the time, music doesn't relate to what I'm doing; it relates to what I'm feeling. According to the Smithsonian Museum, music dates back to at least 35,000 years ago. For millennia, it has been a fundamental part of human nature. It is known to most that music has an impact on our emotions, but how? Our limbic systems, which process emotion and control memory, are activated when we listen to music. Music has can also trigger dopamine, a neurotransmitter that releases feelings of happiness or excitement. Slow music such as jazz can make us more focused and calm. picture of Travis Scott from genius.com As a violin player, I have firsthand experience with how playing an instrument can impact a person. It has made me more confident in my abilities as I often perform in public. Before the vi...

     One’s power is equivalent to their economic, political, or social influence. It represents how much you can change the outcome of events. Before agricultural developments led to civilization, when humans hunted for food and lived in caves, the most powerful was the physically strongest. Because conflicts were decided by fights, those with the most physical strength were deciding factors in events. Power can also come from connections or heritage. Feudal systems especially emphasized social class and being born into royalty meant societal power over others. But in today’s society, with power being the ability to influence other events, most people would agree that Elon Musk has more influence than any professional fighter or weightlifter.      Many different factors can determine one’s power and influence. In politics it is the one with the most charisma, who is able to persuade voters to his side. Recently our school held an election for Associate Stu...

Have you ever found yourself worried because you feel like your friend is upset with you, but they won't tell you whether they are or not? Or have you had a disagreement with the person you love because of a misunderstanding? Have you ever been in a situation where it was hard for you to express your true emotions to someone? Humans experience these situations all the time, it's simply a part of our nature.  However, that's why we humans need to communicate.  Humans have come up with many ways to communicate with one another, whether it is verbally speaking, sign language, writing, or even eye contact or body language, they are all useful tools that people use to express their thoughts and feelings.  hi People use language to express their anger, sadness, and happiness. It can sprout friendships, enemies, and romance. We need language to do everyday tasks; from ordering food to navigating life. It is so simple for us to communicate with others, so why do we find ourselves...

Picture a world controlled by the vast amounts of data and information. Visualize this revolutionized society with aspects like the way you live, work, and interact with others all affected by numbers and data.  Now open your eyes and see the world around you. What I am describing to you is the modern world.  Fueling scientific discoveries, raw data and the quest for knowledge is what caused the creation of every single technological advancement today. For all intents and purposes, information is the cornerstone of technology. As such, knowledge is a power capable of shaping the entirety of society. Its affects can be seen everywhere and it can be noticed that technology has a hold over a multitude of aspects of our lives. Technology allowed for things like the printing press to exist. Revolutionary inventions were caused by knowledge, and revolutionary inventions created more knowledge.  Another way information demonstrates its capabilities is in the form of mass media. ...

Picture from Google   “Some people are worth melting for”(Olaf) It’s almost Valentine's Day, my least favorite day of the year, not because I don't believe in love but mostly because I don't have anyone to spend that day with.  Growing up I held a misconception that Valentine's Day is meant to be celebrated with a girlfriend or boyfriend, husband or wife. The real purpose of Valentine's Day is to spend it with your loved ones, and love can be categorized as romantic love, friendship love, or family love.  While Valentine's Day is cringy, I have come to appreciate it as one of the most powerful days of the year—because love is powerful. The word "love" may seem simple, but it has much more meaning and power. I have recently noticed many people around me yelling out “I love you”, forgetting the real value and power of the word “love”. Love is not just a verbal expression; every “I love you” comes with certain responsibilities and promises. If you say “I ...

Dimensions of Power Power .   The word itself holds a great deal of authority. In fact, power is defined as “the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events” ( Oxford Languages ). The scope of the types of power in society is extensive to say the least. In efforts to classify power, Steven Lukes, a British political and social theorist, categorized power into three separate sections, or dimensions. The first dimension of power is known as the decision-making power. Decision-making power is when one person uses power “to achieve compliance by others who change how they behave as a result of the power being exerted” (“ The Three Faces of Power ”). Examples of this type of power can be seen in governments when a law is passed and the population has to abide by it.  The second dimension of power is called the non-decision-making power. This type of power is not only about making decisions (as the first dimension of power) but it is als...

Everyone in America should know what "The Hunger Games"  is.  Recently, the franchise has been thriving again due to the release of the movie "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," allowing many to reflect back on how incredible Suzanna Collins' creations are.  Many themes of power revolve around her series.  (Citizens of Panem were restricted by the Capitol. The Capitol would exploit their power by abusing their citizens to keep them "under control." Individuals were impeded from any acts of rebellion; anyone caught had to suffer severe consequences.)  Father and Son (Basically). During Katniss and Peeta's Victory Tour, an old man from District 11 throws up the salute that Katniss does to show her respect for Rue, a young girl from District 11 who participated in the Hunger Games with Katniss. However, at this point in the storyline, the salute is seen as an act of rebellion. This was enough to warrant the execution of this old man.  This scene tru...

Since the start of the digital age in 2002, human life has been vastly altered through the creation of the internet and other massive technological creations. I can’t even remember the last time I was doing homework without simultaneously listening to music. Humanity has become immensely empowered through numerous technological advancements. For instance, individuals can access vast amounts of information through a simple google search, a tool unavailable to individuals before the 1980s , eliminating the need for traveling to a store to purchase a book with the answer. A massive benefit technology has is empowering individuals through communication. In the past, individuals were forced to communicate through letters which took up long amounts of time to reach the recipient. With the invention of the telegraph, people can communicate with long distance relatives significantly impacting their mental health. So if technology provides us all these benefits, how would society survive witho...

  Keane Week 9: Competition Competition arises in various circumstances - business, nature, academics, and sports. It is almost inevitable that when there are limited resources, two or more separate parties or individuals will oppose each other. After all, the more one person earns, the less the next person gets.  Competition seems healthy, two rival sports teams can push each other to improve, and thus both sides benefit in their quest to outdo the other. However, one team's improvement does not detract from the other team's ability. When the resource is limited, and one’s success directly means another person's loss, the circumstances change. Competition is no longer mutually beneficial. For instance, in nature two squirrels can compete for a minimal food supply. And if the same resource were to be shared between hundreds of squirrels , it's likely the competition for food would increase, and the amount of food would not be able to support all of the individuals, caus...

Power is an interesting and, well, a powerful word. It has many meanings in its many contexts.  However, I’m not talking about electricity or the energy used to do work. I’m talking about the power that people can exert in society.  In society, power comes in many forms. There is power in one’s political status, economic status, social status and relations, or even knowledge. Power can come from connections with established individuals, or even one’s gender. This power allows these individuals with it to do things individuals without that power may not have been able to do.  They could, for example, popularize a diet. Social status, or even being known as an expert in a scientific field, lets this happen. Or perhaps they could influence legislature of the government. Or even just being able to eat what they want everyday. In an essence, it’s the ability to make things happen and/or control things.  Power can catalyze reform for the betterment of society. Political fi...

Spanish, French, and Chinese. These are some of the most common language electives offered across high schools in America. But is elective really the correct term if we’re forced to take a minimum of two years in order to graduate from high school? Personally, I took three years of French starting in eighth grade. It was not by choice. Since elementary school I wanted to learn Spanish, but budget cuts removed the availability of Spanish for 7th graders. I was disheartened at first but remembered that I could just take Spanish in 8th grade. When I got my schedule for 8th grade, instead of Spanish 1 I saw Newspaper and Journalism, an elective that I had absolutely no interest in. After several phone calls to Thornton’s counselors, my mom got me moved from Newspaper and Journalism to French 1, the only language class that was still available.  Coffee Shop in Paris with my Family My first year learning French was online. In the beginning, I was focused and determined to learn the lang...

  Picture from google  “With great power comes great responsibility,” said Uncle Ben to Peter Parker. I agree with that statement.  This powerful statement emphasizes everyone should use their power wisely. This statement is not only applicable to superheroes but also to our daily lives, as power can manifest in various forms.  A person can easily misuse their power and become corrupt. Power in the wrong hands of a person can lead to many destructive outputs. But if power is used for a good cause it can be beneficial to everyone. Spiderman used his powers to save New York from many bad guys and similarly, many people in our community have used their power to contribute positively to society. Philanthropists such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates used their wealth to help out in the community. Warren Buffett used his money to help multiple charities and donated “more than $46 billion to charities”.   Bill Gates started his charity, the Bill and Melinda Foundation ,...