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Cary’s Cupid: First Names Q-Z

Dear…

♡QUINN GROVES: I am so incredibly grateful to have you in my life and I hope you know how much I love having you as one of my best friends! Love you Quinny and I can’t wait until I can actually give you a safe hug! (Love, Anonymous)

♡RAELYN DOBYNE: hi raelyn :))) i love you so much!!! hope you have an amazing valentines day wife i’m soo proud of you for how far you’ve come and can’t wait to see what you do in college ! i’m also VERY excited for all of our upcoming college adventures :)) anyways LOVE U HAVE A GREAT DAY!!! (Love, Kenzie Dingess)

♡REBECCA NEILL: i love you!! (Love, Anonymous)

♡RICHA PURANIK: i love you so much, thanks for being there for me since seventh grade ❤ (Love, Adriana Aguilar)

♡RICHARD WILLIAMS: yo you’re a pretty cool guy you know that (Love, Richard Williams)

♡RYAN VAN HEUGTEN: Happy Valentine’s Day bro! Thanks for being a chill guy to hangout with in band and talk to. Hope you have a great day! (Love, Anonymous)

♡SAKIYAH ANDREWS: Best friend ilysm! I don’t know what I would do without you. Have a great valentine’s day.💗 (Love, Allyson Crater)

♡SAM BRYANT: Broooo… ❤ (Love, Aidan Price)

♡SARAH GOVERT: I know you already have a valentine but I wanted to let you know that I love you so much and thank you for all your love and support! ❤ (Love, Izzy Rivera)

♡SARAH GOVERT: Happy valentine’s love!! have an amazing day bestie i hope to see you again soon and give you the biggest hug ❤ (Love, Sam Weisz)

♡SARAH GOVERT, SOPHIA LY, JENN ADAMS, AND KAYLA ENGLER: luv u bb girl (Love, Nihar Godthi)

♡SARAH HARDIE, LILY CHAMBERLAIN, THERESIA BENNET, ALLISON FAIRLEE: Love you nerds, y’all are the light of my life. (Love, Claire Barnett)

♡SIERRA AKIR: Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you have a great day❤️ (Love, Anonymous)

♡SOPHIA LY: happy valentines day to my calc and research queen, I’m so glad we’re friends 🙂 (Love, Gabby LeBron)

♡SOPHIA MORRIS: You’re literally an amazing friend and I love you so much! Happy Valentine’s Day❤️ (Love, Anonymous)

♡SUMMER WESTBROOK: Hey thexthy. Happy valentines. (Love, Olivia Haroldson)

♡TASHA ABRAHAM: Thanks for being my someone to cry with on Sunday. College at uncc or state ig🙄 is going to be the best! Love you girl ready to blast tswift!! (Love, Anonymous)

♡THOMAS FISHER: Happy Valentine’s Day! (Love, Blythe Schick)

♡ZANII WILKERSON: we’ve gotten so close ever since your basketball season started. can’t wait to cheer you and the imps on at the football games. happy v day 💞 go go go #5 (Love, Anonymous)

♡ZITTLALY SANCHEZ: Happy Vday Z 💞💞💞 (Love, Anonymous)

Cary’s Cupid: First Names I-P

Dear…

♡ JACK MORGENSTEIN: love u bb ❤ (Love, Anonymous)

♡ JOCELYN MORGENSTEIN: can we like, marry each other? i love talking to you so much 🙂 i genuinely believe ur perfect xoxo (Love, Anonymous)

♡ JOHANNA JOSEFINA RAMIREZ-PEREZ: Here you are despite it all, you sure have come a long way. Hope to see you soar high! So much love for ya!! ❤ (Love, Anonymous)

♡ JUAN PATIÑO: I’m so happy to reach a year with you, and also having our anniversary near Valentine’s Day. You always make me want to be a better person for you, myself, and others. You deserve all the good things coming to you. Te amo mucho, babi! (Love, Anonymous)

♡ JUSTINE MOESCH: habadabadoo! (Love, Anonymous)

♡KATIE ARLEDGE: Love you girl and happy Valentine’s Day!! From your bestie❤️ (Love, Anonymous)

♡KATIE WOOLWORTH: Happy Valentine’s Day Katie! Hope it’s awesome! (Love, Anonymous)

♡KEVIN ORTIZ-LEON: Your sweet friendship refreshes my soul ❤️ (Love, Anonymous)

♡KIMBERLY FOWLER: Happy Valentines Day! I couldn’t ask for a better sister, love you bestie. ❤ (Love, Kaitlin Fowler)

♡LILLIAN HUFFSTEDTLER: Happy valentine’s to my beautiful girlfriend of three years ❤ so lucky to have you babe ily (Love, Sam Weisz)

♡LILLY HUFFSTEDTLER AND SAM WEISZ: my fascist females!! i love you two so so much, thank you for sticking by my side for all of high school even when I was an incredibly annoying freshie. (Love, Sarah Govert)

♡LINDSAY LYNCH: Hey Bin Happy Valentine’s day!! I hope you have the best day ever, love you kitty girl ❤ (Love, Anonymous)

♡LUKE MINOR: You are so funny and adorable. I wish you would notice me. XOXO (Love, Anonymous)

♡MADDIE GROVESTEEN: I hope neil patrick harris comes to your house to wish you a happy Valentine’s day xoxo ❤ (Love, Natalie Arndt)

♡MARIA OLMEDO: Sup loser (Love, Adam Harris)

♡MARY PEELE: Happy Valentine’s Day Mary! You’re such an amazing friend and person and I hope you have a wonderful day❤️ (Love, Anonymous)

♡MATTIE GREEN: Happy Valentine’s day Mattie!! Thanks for being my best friend, I love you so much!! Church and YG are so much better with you. (Love, Anonymous)

♡MEGAN: I first fell in love with you at the game place near the planet fitness, and had our first date at Barnes and Noble bookstore. It could not get any better until we graduate together. (Love, IBA)

♡MIA MESE: Happy valentine’s day! You’re amazing and I’m so glad I have you ❤ (Love, Gabby LeBron)

♡MICHAEL MCGUINNESS: Love you bro, you’re my favorite brother!!! (Love, Mackenzie McGuinness)

♡MIKAYLA JOHNSON: I know it’s not a singing Valentine but I wanted you to know today that you are cared for, loved, valid, appreciated and trusted. I adore ya and I hope you have a wonderful day!! (Love, Lauren Burke)

♡MILES CRANE: i love you dummy, i miss you a lot. hope you have a good day! i’ll see you soon loser (Love, Dayanara Lopez-Diaz)

♡MILES CRANE: you’re cute…sometimes (Love, Anonymous)

♡MISSY BRITO-ARZOLA: Love is in the air and your friendship makes me smell the love of life the way God created it! (Love, Anonymous)

♡NADIA SNESAREV: Hey Boo, I hope you have a great valentine’s day!!! (Love, Anonymous)

♡NAILA DIN: I voted for you for Junior VP you seem very cool best of wishes (Love, Anonymous)

♡NAILA DIN: hey naila! thanks for being the best little sister i could ever have! love you ❤ (Love, Amarah Din)

♡NATALIE ARNDT: Please let me touch your toes king Julian 🥺🥺(Love, Anonymous)

♡NIHAR GODTHI AND JACK MORGENSTEIN: thank y’all for sticking with my ridiculous talkative self since the cary tourney freshman year!! speech and debate and high school has been so much more fun w you guys, and i can’t wait to play so much more catan and jackbox in college (i WILL be winning). (Love, Sarah Govert)

♡NIHAR GODTHI: Roses are red, politicians are hogs, my guy, you’re kinda pog (Love, Jack Morgenstein)

♡NIHAR GODTHI: Don’t talk back to… – Asian Sarah 🙂 (Love, Anonymous)

♡OMAR SABIR: You my dawg u sexy beast (Love, Jax Fuller)

♡PATRICK JESSEE (MR. JESSEE): You’re one of the best teachers I have ever had, and I’m very appreciative for all that you’ve helped me with for Research and Speech & Debate! You give very helpful constructive feedback to help me grow and let me know when I’m already doing great work to know that I’m on track 🙂 (Love, Naila Din)

Cary’s Cupid: First Names A-H

Dear…

♡ALEXIS COPE AND SARAH GOVERT: i’m so glad i get to spend this crazy school year with y’all as editors in chief. i can’t wait for what the rest of the year has in store. happy vday ❤ (Love, Amarah Din)

♡ALEXIS KVIRING: happy v day jeeba leeba! (Love, Anonymous)

♡ALIZ GUTIERREZ RODRIGUEZ: Hope this valentines is a great one for you because you deserve it! (Love, Anonymous)

♡AMARAH DIN: thank you for the wonderful 6 years of friendship! you’re so kind and always a joy to be around! happy valentine’s day! ❤ (Love, Izzy Rivera)

♡AMARAH DIN, HARRISON BROWN, ELLA VITAGLIONE, GRACE LAMB, SARAH STEVENS, ZITTLALY SANCHEZ: Happy Valentines Day! Thanks for being such great friends and amazing people. Love y’all ❤ (Love, Kaitlin Fowler)

♡ANDREA SOO-HOO: roses are red, violets are blue, i love failing ap lang with you (Love, Sophia Ly)

♡ANDREA SOO-HOO: you’re super cool, thanks for sticking with me since freshman music appreciation class ❤ (Love, Gabby LeBron)

♡ANDREJ LOZEVSKI: Love you bestie (Love, Anonymous)

♡ANIAH WOODARD: oh my good lord, you’re so fine 🤤🤤 you’re like a ray to my sunshine, jelly to my peanut butter. girl, i’ve been thinking about you all day long… but you haven’t for me since i can’t tell you who i am 🤫 (Love, Anonymous)

♡ANIYAH BOULWARE: HEY ANIYAH YOU PROBABLY THOUGHT NO ONE WOULD DO IT EVEN THOUGH YOU POSTED IT ON YOUR STORY BUT HERE WE ARE AHSJFKGK ENJOYYYY ILYSM (Love, Anonymous)

♡ANIYAH BOULWARE: Happy Valentine’s Day❤️ (Love, Blythe Schick)

♡ANIYAH BOULWARE: hey bestie 🧍🏾‍♀️ (Love, Makayla Mazyck)

♡ANNA BURGGRAFF: I love you Anna bae, thanks for helping to bring me closer to God. U da best g birdbath (Love, Maddie Alger)

♡ANNA BURGGRAFF: HI BAE happy valentines day ❤ hope you’re having an amazing day :)) i know the past year hasn’t been easy but i’m so proud of how far you’ve come and i can’t wait to see what you do. love you so much <333 (Love, Kenzie Dingess)

♡ANNA CURTIS: yo what’s up. your hair in your profile pic is really cute. it reminds me of a friend’s hairstyle. hope you have a good life and better grades than i do. (Love, Richard Williams)

♡ANNA SALDIVAR: 1 year in, and it feels like it hasn’t been that long. I’m never bored around you and you always look out for me, I appreciate you and everything you have helped become. You truly are my star (Love, Anonymous)

♡ARTEM TIKHOMIROV: Hey Artem so I’m sure you’re wondering who this is but I just wanted to say that I’ve always thought you were cute and really chill. Btw yeah you know me 🙂 (Love, Anonymous)

♡AVA ADAMS: Hey love, I just wanted to let you know that you’re one of the few people that I trust and love dearly. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and for being there at my highest and lowest. I love you so much (forever and always) and I miss you ❤ (Love, Leslie Augillon)

♡AVA RAICH: happy valentines day ava ❤ (Love, Anonymous)

♡AVERY PHILLIPS: chocolate strawberry time?? happy valentine’s day!! (Love, Anonymous)

♡AVERY PHILLIPS, AVERY WRIGHT, LILLIE JESSEE, AND SOPHIA MORRIS: Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Thank you for all being the best friends I could ask for. Love you!! (Love, Regan Sumy)

♡BANKS RUSSELL: Roses are red, violets are blue, since you dropped ap psych, i no longer like you👎🏻 (Love, Anonymous)

♡BECCA NEILL: I am enamored by your presence. You are captivating. Eternally yours. (Love, Anonymous)

♡BECCA NEILL: What if I wrote my credit card information here. I’m just kidding I won’t do it I promise. Becca i hope you have an okay day. (Love, Madeline McGee)

♡BENJAMIN GOODRIDGE: happy valentines day, ben. thank you for being my friend through all four years of high school, even though we got off to a bit of a rough start. love you so much (Love, Adrian Neill)

♡BENNETT PERRY: happy valentines day bp. I love you to the moon (Love, Anonymous)

♡BLAKE WILSON: Happy Valentine’s Day bro! Thank you for being my fake bf when I needed one❤️ (Love, Anonymous)

♡BLYTHE SCHICK, RILEY TINGLE, RACHEL MOSER, ALEXIS COPE, JOLIANA FAVALE, AND GABBY LEBRON: Happy Valentine’s Day! I love seeing all of you and I miss you all so much!! (Love, Sophia Morris)

♡CALEB WERGHIS: Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope it’s a good one (Love, Anonymous)

♡CAMILLE BROADWELL, MADDY MCGEE, ANNA CURTIS, AND OLIVE MORTON: I love you guys!! (Love, Anonymous)

♡CAMILLE BROADWELL: First I sweep your wifey up then I take your daughter ride around a broomstick yea that’s Harry Potter. Wait til I drop these flames (I never … with lames) no sauce, no paper, no clout, juice. (Love, Madeline McGee)

♡COLE MEADE: loser, have a good day…okie (Love, Anonymous)

♡COLLEEN QUINLIVAN: Hey bestie I love you sooo much!!!!!! You’re my valentine<3333 (Love, Carsyn Gilmore)

♡DOMINIC MOORE: i’ve had a crush on you for 18 days. please call me (Love, Isabel Foster)

♡DYLAN YOUNG: HI DYLAN!! I wanted to do these for all my friends so that they know they’re loved and appreciated! Happy Valentine’s day!! (Love, Cin <3)

♡ELIANA SHEHATA: I’m Batman and you’re Robin in my heart

-xoxo your secret admirer (Love, Anonymous)

♡ELLIE BELL: Happy Valentine’s day Eleanor!! Thank you for being the sweetest person ever. Love you kitty girl ❤ (Love, Anonymous)

♡EMERSON PHILLIPS: I love you!!! (Love, Anonymous)

♡FRANCES ANNE DOMAGTOY: You are such an amazing person and friend. I hope this Valentine’s Day is amazing, ily bro❤️ (Love, Anonymous)

♡GABRIELLA RODRIGUEZ-LEBRON: Hey I miss you I’m sure I’m with you by the time you read this but I’m very glad to have you and happy almost-one year (Love, Bennett Perry)

♡HANNAH ALPS: My Gal Pal since freshman year who I walked aside when we would make jokes about Mr. Woods. We had the best times together when we hung out at Dave and Busters late at night And ran out on the sig. You are my girl and only will be until we graduate D: jk..:) Peekaboo! forever <3. (Love, Josh Doyel)

♡HANNE HANSEN, AVA PETERS, CHARLEY GILEWICZ, AVERY WRIGHT, AVERY PHILLIPS, REGAN SUMY: Happy Valentine’s Day! You guys are all amazing and perfect and I hope you have a great day! (Love, Sophia Morris)

♡HARRISON BROWN: Our freshie daily walks are so missed. Going on four years love you so much<3. Really went through the annoying freshman stage to the annoyed seniors:) ily. (Love, Anonymous)

♡HENRY LETOURNEAU: From the moment I laid my eyes on you I knew you were the one. What a plot twist you were. Forever yours. (Love, Jessice Ryall)

♡HOLLYN BEATTY: Love u bestie (Love, Lindsay Gorman)

A Look Into The Past: The Cary Towne Center

By: Avery Phillips

At the end of January, the Cary Towne Center, once known as the Cary Village Mall, closed once and for all. The students of Cary High have a personal connection with the Cary Towne Center as it has been a hotspot for socializing since the 1980’s. Even when the mall was deemed “dead,” students would often meet after school and use the walkways and empty lots as a place to meet with friends. But, believe it or not, the Cary Towne Center was once full of stores and bustling with activity. Have you ever wondered what used to be in those empty lots? Let’s take a look back in time and see.

Time-Out Arcade

Time-Out was a popular arcade chain that could be found in malls all around eastern America. The arcade’s name was originally Time-Out Tunnel, which was appropriate considering the design. The arcade’s entrance and pathways had a rainbow-like tunnel theme and the interior was colorful and fun. Time-Out’s peak in popularity was between 1979 and 1984.

Rite-Aid

Though it may be difficult to imagine now, there once was a Rite-Aid pharmacy at the front of the Cary Towne Center. Though it offered a variety of everyday use items generally found in drugstores, it was set apart from its competitors with their sale of mixed nuts in a revolving heating rack. The pharmacy offered a place for students to grab a variety of necessities such as school supplies and snacks pre-Harris Teeter.

Cousin’s Pizza

Cousin’s Pizza was a big hit at the Cary Towne Center during the 80’s and 90’s. They had an open kitchen so the customers were able to watch as employees flipped and threw dough into the air. Students could often be found stopping by during their lunch break.

Aloha Restaurant

According to @Laurenwins on City-Data.com, Aloha Restaurant was “Chinese with a vague Hawaiian theme.” They had open candle flames on the tables in which chicken or pork wrapped in aluminum could be cooked over.

Honorable Mentions:

K&K Toys

Not to be confused with KB Toys, who was also in the mall at the same time, he similar names are purely coincidental.

The Surf Report

This store was designated for beachwear and surf boards.

Family Bookstores

This local bookstore was later replaced with B. Dalton Booksellers.

The Legendary Life of Sir Captain Thomas Moore

By: Kiera Kofkin-Hansen

The pandemic has been raging for almost a year now, and many individuals along with countries have started to take their relief even further: vaccination distributions, stricter quarantines, fundraises, and simple “Thank You’s” to the front-line workers. One man spent the last few months of his life dedicating it to the people of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service.

Captain Sir Thomas Moore passed away on February 2nd of this year (only two months before his 101st birthday!!!) and lived an extraordinary life. Born in 1920, Thomas Moore grew up to serve in the British Army during WWII in India and Myanmar. After the war ended, he served another 15 years in the British Army, earning himself the title of Captain.

Once he retired from the British Army as a heavily decorated soldier, Captain Thomas Moore went into business, heading not one, but two successful businesses in the roofing and concrete industries. He thoroughly enjoyed photography, and was a member of the Keighley and District Photographic Association. On top of running successful businesses and being an avid photographer, Moore also spent much of his life competitively racing motorcycles, purchasing his first bike at just 12 years old.

The most astonishing achievement of Captain Thomas Moore however was the amount of money he raised for the National Health Service (NHS). Moore made a pledge on April 6th 2020 at age 99 that he would walk 100 laps around his backyard before he turned 100, with the hopes of raising £1,000 for the NHS. By the time his campaign ended on his 100th birthday however, Captain Thomas Moore had raised £39 million. So many people from within the UK and around the world were in awe of the dedication this veteran, who had lived for a century, had in order to help the people working hardest during these trying times, that they raised money that surpassed his wildest dreams.

Captain Thomas Moore became a national inspiration: he received awards, honorary songs and bus stops made in his name, and most of all was knighted by the Queen of England herself. Making her first public engagement since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, on July 17th, 2020, Queen Elizabeth II knighted Captain Thomas Moore after he was nominated by the Prime Minister of England for the honor (which is where the “Sir” comes into his name).

Sir Captain Thomas Moore sadly passed away early 2021; however, he will forever be known as an inspiration to the United Kingdom and the world as a whole.

The Need for Trees

By: Kiera Kofkin-Hansen

Trees are one of nature’s greatest gifts: they provide beautiful scenery, act as an incredibly accurate what’s-the-season-meter, regulate and supply oxygen for our very lungs to enjoy, as well as being vital members of ecosystems across the globe.

If you’ve ever spoken to an adult who’s lived in Cary for at least twenty years, they’d probably tell you how this area used to be “all dirt roads and trees”… or something along those lines. Due to the booming population of Cary, it is no longer a string of dirt roads stretching for miles, but more like hundreds of neighborhoods strung between outdoor shopping malls and schools. Although the economy of Cary is surely grateful, how does the ecosystem of Cary feel about the constant development?

On average, 15.3 billion trees are cut down worldwide, and Cary is no exception in regards to the slaughter of these large barky, leafy delights. Trees should be so much more important to us than building new infrastructure, and here’s why:

-They produce oxygen… you know… the air we breathe… to survive.

-Trees are vital to the survival of various ecosystems: providing housing, food, nutrients, shade (which I’m sure you all enjoy on a hot, North Carolinian summers’ day), and improves and enriches the soil which it is planted in (which in turns allows us to plant crops/other aesthetically pleasing plants as well).

-They single-handedly can fight off climate change. Well, maybe not single handedly per say, however they play huge roles in cooling down the planet to ensure it takes a couple hundred thousand more trips around the sun, healthily!

-+100’s of more fan-tree-stic things!

I’m not naive enough to think that development will ever halt worldwide in order to protect the trees. However, there are things you can do yourself that will do a lot more good than you probably realize. Saving paper, for example, is the simplest way to protect trees. Paper is made from the bark and wood of trees that have been chopped down for that purpose among others; therefore, if you used a little less paper in your daily life (which I’m sure will be such a struggle considering we now attend school on our computers), it could go a long way in the future of keeping more trees tied to their roots. Another simple tree-saving idea many probably don’t think about is to plant a tree! Depending on the species of course, growth rates will be drastically different, but if you go out and plant a tree seed in the ground today, I promise the world will be better off for it.

Trees are very important, and collectively as a human race we should treat them as such. There are many other ways you can effectively help to protect the trees, so go and research everything YOU can do for the good of our beloved planet and make a difference within your personal ecosystem!

COVID-19 Quarantine 101

By: Regan Sumy

We’re all coming to the point where we want quarantine to be over, or at least remove some boundaries. Whether you wish you could go to the mall with your friends, get into a routine of going back to school on a normal basis, or simply take a walk with a neighbor without distancing and wearing masks, we’re all feeling the same way.

I know I am ready for all of those changes, but for a better future, we must do better now. I get it, you’re over living through a world pandemic, but we have to make smart decisions for a bright, healthy future. Together, we can be better.

I decided to make a list of things you can do in quarantine (at home, by yourself) to prevent boredom, keep your mind and body in a healthy state, and remind you of the world outside of technology:

-Turn on “vibey” lighting, your favorite playlist, and dance in the mirror.

-Put all electronics on the other side of your room, and crawl into bed for a good nap.

-Sit on your back porch and listen to a podcast or read a book accompanied by the sound of nature.

-Write a letter to a friend, family member, or your favorite celebrity.

-Get out a sheet of paper and write down everything you are thinking about – then shred it up and recycle it.

-Do a workout (optional- get a friend on FaceTime or Google Meet to join you!)

-Turn on relaxing music and do a yoga or stretching session.

-Do some coloring, drawing, painting, or anything related to your favorite style of art.

-Write a short story, poem, journal entry, etc. on what is happening in your life at that moment.

-Walk around your house and say something positive to everyone (yes, even pets). Just make someone laugh!

-Freestyle on any type of instrument (yes, your vocal cords count too).

-Get dressed up and do an at-home photo shoot.

-Do a craft! Sewing, knitting, Legos, origami, or anything else really.

-Play a board game with your family (or set up a Kahoot game on Google Meet or Zoom to play with family and friends)

-Bake or cook a new recipe.

-Cook a meal (or dessert) for your family.

-Go through your room- clothes, junk drawers, all those nooks and crannies. Out with the old and in with the new!

-Clean everything in your room- bed sheets, clothes, desks, mirrors, door handles.

-Clean your bathroom (if it is shared, see if the person you share it with will help!)

-Take a bath, paint your nails, and do a spa day!

-Go out in your yard and run around, practice your favorite sport, or play with your pet.

-Offer to help someone in your household with something (a chore, work, etc.)

Those were my favorite ideas, and I have even done some over quarantine. I highly encourage you to choose something (though it doesn’t have to be from this list) and give yourself the sensation of being productive. Personally, it has been hard not to just sit around watching TikTok or scroll through Instagram all day, but I am becoming mentally healthier because I chose to spend time away from screens. And, as I said before, I highly recommend doing the same thing.

Thanks for reading!
Want some more ideas and inspiration? Check out Amarah Din’s “Bored? A List of Things To Do”

COVID-19 Vaccine: What’s In Store for 2021?

By: Celia Pope

As most of you have likely heard at this point, there is finally a vaccine- a light at the end of the tunnel! However, it can be easy to let this light blind us from the reality that still is the COVID-19 virus. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be hopeful for the future, but I do think that it is important to know the facts.

According to CNN and the CDC, Dr. Anthony Fauci has stated that the distribution of the vaccines was slowed by the massive spike in holiday cases and travelling. However, he fully expects that around April we will approach “open season,” a time in which the vaccine should be available to everyone, meaning that we could begin to achieve some form of herd immunity by spring of 2021. If by the end of the summer 70%-85% of the population is vaccinated, we should be able to achieve good herd immunity and may even have some form of normalcy come fall. He also predicts that we could begin to achieve some form of herd immunity by spring of 2021.

In order to understand how we will achieve “open season,” it is also important to understand the order in which the population will be vaccinated.

ORDER OF VACCINATION (according to the CDC):

-Healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents

-Frontline essential workers and people age 75 and older

-People age 65-74 and people age 16-64 years with underlying medical conditions and other essential workers

This vaccination is extremely important to the future of the United State’s fight against the COVID-19 vaccine. Not only will it make it substantially less likely that you will get the virus, but if you do get the virus, it will keep you from getting seriously ill. Though scientists aren’t completely sure if the vaccine will stop you from being a spreader, they are hopeful that the vaccine will have this benefit as well.

Again, it is important to learn more about this vaccine, especially if you or a family member are going to be receiving it in the near future. Inform yourself; after all, you are experiencing scientific history right before your eyes!

Joe Biden: The 46th President of the United States

By: Alexis Cope

This afternoon, Joseph R. Biden Jr. was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States.

With his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, at his side, the new president took the oath of office on a Bible that has been in his family since the 19th century.

Those in attendance included several members of the Senate and Supreme Court Justices, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, the Obamas, the Clintons, the Bushes, and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Trump, as he announced, did not attend; the last time a sitting president failed to be present at his successor’s inauguration was in 1869, when Andrew Johnson refused to see Ulysses S. Grant take office.

In his first speech addressing the nation as president, Biden spoke emphatically about unity and about restoring America to “an America that never gives up, never gives in.” He promised, “I will be a President who seeks not to divide, but to unify. Who doesn’t see Red or Blue states, but a United States….if we can decide not to cooperate, then we can decide to cooperate.”

Perhaps to drive home this point, VP Harris, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and former Secretary of State Clinton all wore outfits in varying shades of purple, a color which is a mix of both red and blue.

Due to COVID-19 and enhanced security, there was a very small crowd presence at the Capitol. Instead, the inauguration proceedings were streamed across several viewing platforms, with hundreds of thousands watching. A live art installation, the “Field of Flags,” covered the National Mall; the flag of every state and territory was present, representing all those who could not be there in person.

This afternoon, Biden and Harris, accompanied by family and with military escort, exited their respective vehicles and, walking, led the inauguration parade to the White House, where the final proceedings of the day will take place.
To read the full transcript of Biden’s inaugural remarks, visit his website here.

Rapper MF DOOM Pronounced Dead at Age 49

By: Malachi Williamson

Recently, the well respected rapper Daniel Dumile, mainly known by his masked persona, MF DOOM, has passed away. His wife, Jasmine Dumile, told the public through various social media posts. Jasmine released this statement on DOOM’s instagram:

“The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for. Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family. Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off. Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be. My world will never be the same without you. Words will never express what you and Malachi mean to me, I love both and adore you always. May THE ALL continue to bless you, our family and the planet.”

The news was released December 31, 2020, two months after DOOM died on October 31, 2020, giving his wife and family time to grieve. No cause of death has been stated.

MF DOOM was born in London in 1971. He and his family moved to Long Island, New York when he was a kid, and he started performing and producing hip hop as a teenager under the stage name Zev Love X. He and his younger brother Dingilizwe, known as DJ Subroc, formed the group KMD and put out a critically acclaimed debut album, Mr. Hood, in 1991. Their second album was set to release in 1993, but DOOM’s brother died after being hit by a car. Five years later the rapper re-emerged as MF DOOM, wearing a mask modeled after the Marvel villain Dr. Doom.

DOOM spent his whole career wearing his signature mask. This was due to him wanting to place an emphasis on what he sounded like in his music versus what he looked like, as he stated in an Red Bull interview. He also said, “the mask really represents to rebel against trying to sell the product as a human being,” referring to corporate companies giving their artists “gimmicks” to start selling music. DOOM or any of his alter egos didn’t really get personal in his music so as to not lead back to him as a person, making him a lowkey presence in the industry and leaving nothing connected to his name. He worked on his personas alone and built the image of being the “Supervillain” of rap.

MF DOOM’s most acclaimed albums are Operation: Doomsday, where he talks about his return to the rap scene after KMD disbanded. The album Mm..Food talks about a plethora of topics such as backstabbing friends, bad rappers, and women all incorporated with food bars; Madvillainy is about DOOM being the “illest villain” accompanied by Madlib production. He is praised for his lyrical prowess, off kilter flows, and complex rhyme schemes displayed in these albums. His influence spreads far and wide in the rap industry, most notably in rappers such as Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, and Joey Bada$$.

Many artists and celebrities have expressed their condolences across social media, like Aminé and Adult Swim who tweeted out “RIP MF DOOM,” Tyler, The Creator tweeting “safe travels villain,” and Q-Tip tweeting “RIP to another Giant your favorite MC’s MC .. MF DOOM!! Crushing news…”.

Sources: https://medium.com/@bradleydlambert/understanding-mf-doom-the-best-mc-with-no-chain-ya-ever-heard-2a05c713df1d