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The United States is putting Saudi Arabia on the fast-track to nuclear weapons
ColumnApril 23, 2019
How the Department of Energy’s decision to approve the sale of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia puts the whole world at risk Last week, the Department of Energy approved seven different companies’ requests to engage in an exchange of nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia. Critics have warned that the maneuver may ultimately assist in putting […]

New climate committee is off to a bad start
ColumnApril 23, 2019
Climate committee is just what many progressives expected — a waste of time In the backwards problem that is climate change, where the perpetrators won’t live to see the consequences, it is us, the youth, who have the most to lose. The gap in the sense of urgency between the young and the old has […]

At the crossroads of environmentalism and consumerism
ColumnApril 23, 2019
Despite being committed to their buyers’ values, major outdoor brands like Patagonia are capitalizing on environmental issues — and it’s not sustainable Patagonia puffy jackets are a given on college campuses at this point, ubiquitous to the point that I’ve seen more than one starter-pack meme declaring them a staple of the “basic” college girl. […]

How microtransactions are saving the video game industry (and your wallet)
ColumnApril 22, 2019
Microtransactions give the player the ability to support the games and developers they love When Prince Harry visited a YMCA to talk about mental health among young people a few weeks ago, he brought up an absurd idea to ban the videogame “Fortnite.” While his wish to ban “Fortnite” was unsubstantiated, he identified a core […]

Amazon’s new police state
ColumnApril 19, 2019
Amazon’s Rekognition could be the path toward authoritarianism George Orwell’s “Big Brother” has arrived, courtesy of Amazon. The e-commerce tech giant is selling facial recognition technology to police departments — something not well known, and for good reason. This image analysis service, called Rekognition, is deeply flawed and deeply dangerous. While Rekognition has been used […]

Hollywood’s “militainment” problem
ColumnApril 19, 2019
The military’s involvement in crafting positive films about war suggests state-run art Our military has a PR problem. In an era of open connection, their oft-touted image as a noble force combatting powerful, faceless monsters has experienced a truthful inversion. For decades, Army recruiting relied on the idea of expansive global evils, referred to in […]

What we can learn from flat-earthers
ColumnApril 17, 2019
I watched the flat-earth documentary on Netflix so you wouldn’t have to, and this is what I discovered I guess the first thing I should clear up, in order to have any credibility, is that I am not a flat-earther. But that doesn’t mean I am not willing to listen to them, and you should […]

Esketamine: Do right by science, please
ColumnApril 17, 2019
The FDA approves new nasal spray for depression, despite failing efficacy standards The FDA recently approved a new drug called Esketamine, a nasal spray for severe, treatment-resistant depression. My gut reaction to Esketamine was disturbed. Two of three of the drug’s trials did not meet the FDA’s normal efficacy standards, which means the results of […]

When studying abroad isn’t everything and more
ColumnApril 17, 2019
Rediscovering a sense of control, stability while abroad Less than an hour after I got to London, I hid in a stall in the airport bathroom and had a panic attack. Being out of the U.S. for the first time and feeling tired and grimy and homesick was, of course, emotionally draining. But what I […]

The Andrew Yang phenomenon
ColumnApril 16, 2019
Why young people from across the political spectrum are turning to an innovative Democrat I first heard about Andrew Yang, the entrepreneur turned political dark horse, in late 2017 when researching possible 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. Yang had already filed his campaign with the Federal Election Commission and was thus one of the few declared […]

A streaming future will change the way we play and experience entertainment and video games
ColumnApril 14, 2019
Google’s Stadia represents a large leap forward for gaming Netflix. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t have access to it by way of a subscription or a friend’s password. The behemoth streaming platform has revolutionized the way we experience and consume movies and TV. Google wants to change that with video games. […]

The changing outdoor culture
ColumnApril 14, 2019
More people are going outdoors — and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing Ask anyone who’s been outdoorsy in the West since the ‘70s and they can tell you they’ve been witness to the changing culture and experience of natural places over the last 50 years. Old timers — be they climbers, hikers, surfers, bikers, […]

