Category Archives: Opinion

From Grounds to Leaves

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There is nothing better than a fresh, hot cup of joe… Or is there?

Have you ever found yourself wanting more from your average cup of coffee? Do you love coffee but get tired of the same thing every day? Sure, you can try different creamers, syrups, and add-ins, but it’s still just coffee… Again.

I urge you to step out of your daily coffee routine and give hot tea a try. Coffee is surely a staple, but the versatility of hot tea is astounding. Hot tea can be found in an impressive variety of flavors to suit any mood or situation. Need a boost in the morning to start your day? Try a bright and citrus-y lemon ginger tea. Need help winding down at the end of a stressful day? Try a soothing vanilla chamomile tea. Feeling festive around the holidays? Try pumpkin spice in October or spiced apple cider in November. No matter the reason for drinking hot tea, there is surely a flavor to suit your taste.

For new tea drinkers, I recommend purchasing a sampler pack. This provides the opportunity to try various flavors without committing to a whole box of tea that might not suit your taste buds. Once you find a tea you like, try amping it up even more by customizing it to your preference. Try adding things like lemon, honey, or cream.

Hot tea also comes in a variety of caffeine levels ranging from maximum caffeine, for those difficult Monday mornings, to having no caffeine at all. This allows anyone to enjoy tea at any time of day (or night… I won’t judge).

In short, hot tea is easy to enjoy in any situation. Of course, it might never fill that special place in your heart that’s reserved just for coffee. However, it can be a delightful supplement for those days when you just want something different.

Netflix New “You” Season 3 Review

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Now that fall has officially begun, and the weather has been a bit cooler. Some great ways to enjoy this weather are to sit back, drink a hot beverage while watching television. 

If you have Netflix, you probably have either watched or come across the Netflix original show called “You”. Recently Netflix released its new season 3 after a long wait. The psychological thriller’s new season has some of the same topics such as crime, murder, drama, romance, and mystery as its previous seasons. But it has dived more into the whole marriage and family phenomena and more murder. Just a spoiler alert if you have never watched this show before, you should watch it from the beginning with the first season to understand the third season. 

This new season with the characters Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) and Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) who I would say the Quinn-Goldbergs since they married in the previous season have so many issues within their marriage. The first episode of Season 3 begins with their new life in a different city. As per the finale of Season 2 where they moved away from LA to a fictional suburb city called Madre Linda in California to have a fresh start. Which to Joe that is not unusual for him to move from place to place when he wants a new beginning. They introduce their baby Henry in the new season. This season shows a bit more of Joe’s dark childhood and less about Love’s childhood life. As we have seen in season 2, we have gotten a glimpse into Quinn-Goldberg’s past and the reason why they let their emotions get the best of them. Their toxic relationship is such a roller-coaster ride in this season 3 but nothing out of the ordinary as their life has been quite similar and their norm.

In this new season Joe is still being himself, a creepy stalker, and not able to contain his urges of following around new love interests and people in general. While Love is still the impulsive partner in crime who does things without thinking about the consequences. While both are learning the family and marriage transition, Season 3 has been shocking and at the same time a bit predictable. This season has been more about the lengths Joe does to protect his son. While Love just seeks love from their relationship and what she does to strengthen their marriage. Season 3 has some repetitive actions like from previous seasons but does bring a different outlook on the marriage and family topics.

Netflix has announced that the show will be renewing so for all the “You” fans this has brought more excitement. Season 4 of the “You” trailer is on YouTube and there are speculations about what the coming season will bring. Although the season had a bit of an unexpected finale. I hope season 4 brings back some of the characters from previous seasons who were not shown or talked about much in season 3. Many people have been sharing their insights and theories on TikTok as to what the ending of season 3 meant and about what they think season 4 will look like. But guess we will have to wait for what happens next. 

1st Gen M1 MacBook Air @ Student Prices

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The release of the gen 1 MacBook Air 2020 with the M1 chip was a phenomenal release and had even better sales reports. The installation of the M1 chip instead of the Intel core processor made this the first line of silicon MacBooks that were made all in house. This chip has cut down on overall processing time in every Mac and even made the MacBook Air a fanless design. With this new fanless design the laptop is lighter and does not overheat. Along with the chip upgrade, the microphone has been upgraded with background noise cancellation and the FaceTime camera got a better light tone update. The programmer made our day with the switch back to scissor switch keyboards from their predecessors, the hated, butterfly switch keyboard. On top of that, the trackpad is a force touch and is 1.5 inches bigger than the other leading laptop brand. 

With the power the M1 chip gives to the new MacBook, we now have almost all the power the MacBook Pro has, which is amazing. This model has an 8-core CPU which is the fastest in any laptop and makes 8k video editing 3.5x faster than the previous model. With this CPU, graphics for video editing or gaming is 5x faster than the last MacBook Air model. Now we get 6 more hours free of charge on the new 18-hour battery life and we get the powerful features of macOS Big Sur. This also includes new privacy updates, new design aesthetic, and extraordinary app updates like the new connectivity of iPad and iPhone apps on MacBook. 

Now with all this power, you would think there would be more new functions that everyone will use, right? You are right, there are new functions for everyone like the instant wake, unified memory, and a 2560 by 1600 retina display with a 25% more color gamut. We also were given true tone technology, meaning the notebook automatically adjusts the white point to the color temperature of your environment. In addition to that we have an HD camera for sharper images that shows more details with shadows and highlights, and that includes a three-microphone array that hones in on your voice and cancels out background noise. The most popular feature is the new touch id. You can unlock your Mac, use Apple Pay, open password protected websites and documents and make purchases on the Apple TV app with your finger. As an extra bonus, apple is giving everyone who buys a new MacBook one year free of Apple TV, so this deal just keeps getting better no matter who purchases this. 

Although a few things we miss is all the connectivity we had with USB ports, SD card ports, Apple has gotten rid of those and made dongles to replace them with. So now we have the option of 2 or 4 USB-C ports with purchase of a dongle. Not an optimal solution. It is anywhere from $10-50 for a dongle depending on what connectivity you need, but you can get these anywhere from the Apple store with your MacBook purchase or a campus bookstore. 

Honestly, I can look past that for everything else this laptop has given me. With education pricing you only pay $899 for the best laptop in the game. This is all a big step in the right direction, and I am very excited to be a part of the wave of new technology my laptop forged the way for.

Covid Campus Life

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As students finish off this semester, we take a look back at the many challenges the students faced due to Covid. The rest of Americans hope for a new fresh start after facing challenges as well.

A Quiet Classroom

This semester, the classrooms were not the same. They were dark, quiet, and empty. Millions of college students opted for online courses to decrease the exposure of Covid and many college campuses opted out completely for in-person classes. 

Online Learning

Now millions of Americans are learning from home. At first, online learning can be stressful. The teachers here At Texas A&M University are patient, understanding, and helpful. The teachers are the team captains that keep you from being overwhelmed and stressed. They offer online private meetings to help you with all your assignments and blackboard needs. I know this because I have used this several times. It’s nice getting that one-on-one interaction just as you would in a classroom.

Hope

Now the pressure is on for America to stop the spread of the virus so students can enjoy campus life, sports, activities, studies, and the classroom environment. Those are all the things we were robbed of this year from a perpetrator named Covid-19. The fall looks promising as we all hope we can start getting back to some sense of normalcy and start filling the classroom with new and old students. 

Investing In Yourself

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There are two types of people in this world, the spenders and the savers. It does not matter which side of the line you are behind, because we all should invest in ourselves. Most have heard the saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” While picking up stray pennies is ONE creative way to get extra money, here are seven steps that are sure to help fatten your piggy bank.

Step 1 – Define your goal. Write the goal down and keep it visible. If you can see it, the more likely you are able to stick with saving.

Step 2 – Evaluate your expenses versus income. This can be particularly brutal once seen in black and white. Sometimes seeing where your hard-earned money flow goes can change spending outlooks.

Step 3 – Determine what can be eliminated or cut back on. Monthly subscriptions, daily coffee, and a bagel, eating out EVERY weekend, you get the idea. Create your own coffee drinks and smile, because with every sip, you are saving money.

Step 4 – Now, this is the hard part. Actually unsubscribing, changing habits, and cutting up the credit cards. Think outside of the box: instead of shopping, set up a clothing swap with friends. Have dinner and game night at home with friends and family. Just think of the tip money you would have given away, now in YOUR piggy bank!

Step 5 – Investigate what savings type best fits your lifestyle. Here are just a few to research…There are epockets, which are attached to checking accounts. The money is put in the “pocket” and you never even notice that it is gone. It is funded when deposits are made. Many banks have Christmas Club accounts. It is your prerogative if that is actually what you use it on. The funds are deposited into the Christmas Club account beginning in January, and the funds are not able to cash out until December. If you are only wanting a savings account for life’s unexpected emergencies, an Emergency Savings would fit the bill. Most Emergency Savings accounts have a set dollar amount goal, usually $1,000.00 to $5,000.00, respectively.

Step 6 – Make your savings a priority. Designate a certain date, like payday, to invest money, whether weekly, biweekly, monthly, or quarterly.

Step 7 – Then just sit back and watch the money in your account grow. You will learn to love the bank statements, seeing your money grow instead of disappearing! Financial education is a lifelong process, respecting the value of money, and making it work for you and your goals is key. From the first coin into a piggy bank as a child to drafted monies into secured accounts as an adult, each is a valuable lesson. No matter whether you are saving for a special Christmas gift, the newest gaming console, or a new set of tires, taking control of your finances is a step in the right direction.

Elder Isolation During Covid

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It has been almost a year since seeing my mother. The reality of it boggles my mind at times. She is a darling, vivacious, outgoing, eighty-three-year-old lady. She and her friends keep the phone lines busy either calling, texting or checking on each other on Facebook. Social distancing has had an interesting effect on the elderly and how they live life. 

            My mom’s daily routine before the pandemic was to go to the gym, swing by on the way home to visit with friends, pick up her granddaughter from school, and go to church activities. Nowadays, she goes downstairs to walk her daily mile around the dining and living room, checks on her friends thru social media, waits for family to come by and goes to church online. 

            Elderly people in our community have experienced some of the same issues as so many others have nationwide. The full impact of isolation is not fully understood by science, but it is evident that it is affecting so many elderly citizens. Everyday situations that normally would not cause emotional distress in times past can quickly become a major issue for those that have stayed in isolation. 

            How can we, as compassionate community, help combat this phenomena? Emily Rind writes a handwritten note such as this quote on care packages. “I know it must be hard not seeing your family and loved ones, so I hope this will brighten your day and put a smile on your face.” Emily is a sixteen-year-old who has taken upon herself to make care packages to those in her local area nursing home. She fills the care packages with puzzles, word search books, activities, and other items. 

            There are so many other ways to reach out to elderly who are staying home during the pandemic. Entrepreneurs are creating innovative ways to touch those we cannot reach out to physically hug. I recently purchased a pillow online for my own mother. It was a picture of the state of Texas with an arrow connecting the state of California. It was customized with our names and hers so anytime she felt like a hug from us she could squeeze the pillow. There are also lamps you can touch in your home, and it changes the color of the lamp your loved one has in their home to indicate you just thought of them. Sending cards in the mail is another way to reach out, even if your loved ones are close-by. 

            Studies are showing that those over 65 years of age, older women, and those living alone tend to have a higher ratio of depression, anxiety and even linked to strokes and dementia. Even mental health care is difficult to access for those who are on a limited income, even those with some medical insurance. 

            As the pandemic is on the downslope perhaps, we could continue to reach out to those who are elderly as one day we will be in that life cycle as well. Hopefully there will be those who reach out to us at that point to brighten our day and put a smile on our wrinkled face.

Advice from an Average Student

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As the winter break approaches many people have their sights set on Christmas but I decided to get a head start on  New Years’ Eve and try to figure out what my resolution would be. During this time of year it is hard not to think about classes, finals and, honestly, what I could have done better as a student so I decided to run with that. 

Here are some tips I found on how to be a better and more successful student.

Set Realistic and Achievable Goals 

  • Set both short-term and long-term goals
  • Set goals from the very beginning will help keep you motivated and focused
  • Make sure that your goals are realistic is important in ensuring that you do not set yourself up for unnecessary frustrations 

Focus on Time Management 

  • Procrastination is many people’s worst enemy so staying on top of due dates is a great way to keep yourself from slipping into that habit
  • Stick to a schedule. If you want to make sure you have time for your social life as well as your studies, try and spread out your workload so you don’t feel overwhelmed with trying to do all your homework in one night
  • Remember that you don’t have to wait until the due date to submit your assignments, you can work on them ahead of time and get them out of the way so you don’t have to worry about them later

Take Care of Yourself

  • Make sure you get an adequate amount of sleep is important to make sure your brain can take in all of the new information you will be learning in class
  • When you are well rested you can pay attention in class more easily than when you can hardly keep your eyes open
  • Going to class sometimes feels like the most laborious task of all time; if you are well rested it’s less likely to seem that way 

Although these are just a few tips on being a better student, I’m sure that once you apply them, you will definitely see a difference. If you would like to see more ideas on how to be a better student, click here. 

More Than Just Books

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This is the time of the year when everyone is looking for something special for a family member or a friend. How about trying Books-A-Million? They sell lots of books, but did you know they offer a variety of other things. They have an enormous number of gifts; coffee mugs, games, inspirational items, toys, candles, clothing wear, collectible items, magazines, comic books, and of course lots of books. There is an array of different assortments you are sure to find for that special someone. If you cannot find anything in the store, try checking out their website.

If you do not know what to get, they offer gift cards as well. If you have someone in your life that enjoys reading books, perhaps you could get them a membership card that offers 10% off anything they buy in the store. Get 40% off of Hardback Bestsellers and 20% off of featured items too.

There is a coffee shop within the store called Joe Muggs Coffee. During the holiday season, they are offering several specialty coffees. If you or someone you know loves playing games get together at Book-A-Million for an enjoyable time playing with friends and make new friends. Some customers are already gathering to play the game Magic of the Gathering. If playing games is not your style, you can pick up a book and read it as you decide rather you want to purchase that book while enjoying a cup of coffee. You can use your gift cards and membership card when purchasing a drink or snack as well as using them on their website.

Looking to get a little extra cash for the holiday, Books-A-Million offers buyback books at their store. You can bring up to fifty books at a time of gently used books for cash during certain times. After the new year, they will be buying used DVDs and blue rays too. “If you need any help with buying back books just ask for me the ‘book broker’ and I will get you set up for cashback” a staff member said.  Some books they cannot take are dictionaries, bibles, textbooks, and dated books.

Need to study or have a group or club? Books-A-Million loves to have groups come into their store to gather. “Study groups are usually our regular customers, especially Nursing Majors. Some of our regular customers bring in their own mugs for an added discount.” Tiffany, who works at Joe Muggs Coffee said. Wi-Fi is available for students who need a different environment for studying or writing a paper for class.

Come check out Books-A-Million for that special someone or for yourself. You will find something for everyone on your list. Or maybe just come by and check out what all this store has to offer. You will be surprised by the many things they have in their store.

Membership fee:  $25.00 with any purchase.

Gift Cards:  Starting at $5.00 up to $500.00

Hours of Operation: Mon.-Thurs. 8am-10pm; Fri. – Sat. 8am-12am; Sun. 9am-9pm

Buy Back Book Hours:  Sunday-Thursday 12:00 pm- 6:00 pm.

Veterans Day Parade

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On Saturday, November 9, the local veterans participated in the annual Veterans Day Parade. Veterans Day is a day to honor the men and women who have served our country by keeping America safe and free. The theme this year is celebrating American Legion 100th year of service to veterans. The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization to provide assistance and service for veterans, their families, military personnel in service, and communities. They help provide transportation to VA clinics, funeral services for veterans, and so much more.

The parade began at 11:00 am. In Downtown Texarkana. The route the parade took started at Broad St. then to Texas Blvd. to Third St. and finally to Stateline Ave. ending in front of the Post Office. There were an estimated fifty participants in the parade, including Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s Student Veterans Association Club (SVA). The attendance of the spectators was low for something as important as recognizing our veterans for all they gave us. Army Staff Sargent Larry David went to each of the high school bands to let the students know how much he appreciated them for taken time off from their Saturday to honor him and other local veterans. The Liberty-Eylau, Pleasant Grove, Texas High, and Arkansas High School bands showed him how proud they were to be there.

Beyond the Classroom

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College life can be hard, overwhelming, and exhausting. There is a lot of things you must deal with. Things like:

  • Registering your classes
  • Making sure your tuition is paid
  • Buying your books and needed supplies
  • Attending and getting to class on time
  • Understanding your class assignments
  • Doing homework
  • Studying for test
  • Club meetings and sports activities (if you are involved)

What some people might not understand is that this is only half of what a student must deal with. What about the everyday things in your personal life? The things you were doing before you went to college. Things like:

  • Your job
  • Your bills
  • Your automobile and the upkeep
  • Your household chores
  • Your family
  • Your health (mentally and physically)

Between school and your personal life, it can be a challenge to keep up with everything. What are you to do when it becomes too much to handle? You could just give up and quit school as an easy way out, but why? You decided to go to college for a reason. You just need to get organized and plan things as best you can. Things are going to happen that are beyond your control but do not panic. I have some tips and advice to share with you that I have done while in college.

First, do not call it quits. Life happens. Consider this a test as to what can and will happen once you graduate. Now for my tips:

  • Make a list of everything you must do for a month. (classes, work, homework, bills, chores, errands, and family time)
  • Pick a different color for each item. (I use gel pens and sticky notes) If you see things in a certain color, you will be able to distinguish one item from another.
  • Next, make a weekly planner using the colors. Don’t forget to include those major projects or papers that can take more than a week to accomplish.
  • Set a reasonable time to accomplish each item.
  • When you have finished a task, mark it off.
  • When something unexpected happens; like you get sick, your car breaks down, or you have a family emergency; stay in contact with your professors to catch up on anything you miss. They are here to help you not to see you fail.
  • Make sure you get enough sleep and eat right to stay mentally and physically healthy.
  • Take two to three hours a week for fun or to just relax. Overwhelming yourself can put added stress on you.
  • Stay in a positive mood. You can do this by surrounding yourself with positive thinking and acting people.
  • Try to avoid any negative behavior while achieving your goals. Negative attitudes can bring added stress you do not need.

These tips will help you get started in organizing your life and school. Life does go on and things happen that are not expected, just remember the reason you decided to go to college. Some days will seem harder than others but remember you are not going to be in school forever. The lessons you learn today will help you achieve your goals and a lot more, later in life.