Category Archives: Opinion

The Scary Future

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What is a climate activist? Who is Gretta Thumberg? Why have “#ClimateStrike” and “#FridaysForFuture” become trending hashtags/topics worldwide? Although these terms are almost unheard of in Texarkana, they continue to take the world by storm as society begins to acknowledge the clock is ticking on our planet earth. 

Gretta Thumberg is a 16-year-old climate activist who influenced the Fridays For Future movement. Climate and environmental activist are just what they sound like; people who are protesting to make changes in an effort to protect our planet and slow down the irreversible effects of climate change. Thumberg began a climate strike in August 2018, skipping school on Fridays to protest outside of the Swedish Parliament, holding signs and passing out flyers. Thumberg quickly caught the attention of local media outlets which helped spread the movement, these strikes have now spread to almost 150 countries. September 20th-27th was Global Climate Strike Week, where protests occurred worldwide leading up to the United Nations Climate Action Summit.

The U.N. Summit happened on September 23rd with an estimated 7.6 million people protesting throughout the week in an effort to show a demand for change. Thumberg delivered a powerful speech, scolding the world leaders for the way they’ve prepped planet earth for her generation. The U.N. supported the protests, hoping it would encourage countries to come with solid plans for major changes in the near future. However, many were left disappointed as some countries, including the United States: one of the worst perpetrators of emissions, did not attend the summit. Others attended with weak plans that would barely keep the temperature survivable for long.

The U.N. Summit concluded with both hope and fear. Key messages from the SDG Summit read: “…it is clear that the world is not on track to meet the SDG’s by 2030. The future is now, and the Earth’s systems are changing quickly.” However, the great outcry for change across the globe shows there is hope for a climate revolution, which has become necessary for survival of our younger generations. Young leaders like Thumberg need to stay strong in their battle as they continue to inspire and inform others about our struggling planet.

3 Books Hit the Big Screen

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Attention, book lovers! If you enjoy reading Stephen King, Louisa May Alcott, and T.S. Eliot then you have a treat in store just in time for the holidays. Hollywood is releasing three new movies this fall based on books by these authors.

Stephen King lovers are sure to enjoy this new released movie adapted from Doctor Sleep.

Warner Bros. is releasing the movie November 8th. A sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep takes place years later with Danny Torrance now an adult. He meets a young girl with similar powers to his. Torrance has to protect this young girl from an evil tribe who is trying to use her powers to make them stronger. This film will have the same type of atmosphere as the original movie The Shining. A thrilling dark fantasy for horror lovers of Stephen King.

T.S. Eliot fans are in for a treat as the Broadway show Cats is being released by Universal Pictures on December 20th.

The movie is an adaptation of the musical played on Broadway. Andrew Lloyd Webber first introduced fans to Cats in 1982. Webber adapted his musical based on Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, a collection of poems that centers around a tribe of cats called Jellicles.

The film centers on which cat will be chosen to ascend to the “Heaviside Layer’ to begin a new life. Fans of Cats are going to enjoy this adaptation as Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, and Taylor Swift star. Be sure to listen for a new song titled Beautiful Ghost written by Taylor and Webber, sung by Francesca Hayward, in her first feature-length film role.

Sony Pictures is adapting yet another version of a film based on the novel written by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women.

This film will be the eighth adaptation of the novel’s two volume set written in 1868-69. The plot stays the same as it shows the lives of four sisters who find their way as they enter womanhood. The March sisters have been classic characters book lovers and movie-goers have fallen in love with.

The screenplay is written by Sarah Polley (Away From Her) and Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), who also directs. Gerwig’s adaptation will capture the poignancy and wit of the novel. The film stars Emma Watson (Harry Potter), Saoirse Ronan (Mary Queen of Scots), and Meryl Streep (Mamma Mia 1&2).

Seek Out This Book (review)

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Looking for a great book to read? Try Hide and Seek, a book of romantic suspense full of adventure, mystery and, at times, comedy. The book is the eighth in the “Sisterhood” series by Fern Michaels but can stand on its own without the rest of the books. If you love reading about women’s power and sweet revenge, I recommend reading this book.

The Sisterhood is a group of seven women who have an unbreakable bond with each other and seek justice for those who think they are above the law. Time and time again, they are tested with courage, loyalty, and a talent for disguises to help their friends in need of what is right.

In Hide and Seek, the seven women are on the run as fugitives of the law, particularly from Mitch Riley, an assistant director of the FBI. Convinced that Judge Cornelia “Nellie” Easter, Attorney Lizzie Fox, and District Attorney Jack Emery were involved in the Sisterhood evading prison, he is set on taking them down any way he can to save his job and reputation.

The Sisterhood has been hiding in the mountains of Spain until they hear their friends need help. Their mission? To do what they must do, even if it means breaking a few laws and sacrificing their freedom for justice for their friends. They face several challenges along the way, both for their friends and for themselves.

This book will fill you with suspense with every turn of the page to find out what the women do next. This book is a mystery thriller that is empowering for women. The next time you find yourself in need of a good read, get Hide and Seek by Fern Michaels. You will not be disappointed.

Breaking Writer’s Block

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Do you ever find yourself stuck while trying to write an essay or research paper for class?
Maybe you are trying to write a poem or a story and find yourself stumped? You could be
experiencing what is known as “writer’s block”. This term is usually associated with authors of fiction or non-fiction books, but it can happen to anyone.

Whether dumbfounded at the beginning, middle, or end of your paper, writer’s block is not a fun ordeal. You experience frustration and anxiety while trying to get through your assignment. Writer’s block happens to all of us at one time or another. As a writer and student, I have experienced writer’s block many times over the years of writing my stories and academic papers, and I have some tips on how I have overcome it.

To start with, keep writing. Even if it is a bunch of nonsense words, keep writing. You
can start by writing a list of the things you already know about the topic you will be writing
about.

Continue by asking yourself the 5 Ws and How questions. Your answers do not have to
be complete sentences, just write what comes to mind while asking yourself the questions. For example, you are writing a paper about Mark Twain, ask who is Mark Twain, what did he do, when did he begin writing? Where did he work? Why do we still read his works? Continue asking yourself as many questions as needed to get the information you need for your paper.

Once you have made your list, take what you wrote and make short sentences. When you
have written everything from your list, read it out loud. Does it make sense to you in the
direction you want to go? Keep in mind that you are not looking for correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, or complete sentences. You just want enough information you can apply to completed sentences and paragraphs.

When satisfied you have enough information about your topic, walk away. Yes,
walking away from your paper for thirty minutes to an hour will help your brain acquire more ideas to apply to your paper. This works for me and Owl Purdue Writing Lab suggests doing the same thing on their website.

Now that you have rested your brain, go back to your paper and reread what you wrote.
This is the time to make complete sentences and apply those sentences to paragraphs. After you have typed or written one page, stop. Reread what you have written. Add or delete any sentences that you need to that pertain to your topic.

By now you should have lots of ideas for your paper. Continue writing, rereading, and
adding sentences to your paper. Remember grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting comes last. You just want to get all your ideas on paper right now.

The last step is to put all your completed paragraphs in the correct format. Start with the
most important idea of your topic first then finish with the least important idea. Now you are ready to edit your paper for grammar, spelling, and punctuations. Before you know it, your paper is complete.

Twenty Two and Stuck in Texarkana

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For twenty two years I have daily heard the phrase, “There is nothing to do in Texarkana.” This statement could not be further from the truth. Let me tell you why.

I have recently made it my mission to find something to do in Texarkana, and what I have found is golden. Last week my brother and I decided to take a stroll through downtown Texarkana. We saw three new murals done by Texarkana residents, walked through an art gallery, and had the opportunity to tour the Landmark building with the owner himself, another Texarkana native. I realized in this moment the only reason people believe there is nothing to do in Texarkana is because they do not do anything.

Within just this past week I was involved in a dodgeball tournament that raised donations for local charities, I have taken a hike through Bringle Lake, I have played shuffleboard at Hopkins, and I plan on attending the wine festival for a second time this Saturday. This just happens to be one week of Texarkana events, but imagine there is a whole year of events going on. With groups like GoTXK, Greater Texarkana Young Professionals, and so many more, there is an endless amount of things to do in Texarkana. It only takes you going out and doing them.

I had the privilege of living on both sides of the line and I can truly say that Texarkana is actually twice as nice.

Photos by Libby Hernandez

 

Walking in Non-Traditional Shoes

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The educational lifestyle of this post-traditional student has been unexpected, to say the least.

I remember telling my 15-year old son at the time, I was going back to college. His response was, “Mom, no offense, but I think you are too old for college.” I tried to explain to him older people go back to school all the time to complete an education.

After all, I had quit as a Sophomore and then went back at 24 to take two more semesters. This was not a huge or noticeable age difference at the time.

My son was right, going back to school at 49 was quite a different challenge. Back in the day, I was used to turning in a hand-written paper, literally, in paper form. Not so anymore.  I had to teach myself the basics of Word, and stayed up many nights crying in frustration because I could not get Word to understand the formatting of APA.

In my first FTF (face-to-face) class, I noticed there was another lady there close to my age, we sat together and talked about class, and about our children, which made it less anxious for me. She ended up taking 15 hours that semester and graduated.

In my next FTF class, I was the oldest.  When we were standing in line to get a research topic from the professor, about three young gentlemen students said to me, “Go ahead, ma’am.”

Ma’am?  That was confirmation, despite their efforts to be kind. I recall a couple of events I attended where I pulled out my student ID and was told to “Go ahead….oh, you’re a student?” I also remember a class where the professor was trying to show us a YouTube video and an ad for soap popped up of a 30-something woman in the shower. The young professor said, “Oh I’m sorry, I’m sure the last thing you wanted to see was an old lady taking a shower!”

In my Public Speaking class, I had chosen to write a press release about the UT sniper in 1966. From the distant looks and the yawning, I realized I needed to consider my younger audience. So, my next speech was about “college hazing”, in which the audience seemed quite interested. So, in presentations, I’ve learned to “young-down”.

I recently asked a professor in class why book titles are no longer underlined. He replied, “Awhile back, typewriters had to use underlines because they were unable to italicize.” Embarrassed, I realized I had just publicly dated myself back to the era of typewriters.

I am very excited, though, because my son will be graduating from high school this same year I graduate from college. I am quite sure he will be relieved I will be done when he starts college this fall!

If there happens to be a “traditional” student reading this, my best advice is not to quit college, finish while you are still young.

What Foundation Fits You?

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Are you tired of fighting with so many foundation brands? With so many options it may be hard picking the perfect one. Should you buy oil-free, full-coverage, or sheer? I am here to help you find out what is best for you.

First, the best foundation should disappear into the skin. If this is the only thing you take from reading this, remember that the best foundation disappears into the skin. It keeps the lines, wrinkles and pores from showing, but also covers the redness on the face.  

Before buying you might want to try one out. You cannot judge the bottle by the color. I would recommend going somewhere like Ulta, Dillard’s, or Sephora. Although you may not buy from these stores, they are able to apply it for you and give you an idea about the brand. Do not buy the foundation and get home to find it is the wrong shade. When you find the right brand that you enjoy using, you may can find it cheaper at your local Walmart, drugstore, or even online.

When you go to these places to find the best foundation that disappears into the skin, arrive with a clean face. Do not show up with a full face of makeup on. This may affect the way colors show up to the skin. The best parts to test foundations are the jawline or cheek. After application, check the colors under natural light or the lighted mirror in the store. Keep in mind that your shade varies from seasons such as winter and summer.

Picking the right formula for the skin may be tricky, but here is a tip. Many women’s skin changes with the weather. Winter season, your skin may tend to be dry, while in the summer it may be oily. If your skin is dry, look for hydrating or rich moisture on the bottle. If your skin tends to be oily, look for oil-control and oil-free bottle. If you’re in between, mineral foundation may be the best way for you. It works well on mostly any type of skin and sensitive skin.  

Lighter coverage is better in the summer and creamier, heavy cover for the winter. Many foundations will read on the bottle about the types. Also, you always want the best foundation that should disappear into the skin.  

Start Wrong? Finish Strong!

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Back to school I go…

Most older people think of going back to school and immediately say, “nope, not me…it’s too late!” However, the key to finishing anything is to simply start. Now, degrees aren’t for everyone but if they are…if it’s what you want, then why not go get it? Now, I’m not oblivious to life and the various ways one can be challenged but “Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough” (Og Mandino).

Many people look at going back to school as failing before even starting. However, failure and failed attempts are two different things. If you don’t succeed at something the first time, keep trying until you get the desired outcome or something better. For example, I’m 24 and going to get my bachelor’s degree. Many people say, “oh, you’re still young, that’s not too bad.” However, most of my high school classmates have completed either their bachelor’s or have landed their career job! My current classmates are between 19-21 and when they find out I’m 24, I always get an odd look or “oh, my sibling is the same age and s/he is working with such and such company!

Despite the minor embarrassment or the occasional panic attacks when I realize how close I am to 25, I appreciate the detour I took to get here. I didn’t go right off to college like my high school peers but in the short time since I graduated in 2013, I’ve traveled to amazing places like the top of a mountain in Colorado, received great internship opportunities, and met amazing people from known celebrities to cooperate business professionals!

Final words: Trust the detour, its part of the process! If you are 24 like me or 45 like others and you want to go back to school…do it! If you started wrong? You can STILL FINISH STRONG!

Simply Start.

23 & Me, the Best DNA Company

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The definition of genealogy is a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. I believe every human once in their time has thought of their origins. DNA companies such as 23&Me, MyHeritage, FamilyTree and so many others have gained a lot of popularity over the years. According to Forbes, Ancestry.com DNA database alone tops about 3 million, sales rise to about $850 million back in 2017. It seems like many people want to know about their past. I’ve gained a profound interest in understanding the genesis of my paternal and maternal ancestors, as well as the ancestors of my ethnic group and of course fellow human race. Hopefully this will be some use to people who are considering buying a DNA kit.

One of the main reasons that I’m well versed in DNA test is because I took four DNA tests: 23&Me, Ancestry.com, MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA. I don’t want anyone to overpay or buy a DNA kit and end up confused about the results or not liking the company. So, I’ll rate from the best company out of those four from 0 to 10 and focus on the best throughout but let’s start with the best.

I would say 23&Me was the best by far, followed by Ancestry.com, then MyHeritage, and finally FamilyTree. The reason why I like 23&Me out of the others is because it has more to choose from than the others, it’s less expensive, only costing around $40 or $50 dollars if there’s a holiday or random sale.

Now, when I say 23&Me has more to choose from, it’s due to their many different selections such as: Ancestry, Health, Research, Family & Friends. When you choose one they then break into various subcategories. Here’s an example: let’s say you want to know more about your father’s side. All you have to do is click “Paternal Haplogroup” under the Ancestry/Summary tap. It tells you, who you descend from on your male side going back over 5,000 years it’s quite extraordinary. But let’s say you want to know about your mother’s side? At that point you click “Maternal Haplogroup” under the same tab Ancestry/Summary. Theirs tons of other selections on 23&Me whether you want to learn about your “DNA Relatives,” “Ancestry Composition,” “Your DNA Family,” so much to see and learn about according to your genetics.

Some came close in features such as Ancestry.com. However, if you want to learn more about the history of your family in America, you had to pay extra for birth and death certificates as well as for any military information or newspapers/slave records. This additional information such as documents would be great to have, spanning back for decades but you have to pay extra for it or monthly. I imagine most people don’t have the extra money to do this, but if you do, you may love Ancestry.com.

The company does have a wide database that can provide governmental information on just about anyone’s family in the past. They’re the best company if you’re into documents on your family but over-all very basic when it comes to their DNA Story. They only provide broad regions of the world that your ancestor came from such as: Mali or England but it doesn’t breakdown into specific ethnic groups like: Igbo or Anglo-Saxon. The DNA story is to broad in that sense, however, they’re always updating so it may get better. Nevertheless, Ancestry.com is good the only downside is broad regions and monthly expense which is why I have it second on the list. If you get Ancestry.com at least get it along with MyHeritage.

The reason why MyHeritage is third is because it’s similar to Ancestry.com but unfortunately has less information when it comes to documents i.e. certificates. The only reason I’ll get MyHeritage along with Ancestry is to see if the results come back the same or at least similar. This is why I recommend taking at least two DNA test from different companies to make sure that the results are close or the same. Also, it’s wise to check on your family to see what you should or might have so you can get a basic idea of what to look for. Needless to say, MyHeritage gives a general regional location of where your ancestors came from in the last few centuries but it doesn’t get into specific people groups, however, if that’s what you looking for (geographical regions) then MyHeritage is for you.

My least favorite is FamilyTree, simply because I refuse to pay $400+ for a full Y-DNA search test. For the male lineage it’s more expense than the female. That alone should be a good enough reason to not buy it, but it doesn’t end there. FamilyTree is a less known company thus their database is small. The reason why these DNA companies have so much information about your past is because they have millions of people genetic history in their system. The smaller the company the less they can work with according to DNA, which is why they may be so expensive. This company also in my opinion tends to be for experienced geneticists, because of their slightly confusing layout and terminology.

If anyone is interested in learning about their heritage, I recommend you buy 23&Me first then Ancestry.com if 23&Me wasn’t good enough for you. I also recommend you buy these DNA Kits during a sale, but the main reason why you should choose 23&Me first is because it has more options for you to choose from according to: genetics, lineage, regional ancestry, and it provides deep ancestral roots than any other DNA company. Breaking down your father or mother side when it comes to DNA Haplogroups and gives you a specific point of origin for your ancestors. And I will always recommend that you further your studies particularly on Haplogroups to get the full scope of your lineage.

To Get To The Next Level, You Must Read Blessed and Unstoppable

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Photo taken by Cambresha Knight

Clear your mind, and reach deep within yourself in order to vividly dream YOUR dreams because in order to succeed, you need to know what you want in life. This book, Blessed and Unstoppable, was designed to put you in a position to gain strength, a deeper knowledge, and exert your full potential in order to move in greater steps. The author of Blessed and Unstoppable Billy Alsbrooks stated that “My book was written to initiate action, not to just sit back and read.” He also explains that “Each day in my book has self assessment questions that set in motion a change in mindset, to open the mind up in a strategic way so that it can design the breakthroughs required to step into greatness”. I believe this book is about waking up your purpose and the dreams that God has planned for your life. This book is so precious, and points out the fact that the readers of this book have a great deal of potential as well. “If a person wants to achieve the highest levels of success, they must be willing to do the inner homework required” Mr. Alsbrooks says. Therefore, I strongly recommend this book to all students, and staff on campus, as well as the community. This book will take everyone to the next level, and lead you towards your purpose as you answer the questions throughout the book. However, Blessed and Unstoppable is only available for purchase as a physical copy. “On digital devices, it’s too easy to skip past the homework and the action steps laid out in the book,” Alsbrooks said. “I want people to stop and think and then take massive action.” So go now. Purchase the book and get ready for a new change. “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Check out Billy Alsbrooks website here, and click this to check out his YouTube channel.