Fungi’s Crucial Role in the Wood-Wide Web

When we go to the forest, we usually find peace in the stillness of nature. However in reality, underneath our feet is an entire network that is sending and receiving messages all day.

Virtuosic Music in the 19th & 20th Century

In the mid-1800s, classical music began to take a drastic turn towards modernism. From the 1830s onward, a new kind of player began to emerge, and would raise the bar of technique forever: virtuosos.

On the Shoulders of Giants: Michelle Obama

The almost two years leading up to the presidential election of 2008 were a shocking turn in American history. Neither the media nor the other candidates had paid much attention to the young, half-Black senator from Illinois whose middle name was Hussein and last name rhymed with Osama.

The European Super League's Impact on Soccer

Soccer, or football, as most of the world calls it, is a game that ignites a passion. Fans from around the world cheer on their local teams, and in Oakland, we have the Oakland Roots.

The 20th Century’s Transition Away From Classical Music

Last century was, in the history of Western music, the first time that different genres of music became more popular than the classical genre. Besides some traditional folk tunes and religious songs, classical music was what well-to-do people played and listened to for nearly three hundred years.

On the Shoulders of Giants: Barbara Lee

The September 11, 2001 attacks shook America to its core. The aftermath of this immensely tragic act of terrorism left the US in a state of shock and panic.

Coping With COVID-19: Substance Abuse

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as of June 2020, 13 percent of Americans have reported starting or increasing substance usage as a way to cope with mental struggles related to the pandemic.

The Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

In a previous column, I touched on how classically trained young musicians gain wonderful life-long experiences from their participation in youth orchestras.

Harriet Tubman on the Twenty Dollar Bill Represents a Better America

After suffering a head injury at the hands of a slave owner, Araminta Harriet Ross, commonly known as Harriet Tubman, began to suffer from epilepsy and incredibly painful headaches.

The Media’s Role After Mass Shootings

On March 22, 2021, a mass shooting took the lives of ten individuals. Denny Stong, Neven Stanisic, Rikki Olds, Tralona Bartkowiak, police officer Eric Talley, Suzanne Fountain, Teri Leiker, Kevin Mahoney, Lynn Murray, and Jodi Waters.

The Dangers of Misinformation

Misinformation has been a big problem ever since people could post anything online, and it has become a more apparent issue during the pandemic. There is so much information pouring from our screens nowadays.

The Term Latinx

The term Latinx was created as an inclusive adjective to describe Latin American people due to the fact that in Spanish there is only a masculine and feminine descriptor, so people who don’t subscribe to either of those genders are left out.

On the Shoulders of Giants: Stacey Abrams

The days leading up to the Georgia gubernatorial election in 2018 were a tense time for American democracy. As the votes were counted to determine who would lead the state for the next four years, the margins grew thinner and thinner.

The Role of the Media During the Pandemic

Songbird is a much-criticized film about a post-apocalyptic world traumatized by a certain “COVID-23.” Actor KJ Apa’s character, Nico, is immune to COVID-23 and works as a bicycle messenger catering to those lucky enough to have survived the pandemic — mostly the rich and powerful in the Los Angeles hills.

Small World: American Arms Dealing

Joe Biden is one of the blandest human beings in existence, but somehow manages to stay extremely controversial, even among his voters. A lot of liberals, like my dad, are happy with the speed and strength of his policies, while others farther to the left, like myself, are often unsatisfied with lackluster results.

NASA Prepares New Launch: Project Artemis

After half a decade of waiting, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration decided that it’s time for America to step on the Moon once again.  During the Apollo Era, 53 years ago, NASA’s Project Apollo successfully landed 12 men on the Moon.

Coping With COVID-19: Art

Everywhere, quarantine is helping creative individuals learn more and providing an environment for reflection and development. I now have plenty of free time on my hands and have frequently found myself picking up a pencil to sketch.

Classical Music Critics On L. Beethoven

Let’s be honest, many of us in the arts yearn for the approval of critics, even if we claim that we don’t care what our audience thinks. Most modern-day art shows, theater productions, music performances, and soloist debuts aim to get good reviews by word of mouth and reviewers.