Feature Sample/Lead:The U.S. lifted its mask mandate

Don’t M(ask) me, I’m FLYING

            Imagine breathing in the burning smell of the plane engines when it takes off, sniffing in the smelly armpit stench of your seat neighbor, and focusing on the vegetable leaf stain on your friend’s teeth when he is talking to you. Congratulations, the mask policies have been officially lifted; COVID-19 is officially OVER.

            BUT the grueling 16-hour flight has just begun…

News Release: EU’s restrictions on American tourists

European Union Bans American Tourists Due to COVID Surge

(Los Angeles, September 14, 2021) - American travelers aiming to visit the Eiffel Tower or shop on the Avenur des Champs-Elysees in Paris will probably have to wait a little longer. As the delta variant spreads, the European Union is restricting non-essential travel from the United States, and travelers coming from the U.S. have been removed from several countries' safe travel lists.

Starting September 1, 2021, the European Union recommended member states reinstate restrictions on tourists from the U.S. as the highly infectious Delta variant continues to spread among unvaccinated Americans. The EU’s recommendation noted that countries on the safe list should have recorded no more than 75 new cases in every 100,000 residents over the past 14 days. But the U.S. rates are far higher with 250 new cases in every 100,000 residents.

"We insist that there are comparable rules for travelers in both directions,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in an interview with the German media outlet, RND (RedaktionsNetwerk Deutschland), last week.

As of now, there are no updates on which countries are going to follow the European Union’s recommendations. At the beginning of June 2021, the European Union countries allowing American tourists included:

● Francc

● Germany

● Greece

● Italy

● Spain

However, these countries are now considering European Union’s restrictions and are likely to ban entry from nonessential tourists and travelers due to the spike in cases of COVID-19 in the United States.

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The European Union is a geo-political entity covering a large portion of the European continent. It is founded upon numerous treaties and has undergone expansions and secessions that have taken it from 6 member states to 27, a majority of the states in Europe.

 Opinion Piece: Squid Games

Squid Games Family Time Goes Wrong

            Watching the first episode of Squid Game with my mom was one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life.

            For anyone considering a family binge fest of the Korean-made, Netflix top hit TV show, Squid Game,–I would think twice. I had to fast forward five times through scenes that I was not comfortable watching with my mom: characters having wild sex in a restroom stall, contestants violently killing each other, and people treating each other with no respect just to win the game. Squid Game is NOT what I would call family entertainment.

            In a typical episode, contestants are dying with blood spilling all over the screen. They knew that almost all of them would end up dying in the game, but they were still willing to come back for a second time. Still willing to risk their lives for money. Watching it is not for the faint of heart. And definitely not for family time. Unless you’re the Adams Family.

            Are there really millions of people who love to watch this kind of shocking, raw, violent entertainment? Apparently so.

            Squid Game scores 94% in Tomatometer among critics and 86% among the general audience. Squid Game is currently the number one show in over 90 countries on Netflix. The series is one of a kind, and it is the type you cannot look away from. Its violence is gross and engrossing. Characters are pathetically desperate struggling with money problems in the real world and fighting for their lives in the games.

            “I've seen a lot of messed up stuff like the things in this show before. This was still hard to watch. It was emotional, violent, and there is a nude sex scene.” - according to the kids’ review on Common Sense Media.

            So, beware! This show has the following:

                        ● For mature audiences

                        ● Language

                        ● Nudity

                        ● Sex

                        ● Smoking

                        ● Suicide

                        ● Violence

            But before you hunker down on the couch to watch a show with your mom or kids, consider this: How comfortable are you watching two naked people having sex on screen? Are you okay watching scenes that include cutting an eyeball out of a skinned person with your children? In my opinion, Squid Game is a good show, but only when you are not watching it with your family. It is a show that deserves to be watched when you are alone or with peers, NOT your mom.

FAQ Sheet: L.A. Shipping Crisis

FAQ

1. Why are the ports in LA so packed?

   The global supply chain has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic (along with the lingering effects of the Suez Canal blockage in March), with ports shutting down all over the world. Additionally, labor shortages at docks, limited warehouse space, and tucking issues are also causing backup all the way to port terminals, contributing to the L.A. ports’ blockage.  

    

2. Why are the California ports so important?

   The areas that are affected by this crisis are San Pedro Bay Port, the Los Angeles Port, and ports in the Long Beach Harbor area. These three ports are the primary recipients of Chinese exports, which account for about one-third of the U.S.’ international import market.

3. Which industry will be the most impacted by this crisis?

   With a staggering record of 38 cargo ships waiting off the coast of California, carrying millions of dollars worth of auto parts and food items imported from Asia, restaurants, and

   automobile industries could face the heftiest burden. 

    

4. How and when will this impact the average consumer?

   Consumers are expected to face higher prices and routine shortages of most retail items; your options may be limited on Cyber Monday and Black Friday, and also delays in everyday shipments. The crisis will also impact daily life by limiting the availability of certain consumer goods such as spare auto parts and even some food items.

5. When do we expect the crisis to end?

   The situation is expected to ease in the first quarter of 2022 at the earliest, but there is no guarantee on the precise timing.