This system is life-changing.

What if I told you there is a way for you to make more time, get more done, and have a better sense of your progress towards your goals in life, all in one package. If it sounds too good to be true, well, it is. The system is… Ready… A to-do list.

Now, I know I made this article to be very clickbaity. But if you stop and think about it, it would make sense why a to-do list is so important. The primary reason a to-do list is used is to keep track of what someone needs to work on. If the same person does not have a to-do list, the person would easily forget what they need to do.

Once more, if that same person has a to-do list, that person can be more motivated in their work. Ever notice those progress bars in certain role-playing games? You know, the ones that keep track of how many experience points you have. A to-do list is the same way in real life. The list would instantly remind the person what they would need to work on. And eventually, the list would become a certain cue for habits.

I know this article was a little bit short, but I wanted to stress the importance of a to-do list. Many people still haven’t used this simple trick that can help them simply do more. So if you’re one of those types of people, please make a to-do list and get to work.

— Billy Wikol

After claims about the AstraZeneca vaccine causing blood clots were made, many countries in Europe have started keeping a closer eye on the vaccine. In these tough times vaccines have been integral in trying to protect front line healthcare workers and many immunocompromised citizens. The World Health Organizations has stated that there is no connection between the vaccine and blood clots.

This past week there was an important moment for the LGBT+ community in Japan. Not allowing same-sex marriage was deemed to be unconstitutional by a court in Hokkiado. This was thanks to the effort of three couples who sued the government for psychological damage. This case dates back to 2019.

For more information, check out the KTW World News segment by Thomas Linderman and Lucas Piotrowski!

“Good luck with the Grammys. If you don’t win at least one, I’m going to hit someone, OK?” Elton John exclaimed to Grammy nominee Phoebe Bridgers last week. Someone must have a black eye, because Phoebe didn’t win. The competition preceding this top music award was fierce. Stars like Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and Megan Thee Stallion rocked the music world, winning Best Pop Solo Performance, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist respectively.

To recap, popular artists like Beyonce, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, and Post Malone were all nominated for Record of the Year. Billie Eilish ended up winning this prestigious category. Reflecting on the tragic events of 2020, H.E.R.’s song “I Can’t Breathe” won the award Song of the Year. Other nominees for this category included Taylor Swift, Roddy Richh, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Post Malone. Beyonce even received her twenty-eighth Grammy, this time for the category Best R&B Performance.

This year’s event, much like the 2020 Grammys, looked very different from past ceremonies because of COVID-19. The Grammys are typically a sold-out event with thousands of spectators, commercials, and glamorous post-parties. This year, only a very limited and socially distanced audience was allowed to attend. However, the performers were able to put on a spectacular show. Taylor Swift stunned her fans with her performance of songs cardigan, willow, and august on top of a one-room cottage with mystical lighting.

All in all, the 2021 Grammys were as entertaining and successful as ever, despite the COVID-19 circumstances. Performers and audience members alike are looking forward to the 2022 Grammys, which hopefully will be back to normal.

— Vienna Gurev

What is a Pirate?

A pirate is defined as “a person who attacks and robs ships at sea,” by Oxford languages. The first significant pirates, who roamed the Mediterranean around 1276-1178 B.C.E., were known as the Sea Peoples, who were made up of a myriad of ethnicities. Accounts of their destruction were recorded by the last king of Ugarit, Ammurapi, whose kingdom fell victim to this mysterious force. However, the origin of this fearsome group is unknown and remains a mystery to this day. Nonetheless, this practice of abandoning sailor jobs in exchange for a life of piracy became common during the late 1600s to early 1700s which is known as the “Golden Age of Piracy.” Here’s a list of some notable pirates throughout history.

Black Caesar

During this time, piracy was popular among Black people, as it was one of the few ways they could attain power in the West. Often given only two choices, fugitive slaves would often choose the life of piracy over eternal captivity. While discrimination was still apparent, some captains did treat their crew members equally regardless of race. However, the same can not be said for prosecution. As white pirates were hanged, Black pirates were either returned to their owners or resold into slavery. Black Caesar or Henri Caesar, is the most acclaimed Black pirate as he escaped captivity aboard a slave ship with the help of a sailor. Thereafter he would pose as a stranded sailor to rob vessels that offered their aid. Legend has it that he buried his treasure on Elliot Key. He would soon join Blackbeard’s crew in the early 1700s and would even come to witness his death. After their defeat, Black Caesar was captured and taken to Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1718 to be hanged.

Madame Cheng

Arguably the most successful pirate in history, outnumbering Blackbeard in terms of ships with 70,000 sailors, 800 large junks—Chinese sailing ships—and about 1,00 smaller vessels, Madame Cheng is not to be forgotten. Though her name was Ching Shih, she was also referred to as Cheng I Sao, which translates to “wife of Cheng.” Little is known about her early life. She was born in 1785 at an unknown location. For the majority of her life, she served as a prostitute in the city of Guangzhou. But in 1801, she married Cheng Yi, a famous pirate captain. During this time, many unorganized ships were unified into professional fleets to serve the Tây Sơn dynasty of Vietnam, who were at constant battle with the Chinese. When the Tây Sơn was conquered in 1802, instead of scattering the Cheng’s unified rival Cantonese pirates and were divided into different squadrons. Cheng Yi soon died in 1807, yet Madame Cheng soon took charge and appointed her husband’s protegé Zhang Bao as the captain of her most powerful fleet. He would soon become her lover and eventually her new husband. It is said that Madame Cheng was ahead of her time in terms of rights to women, as any carnal abuse of female captives was punishable by death. There were even accounts of those who were commanders who were ordered to capture her and damaged their own ships in order to avoid conflict. By 1810, tension increased between two of her fleets, causing the unison to be unstable. This led to Madame Cheng accepting the Chinese government’s pardon in exchange for a peaceful surrender in 1810. The rest of her life was quite peaceful, living off of her husband’s military earnings until she died at the age of 69.

Anne Bonny

While male pirates dominate history, there were plenty of notable female pirates, too, such as Anne Bonny. Born in Cork, Ireland, around 1700, Anne Bonny was known for her tough spirit. There is little information known about her, but it is said that she married a poverty-stricken sailor at the age of 16. Her father did not approve of this and disowned his daughter. The couple would soon turn to the life of piracy and join Calico Jack’s crew. It is said that she “dressed like a man, while she fought, drank, and swore like one too.” Legend has it that while Bonny appeared as a man, she developed feelings for Mary Read, who joined the crew later on and was also dressed as a man. They would both switch between men’s and women’s clothes as necessary. However, this adventure would soon come to an end in October in 1720, when the ship would fall to Captain Jonathan Barnet to collect their bounty. Records say that, while the rest of the crew caved into surrender, the two women fought to the end and called the men cowards. They were tried and found guilty of several crimes, but their execution was delayed as it was discovered that both women were pregnant. However, it is unclear whether this is true or if the two lied to save themselves. It wouldn’t be until five months later that death would take Mary Read in prison.

Mary Read

Much like Anne Bonny, Mary Read’s history is unknown. She was born around 1690 in England to a widow. It is said that her mother passed her off as a boy to get money from Mary’s grandmother. Later, Read continued to dress a man and would even get a job as a sailor. Later on, she revealed her secret to a Flemish soldier she met during the War of the Spanish Succession and would come to marry. Together they ran The Three Horseshoe Inn in the Dutch town of Breda. After her husband died, she would return to the war dressed as a man, though when peace was signed, Read looked for adventure elsewhere in the West Indies. While navigating the waters, she was soon attacked and was captured by pirates. She then joined them, living life as a free pirate until 1718, when she signed a king’s pardon in exchange for hunting down others who did not acquire the pardon. Read would eventually make her way onto the ship of Calico Jack, where, as stated before, there were accounts of her and Anne Bonny forming a romantic relationship. In any case, it is said that the two were the most ruthless of them all, each carrying a pistol and machete. But as stated above, the ship was captured, but despite this, the two fought till the end. It is unclear what exactly happened to Mary Read during their containment, but records do show that she was buried on April 28, 1721, at St. Catherine Parish in Jamaica.

— Maya Ross

Sources:

5 Notorious Female Pirates

Black Pirates and the Tale of Black Caesar 

Ching Shih the Pirate Queen

Five Pirate Myths That Are Actually True

8 Famous Pirates from History

Pirates in the Ancient Mediterranean

Biography of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate and Privateer

Biography of French Pirate François L’Olonnais

Biography of Mary Read, English Pirate

Taylor Swift is a role model and inspiration for young women around the globe. A pioneer in the music industry, she has released nine unique albums since 2006, most recently indie-pop albums Folklore and Evermore. She has won ten Grammy Awards, an Emmy, and numerous musical accolades. In 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama even described Swift as a woman who “has rocketed to the top of the music industry, but still keeps her feet on the ground, someone who has shattered every expectation of what a twenty-two-year-old can accomplish.”

However, Taylor Swift’s personal life has been critically scrutinized by the public. It seems like everyone from journalists to A-list celebrities have judged her for her relationships. Swift and her fans are well-aware that this backlash is simply because she is a young, successful woman. In response to this hate, Swift preaches messages of feminism to her fans.

In early March of this year, Swift tweeted a message saying, “Hey Ginny & Georgia, 2010 called and it wants its lazy, deeply sexist joke back.” This was in response to a quote from the Netflix show: “What do you care? You go through men faster than Taylor Swift.” Swift stood up to this disrespect and her fans supported her wholeheartedly.

This was not the only hateful message directed towards Swift. In 2013, Abercrombie & Fitch sold a shirt that proclaimed in shiny silver letters, “#more boyfriends than T.S.” They soon removed the shirt from their stores after receiving scathing backlash.

Taylor Swift has had to withstand these slams since day one of her career. Still, she continues to stand up for what she believes in and produces dynamic music, not taking the public’s criticism to heart.

— Vienna Gurev