Utah is famous for its skiing. Utah license plates everywhere say, ¨Greatest Snow on Earth.¨ and people from all around this amazing earth come to ski authentic Utah snow. As all the skiers and snowboarders already know, on an epic power day the canyons are a nightmare to try and get up, no matter how early you wake up or how many alternate routes you try. Cars are backed up for miles and miles and the lines for buses are long enough to drive any sane person mad. While both canyons are always congested on a good powder day, little cottonwood canyon especially becomes congested with LA style traffic. The Utah Department of Transportation realized this problem in little cottonwood and developed three solutions; widening the roads, increasing the amount of buses in circulation, or creating a massive gondola that spans the whole canyon. 
    According to UDOT (Utah Department of Transportation), widening the roads came out to be the most expensive option at about $470 million dollars, while the gondola is next at $393 million dollars, and lastly, increasing the bus circulation at about $283 million, though it would be the most expensive if upkeep and gas was taken into account. Comparatively, the gondola would be the cheapest but also the largest downer on the views and the longest ride to the top, at just more than an hour. The widening of the roads would be the most expensive but would be the fastest at only about forty minutes. Lastly, the more buses in circulation would be the middleman cost wise, with gas coming into play, but would alter the environment the least amount and would be the most flexible during the off season. 
    Ultimately, one has to compare what is valued more; cost, environment, or time efficiency. Cost and environment are the main components, as the time between each option are similar. Putting more buses in circulation seems to be the best option because of its flexibility and minor impact on the canyon. No matter what the public decides is best, the UDOT is coming out with an official statement of what to do in the canyon in the spring of 2021.

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Sources: 
https://www.kuer.org/business-economy/2020-09-18/getting-up-the-mountain-stakeholders-divided-over-transportation-plans-for-little-cottonwood-canyon
https://www.kuer.org/transportation/2020-07-07/little-cottonwood-canyon-traffic-plan-public-comment-period-closes-this-week
​https://liftblog.com/2020/06/09/can-a-gondola-solve-little-cottonwood-canyons-woes/

     ​In our day and age, there are plenty of opinionated people. I, however, am not an opinionated person and it has caused some problems for me. Friends and family ask for my input and all I can do is just shrug and say, “I don’t know, don’t ask me.” This answer of course, when given in a heated family debate about which fast food restaurant to stop at during our ten-hour road trip, can often be met with some frustration. Akin to that example, my best friend is very opinionated and likes to discuss controversial topics, when she tries to do such things with me, I just agree and move on with my life. This happens on the daily and I’m pretty sure she hates my indecisive, uncaring nature with a passion. However, some strong opinions can get an individual into a tough spot, when an uncaring position can keep the peace.
     Differing strong opinions between individuals can often cause heated debates which can lead to contention and hatred. An example of this can often be seen throughout daily life. Teenagers nowadays are taking to the social media platforms to express their opinions on the controversial topics circulating the various news channels. They post news articles, posts from influential people, and pictures of what is happening in our cities and then state their stance on what is happening afterward. This causes their followers to either agree or disagree with their stance and if it differs greatly, it can lead to the poster being blocked or unfollowed. I personally have heard cases of friends stop being friends because of their stance on a topic. It’s a tricky spot to be in because you want to surround yourself with people who believe the same things you do so that you know the people that you're around aren’t, according to your stance, ‘terrible people.’ Differing opinions can cause lots of hate, whereas staying neutral can lead to either peace or frustration depending on who you’re discussing said issues with.  
     Ultimately, the decision one has to make is; is possible contention worth expressing your beliefs or is holding your tongue and keeping the peace the better option? 

   The worldwide debate continues… there's riots on the streets, blood on the floor. What will people resort to next? How much can this country take? Don't worry this isn't some hard hitting expose on the world's problems, we will save that for a later date. No, this is the monumental day that we finally discuss pineapple on pizza. 
    This debate has divided populations and families and it is finally time to get to the bottom of it. I asked my 461 followers on Instagram the same question, ¨Does Pineapple Belong on Pizza?¨ And 113 of them responded so far, with 55 for yes and 58 for no, which splits 49% and 51%, but the voting still continues. Additional to the poll, people direct messaged me asking me to quote them and these were some of the ones I got, ¨...if you stay in the boundaries of what each pizza flavor is supposed to have then yes, pineapple belongs on pizza¨ , ¨Pineapple on pizza is Satan's baby¨, ¨People who say no are Satan's spawn¨ , ¨ I like them, but I feel peer pressured when I say I do :) ¨, ¨Pineapple on pizza is the highest of sins change my mind¨,  ¨Pineapple is too spicy for pizza.¨ Majority of people that messaged me had negative opinions regarding placing it on pizza, but all the opinions expressed were strong ones. 
    It seems the spectrum is split relatively even, with a little more people on the no side of the spectrum. Contrary to all these people´s beliefs of pineapple on pizza, it does belong there in its rightful spot. The pineapple combined with almost any topping is a good idea, it adds a nice sweet component to the traditionally salty pizza toppings. All those who say otherwise will soon be converted if they havent been so yet, it's just a matter of time. Additionally, the sweetness of the pineapple is also accompanied by a nice juice that refreshes the taste buds and prepares it for the more salty and hot components of the pizza. Lastly, pineapple on pizza brings a nice diversity of rich flavors to the pizza and if arranged correctly will compliment the others nicely.

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Sources:  Instagram Poll Conducted by Author

BY MASON HUGHES
EDITOR OF NATION & WORLD NEWS

    On May 25th, 2020, George Floyd, a black man, was asphyxiated by police officers. This provoked a public outcry around the world focused on the police brutality black Americans face. And yet, after massive outpourings of sympathy, promises, and pain, police brutality again showed its head in Kenosha, WI, when Jacob Blake was shot 7 times by the police. After months of demands for change, black Americans are still wrongfully killed by police. What so many people long to hear is understanding, empathy, and a commitment to change.
     President Trump, in his visit to Kenosha, provided the opposite.
Riots sprung up in Kenosha after the shooting of Blake. Several businesses were destroyed. On August 25th, a 17-year-old named Kyle Rittenhouse killed two people with an AR-15 style weapon. Rather than acknowledge the concerns of the black community that led to the riots, President Trump painted the protestors with a wide brush, describing their actions as “domestic terror.” The President went on to state that there was no systematic racism within the police force and defended the actions of police, claiming that when policemen are “under tremendous pressure” some have to “choke sometimes,” alluding to the death of George Floyd. He justified Floyd’s death. He ignored what Americans most needed to hear: validation of the struggles black Americans face. 
    It is this rhetoric that makes it clear to many that violence is the only way to get attention. If America wants to heal as a nation, we must acknowledge the data. Black Americans are killed by police at a rate of 32 per million, while white Americans are killed by police at a rate of 13 per million. White Americans commit nearly 59% of all violent crime. 
The data makes it clear that there are major discrepancies in the ways that black America and white America are policed. The President failed to acknowledge this. 
    Black Americans remain unheard. Until we see real change, people will be forced to perpetrate violence to bring light to the inequality they face.

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Sources
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/27/us/kyle-rittenhouse-kenosha-shooting-video.html
https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2017/crime-in-the-u.s.-2017/tables/table-43