Scot Scoop

01/28/2025

With President Donald Trump’s recent taking of office, there have been many large changes expected in the future, including changes to policies put in place by the Biden administration.

Former President Joe Biden signed an executive order on artificial intelligence on Oct. 30, 2023, with the goal of controlling the development and responsible use of AI and protecting national security. Included is a policy that requires U.S. government agents to show that their use of AI is not harming the public, or to stop using AI.

Trump has now signed an executive order that will revoke past policies on AI that are “barriers to American AI innovation.”

The new executive order will put all of those policies under review.

Key Facts:
-All previous policies put in place by the Biden administration will be placed under review

-The purpose of this order was stated to be to support innovation in AI and to out-innovate the rest of the world

-Trump’s priorities with AI are in line with his adviser Elon Musk’s beliefs

Information from AP News.

01/28/2025

On this day in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria to Leopold Mozart and Anna Maria Pertl.

Mozart was an influential composer of the classical period and composed over 600 works, including over 50 symphonies, 22 operas, and 18 sonatas for solo piano. Hailed as a prodigy in his youth, Mozart toured all over Europe, performing and composing music and mastering many different musical styles. Notably, he mastered Italian opera at the age of 13 and was praised by notable composers like Joseph Haydn and Johannes Brahms.

Some of Mozart's most famous works include his operas "The Magic Flute" and "The Marriage of Figaro," his Requiem in D minor, his 40th symphony, his serenade in G major, and his Sonata No. 11 for solo piano.

While Mozart was an uncommonly prolific composer and left behind a legacy of many great works, his early death at age 35 leaves people to wonder what more he would have composed had he lived longer.
Sources: Britannica, California Symphony

01/27/2025

Here’s what you may have missed this week on Scot Scoop:

On Waverly: keeping community and creativity alive by Alexis Mayberry
https://scotscoop.com/on-waverly-keeping-community-and-creativity-alive/

Beyoncé debuts ‘Cowboy Carter’ on Netflix’s ‘Beyoncé Bowl’ by Johan Sijp
https://scotscoop.com/beyonce-debuts-cowboy-carter-on-netflixs-beyonce-bowl/

Dungeons & Dragons levels up to mainstream gaming by Gabrielle Charest
https://scotscoop.com/dungeons-dragons-levels-up-to-mainstream-gaming/

Opinion: Carlmont needs to change parking lot rules in order to reduce traffic by Samantha Crowther
https://scotscoop.com/opinion-carlmont-needs-to-change-parking-lot-rules-in-order-to-reduce-traffic/

An enticing bright red sign lies above a building located on the corner of Waverly Place in San Francisco. As the doors open and people from all walks of life come in, a sense of togetherness and warmth fills the room with the collection of people coming to celebrate and connect. Cynthia and Jennife...

01/26/2025

Here’s what you may have missed this week on Scot Scoop in cartoons:

Illegal input by Julia Cline
https://scotscoop.com/cartoon-illegal-input/

Temporary trends by Leher Kawadia
https://scotscoop.com/cartoon-temporary-trends/

Incarceration vs. incineration by Skylin Lui
https://scotscoop.com/incarceration-v-incineration/

One click away by Grace Stiefel
https://scotscoop.com/cartoon-one-click-away/

01/25/2025

Wildfires in Los Angeles have scorched over 40,000 acres, impacting both communities and ecosystems alike. Although these fires are a common occurrence for the chaparral ecosystem that makes up much of Los Angeles County, they leave behind many harmful toxins that pollute our planet. Additionally, experts fear that climate change will be responsible for more powerful and destructive fires in the future.

To learn more about the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires, read Lia Frazita’s article below.

The Los Angeles wildfires have burned almost 40,000 acres of land, leaving behind destruction and a lasting impact on people and the environment. Los Angeles County has two central fires burning: the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. Despite being mostly contained, firefighters are still working to...

01/24/2025

The Carlmont Scots played their first quad basketball games of the season against the Menlo-Atherton Bears. All four Carlmont teams suffered tough and close matches against the Bears.

The Carlmont varsity girls basketball team lost 41-40 in a competitive, back-and-forth game. The Scots fought hard to keep the game close but were unable to take the lead. During the last second of the game, the Scots had possession of the ball but could not get a shot off in time.

Following the girls game, the Carlmont varsity boys basketball team lost 62-60 in another nail-biting game. Menlo-Atherton kept a steady lead throughout most of the game, with the Scots shortly behind. In the final minute of the game, the Scots were down 59-52. They managed to score eight points, bringing it to a tied game of 60-60. In the last ten seconds, Menlo-Atherton had possession of the ball and drove to the basket, scoring a layup and winning the game.

Photo Credits: Isabella Rice

01/24/2025

Over the past few days, a major storm has plunged much of the southern United States into below-freezing temperatures, bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

Storms like this one are a pretty rare occurrence, especially in cities like New Orleans, which has received around 10 inches of snow. This means that New Orleans has received more snowfall in 2025 than Anchorage, Alaska.

Although the flurries might be fun for some, the frigid temperatures bring many risks too. Many miles of Interstate 10 have been closed due to snow and ice. Additionally, troops in Georgia have responded to over 1,000 calls related to unsafe driving conditions. Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana hopes the state can “hang in there” and safely wait out the storm.

Sources: AP, CBS

01/23/2025

Balancing academics, extracurriculars, and social time is already a major challenge for many high school students. Adding a job into the mix seems like it will only take up more time in an extremely crammed schedule. With new teens entering the workforce, the high school work-life balance has become more prominent.

For some, work experience has proven positive because it improves time management skills and financial independence. However, others have only been met with increased stress and burnout.

So, how do some high schoolers juggle their jobs with the rest of their commitments, and what can that tell us about the overall state of youth in the workforce?

To learn more, read Maya Kacholiya’s feature article on Scot Scoop!

The school bell rings across high schools in the United States. However, for about 5.5 million students, their work for the day is not done yet. These students trade their weekdays and weekends for work shifts, hoping to build resumes, make money, and gain real-world experience. Nearly 20% of all hi...

01/22/2025

Despite being a well-known taboo, and sometimes even a sin, swearing might not be as bad as you think. Studies show that swearing can increase pain tolerance, build deep connections, and help us better express our emotions. Whether it is venting frustration, building bonds, or even the Billboard Hot 100, profanity will always have a profound impact on our daily lives.

Check out Kathryn Winters’ article to learn more about swearing and its effects on us!

Dang it. Shoot. Frick. And much worse. Swearing is a well-known taboo, even considered a sin in some religions and cultures. However, contrary to popular belief, it is not actually inherently bad or a sign of immaturity — it’s the opposite. For teens and adults alike, profanity has been proven t...

01/21/2025

On Sunday, Jan. 19, TikTok restored service to its users in the United States after a brief outage caused by a short-lived ban.

This comes as newly inaugurated President Trump said he would “try to pause” the restrictions placed upon the social media giant by giving its parent company, ByteDance, more time to find an approved buyer. The law responsible for TikTok’s temporary shutdown states that the sitting president can grant ByteDance a 90-day extension if a sale is underway.

At a recent rally, Trump stated that he had “no choice” and that he “had to save” TikTok. However, many supporters of the ban remain skeptical of Trump and his actions. Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, said in a recent speech that TikTok is a “communist spy app” and that there will be “no extensions” for the platform.

Sources: AP, Senator Tom Cotton, Reuters

01/21/2025

Just hours ago in Washington D.C., Donald Trump was inaugurated and officially became the 47th President of the United States.

Trump, who had previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021, made history by becoming only the second president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms, a feat previously solely held by the 22nd and 24th president, Grover Cleveland.

Due to the below-freezing weather in D.C., the inauguration ceremony was held indoors at the Capitol Rotunda. This makes it the coldest Inauguration Day since Ronald Reagan was sworn in for his second term in 1985.

Sources: TIME, AP

01/20/2025

Here’s what you may have missed this week on Scot Scoop:

San Mateo County looks to students to increase youth voting by Michelle Chen
https://scotscoop.com/san-mateo-county-looks-to-students-to-increase-youth-voting/

ASB launches ticket sales for winter formal by Skylin Yee
https://scotscoop.com/asb-launches-ticket-sales-for-winter-formal/

Stormy weather, stormy minds by Lia Frazita
https://scotscoop.com/stormy-weather-stormy-minds/

Opinion: If you’re old enough to fight, you’re old enough to drink by Valerie Pilipenko
https://scotscoop.com/opinion-if-youre-old-enough-to-fight-youre-old-enough-to-drink/

01/19/2025

Here’s what you may have missed this week on Scot Scoop in cartoons:

Rollercoaster rules
https://scotscoop.com/cartoon-rollercoaster-rules/
Julia Cline

01/18/2025

Zak Isben, a former Olympic soccer player and University of California, Los Angeles, alumnus, has been gathering the pieces of his life and putting them back together.

Growing up, Isben had a love for soccer, playing in college, the Olympics, professionally in Germany, and in Major League Soccer (MLS), which is a professional soccer league in the U.S.

However, Isben’s life began to unwind when he became addicted to crystal m**hamphetamine, which is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. During his 13-year battle with crystal m**h addiction, he went through periods of homelessness and rehabilitation.

Now clean, Isben is an “A” licensed soccer coach, guiding athletes in the MLS Next, which is the highest level of youth soccer in the U.S.

To learn more about Zak Isben’s story, check out Sean Zhang’s article on Scot Scoop!

Sweat dripped down his forehead as he watched his soccer team put their all into the game, each sound of the ball echoing memories of his past life. Just decades ago, he was the one running down the pitch as an Olympian, the American flag on his jersey, dreams shining bright in his eyes. But...

01/17/2025

This past week, fires have been raging through Pacific Palisades and Pasadena in Los Angeles. These fires have wreaked havoc, burning through thousands of structures and forcing thousands more to flee. On Jan. 15, significant progress was made in containing the wildfires. The causes of the main large fires are still unknown, but with Los Angeles’s record-breaking winds this week, they have spread rapidly.

Since the beginning of the fires, around half a dozen people have been arrested on suspicion of setting smaller fires around the city. On Jan. 14, winds died down slightly, allowing firefighters to make gains on the two most destructive fires, the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire.

Source: NPR, AP

01/17/2025

While at school, home, work, or out in the open, one is bound to encounter all sorts of swear words. While at first glance, swearing might seem vulgar, disrespectful, and insulting, it can have surprising effects on people. Swearing has the ability to lower stress, depression, and anxiety levels. In modern society, swearing is subject to a strict taboo. The “F-word” was once an acceptable term, being listed in the 1598 dictionary, but eventually adopted a more offensive connotation, such that, by the 18th century, it had been banned from the Oxford English Dictionary.

To learn more about swearing’s history, effects, reasons, and more, check out Kathryn Winters’s article on Scot Scoop!

01/16/2025

Perspectives come from all places. With the movement for equal representation among races, gender, sexualities, and disabilities, one factor that is inevitable is often left out. Age. With 50% United States of America’s House of Representatives consisting of people born before 1964, and only one member of the House being born after 1996, it can often be difficult for young people to have their voices heard.

The voices of young people are extremely important to society because their problems are often overlooked by the older generations. Issues such as rising cost of living and climate change are all growing problems that actively effect the youth of America and the world.

Global organizations such as the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, or CCL advocates for solutions for climate change, and often requests the voices of young people to help in their decision making.

To learn more about the history of student activism, current youth voices in politics, and how you can help influence politics, read Miranda Wacker’s feature article on Scot Scoop!

Nikki Donovan boards a flight to Washington every year. She isn’t there to visit. She is there to fight. Her flight touches down in Washington, D.C., and she steps out to see the nation’s capital, where she will spend the next few days speaking one-on-one with representatives, politicians, and a...

01/16/2025

Football season is a highlight for many Carlmont students. From the first win against Castro Valley to the victory against Carlmont's rivals, Sequoia, the 2024 season was one to be remembered. For an inside look into this year's games, practices, coaches, and players, check out Franklin Kuo, Alyssa Bish, Isabella Rice, and Kian Bhatt’s video, “In the huddle: a football documentary.”

The Carlmont Varsity Football team fights to restore their glory after struggling the past few seasons. Leading the charge are seniors Johnny Dunne, Keoki Firenze, Sean Chopoff, Daniel Mattioli, and Brian Sagon, a group determined to make the most of their final season together. Each member of the t...