Staying Healthy During the Holidays
Writer: Michelle Manganiello
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The holiday season is quickly arriving, which means weeks of family reunions, jolly music, perhaps new gifts, and—of course— wonderful food. This decadent food, the stuffing, the turkey dinner, the buttery rolls, the juicy ham and the delicious pies, may seem to be half the reason we enjoy the holidays. We feel satisfied as we both fill ourselves with food and with the love of our family and friends. Bonding and creating lasting memories over food is no problem, but there are ways to keep your health the main priority during this holiday season.
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Eat mindfully to ensure you are not eating too fast and to truly savor the mouth-watering flavors entering your body. To do this, you must not only eat carefully but also minimize portion sizes. When you decrease your portion sizes, it will be easier to recognize when you’re full and to avoid that dish of seconds and thirds.
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Avoid mystifying particular foods eaten solely around the holiday season. During Thanksgiving, many people say, “I only have pecan pie during Thanksgiving, so I better eat a lot now!” To claim this statement, you are tricking yourself into thinking that these foods are rare to eat and a “once-a-year” opportunity when in reality you can make them anytime. Even though these foods are traditionally eaten during this jovial time, make yourself think about them in a yearly fashion. Remember these foods exist after the holiday ends and you don’t have to have your fill at this very moment.
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Holiday seasons become hectic quickly. You find yourself having long to-do lists of things to buy and endless social events to attend. In this time in which you feel like you have no time to breathe, don’t forget about exercising your body on a regular basis. If you can’t fit in those 30 minute time intervals every day for a run, walk or swim, split the time interval up three ways. Go walking for 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the afternoon and 10 minutes in the evening. Even better, you can suggest a group exercise event with your friends and family who are all in town. Get your heart moving, instead of slowing it down.
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Gloria Broughan, a graduate from the University of Georgia and now a part-time dietitian, gives valuable advice: “Set realistic goals. Maybe for some, that means being super on top of following healthy habits like they do through the rest of the year and making the extra effort to exercise. Maybe for some that means having a few treats here and there. And maybe for others that means letting yourself fully enjoy the holidays and being okay with gaining a few pounds.”
Ultimately, just start the holiday season with a healthy mindset to be present for what’s important to you. But during these upcoming weeks of excitement and family fun, don’t forget to give your body the health it needs and wants.
Autonomous Cars: The Way of the Future
Writer: Michelle Manganiello
infUSion magazine
August 6, 2019
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To many, self-driving cars are a deep dive into the future that seem far off. However, self-driving cars are closer to reality than one may think. Both technology companies and car manufacturers are in the process of developing their self-driving vehicles right now, and there is no doubt that there will be a race to see who comes out first with the latest and greatest.
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At the moment, the company Waymo seems to be leading the race. Waymo is the first company to ever offer a commercial car in California that reportedly has self-driving car disengagements, which all companies can use on their vehicles on the state’s public roads.
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Uber has spent more than $1 billion on its autonomous vehicle, which is supposed to be a modified Volvo XC90. This car is a mix of human controls including steering wheels and brake pedals with automated steering and braking systems.
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Next, we have the two German automotive giants: Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Their aim is to release a driverless robot taxi in the early 2020s. Mercedes-Benz also has a partnership with Bosch in hopes to launch a self-driving car pilot to develop “Automated Valet Parking” in Silicon Valley in 2019. After one click on a smartphone app, this service will autonomously take a car from a drop-off area to a free space in a parking area.
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Many think Apple is the store where one would get their iPhone, Macbook, Apple Watch or Airpods. But in fact, it is one of the leading car companies releasing an autonomous vehicle. Apple has been working on a self driving startup called, Drive.ai. Apple is also currently testing a fleet of Lexus RX450h SUVs in California, equipped with racks of LIDAR and radar sensors.
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Alexis Martin is a junior at UGA studying Management Information Systems. Her dream is to work with autonomous vehicles one day. Having heavily researched these machine-like vehicles, Martin claims, “Self-driving cars are our new future. Not only is every car company in the U.S. planning on launching their own version of an autonomous car, but they’re all already in the testing phase. Even companies like Apple and Uber are hoping on the autonomous vehicle bandwagon, with Uber even testing its cars on the streets of Pittsburg. I think this is all very exciting and can’t wait to see how traffic is improved because of these vehicles.”
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To explore the background of these computer cars, and basically all cars, there are six levels of autonomy established, ranging from 0 to 5. Level 0 cars have human drivers — they have no autonomous capabilities. Going up the ladder, a Level 4 vehicle can pretty much do all the driving on its own, but only in certain conditions such as in set areas or when the weather is good. A Level 5 vehicle does not require a human at all and it can do all the driving in all circumstances. So, when talking about complete driverless cars, that’s a Level 4 or 5.
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There are a plethora of technological and car companies thinking of the car of your dreams, but the question remains if autonomous vehicles are safer than regular cars or not. If you get into an accident in a self-driving car versus a regular vehicle, which car would determine your fate?
In the United States, there is approximately one death for every 100 million miles driven. Autonomous vehicles would need to do better than that, but how much better? Testing safety is another challenge in itself. It would be a costly endeavor, in terms of time and money, because gathering data to prove self-driving cars are safe would require hundreds of millions, even billions, of miles to be driven. Ultimately, through the testing of Waymo, self-driving cars have been proven to be slightly safer — specifically, 10 percent safer than the average human-driven car.
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Contrary to popular belief, these machines are not perfect — they could malfunction or make mistakes just as us humans do, and that is the part of the process that scares people. Autonomous vehicles are seen as this glamorous, new style, but people may need to work up the courage to drive these kinds of vehicles where they would be putting their lives in the hands of a camera and a computer– even if it is indeed a safer option. Research claims that a sense of personal control encourages people to live a happier and healthier life. So what would losing control in one of the most distinct points in modern day society — driving cars — look like? Will driverless cars enrich our culture or lead to more laziness?
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It is certain that more time, money and research are needed to answer these questions. Without a doubt, driverless cars are one aspect of a future that will contain more artificial intelligence that will impact us as a society, hopefully for the better.
Learning More Languages Means Opening More Doors
Writer: Michelle Manganiello
infUSion magazine
July 15, 2019
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When I mention that I study languages at college, I usually get one of two responses: “Wow! That’s so cool!” or “I don’t know how you do that, languages are so hard for me.” In fact, both answers ring true: languages can be very difficult to learn, but also doubly rewarding in the end.
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Knowing another language is one of the most valuable skills to have, especially in this day and age. At its most basic level, a language is another form of communication. Languages serve as a way to deepen a connection with someone, to form relationships and a way to recognize and recall information. One must start with a language to do any task, and then go from there. Additionally, employers are now seeking applicants who have another language under their belt. According to the key findings of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, 9 out of 10 U.S. employers rely on employees with language skills other than English. What’s more, 1 in 4 U.S. employers actually lost business due to a lack of language skills. These facts may be surprising to hear, but they are indeed proven and true.
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Having another language at your disposal not only makes you attractive to employers, but it also expands your brain’s capacity. Research shows that speaking two or more languages can give your brain a boost by improving attention span, cognitive development and memory improvement.
Knowing another language enhances travel experiences. If you know the native tongue of the country you are visiting, you have the chance to practice when buying souvenirs, ordering food at a restaurant and when making new friends! Knowing more languages allows you to deepen your understanding of another one’s culture and make long-lasting, overseas friendships.
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Speaking another language also makes you a smarter learner. By devoting time to memorize all the vocabulary, the infinite verb conjugations and those bizarre grammatical rules, your brain is becoming more apt to picking up and making sense of information. After learning one language, the second one is always easier. What’s more, you can pick up language hacks to make the learning process go by quicker.
Now that we’ve established why it’s important to know and practice another language, we should touch on some useful resources to practice and learn it outside of the traditional classroom setting. Let’s take your language comprehension to the next level using some of these tactics:
First, watch the news and Youtube videos in the language you are attempting to learn. If it is a habit for you to listen to the headlines daily, or even if it isn’t, start doing this. World news is information that everyone should be familiar with. And what better way to listen to it every day than in the language you are learning? If you didn’t quite understand what you just watched, listen to the news in English, then listen to it again in the foreign language to reinforce your comprehension of the worldly issues and events.
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Another great resource is podcasts. Podcasts are useful because they allow you to listen to your language being spoken in a slower and somewhat more interesting fashion than the news. There are so many language podcasts, ranging from history, to self-care, to actual language course podcasts. I specifically recommend Coffee Break Languages — a podcast series run by Mark Pentleton. He has been a lifelong language learner and teacher and offers language podcasts in French, Italian, Spanish, German and Chinese. Mark is clever, witty and he has an additional language expert with every episode. You’ll be laughing, as well as learning, throughout the whole episode.
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If you want to actually practice speaking your foreign language, Italki is a great resource available. Italki allows you to learn a language online by booking lessons with foreign language instructors who are usually native speakers. You can sign up for lessons that teach you grammar and vocabulary, or for different lessons if you just want to have casual conversations in the language. If you don’t feel like paying for lessons, you can just connect with other learners of the language and Skype with them. If you are an English speaker learning Italian and you see an Italian speaker learning English, then you can Skype with them and the video chat session would give both of you a chance to improve your language comprehension and speaking abilities.
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There are several good apps out there to facilitate language learning. Two of the best are Memrise and Duolingo. Both apps give you practice exercises, games and interactive quizzes to build your language construction and vocabulary words.
There’s plenty of online resources to help with language learning, but let’s not forget that the joy of practicing and using a language all stems from speaking with other people. This is why I recommend going to local conversation tables in your area. Atlanta and Athens both have French, Spanish, and Italian conversation groups that allow you to go for a couple of hours and meet new and interesting people while simultaneously speaking your foreign language with them. The Meetup website and app allows you to effectively research language conversation groups in your city. This may seem like a scary step to take, but it’s worth it. After months of studying and learning a language, it truly pays off to use a language in the real world with real people.
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Of course, the most effective way to learn a language and fully become fluent is to go to the country. This doesn’t mean just going there for a quick vacation, saying a couple of words in Spanish, and then leaving after two weeks. No, I’m talking about staying in the country for at least 6 months to a year and immersing yourself in that country by interacting with the native people daily. Get to the point where thinking in that language requires no effort — make it as easy understanding, writing and speaking in English. This would require a substantial amount of time, money and effort, so it may not be realistic for everyone. Nonetheless, it is a great goal to have.
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If you do desire to go to the actual country to practice, UGA has a number of possible study abroad programs that allow students to also practice the language of their choice. There are programs in South America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia for almost every major. Three of the most popular programs at UGA are UGA Cortona, UGA Costa Rica and UGA Oxford. You can find more information about these and many others at a study abroad fair or by visiting UGA’s website for the Office of Global Engagement.
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The resources mentioned in this article are only the tip of the iceberg for opportunities to expand one’s language learning. However, I have used these methods for years, and I can say with certainty that they are effective. Learning a language may seem like a daunting task, but if you commit to it weekly, then you will see the progress taking shape right in front of you. As a common Czech proverb states, “You live a new life for every language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once.”
A Summer in Georgia
What's not to Love?
Writer: Michelle Manganiello
infUSion magazine
June 30, 2019
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After a hectic year of going to school and working, everyone welcomes the summer. We throw our books to the side, disregard our schedule and even forget the days of the week. Out comes our sunglasses, passports and suitcases for the next adventure!
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However, this particular summer dream may not be the case for everyone. It may seem like everyone we know is on vacation or studying abroad right now but you. If we really want to get into the science of it, 80% of families in the United States take a vacation during the summer. But if you are not in this percentage during these summer months and you are feeling quite gloomy about it, fear not! Georgia — Atlanta in particular — has many hotspots that can still make your summer shine. It does not take a foreign and exotic experience to make a summer feel complete. You can have a fantastic vacation, with numerous events being free or very low cost, right here in the Peach State.
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If you want to get fit this summer, Atlanta has a multitude of options for you. First things first — the Big Creek Greenway. This Greenway runs through Alpharetta, Roswell and Cumming, with multiple entrances in each city. Having personally exercised on the Greenway many times, I know for a fact it is a perfect place to walk, jog, roller skate or bike. The trails are big in width and in distance. Moreover, they offer a scenic and shady view of the forest. If you are not really a suburbs lover, then try the Atlanta Beltline. Your forests and the chirping of birds will be replaced with the sounds of the city, like cars honking and people hollering. However, the Beltline is also a great place to jog, walk, bike ride or skateboard — you just might be met with a little bit more pedestrian traffic because it surrounds the heart of Atlanta. Another little tidbit about the Beltline: you can see a beautiful Atlanta skyline sunset at particular points of the trail, which is another way to experience and appreciate our unique capital.
Alex Tempka, Georgia Tech graduate and now a downtown resident, frequents the Beltline during his free time. “I venture out on the Beltline to ride my bike or to occasionally walk or jog. Stopping at a restaurant is a fine way to end one of these activities. I like the Beltline because you get to enjoy the outdoors while also enjoying the attractions of downtown Atlanta,” Tempka claims.
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Want to relax after all that exercise? There are many budget-friendly theatres in the Atlanta and metro Atlanta area. The Picture Show at Merchants Exchange in Marietta has $1 tickets for several morning shows; later movies can be enjoyed for around $2 per ticket. If you want to go old school, there is the Starlight Drive-In Theatre in Atlanta where you can lean back in your car and watch a movie. For ages 10 and older the cost is $9 and for ages five through nine, it’s $1.If movies are not quite your scene, then try out the Georgia Aquarium or the High Museum of Art, also both in Atlanta. You can enter the Aquarium for free on your birthday. As for the High Museum, admission is free on the second Sunday of each month from noon until 5:00 p.m.
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Of course, you can’t forget about food. After a busy day of exploring both outdoors and indoors, you’ll have to refuel for the next outing. For this I suggest getting out of your normal routine of Publix, Kroger, Walmart or wherever you usually shop. Instead, try to spruce up your cooking by going to the Dekalb Farmers Market. This world market has everything — produce, meat, fish, cheese, bread, wine, flowers, spices and more. Every product is freshly picked, homemade and at a cheaper price — it doesn’t get much better than that. Oh, but you don’t want to cook your own food, you said? Well, if you are willing to spend a little bit more, you can do some fine dining in downtown Atlanta, at The Sundial Restaurant on top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza. However, this eatery does not just have a spinning restaurant and bar, it also has a 360 degree view of the city and frequent live music. You’ll want to reserve your spot quickly because it is a hot spot and tables can fill up fast.
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You may also want to leave the city. In this case, I recommend visiting Georgia’s oldest coastal town, Savannah — a one-of-a-kind city, buzzing with activity and rich with picturesque scenery and history. Consider a swim at the beach of the neighboring island of Tybee; a stroll along the riverwalk filled with tourist shops and ice cream parlors; a visit to one of the historic squares, like Forsyth Park; an afternoon at a museum, like the Jepson Center or an old mansion, such as the Davenport House. It is certain that Savannah has no shortage of activities, whether you want to enjoy or escape the summer sun.
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So instead of pouting about being home for the summer, make it a summer for new horizons and adventure. Be a tourist in your own city! Explore the ins and outs of the place you grew up in! Get lost! You can have just as much fun in a summer at home as those who are studying abroad or traveling to other countries. An exotic and foreign experience is not necessary to make this summer one to remember. All it takes is a smile, a camera for photos, and a willingness to discover something new.
The Heartbeat Bill: a State of Change for Georgia
Writer: Michelle Manganiello
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A recent phenomenon has Georgians on edge: The Heartbeat Bill. This bill, passed by Governor Brian Kemp, allows abortions to be banned as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The punishment for those who perform an abortion is a minimum of 10 years in prison.
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The bill instructs doctors to prohibit the abortion once a fetal heartbeat has been detected. Some exceptions to this rule are if the mother’s life is in danger or if a bodily function might be impaired. If it’s a case of rape or incest? These two cases are also exceptions for the bill only if a police report has been filed.
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This bill has caused a spark in Georgians concerning their opinions on abortion. Inhabitants of Georgia who are resisting the bill are making their stance clear, as well as those who believe wholeheartedly in the law. On May 25th, protestors marched in Atlanta from Washington Street to the CNN Center, wanting to bring attention to this bill by chanting “my body, my choice” and carrying pro-abortion slogans and signs. The protest started with just a group of college students, but grew in magnitude as the march continued. Even though the bill does not go into effect until January 2020, many organizations are challenging it in court, including Georgia’s chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood Southeast and Black Votes Matter.
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In addition to pro-abortion rights activist groups, Hollywood and major film studios are also making their opinions clear. CBS, Warner Media, NBCUniversal, Sony, Disney and Netflix are all weighing their options about whether they want to be associated with states that will have heartbeat bills go into effect. Georgia is commonly known as the “Hollywood of the South,” so if Netflix and other media teams locate their productions elsewhere, that would mean a loss of media, rejuvenation and economic opportunity for Georgia. These television and film companies are closely monitoring Georgia’s heartbeat bill status, claiming it would be difficult to maintain filming in a state that houses such an outrageous and “health care ban” bill.
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Leah Merritt, third year English and Theatre student at UGA, had the amazing opportunity to shoot three episodes with Netflix’s Insatiable a few weeks ago. Full-time and non-seasonal Netflix employees may not be so lucky.
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“I formed so many great relationships with other cast and crew members, many of whom are local. I am definitely worried about their job security and hope for their sake that the production chooses to stay and protest in Georgia rather than fleeing,” said Merritt.
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Adelaide Van Pelt, graduate from the University of Vermont and recent participant of the Disney College program, has recently moved to Georgia to work in production, and in particular, sets on Netflix.
“As a film and English double major, Atlanta seemed like the perfect place to move — cheaper than LA and NYC and very up and coming. However, with the new abortion legislation, a lot of studios— including Netflix—are threatening to pull out of Atlanta which would not only damage the economy but several filmmakers’ lives that relocated to Georgia as I have,” claimed Van Pelt.
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If Georgia’s Heartbeat bill is officially established, it will have both an effect on women and the population at large. This bill questions the ability for women to make a choice about what they want to do with their body. It questions the men in government— do they have the right to be making decisions about women, their bodies and possible children? The law is also creating a puzzle for workers in the media and film industry, all who may lose their jobs if Netflix and other entertainment companies decide to relocate if the bill goes into effect. University students who want to pursue acting, film, screenwriting or entertainment and media studies as a career may also be put into jeopardy if these big-name Hollywood studios no longer want their productions to be shot in Georgia.
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Even though many peoples’ jobs and positions are in flux right now, one aspect is for certain: this bill has brought the debate of abortion to its zenith. People are more aware of the issue of abortion, and whether they are willing to protest and take a side on the debate or just keep quiet. The bill is creating a division between people who support abortion and those who oppose it, therefor becoming a pursuit for us as individuals to become more knowledgeable about our rights, and how far we must go to protect them.
Malls: The End of an Era
Writer: Michelle Manganiello
infUSion magazine
June 2, 2019
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If you are from the Alpharetta or Roswell area, you would recognize the words “North Point Mall” anywhere. This is where you got your American Girl doll at the American Girl store, where you made your first bear at Build-A-Bear, or where you met your friends in the food court or on the carousel. This was the place to be if you were in middle school or even in your early high school years. If you are not from the Johns Creek or Alpharetta area, know this: North Point Mall has been the center of life and the main economic driver in this area for years.
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However, this phenomenon has recently changed. As one walks through the mall now, even on a Saturday, they are met with empty stores and a quiet food court. No longer is one met with the jovial screams and laughs of children begging their parents for one last pretzel from Auntie Anne’s or the posse of teenagers that walk around with their newfound independence.
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It seems to be that the mall is now more of a place where people go for convenience rather than the fun of it. If someone is in the Northpoint Parkway area and they need a quick energy boost, Target, Chick-fil-A or Starbucks are all in close proximity. It takes a bit more work to park at the mall, walk in and take the escalator to the second floor food-court, rather than just to go through the drive-through at Chick-fil-A. What’s more, Northpoint is now competing with the recently built outdoor mall, Avalon, just up Highway 400.
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From all the high-end stores, like American Threads, Kendra Scott and LuLu Lemon, to the apartments above the stores and the ice-skating rink in winter, Avalon seems to have it all. It also houses a Regal movie theatre and many restaurants. Consequently, stores like Apple have moved there from North Point Mall in hope for more business at this attractive center for entertainment.
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One last reason for North Point’s bleary state at the moment is the increasing popularity of online stores like Amazon.com. Amazon’s net revenue has been increasing steadily over the years, and in 2017 alone it hit $177.9 billion– it’s highest number yet. One must also consider the convenience of Amazon; consumers can order whatever they want from their fingertips to their front door, rather than driving to a mall and looking for the item in person.
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Despite these hurdles, North Point is doing its best to crowd its corridors once again. North Point will be utilizing the space previously occupied by Sears to build apartments and add more green space. This green space is set to have a playground area, a water feature, a rock wall and a gazebo. With these new apartment units and nature features for family-fun, we can hope that more people will congregate here and North Point will once again be the hub for residents of the surrounding area.
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It is no secret that this is not just a recent phenomenon in suburban Atlanta, but it has been happening more recently statewide and in the United States as a whole. Chicago’s Lincoln Mall and Regency Square Mall in Richmond, VA have both closed their doors to the public, leaving behind a graveyard of stores in their wake. Moving closer to home, Georgia Square Mall in the Athens, Clarke-County area is also struggling to stay afloat. With the shut-down of the Macy’s in this mall, there is a noticeable difference in the number of shoppers here, even though it still holds Belk, Sears, and JCPenney.
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With malls in the United States losing popularity at such a quick rate, it is necessary to note the advantages and disadvantages. Consumers help businesses stay afloat, as well as giving people work. However, with malls shutting down quickly, there will be a decrease of jobs available. On the other hand, malls closing may lead to a bright future with outdoor shopping centers popping up, like the Avalon. These outdoor malls can provide people with other outlets for fun other than shopping.
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In light of the positives and negatives, one fact is clear: with a new culture arising, everybody will be affected. Shops, businesses, medical practices, grocery stores and even parks must be ready to see a fluctuating amount of people frequenting their grounds. Since Amazon is being used more, people may have to become more comfortable with the world of online shopping, e-commerce websites and shipping confirmation emails. With an era of malls closing, a new age is slowly making itself seen. A pertinent question remains: How will communities react to this unpredictability?