During last week’s blizzard, you were probably more concerned with the weather forecast than the news. But a lot of important things happened. So here’s everything you need to know, that you might have missed during the three days we had off from the snowstorm.

Kellyanne Conway, Fox & Friends, Ethics Rules, Nordstrom, and Ivanka Trump— What Happened

When featured on Fox & Friends last Sunday, President Trump’s adviser Kellyanne Conway responded to Trump’s criticism that daughter Ivanka and her clothing line were treated “unfairly” by Nordstrom when the store dropping her line. Nordstrom responded, issuing a statement that they have a great relationship with Ivanka, and only ceased to sell her line for business reasons (most likely poor sales). Conway refused to believe that, and argued the company is doing this to irritate President Trump. What she did wrong was suggest that viewers “go out and buy Ivanka’s stuff,” which she was scolded for, as it breaks government ethics rules. These rules say that officials shouldn’t use their position to advertise. TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and Burlington Coat Factory’s website followed Nordstrom’s direction and stopped selling Ivanka’s clothes as well.

Trump Meets With More World Leaders

Trump had talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe in Palm Beach, Fla., and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House. He told Abe that “We [The U.S.] are committed to the security of Japan” and that the relationship between the United States and Japan is “very crucial.” Trump spent his time with Trudeau talking about the importance of women in the workplace and the need for a good relationship between the two countries. Trump also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when they talked about the ideas of a two-state and one-state solution for Israel. All his meetings seemed to go smoothly, but the media seems to be more concerned with his talks with Putin after the election, and the strange handshake between him and Trudeau.

Adele Wins Four Awards At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards

The 59^th annual Grammy Awards show was an especially good night for Adele. She won Record of the Year, Album of The Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album, all for her song “Hello” and its respective album, 25. The controversy surrounding the event seems to be that Beyoncé was overlooked for Album of the Year. But Beyoncé didn’t go home empty -handed, winning Best Music Video for her song “Formation,” and Best Urban Contemporary Album for Lemonade. She even got half a Grammy from Adele, who broke hers in half and said she wanted to share it and that she is a “major Beyoncé fan.” Other notable wins include Drake’s “Hotline Bling” for Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Best Rap Song; Twenty One Pilots’ “Stressed Out” for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance; and The Chainsmokers’ and Daya’s “Don’t Let Me Down” for Best Dance Recording. Both Adele and Beyoncé preformed at the show, Adele running into some technical difficulties when she had to restart her tribute to George Michael, who died in December. Not surprisingly, throughout the night many of the stars got political in their performances—which is a shame, because it should be a fun night.

Saturday Night Live Continues to Mock Trump and White House

In his 17th time hosting Saturday Night Live, Alec Baldwin played his most well-known character, Donald Trump. The show also included a reappearance of Melissa McCarthy as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Before the show Rosie O’Donnell offered to play the role of Steve Bannon, the White House’s Chief Strategist, and changed her Twitter profile picture to one of her made up as Bannon. But SNL chose to use a grim reaper for the part. This episode mostly focused on Trump’s travel ban and Spicer’s ‘passive aggressive’ press conferences.

One skit was based on Trump going on a TV court show to fight the judges who overturned his travel ban. (Remember his tweet “See you in court” after the decision.) The show criticized him for being a “TV President,” and had the judge in the courtroom wishing for one day without “a CNN report scaring the hell” out of her.

Trump’s Cabinet- Adds 5 and Subtracts 1

Trump’s cabinet has slowly started taking form. He has filled five positions including Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, and Secretary Veteran Affairs David Shulkin. The most controversial in the Senate seemed to be DeVos, whose vote resulted in a tie that had to be broken by Vice President Mike Pence. (Although Senator Elizabeth Warren had her own controversy when fellow senators silenced her in Congress when opposing Sessions.)

The one who is definitely getting the most attention from the media is Michael Flynn, who was President Trump’s National Security Adviser, until he resigned . Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary, said Flynn resigned because of a trust issue, after lying to Vice President Mike Pence about talks with Russian officials about lifting sanctions. Spicer also said that Trump had known about the issue for two weeks before insisting that Flynn resign. Pence had only recently been made aware of the issue. Flynn also had other ties to Russia, strong enough that critics argued they could result in him being blackmailed by the country. This is the latest event to unfold in the “Trump-Russia Conspiracy” saga. Flynn’s replacement is now Keith Kellogg, a person who had served as a part of Trump’s transition team for defense, and before that, a foreign policy adviser for his campaign. The media is still questioning Trump and his administration’s ties with Russia.

December is the most wonderful time of the year. The world is aglow with festive lights reflecting off soft snow. But there come many dangers in celebrating the holidays, and it’s a good idea to know how to combat them.

Carbon Monoxide and Fire

For those with fireplaces or stoves, setting a nice cozy fire is a wonderful way to keep out the cold. The smell of burning firewood promotes a sense of holiday joy as families gather around the warmth. However, there is a dark side to a nice cozy fire. In a poorly ventilated area, carbon monoxide can build up. Carbon dioxide’s much more evil brother, carbon monoxide is virtually undetectable by humans and in large enough doses can render you unconscious, then dead. The best ways to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning are to ventilate your stove or fireplace and to install carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

There is also the really bright side to fire. The side so bright you can hardly look at it as it burns your house down. Leaving fires unattended can, in a worst case scenario, end in a raging inferno. Other contributing factors to winter house fires are dry Christmas trees, overused outlets, and festive candles. In order to avoid a catastrophe, monitor how hot chargers and electric devices are getting, sweep up dead pine needles, and blow out candles before leaving for extended periods of time.

Hypothermia, Bites, and Burns

With winter comes snow. Aside from snowballs, snowmen, and snow forts, snow has one purpose: blocking your driveway. Shoveling is an integral part of winter, especially in Massachusetts. Hypothermia and frostbite are the two main hazards when outside in the snow. Hypothermia (quite literally ‘low heat’) can easily be averted with a heavy coat, gloves, boots, and a hat. If one particular area is exposed to extreme cold for a long enough time, you won’t get full hypothermia, just  frostbite. Frostbite is when your skin and the tissue beneath it literally freezes. Mild cases are best treated with gradual warming. Note: do not submerge a frostbitten limb in hot water. Your skin would be so numb that you wouldn’t feel until it’s too late that your skin has been burned by the high temperature of the water. If feeling doesn’t return within a short period of time, seek medical help. Severe frostbite can cause complications with nerves and infection.

Black Ice

The greatest fear of drivers whenever there is snow is black ice. As if driving with reduced visibility wasn’t enough, frictionless near-invisible patches of black ice litter the roads. If there has recently been any snow, you should be aware that there could be black ice. The only way to see it coming is to watch the road. Black ice appears much shinier than dull, black pavement and will stand out in good lighting. Should the cars in front of you spontaneously spin out and swerve, there is probably a patch of black ice just in front of you. When you do hit it and feel like you’re losing control of your car, DO NOT PANIC. It seems counter intuitive, but braking will only make it worse. Keeping the steering wheel straight, slowly step off the gas and if you feel the car spinning, lightly turn  in the direction you’re spinning. The best way to make it far worse it to panic, slam on the brakes, and try to steer out of it.

Power Loss

In heavy snow and strong wind, telephone poles and wires can snap and break, causing loss of electricity in huge swathes of residential land. Without electricity, you can’t heat your house, you can’t dry clothes, and you can’t cook food. Cold and darkness slowly encroach as night approaches and you have no power. In order to avoid the huge drops in temperature, use a (well-ventilated) fireplace or stove. Enjoy grilled cheese and tomato soup on a candlelit winter night. If you have a generator, use it to power winter essentials like a space heater, lights, and electric blankets. If you have access to either, seek out neighbors, friends, and family who do. Stay with them until power returns and you can go home to a nice, warm house. It’s also important to check on your neighbors and nearby family members to make sure they are okay.

But, all points aside, it’s the holiday season. And while you shouldn’t neglect worrying, you shouldn’t waste every second on it either. Be with friends and family, be jolly and giving, be happy. Bake cookies, wrap presents, go caroling, bake more cookies, go sledding, go skiing, and most important of all, have a happy ChristmaHanuKwanzaakah

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frostbite/basics/definition/con-20034608

http://www.wikihow.com/Drive-on-Black-Ice

It has been almost one month since Election Day, but the tension surrounding American politics is still high. From changing interest rates and newsworthy interviews to questions of Donald Trump’s legitimacy and protests, the unforgettable election of 2016 continues to be unforgettable.

Rob Clarfeld, founder and CEO of Clarfeld Financial Advisors, wrote for Forbes.com last Wednesday to say that interest rates have been climbing since the beginning of the summer but have increased at an even higher rate since the election. Clarfeld explained that Trump’s election caused bond markets to respond negatively because of the newly elected president’s plans for office. Investors are wary that Trump’s plans for infrastructure spending, defense costs, and decreased taxes will lead to economic inflation. Additionally, the Federal Reserve has long been expected to change its policy and increase interest rates. Clarfeld also remarked that Trump’s rhetoric for making the defense of the United States a priority has influenced currency. In anticipation of less foreign trade and increased domestic demand, the US dollar has increased 2.8 percent since the election. If the dollar continues to increase in strength, the prices of domestic goods could become too high for foreign markets, affecting US corporations negatively and bond markets positively.

Another political development since the election was the NPR interview on “The Diane Rehm Show” of a surrogate of Trump, Scottie Nell Hughes. In response to the subject of Trump’s stream of unproven claims throughout his campaign, Hughes stated, “One thing that’s been interesting this entire campaign season to watch is that people say facts are facts. They’re not really facts.” The comment shocked journalists and seemed an attempt to defend Trump’s lies and conspiracy theories — such as Trump’s recently unproven claim that there were millions of illegal voters in the November election. Just this past Friday, Trump sent a questionable tweet saying that Taiwan “CALLED ME,” suggesting his lack of initiative in the controversial interaction, though the Taiwanese press reported that the call was previously scheduled with his consent.

Meanwhile, resistance to Donald Trump’s presidency lingers on among some throughout the country. In Cincinnati on Thursday, protesters outside the US Bank Arena chanted “love trumps hate” while Trump made the first stop on his post-election victory tour. Additionally, the 2016 Green Party nominee, Jill Stein, is advocating for a recount in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. All three of these states are typically Democrat, and the statement Stein released to try to raise money for a Wisconsin recount claimed both “compelling evidence of voting anomalies” and “significant discrepancies in vote totals” in each of the three states. Stein has raised $6.9 million to pay for the three recounts. The recount in Wisconsin began Thursday, while the Michigan and Pennsylvania recounts have not yet begun

Though the next four years under President Donald Trump have yet to unfold, they are likely to make significant history based on the political tension during his campaign and the first several weeks after his election.

There was a lot to celebrate at Homecoming last weekend, as Hanover’s top-seeded varsity football team beat Norton in the first round of playoffs and the student body came together for the Homecoming dance in the gym.

The Indians, undefeated since the beginning of the season, entered Friday’s game coming off of the heels of a major 37-0 win against Pembroke just two weeks before. Hanover was ranked first in the Division 3 South Sectionals, marking the fourth year in a row they made tournament, while Norton had struggled with a 3-4 record in the regular season. Friday night, Hanover continued its dominance, scoring twice before Norton was able to make any offensive gains. The final score was Hanover 53, Norton 8. Several highlights of the game were the multiple assists and a PAT scored by quarterback Wyatt Shisler, ’17. Wide receiver Matthew Lanagan and running back Brad Rogers, both seniors, added touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Hanover High  students from all grades dressed up for the dance Saturday night. The dance went from 6:30 to 9:30 and was a success from all reports. With the students’ ticket money, the school provided mac and cheese, pasta and sauce, salad, rolls, and chicken, as well as a DJ. The dance was chaperoned by some of Hanover High School’s faculty and held in the school gym.

How do you celebrate Memorial Day? Do you put up star spangled flags in your front yard to commemorate the nation’s brave, fallen soldiers? Perhaps you participate in a local parade, or have an annual barbecue with your family. Memorial Day marks an important day on which the people of the United States join in remembrance of those who have died for our protection. It is incredibly important to remember all of the courageous men and women who have defended our country, and I believe it is also valuable to take a few moments to honor foreign soldiers who died in their own fights as well. For this reason, I find it interesting to think about how our country and how foreign countries reserve days to commemorate their dead heroes.

In the United States, the last Monday of every May serves as a day to memorialize United States citizens who have died while in the U.S. military. Today, Americans tend to observe the holiday by visiting cemeteries, getting together with friends and family, and walking in or watching local parades. This day was declared a national holiday in 1971, but its origins lie in the period following the Civil War. This makes sense given the staggering amount of Americans who died after this internal war and the need that grew out of it for national cemeteries. Every spring following the end of the war, Americans picked up the tradition of laying flowers on the graves and saying words in memory of the fallen soldiers. These types of customs have evolved into the Memorial Day that we know and celebrate today.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the northern hemisphere, Russia has a similar day to our Memorial Day called Victory Day. Russia observes Victory Day every year on May 9, memorializing Nazi Germany’s surrender to the Allies in 1945. On that day, Russian citizens remember the millions of soldiers who died during World War II. European countries further west who fought with the Allies also celebrate the 1945 surrender, but call it V-E Day. Interestingly, because of the time difference between Russia and western Europe, Germany surrendered on May 9 Russian time and May 8 Western European time. So, Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th, while V-E Day is celebrated on the 8th.

In Israel, the people celebrate Yom Hazikaron on the fourth of the Hebrew month of Iyar, May 10 of this y ear. Yom Hazikaron translates to “Memorial Day” and is a day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and for citizens killed as a result of political violence and terrorism. Several thousand miles south, Australians and New Zealanders observe Anzac Day on April 25. Anzac Day marks the day of Australia’s and the Kiwi forces’ first military action during World War I.

Meanwhile, citizens in the Netherlands honor their dead on Dodenherdenking, or “Remembrance Day.” The May 4 holiday honors the Dutch citizens and soldiers who have died in conflicts since World War II. While the U.S observes a moment of silence on their Memorial Day at 3 p.m., those in the Netherlands honor their fallen with two minutes of silence at 8 p.m.

In a different part of the world, the United Kingdom celebrates their Remembrance Day on November 11, which was the day of armistice between Germany and the Allies at the end of World War I. (America marks that date as Veterans Day) To honor the day, UK citizens wear poppies,  a flower that bloomed even during the most terrible bombings and periods of chaos during the war. France also has a day of remembrance on the 11th of November which they call Armistice de 1918. On this day, the French honor the dead by laying flowers on soldiers’ tombs and next to French monuments like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Celebrations like Memorial Day, Armistice, Dodenherdenking, and Victory Day are common in many more places about the world. Nations like Canada, Germany, and Belgium also observe days to honor their dead in ways similar to the United States. The commonality of memorializing the dead is a great indication of the humanity that lives on in the world despite all of the wars and conflicts. This Memorial Day, join in with this worldwide tradition and remember those millions of men and women around the world who died in battle protecting their countries with incredible bravery.