Teen Pulse

...Five, four, three, two, one! The big apple drops and it’s officially 2015.
With a fresh year in mind it is no surprise that fashion tops my resolution list.
For those of you struggling to piece together a fashion resolution, take into account the two sides of the fashion resolution scale to find your tailor made resolution.
On one end is minimalism, a style characterized by extreme spareness or simplicity. From the fashionista’s perspective, minimalism exudes subtlety and elegance. These nuances are evident in higher-end pieces that fall under the minimalist category.
Fashion runways today bear eccentric and avant-garde draperies, jewels and footwear. Sometimes, such items are thrilling to see on the runway, but cannot be worn in public on a regular day to day basis. Of course, we all need that special dress for the cocktail party next Saturday or the sky high heels for Lucy’s wedding on Wednesday, but are those items really necessary?
William Zinsser, author of “On Writing Well,” tells us to “simplify, simplify, simplify.” This simplifying process applies to fashion, as well as writing.
Will “detoxing” style put you through both a physical and mental catharsis? I leave the experiment to you.

Teen Pulse staff writer Wilbur Wang asked students, “What was the best present that was ever given to you?”

Today marks the second edition, of “The Pondering Column.” Here I will discuss, reader written questions, regarding morals, philosophy and belief.

Today’s question, asked anonymously: “Is torture ever justified?”
This question has particular relevance given recent events. As you may know the CIA released a previously classified report, stating that they had used various techniques of torture to dissolve credible threats against national security.
The morals behind torture have been an issue for humans since the beginning of our existence, but the answer to this specific question is fairly simple. Yes, torture can be justified.
Now the real question is, at what point is torture justified? A wide variety of cases would permit torture, at least from my perspective. The only parameter surrounding the permissibility of torture is similar to the “eye for an eye” law of retaliation.
This law asserts that if one injures another, he or she will be injured to the same extent. So if I shoot your eye, you can shoot mine, but what exactly is taken with torture? The well-being of an individual.