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The Taft Papyrus

Watertown, Connecticut

The Taft Papyrus

The Taft Papyrus

Apple’s New Chapter: Software, Hardware, and Beyond

Apple’s New Chapter: Software, Hardware, and Beyond

Mandy Xu, Staff Writer September 30, 2025

Apple’s New Chapter: Software, Hardware, and Beyond Tech In 2025, Apple expanded its focus beyond hardware, unveiling major software updates, redesigned devices, and ambitious moves into media. From...

When Statues Come to Life: 100 Years of the Watertown Foundation

When Statues Come to Life: 100 Years of the Watertown Foundation

Alex Werner, Editor-in-Chief September 30, 2025

Have you recently done a double-take walking into town, wondering how that man by the War Memorial is sitting perfectly motionless, or thinking you saw Rosie the Riveter holding her signature pose in town?...

Title: A New Era at Taft: Digitalization in Student Life

Title: A New Era at Taft: Digitalization in Student Life

Esther Lee and Karen Wang September 30, 2025

The start of this new year at Taft is noticeably different from the previous ones, especially as the school undergoes a noticeable wave of digitalization, reshaping many aspects of student life. From doing...

Nepal’s Gen Z Uprising: From Social Media Ban to Political Revolution

Nepal’s Gen Z Uprising: From Social Media Ban to Political Revolution

Rachel Chae, Head Writer September 30, 2025

What started as a nationwide ban on social media quickly evolved into mass political unrest in Nepal this month. More than 70 have been killed, with over 2,000 injured in violent protests. Arson attempts,...

Understanding the Battle Between President Trump and Harvard

Understanding the Battle Between President Trump and Harvard

Holly Richard, Head Writer May 16, 2025

In a dramatic showdown between politics and academia, President Trump and a number of universities, most notably Harvard, are locked in a battle that could shape the future of higher education in America....

One Voice, 25 Hours: Cory Booker and the History of the Filibuster

One Voice, 25 Hours: Cory Booker and the History of the Filibuster

Allison Palmer, Editor-in-Chief April 25, 2025

Throughout U.S. history, filibusters have been praised as an opportunity for minority political groups to delay and potentially block legislation from passing through the Senate, while also receiving condemnation...

No, There Haven’t Been a Million Plane Crashes – Here’s Why It Feels That Way

No, There Haven’t Been a Million Plane Crashes – Here’s Why It Feels That Way

Rachel Chae and Eleanor Lemon April 25, 2025

Have there been more plane crashes this year? It’s a question that’s been on our minds, especially in February and March, when it felt like every time we opened The New York Times, there was another...

Earthquake Hits Myanmar amid a Civil War

Earthquake Hits Myanmar amid a Civil War

Chelsea Soetemo and Mandy Xu April 25, 2025

On March 28, 2025, at 12:50:52 local time, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the Sagaing Region of Myanmar. Twelve minutes after the initial quake was a second with a 6.4 magnitude. These earthquakes brought...

An image from IShowSpeed's recent stream, where he stands with his arms spread in front of the Shanghai skyline. Image credits: South China Morning Post

Streaming Diplomacy: How IShowSpeed Accidentally Bridged the U.S.-China Divide

Steven Zhang, Editor-in-Chief April 25, 2025

The clatter of chopsticks and the hiss of sizzling oil filled the air as IShowSpeed — one of America’s biggest and most popular streamers — sat down at a noodle bar on the bustling streets of Shanghai....

From TikTok to REDNote: an Unexpected Cross-Cultural Exchange

From TikTok to REDNote: an Unexpected Cross-Cultural Exchange

Hannah Xu, Features Editor February 14, 2025

On January 18, 2025, TikTok voluntarily ceased its U.S. operations, affecting approximately 170 million users. This action was in response to a 2024 bipartisan law mandating that ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese...

Frontlines Without Freedom: The Prisoners Protecting Los Angeles from Wildfires

Frontlines Without Freedom: The Prisoners Protecting Los Angeles from Wildfires

Eleanor Lemon and Rachel Chae February 14, 2025

  As raging wildfires continue to pervade throughout Los Angeles and beyond, thousands of civilians are attempting to help in any way they can. They’ve set up donation centers in affected neighborhoods,...

Photo Courtesy of Watching America

The Real Cost of ChatGPT

Coco O’Brien, A&L Editor 24-25 January 31, 2025

  Ever since ChatGPT first became available in the winter of 2022, it has been a valuable resource for students worldwide and within the Taft community. Whether you’re asking the bot for help...

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