THE RETURN OF THE EYE

By: BHS Features Staff

February 26, 2025

On February 26, 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed. Today marks the 32nd anniversary of this attack. 

A terrorist bomb was planted in the basement-level parking garage of the World Trade Center, and it exploded at 12:18 in the afternoon. This explosion caused mass destruction of the building, including a multi-story crater and seven collapsed floors. 

The terrorists may have failed to critically damage the structure of the buildings; however, six people were killed and over a thousand were injured. The World Trade Center suffered 500 million dollars worth of damage. After the attack, 50,000 people had to be evacuated from the building, most of them suffering from smoke inhalation.

A multi-day manhunt began, looking for the suspects responsible. Within days, several of the terrorists were arrested. In March of 1994, Mohammed Salameh, Ahmad Ajaj, Nidal Ayyad, and Mahmoud Abouhalima were convicted for their roles in the bombing, and all were sentenced to life in prison. A Palestinian named Salameh was arrested when he went to receive the deposit that he made on the van used in the bombing. Ajaj and Ayyad were arrested for the construction of the bomb, and Abouhalima was arrested in Egypt after he fled from Saudi Arabia as it was discovered that he helped purchase and mix the explosives used in the attack.

The FBI investigated the bombing almost instantly after the attack. The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force were tracking down the Islamic fundamentalists for months, and they knew that this was an act of terrorism. Within only one day of the attack, the FBI searched through the wreckage and found multiple parts of a damaged vehicle that completely exploded. They then found a great amount of clues about the terrorists responsible. One of the clues was a vehicle information number, which was traced back to the van that had been stolen the day before the attack. 

The bombing of the World Trade Center caused a new Islamic terrorism phenomenon that directly impacted the United States. The leader of this attack, Ramzi Yousef, told the FBI that he planned to have the two towers crash into each other, which would kill roughly 250,000 people. 

Yousef remained on the run until February of 1995. He was arrested in Pakistan; previously, he was in the Philippines. He left a computer behind with plans that included plans to kill Pope John Paul II and a plan to bomb 15 planes in 48 hours. He claimed that he was the mastermind behind the attack on the World Trade Center and that he was also the one who set the bomb. He said his only regret was not causing the towers to collapse into each other.

This bombing was just the beginning of something much worse; it was the tragic foreshadowing of September 11, 2001, when a group of Muslim extremists achieved Yousef’s goal of the two towers crashing into each other. 

The 1993 attack is often overshadowed by the events of 9/11, but it shows that the World Trade Center was always a hot target for these attacks.

One day, hopefully, world peace will be the norm.

{Information for this article is sourced from The History Channel and The History Channel (7 Facts).}

By: BHS Features Staff

February 19, 2025

Each year, the World Cancer Research Fund organizes Cancer Prevention Action Week, aimed at helping to prevent cancer by supporting and encouraging individuals to change their daily bad habits to reduce their risk of preventable cancers. 

This year’s Cancer Prevention Action Week looks into the effects of alcohol that can potentially lead to cancer.

Many people do not know the effects that alcohol has with cancer, specifically seven types of cancers due to the consumption of alcohol.

• Breast Cancer
• Bowel Cancer
• Head Cancer
• Neck Cancer
• Oesophageal Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Stomach Cancer

The goal of Cancer Prevention Action Week is to encourage people and the government about the effects that alcohol has and to gain more awareness on the matter.

Why is the government involved with this? Well, that’s because most governments’ strategies on alcohol are outdated, and they need to improve their strategies by applying better labels, changing the taxes and prices, and tightening regulations.

Many people drink for fun and may not know the effects on the body. The effects of alcohol can cause cancer because when alcohol is inside the body, compounds are formed that may damage DNA, and when the DNA is damaged, it causes a high risk of cancer. Drinking can also damage the liver, causing cirrhosis. 

Drinking too much can damage numerous organs such as the liver, heart, and brain. Drinking can also damage the immune system, causing a person to be more attractive to harmful viruses and illnesses. Additionally, the brain’s communication pathways can change a person’s mood and behavior and worsen overall coordination. Drinking too much can also put one at higher risk for strokes. 

Nobody wants cancer, but cancer wants everybody else, especially if you are an alcoholic. So, eliminate or cut down on the partying and go get yourself a nice ice-cold glass of water. 

If you aren’t an alcoholic, show your support and donate to the World Cancer Research Fund.

Be smart, and stay safe! In the words of Tim McGraw, “This ain’t nothing to die for.”

{Information sourced from Awareness Days, WCRF, CPAW, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.}

By: BHS Features Staff

February 12, 2025

Valentine’s Day is perfect for giving mediocre chocolates and flowers to someone you love or care about, but who or what started this annual tradition?

Valentine’s Day is named after Saint Valentine, but most of this day’s history is unknown. What we do know is that February has been celebrated as a romantic month. This holiday has both Roman and Catholic traditions, but who was this Saint Valentine who has been tied to this day?

Most Catholic churches recognize three different individuals named Saint Valentine or Valentinus. All three of these Saints were martyred. One legend states that Valentine was serving as a priest in Rome. He was on a mission to have couples keep the right to marry each other when Emperor Claudius II decided that marriage should be outlawed for young men due to single men performing better as soldiers. Valentine was not happy with this and continued to perform private marriages for young lovers. Eventually, Valentine was caught and was sentenced to death by Emperor Claudius II. 

Other legends suggest that Valentine was not killed for performing marriage but for helping Christians escape the harsh and abusive Roman prisons. Some stories suggest that Valentine was imprisoned and sent “Valentines,” greeting himself to a young girl who he was in love with. 

Before his death, he allegedly wrote a letter and signed it with “From your Valentine,” which is an expression still commonly used today. Although most of these legends are hard to prove, these stories emphasize Valentine as a sympathetic, heroic, and romantic figure.

Some believe that the Valentine’s Festival started as a way to memorialize Valentine’s burial. Others believe that the middle of February was chosen to celebrate Lupercalia, which was a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman God of agriculture. Roman priests gathered in a sacred cave and got carried by a she-wolf. The priests would then sacrifice a goat or dog for fertility and purification. 

Valentine’s Day is most known for Cupid, but who is he? Cupid is the Greek God of love, named Eros. Details of his birth are unknown, but many believe that his parents were either Aphrodite and Ares or Nyx and Erebus. According to the Greek poets, Eros was a handsome god who loved to play with other god’s emotions. He used golden arrows to make one person fall in love with another. During the Hellenistic Period, Eros was perceived as mischievous and later renamed Cupid.  

Valentine’s Day is also about giving gifts. In the middle of the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers to give gifts as small tokens of affection. By the 19th century, however, as the printing industry improved, handwritten letters were replaced by prewritten cards. In the present, an estimated 145 million cards are sent out each year, making Valentine’s Day the second-largest card-sending holiday with Christmas as the largest.

Now that we are on that topic, let’s take a look at the three most popular gifts to give on Valentine’s Day.

*Number 1: Cards

It was expected that this would be the number one since, as stated before, Valentine’s cards started as a tradition during the 18th and 19th centuries. In today’s world, Valentine’s cards are the easiest gift to give on this day, as it is estimated that around 145 million cards are sent each year.

*Number 2: Personalized Gifts

Personalized gifts are just as popular as the overrated premade cards. Customized gifts are the better way to show affection because they show that you care about something the receiver likes and enjoys.

*Number 3: Chocolate

Chocolate? Why not! Most people think of the iconic red heart boxes filled with chocolate. This decadent treat is a great gift to give when you feel unsure of what to purchase.

As this lovely holiday is getting closer, you better find a partner. If you do not, well, it sucks to be you! You can always dream about marrying your celebrity crush. 😍

{Information for this article sourced from Smart Wills and History Channel.}