The Flare

Earthquake in Ecuador
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the coastal region of Ecuador Wednesday, April 20, leaving more than 500 people dead and thousands missing, injured and displaced. The South American country has since experienced even more intense aftershocks, reaching a magnitude of 7.8. The government has implemented a new tax policy in order to rebuild. Japan also experienced a damaging earthquake late last week. There are several different ways to get involved and help the people of Ecuador and Japan recover.

Politics
What more can be said about this election? The New York primary is a thing of the past, and here’s what we’re working with delegate-wise. The most interesting part of this week has been seeing how hard Hillary Clinton and her campaign are working to be culturally relevant. She apparently carries hot sauce in her purse … like Beyoncé.

Tubman on the $20
After months of speculation, it was revealed that Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. Some found the news intriguing, as it took over timelines and news feeds everywhere. Even Ben Carson (remember him?) put his two cents (get it?) in regarding the change. The Tubman takeover is expected to occur in 2030, so you still have time to plan how you’re going to earn those bills.

Playoffs?
Basketball, basketball and … more basketball. The NBA Playoffs are in full swing and getting a little boring, if we’re going to be honest. With the number of blowout wins rising, most have their eyes set on the conference finals which will offer up more balanced competition and most likely a Warriors v. Spurs matchup. But anything can happen. In the mean time, here’s a clip of the Thunder dancing before an eventual loss.

Time 100
There’s nothing like seeing the Time 100 list and being reminded that you really do need to finish out the semester strong and do something. This year’s most influential people list includes everyone from Mark Zuckerberg to Ronda Rousey, and even Tom Haverford … I mean, Aziz Ansari. Time even broke down how they go about forming their list here. Six different covers of the magazine are available, including essays written about each candidate by someone else who is also influential. Maybe next year, guys.