“An Honest Book Review of The Infinite In Between by Carolyn Mackler” by Vanditha Krishnan

“An Honest Book Review of The Infinite In Between by Carolyn Mackler”

by Vanditha Krishnan

There are books that you want to read again, and then there are books that you can’t stop rereading. The Infinite In Between by Carolyn Mackler is one of those books -- I first picked up this fascinating YA novel a year ago, but I have postponed reading it until last weekend. I’m so glad that I decided to start this novel, because once you begin it you’ll never want to stop reading it!

Plot: Mia, Whitney, Gregor, Zoe, and Jake are all freshmen in high school, and  they meet each other on the first day of school. All five of them bond so quickly that they decide to reunite after 12th grade graduation. The Infinite In Between illustrates the life experiences that each one of these wonderful teenagers face.

Characters: I need to start off with Mia, because she’s the character I can mostly connect with. Mia finds it hard to speak up for herself and to attend social events; anything that involves other people, really. As a result, her shyness leads her to being the observer of the group. Whitney is her polar opposite; she just needs to stand out from the crowd. Despite both Mia and Whitney’s lives being drastically different, both girls share the tightest bond of all -- friendship. Gregor is the band geek, his life revolves around playing the cello. Little does anyone else know that his relationships with family and friends is not the best. Throughout The Infinite In Between, Gregor attempts to stabilize himself and to fit in. Zoe lives in her famous mother’s shadow, and she desperately tries to get out of it. Her carefree spirit doesn’t bode well with her tightly wound-up mother. Finally, Jake struggles to find his identity throughout his years of high school. He truly wants the right connections, and tries to get them in this novel.

Thoughts: I’m usually not a contemporary fiction reader, but the cover along with the blurb caught my attention from the start. I adore reading from multiple characters’ POV’s, because it allows me to experience each one of the characters’ true thoughts and feelings. Although there were parts of this book that were quite boring, the overall novel was amazing and definitely thought-provoking. If you enjoy a slightly romantic realistic fiction novel, or if you’re looking for a fairly quick read (462 pages), The Infinite In Between was made for you!

My Rating: 8.5/10

My Thoughts on Apple Watch by Karthik Sankar

My Thoughts on Apple Watch by Karthik Sankar

Apple launched the first apple watch about two years ago (April 24, 2015) and I was amazed. There were rumors of a “iWatch“ for many years prior but I passed them off as unrealistic hopes. A device that had a touch screen, could make calls, send text messages and answer questions seemed amazing. In fact, I remember reading a sci-fi book were the main character had a watch which could make video calls. I was so amazed that I immediately wanted one but I knew there was no way it would happen in real life. A year or two pass and Apple announces the Apple Watch, a device that fit the futuristic mold the rumors had created.

            Here are some of the things it you could do with it:

·         Use your finger. It had a touch screen! A watch with a touch screen!

·         Use a “digital crown”. Really this was Apple’s version of a scroll wheel. The idea was to make normal actions like zooming in and scrolling easier on such a small display.

·         Use force touch. Later rebanded as 3D touch, force touch let the watch know how hard you pressed on the screen. This often reveled hidden menu options, which let apps make larger screen elements without neglecting functionality

·         Use heart rate sensor and motion tracker. This isn’t a revolutionary feature but it definitely made the Apple Watch look like a serious fitness tracker

·         Use siri. While you could simply use your phone (which you had to carry with you in order to use the watch), using your watch allowed you to simple raise your wrist and ask siri to do something hands free. This was extremely convenient.

·         Take pictures on your phone. While this was a small under advertised feature the watch allows you to put your phone down and snap the picture with your watch. It even showed you what your camera saw so you could get everyone in the picture. The best part was the the person taking the picture could be in the picture too.

·         Use the taptic engine. Apple bragged about their new “taptic engine” during their announcement keynote. Basically, it meant you would feel a tap on wrist instead of a videration. This made the watch surprisingly good at delivering notifications since you would know you had received one without the annoying sound.

·         Switch out the bands. While not a exciting feature for me, it is good to know that you can quickly change the entire look of your watch with a band.

In conclusion:

            It's been awhile since it was announced but I still believe the Apple Watch is an amazing product from Apple.

Smartphones: Great Tool, but Greater Distraction by Gayathri Eswara Kumar

Smartphones: Great Tool, but Greater Distraction

Have you ever been stuck in a room full of people on their phones, dissolved in their own worlds, refusing to pay attention or even acknowledge each other? Even with a phone as company, it must get lonely after awhile if it’s all anyone does. It is definitely not a healthy way to be communicating with others especially when they are all so close by. Although extremely useful in the most dire of situations, cell phones also present a huge distraction to teens both in school and in their everyday worlds outside of school. With acknowledgement to Pavlov’s dog, all the harmful effects on the body, as well as the lack of real time conversation and bonding, it can be gathered that cell phones present many dangers to the physical and emotional health of an average teen in this rapidly developing world and should not be used frequently.

Pavlov’s experiment concludes that after a certain period of time, any species, including us humans can become acquainted with the idea that something should be anticipated given a certain event occurs consistently, yielding the same result. What I mean is, we are always anticipating the arrival of something or the other even if we are not entirely sure what it is. I read an article to learn more about Pavlov’s experiment, titled “How Pavlov's Experiments with Dogs Demonstrated That Our Behavior Can Be Changed Using Conditioning,” which states that dogs began salivating every time the door opened, because they anticipated the arrival of food as they had before. Cell phones evoke a reaction much similar every time notifications pop up. As the title of the article suggests, conditioning can change our behavior. The more often we are put in the same situation, the more predictable and fast-paced our responses become. There is a clear connection between Pavlov’s experiment and what happens naturally today with smartphones. I see teens that are so intent upon staring at their screens that they barely watch where they are headed as they walk around.  Awaiting a text that may not appear instead of conversing in an environment with so many people around at all times is not healthy or beneficial in any way. A group of us may be sitting at a lunch table, but most of the time everyone will be checking their notifications and updates; there is no actual conversation that goes on during this time. Teens become isolated in this sense even though they may have chances to connect online. It is important to develop these communication skills as a young person so that in the professional world, one can learn to present themselves effectively. The use of cell phones makes teens less sociable, limits them in physical and mental aspects, and could cause unexpected health problems in the future.

For one, radiation from phones is almost insignificant, but using them all day almost everyday will surely do irrevocable damage, especially to young people, and has been known to have caused cancer in the past as a result of the repeated signals being sent back and forth by the phone even when it is not being used to call or text. It is a smartphone, so it’s always asking “where are you?” and replying “here I am,” to pick up any signals nearby. According to Devra Davis, the official who led a study in the Environmental Health Trust Organization and published an article titled “The Truth About Mobile Phone and Wireless Radiation,” putting a phone in your pocket will lead to abnormalities in the reproductive organs, and talking on it allows for radiation to spread gradually through your skull, which is why older people who have fully developed tissue and bone are not affected by this phenomenon as much. I know most people probably realize using smartphones is not healthy, but I don’t know that everyone knows about the severe health risks such as cancer. It is quite shocking to learn that all this time, we have been so unaware that we have been setting ourselves up for such health risks in the future. Another huge problem with the availability of smartphones is the continuous use of headphones; it is a known fact that using headphones for longer than an hour a day with 60% or more of the total volume for 3 years will cause partial or complete deafness in a person, and teens use them extensively with extremely high volume (Kirschner, Chanie). Above all, the most important point to focus on is the idea of using phones at night. High school starts very early, and we all dislike this fact, but complaining about it will do nothing; teens should exercise self control and put the phone down early enough to ensure they get sleep. Without it, they could easily have an extra hour of sleep. It is a recorded fact that teens spend nine hours a day- some even more- on their smartphones (Sassman, Brooke). This is a ridiculously high amount of time considering it is almost half the day down the drain. Having an emergency phone alone can be beneficial for most teens. I mean, think about it, there’s TV and a whole lot of other things for us to be preoccupied with; smartphones are only increasing the amount of time we spend on mindless pleasure. There is no requirement for us teens to have a smartphone, so arm yourself with an emergency phone for, well, emergencies alone.

Calling cell phone usage an addiction is an understatement considering most people cannot go even an hour without checking their phones. I have a flip phone and yes, there are some restrictions to what I can do, but I have so much more time on my hands (Not to say I do anything productive…). In reality, there are many things to do and learn as I have during my conversations with nature outside the window of my bus seat while my friends text away even though we sit together in the same seat. We should learn to look around and observe, learn to be insightful. Try to go a full day without a smartphone to understand just how much you depend on it. None of it matters once you grow up and face the real world. Live in the moment and get to know those around you since there is no telling whether or not you will cross paths again.

“Too-Good-To-Be-True Brownies” by Vanditha Krishnan

“Too-Good-To-Be-True Brownies”

by Vanditha Krishnan

We’ve all had those midnight cravings for something extra special to eat. Most of us aren’t going to get up and bake a batch of macaroons, or for that matter, anything that requires more than ten ingredients. These brownies are extraordinarily awesome -- they are actually simple, requiring a mere eight ingredients. Plus, they are egg-free, dairy-free, and nut-free, meaning that anyone with a sweet tooth can enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• ⅓ cup cocoa powder or ½ cup of melted chocolate chips
• a pinch of salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup oil/butter (oil works best)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Utensils:

• a mixing bowl, preferably large-sized
• a spatula/something to mix with
• butter/cooking spray to grease the pan
• an 8x8 or 9x9 pan
• toothpicks

Preparation:

• Combine all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder).
• Add in the wet ingredients (water, oil/butter, vanilla) one at a time and fold gently. *see Notes*
• Your mixture should be pretty thick and gooey (makes them all the more delicious!) Ensure that each ingredient is combined evenly.
• Pour the batter into a greased pan. Bake at 350°F. *see Notes*

Notes:

• If you are using melted chocolate chips, add them to the wet ingredients.
• If you are using an 8x8 pan, bake the brownies for approximately 20 minutes.
• If you are using a 9x9 pan, bake for 16-18 minutes.

    And that’s it! After cooling these brownies for 5-10 minutes, you have a whole tray of yumminess in under 30 minutes! Tell me that your mouth is not watering after seeing these :)

“Tips to Keep Your Life Organized” by Vanditha Krishnan

“Tips to Keep Your Life Organized”

by Vanditha Krishnan

Organization is definitely something that everyone needs in life. If you’re like me, then the need to organize is something you’ll feel every few minutes or so. Whether it’s rearranging the papers in your binder, or making a to-do list, or simply fixing everything back in place, organization is a skill that everyone should have.

You’re probably thinking, seriously? I’ve read enough articles and magazines about this -- organizing is boring and wastes my time. Besides, it’s hard!

Well, the tips on this post will definitely give you a reality-check to keep organizing. Try it out, and you should see a change in your life!

1. I know this is not necessarily organizing, but wake up early. This way you will feel refreshed throughout the day. Plus, this will help you in the long run -- read the next tip to understand how.

2. Create an ‘Accomplish List.’ Basically, as soon as you wake up, jot down a list of all the things you want to accomplish today. It could be as simple as ‘finish my homework’ or ‘make time for family.’ Therefore, rising earlier will cause you to create your list earlier.

3. Prioritize. I know, it sounds like something every parent or teacher would say. As much as I hate to admit, this is true. Get into the habit of ‘first things first’ and you’re ready to succeed!

4. Go one step at a time (unless you’re a really good multitasker). Now, if not blessed with an exceptional multitasking ability, you might find it helpful to go one step at a time. For instance, when you get back from school, don’t dump out all your homework and begin everything. Finish (in no particular order) your math, then that government packet, and then the physics lab.

5. Finish your homework as soon as you get home from school. Yup, it’s hard. But think about it this way: the faster you get your homework done, the more YouTube videos you can watch; the more time you get to hang out with friends.

6. Don’t procrastinate!!! This gets me so annoyed. Procrastinating is one of the worst habits you could possibly have. Putting things off for later causes you to a) forget your homework in the end, b) postpone even longer, or c) rush because you spent all of your time watching Friends (I understand that, though :D).

7. Code. Self-explanatory. Try to organize  your materials in color order, or size order, or by shapes, etc. Sort them out in bins or other storage boxes.

8. Make a calendar. Calendars are an easy way to keep track of the dates. You can easily buy one, but what’s the fun without making a simple DIY? Also, try to write down the dates of quizzes and exams beforehand, and give yourself three to four days to prepare.

9. Prepare beforehand. Going similar to Tip #8, knowing when assignments are due, or when tests are given, or simply when your friend’s birthday is (if you forgot) is useful. Especially when your friends demands a card and you don’t have one yet.

10. Stay prepared. This is not like Tip #9. Staying prepared is when your teacher randomly announces a pop quiz or a book report that’s due in two days. Constantly refresh your memory so that you have information in your head, not in your notebook.

11. Study tools! Flashcards, study guides, Quizlets, presentations, or simply notes are easy ways to ace that hard test. Don’t memorize the facts, rather learn them by reading over and over again, coming up with a song, or any other method that will keep the information etched in your memory. Oh, and make sure you give yourself a couple of days (usually 3-4) in order to prepare.

12. Enjoy yourself! Last but not least, enjoy yourself. Give yourself a few minutes every day to rewind and relax. Maybe have a spoonful (okay, a LARGE spoonful) of ice cream, or a slice of pizza, anything to reward your hard work. Remember that life isn’t all about stress and grades. Pushing yourself is some- thing you should do, however, don’t strive for perfection -- strive for progress.

Organization, to sum up, will surely help you become a better person mentally, and emotionally. Save some time at the end of your days to relax, and make the best use of your time. You’ll live a less stressful and chaotic life, which is especially important in high school. Remember, enjoy while you can!

Staying Focused During the Last Months of School By: Aleena Khan

Staying Focused During the Last Months of School

By: Aleena Khan

Since summer vacation is just around the corner, I thought I could give some tips on how to stay focused during your last few months in school. Many students tend to stop trying in the last few months, or have no motivation to as all they envision is summer. Here are some tips you should follow to keep yourself motivated in these last few months.

1.Relax during the summer, not before.

You just keep summer vacation as a motivation to work harder. After you work hard during these last few months, summer vacation should come as a reward. Don’t shut down your brain or slack off close to summer because these grades count just as much as your grades in the beginning or middle of the year. Also, most teachers give some of their most important tests and projects during this time.

2. Focus on other things

Instead of stressing over finals, you should focus on the exciting things that will happen in the end of the school year including graduations and pep rallies. Be excited for memorial day weekend and for the chance to spend time outside with your family in the great weather.

3. Do not stress over finals!

Be aware that finals are near, but do not worry about them all the time. If you give yourself plenty of time to study and plan out the material to study you should be fine. Also, stay caution of the exam dates so you are prepared.

4.Take time to Reflect on the School Year

Take this time to reflect on how you grew, how you changed, and what you learned. Everyone has grown, and we should acknowledge that. Also, take the time to plan out more activities during the summertime so you can learn and grow more; and start the new school year off fresh.

How to Automate your Mac by Karthik Sankar

How to Automate your Mac

Automation is an extremely useful thing. It’s important to value your time and eliminate redundant tasks. Here are some ways to automate your mac:

1. Auto Backup. Let’s be honest. We all know we should be backing up our computers but it’s a major hassle. And when you do decide to back up your computer it usually consists of copying some important folders to another storage device. Mac has this amazing feature called Time Machine. It backs up your files to a specified drive automatically every hour. Not only doesn’t it backup your files automatically, but it also keeps track of older backups. This allows you to go back to any previous backup not just the most recent one. In order to set it up, you would go to System Preferences and click Time Machine (in the 4th row). Next, you would select a disk to back up to and check the Backup automatically button.
2. iPhone Backup. iTunes is usually the go-to backup option but there are a number of things you can do to make your experience easier. First, open the default photos application and plug in your device. Then check the “Open Photos” option. It will automatically launch the application on the import screen when you plug in your iPhone. Next, launch iTunes and select your device. Scroll down to Options, and select “Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected” and “Sync with this iPhone over wifi” Both of those things should be self-explanatory.
3. Automator. Automator is another amazing default mac automation app. To use it, first choose a place to save your macro (an automation). Next, choose a type of flow you would like to make. There are a large number of tools, combinations, and features in Automator and it would be nearly impossible to list all of them here. To see them listed out click the Help on the top and click Automator Help.  Then click show topics to see the full functionality of Automator.

I hope I have helped you with this article!

Karthik Sankar

Review of “Windwitch: A Witchlands Novel” by Susan Dennard By Sanvi Mitra.

Review of “Windwitch: A Witchlands Novel” by Susan Dennard

“Windwitch”, the second novel in the Witchlands series revolving around Prince Merik Nihar with a 4.02 rating ranks higher than its elder sibling, “Truthwitch”, the first book in the series. The plot of the story includes perspectives of multiple characters, the main one being of windwitch Merik’s, the supposedly ‘dead’ prince. The book contains heart wrenching stories about family, the consequences of wrongful blaming, as well as relationships that, astonishingly, turn from hate to extraordinary friendships. It throws in new characters, new plots, new villains, and definitely new themes, making the perfect recipe for the perfect book. Although...

The Safi/Iseult interactions, Safi/Merik tension, and the blistering pace that evoked emotions in me in the first book “Truthwitch” were almost completely unseen in this second installment. There was next to nothing to make my heart beat faster, nothing to bring out any passion in me. “Windwitch” definitely suffers from ‘second book syndrome’ and I was hugely disappointed by this Dennard novel.

So to say, I never have a problem with multiple point of views, unless they work at odds with the book. Throughout “Windwitch”, the point of views switched almost every chapter, twisting and turning the plot with every flip of a page— and not in a good way. The floppy way that the point of views switched and most of the times didn’t connect to the plot of the book as a whole confused me, more so when new characters and ideas were brought into the book.

Dennard’s world-building and writing were, per usual, strong, but the pacing and the weird flow of the story brought “Windwitch” down to the ground.

By Sanvi Mitra.

"Book Review of Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner” by Vanditha Krishnan

Book Review of Phantom Limbs by Paula Garner”

by Vanditha Krishnan

Gosh, where do I begin? Well, the cover is amazing! Phantom Limbs is newly acclaimed author Paula Garner’s debut novel, but it certainly did not appear to be so. This novel was beautiful and gut-wrenching; Garner does a great job of building relationships between the characters. The story was woven together like cloth, and I am so glad that I read this book!

Plot: Otis is a swimmer, grieving the death of his young brother, Mason. He is wise beyond his years, and deeply cares for his family and closest friends. Meg was Otis’s best friend, until she suddenly moved away after Mason’s death, leaving Otis and his mother heartbroken and lonely. But when Otis learns that Meg is coming back for the summer, all he wants is to become friends again (a little more than that would be nice :D). Soon enough, her arrival back home brings back traumatic memories, especially of Mason. Otis must learn about some uneasy truths about Mason’s abrupt death, but he must also learn to live in the present, and not to let his thoughts from the past drown him.

Characters: These characters were developed in such a lifelike way, that I almost believed that this story was real.

Otis was such an amazing main character; he was considerate, and was Dara’s ‘rock’ during hard times. I admired his ability to move on, even during difficult situations like this.

Meg was definitely a dynamic character. She seemed to be a bit distant after reuniting with the Muellers’, but eventually, her traumatic memories led to her stabilizing her relationship with the family.

Dara, oh Dara. Like her name suggests, Dara is a daredevil. Left with one hand and a stump in the other, she lives with her silent, brooding, authoritarian father. Dara’s mother committed suicide when Dara was born, so difficulty is etched in her life. I loved the way Dara pushed Otis to accomplish his dreams, even though she couldn’t do the same. Her nobility was a quality I admired.

Thoughts: I’ve said it already, but I’ll say it again. BREATHTAKING. The prose was remarkable, enhancing the novel like rare pearls of the sea. Debut author Paula Garner stunningly portrayed truth, life, and love in this poignant novel. I look forward to reading more of her books. Simply beautiful.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23617206-phantom-limbs

Movies Review: Split By: Anuj Kadakia

Movies Review: Split

By: Anuj Kadakia

This action-packed thriller displays a man with a staggering 23 personalities. In a matter of seconds he can shift from a kind, warm-hearted artist to a wicked, strict man. At some times he can have the brain capacity of a child of ten years old, or a strange maid. In this movie, the man, Kevin, comes across three girls in a parking lot. He abducts them and subjects them to his barrage of unpredictability. Sometimes he can be as nice as a mother, but other times he can shift to an absolute devil-like figure. This movie will have you at the edge of your seat in anticipation for what is to come. I think anyone who likes a little fearful aspect in their movies would love this. I definitely found this to be an interesting, well thought out movie. The suspense and uniqueness of this film is sure to catch your attention. This is a movie that you can go back to and re-watch because of how interesting it was, enjoy. 

BOOK REVIEWS : Everlife Trilogy (books 1-Firstlife & 2-Lifeblood) By Gena Showalter BY SULPHIA IQBAL

BOOK REVIEWS : Everlife Trilogy 

(books 1-Firstlife & 2-Lifeblood)

By Gena Showalter

BY SULPHIA IQBAL

MY THOUGHTS

The Everlife Trilogy is very similar to a science fiction version of Romeo and Juliet, yet its focus is not completely on the forbidden relationship ( THANK GOD ). In this world, your death is known as Firstdeath and the life lived up to that point is *GASP*  Firstlife. After Firstdeath, you have three options: You can choose to live your Secondlife in one of two realms ( Myriad or Troika ) or simply not choose at all and be placed in a realm where you live and die miserably every day. So, like, what’s the big fuss? Can’t you just pick either world and get on with it? Yeah, no. Conveniently, these two realms are at war and which one you choose actually matters.

Enter Ten, the MC of the series who has yet choose the world of her Secondlife. Myriad and Troika kinda get fed up and take matters in their own hands. They send two of their people, Killian from Myriad and Archer from Troika, to ultimately convince Ten to choose their realm. No pressure on Ten right? Yeah, well whatever world Ten chooses will win the war, because according to Archer she’s a conduit. So yeah, she’s a special snowflake who can change EVERYTHING. Pshhh..no pressure there.

( SIDE NOTE : The idea of having the concept of a Firslife and Secondlife is actually pretty clever. Like, living a life and then dieing only to be like “WAIT! I'M ALIVEEEEEEEE” and do it all over again. )

Ten is kinda stubborn. She is not going to let her feelings get in the way of a decision that can change her life, literally. So while her heart wants to go to Myriad, she knows it’s not what she is supposed to do.

The book as a whole got very repetitive. She would try to make a decision, then would almost get incinerated for just thinking about it. She would ask for more time, and then almost get killed for that. And the process continues. The book seemed like it would NEVER STOP. Like Ten, get a hold of yourself and make a decision already. Eventually, she does. At the very end.*SIGH*

( ALSO: TEN. CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW RIDICULOUS THAT NAME IS ? That’s like “Honey, you like books? I’m going to name you Book ?????)

Check it out at the library and goodreads :

https://www.goodreads.com/series/155858-everlife

RATINGS: 4/5

BOOK REVIEW : Alex Approximately By Jenn Bennett BY SULPHIA IQBAL

BOOK REVIEW : Alex Approximately

By Jenn Bennett

 BY SULPHIA IQBAL

MY THOUGHTS

This book was very clique, similar to You’ve Got Mail, and is basically like any other contemporary out there. I thought I would like it, and I did in the beginning, but after a while it got really boring. This ended up going into my list of DNF books. ; (

So Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in California, which is completely of the ordinary. The fact that the guy she’s been texting with through this movie website thing for the past few months lives in that exact same town is not (because wow what a coincidence. That was totally not done on purpose, Bennett ). Bailey and Alex ( the fake name of this anonymous guy ) are huge movie bluffs and best friends, yet have never before met each other. When she moves in, she doesn’t tell Alex, but attempts to find out who he really is. MEANWHILE, she’s working at this museum where she makes a few friends and really hates this guy named Porter Roth, who later becomes a friend (HMMM…..not suspicious at all). The story mainly focuses on Porter and Bailey (naturally).

The ending was really obvious. It legit just says it in the synopsis. And the title (Like more obvious than “And Then  There Were None”). That was a big problem. Plus, it got really really really boring. The only things enjoyable in the book was the banter between Bailey and Porter and Bailey/Alex’s love for old movies. It actually inspired me to take on a hobby of watching older movies.

This book was the  super-clique-and-at-the-verge-of-cringe type. I know some people out there like those types of books so I guess you could read it? To any fantasy readers, I warn you to steer away.

Check it out at the library and goodreads :

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30312700-alex-approximately

RATINGS: ⅖  and DNF