the bird on fire

The Palm Valley School Student Blog

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The Monster Under Your Bed

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Graphic by Harlow Berny

By Harlow Berny

 

When you were a child, you would make your parents check underneath your bed after they had tucked you in at night. This is because you thought that the gentle glow of your night-light was not strong enough to reach underneath, and thus monsters would take refuge there. When you grew up, you threw out your night-light to sleep in the dark, for you no longer believed that monsters hid under your bed. The thing is, those monsters exist no matter if you believe or not. The only difference is that once you do not believe in them, you can no longer see them. You cannot see them crawling out from under your bed. You cannot see them peering at you from the foot of your bed. You cannot see them staring you in the eyes. You cannot see them slipping into your mind, replacing your childhood innocence and youth with stress, sorrow, fear, and regret. You cannot see that the monster under your bed has become the monster in your head….

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Gregory

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By Guest Poet Blogger Chris Griffin

This poem was written when I was age 24 – in the midst of, and in order to encapsulate, a somewhat fiery yet thrilling relationship. Greg is no more, but the poem remains. It’s as if written in stone – and time.

 

Accidental (Mount Tamalpais, 1972)

 

while driving   my car

blinked out   gregory

wheel grabbed   spun out

even off  the paved main

thorough farely clung cried

for help was near to  

nothing ever fell so

far so

good

 

Editor: Shelby Armor

Charlotte

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By Anonymous  

 

beauty is a feeling.

it is a gasp.

it is that inhale

that manages to fill your soul.

it is that feeling when you smile

from ear to ear because you’re just

happy.

it is the wonder that gleams in your eyes.

it is the nostalgia of a childhood dream.

it is in the colours of music,

in the rhythm of a landscape.

it is vibrant.

it is so much more than pretty.

 

Editor: Claire Jenkins

Does Pitch Perfect 3 Hit the High Note?

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By Claire Jenkins

 

Pitch Perfect 3, otherwise known as the “Last Call, Pitches,” was quite a sinking ship. Whether it be about the over-the-top storyline with strange side stories, or about the song choices in the movie itself, there were many complaints.

The Pitch Perfect franchise is known as a female-driven feel-good comedy movie that puts emphasis on the strength of women and friendship. The first two movies had fulfilling and heartwarming storylines about how Anna Kendrick, as Beca the lead character, helped to push forward and create everlasting friendships. They were feel-good movies that showed the power of friendship, determination, and love. The movies were not focused so much on romantic relationships, although Beca did have a boyfriend for a small amount of time.

In the third movie, everyone went in with high hopes of experiencing yet again the female powerhouse comedy that had such great reviews before. Instead, this time the movie had an outrageous storyline for Rebel Wilson’s character, affectionately deemed Fat Amy, that came out of nowhere. The movie had outrageous actions, explosions, and awkward will-they/won’t-they romance. They threw in a love interest for Brittany Snow’s character, Chloe, that simply did not fit the theme that friendship and sticking together was the most important thing.

Many fans were upset due to the constant teasing of a possible romance between the beloved Beca and her best friend Chloe. The trailers and social media accounts for Pitch Perfect 3 constantly flashed pictures or videos of Brittany Snow and Anna Kendrick in possible romantic situations that never came true in the movie. This is known as “queerbaiting,” and it is a common problem in many movies or TV shows where they throw around the idea of putting two characters of the same sex together simply for more views. They use characters’ sexualities as a way to gain attention, and often don’t properly portray the LGBTQ+ community.

Despite all of the obvious problems in the movies, the actresses make up for it with their talent and charm that so many love. Pitch Perfect 3 was not as well written as the two previous movies, but it was still a heartwarming comedy underneath.

 

Editor: Brennan Nick

No-Tube

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Graphic by A.J. Patencio

By A.J. Patencio

 

Dear fellow PVS students, as many of you have probably already noticed, YouTube has been blocked by the school. While we don’t see the normal page for a website that’s blocked by the LightSpeed system when visiting YouTube, we see “ERR_QUIC_PROTOCOL_ERROR” on your screen and text that tells you the YouTube website is either “temporarily down” (which is not likely, as the website loads on all devices when off-campus) or has “moved permanently to a new web address” (which YouTube would never do). This means that the website has been blocked and students can’t access it during school for any reason.

 

There might be multiple reasons for YouTube being blocked. Maybe too many kids in the Upper or Middle School (as we share the same Wifi network) were caught watching YouTube during class, and this caused the ban (which might be the cause for Netflix being banned as well). Maybe the school is just trying to enforce the rule in the PVS Technology Handbook/Chromebook Contract we all signed (yes, you had to sign a contract to get your Chromebook, and if you’re absolutely sure that you didn’t sign a contract then you shouldn’t have that Chromebook) that states we will not watch streaming services for entertainment on the Chromebooks. Maybe it’s because when lunch came around, the Wifi network immediately started lagging horribly due to the amount of students jumping onto YouTube (and Netflix, Spotify, etc.) to look at random stuff.

 

Whatever the cause is, there are already consequences appearing (other than us not being able to watch memes). Many educational websites (such as Crash Course, JoczProductions, Khan Academy, TomRichey.net, etc.) host their videos on YouTube. Why is this important? Well, now that YouTube is blocked, you won’t be able to see any of the videos on those websites, which teachers use to assign as classwork. The teacher could use the Staff Wifi to access the video and project it on the board, but this hinders individual and small group work and is problematic for combined AP and non-AP classes that have to watch different videos.

 

Keep in mind, this is only the first week back from vacation–plus it’s review week for all the Upper School students taking Midterms–, and there are already problems arising. Whether or not YouTube will be unblocked by the school in the near future is unanswered, as the problems caused by this are still just popping up. If you have an opinion you’d like to share about this, a problem that’s caused by YouTube being blocked, or a possible solution, please put it in the comments.

 

Editor: Claire Jenkins

I’m Sorry.

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By Renée

 

Hello, my dearest you.

I have done something quite

strange, and weird.

Something a bit out of character,

at least for me.

I have broken my own promises;

I have divided from deep inside.

From what I know now,

from what I knew then,

yes, it still makes sense.

But, I did not account for my own loneliness.

It creeps inside my heart now,

but I know you need me now to be a friend.

And, here I’ll be for you.

I’ll be here just for you.

I’ll keep my mouth shut.

I have my entire life to express myself,

but right now you need me

to listen to you.

And, that’s something I know quite well how to do.

But, more than that, it’s what I want to do,

listen to you.

I’ll be here for you.

I’m sorry.

 

Editor: Makena Behnke

To the Sun and Beyond

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By Anonymous

 

We wish for the fury to end,

The sadness to cease,

And our souls

To find

Everlasting love.

We will hunt

That prayer to the

Angelic sun

And beyond.

And even though

Discovering an answer

Will be difficult,

We can

Emancipate ourselves,

Reaching the liberty

Beyond

The Gates

Of the sun.

 

Remember,

All stars

Sing different songs of life,

But we hold

The same

Fate.

 

One fate.

 

One us.

 

Editor: Claire Jenkins

very early xmas 2018 present ideas

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By Poet Blogger Makena Behnke

 

this season, we all received gifts we didn’t want, and we all gave at least one gift that we knew the person wouldn’t like, but we gave it to them anyway…

 

here is a list of quick and easy presents for next holiday season that almost everyone will like:

 

  • books.
  • candles. who doesn’t like a candle?
  • face masks for smooth skin.
  • food. food is always good.
  • gift cards. they may not be heartfelt or personal, but you don’t have to go through the struggle of buying a gift you’re not even sure your loved one will like.
  • hair ties. no matter how many you buy, they always seem to disappear.
  • mini lotions and soaps. if you don’t know someone too well or you just ran out of time to get them a present, these are good gifts.
  • mugs.
  • notebooks and journals and such.
  • phone accessories. this present could be anything from earbuds to chargers to phone cases.
  • socks. socks are such an underrated present, especially if they’re holiday themed.
  • sunglasses. honestly, it’s better to go with fun sunglasses with colored lenses in my opinion.
  • sweaters and sweatshirts. you can never have too many.

 

Editor: Brennan Nick

Loneliness

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By Guest Blogger Jackson Dean

 

As I write this, Blog, Publications Club, and Book Club are traveling to Los Angeles on a field trip to The Last Bookstore. They will be in LA for the entire day. As I write this, I understand, for the first time in my life, the feeling of loneliness. The members of the class and clubs are my go-to, my emotional support, the type of friends that are there for you always. I’m attached to them, probably in an unhealthy way, but nonetheless attached. For the first time, none of them are here to talk to, to laugh with, to enjoy each other’s company. For the first time, I feel like I have, in all honesty, no one. I am alone. I have no voice, no confidence. My cheery disposition is currently vacant as it searches for something to give, but to no avail. I never understood just how much these people mean to me, until this moment, this moment of gray, this moment of quiet, this moment of loneliness. As I look at this moment, I am brought to another moment that has yet to come. Another moment where this loneliness will occur, but hasn’t yet–

 

June, 2019–When my class, my brothers and sisters since Kindergarten, will throw off their caps with me as we leave our high school careers and start another life, away from each other. June, 2019–When I hug my go-to’s from lower grades for the last time. June, 2019–When the people that gave me a voice, that gave me confidence, will no longer be a part of my life. June, 2019, and possibly for a long time afterwards–When this feeling of loneliness will sink in once more and tug at my heart as it does now.

 

I love all of you. From the bottom of my heart, I truly, wholeheartedly love you. Whether you are in my class of 2019, or 2020, or 2021, I think of you as my brother or sister. I am nothing without you. You make me something. You give me that voice. You give me that confidence. You make me who I am, and I will never forget that.

 

Editor: Claire Jenkins

“I’m Tired”

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Writer-Blogger Claire welcomes in the new year. Suggestion: Read it aloud.

 

By Claire Jenkins

 

This is a symbolic representation that shows how most high schoolers are feeling right now. High School is constantly putting pressure on students — the curriculum gets harder, and the students struggle to keep up. This is almost a piece of poetry in a sense. It is a figurative piece that may seem simple at first, but once you look closer you will realize that this is a concept piece that shows how the education system is constantly pulling students apart.

 

I’m Tired

I’M TIred

I’M TIRed

I’M TIREd

I’M TIRED

I’mmmmmmmmmmm tiredddddddddddddddddd

**I ‘ m  t i r e d**

i’M tireD

 

help me

 

Editor: AJ Patencio