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$igns on the Dollar Bill

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By Brennan Nick, Resident Historian and Illuminatus

Top: Obverse. Bottom: Reverse

Our One-Dollar Bill seems to be shrouded in mystery. Why does it have Latin phrases like “Annuit Coeptis” or “Novus Ordo Seclorum” written on it? Why does it have a pyramid and the same eye symbol that belongs to the fabled Illuminati? Why did the founders of the United States engrave the dollar bill with these symbols? Well, to begin with, they didn’t. At least not all of it. In fact, the dollar bill that we all know and love today wasn’t put into circulation until 1929. It didn’t even reach its general design until 1935, and even after that its most recent change was in 1963 when they changed the border design of the obverse side of the bill to what we see today with the leaves and the designs around the number one in each of the corners. However, perhaps a more notable change was in 1957 when they added the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the reverse side of the bill above the large “ONE.”

Nevertheless, what do the rest of these symbols mean? Well, on the reverse side of the bill there are two circles. Together, they form the Great Seal of the United States. This was made by a group of men–which included Benjamin Franklin. He and others designed the pyramid and the eagle. The circle on the right depicts the bald eagle holding an olive branch and some arrows. The bald eagle itself is only found in North America and is our national animal. It represents victory and courage. Floating in front of the eagle is a shield, which signifies that Americans should rely on their own virtue as the shield does (statesymbolsusa.org). It is also a symbol of how the United States can now stand on its own. On the shield, there is a horizontal bar at the top which symbolizes the federal government and both below it and supporting it are the thirteen vertical stripes which symbolize the states (13 at the time this was made). In the eagle’s mouth is a banner with the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM” which is Latin for “Out of many, one.” Then the eagle’s right talon holds an olive branch, signifying peace while his left holds arrows, signifying war. Not only does the eagle hold the olive branch in the dominant talon, but the eagle’s gaze is also towards the olive branch, away from the arrows. What is being communicated here is that this country wants peace, but is not afraid to fight if need be. Finally, above the eagle are 13 stars symbolizing what we know as the original 13 colonies.

Now, on the left circle of the seal is the pyramid. First thing to take note of is that the face of the pyramid is lighted while the side is darkened, symbolizing how we were entering into the light and leaving the darkness. The cap of the pyramid is then broken off with the all-seeing eye imposed onto it. When the seal was first being designed, they wanted a symbol of divine providence. The all-seeing eye was put there for this as it is an ancient symbol of divinity dating back to Egyptian times. The letters at the base of the pyramid, “MDCCLXXVI” are the Roman numerals for 1776, the year of the Declaration of Independence. Above the pyramid is “ANNUIT COEPTIS,” which is Latin for “God has favored our undertaking,” also hitting the theme of divine providence. Below the pyramid, on a banner, are the Latin words “NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM,” which mean “a new order of the ages.” Now, does this part sound like some sort of a secret society? A little, unless you know what it symbolizes, which is more or less the beginning of the new American Era on this new continent with a new style of government without a king.

Final note, watch the prevalence of the number 13 on our dollar bill. Remember, it corresponds to the original 13 states/colonies.

  • There are 13 letters in the Latin ANNUIT CŒPTIS (the “Œ” is a two-letter ligature of “OE”).
  • There are 13 letters in the Latin E PLURIBUS UNUM.
  • There are 13 stars above the Eagle.
  • There are 13 plumes of feathers on each span of the Eagle’s wing.
  • There are 13 bars on the shield, representing the original colonies united in defense.
  • There are 13 leaves on the olive branch, representing the original colonies’ desire for peace.
  • There are 13 fruits, representing the prosperity of the  original colonies.
  • And, finally, there are 13 arrows (if you look closely) representing the united colonies’ preparedness to fight for the common defense.

This 1780 New Hampshire bank note appeared in circulation four years after the beginning of The Revolutionary War.

 

 

 

 

*statesymbolsusa.org referenced.

 

Editor: Renée Vazquez

Shows to Binge Over

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By Blogger Reviewer Claire Jenkins

Quarter 4 will be over before we know it. Summer will be here, and there will be many hours in a day to kill. Why use your precious time to do something productive and be a part of the society around you when you can sit at home on the comfort of your couch and binge some Netflix shows! Below is a list of my personal favorite binge-worthy shows on Netflix.

Jane the Virgin 

The title sounds a little off putting, and that might be why it took me so long to watch it, but it’s honestly one of my favorite shows. It has twists, turns, murders, love, and very diverse characters. It’s about a woman named Jane and her family showing how they handle everything life throws at them. It never gets tiring, and there’s something for everyone. I would 12/10 recommend.

New Girl

This show is stupid, but I love it. A girl moves in with three roommates and has a blast. There’s quick one liners and love triangles for hours. It’s an excellent time waster.

Friends

Yes, this show is overplayed on Nick at Night, but there is nothing more satisfying than sprinting through 10 seasons in one week. There’s about 85 hours worth of pure gold, and if you plant yourself on the couch with the proper snacks and only stop for bathroom breaks, you’ll have it done in no time! You can do it if you try (seriously, someone please try; I honestly want to know how it goes).

Wynonna Earp

Wyatt Earp’s great granddaughter kills demons in Purgatory. WATCH IT! DON’T QUESTION ME, JUST WATCH IT!

One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time is a revamp of the old sitcom with the same name. It’s about a Cuban family in America, with an abundance of strong female characters. The show is basically a liberal free-for-all. This has Rita Moreno in it (from West Side Story and everything). Watch it. It’s not your parents’ One Day at a Time.

Editor: Bella Bier

LGBT+ Superheroes

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By Comic Lover and Blogger Peter Kadel

America Chavez–Marvels first LGBT latina superhero

In the past two decades, there has been a major shift in pop culture and modern entertainment. Comic books and comic book movies have gained an incredibly high popularity as comic books have become a legitimate form of art, and their film adaptations have grossed  billions.

Recently, I was talking with Mr. Griffin after a GSA meeting. The subject of comic books and comic-book movies came up after Mr. Griffin complimented me on my knowledge of Marvel comic books. As the conversation continued, we eventually got to the subject of minority representation in comic-book superhero movies. It was at this point that Mr. Griffin asked, “When is there going to be an LGBT Superhero on the big screen?” And, while I could not answer the question off the top of my head, I decided that I needed to find the answer. At first glance, it seems like there are no LGBT+ heroes and that there aren’t likely to be any in the near future. But upon a closer look, the opposite is true. In terms of current representation, many existing LGBT+ characters have hit the big screen, and there are even more LGBT+ characters that exist in the comics that have not yet been adapted to the big screen. Harley Quinn who appeared in the DC Extended Universe’s movie, Suicide Squad, is bisexual in the comics, having had romantic encounters with Poison Ivy. However, the movie adaptation, where Harley Quinn is played by Margot Robbie, did not explore that side of the character’s sexuality. On the Marvel side of comic-book movies, the character Deadpool, who received his first stand-alone movie in 2016, identifies as pansexual. And, while he has not yet had an on-screen romance with a man, many people involved with the franchise, including Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, have voiced interest in pursuing this side of the character’s sexuality. 

Representation within the DC comic-book universe–Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn

But there are even more LGBT+ characters in comic books that have not yet made their way onto the big screen. The best example is Marvel character America Chavez (aka Miss America). She is a lesbian latina superhero who was raised by lesbian parents. She is likely our best bet in terms of an LGBT+ hero with a stand-alone movie. The character is currently set to appear in an animated film titled Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors. While that is not the great big live action event that the character deserves, it’s a start. Miss America is an empowered young woman who always stands by her ideals and does not put up with bigotry and injustice. She is the perfect role model for younger generations, not only because of her ideals, but because she is more than her sexuality and relationships. This is how representation should be. People are more than their sexuality, or race, and this is shown in the way Miss America is handled as a character. America Chavez is a step towards representation that will ensure the relevance of Marvel Comics. Comic books are very popular among young people, so it only makes sense that they appropriately represent the young people of America. 

Marvel comic books especially have a long history of representing the under-represented and making us fall in love with those we thought were unlovable. Stan Lee (the major creative force behind the most popular Marvel characters) has a penchant for taking society’s outcasts and making them heroes. The core of the best marvel heroes are not their looks or social standing but the content of their character. The importance of representation in comic books is not the race or sexuality of the character, but the fact that they are shown as being worthy of being heroes.

Editor: Shelby Armor

The True Heroes

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By Charles Schnell

 

Charles received Honorable Mention for this poem submitted to the Youth Town Hall “Giving Back” Poetry Competition–a valley-wide competition held in honor of Caroline Kennedy, former ambassador to Japan and daughter of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy is a longtime advocate and editor of poetry. Her family is known for its dedication to service. The compilation of poems was a gift to Kennedy when she spoke at the Desert Town Hall Forum last month.

 

The celebrities,

The athletes,

The CEOs,

The lawyers.

These aren’t the

True heroes

(Especially the lawyers).

Rather,

Blessed be

The organ donors,

The charity givers,

The teachers,

The soldiers,

Those who give their time, money, and life

To giving back,

For they are

The true heroes.

Editor: Renée Vazquez

My First Experience With American Beauty

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By Leo Milmet, The Bird on Fire Resident Film Critic

When I was ten, I began to take a serious interest in film. I saw a poster for the Cinemark Classic Series at the theater at The River. The tickets were $5 per film, so I went to see each of the listed films (Forrest Gump, West Side Story, Lawrence of Arabia, American Beauty, Casablanca, and The Godfather).

I fell in love with film that year. I was introduced to an entirely new world: the world of the greatest films of all time, not just something like Star Wars or Gone With The Wind. I became invested in the wonderfully written and beautifully realized characters of American Beauty and Casablanca like I never had been before. I was introduced to the sheer power of brilliant cinematography through Lawrence of Arabia’s beautiful, epic shots. The themes of West Side Story, despite my having already seen the film and enjoyed it, challenged me in a new way. The Godfather showed me a truly tragic fall from grace.

However, of all these classic Oscar winners, American Beauty (1999) was the film that made me want to become a filmmaker. I remember the night I saw that film. The film was a cheeky satire, but also a melodrama. I didn’t get behind Lester, the film’s anti-hero, and his disquieting desires, but I felt terrible for him nonetheless. As much as I loved every one of these films, and I did (I REALLY LOVED THEM ALL), I had become absolutely enamored with the quiet power of American Beauty, the character-based work of genius that I will forever remember seeing for the first time. I was drawn in by writer Alan Ball’s realistic characters. The film’s powerful themes of nostalgia, uncertainty about one’s place in the world, lust, and breaking the system are accessible to anyone. Even when I was not old enough to actually understand them, I still felt them. Somehow, someway, Sam Mendes directed the film so that each character, each scene, each theme spoke to me.

American Beauty changed my life. It made me want to make films just because I want another person to experience what I experienced that night. I owe this film so much because it truly was the film that made me love film.

Editor: Shelby Armor

March Madness: Or U Must Be Cinderella

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By Guest Blogger and Basketball Fan Holden Hartle

March Madness is a time where everyone, not just college basketball fans, puts some money in and fills out a bracket in hopes of making that perfect bracket. Well, for those who are more inexperienced, and want to win some money, here are some good pointers.

  • Three’s are better than two’s–Statistically, the three pointer has become very popular in the past decade. Furthermore, college teams who shoot better from the three-point line often have a better chance of winning the game.
  • Be careful of Cinderella Teams–There is always that one team that is not a high seed but goes far in the tournament. Don’t get too caught up in this. This is usually GREAT advice. Before this year, only four double digit seeds had ever made the final four. It just so happens, this is the year of Cinderella Teams! For instance, No. 11 Syracuse upset No. 3 Michigan State AND beat No. 6 TCU; No. 11 Loyola-Chicago upset No. 3 Tennessee AND No. 6 Miami; No. 16 UMBC won over No. 1-seed Virginia; No. 13 Marshall defeated No. 4 Wichita State; and No. 13 Buffalo upset No. 4 Arizona.
  • Free throws win championships–-Every NCAA championship team has been an above average free throw shooting team; keep this in mind.

However, the most important rule of all is go with your gut. If your gut tells you to pick it, then pick it. With these in mind, I hope you happen to win lots of money!!!

Editor: Peter Kadel

We met Caroline Kennedy

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By Shelby Armor

On Thursday, March 8, a team of our Upper School students went to see former US Ambassador to Japan and daughter to John F. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy. Desert Youth Town Hall hosts four such events each year at Indian Wells’s Renaissance Esmeralda. Leo Milmet, Shelby Armor, Andrew Zhu, Renée Vazquez, and Jordan King were all in attendance and enjoyed a great night of talk on foreign policy with Japan, Caroline Kennedy’s life, and JFK!

Renée, Andrew, Jordan, Leo, and Shelby all pose for a photo before they go to see Caroline Kennedy.

Caroline Kennedy addresses Coachella Valley high school students before she enters the main ballroom at the Renaissance. She welcomed questions from the crowd.

Leo Milmet, at the request of Caroline Kennedy, shares inspiration for his poem he wrote for the “Giving Back Poetry Contest.” The contest was a tribute to Kennedy, to her love of poetry, and to her family’s dedication to service.

Next Wednesday, the Town Hall Forum hosts the final speaker of the 2017-18 series, journalist Chris Wallace. Our own Jordan King is tasked with introducing the Fox News commentator.

Editor: Makena Behnke

gurl power

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Poet Blogger Makena Behnke reminds us March is National Women’s History Month.

 

don’t tell me how to wear my hair

don’t tell me how much makeup to wear

don’t tell me you don’t like my style

and definitely don’t tell me to smile

maybe in your small dumb brain you think it’s flattering

but in our big broad minds it makes us want to scream

screaming, though, is no big fun

our voices hurt and then get numb

though they turn to deep, hoarse voices

maybe then you’ll think we should have some choices

–women’s day is everyday

 

Editor: Shelby Armor

songs that I’m always in the mood for

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By Makena Behnke

 

we’ve all been in that mood when you don’t really want to listen to any of the songs on your playlist… so here is a list of songs that i listen to when i don’t want to listen to anything.

 

  • Rebel Love Song by Black Veil Brides (when you feel a little bit like hard rock)
  • Coffee Talk by Broadside (when you need some pop punk)
  • Matter of Time by Five Finger Death Punch (heavy metal)
  • Thank God I’m Not You by Himalayas (indie rock)
  • Blank Generation by Richard Hell (punk rock)
  • All You Are Is History by State Champs (pop punk)
  • I’m Shipping Up To Boston by Dropkick Murphys (punk rock)
  • Palette by Grayscale (pop punk)
  • Free Your Mind by En Vogue (R&B/pop)
  • My Own Way by Drowning Pool (metal)
  • Sugar, We’re Goin Down by Fall Out Boy (pop punk)
  • Coffin by Black Veil Brides (hard rock)
  • Your Body Is A Weapon by The Wombats (indie rock)

Editor: Claire Jenkins

*Warning: some songs might contain swear words.

Fictional Deaths I Still Haven’t Gotten Over (Spoilers Ahead: Really)

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By Peter Kadel

Let’s face it, reading/watching/enjoying works of fiction (i.e: books, movies, and videogames) is really fun and helps all sorts of people get away from the everyday and helps them escape occasional sadness. But sometimes… grief follows us into the realm of fiction as creators of fiction rob us of our favorite characters–giving us emotional scars from which we will never recover. In honor of these fallen fictional figures, here is a list of fictional deaths I still haven’t gotten over. (In no particular order).

* SPOILERS AHEAD * * SPOILERS AHEAD ** SPOILERS AHEAD *

Wash (Firefly/Serenity): The short lived sci-fi hit Firefly and its cinema followup Serenity followed a crew of misfits who were all lovable in their own way. But the character that stole hearts was the pilot Wash. The wise cracking, Hawaiian-shirt wearing, moral center of the team was brutally killed in the movie Serenity, and this loss has scarred me forever. He was the character I wanted to be in real life. Not only was the Firefly series ended too quickly, so was Wash.

Wolverine (Logan/Death of Wolverine): Everyone’s favorite X-man. The hardcore healing mutant with unbreakable bones and claws. Most of his fans thought he would never die, after all that was his main ability. So imagine my surprise when he died TWICE, once in the comic universe and once in the cinematic universe. I had to witness the death of my favorite superhero ever TWICE: first when he was encased in metal as he reflected on all he had done and was finally content after a life of sadness; and a second time when he died holding the hand of his daughter fulfilling the prophecy that he would die with his heart in his hand. I cried both times. So needless to say, I’m still upset about it.

Han Solo (Star Wars: The Force Awakens): I think it is safe to say that this one made everyone cry, to see our favorite bold and brash smuggler gutted by his bratty Sith lord son was an emotional hell that no one deserved. He deserved better. And Chewy’s reaction to watching his longtime pal Han fall into the abyss of Starkiller Base (“BBBrrrrwwwrrroooo”) was truly heart wrenching and, yes, I cried when it happened.

(The West Wing): The are too many deceased characters to list from this show. The show’s creator Aaron Sorkin seems to delight in toying with the audience’s emotions. The saddest death was that of a staple character, Leo McGarry, who was killed off in the final season because the actor passed away. Leo was everyone’s grouchy yet endearing older relative, and the way he cares about his coworkers made him even more lovable.

Chak (Guardians of the Flame: The Silver Crown): Now most of you have probably never heard of this book series, so let me explain. A group of college students are playing a tabletop RPG similar to D&D and they get transported into the game world which turns out to have a huge slave trade which the students vow to dismantle. One of the first slaves freed by the group is a man named Chak. He was a wisecracking swordsman who becomes a key member of the team until his untimely death in the third book of the series. Chak gave himself in a heroic act of self sacrifice to save his friends. Chak easily has the most entertaining characteristics, and his enduring sense of humor made him lovable. His death hit me so hard that I stopped reading the series after I finished the book.

While there are dozens of other deaths I’m still grieving, I’m pretty sure I’m not emotionally capable of listing all of them, so if there are any you think I should have included, let me know in the comments!

Editor: Claire Jenkins