Culture Archives - Page 7 of 21

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the Desert’s Killer

February 23, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

The Coachella Music and Arts Festival is one of the most popular events in the United States. What people don’t know is that the festival has its faults. Environmentalist Sienna Price shows us the dangers of Coachella. – Editor Alyna Rei

Upon request that The Bird On Fire blog move closer to home for the next few weeks, instead of going to any exotic country, I have decided to show you the negative side to Coachella–which is one of the most visited music festivals in America.

Coachella attracts around 100,000 attendees every day! (washingtonpost.com) Can you imagine the waste it produces?! On average, there aree 107 tons of waste produced in a 15-day festival, and only 20% of it gets recycled (washingtonpost.com).

As you all know, music festivals are loud. They can reach up to 110 decibels, which is equal to a jet plane taking off (washingtonpost.com).Noise pollution from the festival can massively alter animal behaviors and disrupt ecosystems. Some situations in the Coachella Valley could be birds having to call longer or plant growth being disturbed (curesblog.lmu.edu).

It’s not just what happens in the Coachella festival. If 100,000 people attend each day, most of the people would drive there. That’s polluting even more. Granted–some people drive electric cars and not every single person will drive an individual car to the festival. This is something to think about.

I’m not trying to tell you not to go to Coachella. I do know that it is a great music festival. I am simply just trying to make you aware of the effects and environmental impacts. Say, you have just booked your tickets, what can you do to help?:

Reuse. Do not throw away a plastic bottle. Refill it, or simply bring a reusable water bottle.
Rideshare. If you know someone who is going, ask to share the car instead of taking two.
Wear biodegradable glitter. You don’t think about what a little bit of non-biodegradable glitter does to the environment, and a little bit might not do that much. But, if 100,000 people wear glitter, think of that environmental impact.
Clean up. Clean up around your campsite if you are camping. If you see a piece of trash, pick it up. This is not even restricted to Coachella. Pick up around your community.

If you are considering going to Coachella, or if you already booked your ticket, I hope that you keep in mind the things that you could do to help the environment: pick up your trash; share your rides; take public transports! There are many ways you can help the environment.

Thanks for reading!

Converse vs. Vans

February 8, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Do you judge people by what they’re wearing on their feet? Most of us do. Do Converse All Stars give you a little edge over those who wear Vans Old Skool? Lilah Nick breaks down the pros and cons of each brand. — Editor Alyna Rei

By Lilah Nick, Shoe Expert

There has always been a lingering debate between my friends and people on the internet about which shoe brand is better. I always hear people say Vans when they have never owned a pair of Converse and vice versa. Personally, I was a Vans person for a long time, but then I finally bought a pair of Converse–and they changed my mind. So, which shoe is better, Vans or Converse?

Converse

The Converse brand was created in 1908 by Marquis Mills Converse in Malden, Massachusetts. It was originally called Converse Rubber Shoe Company. The first Chuck Taylor All Star shoe was created in 1922 after Charles “Chuck” Taylor, a semi-pro basketball player, joined Converse as a salesman. The company quickly started to adopt his ideas like making the shoe more flexible and adding ankle support. Converse exploded in popularity in the 70s. My dad told me he rode his bike with his friends from South Miami to North Miami to wait in line for hours just to buy a pair of Converse. Over the years, Converse shoes have changed into what we see today. They’ve added shoe types like Chuck 70s, One Stars, and different styles of skateboarding shoes.

Pros

Converse have always stayed at a pretty affordable price compared to other sneaker brands. Nike, for example, retails its shoes for an average of $100+, and other brands like Yeezys and Golden Goose shoes can cost anywhere from $450 (i.e. Golden Goose SuperStars) to $3,000 (i.e. Yeezy Boost Sneakers). Converse shoes range from only $30-$150. Their more expensive shoes are always collaborations and are never extremely expensive. For example, the Converse x Rick Owens are around $200, but they have been sold out for awhile. You can really only find them on resale websites for $300+. Overall, Converse is an affordable and fashionable sneaker brand.

Converse All Stars featured pretty much the same style since they were made, but after Nike bought Converse in 2003, the shoes became more comfortable, flexible, and still offered more arch support than Vans. Most people might say that Converse shoes are made for people with narrow feet, and Vans are for people with wide feet, making Converse not as size inclusive. But, when you are on the website trying to buy a pair of shoes, almost every pair offers a wide width option.

Converse are the perfect pair of casual shoes that you can wear everyday, and they still make every outfit look good. It’s a great, stylish, everyday shoe to elevate your style to something cooler. Whether the shoes are brand new or you’ve had them for three years, they still look good. These shoes come in many different colors and prints, and the brand is coming out with new designs all the time. For example, they just launched a limited edition line for Valentine’s Day. You can also customize almost every style of shoes from the color of the canvas all the way down to the color of the metal eyelets.

Cons

Chuck Taylors are made of canvas and a rubber sole, allowing them to be very lightweight but lacking the support. Without the build of typical footwear, wearing these for long distances or hikes would cause you to end up with some tired arches. The All Stars were originally made for playing basketball and were used for sports for a long time. Today, playing a game of basketball with these shoes might not be a good idea. The Chuck Taylor IIs were made to fix these problems and give the shoe more support and durability. These shoes ended up flopping and got discontinued two years later.

With the shoes being made out of canvas, they aren’t good at protecting you from the elements. Walking with these in the snow or on a rainy day can lead to one of the worst things in the world, wet socks. With the two eyelets on the side of the shoe, you are also prone to getting little pebbles in your shoes. Since the shoe doesn’t have a lot of support, it might not be good to wear these to crowded places like concerts or dances because you’ll definitely feel it if someone steps on your foot.

When it comes to style, it’s all personal preference. I definitely know some people who hate the way Converse looks. Our very own writer for The Bird on Fire, Luke Sonderman says, “I don’t hate Converse, but I definitely think that some of them are ugly.” But there are also people like my brother (Brennan Nick, PVS ’20) who hate high tops and would NEVER think about wearing a pair of Converse even if they are low tops. He is someone who loves to wear tennis shoes all the time.

Vans

Paul Van Doren worked at a shoe manufacturer when he decided he wanted to start his own shoe brand. In 1966, he and his brother James Van Doren were selling their first shoes for $2-5 dollars. They looked somewhat like today’s Keds but with a thicker sole. After James’s son showed interest in skateboarding, he decided to start manufacturing skateboard shoes. In 1976, the “Off the Wall” slogan was born. The slogan was slang used by skateboarders to do tricks in empty pools. Very soon after the slogan’s debut, Vans upgraded their design and released the Vans #36, which later became the Old Skool shoes. In the 80s, they were pretty popular, but the shoe-business competition was crazy. Counterfeit shoes were being sold, and so Vans had to lower their prices. Vans ended up filing for bankruptcy protection. In the late 80s, they sold the brand to McCrown De Leeuw & Co for 74.4 million dollars. In the 90s, Vans released many new shoes and even snowboard shoes. In 2016, for their 50th anniversary, they released a new logo.

Pros

The iconic waffle pattern on the bottom of the shoes offers lots of traction that won’t fade with time like Converse. The shoes are also pretty durable and comfortable and offer more support throughout the shoe than Converse, but they don’t offer arch support. They do have a “ComfyCush” option. These shoes have a small reinforced toe cap inside, supportive padded collars, and are made from suede and canvas. The shoes are super comfortable and are definitely a bit more supportive (besides the sole) than Converse.

Vans are pretty much the same price as Converse. They can range from anywhere from $17 dollars (i.e.the Makena sandals) to $200 (i.e. the snow boots). Vans shoes have had many different collabs including Vans x Van Gogh Museum, Vans x The North Face, and Vans x Golf Wang. Vans x Golf Wang are currently going for anywhere from $230 to even as high as $1000. They originally went for $100 when they debuted in 2015. Overall, they are very affordable shoes, but if you see a cool pair that happens to be a collab, you might have to pay almost double the price.

Vans come in many different styles like high tops and slip ons. Rarely do they make running shoes. You can always find the basic colors like black, white, navy, and checkered, but there are always other colors and patterns, and the brand has a wide selection that changes colors all the time. These shoes are another example of really good casual shoes that go with any outfit and always look good on anyone, but once again it is all personal preference.

Cons

When it comes to price, they are overall affordable but can get very expensive, as we just discussed.

These shoes are more protective than Converse but are still not the greatest idea to wear in the rain or at super crowded places. The shoes are also not as durable as advertised. Vans are pretty wide shoes, so they would fit pretty much everyone, but I would always get blisters from them because my feet were too narrow for them. Personally, I could never make Vans last more than a year, and I took good care of them. The insides of the shoes, especially the heels, would start ripping after just a few months of wearing them. The Old Skool Vans are definitely more durable than the slip ons, but I would always get holes in the toe cap area and the sides of the shoes.

Again with personal style, it is really up to you. I don’t really like the way Vans look, but some people can make them look really good if they have the right pair. For example, Jesse Denyer, writer for The Bird on Fire, says, “I like the way they look, but I would never wear them because I don’t like the way they feel, and they’re too heavy.”

If you’re thinking about buying a pair of Converse or Vans, but think they don’t have enough arch support, check out the brand Feel your Soul. Feel your Soul is a small business that makes shoe inserts for Converse. It started in 2017 when Jacob Zander wanted a way to make Converse more comfortable while inspiring people. They fit perfectly in my Converse, and they also make them for Vans now. They are super affordable and amazing quality for $15, and I put these in all my Converse. I highly recommend buying these if you want your shoes to be more comfortable. I know so many people that are diehard Vans supporters and other people, like me, that would love to have every single pair of Converse ever created.

Thailand: The Land of Smiles

February 1, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

In this week’s exciting post, Sienna presents to us Thailand–a place full of smiles and beautiful culture. Sienna speaks from personal experience. She lived in and around Bangkok for eight months. Her favorite part of the experience? The animals! – Editor: Oliver Martinez

By Sienna Price, World Traveler

Welcome. This week I will be talking about Thailand, the animals living in many of its ecosystems, and my personal experiences with these animals. Also, I will be touching on Thai traditions and festivals. Thailand is known by many people as the land of smiles. This is because in Thailand there are 13 different smiles with 13 different meanings! There’s a very happy smile, a polite smile for someone you don’t know; there’s a stiff smile for when someone tells a really bad joke, a sad smile, and there’s even a smile when you want to say sorry.

Thai festivals

Thailand has many festivals and national holidays. Almost every month, I had a couple days off school due to a national holiday or festival. The Songkran festival is one of the biggest festivals in Thailand and one of my favorites. Songkran – also known as the Water Splashing Festival – is a celebration to mark the start of the Buddhist New Year in April. The Thai people celebrate the day of Songkran with water balloons and water guns. If you don’t want to get wet, don’t leave your house. There is a national water fight all over Thailand!

Loy Krathong is one of the most picturesque festivals in Bangkok. In November, people gather around lakes, rivers, and canals to pay respects to the goddess of water by releasing beautiful lotus-shaped rafts, decorated with candles, incense and flowers into the water (hotels.com).

Macaques

When someone says Thailand, I immediately think of monkeys. In Thailand there are thousands of monkeys, especially macaques. You don’t tend to see monkeys in the bustle of Bangkok, but drive one hour outside the city and there are thousands. I lived in Hua Hin, which is about a three and a half hour drive from Bangkok. In Hua Hin, it’s mostly jungle and temples. You see monkeys on both sides of the road, in the foliage, and everywhere. The median lifespan of macaques in the wild is less than 15 years (nc3rs.org.uk). In captivity, macaques can live for over 25 years. Most Thai people see the monkeys as pests because they steal their food and other belongings. Most days, you hear people clanging pots and pans around to scare them off! I got too close once and angered a macaque. It ran right at me. Macaque’s mostly eat fruit (and yes they do love bananas), but they can also eat seeds, leaves, flowers, and tree bark. I have even once seen a macaque riding on the back of a motorcycle!

Asian Elephants

If you’re going to Thailand, one of the main things to do is go to an elephant sanctuary. In Thai, elephant is chang. In Chiang Mai in northern Thailand there are loads of them, but you have to be careful that you go to an actual rescue center. There are many that claim to be an elephant sanctuary rescuing elephants from tourist attractions that treat them cruelly, but really they are exploiting them. In Thailand there is an estimated number of 3,000 to 4,000 elephants, and more than half of them are domesticated, the rest wild (elephantnaturepark.org). Asian elephants eat mainly fruits and vegetables but also eat grass. When I went to the elephant sanctuary, the hosts told us “the average elephant eats 300 pounds of food in a day”! The Asian elephants weigh 6,000 to 8,000 lbs.

King Cobra

The king cobra as some of you might know is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. I was once sitting on my deck in Thailand around the pool, and one slithered up from one of the broken deck panels. I instantly recognized its large face. I jumped up and slowly backed away. Straight away we called the maintenance staff, and, without hesitation, staff members went under the deck with only their cell phone flashlights and a stick! They found nothing but told us to look out. Luckily, we did not get a visit from the snake again. If you get bitten by a king cobra and don’t seek medical attention in an hour you will die of paralysis to the heart and lungs. It is recommended that if you see a snake in or around your property you take a picture of it and look for it on the internet. Most of the time in Thailand it is just the common golden tree snake which is hardly venomous, but it is always good to check.

Thailand is a great place to visit with loads of sightseeing activities and great food. You do need to be aware of Thai cultures and traditions so as to avoid offending. Most locals will recognize you as a tourist. There are many poisonous bugs and animals that you also need to be aware of. So, if you’re planning a trip to Thailand, do your research.

Thanks for reading!

Isabella with the Words

December 1, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Congratulations to Palm Valley School’s US Poetry Recitation winner: Senior Isabella Goetschel. Isabella recited “Epitaph” by 17th-century poet Katherine Philips. In a striking twist of fate, Isabella was also selected Audience Favorite. Second Place went to Sophomore Indy Behr with a recitation of “be careful” by poet Ed Roberson. The Third Place recitation went to Freshman Lily Jones with “Poor Angels” by poet Edward Hirsch.

On the Friday before Thanksgiving break, the Upper School gathered for Poetry Recitation Finals in the Gym. Eleven finalists competed before judges Ms. Bernstein, Ms. Maguire, and Mr. Richardt. The judging criteria was that of Poetry Out Loud.

Isabella will advance to Riverside County Poetry Out Loud. She is our Palm Valley School representative. She will recite two poems before a panel of judges. If she wins, she advances to State Poetry Out Loud competition. Indiana serves as our alternate.

A Local’s Guide For Tourists: Kunming, Yunnan, China

September 20, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Travel Guide Extraordinaire James Zheng

When we ask where is “Home”? James answers, “Kunming.” He adds, “It’s better than heaven.”

Where am I from? In terms of cities in China, most people have only heard of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou as these are popular spots for visitors. However, there are plenty of places worth visiting in the interior provinces, like my city, Kunming.

Kunming is the capital city located in the center of a province called Yunnan. This whole province is full of popular must-see destinations, but most of them are only known by local residents. I’m giving you the insider’s guide.

Here is a brief introduction to Kunming. Kunming has one of the most temperate climates and has the best air quality in China. The weather is not too hot or too cold. The season in Kunming is always spring; therefore, my city is also given the name “Spring City.” This climate has attracted many people who move from other crowded cities when they need a well-deserved vacation. Geographically, Kunming is located near some south-eastern countries, being closer to Burma, Vietnam, and Laos. But it is also close to Thailand, Bangladesh, and Cambodia. This makes it a place of international cultural exchange and a cultural melting pot.

Here are some of my recommendations for local foods and places to visit in Kunming:

Places to see:

Golden Temple Park: A palace that was built during the Qing Dynasty (1368―1644), it contains historical meanings everywhere. The main structure is yellow bronze, so it was also categorized as one of the Chinese grand bronze palaces. It is preserved as it originally was. There is also a huge mountain surrounding the palace, and with all the forests, it is tucked into a natural environment. You get to see lots of flowers as well.

The ancient town of Guandu: Guandu used to be an independent region; now it is one of the districts within Kunming. The only thing you might be interested in here is the old-styled building and some exquisite handicraft. The initial construction of Guandu started from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and mixed with some culture generated from Buddhism. You would see some temples and towers as well.

Southern-east-Styled City: This place does not have the same size as a city, but it is one of the most commercialized and well-developed areas inside Kunming. There is an exhibition called Southern-east Cultural Exhibition, which is held each year. During the exhibition, you get to participate in cultural activities and buy interesting gadgets from Southern-east. Even if it’s not for the purpose of going for the exhibition, you can also hang out there and find fun things to do.

Food to Try:

“Cross-the-bridge rice noodle”: This is a unique style of rice noodle invented by Kunming locals. You serve this rice noodle with hot soup. Along with separate fresh side dishes, you cook the rice noodles instantly by putting them into the soup. It is popular in Kunming.

Varieties of Mushrooms: The Yunnan province is given the respectful name “The Kingdom of Mushrooms,” since we have thousands of types of mushrooms. Most of them contain valuable nutrients. The mushrooms are a main incentive attracting tourists to visit Kunming.

And that is generally all I would say about Kunming. Depending on the motivations of the travelers, you could discover more about this heavenly city I call “home.” I hope this helps you know more about China!

Editor: Renée Vazquez

James Jams to “Jay”

September 12, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By James Zheng

Hello, everyone. I know we are reminiscing about our time during summer, but do not forget to enjoy the new school year. You especially must check out our school blog every DAY! Last year I did most of my posts about anime, movies, and games. This year, I will try to bring new and more creative posts to readers.

During my summer, I rediscovered a Chinese singer named Jay Chou. My only impression of him was from my childhood; the first time I listened to his songs, I disliked his “lazy” singing style where you don’t know what he is saying unless you look up the lyrics. I did not have a good impression at first. However, one day I clicked on a video talking about the comparison between the top ten Chinese songs of 2005 and 2015. One of his songs was at number one in China 2005, and that made me interested in him again, and the things I used to dislike actually made him unique.

Jay Chou’s career has always been marked by his dedication to the Mandopop (Mandrian Popular music) realm. When his first album came out in 1999, it was played everywhere on the street and soon made the top ten songs chart. Once Jay realized the opportunity was there, he charged up his music career and released more and more albums. His songs never get old, even though he has been making music for nearly twenty years. Each of his albums is still overwhelmingly popular nowadays around the whole of Asia. To give a personal comment on his songs, the complex level of lyrics and songwriting is still beyond most songs in recent years.

So here are some recommendations. Some of them are more “James” subjective, while most of them are commonly recommended in the Mandopop realm.

“Can’t Express Me (开不了口).” Released in 2001, this is the song I like the most. The change of the instruments adds a lot of improvement and meaning to the whole song.
“Secret (不能说的秘密).” Released in 2007, Chou also made a film with the same name. “Secret” is a light rock song.
“Common Jasmine Orange (七里香).” Released in 2004, this song is one of the most popular in Asia, awarded “Song of the Year” by the Asian music confederation. The lyrics are full of poetry and romantic meaning.
“Sunny Day (晴天).” Released in 2003, this is a charming song played with guitar. Nowadays, it is even more popular than “Common Jasmine Orange.”
“Nocturne (夜曲).” Released in 2005, this hit the top number one most popular song among the Mandopop realm. The rhythm is quite tranquil and smooth. Jay Chou also adds some Hip-hop into his vocal style.
“Silence (安静).” Released in 2001, the whole song remains almost the same speed and rhythm while being played with the piano. The song also has a strong emotional atmosphere.

And that is what I have for you guys. Chou still has tons of amazing songs to listen to, so check them out if you are interested. Try searching on YouTube, Spotify, Google Music, or Amazon Music. Lastly, I know that everyone doesn’t understand or usually listen to Chinese songs, but why not try it out just to see if you like the beat or the vocal style. You might want to welcome something fresh. New year, new music!

Editor: Luke Langlois

Music

September 11, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

In keeping with our theme on “Welcome Back” or “What Did You Do Over the Summer?” Katelin submits a post on her favorite summertime (anytime) pastime–K-pop.

By Katelin Mei

Over the recent years, there has been a spike in popularity of K-pop, most likely because BTS and BLACKPINK have introduced the North American public to this genre of music. They have very eye-catching videos, and the members of every group tend to have a cute look.

My favorite groups

6. BTS – This was the second group that introduced me to K-pop. I like this group because I like their older songs like “RUN” and “Save Me.” I also like Min Yoongi because I find him cute.

5. NCT – This is a very confusing K-pop group. They have many different sub-groups, like NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and WayV. The different sub-groups release different music, but they are all under the brand name “NCT.” I like this group mostly because the people in NCT have fun and unique personalities.

4. Red Velvet – This group is unique because of its varied musical concepts that they can pull off very well. They transition from having a “girl crush” concept in their song “Bad Boy” to a summery cute theme in their song “Power Up.” Unlike many other artists, they are never limited to one topic.

3. Dreamcatcher – I found this amazing group because of their latest comeback song “Piri.” They have a unique rock/anime style rarely seen in K-pop girl groups. My favourite song of theirs is “You and I.” They are releasing a new album soon, which I am extremely excited for.

2. Momoland – MOMOLAND broke into the market with their song “BBoom BBoom.” Since they come from a small company, they once did not have many fans and were planning to disband after they released “BBoom BBoom.” The song blew up and brought MOMOLAND the followers and fans they needed, including me. They are a very attractive group, and JooE is especially pretty.

1. BLACKPINK/Twice – These two groups are tied because I love them equally, even though they contrast each other in concept. While BLACKPINK has a girl crush concept, TWICE’s aesthetic is very appealing and well done (see second photo). BLACKPINK has a special place in my heart because they were the group that introduced me to K-pop. Hopefully, they can do the same for you.

Editor: Luke Langlois

The Juice is Loose–But Why?

June 6, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Luke Langlois

On June 12th, 1994, sometime after 10 p.m., two people were murdered in cold blood at a condominium in the prestigious Brentwood of Los Angeles: Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald “Ron” Goldman. Today, for those who were not alive during the case or are unaware of the case, I would like to bring attention to what is known as the “trial of the century.” On that night, nobody knows quite what happened. But, what we do know is that a distressed family pet alerted a neighbor passing by. The neighbor reported the bodies, and the investigation began.

Meanwhile, Ms. Brown’s ex-husband and former NFL star, nicknamed “The Juice,” Orenthal James Simpson, was on an American Airlines flight to a convention in Chicago that had departed at 11:45 p.m. When O.J. arrived in Chicago and settled at the O’Hare Plaza Hotel, the police gave him a call. This was supposedly the moment when O.J. learned that his ex-wife had been murdered. Simpson boarded the next flight to Los Angeles and found his home under a full-blown investigation by the police. O.J. was then questioned by the police. This questioning was the first of many blunders by investigators. Diving into the specifics is unnecessary. All you need to know is that this questioning was so profoundly unhelpful that the prosecution did not even bring it into evidence in an almost year-long trial. Shortly thereafter, based on evidence found at the crime scene and O.J.’s house, the police felt as if they had enough to arrest O.J.

Like most alleged murderers, O.J. did not want to be arrested. He ran (just like he used to in the NFL). He got into a Ford Bronco and started driving down the freeway. Another driver recognized O.J.’s car and notified the police. The police and the media were soon pursuing O.J. They chose not to open fire at O.J. for a couple of reasons. First off, O.J was a football star. And, ninety-five million people were watching this chase unfold. There were also crowds of people surrounding the freeway on structures like bridges, cheering for O.J. Needless to say, the police were given the order to hold their fire to avoid chaos. Little did they know, chaos was going to unfold anyways. Second of all, O.J. threatened to take his own life if the police did not allow him to visit his home before being arrested. The police granted him this request. He was then arrested and jailed without a chance of bail (meaning he could not pay a fee to return to his home during the trial).

The prosecutors went into this case with a “slam dunk” attitude. A celebrity had seemingly just thrown himself on a silver platter. O.J.’s blood was at the crime scene. Nicole Brown Simpson’s blood was found on a pair of O.J.’s socks. Two matching blood-sodden gloves were found at two separate locations. One was found at the scene of the murder, and the other was found outside O.J.’s home. Bloody shoe prints from shoes that matched O.J.’s foot size were found at the scene of the crime. There was blood in his Bronco. The list certainly goes on. What went wrong? Given all of this forensic evidence, how was O.J. acquitted? Well…

DNA Evidence? – Many have observed that, in 1995, the concept of DNA was not as widely understood by the general public as it is now. Even if it was wiggling its way into the education system, the jurors may have never seen or heard about the concept of DNA, having been educated years before 1995. The prosecution may have failed to properly convince the jury that the DNA evidence pointed to near certainty that O.J. was the killer. The defense, on the other hand, brought up what some jurors referred to as the most credible witness of the trial: Henry Lee, Forensic Scientist. Henry Lee refuted much of the DNA evidence that the prosecution brought into play. He was able to cast some doubt on what could once have been seen as certain evidence. Dr. Lee went through many of the pieces of forensic evidence, such as the bloody sock, and offered alternative possibilities. He established the idea that something was not right with the collected evidence. Reasonable doubt is all that is needed. By the time the jury had to make a decision, the jurors may have flat-out forgotten or given little regard to the intricacies of the DNA evidence.
The Glove – In a highly confident move, prosecutor Christopher Darden asked that O.J. try on the gloves that were found at the scene of the crime; allegedly, these gloves were the gloves of the killer. In a dramatic event that has since been integrated into our pop culture, O.J. grabbed the gloves and tried to put them on. O.J. turned to the jury and began to wriggle his hand into the ill-fitting glove while harshly tugging on the edges in an attempt to get them around his hand. After the theatrics, it was evident that the gloves were not going to fit O.J.’s hands. This was a triumphant moment for the defense–and a grim realization for the prosecution. The jury remembered this point in the trial. Instead of remembering some small detail in a timeline that perhaps incriminates O.J., they recalled the time where O.J. Simpson, the charming NFL star, stood directly in front of them and failed to fit into the killer’s gloves.

The “Corrupt Police” Theory – Given all of the forensic evidence against O.J., the defense had to find a way to create an alternate theory, rather than try to refute the irrefutable. Johnnie Cochran and his team of seasoned attorneys came up with the idea that it was the police who wanted O.J. behind bars. The lead investigative officer, Mark Fuhrman, was put on the witness stand by the prosecution to give a rundown of the investigation and the night of the arrest. The defense saw this as an opportunity to lay the foundation for their theory. O.J.’s leading attorney, Johnnie Cochran, was well known for defending clients that were victims of racially based police brutality. Mr. Cochran told fellow attorney, Francis Lee Bailey, to use the cross-examination to show the jury and the people of Los Angeles (the entire trial was televised) that this case was about more than O.J. This case was now about the systemic racism that allegedly plagued the L.A.P.D. Mr. Bailey asked Fuhrman if he had ever used the n-word to describe anyone. Fuhrman was adamant that he had never and will never use the slur. Later in the trial, an aspiring screenwriter came out and said that she had recorded evidence of Fuhrman using the aforementioned slur over forty times. The defense called Fuhrman back up to the stand for further questioning after they gained access to the tape. Fuhrman asserted his 5th Amendment right, meaning he refused to answer any question he was asked due to his right to avoid self-incrimination. During this examination, the defense asked the officer both if he had ever falsified a police report and if he had planted or manufactured evidence in the case. Individuals cannot pick and choose what they want to answer when they assert their Fifth Amendment privilege; he had no choice but to refuse to answer these questions. Fuhrman’s testimony about the evidence of the crime no longer had a sliver of credibility. The defense now had the opportunity to go through each piece of evidence and establish that it could have been tampered with, manufactured, or falsified. In addition, Fuhrman’s perjury gave merit to the idea that the L.A.P.D. had a dire issue with racism and corruption. Every single point made by the defense after Fuhrman’s testimony was underscored by these ideas.

The People v. O.J. Simpson case lends itself perfectly as a case that can be used to teach someone about the principles of the American legal system. People who have been charged need to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. But, it was a slam dunk case to the prosecution. They had evidence that the defense could not possibly counter. But, after Fuhrman’s testimony, every piece of evidence that was once incriminating became an unknown. There was doubt to every piece of evidence. Did Fuhrman smear the gloves in the victim’s blood and plant a glove at O.J.’s home? Did a well-trained officer break into O.J.’s car and splatter some of the blood sample that he lent to the police? Why did the gloves not fit? It was a convoluted, labyrinthine, perplexing, tangled mess of a case with too many unanswered possibilities. This is why “The Juice” is loose.

O.J. Simpson (center) hears the verdict amongst two of his defense attorneys, Francis Lee Bailey (left) and Johnnie Cochran (right).

References:

https://famous-trials.com/simpson/1862-home

Forensics at the OJ Simpson Trial

Editor: Holden Hartle

These Songs are Actually Pretty Good

May 22, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By James Zheng, a surprise music critic blogger

Music, as a part of our daily life, has always accompanied us whenever we need it. And, according to what I have seen so far about what people usually listen to around me, it’s normally either rap music or pop music. I’ve included plenty of unknown songs worth recommending in this post; you might recognize them; maybe not. Let’s find out.

Overall, I categorized them by genre to give you a brief preview of each.

Rock Music

Simple Plan the band. Recommendation for their songs: Holding On and Take My Hand. Simple Plan is from Canada. I would consider them as derived from punk rock. I have listened to each of their albums; I am obsessed with their unique style; this style is second to none. They do not generate the conventional idea of rock that makes a very noisy track. They don’t do much heavy metal sound; instead, they have a very cheerful track style. And, before they put the sound of electric guitar in, they usually have a fantastic melody mixed with piano and bass. All of their songs are amazing.
Daughtry the band. Recommendation for their songs: It’s Not Over and Over You. Daughtry is from America, and they are more popular than Simple Plan. Their style is a little bit hard to define because they keep changing it in each album. The unique thing about Daughtry is probably the lead vocalist’s–Chris Daughtry’s–wild singing style. You feel like he is yelling, but in fact he is not. He just puts his emotion fully into the song as few people do.

Instrumental Music

String For a Queen by ELYZA/Xan. Speaking of instrumental music, String For a Queen is my favorite ever song. The beat keeps rising and falling, it is really unpredictable. In another words, you don’t know what’s coming next, but you are expecting something more, and eventually the better thing than the expectation comes. The String For a Queen has a really dreamlike beat which more sounds like a fantasy motif. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK075fzsDCM
Blue by Xeuphoria. Blue has a very tranquil beat. When you are nervous or restless, try to listen to this song and it could help a lot to calm your mind down and make you fall into the enjoyment of this quiet melody.

Electronic Music

Demons (Original Mix) by Paris Blohm.
Wolves by Selena Gomez, Marshmello.
I am not sure if electronic music is popular in America. I think that it is a huge improvement from traditional instrumental music. Initially electronic music was played without lyrics, but to further innovate and make it more exceptional, a DJ (Disc Jockey) decides to add the singing part in to make it better.

Popular Music

What Are Words by Chris Medina. This song has a touching story behind it. The incentive for Chris to write this song is due to an accident that happened to his wife. His wife got severely injured and needed a large amount of money to pay for the therapy bill. Chris decided to participate in the show American Idol and strove to get the reward so that he could pay for his wife’s medical bill. Although he was eliminated, the song left an intense impression. The track consists of piano and violin, which is a simple combination of sounds. But he has a great voice and captivating emotion in the song.
Color Blind by Matt B. Matt remixed an instrumental song called River Flows in You, and then made Color Blind. Matt has an unexpectedly unique voice; his singing style is quite natural and casual. And the whole rhythm of the song is really relaxing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BInjDfGMUlM

Anime Theme Music

Call of Silence by Gemie. Call of Silence is a interlude song within the anime called Attack On Titan 2nd Season. It is more likely to be a character song. The whole song is in English without a singing accent; you can understand the lyrics clearly.
Red Swan by YOSHIKI/HYDE. Red Swan is the theme song for Attack On Titan 3rd Season, and most of the lyrics are in English. It is a light rock song fused with the sound of piano.

If you listen to music a lot and have not yet known these songs, I strongly suggest you to get know them. You might step into a new musical realm.

bahrain in the membrane, bahrain in the brain

May 15, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Makena Behnke

today, i bring you a quick info drop on a country that i find interesting: Bahrain. i came across this country while inspecting different flags and found one that caught my eye: a white and red zig zag flag. i looked it up and found Bahrain. my “not being taught about many Middle Eastern countries” is the main source of my interest in learning about them (something i do in my free time). so, i present to you a summary of things i learned about Bahrain. this is going to be a jumble of a bunch of random information; stay with me.

first, a little bit of background info: Bahrain, or the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a main island off the coast of Saudi Arabia and near Qatar, but thirty of its surrounding islands are also classified as Bahrain. it’s connected to Saudi Arabia and its surrounding islands by the King Fahd Causeway. Bahrain’s name comes from the Arabic term al-bahrayn, which means “two seas.” Bahrain’s capital, Manama, while being littered with impressive skyscrapers and wicked cool architecture, also serves as a major port city. the Bahraini economy is fueled by large amounts of crude oil production. Bahrain was the first emirate where oil was discovered in 1932 and has evolved into one of the most diverse economies in the Middle East. it has a population of 1.493 million, and their currency is the Bahraini dinar.

a majority of their population is made up of well educated and wealthy people; it is categorized as one of the wealthiest Gulf states. Bahrain is ruled by a traditional monarchy with the king as the main leader. Bahrain’s crime rate is low, with petty theft and pickpockets being the dominant crimes. according to safearound.com, it is ranked as the 111th safest country, but some regions of Bahrain are still safer than many places in the U.S or Europe. (safearound.com is actually a great resource in case you’re curious about when the best times to trek through an unknown country are or if you should bring your $75K diamond earrings.)

Arabic is the official language of the nation. Farsi, English, and Urdu are also widely understood throughout the country. now, religion time: 70% of Bahrain is Shi’a Muslim, 15% is Sunni Muslim, and 15% is either Christian or Jewish. Bahrain has an abundance of date palms and has been a major site of resources since Sumerian times. summer in Bahrain is humid and hot, going up to high nineties, not ideal, but winter has its lows in the seventies.

Bahrain’s land is only about 3% arable. it uses its small amount of land for tomatoes, pomegranates, citrus, bananas, and dates. most of its food has to be imported. you’d think because of all the oil production marine life would be damaged, therefore affecting the fishing part of the economy–you’re right. oil leaks and spillages have greatly reduced the number of economically beneficial fish and other marine life. unprocessed petroleum serves as Bahrain’s main export, as well as aluminum goods to the United States and Japan.

medical care there is free, and they have the highest female literacy rate in the Middle East. their legal system stems from Islamic and English law. compared to its surrounding gulf states, Bahrain has a very diverse population, both religiously and ethnically. Bahrain is more Westernized, in terms of clothing and everyday life, compared to its neighboring states. coffee is very important in Bahraini culture and is mixed with saffron and cardamom. Bahraini food often includes fish, meat, and dates. some common dishes: shawarmah, roastiree-ed lamb or beef, and muhammar, sweet brown rice with sugar/dates. soccer (really it’s football) is a popular sport among the young and old. horse racing is also super popular.

there is so much more to this country that i haven’t mentioned. for some reason, i find this particular country incredibly interesting. hopefully, you impress your friends with your extensive knowledge of this country.

sources:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Bahrain

https://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Bahrain.htm

https://safearound.com/asia/

Editor: Luke Langlois

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