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Fantasy Football: How’s YOUR Team Doing?

November 19, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

–by Gaven Li

Every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday is a holiday for all the football fans in the United States. Besides the tension brought by the exciting football games, the other thing most of the fans care about is . . . Fantasy Football. This game, which can be traced back to the 1960s, is definitely one of the most popular games in the United States. Today, we are going to talk about Fantasy Football with Palm Valley players.

Fantasy Football is a statistical game in which players compete against one another by managing groups of real players or position units selected from the National Football League teams (Wikipedia). Every week, players’ stats change based on their performances on the field that week.

Why do we love Fantasy Football? “It’s always fun to compete with friends in a sport we all enjoy,” says Jacob Langlois, junior. “I have been playing this game for a couple years. I think football is probably the most-followed sport in America, and it just adds extra enjoyment to it with this game.”

“I like [Fantasy Football] because it adds a different dimension to football, and it’s a whole new way to enjoy the NFL,” says Andrew Olson, senior, who started playing this game three weeks ago. “It provides the thrill of betting with the fun of football, and there isn’t any downside.”

Freshman Oliver Kauffman agrees with Andrew. “I think it is popular because you win money,” says Oliver. “It is really fun because it has to do with sports and it interests me.” However, his brother Nicholas Kauffman has a different opinion: “I think it is popular because so many people want to own a team, but can’t afford it, so this game gives them the sense of being able to compete against friends and ‘own’ a team.”

As the season goes, many factors might affect players’ performances. If a player is hurt in real life, he’s not scoring touchdowns for you. You need to bench or drop them. People who own Tony Romo or Steven Smith, Sr., (both who were seriously injured) must be quite upset now, while the guys who have the unstoppable Rob Gronkowski can’t even hide the smile on their faces.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Fantasy Football

European food vs. American food

October 29, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

European Correspondent Anna Kleckerova has compared American and European educational systems, culture, social moires. Now, she looks to FOOD! Anna comes to PVS from the Czech Republic.

–by Anna Kleckerova

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Which pizza is American? Which is European?

Like every article I post, I would like to start with Europe. Let’s start with Italy where we can taste delicious pizza. This pizza is not like American pizza, where it is one big, thick cloud full of pepperoni and cheese. But, if you are a gourmet like me, you will appreciate more than just these two ingredients, and Italy comes with wide-spread, thin pizza where you can add whatever you want to it. Also, pasta is very typical for this beautiful country. We can find all kinds of differimage3ent pasta there, for example: spaghetti, bucatini, macaroni, penne, rigatoni and very popular in America, my lovely fettuccine. France loves to make meat in every possible way; it is the same with sea food and French wines. You will taste French wine just one time (the drinking age in France is 18), aimage2-2nd you will never want any other. It doesn’t matter if it is red, white or pink, all of them have spectacular taste. When we talk about gourmets, we must not forget Germany. It is well known for schnitzel (fried chicken breast), different kinds of sausages, and beer. Speaking of beer, the Czech Republic is a big distributor of this golden drink and not just that. Czech cuisine is known for Svíčková na smetaně served with dumplings, whipped cream and cranberries, roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, and roasted duck with potato dumplings and braised red cabbage. If you still don’t have enough good European food, you can go to Holland and try some of their cheeses, and in Switzerland your heart can be melted by delicious chocolate.

America, on the other hand, is a home to all kinds of meals from different countries. And, it is a country of fast foods. Mexican food is very popular in America. Everyone likes tacos, burritos and quesadillas. California is well know for the fast food joint called In-n-Out. People from the whole country are coming here to enjoy these fresh and tasty burgers. You can even hold the cheese on your cheeseburger, says senior Hugh Hu when ordering, “No cheese.” A lovely thing in American restaurants is that you can get free refills anywhere. In Europe, you have to buy every single drink again and again (the ice, too!), so if you are very thirsty, your lunch can be relatively expensive. Chinese cuisine also completes the American food menu –along with Italian, French, and German. You can find all these influences in America’s Panda Express, Subway, french fries, and hot dogs!

–edited by Trey Lucatero, big, big fan of In-N-Out

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The moment I walk into that marvelous place and find a seat in the crowded sea of hungry customers, I begin to smell the dream-invoking scent of the freshly shipped burgers waiting to be devoured by me. I love the perfection of the meat, coupled with the amazing cheese and tasty sauce. It takes but mere seconds before the burger is completely engulfed by my unquenchable hunger for this delicious burger.

Filed Under: Food, The World, Uncategorized Tagged With: american, Anna, burger, burgers & fries, delicious, dreamy, European

Thank you, Subscribers!

September 28, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

When we hit 50 subscribers, we were exuberant. We threw ourselves a party. Now, we’re closing in on 100. Join us. Input your email at thebirdonfire.org home page and you’ll receive an email with each blog post. What could be better?photo 3

Filed Under: Set Up and Welcome, Uncategorized Tagged With: boston creme pie, subscribers, thebirdonfire.org

Trey’s Take on Technology

September 16, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

by Trey Lucatero

Have you gotten home late at night and struggled to wrangle your little charger into that tiny little socket at the base of your phone? You’re not the only one; millions suffer every year from this. Recently, Samsung has introduced a stock addition into the Samsung Galaxy S6 which allows for wireless charging. With the one-time purchase of $49.99, you can completely negate this nuisance. UnknownWith this wireless charge, you can stumble home in the dark, drop your phone on the charger, and fall fast asleep–without having to realize fifteen minutes later when you’re contemplating the meaning of life that you forgot to plug your phone in. In Samsung’s new model, they have introduced many quality-of-life additions (e.g. an “edge” display, Unknown-1improved camera, and increase in size for visibility) to this phone, and I think this one takes the cup for the most innovative, helpful, and time-saving addition.

 

Filed Under: Media, Uncategorized Tagged With: Charger, iPhone, Phone, Samsung

A Pocketful of Verses

May 26, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

April 28 was Poem in Your Pocket Day and one of our favorite events during April’s National Poetry Month when millions of people throughout the United States carry poems in their pockets and share them with others.

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Ms. Zachik and her English classes celebrated Poem in Your Pocket Day! with extra credit and poems being unfolded from pockets all day long. Notable Poems in Pockets were as follows:

“Haiku Ambulance,” pocketed by sophomore Nick Kaufmann–

Haiku Ambulance
                                                          — by Richard Brautigan

                      A piece of green pepper
fell
off the wooden salad bowl:
so what?

“Mirror Piece,” pocketed by sophomore Shasta Stone–

MIRROR PIECE
                                       — y.o. (1964)
Instead of obtaining a mirror,
obtain a person.
Look into him.
Use different people.
Old, young, fat, small, etc.

And, “An old silent pond . . . ,” pocketed by junior Trey Lucatero–

                                          — Matsuo Bashō

An old silent pond…
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

Filed Under: Letters, Uncategorized

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About

We are the Palm Valley Firebirds of Rancho Mirage, California. Join us in our endeavors. Venture through the school year with us, perusing the artwork of our students, community, and staff. Our goal is to share the poems, stories, drawings and photographs, essays and parodies that come out of our school. Welcome aboard!