the bird on fire

The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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things you can do to feel a bit better:

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By Makena Behnke

  • read until your eyes hurt.
  • take a long shower. just think.
  • listen to music; tune the world out.
  • stay up so late that the world seems peaceful and friendly.
  • get up so early that your household is not bombarded with family members and pets (but go back to sleep right after).
  • buy or make your friends little gifts (e.g. small drawings of their favorite animal, funny pairs of socks, silly stories written, etc.)
  • go on a walk; stay safe.
  • jump around and dance once in awhile.
  • blast your favorite song, or learn the words to another song.
  • just have a cleaning day. (do laundry; organize your bathroom, etc.).
  • go through things, and donate what you don’t want. (start small; try underneath your bathroom sink or the second drawer in your dresser.)
  • spend a little time to yourself.
  • brush up on what you have to do this week.
  • find something you’ve always been wanting to do, and do it.

Editor Charles Schnell

How Autism Can Affect Schoolwork

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Graphic by Harlow Berny

 

By Harlow Berny

I was going to go back to retelling old fairy tales this week, but I am noticing that problems caused by my autism are becoming more prominent in my classes. While the teachers at this school, for the most part, understand that autism has an effect on a student’s learning ability, I believe that they do not have an understanding of how it affects the student. While I know that autism is a spectrum and it is quite different in each case, I will be going over the general effects of it and my personal struggles with it.

A common thing in autistic students is that they let small assignments slip past them but then are able to do larger assignments and projects thoroughly, thus having a negative effect on their grade as they fail to turn in more and more small assignments. This is not because the student does not care for the class or the assignment, and it is not because they do not know how to do the assignment or are not intelligent enough. It is because they have trouble focusing on the small assignment when they are not in a calm school environment, as they will “zone out” or “daydream” easily when the environment becomes unfocused or too silent. Another factor in not completing assignments is short-term memory problems, which is common with autistic students and can make them forget that school even exists. Back to the environment, that has to do with hypersensitivity. Autistic people, no matter where they fall on the autistic spectrum, are to some degree hypersensitive. This means that they are more sensitive to light (specifically certain bright reds and greens), sound, touch, taste, and emotions. In terms of sound, autistic students can’t handle tons of noises and screaming, but they also can’t work in complete silence. We need some kind of sound, such as white noises, in order to focus, as a silent room can let our mind wander onto other things and branch out our thoughts, causing confusion. An example of this is that at multiple points in writing this post, I have struggled to find a way to describe something while my mind is overcrowded with thoughts. I have gotten a headache from straining my mind and had to move on to other thoughts, which is what I am doing as I write this sentence. Another off-topic thing that happened, I remembered that I saw a post on social media that highlighted the importance of stressing certain words when writing. The post took a simple sentence–

 

I never said she took my wallet.

 

–and then stressed different words.

 

I never said she took my wallet.

I never said she took my wallet.

I never said she took my wallet.

I never said she took my wallet.

I never said she took my wallet.

I never said she took my wallet.

I never said she took my wallet.

 

This gave the sentence an entirely different meaning each time.

 

Editor: Brennan Nick

I am… a prisoner

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By Anonymous

 

I am a prisoner of something more powerful than I can handle.

I am serving a life sentence for something I didn’t do but something I do regret.

My cell is maximum security and only a special few can get in.

The yard is full of bad people I can longer bear to face.

There is no point in running–

I tried running once but it will catch you before you can catch yourself.

There is no point in trying to dig a way out; the hole you’ve already dug

is too deep to climb out of, and the will to get out isn’t strong enough.

There is only so much comfort to find in the library before the harsh reality of what lives outside of those walls is too much to ignore.

I was once a lion like from the Wizard of Oz, but once the ring master whips you into a cage of no-return you realize the lion is only as strong as its master.

The bars of my cell are like the foggy windows to the soul I no longer own.

Once you’ve been in here for so long you realize that this “prison” is more

a way of life than a place to stay…

….and stay I shall!

 

Editor: Reneé Vazquez

Suspects Brought in For Questioning

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CASE 4501 UPDATE: New Evidence Regarding Suspects

Submitted by Officers Shelby Armor and Claire Jenkins

Wanted criminal Caroline Scheil and suspect Jake Mulé have both been brought in for questioning by Detective Armor late last night. A call was made by senior Sydney Scheck at 9:51 pm after a comment had been left unanswered under Jackson’s Obituary posted on thebirdonfire.org. The message is stated below.

“I was looking around school for my missing textbook on Wednesday and I saw Caroline coming out of the closet by Ms. Mckee’s room. I didn’t know what to make of it. She wascarrying a half-eaten apple and three white table cloths. I don’t know if you want to get on that, but Jake Mulé was there waiting for her. They just took the stuff and ran. And I know that’s not allowed. Aren’t Caroline and Jake suspects? They looked pretty shady to me.”

 

Further information on our new lead will follow. Please leave a comment if you believe you have any information pertaining to this case.

 

Processed by Superintendent A.J. Patencio

What It’s Worth

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By Naturalist Poet Pete

What’s it worth?

What’s the worth in protecting the great outdoors? What dollar amount can be assigned

To open meadows, rolling hills, and swift streams? What are they worth

Once they are caught and defined? What is the profit of seeing the Grand Canyon strip-mined?

In blasting the mountains and depleting the veins? in taking the treasures beneath the earth?

There is something golden on the surface. There are green treasures that tower above,

Ancient giants from ages past, enduring symbols that are the heart of the forest.

They are the guardians of the old worlds and sentinels of life, creatures deserving of our love.

We must defend them; we must not soften. We must be undaunted in our noble quest.

There is a value in the untouched world, not in dollars but in the human soul.

Editor: Charles Schnell

Why An iPhone (or any expensive smartphone) Is Worth The Price

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BY Luke Langlois — guy with opinion

 

Apple’s newest phones, the iPhone X and the iPhone 8, were unveiled to the public at their 2017 presentation in September. The new “flagship” device, the X, has sparked a plethora of design nitpicking, debating, or just plain old praise.

 

The one complaint that people tend to agree upon is that the four digit price tag of $1,000 is just too high. Pair this with any Apple Care programs, any other irresistible pieces of tech, and the day-to-day costs of life on Earth, and you’ve got a noticeable absence of money in your bank account.

 

This raises a question for everyone who loves their smartphone: just how much am I going to have to shell out for my new phone every couple of years? Will the prices continue to rise? These are all valid questions. But, my humble opinion is that people have just become spoiled.

 

I don’t mean to call people spoiled as in children who whine and cry; people maybe have just forgotten (or never have lived in) the time before the lightweight and portable phone. If you think your phone is in your pocket, you reach for it and it’s not there, it is worrying to say the least. Our phones are such an amazing luxury. We have all of the world’s information, games, entertainment, connections, productivity, and notes available in our purses or pockets. Not only the functionality of the devices are incredible. The technology in these devices are FANTASTIC.

 

No, I’m not saying you need to shell out for the latest Apple or Samsung product. It will still be difficult to spend so much money on these phones now and in the future. Nevertheless, remembering the ridiculous amount of function and power these devices give you might help make the decision easier.

 

 

Editor: Shelby Armor

Hate/Love

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By Jackson Dean

Hate doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints;

It takes, and it takes, and it takes.

Hate is not patient. Hate is not kind.

Hate steals, a thief that hides in plain sight.

Hate is a never-vacant motel that will always find room for you.

Hate is sadness, tearing at your very soul to make you weak.

Hate is not just a feeling. It is the never-ending pit that you think is inescapable.

Hate is a dark tunnel that attempts to block out all light.

Hate is feeling you are trapped inside a blank void, inside literal nothingness, and being unable to break free.

Hate is that voice that tells you you are not worthy and that you are just a useless “thing” taking up space.

Hate is deafening in its attempt to take Love away…

But Love is louder.

Love doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints,

It takes, and it takes, and it takes.

But, Love is patient; Love is kind.

Love gives.

Love’s home has plenty of room and never charges for entry.

Love is happiness, lifting you up even at your most low.

Love is so much more than a feeling.

Love is the blinding light inside of any dark tunnel.

Love is being found, even when the dark is crashing through.

Love is there for you.

When you crumble, Love is there.

When you fall, Love is there.

When you feel like nothing, Love is there.

No matter what, Love is there for you,

Always.

*Inspired by Jackson’s undying love for Hamilton.

Editor: Claire Jenkins

 

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

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By Josh Tyer

 

Blog stringer/free-lancer Josh Tyer introduces us to the first episode in a series.

 

The black enveloped her. Her thoughts were mismatched. She had not yet realized the ringing in her ears. It had fallen into a high-pitched white noise. She opened her eyes as the cracks of light shone down onto her face. A blur of a man’s face appeared through the cracks. Her eyes fluttered as she fell back into the depths of her mind.

Her eyes shot open; a cold sweat had overtaken her. Now the light was all around her, warming her sides. She looked up. The cinder block suspended above her head had been removed, along with the rubble covering up her arms and legs. She lunged towards this feeling of freedom, yet she couldn’t move. She looked side to side. Her eyes flared wildly as she tried to scream for help, but nothing came out. She was trapped, an onlooker in her own body. That blur of a face she had seen before looked down from above her. She tried to get up and run. She needed to get up and run.

Her mind was screaming, and she was sprinting, running, jumping, leaping away from everything weighing her down. Still, her arms would not spring her up, and her legs wouldn’t lunge her forward. She saw the outline of the man’s mouth move.

“You’re safe,” he seemed to say.

She couldn’t keep hold for much longer. She lost consciousness.

__________________________________________________________________________________

“Eden?”

“Yes, Adam?”

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore, but I can keep walking.”

 

It must have been days, maybe even weeks. I can’t remember. It all feels like a haze. All it felt like was a cycle of immense pain, thirst, hunger, and unconsciousness. I was trapped under debris when it happened. Our city, our families, everyone, destroyed. The calamity tore everything we knew and loved away. Now, we wander in the shell of what was.

If it weren’t for Adam, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Adam rescued me from the collapsed building that had pinned me down. I was with my family when it struck. A bright light filled the windows. It tore the walls apart. It flung rubble across the sky and crushed the ground it fell upon. That’s all I can recall from the explosion.

 

“Eden? What are you writing?”

“Nothing really.”

“Are you sure?” Adam leaned over to see text scrawled across a dirty page.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

 

“…Hey… do you see that?” She pointed towards the grey broken towers.

“Over there, above the buildings?”

“It’s… smoke?”

Adam’s face drained, and a shudder shook him to his core.

Editor: Shelby Armor

It’s Coffee Time: A Review of Java with a Splash of Politics

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By Peter Kadel, Consumer of Caffeine

Recently, I found out about the Black Rifle Coffee Company, a veteran-run-and-owned coffee-roasting operation based out of Utah. Their beans come from South and Central America. The company is owned by Evan Hafer, a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and who has been working on his coffee-roasting skills for the past ten years. The company advertises itself as “the world’s premium conservative coffee company.” The BRCC roasts its coffee in small batches. The coffee is made to order. This means that the coffee isn’t made until you order it on their website. Thus, BRCC’s coffee takes a little longer to reach you due to the 2-3 day roasting period. Additionally, shipping takes about 7-10 days, but that is at the lowest cost for shipping. If you are willing to dole out the extra money, it can get there in two days.

BRCC carries a decent variety of coffee with 17 different blends that come in 1 of 4 roast types: light, medium, dark, and extra dark. The available textures are ground or whole bean.

I have tried two of the available blends. The first one was a medium-roast blend called the Fit to Fight blend which has an excellent aroma and decent taste. The coffee was delivered quickly. The blend tasted good. Usually I need to sweeten coffee in addition to adding heavy cream, but with the Fit to Fight Blend and with the Black Buffalo Blend–the second blend I’ve tried–I enjoyed the flavor of the coffee by itself. All it needed was a little cream. Even after I accidentally left the grounds out in the open air for a week, the Black Buffalo Blend kept its rich and full flavor and has not let me down yet. The Fit to Fight Blend had one incident where it began to taste sour as I was drinking it, but I’ve only had that issue once (but that might have been the cream).

Overall, the Black Rifle Coffee Company produces quality coffee that has the same effects on me as every other coffee I’ve had–virtually none. However, that doesn’t mean the coffee won’t offer the caffeinated kick most coffee lovers need to get through their day. While some people may be hesitant to support a company with strong political views, BRCC is not the only coffee company to have a political bias; Starbucks is a nationally recognized coffee chain that has often taken a political stance on various issues, rather than remaining neutral. For years, Starbucks has supported same-sex marriage legislation. And, in February 2017, Starbucks offered to hire 10,000 refugees in reaction to recent immigration legislation. The BRCC, in response to Starbucks, stated it wants to hire “veterans instead of refugees.” It should be noted that Starbucks also has a 10,000-veteran hiring initiative. The fact of the matter is, you’re voting with your wallet when businesses get political. You don’t have to buy their product. But, do note, BRCC makes some great coffee!

 

 

Referenced:

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-trump-supporters-boycott-starbucks-2017-2

https://www.snopes.com/politics/sexuality/starbucks.asp

Editor: Charles Schnell

Murder Mystery: New Letters Received

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Case 4501 Update  

Submitted by Officers Shelby Armor and Claire Jenkins

Additional evidence has surfaced in Case 4501–The Demise of Ben Snyder. A written note, with what appears to be a cough-drop wrapper on it, was found in Detective Armor’s office, and a small typed note was found in Captain Kadel’s living room.

 

Photo 1: Contents of letter left in Capt. Kadel’s living room. Unidentified text font. 

*Transcript of Letter: “don’t trust the janitor. she’s concealing something. she knows more than she is revealing.”

 

 

Photos 2 + 3: Message left in Detective Armor’s office. Same handwriting as first letter found in Capt. Kadel’s squad car weeks ago. Take note of cough-drop wrapper and threatening tone. 

*Transcript of Letter: “I have a question. Do you trust each other? Plan your next steps very carefully . . . . See you soon. I’ll be waiting.”

*Transcript of Letter, page 2: “A gain always comes with a loss. I hope his death was worth the information! I can’t wait to see how you all handle this in court.” (Referencing the demise of informant Jackson Dean)

 

Photos 4 + 5: Detective Jenkins examines handwritten letter. 

Reviewed by Superintendent Patencio and Agent on Special Assignment Vazquez