the bird on fire

Turkey Is Not Turkey In Turkey

October 28, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

–by Amber Zheng

Thanksgiving is coming. Grandma is buying her turkey for the onslaught of visiting family. Watch out. Food Correspondent Amber Zheng finds Turkey isn’t always Turkey.
Turkey is an extremely common food source and even has its own holiday in the U.S. However, this majestic bird is also an enigmatic creature. Depending on what country you are in, the turkey has many different names.

In Turkey, it’s called Hindi, which means North Indian.
In India, it’s called Peru.

In Arabia, it’s called Greek Chicken.
In Greece, it’s called French Chicken.
In France, it’s called Indian Chicken.
In Xinjiang, it’s called Afghanistan Chicken.

In Afghanistan, it’s called Elephant Chicken.

These are just a few of the plethora of turkey names. If you are interested in looking at others, please check out an article called “List of Names for Turkeys” at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_names_for_turkeys#From_geographic_names.

And, don’t stop with turkeys. Check out the side dishes. Peas are called Dutch Peas in China, but in Holland they are called Chinese Peas. And, sweet potatoes . . . .

–edited by Chloe Sweeney

A Talk Show in China Ponders Ethics

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

–by Ashley Zhou

In China, there is a breakout show on the Internet: Qipa Talk. It is a show that debates hypothetical ethical and practical problems. Ashley was intrigued. Here is a sample of her favorite episode.

“There are two boats trapped in the ocean–Boat A containing you and 99 other people and Boat B containing only one person. There’s a button on Boat A, and if anyone presses it, this boat would be safe, but Boat B would explode. If no one presses the button, twenty minutes later, Boat A and 100 people would be buried at sea. Would you press the button to blow up Boat B and save the 100 people?” This is one of the many debate questions discussed in the Chinese talk show Qipa Talk. In this show, debaters on each team try to persuade 100 audience members to side with them within three rounds of debating.

The above is one of my favorite questions; the question is a paradox. Debaters have given very interesting and sharp points answering this topic. In the show regarding this question, in Round #1, the initial voting was 63 to 37, which means 63 people chose to press the button. The affirmative held several central arguments: they argued human history wouldn’t have been written without sacrifice of the minority. If no one takes an action to save the 100 people, those who took no action have to take the blame. And, nobody wants the blame. It’s very necessary for man to sacrifice.

The negative side responded in rebuttal: the value of life should not be counted depending on quantity. The minority doesn’t always have to compromise for the majority; Humans cannot be sacrificed. Nobody wants the responsibility of killing.

The best part in the show is when the two coaches on each side express their ideas and points. They usually jump out of the box of the topic itself and go on to better incorporations of it. They try to argue from the perspective of the whole human race. They want the audience to understand that beyond the debating skills they want to convey healthy outlooks and values of life.

In this case, in the final vote, 72 out of 100 people voted to NOT push the button–thereby refusing to sacrifice the one life to save the many. The debaters for the negative won over 35 voters. The voters decided the best action is to do nothing. Most accepted that they may die with the majority and chose not to kill to save themselves and others.

–edited by Gaven Li

Chicago Cubs: The Curse of the Billy Goat

October 26, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

It’s World Series time, and Blog Editor/Correspondent Chloe Sweeney is interested in the Curses of Baseball. Here is the first story in a three-part sequence–starting with the eternally doomed Chicago Cubs.

–by Chloe Sweeney
Last Wednesday we watched as the Chicago Cubs were once again defeated in the playoffs. There was collective sorrow as a dedicated fan base was again denied the ultimate title in baseball. Sadly, this will not be the year that the Cubs break the Curse of the Billy Goat.

The curse began on October 7, 1945, when a fan, Billy Sianis, was asked to leave a World Series game because the odor of his pet billy goat was disturbing other fans. As he was escorted out, he uttered the infamous words, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more.” 1945 was subsequently the last time the Chicago Cubs played in a World Series. The last time they won the World Series was in 1908. Generations of fans were never able to see their beloved team win. Many thought this year would be the end to the longest drought in baseball.

In the past, there have been numerous attempts to break the curse but to no avail. The nephew of Billy Sianis, Sam Sianis, was brought out to Wrigley Field with a goat in 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1989. They have brought priests to sprinkle holy water and bless the field; they have hung severed goat heads, and even started a charity, Reverse the Curse, that donates goats to impoverished families in third world countries. With so much futile effort put into lifting the curse, some wonder if the Cubs will ever win again.

JON L. HENDRICKS | THE TIMES The Rev. Jim Greanias of St. Iakovos Church in Valparaiso is a Greek Orthodox priest and Cubs fan who blessed the Cubs dugout before the first game of the National League Division Series.

The Rev. Jim Greanias is a Greek Orthodox priest and Cubs fan who blessed the Cubs dugout before the first game of the National League Division Series.

Mr. Krause, Social Sciences teacher here at Palm Valley, is a die-hard Cubs fan. After the Cubs’ devastating loss, he said: “As the season ended on a frustrating note, I had to remind myself how well the 2015 Chicago Cubs played all season. They surpassed, far and above, many expectations, from baseball experts to the die-hard Cubs fan. I’m excited for what the future holds for the Cubs, as they return almost all of their starters and hold a lot of potential in their young, talented team. Just another reason why the Chicago Cubs will soon be the World Champions in the coming years.”

Some of their younger fans are obviously still in denial! Do you know where Mr. Krause is right now? Sitting in an empty Wrigley Field, waiting for his . . . Cubs.

–Edited by Trey Lucatero

The Interview: Jade Edition

October 22, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

–by Ashley Zhou

Ashley Zhou, our Arts Correspondent, sat down with one of PVS’s most respected artists, Jade Yoon. Says AP Art Teacher Ms. Raphael McGrew of her pupil, “Jade is a very talented artist, always finding herself through her art. Jade is a very prolific creator. Painting, drawing or molding a new piece of art daily. She’s not afraid to experiment with different mediums and styles. Her daily mood is reflected in her images created, which makes interesting, inviting and random art.”

Today I am going to interview an artist in our school. She always impresses everyone with her amazing works and professional drawing technics. She is quite modest, but her works are not. She is Jade Yoon. Let’s find out about her art career.

The theme of this piece is children in the holocaust. It is very depressing and gloomy. She approaches this art by using mostly dark and plain colors–white, black, grey. Oil painting and water color make the painting more realistic and complete. Understanding this piece, we have a broader vision of her style–not only technics but also expressions

Ashley: So, Jade, when did you find yourself interested in art?
Jade:Well, I actually started drawing or doodling when I was 3. Then I considered being an artist when I was in elementary school, but I kind of gave up in middle school. It’s hard to be successful as an artist. Then I came to Palm Valley, and, you know, we have actual art classes. I picked up my drawing again and realized this is what I like and what I should do.
A: It’s very nice to hear that you stick with it. So, are your parents also interested in art?
J: My mom is not a professional artist but she really enjoys drawing. So, I guess she influences me in some way.
A: What kind of art are you best at?
J: I like all kinds of arts. I paint lots of oil paintings now because my skills are improving.
A: Will you consider art as a career in the future also?
J: I am definitely going to art schools and will major in art in college. I kinda want to work in somewhere like Universal Studios or Disneyland. I am also interested in computer graphics like digital arts.
A: That’s very nice. So who is your favorite artist?
J: My favorite artist is Modigliani. He is an Italian painter. I really like his style.

A: Very nice to talk to you! Do you have any suggestions for students who enjoy art and are interested in improving?
J: I think you just need to practice a lot and keep drawing all the time.
A: Thank you Jade. Nice talking to you.

This painting is a portrait of Jade’s friend, Karey. Jade uses red, black and white for this one. The colors complement each other. This piece looks very soothing because it reveals the figure’s personality. The girl in the portrait is what she is in reality.

Jade has many other amazing works, and we are not introducing them all today. Her artworks represent her ways of thinking. As a person who loves art, I really enjoy looking at her paintings and getting to know her efforts put into those works. It’s nice to talk to Jade, and I hope everyone gets to know a little bit more about this artist.

WHO is the Ping Pong Wizard?

October 22, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

–organized and reported upon by Gaven Li

October 13th, 2015, “The Bird on Fire” Blog held an EPIC Ping Pong
Competition during lunch time. The prize for the winner is a brand new
paddle. Who won this battle??? Click this video to check it out!

–video editing contributions by Ashley Zhou

The World According to Henry: New York, New York

October 21, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

–by Henry Huang

Blog Correspondent Henry Huang spent last summer on the East Coast. He attended summer school at Yale studying Political Science. While on the East Coast, Henry travelled to New York City. Thus, “The World According to Henry” continues its journey . . . .

New York–how should I start?

Artists, singers, writers portray the city as the top of the world. Yet, New York, to some others, is an empty dream. New York, to me, is the most interesting place on this earth, a mixture of heaven and hell.

There are copious reasons that a person can hate New York. The stinky subway system isn’t well designed. Everyone knows that someone must have peed in the subway station. The subway service, to be polite, is anti-humanity. There was only one uniformed person in the entire subway station even in Times Square. The signs in the station tell you to go to Uptown or Downtown. Even a New Yorker could get lost in the subway or not know the existence of a line. If you make it out of the Times Square subway station, a crowd is waiting for you in Times Square. It is always crowded, always full of over-priced souvenir shops,making it impossible to meet a friend or acquaintance there. There were even people, more than you can imagine, doing yoga on Broadway. Another infamous about NYC, New Yorkers have a “reputation” for being rude and arrogant. In at least one instance, a waiter in a cafe was not friendly. In all other cities, customers are like gods, but in New York, sometimes it feels the opposite. And, And, New Yorkers drive like crazy people. If you try jay-walking in NYC, you’ll come in contact with a taxi bumper. Walking in Manhattan’s streets is the same as walking through a battlefield. Everyone is walking as if they are on the way to a fight.

However, New York is still a heaven to many people. The forest of skyscrapers is just a miracle rising through the horizon. At the top of the Empire State Building, the Steel Babylon looks exactly like a jewel in the sun. Sometimes, people criticize New York as an illiterate city. Yet, the ceiling of the Grand Central Terminal was designed based on the Zodiac, everyone in the subways is carrying a book, the New York Public Library houses the Gutenberg Bible and other precious books and documents. The museums in New York are some of the best in the world. The Metropolitan Art Museum holds the largest art collection from ancient Greek to Modern Art, from East to West, from paintings to weapons. What’s more, there are not many cities on earth that can provide such a large public space like Central Park. The vast greenery is a great place for all ages to bike, swim, play baseball, picnic, watch Shakespeare. The street food in New York, whether kebabs or hot dogs, is always a surprise waiting for you. However, I found the most surprising thing in New York is New Yorkers are actually quite friendly (with that one exception in the cafe on Times Square). From a lady waiting for her train in a subway station to a guy who sells kebabs next to MetArt, everyone was willing to give me directions. The quick drivers and the fast-walking people might be crazy, but all those are a symbol of the liveliness of the city! Only in New York could there be so much potential and possibility.

Photos by Henry Huang

–Edited by Chloe Sweeney

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place

October 19, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org 5 Comments

–by Zhenzhou Hu

“It was only that . . . light was all it needed and a certain cleanness and order.”–“A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” Ernest Hemingway

As students enter our Blog Class, there is a daily battle: Lights on; Lights off. Amber and Trey like the dark and the calmness that descends with it. Chloe wants the classroom well lit with lots of light and all the productivity that comes with it. Zhenzhou Hu watched the daily ping ponging of “Lights on!” “Lights off!” and decided to follow up on the acrimonious issue. He asked fellow students and his teachers, “Which lighting do you prefer?” and “Which lighting is most conducive to learning?”

I once thought students always like to study in well lighted rooms, but then I realized students at Palm Valley are quite different. I interviewed several students and Math Teacher Ms. Emily McKee over the lighting they preferred.

Under what circumstances do you prefer darkness over light in your classrooms? And vice versa.
1. Chloe: “In the morning after cross country practice, I am feeling alert and energized. So I prefer a light classroom to start my day. By the time I reach math class, it catches up to me that I did not get a lot of sleep. I am tired so it is easier to focus in a darker environment. It is crucial that there is substantial natural light but fluorescent light is irritating.”
2. Ms. Mckee : “A dark classroom is only good if I need to use projection. Otherwise, I like a lighted classroom.”
3. Henry: “A light room is better. Because a lighted room gives a sense that the room will be bigger and not as crowded as dark room.”
4. Amber: “Every single circumstance is fine as long as the light is natural light instead of artificial light.”
5. Trey: “I always prefer dark because it is easier on my eyes.”

Which do you believe provides a better learning environment?
1. Chloe: “I think as long as a classroom is adequately lit in some fashion, it doesn’t really matter. It just needs to be light enough that you don’t fall asleep. Personally, I prefer natural light.”
2: Ms. McKee: “Definitely light room.”
3: Henry: “A lighted room makes the reading easier. I can read the book clearly. Since a light room psychologically enlarges the space, I feel more comfortable to do work in a lighted room.”
4. Amber: “Any environment without artificial light.”
5. Trey: “Dark room is a better environment for me to study . . . calmly.”

Hurricane Joaquin Slams South Carolina

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

–by Chloe Sweeney

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For days, we watched the news from South Carolina as the state’s inhabitants attempted to bail out from Hurricane Joaquin. Many of us had friends and family scurrying for dry land. Blog Editor Trey Lucatero heard from his father, Greenville, South Carolina resident. Mr. Lucatero, who was safely away from the eye of the storm, said, “We received 6 inches of rain; elsewhere it was up to 27 inches.” Former PVS teacher, Mr. Kevin Smith, was leading a retreat of 8th graders through the Carolinas and just missed the downpour.

After weeks of intense rain in South Carolina, with some areas receiving over 20” of rain, the sun finally came out. The relief from the downpour was short-lived as 13 dams collapsed and forced many communities to evacuate. The National Guard and local law enforcement have conducted over 600 rescues. More than 300 people were confined to live in shelters. The destruction of significant infrastructure left several communities without clean water, and 400,000 people were forced to boil their water. Along with the failed dams, a thirteen-mile stretch of Interstate 95 was still closed. South Carolina
Floodwaters break through a walkway in Columbia, S.C., Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. After a week of steady rain, the showers tapered off Monday and an inundated South Carolina turned to surveying a road system shredded by historic flooding. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Governor Nikki Haley just hours ago extended South Carolina’s “state of emergency declaration.” Gov. Haley said (AP) the National Guard is still repairing 74 roads across the state as well as repairing drinking water systems. There were 17 reported deaths due to this hurricane. The rain may have stopped in South Carolina, but the tragic repercussions are still pouring in.

–Edited by Amber Zheng

Jim’s Funny Camp: Fishing for Trouble

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

–by Jim Wang

Jim brings us more humor from his travels around this funny funny world.One day, an intelligent doctor went fishing with a skillful fisherman on a fishing boat. On the boat, the doctor asked the fisherman, “Do you know Biology?”

One day, an intelligent doctor went fishing with a skillful fisherman on a fishing boat. On the boat, the doctor asked the fisherman, “Do you know Biology?”

The fisherman answered, “No.”

“Then a quarter of your life was wasted,” the doctor said.

After a while, the doctor asked, “How about Philosophy?”

The fisherman still answered, “No.”

“So, it’s another quarter of your life wasted.”

The doctor really felt sorry for the fisherman. Meanwhile a strong wind brought a powerful surge of water which shook the boat roughly. The doctor was terrified by what was happening. However, the fisherman asked the doctor calmly, ” Do you know how to Swim?”
The Doctor said, “No. ”

“Then your life will be OVER,” the fisherman answered.

Lord of the Flies: Two Continents on One Island

October 15, 2015 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

–by Chloe Sweeney

Ninth graders across the country and here at PVS are assigned to read William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. If you haven’t read this iconic story in a while or at all, Chloe Sweeney introduces us to its main characters Ralph and Jack.

Fair-haired Ralph, athletic and disciplined, at the age of twelve is chosen to be chief over all the boys on the island. The idea of order and structure has been instilled in his mind from early childhood by his father, a British Naval Commander. “You remember the meeting? How everyone was going to work hard until the shelters were finished?…All day I’ve been working with Simon. No one else. They’re off bathing, or eating, or playing” (Golding 50). From the start, Ralph places his responsibilities ah FullSizeRender-4 ead of more frivolous activities conducted by other boys. Ralph engages in hard work and commitment to complete tasks that will resemble the life he was accustomed to. But soon, Ralph could no longer resist the barbaric pull: “‘I hit him,’ said Ralph again, ‘and the spear stuck in a bit.’ He felt the need of witnesses…Ralph talked on excitedly. ‘I hit him all right. The spear stuck in. I wounded him!’ He sunned himself in their new respect and felt that hunting was good after all” (113). However, confident, independent Ralph is replaced by an insecure Ralph who searches for the validation of others. Hunting begins as a distracting and pointless sport, but Ralph begins to value the thrill of inflicting pain. “He discovered with a little fall of the heart that these were the conditions he took as normal now and that he did not mind” (110). As Ralph’s standards for himself slip, the glue binding the boys to the laws of civilization begins to melt away.
At home, Jack was the leader of a choir with voices like angels. This identity is soon squashed, as society fades from his conscious thought. In the beginning, Jack is a main supporter of order and structure. ”We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are the best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things” (42). He still holds on to the ideals put in place at home and has a desire to maintain his moral standards. However, as the story progresses, Jack becomes trapped in a bloodlust, losing sight of civilization. “[Jack] tried to convey the compulsion to track down and kill that which was swallowing him up. ‘I went on. I thought, by myself –’ The madness came into his eyes again. ‘I thought I might kill'” (51). The slaughter of pigs, then of people, is a fixation for Jack. His enthrallment with killing distracts him from tending the fire, causing a ship to pass unaware of the boys’ presence on the island.

“There was a ship. Out there. You said you’d keep the fire going and you let it out!…You and your blood, Jack Merridew! You and your hunting! We might have gone home,” (70) screams Ralph. Jack’s incompetence costs the boys an early return home, and consequently the lives of Simon and Piggy.

The leadership styles of Ralph and Jack are revealed in their rise to power, methods of control, and priorities. Ralph was elected by the other boys’ votes.
The clamor changed from the general wish for a chief to an election by acclaim of Ralph himself…There was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had blown that, had sat waiting for them on the platform with the delicate thing balanced on his knees, was set apart.
”Him with the shell.”
“Ralph! Ralph!”
“Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing.” (22)

Jack was never elected, but instead he broke away from the group to start his own tribe. Ralph controls the boys by using methods to which they are already accustomed. “And another thing. We can’t have everybody talking at once. We’ll have to have ‘Hands up’ like at school…Then I’ll give them the conch…He can hold it when he’s speaking…And he won’t be interrupted. Except by me” (33). Ralph’s system gives everyone a chance to speak and present their ideas and concerns. Contrasting to Ralph’s democratic system, Jack governs as a dictator, using fear and violence to control people. “[Jack’s] going to beat Wilfred. He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up” (159). While Ralph’s first priority is a signal fire, assigning boys to keep it burning, in an attempt to be rescued, Jack’s limited perception keeps him fixated on the present moment, focusing only on what is “fun.” Jack maintains order by promising protection and feasts, while Ralph demands responsibility and a focus on leaving their corrupted island.
So, look about your own desert island. Are you a Ralph or a Jack?