the bird on fire

The History of Our History Teachers

November 30, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By Freshman Louisa Richardson

Our History teachers here at Palm Valley are very popular with the students. Whether it is the many students they teach, or the many students they don’t, the PVS History staff is well known. Our Blog theme this week is History, so my big smart brain thought, Why shouldn’t I interview the History teachers? I asked both Ms. Schapiro and Mr. Satterfield a series of questions about their careers and their lives. I learned a lot about Mr. Satterfield (for example, he has a dog named Felix). I also learned that Ms. Schapiro has been teaching for 40 years! History is a funny thing, mostly because it can be so wild. Both of these teachers seem to know a lot and seem to enjoy it!

Part 1 (Mr. Satterfield)

What is your favorite time period to teach in History?

My favorite time period to teach in History is the period in US History after the Civil War and before the turn of the century because I find that this time period is often overlooked as we just jump from the Civil War to World War I and the Great Depression. But, really, Reconstruction contains a lot of information about who we are today. This is the time of great tragedy for Native Americans and a good change for technology and politics, and our relationship with the rest of the world.

Is there a specific person who makes this unit enjoyable? (In History)

Sitting Bull–because when we study Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse (Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were two leaders of the Lakota Sioux) we are forced to examine our own ideas of what it means to be American, a hero, and changing history, what it means to win and what it means to lose. I also like Seraph Young; she was the first woman to cast a vote. She cast a vote in Utah 50 years before the 19th Amendment was ratified, so when we study her we are forced to think about how our government actually works, and sometimes it is different then the way we think it does. And, we learn about what it means to make progress, and it forces us to examine some of our preconceived notions about certain states or regions.

What is your favorite grade to teach?

I enjoy teaching a variety of grade levels so I don’t have to stick with a certain level of maturity every day.

Was there a topic you were particularly interested in as a kid?

I liked the development of public lands such as national parks and national forests, and reservations as well. Early on I became interested in who controls what land, and what they decide to do with it. Glacier National Park is my favorite.

My least favorite time period to learn about that I enjoy teaching is the Civil War. When I was young it seemed very straightforward and boring. As I grew older and read more, I realized how very un-straightforward it was.

Why is it important to study History?

To understand where we came from and who we are today and because every time I introduce myself to someone and they ask me what I do I always get the same response…

“I hated History in school, and now I am fascinated by it. I wish I would have paid attention in school.”

What is your favorite subject to teach?

World Geography–I taught that a couple years ago in Utah and really enjoyed it.

Where is your favorite place to teach?

I’ve been lucky enough to teach in a lot of different places, and I can’t pick a favorite, though I will say that Thailand, China, Colorado, California, and Utah all present their own opportunities.

Part Two (Ms. Schapiro)

What is your favorite part about being a teacher?

I get to keep being a learner; I don’t have a single week go by without learning something new from my students, or the material. I love to spend time with kids, and they keep me young.

What is your favorite time period to teach?

Ancient Egypt, or Medieval West Africa. This is because there are areas of this study that are crucial in the general history of the world. I also never learned these as a kid; their societies are so complex and interesting.

Is there a specific person who makes teaching this unit enjoyable? (In History)

My favorite person to teach about is Alexander the Great because he taught us that no matter how much power you have you can still be a good leader. My other favorite is Eleanor of Aquitaine because she was the first person to be queen of both France and England, and she was very admirable and fierce.

What is your favorite grade to teach?

It greatly depends on the subject, History in general I prefer middle school, and English in general I prefer high school, with philosophy being a tie, and cooking would be DEFINITELY high school.

Was there a topic in History that you were uninterested in as a kid that has changed today?

The musical Hamilton got me far more interested in that era in history, and even got me to read the book.

Where has been your favorite place to teach?

I taught at a school in LA for students who are very bright but had learning or emotional challenges. I had no idea that I could even teach people who had those problems, but I was desperate. I was there for four years, and it was super rewarding. I feel like it made me a better teacher.

Do you have any advice for students who want to become teachers?

Marry rich (she said with a chuckle). In all seriousness, think carefully about your quality of life. I don’t make a lot, but I am very happy with this job. I still get up in the morning excited to go to work. In my 40 years of teaching, I have only ever not wanted to be a teacher during 9/11. I will always choose teaching.

What inspires you to teach?

There has been some pushback with critical thinking, I feel a deep responsibility to teach them HOW to think critically and judge info for themselves.

Why is it important to learn History?

Those who don’t learn History are doomed to repeat it. I tend to emphasize people in History because it sets a great example for the kids. I feel that teaching young girls about powerful women can set a good example.

History can be tricky, and a little bit confusing at times. Both of these teachers are excellent at what they do, and are very passionate about teaching in general. I loved sitting down just to talk to both Mr. Satterfield and Ms. Schapiro.

A Volleyball Game from the Perspective of Someone Who Knows Nothing About Volleyball

November 29, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By Freshman Louisa Richardson, Special Volleyball Correspondent

Our 2023 PVS Varsity Volleyball Team went undefeated in league. They were the league champions. I know nothing about volleyball. So, volleyball and I make the perfect match for a good article. At the last league home game, I decided that I just had to know what all the fuss was about. I knew our team was good, but I have never had an interest in volleyball. I had never been to a full game before. The last league home game started with a brief Senior Volleyball Ceremony and then plunged right into the game. I was pleasantly surprised by the players’ skill, Coach’s coaching ability, and the crowd’s support. I made sure to take very detailed notes, and here is what I got.

First of all, the players. The girls were great with teamwork; they seemed able to work off of each other very easily as though it was second nature. If Bianca Torres was serving and got it over the net, it reflected on the whole team. I think that this teamwork was what made the girls so good at their craft. Rachel De la O was incredible! She always got the ball over the net with the strength of a god, and made it look easy. Kristina Panagiotaros communicated well with her teammates and was always watching her fellow players. Together they fed off each others’ energy. Christina Lam made everyone get in line. She was always very focused. And, she encouraged everyone. Keira Nash, Team Captain, whether she was doing well or not, always kept a smile on her face, and the look alone was enough to keep everyone in good spirits. Kayliee Augustine-Sails moved with ease and confidence, whether it was a ball she was catching or a ball she was serving, she was capable. Leah Ferreira was the only freshman playing in this game. She did an amazing job watching that ball like a hawk. All of the girls seemed to have a blast playing and, while taking winning seriously, had tons of fun.

Second of all, the crowd. Our student body and faculty were what made these games so fun to go to. The players and sport were, of course, incredible, but the positivity radiating from the crowd was remarkable. If we did badly, you heard, “It’s okay; you can recover,” and if they were doing great, it was “We knew you could do it!” The game was competitive and suspenseful, but the crowd was what made it so fun. The audience also might have been so happy because of the delicious food being eaten from the Firebird Cafe (formerly known as the Snack Shack). A few of the sixth-grade girls also held up red and yellow flags in order to signal whether the ball was in or out. The girls took their jobs very seriously and clearly had fun. In the crowd, there was one little girl in particular who made it her absolute mission to get the whole crowd chanting, “Let’s go, Firebirds, let’s go.” This girl got the crowd going.

Thirdly, Coach Erenberg. He is the perfect balance of fun-loving and strict. He gives the players–individual as well as group–criticism that seems to help rather than put down. Coach also yelled out encouragement: “It’s okay!” emanated from him a few times during the game if players seemed particularly discouraged after getting out. He started off the game with the very nice Senior Ceremony surrounding seniors Ally Bankers and Christina Lam. The seniors seemed to love it; Coach seemed to love it, and Matteo Lam seemed to love it (who was also inexplicably there on the court).

Finally, my overall reaction. My favorite part of the game was watching Christina Lam lie down on the floor waiting for the buzzer to ring in the middle of a team meeting. I also really enjoyed the food. I recommend the mini pizzas. At one point of time, the ball flew into the bleachers about two feet in front of me, and Ally Bankers retrieved the ball like a champion. We won the first two sets by a landslide but the third one was troublesome. A quick side note, Coach Erenberg was rocking that blonde hair and truly becoming “Kenough.” We did end up winning, and the players congratulated each other with a heartfelt high five. I highly recommend you go to any volleyball game you can–whether on the beach, in college, or during next Firebird season. The games are tons of fun, and, this year, a very good reason to be proud of the school you come from.

What’s Your Favorite Color?

November 28, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By 8th-Grader Jackie Doyle Padgett

We have a new addition to the Blog Staff: Jackie Padgett. Jackie breaks out with great enthusiasm for her favorite color: Orange. According to Jackie, the vibrant color of citrus fruit just doesn’t get enough representation and not nearly good enough press. She’s here to change your mind.

Knowing someone’s favorite color is probably one of the most asked questions when you meet someone–after asking their name of course. It’s used to start a lot of small talk. Well, my favorite color is orange. It’s one of those colors people either love or hate (According to Color Matters).

You may have seen results of the Statistics class surveys (posted outside of MS E-3, aka Mr. Gil’s room). Statistics class members went around the school asking people’s opinions on things. One Statistics group asked people What‘s your favorite color? On the posted findings, I noticed that no one said “Orange.” Orange didn’t even make it on the graph. This inspired me to change people’s minds about the disliked color orange. It deserves some spotlight, and, who knows, maybe after these facts, it will be your new favorite color.

HISTORY OF ORANGE

Surprisingly, orange didn’t really have a name until the 16th century (MyModernMet). It was mostly called yellow-red, but when orange trees were brought to Europe, people saw the vibrant fruit and named the color after it. Orange was used a lot by painters in 1809 after the first fully orange color was produced around 10 years prior (Pigments through the Ages). Van Gogh used shades of orange in a lot of his paintings to contrast the blues, purples, and blacks (Van Gogh Museum). Monet also incorporated lots of oranges in his work–mainly in sunsets and flowers.

THE MEANING OF ORANGE

With basic art knowledge, you should know that orange is a mix of red and yellow. Red is used in many things like stoplights/signs which are meant to capture your attention. Wearing red tends to give people confidence. Yellow tends to help people’s memory (SpringerOpen), and, apparently, wearing yellow makes people try to engage in a conversation. It makes people feel more active/talkative (SensationalColor). That’s why when you wake up, you might feel a lot more energetic after going outside and seeing the sun. Orange is said to project confidence and energy but also optimism. When you wear orange, it might make you more outgoing and adventurous because it’s such a bright color.

ADVERTISING

Thus, many famous companies use orange for advertising:

Snapple
Reeses
Nickelodeon
Dunkin
Amazon

They do this because the right color combo draws attention. This is similar to when on the highway some people will turn their billboards upside down to make you look. The companies who use orange are mostly toy stores, gift shops, and food places. Orange can symbolize cheap but good quality. So, if you’re shopping on Amazon and see that little orange arrow, it sparks a little voice in your head that pulls you in if you’re looking for good deals (even though they might not be). Also, children are more likely to pick up or play with things that are orange (TreeFrog.). They’re drawn to it. See Nickelodeon; it could’ve been any color, but Nickelodeon executives chose orange.

Orange will forever be my favorite color. I expect to see it on the next-color related chart (Statistics Class, I’m looking at you.). If you have any fun facts about your favorite color, feel free to share it in the comments below!

Congratulations, Poet Lily

November 24, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

PVS Junior Lily Jones was selected–second year in a row–as a Finalist for Riverside County Teen Poet Laureate. As well, Lily was the recipient of the Jane Block Prize for Environmentalist Teen Poetry. Jane Block is a celebrated environmentalist, feminist, and children’s services activist in the Inland Empire. Below is a picture of Lily with Ms. Block at the November 14th ceremony. The recognition of teen poets is hosted by the Riverside County Office of Education and the Inlandia Institute. Together, the two publish a chapbook of the winning poems. Lily’s poem “The Miner’s Song” is included in that chapbook. You can find the chapbook with Lily’s poem in county libraries, or read it here at thebirdonfire.org.

Christa Jones, mother of Lily, said of the celebration of young county poets, “As a parent, the event filled me with hope for the future.”

Lily with Ms. Block.jpg — Lily is the 2023 recipient of the **Jane Block Prize for Environmentalist Teen Poetry**. She is pictured here with Ms. Block at Riverside County’s Teen Poet Laureate awards ceremony.

The Miner’s Song

by Lily Jones

If pressure creates diamonds

then I hope my mind is a coal mine,

filled with twisting dark tunnels.

A place where soot coats my fingers as I

sift through the rocks,

the thoughts that are crowded together,

clumped by feeling,

left to wilt quietly within deep tunnels.

I’m left alone to find the gem,

to dig deep and mine

the thought in the rough.

The words covered in soot

that will bleed silver when extracted.

Let this thought spill out,

overflowing with my forgotten spoken voice,

a diamond from a void of coal,

the shards cutting my heart deeply.

The greatest exchange of all is words,

so please give me your heart

and I will lay mine bare,

stripped from barriers and lies,

splayed out only through paper and ink as

my words build friends out of paragraphs,

and I build safe houses out of poems.

The Aesthetics of Paranoia

November 9, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Occasionally, we at The Bird on Fire are gifted with contributions from guest bloggers. One of our favorite guests is the apparently mild-mannered Mr. Hesson from the Math Department. We find Mr. Hesson has many layers and many passions. He shares with us here his interest in a particularly uneasy music genre.

By Middle-Upper School Mathematics Teacher Mr. Eric Hesson

In some small way, I believe that an essential part of the modern human experience is our attraction to fear. As much as we may hate the feeling, we seem to delight in confronting it on our own terms. Art and entertainment has thus been fashioned to sate this hunger, to deliver an experience of fear within the bounds of relative safety. This is seen most obviously in horror, a genre typified by portrayals of intense shock and terror. But there is also art which incorporates a more subdued sort of fear. A muted dread, a slow suspense, a gentle lacing of anxiety into the mundane. This is the aesthetic I wish to explore here – a style in art (and particularly music) which I truly love – an aesthetic of paranoia.

Paranoia is an omnidirectional fear – a fear of everyone and everything, of danger lurking around every corner. But since it is diffused so broadly, its potency can be diluted, allowing it to fade into the background. Paranoid art uses fear in this way – as a constant, a ubiquitous tonal center. While horror juxtaposes extremes of tension and release, paranoid art marries the two, weaving tension in consistently with the calm. It makes the fear inescapable, but dials down its intensity so it can be appreciated merely as ambiance.

In certain eras in recent history, an aesthetic of paranoia has found its way into mainstream popular culture, driven perhaps by sociopolitical unrest or widespread fear of the future. The 1990s were one such time. As the decade went on and the millennium drew closer, fear seemed to creep into the zeitgeist more and more – fear of the rapid transformation of society via computers and the internet, fear of the year 2000, fear of catastrophe and apocalypse. Many films and series produced at the time echoed this anxiety, perhaps most notably The X-Files. Its opening credits sequence is a perfect encapsulation of 90s paranoia.

The X-Files Intro (1993)

We see the same kind of paranoid futurism in much of the electronic music produced in this era. Records by The Orb, Meat Beat Manifesto, The Future Sound of London and others leaned into a dark, anxious tech-noir aesthetic, reflecting both the excitement and the fear surrounding rapid technological growth.

Dead Cities

ORBITAL — P.E.T.R.O.L — Paul and Phil Hartnoll

To this day, the paranoid aesthetic continues to thrive in electronic music. I find it works especially well within the realm of ambient techno, a genre characterized by hypnotic rhythms and atmospheric soundscapes. While the simple, repetitive beats in these tracks create a bedrock of comfort, paranoid vibes can be woven into the mix through the pads, reverberations, arpeggios and melodic loops.

Into the Maze

Andy Stott — Posers

Spore

This is the style that appeals to me the most – a manifestation of paranoia within an atmosphere of relative calm; a subtle soundscape suffused with creeping dread. I find this muted, surface-level exploration of fear to be incredibly captivating. Indeed, it gives me a sense of confidence – it reflects the anxiety I experience in my daily life, but in a way that is safe, comfortable, easy. It makes the anxiety feel less oppressive by recontextualizing it as a part of something beautiful.

Hot Take: Biden Deserves a Second Term, and He’s Probably Going to Get One

November 3, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Senior Indiana Behr

In the last of our Controversial/Unpopular Opinions post, Indy vouches for President Joe Biden. Indy says, yes, Biden is a viable shot for a second term. Indy is not afraid to stand, possibly, outside popular opinion.

President Biden at his 2012 Inauguration (Photo Source: today.com)

Note: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made an announcement on October 9 that he will be running for President as an Independent due to his opposition to the Democratic National Committee’s public support of Joe Biden. This means Kennedy will likely be on the ballot in the general election in several states. This article was drafted prior to the RFK announcement.
–Indy

Full disclosure: My positions often align with the Democratic Party. As such, given the current field of the Democratic 2024 Presidential Primary, the state of our nation, and the current administration’s performance, I think that Joe Biden is the best option in 2024. However, I think he currently is not doing well in approval ratings and in his primary. I do think he will be reelected, but I think the election will be closer than I would have predicted a few months ago.

Polling shows that I am in the minority. Both Democrats (and most Americans) want younger, newer, candidates. Biden is winning pretty much all primary polls, but the alternatives are Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson. Kennedy is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, and is an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist who is only prominent because of his last name. Williamson, who also ran in 2020, is a spiritual guru who once said amidst the peak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1992 that “sickness is an illusion and does not actually exist.”

On the other side of the aisle, Republicans are coalescing around former President Donald Trump. Though at one point it seemed like the primary might be close, it really isn’t looking that way these days. As of September 27, FiveThirtyEight ranks Trump as being in first with 54.7%, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in second with 13.8%, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in third with 6.1%, and Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy with 5.7%. There are a few others also being polled who are below 5%, like former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

FiveThirtyEight’s polling aggregate of the 2024 GOP Primary as of September 27th, 2023. (Photo Source: projects.fivethirtyeight.com)

On January 7, 2023, DeSantis was at 40.5% and Trump was at 42.4%. That’s a 1.9% margin, which is very close. But now, Trump is up 12.3% from then, and more significantly, DeSantis is down 26.7%. That is a huge drop-off. What happened? Well, DeSantis had some incredibly embarrassing moments. As the New York Times put it, “DeSantis Lost the Internet,” which is hard to come back from in the digital age. DeSantis doesn’t show well digitally. At one point, one of his staffers posted a video promoting DeSantis’s anti-LGBTQ policies that had a Nazi symbol in it. Once viewed as the future of the GOP, having won the governorship in 2018 as an underdog in an otherwise bad midterm for Republicans, and then winning reelection by nearly 20 points against a former Florida Governor–his reputation is now in the gutter.

As someone who wants Democrats to be successful, the unity seen on the GOP side lately worries me. An incumbent President only polling in the low-to-mid 60s during their primary reelection campaign is not an amazing look. Right now, RFK Jr. is at 15.1% according to FiveThirtyEight. Trump pretty much never polled that low during his 2020 primary campaign, where his two opponents were former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Ultimately, his challengers received 1.08% and 1.31% of the vote respectively. Trump received 97.14%. I think it is very clear that Biden will win the primary, but clearly not all Democrats are behind him. However, I really do not think that this will affect him much in the general. I think almost all true Democrats will unite behind Biden in the general. I don’t think that this is necessarily the case with former President Trump.

FiveThirtyEight’s polling aggregate of the 2024 Democratic Primary as of September 27th, 2023. (Photo Source: projects.fivethirtyeight.com)

Okay, so I have made it clear that though I think Joe Biden will win reelection; it’s closer than I wish it were. My main point is that I think Joe Biden has so far done well as President, and I think he deserves a second term to finish what he’s started. To be honest, in 2019 during the Democratic primary for the 2020 Presidential Election, I was firmly opposed to then-former Vice President Biden. In fact, he was one of my last choices, and I thought candidates like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, or Pete Buttigieg would be better. With hindsight, I do not think Warren or Buttigieg would have won a general election. I think Sanders probably would have, but I do not think his presidency would be fundamentally different from Biden’s, and I think he would have struggled with reelection even more.

Biden made many commitments in his run, like most candidates do, that have not been put in place as of yet. However, during his first two years, we had a 50-50 Senate, and Democrats had a very narrow House majority, so of course he couldn’t accomplish everything. The Senate has the filibuster which essentially means most major things actually need 60 votes, and even then, there were two Democratic Senators who made it hard for Biden to pass anything: Joe Manchin, a conservative from very red West Virginia, and Kyrsten Sinema, a Senator from Arizona who tried to water down every one of his proposals. After the 2022 midterms, Sinema became an independent but has still caucused with the Democrats and retained Committee seats as a member of the majority.

First of all, many people think that Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan is a stain on his legacy. However, I think given his options, that was the best choice. I do not think the US should be the police of the world. I think that the initial invasion of Afghanistan in the 2000s was somewhat justified, but once we accomplished our primary goals, we should have just left. The Taliban are absolutely horrible, but American intelligence was apparently stating that the Taliban taking over almost immediately was pretty much impossible. Besides, if the Afghan military wasn’t able to fight for even a week after over a decade of practice, that’s on them! Nevertheless, Biden’s approval rating dropped by a lot after this withdrawal, and pretty much never recovered.

I also think the student loan debt issue has been handled very well by Biden. Some people think he went too far by giving “handouts” by cancelling debt, but some more progressive activists and politicians think he should go farther. I think he has done fine. I think if Biden were to cancel all of the student debt at once, it would immediately be struck down by a judge and ultimately the Supreme Court. I think therefore that his pragmatic approach of cancelling small amounts of student loan debt and temporarily pausing payments in different ways is the most effective way to accomplish this goal. We spend trillions of dollars on our military. So a few billion to help millions of Americans have an easier life is worth it! Some people say, “But what about those who already paid it back?” That’s cool, but other people shouldn’t have to suffer because you did. That’s not justice; that’s just kinda cruel.

I also think the Biden administration’s signature program, the Build Back Better Plan, might have not been successful in some ways, but none of this was Biden’s fault, and what he did accomplish was very impressive. Like I stated earlier, the filibuster in the Senate meant many bills that passed the House in Biden’s first two years struggled to gain traction in the Senate. But what came in the end was the Inflation Reduction Act, which is essentially a watered-down version of the original Build Back Better Act. Almost all of the social safety net proposals did not make the cut because of the filibuster and conservative Democrats like Sen. Manchin and Sinema opposing many of the proposals. However, major climate change solutions made it in the bill that is now law. Prescription drug prices are being significantly lowered, too. It also will help fund new clean energy plans.

In terms of his electability, many polls are starting to show him slipping against the likely GOP nominee, former President Trump. Personally, I don’t buy it. I think pollsters are screwing up. And even though the electoral college usually favors Republicans, 2024 may be an exception.

If the 2024 election were held today between Biden and Trump, I think it would go like this. The lightest color is Lean, the slightly darker is Likely, and the dark colors are Solid/Safe. Tan indicates a tossup. I think that Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin have a pretty good chance of staying Democratic, and though I think Pennsylvania is a little closer, I’m pretty confident it’ll go blue.

So overall, I am concerned about President Biden’s electability, but nevertheless, I think he will win in 2024. Disagree? Please comment: I’d love to prove you wrong.

Things I just can’t stand. And people do too much.

November 2, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By Sophomore Oliver Martinez

Is there something that just gets under your skin? Something that sets your teeth on edge? Oliver opens up our theme on Things That Bug Us. If you’re victimized by irritating behavior, join in on the rant. If you commit irritating behavior, just STOP.

Has someone ever said, or done something that makes you feel mad or indignant? I certainly have. Here is my list of the seven most annoying things that I just can’t stand!

When someone says “No offense”

Is it just me, or does this just make it all that more offensive? Like if someone says, “No offense, but your shirt looks really ugly today,” it would be more annoying than if they just told you. “Hey, your shirt looks really ugly today.” Why? Because saying “no offense” doesn’t cancel out what you’re about to say. If you’re going to say something offensive, just say it. Don’t try to act all innocent and like you’re not being mean because you said “No offense.” (You are being mean.)

People still doing the cringy Fortnite dances

This one’s probably one of the least annoying because it doesn’t really affect me. Truth is, we’re past 2017. Those times are long gone. Yet I still see people in the streets doing those goofy dances. Like the Floss or the Orange Justice. I honestly feel kind of bad for these people because that trend is so outdated and cringy.

People who use their phone during the movie in a theater

This is just annoying. What’s the point in paying 13 dollars for a movie ticket to just go do something you could do at home? Seriously, like that is just a waste of time and money. If you’re going to use your phone during a movie and not let others enjoy it, then don’t go. It’s that simple. Just use your phone at home or elsewhere.

Bikers who take up the whole road

Okay, I have absolutely no problem with biking, I think it’s very fun and a good form of exercise and travel. However, it’s just so annoying when we’re going somewhere and there is some guy in the middle of the street doing wheelies and tricks and driving in the middle of the road. Honestly, nobody cares if you can do a wheelie with a bike. Go to the sidewalk or to the side of the road where people can drive without having to worry about possibly hitting you.

People who party all night and blast their music until 2 a.m.

I absolutely understand that sometimes people want to have a party for whatever reason. Once in a while is okay. But there are some neighbors who party from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and blast their music every other week. To make it worse, they scream vulgarities, throw beer bottles, and reek of the awful smell of smoke. I used to have neighbors like this. And they literally partied EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. We had to call the cops on them so many times because they blasted their music loud until 2 a.m. It was basically impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Even neighbors that lived a couple houses away heard it and called the cops. Eventually these partying neighbors moved out, and we were saved.

Bandwagons on sports

These people I probably dislike the least from the rest of this list. Still, it should be noted; they are very annoying. So, basically, a bandwagon is a person who just hops onto the trend because everyone else is doing so. A bandwagon on sports is when someone roots for a team just because they are the best, or they just won a championship. This pet-peeve came from a friend who didn’t really like American football. But a couple days after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl he was idolizing the team and saying he has always been a Chiefs fan. The thing is, when a different team becomes the best and wins the Super Bowl, he’ll change teams and claim he’s always been a fan of that other team.

People who burp intentionally

This is just disgusting in my opinion. It’s so common, too. I don’t know if people think it’s funny or cool, but I think it’s absolutely disgusting–especially when you’re at a restaurant eating and someone else chugs two bottles of Mountain Dew just to burp super loudly. It kind of makes me lose my appetite.

Those are my seven biggest pet peeves and annoying things people do. I have many more, but they’re less irritating. Do you have any pet peeves? Let us know in the comments.

Found: The Worst Relationship Advice on the Internet

November 1, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Senior Gil Maruvada

We started the year with “How-To Relationships.” Gil mused on the subject for so long, we almost . . . abandoned his contribution. But, the junior class, saw Gil’s headline on the board under “Posts in the Works.” They clamored for the publication of the post. They wanted to know what was the worst relationship advice out there. Love Doctor Gil, flattered by their interest, finished the post. Here it is, late for its deadline, but ready wwaaaaayyy before Valentine’s Day.

Hi folks. Lots of relationship advice is out there, just floating around. Sometimes you have that one friend or relative who gives it to you unsolicited even though you never asked and you just want them to shut up because why do they think they are in any position to give advice and now the situation is devolving into an awkward mess where you try and explain to them exactly how uninformed they sound and you just want them to leave you alone. You know who you are, James.

But a lot of that strange unsolicited advice is on the internet as well. I’m compiling for you some of the worst relationship advice on the internet. Now “worst” is an entirely subjective measure, so first we will be going through what people say is the worst relationship advice ever given to them.

Let’s start with some threads from Quora and Reddit where people talk about the worst relationship advice that they have ever received. (But let’s keep in mind that attention-seeking, “like”-maximizing behavior on the internet could mean that some people exaggerate or completely fabricate bad relationship advice for internet points.) Quora user Dushka Zapata who has amassed a total of 260k followers and 9.1k answers on Quora since 2015 has compiled a list of 24 pieces of the worst relationship advice she has heard. The list goes as follows:

Your soulmate is out there!
You are too picky.
He should make the first move.
Play hard to get.
Remain a mystery.
Intelligent women are a threat so let him feel he has the answers.
If it’s not headed towards marriage you are wasting your time.
If he is jealous it means he loves you.
If he is possessive it means he loves you.
If he is abusive it means he loves you.
Buying a house together will save your relationship.
Get married. It will save your relationship.
Have a kid. It will save your relationship.
Give it time. He will change.
If you love him, change for him.
Watch him like a hawk.
Your significant other should be your highest, only priority.
He should be your everything.
Don’t rock the boat.
Don’t go to bed angry.
Love hurts.
Love means sacrifice.
Love is enough.
Love conquers all.

(What is the worst relationship advice you have received or overheard?)

The problems with this advice are derived from it being a mix of empty platitudes, red flags, ideas that are simply false, and “solutions” that don’t solve anything. Other pieces of bad relationship advice on Reddit are similar to things on this list. If you are interested, I encourage you to check out “[Serious] What’s the worst relationship advice you’ve ever heard?” on Reddit or any number of similar threads and look for hidden gems or things you disagree with.

Now let’s talk about what actual “experts” have to say about the topic. (I don’t have a good reason to put experts in quotes, but the general distrust of anyone with a modicum of authority or experience is the new trendy “in” thing, kids). In order to do this, let’s look at “6 experts share the worst piece of relationship advice they’ve ever heard,” written by Shana Lebowitz, a correspondent of Business Insider. One piece of advice in here that stood out to me was the challenge to the idea that “honesty is the best policy.” This is an understandable challenge but surprising because you hear this platitude so much. As our blog teacher Ms. Zachik said, “I think lying is really key in a relationship.”

In general, I personally think that most relationship advice on the internet is bad relationship advice. Given the internet’s track record, I don’t think it’s really safe to trust it. Plus with algorithms working to erode our sense of community and our place in the world, always making us more isolated in order to make it easier to market to us, the advice that rises to the top might not be high quality. Internet advice is less like cream of the crop and more like dead fish that floated to the surface.

In conclusion, the world is already an Orwellian corporate surveillance state monitoring your every move and thought and constantly trying to make sure you behave and stay obedient so that they can sell your most personal secrets to the highest bidder. Remember, 2+2=5, trust the government completely, and if you don’t hear from me again it’s because I’ve been unpersoned.

Why Dr Pepper Is the Best

October 26, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

Wouldn’t You Like To Be A Pepper, Too?

By Senior Gil Maruvada

In our pursuit of controversy, we’ve unearthed Oliver’s unpopular sports opinions and the fiery opinions of PVS middle and upper schoolers, its staff and faculty (Thank you, Louisa). Gil, who “requires controversial opinions in order to tell the difference between his own identity and that of other people,” finds this was a subject made for him. Gil stands alone(?) in his love for Dr Pepper. He explains why he’s “a Pepper.”

In Waco, Texas, at the turn of the 19th century, before world wars and the Great Depression, an invention that would change the face of the world today was created. That something was the soda Dr Pepper, first sold on December 1st, 1885 (thoughtco.com). It is the world’s best commercially available soda sold in most retail stores. Now, you might have a personal favorite brand, but Dr Pepper is the best soda you can get just by walking into any store near you. That might be a bit of a bold claim, so allow me to prove definitively once and for all that Dr Pepper is better than its alternatives: Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, etc.

Now, let’s get this straight first, Dr Pepper has no period. While Dr Pepper was initially stylized with a period, the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company dropped the period in the 1950s, so referring to it with a period is incorrect (drpeppermuseum.com). Additionally, there is no consensus as to why it is called Dr Pepper, and if it was named after a person there are competing theories as to who (dallasnews.com).

The superiority of Dr Pepper has been heralded by a small circle of pepper enthusiasts, some may call it cult-like but I like to think of it as the global Dr Pepper ~~conspiracy~~ community. Dr Pepper is something entirely different from Coke or Pepsi because Coke and Pepsi are colas while Dr Pepper is a pepper soda, which is an entirely different category pioneered by Charles Alderton. And while soda sales overall have been going down for other companies, Dr Pepper sales have been going up (cnn.com).

A large number of people swear by Dr Pepper as well (not just me). Elizabeth Sullivan, who drank three Dr Peppers a day, credits it with her longevity; she lived to be 106 years old (nbcdfw.com). She famously stated that “Every doctor that sees me says they’ll kill you, but they die and I don’t” (time.com). She has a point–-Dr Pepper is a heaven-sent elixir and panacea.

Centenarian Elizabeth Sullivan discusses here her affection for Dr Pepper.

Now Dr Pepper isn’t for everyone; some people don’t like its additional flavors and complex layers (and while I think these people are weak and inherently wrong, they technically have the right to their own incorrect opinions).

But this doesn’t answer the question of what Dr Pepper is. Dr Pepper isn’t a soda but a representation of human freedom. Every soda above Dr Pepper in sales is owned by either PepsiCo or the Coca Cola company. That makes Dr Pepper the third most popular alternative company, the third choice in a two party system. Sodas emulate politics. Coca Cola and Pepsi represent how a two-party paradigm can naturally emerge in a voting system. The only difference from politics is here people vote with their money. But a two-party system inherently restricts options and variability. Coke and Pepsi both have supporters and detractors who would fight to the end for their corporate overlords’ sakes, but in the end they are both really similar sodas. Dr Pepper, however, is an alternative to the system, a giant cooperation in its own right stepping into the ring and making a spectacle. This battle will not be fought with the force and passion of political debates but with the slow and steady machinations of the economy. And I for one would welcome a new Dr Pepper paradigm, where pepper sodas completely take over. Out with the old corporate overlords and in with the “new.” It just tastes better.

The 2008 Dr Pepper ad campaign: Be a Pepper.

*The views expressed by Mr. Maruvada do not necessarily represent the views of The Bird on Fire, Ms. Zachik, and PVS, or anyone else for that matter.

What’s your hill to die on?

October 20, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By Freshman Louisa Richardson

In the Blog’s continued exploration of controversial opinions, ace-reporter Louisa surveyed the Palm Valley scene and logged the following unpopular rants and raves. She had a good time. And she picked up a lot of sass.

A hill to die on is essentially a controversial opinion that you stand by. My fellow blogger Gil, in our class discussion of Controversy, used this phrase. It caught my ear. In order to unearth controversy, I decided to survey people, asking, “What’s your hill to die on?” Opinions these days are nothing short of controversial, whether it’s pineapple on pizza, or Donald Trump. The people have something to say. The middle/upper-school students and teachers, and my father, were all asked the simple question, “What’s your hill to die on?” (usually followed by an explanation of what the phrase means). These hills tended to fall into six categories: pop culture, politics, food, fashion, dogs, and school.

Unpopular Opinions on Pop

8th-grader Jack Edelstein and the rest of the Podcasting class take passionate issue with Taylor Swift–not a popular stance. Jack leads the podcasting flock with the following statement:

“Taylor Swift sucks[;] she dates every guy ever and is still obsessed with them! She blames them for everything, making 99% of her songs the same. She acts like the victim in every relationship she is in. She has been with every weird actor you can name, and she always acts like she was the victim in the relationship. . . . [And,] 99% of her music is unoriginal. It goes from sad, depressed, angry music to then Love-“I-found-another” relationship, and repeat. Lastly, her fanbase sucks.”

8th-grader Ethan Brooks from Podcasting adds:

“Kanye MADE Taylor Swift.”

Other unpopular opinions regarding popular culture include . . .

“Avatar was not that good.”

–My father

“Spotify is terrible; it makes it hard to provide money as a not-so-popular artist, as the platform rarely even showcases new artists!”

–Mr. Hesson, Math/Podcasting Teacher

“Paramount Plus is better than Netflix.”

–Elijah Berliner, freshman

“Elijah is wrong.”

–Brooklyn Hatrak, freshman

“Joe Jonas is a dweeb.”

–Ms. Maguire, English/Creative Writing Teacher

Several opinions surfaced about School . . .

“Poems should be abolished; they are useless in the learning curriculum.”

–Tony Ratner, 8th-grader

“Essays are useless, and don’t teach anything.”

–Jackie Padgett, 8th-grader

“Reading can be fun; you just have to find the right book.”

–Zoey Guess, 7th-grader

“The snack shack is overpriced.”

–Hudson, Jack, and, again, the rest of Podcasting Class

“PVS is the best!”

–Jerry Wang, senior

“Middle schoolers need to STAY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL!”

–Anais Lee . . . and the rest of the high school

Opinions on food were . . . interesting . . .

“String cheese with chocolate milk is delicious.”

–Ally Bankers, senior

“Fries are better with ranch than with a milkshake.”

–Coach J. Erenberg

“Mustard is better than ketchup, and there are no better Bob Dylan albums than THE Bob Dylan original.”
–Mr. Satterfield, History Teacher

“Fruits shouldn’t be in the dessert; if I am ordering a chocolate cake, and you give me cantaloupe on the side, I will be mad.”
–Abby Assefa, junior

“Vegan diets are just bad for you.”

–Zander Eaton, freshman

“Chocolate milk SHOULD come from brown cows.”

–Emerson Dunn, 6th-grader

People had strong opinions on fashion.

“Skinny jeans are ugly.”

–Lily Jones, junior

“Low rise jeans are actually the worst.”

–Morgan Richardson, 6th-grader

“High top Converse suck.”

–Olivia Puetz, freshman

And, while Grandma always said, “Don’t talk Politics at the dinner table,” we do.

“Banning books should be unneeded.”

–Addison Uhlhorn, 7th grade

“Donald Trump won.”
–Alex Kirov, 8th-grader

“The moon landing was fake.”

–Luke Sonderman, senior

“Asians aren’t yellow.”

–Edward Berg, 7th grade

A few of us had opinions about Dogs.

“Dogs should be allowed on the bed!”
–Ms. Zachik, English/Blog Teacher

“Chihuahuas are the worst dog breed; they are glorified rats. They serve no purpose in this world. When you have hunting dogs, and service dogs, Chihuahuas just shake. They all have three teeth and live forever. If there was one dog breed that had to go extinct, I would choose Chihuahuas. Chihuahuas should be banned.

–Emma Murdock, Middle-School Receptionist

And, finally, Coach offered a little compassion . . .

“I don’t think anyone should die on a hill.”

–Coach Erenberg

People sure do have a lot of opinions. Controversial or not, this was the most fun I have ever had surveying. Do you have a controversial opinion we missed? Add it to the comments.