the bird on fire

The Palm Valley School Student Blog

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What’s Love?

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By AI and Luke Sonderman

I asked bloggers to define that slippery concept “love.” Luke turned to AI. The result was “Blah.” Then, Luke went Luke-ish. His poem is not a love missive most want to receive, but it’s original.

Blog Advisor Zachik

Love according to AI: 

Love is a fire that burns within,

A force that knows no end or sin,

It binds two souls with gentle touch,

And fills their hearts with love so much.

Love is a melody sweetly sung,

A symphony that never becomes unsung,

It brings together hearts and minds,

And leaves all else far behind.

Love is a flower that blooms and grows,

A fragrance that always flows,

It lifts us up and makes us whole,

And warms the coldest, loneliest soul.

Love is a treasure that we hold,

A story that will always be told,

It’s the magic that lights up our days,

And forever in our hearts, it stays.

Love according to Luke:

Love is being right. 

There is nothing better than being right.

Whether being right makes someone else cry,

And especially when it makes someone else say “I am wrong,”

Love is being right.

Some people say “It’s not about being right, it’s about being nice.”

Those people are what I like to call LOSERS.

Do you want to be a loser?

No.

Be a winner.

Be Right.

If anyone knows what love feels like, it’s me. 

Because I am ALWAYS RIGHT.

Ask anyone, they’ll tell you. 

So the next time you feel down or lonely. Maybe unloved.

Scoot your way into an argument and WIN.

You can trust me. I am ALWAYS right.

Why Lindsay Lohan’s “The Parent Trap” is the Greatest Movie Ever Made and Often the Most Misunderstood

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By Junior Indiana Behr

Graphic Source: disneyplus.com

I know that’s a long title, but hear me out. My favorite movie of all time is the 1998 version of The Parent Trap. I think it is genuinely flawlessly crafted. It incorporates elements of a classic romantic comedy, but the dramatic elements are also done well. It may be a Disney movie, but there is no doubt this film can be enjoyed by people of all ages. I think that it is also misinterpreted by most people who watch this film. I think that the character often viewed as the villain, Meredith Blake–the stepmother-to-be, is not a villain at all, and is a much more complex and layered character than one might think after the first watch. I argue that the twins are actually the villains of this film.

Why The Parent Trap (1998) is the Best Movie Ever Made

I genuinely do not enjoy a single movie more than I enjoy The Parent Trap. This film is of course a remake of a film of the same name that was released in 1961. I have seen the 1961 version  a few times, and I think it is a very well made movie. However, I actually think the 1998 film is an improvement upon the original. Most Disney remakes are pretty underwhelming, especially the ones that turned animated movies into live action. I feel like this version is an exception.

It may be inspired by an older movie, but the creators of the remake were willing to make any changes they felt necessary to keep the story fresh and contemporary, and I felt like it was successful. In the original film, both twins were from different parts of the United States. In the remake, Hallie is from Napa, California, all the way in the Western US, while Annie is from London, England. I think this makes the culture shock more significant, as it is two different countries rather than just two regions of the US.

I find Hayley Mills’ performance in the 1961 movie to be very good, but I find Lindsay Lohan’s performance to be even more impressive. Lindsay Lohan was just 11 during filming for the 1998 film; whereas Mills was already 15 during production. Additionally, Lohan had to learn an accent from an entirely different country, and I think she did so skillfully. Mills only had to learn the accent of another region of the US. I also generally think the other performances in the 1998 version, such as the butler and housekeeper, were better, and I think the humor has stood the test of time better than the predecessor.

Another reason I really like this movie is the music. I think the soundtrack of this film is excellent. The opening credits that show a montage of the twins’ parents meeting on the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner set to Nat King Cole’s L-O-V-E is probably my favorite movie opening ever. Whether it’s the suspenseful music heard during the scenes at the summer camp in the beginning or the Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun when Hallie (pretending to be Annie) helps her mother, Elizabeth James, at her fashion business, I think that the music is perfectly done from beginning to end.

Why the Twins Are Actually the Villains and Meredith Blake Wasn’t Actually That Bad

Both versions of The Parent Trap have the repeatedly used evil step-mother trope, but part of why I prefer the 1998 edition is because I think the character of Meredith Blake was a much more complex and layered character than Vicky Robinson, her 1961 equivalent. Over the last few years, many others have come to this conclusion, and in 2022, Elaine Hendrix, who portrayed Meredith Blake, stated that she sympathized with her character. She even made a TikTok with the caption, “He had twins he secretly separated at birth when he broke up with their mother and didn’t tell you about it until the twins discovered each other at camp and swapped places to try and get their parents back together.” Really makes you think, huh? Maybe the twins and their father were the villains more than Meredith…

I am not going to lie to you, when I first watched this film, I thought of Meredith Blake as a classic Disney villain, but after hearing others’ opinions and watching it again, I have started to understand Meredith Blake’s actions. Even after they first meet, Annie, pretending to be Hallie, is incredibly passive aggressive towards her, intentionally splashing her with water by aggressively jumping into her pool, and then blatantly lying by calling her “number twenty-nine” when it had already been established she was the first relationship her father, Nick Parker, had entered since the twins’ birth. Then, after Annie describes this interaction by phone, Hallie states, “Well, you’ll just have to break ’em up. Sabotage her. Do whatever you have to.”

When I advocate to others that Meredith Blake was not actually as bad as she is made out to be, their rebuttal is often that she stated that she wanted to send Annie to boarding school. However, I think this was just hyperbole, especially considering she never seemed to make any effort to go through with it. I do not think you can blame her for being somewhat angry about her boyfriend’s daughter being incredibly nasty towards her after meeting just once. 

Once the twins successfully get their parents to reunite in San Francisco, the twins and their parents go back to Napa where their father lives after Hallie convinces them to go on their annual camping trip with her father. However, before leaving, Elizabeth, not a fan of the outdoors, tells Nick that she thinks it would be better if Meredith went instead. The twins were unsurprisingly unhappy with this, but Elizabeth insisted. Then, during this trip, the twins are horrifically cruel towards her. They put a lizard on her head, which crawls into her mouth first. Then, they give her sugar water claiming it will help with mosquitoes, and tell her that whacking two sticks together will scare off the mountain lions. There were in fact no mountain lions where they were camping. 

Then, after all of this, the twins do something that ultimately destroys Meredith and Nick’s relationship. They take Meredith’s air mattress from her tent, and place it in the lake at the camping site, and she floats away asleep, only to wake up in the morning in the middle of the lake. First of all, this is obviously just a horrible thing to do to someone. Second of all, this is dangerous! Falling into the middle of a river when you are asleep could very well cause drowning. After this, Meredith approaches Nick and says he has to pick between the twins and her. I think him picking the kids was obviously the right decision, but I very much sympathize with her.

Overall, I recognize Meredith Blake is kind of aggressive at times, but I also think she is a very determined character who knows what she wants. I think it’s fair to say that money may be a part of her interest in Nick, but I do not think he was oblivious to this, and I do think she probably liked him. This very complex character is part of why I like this movie so much, and why I prefer it over the original movie. I think you should try watching or rewatching The Parent Trap (1998) with this perspective in mind.

What am I?

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By Junior Jess Billimore

You see me everyday, 

Or do you?

You’re familiar with my presence,

Maybe too much so.

You walk all over me,

To and fro. 

Some of you dislike me,

Yet I continue to grow.

Am I invasive?

I endure the pain that you give;

All I want is to live.

I take up lots of space, 

Growing at a fast pace.

Is my existence a waste?

You see me everyday.

Please, appreciate me today.

*Log in your answers in the comment section.

I started a microgreenery in my friend’s backyard.

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By Luke Sonderman, Backyard Farmer

Microgreens. No, I’m not talking about broccoli and baby carrots. I am talking about microgreens. What are microgreens? I asked myself that same question before I spent a thousand dollars building a farm. 

What are microgreens?

Microgreens are vegetables that are picked as young seedlings right as leaves begin to grow (integrisok.com). Microgreens are grown in many varieties and can be found at farmers markets and fancy boutique grocery stores. If the microgreens are grown hydroponically (grown in water with no soil), you can find them at stores and farmers markets still growing in the package!

How did I become a microgreen farmer?

I decided to go into business with my best friend Ethan after he pitched the idea of growing microgreens to me. I had no idea what microgreens were, but after researching microgreen business models, I discovered that it was a business venture with very little risk. Ethan found a business in Joshua Tree via Facebook Marketplace that was selling a 10ft x10ft microgreens grow tent, microgreen racks, microgreen grow trays, a grow tent ventilation fan, several LED grow lights, and booth decoration for farmers markets. After purchasing the equipment, we built the tent and set up the racks with lights. With our farm assembled, we began doing research into the most profitable microgreens to grow and the most popular microgreens at farmers markets. 

How microgreens are grown

After starting our farm, we had to make the big decision whether to grow our greens in soil or hydroponically. Hydroponically-grown microgreens are grown in water trays with no soil. This means that when you package them, if you put water into the container they will continue to live and grow as long as they stay in water. For simplicity, we grow our microgreens in soil. It is much easier. 

When can you buy our microgreens?

Since we are still in the testing and licensing phase of our farm, our microgreens are not yet for sale. In coordination with multiple local farmers markets, we plan to have multiple farmers market spots throughout the seasons where we will sell our microgreens, mixes, and microgreen beverages! So, in the next few months, when you are at your local Coachella Valley farmers market, look for the name Little Sprouts, and try some microgreens. Maybe you’ll get a little friends and family discount!

Can you eat Foie Gras guilt free?

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We said, “Write about the implications of grass.” Levi, as always, went in a surprising direction: foie gras. (Note: “gras” does NOT mean grass, but “fat.”) Foie gras is a highly contentious cuisine. Levi thinks he’s found a guilt-free way of tasting the delicacy.

By Junior Levi Kassinove

Have you heard of foie gras? “Foie gras” is French for fatty liver. If you’ve heard of it but don’t like it because it’s unethically produced, then I have good news for you. There exists ethical foie gras, where the geese frolic about a pasture eating acorns, olives, and grass. If you don’t know what foie gras is, then why are you even here?

Foie gras is fattened goose (or rarely, duck) liver. Typically, it is produced year-round in factories by shoving metal tubes down the throats of geese and force feeding them (sentientmedia.org). And, they are forbidden from exercising. This force feeding of stationary geese can fatten the liver to 10 times its normal volume (npr.org). If you read my wagyu article, you’d know that the more fat involved, the better flavor and texture. Unsurprisingly, because of the name, this is a product of France. However, in Spain there exists two men by the names of Eduardo Sousa and Diego Labourdette who have a farm that produces foie gras…ethically (npr.org). 

Geese wandering around the farm outside of Pallares, Spain (npr.org). 

How do they do it?

As I said earlier, these geese are not force fed. They roam free, eating–of their own free will–olives, acorns and whatever else they desire. Naturally, the geese fatten themselves up during the beginning of the winter to prepare for their annual Southward migration (a-z-animals.com). We all know, though, that the geese will not be making their Southward migration. They will instead be “sacrificed” on a “night of the new moon” when their livers are the fattest (Eduardo Sousa, npr.org). In an interview with NPR, Sousa revealed that before they kill the geese, they “paralyze them with flashlights.” After the geese are hypnotized, they are swiftly and painlessly killed with a knife. The rest of the goose is used for various other products such as meals of duck leg and duck breast (npr.org). 

What does this ethically-raised foie gras taste like?

Usually, foie gras barely tastes like liver because it is so fatty, but this liver tastes like liver. While I cannot personally vouch for its flavor, James Beard award-winning chef Dan Barber said it was “the best foie gras of my life” (npr.org). Taking on the flavors of what they eat, the foie gras would probably have a deep, earthly flavor with notes of acorns, olives, and whatever else the geese choose to eat. 

How to buy it?

Because only a handful of geese are slaughtered every year, Sousa’s foie gras is extremely difficult to obtain. You can find the foie gras on their website (lapateria.eu/) for €200 per 180g. It is currently sold out, but I will try to get my hands on it and report back this winter!

If I Could Get Rid Of Something It Would Be…

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These sharp blades of grass when wet and even dry made Alyna hate the outdoors. 

By Junior Alyna Rei

I have always had a love-hate relationship with grass. I love to lie down on the  SOFT grass and have a picnic. But, I also hate how wet sharp grass makes my legs really itchy. I’ve had a couple of incidents with grass in elementary school that makes me hate sharp-bladed wet grass. Here are some of my unpleasantries from elementary school regarding the green beneath our feet.

3rd grade

In 3rd grade, it was required to do P.E. Before the class started, the students would have to sit on dots that were lying on the grass so the teacher could come and take attendance (this would take around 15-20 minutes). You would think that this sounds normal, but I had P.E. in the morning. In the morning, the sprinklers would go off. Not only did my clothes get wet from the grass, when I was sent off running, the wet grass would rub on my legs and make them really itchy and red. 

4th grade

Since I moved up a grade, I did not have to do P.E. in wet grass anymore. But I had to do P.E. with really dry and hot grass. Running around in 115 degree weather was not great at all. Dry and hot grass feels like thumb tacks grazing your legs every time you move. My old school was lazy with their landscape, so the grass was long enough to scratch your calves.

5th grade

There was no more torturous P.E. for me. But a grass incident happened during recess. I was on the field with my friends. We were jogging slowly and just talking. I don’t know why, but when we were running, one of my friends happened to knock me down on the grass. My face, arms, and legs were exposed to the hot and dry grass. She apologized, but the only thing that mattered during that moment was how itchy my body was. At the end of the day my arms and legs were red and me being sweaty on a hot day made it a lot worse.

During the summer, I try to avoid grass since the hot air and dry grass really make my body react badly. I swell, itch, and turn red. My best remedy to get rid of these horrible reactions  in elementary school was to expose the affected area to cold air (I don’t know why, but it worked). I am here to say that the days of me running in the sharp blades of grass are over. If I have to walk on this type of grass, I try to walk through it quickly. But, I would happily walk over anything besides grass.

Haiku on the Grass

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Pull up a lawn chair. We’re talking about grass. Penny opens our theme with meditative haiku on that which grows beneath our feet.

By Seventh-Grader Penny Andreas

The grass stands up tall

Upon the hill with the sun

Its blades reaching high

The pine tree sits strong

Shorter among the birches

Green and yellow leaves

The bluebird flies high

Up in the sky with the clouds

It flies with the wind

The snail moves slowly

Sliding on the blade of grass

Its shell balancing

I walk in the field

Alone in a labyrinth

Of long and tall grass

What’s Love?

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I was in my writing group. And, we fell to defining love.

As long as we’ve had language, we’ve been trying to put “love” into words–and often failing. But, we know instinctively when we get it right. My fellow writers turned to the sages and dramatists and poets of time for definitions of “love.” I turned to my own sages–the Blog Staff. 

The following is junior Levi Kassinove’s reply.

— Blog Advisor Zachik

When the stars darken,
Few remaining question,
If what they see is what it is,
And if what it is is really what it’s supposed to be.
When all is assimilated,
Ideas are never braved,
Except by love. 
It is the anchor to the ship,
To keep the ship from floating away,
To madness and wrongness. 
It is the connection to all that’s compassionate
But a connection at most
For nothing is the same
But everything is okay

Levi Kassinove

Learning to Live with a Cat

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Cats and dogs–not always the same, in fact, rarely the same. Alyna learns about cat life when Bao moves in.

By Alyna Rei

Throughout my 16 years of  life, I have had four dogs, one bunny, and a variety of fish. I always thought I was a dog person rather than a cat person. I thought dogs were way cuter and friendlier. From age 10-14, I had two golden retrievers named Lucy and Ethal. Unfortunately, my family and I were too busy to take care of the dogs, so we gave them to a cousin of mine. Through the years, as I became more responsible, I asked to bring Lucy and Ethal back. Unfortunately, we couldn’t bring them back because they were already comfortable with my cousins, so my family left the topic of pets alone. Just this past November, however, my family decided to look for a pet again. We wanted a pet that wasn’t too challenging to take care of. We decided to adopt Bao, a cat.

This is Bao–Alyna’s first ever cat.

November 25, 2022

It was my dad’s birthday when we got Bao. We were so excited to take her home that we already had the things that we needed–such as her collar, bed, food, litter box, etc.. We met Bao back in October. It was after school, and my dad found someone on Craigslist who was selling kittens. Bao actually had a black-and-white sister. We were planning on taking both since getting two pets is smarter than one so that the two can bond and keep each other busy. In the end, though, we just decided on Bao since she liked me when we met (and she was cuter). We couldn’t adopt Bao right away. Bao had to stay with her mother until she was at least two months old.

Why the name Bao

My parents and I discussed a lot of cat names. There were three original prospective names: Chai, Rue, and Sipon (See-Pawn). My mom wanted to name Bao Sipon, but I was skeptical since Sipon translates to “snot” in Tagalog (my mom thought it was funny). But, then, I came up with the name Bao. The name makes me think of a dumpling or a pouch, and that was what Bao resembled when I first met her. She was small like a pouch.

Life with Bao

At first, it was easy to take care of Bao while she was still getting used to us. Now, she is six months old, and, it turns out, she can be a chore. There are times when Bao is really calm and sleeps most of the day and night. But, then, she turns really hyper, and I mean really hyper. She runs around the house as if someone is chasing her. It may seem like it’s not a big deal, but, when she runs around the house, she can bump into things. She can knock down anything: pillows, water bottles, toilet paper rolls, or anything dangling.

However, in truth, it is actually a lot easier to take care of a cat than a dog. You don’t have to walk a cat; they clean themselves; and they are litter-box trained (at least Bao was when we got her). 

Fun facts about Bao

  • Bao is a polydactyl cat. She has six toes in the front and five in the back. Apparently polydactyl cats are lucky and rare (halifaxvethospital.com).
  • She enjoys sunlight a lot and likes to nap near the sun in her cat tree. She sunbathes at least an hour a day.
  • Speaking of sun, she likes to watch the day out a window or an open door.
  • The name Bao means something precious/rare. Which is perfect, since her paws are rare.
This is Bao in Vegas. She likes to look out any window.

Helpful and Handy Pet Hacks

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When’s a good time to walk your dog? How can you tell when your dog is under the weather? How do you slip out of the house when your dog has separation anxiety? Ask Louisa.

By Professional Dog Walker Louisa Richardson

I have been walking and sitting for dogs since I was eleven years old.  Throughout the years I have picked up knowledge from the puppies and dogs I have walked, as well as the (usually) kind owners. Some things I learned along the way myself. 

My business is open in the late summer and winter so I can avoid the intense heat of summer and the many vacations of my clients. The summer is the absolute worst time of the year here for walking.  However, you can prevent your pets from feeling the same way!  One of the easiest things to do in order to keep your pup cool and comfortable is to place their bed on an elevated surface. This would mean placing your puppy’s bed on a small table or a footstool. The elevation helps air circulate around your sleeping dog. During the day, it is great to have a wet towel for them to relax on. Just lay it out on the floor. Don’t forget that you should not walk your dog when it is above 77 degrees (which can be 125 degrees Fahrenheit on the pavement) (figopetinsurance.com). This heat alone can burn someone’s skin right off; you can only imagine how the pups feel! Fun fact, dogs do not sweat; they pant to keep cool, so if it seems that your pet is hyperventilating, try one of these handy hot-weather hacks! 

Just like us, dogs get sick, and the last thing you want when you get sick are people talking in your space. One of the most obvious ways to help this problem is to simply put your pet in a quiet room. In my experience, a good way to keep your pup from getting sick in the first place is to keep their head out of water. This situation can occur when dogs go swimming, are getting bathed, or getting hosed off. If your dog likes swimming or getting wet, this may prove difficult but do the best you can to keep heads out of water. You’re probably wondering why you should do this in the first place; the answer is to prevent ear infections. Ear infections are very common with dogs, and those ear infections can get worse and make the dog sick if left untreated. How do you know if your dog is sick at all? Well, their nose is a very big tell in this game; if the nose is dry, then your pup is likely under the weather.  

Does your dog get anxious when you leave? Every dog is different, but you might try leaving something that smells like you with your puppy–maybe a bathrobe, a scarf, not your shoes (if you like your shoes). You can try freezing a washcloth, then it becomes a nice cooling chew toy that will keep your dog busy while you slip away.

So try these helpful tips to give your dog as much comfort as they bring you!

Louisa not only cares lovingly and professionally for our animal friends, she writes about them poetically.

A forever friend

With you to the very end

They’ll curl up and sit right next to you

They even love your friends too

All they need is love, food, and sleep

After that they rarely make a peep

They will always be there when you’re sad

I’ve never even seen a pet get mad

But, be warned of your giant frown

When you have to put them down.

Louisa Richardson