the bird on fire

Something I Learned Over Quarantine: Medical Suturing Edition

September 10, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

By Sara Habibipour

You’ve probably heard of someone getting stitches before. In fact, you may have even had an experience in which you needed to go to the emergency room for this procedure. Well, this quarantine, I taught myself how to suture, and I’d love to teach you as well! It’s actually quite simple, and anyone can do it. Literally…anyone can do it. You can buy a kit on Amazon!

The kit only costs $25 dollars for all of this practice material! It includes a suture pad with various shapes of wounds, reusable suture threads and needles, and all of the tools you could possibly need. But, I only really use the needle forceps and the tweezers, which I’ll show in a bit.

There are several suturing techniques, and oftentimes the technique you use varies on the type of cut. But, today, I’ll be teaching the two-hand surgical tie and the instrument tie. It’s quite difficult to explain through words, so here’s a video with voiceover instead!

I hope you learned something new from me, future doctor Sara! Even if you don’t plan on performing suturing techniques, if you ever need to get stitches, you’ll know exactly what is going on (which is actually calming for a lot of people)! Note that I’m self-taught and not a trained medical professional, so I’m not very good, but, hey, it’s still fun! If you are interested in practicing, the link to the Amazon product is here.

Suture away!

Learned-Something-New Editor: Hannah Hall

In Quarantine, I Learned I’m an Introvert

September 10, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org 7 Comments

By Evan Spry

Evan’s dog Cleo in foreground: Evan’s to-do checklist in background

As we all know, the consequences of COVID-19 have been life-changing and new to all of us. The lucky few were able to exploit this mandatory quarantine and find new hobbies and passions, or even work on their physical strength by manufacturing their own personal gym in the corner of a room. I, however, did none of these, but I did learn something about myself. As all my peers grumbled about not being able to go out on the town and have fun with groups of people, I thought to myself, “Eh… This really isn’t that bad. I’m pretty happy where I am.” As I thought this over and over again, I began to realize that there may be something more to it. I’ve always known the difference between an introvert and an extrovert, but I could never quite figure out which one I was. I really enjoy being with friends and people I love and feel very comfortable in those situations. However, not much could beat lying in a cozy bed with my two dogs and the TV on. As I spent more time in my room during quarantine, I found out that this is where I’m most comfortable and where I recharge to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, due to my introversion, I started spending a lot of time thinking about myself. Now for me, this is one of the hardest things to think about for an extended period of time, and I’m sure many would agree. Luckily, some good came out of this. I started noticing my surroundings more and kind of woke up to the fact that I was extremely fortunate to be where I was, physically. I had good air conditioning; I had my own room and bathroom, and my own TV. What more could a man need!? I was also extremely fortunate that my parents’ business didn’t go under due to this pandemic. We were able to re-open our rental properties a few hard months into quarantine so we could get back into having a stable financial situation. This appreciation of the things I had was also sparked by the homeless persons that roam near my house. I knew many of these people, from volunteer work, and they were all good people that didn’t deserve to be stranded out in the heat with nowhere to go in the middle of a global pandemic. Fortunately, after a little while, these homeless individuals were provided hotel accommodations that were not being used. But the thought was still ingrained in my mind. I was extremely lucky. With this positive energy, I was able to work on myself emotionally. I learned that an unstructured environment gave me anxiety, so I started making daily schedules for myself with checkboxes. Some of these checkboxes included drinking eight cups of water a day and eating at least two solid meals. These increased my energy and, therefore, happiness. I also had a checkbox that I would check up on my parents daily to see if they needed any help around the house or with their business. This probably had the best positive outcome because they were much more happy and friendly with me and now mainly left me alone because they knew I would happily volunteer if they needed it. So, in the end, I have my introversion to thank for making me think overly about myself and not about missing social interaction. Without it, I would not be nearly as grateful or happy. Overall, this quarantine is a struggle, a big one, and everyone should be proud of themselves for not going crazy. I think many of us are too caught up in day-to-day life to sit down and give ourselves a pat on the back, but it is really important. And I applaud you all.

Learned-Something-New Editor: Hannah Hall

Back in Business

September 3, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org 6 Comments

Dry, barren, and blank. The whole summer has gone by without a single article from The Bird on Fire. But, the good news is we’re back! Question is: Are you? I would hope you say, yes. This year our writers include returning staff me, Hannah Hall, and Quintus Ni, along with the new additions Jake Sonderman, Sara Habibipour, Elizabeth Shay, Erik Bearman, and Evan Spry. Since we are currently in Distance Learning, the Blog will be rolling out with alternating themes every two weeks. Coming back from this summer vacation, I thought that the first theme should be something quarantine related. Quarantine gave us so much time to self reflect, and with this reflection came new-found passions…or at least simple fascinations. So, officially, our first theme of the year is “Hobbies/Talents/Things Learned During Quarantine.” With that being said, keep your eyes peeled for new content; it’s coming VERY SOON! And, don’t be afraid to leave fun comments or opinions in the comment section; we love to hear what you have to say.

Catch ya on the flip side,

Hannah Hall

Editor Hobbies/Talents/Things Learned During Quarantine

P.S. New content arrives in your inbox IF you are a subscriber to thebirdonfire.org. You can subscribe on thebirdonfire.org’s home page. And, you are always welcome to visit the blog site.

Luke’s Letter of Resignation

May 28, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

By Luke Langlois

Over the years, thebirdonfire.org has brought plenty of enrichment to my mind. First as a reader, then as a frequent commenter, and now as an author. Although it may seem like an elective that pales in comparison to something as grandeur as drama, blog class perhaps offers you the best opportunity to individually improve. It facilitates creativity, writing, collaboration, critical thinking, attention to detail, and, most of all, individual accountability given our small staff. At the same time, however, blog class is relaxed and almost never serves as a source of stress (unless you fall behind;, don’t fall behind). Plus, having published posts provide college admissions officers another look into the voice of a student, and getting into college is almost never a bad thing. Did I mention the glory? So much glory. Simply put, blog may not seem like an appealing class at first, but it has something substantial to offer to everyone.

As a graduating senior, it will become a bit more difficult to be a staff writer for thebirdonfire.org. Yes, it would be possible for me to send a post as an alumnus, but some things just need to have a strong ending. As such, I am officially resigning from my position as a staff writer, and there will be no reboot. Nonetheless, every single time I put fingers to a keyboard (or, the outdated method, pen to paper), the flare I gained from the blog will shine in my writing. I thank anyone and everyone who ever read my posts, even the internet bots floating around that stumble upon our blog. Now, I must prepare for the long journey (two hours down the freeway) to the slightly larger playing field at USC. Luckily, my absence from the blog will hardly be a factor due to the fully capable people reading this post right now: the students. You guys have incredible writing talents that are just waiting to be uncovered and, well, blog class is waiting. Keep up the legendary name of thebirdonfire.org and create your own little twisted digital masterpieces. Anyways, it’s been real. So long, farewell, and thanks for all of the Oxford commas.

The Last Editor: Katelin Slosky

Quintus says “Good Bye”～

May 28, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

The school year, this strange year, is at an end. Quintus is off in quarantine in Shanghai. Before he left for home, he wrote this “goodbye.”

By Quintus Ni

Let the wind blow; let the rain fall; let years change; quietly stay in the fleeting time; fearless to the world’s vicissitude. To the end of mountains and seas, the most unforgettable one, in dreams, there you are, keeping your faith.

In a delicate world, with your promise to me, you held up the sky above your head, muttering to yourself with a few thoughts, constantly seeping, the sea of hearts from outside of the world.

Now I am, looking at the sky blue, with drops of tears, waiting for the wind, yet fascinated by the wind, facing the shadow, but feeling dizzy because of the shadow. I’m sad but the sadness won’t decrease. I’m missing someone, but that person hasn’t come back. Looking back again, the road is far. Holding on to the broken dream, I still won’t let it go.

A hot heart, with hot feeling, through the dreams of youth. Standing in this secular world, even if the mountains are high, I must see it all. I am not afraid of thick snow, long autumn rains, waiting for the warm spring, spreading the sun in summer, until once again into the covered, left edge of the dream.

Hold a pot of tea, standing under the eaves. Look away at the falling leaves. Quietly watch the change of clouds. Carefully listen to the breeze, ringing through the screen window. Life’s hardship and honor become nothing important.

However, in the dreams who would know time has a limit? Flying flowers scatter like smoke. In the hot air above the tea, even memories are like wisps of smoke. They emerge then disappear, gradually fade out, down the long road.

When the scent that flows into the bone marrow is swallowed, from time to time there come waves of bitterness, like those deep and shallow memories, suddenly bright then suddenly dark. When I’m not paying attention and shaking the body of the cup, the tea leaves rise and dance, float and sink, trying to find their position. Perhaps it’s because they are not resigned to the calmness. I repeatedly stir the bottom of the cup. Isn’t life like this, go back and forth, until the water is clear, which can be known by one glance. But the life always twists and turns, when the world washes away the dust, purifies, creates a completely sober self, not because we lose too much, but try to find a best balance point that belongs to oneself in this lifetime.

We are often walk in this world, afraid to be stung by this world. I suddenly no longer ask the truths.

The fragrance of flowers is slightly light after the rain. Facing hesitation, counting the torments, beside helplessness, listening to the heart, in the end one discovers, the life of a person is nothing more than being ordinary. Looking at the tea turning over and over, around for a few circles, and back to the original point of purity. The truth is, after growing up, looking back, it has long been destined that people’s lives are like a process of running around a circle.

The Last Editor: Katelin Slosky

Good Morning, Doreen

May 28, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

Graphics by Doreen Yuan

Awakening Editors: Quintus Ni & Katelin Slosky

Wake Up

May 28, 2020 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

The differences of waking up during quarantine vs. before quarantine:

By: Chelsea

Under quarantine–

You don’t have to worry about getting up to go to school anymore;, you can sleep in until the class starts.
You feel too lazy to get up, so you decide to stay in bed until classes start online.
You don’t have to eat your breakfast anymore because you don’t waste energy running around the school campus anymore.
You can be half awake when the chat starts.
Your lack of energy to do things will make you bed-ridden all day.

Before quarantine–

You have to get up after your alarm wakes you, or else you’ll be late for school.
If you are too lazy to get up….well, you don’t have much of a choice but to get up to go to school or else you’ll miss a whole day of class.
You really need to have breakfast before school or else you won’t have much energy for the entire morning.
You can be half awake during classes in school, unless there’s a test due at the end of the class.
Even if you are lacking energy, you still have to drag yourself to the end of the day.

I think we can all relate to this to some degree.

Awakening Editors: Quintus Ni & Katelin Slosky