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Short Halloween Horror Story Competition

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By Harlow Berny

BOO! Halloween is only two weeks away, and in order to help people get in the spirit of things, thebirdonfire.org staff decided to hold a competition with a prize that any kid would dream of when out trick-or-treating: 12 ounces of chocolate! That’s right, the 1st-place winner will receive nearly a pound of milk chocolate in the form of a giant Hershey’s Kiss!* The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-place stories will also be published on thebirdonfire.org for everyone to see, as well as potential runner-ups.

In order to qualify for this competition, you must follow these rules and guidelines:

  1. You must be a student in Palm Valley Upper School, as we only have permission to give the absurd amount of chocolate to a student in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade. You many still submit a story and qualify as a runner-up if you’re in Middle School, but you will not be able to win the Hershey’s Kiss.
  2. Your real first and last name MUST be attached to the story you’re submitting so that we know who to give the prize to. If you wish to be anonymous or go by a pseudonym if you win, you must attach a note when submitting your story stating such (and you must provide your own pseudonym if you wish to go by one).
  3. While you may submit multiple stories, only one may be chosen as a winner/runner-up.
  4. All stories should have proper grammar and spelling. Errors will affect how you are judged.
  5. The story must not contain “adult” content or profanity.
  6. The main focus of the story must not be graphic violence or gore.
  7. All stories must be submitted to apatencio@pvs.org by Wednesday the 31st-Halloween! as the winners and runner-ups will be posted to thebirdonfire.org on Friday the 3rd–ScareFest!

Happy Hauntings!

 

*Note: This competition is not sponsored or endorsed by the Hershey’s company in any way, shape, or form. This competition is independently run by thebirdonfire.org blog staff.

 

Editor: Bella Bier

The Chinese Fashion of the Qing Dynasty ala Opera

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By Blogger Fashion Expert Jeremy Cheng

 

Chinese Fashion Element of Qing Dynasty

 

The story of Yanxi Palace is a Chinese soap opera which talks about the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjVLUYrT4YU&t=22s

 

Before starting this article, I highly recommend you click the link above, and listen to the music from this opera.

This opera is good at using filters and colors to create noble, grandiose, and peaceful vibes for the audiences.

Film directors and producers read and searched a lot of books about the furniture of the Qing dynasty.

They used Chinese traditional classic color and Chinese elements for composition of the following pictures.

With the costumes, they tried to create a costume most accurate to the time period.

They also looked for the people who worked in the Imperial Palace to make the authentic-looking costumes.

The producers referenced different historical data and ancient paintings.

JinYan Wu is a leading female role in the Story of Yanxi Palace.

She plays Ling Consort.

 

Some people think her appearance is not good for this character.

While watching the ancient painting of this character, we can tell there are some similarities such as her eyebrows, earrings, and lips.

 

The fan that the Mother of the Emperor holds is copied from the Qing Shamian Tiejuan Xianhe Taoshu Tutuan Fan.

The fan is made by using traditional Chinese needlepoint.

The hairstyle was called Erba Tou.

This hairstyle was not popular under Emperor Qianlong’s control, but during Emperor Xianfeng.

Qing dynasty females liked to make their hair bigger so as to insert more hair decorations. In their opinion, it shows they are high in status.

China has 56 nations. Most of the people in China are in the Han nation.

Qing dynasty is under the Rule of Manchu. Females need to wear three earrings in each ear.

One ear with three earrings is a symbol of Manchu (One of the nations in China) females.

The materials of the earring are based on the person’s status in society.

The Empress uses gold, and consorts use silver and emeralds.

Usually, the Empress is allowed to use the most valuable jewelry, others are not.

 

The Story of Yanxi Palace uses a lot of intangible cultural heritage, such as embroidery, silk, velvet flowers, etc.

Velvet flower is pronounced the same as “荣华” (Rong Hua) in Chinese with“绒花” (Rong Hua) meaning auspicious and rich. Chinese is the only country to make money as their belief.

The procedure of making velvet flowers is a special and complex work. Nowadays, we don’t have any machine to produce it. They can only be handcrafted.

 

According to Wikipedia, Kunqu, also known as Kunju, Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera.

Six hundred years ago, Kunqu started in the south of China. It was the “ancestor of all kinds of operas” that inspired the whole world. The music was popular among scholars and the literati in the South of China. Kunqu was famous for gorgeous singing, elegant reading, and graceful dancing.

Tea culture is one of the most significant elements of Chinese culture.

In this opera, over ten different famous Chinese tea appear.

The tea can present the status and personality of people.

 

Chinese culture is broad and profound, and words cannot be explained clearly.

Experiencing is the best way to learn about it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0vNVjFBTHU&list=PL0oIhHqnHf4mzfNQEIaR4r6o8oVwH9Glo&index=31

(Experience some music right here. All music that comes from the opera)

Editor: Makena Behnke

The Nail–A Fairy Tale Re-Telling

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Retold by Harlow Berny

Centuries ago, in a long forgotten kingdom, a merchant had finished his business at a local fair. He had sold all his trinkets and toys, leaving his money sacks filled with gold and silver. He packed his trunk with money and mounted it onto his horse before he traveled homewards, hoping to be back home before nightfall.

At mid-day he stopped in a town, leaving his horse in a stable while he rested and ate. When he went to collect his horse to continue on his way, the stableboy told him that one of the nails on its rear shoe was loose. “Let it stay loose,” the merchant said; “it only needs to stay for another six miles. I’m in a hurry to be home.” In the afternoon when he stopped to eat again, another stableboy told him that his horse was missing a shoe on its rear foot. When asked if his horse should be taken to a blacksmith for a new one, the merchant said, “Let it be missing. The horse can hold out for the last few miles until I’m home.”

He rode along the path again, but soon after departure his horse began to limp, and soon it was stumbling. The horse eventually threw the merchant off its back before falling down and breaking its leg. The man unbuckled the trunk from the horse’s saddle and hiked back home, leaving the steed behind. He got home after midnight, and found that much of his gold had fallen out of a crack in the chest that formed when his horse fell. “Damn that loose nail!” he shouted, furious at his loss.

Let this be a lesson; the bigger the rush, the worse the results.

 

Editor: Holden Hartle

A Re-Telling of Grimm’s

Holden Hartle’s NBA Power Rankings

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By Holden Hartle, Blog Sports Correspondent

The NBA is starting again, and most major news sources, such as ESPN and Bleacher Report, have released their power rankings (or their opinions on how teams are ranked). I feel that most rankings are just trying to get a response out of people for publicity, so I have gone in and made my own.

*Disclaimer: these are my opinions. I am always prepared to argue, but don’t attack me.

 

Western Conference

  1. Golden State Warriors
    • They were already the best team in the league, and then they added Demarcus Cousins, arguably the best center in the league before his ACL injury.
  1. Houston Rockets
    • The duo of Chris Paul and James Harden proved that they could work together, as they took the best win-loss record in the league last year.
  1. Los Angeles Lakers
    • Any team can be a top 3 team with LeBron James on it, especially when they have such a good, young core, or key players on the team, to fill out the roster.
  1. Utah Jazz
    • Last year, the Jazz ended the year as the 5th seed in the west. With Rudy Gobert on the court, the Jazz were the best defensive team in the league. If the team can stay injury-free, they will for sure find success.  
  1. New Orleans Pelicans
    • Some may believe that the Pelicans are too high on this list, but they have MVP candidate Anthony Davis along with a young, promising Julius Randle. I think this team will surprise the league this year.
  1. Oklahoma City Thunder
    • Russell Westbrook will continue to be Russell Westbrook, and if Paul George can have a solid year, then one can be sure they will find some success in this stacked Western Conference.
  1. Portland Trail Blazers
    • The Trail Blazers are still looking for one more star player to be a genuine contender, but until they find that player, I predict that they will be fighting for a playoff spot.
  1. Denver Nuggets
    • They just barely missed the playoffs last year (by one game), and with Jimmy Butler potentially leaving the Timberwolves, this opens up a spot in the playoffs for the Nuggets.
  1. San Antonio Spurs
    • My concern with the Spurs is their lack of three-point shooting. Looking at their roster, no one stands out as a knockdown three-point shooter. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge will definitely be amazing in the mid-range game, but to compete in the NBA, you need shooters.
  1. Minnesota Timberwolves
    • With Jimmy Butler potentially off the team, the Timberwolves have no one to play defense. Without Jimmy Butler on the court last season, they dropped to dead last in defensive rating. Without him, they will miss the playoffs.
  1. Phoenix Suns
    • The Suns made some moves to beef up their roster over the summer, drafting Deandre Ayton and picking up some veterans in trades/free agency. I hope they continue to do this next summer and become a playoff team.
  1. Dallas Mavericks
    • The only real moves that the Mavericks made was signing Deandre Jordan and drafting Luka Dončić, and I don’t think this will benefit them as much as other people are thinking. I feel as if they need a few more young players and solid veterans to become a playoff team.
  1. Memphis Grizzlies
    • Although Mike Conley is back from injury, with an aging Marc Gasol I predict that this team will be in no man’s land until they rebuild.
  1. Los Angeles Clippers
    • I predict that this team will tank and try to get a high lottery pick to rebuild around. They also need to hope that Tobias Harris and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will turn out to be valuable pieces of their offense if they want to have a playoff spot.
  1. Sacramento Kings
    • They’re the Kings; they’re bound to be the last team in the west.

 

Eastern Conference

  1. Boston Celtics
    • If Gordon Hayward wasn’t injured last season, they could have been the first seed in the east. A potential rival to the Warriors, I’m sure they will dominate the east.
  1. Toronto Raptors
    • The Raptors’ success depends entirely on Kawhi Leonard and whether he will bounce back to the top 5 player he once was.
  1. Philadelphia 76ers
    • The 76ers’ young core has developed beautifully, and now with a healthy Markelle Fultz, they are bound to be a contender in the east.
  1. Milwaukee Bucks
    • Giannis Antetokounmpo has the potential to have an MVP season this year. His numbers have improved each season, and if this growth continues, he could very well average 30 points per game this season.
  1. Indiana Pacers
    • I really hope that Victor Oladipo can have the same success he did last year on the Pacers. If he can keep that momentum, the Pacers should end up as the same seed as they did last year.
  1. Washington Wizards
    • If John Wall can stay healthy and prove that he is worth the money he was paid, the Wizards will definitely be a playoff team. Hopefully, Dwight Howard will be the missing piece they need in their starting 5.
  1. Detroit Pistons
    • Blake Griffin joined their team midway through last season and the team had to go through some adjustments. I think that with these adjustments in place, they could fight for a playoff spot.
  1. Cleveland Cavaliers
    • Now LeBron-less, they have to hope that an aging Kevin Love will revert back to his 24-year-old self, and that Collin Sexton will be the rookie-of-the-year candidate that people think he will become. Don’t be surprised if the Cavaliers don’t make the playoffs this season.
  1. Charlotte Hornets
    • The Hornets deserve a playoff spot. More specifically, Kemba Walker deserves a playoff spot. He has been absolutely ballin’ for the past several years, and I hope that the addition of Miles Bridges and veteran Tony Parker will get them that playoff spot.
  1. Chicago Bulls
    • Though I am partial to the Bulls, I am hopeful that they can compete for a playoff spot as well. They are the second-youngest team in the NBA, so even if they don’t make the playoffs this year, they can get a lottery pick and draft for next season.
  1. Miami Heat
    • I’m going to be completely honest; I don’t know how the Heat were so successful last season. I think that because the east is slowly getting more competitive, and because of the Heat’s overall dysfunctionality, they will miss the playoffs and hope for a high lottery pick to pair with their young core.
  1. New York Knicks
    • The Knicks are currently in no man’s land. They have way too many point guards and no star to pair with Kristaps Porzingis. They either need to draft well in the upcoming drafts or trade some of their core for a star to pair with Porzingis.
  1. Brooklyn Nets
    • The Nets gave away all of their assets a few years ago in what might go down as the worst trade in NBA history, but Sean Marks is doing the best he can with nothing. They have traded well and signed a few good pieces in the offseason. Also, they have enough cap room to sign a max contract this coming off-season.
  1. Orlando Magic
    • Oh, the Magic. They should probably tank, or lose games in hopes for a high draft pick, and aim for a top 5 pick in the draft. They don’t have the cap to sign a star, nor a point guard to lead their team. It will take a miracle to get this team to the playoffs for the next several years.
  1. Atlanta Hawks
    • The Hawks have no intentions of being good this year. They will put all of their chips in with Trey Young and John Collins, who will run the offense. Hopefully, Trey Young can find his stride in the NBA and become a player that the Hawks can build around.

Editor: Leo Milmet

I didn’t cry.

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By Arty Fischel

I didn’t cry

when you ended us.

But,

of course,

it did hurt.

Of course I felt

the tell-tale feeling

of my stomach

sinking.

My heart had

become an angry bull

bucking wildly in my chest,

suddenly released from

its pen by the

impending doom

that your words had

delivered.

But there were no

tears,

no unstoppable sobbing.

It was as if

I was saving my tears.

Editor: Leo Milmet

Someone Better

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By Fae Dowae

I will let my eyes

adjust to

the colors as they

fade and

the world takes on a

muted tone.

Colors will be less vibrant

than before, and

everything will

wilt.

The beauty that

I once saw all

around me will

fade until it is

almost gone.

I will be okay with this

because I will know

that you have been happier since

you found

a more beautiful love with

Someone Better.

 

Editor: Holden Hartle

Why you Shouldn’t Live for the Weekend, Proven by Math. (NOT CLICKBAIT)

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By Luke Langlois

In honor of National Positive Attitude Month, I, Luke Langlois, am here to say that “living for the weekend” is a horrible way to live. I define living for the weekend as counting the days, every week, until you reach the short, two-day weekend. Why live like this? Why not appreciate every day given?

No one is ever skeptical of numbers; therefore, I will use numbers to prove my point. To start, let’s look at some facts. Using my big brain knowledge, I can tell you that there are 52 weeks in a year. If we multiply 52 by 2, we get 104. 104 is the number of weekend days we get a year. If we subtract 104 from 365 (days), we get 261. That would be 261 weekdays in a year. If you despise the weekdays and only live for the weekend, you fail to appreciate 261 days out of the year. Let’s go further. The average human lifespan is 79 years. An average 79 year old experiences 28,835 days (unless they happen to have fallen into a coma). That is a lot of days. More big brain knowledge tells me that 79 (years) multiplied by 261 (weekdays) is 20,619. Finally, let us subtract 20,619 from 28,835. That would be 8,216 weekend days in a 79 year old’s life .

So, in conclusion, live for all seven days of a week. It is to the entire planet’s benefit to learn to appreciate every day that you live. If you live to be 79 and only live for the weekend, you will only appreciate 8,216 days of your life, compared to the possible 28,835. That is a lot of days you could be missing out on! Please, appreciate your days, at least for National Positive Attitude Month.  

Editor: Makena Behnke

Review of the Anime Fate/Stay Night [Unlimited Blade Work]

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By James Zheng, Anime/Game Expert Reviewer for thebirdonfire.org

Hey guys, today I bring you another impressive anime. Before we get into the review, I need to tell you why this title is so long. Well, this anime, Fate/Stay Night, has a previous edition, which was actually terrible. And since this anime is a product of a series, not a single work, and the official announcement says that they will remake this anime, it becomes Fate/Stay Night[Unlimited Blade Work]. This action saved this anime indeed, as it has been improved a lot in many aspects.

Fate/Stay Night, which is also known as FSN, is actually edited from a visual novel game, so it is originally designed by Type-Moon, and it is published by three companies: Aniplex, Notes, and Ufotable. In fact, Ufotable finishes most of the work such as the scripting and producing of the episodes. FSN is also directed by Takahiro Miura.

FSN generated an artistic performance from the game that gives you a sense of fantasy. The strong special effects and 3D animation are perfectly presented in this anime. When all those elements are mixed together in a fighting scene, it displays an exciting moment with realistic feeling. Also, the soundtrack plays a significant role in FSN, as it always fits in at a key moment.

The story of FSN is full of supernatural elements. In other words, this anime is designed based on fantasy. The storyline begins with a war called the Holy Grail War, where there are seven participants who are selected by the Holy Grail (The Holy Grail narrative is developed after the legend of King Arthur). Their purpose is to eliminate each other in order to obtain the Holy Grail, which can fulfill any wishes the winning participant desires. Those seven participants are called Masters, and they have to summon their own fighter to fight for the Holy Grail. Those fighters are Servants, and each of them will have different abilities. Therefore, there will be fourteen participants in total. But the fifth Holy Grail War, which is about to be held, is not going to follow the normal routine.

So finally, to make sure that anime won’t be spoiled, my review is over here. To know more details and enjoy more appealing moments, start to watch FSN[Unlimited Blade Work] right now!

*I recommend you catch FSN[Unlimited Blade Work] on 9anime.to.

 

Note: FSN[Unlimited Blade Work] is recommended for those who are fifteen or older.

                     FSN[Unlimited Blade Work] has a prequel called Fate/Zero, but it doesn’t affect anything if you just wanna watch Unlimited Blade Work. You can also watch both if you want to.

Editor: AJ Patencio

music to my ears

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Need a song for a rainy day? a sunny day? any old day? To recover from the PSAT? Makena has just the song for you.

Compiled by Blogger of Eclectic Taste, Makena Behnke

 

i don’t like just one genre of music; i have a collection of different music tastes from different time periods. my music taste is basically whatever speaks to me. so, here are some songs that i enjoy and you might, too:

 

  • Homely Feeling by Hockey Dad
  • Pulling Mussels by Squeeze
  • Gravity by Architects
  • 5 Minutes Alone by Pantera
  • One Week by Barenaked Ladies
  • Words to Me by Sugar Ray
  • Kozmic Blues by Janis Joplin
  • I Won’t Share You by The Smiths
  • Rain On The Scarecrow by John Mellencamp
  • Calypso by Spiderbait
  • In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning by Frank Sinatra
  • God Only Knows by The Beach Boys
  • Love Test by The Growlers

Editor: Holden Hartle

The Different Waves of Basketball

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By Holden Hartle

Basketball, even outside of the NBA, goes through different waves of how people play the game. Normally spearheaded by a small group of players, a new style of play will burst onto the scene, and it will actually cause teams to modify their roster. That is long and convoluted, so let me give you some examples.

Through the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, the NBA was led by several different stars that all had their unique styles of play. Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell dominated the league in the 60’s, while the revolutionary scoring of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took the league by storm in the 70’s.

During the 80’s, the faces of the league were Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. But, during this era, the idea of grit and grind is introduced. This is the idea of playing tough defense, fouling hard, and showing the rest of the league that you are the toughest guy on that court.

The 90’s popularized the ideas of the pick and roll and isolation basketball, or ISO for short. The pick and roll was executed to perfection by John Stockton and his counterpart Karl Malone. The way Stockton and Malone pulled this off is something that NBA teams are still trying to perfect today. And, then, there’s the idea of ISO-ball, popularized by none other than Michael Jordan. His coach, Phil Jackson, created an offense in which Jordan would get the ball at the top of the three-point line, everyone would give him space to let him work, and Jordan would score easy buckets. It’s basically like a 1v1 between Jordan and the defender. ISO-ball, as well as the pick and roll, are both present in the league today, but the grit-and-grind mindset of the 80’s players are for the most part gone, with a few exceptions of course.

The reason that defense in the 80’s and 90’s was so prolific is because of hand checking. Before the 2000’s, you could place your hand on the offensive player’s hip to help dictate where they are going. In the 2000’s, the league ruled against it, which allowed people like Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, and Kobe Bryant to play the same kind of ISO-ball that Jordan did, except with much more ease, as their defender is basically helpless without hand checking.

For the 2010’s, the revolutionary style of basketball has to do with the three-pointer, popularized by the Splash Brothers, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry. Though the three pointer had been in the league since the 80’s, no superstar made the three pointer a sole part of their game. Yes, Larry Bird could shoot the ball, but he was also an amazing defender and playmaker. Though Ray Allen could shoot the ball, I wouldn’t necessarily call him a superstar. And, though superstar Kobe could shoot 3’s, he could basically shoot from anywhere, and his main attack was the mid-range shot. But, Steph Curry took the three pointer and made it his primary way of scoring the ball. While playing in college, many scouts saw him as a risky prospect. He was small; he was thin; his defense was subpar, and many didn’t think that he could be a playmaker. Nonetheless, he proved all of them wrong by winning back-to-back MVP’s and becoming a three-time NBA champion. But, as for the three pointer, it is normally seen as a weakness if you can’t shoot 3’s. Even centers, who have historically stayed in the paint are forced to come outside of the paint and their comfort zone to help their team stretch the floor.

For the 2020’s, who knows what the NBA could become? A rule change could drastically change the way the game is played, like with the hand-checking rule. In any case, I’m sure the NBA will stay relevant and exciting for decades to come.

Editor: Makena Behnke