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The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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Predictions to Start Off the Year on a High Note:

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The Return of the Dinosaurs and Self-Tying Shoes?!

When Sara asked the Blog staff what they predict will happen in 2021, Erik Bearman chose to talk about ideas in science-fiction media that may soon become reality. 

By Erik Bearman 

The story of the big bad Jurassic Park logosaurus - Graphéine
Bringing Back The Dinosaurs

A lot of us probably went through a dinosaur phase when we were younger. We dreamed about what it would be like to see them walk the Earth once again. Entire books and film franchises have explored this idea. But what if I told you that within the next decade you can have your own pet dinosaur?

Why we're creating a 'chickenosaurus' - CNN.com

Let’s be clear on one thing: I am NOT saying that you can have a pet triceratops. I am talking about owning a chicken that has been genetically altered to display dinosaur-like traits. Let me explain:

There are two kinds of dinosaurs: avian and non-avian. Non-avian dinosaurs are the ones that went extinct 66 million years ago. But the avian dinosaurs are still alive and are what you might call “birds.” As unassuming as your average chicken is, they are the closest living relative to the T-Rex. And, they still contain the genes that gave them their dinosaur-like traits millions of years ago. Paleontologists theorize that with modern gene-editing technology, we could reactivate those dormant genes and create a “Chickenosaurus.”  And, we’ve already had some moderate success: in 2015, researchers managed to reverse-engineer a chicken snout to make it resemble the snout of a non-avian dinosaur. Researcher Jack Horner even claimed, “From a quantitative point of view, we’re 50 percent there” (livescience.com).

Back to the Future Part II” Makes No Sense – Mother Jones
Nike Raffles 'Back to the Future' Self-Tying Shoes
Velcro Is Outdated!

Back to the Future II got a lot of things wrong about 2015. We may not have self-drying jackets, but we do have self-lacing shoes! Earlier this month, Nike launched the Air Jordans 11. These Jordans allow its wearers to “control the laces via Bluetooth using a Nike app that lets them customize the fit of the sneakers” (businessinsider.com). According to the Jordan Brand, these sneakers will be “the most personalized Jumpman shoes to date.”  Right now, these Air Jordans sell at $185 (sneakernews.com). But, I predict that self-lacing shoes will become cheaper as they become more commonplace. 

Re-watching 'Gattaca' now that we have CRISPR - Business Insider
“We are in the midst of a genetic revolution”–Unnatural Selection

Movies like Gattaca have depicted a dismal future that oppresses people and condemns them to a life of simple servitude due to their genetic structure. In Gattaca, genetically superior people–who were usually gifted because their parents had gone to a geneticist before their child’s birth–were always given prestigious opportunities in life including space travel. Meanwhile, genetically inferior people, called “in-valids” wouldn’t see the inside of a spaceship unless they were cleaning it. What makes such discrimination so concerning is that it isn’t based on ignorance or religion; it’s based off of actual science. This future isn’t too far off either.

From bioterror to bioerror: Who's afraid of biohacking? | Genetic Literacy Project

Unless you’re pursuing a career in genetics, you likely haven’t heard the name Josiah Zayner before. Josiah Zayner is the creator of The ODIN. The ODIN is a project dedicated to “Making Science and Genetic Engineering Accessible and Affordable” (www.the-odin.com). Using CRISPR technology, Zayner has created a tool so you can modify your own DNA at home with a complete set of instructions on how to do so! But, if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of modifying your own DNA, there are other alternatives you can do with the kits. A couple things you can do is modify bacteria to glow in the dark or make frogs grow bigger muscles. There are even online classes that you can do at your own pace. 

Now if you’re still concerned about one day being an “in-valid,” you don’t have to worry. Zayner’s goal is making these kits accessible to everybody–not just the upper class. So you’ll have the power to change yourself if you want to.

Sources

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-21/30-things-back-to-the-future-ii-got-right-or-wrong-about-october-21-2015

https://www.livescience.com/50801-chicken-with-dinosaur-snout-images.html

https://www.livescience.com/50886-scientific-progress-dino-chicken.html

Jurassic Park

Back To The Future II

Gattaca

www.the-odin.com

Unnatural Selection (Netflix documentary)

2021 Predictions Editor: Sara Habibipour

What to Expect in a Laboratory

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Elizabeth tasked the Blog Staff with writing about “Aesthetic.” Erik chose to write about a science aesthetic and what you might find in his future lab.

Workrite Uniform Company: Top 5 Lab Safety Tips - Workplace Material Handling & Safety

The Lab Uniform

Laboratory uniforms may vary depending on what research is being conducted and/or what substances are being handled. But the basics (pre-COVID) are safety goggles, medical gloves, and a white lab coat. All aspects of the uniform are made to protect the wearer as much as possible in case of lab accidents. The safety goggles prevent harmful substances from entering the eyes. Medical gloves help prevent researchers from being contaminated by bacteria (this is especially true for doctors dealing with infected patients). The lab coat itself is made of cotton so it can absorb substances before they reach the skin. 

How and Why to Balance Your Centrifuge | Vetlab Supplies Ltd

The Centrifuge

Centrifuges are used to separate particles from a solution of a sample. Separation varies depending on the sample’s shape, density, size, viscosity, and the centrifuge’s rotor speed. According to labmanager.com, while the sample(s) spin, “gravitational force will cause particles of higher density than the solvent to sink, and those less dense than the solvent to float to the top.”

COVID-19 helped this small syringe business boom. Then came the taxpayer-backed windfall.

The Syringes

One of the more simple tools of lab aesthetics are syringes. The concept of a syringe is very simple; it is a tool that can either withdraw or inject fluid into a body or sample. Syringes are fitted with a plunger that can either withdraw (with upward movement) or inject fluids (with downward movement). Syringes are often single-use because the needles often contain a little bit of the sample they were used on. If a blood sample is infected, and the blood comes in contact with the needle, anyone who sticks that needle in their arm can be infected with numerous blood diseases such as AIDs and HIV.

Borosilicate Griffin Beakers – Cambridge Environmental Products, Inc.

The Beakers

Beakers come in many shapes and sizes and are used to hold and measure various substances. Individually, glass beakers are fairly cheap; you can find them in stores such as Walmart and JCPenny for low prices.

Microscope - Wikipedia

The Microscope

As I’m sure you probably know, microscopes are used to enlarge images of small objects. Standard microscopes are used to analyse organic structures, but the strongest microscopes can be used at the cellular or even molecular level.

A culture plate (1887) | British Society for Immunology

The Petri Dish

Microbiologists are certainly familiar with the petri dish. Petri dishes are primarily used to grow and study cultures of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Being able to study these microorganisms allows scientists to better understand how they work and how these discoveries can help the world.

Lab Chemicals from Burrell Scientific

The Chemicals

The chemicals found in labs widely vary depending on the type of research being conducted. But, generally, chemicals are used to preserve samples and run tests.

Want to live for ever? Flush out your zombie cells | Ageing | The Guardian

The Test Subject(s)

Last but not least, every scientist’s favorite part of their career: experimenting on innocent creatures! Seriously though, when creating new medical drugs and therapy, scientists must test their work rigorously before their invention moves onto human trials. The best test subjects are ones that are in large abundance and able to reproduce quickly. The subjects must also be very similar to humans. Because of these qualities, mice often make the best test subjects. Mice share 97% of their DNA with humans, reach sexual maturity only two months after they’re born, and are capable of giving birth to as many as 80 offspring per year. Scientists are able to observe the long term effects of a treatment in a short amount of time, and thus make an accurate conclusion of what will happen to humans who take the treatment. 

So, to fit in with your future lab, don your lab coat and grab your beakers.

Sources Referenced:

*www.macbicnj.com › purpose-of-a-beaker 

*Google Images

*My mother who is a supervisor at Labcorp

*www.nationalgeograpic.org 

*Dictionary.com

Aesthetic Editor: Elizabeth Shay

Who is Sarah McBride?

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When asked to write about the future of American politics, Blogger Erik decided to write about Delaware state Senator-elect Sarah McBride. With so many other historical events defining 2020, Senator-elect McBride adds one more–making history as the first transgender senator. And, what better day to publish than today, Transgender Day of Remembrance 2020.

By Erik Bearman

On November 3rd, 2020, Sarah McBride, a renowned advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, defeated Steve Washington and is now set to become the U.S.A.’s first openly transgender senator. 

McBride’s victory is a defining moment in our country’s political history, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. McBride is only a few months away from becoming the nation’s highest ranking, openly transgender politician. As a senator, she will focus on legislation regarding trans-rights. This gives hope to the trans community because McBride will be looking out for their interests in the Senate and help pass LGBTQ+ protection bills. She will also try to block bills that may harm trans people or anyone else of the LGBTQ+ community.

But McBride is not only advocating for trans rights. The many things she is advocating for include accessible health care, criminal justice reform, renewable energy, and gun safety laws.

Andrew Cray, Sarah McBride’s late husband, tragically lost his life to cancer in 2014. This ordeal made expanding health care accessibility a priority for McBride. McBride has also stated that she wants “[to lower] insurance and prescription costs, and [fight] for comprehensive coverage for all of us” (sarahmcbride.com). 

McBride believes that correcting our criminal justice system will be beneficial for our communities. And, although much progress has been made in recent years, she does not want to stop just yet. McBride claims she’s “committed to . . . investing in training and employment for ex-offenders, and breaking down the school-to-prison pipeline” (sarahmcbride.com).

One of the biggest issues facing the country is the threat posed by climate change. Moving forward, McBride wants to create green jobs in green industries in order to boost the U.S. economy and communities as well as investing in renewable energy for the future.

McBride, like many of her voters, is a supporter of common sense gun safety laws. These types of laws will ban the sales of assault weapons and also require those wishing to purchase a gun to have a license before doing so. 

Overall, McBride’s election is a victory for the Democratic party moving forward and provides hope for members of the LGBTQ+ community everywhere.

Sources:

https://sarahmcbride.com/sarahs-values/

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/sarah-mcbride-become-first-transgender-state-senator-u-s-history-n1246211

Future of Politics Editor: Jake Sonderman

The Great Mothers

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Editor Hannah Hall tasked the Blog Staff to write about “da Earth.” Blogger Erik Bearman chose to write a poem about how he views Mother Nature and Mother Earth as similar but separate deities.

By Erik Bearman

Mother Nature and Mother Earth

In Their ethereal beauty, two women of mystery

Both agents of chaos, both brutal, ferocious, and savage

Two sides of the same coin

Mother Nature does not have sympathy for her children

Her one house rule: eat or be eaten

In her amber eyes, only the fittest should survive

Extinction after extinction, Mother Nature still survives

Extinction after extinction, Mother Nature still thrives

Mother Earth is a different kind of rage

As blood flows through my kin, magma flows through Her veins

Skin the color of stone, sand, and mud

And as follicles connect beneath the flesh

So do roots connect beneath the dirt

Plagued by creatures who wither, crawl, and consume

The Great Mothers are ravaged by the ultimate parasite

If we, the Parasite, do not change our ways

The Mothers may smite us with Their godly might

Wilderness Editor: Hannah Hall

Erik’s Bucket List

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When asked, “What’s on your bucket list?” Blogger Erik decided to take the literal list approach. From his future career, to family, to exploring the world, Erik has compiled a list of goals most important to him. Likely you will relate to some aspects, and some may surprise you.

By Erik Bearman

  • Become a successful geneticist and own my own company

It is my dream career to study and make advancements in genetics. I want to start a company so I can have a say in what research and projects are undertaken by my employees.

DNA as a double-helix structure is proposed, April 2, 1953 - EDN
  • Find love and start a family

The idea of meeting someone, falling in love, marrying, and spawning offspring is an idea that I’m sure many of you can relate to. Here’s a list of names I am currently considering naming my children: Azrael, Cody, Charlotte, Darwin, Erika, Hunter, Indominus, Jennifer, Julius, Karen, Leviathan, Rex, Savannah, Wolfgang, Xanthe, Zane.

This baby is not feeling it during her newborn photo session | GMA
  • Get in touch with my indigenous heritage and culture

I’ve always felt detached from my Native American ancestors, and I want to embrace my culture. When I have the opportunity, I want to visit indigenous cultural centers and learn more about the beliefs, history, and practices of tribes I am descended from.

Genealogy Website Ancestry.com Explores Sale - Vox
  • Go cage diving with sharks (preferably with Great Whites)

Everyone I know seems to be afraid of sharks, and I think it would be cool to prove them wrong by being close to the sharks. Sharks are also pretty cool animals, and I’d love to see them somewhere other than a NatGeo documentary.

Hookah Shark Cage Diving | White Shark Diving Company
  • Tour the Australian Outback and the African savanna

I love the wildlife of both of these ecosystems, and I want to see them in person rather than on the television.

Go Wild: Plan an African Safari with Toni McConnaughey
Australia, The Outback | Travel guide, tips and inspiration | Wanderlust
  • Dive into the Mariana Trench

With technology becoming more advanced everyday, and since humans have explored the Trench already, I can see diving into the Mariana Trench becoming a tourism option one day.

  • Learn to speak fluent Japanese

I am a big fan of old monster movies like Godzilla (1954), and I would like to watch them without requiring English subtitles to understand the dialogue. I plan to travel to Tokyo, and I want to be able to speak to the locals without requiring a translator.

Amazon.com: Godzilla (Gojira) (1954) Japanese Movie Poster 24x36 - Certified Print with Holographic Sequential Numbering for Authenticity: Posters & Prints

That’s me and my goals; what’s on your bucket list?

Bucket List Editor: Sara Habibipour

Taboo Foods

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Elizabeth asked the Blog Staffers to talk about food and drink. Erik went in an unexpected direction–exploring foods perceived as “taboo.” He broke down his research into three categories: eating habits as dictated by religious, philosophical, and societal standards.

By Erik Bearman

Religious Taboo: “It’s not kosher.”

 seder-meal

“If you’ve ever asked your Jewish friend if they want to try something delicious, such as bacon, they may have responded with, “I can’t. It’s not kosher.” I’m sure most of you know that practicing Jews can’t eat non-kosher foods. But how many of you know what “kosher” actually means? 

Kosher, or kashrut (the Hebrew word for “proper”), is a series of dietary laws that serve as a guideline for the daily lives of many observant Jews. Note I said “observant Jews.” Many reformed Jews–including myself–do not observe Kosher laws except on Jewish holidays such as Passover. 

In order to be considered Kosher, meat must come from mammals that both chew their cud (“a piece of partly digested food that is regurgitated back into the mouth for further chewing”) and possess split hooves (Dictionary.com). If a mammal only falls under one category or doesn’t fall under either, it is not considered kosher. This is why pigs aren’t considered kosher: they possess split hooves but don’t chew their cud. Dairy products, such as milk, must originate from a kosher animal such as a goat or cow. Dairy products must also not touch any meat products on the plate.

Fish products must also adhere to certain requirements to be considered kosher. A fish is considered kosher if it has both scales and fins. Because of this, shellfish and sharks are not considered kosher.

Philosophical Taboo: “Tofu Never Screams”

Veganism and Vegetarianism are practices of refusing to consume animal products such as meat and dairy. The primary reasons people choose to be vegan or vegetarian are either personal preference or health.

“I avoid meat as much as I can. Meat has become the biggest drug in human history. It is horrible!! Bad for the environment, and it doesn’t even taste good. Plant replacements are better for you, and taste better!” said Palm Valley student Andrew Hall. Many vegans and vegetarians consume plant alternatives such as tofu. Marianne Captez says she’s vegetarian because “[it’s] a personal preference based on health. . . . I have a weaker digestive system and meat is very hard for my body to digest, so it will make me very sick.” Many vegetarians choose to eat non-meat products for health reasons; others abstain from eating meat because they believe slaughtering animals is cruel.

Societal Taboo: “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”–Hannibal Lecter

Now it’s time to talk about the ultimate taboo: cannibalism. Despite Hannibal Lecter’s predisposition, the act of cannibalism is universally considered taboo. Over the past century, the crimes of vicious serial killers such as Jefferey Dalmer and Ted Bundy have repelled and repulsed many. However, it may surprise you to know that not everyone agrees that cannibalism is taboo. In fact, there are entire cultures that incorporate cannibalism into their lifestyle, the two most well-known are the Foré and the Aghori.

The Foré people of Papua New Guinea have a ritual where they eat the flesh, particularly the brain and body, of their loved ones after said loved ones die (Science Insider). However, the Foré people had to cease consuming brains after a significant amount of their people contracted deadly Kuru: a rare neurological disorder caused by ingesting prions from infected brains (medlineplus.gov).

The Aghori, a very small sect of Hinduism, are known to engage in acts such as drinking their own urine, covering themselves in cremated ashes, and eating rotting corpses (CNN). A commonly observed aspect of Hinduism is maintaining spiritual purity. The Aghori culture challenges this idea by arguing that God lives inside all of us and, as a result, nothing we do can taint our spiritual purity.

Now, let’s ignore the social taboo for a moment and discuss why eating human meat is a bad idea. Human meat is actually a very low source of calories. If the meat is not cooked properly, you risk infecting yourself with any diseases that person had, including HIV and hepatitis. This is exactly what happened to the Foré.

Morality or squeamishness aside, the act of cannibalism itself is not illegal in the U.K. or the U.S. (apart from Idaho) (Science Insider, apnews.com). What is illegal is how the meat is acquired. Since people aren’t exactly lining up to donate their organs to Hannibal Lecter, many cannibals are forced to acquire human meat via malicious methods, like murder or grave robbing.

Fun(?) fact: According to interviews with actual cannibals, humans taste nearly the same as pork (Science Insider). 


Who are the Aghori? - CNN Video

Sources:

The Secret Weapon?

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Editor Evan assigned the Blog Staff the subject of “Funny Stories in History.” Erik went searching, . . . and found a surprising twist to the military supply line during the Korean War.

By Erik Bearman

From 1950 to 1953, the Korean War raged across…well, Korea. In November of 1950, the First Division, led by American General Edward Almond, was pinned down near the Chosin River. Trapped in Korea’s unforgiving landscapes with temperatures reaching below -38℃, the Corps desperately needed additional fire-power. So, the men sent an encoded request for mortar rounds with the code phrase being “Tootsie Rolls.”

However…

The radio operator was a bit of a dingus. He did not have the code sheet that would tell him that “Tootsie Rolls” meant mortar rounds. As a result, instead of acquiring much-needed ammunition, the First Division received actual, chocolate, Tootsie Rolls.  

I know what you must be thinking, “Wow, these guys are screwed!” But, in fact, the Marines were saved! Besides also being a delicious snack, Tootsie Rolls can be used for plugging bullet wounds. And, after being warmed inside their mouths, the Tootsie Rolls could be made into a putty capable of sealing cracks in fuel pipes. Although the package was rather unusual, these Tootsie Rolls provided the soldiers with much needed food and makeshift medical supplies and allowed the First Division to escape the river and continue fighting in the war. After the Korean War ended, the surviving members of the First Division started calling themselves the “Chosin Few.”

Tootsie Rolls | HeadStuff.org

Sources:

https://usmc-mccs.org/articles/how-tootsie-rolls-accidentally-saved-marines-during-war/

headstuff.org

The Veterans Site Blog – GreaterGood

Funny Stories in History Editor: Evan Spry

Conspiracy Theories: Mothman

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In looking for captivating conspiracy theories, Erik went to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and discovered Mothman.

By Erik Bearman

One of the biggest draws of conspiracy theories is that they attempt to explain sudden, large events. When disasters happen with no apparent warning, it is natural to be scared as well as wonder whether in fact there is a larger scheme at work. We tend to be less concerned about large events when we receive a hard-to-miss warning. But, what happens when the warning itself is the center of a conspiracy theory? Meet the Mothman.

Thousands Gather For Mothman Festival In Point Pleasant | West Virginia Public Broadcasting
wvpublic.org

 The legend truly begins on November 15th, 1966, on the outskirts of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, at the Ordnance Works Munitions Plant (commonly called the “TNT area”). Two young couples, Steve and Mary Mallette and Roger and Linda Scarberry were driving near the TNT area when they spotted what they described as a winged man in the middle of the road. Steve Mallette claimed the creature was six to seven feet tall, with red eyes, and a ten-foot wingspan. The winged man, seeming to shy away from the car’s headlights, quickly disappeared. Naturally, the couples were scared and sped away from the scene. But, around Route 62, shortly after the first sighting, the man reappeared. This time he followed the car in flight. Even after the car reached speed in excess of 100 miles per hour, the couples could not escape the man. Finally, after the creature had flown away, the couples drove straight to the sheriff’s office and filed a report. It was 2:00 A.M.  Officials set out to investigate, and although no trace of the man was found, scratches were discovered on the roof of the car.

Since then, more and more people have claimed to have sighted the “Mothman.” A total of eight sightings were reported within the following three days of the November 15th, 1966, incident. And, over 100 eyewitnesses reported Mothman sightings in the course of that year. 

Many believe the origin of the Mothman is tied to the TNT area where it was spotted by the Mallettes and the Scarberrys. This area has come under speculation for several reasons. The first being its original purpose. The TNT area was a top-secret munitions factory during WWII. Little was known about the facilities (even by those who worked there). The factory closed and was abandoned on August 6th, 1945. In case that date doesn’t seem familiar to you, it is the same day the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Since its abandonment, most of the buildings have become home to nesting pigeons. The only building that hasn’t become home to pigeons is an old boiler room that is devoid of all life and is suspected by many as the most likely home of Mothman. Many townsfolk, camera crews, and graffiti artists have explored the entire TNT area but have yet to discover proof of Mothman’s existence. 

Another explanation for Mothman’s existence is a case of mistaken identity. Biologists have stated that the description presented in many Mothman sightings also matches the descriptions of the Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis). The most incriminating evidence being that Sandhill cranes have large red patches around their eyes which could be mistaken for glowing red eyes from a distance. In light of this, many people thought that it was a mutant Sandhill crane that had been transformed by toxins from the TNT area that had been dumped into a nearby lake.

Mothman transformed from a spooky legend into an Angel of Death on December 15, 1967, when the Silver Bridge connecting Ohio to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, collapsed killing 46 people. Eyewitnesses reported seeing Mothman on the Silver Bridge just a few days prior to the tragedy. The question began to circulate: was Mothman a warning to the townspeople or a demonic being who brought destruction wherever he flew? 

Mothman has transformed Point Pleasant into a tourist destination. Statues and merchandise can be seen throughout the small town. Although sightings have pretty much ceased, the Mothman has left his impression. 

What do you think? Was Mothman an elaborate hoax or a simple case of mistaken identity? Or, is Mothman a warning of oncoming destruction?

Conspiracy Theories Editor: Jake Sonderman

Sources referenced:

“An Aerial Mystery.” The New York Times, Sept. 12, 1880. 

Elbein, Asher. “Is the Mothman of West Virginia an Owl?” Audubon.org, Oct. 26, 2018. 

https://www.audubon.org/news/is-mothman-west-virginia-owl

Reimann, Matt. “The deadliest bridge disaster in US history was caused by a tiny crack just three millimeters deep.” Timeline, July 31, 2017. https://timeline.com/the-deadliest-bridge-disaster-in-us-history-was-caused-by-a-tiny-crack-just-3-millimeters-deep-ca5404c4dffa

West Virginia Ordinance Works. US Army Corps of Engineers Huntington District, 2019.https://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Missions/DERP-FUDS-WVOW-PBOW-WVMA-/West-Virginia-Ordnance-Works/

Wright, Dean. “Recovering remains of Silver Bridge Collapse.” Point Pleasant Register, Jun. 11, 2019.

What Did You Learn Over Quarantine?

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By Erik Bearman

Hello, everybody! During the past six months, many of us have been stuck at home in quarantine. And while this has certainly been a terrible inconvenience for us, we have also been given the gift of time. Many of us have probably avoided or otherwise been unable to do something (i.e. exercise or read for pleasure) because we “don’t have the time.” So much of our time is usually consumed by classwork and homework. And, what little time we have to spare is usually spent hanging out with friends, playing video games, and sleeping. I asked you: Now that we finally have this free time, what have we done with it that we weren’t able to do before?

Here is a compilation of your responses about what new things you guys did during quarantine. 

Ms. McKee

“Hi Erik! 

During my quarantine vacation, I learned piano through an app called Playground Sessions, and participated in [the] world’s largest virtual piano recital, with over 7000 participants and almost 1000 video submissions. 

Here’s the article about it! Please look at the picture at the top of the article and see why I am so excited about it! 

Video of world’s largest virtual piano recital released

This is a good question and I can’t wait to see the results!

Sincerely,

Ms. McKee”

Virtual Piano Recital

Ms. Castellano

“Hey Erik, 

Here is a little about my adventures this summer! I finally got to take the scenic Hwy 1 trip up California’s coast. I saw many places I had not seen before and got to explore beautiful campgrounds. My favorite stop was the Redwood National Forest. Here’s a few pictures of the trip.”

Josiah Llapitan

“This is my 3D printer, I . . . made face shields for my community.”

Kyle Mauerman

“I have enjoyed my extended stay in the great state of Washington. While I miss attending school, it has allowed me to stay up here longer and do things like hunting and fishing. I shot this deer at 40 yards with a bow on Sunday, Sept. 6th with my dad in Pe Ell, WA. Truly blessed to have meat in the freezer.”

Andrew Hall

“I sold a logo to an Amazon delivery company (KAL Delivery) in San Jose for $250.00. I didn’t do it for the money but more for the experience. I really just wanted a t-shirt with a logo on it (I never got a t-shirt). I designed a logo and got to talk to the owner of the company. I went through much trial-and-error, but it was overall a fun process and experience.”

Learned-Something-New Editor Hannah Hall

3rd Place Short Story Winner

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By Harlow Berny

Hello! Here, finally, is the 3rd-place winner of the Halloween Short Horror Story Competition written by Erik Bearman! It was a tough choice, but ultimately the Masked Rabbit and his story “The Darkness” won 1st place, and Marianne Capetz came in 2nd place with her story “The Child.” Enjoy!

Cobwebs

By Erik Bearman

My grandmother always gave me one rule, “Don’t touch the cobwebs!” If she asked me to clean out garage, she’d say, “Don’t touch the cobwebs!” If she asked me to fetch something from the attic, she’d say, “Don’t touch the cobwebs!” Even if I was washing the dishes after dinner, she’d always say, “Don’t touch the cobwebs!” even though there was no chance of cobwebs being in the dishwasher, she’d still warn me. I never questioned my grandmother’s preoccupation with cobwebs because she was always there for me. Ever since my parents died, she was always there for me. When I was being bullied in middle school, she was there to scream at the principal until they were expelled. When I struggled in math class, she was there to make sure the teacher tutored me after school. I figured that since she was always there for me, being paranoid of a couple house spiders wasn’t a big deal.

Two months after my 15th birthday, my grandmother died in her sleep on the 31st of October. Once I had finished grieving (or at least summoned the ability to be able to walk through the front door without bursting into tears), I went to clean out her house. It was Christmas, and the snowfall was heavy. My girlfriend, Juniper, was kind enough to help me clean out my grandmother’s house. Funny thing is I never asked her to help; she just showed up and started helping. Without my grandmother to keep them at bay with her “holy duster” (a feather duster with a handle specially carved in the shape of a religious cross, as she called it), the cobwebs had spread all across the house. We started cleaning in the dining room. As I was stacking the chairs against the wall, Juniper walked straight into a cobweb! I laughed as she picked spider silk out of her mouth. It was the first time I felt joy in a while; and I figured that since my grandmother was gone, touching the cobwebs wouldn’t be a big deal. I was wrong.

That night me and Juniper were sitting on the sofa watching some of my grandmother’s old movies. Juniper sat on my lap as I braided her hair. Halfway through Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Juniper and I fell asleep on the couch. The last thing I remember hearing before I closed my eyes was the basement door creak open. I woke to the sound of Juniper whimpering as she held me tight. “Damien,” she said, “Damien, please wake up!”

“What? What is it?”
“Look at the floor!”

When I did look at the floor my skeleton nearly leapt out of my body. The floor was thickly covered in giant cobwebs as far as we could see.

“Wha-What happened?”
“I-I don’t know! I woke up and the floor was covered in the stuff!”
“Okay, let’s just remain calm and–”

I was interrupted by a loud squeaking noise. We looked at the top of the cable box and saw a raccoon had managed to break through one of the windows while we were sleeping. It sniffed around the room searching for a meal. It turned its head towards the hallway which led straight to the kitchen. As it descended the box, its large, bushy, tail got caught in the webbing. As soon as it tried to tug itself free, we heard the basement door slam open! And a large, black blur shot across the floor before puncturing the raccoon’s flesh with its sharp fangs. Strangely, there was no blood, there was no gore of any kind. The raccoon didn’t squeal or even flinch. It just went limp, with a minor twitch here and there. Paralysis, I thought. Whatever had paralyzed the rodent turned and dashed out of the room back into the basement, but not before I got a good look at it.

The moonlight that shone through the broken window had revealed a giant, black, spider the size of a Saint Bernard. Its spiny legs were as thin and sharp as a sewing needle, glistening fangs the size of butcher knives, and eight red eyes the size of baseballs. But the eyes were the strangest part; they were deformed and detached from the spider’s head. They dangled and swung like loose buttons on an old doll’s head.

Out of fear, Juniper squeezed my arm tightly and whispered, “Damien, please tell me this is a nightmare! Please tell me this is just a figment of my imagination!”
“I wish I could; I really wish I could!”
“What is that thing!”
“It looked like a black widow spider! But they don’t usually get larger than 1.5 inches.”
“How-how do you kill one?”
“Normal ones? Step on them. This one? Use a machine gun!”
“Damien, we have to get out of this house! Let’s just drive as far away from here as we can!”
“How do we get out? The broken window is too small, and if we touch these webs … well you saw what happened to that raccoon!”

I looked for a way out of the room, but it looked like the spider had us in the perfect trap. The only objects not covered in webbing were the couch, T.V., and the various boxes we had stacked across the house.

The boxes!

I turned to Juniper, “I have an idea! You know the game, ‘The Floor is Lava’?” Juniper replied, “Yeah, what about it?”

—

Slowly we hopped from pieces of furniture to stacked boxes to-and-fro as we tried to exit the house. We could hear the scattering of giant spiders coming from the basement. “Keep calm, Juniper. We’re almost to the door.” Since black widows prefer warmer temperatures, we thought the odds were good that we’d make it to the car. I hopped onto the table by the door. I slowly turned the knob–

“Damien.”
“Yes, Juniper?”

When I turned around my heart nearly dropped! Juniper had slipped and her foot had gotten caught in the webs. I could hear one of the spiders getting closer. A dark blur turned the corner of the entryway and charged at Juniper. Within a split second the beast was on top of her, her body going limp with paralysis. The worst part was her eyes; her eyes stared blankly at me. She was trapped in her own body, and there was nothing either of us could do. The creature, almost as if it was taunting me, slowly dragged her body back to the basement. And while it could’ve just been my head playing tricks on me, I could swear its dangling eyes were staring right at me. I cried into the darkness. The only person left in my life who I loved had just been taken. First my parents, then my grandmother, and now Juniper; one by one they’d all been ripped out of my life. I gathered myself and slowly made my way to the kitchen. I wasn’t just going to let her die down there, not without a fight. If there was even a slight chance Juniper was still alive, I was going to save her. I grabbed a knife and headed towards the basement. I figured that anything stabbed in the face would likely die. I could hear the creatures skittering across the floor, their faint outlines barely visible in the darkness. I held my breath, determined to kill them all, if not to save Juniper, then at least to avenge her death. I bent down and touched the webbing on the floor and in an instant a spider lunged out of the basement and threw me down the stairs. Even in my daze I could hear the spiders swarm around me. They bared their fangs and–

—

“And what Dad? How did you save Mom? How’d you kill the spiders?” Damien’s son Devon asked. Damien sat in his chair trying to remember how he saved his wife–except he couldn’t. He couldn’t remember a thing. The last thing he remembered was being thrown down those steps as the spiders closed in on him. Had his memory blacked out the events? He had to find out. “Hold on.” He told his son as he headed towards the kitchen. His wife, Juniper, was making her famous Shepherd’s Pie. Damien approached her, “What were you and Devon talking about?” asked Juniper. “I was just telling him about the time I rescued you from my grandmother’s house all those Christmases ago.” Juniper replied, “Oh, my little knight in shining armor. You dashed right into that room and killed them all! I knew in that moment that you were the man I wanted to marry,” she said as she hugged him.

“It’s really weird, honey, but I can’t remember a thing!”
“Oh always such the jokester, Damien. C’mon, you remember!”
“Honey, I swear on my grandmother’s grave, I don’t remember anything after the spider threw me into the basement!”
“Oh sure you do, it’s in your brain somewhere. We simply need to pry it out!”

The scent of rot and decay hit Damien’s nose like a train. He looked over at Juniper’s pie, and it had been replaced by a mass of a grey, mucus-like substance. Protruding from this substance was a raccoon’s tail, a broken feather duster, and a large lock of Juniper’s hair. “Juniper, what’s going on? Why can’t I remember anything? Marrying you? Having a son? Any of it?” Damien asked frantically. The last thing Damien saw was Juniper’s sinister smile.

—

Damien awoke wrapped in a cocoon of spider silk, only his head was exposed. He could feel where the spider had bit him. While the wound had miraculously cauterized, the spider’s hallucinogenic venom was just starting to wear off. He turned his head as far as he could to the left where he saw one of the spiders crawl on top of a screaming Juniper. It almost seemed to be laughing as it prepared to feast. He felt another spider slowly crawl up his body. As their eyes locked and it opened its gaping maw, Damien heard one last thing. “Don’t touch the cobwebs!”

—

As the spiders feasted on their latest victims in the basement, one of the creatures had managed to squeeze through the raccoon-sized hole in the window. As it landed on the ground, the snow evaporated into thin air. The arachnid dashed off into the night as its kin followed suit. It was going to be a red Christmas this year!



For Fun: Discover the mystery behind these creatures. Translate the binary, and the answer will be revealed.

https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/number/ascii-to-binary.html

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Editor: Leo Milmet