Hannah Hall Archives - the bird on fire

Mermaids in the Ocean??!!

June 2, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

In this blog Hannah describes many different types of sea life. Good luck exploring! — Editor Roman Rickwood

By Hannah Hall, Nature Correspondent

It’s summer. Quarantine restrictions are loosening. The time is coming when you will see, splashed across social media, people on their tropical vacations. Although I am not one of those people, congratulations to you if you are. Still, that doesn’t mean I can’t create a makeshift island experience. I found one way to do that is pretend snorkeling. All you have to do is look up snorkeling pictures underwater.

Unfortunately, you will not find mermaids, but here I have done a little bit of research regarding some species you can find under the sea.

Green Sea Turtle

The green sea turtle has a smooth dark brown or olive-colored shell and green-tinged flesh which comes from their diet. They are herbivores and eat reef, sea grass, and algae. Hatchlings, however, do eat jellyfish and invertebrates. When fully grown, on average, they are 3-4 ft long and 350 pounds but can get up to 5ft and 700 pounds! The turtles migrate throughout the entire ocean during their lifetime, but only females come to shore to lay eggs. Female turtles always go back to the same beach on which they were born no matter the distance. They lay about 100-200 eggs, and they hatch in over two months. Oftentimes predators such as birds and crabs will go after these eggs and hatchlings, which makes the yield pretty low, estimating that only 1 in 1000 or even 1 in 10,000 survive till adulthood. Green Sea Turtles are an endangered species, but, unfortunately due to hunting, man-made accidents, climate change, and habitat loss, the numbers are still waning. In fact, the National Wildlife Federation predicts that “90 percent [of the sea turtle] population decrease[d] over the past half century.” Still, their lifespan is pretty long, ranging from 80-100 years.

Clownfish

Clownfish, also known as false clownfish or clown anemonefish, are known by their iconic bright orange color with white and black stripes, but they can also come in colors such as “pink, red, yellow, black, brown and multi-colored stripes” (livescience.com). Clownfish live in the south-east corner of the world in shallow waters. They create a symbiotic relationship with anemones as they use them for protection, and the clownfish eats the parasite within the anemone. All clownfish are born male but are hermaphrodites. They have the ability to change their sex to female, usually for mating, but once they change, it is not possible to change back. Their social circle is led by one dominant female, which is the largest fish. The second in charge is the largest male fish. If the female dies, then the dominant male will transition to being female, then the new largest male will become second dominant as a replacement. According to the National Aquarium, clownfish eat algae, zooplankton, worms, and small crustaceans.

Anemone

Anemone, as we learned before, are a big part of the clownfish lifestyle. Anemones do, however, have a life of their own. One other includes green algae. NatGeo says “in exchange for providing the algae safe harbor and exposure to sunlight, the anemone receives oxygen and sugar, the bi-products of the algae’s photosynthesis.” If jellyfish was a kind of coral, that’s what an anemone looks like—they are all actually related. Anemones come in the colors of the rainbow and have tentacle appendages and a base-like structure. They use their tentacles to sting and contract fish into their body cavity. They have one hole which leads to their gut, but that also means they have one way out if you know what I mean. They remarkably can weigh up to 440 pounds, and their mouths can open up to 2ft wide!

There are many other species that you will come across if you actually get to go snorkeling. Let me know what kinds of tropical creatures you wish I covered.

Editor-in-Chief: Roman Rickwood

Sources:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/green-sea-turtle

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Sea-Turtles/Green-Sea-Turtle

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/clownfish

https://www.livescience.com/55399-clownfish.html

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/sea-anemones

https://sciencing.com/physical-characteristics-sea-anemone-8680735.html

Gosh, my calves hurt

June 2, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Looking for places to hike in the valley? Keep reading Nature Editor Hannah Hall’s list of favorite trails–from the most beautiful to the quickest! –Editor Sara Habibipour

By Hannah Hall, Nature Correspondent

In the desert, we are lucky to be surrounded by mountains. Not only do they make for great scenery, but climbing them makes for an excellent workout. There are so many trailheads in the desert, and they all have their unique qualities. Here are some versatile hikes I recommend.

Best Sunrise/Sunset

The Cross Trail in Palm desert is 2.3 miles long. This trail is well known, but you never know whether or not there will be many people on the trail. This is an out-and-back style trail, but right when you start the trail (go to the right, not up the street) there is a nice table with a lookout directly angled to watch the sunrise. Once you keep hiking this trail, if you keep going you will see a pad of cement with yin yang on it. It is always being graffitied with different colors, so it’s super cool to check out. There is a great spot to checkout the sunset. Although the view isn’t direct, it is flat and you can see all of the twinkling city lights.

Yin Yang just below pinnacle of Palm Desert’s Cross Trail

Most Beautiful

Tahquitz Canyon is a part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation located in Palm Springs. The loop is 1.9 miles and is heavily trafficked. What makes this hike so unique is that there is a 60-foot waterfall within the trail! The water is really high and refreshing during the springtime. The Outdoor Club went on this hike when it was super-duper hot, and once we dipped in the water (we actually galloped in) we screamed and splashed with relief and joy. We were so cooled that the hike back was a breeze. I really recommend this hike for the beauty and the waterfall experience.

Quickest Trail

This trail is a 2.7 mile loop. It may seem long by the length of miles, but it only takes me an hour every time I do it. It is the Roadrunner and Chuckwalla trail. This trail is situated right behind Rancho Mirage City Hall. I like this trail because it sort of has a built-in warm-up incline, which I think is what makes this trail seem so easy. All I can say is the trail is super easy to follow, and you can even cut it short by walking back down the street instead of the other mountain. This hike also has a nice sitting area for a sunrise. What makes for a delightful surprise, during the winter time it has a Christmas tree set up, and you also get sick views of the snow-capped mountains from afar.

Climb above Rancho Mirage City Hall, and this will be holiday-time view.

Do you have any hike recommendations? Let me know!

Editor-in-Chief: Sara Habibipour

Sources:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/the-cross-trail

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/tahquitz-canyon-loop-trail

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/roadrunner-and-chuckwalla-trail

Bail, Felons, and Voting–What about it?

May 5, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

One of, if not the most, controversial government systems in America is our justice system. Hannah describes three parts of the justice system she feels need changing.

By Hannah Hall

The American justice system is arguably good and bad. The good includes putting people away who are worthy of being put away due to their heinous actions. But, there are also some parts of our system that should be changed–some more obvious than others. In my opinion, there are three aspects of the justice system that I find unfair, and that I believe should be fixed.

#1 The Bail System

“Justice for all” is a huge part of America’s character. But how can we tag the word “all” to the end of the phrase if we have a bail system that creates inequity? It’s basically saying that if you are rich enough, you don’t have to completely face the consequences of your crime–one being detention. Let’s just say two people commit the same crime, maybe assault. In California, the bail would run between $10k and $1mil (allprobailbond.com). That is a heck ton of money if you ask me!!! A rich person, on the other hand, may look at that and say no biggie. Somebody could post bail and bust their buddy out. This is happening all while the other person who has no money and no rich connections completely loses freedom, career, income, and time home with family, and most importantly they sit in jail for who knows how long. All while the rich person gets to sit at home awaiting their trial. “Money bail is a price tag on freedom that only serves as a wealth-based discrimination,” says nonprofit Equal Justice Under Law (equaljusticeunderlaw.org). California voters in the last election battled over abolishing bail. The bail-bond industry survived this proposition.

Hannah’s Opinion: Abolish Money Bail.

#2 Felon Voting

In many states, felons lose their right to vote once they are released. But other states have certain processes to go through in order to restore a convicted felon’s right to vote. Some processes include a pardon from their respective governor, waiting until their probation is complete, or paying fees. In only Vermont, Maine, and the District of Columbia, felons never lose their right to vote, even while incarcerated, and in 19 other states felons receive automatic voting restoration upon release (ncsl.org). I disagree with Vermont, Maine, and D.C.’s position on letting the incarcerated vote. I think that right comes at the cost of being convicted for a crime. You do it, you lose it…(sorry to the innocent people in jail!) However, I can fully say that I think a felon’s voting rights should be automatically restored upon release from imprisonment. All they should have to do is re-register to vote, then, boom, it’s done…rights restored.

Hannah’s Opinion: Restore Felons’ Voting Rights.

#3 Private Prisons

Luckily this one is on its way out. On January 25, 2021, our President Joe Biden signed an executive order to stop contract renewal between private prisons and the Department of Justice (newsweek.com). Starting off, there is no reason a prison should be run for profit. Simply, it is unethical to take advantage of an incarcerated population with few rights. Secondly, private prisons are criticized for being under-regulated (ojp.gov). This lack of oversight invites assault, poor food supply, and insufficient medical care. All people deserve basic human decency.

Hannah’s Opinion: Abolish Private Prisons.

If you have any incarceration-related opinions, please drop them in the comments. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Let us know what you think should be criminalized or decriminalized within the justice system.

Decriminalize/Criminalize Editor: Evan Spry

Sources:

https://www.allprobailbond.com/blog/types-of-crime/common-california-crimes-bail-amounts/#:~:text=Assault%20Charges&text=Bail%20amounts%20for%20assault%20range,a%20%2450%2C000%20to%20%24100%2C000%20bail.

Click to access 181249.pdf

https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights.aspx

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-moves-end-federal-use-private-prisons-after-pledging-reduce-mass-incarceration-1564700

How low can you go?

April 21, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Hannah had to do a bit of searching to find a world record she thought she could beat. After much looking, she found that a record was only five hours away.–World Records Editor Jake Sonderman

By Hannah Hall

As I was cruising the Guinness World Records, a specific record caught my attention: Highest Dinner Party. The record itself is a dinner party of ten hosted on April 30th, 2018, on Mt. Everest in China. The dinner’s altitude was roughly 23,149 ft high! I thought this record was pretty difficult to beat, but it did open me up to the idea of something similar. I believe that I can hold the world record for the world’s lowest dinner party. There are a few ways that this could go down—pun intended.

As I was pitching this proposition to the Blog team, Erik mentioned the Mariana Trench. I thought maybe I could take a submarine and trek down to the bottom of it and have a dinner party there. But, the thing is, I feel like this record is supposed to be on some sort of land mass. The reason I am led to believe this is because, otherwise, the “highest dinner party” could occur on a plane. Don’t those things fly at like 40k feet high?? So, this thought in itself made me back out of the deep-sea feast.

As I was continuing to research the lowest places on Earth, I came across many land-based locations that were below sea level. I saw that I could go eat in Africa at the Qattara Depression which sits at 482 ft below sea level. This would require me to get on a plane all the way to Africa though, and that’s a lot of time spent, allowing, possibly, somebody else to break the record before me. Other problems include it only being the second lowest place in Africa and the fact it is unclear whether this point is below water or on land. So, I kept searching.

I then thought, I could just smack the record right in the face and go straight to the actual lowest place on Earth, the Dead Sea, located beside Jordan and Israel. The Dead Sea’s shore is roughly 1400 ft below sea level. And, a fact about the Dead Sea is that its water is receding at one meter per year, which is sad, but it just means more room for my dinner party. But, yet again, I am faced with the same plane-time dilemma. Again, the search went on; luckily, the perfect option appeared to me soon after.

I thought I could have the dinner party in our home state of California in Death Valley. Death Valley is actually the lowest point in America and has a depth of 282 ft below sea level. Interestingly enough, if I have a dinner party here, I would be beating two records: Lowest Dinner Party, and Lowest Dinner Party in America (and maybe Hottest Dinner Party). That in itself intrigues me. The ride over to Death Valley is roughly five hours. I think I could make it happen.

I hope that one day this record will be broken, whether or not it is by me. It is something cool to have in the books! At least, I will always know, I had the idea first.

World Records Editor: Jake Sonderman

Sources:

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-dinner-party

https://www.deadsea.com/articles-tips/places-below-sea-level-worlds-lowest-elevation-points/

https://earth.esa.int/web/earth-watching/image-of-the-week/content/-/article/the-dead-sea

The Lowest Point in Every U.S. State

The Seemingly Impossible Great Wall of China

March 29, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Hannah wrote about the unlikely feat that is the creation of the Great Wall of China. The astonishing achievement was completed with no modern technology. To think that the longest and tallest wall in the world was built 2500 years ago is truly mind boggling. –Architectural Achievements Editor: Roman Rickwood

By Hannah Hall

Most of you, if not all, have heard of the Great Wall of China. But, you probably only know it is an ancient wall in China that is still standing today. Wouldn’t you like to know more? Wouldn’t you like to know the history?? If you do want to know more, read on.

The Great Wall’s history starts in the Warring States period of China in the Zhou Dynasty (nearly 2500 years ago). China’s feudal lords began to build a wall to protect the dynasty from barbarians and intruders. This wall, however, wasn’t anywhere near ginormous. In fact, the wall wasn’t even a wall; it was multiple tiny walls! These small sections were individually constructed by different states as shields from potential conquerors. The cohesive building of a stronger and longer wall began later in the Qin Dynasty. Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the states in 221 BCE (history.com). And now that they were unified, they had many natural barriers such as the Tibetan Plateau and Pacific Ocean. But, to the north, there were only mountains to act as protection—which was not enough. The emperor then started to enlist soldiers, criminals, and peasants to connect many of the small walls that were built previously. That wall became known as the “Long Wall.” At this point, the wall was nearly 3,100 miles long! (history.com)

The Qin Dynasty merged into the Han Dynasty. They did not add much to the wall in length, but when they inherited the wall they realized it needed some work. So, they fortified it and acted out serious refurbishments. During the same time of this fortification, the Silk Road came about. Chinese Diplomat and Trader Zhan Qian opened this route to trade with other countries and empires such as Rome, Persia, India, and Greece. As this trade flourished, wars began, and the Wall weakened. Then somewhere along the line in the 1200s, the Mongols invaded and destroyed many entry points in the wall.

Flashing forward, time went on, and more dynasty sponsored reparations and lengthening projects occurred. China’s importance and competitiveness as an empire rose and fell multiple times which led to the construction of the Wall also being sporadic and inconsistent. Then, in the 14th century, the Ming Dynasty worked on the Wall again, which failed; the Manchu invaded in the 17th century. The Qing Dynasty came into power and realized that communication was probably a better solution to peace than a wall. And since there was no use for the Wall, it fell into disrepair. Finally, the last restoration of the Wall occurred. The Great Wall of China was restored under Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s. Since then, it has held up. And, today, you can witness the Wall itself in China, all 13,000 miles of it.

Although the Wall may not be used for the same purposes as it was in its prime, we can still observe the feat that it is. It is architecturally astounding! I hope this little history lesson leads you to dive deeper into more ancient architecture. There are bridges, buildings, and even forts out there! Get searching, and get learning.

Editor: Roman Rickwood

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-china/great-wall-of-china

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-middle-east/silk-road

How to Get Lucky

March 15, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

By Hannah Hall

Closing out the theme of Mythology, writer Hannah takes us to the East. She writes about Chinese Mythology, and the story behind jade’s protective qualities. Read along to learn about the mythological history of the stone, and how you can bring jade’s power into your life.

Hannah’s jade bangle gift from her mother

For my birthday, my mom bought me a jade bangle. She told me that jade is for “good luck” and is intended to “ward off evil.” I first thought, “Uh, how does my mom know that?” which led to my second thought being “I should research this….” In my research, I found a general consensus that jade brings luck, like she said, and that it does indeed shield against bad fortune, also what she said. It is also the bringer of many other positive virtues such as happiness, courage, and wisdom. What my mom did not inform me of was the rich history and mythology of where the protective qualities of jade originate.

History and Legends

From records dating back to 5000 BC, jade is shown to be deeply rooted in Chinese culture and history. The Chinese people called jade the “royal gem,” “yu,” and it was actually used to furnish the imperial family’s tombs. Archeologists have found hand-assembled jade suits in burial tombs too! Jade also was the upholder of Confucian values, which can be explained in this quote by Confucius:

“Its color represents loyalty; its interior flaws, always showing themselves through transparency, call to mind sincerity; its iridescent brightness represents Heaven; its admirable substance, born of mountains and of water, represents the Earth. Used alone without ornamentation it represents the truth.”
(wagmag.com)

I was able to find three legends that explain how jade got to Earth. One states that when the Mongols invaded China, dragons wept with deep sadness. As the tears fell down to Earth, they petrified into jade. The next legend, which is also tear related, says that Buddha’s tears are made of pure jade. And, finally, a legend says that the Storm God lent mankind jade to fend against wild animals on Earth. He is said to have forged axes from jade that he grasped from a rainbow and that he dropped the jade weapons down to earth (wagmag.com).

Varieties and Colors

There are two kinds of jade: nephrite and jadeite. Nephrite is a more ample form of jade and is found in China, while jadeite is rarer and is found in Burma. They each carry both green and white hues, but jadeite has a wider range which includes burnt tones such as red/orange/yellow and lighter tones such as pink/purple. All of these colors are said to have unique energies and feelings associated with them.

Red–high vibrational, encourages facing fears while reducing them
Orange–joyous, connecting with the world and being in it
Yellow–cheerfulness, heightens comprehensions
Green–wealth, prosperity
Blue–calming, flourishing dreams and visions
Purple–ethereal energy, supportive spiritually and emotionally
Pink–purifies and heals toxins, enhances loving energies
Black–protection, wards off negative energies
Brown–grounding, brings out reliability
White–focus, brings clarity to the mind
Tri-colored–growth in life, longevity
- (jadeite-atelier.com) and (leaf.tv)

Uses

Pictured–Jade bangle from Ultimate Jadeite on Etsy (where my bangle is from)

The most common way people bring jade into their life is through wearing it. This way you and the jade are directly connected skin to stone and your energies are working together. Jade is known for opening the heart chakra, so common places to wear jade are on your left wrist as a bangle, or as a necklace over your heart. Another common way to sport jade is by wearing earrings.

Instead of wearing the crystal as jewelry, people often take the option of carrying it with them. People often set an intention with the piece of jade and have it in their pockets or purse. This keeps your intention close to you, and ensures the stone is absorbing your energy and actions throughout the day. This aids in manifesting your set desires. Lastly, people often put jade in places of significance. When you seek a successful financial outcome, Energymuse.com recommends setting the stone in your workspace. They give the example of setting the stone on top of business cards.

If you are interested in living a prosperous and positive life, I encourage you to get some jade, set your intentions straight, and allow the jade to work its magic.

Sources:

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-history-of-jade-the-emperors-stone

Soul of stone – The divine jade

https://jadeite-atelier.com/blogs/jade-articles/the-colors-of-jade-and-the-meaning

https://www.leaf.tv/articles/the-significance-of-pink-jade/

https://www.energymuse.com/jade-meaning/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/UltimateJadeite

Mythology Editor: Elizabeth Shay

Who are you, Maya Angelou?

February 26, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

As we near the end of Black History Month, Hannah directs our attention to one of the most famous and influential Black-American writer-performers–Maya Angelou.

By Hannah Hall

As February is Black History Month, we can take this time to reflect and honor the achievements of the African-American community in the past and present. Somebody I wanted to talk about and remember during this time is Maya Angelou. Angelou was an African-American “author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, performer, singer, and civil rights activist” (Poetry Foundation). She is known for writing a multitude of autobiographies—her first and most internationally recognized being I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings—and her many many poetry books. One poem that I wanted to introduce to the blog is her poem Caged Bird.

The poem acts as an extended metaphor to the past and present struggles of race-based oppression African-American communities face in this country. The cage symbolizes the physical, psychological, and emotional limitations that oppression creates for the caged bird inside, which can be interpreted as the African-American community. The “free bird” in this poem can be interpreted as the white community in America and how they live without something actively holding them back. Because of the color of their skin, they have nothing stopping them from pursuing their desires because there aren’t any societal limitations. I encourage you to read this poem and in your own time reflect on its depth and historical background.

Caged Bird by Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Sources:

https://poets.org/poet/maya-angelou

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48989/caged-bird

Black History Month Editor: Evan Spry

18 Inspirational Quotes about Making the Right Choice

February 10, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Editor Erik asked the Blog Staff to write about “Missed Opportunities.” For those of you debating whether to jump at that next opportunity, Hannah’s compiled a list of quotes to keep under advisement. Dear reader, guide yourself through life by making the right choices.

By Hannah Hall

Missing opportunities result in probably one of the worst feelings ever, in my opinion. But, when you miss an opportunity, it is most likely going to be for the logical reason of the risk being too high. And, even if you do take the chance, you have to think: Is it worth it when you are left with emotional, financial, or physical repercussions? I honestly say, no, but if you are in a sticky situation that requires you to either be all in or all out, I recommend you read these quotes and allow them to guide you towards making the right choice. Because, in the end, making the right decision is the best decision–even if you miss an opportunity.

“The only way of catching a train I have ever discovered is to miss the train before.” ― G.K. Chesterton

“We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.” — Khalil Gibran

“Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.” — Eric Roth

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan

“Why cry about missed opportunities when you have the ability to smile at opportunities lived?” — Greg Plitt

“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” — Keri Russell

“Excuses will always be there for you. Opportunity won’t.” — Anonymous

“Don’t live in regret over missed opportunities, for if you do, you will miss even more.” ― Charbel Tadros

“We are free to choose our paths, but we can’t choose the consequences that come with them.” — Sean Covey

“He missed an invaluable opportunity to hold his tongue.” — Andrew Lang

“Stop worrying about missed opportunities and start looking for new ones.” — I. M. Pei

“What goes around, comes around.” — Willie Nelson

“I’ll make the right decision, whichever one it is. I have to be 100 percent, not 95 or 99.” — Karl Malone

“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. But if you do, make new ones. Life is too short to make the wrong choice twice.” ― Joyce Rachelle

“We never regret the love we give, / We regret giving it to the wrong people …” ― Samiha Totanji

“Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision right.” — Dr. Phil

“All the roads you regret for not going to the end represent the alternative lives you have missed!” ― Mehmet Murat İldan

“The only way to make the right decision is to find out which is the wrong decision, to examine that other path without fear, and only then decide.” — Paulo Coelho

Hopefully, reading these quotes have inspired you to take the path that is right for you. Take what resonates with you, and go. If you don’t, that choice could very well end up being your next missed opportunity.

Missed Opportunities Editor: Erik Bearman

https://www.goodreads.com

https://www.azquotes.com

https://www.brainyquote.com

Don’t Be a Pest, Help the Planet with Mightynest!

February 5, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

To close out our theme on Up-and-Coming Businesses, Hannah chose to write about a new business that offers green alternatives to common products. She’s looking to our future.

By Hannah Hall

In this day and age, we order so many things from the internet. Monthly subscription services have exploded. For example, there’s IPSY (makeup and beauty), Blue Apron (home dinners), and MyBean (coffee). But, there is one up-and-coming subscription service that caught my eye recently: mightynest.

Mightynest subscriptions offer monthly subscription boxes that include a multitude of earth-friendly products—one per delivery. The company hopes the use of their service encourages you to “[make] changes that are better for you and the planet.” You may be thinking that shipping their products is counterintuitive to the whole green lifestyle they are encouraging, but they claim that their shipments are environmentally conscious and recyclable.

On this website you can actually order any green products you want! The mightynest website has seven main sections that sort all of the products they offer: kitchen, on the go, cleaning, body, wellness, kids, and pets. So I thought that I would pull some of my favorite items from the sections to share what could possibly come in your delivery box!

Stasher

A product to replace disposable plastic bags is the Stasher Assorted 6 Bag Set. It goes for $75.95 and the sizes it comes with are Half-Gallon, Stand-Up Mid, Sandwich and Snack, and two Pocket Stashes. They are dishwasher and freezer safe. I actually use these daily when packing my lunch, which is why they are on my list. They’re essential.

Bee’s Wrap

A product from the site that could replace plastic wrap is Bee’s Wrap, Assorted 3 Pack. The price is $18.99. Bee’s Wrap comes Small, Medium, and Large. With these natural bee’s wax wraps, you can wrap little items, like fruits and cheeses, or cover large items, like leftover lasagna tupperware. It’s all biodegradable.

Hair Care

As an alternative to plastic shampoo and conditioner products, you can use the Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Set, Moisturize by HiBar, which goes for $27.98. The shampoo and conditioner look like bars of soap. These bars are sulfate, paraben, phthalates, and silicone free, and safe for colored hair. All you gotta do is lather the bar in your hands or head, and wash. The reason I recommend this product is because it replaces two 16oz packages of shampoo and conditioner.

Hopefully these few products inspire you to check out mightynest, and join the journey of making your life less harmful to the Earth.

Up-and-Coming Businesses Editor: Jake Sonderman

Are the 80s coming back?

January 25, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

We all know the iconic 80s. Characterized by the fashion, decor, music, etc., the trends of the 80s are unmistakable. Blogger Hannah predicts that these trends will return in 2021.

By Hannah Hall

I have never been one to get especially into trends—mostly because of the EXTREMELY HIGH PRICE TAG of following them! I do, however, love to watch videos about them along with reading articles. (You see, I like to know the trends even when I’m not necessarily participating in them.) So, if you are one of those trend-viewers, read on because I will be dishing out my latest trend prediction for 2021: the 80s! And, I do actually have reasoning behind this.

I feel like the world in 2020 was full of such muck and gloom…the fires, the quakes, and most of all the pandemic. And, the 80s were just coming out of a decade full of the same sort of turmoil (i.e. the Vietnam War, Apollo 13, the Beatles split…). So, I feel like we can draw a comparison between the 70s and 2020, and the 80s to 2021. Even though I am comparing decades to years, I still feel like I can draw the conclusion that 2021 has the potential to shine as bright and bold as the stereotypical 80s aesthetic and lifestyle.

Clothing to Come

80s fashion was kind of wack. I am not going to lie; it isn’t my favorite. It was full of shoulder pads, monochromatic powersuits, neon everything, and dance wear—including legwarmers, and many other oddball items. I predict in this coming year we will see not a lot, but at least some of this. In fact, we have already seen it! Sorta. At President Biden’s inauguration, lots of attendees were seen sporting their one-color fits. (And, call me crazy, but don’t those shoulders look a tad padded????)

Decor for the New Year

I predict that we will see a wave of 80s decor entering the home. 80s decor can be identified through many things. For example, in certain homes you found interesting wallpaper—probably floral or geometric—and in others you saw many art-deco elements, such as color blocking, asymmetry, and pop art. It was pretty much all pizzaz in my opinion.

Music for a New Era

80s music was super bright, energetic, and electronic. This sound mainly came from synthesizers and drum machines. Some popular artists that you can think of from the time are Michael Jackson and Madonna. And, in the mainstream these days, we have actually already seen this 80s inspo in the very popular song “Blinding Lights” by the Weeknd and Dua Lipa’s album “Future Nostalgia.”

2020 is over, my friends, so are the 80s. Some elements should stay in the 80s–particularly the hairstyles. But, we have much to look forward to, and in our 2021 maybe we’ll recognize some of that 80s flash. After all, we don’t want another year to “Bite the Dust” (Queen). We want “Sweet Dreams” (Eurthymics) and no “Super Freaks” (Rick James).

Sources:

Trend Alert: Modern 80s Trend 2021 Is Coming Back

https://blog.retroplanet.com/1980s-decorating-style/

2021 Predictions Editor: Sara Habibipour