We are off for the summer. Please, join us again in August for more thebirdonfire.org content, fun, alumni guests, opinions, compilations, surveys, poems, flashbacks, sports, music, etc.
Fondly,
thebirdonfire.org Bloggers
Happy and Safe Summer
Things Jess is Bringing into 2024
By Senior Jess Billimore
While she’s not yet working for Consumer Reports, we’ve got our own Jess Billimore with ratings, reviews, and advice on products she’s tried. Here are a few she liked so much in 2023, she’s gonna keep using them right on through 2024.
The new year is well into its second month! Everybody’s talked about new things in the new year, but there were so many great products that I found last year. I don’t want to leave them behind. So, here are the items I discovered and loved in 2023 that I am definitely bringing into 2024 with me.
Starting off strong with the Owala water bottle–I got this as a Christmas gift, and I love it so much. Unlike many other water bottles I have tried, this is completely leak proof. It also keeps your water cold all day, which is great for school. Owala water bottles are super pretty and come in a huge variation of colors, so there is something for everyone.
Next we have a hair mask. Fino is a Japanese brand that I discovered on TikTok. I have tried several hair masks before, and this one really lives up to the hype. This mask makes your hair super soft and silky. I could see these results after just one use. Last year I damaged my hair with heat and frequent bleaching; incorporating this hair mask into my hair routine has helped massively, and I can see myself using this product for years to come.
Staying on the topic of hair moves me to my favorite curler ever, the Conair Curl Secret InfinitiPRO Curling Iron. I can’t express how much I love this. To begin, it’s so much more time efficient than a regular hair curler; I can finish my whole head within 10 minutes. I also no longer have to worry about burning myself as it has a protective guard and does all the work for you, so you don’t even need to know how to curl hair! I try to avoid using too much heat, which takes me to my final reason for loving this product, and that is the curls last for days!
Now, for one that surprised me, and that is the Hooga Red Light Therapy Wand. I had heard a lot of good things about red light therapy in general. I didn’t know if it was legit, but I did some of my own research and it totally is: “Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that uses low wavelength red light to reportedly improve your skin’s appearance, such as reducing wrinkles, scars, redness and acne. It’s also touted to treat other medical conditions (my.clevelandclinic.org). You may be wondering, how does this work? As we age, our skin produces less collagen and what red light therapy does is penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating the cells that produce that collagen. Then, this new collagen moves up to your skin’s surface, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Now, a full-on red-light facemask is quite expensive, potentially a future investment for me. For now I just have the wand. I’ve had it for about two months, and I’m already seeing some of the benefits, such as brighter skin and reduced redness. This really has elevated my self-care routine. I would recommend the Hooga Red Light Therapy Wand.
Finally, the Miss Dior perfume! I know you are probably thinking, really, a perfume? But, this would have to be my all-time favorite scent. I love it so much and try to save it for special occasions, which could be a reason I like it as I associate it with good memories. As for the scent, it’s very fresh, floral, and light. I get so many compliments whenever I wear it!
That’s all for today! What would you most like to try?
Blog 2024: Where Things Get Blogged
Did you know that Palm Valley School has a blog? It’s called The Bird on Fire, and it’s back! Our holiday break is over; it’s a new year; and Palm Valley’s blog is in full swing. Indy, Gil, Jackie, Oliver, and Louisa are now joined by new writers Jack and Jess. This means we will have more variety, insight, and sauciness posted throughout the remainder of the year. You can be part of the fun and publication by submitting anything you’ve written, drawn, or filmed to Advisor Zachik. Email her at szachik@pvs.org. If you want to get thebirdonfire.org articles delivered directly to your inbox upon publication, visit the home page of thebirdonfire.org and subscribe today.
Lily’s Beautifying the World
PVS Art Teacher Mr. Wendt-West announced that the SunLine Transit’s 8th Annual Student Art Contest recently announced their finalists for this year, which includes our very own Lily Jones representing Palm Valley School!
Says Mr. Wendt-West, “This is truly a great honor and achievement as this is the 2nd year in a row that Lily has been selected as a finalist in the Sunline Annual Art Contest! Incredible!”
He continues, “There were many amazing submissions this year from throughout the Coachella Valley and we want to congratulate Lily Jones for the artwork she submitted. Please join us in recognizing the participation and creative talents of Lily sharing her artwork with the broader community.”
On Tuesday November 21st there was an event at Sunline for the unveiling of the winners. Sunline Board members, community members, and sponsors presented the awards to the finalists. The winning student artwork was on display. Below is Lily’s award-winning graphic work.
The Forbidden Foods of Louisa Richardson
Blogger Gil challenged us to write about forbidden things. Oliver coached us to avoid forbidden relationship faux pas. Gil will be our tour guide through forbidden places. Indy is a master of the forbidden. Louisa . . . contemplates forbidden foods–foods that look enticingly tasty but aren’t actually foods at all. Never fear: No high schooler was harmed in the making of this post. Nobody got eaten, and Louisa is just fine. For now.
By Freshman Louisa Richardson
Have you ever looked at something completely inedible and thought to yourself, “I would totally eat that.” Even if they aren’t edible things, that will not stop my brain from thinking “oh tasty!” Recently on a trip to the grocery store, I saw some strawberry syrup (aka Palmolive pink dish soap) and told my mom that I would eat it. My mother looked at me with surprise and disgust. Silly, Mommy, it just seems so delicious. Since Gil told us to consider “The Forbidden,” I thought it would be fun to go through a list of things I would like to eat that are definitely not edible. I did find the further into the list we go, the more disturbing the “food” items get.
Fiberglass Insulation
Take a good long look at fiberglass insulation and tell me you don’t want to dive in there and start munching. As someone who has touched this glass-flavored cotton candy, I will tell you, it appears crunchy. I imagine it makes that delightful crunching noise that gives it perfect texture. 10/10 I will eat this.
Dish Soap
This strawberry–flavored creamy deliciousness happens to be dish soap. I won’t let that stop me. If you were to squeeze some out of the bottle, you can’t tell me it doesn’t look like the syrup they would use in a waffle commercial. I can practically hear the salesman saying, “New at Waffle House, Strawberry Waffle Syrup perfect for your waffles!” Is your mouth watering yet?
Falling-Water Thinking-Putty
Silly Putty is one of those things with me. I wouldn’t eat it, but I would definitely think about it. I would probably eat it if it smelled better. I feel like the taste would be too chemically. For those of you who are thinking, “They make candy-smelling slime,” slime and putty are two very different things. I need a food-scented Silly Putty; then I would eat it. No questions asked.
Stretchy Slap Sticky Toy Hands
I think I actually did eat one of these party favors as a child. I used to get them at the dentist, and it was the greatest feeling to slap my sister with them. My sister hated it. I would absolutely eat these, any flavor: grape, lemon, cherry, and blue raspberry, the gummy texture, the stretch, the perfect bite. I imagine getting a whole pack of these, and eating them like that candy fruit roll up. Absolutely delicious.
Mod Podge
“The perfect dipping sauce for children’s fingers.” — Freshman Brooklyn Hatrak
This particular inedible decoupage snack doesn’t actually seem tasty. It’s just the way that the word podge sounds. I would never eat glue, but I would eat podge. Don’t ask me what the difference is because I don’t know; I just want to eat it.
Spackle
Any flavor of spackling looks delicious. Can you imagine what would happen if I just made a spackling cake? You would eat it, wouldn’t you? Although a spackle cake technically exists already, I don’t think it’s really made out of spackle. I can change that. Mom, if you’re reading this, all I want for my birthday is a spackle cake.
Drilling Mud
This is chocolate, and you can’t tell me otherwise. Now the technical term is “drilling mud,” but it looks like dark chocolate pudding. Although drilling mud comes out of a very disgusting tube, I would probably eat it if someone served it to me in a pudding cup.
Molten Lava
Lava is a sea of literal goodness. Sure, it would burn my mouth, but if you’ve seen the videos online of people dropping the lava slowly but surely into a cup of water, you would know just how appetizing it appears. The color, texture, and dripping capabilities make this tasty snack all the more delightful.
Snow on a Tree
Now you might call me a picky eater for this one, but I would never ever eat a tree that doesn’t have snow on it–a light powdery snow. With snow as condiment, I would eat a tree. I would probably start with the little twigs, coated in a delicious white frosting. I think this craving comes from my urge to live in a gingerbread house. I imagine that my cravings for wood will never be satisfied, at least not until gingerbread season.
Adorable Pomeranian (aka Walking Cotton Candy)
I wouldn’t really eat a dog, just his fur. Pomeranians are so cute and cuddly, and their fur is so fluffy. Their fur would make that nice little crunchy sound, like cotton candy and insulation. I bet these dogs would be really ugly without fur; as a matter of fact, google it. I guarantee they are ugly without fur.
Animated Children
“I hear Hillary Clinton eats children.” — [a facetious] Senior Indiana Behr
Well, if Hillary does it, why can’t I? To be fair, I don’t necessarily want to eat a child. That’s creepy. It’s more that I want to eat those little pictures of children, as shown above. If I did eat a child, it would be one of these little animated ones. The images of children I would eat seem like they would be the texture of gummy bears, with a citrusy flavor. Again I WOULD NOT EAT A LITERAL CHILD, just the tiny little animated ones.
Remember readers, these foods are not edible (mostly because they’re NOT foods–especially children and dog fur), so, please, don’t eat them. Yeah, forbidden-food-that’s-not-food seems really tasty to me–whether it’s silly putty, or children. My friend Gil (fellow blogger) said, “I imagine that life is very difficult for someone who wants to go around eating everything,” and I can confidently say, Yes, yes it is.
*Note: No children, dogs, or spackle were harmed in the writing of this post.
Design the Yearbook Cover!
We are excited to see the creativity and talent that our students bring in their yearbook cover ideas! Yearbook staff will be choosing the cover design come the first week of November.
Mr. Wendt-West, Yearbook Advisor
Growing Up: The Highs and the Lows
By Upper-School Blogger Alyna Rei
I have been at Palm Valley since the 6th grade, and, throughout the years, up till now, I have mixed emotions for every year. Here is how I rate my middle and upper school years.
6th grade:
In my first year at Palm Valley, I remember making my parents come with me inside on the first day of school to help me with my locker lock and to show me the way to my class. We had an advisory class in the morning, so my parents would see me off in my advisor Ms. Farley’s class.
Throughout the year, I adjusted pretty well in school and had a small group of friends (which I was totally okay with). This group of friends was fine, but I feel now in that time I just needed people to hang out with. I was intimidated by pretty much everyone.
My favorite memory was when my friends would decorate my locker when it was my birthday. I would keep those decorations up until the end of the year.
My least favorite memory was when I had to find my classes when I still wasn’t familiar with the campus and had to ask around.
Overall I give 6th grade a 7/10.
7th grade:
By my second year, I was adjusting well to school. Some of my friends from the previous year left the school, so it was time to find new friends. I made a new friend group, which I was able to be comfortable with.
This was also the year where I had classes in the high school, so I had to see scary high school people. That was new to me.
My favorite memory would be meeting new friends and people. I gained friends who had similar interests to mine.
My least favorite memory would be science class. Life Science wasn’t my strong subject. It was a subject I needed a lot of help with.
Overall I give 7th grade a 6/10.
8th grade:
My 8th grade year was cut short due to Covid, so that was upsetting. Again, some of my friends left the school, but it didn’t matter to me because I still had a good amount of friends. I don’t really remember the first part of online school, but I do remember it being confusing trying to figure out Google Meets.
My favorite memory was when I was able to be in the comfort of my own home and do school work. I felt like I could do work at my own pace.
My least favorite memory was leaving my friends and only having to see them through a screen. But, I was able to chat with them through the internet.
Overall I give 8th grade a 6.5/10.
9th grade:
9th grade is probably my least favorite year. I pretty much did the entire year online. I was scared of Covid and was also not willing to go back. It’s safe to say 2020 was the year that took a big toll on me, so I would say I did not like this year at all.
My favorite memory would have to be staying in my house. Since I stayed home a lot, I was able to come up with new and different hobbies that I still carry on to this day. These would include reading and drawing.
My least favorite memory from 9th grade was changing my lifestyle to an existence online. I feel like 2020 is why I’m so attached to the internet.
Overall I give 9th grade a 5/10.
10th grade:
10th grade redeemed almost everything in 9th grade. I went back to in-person school, and my grades and my education improved a lot. I met many friends and lost many friends, but, thankfully, I was able to learn true friendships. I made friends I envision will be my friends for a lifetime. They were friends in and out of school. 10th grade was what made me actually enjoy school and attending.
My favorite memory would be changing that year for the better by being more motivated and focused on my studies and extracurricular activities. I completely redeemed myself from 9th grade.
My least favorite memory was the end of the year. Even though this year was really good, I had really high expectations and always got a high honor roll. But, at the end of the year, I got just an honor roll (instead of “High” honors), and I remember being really disappointed in myself.
Overall I give 10th grade a 8/10.
11th grade/ my last year
This year was also one of my favorites. I did not love this year as much as I did 10th grade, but I would say this was the most exciting year.
In November, my parents and I were joking about graduating early because my parents both graduated a year early. I also thought about graduating early because I want to go to med school and want to get a start on that. At first I thought about getting a GED, but instead I am taking another class to reach graduation requirements. So now, I am on the road to graduating this May 26th.
My favorite memory WILL be when I graduate. I am excited to start college and can’t wait for the future.
My least favorite memory WILL be leaving my friends. My friends have been so supportive of me, and I will miss them a lot.
Overall I give 11th grade a 7.5/10.
I can see how I changed through the years mentally and physically. I would say school here gets an 8/10. I am ready for college and can’t wait to see the new possibilities I will meet in the future.
What’s the Level of Coffee Addiction at PVS?
By PVS student-blogger Louisa Richardson
The Blog Staff continues to plumb the depths of PVS’s relationship to coffee. Is it as simple as love-hate? Louisa sheds some light on our coffee-drinking habits, tastes, and associations.
Coffee is not something I have ever been allowed to have; however, apparently it is quite the controversial subject here at Palm Valley. Some people think that it is a great source of energy. Whereas others (Pip Watson) think of it as a “legalized drug.” Since I don’t drink coffee, I don’t have much opinion about it. The students and teachers at PVS do. Here’s what they had to say about America’s favorite morning drink.
Teacher Mr. Satterfield’s opinions on coffee:
I think coffee, like most things, is healthy in moderation. There are people who have done great amounts of research on the subject who argue that coffee provides significant health benefits. There is also, I believe, a body of research (and common sense) that suggests too much coffee is unhealthy. Personally, I rarely drink coffee because I want the caffeine to work when I need it to, which is usually on a long drive. But most people I know well do drink it often, and only a few of them have what I would call a coffee problem.
Student Pip Watson’s one of two opinions on coffee:
While I cannot comment on the nutritional value of coffee, I do know it contains copious amounts of caffeine. Caffeine is an addictive, mind-altering drug which most people shrug off as something that provides energy.
Teacher Mr. Parsons comments on coffee:
Coffee is at the heart of many cultures, particularly in Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and it has been for centuries. Noteworthy individuals wrote poems and songs dedicated to the taste and effects of that little roasted bean. All around the world, coffee shops have sold this stimulating beverage to artists and their fans. These centers for creativity blossomed organically out of the thriving bean trade with South American and African nations. Famously Beethoven brewed his morning cup of Joe from exactly 60 beans, no more and no less. Many blame coffee for his often erratic and grumpy behavior. The downsides of coffee are not to be ignored. Drinking too much caffeine (the potent chemical that gives coffee its boost of energy) can make people irritable and can prevent a good night’s sleep. Folks can even become hooked on coffee; their entire mood depends on their next espresso. Let’s just hope it doesn’t arrive too latte (Dad joke intentional)!
Teacher Mr. Killeen’s thoughts:
On a scientific level, coffee has both benefits and issues when it comes to personal health. According to the Mayo Clinic, coffee may offer protection from Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, liver cancer, heart attack and stroke. However it can also lead to an increase in blood pressure which can also be problematic for people. Just like anything you consume, moderation and listening to the signs your body is sending you is important to maintaining good health.
Staff member Ms. Greer talks about coffee:
I think coffee, actually caffeine in general, is addictive but it is something I really enjoy. I love a cup of hot coffee in the morning or an iced coffee on a summer afternoon.
Student Olivia Puetz (or Olie) says:
I like coffee, but not black coffee because it tastes too bitter. I like sweet coffee like frappuccinos and lattes.
Student Brooklyn Hatrack believes:
I’ll be for real – coffee is disgusting. It’s so bitter and the taste never gets out of your mouth. It also doesn’t even energize you. Also, the breath of a coffee drinker is VERY distinct. It’s icky.
So, as you can see when asking the question “What are your opinions on coffee?” I found that a surprisingly large number of people do not think coffee is a good thing. This can only be proving my mother right. Despite Starbucks’ success, I am definitely starting to think that coffee may not be so great after all.
Teacher Madlib Video
An original video by Levi Kassinove and Luke Sonderman, Palm Valley Blog Productions
While other PVS Bloggers searched for videos that have impacted history, communities, movements, fashion, and individual growth–Levi and Luke decided the canon was incomplete. So, they got busy and added to the Video Canon of Cinematography, The Teacher Madlib video. (No teachers were harmed in the making of this video.)
This week on thebirdonfire.org, Levi and I decided to spice things up and create a video post instead of an article. This is The Teacher Madlib, where YOUR Palm Valley Teachers tell you an unscripted story. Enjoy!
Luke Sonderman, Co-Director
Chapter 5, page 246-247 of my life: The Levi Manifesto
By Junior Novelist Levi Kassinove
Years ago, universities asked applicants to role play they’d written a novel of their life and to open up that hypothetical novel to p. 246 and to share it with the admissions committee. I asked the same of the Blog Staff. This is Levi’s p. 246.
Blog Advisor Zachik
This is a chapter from my teenage years.
…with a look of horror painted across their faces. I had realized at that point that anything was possible. Upon asking this utterly ridiculous request, there was a hint in the eyes of my peers that said yes. Yet another obsession had successfully scratched the itch in my brain that would otherwise leave me endlessly bored. Passion only ultimately leaves me hungry for more.
That is why I am against the advancement of knowledge.
A million billion years from now, when the last optimization for society has been implemented, when we have understood the last concept, and when we have found a cure for the last disease, only then will we realize that our quality of life hasn’t improved. Are things really any different now? Will they be different then? People want to live longer just so they can live longer. What then when we die? Is there really so much of a difference between living 50, 100, or 1000 years? No matter how much we “improve,” the hedonic treadmill will pull our happiness back to its baseline. 2000 years ago, if someone broke their leg, they would probably die or live pretty uncomfortably for a while, but they would adapt before they die. Nowadays, we get a cast and heal, and, still, we adapt all the same. Humans adapt to their situations as a coping mechanism. There is no such thing as improvement. Only the desire for advancement, which boils down to greed. Understanding the universe is for the sole purpose of understanding the universe. Science is an addiction, perhaps one that has short term and foreseeable benefits, but ultimately it becomes an addiction given enough time. I’d say enough time has passed for us to see that science will eventually lead to our doom.
Note: I didn’t start this in medias res because I’m pretentious; I did it to protect myself–from Indy. Here, I don’t have to reveal everything. At some point, depending on the life you choose, you get so paranoid that you end up destroying all of your work out of fear of not being accepted. And the constant jokes get annoying as well.
Levi Kassinove
People want knowledge because they want power, and people want power because they like having dominion. It is in our blood to strive for control. But, it is unfair. Inherently there are always people being controlled. The people in power believe that they can mold us to do anything. They think they can make us think any way. They think they can make us behave any way. But, we are not characterized by tabula rasa. Freedom is the essence of life. Animals, with their animalistic behavior, have total freedom over what they do. The people who want power think of humanity as beyond animals, and therefore beyond freedom. They think we are too civilized for freedom. We are not above animals. To be humble is to live in harmony. It is to be free. This was my request to my family.
I wanted to contribute to the global effort to free ourselves from tyranny. I wanted to be Neo from The Matrix. And, that’s exactly what I did. During the birth of my obsession, people obviously got tired of it. They got tired of my inability to talk about something other than this. But, when they started to see results, they started to get interested. They started supporting me. They did not regret their decision to let me essentially…be free. My goal is not to grow so big in my personal effort that I single-handedly change the world. My goal is to plant the seeds, so that others may water them.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 12
- Next Page »