the bird on fire

The Bird is the Word: Sophisticated Schoolyard Shenanigans

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The Enchantment of Snowboarding

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By James Zheng

Reporter: Hello sir, can you briefly introduce your situation and why you came to us?

Guest: Well let’s just say my girlfriend is addicted to something.

Reporter: Drugs? Smoking? Drinking?

Guest: Worse than that, she cannot stop being obsessed with Snowboarding.

Reporter: … Excuse me? 

Guest: Let me finish before you say anything more. Here are what her symptoms are:

  • Being excessively elated when seeing and hearing any words associated with snow.
  • Desperate waiting for winter, don’t even care about the other three seasons.
  • Spending all time watching videos and reading articles about Snowboarding. This is worse during the winter.
  • She is always an unorganized person, which totally changes during winter.
  • Being nearly depressed and starting to complain A LOT when winter is over.

Reporter: Now I am having sympathy for you more than anyone else…

Likely a few tries snowboarding will make you obsessed with snowboarding–although this might not apply to everyone. 

Snowboarding is not as fun as popular sports like basketball, football, and soccer. Plus the limitation is that if you live in a city with a warm climate, just like my city Kunming, I never get a chance to see the snowy slopes. Snowboarding also requires equipment. Equipment is usually quite expensive. I rented the equipment for the first time, and the price was around $200, but I was not happy with the price. Snowboarding also takes time to learn. I would say if you haven’t got the talent, this process is going to be painful. I mean painful both physically and mentally. For my first time, even if I was tutored about the basics, I was only allowed to try the low-slope area, which becomes tedious after five times. So, I went on the hill with my friends, and God knows how many times I fell… But some people master it quicker than others as they know how to balance the body and focus on the power exerted by the waist. 

However, I still want to admit that I was addicted to these “failures.” I had indeed fallen on the snow countless times, but I was closer to the bottom. I became more and more energetic towards my goal. I had this feeling that I had just learned a skill. I was becoming better and better, so no matter how the process tortured me, it was all worth it. Actually this could apply to any sport, but snowboarding never gets you bored. You still have a long way to go even after mastering control of your board.

Why are people so enthusiastic and delighted about snowboarding? Snowboarding is somehow considered to be the same level of excitement as skydiving, surfing, and paragliding etc. When we are involved in these types of sports, we increase our rate of blood circulation, and experience a feeling of flying and rushing. People do love perceiving this feeling. It truly feels free when you are dashing on the snow mountain. It makes you forget everything that is trivial or annoys you in real life. At this moment, you only care about entertaining yourself and integrating into a part of nature. Not to exaggerate, when you are travelling arbitrarily on the mountain, you have escaped the mist in the city, troublesome traffic, the scolds from your boss (teacher if you are a student), just everything that you are concerned with has nothing to do with you. All you need to do is just enter another dimension to have an enjoyable trip. Hearing the sounds of your snowboard pressing on the snow, feeling the wind flowing by, you find nothing is more pleasant than this. 

I have only captured a fraction of the charisma of snowboarding. It is definitely better if you experience it yourself.

Some have claimed that snowboarding is regarded as a dangerous sport, and I have the wounds to prove it. Make sure you have outfitted perfectly. Sometimes you need a helmet if you slide from a hill, but remember there are no sports that make you completely secure. The injuries you had are the precious proof of your efforts; just having scratches or falling on the ground may hurt, but they do not change the fact that they are a part of your progress (well unless you are that fragile). Therefore, make yourself brave, and do it! You will like it. 

Winter Sports Editor: Chelsea

Figure Skating vs. Hockey

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By Katelin Slosky

When I was younger, I used to take ice skating lessons. One of my best friends (she lives in Canada and has two older brothers) was taking hockey lessons at the time. While she was taking hockey lessons, and I was taking figure skating lessons, she visited me. We were on the ice rink, and she was trying figure skates for the first time. I started thinking about the differences between the two types of skating. Even though they involve skating on ice, they are almost nothing alike.

Here are some differences between hockey and figure skating.

  1. The skates are different. The figure-skating skate has a little toe pick that is used for jumping and footwork. Hockey blades are shorter and are built for speeding, while figure-skating blades are made for control over turning. I think they are equally easy to manage if you are starting to ice skate. If you’re used to a certain type of skate, then it might not go as smoothly. I remember having to wear hockey skates and not having a toe pick. It was a disaster. I was slipping all the time and didn’t feel like I had control. It depends on what you want to do. Do you want to go fast, or do you want control over your turns?
  2. And, there is obviously the stuff you do when you are on the ice. If you’ve ever gone to an ice rink before, you have probably seen this: the figure skaters practice jumps, turns, footwork, and everything else pretty near the center of the rink. The hockey skaters, on the other hand, rush around the rink, at impossibly fast speeds, and the beginners are going around the edge, holding on to the wall. The main difference is that hockey focuses on how to score goals, and couldn’t care less on how to do a waltz jump. In figure skating, speed isn’t everything, and you do have to know how to do much more than a waltz jump.
  3. Hockey skating can teach you how to work on a team, while figure skating can teach you… how to work on your own? For the most part, if you are a figure skater, chances are that you are working on your own. I’ve always thought figure skating was so pretty, even if you worked by yourself.

It really all just depends on what you like. With hockey, the skates are faster, you participate in more of a conventional sport, where there are goals, and points based off of what players score. Figure skating is more similar to dance, where it is more like an art.

Winter Sports Editor: Chelsea

Carpe Diem. . . and Other Latin Phrases to Say

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“Carpe Diem” Editor Quintus Ni says, “Don’t worry what will happen tomorrow; enjoy now; enjoy the moment.“

Luke says, “Thanks, Quintus. Good advice.” Now, follow it in Latin.

By Luke Langlois

Do you know why characters in movies and TV shows are so much more hip and cool than people are in actual day-to-day life? It’s one-liners. Unfortunately, saying one-liners in real life will probably not spark the reaction that they do in movies. Instead, people may look at you and ask why you are speaking exclusively in witty, planned responses. But, what if you decide to start saying Latin one-liners? Would you be able to Latin-one-line your way into a promotion? Is there anything better than the dying language of what used to be one of the largest empire the world has ever seen? Enough with the rhetorical questions; here are some Latin one-liners that may help you be the mightiest around. Please note that a pronunciation guide isn’t included, just sound it out, or something. 

  1. Lupus non timet canem latrantem: A wolf is not afraid of a barking dog. If you’re ever being relentlessly insulted by someone, this should be your go-to catchphrase. Depending on your tone, you may be asking for a fight. 
  2. Ad meliora: Toward better things. Did you just drop your $1,000 iPhone on the asphalt and have it promptly shatter? Ad meliora, for when your day isn’t going well, but you know that better things await. 
  3. Faber est suae quisque fortunae: Every person is the artisan of their own fortune. If you ever feel like life is just not going your way and that things could be better, remember this phrase. Craft your future!
  4. Audentes fortuna iuvat: Fortune favors the bold. Obviously, you’ve heard this one before, but have you ever seen it in Latin? As cliche as it is, life won’t just happen to you; YOU happen to life. Be bold. 
  5. Carpe diem: Seize the day. Yeah, yeah, we all know this one, but it’s Quintus’s theme, so I had to include it. It’s not half bad advice, you know. 
  6. Carpe vinum: Seize the wine. For you over 21-ers, this is a fun alternative to carpe diem when you really don’t feel like seizing the day. 
  7. Acta deos numquam mortalia fallunt: Mortal actions never deceive the gods. Honestly, parents should use this line more. If they know their kid is stealing candy from the candy jar, they should use this phrase and strike fear into their child’s heart forever.
  8. Ad astra per aspera: Through adversity to the stars. This is one of the more common phrases on the list, but that does not detract from its coolness factor. When you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, whether it be an essay or a drive home that seems extra long, remember that you are well on your way to the stars. If you’re an astronaut, feel free to take this literally! 
  9. Dulce periculum: Danger is sweet. Feeling edgy today? Dulce periculum! 
  10.  Aquila non capit muscas: The eagle does not catch flies. Basically, this phrase is used when you are feeling too mighty to be dealing with petty matters. Perhaps you are the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company and someone asks you to make some copies for them. The eagle does not catch flies! Be wary, though. If you use this phrase too much, people will just dislike you. 
  11. Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo: If I cannot move Heaven, I will raise Hell. If you’re looking for a good hook for your triumphant supervillain monologue, this might be it.
  12. Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt: Men generally believe what they want to believe. Do you want to cleanly win and end an argument at the same time? Use this phrase. Your opponent (likely) won’t understand you, but you’ll know that you have left them with a zinger.
  13. Ars longa, vita brevis: Art is long, life is short. If you’re working on the next great American novel, but people aren’t supporting you in your endeavor and think it’s a waste of time, hit them with ars longa, vita brevis. 
  14. Aut viam inveniam aut faciam: I will either find a way or make one. While this can be used for some self-motivation, it can also be used for vague threats. Try it out! 
  15. Factum fieri infectum non potest: It is impossible for a deed to be undone. Think before you act, now in Latin. 
Image result for latin

Carpe Diem Editor Quintus Ni

FIREBIRD Letter to Palm Valley Community by Charles Schnell

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“Naked and alone we came into exile. In her dark womb we did not know our mother’s face; from the prison of her flesh have we come into the unspeakable and incommunicable prison of this earth. . . . O waste of lost, in the hot mazes, lost, among bright stars on this weary, unbright cinder, lost! Remembering speechlessly we seek the great forgotten language, the lost lane-end into heaven, a stone, a leaf, an unfound door. Where? When?

O lost, and by the wind grieved, ghost, come back again.” 

— Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel

Dear Palm Valley Community, 

If someone asked you, “Who are you,” how would you respond? “I’m a. . .” Student? Parent? Teacher? Social worker? Musician? Politician? Doctor? Athlete? Farmer? Architect? Clown?

Then, if someone asked you, “What are you?” how would your response change? Would it change at all? What’s the difference between “who” and “what” you are? Which one makes you happy? Which limits you? Which obstructs you from being the happiest you can possibly be? 

These questions are all asked and answered in Firebird, the new musical dramedy premiering at Palm Valley School this March. This play marks the return of the highly-regarded playwriting team of Mr. Chris Griffin and Mr. Ken Sarkis at Palm Valley School. (If you are a fan of shows such as Home Sweet Homer and Shakespeare at Starlucks, this newest musical of theirs is right up your alley!)

The play takes place over the span of the life of one person, named Arruda, as he travels throughout the world, bound to the task of defining “who” he is. There are no antagonists, other than life itself and that obnoxious, deceiving question, “Who are you?” During his voyage, Arruda encounters and learns from a wide array of odd folk who have already defined “who” they are and are quite comfortable with their answers, including a family who sweeps, the U.S. Common Core education system, successful businessmen whose specific company’s name we had to take out of the script (for copyright reasons), Buddhists and yogos, spirits of the Amazon river, and—everyone’s favorite type of people—self-absorbed actors.  

This person’s journey to self-discovery will be accompanied by only the greatest composers of the 19th and 20th century, such as Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky, with modern, original lyrics to tell our story. 

Almost all of the 23 drama students in the Upper School Theatre Department will be playing multiple roles, and you better believe every single one will be acting, singing, and dancing their way through this existential, musical romp of self-discovery. And, to top it all off, you certainly don’t want to miss the show that will be Mr. Sarkis’s “Last Hurrah!” as a theatre director and teacher. You can expect that he is giving it his all! (As usual.) 

If you would like to join us on this young person’s journey, Firebird will be running for six shows in the MPR: March 20, 21, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 p.m. and on March 22 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets will start at $15 for general admission and will cost $20 for premium seats. (To purchase tickets, you can do so at the link below* or at the door.) The department is hard at work rehearsing and producing Firebird, and we hope to see you there as what you truly are. 

On behalf of the cast and crew of Firebird, 

Charles Schnell

Editor: Luke Langlois

*To buy tickets for Firebird, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-palm-valley-school-9832789066

Inner Peace–call it what you want

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By Quintus Ni

Photo by Quintus Ni

Inner peace is kinda the beauty of life, with which, the storm outside the window stops and the world of mortals seems not that noisy anymore. Sitting still, we can hear the crystal sound when the raindrops fall down the tiles. Or, we can take the fishing rod and sit quietly beside the river, seeking for the initial peace that we first knew.

Inner peace is kinda unconventional grace.

We are not talking about those converted to Buddhism, but the ones living in this world of mortals. There may be not so many people that could find real inner peace and keep calm all the time in this complicated world.

With inner peace, people won’t be flighty or impetuous, won’t be overambitious, won’t put all efforts in intrigue, and won’t care about fame or success.

With inner peace, one can read books, write poems, or appreciate paintings in the light alone; get packed and travel, approach nature, see grasses and blossoms, or have a drink of wine or a cup of tea while listening to beautiful music and enjoying sweet memories…

Once we get ourselves calmed down, the whole world seems quiet as well. Gently closing our eyes, we can listen to the sound of nature with our hearts, create the colorful world of emotion, and warm everything touchable around us with love.

Inner peace, like the clean spring, though sometimes has ripples in the breeze, can restore its original pure and quiet state finally.

Whenever we lose inner peace, we can go and find a quiet place, to think, lie down on the ground, or look up to the vast sky, and then listen to the breezes and the bug buzz. In this way, we may find the truth of life, purify the soul, and get inner peace back!

In this materialistic world, we could easily drift with the trends if we were trapped in fame and success and desire, which could make us lose ourselves. If we lose the most precious innocence and calmness in our life, the boat of life will become precarious in the bitter life of mankind.

So, no matter who we are or what we are doing, as long as we are alive, we should live contented with our inner world. That’s the only way for us to feel happy.

The rule of life is to grasp appropriate occasions for various kinds of experience, like creatures should adapt to four different seasons: sowing in spring, hoeing in summer, and harvesting in autumn, and reserving in winter. When the official is out of office, he should not look for the feeling of sitting on the podium and giving the command; if the rich become poor, he should not look for the feeling of sitting in luxury cars. Many of us feel upset, just because the changing occasions and environments disturb our mood, which further disturbs our life and happiness. However, when we get over it and let it go, we could also have the opportunity to live a happy life.

With inner peace, we could get rid of lots of worries when talking with others. For example, a calm person always chats about domestic trivia, caring about no theme or tones. This kind of person always treats the past personal experience and the current times with great composure.

Inner peace is so amazing! It allows us live a purer, easier, and more contented life. Call it what you want, it is a enjoyable beauty of life!


Humanity Editor: Doreen Yuan

The Heyday of Esports Has Come

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By James Zheng

Esports, as I previously mentioned in one of my posts, has become a modern well-organized industry. Its influence over the world has expanded during the last two years. The heyday of Esports has come. In this post, the main focus is the League of Legend Season 9 Championship Tournament and the Champion team named FunPlus Phoenix, often referred to as FPX from the Chinese region. 

FPX

The Heyday has been extended due to a new participant from China that serves as a dark horse in the competition. This team called Invictus Game, known as IG, unexpectedly defeated most of the well-known strong teams and eventually won the final. All of the players became extremely famous after the final night, and it is not an exaggeration to say that this absolute unexpected winning by this team has shaken the national population in China. Even for the people who know nothing about Esports, they have felt a heavy atmospheric excitement from the internet and neighborhood. It has been proven that LPL (League of Legends Pro League, specifically the Chinese region) has obtained the strength to fight against the outstanding South Korean, European, and American teams. It truly makes other regions start to pay attention to IG; it is an unprecedented surprise to them that such a team nobody has knowledge of could win the championship. 

IG

As Season 9 Tournament climaxes, the best known regions including North America, Europe, South Korea, and China  will send their three qualified teams to fight. It is a great enjoyment for those who know each team well to watch them fight against each other, to give an example, just like the NBA fans watching the Lakers go against the Warriors, or Celtics go against the Rockets. We are not sure which one will win; those teams are exceptionally strong. All this  just builds up the suspense for the fans. 

Coming back to our protagonist, FPX, the team, is considered the new rookie who has not shown anything astonishing until it wins the 2019 League of Legend Rift Rivals and later gains the popularity from forums, blogs, and Esports media outside China. And FPX shows its power again by defeating IG to become the first-seed team from a Chinese region, and then go on fighting in the tournament against IG (champion from 9th tournament), Fnatic (Champion from 1st tournament), G2 (champion from 9th mid-season invitational). FPX prevailed over all of them without pressure, and one of the players even taunted G2 in an after-game interview saying, “I don’t think they are actually playing.” 

The victory of IG and FPX, the two teams used to play the role as minions, now has stood on the apex of the Esports realm. Their effort epitomizes the beginning of a new age, followed by the end of 2019 that ends with FPX’s conquest, more and more fans around the world are seeking more events involving these two teams. The European region and the South Korean region have found their worthy opponents.

Esports may seem trivial and sound like an alien thing to many people. The prosperity of Esports manifests as an emergence of a refreshing concept.

Beginnings/Endings Editor: Katelin Slosky

If you were magic . . .

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A Wednesday Writing Prompt Ms. Zachik stole from the internet began . . .

“A strange meteor shower lasted for hours before you went to bed. The next day, technology across the earth fails. However, when you snap your fingers in frustration, the lights come on. The Age of Magic has begun.”

Ms. Zachik asked us, “If you were magic, what would it look like? What could you do? And, what would you do?”

Responses compiled and edited by Blog Staffer Renée Vazquez.

Renée responds . . .

“The Leonids meteor shower is coming Sunday night, and peaking during Monday night. Those in New Zealand should have a fair to a good chance at seeing one of the best meteor showers of the year when it peaks. The Leonids are one of the most dazzling meteor showers and every few decades it produces a meteor storm where more than 1,000 meteors can be seen an hour. Cross your fingers for some good luck – the last time the Leonids were that strong was in 2002, lighting up the Yucatan sky. Its parent comet is called Comet-Temple/Tuttle and it orbits the sun every 33 years.”

I was born in the Yucatan peninsula in 2002. During the exact peak of one of the strongest Leonid meteor showers ever seen. I was the only baby born that night, which was strange according to the nurses and doctors, but we lived in a very small, touristy town. They shrugged it off. I was sickly and struggled with my health all my life. Then in 2035, I experienced another meteor shower just like the one 33 years ago. This time I saw it, I was near my home in New Zealand when I saw the meteor shower begin. I felt all my worries slip away. My muscles relaxed. I felt every breath, every internal motion of my body. A comforting heat crept up my heart. And then the power went out. Everywhere. Well, just in New Zealand. But it was still shocking. When my husband and I went home, the power was still out, and after an hour we were getting antsy. I tried, for the 100th time, to flip the light switch on but, of course, it didn’t work. 

“Aw shucks, ” I said snapping my fingers cynically. All of a sudden. The light returned.

Katelin responds . . .

The sky was lit up with the shower of a thousand meteors. We watched in awe of the glory. It lasted hours, and soon we fell asleep to the bright flashes through the window. Clouds came from the meteors and settled down on Earth. They blocked the radio signal, stifled the electricity and power lines, and cut off any form of power. They demagnetized batteries of all kinds, ruining technology as the world knew it. But just as man was about to wake up in a world with no technology, we breathed one final breath before waking up.

Most of the clouds were absorbed into the machines, but some of us breathed in the mist. That is how we got our powers. Not everyone had a power, but those that did were limited to a certain range of them.

One power was the power to control plants. To make them grow as you wished, to manipulate small shrubs to become tall trees, or to grow a year’s worth of crops in a minute.

Another power was the power to control water. To control the tides of water, control the shape, and even draw water and energy from the sky’s vapor.

Another power was the power to control metal. These people could shift metal into any shape or form that they wanted to, forming deadly weapons at a single thought.

There were many more powers, all unique and different with the power to kill. I was with the power of lightning. I could control electricity, and create it too.

Luke responds . . .

First of all, the “Age of Magic” starts with me. Everybody else can snap, sure, but ONLY I CAN CONTROL THE MAGIC. If everyone’s special, nobody’s special, and I want to be special. So, the first thing I do with my magic is figure out how far my magic goes. Ideally, I’m a master of the elements. No, not the typical ice and fire type elements. I will be controlling THE elements. People will tremble as I walk around in my shiny robes and I start shooting PURE and UNMATCHED OXYGEN at them. In one universe of my wizardry, I become a supervillain with my elements. However, my primary element would be helium. It’s the coolest (forming at -269 degrees Celsius). In another universe, I start a school for elemental wizards and we save the world from climate change with the power to control carbon, oxygen, etc. Magic.

Chelsea responds . . . with “The Age of Magic”

As I snapped my fingers, everything stopped. The world was covered with blue hemisphere; golden sparkles rained down onto the ground while I blinked. I could move, but others could not. Thus I knew I had the power to stop time. It was in my wildest dream to do that and once I resumed the time with another snap of my fingers, the world was recovered from the blue hemisphere and the noise of people and cars started to fill my ears with unpleasant feelings. But I could care less, because I had the ability to stop those noises anytime as I want. 

I smiled to myself.

¨I win.¨

If you were magic, what would you do?


Save The Mock Trial Team!

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By Luke Langlois

When Chelsea said the theme was “winter sports,” I figured that I would write up another post about hockey. Unfortunately, the only thing going on in the NHL is the same old regular season of play. There’s nothing particularly interesting about the middle of the season (unless you are an avid fan of hockey, which I still encourage you to be). So, why not write about my other favorite winter sport, MOCK TRIAL?! Yes. It counts. As a participant, I may be biased with this statement, but Mock Trial is easily one of the most underrated clubs at Palm Valley. If you are not sure what exactly Mock Trial is, I encourage you to check out my post linked below that I wrote all the way back in November of 2018. The current problem with Mock Trial at Palm Valley, though, is that seven out of our eleven members are seniors. We only have two juniors, two sophomores, and no freshmen. If something does not change, there will be no team next year. 

Here’s why Mock Trial is great. It’s too late to join this year, as competitions started on February 6th, but keep an eye out for it next year. Here are just a few of the many reasons why Mock Trial should be in your future if you are a 9-12th grader.  

  • The cases are always very well-written and fun to read, from the fact-situation (the stone-cold truths of the case) to the often contradictory witness statements. The committee who writes the cases has to make sure that both a prosecution and defense team can make a solid argument from the case with no side having more power than the other. As such, the cases are never simple and are full of nuance. Every detail is meticulously placed, and it always feels like you’re missing something. Essentially, there is never a dull moment when discussing the case.
  • The “officials” who moderate competitions are real legal professionals. All of the scoring attorneys are bar-certified, and the judges are either active judges or retired judges. A competition will never be presided over by someone who is not expertly qualified to do so. They’re also all voluntarily offering their time, so they usually are not cruel and jaded people who just want to go home. Few other extracurriculars allow you to interact with true experts in the field. 
  • You get to learn about United States law. The core intention of Mock Trial is to teach the students about the law of the United States, court proceedings, what exactly is needed to find someone guilty of alleged crimes, and more. However, this does not mean that Mock Trial is only for students looking for a career in law. Besides learning about the law, you learn some lessons in being an effective public speaker and thinking on your feet when matters don’t go exactly as planned. These are invaluable life skills! While people with theater backgrounds often constitute a big part of the Mock Trial team, that certainly isn’t a requirement, and you can thrive without any knowledge of performance. Plus, with knowledge of the law, you can look at things with a legal eye and not just rely on the often incorrect “court of public opinion.”
  • You get to dress nicely. Palm Valley polos are great and all, but how often do you really get razzle-dazzled up and burst into a courtroom with pride. Not very often, I’d wager. Speaking of courtrooms, in Mock Trial, you get to compete where the magic happens. When you walk into a courtroom, you instantly feel like you have become a person of high status and class. It’s not Disneyland, but the courtrooms are magnificently structured, and the Great Seal of the State of California “looking over” every courtroom makes me even feel a bit patriotic. There’s a lot of history in that Seal! 

Juggling schoolwork, clubs, and sports is already super difficult, so why not add Mock Trial to that mix? Seriously, though, it may be tough to add something else to your schedule, but I can (almost) guarantee that you will not regret joining Mock Trial. Riches in the forms of award medals are also available if you happen to have the talent. . .

Find my previous post “Mock Trial Explained” Below

Mock Trial: EXPLAINED!

Winter Sports Editor: Chelsea

humanity

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Blogger Philosopher on our Humanity

If we were to kill all the bad people in the world, would the world be a better place, with no bad people, or would we be the bad people? Would killing the people who are evil create a utopia? I mean, no one would ever be evil again, because they would be too scared to be killed, and there would be no other evil people. Or would it be a dystopia? These people are honestly acting on a human instinct. If we suppressed that, or made them not exist, would they still be human? In my opinion, there is a dark side to all of us, and by cutting that out, we would no longer have free will.

What decides whether a person is good or evil? A person could steal, but just be trying to feed their family and friends. A person who has technically done nothing wrong, has committed no crime, could still be an awful person to the people around them. What is the rubric for which people are good and which are evil?

In the end, I believe that you need good to balance out the evil. I think that good would not exist without evil. For example, if someone found a cure for cancer, that would be great for society. However, the cancer needs to exist, for the cure to be made. For every good act, there must be an evil that needs to be fixed. The solution to a problem may be a very good thing, but for that to exist, the problem must exist in the first place.

Humanity Editor: Doreen Yuan

The World: How Will it End?

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By Luke Langlois

I know my posts recently have been pretty negative. First, a review of our decade (we can’t get anything done), then, a showcasing of diseases that will kill, and now, you will learn some of the different ways our world could, well, stop turning! 99% of all species that have existed have gone extinct. Eventually, it’ll be our turn (unless we colonize Jupiter). The following are ways the world may end:

  1. Asteroid Impact: Due to Earth’s gravity, an object in freefall accelerates at a rate of 9.8 meters per second squared. It can be painful to jump out of your bed too quickly, and, if you fall from a height of about 3 meters, you could risk fracturing a bone. Imagine a massive cosmic rock smashing into our planet. The impact and aftereffects could be tremendous enough to end civilization as we know it. . . Shoutout to the dinosaurs.
  2. Black Hole: If a rogue black hole somehow stumbled close to Earth, we would have a bad time. A black hole’s gravity is so powerful that light itself is unable to escape from its grasp (thus the modifier “black”). If Earth even felt a smidgen of that gravity, it could lose its controlled orbit, which would cause extreme climate shifts. Or, Earth could get flung from our solar system and meet an ice-cold death in deep space.   
  3. Climate Change: We would prefer that the oceans do not engulf California, thank you. 
  4. Global Epidemic: Just one itty bitty viral DNA/RNA mutation could indeed spell the end of human civilization as we know it. Prominent outbreaks like the black plague and the Spanish flu have already wiped out tens of millions of us, so if a disease took it just one step further, who knows what could happen?
  5. A Reversal of Earth’s Magnetic Field: Earth has a magnetic field. That would be the reason why compasses work. Surprisingly, there were compasses before the compass app on the iPhone. Anyway, every few hundred thousand years, the Earth’s magnetic field shrinks until it is almost nothing, and it remains that way for a century or so. Then, it FLIPS! The last time this happened was around 780,000 years ago. It may be about that time! Without the magnetic field, we would be more susceptible to cosmic particle strikes on our atmosphere. That is not good news, especially considering the fact that we already are wounding our atmosphere.
  6. Global Warfare: Usually, it is my opinion that the Doomsday “seconds to midnight” Clock does nothing but stir up unnecessary fear. For the purposes of this post, however, let us embrace that fear. We are 100 seconds (closer than ever) to DOOMSDAY! That largely has to do with the fact that we have tens of thousands of nuclear weapons on our planet, more than enough to wipe each other out ten times over (figure not exact). Dear fellow youth, let’s not do that. 
  7. Technological Terror:  As the former governor of California once said, “I’ll be back.” While we certainly are more creative and innovative than our technological counterparts, there is no doubt that computers can store and process information much more effectively than our brains. If we are not careful with our developments and let artificial intelligence learn without boundaries, we may find ourselves up against an unstoppable force. Perhaps there will be no killer robots involved, but our exponentially increasing reliance on our devices may lead us to inevitable doom. I’m watching you, Chromebook. 
  8. Overpopulation: Thomas Malthus warned us about this! According to the United Nations, in the year 2050 the population will be about 9.7 billion. In 2100, it could rise to about 11 billion. This is kind of a given, but that is a LOT of people. We may figure out how to deal with it, but we also may not. This massive population would contribute to our overzealous resource consumption and our continued destruction of the environment.
  9. Supervolcano: If you’ve ever watched a science fiction movie detailing the end of the world, there’s a 50% chance it included a supervolcano. The fear with a supervolcano is similar to that of an asteroid strike. If the volcano is powerful enough, its emitted particles and ash could effectively block out the sun and shatter the ecosystem by freezing us out. 
  10. The Sun Explodes: Once the sun has consumed all of its core hydrogen fuel, it will die out just like any other star. We will be consumed by its supernova and, if anything survives, it will freeze over. This one is actually inevitable, but we have a couple of billion years before it will happen. I’m not making any assumptions on your lifespan, so please do not be offended, but you will probably be dead when the sun explodes. 

Sometimes, life is just out of your control. Life is especially out of your control if a country-sized asteroid lands in your backyard. Thanks for reading.

Sources:

https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2019.html
https://phys.org/news/2014-01-sun.html
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/20-ways-the-world-could-end
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/02/earth-magnetic-field-flip-poles-spinning-magnet-alanna-mitchell/

Humanity Editor: Doreen Yuan