Jake Sonderman Archives - the bird on fire

The Ford F-150 Lightning vs. Tesla Cybertruck

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

America’s best- selling vehicle now has an electric alter ego. Allow Blogger Jake to introduce you to the new Ford F-150 and Tesla’s upcoming Cybertruck.

By Jake Sonderman, Business Correspondent

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning First Look: The Electric Pickup Has a Shockingly Low Price, Mega Specs

With over 600,000 units sold a year, the Ford F-150 pickup has been America’s best-selling vehicle for years (kbb.com). More recently, Tesla has grown exponentially in the last year and has made a name for itself by being different from other traditional car manufacturers. Tesla further differentiated itself with the introduction of the Cybertruck, an electric pickup with very high performance and a very unique, futuristic look. Ford, however, recently introduced the Ford F-150 Lightning, an electric F-150 that is almost indistinguishable from a traditional F-150 in appearance. These two trucks are set to hit the market in 2022, and I am fascinated to see how they will measure up. Though you cannot buy either of these trucks from the dealership just yet, we still can compare them to see each’s advantages and disadvantages.

Performance

The performance for the dual motor versions of each truck is remarkably similar, with the Cybertruck at a slight edge.

For both, 0-60mph is around 4.5 seconds.

The F-150 Lightning upgraded version (about the same price point as the Cybertruck dual motor) has 563 horsepower, and the Cybertruck has an estimated 690 horsepower (motortrend.com). Take this with a grain of salt as Tesla hasn’t released numbers like the truck’s horsepower, and that number is only an estimated number.

The F-150 Lightning has 775 lb-ft of torque, and the Cybertruck dual-motor is estimated to have 824 lb-ft of torque. For reference, a gas-powered 2021 F-150 has 570 lb-ft of torque.

Both models (including the upgraded F-150 Lightning) have a 300-mile range.

*stats from ford.com, tesla.com, and kbb.com.

Exterior and Interior Appearance

Obviously, the Cybertruck is not exactly trying to fit in. Those who purchase the Cybertruck are looking to stand out. This is pretty much the stark opposite of the F-150 Lightning. This truck is barely distinguishable from the normal F-150. I have to say that the appearance of the Cybertruck is certainly limiting its market. While the Cybertruck might have superior performance, it has a look that only a specific consumer likes. In my opinion, if the Cybertruck adopted a more tame look in line with Tesla’s other cars, it would most definitely end up selling more trucks in the long run. The appearance is the most clear difference between these two vehicles.

The interior of the Cybertruck follows suit with the exterior. Instead of a steering wheel, it has an airplane-inspired yoke. All features are available in the 17-inch display, and, of course, there is no switchgear (kbb.com). The F-150 has an interior very similar to other Ford 2021 vehicles, with a 15.5-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash.

Ford F-150 Lightning Advantages

Ford is touting the Lightning’s ability to be used as a backup generator for your entire house for three days (with a full charge)! There are also multiple outlets on the vehicle to use during a camping trip or whatever you please. The F-150 Lightning also appeals to a different market than the Cybertruck in my opinion, simply because of its appearance. The Lightning is a clear attempt to create an electric vehicle meant for work and practicality. The Cybertruck is probably competing more with the Raptor crowd, looking for high performance and flash. The F-150 also has an actual steering wheel.

Cybertruck Advantages

The most clear advantage of the Cybertruck is the option for a tri-motor truck. This truck has the performance of a sports car, with a sub 3 second 0-60 mph, 800 horsepower, and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. For reference, 18 wheelers have 1,000-2,000 lb-ft of torque (auto.edu). This much performance is far beyond practicality but will certainly attract the certain niche sporty-truck audience. You can also, of course, use Tesla chargers.

Pricing

F-150 Lightning:

*NOT including possible upgrades, all models are double motor, all wheel drive.

Lightning Pro: $39,974

XLT: $52,974

Lariat: $58,630

Platinum: $69,500

All Possible Upgrades: $90,474

Eligible for $7500 Tax Credit (kbb.com)

Cybertruck:

Single Motor: $39,900 (rear-wheel drive)

Double Motor: $49,900 (all-wheel drive)

Triple Motor: $69,900 (all-wheel drive)

Editor-in-Chief: Hannah Hall

Sources:

https://www.kbb.com/comparison/ford-f-150-vs-tesla-cybertruck/

https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/f150-lightning/2022/

https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck/design#battery

https://www.motortrend.com/news/tesla-cybertruck-electric-pickup-fast-0-60-range-payload-towing/

https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/features/power/

Tax Cuts?

May 14, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Politics is conflictual by nature, and just one of the many controversial issues that divide the parties is that of tax cuts. The blog’s resident Business Editor and economics buff, Jake Sonderman, offers an analysis of this issue.

By Jake Sonderman, Business Editor

“What we don’t need is more spending, and what we don’t need are taxes, and what we do need is a lot less of both.”
— Ronald Reagan

It is the age old question. Tax more, or tax less? In 2017, under Donald Trump, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed, and after-tax revenue for the top marginal income tax bracket went up 3% (taxpolicycenter.org). So it would seem that the “tax less” side had won. But, with President Biden in office, it seems inevitable that taxes will go up for some to offset spending in many other areas. There is a lot of criticism on both sides of the aisle on tax policy, with Republicans ripping Biden for proposed tax hikes, and Democrats ripping Trump for tax cuts for the rich. I would like to put a pin in the politics of this issue for a second and discuss whether tax cuts are really productive for an economy and whether they do indeed “pay for” themselves.

Are Tax Cuts Productive?

To start, any tax cut will result in more money in the hands of citizens. For a tax cut or any spending to be effective, it needs to “multiply” or circulate through the economy instead of simply going straight into the bank. So if any tax cut puts more money into the economy, who should get the tax cut to make it the most “productive”? Owen M. Zidar at The National Bureau for Economic Research looked back at history to see which tax cuts are the most effective in states in terms of employment growth. He found that tax cuts for low-income brackets produce substantially more growth than tax cuts for income brackets in the top 10%. Specifically, he found that a 1% tax cut for the bottom 90% of earners resulted in 3.4% employment growth over two years, and that a cut for the top 10% produced 0.2% employment growth over the same period. (nber.org)

Summed up, tax cuts are productive for the economy. But tax cuts for low income brackets produce much more growth than tax cuts for higher brackets.

Do Tax Cuts “Pay For” themselves?

The short answer to this question is “No.” For a tax cut to “pay for” itself, it would need to produce an absurd amount of economic growth. For example, if the government introduced a tax cut that costs $200 billion and brings the income tax rate to 20%, the tax cut would need to produce about $1 trillion in growth. 20% of $1 trillion is $200 billion. This is an oversimplified essence of the idea. The idea that tax cuts produce more revenue for the government is based on the Laffer curve, an idea adopted in the Reagan era. It is based on the idea that if an income tax rate is 100% or 0% the government will receive the same amount of revenue. In the Laffer curve, there is a “sweet spot” where the government produces the most amount of revenue (investopedia.com) (taxpolicycenter.org).

The problem with referring to the Laffer curve in my opinion is that it is often used out of context and used incorrectly. The Laffer curve is often misconstrued to say that somehow lowering tax rates for high income earners and large corporations will result in booming growth that pays for itself entirely. The Laffer curve has to work both ways, meaning that cuts can substantially lower tax revenue if the tax rate goes too low.

Too often politics gets in the way of the facts when it comes to taxes. Too often politicians say “tax cuts” when they mean tax cuts for only high income earners. Tax cuts are an economic tool that can be more effective even than government spending, but they are only sometimes used effectively. Tax cuts for low income earners undoubtedly spur substantial employment growth, and those are, in my opinion, the tax cuts we should be talking about.

First Editor-in-Chief: Elizabeth Shay

Sources:

https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/do-tax-cuts-pay-themselves#:~:text=Cutting%20tax%20rates%20thus%20almost,percent%20of%20the%20tax%20cut.

Click to access w21035.pdf

https://taxfoundation.org/the-distributional-impact-of-the-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-over-the-next-decade/

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/trickledowntheory.asp

Child Marriage in the U.S.

April 30, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

There are many laws in our country that are rooted in manipulation and exploitation, but not many that have survived completely untouched to this day. Jake highlights the prevalence of child marriage and how to stop it. Jake calls for repealing the laws that allow adults to marry the underage.

By Jake Sonderman

18 U.S.C. Section 2243(a) states: “Whoever… knowingly engages in a sexual act with another person who—

has attained the age of 12 years but has not attained the age of 16 years; and
is at least four years younger than the person so engaging;

or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.”

This is also known as statutory rape, meaning that any sexual acts with a minor are illegal, consensual or not. But, there are exceptions. The first is if the defendant can establish, with a preponderance of evidence, that they did not know the other person’s age. The other is:

“(2) In a prosecution under this section, it is a defense, which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the evidence, that the persons engaging in the sexual act were at that time married to each other” (18 U.S.C. Section 2243(c)). This is called child marriage, and it is horrifying.

You might be thinking, does child marriage actually happen in the U.S.? Danna Pollard, founder of the Survivor’s Corner, asserts that underage marriage not only exists in the U.S. but is much more prevalent than people think. Pollard herself was married at 16, to a man twice her age. She was groomed for two years, and her mother signed the papers allowing her to enter into the marriage. She was consistently abused in the marriage but had no legal recourse as a married minor in Kentucky. Not even the neighbors constantly calling police on the husband was enough. Eventually, as an adult, Pollard filed for divorce (cbsnews.com). Pollard also attests that child marriage is perpetuated through families, as most child marriages require parental consent, and that it is likely a rural phenomenon linked to poverty.

Between 2000 and 2015, at least 207,459 minors were married in the United States. 87% percent of the minors married were girls. Of these minors, six were 12 years old, 51 were 13, and 985 were 14 years of age. 86% of these minors married adults. 15% of the adults who married these minors were above the age of twenty four. 460 of these adults were over forty. The largest age difference in these marriages was a 74-year-old man marrying a 14-year-old girl in Alabama (PBS). Nicholas Syrett, author of American Child Bride: A History of Minors and Marriage in the United States, argues that indeed child marriage is a “rural phenomenon and it is a phenomenon of poverty” (PBS).

There is currently a perfectly legal way to commit sexual assault. Minors can be married off by parents with no say in the matter. This law reeks of a time of racism, sexism, and bigotry. There is no argument for child marriage. There is no argument for keeping this law. It is time for action. Repeal 18 U.S.C. Section 2243(c), and outlaw child marriage.

*Pollard’s non-profit and plan of action can be found at https://survivorscorner.org/stop-child-marriage

Decriminalize/Criminalize Editor: Evan Spry

Sources:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2243

http://apps.frontline.org/child-marriage-by-the-numbers/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/child-marriage-united-states-donna-pollard/#:~:text=Biden%20Administration-,Child%20marriage%20is%20%22extremely%20prevalent%22%20in%20U.S.%3A%20%22,The%20cycle%20perpetuates%20across%20generations%22&text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20more,to%20data%20analyzed%20by%20Frontline.

The Deep Sea

April 23, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

When Blog Editor Erik asked the Staff writers to build their own monsters, Jake chose to describe a terrible sea monster in poetic terms.

By Jake Sonderman

Sometimes, the monster that is scariest is

the one you can’t see. The one you cannot see,

but you know is there. It’s waiting for you in

the depths far below, watching your two limbs flee.

That’s why sailors, by far, have the most courage.

There is always the chance the ground disappears.

And if, God forbid, it did, who would notice?

No one is watching except the distant pier.

Life requires many leaps into unknown.

You become the sailor on the blue monster.

The ground is gone and you find yourself alone

No land in sight, for miles–only water.

Frightening, but you have to swim to safety;

There’s no monster but yourself in the deep sea.

Build-Your-Own-Monster Editor: Erik Bearman

How We Can Use Virtual Reality Today

April 14, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

A world inside our own??? Yeah, that is basically Virtual Reality. Slap on a pair of goggles, and you are practically good to go. Blogger Jake explores a few very unique ways that we use VR in medicine, product design, military, shopping, and events. –Alternate Realities Editor Hannah Hall

By Jake Sonderman

Many movies, like The Matrix, examine living in a reality created electronically that is not “real.” Today, we have at our fingertips the technology to immerse ourselves in a digital reality. But, instead of living in an alternate reality, we use virtual reality and augmented reality to better enhance the reality we live in.

Virtual reality has been around for longer than most people realize. The virtual reality we know today, the headsets and everything, was developed in the 70s and 80s by NASA as a training system (fi.edu). Virtual reality has been extensively studied since this time and is now accessible to everyone. But now, the first association most people make with virtual reality is video games. Don’t get me wrong: this is a great way to immerse yourself in another world or reality. But, there are many more practical uses for virtual and augmented reality.

Here are some of those uses:

Surgery

Vancouver-based Precision OS Virtual Reality Surgical Training Adopted by 10 Medical Institutions Across North America | T-Net News

Arguably the most meaningful use–VR is an invaluable tool for training surgeons. Mock surgeries can be created and implemented, but, also, resident or new surgeons can have a professional guide them in virtual reality during a real surgery. Some surgeries can even be performed by a robot being controlled by a surgeon using VR.

Other Medical Uses

There are many ways VR is being utilized in therapy, whether it be conquering phobias or treating PTSD. There is also the possibility of better virtual checkups (you know in case we all have to stay home for an extended period of time for some reason). Studies have shown that VR helps paraplegics learn to walk again because according to the Duke researchers that executed the study, “If you are confined to a bed or a wheelchair for a long time, your brain starts forgetting what it’s like to have legs and how to control them.” VR helps these patients remember.

Product Design

Developing prototypes can be extremely expensive, especially for small businesses and automotive manufacturers. VR is being used to design digital prototypes and save money in the process by not creating as many physical prototypes. Here is a link to Jaguar Land Rover’s Virtual Cave where they design new cars in VR. It is from 10 years ago but is still a good example of using virtual reality to enhance production.

Copy of Virtual Reality Centre_1_news post

Military and Handling Dangerous Materials

Soldiers to Get Advanced Virtual Training Tools Next Year, Army Says | Military.com

Of course we already use drones in the military, but VR has good applications for training teams in all branches. The military invests very heavily into developing VR technology. VR is also useful for handling dangerous objects like radioactive materials from a distance, through robots of course.

Shopping

One of the things I hate about shopping online, especially for musical instruments, is not being able to try something before I buy it. Virtual reality can help customers get a sense for what they want before they buy it. This is especially helpful for online clothes shopping. VR can assist in seeing how clothes will fit and look before you buy them, so that you don’t have to spend days waiting just to get clothes that don’t fit. Also, the automotive industry is beginning to use VR to show customers how a car will feel if they want to buy it online.

Events and Concerts

Especially during Quarantine, concerts in VR began to get some traction. Unfortunately, the phenomenon didn’t go too mainstream due to a relatively small number of people having a VR headset, but it is still a cool innovation. This is especially cool for audio because believe it or not, audio for VR is also very complicated. This is because if you are in a virtual room, software has to model what the audio will sound like in the exact spot you are standing based on the acoustics of the virtual room and where the audio source is coming from. But an added plus is that you can choose to watch the concert in solo mode and see your favorite artist up close.

I find this very interesting since I plan to major in audio engineering, and many cool VR products for audio have come out of the university I plan to go to (the University of Miami)–one of which was a VR program that spots the acoustic imperfections in your home studio.

The amount of technology an everyday citizen has at their fingertips today would amaze someone 30 years ago. That being said, I’m sure 10 years from now we will all be utilizing technology hundreds of times more powerful. To me, it seems like VR is a technology we will all be using in the future, and man that is exciting.

Alternate Realities Editor: Hannah Hall

Sources:

Virtual Reality in Healthcare

https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-applications/fashion.html

https://www.neuro.duke.edu/research/research-news/how-vr-helping-paraplegics-walk-again#:~:text=The%20Duke%20researchers%20figured%20out,the%20experience%20of%20moving%20again.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/02/12/15-effective-uses-of-virtual-reality-for-businesses-and-consumers/?sh=5ba74dbdf2b2

https://amylameyer.medium.com/an-update-on-concerts-in-vr-progress-but-not-perfection-e3fc6772a7a7#:~:text=A%20concert%20in%20VR%20refers,computer%20generated%20or%20360%20video).

https://virtualspeech.com/blog/vr-applications

The Franklin Institute, https://www.fi.edu/virtual-reality/history-of-virtual-reality

The Intimidating Architecture of Fascism

March 24, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Jake Sonderman

I told bloggers to write about famous and incredible architectural achievements in our world. Jake wrote about the collection of buildings built by the Nationalist Socialist Party while they were in control of Germany. The majority of these buildings were built for mass gatherings and speeches. As well, they were a flex of muscles by a political party.–Ed. Roman Rickwood

Italy is full of Architectural masterpieces. From the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to the Colosseum, to the Sistine Chapel, one can become immersed in thousands of years of history by simply going for a drive. But in the 20th century, the Great Depression hammered the western world. In this dark time, a new political ideology rose from the ashes, Fascism. Through anti-semitism, nationalism, and powerful political speech, Fascism took hold of the governments of Italy, Spain, and Germany. These regimes controlled every aspect of culture in order to peddle their propaganda. This was reflected in the architecture of the period.

Image may contain Monument Art Sculpture Building Architecture Statue City Town Urban and Metropolis

Since Fascism centered so much around passionate, nationalist rallies, many buildings were built largely for speeches.

This is the Palazzo Della Civiltà Italiana or the Square Colosseum, designed by architects Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto Bruno La Padula, and Mario Romano. Mussolini had this built for the World Fair, which was later cancelled because the world was embroiled in WWII (Juliao, study.com). The structure was built entirely for speeches. It goes without stating that this eerie building draws much inspiration from the ancient Colosseum. Both were built to be spacious, daunting, and awe-inspiring.

This is Casa Del Fascio (Como), or “House of Fascism,” designed by Italian architect Giuseppe Terragni, who designed many buildings for the Italian Fascist Party. It was built in 1936 (architectural-history.org). This became the headquarters for the Italian Fascist Party. As you can see, Fascist architecture aimed for simplicity and symmetry, but also for intimidation.

The Italian Fascist Party took control of Italy in 1919. The Fascists built many more monumental buildings. The National Socialist Party of Germany took power in 1933 and had much less time to build grand buildings, though they did build some. What I find more chilling than the buildings the Nazis actually built are the buildings they were going to build.

The Architecture of Power: Speer's Plans for Nazi Berlin' title of talk: UNM Newsroom — A mock up of Volkshalle, or the “People’s Hall”

Volkshalle, or “the People’s Hall,” was part of a plan Hitler had to tear down and rebuild the center of Berlin to be the grandest city in the world. Volkshalle was to be the center of this revamped center of an empire. It was to fit 180,000 spectators and would have been approximately 960 meters high. For reference, that is almost as high as the Empire state building and significantly higher than the dome of St.Peter’s church in Rome, the largest church in the world (bbc.com).

While it is unlikely that Germany would ever have secured enough materials to complete this task, this was much more than an idea to Hitler. In 1936, Hitler appointed Albert Speer, prominent German architect, as Inspector of General Buildings. Speer’s only job was this Volkshalle project (theguardian.com).

Berlin’s Tempelhof-Schoeneberg now sits in an unremarkable residential area.

This is the bottom of one of the pillars pictured in “The People’s Hall” mock up. The pillar would have been 120 meters high. This base is four stories high and goes 18 meters deep into the ground (theguardian.com). This was built entirely by forced laborers. At just the beginning of this project, tens of thousands of laborers from concentration camps died (theguardian.com).

For all the grandeur of this planned building, it is a stark reminder of the darkness of fascist regimes and the Nazis. For all the grand monuments and wonders of the world–the Pyramids, the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China–I think it is important to acknowledge the work that was behind them, the forced labor, the flexing of nationalist muscles, and the intimidation.

Architectural Achievements Editor: Roman Rickwood

Sources:

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/fascist-architecture-through-ages

http://architecture-history.org/schools/FASCIST%20ARCHITECTURE.html

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/apr/14/story-of-cities-hitler-germania-berlin-nazis

https://study.com/academy/lesson/fascist-architecture-in-italy-germany-buildings-designers-characteristics.html

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20141106-fantastical-buildings-never-built

Life is Good

March 17, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 4 Comments

Any friend of Blogger Jake is familiar with his favorite “Life is Good” t-shirt. But, what does “Life is Good” mean to Jake actually? And, why is it such a good shirt?

By Jake Sonderman

Mascot Marketing – How Jake Made “Life is Good” Even Better | PrintRunner Blog

So my Grandpa got me a “Life is Good” shirt about five years ago. I didn’t wear it for years because it was too big. A year ago I pulled it out from the back of my closet. Many of you have seen this shirt on me since. I probably wear it once a week at least. The shirt says one thing: Life is Good.

I can’t explain why I love the shirt so much! The shirt is definitely comfortable, but that alone is not why I wear it. I think I like the motto. “Life is Good” is just a good saying to live by. It doesn’t mean life is good all the time, but there is more good than bad. I also think that we all have the ability to be happy in life. If you are not happy, find some hope; find a way to think about the future, and be excited. This is probably easy for me to say as a high-school senior with my entire life in front of me. Still, I know we all have struggles. Nobody’s life is good all of the time. What keeps us going is hope. So, we need positivity for the future.

Vintage Men's Jake and Rocket Moon Vintage Crusher Tee | Life is Good® Official Site

My favorite “Life is Good” shirts–and the only ones I own–are the ones with Jake and Rocket. No, I don’t only like the Jake character because his name is Jake (certainly doesn’t hurt though). I like the feeling of the cartoon. It’s just a dude in shorts and a t-shirt doin’ stuff with his dog or his guitar. Very simplistic. It is the perfect embodiment of the motto, “Life is Good.”

So, if you’re feeling down, if life is getting to you, if nothing is going your way, think to the future. Make your own hope, and maybe, just maybe, buy a new t-shirt to remind you that really “Life is Good.”

Vintage Men's Jake and Rocket Palmetto Moon Vintage Crusher Tee | Life is Good® Official Site

Motto Editor: Sara Habibipour

Sources:
https://www.lifeisgood.com/

Life is Good Boy's Vintage Crusher Tee - Superhero Jake and Rocket – Synergy

Demeter and the Eleusinian Mysteries

March 12, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Mythology is a vast and fascinating topic, with major influence on both ancient and modern cultures. One of the most famous mythologies is that of the Greeks, made well-known by popular culture. Blogger Jake Sonderman explores the mythology of the Greeks with the story of Demeter, Persephone, and the Eleusinian mysteries.

By Jake Sonderman

Throughout high school, we learn about Greek mythology. This mythology has roots in literary classics that continue to have relevance today. But, what influence did this mythology and religion have on the everyday lives of Greek citizens?

Demeter

Demeter was a very important goddess in the eyes of the Greek people. Demeter is the goddess of agriculture and fertility. Both agriculture and fertility played large roles in the lives of most Greek citizens. They were mostly farmers. Demeter was the middle daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and the sister to Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, and Hera (greekmythology.com).

The Story of Persephone

An important part of Demeter’s story is the story of her daughter, Persephone. First her name was Kore actually, and Hades took a liking to her. Hades, with the help of Zeus (who is also Persephone’s father), abducted Kore and took her to the underworld. Demeter searched the Earth for her daughter until Hecate and Helios told her Kore was taken to the underworld. Demeter, heartbroken, disguised herself and went to the city of Eleusis to grieve. The king of Eleusis, Celeus, hired the disguised Demeter to care for his infant son. Demeter felt grateful to the family for taking her in and decided to make their son immortal as a gift. To do so, she bathed him in fire every night (greekmythology.com) (ancient.eu).

While she was bathing the child in fire, she was interrupted by the son’s mother, Metanira. Metanira was understandably horrified and outraged to see her son in a fire bath. This reaction greatly upset Demeter. She revealed her true identity and demanded a temple be built for her in Eleusis. The King, Celeus, agreed and built the temple. Here, Demeter grieved over her daughter and refused to leave the temple. During this time, no crops grew (remember she is the goddess of agriculture). This also meant that no gods were given any sacrifices. This drove Zeus to convince Hades to give Kore, now known as Persephone (or “she who brings doom”), back to her mother (ancient.eu).

However, Hades (still besotted with Persephone) tricked Demeter by giving Persephone a pomegranate seed while in the underworld. The rule was that one was bound to the underworld if one ate anything in it. Because of this, a compromise was struck. Persephone would spend half her time above ground, half below, and, thus, the seasons are explained. Demeter mourns when her daughter goes underground, and this is winter. When Persephone comes back, Demeter rejoices, and it is summer.

The Eleusinian Mysteries

This story is considered to be one of the most important in Greek Mythology because of the festival and following that grew from it. Every year, a group of Athenian citizens, many of them prominent scholars such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle (britannica.com) (ancient.eu), would journey to the city of Eleusis to participate in the Rites of Eleusis. The most interesting part of this very well known Greek tradition was that all “initiates” would go into a temple to participate in a ritual but were bound by secrecy and could not divulge what happened in the temple to anyone.

The rites were likely a re-enactment of Persephone’s journey from life to the afterlife and back again. Persephone’s journey was more than simply the seasons for these people; it was about life being circular and not linear. Many participants came away with a new sense of purpose and new understanding of life. Plutarch, another famous Greek philosopher, wrote about the mysteries to his wife upon the death of their daughter; “because of those sacred and faithful promises given in the mysteries…we hold it firmly for an undoubted truth that our soul is incorruptible and immortal. Let us behave ourselves accordingly” (ancient.eu).

Unfortunately, much of Eleusis and the religious sites in it were destroyed when Constantine converted to Christianity, and all pagan traditions and structures became abominations in the eyes of the public and government. Still, I am grateful for what we do know. For as much as we think of Greek Mythology as fun little stories, I believe there is true wisdom–if you are willing to look for it.

Mythology Editor: Elizabeth Shay

Sources:

https://www.ancient.eu/Eleusis/

https://www.ancient.eu/article/32/the-eleusinian-mysteries-the-rites-of-demeter/

https://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Demeter/demeter.html

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eleusinian-Mysteries
https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-8127

Tulsa Massacre or Tulsa Race Riot?

February 26, 2021 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Jake Sonderman

In the wake of the George Floyd protests over the summer and extreme momentum in the Black Lives Matter movement, we’ve all been learning more about the history of the Civil Rights Movement and racial injustice in the US than we learned in our American history classes. I feel there definitely should have been proportionately more curriculum on the subject. A key event in the history of racial injustice in the US is the Tulsa Massacre.

The History

The Tulsa Massacre, also referred to as the Tulsa Race Riot, began on May 31, 1921, in the Greenwood neighborhood (aka “Black Wall Street”) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This small neighborhood was coined “Black Wall Street” because of the many successful African-American owned businesses. The neighborhood had its own school, dental practice, and hospital (whose owner was one of the few black millionaires at the time). In May 1921, Dick Rowland, an African-American shoe shiner, was accused of raping a white woman in an elevator. He was being held at the courthouse. An article was published in the Tulsa Tribune with sources saying a lynching was planned that night for Rowland. Groups of armed whites and armed African-Americans rallied around the courthouse that night. The confrontation resulted in one white man being shot, and that was the spark. The white mob went on to kill as many as 300 African Americans (the actual number is not known, but it is between 75-300) (Britannica.com). The mob also burned down most of the businesses on Black Wall Street, and insurance companies would not give these businesses their pay out because their policy did not cover “rioting” (Tulsaworld.com).

Image result for black wall street Black Wall Street, Pre-May 31, 1921Black Wall Street, Post-May 31st, 1921

Riot or Massacre?

Merriam-Webster defines a riot as, “a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent” (Merriam-Webster.com). Denotatively, this describes what happened on May 31-June 2, 1921. A group of whites disturbed the public peace in Greenwood by burning many businesses and were most definitely acting with a common intent. But, to ignore the connotations of the word “riot” is problematic.

In Tulsa, the property damage and murders were directed at a specific group of people. While the arrest of Dick Rowland sparked the disaster, it was not the entire cause. The cause is likely rooted in resentment, as Greenwood was wealthier than some of the white communities surrounding it. That day was a sort of reckoning for the white mobs that desecrated Greenwood.

Massacre.

The most common definition of massacre is, “the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty” (Merriam-Webster). A less common definition also by Merriam-Webster is, “an act of complete destruction.” I believe this second definition perfectly characterizes what happened in Tulsa in 1921. This was an act of vast destruction on Greenwood’s lives and livelihoods.

The first Merriam-Webster definition characterizes the violence well enough, considering how many African Americans were killed in those two days. Technically, however, they weren’t defenseless at the beginning, but after that first encounter, the “riot” turned into the killing of defenseless citizens in Greenwood. The incident devolved into white patrols roaming the streets of Greenwood shooting on sight (Britannica.com). The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee passed the Tulsa-Greenwood Race Riot Claims Accountability Act, where they heard testimonies from survivors. One survivor, Olivia J. Hooker, said she survived the “Tulsa Race Riot of 1921”; she self corrected and added, “but what really was a massacre” (TulsaWorld.com).

All of this is why I believe we should call what happened in Tulsa a massacre. It is important we take note of the connotations of words when dealing with important historical subjects such as these, so that we can make sure those who learn about this later get an accurate picture of our history.

Sources:

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/once-taboo-discussion-tulsa-race-riot-now-included-in-state-academic-standards/article_9f6dfdd5-1fd7-58b4-9c06-b047c7ebe31e.html

https://www.britannica.com/event/Tulsa-race-riot-of-1921

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/racemassacre/tulsa-race-massacre-for-years-it-was-called-a-riot-not-anymore-heres-how-it/article_47d28f77-2a7e-5b79-bf5f-bdfc4d6f976f.html

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riot

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/massacre

Black History Month Editor: Evan Spry

Win Some; Lose Some

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

Editor Erik assigned the Blog Staff to write about “Missed Opportunities.” Jake catalogues some of his “misses.”

By Jake Sonderman

Sometimes, you don’t realize you’ve missed something ‘til you’ve missed it. I try to take every opportunity that comes my way, but sometimes I let some slip. Here’s some opportunities that I let slip through the cracks.

Bret Michaels

This is the one that really stings. My band was playing Stagecoach (for like 30 people). A friend who somehow knew Bret Michaels (who was also playing at Stagecoach for like 20,000 people), somehow got him to invite us to play a song with him during his show. We were going to play “Nothing But a Good Time,” the finale. We were prepared, learned the song, went backstage, the whole thing. Something went wrong during the soundcheck, and they rescinded their offer. As consolation, he invited us up on stage with a bunch of other dudes. Still cool, but I frequently think what it would’ve been like to play for so many people.

High School Musical

I really wish this wasn’t the first show I auditioned for. It was likely the only one I had a chance of getting cast for. In case you didn’t know, Disney+ came out with a High School Musical show. I auditioned for Big Red, and I dropped the ball a bit. I got a call back and auditioned on the Disney lot. I dropped the ball by forgetting a line, and once you forget one, it all comes falling apart. I’ve done many auditions since, and if I perhaps had some experience I would have practiced better and been cast. Maybe not. Who knows.

Gamestop

This is an opportunity that many missed out on. I was, however, looking at Gamestop and Reddit a couple days before the insanity. I thought in my head, “People are talking about it, but why would people buy Gamestop stock when nobody buys physical games anymore?” I almost got in at $30 a share then $90 a share in a couple days. I missed out. But, hey, as Kyle says, “No one cares if you almost bought something.”

SAG

This is sort of double sided. I had a chance after I did an UberEats commercial to be a part of the Screen Actors Guild. It has a $3,000 initial fee and another $200 yearly fee, but it still would have been cool. I also would have had access to some very big auditions (but also would have had more competition). All in all, I don’t totally regret it, but it still would have been a cool thing to put on college apps.

Piano

I know that there was no way I would keep doing piano after 4th grade, but I sure wish I did. Piano is definitely something with a steep learning curve. I wish I had kept with it, not just to be a good piano player, but so I had at least some coordination. Now, with any instrument, my biggest challenge is always coordination. And, it goes without saying, being a good piano player is very charming.

These are some of my missed opportunities. We all have them. But, the past is in the past. Keep looking forward. (Need help looking forward? Check out Elizabeth’s post on “Regrets.”)

Missed Opportunities Editor: Erik Bearman