Monthly Archives: December 2024

Best Activities for the Holidays

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It’s almost Thanksgiving, which means the holidays are almost here. If you are looking for activities to do over the holidays, here are some of the best ideas for holiday activities this winter.

1) Go to an ice skating rink.

  • There are several ice skating rinks nearby in Orange County, including at the Irvine Spectrum. The Great Park in Irvine has one as well, as well as several others nearby. Many of these rinks have other various activities to do as well.

    2) Make a homemade wreath.

    • Making wreaths is another fun activity for the holidays. To make a wreath, first build a bouquet or bundle of plants. Then, either use a wire frame or a wreath base and attach the bouquet to this. Finally, tie the bundles together and decorate your wreath with flowers,

    3) Go on a holiday lights tour.

    • A great activity for the holidays and a family tradition for me has been to go on a tour of holiday lights around the city. In fact, Mission Viejo has a holiday lighting contest with a guide to the best lighted houses in the city. The guide can be found at this link: https://mvactivities.com/all-mvac-events/home-lighting-contest/.

    4) Go to a local Christmas event.

    • Another activity you can do over the holidays is going to a Christmas event. One of the best local events is located in Newport Beach, where there is a parade of lighted boats. It will be held this year from December 18-22. Orange County also has a winter festival in December at the location of the OC Fair.

    5) Make ornaments to decorate your tree.

    • Another one of my favorite holiday activities is making ornaments. It is great for anyone who is interested in crafts, and there are also a wide variety of ornaments you can make, including felt, beaded, paper mache, and salt dough ornaments, all of which can be made easily at home. You can also decorate your Christmas tree and your house with these homemade ornaments as well.

    6) Bake holiday treats to enjoy.

    • Baking holiday treats is also a good idea for the holidays. Cookies always make a great treat, and some cookies that are great to bake over the holidays are sugar, snickerdoodle, and gingerbread cookies. Another great holiday treat and one of my personal favorites is hot cocoa, which is great to make at home.

    7) Visit some local Christmas attractions.

    • There are many great local Christmas attractions to visit in Southern California. The Descanso Gardens in Pasadena has a lighted walk every Christmas, and there are several other local places with lights as well. Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland have Christmas events as well.

    8) Play holiday games.

    • Playing games can also be a fun thing to do over the holidays. One of my favorite holiday activities is to play board games with family and friends. Another activity that is great to do over the holidays is Secret Santa, where you can exchange gifts with family and friends. These are some of my recommendations for the best activities to do over the holidays, so feel free to try them out this winter.

    Ethan W.

    Nursery Rhymes and Their Darker Meanings

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    Last week, my social science teacher dropped the bomb for my class—revealing, as my friend said, “that our childhood has been a lie.” Ok, ok, that was a bit dramatic. All he really told us was that the rhyme “Ring Around a Rosie” was about the Black Death, which we are currently learning about. It was still surprising (and funny to see everyone else’s reactions) to find out that a rhyme we’d been singing since we were 3 years old was about people dying. “Ring around a rosie,” talks about the marks of the bubonic plague. “Pockets full of posies,” is about people putting flowers in their houses to clear the horrid smell, and the ashes is from the cremated people who died of the plague; “we all fall down,” is quite clear: people dropped dead with the terrible disease. Here are some other nursery rhymes and their meanings that my friends and I found out about as well.

    “Jack and Jill” relates to the execution of the king and queen of France. Walking up the hill symbolizes them walking to the guillotine. “Jack fell down and lost his crown,” is about King Louis getting beheaded, and when Jill comes tumbling after, it’s Marie Antoinette following right in the king’s footsteps.

    “The Muffin Man” on Drury Lane was not a kindly baker as shown in little kid YouTube videos. He was based on a 16th-century baker who reportedly lived on Drury Lane, but parents made that song to warn their children away from that street and man. According to urban legend, he was a child serial killer who lured children down dark alleyways to their deaths using muffins tied on strings.

    Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,

    Had a horse but couldn’t keep her.

    He put her in a pumpkin shell,

    And there he kept her very well.

    Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,

    Had another but didn’t love her.

    Peter learned to read and spell,

    And then he loved her very well.

    This nursery rhyme is about a poor man named Peter who was married to an unfaithful wife. The story’s meaning goes two ways from here. One possibility was that he forced her to wear a chastity belt. The iron underwear was also called a pumpkin shell; it was locked, and only the husband had the key. The other interpretation of the rhyme was that he murdered her, cremated her, and then hid her ashes in a pumpkin. Neither way is very pleasant.

    Though many of our childhood nursery rhymes sound innocent, most have a gruesome meaning behind them. The people who created these rhymes lived in a much darker time period, and this was their way of lightening the mood. Today, some 7th graders believe that “these should be in a sad adult book, not sung to 2 year olds!”

    Márquez’s Criticism of the Role of Religion in Chronicle of a Death Foretold

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    Paperback Chronicle of a Death Foretold Book

    Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a book in the magical realism genre and set rural Columbia. It was written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and was published in 1981. It follows a detective attempting to solve a murder that happened many years ago and is based on a true story. Please note that it was originally written in Spanish, so some elements may not translate exactly.

    I recently read Chronicle of a Death Foretold and my biggest takeaway was how Marquez explored and criticized the role of religion. Marquez criticized religion in this book through the prestige of religious leaders, the townspeople’s treatment and views of the community, and by showing how people justify inaction with religion.

    First of all, Marquez highlights the faults of religious leaders like the bishop and Father Amador, showing the community’s blind reverence towards them despite their incompetence and moral failings. Secondly, the community’s respect for characters like Santiago, Angela, Bayardo, and the twins is influenced by religious beliefs, leading to misplaced priorities and justifications for harmful actions. Finally, the townspeople use religion to absolve themselves of responsibility, demonstrating the bystander effect and moral decay influenced by religious justification.

    Throughout the book, various characters demonstrate the misplaced priorities and moral degradation of the community. The bishop’s arrival and the townspeople’s excitement highlight the significant role of religion. Father Amador’s inaction and incompetence are shown through his failure to prevent Santiago’s murder and his disrespectful treatment of Santiago’s body. The community’s judgment of Angela’s purity and their pity for Bayardo reflect the influence of religious norms. The twins’ justification of Santiago’s murder as an act of honor under God’s will shows the corrupting influence of religion. These are just a few of the instances in which the theme of the corrupting role of religion is demonstrated in this book.

    These themes are consistent and expanded upon throughout Chronicle of a Death Foretold, and through them, Márquez effectively demonstrates the negative effects of religion in society, leading to social and moral degradation, and ultimately, Santiago Nasar’s death. I would highly recommend the book and would encourage readers to look out for these details and themes. Through this, they will truly appreciate Márquez as an author.

    Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

    Makeup is Not (Just) Magic: A Manga Guide to Cosmetics and Skincare.

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    Makeup is Not (Just) Magic: a Manga Guide to Makeup and Skincare, written by Ikumi Rotta, is a delightful informational book.

    Written in the style of a manga comic, Rotta, a former makeup consultant, teaches the reader how to up their makeup game. It is an enjoyable read for all people, regardless of makeup expertise. I would say that while it is geared more towards beginners, there is something for everybody in here.

    Readers will enjoy learning many things about makeup and skincare, including how to find their skin type, how to use the different skincare products, and the four point method.

    The tips in this book transform makeup from a daunting task to a creative outlet! This book truly has the best of both worlds, in both terms of instructional content and art. The author’s playful manga art gets the point across in style! I personally found this a very helpful read! It really helped me up my makeup game, especially in the areas I wasn’t as confident in. Who knew that you were meant to angle your eyelash curler that way? This book did!

    In conclusion, if you are looking for a light and fun, yet informative read, consider picking up Makeup is Not (Just) Magic.

    Concussions

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    Concussions can occur anytime, anyplace. They can range from a mild headache and nausea to being severely knocked unconscious for minutes straight.

    Some signs of a concussion include headaches, feeling pressure in your head, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, etc. If you recently suffered a sudden jolt to your head and experience these symptoms, seek medical assistance immediately.

    Concussions were first separately recognized in the medical field when, in the 900s, Persian physician Abu Bakr al-Razi, made a distinction between concussions and severe traumatic brain injuries. Three hundred years later in the 13th century, Lanfrancus, also known as Lanfranc of Milan, an Italian surgeon, was the first to define this injury as a brain “commotion.” In the 16th century, French physician Ambroise Paré coined the term “commotio cerebri,” which, in Latin, directly translates to “shaking of the brain”. As time passed and medical technology and knowledge advanced, concussions were more studied.

    To this day, concussions are still an extremely dominant type of injury in many different medical fields, especially sports medicine. Every year, around 3.8 million concussions occur solely from sports-related injuries. Additionally, an estimated 5-10% of all athletes experience a concussion in any given season of a sport, most of which go undiagnosed without treatment. The most concussion-prone sports include rugby, ice hockey, American football, lacrosse, and soccer.

    Books about concussions are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

    A Wallflower, Not a Doormat

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    As a coming-of-age person, fittingly, I’ve always been obsessed with coming-of-age movies. The representation of the teenage experience as a moment in time where any problem appears catastrophic and any personal achievement or bliss appears life-changing correlates with these movies as they accurately show the strength of teenage emotions and how teens resolve to cope with those emotions. The Perks of Being a Wallflower does just this and more.

    I’ve been long delayed in watching this movie, but have finally got around to it and I regret not having watched this movie long before. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, directed by Stephen Chbosky, and based on the book also written by Chbosky, follows freshman, Charlie, as he navigates the territory of his high school, counting down the days until he graduates. Charlie displays an outward disinterest in voluntarily engaging in social interactions with his peers, but beneath his outright rejection, Charlie seeks a meaningful friendship with someone who truly understands him.

    Throughout the movie, Charlie’s obvious social awkwardness makes it difficult for him to interact with others without feeling self-conscious; however, underlying mental health issues, not clearly stated by Charlie, linger in his behavior. Charlie soon joins a fun and lively friend group with Patrick and Sam. Through an array of days that they spend together, whether studying or going on joy rides, Charlie finally gets to experience what it is to fulfill his teenage experience with real friends. I can relate to this greatly, as during my freshman year of high school, I also felt like a recluse. This caused me to have a negative outlook on my classmates and reject talking to people entirely; however, I soon found the people that I knew I wanted to be surrounded by, which changed my entire outlook on the rest of my teenage years.

    By the end of the movie, we find out that Charlie’s Aunt Helen, whom he claimed he was very close to and whom we assumed was a family member he really connected with, actually abused him which led to Charlie’s eventual mental health problems, consisting of emotional explosions followed by blackouts. After a major blackout, Charlie finally receives the help he needs and begins to open up about his Aunt Helen. Overall, Charlie learns to be a wallflower, but not a doormat. He builds the confidence he needs to take control of the reigns of his life and fully participate in the next years of high school.

    This message really resonates with me, and most importantly, I believe it resonates with a large population of teens today. The idea that it is a waste to stand by and not do what you want to do with your life is something that I will carry with me throughout the rest of high school and into my future.

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower (DVD or book) is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. The book is also available to download for free from Libby.

    Why You Should Join High School Clubs

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    As the school year begins, high school students form and join clubs. This phenomenon is called “Club Rush,” which is a week dedicated to students joining clubs. During lunch, there is a craze of students mobbing each club’s stand to see if they’re interested in joining. Clubs are extremely beneficial, as they:

    1. Bring People Together: If you want to make new friends or be a part of something that brings likeminded people of your interests together, joining a club is a great way to branch out. Clubs are like gold mines for building social connections with your peers. For example, if you are interested in the debate club, joining will allow you to meet others who are interested in debate, and you can compete with or against each other.

    2. Build Your Resume Up: Joining clubs allows you to be involved in your school, especially because they are considered extracurriculars. To preface, the clubs you partake in need to be worthwhile to you, as taking the time and energy towards clubs is what colleges value. Truly being passionate about a club shows that you are dedicated and contribute to the prosperity of your school.

    3. Exploring Interests: For underclassmen, specifically freshman, joining clubs allows you to evaluate your passions and interests. You can gain skills that you might have found unimaginable, or you might join clubs that you already have hobbies in. Nonetheless, these clubs give you responsibility that is noteworthy, so being a part of clubs that you are interested in can help you figure out your college major and future job. 

    4. Allow Leadership Opportunities: You can gain leadership positions in clubs, making you an experienced individual with managing projects and decisions. The communication skills acquired when running a club are invaluable. Overall, you can become more confident as a person and as a leader with the leadership skills you gain when operating clubs.

    I hope my guidance inspires you to explore and join clubs at your high school!

    – Sophia B.

    Hard Miles

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    Hard Miles is a PG-13-rated sports movie that came out to the United States on June 13, 2023. The film is based on a true inspirational story based on an unexpected group of juveniles. During the movie, the viewer gets to watch these juvenile convicts go on a long 1,000-mile bike ride to see the Grand Canyon. As you watch it, you will get an urge of motivation to push yourself past your limits.

    At the beginning of the movie, the audience is introduced to the main characters. These characters include a social worker named Greg Townsend and four juveniles named Woolbright, Smink, Rice, and Atenico. As the viewer continues through the movie, they connect with the characters and start to understand them more and more. The audience gets to witness each character go through hardships and change for the better. The movie also includes a satisfying ending, which is the characters finally finishing their long journey and reaching the Grand Canyon, giving the viewer great motivation to do greater things.

    Watching Hard Miles was a great experience. What intrigued me the most was seeing the character development each one of the characters goes through. It was very exciting to see how some characters went from constant troublemakers to people that you can respect. The movie is created in a way that will get you to really enjoy watching each character, making you want more of the characters once the film ends. I especially enjoyed the rewarding ending, which made me appreciate the memorable events in the movie. Therefore, Hard Miles has great qualities that will make you very fascinated while watching it and even when it is over.

    Overall, watching this motivational film will give you the feeling that you can achieve anything. Using an unlikely set of characters, Hard Miles will definitely interest you. On top of that, you will be able to easily see how much the characters change for the better as the movie progresses. I highly enjoyed watching this movie and I urge anyone to watch it in their free time. You will have a great time watching this movie just like I did.

    -Matthew R.

    Book VS Movie – The Help

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    Read The Help (2009)

    The Help is a novel about African American maids working for white families during the 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi. It touches topics on racism, but also newfound open-minded perspectives. It follows Skeeter Phelan, a white resident of Jackson, helping black maids, especially Aibileen and Minny, through their struggles as she writes a controversial book about harsh work environments for the maids

    Skeeter and her mom

    Book – Illustrates Skeeter’s frustrating experiences with her mom, who has a very old-fashioned mindset.

    Movie – especially focuses on the two’s unexceptional love, regardless of different perspectives.

    Minny and Leroy

    Book – follows Minny’s abusive relationship with Leroy is illustrated in greater detail. In the book, she even eventually runs away from him.

    Movie – extremely minimal, only scene is when he throws a plate at the wall, and you can hear him yelling.

    Themes 

    Book – deep analysis of racism, privilege, and inequality.

    Movie – overall lighter tone, despite both the book and movie being for middle schoolers/freshman, the movie is even more on the kid-friendly side.

    Ending (Same plot, but..)

    Book – more emphasis on Skeeters success from her book and her new career opportunities.. A bit more open ended.

    Movie – follows Aibileen after she gets fired, showcases the dependence many white families had on their maids in these times.

    Watch The Help (2011) on Disney+ or Hulu

    Overall :

    Book

    • Detailed and serious storytelling. 
    • Character development and societal criticism

    Movie

    • Brief, empowering, emotional.
    • Visually captivating and heartfelt adaptation

    Personally, I liked the movie better because I was able to follow along the whole time. The book was slightly over-detailed and there are many times when I lost the plot.

    The Help book and movie by Kathryn Stockett are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. The book is also available to download for free from Libby.

    Suspense Journal/ Short Story #2

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    Okay just for an explanation, my English teacher last year made my class do this game where we wrote a short story in the span of 5 minutes. I liked the game so much I started doing it for fun. I’m starting with the suspense genre. My second suspense tool is a time constraint:

    He cursed under his breath as the screen flashed red again. He was down to 3 tries left on the passcode. The ticking seemed to get louder as he hurriedly made another calculation as if it would help him. He typed in another code. The screen flashed red. 

    “Callen, we have three minutes.” Alice said nervously behind him. 

    “I know, I know, I know.” He muttered. 

    “Cal do you know what’s a stake here. You need to speed it up.” Noah said, his voice rising. 

    “I know what’s at stake! It’s a literal bomb! Now shut up and let me focus.” He type in the new code. Red. “Shoot,” Callen muttered. 

    There was a minute left. He tried to remember anything the stranger had said that could be a code. “30 seconds Callen,” Alice said nervously. 

    The words “simple,” echo through his head. It was the last thing the stranger had said to them after he had locked them in.

    Quickly he types in the final code, 1234. The count down stops. His heart starts racing, he gets read for the explosion. The screen goes green. He laughs out a breath. “That felt too easy,” Noah whispers.