Movie Review: Interstellar

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On Wednesday, I watched the movie Interstellar, directed by Christian Nolan. This movie is in the genre of science fiction + dystopian and is set in future America. In this film, America is suffering from dust storms, famine, and blight. A mission to find a new planet for humankind is desperately needed. 

After a series of mysterious events, Cooper, a retired astronaut is guided to NASA, where he is recruited by Professor Brand for a mission to explore potential planets. Cooper goes on the mission with other astronauts. They explore a wormhole that brings them to other planets, in the hopes that they won’t run out of time. 

The movie goes on to show the daunting mission that Cooper and his team embark on. They explore 2 planets, both of which are not inhabitable. On the second planet that Cooper investigates, he finds an older astronaut (who went on a similar mission) who tricks and sabotages him in order to leave the planet. Copper miraculously leaves the planet with his team which dwindles to one astronaut. After all the crazy events that Copper goes through, there is a limited amount of fuel left in the spaceship. So, Copper sacrifices his life by being sent into a black hole so that the astronaut can explore the last planet. In the black hole, Copper is redirected to a 5-dimensional space where he can see every memory from his daughter’s bedroom. He uses clues to give his ingenious daughter information that will save Earth. Interstellar ends with Cooper being rescued by people from the future, who were saved from Earth’s blight. 

In my opinion, Interstellar was an excellent movie. Though it was boring for the first hour, and confusing at times, this movie had a great message of self-sacrifice, the bonds of family, and time + space. My summary of the movie is probably confusing and does not embody the entire story of Interstellar. But, I hope that you take the time to watch this movie, as it is superb.

Interstellar is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

A New Winter Destination?

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Brian Head, Utah is a cozy small mountain town that I recently traveled to for the second time. It is an amazing destination for both winter and summer vacations. There are so many different activities that are filled with fun for the entire family.

Housing: 10/10
There are a LOT of airbnbs up in the mountains as well as hotels. Many opt for housing on the mountain however, another option is staying in the small town of Parowan, a small town that is located next to the mountain. Most housing in the mountains are small apartments that are in small lodges but can comfortably fit up to 4. For larger families, hotels are next to ski resorts that can host more people or larger lodges that are booked per family. They can have up to 6 rooms and house up to 14.

Food: 4/10

There really isn’t a lot of food choices up on the mountain. However down the mountain with in the town, there are fast food options that include IHOP, Mcdonalds, KFC, Jimmy John’s and more. You can grab a quick bite to eat before heading back up the mountain. It really isn’t that convenient but there is a small store on the mountain that has microwavable meals including pizza and such.

Conditions: 8/10

There really wasn’t that much snow this year in december, but there was a lot last year. Powder is really common on the mountains but this year it didn’t snow a lot so the roads got icy really quick. As for the ski resort, the trails were really nice and powdery on the blacks as they were making artificial snow up there. It wasn’t too cold and the views were great.

Activites: 9/10

Activities in the winter time last until late march or early april so there is a lot of time to enjoy your annual ski or snowboarding trips. The snow is really great and there is a lot of diversity as for the trails on the mountains. Lessons are great and I really enjoyed the short wait time for the chairlifts.

Overall: 10/10

This is a must on any ski or snowboarder’s list. It is an 8 hour drive from California and it is worth every minute. Add this to your dream vacation list now!

The Thing About Jellyfish- Book Review

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The Thing About Jellyfish is a realistic fiction book about a young girl who is trying to process the loss of her best friend. The book is easy to read, yet it has more mature themes like death.

Suzy Swanson, the protagonist, is suspicious of how her best friend, Franny died. She was told that Franny drowned on a vacation in Maine, however, after a school field trip, Suzy is convinced that Franny was stung by an Irukandji jellyfish.

Before her death, Franny began to become friends with the popular girl group and forgot about Suzy. Suzy tried to win Franny back, but before she could, Franny died.

Devastated at Franny’s death, Suzy stopped speaking because she did not see anything positive to say. Her parents were so worried about her that they sent her to a therapist, Dr. Legs.  Not speaking also prevented Suzy from making new friends.

The story is told from Suzy’s point of view. It depicts how she processed the last few months of their friendship and the months following Franny’s death. I would give this book an 8/10 overall and would recommend this for teens who are going through a death or losing a friendship.

-Janna G.

The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

How Listening to Music Can Affect Your Day

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Music is a huge part of my life. Whether it is playing the piano and viola or listening to my favorite songs, music makes me happier. Music is extremely powerful. No matter the genre, it affects our mood (either good or bad). Let’s dive into the different aspects of music.

1. The Benefits

According to “Northshore,” music can lower blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol (stress hormone) levels, and blood levels of serotonin and endorphins. It improves mood. Dopamine production in the brain can be increased by listening to music.

In addition, music is known to keep the brain young. Why you might ask? Listening to music is a brain workout and maintains mental activity during the aging process. This brain workout includes physical and chemical reactions.

2. The Negatives

Music has multiple genres and can range from classical to the complete opposite, metal music. While all the facts listed above are true, it depends on the genre of music you’re listening to. As stated by “Frontiers,” according to certain research, listening to depressing and powerful music might cause or worsen unpleasant feelings.

To expand on the depression-causing side effect of listening to sad music, the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans stated that listening to certain music can cause rumination (when recurrent thoughts or lingering on unpleasant emotions occurs). Rumination can especially happen to teens when they listen to melancholy music, causing them to dwindle on unfavorable thoughts or emotions.

Another negative of listening to music is the distraction factor. Personally, whenever I do my homework, I can never play music due to my tendency to lose focus. On many other accounts, choosing the wrong type of music to listen to while studying can create distractions. Rather than music helping, it is hurting.

I trust these facts will impact your perspective on music, either for the better or the worse!

– Sophia B.

“Headphones Music” by JESHOOTS.com/ CC0 1.0

Social Media Isn’t All That Bad

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In today’s world, ninety percent of teenagers utilize some type of social media daily. Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube are the most popular among twelve to eighteen-year-olds in the US. Even though these apps can be used in some negative ways, it’s good to remember that people can also use social media to spread positivity and help others, as well as interact with friends and communities. Social media can have many positive impacts on teenagers’ lives.

Through social media people can rally for positive causes and support each other. Additionally, social media can assist teens in connecting with others and strengthening relationships. Teenagers view social media as a source of confidence and a way to build bonds, not some evil entity out to destroy their esteem. Teenagers are who we should be looking to, as they are the most affected by this argument. Some people say that social media can cause a negative lifestyle, forcing people to be perfect all the time; however, it’s incredibly easy to private your social media if you want, and not all social media are focused on selfies and looks. People too often group all social media into one category – there are tons of social media accounts on plants, animals, photography, art, and more. Thus, social media can reinforce people’s friendships and connections.

Despite what many think, social media is not the terrifying online crevasse that news headlines insist on propagandizing. Social media is a way to strengthen and build relationships and gather to support others. People must understand that these platforms aren’t all negative and that it isn’t all cyber bullying, spam, and hate. That’s just what people see on the news. Realizing the positives will help us come to a better understanding of social media, and allow us to navigate it safely.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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**this review will contain spoilers**

OH MY GOSH. I can’t believe I kept pushing back reading this book and mainly doing so because of the popularity that has surrounded the new movie that released. I have always been a fan of the Hunger Games and I have previously read the trilogy on various accounts, so I have a good understanding on the concept of what it is but also the people involved.

This book revolved around younger President Snow and following his journey of Capitol success which started with him being a mentor in the 10th Hunger Games for Lucy Gray Baird. It was interesting to follow such a distinguished character and how he got to the point he is in the trilogies.

It begins with his family life, living with Tigris and Grandma’am with both his parents killed early on in life. Snow has dealt with financial struggles despite being a Capitol boy which is interesting since most people within the Capitol are financially stable. However, he begins his success being a mentor for the worst district but ends up obtaining Lucy Gray who is a performer. They begin to grow a strong mentor-candidate relationship with love and trust involved.

As the games begin, Snow does his best to help out Lucy Gray and even snuck in items for her to use, or to give her a significant advantage over her fellow competitors. With all this help, they end up actually winning the Hunger Games, but Snow is caught helping Lucy Gray cheat the games. Because of his actions he was sent to become a Peacekeeper where he was stationed in District 12 and got to rekindle his relationship with Lucy Gray who a singer that frequently entertained within District 12.

Snow and Lucy Gray continually get close but at this point in the book, Snow experiences a mental change in his attitude of how he proceeds with life. He begins to understand the doings on the Capitol and not sympathizing with Rebels even though he essentially was one during the Games. He ends up getting one of his good pals, Sejanus Plinth, killed and after this point Lucy Gray notices the distinct change and closes herself off. The book ends with readers not knowing whether Lucy Gray was killed or if she escaped and Snow returning back to the Capitol living life with the Plinths.

I find is interesting how the book ends because readers are left not knowing what happened to Lucy Gray after she disappeared from her hanging out with Snow and realizing he was the one who got Sejanus killed. Another thing that interests me is how the Plinths took him in knowing his financial struggles not knowing that he was the reason their son got killed. Also, the ending with Snow talking with Dr. Gaul and how she sent him to become a Peacekeeper for like an experience??? The Capitol is corrupt and has always been.

Honestly, if you read this book before reading the trilogy it makes sense but I would totally read the trilogy to get a full idea of how the characters interconnect. There are so many hidden things that make sense when reading all the books. Although I hate Snow for all the heinous activities he has done, nothing will beat….SNOW LANDS ON TOP.

-Madison C.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Pitching Mechanics for Baseball

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There are many people with different pitching mechanics in baseball. Why pitchers work on their mechanics is because to prevent them from getting injured. If a pitcher gets injured they wouldn’t have playing time and if they don’t have playing time they wouldn’t get paid. These are the things to watch out for while throwing a ball or pitching to give you best performance without getting injured easily.

Arm Slot

Arm slot could differ for some people but some arm slots isn’t healthy for your muscles or ligaments around the shoulder or the elbow. Shoulders and elbows are the most common injury to have while throwing a baseball. The most healthy arm slot to have a 3 quarter arm slot which is an angle between a side arm and the overhand.

Wrist Snap

This technique doesn’t matter for some people but it may increase pitching velocity for ones who use this. Also this would create less pressure on the elbow and the shoulder. The disadvantage of this technique from my experience is that many off speed wouldn’t have as much movement.

Hip Rotation

This technique helps for all pitchers with different arm slots. Using this technique would give you more explosive power while pitching. This would work if this technique is used correctly, you would need to load your hip before your non-pivot foot touches the ground after the leg kick. And you would need to rotate your hip towards home plate and throw the ball.

All these technique could improve your mechanics while throwing a ball or while pitching. Also these would decrease the probabilities of getting injured.

Why Social Media Is Ruining Us

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This might be a known topic by all adults though us teens and children younger than us won’t fully comprehend that fact since we have been raised on the internet and most of our entertainment, hobbies, inspiration, and style comes from the internet more specifically social media. 

But as time goes and the more trends and entertainments arise on our screens, the higher our dopamine levels are drawn to social media which feeds our social media addiction. 

The more addicted we are to social media the less sense of reality we have and we begin to see the world in a different shape, because we would much rather escape the world by going on a screen than by escaping the screen and going into the world. 

That might have sounded cliche but its so true. For example those ten year olds getting skin care products, the wanting to go on horrible diets to be like certain people, or the opposite, eating something that looks so good but is to harmful to your body, and so many more examples.

To conclude all the statistics and my own personal opinion, Social media rots a person’s brain. It not only decreases your attention span which changes peoples focus therefore affecting success.

Social media may be artistic, comedy based, etc but it changes people’s true artistic behaviors because of what is being presented to them on their screen vs what is actually going in reality. 

Beyond art and the brain, social media turns people into rude being, uninteresting, and selfish people. Even though we all think we are kind and authentic people, social media is such a trend based place that gives out only certain peoples opinions which is then paced all around the world till everyone has the same opinions making everyone un-authentic and a bunch of copy and pastes.

If you dont believe anything I wrote, check your social media screen time.

AP Classes Review: World Literature

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AP Literature is a crucial course most need to take for High school if you’re planning for early college credits. AP classes are rigorous classes, and the workload is heavy. In addition to classes, to get credit for college, students must take an AP exam at the end of the course. 

My experience so far isn’t bad, and I’m learning more while doing it. One of the standout aspects of AP World Literature in 10th grade was the diverse selection of literary works we encountered. Our reading list spanned centuries and genres, and this variety allowed us to explore different writing styles, themes, and cultural contexts, providing a well-rounded literary education. Each work presented its unique challenges, but they all contributed to expanding our academic horizons.

The discussions in this class were vital to getting good grades. Our teacher encouraged us to analyze texts from multiple perspectives and encouraged our critical thinking. These discussions helped us grasp the intricacies of the literature and improved our communication skills. The ability to articulate and defend our interpretations was a valuable skill we will need throughout the year. 

The workload is challenging, but it was worth the effort. Writing essays on complex literary topics is essential. Our teacher provided constructive feedback that will continue to help us grow as writers, and the assignments were created to delve deep into the texts.

One of the most valuable aspects of AP Literature was its ability to teach us to appreciate the subtleties of literature. We learned to uncover symbolism, dissect themes, and recognize the artistry in the writing. AP Literature is a fun but overwhelming course, so prepare for a lot of work if you decide to take it. The benefits here are that these classes prepare you for the workload and develop college-level academic skills. AP classes also look good on your transcript since they boost your GPA and save time and money from taking general college requirements. If you decide to take AP classes and love reading and writing, I highly recommend taking AP World Literature. 

Before deciding, you can also check these sites for the benefits and disadvantages of AP classes. 

examstudyexpert.com/easiest-ap-classes

princetonreview.com/college-advice/ap-classes

https://blog.collegeboard.org/3-reasons-take-ap-exams

Bella H.

Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Say hello to one of the best chocolate chip cookie recipes you’ll ever use. This recipe uses brown butter, which elevates the cookie to be rich in flavor and more sophisticated. These cookies are great with milk!

Ingredients

1 Stick and a Half of Butter, browned

¾ Cup of Brown Sugar

⅓ Cup of Granulated Sugar

2 Tablespoons of Vanilla Extract

1 egg and 1 egg yolk, preferably room temperature

Optional: seeds of one Vanilla Bean Pod

1 ¾ Cup of All-Purpose Flour

¾ Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 pinch of salt

1-1 ½ Cups of Chocolate Chips or Chopped Chocolate (Semi-Sweet recommended)

Instructions

  1. First, brown the butter on the stovetop at low to medium heat. Make sure to constantly stir to ensure that the butter won’t burn. The moment you see the butter turning a golden brown color, remove it from the heat and pour it into a big bowl. Allow the butter to cool in the fridge.
  1. Combine the brown butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the vanilla extract and vanilla seeds. Then, add the egg and egg yolk.
  1. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  1. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ones. Add the dry ingredients in increments, STOP if the dough feels dry. 
  1. Finally, add the chocolate chips (or chunks). Remember–you can change the amount to as much or as little as you would like.
  1. To ensure that your cookies will taste delicious, chill them for at least an hour.
  1. After chilling the dough, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper and use a cookie scoop to scoop your dough. Bake for 10-12 minutes. 

Cool cookies before serving and enjoy!