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3 Fun Ways to Achieve your Fitness Goals This New Year

January 5, 2023 thelighthousetve

The New Year is here! With it, there are another twelve months of activities and adventures to look forward to, as well as a whole new list of New Year’s Resolutions. Although each individual has their own unique goals that they work towards, 38% of New Year’s Resolutions are fitness related. While “fitness” is a broad topic that can range from weight loss to building muscle to running a marathon. There are several activities that are not only fun but also have a mix of strength and cardio that can help you to achieve a wide range of health goals. Parkour, indoor rock climbing, and ultimate frisbee are some of the best activities to participate in during the New Year because, unlike other sports such as basketball, soccer, baseball, etc. (which takes years of commitment on a team) you can jump in for the first time at any age or fitness level and have an enjoyable experience.

Parkour is one of the best activities to build strength and fitness for multiple reasons. First, since there are so many different skills within the sport such as vaults, climbing, swinging, flips, and more, beginners can start by learning basic moves that build endurance and open the door to more difficult skills later on. In this way, you never stop learning and can perform some impressive tricks after only a small amount of time taking classes. Second, parkour itself has a unique blend of aerobic and strength-related challenges that can help you achieve your fitness goals no matter what they are. The fast-paced nature of the sport builds endurance while the skills themselves can help to build muscle, making you stronger. The parkour gym MVMNTM is located in Concord, CA and offers classes for a variety of skill levels, the link to their website is below:

MVMNTM

Another activity that has many of the same attributes as parkour is indoor rock climbing. It builds strength and endurance in the same ways, but has some key differences. Rock climbing is mostly self-taught as opposed to being taught in classes, and there are dozens of different routes in every gym that range from beginner to advanced. This allows climbers to jump in and get to the top of the wall via an easy route even if they are brand new to the sport. Climbing can also build confidence because the participants will climb to heights of up to fifty five feet, and since ropes are used there is zero risk of getting injured. The largest chain of rock gyms in the San Francisco Bay Area is called Touchstone with eight locations. However, there are many more individual gyms that provide safe fun places to workout too. The link to the Touchstone locations is below:

– Touchstone Climbing

If you’re looking for a more social way to get in shape, ultimate frisbee (also known as ultimate) is a fun solution. With the recent growth in the sports popularity, almost every city has a youth ultimate frisbee team and adult pickup games are a common sight at parks on the weekends. One of the best parts of ultimate is that the rules are extremely simple. While, as with any sport, there are fancy throws and tricks to learn, you only need rudimentary knowledge of how to throw a frisbee to play. Furthermore, teams pair their players with one another based on their skill level to ensure that a seasoned veteran isn’t guarding against a rookie to make the game more enjoyable. This is one of the unique aspects of ultimate that make it so fun. If you’re interested in joining a team, it’s easy to sign up and it’s likely that your city has one already. If not, starting up a new team with some friends is always a possibility! A link to learn more about ultimate frisbee is below.

Ultimate Frisbee HQ – Everything about Ultimate

With all of the different ways to get in shape in the New Year, it can be hard to find a fun and easy way to start working towards your goal. Parkour, climbing, and ultimate frisbee are some beginner-friendly ways to get started right away and jump in! Hopefully, one of these activities is right for you and helps you to get fit in a fun and enjoyable way.

Arts and Culture, News, Student Life

Poetry Submission Competition!

December 1, 2022 thelighthousetve

by The Lighthouse Staff

Hello TVE Kids and Teens!

Time for a poetry challenge! The staff of The Lighthouse (TVE’s own student-led newspaper) invites one and all to take part in our first ever poetry competition! Don’t be afraid to let your creative ideas run wild and why not show them off? We look forward to reading your submissions and getting inspired by your beautiful words! You could even share your poems with your parkday friends. Here are the rules. First off, YOUR POETRY MUST COME OUT OF YOUR OWN CREATIVE MIND. No quoting Edger Allen Poe, people! Second off, NO EXPLICIT LANGUAGE OR CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS. We will not accept any foul poetry submissions. Third off, WE ACCEPT ALL TYPES OF POETRY! We don’t hold grudges against haikus or anything.

POETRY IS TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE 20th OF DECEMBER.

You can SUBMIT YOUR POEM AT: thelighthousetve@gmail.com

Our staff will decide who wins in each category, then we will email everyone to congratulate them for their hard work and receive an online certificate! ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE POSTED IN THE LIGHTHOUSE NEWSPAPER ON THE 5th OF JANUARY. (Unless you instruct us not to.)

HAVE FUN HAIKU

WE WISH YOU GOOD LUCK

HAVE FUN BEING CREATIVE

YOU CREATIVE KIDS!

Sincerely,

-The Lighthouse staff

Arts and Culture

5 Jolly Christmas Crafts

December 1, 2022 thelighthousetve

by Lydia Martinov

It’s finally December! You know what that means. Christmas is coming! I’m sure you are all ecstatic for Santa to come down your chimney and put out your presents. He is sure to admire these 5 jolly Christmas crafts when he stops by.

Paper Chain Garland

This craft is my personal favorite, and I use it every year. It is really simple and super fun. It also looks really good, because you can add all kinds of neat designs!

Every good artist has their art supplies prepared and ready to go. So, make sure you have a pencil, colored markers (if you want), and a stack of colored (or regular) paper.

All photos by Lydia M.

Now, cut each paper lengthwise into about 8 pieces, using scissors. You can use a pencil and ruler to draw straight lines before cutting your strands. I recommend making strands that are approximately 1 inch wide and 11 inches long. Then, decorate them if you want.

Next, take one strip of sticky tape and attach the top of the paper strand to the bottom, forming a circle.

Now, run a new strip of paper through the previous one, and attach the top to the bottom to create a new circle. This will create the shape of a chain, and if you want, you can even make patterns on your chain using different colored paper.

Continue this process until the chain reaches the desired length of your garland. When you’re finished, hang it up for all to see!

Paper Plate Christmas Tree

Here is another beautiful, quick and easy craft. I find it very convenient, because it looks great, it’s simple and can be hung from the ceiling.

You will need string (for hanging the finished project up), scissors, colored pencils, markers, paints, stickers, or other decorating tools.

Now, you can begin by drawing a spiral on the back of the paper plate using a decorating tool, such as a marker, pen, pencil, or paint. Then, draw or paint some patterns along the spiral line. This makes your paper plate Christmas tree really pop.

After that, cut along the spiral line, so that the paper plate looks like a swirly Christmas tree when you hold it by the top. Make a tiny hole on the tip, so that you are able to run a string through, and tie a knot underneath.

Tape it to the ceiling. Now, you have a fabulous decoration for the holidays!

Bead Candy Cane Ornament

This is a very fun, simple craft that you can hang on your Christmas tree. DIY ornaments show lots of creativity, and are distinct.

You will need a pipe cleaner and plastic jewelry beads.

Twist the bottom of the pipe cleaner, so that the beads cannot fall off. Next, slide the beads onto the pipe cleaner. I recommend making patterns. While you are sliding the beads on, make sure you have room to twist the top of the pipe cleaner, to make sure that the beads will not fall off.

Then, curve your candy cane ornament into a candy cane shape. Now, your ornament is ready! Hang it up on your Christmas tree, and if you want to, make some more!

Countdown Till Christmas

This craft is like creating your own advent calendar. It is super cool, and you can hang it up in your room and change it every morning.

First, you need a paper plate, scissors, glue (or tape), paper and markers, paint, pens, pencils or other decorating tools.

Cut a square in the middle of the paper plate that is about an inch long, and an inch wide. On the back of the plate (inside), glue or tape a thin strip of paper to the back of the square.

Next, cut out a piece of paper that is 11 inches long, and 1 inch wide. On one side, write numbers 1 through 12 with your decorating tools from top to bottom, and 13 through 24 on the other side. Then, decorate your paper plate on the outside. When you are done, flip the plate over to the back, and weave the paper with numbers through the strip attached to the plate.

When you flip the plate over, there should be a number in the square. Starting on December 1st, move the paper by one number each day. Start at 1, then 2, 3, 4, 5 and so on. When you get to 12, flip the strip of paper to continue. Congrats! You have made your own advent calendar.

Paper Snowflake

Paper snowflakes are stunning, and you can decorate your house with lots of them. They are easy to make, and the items you need are very easy to come by.

First, you need to grab paper, a pencil, and scissors.

Make sure your paper is in a portrait format (or longways), and fold the top, right corner down, along the left edge of the paper.

Then, cut the paper under the triangle off. Unfold the triangle, and now you have a perfect square. Fold the bottom edge up to the top edge, and then the right edge to the left edge. You should now have a smaller square.

Draw a design on the square, but remember that the bottom right corner will be the middle of your snowflake. You are welcome to use my design or come up with your own. No two snowflakes in nature are alike, after all.

Then, cut along the design you drew, and unfold. Check out your wonderful paper snowflake!

I really hope you enjoyed making these 5 jolly Christmas crafts. Santa will be very impressed!

Sports

‘Tis the Season of the FIFA World Cup

December 1, 2022December 5, 2022 thelighthousetve

by Cy Bernardi

In 2018, 1.12 billion people held their breath as Croatia went head to head with France in the final match of the FIFA World Cup. A 4-2 French victory marked the conclusion of the tournament for the next four years. The World Cup is held at four-year intervals, with countries from all across the globe competing against one another to bring glory to their nations. Now, it’s time to turn on the TV and get watching once again! The 2022 World Cup is being hosted by Qatar and is looking to be one of the most exciting tournaments in soccer history. As exhilarating as this event is, this one, in particular, has a somber side to it because it’s likely the last World Cup that fan-favorite players such as Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will be taking part in. However, on the other hand, the USMNT (United States Men’s National Team) is one of the strongest squads in US history with players such as Christian Pullisic, Weston McKennie, and team captain Tyler Adams. When all of these aspects are put together, the 2022 World Cup is looking to be one of the most exciting tournaments in recent history.

One of the most highly anticipated parts of the World Cup this year is watching how Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the greatest players of all time, respond to the pressure of playing in what is likely their last World Cup. This is both Ronaldo’s fifth time donning the Portuguese national colors and Messi’s fifth for Argentina in a World Cup. Sadly, age gets the best of all of us, and by the time the next World Cup starts in 2026, both of them will more than likely be retired. However, both the Portuguese and Argentine National teams have full rosters of strong players and have good chances of winning the tournament. There has always been competition between these two players for the title of GOAT, or greatest of all time. If one of them manages to pull off a win this year, it could be a deciding factor in who is more worthy of the title. This is one of our last chances to see these soccer legends play against each other, adding to the overall hype of the 2022 World Cup.

It’s a well-known fact that the United States can’t compete with European Nations in soccer. However, this World Cup could be different. With a strong team captained by Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, the US National Team has hope for doing well this year. This is one of the first times in recent memory that America can cheer on their own team with hopes of winning a World Cup.

With all of the excitement surrounding this World Cup and so many streaming options to choose from, it can be hard to decide where to watch it. The best options for paid viewing of live matches are Sling and ESPN+. If you’re looking to watch this event for free, Tubi is a free app that allows you to catch up on games after they end, but unfortunately live viewing isn’t an option. Hopefully, one of these apps will be useful so you can tune in for some World Cup action!

From the end of an era with Messi and Ronaldo finishing up their time playing for their countries to the possibility of the US National Team doing well, the 2022 World Cup is expected to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, and with so many options to choose from for streaming, it’s easier than ever to hop in and start supporting your team.

Student Life

TVE’s Harvest Dance 2022

November 4, 2022September 19, 2023 thelighthousetve

by Olive Pea

This fall, TVE has hosted yet another wonderful celebration for this fantastic community. This family dance was dedicated to the fall harvest, and I am sure it has created a lot of happy memories for a lot of people. TVE thanks all of those who helped make this special event happen from set up to clean up, and everything in between.

The TVE Leadership team along with their families and a few volunteers showed up around 4:00pm on Saturday, 22nd of October at the Grange to set up for the dance. The kitchen was set up in a cafeteria style. Four tables were set with fall themed tablecloths and were later laid with baked goods and other snacks brought by contestants for the potluck. Two more tables were set to the right of the entrance door for registration and activities such as a scavenger hunt, and glow stick bracelets. There was also a jar of candy corn, for participants to guess how many were in it. Whoever guessed the closest to the accurate number would get the whole jar!

In a far corner of the room there were two more tables draped with more fall tablecloths for the pumpkin painting craft. Those tables were set with aprons, drawing supplies, and flat wooden pumpkin cutouts to draw on. On the ceiling, paper jack o’lantern lights were hung, and the back of the chairs had battery operated candles that gave off a soft, glowing light when it was dark. There were two stages in the room, the smaller one was set up for a photo booth. The backdrop was a full moon with pumpkins and autumn colored leaves, and in front of the stage there was a ring-shaped light. There were also props for the photos such as glittery paper mustaches and bows. On the other bigger stage, the DJ booth was set up. Right outside the building, a section of the parking lot was coned off for games and two more tables. There was Connect Four, big Jenga, and there was even mini golf, but instead of holes you had to hit the ball into a carved pumpkin’s mouth.

All of this was finished by 5:30pm, which gave everyone who was helping set up 30 minutes to change into costumes. People started arriving at 6:00pm for the party in costume, and brought snacks for the potluck. There were all kinds of bright and colorful costumes all the way from flamingos to wicked witches of the west!

Pictures were taken on the little stage in front of the backdrop all through the evening of families and friends in their costumes. At around 6:45pm the costume parade started. Everyone walked all around the Grange in a line to This Is Halloween from the movie A Nightmare Before Christmas.

At around 7:00pm, the lights turned off and the party music started. The first song of the night was I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. People then started dancing, playing games, and getting snacks and hot cocoa from the kitchen. After a few songs in, the DJ paused the music, and the lights went back on so the host could announce the winner of the candy corn jar. The winner guessed 365 candy corns which was the closest guess to the actual number of 377. After that, all the kids and a few adults stood in front of the stage with the DJ booth for a group photo. Then the lights went off again, and the music continued. During all the dancing and snacks, some members of the Lighthouse Press managed to interview six participants about the party. Here they are!

OLIVIA S.

Q. What costume are you wearing?

A. I am a Hufflepuff student from Hogwarts.

Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?

A. I love the Harry Potter book series. They’re like, my favorite books ever.

Q. What has been your favorite part of today’s Harvest Dance thus far?

A. I love seeing all my friends and dressing up is really fun, and dancing is my favorite thing to do.

Q. What is your favorite TVE event?

A. Probably the Harvest Dance or Spring Fling.

MITCHELL W.

Q. What costume are you wearing?

A. A vampire costume.

Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?

A. Because I think it looks good. And because my grandma made it.

Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?

A. Probably playing outside and dancing.

Q. What is your favorite TVE event?

A. Weekly park days.

MAYA

Q. What costume are you wearing?

A. Glamrock Freddy.

Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?

A. Because my brother looks like Gregory who is also from the same video game.

Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?

A. The people.

Q. What is your favorite TVE event?

A. Parkdays.

ELIZA B.

Q. What costume are you wearing?

A. I am Evie from Descendants.

Q What inspired you to wear this costume?

A. I really like the movies, and me and my friend Sophia are both people from Descendants.

Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?

A. Dancing.

Q. What is your favorite TVE event?

A. Well, probably the Harvest Dance or the Spring Fling.

SOPHIA S.

Q. What costume are you wearing?

A. A Descendants Mal costume.

Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?

A. Well, I really like the movie and I was dressing up as this with my friend.

Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?

A. I think the dancing.

Q. What is your favorite TVE event?

A. I like the Spring Fling.

ALEENA

Q. What costume are you wearing?

A. I am wearing a Hermione Granger costume.

Q. What inspired you to wear this costume?

A. I have actually been it for a very, very long time and I am obsessed with Harry Potter, so yeah!

Q. What has been your favorite part of the Harvest Dance thus far?

A. Probably the dancing.

Q. What is your favorite TVE event?

A. I think probably the Harvest Dance or the Spring Fling.

Thank all of you who we interviewed for this article! Those interviews were awesome. After the interviews were finished, everyone who had participated then returned to the dance floor for more music, dancing and fun! Some went to the kitchen for a quick snack. At around 9:30pm, the bulk of people that were there had returned to their homes for the night, so the lights came on and the music stopped. The remaining participants and TVE Leadership started to clean up tables, food, and decor. By the time everything was cleaned up at 10:00pm, people started heading out.

The Harvest Dance was a truly special event that for many, (including myself) is one of the most special days of the year. Once again, we thank all of those who made this all happen. I hope everyone has a wonderful fall and a Happy Halloween!

News, Science

Tesla’s Optimus: A State-of-the-Art Robot or Another Impractical Toy?

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022 thelighthousetve

by Lydia I. Martinov

The future is here! Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has finally unveiled the Optimus (also known as the Tesla robot). This epic piece of machinery contains AI (Artificial Intelligence), meaning that it can perform tasks that usually require a human mind. The Optimus was unveiled by Elon Musk on September 30th, Tesla’s AI day. The event happened at the Tesla office in Palo Alto, California.

The unveiling started with a screen on stage depicting robot hands making a heart, and once everybody settled in their seats, Elon Musk, along with some of the engineers, who helped make the Optimus, took to the stage. One of the engineers explained that it will be the first time that the Optimus will be “without any support cranes, mechanical mechanisms, no cables, nothing.” With that, the robot’s heart hands opened to reveal the Optimus prototype.

The robot walked out and waved to the crowd, receiving thunderous applause. It performed a simple dance, and one of the engineers pointed out that the robot uses the “self-driving computer that runs in [our] Tesla cars”. The robot walked to the back of the stage, while a video was playing on the screen, showing the prototype connected to wires, and support cranes, performing tasks such as watering plants and bringing in packages. Then, the robot was attached to a small platform, and managed to squat. Optimus must be able to squat in order to pick things up and perform chores.

Believe it or not, programming the robot to walk is not easy. In fact, it’s downright difficult. The engineers had to make sure that the robot is balanced, so that it doesn’t fall flat on its face. The Optimus prototype took its first steps in April 2022. Then, in July, the engineers were able to get its pelvis moving, as it walked. In August, they managed to get the robot’s arms to sway. Lastly, in September, they made the movement of its foot transfer from heel to toe, with every step.

The materials that will be used when these bots are put into production include metal and plastic (less metal and more plastic makes the bot lighter). The battery life on the robot is 4 to 23 hours, and it uses the 2.3 kWh, 52V battery. It can pick up 20 pounds with each hand, and weighs 160 pounds. The Optimus is 5’ 8” tall, and can walk 5 mph (miles per hour). Its eyes are cameras, ears are microphones, and the voice is a speaker. The joints are inspired by the joints of a human.

Optimus is a humanoid, meaning that it is a robot resembling the body of a human in shape. Instead they were powered by a system of levers and pulleys.

It is expected that by 2027, this epic piece of machinery will be on sale for about $20,000. So, you better start saving up! Tesla’s Optimus is a truly magnificent item, and many people are very excited for it to become a selling product. I, for one, can definitely utilize this robot to clean my room.

Science

Let’s Help Solitary Bees – Part 2 –

November 4, 2022 thelighthousetve

by Ava Salado

What is a bee hotel? Well, it’s basically a home where solitary bees can lay their eggs, these eggs can hatch into larvae, then emerge to pollinate your garden! Bee hotels are kind of a birdhouse but for bees. Solitary bees need a small, hollow “cave” like place to lay their eggs which will develop into babies. In a natural environment, the mama bee would find this perfect spot in downed trees, reeds, or any hole, nook or cranny a bee can fit in (and is the size to safely house their eggs). This bee hotel provides an “artificial” place to lay. They can also be known as bee condos, bee houses, or even nest blocks. Unfortunately, in today’s modern times and as we talked about in our last article, many of these resources are being taken away. So how can we all help? Make a bee hotel for your backyard. You can make a difference in your local area. Plus, you will bring local pollinators to your garden!

This sounds awesome but how do I make one? Well it is a simple, easy, and rewarding process and you don’t even need that many materials, let me show you.

First you need a frame, you can use anything that is sturdy and waterproof. Such as a square wooden frame which can be easily created with some spare wood, or even (like the wonderful Larky parkday kids used) an empty, clean tin can.

Photo by Sheri Salado. Bee Hotel made by student of UC Berkeley. Located at Blake Gardens, Kensington, California

Now you need the insides (the actual place the bees will be staying). Bee hotels are supposed to mimic the natural nesting habitat of the bee, try giving a bundle of hollow reeds or stems, drill 2 mm to 10 mm diameter holes in a wooden block that are about 2 inches to 6 inches long, or even reusable paper straws. Keep in mind, if you choose using paper straws they can easily absorb moisture which is not good for the baby bee. So for their safety, retire the straws after each season once all of the babies have emerged. After that, get new straws for the next mama to find.)

Then simply attach the insides to the frame making sure they are sturdy and will not fall out or shake.

Now you have your own bee hotel. Attach at least 3 feet above the ground so that no crazy creatures get curious. And if you are having trouble with birds swooping in and pecking at the holes, consider putting chicken wire on the outside/entrances of the caves.

Here are some more essential tips:

Have a nice roof so that the entrances to the cave are protected from rain or dew. This is very important because, as I said before, if the cave is exposed to water or mass moisture, it could lead to mold, disease, and many other bad things. So, in the rainy months, I suggest storing it in the garage, patio, dungeon or any other cold dark spot. You don’t have to worry about them emerging until spring.

Make sure your hotel is not swinging or swaying in the wind, this will lead to very uncomfortable baby bees. Keep it in a non-windy and stable place.

Always place your hotel in direct sunlight. Usually south or southeast facing. The babies like it warm in the spring and summertime.

Put your hotel out in early April-ish, that’s when most mamas will be looking for a place to lay. Then, by the following spring, all the babies should have all moved on to the big wide world. After they leave, clean the empty hole with a pipe cleaner or remove and replace the holes entirely.

Other than that, just be generally careful when placing and caring for your little friends. Share the care!

Now we must understand a few things. The answer for how to “Save the Bees” is much bigger and harder than just putting up bee hotels, this problem is much more complicated the world would assume. But don’t fear. By doing this you will be helping the bee population in your area. Especially if you live in a more urban space with few resources for their babies to be born. Plus, the hope that if we put bee hotels in public spaces, we could inspire anyone who sees it. The goal is to spark interest and curiosity, people will say “what is that thing?” This will inspire questions with important answers. The hope is that this fun project will inspire future generations to take further steps to save these wonderful creatures. My ask to whoever is reading this is to create as many bee hotels as possible using only recycled materials or things that you find in your backyard. Make it fun, art inspired, and creative.

My greatest hope is that by having bee hotels spread across the Bay Area, it will both restore the pollinators’ habitat, inspire kids to protect nature and inspire others to support this great cause with action to help them in the future. What steps will you take?

Photos by Sheri Salado. Made by kids of Larky Parkday.

Arts and Culture, News

Diwali — The Festival of Lights

November 4, 2022 thelighthousetve

by Meru S.

Deepavali (or Diwali) is the Hindu festival of lights. It is celebrated on the new moon that occurs between mid-October to mid-November, according to the Lunar Calendar. The word Deepavali is a combination of two Sanskrit words — Deepa, meaning lamp, and Avali, meaning rows or series. Therefore, Deepavali means rows of lamps.

In Southern India, Deepavali celebrates the defeat of the demon Naraka at the hands of Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu. In Northern India, it celebrates the victorious return of Prince Rama, another incarnation of Vishnu, having defeated the demon Ravana. The demons represent the vices in human nature.

Deepavali symbolizes light over darkness, good over evil, and hope over despair. Families wake up as early as 4:00 AM and apply an herbal medicinal oil before bathing as a cleansing ritual. Hindus celebrate this bright and joyous festival by lighting oil lamps, cooking traditional sweet and savory treats, and, more recently, lighting sparklers or firecrackers.

This is a universal prayer in Sanskrit on the occasion of Deepavali

असतो मा सद्गमय |

तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय |

मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय |

ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्ति | |

Asatho ma sadgamaya,

Thamaso ma jyothirgamaya,

Mrithyorma amritham gamaya,

Om Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi.

Lead us from untruth to truth,

From darkness to light,

From death to immortality

Peace, Peace, Peace.

Here is a healthy, sweet recipe to celebrate with — Carrot Payasam

Ingredients:

4 large carrots

2 1/4 cups milk

1/4 cup water or reserved cooking liquid

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp ground cardamom

4 whole cloves

saffron for garnish (optional)

Peel and cut carrots into two-inch pieces. Steam until thoroughly soft. If cooking on a stovetop, reserve cooking liquid for later use.
Combine the carrots, liquids, sugar, cardamom, and cloves in a blender and blend until smooth.
Adjust liquids for preferred consistency and sweetness for preferred taste.
Refrigerate until chilled.
Garnish with saffron and serve chilled. Enjoy!

Home, Sports

A Perspective on the Relationship between Sports and Business

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022 thelighthousetve

by Cy Bernardi

“In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened.”

-Tommy Lasorda

Tim Salado, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing, is without a doubt someone that makes it happen. From spending time as a professional baseball player to entrepreneuring his own start-up, Mr. Salado is an expert on both business and sports. When it comes down to it, many aspects of sports, such as performance under stress, are present in the business world as well. Mr. Salado was kind enough to share some of the connections and tips he discovered during his experience in these two fields.

The first question that I asked Mr. Salado was if there were any similarities he had noticed between business and professional sports. “When I was in professional sports, you were brought on to perform a certain skill, and they were banking on your performance in that skill. And just like in business where you would hire someone to come do something for you you’d expect that to be done, so it’s a very similar approach… What’s similar from a player’s perspective is that, uh and a business person is that you’re, let’s say that you’re the person delivering the service or the performance, uh, there’s that aspect of you must perform under potentially difficult conditions.” This is an interesting response because he highlights one of the most challenging aspects of business and sports. Stress, an ever-present element of both athletics and business, can be managed using various strategies. Competing in sports, especially at a high level, can provide practice for individuals that are also involved in business.

When Mr. Salado was in graduate school, he wrote his thesis paper on a trance-like state called “The Zone.” He describes The Zone as “an elusive, very temporary, and fleeting state of being that is usually defined by an extraordinary performance.” Mr. Salado further describes this state of mind, “You become very aware of the things that are going on, but only those things that are necessary for you to perform the task. All other extraneous things tend to melt away a bit so you don’t hear crowds, you don’t hear, you know, things going on you become very focused.” In the workplace, The Zone is more likely to be experienced when giving an important presentation or sales pitch but still has the same effect on office workers as it does on professional sports players.

Since Mr. Salado has a Master’s degree in sports psychology, my final question to him was, what is the most applicable thing to business you learned while getting this degree? ” Sports psychology taught me to have an awareness, you know, to make a scale, where am I on that scale, where am I normally on that scale one to ten, where would I normally perform the best? How can I get myself from where I’m at to that level?” This is an extremely valuable strategy to use in both business and sports. If mastered, this technique will be effective in daily life to perform at your maximum potential.

From stress management to The Zone, sports and business have many similarities. Unfortunately, not everyone that competes in athletics has a positive experience. A CEO co-worker of Mr. Salado jokingly said, “I don’t wish harm on anybody, only our competitors and my Little League baseball coach.” This shows that sadly, playing sports doesn’t translate into business skills for everyone. However, most people who have competed in some athletic endeavor and go into business have at least one advantage over non-sports players.

Thank you, Mr. Salado, for sharing your knowledge with us! I hope you all have learned as much as I have about the fascinating correlation between business and sports.

News, Student Life

One Harvest Dance, Comin’ Right Up!

October 20, 2022September 19, 2023 thelighthousetve

by Olive Pea

Hello TVE Community, and hello fall! Isn’t it just so nice to finally have a few not-100-degree weeks? Geez! That sun of ours can be so mean sometimes! Well, now that there isn’t a sizzling noise when we walk onto our front porches, the sunset-colored trees are dropping their leaves at the slightest breezes in front yards which are decorated with pumpkins and scarecrows, waiting for Halloween, which is lurking right around the corner! The TVE Leaders host an annual family dance for this special community, to celebrate this equally special time of year. And now, I am going to subtly tell you IT IS COMING UP PEOPLE! TVE’s annual harvest dance will be held this Saturday, the 22nd of October! It will take place in Danville (further information can be found on the event page in the TVE Facebook group) from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Costumes are highly encouraged, so it’s time to dust off that old Thor costume from 2011 in your brother’s closet. It is also advised that you do not wear any costumes that are too gory or scary, in favor of the many younger attendees that will be present. There will be music, a photo booth, a variety of snacks, games, and even a costume parade! Tickets cost $8 per person, and $25 for 3 people or more. And don’t forget to bring a treat for the potluck! Click on the link below to see the list of snacks needed. Also, note that there will be no actual meals, just snack-worthy items such as chocolate chip cookies, chips, and cupcakes. We hope to see you at the Harvest Dance this year!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44AAAA2FA7FCC25-tves