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Common Side-Blotched Lizard

January 18, 2021 thelighthousetve

The three throat colors of the male lizards

The common side-blotched lizard is a unique animal. The males behave in 3 different ways and also differ in the color of the scales on their throats. There are three different colors: blue, orange, and yellow. Certain behaviors correspond to each color. The different colors have a unique “Rock-Paper-Scissors” form of competition. The Blue-throated males form a group to protect one female. They are beaten by the slightly larger and more aggressive Orange throats, who have groups protecting multiple females. In turn, the Orange-throated males are beaten by the sneakier Yellow throats, who slip past their defense. However, the Blue throats groups are so tight that the yellow throats cannot sneak in. Blue beats Yellow, Yellow beats Orange, Orange beats Blue; Rock-Paper-Scissors.

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A Crash Course on the 25th Amendment

January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 thelighthousetve

by Olivia Brazier

Well, it’s happening again. This time, Donald Trump has been impeached because of his words which incited the violent insurrection at the capitol. Although the impeachment process has started, other options were initially discussed for getting rid of the President. One of them was the 25th amendment, which Mike Pence could have used to remove Trump from office and take his place.

Hearing about this course of action raises a few questions. How does this amendment work? How do you decide if a President can’t do his job? Why is it an amendment and not part of the actual Constitution? Hopefully, I can answer these questions for you and explain why lawmakers didn’t go with this option.

There is very little written about the role of the Vice President in our Constitution. Here is what Article II, section 1 of our Constitution says about succeeding the President.

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The main issue with this was that there was no way to replace a Vice President if they died in office. This happened frequently enough that for around 20% of US history before 1965, there was no one to step up if the President died. It was also unclear who decided if a President was unable to perform his duties. What if Congress wanted to remove a President, but the Commander in Chief insisted that he was still able to use his power properly? What if a President was unwell but recovered?

The 25th amendment, which was ratified in 1965, codified the traditional practice of presidential succession after death, and it specified that after a President resigned, their successor became President, not Acting President.

Section 1

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

It also specified a process through which a President could nominate and confirm a new Vice President.

Section 2

Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3

Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Now we come to the part of the amendment that is most relevant today.

Section 4

Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

Although this amendment could be used to remove a president from office, it’s not designed for the current situation. This power of the Vice Presidents is supposed to be used when the President is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.” Although Donald Trump may be seen by some as self-serving and dangerous, he is still technically able to perform his duties.

So now we know how we got to Trump’s second impeachment and why it was the best option. If lawmakers are set on keeping Trump out of the White House forever, they will have to go through the longer process of impeachment. But for those evacuated from their offices ahead of an angry mob, it’s probably worth the wait.

Home, Science

Leaping Blennies: A Terrestrial Fish!

January 18, 2021March 29, 2021 thelighthousetve

by Blake Killion

The Pacific Leaping Blenny (Alticus arnoldorum) is one of a limited number of amphibious fish, a kind of fish that can leave water for an extended period of time. What makes Pacific Leaping Blennies and other kinds of Leaping Blennies so interesting, besides their head crests and reddish-orange dorsal fins, is their ability to leap around their habitats using a flicking motion of their tails!

Their uncommon method of movement is especially unique, and only found in a couple of other species related to them. They are able to flick their tails up to 90° and can do so repeatedly and with a sufficient amount of strength to allow leaping several times their own body length, which is usually around eight centimeters. (or roughly three inches for us with a worse system of measurement.) They use this to leap from hole to hole in their limestone, and were likely named due to this.

Image credit: © Georgina Cooke, via Australian Museum.

In combination with their leaping, they also have expanded pectoral and tail fins which allow them to cling to solid surfaces. The Blennies breathe through their porous skin when in the air, and their gills when in water, both of which they must keep moisturized. They are oviparous, and form distinct pairs when mating.

The habitat of Pacific Leaping Blennies is usually limestone rocks in reefs, which they are patterned to camouflage into, in such locations as Samoa, Guam, and the Marianas, Society and Cook Islands, which are in the western and southern Pacific Ocean. Blennies are most active during mid-tide, which usually lasts around two to four hours, and tend to hide in moist crevices in rocks to avoid drying out or being swept away by stronger tides during the rest of the day. When they are active, they tend not to intentionally go into the deep water and spend most of their time on the land. Their diet consists primarily of algae, which they scrape off of the rocks they live on.

Pacific Leaping Blennies are an incredibly unique and interesting animal, a complex mix of land and sea creature. If you live in the California area and want to see one up close, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which houses a small habitat of this fantastic fish, as well as a plethora of other amazing sea creatures!

Home, Student Life

Attention All Students!

December 8, 2020December 8, 2020 thelighthousetve

By Ava Salado

Hello all students, do you have any stories from what you have been doing in lock down? It could be fun crafts, games, stories, recipes, even ideas for things other students can do. If you do have something to share, ask a parent or guardian to help you send your submission. You can send it to lighthousetve@gmail.com. Make sure to keep it PG of course, you can tell us in the email if you want your full name used, your first name, initials or just to remain anonymous. You can include pictures if you took them yourself. Try to send them in before January 2nd, 2021. Hope to see all of your fun submissions.

Home, Science

“Life uh… Finds a Way”

December 7, 2020 thelighthousetve

By Lucas Garcia

The Jurassic Park franchise is hands down the most popular piece of dinosaur media ever. Based on the 1990 novel by Michael Crichton, the first Jurassic Park movie cemented dinosaurs as pop-culture icons.

One of the most prominently featured dinosaurs in the franchise is the Velociraptor. However, its portrayal in that series is much different than real life. So much so that most people wouldn’t even recognize a true Velociraptor if they saw one.

The real Velociraptor was actually about the size of a turkey, approximately 1.5 feet tall. The Velociraptor more closely resembled a bird than a lizard, as it had feathers covering most of its body and even large, wing-like feathers on its forearms. In the Jurassic Park movies, the Velociraptor is shown to exhibit near-human intelligence. However, judging by the size of its brain cavity, the Velociraptor probably wasn’t even as smart as a parrot.

Velociraptor mongoliensis by Fred Wierum

When Michael Crichton was writing his book, he based his Velociraptor on a different animal called Deinonychus. He called it Velociraptor because he decided its name needed to be “More dramatic.” While Crichton used the physical characteristics of Deinonychus almost exactly, he chose to depict them significantly larger. Although, at that time, there were no known raptors even close to that size.

Deinonychus Life Restoration by Emily Willoughby

After the Velociraptor for the first Jurassic Park movie had been designed, the discovery of a new massive raptor was made public, called Utahraptor. Interestingly, Utahraptor matched the Jurassic Park Velociraptor’s appearance in almost all respects, the exceptions being that it was feathered and thought to be slightly larger.

Utahraptor ostrommaysorum by Fred Wierum

Usually, art imitates life, but in this case, it seems to have been the other way around. To quote the Jurassic Park character Ian Malcolm, “Life uh… finds a way.”

Arts and Culture, Home

Three Fun Recipes for Holiday Baking

December 7, 2020December 12, 2020 thelighthousetve

by Lucie Ruggiero

The holiday baking season has begun! Winter is my absolute favorite time of year. When December rolls around, it’s hard for a baking lover like myself to keep out of the kitchen long. Holiday recipes hold a warm place in my heart, so I decided to share three of my favorites with you.

St. Lucia Buns

Saint Lucia Day is a Swedish holiday that takes place more towards the beginning of the holiday season on December 13, which gives you a reason to start baking early.

My family and I have celebrated Saint Lucia Day since I was five. What with wearing candles on your head and baking yummy treats, plus the bonus of my name in the title, it’s almost like getting a second birthday!

Making Saint Lucia buns is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Saint Lucia Buns or saffron buns have a bit of an unusual flavor. The saffron gives it a unique kind of sweetness that’s hard to describe. Sweet, yeasty, and golden, with a smooth, egg-washed shell and a soft, bready center, they taste and smell like happiness.

Baking Tip: You do not need to make the buns as big as you think, they grow, a lot! Aim for the amount the recipe says you should have, and they’re probably the right size.

The recipe: St. Lucia Buns – NYT Cooking

Best Ever Gluten-Free Spritz Cookies

Buttery, bite-sized spritz cookies are hard to stop eating. Add in their fun shapes and ability to suit any holiday, and they are pretty much the perfect holiday cookie. These are one of my mom’s favorite kind of cookies, which is why finding a great gluten-free recipe was important. This recipe lives up to its name. Making your own gluten-free flour blend is not necessary for this recipe, just use your favorite brand. I have found the gluten-free flour from Trader Joe’s to work well. For this recipe, you will need a spritz cookie press.

Baking Tip: It takes a few tries to get in the spritz squirting zone. If refrigerated too long, the cookie dough won’t move through the press. If not cold enough, the cookies won’t hold their shape. Find a balance that works. If the dough gets too soft, stick it back in the fridge for a bit. Any failed attempts can be put right back through the press.

The recipe: Best Ever Spritz Cookies (Gluten-Free Recipe) – Land O Lakes

Molasses Cookies Moldow

This is probably my favorite holiday recipe. Maybe it’s because I discovered the recipe on my own, or maybe it’s because I adore molasses cookies. Whatever the reason, these cookies are amazing. Chewy, sugar-dusted pillows of molasses spice perfection.

Baking Tip: When they come out of the oven, they will be very soft. You will probably think they are not cooked all the way. Never fear! They firm up considerably as they cool. I have made the mistake of baking them too long many times, so if a soft cookie is what you crave, it is best to wait.

The recipe: This recipe is not available online. It is in the Joy of Cooking and can be found on page 770 (in the 75th Anniversary Edition of the Joy of Cooking).

For molasses cookie lovers who have sourdough starter coming out of their ears, I recently baked this recipe with my sister. It’s a milder tasting molasses cookie than the Moldow recipe. Cakey, pillowy, and oh so soft, this may be my new favorite way to use up my sourdough discard.

The recipe: Soft Sourdough Molasses Cookies – Homemade Food Junkie

Baking together is such a joyful tradition. I hope you and your family enjoy these recipes as much as I do. Happy holidays!

Arts and Culture, Home

A Teen’s Plea That You Take TikTok Songs Seriously

December 7, 2020December 7, 2020 thelighthousetve

By Olivia Brazier

It’s easy to be dismissive of “TikTok songs.” With the strange dances that go along with them and their seemingly undeserved popularity, it’s rather enjoyable to say “Ugh, this song,” when they play on the radio. But should we really be so exasperated by them? Or are they a legitimate part of this generation’s youth culture?

I too can be annoyed by TikTok songs, but this summer I just couldn’t get one of them out of my head. It was ily (i love you baby) by Surf Mesa. The song is calming but upbeat, perfect for relaxing in hot weather. I memorized the lyrics and put it on all my Spotify playlists. Imagine my surprise when my uncle played The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and I heard a familiar refrain.

I love you, baby

And if its quite alright

I need you, baby

To warm these lonely nights…

In 1967, Frankie Valli needed a new song. He and his band, the Four Seasons, had written hits before, but they wanted something that could give Valli a distinct identity and get him noticed. His collaborators, Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe wrote the song Can’t Take My Eyes off of You, hoping that it was the hit they needed. They were not disappointed. The song made it to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Along with two Grammy nominations, the song was covered by dozens of artists, many of whom also made it onto the Billboard charts. In 1969, pop and jazz singer Nancy Wilson’s version reached No. 52. It’s been medlied with U2 by the EDM group Pet Shop Boys; turned into disco by Maureen McGovern; rocked to by Muse. And of course, there’s the Lauryn Hill version that I was so surprised to hear. It has been covered in almost every genre by countless artists. So when looked at in context, the fact that a version was recorded in the chill, hip-hop influenced style that is currently popular is really not that remarkable.

What is remarkable is how ily has found fame. The dreamy song was discovered by teens on TikTok and gained popularity in the background of their videos. After a quick name change to make it more searchable, the song took off. It made it into Spotify’s top 50 songs worldwide, then crossed over onto Billboard’s charts, where it eventually reached No. 23.

This illustrates perfectly why TikTok songs should be taken more seriously. Although they’re easy to laugh at when paired with the strange and silly videos on TikTok, it would be foolish to ignore their effect. TikTok has the power to rocket songs into stardom, turning them from gimmicks into real hits.

The fact that this song, which has been covered by so many artists over the last 60 years, was most recently covered on TikTok, shows that TikTok is not just for funny videos anymore. It has become part of youth culture. And, just as the niche songs of previous generations of teens were taken seriously because of their influence on mainstream pop, so must these new songs be taken seriously. Though they do not always take themselves seriously, though the teens which popularize them do so on a strange and foreign form of social media, though only around 20 seconds of the song will be recognizable due to the length of a TikTok, we must take them seriously. Because in 20 years, they will be among the most famous songs of this decade.

Home, Student Life

Holiday Movies You Might Not Think Of

December 7, 2020 thelighthousetve

By Ava Salado

Christmas is just around the corner! Christmas break is a time for immense amounts of hot cocoa, a good holiday song, and most of all, binge-watching your favorite festive movies! We all have our favorite classics–– the Grinch, White Christmas, The Polar Express, and Elf, to name a few–– but there are some out there that you might not think of. Some of these are diamonds in the rough, traditional family movies, or just funny films you might not have heard of. They are all great, family-friendly movies. If in doubt you can reference Common Sense Media to get a good summary and age recommendation. Here are a few to consider:

“Christmas with the Kranks” is one of those movies you either love or hate. It premiered in 2004 and was directed by Joe Roth. The movie was based on a novel by John Grisham named “Skipping Christmas.” The film has an all-star cast, such as Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Akyroyd, and M. Emmet Walsh. Although having a 1/5 star rating on Common Sense Media, a 5% Rotten Tomatoes, and a 5.4/10 on IMDb it is a hilariously ridiculous movie that should not be taken seriously as it aims to be overacted and weird. It is a wonderful movie for family gatherings when the holiday season rolls around.

“A Flintstones Christmas Carol” is a Flintstone fan classic. It’s a very cute movie, filled with lots of goofy situations and silly resolutions. Released in 1994, it is a perfect movie to watch with a hot cup of tea as the California Christmas rain pours down outside your window.

“The Muppet Christmas Carol”, by Brian Henson, is based on a book by Charles Dickens and is a Holiday tradition for many families. Sadly, since its release in 1992, the picture has not received as much attention as it did when it was first released. However, I’m glad to say that it’s present fans will never forget it.

Disney’s “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas” is a film featuring your favorite Disney characters that tells three different stories sharing Christmas morals and lessons. The movie is great for kids, as it teaches that Christmas is not all about presents, it is about spending time with your family. It’s a film that should not be overlooked as just another Mickey movie and is definitely one to check out.

“Miracle on 34th Street” (1994) is a remake of the original 1947 version. It has a great cast and setting to back it up, it is a truly great film. Some may choose the remake, some may choose the original, but either way you are left with an enjoyable picture.

Please consider adding some of these films to your plethora of holiday movie choices, best watched after eating way too much food at Christmas dinner. Maybe switch one on as you are immobilized on the couch. We wish you and your family a very wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year filled with no creatures stirring, not even a mouse, stockings all hung by the chimney with care, visions of sugarplums dancing in your head, a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer and much holiday cheer. So, Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Arts and Culture, Home

Over the Garden Wall: The Ultimate Fall/Winter Entertainment

November 17, 2020November 17, 2020 thelighthousetve

By Olivia Brazier

When it gets cold in October, I start anticipating all of my favorite autumn traditions. I love carving pumpkins, baking, and making Halloween costumes. My family’s most recently added tradition is to watch the Cartoon Network miniseries Over the Garden Wall. When the series came out in 2014, it was widely acclaimed, even winning two Grammy awards. Although it only aired on Cartoon Network once, it has amassed a cult following of dedicated fans. Since becoming available on major streaming platforms like Amazon Prime and HBO Max, the series has been more widely watched than ever before. With the show’s beautiful animation, whimsical setting, and campfire scares, it’s the perfect show to watch under a blanket with a mug of hot cider.

Over the Garden Wall is one of a kind. While its teen protagonist and absurd humor are similar to Gravity Falls, its tone and style are unique. The series follows brothers Wirt and Greg, who are lost in a mysterious fall forest called the Unknown. It’s the setup for so many classic fairytales, and it gives the story a dreamlike quality, as if we’ve heard it before. Over the Garden Wall is also scary in a unique way. While most episodes are ridiculous and fun, the occasional scary scenes are reminiscent of childhood fears and campfire stories. The Unknown is pretty in its autumn colors, but as the series progresses and winter sets in it feels more menacing.

The art of Over the Garden Wall is unique, too– or at least it’s unique to current entertainment. Emily VanDerWerff of the Vulture describes the style as “if Ichabod and Mr. Toad were made by Ghibli instead of Disney.” The creators drew inspiration from victorian postcards, folk art, and children’s book illustrations, as well as some of America’s first films. Episode 3 reminds me of a Charly Chaplin movie, and the Highway Man’s dance in Episode 4 is meant to mimic the look of old rotoscoped films. It’s vintage jazz and folk soundtrack, recorded by the Blasting Company, makes the setting perfect for a November binge watch (which will take under two hours since the episodes are so short).

The story of the series plays out like one of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tales, which makes sense since his stories inspired many of the episodes. The brothers travel through the Unknown, encountering many strange and magical people, like their talking bluebird friend Beatrice and the mysterious Woodsman. As they continue their journey they attract the attention of the Beast, a deep-voiced antlered creature who always stands in shadow. Each episode has a different cast of side characters and a different setting. Occasionally the episode will open in a new place with characters we’ve never met, leaving us to figure out how our characters got there.

The emotional conflicts of the story will resonate with teens and pre-teens, who will see themselves reflected in Wirt. His journey to becoming a better older brother to Greg is the emotional core of the series, becoming more important as the story progresses and the stakes get higher. Wirt also struggles with feeling confident and finding people who understand his niche interests. He often improvises poetry to describe his feelings, then gets embarrassed and apologizes. Over the course of his journey, he learns to have confidence and embrace his artistic nature.

Spoiler alert! Past this point, I discuss major spoilers for the show. I suggest you skip to the last paragraph if you want to go in without knowing what happens.

One of the most enjoyable parts of watching the show is obsessing over its minute details after you finish. Well-read fans have analyzed every episode of this show, finding the artistic influences for every frame and comparing it to classic works of literature. As we find out in a late series twist, Wirt and Greg are modern kids who fell into a frozen river on Halloween night, which explains their odd attire. The whole time they’ve been in the Unknown they have also been drowning, symbolized by the Unknown freezing. Based on this twist and the other episodes of the show, dedicated fans have theorized that the show is a retelling of Dante’s Inferno, with each episode corresponding to one of the circles of hell. As a project, homeschoolers could read Dante’s Inferno and then watch Over the Garden Wall and compare the two. More artistically inclined kids could study the influences for the character’s costumes, and kids who love fairy tales could compare the story to that of their favorite fairy tale.

For fall entertainment, nothing beats Over the Garden Wall. It’s immersive and mysterious, spooky in a familiar way. For kids, it will be a silly adventure that reminds them of their favorite fairy tales. For teens, it will take them back to their childhoods, while helping them gain confidence. And for adults, it will be a fantastic story that they will want to watch every fall, for themselves and their kids. I can’t wait till next fall when I get to rewatch this amazing miniseries and notice something new.

Home, Science

Megalosaurus

November 16, 2020January 20, 2021 thelighthousetve

by Lucas Garcia

Meaning: Giant Lizard

Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur to be discovered and scientifically named. From what little fossils they had at the time, Paleontologists thought Megalosaurus resembled a bulky, bear-like lizard. When in reality, its skeleton was more similarly structured to some birds, such as roadrunners.