Home – Page 25 – The Lighthouse

Attention All Students!

December 8, 2020December 8, 2020 thelighthousetve

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.

Home, Student Life

How Students are Celebrating Thanksgiving During COVID-19

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 thelighthousetve

by Emma Ruggiero

Thanksgiving is almost here, and people are getting ready to celebrate this cozy holiday with their families and friends and, of course, their favorite food. Everyone has their unique preferences regarding Thanksgiving dishes, and some families have special traditions that they look forward to each year. COVID-19 has interrupted many social activities this year, and Thanksgiving is no exception. Despite the current circumstances, there are many wonderful things to be grateful for this year.

I interviewed four different students about how they celebrate this holiday, what they are most thankful for, and whether or not the COVID-19 pandemic has uprooted their usual Thanksgiving plans. For reasons of privacy, we will withhold the last names of the students interviewed.

Question: Who will you be celebrating Thanksgiving with this year?

Miles: I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with my family.

Kiera: I’m going to celebrate Thanksgiving with my aunt, uncle, grandparents, family friend, my parents, brother, two cats and five dogs.

Gaia: I believe I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with my mother.

Ava: I’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving with my immediate family this year.

Question: Does your family have any special traditions?

Miles: No.

Kiera: We like to spend time together for the week of Thanksgiving and go on adventures (like hikes and escape rooms) and play games, (like Jenga and Catchphrase) as a family.

Gaia: A tradition I have had for a couple of years has been spending Thanksgiving with some family friends. We play games and other pleasant things, and sometimes my grandmother brings me and my mom Salvadorian Tamales.

Ava: My family always has the traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, etc., and we all go around the table talking about what we’re thankful for during the meal.

Question: Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your usual Thanksgiving plans in any way?

Miles: The pandemic will affect what family members can attend our dinner, and as we get closer to Thanksgiving more limitations may arise.

Kiera: The pandemic affected our celebrations for sure, unfortunately. Our original plans included spending a week with lots of our extended family, but because of the pandemic, we had to modify our gathering.

Gaia: Yes.

Ava: The COVID-19 pandemic has not affected our usual Thanksgivings [sic] plans in a significant way.

Question: What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

Miles: I would most definitely have to go with mashed potatoes.

Kiera: Pecan pie and sweet potatoes. Turkey and cranberry sauce are definitely a close second!

Gaia: My favorite dish would probably be Turkey with potatoes and the Salvadorian tamales my family eats.

Ava: My favorite Thanksgiving dish is cranberry sauce – homemade is the best!

Question: What are you thankful for?

Miles: I believe I am most thankful for the fact that none of my family members have been harmed by Covid-19.

Kiera: I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given this year particularly, to spend time with family and explore my passions.

Gaia: I am thankful for the life I have been given, and the opportunities that have presented themselves during confusing times.

Ava: I’m thankful for the many opportunities I’ve been given to pursue my passions, and for being blessed with such an incredible family that supports me in all my ventures.

Thanksgiving is a holiday for spending quality time with your family, your friends, and other important people in your life. Students look forward to the unique ways they enjoy Thanksgiving, from celebrating the traditional way, taking hikes and playing family games, or enjoying special foods. This year, for some students, COVID-19 has mildly impacted their Thanksgiving plans, but that doesn’t mean the holiday will be less enjoyable. When it comes to Thanksgiving foods, some common favorites include turkey, cranberry sauce, and potatoes. There is a lot to be thankful for, and the students express their gratitude for their families and the opportunities they have been gifted with this year.

Student Life

2020 – Virtual Games to Enjoy During COVID-19

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020 thelighthousetve

By Ava Salado

There is no hiding that 2020 has not been the best overall. The COVID-19 pandemic has been, for most students, the most significant and most life-altering thing that has ever happened to them. It has been challenging, but we need to get through it safely. Unfortunately, the TVE community has not been able to do its regular events, such as Park Days, Seminars, Science Fairs, classes, and dances. Although these things can’t take place at the current moment, there are activities you can do to pass this time, and our job as writers is to make this time just a little more enjoyable.

TVE will hopefully get back to regular scheduling in the future, with the Teen Formal still scheduled for Sat, May 8^th, 2021, safety guidelines permitting. The beloved Harvest dance may be taking place in late October 2021, but we are still waiting for further notice for both of these. In the meantime, you and your family can do lots of things, such as taking an exploration through your bookcase to uncover your new favorite story. Maybe an adventure on your couch to discover a brand new movie; or a journey past your favorite music app to find a song you haven’t heard before. Maybe take an online class to learn more about something you love.

Other activities you could enjoy with friends and family are virtual games played over zoom. These are fun, easy games that take minimal prep. Very simple to understand games are quite fun with younger children. Consider having a virtual game championship by playing all the games, and in the end, whoever has the most points total wins.

Learn more about your friends on Zoom – This is a fun virtual game you can play with your friends on Zoom. You select one person to be the reader, and all others write in the Zoom chat three things they like and three things they dislike. The reader then reads each person’s likes and dislikes aloud, without saying their name, and the others have to guess who it is.

Memory game over Zoom – Choose one person to be the leader. This person sets out some random items on a table in front of their computer camera. If you do not have a computer camera that points down, try to use a phone camera and point it towards the table. In the first round, the rest of the players have a 7 second period to write down and remember all of the items before they turn the camera off. After that, the leader turns their camera back on and announces all the items. If you get them right, you get a point. In the second round, the leader selects a new group of items for the table. The players get 7 seconds without writing anything down. You can talk amongst the other players to try and remember better. If you remember them correctly, you get a point. The only difference in round three is that the players must remember the new set of items with their microphones off and attempt to remember the items independently. Afterward, you add up all of your points, whoever has the most points, wins!

Guess that Picture on Zoom – One person selects several photos. First, they share their screen, very zoomed in on the picture. Then, they slowly zoom out. The players write what they think the image is in a private chat with the person who selected the photos. If they guess right, they get a point. Then the process is repeated with multiple different pictures, and whoever has the most points wins!

Virtual Movie night on Zoom – It’s so much fun to watch your favorite movies with your friends. You can achieve this with Zoom or any video chat website. Collaborate with your friends, so you start your favorite movie or show at the same time.

While 2020 has brought up some unexpected challenges, we are committed to making it the best we can. Not seeing friends and family has been one of the hardest parts for most students. These virtual games provide a simple solution, an easy way to connect safely. Hopefully, we will be able to interact in-person again in the future, but for now, we can make do with fun activities like these.

Home, News

How has this Election Affected Students?

November 3, 2020February 3, 2021 thelighthousetve

by Ava Salado

Given the current times, does this 2020 election affect non-voting age students? More specifically, how has this election affected these youth? Could someone under 18 years old even really care about these things, let alone be affected by it? I interviewed a 16-year-old, named Zephyr Depew, to see what she thinks in hopes of answering these questions.

Depew describes the election as being nerve-racking but reports no unhappiness within her family. One of the biggest questions is if students really care about the election. When asked this, she replied with “I do care but sadly I can’t vote because I’m underage so I care about it a decent amount but I can’t care about it as much as some adults.” When I asked her if her opinion has been swayed by her family members opinion, Depew replied with “A little bit, because of me being raised with people that have this opinion, but I feel I would end up voting for the Democratic party even if I was raised in a Republican household.” Most have seen every Prop XYZ commercial imaginable so it is understandable when Depew answered the question if any commercial or ads have affected her opinion, Depew answered by talking about candidates ad videos. She said “It gives me a bit of a chuckle that it looks like a 12-year-old Fortnite thumbnail, but it hasn’t swayed me to a different side.”

The internet is a place with lots of information, especially every 4 years when the election holiday season comes around. No, we do not get gifted with holiday cheer, but instead with a lot of debates and opinions. Most people get all of their political information from the internet. We wanted to see if the students that are interested in the election get most of their information and opinion from the internet. Depew stated “not really because the part of the internet that I’m on are people that share my opinion, so I haven’t seen any videos that have swapped my opinion around.” If you did not have the internet and just word of mouth and the news, do you think that your political view would be different? Depew’s response was “Maybe, but also with the fact of where I live in California, so close to San Francisco, it’s most likely that I would still have the same opinions of the more democratic leaning side even without the internet.” Now we get to the last question which was, did the prior election leave you with any feelings or opinions different than this year’s election? Depew answers with “No, my opinion is the same, the prior election was not as stressful because I was younger but I still like…so I wasn’t thinking about it as much but I’m about in the same spot that I was last time except a little more pessimistic about the world.”