Student Athlete Interviews
First World Problems
Animal Prisons
THE SKYLINE POST
Editor-in-Chief Elan Kluger
Skyline Post Volume 1, January 2021 Cover art: Emma Allen
Graphic Designer Leyla Williams
Editors Lily Hescheles Jane Ryu Grace Liu Kenichi Lobbezoo Sophia Nielsen Zoe Blackburn Autumn Gorman Emily Plum Miranda Nielsen Nadya Babushkin Rori Deyer Rylan Kahle Vivian Li Grace Lee Christine Kang Halle Woodard Meg Vandermark Benji Davidoff
Writers Leela Aiyagari Sahara Seneviratne Zachary Christiansen Isha Saini Andrea Roberts Iori Ishizawa Lily Carlson Lucas Caswell Meg Vandermark Benji Davidoff Olivia Palmbos Grace Lee Christine Kang Sophia Nielsen Samantha Towers
In the Kitchen
Opinion
Sports & Entertainment
Creative Works
Skyline Special
Photographers Izzy Wroten Miranda Nielsen
Artists Emma Allen
Teacher Advisor Mr. Hannah
Instructions of use Click on link to go to souce Table of contents (above): click on text for shortcut to each section Feel free to zoom in as much as needed to read text
Dear Reader, Welcome to the first edition of the Skyline Post. I am exceptionally proud of all our brilliant and talented writers, editors, artists, designers and people of many other skills and talents. I hope you enjoy every article as much as I did.
Message from the Editor-in-Chief
Skyline has had a newspaper in the past. Students lost interest and the publication fell by the wayside. Thankfully, journalism has returned to Skyline. The importance of a school newspaper is not always obvious. Too often we rely on national publications for news. But there is a tradeoff. Stories involving small areas (such as a school) fall through the cracks. School journalism serves to fill that much needed area. While the Washington Post can cover the nation, the Skyline Post can cover Skyline. Each paper has a purpose to be served and each does well at its job. At the Skyline Post we take up the mantle of student journalism. This edition is merely the beginning. More editions are to come. Thank you for reading! Elan Kluger Editor-in-Chief
Picture by Isabel Wroten
In The Kitchen Dunderi Peppermint Mocha
Dunderi
Lucas Caswell
With all of us spending more time at home, I think that you might have fun trying new recipes. At first you might find the idea of making dumplings scary but trust me, once you try making these, you will wonder why you were ever scared. Dunderi are a light, easy-to-make, ricotta based dumpling originating from the Amalfi Coast. The dumplings are very similar to gnocchi but are far easier to make. Dunderi pairs well with a variety of sauces and garnishes but, my personal favorite way to top them is with a simple pour of butter; chives, to add color; Parmigiano-reggiano; and lemon zest, a nod back to the famous citrus of the Amalfi Coast.
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Garnish (optional): ¼ cup finely grated Parmigiano-reggiano 2 Tbsp sliced chives ½ cup melted butter 1 Tbsp lemon zest
For the dumpling: 2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese 6 egg yolks 1 cup and 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour - plus more for dusting 1 tsp kosher salt ½ cup finely grated Parmigiano-reggiano Semolina flour for dusting(optional)
1)
In a large bowl, mix the ricotta and egg yolks until smooth. With a wooden spoon, mix in the Parmigiano-reggiano, salt, and flour until the dough comes together.
2)
Dust a clean surface generously with semolina and all-purpose flour. Scrap the dough onto the floured surface and sprinkle the top of the dough with more flour. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust the sheet with semolina and all-purpose flour.
3)
Cut a chunk of dough the size of about your index and middle finger then, roll out the dough to about a diameter of ¾ of an inch. Gently flatten the log so it has a width of about an inch. Cut the log into squares. Transfer the squares to the floured sheet, making sure they do not touch, as they will stick together, and sprinkle the squares with flour.
4)
Bring a generously salted pot of water to a simmer over medium heat. Place the dunderi in and continue to simmer until the dunderi float to the surface, 1 to 3 minutes, scoop them out with a slotted spoon.
5)
Pour the butter over the dunderi and sprinkle the chives, zest
and parmigiano reggiano on top. Serve immediately. Recipe adapted from Pasta By Hand by Jenn Louis Edited by: Benji Davidoff and Sophia Nielsen Pictures by: Lucas Caswell
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Peppermint Mocha Sophia Nielsen
If you’re looking for something a little more than coffee that isn’t too hard, here it is! So, I thought of this idea when I was in my room one morning drinking hot cocoa that my little brother made for me, and of course it was snowing. We have these candy cane lights outside my house and it made me think, why not add peppermint to this?! It would be so much more wintery! So here’s my very own recipe!
Prep time: 2 minutes Time: 12 minutes Serving(s): 1
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Mocha: ● ¾ cup whole or 2% milk ● 3½ tablespoons of sugar ● 3-5 squares of a Hershey chocolate Bar OR ⅛ cup of chocolate chips ● ½-1 cup of coffee ● ⅛ teaspoon of peppermint extract ● ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract Toppings (optional): ● Whipped cream (homemade recipe)-The whipped cream will make the drink more sugary. ● Chopped chocolate chips/bars ● Chopped peppermint candy cane
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Make the mocha: ○ Heat the milk in the microwave for 1:00 minute. Add the chocolate to the jar. Put the lid on and shake until foamy (I used a mason jar). Add the sugar. Make the coffee how you like it, & stir the coffee, mint extract, and vanilla extract in and remove from heat. Add coffee to a mug and then add the chocolatey mixture to the mug. Serve hot or cold. Optional! Top with whipped cream and sprinkle the cocoa and candy cane shavings on top. Enjoy! - If you can’t drink coffee, you can just add peppermint extract to your hot cocoa.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! .
Edited by Sophia Nielsen Photos by: Sophia nielsen, Miranda nielsen
Opinion
Animal Prisons Australia’s Wildfire Crisis
Animal Prisons Isha Saini Zoos are thought to be places of joy, where you can witness toddlers running around, holding cotton candy, smiling at the site of a wild animal. The feeling, however, is not mutual for the animals. In fact, it is the complete opposite. For animals, zoos are prisons. Not only do they not provide enough space for the animals to thrive, but many of these creatures die prematurely. A zoo is not a destination for a picnic or a date, but rather a place where animals wither and languish. Some people argue that one of main purposes of a zoo is to protect endangered species. If this is true, why are the mortality rates exceptionally higher in zoos than in the wild? Rather than keeping endangered animals in zoos, they should be brought to rescue centers or conservancies. Unlike a zoo, these centers provide more space for the animal and more nutritious food, without the added stress from human observers. Others argue that zoos educate the young, and without them, children will not learn to love and protect animals. Although this may be partly true, we do not need zoos to show children that animals are astonishing creatures. Instead, we can use rescue centers and nature videos. In particular, rescue centers are superior to zoos, as described above. People can visit these centers and see animals that are happy, not those that are contained or being mistreated.
In addition, zoos do not provide enough space for the animals to roam. For example, a lone lion uses about 100,000 acres of land in its lifetime. In contrast, some zoos provide a mere 9,600 square-feet, or ⅕ of an acre, for multiple lions. This is barely enough space for a toddler, let alone a lion! Similarly, polar bears in captivity receive one million times less space than wild polar bears. This is about the same amount of space that cows receive in slaughterhouses. With so little land to roam, these animals suffer tremendously. Animals in zoos suffer not only physically, but also emotionally. Many people will see zoo animals walking back and forth aimlessly in their habitats, or witness others laying on the ground with no intent of moving. While some may conclude that the animals are just “getting their exercise” or “sleeping,” this is not always the case. In 2015, Flint the Chimpanzee became depressed from his mother’s recent death. He stopped eating and became extremely weak within a few days. He died soon after. Lastly, zoos kill animals when they are no longer needed or become too expensive to support. Marius the Giraffe is just one example. Marius was killed by the zoo authorities in Copenhagen because his genetics were not suitable for breeding with other giraffes in the future. Marius was completely healthy, but because he could not
create offspring, he was killed. He was fed to the lions in front of elementary school students. Imagine if we did this to humans, killing a particular person just because they could not do something that we wanted. It is completely absurd. One of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA’s) executive directors estimated that roughly 3,000 to 5,000 zoo animals are executed each year across Europe. These zoos claim to be killing off animals because they no longer serve a useful purpose. But by doing so, they are indirectly teaching the next generation that animals are disposable. In brief, zoos should be banned. They are animal prisons with the worst possible conditions for these innocent creatures. Furthermore, zoos are not fulfilling their purpose of protecting endangered species and educating children. Rather, rescue centers should be the new and improved zoos, because they provide sufficient space and food and take extremely good care of endangered animals. We should give captive animals the life they deserve.
Edited by Christine Kang Photo by Isha Saini .
Australia's Wildfire Crisis Isha Saini & Christine Kang The Australian wildfires have been a cause for concern since the start of 2020. These fires, which have become less of a prominent issue, were occurring all around the island. The state of New South Wales was hit the hardest, losing over 1,500 homes and damaging 650. Although these fires have been extremely disastrous, fires occur every year in Australia during their summers. These fires are usually caused by a lightning strike that hits a dry patch of land. Humans are also to blame — some Australians have intentionally started bushfires. The fires this past year were worse than ever because of global warming. Australia experienced a horrible drought last year, which led to an increase in fires. Australia is known to have incredibly vast biodiversity. However, the fires have killed about a billion of Australia’s unique species. Almost 100 threatened species continue to be on the brink of extinction. The burnt environment is still a problem long after the Australian fires. The koala population has reduced 30% in New South Wales, and many other common species are in trouble as well.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Fscience-and-health%2F2020%2F1%2F8%2F21055228%2Faustralia-fires-map-animals-koalas-wildlife-smoke-donate&psig=AOv Vaw1IaCsLQxAA1aSsU0pdOcfe&ust=1611156544432000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCPih5f-nqO4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalnews.ca%2Fnews%2F6357818%2Faustralia-wildfires-maps%2F&psig=AOvVaw1mC1RvbQOQvzGGgRVTiYuU&ust=1 611156614624000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCJDT7KCoqO4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
Biologists are hoping that the remaining animals will be able to rebuild the population. Rainforests, marshes, and wet eucalyptus forests were up in flames as well, burning rare species of trees. Furthermore, the fires have led to habitat fragmentation, which is when a habitat is broken into smaller habitats, isolating the organisms from each other. In February, heavy downpours extinguished the fires. However, it will wash large amounts of soot and ash into several water sources, which will cause problems for the marine ecosystem. Toxic tides and the death of various oceanic species are predicted to be the outcomes of the catastrophic event. The soot that enters the aquatic ecosystems can bioaccumulate within the aquatic organisms. This affects the ecosystems greatly as well as the fishing industry. Not only this but as humans are exposed to particulate matter, it can lead to various respiratory issues. Although the wildfires have been pushed aside in the news for some time now, it is important to understand the aftermath of the fires.
Edited by Vivian Li .
Creative Works First World Problems Satirical Pandemic Interview The Strike : A Hike
First World Problems Olivia Palmbos
Sarah
Rozalie
Going out to dinner on a Saturday night really was a terrible idea- it’s been an hour, and we still haven’t received any of our food. I’ve drunk all my lemonade to give me something to do while waiting for a waiter to finally visit our table. I suck hopefully on the straw one last time, hearing it whistle uselessly against half-melted ice cubes and drops of diluted lemonade. I set it aside, irritated.
I’m starving- I don’t know if I’m going to make it. I can tell all five of my siblings are feeling the same way: I can see the hollow light shining in their eyes, and I cringe away from the sight of their bony frames, skin barely hanging on, just like the rags they wear. All seven of us, with Manman included, are packed into our mud hut, fighting hunger pangs and trying to remain cool under the hot sun. The palm fronds and grass that serve as our roof do nothing to block out the heat.
I can tell that my little brother, Ian, is getting antsy from the long wait as well; he bounces agitatedly on the greasy leather seats of our booth and keeps glancing at the empty breadstick basket, as if more food might have materialized underneath the stained, cloth napkin.
Manman knows we are getting desperate; we have had nothing to eat or drink in the past few days. The last meal her children had was a mysterious substance that Emile was able to fish out of the garbage that was mounting in drifts in the city miles away. Guerline ate the most; she was the youngest, after all, and her stomach the hardest to fill.
I watch with envy as the table next to ours receives a plate of lasagna, the waiters taking their time to saunter away. I feel a flash of envy and annoyance. Why couldn’t that have been us? I’m starving- I don’t know if I’m going to make it.
The next day, Guerline was pale, and her skin feverish. She lay down on the dirt floor and has not yet gotten back up. Manman hands us each a handful of mud mixed with salt with pain and sorrow raw in her eyes. We eat it in silence. It will create the illusion of a full stomach.
I am getting thirsty; drinking all my lemonade at once was not a smart idea. I pop an ice cube into my mouth and suck on it to try to quench my thirst, allowing the cold to chill my mouth and make my teeth tingle. I grind it between my back teeth and my thirst is quenched for the time being.
With my hunger taken care of for now, my thoughts turn to water. I am getting thirsty.
I am about to stop a waitress passing our table and ask her for a refill, but she quickens her pace as soon as she nears our booth and disappears into the kitchen. I slump back, annoyed, and crunch on another ice cube. What do I have to do to get a drink around here?
I know what I have to do to get a drink around here. It’s not easy, though- water means a four-mile walk, eight miles round trip. Water means carrying a water jug through the blazing sun, tongue getting drier with each step you take. But water also gives life. My little siblings’ faces peer up at me with wide eyes set in sunken, hollow faces, and I can see the question shining in their dark depths: Will we make it? Will we survive another day?
The waitress finally returns with a glass of water for Ian, and asks me if I would like one, too. I reply with ‘yes’, trying to keep the bite out of my tone and failing magnificently. She apologizes for the wait just before leaving, promises us another basket of breadsticks soon, and walks away with the empty glass rattling in her hand.
And I know that without water, the answer will be no. I look at my legs, bony and lacking in muscle, and my feet, bare and toughened, and I will them to make the journey. I grab my water jug and start off into the blazing heat hoping that when I return, I will have water.
My mother and father glance at each other wearily, each one clearly thinking, “Really?” I can’t help but agree with them. At this rate, I will fall asleep in my food. I’m getting tired, and I don’t know if I’m going to make it through the evening. .
First World Problems Olivia Palmbos
I’m getting tired, and I don’t know if I’m going to make it through the evening. The sun has sunk beneath the horizon, and the stars are now beginning to peak out from the inky canvas of the night sky. Stones are biting into the soles of my feet and, without the light of the sun to guide me, I’m beginning to falter. My tongue feels like sandpaper, and my head feels as if it is stuffed with cotton. I feel sick, and despite the pain and weakness, one thought cuts through the static: My brothers and sisters feel the same exact way. They will die without me. Photo: WikiImages on Pixabay
I get up and push myself further, and I see it; a pond filled with silty water. I dunk my jug in and take an enormous swallow, and I know that all isn’t lost. I fill the jug to the brim and start the journey home. A walk of four miles in the dark now seems worth it.
Our food finally comes, and the wait of an hour finally seems worth it. I stuff myself silly, eating so much I thought my stomach would burst. When the waiter drops the bill off at our table, he asks if we want a box to save all the extra food we ordered. “No,” my father replies.
I think longingly of the clinic 30 miles away, so far away from our tiny little mud hut in the middle of nowhere. Guerline seems to have only gotten worse since I arrived home with the water, and her skin is like fire. She moans on the dirt floor, writhing in a fitful sleep.
We make our way home, and I am beginning to feel sick. My dad tells me not to worry. I just ate too much, he says. I will feel better in the morning. I think longingly of the medicine in the bathroom cupboard, so far away from our tiny car on the highway.
I knew that the water was potentially dangerous to drink, but the only way to make it safe would be to boil it, and charcoal is hard to come by. We had no other choice. I never dreamed that it would make Guerline’s sickness worse. My mind wanders once more to the thought of medical help, medicine, the clinic, and I feel like crying when I remember that it is so far away. Instead, I stroke her brow and whisper to her, “Just make it through the night,” I breath deeply, “Let us see the sunrise again in the morning.”
I wake to see the sun rising again in the morning, it’s curious beams peeking through my window in narrow shafts. I roll over, content to sleep for another hour. My blankets seem to embrace me, and I can feel my lids slipping shut again before my stomach growls. Realizing I am starving again, I make my way toward the scent of breakfast.
I wake up the next morning to sunlight spilling through the gaps in our thatched roof. I turn to see Guerline groan from her place on the dirt floor. I press a hand to her forehead and feel that her temperature has gone down by a few degrees. Realizing I am still starving, I mix some salt into a handful of mud, knowing it will create an illusion of a full belly. I step outside and look at the full orange sun, cresting over the horizon. We made it to another day. Edited by Lilian Carlson, Miranda Nielson, Sophia Nielson, and Nadezhda Babushkin .
The European Union has reported the rapid spread of a new airborne virus named COVID-20. As thousands scorch in the flames of the new pandemic’s fury, scientists desperately struggle to find a vaccine. The Skyline Post’s own Inna Viewer has spoken to American entrepreneur and billionaire Richard Whiteman. Here’s what we found:
View the interview here
“The whole world is struggling to cope with this new potential pandemic. How badly do you think this could affect our lives?” “This pandemic will change the course of humanity as we know it. I don’t think we will ever be able to recover. We may see a crisis exceeding the events of the 2008 crash.” “The CDC has already projected that millions will likely die from refusal to comply with their recommendations. How can Americans protect themselves from what’s about to come?” “That’s easy. To everyone reading this, remember to take out all of your investments. Ensure that you-” “I’m sorry. What I meant to ask was how Americans can protect themselves from the disease. The CDC has recommended that everyone wears masks and washes their hands frequently.” “Do you want to know the real way for us to protect ourselves from the disease? We need to protect our small businesses. Large ones, too… remember to keep buying from Richard Whiteman Industries and support big businesses!” “Speaking of your company, it has been criticized online for continuing production despite potential danger. How would you defend this?” “I’m just trying to keep our priorities straight. During these troubling times, the world needs my products. I will sacrifice as many lives… I mean… I will work as hard as I can to provide my merchandise.” “Many are also begging governments around the world to take action immediately. In the United States, millions are participating in social-distancing rallies trying to make quarantine a legal requirement. Do you have any encouraging words for these courageous protestors?” “No, I do not. It seems people are forgetting that every single person is and will be affected by all of this. A national shutdown would put me in financial jeopardy. For example, I may need to sell a few of my private islands if the pandemic continues. We must protect our economy!” Thank you to Richard Whiteman for agreeing to speak to us. This has been the Skyline Post interview. This is not a real interview. This is a satire meant to exaggerate large corporations.
Satirical Pandemic Interview .
Benji Davidoff
The Strike: A Hike Lucas Caswell Christine Kang
The leaves fall as fast as the temperature; crimson maple leaves scatter the ground like droplets of blood. The crunch of each stride reverberates in my skull. The wind howls and the sky darkens. The world around has gone motionless as if anticipating something. Suddenly, out of the ominous sky, tendrils of lightning snap like a whip as thunder rolls across the valley. I break into a vigorous sprint for my bike as rain pours down. The leaves are slick and I tumble to the ground. The thunder I heard earlier was paltry compared to the salvo that seems to shake the entire world. I pull myself up from the ground and continue my mad dash. The rain comes down in sheets. I can barely see the trail ahead of me. Leaves are mixed in with the fat raindrops. I reach the trailhead and trudge over towards the bike rack. “Oh crap, my bike is missing,” I think out loud. I swing the backpack off my back and rummage in the water logged bag. I pull out my phone and dial 911. “911, what is your emergency?” “I am stranded at the Summit Peak Tower trailhead. Please send someone to pick me up,” I say with dread in my voice. “Help is on the way.” I put the phone back in the soaked bag. Suddenly, CRACK, right behind me. I nearly jumped out of my skin. The smell of ozone fills the air. I turn around to see a scorched crater only 20 feet from me. Then, everything goes dark. I wake up in a hospital bed, several wires and tubes are hooked to me. A nurse walks in, takes one look at me and hurries into the hall. Moments later she comes back with a man who is clearly a doctor. “You are lucky to be alive,” he says “If you had not called 911, anyone who discovered you would have been too late.” “How long was I out, doc?” “You were in the ICU for three days,” he replies “We moved you here after you stabilized. It has been six days since you came to the hospital. We admitted you as John Doe, so we would appreciate it if you could tell us your name.” “I don’t recall.”
part 2 coming soon.. .
Sports & Entertainment
Alternative Album Review Book Review; Flowers for Algernon Op-Ed: Matthew Stafford Potential Trade from the Detroit Lions
Alternative Album Review Editors: Halle Woodard, Grace Liu Zach Christiansen
Welcome to the first edition of Alternative Album Review! On Alternative Album Review, we’ll review lesser known alternative albums from within the past few years. This week we will be reviewing the album Weather by Tycho. Weather falls into the genre of vaporwave/retrowave, and adopts some of the main characteristics of punk-rock drum patterns. This album is very well mixed, with an emphasis on the heavy basslines prevalent throughout all 8 tracks on the album. Tycho is a seasoned musician with 18 years of experience creating and producing music. He developed his interesting and unique sound in his hometown of San Francisco, taking inspiration from LTJ Bukem and other drum n’ bass artists of the late 90s. Tycho aims to create audio/visual projects that have cohesive meaning and purpose. https://nbhap.com/stories/changing-weather-conditions-tycho-scott-hansen (left)
The opening track of Weather “Easy” starts off with a catchy arpeggiated synth that transitions into a calm melody accompanied by a fast breakbeat drum track. Later in the song, ambient, unintelligible vocal tracks and soothing acoustic guitar tracks are added to the back of the mix. This song is a nice opener that pulls you into the style of the album, but lacks the memorable melodies prevalent in the later tracks on the album. It feels fitting that an album entitled Weather should open with a track that embodies a cool summer breeze, easing you into the soundscape. The second track on the album, “Pink and Blue”, features soft vocals from the artist Saint Sinner, who is featured frequently on this album, and a simple but effective bassline. This song isn’t the catchiest on the album but has a certain charm in its simplicity with the track’s soft vocals cutting through the basic instrumental and creating a charming blend of sonic frequencies.
“Japan”, opens with a treble and mid heavy synth, but transitions into a staccato bassline accompanied by an ethereal electric guitar background. The vocals on this track, yet again by Saint Sinner, are sung in a similar tentative style to those in “Pink and Blue”. Around the one minute mark, the vocals break into a very nice harmonization that really makes this track stand out from the rest. Also, interestingly enough, despite the delicate singing on this track, the vocals almost seem sinister at points. A good example of this would be the line “I’m gonna break her down,” which sounds oddly mean-spirited for a fairly soothing song. This juxtaposition adds a whole other dimension to the vocals on this track.
The next song on the album, “Into the Woods”, starts off with a slightly detuned electric guitar, a wide assortment of synths, and a simplistic drum beat. All of these instruments gradually fade in and out throughout the song; this results in the song having a very pleasing flow and mix between instruments. Also, this track’s lack of vocals make it a great transitional device between the first and second half of the album. The fifth track, “Skate”, starts with a solo guitar riff that introduces you to the mellow nature of the song. This song is probably one of the plainest on the album, having only one guitar, one or two synths in the background, and drums. Unlike “Easy”, the simplicity of this track works against it. When this simplicity is combined with the bland vocals on this track, it makes for one of the most boring songs on the album. .
Alternative Album Review Zach Christiansen
“For How Long”, however, is my favorite track on Weather. The airy synths of “For How Long” blend into a driving drum beat that gives the song a strong sense of rhythm. The far off shouts in the background also urge the beat forward and serve as great embellishments to the drums. When the chorus and bass come in, you can instantly hear the pop influences in this track. The chorus vocals are extremely catchy and the bassline complements them very well. Even though the chorus is somewhat repetitive throughout the song, it never comes across as annoying due to its memorable melody. If you were to only listen to one track on Weather, I would definitely recommend this track. It is a great representation of all of the different styles presented in this album.
The second to last track, “No Stress”, also features Saint Sinner. This song starts off with a synth that is very characteristic of the retrowave genre with vocals added on top of it. The song then adds a pumping sub bass that really gives the song its infectious groove. At 1:10, “No Stress”, takes on a catchy vocal melody that carries the song into its chorus. This track’s defining features are its heavy bass and interesting vocals. Both of these factors contribute to its spot as my second favorite song on the album.
Finally, the last track, “Weather”, is similar to “Easy” and “Into The Woods” in the sense that it has very few vocals and encapsulates the vibe of the album. “Weather” begins with a singular guitar that is shortly joined by other instruments that gradually fade in. The ghostly guitar that is prevalent throughout most of the song is the backbone of the track. The synths play arpeggios and short snippets of melody throughout the song, but normally fade out within a few seconds. At the end, a stronger synth comes in and takes the track to its eventual end.
Overall, this album is an enjoyable experience and I would definitely recommend listening to it. If you’re unsure if you will like it, just put it on while doing homework or another leisurely activity. It is a calm album that is perfect for long study sessions. If you would like to listen to my favorite songs from this album, you will find a playlist for all of my favorite songs from the Indie Album Review series on Spotify. You can find the playlist at this link: bit.ly/indiealbumreview. I would like to thank you for reading my review. I hope that you found it helpful. (right )https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_(Tycho_album) .
Book Review: Flowers for Algernon Isha Saini *CONTAINS SPOILERS* I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. One of these reasons is the overall concept of the book. The idea that an operation could make someone intelligent creates a whole new world of opportunity. Another reason is the lessons this book taught me. This novel showed me that intelligence is not everything. It is actually quite the opposite; intelligence brings suffering along with it. I found this very fascinating, because I have always been told that being smart is extremely important, but my relationships with those around me are actually of the same importance or even more. Finally, the ending was really touching. As Charlie begins to lose his intelligence, he gains back his kindness and caringness. However, he forgets why he lost his intelligence. Charlie says, “I dont know why 1m dumb agen or what I did wrong maybe its becaus I dint try hard enuff. But if I try and practis very hard maybe Ill get a littl smarter and know what all the words are.” In this quote from the book, the reader can see how much Charlie has changed in the past two years. This quote captures Charlie’s innocence, kindness, and demonstrates that not everything comes to a happy ending.
Link for author
“Flowers for Algernon,” written by Daniel Keyes, is now considered a classic among “The Great Gatsby” and “Lord of the Flies.” This novel, a science fiction piece, is about a man named Charlie Gordon, who has an exceptionally low IQ. He is chosen to be the subject in an experiment that would increase a human’s intelligence. This experiment was tested on a mouse, named Algernon, and after the operation, he was remarkably intelligent. Charlie went through the operation, and his intelligence began to increase rapidly. However, as this increased, his relationships with those around him lessened. Later in the book, Algernon begins to act erratically, which leads to a discovery made by Charlie; the intelligence of the subjects of the experiment deteriorate at the same rate it increased. With this discovery, Charlie realizes that it will not be too long until his intelligence starts to deteriorate as well. Algernon dies a few days after the discovery is made. Charlie, scared of dying as well, uses his last moments of intelligence to mend his relationships with his family and Alice, the love of his life. He then goes to the Warren State Home to live the rest of his life.
Link for book cover .
Op-Ed: Matthew Stafford Potential Trade From the Detroit Lions
Samantha Towers
“With the 1st pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Matthew Stafford, Quarterback, Georgia.” With these simple words, the Detroit Lions began Matthew Stafford’s professional career, but brought nothing but losses to a tough and talented athlete. Having only a 73-86-1 record as a starter through 11 seasons, Stafford has the most passing yards in NFL history through 160 starts and recently passed Joe Montana, legendary 49ers quarterback, on the list for most passing touchdowns in NFL history. Earlier in the 2020 season, after a brutal loss to the now 4-12 Texans, Lions Head Coach Matt Patricia and General Manager Bob Quinn were fired, leading the way for what seems like an inevitable franchise rebuild. And at 32, Stafford does not have the time left in his career to wait for a solid team to be built around him. Frankly, trading is the
only viable option for both Stafford and the Lions, who should be able to gain solid draft capital to help build a team for the future. To take their teams to the next level, the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, and Indianapolis Colts should also consider aggressively going after the veteran quarterback. Their 6-10 record in the 2020 season, without a doubt, does not reflect the potential of the 49ers, who made the Super Bowl last season. The team was absolutely ravaged by injuries. On defense, despite missing players like Richard Sherman, Nick Bosa, and Solomon Thomas, the 49ers put together the 9th rank defense in the league on DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). On the other side of the ball, the 49ers’ run game did not stumble under the genius of Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, even with Jeff Wilson, who began the season as the 4th string running back, ending the year as the team’s leading rusher. The team’s offense was led by 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks Nick Mullens and CJ Beathard for almost 12 of 16 games. However, even when starting quarterback Jimmy Garappolo was playing, he assumed nothing more than an efficient game manager role, leaving the team with a relatively high floor but low ceiling. With a receiving core full of superstars, like Deebo .
Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle - who all missed multiple games this season due to injury and/or COVID related issues - the 49ers simply need a star quarterback in order to become a true championship contender; a role perfectly suited for a player like Stafford. Similar to the 49ers, the Denver Broncos also produced an underwhelming 5-11 season in 2020. The injury bug also took its toll on the Broncos. Under Vic Fangio, who will be returning as head coach for the 2021 season, the Broncos’ defense still managed to cause trouble for other teams, despite missing superstars like Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and AJ Bouye for multiple games throughout the season. Even without those key players, the Broncos held the Kansas City Chiefs, reigning Super Bowl Champs, to just 22 points in Week 13, and the Tennessee Titans to just 16 points in Week 1. At full strength, this defense has the potential to stop anybody. The offense, full of young superstars (e.g. Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Noah Fant), relied heavily on Drew Lock for stability. Although, being a second year player himself, Lock finished the season with a league worst in completion percentage (57.3%) and interceptions (15). However, Lock has shown his 2nd round draft pick potential on several
Op-Ed: Matthew Stafford Potential Trade From the Detroit Lions
Samantha Towers
occasions throughout the season; he had the best game of his career in Week 14 at Carolina. Adding Stafford to their roster does not mean that the Broncos would be giving up on Lock. Stafford would provide competition for Lock and mentor him while simultaneously uplifting an offense that has struggled at the quarterback position since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2015. Stafford can do more than help the team win now, he can help prepare Lock to lead the team to wins in the future. As it turns out, the Indianapolis Colts may be the best landing spot for Matthew Stafford. Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor had a breakout in the last six games of the season, rushing for 741 yards on 119 attempts (over 6.2 yards per carry) and adding 8 scores (7 rushing and 1 receiving). Taylor should continue to lead a strong Colts running game for years to come. Michael Pittman, rookie wide receiver out of USC, also showed great promise in his debut season. With the most available cap space of any NFL team in 2021, the Indy front office has the wherewithal to add more impressive skill position players to their roster for this upcoming year. According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), the Colts’ offensive line finished the season as 7th best in the league, despite missing key
linemen for games down the stretch. Having been sacked 385 times across his 165 starts, Stafford has consistently been stuck with playing with just an average O-Line. The Colts’ defense, with young stars like Darius Leonard and Deforest Buckner, seems well poised to continue being one of the league’s top defenses in the future. With their solid running game, defense, and potential for improvement, the Colts appear one of the most well rounded teams in the NFL. The biggest question mark on a potential trade for Stafford is 39 year old QB Phillip Rivers. He signed a one year deal with the Colts in 2020, and has since said that he will either return to the Colts or retire this offseason. If Rivers decides to retire, the well rounded Colts seem to be a great, and relatively close (to Detroit), landing spot for Stafford. All in all, there are multiple teams in the league looking for a strong veteran quarterback, like Stafford, in order to become a true postseason and championship contender. Throughout his time in Detroit, Stafford has shown his toughness, talent, and hard working habits. .
There would be few occasions more satisfying to watch than Matthew Stafford finally getting that Super Bowl ring he has been working his entire career for.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He commented on the situation saying:“Knowing what
I
know, I don’t think he’s going to have the stomach to really go through another rebuilding job. He might want to go on to play for a team that is ready to win right now...”
Edited by: Grace Liu and Sophia Nielsen 1st Photo from the Wikimedia Commons
Skyline Special Picture by Isabel Wroten
Student Athlete Interviews Grace Lee
Everyone was asked: Did you have a sports season this fall for your sport? If yes then what were some limitations you experienced or how was it different from how it usually was? If you didn’t have a sports season what did you do?
Annalisa DeGuzman Yes we did have a season. It was different because we had to wear masks when we weren’t running so like at the startline and like right when we finished we had to put them back on. We also had to wear masks during practices when we weren’t running and on the buses we weren’t allowed to sit next to somebody we had to sit one person per seat. We weren’t allowed to do a lot of the gatherings like we would normally do. We weren’t allowed to have bigger meets. Most of the meets we did were like just school meets where we would only race one school instead of like three, four, five, or more for example. I think those were the biggest differences. What do you think is a positive and negative from having a sports season or not having one with Covid? So one positive was that because of Covid we didn't have school [in person] right? And we still had our sport. It was a lot easier for us to just get to the sport and to just worry about that sport for the day instead of our parents having to drive us more than once. It was just a lot nicer cause we didn’t have to see as many people during the day except for our one sports team. I guess it was more fun that way, but at the same time it wasn’t good because transportation was harder for a lot of people. Buses are how they would get to the sport because they would already be at school so they would go down to the track or wherever we’d meet. They didn’t have that so our parents had to all take us to the sports, which was kinda hard for some families I think.
Lauren Lee We did have a volleyball season this year. Unfortunately it was cut off right in the middle and it was extended for so long. We’re actually continuing the season in January. So January 5th-7th is the state quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. So hopefully if we get to continue to play there’s that, but also another limitation to our season was that masks. It’s really hard to do cardio, and keep jumping, and whatnot with the masks on. I know for me personally in crew my teammates and coaches have made sports through covid a better experience, how were your teammates or coaches there for you? I’d definitely say that they were there for me because our coaches are super supportive. They know we’re going through a lot and they’re super mindful of everybody’s mental health. If they see that you’re having a hard time in practice they’ll ask you what’s wrong, and you can tell them what’s going on. And they can give you the option of going home or not because they understand that everything's tough. And with teammates, some of our girls during earlier in the Fall we would all get together to do school since we’re all the same volleyball team and we’re all quarantining together. So three or four of us would come to each other's houses and do school with each other. So that was a huge help. .
Student Athlete Interviews Grace Lee Julianna La Marca
For basketball we had a few games on sundays that I ended up only going to one because it wasn’t that safe. Then that got canceled because of Covid. The season itself never actually started, if anything it might get canceled because it's been postponed for so long, and soccer is coming up. Along with soccer last year getting canceled so we weren’t able to play. We did do tryouts so we got to know the team a little bit, we just never got to play the actual game. This year we’re not sure if we’ll be able to have a season but it’ll be disappointing if we don’t but if we do we’ll probably have some sort of safe practices. With basketball you can’t really be that safe because you’re indoors, at least with soccer you’re outside so that’s why I think that we’ll have more of a chance to play. But with basketball I doubt we’ll even have a season because of how much of a contact sport it is.
What are some things you are looking forward to in your respective sport once covid restrictions are lifted? I’m honestly excited to see how everyone's gonna play because I feel like maybe everyone’s gonna play even harder given that they might feel like there’s not gonna be a chance to play again; or if it might get canceled or something. I feel like our team is gonna play twice as hard. It's just gonna motivate everyone to play really well, so that will really help our season and I’m praying that we get a season because it's really fun also.
Christopher Clayton
This year we did not have our season for now. It's been delayed. It usually starts around November but it has been delayed and they keep pushing it back, it's all about the number of cases. So with a high number of cases they’re not gonna let us play. So to answer your question, what I’ve been doing instead...a lot of the guys have just been training and stuff like that. We just haven’t been able to play scrimmages or organize. But we’ve been lifting, playing basketball outside of the school ‘cause the gym’s been closed since February. So we’ve just been going to local gyms, trying to work out and stuff like that.
What do you think is a positive and negative from having a sports season or not having one with Covid? Me personally, you really get to see what things you can work on watching film. That’s what I’ve been doing a lot recently. Negatively, me as a senior, trying to play college basketball and it’s hard to show your talents and try to get attention from schools if you don’t have a season. They can’t offer you anything if they can’t see you, watch you play. So that’s been part of the biggest impact or biggest negative impact this year so far.
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Student Athlete Interviews
Eli Hendricks
We had a season, but it was restricted to small boats only for the majority of the season so it was just one person unless you were in a household in which case you could do two or potentially four if your household was big enough. There also weren’t any races. Usually we have five or six races during the Fall and we didn’t have any of that this year. I know for me personally in crew my teammates and coaches have made sports through covid a better experience, how were your teammates or coaches there for you? It was pretty fun. I mean they definitely, all your coaches were there for you during covid and they sort of created an environment in which you could have fun with your teammates even during social distancing and masks and all that stuff. I’d say the coaches did a really really good job of working around the limitations imposed by U.S. rowing as well as the school district, and still creating a fun team environment.
Audrey Corriere Yes we did have a season. So what we did was we ran a modified season. Normally for crew we’re in large boats with eight or four people in them at a time, and because of the pandemic we were social distancing so we were in boats that are singles, so there’s only one person in the boat at a time, and we also weren’t able to do our full racing schedule so we only could a scrimmage against our own team.
How did the limitations and impacts of covid affect you mentally and what were your emotions from having/not having a sports season? I mean obviously it had a huge impact. I think a lot of student athletes find that sports are something that really stabilizes their mental health. So to have such a big change for something that’s been a big part of my life for the past couple of years is a big deal, and it was kind of upsetting. But at the same time I’m really grateful that we were able to have a season at all because I know a lot of sports couldn’t practice, couldn’t compete, couldn’t do anything. So even though it wasn’t what I would’ve liked to have for my senior Fall season. I’m still really grateful that we got to do it.
Thomas Fry So I did in fact have a season. Football is one of the few sports that actually did, but it was kinda difficult ‘cause we all had to wear masks underneath our helmets. Which was a really big struggle, and we were only given six games instead of our regular nine season game.
How did online school affect your sport (stress, hw load, getting to events, etc.)? So personally it made it almost a lot easier for me, because school was a lot later than it would be usually so I got to sleep in more and I also got to do my homework as I wanted to throughout the day. I could eat my meals, especially on game day that really helped, because I could eat my game day prep meal during class and then have it completely settled by the time the game came. .
The Profound Effects of the School System Leela Aiyagari & Sahara Seneviratne
Intro to the Series
Hi! We are doing a series about the school system, and the steps we can take towards educational reform. We want to cover topics of racism, sexisim, and classism in the school system. We also want to cover the detrimental effect that school has on students' mental health, the challenges of the college application process, and the public school vs. private school divide. We also want to address how the staff in our building are working to reverse these flaws in the system, but how student input is needed. We also want to showcase groups/students around our school and nearby schools who are also working to make a change. The next issue will be the first in the series, covering mental health. We wanted to get some input and data from Skyline students. We have a link to a survey that asks some questions about how school has affected your mental health as well as some general demographic questions, we’d love it if you would take a moment to fill it out! Survey You will have to log into your gmail to access the survey, however, it will be completely anonymous, we will not be able to see who you are (unless you decide to specify your email).
Have you or any groups you are a part of accomplished something positive over quarantine this past year? We want to hear from you! 2020 has been a difficult year for all of us, and it’s often been a lot harder to stay optimistic. We’d love to learn more about positive things students have done during this period, and to help showcase them in a collection of interviews in an article and a video project. The Skyline Post is looking to hear from student voices, and to highlight student and student groups’ personal achievement during the pandemic, no matter how large or small. This could be anything from a small hobby, an interest, or a personal achievement in anything from academics, extracurriculars, or sports. Please fill out this short interest form to be part of our article and video collection of positive student accomplishments! https://forms.gle/c9HhbLqWskH5YPnGA
We at the Skyline Post would like to thank you for taking the time to enjoy our first digital publication! Providing a platform for young people to voice their ideas to the public is of the utmost importance. We are always looking for more writers, graphic designers, photographers, artists, and other creative minds to get involved. Please take a brief moment to complete our surveys or contact us directly so that you can collaborate with us, or become one of our next featured Skyline students or artists! -Mr. Hannah