Category: Centerspread

By Mansi Patel

“Ding dong!” goes the bell over and over during the famous celebration of Halloween. Kids dressed up in costumes asking for candy is actually a relatively new idea, considering that the original Halloween tradition started about 2,000 years ago. Many people celebrate Halloween without truly understanding where it really originated from and why.

Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, whose people would wear costumes to ward off ghosts. The Celts lived 2,000 years ago in what is now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom and Northern France. They celebrated their New Year on Nov. 1, and celebrated the now known tradition of Halloween on Oct. 31.

The day of Halloween was given its name, All Hallows Eve, by the Celts. The Celts believed the unearthly spirits would damage crops, therefore, they would dress up in costumes to ward those unwanted spirits away. They also believed that the presence of the spirits allowed the Druids, also known as the Celtic priests, to look into the future during this special night. These predictions were very important to the Celtics because of their strong belief of prophecies and what will be coming in the future.

In the second half of the 19th century, many immigrants who were affected by the Irish Potato Famine fled to the United States, and brought with them the celebration of Halloween. There are many superstitions that come with Halloween, such as black cats, witches, ghouls, pumpkins and more. In the late 1800s, Halloween became more about getting together with the community instead of ghosts, pranks and witchcraft.

At the turn of the century, Halloween became more about games, foods that represented Halloween, festive costumes and having a day dedicated to fun and candy. Right now, high school students go out on Halloween night to visit haunted mansions, spend time with friends goofing around and to get some candy to last the rest of the year.

Though many children trick-or-treat on Halloween starting from elementary school or earlier, we must not forget the origins of this tradition that started as a day to rid one’s life and community of trouble and fear. ◆

 

By Henry Zheng

Halloween was once reserved for the nobility and the rich. Now, it is accessible to everyone, all thanks to commercialism.

What was once candy and treats for the rare wealthy is now a common handout during the holidays, along with spooky costumes and extravagant decorations.

Although the average Halloween advocate has benefitted from commercialism, the few who truly benefit from these holidays are the large companies and corporations who have found the Halloween market to be highly profitable.

With money on companies’ minds as the Halloween season gets closer, these large corporations take advantage of such a holiday, knowing consumers are willing to spend unreasonable amounts of money in the name of festivity.

And they’re right. Unbothered by costs, many of us often spend unreasonable amounts of money during the spooky holidays without thinking twice.

An article on wearetop10.com stated that on average, Americans nationwide spend over $9 billion just on Halloween, and with our over-the-top spirited population, it doesn’t look like this number is going down anytime soon.

Year after year, the American public endorses this spirit of celebrating the dead and collecting candy from strangers, establishing this holiday to be a true American tradition.

And who’s to say this spending is bad? Despite the hefty costs of candy and costumes, the true heart of Halloween, the spirit and fun of going out and trick-or-treating or giving out candy, negates many negative aspects of spending, and if anything, spending also provides some incentives to go out and have fun.

“I think it’s a good way to bond with your family and friends in a fun and festive way (as) giving out candy brings up the spirit of other trick-or-treaters,” says senior Jason Damasco.

Yet, at the same time, it is important to not be overrun by commercialism in times of mere spirited fun. People who have no costumes while trick-or-treating are often scrutinized by parents and given less candy. Similarly, neighbors compare each other’s houses and shame those that aren’t decorated.

Along with this, many naughty kids, dressed up in their costumes, often become enraged when houses don’t respond to trick-or-treaters or if members in the house are already sleeping.

So the next time you trick-or-treat, it is indeed important to have fun, but also keep in mind that Halloween is something for everyone to enjoy. ◆

By Rose Lu

It’s already less than a week before Halloween and you still have no idea what  costume to wear. Don’t fret! The Legend  has your back. Here are some simple, last-minute Halloween costume ideas that can come in handy for you.

A Ghost

All you need is a bedsheet and some scissors. Don’t try this at school though, because full-body costumes are not allowed.

Rosie the Reveter

Male or female, all could be a reveter! All you need are denim jeans, a denim jacket, and a bandana. You also need some rough and tough arms.

Identity Theft

For this simple costume, all you need are post-it notes with some names written on them. Stick them all over your body and now you have many identities.

Chip on the Shoulder

Stick a small bags of chips on your shoulder, then you are done.

Self Portrait

All you need is a picture frame to carry around school!

Dominos (Preferably with friends)

All you need are some solid colored t-shirts, tape and construction paper! Pick a number applicable to the domino numbers and just tape it onto your shirt!

Self Absorbed

Are you self-absorbed? Then you should get some sponges to tape all over your body.

Error Code

Think normal costumes are lame? That’s fine! Just wear an error code costume, all you need is a message saying “costume not found.”

Facebook

All you need is a marker to write “book” on your face.

Fruits

Pick a fruit you like and find a solid colored shirt pertaining to your fruit. Then, make some seeds out of paper and voila! This would also be a cute idea with a group of friends, with one being a tree.

Emojis

Remember what the teachers did two years ago? Dress up as an emoji, you can either tape it on your shirt, hang it around your neck or dress up as it.

If you don’t like these ideas, here are some guidelines to help you find your perfect costume. First, pick a theme and then pick something specific from the theme. Then get creative and go make it and wear it! Make sure you get creative, but most importantly be safe! Happy Halloween! ◆

 

By Janelle Perez

Costumes, candies and spooks is not what Day of the Dead is about. Day of the Dead, or Dia de Los Muertos, is oftentimes confused with Halloween. Although Day of the Dead starts on Halloween, the former holiday is about celebrating life.

Day of the Dead originates from Mexico. The Aztecs used this day to honor their queen of the underworld through a big festival in their community. Current day celebrations primarily take place in Mexico and are celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 all over the world.

People who celebrate the holiday are typically those who wish to honor their loved ones who have passed. Day of the Dead is about honoring the life that the dead once lived, not to mourn the loss of their loved ones. However, the holiday is not for everyone. It varies from what a person’s beliefs are to what a person may feel is honorable and respectful.

A traditional Day of the Dead celebration includes an altar with pictures and ofrendas (offerings), marigolds to guide the spirits home and a sugar skulls used to decorate the altar. An altar can either be small or big. Smaller altars are oftentimes seen in places where the holiday is not as big, like in the United States.

In Mexico, people gather together a couple of days before the celebration and head over to the graves of their loved ones. They spend their time sweeping their areas and decorating with bright papel picado and ceramic skulls decorated with intricate designs.

A simple altar can include pictures of the loved ones being celebrated and the infamous pan de muerto, which quite literally translates to bread of the dead. Pan de muerto represents the bones of the dead in a delicious way. The preparation of the decorations and food all leads up to the final celebration day.

The big celebration day is held on Nov. 2. At this point, altars and decorations have been up for two days and every celebrator has been anticipating the final day. In Mexico it is accustomed to throw a big party at the graveyard with music and food. It is said that the spirits travel to Earth on this day and celebrate with their families, which is why marigolds are used as a way to guide them down to the graveyards. During the celebration, people tell stories and remember happy times spent with those who are no longer with them.

On Day of the Dead, life is celebrated through bright traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. ◆

 

By Victor Xie

As Halloween creeps up, one essential factor to Halloween parties is the horror movies. Horror movies like Scream, Friday the 13th and It have been inspirations for several Halloween costumes over the years. In addition, they also make millions of dollars at the box office every year.

In the past year, the horror film industry has seen successful films such as A Quiet Place and The Nun which have had a domestic grossing of $188 million and $114 million respectively (www.the-numbers.com). Throughout the ten months of 2018, the horror film industry has made over $614 million.

However, these numbers pale in comparison to 2017, where horror movies together made over $1.39 billion domestically, making it the most successful year in horror movie history. This was ultimately because of big movies such as It ($327 million) and Get Out ($175 million). These movies were also international blockbusters, together making over $950 million worldwide.

This year’s biggest hit in horror, A Quiet Place, was critically acclaimed, earning it a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Released on April 6th of this year, the movie portrays a story in which aliens have invaded Earth and the entire human race has gone hiding. The aliens hunt by sound, causing a family to live in silence. “This gripping, clever monster movie is one of those rare genre treats that seizes on a simple, unique idea and executes it so perfectly and concisely that it elicits satisfying squeals of delight,” says Common Sense Media critic Jeffrey M. Anderson. A Quiet Place features actress Emily Blunt and actor John Krasinski.

In the last few months of the year, a few horror movies are set to be released. This month, Halloween was released on Fri, Oct. 19 as the direct sequel of the 1978 Halloween. The movie is set 40 years after the first movie and circulates around a woman who faces a vicious murderer once again. Overlord, a movie about soldiers facing supernatural forces on the eve of D-Day in World War II, is set to release on Fri., Nov. 9. ◆

By Jen Luu

Usually when people hear about healthy eating, they may think of bland and mundane food.  However, it doesn’t have to be that way.  In honor of April’s eco-friendly theme of improving the health of the earth, it is also important to do so with our own food choices.

Opt for fresh fruit instead of sugary snacks.  While it may be hard to resist the convenience and sweetness of a Snicker’s bar or a Pop Tart, the abundance of fruit can just be as delicious.  There is a vast range to choose from: cherries, plums, apricots, watermelons, tangerines, dates and several more.  These succulent choices provide many more valuable nutrients than their packaged and processed counterparts.  Just one Toblerone bar has 112 grams of sugar, while one cup of blueberries only has 15.

Eat brown rice instead of white rice.  Although it is a regular custom for many Asian families to eat white rice, going for the alternative may yield more advantages in the long run.  White rice does not contain many nutrients due to its excess refinement and processing; several of its outer layers are removed, ultimately stripping away most of its beneficial qualities.   In contrast, brown rice only loses its outermost layer.  Because of the lack of refinement, brown rice retains many of its vitamins and minerals.  According to livestrong.com, brown rice has “much higher levels of phosphorous and magnesium — two nutrients that nurture your skeleton.”

Make smoothies.  They are a great method of incorporating wholesome ingredients efficiently into your diet.  For those who are constantly on-the-go, blending together a variety of fruits and vegetables into a drink is an effective compromise.  Not only that, but smoothies also give access to free reign over creative combinations.

Check the nutrient facts before purchasing.  Often times, people are not aware of the ingredients they put into their bodies.  As a result, they may not be fully informed when deciding their food choices.  Making a simple, yet conscious effort of actively educating yourself may influence you to choose a better option.

To some, these changes may take some time to develop, which is completely okay.  Small, gradual changes will eventually yield results as people continue to slowly implement these suggestions.

While it is important to maintain your health through lifestyle changes, it is also acceptable to indulge in that milk tea once in awhile.  Otherwise, too much restraint may lead to binge-eating.  Moderation is key.

By Vivian Lin

As humans evolve, they begin to damage the environment—thus creating the need for conserving the environment.

“Polluting lakes and climate change cause species to die,” freshman Nghi Nguyen explains.

Because of these consequences, some are realizing that the environment needs to be conserved.

“I think being humans and having this amazing ability to use our logic and our (reasoning), we have a responsibility to make sure that we take care of every living thing on the planet and that their ecosystem is healthy,” English teacher Ryan Lundell says.

One reason to preserve the environment is that people continue to rapidly use up limited natural resources provided by the environment. According to The Guardian newspaper’s website, the six natural resources that are used the most are water, oil, natural gas, phosphorous, coal and rare earth elements like scandium and terbium.

“If we are using up those resources, then it won’t be there for future generations and will cause extreme suffering and death. We will then basically suffer from our recklessness, which I don’t think is morally right,” Mr. Lundell elaborates.

Some people still do not understand why we should preserve the environment. According to Mr. Lundell, ignorance and laziness are the main contributors to having no motive to start doing so.

“It does not concern them because it’s kind of inconvenient (to preserve it). It takes more effort to recycle, to use less waste, and to live a sustainable, and eco-friendly life,” explains Mr. Lundell.

Another reason is that humans and other organisms depend on the environment and it depends on us. For example, people eat cows that eat plants that need bees to pollinate them. That’s why humans have an obligation to protect the natural habitats of the organisms as well as theirs.

“The present is much worse than the past,” Nghi begins. “At least, (in the past), icebergs were not melting and polar bears were happy.”

“We definitely have seen some human made changes in the last hundred to hundred fifty years. I still think we have a beautiful world, but we have to wake up and realize that it’s not what it used to be,” Mr. Lundell implores.

By Phuong Nguyen

The phrase “carbon footprint” is commonly heard nowadays, but what is it and why does it matter? According to dictionary.com, a carbon footprint is “the amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual, company, country, etc.” Your own carbon footprint affects the world around you, and the decisions you make in your day to day life impact the size of your print.

Turning off the water while brushing your teeth may seem like a small action, but it really does make a difference for the health of our planet.

Here are some helpful tips on what you can do to help heal our environment:

IN YOUR HOUSE:

• Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth
• Instead of using dryer, sun dry your clothes
• Use scratch paper/recycled paper whenever possible
• Donate unwanted clothes/other household items to charities as opposed to just throwing them away

IN THE GARDEN:

• Collect wastewater from your house to water your garden when you’re waiting for the shower to heat up or after washing the dishes
• Try not to use pesticides/chemicals in the garden-chemicals can end up in the water supply eventually
• Collect a compost bin for your garden using egg shells, fruit peels, coffee grounds, dryer lint, vacuum bag contents, cardboard and even sawdust

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Carpool! Get a ride from a friend if you are going to the same event
• Reuse sturdier plastic bags from grocery stores and such
• Buy local produce! Produce from big companies are harmful to the environment because of the strategies they use to cut costs of production

Saving the environment is easier than most people think. These tips can be incorporated into every day life—for example, visiting the farmer’s markets on Saturdays right next to PHHS! ♦

By Hannah Tong

After five long years of being stuck in the drought, California has finally reached a point where our water has seen above-average precipitation and snowpack.

On Jan. 17, 2014 California State Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought state of emergency. The drought encompassed over 98 percent of the state of California, with more than 44 percent of California in an “exceptional” drought — the most severe level of drought. It was the driest period in the state’s 163 years of recorded rainfall history.

California’s vegetation was visibly dry, stream and river flows declined, water levels in lakes and reservoirs fell and the depth to water in wells increased. Even some parts of the Sierra Mountains that typically have 66 inches of snowpack were barren.
State water officials say that California’s river and reservoirs were below their record lows.

Therefore, Californians were put on water conservation and restriction laws, such as not being able to water their lawn as much or having car washes in front of their houses.
However, the year 2017 started off with many frequent rainstorms, making it the wettest winter in 20 years. It helped washed away 75 percent of the state’s drought.

“At times, the constant rain made me feel depressed,” expresses senior Janice Chung. “But, I am glad that at least we are not that dry anymore.”

The pounding rain and snowfall not only increased California water levels significantly but also stoked concerns about additional flooding, mudslides and road closures.

At Oroville Dam, authorities were prompted to open up the spillway which only ended up being damaged by the overwhelming snow and rainfall. Authorities eventually called for downstream evacuations of more than 180,000 people in case the emergency spillway failed.

Ever since the state’s precipitation started becoming abundant, closures of freeways also have become a common sighting.

Highway 101 near McKee Rd., was closed due to flooding. When this happened, water is usually pumped into Coyote Creek. However, Coyote Creek was already flowing above flood stage at that time.

“The floods were annoying,” states senior Cynthia Tran. “I couldn’t get to work or literally anywhere.”

With the summer season approaching, though, the weather has been looking clearer and warmer.

By Syed Rahim

Let’s talk about your lawn. If you live in the United States, your lawn is probably located in front of your house, next to your driveway. It’s probably green, routinely watered and well-maintained by constant mowing.

Unfortunately, if you do care about your lawn, you’re probably well acquainted with the cost it takes to keep it green. Keeping a nice lawn is a nightmare for the city and the citizen. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency ), 30 to 60 percent of urban water is used to water lawns.

And that’s the problem. Lawns require a lot of water. And when everyone has a lawn, everyone needs a lot of water. In drought conditions, like California’s past five years, restrictions had to be placed on water usage. When conditions worsened, the city pushed for sparser yellow lawns. These restrictions, though unfortunate for gardeners statewide, provided much needed relief for the city’s water supply.

“Especially with the drought epidemic that California has been going through the last couple of years, I feel that we strongly need to conserve our water for better uses, instead of keeping the front of our houses looking nice.” comments Greenfingers Treasurer Trina Nguyen. Greenfingers is a gardening club focused on beautifying our school, and run volunteering in local farms across San Jose.

In a place like England, where the rain never stops pouring, watering a lawn isn’t too hard to manage. But in Central California, where summers are long and dry, the strain on the environment is sometimes too much to bear. How do we address the issue of maintaining a garden that doesn’t drain our already limited water supply?

The answer is adapting to our climate. The Central Coast is a Mediterranean region, which is categorized by wet, mild winters and warm, dry summers. Other Mediterranean climates around the world include southwest and and southern Australia, central Chile and the Western Cape in South Africa. The plants that grow unique to these regions can be found at many stores, like Home Depot or Lowe’s.

The upside to these colorful plants is that they are easy to cultivate. With a versatile Mediterranean garden, you can choose a stripped down minimalist look or an untamed exotic feel. It’s entirely up to your imagination, which is something a typical lawn can’t claim. Some plants in this category include the bright Pouch Flower, the Chinese Dregea and the Yanagi Ichigo.

Growing a vegetable garden is also a good alternative to keeping an empty green space. Taking advantage of our coastal climate provides us with an easier time growing food compared to regions with harsher conditions. Some easy-to-grow plants for salad enthusiasts include lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Gardening itself is a great way to destress. “Gardening is supposed to be a bit therapeutic and has many health benefits,” says Greenfingers Secretary Bernice Ou-Yang. “I do enjoy gardening. It’s very relaxing and fun at the same time.”

No matter what your opinion on gardening is, one thing is clear: you could be putting your lawn to better use. Whether you water your lawn every day, or don’t even touch it at all, the whole world could benefit from you being aware of your environment.