Origami

Origami is the art of folding thin squares of paper to resemble an object. Many people from all over the globe, young and old, partake in this activity to have fun and display their works. The term origami is derived from the Japanese words oru (to fold) and kami (paper).

This unique art originated in the sixth century, when paper invented in China around 105 A.D. was brought to Japan by religious monks. (There is question about whether actual origami folding began in China or Japan because of a lack of written records.) Due to its high cost, the art of origami was initially used only for ceremonial purposes and associated with religious events, but later, the invention of mass printing and production allowed the general public to access paper.

Thus, by the Edo period in Japan (1603-1868) came around, the public had already popularized the activity of folding paper - known then as orikata - and many pamphlets and other written instructions had been produced and distributed. It was widely regarded as an activity of mass leisure, and further exemplified by Akisato Rito’s Sembazuru Orikata, a book that began the legend of one thousand cranes to help heal the sick. 

By the nineteenth century, children in across the world had taken to folding paper for a fun activity, and now in the twenty-first century it is regarded as a fun household activity. There are thousands of shapes available online or in stores to fold, and many guides for beginners to advanced folders. Steps range from six or seven small steps to maybe even hundreds of steps. 

Why don't you give it a try? 

The most famous types of beginner origami.

Probably an intermediate level.

Very advanced.

Watch Out, 2016! Mira Mesa Is Going to the Tournament of Roses!

Every new year, the entire world fixates its eye on Pasadena, California, USA. Here, the prequel to the Rose Bowl Game occurs - the legendary Rose Bowl Parade. This parade is the elite celebration of the New Year, with a "festival of flowers, music, and sports unequaled in the world." This event takes about 80,000 hours to prepare, even with the combined manpower of a little under a thousand people. The Tournament of Roses showcases grandly flowery floats, marching bands, and equestrians.

In the case of marching bands, bands from all over the world travel to this special event, from Guatemala, or even Japan. Bands are specially watched and selected, then allowed to submit an application that will pit them against fifty or so other bands. Only 12 to 18 bands are chosen. Therefore, it is a great honor to be selected in this prestigious parade. Recently, our local Mira Mesa High School's Sapphire Sound has made it! For now, you can watch updates on the news, and in a year or so, you can watch the Sapphire Sound march. 

Sapphire Sound Parade Band 

   

An example of a Dr. Seuss float. 

Drum Majors saluting the band with awards. 

Sometimes We All Need a Little Break

It's the middle of the year, around the time that we need to stop and remember what the point of our whole existence is, before it's too late. Take a break to enjoy some time to yourself, like Siddhartha would have wanted you to. Stay up and peace out.

"What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?"

The phrase most associated with my educational experience is "What do you want to be when you grow up?". Regardless of being a five year old entering kindergarten, or a fifteen year old becoming a sophomore, this question has haunted all aspects of school for me. Behind each in-class essay, strenuous math problem, or creative science lab there has been this reoccurring echo. We've all heard it, there's no doubt about that. The moment a child learns how to read and write in elementary school, he or she is given a printed paper with one line on it. What do you want to be when you grow up? 

When we were young, most of us wrote "astronaut" or some other type of brave, cool job in society. We didn't know that life extended to the reaches of desk secretaries, janitors, or accountants. How were we to know that only two or three students out of hundreds would grow up to do what they loved? We've practically been raised in a boxing ring for the adults of society to place bets on their favorites.

Most children didn't understand the question. Most people still don't understand it. And when we grow up, most people choose their occupation based off pressure from peers, family, etc. It is becoming increasingly important to answer this inexplicable thought in our mind. Through endless repetition, society is engraving it into each and every action we carry out in our lives. Lately, as each day passes I find myself feeling excruciatingly cramped in a shrinking glass room, with adults examining every move I make. With each test I take, I wonder, how many questions do I have to miss in order to barely fall short of the college cut? It seems as if disappointment and failure lurk around every corner, and some days it's hard to wake up with a positive attitude. 

I hope I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to, and I hope you can, too. 

The Physiological Effects of Horror Movies

Horror movies are part of a genre that aim to create a sense of fear and panic for the audience, and generally frighten the audience through a portrayal of their worst fears and nightmares. Physiologist Dr. Glen Walters identifies three primary factors that induce our human reaction- tension, relevance, and unrealism.

Tension is created through mystery, suspense, terror, or shock and is the most straight forward in the process of the making the movie. Along with a person's heartbeat, blood pressure, and respiration increasing during the movie, real reaction may be experienced after the movie. According to Glen Sparks, Ph.D, a professor and associate head of the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University, an event called the Excitation Transfer Process occurs after the movie, and it's appeal is influenced by your experiences around and in the movie, whether they are positive or negative.

A woman in tension. 

Relevance deals with the movie's ability to capture a potential audience by connecting to the social community and their likes and interests. As a result of our fast-paced society, it is evident that all types of movies have to constantly change and remain flexible to stay on top of our interests. For example, recently a new trailer of the movie, Unfriended, has appeared in ads, and is the perfect example of the rapid change in the demanding movie business. Completely turning away from old types of horror, movie producers have approached the topic of social media as a chilling hooker. This movie also addresses problems of today's society, where lives are determined through one click of a button. It seems like just a few weeks ago we were on the hype of supernatural, gory, physical type videos.

Comical realism in modern day society.

Finally, the most surprising factor is unrealism of the movie, since the audience is comforted by the fact of a fabricated reality in front of their eyes. Although many people do enjoy the thrill of the film, if it were not assuredly fake, people would not be as willing to take the risk. Watching horror movies as a child would have a more profound effect, causing more stress, because children have trouble discerning reality from fiction. The combination of high tension levels, relevancy to social life, and a subtle air of unrealism equates to a greater horror appeal.

You decide.

Despite all of these interesting factors added into a horror movie, I know that I would definitely prefer to stay home with a good comedy instead. What about you?

Save Your Water!

Recently, California has been experiencing wet weather, which is a major change from the drought we have been in for the past decades. Droughts may occur in cycles, and can last from a few years to many decades. This wet weather is absolutely important to our state because California accounts for nearly half of America's fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

The rain is drastic in some areas, causing mudslides, potholes, and flooded streets - and even in the Springs Burn area of Ventura County, causing the evacuation of 124 homes.

Extreme levels of rain in Healdsburg, CA 

Although it seems to be a huge event, in reality, all of this rain has barely replenished water supply and has put a minuscule dent in our drought ridden state. According to Julia Lurie of  Mother Jones, the recent rain has only filled Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville, California's biggest dams, three percent higher. In order to end our drought, at least 75 inches of rain are mandatory by next fall, but historically, California has seen 50 inches on average.

Reservoirs in California 

Our School System Sucks

Growing up as a child, surrounded by intellectuals and advanced peers, it was not uncommon for my brother and me to be found borrowed in the fantasies of magnificent books, imagining to be the great hero or heroine of a breathtaking adventure. Taking home B's were uncommon, and low scores on tests were unthinkable. Most parents would've killed to have their children even glance at a book.

Less than five years pass, and you see me, struggling to even get enough sleep each night. Most high school students will agree and attest to similar scenarios, playful as a kid, stressed as a teenager. Worse of all is my mind frame. Why is it so, that I'd rather skip school during an important test day being unprepared in order to study for the same subject? And, why is it so, that my parent would let me do so?

In what twisted place would students skip school for the sake of school?

America's army is one of the most powerful in the world, and our wealth clearly is demonstrated on magazines you see everyday, yet our schooling system is falling off a cliff, and only a miracle will bring us back. According to Yo Expert, America's public school testing scores are extremely poor in comparison to students in other first world countries. We're not helping ourselves, society tells everyone to form to a mold whether you're rich or poor, black or white, ugly or good-looking. College tuitions are always on the rise. Scholarships are handed out to the few percent of college individuals. The cost of living has risen significantly. And yet we expect to have the same standards for learning?

It isn't the teachers' faults for giving out work to meet the nation's criteria. It isn't the fault of the president, or the students, or the system. It's the fault of the people as a nation. Education isn't how it used to be, and if we keep on pushing unrealistic expectations, the nation will suffer.

Focus on how the students are faring, and do us a miracle. All we want is sleep.