During this time of hardship our pets are experiencing unprecedented amounts of humans staying home, so with that we have decided to talk about some of Mountain Range student’s pets. Senior Kailey Doheny has four cats (Dennis, Larry, Ariah and Elsa) who are enjoying the attention that having school online brings.. When asked about how she ended up with four cats she said, “When Dragon [her other cat] passed his mom had another litter,” this resulted in her aunt taking Dennis, Larry and Elsa in. Ariah is the oldest cat with a nine month lead on the others because she was born in the previous litter. Unfortunately for Doheny’s aunt she was unable to keep the three cats, but luckily she knew the exact people to take them in. The cats' lives changed when they took them in, but they also had an effect on Doheny herself, “ They taught me to be more accepting of having change.” Considering how much has changed in such a short amount of time, it’s a great lesson to have. While this article’s intent was to entertain I want to leave with a message. In this time of uncertainty there is one guarantee: your animal wants you to pet them, so go hang out with them for a little bit.
Tiger King (Netflix)- There’s nothing more insane or current than Tiger King. Everyone knows it. Everyone’s seen it. There’s a perfect dose of everything in this short, 7 episode series. Tigers, lions, bears, attempted murders, suicides, questionable figures, and potential cults. In the chaotic nature of the day, it’s nice to take a dive in a much more chaotic, zanier place.
Ragnarok (Netflix)- Like Norse Gods? Tired of rewatching the Marvel Thor movies? Interested in the weird world of the Poetic Edda? Probably not. But, if you happen to get bored enough, maybe. Ragnarok is essentially a g o o d version of a Percy Jackson film. A new boy moves into a town, and finds it holds some sinister secrets. The cast of characters- all which hold a resemblance to the gods- evolve nicely throughout the short season of 6 episodes, making it an easy binge. It was originally filmed in Norwegian, so keep that in mind while watching the dubbed American version, which has actually been done rather well.
Breaking Bad (Netflix & Amazon)- So, yes. This series did end about 7 years ago. I am aware this isn’t nearly as current as any of the other shows, but still, hear me out- it’s still a good show. We all have hours of free time, which means its a good time to revisit the gritty, dirty world created by Vince Gilligan. The writing is phenomenal, and the acting is spectacular- making for 5 seasons of downright addicting storytelling. The show follows Walter White as he quickly plummets down a hole of drug dealing, power, and pure evil. Frankly, if you haven't seen it, then you need to, and if you have, it might be time for a re-watch.
The Dragon Prince (Netflix)- The Dragon Prince is an animated kids show that follows Callum, his brother Ezran, and their elf friend Rayla on a mission to prevent the world of humans and elves from all out war. I add it, as the fantasy world they live in, Xadia, is a whimsical and unique land- perfect for escaping the roaring dumpster fire of today’s world. The head writer from Avatar: the Last Airbender actually founded the company behind The Dragon Prince, which should speak for itself- the shows are fantastic. The Dragon Prince’s characters are interesting, the animations colorful and fun to watch, and the universe has lore that could combat that of The Witcher. Overall, it’s not a bad way to spend an afternoon, especially if you have kids.
In my time in quarantine, I’ve had the opportunity to learn how to make a variety of new foods! One of my favorites and by far the easiest has been homemade bread! It’s only got a few ingredients and it’s really hard to screw up, SO don’t worry! My family loves bread and all things carbs, so I thought I would take a crack at homemade soft bread with a crunchy crust.
After a couple trials with mini batches of bread, this combination turned out amazing! It’s got a lovely, crisp, outer crust and a spongy inside that is delicious warm, with butter!
All you need is a few ingredients you probably have in your house and the patience to let it rise!
Directions (Originally Posted on thefreshloaf.com)
Serves: 4-6
Prep time: 3 hours
Cook time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Here’s what my end product turned out to be like! I know, definitely an ugly loaf of cat, BUT IT TASTED SO GOOD!
I hope you have fun in your bread- making endeavors and if you make a loaf, send a picture to me at my email! (mtom105886@adams12.org) I’d love to see your creations!
My car is like my child. I take the best care of it possible. And since we are stuck at home what is there better to do than work on my car or even wash it?
On my car I currently need to do my downpipe which will make it a little more toned with the exhaust and help towards stage 3 power on my car. Soon I will be ordering an intercooler so I can make my car have cooler intake temperatures which means my car will end up gaining horsepower causing it to go faster. After that I just need to buy my tuner (Cobb Accessport) so I can run stage 3 safely. But that’s not all I want to do.
What I constantly do is wash my car. I prefer washing with a power washer at a house so I know what soap is going onto my car. It also makes it easier to dry the car which leads to less water spots, but I don’t care about water spots as much because I have detail spray which just tops off the wash with a good shine and no streaks or water spots. Since we are stuck at home I take my time detailing inside and out which takes me about 2-3 hours.
Do you want to work on your own car? My advice for you during quarantine is to watch some Youtube videos on what sounds your car is making to diagnose it yourself, and possibly also fix it yourself depending on the difficulty of the job. I also suggest doing basic preventative maintenance. Basic preventative maintenance are things like oil changes, spark plugs, transmission services, differential services, and tire rotations. Everything I just listed besides the tire rotations will help your car's engine and powertrain/drivetrain all last longer. Tire rotations are very easy and they help your tires wear less.
You can also wash your car yourself, but I recommend not taking it through an auto wash. That is how you get paint swirls a lot easier, which makes the paint on your car look worse. If you don’t have a power washer, go to a self wash you can go to a bay wash and still do it yourself. Just make sure to dry your car after using a self wash, and only use microfiber towels to prevent scratching your paint even more.
The weather this week is supposed to be beautiful! Take advantage of the weather and work on your car. You won't be sorry.
This playlist is really just a playlist for when you need some music to play during online school or to just dance around to when you’re bored. You can also just put some headphones on and vibe to this playlist, too, honestly. This is a good vibes playlist because of the beats and the rhythms of the songs. Music is my thing, so I hope you enjoy these as much as I do they’re some of my favorites to just vibe to. Parental advisory on a few of the songs, so please don’t listen to them with little ears.
I chose this song as #1 because it’s a good one to ease into. The contrast in the music from the pre-chorus to the chorus will have you hooked I swear. The lyrics are a little sad because it is a breakup song, but it is good to just enjoy the rhythm and flow. Essentially it’s a good song to vibe to.
This song is just UGH. The rhythm, the beat, the lyrics. Everything is just good, and Tyler the Creator is great. That’s all I have to say about this on--it’s just so upbeat, and, even if you don’t know the words, it’s a good song to bop your head to right away.
Listen. This is an absolute banger-- there is no way you can listen to this Whitney Houston song and not sing along at the top of your lungs. There is no way. No way.
Okay, another timeless classic. No way you can listen to this song and not dance along. “I’ll be right by your side til 3005 hold up-” and then the beat drops and you’re dancing against your will. This song digs deep into you--it’s great!
Our situation right now is very crappy because we’re losing a lot from our high school experience, and I added this song as more of a feel-good song too. I know we can’t relate to the lyrics as much but we will soon once we’re out of quarantine and making the best memories.
The R&B in this song will always leave me in awe. Makes you wanna just sit and sway softly while snapping your fingers. You can never go wrong with a Childish Gambino song to cheer you up and get you to dance. Donald Glover is a god when it comes to that.
Okay, this song is sad at its core, but it is definitely worth its place on this playlist because Lewis Capaldi is good at making his sad songs have good upbeat melodies and rhythms. The lyrics are sad, yes, but you can still vibe to this song, I promise. It’s a song that definitely hits hard and is very enjoyable.
This song makes me super nostalgic, and that’s why I chose it. It brings forth happy memories of sunny days in the park with my friends and melted ice cream cakes. We might not be able to see our friends right now or our loved ones, but you can still remember what you did with them before and how you felt. This song is good at bringing those feelings back.
Instant Family (Hulu or Prime Video)
Instant Family is filled with heartfelt moments that will make you laugh and cry. It’s about a couple who want to have children but are sadly unable to. So, they decide to look into the world of foster care. They end up getting way over their heads when they meet three siblings.
Dog Days (Hulu or Prime Video)
If you’re into rom/com movies. This is right up your alley. The movie is also great for dog lovers. It tells stories of people who are brought together by their dogs in the most unlikely of ways.
The Greatest Showman (Netflix)
At first I was a little skeptical of this movie. I mean I heard great reviews, but it just didn’t seem like a movie I would watch. I finally sat down and watched it and was surprised how good it actually was. It’s a perfect movie to sit down with your family. Perfect for all ages.
7 Pounds (Hulu or Prime Video)
This movie is eye opening, but very heartbreaking. This is not a movie with a happy ending, but the message of the story is wonderful. I can not describe this movie. You just have to watch it for yourselves.
Wonder (Hulu or Prime Video)
Another great movie with a valuable lesson. It’s a heartfelt movie with great messages about kindness, friendship, and acceptance. It’s about a boy named Auggie born with facial differences that have prevented him from going to school. We follow him through the journey of starting the fifth grade.
Onward (Disney+)
I personally thought it was super cute and it was definitely different from Disney's cliche movies. I loved that they finally portrayed a character who is openly gay. It definitely shows that our society is progressing and being more mindful of everyone.
Inside Out (Disney+)
This one is definitely an older Pixar movie but it is still such a family friendly movie. It definitely keeps you on your toes throughout.
After (Netflix)
If you’re looking for a good chick flick I would highly recommend, After. It will eventually be a series. I have just started to read all of the books and they are pretty good so I am definitely looking forward to the upcoming movies after the first one. It’s definitely a good one for a girls night in!
This week, I decided to take the plunge into Italian food! This is one of the easiest pasta recipes you can make and it tastes amazing!
If you’ve ever been to Olive Garden, you’ve probably had their chicken gnocchi soup. The gnocchi are the little potato pasta dumplings in there! They’re soft and creamy and extremely easy! Plus, you probably have all the ingredients you need right there in your pantry!
(Recipe courtesy of my Sicilian Grandma)
Serves: 4-6 Prep-time: 30 mins Cook-time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Instructions:
All American is about high school football star Spencer James as he navigates love, friendship, sports, and family all while trying to accomplish his dream of playing football in the NFL.
Supernatural follows two brothers: Sam and Dean Winchester, as they hunt down and face the supernatural (ghosts, shape-shifters, werewolves, vampires, etc). They, of course, end up getting themselves in trouble so many times, but it’s eventful to see how they get out of it.
I’m very aware this is a Disney movie. But in these times of uncertainty, I believe it’s important for us to go back to our childhoods and remember when we didn’t have to worry about anything other than whether or not our favorite outfit was clean or dirty.
Yes, this is like every other ‘doctor show’ out there. But there’s something about it that separates it from the rest.
Just last week the Academy Award winning film Parasite was made available to stream on Hulu. The film juxtaposes two families, the rich Park family and the poor Kim family. The Kim’s design an elaborate plan full of lies to get the entire family employed by the Parks. One by one the family replaces each one of the Park’s workers. You’re left wondering if their lies will catch up with them, but it gets way more intense than you ever think it could.
While it does look at issues like class, it’s not merely a drama. According to IMDb, Parasite’s genres are comedy, drama and thriller. You will find yourself cackling one moment and the next you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat in suspense.
This is the part of the review where I reach into some spoiler-y territory. So if you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for? Go to Hulu.
No seriously.
My favorite part of this film is that all of the protagonists are morally gray. You understand why they’re doing what they’re doing, but they cross the line so many times. They’re clearly a representation of the desperation that can occur amongst the working class. They continually take advantage of the Park’s lack of awareness of how the world works outside their rich bubble. The ambiguity of the characters creates a sense of unease because there’s no one character you can truly trust. To put it simply, all the characters are pretty terrible.
This is a film that demands your complete attention or else there’s a lot you can miss. It makes the out of the blue twist at the end feel earned. Throughout the film there are subtle hints of foreshadowing that makes the second viewing a completely different experience. It doesn’t even take the second viewing to understand the hints. There are lines of dialogue that occur that will hit you right after the film ends.
If you’re a person who likes movies that make you think about their meaning, or if you like comedy, or if you like thrillers, this movie is for you. If you like all of the above this movie will be one of your favorites. If all of that isn’t enough to get you to watch it, watch it for the plot twist. It’s not your average twist like Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It’s actually good and makes sense. Once you watch this movie you will understand why it won the Oscars it won.
It’s been 7 weeks since we've been at Mountain Range. During Break I would find myself extremely bored because I was used to doing homework or being at school and not having a bunch of free time. To cure my boredom I have been on my phone as time seems to pass by much faster. During quarantine I have been using these apps. What apps have been keeping you entertained? Did I miss one here?
Of course this one is first. I’m on it all the time and I find myself so much that I get videos from November and December. My gallery is full of videos and honestly it’s becoming a guilty pleasure.
This one is kind of a surprise because I can’t binge watch a ton. I struggle because I get bored or really antsy. But I’ve been catching up a lot and I still got a little bit to go.
I don’t use this one as much as others, but I’m still on it for a good amount of time. I don’t have a favorite YouTuber, it’s usually whatever I find in my suggestions or my home page.
I usually go on this app to see what’s going on and to be updated. Or if there’s drama going on from TikTok I can find what’s happening on Twitter.
Lately I have been getting a ton of e-mail and I find myself going through like 15 new messages everyday.
I have been updating my playlists and listening to music randomly a lot. If I find a good song, then it’s on repeat for the next 2 days.
At this point, you’ve probably heard that someone you know has the infamous COVID-19. Whether it be a friend, distant relative, immediate family or otherwise, I am here to give you the insider, first hand experience of what it’s like living with someone with Coronavirus.
My mom, Anna Berg, is a healthcare worker at Rose Medical Center, in Denver. From the beginning, she had her worries about contracting this new and scary disease. Her fears, unfortunately, came true on March 27, 2020, when she began experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, runny nose, back pain and a low grade fever. A few days later, she was tested positive. The tears were instantaneous, as the absolute worst scenarios played through her head. She said her first thoughts were “Oh my god. How did I get it? I’m healthy, I should be okay. I just hope the kids didn’t get it.” As a single mother of two, she had to rely on me to bring her food and drinks every meal, go grocery shopping each week and, most daunting of them all, take care of my twelve year old sister. In total, my mom spent an entire month in her room, alone.
My days were different than I had ever experienced. I woke up, washed my hands, fed all five of my pets, washed my hands, made breakfast for my family, washed my hands, did my homework, washed my hands, made lunch, washed my hands, went to the grocery store, washed my hands, made dinner and washed my hands some more. It was like I fell into a new form of COVID-OCD. My time was filled with an innumerable amount of tears and pure panic. The hours felt like days. I honestly couldn’t tell when one day ended and another began.
As the days progressed, her symptoms grew from mild and cold like to what she called “the worst flu you’ve ever had”. Her body aches and pains were that of labor pain, according to her, and her lungs were unable to inflate fully. As her condition seemed to worsen, I was becoming more aware of her mortality than ever before. I couldn’t help but wonder if my mom would really be okay. If she wasn’t okay, what was I going to do? How could I live without my only parent? The thoughts ran rampant all hours of the day. In the heat of it, my mom was nauseous, short of breath, congested, in pain and had a fever climbing as high as 101.5 degrees. She said, “I’ve never been more scared in my life”.
Week 3 of my mom’s illness began and she slowly started to improve. Her fever had broken and the only symptom left was the inability to breathe deeply. We really began to see a light at the end of the tunnel. She got better, slowly began to come out of her room for meals, and at long last, we were back to normal. She was so lucky to have such a mild case It was an insane month of nothing but fear and anger, but it taught me so much about the responsibilities of a Mother. I feel ready to start a life on my own now. I pray that this madness ends soon, because nobody deserves the pain and anguish this virus causes. Stay home. Wash your hands. Be safe. It’s what we deserve.