COLUMNS

Beverly Hills: Pricey and Dicey

By Siena Goldman

Beverly Hills, California, is renowned for its glitz and glamor, designer stores, high-end restaurants, and celebrities. However, the thing that strikes people the most would have to be the price of homes. The sprawling mansions and expansive real estate can be found elsewhere, but the price tag coming along with it is what scares people away.

BHUSD can afford so much more than other cities in California, even in the U.S., possibly due to a relatively high tax rate. A study conducted in 2023 says that the average property tax rate in Beverly Hills is 1.48%. Compare that to the property tax rate of, for example, Rancho Cucamonga, California, where the property tax rate is a whopping 0.8%. It is almost horrifying how different it is because those cities are both in the same state.

There is a reason for this, however: high demand. The higher the need for housing, the higher the property tax, and that “philosophy,” so to speak, is valid in this city. Many people have a burning desire to live in a place this nice because there are so many cities that don’t compare. It is just so unaffordable for the general public, though. Ultimately, the expensive homes are worth it if you are willing to pay the price.

People Will Believe Anything You Say

By Andrew Azizollahi

How susceptible is this generation? Will Gen-Z believe anything you say? I tested this out by interviewing numerous people in my school, asking them to share their thoughts on things that they believed were secret or new but were fake. For instance, I informed them that the iPhone 17 had wireless charging, that a company named Devtech had trained flying pigs to explore new planets, and that there is a unique VR set that says if you die in the game, you die in real life.

I asked students if they wanted to share their thoughts on wireless charging. I interviewed at least three people. To my surprise, they all believed it. One person said, "Well, if it works well, continuously improves the range, and isn't too expensive, it could be a great innovation."

Next, I interviewed two more students, inquiring about their thoughts on flying pigs for a company called Devtech. Another student commented, "It could be an interesting experiment to see if animals could survive on other planets."

Finally, I interviewed six students, telling them that there is a VR set that says if you die in the game, you die in real life, but the company has a death waiver for anyone who buys the VR set. Their response was, "Even if they sign the waiver, I don't think they should not provide that."

The extent to which Gen-Z believes such things is astonishing. What will their trust in information be like as they grow older? The possibilities are endless!

The Big Question

By Teja Wolfe

There have been many stars that look like objects in the universe, but none have been as famous as the question mark found in space. People are going crazy over this question mark because it represents the greatest mysteries in space.

NASA found the question mark with the James Webb Space Telescope. The photo was of a new star birth, and in the background, so tiny that it is barely noticeable, there is a question mark. We know that the galaxies creating this shape are extremely far away because of their color, reddish-orange (Science Alert).

There are many different theories on why this is happening. The first one is that the gravitational pull of the galaxies is pulling on each other, causing the elongated shape that is seen (Science Alert). Another theory is that the galaxies can be completely unrelated and just so happen to line up right to form a question mark (Smithsonian Magazine). Also, because of the reddish-orange color, we can tell that it is far away from exceptionally far away from the Earth. Other people think the galaxies are closer than we think and have dust blocking the view, causing them to get that reddish-orange color (Smithsonian Magazine). As you can see, no one can agree on what is happening with the question mark.

What exactly is so special about this question mark? Anyone can find any other punctuation mark, like a period or a semicolon, by just looking up at the night sky. The question mark represents something more significant than a period or semicolon would represent. The question mark represents our most profound questions about space, like, are we alone in the universe, or what is black matter? A period or semicolon cannot represent anything as meaningful as that.

In conclusion, people have many different views on this question mark and how it was made, but the one thing that we can all agree on is its representation.

Sleeping for living:

The Secret Profession of Pro-Sleepers

By Andrew Azizollahi

Do you feel lazy because you hit the snooze button every morning three times each day? Well, you can sleep all day and get paid as a professional sleeper. Professional sleepers have a unique job in testing sleep-related items, such as mattresses and pillows. They carefully think about how comfortable and uncomfortable these products are and curate a review of them for the companies who make them. When companies create new sleep-related things, they hire professional sleepers to provide valuable feedback. These experts offer their opinions on whether the sleep products are comfortable or uncomfortable or if there are areas for improvement. People who work as professional sleepers can make different amounts of money. For the average professional sleeper, they earn between $30,000 and $60,000 each year. But some experienced professional sleepers who are at their job can make even more. Sometimes, the companies they work for give them experience and extra benefits like free sleeping products, chances to travel to different places to test things out, and even invitations to special events in the sleep industry. Sleep experts are also known as professional sleepers. They carefully write their sleep experiences in a unique journal called sleep diaries about the comfort and support in the mattresses they test. These are helpful for the manufacturers because they help them figure out the good and bad qualities of the bed so they know what to change. In conclusion, professional sleepers can sleep all day as a job by just testing out mattresses and sleep products and getting paid.

Your Guide to Dating/Rizz

By Andrew Azizollahi and Donovan Bell

Having trouble finding a girlfriend or boyfriend? Upset that you are lonely and bored? Well, you are not alone! We’ve collected all of the top ten most-used pick-up lines for boys and girls, so you do not have to, and we hope that they help you find what you are looking for!

Top Ten Pickup Lines for the Girls

Are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only one I see.
Ow! I need a bandage! I scraped my knee, falling for you!
Do you fish? Because you are a real catch.
Do you go to Hogwarts? Because I want to sneak into your DMs! On a scale of 1–10, you are a 9, and I am the 1 you need!
We are both made of atoms, so let’s bond.
You’re the whipped cream in my coffee... Without you, my life would be bitter!
You must be made out of copper and tellurium because you are CuTe!
It is like I am an archaeologist, and you are a newly found fossil. I cannot wait to date you!
Are you Google? Because you're everything I am searching for!

Top Ten Pickup Lines for the Boys

I think my phone is broken. Because your number is not in it.
I think someone must have stolen the stars and put them in your eyes.
If I had four quarters to give to the prettiest girl, I’d give you a whole dollar.
Are you in stock? Because I want to invest in you.
No pen, no paper, but you are still drawing my attention.
Are you in today’s weather? Because you're so hot.
Are you on YouTube? Because I want mine on YouTube.
Is your mom a baker? Because you're a cutie pie?
Are you John Cena? Because I’ve never seen a girl like you.
Are you mixed? Because you're half fine and half mine.

More Lines

Do you want to up your game? Do you want to get every girl by just saying one sentence? If you wish to do this, follow these lines in the spooky theme of Halloween.
Is your name Casper? Because you're a friendly ghost.
If you were a jack-o-lantern, you would light up my night
Are you a witch? Because I think you put a spell on me.
Do you have a map? Because I need one after seeing your eyes.
I'm a mummy wrapped up in thoughts of you
Is your name Frankenstein? You make my heart come alive
Is your costume boyfriend material?
Are you a haunted house? Because I need to come in
If you were candy, you'd be a sweet scream.
I think I became a vampire hunter because I want your love now.
Do you want to be my girlfriend
I'd love to take you home to meet my mummy.
You're looking beautiful tonight!
I'd love to get the key to your heart.

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