October 2025 

Volume 4, Issue 1

31 TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES TO SPOOKY YOUR SEASON

By: Mr. Corn Sweat

1. Little Timmy loved to eat plastic packages of gummyworms… Little did he know that among the treats, the Meatworm was waiting for him.

2. “Sure, I’ll hand over the aux,” you thought as you handed the cable over. That’s when Benson Boone started playing over the speakers. 

3. You opened the picnic basket expecting a scrumptious surprise only to discover the unspeakable. In a state of visceral horror you uttered: “Oh that’s chopped, that’s chopped of choomf.” 

4. On the restricted floor of HCIS a lone scripture lay scrawled on the southern wall. The mural read out the 5 R’s but more importantly the secret sixth R; rheumatism. 

5. You made the mistake of saying you haven’t seen Hadestown. The theater kids have found their next meal. 

6.  The Spirit of the Goat. The Spirit of the Toe. 

7. “How would you feel if you were covered in mayo?” Shouted the ghost of the pizza you dipped in mayonnaise. 

8. The worst wizard curse of all. Multiplying screaming babies. 

9. The movies did not prepare you for being abducted by a flying saucer. Then again, who could prepare you for the Wereling trilogy by Stephen Cole projected into your mind.

10. You finally understood why you shouldn’t pirate movies off the internet, but it was too late. John Kramer was going to get you. 

11. Lazlo thought he was prepared for the Spanish 2 exam. Unfortunately the night before Agnetha Faltskog appeared and swapped out his knowledge for Swedish and linear B.

12. You thought it was a regular petting zoo. At least, until you saw the Spirit of the Goat. 

13. They always warned you ‘don’t fall in’. You should’ve listened.

14. You signed up for a driving exam. You didn’t know you would be driving the evil horse. 

15.  You went to enjoy a delicious Subway Italian B.M.T. Unfortunately for you it’s July 2012 and you’re in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. 

16. Larry found the idea of a corn maze amusing. That was, until he met the Corn Minotaur. 

17. The last man on earth receives an email. It’s about his car’s extended warranty. 

18. You finally realized what was wrong with the clown at your little brother’s birthday party. It wasn’t a clown, it was the Spirit of the Goat. 

19. “I don’t mean to alarm you.” The radiologist paused before continuing: “but there is a skeleton inside of you.”

20. “When’s my follow-up appointment?” The scheduler replied: “You have an appointment on the 20th with doctor EVIL!!!” 

21. It seemed innocent at first when the opening beat to September by Earth Wind and Fire started playing over the intercom. That’s when Smeagol started singing. 

22. When all the plastic rats came to life it was seen as a miracle… Until the big one awoke.

23. Your family ancestry results finally arrived! Break out the ukulele. 

24. The family sits at the halloween table drinking their milk; little do they know the milk came from… The Spirit of the Goat. 

25. “What’s the harm in rubbing my hands together like a fly?” Suddenly you were shrouded in the shadowy outline of a giant flyswatter.

26. It had only occurred to you after two hours that the whiteboard your hand was stuck to wasn’t a whiteboard. It was a giant glue trap. 

27. You’re trapped in an office building with an all powerful narrator; it wasn’t so bad… Until they started reading Homestuck fanfiction. 

28. “Phew, that’s all of them,” you breathed a sigh of relief as you squashed the last demon mosquito. That’s when you realized they were all zombie mosquitoes, too. 

29. “That’s not possible!” You cried out, “that’s right, I’m pulling this a number early,” said the Spirit of the Goat. 

30. Oh… That’s spiritoomf of the goomf… 

31. Ahem. All of the above simultaneously played at twice the speed with nightcore. 

HOBBIES FOR AUTUMM  

By: Doubletooth Grizzly

Fall is a very likeable season of the year. Most people love it for the cool breeze, the beautiful colors of the leaves, and the different foods and sweet treats that are part of the autumn charm. Let's take a look at some hobbies you might be interested in for the fall season. First, some outdoor activities. There are all sorts of fun outdoor activities to do around Duluth during this season. One activity you can take part in is hiking. Hiking in the fall is probably the best time of the year to hike. You won’t be constantly sweating, you got that nice breeze moving over your shoulders. The rainy season is over and you don’t have to worry about getting your shoes all muddy and wet. And of course the beautiful colors of the leaves you’ll see as you gaze out at a stunning overlook. And don’t forget to pack a good snack to enjoy as you look out over the forest. That brings us to our next topic. Food! 

The seasonal foods and treats are one of the best parts about fall. I mean who can resist pumpkin pie?! So delicious and pumpkiny. If that makes sense. And then there are all the soups that you have when you sit down at the table surrounded by family and you are presented a warm bowl of soup that warms your soul! Or a richly seasoned roast that has perfectly tender meat and delicious home made gravy to drizzle on top! And then there’s the world famous pumpkin spice coffee. Whether it’s the blended coffee, the iced coffee, or a hot latte, pumpkin spice is truly delicious and dials you into the fall atmosphere. 

Another outdoor activity that is personally my favorite thing to do in autumn is mountain biking. It’s a fun way to get outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery. As you pass through the trees, winding up and down the trail you get a chance to clear your mind and be in the moment. Practicing this sport in the fall is great because you don’t get too hot. You make your own breeze with the cool air and your own speed. You also get to enjoy the reds, yellows, and oranges of the trees as you pass them by. So if you like nature, exercise, and adrenaline rushes, get out and try mountain biking! 

And for my last hobby you can explore this autumn, I present to you, art. There are many forms of art of course, but if you’re doing art in the fall, you might as well capture its beauty. One way you can do this is by painting. I recommend finding the scenery you want to capture in a painting and immersing yourself for a couple of hours. Whether it’s in the woods, in a park, or from your porch, enjoy yourself! Another art form you can try is poetry, which has similar criteria. Find a place you want to capture, but with words. Spend a bit of time immersing yourself in it, and brainstorm on how the scenery is making you feel and put it into text. 

Have a great Autumn and make sure to get outside and enjoy yourself.

THE RECENT HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

By: Sammie Coffee-Prose

Early 1900's

In the early 20th century Halloween was beginning to be known as a costume holiday. Costumes were often homemade and geared towards more spooky themes. Sadly it was that costumes of this time would be racially and culturally offensive

Post Great Depression

Post the Great Depression commercial costumes became more popular. Big box stores started mass producing branded costumes such as Mickey Mouse.

1950

In the 1950s costumes became more affordable to mass produce so most children wore costumes like princess, witch and even other characters like batman.

1969

In 1969 enough technological advantages were made to mass produce custom molded face masks. the most popular mask was of president Nixon

1970/1980

In the 70s and 80s with the rise of slasher movies Halloween became associated with horror again and costumes associated with the popular movies like Scream and Halloween.

Present Day

Nowadays Halloween is a very popular holiday where children dress up and go trick or treating. According to Business Insider the most popular children's Halloween costume was spider man. 

Sources:

Little, Becky. “Halloween Costumes That Disguised, Spooked and Thrilled through the Ages: Photos | HISTORY.” HISTORY, 8 Oct. 2019, www.history.com/articles/halloween-costume-trends-photos.

Cerini, Marianna. “From Pagan Spirits to Wonder Woman: A Brief History of the Halloween Costume.” CNN, 29 Oct. 2019, www.cnn.com/style/article/history-of-halloween-costumes.

Rajput, Priyanka. “Halloween Costume Ideas: Most Popular for Adults, Pets, and Kids.” Business Insider, 28 Oct. 2024, www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-halloween-costumes-kids-adults-pets-nrf-2024-10#10-beetlejuice-20. Accessed 5 Sept. 2025.

GLUTEN FREE PUMPKIN BREAD

By: Nico Dickhausen

The fall season is here, as well as the cold baking weather. My mom recently made this bread for our family, and I wanted to share it with you!

• 1 ½ cup Gluten-free flour 

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• ½ teaspoon ground allspice

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

• 1 ½ cups granulated white sugar

• 2 large eggs

• ½ cup canola or vegetable oil

• 1 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree 

• ⅓ cup water 

VARIENTS 

• Add 1 ½ cups of chocolate chips

• Maple glaze: ½ cup powdered sugar, 3 tbsp pure maple syrup, 1 Tsp vanilla bean paste.

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350. In a medium-sized bowl, add all dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together your eggs, sugar, and oil. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients slowly, mixing them until all are well combined. Add your pumpkin puree and water, and whisk together until smooth. Pour your batter into an 8x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray, and cook for 65 - 75 minutes.  Check your bread with a toothpick. Once it comes out clean, you are good to go!

_________________________________________

HISPANIC HISTORY MONTH

By: Sonam Choetso

Hispanic History is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. This month honors the histories, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. The reason it starts on the 15th instead of the 1st is because it coincides with the independence days of several Latin American countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It was originally established as Hispanic Heritage week in 1968 but later expanded to a month in 1988. Hispanic and Latino Americans have made many contributions to the United States in many different ways. They’ve strengthened the economy through crucial workforce roles, such as agriculture and healthcare. They’ve fought for civil rights alongside figures like Cesar Chavez and Sylvia Mendez. And they’ve influenced our cultures in many ways, through food, music and dance. 

Artists, musicians, and writers such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Selena Quintanilla, and Sandra Cisneros have influenced generations and brought visibility to Hispanic voices. Beyond culture, Hispanic scientists, doctors, and innovators have advanced technology and medicine, while athletes like Roberto Clemente and Lionel Messi (who plays in the U.S. today) have left lasting legacies in sports. Altogether, Latinos and Hispanics have helped shape the United States into the diverse country it is today.

During this month, people come together to recognize the important and influential role of Hispanic and Latino people. Schools, museums, and other organizations host events to showcase and appreciate these contributions. It is especially important to celebrate their contributions today when the community is actively being discriminated against and demonized.

OCTOBER EVENTS

By: Fairis Cuneo

October, the season of ghosts, ghouls, and goblins! The days are shorter and colder and the leaves are turning. But, what is there to do now that summer activities like swimming and sunbathing are off the table? Lots! Here in Duluth we’ve got many fun fall and Halloween themed activities. Does fall make you think of farms? Then stop by Whoopsa Daisy Farm (5399 Samuelson Rd) to see chickens, donkeys, goats and more! They are a great trip for the family, especially if you’ve got little siblings! Looking for something a little scarier? We’ve got tons of spooky attractions like the Haunted Ship down on Canal Park, the Hellwig Hollow Haunted Attraction: a terrifying walk through a quarter mile of woods on 7480 Harris Rd, more! Looking for something a little more fall fest? Then check out the Happy Fall Y’all Craft Fair on Oct. 4 from 9am-3pm at the Island Lake Inn (7153 Rice Lake Road), the Clover Valley Farm Trail: a variety of produce, baked goods, crafts, and more for sale, on Oct. 5 from 12pm-5pm at many farms in the area. There’s also lots of live theater to get you into the spooky spirit! At the Norshor you can see a youth production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow starting Oct. 10. Just across the street at the Zeitgeist Arts building you can see the show Dance TV: Halloween. Dance TV is an all original musical that follows a cast of a dance reality show (think Dancing With the Stars) and the drama behind the scenes! Following the network TV theme, Dance TV: Halloween will be like a holiday episode. This show is intended for older audiences, for more details go to

the dancetvstudios.com website. If you’re more of a movie person Zeitgeist is also doing a Halloween film series including The Craft, Corpse Bride, Re-Animator, and more! Here at our own HCIS we have a Barnyard Dance, an upcoming spirit week, and Halloween Dance! The Barnyard Dance will be Oct. 10th in the 4th floor cafe from 3-5. The Barnyard Dance will be calling dances with live music, it will be AMAZING! Keep an eye out for the spirit week themes, it will be the week of Oct. 20th and will lead up to our Halloween Dance. The Halloween dance is a high school only event on Oct. 24th from 7-10, also in the 4th floor cafe. Guest forms for the Halloween dance are due Oct. 22nd. Keep in mind, costumes can’t have heavy gore, full-face masks, or weapons. There are so many more amazing events here in Duluth, a great place to find out about them is perfectduluthday.com/duluthevents/.

HARBOR CITY

By: Zach Laumeyer

When I first went to harbor city it took a little bit to get used to the building because before that I’d only ever been to really traditional normal school buildings. The longer I was at harbor city the more I liked the building and the vibe it had. In my time at harbor city I’ve heard a lot of people complain about how in some rooms it’s really cold and in others it’s really hot, most people complain about the cold but I personally like it when it’s cold rather than hot. One of my favorite things about the harbor city building is all the pipes that go along the ceiling in the halls and classrooms, I don’t know why but I just think it’s pretty cool. I also like the location of the building being downtown right by the library, dtc and the ymca because it’s really convenient because we get y passes and bus passes. The only thing I don’t like about it is how crowded the halls get at the end of the day when people are returning their chromebooks. I've had frustrating experiences where people stop right in front of me when there's like twenty people behind me trying to move forward and they think I’m holding the line up.

TAM LIN: LOVE AND TRANSFORMATION ON HALLOW’S EVE

By: Malcolm L. Salgy

Everyone has a favorite Halloween story. Whether it be classics like Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Frankenstein, or even Van Hellsing (2004)-  they all carry a common theme: The idea of transformation. Often, this is part of the horror. To be altered, changed into something one is not- elicits a fear like like no other for many. At its core, Halloween itself is about transformation. Before the christianization of western europe, what is now Halloween was once the celtic tradition of Samhain. (commonly pronounced sau-ihn, depends on the dialect) A mid-autumn festival marking the end of the harvest season, and the time in which the veil between worlds grows thin.  

It is a time of transition, where spirits and fey creatures can influence and bring mischief to humankind. 

Originating from across the sea along the borderlands of Scotland, is a hallows’ eve story like no other. In fact, it's a song.

First mentioned in the book The Complaynt of Scotland in 1549– But is certainly much older than that— Is the ballad of Tam Lin. The tale follows a young woman named Janet; a nobleman’s daughter. As the summer draws to a close, Janet’s father gives her Carterhaugh Forest. Which is a real location as it turns out, and is even mentioned in other ballads— All for its most notorious characteristic: being overrun with the fey. Unsurprisingly, this tale of Carterhaugh is much the same. According to the legends and warnings Janet has been told: an ‘Elfin Knight’ known as Tam Lin is the protector of these woods. And it is said that if a maiden were to venture into Carterhaugh without a gift for the fey that dwell there, Tam Lin would take their maidenhead. Which, for context: is just an old-timey word for virginity. 

Janet, seemingly completely unbothered by these legends— decides to take a stroll through Carterhaugh with naught but the clothes on her back, and certainly no offering for the fey. When Janet plucks a double-rose, unsurprisingly: Tam Lin appears to her. He asks her why she does what she does, why be so reckless with herself? Of course, she was looking to find him… And find Tam Lin she does. 

One-night stands with elf knights have consequences though, and soon Janet finds that she has fallen pregnant. So back to Carterhaugh she goes, seeking her fairy boyfriend once more. When she finds him, she asks him why he dwells in these woods, and if he can leave. In response, Tam Lin tells her that in truth, he is not an elf at all. He’s a human man of flesh and blood. Seven years prior while on a hunting trip, Tam Lin fell from his horse— and into the arms of the Fairy Queen, and he’s been held captive ever since. He also mentions that as it turns out, every seven years on Halloween, the fey pay a tithe (sacrifice) to Hell. Seeing as they hate to give up one of their own… It is almost certain to be him this year. They then concoct a plan to defy Tam Lin’s supposed fate, knowing full well that the Queen of Fairies holds many tricks up her sleeve. 

On the night of Halloween, Janet follows the queen’s midnight precession from the brush. Tam Lin “falls” from his horse once more, and into Janet’s arms. At this, the Queen begins to turn Tam Lin into a myriad of beasts. He tells her “Hold me tight, and fear me not! Nae matter what ye see!” And hold him tight Janet does. He becomes a bear, a lion, snake, and lastly- a ball of fire. She then tosses him into a nearby well, and when the flame is extinguished… Out comes good ol’ human Tam Lin. Janet has bested The Queen, saved her lover and father of her unborn child, and presumably now gets to finally live out her happily ever after. 

The ballad of Tam Lin is many things. It is a tale of love and devotion, of female agency in an era that was not exactly known for such a thing— and of course, transformation. Being caught between two worlds is a tale as old as time, but in stories where someone is changed against their will, into something downright dangerous— it's not often they have someone like Janet. Someone who will be by your side, and hold you tight, no matter what they see.

CORNY REVIEWS: SPIRIT PHONE ALBUM REVIEW + ANALYSIS

By: Mr. Corn Sweat 

Spirit Phone is a 2016 synth-pop/geek rock album written, recorded, and almost entirely performed by the ‘band’ Lemon Demon. The album also features a guitar solo from guitarist Dave Kitburg. Nine and a half years after the band’s last release, View Monster, Spirit Phone is an album with a wide array of paranormal subject matter from cannibal arcade machines to an eldritch love story to “the weirdest anomaly of all: fathers apologizing”. -Malcolm Salgy. 

The earlier songs within Spirit Phone center around supernatural and paranormal happenings The second half of the album focuses on things existing in the real world. Despite focusing on the mundane real-world, these songs are just as weird and sometimes unnerving as the unnatural oddities from before, making a statement that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. In addition to this, many of the songs on Spirit Phone blur the line between fiction and reality, further reinforcing the theme. 

“I love Spirit Phone, it's the only full album I’ve ever listened to… Silksong… Fifty-three minutes away.” - Mark Page-LeDoux

Track 1 - Lifetime Achievement Award

This song is a corporation/obsessive group of fans resurrecting a famous singer (likely Micheal Jackson). The resurrection in question can be interpreted as either raising the figure from the dead or a more symbolic resurrection like those weird awful hologram shows of deceased artists that sometimes happen. Instrumentally I love this track, every time I listen to it I discover something new and it’s overproduced to its own benefit. It perfectly nails the spooky tone that the album was going for and reinforces the theme of blurring truth and fiction. 

Track 2 - Touch-Tone Telephone

This song introduces a second theme of the album; desperation to achieve or attain a certain goal. In the case of Touch-Tone Telephone the narrator is a conspiracy theorist desperately trying to get people to listen to him. If you’re debating whether or not to listen to this album then listen to this song. Touch-Tone Telephone is an absolute bop. The strings are peak. The acapella is peak. 

The way the bridge builds is peak. The only issue with it is that the outro stretches a bit too long.

Track 3 - Cabinet Man

Cabinet Man is about a guy who becomes an arcade machine. The song is also likely a reference to the urban legend Polybus. Eventually the ‘Cabinet Man’ begins to brainwash players out of desperation to be adored. This song is great but not as much as the last two to me. After listening to this a dozen times it does start to get repetitive. The chorus is weaker than the verse in my opinion. Cabinet Man’s bridge is really good though. 

Tracks 4 and 5 - No Eyed Girl + When He Died

These two tracks are one of two instances where the songs are directly connected in the same story. In ‘No Eyed Girl’ a man falls in love with an eldritch being, resulting in the end of the world described in ‘When He Died’. No Eyed Girl is like if you took your stereotypical 80s love ballad and shook it in a jar with some odd black goop. Bop? Yes. Slightly unnerving? Also yes. When He Died takes the juxtaposition from the previous track and dials it up to eleven. The consequences of the desperation for love from the previous track are shown in full force with a cheery tune. 

Track 6 - Sweet Bod 

My second favorite track on the album unfortunately. It’s about mellification and nothing else. 

Track 7 - Eighth Wonder

This song is a reference to an alleged haunting on the Isle of Man at the hands of a mongoose named Gef. Ironic title aside, Eighth Wonder manages to both give Gef a compelling personality while directly quoting things he reportedly said. Lyrically this is the song on Spirit Phone I find the cleverest. Even with the playful bop that Lemon Demon creates musically, this song would feel more like a gimmick to me if it weren’t for the heart behind the lyrics. 

Track 8 - Ancient Aliens 

Ancient Aliens is about a caveman who witnesses a UFO. Thematically it’s another song about the unknowable/supernatural. Nothing to write home about. Musically, it’s good. Sometimes the high pitched synths in the background get a little annoying I guess? The weakest thing about this song is that there’s nothing exceptional about it. It’s just good. 

Track 9 - Soft Fuzzy Man 

This is the song with the hardest meaning to pinpoint. If you take the lyrics at face value it’s about a sentient cloud who’s a loser. I personally interpret it to be about guys who think being mysterious is everything and make it their whole personality. Musically I still haven’t heard anything that I can compare accurately the sound of this song to. It’s noise but electronic noise if that makes sense? If you know the video where a Japanese band takes old tvs and barcode scanners and turns them into instruments, Soft Fuzzy Man almost resembles that in terms of sound.

Tracks 10 + 11 As Your Father I Expressly Forbid It + I Earn My Life

Similar to No Eyed Girl and When He Died these two tracks are narratively connected. Despite being the most grounded songs on the album this duo contains the two weirdest oddities on the entire album: fathers apologizing and office jobs. As Your Father I Expressly Forbid It shows an erratic and angry man lecturing his son, I Earn My Life shows the man’s own perspective and how unfulfilling his life is to him due to the constant schedule of the 9-5. While the previous songs on the album were all spooky in a playful or fantastical way these are the first two songs that feel genuinely haunting to me.

Track 12 Reaganomics

You’re never going to guess what this song is about. 

Track 13 Man-Made Object

Not only is this the worst song on the album, it's the worst out of any Lemon Demon track I’ve listened to. Does it fit the themes of desperation or how truth is sometimes scarier than fiction? No. Does it have a good tune? No. Does it at least have notable vocals? Um, try monotone narration for three minutes and thirty-eight seconds. It genuinely baffles me how Neil Cicirega decided to put this in the album instead of Redesign Your Logo or You’re at the Party. Bleh. 

Track 14 Spiral of Ants

This is the best song on the album and I will die on that anthill. It encapsulates the theme of the album perfectly with its subject matter being about ants caught in a never-ending death spiral. Not only is this a real and frankly terrifying occurrence that is a prime example of truth being scarier than fiction but it also holds metaphorical value. In my opinion, Spiral of Ants captures the existential dread that humanity is caught in the same death spiral the ants are due to our greed and desperation. Musically the whole song builds towards this climactic crescendo before gradually winding down to white noise. Fun fact, every song in Spirit Phone seamlessly transitions into the next. Spiral of Ants is no exception as it seamlessly transitions back into the first song on the album: Lifetime Achievement Award. This further reinforces the existential dread in the song about being caught in a spiral. Absolutely insane that Lemon Demon’s best song is next to its worst.

In conclusion; the album is good. Yeah Spirit Phone has flaws but overall it’s extremely solid. My top three songs are Spiral of Ants, Sweet Bod, and Soft Fuzzy Man. My top three least favorite songs are Man-Made Object, I Earn My Life, As Your Father I Expressly Forbid It.

In conclusion; the album is good. Yeah Spirit Phone has flaws but overall it’s extremely solid. My top three songs are Spiral of Ants, Sweet Bod, and Soft Fuzzy Man. My top three least favorite songs are Man-Made Object, I Earn My Life, As Your Father I Expressly Forbid It. 

HOROSCOPES  by Divination Dracula

Aries (March 21-April 19)

The new moon brings about transformation for you… let your freak flag fly. awoo…

Taurus (April 20-May 20)      

LOCK. IN. You will thank me later.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You may find yourself dissatisfied with your music taste this season. To quell this, open your heart to noise music. Or try Beach Goth.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

The wretched ghoul that stalks the forests in the midnight hour thinks your outfits are well-currated, and flattering.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

A strange and enchanting stranger will invite you to their castle this hallows’ eve… whatever you do, keep your neck covered. Or don’t!

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

The October burn-out may be blasting you with its beams, and the only way to heal it is by partaking in a centuries old tradition: watching low-budget B-Movie horror flicks.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

When faced with a difficult decision, choose whichever option is funniest. Do it for the bit. 

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

This is your season! Lean into your 

creative side this halloween- you may find

your muse where you least expect it.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Beware of nearby archers when you bob for apples this season….

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Careful around sharp corners, lest you stub your toe thrice.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)

Watch out for…. Greegraw…

Pisces (February 19 - March 20) 

You may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife.

And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"

GOODBYE 2025 

Have a great summer!

"Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!"

Hello! I'm Sydney Anderson, coming to you off the page and straight through the screen. It has been so fun working alongside the newspaper crew to help get the physical and online versions out to you all this year. As I am graduating, I won't be able to see the physical versions of the newspaper, however if someone ends up following in my footsteps to keep this page up to date, I can't wait to see how the HCIS Times continues to thrive.

With the newspaper now turned into a class, I hope those who can will sign up and join the team for at least a semester, it's been a wonderful time full of goofiness and a treat to see a whole classroom come together to make something for everyone in the school. Get in and join the fun, I promise you won't regret it. 

 With no more physical prints being made this year, Mrs. Erdahl and I have collected some of our writer's miscellaneous work and have added them here for our online followers. 

Keep keeping on, push though the hardships, and enjoy your symposiums and summer!

-Sydney Anderson, and the school media team of 2025

Grizzly Bears

Some facts about bears.

1. Grizzlies can get to 8 feet long and weigh around 650 pounds.

2. Grizzly bears have a bite force of 1,100 psi which is enough to crush a bowling ball (or bones).

3. They can run up to 35 miles per hour and can swim up to 6 miles per hour. For reference, Usain Bolt’s fastest speed is around 28 miles per hour and Micheal Phelps can swim up to around 5 miles per hour. 

4. “Grizzly” bears are a subspecies of brown bear. There are many other subspecies of brown bear, but the most known ones are the kodiak and the eurasian brown bear. 

5. Grizzlies are omnivorous, and their diet usually consists of certain plants, small animals, ungulates and carrion. 

6. Bear 122, otherwise known as “The Boss” has been the dominant grizzly bear in Banff National Park for around 26 years. He weighs around 700 pounds, has been hit by 2 trains and survived with minimal injuries, is believed to have fathered around 70% of the Banff grizzly population and has no real predators besides the only grizzly that can rival him named Split-Lip.

FUDGY BROWNIE RECIPE

By Jade Larson

What you’ll need -

Ten tablespoons of butter

½ cup of Dark Brown Sugar

½ cup of White sugar

½ teaspoon of salt

1 tablespoon of instant espresso powder 

¾ cup cocoa powder

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 

½ cup of flour

¼ teaspoon of baking powder

½-1 cup of chocolate chunks 

Flaky sea salt for serving

Powdered sugar for serving 

First preheat your oven to 325 degrees so it will be ready for baking once we finish the batter. For this recipe we will be using browned butter so that’s what we’ll start with. Browned butter is created by heating the milk solids in the butter until they caramelize giving it a dark color and sweet, nutty flavor. Place your ten tablespoons of butter into a medium pot on high. Stir constantly until the butter achieves a deep brown color and nutty aroma. This should take around 5-8 minutes but you’ll be able to tell when it’s done by the color. After that add two ice cubes to the butter to cool it down a bit and return the water to it that was lost from cooking. Then you’re gonna add all of your sugars, salt, cocoa powder, and espresso powder and stir until you have an even paste. 

Now it’s time for the eggs and vanilla, add to them the mixture you’ve prepared, you can transfer to a bowl in this step but it’s fine to continue using the pot if it's big enough, then whisk until everything is fully combined. 

For the last few steps we’re going to add in our flour and baking powder and fold it in with a spatula. To finish the batter off add in your chocolate chunks and fold them in as well. Mix it for a while because you want the batter to be thick.

To bake, pour your batter into a 9x9 pan lined with parchment paper preferably but greasing it works just as well and spread the batter throughout. Then bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the edges are dry and the middle looks slightly underdone. Then allow them to fully cool before sprinkling some powdered sugar and/or sea salt on top, cutting, and serving. I hope you enjoy!

RANKING RESIDENT EVIL 2, 3, AND 4 REMAKES 

By: JJH 

Perhaps you have heard of the Resident Evil video games? If not, allow me to give a short description. Resident Evil is a horror franchise developed by CAPCOM games in Japan. The basic premise of the games is survival, and figuring out why strange horrific events happen. Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 originally came out in the late 90s and early 2000s. But in recent years, all three of those games have been remade to fit the modern day graphical standards for video games. Now that some context is laid out, it’s time for me to rank them based on my own opinion. First off, I’ll say this. None of these three games are bad. In fact, I think all of them are fantastic. I’m just ranking them and comparing them to each other. My number one of these three would have to be the Resident Evil 2 Remake. It is easily the scariest of the three, and is in general a better horror game. While the others also don’t shy away from gore, 2 just tends to be scarier because of sudden loud noises, lack of visibility, and being chased by zombies and mutants in abandoned places. And who could forget the absolute anxiety you feel when Mr. X chases you around the abandoned Police Station. That alone makes me put Resident Evil 2 at number 1. Downsides of RE2 do include occasional framerate stutters, but nothing terrible. My number 2 would have to be Resident Evil 4 Remake. This game tends to lean more towards action/adventure, than pure horror. Still, there are moments when the horror elements emerge, but there is much more combat than the other two games. Graphically and gameplay-wise, RE4 is definitely the most polished and refined. It is the newest release, so it makes sense why that’s the case. RE4 also had a considerably longer story than the other two games, which I appreciated. In last place is Resident Evil 3 at spot number 3. This game, while in my opinion being really fun, also does have a few issues. The major complaint was that the story was too short, and I can agree with this. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to complete compared to the other games which ran from 10 to 20 hours. This understandably disappointed people. But despite the length of the game, for what it was, I still thought it was a blast to play.  

WELCOME BACK LOONS!

There they are, the magnificent birds, with their striking black and white color on their body with the red eyes, the Loons. Loons are a symbol of the natural beauty of Duluth. Many months of the cold winter, have you ever seen any loons in the past time of year? No, that is because of the seasons that change and the ice all over our beloved lakes that make their life harder. But now spring has come and it’s time for them to return home back to Duluth again soon in late of this month, April and start of May.

When the cold winter comes, the lake will be very cold and it freeze up, the loons can’t find can’t food which mostly is fish and their legs are not made for them to walk on the land, they can only use for diving into water or to swim so then they have to fly over away from their home all the way south to the ocean (fun fact: baby loons can swim almost right after they hatch and they also are amazing swimmers and divers), to the place where the water is not freeze, have fish in the water to eat. But then when time passes by, the loons will start to miss their home, their beloved lakes, so that’s why the loons choose to come back to Duluth every year, which can mean that our lakes are good and healthy. Also when the loons move to south in the winter their look change by molting, they will lose some of their feathers and grow new ones which their black and white striking will gone, most of the neck is white feather in front and in the black is gray-black and their eyes change color to kind of darker too almost black. Loons are a sign of a healthy environment and if we want loons to keep coming back to our lake we have to take care of them.

The return of loons to our beloved lakes in Duluth is very soon now. We should keep our lak clean to welcome them and to make them come back to the environment they depend on, So get ready to see and hear the iconic sounds of our loons friends again and also ready for the weather that’s going to get warmer and summer is on its way.

THINGS I THINK HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD BE TEACHING:

• How to do your taxes

• Self defense 

• Proper hygiene and access to said products

• General goings on in the world as a whole 

• The accurate history behind racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc..

• How to check/change fire alarms

• Emotions and how to properly regulate them

• Mental health awareness and emotional intelligence 

• Sexual assault prevention 

• Safe sex for all sexualities 

• How to manage school, work, friends, and life

• How to have progressive and respectful arguments and conflict

• How to establish and maintain basic morals

• A basic understanding of how to live on your own 

• Money management, investing, and saving

• Time management

• Healthy communication and relationships

• Critical thinking

• Media literacy 

• Clothing repair/ living sustainably 

• Self awareness

• How to limit carbon footprint 

• How to buy a house or rent an apartment 

• Healthy, safe, and balanced eating habits 

• Driving & how to change a tire/basic care maintenance 

• Detailed options other than college 

• Community building after highschool 

• Basic cooking skills/safety 

• Self care 

I understand that this itself is a long list, and parents should be expected to be teaching their children a lot of these things. However, we can't rely on parents to teach topics every child deserves & needs to be taught. Their overall education shouldnt falter and they shouldn't fall behind due to their parents. Some of these topics may seem “out there” for school, however I think basic life skills, and lessons are just as important as things like math and english classes. As an 18 year old about to be on my own for the first time I have no idea how to do taxes, invest and manage my money, or rent a place to live on my own. That being said, I believe and wish schools could teach students these things so they can feel more comfortable and prepared for adulting in the real world.

❂ SUMMER IDEAS ❂ 

If you're like me, you wish for warm sunny weather all year round during the dreary and frigid winter, but when it finally comes you end up staying inside a lot more than being outside if you don't have anything specific to do. Here is a list of simple activities and ideas for you to think about when summer comes around, so you can get yourself out of your room and enjoying the sun while it is out during the three precious months we get. 

1. Put a blanket out in your yard (or somewhere outside, preferably in the grass) and lay on it while doing something you enjoy such as reading, writing, or doing arts and crafts. If ants crawl on you, start reading them your book, writing a story about them, or draw them. 

2. Find a tree to climb. Be careful, but you can even challenge yourself to climb one that looks super difficult to climb, or one that is very tall. Inspect the little bugs crawling on the tree and the pretty patterns of the bark.

3. Lift up a rock and see all the little bugs! There are so many tiny creatures to look at and going on a little adventure to find them is great. Challenge yourself to find one you have never seen before.

4. Get a snack and simply sit outside. It could be anywhere, just take in the scenery of nature and enjoy your snack. This could also include a walk to get to your sitting destination.

5. Balance pebbles and rocks, this is easiest on the beach of course because there is an abundance of rocks. If you are at the beach or a place with a big slab of rock, you can always try drawing on it with another rock to entertain yourself, although not all rocks work. It's a quest to find one!  

6. Do a photoshoot outside. If you have someone to take photos with, that's great, but if you dont you can always take a fun little picture of your stuffed animal in a tree or your action figure in a puddle or something.

7. Make fairy houses! This works best in the actual woods because there are so many natural items for you to find, but you could also add pieces that aren't necessarily from nature and won't harm the environment. Try constructing one up against a tree or higher up inside one.

DONNIE DARKO & A LESSON IN EXISTENTIALISM 

By Jocelyn Petrovffsky

Chances are that at a point in time you’ve experienced an existential crisis. That sentence itself could be cause for one, but let us not get caught up in that. Existentialism is a term that gets thrown about a lot, one you probably don’t fully understand, as all of the terms and concepts can be confusing and convoluted. The term's founder, Danish philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard, describes existentialism as “a rejection of all purely abstract thinking, of a purely logical or scientific philosophy; in short, a rejection of the absoluteness of reason.” This idea can be scary; we all like to reason out our thoughts and experiences, but existentialism forces us to understand less by understanding our realities more.

Existentialism will always vary from one person to another, as the idea rests solely on one's idea of reality. With such an intimidating yet needlessly intriguing and personal idea come countless interpretations. Thousands of songs, movies, and novels deal with the terms' contents. Out of these thousands, millions probably, one always stands out: Donnie Darko. Infamously head-achingly confusing to the point a director's cut had to be released 3 years after its original release and a whole website was developed to try and add some explanation. Even so, it remains a cult classic that maintains its relevance 24 years after its original release.

To those unfamiliar, Donnie Darko is a 2001 horror/sci-fi film about a high schooler whose life is saved by a mysterious 6-foot-tall rabbit. Donnie feels indebted to the rabbit and starts committing crimes it requests of him. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as the title character, with other notable actors such as Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore, and Seth Rogen in the supporting cast. Such an out-there plot may not immediately click in our heads as something that turns out to have major themes of existentialism and nihilism, but alas, that's what it came to be. Before we get to the meat of this, a quick heads-up that there will be many spoilers in the rest of this article.

Instead of focusing on the film as a whole, let's take a look at a few different interpretations of the ending. The first interpretation, which we’ll call the butterfly effect, focuses on Donnie's place in the world and the necessity of his sacrifice. Donnie was going to die either way, but the world allowed him a chance to understand why things had to turn out the way they did (i.e. if he didn’t die many others would.) Sort of a 10-year prior, 2-hour long exploration of the question at the end of Shutter Island, “Which would be worse–to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?” While going through this pre-chosen path the world is showing him, he begins to question the purpose of life. We see through his many therapy sessions the increasingly desperate his existentialist worries are becoming. At the end, once he realizes the harm he causes, he decides to accept his fate, “I just hope that when the world comes to an end, I can breathe a sigh of relief because there will be so much to look forward to.”

We’ll call this second interpretation: the second chance. In this theory, similar to the butterfly effect, Donnie was always going to die but some higher power chose to allow him to live a little longer; allowing him to make peace with himself and the people around him. It was also a chance to experience the things dying so young wouldn’t allow him to achieve. He finds a girlfriend, repairs his relationship with his family (in some ways), and he’s able to expose the true nature of the world to those who don’t question their reality (i.e. Cunningham's perverted nature.) This interpretation takes his existentialism as a price for the second chance he’s been given. Living this “fake” life that has a 28-day countdown starts to affect the way Donnie views his surroundings. 

At the end of the day, we all gotta struggle with existentialism, it's a part of life. Logic and reason can only get you so far. Sometimes you gotta think outside the box and pay the price for that. It’s a weird world we live in and as society takes the turns it's taking– especially here in the USA, life is going to get even more difficult. All we can do is try not to go crazy and seek for hope in whatever comforts us. Unfortunately for us we can’t confide in a tall guy in a bunny suit who forces us to do the things we’ve wished we could for years, but we got good movies, and I think that makes things kinda alright.

Summer spot

Are you bored of the same old pretty lake that has a lot of people in Duluth during the summer times and want a quiet, relaxing, and chill place by the water? In Duluth have some very great spots along side of the lake that not as much people as the know well lake oe park, many of it have a very nice views that you can go hang out or picnic to enjoy that lake and summer without all bunch of people walking around all over the place. In this article the author will tell you about some of the less popular spots that you can go and enjoy.

The first place is the hidden beaches song the lakewalk: while the park point beach get too much people and you want to relax without much people if you try walk further along the lakewalk toward the eastern end, you will find the smaller, rockier openings in the trees, that lead to more secluded spots right by the Lake Superior, it’s not a big sand beach but they will be less people and can still enjoy the beach, the view, the weather and be relax.

The second place isn’t that much of a secret but still is a very peaceful place to go, the Chester Park trails along Chester Creek: well, I bet almost everyone knows Chester Park, but do you know that they have trails that run along the Chester Creek. This place has quiet spots by the creek and also has small waterfalls, so you can enjoy nature, have a little walk and listen to the waterfall's sounds.

Another place that I will talk abou is Park along the Skyline Parkway: this place has a lot of view to look at and also has smaller parks too, like the valley of silence overlooked behind St.Scholastica. It might still have some people but it will be less crowded so you can have a quiet place, listen to nature with the great view.

The last place that I will tell you is the Amity Creek trail: This trail follows Amity Creek toward Lake Superior, has a great view of the creek, has small waterfalls, and also a more natural environment that you can enjoy, less crowds than the more central Lakewalk.

So that will be all I have for today! These places might take a little bit of looking around but when you finally find your own favorite spot that makes you feel calm and peaceful then it is worth it, it could be the best summer adventure that you won’t forget and can go back in anytimes. Lastly, I hope everyone enjoys summer.

LOW RATED MOVIES I LOVED AS A KID

By Jocelyn Petrovffsky

Have you ever been a child, thoroughly enjoying a random movie your parents put on only to find out later that everyone else hates it? Well, I have! Many times. Maybe I just had bad taste in movies as a kid and now am blinded by nostalgia, but I think the more plausible option is that I just have taste that transcends a regular human mind. Usually, I rewatch these fateful films right away to truly understand if it was something I could only love as an 8-year-old or if they still hold up nowadays; and usually, they do! Though occasionally I do find that one movie that actually is pretty bad and sometimes borderline (or flat out) racist. Not my point, though; I want to specifically highlight those nostalgia-ridden films that I still think are still really good; maybe even better now that I have developed a bit more brain. 

National Treasure: Coming up with 46% critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.3 average on Letterboxd, National Treasure is the best film on this list and one of my favorite movies ever made. Who cares if it's not historically accurate? I genuinely couldn’t care less! The movie is ridiculously entertaining; in fact, the wild plot makes it all the more thrilling. Refusing to steal the declaration of independence, then the second someone else says they will, you go “not if I steal it first.” Hysterical! Sure, it's unrealistic and a little stupid but it's hilarious and fulfilling; and that's all I ask for in a PG film. While double checking the rating I realized that this movie has a 2-and-a-half-hour runtime! It's so good that I’ve never noticed it. Also, they made a direct sequel that I only really watched once as a kid but I’ve rewatched a couple times throughout the past few years and it's also actually really good. Great franchise.

Click: With a whopping 34% critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 2.9 average I do recognize that it’s not a perfect film. I’m already not a fan of the crude humor in most Adam Sandler comedies—movies like “That’s My Boy” are the bane of my existence. While Click does rely on his regular crude, slapstick style this film works surprisingly well as an emotional drama. I kid you not I always almost cry at the scene near the end when he crawls out of the hospital in the rain; and that's coming from someone who's cried at a grand total of 3 movies. Even though I dislike this style of comedy I still find joy in the “& Beyond,” joke. 

The Pagemaster: It’s practically just “The Neverending Story” but half animated; how does that warrant 19% critics on Rotten Tomatoes? Honestly, I don’t remember much since I haven’t rewatched it in like four years, but I remember being really angry when I saw how it was rated. I’ll just go with those feelings because even if it doesn’t hold up much on rewatch it definitely is not bad enough for a 19 out of 100! 

I’m sure there are many more I could name; these are just the first three that came to mind.

RANKING RESIDENT EVIL 2, 3, AND 4 REMAKES 

By: JJH 

Perhaps you have heard of the Resident Evil video games? If not, allow me to give a short description. Resident Evil is a horror franchise developed by CAPCOM games in Japan. The basic premise of the games is survival, and figuring out why strange horrific events happen. Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 originally came out in the late 90s and early 2000s. But in recent years, all three of those games have been remade to fit the modern day graphical standards for video games. Now that some context is laid out, it’s time for me to rank them based on my own opinion. First off, I’ll say this. None of these three games are bad. In fact, I think all of them are fantastic. I’m just ranking them and comparing them to each other. My number one of these three would have to be the Resident Evil 2 Remake. It is easily the scariest of the three, and is in general a better horror game. While the others also don’t shy away from gore, 2 just tends to be scarier because of sudden loud noises, lack of visibility, and being chased by zombies and mutants in abandoned places. And who could forget the absolute anxiety you feel when Mr. X chases you around the abandoned Police Station. That alone makes me put Resident Evil 2 at number 1. Downsides of RE2 do include occasional framerate stutters, but nothing terrible. My number 2 would have to be Resident Evil 4 Remake. This game tends to lean more towards action/adventure, than pure horror. Still, there are moments when the horror elements emerge, but there is much more combat than the other two games. Graphically and gameplay-wise, RE4 is definitely the most polished and refined. It is the newest release, so it makes sense why that’s the case. RE4 also had a considerably longer story than the other two games, which I appreciated. In last place is Resident Evil 3 at spot number 3. This game, while in my opinion being really fun, also does have a few issues. The major complaint was that the story was too short, and I can agree with this. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to complete compared to the other games which ran from 10 to 20 hours. This understandably disappointed people. But despite the length of the game, for what it was, I still thought it was a blast to play.  

Prediction of school in 2050

In the past decades school trends have changed a lot, well I mean not just the school trends, the things around have always changed, social media, how people open heart about sexes, technology, and a bunch of other stuff. Well I would say the past is the past, we should focus on now but wouldn’t it be fun to think about the future that is coming in a few years? 25 years look soo long but trust me, when you know yourself again it will already come. School is the place that we spend times on it alot to learn thing, find yourself, find your people, and try something news before you meet the real world, also is the place that you can try new trend that been going on in each time and find yourself what you are, what you like, and what is your style. Now, I want you to think with me about the future in the next 25 years, what will the school look like

Think about this, when you walk into school in 2050 it will look different than it does look like today. Well the one thing that I think will change for sure is your backpack, it will be a lot lighter or you won't even have to carry any backpack. Instead of carrying a bunch of math worksheets from Gina, a poem pocket, and a book that you have to read for literature, we may put everything into a small tablet. I know that today we also have a chromebook to use but sometimes we still have to do something on paper. Also maybe in the future learning will be more personal too, maybe technology can help teacher create lesson just for each student, like when you are very good at math or other subject, you can move ahead faster but if you need extra help with something the technology can give you more practice in specific thing, like you have your own teacher and your own lesson but if you have a problem then technology can help you contact with teacher or people that can help you to understand more. Classrooms might also change too, in my opinion, I think we can just take the lesson from anywhere that will make you feel relaxed and comfortable in learning but sometimes you still have to come out with other people to try to go into society and try the real experience. 

Even the school might look different in 2050 or not, you still get to learn new thing and have a grown in your life, even in next 25 years you will still have teachers to help and guide you, sometimes teacher that teach you a lesson don’t have to be a teacher that teach in school, they just a people that have many experience in life and want to give you advice so you can grow and get ready for the world.

Farther.

I look around me and there is all but silence. Noise fills every mild crack and gap of space in this area. We are all entirely accustomed to the never ending ruckus. This city is new, and old. Made new, but has been resting in its place beyond hundreds of years. I do not know entirely the history of it being here. Only that it is old but new. In the past twenty years thighs have changed though. New glamorous and metallic buildings have risen from the ground. Sidewalks of marble  in many different colors. Trees are less and often decorated lavishly with borders surrounding them. The ground is clean but it is no longer “ground”. It is a floor. Everything is new and sterilized. I look all around me and I see people from my left to my right. People on their way to their designated jobs in the workforce, residents traveling to school. I look up above me and I see the sun reflecting off of the sky way systems. The skyway systems here are our way to travel the city. We have no land- roaming vehicles. The skyway systems are large long vehicles that run through a cable system. They have many stops going through the city. The vehicles all have bathrooms on them and small stores offering refreshments. As a child we would spend all of our money at these stores after the school days ended. There are seats all the way through the vehicles. However the skyway system does  not take you past the city. I do not think I would even know how to get farther than the city line. No one here chooses to speak on the subject. When we do it seems all very hush hush. We refer to it as the “father”.  But no one would ever dare to venture into the farther. 

Facts about extinct animals 

By: Hannah McGilivray