All posts by HPSH Plaid Line

Advice/How To, Travel/Food

Best airlines to fly

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By: Sophie Johnson

The best airline that I have flown on is Delta. The reason why this one is the best is because the environment feels very clean and organized. I have had many good experiences with Delta in the past, and they have never let me down. I love that they have free entertainment like movies and games as well as their delicious Biscoff cookies.

Delta planes seem to always be on time and have everything under control. I feel very safe and comfortable on these flights and always find something good to watch on TV.

One airline that I do not love as much is Sun Country. I have had several bad experiences with Sun Country in the past, and it always makes me nervous to fly that airline now.

One of those experiences was when I got stranded in the Newark Airport in New Jersey for upwards of five hours because of a delay. Not only did they make us all wait that long, but after five hours of hoping to get home, they announced that we had to spend another night at a nearby hotel. They could have avoided such a long wait by rescheduling the flight earlier.

One positive thing about Sun Country is that they have the internet and a website with many TV shows and games to play to entertain yourself and others on the plane. Overall, Sun Country is not my favorite but it did have some factors that redeemed it.

The last airline is Southwest. I have flown on Southwest 2 times and both have been good. Both of these flights were on time and I had an enjoyable experience.

Although this airline does not provide televisions on the back of the headrests, I still had an above average time on the flights. I always get great views out the windows and have a fun trip in the plane.

Travel/Food

Sambusa recipe

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By: Mushtaq Yonis

Sambusa is a fried snack that is eaten across the world. From India to Somalia you can find different versions of this delicious snack depending on the country. Sambusa is typically a stuffed triangular pastry that’s especially popular during Ramadan.

You can fill the sambusa however you like but I’m showing you one of the ways I like to make sambusas.

Making sambusas for a large number of people is quite time consuming so make sure you have these ingredients ready.

For the filing:

  • 1 pound ground beef or lamb
  • 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 onion
  • 1 green onion
  • 1 green chili

Spices:

  • 2 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 2 teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

You would also need a paste to hold the shape of the sambusa and for the filling to not fall out.

Paste:

  • 1⁄4 cup flour
  • 1⁄4 cup water

For the wrapper:
You can use tortillas if you’re in a rush or you can buy sambusa wrappers.

But if you would like to make your own, you need:

  • 3 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoon of oil
  • 1 cup of water
  • Salt

Now that you have your ingredients, it’s time to assemble your sambusa!

  1. Cook the meat on medium heat with oil
  2. Add the onions and the green chilis
  3. Add spices
  4. Set the filling ingredients aside
  1. Mix the paste ingredients
  2. Take one sambusa wrapper and fold it into a cone and seal it with the paste (make sure to leave 1 side open)
  3. Fill the cone with the filling
  4. Seal the rest of the sambusa with the paste
  1. Add oil to your pan and fry the sambusas until a golden brown color
  2. Take the sambusa and set it down on a paper towel or plate
  3. Repeat the process!

And that is how you make Sambusas.
It’s best when it’s warm so make sure you eat it before it turns cold!

Advice/How To

Jobs for teens

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By: Thea Berg and Rose Ramadan

As students in high school getting ready for college, we face many challenges and choices during this time of our lives. Getting good grades, participating in activities, impressing those around us; all examples of only part of the anxiety us students receive.

As we become young adults, as well, it is important for us to learn how to become successful. Part of success is learning how to work in an environment with other people and make money for ourselves to spend on future necessities.

Tying this all together, we will cover job opportunities for those looking for money and a strong learning environment. The jobs below are all located in Minnesota and are specifically for teens.

A Day Camp Counselor at the YMCA is a great way to start a job this summer. Learning to connect with younger children involves much training and social skills and is a great way to learn about patience. They are hiring for $15 an hour this summer as a temporary job. Work days are Monday through Friday.

Another amazing job opportunity would be a Nursing Assistant that includes classes that train. This would look great for anyone who is looking into a medical career job in the future. It is a part-time job with an estimated $29k-37k per year.

A job that may be interesting to work would be a Stand Attendant at Target field. It would be a great opportunity to interact with all types of people as well as learn leadership skills. It is a seasonal job. The starting rate is $15 an hour. Weekend availability is highly praised.

On the note of more of a fun job, there are many job openings at Dogtopia, a doggy daycare. They are looking for attendants who would interact with the dogs, teammates, and customers. This involves many leadership skills as well as social skills. It is a week job, Monday through Friday. The starting rate is $14 an hour. This summer, it is available as a full time position for those looking to make a good amount of money.

Lifeguarding is also a great opportunity that many teens in the 15-and -up age range can enjoy. Around the Highland-St. Paul area there are many different pools that need lifeguarding such as the Highland Pool, the Como Pool, and at swim schools such as Foss. Before becoming a full lifeguard there is a training that you need to do. After the training you can work as a lifeguard or teach swim lessons, or water aerobics.

You could also work as a Teen Specialist at the Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities. Some qualifications of this job would be a positive, energetic person who is passionate about discussing the Teen Pathways Program in schools and working with young people. This job requires a lot of working with children and interacting with other people.

Other jobs that you can easily find and start on your own are nannying or babysitting jobs. A lot of families do require you to be CPR certified before becoming their nanny or babysitter, but other than that you can find an employer through family friends or looking online for those in need of a sitter. There are many websites that you can also enroll in to be shown on so families can easily contact you for a sitter, or you can easily contact families to seek out if they need a sitter.

In the end, the jobs above are highly recommended and easy to get for teens. Most are hiring this May which is a great start to the summer for anyone looking to get a job soon.

Movies/TV/Theaters

A history of the Addams Family

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By: Bijou Kruszka

The Addams Family: everyone has heard of them. With its distinct characters and deadpan, dark humor, the franchise has certainly cemented its place in popular culture. For those unfamiliar, the Addams Family consists of Gomez, the sword-wielding father; Morticia, the dark, seductive mother; Wednesday, the sarcastic daughter; Pugsley, the pain-tolerant brother; Fester, the eccentric uncle; Grandma, the kooky old lady; Lurch, the zombie butler; and Cousin It, a literal ball of hair. So, needless to say, there’s a lot of oddities to be found in these characters. However, they’ve been through a lot of different variations.

While most people think of the Addams family as characters from the silver screen, they actually started off as comic characters. The Addams Family debuted in 1938, as the creation of cartoonist Charles Addams. They appeared in single-panel comics in the publication ‘The New Yorker’. Looking at these comics, it is very clear to see the origin of these characters. However, originally they had no names or dialogue, only known as the Addams family because they were drawn by Charles Addams. Charles Addams drew 150 Addams Family comics in his lifetime.

Inspired by Addams’s comics, David Levy brought the Addams Family to television. Premiering on September 18th, 1964, this version of the Addams family created the characters we know and love today. Their dark sense of humor and macabre personalities captured the attention of many viewers. Plus, the TV show debuted the iconic, snapping theme song, composed by Vic Mizzy. Every Friday night at 8:30pm, viewers everywhere would tune in to watch the odd sitcom. The show ran on ABC for 64 episodes, plus a holiday special, concluding in 1967.

After the end of the television show, the Addams Family went relatively silent until 1991, when Paramount released the film ‘The Addams Family’. The film was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starred Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, Raul Julia and Christopher Lloyd. The plot follows a doppelgänger of Fester trying to infiltrate the Addams family. It was relatively well-received with audiences and critics alike, and led to a sequel in 1993: ‘Addams Family Values’. The main cast from the previous film returned, along with famed actress Joan Cusack. There was also a straight-to-DVD movie ‘Addams Family Reunion’, which replaced Raul Julia with Tim Curry. The film series is probably the most well-known and iconic piece of the franchise.

In 2019, another Addams Family movie was released, but this time the family was animated. The character designs drew heavily from the comics, but they were updated to make it three-dimensional. The movie featured a star-studded cast, with celebrities like Nick Kroll, Finn Wolfhard, Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, and Bette Midler all lending their voices. The movie led to mediocre critical reviews, but grossed $200 million in the box office. So, in 2021, ‘The Addams Family 2’ was released, which followed the family on a road trip. It received much less favorable reviews, and grossed $120 million.

Most recently, Netflix released the series ‘Wednesday’. Where Wednesday differs from previous adaptations is the significant lack of the rest of the Addams family. It only focuses on Wednesday, as she attends a mysterious boarding school. It still manages to keep the deadpan tone of the Addams family though. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Jenna Ortega, this series rose to unprecedented popularity through TikTok, becoming a viral hit with teens everywhere.

The final adaptation on this list is the Addams Family musical. Premiering on Broadway in 2010, this show keeps the macabre humor that the Addams family is known for, adds a musical twist, and is overall an incredibly fun watch. If you want to watch something related to the Addams family soon, you’re in luck. Highland Park’s very own production of ‘The Addams Family’ is opening on April 20th at 7pm. The other showtimes are April 21st at 7pm, and April 22nd at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Everyone involved in the production has worked very hard to make it a good one, and we hope to see you there!

Badminton, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Scoreboard/Schedule, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field

Sports schedule for: Apr 17-22

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  ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: APRIL 17 – APRIL 22  
MONDAYAPRIL 17 
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
4:00pm Tennis vs. HumboldtVarsity: HOME JV: Humboldt High School
4:15pm Softball vs. South St. PaulHOME
4:30pm / 4:30pm Baseball vs. Como ParkVarsity: HOME JV: Como Park High School
5:30pm / 5:30pm4:45pm | 6:00pmBadminton vs. CentralCentral High School
TUESDAYAPRIL 18
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
3:30pm Boys Golf vs. CentralPhalen Golf Course
4:00pm Tennis vs. Bloomington JeffersonVarsity: Jefferson High School JV:HOME
4:00pm2:20pm | 7:00pmTrack and Field InvitationalSt. Thomas Academy
WEDNESDAYAPRIL 19
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
4:00pm Tennis vs. WashingtonWashington Technology Magnet
4:00pm Softball vs. HardingHOME
4:30pm / 4:30pm Baseball vs. Como ParkV: Como Park High School JV: HOME
4:45pm Boys Lacrosse B-Squad vs. EdinaMcMurray Fields
THURSDAYAPRIL 20
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
12:30pm Boys Golf 9-Hole TournamentPhalen Golf Course
4:00pm Softball B-Squad vs. HardingHOME
4:00pm / 4:00pm Track and Field MeetHOME
5:30pm / 5:30pm4:45pm | 6:00pmBadminton vs. Como ParkComo Park High School
FRIDAYAPRIL 21
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
4:00pm Softball vs. HumboldtHOME
4:30pm / 4:30pm Varsity/C-Squad Baseball vs. WashingtonVarsity: Arlington and Arkwright C: HOME
SATURDAYAPRIL 22
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
10:30am Tennis Triangular vs. Two Rivers / ParkPark High School
12:00pm Softball vs. St. Paul AcademyHOME
Softball

How to find the correct softball bat

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By: Hannah Gliedman

One of the most important parts of softball is hitting. A good hitter is what makes a team gain points and win games. For a swing, speed is the most important thing. Being able to time a pitch to hit it in the strike zone, and generating enough speed to drive the ball, is what creates a good hitter.

Normally, when buying a bat whilst in high school, you don’t only have to think of what bat, but also what size and weight of bat. A general rule is that from ages 13-15, bat length should be about 31-32 inches.

Once players reach ages 16+ a bat like 33-34 inches is good. The USSSA prohibits bats over 34 inches.

A test to see if the bat is the right size is to hold the bat where the knob is in the center of your chest. If you can reach the end of the bat with your fingertips, it’s the correct size.

One thing to note is the diameter of the barrel. Most fast-pitch bats have a barrel of 2 3⁄4 inches. and standard bats are 2 1⁄2 inches. Having a bigger barrel creates a bigger sweet spot, meaning more pitches are likely to result in bigger hits; however, a bigger barrel creates a heavier bat. For players desiring a faster swing, a bigger barrel might not be right.

As for the weight of the bat, Worth Sports created a chart that shows the best weight of the bat for players:

The USSSA prohibits bats over 31.5 oz, this includes tape and grip additions.

Finding the proper weight is extremely important to creating power and hitting hard. Finding the sweet spot between a too heavy or too light bat is critical. If a bat is too heavy, the player won’t be able to generate speed and won’t be able to hit pitches in motion whilst in the strike zone.

On the opposite side, if a bat is too light, the player will open up too early in the pitch, which can cause players to top the ball.

A simple way to find the right weight for your bat is to extend your arm out and hold the bat straight out. Hold it there for 20 seconds, if you can’t, the bat is too heavy. However, if it’s too easy the bat might be too light.

If there is a choice between a too heavy and a too light bat, skew on the side of a lighter bat.

Last thing to note, is to make sure the bat is USSSA approved before you buy it.

Editorials/Student Voice

Thoughts on History Day

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By: Julia Yang

This is my opinion on History Day, and my opinion only. You might feel different, and that’s alright.

For those of you who haven’t had, or know about History Day, let me give you a quick summary; History Day is a school event where students have to research an event in history and make a project about it, usually, a presentation board. After that’s done, everyone places in an open area with tables and everybody walks around to look at other projects.

With that out of the way, let’s continue.

I really don’t think History Day is all that helpful to a child’s education. I’ve already forgotten what I learned on my chosen event. The concept of History Day doesn’t make any sense to me – Why are we just learning ONE thing in our entire history? Or who has actually learned something and remembered it from it?

It just seems like a burden.

I know so many students and teachers that agree with me, so I’m not too sure why it’s still a thing we need to do.

National History Day says, “National History Day teaches critical thinking, writing, and research skills; prepares students for college, work, and citizenship; and inspires students to do more than they ever thought they could.”

History day didn’t help me with any of that. If anything, all it did was raise my stress levels. I did this project in middle school, so I didn’t even know what I was doing. By then, I had just learned what a presentation board was.

In the end, I don’t know why History Day exists. I found it irritable, boring, and stress inducing.

Getting To Know/History, Science/Nature

The importance of nature

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By: Tasha Cudinski

Nature is all around us. There are 66 state parks in Minnesota and many other natural areas that are open for visitors. Even though we have all of this natural space it is rarely taken advantage of, instead choosing to spend time in cities made of concrete.

Studies have shown that there are massive benefits to people who spend time outside with others. According to several studies on visitors to parks, spending time outside can actually boost your immune system by doing things such as lowering your blood pressure and increasing the amount of white blood cells in your body.

There have also been studies that indicate that spending time outdoors can help with your mental health, such as one study which showed time in nature to help decrease symptoms of PTSD in military veterans by 21%. There is not much understanding about how nature is capable of this, but one theory is that this happens because of the awe that nature inspires in those that observe it.

Nature is a wonderful resource but it also has a long and dark history of racial violence and segregation. For a very long time minorities were kept out of the picture when it came to natural spaces. For the people who come from a background of racial bias and discrimination, nature is not associated with the same thoughts and feelings that it may be for white people. In many instances nature is associated with the idea of violence and even lynchings. Because of this there are significantly fewer people of color who visit outdoor areas.

Nature has been shown to be beneficial to people’s health and if you have the opportunity to, try and spend some time outside with people you care about. It will not only help you make some happy memories, but it will also help boost your physical and mental health.

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Basketball

Biography of Klay Thompson

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By: Nagad Omar

4 time NBA Champion Klay Alexander Thompson was born on February 8th, 1990, in
Los Angeles, California. Born to parents Julie and Mychal Thompson.

Thompson didn’t have the “normal upbringing.” When he was just 2, his father was the first pick in the 1978 NBA draft.

He moved around the country until he was 14 where he was brought back to California where he later graduated from Rancho Santa Margarita High School. Klay had scout attention, all of high school, and played for many different club teams along with winning many awards.

Klay attended Washington State University where he led in 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Washington State University later retired his jersey number 1.

In 2011 Klay declared for the NBA draft and was drafted 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors. Shortly after, Thompson’s career took off and he scored 32 points in 2013 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thompson was also voted to the NBA All-Rookie first team.

That same year, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry would earn the title “Splash Bros” after setting the NBA record for 484 combined threes in a single season.

In 2017 Thompson also became the 11th player in franchise history to hit 9,000 career points, which he has well surpassed now.

After many trips to the NBA playoffs in 2015 Thompson finally won his first ring against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a tight 108-100 overtime win. The Warriors would end up being back-to-back champions in 2017 and 2018 to bring Klay his 2nd and third ring, before also winning in 2022, to make Klay a 4-time NBA champion.

Klay has now made 2,190 3-point field goals in his career (at the time of this writing), is a 5x NBA All Star and 2x all NBA Third Team.

Thompson also holds the NBA record for most points scored in a quarter, most three pointers scored in a single playoffs, and most three pointers scored in a game.

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Travel/Food

Siren tour guide

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By: Mae Skold

Siren, Wisconsin is a small town in northern Wisconsin, perfect for cabin stays and outdoor activities. The small town has a small population of 800 where everybody knows everybody. The town full of friendly Wisconsinites should not be overlooked for its size and they would love for you to stop by. Here’s what you should do!

Wisconsin is known for its lakes, so stopping by Siren’s Crooked Lake is a must. The lake has a fun park with live music, a nice beach, a playground, and good people. Children can safely swim and enjoy the water while adults can relax at the nice shoreline. There are lively fish that are a joy to feed and fish for. In the summer, Crooked Lake is a great place to visit.

If you’re more of an in-door person, Siren has many great stores and restaurants to stop into. One town favorite is the candy store Chipmunks Cheeks. The cute candy store has great ice cream, boba, and of course candy. Not only do they have sweet treats, but they also have fun toys and a kitchen supply store on the other side of the building. Another great place to visit is the coffee shop Chattering Squirrel. Chattering Squirrel and Chipmunks Cheeks are owned by the same family so you can be guaranteed great service every time. The coffee shop is perfect for a refreshing drink or a lunch in a cool, new renovated setting.

One of the busiest days of the year in Siren is the 4th of July. This day is a must for when you are planning when to visit the town. The town hosts a fun parade in the morning with floats, bands, and candy for the kids. After the parade, the lakes are bustling with boaters and families enjoying the water. If you are deciding when to visit, the 4th of July won’t disappoint.

This summer, I hope you consider keeping Siren on your list for a day trip or cabin vacation spot. When you decide to visit Siren we’ll be there to welcome you!