All posts by HPSH Plaid Line

Getting To Know/History, Travel/Food

Breaking down the cost of each part of a McDonald’s burger will surprise you

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By: Oak Berg

Image created with Wonder

Breaking down the cost of each part of a McDonald’s burger will surprise you.

The main ingredient, the beef patty, is the main reason of the cost. the meat might taste good to some people and might taste bad to others, which changes the overall taste of the burger. the patty is around 15-20 cents adding up to the total price

Fresh lettuce and tomatoes also add to both the flavor and price of the burger. Some people prefer to take lettuce and tomatoes off their burgers (price doesn’t change), lettuce and tomatoes at McDonald’s averagely cost 5-10 cents.

Cheese adds to the flavor and price of the burger, some people may like hamburgers more than cheeseburgers, this doesn’t effect the price for the buyer but the average slice of cheese costs 6 cents.

The labor price is high with the workers for preparing and making the burger needing a lot of pay. With employee wages, training programs, etc, the average McDonald’s hourly wage is $15 for a new worker.

Facility price includes paying for the building, land, and food stock. All of these things add to the overall cost of making a burger.

Marketing and advertising prices also contribute to the burger’s cost. They need to make the brand big and grow their customer base. This also adds to the price of the McDonald’s burger.

Even though the cost breakdown and the components may change, the normal price of a McDonald’s burger to be manufactured is around 40 cents and to buy one it costs around $3-4 for the buyer depending on where you live in the US. McDonald’s needs to make a profit or they would go out of business, so they raise the price on their burger by many times the original price.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Good Burger 2’

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By: Samson Belihu

*Warning: This article contains spoilers

This movie picks up over two decades after the first one. We start with one of the main characters, Dexter who is an entrepreneur with many ideas, and hopes of being rich in the future.

This movie shows us this dream become a failure due to him burning his home with a spray that can make any material flame-retardant. Turns out instead of a fire repellent, he made a fire spray. He tries to go to his sister, but his sister tells him he can’t live with her. That’s when Dexter is walking and he stumbles upon Ed, now a father and owner of Good Burger.

When Dexter asks if he could stay at Ed’s house Ed agrees due to their old friendship. Dexter then becomes an employee at Good Burger, and he starts getting his life back together.

Just when we start thinking it’s going great for Dexter, and Ed, a corporation called MegaCorps interrupts them by giving them a contract to sign. At first, Ed wants to decline, but she tells him that if he signs the contract his employees would get a huge raise. The once distrusting guy trusted the corporation when she told him her intentions. So, Ed signs the contract thinking it is a good idea.

But later on, they find out the true intentions of MegaCorps. In reality all MegaCorp wanted was to replicate the Good Burger’s secret sauce. If they managed to replicate the sauce they could eliminate any threats such as the Good Burger.

Once Ed signs the contract that’s when MegaCorps decides to leave thinking they have dealt with the threat, and would be back soon for the sauce. When they find out MegaCorps real intention, Dexter, Ed, and all the workers decide to create a plan to reclaim ownership back from MegaCorp, because they’ve beat them once and they’ll do it again.

Will they ever claim back GoodBurger?

The only way to know is by watching the movie on Paramount+.

In my opinion, the movie was good. I would give it a 4.2 out of 5.

I recommend watching the first one before the second movie though, so it makes more sense.

Travel/Food

Seasonal recipes: Edible cookie dough

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By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

This is by far the best edible cookie dough recipe I have ever tried. It isn’t grainy at all, it’s smooth and there is just the right amount of chocolate.

I got this recipe off of Pinterest from the Corrigan Sisters. Their page is all delicious desserts you can also try. You can use this dough for anything really. You can freeze it into balls and eat that as a dessert, you can put little chunks of it into your ice cream, or you could just eat it by the spoonful!

I made this recipe with my friends because we wanted a sweet dessert, but we didn’t have any, so we took the simple ingredients it takes to make this and we made it in 10 minutes! It’s very quick and easy. We were very satisfied with our results, so we ate all of it while watching a movie. This recipe isn’t very specific to a season, you can eat it whenever, and wherever you want! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of brown sugar
  • 2 sticks of softened butter
  • 1⁄2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of flour
  • 1⁄4 cup milk
  • 1⁄2 cup of chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Gather ingredients
  2. Microwave butter for 30 seconds to soften
  3. Combine sugar, butter, salt, flour, vanilla extract, and milk in a medium sized bowl
  4. When all mixed together, add chocolate chips
  5. Optional: roll into balls and freeze for later!
  6. Enjoy!!
Fashion/Make-Up

Crocs

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By: Oak Berg

Crocs are so iconic and have become super popular for their really weird design, comfort and all of the vibrant colors. Making them is a short fast process because they have machines do it.

The main material Crocs are made of is a foam that’s call Croslite. It’s not regular foam, it’s a closed cell resin type of foam. It’s super light, it can actually float, but there is also lots of cushion. Those are reasons why Crocs can be super comfy.

The whole process of making a Croc starts with molding the foam into a mold that is the shape and design of the shoe. These molds are carefully crafted to have the parts of a Croc like the holes and heel strap.

After shaping the foam the shoes go into a heating machine to make the Croc more firm . The heat helps with durability and appearance and making sure that Crocs can withstand being worn daily.

Crocs are designed with strange things like placed holes. These holes give them their look and make them lighter, giving your feet airflow which makes them suitable for various activities like walks or water based adventures.

During the making of a Croc other parts like heel straps are attached in models. The end result is a pair of Crocs that has both looks and a comfortable shoe.

For more information, please visit:

Basketball, Gymnastics, Hockey, Scoreboard/Schedule, Swimming & Diving, Wrestling

Sports schedule for: Feb 5-10

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  ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: FEBRUARY 5  – FEBRUARY 10  
MONDAYFEBRUARY 5 
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
V – 5:00pm Girls Basketball vs. HardingHOME
TUESDAYFEBRUARY 6
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
B: 4:15pm JV: 4:15pm V: 6:00pm Boys Basketball vs. JohnsonHOME
JV – 5:00pm V – 7:00pm Boys Hockey vs. SPADrake Arena
WEDNESDAYFEBRUARY 7
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
5:00pm Wrestling Triangular vs. Benilde – St. Margaret’s and Patrick HenryHOME
THURSDAYFEBRUARY 8
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
B: 4:00pm JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pmJV/B: 3:15pm V: 5:45pm | 8:30pmBoys Basketball vs. HumboldtHumboldt High School
JV: 4:15pm V: 6:00pm Girls Basketball vs. Christ’s Household of FaithHOME
5:00pm Boys Diving Conference MeetHumboldt High School
FRIDAYFEBRUARY 9
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
JV – 5:00pm V – 7:00pm Boys Hockey vs. Two RiversCharles M. Schulz Highland Arena
6:00pm Gymnastics Conference MeetJohnson High School
6:30pm4:00pm | 9:00pmBoys Swimming Conference MeetSt. Catherine University
SATURDAYFEBRUARY 10
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
TBD Girls Hockey SectionsTBD
JV: 12:00pm V: 2:00pm Boys Hockey vs. IrondaleCharles M. Schulz Highland Arena
Advice/How To

Best places to go ice skating in the Twin Cities

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By: Natalia Gercheva

Winter has finally hit Minnesota and the forecast temperatures have dropped significantly. This means many outdoor recreational activities have just opened like: skiing, snowboarding, sledding, tubing, and more. In this article I will be focusing on some of the outdoor and indoor open skate locations around the Twin Cities!

Charles M. Schulz-Highland Arena

This location is great because it is nearby Highland High School, so if you live in the area it is very accessible. There are actually two arenas; the north rink seats 500 while the south rink seats 100. Admission is free along with free skate rental! The open skate times are limited and inconsistent, so I recommend checking out their calendar which I have linked below.

Open Skate Schedule for Ramsey County

Roseville Oval

Personally, this has been my favorite place to go ice skating for the past few years. The ice is well kept, and there is also an indoor and outdoor area. Hockey players play in the middle of the rink, while figure skaters go counterclockwise around the outer oval. Admission is $9.00 and skate rentals are $5.00. Whenever I go here everything goes smoothly, and it’s super fun.

Roseville Oval January Calendar

Maple Grove Skate Loop

This outdoor skating loop has great hours and it also has free admission. Although, if you are renting skates it costs $7.50 per pair. Unfortunately, no hockey sticks or pucks are allowed on the loop. The scenery is super festive and beautiful.

Maple Grove Loop Skating Hours

Centennial Lakes Park

Centennial Lakes Park is a 10-acre lake that is groomed daily for ice skating. Skating is free, but skate rentals cost $10.00. Skating is open daily but it is weather permitting. The rental hours are only available sometimes. There are three main ponds that are all connected by more narrow canals. It is super fun and gives the skaters a unique experience.

Centennial Lakes Ice Skating Hours

I have already been ice skating multiple times this season, and in my experience all these places have been super fun and great places to go ice skating. All of these locations are open to all ages so it also makes a great family activity. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to go outside and at least try ice skating while the season lasts!

Tech/Games

‘We Were Here’

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By: Stephanie Caballero Benitez

*Warning: Contains game spoilers

‘We Were Here’ is a free, two player, puzzle game. ‘We Were Here’ is available on Steam and on the Epic Games Store with versions for PC and console. In this game, you and your partner begin in separate rooms both with clues to help one another get out of that room. To communicate with your partner, a radio is provided by the game, however the quality isn’t very good and I would recommend just entering a call with your partner through a different platform.

Both you and your partner get to decide which role you’d like to play; the two different roles are the explorer and the librarian. The librarian stays put in 1-3 rooms throughout the game and helps their partner by communicating all the clues to be able to do the puzzles that are given to the explorer. The explorer role goes through a variety of rooms and is more hands on compared to the librarian. Every time a puzzle is completed a door is opened and they get to move forward to the next puzzle.

One of my personal favorite rooms is the haunted theater. In the theater you are given a play to play out. The explorer’s responsibility is to communicate with the librarian as to what the play wants. In this play we are given 5 pieces, the king, the queen, the crowd, the killer, and the arch. Once the librarian knows what the play wants they crank the levers to pull out the correct pieces, and once the explorer verifies that all objects have been placed on stage the librarian may pull the scene lever.

After finishing all the puzzles, both the explorer and librarian get to leave the puzzle room and library. They meet up at the exit, but at the exit there is a lever. The lever requires for someone to keep it down for the door to stay open. You are given one last puzzle which is who will be left behind. No matter the role that you or your partner have, to be able to finish the game one has to be left behind while the other gets to walk out.

Advice/How To, Science/Nature

Effects of de-icing methods

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By: Mira Kaufman

As this year’s winter slowly becomes a frozen land, there will be a great need for de-icing methods. Stores across the midwest are selling salt, sand, and underpayment installed heaters which make every day activities a lot safer but are they worth the effects on our earth?

Salt, one of the most popular de-icing methods, is used to melt ice, creating grip and friction on pavements. To use ice, a person, machine, or a special truck will sprinkle road salt onto roads and sidewalks, which will allow patches of ice to melt. A very efficient way of making cities safer in the winter.

According to the EPA, road salt can greatly damage environments by contaminating drinking water, kill wildlife, increase erosion in soil, and cause damage to properties. Road salt is the most common substance for de-icing roads and sidewalks and is made of sodium chloride. The EPA also claims that “Nearly half a million tons is used annually in Massachusetts alone for winter road maintenance.”

In cities, salt must also be spread by trucks and machines that run on gas and oils. With these trucks constantly running, pollutants get added to the air at a much more consistent rate than many other vehicles. These trucks, and the damage caused by ice, can lead to high prices for families, communities, and cities too. These costs can come from damage caused by the chemicals in salt, but also can be found in the higher price of maintenance. According to Bridge Stone Tire, the damage of salt is estimated to cost highway and automobile industries $3.5 to $7 billion per year in the U.S. This price has continued to increase every year.

Stones and sand are also popular de-icing methods but they cause issues of their own. While sand appears harmless because it looks as though it fits into the environment, it is known to clog runoff drains and pipes. The sand used for de-icing may also be non-native to the area, causing a change in the environment and plants that can rely on the soil with its new properties.

Many newer built homes and buildings apply heaters under their pavement to not allow ice or snow to stick. This method of de-icing is the safest for humans, animals, and cars, and can be very environmentally friendly too. While the underground heaters do in fact take a decent amount of energy to use, if the energy is coming from home solar powers, or environmentally friendly city energy sources, then this is a great way to make winters safe while staying friendly to the environment. Unfortunately, this method is quite expensive because the heaters must be installed under the pavement which makes it a luxury, and not an option for many homes and buildings.

Travel/Food

5 places to visit in Chicago

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By: Cleo Newton

Image created with Wonder

1. The Art Institute of Chicago
This art museum is a great place to view many different artworks, writings, and is also a great place for research. The Art Institute of Chicago has artworks such as, “The Bedroom” made by Vincent Van Gogh in 1889, “Water Lilies” made by Claude Monet in 1906, and “The Old Guitarist” which was made in late 1903 and early 1903.

Tickets here are around $19 to $25. Last time I visited Chicago, my mom and I had planned on going here but we didn’t find time to do it.

2. Willis Tower
The Skydeck Experience is a fun activity to do here. It includes an interactive museum, and it’s both fun and educational. After that, you ride a huge elevator up to the 103rd floor. There you can take pictures in a glass ledge that overlooks the city and take pictures.

As fun as that last part sounds, I don’t recommend doing this on a rainy or cloudy day because the 103rd floor is pretty much in the sky and you won’t be able to see anything through clouds. Also, lots of people like getting their pictures taken here, so be prepared to wait in line for a while.

3. Buckingham Fountain
If you don’t want to spend money on anything, you should go see the Buckingham Fountain. It’s totally free and it’s very beautiful. This fountain is very large, and is located in Grant Park. I recommend visiting it at night because that’s when they turn on the lights to the fountain.

Last time I went, I didn’t have enough time to stay around until night time to see the lights, but next time I go, I’ll make sure to set aside time to do this.

4. Millennium Park
Millennium Park is near the Buckingham Fountain. It’s a great park for both kids and adults. According to Choosechicago.com, It has lots of green space and many activities such as ice skating, rock climbing, and it also has the Cloud Gate statue (a giant silver bean).

Although, last time I was there, that giant bean statue was closed, and I don’t know when it’s going to open or if it’s already opened again.

5. Chicago Children’s Museum
If you’re traveling to Chicago with a kid, Chicago Children’s Museum is a good place to visit. This museum has an art studio where you can make clay sculptures, a place called the Pritzker Playspace, and a tinkering lab where you can build buildings made of cardboard.

They are open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10am-2pm and Friday through Sunday, 10am-5pm. I’ve never been there before but I think it would be fun, even if I’m not a little kid anymore.

Advice/How To

Best winter activities

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By: Aliana Romo

Winter is often seen as long and boring for many people, although there’s many things to do during the winter that can make it pass more quickly. Since I live in Minnesota, the winters can start from November and last until March, which is a long time to be inside since it’s cold and snowy. I used to dread going out into the snow until I learned how to enjoy it. These winter activities can make the winter season go by much quicker.

My personal favorite activity to do in the winter is to go skiing or snowboarding; it’s a perfect way to get together with family and friends to enjoy time outside. In Minnesota there’s ski resorts such as Afton Alps and Buck Hill that offer amazing views and many different hills for different skill levels. Skiing and snowboarding allows for you to be outside and enjoy the weather instead of staying inside and praying for it to be sunny again. It also helps the winters to go by faster since you can progress at it, over the winter you can get better and better each year, to have something to look forward to.

Another way to get out of the house during winter is by going ice skating. Ice skating is a classic and well known activity to do during the winter since it can be taught easily. It’s a perfect family activity and something to do with friends. Me and my friends like to go ice skating together and then get pizza, ice cream and hangout.

One way to spend time besides skiing and ice skating is to go sledding or snow tubing. Unlike skiing and ice skating, going sledding doesn’t take much money or effort. As long as you use a nice hill and a sled, it can be one of the funnest winter activities there is. I have many memories from when I was younger of going sledding with family and friends while having hot cocoa breaks and sitting by a campfire. Snow tubing is mainly similar to sledding, although it includes going down a much bigger hill and instead of on a sled, it’s a tube. This creates a more fun and exciting experience of sledding.

Playing in the snow is also a simple way to be outside, and enjoy the weather. This can differ from building a snowman, to snowball fights or overall just enjoying the snow. Many times after my family and I would get done shoveling the snow we would begin playing in the snow together. It’s a great way to experience the snow and spend simple time with loved ones.

Being able to get outside during the winter is mainly how winters will be able to go by quickly. Staying indoors for way too long can drastically change how you feel. For me personally, I feel much happier in the summer than I do in the winter, this is because I spend much more time outside in the summer than I do when it gets cold. Once it gets cold it seems unnecessary to be outside. This goes to show that instead of hating the winter and snow, it’s better to enjoy it and make the best of it, since being outside is important for mental and physical health. Overall, it’s best to spend these winter activities with loved ones to get together with people, make memories and create the best winter possible.