Extended Book Review- The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test--Mason

It is 1964, you are fueling up at a gas station in San Jose on a hot summer day
when a school bus pulls up to the pump next to you. Though this vehicle was a standard International Harvester, this was no ordinary bus. Instead of the classic yellow, this charter boasted an outer shell of every fluorescent and neon color there was, all swirling together in psychedelic shapes and patterns, and was brimming with a large group of long-haired crazy-eyed individuals. Belonging to the Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , and an iconic image of the 60’s, the bus was known as “Furthur” and carried a group of nomadic hippies who called themselves the Merry Pranksters, whom in 1964, started a road trip across the country. Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Test, published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux in 1968, is a autobiographical recount of Wolfe’s travels on this bus. The book documents a first hand experience of the psychedelic movement and gives insight to the lives of those at the forefront of the counterculture revolution in the early 60’s. 

We follow the narrator, Wolfe himself, in his story of his experience on Furthur, and his subsequent encounters with leading figures in beat generation, music, and various rising authors. The story starts briefly after Kesey’s release from imprisonment for possession of illegal drugs, and explores the freakish and wild lifestyles that were commonly seen in the wandering youth. We are introduced to characters such as Kesey’s family, Black Maria, Neal Cassady, and Hell’s Angel’s Freewheeling Frank. This

group continues their journey across the nation, in which massive amounts of LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and other psychoactive drugs where used in attempts to reach what was known as Acid Test Graduation, where partakers would reach a mind state in which psychedelics were no longer needed to “transcend human consciousness”. The Pranksters begin broadcasting this behavior to the general public under the name of the Acid Test, which leads to increasing amounts of followers. Through these infamous actions, Kesey becomes well known, and began to receive recognition from not only the Hells Angels and Allen Ginsberg of The Grateful Dead, but also the police. A fateful arrest for possession of marijuana leads to Kesey and the group to flee to Mexico. Upon arrival, the group tries to recreate their experience in using drugs, but was unsuccessful, citing the desert climate as the main issue. Pretty soon, Kesey return to the United States, in which his status has skyrocketed to the likes of a celebrity. Despite being hunted by the FBI, Kesey nonchalantly accepts interviews for TV and radio channels, spreading his ideals. Unsurprisingly, he gets caught and, landing himself jail time for his attempted escape and numerous non-violent crimes. Keysey reluctantly goes to a work camp in California, marking the end of his association with the group. The pranksters continues along, but were swept up in a storm of drug abuse as they continue their cross country trip. Their arrival at the Woodstock Festival of 1969 marked the end of their campaign, where Furthur meets its final resting place of Kesey’s backyard.
Tom Wolfe’s novel was a pioneer to a style of writing known as New Journalism, in which unconventional phrases and techniques are used within the story. This is seen throughout the novel in the form of irregular indentation for emphasis, heavy use of slang, and run on and free flowing sentence structure. In doing so, Wolfe crafts a narrative that parallel the thoughts and conversations of an average person. By utilizing

this form of storytelling, helps immerse the reader in the story, as this particular style reflects the culture of the time. In addition to this, Wolfe includes descriptive imagery of his surroundings to explain or develop the plot and its characters. This in turn, creates a realisting recount of a journalist’s travels during his youth in America’s most controversial time period. 

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the 60’s counterculture. Tom Wolfe’s story shows the origin of art and music of that time, much of which is still relevant today. This novel can serve as a historical window into a rebellious time period in which people took peace and love to the extremes. This book provided a refreshing view of the 1960s, in which the creative side of society was shown instead of the violent Vietnam War that was going on at the time.

Extended Book Review--The Impossible Knife of Memory--Victoria

Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a very serious disorder. There are more than 3 million U.S. cases per year. This is why it is important for people to see PTSD as not just another disorder, but something that is real and happening right now. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that may occur after experiencing life threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault as a child or an adult. For example, in the book The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson, Hayley’s dad, Andy, suffers from PTSD because of his experiences in the military. Although fiction is “fake” and doesn’t provide factual information, it still needs to be included in the curriculum because it gives examples of real life issues in our society such as PTSD. 

For example, although The Impossible Knife of Memory is a fictional story it still provides the reader with a better understanding of PTSD, which is a real life disorder that people suffer from everyday. This touching story provides the reader with heartbreaking, realistic fiction. At one point in the story, Hayley says, “I flashed on the way he had hugged me before I left: sudden and fierce, a true dad hug. A goodbye hug.” Hayley is having a flashback of the way her dad hugged her before he tried to commit suicide. Thankfully, Hayley realized what her dad was about to do before it was too late. This is a prime example of how the author of this book does an amazing job at channeling the reader’s mind and heart. She makes the reader see things through the character’s perspective thus putting oneself in another’s shoes. The author gives the reader a real, unfortunate situation to discover throughout the

book, which makes the reader understand what it is like to actually go through such a terrible experience. This is why it is important for fictional stories to be a part of the curriculum because they open our eyes into another’s perspective. 

Many children have parents who are veterans and have gone through traumatic experiences resulting in PTSD. Not only does this disorder affect the person who has it, but it also affects the people around them, especially their kids. For example in the book The Impossible Knife of Memory , the main character, Hayley, is very affected by her father’s disorder. At one point she even says to her father, “I’ve been standing on the edge with you for years.” When she says this, she is indicating that she has also been experiencing all this pain that her father carries as well. Another quote from the book is when Hayley’s boyfriend, Finn, says “You take care of him more than he takes care of you,” He sees how much Hayley takes care of her dad. She cooks for him, cleans, washes his clothes. At one point she even has to drive to a sketchy bar and pick him up after a woman who works there called her saying he was drunk and got in a fight. Although it seems like her dad is a horrible father, the way he is acting is completely out of his control. It is one of the symptoms of PTSD. People with this disorder do whatever they can to get the painful memories out of their head. Unfortunately, Hayley’s dad does this by drinking. Everything Hayley and her dad are going through in this book can happen in real life, and in fact, it is happening in real life at this very moment. This is why it is important for students to read more fiction because it gives great examples of these real world issues such as PTSD.
Another vital reason why we need to take PTSD more seriously is because it can lead to other disorders or mental illnesses. A few examples are suicidal ideation, substance abuse, depression, personality disorder, anxiety and the list goes on. The online article, “Signs & Symptoms of Suicidal Ideation” quotes, “suicidal ideations are often a symptom or result of undiagnosed or untreated mental

health disorders.” We cannot let these disorders go undiagnosed or untreated. Some people who have this disorder may not feel like it is important enough for them to treat it and get help. Which is why we need to take PTSD more seriously and inform people of all the risks that come with the disorder, so people can get the help they need before it is too late.
Fiction needs to be a part of the curriculum because it gives examples of real life issues in our society such as PTSD. For example, although The Impossible Knife of Memory is a fictional story, it still provides the reader with a better understanding of a real world issue. Not only does
this disorder affect the person who has it, but it also affects their family and friends. PTSD and other disorders need to be taken more seriously. We can do this by informing more people about these disorders. Students already understand the issue through facts, but it is important to show them through heartfelt stories as well, which is mostly found in fiction.

My Journey with the Black & White Keys--Celeste

I was four years old when I gained an interest of playing piano. My sister, at six years old, would sit in front of the wooden contraption with black and white keys, practicing what her teacher assigned her for that week. I bothered her every time I heard a sound coming from the piano, begging her to teach me a song. She finally did. The beginning of the song went like “CCGGAAG-FFEEDDC-.” I was four years old, playing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,”-- Man, I thought I was a tiny prodigy. Any time I got the chance, I would show off my skills. “Mommy! Mommy! Look what Ate taught me: *plays the song*.” The following Thursday at my sister’s weekly lesson, I performed the song to her teacher. As I finished, I turned my head, looked at the teacher, and saw a big, bright smile. At that moment, I constantly asked my parents to enroll me in her piano class. Once I turned five, the lessons began.
I had a notebook. In that notebook were pieces I had to practice and twenty-one ticks per piece, three ticks per day, that I had to cross off every time I finished a song. I began learning out of the “orange lesson book.” Then came the “green book,” “red book,” “yellow book,” “pink book,” “blue book,” and finally, the “brown book.” Alongside of those came a corresponding recital book. Each perfected song from the recital book was taped on a new, but used, cassette tape. My goal was to reach my sister’s level; have as many taped pieces as she did, but she was always one or two books ahead of me. As my sister and I both advanced, we started playing more difficult pieces. Pieces such as Sonatinas and variations from “Piano Pieces for Children- revised and edited by Maxwell Eckstein.” Around this time is when I decided to make a major decision.
The older I got, I had fewer taped pieces a year. The older I got, the less I wanted to cross the ticks in my notebook. The older I got, the more exposed I was to other extra curricular activities. Playing the piano felt more like a chore rather than pure enjoyment. At the age of twelve, I decided to end my lessons. It was hard to tell my parents and my sister because it ended in an argument. It was even harder to tell my piano teacher. When the topic came up, my chest tightened up and it suddenly became more difficult to breath. Trying to gulp down tears over something I wanted to have happen was confusing, but I somehow understood it. Though, I never determined whether I was feeling guilt or sadness when I left.
Throughout the period I was no longer taking lessons, about a year, my former piano teacher became ill. She passed on her students to her daughter, my sister included. My friends in middle school reminded me how much I loved playing, so I picked up lessons again, but, obviously, with her daughter. She always told me how her mom was so glad that I was playing the piano again. She would set up recitals for her, recitals I would participate in. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to see my former piano teacher one last time, but I am glad I did. In fact, I was able to see her twice.
This woman I met when I was four was an amazing sight reader. She was able to play a piece at first glance, perfectly, because of her vast knowledge of music theory. The most talented

pianist I knew, Gladys Sitompul, or as I would call her, “Mrs. Sitompul,” my piano teacher. She passed away on September 15, 2017 at the age of eighty-five. She lived a long and healthy life filled with love and happiness. When I attended her viewing, I didn’t shed a tear although I was sad. I regret missing one last year I could have had with her as my teacher. I wish I could show her how thankful I am for teaching me everything I know. When I admitted this to myself, that was when tears fell from my face. I realized too late that I neglected the time and effort Mrs. Sitompul dedicated to me to learn how to combine the black and white keys to create beautiful sounds. It was not about the money for her, it was the knowledge she was able to pass on before it was her time. To this day, when I place a finger on any of the keys, I think of Mrs. Sitompul-- I dedicate the pieces to her.

Her Moment--Raeanne

Behind the lofty stage curtains, Riley could hear the whispers and cheers of the audience echo throughout the auditorium. The butterflies began to flutter in her stomach and took over her body until it went numb. She could feel her heart beating out of control until, just for a split second, it felt as though it had stopped. In the distance, Riley could make out her teacher informing the stage technicians that she was behind the stage and ready to go. As she endured a few treacherous minutes behind the stage, she began to think about how this was her moment and how she had been waiting all year for this moment where she could finally show her friends and family her progress on pointe. However, her thoughts were cut short when the melody of the music began to fill the auditorium and the lights illuminated the stage. She immediately stepped onto the stage and was welcomed by bright gleaming lights and a thousand eyes set upon her. Nerves suddenly paralyzed her and caused her to fumble the first steps of her choreography. She stood on stage with a blank stare as she looked into the blurred crowd trying to remember what she had practiced every Saturday preceding this day. Panic struck within her until she realized that this was her day to shine and showcase her talents. Instantly all of her panic and nerves washed away and she could feel the sensations in her feet again. She began her choreography and waltzed across the stage. Her tutu and leotard glistened and the many sparkles of her costume danced alongside her. She could see the amazement on the viewers’ faces as she leaped and spun around the stage. She was on top of the world and commanded the stage for the three minutes she was on. As she took her last step on stage, she could hear the music fading into the air and the pure enthusiasm of the crowd as they cheered violently. She could see the lights dimming into darkness when she walked off stage. Relieved that she finished in one piece, she pranced backstage and was welcomed by the cheers of her dance team. She embraced her teammates, one by one, and walked to the dressing room to pick up all of her costumes and props. She was surprised to see her family behind stage awaiting her with a huge bouquet of vibrant flowers. They embraced her and congratulated her on her good work and elegance. At this point, Riley knew her hard work every Saturday at dance paid off and she was finally able to showcase her ability to do pointe in front of the people she cared about most. She knew this was not the end of her journey, and that she was only going to get better.

Tips on how to survive the rain at school 101--Mikayla

Enjoy! 

 

A many of you know the past days it has been raining, in this time I have been warm and dry; however, I’ve seen many of my peers cold, wet, and miserable. Now if this is how you want to survive your rainy days, by all means continue; but, if you are looking for ways to enjoy the rain instead of hate it, then this post is for you.
Tip 1 - DRESS APPROPRIATELY
This is very important, if you are unprepared for the rain you are going to have a terrible time. Check the weather the night before! I cannot stress this enough, if it says it is going to rain, IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO RAIN! Judge how prepared you should be based off of the weather in the morning. If you hate having wet socks like the most of the

population, try wearing double or even triple pairs of socks. A pair of regular shoes and fuzzy socks together work wonders to keep your feet extra warm! If you like to wear sweatpants, try wearing a pair of leggings underneath them to keep your legs comfortable and warm. Wearing a long t-shirt, a sweater, and a waterproof jacket together will not only keep you warm, but also very dry. Something to cover your backpack, like an umbrella or even a clean trash bag will keep your books nice and safe from the water. If you put your backpack underneath your waterproof jacket with you, that would also work! Lastly, proper shoes. The last thing anybody wants is wet shoes and socks and cold toes. Rain Boots if you own some obviously are the best; however, if you don’t own any, boots or just shoes you don’t mind to ruin will work too!
Tip 2 - HOW TO STAY DRY
When you are exiting a vehicle, make sure to have your umbrella ready, now I know this may seem like common sense; however, while spending days watching people, they continuously get wet while trying to fumble with their umbrella. When you know you are going to be leaving soon, put your backpack on, get your umbrella ready to go with your finger on the release button. If you’re umbrella is big enough to cover both you and your backpack then obviously, keep it on your back; but, if you get to class and continuously find your backpack is soaked then try bring it to the front of you. Yes, this may make you look like a pregnant lady, but this way you can make sure it stays dry with you.
Tip 3 - HOW TO WALK IN THE RAIN 

Walking is like driving in many aspects. You have to check your surroundings before you just turn or back up. When umbrellas are involved things become worse. People are bumping into each other, water is flying everywhere, and you get hit in the face with a pointy umbrella. When walking with an umbrella be aware, make sure you’re not going to run into anybody. Also, be aware of the way you are walking, if you are stomping throughout your walk you are probably splashing all the people around you. Overall, you just need to be aware. Another tip I can give you is: watching where you walk, you don’t want to slip and fall into a puddle of water and be wet for the rest of the day. Try not to just walk around like you are the only person trying to get to class. Everyone else is trying to do the same thing as you, so if you walk around and are aware of who and what is around you, you can have a little bit of a better time walking.
Tip 4 - EMBRACE THE RAIN
When life gives you lemons, play in the rain. After all, there’s no reason to absolutely hate the rain. Every once in a while, it’s nice to relax and

enjoy your surroundings. Embrace the sound of the rain, in your car take a minute to close your eyes and just listen. Enjoy the fact that the rain is, in a sense, washing away all the bad to bring you better days.
Overall, I hope these tips helped even just a little. I’m no expert, of course; but, I have learned a few tips and tricks over my short period of time handling the rain. The rain isn’t for everyone, I know; however, next time it rains I hope it is a little bit of a better experience for you. With my tips, you should stay a little bit more dry and unstressed.
Thank you for reading!

How To - Live a Sustainable Life --Gabriela

These past few years, I have become interested and passionate about the environment. A sustainable lifestyle is basically an eco-friendly lifestyle. Right now, I do my best to be aware of the decisions I make and how they would affect the environment. I love being able to give other advice on topics like this, so here I am, giving pointers to living a more sustainable lifestyle.
Become More Aware
Focus on your habits; do you litter, eat red meat often, always take leftovers in a styrofoam
container, or use plastic straws everytime you eat out? Become more aware of the products you use throughout the day like perfume/cologne and hygiene products. By becoming more aware of the choices you usually make, you can form new habits and fine sustainable alternatives. There are resources that can help point out products that are harmful like “BeattheMicrobead.org.” This website gives lists of products that contain microbeads which are tiny plastics that we eventually consume. 

I actually didn’t know that pomade has microbeads in it till after I bought it.
Disposing Disposables
Avoid all short lived products! Switch to glassware or stainless steel containers if you don’t
already have some. Ross and TjMaxx have really great glass containers for less than $7 a pack, they come in a bunch of sizes. Having sustainable containers can be used for your lunch or used for

leftovers at a restaurant. Carry utensils! Grab a fork/spoon from your kitchen and always carry it with you, this helps avoid plastic cutlery at any place you plan to eat. Save up to buy stainless steel straws, these can be indefinitely recycled. I bought a set of utensils and straws on Amazon for less than $17. These alternatives make a huge difference! 

These are a few things I might carry in my bag/backpack.
Reduce/Reuse/Recycle
The three R’s are essential, reducing can be applied to anything, Reducing the amount of energy
used/consume, the amount of water being used, and reduce the waste produced/packaged. Paying attention to small details like these, take the time to make changes. Reduce your shower time by 5 minutes, choose to only eat red meat twice a week, buy things that are in sustainable packaging. Reusing,
instead of throwing something away either fix it or donate it. Donate clothes you don’t wear anymore
and make sure to use something till it can’t be used anymore. Recycling, it’s a win-win situation.
Recycle plastics and other items but keep in mind that plastic can only be recycled a FEW number of times so overall it’s better to avoid it. But I understand, maybe not everyone in your family is not willing to make any change so... recycle plus you’ll earn money for doing it. 

Get a reusable grocery bag, also I reused a mason jar for a homemade sugar scrub.
Adjust your Diet
I’m not saying go vegan but there are other forms like being pescatarian, vegetarian,
pollo-pescatarian. They’re all great options but I get if it might be hard. Push yourself to try, give yourself small challenges like eating 3 vegetarian meals out of the week. Agriculture plays a major role in environmental degradation. Overuse of fertilizers lead to water pollution which causes fish kills. According to “OneGreenPlanet.org” the amount of energy that goes into producing one burger is the same amount of energy to drive 20 miles. Not only does changing your diet help the environment but it is also healthy for your body! 

Eating a veggie crepe, it was delicious.
Plant
Planting is therapeutic, instead of spending a whole hour on social media... choose to grow
something of your choice. It can be fruits, vegetables, or flowers; personally I love growing flowers. It’s a relaxing hobby that takes little effort, plant easy growing plants like succulents or sunflowers. Plant flowers that attract bees, cause we need bees for our basic needs ya feel me. Growing a garden does wonders for our environment; it filters air, provides a small habitat, creates biodiversity, and absorbs carbon dioxide. But be careful in choosing a plant to grow because some can be toxic to pets so make sure to do your research. 

A beautiful sunflower I planted a while back, harvested the seeds and gave them to friends.
Believe in Yourself and Support Others
You might think that you won’t be able to make these changes but trust me when I say
anyone can make adjustments that will not just benefit the environment but yourself as well. Support others when they decide to live more sustainability, it gets hard when people are constantly questioning your lifestyle and saying you’re doing the most. Don’t be the person to point out other people’s faults or the deterioration of the environment, take action and make a difference. Educate others on how their lifestyle affects the life of all animals on land and in the ocean. There are so many resources that can be used to help with transitioning to an eco-friendly way of life. Apps like JouleBug gives you small challenges to complete that measures your ecological footprint and Healthy Living rates products by their developmental concerns. Don’t just retweet “Save the Turtles” but take the steps that actually prevents ecosystems from destruction. 

Some apps I use.

How to--Kaz

Throughout my entire life, I have eaten and enjoyed many different mediums of curry, ranging from Thai to Japanese style. However, I have always seemed to love Japanese curry the most, due to its flexibility with ingredients and taste. The first immediate memory of curry to me was when I was visiting my grandparents in Japan. I was about 11 years old then and was hungry after my flight. I was greeted by my grandmother at my grandparent’s home with the aromatic smell of curry. I had two servings that night and passed out within 15 minutes of devouring that amazing meal. For years after that experience, I tried to replicate this curry dish many times on my own and never could bring out the same depth of flavor my grandparents could. Last year when visiting my grandparents, I finally asked them how to make the dish. They gave me detailed instructions on how to make their curry, and I would like to share this with all of you. I will be writing an in-depth instruction on the construction of my grandparents curry. (With Pictures!)
Ingredients:

1. 2-4 Potatoes (I used 4)
   
2. 2 Onions
   
3. 2 Carrots
   
4. 4 Sausages
   
5. Curry Sauce Mix (Purchasable at a local asian market)
   
6. Water (1300mL)
   
7. Milk (~2 tablespoons)
   
8. Honey (~3 tablespoons)
   
9. Vegetable oil (1 tablespoon)
   
10. One apple
    
11. Rice (~2 cups for one person) 
    
    
    
    

Cooking Steps: (~2 Hours of Cooking Time)
1. Start off by cutting the onions into small sized pieces (size is totally preference). [Tip: If
your knife is dull you will cry. Use a sharp knife!] Prepare a large pot and place the cut onions into it with one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Heat the pot at medium heat. 

2. Wash the potatoes and carrots and skin them. (Make sure to remove black pits present in the potatoes after skinning) Cut the potatoes and carrots into randomly sized pieces and place them into the pot of cooking onions. 
   
   
   
   
   
3. Boil the sausages in a separate container. After they are done boiling, cut them into bite sized pieces. Place these cut sausages into the pot with the onion, potatoe, carrot mix. 
   
   
   
   

4. Pour the 1300 mL of water into the large pot with the mix and stir. Boil the mix until it starts bubbling. Remove the white foam that forms on top of the mix. This foam is bitter so removing it is a crucial part of the process. 
   
   
   
   
   
5. Turn the heat down and take your curry sauce mix and split it into four pieces. (This should be easy due to its already creased structure) Place these cubes (total of 8) into the large pot, one at a time. Stir continuously to avoid the clumping of the curry sauce mix. Place a lid on top of the pot, and stir at intervals of 10~15 minutes. 
   
   
   
   
   

6. While the curry sauce is simmering, cut the apple into four pieces. Shave these four pieces into a paste and stir into the curry sauce. (Make sure to not got too hard or fast, I almost shaved my finger!) Take about 3 tablespoons of honey and stir into the curry mix along with the apple paste. 
   
   
   
   
7. Prepare the rice on one side of the bowl, and carefully pour the curry sauce mix onto the other side. (Refer to picture) The red mound on the plate is called “fukujinzuke”, and is a sweet-and-salty vegetable pickle. (In this case I used daikon fukujinzuke) The curry is now complete! (You can leave the curry to sit overnight, and it will be even tastier in the morning!) 
   
   
   
   

8. Eat and enjoy! (Don’t be alarmed if you smell like curry in the morning! This is quite typical for all foods that utilize a variety of strong spices. Due to the various combinations of spices in the curry sauce mix, and your metabolism, these often get digested and secreted from your sweat glands or skin pores somewhere along the digestive process.)
Although these steps may seem tedious and time-consuming, I assure you; the end result is worth the time. I know that most of you will probably not even attempt at making this meal and that’s ok! You can even go out to a local Japanese restaurant (Curry House) and order it there. I simply just want to share my appreciation for this truly amazing dish! There is also a delicacy in Japan called “curry-pan” which is a deep-fried bun filled with curry sauce, which I highly recommend! I hope that this how-to was informative and more importantly, I hope that you all make this dish or eat Japanese-style curry sometime in your lives!