The Benchwarmers: A must-see comedy
By: Jackson Wilson
NORTHRIDGE- If you are looking for a comedy that will have you full of laughter, then The Benchwarmers is the movie for you. The movie is full of well-known comedy acting stars. The three grown men who play in a Little League Baseball tournament are played by David Spade (Richie), Rob Schneider (Gus), and Jon Heder (Clark). Those three come together and with the help of Mel, played by Jon Lovitz, they make a baseball tournament against all of the local Little League baseball teams around.
The three men make the tournament, and the winner of the tournament is to get their very own baseball field. The men made the tournament in order to try to stop bullying in the community and so the people who do get bullied will have a place to play baseball whenever they want.
Because of that message, the movie is a very good family movie. It is funny, but it has a very good lesson within it. The lesson is showing that bullying is not something that should be happening. It is saying that every kid should be able to play sports without being harassed or kept from play.
The comedy is rated PG-13, but the movie is appropriate for ages younger than that. Sure, it has some crude language, but it's nothing that parents should be worried about their kids watching. Other than the language, it is a great movie that will have kids and adults laughing uncontrollably.
If you are a fan of Adam Sandler’s movies, you will love this film because it was produced by Sandler and is a Happy Madison Production movie. Sandler’s movies have always been perceived as hilarious, and this movie is no different. Some people complained that this movie was sub-par because of bad acting. The way that I watched the movie, though, I did not think that it was bad acting; I thought that the actors were portraying their characters in the way that they should, which made this movie so great.
The point of a comedy is to make people laugh, and they did just that. That is why Benchwarmers is such a great movie to watch with your family if your family members are mature enough to hear a little bit of crude language.
- Jackson Wilson ('19) is a Sports Editor for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Jackson Wilson
NORTHRIDGE- If you are looking for a comedy that will have you full of laughter, then The Benchwarmers is the movie for you. The movie is full of well-known comedy acting stars. The three grown men who play in a Little League Baseball tournament are played by David Spade (Richie), Rob Schneider (Gus), and Jon Heder (Clark). Those three come together and with the help of Mel, played by Jon Lovitz, they make a baseball tournament against all of the local Little League baseball teams around.
The three men make the tournament, and the winner of the tournament is to get their very own baseball field. The men made the tournament in order to try to stop bullying in the community and so the people who do get bullied will have a place to play baseball whenever they want.
Because of that message, the movie is a very good family movie. It is funny, but it has a very good lesson within it. The lesson is showing that bullying is not something that should be happening. It is saying that every kid should be able to play sports without being harassed or kept from play.
The comedy is rated PG-13, but the movie is appropriate for ages younger than that. Sure, it has some crude language, but it's nothing that parents should be worried about their kids watching. Other than the language, it is a great movie that will have kids and adults laughing uncontrollably.
If you are a fan of Adam Sandler’s movies, you will love this film because it was produced by Sandler and is a Happy Madison Production movie. Sandler’s movies have always been perceived as hilarious, and this movie is no different. Some people complained that this movie was sub-par because of bad acting. The way that I watched the movie, though, I did not think that it was bad acting; I thought that the actors were portraying their characters in the way that they should, which made this movie so great.
The point of a comedy is to make people laugh, and they did just that. That is why Benchwarmers is such a great movie to watch with your family if your family members are mature enough to hear a little bit of crude language.
- Jackson Wilson ('19) is a Sports Editor for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
Perks of the Iphone 8 plus
By: Mercedes Keim
If you’re in need of a new phone, I might just have the perfect solution for you. The I-phone Eight Plus might just be exactly what you’ve been searching for. It has many features that make it well worth the purchase.
I just recently upgraded to the Eight Plus, and I couldn’t be happier. It has a way better battery life than my old phone, the I-phone SE. In fact, most times I can go a whole day, if not two, without charging it. However, if you use social media apps a lot, then you might have to charge it more often, but it still last around two hours more than most phones do. The screen size is also very good. It's not too big and it's not too small.
Another great feature of this phone is the camera quality. My photos are a lot crisper and more vibrant with color. There is even a new category that was added called portrait. This option lets you change the lighting to natural light, studio light, contour light, stage light, and even stage light mono. It offers a wide variety of lighting for each kind of subject matter.
One thing that you could see as a downside would be that the entire back is actually glass, just like the front screen of the phone. So, if you are one that is always dropping your phone then you want to make sure you have some sort of case on it to help protect it. There is one plus to having a glass back, however. Whenever you are on your phone for a long period of time and it would normally start to get warm ... this phone doesn’t. Since it isn’t producing lots of warmth, it will be harder for the phone to bend and ruin its structure, to say nothing of the internal build up.
You can even choose how much pressure you have to use for your home button. If you ask me, that is pretty cool. So, I highly recommend upgrading to this phone the next time you are in town. When I purchased mine, it was actually cheaper than a lot of other phones available.
-Mercedes Keim is a senior Viking Vault staff member. [email protected]
By: Mercedes Keim
If you’re in need of a new phone, I might just have the perfect solution for you. The I-phone Eight Plus might just be exactly what you’ve been searching for. It has many features that make it well worth the purchase.
I just recently upgraded to the Eight Plus, and I couldn’t be happier. It has a way better battery life than my old phone, the I-phone SE. In fact, most times I can go a whole day, if not two, without charging it. However, if you use social media apps a lot, then you might have to charge it more often, but it still last around two hours more than most phones do. The screen size is also very good. It's not too big and it's not too small.
Another great feature of this phone is the camera quality. My photos are a lot crisper and more vibrant with color. There is even a new category that was added called portrait. This option lets you change the lighting to natural light, studio light, contour light, stage light, and even stage light mono. It offers a wide variety of lighting for each kind of subject matter.
One thing that you could see as a downside would be that the entire back is actually glass, just like the front screen of the phone. So, if you are one that is always dropping your phone then you want to make sure you have some sort of case on it to help protect it. There is one plus to having a glass back, however. Whenever you are on your phone for a long period of time and it would normally start to get warm ... this phone doesn’t. Since it isn’t producing lots of warmth, it will be harder for the phone to bend and ruin its structure, to say nothing of the internal build up.
You can even choose how much pressure you have to use for your home button. If you ask me, that is pretty cool. So, I highly recommend upgrading to this phone the next time you are in town. When I purchased mine, it was actually cheaper than a lot of other phones available.
-Mercedes Keim is a senior Viking Vault staff member. [email protected]
Pitch Perfect: A must-watch, feel-good movie
By: Alex Hook
NORTHRIDGE-If you want to laugh your socks off with friends and family, you should consider watching Pitch Perfect. Jason Moore, the director, shot the film in 2012 and now looks back on its success. This movie is perfect for all those above the age the of 12, as there is crude humor and inappropriate language that may be too much for younger viewers.
The journey starts off with struggle of the Barden Bellas still lingering from last year's acappella championship. The Bellas were completely trumped by their acapella rivals, The Treblemakers. Though both teams battle to beat each other for Barden University, the main goal in mind is to advance to the Acapella US Championship.
The Bellas add a superstar singer, Beca, which is the main character of the movie. Beca is played by Anna Kendrick, who is very lovable and attractive. Beca’s story is that she is a really great singer and good DJ. Also, the movie takes the watcher through Beca’s personal relationship with one of the Treblemakers, even though the Barden Bellas have a strict rule not to have relationships with any of the Trebles.
Jesse, who is the Treblemaker that Beca is having an affair with, is played by Skylar Astin. Jesse and Beca’s relationship is the twist that Pitch Perfect needed and adds excitement to the movie. They also add a hint of romance to the movie, which every movie needs.
Fat Amy is the character that everyone loves, played by Rebel Wilson. Fat Amy will do something unexpectedly, and it is always hilarious. She makes the viewer wonder what she will do next. Also, she adds a sense a humor that makes the viewer just want to keep watching and wanting to come back for more.
The narrow-minded leader of the Bellas, Aubrey, is played by Anna Camp, who is getting in Beca’s love life. Also following suit, Aubrey is always on Beca’s case for not being that committed to the Bellas and wants everything done perfect. Which is why Aubrey and Beca don’t see eye to eye, because Beca is always trying to change things in the strict Barden Bellas code, such as the songs they sing, the clothes they wear, and having relationships with Treblemakers.
So if you are looking for a feel good movie with ironic humor to keep the mood of everyone high, or if you're in the mood to listen to good music, consider watching Pitch Perfect.
- Alex Hook ('20) is the Assistant Web Editor for The Viking Vault.
By: Alex Hook
NORTHRIDGE-If you want to laugh your socks off with friends and family, you should consider watching Pitch Perfect. Jason Moore, the director, shot the film in 2012 and now looks back on its success. This movie is perfect for all those above the age the of 12, as there is crude humor and inappropriate language that may be too much for younger viewers.
The journey starts off with struggle of the Barden Bellas still lingering from last year's acappella championship. The Bellas were completely trumped by their acapella rivals, The Treblemakers. Though both teams battle to beat each other for Barden University, the main goal in mind is to advance to the Acapella US Championship.
The Bellas add a superstar singer, Beca, which is the main character of the movie. Beca is played by Anna Kendrick, who is very lovable and attractive. Beca’s story is that she is a really great singer and good DJ. Also, the movie takes the watcher through Beca’s personal relationship with one of the Treblemakers, even though the Barden Bellas have a strict rule not to have relationships with any of the Trebles.
Jesse, who is the Treblemaker that Beca is having an affair with, is played by Skylar Astin. Jesse and Beca’s relationship is the twist that Pitch Perfect needed and adds excitement to the movie. They also add a hint of romance to the movie, which every movie needs.
Fat Amy is the character that everyone loves, played by Rebel Wilson. Fat Amy will do something unexpectedly, and it is always hilarious. She makes the viewer wonder what she will do next. Also, she adds a sense a humor that makes the viewer just want to keep watching and wanting to come back for more.
The narrow-minded leader of the Bellas, Aubrey, is played by Anna Camp, who is getting in Beca’s love life. Also following suit, Aubrey is always on Beca’s case for not being that committed to the Bellas and wants everything done perfect. Which is why Aubrey and Beca don’t see eye to eye, because Beca is always trying to change things in the strict Barden Bellas code, such as the songs they sing, the clothes they wear, and having relationships with Treblemakers.
So if you are looking for a feel good movie with ironic humor to keep the mood of everyone high, or if you're in the mood to listen to good music, consider watching Pitch Perfect.
- Alex Hook ('20) is the Assistant Web Editor for The Viking Vault.
Movie Review: Star Wars: The Last Jedi
By: Jason Turner
Hi, its me again. Did you miss me? Let’s jump right in and get started on the review of The Last Jedi. This movie, which opened in theaters on Dec. 15, has two main story lines that intersect: one is with Luke, Rey and Kylo Ren, while the other between Finn, Poe and newcomer Rose. The first is Rey trying to get Luke to train her, along with an assorted backstory. The second story line is like a spy movie, and I am not kidding. The tropes are here: the deceptions and the gadgets.
There are many new cast members in this Star Wars film, human and alien alike. My favorite are the Porgs who are adorable. Spoiler alert: Yoda appears in ghost form.
I felt that the movie deserves a 9 out of 10. Even though there are a lot of new cast members, you do see some of the oldies in the movie. The story line was similar to the other Star Wars movies in that the light side of the force and dark side of the force battle, but there are just different people fighting in the forces.
Overall, I do recommend the movie. It was very entertaining and was fun to see. There has not yet been a release date for DVD, so you may be able to still catch it in some theaters.
- Jason Turner (‘18) writes movie reviews for The Viking Vault
By: Jason Turner
Hi, its me again. Did you miss me? Let’s jump right in and get started on the review of The Last Jedi. This movie, which opened in theaters on Dec. 15, has two main story lines that intersect: one is with Luke, Rey and Kylo Ren, while the other between Finn, Poe and newcomer Rose. The first is Rey trying to get Luke to train her, along with an assorted backstory. The second story line is like a spy movie, and I am not kidding. The tropes are here: the deceptions and the gadgets.
There are many new cast members in this Star Wars film, human and alien alike. My favorite are the Porgs who are adorable. Spoiler alert: Yoda appears in ghost form.
I felt that the movie deserves a 9 out of 10. Even though there are a lot of new cast members, you do see some of the oldies in the movie. The story line was similar to the other Star Wars movies in that the light side of the force and dark side of the force battle, but there are just different people fighting in the forces.
Overall, I do recommend the movie. It was very entertaining and was fun to see. There has not yet been a release date for DVD, so you may be able to still catch it in some theaters.
- Jason Turner (‘18) writes movie reviews for The Viking Vault
To snap or not to snap: what not to do on Snapchat
By: Olivia Humes
Snapchat: one of the most popular apps of our generation, on which users “snap” pictures on which to write a message and send to their friends. With that fun comes some basic etiquette, though. Below are some of the things you should NOT do on Snapchat.
1. Do not send people the same snap you put on your story. Either way, the person you want to Snapchat is going to see the picture or video on your story. It’s just annoying to receive the same Snapchat that someone has put on their story. Plus, there’s a good chance that you won’t get a reply from that person, and you don’t want that.
2. Don’t take a picture of a black screen and put it on your story with a paragraph explaining how mad you are about something or how you are angry at someone. There are other ways to express your feelings than writing a long paragraph for everyone to see. If you want to complain, I suggest you find a trustworthy friend and talk to them about your problem. It will be much more productive.
3. Do not put videos of you lip syncing a whole song on your story. It’s different if you are out having fun with friends and put a video of you jamming out in the car, but please not two minutes of you lip syncing an overplayed song. Let’s be honest, everyone just clicks through that. Junior Hunter Henson says, “So many people do this, and all I do is just skip through them because I don’t really care.”
These are just a few things that are frowned upon by most people on Snapchat. There are definitely other things, but please take my advice on these few topics. It will be a good start.
- Olivia Humes is a second-year staff member and Web Editor of the Viking Vault.
By: Olivia Humes
Snapchat: one of the most popular apps of our generation, on which users “snap” pictures on which to write a message and send to their friends. With that fun comes some basic etiquette, though. Below are some of the things you should NOT do on Snapchat.
1. Do not send people the same snap you put on your story. Either way, the person you want to Snapchat is going to see the picture or video on your story. It’s just annoying to receive the same Snapchat that someone has put on their story. Plus, there’s a good chance that you won’t get a reply from that person, and you don’t want that.
2. Don’t take a picture of a black screen and put it on your story with a paragraph explaining how mad you are about something or how you are angry at someone. There are other ways to express your feelings than writing a long paragraph for everyone to see. If you want to complain, I suggest you find a trustworthy friend and talk to them about your problem. It will be much more productive.
3. Do not put videos of you lip syncing a whole song on your story. It’s different if you are out having fun with friends and put a video of you jamming out in the car, but please not two minutes of you lip syncing an overplayed song. Let’s be honest, everyone just clicks through that. Junior Hunter Henson says, “So many people do this, and all I do is just skip through them because I don’t really care.”
These are just a few things that are frowned upon by most people on Snapchat. There are definitely other things, but please take my advice on these few topics. It will be a good start.
- Olivia Humes is a second-year staff member and Web Editor of the Viking Vault.
Where to go this Valentine's Day
By:Mackenzie Holder
Valentine's Day is here, and most couples have began thinking about their plans on this very special day. Some may go on a fancy date, or some may even just watch a movie in their PJ’s. Whatever you are planning to do this Valentines Day, you should take time to figure out some of the best options. It may be worth the research to find out what restaurants offer special deals for the holiday, for example … especially for high school students who may be looking for something affordable.
This year Auntie Anne’s Pretzels are having a special in which, if you download their app, you can buy-one and get-one-free heart-shaped pretzel. Other places that are doing something special are restaurants including White Castle, Waffle House and Steak n’ Shake. White Castle transforms their fast food restaurant into a romantic dinner date. They bring out red table cloths and serve champagne to make their guests feel special. Waffle House allows guests to be served with a candlelit meal. Make sure that you make reservations, though; surprisingly, they get booked pretty fast.
There are many other choices when it comes to picking a more traditional restaurant for Valentine's Day, of course. You can go the “original” route and go to The Cheesecake Factory like everyone else in the world, or you can try someplace new. Who knows, maybe you will find a place that you really love. Some couples even like to try and make the drive fun. You can always play the game where you flip a coin and, if you flip heads at the next turn, you go right, and if you flip tails, you go left. Then you flip the coin a certain amount of times and, wherever you end up, you find somewhere to eat closest to where you find yourselves.
No matter where you go, make sure that you are enjoying the time with your significant other because Valentines Day only comes around once a year.
-Mackenzie Holder (19’) is a Print Editor-in-Chief for the Viking Vault.
By:Mackenzie Holder
Valentine's Day is here, and most couples have began thinking about their plans on this very special day. Some may go on a fancy date, or some may even just watch a movie in their PJ’s. Whatever you are planning to do this Valentines Day, you should take time to figure out some of the best options. It may be worth the research to find out what restaurants offer special deals for the holiday, for example … especially for high school students who may be looking for something affordable.
This year Auntie Anne’s Pretzels are having a special in which, if you download their app, you can buy-one and get-one-free heart-shaped pretzel. Other places that are doing something special are restaurants including White Castle, Waffle House and Steak n’ Shake. White Castle transforms their fast food restaurant into a romantic dinner date. They bring out red table cloths and serve champagne to make their guests feel special. Waffle House allows guests to be served with a candlelit meal. Make sure that you make reservations, though; surprisingly, they get booked pretty fast.
There are many other choices when it comes to picking a more traditional restaurant for Valentine's Day, of course. You can go the “original” route and go to The Cheesecake Factory like everyone else in the world, or you can try someplace new. Who knows, maybe you will find a place that you really love. Some couples even like to try and make the drive fun. You can always play the game where you flip a coin and, if you flip heads at the next turn, you go right, and if you flip tails, you go left. Then you flip the coin a certain amount of times and, wherever you end up, you find somewhere to eat closest to where you find yourselves.
No matter where you go, make sure that you are enjoying the time with your significant other because Valentines Day only comes around once a year.
-Mackenzie Holder (19’) is a Print Editor-in-Chief for the Viking Vault.
Prom dress shopping:
when’s the right time?
By: Dayna Martin
As Prom season approaches, many may be wondering if there is such thing as purchasing a dress too early. Some might think if they purchase their dress too early, then they will be missing out on the latest trends when Prom rolls around. Others may think if they wait too long to purchase their dress, then all dresses will be picked over and you will not be able to find the perfect Prom dress.
Well, don’t worry because there is no such thing as the perfect time to go dress shopping. When shopping for a dress in the early months before Prom, you will definitely have many more options than if you are to wait closer to the date of Prom. Cora Dorman (‘18) says, “I have to go dress shopping early or I stress that I will not find the perfect dress. When shopping during the early months, I feel as if there are more options available.” Also, if you go dress shopping early, you will not be stressing to find the perfect dress.
On the other hand, if you wait until the months closer to Prom, the dresses may be picked over, but trust me, you will be able to find a dress. Speaking from experience, searching for a dress close to Prom is very stressful and shopping may involve a few tears, but you will find the dress for you.
No matter when you decide to go dress shopping, just keep in mind that dress shopping may take a couple hours and those couple hours will be a stressful time, but always keep an open mind to all dresses. Best luck to all as you set out on the search for the perfect Prom dress!
-Dayna Martin (‘18) is a second-year Vault staff member and Copy Editor. [email protected]
when’s the right time?
By: Dayna Martin
As Prom season approaches, many may be wondering if there is such thing as purchasing a dress too early. Some might think if they purchase their dress too early, then they will be missing out on the latest trends when Prom rolls around. Others may think if they wait too long to purchase their dress, then all dresses will be picked over and you will not be able to find the perfect Prom dress.
Well, don’t worry because there is no such thing as the perfect time to go dress shopping. When shopping for a dress in the early months before Prom, you will definitely have many more options than if you are to wait closer to the date of Prom. Cora Dorman (‘18) says, “I have to go dress shopping early or I stress that I will not find the perfect dress. When shopping during the early months, I feel as if there are more options available.” Also, if you go dress shopping early, you will not be stressing to find the perfect dress.
On the other hand, if you wait until the months closer to Prom, the dresses may be picked over, but trust me, you will be able to find a dress. Speaking from experience, searching for a dress close to Prom is very stressful and shopping may involve a few tears, but you will find the dress for you.
No matter when you decide to go dress shopping, just keep in mind that dress shopping may take a couple hours and those couple hours will be a stressful time, but always keep an open mind to all dresses. Best luck to all as you set out on the search for the perfect Prom dress!
-Dayna Martin (‘18) is a second-year Vault staff member and Copy Editor. [email protected]
Vending Machines, stealing our money!
By Ali Zigo
NORTHRIDGE- Here at NHS, vending machines prices are through the roof, leading me to ask: is paying this much money really worth the cost for what we actually get out of those machines?
Every snack food and drink in every vending machine accessible to the students here at Northridge costs one dollar. One dollar may not seem like much money when you say it, but it all adds up. One small bag of whole grain Cheez Its (.42 oz) cost one dollar, when you can get a whole box (12.4 oz) at Walmart for $3.39. This is just one example, but if we were charged fairly for our food and drinks, this .42 oz bag of Cheez-Its would be much less.
Another problem with our vending machines is that they are frequently out of order. When I was doing my vending machine investigation, I noticed a boy walk up to one of the machines and put a dollar in. He clicked the buttons to receive the snack of his choice, but nothing happened. The machine did not give the boy’s dollar back, and when I walked over to look at the vending machine, I saw this (see photo)… What the heck is this!?
The final insult from these machines isn’t so much our school’s fault as it is federal legislation regarding what students are allowed to eat at school. To not know if you will even get the snack you want on any given day and to over-pay for it proportionately, the reality is that everything you can pick from is either diet or whole grain. Not all students like diet or whole grain snacks and would much rather have the freedom to make the “bad choice” for the regular stuff.
Julia West (‘20) agrees, “The vending machines really do need to change the fact that everything in them is diet!”
The bottom line is, consider paying the three bucks for the big box of Cheez-Its at Walmart. Add another dollar for some snack bags, and package yourself up a couple of week’s worth of snacks for a fraction of the cost. It may just put you in a better frame of mind.
-Ali Zigo is the Junior Print Editor of The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By Ali Zigo
NORTHRIDGE- Here at NHS, vending machines prices are through the roof, leading me to ask: is paying this much money really worth the cost for what we actually get out of those machines?
Every snack food and drink in every vending machine accessible to the students here at Northridge costs one dollar. One dollar may not seem like much money when you say it, but it all adds up. One small bag of whole grain Cheez Its (.42 oz) cost one dollar, when you can get a whole box (12.4 oz) at Walmart for $3.39. This is just one example, but if we were charged fairly for our food and drinks, this .42 oz bag of Cheez-Its would be much less.
Another problem with our vending machines is that they are frequently out of order. When I was doing my vending machine investigation, I noticed a boy walk up to one of the machines and put a dollar in. He clicked the buttons to receive the snack of his choice, but nothing happened. The machine did not give the boy’s dollar back, and when I walked over to look at the vending machine, I saw this (see photo)… What the heck is this!?
The final insult from these machines isn’t so much our school’s fault as it is federal legislation regarding what students are allowed to eat at school. To not know if you will even get the snack you want on any given day and to over-pay for it proportionately, the reality is that everything you can pick from is either diet or whole grain. Not all students like diet or whole grain snacks and would much rather have the freedom to make the “bad choice” for the regular stuff.
Julia West (‘20) agrees, “The vending machines really do need to change the fact that everything in them is diet!”
The bottom line is, consider paying the three bucks for the big box of Cheez-Its at Walmart. Add another dollar for some snack bags, and package yourself up a couple of week’s worth of snacks for a fraction of the cost. It may just put you in a better frame of mind.
-Ali Zigo is the Junior Print Editor of The Viking Vault. [email protected]
Sweet treats for your sweet someone
By: Claire Wasem
Valentine's Day is the holiday of affection, and there's no better way to show that affection than with a special, homemade dessert. Lava cakes are delicious, rich, and savory dark chocolate cakes filled with hot fudge and topped with cold vanilla ice cream and red raspberries. Love bug cookies are cute Oreo cookies that are sure to put a smile on anyone's face.
Anyone would love to receive these thoughtful and delicious desserts from their special someone. Just follow this simple recipe:
MOLTEN LAVA CAKE
Ingredients
Microwave the butter, bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl on high until the butter is melted, about 1 minute. Whisk until the chocolate is also melted. Stir in the sugar until well blended. Whisk in the eggs and egg yolks, then add the vanilla. Stir in the flour. Divide the mixture among the custard cups.
Bake until the sides are firm and the centers are soft, about 13 minutes. Let stand 1 minute. Invert on individual plates while warm and serve with vanilla ice cream and raspberries.
LOVE BUG COOKIES
Ingredients:
Melt candy coating
Dip half of the cookie into the melted candy coating and place on parchment paper.
While still wet, place the sprinkles on the red part of the cookie.
Attach the candy eyes to the chocolate part of the cookie with the melted candy coating.
When the cookie is completely dry, draw a line down the middle of the red part of the cookie with the black edible marker.
Now you have an adorable ladybug cookie that your sweetheart will love!
- Claire Wasem is a first-year member and Jr. Entertainment Editor of the Viking Vault.
By: Claire Wasem
Valentine's Day is the holiday of affection, and there's no better way to show that affection than with a special, homemade dessert. Lava cakes are delicious, rich, and savory dark chocolate cakes filled with hot fudge and topped with cold vanilla ice cream and red raspberries. Love bug cookies are cute Oreo cookies that are sure to put a smile on anyone's face.
Anyone would love to receive these thoughtful and delicious desserts from their special someone. Just follow this simple recipe:
MOLTEN LAVA CAKE
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate
- 2 ounces semisweet chocolate
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 whole eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Microwave the butter, bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl on high until the butter is melted, about 1 minute. Whisk until the chocolate is also melted. Stir in the sugar until well blended. Whisk in the eggs and egg yolks, then add the vanilla. Stir in the flour. Divide the mixture among the custard cups.
Bake until the sides are firm and the centers are soft, about 13 minutes. Let stand 1 minute. Invert on individual plates while warm and serve with vanilla ice cream and raspberries.
LOVE BUG COOKIES
Ingredients:
- Mallomar marshmallow cookies
- Red Candy Melts
- Black confetti sprinkles or Wilton chocolate heart sprinkles
- Pink heart sprinkles
- Candy eyes
- Black edible marker
Melt candy coating
Dip half of the cookie into the melted candy coating and place on parchment paper.
While still wet, place the sprinkles on the red part of the cookie.
Attach the candy eyes to the chocolate part of the cookie with the melted candy coating.
When the cookie is completely dry, draw a line down the middle of the red part of the cookie with the black edible marker.
Now you have an adorable ladybug cookie that your sweetheart will love!
- Claire Wasem is a first-year member and Jr. Entertainment Editor of the Viking Vault.
How to profess your love on Valentine’s Day
By: Madison Legg
From skywriters to flash mobs, hot air balloons to treasure hunts, from scuba diving to serenading someone in the backyard, here are just some of the ways to confess your love on Valentine’s Day.
Hiring a skywriter is a very romantic way to confess your love to someone. Imagine walking on the beach with your significant other and looking up at the sky to see the words “I LOVE YOU.” There are not many things that could make your day much better after seeing that.
Another way to confess your love on Valentines Day would be to hire a flash mob. It’s very enjoyable to be walking down the street with your significant other and other pedestrians when, all of the sudden, those other people all join together to sing and dance to your favorite song in order to profess their love for you. For example, in the T.V. show “Grey’s Anatomy” Matthew Taylor proposes to April Kepner with a flash mob to the song of “500 Miles.” This would be a nice story to tell your grandkids when you’re 60 about as you would call them “the good ol’ days.”
Another way to confess your love would be to serenade someone in the backyard. This is a classic, old time way to profess your love to someone. They do this in all the old movies and they always “get the girl.” All you need are some small pebbles, a boombox, and your good old singing voice. First, you take the small pebbles and throw them at his/her window. Then (hopefully they hear the rocks and come to the window), you sing the song you prepared. Finally, you profess your love and hope to god they don’t reject you.
All these ways are good ways to profess your love to someone on Valentine’s Day. If you want to get daredevilish, you can try and do more than one of these at once.
-Madison Legg (‘19) is a staff publicity editor and a entertainment editor for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Madison Legg
From skywriters to flash mobs, hot air balloons to treasure hunts, from scuba diving to serenading someone in the backyard, here are just some of the ways to confess your love on Valentine’s Day.
Hiring a skywriter is a very romantic way to confess your love to someone. Imagine walking on the beach with your significant other and looking up at the sky to see the words “I LOVE YOU.” There are not many things that could make your day much better after seeing that.
Another way to confess your love on Valentines Day would be to hire a flash mob. It’s very enjoyable to be walking down the street with your significant other and other pedestrians when, all of the sudden, those other people all join together to sing and dance to your favorite song in order to profess their love for you. For example, in the T.V. show “Grey’s Anatomy” Matthew Taylor proposes to April Kepner with a flash mob to the song of “500 Miles.” This would be a nice story to tell your grandkids when you’re 60 about as you would call them “the good ol’ days.”
Another way to confess your love would be to serenade someone in the backyard. This is a classic, old time way to profess your love to someone. They do this in all the old movies and they always “get the girl.” All you need are some small pebbles, a boombox, and your good old singing voice. First, you take the small pebbles and throw them at his/her window. Then (hopefully they hear the rocks and come to the window), you sing the song you prepared. Finally, you profess your love and hope to god they don’t reject you.
All these ways are good ways to profess your love to someone on Valentine’s Day. If you want to get daredevilish, you can try and do more than one of these at once.
-Madison Legg (‘19) is a staff publicity editor and a entertainment editor for The Viking Vault. [email protected]
Naps in school?
Something to consider
By: Olivia Carpenter
Students wake up around 5:30 am and begin their day with half-closed eyes, feet nearly dragging behind them. Most teenagers stay up late into the night on social media, earning only four to six hours of sleep. At NHS, an idea was brought up. “What if they gave us a time to take a nap?” Olivia Humes (‘19) suggested one day.
What if they did?!?
The Journal of Sleep Research says, “Even in well-rested people, naps can improve performance in areas such as reaction time, logical reasoning and symbol recognition.” According to Kirsten Weir in “The Science of Naps,” a good snooze “can also be good for one's mood.”
When you ask the students at Northridge if they should go to school later, more answer yes than no, but they fear that would also mean getting out of school later, and that causes them to question whether they truly would follow through with that proposition. This makes a general nap time sound more appealing.
“If there was a nap time, I’d love it. I would keep a pillow in my locker and actually go to sleep. They might not be able to wake me up, though,” said Desiree Elceo (‘18).
“If I’m honest, I’d probably watch Netflix instead of sleep. I don’t know if I feel comfortable sleeping with a bunch of people that I’m not good friends with,” Katrina Tennis- Malick (‘19) pointed out.
“"Everybody agrees that if you are sleep deprived, you can't learn, perform or think very well," says Jerome Siegel, PhD, director of the Center for Sleep Research at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The students at Northridge and across the nation are, no doubt, sleep deprived. “I don’t usually go to sleep until 11pm,” said Ecleo (‘18) “Sometimes I stay up later than that, maybe 12am.”
“I go to sleep around 10:30 pm,” said Shelby Yorde (‘20).
Across the board, students generally need more sleep, and the best answer for education may be giving them a “nap time.” How the school board would feel about this, kids aren’t sure, but it would allow for better learning and possibly even better class participation.
-Olivia Carpenter ('18) is a staff writer and the Photo Editor of The Viking Vault.
Something to consider
By: Olivia Carpenter
Students wake up around 5:30 am and begin their day with half-closed eyes, feet nearly dragging behind them. Most teenagers stay up late into the night on social media, earning only four to six hours of sleep. At NHS, an idea was brought up. “What if they gave us a time to take a nap?” Olivia Humes (‘19) suggested one day.
What if they did?!?
The Journal of Sleep Research says, “Even in well-rested people, naps can improve performance in areas such as reaction time, logical reasoning and symbol recognition.” According to Kirsten Weir in “The Science of Naps,” a good snooze “can also be good for one's mood.”
When you ask the students at Northridge if they should go to school later, more answer yes than no, but they fear that would also mean getting out of school later, and that causes them to question whether they truly would follow through with that proposition. This makes a general nap time sound more appealing.
“If there was a nap time, I’d love it. I would keep a pillow in my locker and actually go to sleep. They might not be able to wake me up, though,” said Desiree Elceo (‘18).
“If I’m honest, I’d probably watch Netflix instead of sleep. I don’t know if I feel comfortable sleeping with a bunch of people that I’m not good friends with,” Katrina Tennis- Malick (‘19) pointed out.
“"Everybody agrees that if you are sleep deprived, you can't learn, perform or think very well," says Jerome Siegel, PhD, director of the Center for Sleep Research at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The students at Northridge and across the nation are, no doubt, sleep deprived. “I don’t usually go to sleep until 11pm,” said Ecleo (‘18) “Sometimes I stay up later than that, maybe 12am.”
“I go to sleep around 10:30 pm,” said Shelby Yorde (‘20).
Across the board, students generally need more sleep, and the best answer for education may be giving them a “nap time.” How the school board would feel about this, kids aren’t sure, but it would allow for better learning and possibly even better class participation.
-Olivia Carpenter ('18) is a staff writer and the Photo Editor of The Viking Vault.