Viking Tribune - December 2020

     So, now you may be asking yourself, how? How did we get here? Well, over the course of the next two seasons, Carson Wentz would be an above average, solid QB for the Birds leading them to 2 straight playoff berths. But at the end of the 2019 season we saw something we haven’t seen in a long, long time. Carson Wentz was performing at an MVP caliber level leading the 5-7 Eagles to 4 straight wins to take the NFC East crown with practice squad receivers and making it to a 9-7 record. And per usual, just as the Carson Wentz hype train hit its imaginary peak, it also began its not so imaginary fall. It was early January and Carson Wentz was about to play in his first playoff game of his career. But early in the first quarter he got hit with a cheap shot by Jadeveon Clowney and left the game with a concussion. allowing for 40 year journeyman Josh McCown to come in. The Eagles lost that game 17-9 and struggled to do much of anything after Carson left the game.

     Throwing 16 touchdowns compared to an insane 15 interceptions and just 1800 yards led the Birds to just a 3-9-1 start. So during a blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers, Doug Pederson made the executive decision to bench Carson for Jalen hurts. Hurts came in to throw a touchdown, interception and 170 yards, leading the Eagles to a 30-16 loss when it was all said and done. The next week Hurts would start and lead the Eagles to a 24-21 win over the NFC leading 10-2 New Orleans Saints.

    That offseason the Eagles did what they do best -&nbsp;sign veteran free agents to bad deals. In the draft, the Eagles got what they needed in the first round, taking TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor. In the second round, the Eagles were poised to take one of the many good offensive weapons or defensive studs still left on the board. Well, I’m sure you would never guess what they did - they took University of Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts. This pick took the sports world by storm since Carson Wentz just came off his best season since his incredible 2017 season.

     Coming into the 2020 season the Eagles and Wentz were once again looking to take the division crown. But with the shadow of Jalen Hurts constantly looking over his shoulder, Wentz struggled.

So… that is where we are today - Wentz on the bench, Hurts on the gridiron. So why? Why is Carson playing like this? He went from one of the best years of his career to this. Now what I think it is, is a combination of horrible coaching and Jalen Hurts. When Wentz went down in 2017 and was replaced by Nick Foles he was forced to sit on the sidelines watching the team he carried all year get taken to the Super Bowl by a backup QB. He had to go to the practice facility everyday and look at the Nick Foles Statue and listen to the constant criticism. And that really took a number on Carson, and then after the Eagles drafted Hurts, he felt like he needed to prove himself all over again. It was a pretty tough thing to happen to the guy. So when Hurts was drafted Carson felt like he was drafted as his replacement and the franchise didn’t trust him. Next is the bad coaching, Doug Pederson has never catered to Carson’s strengths in any way and never put any effort into helping Carson. Frank Reich was the only guy who helped him back in 2017 and he was the main reason he succeeded. The bottom line is the Philadelphia Eagles have failed Carson Wentz.🔹

Meaning: I wrote this poem being inspired by music and the color yellow. I remember having the idea of wildflowers in my head and I built upon that. The daydream, butterfly and fantasy vibe/aesthetic was inspired by Mariah Carey and her various songs and albums like Fantasy, Dreamlover, Honey, etc. The saying, Gypsy Heart, came from Colbie Caillat’s album, Gypsy Heart. I feel like it’s such an interesting way of expressing feelings in poetry through feelings in music. The meaning of the poem basically talks about someone who is independent, strong, and rebellious in a good way. They want to seek adventure and excitement and they don’t belong in an office job somewhere that they don’t enjoy. They won’t settle for anything less than what their true calling is.

you can never bury the ocean so you must learn to swim in it (Meaning: Since we’re here, I’ll give a little lesson on modern poetry. Modern poetry is very different from traditional poetry. There are no rhyme schemes, structures, theories, techniques, it’s most free-verse, which means these are just words with line breaks. Modern poetry is usually really short, which is why it’s also called insta-poetry, also known as Instagram poetry. Even though critics hate modern poetry, I find that there is still art in writing a poem so short yet so powerful. I don’t claim myself to be a modern poet, but I have a few modern poetry poems that have done really well for themselves. In this poem, I wrote about how sadness is a thing that’ll never go away. You can’t be immune to sadness or tragedy, so you must learn to live with it, ignore it, and rise above it.)

Culture curiosity fills me when it comes to my mother’s history&nbsp; i’ve been so engulfed within my own story on how i should survive&nbsp; that i forgot&nbsp; people survived before me Meaning: Unlike all of the poems on this article, this poem was fairly recent. I wrote it when I realized that I was very interested in the life of my mom before she became a mother. Her childhood memories have mostly been unknown to me unless I asked. It was like discovering a whole new world because her memories were literal artifacts of a different time, age, and location. The things and challenges that occur now may have happened in the past too, and that’s when I wrote the last line, “...i forgot people survived before me”

8. It’s a Wonderful Life

By: Shaelyn Jordan, 7th grade - Navigators

This list is in no particular order and it is strictly the author’s opinion.

The Polar Express follows a little boy on Christmas Eve who hears a train outside his window. He’s concerned because there are no train tracks near his house-especially right out his front door. When he runs outside, a train conductor helps him on the train. Inside the train he meets other kids that had the same thing happen to them. He soon learns the destination: The North Pole. This movie is

It really is a wonderful life. This movie reminds us to not get frustrated with the little things and to focus on the good. It follows George Bailey throughout his life. The main time that we follow George’s life is his adulthood. With the struggles of his bank, he gets so overwhelmed with many things in his life that results in him nearly taking his life. Then, an angel named Clarence comes to

especially cool because all of the characters are CGI, meaning they are computer generated. This gives the movie a fun, semi-realistic, Christmas vibe, that is perfect for the winter/holiday season.

A Christmas Story is a Christmas cinematic classic. It follows Ralphie and his crazy family during the holiday season. With this movie’s humor and jokes, it’ll be sure to cheer you up for the holiday season.

This movie follows a cop in Los Angeles named John McClane who goes to his wife's holiday party on Christmas Eve. During the party, a terrorist attack occurs in the building. John tries to save the civilians and stop the terrorists whilst trying to not get killed by them. Do you think that this sounds like a Christmas movie? I do! Check out our Die Hard debate article next to hear my take on this argument.

&nbsp;     As you know, there are two kinds of medication, therapy and pills. However, have you heard of using music as a way of healing? There are millions of people listening to music everyday, but do they know they’re actually mending wounds they never even felt? There are numerous benefits to listening to music, as it improves your mood, regulates emotions, and even enhances your memory. Music can heal in so many different ways that we don’t even realize. Some may be physical, while some may be emotional and mental. Many could be using it as a medicine already and don’t even know. Who would think much of lyrics and beats? But there is so much more beneath the relief and understanding you gain when you listen to your favorite pieces. These are just some ways we interact with music, and it is seen that music has a very beneficial and healthy impact on the body, thus can be used as medication for pains and wounds that medicine can never reach.

     This explains why it is hard for anyone to pick a favorite song or artist, because it always changes. Whether it is sad or happy music, they all have their own benefits. Sad music provides a substitute for a lost relationship and relieves some people’s pain while happy music does well in improving the mood and inducing positive energy. It has been discovered that the brain releases dopamine, a happy hormone, in two main areas of the brain, the dorsal and ventral striatum.

     There are many people that rely on music to bring them through the dark times. They confide in it because much like meditation, their favorite music can take their minds off the thing that’s been troubling them. It numbs some of the pain inside them as they melt into the rhythm of the song. Upbeat songs make the body want to move and dance along to the beat, which helps to release endorphins and serotonin, both helping to bring positive feelings and regulating moods. Dancing also is a form of exercising, which is beneficial for your health. Music tastes change along with your mood, and you desire the songs that relate to your current situation.

     Those parts of your brain light up when you are enjoying your music. So how does all that relate to your body? How can that be used as medicine? The history of music being used as medicine can be traced all the way back to the Greek civilization. Apollo, the greek god of music, is also the god of healing.

I make my way up to the front desk, and look up at the old man who runs the shop. He’s quite cheery, surprisingly not letting his new fame get the best of him. I’m glad because he’s always been nice to me.&nbsp; “Mr. Branson,” I begin, trying to seem like I’ll be taking what’s in the window home, “I’d like to try.” I know I don’t need to say anymore, and he nods dutifully, hands me the keys, and takes my $2. He’s a clever businessman for charging people to touch his prized possession. Though, it hasn’t really grown to like Mr. Branson. It seems the shopkeeper has scars every day just from trying to feed it.

It stands up, seeming curious and stares at me for a moment before jumping off its stand. The crowd steadily grows larger gasps as I sit there trying to stay calm. The creature slowly creeps toward me, purple eyes not leaving my green ones. I don’t move, attempting to mentally message, “It’s ok”.&nbsp;&nbsp; It seems as if it got the message, coming to stand not even a foot in front of me, and then curls up on my lap.&nbsp; I suck in a breath, acknowledging what’s happening. It seems like the whole town is outside the window, and somehow a news van is already here.

I hope I don’t get scars like that. I slowly walk toward the room it’s in. You can’t possibly cage this thing, so Mr. Branson just gave it its own room with a window.&nbsp; I hear gasps as I turn the key and take a deep breath before I open the door. It’s laying down, head turned towards me with its eyes yellow, which I saw on the news means that it’s nervous. Which makes it more likely to attack.

I look down at my lap and see the creature’s eyes go blue which I guess means it’s content. I slowly lower my hand, which the creature watches warily, and stroke its back. It closes its eyes and falls asleep in my lap.&nbsp; I smile and continue to pet it, as someone in the crowd cries out: “She caught the dragon!” 🔹

I take a deep breath and decide to sit on the floor, hands on my lap, hopefully showing that I’m not trying to hurt it.&nbsp; It’s eyes turn purple, whatever that means, and I wonder if anyone has tried staying back from it before. Most people I’ve seen just run up and try to pet it as if it's just a puppy. Those people ending up getting hurt.&nbsp;

     Even Native Americans used and still use music in their healing rituals. Their speculation about music as medicine has proven to be true by recent studies. Music has the ability to stir up past memories and emotions. Everyone has a nostalgic song that reminds them of their childhood. This was implemented within therapy and used to support patients who have Dementia and or Alzheimer’s disease.

     The familiar beat and rhythm can light up their past and bring them back to a time long gone, and it brings back past emotions that were forgotten. The musical beats can even influence your heart rate, which happens because musical patterns can influence the auditory cortex, a part of other systems which involve memory and emotions. To take it even further, some studies have been conducted to show that music can even be used as painkillers during and after surgery.

     So how did people find out about the benefits of music? Many tests and experiments have been conducted over the years to test how many ways music could be used as a powerful tool for healing. Some may just be theories, such as the “Mozart Effect”, while some have been incorporated into actual medicine and therapy. The “Mozart Effect” is a popular theory/idea that says listening to classical music or Mozart Sonatas can increase your intelligence. Though this goes with how music is beneficial all around, this isn’t entirely true. There are positive views of this theory and negative views. Some believe it exists while some don’t. A test conducted at the University of California states that the “Mozart Effect” can raise IQ scores by 9 points.

     This led to further breakthroughs within the medical field and eventually led to music being used to treat conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Music is often used for patients after a cardiac surgery to keep their blood pressure low and mind at ease. It also opens you up and allows airflow which helps patients who have recently suffered from a stroke.

     Another study conducted by the College Entrance Exam Board Service states that students who sang or played an instrument scored higher on all the tests. According to “The Mozart Effect”, a book written by Don Campbell, there are hundreds of benefits to the “Mozart Effect”, some including improved test scores, reduced errors, and the ability to heal quicker. Even though all this seems very real and supported with evidence, the “Mozart Effect” may not even exist. A study done in 1993 showed that the so-called “Mozart Effect” wore off in less than 15 minutes and the researchers who studied it disagreed with its mechanisms.

This was used so commonly because unlike medicine, it is non-invasive, easily accessible, extremely safe, and is cheap. However, music is highly personal. Some songs may sound like heaven to the ears for you while it sounds like an irritating fly to others. It all comes back to what you and your mood favor in that moment.

     In fact, listening to classical music has not been shown to improve intelligence in all children or adults. Researchers have found that people, especially children, learn less words while listening to classical music than children who watch television.

If it were up to the Viking Tribune Subscribers...

Parks are crucial to a community. They nurture for and have a significant influence on the growth and development of children. Kids build their social skills and make friends there, and for many parents, parks are a great place to keep their children entertained. Even those without children use parks to get fresh air and exercise or to walk their furry friends. Walker Field, Bob White, and Heuser Park also all have the amendments for areas to play sports such as tennis, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, football, and softball. The “monuments” that Catalyst Experiential claim to want to install are actually ground-level billboards that can lead to further changes, negatively impacting plans towards our parks.

Our beautiful, local parks are at risk of becoming commercial land. As of early November there have been plans for the company, <a href="https://www.catalystex.com/projects/">Catalyst Experiential</a>, to place “monuments” at our various parks. The parks in question? Bob White Park, Walker Field, and Heuser Park are to become commercial land. Essentially, commercial land can be classified as real estate. The land can be used for businesses, warehouses, parking lots and manufacturing plants. Right now, these parks are rezoned as recreational areas, meaning under governmental classification the parks are areas of amusement and entertainment.

     Our community has already done damage to a vast, grassy area that had potential to provide homes for more trees. What was once an open field is now known as “Caley Court” where brand new houses have been built. We can’t let more damage be done. The company made offers for additions towards our parks. In specific, Bob White Park, located at the intersection of Route 202 and Gulph Road, has been offered by Catalyst to place permanent restrooms, picnic pavilions, walking trails through the woods, and access roads for billboard maintenance. As rainbows and sunshines as this seems, it does not take away from the fact they are still trying to commercialize and rezone our parks. The possible future outcomes that come from Catalyst can only evolve for the worse. It is already quite evident that King of Prussia is a compact place where each year, houses and businesses seem to grow closer and closer together; each open and available plot of land has been utilized for construction.

As you can recall, the golden ratio creates some of the most beautiful objects in nature, and some of the longest lasting structures in our modern world. The golden ratio can be used to make better buildings, or improve the designs of some of the original structures. It is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye, giving it a clean, sharp, and good looking appearance. So we’ve seen the golden ratio in nature, art, and architecture. Have you seen it anywhere else?🔹&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Welcome to your daily dose of poetry. I will be sharing my poems with you throughout the year. For this issue, I included some poems about self-love and positivity, similar to the collection of poems from the last issue. I plan on including more diverse poems that explore more topics, but before then, we will have to learn how to love ourselves.&nbsp;

Spread the word! Tell your friends to subscribe to the Viking Tribune!

Schoology Group Access Code: N394-W59N-Z6ZP7

Wildflower find me in a field of wildflowers&nbsp; standing under a star-filled sky as winds try to sway me. I am not a rose to be mingled with, but a form of wildlife that can’t be tamed. I have a gypsy heart and a wildflower soul in me. living in a daydream, free as a butterfly, and alive in a fantasy. constantly waiting to hear the rolls of thunder so my feet can start chasing it.

Q: Why is it never sunny when Santa flies his sleigh? A: His sleigh is flown by reindeer! Q: How does a snowman get to work? A: By icicle Q: Why do Dasher and Dancer love coffee? A: They’re Santa’s star bucks!

Q: How is the alphabet different on Christmas than any other day? A: There’s Noel! Q: How did Scrooge win the football game? A: The ghost of Christmas passed! Q: Why did the couple get hitched on December 24? A: So they could have a married Christmas!

Q: What do you call a bankrupt Santa? A: Saint Nickel-less! Q: What did one ornament say to the other? A: I like hanging with you!&nbsp; Q: Why does Santa Claus go down the chimney on Christmas Eve? A: Because it soots him. Q: Did you know that Father Christmas has a daughter? A: Her name is Mary Christmas. Finally, If you don’t like my Christmas puns, you’re rude-olph.🔹

     However, this does not change the fact that people who learn a musical instrument have improved cognitive skills over a period of time. So does the “Mozart Effect” exist? Is it true or is it false? There are studies and tests done but they all sit on opposite sides of the pendulum. It is up to our bodies to determine if classical music can have an effect on us.

The Girl Who Got Her Revenge

&nbsp;Who would’ve thought that something so simple that’s blended within our everyday lives can be a life saver? How many people walk the Earth today with headphones in, living and feeling the music? It can heal the microscopic wounds and numb the large gashes. Simple or not, it is a powerful thing. Music has been passed down from generation to generation and the history of music can be traced back to 800 B.C.E. From legends like Beethoven and Mozart to composers like Stravinsky, known for his sad and depressing tunes, to Copland, known for his empowering and upbeat pieces - Music is obviously still influencing society in many ways today.

     About 20 years ago, an amazing little girl was born to a very excellent family in Augusta, Maine. From a young age, the girl named Brynn was a great girl that would always help around the house and at her school. Four years later, her brother Nate was born and her parents started to pay all of their attention to him.&nbsp;

     As they started to grow up, Nate would always break stuff around the house and blame it on Brynn. She tried to tell her parents that Nate was the mastermind behind all of this, but they refused to hear what she had to say. They thought of him as the most perfect son in the whole world and that he would do the right thing in different situations, but he was the complete opposite. He was like a mini devil. Nate would later break major things like the oven and television.

     It has evolved so much throughout the decades, with artists such as Adele, an emotive singer that was praised for her sad melodies, to Billie Ellish, a young artist known for her relatable songs. Music always heals, either directly or indirectly. It does far more than just heal. It brings us together, it unites us in hard times, it is love in notes, chords, and keys. We all dance to the beat of our own drums, and sometimes music just helps us become the better us. Music will forever be beneficial and healthy for our bodies, and it will forever be the one medicine that’ll always help us when no medicine can.🔹

     As Brynn began to grow, she would get so frustrated with her family she would run away. Also with all the things going on, her grades started to drop. Even though all of this happened to her, she still had one passion that nobody knew about except her grandmother, which was singing.&nbsp;

     At the age of 8, Brynn saw her grandmother singing when she was all alone, which fascinated her. So she started to sing when her family would go away. Brynn was actually a really angelic singer but also a very strong one. She could sing some of the highest notes at the age of 12 after singing to herself for many years.&nbsp;

There are A LOT of pieces that use the golden ratio, but this particular one is really famous. It’s one of the most popular pieces of artwork even today, despite being made over 500 years ago. This painting is located in the Louvre museum in France, and was created by a brilliant artist, mathematician, and scientist. That’s right, everyone, The Mona Lisa, created by Leonardo Da Vinci uses the golden ratio! Pretty cool, right? Her entire body, including

her face, the shape of her eyes, etc. is 

made up of golden ratio proportions. Da Vinci was big on math, and he was one of the most famous artists, who incorporated other aspects, such as math and science, into his work.&nbsp;

The Mona Lisa isn’t the only piece of art that Davinci created that uses the golden ratio. Some of his other pieces, such as The Vetruvian Man"(The Man in Action) ”show the same ratio. Other artists have used the spiral, too! The great thing about golden ratio art is that anyone can create it. You don’t have to be the most famous, or best artist in the world. All you need is to draw the golden ratio’s spiral and/or rectangle, and create whatever you want from it!

1. Christmas with the Kranks

The Santa Clause is-by far-one of my top 3 favorite holiday movies. It follows Scott Calvin (who ironically has the same initials as Santa Claus) and his son Charlie. Scott gets to spend Christmas Eve with Charlie which is exciting for him, however, things don’t go exactly to plan. As Scott was reading The Night Before Christmas to Charlie, mysterious thumping occurs on the roof. When Scott goes outside to see who or what it is, he finds that Santa is on the roof. This movie is a fun and whimsical story that will be sure to make your holiday season seem a little more holiday-ish.

Now, in no way would I say that this is my number 1 holiday movie regardless of it being number 1 on the list. Christmas with the Kranks is sure to bring some happiness and laughter into your life. Especially during 2020 I think it is definitely something we need more of. This movie follows the Kranks-a traditional family during the Christmas season. Their oldest and only child goes away to college and the Kranks are devastated. They don’t really know what to do with their lives now that they are empty nesters. Because of this, they go crazy, and I mean insane crazy.

They decide that it would be better to go on a cruise during Christmas rather than spending it at home. I’m sure we could all justify this but not when your daughter is planning to surprise you with coming home for the holidays. This movie is full of uh-ohs and surprises which makes it hilarious to watch.🔹

      To be sustainable, you must think of how your current choices affect future generations. Is your decision able to be maintained? Imagine if Catalyst were to take over. Our parks are rezoned to commercial land. The reality would be more traffic would occur through Bob White Farms neighborhood, causing major safety concerns, a risk of further commercialization in our own backyards, loss of space and habitats for wildlife, and declining property values. And those are only a few of the possible results that could be at risk of happening.

In order to save our local parks it takes a community effort. Although most of us aren’t adults, it does not lessen the value of our voices. Every voice can be heard and every voice does matter! For starters, communicate to your parents/guardians, neighbors, or anyone in the community above 18 to sign the Save UM Parks petition. As a student, become educated on the situation by going to (<a href="http://saveumparks.com/">saveumparks.com</a>) and email the Upper Merion Board of Supervisors to express your opposition. It is important to take action and any effort will greatly contribute.🔹

6. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

A young reindeer named Rudolph is different from other reindeers. Rudolph has a red nose. The story follows Rudolph through this life learning to accept his red nose.

They are quite poor and Ma Otter feels really bad that she can’t get Emmet the instrument he wants for Christmas. Emmet, on the other hand, feels bad that he can’t get Ma Otter a nice gift to cheer her up. When a singing contest is announced, Emmet and Ma Otter both keep it a secret from each other that they’d entered in. This movie reminds us to not take things for granted and that giving is one of the most important things during the holiday season.&nbsp;

Elf follows Buddy the Elf - the only human elf at the North Pole. He goes to New York City in an attempt to find his real dad. But Buddy doesn’t understand real humans. He can speak their language but that’s all that’s similar. He wears an elf suit and acts like a kid. This movie is hilariously funny with it’s witty jokes and fun content that’ll be sure to cheer you up.

3. Let it Snow (would not recommend to anyone below the age of 13)

4. Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas

I know what you may be thinking: “What the heck!? This movie is as old as my great great grandpa and it’s on this list?”. Yes, I’m aware, but just like It’s a Wonderful Life, it’s still amazing. No matter how old this incredible, pre-muppets, puppet movie is, it is still awesome and gives the same message. We follow Emmet and his Mother (Ma Otter) who are admirable singers during the holiday season.

Let it Snow is a Netflix Original movie that is based off of the John Green book “Let it Snow”. This movie follows a group of teenagers on Christmas Eve. Each having their own struggles, they all have a different message that you can take from them. It also has incredible representation such as LBGT and interacial couples, and much more, making it one of my favorite holiday movies. As a brief disclaimer I

below the age of 13-14. It has things featured in it that may not be appropriate for anyone below that age.

Debate - Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

I’m sure that one could argue that this movie is not a Christmas movie, however, I politely disagree. It hints to many Christmas-y things within the movie, one being that it takes place in the setting of a holiday party on Christmas Eve. In the very beginning of the movie Holly McClane is at a holiday party at her job. This clearly shows that it’s a holiday movie. It isn’t like a Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer themed movie with it’s animated characters and sweet, warm and fuzzy messages, but it should still count. My second argument is that it takes place on Christmas Eve. Have you ever seen a movie that takes place on a holiday and isn’t a holiday movie? (For argument sake, just say no. Thanks.) I mean, clearly, if it takes place on a holiday, it should count as a holiday movie. This is no bad Christmas movie that you watch when you're bored on Thursday nights but like I said, it should still count. My third and final argument is that Holly McClane has a holiday themed name. This mustn’t have been a mistake on the writer’s part and they must have made her name Holly because. . . well they believe it’s a holiday movie too and wanted to enlarge the idea that it is a holiday movie. Overall, I personally think that this movie is a holiday movie and should not be considered anything less.&nbsp;🔹

I walked by the street that day, not at all surprised by what I saw. A group of onlookers gaping at a window. Some are tourists, some have seen this window hundreds of times. Either way, it’s a sight to behold. It’s what made this town famous. Who would have thought this small town all the way out in the country in Colorado would be such a tourist trap all of the sudden? And all because of this. And the ones who discovered it. The world hasn’t really been the same, it seems that this little store is on the news nearly every day. And all because of what’s in the window. Many have wanted to buy it, but the owner insists that it will choose its owner itself, thus adding to the marvel of it. Many people have tried to touch it, pick it up, or just go within two feet of it, but it doesn’t seem to like that. I’ve personally never tried, but I decided to today, since all my friends have.

   &nbsp;I push through the crowd, and eventually make my way to the door, earning gasps from the people still gawking at the window. It’s not like the shop doesn’t sell anything else, but there’s really one reason anyone goes in there anymore.

Shoutout Mrs. Ellison - this story came from your class!

-Did you know that about 160 countries&nbsp; celebrate Christmas? -Christmas trees first started in Germany. -The colors Green and Red were decided for the Christmas colors because Green represents the external life of Jesus Christ. Red represents the blood from Jesus Christ as well.

     There are many examples of the golden ratio in architecture, but this one is one of the more popular structures. Surprising as it may be, this structure was made in 447 BC, and it’s one of the many buildings that uses the spiral. It is believed that the golden ratio has been used for at least 4,000 years in human art and design. The Parthenon, which was built by the Ancient Greeks, is still standing today, all though it’s a bit run-down. It’s proportions are matched with the golden rectangle (created

STEM Corner: The Mathematical Concepts Using Spirals in Nature Part III&nbsp;

As you can recall from parts I and II, spirals such as the Golden Ratio and Pythagorean Spiral are made out of mathematical equations. Despite this, these two geometrical figures are found and were created in nature, thus inspiring the idea of “The Mathematical Concepts Using Spirals in Nature.” This part of the STEM Corner was meant to be a duology, having only two parts before moving on to something else. However, I realized that most of you guys would assume that spirals are found only in nature and math. “That doesn’t mean anything, right? Not as many career fields are found outdoors, or in a classroom. Plus this has to be a new concept. Not too many people would be aware of this, correct?” Wrong. The idea of spirals isn’t just used in nature, it’s actually used in architecture, art, and many other fields too. Today, we’ll be exploring how the spirals have been used in these other subjects in the past.

using the golden ratio) and the spiral itself as well. Coincidentally, the Greeks were also the ones to discover the golden ratio, as the number 1.618 is represented by the 21st letter in the Greek 

thought that the golden ratio was special because it repeatedly appeared in nature, and because it was pleasing to the eye.” As you can see from the picture, the length and height of the structure match the golden rectangle, as well as other smaller details.&nbsp;

There are some more examples of monuments that include the Golden Ratio, but you can find some of the more popular ones on the next page.

Carson Wentz: The Good, The Bad, and The Extremely Ugly

Back in 2016 the Eagles were coming off a season where they went 7-9 and fired then-head coach Chip Kelly with 1 game left in the season. The Birds were seemingly stuck on a directionless path with only a few good star players remaining after Kelly’s demolition of the team back in 2014. Led by quarterback Sam Bradford the Eagles were looking to improve but with the 8th pick in the draft GM Howie Roseman saw an opportunity to get a player they were targeting for a long time - North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz was the QB at lower level FCS school North Dakota State, where he won 4 straight National Championships with the Bison. Wentz was seen as a boom or bust prospect with amazing potential. “A 6”5 mobile quarterback who can fool defenders with his arm and legs is not something you see everyday”, said ESPN’s Mel Kiper.

In Wentz’s rookie year he led the Eagles to a 5-1 start including a huge upset versus cross state rival Pittsburgh Steelers where the Eagles flattened them 34-3 at the Linc. But after this staggering start the Birds crawled to a 2-8 finish and were once again looking at the same situation they had last year, except this time they had their guy behind center. That offseason Howie Roseman went crazy, signing great players to team friendly deals and putting an amazing supporting cast around Carson Wentz. Some of the Eagles best signings included veterans Legarrette Blount and Torrey Smith, who helped to progress Carson in their supporting roles, and also traded for superstar receiver Alshon Jeffery from the Chicago Bears.

So, the Eagles GM decided to throw all his chips in the middle, sending 2 first round picks, a third rounder, and 2 future second rounders to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the second pick in the draft where they planned on taking either Cal Quarterback Jared Goff or North Dakota State's very own Carson James Wentz. So when the St Louis Rams selected Jared Goff with the first pick in the draft, Howie Roseman knew exactly who his guy was.

&nbsp;&nbsp;The Eagles were an exciting team with some good young pieces heading into the 2017 season and not many people thought of them as a serious contender - but boy, were they proven wrong. The Eagles started off a stagnant 1-1 with a win over the Washington Redskins and close loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and we all know how this season ended up. Wentz continued to put up MVP numbers for the remainder of the season before going down with a season ending ACL tear in week 14 against the LA Rams, paving the way for Nick Foles to make history, leading the Eagles, Carson’s Eagles, to the Super Bowl Victory.

Who do YOU think the Eagles should go with?

Video: Caramel Chocolate Chip Cappuccino Recipe

Debate - Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie? (Yes)

Dear Readers, Thanks for coming back for another issue of The Viking Tribune! As 2020 winds down, we are really excited to kick off some new ideas in 2021. Many of these ideas are based on our new subscriber's group on Schoology, where students will be able to contribute to the direction that the school newspaper takes each month. If you are already in the group - thanks for subscribing and please spread the word! If you are not in the Schoology group yet, feel free to join! The code is 9SH3-N5WR-PGJR9 If you happen to have suggestions for articles or are interested in writing one yourself, please email Mr. Kaplan - SKaplan@umasd.org We hope that you have had a great school year so far and we hope you enjoy this issue! Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year! Sincerely, The Viking Tribune

     On the day of her birthday, her brother took it way too far and broke her mother’s car window that she just got replaced, which caused her to get kicked out of her house. The house that she has lived in all her life, she had just been thrown out of. So, she had to get all her money that she had saved up and buy an airplane ticket to the farthest place away from her house. That place would be California.

Have you ever heard of Saint Nicholas? Do you know anything about him besides he is who we now call Santa? Well I’m here to tell you more about him.&nbsp;

Moving to California took a very long time but in Brynn’s opinion it was the best idea. It gave her a new opportunity for her music career. She sang on the streets for money one day, and a producer found her and gave her his card. Brynn looked at it and got very excited since she has always wanted to get into a studio and record something for the whole world to listen to and enjoy.🔹

He was born on March 15, 270 AD, in Patara, which is in Turkey.. He had also died on December 6, 343 AD, in Myra another Turkish city. His nationality or atleast one of them were Greek. Saint Nicholas was an early Christian. Because of many miracles that happened to his intercession, he is also known as “Nicholas the Wonderworker.”

Where did he live? What was his childhood like?

      He was born in Patara, Turkey. His mother and father were named Epiphanius and Johanna, but according to others, they were named Theophanes. Nicholas spent his childhood life in Church, praying and reading motivational books. It was in the city of Myra that Nicholas’s church was stationed. As he continued to serve the Lord, Nicholas urged local youths to follow his belief. Well, his kind and noble nature towards his flock nicknamed him as we know “A Wonderworker.”

When did Saint Nicolas get the name “Santa Claus” and by whom?

Santa Claus came from the Dutch nickname he had. He was given the nickname in 1804. A man named John Pintard, he was a member of the New York Historical Society. It was decided at the Society’s meeting they had planned.&nbsp;

Name

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