More Star Wars Planets (by William)

Ahch-To

Ahch-to is an island planet.  It is located in the Unknown Territory.  From space, Ahch-To looks like a blue orb with green spots on the planet.  Ahch-To has two suns and one moon.  The atmosphere is breathable.  The terrain is ocean and rocky islands.  The fauna includes Porgs, Spetan Channelfish, and Thala-sirens. 

Images in this blog are from Internet

Master Luke Skywalker lived there in hiding from the First Order.  He spear-fished and collected food on this planet.  Rey arrived there to find Luke Skywalker because she needed to train with the force.  While Ray was with Luke, Chewie roasted two Porgs, but later on he made friends with some Porgs.  The Porgs even found a way into the Millennium Falcon and made a nest. 

Hoth

Hoth is an icy planet in the Outer Rim in Star Wars. The points of interest are Echo Base. Many Wampas and Tauntauns live there. From space, Hoth looks like a pale blue and white orb. The planet is covered with snow, ice, and glaciers.

A month after the rebels’ habitation, one of the probe droids built and programmed by the Empire discovered Echo Base. Many Tie Fighters and AT-AT walkers fought the rebels and the rebels fought back with their snow speeders.

In the end, many snowtroopers were caught and eaten by the carnivorous Wampas. The Empire received a crushing victory, but many AT-ATs were destroyed allowing Han Solo, Princess Leia, R2-D2, C-3PO, and many other rebels to escape Hoth.  

The Universal Language (by William)

Music is the universal language spoken/sung all around the world.  When spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launch 40 years ago in 1977, they each carried the Golden Record named The Sounds of Earth. 

The records included sounds, images, and about 90 minutes of music with classics composed by Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart, and ethnic songs from different counties.  Hope aliens will enjoy them someday.

The Golden Record (image from NASA website)

Music can bring people together.  Strangers can connect and become friends by singing the same songs.  My friends at Los Angeles Children’s Choir are from different cities in Southern California, and I may never meet them without music unite us together.

My Choir LACC Performing at Disney Concert Hall

We Are the World is a song united many famous stars to help people in Ethiopia who suffered from famine.  We performed the song with Winnie Hsin and Will Jay to raise fund for American Public Safety Association.

In My Life Charity Concert

Tattoo (by William)

I bet you have seen people with tattoos before.  Have you ever wondered why people want tattoos on their bodies, and what a tattoo really is?  Many people think it’s only a type of design, but that is not true.  Read on to find out more about tattoo. 

Photo from Natural History Museum Discovery Guide

Tattoo is a form of art applied on human bodies.  Big and small, short and tall, men and women can all get tattoos.  Tattoos are used to express emotion, show power, or maybe just for fun.  Tattoos may be in different shapes and sizes.  They can be all over the body, even on the private parts such as the buttocks! 

Why there are so many people with tattoos in Southern California?  This is because Southern California has very good weather so people can show off their tattoos.  Also, in the past, sailors would land in Long Beach and get a tattoo to mark where they had sailed, which started the trend for tattoo.  Not all people got their tattoos by choice.  During World War II, prisoners in the concentration camps were each tattooed a certain code for identification. 

Tattoos are found all over the world.  For example, Whang-Od Oggay is a master tattoo artist.  She lives in the Philippines and is one of the last tattoo artists in her tribe.  She says, “I like tattooing for other people.  It’s my hobby.  The money that I earn is used to buy more pigs and hens.”  When visiting the Philippines, tourists from different countries look for her to get themselves tattooed. Her tattoo method is called finger-tapping.  A thorn is inserted into a hollow stick, which is inserted into another stick, like my illustration below.  

The modern way to tattoo is using a tattoo machine.  The machine hurts less: the needle is dull and the speed of the needle is slower. 

When I finished viewing the Tattoo Exhibit in the Natural History Museum, my head was sent into a spin.  My thought about kids having tattoos was no, they shouldn’t because kids change their minds quickly.  They may be excited to get a tattoo on day one, and the very next day, they may regret it.  Also, it’s hard to get tattoos off.  What do you think about kids getting tattoos?

Thanksgiving (by William)

Thanksgiving is the holiday for giving thanks.  I feel thankful for family and relatives.  There is one person that I feel especially thankful for, and that person is my mom.

The reason that I chose my mom is that she is encouraging, playful and……SUNNY! When I make a mistake, she is there to encourage me to keep trying. She is also very playful.  A few years ago, we made up a chasing game called “Big Tiger Is Catching Little Pig.” We chose the animals tiger and pig, because in the zodiac, I am a pig, while my mom is a tiger. Together, we had a lot of fun playing this game. Finally, she is sunny, which to me means positive. When there is a problem, she looks on the bright side. When I am stuck in a depressing trench of sad feelings, she makes my day much brighter.

 In addition, my mom helps me do a lot of things. I love baking cupcakes and cakes. One time, I cracked an egg on a counter, and I saw the entire raw egg slide down a cabinet to the floor. She just simply laughed. I love working with mom as a team.



Mom and I had many fun activities together
Piggy cupcakes with blue berry, carrot, and marshmallow

 

Identify rocks after vacation at the beach

 



Paint Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night

 

 

Design floating ship carrying coins

 

My mom can turn a stormy day into a sunny day for me. I love to see her eyes shine on a beautiful day.  However, I can do nothing to express and show how much I love her.   

The Autobiography of Mr. Maple Tree (By Ethan)

  The reason this tree is being written about is because it is no ordinary maple tree. An ordinary maple tree starts out as a seedling, then it sprouts, and over a long, long time, after 10, 20 or maybe 30 years, it finally grows into a tall, sturdy, thick, healthy tree. When it is old enough, the log is drilled, the sap is collected and then boiled into syrup for your pancakes, or it is cut and turned into a walking cane to help your 80-year-old grandma walk from kitchen to dining room, or even the paper which I am writing this story on now.  But the thing special about this maple tree is its leaves – in the spring it only grows one huge leaf.

  I was relaxing in a warm nursey, when I was lifted out of the ground. I closed my eyes and prayed that the person carrying me wasn’t going to take me out of the nursery. But he did. I looked up and saw that the scruffy-bearded man who was carrying me had just flung me into a truck.  He got into the truck, started the engine and drove off. We drove up and down many roads. I knew a lot of the bumpy streets we rolled over. Finally, we arrived at a marvelous-looking house. But I didn’t have much time to admire the house before I was gently hoisted out of the truck and shoved into the ground again.

  I was very tired so I fell asleep. Next morning after I woke up I found that a second tree had been placed about 10 yards from me. I shot a quick glance at her. I gasped! She was the most awe-striking tree I’d ever seen. Her leaves were a lush red and so soft-looking, that for a moment I thought they were petals. Then I stared at her trunk. It looked very slender and smooth. I reached down and felt my trunk. It was thicker then hers but just as smooth.

  I wanted her to notice me, so I shouted out. “Hello!” The other tree looked at me, smiled and said: “Hi!  What do you want?”

  My leaves abruptly turned bright red. “Nothing.” I stuttered.

  I was about to doze off again when I felt a sharp object sting my bark. I looked down and saw a squirrel running up my trunk. I stayed still and presently I saw that the squirrel had just ripped off one of my leaves. Then it skittered back down and disappeared.  I finally fell asleep.

  Next day was very chilly. The grass did not look as healthy and I could hear the rose bushes groaning. I thickened my bark, (that’s how we maple trees keep warm in the winter) and called to the other tree again “Uh, hello?”

   “Yes, dear, do you need me?”

   I was astonished. It was the first time I had ever been called “dear”. 

  “Uh, well maybe later.” I said awkwardly.

  “Okey.” Said the other tree.

  Just then a rose bush screamed out “Beware, sir tree! Beware of the dreaded tree frost!”

  I knew all too well what tree frost was. It was when the temperature dropped below 25.5°F. This meant that our chance of dying became 25% greater.

  I flexed my bark to the thickest it would go, and shouted the warning to the other tree.

   “Thanks for reminding me!” she responded. I could not believe the beauty of her voice. I started to plot a plan to which I would get her attention.

  My leaves fell and my bark got scratched up, but still I pondered. At last, I had a plan!

 It was the first day of spring; the air was warm and pleasant. I decided to try out my plan. I forced myself to alter my leaf growth and grew one of the most colossal leaves I had ever grown. It was about the size of a woman’s hand! It was also mighty pretty. It hurt to do so, and it meant I had a risk of not growing well, but it was worth it.

  “Wow, that’s a marvelous leaf you have there, young tree!” The lady tree exclaimed.

  “Uh, thanks!” I groaned. It also hurt to talk. 

   “Are you ok?” she asked.

  “I’m alright. I have something to tell you.” I rasped.

  “What? Go ahead.”

  It took any and all of my courage, but I finally managed to say “I love you!”

  The other tree gaped at me “Do you really mean it?”

  “Yes, I mean it. Do you like me also?” I whispered

  “I sure do!” came the happy reply.

(Author’s note, this next event happened 4 months 7 days and 151 dates between the 2 trees later.)

  We finally decided to marry. For a ring, I tore off the huge leaf I bore and gave it to her.

  A boy came home one night after his violin class with his mother; they about to enter their house when he saw 2 trees who seemed to be smiling and blowing kisses; one also held a gigantic leaf.

  “Mom!” he cried. “Two trees are in love!”

  “I saw them too.” his mom said solemnly. “I know all about them.”

  “My, what a couple.” sighed the boy as they entered the house.

When I was young (by William)

Every preschooler knows that nap time is a total relaxing time when you roll out your cute Rolly Pollies, the personal roll-out blankets.   

 

Me in row 3, light blue Simpson sweatshirt

A long time ago, what was a crisp clear day suddenly turned foggy and rainy.  It all started at nap time, when I decided to have some fun.  I started making hiccupping noises. After these sounds, Mrs. “Meanie” Melinda stormed over to me. She hissed, “William! What do you think you’re doing? Go to the principal’s office right now!” I stood up weakly. Both of our faces were tomatoes. Her face was due to enragement, while mine was due to embarrassment. I staggered sadly to the principal’s office. 

Once I got there, I told the principal what I had done during nap time. He was tomato-faced but not as enraged as Mrs. “Meanie” Melinda. He was able to calm down, and he told me to not make noises at nap time again. He also declared that he needed to get my fingerprints. “Fingerprints!” I thought. “B-but I c-can’t,” I stopped before my eyes busted into waterfalls of tears. Preschoolers know that when the principal says something, he/she means it. I felt like a new criminal being captured and detained when I gave him my fingerprints.

When the principal told me it was dismissal time, I trudged down the hallway. My grandpa was there. “William,” he started. Before he could say anything else, I stopped him by saying, “I know, I know. We can talk about it at home.”

From that day on, I never again emitted another fake noise in front of Mrs. “Meanie” Melinda!


 

From White to Black…well almost (By Ethan)

  If you are an artist fan, you know that of course blue plus yellow is green, red plus yellow is orange and blue plus red is purple, or even all the colors added together is black.  But sometimes, mixing and getting new colors can be hard. Especially if you are taking classes in the Pride Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Edmond. You will have to fight hard for all the colors, which happen to be surprise, surprise martial arts belts.

  The MMA center is a part of a long chain of many training centers. The inside is stifling hot, by hot I mean everyone is energetic. The facility is vast and roomy with a huge mat on which we run and jump and punch and kick while we train. Parents sprawl on sets of bleachers and watch us kids sweat by the gallon and our red and hot faces. The coaches there are quite strict and truly caring.

  Sparring and belt tests are the hardest.

  I punch my opponent.

  I think “Don’t give up!” I do a combo. Then a heavy right kick goes “crash” into my leg.

  I punch my opponent.

  A fast flurry of jabs and crosses meets my face. I return the same thing.

  I punch my opponent.

  The coach shouts “Time!” Feeling tired and dripping with sweat, I show respect to my rival and flop down beside the other kids who have fought before.

  Five years ago, I was a newcomer to the MMA. I was back then a white belt. Then, one test later, the white had yellow replacing it. Then it became orange, then purple, then blue, and now it is green. Although I have paid sweat and even a bit of blood, I have gained belts and excellence, perseverance and respect.

  Along the way to black belt, I will have to punch more and sweat more. But eventually, black belt will be within reach.

89.3 KPCC - Tour of National Public Radio Station in Southern California (by William)

If you listen to NPR in Southern California, you might wonder what the station looks like and sounds like, and may be curious about the hosts and their work area (cubicles).  

Take Two host A Martinez's cube

We went to KPCC Open House and had a terrific day there.  I tried everything from taking a self-guided tour of the station to eating mouthwatering Indian potato balls dipped in curry, and recorded a testimonial in the recording studio with non-parallel walls.  

The Open House converted KPCC parking lot into a carnival of vendors.  I was so blissful and was being maximum overloaded with treats such as a miraculous USB fan, fidget spinners, supper cool UV sun glasses, and a cowboy bandana.  At one point, I thought that my goodie bag was going to explode.   

Inside the station, I met A Martínez of Take Two, John Horn of The Frame, many other nice journalists and engineers, and recorded a testimonial.   While waiting in line to get into the recording studio, I noticed the signal light outside the studio, and when the recording is in session, the light turns on.  Inside the studio is more interesting.  The walls are covered with sound proof fabric, there are many knobs, switches, and buttons for editing and controlling the recording.  Close to the microphone are sound diffusers.  They look like wooden shelves for decoration, but are actually used for sending sound waves into different directions.

Thank you Doug with the recording

This is my testimonial – I am William and I am 10 years old.  I depend all the time on KPCC for news for LA.  My family loves to listen to KPCC and thank you so much for live streaming.  My dad and mom listen when they are driving to work and I like to listen to Morning Edition when I have breakfast.  Just listening to KPCC makes me feel that my breakfast is more delicious.  Join me and support KPCC at kpcc.org.

Someday you might hear my testimonial on the radio!