History of Gingerbread

Christmas is soon approaching us, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than with some sweet treats? For many families, decorating a gingerbread house is a tradition. The term gingerbread meaning 'preserved ginger' was not used in desserts until the 15th century. Now, gingerbread is used to describe the familiar treats made with ginger, honey, and molasses. Whether shaped like a house or people, these edible figures bring joy to many throughout the holidays.

Ginger root was first cultivated in China, and it was used as a medical treatment. Then, ginger spread to Europe through the Silk Road. In Europe, it was a spice known to disguise the taste of preserved meats. Even today we use ginger as remedies when we are sick, and we include ginger in our foods to add flavor. According to Rhonda Massingham Hart, the first known recipe for these cookies came from Greece around 2400 BC. The hard cookies were a must-have at Medieval fairs in England, France, Holland and Germany. As the seasons changed, the shape of the gingerbread changed. Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the idea of decorating the cookies after she had different ones made to resemble dignitaries visiting her court. The most common decoration at the time was a gold leaf.

Gingerbread houses are popular Christmas decorations covered in candy and icing, usually built by children. These edible houses originated in Germany during the 16th century. Decorating these houses became popular when the Brothers Grimm wrote the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel. The story follows two main characters as they come across a house made entirely of treats deep in the forest. After the story was published, German bakers started to bake houses out of gingerbread. These decorative and edible houses became very popular during the Christmas time for many children.

In 2013, a group of people in Bryan, Texas broke the Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread house. The house was 2,520 square feet and had an estimated value of 35.8 million calories. The ingredients for the house included 2,925 pounds of brown sugar, 1,800 pounds of butter, 7,200 eggs and 7,200 pounds of flour. Visitors were allowed to meet Santa Claus at the house in exchange for a donation to St. Joseph's Hospital. The house brought Christmas cheer to both it's visitors and everyone at the hospital.

http://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/history-gingerbread/

Line Up for the iPhone 6

Most of us have an iPhone, and most of us can't wait to get our hands on the next one that is released. The first generation iPhone was released on June 29, 2007. As the years have gone by, the Apple company has come up with new generations of the iPhone, each said to be better than the previous one. Recently, the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus were released, and the Apple store has been packed with people of all ages that want to get the new phone. Many people ordered the phone ahead of time, and finally picked up the phone after waiting in long lines. Pre-orders for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus set a new record for the Apple company. With the high demands for the latest phones, over four million customers ordered the new iPhone in the first 24 hours! How come customers want to ditch their iPhone 5's to have the iPhone 6?

Well, not only is the iPhone 6 bigger but it also has some new features. First off, the design of the phone is innovative and quite pristine. The glass is curved, and there are no distinct edges. The bond of the metal and glass were made to feel smooth like a continuous surface. The screen of the iPhone 6 is 4.7 inches and the iPhone 6 Plus is 5.5 inches. Being the largest of the iPhones, it is also the thinnest of them all. This meant condensing chips and making batteries thinner. The new swipe gestures make it easier to navigate with only one hand. When you simply double tap the Home button, the screen shifts down closer to your thumb. This feature as well as the buttons were redesigned to make the phone even easier to use with only one hand available.

It's not just a bigger display, it's a better display. With the new Retina HD display, customers are able to view brilliant colors and contrasts at wider angle views. The iPhone 6 has a resolution of 1334 x 750 and the iPhone 6 Plus has a resolution of 1920 x 1080. People can view photos and videos clearer with this improved feature. The same camera that can take high-quality photos can also record amazing videos. New features were added such as the slo-mo and time-lapse options to make capturing a video more fun. The new face detection and exposure control makes the pictures just as incredible as the memories made behind them.

From the improved features to the sleek design, the iPhone 6 is what everyone is talking about. In a few years, I think everyone will be lining up for the iPhone 10 with an even huger screen. Next thing you know, iPhones will be invisible! It seems like nowadays, companies try to make the smallest improvements to a phone each year just to compete with other companies. Some people desperately need the latest phone to show off to others, while other people buy the new phone because their current one isn't working as well anymore. No matter what phone you have, you should be thankful that you have one.

Haunted Houses: Terror or Torture?

A haunted house is used to scare those who dare to enter. In the most extreme haunted houses, guests come out of the house traumatized and full of fear, while some are too scared to make it through the entire house. Both children and adults pay money to experience horrific scenes like the ones in a horror movie. The actors have to be scary, and the scenes have to look realistic and disgusting in order to give guests the full experience. It is an actor's job to scare guests in a variety of fun and thrilling ways, but are they going too far?

The special effects, animatronics, and interactive actors make the McKamey Manor in San Diego unique. McKamey films his guests as they go through the house designed to last up to eight hours. There is no way to leave the haunted house while it is running, unless there is a medical emergency. One of its extreme moments occur on a morgue table where the actors place live spiders on guests as they watch the fear on their faces. I'd be pretty terrified! McKamey does not ask for money from his guests, instead he asks for a dog food donation. He says he does it "for the love of the haunt," which is what his guests will receive. 

Terror Behind the Walls is a haunted house in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Last year, they included a more intense option where actors are allowed to touch guests, and individuals are singled out. A guest would be pulled into a jail cell and confronted by scary inmates threatening to shave their hair off. Actors jump out at the guests and brush against them, but never inappropriately. The actors may also stop guests in their path or chase them around with chainsaws to give them a more intimate startle. 

In the Knott's Scary Farm in California, the actors are hands-on. In certain scenes, the guests must interact with the actors while walking through in order to go further into the course. In past years, guests have been trapped inside cages, and simulated "rat poop" was sprinkled on them. Guests were also forced to eat bugs and receive shocks by touching water pouring water out of electrical sockets. The haunted house's goal is to put guests in very uncomfortable situations that are supposed to be fun. Guests should walk away not only scared, but also entertained. 

Haunted houses will leave some guests shaking, crying or wanting more. Actors like to get in guests' faces, scream at them, and get up close and personal. It's not for everyone, but it's for those who are looking for a good scare. In certain haunted houses, actors are allowed to play with your hair, and touch your hands and arms. The whole point of the haunted house is to scare the guests no matter what age they are. Do you think this interactive approach of touching people is pushing the limits or is it used simply to instill fright? The guests may choose to enter, but only the bravest make it out to the end to share their experience. 

http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2014/10/10/most-extreme-haunted-houses/

Tips for Starting a YouTube Channel

YouTube is a video-sharing website founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. Hurley and Chen came up with the idea for YouTube in 2005 when they shot a video at a dinner party. Who would've known that YouTube was created from a dinner party?

I'm sure most of us watch viral videos on YouTube. Have you ever thought of creating your own channel? Here are a few tips that I have accumulated while watching popular YouTube videos.

1. Pick a creative name for your channel, and decide what types of videos you want to make. Choosing a name for your channel is important because it is going to stick with you throughout your YouTube career. You should choose a name that is creative, but easy for people to remember. Do you want to make a gaming channel, a beauty channel, or a music channel? Make the types of videos that interests you. If you like to watch certain videos, other people might watch the same videos that you like to watch. 

2. Make sure your videos have good quality. If your video has terrible lighting and bad sound quality, people are not going to watch your videos. You should film in front of lights or even a well lit window so that the light is shining directly at your face. This makes your features clearly visible, and the lights will brighten up the whole area. Make sure you film your videos in a nice background. Find an area that isn't cluttered, so that the objects in the background do not cause a distraction for the viewer. Also, filming with a camera would make your videos easier to see because it does not have the poor quality of a phone.

3. Make your videos consistent and edit your videos before posting them. You should make videos frequently and upload on your channel at least once a week. If you upload on a schedule, people will expect to see new content from you on a certain day, and your subscribers will keep coming back to your channel every week on that day. Before uploading, you should use a video editing program to enhance the quality of your video and edit out the mistakes or uninteresting parts. Don't forget to give your videos creative titles, descriptions, and thumbnails. This will grab the attention of people, and will showcase your creative and unique abilities. 

4. Get involved with the YouTube community, and promote your channel. Watch other people's videos and leave comments or video responses to let them know that you enjoy their types of videos. You could also collaborate with other people, and help each other make videos. Collaborating is a great way to get more recognition for your channel so that it grows, and you end up making new friends. YouTube gatherings, such as VidCon, are a great way to make friends and boost your popularity. At these events you can meet people that have subscribed to you, and you can thank your subscribers personally for watching and supporting your videos. Share your videos on other social networks like Facebook and Twitter, and interact with the people who follow your videos. 

5. Have fun and be genuine in your YouTube videos. Upload videos because you love making them! Make sure that you are passionate about your channel, and have fun while making your videos. Don't be afraid to let your personality show through your videos. Don't worry about embarrassing yourself because many people can relate to you. Also, don't copy other people's videos. Be original and be your true self in all of your videos. 

CP #1 Response: Exposing Hidden Biases at Google to Improve Diversity

According to the article, "Exposing Hidden Biases at Google to Improve Diversity," Google is similar to many big tech companies when it comes to hiring workers. The article states that industries in the tech world are based around men. Despite an increase in the number of women applying for jobs in the tech industry, many companies believe that men are dominant in the field of technology. Recent studies have proved that the lack of gender diversity in Google's workforce is clearly evident.


The unequal treatment of workers in Google highlights the fact that women are not given the same opportunities as men because of gender discrimination in the workplace. According to the article, seven out of ten who work at Google happen to be male. Women are held back from their full potential due to the unfair biases in large companies like Google. Although some men are more advanced in the world of technology, women are just as capable as men. Most companies may think that men are more clever and more skilled in a certain type of business, however, women also have the same abilities and skills to get the work done.


Sexual discrimination plays a major role in the hiring process, as well as one's race. I believe that the skin color and appearance of a person should not be a factor when hiring an individual. You should hire the person based on their character and how well one works. Important factors such as individual skills and qualities should be taken into consideration, not their race. All of us are capable of doing the same things, regardless of our race. One should not have to change their appearance for a job interview or simply their name on a job application out of fear. Fear of not being accepted among people with the same abilities.


The New York Times Article claims that Google is attempting to fix the situation of diversity in their workers. Google's long-time effort to improve the diversity of their workforce is represented through various workshops aimed at making Google more accepting of diversity. The real question is: do the workshops really help to increase the amount of diversity in their workforce? If so, how long will this diversity last? The company has no evidence to support that the workshops are actually working in making a difference for the company.


Race, gender, and all things aside, we are all human and we are all equal. Men should not be getting more opportunities because they are seen as the dominant sex. Gender bias exists all around us, however, some may not be as clear to us. Companies like Google can be unknowingly bias, and people would not realize it. As years go by, we start to recognize the unfairness between men and women, and we continue to make efforts in improving our society.