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The Student News Site of Van Nuys High School

The Mirror

vnhsMIRROR.com

The student website of Van Nuys High School
Van Nuys, California
The Student News Site of Van Nuys High School

The Mirror

The Student News Site of Van Nuys High School

The Mirror

Daimler Koch

Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief

As the Executive Editor-in-Chief of my own weekly satirical newsletter, I’m always striving to improve my writing skills in all forms. During my first year of Journalism, I was an Arts and Entertainment staff writer and later the editor of the Opinion section. Now, I’m the Online Editor-in-Chief for the Mirror. Outside of school, I’m always either reading, pretending to be four different people for my newsletter, or preparing for my next martial arts belt test. After I graduate high school, I will go to college and study to become an English professor.

All content by Daimler Koch

How are seniors feeling about leaving high school?

Graduation is just around the corner. We asked seniors about their plans for the future and wrapped up this year's final episode of Real Humans.
By Jalyn Bautista and Daimler Koch
Jun 7, 2024
OFF THE SHELVES Florida and Texas have started a new wave of book bans that aim to create a narrative that excludes people of color and in the LGTBQIA+ community.

Book bans are hellish weapons of censorship and false narrative building

Book bans have taken a strong hold over much of Texas and Florida, targeting novels centered around LGTBQIA+ and African American characters.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
May 26, 2024

How are the AP exams?

AP exams represent the crux of stress and fortitude for many students across the nation. We go around checking up on AP students, and see how they are faring under the extra pressure.
By Jalyn Bautista and Daimler Koch
May 14, 2024

What do you think about the school’s lunch?

The school's cafeteria has served up some...interesting dishes and experiences in the past. We take a look at what students think of this local delicacy.
By Jalyn Bautista and Daimler Koch
May 1, 2024

Why didn’t we get glasses during the solar eclipse?

During second and third period on April 8, 2024, the Wolves experienced part of a solar eclipse that traveled across the nation. We asked students what they thought of the rare astronomical event.
By Jalyn Bautista and Daimler Koch
Apr 11, 2024
From L to R: Sports Editor Isabel Valles, Opinion Editor Joel Nam, Design/Layout Editor Brianna Alvarado, Online Editor-in-Chief Daimler Koch, Arts and Entertainment Editor Madison Thacker, Executive Editor Angelina Gevorgyan and News/Features staff writer Delmis Vaquerano prepare to write their wills shortly before taking off on Spirit Airlines. They celebrate the newspaper's Best of Show award, landing in first place among hundreds of other high school newspapers from across the country.

Chasing championships: The Mirror

The editorial staff headed to Kansas City to attend the JEA/NSPA's National Spring Journalism Convention and ended up winning several top national awards
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Apr 9, 2024
The MCU has lost much of the magic touch that made it a cinematic staple for over a decade. However, with the influx of independent films and blockbusters, this is nothing but a bittersweet advantage for the average cinemagoer.

Marvel’s fatal fall from grace

By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Mar 28, 2024

Should Daylight Savings Time just go?

The biannual time change is a bane of American society. We ask fellow students how they coped with springing forward and whether this practice should be abolished.
By Daimler Koch and Jalyn Bautista
Mar 13, 2024

BOOKING IT I like “I, Robot”

Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi novel from the ‘50s lays out a future that is beginning to look a lot like the present.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Jan 22, 2024
ON GUARD Campus aide Jorge Arroyo supervises the front courtyard of the main building.

Ongoing safety threats call campus security into question

Students and staff speak out on how safe they feel from outside threats while on campus.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Dec 27, 2023
Most classic films, notably "Gone With the Wind," contain some element of sexism or racism. There are a few, however, like "In the Heat of the Night" and "To Kill a Mockingbird," that address social issues head-on.

Saving classic movies from cancel culture

Most age-old films have subversive messages that promote racism and sexism, but under no circumstances can they be canceled.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Dec 23, 2023
Raymond Chandler's "The Big Sleep" remains a classic crime novel, venturing into the inferno that is Los Angeles crime.

BOOKING IT Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep” is nothing to snooze over

The seedy crime novel from 1939 still holds up, generations later.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Dec 8, 2023
With the holiday season stretching around the corner, test your knowledge on the most wonderful time of the year!

Holiday trivia that will make you feel merry and bright!

Jingle all the way as you celebrate the season with this fun and festive quiz.
By Cristian Mejia and Daimler Koch
Dec 5, 2023
 CASH FROM COFFEE  Senior Anastasia Petrova works as a barista at Panera Bread in Encino, a job that allows her to expand her social skills and earn her own money.

Students in the workforce: Valuable experiences, endless sacrifices

According to The Mirror’s survey, 43 percent of students polled have worked a part-time job during their time in high school.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Nov 20, 2023
Aunque la administración confía en los registros de mochilas como medio para mantener la escuela libre de contrabando, la conclusión es; Los registros de mochilas son una invasión flagrante de la privacidad.

Restablecer las búsquedas de mochilas

Tan controvertidas como son, las búsquedas en las escuelas podrían ser una de las pocas formas de prevenir tiroteos en las escuelas.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Nov 2, 2023
Students gathered out on the quad during lunch to hang out with their friends in all their spooky glory.

A terrifyingly fun Tuesday

Students find a way to have a ghoulishly good time this Halloween.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Oct 31, 2023
Rock guitarist Tom Morello with guitar teacher Ms. Jennifer Bellusci.

Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello does a “Mic Check” in the auditorium

The rock guitarist visited the school Tuesday, performing for, and with, students.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Oct 20, 2023
Governor Ron DeSantis has led his state into political and social ruin. From preventing diversity in state universities and colleges to prohibiting discussion of LGTBQ topics in schools, he is actively trying to gain more control over his citizens' rights.

Seriously, what’s going on in Florida?

Florida is currently disintegrating into a fascist wasteland – and it’s all thanks to Ron DeSantis
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Sep 12, 2023
Richard Feynman was quite the curious character. He ascended to the highest forms of academia at Princeton, Cornell and Caltech, yet remained a prankster at heart.

Richard Feynman and the art of teaching

Or, why the bongo guy in “Oppenheimer” is more important than he was portrayed to be
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Aug 29, 2023
FROM MAGIC TO MEDIOCRITY

The iconic studio Disney strives to extend
the enchantment of
beloved stories, but
there’s an unfortunate
pattern of creative
missteps.

The real reason Disney keeps producing terrible sequels

The entertainment company’s push for profits has left countless fans with abhorrent content and many of its employees with little control over the stories they’ve created.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Jun 9, 2023
Disney's original plan for Tomorrowland was to create a blueprint of the future circa 1986. Today, however, the land has strayed far from that goal, with it becoming an amalgamation of Star Wars, the '80s, and Jules-Verne-esque architecture.

Disneyland’s Tomorrowland is stuck in yesterday

Victorian steampunk. The ‘80s. The Space Age. What do these have in common? Disney’s failure to live up to the promise of the future, of course.
By Daimler Koch and Docette Danialypour
May 8, 2023
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has been in a feud with Disney World over the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Disney World versus DeSantis: the Battle for Magic Kingdom

Ron DeSantis’s fight over power with Disney World is going to harm the his chances at being elected into office in the future
By Daimler Koch and Docette Danialypour
Apr 17, 2023
Tony Stark’s snap has had consequences for everyone in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and everyone in the Marvel fan base as well. The lack of direction, subpar storytelling and superhero fatigue present in the various films and shows released after “Avengers: Endgame” are some of the chief complaints to come out of Marvel fans

Can the downward trajectory of the Marvel Cinematic Universe be reversed?

Once a pop culture powerhouse, the studio’s film quality has dramatically declined since the beginning of Phase Four nearly two years ago.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Apr 14, 2023
From left to right: Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and CEO of Pixar; Edwin Catmull, computer scientist and one of the original animators at Pixar; and George Lucas, creator of Star Wars and original owner of Pixar. All three played pivotal roles in the creation of the animation company and its most influential product, RenderMan.

The geek, the Jedi, and the animator

The fascinating alliance that changed the film industry
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Feb 27, 2023
Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) unleashes his inner fury on the rebels in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a waste of time and space

Marvel fails to wow us with their interdimensional madness…again
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Feb 23, 2023
It might surprise most younger viewers, but the 1993 film is actually an adaptation of a 1990 novel written by Michael Crichton, an M.D. whose background helped him create the genetic aspect of Jurassic Park’s plot.

Jurassic Park is a crappy book

Everyone knows the film. But what about the book that inspired it?
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Feb 2, 2023
I’ve always loved the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. They’re both well-written and a delight to read about in their many adventures.

The beaming brilliance of Holmes and Poirot

Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot are the two most famous (fictional) detectives out there, and there’s no reason not to love them.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Jan 20, 2023
The mastermind behind Quick Take reveals some unfinished business

The Quick Take files: the lost articles of Daimler Koch

The author of Quick Take reveals the stories that time (almost) forgot
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Jan 12, 2023
Quick Take 7Why you have too proofraed

Quick Take 7
Why you have too proofraed

Proofreading is very important, as you can see by the titel
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Dec 12, 2022
Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You has earned a staggering amount of cash since its release: $60-$70 million dollars, or about $2.5 million dollars a year since 1994 (the year of release).

All I want for Christmas is $$$

The yearly earache has some interesting statistics on what makes it so popular.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Dec 7, 2022
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sees the kingdom of Wakanda going head-to-head with the powerful undersea nation of Talokan over the use of vibranium by other countries.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a somber tribute to Chadwick Boseman

It can’t keep up with the original, but Wakanda Forever is still the MCU’s best hope for setting up Phase 5.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Nov 29, 2022
Quick Take 6Daydreaming is actually awesome

Quick Take 6
Daydreaming is actually awesome

Daydreaming is perhaps the quickest and best way I get anything done.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Nov 15, 2022
It’s wrong to ignore your right to vote

It’s wrong to ignore your right to vote

According to the US Census Bureau, individuals between the ages of 18 and 29 have the lowest voter turnout by age group.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Nov 7, 2022
Going crazy over Psycho

Going crazy over Psycho

The godfather of modern psychological horror films, Psycho, still leaves audiences – and me – reeling.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Nov 1, 2022
The topics I write about for Quick Take are the small stuff – writing, little-known facts, etc. Not anything big, like politics or society.

Quick Take
Why I write about the things I do

Or, why I choose to write about the small stuff
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Oct 24, 2022
Zeno, an ancient Greek philosopher, is most well-known for his list of paradoxes trying to prove that motion was an illusion.

Quick Take
Zeno’s Paradox

How a centuries-old thought experiment taught me something important.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Oct 19, 2022
Werewolf by Night had me howling for more

Werewolf by Night had me howling for more

Michael Giacchino’s explosive new Marvel special is a horror film all on its own.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Oct 15, 2022
Inspiration is a fleeting moment, and can be hard to capture in writing form.

Quick Take
The importance of perfect timing

One of the most important parts of the writing process is knowing when to start in the first place.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Oct 6, 2022
Sometimes, the best mistakes are those that the writing professionals make.

Quick Take
The humor in writing

The funniest mistakes in the English language are those hidden in plain sight.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Sep 30, 2022
Writer’s block is a painful obstacle for any writer, standing in the way of good ideas and efficient progress

Quick Take
The silent struggle behind writing

COLUMNIST: Writer’s block is a curse to every writer’s mind – but it doesn’t have to be that way.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Sep 23, 2022
Appearing for the first time in three years, Mickey Mouse stands in the center of Disney's D23 Expo in Disneyland, California to promote upcoming Disney movies.

D23 Expo: all the Marvel and Disney parks news you need to know

Disney released a slew of announcements at their D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, detailing most of their projects coming out within the next few years.
By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief
Sep 21, 2022
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