Honors History Blog #4

1. Discuss your successes as an honors student this past semester.

As an honors student, I think that this semester I learned how to space out my work in order to get things done fully for assignments. An example is the honors literature writings we had to do several times through the semester. These were roughly once every 3 weeks, meaning I'd have to read and research an entire book and write a paper on a prompt following it. Surely I wouldn't be able to do this without strategic time spacing and work evenly spread through the 3 weeks, yes? Sadly, I had to learn the hard way that this was how it should be done. The first essay, which was for a Huckleberry Finn prompt, was forgotten until the weekend before it was due, and I ended up rushing to get it done and not putting my full effort into it, and basically not even really understanding the entire book when I was writing the essay. Thankfully, I learned from the mistake and made sure to understand the book and what the prompt is the next time the essay came around, which is quite a success if you ask me.

2. Discuss what you might have done differently if you do this past semester of honors over again.
If I could've done this semester over, I would've taken what I learned from the Huck Finn experience (mentioned up there ^) and made sure that I spaced work through the weeks evenly from the very start instead of having to learn from my mistakes by making the mistakes in the first place. However, it's been proven by Randy that it's best to learn from mistakes and know what you're doing wrong than just know what you're doing right and be careless about it, so maybe it's better that I learned from what I've done wrong. Other than this, I'm quite content with how the semester has been.

3. Discuss your goals for honors in the second semester.
For next semester, I hope to continue learning as a student, education-wise, and learning techniques on how I can save myself from bombing assignments and projects. For 2nd semester I'd really like to focus on my strengths and weaknesses in writing essays. I'm not the best at the english language, so it's best to learn how I can change this and improve in this area. My essays can be a little bit all over the place so I also hope to work on structure, and how to get my point across clearly and so the reader can understand fully.

4. If you could choose any parts of literature and history for our honors work, what would you pick and why?
If I could choose anything, at any point in the semester, I would choose to pick a modern piece of literature, like a book written in the 21st century. We didn't have that too much as a normal student or a honors student in this class, mainly reading things from 20th century and earlier (i.e., Scarlet Letter, Great Gatsby, Huck Finn, Desert Solitaire). I'd enjoy reading something about modern day society or things of the like, and not just things that are far in the past.

(Now this isn't exactly about Honors work, but just a side note)
Also, I might suggest that the nature reading wasn't too positive either. I believe the point of the nature reading was to remind us students that there is plenty of earth left and the fact that humans are living on earth is not a bummer, but hearing of other book's plots and my own wasn't really what I'd call uplifting novels. My book, desert solitaire, mainly reminded us of how us humans are permanently affecting the once-untouched valleys and deserts, not to mention how we live our lives in a constant dreary routine. Not too optimistic, I'd say, but that's just my opinion.

Desert Solitaire

1. The author experience tension between his need to return to civilization and his love for the solitude of being in the wilderness. Describe the characteristics of this tension and how he reconciles it.

Edward Abbey is, for the most part, alone, throughout the book. Every once and a while he will go off on a story that confuses the reader about how the story is told. He fills the book with these reminiscent stories and tales that vary from quicksand scenarios (and what to do in them) to burn victims. These memories could be a characteristic of loneliness, reconciled by retelling memories and stories of his past.

Early in the book he mentions how he often wishes for society to accompany him in his life of solitude. He quickly corrects himself, mentioning how, by society, he means the companionship of a woman. This society is different from that originally mentioned in the book, but eventually he wishes for that companionship also. He compares his wish to return to society to the Zia Indians, who sung about how they would weep when remembering their home. From this, I take that the Industrial Society that we all know well today is Edward Abbey's original home, which he feels agony over.

Throughout the book he communicates with the wildlife, whether it be "braining little bastards" (killing rabbits) or speaking to plants and reptiles. This is how he keeps himself from going insane in the solitude of the desert. This, and the constant reminding that society is bad and trying to ruin this "perfect" little solitude that he lives in. It seemed almost forced, I can say as a reader, how he could only think bad things about the world's current industrial state. This tension contrasts with his hidden want for life back in society, and is only reconciled by the ineludable fact that his contract as a park ranger had run out and he had to return to his home in this industrial world.

The fact that he must return upsets him, and he contemplates turning the car around when heading to a train station for a train destined to home. He talks of how his life would be greater in the great outdoors, in the loneliness, away from everybody he's ever known and in a world that he doesn't quite know himself. He speaks of his return to this wildlife in the future, how grand it will be, that is: if he ever chooses to return to this desolate land. IF.

Desert Solitaire

1. The author explores the possibility of using language to explore nature. What problems does he see and experience in this effort? How is he successful?
Edward Abbey is clearly descriptive throughout the book. Practically all of the 292 pages of it are dedicated to describing the phenomena of nature. Edward Abbey

I think Edward Abbey fails to see how nature is perceived by many, not just him. Throughout the book he is complaining of industrialism overtaking the natural world as we know it. It's also explained how he is against the growth and spread of national parks everywhere, as they pave unnecessary roads and bring human pollution into once untouched. Surely, this is an issue, but in full he never really realized how this can be stopped. Why didn't he? Because it can't. He proposes with the 2 officials that come to his trailer to have tourists be forced out of their car and walk along the blazed trails of the park instead of speeding through them like there's nothing to see. However, he fails to realize that this is not the way nature is perceived by the mass; that the
3. The author writes: "If I am serious, and I am, then the desert has driven me crazy. Not that I mind." What does he mean? What is the significance of this quote?
In the book the desert solitaire, Edward Abbey is very attached to the nature of the desert as a whole. He even goes as far as to say he'd rather eat a human than harm an animal. Clearly he was some sort of crazy, at least, when he "brained a little bastard" one day on the job by killing a rabbit with a stone, then declaring that his soul was clean as snow. Perhaps this sort of initiative is not the only "different" thing about him. The quote is significant because of what he means behind it. He may have already been crazy before he came to the desert but that just aided in his hate for society.

MSB Product in the making

Blog #26 CONTEST

California Coastal Commission, Coastal Art and Poetry Contest
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/poster/poster.html#entry
The basic requirements are,
"Entries must have a California coastal or California marine theme "
There will be separate categories depending on grade level. I will enter in the 10th-12th grade category because that's what grade i'm in. >#<>#>#<

Entries must be before January 30 2010

Great Gatsby

"Evaluate The Great Gatsby as a criticism of the corruption of the American Dream."

Quoted, the American Dream is “a national ethos of the United States of America in which democratic ideals are perceived as a promise of prosperity for its people.” The American Dream is seen as a state of life thought up in the birth of the American nation, believed to be in the near-distant future and be fulfilled for all. The dream was of a land in which life would be democratic, and life richer, fuller, and with opportunity for everyone as an equal. Simply put, in the words of a famous historian, the American Dream can be summed up as "Life, Liberty and Happiness." This is the American Dream.

In the Great Gatsby, things are quite the opposite. In this book things are seen only from the New York west egg perspective. This side of town is secluded from anyone and everyone else. In the book, The Great Gatsby world centers around the image of east eggers and west eggers in New York. The time is the 1920's, and business is hopping, for those in business. The rich mingle with other wealthy civilians, and the poor dealt with being poor among those similar to them. This reality is as far as possible from an "American Dream."

The American Dream is thought to have hollowed around the time when World War I ended. This can be pinpointed to the time that stocks shot up and wealth was spread. "New money" citizens, not used to such wealth, celebrated and quickly became adapted to living the good, rich-spent life -- a little too quickly adapted. Soon, socializing became the only concern. As said in Gatsby, when people realized Gatsby wouldn't be holding any more parties, they wasted no time waiting. Even at Gatsby's funeral, none of the regular party-goers came. After all, who would want to waste time at a funeral for a man who on the surface is a man whose party you'd attend?

Surely, you'd think, that the love story between Daisy and Gatsby for a time, at least, seemed natural. However, this "love" was only skin deep. The two came from separate social statuses, as Gatsby is actually not the riches he seems to be. Gatsby, strung up on this love for Daisy, goes as far to resort to a criminal lifestyle in order to keep his parties every saturday night in order to get Daisy's attention. Daisy hordes material goods, crying at the mere sight of "beautiful shirts" flung around by Gatsby. The two, alone or together, are a corruption of the Dream.

Could this be fulfilling to the so-called, "equal, democratic, prosperous American Dream," the type of life America was expected to be? Well, it should be obvious at this point that the Great Gatsby defied this. At this time it becomes apparent that the entire point of the book was to note how the American Dream has corrupted into a society of selfish arrogant people, only concerned of their reputation and how high they are on the ladder, or how fancy or classy their lives are: an American nightmare.

Blog #24

Blog #9 -- http://www.farallones.org/e_newsletter/2006-04/LaJollaSeals.htm
This isn't my topic anymore so I see no use in how this is helpful in my project. I have no interest in the La Jolla Seal controversy and see it as very overhyped.

"There are two opposing sides on the battle of beach access rights, the ‘shared use’ group and the ‘joint use’ group. ‘Shared use’ of the beach is advocated for by those who wish the area to be secured for the seals. It involves allowing seal watching from the coastal wall and protecting the seals hauled out on the beach. Alternatively, others who wish to use the beach and water for recreation and swimming propose a ‘joint use’ policy."

It amazes me that people actually want to share the beach with the seals, and actually want to swim in the water that could potentially kill them. Not literally. But get them sick if you know what I mean.

Blog #23 -- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10patch.html
This article is all about the pacific garbage patch and hwo big it's gotten.

"Many scientists believe there is a garbage patch off the coast of Japan and another in the Sargasso Sea, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. "

This just shows how many garbage patches are in the ocean. Not just one large one, but many small ones. The extent of man's impact on the earth.

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2009-11-16-plastiki16_VA_N.htm
Birds, boats? of all things, boats? How could boats be affected by this garbage patch? I'd think that boats would overpower this patch. Not super interesting or helpful but still interesting somewhat. And strange.

http://www.tonic.com/article/cleaning-great-pacific-garbage-patch/
Ways to help and reverse the effects of the garbage patch, if there is a way at this point. Very relevant to my topic and helpful for my artist's statement.

Blog #23 -- Environmental Current News

Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10patch.html

A dreary article about how mankind has polluted all parts of the earth, even in the middle of the ocean. This explains how there are plastic gyres all over the ocean, the largest being in the North Pacific.
This article includes helpful pictures that gives us a visual image of what this garbage patch is like now.
The least helpful element in this article is how we can stop this, all it mentions is how horrible it is now but, as a news writing, nothing that we can do to help is mentioned.

war and industrialization

Shanna McCue
11/11/09
The War between Capital and Labor

“Historian Page Smith referred to a period of American industrialization as 'the war between capital and labor.' In a thoughtful essay supported by informative references to relevant history, describe the extent to which you believe this statement is an accurate portrayal of American society between 1850 and 1900.”

Personally, I believe that Page Smith's metaphor that compares American industrialization to a war between the mentioned 2 defying elements is accurate in some points, but not all. Like a war, the constant fights and disagreements were over something: In this case, at least for the most part, the disagreements were over poor working conditions, dreadfully long working hours, and low wages. The laborers acted violently and the capital side never hesitated to fire the power they have over the laborers back at them.

Aside from this, war-like qualities were shown in the decades between 1850 and 1900. Not only hundreds, perhaps thousands of people's lives lost or destroyed in some way, but millions of dollars' worth of damage was done all across America – from rioting sites to corpses strewn across American land. It was estimated that, from a single strike (The pullman strike of 1894, to be exact) there was $340,000 worth of damage (estimated $6,800,000 nowadays) caused only by one side of the war: the laborers. This single strike – a single battle – can compare and even go beyond the amount of damage done by other battles in American wars' history.

The 1886 Haymarket affair was a battle-like event very similar to a war's battle. A strike on Haymarket square, started by angry laborers that demanded an 8 hour work day. Over a thousand workers participated in the angry riot, and when an anonymous bomb blew up in the crowd, the police opened fire in the riot. Several were killed, and 8 of the anarchist leaders that took part in leading the event were tried. These men were tried and even given the death penalty after being convicted of inciting violence. Inciting violence, as in, creating and carrying out intentions to bring violence during the riot. This trait it similar to those of a general's in war.

However, I don't agree entirely with the metaphor that American industrialization was all like a war. For example, during a war, one side typically wins, after both sides suffer great losses and some wins alike. In this instance, the other side would lose terribly and have horrible debt to pay, not to mention a cruel aftermath to live through once the battles are finished. However, during the American Industrialization era, both sides managed to lose some and win some all in the end, assuming that these “sides” are the Capital side and Laborer side.

In conclusion, I find Page Smith's metaphor of the war between Capital and Labor, mostly accurate. As mentioned, most points I can see relate to each other, but other points are irrelevant and not in comparison at all.

Sources:
http://www.archaeolink.com/19th_century_american_industrial.htm
http://www.sagehistory.net/gildedage/capitalandlabor.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1029.html
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0823059.html

Honors History Essay #2: The Roaring Twenties

The Roaring 20's ushered in many new changes for American society, culture, the US economy, technology and more. Describe the most significant changes during the 1920's. Support your essay with direct evidence (quotes, statistics, etc.) from relevant history texts such as Nation of Nations and A People's History of the US.

The 1920's, otherwise known as the Roaring Twenties, was a time of change in America. There were major changes in not only the economy, technology and education, but the overall lifestyle of American citizens.

Things got more lenient in the 1920's. The average hours of a job, each week, decreased from over 47/week to 42/week during this decade. With all this extra time, people spent more time engaging in activities of recreation, such as spectator sports. With this, football got big, and baseball got bigger. Stadiums were built larger to accommodate the large fan count. Ohio's state notable 64,000 seat stadium is an example of such.

The concept of "dating" took over the 19th-century tradition of courtship. Premarital intercourse became more of a talked subject (although casual sex was rarely admitted). Tea parties went out of fashion, and "petting parties" were in. Similar frilovity occurred in the younger culture of the 1920's, where teenagers in high school took part in newly created school events, such as athletics, proms and clubs. Young adults in college joined sororities and fraternities. People of all ages enjoyed the popular new thing: dancing. In the mid-20's, new dances such as the charleston and the camelwalk spread in popularity, along with the growing new sound of jazz. Jazz was a different type of music that nobody had understood before. The new music fad started when blues players from New Orleans played in Carnegie hall.

The roaring twenties was also an era for Harlem Renaissance. Starting in the early decade, this renaissance consisted of artwork, sculptures and literature created by the black American citizens, inspired by the previous "first mass movement of African Americans in history" (the Universal Negro Imporvement Association, created by Marcus Garvey, in the previous decade). These artists found their subjects for writing, sculpting and painting on the streets of cities and preindustrial cultures. The topics are seen as a pattern in the works done during this time. This renaissance was supported by a minority of white patrons, but was overall seen as an alienation from white Americans.

Blog #22 Organizations

San Diego Regional Water Quality Board
"Our mission at the San Diego Regional Board is developing and enforcing water quality objectives and implementing plans that will best protect the area's waters while recognizing our local differences in climate, topography, geology and hydrology.

The San Diego Regional Board is comprised of nine part-time members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The San Diego Board's "basin plan" encompasses our hydrologic areas, issuing waste discharge requirements, enforcement action against violators, and monitoring water quality.

The task of protecting and enforcing the many uses of water, including the needs of industry, agriculture, municipal districts, and the environment is an ongoing challenge for the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board."

3a. and 3b.

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/
--
Their programs that they have available.

Coastkeeper information
info@sdcoastkeeper.org

Blog #21 GATSBY

Gatsby and Nick are both somewhat detached from their surroundings. Compare and contrast this sense of detachment. How are they similar and/or different in this respect?

Gatsby, I believe, feels somewhat detached because he may be living a lie, noticed by Nick. he comes up with interesting ways to explain things and get out of situations, which makes him uncomfortable. In this sense he feels detached from his surroundings when he goes out to brunch/lunch with Nick.

Nick feels detached, perhaps because he doesn't know what is a lie and what's truth with Gatsby. He suspects that something is wrong with how he explains things, like how he went to Oxford college, but with other things he sounds sincere, as described in detail by Nick.

Blog #20 : Beginning the Great Gatsby

1. The narrator is Nick. He comes from a somewhat-wealthy class and attended Yale. He moves to the West Egg in New York City in a cheap (at least, cheap for that area) $80/month "eyesore" of a house. He is somewhat apologetic to new people he meets and in a way judgmental (to Tom), which contradicts what he says at the beginning of not being judgmental.

2. By having the story told in 1st person, it's more personal and flows better in a story-telling way. This is like a normal person's point of view, making the story more relatable.

Blog #19 Critiquing a professional video

http://www.youtube.com/v/DEnlrE4iMBU

1. This video shows a clear message, clearly detailed and even explains what is happening in Africa, and how we can help (by donating).

2. There is really dirty water in Africa, and the water is too deep down underground to get out cheaply. Money needs to be donated to drill down and get the water for thousands of people.

3. American citizens maybe, because the words are in English and the vintage video in the beginning is an American one. Also an American website at the end.

4. It shows various pictures of the water that people in Africa are drinking, compared to pictures of clean water they could be drinking.

5. They used stop motion animation at one point. It shows a little boy "drilling" into the water and then coming up with a clean glass of water. This technique doesn't really have a point except for maybe humor or some sort of symbolism I can't really describe.

6. This work sample is different from the other works i've seen before. It included vintage videos, just music as the audio, stop motion animation, and cheery videos in Africa that you'd think would have a dark impact.

Honors Literature Writing #2: The Scarlet Letter

"In literature it is only the wild that attracts us. Dullness is but another name for tameness. It is the uncivilized free and wild thinking in Hamlet and The Iliad, in all scriptures and mythologies, not learned in schools, that delights us."

Choose a novel that you may initially have thought was conventional and tame but that you value for its "uncivilized free and wild thinking." Write an essay in which you explain what constitutes its "uncivilized free and wild, thinking" and how that thinking is central to the value of the work as a whole. Support your ideas with specific references to the work you choose.

The novel, Scarlet Letter, takes place in 17th century New England. It is a story about a woman named Hester Prynne who commits adultery and faces the lifelong guilt and shame that follows with it. At first glance, this book seems like a "tame" book about a woman silently living with her guilt after committing adultery. Along with many other post-Pilgrim-era and pre-20th-century-era material, it could be just another book about how women should be constricted with chastity belts, as it is the way it should be before marriage.

However, further reading into this book, you could tell that it would be a whole other story. It starts off with a prosecution: the "whore," Hester Prynne, is sentenced to 3 hours standing on a scaffold, and the rest of her life wearing a scarlet letter ("A," for Adultery) on her chest. The first few pages of this in the book even defied my initial thinking that adultery was a shushed subject, hence why chastity belts were kept under the clothing. However, my thoughts were changed even after reading the opening scene.

Another example of my pre-existing thoughts proven wrong was the outcome of adultery: Pearl, Hester's illegitimate child. Sometimes, people fail to realize that intercourse is meant for procreation. The general idea of prostitution and whoring in the 17th century was left at sex and that's all. Scarlet Letter reminded us that prostitution leads not only to prosectuion, and the subject of Pearl was a major subject in the book, without her the story would be very incomplete.

Blog #18

With the industrialization project, I learned a few writing styles and techniques that I could use for any future projects, including media saves the beach.

An example is the Lede. The Lede (or Lead) has to have the who, what, where, when, and why/how all in one or two sentences. This is important for any type of writing, since it puts the most important details first. This is important because it sums literally the entire essay to come in as little words as possible.

Blog #17

1. http://www.sdbaykeeper.org/
San Diego bay keeper.

2. http://www.sandiego.gov/water/
San Diego Water Department
The official water department of San Diego. "No Time To Waste, No Water To Waste" is their logo: They are in charge of all things that have to do with water -- obviously, including beaches -- in San Diego County.

3. http://www.sdcwa.org/
San Diego County Water Authority
Keeps the world up to date with the drought alerts in San Diego County and ways to prevent this.

1. Councilmember Sherri Lighter
http://www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd1/
She is part of the communities in district 1 (northern county), including a major part of the coast.

2. Councilmember President Pro Tem Kevin Faulconer
In charge of communities in district 2 (middle county) near the coasts. Part of his promise is..
"To passionately.. protect our beaches and bays ... with results for the citizens of San Diego."

3. Councilmember President Ben Hueso
Is in charge of communities in district 8, the lower san diego area near tijuana. He is also in charge of what goes into the tijuana river.

Honors History Writing #2 -- fictitious William McKinely Writing

With the election year 1896 coming up, it's important to keep in mind important candidates for the election that will make a difference in America. And keep in mind, who a better candidate than Senator William McKinley himself!

William McKinley is a war veteran. He served in the civil war as a private in the 23rd regiment in his home state of Ohio. He was part of the humble Union army and won fights against countless Confederate units. After showing his bravery and leadership in battle, his superior promoted McKinley to commissary sergeant. After fearlessly fighting in the greatest war of all American history for 4 years, he immediately entered the field of Law, first by attending the Albany Law School in New York. He practiced law as a prosecuting attorney for over a decade, and was successful in nearly every case he was given.

Prove it, you may think. Well, what about when 33 miners rioted in Stark County? Their conditions were unfair and they were angry, but nonetheless they were imprisoned for rioting, for stating their opinion. Did McKinley ignore their cries for freedom? NO! He put his effort into getting all but one of them out of prison using his genius law skills. Not to mention how he selflessly refused the hard worked pay that they offered him after his generous deed.

After his huge impact on law practice everywhere, he became more involved as a natural leader in the Republican Party. He began this career by first running for governor of Ohio, which he was voted for by the majority of honest voters. He was a representative in the House of Representatives for 2 terms, the last ending a little over 5 years ago. As you can hopefully see, he has had plenty of experience in the law and political fields.

His independent and unique thoughts and takes on actions considering the people are nonetheless notable. "Cuba ought to be free and independent," humble McKinley says. "And the government should be turned over to the Cuban people." This just shows how selfless and thoughtful he is on the people's behalf: Even though he is a representative and politician, his main focus is the good and freedom of people, even for countries other than the United States of America.

In the words of Mister Future president himself, on the subject of diverse thoughts, "Our differences are policies; our agreements, principles." By this quote, he comes to believe that even the smallest of agreements or disagreements should be seen as principles; necessary, compromise. He holds true to his every word and stands by what he says.

Vote Senator William McKinley, 1896, for a better America. We need Senator William McKinley in the oval office!

Blog 16 -- MSB Stuffs and things

Brent Springer
Brent's idea was to create a documentary for the project. He included a website, surfermag, to further expand knowledge of environmental issues at the beach.
What i learned from this is that there are pros of sewage spills. I'm not too sure as to what these are, but I guess he can enlihten me more on this.
http://bspringer-brent.blogspot.com/

Daniel Mahmud
Daniel's idea was to have a slideshow. The slideshow consists of photography from different points of the beach. This is a diverse take on the project, as it takes on a perspective from all points.
http://dannyfletcherharchesterunited.blogspot.com/

Marcus Alexander'

Marcus thought that a photo essay was a good idea for the project. He uses last year's Junior Yoselin Lopez's project as an example: She took many photos and did an essay explaining each. From this I learned that it's good to take previous junior's ideas and recreate them to the point where it's original, but not copying it all.
http://maalexander.blogspot.com/

Blog #15 -- Possible MSB Products

An idea for a final product would be a large painting depicting acidification and pollution affecting the marine life.

I couldn't find a painting depicting how pollution affected marine life, but I found a detailed picture of painted marinelife. This is sort of the idea I have: a main object in front of a detailed background, the main idea in front of trivial things. In this case, I could have an animal or a group of animals living in the ocean, while in another part of the picture I could have a depiction of how animals are being affected by pollution.

Another idea I have for a final product would be a photoshopped image of pollutants in marinelife.

Like in this picture, it has plastics and other marine pollutants arranged in the picture to make it look like a species in the ocean. This satirical image packs a punch, and sends a message. It's a clever concept, albeit my 2nd option for this project.

Blog #14 MSB Questions and Resources

"What is the main problem concerning marinelife and beaches?"

1. When did this problem become apparent?
2. What can we do to help?
3. Why is this the most urgent concern?

Acidification -- http://www.aibs.org/washington-watch/washington_watch_2007_11.html
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/acidification-of-the-sea-is-the-biggest-threat-to-marine-animal-life_10077712.html
Pollution -- http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20071013-9999-1s13outdoors.html
Overfishing -- http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/reader/welcome.aspx?linkid=106433

Blog #13: Industrialization and Coastal Environments

In the Oil spill of 1993, estimated 330,000 gallons of oil spilled onto the shores of Florida. 13 miles of beach and shores were affected by this spill. Not to mention a fire that added to the spill, which burnt for 18 consecutive hours. A large amount of marine life was affected.

This prompt mainly included how people were affected by the spill (i.e., how BUSINESSES and BEACHES were affected, not MARINE LIFE and HABITATS affected).

A part of this story that wasn't clarified was how this spill was cleaned, or how it even started. Did a truck tip over and spill all the oil into the ocean (unlikely)?

A way to follow up this prompt would be answering these questions, along with questions already answered (but maybe in your own words).

http://www.theledger.com/article/20090925/NEWS/909255063/1036?Title=Offshore-Drilling-Time-To-Speak-Up

An optional assignment i decided to do

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is a protected historical park. In the park are several old buildings preserved and recreated from as far back as 1821, after the Mexican War of Independence.

One famous building in Old Town is the Whaley House, believed to be one of the 30 haunted houses in the US, dubbed by the US department of Commerce. It was built in 1857 and had 2 generations of Whaleys live in it before abandoned in 1905. In 1909 it was restored, and after several ghost sightings it was opened to the public for a small fee. It is reported to be the most haunted house in America.

There's not really an issue, except the Whaley House was closed to the public because of preservation purposes a few years ago.

http://www.whaleyhouse.org/

Honors Novel #1

Novels and plays often depict characters caught between colliding cultures—national, regional, ethnic, religious, and/or institutional. Such collisions can call a character's sense of identity into question.

In the story of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, “Huck,” as author Mark Twain calls him, is an uneducated orphan with a $6000+ trust fund in the 19th century. However, he is just a young boy, living under a religious widow's household. The widow tries to teach Huck about religion and make him pray, but the way he sees it is mere grumbling to a person who isn't there. His father was/is an abusive drunk and Huck feared him, possibly growing up not knowing how family members should treat each other.

This character, "Pap,” is somewhat an influence to Huck's character. To him, Huck is seen as a failure because he “thinks he's better than [his father]” by getting an education. Huck is the first in his family to get a formal education, making him different from his relatives.

In the beginning, Jim is the family slave and Huck doesn't care to call him anything more than that. However, once Jim escapes the fate of being sold for $800 to a New Orleans family and runs away with Huck, they become more acquaintenced. This is a change in character for Huck, since he was raised as a white boy, not to mingle with African Americans, but him and Jim become friends.

Huck is a boy inbetween colliding cultures: The culture of society, where he is seen as a failure as an undereducated white orphan; The culture of his family life, where he is unsure how to feel about family members since his mother is long gone and his father an abusive drunk; and the culture in which he, a young curious boy, lives in. This last culture includes his strange friendships for an 18th century era, and how he carries himself as a boy who has the chance to be educated and "saved by God."

Blog #12: MSTB

1. When did the issue of pollution/etc. of the beach become apparent?
I'm sure that the problems at the beach haven't always been this bad. When did it start? When did people notice that the pollution at the beach was becoming a problem? Did it start once the North Pacific Gyre was discovered?

2. What is the most urgent of all the problems in the beach areas?
Self-explanatory, what is the most urgent of all the mentioned beach problems?

3. What are ways we can help?
There has to be more than monthly beach cleanups and watching what we put into storm drains. What else can we do to help and keep pollution, etc. from affecting wildlife in the ocean and the beaches?

Blog #11

Honors History Writing #1

“The Civil War is often known as the beginning of ‘modern’ America, ‘America’s 2nd Revolution.’”

Although most would think the events that brought on the Civil War and things closely following it are dead and gone, lost and kept in history not to be brought up again, it is quite the opposite. Even though the Civil War was the end of an epidemic nationally, the epidemic of slavery and inequality in America, it was the beginning of a new Revolution in America. If you think about it, a controversy large enough to split a nation apart and pit brother against brother is not something easily forgotten. In this case, it lead to even more issues and disagreements nationally. Think: If suddenly your house slaves who had no point in life other than to serve you thanklessly suddenly became a citizen, as equal as you, it would be quite difficult to adapt to. Even now, almost 150 years later, the subjects of such an old controversy are still hot topics and disagreeable by many.

The well-known southern story of a man literally “dying for Dixie” is an example of such. The story of a man being shot down and allegedly murdered for the mere fact of being seen as a racist on the Kentucky-Tennessee border is still hotly talked about. The confederate flag, seen as a symbol for racism and white supremacy in the south, triggered the shooting (the man was driving a truck the with the flag attached, and from there, a car chase which ended in a death). So, when did this feud take place? Certainly, you may think, such racism and prejudice should’ve died decades ago, yes? No, this took place not even 20 years ago, in 1995. That’s right, 1995. Even after the civil rights movement had taken place 30 years before, people still saw inequalities in others. After these events, there were reported 5 cross burnings in nearby towns along the Tennessee-Kentucky Border, performed by the infamous white supremacy group, Ku Klux Klan.

The KKK is a prime example of disagreements to the civil war’s outcome. Created less than a year after the Northern won the civil war, the KKK consisted of mainly veterans of the civil war on the confederate side. At its peak, it had 6 million members, secretly killing blacks and scalawags that supported the civil rights act. This white supremacy group is not the only of its kind; the White league and the Red shirts are well known for mass killings to anyone who got in their way. These groups are still active today, going behind the scenes, meeting and sharing their bizarre ideals and thoughts over the internet. It needs to stop, soon.

But it doesn’t stop here. How about interracial marriages still banned in a state until recently? That’s right, it was illegal for an African American and a Caucasian to get married in the state of South Carolina until November of 2007, when a statewide poll was taken. The majority voted for removing the law, however, the majority barely was. 33% of South Carolina residents were against removing the ban.

In a way, some towns in the South have always been seen as an old world. For example, in public schools, children are taught that the Civil War was secretly won by the south. You would’ve thought this age died in the 18th century, along with slavery and all the prejudice that came with it. But this isn’t the case. The veterans of the war and the citizens that had lived during that time were not welcome to the change Many spent their life angry, prejudiced, racist, and not willing to take a second to see how the other men saw it. They taught their young with their “old world” views and died with their hatred. Their young grew up believing everything that their predecessors had told them. This process lived on, now thousands of citizens – Americans – see this society as a corrupted and soiled one.

These situations pose difficult questions. When can racism and prejudice be ended for sure? Can it be ended by just another civil war? Or will hatred between different skin colors never, really, end? Although the civil war created a new revolution in America, from the revolution emerged a people still strongly believing in the previous world America had lived in.

Blog #10 -- The deal with Reconstruction?

"The Reconstruction" was a plan created for the south after the Civil War (more specifically, 1865-1877), meant to restore the southern United States. Abraham Lincoln created this plan and began to enforce it, but was assassinated before he could finish it. Naturally, the vice president Andrew Johnson took his place. However, Andrew Johnson wasn't too hot on the idea of giving blacks the complete right to be citizens, so he anulled a bill that would've given blacks the same rights which wouldn't actually be enforced until a century later. Also, a loophole was created, by the name of "separate but equal," meaning there was segregation but blacks were far from being "fair citizens." They weren't allowed to eat in the same places as whites, own land, vote, or even enter some towns without permission.

This plan went well because, even though blacks weren't given the same rights as whites, they were given a lot more opposed to when they were slaves.

The things that went badly with this plan were, clearly, on Andrew Johnson's part. If he hadn't anulled the bill that would've given everyone the same rights, then we wouldn't have had to deal with 100 more years of segregation and white supremacy. Also, from these drastic changes came white supremacy groups, such as the KKK, red shirts and white league. These groups went as far as to kill massive groups of people at a time that disagreed with them. Some of these groups, like the infamous KKK, are still active today.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASreconstruction.htm

Blog #8/#9

http://www.amwest-travel.com/awt_sdseal.html

I'm interested in the Children's Pool Beach Seal problem. There are several controversies linking to this issue. There are plenty of resources on the internet and usually in local newspapers.
My ideas for Media Saves the Beach include photography, I think photography would be the best way to capture the whole idea of this controversy, not to mention how visual aids can help prove a point.

I really feel that this story relates to our class in every way. The controversy of the seals has to do with pollution of the water and the beach, and the controversy has to do with human rights and our right to state our opinion.

http://www.farallones.org/e_newsletter/2006-04/LaJollaSeals.htm

This link provides information on how the seals are currently threatened.

Blog #7: Final

"I remember an art project I had back in 4th grade. The project was to research a famous artist that is interesting to you, and duplicate a piece of work that they've created. Searching through lists on the internet for artists that seemed intriguing to me, I came across a man who, at a glance, seemed to have no talent as an artist whatsoever: Andy Warhol. Searching through web pages I constantly saw his name, usually paired with a tomato soup can or a discolored photo of Marilyn Monroe. The style differed from the detailed self portraits and still lifes of plastic fruit I had seen in other commonly researched artists. Needless to say, I was “intrigued” how a man could create pictures of soup cans and arrange them in a way to seem artistic. However, upon asking the art teacher if I could continue researching Warhol and his perplexing modern style, the idea was shot down because of the “irrelevance to true art,” and I ended up researching an artist who created the same type of art I'd seen a hundred times over.

Andy Warhol, personally, is an inspiration. His style reflected something about him, something that defied the norms of society and expressed his true self; the kind of artwork that HE wanted to create. The creator of an 8 hour film of a man sleeping, Warhol is seen as the leader of the pop art movement in the 60's. His battered childhood shaped his lifestyle and views, not to mention his artwork. The way Warhol perceived household objects, turned them into pop art and made it have meaning can only be the work of a true artist, unlike what a certain 4th grade teacher may have said. Millions think of him as insane because of his actions that were different, when they should've been seen as unique.

Although Andy Warhol died several decades ago, he is still known as the “Prince of Pop Art who turned a soup can into a museum treasure.” The legend of the pop artist Warhol will continue to inspire and change people's perspectives on not only art, but anything that is deemed as different, to the abnormalities. Andy Warhol showed the world what happened when he told the norms of society "no," just like how my 4th grade art teacher told me. You can do what you want. You have to enjoy the lives you live, whether you be painting soup cans or cleaning houses, and let what people think of you, mean nothing."

Works Cited:
Ward, Phil "The Warhol" The Warhol. The Andy Warhol Museum 1 Jan 2006 Sept 11, 2009 (http://www.warhol.org)

Bockris, Victor The Life and Death of Andy Warhol. New York, Da Cope, 1997. Print.

Warhol, Andy. Campbell's Soup Can. Silkscreen on Canvas. New York, New York.

Blog #6 Reflection

During this project, I learned that I use unnecessary punctuation and don’t need most of the commas and periods I put in my writing. Also, I learned that semicolons are “transvestite hermaphrodites,” and I use them sometimes, which I should probably stop all together. Sometimes, I use “allow” which is bad according to Randy. So maybe I should quit that too.

If I had time for one more draft I would maybe change how I repeat some sentences over and over but in different structures. That can be annoying and tiresome to the readers, I should learn to stop that.

“The style differed from the detailed self portraits and still lifes of plastic fruits I had seen in other commonly researched artists” I think this sentence is a strong sentence because of the evidence I supposrt the point with and how I structure the point in this sentence.

Final Photos/Critique

Blog #5: Photography Techniques

The picture that I will be duplicating from Andy Warhol's photography is this picture. The picture consists of his white face (with his hair going in different directions) with a pitch black background. His hair, white, blends into the background at the ends and the edges of the picture. There is a lot of contrast in this picture, since it mainly consists of the whitest of whites and the blackest black. Therefore, a lot of overexposure and underexposure is needed. The portrait is posed portrait, dead on. Therefore the following techniques are needed.





1. Overexposure and Underexposure
Overexposure is a photography technique that makes the photograph a lot brighter, especially the whites. Underexposure is a lack of light in a photography, meaning a darker image.




2. Posed Portraits
Posed portraits are portraits that are posed (obviously), opposed to action shots. It can take hours for a portrait to be posed correctly. Sometimes, posed portraits include the subjects of the photo to be staring straight at the camera, other times looking at other subjects in the shot.

3. Contrast
Contrast is a style used to create a sort of clash between the dark darks and light lights, or sharp colors on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

Blog #4: Artist's statements ideas.

During critiques for my artist's statement, I received a few critiques requesting I make more of a personal connection with Andy Warhol in terms of how we perceive things, not just how we both have small similarities.

I plan on making this connection clearer in drafts to come.

"I remember an art project I had back in 4th grade. The project was to research a famous artist that is interesting to you, and duplicate a piece of work that they've created. Searching through lists on the internet for artists that seemed intriguing to me, I came across a man who, at a glance, seemed to have no talent as an artist whatsoever: Andy Warhol. Searching through web pages I constantly saw his name, usually paired with a tomato soup can or a discolored photo of Marilyn Monroe. The style differed from the detailed self portraits and still lifes of plastic fruit I had seen in other commonly researched artists. Needless to say, I was “intrigued” how a man could create pictures of soup cans and arrange them in a way to seem artistic. However, upon asking the art teacher if I could continue researching Warhol and his perplexing modern style, the idea was shot down because of the “irrelevance to true art,” and I ended up researching an artist who created the same type of art I'd seen a hundred times over.

Andy Warhol, personally, is an inspiration. His style reflected something about him, something that defied the norms of society and expressed his true self; the kind of artwork that HE wanted to create. The creator of an 8 hour film of a man sleeping, Warhol is seen as the leader of the pop art movement in the 60's. His battered childhood shaped his lifestyle and views, not to mention his artwork. The way Warhol perceived household objects, turned them into pop art and made it have meaning can only be the work of a true artist, unlike what a certain 4th grade teacher may have said. Millions think of him as insane because of his actions that were different, when they should've been seen as unique.

Although Andy Warhol died several decades ago, he is still known as the “Prince of Pop Art who turned a soup can into a museum treasure.” The legend of the pop artist Warhol will continue to inspire and change people's perspectives on not only art, but anything that is deemed as different, to the abnormalities. Andy Warhol showed the world what happened when he told the norms of society "no," just like how my 4th grade art teacher told me. You can do what you want. You have to enjoy the lives you live, whether you be painting soup cans or cleaning houses, and let what people think of you, mean nothing."

Blog #3: 2 American Icons

Marilyn Monroe
http://www.marilynmonroe.com/
This website includes a full biography, quotes, and history of Marilyn Monroe. It's her official website.
Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed, a Biography by Michelle Morgan
I've already checked this biography out of the library. It's a very helpful source, because it's a complete biography and memoir of Norma Jean-- aka Marilyn Monroe-- in 310 pages. It also includes pictures and famous quotes from the icon, and not to mention "Undisclosed" happenings that made and shaped Marilyn's life. This can help me in learning more about the icon and how the little things she did created what she is.


A real life, person-to-person interview with the one and only Marilyn Monroe. 10 minutes of actual footage of the star in person.

Andy Warhol
http://www.warhol.org/
This website is an entire organization website dedicated to the works and history of Andy Warhol.
Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film by Ric Burns
This documentary is 4 hours long and goes in detail about everything Warhol, from his childhood to his education to his last pieces of art he created. The documentary is mainly created to prove a point, that Warhol was the greatest pop artist in the 2nd half of the 20th century (with the 1st half belonging to Pablo Picasso)

The Life and Death of Andy Warhol by Victor Bockris

This biography is told like a story book, giving me an idea of how his life panned out through close perspective. It also includes pictures and snippets of information.


A popular piece of artwork that practically defines the revolution of Andy Warhol. Without this he wouldn't be nearly as notable as he is now. I plan on basing the entire picture I create for my American Icon project around his pop art and perhaps this image.

Real American Heroes

Andy Warhol (otherwise known as Andrew Warhola) was a revolutionary artist and filmmaker known internationally as the leader of the pop-art movement. He inspired millions into this abstract type of art in the 60's and 70's using bizarre techniques to express himself. He is considered a fine artist, a legend of his time, and an inspiration to everyone around the world as the leader of an artistic revolution.

To me, he is an American hero because of the things he overcame in his life. He represents how a low class boy with rare, incurable diseases can rise to an international icon. Born in a working class family in the early 20th century in northeastern Slovakia, he overcame the dramatic death of his grandparents and an early onset of the disease called Saint Vitus' Dance, a rare disease that scarred him emotionally. He became fearful of the simplest everyday objects and was often sick, leaving him an outcast. This experience shaped his life, personality and interests, and without such a major turning point early in life he wouldn't have been the Andy Warhol we know as an international figure today. He is an inspiration for abstract artists and pop artists everywhere.


Sacagawea, otherwise known as Sakakawea, was one of the first inspirational women in the United States. Born in the late 18th century as a Native Maerican, she aided Lewis and Clark on their journey to find the Pacific Ocean. Without Sacagawea's aid it was very likely that Lewis and Clark wouldn't have made it through this 2 year journey.

The reason I choose Sacagawea is because of her symbolism and impact on American history. Not only is she a symbol of perserverence but a symbol of women's independence; she contributed and risked her life during the journey of Lewis and Clark. Not only this, but during this expedition, a vote was taken on which direction to take in the trail and Sacagawea's vote counted -- the first ever recorded woman's vote in the US. This proved to be a big step in American history and is believed to be the beginning of women's liberation in the US.




Marilyn Monroe was an American model and actress in the mid 20th century, and now, is a legend. Her history as an orphan whom nobody loved named Norma Jeane Mortenson rising to an internationally known pinup model and famous actress shaped her views and goals in life.

I think Marilyn Monroe is a national icon because of her dedication to her career. To me, she represents how a "dumb blonde" can actually be a classy, witty, well-carried woman. Marilyn Monroe worked all the while, putting all her effort into her career to get to the top. She never stopped, and was a class act in the movies and gigs she starred in. When people brought her down or stereotyped her as the "dumb blonde of Hollywood" she always had a way to come back at them. I think that Marilyn is an inspiration to women everywhere, to remember that they are not just helpless victims in a man's world, they are WOMEN in a men's world. She is well known for her witty quotes on life, love and the reality of Hollywood.

"I'm ok with living in a man's world, as long as I can be a woman in a man's world."

"It's better for the whole world to know you... than never to be known at all."

"In Hollywood a girl's virtue is much less important than her hairdo. You're judged by how you look, not by what you are. Hollywood's a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for kiss, and fifty cents for your soul. I know, because I turned down the first offer often enough and held out for the fifty."

"It's better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone. "

"Also from Lee Strasberg's eulogy: Marilyn Monroe was a legend. In her lifetime she created a myth of what a poor girl from a deprived background could attain. For the entire world she became a symbol of the eternal feminine."

What I hope to gain from Junior year

During junior year, I hope to gain knowledge and experience in test taking, which in turn will help in SAT prep. I haven't practiced too much in preparation for SATs and ACTs, so it's definitely an area that I should improve on. Also during this year, I hope to expand knowledge on US history. Unfortunately, I haven't gained enough information on past events in the United States to pass an SAT on. One last thing I hope to develop this year is persuasive writing skills, since I definitely lack in this area. I always feel as if my writing could be stronger and more persuasive, but I don't know where to start. During this semester, and maybe the rest of the year, I plan on taking Honors in Humanities so I can challenge myself in these areas and gain as much knowledge as I can.