Nature Blog Part Two

Describe specific connections between the text you read and your experiences in the many aspects of MSB.

Honors History Blog

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

I think that being in honors has not only helped me push myself to achieve the best that I can in my favorite subject, but it has also helped me out a lot in a sense of writing essays. I’m better at writing theses and I’m better at evaluating and analyzing an essay promt.

2. Discuss what you might have done differently if you do this past semester of honors over again.

Definitely I would make a better effort to get all of my blog assignments done, and time management with my essays and my reading schedule.

3. Discuss your goals for honors in the second semester.

I really want to get a better grade second semester, because I feel like I’m capable of it, and I can, I just forget to turn things in even though I finished them!

4. If you could choose any parts of literature and history for our honors work, what would you pick and why?

I would choose the Holocaust for History, because I am so interested in it, and since it’s a part of my family’s culture, I think it would be extremely helpful to me. Essentially, I think it would help out the common stereotype that only African Americans suffered in the past, because it’s not true. For literature I would really love to read George Orwell, because I feel like the prompt could be really interesting to write about, like the free and wild thinking.

A Walk in the Woods

Hallie Chavis

A Walk in the Woods

Bryson and Katz's relationship changed throughout the book from tolerating each other to forming a tight bond with each other because of multiple things including Katz’s health problems, the trail itself and their prior experiences together. In the over 2,000 mile trail, there are many different things that could go wrong, including bears, deranged moose’s, getting off trail and all together things that could result in an untimely death. All of those components have the potential to strengthen any relationship.

Prominent from the beginning of his introduction to the book, Stephen Katz has had health problems due to his past addictions. Katz is a former drug and alcohol addict and as an after effect of taking contaminated phenylthiamines, he has to have food in his system at all times, or else he will start seizing. It is apparent that his recent way of life has even taken a toll on his endurance. He falls quickly behind Bill Bryson, the narrator and author, by miles at a time. His appetite and hunger for reality becomes quickly identifiable within the story. Bryson doesn’t particularly know how to approach this situation in the beginning, but does start to recognize his health needs, and turns from hesitant about it to understanding, which is one part of the structure of their friendship.

The Appalachian Trail itself is a test of your endurance and your spirits. Aside from the length and the ever-looming dangers, the terrain is rough and rugged. Maps are hardly detailed and descriptive enough, and leave many places out. So often hikers are left by themselves to figure out the actual trail. Throughout all of the experiences on and off the trail, the hiking duo had gone through Hell and back to continue along the trail. Often stopping in small towns, or at rest shelters, the pair grew a stronger bond. The AT was a challenge for both of them, and even mentioned in the beginning of the book, Bryson cheers that he won’t have to hike alone, throughout the book, he becomes more thankful that he didn’t have to do the massive hike solitarily.

Prior to the Appalachian Trail, Katz and Bryson had traveled to Europe together and ended up not getting along so well. Their relationship was overall tumultuous and dysfunctional but the narrator essentially makes you infer that if it hadn’t been so up and down, it wouldn’t have ended up as good as it had. Their friendship was a direct result of the hardships and struggles they had gone through, and reflects that they can achieve anything together.

Bill Bryson and Stephen Katz are polar opposites in the bigger picture of things. They started out being slightly cordial and finished their trek with a better understanding of one another. A Walk in the Woods is a very good representation of how something difficult can change people. The Appalachian Trail is over 2,000 miles long and crosses over multiple states. It tells the story of two men and their journey through this trail, and to finding out who they really are.

A Walk in the Woods Essay Prompt Q

My ideas for writing this essay on prompt 3, "How does the relationship between Bryson and Katz change and develop over the course of the book?" would be answering first off with the thesis, which would be phrase along the lines of "Bryson and Katz's relationship changed from (list only 2 or 3 moods they went through) because of multiple things including (list only a couple reasons, somewhat broad, elaborate more in body paragraphs). Then I would have a separate paragraph for each of the contributing factors of why their moods changed toward each other. Then I would wrap it all up in the conclusion paraphrasing in a new way how they changed and concluding how feelings can change when you hike the Appalachian Trail.

Gatsby Essay.

4. Describe and analyze a lesson that Nick tells or teaches the reader in his retelling of the events in The Great Gatsby.

Analyze: to examine critically, so as to bring out the essential elements or give the essence of.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a a novel that has many lessons that are obvious, and many that are underlying in the text. The story is a surface love story, but has many ironic parts, and many hidden meanings. A couple of lessons that are slightly buried are what goes around comes around, which is a pretty common one, and the other is lessons about materialism.

F. Scott Fitzgerald heavily relies on the use of materialism for the Great Gatsby. Gatsby is a materialistic man, and it's not even for himself, it's for Nick Carraways cousin, Daisy Buchanan. Daisy wouldn't date Gatsby because he had no money, so he came up with an alternate identity and became that identity. All the lavish parties and the expensive cars and the trips to New York only show how much money was a necessity to even have fun, or so it is portrayed that way. The main characters in The Great Gatsby essentially all have money, except for Nick, who is along for the ride and to retell the story. Not including the Wilson's of course, who live in the Valley of Ashes. The main reoccurring themes in this book are alcohol, materialism and the upper class. Swankiness is key in The Great Gatsby, and would not be the same without it.

One of the biggest, and most differently interpreted part of the book is in the Valley of Ashes, right by Myrtle and George Wilson's house. The billboard poster of the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg. It can be interpreted in many different ways, however in the end of the book, George Wilson directly points at the faded blue eyes of the doctor and says, "'I told her she might fool me, but she couldn't fool God. I took her to the window-' with an effort he got up and walked to the rear window and leaned with his face pressed against it- 'and I said "God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing. You may fool me but you can't fool God!''" (159) The most common interpretation of the hidden meaning is God, or Big Brother in the common phrase, "Big Brother is always watching" from George Orwell's classic, 1984. It's a theory that even if you are in the most desolate area with only people who are completely foreign to you, God always knows, or someone higher than you always knows what you are doing, someone is always watching.

What goes around comes around is like Big Brother is always watching in a sense that it is a common phrase that people use in the modern day. Gatsby is a good example of what goes around comes around, if you pretend to be something that you are not, it will be found out. You can only remain mysterious for so long. "What's done in the dark will be brought to the light" is a lyric from Johnny Cash's song, 'God's Gonna Cut You Down' and is true and ties in with the theory that Big Brother is always watching. Jay Gatsby in the beginning of the novel is a mysterious man that people know little about, and as the novel continues, more and more of his past is revealed, which is not necessarily what he wants. As the text deepens, people begin to question where his riches accumulated, and where he came from, and if he really is related to the Kaiser, why is he in West Egg, where it's new money? All of these questions come rushing up to the surface faster than ever and Gatsby is faced with many questions of his past, only fitting what goes around comes around, and proving that if you lie about your past to enough people, the truth will shine through.

Nick Carraway is a classic storyteller, who is immensely descriptive and includes every detail, no matter how little about every person. He includes many lessons from chapter to chapter and remains unbiased although it is a recollection of the past. Although The Great Gatsby is a fiction story, it's lessons and scenarios could be completely true. The Great Gatsby is just a reminder that what you do behind the curtains will be found out, and in Gatsby's case, can result to be the death of you.

Environmental Current Events

A colony of harbor seals that took over a beach in La Jolla that had been willed to children will be allowed to stay, a judge ruled Friday, possibly bringing an end to the prolonged legal tug-of-war over the cove.

The so-called Children’s Pool was established in 1931 as a swimming area for children by the owner of the property, philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, who died the next year at age 95. The seals moved in some years ago and turned the cove into a nesting area, to the delight of many children as well as environmentalists.

But others felt the growing colony had become a nuisance and wanted the seals removed. In 2004, swimmer Valerie O’Sullivan — who now lives in New Zealand — filed a lawsuit seeking to restore the area for human use, and the next year, Judge William Pate ordered the city of San Diego to dredge Children’s Pool, at the city’s expense, and disperse the seals.

Earlier this year, Judge Yuri Hofmann told city officials to comply with Pate’s order. But in July, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation amending the trust that established the beach as a children’s swimming pool, giving the San Diego City Council the discretion to designate area as a seal sanctuary.

Well, now that my question has kind of already been answered, I'm going to have to modify my essential question a little, since the seals can stay. Yay!

The La Jolla Seals have been granted access to stay at the Children's Pool at Casa Beach. Some information that is missing would be how did people react to this? Which could be a good question to go off of for my project. Also, I would like to know how O'Sullivan and Pate reacted to this recent turn of events. The information here kind of biases my original question for Media Saves the Beach. I am definitely going to have to do some changing, or adding to my topic, because How does San Diego Media effect the publics opinion on the Seals at Casa Beach seems a little less workable. Although, it could potentially work, some people could be really upset by this news. I'm going to have to do some exploring about it.

Honors Essay #3

The 1920's was a significant time in American History, the government and people were experimenting with many different things and the citizens were partying without a care in the world. The 20's of course led to the Great Depression and some gray times. Wall Street is the home of the New York Stock Exchange and has become known throughout the world for it's popular stocks and the area surrounding the Stock Exchange. One of the worst stock crashes of all time was the Stock Market Crash of 1929.

The first sign of the crash was on a Thursday that was named shortly after, Black Thursday. The stock market fell 9%. Brokers thought that the decline could remedy itself since Friday the stock went up slightly. By Monday evening, the stock had fallen an additional 13%. The ticker tape machines that documented where every stock was at, was running behind by nearly 3 hours. By Tuesday, the stock had fallen an additional 12%, resulting in a 34% fall during 5 days. Although the market hadn't fully crashed in 1929, the decline was still happening, it wasn't until 1932 where the Dow had decreased 90% since Black Thursday in 1929. The Stock Market Crash was the first effect of the Great Depression, which lasted from 1929 to the late 1930's and early 40's.

Americans in the 20's as mentioned earlier were experimenting with many things including alcohol. The Prohibition was the government banning alcohol, the consumption and the sale of alcohol. Some people made their money on stocks, and some people made their money on the sale of alcohol, which was illegal as said in the Constitution. The people who sold alcohol were called 'bootleggers' and 'rum-runners'. These types of people were very popular in the 1920's to the 1930's, and were pretty widely known of in this period. The bootleggers made millions quickly, and it was all together a very risky occupation. American Literature has widely used the Prohibition in popular novels, including the Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby's main character Jay Gatsby is believed to be a bootlegger since he came into new money very quickly in his short life.

The Prohibition and the Stock Market Crash were two of the most influential events that happened within the 1920's. They didn't just last for a month or a year, they lasted for over a decade each. The 1920's was an influential era that saw a few highs, but mostly lows. American History has been widely changed since the Roaring Twenties and has had different effects on many things such as literature, fashion and most importantly, our history books. The 20's has been remembered for the outcome of great cinema and art of that decade. We can look back upon that era and take it as a learning experience, the great 20's will always be remembered.

Resources:
http://www.money-zine.com/Investing/Stocks/Stock-Market-Crash-of-1929/

Gatsby #21

I feel like Gatsby and Nick have some similarities in how they live. Gatsby seems really sporadic and spur of the moment, more so than Nick. While Nick still has some implied spontaneity, he doesn't throw extravagant parties and then if someone rips their dress, gets their address and sends them a new one. Gatsby and Nick seem to both like company, hence neither really have been alone when they are mentioned in the book. Although, Gatsby does like the finer things in life, and seems to always have something to say, whereas Nick lives a somewhat simple life, and tends to be quieter.

Blog 20

Now that you have finished Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby, respond to the following questions:

1. Who is the narrator? Describe his perspective, biases, character traits, etc.

The narrator is Nick Carraway and his perspective on richer people is kind of not so great, although he does wish to come into money. Nick seems more like he likes simpler things, and doesn't like the way he's living now. He's a veteran and lives in West Egg.

2. What do you think F. Scott Fiitzgerald accomplishes by chooses this specific narrator versus another choice, such as a different character or 3rd person?

I think it shows a more personal look into the book, it's easier to read something when you feel like your narrator actually knows what they're talking about. Usually a narrator that has the experiences can help connect better.

Blog #19

I think the most successful element of this video is the people in it. They're passionate, the draw emotion from the audience and it's all concentrated on them. Nothing fancy.

The message is to vote, it's simple, it's effective and you CAN make a difference, I know this because it's clearly stated in the video.

The intended audience is 18+ since that is the legal voting age in the United States.

The rule of thirds helps out the whole video because it's easy to look at, and the continuity is good, but it gets switched up still, the actors are always on different sides of the screen.

The rule of thirds is one specific thing that the producer did well with because it does like I said above and keeps it interesting.

I chose this because we saw the 5 Friends Unedited version and then I watched the second one 5 More Friends and thought it was interesting as well. It does a really good job of getting the message out of what the want you to do. Which would be Vote.

Honors Literature #2

Hallie Chavis

Honors Lit #2

10/28/09

In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex is a nonfiction novel written by Nathaniel Philbrick and is a National Book Award winner. It tells the story of not only the whaling ship the Essex, but it tells the story of Nantucket, Massachusetts and how whaling came to be. Back in the 19th century, whaling was done in lifeboats by shooting arrow shaped projectiles into the whales that were loaded with explosives. The idea was to shoot them with the arrow and wait for it to explode in the whale so that the whale couldn't escape or fight back. In the Heart of the Sea is a true story about when a whale fought back.

Personally, the most interesting parts of the novel are as follows, Henderson Island and the Essex crewmen on the island, the deaths and cannibalism, and finally, the rescue. Henderson Island is described as a small remote island that is completely uninhabited. The men don't know how to ration the materials and end up using all of the resources on the island, the men decide to leave the island in hopes of finding somewhere else to land. Although most of the crew left, three of the crewmen stayed behind, which seems like nonsense because as described previously, all the food and fresh water had been exhausted. The men were later rescued which is a feat in itself since they survived on the island for over 90+ days after the Essex had sunk.

Cannibalism takes up a huge portion of the story of the Essex. From the 8 people rescued, 7 seamen had been eaten for food by the other sailors. By this time, the men were suffering from tobacco withdrawals, edema and malnutrition amongst many others. They had random outbursts of anger and violence due to the lack of vital needs of their diet and an unhealthy amount of sodium in their systems. 95 days went by with the men on the lifeboats waiting for one another to die, when the Dauphin sailed up to them, they were so mentally unstable at that point they didn't even notice. In the book there was also a sacrifice that took place. One man had to shoot another man on the crew in order to eat him and provide at least a couple days nourishment. The irony is apparent as well, the man who was sacrificed was Owen Coffin, who sadly never got a proper burial.

The rescue was probably the most amazing part of the book. "On the morning of February 23, the crew of the Dauphin made a similar discovery. Looking down from a restless forest of spars and sails, they saw two men in a whaleboat filled with bones." (p. 188) The men were too weak to stand by themselves and were sucking on the dried out bones of their cannibalized crew. It was a traumatizing event, and everyone was shocked to find out that they had even survived 3 months with the conditions they were in. Although, Nantucketers had a quite large delay, the mail they would send would not reach them until a couple, if not a few months after it was written. The locals were oblivious to what had happened. Nonetheless, the rescue of all the lifeboats has made an immensely powerful story and was the inspiration for the great novel, Moby Dick by Herman Melville.

Honors Literature

Choose a classic novel from American history that relates to any time period prior to World War One. Read the novel and answer the following prompt:

(Hint: you are responding to the 1998 AP Literature Question)

In his essay "Walking," Henry David Thoreau offers the following assessment of literature:
"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.

MSB Blog #18

I really learned that I need to take a stand when my group gives me too much work and tell them that we need to divide it up evenly and it's unfair to push everything on me because I know the program InDesign the best. I should tell them that that's why we are here, to learn and make mistakes and learn from them.

During the Newspaper project I furthered my experience with professional critiques and working with Adobe InDesign. I feel as if the content of the newspaper was alright, the quality wasn't as great as it could have been but I feel like in the time frame we were given, we did the best we could. Taking this all from the Newspaper Project to MSB, I feel like I can really run the show myself. I can edit my own videos, I can write my own scripts, I can make my own storyboards and all together be the best I can be.

MSB Questions

Wow, this website is so amazing, I can't even begin to describe how helpful the author is with all of the information, videos, and real life events that happened and are happening now. I would like to find a way to interview someone in charge of the website or someone closely related to get a more personal look at the seals and how deeply affected some people are.

http://savesandiegoseals.com/

This website is very helpful because it gives very recent up to date news on how the saving of the seals is coming, recent/up and coming lawsuits concerning the seals etc... An interview with someone who runs this website or a representative would give me a more logical perspective on this issue.

http://www.lajollafriendsoftheseals.org/

This organization is non profit and shows you the steps to help protect the seals and who to address them to, how to make people aware and this is definitely something I could pass out and include in my video that I make.

http://www.oceanoutfallgroup.com/helpsealthedeal/

California Fish & Game Commission

The California Fish and Game Commission is in charge of, quite obviously fish and game, they also have the power to turn Casa Beach into a Marine Protected Area.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/

California Department of Justice

The California Department also has the power to ensure that Casa Beach remains protected and that the seals remain unharmed.

http://www.ag.ca.gov/

Congresswoman Susan Davis

Susan Davis has written a letter asking for the protection of Casa Beach addressed to the California Department of Justice. She is a key player in helping save the seals.

http://www.house.gov/susandavis/

Honors History Writing

Hallie Chavis

 

William McKinley: Next American Hero

 

 

 

William McKinley is running for President of the United States of America this year. He is concentrating heavily on protective tariffs and the gold standard.

 

Protective tariffs would mean the taxation on imported and/or exported goods. Taxation upon foreign goods would put a heavier stress on buying domestic goods which would ultimately help the people. More domestic buying means higher employment rates.

 

McKinley was quoted saying, “I am a tariff man, standing on a tariff platform.”

 

Criticism has been flying at McKinley who has been avoiding being labeled as a "monometallist" for concentrating on passing The Gold Standard Act.

 

McKinley was awarded "The Loving Cup" which has an inscription of the words "In Silver we Believe, When Redeemable in Gold..." by silversmiths who believe in the metallic money McKinley stands for."

 

McKinley has our best interest at heart. He will protect America and do what he determines is best for us. We are in struggling times, and with both candidates stressing heavily on the advantages and disadvantages of having tariffs and converting our money. Many are confused about who to give their vote to.

 

The president in running also has plans to annex Hawaii, he said “We need Hawaii just as much and a good deal more than we did California. It is Manifest Destiny.”

 

Annexing Hawaii would make it a permanent part of the United States of America, it would also allow us to set up a naval base there, since it is a body of land completely surrounded by water.  Along with annexing Hawaii, McKinley has annexed Puerto Rico, Guam and the former Spanish territory the Philippines. 

 

The working class makes up a large portion of America, and William McKinley recognizes that. He believes in the working class hero and that they are the roots of our country.

 

Modesty is a good quality of a president, and when it has to do with William McKinley, nothing rings truer. He is a humble man with great plans for our country. He has nothing but the best in his mind to help you and our great nation.

 

“I have never been in doubt since I was old enough to think intelligently that I would someday be made president.” Said McKinley.

Another great aspect of McKinley’s campaign is that he is focusing heavily on cultural pluralism.  Cultural Pluralism is when everyone individually chooses their own identity and religion to form a unique nation.

 

If we all choose our own identity, we wouldn’t have to worry about conforming everyone to one belief. McKinley is about the people. He cares about you personally and has shown it in his platform. You lead your own life, and you have your own individual rights.

 

Not only is cultural pluralism about religion, it’s about how you live your life, the food you eat, the music you listen to and the way you live. Voting for McKinley ensures the whole nation will get to live their life the way they want to. Everyone is accepted no matter their religion, their heritage, or anything of the sort.

 

The Front Porch Campaign has had a significant effect on the minds of voters everywhere. McKinley has made dozens of speeches in and around his hometown because that is the area he knows best. He can concentrate on areas based upon his experiences at home.

 

As far as credibility goes, McKinley is an American Civil War Veteran, so you can bet that he has experience with fast thinking and quick decisions. He is 54 years of age and has all the wisdom he could have possibly attained. He is not only prepared for the job, but he has experience dealing with political issues. He was the 39^th Governor of Ohio for 4 years and in that time, gained the experience necessary to become the 25^th President of the United States.

 

William McKinley is the breathe of fresh air that we need. He is immediate relief for our country and we are guaranteed that he will run in office to the best of his ability.

 

 

Media Saves the Beach Ideas & Comments

From Jasmine Roesner's blog, I realized that interviewing someone would help my project a lot. It started to get me thinking about my own video ideas. I'm happy about reading this blog, because I have started thinking more about my own project and it's outcome.

Jasmine Roesner---http://jasminemoniquer.blogspot.com/

From Emilie Colwell's blog, I noticed that her blog is very neat and easy to read, and has some great ideas for possible questions for my video, since I have to have something to yell into a microphone about!

Emilie Colwell---http://emilieheartsblog.blogspot.com/


From Deejay Rich's blog, I learned that other animals had been affected by our pollution and some questions he has about it. By looking at all 3 of their blogs that they posted, I have gotten a few more ideas toward my videos and what I could potentially be asking.

Deejay Rich---http://deejayplaysguitar.blogspot.com/

Story Excerpt

Post an excerpt from the story;

"The Coast Guard is responding to two oil spills reported this morning in San Diego Bay.

The first spill, covering about a quarter-mile off Shelter Island, was reported by workers at the High Seas Fuel dock there. The second, reported by a helicopter pilot, was spotted about a quarter-mile south of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, extending back toward the National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. yards."

1. What is the issue, controversy or event in the story? What are the basic facts?

The San Diego Bay had two reported oil spills in one day a few months ago. The spills happened around Shelter Island and near the Coronado Bridge.

2. What information is missing from the story?

Some necessary information would be did they clean it? Were any animals or sealife or people harmed?

3. What would be your next steps if you were creating a follow up to this story?

If I were recreating a follow up story to this, I would answer the questions I asked above, and reference other oil spills and their effects. Probably also talk about previous SD oil spills.

Huckleberry Finn

Many fictional books, and even non-fictional books constantly are centered around a character having to choose between two things. More often than not, the character in their attempt to find the correct answer/right way to go, is faced with a decision. As is the case for Huckleberry Finn. Typically, the characters choices are somewhere in between the lines of a choice that will benefit them and their crowd of friends which is not necessarily right or correct, versus a choice that will benefit one person, the underdog, the one no one will stick up for and in the short term the character will not benefit positively from this choice.

Huckleberry Finn has an abusive father and he is placed under the care of Widow Douglas and Mrs. Watson, two unbearably dull people. Huck Finn is smart, although not civilized or accustomed to being a proper gentleman, he is smart. He fakes his own death and proceeds to the Mississippi River. He runs into Mrs. Watson’s slave Jim, and the two embark on an adventure down the Mississippi River to Illinois. During this time, Jim describes to Huckleberry his life and his past. They come to a common understanding and during a trip to town, Huck Finn dresses as a girl, and discovers that there is a $300 reward for Jim’s capture, due to the belief that he killed Huckleberry. Huck warns Jim of the danger and they continue down the River.

Huck Finn has to think fast, does he turn Jim in and admit he isn’t really dead? After a series of events leading up to Jim’s capture and being sold to Tom Sawyers aunt and uncle, Huck realizes he needs to help Jim and needs to help him become a free man. Huck manages to take Jim back with the help of Tom Sawyer and in the process reveals he is not dead quite obviously. He also makes sure that people know Jim genuinely is a good, kind person and he just wants to be free. Huck Finn’s viewpoint of Jim changes in a completely different way. The first chapter in the book is a juxtaposition with the end of the book, Tom sneaks Huck out past Jim and in the end Tom and Huck are the ones sneaking Jim out from his new owners.

Against all odds, Huck befriends an African-American and learns that everyone just wants to be free. In the book, he questions his past beliefs and what was drilled into his mind as a child, he reconsiders his thoughts about Jim and how he is a slave. The book goes through many transitions and is completely different than how it started in the beginning, Jim is the common ignorant black slave, and Huck Finn is a rebellious young boy. Huck realizes that Jim is "white underneath" and understands that not everything you are taught is factual.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has a powerful message with the line, "All right then, I'll go to hell" for Jim and for him to become a free man. The reader really senses a strong connection come to be throughout the novel between Jim and Huck, and it adds to the emotion of the story. Identity is a strong aspect of this novel, and it displays a good tie between a young boy with conflicting emotions and confused about his identity, and the message of the story. The story was written after the Civil War when black rights were extremely limited and the stereotype about African Americans was that they were the slaves, always have been and always will be. Mark Twain is an exceptional writer and I'm sure changed many decisions about Black Codes and blacks in general. Even published in 1884, it still is relevant to differing identity changes in modern time.

MSB Questions

List at least three questions that interest you for Media Saves the Beach! For each question, provide a little context, so we know where your thoughts are headed, why you thought of it, what you might do to answer it, etc.

Is there more than one Gyre in the world?
-I think this would be very interesting to learn about and potentially make a video about, for the fact that we already know widely of one Gyre, the Eastern Pacific Gyre, but is there another one?

How are the currents affecting more populated areas of housing?

-Could branch off of it and go into something about Sunset Cliffs and how it's populated and people are trying to shut down the arch because of the currents being unsafe.

Are whales or other large sea animals effected from the pollution?

-WHALE WATCHING! Test some water or get results from Coast Keeper and see if the water further out is infected with bacteria as well.

Honors History Writing

The Redneck Ride


There have been mainly two beliefs about the Civil Wars ending, that it was the start of modern America and it was the second Revolution. Well it was both. The Southern states are known for their pride in the Confederacy and their history in the Civil War. Their pride so much in the Confederacy that they would parade Confederate Flags around that were as popular as 7/11’s in Southern California. The pride that Southerners have in their history and town may seem like a good thing right off the bat, but in turn, it cost a 19 year old his life. Michael Westerman graduated from Todd Central High School, and their mascot was the Rebels. Naturally, with a mascot that’s a Rebel, you can assume the Confederate Flag will be included into it. A truckload of African-American teenagers chased the car all the way to the Kentucky-Tennessee border and fired shots into the red Confederate clad car.

The Ku Klux Klan and the Badass Black Brothers are racially heated groups that will stop at nothing to achieve what they want. Most known, the KKK has a few sister groups if you will, the Red Shirts and the White League. These were predominantly around in the later 1800’s and were basically mini-militia that would take care of people that were in the way for the better of the Confederacy, you could say. The KKK even goes as far to have their own website to talk about their goals, articles on “Jews Favored in Russia”, a Twitter you can follow them on, and a poorly constructed ceramic glazed figurine of a Klansmen ‘heiling Hitler’ which is available for purchase.

Segregation is more commonly linked to the 1960’s and overcoming. That’s not the case for this story. “…Redbone himself, a ruddy-bearded man, stood behind the bar wearing a polka-dot cap and a T-shirt adorned with a swastika. He served me a beer, then turned to chat with a man whose shirtfront proclaimed, "I've Got a N****r in my Family Tree." The back of the shirt showed a lynching - a black man dangling from a branch.” (Dying for Dixie, 89) Clearly there’s still some hostility toward African-Americans. This quote was published in “Dying for Dixie” by Tony Horwitz in 1995, when Horwitz, journalist, was researching the death of M. Westerman in his hometown of Todd County, Kentucky. Many white Southerners liked to consider themselves a “Redneck”, much like Michael Westerman, who had a “Redneck Ride” decal on his Chevy, which was accompanied by the Confederate Flag waving in the Kentucky wind.

There is a multitude of hate-crimes that occur everyday. There were people who got beaten because they didn’t support Prop 8, which was trying to finalize that gays and lesbians could not be wed, but could only participate in a “civil union”. There was a racially heated hate crime that happened within a few weeks ago of a black fisherman, because a trio of white males didn’t like the color of his skin. They however did mention that if the color of his skin had been white, the fight would not have been provoked. It seems we have come so far, at least with technology and you would think with segregation and racism since Barack Obama is clearly not white. It’s disheartening to see how children are raised now with a pure hate for other races, to think that other people should be below them, and still working for them—with the new technological age, it’s getting easier and easier to find things out on the internet, and find places where the KKK is meeting, they’ve even got their own website! It’s too easy to gain access to these things.

How is the war over if there is still a shooting war happening? It apparently doesn’t count if there’s no publicity while it’s being fought. The end of the Civil War marked nothing but the end of a chapter in history books. It started a Revolution, it modernized America, Mr. Westerman, Michael’s dad was quoted saying, “They say that war ended a long time ago. But around here it's like it's still going on.” (Dying for Dixie, 124) Michael Westerman was shot to death on January 14, 1995 with his wife Hannah Westerman driving to their first date since their twin daughters births 5 weeks prior.







1. "Metro Briefs - Washington Times." Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News. Ed. Washington Times. Web. 02 Oct. 2009. .
2. Horwitz, Tony. Dying for Dixie. Confederates In The Attic. Pantheon, 1998. Print.
3. "The Knights Party." What is White Christian Revival. Web. 02 Oct. 2009.

Media Saves the Beach in News

"For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to limit the quantity of toxic metals that coal-fired power plants release into waterways. The agency said Tuesday that equipment required to reduce pollution in the air has increased harmful contaminants in water discharged by power plants, particularly heavy metals such as selenium, cadmium, mercury and lead. Current regulations do nothing to control metals and are not enough to protect water quality and wildlife, the agency said."

The issue this article is talking about is about power plants not filtering out toxic metals in the water that are pumping out into waterways. The article mentioned that there was research done and of all of the power plants in America, only a small amount are using the necessary equipment to lessen the amount of metals in the water they are sending out. The EPA has released a due date for the project, which is in 2012, but the administrator, Lisa Jackson is pushing for an earlier due date as a result of a toxic spill in Tennessee that killed acres of wildlife and damaged homes.

I feel like this article links to our field trip today, we took water samplings of the polluted water at Ocean Beach. Due to the raw sewage spill that went through the San Diego River watershed, it flowed out into the dog beach in OB. We went out and tested the water, and are going to see our results tomorrow. Aside from the obvious, it ties in with our class and how we are testing water quality, we're seeing what the quality of water is that we are swimming in and surfing in. As far as Media Saves the Beach goes, it's practically the same. The EPA wants cleaner water, we want cleaner water, we're sampling areas of water, so are they. We are doing the same thing that the EPA is doing, by making sure that the water in our area is as clean as it can be.

If you want more information regarding this topic, go to the Environmental Protection Agency's website at www.epa.gov.

*If you want to check out the article and read the rest, click http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/15/us-power-plant-pollution-091509/?politics&zIndex=166281

MSB- The Beginning

What ideas do you have for Media Saves the Beach? What content interests you? What projects might you create?

I really don't know what I want to do for MSB. I want it to be original and unlike anyone else's, but I'm having trouble coming up with an idea that will communicate what we are learning with photography and with what I'm interested in. Watching Jessica Matthew's video on the Great Plastic Gyre really interested me actually. I first learned about it last year in Charlene's class and it has always fascinated me. I might tie something in with Dog Beach in Encinitas. I know it's far, but it's a gorgeous beach and I definitely think that it has potential for a great photojournalism project. I'm sure you can tell so far that I want to do photography as my final product. I have already taken a great interest in photography and I don't want to take pictures of Ocean Beach like everyone else in Randy's class. I want to do Encinitas because I think it would be a great place to connect that there are other creatures that need clean water too! Randy spoke about how we need to make a difference, not just make people think about it, make them ACT. I want to emphasize how important it is that clean water and water testing is a necessary thing. The La Jolla Cove is home to dozens of sea lions who's home is in danger! We need to make an impact NOW, time is running out.

HOLD ON, IDEA BURST!

I want to do a video now, I want to do it with 3 things, a bullhorn, knowledge, and a videocamera. I want to make it like the non smoking commercials where I just scream a bunch of facts and have a crowd drawn around me, I can make it short and sweet and by doing so I can raise awareness. I would like to concentrate on all the major beaches in San Diego, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach/Bay, Pacific Beach and most importantly, La Jolla Cove.

Final

My father has always been the biggest musical influence in my life. I grew up with bands like the Beastie Boys, Guns N' Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and various Starbucks mixes that included many Jamaican and Afro-Cuban beats. Ever since I was a little girl music has always been in my life, probably more than it should be. I remember the first time I heard the song "Scar Tissue" was at a friends birthday party, probably in 3rd or 4th grade I had heard it before obviously but for some reason the impact of the song hit me like a train, full force and in your face. The lyrics were amazing to me yet for some reason, there was nothing special about them. I didn't fully understand drugs or drug abuse in 3rd grade, but I loved the calm melody, and the fact that just by hearing 4 seconds of the introduction, everyone in the room can sing along. From that moment on, the Red Hot Chili Peppers had moved their way into my life, quickly and violently.
I was always the little girl who would talk a lot during class, too much teachers would say. I never really felt like I had enough attention on me throughout the day. One of my first rebellious acts was sneaking into my 3rd grade teacher’s classroom and stealing her gummy bears she would give the class. I never knew that I would turn out how I did today. Born in Carlsbad, I lived the suburban life, but, growing up my parents were continuously splitting up until finally my mom announced to me that they would be getting a divorce. For the next couple years or so I became the child of your nightmares. I was rebellious, I would scream and cry and shriek that I wanted my mommy or my daddy (depending on who's house I was at at the time) and I was never satisfied with anything. For as long as I can remember I've had issues expressing my anger and my emotions—I had nothing to take it out on, or channel that energy into.
Around 3 years ago I picked up the book "Scar Tissue." A biography on Anthony Kiedis, instantly drawn in I read it, and read it, and read it. I fell completely head over heels in love with Anthony Kiedis. He was heavily into drugs and was stuck in a downward spiral. I read this book and all I could think about was how amazing of a job Anthony did when he was getting sober. He's been sober since early 2001 and continues to live that way. He inspired me to keep doing what I love and to keep on aspiring to get what I want to do done. Where we do differ though, is our "outlet" you could say, he chose music, I chose photography. I’ve had people ask me how I dealt with my parents divorce, I tell them art. I live by the quote “Fashion is Art, Art is Love, Love is Real.” I believe in all of that one hundred percent. I live for fashion, art and love, I believe I am a continuum of Anthony Kiedis because I have helped other people who are in a “broken family” and I will continue to help. I'm learning to control my emotions and feelings by channeling it into my art. I don't accept anything less than the best I can do from myself and I push myself to the extreme to achieve. I'm currently in a gallery in Escondido where a couple of my photos are displayed and up for sale. I have never been more proud of myself in my life. Pride in knowing that I am a self-made artist and I can get what I want is one of the best feelings I have ever had. Anthony Kiedis and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have changed my life, and the way I look at some things. I am no longer the child of your nightmares, I am the teenager that has dreams and will make them happen.

Behind the Scenes of Anthony Kiedis:

Books-

1. Sloman, Larry. Scar Tissue. Hyperion Books, 2005.

Songs-

2. Kiedis, Anthony. "Scar Tissue." Rec. 25 May 1999. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Rick Rubin, 1999.

King of the Chili Peppers

Photography Happenings

Since I already took my picture, or two of my pictures, I am going to tell which ones I used!

-Posed Portrait

Since I was copying a picture of Anthony Kiedis that had already been taken, I had to mock his positioning and do everything very precisely. I feel it helped match the magnitude of the photo.

-Contrast

I chose for my images to be a little more high contrast to put my own artistic touch on my photo, so its not just a complete mock image of a cover or a shoot Kiedis did.

-Backlighting

I had a white sheet by the camera so the light would catch on a certain side of my face, and I used the shadows to my advantage since his pictures there is a bit of shadow on each side of him.