Wired Magazine Article "Gone"

The main thing that intrigued me about this article was how difficult it was for this man to drop off the grid. It is not that hard to get rid of your physical things and leave, but a digital trail is much harder to cover up. I did not realize that simply going on a web site or going through a toll booth can give away your location. After reading the article, I wondered why he kept on going online. Although it gave him information about what the hunters were doing, it was a easy way to be tracked. I also wondered how much money was being spent on the search. With the prize being just 5000 dollars, it seemed like people were putting in a lot of time and money into the search.

I think that it is not possible to disappear in the digital world. Although you can use programs like Tor,they can be hacked with enough time. The story relates to Into the Wild because he tries to go off the grid without telling any family or friends. He also searches and loses him identity. We see the narrator in Invisible man search for identity as well. Because they are both placed in a new environment, they no lose some of who they were, and begin to gain self-knowledge. The mans fake name is James Gatz, which is Gatsby's real name in The Great Gatsby. Like Into the Wild, I am confused as to why anyone would go off on their ow with out telling anyone. Whether they are unhappy with where they are at now, or want to search for who they are, it doesnt make sense.

IR Blog Post 3-Arts Feed

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/flickgrrl/Why_is_the_Movie_Ratings_Board_Stricter_on_Sex_Than_on_Violence.html http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100113224843AA8VnS4


Carrie Rickey's Blog-

Why is the Movie Ratings Board Stricter on Sex Than on Violence?

Many movie rating committees have been very inconsistent with their rating. They have been especially strict on sex in movies. They allow a woman to be murdered on screen, but cannot allow any nudity. This has connotations that they dont mind if American teenagers see murders. "The MPAA has no authority at all" ( link above). This person says that the MPAA has no authority over what a rating of a movie gets. Carrie says that the MPAA is strict and makes the rules when it seems as if they dont. To me, this just adds to the inconsistency with movie ratings. Where needs to be a better system in place.

Questions:
How have ratings changed from the past?
What are rating like in other countries?

Vocab:
None

IR Blog Post 3-Entertainment Feed

http://www.denverpost.com/paige

Woody Paige's Blog-All we are saying is, give Tebow a chance

The Broncos have had one of the worst seasons in their franchise's history, yet they wont play their first round pick. Tim Tebow has to best selling jersey in the NFL and was a Heisman Trphy winner and they wont even give him a chance. After Kyle Orton injured his ribs late in the game, Tebow began throwing a few passes. He had the longest run of the Broncos worst season. When Tebow was asked how he felt about not being played, he responded by saying that he is competitive. As shown by high great college career, Tim knows how to work hard and more importantly how to play football with passion. After having one of the greatest college seasons ever, I think Tebow deserves a shot. "Amid deafening chants of “Tim Tebow!”, Broncos interim coach Eric Studesville’s Kyle Orton-led Broncos blundered their way to a fourth straight loss Sunday, a 43-13 embarrassment against the Arizona Cardinals (4-9) that dropped the Broncos to an unfathomable 3-10 record." (Montgomery-http://broncotalk.net/2010/12/19931/broncos-news/cries-for-tebow-reach-deafening-heights-as-broncos-fall-to-cardinals-43-13/) Even when the Broncos were away in Arizona, there were still chants for Tim to get in the game. As an injured team having an awful season, giving Tebow a chance would give him experience an maybe confidence for the future.

Questions:
Are they worried about Tebow getting injured?
How does Tebow truly feel about this situation?
Why do the Broncos seem to ignore the fact that they have one of the best college players in history?

Vocab
None

IR Blog Post 3-Political Feed

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=321&sid=399552

Michael Medved's Blog-Blocking Tax Hikes is no Giveaway

Because the government has postponed the tax hike, liberals are upset. They think that the Republican party is trying to give away money to the millionaires. Republicans just want to keep taxes where they are at right now. The do not want to give up any more of their incomes, nor do they think keeping more will help the economic situation. People who are creating jobs cannot afford a large tax hike which would make the economy struggle. It seems that this is the best decision, considering the circumstances. "this wasn’t really a deal; more like the Democrats finally admitting that they didn’t have the guts to raise taxes in the middle of a sour economy." (Lane-http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2010/12/06/obama-retreats-on-tax-hike/) I agree that the main reason why the tax hike did not occur was because of the poor economy. Some reports of Obama's retreat say that it was a "deal", meaning the Democrats got something in return. I think that it was the economy that gave conservatives an early Christmas present.

Questions:
What could the Democrats have gotten in return?
Who actually won this battle"
What does this mean for the next presidential election? (tax hike is scheduled to begin around the next election)

Vocab:
None

Theme #3 Reflection

On your blogs, please post a response to the following:

1. How did you do with this Theme? How did you feel about how you thought you did compared to the grade you received? What did you do well?

I did well with theme 3. I feel like my grade does reflect my effort into the theme. I think that I conveyed my message very well.

2. What are some opportunity areas for you with your writing? (specific to FCA's)

I think that I could have incorporated a little more imagery into the poem. Although I had a lot, it would have had a bigger impact on the audience if I got more specific.


3. What can you improve for next time? (Overall- process, amount of time, etc.)

I think that I should have a had a few more people rad my poem because I could have made it sound and flow better.

IR Blog Post 2- Arts Feed

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20101117_harry_potter.htm

The new movie "Tangled" was reviewed by movie critic, Carrie Rickey. She did not seem to enjoy the movie very much. To her, it seemed like it did not have enough emotion in it. Most cartoon-pixar movies have an emotional undercurrent that appeals to the viewers. The movie also seems like it was tweaked into an action movie, probably to appeal to the boys. (http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Movies/2010/1124/Tangled-movie-review) "Once upon a time, the Disney 3-D animated movie musical “Tangled” was going to be called “Rapunzel.” But then the big, bad “Princess and the Frog” had disappointing grosses and studio executives worried that maybe having “princess” in the title of a movie was too girly." (Rainer). This critic agrees with the article and me that some of the boys would be less atracted to the movie because of its "girly" aspects. Because the movie is about a princess, most boys wont want to see it. In 3D, the effects were very good. This movie does not compare to Mulan, a classic. Mulan did not need tweaking to become an action movie, meanwhile Tangled did. This took away from its quality. Rapunzel's hair has special powers. She can turn it into a lasso or a whip, which allows her to defeat her enemies. Tangled does not see like a horrible movie, but it is not for me.

Questions:
What are some movies that compare to this one?
How much will the movie make?

Vocab:
none.

IR Blog Post 2- Political Feed

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=321&sid=394997

Throughout history, the Republican party has shown many trends. The one that this article discusses is the trend of nominating the safest choice. With rare exceptions, the Republican's will nominate the current holders of power, or the runners up from the previous year. Because of this trend, we can make an educated guess that Mitt is going to be the nomination in 2012 for the republicans. The Democratic party on the other hand likes to nominate the dark horse candidate. They usually bring a new face to nomination. (http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/79184/next-why-sarah-palin-and-mitt-romney-are-overrated) "that Republicans habitually nominate whoever is next in line" (Bernstein). This article agrees with me and Medved's opinion that Romney will be nominated because he is the next in line. He is the safest choice with the most experience.

Questions:
Who will the Democrats nominate?
Why do the Democrats like to bring new faces to nomination every year?

Vocab:
Gaffe-noun-social blunder

IR Blog Post 2- Entertainment Feed

http://www.denverpost.com/paige

The Denver Broncos have been called the laughingstock of the NFL. Who better to return to the team and restore their tradition of success than John Elway. Recently, there has been talk about this being a possibility. The football legend has said that if offered a job, he would take on a bigger role in the team, making the important decisions. Elway has played in 5 super bowls and won two of them. This experience is just what the broncos may need. John has co-owned an arena football team that has won a championship. Maybe some the the same results could occer for the Broncos, although not every problem will be fixed. His presence with the team would certainly bring a better image to the team, hopefully bringing more wins. I think that this is a great option for the team and they should take advantage of bringing a veteran to the locker room. (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/426093-denver-broncos-a-mile-high-with-the-return-of-john-elway) "In my opinion, this could be one of the best roles for Elway to fill. Who knows what it takes to build a championship caliber team better than the two-time Super Bowl champion John Elway?" (Chatterton). This article agrees with me that Elway's reputation of leading a team to wins is great for the failing franchise.

Questions:
How involved was Elway before his option to take over the executive manger spot?
Besides his experience, how can having a new manager correlate to wins?
What will happen to the coach and former executive manager?

Vocab:
None.

IM Prologue

I see the main character of Invisible Man living in his "hole". There are over a thousand lights because he is trying to get back at the power company. This tells me that he is trying to find ways to fight back against the racists. He is also alone in his home, which tells me that he is probably very lonely. He is also in the basement, maybe symbolizing that he is below the white people that live in the same building.

IR Blog Post 1-Entertainment Feed 1

Woody Paige's Blog

Title: Nuggets have the pie, Melo's suitors crumbs

http://www.denverpost.com/paige

Carmelo Anthony played the New York Knicks and demolished their defense. After he was asked about if he ever considered playing for them he said he never thought of it. Although the didnt look like a championship team, you have to wonder if Carmelo actually wanted to stay. Over the summer there were several trade rumors that Anthony would end up going to NY. (http://www.prosportsdaily.com/nba/knicks/rumors.html) This Knicks trade rumors site proves my opinion that Anthony actually wanted to be traded. Because the Nuggets are on their way down and the Knicks are a team that is trying to build a dynasty, he had to have wanted to join their squad. Denver simply needs to win games in order to keep Anthony's interest. Harrington and Anthony combined for 42 points which cause them to win the game. With more games like this, they will be in the running for a playoff spot. Although Carmelo was offered a whopping 65 million to stay, he still expressed interest in other teams.

Questions:
Does Carmelo deserve all of the money he gets?
Do the people of Denver still like Carmelo even though he tried to leave?

Vocab:
None

IR Blog Post 1-Political Feed 1

Michael Medved's Blog

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=320

Title: The real winners of 2010: "The Party of Whatever Works"

Just recently in politics, the election results came in showing that there was a huge swing back toward the Republicans. The article discusses why we have such violent pendulum swings between parties. On average, the control changes every 2-6 years. If people feel that their lives are good and the nation seems to be doing well, they will stick with the party in power no matter what. If they start to feel like their lives are going downward, they will vote for the party out of power. This is the reason for these swings. After the Republican's were shoved out of power because of several "poor" decisions, Obama was put into office. Now, after Obama has been in power for a considerable amount of time, unemployment rates are still above 8%. Therefore, because people are unhappy, they will vote for the party out of power. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/02/poll-closing-key-east-coast-races-balance-power-line/) "Riding a wave of voter frustration over the economy and the federal government itself, the Republican Party sailed into the majority in the House of Representatives Tuesday with victories projected to be on a scale not seen since the end of the New Deal. " This article agrees with my opinion that because there are problems in America right now, people voted for the out-of-power party.

Questions:
Would it be easier to try to keep one party in office?
Has it been enough time to have a switch in power?
Are the problems too big for the Republicans to fix and if they are not fixed will they be thrown out of power once again?

Vocab:
dubious-adj. doubtful

IR Blog Post 1-ArtsFeed 1

Carrie Rickey's Blog

Title:

Harry Potter and friends on a quest to save Hogwarts, themselves, and the world

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20101117_harry_potter.html

Carrie Rickey is a popular movie reviewer. She recently reviewed the new Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The main plot of the movie is that Ron, Hermione, and Harry go off on their own in search on the horcruxes in whch Voldemort's soul has been split into. The final part of the Harry Potter series has been slit into two movies. Rickey originally thought that it was because of the money but then agrees with this decision because it allows the situation to sink in. I do not agree with Rickey's opinion that the romantic relationship should be between Hermione and Harry rather than with Ron because then it would leave Ron out of the picture. Harry has always had some girl that he liked which, in my opinion, is why they never would have ended up together. Although the movie does not really show all of these small relationships, the books do. (http://www.suite101.com/content/review-harry-potter-and-the-halfblood-prince-a132729) The movie review from the previous movie says that it focused on teen relationships. This is probably why Rickey was expecting there to be more coverage on the relationship. And with a movie with three 18 year olds traveling solo, you might expect some relationships to start.

Further Questions:
Does this movie have a twist ending?
Does the fact that the actors are getting older change how you view the movie ?

Vocab
penultimate-adj. next to last
heretic-noun. does not conform to an established attitude, doctrineor principle.

IM Introduction, Ellison Bio, and UbD Post

Ralph Ellison, the author of Invisible Man,shocked the readers of the 1950's because he wrote the first book about what it meant to be black in America. Through out his childhood and early days in his career, we can see what influenced his writing the most. Although he didnt grow up in the best conditions, he was able to become a famous author and civil rights spokesman.
Economically, Ellison was not a wealthy person while growing up. He was able to use his intelligence and talent to get a scholarship to an all black college in Alabama. After he had begun to build his future, the great depression left him poor and in search of a job. He also became a major spokesman for the civil rights movement which is why this story includes many racial protests. He also lived in the deep south where racism was at its strongest. Because he experienced racism first-hand, his experiences will be in the writing.
Invisible Man started when Richard Wright convinced Ellison to try writing for a living. He took a job interviewing for the Federal Writers Project. The experiences that he ad with the interviewing. The experiences fueled his stories when one day he wrote "I am an invisible man". This incredible sentence led to over 500 pages of writing. This is one sentence with a lot of meaning.

Themes #1 & #2 Reflection

1. How did you do with these Themes? How did you feel about how you thought you did compared to the grade you received? What did you do well?

I did a great job with theme 1. I used the basic principles that I learned in cross country to show how they applied to a life experience. For theme 2, I created a resume and cover letter for Jordan Baker. I got A's on both of the themes and I think that I deserved them because I put a lot of work into editing my papers. I did well in using proper vocab, including relevant details, and having good awareness of the audience.

2. What are some opportunity areas for you with your writing?

The main area where I did not do as well as I would have liked was using appropriate structure. Although I used a resume format, I may not have been correct to the 1920's. My college essay theme lost a few points when answering the prompt. It was not a big issue but the conclusion should tie it up better.


3. What can you improve for next time?

Next time, I would probably get a few more people to read my theme because I think there were some things that could easily be improved. I could have done a little more research on how a 1920's theme is written.

The Great Gatsby Final Project

http://prezi.com/ihts1tqdca3k/the-great-gatsby-project/

Through the occurrences of the 1920s and the Great Gatsby it is apparent that when one lingers in the past, hides behind lies, and lives a reckless lifestyle, corruption is inevitable.

3. A brief overview of your project: what were you trying to show? How?

We did our project as a prezi. We were trying to use this technology to show how the characters, themes, and historical context from the Great Gatsby support our thesis and will cause corruption. We use quotes from the novel to show how the characters linger in the past, live reckless lifestyles, and hide behind lies.

4. Your experience working with the Web 2.0 tool you chose. Would you use it again? Why or Why not?

No one in my group had used prezi before but it was a great tool. There was a tutorial that taught use how to use it. I would use it again because it was simple to use and displayed information very well.

5. Overall: What went well? What would you change for next time?

Gathering the quotes and information that we needed went well. We had a google doc that we put our info on and copied the info into our prezi. I would try to use our time more productively.

IR Project #1- Digital Storytelling

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/education/murder-on-the-orient-express-4947137

Answer the following questions:
1. Describe the overall jist behind your Project (include which Web 2.0 tool you chose). What were you trying to show about your book/story? What were 2 of your most meaningful or descriptive parts to your Project?

I used mix book to create a case file. Since my book was a mystery, I decided that making a case file would be the best way to address th project requirements. I was trying to show that my book involved several clues that led to the conclusion of the murder case. The narrator of the story was a detective who was very perceptive which is why I thought a case file would be a great choice. The two most meaningful parts of my project was the case summary, where I tell the begining of the stroy, up to the murder. The second most meaningful aspect was the evidence section. This was where I took evidence from the story, including pictures and quotes, and compiled them together. This looks like a realistic case file.


2. What did you think about using the tool you chose, and what did you learn while using this Web 2.0 tool? Did you like synthesizing your IR book in this manner?

I liked the mix book tool. I learned how to use the basics of the site. I also learned that some of the things you can do are interesting, but limited. I enjoyed synthesizing my IR book but maybe a hard copy would have been more effective.

3. Overall, did you enjoy the novel you chose? Why or why not? What type of novel might you pick for the 2nd m.p.?

Overall, I enjoyed the IR book in the end. At points, the books became a little slow to me, but the ending helped me enjoy it more. I think I would like a novel with more action in the second m.p..

Chapter 9-Gatsby Reflection

How do authors use the resources of language to impact an audience?

Authors use the resources of language to impact an audience by creating a feeling or foreshadowing an event. Authors use language to create a vivid picture to help the reader understand every important detail. Descriptions become extremely important in The Great Gatsby because every detail of the story comes back in the end. By using certain colors or environments, it can make the audience feel an emotion. Fitzgerald uses colors a lot when he writes. Using dark, pale, and cool colors creates a feeling of death and foreshadows something bad is coming. Using white or clean colors can show that something is clean and pure. He can also change his sentence structure to create a scene. When he describes Daisy and Gatsby meeting again after five years, he uses short and choppy sentences to create and awkward feeling. Using larger sentences can show that something is interesting and very important. Fitzgerald used longer sentences when describing Gatsby's house and parties. This was probably because they were very interesting. Dialogue is also a resource of language. It is used in every story because it is a very effective way to impact and audience. Dialogue can show the reader how the character is feeling. It can also create a feeling in the reader. Vocabulary is important is writing. Fitzgerald uses larger vocabulary when using dialogue with the wealthier people. The shows that they are better educated than the poorer people in the story, who use basic vocabulary. These are the resources of language that every author uses to impact the audience.

Independent Reading- MP 1 (Post #2)

Jot down some notes on the following:
- Setting(s)
All of part 2 takes place on the train. They look into some of the compartments and living quarters to interview some of the people surrounding the murder.
- Plot/Topic (the basic plot so far, or the topic your book is about)
At this point in the story, Poirot is interviewing people to see who was around at the time of the murder. They see that most of the people saw a mysterious women who was walking the hallway most of the night. She was wearing a scarf with a dragon on it. Once the train makes a stop, they search the train for someone who is hiding. Because they dont find anyone, they think that the murderer has gotten off the train.
- Characters/People (any main characters/people you have met so far and what they are like--you could include direct/indirect characterization if you'd like)
Poirot-A detective and the protagonist of the story.
Ratchet-the man who is murdered. (Cassetti)
Mr. and Mrs. McQueen- A couple who met Samuel Ratchet and was interviewed by Poirot after the Murder.

- Theme/Message/Main Point (what you think the message this books is trying to convey may be)
Again, I see a lot of stress on social classes. Poirot is going thrugh the train which causes the reader to see each social class.

- Anything else that you feel is important to share about the IR book

Gatsby-Chapter 3

In chapter three of The Great Gatsby, we see the idea of the "good life" in the 1920's. This includes big luxurious parties with live music, nice clothes, alcohol, and women. Gatsby lives the good life by living in a mansion and filling his house with interesting people. His enourmous wealth allows his to have his own personal beach and pool. My idea of the good life is being rich and having good health. People in the 1920's did not seem to care much about their health because of all the eating ad drinking they did. I consider good health being a necessary part of the "good life" because without your health, you cannot do much. With money, family, and friends, life is great.

Here is an image that represents the "good life".

UbD & F. Scott Fitzgerald

After reading the UbD/Big Picture Overview for The Great Gatsby & the short bio on F. Scott Fitzgerald, I think that we will see themes about love causing pain. Fitzgerald had many problems in his love life which were very traumatic. His wife once left him because he wasnt making enough money, then once he became famous married him again. after his wife came back to him, she had a breakdown and died in the hospital. We might also see themes about the effect of war on people. The story takes place during WWI, so we will probably see how war affects his life. In the end, Fitzgerald died an alcoholic believing that he was a failure because his works were not appreciated until after his death. Fitzgerald had many adversities and obstacles in his life which many cause him to have depressing themes. A discussion topic could be how did his relationship with women affect his writing. He may have been very sexist in his themes.

Independent Reading- MP 1

Murder on the Orient Express
Agatha Christie
Pages/Chapters Due...
9.30:Part 1
10.18:Part 2
10.28 (project due today as well):Part 3

- Setting(s)

The story has taken place on two trains so far. Both of them located in Istanbul. The train where most of the story has taken place was on the Orient Express. It is the 1920's.
- Plot/Topic (the basic plot so far, or the topic your book is about)

Poirot is a detective who is riding the Orient Express. While waiting for the train in the hotel, he meets several English couples. One of which, Ratchet, knows of Poirot's detective work and would like for Poirot to protect him while on the train because he thinks someone is after him. He offers 20,000 dollars but Poirot denies him. While he is on the train, he hears noises which causes him to stay awake though out the night. While awake he feels the train stop and he walks outside of his room. The conductor tell Poirot that Ratchet is dead with 10-15 stab wounds and asks Poirot if he will accept the case. He does and begins searching the room for clues and interviewing his "friends".

- Characters/People (any main characters/people you have met so far and what they are like--you could include direct/indirect characterization if you'd like)

Poirot-A detective and the protagonist of the story.
Ratchet-the man who is murdered.
Mr. and Mrs. McQueen- A couple who met Samuel Ratchet and was interviewed by Poirot after the Murder.

- Theme/Message/Main Point (what you think the message this books is trying to convey may be)

So far, Agatha Christie has made the point that social classes are very rigid and important. In the story Poirot is denied first class seating on the express because it was crowded which was a very big deal.

- Anything else that you feel is important to share about the IR book

There are a lot of small characters that may end up playing a larger role. For now, there is not enough information about them to tell if they are important.

Hills Like White Elephants

In the story, there are two tourists who are waiting in a train station. The man is telling the girl to do something, but it is left unsaid. Because it is not stated, it is probably something mysterious or different. The girl mentions that the hills look like white elephants. Because this is also the title of the story, it must have some symbolism. She mentions the line of hills in the distance. Hills in other stories are things that need to be overcome. These hills could represent some obstacles in the distance. At the end of the story the man moves their bags and looks down the tracks for the train. He sees nothing coming and drinks alone. This could show that he doesn't think their relationship is going anywhere which explains why he has a drink by himself.

What is your Flavor?

Mystery:
I enjoy mysteries because they keep me interested. They keep me thinking and analyzing the story because I am always searching for clues and details about the story. Foreshadowing and tone are very important in this genre. In the book, And Then Their Were None an enticing mystery was formed about who was killing off members of the party. Reading to find clues caused me to read deeply into the characters emotions.

Underdog:
I love to watch underdog stories because they are very inspiring. Most of these types of stories are unique and based off of a true story. As a sports fan, I love underdog stories because many of them involve sports teams. In the movie Miracle, the USA hockey team took down the Soviets. They had to work hard and come together as a team in order to win.

Big Twist:
Stories with big twist endings are always confusing at first, but then they seem to make sense. At the end of some stories, thoughts about the ending are provoked. These stories invoke certain messages. In Shutter Island, the twist had me thinking about the movie for hours.