Tools that change the way we think

The use of internet has helped to broaden my learning. With internet, media &/or technology you are able to learn & do so many more things then before. In a way these things have taken over the world & our individual lives. I feel like most people put their lives. I feel like most people put their time & energy mainly concentrating on technology. Sometimes it is hard for me to focus b/c of the many notifications (distractions) I get. Those who did not have technology were able to survive w/o it & I believe were more efficient. Although they didn't have access to the tools we offer now. Now I basically have access to the world.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

I hope everyone had a fun & safe Halloween! Today did not go as planned for me, but it was a good day nonetheless.

Here is a picture of my Sugar Skull Pumpkin that I did yesterday! Last minute I know...BUT I always find last minute ideas that work out in the end :)

Filter Bubbles

a) I learned that Google is custom-tailored for the individual at use. That I am not seeing the bigger picture, that I am only viewing what Google wants me to see based on the fact that they think that this is what I should see through these Filter Bubbles.
b) This makes me think that I am missing out on so many important events or discoveries happening around the world. that Google doesn't want me to see something and that is not right with me.
c) Does what I see on the internet, because of the filter Bubbles, actually matter? How do I prevent this from happening? Why does the internet have so much access to our preferences and whereabouts?
d) To improve the effectiveness of my searches I will refer to more than one search engine and go beyond the first page of results.

THOUGHTS ON HAMLET (IN PROGRESS)

When our class had first began to discuss/read Hamlet I was not very excited to say the least. I thought it was going to be very tedious and boring. Little did I know that it was the exact opposite. As I continue on reading Hamlet the passages are easier for me to understand. I read the deeper meaning in between the lines. If it wasn't for this class I would have never known that Hamlet was a brilliant mastermind and just thought he was a complete lunatic! Since the ghost had shown up at midnight I feel as if he will make more of an appearance as the play continues and hopefully other substantial characters will interact with the ghost as well. With the ghost making another debut I feel as if something important is about to occur to stir things up. I believe that there will be more tragic deaths as we continue onward in this play. The play within the play was just the tip of the iceberg, I can only anticipate more drama and plot twists.

Thoughts from Tumblr #1

Tumblr has always inspired me with some sort of message or just provokes a response out of me. So, I feel like these inspirations or provocations should be shared. From here on out I will post a daily message or image from Tumblr. Enjoy xx

This just speaks to me on so many levels. I have trouble with being okay with who I am as an individual and am often hard on myself. I saw this and just thought it's okay if I am not happy with something in my life because I can change it. I can start fresh and move forward.

Late Night/Early Morning Thoughts

When i'm half asleep I always tend to think more clearly, if that makes any sense. During the day I have so many things on my mind and distractions at hand that it is hard to focus. But as of right now (when I should be sleeping) I am half asleep. Therefore I feel like I have a better attention span to think things through. I am able to cut to the chase and not over-analyze my work or topic. Maybe that's why I tend to my work late at night/early morning? When it's quiet and I have less distractions...but I feel like this isn't healthy. This whole thing is just plain weird to me.

WHAT I THINK ABOUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT ACT III

When I was first assigned to read this I only skimmed over and barely understood a word that I was reading in Act III. Then a second time I read it over and as a group we had deciphered what nonsense each character was saying. I was able to ask questions to clarify any misconceptions I had had beforehand. It really did help reviewing as a group because I was more open to what everyone's opinion was about the passage rather than just my own that I would soon forget because I rushed through. Finally reading it a third time through, the nonsense that I had previously read now made perfect sense. I was able to decipher Hamlet's dialogue and schemes to a better extent. Not to mention while memorizing Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' speech I was able to gain a better insight into Hamlet's thoughts. By reciting the speech over and over to myself I discovered the bigger picture behind the speech, thus the main theme of the play.

Literary Analysis #2

The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald

1. The setting primarily takes place in New York City during the 1920's. The exposition displays a young man Anthony Patch, a young graduate student from Harvard. Anthony is full of promise, he is handsome, intelligent and part of the social elite. Though he is greedy, he has to have the best of the best and keeps putting off a career that will help him excel in life. Anthony awaits the fortune that his grandfather will behind so that he can continue to party. Soon enough he meets Gloria whom is charmingly beautiful and hopelessly reckless. Their love for one another begins rocky and continues to stay on this path. The young couple cannot make up their mind and continue to move from place to place in search of something that won't ever satisfy their greed. As they wait to see if Anthony will win in court for his grandfather's fortune, their own savings rapidly diminishes, which is when the climax occurs and their lives spiral out of control. Anthony consumes alcohol to forget his financial troubles and eventually the alcohol consumes his life and is never sober. Glory is obsessed with her own beauty and the thought of growing old and not being pretty consumes her life. The two are not ready to let go of the New York nightlife and all the glitz and glamour that it has to offer which eventually causes more strain on their relationship and reputation. The resolution finally occurs when the court decides to turn the case over to Anthony and he inherits his grandfather's fortune, but before this occurs Anthony finally turns himself over to sin and goes insane.

2. The theme of the story would be the addiction of sin. Anthony and Gloria are driven by greed, lust, envy and pride. Once they both had a taste of what Roaring Twenties had to offer they were pulled under by the temptations of sin. Anthony and Gloria had lost sight of reality and as a result became completely lost in sin. One by one the couple had lost their morals and values, as they were replaced by a sin. Anthony was under the influence of greed and envy. He envied the life and success of his friends, but instead of working for it he expected everything to just come to him. He believed that he was the best of the best and deserved the whole world. He was to proud to accept any favors from anyone and "handled" everything on his own. Gloria's lust to be maintain her beauty drove her insane. She was fixated on becoming a movie star, so that her looks were eternal and praised by many. Gloria knew she was growing older and thought she had lost her beauty so she was determined to have the latest fashion to remain beautiful. The power of sin throughout this novel had made a remarkable impact on the entirety of the novel. If one is weak and desperate enough one can be consumed by sin and their lives will be full with nothing but despair.

3. Bitterness: was present throughout the novel in Anthony because he was so distraught with the fact that he had little control over what was happening in life that he took it out on everyone around him.
"You'll have to get out," he said at length, speaking with tortuous intensity. "Haven't you I enough to worry me now without you coming here? My God! You'll have to get out! 

Despair: was present throughout the novel, mainly within the lives of Anthony and Gloria. The two had been brought up completely spoiled and expected everything to be handed down to them without effort, as if the whole world was against them. When they did not get their way they fell to despair.
For the first time in weeks tears started from Gloria's eyes and the look she ave him had a quality of real pain.

Haughty: Anthony became too proud to ask for any help from his friends and that he believed that he didn't  need to work because he was Anthony Patch. Gloria was obsessively vain and became distraught with the fact one day she will stop being pretty and she will never get attention from others.
"Oh, my pretty face," she whispered, passionately grieving. "Oh, my pretty face! Oh I don't want to live without my pretty face! Oh, what's happened?"

4. Characterization pg 25; In person Richard Caramel is short and fair--he is to be bald at thirty-five. He has yellowish eyes--one of them startling clear, the other opaque as a muddy pool--and a bulging brow like a funny-paper baby.

Theme pg 24 here we discover early on in the novel that Anthony's first sin, envy becomes known, thus creating a platform for envy to drive him to the point where he feels that his friends are too good for him and that he can make it on his own resulting in him losing all of his friends; This is the man whom Anthony considers his best friend. This is the only man of all his acquaintances whom he admires and, to a big extent than he likes to admit to himself, envies.

Imagery pg 33; Crispness folded down upon New York a month later, bringing November and the three big football games and a great fluttering of furs along Fifth Avenue.

Dialogue pg 354; "What time will you be back?" asked Anthony. "We won't come back," she answered, "we'll meet you down there at four."

Tone indignant pg 349; "I'll kill him," cried Anthony, pitching and straining from side to side. "Let me kill----"

Setting pg 124; "April 20th.--Spent the day with Anthony. Maybe i'll marry him some time. I kind of like his ideas--he stimulates all the originality in me. Blockhead came around about ten in his new car and took me out to Riverside Drive."

Point of View third person pg 133; Herself almost completely without physical fear, she was unable to understand, and so she made the most out of what she felt to be his fear's redeeming feature, which was that he thought he was a coward under a shock and a coward under a strain.

Thoughts on Open Source Learning

Not many people know that I am taking an extra English class. By that I mean I TA for Dr. Preston's expository class 0 period. Of course I do work that a TA does like organize files, run errands & input grades. Exciting stuff right? Well it's more than just that. I get to take a class without having to do any class work & still learn more.

I sit back everyday & watch Dr. Preston teach. I watch the class teach other, they collaborate & share opinions. Which is what Open Source Learning is all about. I am able to cover twice as much information, even if the classes are two different subjects. I absorb every piece of information that is important. I feel prepared for when I go to my 5th period class & just know I am already prepared for what i'm about to learn. Or even giving input to the 0 period class, as well as my own to further improve our learning experience as a whole.

I am so lucky to be a part of this class & to be able to contribute to the development of Open Source Learning. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this program!

DEAR OPHELIA

Dear O,

I understand your dilemma, for every girl your age has been through this conundrum. You are young, in your heyday and in love. You seem to be unsure of how you will go about your affection towards your prince. Don't be inclined to be bellicose when arguing your beloved family. For in truth, they do want what is best for you, even though it seems that they are ruining your world. Your father and brother are insistent that the Prince's intentions are nothing but a debauchery, am I right? Remember that your father and brother are men. They understand how the male mind works and know that this "love" will not last and  is just ephemeral. O you already seem so unsure of your actions, is this not a sign that you should stay away from the Prince? Please take my word to heart, I am not a saboteur, just a friend helping a friend. Leave this predicament behind you and move forward.

Sincerely M.xx

Vocabulary #8

abase: (verb) to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble, degrade; archaic
abdicate: (verb) (used w/o object) to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in formal manner; (used w/ object) to give up or renounce(authorities, duties, an office, etc.), especially in a voluntary, public or formal manner
abomination: (noun) anything greatly disliked or abhorred; intense aversion or loathing, detestation, vile, shameful
brusque: (adj.) abrupt in manner, blunt, rough
saboteur: (noun) a person who commits or practices sabotage
debauchery: (noun) excessive indugence in sensual pleasures, intemperance; archaic
proliferate: (verb) to increase or growby multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division; spread rapidly, excessively
anachronism: (noun) error in chronology in which a person, object, event, etc. is assigned a date or period other than the correct one
nomenclature: (noun) a set or system of names or terms comprising of a set or system
expurgate: (verb) to purge or cleanse of moral offensiveness
bellicose: (adj.) inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent
gauche: (adj.) lacking social grace, sensitivity or acuteness; awkward
rapacious: (adj.) given to seizing for plunder or satisfaction of greed; ravenous, avaricious
paradox: (noun) a self-contradictory and false proposition
conundrum: (noun) a riddle, the answer to which ivolves a pun or play on words
anomaly: (noun) an incongruity or inconsistency
ephemeral: (noun) short-lived, transitory
rancorous: (adj.) full of showing rancor; bitter, acrimonious
churlish: (adj.) rude. peasant-like, grumpy, vulgar, morose
precipitous: (adj.) extremely or impassably steep; abrupt. perpendicular

LITERARY FICTION & EMPATHY

As the article stated literary fiction does allow one to use their imagination and better interpret emotions. One is able to decode body language and interpret emotions with the help of literary fiction. While reading you pick up meaning between the lines and gain a better grasp on empathy. Literary fiction does indeed demonstrate different effects other types of reading such as popular fiction.

While reading Hamlet, one is able to decode the double meaning behind each word spoken. One is able to feel the emotion behind his struggles. Hamlet provides clear imagery so that one can interpret body language. During Hamlet's soliloquy, the confusion, anger, and depression is evident. It is quite simpler to interpret empathy with this literary fiction because with popular fiction they focus more on the plot and not so much on how things were spoken.

GREEN EGGS AND HAMLET

• a) What do you know about Hamlet, the "Melancholy Dane"?
• When Hamlet first comes to mind I think of the soliloquy "To be, or not to be--that is the question". I think of the LONG speech that Hamlet recites and that I will soon have to recite to my fellow classmates.
• b) What do you know about Shakespeare?
• Shakespeare wrote some of the most influential and famous plays known to the world. He wrote Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, the list goes on. 
• c) Why do so many students involuntarily frown when they hear the name "Shakespeare"?
• I believe that most students involuntary frown at his name because every piece of work that we have to analyze is tedious. They fear the challenge of translating his work into modern text. It is not so much that we can't, it is just that students are lazy.
• d) What can we do to make studying this play an amazing experience we'll never forget?
• To make studying this play an amazing experience we will have to make this play intriguing. If we are able to excite student's and make it relate to modern times, they will never forget it. So many are afraid of Shakespeare's work that they shy away from it. Many will say that this play is "boring" or "pointless" but there is a reason why Shakespeare's work is famous. These plays are influential and reveal a deeper insight of the world around us. Whether we want to accept it or not, everyone can relate to his work on some level.

IF I JUST HAD MORE TIME

I believe (hope) that I did exceptionally well on this midterm. If not I can only better myself in preparation for our final exam. I was able to grasp the general concept of the Canterbury Tales, it was just a matter of writing as fast as I was able to think. I'm pretty sure my thoughts and ideas were scattered throughout the essay and I didn't utilize enough vocabulary words to gain extra points. If I were given enough time I would have written an outline for my essay. As for the vocabulary, I believe I wrote just under 30 words? That is ridiculous to me. I knew just about every word, I felt prepared to tackle this midterm head on. Then I looked down at my blank piece of paper and my mind went blank. But once I thought of a word everything came pouring out. I had to give up thinking of more words to write down because I was short for time. I had more time I would written more vocabulary and written more words down.

Vocabulary #7 *REVISED*

Since I was absent on the AVID trip for 3 days Erica and Izamar posted Vocabulary #7 on their blogs and incorporated the words into our tale. I posted these definitions for my own benefit.

OUR TALE

(Miranda's POV)

A year ago I would never have pictured my life the way it is now. I am no longer the girl everyone expected me to be. I no longer abide by the rules of the mob.

It was not easy growing up under the watchful eye of the mob. It was a mean business and I wanted no take in it. My parents did everything in their power to contain my wild spirit. They kept me under lock and key, I was no longer allowed to attend public school.  I disobeyed and as punishment I was caged. But once I had tasted freedom, I wanted it bad.

With out consent my family thought it would do our family some good and have an arranged marriage between myself and a rival mob family. My parents insisted it would bring peace and have me settle down, but I knew it was just good for business.

Tonight was the night I was to officially meet Don Jon, my fiancee. Even his name made me cringe. I just arrived at the bar early to scope out the place. Tonight I was anything but confident. But I needed to keep my composure cool and relaxed. This whole arrangement was unpleasant and I just wanted to get the hell out of here. I just needed the right time..

I took in the scene in front of me, letting the atmosphere sink in. The air was buzzing with chatter and the crowd was in high spirits. I could feel that tonight was going to be different, my instinct was never wrong.

Just then a man brushed past me and took a seat next to me at the bar. They just seemed like a couple of normal guys out on the town celebrating. I took no more interest until they spoke with excitement about their road trip.

"Woodstock is suppose to be the festival of the year! There will be some sick ass partying taking place at the festival Dan," the guy next to me spoke with intense enthusiasm.
"Dude, all I am going for is the music and chill vibes. And of course for the ladies," guy number two laughed breathlessly.

This was it. I knew tonight would not be a total loss. This is what I had been waiting for. I had to leave sin city once and for all. It had to be fast or else I would be trapped.

"Excuse me, hi. I couldn't help but over hear your conversation. But Woodstock you say? I have always wanted to attend the festival," I spoke enthusiastically, flashing a charming smile their way. They seemed to be in awe and just stared at me. Instantly, I knew I had them in the palm of my hand.

The two men introduced themselves, quickly gaining composure. The man to my right was Quatro Quatro, interesting name I know, and his companion was Dan Smith. I bought them drinks and soon enough persuaded hem to take me along for the ride.

"Oh, and by the way. My name is Ivy."

THE COMPARISON'S TALE

While researching and presenting the Miller's tale we were able to discover that Chaucer did not take the upper class seriously. Chaucer made the upper class seem like a joke. Overall his writing style is very comical, entertaining, and not very serious. Chaucer criticized and mocked the characters of the upper class more than the under class men. Chaucer displayed the higher class,the carpenter, to be seen as a joke, whereas the Miller was confident and cool.

The Cook's tale had a similar style to that of the Miller's tale. The Cook's tale was also very comical and mocking  in comparison to the Miller. The cook loved his job, but he was too lazy to accomplish anything and would rather be doing something else. Which is very ironic because he claimed to love his profession, but never took it seriously. Chaucer was able to portray that even those who have it all, have their own faults and downfalls through a comical point of view.