Sunday, August 26, 2012
"The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson
One of the most important documents in our American history is "The Declaration of Independence."A document based on a hopeful change for the lives of the colonists, has brought our country independence since the year of 1776. Although it was mainly written by Thomas Jefferson, including others, it is set to be written not only by him, but by the colonists from the time of 1776 as well. Speaking from the colonists point of view, it helps to show their agreement together as one, and how much they really want their own independence as a country, free from England's rule. While the audience is mainly set on King George III, it is also for the colonists too. Not only can King George III now see his mistakes as a king, but the colonists as well. Giving a list of all his wrong doings and how he has treated the lives of the colonists, he wants England to set them free. The Declaration persuades the colonists to fight and shows what they are fighting for too. The subject of the Declaration is as clear as ever. Based on independence, it is written down as a letter to give enough reasons as to why these colonists, living in the thirteen colonies, should have their own independence. "The Declaration of Independence" has changed our history in its right path and brought us independence with freedom.
Bear Attack
-"San Diego Man Was Photographing Bear Before Fatal Attack" by David Zahniser
- Published on August 26, 2012
- The Los Angeles Times
- http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/san-diego-man-photographing-bear-attack.html
Most people enjoy taking trips, hiking, and taking pictures of the wilderness. The Denali National Park in Alaska is known to have grizzly bears populated in its environment. Even if grizzly bears seem harmful to most of us, this grizzly bear may have seem harmful to forty-nine year old, Richard White. Hikers are usually supposed to stay a good 300 yards away from bears, but White was only fifty to hundred yards away, making it easier for the bear to launch itself at him. White was taking pictures of the bear he had spotted before he was mauled and killed by the 600 pound bear.
A camera and backpack, along with blood and ripped clothing, were found by three other hikers. Reporting their findings to the park rangers, helicopters were sent in search for White. The remains of his body were assumed to be dragged where the bear usually kept its food. The next day, his body remains were picked up and taken from helicopters. This has been the first bear attack in years. While there have been a few injuries from bear attacks, no one had been killed by one in the Denali National Park before.
- Published on August 26, 2012
- The Los Angeles Times
- http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/san-diego-man-photographing-bear-attack.html
Most people enjoy taking trips, hiking, and taking pictures of the wilderness. The Denali National Park in Alaska is known to have grizzly bears populated in its environment. Even if grizzly bears seem harmful to most of us, this grizzly bear may have seem harmful to forty-nine year old, Richard White. Hikers are usually supposed to stay a good 300 yards away from bears, but White was only fifty to hundred yards away, making it easier for the bear to launch itself at him. White was taking pictures of the bear he had spotted before he was mauled and killed by the 600 pound bear.
A camera and backpack, along with blood and ripped clothing, were found by three other hikers. Reporting their findings to the park rangers, helicopters were sent in search for White. The remains of his body were assumed to be dragged where the bear usually kept its food. The next day, his body remains were picked up and taken from helicopters. This has been the first bear attack in years. While there have been a few injuries from bear attacks, no one had been killed by one in the Denali National Park before.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
"Salvation" by Langston Hughes
As a part of our AP English Language and Composition class, we were to read "Salvation" by Langston Hughes. The essay, told in a brief way with a point style, tells us about a specific event in Langston Hughes's life. Hughes's describes to us how his hopeful connection with Jesus was a failure. While reading, we had to fill in the SOAPST: speaker, occasion, audience, purpose, subject, tone. Three aspects of these that seemed to clarify the essay to me were the purpose, subject, and the tone.
The purpose of the essay was to inform, to document, and to reflect. Since the essay only talks about an event in his life, Langston Hughes looks back upon the event to describe the story, therefore using the three types of purposes - to inform, document, and reflect. He informs us about his loss of faith in Jesus and reflects upon the day where it all happened. Feeling confused as to why he is not seeing Jesus and guilty for lying about making the connection with Jesus, he emphasizes his feelings of guilt and confusion.
The subject of the essay was the loss of faith. When Langston Hughes does not make his connection with Jesus, he eventually loses his faith in him because Jesus was not there for him. Since Hughes's was expecting to literally see Jesus in front of him with his own eyes, he had the wrong idea of the connection he was supposed to make with Jesus.
The tone is the atmosphere set by the author. During the essay, the tone shifts numerous times. Going from confusion to sadness to guilt. Like how I said before, his expectation to see Jesus was not what he thought it was. Due to this, he was confused because he did not literally see Jesus in front of him. He was sad because Jesus was not there for him. Eventually, he lied about making the connection with Jesus and stood up to join the other children in church. With this lie, he felt guilty for lying yet lost his faith in Jesus.
The purpose of the essay was to inform, to document, and to reflect. Since the essay only talks about an event in his life, Langston Hughes looks back upon the event to describe the story, therefore using the three types of purposes - to inform, document, and reflect. He informs us about his loss of faith in Jesus and reflects upon the day where it all happened. Feeling confused as to why he is not seeing Jesus and guilty for lying about making the connection with Jesus, he emphasizes his feelings of guilt and confusion.
The subject of the essay was the loss of faith. When Langston Hughes does not make his connection with Jesus, he eventually loses his faith in him because Jesus was not there for him. Since Hughes's was expecting to literally see Jesus in front of him with his own eyes, he had the wrong idea of the connection he was supposed to make with Jesus.
The tone is the atmosphere set by the author. During the essay, the tone shifts numerous times. Going from confusion to sadness to guilt. Like how I said before, his expectation to see Jesus was not what he thought it was. Due to this, he was confused because he did not literally see Jesus in front of him. He was sad because Jesus was not there for him. Eventually, he lied about making the connection with Jesus and stood up to join the other children in church. With this lie, he felt guilty for lying yet lost his faith in Jesus.
How Far Has Technology Gone?
- "Robot Inspired by Invertebrates Has Amazing, Squishy Possibilities" by Deborah Netburn
- Published on August 17, 2012
- The Los Angeles Times
- http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-camouflage-robot-20120817,0,308264.story
As the years go by, technology catches on with us and improves as we go. Whether it is new versions of the iPhone or 3D televisions, technology never seems to disappoint us. With all these inventions in technology, it is not surprising to see a newly invented robot. Created by the researchers at Harvard, one of the top universities in the United States, this robot is probably the first 'soft' robots. Unlike most robots and how we vision them to be, this robot is built without a hard shell. Inspired by the creatures that inhabit the sea, the robot is built to look like the invertebrates in the sea, such as starfishes and squids. Not only is it small, but is soft, squishy, flexible, changes it's temperature, can change color, can camouflage, and glows in the dark! Since small shapes of cylinders are placed into it's body, it starts to move with the pumping of air into these cylinders. With all these remarkable parts of the robot, it will someday be useful to us. "If you were trapped in a collapsed building, one of these squishy robots could be sent squeezing itself into the rubble, glowing and obvious, to lead you on a path to safety" (Deborah Netburn, The LA Times). While this robot is yet to be used, it definitely does not fail to prove to us that technology will keep getting better and does so.
- Published on August 17, 2012
- The Los Angeles Times
- http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-camouflage-robot-20120817,0,308264.story
As the years go by, technology catches on with us and improves as we go. Whether it is new versions of the iPhone or 3D televisions, technology never seems to disappoint us. With all these inventions in technology, it is not surprising to see a newly invented robot. Created by the researchers at Harvard, one of the top universities in the United States, this robot is probably the first 'soft' robots. Unlike most robots and how we vision them to be, this robot is built without a hard shell. Inspired by the creatures that inhabit the sea, the robot is built to look like the invertebrates in the sea, such as starfishes and squids. Not only is it small, but is soft, squishy, flexible, changes it's temperature, can change color, can camouflage, and glows in the dark! Since small shapes of cylinders are placed into it's body, it starts to move with the pumping of air into these cylinders. With all these remarkable parts of the robot, it will someday be useful to us. "If you were trapped in a collapsed building, one of these squishy robots could be sent squeezing itself into the rubble, glowing and obvious, to lead you on a path to safety" (Deborah Netburn, The LA Times). While this robot is yet to be used, it definitely does not fail to prove to us that technology will keep getting better and does so.
Video of the robot: http://video.sciencemag.org/
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Reading is one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. One of my favorite books would have to be Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Since half the girls in my sixth grade class were reading it, it immediately grabbed my attention. I definitely wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Once I had my hands on the paranormal romance, it had me loving the story by the first chapter. Soon it had me obsessed with it, making me fall in love with the characters as well. The love story based on a human falling in love with a vampire, was a dream of the author's brought to life in a novel. The main character, Bella Swan, moves in with her father at the age of seventeen in Forks, Washington. Going to school, she expects to have a normal life like others, until she is captivated by the one and only Edward Cullen, who carries a secret with him. Not only does Bella seem to be interested with him, but the same with Edward. Throughout the book we are shown how the two get closer, until it is impossible for them to be away from one another. We find out his shocking secret: he is a vampire, with the power to read minds. Except he cannot read Bella's mind, which is one of the reasons why he was interested and curious about her at first. The book is a page turner, with romance and action combined together. I am glad Twilight was the first love story I read, in the beginning of my teenage years, because it led and encouraged me to read more books like Twilight. It is and forever will be one of my favorite book because who can resist a good, irresistible, and forbidden love?
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