Rahed Albarouki Public Feed
Q4 BM, Recordings 3&4 (Briana, Sadie, Ray)
For these two recordings we planned out what we were going to talk about on the conference room white board. Through this planning we made sure everyone could speak and that we answered all the questions that Miles posted on our other podcast postings.
Our group was pretty much in agreement with all that we talked about. The only voice from our group that is missing from these two podcast is Alexis Dean
Ray Albarouki's Capstone
ABSTRACT
Being an aspiring model, convoluted writer, food enthusiast, and a fashion aficionado, I figured I could create a blog to highlight these details of my life, and maybe inspire someone else to find outlets that suit them. I’ve always been interested in showcasing what I’m good at, and I never thought there was anything wrong with people who do as such. Even if some think it’s narcissistic, I think it’s clever to share your talents with others, and maybe create a platform for yourself. My blog, “Detailed Daze,” does not have a purchased domain name yet, so I’m using Tumblr as a base to start. After I have fiddle around with the exact style I want my blog to have, I’ll be buying a domain and making it a legit thing. I post at least 6 days a week, sharing 3 OOTDs (outfit of the day), 2 works of art or writing, whether that may be my own or someone else’s, and 1 event I attended that week or a new restaurant that I tried. I’d love for this blog to grow into something large, and reach a wide range of people. Hopefully, one day Detailed Daze will be a success and give me connections and experiences one can only dream of. I’ll be continuing to post even after the submission of this Capstone.
VISUAL REPRESENTATION
http://detaileddaze.tumblr.com/
BIBLIOGRAPHY (I have the annotated bibliography for my old Capstone idea, but I don’t have one for my new idea because I am my own source. However, I did pull ideas from these sources because my blog is about self-expression.)
"Center for Health and Healing." Center for Health and Healing. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.
Art therapy is one of the oldest and most useful tools of healing. With a combination of a particular theoretical framework or eclectic combination of psychological theories, this form of therapy is used to bring out the creativity in a person. A goal of creatively expressing oneself is the ultimate end result that is desired. Art is one of the largest universal languages, just like music, so with the ability to have an interpretation of it, one is able to relate what they’re feeling to others. Art therapy is used clinically and in research, with a hope to advance the theory of what impact it has.
"Encouraging Self-Expression Through Art." PBSparents. PBS, n.d. Web.
Children don’t need all of that extra stuff, like coloring books and cutouts, to be creative, sometimes, they just need simple things like their imagination. In most cases, some of the most innovative things come out of your mind, instead of something concrete. Creativity should not have restrictions; following rules, thinking too hard, and limiting your thoughts are all wrong paths of innovation. I think that with an inclusion of free flowing days in school for kids, they would be able to hone their skills and come up with genius ideas - enough trying to build things around rules. St. Thomas, Bruce.
"Empowering Children Throught Art and Expression." Amazon, n.d. Web.
“Empowering Children through Art Expression” helps find the connection between youth empowerment and creativity. Focusing on things liked the forced relocation of kids and their families to a different culture or community, Bruce St. Thomas uses art therapy to bridge the gap of mental illness and connection to the world to find some sort of relation of feeling of children to other children that feel the same thing(s). I believe that if we follow the teachings of Bruce St. Thomas, we might be able to find the root of what innovativeness in children truly is, and what sort of power it has. "
Kids Feel the Power of Poetry in Performance." WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION. Edutopia, n.d. Web.
Writing, poetry specifically, is one of the most common things people use to express themselves. Things like poetry slams can transform students from reluctant, shy, or diffident learners into passionate artists. Slamming can be taken really eagerly for some students because they feel so passionate about sharing how they feel. With an opportunity to share their writing with an audience, students are able to get applause and praise for the work they do, boosting their self-esteem and confidence. Writing is a highly effective and healthy outlet to expressing oneself, having a possible long term effect on one’s life.
"American Art Therapy Association." American Art Therapy Association. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.
Organizations like the American Art Therapy Association introduces people to the work of art therapists all around the world, giving you an account and experience on the significance of how a creative process can be the key and pathway to one’s emotional well-being. With a website that helps people find therapists near them, people are able to have easy access to what they need. A journal, education opportunities, and information on events can be beneficial to the opinion people have on the American Art Therapy Association.
"Membership." Educational Leadership:Giving Students Ownership of Learning:The Power of Audience. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.
Having a strong support group in life is important. Similar to that, a positive audience can make all the difference in the world when it comes to performing. If someone is at a slam competition, and they perform and the audience gives no positivity toward the poet, that can bring down the confidence of that person. Most people who recite what they write, are people who are in need of support, appreciation, and positive expression. An audience is just as much part of the performance as the actual performer. Jayson, Sharon.
"Teens Feeling Stressed, and Many Not Managing It Well." USA Today. Gannett, 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.
A while ago, I read an article saying that teenagers have more stress in their life than adults. With school, peer pressure, expectations, and goals we have set for ourselves, trying to find the balance between all of that can be a daunting and stressful task. This article gives statistics on the amount of stress a teen has. Bad habits stem from the stress and create a path for them that is not healthy. Most teens get irritable and angry when they’re stressed out, which can cause chain reactions, which lead to other negative impacts on the teen’s life.
Scott, M.S. "Art Therapy: Relieve Stress by Being Creative." About Health. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.
Stress can be released through art. A lot of people paint, a lot of people write, and a lot of people sing. It acts as a form of distraction, gives a nice flow to things, and gives some self-care to people. Things like keeping dream journals and sharing your work with people who will appreciate it can give you some positive feelings about yourself and your self-expression. Make sure to do it for yourself and not follow the guidelines people tell you to follow, because art is a free moving thing.
"The Power of Poetry | The Queen Latifah Show." YouTube. YouTube. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.
Queen Latifah had three young ladies in high school come onto her talk show and speak about their slam experience and recite one of their poems together. They’re part of a program called Get Lit, where they have been able to freely express themselves. Latifah gave them an experience of a lifetime having them recite their poem. Not only was their audience a positive one, but they were also able to touch a wide range of people in the country and beyond, telling everyone that poetry has a way of expressing a part of the mind that nothing else can help express.
"Get Lit | Words Ignite – Increasing Teen Literacy through Classic and Spoken Word Poetry."Get Lit. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.
Get Lit is a nonprofit that helps promote literary performance, education, and teen poetry. Based in Southern California, this program helps teens branch out of their comfort zone to bring forth what they feel and talk about things like social issues, teen issues, etc. Get Lit boosts literacy, self-confidence, and create expression. It challenges youth to think through certain fundamentals like personal expression, creating an outlet that lets youth have a voice in the world that they may not necessarily always have.
Ray Albarouki, Global Fiction Infographic
Albarouki_Q3 Artwork - A2 Band
Artist Statement
This quarter, I decided to focus on the meditation of letting things happen. When the inevitable strikes, it’s a magical state of mind I go through, because I created it. I never like to see things for what they really are, only because I hate reality, so instead, I see the message of the artistry these things carry. With an inclusion of the natural elements of the world, and the natural elements of myself, I find what it is I truly love about art come alive. Art is never an area of restrictions; it should liberate you. Liberation… that’s what I wanted to feel, I guess.
Sci-Soc Food Project
Food Rule
Recipe & Analysis
Baked Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Yield: 6 servings
Cook time: about 1.5 hours
Prep time: 30 minutes
9 medium organic russet potatoes (about 3 pounds)
1/2 stick of salted butter
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
5 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Sea salt & freshly ground black Pepper, as much desired
Crushed red pepper flakes, as much desired
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1) Take the potatoes and rinse them under cold water; peel them until completely bare. Place the potatoes in a large pot with cold water over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Strain the potatoes, then put them back into the pot.
2) Take the potato masher to your root vegetable, that way, when you add in your first couple of ingredients, they become absorbed by the potatoes, creating a tastier dish. Add your milk and butter, but portion the milk as you stir it in. Do the same for the olive oil.
3) Add your salt, pepper, garlic slices, and red pepper flakes.
4) Add in all of the cheese, or leave some on the side to sprinkle on top before baking. Stir the potatoes until creamy.
5) Pour the mashed potatoes into a baking dish, place on top shelf of oven, uncovered. Leave in for 30-45 minutes, or until golden brown.
6) Serve hot.
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Processed vs.Whole Food
3 out of 8 items are processed, about 38% (37.5% to be exact)
Salted butter
Milk
Parmesan cheese
Health/nutrition
Since only 3 items have nutritional info available on their container, I can only write about them.
Salted butter
Calories: 100
Fat: 11g
Cholesterol: 30mg
Sodium: 90mg
Vitamin A: 8%
Butter can be good and it can be bad. Even though it contains 8% vitamin A, which is needed for the health of the thyroid, and also contains a number of anti-oxidants that protect against things that weaken the arteries, it can also be really harmful to other parts of your body. If the butter is conventional anyway (contains GMOs), and you’re continually consuming it, it’s most likely giving youorgan damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, is accelerating your aging, digestion problems, and many more. Butter is fattening; it turns into actual fat in your body.
Milk
Calories: 150
Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 35mg
Sodium: 130mg
Protein: 8g
Vitamin A: 6%
Vitamin C: 4%
Calcium: 30%
Vitamin D: 25%
Milk is amazing for getting potassium (which can avoid Charley Horse’s), and stronger bones. A downside to consuming milk, is that if you are a person who consumes a lot of sodium, and then you consume a lot of milk you have a higher chance of acquiring high blood pressure.
EVOO
Calories: 120
Fat: 14g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 0g
Omega-6: 9.7%
Omega-3: 0.76%
Vitamin E: 72% of the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance)
Vitamin K: 75% of the RDA
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is one of the best oils and fats for you and your body. Not only is it good for your skin and hair, but it’s also good as an anti-inflammatory and provider of nutrients. If the oil is pressed naturally, the EVOO would be high in phenolic antioxidants, the main reason why olive oil is so beneficial (phenolic antioxidants offer resistance to illnesses ranging from cancer to arthritis). EVOO is easily digestible and tasty start to any dressing.
Environmental
My potatoes and cheese are organic and came from a farmers market near my house; the farmers are located here in PA. Everything else was purchased at Shoprite. Shoprite uses food from Wakefern Food Corporation located in Keasbey, New Jersey. So the food I purchased from Shoprite traveled the furthest.
Political/economic
Butter: $2.19
Milk: $4.99
Cheese: $10.99
EVOO: $12.00
Salt: $2.29
Pepper: $3.49
Red Pepper Flakes: $3.00
Garlic: $2.69
Potatoes: $6.00
= $46.14 (about $50)
The price I spent on making this meal is equivalent to about 5 regular meals not from the dollar menu at McDonalds. Shoprite and its corporations (Wakefern Food Corp., specifically), and the farmers made money off of my meal.
Social
People have the option of gaining weight because of the ingredients within the meal.The parmesan cheese at Shoprite, already grated, was $3.99, but the whole cheese from the Farmer’s Market, same amount of ounces as the Shoprite brand, cost $7 more. Similar to my potatoes, the organic potatoes from the Farmer’s Market, cost $2.00 more than potatoes at Shoprite. The potatoes were grown in PA, on an organic farm, and the cheese came from grass fed cows, so it’s all healthy.
Reflection
I love to eat. Food is such a large part of my life, and being able to taste something new everyday is an ultimate goal of mine. The glorious part of this unit, was getting to know where all of this “glory” came from. Learning that some things that I eat are not necessarily the most healthy is shocking because the marketing that is done to draw in customers is genius. The “no GMO’s” scandal is fascinating, because you would think these large corporations would fear having information leaked saying that their products actually do contain GMO’s would persuade them to stop falsely advertising, but since they have billions of dollars, and countless lawyers, I’m sure they would win the case either way. I really enjoyed reading the article about processed food, sometime last week. I was able to resonate with what was said about the ingredient labeling on the back of food products. “The more ingredients it has (mostly being words no one has ever heard of or will never be able to have in their pantry), the less healthy the product is. As I make my dish for the class on Friday, I’m pleased to keep in my mind that by using whole products, I will be producing a dish that is tasty and nutritious all at the same time.
Albarouki_Q1 Artwork
My art this Quarter is a mixture of adversity, aspirations, loves, and dislikes. With a use of vibrancy in my color choices, and simplicity in my execution, I've created something that has made me feel accomplished. Jumping from painting a cat on a ceiling tile to cutting out bats, and from drawing the feeling of anxiety to drawing an abstract portrait of my friend, I believe that I've grown up a bit with the stylistic decisions I've made. Externally, I am content. Internally, I am exhilarated. There is a belief that I have when it comes to creating my artistry… never think, just do. Being creative should never be daunting, it should feel like an Autumn morning, chilly and sun-filled. Enjoy!
Link to work: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gjSia1-x3zkRu-0vDSakpEbTsWY9kBLtW9_3F0I4lMc/edit#slide=id.g42068809b_043
Ray Albarouki's Q4 Art
I wanted to create something that felt natural. Unexpected Moments was my theme for Q4. This photo represents that theme because when my best friend took this of me, then posted it on Instagram, it was completely... well, unexpected! The photo mosaic is made up of all of the unexpected moments I documented with my iPhone. I think that it's a personal artistic statement.
Cell Life
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Ever since he could remember, Tanner loved being outside. He enjoyed playing by the creek, climbing trees, running through the barn and purposely tripping only to land in a pile of hay. Naturally, he was Mother Nature’s child. He loved the sound and feel of rain, he loved wind storms, and large waves; there wasn’t one thing in nature Tanner Boyd was not fond of. Sometimes, however, he got a little too carried away and began acting as the nature. He would go toward his mother, and try to blow her off of her feet by pretending he was the wind, or he would zap his long fingers over her head and scream, “BOOM,” and say he was thunder and lightning. Now, it seems normal for a kid to be imaginative, but he started to become obsessive and would spend hours sitting in one spot in the forest, just staring at tree trunks. One time, his mother stepped outside to call him in for supper, but he wasn’t in their backyard garden. She wandered toward the forest and noticed him by the large pine tree. She called for him, “Tanner, time for supper!” He did not respond. She called for him again, this time louder, “Tanner! Let’s go!” He quickly flung his arms in the air, and swung his head toward her and screamed, “Psshhh.” He was pretending to be the tree. His mother was aggravated because the supper she cooked was getting cold, so she went to get him. Tanner walked home normally, but made nature sounds under his breath.
Tanner Boyd did not have many friends. He had some acquaintances that admired who he was, but they never wanted to get too close. During his time in the 7th grade, Tanner decided that he did not need to go to school any further after that year. He was advanced in science and never cared for money. He sometimes said, “I don’t need to finish school because I don’t need money to live, I can just live with my friends in the woods.” So many people were convinced that he was not coming back for his 8th grade year, even a few of the teachers, but his mom did not tolerate it. He was there for part of 6th grade, then unexpectedly disappeared. The entire community was looking for him. His mom, his peers at school, the trees were even rapidly moving.
About 5 months of time had passed, and Tanner was still not found. His mother had gone insane, and started smoking a lot of marijuana, but she still had some hope that he was out there. For the longest time, Tanner’s mother looked out of her window toward the forest, hoping to maybe see him pass by, but she never saw anything. She never wanted to go back into the forest either, she thought it was possessed and maybe it ate her child alive. One day, when Tanner’s mother was really high, she walked into her garden, stood in the center on the cobblestone pathway that splits the land of grass down the middle, and screamed toward the forest, “Do you have any type of this leaf?” The forest responded with wind brushing through it’s branches. Tanner’s mom stumbled back inside. She cried every night after that for 3 weeks.
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Tanner and his mother lived in a small town in the south-western part of Nevada. They lived in a quaint home that had solar panels and a large yard. With just three main rooms on the ground floor, and four rooms upstairs, the Boyd home was Tanner’s kingdom. His mother, who is in her late 40’s, loved to cook. She had a major case of OCD and always kept her house exceptionally clean. She hated when Tanner would track dirt from the forest through house. Tanner would always reply back to her expressions with a, “It’s all natural, just like your organic cleaning stuff.”
Tanner loved to mess with his mom’s emotions like that. He would purposely make her anxious by stepping in large piles of mud and leaves, then vigorously walk toward the house. He sort of felt bad though, so he would run quickly on his tippy-toes from the doorway to his bedroom upstairs. In his bedroom, he would strip, take green, yellow, and orange Sharpies and draw a landscape on his stomach. Usually, the landscape would be of tall trees, large bushes, a bright sun, and chirping birds. His drawings were always so detailed. His mother rarely sees his stomach art, but when she does, she asks what he wants to be when he’s older. Tanner says, “I want to be someone who plays with plants.” His mother is not surprised, since he does spend every minute of his free time sitting in/wandering the forest.
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About 7 months after Tanner’s disappearance, the local police heard word that a young boy was spotted walking from the south-western border of Nevada toward the Eastern border of California. Police officers immediately rushed over to Tanner’s mother’s house to inform her. She opened the door with droopy eyes, asking the officers why they were there. “We have news about your son, Mrs. Boyd.” Her eyes widened as she grabbed the one of the officer’s ties, and pulled him toward her. “Where is he? Did you find my son?”
“We currently have the state police on the way to the south-western border of Nevada. We believe that he’s trying to cross over into California.”
Tanner’s mother was confused. Why would my son want to go to California, there’s nothing there for him, she thought. “I’d like to be driven to where the police are going. I want to be there when they find my son.”
“As you wish, but there is no guarantee that we’ll find…” one of the officers said.
“I’d like to be there.” Tanner’s mother firmly spoke out.
The two officers escorted Tanner’s mother to their car. They turned on the siren and lights, and rushed over to the border of Nevada. When they arrived at their destination, other state police were already there surrounding the entrance to California. They waited patiently for Tanner to be noticed, but nothing was happening. About 3 hours passed, and still no sign of Tanner. The State Police Director ordered for the job to be postponed due to the amount of time they waited. Tanner’s mother was devastated and said nothing. As she turned toward the police car door, however, something came over her and she ran toward the Director with anger. She began hitting him and yelling, “You son of a Bitch! I just want my son back! Bring me my son back!” Other officers pulled her off and contained her fury, but the Director understood why she reacted like that and let it pass. He compromised with her and said that he would contact California’s State Police Director and have him order officers to be on the lookout for Tanner Boyd. She calmed down, got into the car, and cried until they left.
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Tanner had this crush on a girl in school, her name was Tabitha. She loved arts & crafts, and riding her bike. Tabitha lived down the street from Tanner, but only Tanner knew that. He would sometimes watch her walk to the bus stop, right before he would run out into the road to get someones attention - no one ever noticed him when he did that.
Tanner thought Tabitha was a jewel. Her chestnut hair, green eyes, and golden skin created some of Tanner’s deepest lusts. He tried to ask her out one time, but he ran away before she even turned around. Tabitha was gracious, but she knew that she would never date someone like Tanner. She often said to her friends, “He’s too weird for me to like.” She knew who he was, but had no interest in him.
One time, Tanner was just staring at Tabitha in class. He sat in the back, and she sat in the front. She turned around to speak with her friend, and mid-conversation, she noticed him looking at her from the corner of her eye. She turned toward him and told him to stop, but he continued. When she turned back around toward the front of the class, Tanner yelled, “Why won’t you talk to me?” Tabitha felt embarrassed and kept her head down. He yelled again, “Why won’t you talk to me?” She wanted to tell him that he was an odd child, but she decided not too.
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California’s State Police Director reported back that they found Tanner 2 months later. The park rangers of Sequoia National Park called in about a young male wondering the grounds by himself. When Tanner’s mother heard where he was, she immediately knew why he wanted to go to California. He crossed the border, walked through Inyo, and reached Tulare County, where the park sits. Sequoia National Park is home to the largest tree in the country - The General Sherman. When the State Police arrived at the park, they found him sitting in front of the tree, staring at it. An officer tapped on his shoulder and said, “Son, do you know how much trouble you're in?”
“I just wanted another friend, sorry I caused so much trouble.”
Tanner followed the police officer to his car. They drove back to the border of California, where Nevada’s State Police Director and Tanner’s mother were eagerly waiting. As soon as Tanner’s mother had sight of a California state police car, she began jumping with joy and relief. Tanner got out of the car and ran toward his mom. She cried, and held him for thirty minutes in one spot on the road. Tanner apologized again; his mother accepted it. They went home, and Tanner said nothing the entire way back.
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Four years had passed, and Tanner was still obsessed with Tabitha and staring at trees. It was time for his high school graduation and Tabitha was the valedictorian. When she went up to the podium on the stage to give her speech, she tripped and fell up the stairs and the first one to jump to help her was Tanner. He held her hand, she pulled back and said “I’m fine, I can help myself.” Tanner sat back in his seat in the front; he was sweating profusely and his hands were shaking. In the middle of her speech, she looked down toward the area in which Tanner was sitting in, and paused in her speech because Tanner was staring at her again, smiling. The entire crowd was staring at her, but Tanner’s staring was so familiar, and so distinct. She remembered the last time this happened and what she did. She couldn’t look down this time, just up and forward. Tabitha continued her speech, then left the stage and sat back in her seat.
After leaving high school, Tanner decided to move away from home. He thought he would never see Tabitha again since she moved away, so what’s the point of staying there. He moved to a large and populated area on the East coast of the country - New York City. Tanner got into Columbia University with a full scholarship for a major in Cytology and a minor in Botany. He did exactly what he said he would, become a scientist, but no one ever thought he would go to such a place for it.
Tanner lived on campus in a door by himself. Everyday at lunch, he would go to a local store, buy a sub, gummy bears, and a water, and go sit in Central Park. He would usually be found on a bench near the oldest trees in the northern part of the park. Tanner never took his lab coat off because it made him feel important. After lunch, he would rush back to the lab at Columbia and study plant cells for hours. At night, he stayed in his room with his desk lamp on, and his laptop open. He would spend several more hours researching facts about the oldest living trees in the world. Old Tjikko, the oldest living tree in the world, located in Sweden, was what pushed Tanner to do well in school. He decided that after college he would take a plane to Sweden to stare at Old Tjikko.
Six years passed and it was time for graduation again. Tanner Boyd was graduating at the top of his class with a PhD in Cytology and a Botany. He was also his school’s valedictorian. As he gave his speech, he began to think of how much he wished he was a little more social in high school and college. He shrugged it off, finished his speech, and left the stage. Immediately after his speech, he left the grounds of Columbia and moved into his new apartment. He then packed his suitcase and boarded a plane on its way to Sweden. Approximately 8 hours later, Tanner landed in Sweden, then took a train to Dalarna. It was late, so he waited until the next morning to get a fresh look at Old Tjikko.
The next morning he climbed up the mountain on which Old Tjikko sat on. When he arrived at the tree, he stood in amazement. Tanner sat next to it and stared for a long while. After about 3 hours, he got out a kit full of scalpels and needles; he was taking samples. What he was about to do was illegal, and he knew that, but he wanted to research the trees chemical make up. Two days later, he arrived back in New York City. He was staring a new job at a lab in Manhattan that was testing the reactions of certain plants to certain medicine. Tanner did his job, but then stayed after to conduct his own experiments. He found that the tree had a certain chemical that came from the antennas of roaches. This chemical gives an endless amount of lives to largely rooted plants, like Old Tjikko.
Tanner Boyd had this brilliant idea of testing this chemical on humans. He thought, What if humans could be immortal? He he was onto something… Tanner spent months concocting a serum to experiment on someone. He finally created a product. He named it T2.
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There was not one person Tanner found great enough to test T2 on; he searched for months. He would sit in his usual spot in Central Park and stare at humans for experimentation. Tanner would go back to his apartment after people watching and write what he absolutely wanted his “lab rat” to be. She should have long hair, a slender body, beautifully colored eyes, and golden colored skin.
After writing in his journal, he would sit and cry at his desk for hours. Tanner was describing the type of girl that got him aroused. He was a lonely man that desperately longed for a woman’s attention.
The next day, when Tanner was walking to work, he accidentally bumped into someone. When he saw who it was, he was astonished. He had bumped into Tabitha. Tanner didn’t know what to say, so he just said hi. “Hey Tanner! How ya doing?”
“I’m.. I’m alright.” He replied.
“I’m just on my way to work, lets chat some other time. Here’s my card. Nice to see you!”
The card read:
Tabitha Luck
Assistant to Editor-in-Chief of VOGUE
tluck@vogue.com
He turned around to see where Tabitha was headed. Tanner followed her for three blocks until she went into the VOGUE Magazine HQ. He remembered how pretty she was; beautifully colored eyes, golden skin. Tanner knew that Tabitha Luck was the one he had to test the serum on.
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Tanner began following Tabitha. He would wait for her outside of work, he would spy on her by her apartment; he was everywhere she was. One day, Tabitha noticed Tanner. She went up to him with a friendly face on. “Hey, what are the odds? You never called me! Let’s set a lunch date.”
“Okay.” Tanner plainly replied.
“Does Tuesday work for you?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll meet you at Warm Breads at 1. See you then!”
Tanner was excited that Tabitha Luck asked him out on a date. He creepily smirked as she walked away. He waited until that Tuesday to see her face again.
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Tabitha had already reserved a table for the two and was sitting inside of Warm Breads waiting at 12:30. Tanner walked in, noticed her, and walked over to sit down. They both ordered coffees and started to chat. “So what have you been up to, Tanner?”
“Nothing much.”
“Are you still into nature?” Tabitha hesitantly responded.
“Yes.”
“You know, you’ve been very reserved ever since we bumped into each other. Is everything alright?”
Tanner paused for a minute to think. He looked down at the table, then quickly looked up at Tabitha. He said, “I think I left the water running in my bathroom, and I can’t afford to pay more for my bills. So I’m just worried.”
“Oh… I’m sorry. Would you like to go back and then meet me later?” Tabitha suggested.
“Why don’t you come with me? I’d hate to cut our date short.” Tanner suggested back.
“Okay, why not!”
They walked 5 blocks to Tanner’s home. It was a bright day, with clear skies. When they arrived at his apartment, Tanner unlocked the door, and let Tabitha in first. His home had a scarce amount of furniture and almost no art on his white walls. There were few windows, a small kitchen, and only one closet. Tanner didn’t leave his water on, but he pretended he did. He went into his kitchen, and turned the faucet on and off. Tabitha looked exceptionally stunning that day. She wore a large sunhat, a low cut V-neck dress, and her hair was curled to the side. Tanner was staring at her for a long time before either of them said anything. “Can I use your bathroom?” Tabitha said.
“Sure, but you have to walked through my bedroom to get it.”
While she was freshening up, Tanner had gone into his bedroom, locked both of them in, and placed the serum on his bedside table. Tabitha came out, she jumped back to see Tanner sitting in the room. “You frightened me.” Tabitha laughed.
“I’m sorry, why don’t you come sit down over here?”
“But, there’s only one chair…” Tabitha responded, confusedly.
“That’s alright, my bed is comfortable.” Tanner kept trying to persuade her.
“I think it’s time for me to go actually, we’ll do it some other time.” Tabitha rushed toward the door.
“It’s locked.” He was waving the key around in his hand.
“Let me out, Tanner, or I’ll scream so the neighbors can hear me.”
“I’ve sound proofed my room.”
Tabitha knew she was getting out of this room unless she were to attack Tanner for the key. She tried to punch him, but he grabbed her other and twisted her around before she did anything. “You thought you could get the key, huh? You have no chance.” Tabitha tried to break herself free, but Tanner was too strong. He began to run his hand down the side of her leg, then up around so it could land right below her backside. “I’ve been waiting for you, Tabitha.” He stuck a needle in her back and put her to sleep.
--------------
When Tabitha woke up a few hours later, she hardly had any clothes on. She had all of her limbs strapped to all four corners of Tanner’s bed. She began to yell for help, “Can anyone hear me? I’m trapped! Someone, please help me!” Tanner walked in and stared at her. She felt so ashamed that she was half-naked in front of him. He ran up next to her and lied down. “How are you sweetheart? You’re looking really good.”
“What did you do to me?” Tabitha softly said.
“Oh nothing, I just did… a little exploring.” Tanner walked out of his bedroom laughing.
When he returned a few moments later, he was holding the serum. He walked over to his bed, kneeled next to Tabitha and said, “Open up.” She squealed and kept her mouth closed.
“I’m not going to say it again. Open up.” She still didn’t do it.
Tanner had to use force. He pried open her mouth with his hands, and took out a drop of the serum from it’s bottle. Right before he dropped it into Tabitha’s mouth, they stared at each other. He smiled, she cried. He dropped the serum in and said, “Thank you for your cooperation.” Her eyes shut.
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Ray Albarouki - Q3 Art
My inspiration for Quarter 3 was wealth. The largest goal in my life is to have wealth in myself; to be happy. The photos chosen are only a few of the many that I took, but they are the most important. I decided to only take photos of things in my room because that's one of the places I feel the happiest. Each photo is representative of my aspirations.
(unfortunately, my camera wouldn't upload the photos for some reason, so I took the photos of the photos from my phone. NO WHERE near as great of quality.)
Q2 Art Drawings
I wanted this quarter's art to reflect my spontaneity, courage, and creativity. Some of the pieces may not look the same as the ones online, however, I would like to make the argument that every piece of art is different. Some pieces may not make sense, but my art is a representation of individuality. Please enjoy what I have below.
P.S. I added a few pieces that weren't assigned.
Comparison of Two Movies
My Big Fat Greek Wedding::Taming of the Shrew
My Big Fat Greek Wedding contains characters that are similar to ones in Taming of the Shrew. Maria Portokalos, the mother in MBFGW, has an issue with the way her husband, Gus, thinks. Gus believes that he is superior, however, he doesn’t know that his wife really has the upper hand in the relationship. MBFGW and Taming of the Shrew relate to each other because Maria and Katherine give their husbands what they want, but sneak in their own rules as well.
Katherine: “Then God be blest, it is the blessed sun.
But sun it is not, when you say it is not,
And the moon changes even as your mind.
What you will have it names, even that it is,
And so it shall be so for Katherine.” (IV.vi.21-15)
Petruchio is arguing with Katherine because he says that the moon is the sun and she disagrees. She eventually gives in and makes him feel empowered. Then she replies back with a statement that should’ve insulted Petruchio, but instead makes his ego larger.
Following and relating to the quote above, is a screenshot from My Big Fat Greek Wedding:
In this scene, Maria and her sister, Voula, wanted to trick Gus into letting his daughter, Toula, leave work at their restaurant, Dancing Zorba’s, to go work at Voula’s travel agency. In order to do that they had to make him believe that it was his idea. Their plan worked when Gus pointed at Tula (the one with the coffee in her hand) and said, “Send Tula!” Maria praised Gus as he bragged about how a man “knows.”
KATHERINE: “If I be waspish, best beware my sting.” (II.i.223)
Katherine is explaining that she will not be submissive and Petruchio is saying that women should always have submissiveness. Katherine is relentless, so she kept going on about how “waspish” she can be.
Following and relating to the quote above, is a screenshot from My Big Fat Greek Wedding:
In this scene, Maria is making her point to Gus that women can be smarter than men, after he mistakenly said that his daughter, Tula, is “smart enough for a woman.” Once she begins to give examples of how powerful she is, Gus silences and Maria gets her superiority in the relationship. Maria’s stance shows her control in this scene and possibly the whole movie. The position of Gus’s head shows that he is not the dominant one in the relationship.
Characters like Katherine and Petruchio, in Taming of the Shrew, and Maria and Gus, in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, completely relate to each other because they all play similar roles. Maria and Kate both can be submissive, but always sneak a level of authority into their relationship. Gus and Petruchio think that they “rule” their wives, but also know that their wives have the ability to be powerful and take the lead.
Sources
Taming of the Shrew (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061407/)
- Director: Franco Zeffirelli
- Writers: Suso Cecchi D’Amico (screenplay), Franco Zeffirelli (screenplay), Paul Dehn (screenplay), William Shakespeare
- Characters: Elizabeth Taylor (Katherine), Richard Burton (Petruchio)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa9kRSReJLo)
(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259446/)
- Director: Joel Swick
- Writer: Nia Vardalos
- Characters: Michael Constantine (Gus), Lainie Kazan (Maria)Humanities Final Portfolio 2013
Embarrassed, I am. This year was a flunk. Do I regret
anything? Of course I do, but I'm not going to sit here and sob about it the
last week of school. A repeated action of lying, bickering, and for what? To be
sitting here in my loneliness of bad grades and avoided relationships. I
haven't been a good sport, but I am only human.
One of my favorite quotes is, "Grades don't
reflect intelligence, they reflect work ethic." A quote bringing a high
self-esteem to a person who feels as though he doesn't have a meaning. A
purpose. The honest truth is that I don't feel intelligent. I know I don't have
a great work ethic, and my grades show that, but even if recognition for a
completed assignment is given, it's not enough. There are still pieces of the
puzzle missing.
Walking into Sophomore year was simple. Put a
smile on, pay attention, do the work, get good grades. Simple. Just like
everything else. But, soon after I discovered how lenient I "thought"
my teachers were, the slacking began. It's true when the students say,
"You can't spell Slacker without SLA!" I was a slacker. Still am, at
times. Considering the fact that I was so dedicated to passing and making an
impression, it baffled me that my grades started to slip, and it confused me
even more when I didn't care.
I generated creative ideas for each assignment
that was given to me, I just never followed through. Week-after-week,
month-after-month, it was nothing but disappointments. Ones from my teachers,
ones from my parents, ones from myself. Tackling something that is outside of
your box is more than changeling. It's mind-juggling. Every idea was
extraordinary. Something that would give me a 20/20. I was excited. Filled with
joy when that final thought was created. But, procrastination took over and
molded me into something that I wasn't. I would say that Social Media is to
blame, but actually, I am to blame. Everything is/was my decision. I decided to
not turn in work; I decided to leave class for 30 minutes. No one is going to
force me to do anything. It's my responsibility to make sure I am doing the
best I can, and none of my capability and potential was shown through the
half-ass effort.
This past school year has been an adventure. It
wasn't a pleasant one, but I can't change the past and most certainly will not
dwell in it. My journey has taught me the value things may have. I envied
people who were better at things than I was. I'm not skilled in math. I'm not
skilled in Spanish, but that's okay. Piers of mine who received A's in classes,
that I got a C in, were just trying to the best of their ability. I'm strong in
many things that straight A students aren't, and thats valuable. I have to know
that I'm not going to be Superman at everything, so I can't beat myself up over
something that can't be altered. I may have messed up a few times, but I know
how to fix the mistakes. Writing this short essay, made me realize the
importance and significance of my talents and where they can lead me. I am an
individual who sees things metaphorically and artistically. I can't compute
variables in an equation and I can't translate a sentence only using a Spanish
dictionary. From now on, I know to try my best and be the person I truly am,
because it's the only thing that will be my aid in the following journeys.
Practice Videos - "Pebbles"
Part 1
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44525269/%20Part%201%20-%20Dance%20Practice.MOV
Part 2
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44525269/Part%202%20-%20Dance%20Practice.MOV
Part 3
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44525269/Part%203%20-%20Dance%20Practice.MOV
Ray Albarouki
Audrey Pham
Joy Morrow
Kaboni Bailey
Enthony Chhin
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44525269/%20Part%201%20-%20Dance%20Practice.MOV
Part 2
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44525269/Part%202%20-%20Dance%20Practice.MOV
Part 3
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/44525269/Part%203%20-%20Dance%20Practice.MOV
Ray Albarouki
Audrey Pham
Joy Morrow
Kaboni Bailey
Enthony Chhin
Q3 Benchmark Reflection
How does this project relate to the real world?
Say architecture is something that you are interested in, the calculations used in this project would help a person find the measurements of a building that would be designed or reconstructed. Another example would be if a person loved to design. Designing or redesigning the exterior of a house is not as easy as it seems. If you wanted to put a fresh layer of stucco, you would need to know the height of the building or the object you are laying it on. Maybe the height of an object determines the weight of stucco making materials that is needed.
What was the most exciting portion of this project and why? What was the least
What did you learn from completing this project?
That you should never stand in front of a garage door while using the mirror method. It was the second or third time a partner of mine was using the mirror method, and as I began to measure distances from the mirror to the garage door and the mirror to her feet, the garage door began to open. We were frightened and ran to the house next door and proceeded with our calculations. Even though we almost were run over by a car, we learned that math is not easy, and you need to be careful when choosing the next step.
Say architecture is something that you are interested in, the calculations used in this project would help a person find the measurements of a building that would be designed or reconstructed. Another example would be if a person loved to design. Designing or redesigning the exterior of a house is not as easy as it seems. If you wanted to put a fresh layer of stucco, you would need to know the height of the building or the object you are laying it on. Maybe the height of an object determines the weight of stucco making materials that is needed.
What was the most exciting portion of this project and why? What was the least
exciting portion to this project and why?
I think the most exciting portion of this project was the redesigning of the facade of our building. My goal in life is to become a designer or to work in the industry of design/fashion. I enjoy colors and textiles. It was enjoyable to create something of my own. I don't think there is one thing in the project that I dislike the most. It was not a difficult one, however, it was a bit time consuming. I had to measure distances outside about five times and the blueprint was not given a sufficient amount of time to work on and be completed. What did you learn from completing this project?
That you should never stand in front of a garage door while using the mirror method. It was the second or third time a partner of mine was using the mirror method, and as I began to measure distances from the mirror to the garage door and the mirror to her feet, the garage door began to open. We were frightened and ran to the house next door and proceeded with our calculations. Even though we almost were run over by a car, we learned that math is not easy, and you need to be careful when choosing the next step.
Language Autobiography 2013: A Language
This unit was inspired by language. From the numerous language essays that were read in Mr. Block's English class and beyond, came the project of the "Language Autobiography." This assignment was to help Bronze and Copper SLA students write how language has effected us in a positive or negative way. My topic was "How Can Language Affect Your Cultural Exposure?" Meaning, what can a language do to help you become more involved with the world. Over recent years, I have been more involved with planet Earth than a scientist can be with macromolecules. My native tongue and many new tongues opened my eyes to a whole new experience, one that I will cherish forever.
Due to the excessive exposure of international and interracial activity, I have become cultured in a way that allows me to reference back to my native routes. Born into an Arab society, as Rahed Albarouki, I became worldly quickly because my culture was interesting and I was curious to find out if I could find anything more engrossing. The experience of language and food took over my body in a way that is indescribable.
Personally, I find the Arab society interesting because of the affectionate connection that is shared with others. They are treated as if part of the family. Also, having to conduct traditional dances on special occasions is something that is deeply admired. The Debke, is a form of dance where you must hold people's’ hands in a large circle. There is a continuation of foot motion where you step right, step right, then stop and step forward with your left leg. It’s an easy dance for anyone who can’t dance! But, one of my favorite things to do, is eat! Every meal must be a big production. I feel as though it’s a never ending buffet of traditional foods, such as Yubrak, which are grape leaves stuffed with rice, and Meclooby, which is a concoction of rice, meat and nuts with a creamy sauce poured over it. Meclooby, is a comical dish because, in Arabic, Meclooby means “upside down or flipped over” and the dish is actually upside down.
Learning Arabic is one of the hardest things to do. It is actually one of the hardest languages to learn in the world. Not only speaking it, but writing and reading also. It’s a tough task. Unfortunately, I am not able to write or read Arabic, only speak, but I do plan on taking classes in college to advance my knowledge on the language. However, my father and mother can both speak, write and read it fluently. My mother always says to me, “I regret not teaching you the other stuff.” I just shrug my shoulders and get over it. Do I wish I could’ve learned? Yes, of course, but now I am more motivated to learn it in the future. So thank you, mom.
Once, I rode in a Yellow Cab. I was going to a play in Center City. As I stared at the driver, he spoke in Arabic to his wife on the phone. I was angry because that action was jeopardizing my safety, but honestly, I didn’t care. He was saying such sweet things to his wife. “Ani hebak, habibti. Inti warda.” He called her a flower. I was eavesdropping basically, but it really didn’t count, because I knew every word he was saying. A thought occurred to me, why am I just here? Here, meaning in the Arab society, why don’t I venture out? I wasn’t going to totally abandon my culture, but just drift away a tiny bit. I was very hungry the moment I had to pay. When he told me the price and when I gave the him the money, I opened the door and said “Shukran,” which means thank you in Arabic. He smiled at me. As soon as I closed the door, I went to RiceMix, a Korean restaurant and I ordered some bibimbap. It was delicious.
Language is a marvelous wonder, whether you are a native speaker or a learner. I was never a strong Arabic speaker, but I am able to understand the majority. It’s a major setback, but it drives me to obtain more knowledge on the subject. However, it is also a helpful thing to study other languages. Not only because colleges require it, but because it’s a cultural experience. It’s never wrong to just stick to one culture, but it is worth expanding your horizons. Over the past years, I have learned so much about the world. That one taxi ride was my new horizon. I read articles, ate food, went to parties, met different people, all because I knew a language. Sometimes, a language can be your key to an experience unlike no other.3 Keystone Pipeline Monologues
I.
I was assigned a project in my History class where I had to write three different monologues on views of the Keystone Pipeline from different perspectives. I chose to write three pieces on people who are against it, but they all have their own unique quality to them.
----------------------------------
A world where man is the superior, is a world worth dying. Centuries have passed and humans have done nothing but trash this Earth. Earth has beauty and wonders like no other. If you think about it, it's actually very unique. Many people would try to preserve its grace, but often fail by the ignorance of greed. As of right now a pipeline is being built, that will stretch from Alberta, Canada, to Houston, Texas, and it will transfer oil in and out of this country. The Keystone Pipeline is probably going to be one of the most hurtful inventions on this planet. There is a huge possibility that the pipeline will effect nature, animals, and residents of this country. Environmentalists are trying to stop this project. They fear that it will harm animals, water supply, and most importantly, nature. Not only do they fear it, but they've felt it. Thousands of boycotts have happened around the country to try and put a stop to this. I've seen videos and photos of protestors chaining themselves to trees, to prevent the claw of a bulldozer from digging up a three hundred year old piece of life. I've learned to stand right next to them and be called a "nature freak" because I feel like this world is crumbling around us and if we don't do something now, Mother Nature going to shut her eyes on the outside forces.
II.
#1 Eirene(is staring at the nurse with a friendly smile on her face)
No, I don’t need my wig today. I would like a bandana though. My head can get a bit chilly. Yea the green one. Green is my favorite color. No, I don’t want to watch cartoons. (looks at TV) I hear Scott Pelley talking about nature! That’s way more exciting than Spongebob! Like I said Sue, green is my favorite color! What do those headlines say? A Trees SOS. The Ground Is Crying. Wh-What?? (looks at the nurse) Sue, what is this? A pipeline to transfer oil? (stares off into the distance and is shaking her head side-to-side slowly in frustration) Oil. Hm, figures. (looks back at TV) Environmentalists Arrested For Protesting. (pauses for a second ----- then gets really angry and screams) NARROW-MINDED SONS-A-BITCHES! FUCK YOU! All this country wants is money! MONEY! It’s all about greed! They know NOTHING! NOTHING! All those damn Republicans want is to dirty the Earth with their hands! Mess around with its vulnerability until it finally crumbles. (she turns her head towards the nurse. is angry) No, I won’t be quiet! I don’t give a shit if the other nurses hear me! I give a shit if the world hears me! Excuse me? What do you think because I can hardly walk, I can’t speak? Haha, yea right they’re going to arrest me. I’d rather die before I give in!
(about a 5 second pause, then she’s in heaven.. standing. she speaks slowly and in a calm manner)
Peace. Peace is what needs to happen. But it won’t. It never will. Not for the Earth. Not for me. I’m standing here in front of the gates of heaven, dead. (serious face) Dead. When I said I’d rather die before I give in, I wasn’t lying. I’m dead for a reason. Not because of my disease, but because of my morals. (kind of a confused expression on her face) My morals. When you die with something you stand for, it’s called integrity. When you die because of something you stand for, it’s called (about a 1 second pause) “someone is a bitch.”
#2 Bye-Bye Birdie
(staring off into the distance with a scared expression on her face)
Oh shit. A bulldozer. (panicking to wake up her sons) Darling, darling wake up your brother! Now! Come on, we have to go. No questions! Just go! (points) Fly down by the bush! (screams) HURRY! (looks down from the tree to her one son) You down there?? OK, wait for us! (is rushing her other son) Come on Birdie, lets go. What do you mean you can’t fly? (pauses, a bit scared) Oh damn. You’re the one who isn’t full grown. Well, sweetie, it’s time to learn how to fly by falling. Lets go! 1-2-3!! (optimistic) Haha, you’re doing it! (her son starts falling, so she screams) NO NO NOOO!! (her son lands on the ground and can’t move) Oh My God! Oh My God! Oh My God! Come on, we have to go now! You can’t move? Which wing? (stares at the in coming bulldozer) Oh My God! (staring at her son on the ground) No, no! I’m not going without you! Let’s go! (stares at her son by the bush) No, stay over there!! STAY OVER THERE! (staring at her son on the ground) We’re going to make it! Do you hear me Birdie? We are going to make it! (pauses for a few seconds while staring at her son on the ground. she realizes that he’s not going to move) You’re not going to make it are you? Then, neither am I. Yes I am staying. (gets serious and in her son’s face) I’m your mother and you will do as I say and I will do what I want. (the bulldozer is near) I love you. (her scream is progressing to a very loud “NO”) no-no-No-NO-NOOOOOOO!!
#3 Hey There Delilah
(the dad is smiling at his daughter with an exhausted expression on his face)
“Hey there Delilah! How are you?? You enjoying time with your mom?” (she sounds sad and is speaking in a low tone of voice. she is writing in her journal) That’s all he says me when he wakes my tired six year old body up at two in the morning after his job is finished. I never see my daddy. At least not after he got that job as a construction worker for some dumbass pipeline. (she finally stares straight into your eyes) Oops, can’t say that word. Mommy said I’m not allowed to curse. But I hear daddy curse all the time. (she is looking around, kind of depressed looking) He curses at mommy. Before he got the job, he would always sing the song, “Hey There Delilah” to me. His vocals put me to sleep. Now, I don’t sleep. I just lay in my bed all day while mommy’s working. She’s always working late... that’s what she tells me when I ask where she’s been. When she comes to kiss me goodnight, her breath smells like a bottle of something I recognize from a family reunion that I once went too. It smells nasty. (looks down at her journal, kind of whispering) Daddy just got home.. I’ll be back in a minute Journal. You lay on my pillow, just like you always do. We rehearsed remember? Ugh, I don’t have time, daddy’s home. (the dad is smiling at his daughter with an exhausted expression on his face) “Hey there Delilah! How are you?? You enjoying time with your mom?” (she starts off laying down, but then gets up and looks at her down in the eyes) Hey there daddy, where have you been? (the dad is looking around like he wants to cry, trying to avoid it)
III.
Appendix
- It increases greenhouse gas emissions
- The pipeline is running directly over the biggest source of fresh water in the middle of our continent - The Aguila Aquifer. If leaks occur, contamination is certain.
- By reducing our dependence on foreign oil, we will make our Nation more secure and improve our trade balance, thus creating jobs and supporting domestic industry.
- It puts the country deeper in debt.
- Julia Trigg Crawford feels like it’s immoral to run a pipeline of oil under her land that is considered sacred.
- Climate change: the tar sands will add to the realism of global warming
Appendix
- It increases greenhouse gas emissions
- The pipeline is running directly over the biggest source of fresh water in the middle of our continent - The Aguila Aquifer. If leaks occur, contamination is certain.
- By reducing our dependence on foreign oil, we will make our Nation more secure and improve our trade balance, thus creating jobs and supporting domestic industry.
- It puts the country deeper in debt.
- Julia Trigg Crawford feels like it’s immoral to run a pipeline of oil under her land that is considered sacred.
- Climate change: the tar sands will add to the realism of global warming
Bibliography
- Mufson, Steven. "Keystone Pipeline Clears a Hurdle." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/texas-judge-rules-in-favor-of-transcanada-in-eminent-domain-case/2012/08/23/87744776-ecda-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_story.html>.
- Sartore, Photograph By Joel. "Pictures: Animals That Blocked Keystone XL Pipeline Path." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/01/pictures/120119-animals-blocked-keystone-xl/>.
- Mufson, Steven. "Keystone Pipeline Clears a Hurdle." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/texas-judge-rules-in-favor-of-transcanada-in-eminent-domain-case/2012/08/23/87744776-ecda-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_story.html>.
- Sartore, Photograph By Joel. "Pictures: Animals That Blocked Keystone XL Pipeline Path." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/01/pictures/120119-animals-blocked-keystone-xl/>.
- "Keystone XL Pipeline: How Long Will Customers Wait?" The Huffington Post. The Canadian Press, 19 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/01/19/keystone-xl-pipeline-customers-delay_n_1216194.html>.
Descriptive Essay: Defying Conformity
Defying Conformity
Coming from an illiterate past is something to not be ashamed of, but to embrace as an individual, because you know you can make a difference by being the opposite of what you have been exposed to. I realized from a very young age that I wanted to be a well educated person and a well spoken person. I knew that I had to be presentable in life. With the way job interviews are ran and the way society judges, you must have a good enough vocabulary to write an email to your boss. Look at yourself in the mirror and think about the first impression you give off to others when you speak. If you have to think negatively about it, then there is something that can be improved.
My father’s parents, who were both born and raised in the heart of the Middle East, Syria, only spoke a couple of English words. My father has lived in two foreign countries, learned two different languages at the same time, and has seen the side of illiteracy. Both of his parents were unable to read or write English when they arrived to the United States of America. My father decided to take English courses at Temple when he arrived, which improved his vocabulary immensely. He was then able to speak to strangers, speak to his boss, and speak to himself in English. His parents continued to speak in their native tongue, but my dad progressed and rose above the expectations as he learned his new national language.
I have a neighbor named Pat. Pat was a huge help in the making of my vocabulary. She always spoke to me as if I was an adult. Pat, who never underestimated me and who always pushed me to greater things, would express her feelings towards things in a professional manner. She set an example for me as I was growing. She taught me how to enunciate my words when I speak and always make sure I am using words correctly in a sentence, statement, or phrase. Every night, after I arrived home from sixth grade, Pat would assist me in the completion of my spelling homework. She would yell, “THAT’S NOT A SENTENCE!” And I would reply with a, “*sigh* okay, but I don’t know how to make a sentence for this word.” “Well, I don’t know what else to do except send you into the kitchen until you figure one out.” This was hell. This was something I respectfully called The Hour of Hell.
Both of these people are huge influences, but the biggest thing that made push even harder than I already was, were the people in school. You wouldn’t believe the things I would hear come out of some of my classmates mouths’. It was as if they were raised by wolves. The vocabulary and sentence structure was horrific and something I can explain no further, because it was just that bad.
But it made me look deeper and further into the future. At times, I was unable to think, incapable of speaking, and unable to write a single word down on my page. I was frustrated and annoyed. There were many nights where I actually cried because I thought I would turn out like my classmates if I didn’t learn to speak correctly. But I got through it because I knew I had to.
One of biggest struggles I had while learning to speak correctly, was getting out of the habit of saying “like” every five words. “Like, I wonder what it would be like, if like, I didn’t know how to, like, speak? Like, you know?” That would be a sentence I would have said or at least something like that. I know many people who say the word “like” three or four times in one sentence. I say to them, “Was it like or was it?” That’s something that was said to me on a daily basis, up until I dropped the habit.
The National School Project is an organization that helps students express their individuality. They are responsible for creating the book called “Young American Poetry Digest.” A couple of years ago I entered a contest, that was run by the National School Project, to see if I could get the chance to have one my poems published in their book. I was finally confident enough to share my pieces of writing. So, I sent in about eight. A few months went by and I finally got the letter from them. I stood in my doorway for a minute thinking to myself “whether I’m in or not, I’m still a winner.” Slowly, I started to tear open the white envelope. I took out the letter, unfolded it and read the first word of the paragraph. “Congratulations...” You can imagine my excitement. The feeling of success was erupting in my body.
Defying conformity can really change the course of your life. My dad decided to take the road not taken. He showed me what is possible and what you can achieve with a little elbow grease. As I advance through my career, I become more aware of what the future holds for me. Education is the key to success and without literacy, you will never be able to achieve the ultimate goal.
Salty sea air
blows against the brittle body
sea crystals sticking
- Rahed Albarouki
Cell Phone Stupidity #3
My last couple of blogs were explaining my reason behind creating these three blog posts. Again, my reason is because I feel humans have become stupider and more lazy over time due to the evolution of technology. The blogs I've already made had a lot of opinions, but this blog has facts and my own personal research.
This blog is my Post For Change! I am writing this blog to try and make a difference in society and help people understand that this is not something to just throw to the side. It's a problem that has been overlooked for years but never actually was taken seriously. But I'm taking it seriously and I will make a difference one way or another!
I AM FURIOUS!
This blog is my Post For Change! I am writing this blog to try and make a difference in society and help people understand that this is not something to just throw to the side. It's a problem that has been overlooked for years but never actually was taken seriously. But I'm taking it seriously and I will make a difference one way or another!
I AM FURIOUS!
Over the past couple of weeks, I have become very curious to see if anything has been done to bring forth the issue I am discussing with you. Nothing has been talked about, or shown, or even thought about! Yes, people have talked about how technology has made people lazier and stupider over time, but it was not a huge issue in the whole world's eyes. But in my eyes it is. I am exhausted of dealing with people who do not how to put down their cell phone or their computer or iPad and just read a book or the newspaper. I realize that you're able to access all of these things from your mobile phone but it's a different feeling when you're reading ink. Your vision becomes better and your reading level goes up.
I kept thinking of all these different questions and their possible answers. So I decided to take a survey. The survey asked very simple questions and it gave me the answers I needed. Click here to take the survey.
I found out a lot about how many people have cell phones and how long they use them for. I sent my survey out to over 400 people but only 49 of them filled out the survey. However, I was not able to retrieve every single answer due to technical difficulties. My findings are shown below:
How old are you?
Years | How Many
12 1
13 0
14 10
15 17
16 3
17 6
18 12
19 0
Do you have a cell phone?
Yes | No
47 2
How many years have you had a cell phone?
Years | How Many
0 0
1 2
2 2
3 6
4 6
5 12
6 7
7 2
9 1
10 2
11 2
< 1 or 1 6
2 6
5 1
> 5 12
8 41
10 0
11 0
12 19
0-1 1
1-2 0
2-3 1
3-4 17
11 38
24 25
After analyzing my results numerous times, it shows me that when your a young teenager (14 or 15) that you tend to have a cell phone. Not only that, but you tend to also have a touch screen phone and a more high powered phone. It was shocking to me when I saw that more people thought humans have stayed the same over time and over the evolution of technology.
CHANGE
I kept thinking of all these different questions and their possible answers. So I decided to take a survey. The survey asked very simple questions and it gave me the answers I needed. Click here to take the survey.
I found out a lot about how many people have cell phones and how long they use them for. I sent my survey out to over 400 people but only 49 of them filled out the survey. However, I was not able to retrieve every single answer due to technical difficulties. My findings are shown below:
How old are you?
Years | How Many
12 1
13 0
14 10
15 17
16 3
17 6
18 12
19 0
Do you have a cell phone?
Yes | No
47 2
How many years have you had a cell phone?
0 0
1 2
2 2
3 6
4 6
5 12
6 7
7 2
9 1
10 2
11 2
How many hours of the day do you use your cell phone?
Hours | How Many
Hours | How Many
2 6
5 1
> 5 12
Do your parents have any restrictions on your cell phone?
Yes | No8 41
What grade are you in?
Grade | How Many
9 30Grade | How Many
10 0
11 0
12 19
What is your grade point average? NO LYING!
GPA | How Many0-1 1
1-2 0
2-3 1
3-4 17
Do you have a flip-phone or a touch screen?
Flip-phone | Touch Screen 11 38
Do you believe people have become less curious about things due to the evolution of technology?
Yes | No24 25
After analyzing my results numerous times, it shows me that when your a young teenager (14 or 15) that you tend to have a cell phone. Not only that, but you tend to also have a touch screen phone and a more high powered phone. It was shocking to me when I saw that more people thought humans have stayed the same over time and over the evolution of technology.
CHANGE
Change is not something easy to conquer, that's why I am working my best to find a way to make change. I want that change to be a result of this blog. So far, I have come up with a "No Screen Week." This week is a pledge to not use any type of technology (i.e. cell phones, computers, iPods) for ONE whole week. For many this is a hard task, but for many this is very easy. The date and way to spread the word about this is still undetermined. But it'll be sometime in the summer.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ms. Dunn
Julia Boyer
Science Leadership Academy Students
Apple
The Internet
Myself
Julia Boyer
Science Leadership Academy Students
Apple
The Internet
Myself
Cell Phone Stupidity
YOU are the world. The world is what you make it and what
your visions is for it. If you have a problem with it or you want to change
something about it than it’s your responsibility to make an impact on the
humans of Earth and beyond. I have a problem with this world. The title of my
blog, “Cell Phone Stupidity,” should explain my problem. I am not thrilled with
my generation.
My Issue:
Do you know what the problem in today’s society is? That teens and young adults, especially, are so blinded by technology. They feel that their computer and their cell phone is the most important thing in the world. Facebook has become one of the most visited websites in the world! For some people, that is the world. Personally, I feel it’s a disgrace what has become of today’s generation. No one picks up a book to research anything; they just go on the web. No one gets up to tell to go talk to somebody, they just text or call them. Handwriting has gotten worse and so has peoples’ ways of thinking. Thousands of people die every single day because they text and drive or they talk and drive at the same time. It makes us unsafe and unaware of what really is happening in the world.
I chose this topic for one reason and one reason only, to show people how technology has blinded us from the REAL world. I need teens to realize what life is all about. Its not about Facebook, Twitter, having the best phone, or the nicest car, it’s about looking for detail and searching for the true meaning of life and what people are actually meant to be and not what technology has made people think they should be.
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I have done research on many other blogs, including one that I found highly interesting. It talked about how much technology is making kids stupider and it also covered some things that I talked about.
I agree with everything this person is saying. Many other websites have done tests on the difference between people who have been introduced to technology since birth and on people who have never used a cell phone. The “never used a cell phone” person, passed the test. I interviewed three different people. All three were on my side and agreed that technology has made us blind of what really lies in front of us.
One of my main wonders is if the radiation that comes off of different pieces of technology affects how we think and what we do?
According to my research, cell phones can indeed "fry your brain." The radiation that is emitted from cell phones, microwaves, computers, and a numerous amount of other things can in fact make you dumber. The radiation that is given off kills brain cells. But this type of radiation is not killing bad brain cells, it's killing good brain cells. These cells are the ones that make us able to function and do more things.
On a very informative website I noticed that they were advertising for cell phones as I was searching for how cell phones makes humans stupider.
You see here how mankind has evolved from a hunched over animal, to an educated tall man, to a hunched over animal. (I consider some people animals because they feed off of the gossip and lies of the Internet.)
Not one piece of paper.
We evolved from a civilization to boxes.
Somebody was thinking ahead. I wonder if they knew what the future held
for their invention?
This is exactly what I believe in. PREACH!
A lot of times this is
what I want to do and what I want people to do.
I'm going to really surprise everyone with my next bog post!
What's In Store:
- More personal views
- Other people's personal views
- More visuals (maybe some videos)
- And a lot more!... but I can't tell you.
What's In Store:
- More personal views
- Other people's personal views
- More visuals (maybe some videos)
- And a lot more!... but I can't tell you.
Negative Space Drawings
1. What is negative space? (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)
3. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?
Negative space is the empty space in between objects.
2. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your stool drawing?
I just looked for the empty spaces between the chairs and the bat. The chairs had empty spaces in between the foot rest and the bat had empty spaces in between the wings.It helps to have different view points of a picture, as an artist.
4. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?
It does because it adds definition and depth to the art piece.Ray Albarouki_English Macbeth BM
Hey guys, this a shadow box. It shows the downfall in Lady Macbeth's life from the beginning of the story to the end.
Fabio Albarouki- Mis Clases
Mis Seres Queridos-Albarouki
Ray, Q2 Media Fluency
This slide is a bit different from my last one. The colors are more eye catching and the picture is more descriptive. The slide is still simple, but it has a bit of a "kick" to it.
Pen Pal Letter
Querido Tomas Fernandez ,
¡Hola! Me llamo Ray Albarouki. Soy de Syria pero vivo en
Filadelfia. ¿Cuantos años tienes? Yo tengo quince años. ¿Cuando es tú
cumpleaños? Mi cupleaños es el viente y tres de Noviembre. ¿De dónde eres?
¿Qué te gusta hacer, qué te interesa? Me gusta ir de
compras, cocinar, y cantar. Me gusta la comida Francís, y Mexicana. Tambien la
musica pop. No me gusta tompoco musica rap, ni musica rock.
Soy alto y delgado. Tambien moreno y ajos café. Yo soy
inteligente, trabajador, cómico, y divertito. Tambien simpatico y sociable. ¿Y
tú? Cómo eres?
Bueno, me voy porque tengo que estudiar.
¡Adios!
Con cariño,
Ray Albarouki
Ray, Q2 Media Fluency
“I used to walk down the street like I was a f***ing star… I want
people to walk around delusional about how great they can be - and then to
fight so hard for it every day that the lie becomes the truth.”
“Unique! Special! Unlike No
Other! Two words, one phrase. Three things I hear all the time. I know I am
capable of being great and I know that I am all three of things, but sometimes I
refuse to believe it. Why? I don’t know. I guess its because I’ve had a lot of
things happen to me that made me feel like I wasn’t unique or special.
I am a person who dream big!
HUGE!
·
I want my fantasy to become my reality.
·
I will never let someone take away my humanity.
·
I know I am capable of being someone great.
·
I dream big and I don’t let anyone stop me. That’s
what makes me unique, and special, and unlike no other.
·
Because of who I am and what I believe I will make
all three of these words come alive!
My slide, I think, incorporates what we've learned. It has a bright blue background with large chocolate brown letters. The background makes the letters POP! The size of the letters is also used from the websites. Each letter is above "100 point" font.
Greetings
“How are you, Goodbye”
· How To Talk To Someone You Just Met.
· In order to talk to someone you just met you would need to know: how to say Hello, How Are You, What Is Your Name, Goodbye or Nice To Meet You.
· Here’s a video of Lupe approaching Fabio and talking to him:
