Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Update #3
Since Connor's editing at home I don't really have much to say. He has been showing us rough cuts periodically in class and we have been giving him suggestions, but they all look really good. I'm excited to see how the movei turns out and to see it on the big screen. I also really hope Olive gets nominated and wins for best actrice because I was really impressed by her acting.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Oldest Story; Update
We finished almost all of our filming last Sunday. We got alot of montagy shots at a park, but we still have to film the part with the Bureaucrat typing up the story on a typewriter, which will bring the whole movie together. Connor is editing at home and uploading what he has so far to youtube. We watched in class and we gave him some suggestions.
There were a couple of shots what crossed the 180 line (if that's what it's called), where to camera jumps form the left of someone to their right which is really disorienting for the viewer. He also has to cut down and integrate the montage into the dialogue and we discussed how he should do that.
Since this project first started we've been gathering music, and we have a googledoc with about a thousand songs, so this week we'll start going through it and see what really works with the movie.
There were a couple of shots what crossed the 180 line (if that's what it's called), where to camera jumps form the left of someone to their right which is really disorienting for the viewer. He also has to cut down and integrate the montage into the dialogue and we discussed how he should do that.
Since this project first started we've been gathering music, and we have a googledoc with about a thousand songs, so this week we'll start going through it and see what really works with the movie.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
The Oldest Story; Production Update
We filmed the bulk of our movie last Saturday at an old train station in Silver Spring. We had two actors, Allie and the Bureaucrat. Most of the filming took place on or right next to the bench on the left. At one point a train was going by for a good five or six minutes, and we were able to get some good shots of the train what we may be able to integrate in to our movie.
During production I helped read the story board and shot list and helped decide how things should be shot. Since we were using actors outside of our group and outside of Blair, I was really able to see how important it is to manage our time. We had to go 30 minutes past when we were planing on being done while wasn't that big of a deal, but that meant that we did have to keep the actors there longer than expected.
For our movie poster I want to incorporate something to do with time, since it's called "The Oldest Story." We got this from one of the shots of the Bureaucrat's watch. This is only a rough draft, but I like the idea behind it.
During production I helped read the story board and shot list and helped decide how things should be shot. Since we were using actors outside of our group and outside of Blair, I was really able to see how important it is to manage our time. We had to go 30 minutes past when we were planing on being done while wasn't that big of a deal, but that meant that we did have to keep the actors there longer than expected.
For our movie poster I want to incorporate something to do with time, since it's called "The Oldest Story." We got this from one of the shots of the Bureaucrat's watch. This is only a rough draft, but I like the idea behind it.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Economics
In 2008 the United States experienced its
worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The economy shrunk by 8.9 percent, unemployment
was at 7.3 percent and increasing, and inflation rates fell from 4.1 percent to
0.1 percent. Since the end of 2009 the
US economy has begun to grown, unemployment has started to fall and inflation
has remained low. To strengthen
the economy, maximize employment, and stabilize inflation, Congress and the Federal Reserve Bank need to change
fiscal and monetary policy by increasing taxes on the rich, lowering them for
the poor, increasing government spending, lowering interest rates, and buying
more Treasury Bills.
Raising taxes for the top five percent of the population and lowering them for the rest of the US citizens will stimulate the economy and create jobs. The top 5 percent of Americans own 70 percent of the nation’s wealth. The rest of the country only owns 30 percent of the nation’s wealth. 95 percent of the population owns only less than a third of the wealth. The government should raise taxes on the rich, which is only 5 percent of the population, and lower taxes for the rest of Americans. Lowering taxes boosts the economy because people have more money and will be more likely to spend money. This helps businesses that will be able to grow and hire more employees, increasing employment. A fiscal policy of raising taxes hinders economic growth, but the government will only be raising taxes on a small number of people, so overall the economy will grow and the increased taxes from the rich will help pay off the US debt.
Raising taxes for the top five percent of the population and lowering them for the rest of the US citizens will stimulate the economy and create jobs. The top 5 percent of Americans own 70 percent of the nation’s wealth. The rest of the country only owns 30 percent of the nation’s wealth. 95 percent of the population owns only less than a third of the wealth. The government should raise taxes on the rich, which is only 5 percent of the population, and lower taxes for the rest of Americans. Lowering taxes boosts the economy because people have more money and will be more likely to spend money. This helps businesses that will be able to grow and hire more employees, increasing employment. A fiscal policy of raising taxes hinders economic growth, but the government will only be raising taxes on a small number of people, so overall the economy will grow and the increased taxes from the rich will help pay off the US debt.
The government should also spend more to
boost the economy. When the government
spends and invests more it creates now jobs.
GDP growth would be significantly less without government spending. The government should invest wisely in
education, innovation, and infrastructure to increase economic growth and
employment, but not to increase the debt.
Investing in education will give more people the chance to get higher
paying jobs, which will increase jobs and provide job security. Investing in innovative technologies will
keep the United States ahead and create better jobs. Infrastructure, such as transportation and
communication systems, can be improved to support the growth of businesses. Once the economy has achieved adequate growth,
the government can cut back on spending to decrease the federal deficit.
Monetary policy is how the Federal Reserve
System uses the Reserve Requirement, interest rates, and the buying and selling
of Treasury bills to affect the money supply. When the Fed changes interest rates, all
the banks in the United States have to change their interest rates. If the Fed were to lower interest
rates, economic growth would increase. People
and businesses are more likely to take out loans from banks if they don’t have
to pay as much back. That
means that people will grow expand their businesses some people will start new
businesses, all of which creates more jobs.
If the Federal Reserve Bank lowers its interest rates, inflation will
eventually rise and become a problem. Inflation
means that the economy is growing, but too much inflation is bad because the
dollar will buy less and people will have to spend more money for the same
things that used to cost less. The Fed
should lower interest rates carefully to avoid too much inflation.
The Federal Reserve Bank should buy more Treasury
bills to stimulate the economy. When the
government buys T-bills it’s giving money to businesses so that can expand and
will be able to hire more people, creating more jobs. The Federal Reserve Bank should decrease
interest rates and buy more T-bills to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and
keep inflation low and steady.
Fiscal and monetary policy need to be
carefully adjusted to avoid increasing the federal deficit and inflation. While lowering taxes and increasing spending
can help grow the economy, but in the long run if the government doesn’t invest
enough in education, innovation, and infrastructure the United States won’t be
able to compete international businesses. Interest rates need to be carefully adjusted
so that inflation doesn’t rise or fall drastically. It is essential that Congress and the Federal Reserve Bank increase taxes on the
rich, lower them for the poor, increase government spending, lower interest
rates, and buy more Treasury Bills, to strengthen
the economy, maximize employment, and stabilize inflation.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Documentary Project Reflection
My
documentary was about the culture of longboarding. This isn’t the most ordinary topic for a
documentary. Most of the other
documentaries are about current issues like the education system or the
Israeli-Pakistani conflict. For these
groups their documentary was a way for them to further explore their issue and to
express their opinions. I’m glad I chose
this topic because although our documentary isn’t particularly educational and
doesn’t address a current problem, it was very fun to make. Having the freedom to chose our own topics is
very important because a documentary, or project of any kind for that matter,
won’t turn out well if the creators are only lukewarm about the topic.
If
I could have done the documentary over again I would have gotten better
interviews. I think the only way to do
this is to just interview way more people than you think you’ll need. Many people have the same generic answers and
don’t generate much insight on the topic.
Also as you get more information you’re about to ask better questions and
receive better answers.
I
liked watching the documentary about the recovery of the football player, it
was really well done and inspirational, but I’m not sure that it helped us make
our documentaries. It was mostly comprised
of reenactments, which we don’t have the resources to do. We should watch more simple documentaries and
good student documentaries. It would
also greatly benefit our documentary making process if we were able to spend
more time working on the project rather than talking about it. I understand that you need proof that we are
working and all the members of the group are contributing, but I think it would
be more effective to write a blog post about our documentary every few weeks
instead taking a half hour to talk about filling out a half sheet of paper.
I
learned more about filming and editing action sport videos without any fancy
aports cameras or equipment. I don’t
longboard but I do enjoy watching ski and snowboard videos. Once I started to pay attention to more than
just the tricks, it became clear which ones were more professional. I think more about how they were filmed, the
lighting, and how it’s set to music. Our
introduction is a combination of b-roll and our footage. The first shot is behind someone longboarding
out of a tunnel, which gives it a natural fade in. The next few shot are of longboarders and each
shot changes with the beat of the music.
I now understand more about how action videos are made, and have the
basic skills to create one.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Skiing
I went skiing this weekend with Takoma Park ski club. This was our last ski trip and we visited Liberty. We've been to Liberty a lot before and since we felt like we mastered most of the slopes, so we visited the terrain park. So I've gone of the terrain park before, but I never really did any big jumps or bombed the hill afterwards.
On the rest of the mountain the snow was too icy or too powdery, but on the terrain park it was smooth. I went over the first two jumps, but then went around the third. I didn't jump or do any tricks, but there's an amazing rush you get from just being in the air for two seconds. After the first three jumps there's a turn and then a fourth bigger jump. I slowed down but I still thought I was going pretty fast. I didn't notice until I got to the top but there was a sharp incline and I freaked out a little, but I still landed. once I went over it there was a dip in the jump, which is supposed to make you jump, so you miss the dip, but again I didn't and somehow I sill landed. We did the same run three or four more times. On the second to last one I hit all the jumps and I jump a little on the last one. I yelled out of joy when I was in the air and my only thought going down the rest of the slope was I LOVE SKIING.
We had to leave at 7:50, which is ridiculously early, especially since it's our last time. But anyways I hit the first three jumps as well and on the third I didn't land it. I wasn't a bad fall but what I was really worried about was that I was directly under the jump, and if someone was going over, they wouldn't see me, so I popped off my skis and scrambled to the side. As I was putting on my skis I saw Annie ( one of the snowboarders I was with) go over the fourth jump, and fall. We got up and finished the hill. When we got down we found out that Phuong (the other snowboarder I was with) had also fallen. I was 7:55 and I just wanted to say screw getting back on time and go again, but we didn't.
Hopefully I can go skiing again before it gets warm, and one of two things may happen. Either I'll be really scared of the fourth jump, or since I've already fallen I'll be less afraid because falling wasn't that big of a deal. I also really hope those first three times weren't beginners luck and that I can do it again.
On the rest of the mountain the snow was too icy or too powdery, but on the terrain park it was smooth. I went over the first two jumps, but then went around the third. I didn't jump or do any tricks, but there's an amazing rush you get from just being in the air for two seconds. After the first three jumps there's a turn and then a fourth bigger jump. I slowed down but I still thought I was going pretty fast. I didn't notice until I got to the top but there was a sharp incline and I freaked out a little, but I still landed. once I went over it there was a dip in the jump, which is supposed to make you jump, so you miss the dip, but again I didn't and somehow I sill landed. We did the same run three or four more times. On the second to last one I hit all the jumps and I jump a little on the last one. I yelled out of joy when I was in the air and my only thought going down the rest of the slope was I LOVE SKIING.
We had to leave at 7:50, which is ridiculously early, especially since it's our last time. But anyways I hit the first three jumps as well and on the third I didn't land it. I wasn't a bad fall but what I was really worried about was that I was directly under the jump, and if someone was going over, they wouldn't see me, so I popped off my skis and scrambled to the side. As I was putting on my skis I saw Annie ( one of the snowboarders I was with) go over the fourth jump, and fall. We got up and finished the hill. When we got down we found out that Phuong (the other snowboarder I was with) had also fallen. I was 7:55 and I just wanted to say screw getting back on time and go again, but we didn't.
Hopefully I can go skiing again before it gets warm, and one of two things may happen. Either I'll be really scared of the fourth jump, or since I've already fallen I'll be less afraid because falling wasn't that big of a deal. I also really hope those first three times weren't beginners luck and that I can do it again.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Ski Trip
I did my independent video challenge on a ski trip to Whitetail Ski Resort. I used a point and shoot edited it with iMovie. I really like the first shot where the camera comes down from the dark sky into the light, which gives it a purple pink effect. From the lift I filmed skiers and snowboarders, and I got some good landscape shots of the rest of the mountain. I used guitar music from free music archives.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
18th Street Gang; A Documentary
The 18th Street gang has over 7,000 members throughout the United States and Central America. It's a strong Latino criminal gang that's blamed for one of the highest murder rates in the world. Thousands of gang members are behind bars, but teenagers are always being recruited. This documentary focuses on a district in San Salvador.
Charlie, 16, is the leader of the district in San Salvador. Charlie and both of his roommates, like many of the members joined the gang in their early teens, and their mothers are working in the United States as cleaners. Charlie decides if people aren't following gang rules, and they are punished with a beating. Despite these somewhat frequent punishments, they consider their gang to be like family. All members have 18 tattooed on themselves in some way, and most have or want more tattoos.
The Salvadorian government is trying to eliminate gangs, and they can be arrested for having an 18 tattoo. Although they're alert for the police, they know the area better than the police and don't really take them seriously. Because of thee tattoos they can't have a real job, and make most of their money selling marijuana. Charlie is the main seller for the gang, making around $60 a week. Diego, one of Charlie's roommates has set up an extortion system with the local buses. They give him a percent of their profits, because they don't want to be targeted by Eighteenth Street.
There are several deaths a week in their district. Usually these deaths are a result of their rival gang, MS. Most people don't expect to make it past thirty. Travieso is sent on a mission to kill members of MS to avenge the deaths from Eighteen. He is then on the run from the police, but when someone else is arrested for their murder, he goes home.
This was one of those movies where it didn't need any dramatic voice overs or special effects, the topic spoke for itself. The music in this film did created a mood, and there was one interview with Travieso after he came back from his mission that really stuck out. He's in from of a red-orange wall, the camera isn't facing strait on him, it's a little off to the side, plus the hard light and the fact that he's taking about how he just killed someone creates an eery effect.
I think this documentary gave a face to these gang members, making them more than just criminals. The film ends with them celebrating the new year and talking about how they don't want this life forever. Some want to start a family, others want to join their family in the United States and make something of themselves. I even started to feel a little sad for them, because there really isn't a road that leads to them starting over in the United States, leading a productive life, or having their family be healthy and safe. It's powerful for a filmmaker to be able to make the viewer empathize with people who've murdered before.
Charlie, 16, is the leader of the district in San Salvador. Charlie and both of his roommates, like many of the members joined the gang in their early teens, and their mothers are working in the United States as cleaners. Charlie decides if people aren't following gang rules, and they are punished with a beating. Despite these somewhat frequent punishments, they consider their gang to be like family. All members have 18 tattooed on themselves in some way, and most have or want more tattoos.
The Salvadorian government is trying to eliminate gangs, and they can be arrested for having an 18 tattoo. Although they're alert for the police, they know the area better than the police and don't really take them seriously. Because of thee tattoos they can't have a real job, and make most of their money selling marijuana. Charlie is the main seller for the gang, making around $60 a week. Diego, one of Charlie's roommates has set up an extortion system with the local buses. They give him a percent of their profits, because they don't want to be targeted by Eighteenth Street.
There are several deaths a week in their district. Usually these deaths are a result of their rival gang, MS. Most people don't expect to make it past thirty. Travieso is sent on a mission to kill members of MS to avenge the deaths from Eighteen. He is then on the run from the police, but when someone else is arrested for their murder, he goes home.
This was one of those movies where it didn't need any dramatic voice overs or special effects, the topic spoke for itself. The music in this film did created a mood, and there was one interview with Travieso after he came back from his mission that really stuck out. He's in from of a red-orange wall, the camera isn't facing strait on him, it's a little off to the side, plus the hard light and the fact that he's taking about how he just killed someone creates an eery effect.
I think this documentary gave a face to these gang members, making them more than just criminals. The film ends with them celebrating the new year and talking about how they don't want this life forever. Some want to start a family, others want to join their family in the United States and make something of themselves. I even started to feel a little sad for them, because there really isn't a road that leads to them starting over in the United States, leading a productive life, or having their family be healthy and safe. It's powerful for a filmmaker to be able to make the viewer empathize with people who've murdered before.
18th Street Gang, 55:31 4 out of 5 stars.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Mobile Med.
If I where asked what my dad does for a living I really wouldn't be able to give a good description. He used to be a doctor and still works for the VA someway or another. But what I do know is that every Thursday he volunteers for Mobile Medicare, a free clinic. It serves low income patients without medical insurance. It's based off of volunteers and very few paid workers. Many of them are immigrants and don't speak English very well (if they speak English at all).
Right now there are 26 organizations competing for votes on Facebook, Mobile Med being one of them. Hyatt is giving $10,000 to the charity that gets the most votes. Right now Mobile Med is 9 Charities down on the list and the voting ends December 31.
18.Mobile Medical Care Inc. 240
19.Caritas of Austin 362
20 Haven for Hope 376
21. SPEED Trust 524
22. Equal Community Foundation 532
23. Mama's Kitchen 600
24.Adult Literacy Tutors Association 617
25. Kidz Care Tanzania 1071
26. St. John's School 1106
Here is the link to vote once a day. (You have to like the page first) Scroll down to Mobile Medical Care Inc.
https://www.facebook.com/Hyatt/app_184833218324179
It's a long shot, and there are some other good charities on the list, but after hearing stories about people who have to take care of multiple sick family members, how overworked the staff and volunteers are, and how people are struggling to get by, I really think Mobile Med deserves to win the $10,000.
Right now there are 26 organizations competing for votes on Facebook, Mobile Med being one of them. Hyatt is giving $10,000 to the charity that gets the most votes. Right now Mobile Med is 9 Charities down on the list and the voting ends December 31.
18.Mobile Medical Care Inc. 240
19.Caritas of Austin 362
20 Haven for Hope 376
21. SPEED Trust 524
22. Equal Community Foundation 532
23. Mama's Kitchen 600
24.Adult Literacy Tutors Association 617
25. Kidz Care Tanzania 1071
26. St. John's School 1106
Here is the link to vote once a day. (You have to like the page first) Scroll down to Mobile Medical Care Inc.
https://www.facebook.com/Hyatt/app_184833218324179
It's a long shot, and there are some other good charities on the list, but after hearing stories about people who have to take care of multiple sick family members, how overworked the staff and volunteers are, and how people are struggling to get by, I really think Mobile Med deserves to win the $10,000.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
A blog for Carvel
My family has been fostering dogs from the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) for a while now. Anyways we just found a home for our most resent foster dog, Carvel.
On WARLs website there weren't many pictures of that much information about her, so my mom asked me to help expand it. I used Bloger to make a website about her. Granted it doesn't look very professional, but that's partially because Bloger isn't a very high tech and is mainly for blogs not websites. Anyways here it is. http://fosteringcarvel.blogspot.com It was posted on WARLs website a few weeks ago and she got adopted this Saturday.
On WARLs website there weren't many pictures of that much information about her, so my mom asked me to help expand it. I used Bloger to make a website about her. Granted it doesn't look very professional, but that's partially because Bloger isn't a very high tech and is mainly for blogs not websites. Anyways here it is. http://fosteringcarvel.blogspot.com It was posted on WARLs website a few weeks ago and she got adopted this Saturday.
The dog on the left is Carvel and the one on the right is our dog Magee.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Odd Thanksgivings
We usually spend thanksgiving with my moms side of the family just because they're closer, and they're less of them so it's easier. Anyways we don't really have traditional Thanksgiving dinners. I can't really remember them all in the right order so I'll just talk about some of the ones I remember.
Once we had a vegan Thanksgiving, although no one in my family in vegan or vegetarian. And another time we had BLTs, that was definitely one of the weirder ones. I did have a traditional Thanksgiving a few years ago with my dad's side of the family.
I've realized there isn't much of a point to this blog post, well I guess since I'm spending Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family I'm wonder ing what we'll be having. Also I guess I like the untraditional thanksgivings better, well as long as they have the basics,
Mashed Potatoes
Once we had a vegan Thanksgiving, although no one in my family in vegan or vegetarian. And another time we had BLTs, that was definitely one of the weirder ones. I did have a traditional Thanksgiving a few years ago with my dad's side of the family.
I've realized there isn't much of a point to this blog post, well I guess since I'm spending Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family I'm wonder ing what we'll be having. Also I guess I like the untraditional thanksgivings better, well as long as they have the basics,
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce
Ok, so maybe I'm just a little hungry. 
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Last Regatta of the Season
Last Sunday was out last regatta of the year.
I really don't feel like explaining crew, because I feel like I've done it a thousand times.
It was in Occoquan, Virginia. We hade to walk a good ten minutes though the woods to get from the parking lot to the docks. It was really pretty and that's where I took some shots for my meaning of fall project.
Since it's a fall regatta it was a 5K (spring regattas are usually only 1,500 M.) We got 9th out of 19 boats. This isn't a great placement, but seeing as we were Varsity B, we weren't exactly taking practices seriously. To quote one of my teammates "We're not on Varsity B because we're like this, we're like this because we're on Varsity B."
I really don't feel like explaining crew, because I feel like I've done it a thousand times.
It was in Occoquan, Virginia. We hade to walk a good ten minutes though the woods to get from the parking lot to the docks. It was really pretty and that's where I took some shots for my meaning of fall project.
Since it's a fall regatta it was a 5K (spring regattas are usually only 1,500 M.) We got 9th out of 19 boats. This isn't a great placement, but seeing as we were Varsity B, we weren't exactly taking practices seriously. To quote one of my teammates "We're not on Varsity B because we're like this, we're like this because we're on Varsity B."
We got to race in the Trail Blazer, our best boat. It sounds crazy, but the feel of the boat is so much different from our other boats, like the Blazing Paddles or the Blitzkrieg.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Capture the Fall
I uploaded two video for my meaning of fall project which are exactly the same, expect for the music. one with the song "You're gonna miss me when I'm gone", and another with a song I found on musopens.org. I'm not going to go into what I think about having to use creative commons music (although I may later) because that's a whole different story.
Once I learned how to do it I couldn't stop, its unbelievably addicting. There are also other tricks I've learned, like doing rounds, or passing the cup around. And I've been singing this song all week.
Capture the Fall with "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone"
Anyways I think this one is much better. Admittedly I may have been editing this one around the song, rather than just editing it and then putting in the song, but that's how it should be done. If you watch this one first, I think the second one will be very disappointing. The thing is I don't really mind using websites like free soundarchives.org or musopen.org, but once I watched it with this song, it just fit, I just wouldn't see using anything else.
{Real Capture the Fall with all Creative Commons}
This week I learned how to do the cup thing that goes with "You're gonna miss me when I'm gone," among other songs. I really have no idea how to explain it so I posted a video.
Once I learned how to do it I couldn't stop, its unbelievably addicting. There are also other tricks I've learned, like doing rounds, or passing the cup around. And I've been singing this song all week.
Capture the Fall with "You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone"
Anyways I think this one is much better. Admittedly I may have been editing this one around the song, rather than just editing it and then putting in the song, but that's how it should be done. If you watch this one first, I think the second one will be very disappointing. The thing is I don't really mind using websites like free soundarchives.org or musopen.org, but once I watched it with this song, it just fit, I just wouldn't see using anything else.
{Real Capture the Fall with all Creative Commons}
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Change Project Bake Sale
Last week my project had a bake sale during the cap open house. Since another group was also having a bake sale I really didn't think we we're going to be very successful, but we were. We started out making everything $1, but after some people commented that the baked good were all different sizes but all cost a dollar, we made the smaller cookies 2 for a dollar.
The pricing or kind of tricky because you don't want to be ripping off the customer, but also want to make money. Next you don't want to change the prizes during the bake sale, because that would anger customers, and you'll seem indecisive. Although I tried to prepare for running out of change, but we still did. If we were only off by a dollar, some people would say thats alright and they could just take another item. But for others we would have to come up with the change.
We're thinking of doing another bake sale in front of the election poles, but a lot of PTAs fundraise there too, and since it would be last minute, we may not. We made $185, and overall it was a successful bake sale.
The pricing or kind of tricky because you don't want to be ripping off the customer, but also want to make money. Next you don't want to change the prizes during the bake sale, because that would anger customers, and you'll seem indecisive. Although I tried to prepare for running out of change, but we still did. If we were only off by a dollar, some people would say thats alright and they could just take another item. But for others we would have to come up with the change.
We're thinking of doing another bake sale in front of the election poles, but a lot of PTAs fundraise there too, and since it would be last minute, we may not. We made $185, and overall it was a successful bake sale.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Ellen Degeneres; and why she's a comic genius
It's hard to describe why Ellen is so funny. Maybe it's because she seems like a real person, someone you could just go up to on the street and talk too, or because she is just a really good public speaker. She is both of those, but after watching one of her old stand ups, I realized its also because that she is able to weave social commentary into a very well planed out sketch, while making it hilarious, and almost like she's just making it up on the spot.
Somewhere in the middle of her performance "The Beginning", she was talking about how awkward it is when someone is talking to you and you realized you've drifted off and weren't really listening, and they've finished talking and expecting you to say something-
"Do what I do if I can help you out I'm pleased to do it, because I know its an awkward situation for all of us. I always say something about Gloria Estefan. I'm telling you it works if you commit to it she can work into any conversation. They could be like
'What's that got to do with copper pluming?' and you're like
'Well Gloria Estefan is the copper pluming of the music industry is all, I mean she's beautiful, durable, reliable, indestructible, look how she came back after that bus accident, are you going to debate me on this?'"
By itself I found that pretty funny, but it wasn't until the very end, after many other jokes and stories, when she was describing her talk with god, who she casually describes as a 47 year old beautiful black women, (only another reason why I love Ellen) that I realized she's a comic genius.
"'I have to say God I'm sorry, I am so sorry that we're killing all of the animals, I'm so sorry that we are chopping down all the trees, I am sorry that we're filled with hate and not love, I'm sorry that we call each other names and judge each other, I'm sorry that we go to war and kill each other, I'm sorry'
And she was silent for a few seconds and then she looked at me and she said
'Have you seen Gloria Estefan's hair lately?'"
Friday, October 12, 2012
Ball Park People Watching
The ball park is such an interesting place. Don't get me wrong I love watching the game, but after I've finished my four dollar ice cream, watched Teddy lose for the five thousandth time I start to get a little bored. There's no one on base, the hitter has fouled for the kajilianth time, and the pitcher is taking about 5 hours to prepare between pitches, so I start to just watching people.
We all know theres that one guy that's always yelling and cursing at the players, but there're other types of Baseball spectators. There's that 7 year old who has her pink softball glove desperately hoping to catch a foul ball although she's sitting higher up than any balls ever come. There's someone using antique binoculars to watch, nope not the game, the dugout and commenting on who's looking a little tired, that Strasburg's beard is looking a little scraggly (which is probably was) or how cool it would be to be the security guard in the dugout with the players.
I've also spend some of my time paying attention to the songs they play when a new hitter or pitcher comes in. LaRoche for example is a fan of country music. I've also been trying to figure out if a player gets the same song played for them every time they come up to bat.
Then Harper catches a popup and throws it to second base making a double play, snapping me out of my day dreams just in time for the "Take me out to the ball game"
We all know theres that one guy that's always yelling and cursing at the players, but there're other types of Baseball spectators. There's that 7 year old who has her pink softball glove desperately hoping to catch a foul ball although she's sitting higher up than any balls ever come. There's someone using antique binoculars to watch, nope not the game, the dugout and commenting on who's looking a little tired, that Strasburg's beard is looking a little scraggly (which is probably was) or how cool it would be to be the security guard in the dugout with the players.
I've also spend some of my time paying attention to the songs they play when a new hitter or pitcher comes in. LaRoche for example is a fan of country music. I've also been trying to figure out if a player gets the same song played for them every time they come up to bat.
Then Harper catches a popup and throws it to second base making a double play, snapping me out of my day dreams just in time for the "Take me out to the ball game"
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Dystopian Film Trailer Script
For our trailer we created a dystopia where the government gives aid (food, supplies, medicine) through a "Nurse Nancy" to the poor, unemployed, sick and disabled. In a year if they haven't shown signs of improvement, their food is poisoned.
We will use propaganda (posters of Nurse Nancy) constant surveillance, (the government can tell if they are improving or not) Uniform expectations, utopian illusion ( it sounds like a good ideas for the government to be providing aid) and restricted information. Our script has 13 scenes, but since this is a trailer, a scene will only be a few seconds.
We will mostly be using voice overs, but still have a little dialogue. We will be starting and ending with the ring of bell. It will also be rung when aid arrives. It will create an eery effect. I really like our idea, and our script is going really well.
We will use propaganda (posters of Nurse Nancy) constant surveillance, (the government can tell if they are improving or not) Uniform expectations, utopian illusion ( it sounds like a good ideas for the government to be providing aid) and restricted information. Our script has 13 scenes, but since this is a trailer, a scene will only be a few seconds.
We will mostly be using voice overs, but still have a little dialogue. We will be starting and ending with the ring of bell. It will also be rung when aid arrives. It will create an eery effect. I really like our idea, and our script is going really well.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
5X5
1. Crossing the street
2. Sparkly shoes
3. Soccer
4. The swing
5. Down the slide
I used an olympus SP-600UZ, I have no idea what that really means, but I'd consider it an advanced amateur camera. Since I already knew how to use iMovie and how to upload to Youtube, this was an easy project.
At first I thought this was a weird project, because it doesn't tell a story or really have a point to it at all, but actually like how it turned out, it has a nice flow to it.
For our next independent project I thought we could do something about lighting and lean how to film without just using auto settings. Sort-of a get to know your camera thing.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Dystopian Trailer Critique
Children of Men . Alfonso Cuarón . R . 2006
In a post apocalyptic setting, all women have become infertile and Theo, (Clive Owen) as well as the rest of the world has lost hope for the future. His ex wife, Julian, (Julianne Moore) finds him and asks for his help. She has found a pregnant women, and needs to transport her safely to the human project.
The trailer does a very good job of showing the different aspects of a dystopian society and developing a dystopian protagonist by using a combination of film clips and voiceovers. The trailer shows a society with post apocalyptic control. The streets are filled with trash, there are explosions, riots, the overall coloring of the film is grey, giving a general harsh feel to the trailer. Using voiceovers from the main character, the trailer establishes his hopelessness in a world with no future. His ex wife is his catalyst that inspires him to help the pregnant girl.
For my trailer I would like to create a mood, like this one did, by using lighting, music, and other film techniques that I may learn. I also want to have a good balance between character development and development of a dystopian society.
In a post apocalyptic setting, all women have become infertile and Theo, (Clive Owen) as well as the rest of the world has lost hope for the future. His ex wife, Julian, (Julianne Moore) finds him and asks for his help. She has found a pregnant women, and needs to transport her safely to the human project.
The trailer does a very good job of showing the different aspects of a dystopian society and developing a dystopian protagonist by using a combination of film clips and voiceovers. The trailer shows a society with post apocalyptic control. The streets are filled with trash, there are explosions, riots, the overall coloring of the film is grey, giving a general harsh feel to the trailer. Using voiceovers from the main character, the trailer establishes his hopelessness in a world with no future. His ex wife is his catalyst that inspires him to help the pregnant girl.
For my trailer I would like to create a mood, like this one did, by using lighting, music, and other film techniques that I may learn. I also want to have a good balance between character development and development of a dystopian society.
Self Learning
I read the article "Preparing Students to Learn without us" by WIll Richardson. It's about how self directed learning can be used by students, with the help of their teachers, in and outside of the classroom. Students can find their own ways to meet the school goals. Students shouldn't be help back by the school curriculum and be able to explore their own interests and learn from that they are passionate about.
I was surprised that at trinity School outside Atlanta, Georgia, the students have a choice of 23 languages to learn online. first because 23 is an impressive number of languages to be offered at a school, but also because language ins't something that you can learn online, sure Latin maybe, but language is more that just about grammar and words. The only way to really learn a language is to speak it.
One quote that I liked was "The ability to learn what we want, when we want it, with whomever we want as long as we have access creates a huge push against a system of education steeped in time and place learning". At school it feels like its easier for teachers to just follow the curriculum, rather than to think of creative ways to teach and inspire.
Self directed learning sounds good in their, but unless students and highly motivated, it would never work. Some students would slack off, and other need more of a structure to be able to learn.
In terms of our class, we all have the resources to learn more about topics that we are interested in, but the point of learn learning is to do it on our own. It sounds like we would have an assignment to go teach ourselves something, which is kind of the opposite of what self learning is. Also, although I like filming and editing, I'm not interested enough in it to go learn about it on my own. I am interested in criminology, which I realize is a very broad topic to learn about, but I would be willing to read more about it on my own.
I was surprised that at trinity School outside Atlanta, Georgia, the students have a choice of 23 languages to learn online. first because 23 is an impressive number of languages to be offered at a school, but also because language ins't something that you can learn online, sure Latin maybe, but language is more that just about grammar and words. The only way to really learn a language is to speak it.
One quote that I liked was "The ability to learn what we want, when we want it, with whomever we want as long as we have access creates a huge push against a system of education steeped in time and place learning". At school it feels like its easier for teachers to just follow the curriculum, rather than to think of creative ways to teach and inspire.
Self directed learning sounds good in their, but unless students and highly motivated, it would never work. Some students would slack off, and other need more of a structure to be able to learn.
In terms of our class, we all have the resources to learn more about topics that we are interested in, but the point of learn learning is to do it on our own. It sounds like we would have an assignment to go teach ourselves something, which is kind of the opposite of what self learning is. Also, although I like filming and editing, I'm not interested enough in it to go learn about it on my own. I am interested in criminology, which I realize is a very broad topic to learn about, but I would be willing to read more about it on my own.
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