Final Exam Questions-Semester 2

56) In the Glass Menagerie, Tom is in a similar position as his father. What type of literary device is used here? A) dramatic foil B) irony C) onomatopoeia D) alliteration (Alan Nguyen, 9th)

57) The three type of ironies are verbal, situational, and dramatic. A) True B) False (Alan Nguyen, 9th)

58) Who wrote Black Boy? A) Emily Dickinson B) Scott Fitzgerald C) Richard Wright D) Edgar Allan Poe (Alan Nguyen, 9th)

59) In the Scarlet Letter, what did the letter represent? A) nudity B) adultery C) theft D) gambling (Alan Nguyen, 9th)

60) What type of play was the Glass Menagerie? A) memory play B) Greek drama C) ordinary play D) musical (Alan Nguyen, 9th)

10 Things to Know Before Joining Volleyball

1. Make sure you have great hand-eye coordination. Majority of the skills in volleyball requires your hands, whether it's setting or hitting a volleyball. Starting off with great coordination means starting your volleyball career will be successful.

2. Hustle, hustle, hustle. Doing this will show your determination to the coaches and this is what they want to see. Diving for every ball at practice will transfer to an actual game and is a very important key to winning.

3. Wear the appropriate equipment. Defensive players should definitely wear knee pads since they tend to make contact ground. Lightweight materials is essential; increasing agility, jump higher, and feeling comfortable. Shoes should also be light and be low tops. Make sure it has a lot of traction cause sometimes you might slip and break an ankle.

4. Eat a good meal before practices or games. It may not seem like a big deal, but the leg cramps and dehydration will show. Make sure you drink water or sports drinks during breaks and timeouts. Try not to drink they sports drinks unless you are sweating. Sports drinks have salts in them that are supposed to replenish salts lost from sweating.

5. Practice outside of practices. Joining a club team will guarantee you that you will become a better player. Volleyball is a year round sport. A good amount of players play club volleyball, meaning a good amount of them is going to surpass you if you don't attempt to practice off-season.

6. Beach volleyball. Playing beach is always a fun activity. You can play with friends or find a pickup game. Not only is it enjoying, but it can increase your agility remarkably. The sand isn't a stable ground, thus sinking you into it. You wouldn't be able to jump as high, forcing your legs to work more.

7. Incorporate plyometrics into your workout. 45 minutes, 2-3 times a week. Guaranteed you'll jump higher and move faster, and maybe toner legs. Most club teams already have plyometrics in their practices, so finding time for this is no big deal.

8. Have a great attitude and mentality. Try not to be a headcase, cause once you make a bad play, you're going to continue making bad plays. Shake off mistakes and do better

9. Although it may be a game, it is also fun. Every time you're on a court with organized volleyball, you should always take the game seriously. Otherwise, just try to enjoy the sport.

10. Technique. Having great technique gives great respect to the game and your fellow peers. Maximize your potential in all of your skills.

Dystopia-Josiah Nodal, Amanda Casas, Alan Nguyen

            Once there was a small town called Armstrongopolis. A couple decades ago, this place was rife with violence and physical inequality, which crippled its society’s lifestyle. After weeks of meetings and research the authorities concluded that a drastic law was needed. With the exception of the government officials, for enforcement reasons, no human being would be allowed to own arms. From that day on, newborn babies were robbed of their arms by means of amputation. Soon enough, a generation of armless people was created.

            With a world of armless people, access to life’s necessities had to be altered so people wouldn’t be helpless when it came to eating food or making a phone call. So, the government completely changed the structure of living in Armstrongopolis. Phones became speakers in the wall with the nose-sensitive, touch screen pads. At the corner of every block food was provided by three different conveyor belts with heights at two, four, and five feet. All education was provided by teachers on the televisions placed in each home. Adult work was completed by sound activated computers. Robots were programed to follow human beings, doing work that seemed impossible for humans. This way of life was accepted by everybody because violence no longer existed. Without violence, the town was perfect, one man discovered otherwise.

            Amsiah Ngudas was a handsome young man with a wife and a nine-month-old son named Tohe. He was one of the many people that enjoyed life as it was, “armless and harmless”. But one bright, warm summer evening, Tohe lost his balance and fell over on the sidewalk outside of the Ngudas’s house. This never happened before, his father was stunned. Amsiah longed to come to the rescue of his son, but without arms what could he possibly do? Amsiah, now a nervous wreck, panicked and accidentally kicked his child toward the street. Tohe kept rolling and ended up in the middle of the road. Amsiah wanted to scream, his baby boy was in danger. His heart stopped as he looked to his left and saw an automated car quickly approaching. Suddenly regaining focus, Amsiah took action and ran for Tohe, hoping to kick him out of the way of the car before it ran him over. But the vehicle was moving quicker than he had calculated; he was too late. The armless man watched in horror as his son’s life was taken right before his eyes.

            Mr. Ngudas had nightmares about the traumatic event for weeks after it happened. A part of him much more important than his arms was gone, and he soon began to realize who was the behind all of this. If the government hadn’t created a society without the ability to pick things up, he would have been able to save his son. It was a month after Tohe died when Amsiah decided he couldn't sit around and sulk any longer, but that he needed to "stick it to the man!"

            The next day, Amsiah gathered his friends and explained to them that without arms, everyone is put in danger. The longer he spoke about, the more individuals saw the iniquity in the government. Spontaneously, people mention a moment in their life in which the lack of arms has negatively affected them. Soon a large mob of angry, armless people, was created and ready to attack the government with series of powerful kicking and head-butting. The resistance was all under the command of Amsiah Ngundas. They planned to strike at midnight on the day arms were outlawed.

            When the time came, Amsiah and his band of thousands rushed the capital building and overwhelmed all full-bodied authorities. They programed their automated cars towards the capital building, destroying its base structure. Robots were also programed to take out armed enemies that posed a threat to the armless army. After only two hours the rebels took over the government headquarters, their main building collapsed, and Amsiah was placed as head of Armstrongopolis. When the action calmed, he ordered all government officials to step down from their position, stripped from their fortune, and sent to another town.

            Today, things are back to the way they were before arms were outlawed. The past has been revived and the society has returned. A lesson is taught to every child as soon as they are able to comprehend it. It goes, "Without arms, we are useless."

The Power of Introverts-Reflection

The speaker presented a philosophy on introverts and extroverts. Neither one is superior over the others, though they differ in different ways. An introvert for example, may isolate himself/herself from society and prefer to work independently. On the other hand, extroverts are completely the opposite. According to research, introverts tend to be more knowledgeable to extroverts, generally. She clearly stated that introverts should position themselves into society, benefiting others and for others to accept these introverts. Overall, I found this TED Talk to be quite interesting. I consider myself an ambivert, one that is neither an introvert nor extrovert but in between. 

Award Speech

Alan Nguyen
Period 9
Honors English II
Awards Speech

            At birth one is given an opportunity; an opportunity to be part of something significant. As we develop we become aware of our abilities. With enough effort and work, we start to transform into what we are meant to be. In my case, I was able to change the dying world into a long-lasting one. To whom it may concern, thank you for the International Scientist of the Year Award of 2030. It is a true honor and I greatly appreciate those who have supported me throughout this process. Without your support, I would have never guessed I will be standing her today receiving this award; it is truly a blessing.

            I would like to give my commendations to, first and foremost my mother and father. Ever since I was young a child they have helped me to excel in my schoolwork. Back then I was a poor student; lacking the desire to thrive or the will to learn. I drove my parents to the point where they put me into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) summer program. At one point in the program, my peers and I met multiple scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians. Each one had given a presentation about their career and how it has affected their lifestyles. After listening to these presentations, these successful individuals had inspired me to exceed in the fields of math and science. From that moment on, I had the drive; the motivation to exceed in my schooling, especially with my math and science courses. I was able to graduate from the top school in the United States of America, Harvard University with a degree in Physics. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parents concerning about my schooling.

            Everyone has probably asked themselves this particular question sometime in their life; “What can I do in life?” Your answer will change as mine did many times. I wanted to be a part of something big, something that stood out. I wanted to help others. Ideas poured into my head; bringing world peace or even ending world hunger. I wanted to do everything. But then I began to realize, these ambitions were not something I could do overnight.  Every day, the world’s supply of energy sources was thinning. Then the most marvelous idea popped into my head; I was going to find a new alternative energy source. Though, it might take years to find an alternative energy source, there is still hope.

I gathered a group of scientists and began our research for an alternative energy source in the lab of Harvard University. After seven years of hard work and countless effort, we have finally developed a solar panel system that has surpassed the capabilities of the original system. Before our contribution to the technology of solar panels, the original panels would have taken two weeks to power one house for a single night. With this new and improved technology we can now live on sunlight and provide our children a brighter day.

            I would like to thank you again for this award, but recognition is not necessary for my work. Being able to help the world survive and prosper for the future is more than enough. Our planet, Earth, is something we all need to be aware of and protect, so every contribution to it is helpful. If everyone is able to pitch in and have the desire to do work, we can have a brighter future for generations to come. This is just the beginning.  I plan on continuing my research and creating new ways to help the world’s energy supply. As Thomas Edison once said, “If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.”

The Glass Menagerie Questions

1) What does Jim call Laura?
a) Blue Skies b) Laura c) Blue Roses d) Red Roses
2) What does Jim study in his night classes?
a) Civil Engineering b) Sports Commentator c) Nuclear Energy d) Radio Engineering
3) What does Amanda learn about Laura after speaking to her typing instructor?
a) Exceeding standards b) Doesn't attend class c) Lagging behind d) Failed
4) Where does Laura remember Jim from?
a) High school b) Grammar school c) Typing class d) As babies
5) What word does Amanda forbid the family to use?
a) weak b) crippled c) mentally ill d) disabled
6) What problem does Tom find her mother?
a) trifling b) doesn't care for the family c) married his father d) plays too much
7) Where does Tom work?
a) warehouse b) carpenter c) newspaper editor d) chauffeur
8) Where does the story take place?
a) New York b) St. Louis c) Chicago d) Dallas
9) When does the story take place?
a) 1900 b) 1945 c) 1965 d) 2000
10) How many scenes are in the play?
a) 4 b) 6 c) 7 d) 8

Award Speech

Alan Nguyen
Period 9
Honors English II
Awards Speech

            Given at birth is an opportunity; an opportunity to be part of something big. As we grow we begin to become aware of our abilities. With enough effort and work, we start to transform into what we are meant to be. In my case, I am able to change the dying world into a long-lasting one. To whom it may concern, thank you for the International Scientist of the Year Award of 2030. It is a true honor and I greatly appreciate those who have supported me throughout this process.

            I would like to give my commendations to first and foremost my mother and father. Ever since I was young child they have helped me to excel in my schoolwork. Back then I was a poor student; lacking the desire to thrive or the will to learn. I drove my parents to the point where they put me into a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) summer program. At one point of the program, my peers and I met multiple scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians. Each one had given a presentation about their career and the lifestyle it has created for them. With each presenter, I started to realize their pride concerning the amount of wealth they have obtained. Were they that blinded by the luster of gold that they start to lose their sight of their original purpose for working? Although distressed by this, these successful individuals had inspired me to exceed in the fields of math and science. From that moment on, I had the drive-the motivation to exceed in my schooling, especially with my math and science courses. I was able to graduate from the top American school, Harvard University with a degree in Physics. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parents concerning about my schooling.

            Everyone has probably asked themselves this particular question sometime in their life, “What can I do in life?” Your answer will change as mine did many times. I wanted to be a part of something big, something that stood out. I wanted to help others. Ideas poured into my head, I wanted to bring world peace, end world hunger. I wanted to everything. But then I began to realize, these ambitions were not something I could do overnight.  Later on during my lifetime, the world’s supply of energy sources was thinning. Though, it might take years to find an alternative energy source, there is still hope.

            With me leading a group of scientists, we began our research for an alternative energy source in the lab of Harvard. After seven years of hard work and countless effort, we have finally developed a solar panel system that has surpassed the capabilities of the original system. Before our installment to the solar panels, the original would have taken two weeks to power one house for a single night. With this new and improved technology we can now live on sunlight and provide our children a brighter day.

            I would like to thank you again for this award, but recognition is not necessary for my work. Being able to help the world survive and prosper for the future is more than enough. Our world is something we all need to be aware of and protect, so every contribution to it is helpful. If everyone is able to pitch in and have the desire to work, we can have a brighter future for generations to come. This is just a beginning for everyone, myself included.  I plan on continuing my research and coming up with new ways to help the world’s energy supply. As Thomas Edison once said, “If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.”

Steve Jobs TED Talk

Giving three stories of his life was able to demonstrate lessons, such as determination, persistence, etc. Steve Jobs exhibited these traits through his traits. In his third story, he showed me how life is valuable. "People that want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there," was a memorable quote that basically encompassed his idea. I believe that his title of CEO of Apple was a key factor to grasping the audience's attention. Other than that, I found his speech worth listening to.

Ten Tips to Save Time TED Talk

Personally, I think that was by far the most pointless TED Talk I have ever watch. I basically wasted six minutes of my life watching what I've already know... Well, maybe the fact that I've been exposed to technology long enough, that I find this video uninteresting.

Tony Robbins & David Blaine TED Talk

Tony Robbins: Tony Robbins was able to explain what motivation is in a whole different way; not generic, more specific. His great public-speaking abilities drew my full attention. Mr. Robbins included many scenarios to help demonstrate his ideas. Throughout this TED Talk, he used comedy to maintain the audience's interest. Though a great presentation, he could have reduced the use of profanity for a more suitable audience. Overall, this TED Talk was a bit out of the ordinary, yet I enjoyed watching it.

David Blaine:  David Blaine's TED Talk was ridiculous. It did not relate to my personal life. Was this a TED Talk an explanation of his feat? Well it seemed like it. His introduction of him being a magician had no relation to what he had to talk about. There was no "magic" involved with this. It was all practice. "Don't move, hold my breath for five minute every day, don't release oxygen." I had no desire to watch a 'procedure' for this feat of his. 

Top 10 Poems of the 20th Century

1. Nothing Gold Can Stay - Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay. 

2. The Wasteland - T. S. Eliot
April is the cruelest month, breeding 
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
Summer surprised us, coming over the Starnbergersee
With a shower of rain; we stopped in the colonnade,
And went on in sunlight, into the Hofgarten,
And drank coffee, and talked for an hour.

3. Still I Rise - Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

4. The Snow Man - Wallace Stevens

One must have a mind of winter

To regard the frost and the boughs

Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;

And have been cold a long time

To behold the junipers shagged with ice,

The spruces rough in the distant glitter

Of the January sun; and not to think

Of any misery in the sound of the wind,

In the sound of a few leaves,

Which is the sound of the land

Full of the same wind

That is blowing in the same bare place

For the listener, who listens in the snow,

And, nothing himself, beholds

Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is.

5. Life is Fine - Langston Hughes
I went down to the river,
I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,
So I jumped in and sank.

I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.

But it was Cold in that water! It was cold!

I took the elevator
Sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby
And thought I would jump down.

I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.

But it was High up there! It was high!

So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love--
But for livin' I was born

Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry--
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine! 

6. The Hollow Men - T. S. Eliot

      A penny for the Old Guy

      I

We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats’ feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar

Shape without form, shade without colour,
Paralysed force, gesture without motion;

Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death’s other Kingdom
Remember us—if at all—not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.

      II

Eyes I dare not meet in dreams
In death’s dream kingdom
These do not appear:
There, the eyes are
Sunlight on a broken column
There, is a tree swinging
And voices are
In the wind’s singing
More distant and more solemn
Than a fading star.

Let me be no nearer
In death’s dream kingdom
Let me also wear
Such deliberate disguises
Rat’s coat, crowskin, crossed staves
In a field
Behaving as the wind behaves
No nearer—

Not that final meeting
In the twilight kingdom

      III

This is the dead land
This is cactus land
Here the stone images
Are raised, here they receive
The supplication of a dead man’s hand
Under the twinkle of a fading star.

Is it like this
In death’s other kingdom
Waking alone
At the hour when we are
Trembling with tenderness
Lips that would kiss
Form prayers to broken stone.

      IV

The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms

In this last of meeting places
We grope together
And avoid speech
Gathered on this beach of the tumid river

Sightless, unless
The eyes reappear
As the perpetual star
Multifoliate rose
Of death’s twilight kingdom
The hope only
Of empty men.

      V

Here we go round the prickly pear
Prickly pear prickly pear
Here we go round the prickly pear
At five o’clock in the morning.

Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
                                For Thine is the Kingdom

Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the Shadow
                                Life is very long

Between the desire
And the spasm
Between the potency
And the existence
Between the essence
And the descent
Falls the Shadow
                                For Thine is the Kingdom

For Thine is
Life is
For Thine is the

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

7. The Lockless Door - Robert Frost
It went many years,
But at last came a knock,
And I though of the door
With no lock to lock.
I blew out the light,
I tip-toed the floor,
And raised both hands
In prayer to the door.
But the knock came again.
My window was wide;
I climbed on the sill
And descended outside.
Back over the sill
I bade a 'Come in'
To whatever the knock
At the door may have been.
So at a knock
I emptied my cage
To hide in the world
And alter with age.

8.  Chicago - Carl Sandburg
Hog Butcher for the World, 
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, 
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; 
Stormy, husky, brawling, 
City of the Big Shoulders: 

They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I 
have seen your painted women under the gas lamps 
luring the farm boys. 
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it 
is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to 
kill again. 
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the 
faces of women and children I have seen the marks 
of wanton hunger. 
And having answered so I turn once more to those who 
sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer 
and say to them: 
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing 
so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning. 
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on 
job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the 
little soft cities; 

Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning 
as a savage pitted against the wilderness, 

Bareheaded, 
Shoveling, 
Wrecking, 
Planning, 
Building, breaking, rebuilding, 

Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with 
white teeth, 
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young 
man laughs, 
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has 
never lost a battle, 
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse, 
and under his ribs the heart of the people, 

Laughing! 

Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of 
Youth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be Hog 
Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with 
Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation. 

9. Love Songs - Sara Teasdale
I have remembered beauty in the night,
Against black silences I waked to see
A shower of sunlight over Italy
And green Ravello dreaming on her height;
I have remembered music in the dark,
The clean swift brightness of a fugue of Bach's,
And running water singing on the rocks
When once in English woods I heard a lark.

But all remembered beauty is no more
Than a vague prelude to the thought of you --
You are the rarest soul I ever knew,
Lover of beauty, knightliest and best;
My thoughts seek you as waves that seek the shore,
And when I think of you, I am at rest. 

10. Going for Water - Robert Frost
The well was dry beside the door,
And so we went with pail and can
Across the fields behind the house
To seek the brook if still it ran;
Not loth to have excuse to go,
Because the autumn eve was fair
(Though chill), because the fields were ours,
And by the brook our woods were there.

We ran as if to meet the moon
That slowly dawned behind the trees,
The barren boughs without the leaves,
Without the birds, without the breeze.

But once within the wood, we paused
Like gnomes that hid us from the moon,
Ready to run to hiding new
With laughter when she found us soon.

Each laid on other a staying hand
To listen ere we dared to look,
And in the hush we joined to make
We heard, we knew we heard the brook.

A note as from a single place,
A slender tinkling fall that made
Now drops that floated on the pool
Like pearls, and now a silver blade. 

Great Gatsby

Questionnaire

Reflections: Ted Talks, Sophistication, Winter Dreams, Bear, and Mathemagic

Ted Talks-A mini robot -- powered by your phone
At first, a price of $150 for a robot at home caught my attention, but I realize it was no more than a toy. The special features such as, video-camming, mobility, emotions, etc., may provide uses for children, but it has no use for the older population. Though, pricey, I find the appearance appealing. The speaker mentions how they are innovating other projects similar to this, I find this interesting to foresee.

Ted Talks-A skateboard, with a boost
The skateboard that has been modified to run on electrical energy may not seem "innovatively new", but it has thus far amazed me. The requirements to build these vehicles need no more than a battery and a motor. Not only is it inexpensive, it is surprisingly effective. This skateboard might not be bought as a transportation vehicle, but also as a toy for the younger groups. The hand control feature seems very convenient  I predict that this item will find success in the market.

Ted Talks-Still Figuring It Out
I am amazed by her speaking abilities at such a young age. Tavi was able to go into depth of the abstract idea of being a female. She explain that they should not follow the general feminist views of them, but to decide how they should view themselves. Using teenagers as perfect examples, still have to find answers to their own question. The visuals perfectly depicts Tavi's perspective, as it demonstrates the image of herself.

Sophistication
Sherwood Anderson describes love as a sophistication, describing it as something that can lift one's loneliness. As the main character, George, begin to the accept the fact that they are entering adulthood and becoming more knowledgeable, thus leaving the intense desire for Helen. This kind of reminds me of when I used to be blind by love in my childhood.

Winter Dreams
The story by F Scott Fitzgerald shows many similarities with the Great Gatsby, another book also written by him. Dexter Green shows similarities with Jay Gatsy as both are wealthy and are in love with a woman. Desiring the woman they love, they fail to capture their attention. Even as they age, they can't lose their feelings for them.

Bear
The story by William Faulkner is actually a difficult reading. It describes a young boy as he attempts to kill a bear. He returns to the woods every season, seeking for the bear. As he matures, be begins to develop virtues leading him to not kill the bear. This story doesn't relate to our society since the time period is different, particularly the theme of "the coming of age". Though not relating to modern times, the moral is very applicable to our lives.

Mathemagic
At the beginning of the show, Arthur Benjamin briefly speaks about what he is going to demonstrate. By performing various basic math problems. At first, I thought he had this all set up by having certain people of the audience memorize their problems and having himself remember the answers. As the show progressed, it seems I was wrong. He came up with questions that seemed impossible to have been set up. His mathematics ability have fascinated me, showing his title of a mathematician.

Research Paper

Alan Nguyen

Mr. Rehak

English II

19 March 2013

            Graffiti markings predate back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire in which they are mainly used for religious or cultural purposes. Throughout time, the uses of graffiti have gradually become a sign of vandalism, creating multiple problematic issues. The use of graffiti art in major cities of Western Hemisphere should continue to be prohibited and more strictly enforced because it creates problems ranging from economic issues to mind alteration.

            While artists provide reasons to support the usage of graffiti, it still remains debatable. Since the 1980s, the use of graffiti has been a big controversy, with supporters viewing the art as a form of emotional expression, and antagonists arguing that it produces economic, youth, and environmental problems. Those who view writings on walls as art have little evidence to support their argument. Dr. Fiona Campbell, a researcher from Britain’s Environmental Campaign, conducted a research study on graffiti and stated, “[G]raffiti stencils of the type used by Banksy are found at only 1% of sites [in England]” (Campbell). Only 1% of all graffiti are considered acceptable as opposed to the rest of the 99%, making it difficult for supporters to validate its purpose as art. Multiple cities in the United States of America have developed graffiti removal and protection programs as the exercises of graffiti increases throughout the years. Although graffiti uses multiplied, cities have increased their effort to counter the situation. For example, the Development Services Department of the City of San Antonio has produced a phone application that easily reports graffiti. Therefore, citizens of San Antonio can send real time information and photos to the department (City of San Antonio).

1.      Psychological Effects

1.1 Youth’s Minds

Ever since graffiti has been introduced into urban societies, many childrens’ minds have been altered. According to Graffiti 911, a nonprofit organization that educates the population about graffiti, “The impact of graffiti on a young life is often the strongest and harder to repair” (“Graffiti911”). As children start to interpret these images, they develop generalizations on humanity. As they age, these mindsets are embedded, making it difficult to change their concept on societies. Taggers and vandals tend to create graffiti with negative messages towards minorities such as “fear of identification and betrayal, the majority abuse alcohol and drugs, [and] the practice of stealing” (“Graffiti911”). These delinquents often use the practice of “racking” paint, which is a general crime of illegally selling spray cans for graffiti, thus promoting the idea of stealing to the youth’s minds.

1.2 General Population’s Minds

            Not only does it affect the minds of the youth, graffiti generates psychological effects for the general population. The more apparent graffiti is in a neighborhood, the more likely people will feel that the law is not bounded to their neighborhood in which it brings order. In the article Criminal graffiti is not art… it is a CRIME! by the City of Eugene, Oregon, it stated “Criminal graffiti makes people feel that the neighborhood is being lost to gangs and lawlessness” (“Criminal Graffiti Is Not Art”). People outside these neighborhoods view this as a sign of lack of concern of appearance. This is also a form of urban decay as graffiti increases (“Criminal Graffiti Is Not Art”).

2.      Economic Effects

2.1 Business Gentrification

With the multitude of graffiti, the economic results of it are immense. They vary from house owning problems to using city incomes to remove these graffiti. Businesses reckon this type of vandalism as a factor that debases their income. In The Scoop on Vandalism by the Sacramento County Sheriff, it states, “Some businesses are forced to move to different neighborhoods, taking a good shopping out of your community” (“The Scoop on Vandalism”). This is an example of gentrification, where businesses and people move to other societies as a result of sociocultural changes. In the long term, this will cause the neighborhood to slowly decrease their quality of life as economic agents decrease. Overall, graffiti creates multiple issues relating to the economy of a city or a neighborhood.

2.2 Homeowners’ Issues

 Homeowners also endure a blow from graffiti, as realtors also lose their businesses. With the increase of graffiti uses, homes are beginning to become targets for them. California Realtors Association provides facts to Graffiti911, “With the median home price in California at the time being $522,590 you are talking about an impact to a property owner of nearly a $100,000” (“Graffiti911”). While applying graffiti to homes cost only mere dollars, the bigger picture is that home values decrease tremendously.  Current homeowners find it difficult to move to other homes as “[the] purchase prices for homes decreased 20% in areas that are victimized by graffiti vandalism” (“Graffiti911”). Graffiti does not only change the appearance of homes, it changes their values.

2.3  Statistics Involving Costs

            While graffiti affects individuals in a neighborhood, the local counties and cities take a hit as they end up with the removal costs. Sheriff’s Office of Washington County, Oregon, indicated that “[T]hey spend approximately $2 million dollars per year to clean up graffiti in their city.” (“Graffiti Hurts Program”). This only accounted for a small county in the state Oregon, while larger cities experienced much more devastating costs. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, an organization funded by United States Department of Justice and Office of Justice Programs, they stated “In 2003 the city of Los Angeles spent $55 million on graffiti removal” (“Facts and Figures”). The apparent difference of costs between the Washington County of Oregon and the city of Los Angeles is immense. With Los Angeles being the second largest city in the United States in terms of population, there are other large cities that have similar numbers, such as New York and Chicago. According to the National Center of Problem Oriented Policing, “The cost of graffiti vandalism nationally is estimated to be more than $15 billion dollars” (“Impacts of Graffiti”). Totaling up to more than 15 million dollar, graffiti takes a large shipping out of government funds.

3.      Environmental Effects

In recent years, taggers have started to change their targets for graffiti, resulting in changes of the natural environment. As removal and prevention programs have become readily available to counter these vandalisms, artists seek for areas in their graffiti will withstand, such as elevated grounds. One intriguing area of target is trees. Using trees as hotspots for graffiti adds another issue, which is removing it. Dan Flanagan, executive director of Friends of the Urban Forest, questioned the general population of taggers, “What do you do to clean up a tree without messing it up?” (James).  Finding solutions to removing graffiti on trees without causing harm to the tree itself is strenuous. Though easier to remove from trees than buildings with the help of soap and water, it later prevents trees to complete their exchange of gases. Not only does graffiti affecst existing trees, it destroys those being planted. “[C]ity’s unusually foggy climate and other factors (including vandalism) kill 20 percent of newly planted trees.” (James). Newer trees have a lesser tolerance to the chemicals that spray cans contain, thus killing them off (Frabetti). Increasing uses means the decreasing of tree populations.

4.      Counterargument

Even though graffiti is widely opposed, artists have reasoning that graffiti should be legalized. Some graffiti, like community art, provide positively motivated messages to the public. “They could also provide a creative outlet and be used to communicate messages about important issues such as road safety,” stated Dr. Fiona Campbell (Campbell). Rather than calling them graffiti, the correct term for these type of wall art is murals. Also, artists consider their masterpieces as form of expression. Though true, this is still debatable due to the fact that only 1% of all graffiti fall under this category. (Campbell).

Local environments, young minds, and the economy of the Western Hemisphere all experienced a negative impact as a result of graffiti. For some, graffiti is a source to express their emotions, but for others, it is a way to vandalize various places. Graffiti comes in many forms and is done by many different people around the world. Although it may be positively useful to some people, graffiti has caused multiple problems throughout history. Graffiti is a type of art that some people have to resort to, however it should be enforced in major cities of the Western Hemisphere, forever, and new ways of expressing feelings should be considered.

Works Cited

Campbell, Fiona. "Good Graffiti, Bad Graffiti? A New Approach to an Old Problem." Keepbritaintidy.org. ENCAMS, Sept. 2009. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/ImgLibrary/graffiti_report_647.pdf>.

"Criminal Graffiti Is Not Art... It Is a CRIME!" Eugene-or.gov. City of Eugene Oregon, Nov.      2007. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3613>.

Frabetti, A. C. "Reciprocity between Graffiti Vandalism and Its Virtual Documentation." Gnovisjournal.org. Disqus, 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://gnovisjournal.org/2011/11/21/a-c-frabetti-journal/>.

"Graffiti." Sanantonio.gov. City of San Antonio, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.sanantonio.gov/ces/graffiti.aspx>.

"Graffiti Facts and Figures." Ncpc.org. National Crime Prevention Council, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.ncpc.org/programs/catalyst-newsletter/catalyst-newsletter/archives/february-2005-catalyst/graffiti-facts-and-figures>.

"Graffiti Facts: Graffiti911." Graffiti911.com. Graffiti911, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.graffiti911.com/costs.php>.

"Graffiti Hurts Program." Co.washington.or.us. Washington County Sheriff, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.co.washington.or.us/Sheriff/OtherServices/GangsGraffiti/graffiti-hurts-program.cfm>.

"Impacts of Graffiti." Jacksonholepolice.com. Jackson Police Department, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. <http://www.jacksonholepolice.com/graffiti.html>.

            James, Scott. "THE BAY CITIZEN; Graffiti Taggers Turn to Trees, With Some Possibly Harmful Effects." The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 Nov. 2011. Web. 27      Feb. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/graffiti-taggers-turn-to-trees-with-           some-possibly-harmful-effects.html?_r=0>.

"The Scoop on Vandalism." Sacsheriff.com. Sacramento Sheriff Department, n.d. Web. 27 Feb.    2013. <http://www.sacsheriff.com/crime_prevention/documents/juvenile_crimes_01.cfm>.

Top and Worst Phone Improvements

After viewing this article from CNN, I picked out phone innovations that could be prove to be a success or slump.

Top Three Innovations:
1. Water Resistant Devices
With this new feature, anyone could go to the pool, bathroom, or the shower with your phone without worrying about getting it wet. Watch a movie, read a book, or make a phone call, all of this is possibility in the water.
2. Pillow Charger
This new charger might actually be trendy and appealing towards the youth. Adorable and it comes in different colors. Small and compact, plus it also gets rid of all the wires. Seems very convenient when used for traveling.
3. Solar Powered Devices
A photovoltaic screen on a phone or tablet could be quite useful. Charging your phone between texts can basically use up no battery at all. A single PV display cost around $1, which is very insignificant when comparing to the overall price of a device. Not only is it cheap to produce, it's also environmentally friendly. The only flaw is how are you able to recharge an entire battery with a PV array so small? It'll probably take days to charge your phone, even when you're not even using it.

Worst Three Innovations:
1. Nokia's 105 (35 day battery)
A phone with a 35-day long-lasting battery? With no other features, but making calls? Ridiculous. Not only does this phone doesn't have any games or apps, it looks horrendous. We're not going back in time. This phone is meant for people who are lazy or is unable to charge their phones. This won't be a bad idea if the long-lasting battery concept was imposed on newer phones, such as the iPhone or Androids.
2. Sensirion Micro Temperature Sensor
This entire innovation is unnecessary. The need to determine the percise temperature and humidity in your location is redundant. You could use programs like WeatherBug to find these information. Also, the body heat and the sweat of your hands might disrupt these readings.
3. Fujitsu's Generation walking stick
A stick with a GPS program and monitoring features, targeted for the elderly, might have some flaws. With this much program tech, it might add a considerably amount of weight to the stick. The GPS might not be necessary, since the elderly don't tend to walk far distances. If this concept was input to, let's say a bracelet or necklace, it might actually find some success.

Video Response

Her speech was an inspiration to all of us in which she was able to convey her entire life into a lesson of learning from our failures and mistakes. These failures aren't what we look down on, but to learn from and progress from that position. In her standpoint, she elaborates on the hardships in reality and it is inevitable. These hardships are the stepping stones to reaching our goals and dreams.