Sunday, September 29, 2013

CHARACTER STUDY (2)

My character Ming Ling is at a sushi place where she's meeting her boyfriend for a little sushi date. As she's waiting she orders and iced tea and decides on he order. While she's looking at the menu her boyfriend calls her and breaks up with her. He said: "I'm sorry Ming. I don't want to be with you anymore." She begins to tear up and no words come out of her mouth. She asks why. He just said: "I just don't have feelings for you anymore. They disappeared a month go." She weeps and says her goodbyes and tells him he wants to be friends and hangs up. When they get off the phone she's weeping. Then all of a sudden this guy comes and asks her whats wrong. This guy seemed like a bum. He smelled like the ocean and he had all a bag and surf board on him.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

CHARACTER STUDY (1)

My character's name is Ming Ling. She's a very sensitive person who puts a lot of effort when it comes to making new friends. Even though she's sensitive she's daring and you would never have guess that she was a shy woman. Ming loves being a rebel. She's not the lady her persons thought they raised. She's a tall and very strong woman. Her right arm has a huge dragon tattoo that she saved up for to get on her 18th birthday. She has straight bangs and very long black hair that's past her bellybutton. Her style is very edgy and dark and wears a lot of eyeliner. Ming is light complected but her cheeks are as rosy as a 6 year old's. She carries a cargo backpack with her at all times filled with her essentials. Wallet, eyeglasses, pepper spray, contacts, water bottle, inhaler, gum, a granola bar, a book, and a magazine. Ming uses her appearance as a shield to cover all her shyness. She doesn't want to be that stereotypical Asian woman that everyone expects her to be. Although she's very smart and one day wants to be a doctor but she decided to take a break and find herself before anything. So she's only taking three classes at her near community college.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Vocabulary #6

obsequious-obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

beatitude-supreme blessedness.


bete noire-a person or thing that one particularly dislikes.

bode-be an omen of a particular outcome.

dank-disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold

ecumenical-promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian churches

fervid-promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian churches

fetid-smelling extremely unpleasant.

gargantuan-enormous.

heyday-the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor.

incubus-a cause of distress or anxiety

infrastructure-basic structure

inveigle-the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor.

kudos-the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor.

lagniappe-something given as a bonus or extra gift.


prolix- using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.

protege-a person who is guided and supported by an older and more experienced or influential person.

prototype-a first, typical or preliminary model of something, esp. a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied.

sycophant-a first, typical or preliminary model of something, esp. a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied.

tautology-the saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style

truckle-submit or behave obsequiously

accolade-award

acerbity-a sharp bitterness

attrition-the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure.

bromide-a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate

chauvinist-a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate

chronic-persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.

expound-present and explain (a theory or idea) systematically and in detail

factionalism-The splitting of a group into factions; Conflict between factions

immaculate-spotless

imprecation-a spoken curse

ineluctable-unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable.

mercurial-volatile

palliate-make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause.


protocol-make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause.

resplendent-attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous.

stigmatize-describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval.

sub rosa-hdescribe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval.

vainglory-inordinate pride in oneself or one's achievements; excessive vanity.

vestige- trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.

volition-the faculty or power of using one's will.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

NETVIBES

So I finally decided to turn on my laptop today and see what's going on in other websites. I've been wanting to sign up for netvibes and it's AWESOME. It's a bit complicated to fix and add widgets but it's AWESOME! I'm still trying to get the hang of it. So far I'm just trying to add  more widgets and get all the websites I go on the most. I totally freaked out when I saw a Heisenberg theme! If any of you are Breaking Bad fans then you probably would've done the same.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

WHAT A CHARACTER

A character that made an impression on me was Edward from Twilight. Yeah, a little tacky. But when I read it in 7th grade I was hooked. He really stood out to me because he was vampire, he sparkled when under sunlight, and he a super strong like a super hero. I didn't know vampires had superhero strength. The fact that he fell in love with a human SPOILER ALERT and he has a half vampire/human baby with Bella. It's just so strange and difficult to think about all the possibilities. And it was weird how his enemies were wolves. I would never have thought about wolves and vampires not getting along. It doesn't make sense.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE LEARNING

If I were to work on my Big Question with these collaborative working groups I would have to study about family and how mothers are with their children. Which is not really a topic I'm interested in talking about with a huge group. So I decided to work along with Javier Solis and Mia Levy on  group related to current events.

VOCABULARY #5

obsequious: (adj.) obedient, dutiful; characterized by showing servile complaisance or deference.


beatitude: (noun) a state of perfect happiness or blessedness; a blessing.

bete noire: (noun) someone or something than one especially dislikes, dreads, or avoids.


bode: (verb) to be an omen of; to indicate by signs.


dank: (adj.) unpleasantly damp or wet.


ecumenical: (adj.) worldwide or universal in influence or application.


fervid: (adj.) burning with enthusiasm or zeal; extremely heated.


fetid: (adj.) having an unpleasant or offensive odor.


gargantuan: (adj.) of immense size, volume, or capacity; enormous, prodigious.

heyday: (noun) the period of greatest power, vigor, success, or influence; the prime years.


incubus: (noun) a demon or evil spirit supposed to haunt human beings in their bedrooms at night; anything that oppresses or weighs upon one, like a nightmare.


infrastructure: (noun) a basic foundation or framework; a system of public works; the resources and facilities required for an activity; permanent military installations.


inveigle: (verb) to entice, lure, or snare by flattery or artful inducements; to obtain or acquire by artifice.


kudos: (noun) the acclaim, prestige, or renown that comes as a result of some action or achievement.

lagniappe: (noun) an extra or unexpected gift or gratuity.


prolix: (adj.) long-winded and wordy; tending to speak or write in such a way.


protege: (noun) someone whose welfare, training, or career is under the patronage of an influential person; someone under the jurisdiction of a foreign country or government.


prototype: (noun) an original pattern or model; a primitive or ancestral form.

sycophant: (noun) someone who attempts to win favors or advance him or herself  by flattery or servile behavior; a slanderer, defamer.


tautology: (noun) needless repetition of an idea by using different but equivalent words; a redundancy.

truckle: (verb) to yield or submit tamely or submissively.


Credits to Rebecca Aldrich

Tuesday, September 17, 2013


This awesome highlighter motivates me to take the most awesome reading notes. It's little things like these that help you in life. Hehe. 

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Literature Analysis #1

O1) The story is narrated by Neill Bassett and he talks about his love life, career,  and most importantly his family issues. He works for a computer start up program in Menlo Park. His boss created a software that is incorporated with the seven deadly sins and 5,000 pages of Dr. Bassett's journal entries. Dr. Bassett is Neill's dead father who committed suicide when Neill was a 19 year old in college. His father was a psychiatrist. The software that was created is kind of like an instant message chat. The journal entries is the brain of Dr. Bassett. The person you talk to (Dr. Bassett) believes that he is still alive and has only knowledge up until his death. Neill and Henry Livorno and Laham (his bosses) are competing in a competition with other  corporations who is also trying ton create the same software. The purpose of the competition is to create the software and sell it to a man named Telor. As Neill works he finds love goes through obstacles with that situation. Not to mention he's trying to create the software as well as finding out the story behind is father's death.

2) I believe that the story is mostly about Neill finding out the reason why his father committed suicide. In the story he flies all the way back home to talk to his mother and ends up coming across more journals his father wrote. Not to mention the fact that in the end Neill's life became much more positive when he had more of an idea on why his father did what did.


3) The authors tone would be a bit depressed and cynical.


-"I definitely wouldn't say I feel good. I feel on edge. I feel like I've spent the day lying-to whom, I'm not sure." -PG 143


-"Does anyone, anywhere, perform daily tasks of value? Even doctors treat boredom and loneliness as much as any real physical complaint. What do the rest of us do? Make useless shit to see to each other so we can more useless shit. I buy a venti latte so the Starbucks employee can buy Billy Blank's Boot Camp workout so Billy Blank can buy a new Volt so a GM exec- my brother, for instance can rent a Yo Gabba Gabba bounce house for the kid's party. And so on. Where along this line is anything necessary, anything of true human benefit, accomplished? "
PG 17

-"The next morning, I wake up, blister-eyed and dry mouthed. After my phone call with Rachael I split a bottle of wine with myself. Now I've got Saturday to deal with. I could see if anyone is looking for a tennis partner, or I could go see a movie, but I know what I want."


imagery: " In the afternoon, I take a long run, through downtown and over the bike bridge into Palo Alto. It's hot and dry I'm jogging by the mall. 

foil: There is in textual evidence of when Rachel and Neill met but Rachael was created to lay emphasis on Neill and his father's relationship.

juxtaposition: "The girls are lightly dressed, as if we're hitting the clubs in Miami: short skirts with Ugg boots, tube stops skintight and grimacing. They shiver. The blonde Rachael- the more handsome but less cute of the two- reddens and speckles from the gusting cold."


- ".. Lexie says, rubbing her arms. She's round and powdered and young, but she has the deep, raspy vice of an emphysema patient.


mood: "Does anyone, anywhere, perform daily tasks of value? Even doctors treat boredom and loneliness as much as any real physical complaint. What do the rest of us do? Make useless shit to see to each other so we can more useless shit. I buy a venti latte so the Starbucks employee can buy Billy Blank's Boot Camp workout so Billy Blank can buy a new Volt so a GM exec- my brother, for instance can rent a Yo Gabba Gabba bounce house for the kid's party. And so on. Where along this line is anything necessary, anything of true human benefit, accomplished? "

setting:  San Francsisco/ Silicon Valley/Bay Area
-"I delete these notes, grab a shower, and am out the door at eight. a fifty minute commute door to door, San Francsico and south to Menlo Park."  PG 3

satire: "When it comes to breakfast, social life, to love, you must privilage the simple above the complicated. There's nothing cruel about this. The bachelors I've met- temporary friends-have been nice guys. I've never been ablt to stomach men who refer to women as bitches, teasers- though these men do exist, in San Francisco."


- Flashback is used throughout the novel when Neill refers back to his childhood or college life to explain the story that is ocurring.

-Tragedy is shown in the novel because it's mostly on Neill and his father's death.


-Symbolism- The relationship that Neill is creating with Rachael is what Neill wishes he had more of with his father. Not that he was in love with his father but the growth of their relationship symbolizes what Neill will never have with his father.


-Irony is used when Dr. Bassett figures out he his talking to his son. (because Dr. Bassett is actually dead)

Monday, September 9, 2013

VOCAB #4

(n) accolade- award, honor or praise notice
My cousin received a ginormous accolade when she won 1st place in CIF.

(n) acerbity- sour or harsh expression in 
The old lady had a very acerbity expression when she was ordering her food.

(n) attrition- a reduction or decrease in numbers
School shootings went through a tremendous attrition when staff searched backpacks everyday during school.

(n) bromide- someone who is dull and boring
The bromide little girl had a hard time making friends.

(n) chauvinist- a person who is very patriotic or one who believes that gender is superior to the other
The chauvinist man got a lot of hate for his beliefs on women's rights.

(n) chronic- constant, habitual
I had chronic headaches Sophomore year.

(v) expound- to set forth or state in detail; interpret; explain
I have a hard time expounding  directions from one place to another.

(adj) factionalism- self interest
There was a sign of factionalism forming within the company. Credits to: Melissa Steller

(adj) immaculate- pure; free from moral blemish or impurity
The Virgin Mary was an immaculate of conception.

(n) imprecation- cursing
The imprecations the teenagers made were unacceptable around little children.

(adj) ineluctable- unstoppable 
Superheroes are so strong and ineluctable. 

(adj) mercurial- changeable 
The girl had a very mercurial wardrobe so she can fit in with different groups of people

(v) palliate- to relieve or lessen without curing
Ibuprofen palliated my back cramps.

(n) protocol- an international agreement
The corporation had to create a protocol on where and what to business to purchase next.

(adj) resplendent- shining brilliantly; splendid
A resplendent student always receives recognition for their hard work.

(v)stigmatize- to set some mark of disgrace
The young man's parents stigmatized him for doing drugs.

(n) sub rosa- confidentiality; secretly; privately
The government has many sub rosa missions.

(n)vainglory- excessive pride over one's achievements 
The young man was full of vainglory when he received the Elk's Scholarship.

(n) vestige- visible evidence that is no longer present
The ashes was the only vestige left of the man's cigarette.

(n) volition- power to choose or decide 
You have the volition to do whatever you want in life.

Beowulf Essay

Beowulf VS. Spiderman
How is one considered a hero? Usually a hero is the "good guy" the one who "saves the day". But what makes that person a hero? In movies filled with superheroes something occurs in the hero's life that causes them to do good. A true hero displays nothing but sincere passion for helping others. Beowulf on the other hand doesn't show sincere passion. He comes off as a cocky hero. While Spiderman is portrayed as the guy who does everything for good. Beowulf is an epic hero who stops whatever he's doing to help those in need just like Spiderman. While Beowulf is cocky and Spiderman is sensitive and loving. (2012 version) Both of them have very similar qualities and some not so similar characteristics.

Spiderman and Beowulf risk their lives to help the innocent people. Beowulf defeats Grendel and Grendel's mother to help save the civilians of the town and help Hrothgar take over the battle his people couldn't take care of. He didn't have to do that but that's what makes him a hero. Just like Beowulf Spiderman did the same for his people. He could have let the people down and get destroyed by the lizard that was created but he wanted to help his people and save the day. They are both courageous and full of valor. When Beowulf was first talked about in the story he was cocky and seemed like a know it all. But, on the other hand Spiderman didn't know what was going on with him but still helped the town anyway.

Beowulf is all about strength and is very arrogant while Spiderman uses his knowledge to defeat the bad guys. He relies on his knowledge rather than strength. He also uses technology to create the webs that come of of his wrists. Even though Beowulf couldn't Google anything back then he never seemed to use his brain like Spiderman. Another difference between Spiderman and Beowulf is that Beowulf is well known by the people and Spiderman isn't. He's considered a bad guy because people didn't know if what he was doing was for good or was for evil. So he wasn't considered a hero until the end because he tries to do the police's jobs and was there before the police as which created suspicion. Although both heroes are great heroes  Beowulf is more of fairy tale hero while Spiderman is the Modern hero that people would look up to if there was a lizard trying to destroy the whole city.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Been googling scholarships and a bunch of information about colleges I'm thinking about applying for made me a bit sad.. I have a feeling I won't end up achieving my goal just yet.. But, maybe after a couple years in Hancock. Still trying to keep the positive vibes all around. Current tune for the night.

3rd period Brainstorming and Humming



Favorite Song(s) #1

So I decided to just post all of my favorite songs. Not just once a week but every time I feel like sharing my thoughts on certain songs and or artists. Here is my favorite little group. Well more like two people. Capital Cities. I first found ouf about them around May. I first heard this song "Safe and Sound" on Spotify. I actually got their album the week before school started to I can jam out to some new tunes on the way to school. THE WHOLE ALBUM IS AMAZING. Recommend it! Check them out guys.

Capital Cities - Safe and Sound

WILL STUDY FOR FOOD

I want to attend San Francisco State next fall. But, I'm not sure what major yet. It's either go undecided or go for Psychology. For SFSU the California residents cost for the whole year would be around $20,608. I have no way of getting all this money right away so I plan on applying for scholarships and student loans. But the scholarship i really want to apply for is this one: http://www.dellscholars.org/Criteria.aspx My goal would be to at least get $10,000

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Vocab #3

Apostate: a person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.


Effusive: expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.


Impasse: a situation in which no progress is possible, esp. because of disagreement; a deadlock.

Euphoria: recognized as a mental and emotional condition in which a person experiences intense feelings of well-being, elation, happiness, excitement, and joy.


Lugubrious: looking or sounding sad and dismal.


Bravado: with gusto and bravery, referring to a way of acting.


Consensus: general agreement.


Dichotomy: a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.


Constrict: to restrain or bind movement or action.


Gothic: dark imagery, a genera of literature described by dark scenarios.
 

Punctilio: showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.


Metamorphosis: massive change, the act of completely changing an appearance or structure.


Raconteur: one who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit.

Sine qua non: Sine qua non refers to an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient.


Quixotic: exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.


Vendetta: a blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer's family.


Non sequitur: in formal logic, is an argument in which its conclusion does not follow from its
premises.


Mystique: an aura of heightened value, interest, or meaning surrounding something, arising from attitudes and beliefs that impute special power or mystery.


Quagmire: a soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot.


Parlous: full of danger or uncertainty; precarious.