Sentence Fixes

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Research Paper Update #1 and Source Collection #1

For my research paper, I'm learning about the argument for and against standardized testing, especially national tests like the SAT used for college admissions etc.  Here are some of the sources I have collected so far.

"Standardized Testing Measures College Success" By Jeffery Penn.  This source analyzes the accuracy of standardized testing in predicting college success.  It asserts that students who perfrom better on tests like the SAT recieve better grades in college.

"Standardized Testing Does Not Measure College Success" By Theodore A. O'Neil.  This article asserts that standardized tests are not an accurate measure of student intelligence or potential for future success.  He claims that performance on tests corelates directly to the child's family income.

"Few Local Schools Hit Target" Kayla Heimerman.  Heimerman analyzes the negative consequences for "underperforming" schools in Illinois that are not meeting No Child Left Behind's standards.

ADDED 11-15-12
"SAT's Legacy of Cheating" Steve Cohen.  Daily Beast Writer, Cohen, discusses last fall's SAT cheating scandal in New York and across the nation.  Acknowledging that SAT (and other standardized test) cheating is not widespread, he states that it is still a problem.  He discusses cheating on other tests and abroad.

"Do SAT Scores Really Predict Success?" This ABC News article discusses the pros and cons of the SAT and similar college admission exams.  It asserts that, although the SAT is flawed, it provides an objective comparison between applicants (especially with grade inflation and differing school environments)

The Case Against Standardized Testing Alfie Kohn.  I also plan to order Alfie Kohn's book about the pitfalls of standardized tests.  Even though it will be biased, I think it will provide an accurate explanation of the argument against the tests out education system has come to rely upon.

Find an Anti-Gay Marriage Article/Website

I found an artice on the arguments against gay marriage.  I don't agree with most of it but here it is.

Complaint

Some people are just plain obnoxious.  They have been disillusioned into believing that the rules do not apply to them.  They seem to think that their needs and desires are more important than everyone else's. They are rude and annoying but I have to deal with them.

Just a few days ago, I went to a movie.  Even after the public service announcement asking people to please turn off their cell phones, the woman in front of me would not stop texting.  She wasn't even trying to be discreet.  She held the phone right in front of his face and didn't even attempt to use her hand or jacket to shield the other movie goers from the blinding light of the screen.  Even though I found his actions annoying, I didn't say anything.  It was still the opening credits after all, I assumed she would put it away soon enough.  She did not.  She clearly believed that her conversation was more important than the rest of the audience's enjoyment of the film.

The scene of the complainer ranting at a tumultuous volume also comes to mind.   At a restaurant, I witnessed a man loudly complaining that his chicken was undercooked.  I did not doubt the validity of his concern, undercooked chicken is definitely not healthy, but I disapproved of the way he went about lodging his complaint.  First, he loudly called over his server: "Waitress. WAITRESSSS" he bellowed.  "Over here," he snapped his fingers twice.  The whole room fell silent, captivated by his audacity.  Even as she stood at his side, he continued to shout.  "My chicken is RAW," he practically screamed, he seemed to blame her for his undercooked food.  This scene went on for a few minutes, eventually the man insisted he see the manager, then the chef.  He refused to allow the chicken to be taken back and would not even accept his free meal.  Shouting something about calling the health department, the man eventually stormed out of the restaurant.  How rude! I couldn't help thinking.  Not only had the man ruined my appetite and wrecked the ambience of my meal, he had been incredibly mean to the wait staff, none of whom had any controlled of how his food was cooked.  I couldn't help but be angry at the man for destroying my peaceful evening with his tirades.  

Although I am almost constantly annoyed by obnoxious behavior and rude people, I rarely complain.  Perhaps because I fear making a scene and being deemed rude myself.  However, I think if someone politely told the texting woman or shouting man to stop, the other onlookers would be pleased rather than annoyed.   Many of us, myself included, tolerate other's annoying actions because we "don't want to be rude."  By remaining bystanders, we are allowing these obnoxious few to control us and ruin our experiences.

Defining Happiness

Here is a link to my essay

Senior Project Update #2

In all honesty, I haven't spent much time at all on my senior project since I last blogged about it.  Between schoolwork, volleyball, coaching and writing my college essays, I really haven't had time to do much of anything.
I'm excited to start my scuba diving classes, and have looked up some possible dates for those, but right now, I really need to find a mentor.   I was originally going to have one of my parents mentor me, because they are both scuba certified and have completed additional advanced certifications for deep water dives.  (Their credentials are one step below that of search-and-rescue divers.)  However, I was recently informed that you can't have a parent as your mentor so I will need to find a new one, something I should probably work on, considering the interview is due next week!

Gore Vidal's "Drugs"

I agree with Gore Vidal's remark (from his essay "Drugs") that "each man has the right to do what he wants with his life" to some extent.  However, I think some line has to be drawn when doing what you want endangers yourself, and more importantly others.  Vidal incorrectly assumes that drug use affects only the addict.   Although the addict is significantly harmed; drugs negatively effects those close to the addict as well.  While "high," addicts often exhibit irrational behavior, this can result in physical and/or emotional harm to their family and friends.  In assuming that the actions of drug addicts don't affect others, Vidal largely ignores these consequences.

A myriad of drugs, illegal and legal, can result in violent, abusive and irrational behavior, putting not only the addict, but also his neighbors at risk.  Cocaine, PCPs, LSD, meth and anabolic steroids are some of the most common illegal drugs that result in this violence.  Legalizing these drugs would likely result in increased experimentation leading to increased, possibly endangering entire neighborhoods.  How would you like to live next to the new suburban meth lab? How about the cocaine addict?  Although Vidal makes some valid points, he omits and ignores the far reaching effects of drugs.    

Banneker's Letter to Jefferson In Class Essay

Here is a link to the essay I wrote in class today analyzing Benjaman Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson and it's argument against slavery.

On "Politics and the English Language"

In George Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language,"  Orwell enumerates the corruptions of English that misconstrue a work's true meaning.   Although some of his specific examples felt a little dated, his overall message still rung true to me.

I really enjoyed his point about "dying metaphors."  Overused metaphors are easy to repeat, however, much of their meaning and the vivid image they were meant to create becomes corrupted with time.

I also especially liked his ideas about "pretentious diction" and "meaningless words."   While reading, both annoy me to no end!  However, his definition of "pretentious diction" was a little broad for my liking.  Perhaps it is because I am guilty of the crime, but I think words like "objective... effective... basic ...constitute .... exhibit... [and] eliminate." are not especially pretentious.  Although I had never thought of many of his "meaningless words" in that way, I immediately saw how words like "romantic" and "vitality" are incredibly vague, even though they may sound specific.  The definition and visual image associated with each of these words varies greatly depending on the reader.  This is likely to cause confusion and misinterpretation.

Despite a few outdated parts, I enjoyed Orwell's essay and found it largely relevant to today.  You'd think that our euphemistic language would have improved since 1946, however, to me at least, most of Orwell's problems still exist today.

"The Consumerist" Blog

I recently discovered an interesting blog called The Consumerist.  It's a fascinating mixture of articles, all about various consumer issues.  However, while some of the posts are more serious ("Does Verizon Monitoring of Customer Behavior Violate Wiretap Laws?") others are fun and lighthearted (like on entitled "Man Successfully Reunited with $12,500 in Pot Plants After Calling Cops to Report Theft.")  The blog is like a modernized Consumer Reports, which it is actually affiliated with.   The Consumerist focuses on all consumer issues.  It is written by a variety of authors, providing frequent posts (more than five a day) as well as varying prospectives.

Research Paper Topic

Topic:  Standardized Testing: Is it really and accurate measurement of a student's ability and learning aptitude?

Controversy: Many believe that a high IQ or a 2400 on the SAT automatically mean that a person is really smart.  However, the opponents of standardized testing are gaining strength as some colleges no longer even require SAT or ACT scores for admission.  The opponents claim that these tests do not measure intelligence but only show how much money, time and effort the student has put into learning how to take the test.

Resources: I know I've read some articles about standardized testing so I think I'll be able to find quite a few print sources from newspapers and magazines.  Also, I've seen a number of books about standardized testing which I could us.  I'm sure they're plenty of good websites too, although they tend to be more biased.

Emotional Investment: I struggled with the SAT, even though I spent a good amount of time studying.  Last June, I took the ACT with only a few hours of study time and received a score that would be over 300 points higher if converted to the SAT scale.  This led me to believe that doing well on standardized tests involves a lot of luck and practice, rather than intelligence and has motivated me to research it more.

New Idea?:  I don't think my topic is an especially new idea, although it may have been 15 years ago.  I'm sure other AP students have probably written about it or topics like it because it's something so many high school seniors have to deal with.

Questions: I'm worried that my topic may still be to broad.  Should I focus on just one test or would that make it too narrow? I'm also doubtful if I would really be able to say something completely new on my topic and am still worried that my own biases may harm my paper's credibility.

October's Controversial Holidays: Columbus Day and Leif Erikson Day

Columbus Day, celebrated the first Monday in October, has become one of the most controversial holidays.   A federal holiday since 1937, it commemorates Columbus’ famed “discovery” of the Americas on October 12, 1492.  This holiday has become increasingly insignificant; although government agencies like the post office are closed, most schools and businesses no longer take the day off.   

As it became clear that Columbus did not “discover” America (significant evidence now shows that Norse Vikings were actually the first Europeans to land in the Americas) some began to cry for the holiday to be changed or even abolished, citing the facts that Columbus had not really discovered anything and his landing catalyzed that downfall of prospering Native American civilizations.  Opponents argue that a man who used extreme violence against Native Americans (which he dubbed “Indians”),   enslaved indigenous peoples, forced “Indians” to adopt Christianity, and introduced new diseases that would decimate the Native American population does not deserve his own holiday.  They believe that the celebration of Columbus Day has sanctified that deeply flawed explorer.    It is important that although now Columbus Day is controversial, it was originally created, in part, to be a celebration of Italian Americans.  It was not intended as a way to glorify the explorer but as a method of celebrating our nation’s Italian immigrants and rich diversity.

Columbus Day Protestors in 1992

Columbus Day is often marked with parades and festivities, meant to celebrate Italian-American culture and heritage.  However, in recent years, these events have been marred by protestors.  These activists often picket at parades or dump red paint and fake blood on statues of the holiday’s namesake.  Not only are these protests often troublesome, they undermine parades and festivities meant to celebrate Italian culture and heritage, not Columbus.

Often the same week as the Columbus Day, comes the less controversial Leif Erikson Day on October 9.  Leif Erikson Day has been a national holiday since 1964, although no government agencies shut down for it.    Although it is little known, it has become a day to celebrate our country’s rich Norse heritage as well as a commemoration of Leif Erikson’s landing in Canada, the first European encounter in the Americas.  Perhaps it is the answer to those who seek a less controverisal alernative to Columbus Day.

In recent years, some states have adopted alternative, more “politically correct” celebrations on Columbus Day.  In fact, Alaska, Hawaii and South Dakota no longer recognize or observe Columbus Day.  Instead of Columbus Day, Hawaii celebrates “Discoverer’s Day,” which commemorates Polynesian discovery of the islands.  However the state does not treat it as a legal holiday, schools and federal agencies continue to function normally.  Similarly, South Dakota has renamed the holiday “Native American Day” and Alaska completely abstains from celebrating Columbus Day or any affiliated holiday. Even within states, cities and counties have taken it upon themselves to “improve” Columbus Day.  The California cities of Berkeley, Sebastopol and Santa Cruz now celebrate “Indigenous People’s Day.”

Columbus may or may not be “deserving” of his own holiday, but I find the numerous attempts to make the holiday more politically correct rather annoying.   Columbus Day does not have to sanctify the explorer unless we allow it to do so.  Instead of abolishing or renaming the day, students should be taught Columbus’ full story, not just the glorious sections.  For those who argue that Columbus did not discover anything and therefore is undeserving of his own holiday, I suggest celebrating Leif Erikson Day instead, or perhaps remembering that Columbus Day is not only a celebration of the explorer himself, but also an opportunity for Italian Americans to celebrate their own heritage.  Although I don’t think it’s fully necessary to have a federal holiday devoted to Columbus, the continued controversy over Columbus Day is uncalled for and ridiculous.  People are wasting their time trying to “improve” a holiday that few people truly care. 

Senior ("Girl" style imitation essay)

LINK to my essay in the style of Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl."

I Want a Husband (Judy Brady style imitation)

I want a husband who will take care of me, a husband who will support me. I want a husband who will work hard so I don’t have to, who will pay for all my expenses so I never have to worry about money.  I want a husband who will give me free reign on his credit cards so I can throw lavish parties and buy expensive things. I want a husband who will never question my expenditures; when he discovers I’ve made a new purchase, he will congratulate me joyously.  I want a husband who is not afraid to spend money.  I do not want a stingy husband  I want a husband who will buy new cars every year and waste his bonuses on season tickets for sports teams he doesn’t like.  I want a husband who will buy me expensive gifts too, diamond necklaces, pearl earrings and a new convertible for me to drive around.    I want a husband who will pamper me with anything and everything I want.

I want a husband who will support me in all my endeavors.  Rather I want to go back to school, take a sewing class or open a gourmet cupcake shop, he happily open his check book, smiling as he signs.  “Good idea honey,” he will say, or “I’m so proud of you, you’re so smart and successful, you hardly need me at all!”  Both he and I will know I actually do need him, but we will still marvel at my abilities.

I want a husband who shares my interests.  I want a husband who loves to travel, who won’t hesitate to plan an international trip on a moment’s notice.   I want a husband who is intelligent and cultured.  I want a husband who enjoys going into the city to see plays and art exhibits and delights in witnessing me find the perfect pair of shoes.  However, my husband’s love for the arts will not detract from his manliness.  I want a husband who is athletic.  Specifically, I want a husband who is a superb volleyball player so we can play beach doubles together on weekends and teach our children to be even better volleyball players than we ever were.  

I want a husband who is manly, who cannot clean, cook, do laundry or care for the children because that’s not what men do; that’s why we hire a housekeeper, cook and nanny.  I want a husband who delights in watching Monday Night Football and violent action movies.  I want a husband who can fall asleep quickly, keeping me up as his ferocious snores make the room quake.  I want a husband who will dispose of spiders, or anything else that creeps or crawls.  I want a husband who can fix anything. When the internet doesn’t want to work, he knows how to restart the router.  When the garbage disposal is clogged, he can fix it.  We could always hire a repair man, but we don’t need to, my husband can do it all.

I want a husband who is loving, who cares deeply for me and my children and isn’t afraid to show it.  I want a husband who will pamper his family with material comforts, time and affection.  I do not want a husband who is mushy though.  I want a husband who doesn’t dramatically declare his undying affection for me everyday, opting instead to show his love through his actions.  In short, I want a husband that will fulfill all the duties traditional to a husband, and then some.  In fact, who wouldn’t want my husband?

Swing Dancing Process Analysis

Here's my essay about our class' swing dancing lesson last Friday.

Cryonics- Quick Freezing the Dead!

The human quest for immortality, an overarching theme of early science and alchemy, remains the goal for many.  However now, instead of seeking to cheat death through magic, we have turned to medicine and science in search of new ways avoid truly dying.    Today, immortality seems closer than ever before, with the cryonics movement, or “quick-freezing” the dead before cellular death can occur.  The main idea behind cryonics is that a person’s identity (which includes their memories and personality) is stored in cells within the brain that can survive, even without continuous brain activity, for long periods of time if frozen at cold enough temperatures.   The idea is that people who of diseases incurable today, can one day be unfrozen and revived when a cure has been discovered.

The process of cryonics begins when the patient’s heart stops beating, when he or she is pronounced “legally dead.”  However, even after the heart stops, some cellular activity remains in the brain; the body must be frozen before the brain’s cells completely “die.”  According to the Cryonics Institute it would theoretically be best to begin the freezing process before the patient actually dies, to avoid the “physical damages resulting from death.”  Presently, this is illegal so cryonics practitioners have to make due with freezing the recently dead. 

The freezing begins when the dead reaches the cryonics facility.  First, the water in the patient’s body is replaced with cryoprotectant to avoid cells freezing, expanding and therefore ‘exploding.’  Next the body is placed in a vat of dry ice and cooled to temperatures below -130 C.  Finally, the patient is suspended in metal container of liquid nitrogen, at about -200 C.  They are now destined to lie a state of “suspended animation” or cryonic suspension for eternity, or until scientists discover a way to revive the frozen humans.

If the possibility of immortality is tempting, you too can be frozen upon death.  Non-profits, like the previously-mentioned Cryonics Institute or the euphemistic Alcor Life Extension Foundation, are ready to put you on the list to be flash-frozen and preserved upon death, for a small fee, upwards of $30,000.  Proponents will argue that thirty thousand dollars is a small price to pay for immortality, even though no human has been revived from cryonic suspension to date.

Believe what you will, but to me, cryonics is just the modern form of alchemy.  But today, instead of drinking potions laced with mercury or performing incantations, adherents are buying expensive memberships to cryonics organizations and planning their own freezing years in advance, hoping to one day be revived.  It’s just another manifestation of our fear of our own mortality.  Many believe that this immortality will one day become a reality, but right now, it’s only a hope.  Waiting for science to make you immortal is like waiting for the sorcerer to make a elixir of life,  it’s just another instance of people looking for a new way to avoid the inevitable and cheat death.

Compare and Contrast

Here's a link to my essay comparing and contrasting large malls and main street shops.

Road Signs Are Confusing!

It seems like everyone has been lead the wrong way by a confusing street sign or outdated directions.  Here's my essay about how baffling road signs really are.

Illiterate Society Response

Throughout his essay, "The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society", Jonathan Kozol employs a simple, concise, yet nevertheless eloquent, style of syntax.   According to Kozol, illiteracy is a form of oppression.  Illiterates face restricted political choices, often voting for superficial reasons, or not at all; they are also socially ostracized, economically impoverished and geographically immobile (usually because they can't read maps or road signs.)  Kozol's syntax echos this oppression.  Like American illiterates, his sentences are confined and fragmented.

However, Kozol does not confine himself to only simple sentences.   He closes the essay with one of his longest sentences: "The answers to these questions represent a reasonable test of out belief in the democracy to which we have been asked in public school to swear allegiance."  Although longer, the sentence is nevertheless clear.   Kozol tends to use his shortest, most straightforward, at the beginning of each paragraph.  As the reader delves deeper into the paragraph, the sentences become slightly longer, although even the longest sentences read easily because they are broken up by commas, parallel structure and semi columns.  However, generally, by the end of the paragraph, Kozol reverts to his simple syntax, to reiterate his point,

Kozol's simple sentence structure makes his essay highly accessible to the masses.  Poor readers do not have to filter through complicated sentences to find meaning in the work.  Instead, Kozol presents his ideas clearly and simply.  Although his essay is not intended for illiterates, it is meant to inform the entire literate portion of the nation of this issue.  This concise syntax enables a greater majority of US citizens to read his essay and therefore understand the problem of illiteracy.  In fact, many of Kozol's sentences, such as his claim "The human price [of illiteracy] is not so obvious at first," would be decipherable and understood (if read aloud of course) by even a non-reader.   Kozol's syntax echoes his goal (to stop the problem of illiteracy in American through educating literate citizens about it), making the intent of his essay apparent.

Narrative Imitation Essay

Here's a link to my narrative inspired by Sherman Alexie's piece, "Indian Education."

It is important to note, that although some of my memories may be a little fuzzy, all of the anecdotes told in this essay are entirely true.

A Flamingo Labor Day

Here's the sign at the Flamingo Hotel, where I was this Labor Day. I love the pink Flamingo on top!

I absolutely love holidays, so, on occasion, I’ll be blogging a few of my random musings and thoughts about various holidays and celebrations. I don’t only love holidays because of the time off from school (although I’m definitely not complaining about that), I also just love all the festivities.  I even enjoy the minor holidays.  Traditionally the first Monday in September, Labor Day was last weekend.  The holiday has its roots in the Labor Movement of the late 19th century, with the first Labor Day celebrated in 1882.  Although it’s intended to commemorate laborer’s contributions to the nation, Labor Day has also come to represent the end of summer, a chance for people to enjoy a final long weekend of warm weather.   

Now, Labor Day weekend and I have developed a love-hate relationship.  I love barbecues, warm weather and the day off but for me, Labor Day symbolizes the true end of summer.  For years, I would always start school the Tuesday after Labor Day.  That Monday would be my last day of my treasured summer.  Especially in the years before summer reading and assignments, it was my last day of freedom.  The last lazy summer day to swim in the pool, go to a barbecue or just relax with family and friends, savoring each of those precious final moments.

My long weekends are different now.  This year, Labor Day came three weeks into school.  The day off is now more of a treat, but consequently my Labor Days have become polluted by new responsibilities, namely homework I procrastinated on, college applications and volleyball practice.  However, once everything has been taken care of, I can take a few moments to just relax, even if that relaxation is contaminated by new stress and worries.

My Labor Day weekend this year hit a bit of a somber note.  After a funeral (I won’t go into that part), my family and I spent two nights at the Flamingo Hotel, in Santa Rosa, not Las Vegas.  The Flamingo was a fun, slightly funky, hotel that’s been around since the 1950s.  My absolute favorite part of the hotel was the giant, fluorescent sign with a neon pink flamingo on top.  You could see the sign for what seemed like miles.  I remembered driving by the hotel when I was young, always wanting to stay there, and finally I got the chance!  The entire hotel was set on a circular pattern, with a large pool in the center.  My mother kept saying it reminded her of something out of Mad Men, even though I’ve only ever seen a commercial for the show, I couldn’t help but agree.  However, my actual Labor Day was filled with volleyball practice and homework I had left to the last minute.  Although I was able to finish everything in time to visit family friends for dinner, it was a far cry from my former carefree Labor Days, but that’s life, as you grow up, more responsibilities come your way, but more freedoms and opportunities come with those responsibilities.  And that's okay, you just have to accept the change.

“Greasy Lake” Response

In T.C. Boyle’s short story, “Greasy Lake,” tells of three teenage boys who try to be “bad” yet end up in a dangerous and traumatic situation.  From the first paragraph, Boyle makes it clear that the narrator, Digby and Jeff are not really “bad” but young boys, just trying on a new persona.  They want to be “dangerous characters” but don't really know what being a dangerous character entails.   They've tried snorted “what someone claimed was cocaine” and raced around in their parent’s station wagons.  Although they tried, none of the boys were truly “bad” in any sense of the word.  Despite his ear piercing, Digby is a student at Cornell, still supported by his father, and although Jeff is contemplating dropping out, he also appears to be a college student.  These Ivy League, suburban boys are a far cry from a real shifty character, their “bad boy” personas can be read as false and inauthentic.

Nevertheless, the three friends stay out late into the night, driving around, eating fast food and drinking fruity liquor.  Very late at night they decide to go up to one of their favorite haunts, Greasy Lake, and then the trouble begins as the situation gets out of hand.  After misidentifying their friend’s car, they are forced into an altercation with a true “bad greasy character.”  The narrator claims he “was terrified,” showing he is not really the tough, dangerous character he claims to be.  In the fight that follows, the man is knocked unconscious and then, overcome with lust, the boys attempt to rape his girlfriend.  However, another car soon approaches and the frightened boys bolt.  As the narrator lays in the mud while the angry boyfriend and other men trash his car, harass and throw rocks at him, he reflects on his situation, even contemplating suicide for fear of repercussions from his parents for wrecking their Bel Air and decides the only person in the world worse off than he, is the dead man they found there.

However, this is also a story of reform.   As the boys are leaving, they see two girls searching the dead man’s motorcycle, clearly looking for someone.  They yell for “Al” but the narrator, Jeff and Digby know no one will answer.  One of the girls, when she goes over their car to ask if they’d seen Al, invites them “party” with her and her friend.  However, traumatized by their experiences and possibly seeing the error of their ways, the Digby answers “No thanks, some other time.”  It seems as though Digby, and possibly the other boys, have realized that although they may try, they are far from the “bad” boys or “dangerous characters” they fancy themselves to be.  The incident at Greasy Lake seems to be the catalyst for friends to reform their ways and stop playing the phony “bad boy” character.

 

Lake Arrowhead Description

Here is the link to my descriptive essay about Lake Arrowhead, loosely inspired by Joan Didion's essay, "The Santa Anna."

Also, here's a picture I took this summer of the lake I described.

Abandoned Stairs Description

Between the renovated H-Hall and new math wing, sits a set of abandoned stairs leading downward.  As most students walk past, their eyes slide from the repainted H wing, to the new landscaping on either side of the steps.  No one seems to notice the sharp juxtaposition of old and new, of the dilapidated stairs and young trees and fresh bark surrounding them.    But today, no other students stroll by.   The grey and sunless morning is cold, dark and lonely, just like the forgotten stairs.

The walls of the stairwell are painted nondescript taupe color with dirt stains and weather marks running down them.   A wall near the bottom has been defaced with indecipherable black and white graffiti.   At base of the stairs sits a locked door and boarded up window.  I wonder what the door could have led to.  Perhaps a long forgotten basement or storage room.   Nevertheless, today, the door remains perpetually locked and deserted.

Orange and brown leaves litter the left hand side of the steps.  They flutter quietly in the soft breeze.   An old playing card rests among them.  Like the stairs, the five of clubs has been abandoned.  However, unlike the steps, it is not forgotten.  Although it was just one card in 52, a deck of cards is nothing with just 51.  I leave my perch atop the stairs,  pondering the lonely steps and the mystery of the locked door.

Also, Here is the link to a google doc of the description.

"Box Man" Discussion Debrief

1. I it was interesting to discuss rather the Box Man’s loneliness had always been a choice, or had recently become a choice to take away part of the sting of being alone.  I also learned that Ascher uses words with a positive connotation, like "lucky," to describe the Box Man's life while she uses more negative words ("drags") to describe the two lonely women. 

2. I wish we talked more about the effects of the contrasting diction used to describe the Box Man and the two women.  Although we noted the difference, we didn't discuss what the was the result of the contrast and how the author used it to achieve her purpose.  I think that it is a reflection of the Box Man's acceptance of his loneliness and peace he finds in the solitude which contrasts sharply with the two women's feelings on their loneliness. 

3. I wish I brought up my observation about the effect of the placement of Ascher's thesis.  By putting her thesis in the middle of the essay, Ascher allows the reader to come to their own similar conclusion about loneliness.  This gives the essay an effortless feel as it follows a more logical thought process which allows the reader to draw their own conclusions before being presented with the author's idea.

"I am a ___" Essay

Here is a link to my first take home essay on my sometimes overzealous competitive tendencies.

Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman Long Form Link

Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman Summer Assignment: Here is a link to my essay

Senior Project

For me, deciding on a senior project proved to be a difficult task.  I wanted to do something exciting and enjoyable that would also push me to broaden my horizons.   I originally wanted to do something related to volleyball, possibly coaching.  But with coaching out of the question, just doing a project related to playing more volleyball seemed like it wasn’t going to be a push for me at all.

So I went back to the drawing board and thought about things I had always wanted to do but never gotten the chance.  Because I absolutely love the ocean and water sports my head immediately filled with possible projects involving water related activities.  

Finally, I decided I would explore scuba diving.  I’ve been once on a very shallow dive when I was about 12 but I have always wanted to go again and become certified.  Although some people may be afraid or feel claustrophobic underwater, I feel peaceful there.  Underwater noises are quieter and everything has a blueish cast, it just feels calmer.   Both my parents are certified and I have grown up hearing exciting stories of their “live-aboard” dive trips where they spent week living in a tiny boat, diving everyday.  I envied their deep water dives with hammerhead sharks in Mexico and close encounters with 3 foot wide sea turtles.  I have always been very interested in the environment and how to protect it.  Scuba diving is a way to gain a first hand experience in the ocean’s coral reefs and ecosystems.  By witnessing coral reef destruction first hand, I feel I would be able to better understand how scientists attempt to restore the damaged marine ecosystems.

To me, the senior project is a way to broaden yourself.  To explore something you’ve always wanted to but hadn’t had the chance.  Becoming scuba certified fit that criteria for me.  I’m excited to begin and can’t wait to start diving!

Me!

I’ve been putting off doing my summer homework for awhile now.  Partially because trying to sum up my entire life into a single post seemed like a daunting task but also because beginning my homework has always signified that the start of school was approaching and I wanted to relish my last few weeks of summer.  But, after procrastinating quite a bit, I have finally begun!

I suppose I’ll start with some of the basics.  My name is Madison; I was born in Napa Valley on April 6.  I have a relatively small family, although both my parents come from very large ones.  At my house it’s just me and my mom and dad, Ann and George.  Even though I’m an only child when people ask about my siblings I usually say “I’m an only child; but I have a dog.”  My family has had a total of 4 dogs, all golden retrievers.  The most recent addition is Cassidy, she’s now almost 7 months and is still an adorable bundle of energy.  Here’s a picture I took of her when she was about 4 months.

I spend the vast majority of my free time playing volleyball.  I love the game and aspire to continue playing collegiately.  In the fall I play on the Napa High team and January through June I play club for Absolute Volleyball Club, which is based in San Rafael.  During that season, I drive to Marin for practice 2 days during the week and one weekend day, unless we have a tournament, which is all-day ordeal.  This summer my team went to AAU Nationals in Orlando, Florida.  We took a picture after out last day of play in front of the “Wide World of Sports” sign at the ESPN zone where we played.  I’m number 3 in the front.  It may look sunny in the picture, but for the entire tournament up to that afternoon, there was a tropical storm!  It poured for 5 straight days until the storm (Debby) finally turned into a depression and blew itself out in the Gulf of Mexico.  Although it’s not an experience I’d like to repeat, being stuck in Florida in a tropical storm was definitely an exciting, although very wet and slightly traumatic, experience.

I guess I’ll share a little about some of my other summer adventures.  I went Lake Arrowhead (it’s lake in Southern California, in the mountains above the San Bernardino valley).  A lot of people don’t know where it is but its absolutely beautiful.  Every summer for since I was in Kindergarden, my family goes to Bruin Woods, a UCLA Alumni Family “Camp” there.  There isn’t much camping involved, but that’s what it’s called.  We go the same week every year with the same families, I’ve made some life long friends there and I look forward to going there every year.  For the last four or so years there, I’ve gone waterskiing on the lake.  This year was the best ever!  I skied around the entire lake, I’m not sure how many miles it was, but it took a solid 20 minutes and I think the boats go about 20-25 mph.  Although it’s easy at first, waterskiing actually takes a tremendous amount of forearm strength!  Here's a short video of me!

I guess I’ll finish with a few fun facts about myself.  Other than playing volleyball at Napa High, I also do the jumping events for track which is a lot of fun.  I love going to the beach and water sports and activities in general.  My favorite movie, book, song, etc. is always changing but right now I’m remembering how much I love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and the TV show Arrested Development which I recently discovered on Netflix  Neither is the newest, but both are very funny and totally worth it.  I also love ice cream, flip flops, and summer/warm weather in general and I hate the smell of smoke, airport security (although I do love to travel), waiting in line and when people say “acrosst” instead of “across.”  Hope this has helped you get to know me a little bit, I can’t wait to get to know you this year!