Even though the two towers are off-center, the photograph is balanced by the smoke and fire billowing from them to the left.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Photographic Composition: Balance
Even though the two towers are off-center, the photograph is balanced by the smoke and fire billowing from them to the left.
Photographic Composition: Lines
The diagonal lines created by the ruined, remaining structures on Ground Zero create a very dynamic image.
Photographic Composition: Rule of Thirds
The Empire State Building is on the left of the three vertical lines of the rule of three.
Photographic Composition: Simplicity
This photograph is devastatingly simple; a lone man stands in the ashes that fell on streets near the World Trade Center as it collapsed.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Lone Star Dispatch #3
News
Penalties for off campus lunches
Bowie staff have finally realized how many underclassmen are managing to get off-campus against the rules with seniors as their accomplices. They are starting to crack down on this to keep students safe, and there are many penalties for the offenders.
Penalties for off campus lunches
Bowie staff have finally realized how many underclassmen are managing to get off-campus against the rules with seniors as their accomplices. They are starting to crack down on this to keep students safe, and there are many penalties for the offenders.
Who was quoted in the story?
Hallie Arnold, Vicento Trevino
What quote was the strongest in your opinion?
"You never know what could happen while on your way to a fast food restaurant."
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?
No.
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?
A statement.
Rewritten Lead
For many underclassmen, leaving campus illegally with a senior is thrilling both for simply getting away with breaking school rules as well as the reward of deliciously greasy fast food for lunch at the end. However, Bowie staff is starting to crack down on the rule-breakers.
Commentary
Hola, I still don't know Spanish
The author argues that the foreign language program at Bowie doesn't teach language effectively or efficiently. She says that there should be less projects and book work and more hands-on learning and vocabulary assignments.
Who was quoted in the story?
N/A
What quote was the strongest in your opinion?
N/A
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?
Somewhat.
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?
A statement.
Student Life
The winter keeps students warm and in style
Melissa Pittman and Nathan Olson give tips on winter style. They say to layer up to keep warm, but also utilize socks, sweaters, and scarves to stay fashionable even in the bitter cold.
Who was quoted in the story?
Melissa Pittman, Nathan Olson
What quote was the strongest in your opinion?
"This may not make sense at first, but the most important necessity for dressing up in the winter is being warm."
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?
Yes.
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?
A statement.
Entertainment
The holiday season brings out family traditions around ATX
Most people spend their holidays with their family and get to see members who they only talk to a few times a year. Families have different traditions and beliefs, Christmas and Hannukah are two examples given in the article, but it's a special time for everyone.
Who was quoted in the story?
Bryn Williams, Sydney Cowell, Megan Schwab, Savannah Davis
What quote was the strongest in your opinion?
"[Christmas] is the only time that I get to see all of my relatives at once and it always brings us closer together as a family."
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?
No.
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?
A quote.
Sports
Rowing team shares their boating experience
Even though it's not a school-based sport, the Bowie rowing team is a very close-knit community. The members say it's both a good way to stay in shape and get exercise as well as to meet new people and spend time with friends.
Who was quoted in the story?
Mary Geisinger, Ben Bell, Ben Patterson
What quote was the strongest in your opinion?
"It is an exhilarating sport full of competition and chances to become a part of a larger community."
Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?
No.
Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?
A statement.
Ideas for other stories:
- The school musical, Evita
- The Bowie Gay Straight Alliance doing a clothes drive for transgender kids (I think it's happening again this month)
- Juniors who are trying to become next year's senior directors in the theatre company
Current Events Quiz 1/8/15
1. How many people were killed yesterday in a terrorist attack on a French newsmagazine in Paris? Page A1 "One held in deadly raid…"
12 people.
2. Why is the discovery of the tail of Flight 8501in the Indonesian Ocean so important? Page A3 "Tail of AirAsia plane…"
The black boxes of the craft are in that part of it.
3. What are two tips homeowners should be doing this week to protect their homes from the bitter cold? Page B6 "Freeze Tips"
Check smoke detectors, make sure pets have warmth and shelter.
4. What does Xeris Pharmaceuticals sell that helped them to raise $17.9million from their investors? Page B7 "Austin Xeris…"
A Glugacon Rescue Pen
5. Which of the 5 things to do this weekend interests you the most? WHY? Page D2 "The Long Weekend"
The Way Off Broadway production because I love live theatre.
Short Answer:
Read the story on Page A1 "Fight for 'school choice' likely different this year" and answer the following questions.
A. Why does Dan Patrick think its important for public tax money to be made available to any public school student who wants to attend a private school?
He doesn't want any kids to be trapped in underperforming schools.
B. Why do opponents of his legislation, like Ken Zarifis president of Education Austin the largest AISD teachers union, think this use of public tax money is illegal and shouldn't been allowed to happen?
They think that public money should stay public and not be used for private purposes like private schools.
C. Which side of this argument do you think is correct? WHY
I don't think that students who are dedicated to their education should be trapped in schools that are underperforming because of their economic situation, but I don't think that public money should be used for private schools. I think scholarships are better options for those students.
D. If your parents had access to a set amount of money and were able to use that to help pay for a private school education for you, do you think you would want to go to a private school?
It depends on the school. I don't like the idea of going to a really sheltered private school with just rich kids because I don't think it's a good representation of the real world. Honestly I think that going to public school gives me better life experience than most private schools would.
E. What if your parents only got enough to pay for part of that private school?
I wouldn't want them to use up all of their money for me to go to private school, so I wouldn't go.
12 people.
2. Why is the discovery of the tail of Flight 8501in the Indonesian Ocean so important? Page A3 "Tail of AirAsia plane…"
The black boxes of the craft are in that part of it.
3. What are two tips homeowners should be doing this week to protect their homes from the bitter cold? Page B6 "Freeze Tips"
Check smoke detectors, make sure pets have warmth and shelter.
4. What does Xeris Pharmaceuticals sell that helped them to raise $17.9million from their investors? Page B7 "Austin Xeris…"
A Glugacon Rescue Pen
5. Which of the 5 things to do this weekend interests you the most? WHY? Page D2 "The Long Weekend"
The Way Off Broadway production because I love live theatre.
Short Answer:
Read the story on Page A1 "Fight for 'school choice' likely different this year" and answer the following questions.
A. Why does Dan Patrick think its important for public tax money to be made available to any public school student who wants to attend a private school?
He doesn't want any kids to be trapped in underperforming schools.
B. Why do opponents of his legislation, like Ken Zarifis president of Education Austin the largest AISD teachers union, think this use of public tax money is illegal and shouldn't been allowed to happen?
They think that public money should stay public and not be used for private purposes like private schools.
C. Which side of this argument do you think is correct? WHY
I don't think that students who are dedicated to their education should be trapped in schools that are underperforming because of their economic situation, but I don't think that public money should be used for private schools. I think scholarships are better options for those students.
D. If your parents had access to a set amount of money and were able to use that to help pay for a private school education for you, do you think you would want to go to a private school?
It depends on the school. I don't like the idea of going to a really sheltered private school with just rich kids because I don't think it's a good representation of the real world. Honestly I think that going to public school gives me better life experience than most private schools would.
E. What if your parents only got enough to pay for part of that private school?
I wouldn't want them to use up all of their money for me to go to private school, so I wouldn't go.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
2014 Review
1. The best song of 2014:
Happy by Marina and the Diamonds
Unlike most of the things included in this post, which are more about the big picture though still very important to me, this song is, in my opinion, the best of 2014 because of the personal affect it had on me. Marina and the Diamonds' new album, Froot, will be released in April, but she is releasing a few songs from it before the official debut, one of which is Happy.
In Marina's other two albums she has written about, among other things, the depression she's suffered from for the majority of her life and her struggles with identity and loneliness. But, as she said in an interview about her album before any song was released, Froot is about finally finding happiness. One of my favorite quotes from the interview is as follows: "I used to believe that being depressed was part of my personality or that I was born like that, but it's actually quite shocking realize that perhaps that isn't the case."
The song Happy is a melancholically hopeful song about finding happiness—perhaps not euphoria or complete lack of sadness, but finally having a "life worth living for", which is something that really hit home for me. The first time I heard the song it made me cry because even though I haven't gotten to that place of contentment yet, but to see someone I already looked up to who has felt the way I feel get to a place I wasn't sure existed really was amazing, which is what made this song probably the one that affected me the most this year.
2. The best movie of 2014
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
3. The most important news story of 2014
Michael Brown's murder and the Ferguson protests
On August 9th of 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old was shot multiple times and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. The subsequent protests, as well as Wilson's lack of indictment, cracked discussions of the militarization of police and race in the U.S. wide open after years of privileged groups claiming that America is a "post-racial" country.
Several other cases of black people being killed by American police officers both before and after Brown's death gained publicity and incited protests across the country, as well as solidarity movements in other places by other people facing marginalization, such as in Palestine and Hong Kong.
4. The most important person of 2014
Laverne Cox
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1. Something that happened this holiday that I think I'll remember is on Sunday when my friends and I were eating on 6th street and we saw a parade of neo-Nazis with assault rifles and signs plastered with Hitler quotes walking down the street. It was, honestly, nauseating.
2. My main resolution for 2015 is to focus on bettering my mental health—I've been unhappy for far too long. Which means I will surround myself with positive people who are willing to support me, do things that I love and not things I just feel obligated to do with my free time, and seek help when I need it.
3. I'm really looking forwards to Marina and the Diamonds' new album in April, going to Europe this summer, and getting my driver's license when I turn 16 in December.
Happy by Marina and the Diamonds
Unlike most of the things included in this post, which are more about the big picture though still very important to me, this song is, in my opinion, the best of 2014 because of the personal affect it had on me. Marina and the Diamonds' new album, Froot, will be released in April, but she is releasing a few songs from it before the official debut, one of which is Happy.
In Marina's other two albums she has written about, among other things, the depression she's suffered from for the majority of her life and her struggles with identity and loneliness. But, as she said in an interview about her album before any song was released, Froot is about finally finding happiness. One of my favorite quotes from the interview is as follows: "I used to believe that being depressed was part of my personality or that I was born like that, but it's actually quite shocking realize that perhaps that isn't the case."
The song Happy is a melancholically hopeful song about finding happiness—perhaps not euphoria or complete lack of sadness, but finally having a "life worth living for", which is something that really hit home for me. The first time I heard the song it made me cry because even though I haven't gotten to that place of contentment yet, but to see someone I already looked up to who has felt the way I feel get to a place I wasn't sure existed really was amazing, which is what made this song probably the one that affected me the most this year.
2. The best movie of 2014
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
The penultimate movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins' hit young adult dystopian series was probably the best movie I saw this year. It was towards the end of 2014, a year that was packed full of tragedies and revolutionary movements. Many of the scenes, I think, hit home with a lot of people even if they hadn't been involved in this year's events, simply having seen the pictures on the news.
There have also been a lot of situations this year that have been eerily reminiscent of situations in the dystopian novels themselves, from the militaristic police in the U.S., to the increasing class disparities in many of the world's richest countries, to the bombings in Gaza, I think the theme of rebellion against the oppressors is a theme that was repeated throughout 2014, which made Mockingjay Part 1 quite applicable.
However, it's important to remember that these real-life tragedies shouldn't be reduced to thought processes that go something like "Hey, this is kinda like that scene in the Hunger Games!" It's trivializing to the struggle of those being victimized—instead remember that this is real life and if you're comparing our real life to a dystopian series, something is terribly wrong, and maybe you should try and educate yourself on the situation and do your part to try and make it right, even if it just means spreading awareness on social media.
3. The most important news story of 2014
Michael Brown's murder and the Ferguson protests
On August 9th of 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old was shot multiple times and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. The subsequent protests, as well as Wilson's lack of indictment, cracked discussions of the militarization of police and race in the U.S. wide open after years of privileged groups claiming that America is a "post-racial" country.
Several other cases of black people being killed by American police officers both before and after Brown's death gained publicity and incited protests across the country, as well as solidarity movements in other places by other people facing marginalization, such as in Palestine and Hong Kong.
4. The most important person of 2014
Laverne Cox
Transgender actress and activist Laverne Cox, best known for her role on Orange is the New Black, gained a great amount of publicity and popularity this year, appearing on many talk shows and other platforms to talk about the struggles of the trans community, a group that even with the surge in LGBT rights movements is often pushed off to the side.
She and other high-profile members of the trans community like Janet Mock have become some of the loudest voices for the "T" in LGBT. They've done incredible work and they have raised a great deal of awareness to an issue that far too many people are oblivious or ignorant or bigoted towards, becoming some of the most prominent and revolutionary activists of this year.
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1. Something that happened this holiday that I think I'll remember is on Sunday when my friends and I were eating on 6th street and we saw a parade of neo-Nazis with assault rifles and signs plastered with Hitler quotes walking down the street. It was, honestly, nauseating.
2. My main resolution for 2015 is to focus on bettering my mental health—I've been unhappy for far too long. Which means I will surround myself with positive people who are willing to support me, do things that I love and not things I just feel obligated to do with my free time, and seek help when I need it.
3. I'm really looking forwards to Marina and the Diamonds' new album in April, going to Europe this summer, and getting my driver's license when I turn 16 in December.
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